292 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
April 4, 1903. 
in the locality. Assuming that the trees were headed back 
early in the year to- within a few inches to where it was in¬ 
tended the- graft to be inserted, remove this with a line teeth- 
saw or knife, as the case may require, though the shoot must 
be made smooth with the knife after using the saw. “ Crown 
or rind ” grafting is the best for large trees, making a down¬ 
ward cut about 4 in., using a sharp knife, cutting to the wood. 
Next prepare the scion by making a sloping cut on one side 
of it, so as to lit in the cut made in the stock, putting two- or 
mo-re, according to size of stock, and the scions-, _when made, 
need not be more than 6 in. in length, the point of which should 
be- removed, seeing that the same is made up of wood-buds and 
not fruit-buds. Next- bind the same securely with raffia, and 
then cover with prepared clay, horse or cow droppings, adding 
a little chaff or liay with it, well kneaded together and free of 
stone-s or grit, smoothing the whole off conical or egg-shaped, 
making sure it keeps all air out, or yo-ur graft will be- a failure. 
On very large stocks- “ cleft” grafting isi sometimes a- success, 
but it is best done on small stocks-, and saddle grafting is much 
practised in the- West with marked success, first- cutting the 
stock wedge shape, and the scion slit up the centre and put 
astride the stock, letting it- in both sides-of the rind, if possible, 
making sure one of the- sides, at any rate-, meet- bark to bark, 
without which no- union can possibly take place. The scio-n 
may be smaller than the stock, the- former being cleft about 
3 in. at the- lower end, so- that- one side is thicker than, the 
other. Next open the rind on the stock and introduce the 
thick end of the scion, carrying the thinner portion astride 
the stock and down the- opposite side, making a slight cut for 
it to go in. This mode makes the graft very firm, and seldom 
fails to unite, though it is a more tedious- operation than the 
others. Apples, Pears- and Plums may be- operated upon in 
this way, and, with the former, Cox’s Orange, Ross’s Nonpareil, 
Allington Pippin, Scarlet Nonpareil, Fearn’s Pippin, and 
Stunner Pippin, and eve-n Adam’s Peannain, should pre¬ 
dominate for dessert fruit. 
The Peach Wall.—I do not- remember seeing the trees carry¬ 
ing more blossom than they are this year, and with such a mild 
time as we- have had of late, which it is hoped will continue 
another few weeks, then we may look forward to heavy crops-. 
Examine the- trees- once or even twice- each week for aphides, 
and should any be found lurking behind the- blossom, dust at 
o-nce with tobacco powder, this not hurting blossom or foliage-, 
and though growth is comparatively forward, do- not hurry to 
remove any as yet; wait until the- fruits- are- set before com¬ 
mencing this work. 
Apricots. —These appear to- be setting well, and while- this 
fruit resents- much in the way of coddling, it is not. safe to 
remove the protection until pretty well the end of the month, 
as xve often get cold, cutting winds, which would soon undo the 
good such coverings ha-ve done, and where herring netting 
affords the shelter, such material admits a, fair amount of light, 
and has little or no ill effect o-n the tree- until the fo-liage aids 
protection to the fruit. James Matne. 
Bicton, Devonshire. 
Letters to the Editor. 
Weed Killers and Dogs. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —Having read “ Head Gardener’s ” letter in the other 
week’s Gardening World, asking for the opinion of other 
gardeners as to the danger to dogs and other pet animals through 
using weed-killers, I may say, in my last place- the gamekeeper 
told me about one of his dogs having been poisoned with weed¬ 
killer, but owing to prompt measures- having been taken it did 
not prove fatal. In this instance weed-killer was being put on a 
gravel walk oil a warm day and some of -it got on to steps leading 
on to another terrace, where it lodged for some time. The keeper 
happening to pass that Avay, his dog licked the liquid off the 
steps, and before it liad gone txvo hundred yards the do-g lost the 
po-wer o-f his limbs, and had to be carried to his kennel. Having 
suspected the cause, an emetic was applied, but it was some 
weeks before the dog recovered from the effects. We cannot b« 
too- careful in how we use this, the best friend the gardener has. 
A Border Gardener. 
The Critics. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,_A recent writer in your columns draws attention to a 
very obvious fact, viz., that it is a much simpler matter to 
criticise and tear to pieces an article than to write such an 
article; and-the,scribes wlio constitute themselves critics in 
your journal are men that, as far as one can judge, never them¬ 
selves advance any ideas or experiences of their oivn in the shape 
of papers for competition or otherwise. 
This, of course, if they could only see it, detracts considerably 
from the value of their criticisms. It is also a curious fact that 
your average critic hides himself behind a noin de phi me. These 
gents are surely either ashamed of their opinions or else must 
be very modest men. As I am o-n the subject of nums de plume, 
I may as well give, not only my own opinion, but also the opinion 
of others 1 have spoken to on the subject. And that is, that tin¬ 
man who lias not the courage to sign his name cannot expect the 
average reader to place much dependence on his opinion or 
advice. The writers also of unsigned articles would improve the 
value of these by giving at least the county in ivhich they live. 
Honestly, Mr. Editor, I think you ought to make this latter 
proposition compulsory, and thus add much to the value of the 
articles. 
[Anonymity lias its uses, and some good authorities have 
admitted that it is one of the greatest powers of the press ivhen 
properly used. In the- case of an argument it often happens 
that two or more opponents will discuss it better when unknown 
to each other than otherwise. A good argument or a well-written 
article should stand on its own merits, and if couched in terms 
ihat the average reader can understand, it can generally he 
appreciated at its worth, whether the writer signs his name ov 
not. In cultural matters erroneous views may sometimes be 
taken, even when the writer fully believes ivhat he says. On 
the other hand, the same results may be obtained by different 
methods o-f procedure; hence the value of an exchange of 
opinion. It is always desirable-, of course, that writers should 
stick closely to the- subject under discussion.— Ed.] 
“ T. S.” see-ms still to be in a bad way. He has taken some 
little time to manufacture ammunition for his big guns. Unfor¬ 
tunately he has not kept -his powder dry. Like a good many 
more, lie does not stick very closely to his text. If lie- cares li¬ 
st ick to the subject of trenching, and gives his experience on the 
subject, I, along with others, will give due attention to his 
opinion. So far, the arguments of “ T. S.” have failed to con¬ 
vince me, and with regard to the soil under discussion, I am - i 
the same opinion still as when I Avrote the offending article. Ot 
course, if “ T. S.” and his employer can wait for a feiv years to 
see- how his experiments work, that is all right, only I have never 
yet been able to stop a cook’s mouth by explaining that I was 
trying experiments, and that perhaps in a year or two 1 would 
be able to give- her some- Beet, say. 
As to “Willow 1 Tree” and his invitation, he- ought to know 
that we West- Lothian gardene-rs are- modest men, and it would 
ill become us to laud our respective “ kail-yairds ” ; we w ill 
therefore leave “ W. T. ” the task of penning the proposed articles. 
Why does “ W. T.,” like so many others, hide his light under a 
bushel ? Cannot lie come into the open and take his medicine 
like a man? ‘ C. Blair. - 
Preston, Linlithgow. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,— In your issue of March 7th I see that we have awakened 
a new flattering critic, ivho has adopted the suitable, noni de plumi 
of “Willow Tree.” I shall try to give this (weeping) Willow tree 
a few comforting words. Might I suggest to “ W. T.” that he, 
would get far more shelter under a Pine or Holly this very stormy 1 
weather. I hope “ W. T. ” is mot so narrow-minded as to think 
that before one can be a competent gardener his name must first 
be very prominent in the list of jDrize-takers at the leading flower 
shows. \\ hat about the hundreds of good gardeners avIio never 
compete (many of them in the- best of place-s), but prefer to live- 
in quiet obscurity? There are reasons and reasons for every¬ 
thing, “ W. T.” Then some gardeners are- too heavily handi¬ 
capped for ivant of the- proper facilities to be able to compete 
successfully with the great “stars.” But if “W. T.” Avishes toj 
debate the question, let him come out to the gardens here, and I 
will try to convince him that perfection Avas never yet condensed- 
into one man. HoAvever, the fraternity, as a rule, know all 
about the knotty points of this matter, therefore I will sayi°j 
more on the subject to this valiant critic avIio uses a “ Willow 
Tree for a cloak of anonymity. John C. Pick. 
