January 10, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
293 
the provisions of the measure that scales of all descrip¬ 
tions, even those used in the market gardens for weighing 
up of Potatos, shall have steel bearings and be 
stamped as correct. Of course, seedsmen’s scales must 
be similarly stamped, and many unaware of the require¬ 
ments of the Act may find later that because of their 
ignorance they will be heavily fined. It should be the 
duty of any association charged with oversight of all 
legal matters affecting the horticultural trade, to see 
that all possible information be widely circulated, and 
there can be no doubt but that the horticultural press 
would only too readily give the needful publicity. 
I do not know whether measures employed in trade, 
such as bushel baskets, seed measures, &c., have to be 
stamped also ; indeed, it so happens in this country, 
that whilst Parliament passes Acts readily enough, it 
never makes provision for their publication for the 
benefit of those specially concerned ; hence, in this case, 
we know little about the new Weights and Measures 
Act except by hearsay, or until an offence against its 
provisions has led to expensive practical acquaintance¬ 
ship. — D. 
- ►»**■ - 
GOOSEBERRY PRUNING. 
While this subject has been so often under discussion, 
and complete success has attended the practice of so 
many cultivators whose systems of Gooseberry pruning 
are apparently out of touch with each other, it would 
almost seem on my part to be courting censure by 
referring to the matter at present; but I know that, 
at this season especially, many fresh young readers 
begin their gardening studies and join their neighbours 
ia reading the popular Gardening World, and 
though old stories crop up, they are to many quite new. 
Your Kentish correspondent does not take exception 
to the remarks from observations by Mr. Smithcr, but 
is under the impression that systems practised north 
and south are materially different. 'Having practised 
iu gardens in six different counties in England from my 
youth upwards during the best part of a quarter of a 
century (in market as well as private gardens), I have 
in each part observed a variety of manipulations of the 
poor Gooseberry, which would almost lead one to 
suppose that a spirit of revenge existed among culti¬ 
vators against the fruit-bearing plant, and yet under 
most circumstances it survives and fruits freely while 
under severe pruning, or when no pruning at all is 
practised. 
Though bushes are kept handsome in Scotch gardens 
generally, and do wtll, systems often vary widely in 
the north, just as one meets in English gardens. I 
prefer the system of thinning out the shoots regularly, 
leaving the most upright growing wood, retaining 
natural spurs, and removing enough old wood to keep 
the bush always vigorous. If growth becomes gross, 
lifting the roots carefully, replanting them firmly and 
mulching liberally, will induce fruitfulness and reduce 
labour in pruning. The hedge-like bushes so often 
seen produce small and inferior fruit, and old moss- 
covered stems spurred up year after year, so common 
in old gardens, give poor returns, and often the quality 
of such is useless. I have seen no pruning so 
satisfactory as that described by your Carron corre¬ 
spondent.— Slirltng. 
-°-> X< — -- 
PLANTING WALNUTS FOR 
PROFIT. 
Walnut trees are almost always planted singly, or in 
very small clumps, and rarely on any recognised plan. 
Hence an account of a case in which they were planted 
on a definite system may not be without interest. In 
1831, Sir William Long planted a field of some six or 
seven acres in extent with Walnuts ; it is said because 
he had an idea that Walnut-wood was likely to become 
scarce and would, when arrived at maturity, be in 
great request for gun-stocks. He calculated that while 
the wood was maturing the land would pay its way by 
means of the fruit. The field is naturally a rich loam 
resting on gravel, at Kemptson, near Bedford. Several 
varieties of Walnuts were selected, and the trees—365 
in all—were planted ,: on the square,” 21 yards apart. 
So they remained until some fourteen years ago, when 
about two-third3 of them were cut down, as it was 
found they were too close to flourish. In order that 
the land should not be out of profit while the trees were 
making no return, it was planted with Hops—some of 
the last grown in Bedfordshire—and they stood for 
about ten or a dozen years, when they were stocked up 
and the land seeded down for grass, in which it still 
remains. At present the trunks measure from 3 ft. to 
5 ft. in circumference at 4 ft. from the ground, and 
from the ground to the fork 14 ft. Since the trees 
began to bear they have averaged about 2,000 nuts per 
tre9 ; whilst the biggest yield, in 1870, was 5,000 per 
tree. Of course, as yet, the trees have but little felling 
value, but this they will acquire as time progresses. 
Meanwhile the grass and the nuts are making a fair 
return per acre; so that, like much other fruit planting, 
this has not been a bad investment, though the ultimate 
return is still a long way off. — 1Y. ./. Malden, in the 
Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society. 
--- 
JASMINUM NUDIFLORUM. 
In winters of ordinary severity, this Jasmine is usually 
quite gay during December and January, flowering at 
intervals according as the weather is mild for the time 
being or otherwise. It has never had a chance this 
winter, but provided the buds were not too far 
advanced before the stormy and frosty weather set in, 
the plants will yet be gay later on, say in February or 
March. A few mild days at this season soon makes a 
difference to the buds, which naturally swell up and 
burst open in the absence of frost. It is a native of 
China, from whence it was introduced in 1844. The 
specific name was given in allusion to the fact that the 
flowers are produced on the naked branches long before 
the development of leaves. Other species of Jasmine 
flower on the young wood, consequently the flowers are 
not naked but accompanied by foliage. The accom¬ 
panying sketch of a spray gives an idea of the naked 
branches, with their flowers which are yellow. The 
plant is most at home against a wall, and should not 
be pruned till after the flowering period is over. 
-- 
THE WINTER AND PLANTS 
I notice that some of our head gardeners are grumbling 
about the ill effects of fog, and absence of light, upon 
plants under glass, especially where there is forcing. 
If these gentlemen would confine their complaints to 
the press, no harm would be done, but when the blame 
is laid upon the shoulders of we poor under-gardeners 
and foremen then it is a hard case. With weather of 
the bitterest kind, with fog almost perpetual, and 
daylight almost semi-darkness, how is it possible that 
plant culture, especially if forced or tender plants, and 
of fruits, can go on with any hope of success ? 
The matter comes home rather closely to the under¬ 
gardener section of any garden staff, because they 
have, as it were, literally to live amongst their plants, 
and if there are failures, cannot get away from them 
for even a short time. Gardening in the dead of 
winter is becoming a terribly difficult and thankless 
work. The longer time goes on, the worse somehow 
the fogs seem to become, and the best hopes of those 
who have worked hard to produce good things are 
dashed to the ground. 
Our heads should be all the more anxious to sym¬ 
pathise with those who work amidst fog-producing 
pastures, and feel that we have to endure disappoint¬ 
ment as well as they. I hope in this case a word to 
the wise will be enough ; all the grumbling in the 
world will not reduce the evils attendant upon gardening 
in such seasons as we have been passing through, 
whilst a few kindly words and expressions of sympathy 
may go a long way in helping young men to bear the 
ills which beset them .—A Young One. 
-- >X - < —- 
SEASONABLE NOTES. 
While we read of frost and snow in the south, as well 
as other parts of England, mirahile dicta, during the 
month of December, we have every reason to bo 
thankful that in our northern district (in the valley 
of the Forth) we can look upon green landscapes, 
execute ordinary garden labour, and have all our 
requirements well supplied from the vegetable garden, 
and some flowers from the open as well. The latter, 
have, however, consisted of Uvarias, some Wallflowers, 
a few Polyanthus (Downie’s Choice Strain) and Roses. 
On two occasions we have had 12° of frost, but 
seldom, when there has been frost at all, has 5° 
been exceeded. We have seen snow on the distant 
hills, but none has fallen in quantity sufficient to 
change the appearance of the prospect around us. 
While we hear of the readings of the thermometer being 
below zero in some southern parts of England (where 
our gardening experience of nearly a quarter of a 
century has been much larger than in northern parts), 
especially in Wilts, Middlesex, and Suffolk, it ha3 
been our fortune never to witness such low temperatures 
in Scotland. Why we should be so exempt from severe 
weather here it is difficult to suggest. In the valleys 
of the Tweed and Tay matters are different, and 
reports consequently less enviable. 
In December we had to turn out the scythes (grass 
being too long for lawn machines) to make surfaces 
presentable. Shrub growth was unusually late last 
autumn, and every class of shrub is at present exti a 
green in appearance. Those especially so are round- 
leaved Laurels, Portugal Laurel, Box, Garrya elliptica, 
Hollies, and Conifer® generally, while plants and 
cuttings placed in sand-covered surfaces in openbordeis 
under protection of hoops and mats never looked 
better. Calceolaria cuttings inserted during October in 
the positions indicated with glass protectors (and 
single mats during frost only) have not ceased to grow, 
and not one has suffered. Under glass, forcing of 
vegetables has not been a severe task. Asparagus, 
Sea Kale, Rhubarb, and Mushrooms have been plentiful 
since November. Vines and Strawberries have hitherto 
been tardy in their progress. The absence of sunshine 
has no doubt been conducive to this. Early Peaches 
also move slowly, but the second and third succession 
houses have, however, been less quiescent. We con¬ 
tinue to cut blooms of Mums, at the rate of 300 to 400 
weekly ; we had the houses filled with plants, and 
notwithstanding air being supplied ad lib., the Peach 
trees are at a disadvantage while combating with such 
untoward circumstances. 
Reverting to vegetables, we have not used any 
covering yet for Celery, and never have we had greater 
reason to be satisfied with the quality of the heads, 
they being solid, sound, finely blanched, and the top3 
fresh and green. Amongst several kinds, Majcr 
Clarke’s Red and Veitch’s Pink are in the finest con¬ 
dition, and we anticipate having good supplies till 
May at least. Curled Kale, on ground somewhat 
poor, is extra fine. The later Brussels Sprouts, on 
moderately rich ground, are less in size than usual ; 
early crops are large, although not so firm as usual. 
Cabbages form hard hearts no longer, but are in fine 
condition for use. Turnips in rows, with soil drawn over 
the bulbs, !are very good, the red-skinned sorts especially. 
Flowers open slowly. Bulbs of most kinds are more 
tardy than usual, and Roman Hyacinths, though ready 
to cut at the end of October, are not so vigorous on the 
whole as usual. Gardenias planted out in a bed and 
which are thickly budded, open very slowly. Begonia 
Ingramii and others, which had bloomed for six months 
right off, were recently cut over to make room for other 
plants. In the Camellia house, I never saw the 
flowers open so slowly, all blooms we have cut have 
been from the back wall of vineries. I never saw 
the foliage of Gros Colmar Vines hang so long in a 
green state. The leaves were, on January 3rd, still 
green and sound, but with less colouring in them than, 
usual. Lhdy Downes and Alicante are now only 
dropping their leaves in a yellow state. The kinds 
enumerated have kept sound and good, and are to 
be put in bottles with water next week. I am 
thankful to say that during 1890 we have had many 
mercies, and have few complaints to make.— M, Temple 
Stirling. 
