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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
November  7,  1901. 
similar  manner  to  Beetroot,  but  a  large  crop  can  be  more  con¬ 
veniently  clamped  or  pitted  in  the  open  ground.  For  household 
use,  however,  the  best  plan  is  to  pick  out  all  the  best  and  most 
suitable  roots  adapted  for  culinary  purposes,  and  store  them  in 
a  dry,  cool  shed,  between  layers  of  dry  earth,  ashes,  or  sand. 
TURNIPS.- — It  is  not  necessary  to  lift  and  store  the  whole  of 
the  Turnip  crop.  Some  of  the  roots  may  be  left  in  the  ground 
from  which  they  can  be  drawn  as  wanted  in  mild  weather.  A 
portion  may  be  lifted  and  stored  in  a  heap,  covering  them  with 
ashes  to  exclude  air  and  light.  These  are  available  for  early  use, 
and  at  times  when  inconvenient  to  obtain  them  from  the  open 
ground. 
ARTICHOKES. — Jerusalem  Artichokes  are  usually  best  left 
in  the  ground  until  wanted.  A  few  tubers  may  be  dug  up  and 
stored  in  soil  to  be  conveniently  at  hand  for  occasions  when  the 
weather  is  inclement.  Later  on  a  considerable  bulk  of  tubers 
may  be  thus  stored  in  the  event  of  a  long  protracted  frost 
occurring. 
PARSNIPS. — Parsnips,  as  a  rule,  ought  not  to  be  lifted  and 
stored,  as  the  roots  keep  better  in  the  ground,  and  may  be  dug 
up  as  required.  On  the  approach  of  very  severe  frost,  throw 
some  litter  over  the  ground  where  the  roots  are,  or  lift  a  portion, 
storing  them  in  ashes  or  soil  in  a  sheltered  position. 
POTATOES. — The  lifting  of  the  Potato  crop  must  be  com¬ 
pleted,  and  the  tubers  safely  stored  from  frost  and  wet.  If 
pitted  outside,  form  the  ridges  in  a  well  drained  position.  Cover 
with  dry  straw,  and  bank  over  that  a  good  covering  of  soil. 
Dry,  cool,  frost-proof  sheds  may  also  be  utilised.  Cover  the 
tubers  to  exclude  light.  Those  previously'  stored  sihould  be 
examined,  so  as  to  remove  any  damaged  and  diseased  examples. 
CHICORY.— A  few  strong  roots  may  be  dug  up,  securing 
them  without  injury.  Remove  the  tops  just  above  the  crown, 
and  place  the  roots  in  soil  or  leaf  soil  in  deep  boxes  or  pots, 
which  should  be  stood  in  an  absolutely  dark  position  in  a  tem¬ 
perature  of  45  degrees  to  50  degrees.  When  the  blanched 
leaves  are  3in  long,  break  them  off  for  use. 
SALSAFY  AND  SCORZONERA. — Though  the  roots  of  these 
may  be  left  in  the  ground  until  required,  they  may,  if  more  con¬ 
venient,  be  lifted  and  stored  in  layers  of  sand  or  soil.  When 
lifting  twist  off  the  leaves  in  a  similar  manner  to  Beet. 
HORSERADISH.- — It  is  a  good  plan  where  there  is  frequent 
demand  for  this  to  dig  up  a  quantity  of  the  strongest  roots  and 
place  them  between  layers  of  ashes  under  the  shelter  of  a  wall,, 
where  they  are  readily  available  for  use. 
ASPARAGUS. — The  withered  stems  of  Asparagus  should  now 
be  cut  down  to  within  an  inch  or  two  of  the  soil.  Beds  infested 
with  weeds  of  a  perennial  character  must  be  carefully  forked 
out,  leaving  the  surface  of  the  bed  loose.  Give  a  dressing  of  soot, 
enough  to  blacken  the  surface,  slightly  pointing  it  in.  A  layer  of 
1  jch  manure  not  more  than  3in  thick  may  then  be  spread  over 
the  whole  surface  of  the  beds,  and  a  sprinkling  of  soil  scattered 
over  the  manure  from  the  alleys  between  the  beds. 
CABBAGE. — In  dry  weather  hoe  down  the  weeds  between  the 
rows  of  plants  placed  out  this  autumn.  Frequent  hoeing  during 
dry  periods  is  the  best  cultivation  that  can  be  given  them  in 
winter. 
CAU LIT LOM  ERS.  —  Autumn  Cauliflowers  with  well  de¬ 
veloped  heads  just,  turning  in  should  be  protected  from  the 
effects  of  frost  by  laying  leaves  over  them.  If  the  heads  are 
fully  groan,  the  plants  may  be  lifted  and  stored  in  a  frame  or 
sheltered  position  outside. 
Hardy  Fruit  Returns. 
The  recently  issued  official  returns  of  the  acreage  under  hardy 
fruits  m  Great  Britain  are  hailed  with  satisfaction  by  horticul¬ 
turists  as  showing,  if  no  very  great  increase  in  fruit-growing  as 
Wared  with  last  year,  at  all  events  a  great  development  since 
ul  a  conference  met  at  the  Crystal  Palace  for  the  purpose 
of  calling  attention  to  the  importance  of  the  matter.  At  that 
time,  notwithstanding  an  increased  demand  for  fruit  on  the 
part  of  the  public,  there  had  been  a  marked  decrease  in 
the  area  under  fruit  culture.  Some  enthusiasts,  however,  were 
convinced  that,  rightly  conducted,  and  with  due  regard  to  the 
needs  of  the  market,  fruit  culture,  either  on  a  large  or  a  small 
scale,  imght  be  carried  on  profitably  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the 
United  Kingdom.  The  agitation  then  started  spread  throughout 
the  land,  and  practically  a  new  industry  was  started,  with  the 
result  that  at  the  present  time  there  is  more  than  twice  as  much 
land  under  fruit  culture  as  in  1888.  The  advance  has  been 
largely  in  Currants,  Gooseberries,  Raspberries,  and  Strawberries 
particularly  the  last-named,  of  which  experience  shows  the 
great  towns  are  prepared  to  accept  almost  unlimited  quantities. 
Frui't  culture  is  somewhat  unevenly  spread  over  districts,  Kent 
still  taking  an  immense  lead,  owing  both  to  its  advantages  of  soil 
and  its  neighbourhood  to  the  Metropolis ;  but  there  is  hardly  any 
part  of  England,  at  all  events,  in  which  there  has  not  been  some 
advance.  If  the  increased  supply  has  not  had  the  effect  it  should 
have  in  lowering  prices  and  improving  quality,  the  means  of  dis¬ 
tribution  is  at  fault;  but  that  is  another  and  a  very  long  story. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “The  Editor,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street, 
London,  s.c.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  Information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable 
trouble  and  expense. 
SUBSTITUTE  FOR  OLD  MORTAR  RUBBISH  IN  MAKING 
BORDERS  FOR  VINES  AND  PEACHES  (Constant  Reader).— 
The  nearest  and  best  substitute  is  calcareous  grave],  which  may 
sometimes  be  procured  as  waste  material  from  chalk  pits,  and  as 
your  soil  is  inclined  to  be  light,  more  inclined  to  a  calcareous 
than  siliceous  nature.  Such  material  may  usually  be  had  by 
arrangement  with  dealers  in  lime.  Failing  such  material,  chalk 
is  the  best  substitute,  it  having  been  some  time  exposed  to  the 
weather,  so  as  to  become  broken  up,  or  what  is  popularly  known 
as  “  fallen,”  by  the  action  of  frost,  using  one  part  of  chalk  and 
two  parts  of  road  scrapings  instead  of  the  usual  amount  of  old 
mortar  rubbish. 
THE  MAKING  OF  A  TIA !  IIA  !  (Young  Head).— The  term 
Ha!  Ha!  was  given  in  ridicule  long  ago — about  Humphrey 
Repton’s  time — to  a  sunk-fence.  The  story  goes  that  two  ladies 
once  enjoying  a  walk  in  the  pleasure  grounds  of  a  large  estate, 
upon  entering  a  smooth  and  forward-stretching  piece  of  lawn, 
<- . -8  FT. - -> 
suddenly  saw  oxen  in  front  of  them,  and,  being  in  no  ways  pro¬ 
tected  or  escorted,  their  screaming  and  consternation  was  great. 
Eventually  they  reached  a  safe  distance  from  the  cattle,  as  they 
considered,  but  were  more  than  embarrassed  and  piqued  on 
finding  later  that  a  sunk-fence,  such  as  shown  in  the  diagram, 
divided  them  and  the  object  of  their  recent  fears.  Someone — - 
we  forget  whom — upon  hearing  this  story  related  ironically,  bap¬ 
tised  the  sunk-fences  as  “Ha!  Ha’s!”  The  object,  as  you  are 
aware,  is  to  add  picturesque  effect  to  the  outlook,  for  in  place  of  a 
wall  or  hedge,  the  sunk-ditch  or  “  fence,”  as  it  is  called,  is  not 
seen  until  one  is  close  upon  it.  To  save  the  expense  of  a  stone 
or  brick  wall  we  might  suggest  one  made  of  turves,  and  each  turf 
should  be  2in  thick.  Careful  building  is  important,  for,  however 
skilful  the  turf-cutters  are,  some  of  the  turves  are  certain  to 
prove  uneven ;  and,  if  they  are  not  laid  truly  and  well,  the  wall 
may  fall.  When  properly  set,  fresh  turves  soon  grow  together. 
To  avoid  risk,  you  should  place  stays  and  pieces  of  rough  board 
at  intervals  along  the  wall,  as  at  A  in  the  figure.  Two-inch  pipes, 
as  at  B,  may  also  be  inserted  at  intervals  through  the  turf.  The 
stays  should  remain  till  the  turf  has  grown  together  and  is 
quite  safe. 
BLIND  FOR  GLASS  HOUSE  (Ignoramus).— We  have  tried 
almost  every  kind  of  invention,  but  find  none  to  equal  the  old- 
fashioned  roller  and  canvas  blind,  as  that  is  so  easily  let  down 
or  drawn  up  as  required,  and  with  care  will  last  for  a  number  of 
years.  The  material  known  as  “  ‘  A  ’  White  ”  is  most  highly  recom¬ 
mended  for  greenhouses,  and  may  be  had  cut,  sewn,  and  taped 
ready  to  fix  upon  the  roller,  or  supplied  complete  with  roller  and 
fittings.  We  advise  you  to  apply  to  Messrs.  Wood  and  Son, 
Limited,  Wood  Green,  London,  N.,  stating  requirement,  and 
asking  for  estimate.  We  do  not  advise  slack  blinds,  not  even 
teak,  and  pineoleum  and  Parisian  are  beyond  our  power  to  de¬ 
scribe  without  illustrations.  They  are  too  clumsy,  too  liable  to 
get  out  of  order,  and  though  serviceable  for  windows  and  the 
upright  parts  of  greenhouses,  do  not  answer  well  for  the  roofs. 
Such  is  our  experience,  but  the  matter  is  one  that  would  be 
profitably  discussed  by  those  with  experience  in  our  columns. 
