148 
’fOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  17,  1898. 
FLUED  GARDEN  WALLS. 
In  reply  to  Mr.  Geo.  D3’ke  (page  56),  I  do  not  know  whether  there 
are  any  of  tliese  in  use  at  the  present  time,  but  I  have  had  some 
personal  experience  with  these  “ancient  Hues.”  Though  generally 
discontinued  before  then,  the  late  Mr.  T.  Eivers’  work,  “  The  Orchard 
^flouse,”  in  1850,  gave  tlued  walls  their  (piietus.  Only  the  north 
wall  of  the  garden  was  flued,  this  being  about  15  feet  in  height  above 
the  ground,  covered  on  the  north  side  with  IMorello  Cherries,  and  on 
the  south  side  clothed  with  the  truest  Apricot  trees  I  have  ever  seen 
to  half  its  extent,  and  the  other  half  with  Peach  and  Nectarine  trees. 
The  Apricots  appeared  to  like  the  wall’s  warmth  and  dryness,  the 
fires  being  lighted  every  afternoon  from  the  blossom  buds  beginning 
to  show  rvhite,  and  were  continued  till  the  early  part  of  June,  when 
they  were  discontinued  on  half  the  length  of  Apricot  wall,  but  kept 
going  on  the  other  half  till  the  fruit  was  ripe.  This  made  a  difference 
of  about  three  weeks  in  the  ripening,  so  that  the  Apricot  season  lasted 
for  something  like  six  weeks.  The  only  kind  grown  was  Moorpark, 
and  tlie  trees  neither  lost  limbs  from  gumming  or  borers. 
Woollen  netting,  mesh,  was  employed  to  protect  the 
blossoms,  the  net  being  let  down  in  the  late  afternoon  and  drawn  up 
about  8.30  in  the  morning,  or  when  the  frost,  if  any,  had  departed. 
The  protection  was  continued  until  the  end  of  May  or  beginning  of 
June,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Apricots  ripening  liner  netting  was 
placed  over  the  trees  to  keep  the  wasps  outside.  Everybody  was 
“  sick  ”  of  Apricots,  even  the  “  lad  ”  who  had  to  look  after  twenty-four 
fires  at  eight  o’clock  at  night  when  the  wall  fires  were  on,  so  the  memory 
was  pretty  well  impressed,  especially  when  this  entailed  a  journey  of 
about  a  mile  each  way,  and  must  be  done  twice  in  very  frosty 
weather  each  night. 
The  Peach  part  of  the  flued  wall  was  treated  similarly  to  the 
Apricot,  the  netting  and  the  Hues  being  requisitioned  as  soon  as  the 
blossoms  showed  pink,  half  of  the  wall  being  fired  until  the  Peaches 
and  Nectarines  were  ripe,  so  that  a  supply  w'as  obtained  from  the  end 
of  July  till  far  into  October.  Early  Anne  was  the  first  Peach  to  ripen, 
and  Late  Admirable  the  last.  In  1852  we  had  a  Peach  and  Nectarine 
on  one  branch  on  a  previous  year’s  shoot  of  lied  Magdalen  Peach 
tree,  and  also  lots  of  red  spider,  the  warmth  and  dryness  of  the  wall 
fostering  the  pest,  and  causing  the  need  of  forcible  syringings  to  keep* 
it  in  check  and  the  trees  healthy.  On  the  other  half  of  the  Peach 
part  of  the  wall  the  fires  were  dispensed  wfith  after  the  end  ^f  May 
and  the  trees  were  less  pestered  with  red  spider. 
What  do  I  think  of  flued  walls  ?  Well,  they  were  good  or  bad, 
just  as  they  were  worked.  If  overheated  they  did  more  h^rm  than 
good,  but  when  used  in  reason,  just  a  little  warmth  being  maintained, 
they  certainly  were  an  advance  on  unheated  walls,  the  chief  points 
being  not  to  overheat,  but  at  the  same  time  to  protect  thoroughly 
from  frost.  Finer  Apricots  I  have  never  seen  or  tasted  than  w^ere 
grown  against  a  flued  wall ;  and  in  1851  I  saw  such  a  sight  of  wall 
Grapes  as  has  not  fallen  to  my  lot  since.  The  variety  was  Black 
Hamburgh,  large,  handsome,  well-finished  clusters,  against  a  wall 
that  was  flued.  It  was  my  lot  also  to  see  on  a  flued  wall  Banksian 
Boses  blooming  splendidly  in  the  cold  North.  The  first  vinery  I 
have  recollection  of  had  a  flued  wall,  the  heat  and  smoke  from  the 
furnace  having  to  make  three  runs  of  the  length  before  escaping  by 
the  chimney.  The  wall  was  covered  with  Cactuses  in  great  variety, 
which  bloomed  magnificently  even  though  shaded  with  Vines. 
_  As  to  the  “  utility  of  all  the  expense,  with  attendant  cost  of 
firing,”  most  of  the  latter  was  from  cinders  from  the  hall,  costing 
little  beyond  labour,  which  was  then  about  half  the  value  it  is  at  the 
present  time,  while  the  necessaries,  or  rather  luxuries,  of  life  now,  as 
compared  with  then,  are  twice  as  cheap,  excepting  butchers’  meat. 
The  endeavour  in  those  days  v^as,  as  regards  firing,  to  get  as  much 
heat  as  could  be  extracted  from  the  smallest  quantity  of  fuel  and 
retain  it  as  long  as  possible,  whereas  in  these  times  the  principle 
appears  to  rest  on  getting  the  most  heat  in  the  least  time,  regardless 
of  bulk  in  consumption.  When  i  took  the  pen  in  hand  I  had  no  idea 
of  running  beyond  a  few  lines,  but  to  go  back  something  like  half  a 
century  brings  to  mind  many  things,  some  of  which  a  few,  if  not 
many,  readers  may  think  ought  not  to,  be  entirely  lost. 
Keverting  to  the  query  about  these  “ancient  flues  in  garden  walls.” 
In  the  past  they  did  good  service,  and  are  capable  of  still  better  in  these 
present  days  where  flues  (unused)  in  walls  exist.  Cover  the  walls 
with  glass,  heat  the  structures  with  hot  water,  and  connect  the  furnace 
flues  with  the  old  ones  which  run  along  the  wall.  Thus  may  the 
past  be  linked  with  the  present  on  the  sound  principles  of  utility  and 
economy.  I  know  the  ideas  are  ancient,  but  they  are  sound  and 
substantial.  The  old  flued  garden  Avails  securely  coped,  only  need  the 
magic  wand  of  the  horticultural  builder  to  form  first-class  fruit  houses 
on  their  southern  aspect,  growing  the  Vines  or  trees  in  a  form  that  will 
permit  of  the  wall  surface  being  utilised  to  the  fullest  extent.  There  is 
no  need  to  go  to  any  great  expense,  only  let  the  structures  be  like  the 
wall — sound  and  substantial,  then  both  the  houses  and  wall  will  give  a 
good  account  of  themselves  under  judicious  management. — G.  Abbey. 
CORDON  GOOSEBERRIES  AT  STONELEIGH 
ABBEY. 
The  methods  adopted  in  the  culture  of  Gooseberries  on  trellises  in 
these  gardens  are  as  follows  : — 
1,  Soil  and  Situation. —  Our  soil  appears  to  be  admirably  suited  to 
this  fruit ;  in  fact,  any  good  soil  on  a  dry  gravelly  bottom  will  suit  the 
Gooseberry.  The  situation  must  be  open  and  well  exposed  to  the  sun,  or 
the  results  will  be  altogether  unsatisfactory. 
2,  Propagation  by  Cuttings.  —  Stout,  healthy,  young  shoots 
should  be  prepared  early  in  the  winter  season  ;  these  ought  to  be  about 
15  inches  in  length.  All  the  buds  must  be  cut  out  except  a  few  at  the 
top  of  the  cutting,  in  order  to  prevent  the  production  of  suckers.  The 
cuttings  should  be  laid  4  inches  apart  in  drills,  about  1  foot  asunder,  in  a 
partially  shaded  situation,  there  to  remain  till  the  following  year  ;  they 
may  then  be  transplanted  about  18  inches  apart  each  way.  The  next 
year  they  may  be  planted  in  their  proper  position.  In  the  event  of  the 
cultivator  desiring  an  immediate  effect,  plants  from  two  to  three  yfars  old 
may  be  purchased  and  planted  in  position  at  once.  In  this  case,  unless 
cordon  trees  can  be  obtained,  the  side  branches  must  be  pruned  back  to 
within  2  inches  of  the  main  stem,  leaving  the  strongest  and  most  central 
shoot  as  a  leader. 
3,  Planting  and  Pruning. — The  trellises  here  are  1 50  feet  in  length 
and  5  feet  in  height,  with  wires  G  inches  apart.  These  should  receive  a 
coat  of  paint,  as  well  as  the  posts  to  which  they  are  strained.  The  plants, 
when  the  leaves  fall,  should  be  inserted  10  inches  apart  and  made  firm,  after¬ 
wards  tying  them  neatly  to  the  wires.  Pruning  may  be  done  at  any  time 
from  the  end  of  November  to  February,  though  I  prefer  to  do  it  as  early 
as  possible,  cutting  the  shoots  back  to  three  or  four  buds — i.e.,  spur- 
[iruning.  When  the  prunings  are  cleared  away,  a  dressing  of  good 
manure  is  spread  over  the  roots  and  carefully  forked  in. 
4,  Summer  Management. — The  side  shoots  are  shortened  twice 
during  the  growing  season,  and  careful  attention  is  given  to  watering.  It 
is  good  practice  to  apply  a  mulching  of  manure  early  in  season,  allowing 
it  to  remain  throughout  the  summer  for  the  purpose  of  retaining 
moisture. 
5,  Insects  and  Diseases. — The  caterpillar  is  perhaps  the  most 
formidable  enemy.  If  prompt  measures  are  not  taken  on  its  first 
appearance  not  a  leaf  will  be  left  on  the  trees.  The  means  that  have 
been  resorted  to  for  the  destruction  of  (he  pest  are  legion,  but  I  have 
found  none  so  effectual  as  hand-picking.  Forking  the  soil  is,  I  believe,  of 
great  advantage,  for  there  the  chrysalids  lurk,  and  may  be  too  deep  for 
the  emergence  of  the  sawfly  which  deposits  the  eggs.  The  red  spider  in 
dry  seasons  is  very  injurious.  This  may  be  kept  in  check,  and  possibly 
eradicated  by  syringing  frequently  with  spidacide  early  in  the  season, 
otherwise  the  fruit  Avill  be  flavoured  with  it.  We  also  use  the  hose 
frequently  and  heavily,  well  w'etting  the  under  side  of  the  leaves. 
6,  List  oe  Varieties,,  Grown. — For  early  picking.  Crown  Bob, 
Whinham’s  Industry,  Whitesmith,  and  Golden  Drop  ;  for  late  picking, 
chiefly  Warrington,  and  a  few  of  Fitmaston  Greengage.  The  later 
varieties  we  also  grow  as  cordons  on  a  north  side  of  a  wall,  and  by  pro¬ 
tecting  with  nets  placed  double  thickness,  the  supply  of  fruit  is  prolonged 
considerably.  I  was  able  last  season  to  send  Gooseberries  to  table  for 
dessert  as  late  as  the  beginning  of  November,  when  they  were  greatly 
appreciated  The  Gooseberry  grown  by  this  method  will  produce  much 
ner  and  better  flavoured  fruits  than  those  produced  in  the  ordinary  way 
on  bushes. — H.  T.  Martin,  Stoneleigh  Abbey. 
A  CHECK  TO  THE  FLOWERS. 
We  see  frost  and  snow  come  now  with  mingled  feelings.  So  mild 
has  the  season  been  until  the  first  week  of  February  that  we  had  begun 
to  cherish  the  thought  that  the  garden  would  escape  its  usuH  trials. 
To  those  who  love  the  outdoor  flowers  frost  and  snow  are  like  sickness; 
perhaps  good,  but  none  the  less  unpleasant.  They  may  be  good  for 
the  flowers,  but  to  those  longing  to  see  once  more  the  faces  of  their 
favourites,  they  are  unwelcome  visitors.  Their  errand  may  be  a 
kindly  one  in  the  long  run,  but  for  the  time  they  seem  to  bring  it 
with  biting  words  and  unkindly  ways.  We  can  hardly  dispute  the 
truth  of  the  words  of  those  who  tell  us  that  we  had  better  have  frost 
noAv  than  later,  but,  after  all,  what  poor  comfort  it  is  !  Instead  of  the 
flowers  of  the  Arabis  we  have  patches  of  snow.  Instead  of  the  fresh 
ureen  of  the  mountain  side  we  see  it  white  to  its  base.  We  see  around 
ns  the  springing  flowers  checked  in  their  growth  by  the  cold,  and  we 
long  for  the  gentle  breezes  which  Avill  once  more  bring  with  them  the 
renewed  uprising  of  the  flowers.  Yet  Ave  need  not  be  ungrateful 
for  our  present  pleasures,  nor  repine  that  th"y  are  fcAver  than  we 
AAmuld  wish.  There  is  much  to  see,  much  to  give  heart,  and  much  of 
Avhich  to  tell. 
fl’he  Snowdrops  are  Avith  us,  and  they,  at  least,  suffer  not  in  beauty 
Avhen  compared  with  the  purity  of  the  snoAV.  Of  those  in  flower  we 
may  select  a  feAV  for  notice.  The  tallest  amongst  them  all  is  Galanthus 
nivalis  Kilkenny  Giant,  one  of  Mr.  Allen’s.  Though  in  light  soil  it  is, 
as  measured  to-day,  a  foot  high,  and  this  is  in  the  open — not  drawn 
up  among  other  plants,  but  allowed  to  grow  to  its  ordinary  height. 
The  floAver  is  hardly  in  keeping  Avith  the  stature  so  far  as  regards  size, 
but  the  height  at  Avhich  the  iloAvers  are  borne  makes  them  unusually 
conspicuous.  Near  it,  and  planted  purposely  so  by  way  of  a  contrast, 
