March  10,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
215 
markets  produce  Radishes  early  enough  to  realise  £40  an  acre,  instead 
of  £15  without  tlJe  use  of  straw. 
Mulching  outside  and  inside  borders  with  close  mortar-like  manure 
when  carried  to  excess,  especially  on  inside  borders,  results  in  bringing 
the  soil  into  a  condition  that  is  not  conducive  to  the  health  of  Vines. 
Inside  there  is  a  comparatively  stagnant  air,  and  the  borders  often 
receive  less  pure  water  than  is  desirable.  Outside  there  is 
exposure  to  all  the  winds  that  blow,  and  to  all  the  autumn  and 
winter  rainfalls.  These  rich  mulchings,  and  more  especially  when 
accompanied  with  literal  applications  of  liquid  manure,  have  a 
tendency  to  what  in  common  phraseology  is  termed  souring  the 
soil;  in  other  words  deleterious  acids  accumulate  in  it  to  an  injurious 
extent.  The  rains  help  greatly  to  get  rid  of  these  in  outside  borders 
and  keep  the  ground  “  sweet  ”  and  healthy.  May  not  this  have 
something  to  do  with  the  instinct-like  tendency  of  Vine  roots  to 
escape  into  the  open  air  border  ? 
When  I  left  the  driest  district  in  Great  Britain  to  practise  in  one 
of  the  very  wettest,  in  which  I  have  seen  January  and  December  give 
25  inches  of  rain,  I  adopted  measures  to  throw  the  winter  rains  entirely 
off  some  of  the  Vine  borders.  Not  a  long  time  was  required  for  showing 
that  those  covered  v/ere  not  in  nearly  so  satisfactory  a  state  as  those 
exposed  to  all  the  rains  that  fell.  Years  after  the  time  I  have  referred 
to,  the  late  Mr.  Iloneyman,  whom  I  had  much  satisfaction  in  enlisting 
as  a  horticultural  writer,  treated  in  the  “  Gardener  ”  and  the  Journal 
of  horticulture  on  the  subject  of  injurious  accumulations  in  highly 
enriched  soil  being  washed  away  to  a  large  extent  by  heavy  rains. 
D.  Thomson. 
LAWNS  AND  ALLIED  SUBJECTS. 
(^Continued  from  page  184.) 
In  a  study  of  the  position  which  may  cover  some  considerable 
extent  of  ground,  appearances  at  first  sight  may  be  very  deceptive  in 
the  matter  of  levels,  and  if  the  work  is  commenced  without  including 
the  whole  area  in  the  calculation,  it  may  commence  very  well  indeed, 
but  end  very  badly,  involving  a  serious  expenditure  of  preventible 
labour.  Among  many  examples,  some  of  which  have  come  under  my 
hands,  and  more  under  observation,  I  have  never  dealt  with  or  seen 
parallel  cases  of  treatment,  hence  a  special  study  of  each,  including 
the  house,  the  grounds,  and  the  desire  of  the  owners,  which,  indeed, 
may  be  general  enough  to  allow  of  good  taste  and  sound  judgment 
meeting  all  requirements  at  a  minimum  of  expense,  as  all  are  factors  to 
be  taken  into  account.  Outlines,  however,  sufficiently  elastic  may  be 
given  to  suit  most  cases. 
The  principal  frontage,  usually  termed  the  garden  front,  may 
chiefly  engage  our  attention,  and  in  most  cases  this  will  face  to  the 
south,  with  possibly  a  point  or  two  either  east  or  west.  If  architectural 
forethought  in  the  choice  of  position  has  done  its  duty  by  the 
house,  as  a  gardener  may  hope  to  do  his  by  the  grounds,  these  will  fall 
from  it  instead  of  towards  it.  A  gentle  fall  to  the  south  or  south¬ 
west  is  an  ideal  position.  Supposing  the  house  to  stand  upon  a 
plateau,  part  of  which  forms  a  terrace,  our  lawn  in  proximity  to  it  is 
probably  the  only  portion  it  is  either  necessary  or  desirable  to  make 
truly  level,  for  a  dead  level  lawn  is  seldom  desirable.  Longitudinally, 
however —viz.,  running  east  and  west,  supposing  the  position  to  be 
due  south,  the  true  level  is  essential  for  a  given  distance. 
An  illustration  (fig.  39)  shows  where  the  grass.  A,  commences  on 
the  terrace,  which,  being  a  part  and  parcel  of  it,  will  be  perfectly 
level ;  B,  a  slope,  is  the  connecting  link  with  the  body  of  the  lawn.  A 
well  made  slope  is  not  only  a  point  of  beauty  in  general  effect,  but  is 
often  the  key  to  labour-saving  in  the  matter  of  levelling,  according  as 
the  fall  of  the  ground  demands  it.  The  slope,  if  at  not  too  sharp  an 
angle,  will  be  such  as  a  skilled  labourer  will  easily  mow  with  a  hand 
machine.  Apart  from  Italian  terrace  work,  this  may  be  again  repeated 
if  occasion  warrants  it,  and  may,  or  may  not,  include  the  provision  of 
grass  steps  (which  will  be  treated  of  in  due  course).  From  the  slope 
our  level,  always  correctly  preserved  longitudinally,  will  gently  fall, 
according  to  the  requirements  of  the  particular  case,  as  at  c,  this  fall 
being  about  1  in  30,  until  a  supposed  boundary  walk  is  reached,  D, 
which  finishes  what  may  be  termed  the  lawn  proper,  although  beyond 
that,  at  E,  more  kept  grass  is  present,  either  at  a  true  level,  as  shown, 
or  still  gently  falling,  away.  One  instance  I  know  where  with  this 
finishing  margin  the  reverse  occurs,  and  it  is  made  to  fall  to  the  walk. 
The  effect  of  this  from  the  windows  is  not  good,  tending  to  a  fore¬ 
shortening. 
A  phase  of  bad  treatment  may  now  be  shown,  in  order  to  avoid — 
viz.,  cutting  up  into  sharp  corners,  or  elongation  into  puerile  points  at 
the  junction  of  walks.  Where  walks  join  at  right  angles  this  is  less 
conspicuous,  but  we  are  now  dealing  with  the  more  picturesque 
freedom,  employing  curves  and  graceful  outlines,  and  where  caprice 
more  than  common  sense  is  not  rarely  to  be  seen.  Fig.  40  illustrates 
what  is  meant  relative  to  the  bad  system,  and  fig.  41  the  better  way. 
— Sybva. 
(To  be . continued.) 
SEAKALE  CULTURE. 
Thebe  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  wholesomeness  of  this  excellent 
vegetable  ;  in  fact  it  has  many  good  qualities  to  recommend  it,  the  first 
and  foremost  being  that  it  is  available  at  a  season  when  other  fresh 
vegetables  are  oftentimes  very  scarce.  Many  vegetables  have  a  tendency 
(when  forced)  to  taste  earthy  or  insipid,  but  Seakale  I  hold  to  be  an 
exception  to  this  rule  ;  for  when  grown  in  any  ordinary  way  out  of 
doors,  with  full  exposure  to  the  atmosphere,  it  loses  that  crispness 
which  is  its  most  essential  point  of  merit.  Therefore  this  vegetable  is 
much  improved  by  forcing,  always  provided  that  artificial  heat  is  not 
used  to  excess. 
Slow  and  careful  forcing  must  be  accorded,  especially  for  the  first 
crops.  The  reason  of  this  is  at  once  obvious,  for,  like  all  plants,  Seakale 
requires  rest ;  and  as  this  does  not  take  place  until  October,  and  even 
later  than  that  in  some  seasons  (notably  1897),  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at 
if  the  plant  resents  being  urged  into  activity  a  week  or  two  after  that 
time.  The  crowns  should  have  at  least  one  month  complete  rest,  other¬ 
wise  it  will  be  found  that  the  young  shoots  will  be  more  like  straws  than 
Seakale.  After  the  end  of  January  the  crowns  will  endure  more  urging. 
Generally  speaking  some  part  of  the  Mushroom  house  is  available  for 
the  purpose,  while  in  some  places  where  this  vegetable  is  extensively 
grown  there  are  heated  pits  or  boxes  to  receive  the  roots,  and  when  these 
are  at  command  it  is  a  comparatively  simple  matter  to  keep  up  an 
unbroken  supply  until  late  in  the  spring. 
Forcing  in  the  open  is  resorted  to  here  for  the  late  supply,  the  crowns 
being  planted  in  a  double  row  at  about  1  foot  apart  each  way,  and  early 
in  the  month  of  February  are  covered  to  a  depth  of  about  15  inches 
with  Mushroom  bed  refuse  in  the  form  of  a  ridge.  The  gentle  heat 
imparted  by  this  material  appears  to  suit  the  Seakale  admirably,  for  the 
heads  of  the  plants  push  through,  and  produce  fine,  stout,  and  clean 
Seakale,  which  is  much  appreciated.  We  usually  leave  these  plants 
on  the  same  spot  for  two  years,  after  which  they  may  be  removed  and 
replaced  with  young  plants.  Some  growers  prefer  to  raise  annually  from 
seed,  but  we  find  the  old-fashioned  plan  of  growing  from  sets  answers 
our  purpose  better.  These  are  broken  off  in  lengths  of  about  3  inches, 
selecting  those  about  the  thickness  of  one’s  forefinger  in  the  autumn  when 
lifting.  They  are  then  stood  in  rows  in  sandy  soil,  where  they  remain 
until  they  commence  to  break,  after  which  we  transfer  them  to  their 
permanent  quarters.  We  successfully  force  3000  crowns  annually  by  the 
methods  laid  down. — H.  T.  M.,  Stoneleigh. 
A  FRUIT  PEST. 
The  Gooseberry  saw-fly  (Nematus  ribesii),  which  levies  such  exorbi¬ 
tant  tithes  on  one  of  our  most  popular  fruits,  is  generally  described  by 
naturalists  as  a  pretty  and  merry  little  insect  which  passes  its  brief  life 
in  disporting  with  its  companions  in  the  sunshine.  We  might  to  a  certain 
extent  concur  in  this  eulogistic  estimate  were  it  not  the  fact  that  in 
another  stage  of  its  existence  it  literally  plays  “  old  gooseberry  ”  with 
the  fruit  from  which  it  takes  its  name,  and  it  is  doubtless  from  its 
devastating  proceedings  in  this  connection  that  the  expression,  as  quoted, 
originated. 
From  a  gardener’s  point  of  view,  its  merriment  at  any  time  is  sadly 
out  of  place,  inasmuch  as  there  is  not  a  more  destructive  little  fellow  to 
be  met  with  in  the  whole  list  of  garden  pests,  and  it  certainly  requires  a 
perfect  stoic  to  maintain  even  a  cheerful  or  calm  demeanour  when  viewing 
Its  depredations.  The  eggs  are  deposited  on  the  backs  of  the  Gooseberry 
leaves  at  regular  intervals  like  beadwork.  In  about  a  week  the  grubs 
issue  head  foremost,  leaving  the  skins  of  the  eggs  standing  like  a  row  of 
empty  silver  purses,  and  straightway  they  fall  to  eating,  and  this  with 
such  appetite  that  the  eflect  of  their  first  meal  alone  changes  their  smoke- 
coloured  vests  into  positively  a  doublet  of  Lincoln  green. 
There  are  some  sixty  or  seventy  of  these  voracious  little  insects  on  a 
leaf,  and  as  each  grub  will  eat  three  leaves  to  its  own  share  before  being 
fully  fed,  it  follows  that  by  destroying  one  infested  leaf  a  couple  of  hundred 
are  saved.  If  left  alone,  however,  to  pursue  its  inclination,  the  grub  will 
go  on  eating  without  intermission  until  developed  into  a  length  of  half 
an  inch.  The  black  head  then  separates  like  a  mask  from  the  neck  and 
splits  down  the  middle,  a  new  head  shooting  up  from  the  opening.  The 
entire  body  is  next  wriggled  out,  and  at  length,  having  got  rid  of  the 
embarrassing  skin,  the  caterpillar  sets  to  work  to  fill  the  new  one,  eating 
without  intermission  for  several  days.  At  the  end  of  this  repast  the  skin 
is  again  cast,  and  the  still  larva  remains  of  a  pale  delicate  green  colour. 
Eating  days,  though,  are  numbered,  and  descent  is  made  into  the  earth  to 
the  depth  of  a  few  inches,  when  a  little  oblong  cell  is  formed,  and  then, 
surrounded  with  a  tough  black  cocoon,  the  next  transformation  is  awaited, 
which  is  into  the  chrysalid  state,  and  then  finally  into  a  fly  de  novo. 
When  the  eggs  are  laid  in  the  month  of  May  the  whole  of  this  natural 
history  down  to  the  appearance  of  the  fly  occupies  the  space  of  about  a 
month  ;  but  at  times,  when  the  eggs  are  deposited  late  in  the  year,  this 
intelligent  grub  does  not  emerge  from  its  subterranean  abode  till  the 
following  spring.  If  there  be  found,  as  well  may  be  the  case,  any 
gardener  so  inhospitable  as  to  desire  to  save  his  Gooseberries  at  the 
expense  of  this  so-called  interesting  and  amusing  visitor,  the  best  way 
apparently  for  him  to  proceed  would  be  to  beat  down  and  harden  the 
soil  all  around  the  bushes,  so  as  to  convert  the  intended  temporary 
retirement  from  the  pleasures  of  the  world  of  this  representative  old 
gooseberry  into  that  term  known  to  the  law  as  “his  natural  life.”  — 
Wm.  Nokman  Beown. 
