96 
7 HE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 31, 1903. 
but tire seeds and plants were devoured wholesale by slugs, 
even after cleaning and planting a second time, and, as. I had 
supplied another part with the second sowing of these crops, I 
had no particular use for it, so I left it meantime, and latterly 
sowed it down with surplus seeds of Cress, Mustard, and Turnips, 
which furnished a. fair coat, of vegetable matter to dig in ; and 
this same piece of ground was for a considerable period ren¬ 
dered useless by an application of cow manure, described to 
me as “ pure coo' date ” from a dairy; lienee the expression, 
“ and to use cow manure was simply to poison the soil.” " He 
knows,” mark you, “root crop® were not always a success.” 
Well, I had another bit of ground double dug, with a view 
of preparing it for roots, such as Carrots, 'etc. The ground 
dug, forked, levelled, seed sown, the crops lifted, and the roots 
were without a fault, and, if I was rightly informed, no. finer 
Carrots—-and fine they were—had been taken off this ground 
for twenty years. 
He also says, “ Ridging Avas of no' use,” but did he ever 
try it ? The same man is here now who Avas with him, and 
on starting him I had to shoAV him how to ridge. As to his 
pronouncing “ everything a failure,” I must jog his memory 
as tO' his source of information, for he has not been in this 
garden since he left, fully fifteen months ago 1 ; so Avhat he says, 
I am afraid is fireside, or on-the J way-ho.me gossip, although, 
perhaps, from a seemingly reliable source, is very misleading 
even to say, far less putting on paper. 
I may say this same garden, Avhich is soi “ foolishly ” put 
cloAvn, was for several seasons almost wholly dug over in spring, 
the two* men having their winter’s work in fencing, hedge- 
cutting, tree-felling, and other estate Avork, and in these days 
a larger family than ever “ C. B.” had to supply in his seven 
years had to he provided for, so that goes a long way towards 
knocking his “ disaster courting ” system on the pimp. I 
quite agree with him as to the crops he mentions, but his Car¬ 
nation bed was composed of very little natural soil of the 
garden. Since reading his article I have wondered if he has 
had any failures after going to a much lighter soil from this 
trying one, and whether he had one here. I came from a 
very much different soil and climate to this part, and in 
the most trying year that, I believe, even our oldest gardeners 
have had to contend Avifch, and, although not pleased Avith my 
results, am thankful, and hope for better this coming season. 
I had plenty of growth on Ehvarf Beans, as Well as Runner 
Beans and Sweet Peas, but the flower® in all three dropped off. 
Turnips, Cabbage, Cauliflowers, Peas, Lettuce, Broad Beans, 
Onions (not big, but plenty) Avere all satisfactory. Brussels 
Sprouts, especially the early lot, turned in rather badly, and 
Kales, in a feAv oases, bolted. Tomato® I had a. fine lot, but 
late, as well as Cucumbers, and both outdoors and in I had 
a fair army of field mice to contend with, as well as a feAv 
half potfuls of slugs, and I expect still a fair stock to appear 
soon again. I trust “ C. B.” had no worse luck. 
Let us turn again to the source of my wholesale “ failure,” 
viz., “ the trenching Ion the brain.” What I have done a bit 
of this winter is this : I have double dug a few plots of ground, 
only, instead of bringing the bottom spit to the top, I have left- 
it, du°: over, in the bottom, and, after placing a good, coating 
of light manure, chiefly newly-gathered leaves, on the top) 
turned over the top .spit on the top of that, and left it in 
ridges 2 ft. apart a,nd fairly true, so that in most cases further 
working will be unnecessary; and if good results folloW, the' 
remaining parts Avill be treated in like manner. I believe I 
know my own business as Avell as “ C. B.” Perhaps he Avill 
run over about the end of August and have a look round, 'and 
see how things look, and tell the “ G. W.” readers what he 
sees, and omit to say what he hears. His article, though im¬ 
portant enough, is threadbare, and I should have let ft pass 
unacknowledged had it. not been for the sentence I refer to ; 
but whether it is worthy of criticism is another item. At all 
events, it will be seen that there is a vast difference betAveen 
a double dig and trenching, as .seem® hi® idea, 3 ft, deep. 
A rite soon. Trenching Successor. 
Working by Time Table. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —In answer to “ Vigilant,” I am pleased to see Ave have 
got a “ Solomon ” in the profession, one whose bright knowledge 
must prove beneficial to all. He protests against my article, 
“Working by Time Table” (p. 279), as having a dangerous 
tendency for young men. I beg to differ from “ Vigilant,” and 
I am glad that it is not. criminal for one to differ, although 
Avicked to fight. This gallant critic very feebly (if not stupidly) 
tries to excel in twisting round expressions to suit himself ; but 
no eye but. his own will see in my article words against young 
men keeping a diary (I kept one myself for years). But I 
had sufficient talent to see that it was only useful as steps 
to higher things. This “ Vigilant ” starts to mutilate my 
article, but the absurd point is, he, in the eud, falls into my 
Avay of thinking, and states forcibly that he will be a month 
later than his usual time in getting his “ ’Mum ” cuttings. 
Yes, “ Vigilant,” and if you plant your old Chrysanth 
roots in a cold frame, cut. them down about the end of Sep¬ 
tember. This year you will get plenty of cuttings in Novem¬ 
ber. I give you this hint and nut to crack gratis. 
If Professor “ Cal ” could write essays for the “ Competition 
Column” only half as well as he can tear to pieces and mud- 
splash some sent in by others, he would he sure to get all the 
“ Plums ” to himself. However, I Avas happy to see in this 
Aveek’s issue at least one winter Avho' had apparently enough 
wisdom in his cranium to grasp the full meaning of the article, 
“ Working by Time-table.” J. C. Dick. 
Hollies. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,- —A good deal has been said about Hollies in your recent 
issues, I grafted a variegated Holly on the common green Holly 
by cleft-grafting, and it has shown the variety put on, hut no 
white edge. Will it ever come true? It has been on five or six 
years iioav. Can I raise variegated Hollies from the berries of a 
variegated variety, as I have some? If so, when ought they 
to be sown, etc., and how long will they be in germinating? 
W. W. 
[See under “ Questions and Answers ” next Aveek.— Ed.] 
Labels for Hardy Plants. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —I am much obliged W “ Cal ” for his remarks on the 
best kind of label for hardy plants. I may say that- we have tried 
here nearly every conceivable kind) that is on the market, in¬ 
cluding one something similar to the one lie refers to, but for 
neatness and durability we have' found nothing so cheap and 
serviceable as the one I mentioned. Has “Cal ” tried it? If 
not, and he Avould like to do so, and! cares to send me his 
address, I shall be pleased to send him a sample. And I 
should esteem it a favour if he 1 will kindly send me one of 
those he advocate®, with the name of some plant upon it, as I 
am in no 'way prejudiced, but anxious to know the best. 
A. E. Thatcher. 
Practical Pollination. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sm,—In your last issue of this paper on the above subject 
(p. 6 *j), I have tried this pollination or fertilisation on 
Begonias, with a camel’s-hair brush (a new brush). I could not 
get the brush to lift a bit of the pollen, and I gave it up. I 
wiped off the flowers and put them to others that way, and it 
did what I wanted. Could you say cause why the brush did 
not act as it should haA r e done? yy yy 
[See “ Questions and Answers ” next week.—E d.] 
