October 2 ' 2 , 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
119 
for pea with any. In width and depth of pod our newer 
sorts are ahead; take the Telephone or Telegraph as 
instances, but does it necessarily follow because of this 
that the peas will swell to the sides ? If so, we should 
sometimes have tremendous peas, or very thick shells. 
Coming now to the haulm and habit of the plant, it 
may here be remarked that the three old Peas named 
are from 6 ft. to 9 ft. high, and this tells against them 
with the generality of gardeners, so that only in special 
or sheltered places, and for special purposes, are they 
now grown. 
It is otherwise with the modern sorts, which show 
a great improvement in their dwarfer stature, and we 
get as many pods on 5 ft. stems as we .do on 8 ft. 
stems, and another advantage of the dwarfer is that 
the rows can be sown closer together. 
Last season a friendly challenge was given to me by 
our respected seedsman (Mr. Charles Kershaw, of 
Brighouse) to select any tall Pea I liked against the 
dwarf William Hurst, and his contention was that 
upon an acre cf ground the latter would yield the 
heavier crop. - The sum of it is as follows If He 
Plus Ultra, 6 ft. high, must be sown 6 ft. apart, 
while William Hurst, 2 ft. high, can be sown 2 ft. 
apart, what will the weight of Peas of each be on a 
given area? I am not in a position to answer the 
question, but where space, height and rods are no object, 
He Plus Ultra, British Queen and General Wyndham 
are three of the best general cropping and late Peas yet 
found to be, and for colour and quality they have no 
rival.— B. L., Huddersfield, October 17th, 1887. 
-- 
TOMATOS. 
The cry is “ still they come.” Last week saw three 
paragraphs devoted to three assumed new Tomatos in 
these pages, and thus it goes on in spite of the practical 
work done with Tomatos at Chiswick during the past 
summer. It is obvious, therefore, that Mr. Barron is 
ignorant, and the members of the Fruit Committee 
donkeys, for assuming that after all Tomatos may be 
grouped into some half-a-dozen sections, the largest, of 
course, being the large, smooth, round variety ; 
because every new, or assumed new, kind must be 
round, smooth, and handsome to obtain popularity. 
It is quite absurd, of course, for the committee and 
the authorities at Chiswick, who have the fullest 
opportunities, and have, further, very many varieties to 
compare, to assert that this and that with some others 
are identical in spite of adverse appellations. Brown, 
Jones, or Smith, of course, know better ; because one 
or the other has grown this or that kind and can swear 
to it. 
At Chiswick there is no attempt at what may be 
called forcing culture. The Tomato plants are all 
fairly grown, and left very much to display their 
respective merits under ordinary conditions. It is in 
such case that Tomatos show what they really are, and 
a fair trial is secured. Now, we read of this, that, and 
the other kinds, as being the heaviest croppers grown, 
or producing the finest fruits, &c.—all virtues found in 
a dozen, or, indeed, in a score of kinds ; and yet, though 
so seemingly inconsistent; yet really correct because 
the whole of the assumed kinds are pretty nearly one 
and the same. I was struck with the observation of a 
well-known gardener and exhibitor the other day at 
South Kensington. He said that he had a number of 
vines of Tomatos growing, and he would undertake to 
put some fruit of each upon a dish, and no one should 
tell him which was which. I ventured to suggest that 
possibly the same difficulty would be presented in the 
plants also, and he fully agreed. 
Such is my own experience with three of the smooth, 
round sorts. One raised as a red sport from Golden 
Queen, one from Canada, and one from seed sent me 
from Esher as Perfection. Now, if I had not sown 
and raised these plants, and set them out, I could not 
have discerned any difference, and I defy anyone now 
to tell me, whilst the plants are in fruit, which is 
which. I have said before, and repeat it, that all who 
save Tomato seed for own sowing should save from 
the finest, and handsomest of their fruits, no matter 
under what name known, or what were the par¬ 
ticular [characteristics of the variety when first sent 
out. The result is an inevitable one. Each season 
the closest approach is made to the ideal, and diver¬ 
sities are abolished. Seedlings from the same fruits 
will give some trifling diversities in cropping qualities; 
but fixity of these, in plants which are perpetuated 
by seed, is impossible. It is all very well for 
raisers or others to vaunt special properties, but a fair 
Chiswick trial knocks sentiment into a cocked hat 
in one season.— A, D. 
rARDENING OTES FROM 
I 
COTLAND 
Shrub Planting. —Evergreen shrubs have been 
in good order for transplanting for some time past, 
and the sooner they are put into their new quarters the 
more likely they are to do well next season. Often in 
late spring-planting much difficulty is experienced from 
drought, which trees and shrubs brought from a distance 
cannot well withstand. The past season was one 
which was attended with difficulty, and in many cases 
gave great anxiety to planters by drought setting in at 
planting time. We had much transplanting to do 
during last April, with trees and shrubs thinned out of 
our home grounds, also large Conifers and deciduous 
trees from a distant nursery, and all have done remark¬ 
ably well. Except one soaking of water at planting 
time (which was succeeded by a good mulching), no 
other moisture has reached the roots. We notice 
where we are lifting trees at the present time 
that the soil is very dry a few inches under the surface 
and downwards. It will require heavy rains to reach 
the roots and moisten the soil about them. Experience 
teaches us that mulching is of the greatest importance 
to every tree and shrub ; evaporation being prevented, 
labour is saved from the use of the water pot, and 
the dangers arising from the use of hard mineral-charged 
water is obviated. It is very noticeable that whenever 
good soil of a free nature is placed next the roots, the 
plants have benefited much thereby.— Caledonian. 
Effects of Soil on Vines. —It is well known 
that the nature of soil has much to do with success 
or failure of all plants, and some kinds will grow 
luxuriantly in the ordinary soil of the district without 
much help by artificial means. We know where the 
most complete success has resulted from trusting the 
natural soil and other conditions for the cultivation of 
Grapes. We know where a market-grower, with an 
immense extent of glass for Grape growing, has planted 
all his Vines in the natural soil of the fields where he 
has from time to time added to his erections ; and 
afterwards trusted to surface dressing and judicious 
applications of liquid manure. We know, too, that 
this grower is most successful in the commercial sense, 
having for many years, by easy access to Covent 
Garden, disposed of his excellent fruit advantageously. 
Amateurs and others are often deterred from gratifying 
a strong desire to grow Grapes of their own, because of 
the expense and difficulty of procuring soil, while they 
sometimes, certainly not always, may have fair success 
by the soil in their garden plots. The writer has 
more than once had to depend on such material, and 
the manner of procedure was first of all to see well to 
the drainage of the space to be occupied by the Vine 
roots ; clearing away any suspicious-looking soil 
generally under the surface. The soil to be utilised 
was ridged up to frost, turned while frozen, and during 
a dry time, such as is often experienced in March, 
the material was wheeled to the space, which might be 
called a border, the Vines planted and treated in the 
usual way, and excellent crops were realised. Though 
such may be suitable in many cases, there are other 
views to be taken—soil in one spot may be quite 
different to others, and it is very necessary that a 
haphazard practice should not be adopted. Poor soil, 
if healthy, is not the worst, as such can be improved 
and enriched with careful additions of wholesome 
manure. It is often from soil almost putrid with 
manure that failures arise. From careful observations 
of failures with Grapes, I find it is not from the want 
of attention with manure, but too often it is its super¬ 
abundance that is the cause of mischief. Where there 
is not suitable soil to allow the roots a free healthy 
course beyond the border it is very necessary that the 
space for the feeders should be curtailed, and kept 
where they would be under the entire control of the 
cultivator to supply moisture, mulching or other re¬ 
quirements, as circumstances render necessary. I could 
give numerous instances of shanking, red-spider, 
mildew, and other evils baffling successful culture, 
caused by the roots being far beyond well-made borders, 
from whence they had grown into inert soil or ironstained 
clay. Lately I witnessed a case in a new vinery, where 
a Vine at one end of the house (a Muscat), always 
became bleached in the foliage and subject to scorching. 
The fruit, which was always scanty, ripened slowly and 
not evenly; while those beside it, in the same house, 
did well in every sense. A search was made ; the main 
roots had grown through the archway to an outside 
border, but by some cause turned aside and went out 
into the end of an adjacent walk, where the sub-soil was 
of the worst description, and, no doubt, was the cause of 
the Vine failing. The present time is suitable for the 
examination of Vine roots and rectifying evils.— 
Practical. 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
,* t 
Protecting Frames. —With comparatively little 
trouble, and next to no expense, unheated frames may 
be rendered frost-proof, thereby enabling the amateur 
who has no greenhouse or other heated structure for 
the preservation of plants to winter many which he 
may at present be unable to do. Frames are often 
filled with subjects which pass the winter safely, if we 
happen to have a mild one; but should the weather 
prove exceptionally severe, and continue so for a week 
or two, it is then a universal complaint that frost has 
got in, killing most or all of the plants. This applies 
to Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Lobelias, and other plants 
of a similar nature, which often outlive a mild winter 
in the open air, especially if the subjects mentioned 
have been planted in a dry situation. Here lies, in a 
great measure, the secret of success, especially in regard 
to Pelargoniums and similar fleshy-stemmed or fleshy- 
rooted subjects, that require to be kept proportionately 
as dry as the temperature is low. 
The usual practice of covering up frames at night 
with mats has much to recommend it ; but the fact is 
frequently overlooked that such coverings, to be in any 
way effective, should be dry. When mats or similar 
things have become saturated with wet, either through 
rain or melting snow, their power of keeping out frost 
has been much reduced. It may be urged that if it 
rains to wet the coverings there cannot be frost. There 
is much in the argument; but frost often succeeds a 
period of wet so suddenly that drying the mats is out 
of the question, and moist material is very penetrable 
to frost. 
The sides as well as the tops of the frames require 
protection, which, though not necessarily of a per¬ 
manent character, may be so constructed as to require 
no further attention from the time it is made in autumn 
till it may with safety be removed in spring. No 
better protection and safeguard from frost can be had 
than dry Fern litter. A casing of this should be placed 
all round the outside of the frame containing tender 
plants ; and to prevent the Fern from blowing all over 
the place, a neat framework of wood (old boards, 
planks, or bars of little value will do) should be 
constructed, [and fastened to uprights driven in the 
ground. Between this and the frame proper pack dry 
bracken Fern moderately firm, until on a level with the 
glass top. This will ward off a great amount of frost, 
and no more need be done until there is evidence of 
severe weather. When that occurs a quantity of 
Bracken kept for the purpose may be laid thickly over 
the glass, and surmounted by mats, which should, if 
possible, also be dry. 
If Fern litter cannot be procured, dry leaves form a 
very good substitute, especially those of the Beech, 
Oak, Chestnut, Horse Chestnut, and similar leaves of 
good texture that will keep tolerably dry, and resist 
fermentation or decay. The larger the leaves the more 
will they resist wet for a time. The side casing may be 
filled with this material, and straw may be used to 
cover the top. If the latter could be made up like 
thick mats so much the better, as they could be readily 
removed during the day if necessary. The present time 
is most convenient to secure a supply of leaves where 
trees abound. Besides the above-mentioned subjects, 
cold frames so protected would harbour in safety 
Lobelia splendens, L. cardinalis and others of that 
class, Cotyledon secundum glaucum, many half-hardy 
and other choice shrubs, as well as other bedding plants 
of which amateurs may from time to time become 
possessed, as circumstances or experience may favour or 
suggest. 
Transplanting Shrubs. —Whether in the case of 
evergreen or deciduous subjects, the present is a very 
favourable time to transplant, to thin out the shrubbery, 
or re-arrange the same. One is often pained to see the 
injudicious planting of various trees or shrubs in 
unsuitable or inappropriate places ; and more so to see 
them allowed to grow up in a neglected state till the 
strong destroy the weak, and all get into such a confused 
state as to make it impossible either to prune them into 
shape, or by thinning and transplanting to render them 
in any way sightly. This arises through ignorance or 
neglect in planting and in the early stages of growth, 
so that in a very few years, what ought to be a fine 
plantation of trees or bushes becomes an unsightly 
and intricate mass of overgrown and overdrawn vege¬ 
tation. Observations made now or earlier in the season 
will suggest what specimens should be transplanted and 
put elsewhere, or altogether destroyed. The object in 
regulating these things should be done so as to secure 
ample space between each plant, to prevent crowding, 
and afford room for next year’s growth.— F. 
