MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 8

MISCELLANEOUS.

POTTJNG WINDOW PLANTS.

When potting-in window plants bo careful never to give large shifts, and see that your soil is well sanded and not too rich ; any little deficiency in nutriment can easily bo supplied by a top-dressing of any of the conccntiated manures. For ferns and delicaterooted subjects allow plenty of drainage ; in fact, all kinds of plants grown in rooms should be amply provided for in this respect. Nothing can be more injurious than a stoppage of the drainage, and, to secure immunity from injury in this respect, each plant should be examined at the commencement of the winter and fresh drainage given if found necessary, some good clean potsherds or broken charcoal being used for that purpose.

CAMPHOR IX AUSTRALIA.

The camphor flora, it is well- known, grows very freely in thc<to colonies. The increawng demand for camphor I'or use in explosives and in the manufacture o celluloid gives greater importance than o/cr to this commodity. The Japanese commenced to prepare it by distilling the leaves and branches of the trees Instead of destroying only full-grown trees for the purpose. It seems to te worth while to ascertain if the shrub growing in the warmer climates will bear cutting sufficiently well to yield tin adequate return of camphor vilxcu distilled. — Chemist md Druggist.

FUCHSIAS FOB WINDOW BOXES

Few flowers are more elegant in window boxes than a good fuchsia, and tho&e who have a few untidy old plants may now prepare thorn for this work. They nhould be allowed to become diy for a few weeks (though never dust dry, a state ol things unknown in Nature), and cut bade to within a few inches of the soil. They will soon begin to fWm new shoots, snd as soon as these are visible, tho plants (should bo repotted, shaking out all th<? soil of last year, and giving them smaller pots than before, with a good, light, rich compost, or jadoo. The plants should be kept well watered as they grow, and undo,* glats ; whon they will throw out long shoots, each of which can be pinched off at the tip when about 6in long. This will make tho side buds break, and the result should be a mass of trailing blossom. If wanted for the back of the box, one or two of the finest shoots can be tied to sticks and trained upwards, but they look best in the fiont, hanging over tho edges, and if well supported with liquid manure, they will bloom freely throughout the cummer. — 1. L. !>., in Amateur Gardening.

ESPARTO GRASS IN ALOEUU

According to a report issued by Mr Scratchley, the British viea-cousul at Philippevillo, Algeria, a strong feeling has arisen against the importation uf "Alfa" into England. "Alfa," ''Sparto gras3," or "Esparto grass" (Stipa tenacesFima) is a plant which produces a paper more supple, yet with more resistance, th.m that made from oilier plants. It is mainly used by our manufacturers in making papier de liko. Out of 709,54Gcwt of esparto exported last year from Algeria, over 664,000cwt camo into England, and our manufacturers have practically had tho monopoly of this article since 1863. The chief reason for this monopjly has been that in the manufacture largo quantities of chloride of lime are required. But this difficulty has now disappeared, since electricity has been introduced as a bleaching asfoi;l. The probability is, says a contemporary, that the Algerians will now establish manufactories of their own in Philippeville, aid thereby create a profitable industry of an article which, in France at least, would find a ready sale. Last jear over 7,000,000 acres were covered with the plant. The difiiculties likely to arise five pcarcity of water, lack of fuel, and insufli -iont railway communication.

VOTI'JKG FERNS.

Feins aie always be»t potted a &hor! time before growth commences, for if their roots aro &übjet(ed to the disturbance unavoidable in repotting after irrowlh has commenced, the first fronds formed aro almost sure to be very weak or deformed. Maidenhairs, and, indeed", abnowl all kinds of stove and greenhouse ferns do not require so much root room as is gciiorally supposed, and there are few other plants that can be kej.l so long in a healthy stale with such a limited root space. They will continue to thrive and look well, especially ii treated to weak mammal stimulants during growth, c\ea when their roots have uo filled the pots thnt there literally seems no soil remaining. Although they will succeed for so long a time in small pots, adiantums may soon be grown into very large specimens if kept potted on. Clean and well-drained pots should always be used, and ;v soil consisting of three parts loam, one part leaf-mould, and half a part sand will suit them admirably. Gleichenias, davallns, and othor ferns of a spreading habit of growth, muisl have sufficient space for their creeping rhizoir.ei to extend, or they are sure to grow over tho sides of the pots or pans and become injured when again shifted to larger pots. These ferns, and others of a similar habit, should bo grown in pans or shallow pots, always thoroughly well-drained, and in good fibry peat; indeed, these ferns will not succeed satisfactorily in any other soil. Tree ferns of a strong, vigorous character do not require much root room, and plentiful supplies of weak manure water during their season of

growth will keep them in excellent condition for years. When repotting these, no largocsized pot should be given than actually needed, and in potting the soil should be well rammed, and plenty of space left at the top for water.— W inchie, in Amateur Gardening.

PRUNING VINKS. (Journal of Horticulture.) Pruning of all descriptions seems lo have had a great fascination for gardeners from time immemorial, and to be a deft knifesman was, at one time, considered a great accomplibhment for any gardener. There can be no doubt that many old gardeners were export workmen in the matter of making clean, short cuts, and in at ranging the wood with mathematical precision over the surface of fruit trees and vines. The great weakness of tho system they pursued was that ihey held too closely to hard and fast rules under circumstances which differed greatly. We of tha pusonl day, on the other hand, go perhaps io the opposite extreme, and in many instances follow no particular system with such [,ersislency as did those of old; but, often grasping certain principles which underlie the work, each man strikes out a couise for himself, and it must, I think, be admitted that, on the whole, highly satisfactory results have been obtained under \ery different methods. Thus it will ever '<o as long as the brain is traine 1 to guide the hands. Al'.er Ihe conditions, and jet the brain withhold its guiding power, it is then only a matter of time as to when disaster will come.

Vines have, perhaps, not suffered so much as fruit treos from a reckless Use of the knife, because, if the roots are vigorous and plentiful, and tin foliige kept freo from injects, a fan 1 share of success may be obtained under almost any system of pruning. Still, tlißie are degrees of excellence, and all should strive to obtain the bett results. Market gardeners who plant their \inos eio*-«ly and root them out before they become veiy old generally prune closely, and ha\e every reason to bo satisfied with the results. Private gardeners are somewhat differently situated, as their employers oftsn do not care to destroy any vines as long as there is tho slightest prospect of bringing them into a satisfactory condition without resorting to radical inca&ures. and we oil know that %iues must be extremely old, and in a most deplorable condition, be fore they can be leimed absolutely worn out / though of course it is often an open question whether or not icplanling is the better course to pursue.

When dealing with old vines which have become weak and debilitated, a surprising improvement may bo m?de in one season by ignoring all hard and fast methods of pruning, and leaving plenty of young wood, so as to be ablo to have a number of young shoots to select from at disbudding time. The basal buds on the shoots which such produco are often veiy poor, and to prune to them means a miserable crop, while on the other hand if the shoots aie simply shortened to the bist bud to be found, no matter whether it is 2in or 2ft from the basa of the shoot, a fair crop may usually be seemed. I do not say that any system of pruning will make up for deficient root action or the evils of an unsuitable border. These aro matters which should also have proper attention. By following the plan above advocated at disbudding lime, tl>e shoot carrying the most promising bunch can bo retained, ond the others, with the exception of one at the base of the shoot, be removed This lower shoot should be encouraged to grow as strongly as possible by removing tho buds, should any show, then the chances are that the following year the old shoot can be removed, and the bpsal shoot be relied upon to produce a bunch of fair size.

In dealing with vines in a sound, healthy condition, the character of the crop may bo greatly varied by the method of pruning adopted, and before this is determined it must be distinctly understood that close pruning n'eaiis comparatively small bunches, except in the caEO of young vines. Therefore, when grapes arc grown for home use alone, and large bunches are not i^articularly }Mized, cut back to one or two eyes, and fairly good bunches will result, suck as are extremely useful for keeping up a continuous supply. One gieat point in favour of medium-sized bunches is they are generally cut and used while in a perfectly fresh state, whilo larger bunches are not uuficqiiently dished up many limes in succession till their appearance is not inviting. Lad}'' Dowue is not nearly so much grown as formerly, for although it is a splendid keeper, its tough sVin seems to be against it, and if closely pruned it frequently produces too many small bunches. Gros Colman and Alicante, on the other hand, usually givo good — and often large — bunche* when close pruning is rogularly practised. I have lately seen another lemarfrably fine late grape, which must inevitably come to the front, and be largely grown. It is nainod Royal Leamington. Mr Crump, of Leamington, has a house entirely filled with it, and the bunches on closely -pruned vines are all large and shapely, with good, perfectly-coloured berries.

Gro-j Guillauine does not continue satisfactory for long: if close pruning and stopping are practiced. Under that system of procedure tho berrie« are frequently quite small, and the crop often scanty, whereas if long spur pruning is adopted, large bunches are produced annually, if the spurs are kept from 18in to 2ft apart. In many instances in which Muscats are no l ' satisfactory, J am convinced from pat.l experience that they may be greatly impro\cd by practising either the long rod or Jong spur bystem. There are many good cultivators whom 1 know do not agree with the plan, as they contend that by close pi lining they keep their vines in good condition for a number of years ; but aa.a counterblast to tii.it I can point to others who have for years gunvn, and still grow, some of the finest Muscats lo be seen in tlm country by leaving plenty of Jon'.;- shoots at pruning lime, au> allowing shooty l« rambla frothy in summer. To thobO who are quite satisfied with size, finish, and freedom from shmking in their Muscats, I say, keep to your present practice ; and to those who are not satisfied. I hir>3 no hesitation in affhming that improvement muy be quickly effected by pruning less closely, so as to have se\ cr.il shoots lo select fiom.

An alternative plan in the case of old vinci is to run up young canes, and cut out the old oikf. Gnarled old spurs aie then done away with, and close pruning will often bo satisfactory for a few years. This practice of training up young rods to lejuvcnate old vines is a good ono if properly carried out, but I often notice instances where it is only partially practised, and it does not then teem to be satisfactory. Let me make my moaning clear on this point. Wo will suptosa that :i strong cane lias been taken up from the 1 •a*o of an old vine ; this readies the top of the rafter in one season, and twotLirda of it is cut away at pruning time, tho rod is allowed lo carry no fruit the following season, then in (he tutumn the old rod ought to bo entirely removed, and the young one be dependod upon entirely to pioduco the crop. Instead of doing this", there is a tendency among many growers to keep the old rod lingering on for several i'?aia; but it dees lilllo coed, because

the young rod takes away the vitality front the old one. To put the matter, plainly, as I see it, it stands thus : Each vine must have an old rod or a young one— the two together will not succeed when they draw their supply of sap from the same set of roots. 1 think it is generally acknowledged that closely-pruned vines, as a rule, produce grapes which colour with greater certainty than do those grown on vines less closely pruned ; but with continual close pruning the size of the bunches produced dwindles down to a low point. It must also be remembered that largo bunches do not colour so well us small ones under whatever system of pruning they are produced; still, some cultivators manage to colour enormous bunches perfectly. This shows the highest degree of excellence,, and is worth striving to attain. — 11. D.