Horticultural.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 148, 11 May 1877, Page 7

Horticultural.

A Fifty-Guinea Rose Prize.— At the last meeting of the Committee of the National Rose Society it was announced that Mr Cranston, of Hereford, had- offered a challenge cup, of; the | value of fifty guineas to be competed for J by amateurs,: the cup to be won in three years; thus, if Mr A wins it in 1877 and Mr B. in 1878, then only A and B are to compete for it in : 1879.— Garden February 13. ; Fruit, as a Medicine.— The regular and moderate use of well-ripened fruit is not so widely appreciated as' it should be. Residents in regions where ,more or less malaria prevails, have, according to the Country Gentleman, discovered that nothing is 7a surer preventive of its deleterious effects than aregular supply of fruit. Fruit will not only prevent disease, but in some instances it has proved one of the best medicines to cure it.

Fruit Trees Branching Low.— Let fruit trees branch low. Why go aloft Avhen one can pluck as good fruit " off a step-ladder ?" Secondly, in lowheaded trees the stem is shaded from tbe hot sun, the surface soil is maintained cool and moist, and the pruning can -be kept better in hand *; lastly, the recent wind-storm fully demonstrated that the fruit is not so likely to get Mown off. " But," says some one, "how can I pasture my orchard?" That explains the whole objection to this system ; some cultivators begrudge the ground their trees stand on • they want to make their orchard carry double — a good crop of grass and another of apples. Try one, says an American paper, and pay attention to it, and see what returns are obtained at the end of the season.

Raising Nut TrePaS. — The best method of keeping nuts for seed is to let them get quite ripe before gathering; then partly dry them and mix them in dry sand, put them in thick mouse-proof boxes, and bury them in sand on a dry bank. In spring select a rich loamy soil, well pulverised, and drill in the nuts far 'enough apart to allow the trees some space to grow and room to cultivate between the rows. As soon as the j-oung plunts appear the soil should be loosened around them frefrequently, Avhich will effectually prevent weeds from growing, as well as hasten the growth of the. plants. After the second year's growth, according to the Home Journal, it might be well to clip off the ends of the vigorous side branches, thus sending the vigour of the tree into the main stem. Do not transplant them until they are large enough to be staked, or till they are three or four years old. The ground, il intended for an orchard, should be subsoiled, and the holes for the young trees dug deeply and fertilised with a little old manure, unless the soil is very rich. After the first year's growth,|in order to make handsome and fruitful trees it is necessary to use the knife fieely.