March  23,  1899. 
JOUllXAL  OF  IIOUTUUJLTUP.E  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
229 
A  FEW  SPECIALITIES. 
Barr’s  Monstrous  Lonfr  Pod  Broad  Bean.  — 'I’he 
earliest,  best  llavoured,  lai'Kesb  podded,  and  most  pro¬ 
ductive.  Per  <)uart.  2/(i. 
Barr’s  Green  Haricot  Dwarf  French  Bean.— Of  very 
delicate  flavour,  and  unsurpassed  its  a  Haricot  Bean  in 
Winter.  Per  quart,  2/fi. 
Barr’s  Best  of  All  Aixtumn  -  cutting  Cabbage. — 
Dwarf  and  compact,  very  early  and  of  exceptionally  fine 
cooking  quality.  Per  packet,  6d.;  ner  o/..,  1/(1. 
Barr’s  Earliest  French  Short  Horn  Carrot.  -  A 
favourite  for  soups,  and  extremely  early  ;  the  best 
variety  to  sow  in  frames.  Per  pa(d{et,  4d.:  per  oz.,  lOd. 
Barr’s  “Pride  of  the  Market”  Cucumber.— A  speci¬ 
ally  fine  <lark-green  variety  of  handsome  shape  ;  a 
favourite  in  Covent  (larden  Market.  Per  packet,  1/(1. 
Barr’s  Long  Keeper  Onion.— A  fine  handsome  Onion, 
ami  Ji  very  long  keeper.  Per  p.acket,  (Id. ;  per  oz.,  1/3. 
Barr’s  “First  of  All”  Radishes,— Scarlet  or  white,  fine 
little,  short-leaved,  very  early  ll.adishes.  Per  oz.,  6d. 
Barr’s  Early  Ruby  Tomato.--  Bright  scarlet  solid  fruit 
of  fine  form  ;  an  atuindant  cropper  ;  the  best  FlusT 
Faulv  'I'omato.  Per  packet,  1/-. 
Barr’s  Thick-fleshed  Tomato,  —  Surpasses  all  other 
varieties  for  depth  of  fruit,  soliditv  of  flesh,  high 
(juality,  and  heavy  cropping.  Per  packet,  1/-. 
BARR’S  SEED  GUIDE  (Free)  contains  a  full  descriptive 
liist  of  the  best  V(!getahles  and  most  beautiful  Flowers, 
witli  many  Practical  Hints  on  Culture  valuable  to 
Gardeners,  Amateurs,  and  Kxliibitors. 
BARR  &  SONS, 
12  &  13,  KING  STREET. 
COVENT  GARDEN,  LONDON 
NUKSKRllts:  BONG  Dl'lTON,  SURREY. 
SUTTON’S 
I  ASTERS 
For  Summer  Gardening. 
SUTTON’S  SUPERB  BEDDING 
A  splendid  selection  of  dwarf  varieties, 
I  specially  adapted  for  producing  masses 
of  colour  in  beds. 
Scarlet  -  per  pkt.  1/-  !  Blue  -  -  per  pkt.  1/- 
Delicate  Hose  „  1/-;  Lilac-  -  „  1/- 
Bright  Rose  ,,  1/-  |  White  -  „  1/G 
Collection  of  the  six  colours,  separate,  o/-. 
“I  herewith  forward  two  plants  of  your  Superb 
Bedding  Aster.  1  think  them  grand  !  The  beds  have 
been  the  adminition  of  the  gardeners  and  others  who 
have  seen  them.  All  the  plants  are  <;arrying  from  1(1  to 
3!)  i)erfect  flowers.”— Mr.  W.  Davis,  The  Gardens,  The 
Convent  of  the  Visitation. 
ISUTTON’SSEEDSI 
GENUINE  ONLY  FROM  SUTTON  &  SONS, READING.  | 
ARCHIDS,  ORCHIDS. 
INSPECTION  of  OUR  NEW  RANGE  of  HOUSES, 
just  completed,  is  cordially  invited  by 
HUGH  LOW  &  CO., 
BUSH  HILL  PARK, 
MIDDLESEX, 
“W.  E.  GLADSTONE.” 
Double  white,  large  as  lialf  erowii,  no  yellow  centre  ;  has 
revolutioniseil  spring  laslding  ;  snfiicient  lengtli  of  stalk 
for  tablo  or  cliurcli  decoration.  .Sample  60,  4/-  carriage 
paid  ;  two  dozen  .samide  free,  4/-. 
CHOZCEST  SOUBX.I:  HOZ.I.YKOCK.S. 
Sorts  costing  <!/-  dozen.  Residue  liardy  plants  at  our 
Marstoii  Hall,  in  Half-Guinea  assorted  selection  of  ten  doz., 
wortli  'I'wo  Guineas  ;  not  ruhhisli  or  rooted  offshoots. 
30,000  FRUIT  TREES,  Apple,  Pear,  &  Plum, 
And  10,000  FILBERT  BUSHES, 
6ft.  higli ;  all  young  transplanted  ;  no  old  stnnted  ruhbi.sh. 
PRINTED  CATALOGUES  GRATIS.  Estate  sold. 
CtaurchfleldB  Estate,  CRikBLETT ,  IHALVERNT 
VINE  CULTURE  UNDER  GLASS.— 
By  .1.  R.  1‘HAUSo.N,  'I'ho  Nurseries,  Cliilw(jll,  near 
Nottingliam.  Price  1/-  ;  post  free,  1/1.  Fifth  Fdition. 
UKKICK,  12,  MiTRKCOUUTCiIAMUKIIS,  Fr.KKTSTHKKT,E.C. 
All  who  wish  grand  results  should 
use  THOMSON’S  IMPROVED  VINE,  PLANT  and 
V  EGETABl.E  MANURE.  'This  valuable  Manure  is  yearly 
growing  in  public  favour.  Can  be  had  of  all  Nursery  and 
Seedsmen,  or  direct  from  the  makers,  WM.  'J’HO.MSON  and 
SON.S,  Ltd.,  'I’weed  Vineyard,  Clovenfords,  Galashiels, 
N.B.  Price  Li.sts  and  Testimonials  on  Application.  1  cwt. 
and  upwards  Carriage  J’aid  to  all  stations  in  Britain  and 
Ireland.  London  Agent — Mr.  Gkorgk,  14,  Redgrave 
Road,  I’utney.  Agent  for  Cliannol  Islands — Mr.  .1.  H. 
Pakson.s,  Market  Place,  Guernsey.  Also  'THOMSON’S 
SPECIAL  CHRY.SAN’I’HEMUM  MANURE.  i  cwt. 
•Carriage  J’aid  to  all  Stations  in  Britain  and  Ireland. 
No.  078.— VoL.  XXXVIII.,  Third  .Skribs. 
Asparagus. — This  delicious  vegetable  does  not 
require  half  the  exi.eiise  usually  incurred.  For 
simple  in.structions  see  SEED  LIS’T,  free  ,on  ap[ilication. 
Strong  roots  from  2/6  per  100. — RICHARD  .SMITH  &  CO., 
Nurserymen  and  .Seed  Merchants,  Worcester. 
PENTSTKMONS,  PHLOXES,  ANTIRRIII- 
NUM.S. — For  tlie  hent  of  tlie.se  and  all  other  section.s 
of  FLORISTS’  FLOWERS  and  HARDY  PLANTS,  see 
Forbes’  Illustrated  (Catalogue,  152  pages,  free  on  applica¬ 
tion. — .rOIIN  FORBES,  Nurseryman,  Hawick,  Scotland. 
IMPORTANT  TO  MUSHROOM  GROWERS.— 
CUTHBKRT’S  SPECIALITE  MUSHROOM  SPAWN. 
Always  alike  ;  most  productive.  Hundreds  of  Testimonials. 
Per  Bushel  6/-.— R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT,  Seed,  Bulb,  and 
Plant  Merchants,  Southgate,  N.  Establi.shed  1797. 
F 
OWLER’S  MEALY  BUG  DESTROYER. 
Effectually  and  instantly  destroys  this  most  trouble¬ 
some  pest  without  stain  or  injury  to  the  the  foliage  ;  in 
Bottles,  1/-,  2/6,  6^,  and  10/-  each  Sold  by  all  .Seedsmen.— 
CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd.,  London,  E.C. 
PURE  WOOD  CHARCOAL,  SpeciaUy  Prepared 
for  Horticultural  use.  Extract  from  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture ;  ‘  ‘  Charcoal  is  invaluable  as  a  manurial  agent ; 
each  little  piece  is  a  pantrv  full  of  the  good  things  of  this 
life.  There  is  no  cultivated  plant  which  is  not  benefited  by 
having  Charcoal  applied  to  the  soil  in  which  it  is  rooted.” 
Apply  for  Pamphlet  and  Prices  to  the  Manufacturers— 
HIRST,  BROOKE  <fe  HIRST,  Ltd.,  Leeds.  ' 
F 
LOWER  POTS,  Machine  made. — For  Samples 
(free)  and  Prices,  apiily — 
TURNER’S,  Limitki),  POR’TOBELLO,  N.B. 
Garden  netting,  small  mesh,  keep  out 
the  smallest  birds,  oiled  and  dressed ;  will  not 
rot  if  left  out  in  all  W(;athers.  105  yds.  bv  1  yd.  wide,  3/-; 
by  2  yds.  wide,  6/-;- 106  yds.  by  3  yds.  wide,  9/-;  and  so  on  to 
any  width  ;  carriage  paid  on  all  orders  over  5/-.  As  supplied 
to  the  R<iyal  Garilen.s.  Commoner  Netting,  00  square  yds. 
for  1/-.  I  do  not  require  payment  until  you  have 
received  and  approved  of  the  Netting.  —  From 
H.  J.  GASSON,  Garden  Netting  Works,  Rye. 
Greenhouses  from  £3  5/-;  vineries, 
CONSEKVATOUIES,  FKAMES,  SUMMER  IIOU.SE.S,  &C. 
Illustrated  List  Free.  Makers  to  H.M.  the  Queen  and 
lI.R.Il.  the  Prince  of  Wale.s. 
POTTER,  HAWTHORN  &  CO.,  London  Work?, 
READING.  (Name  Paper.) 
THURSDAY,  MARCH  23,  1899. 
THE  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  can  be  obtained 
from  the  Office,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers  Fleet  8t., 
London,  post  free  for  a  Quarter,  3/9.  '  Editorial 
communications  must  be  addressed  to  8,  Rose 
Hill  Rd.,  Wandsworth,  8.W, 
(JOVERING  VINE  BORIIEIIS. 
IN  my  opinion  there  is  a  decided  objection  to 
covering  outside  Vine  borders,  as  being  injurious 
to  the  health  of  the  Vines.  My  reason  for  penning 
these  notes  is  because  T  think  that  by  recording 
my  experience  in  this  matter  it  may  possibly 
he  the  means  of  economising  labour  in  gardens 
where  it  is  none  too  plentiful,  and  at  the'  same 
time  bring  about  a  larger'  yield  of  ffuit  of 
improved  quality.  ^  ' 
In  my  younger  days  I  followed  the  example 
of  my  elders,  and  men  who  had  more  experience, 
and  annually  covered  the  outside  Vine  borders 
in  my  charge  with  quantities  ot  leaves  acxi 
partially  decayed  manure  to  keep  them  in  position. 
Previous  to  applying  the  leaves  and  manure  some 
3  or  4  inches  of  the  surface  soil  was  removed, 
and  in  place  of  it  was  substituted  an  equql 
quantity  of  fre-sh  fibrous  loam  and  decayed 
manure. 
Upon  examining  the  borders  in  spring  after 
the  removal  of  the  covering  it  was  found  that 
there  were  fewer  healthy  roots  than  in  the 
previous  autumn,  and  this  decay  was  attributed 
to  the  sodden  condition  of  the  border  brought 
about  by  the  covering  preventing  the  admission 
of  air  to  the  soil.  Whenever  there  is  a  quantity 
of  fermenting  material  placed  upon  a  Vine  border 
it  may  cause  the  production  of  thick  fleshy  roots, 
which  decay  on  the  removal  of  the  covering,  and 
this  leaves  the  Vines  in  a^worse  condition  thtin  if 
such  roots  had  not  been  produced. 
When  a  statement  is  made  to  me  that  is 
at  variance  with  recognised  custom,  I  invariably 
inquire  what  proof  can  he  adduced  in  support 
it,  and  the  question  may  properly  be  <lsked 
What  proof  have  I  to  offer  in  support  of  my 
statement  that  Vines  are  benefited  rather  ,ih,an 
injured  by  leaving  the  borders  fully  expoSeil  tq  the 
influence  of  the  weather  ? 
After  due  consideration,  and  a  certain  amount 
of  anxiety,  I  decided,  in  the  autumn  uf|l§7y, 
to  dispense  v;ith  the  orthodox  winter  Ireatiiicnt  of 
outside  Vine  borders.  A  bettor  season  for 
testing  the  advantages  or  otherwiso  of  the 
system  could  not  have  been  chosen  had  the 
No.  2034.— You.  C.,  Opi)  Series. 
