October  1,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
325 
The  Dwarf  Sweet  Pea.— I  fear  that  this  novelty,  entitled 
“  Cnpld,”  has  not  proved  a  great  snccesr,  at  least  in  Scotland,  when 
grown  in  the  open  air.  In  my  own  garden  it  has  been  a  complete  mis¬ 
carriage  ;  at  Lofan  House,  in  this  parish,  where  it  was  planted  out  for 
bedding  purposes  its  failure,  I  regret  to  say,  has  been  eqaally  lament¬ 
able.  It  is  saflaciently  evident  that  it  cannot  stand  rain,  and  is  not, 
therefore,  suitable  for  cnltnre  in  Scotland  under  the  conditions  to  which 
I  have  referred.  The  earnest  injunction  of  its  vendors  “  Do  not  water,” 
however  available  for  its  treatment  when  grown  under  glass,  is  not, 
unfortunately,  applicable  to  Nature,  who  gives  "Cupid”  the  s»me  liberal 
contributions  from  the  clouds,  whatever  the  consequence,  as  those 
which  she  pours  so  lavishly  at  this  season  on  the  climbing  varieties,  by 
which  evidently  they  are  received,  if  not  very  gratefully,  at  least  with 
considerably  greater  equanimity,  and  assuredly  more  hope  of  eventual 
recovery.  What  is  "Cupid”  without  his  wings? — David  R. 
Williamson. 
- -  Potatoes, — It  is  very  remarkable  how  Potatoes  are  influenced 
in  quality  on  new  ground  where  they  have  not  been  grown  before- 
Deep  trenching  with  lime  added  in  a  measure  makes  up  for  absence  of 
fresh  space,  and  if  manure  can  be  dispensed  with  so  much  the  better. 
While  managing  the  formation  of  new  gardens  and  grounds  a  few  miles 
from  where  I  am  located,  and  where  soil  is  very  light  and  sandy,  the 
appearance  of  shrubs  and  quality  of  vegetables  is  very  marked  from 
what  we  have  in  the  valley  of  the  Forth.  Potatoes  are  rich  and  floury 
in  the  new  land,  but  not  so  white  and  well  flavoured  in  our  close  heavy 
soil,  but  some  sorts  of  the  Regent  class  do  well  on  the  heavy  land.  It 
was  believed  by  native  workmen  that  the  tubers  on  the  poor  looking 
new  soil,  made  up  with  ashes  well  downwards,  would  produce  nothing 
worth  the  labour  of  planting  or  sowing.  Peas,  Beet,  Carrots,  Turnips, 
Cabbage,  and  Curled  Kale  are  of  much  excellence.  Potatoes,  especially 
Sharpe’s  Victor,  Snowdrop,  and  Schoolmaster,  are  scarcely  equalled  in 
the  district. — M.  Temple,  Carr  on,  N,B. 
-  Starting  Orchards  by  Dynamite.— Our  contemporary,  the 
"  Gardeners’  Magazine,”  has  discovered  the  following  tit-bit : — Various 
methods  of  preparing  land  for  fruit  trees  have  been  recommended  by 
cultivators  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  but  the  most  original  idea  is 
that  of  the  Director  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  of  Montano.  In 
speaking  of  the  great  difBculties  he  had  encountered  in  starting  an  experi¬ 
mental  orchard  on  soil  consisting  of  a  surface  soil  of  black  sandy  loam 
6  to  8  inches  in  depth,  overlaying  a  heavy,  tenacious  yellow  clay  subsoil, 
he  is  reported  to  have  said  : — "  The  only  method  of  making  this  subsoil 
quickly  available  was  by  ‘  dynamiting  ’  it,  and  accordingly  holes  were 
dug  2  inches  in  diameter  and  4  feet  deep  wherever  it  was  desired  to 
plant  a  tree.  Into  these  holes  were  lowered  quarter-pound  dynamite 
cartridges,  after  which  the  holes  were  filled  with  dry  earth  securely 
stamped  and  the  fuses  ignited.  After  the  broken  surface  soil  was 
removed  openings  would  be  uncovered  from  12  to  18  inches  in  diameter, 
and  from  4  to  6  feet  in  depth.  Into  these  the  trees  were  set  with  great 
care,  with  proper  filling  in.  It  was  noted  that  the  soil  that  had  been 
dynamited  about  the  trees  absorbed  a  phenomenal  amount  of  water,  to 
say  nothing  of  an  occasional  tree  that  would  do  the  disappearance 
act.’  The  shock  of  the  explosion  rends  the  soil  formation  for  many  feet 
in  all  directions,  thus  giving  opportunity  for  the  roots  to  thrust  them¬ 
selves  deep  into  the  soil  in  search  of  plant  food  and  moisture.” 
-  How  Nature  Protects  Seeds. — Mr.  G.  N.  Williams  says 
in  "  Meehans’  Monthly  ”  : — "  The  nuts  have  learned  by  long  experience 
how  good  they  are,  and  have  armed  themselves  with  formidable  husks  to 
strengthen  their  chances  for  being  left  uneaten.  The  Chestnut  from  the 
very  beginning  shows  only  the  part  we  know  as  the  trio  of  little  bristles 
at  the  end  of  its  tail.  Then  the  Beech  Nut  has  a  tongh  hull  to  protect 
it  through  its  growing  days.  But  the  rude  exterior  of  both  these  nuts 
protects  the  downiest  of  nests  for  the  seeds  from  babyhood  to  ripeness. 
The  Shellbark  and  Walnut  are  wrapped  in  a  close  bitter  hull  until  the 
inner  well-nigh  impenetrable  shell  is  a  well  hardened  protection.  The 
squirrels  must  get  through  most  of  them  of  course,  but  they  do  not  gnaw 
at  more  than  are  necessary,  being  economic  in  the  matter  of  dentistry. 
The  acorn  does  not  seem  so  well  protected  ;  perhaps  it  is  because  it  is 
the  natural  food  of  the  rodents,  while  the  richer  Walnuts  and  Shellbarks 
are  meant  for  rare  luxuries,  being  so  difficultly  attainable.  The  squirrels, 
it  would  seem,  would  eat  even  Chestnut  burrs  when  hard  pressed.  I 
have  seen  the  snow  dyed  brown  with  the  nibbled  hulls  in  a  severe  winter. 
Then,  too,  I  have  seen  sparrows  making  a  meal  oS  the  wild  Amaranth 
and  Goose-foot  seeds,  littering  the  snow  with  the  chafiy  hulls.  The 
cross-bills  feed  on  the  seeds  of  the  Hemlock  cones  just  outside  our  window  I 
in  winter,  and  afford  a  pretty  sight,  a  flock  of  them  taking  all  sorts  of 
positions  to  get  at  the  seed.  The  red  squirrels  like  the  green  seed  of  the 
cones,  for  I  often  find  the  resinous  scales  scattered  about  under  the 
tree,” 
EOOT  EELWORM  IN  CUCUMBERS. 
I  HAVE  nothing  to  add  to  what  I  have  already  written  on  the  above 
subject,  but  there  are  a  few  remarks  made  by  Mr.  Abbey  (page  304)  that 
I  should  like  to  reply  to. 
I  am  very  disappointed  that  no  one  has  written  to  corroborate  Mrs 
G.  Abbey’s  kainit  statement.  What  has  become  of  "By  the  Sea?” 
One  thing,  however,  is  certain — i.e.,  the  discussion  will  bring  the  remedy 
more  prominently  before  your  readers’  notice,  and  although  I  cannot 
agree  with  Mr.  Abbey  as  to  the  destructive  power  of  kainit,  yet  I  hope  it 
may  be  tried  and  the  result  obtained  given  through  the  medium  of  your 
pages.  But  first  of  all  let  us  understand  what  we  are  to  apply  to  kill 
this  pest.  Last  April,  on  page  321,  “  G.  A.”  said,  “  It  is  the  chlorides  of 
the  kainit  that  kill  the  eelworm,”  and  again  in  the  same  month,  on 
page  397,  he  states  that  “  ‘  By  the  Sea  ’  will  be  interested  in  being 
informed  that  a  solution  of  kainit  (1  oz.  to  a  gallon  of  water)  destroyed 
eelworm  in  Cucumber  roots.” 
My  friend,  acting  upon  this  advice  as  before  stated,  failed  to  save  his 
Cucumber  plants  from  the  eelworm  attack.  But  why  has  "  G.  A.” 
altered  his  opinion  ?  He  first  tells  us  that  "  it  is  the  chlorides  of  the 
kainit  that  kill  the  eelworm,”  but  on  page  304  he  says  "  it  is  not  a 
matter  of  pure  chlorides,  but  of  kainit,  sulphates  and  chlorides.  The 
sulphates  are  of  no  use  without  the  chlorides.”  It  seems  from  this  that 
the  sulphates  have  to  do  something.  What  is  it  ?  and  how  does  your 
correspondent  know  that  it  is  the  chlorides  and  not  the  sulphates  that 
kill  ?  Again,  he  says,  "  1  oz.  of  kainit  in  a  gallon  of  water  will  kill 
eelworm  in  Cucumber  roots  ;  ”  but  on  page  304  he  asks,  “  what  is  the 
use  of  employing  a  solution  of  kainit  at  a  strength  of  1  oz.  to  a  gallon 
of  water  ?  ” 
I  know  very  well  that  2  ozs.  are  now  recommended,  but  why  is  this  ? 
Is  it  because  after  all  Mr.  Abbey  found  1  oz.  was  not  sufficient?  If  so, 
1  do  not  think  he  can  blame  my  friend  for  using  the  minimum  amount  of 
kainit,  because  by  so  doing  he  was  only  carrying  out  "  G.  A.’s  ”  advice. 
As  to  the  nitrate  of  soda,  that  was  not  part  of  the  first  advised  remedy, 
for  the  nitrate  was  only  spoken  of  as  a  stimulant,  and  not  as  part  of  the 
remedy  as  it  is  now. 
A  word  or  two  now  about  the  lime.  In  the  experiment  I  mentioned 
caustic  lime  (CaO)  was  the  substance  used,  and  not  the  hydrated,  as 
Mr.  Abbey  seems  to  suppose.  But  what  of  your  correspondent’s 
astonishing  statement  about  “  one  load  of  lime  to  10  cubic  yards  of 
loam?”  There  is  something  here  for  your  readers  to  ponder  over.  Let 
us  see  what  this  means.  Supposing  we  wish  to  mix  10  per  cent,  of  lime 
with  our  soil  in  our  Tomato  houses.  If  we  only  dig  the  soil  10  inches 
deep  we  should  have  to  put  all  over  the  surface  of  the  soil  a  layer  of 
lime  1  inch  thick.  Again,  many  growers  grow  Tomatoes  by  the  acre 
under  glass  and  outside ;  if  they  wished  to  use  the  quantity  of  lime  as 
suggested  by  “G.  A.”  they  would  have  to  apply,  supposing  they  only 
dug  9  inches  deep,  about  100  tons  of  lime  per  acre  1 
Five  to  10  tons  of  lime  per  acre,  or  74  to  148  lbs.  per  rod,  is  con¬ 
sidered  a  good  dressing,  but  what  ten  times  the  larger  amount  would 
mean  if  applied  1  must  leave  growers  themselves  to  guess  ;  yet  we  are 
told  that  this  10  per  cent,  of  lime  would  make  the  compost  richer  in 
available  plant  food. 
Unfortunately  my  friend’s  Cucumber  plants  are  dead  and  destroyed 
owing  to  eelworm  attack.  I  am,  therefore,  unable  to  send  Mr.  Abbey 
any  of  them.  There  are,  however,  plenty  under  the  now  more  than 
twice  12  acres  of  glass,  but  I  should  have  to  go  ten  miles  to  obtain 
them.  Mr.  "  G,  A.”  must,  therefore,  excuse  my  delay.  I  have  asked  a 
friend  to  either  send  the  Editor  or  myself  some,  and  no  doubt  your 
correspondent  will  be  able  in  a  few  days  to  "prove  all  things  j”  and  if  I 
may  be  allowed  to  offer  a  suggestion  I  would  say.  Put  them  in  the  loam 
with  10  per  cent,  of  lime,  and  see  if  you  can  grow  Tomatoes,  Cucumbers, 
or  eelworm  in  such  soil. 
I  am  sorry  I  was  ignorant  of  what  the  practical  cultivator  had  said 
before  a  Committee  of  the  R.H.S.  as  to  the  action  of  frost  on  eelworm. 
"  G.  A.’s  ”  statement  to  that  effect  is  the  first  and  only  one  I  have  seen. 
I  mentioned  about  the  frost  as  a  fact  which  had  come  under  my 
own  notice.  The  field  is  situated  at  Turnford,  near  Broxbourne.  Is 
this  (Turnford)  the  place  the  practical  cultivator  comes  fromj"or  does  he 
mention  this  field  ? 
Mr.  Abbey  has  not  told  us  yet  where  the  whole  field  crops  are 
which  were  cured  of  eelworm  by  the  application  of  artificial  ^nure. 
His  Tomatoes  being  grown  in  the  ordinary  soil  of  a  field  is  very 
Interesting,  but  fails  to  prove  anything.  Let  us  have  a  more  precise 
account  of  these  plants,  and  then  we  shall  be  better  able  to  judge  as  to 
how  they  became  infested.  I  do  not  know  that  any  facts  have  been 
brought  forward  to  show  that  root  eelworm  is  found  as  a  field  pest  in 
England,  or  any  other  country  where  there  is  as  much  frost  in  winter  as 
we  get. 
In  conclusion,  I  am  sorry  my  ex|)erience  of  eelworm  does  not  reach 
Mr,  Abbey’s  standard,  but  because  I  did  not  actually  carry  out  the 
experiments  myself  I  see  no  reason  why  I  should  not  be  allowed  to 
draw  my  own  conclusions  from  what  I  saw.  Perhaps  I  may  yet  be 
troubled  with  this  pest ;  if  I  am  I  will  give  his  remedy  a  good  trial, 
and  should  it  succeed  in  killing  I  will  not  hesitate  to  acknowledge  its 
power,  and  my  thanks  to  Mr.  Abbey  for  its  eflicrcy. — W.  D. 
