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From tte r» to« * Qantoner.
Roses and their Culture.
NI'MUBK riIBIK.
In grading weak growing varieties
we u*e a very small piece of root of
some of the robust and growing kinds.
Such as Mme. de Trotter; give the graft
a long standing cut, and allow at
least half an inch of the cut portion to
remain uncovered by the bevel of the
root; this will help the graft in throw-
ing out roots at that point. The fol
lowing Winter the plant can be taken
up and the Stock root cut off. Still if
this is left, there is but little danger of
it throwing out suckers, providing a
suitable variety has been used for
stock. In tl.is manner wc can grow
very strong plants of the otherwise
weak growing kinds and still have them
upon their own roots. Some varieties,
however, seem to adapt themselves so
well to the roots of Mme. de Trotter,
that they seldom free themselves, but
never have we known them to throw
out suckers. The practice of budding
roses should be avoided as much as
possible, especially if plants are raised
tor sale, as we have scarcely a single
species commonly used for stock, that
will not throw out suckers. In cases
of newly introduced varieties, which it
is desirable to propagate without delay,
building is, however, the speediest
method. Most of our roses can be
propagated from cuttings, either in
open ground or under glass. The
varieties of Hybrids devoid of thorns
are,however, less successful than those
showing these appendages, and nearly
all varieties with short jointed wood
strike readily from hard wood enttiugs.
Prepare the cutting from well matured
wood, cut six inches long and plant out
at this time in well prepared soil. In
scr^kecutting up ..if.
the manures sucfi as
fresh stable compost should never be
used in preparing the land destined for
the cuttings. i
Many varieties, however, of which
cuttings of mature wood and of suffi
cient length for open ground planting
cannot he taken, eau be propagated
from short cuttings of a couple of
inches in length by inserting them
along the edges of a flower pot filled
with a compost of half leaf mould and
half good garden soil, the top covered
with white sand. These must he kept
in a sheltered place, such ns mi ordinary
cold frame, and watered moderately.—
When rooted they can be repotted
siugly and when sufficiently strong put
out in open ground. Another method
of propagating is from what is com
monly .termed Greenwood cuttings,
which are taken from the new growth.
These however, require some ex
perience to ensure success and arc
generally made in the month of Feb
ruary or March. To grow Greenwood
cuttings successfully the stock plants
must bo potted in the Fall and forced
ill vegetation as early in January as
practicable. This method requires a
good greenhouse and much attention
and is not, advisable unless new or
scarce varieties need increasing at a
time when other methods cannot he
practiced. .
Another method is Layering which
can be performed whenever the new
growth of the plant is of sufficient
size and maturity. Loosen the soil
around the plant, take a suitable
branch and remove the leaves from the
base to within a couple of inches of
the top. Make an incision by slitting
the stem one to one and a half inches so
as to form a tongue. Bend the shoot
and slightly twist it to allow the
tongue to be brought at a right aide
with the stem. Insert the bended por
-1 tion in the earth four inches at least and
BANNER OF THE SOUTH AND PLANTERS’ JOURNAL.
press the earth firmly around it If the
weatLr is dry, a slight mule*) is ad
visable All roses having many thorns
emit r*pts much more freely than those
without thorns, these latter often pro
duce oiqj cellular lumps at the end of
the tongse especially if the weather is
dr/. Wien practicable it is therefore
advisable'to water the layers occasion
ally.
Plants grown from Jjard wood in
open groundeither from cuttings or lay
era, are much more desirable than those
grown from softwood; they are more
robust and able to stand our hot Sum
mer weather. The many causes of
failure we seo here with imported roses
are due simjtly to the fact that they
have been propagated from half ripened
wood and under close heat. When our
first warm weather appears the plants
suffer and often die out before August.
Our climate is not suited to liigli
standard Roses, which are so generally
esteemed abroad High naked Steins are
soou scorched by the sun and seldom
last beyond a couple of Summers. The
best form which our garden roses can be
cultivated in isdlie ordinary bush, emit
ting branches from the base and
shading the whole plant. We would
hero urge the importance of annual
prutlhg which is as essential to good
flowers as pruning the grape vine is es
sential to the production of large and
perfect bunches of fruit. January is in
our climate the most desirable month
to prune roses. Select sonic of the
strongest shoots of the preceding
years' growth and cut these down to
three or four buds, or in other words
four to six inches trom the ground.—
Remove all the small branches which
never will produce a good flower.—
Weak varieties t an be pruned severely
and wriHi more advantage than those of
pruned so much. In pruning, regard
must be bail to the object in if
many flowers are desired and without
regard to their size and perfection ot
form, then prune moderately, but it a
few flowers of the largest size and
greatest perfection are expected, then
prune closely; above all avoid crowding
the plant with useless wood.
Climbing roses need different prun
ing, :»s the main stems are permanent,
the ride shoots should be pruned back
to two or three inches annually.
Moss roses, especially the Spring
blooming varieties, sljquld be pruned
less severely than Hybrids perpetuals;
when their bloom is over prune mod
erately and allow them to form wood
for the ensuing yea re' flowering.
Roses in general thrive best in a
deep sandy loam enriched with stable
manure. Frequent stirring of the sur
face of the soil will benefit them great
ly. An annual application of ttjaimre,
and especially in a liquid form will
amply repay the trouble.
Seeds and Plants by Mail
The following remarks on the above
subject are clipped from a recent num
ber of Hearth and Home. They are
peculiarly applicable at this season of
the year, when every one who is pos
sessed ot a farm or a garden should be
making up their list ot the necessary
seeds for vegetables and flowers.
Apropos to this subject, we again
caution our readers to exercise all pos'
sible care in the selection of their seeds
and to purchase from none but re
sponsible dealers. There are few
branches of commerce that ofter such
inducements for the practice of fraud
and imposition, as is presented to the
dealer in seeds. An established and
responsible nurseryman or seedsman,
values his reputation too much to allow
an inferior article to leave his establish
rnent, but, unfoitui ately, in this busi
ness, as in all other I, irresponsible deal
ers have crept in, vho by dint of ad
vertising and brass succeed in [(aiming
off worthless artk; «s upon their too
credulous patrons. Our advertising
columns and Nuijiserymen’s Directory
;ire a safe guide to the inexperienced
in such purchases. In most cases the
proif of the seed Lan be tested only by
a similar process has to be resorted
to improving the pudding; a more vil
lainous fraud is scarcely conceivable
than that of wilfully jailming off upon
the uninitiated, old reeds whose vitality
has departed, or the adulterated trash
that such marvellous results are so fre
quently promised from the cultivation
of:
Many are not aware of the great
benefit to be derived from the cheap
postage on seeds, plants and cuttings.
Any one can have plants, |po matter
what distance they live from a nursery
man or almost as easily and
cheaply as thongh there were some
body that produced them in their own
place of residence. There are a great
many lovers of floriculture, living at a
distance from * florist, who would like
to have at letst a few plants with
which they might ornament their
homes, were it not for the fact that the
express charges, did the plants arrive
in safety, on tit; few they could affo.d,
would mnountjto two or three times
the cost of tht plants. Such person
can appreciate and enjoy the privilege
of sending plants by mail.
This mode of shipment opens anew
field to florists, for they can reach a
class of customers they were unable to
before, and although the orders would
be small, yet the number of them
would be apt to be large. They can
send plants at their retail prices and
pay the postage, which amounts to but
little; thereby giving their patrons
stock at as loljr a rate as they would be
apt to get it, were they to buy of the
dealer in person.
.1.1 1 inrira
saying that all plants, even of the more
tender sorts, can be forwarded to the
most distant parts of the country with
out injury. The best plan for wrap
ping is this : Spread a thin layer of
dry moss upon a sheet of paper, and
after having washed the dirt from the
roots of the plants, place them upon it
in layers, putting moss between.—
When you put in place all the plants
you desire to send, place another thin
layer of moss over them, and com
mence at oik side of the paper and roll
up the inos| and plants very tightly,
then wrap kith oiled silked or oiled
paper, to wop the moisture in the
package, ail afterwards cover with
paper upouwhich you can write the
address, 'lie firmer the package is
rolled, if \\f h sufficient moss, the less
liable the [puts are to break or be in
jured by nigh handling. It is better
to use dryjnoss and dampen the roots
because is not so much danger of
getting thqi too wet and causing de
compositioi; besides, the dirt has to
be removeqfrom the root of the plant,
and is donation; safely with the use of
water. By the use of dry moss and
damp rootsihe moisture is just where
it ought take, while in using damp
moss the fdlaii is apt to be kept just
as wet as tie toots, and decay is very
apt to folio? 1
The postige on plants is two cents
on each font ou tes or fraction thereof,
packages not to ixceed four pounds in
weight. The pit office law requires
that all pfekais coming under this
rate shall lpve le nature ot the con
tents distinctly arked on the outside.
Plants tjat re received by mail
, should be Ilia and for a day or two
' after being set t.
Wholesoxxe j of Apples. —Haw mel
low apples Jire Igested iu an hour and a
half, while ioill cabbage requires five
hours. Th< mcthealthf'ul desert that can
be placed u jin triable is a baked apple.—
If eaten frepienlat breakfast witu coarse
bread and bitter,ithout meat or flesh has
an admirablt effehn the system, often re
moving eoistipap, correcting aridities,
and cooling off fcbrile conditions more
effectually lhan 1 u.ost approved medi
cines. Lielig saathey prevent debility,
strengthen digest! correct the putrefac
tive tendencies, ofurogenous food, avert
scurvy, and strengta the power of pro
ductive labor. \
Pruning.
The following remarks upon Pruning
appeared in a late number of that
excellent4emi monthly, the farmer <t
Gardener. They are particularly ap
plicable at this season.-
We consider this one of Uk> most
important as well as necessary opera
tions in the culture of fruit trees, and
yet how little are the principles of
rational pruning understood and carried
out! Its objects are manifold, and re
quire to be separately treated in order
to elucidate the several ]>oiiits ot the
subject. There exist fundamental
principles in pruning, which are based
upon vegetable physiology, and when
well practiced they regulate the pro
duction of fruit as well as promote the
health and longevity of the tree.
The influences of the climate of our
Southern States upon the vegetation of
trees are peculiar to this zone. W<■
find that although the general princi
ples which govern the art of prating 1
are admissible in the main, there arc
certain modifications absolutely neces
sary as regards our section. We must
remember that we have here to work
to produce shade, whereas in adder
regions (and thence come unfortunate
ly all the printed precepts of the art)
the object ot the operation is, in most
instances, intended to give as much
sunshine to the tree as possible.
A tree left entirely to itself fmm its
origin will assume such shape and pro
duce such cro|>s as tend solely to the
preservation of the specimen ami the
perpetuating of the species. We
modify the natural growth when prun
ing with a view to utilize all the pro-1
ducing capacities, and hence destroy
the natural economy of tm tree so far
as to cause an abnormal production of!
fruit.
It is therefore most important that
we understand the particular habit and
growth of each class ot fruit trees to
guard against the deterioration of the
tree by defective pruning. This brings
us to the fact that each class of fruit
trees requires a particular njethod iu
irina (nUHBiw. 1 ,o
OKXF.ItAI. PKIXCIPI.es.
Ist—To distribute the sap equally
upon all parts of the tree.
Wc will take the body of the tree
from its incipient start from the seed
as the main axis of the whole structure.
Through this the whole nutrition ot
branches, leaves aid fruit takes place.
It is the main channel that conveys life
and growth to the individual. I?
should, therefore, end as it commences,
always the point from which all the
branches radiate. If the main stem
has been allowed to remain undivided
the health, vigor and symmetry of the
tree can he preserved much longer
than if the stem is divided by forking,
(commonly called), if we are aljowed
the expression. It is obvious that the
pyramidal is the most natural form a
tree can be made to assume, as iris at
the same time the most conducive to
health and, consequently, fertility.
From this we have regular distribution
of the sap ; the lower branches being
nearest the fountain of nutrition, re
ceive a larger supply than those above,
and extend, therefore, at more length.
The first, being equally distributed,
will not only be of more uniform size,
but prevent the overweighing of one
portion of the tree and keeps it in
equilibrium. No splitting off of over
burdened branches will lake place and
destroy the symmetry of a favorite
tree. Heavy wind will not prostrate
it, from the fact that the root grmeth,
being similar to the growth of the top,
the roots also radiate and brace the tree
from all sides equally. As mentioned,
the fruit being equally distributed will
not force an undue allowance of sap to
the particular part of the tree where
there is an unequal proportion of fruit,
and thereby rob the other portions of
the necessary sustenance.
~nd—Pruning to Improve the Shape
of a Tree.
This applies to fruit trees of all
classes. Its object is to correct any
tendency of a branch to outgrow
another, to preserve as much as possi
ble a symmetrical form, always havino
in view the future yield of fruit which
rational pruning Is intended to help
bring to perfection.
3 Direct the grmeth from one
part of the tree to another.
In many cases this is required to
equalize the growth and preserve sym
metry. A tree should have the diame
ter ol its branches, proportionate with
its height. Hence cutting off the
leader will cause the lower branches to
extend farther and equalize the
structure. The same effect takes place
when a branch that outgrows another
is shortened in.
4 th—Pruning to Renew Growth.
This is often needed to rejuvenate
trees that have become stunted or re
main stationary from age, neglect or
exhaustion. In peach trees, annual
pruning to obtain anew growth of
wood is of absolute necessity as the
fruit is produced on the previous years’
wood. In grape vines it is still more
essential as the fruit is produced upon
the years' growth. Old apple and pear
trees are often brought back to fruitful
ness by a severe cutting away of a por
tion of their branches ; ibis induces
new growth which, after a year or two,
forms fruit trees and brings the tree to
fertility again.
, It is a well known fact that when an
tree is thus cutback in its branches
anew growth of roots is likewise
formed
oth—Pruning to produce or reduce
Fruitfulness.
Many trees that have been severely
pruned are apt to make a rapid and
vigorous growth of wood thereby pro
ducing little or no fruit. This tenden
cy can be checked by Summer prun
ing, although in this climate it must be
practiced with great caution. This
Summer pruning impedes the circular
tion of the sap and forces the young
shoots to form fruit buds. Trees that
have a tendency to form too much
1 wood should not receive a close prans
ing, the shoots should merely be tap
ped and not reduced to one-third of
the years’ growth if the reverse is tq
be desired. Root pruning is also
practiced to induce the tree to produce
trait; this should be done during the
Winter months but never while the
tree is in active generation.
Pr.r/r matter whether
your farm is small
tent until you have an
‘‘VVc do not advise farmers indiscriminate
ly, ’ says. The Countryman, ‘‘to undertake
to raise fruit for market. Each one should
judge for himself as to the feasibility of
such an enterprise. But we do say- to every
farmer, raise fruit, or try to do so, at leest
for the use of your own family. It will
largely pay in pleasure and in health, if you
never sell a dollars worth. In selecting
varieties, choose those kinds that usually do
we l ! in_ your locality. Deal, if possible,
wita reliable fruit-tree dealers, rather than
with agents who are strangers to you. And
don’t set out an orchard under the delusion
that setting out the tree* will be about all
lue work that will be necessary. In this
nay of many enemies to fruit and fruit
trees, it may- be said thaUenternal vigilance
is the price of fruit. Land devoted to
fruit trees need not to be worthless to the
owner. Some valuable crops can be raised
m the orchard almost until the trees become
old enough to bear: and by the time they
reach bearing age, in this case, they will
probably be a market close enough. But,
as we said above, if you never sell a dollar's
worth of fruit, your orchard assuredly will,
if properly attended to, pay you and vour
family, in health and comfort, for all vour
labor and expense. ”
• '™ El> -Week Seed.— A writer in the Prai-
Parmer , who dates his letter at Danville,
Aew t ork, says that be is informed, through
a very worthy and reliable source, that there
has recently been made from France a ship
ment to this country of dyed apple seed.
1 his seed has been dyed to resemble pear
seed, and will doubtless lie offered for sale
at a taking price.
He adds : This stained apple seed dodge
is an old one, and it has been practiced suc
cessfully on nurserymen in this country, and
even on old nursery firms in Europe. Deem
ing it due to the public that they should lie
put on guard against such swindling opera
tions, I send tins hasty- note.
° mon? , says Dr. HaH, ‘-are
°“ C ° f , hc ” 10 f nutritious, healthful, and
detestable articles of food found in our mar
ket IV e never ate one to our knowledge,
expect to ; we can smell them a
mile off, perhaps A few grains of coffee,
eaten immediately afterwards, or a teal
swalled removes at
fjdor of the breath. If onions are
half boiled, and the water thrown away, and
then put into soup to be boiled ‘done’ the
odor will be but little noticed.”
Thb Teeth —Horace Walpole wrote :
Use a little bit of alum twice or thrice a
week no bigger Ilian half your nail, till it
has all dissolved in your month, and then
spirit out. This has so fortified my teeth
that they are strong as the pen of Junius.—
1 learned it of Mrs. Hrosvenor, who had not
a speck in her teeth, until hes death.”