306 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
September  30,  1897. 
Two  notable  examples  of  what  amateurs  can  accomplish  in  hardy 
fruit  culture,  and  how  much  entertainment  they  can  secure  from  effects 
that  may  ultimately  prove  very  proBtable,  recently  came  under  my 
notice,  and  a  few  descriptive  notes  may  not  be  devoid  of  interest  to 
some  Journal  readers.  The  first  visit  was  paid  to  a  plantation  at 
JIarpeuden  fprined  by  fSpencer  Pickering,  Esq.,  P.P.S.,  a  gentleman  of 
considerable  eminence  in  the  world  of  science.  In  the  course  of  his 
chemical  investigation  he  met  with  an  accident  which  for  some  time 
endangered  his  sight,  and  outdoor  exercise  became  indispensable  as  a 
means  of  restoring  his  health.  Some  experience  at  Pothamsted  and 
familiarity  with  the  great  work  performed  by  Sir  John  Lawes  and  Sir 
Henry  (iilbert  led  Mr.  Pickering  to  take  an  interest  in  experimental 
work  amongst  plants,  and  the  perusil  of  horticultural  literature 
concentrated  his  attention  upon  hardy  fruit  culture.  Attached  to 
.Mr.  Pickering’s  residence  is  an  old  orchard  which  has  permitted 
him  to  indulge  his  taste  to  the  full  in  experiments  connected  with 
what  may  be  termed  tree-surgery,  for  many  of  these  presented 
an  array  of  cankered  slems  and  branches  that  would  have  been 
rather  appalling  if  profitable  fruit  crops  had  been  the  only  object 
in  view.  In  some  cases  the  diseased  wood  has  been  cut  away  until 
only  a  narrow  channel  is  left  for  the  conveyance  of  the  sap,  the  wounds 
have  been  dressed  with  tar,  hollow  places  have  been  filled  with  cement, 
and  it  is  astonishing,  in  many  instances,  to  see  the  vigorous  efforts 
being  made  by  the  trees  to  heal  their  wounds  by  the  formation  of  new 
tissue. 
In  some  extreme  cases  the  trees  have  had  their  larger  limbs 
removed,  or  they  have  been  beheaded  and  grafted  with  strong  scions, 
the  majority  of  which  are  making  vigorous  growth,  and  bid  fair  to 
rejuvenate  the  veterans  which  have  been  subjected  to  many  years  of 
bad  treatment  or  neglect.  That  every  one  of  these  experiments  is  a 
subject  of  special  interest  to  the  operator  can  be  readily  imagined ;  but 
they  possess  an  interest  beyond  that,  for  they  show  that  there  are 
times  when  the  knife  must  be  freely  and  boldly  used  to  effect  the 
desired  purpose,  'they  also  show  what  vigour  there  may  be  left  in  old 
trees  if  they  are  subjected  to  the  right  treatment. 
Experiments  on  old  trees  were  not  enough,  however,  to  satisfy  Mr. 
Pickering,  and  about  four  years  ago  he  commenced  a  plantation  of  young 
trees  p.way  from  the  old  orchard,  and  this  is  already  giving  satisfactory 
results.  The  soil  is  heavy,  containing  a  (Quantity  of  stones,  but  it 
was  thoroughly  and  deeply  worked  before  laying  it  out  for  planting, 
and  a  liberal  dressing  of  London  stable  manure  was  dug  in.  About 
an  acre  was  enclosed  by  a  wooden  fence  on  two  sides  and  an  open  iron 
fence  on  the  others.  In  this  space  nearly  1000  Apples,  Pears,  Plums, 
Damsons,  and  Cherries  were  planted  together,  with  2000  Currants  and 
(looseberries.  The  general  scheme  of  the  plantation  is  to  have 
standard  Plums  as  the  basis,  vvith  dwarf  Pears  and  Apples  between 
them,  the  tntennediate  spaces  being  again  utilised  for  the  Currants 
and  Gooseberries,  some  trained  trees  oceupying  a  portion  of  the  ground. 
dAking  the  trees  generally,  satisfactory  progress  has  been  made,  and 
even  in  a  season  of  scarcity,  like  the  present,  it  is  gratifying  to 
see  vigorous  young  trees  of  Cox’s  Orange,  Potts’  Seedling,  and  other 
useful  varieties  laden  with  fine  elean  fruits.  Some  of  the  Pears  are 
similarly  well  grown  and  well  cropped,  conclusive  evidence  being 
afforded  by  all  the  trees  that  both  soil  and  treatment  have  been 
right. 
d  he  Plums  are,  however,  a  rather  deplorable  instance  of  how  even 
good  treatment  may  fail  in  producing  the  desired  effect,  A  mysterious 
disease  has  attacked  them,  and  it  appears  probable  that  a  large  per¬ 
centage  of  deaths  will  ere  long  have  to  be  recorded.  This  is  the  more 
regrettable  since  the  trees  started  well  and  have  developed  good  heads, 
and  had,  moreover,  reached  an  age  when  profitable  crops  might  have 
been  expected.  The  bark  seems  to  die  in  patches  or  strips,  the  altered 
appearance  being  plainly  evident  in  most  cases ;  the  injury  -extends 
both  upwards  and  downwards,  affecting  the  wood  as  well,  until  when 
the  circuit  of  the  stem  is  completed  with  dead  bark  and  cambium,  the 
fate  (if  the  tree  is  determined.  So  long  as  a  longitudinal  strip  of 
living  bark  and  tissue  remains  the  tree  struggles  for  life,  and  by 
careful  excision  it  is  possible  that  some  may  recover,  but  in  the 
majority  of  instances  it  is  hopeless,  the  leaves  lose  colour  and  droop, 
and  the  fruit  becomes  prematurely  ripened; 
It  has  been  found  that  a  fungoid  growth  is  present  in  the  bark, 
but  whether  this  is  a  cause  or  a  result  of  the  disease  has  not  been 
determined.  Frost  injury  has  been  assigned  as  a  probable  predisposing 
cause,  and  some  weight  is  attached  to  this,  but  the  matter  is  still 
under  investigation,  and  no  doubt  the  results  will  be  ultimately 
brought  before  the  public.  Fruit  growers  have  abundance  of  evils  to 
contend  with  in  the  shape  of  insect  pests,  but  if  developed  trees  that 
have  reached  bearing  size  are  liable  to  be  lost  in  this  mysterious 
manner,  for  which  there  is  no  apparent  remedy,  the  difficulties  and 
prospects  of  loss  will  be  increased  tenfold.  This  certainly  cannot  be 
counted  as  one  of  the  pleasures  of  fruit  growing,  unless  the  evil  can  be 
overcome,  when  perhaps  the  satisfaction  will  in  some  measure 
compensate  for  the  loss. 
Ajrart  from  this  disaster  there  can  be  no  question  that  the  owner 
of  this  plantation  has  derived  a  considerable  degree  of  pleasure  from  it 
in  planting,  tending,  and  watching  the  progress  of  the  trees,  far  in 
excess  of  the  expense  ;  yet  there  has  been  an  appreciable  return  in 
fruit  crops  during  the  past  two  years,  suSicient  to  pay  a  fair  interest 
on  the  capital  expended,  and  there  is  every  prospect  of  this  return 
being  materially  increased,  notwithstanding  the  loss  of  the  Plums. — 
Observer. 
(To  be  continued.) 
NATURAL  VERSUS  ARTIFICIAL  FERTILISERS. 
{Continued  from  page  258.) 
In  considering  the  claims  of  natural  manure  or  organic  matter,  as 
essential  in  successful  cultivation  of  the  soil,  possibly  some  readers, 
learned  or  semi-learned  in  the  science  of  manuring,  may  dissent  from 
some  of  my  conclusions.  They  may  say  that  “artificial  manures efl'ect 
wonderful  results,”  and  ask  us,  in  proof,  to  look  at  the  produce  at  exhibi¬ 
tions.  Admitted.  In  the  vegetable  market  nothing  can  rival  the  home¬ 
grown  article,  hut  have  artificials  alone  produced  it?  Never.  “We 
have  grand  Grapes.”  Yes;  but  look  at  the  Vine  borders  of  loam,  the 
top  inch  or  tw,o  of  the  richest  accumulation  of  organic  matter,  bones 
and  what  not.  •  For  what  does  this  organic  matter  count  ?  Do 
“ artificials ”  alone  grow  good  Grapes  for  years  without  any  manure? 
Loo  c  at  the  fixet,  turn  it  over,  make  sure  what  there  is  due  to  the 
“natural”  and  what  to  the  artificial  ingredients.  This- is  being  done 
by  experiment  on  eollegiate  lands  and  experimental  grounds.  Even 
the  Ilothamsted  experiments,  conducted  on  an  unparalleled  basis,  have 
not  set  agriculture  on  its  legs.  But  the  scientific  and  practical 
investigators  and  experimenters  ever  point  to  the  intrirreic  value  of 
organic  matter. 
Grind  rock  into  various  degrees  of  fineness,  and  in  this  soil  operate 
with  natural  and  chemical  manures  separately  on  groAving  plants. 
What  is  the  difference?  The  natural  products  contain  some  available 
and  a  certain  amount  of  unavailable  irlant  food,  but  they  also  yield  acids 
in  decay  acting  on  iuorgan-ic  material,  or  the  rock,  to  go  along  with  the 
nitrogenic  matter  into  the  plant  in  the  soil  waters.  The  purely  chemical 
preparations,  fit  for  plant  food,  do  nothing  of  the  sort.  Plants  fed  by 
them,  as  in  Avater  culture,  must  have  sujrplies  more  or  less  constantly, 
and  are  only  of  use  for  the  time,  and  as  such  unreliable  or  de])endent 
upon  something  else  for  the  measure  of  utility.  The  world  is  now  so 
replete  Avith  organic  remains  that  few  soils  do  not  contain  at  least 
some  to  render  “  artificials,”  even  Avholly  chemical,  useful,  but  organic 
matter  we  mmt  have,  and  experience  teaches  that  it  is  best  supplied  in 
decayed  natural  or  farmyard  manure. 
Thus  far  we  get  at  nothing  but  the  necessity  of  a  judicious  blending 
of  organic  Avith  inorganic  substances  in  “artificial”  fertili-sers.  In 
some  their  use  does  not  extend  beyond  bones,  in  others  fish  meal,  and 
in  not  a  few  rape  meal  or  native  guano.  Analysis  shoAvs  the  value  of, 
say,  bone  ash  superphosphate,  and  nitrate  of  jrotash ;  bone  superphos¬ 
phate,  nitrate  of  soda  and  muriate  of  potash ;  mineral  superphosphate 
(high  grade),  sulphate  of  ammonia,  and  double  sulphate  of  potash  and 
magnesia.  In  comparison  Avith  these  fertilisers,  analysis  of  native 
guano,  for  instance,  is  nowhere.  That  is  the  chemical  test.  What  is 
the  practical  ?  Ascertain  by  experiment  on  a  Vine  border.  Put  on  so 
many  shillingsworth  of  ixative  guano,  which  by  chemical  test  is 
worth  next  to  nothing,  and  the  same  number  of  shillingsAvorth  of 
