October 31, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
185 
large, and colour perfection. Mrs. Pince’s Black Muscat 
was represented by large bunches free from tlie usual 
greenness in tlie berries next the footstalk; Alicante 
and Gros Colmar in the same house were very fine. 
This completes the vines as they are at present, and I 
believe that if they go on for a year or two as they are 
doing now, we shall hear of them in a different form 
to what our feeble efforts have depicted in the fore¬ 
going fragmentary remarks. In other compartments 
used for general jmrposes, the most noticeable items are 
Figs, which have the same skilful attention as the other 
fruits. Brown Turkey and White Marseilles, being the 
most serviceable kinds for general requirements, they 
have the largest share of the space allotted to Fig culture. 
Pot trees stand along the front which bear profusely, and 
at the back many of them are trained crosswise, so that 
fruiting the trees may be done on both sides ; where 
light and air can be admitted freely there is no doubt 
that a gain of surface is thus obtained. Figs planted 
out in beds of fair width, where the roots can have all 
the attention which they require, is without doubt the 
most simple and efficient method of cultivating this 
valuable fruit. The roots cannot get away rambling, 
where they would overpower the wood with sap, which 
would prevent ripening, or cause the embryo fruit to 
be cast prematurely ; and when Figs have their roots 
embedded in confined borders, a good rich surfacing 
and copious supplies of liquid manure gives abundant 
nourishment to supply heavy crops of luscious Figs. 
Little pruning is required under such conditions ; short 
stiff wood is formed which may require a little thinning, 
but the labour of training, stopping, &c., so often 
necessary when the trees are unrestricted at their roots, 
is not required when grown as they are at Parkhall 
and many other places. 
The argument in favour of' the extension system of 
fruit tree growing may be well supported with Figs, 
as a few trees of the two kinds above named can be 
made to supply fruit from April to November, and were 
I situated so that I could give space ad lib., I 
would probably grow large trees, such as I have seen 
in the south of England, and in the Isle of Wight. Near 
Ryde I once saw a tree growing along the ground 
producing immense crops, with huge branches extend¬ 
ing over space such as would shelter a goodly flock of 
sheep. The strong-growing kinds, such as Castle Ken¬ 
nedy, Brunswick, and Negro Largo require cramping at 
the roots more than medium-growing sorts ; but all the 
kinds I have seen can be made to fruit freely by 
restriction. I need not trace the doings at Parkhall 
further at present ; the other structures are such as 
are seen in most places of a similar character. My 
visit was much enhanced by Mr. Murray’s kindness, 
for which I thank him.— M. T. 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Japan Lilies. —These are generally left till much 
too late before potting, as when this operation is deferred 
it is impossible to carry it out without injuring the 
roots, which begin to form as soon as the flower-stalks 
ripen, and that is the time to shake out the bulbs 
from the old soil and give them some new. In doing 
this it is not necessary to disturb them much or divide 
them unless an increase be desired, as by giving larger 
pots, the mass may be grown together, and in that way 
they make a grand show. 
Draining the Pots.—A s Lilies require liberal 
supplies of water during the summer, it is important 
that the pots should be well drained, which may be 
done by placing a large crock over the hole, and filling 
up around it with others broken small, laying them to 
the depth of about an inch and a half, when they should 
be covered with a little rough soil or moss to keep them 
well open. 
Soil and Potting. —The soil that Japan Lilies do 
best in is a mixture of loam and peat, in about equal 
parts, and the way to use it is to put it in the pots 
loosely and just shake it down, without compressing 
it, as then the large fleshy roots can ramify and get 
through it easily and find the food they require. 
After Potting the most suitable place to stand 
them is in a cold frame, where they should have no 
water till the shoots show, and then only sufficient to 
keep the soil moist. 
Chrysanthemums.—T hese, like everything else this 
season, are late and slow to open, but it is useless 
hurrying them, by keeping the house they are in close 
and warm, as the flowers must have time, if they are 
expected to be good, and no plants are more impatient 
of artificial heat than Chrysanthemums, which soon 
show the effects of coddling by becoming mildewy and 
weedy in bloom. What they like is plenty of air, 
which should be given every fine day, and another 
essential is an abundance of water, and of this it is 
almost impossible, at this season, to administer too 
much if the plants are pinched at the roots, but in no 
case ought the soil to get dry. 
Solanums.—T o have the berries of these coloured 
early the plants will need a little warmth, and it will 
forward them greatly if they can be stood on light 
shelves, where they can be exposed to the sun ; but 
they must be kept well watered, or the foliage will dis¬ 
colour and fall. 
Pelargoniums of the show and fancy class must 
now be got in from pits and frames to a light airy 
position in the house, or the leaves will spot, as damp 
soon brings on this malady, which disfigures and 
weakens the plants. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Bedding Plants. —It is time now that these were 
arranged in their winter quarters, the most suitable 
place for Pelargoniums being the back shelves of a 
house up near the glass, where they should be kept dry, 
as being of a sappy succulent nature they are apt to 
rot, and require frequent looking over to remove dead 
or decaying leaves from them to prevent the mould 
spreading. 
Herbaceous Borders. —No plants pay so well for 
good cultivation as those of an herbaceous nature, most 
of the perennial kinds of which need deep soil, or they 
suffer from drought, and as they will bear moving any 
time now, the season is a favourable one for digging them 
up and trenching the land. In doing this, the thing 
to avoid is, bringing the bottom to the top, instead of 
which it should be kept below, and there enriched by 
working a heavy dressing of manure in with it, and 
this the roots will find when they strike down in search 
of moisture during dry weather, at which period it will 
have a most beneficial effect on the plants, and enable 
them to stand without flagging. 
Roses. —This is the best time in the year for trans¬ 
planting Roses, and those who would have the pick of 
the plants should send their orders and get what they 
want from the nurseries at once, as first comers are 
always best served, and not only that, but a double 
advantage is gained by having the plants in their 
places early, as they get good hold before sharp weather 
begins. 
Preparing the Beds. —That there maybe no delay 
when the Roses are received, the thing is to get the 
beds or places ready, wbich should be done by trenching 
the ground if they are to go in beds, or digging deep 
holes to plant singly, but in either case it is necessary 
to make free use of manure, which ought to be thor¬ 
oughly rotten and well incorporated with the soil, or 
it will be too- strong for the roots. 
Planting the Roses. —In planting beds, the chief 
matter to be particular about is to arrange the plants 
according to their height or strength, keeping the 
tallest or most vigorous growers in the centre, and the 
dwarfer or less robust outside ; by doing this a much 
better effect is produced. 
Mulching. —As soon as the plants are in, the next 
thing is to mulch, which is a most important matter, 
as a dressing of half-rotten manure is needful as a pro¬ 
tection against frost, and in putting it on it is advisable 
to let it come well up round the collars of the plants, 
as when sheltered there they are safe from all weather. 
THE FRUIT GARDEN. 
Root-pruning and Transplanting. —The chief 
things to be attended to in this department of the 
garden are the root-pruning and transplanting of all 
fruit trees and bushes that require restricting in their 
growth, or that it is intended to get or move, and the 
sooner these operations are carried out the better will 
it be for the plants. In taking the first-mentioned in 
hand, the way to proceed is to open out a good wide 
trench around the tree, at from 3 ft. to 4 ft. from the 
stem, according to its size and age, when all large roots 
that are met with should be severed with a sharp knife, 
and if then laid in again and covered with a little fresh 
soil they will soon heal at the ends and emit a number 
of feeders. It is the multiplying of these from which 
the benefit accrues, as instead of gross wood and no 
fruit, the tree so operated on becomes tamed at once, 
and flower buds form during the following summer in 
place of shoots, after which crops are borne regularly if 
the weather is favourable for the blossoms to set. 
Renovating Barren Trees.— It often happens 
that trees are barren or unsatisfactory from want of 
vigour, in which case the only remedies are to enrich the 
ground they are in, or lift and transplant into fresh 
sites; but as the first-named is the easiest to perform 
and often the best mode of treatment, a top-dressing of 
dung commends itself, and should be put on at once. 
Before this is done, however, it is advisable to remove 
the soil over the roots about 3 ins. deep, when the 
manure should be carefully forked in and the soil re¬ 
turned to the top, or if the roots are near the surface 
the manure may be put on as a mulching, as the rains 
of winter will carry the juices down, and thus impart 
strength to the plants. 
Lifting and Transplanting.—I f it is decided to 
lift and transplant, large holes should be dug, and the 
subsoil, if gravelly or bad, wheeled away and fresh sub¬ 
stituted, as the great point is to give the trees a good 
start and enable them to become well established, when 
they will be able to take care of themselves. 
Spreading Out the Roots.— In putting the trees 
in, the most important matter to attend to is the proper 
spreading out of the roots, all of which should be laid 
in carefully and then covered with fine earth, and as 
soon as this is finished the final filling up of the holes 
may be carried out and the plants staked and mulched. 
Heading Back. —At one time no gardener thought 
of planting without heading back, but more wisdom is 
displayed now by leaving the shoots as they are, and 
doing all that is necessary by way of pruning during 
the summer, when an) r strong leader that appears 
robbing the rest can be pinched in and stopped. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
Asparagus. —The tops of Asparagus being now ripe 
it is time they were cut down and removed, and the 
beds cleaned ; but in doing this they should not be dug 
over, as is generally done, or have the alleys thrown out, 
as the breaking up and removal of the soil greatly 
injures the roots, which ramble far and wide in search 
of the food they require. Instead of the digging and 
making ditch-like trenches between, and piling the 
earth on the beds, the proper way to treat the plants, 
after the ground has been freed from weeds, is to give 
a heavy dressing of rotten manure, or any decomposed 
vegetable matter, such as may be had from a heap of 
garden rubbish, and leave it on for the winter’s frost to 
disintegrate and pulverise ; after which, in the spring, 
it may be raked down before the heads of the Asparagus 
come through ; and if that treatment is pursued from 
year to year, the plants will gain in strength and yield 
fine “grass ” for use. 
Sea Kale.— The management necessary for this 
highly esteemed vegetable differs but little from that 
which is requisite for Asparagus, excepting in the case 
of any plantation of it that may be required for forcing ; 
the plants in which, will only need to have their leaves 
cleared away ready for digging up the roots, or cover¬ 
ing the crowns with soil, ashes, or pots, according to 
the way they are blanched. 
Cauliflowers. — Plants of these with the heads 
turning in, are no longer safe out-of-doors, and should 
be lifted and laid in by the heels in some frame or place 
where they can be protected from frost. Any ready for 
use,may be cut with the stem and leaves attached, and if 
laid in a damp cool shed, they will keep fresh a long 
time, and be as good as if just got from the open. 
Beet, Carrots, and Parsnips. —Roots of the kinds 
just named ought now to be lifted and stored for the 
winter, the best way of keeping the two first mentioned 
being to pack them in dry sand or earth in a shed, as 
then they remain fresh and plump. But Parsnips 
improve by being frosted, and may be laid thickly in 
rows in the open ground, witli their crowns above the 
soil, so that they may be seen and got at should hard 
weather set in. In digging up Beet and Carrots, great 
care is necessary that they are not bruised or injured, 
or have the tap roots broken, or the Beet will bleed, 
and lose quality and colour in cooking, and the same 
if the crowns are damaged, to prevent which the 
leaves should be wrung off close to the neck and not 
cut, or decay will set in and spoil the whole lot. 
