1882.] APPLE, WERDER’S GOLDEN REINETTE.-EFFECT OF POOR SOIL ON TREE ROOTS. 
73 
manure, thoroughly decomposed, which will 
have the effect of attracting the roots and 
affording them ample assistance just as they 
most require it, when expanding and perfect¬ 
ing their bloom. Trenching, as usually done, 
brings the crude earth to the surface, and 
buries that which has been exposed to the 
ameliorating influences of the atmosphere—a 
fact that should be borne in mind, as it takes 
years to get it into the condition in which 
plants will lay hold of it and start away 
freely. In very light soils a few barrow loads 
of clay, chopped up finely and mixed well in, 
has a capital and lasting effect, and will do 
more in producing fine Asters than any other 
help that can be afforded. The thing to aim 
at is to keep the bottom cool and moist, and, 
this done, all else is clear sailing, as then, if 
the weather be favourable, the plants will take 
care of themselves. When grown in groups of 
three in a border, similar preparation must be 
made, or neighbouring plants already in pos¬ 
session are sure to rob them and cut short 
their beauty long before the autumn sets in. 
“ If the autumn be fairly genial, there is no 
difficulty in saving Aster seed. Do not allow 
any one plant to carry more than three or four 
blooms, and these the finest. If needful to 
protect from heavy rain, the covering should 
admit of free circulation of air among the 
fiower-lieads. Gather when ripe, and clean 
through a wire sieve. Carefully selected seed 
usually produces as good blooms as those 
from which the seed was saved. 
“ Many persons have written about the 
kinds best suited for pots; but our practice 
has been to sow in the open in May, keeping 
the varieties separate, and then to lift about 
the middle of September, when the buds have 
partially expanded, and put three plants into 
an 8-inch pot, pressing the soil firmly, shading 
for a few days, and then placing them in a 
cold greenhouse, where they will bloom late 
on through the autumn. Such as these have 
a splendid effect in a conservatory among the 
small kinds of foliaged plants, the only other 
plants equal in point of colour being the 
Chrysanthemums.”—J. B. 
APPLE, WERDER’S GOLDEN REINETTE. 
[Plate 562 .] 
57T MONGST Apples this is par excellence 
the most beautiful variety in regard 
to form and outline that is in cultiva¬ 
tion. All the fruits are so singularly 
even and regular, that they appear as if they 
came from one mould, there being scarcely 
any difference between one apple and the 
other. In general appearance they are not 
unlike small well-formed specimens of the 
Blenheim Pippin ; and the texture of the flesh 
is of the same character, but somewhat firmer. 
The extraordinary beauty is derived more 
especially from the eye, -which is not only 
remarkably broad but is placed in a very 
shallow basin, thus becoming quite a prom¬ 
inent feature. 
The fruit may be described as rather below 
medium size, roundish, very even and regular 
in outline. Eye large, wide, with short seg¬ 
ments prominently placed ; stalk short, slen¬ 
der. Skin greenish-yellow, streaked with red 
on the exposed side. Flesh greenish-white, 
firm, yet tender and melting, sweet and 
pleasant. An excellent dessert apple, in use 
from October to February. The tree is a 
great bearer.—A. F. Barron. 
THE EFFECT OF CONFINEMENT, OR OF POOR SOIL 
ON THE BOOTS OF TREES. 
¥ HEN during the last few months we 
have been occupied in transplanting 
forest-trees in large numbers, we 
have been particularly struck with 
iheir condition at the roots when planted in 
poor soil, or where they had not their liberty 
to extend freely, as compared with that of 
those which were growing in richer soil or 
where they could extend without let or liinder- 
ance. Plants confined at the roots or in poor 
gritty earth make little growth. Yews growing 
in sandy poor soil were matted with fibry roots 
and lifted with the greatest ease and safety, 
but it was not so with those which were in rich 
deep soil; the roots in that case extended out¬ 
wards and downwards to a great distance and 
the risk in removal was thus proportionately 
increased. The growth of wood was also 
gross and luxuriant and more likely to suffer 
by removal. Wellingtonias, Austrian firs, 
Scotch firs, and others which were removed 
from soil where holes were made and the solid 
ground left untrenched about them, were 
healthy, the growth stiff, and the balls matted 
with fibry roots ; but, where rapid growth and 
gigantic trees are wanted in the shortest pos- 
