20:2 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  9,  1809. 
if)  a  rtipiliiiin  sized  Apple,  russet  in  appearance,  and  rugose  with  raised 
lines,  though  the  sample,  has  scarcely  a  trace  of  bright  c'  louration,  as 
stated  in  Hogg’s  description.  I’he  “  improved  ”  form  was  devoid  of  all 
roughness,  and  brightly  coloured  with  yellow  and  red.  It  is  now  widely 
distributed  by  grafting,  and  this  improved  form  is  the  present  recognised 
Mannington,”  though  widely  different  from  the  original  type.  Professor 
Bailey  records  an  analogous  case  in  America,  in  that  since  the  original 
Newtown  Pippin  has  been  distributed  over  the  United  States,  it  has 
assumed  various  forms,  specially  characteristic  of  Apples  growing  in  the 
different  States,  and  even  in  Australia  it  has  also  aojuired  the  local 
character  of  Apple 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
A  HOMILY. 
It  may  be  considered  a  happy  thought  that  induced  the  Journal  to 
afford  a  portion  of  its  columns  as  a  domain  for  young  gardeners  who 
felt  inclined  to  profitably  devote  a  portion  of  their  spare  hours  to  writing 
on  gardening  subjects.  Really  efficient  horticultural  writers  are  none 
too  plentiful,  and  if  the  Journal  of  Uorticnllure  is  to  fulfil  its  functions, 
and  maintain  and  advance  beyond  its  present  level,  it  is  necessary  that 
young  recruits  should  be  induced  to  join  the  ranks. 
In  joining  the  colours  young  aspirants  of  the  present  ought  to  be 
considered  better  fitted  to  take  the  field  than  were  those  who  are  now 
putting  off  their  armour.  A  sound  elementary  education  has  in  their 
case  been  much  more  easily  attained  than  it  was  when  their  forbears 
were  young  ;  and  there  is  certainly  a  more  numerous  crop  of  subjects 
about  which  to  write  and  discuss,  and  far  more  facilities  for  putting  their 
writings  into  print. 
Committing  thoughts  and  observations  to  writing  is  to  be  strongly 
recommended  for  various  reasons.  It  never  fails  to  have  a  stimulating 
effect  upon  the 'mind  of  all  who  essay  the  attempt  ;  it  makes  them  more 
careful  observers  in  the  field  of  their  daily  labours.  Observation  or 
taking  notice  is  one  of  the  chief  factors  in  evolving  an  accomplished 
cultivator.  Writing  of  the  value  of  this  faculty,  I  think  it  was  Dr. 
.lohnson  who  said  that  some  men  learned  more  in  the  tour  of 
Hampstead  Heath  than  other.s  learned  in  the  tour  of  Europe.  What  a 
field  of  fertility  in  this  res])ect  does  a  modern  garden  establishment  in  its 
varied  details  afford.  In  few  things  does  the  proverb  of  “learn  young 
learn  fair”  become  more  fully  realised  than  in  the  early  culture  of  the 
habits  of  carefully  noticing,  and  in  committing  observations  to  writing. 
Aspirants  to  horticultural  honours  would  do  well  to  be  impressed 
with  this  fact.  It  is  well  known  how  strong  is  the  general  and  natural 
tendency  of  youth  to  be  so  much  absorbed  in  what  may  be  termed  the 
frivolities  of  life,  as  to  lead  him  to  perform  his  most  interesting  daily  work 
without  much  serious  thought,  not  questioning  the  whys  and  wherefores 
of  what  he  is  engaged  in,  or  questioning  the  unerring  natural  laws  of 
the  marvellous  organisms  and  their  functions  with  which  he  is  dealing 
and  tending.  His  day  of  reckoning  is,  however,  sure  to  come  when  it  is 
too  late  to  repair  the  negligence.  But  it  is  not  my  intention  at  present 
to  pursue  this  phase  of  my  subject  any  further,  the  able  manner  in 
which  another  “Old  Boy”  has  dealt  with  such  matters  rendering  it 
unnecessary. 
Having  been  instrumental  in  my  time  of  activity  in  inducing  young  men 
(some  ot  whom  have  in  no  mean  way  graced  these  pages)  to  join  the  ranks 
of  horticultural  writers,  1  have  taken  an  interest  in  the  ‘‘  ^'oung  Gardeners’ 
Domain,’’  and  have  followed  it  pretty  closely.  It  may  be  said  that  some 
of  the  youthful  writers  give  promise  of  good  work  for  the  literature  of 
horticulture  as  well  as  in  arduous  work  of  the  garden.  I  have,  however, 
noticed  with  something  like  regret  that  they  have  almost  entirely  ignored 
the  vegetable  and  hardy  fruit  departments,  or  at  all  events  not  taken  so 
much  notice  of  them  as  they  deserve.  Their  subjects  have,  I  think, 
been  too  exclusively  taken  from  the  glass  department,  no  doubt  one  of 
great  importance,  and  I  do  not  profess  to  say  that  any  section  is  much 
more  important  than  another. 
The  kitchen  department  cannot  be  considered  of  little  importance, 
or  will  it  be  thus  regarded  by  those  who,  like  myself,  have  been  respon¬ 
sible  lor  half  a  century  for  the  satisfaction  of  those  immaculately  clad 
individuals  who  are  at  the  head  of  the  cooking  department.  It  may  be 
said  without  exaggeration  that  most  gardeners  have  fouml  the  kitchen  to 
be  the  quarter  from  which  the  most  constant  and  exacting  demands  come 
all  the  year  round. 
I  know  from  long  experience  that  young  men,  entering  their  profes¬ 
sional  career,  treat  the  cultivation  of  vegetables  with  far  less  consideration 
than  they  should  do.  They  are  constantly  aspiring  to  the  glass  depart¬ 
ment  long  before  they  have  become  conversant  with  that  for  vegetables, 
or  felt  the  importance  of  how  to  crop  a  kitchen  garden  in  the  most 
profitable  way  and  so  as  to  keep  a  supply  in  due  proportion  all  the 
v“ir  round.  With  few  exceptions  it  has  been  my  rule  to  place  all  young 
men  who  came  under  me  first  in  the  kitchen  garden,  and  as  a  rule  I 
found  those  who  acquitted  themselves  well  there  turned  out  creditably  in 
all  departments.  I  never  yet  found  a  youth  who  was  a  good  spadesman 
who  was  not  a  good  all-round  workman,  and  a  good  workman  generally 
turns  out  a  good  cultivator.  If  I  were  <  ailed  upon  to  test  a  man  by  one 
operation  I  would  hand  him  a  spade  and  set  him  to  dig,  as  I  never  found  a 
good  spadesman  in  whom  there  was  not  a  satisfactory  general  outcome. 
I  would  urge  upon  those  young  men  who  aspire  to  enrich  the 
“  Young  (iardeners'  Domain  ”  not  to  treat  lightly  with  their  pens  the 
department  for  which  I  am  pleading,  and  the  importance  of  which  they 
will  sooner  or  later  recognise.  They  may  rest  assured  that  it  is  a 
most  important  one,  in  which  there  is  much  to  learn  and  interest.  Its 
high-class  management  calls  for  much  thought  and  forethought.  There 
are  these  very  few  points  among  many  : — The  selection  of  the  finest 
and  most  profitable  sorts  of  vegetables  ;  their  sowing  and  planting  times 
so  as  to  maintain  a  constant  supply  in  good  condition ;  the  rotation  of 
crops  ;  the  best  methods  of  culture  ;  and  the  correct  knowledge  of  the 
quantities  of  seeds  necessary  to  crop  a  given  acreage  of  ground  for 
constant  supply. — D.  Thomson. 
Vine  OtTbTuiiE. 
It  has  long  been  my  contention  that  it  is  not  possible  to  laydown  hard 
and  fast  lines  on  many  points  conneefed  with  Grape  culture  which  would 
be  universally  applicable.  I’ositions,  struiUiires,  climate,  and,  in  particular, 
soils,  differ  surprisingly,  so  that  a  rneihod  of  treatment  which  answers 
well  in  one  district  might  prove  a  tailiire  in  another.  The  object  1  have 
in  view  is  to  give  a  system  of  procedure  such  as  by  practical  experience 
and  careful  observation  I  have  found  productive  of  successful  results. 
Before  starting  Vines  into  growth  both  structures  an.d  occupants  must 
undergo  a  thorough  cleansing.  The  borders  may  then  be  examined,  and 
all  surface  soil  removed  down  to  where  the  roots  are  abundant.  Replace 
this  with  a  compost  of  four  parts  of  good  fibrous  loam  to  one  of  mortar 
rubbish  ;  charcoal,  wood  ashes,  half-inch  bones,  and  lime  should  be 
incor])orated  with  the  compost  for  top-dressing.  It  must  then  be  made 
moderately  firm  and  the  borders  adeijiiately  watered.  I  have  often  heard 
that  if  Vine  borders  are  well  drained  they  cannot  be  overwatered  during 
the  growing  season.  In  my  opinion,  however,  such  an  assertion  is  an 
error  and  often  leads  to  unsatisfactory  results.  1  believe  many  Vines  are 
ruined  by  excessive  watering,  as  some  soils  have  a  greater  capacity  for 
holding  moisture  than  others.  When  admitting  air  to  vineries  one  cannot 
be  too  careful,  as  a  cold  draught  during  the  early  stage  of  growth  will 
practically  ruin  the  future  crop.  We  have  to  be  guided  in  a  great  measure 
by  the  weather,  and  one  imjiortant  item  is  to  change  our  ventilator  just  as 
often  as  the  weather  changes. 
When  starting  Vines  into  growth  no  artificial  heat  will  be  required 
for  three  weeks,  but  the  Vines  must  be  syringed  and  the  houses  kept  close. 
As  the  growth  advances  gradually  raise  the  temperature  to  50°  or  55°  at 
night,  with  5°  to  10"  more  during  the  day  with  air.  Close  early  ns  the 
sun  leaves  the  houses,  but  admit  a  little  air  during  the  night,  as  this  will 
insure  a  sturdy  growth  and  maintain  a  healthy  atmosphere  in  the  house. 
In  disbudding  remove  the  weakest  growths,  leaving  not  more  than 
two  at  each  spur,  and  should  these  be  close  together  leave  the  one  show¬ 
ing  the  better  bunch.  When  the  shoots  get  near  the  glass  carefully  draw 
down  to  the  wires.  I  do  not  consider  it  advisable  to  have  either  wood  or 
foliage  particularly  large,  but  it  is  essential  that  both  be  healthy,  of  good 
colour  and  substance.  Each  leaf  must  ba  allowed  sufficient  space  to 
develop  without  crushing  its  neighbour.  . 
As  the  flowering  season  approaches  gradually  raise  the  temperature 
from  5°  to  10°.  Remove  all  surplus  bunches,  and  admit  as  much  air  as 
jiossible  without  causing  a  draught  ;  dispense  with  syringing  altogether, 
and  keep  the  atmosphere  somewhat  drier.  Give  the  Vines  a  gentle  shake 
a  few  times  during  the  day  to  disperse  pollen. — ,1.  F.  D.,  Yorks. 
(To  he  continued.) 
Eaiii.v  Peaches  and  Nicctarines. 
Previous  to  starting  a  house,  all  necessary  operations  should  be 
done  after  the  foliage  has  fallen  from  the  trees,  such  as  washing  the 
glass  and  woodwork,  pruning,  .scaling,  painting  the  trees  with  Gishurst 
compound,  tying  and  top  <lressing  the  border  if  required.  In  tying 
always  keep  the  fruiting  wood  on  the  top  as  much  as  possible,  so  that  it 
may  get  the  full  benefit  of  the  sun.  If  the  borders  require  top-dressing, 
remove  the  surface  soil  down  to  the  roots,  taking  great  care  not  to  break 
any  ;  and  if  dry,  give  a  watering,  after  which  apply  a  mixture  of  good 
maiden  loam  and  old  mortar  rubble,  using  four  parts  of  the  former  to 
one  of  the  latter ;  do  not  add  it  too  heavily,  and  make  it  fairly  firm  hy 
beating  with  a  fork. 
If  fruits  are  required  to  be  ripe  by  the  middle  of  April  acd  the 
beginning  of  May,  start  the  house  at  the  middle  of  December,  affording  a 
temperature  of  40°  to  45°  at  night,  45°  to  50°  by  day  artificially,  allowing  a 
rise  of  5°  from  sun  heat.  Syringe  the  trees  lightly  with  tepid  water  on 
bright  days  in  the  morning  when  the  thermometer  has  reached  55°,  also 
at  midday,  but  in  dull  weather  damping  the  paths  and  border  will  be 
sufficient.  In  about  a  fortnight  from  the  time  the  house  was  started, 
raise  the  temperature  5°  both  for  night  and  day.  Great  care  must  be 
taken  in  ventilating  ;  do  not  admit  any  air  until  the  house  has  a 
temperature  of  55°,  closing  again  at  midday,  allowing  a  rise  of  10°  from 
Min  heat.  Examine  the  borders  occasionally  to  see  if  they  require  water  p 
it  so,  apply  it  forthwith,  for  if  permitted  to  become  dry  it  will  cause  the 
