516 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 13, 1903. 
We a;ll know what the slug is, a.nd would be overjoyed at being 
able to exterminate the whole species. But how ? That’s the 
question. They maul the bulbs, they eat the Primroses, and 
chew up the Pyrethrums, 
* * * 
A cottager was recently bewailing the great trouble. What 
she was to do she didn’t know, and I didn’t either, save 
advising the old much-hackneyed remedies. 
* * 
By the way, the same good lady recently showed me some 
Dahlia roots which had been left in the open ground. 
* * * 
They were perfect, yet my own carefully stored tubers have 
never kept so badly. Quite one-third of my stock has gone over 
the border; not in the border, but over, right away into the dust . 
bin. 
* * * 
Now is the time to get Zonal plants, and, to remind me of 
suoh, the list of Bore and Sons, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, is at 
hand. 
* * * 
I believe this firm catalogues the largest number of varieties 
of any firm I know of. Many new things are offered, including 
a new improved white single raised by a dear friend who 1 
regret to say has gone on his long journey. 
* * * 
The variety is named “ Coronation,” and the raiser informed 
me, prior to his unexpected death, that it was one of the very 
best of its class, both as regards its bloom and growth. 
In addition to Zonals, numerous new Fuchsias are to be had, 
besides novelties in Abutilons, Lantanas, Petunias, Oxalis, 
Primula obcon.ioa, and other greenhouse plants. Among them 
is the Shoo Fly plant, referred to awhile ago. Also Parrot’s 
Feather, Myriophyllum proserpinaeoides, a remarkably pretty 
aquatic plant with feathery whorls, which run a foot or more in 
length, making .a delightful subject for a window. I remember 
seeing a bowl of this suspended in a window, and the long traits 
of pale green over the sides was indeed a picture. 
* * * 
I am not aware as to how one has to induce Veitch’s to present 
one of their books entitled “ The Veitohian Nurseries,” but the. 
superb views of their four nurseries, together \%ith the portraits 
of five of the great family, is indeed a work of art, 
■31 TV * 
If Englishmen desired to form a golf link they would not look 
for a place unsuitable for the purpose. Americans, however, are 
different. The Cleveland links were once oovered with huge 
boulders, which had to be dragged or carted away. 
* * * 
Then dozens of Italian emigrants were for months removing 
the smaller stones, after which steam rollers, new soil, and 
other up-to-date devices were brought into play. 
r * * * 
Yet to-day these links rank among the best. 
* * * 
A pile of energy and a good stock of dollars will work wonders 
in America. 
I am in a little quandary with respect to the remarks of Mr. 
J. C. Peebles, on page 266. 
■it ^ ^ 
It appears as if he were charging me with advising tree plant¬ 
ing at 3ft. apart, although I have no recollection of suoh a state¬ 
ment- * * * 
On pa^e 202 “ A W.” urges the formation of orchards in this 
manner.° However, as Mr. Peebles asks for “Cal’s” opinion, I 
may say at once I disagree with suoh close planting. I am 
willing to admit that dwarf bushes on the Paradise stock come 
into bearing much more quickly, and require less room, but it 
can scarcely be argued that such trees are suitable for permanent 
orchards which are expected to produce large quantities of fruit 
for an indefinite period. 
The full standard is the tree for market work. 
* * * 
A point advanced by Mr. Peebles rather puzzles me, for he 
remarks that it would be sheer folly to plant 9,680 trees in the 
middle of a 10-acre field, thus leaving 8 acres in a slovenly con¬ 
dition. 
* * * 
Granting that a man did plant that number of trees at 3ft, 
apart, why should he have 8 acres of waste land ? 
* * * 
Respecting the removal of the crop, even if a grower did plant 
3ft. apart, he assuredly would place them in rows at a greater 
distance than from plant to plant. If he did not, then he would 
be as stupid as Mr. Peebles imagines he would be. 
* * * 
However, if “ Cal ” were dropped into a 2-acre orchard, 
similar to what he pictures, I guess it would not take long Dr 
him to get out, Apples and all. 
■* * * 
Maybe Mr. Peebles thinks he is an arm-chair gardener with 
a profound dislike for work. Had he seen “ Cal ” recently hack¬ 
ing out a number of disreputable Damson trees, which were 
planted some 50 years ago in a style resembling that pictured by 
him, viz., 4ft. apart, and standards to wit, he would have con¬ 
cluded that “ Cal ” shone fairly well as an axe slinger. 
y. 
However, as “A. W.” stated in his letter, the trees can be 
shifted as soon as needful, but unfortunately many people would 
hesitate at the critical period. A form of tree that “ will ” allow 
close planting, even to the extent of l^-ft. in the rows, is the 
cordon; but this is strictly the private man’s tree, not- the 
market man’s. 
* w * 
For the former, with little space at his command, nothing can 
be better, I myself ha ving some 90 trees under my care. I or 
the market man there is only one form of tree, the standard , 
moreover he would be well advised to keep it free from grass. 
* * * 
Grass orchards are a 
d iscountenanced. 
relic of the old days, 
* * * 
and it should be 
Whilst on this point it would not be out of place to draw at¬ 
tention to the Boer delegates now in Canada. 
* * * 
When visiting the Niagara fruit district they expressed un¬ 
bounded delight >at the cleanliness of the orchards. 
* * * 
Not a bit of grass or other crop, 
possession. 
* li¬ 
the Apple trees having sole 
* 
On asking why the growers did not cultivate oorn under the 
trees as was -done in South Africa, they were quietly informed 
that if Canadians practised such methods the result would be 
some corn, some Apples, but not a great deal of either. 
* * * 
In direct contradiction to the above remarks are the views of a 
Mr. Hitchins in the “ Rural New Yorker.” This gentleman is an 
extensive grower, and -for several years he has had his orchards 
down to grass. 
* * * 
The latter is mowed twice annually, and the clippings are piled 
around the trees. 
* * * 
The claim is that the trees are kept in a state of fertility 
through the rotting of these mulchings, while the roots are saved 
from disturbance by ploughing, as was formerly adopted to 
keep the soil open. How long such orchards will remain free 
from insects is another question, but personally I imagine those 
heaps of decaying grass should prove a happy hunting and breed¬ 
ing ground for all the sundry pests that prey upon fruits. 
A note from a friend in Hunts informs me that wells are 
drying out, and deeper boring is becoming necessary. 
Despite this, we learn of the terrible waste daily going °n. Mr- 
W. Whittaker recently instanced a case where 5,000,000 gallons 
were daily pumped into a tidal river. 
u ^ 
At the Severn Tunnel 16,000,000 gallons are daily wasted. 
* * * 
If it were used for irrigating purposes things would not be so 
bad, but it all goes into the sea. 
