October 29, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
135 
which are very often troublesome amongst Orchids, is 
to have the infested plants carefully sponged with 
water, to which a small quantity of Fir Tree Oil has 
been added. The most troublesome disease the amateur 
has to contend against is that called spot, which con¬ 
sists of black spots on the leaves, the tips generally 
becoming quite black. This is caused by the plants 
being kept too damp, or being checked in some way. 
If it should occur, have the plant shaken out, and the 
roots well washed in clean water and re-potted in fresh 
material. I should like to have touched on a few more 
interesting points in Orchid culture, but time and 
space prevent me from doing so. I trust that in the 
discussion many more points which I have omitted will 
be fully discussed, and much information imparted to 
help those of our amateur members who have taken to 
Orchid growing.— Alex. Wright. 
-- 
§ARDENING ffoTES FROM 
' §C0TLAND. 
Martinmas Term. —The autumnal term in Scot¬ 
land is of considerable significance, but to no one, we 
think, is this period of the year of greater importance 
than to the journeyman gardener who is making his 
“shift ” in quest of another berth. Those who have 
gone through the ordeal for several seasons—perhaps 
consecutive—and had difficulties to meet, are fully 
alive to the humiliating position in which respectable 
young men are often placed. If there are new open¬ 
ings for them, in which they can form an engagement 
to spend a season at work, it is hailed as a providential 
blessing. "We are not disposed to turn the dark side of 
the picture into full view just now in these pages, 
otherwise our knowledge of very many sad disclosures 
would reveal experience which is unknown to the craft 
in the southern parts of the kingdom. As the matter 
has become au old story, it does not excite much 
sympathy or curiosity in those who are not directly 
interested. "We have had appeals, by letter as well as 
urgent verbal solicitation, to make an effort at venti¬ 
lating this subject, but such is not our intention at 
present; however, we do not object to briefly point to 
a subject, which is in every sense the most mis¬ 
chievous to the prospects of young gardeners, as well as 
to the status of horticulture. It is well known that in 
many gardens throughout Scotland—or places which 
have such a title, though quite unworthy of it—there are, 
periodically, youths engaged for a period of three years 
to perform the drudgery, which is so well known to 
exist in such positions ; at the end of the engagement 
these lads have attained the age which entitles them to 
the name of young men, and, professionally, to the 
rank of journeymen. They have to “shift” at the 
term—where? In many cases to the army, a seafaring 
life, a drudge in a factory, or auy menial service in 
which they can earn their daily bread. Many are more 
fortunate, in being thrust on the mercy of nursery¬ 
men to push them into some place where journeymen 
are employed, and then, as in the majority of cases, 
the true apprenticeship begins, no tuition having been 
given them by those who had the supervision of the 
youths during their apprenticeship, except where a 
barrow, broom or spade was in use, as no higher 
branches of gardening could come within their reach. 
To employ apprentices for three years and then to be 
called journeymen, who expect wages and all other 
advantages of experienced workmen, is a burlesque of a 
most unjust kind. Taking boys to do the work of 
what should be matured labour is a system that is 
increasing the miseries of our young gardeners, by 
multiplying their numbers to such a great extent 
that three-fourths or even more of them cannot find 
employment in the vocation they have been wishful 
to follow. It is often alleged that many are engaged 
as apprentices to meet a craving by some for the gain 
rendered by “apprentices’ fees”; we would hope 
there were no “fees” given or received where tuition 
could not be given in return. 
We are not ignorant of the fact that there were once 
cases where fees were allowed, by proprietors, to be 
taken as an auxiliary to the miserable pittance which 
they paid to the men they dubbed head gardeners. It 
is never too late to mend, and it would delight us and 
many others if the “ bitter cry ” associated with 
apprentices ceased ; and all who do not support this 
wholesale method of dealing out injustice to a portion 
of our race, should do what we believe is common 
justice to themselves, and honest to those who suffer by 
the delusion of being led to believe they were gardeners 
—whose three years of drudgery only rendered it im¬ 
possible that they could understand the ordinary 
rudiments of their profession—viz., to engage no one 
as a qualified journeyman who had not, at least, been 
employed four years in rudimentary garden work.— 
Caledonian. 
Roses. —The season has now arrived when planters 
of Roses may be contemplating the work which they 
have in view, and to make a thorough preparation at 
first is half the battle of future success. "Where the 
constitution of the plants has been most severely tried 
during the past droughty season, we observed, that in 
positions where soil is shallow, light and poor, though 
the Rose likes well-drained land, it soon suffers from 
a lack of moisture at the roots. To remove such 
untoward defection, the earlier action is now taken the 
more complete is the remedy likely to be. "Where there 
is not a depth of natural soil, addition should be made if 
possible, and the sub-soil should be well broken up, but 
not brought to the surface ; a good layer of rotted cow- 
manure turned under the surface-spit, well mixed at 
the bottom, is of much service in renovating shallow 
ground. The Roses, when planted, should have good 
fresh earth placed next the roots to start them, and 
over that a mulching of rotten manure will protect the 
young roots from drought and draw them upwards 
next season. "When the active feeders can be kept out 
of the poor aud unhealthy sub-soil, much injury is 
prevented by the evils of mildew, red-spider and 
drought. "We know where plants have been placed on 
hard surfaces impervious to the descent of roots, and had 
to depend entirely on surface support, and do admirably ; 
but good mulching—not dry straw or moisture-resisting 
material—was the chief agent in giving luxuriant and 
abundance of inflorescence. There is comparatively 
little credit in securing first-rate Roses (plants and 
flowers) where strong soil is abundant, such as one 
meets within Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Haddington¬ 
shire, compared with other parts, where sand and 
gravel is the staple soil of the land. For abundance 
of flowers and length of season in bloom, we think the 
northern part of the kingdom excels ; for colour, and a 
fine flower, one generally has to look to the south. 
Rose blooms are very abundant with irs at 
present, and from a long list of kinds loaded with 
bloom, we select the following as being among the most 
useful in autumn: Pierre Hotting, Dr. Andry, Duchesse 
de "Yallombrosa, Comtesse de Sereyne, Marquise de 
Castellane, Duke of Connaught, General Jacqueminot, 
Senateur Yaisse, La France, and Alfred Colomb.— Cal. 
Melons of the Season. —It has been our 
privilege to see great numbers of Melons this year of 
sorts, sizes, colours, and forms. Most of them have 
been on exhibition tables—in districts wide apart—and 
had to be adjudicated upon, and many were tasted. 
Our opinion, that there has been little improvement 
for many years by the introduction of new kinds on the 
existing old favourites, is now strongly supported from 
the standpoints adduced, and by the verdicts given at 
these exhibitions. A Melon well cultivated is, however, 
a very different fruit from one badly treated, and we 
fear many Melons which are placed for exhibition are 
such as are considered unfit for an employer’s table, 
or even the cultivator’s own ; and it would be well if 
managers of exhibitions would insist that such articles 
are not admissible, but are most discreditable as well 
as very offensive. "\Ve know nothing more nauseating 
than a Melon in a state of decay, and the task for 
judges to examine such by the use of the palate is 
a trying ordeal. Among the best Melons we have seen 
this year the following may be included as really 
worthy of cultivation, and such as often take high 
rank as competing kinds :—Beechwood, La Favourite, 
Best of All, Golden Perfection, Hero of Lockinge, 
William Tillery, Eastnor Castle, and Blenheim Orange. 
Longleat Perfection is an excellent kind, and our first 
acquaintance with it was at Liverpool (when visited by 
the Royal Horticultural Society of London), but its 
cracking proclivities will prevent its extensive culture. 
In pots, and roots otherwise under control, we have 
not mastered the splitting when about the ripening 
period. The finest flavoured fruit we have tasted this 
year was one called Prince of W ales, green flesh, which 
was among a late lot ripened about the middle of 
October. The hardiest of all is Little Heath, a large 
kind, most easily cultivated, and for early work it out¬ 
distanced some six or seven others that were its 
contemporaries. Some seeds were given us lately with 
the highest recommendation a fruit could have, and 
from a veteran grower of well known fame ; we expect 
something distinct and superior—the name is Imperial 
Green Flesh.— Caledonian. 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
Fruit Tp.ee Planting. —The work in this depart¬ 
ment is now in full swing,, and if. amateurs only knew 
the facilities open to them for growing their own 
supply of fruit, or part of it, much more would be 
grown by a large class of people than is at present the 
case. "When one has got the idea that large trees and 
years of waiting are necessary before fruit can be 
obtained from those newly planted, the prospect is 
forbidding enough in itself, not to speak of the trouble 
and expense incurred in the operation. "Whether we 
think of large trees on walls, or more especially 
standards that require many years’ growth before we 
can expect much from them, it is natural to shrink 
from the undertaking that seems likely to benefit 
somebody else or some future generation. The skill of 
the cultivator has overcome this difficulty in so striking 
a manner that fruit can be obtained from trees the 
first year after planting, provided the season and other 
conditions are suitable. 
In the case of Apple trees, this is effected by growing 
those that have been grafted on the Paradise stock ; 
and in the case of Pear trees, by the use of those grafted 
on the Quince. Trees so treated are greatly dwarfed 
in habit, and inclined to earlier bearing; while 
the size and quality of the fruit itself is improved 
immensely. 
Another good point in favour of fruit-growing in small 
gardens is that by the method mentioned a great 
number of different kinds can be grown in little space, 
thus securing a variety and succession of fruit for 
different seasons of the year, according to the ripening 
of the kinds. For small gardens, grafted on the stocks 
mentioned, the trees may be grown as pyramids, or 
single or double cordons, the latter being horizontal, 
oblique, or erect, as convenience or suitability may 
direct. 
By frequent transplanting, a mass of fibrous roots 
is developed close to the base of the tree, and in that 
way they come within the reach of any surface-feeding 
which may be applied. The roots are also prevented 
from passing down, it may be, into an unsuitable sub¬ 
soil ; while at the same time the trees may be readily 
lifted and taken to another garden at any time during 
the planting season, so that no loss is incurred by 
having to leave them behind in the case of the owner’s 
removal. 
No better time than the present could be chosen for 
securing a selection of trees for planting, or for trans¬ 
planting those already possessed. A certain amount 
of warmth still pervades the soil, and if all necessary 
planting is effected now, the roots, which are still 
active, will take fresh possession of their new quarters 
before winter fairly sets in, and the trees will start 
away readily at the proper time as if they had never 
been moved. The foliage is now in that stage of ripe¬ 
ness which will cause them to drop, and the coolness 
and moistness of the atmosphere will prevent any 
undue evaporation or exhaustion of the wood in the 
process of transplanting. 
If a quantity of turf can be obtained from an old 
pasture, the trees would be greatly benefited bj r a few 
turves laid under them, as well as having a quantity 
chopped up roughly and mixed with the ordinary soil. 
If the latter is naturally rich, however, all this trouble 
may be spared by simply trenching the ground, and 
incorporating whatever manure may be applied with 
the upper 10 ins. or 12 ins. of soil. Beautiful and 
miniature pyramidal specimens of Apples and Pears 
grafted on the stocks above mentioned, may be grown 
in single lines round the squares of vegetable ground, 
or round borders where suitable exposure to light, and 
a free play of air is enjoyed, so as to maintain the 
health of the trees. If desirable, Apple trees may be 
grown on the same stock, and trained as double 
cordons for the margin of walks, or they may be 
trained into fan-shaped specimens, and grown against 
walls or espaliers. In the latter case they may 
be trained horizontally, as we usually see Pears 
treated. 
It is taken for granted that the walls and trellis-work 
in cottage, villa, or other small gardens are low, 
because, considering that growth on the special stocks 
mentioned is very slow, a long time would elapse before 
high walls could be covered, and much space would 
thereby be wasted. By training the trees, however, as 
single or double, oblique or upright cordons, a great 
variety of trees could be used, and the whole of the 
space occupied in a fow years from the time of planting 
maiden trees. 
