JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
173 
NEW  AND  DELICIOUS 
MARROWFAT 
CARTERS’  DAISY. 
The  only  Pea  that  em¬ 
bodies  the  best  features 
of  an  ideal  variety,  viz., 
EARLINESS, 
HABIT, 
SIZE  OF  POD, 
and  FLAVOUR. 
CARTERS’ 
DAISY  PEA 
Illustrated  CATALOGUE,  Gratis  and  Post  Free. 
THE  QUEEN’S  SEEDSMEN, 
237,  238,  &  97,  HIGH  HOLBORN, 
LONDON,  W.C. 
Is  not  a  selection,  but 
creates  a  distinct  break  in 
Marrowfat  Peas. 
Its  merits  have  re¬ 
ceived  recognition  from 
the  Eoyal  Horticultural 
Society  on  more  than  one 
occasion. 
DR.  MASTERS,  F.R.S., 
inspected  our  crop,  and 
illustrated  this  remarkable 
Pea  in  the  columns  of  the 
Gardeners'  Chronicle. 
Height,  about  1J  Feet 
New  Hand-picked  Seed 
in  Sealed  Packets , 
Price  2s.  per  Pint; 
3s  6d.  per  Quart. 
Carriage  Free. 
- - - - 
CARTERS’ 
NEW  PEAS 
have  a  distinot  character 
peculiar  to  themselves  alone, 
as  witness  the  world-wide 
popularity  of  STRATAGEM 
and  TELEPHONE,  both  of 
which  were  introduced  by 
Messrs.  Garter. 
ANOTHER 
GRAND  NOVELTY  J 
CARTERS’ 
MICHAELMAS  PEA. 
As  its  name  implies,  this  fine 
Marrow  Pea  is  of  the  greatest 
service  as  a  “  Last-of-AU  ” 
crop.  It  was  well  grown  last 
season  in  the  Pea  trials  con¬ 
ducted  by  the  Royal  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society,  and  the 
only  late  Pea  considered 
worthy  of  their  Award. 
Height,  2J  feet. 
In  Sealed  Packets.  3s.  Pint ; 
5s.  Quart,  post  free. 
A  POD  OF  CARTERS’  DAISY. 
March  4,  189?. 
VEITCHS’ 
CAULIFLOWERS. 
VEITCHS’  EARLY  FORCINC. 
Firtl-Clau  Certificate,  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
Of  dwarf  compact  habit,  beautifully  close  and  white, 
nedium-sized  heads.  Gomes  into  use  earlier  than  any  other 
variety.  Highly  recommended  for  forcing  or  very  early  use. 
Per  Packet,  1/6  and  2/6. 
VEITCHS’  PEARL, 
The  best  Main  Crop  variety,  producing  pure  white  heads 
of  medium  size  and  finest  quality. 
Per  Packet,  1/6. 
VEITCHS’  AUTUMN  GIANT. 
The  grandest  variety  in  cultivation,  magnificent,  large, 
pure  white  heads,  of  splendid  quality ;  indispensable  for 
autumn  use.  Per  ounce,  2/-. 
For  full  descriptions  of  the  above  and  other  CHOICE 
NOVELTIES,  see  SEED  CATALOGUE  for  1897, 
forwarded  Post  Free  on  application. 
JAMES  VEITCH  &  SONS, 
ROYAL  EXOTIC  NURSERY,  Ltd- 
CHELSEA,  LONDON,  S.W. 
p 
vV  &  son  s 
CHOICE 
VEGETABLE  &  FLOWER 
FOR  PRESENT  SOWING, 
AND 
BULBS  AND  PLANTS 
FOR  SPRING  PLANTING. 
COLLECTIONS  OF  VEGETABLE 
AND  FLOWER  SEEDS, 
Made  up  of  the  most  popular  Varieties,  and  to  suit 
all  requirements,  from  2s.  and  upwards. 
DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE  of  the  above,  with 
CULTURAL  DIRECTIONS,  will  be  sent  post  free 
on  application  to  our  Offices  at  OVERVEEN,  near 
HAARLEM,  HOLLAND,  or  to  our  General  Agents, 
Messrs.  MERTENS  &  CO., 
3  CROSS  LANE  LONDON,  E.C. 
No.  871. — Vol  XXXIV-  TniRD  Series. 
Jmnitral  af  Hurtiotlhqt 
THURSDAY,  MARCH  4,  1897. 
THE  SIMPLICITIES  OF  PRUNING. 
IT  has  been  my  fortune  to  assist  in  training 
many  youths  in  the  art  of  gardening,  and 
it  haR  often  seemed  to  me  that  the  two  most 
difficult  leisons  that  beginners  have  to  learn  is 
to  water  plants  in  pots  properly  and  to  prune 
a  tree  rationally.  Perhaps  the  latter  task  is  the 
more  difficult  of  the  two,  and  it  is  surprising 
how  completely  lost  young  gardeners  often  are 
when  set  to  prune  a  moat  ordinary  tree  or  bush 
if  there  is  no  one  at  hand  to  guide  them.  This 
is  mainly  due  to  a  failure  to  grasp  the  first 
principles  upon  which  all  good  pruning  must 
be  founded,  yet  the  difficulties  are  easily  sur¬ 
mounted  with  ordinary  care,  attention,  and 
intelligence. 
Though  somewhat  late  npw  for  pruning  hardy 
fruit  trees  in  most  districts,  probably  there  are 
some  not  yet  completed,  and  a  few  notes  on 
what  may  be  termed  the  elements  of  the  art 
may  render  some  matters  clearer  to  our  younger 
brethren.  First  it  should  be  remembered  what 
the  object  of  the  pruner  is  in  subjecting  a  tree 
to  such  artificial  treatment  as  removing  a  portion 
of  its  branches.  The  special  desire  is,  of  course, 
to  promote  fruitfulness,  and  this  can  best  be 
accomplished  by  encouraging  a  balance  of  roots 
and  stem  growth.  So  long  as  there  is  an  undue 
excess  or  deficiency  in  the  vigour  of  either  of 
these  organs  so  long  will  there  be  unsatisfactory 
fruit  crops  or  none  at  all.  The  branches  are 
more  completely  under  our  control  than  the 
roots,  although  it  is  possible  to  bring  these 
within  our  influence  also,  so  we  will  first  refer 
to  branch  pruning,  as  that  is  an  operation  that 
concerns  the  majority. 
Before  commencing  the  actual  work  it  is 
necessary  to  be  furnished  with  the  requisite 
tools,  which  means  sharp  knives  for  all  trees, 
a  narrow  saw  in  addition  for  large  trees,  and 
some  also  use  and  advocate  the  employment  of 
the  continental  pruning  scissors  or  shears  — 
secateurs.  I  have,  however,  tried  various  forms 
of  the  latter  instruments,  and  have  not  found 
any  design  perfectly  satisfactory.  For  small 
soft  growths  they  will  answer  fairly  well  if 
kept  properly  sharpened  and  tightened  at  the 
screw,  but  when  employed  for  cutting  larger 
hard  wood  they  give  bad  results  even  in 
No.  2827.— Voim  XQVL,  Old  Sbriks. 
