November  30,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
473 
PREPARING  SOIL  FOR  VEGETABLES. 
Peas. 
Peas,  as  a  rule,  demand  good  soil  in  the  best  condition,  especially 
when  the  period  of  flowering  begins.  Good  crops  cannot  be  grown 
unless  special  attention  is  given  to  the  preparation  of  the  ground. 
Ihismay  well  be  done  in  autumn  for  various  reasons.  The  work 
may  be  carried  on  at  convenient  times,  and  as  the  pressure  of  sprint 
is  absent  it  is  more  likely  to  be  done  better  than  when  every  other 
crop  requires  attention. 
Autumn  preparation  in  the  case  of  strong  soils  is  essential  in  order 
that  the  ground  may  receive  the  benefit  of  the  ameliorating  influence 
of  frost  and  wind,  which  will  break  down  the  particles  and  make  the 
surface  work  easily  when  sowing  the  seed.  Deep,  well-worked  soil 
holds  food  and  moisture  throughout  the  whole  period  of  the  growth  of 
i  eas,  and  there  is  an  ample  supply  when  the  demand  of  the  plant  is 
the  greatest.  In  dry  weather  copious  supplies  of  water  may  be  neces¬ 
sary  alike  to  supplement  the  food  and  moisture  and  render  the  fertility 
m  T,  S°^  ava^a^e*  R  P00r  aQd  shallow  soil  watering  may  be  more 
needed,  but  it  is  less  helpful.  In  a  deep  rich  soil  watering  is  less 
needed  and  may  often  be  dispensed  with,  but  when  it  is  supplied  it  is 
bound  to  be  helpful,  if  given  when  the  crop  is  maturing. 
The  method  of  preparation  I  would  recommend  for  Peas  is  to 
cultivate  the  soil  not  less  than  two  spits  deep.  The  bottom  spit  is 
always  benefited  by  being  moved  and  broken  up  even  if  it  has 
previously  undergone  the  same  operation  in  previous  years.  A  width 
of  ground  about  3  feet  and  any  length  will  provide  a  splendid  rooting 
medium  for  all  the  robust-growing  varieties.  Preparing  the  soil  to 
that  width  is  better  than  cutting  a  narrow  trench,  placing  in  manure, 
and  .filling  it  up  again.  The  surrounding  ground  is  poor  and  hard, 
and  the  roots,  instead  of  ramifying  into  it,  are  confined  in  the  trench, 
and,  soon  extract  from  the  manure  and  soil  all  the  available  moisture. 
The  ground,  therefore,  should  be  trenched  or  bastard-trenched  to 
t  le  width  named  for  one  row,  the  roots  will  appreciate  it  and  the  crop 
will  be  better.  In  the  majority  of  cases,  when  deepening  the  soil,  it 
is  the  safest  plan  to  dispose  the  layers  as  previously,  adding  to  the 
bottom  spit  a  dressing  of  manure  or  vegetab'e  refuse,  and  on  the 
su  rface  of  the  spit  a  good  layer  of  well-decayed  manure  which  the  roots 
will  find  just  at  the  time  they  need  additional  assistance.  The  upper 
ayer  of  soil  may  be  dressed  with  lime  scraps  and  wood  ashes,  Peas 
liking  calcareous  matter  and  potash. 
Soil  heavily  manured  for  Celery  makes  excellent  ground  for  Peas 
without  any  additions,  but  it  should  be  well  broken  up  so  that  all  the 
soil  is  knocked  about.  Trenching  is  the  best  plan  of  preparing  this. 
Ihe  early  crop  of  dwarf  Peas  must  have  a  warm  sheltered  border,  well 
prepared  by  trenching  over  the  whole  plot  and  working  in  some 
decayed  manure.  A  light  and  sandy  soil  is  the  best  for  these.  Decayed 
vegetable  matter  will  be  of  great  service,  or  wood  ashes  mixed  with 
the  soil.  Sweet  Peas,  which  are  cultivated  for  their  flowers,  like 
similarly  rich  and  generous  treatment  as  do  the  culinary  Peas.— 
E.  Barrow. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Fruit  Committee  Awards. 
Your  report  of  the  recent  meeting  of  the  R.H.S.  Fruit  Committee  is 
in  error  in  mentioning  Apple  Cissy  as  obtaining  an  award  of  merit 
No  doubt  the  Apple  is  a  very  handsome  one,  but  some  members 
thought  it  had  a  clammy  or  musty  taste,  which  I  did  not  detect,  but,  if 
so,  may  have  been  due  to  some  packing  material.  In  any  case  by  a 
small  majority,  the  proposed  award  of  merit  was  negatived.  Bassaleg 
Pippin  is  undoubtedly  a  very  pleasant  eating  Apple.  Possibly  Mr 
Bisham  will  give  Cissy,  a  rather  popular  Apple  in  Monmouthshire* 
another  chance. 
But  it  is  not  a  matter  for  wonder  if  errors  are  made,  because  so  many 
people  seem  to  regard  it  as  their  business  to  investigate  the  fruits  put 
before  the  Committee,  and  some,  not  content  with  tasting,  bodily  remove 
them.  Then  award  cards  get  displaced,  and  altogether,  so  far  as  the 
reporters  are  concerned,  chaos  follows. 
I  observe  in  your  contemporary,  the  “  Gardeners’  Chronicle,”  a  strong 
complaint  is  made  that  when  reporters  visit  the  particular  dishes  sel 
before  the  Committee  the  fruits  have  disappeared,  and  nothing  is  left  on 
which  they  can  frame  descriptions.  Possibly  it  may  be  well  to  have  a 
wire-covered  case  constructed,  into  which  every  such  dish  when 
returned  from  the  table,  may  be  placed  for  protection.  One  corner  of 
the  hall  in  which  these  dishes  are  usually  placed  for  the  convenience  of 
the  Committee  does  indeed  afford  cover  for  “  absent  minded  beggars  ” 
v  ho  unthinkingly  lift  the  fruits.  Still  it  is  interesting  thus  to  learn  how 
many  fruit  lovers  there  are  about. — A.  D. 
[Without  questioning  the  accuracy  of  our  correspondent,  we  have  to 
state  that  the  error,  if  any,  is  not  ours.  We  printed  from  the  official 
report  supplied  by  the  R.H.S.,  which  clearly  states  that  the  variety 
Cissy  was  granted,an  award  of  merit.  We  are  constrained  also  to  say 
as  regards  Press  representatives  that  the  R.H.S.  does  not  do  so  much  to 
aid  reporters  as  the  Press  does  for  the  R.H.S.  Not  only  are  fruits  often 
missing  (which  is  occasionally  unavoidable),  but  plants  are  removed  too  ; 
while  cards  cannot  always  be  found  on  exhibits  that  have  been  honoured 
with  awards.} 
Scientific  Committee,  November  21st. — Present :  Dr.  M.  T. 
Masters  (in  the  chair)  ;  Mr.  Michael,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Mr.  A.  Sutton, 
Mr.  E.  F.  im  Thurn,  Rev.  G.  Henslow,  Hon.  Sec. 
Hippeastrum,  species. — With  regard  to  the  specimen  exhib  ited  by 
Mr.  Wilks  at  the  last  meeting,  supposed  to  be  a  reversion  from  the  florists’ 
“Amaryllis,”  which  was  derived  by  hybridisations  on  species  of 
Hippeastrum,  it  appears  to  be  very  close  to  H.  stylosum,  “  Bot. 
Mag.,”  2278,  introduced  in  1822.  It  differs,  however,  in  having  white 
streaks  instead  of  green  on  the  perianth,  and  the  stamens  and  style  are 
shorter.  The  leaves  also  are  narrower.  Mr.  Wilks  observed  that  he  has 
had  it  eighteen  years,  and  that  it  is  remarkable  for  its  very  vigorous 
growth,  being  also  very  nearly  hardy.  Mr.  im  Thurn  remarked  that  it 
is  very  abundant  in  British  Guiana,  and  is  so  close  to  H.  equestre  that  it 
would  seem  to  be  a  form  of  that  species. 
Lilium  giganteum,  capsule. — Mr.  Wilks  brought  a  ripe  caps  ale  of  this 
species,  and  alluded  to  the  readiness  with  which  it  ripens  abundance  of 
seed  in  various  localities  in  this  country,  giving  opportunities  for 
producing  varieties. 
Canker  on  Apple  Trees. — Dr.  W.  G.  Smith  sent  the  following  report  on 
specimens  received  in  October  and  forwarded  to  him  for  examination  :  — 
“  A  specimen  of  this  canker  was  received  recently  with  a  request  for 
some  information  on  the  cause  of  this  common  trouble.  The  case  sent  I 
consider  a  typical  form  of  canker  caused  by  the  ascomvcete  fungus, 
Nectria  ditissima.  The  action  of  this  fungus  in  causing  canker  was  first 
described  by  Robert  Hartig  (Untersuchungen  aus  d.  forst-botan.  Institut. 
(Munich)  I.  p.  209,  1880).  Good  descriptions  are  given  in  the  English 
translations  of  Hartig’s  and  Tubeuf’s  text  books,  in  G.  Massee’s  recent 
text  book,  in  H.  Marshall  Ward’s  “Timber  Diseases,”  and  by  Plowright 
(“  Gard.  Chron.,”  April  19th,  1884).  It  is  unnecessary  to  repeat  here 
the  details  given  in  these  works.  The  reasons  for  considering  nectria  as 
the  chief  agent  in  the  present  case  are  : — (1)  Near  the  centre  of  each  of 
the  three  canker  areas  sent  is  the  dead  stump  of  a  side  twig,  which  by 
being  pruned  or  broken  would  give  the  entrance  to  nectria — a  wound 
fungus  ;  from  this  point  the  canker  has  spread,  up,  down,  and  round  the 
still  living  main  branch.  (2)  The  presence  of  two  forms  of  spores  of 
nectria.  In  one  branch  the  external  canker  has  passed  over  into  a  form 
of  wood-rot,  which  is  passing  along  the  inside  of  the  branch. 
“  This  is  one  form  of  Apple  tree  canker,  but  is  not  the  only  form. 
The  condition  which  disposes  a  tree  to  canker  is  a  wound  deep  enough  to 
penetrate  the  softer  tissues  of  the  bark.  This  may  be  caused  by  the 
pruning  of  twigs,  or  by  their  being  broken  or  gnawed  ;  it  might  also  be 
due  to  a  deep  crack  in  the  bark,  such  as  one  sometimes  sees  on  trees  as 
the  result  of  excessive  growth  or  internal  pressure  ;  or  it  might  be  a 
crack  in  the  bark  caused  by  sua  or  frost,  or  the  killing  back  of  immature 
twigs  in  winter.  (The  litter  case  Hartig  distinguishes  as  a  frost-canker, 
capable  of  extending  each  successive  winter  without  the  agency  of  fungi.) 
Given,  then,  an  open  wound,  the  soft  tissues  exposed  offer  a  suitable  sub¬ 
stratum  for  the  growth  of  fungi,  bacteria,  or  animal  organisms.  The 
tissues  of  the  Apple  tree  seem  well  suited  for  the  growth  of  nectria,  and, 
when  one  considers  the  common  occurrence  of  the  fungus  as  a  saprophyte 
on  dead  wood*  or  as  a  parasite  on  many  trees,  it  is  not  surprising  that  it 
is  the  fungus  wnich  generally  establishes  itself.  Hartig  and  others  have 
proved  that,  having  obtained  a  footing  on  the  wound,  nectria  is  able  to 
attack  the  living  tissues,  and  gradually  to  bring  about  a  canker.  In  the 
same  way  any  other  organism  with  a  partiality  for  the  tissues  of  the 
Apple  tree  may,  individually  or  in  company,  be  the  agents  in  converting  a 
wound  into  a  canker  ;\for  instance,  at  least  three  species  of  Polyporus 
and  a  Hydnum  amongst  the  Hymenomycete  fungi,  and,  probably  some 
bacteria. 
“  Prevention. — No  form  ot  spray  or  wash  is  likely  to  give  permanent 
results.  Trees  badly  cankered  should  be  removed  and  burnt  as  soon  as 
possible.  Where  practicable,  the  canker  may  be  cut  out,  care  being  taken 
to  cut  well  into  the  healthy  parts  around  ;  the  wound  thus  produced 
should  be  carefully  painted  over  with  tar.  This  must  be  done  in  autumn 
or  winter,  otherwise  the  lar  will  not  sink  in.  Wounds  made  in  pruning, 
lopping,  or  otherwise,  should  be  tarred.  If  the  orchard  is  liable  to 
canker  it  is  safest  to  tar  even  small  pruning  cuts.” 
Apple  stocks  with  caterpillars. — Mr.  Ballard  of  Colwall  sent  some  tops 
of  a  Lord  Suffield  stock  perforated.  They  had  been  attacked  by  the 
caterpillar  of  the  “wood-leopard”  (Zeuzera  iEsculi),  some  being  still 
within  it.  A  woodpecker  had  subsequently  further  injured  the  shoots  by 
trying  to  extract  the  grubs.  The  best  remedy  is  to  insert  a  stiff  wire 
und  so  destroy  them. 
Nests  of  the  Rose-leaf-cutter  bee. — Mrs.  Biggs  of  Leyton  contributed  a 
large  section  of  a  decayed  Poplar  perforated  all  over  by  the  borings  of 
a  caterpillar.  These  were  now  occupied  by  the  nests  of  this  species  of 
bee,  Megachile  centuncularis. 
Fogs  deposit  on  glass. — Mr.  Hudson  sent  a  sheet  of  glass  from  a 
conservatory  to  show  the  large  amount  of  deposit  upon  it  after  the  late 
destructive  fog  described  at  the  last  meeting. 
The  next  Fruit  and  Floral  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday,  December  5th,  in  the  Drill  Hall, 
James’  Street,  Westminster,  1  to  4  P.M.  A  lecture  on  “Some  of  the 
Plants  Exhibited”  will  be  given  by  the  Rev.  Prof.  G.  Henslow,  M.A., 
at  3  o’clock. 
