aa = Ks iss i, ‘ : r a : 5 . i i A { i Y x 1 — ‘ is a? Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh http://archive.org/details/memoirsofcaledv100cale é - j t NIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ' ely Mi ieee MEMOIRS CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ee —- VOLUME FIRST. ——————- Devs nobis hec otia fecit. SPP eoeeeeore se dees csoosreesons Men escceeseeSOePonnee Insere nunc, Meliboee, Pyros; pone ordine Vites. VirG. EDINBURGH, PRINTED BY NEILL, & Co. FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY; AND FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME AND BROWN, “SC TA Pa LONDON. Lee is (é js “4814. ’ BA re ert u Zz & Ko rt NS teeter dee RI acids . amoel co eed, soma Oe Y SaaS pee : MeN, | 60. ‘es TT Ye atégs: Cia ceeabn ait. SHI, THE CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, ANIMATED BY THE GRATITUDE OF FAITHFUL SUBJECTS, PRESUME TO OFFER THE FIRST FRUITS OF THEIR LITERARY LABOURS; TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS GEORGE, PRINCE OF WALES; REGENT OF THE BRITISH EMETEES THE ADMIRED SON OF THE BEST OF FATHERS, WHO, FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY, HAS ENJOYED THE UNPARALLELED SATISFACTION OF HAVING BEEN THE Pater or uis PEopue. Eninnuren, 22d August 1814. Signed by appointment of the Society, BUCCLEUCH, Presipen7, CONTENTS Votume I. DLVesevesese HISTORY. REGULATIONS, sanctioned by the General Meeting, De- cember 3. 1811, - - Prizes proposed for the year 1812, - List of Members, “ Ps —-—_— Office-Bearers, - : Prizes awarded since the institution of the Society, A Discourse read at the Quarterly Meeting, in the Hall of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, Decem- ber 8. 1811, by Anprew Duncan sen., M.D. & P., one of the Vice-Presidents, = - Pagé iS) “3 ¥ if CONTENTS. MEMOIRS. E- Observations on the Disease in the Potato, gene- rally called the Curl; pointing out the most pro- bable method of preventing it; with an account of the results of a few experiments made on the subject, By Mr Thomas Dicksen, Leith Walk, ¥dinbur ‘gh, ~ 1 ; HL. On the Curled Disorder in Potatoes. By John Shirreff, Esq. - - UL A Letter from Charles Lorimer, Esq. Collector of the Customs at Dunbar, to Dr Duncan sen., giv- ing an Account of an Improvement in the con- struction ef the Flues of Hot houses, by em- ploying Earthen-Ware Tubes, in place of Bricks or Tiles, = - 4aV. On a new method of planting Asparagus. By Mr James Smith, Gardener at Keith-Hall, Aberdeen- shire, - - VY. An Essay on the Cultivation of French Pears in Scotland, and on the best means of bringing into a bearing state full grown Fruit-trees ; especially some of the finer sorts of French Pears. By Mr James Smith, Gardener at Ormiston-Hall, VI. On Gooseberry Caterpillars, and on the Maggots that infest Onions. By Mr John Macmurray, Nursery man, ie - - Vii. Account of the Caterpillars that infest Gooseberry- “Bushes, and the best method of destroying them. By Mr John Gibb, Linton, ~ Page 66 65 2 ino Sept VIII. A. short Account of the state of the Fruit-trees © 1X. < X. xi. Xil. AIT. CONTENTS. on the Garden-Walls at Loanwells near, Kirk- aldy, from the time of their. being planted in 1792, to the Ist June 1810 ; intended to il- lustrate a method of destroying the Caterpillars infesting Fruit-trees. By Mr Edward Sang, Nurseryman, - in Observations on the culture of Onions, and par- ticularly on the advantages to be derived by - transplanting them froma seed-bed into reeu- lar rews at a proper distance from each other. By Mr James Macdonald, Gardener at. Dal- keith House, _ - - Directions for covering the soil in. Hot-beds, Pineries, &c.; and observations on the sow- ing of early small. seeds. By Mr Henderson, Brechin Castle, = - On the varities of the Pinus Silvestris, or Scots Fir. By Mr George Don, Forfar, : On. preventing the. Worms in Carrots; and: on preserving Cauliflower through a great part of the Winter. By Mr Smith, Keith-Hall, On destroying Insects, and removing Mildew and Canker in Fruit-trees. By Mr David Werghton, Gardener at Melville, Fife, “ XIV. Remarks on the Construction of. Hct-house Flues. By Robert Stevenson, Esq. Civil Engineer, XY. On the means of bringing Fruit-trees into a bear- ing state, and on preserving Fruit. By Mr Rohert Ingram, Torry, - - 104 111 146 XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XK XXII. XXIII. CONTENTS. . Observations on the preparation of Soporific Medicines from common Garden Lettuce. By Dr Duncan seni, Be MN Account of the state of certain Fruits found growing in some parts of the Highlands of Scotland. By Alewander Gibson Hunter, Esq. of Blackness, - - An easy method of destroying the Blue Insect that breeds on the bark of wall-trees, and causes them to canker and die. By Mr Peter Barnet, Gardener at Amisfield, - Observations on the Transplanting of Fruit- trees at an advanced age, especially Pear- trees: On the cause of Barrenness in Pear- trees ; and on the best method of rendering them productive. By Mr Thomas Thomson, Wemyss Castle, Fife, = On destroying Caterpillars, removing Mil- dew, &c. By Mr John Kyle, Blair Drum- ~ mond, = S On destroying Wasps. By Mr John Mitchell, Moncrieff-House, - =, On destroying the Green-fly, &c. and on bring- ing Pear-trees into a bearing state. By Mr William Beattie, Gardener at Scone Palace, On preventing the Maggot infesting the roots of Shallots, &c. By Mr William Henderson, Gardener at Delvine, - Page 160 172 ¥85 192 194 196 199 XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXIL CONTENTS. On transplanting large Fruit-trees, whether Wall-trees, Espaliers, or Standards. By Mr James Stewart, Gardener at Pinkie, Method of preserving Apples and Pears. By Mr James Stewart, at Pinkie, - On destroying and preventing the Pine-Bug. By Mr. Alexander Muirhead, Gardener at Invermay, _ - - Receipts for making Currant-Wine, which were presented to the Caledonian Horti- cultural Society, during the years 1810, 1811, and 1812, a Some observations on the treatment of the Currant-bush during the ripening of the Fruit. By Mr James Macdonald, at Dal- keith Park, = e On Canker in Fruit-trees. By Mr James Smith, Gardener at Ormiston-Hall, - Observations on the Propagation, by cuttings, of the Original, the Mother, the Oslin, or the Bur-knot Apple-tree. By Dr Dun- can sen., - - Extract of a Letter from the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. to Mr T. Dickson, Secretary, on the advantages of turning the Branches of Fruit-trees over the walls against which they are planted, - On the utility of Clay-paint, in destroying various Insects on Fruit-trees, curing Mil- dew, &c. By Mr James Scougal, - 202 207 209 213 218 221 237 246 248 v1 CONTENTS: XXXIII. On preventing the depredations of the Tur- nip-Fly. By Mr Archibald Gorrie, at Rait, XXXIV. On Pruning of Fruit-trees. By the Hon. . Baron Hepburn of Smeaton, t XXXV. Observations on a method of preparing a So- porific Medicine from the common Garden Lettuce. By Mr John Henderson, Bre- chin, - - XXXVI. A method of stowing Vegetables for Summer use. By Mr John Henderson, Brechin, XXXVII. Directions for destroying Caterpillars on Gooseberry-bushes and: Fruit-trees. By Mr Robert Elliot; Gardener to Str Tho- mas Gibson Carmichael, Bart., S XXXVIII. On planting Peach-trees on a north border, and introducing their stems through the wall, to be tramed on the south aspect: By Mr Mackray, Gardener at Errol! House, XXXIX. On the Gooseberry Caterpillar, and on the Worms whiclr infest Carrots and Onions. By Mr John Mackray, Gardener ‘at’ Errol House, - - XL. On preserving or retarding the Blossoms of Fruit-trees. By Mr ArchibaldsGorrie, at Rait, = 2 XLI. An account of some delicate Plants cultivated in the cpen air, in the Island of Guernsey ; with Hints on the means of naturalizing tender Exotics, By Dr Macculloch of Woolwich, - - 266 28 4 XLII. XLII. XLIV.. XLV. XLVI. XLVII. XLVIII. XLIX. Le CONTENTS. Account of a successful rotation of cropping, ‘observed in the Garden at Airthrey Castle. By Mr Thomas Kelly, Gardener at Airthrey Castle, - ~ Account of a small economical Orchard near Tranent, in East,Lothian. By Mr James Smith, Ormiston-Hall, oo Observations on the superiority of Composts to simple Dungs. By Mr David Weigh- ton, Melyille House, Fife, cos A method of destroying one sort of the Goose- berry Caterpillar, By Mr John Tweedie, Gardener at Sundrum, = Observations on the cultivation of Sea-cale. By Sir George Steuart Mackenzie of Coul, Bart., - - An account of the Orchards in the Carse of Gowrie. By Messrs Machray and Gor- Te, = e On the.causes of Canker in Fruit-trees. By Mr James Smith, Glasgow, - On the origin of Canker in Fruit-trees. By Mr Edward Sang, Nurseryman, Kirk- caldy, - - On the preserving of the Blossom of Fruit- trees, by means of Straw or Hay-Ropes. - By Mr James Laird, Gardener, Port- more, = is Observations on anew kind of Ground Onion, introduced into Scotland by Mr John Burn of the Royal Navy. Communicated by Dr Robert Cumming, Dalkeith, 2 Vil Page 297 300 309 ts = its) Vill LIL. LI. LIV. LV. LVI. LVII. LVIII. LIX. LX. LXI. LXII. CONTENTS. Observations respecting the Lactucarium. By Mr Archibald Gorrie, Rait, 2 On the Allium Canadense, or Tree Onion. By Mr George Nicol, Overseer, Meadow- bank Nurseries, . s A Report respecting Can-flues in Hot-houses. By Dr Duncan senior, i On excluding Wasps from Hot-houses. By Mr John Dick, Gardener at Ballendean, On preventing Hares and Rabbits from at- tacking the Bark of Trees. By Mr Joseph Smeall, Gardener at Millburn-Tower, On preventing the Mildew on Peach-trees. By Mr James Kirk, Gardener at Smeaton, Essay on the preparation of Opium in Bri- tain. By James Howison, Esq. Crossburn House, — - - Information regarding the Carlisle and Kes- wick Codlin Apples, extracted from various communications on that subject, addressed to the Right Hon. Sir John Sinclair, Bart., On pruning Old-worn out Apple and Pear- trees upon walls, so as to bring them into a bearing stateagain. By Mr John Young, Belmont-Castle, Perthshire, = An Address to Mr Neill, by the Rubus Chamemorus. Communicated by Mr Gor- rie, Rait, 4 % On the Forcing of Sea-cale. By Mr Wil. liam Gibbs, Inverness, - Page 347 349 $53 356 361 363 365 374 378 383 388 CONTENTS. LXIII. On the Renovation of old Peach-trees in Hot-houses ; and on destroying the Blue Insect on Apple-trees. By Mr Alexander Hay, Gardener, Newliston, - LXIV. On the cultivation of the Carnation. By Mr John Mitchell, Moncrieff House, - LXV. On the culture of the Carnation. By Mr Wilkam Crawford, Gardener at North- Park, = = LXVI. On the Cultivation of the Parsnip, as it is practised in Guernsey. By Dr Maccul- loch, Woolwich, - LXVII. Extract of a Letter from Dr John Coakley Letisom, Physician, London, to Dr Dun- can sen., Edinburgh, respecting the Beta Cicla, or Root of Scarcity, - LXVIII. New method of preserving Potatoes. By the Rev. Anthony Don, D. D., - LXIX. On the management of Cherry-trees. By Mr Walter Underwood, Gardener, Eglin- ton Castle, - - LXX. Account of a new Pruning Instrument, By Mr William Menzies, Gardener at Meikle- our, = ze LXXI. On Cast-Iron Espalier Rails, with a Plate. By Mr John Middleton, Gardener, Tilly- chewan, - - LXXII. Experiments and Observations on the Potato. By Mr Daniel Crighton, Gardener, Min- to, : s 39] 397 405 420 427 43& x CONTENTS. Page LXXIII. On increasing the Quantity of Manure. By Mr Thomas Bishop, Gardener, Methven. Castle, . < - 4A LXXIV. On the prevention of the Blight in Fruit- trees. By Mr George Sinclair, Garde- ner, Woburn Abbey, - 450: LXXV. Observations on Pruning and» Training of Pear-trees) By. Mr Alexander Stewart, Gardener, Valleyfield, - 457 Aw accurate alphabetical Index of the most important matters contained in the First Volume of the Memoirs of the Society, will be deli- vered to Subscribers, along .with the First Number of the Second Volume. New Editions of Nos. 1 and 2 of Vol. I., are in the Press, and will soon be ready for deli- very ; so that Gentlemen may have their copies completed. Sepl. 1814. REGULATIONS, Sanctioned by the General Meeting, December 3. 1811, and to continue in force till regularly al- tered or amended. 1. Tue Society shall be denominated Tur Ca- LEDONIAN HorTICULTURAL Society, and shall consist of three classes of Members,—Ordinary, Honorary, and Corresponding; the number of which shall be unlimited. 2. The Ordinary Members shall consist’ of in- telligent practical gardeners, and of amateurs of gardening, residing in any part of the British Em- pire. g. Each Ordinary Member shall pay to the Treasurer, towards the funds of the institution, One Guinea, within one month after his election ; and One Guinea annually afterwards, or, in his option, the sum of Ten Guineas, as a composition for annual payments for life. VOI... A a REGULATIONS. 4, The Honorary Members shall consist of Noble- men and Gentlemen who do not usually reside in Edinburgh, and who are distinguished amateurs in gardeningy ‘These members shall not be called upon to pay any annual contribution. They shall be entitled to attend the meetings of the Society, but shall have no vote in the management or ap- propriation of the funds, (excepting when any of them happen to fill offices in the Society.) But such of them as either give a donation of Ten Guineas, or subject themselves to the payment of the annual contribution, shall be entitled to every privilege of an Ordinary Member. §. The corresponding Members shall consist of amateurs who reside at a distance from Edinburgh, and of intelligent practical gardeners who, there is reason to hope, may occasionally favour the Socie- ty with useful communications. They shall not be called upon to pay any annual contribution or ad- Mission money. ‘They shall have no voice in elec- tions or respecting prizes. But they shall be en- titled to attend the meetings of the Society. And they shall also be entitled to all the privileges of Ordinary Members, if they choose to subject them- selves to the payment of the annual contribution, or composition money. 6. The Ordinary Members, and those paying the annual contribution, shall possess the sole power of admission into the Society. All admissions REGULATIONS:« bi shall be by ballot, and the votes of two-thirds of the Members balloting shall be required for the admission of any new Members. 7. Candidates, whether for the rank of Ordi« nary, Honorary, or Corresponding Members, must be recommended by Two Members. ‘They must be proposed at a regular quarterly meeting, and the fate of the proposal shall be determined at the quarterly meeting succeeding that at which it is made. 8. A meeting of the Society shall be held Quar- - terly, on the second Tuesday of March, June, Sep- tember, and December, to transact all the ordinary business of the Society, and to hear such papers read as may be transmitted to the Secretaries du- ring the course of the preceding quarter, 9. The objects of the institution are the promo- ting and improving the cultivation of the besé kinds of Fruits, of the most choice sorts of Flow- ers, and of those vegetables which are most useful in the Kitchen. for this purpose, a certain num- ber of prize-medals or premiums shall be awarded, annually, to such persons as shall be declared by proper judges to be entitled to the preference, in the investigation, by experiment, of subjects pro- _posed by the Society. Communications sha!l also be received, on any subject connected with Horti- culture, though not directly suggested by the So- Ag 4 REGULATIONS. ciety: Such communications shall be read at the quarterly meetings: and it being in contemplation to publish Memoirs or Transactions, those papers which may be deemed of sufficient importance, shall (with consent of the author) be laid before the public. 10. The Society will not consider itself respon- sible for the statenrents contained in essays which may be published in their Memoirs: But when new methods are suggested, or new doctrines taught, it shall be a general rule to appoint a com- mittee to superintend the repetition of the expe- Fiments on which such methods or doetrines. may be founded, and to examine into the validity of such improvements as may be proposed. The results of these investigations shall be published, when deemed of sufficient importance. - 11. On the second Tuesday of December an- nually, the Members of the Society present at the meeting who subject themselves to the payment of annual contribution, or who have paid the com- position of Ten Guineas, shall elect a President, four Vice-Presidents, two Secretaries, a Treasurer, and Twelve Counsellors, for the ensuing year, all of whom, excepting the President, shall be Ordi- nary Members; but the President may be chosen either from the list of Ordinary or Honorary Members, At the meeting in December also, the REGULATIONS: x Members present shall elect an Experimenter, and a Painter of Fruits and Flowers. One Vice-Presi- dent, and two Counsellors (one of the Professional, and one of the Amateur class,) shall be. changed every year ; and the President. every second year.) 12. These Office-bearers and Counsellors shall make all the arrangements respecting prizes, pa- pers, publications, and other business of the Socie- ty. But the proposals made by them shall be sub- mitted to the consideration of the Quarterly Meet- ings. 13. Twelve Members shall form a Quorum of | the Society. Three shall be a Quorum in the Council. 14. The Secretaries shail have the custody of all papers belonging to the Society; and shall draw up and publish in some of the most widely circulated periodical papers, an account of the So- ciety’s proceedings, when they think it advisable. Previous to each quarterly meeting, schedules or letters shall be issued by post, announcing the place and hour of meeting, and the principal ar- ticles of business to come before the Society. 15. Every Member shall be bound to purchase a copy of the Society’s Transactions; and a copy shall therefore be transmitted to each, and placed to his debit, by the Society’s bookseller. | eS & REGULATIONS. 16. All future regulations to be enacted by the Society, for promoting the objects of the institu- tion, shall be proposed at one ordinary quarterly meeting, and discussed at that immediately suc- ceeding ; to be then adopted, rejected, or altered, as a majority of the members present shall decide. But every proposed alteration must be submitted to the Council in writing, at least one month be- fore it be presented to the Society. PRIZES PROPOSED FOR THE YEAR 1812. I. The production of Fruits, Culinary Ve- getables, and Flowers. (The prize the Society’s Stnver Merpat, ora Guinea and a Half, in the option of the Gainer.) To be shewn at the Quarterly Meeting on the second Tuesday of March, or to the Committee at the Physisians Hall, on the second Tuesday of May. 1. The best brace of Early Cucumbers; seeds to be sown in January. 2. The best cluster of Early Grapes, of any kind. 8. The best six heads of Spring Broccoli. 4. The best six stems of Brussels Sprouts. 5. The best six heads of Winter Lettuce. 6. The best six seedling Polyanthuses ; from seeds sown last year.—2d ‘Tuesday of May. 7. The best early Melon.—2d Tuesday of May. A 4 & PRIZES. To be shewn at the Quarterly Meeting on the second Tuesday of June, or to the Committee at the Physicians Hall, of the dates after men- tioned. 1. The best Melon. 2. The best six forced Peaches, with names, 3. The best six heads of Cauliflower. 4. The best three seedling Pinks, from seeds sown summer 1811.—2d Tuesday of lye. 5. The best twelve sorts of Gooseberries, twelve berries of each sort, “with their names,—1st ‘Tues- day oF oe To be produced at the Geareeonh eee on the ‘second Tuesday of September. 1. The best six Peaches, from the open air, with their names, 9. The best six Nectarines, from the open air, 3. The best six Apricots, with names. 4. The best dozen of Green-Gage Plums. 5. The best six Jargonelle Pears. 6. The largest cluster, and best swelled berries, any kind of Grape. 7. The best six seedling. Carnations, PRIZES. g 8. The best Home-made Wine, without the-use of any imported material excepting sugar; two bottles to be produced, together with an account of the method of preparing it. To be produced at the Quarterly Meeting on the second Tuesday of December. 1, The best six kinds of Apples, three of each sort, with their various local names, particularly kinds not generally known, with their peculiarities and history. 2. The best six kinds of Pears, three of each sort, also with names, &c. 3. The best six heads of Late Broccoli. ~ * 4. The best six heads of forced Sea- Cale. 5. The best twenty-five heads forced Asparagus. iI. The production of new or improved varie- ties of Fruits, Culinary Vegetables, or Flowers. 1. For the best new Apple, adapted to the cli- mate of Scotland, raised from seed. Ten years to be allowed. Gold Medal and Twenty Guineas. g. For the best new Pear, raised as above. Ten years to be allowed. Gold Medal and Twenty Guineas. 10 PRIZE QUESTIONS. 3. For the best new Peach or Nectarine, raised as above. Six years to be allowed. Gold Medal and Ten Guineas. 4. For an improved variety of the Dutch Cur- rant, raised from seed. Five years to be allowed. Gold Medal, or, in the option of the gainer, Five Guineas.—And the same commutation will be al- lowed in other cases. 5. For the best new and productive Early Melon. Gold Medal. 6. For the best new Early Cucumber. Gold Medal. 7. For the best new Strawberry, raised from seed. Four years to be allowed. Gold Medal. S. For the best new sort of Early Potato, with- out blossoms, raised from seed. Five years to be allowed. Gold Medal. : III. Communications, &c. (The Gold or the Silver Medal to be awarded by the Committee, according to the value and importance of the Communication.) Lit is expected that all communications will be founded on actual experiments.’] 1. On the best method of improving the sorts of Broccoli already cultivated, and of saving their Seeds genuine in this climate. PRIZE QUESTIONS. 1 g. The best method of cultivating and of forcing Sea-Cale. 3. The best treatise on Orchard Fruits adapted to the climate of Scotland, with lists and descrip- tions of the different kinds,—their habits of growth, &c.—their synonyms or local names; those for the table, and those for kitchen use. ° 4, The best treatise on the culture of the Dutch Currant for wine. 5. The best mode of preventing or curing the Mildew upon different Fruit-trees and other Vege- tables. . 6. The best mode of preventing or curing the Canker in Fruit-trees, &c. 7. The cheapest and most effectual mode of pre- serving Fruit-trees on walls from the effects of late spring frosts. 8. The best mode of destroying the blue insect, breeding in the crevices of the bark of Apple-trees, and causing them to canker and die, chiefly on those trees imported from the London nurseries. 9. The best method of destroying Wasps, Wood- lice, Earwigs, &c. infesting wall-fruits. 10. The best mode of preventing the depreda- tions of the ‘Turnip-fly. ig PRIZE QUESTIONS. 11. The best method of preventing Worms in Carrot, in Cauliflower, and Broccoli roots. 12. The best mode of destroying the Wite- Worm. | 13. The best mode of destroying the Pine-bug,— the Brown Scale,—the White-bug,—the Aphis or Green fly,—the Chermes,—the Red Spider,—the Thrips; or any other insect infesting Hot-houses, Pits, Melon and Cucumber frames, &c. 14. The best means of increasing the quantity ef Manure, and the best mode of applying it to different crops. 15. The best means of bringing into a bearing state, full grown Fruit-trees (especially some of the finest sorts of French Pears), which, though apparently in a very healthy and luxuriant condi- tion, are yet in a state of almost total barrenness. 16. The best account of a Scotch Kitchen Gar- den, or of a Scotch Orchard. 17. The best method of preparing Opium in this country ; and the most advantageous manner of cultivating the White Poppy for that purpose. 18. The best means of preventing the Curl in Potato. 19. The best mode of destroying or preventing Caterpillars on Gooseberry-bushes, and Fruit-trees. PRIZES. 13 nn rrr 90. For the greatest quantity of Asparagus, planted upon sandy land near the sea, and ma- nured with sea-weed only ; not less than a quarter of an English acre. 21. For the greatest quantity of Sea-Cale, planted on the same kind of land, and manured with sea- weed; not less than ten falls English measure. 22. For the greatest number of pints of Straw- berries produced from the smallest extent of ground, not less than a quarter of an acre. a —— _ It is required that each article brought in com- petition have attached to it a particular motto, and be accompanied with a sealed letter referring to such motto, and mentioning the competitor’s ad- dress. Communications, either on the above subjects, or on any other topic connected with horticulture, may be addressed to Mr T. Dickson, 12. Broughton Street, or to Mr P. Nell, Edinburgh, the Secretaries. 14 LIST OF MEMBERS, January 1812. HONORARY. Elected December 5. 1809. His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch. The Right Hon. the Earl of Dalkeith. The Right Hon. the Earl of Wemyss. The Right Hon. Lord Torphichen. The Right Hon. Lord Gray. 5 The Hon. Henry Erskine. The Right Hon. Sir John Sinclair, Bart, Sir John Hope, Bart. of Pinkie. Sir William Forbes, Bart. Fintray House, Aberdeen. Francis Garden Campbell, Esq; of Troup. © 10 George Skene, Esq; of Skene and Carriston. The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. P. R.S. Lond. Richard Anthony Salisbury, Esq; London. Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq; March 6. 13810. The Right Hon. the Earl of Leven and Melville. 15 The Right Hon. the Earl of Kintore. LIST OF MEMBERS. The Right Hon. James, Lord Ruthven. The Hon. William Maule of Panmure, M. P. Sir James Gordon, Bart. Letterfourie. Dr Alexander Monro, senior. Alexander Monro, Esq; of Livingston. David Black, Esq; of Bandrum. William Wemyss, Esq; of Wemyss-Castle, M. P. Adam Rolland, Esq; ’ Charles Christie, Esq; of Durie. December 4. 1810. The Hon. Douglas Gordon Halyburton, of Piteur. Robert Spears, Esq; of Duninald. Dr Andrew Graham, Dalkeith. Dr Walter Graham, Dalkeith. March 5. 1811. The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Duncan. June 5, 1811. Lieutenant-Colonel Wemyss, of Wemyss-Hall. General Durham of Largo. Sir. Simon Clark of Oakhill, Bart. The Hon. Baron Hepburn of Smeaton. September 3. 1811. George Dempster of Dunichen, Esq; John Deas Thomson, Esq; London.. 15 416 LIST OF MEMBERS. ORDINARY. Elected December 5: 1809. Sir James Hall, Bart. of Dunglass, M. P. Sir George Stuart. Mackenzie, Bart. of Coul. James Hare, Esq; of Calderhall. Dr Andrew Dunean senior. Dr James Home. “Dr Daniel Rutherford. John Wauchope, Esq; of Edmonstone. Dr Andrew Coventry. Alexander Gibson Hunter, Esq; of Blackness. Robert Liston, Esq; of Milburn-‘Tower. Thomas Hutchison, Esq. | John Dundas, Esq; W. S. ‘George Bruce, Esq; of Langlee. James Smith, Esq; Leith. Mr Walter Dickson, Edinburgh. — Thomas Dickson, Edinburgh. — Andrew Dickson, Edinburgh. — Alexander Henderson, Edinburgh. —- Thomas Shade, Edinburgh. “= Patrick Lyon, Edinburgh. — James Macdonald, Dalkeith Park. — John Hay, Edinburgh. ~ — John Fletcher, Edinburgh. — Edward Sang, Kirkcaldy. — Patrick Neill, Canonmills. — Charles Norval, Abbot’s- Hall. March 6. 1810. James Gibson, Esq; of Ingliston, W. S. William Pagan, Esq; of Spittleton. David Falconer, Esq; of Carlourie. 16 20 a0 Wt LIST OF MEMBERS. Alexander Keith, Esq; of Ravelston. James Heriot, Esq; of Ramornie, W. S. Henry Jardine, Esq; W.S. Henry Johnston, Esq; Edinburgh. James Weddel junior, Esq; of Pittendreich. James Kyd, Esq; Cupar, Fife. John Ferguson, Esq; of Stronvar. David Mylne, Esq; R. N. Inveresk: William Murray, Esq; Laswade. Robert Little Gilmour, Esq; W. S. Robert Wilson, Esq; Edinburgh. Walter Berry, Esq; Edinburgh. Mr James Dickson, Edinburgh. — George Dickson, Edinburgh. —— John Bruce, Bridge-end, Liberton. — George Fulton, Edinburgh. — David Weighton, Melville House. ~~ James Smith, Ormiston-Hall. — Thomas Handyside, Fisherrow. — Alexander Walker, Monkton, Musselburgh. December 4. 1810. Archibald Mackinlay, Esq; Edinburgh. Mr George Watson, Edinburgh. Mr William Sheills, Dalkeith. March 5. 1811. Hugh Watson, Esq; W. S. Charles More, Esq; Edinburgh. Mr Thomas Calder at Balmacom, Fife. June 5. 1811. ; Duncan Cowan, Esq; Edinburgh. J. A. Higgins of Newk, Esq; W. 5. VOL. 1. B 17 40 Ge Gr 60 18 LIST OF MEMBERS. John Macfarlane, Esq; of Kirkton. Dr John Yule. . September 3. 1811. Robert Fergusson of Raith, Esq; Gilbert Meason of Lindertis, Esq; Robert Bruce Dundas of Blair, Esq; George Bell, Esq; Edinburgh. John Thomson, Esq: Edinburgh. James Stuart, Esq; younger of Dunearn. William Inglis, Esq; W. S. J. W. Brougham, Esq; Edinburgh. David Bridges jun. Esq; Edinburgh. William Cadell jun. Esq; Banton. David Balfour, Esq; Arbroath. Robert Stewart Cumming, Esq. Dalkeith. Col. Thomas Calderwood, of Polton. Mr James Lawrie at Spittalton. December 3. 1811. John Maitland of Eccles, Esq; . Alexander Young of Harburn, Esq; George Douglas of Cavers, Esq; Ninian Hill, Esq; W. S. William Braidwood jun. Esq; Edinburgh. James Carfrae, Esq; Edinburgh. Mr Alexander Hay at Edmonstone. 65 es 1B LIST OF MEMBERS: 19 CORRESPONDING. | December 5. 1809. Mr Robert Anderson, Hamilton Palace. ' _ James Smith, Keith Hall, Kintore. — Robert Hosie, Lynedock. — John Mitchell, Monctieff Hotise, — Alexander Muirhead, Invermay. 5 — Thomas Bishop, Methiven. — John Macmurray, Stranraer. — Alexander Dods; Clerkington: ~ — Alexander Macdonald, Durie. — James Nisbet, St Mary’s Isle. 10 — Thomas Henderson, Blair-Adam: — William Harper, Dunibristle. =— James Austin, Glasgow. — George Rutherford, Haddington. =— James Bain, Dysart. 15 — James Kirk, Smeaton. | — William Beatie, Scone. — Robert Miller, Dupplin. — John Henderson, Brechin Castle. — William Bannatyne, Dalkeith. 2) — Thomas Thomson, Wemyss Castle. — Joseph Archibald, Dalhousie Castle: — Thomas Thomson, Erskine House: — James Dods, Bargeny. — John Mackintosh, Abercairney. — George Lamb, Dunkeld. John Shirreff, Esq; a Ge B2 20 LIST OF MEMBERS. March 6. 1810. Rev. Dr John Stuart, Luss. Rev. John Fleming, Flisk. . 2%, SO James Hoy, Esq; Gordon Castle. Mr James Townsend Mackay, Botanic Garden, Drea — James Laing, Wales. — James Rintoul, Coilsfield. —, George Whittit, Barnton. Siti 35 — William Dickson, Arniston. cae — James Stewart, Pinkie. | — Alexander Stewart, Valleyfield. — Peter Barnet, Amisfield. — Daniel Crichton, Minto House. 40- — John Naismyth, Culloden. December 4, 1810. — David Ford, Tyningham. — Thomas Torrance, Shambally, Clogbeen, Ireland. — .John Gibb, Linton, East Lothian. March 5. 1811. — Robert Ingram, Torry. oe hd — Walter Underwood, Eglinton Castle. — George Steel, Lundie. - — James Buchanan, nurseryman, Carnherwell: London. — William Nash, seedsman, London.. — William Affleck, Hirsel. _ 50 June 5. 1811. ; — William Gibbs, Castle Brahan. . , September 3. 1811. — William Forsyth, Stobo. — William Emslie, Goshan, Drummore. — William Urquhart, nurseryman, Dundee. — John Simpson, Prestonpans. 55 =— James Fell, Loretto. LIST OF MEMBERS. 2) Mr Picken, Kirkhill, Laswade. — William Brownlee, Dalkeith. December 3. 1811. — James Brown, nurseries, Perth. — Robert Brown, nurseries, Perth. 60 — William Macnab, Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. — George Sinclair, Woburn Abbey. — Robert Blair, Stevenson, East Lothian. — George Ogilvie, Prestonhall. — John Macdougall, Castle Huntly. — Robert Fairbairn, Vogrie. 65 B3 22, OFFICE-BEARERS Elected 3d: December 181 1. Sir James Hatt, Bart. M. P.—President. Dr D. Ruruerrorp, - Auex. G. Hunter, Esq; : : SUNG Me Vice-Presidenis. Dr Duncan senior, NV ROE Sir Georce Mackenzie, Bart. 7 Mr Tuomas Dickson, Mr. Patrick Negitt, } Secretartes. Mr Anorew Dicxson,— Treasurer. COUNSELLORS. Professional. Amateur. Mr James Macdonald. George Bruce, Esq; Mr Edward Sang. Thomas Hutchison, Esq; Mr John Fletcher, James Smith, Esq; Mr John Hay. Alexander Keith, Esq; Mr Alexander Henderson. Henry Jardine, Esq; Mr George Whittit. ‘| James Herriot, Esq; LIST OF OFFICE-BEARERS. 93 GENERAL COMMITTEE FOR PRIZES. Professional. Amateur. Mr James Macdonald. George Bruce, Esq; Mr Thomas Shade. Dr James Home. Superintendent of Experiments. Mr Joun FuErcuer. Painter of Fruits and Flowers. Mr Patrick SyME. Fhe Vice-President for the day, is ex officio a Member of the Committee for Prizes. For judging of the merit of Essays on particular subjects, occasional Committees are appointed -by the President or Vice-President of the Meeting at which these Essays are read. The Beetete- ries are ew officio Members of all Cone Es B 4 24, PRIZES: Awarded since the institution of the Society. SrtverR MEDAL, 1810. Mar. 6. Early Broccoli, The best six heads.—To A. G. Hunter, Esq; Loretto. . April 12. Radishes, The first early, sold in Edinburgh market —To Mr James Thomson, gardener, Duddingston. May 1. Cucumbers, For the best brace-—To Mr James Macdonald, gardener to his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, at Dalkeith House. ; } June 5. Karly Dutch Turnips, For the first, (produced to the Committee). —To Mr John Heriot, gardener to Mr Mitchell of Parson’s Green, near Edinburgh. Carnations, For the six best.—To Mr Archi- bald Reid, gardener to Mr Munro of Li- vingston. July 3. Cauliflower, For the best.—To Mr James Stewart, gardener to Sir John Hope, Bart. Pinkie. Peaches, For the best twelve —To Mr Robert Ingram, gardener to Sir William Erskine, Baronet, Torry House. Melon, For the best.—To Mr Stewart, Pinkie. 1810. LIST OF PRIZES AWARDED. 26 Sept. 4. Currant-Wine, For the best.—To Mrs Dr Dun- Dec. 4. can sen, Adam’s Square. For excellent ditto ; 1. To Mrs Walker, Drumsheugh, (red). 2. To Mrs Keith, North Charlotte Street. 3. To Mrs Walker, Drumsheugh, (white). 4, To Mrs Bryce, St Andrew’s Square. For Gooseberry ditto : 5. To Mrs Fletcher, Restalrig. Apricots, For the best twelve.—To Mr James Macdonald, Dalkeith. Gooseberries, For the best.—To Mr Macdonald, Dalkeith. | Jargonelle Pears, For the best.—To Mr James Stewart, Pinkie. Peaches, For the best—To Mr James Macdo- nald, Dalkeith. Plums, Green-Gage, For the best.—To Mr Tho- mas Henderson, gardener to William Adam, Esq; Blair-Adam. Apples, For the hest.—(Two Medals awarded). 1. To Mr James Macdonald, Dalkeith. 2. To Mr William Ballantyne, gardener to the Right Honourable Lord Melville, Melville Castle. Pears,—(Two Medals also awarded). 1. To Mr James Smith, gardener to the Right Honourable the Earl of Hopetoun, at Ormie ston- Hall. 2. To Mr Robert Ingram, gardener, Torry. 26 1810. Dec. 4, 1811. Mar. 5. 23. June 5. A LIST OF PRIZES AWARDED. Early Broccoli, For the.best—To Mr James Macdonald, Dalkeith. Sea-Cale, For the best forced.—_To Mr Wil- liam Affleck, gardener te the Right Honour- able the Earl of Home, Hirsel. Asparagus, For the best forced——To Mr James Smith, Ormiston-Hall. Broccoli, For the best early—To Mr James Macdonald, Dalkeith. Lettuce, For the best winter.—To Mr William Affleck, Hirsel. Cucumbers, For the best brace of, Crete sown in January ).— To Mr James Stewart, Pinkie. Radishes, For the earliest, sold in Edinburgh market.—To Mr John Macallum, garde- ner, Restalrig. Turnip, Early, For the first 100, sold in Edin- : burgh market.—To Mr Thomas Davidson, gardener, Summerfield. Polyanthuses, For the six best seedling.—To Mr William Affleck, Hirsel. Meion, For the best.—To Mr James Stewart, Pinkie. Apples.—To Mr Stewart for a communication on the method of keeping apples throughout the year. . Cauliflower, For the best six heads——To Mr James Fell, gardener to A. G. Hunter, Esq; Loretto. 4811. LIST OF PRIZES AWARDED. a7 duly 16. Carnations, For the best six seedling.—To Mr Henderson, gardener to Sir Alexander Mac- kenzie, Bart. of Delvin. 30. Strawberries, For the first Scotch pint of, sold in Edinburgh market, (10th June).—To Mr John Charles, gardener, Laswade. Peaches, For the best twelve, forced.—To Mr Robert Ingram, Torry. Sept.3. Currant-Wene, For the best specimen of.—To Miss Edmonstone, 3. George Street, Edin- burgh. For excellent ditto: 1. Mrs Anderson, Stoneyhill, Mussel- burgh. | | 2. Mrs Simpson, Viewfield. 3. Mrs Mitchell, Parson’s Green. 4. Mr Sang, Loanwells, Kirkaldy. 5. Mrs Wright, 11. Argyle Square. For Gooseberry ditto ; 6. Mr Sang, Loanwells, Kirkaldy. Peaches, For the best six, from the open wall. _ —To Mr George Whittit, at Barnton. Nectarines, For the best six, from the open wall—To Mr David Trotter, gardener ta J. Johnston, Esq; Alva. Apricots, For the best six.—To Mr William Affleck, Hirsel. Plums, Green-Gage, For the best twelve.—To Mr Henry Turnbull, gardener to Dr Monro at Craiglockhart. Jargonelle Pears, For the best twelve.—To Mr Robert Ingram, Torry. 25 LIST OF PRIZES AWARDED. 1811. Sept. 3. Gooseberries, For the best specimen of, with names.—To Mr James Allan, gardener to Sir William Forbes, Bart Collington. Hamburgh Grapes, For a fine cluster of.—To Mr Robert Ingram, Torry, (extra medal). Original, or Burrknott Apple.—To Dr Duncan senior, for his communication on the mode . of propagating it, &c. (extra medal). Dec. 3. Pears, For the best six sorts of French pears, with their names, &.—To Mr Robert Ing- ram, Torry. — Sea-Cale, For the best forced.—To Mr James * Smith, Ormiston- Hall. Broccoli, For the best six heads of —To Mr James Stewart, Pinkie. Asparagus, For the best bunch of forced-—To Mr Robert Ingram, Torry. Dec. 20. Onions, transplanted, For an excellent specimen of, and an account of his method of culture. —To Mr Macdonald, Dalkeith, (extra me- dal). GoLtp MEDAL. Dec. 3. Curl im the Potato, For the best account of, and method of preventing.—To Mr Thomas Dickson, nurseryman, Edinburgh. A DISCOURSE READ AT THE QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, IN THE HALL OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, EDINBURGH, December 3. 1811. BY ANDREW DUNCAN sen. M. D.& P. ONE OF THE VICE=PRESIDENTS. A DISCOURSE, &c. GENTLEMEN, . Ar the end of the second year, from the first establishment of this Society, we are now as- sembled for the annual election of our Office- Bearers. It is my duty to officiate as your Vice- President: And it has been recommended to me, to give a short account of what has already been done by the Society, and also to state some fu- ture objects which your Council have in con- templation. I trust, therefore, I shall be fa- voured with your indulgence, while I submit. to your consideration, a few remarks on these subjects. 39 DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE, ‘I need not detain you with any account of the views of those who first suggested this institu- tion. It is sufficient to observe, that the king- dom of Scotland has been long and justly cele- brated, for supplying useful practical Gardeners ‘to every part of the British Empire. This, per- haps, has in some degree been the effect of our climate. We are not blessed with the same ge- nial heat, particularly during the spring, as our brethren in the South. To produce, therefore, ‘the same delicious fruit, greater attention and greater skill are required. By these, however, the experience of ages has now demonstrated that many difficulties may be overcome; that, by the aid of artificial heat, and the protec- tion of glass, the fruits of our gardens may vie ‘with those of any part of the habitable world; that, by proper management, almost every ve- getable useful in the diet of the human species, “may be reared in the greatest perfection, and in the greatest plenty. But whether our skill in gardening, is to be ascribed to our unfavourable climate or not, certain it is that Scotland has long been famous, both for intelligent professional Gardeners, and DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE. 83 zealous amateurs. That men of rank and for- tune should have dedicated some portion of their time and their wealth, to the improvement of gardens, is not surprising: For, without the hazard of contradiction, I may venture to assert, that, among all the rural amusements, garden- ing is one of the most innocent, the most ra- | tional, and the most healthful. Hence, to have obtained pre-eminence in this art, is ereditable and honourable to the country. It is therefore a duty incumbent upon the present age, to maintain that reputation which our ancestors have acquired for us. But it is often a more difficult matter to support, than to gain an eminent character. Expectation raised to a high pitch is difficultly satisfied. This can only be effected by continued, by increased ex- ertions. When, therefore, Sir Joseph Banks, the truly respectable President of the Royal So- ciety of London, and some other enthusiastic Horticulturists in England, formed a Society for the improvement of Gardening, by the com- bined efforts of art and science, it became the duty of patriot Scotsmen to follow so laudable an example, VOL, I. CG 34 ‘PR DUNCAN’S, DISCOURSE. ., Such. gonsiderations gave a beginning to'this institution: And.on,the 25th.of November 1809, ‘a few gentlemen..met,at Mr.Thomas Dickson’s house, . in the neighbourhood »of Edinburgh, where it was agreed, that a letter should be sent to different skilful professional gardeners, and zealous amateurs, inclosing a sketch of, an in- tended. plan, and intimating, that a more gene- yal meeting was to be held on Tuesday the 5th of December 1809, to take that plan under con- sideration. .. The noblemen and gentlemen ta whom that intimation was sent, were requested, either to attend the meeting in person, or to send intimation of their sentiments respecting the plan... _., _Inconsequence of this invitation, a very re- spectable, meeting took place in this room(*, on the 5th of December,1809 ; and notice was re- ceived fram some of the first characters of the kingdom, approving of the plan, and intimating their. readines to, become members of )the insti tution.’ Among these, the Duxe or BuceLeve H, who has long been distinguished in the country as a real patriot, and. his eldest son, the Eart, OF DALKEITH, sent notice of their approbation, * The Hall of the Royal College of Physicians. DR DUNGAN’S DISCOURSE. 35 and of their readiness to accept of the rank of Honorary Members, to which they had been invited, Thus encouraged by men of rank, of worth, and of discernment, the first meeting proceeded to nominate Office-bearers for the en- suing year. The Earu or DALKEITH was ap- pointed your first President; and Sir Jamzs Hatt, who has long been distinguished for his patronage of the arts and sciences,—together with Dr RurHerrorp, Professor of Botany,— Dr Coventry, Professor of Agriculture,—and Mr Hunter of Blackness, a gentleman, whose enthusiasm in gardening has seldom been equal- led, —were chosen. the first. Vice-Presidents, Such names gave the prospect of no inconsider- able support to this infant institution. But in no particular was the Society, in my opinion, more fortunate than in the nomination of their Secretaries. Two gentlemen, whose characters are well known to most of you, the late Mr W ar- TER Nico1, and Mr Patrick Neiu1, agreed to undertake the duties of that office. Mr Ni- col’s character, by his valuable publications, was already favourably known tp every intelligent horticulturist in Britain. But, alas! it was the C2 36 DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE. will of Heaven that we should be favoured a short time only with his assistance. By his much Jamented death, at an early period of life, our Society, in its infant state, sustained avery great, but I would fain hope, not an irreparable loss, Among other business of this day, the vacant office of a Secretary is to be filled up. Your choice will, I trust, fall upon some one of our number, who although: he may not be able to equal, will yet be desirous to imitate the example set by our deceased friend. Our other Secre- tary, Mr Neill, will, I hope, be long both able and willing to lend his aid to this institution. He is not only a zealous amateur in gardening, but his superior knowledge in every branch of natural history, is universally admitted by all who have science enough duly to appretiate that knowledge: And I say no more than the truth, when I assert, that from his industry, and from : his abilities, this Society has aheaey derived many important advantages. : - Having, at the meeting in December 1809; by the election of respectable and intelligent office- bearers,’ given’ to“our Society a “ body and a _name,”? we proceeded to consider the proper Re- DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE. 837 wiilations for such an institution. After consi- derable discussion on the printed sketch which had been circulated, it was agreed; that any de- cision on the subject, should be delayed till the next, quarterly meeting ; and a Committee was appointed to present to that meeting, a new draught of it, improved by the suggestions which had been thrown out: ! | A committee was also appointed to prepare 4 list of Prize-Questions, which, by, holding out honorary and pecuniary rewards to men of spi- rit and genius, might call ferth their exertions, for the improvement of horticulture in all its branches. pew to A List of Prize-Questions prepared by them; “was accordingly sanctioned, by the General Quarterly Meeting held on the 6th of March 1810; and at the same meeting, the Laws and Regulations, as revised by the committee; met with unanimous approbation. Of these regu- jations, as being already in the possession of every member, I need say nothing: I shall only observe, that one great object of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, is to unite the exertions of intelligent professional gardeners, and of zeax C 3 38 DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE. lous amateurs in every part of the kingdom, for the improvement of the art. With this view,,. it was agreed that the Society should consist of three classes of members: Is¢, Of Honorary Members, who, though from situation and other circumstances, they could not often be present at our deliberations, would yet, from their rank: in life, and respectability of character, give cele- brity and do honour to our institution, and, at the same time, induce the professional gardéners employed by them, to favour us with useful communications : 2dly, Of Ordinary Members, who, from their residence being principally in Edinburgh, would not only regularly attend our’ meetings, and assist at our deliberations, but would agree to contribute a small sum annually, for calling forth and rewarding the exertions of genius and of industry: And, 3dly, Of Corre- sponding Members, consisting chiefly of profes- sional gardeners, residing at a distance from Edinburgh, who, by transmitting communica- tions to this Society, might thus have an easy mode of imparting to the public, interesting improvements, which experience has enabled them to discover. DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE: 39 At the meeting in March 1810, the Society had the satisfaction of entering on’ the proper objects of their pursuit, Six different commu. nications were then read’; some of them on ‘stib- jects of great national importance, such, for ex- ample, as on the meéatis of preventing the. Curl in the Potato. Of this' vegetable; as a nourish. ing and sdlubrious aliment,' both for the haman species; and for many of oti¢ most: useful domes- tic animals, it would be altogether superfluous in me to say any thing; nor need I insist upon the advantage of removing every impediment to its successful ctilture. A due sense of thé import- ance of this subject, led the Society to propose the most effectual reans of removing that dis- ease in potatoes known by the name of curl, as the subject of a prize. In consequence of that proposal, several interesting dissertations were transmitted to your Secretary. These disgerta- tions wete subjected to the examination of a committee, and in consequence of the award of that committee, I now delivet to Mr THomas DicKson your Gold Medal, as an honorary and public mark of approbation for ‘his successful . OA” py! 40 DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE. exertions in the way of experiment. . Of the value of Mr. Dickson’s experiments to'the com- munity at large, if the conclusions which he has drawn from them be just, it would be unneces- _— sary for me to say any thing; I shall only ob- serve, that we have reason to hope, that a full account, of them, will in no long time be com- municated to the public, through the medium of our Memoirs. After Mr Dickson’s experi- ments are published, every cultivator of potatoes will have himself an opportunity of determining their value, by the test of future experience. But at whatever rate their value may finally be estimated, it is the unanimous opinion of the committee of judges, that Mr Dickson is entitled to a public mark of the Society’s approbation, for the expence, the labour, the attention he has bestowed, and for the exertions‘of his genius on this interesting subject. It is the wish of your council, not only to publish his opinions to the world, but also to give a fair trial to his pro- posal, by a series of experiments conducted un- der their own direction. eye: Of all the memoirs that have aca: communi- cated, it would not be consistent with the busi- DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE, 4% ness of the present meeting to speak. To read even a list of their titles, would take up too great a portion of your time. I shall only observe, that twenty-six different communications, on subjects of no inconsiderable importance, have been read at our meetings ; and that no fewer than fifty-two medals, or premiums in place of me- dals, have been awarded to different individuals. Of the medals, several have been awarded to Ladies for their excellence in the preparation of Currant Wine ; and this I will venture to say, is, in the present state of the nation, an object of very great importance. ‘That the wines of foreign countries, afford indeed to the inhabi- tants of the British Empire, some of their great- est luxuries, and. most useful cordials, will not be denied; and it is the glory of civilized Seciety, that by the intervention of corhmerce, every nation on the face of the habitable globe, may be freely sipplied with the produce of every other. Till the reign of terror in France, the genius and industry of our mechanics,—of a Box- TON, an ARKWRIGHT, a WEDGWwoop, and others, was repaid to themselves, and to the nation, by the best wines'which France could afford. But Ag, BR DUNCAN’s DISCOURSE: amidst tyranny and war, we are necessarily dé- prived of many of the blessings of peace ;-and it is the duty of the patriotic citizen, either to'sub- ‘mit tothese privations, or to supply them by the produce of our own islands, and of our own co- lonies. It has long been known, that from the fruit of the currant-bush, ¢rowing luxuriantly, and affording abundant crops in every part of the British isles, aided by the sugar furnished: front our ‘plantations in the West Indies,’ if the fer- mentation which takes: place be properly con- ducted, a generous wine’ may be produced; well calculated either for cheering the hearts of those in a state of health, or for alleviating the distress of marty when subjected: to disease; Of this, incontestible proof has been afforded; by the many excellent specimens of currant- wine which have been sent to the Society, by competitors for our honorary premium. Some of thése specimens, after the wine, previously retained for a proper time in the cask, had been kept in bottles for more than’ twenty years; afforded evident proof, that the art’ is neither hew, nor the liquor, when properly prepared, avery perishable one: But in the preparation DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE. 43 of currant-wine, as in other arts, very great im- provements have of late been made, particularly by the means of regulating the fermentation ; and there is reason to hope, that by the aid of the saccharometer, and other contrivances, this most important part of the process, although it can never perhaps be reduced to certain rules, may be regulated with much gteater accuracy than is comnionly the case. All the Ladies, to whose wines premiums have been awarded, have communicated to the Society a particular account of their method of proceeding. Of these, however, E shall at pre- sent say nothing. But permit me fo observe, that by a judicious abstract from the specifica- tions in the hands of our Secretary, there is rea- son to hope, that much useful information may be communicated to the public, respecting the preparation of good wine, at a moderate ex- pence, from currants growing in our own gar- dens: For, from the specimens presented to this Society, it appears that the best currant- wines are not prepared according to the most . expensive receipts. : I have thus pointed out two subjects, the Aid, DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE. Prevention of the Curl in Potato, and the Manufacture of Currant Wine, with regard to which, I flatter myself, that the communications ‘made to this Society, will be productive of no inconsiderable national advantage. » Of many — other’ useful suggestions, I might say much, par- ticularly with regard to the best methods of de- stroying different insects that infest fruit-trees ; the best means for bringing fruit-trees, particu- larly the finer sorts of French péars, into full bearing ; and the best means of increasing thé effects of manure. But for a particular account of these, I must refer you to our Memoirs, when presented to the public. _ AFrer these cursofy remarks om what has al= ready been done, I shall next briefly mention some important obyects which your Council have hereafter in view. On this subject, I must can- didly acknowledge, that my expectations are in all probability, much more sanguine than they ought to be. But I well know, that, in the im- provement of horticulture, by the exertions of industry and genius, much may be done; and I confidently hope, that not a little will be done. DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE. 45 Discoveries are chiefly to be made by judi- cious experiment. And it is by the test of ex- perience alone, that the suggestions of genius can be duly appretiated, can be confirmed, or refuted. It is therefore an object of great im- portance, not only to encourage a zeal for ex- periment by proper rewards, but to recommend it by example, and to put the alleged results of the experiments of others, to future trials under our own inspection. It is indeed true, as was long since observed, by an ancient writer of the first eminence, that “« life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, “* experiment precarious, and judgment: diffi- “¢ cult.”? It must also be admitted, that those horticultural experiments, which your Coun- cil have in view, cannot be executed without very considerable expence, as well as much labour and attention. But we have reason to believe, that to the fund arising from the annual contributions of Ordinary Members, a consider- able addition may be made by the donations of those who have patronised the Society, by ac- cepting of the rank of Honorary Members. And 46 DR DUNCAN’S DISCOURSE. some of our number are not without hopes, that our exertions may be forwarded even by Royal Patronage and Royal aid. ‘They imagine, that for the purpose of our experiments, a grant of a small portion of that. ground in the vicinity of idinburgh which is the property of the Crown, and which is at present in an almost: unculti- vated state, may be obtained from: our Most Gracious. SOVEREIGN, or his Repreasalaye, our Most Excellent Recent, The best chance we have of cbpaaine Royal Patronage, is, by demonstrating that we de- serve it: And we ought, without delay, to be- gin experiments, although upon)a small scale, With this view, your Council take the liberty of recommending ‘to you, to appoint two new officers to the Society ; an experimenter for con- ducting such trials as the Society may judge proper; and a painter of fruits, flowers, roots, and. such other vegetable productions as may serve to illustrate and to dpoyauebiae the esa of experiments. | It is indeed true, that the present state of our funds will not enable us to give an adequate remuneration to men, qualified for. discharging DR, DUNCAN'S, DISCOURSE. 47 the duties of these offices. , But your Council have good. reason to believe, that there are men in our Society, who, from an ardent zeal for horticultural pursuits, will (like our Secretaries and Treasurer) cheerfully dedicate some portion of their time and talents to your service, with- out any) pecuniary reward. By these. means, and -by such aid, I would fain hope, that the useful exertions of this So- ciety, may not only be continued, but increased ; and that it will thus afford rational amusement, and interesting information to all who have al- ready joined and patronised it, or who may hereafter be ranked among the number of its members. Tue Society, after hearing the preceding dis- course, entered on the consideration of the pro- posal from the Council respecting the appoint- ment of an Experimenter, and a Painter. That proposal met with unanimous and cordial appro- bation. On the recommendation of the Council, Mr 48 DR DUNCGAN’S DISCOURSE. Joun Frercuer was immediately appointed Experimenter, and Mr Parricx SYME was ap- ‘pointed Painter. After these appointments, Mr Pilea Dicx- son, whose paper on the Curl in Potatoes had been honoured with the first Gold Medal given by the Society, was unanimously elected Secre- tary, for supplying the vacancy occasioned by. the death of the late Mr Walter Nicol. MEMOIRS, &e. I. Observations on the Disease in thé Potato, ge- nerally called the Curl ; pointing out the most probable method of preventing it ; with an ac- count of the results of a few experiments made on the subject. By Mr Tuomas Dickson, Leith Walk, Edinburgh. (Read 6th March 1810.) Tuts disease, so far as I ean learn, first began to be alarming to the growers of the potato, about thirty-five or forty years ago. Since that time, it has continued to engage the attention of -many eminent agriculturists and gardeners. Various opinions have at different times been advanced as to its cause. Some were of opi- nion, that the disease was caused by the tubers used for seed-stock, not having been sufficiently ripened ;—others thought that they had been trost-bitten, in the course of the preceding win- VOL. I. D 50 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ter :—some ascribed the evil to the effects of blights attacking the plants in coming through the ground ;—others to the attacks of certain minute insects :—lastly, the exhausted state of the soil was blamed for the disease. But no one seems to have hit upon the real cause, until the Honourable Baron Hepsurn of Smeaton, in Kast Lothian, one of the most successful and intel- ligent agriculturists of this country, started a new theory on the subject ;.which, from its singularity, and seeming inconsistenee with our eXperience in matters of a similar nature, did not at the time meet with that attention to which tt undoubtedly was entitled. The Baron - thought that the curl was probably caused by the tubers used for seed-stock, having been al- lowed to become too ripe the preceding year, and that this practice of ever-ripening, being re- peated year after year, was the real cause of the ‘disease, the vegetative power in the tubers be- ing thus exhausted. I candidly confess myself to have been rather at first a sceptic on the subject ; but after con- _ sidering the thing a little, my doubts began te clear away. In order to satisfy myself thorough- ly, resolved upon making a suite of experi- ments. I accordingly did so; and as they were conducted entirely by myself, or under my own immediate superintendence, I ean pledge myself for their accuracy. I now beg leave to lay them before the Caledonian Horticultural So- ON THE CURL IN THE POTATO. 51 ciety, in hopes that they may, by means of the Society, be made known to the public ; and as the experiments are easily repeated, that they may induce others to turn their attention to the subject. | I think it right to observe, that the experi- ments now to be detailed; were not made with any view of their ever appearing before the. public ; nor would they have been brought for- ward at this time, but from a wish to promote the views of this Society. It is well known to all cultivators of the po- tato, that the usual mode of reproducing any particular variety of that valuable root, is by cuts or sets of the tubers; and that this mode of propagation 1s repeated every year, so long as that particular sort is wished for, without our ever thinking of re-invigorating the seed-stock *, by raising new plants from the real seeds. In this way it happens, that merely the individual variety 1s propagated ; the species being repro- duced only by sowing the true seeds of the plant. it is only by sowing the seeds that we obtain new varieties. Butif the seeds be taken from any particular variety that 1s wished to be preserved, * By this expression is always to be understood the stock of tubers for planting, in contradistinction to the real seed of the plant. ; he oe ERS $2 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. and if care be exercised, that the plants shall have no communication with the farina of any other plants of the same species in flower, then the produce of these seeds will probably be the . same, or nearly the same, with that variety from. which the seeds were saved; and from the seed-stock being renewed, and _ re-invigorated. in this way, it seems likely, that the variety so obtained, may, by observing a proper manage- ment, be preserved from the curl or any other kind of degeneracy, for any length of time. I shall presume, that the principal cause of the curl in the potato, is the over-ripening of the seed-stock for the supply of the ensuing year, by allowing it to reraain too long in the ground, and especially if it be also planted early ; this practice being repeated for several years suc- cessively, causes an exhaustion of the vege- tative principle, in the ‘tubers, which renders them totally unfit to produce vigorous healthy plants ; and is the principal cause of the disease. This doctrine has almest uniformly been ob- jected to by many very intelligent agricultu- rists and gardeners, as being quite contrary to our experience in regard to seeds in general ; full ripeness being considered the best recom- mendation. But this objection, I apprehend, arises from the taking an improper view of the subject. It is true, that all of what are proper- ly called seeds, are improved, by being thorough- ON THE CURLIN THE POTATO. | 53 ly ripened ; but cu¢s or sets, taken from the tubers of a potato, cannot, strictly speaking, come under the description of seeds. Planting cuts of the potato, 1s analogous to budding or grafting of trees, being only a secondary mode of propa- gation ; and consequently, the above-mentioned objection does not hold good. This doctrine may be further illustrated, by observing the strong tendency which potatoes raised from seeds, have to run to flower and seed, unless prevented, by destroying these as they appear, and by earth- ing up the roots of the plant, so as to induce them to throw out tubers. This natural disposi- tion of plants raised from seeds, will remain for several generations of the plant, gradually yield- ing to the artificial means used, until they at last become what we wish. And what may be deemed still a farther proaf is, that those who cultivate potatoes most successfully, in the low and early parts of this country, where the disease. chiefly exists, bring a supply of seed-stock, from the higher and later parts of the country, for a change, every second year at farthest, In such high places, from the lateness and wetness of the climate, the farmers are prevented from planting their potatoes so early’as in the low country, and are also, from the fear of early frosts, obliged to take up their crop sooner ; consequent- ly the tubers are never so highly ripened as to weaken the vegetative principle in them. Here, D3 bh HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, - then, we have a strong practical testimony to thé truth of the doctrine which has been advanced. On the other band, in the early districts of. the low country, where, as has already been remark- ed, the disease is principally known, particular kinds of potatoes are planted year after year suc- cessively, from the same seed-stock, and most of the early kinds are planted soon in the season, with a view to procure an early crop for the market : a part of these is generally allowed to remain in the ground till the usual time of taking up, to supply seed-stock for the ensuing year: by this time, however, the plants have become so ripe as to weaken very much the vegetative power of the tubers. This practice being repeated for seve- ral years, at last so impairs the vegetative power in the tubers, as to produce the curl; and there is no doubt that if this practice were persevered in, it would ultimately destroy the power of ve- getation altogether, as ] have proved by experi- ments. | There is yet another powerful cause which weakens the vegetative power in the tubers ; and that is, the allowing such plants as are intended to supply seed-stock for the ensuing year, to run to flower, and produce seed *. ‘This should in all cases be prevented, by cutting off the * It is generally the late sorts of potatoes that produce seeds, very few of the early kinds doing so. ON THE CURL IN THE POTATO. 5a flowers as they appear, even in embryo. Thus, by turning nature from her ordinary course, we force her to exert herself in another channel, and to throw back into the tubers, that portion of the vital principle of the plant, which would have been exhausted in the formation of flowers and seeds. Nothing will more contribute to prevent degeneracy in the potato, and especially to prevent curl, than this treatment. In proof of what I have already advanced on this subject, I shall now state a few experiments made by myself in the years 1801,-2,-3. They appear to me to be quite conclusive, and will go farther to convince, than a volume written without experiments. In the autumn of 1800, when in Fife, at a friend’s house, I met with a potato of the long flat kind *, which I thought very excellent, and obtained a few to cultivate for my own use: he however informed me, that they had been so in- fested with the curl for some years, that he had resolved to abandon the culture of them altoge- ther. This led me to conclude, that, from their shape, &c. they were well adapted for being made the subject of some experiments I had previously resolved to make, with a view to ascertain the truth of the new idea, upon the cause of the D4 * A sketch of a tuber of that kind, of the natural size, accompanies this, shewing the different cuts or sets, &c. ! 56 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. curl, which had been some time before men- tioned to me. Accordingly, I selected about half a peck (14lb.) of these, as near the size and shape of the annexed sketch as possible. I took one or two sets from each end of each potato, that is, from theextreme, or wet end, and from | the umbilical, or dry end, next the connecting radicle: each sort was planted upon the same ground, but in different rows, with the same kind and quantity of manure to each, and in every respect in exactly the same circumstances, on the 27th April 1801. The season was very favourable. Upon ex- amining the plants about the end of June, I found, that all those that were taken from the wet, or least ripened end of the potato, had come up, and were looking well and healthy, except three plants, which were a little affected with the disease: these I threw out, preserving only such as were quite free from it. Upon examining those plants which were produced from the dry or ripest end of the potato, I found that but few of them had appeared above ground, and such as had, were all diseased, more or less; but in many instances, the sets had not vegetated at all, nor did they, upon taking them up to examine them, show any signs of vegetation; although quite sound and fresh, they were quite inert ; nor did these change their appearance throughout ON THE CURL IN THE POTATO. 57 she season, being nearly as fresh when the rest of the crop was lifted, as when they were put in the: ground. On the 30th July, the whole were again exa- mined ; the plants from the unripe sets were al- most covering the ground, though planted at two feet between the rows, and were looking well, re- markably free from curl, and promising an abun- dant crop ; while those from the ripened sets, which had vegetated and grown, had made very little progress indeed, and were universally curled ; several of the plants died after coming a certain length, seemingly from mere weak- ness; and such as grew stronger, had very few tubers at their roots, and those very small and puny. | On the $d October, I took up the produce of both sorts, and pitted them, for renewing the experiment the ensuing year. The same course of experiment was accord- ingly repeated, not only next year (1802), but also the following year (1803) ; and the results were exactly similar; the plants produced from the wet, or unripened ends, continuing heal- thy, and producing abundant crops, while those produced from the dry ends, continued to de- generate. I thus satisfied myself, that the disease ori- ginated entirely in the over-ripening of the seed-stock ; and indeed all my experience since these trials were made, has tended only to 58 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. strengthen that opinion. I might follow out this to a much greater length, and supply many more facts, all calculated to prove the truth of what has already been advanced; but by doing so, I should only multiply the detail of similar trials and facts, which, instead of inducing indi- viduals, might rather deter them from satisfy- ing themselves by making experiments. This £ should wish them to do. It may be proper to observe, that the produce of the curled potatoes was taken up before being - too ripe, and replanted with the others: Icannot say that the disease was removed, but they did not get worse. Perhaps replanting them in very highly manured land, for several years, might have a good effect: but unless it were for the sake of reclaiming a favourite variety, the experiment is hardly worth making. Having trespassed so long on the attention of the Society, I shall only beg leave to suggest a few simple rules, which, if attended to, will, I am humbly confident, soon entirely banish the disease of curl from the country. ‘These are, 1. To procure a sound healthy seed-stock, which cannot be relied on, unless obtained from a part of the high country, where, from the cli- mate and other circumstances, the tubers are ne- yer over-ripened, ea pes Fr aE ati. SH Gilad “aide Oy a 2 yi at ioe Bey i A ‘ . Tine ‘ 7 4 >) i BY oy T° Dictewore led? ON THE CURL IN THE POTATO. 59 2. To plant such potatoes as are intended to supply seed-stock for the ensuing season, at least a fortnight later than those planted for crop, and to take them up whenever the haulm or stems become of a yellow-green colour: at this period, the cuticle or outer skin of the tubers, may be easily rubbed off between the finger and thumb. 3. To prevent those plants that are intended to produce seed-stock for the ensuing year, from producing flowers or seeds, by cutting them off in embryo, taking care, however, to take no more off, than the extreme tops, as, by taking more, the crop may be injured. The best mode of doing this, is with a common reaping-hook, or light switching bill, ‘Two boys or girls may de an English acre in two or three days. Nurseries, Leith Walk, 6th March 1810. REFERENCES TO PLATE I. A The wet end. B_ The dry end. aa The cuts or sets from the wet end. bb The cuts or sets from the dry end. ¢c¢ The umbilical cord or connecting radicle. dd The real roats of the plant. 4 60 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. II. On the Curled Disorder in Potatoes. By Joun Surrrerr, Esq. (Read 6th March 1810.) Tsovcu many attempts have been made to as- sign causes for the curled disorder in potatoes, nothing satisfactory on the subject has yet per- haps been submitted to the publie. . Frost, ver- min, both in the bulb and stem, stiff soils, &c. have each in their turn been considered as the cause. ! The ingenious Mr Knight, in his Treatise on Fruit-trees, has shewn how futile it is to expect, ‘that, by grafting or budding on seedling-stocks, by planting cuts in the soil, or by any other known process, the health, or even the life of any particular tree, or the wood of that tree, can be preserved to an indefinite length of time. While, then, the firm texture of the various fruit and forest trees yields to time, is it to be ON THE CURL IN THE POTATO. 61 expected that immortality should be enjoyed by the spongy bulb of the humble potato? The various crops of this plant, annually raised from cuts, are merely successive productions of stems, leaves, fruit and bulbs from original seedling- bulbs, and the plants of each sort are, in fact, as much continuations of those original bulbs, as the branches, leaves, and flowers of fruit-trees that spring from grafts, are continuations,. and form a part of the original seedling-trees, from which these grafts were either mediately, or im- mediately taken. It may perhaps be alleged, that potatoes, in particular situations, never become diseased or curled. To this it may be replied, that the contrary fact has been ascertained by experience: for it is apprehended, that not a single healthy plant of any sort of potato, that bears apples or berries, and that was In culture twenty years aco, can now be shewn. It may also be said, that potatoes, which have become diseased or eurled, have been restored to health for several seasons. ‘Lo this, it may be answered, that vegetables, as well as animals, may be sick and recover, and that from unknown, as well as known causes. Mr Knight restored the wood of the languishing Golden Pippin, and enabled it to produce fair flowers, and fine fruit, by pre- tection, and a favourable sail; but this was on- ® 62 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ly a temporary renovation, as the health of the aged valetudinarian is preserved for afew years, _ by the aid of cordials, and the genial imfluence ofa milder climate. It is well known, that po- _ tatoes cultivated in situations where the plants ammually ripen their berries, soon become disea- sed or curled; while plants, from the same indi- vidual seedling, in upland situations, where there is not sufficient warmth every season to mature their fruit, continue for a longer time compa- ratively healthy. In the first case, premature old age seems to be brought on by excessive annual seed-bearing. In the last case, the plants, or rather bulbs, as they make less exertions, con- tinue longer vigorous. ‘The maximum of duration of the life of every individual vegetable, as well as animal, is pre- determined by nature, under whatever circum- stances the individual may be placed. ‘The mi- nimum, on the contrary, is entirely determined by these very circumstances. Admitting, then, that a potato might reproduce itself from bulbs, for a considerable number of years, in the shady woods of South America, or the mountainous re- _ gions of Europe; we find it soon become abor-. tive in the cultrvated champaign of Britain. ‘Uhat some particular sorts of potatoes, are longer-lived than others, cannot be doubted ; but surely, it is mot much more philosophical to expect, that the ON THE CURL IN THE POTATO, 63 horticulturist should be able to give everlasting vigour to individuals of the vegetable, than that the physician should be able to do so to those of the human race. _ Reasoning from what we know, there appears little doubt of the potato, in a cultivated state, being a short-lived plant ; and therefore, though it may be preserved longer healthy, by growing it in elevated or shady situations, and, perhaps, by cropping the flowers, and thereby preventing the plants from exhausting themselves, by an- nually maturing their seeds; yet we have every reason to expect, that disease will, sooner or later, according to circumstances, make its at- tack. ‘Phe obvious inference is, that fo obtain vigorous plants, and secure productive crops, re- course must frequently be had to varieties newly raised from seed. With all due respect to Mr Knight’s claims to original discovery, it is not very improbable that the famous Italian surgeon ‘Taliacotius, not only originally conceived the idea of his sup- plemienta! noses, from observing the woed of one tree grafted, and growing on that of another ; but he also, from noticing that these grafts never lone survived their parent trees, seems most philosophically to have anticipated the decay of his noses, when the persons died from whose 64 HORTICULTURAL MEMDIRS. bodies the materials were taken; of which these sympathetic organs were constructed : | “< So learned Taliacotius, from « The brawny part of porter’s bum, * Cut supplemental noses, which «© Would last as long as parent breech ; «© And, when the date of knock was out, “© Off dropt the sympathetic snout. « Huprpras, Canto 17 Columella, at a much earlier period still, seems to have been aware that young plants could not be formed from cuttings, which he calls (semina), De Arboribus, cap. 3. Treating of the vine, his words are, ‘‘ Optima habentur a lumbis, se- cunda ab humeris ; tertia summa in vite lecta, que celerrime comprehendunt, et sunt feraci- ora, sed et quam celerrimé senescunt,”’ Craigside, near Edinburgh, 5th December 1810. ON. THE FLUES OF HOT-HOUSES. 65° III; A Letter from Cuarres Lorimer, Esq. Collec- tor of the Customs at Dunbar, to Dr Duncan sen., gvoing an Account of an Improvement in the construction of the Flues of Hot- Houses, by employing Earthen-Ware Tubes, in place f Bricks or Tiles. (Communicated by Dr Duncan senior.) Dunbar, 30th August 1810. My DEAR Sir, | I recerven your much esteemed letter of the 28th current, desiring an account of the can- flues for hot-houses. Mr Burnet of Viewfield, (a particular friend of mine), was the inventor of these flues. He built a hot-house for vines about four years ago, thirty-five feet long, by thirteen feet wide, (inside measure), with one furnace, which he finds fully sufficient to keep up a proper tem- peratute in the coldest weather. He then con- VOL, Is Dae 66 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. sulted me respecting his plan for the flues, and the only credit I can take in the business, was my giving him my decided opinion, that it would completely amswer his most sanguine expectations. He followed my advice at the time, and he has since had the largest crops of grapes I ever saw upon vines of the same age; and for the two last years, every part of his house, from the bottom to the top, has been loaded with a profusion of fine clusters, so thick, that they appeared everywhere al- most touching one another. From the obser- vations he has made, he informs me, that after the eyes of his vines are all fairly broke in the spring, and he was at liberty to increase the heat in the hot-house, he commonly found the thermometer, at eight or nine o’clock in the evening, to stand from 72° to 75°. The fire was then mended for the night; and the suc- ceeding morning, (about six o’clock), the ther-. mometer kept up within two, or at most three degrees of what it was the night before. His furnace is built after Mr Nicol’s plan, with Rumford doors; and when the fire is mended for the night, he shuts his ash-pit door quite close, which prevents the heat being too much _ increased, and occasions a very small consump- tion of fuel; yet, from the cans being so thin, a proper degree of heat is transmitted, to ON THE FLUES OF HOT-HOUSEs. 67 forward the growth of the vines amazingly fast. I have two small hot-houses for vines, with one of Mr Nicol or Mr Loudon’s furnaces to each. One of these houses has a flue built with bricks, and tile covers,» in) the old con- struction. The flue of the other was taken down about three years since, and a can-flue put in its place, which I consider a real im- provement. In 1809, I put fire to the first mentioned house, the 14th February, and the other had no fire till the 30th March follow- ing; yet the house with the can-flue, ripened the grapes sooner than the other, which was fired six weeks eatlier, and witha considerable saving of fuel. L952. This year, 1810, I repeated the experiment, and the result was the same. ‘Ihe house: with the can-fiue has ripened the grapes in six weeks less time than the one with the flue-of the old construction. In case you shall consider the particulars above mentioned of sufficient importance to be communicated to the Caledonian Horticul- tural Society, I shall take the liberty of men- tioning the size of the cans used in Mr Bur- net’s hot-house and mine. ‘They are from twenty-five to twenty-six inches long, of a co- nical or taper shape, from ‘thirteen to thirteen Le) 68 - HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS; and one-half inches in diameter at the large end; and from eleven to eleven and one-half inches at the small end, (inside measure). When they are laid for a flue, the small end is inserted in- to the large one, an inch or an inch and a half, and the joinings closed with lime-plaster. I at first used fire-clay, but it cracked and fell off, and the smoke got into the house; but since I used the lime-plaster, the flue has been per- fectly tight, and the house free from smoke. Perhaps it might be an improvement if the cans were made of a cylindrical or drum shape, all of the same diameter, so that the ends would exactly fit one another, with about the half of the thickness of the cans taken off the outside for three-fourths of an inch from.each end to hold. the plaster. ‘This would make the flue look much better on the outside, the swelling at the joinings from the plaster being thereby greatly reduced, and when the flue is cleaned, the soot would be more easily got out, as it would be quite smooth in the inside from end to end. It may be objected, that the hot-house will not have so much steam from the can-flues as from the flues of the old construction; but this will be found not to be the case. I have raised full as much steam, by sprinkling the cans with a watering-pan, (after they are suf- ON THE FLUES OF HOT-HOUSES. 69 ficiently heated,) as ever I could do with flues of the old construction. Mr Burnet’s cans are made of common clay, yet they have stood the heat very well; and though his flue one night had taken fire, only the can next the furnace was cracked. Mine are made of fire-clay, which I think safer ; the strongest fire I have applied not having in the least injured them. Mr Carnegie at East Linton, built a vinery in 1808, and adopted the can-flue, with which he is highly satisfied ; and this season he has a large crop of grapes. From the cans not being half an inch thick, it is evident they must transmit the heat sooner, and in much greater proportion, than flues of the old construction, which are commonly three inches thick in the sides, and one inch in the tile-cover at the top. . When the can-flues are laid, the ends of the cans should rest upon a brick set on edge, which keeps the under part of the flue five inches from the ground, and thereby none of the heat is lost. It may be also objected to the can-flues, that they will cool sooner than the brick and tile ones; but so long as any fire remains in the furnace, the can-flues will transmit the heat, which is not the case with the old flues, when the fire becomes weak. E3 70 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Ihave mentioned every.circumstance that.oc- curs to me; but if you wish for further explana- tiens, be so good as let me know, and I shall with. pleasure, give you every information in my power.. lam, &c. ‘ CHARLES, LORIMER. ON THE PLANTING OF SUMMER ASPARAGUS. 71] {V. ~~ Ona new method of planting Asparagus. By Mr James Smiru, Gardener to the Earl of Kintore, at Keith-Hall, Aberdeenshire. In a Letter to the late Mr Nicot, Secretary. (Read 6th March 1810.) Ty April 1807, I sowed some drills of asparagus seeds, which succeeded very well. I had in- tended to: let the plants' stand two years in the seed-rows; ‘but in the third week in June 1808, inpreparing a pieceof ground fora late crop of peas, 1t occurred, (owing to my having been oftem unsuccessful in the planting of asparagus in spring, to try a drill of it at this uncommon season: ‘'Atcone side of this piece of ground, therefore,;Ijprepared‘a small stripe, with plenty of rotten dung, which was dug in to the depth of eighteen inches, and carefully mixed to the surface, In a drill four or five inches deep, I planted my asparagus, at that time twelve or fifteen inches high, at three inches apart ; keep- 4 no 72 HORTIGULTURAL MEMOIRS: ~ ing the tops perfectly upright, ‘and breaking or hurting the roots as little as possible. They were covered in with the spade, gently trod with the foot, and a good watering finished the ope- ration. Although no particular care was taken to keep the earth about the roots of the plants at the time, of taking them up, I hardly per- ceived them to flag, or sit up in their growth ‘a-single day. Iam certain that none of them died; and they surpassed, in the course of the summer, the plants that were left in the seed- rows. A Pa paras The following winter, ] put the whole piece of ground in preparation for the remainder of the seedlings, and about the end of March, I planted them in drills, four feet asunder, and three inches in the drill; but although due at- tention was paid to them in every respect, not one-half of them came forward; while those that were planted the preceding June, were making such progress that I could have cut some of them for use. The piece of ground consists of athin gravel- ly soil, with a large proportion of peat-moss in it, (perhaps two-thirds,) haying. been. the foundation of an old peat-stack. I am, &c. ON THE PLANTING OF SUMMER ASPARAGUS, 7.3 NOTE sy Mr Nicot. I can vouch for the correctness of this com- munication, having been at Keith-Hall in Octo- ber last, and having seen the asparagus in que- stion. I wrote Mr Smith in December last, re- questing a statement of the matter, in the shape of a communication to the Society. W.N, Leith Walk, i 2d March 1810. x 4, HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, 'Y. An Essay on-the Cultivation'of French Pears in’ Scotland, and on the best means of bringing in- to a bearing state full grown Fruit-Trees ; especially some of the finer sorts = reach Pears. By Mr James Suitu, Gardener to the Earl of Hope- toun, Ormiston Hall. (Read 4th September 1810.) Tuar the finer sorts of French pears cultivated in Scotland, in general yield but a very pr ecari- ous crop, is well known to every experienced gar- dener. Many elegant gardens have been made, and expensive walls built, with very little satis- faction, either to the proprietor or person that superintended them, especially in cultivating the finer sorts of French pears. How often is the table loaded with a profusion of fruit in the latter part of summer and the autumn months, but left with a very scanty supply in winter and spring, and frequently destitute of any. That there are a few places in this country, that have CULTIVATION OF FRENCH PEARS. 75 a tolerable supply, is an undeniable fact ; but it is evident, that a wide field is left open for the more effectual cultivation and improvement of the finer sorts of French pears. ‘To attain these important ends, and in some measure to afford the information required by the Caledonian Hor- ticultural Society, is the object of the following remarks ‘* on the best means of bringing into a * bearing state full grown fruit-trees, especially . “some of the finer sorts of French pears, which * though apparently in a very healthy and lux- “ uriant condition, are yet in a state of almost * total barrenness.”’ Keeping these ends in view, it will be neces- sary, in. the first place, To point out the cause of failure in cultivating the finer sorts of French pears: Secondly, The remedies to prevent the failure so generally complained of : and, Third- ly, The means for bringing full grown pear- tre¢s into a bearing state. Before proceeding farther, it may be neces- sary to observe, that the cultivation of French pears in this northern climate, should not be at- tempted without walls ; ; especially the finer sorts, which require the utmost care and attention to bring them to perfection. The following re- marks will therefore be entirely confined to the cultivation of that so much estecined fruit on walls, 76 _ HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Cause of failure of the finer sorts of French Pears. Tue cause of failure in the cultivation of the finer sorts of French pears, may either proceed’ from want of climate, improper soil, or injudi- cious pruning and training. From want of climate, gardens lnetls in high, cold, and late situations, are very improper for the finer sorts of French pears. If the soil be moderately good, the trees may grow with appa- rent luxuriancy, but in these bleak and elevated places, the spring is late ; the summer in gene- ral cold, and of short duration: there is a want of mild weather in the autumn, so requisite for ripening the fruit-buds for the suceeding sea- son; the wood indeed may be so far ripened as to stand the severly of the winter, and in the spring shew a few weak blossoms; but these never set kindly, and frequently end in total barrenness. The want of climate is often in- creased by placing trees on improper aspects, where sometimes the scanty crops may swell to a tolerable size; but after keeping the fruit some time, it gets shrivelled and hard, little su- perior in taste to the wood of the tree it grew upon. For many seasons, the crop will entirely fail, and still the trees may apparently be in a very healthy and luxuriant condition, although in a state of almost total barrenness. GULTIVATION OF FRENCH PEARS. 17 ‘But the cause of failure may proceed from improper soil. Thin gravel, steril sand or stiff clay, are equally pernicious to the finer sorts of French pears. On thin gravel, the trees may grow pretty freely ; but the fruit will be small, hard, cracked, and of little or no value. On poor sandy soil, the fruit is little better, because it does not receive proper nourishment. On stiff clay, the trees may make tolerable progress, and. shew a considerable quantity of blossom; but the fruit is generally kernelly, and ill shaped, and very inferior in quality. When the sub-soil is of any bad quality, as cankering irony gravel, corrosive sand, or wet spongy clay, means must be used to make a bottom to the fruit-tree borders, more congenial to the finer sorts of French pears. Such soils, or sub-soils, naturally point out the evil, with the necessity of applying a proper re- medy. The soil that requires more particular attention, is that which may be termed tolerably good: such a one I have had occasion to be concerned with ; it was moderately good, almost three feet deep, over a bottom of dry clay.. In ordinary seasons, the trees bore pretty fair crops of good quality; but in wet seasons, the fruit did not ripen, and the following spring, the scanty blossom seldom set into fruit, owing to a supera= bundance of moisture in the border, occasioned by the neighbouring ground having an almost imperceptible declivity that way; and the foun- / 78 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. dation of the wall being sunk a few inches into the clay; increased: the retention. Evencon rich black loamy soils, in low situations, with a retentive bottom, the trees are very liable to barrenness, although apparently in a healthy condition. Again, the cause of failure may proceed from improper pruning and training. Severe inju- dicious pruning in any of the kinds of fruit-trees, is very prejudicial to their bearing, and to none moreso, thanthe finer sorts of French pears, which, in. good soil, are naturally inclined to grow luxuriantly: When trees are not planted ata proper distance, the branches soon come in contact with other trees; their extremities are rendered weak, and their ‘vigour is exhausted by producing luxuriant. breast-wood. Many trees are neglected for the most part of the summer. season, without taking off the breast- wood, or nailing in the young shoots; and some of them, neglected from one winter dressing until another, ‘are often treated with contempt, and considered as hard, useless, and insignificant fruit, and obliged to give way to fruit of an in- ferior kind; while the very evil complained of, is augmented. by that indifference with which they are treated. - If they undergo a dressing in the autumn months, stumps are frequently left from half an inch to two finches long, ; which next season, produce two shoots for one: hence their luxuriancy is increased, their breast-wood CULTIVATION OF FRENCH PEARS. 79 becomes a mete thicket, intercepting the influence of the sun, air, and refreshing showers, robbing the fruit-spurs of their proper nourishment, drawing them out in a weakly state, which renders them almost useless, and the trees be- come a receptacle to insects and other vermin. It may as well be expected that a hedge which annually undergoes the operation of the shears, ot pruning-hook, will beara crop of seed, as that trees under such management will bear a crop of good fruit ; yet such trees will be in avery luxuriant condition, though in a state of almost total barrenness: Remedies to prevent the failure so generally com- plained of in cultivating the finer sorts of French pears. ' Wuen the cause of failure proceeds from want of climate, as will frequently happen in high, cold and late places, in such situations it would be highly improper to plant the Colmar, Virgouleuse, Chaumontelle, Winter Bonchretien, or other fine late pears: to supply their place, some of the best autumn pears sheuld be planted. on the best aspects, such as the Autumn’ Berga- mot, Muirfowl Egg, Swan Egg, &c. They will be longer in ripening, than in warmer situa- tions, and of course, keep longer for-a supply to the table. Where the climate is less bleak, the Chatalonne Bergamotte, Green Sugar, and Brown so HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Beurré may be planted. In moderate situations’ the Crasanne and St Germain will succeed well. Where the situation is good, the other fine late: pears should be planted, allowing them the best aspects, otherwise little good can be expected from them, evenin the most favourable situa- tions in this country. If the cause of failure proceeds from improper soil, it will be necessary to remove it at least three feet deep, the whole breadth of the border ; when the sub-soil should be carefully examined, and if it is of any bad quality, an impenetrable bottom must be made with a considerable de- clivity towards the walk in front of the border. Another consideration of importance, whtich re=. quires particular attention, is, that a border, si- tuated on a plain with a retentive subsoil, re- quires a different treatment from that placed on a declivity where the soil is permeable. In the former case, a good drain must be made in front next the walk, deeper than the bottom of the border, to receive the superabundant moisture- It may be necessary, when the adjacent ground has a declivity towards the border, to make an- other drain on the outside of the walk, to’ re- ceive the water before it approaches the border. In the latter case, where the soil is permeable ena declivity, draining will be unnecessary ; but as it is of such utility in cultivating French- CULTIVATION OF FRENE€H PEARS. 81 pears to have a dry bottom, draining should never be dispensed with, when there is the least risk of injuring the trees or the fruit, by neglecting it. _ Having removed the inconveniences of a per- nicious subsoil, and secured a dry bottom, the border should be made up withsoil prepared for that purpose. When the situation is low and naturally retentive; I would prefer a hazely co- loured loam, taken from banks or the borders of fields which remain unbroken by the plough. When the situation is on a declivity with a permeable bottom, strong loam is to be prefer- red: the most desirable is that taken from old pasture on the top of a clay soil. in either case, the more turf that can be got, so much the better; but it will be of considerable ad- vantage to lay the soil up for some months be- fore it be used, to be meliorated by the sun and air, and to rot the turf, turning it over at times, adding a quantity of good rotten dung, (prefer- ring old hot-bed dung, as more latitude can be used with it; owing to its exhausted state); breaking the turf, and blending the soil and dung well together, in the operation of turning. When the soil ts light loam, and not of any bad quality, it may only be necessary to remove a portion, and replace it with strong loam. In very stiff soil, ight loam will be of considerable advan- tage. _Inall cases, where wall-trees are to be re- VOL. I. ig 82 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. newed, the borders should always be trenched over, adding what new soil and manure may be necessary, which should be regulated according. to the nature of the soil, or other local circuin- stances. Some years ago, having occasion to renew a considerable extent of wall with young trees, I was under the necessity of deviating from the above method, owing to the means being put out of my power, and the work requiring to be done without loss of time. The method I took, was this: after removing the old soil three feet deep, a quantity of strong loam well mixed with dung, was put where each tree was to be planted, (about a yard in diameter.) The inter- vals between the trees, and for a considerable ex- tent in front of the wall, were filled up with fresh: turfs, packed one above another, to the ordinary level of the ground, and laid over with a few inches of soil, to make the surface level, and prevent the grass from rising. ‘The border was: trenched over the succeeding season, and a quan= tity of manure broke m amongst the turf; care was taken not to injure the roots of the young trees. The effect has been truly astonishing ; the trees are in the most thriving condition, and: bear crops of excellent fruit.—Although the above method has fully answered every expec- tation, and the trees are at present standing as an ecular demonstration, I would by no meahs: CULTIVATION OF FRENCH PEARS. 83 fecommend it in preference to the other, where a choice is left. | ; Regular pruning and training is likewise of great importance in the cultivation of the finer sorts of French’ pears. When ‘planted, they should always be allowed proper room for ex- tending their branches, to exhaust their luxu- riancy. The trees should be particularly attended to in the summet months, frequently looking them ovér, displacing all foreright and super- fluous shoots, pinching them off with the finget and thuntb, leaving the spurs about-two inches long on the last year’s wood 5; yet it may be ne- cessary in some Cases, to rub them off close, when care should be taken to injure the bark as little as possible. By these means, the trees will be kept in a regular state, and enjoy the benefit of the sun and air; the leading branches ‘will receive more nourishment, the young wood, and fruit- spurs, will be more properly ripened for insuring a crop of fruit the succeeding season, and a great deal of that’ severe pruning will be avoided, which is practised on neglected trees in the au- tumn and winter dressing. The knife should be used as little as possible, and only where it cannot be avoided, for shortening the branches, for a supply of young wood, where it is neces- sary, and thinning out any useless and worn out spurs, or fully retrenching any of the shoots that FQ 84: HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. were shortened in summer, which are not likely to set into fruit-spurs, with any damaged or worn ‘out branches. The trees should be regularly trained to the walls in the summer months, as they advance in growth, and undergo a proper regulation annually in the winter or spring, whether they are trained horizontally,. fan, half- fan, uptight, or pendulous. Much has been: said, both in favour of hori- zontal and fan training; but the method I generally practise, is different from both, or rather a medium betwixt the two;. and from experience, I have always found it. attended with. good success. In the spring after the young trees are planted, and at the time the buds begin to burst, the branches are headed down. to: four or five eyes; and in summer, two or three shoots are trained from each branch in a regular manner, laying the. first on each side horizontally at the bottom of the wall, and filling up the middle in form of a fan. The following winter, the young branches are cut back about one-half, less or more, ac- -cording to the strength of the tree, training two or three shoots from each the succeeding sum- mer. By the third season, if all has gone on well, the trees will have made considerable progress. In the winter training, the trees should be care- fully examined: beginning at the bottom of CULTIVATION OF FRENCH PEARS. 85 the wall, lay the first branch on each side hori- zontally, at full length, proceeding upwards at the distance of from eight to twelve inches, ac- cording to the size of the wood, foliage and fruit. Train the remaining branches likewise at full length, making them rise ina circular direc- tion from the centre of the tree, until they are at the distance above specified ; and then train them horizontally. When the branches are 400 much crowded, retrench the weakest, re- serving four or five in the centre, which are to be cut back and trained in the fan form; and from these, two or three shoots may be allowed to rise. By this means, four or five pair of bran- ches will be added to the height of the tree, which are to be trained in the same circular manner as before, until they arrive at width enough for ta- king the horizontal direction. The centre bran- ches are to be shortened, as in the preceding win- ter, and so on, until the tree approaches the top, and you leave remaining only what shoots may be necessary to fill the wall. ‘The upper bran- ches take only a gentle curve before they are laid horizontal, to prevent the wall from having a naked appearance at the centre towards the top of the tree; allowing the next pair of bran- ches below, to have a longer curve, but not so much as to make it disagreeable to the eye. Trees trained in this manner, seem less subject to luxuriancy, than those trained in most other F3 86 - - HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. methods; the strength being more equally di- vided amongst the branches, the wall is gene- rally filled ina very few years, and the trees are sooner brought to a state of bearing. The means for bringing full grown pear-trees into a bearing state. As the barrenness of full grown pear-trees proceeds from different causes, owing either to their local situation, or former manner of treat- ment, it will be of great importance, before the. application of any remedy, to ascertain the cause from whence the unfruitfulness proceeds, which may be from one or more of the circumstances already mentioned, under the head of the cause of failure of the finer sorts of French pears. When the barrenness of. full grown pear- trees proceeds from want of climate, they must either be cut back and grafted with some other sorts that will ripen properly, or be entirely re- moved, to give place to others more suitable to the situation. But as grafting is of such import- ance, and the only means to bring full grown trees into a state of bearing in such a situation, it should never be omitted, as by putting grafts on the branches, the wall will be covered, and the trees brought to a bearing state in one-third of the time required to rear young plants. I have. | Le oe CULTIVATION OF FRENCH PEARS. 87 frequently found the flavour of fruit much im- proved, by grafting on old trees ; and they sel. dom fail of producing a good crop. With respect to luxuriant trees placed on im- proper aspects, I have ever found, that the best remedy applicable in such cases, where the sorts were to be preserved, (even on trees of consi- derable magnitude, ) is to have them carefully taken up and removed to more proper situations. The effect of such treatment is of considerable advantage, as it checks the luxuriancy, and brings the trees into a full bearing state ina short time. Where such trees are not wanted, they should be cut back and grafted, as in the case of want of climate. When the climate and aspect are good, the barrenness must either proceed from the soil, or manner of pruning and training. When the soil is of a stiff quality, with a re- tentive bottom, proper draining will be essen- tially necessary, to carry off the superabundant moisture; the border should be trenched, remoy- ing any pernicious soil, adding a proportion of good loam and manure, which should be stronger or lighter, according as the nature of the origi- nal soil or the situation requires; at the same time, the roots of the trees should be considera- bly shortened, and this should be done in a neat manner, witha gentle slope from the under side, to prevent any wetness from lodging onthe wound. : F 4 88 ‘HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, if any of the principal roots run right down: ward, every method ought to be adopted that can be used with propriety, to get them removed. By these means, the luxuriant shoots will be checked, and turned into fruit-spurs ;' the roots will put forth anew into the kindly soil, and the benefit will soon appear evident, by the fruitful- ness of the trees. When the soil is inclined to gra- vel or sand, aconsiderable quantity of strong loam and manure should be added, the want of which is easily perceptible, in the fruit being small and hard; although when, on such soils, I have found very luxuriant trees in a state of almost total barrenness, it was more to be ascribed to im- proper pruning, than to the nature of the soil. When the barrenness proceeds from improper training, or pruning, different remedies will be necessary, according as the var ious Cases require. In some cases, where the trees are too much crowded, the inferior ones must be cleared away, to give place to the principals, to extend their branches, and exhaust their luxuriancy. But frequently when the trees are allowed to remain crowded for any length of time, the extremities of the branches become weak, and seldom grow freely; it will therefore be necessary, to shorten back the branches to the first well placed shoots, which should be trained to the wall as leaders ; or where such shoots cannot be found, cut back the branches to some bud or joint, that has CULTIVATION OF FRENCH PEARS. 89 the appearance of putting forth good shoots, to be trained for leaders to the branches, and in summer, the breast-wood should be carefully removed from time to time, that the trees may reap the benefit of the sun, air, and refreshing showers. When any trees are wanted, if the situa- tion is good, and the sort suitable, some of these crowded trees may be replanted with safe- ty, if not tooold. I have frequently removed trees that were extended twenty-four feet, by eighteen high ; some of them were carried seve- ral miles, and are now doing well, and in a full bearing state, although they were formerly in a very luxuriant condition and in a state of almost total barrenness. When full grown pear-trees are allowed to exhaust themselves in luxuriant breast-wood, the case is very bad indeed, and requires a severe operation to remedy the evil, which must gene- rally be applied to both branches and roots. Some that are not too far gone, may be remedied by shortening the roots properly, and pruning off the stubs from whence the luxuriant breast-wood proceeds, retaining every part that has the ap- pearance of setting into fruit-spurs ; and by at- tending to the removal of the breast-wood in the summer months, the trees will be brought to a bearing state. , 90 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. When trees are so far gone that they cannot be treated in the above manner, with any prospect of success, the next remedy is to cut the trees down, and train them anew. The cutting should be re- gulated according to circumstances, as in some it may be convenient to cut them, during the lat- ter part of winter, or in the spring months, to within a little of where they were originally grafted. Others may be left to a greater length ; but in all cases it will be necessary to apply some soft paste, that will adhere to the wounds, to exclude the external air, and prevent any water from lodging and rotting the tree. The fol- lowing summer, the trees should be carefully at- tended to, displacing all superfluous shoots, training a sufficient quantity to the wall, and nailing them in from time to time, as they ad- vance in growth. ‘Trees renewed in this man- ner, fill the walls in a very short time; and, when judiciously managed, seldom fail of pro- ducing good crops of excellent fruit. I cuta Cresan pear-tree down in the above manner, on the 5th of May 1804; it now covers a wall sixteen feet high, and is at present (August -1810), twenty-eight feet betwixt the extremi- ties of the branches, and in a full bearing state. When trees undergo any of the above opera- tions, it will be necessary to pay attention to the borders, adding what new soil or manure may be necessary, examining the roots of the trees, CULTIVATION OF FRENCH PEARS. 91 and shortening them as the nature of the case may require. Thus may full grown pear-trees be brought to a bearing state in a short time, although bar- yen in the utmost state of luxuriance. When the trees are free of canker, they should not be grubbed up unless in the very last extremity, as by proper attention to climate and situation, there are few cases that may not be remedied if treated in a judicious manner. DMS DAVWITDIV 4 LIST of some of the principal French Pears. 4. Poire Hativeau, or Hasting pear, or Green Chisel. 2. Citron des Carmes. 3. Gros Blanquet, Great Blanket. 4. Musk Blanquet, Little Blanket. 5. Fleur de Guigne, Flower of Guigne, Early Russelet, or Skinless. 6. Cassolette, Friolet, or Green Muscat. 7. Muscat d’Aoust, August’ Muscat, or Averat. 8. Boncrétien dEté, Summer Boncretien. 9. Longueville, Varieties Green and Grey ; supposed French, being found about Old Abbeys | in Scotland. 10. Poire de Prince, Prince’s pear. 98 -. HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. #11. Le Doyenné, or The Dean’s pear. 12. Bergamotte d’Eté, Summer or Hamden’s Ber- gamot. .13. Bergamotte d’Au- tomne, Autumn Bergamot. + 14. Jargonelle, English Cuisse Madame. 15. Cuisse Madame, Common EnglishJ argonelle. + "16. Moiille-bouche, Mouth-water pear. 17. Bergamotte de Suisse, Swiss Bergamot. * This pear is particularly described by Richard Anthony Salisbury, Esq. F. R. S, in a paper presented to the London Horticultural Society ; and he recommends it as proper for high situations, particularly for the higher parts of Yorkshire. ' The horticulturists in Scotland are also under an obligation to that gentleman, for bringing it under their notice. He says, “I have no hesitation in recommending it to our fel- “* Jow-labourers in Edinburgh.” This pear is not unknown in Scotland, having been cultivated in some gardens for a considerable length of time: its being now recommended by so eminent a horticulturist, may probably, however, be the means of making it be more generally attended to. + It is somewhat curious, that the pear which in Britain is called the Cuisse Madame, is the French Jargonelle; and that the British Jargonelle, is the French Cuisse Madame. ¢ All the above kinds may occasionally be planted as stand, ards in very good situations, and will yield crops in favourable seasons ; but a proportion of Jargonelle pears should always be planted on walls, even in the best situations, for coming early, and thus prolonging the season of that excellent pear. The Autumn Bergamot, may likewise be planted on an east or west aspect, in case of the failure of those on standards. 18. 19. LEST OF FRENCH PEARS. - 93 Bergamotte de Hol- lande, OR Bergamotte de Cha- tallonne, . Bergamotte de Bugi, . Bergamotte Cra- sanfie, - Messire Jean, . Beurré rouge, . Sucré vert, . Louisebonne, . Saint Germain, . Poire de Colmar, . Poire de Livre, . L’Eschasserie, . La Virgouleuse, . Epine d’Hiver, . Besi de Cassoy, . La Pastorelle. . Boncrétien d’Hiver, . Catillac, . Uvedale’s St Ger- main, - Besi de Chaumon- telle, . Poire d’Auch . Poire du Rousselet, . Rousselet d’Hiver, 41. Fin or d’Hiver, The Holland Bergamot. Gansel’s Bergamot. Easter Bergamot. Cresan. Monsieur John. Red Butter Pear ; varieties’ Green, Grey, and Golden. Green Sugar. Good Louisa pear. The St Germain. The Colmar pear. The Pound pear. The Long Green. Chambrette or Ice pear. Winter Thorn. The wilding of Cassoy- Winter Boncretien. Cadillac. Union pear. The wilding of Chaumon- telle. Brought from France by the late Duke of North- umberland ; a fine pear. Great Russelet, or King of Summer. Winter Russelet. Golden End of Winter. GA HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS; nee eekly) | The four following pears, althougl not rank- ed among French pears, are found particularly useful on walls, especially in high situations in Scotland, where the other finer sorts do not ripen properly, ; 1. Green Yair. 2. Muirfowl Egg. 3. Swan’s Egg. 4. Winter Auchan. It may, however, be remarked of the Muir- fowl Ege, and Winter Auchan, that when planted as standards, they produce not only bet- ter crops, but fruit of a higher flavour, ON GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLARS, &c. OF VI. On Gooseberry Caterpillars, and on the Maggots that infest Onions. By Mr Joun Macmurray, Nurseryman. (Read 6th March 1810.) Osservine that the Caledonian Horticultural Society has requested information respecting “the best method of preventing or destroying “‘ the caterpillar on gooseberries,’’ I beg leave to submit some observations on the former of these subjects ; for prevention is certainly bet- ter thancure. I may premise, that my observa- tions are founded on actual experience. - I shall .first mention a preventive of a very simple kind, but which I have found efficacious. In autumn, let a quantity of cow-urine be pro- vided ; and let a little be poured around the stem: of each bush, as much as suffices merely to moist- en the ground. This simple expedient has suc= ceeded to admiration ; and its prophylactic vir- . 96 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. tues have seemed to extend to two successive years. The bushes which were treated in this manner, remained free of caterpillars; while those that were neglected, or intentionally pass- ed over, in the same compartment, were totally destroyed by the depredations of the insects. I have next to state another mode of preven- tion, equally simple, and equally efficacious ; but the salutary effects of which extend only to the’ season immediately following the application. Collect as much drift sea-weed from the beach, when opportunity occurs, as will cover the goose- berry compartment to the depth of four or five inches. Lay it on inautumm.. Let this cover- Ing remain untouched during the winter and early spring months. As the season advances, dig it m. ‘Fhis plan has answered my most sanguine expectations ; no caterpillars ever in- festing the compartment treated with sea-weed. _ The rationale of the operation of these substan- ces, when applied to the soil around the roots’ of gooseberry-bushes, I leave to speculative in- quirers. lam rather uncertain as to the particular spe-_ cies of caterpillar which commits the greatest ravages on the gooseberry-buslr. ‘Two species very generally occur; the Linnean names of the moths produced from which, are, Phalzna: Wavaria, and Ph. grossulariata. _My ownexpe- rience would: lead me to conclude, that the first ON GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLARS, &c. 97 of these species is the most common and the most destructive. Though it would appear, from the observa- tions of naturalists, that not a few lepidopterous insects pass the chilly months of winter in the pupa state; yet an equal number lie concealed in the egg, which has been carefully deposited by the parent insect, where the genial influence ~ of the Sun will early call the caterpillar into ac- tion. A number of caterpillars, however, also retire into the earth, and remain there in the pupa state, until the return of spring excites to hew changes and exertions. What has now been stated seems to render it probable, that the beneficial effects derived from covering the gooseberry compartment with sea- weed, may depend on the strong effluvia arising from the putrefactive fermentation of the sea- weed, proving destructive to the ova of the moth which may remain imbedded in any of the crevices of the bark near the root ; or on the saline properties of that substance sinking into the earth, and hindering the fertility of the ova deposited there. T observe, that information is also wanted con- ‘cerning the Magget in Onions.—This animal may, in my opinion, be considered as a non- descript, and peculiar to the onion and shallot. The Allium Cepa, or onion, is a native of Spain. WOn.Ur. G 98 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. It is natural to expect, that the soil and climate of this country, should not be very congenial to this plant; and it follows, that the value and quality of our crops of onions, must always, in a great measure, depend on favourable seasons, and the selection of a suitable soil. If the season be dry and parching, and the soil of itself incapable of supplying the fibres with a proper and equable degree of nourish- ment, the plant becomes languid, assumes a sickly hue, and generally dies. When, on the other hand, the season is very rainy, I am inclined to believe, that the fibres get clogged with moisture, and the vegetable not being able to absorb it, it centres about the bulb ; mouldiness succeeds to damp, and pro- duces an ulceration which works its way to the inner core. This, of course, effectually destroys the onion. I have always remarked, that whenever the onion becomes diseased, it is liable to the attack of the maggot. I could never detect this maggot in the soil : it is therefore highly probable, that the eggs are deposited in the root, and may be hatched in. greatest numbers when the plant is in a sickly state. I do not think that the maggot ever passes from one onion to another. And any remedy sufficiently powerful to destroy the in- sect, must inevitably destroy the onion itself. Ocean ON GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLARS, &c. 99 _ Inthese circumstances, the horticulturist per- haps does all that is in his power, if he be duly careful, to select for his crop of onions, those soils and situations that are most likely to resist the various common incidents of season, peculiar to this very variable climate, and containing such eligible food, and in such proportions, as this bulbous esculent requires. The maggot which attacks the Carrot, I may remark, is certainly to be found in the soil, and visibly enters from without. I conclude, for the present, with observing, that worms and insects in general are driven from their retreats under ground, by. pouring bitter or acrid water upon it; such as water in which green walnuts have been steeped, or a lye made from potashes. Stranraer, ’ 13th February 1810. f Gg 100 HORTICULTURAL MEMORRS.. VII. Account of the Caterpillers that infest Gooseber- - ry-Bushes, and the best Method of Destroying them. By Mr Joun Gus, Linton. (In‘a Letter to Mr Nem, Secretary.) (Read 4th September 1810.) SIR, Ix compliance with your desire, I now give you a short account of the methods I have found most effectual, for the destruction of the seve- _ ral kinds of gooseberry-caterpillars. These caterpillars ave of three kinds, viz. the large Black, the Green, and the White, ee last, are comparatively of a small size. During the winter months, the large or black kind, may be observed lying in clusters onthe un- der parts, and in the crevices of the bushes; and even at this season, (Feb.) I find them in that state. ON GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLARS. 101 In the course of eight or ten days, however, if the weather be favourable, they will creep up in the day-time, feed on the buds, and return to their nest during the night. Whenever leaves appear upon the bushes, they feed upon them till they arrive at maturity, which is generally in the month of June; after which, they creep down upon the Bak sides of the branches, where they lodge till the crust or shell is formed over them. In July they become moths, and. lay their eggs on the under sides of the leaves, and of the bark. The produce of these eggs, coming into life during the month of September, feed on the leaves so long as they are green, and afterwards gather together in clusters on the un- der side of the branches, and in crevices of the bark, where they remain all the winter, as al- ready said.— Winter is the most proper time for attacking this sort with success, as their destruc- tion is most effectually accomplished by the simple operation of pouring a quantity of boil- ing hot water upon them, from a watering- pan, while no injury is thereby done to the bushes. The second, or green sort, are at present (Feb- ruary) in the shelly state, lying about an inch under ground. In April they come out small flies, and immediately lay their eggs on the veins and under sides of the leaves, These eggs pro- duce young caterpillars in May, which feed on Gs 102 HORTICULTURAL’ MEMOIRS. the leaves till June or July, when they cast a blackish kind of skin, and afterwards crawl down from the bushes into the earth, where a crust or. shell. grows over them, and in that state, they continue till the following April. The only method which I have hitherto found effectual for destroying these, is, 1st, To dig the ground, around the bushes very deep during the winter season, by which means, the greater part of them are destroyed, or buried too deep ever to pene- trate to the surface: Qdly, In April, when the flies make their appearance, to pick. off all the leaves on which any eggs are observable; this is a tedious operation, but may be done by chil- dren. Ifany of the enemy should eseape both these operations, they will be discernible as soon as they come to life, by their eating holes through the leaves, and may then easily be de- stroyed, without the least injury to the bushes or fruit. . The white kind, otherwise called Borers, are — not so numerous as the other kinds, though very destructive. They bore the berry, and cause it to drop off. ‘They preserve themselves during the winter season, in the chrysalis state, about an inch under ground, and become flies nearly at the same time with the last mentioned kind. They lay their eggs on the blossoms, and these eggs produce young caterpillars in May, which feed on the berries till they are full grown, and ON GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLARS. 103 then creep down into the earth, where they re- main for the winter in the shelly state. Thus have I given you a concise account of the best methods I have yet discovered for de- stroying these destructive vermin, to be com- municated to the Horticultural Society. I have tried many other methods, but found none so effectual as those above mentioned, which are recommended by this advantage, that they in- jure neither the bush nor the fruit. The same thing cannot be said of tobacco-liquor, snuff, and soap-suds, which always render the fruit bitter and ill-tasted; and which, whatever affect they may have upon the smaller kind of caterpillars, { am certain have none upon the larger kinds. Soot, lime, and lime-water, do not affect any species of caterpillar whatever, as I have prov- ed by repeated experiments. Iam, &c. Linton, \ 27th February 1810. G4 104 ~ HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. VIII. A short Account of' the state of the Fruit-Trees on the Garden-IValls at Loanwells near Kirk- caldy, from the time of their being planted in 1792, to the 1st June 1810; intended to it- lustrate a method of destroying the Caterpil- lars infesting Fruit-Trees. © By Mr Epwarp Sane, Nurseryman. (Read 5th June 1810.) For the first seven years after the planting of my fruit- trees on Loanwells garden- walls, they made a most promising progress. But after this period, they became by degrees overrun with caterpillars, chiefly, 1 believe, of Phalzena aspe- rana, which regularly made their appearance at the time of leafing. The leaves were rolled up, and cemented with a glutinous substance ; the caterpillar was lodg- ed in the heart of the leaf, rolled up in a kind of imperfect cobweb, something like spiders. DESTROYING FRUIT-TREE CATERPILLARS. 105 work ; and in this manner committed wonder: ful depredations. Many of the buds never expanded, espe- cially the fruit-buds, which having produced the foot-stalk of the young apple, the corolla never opened : it held the larva within it, which generally ate a hole down through the heart of the expected fruit, and so completed its destruc- tion. Year after year, even so late as the first or second week of June, many of my wall-trees ex- hibited an appearance more like January than midsummer. After the depredations of the ca- terpillars were over, and when these had entered the chrysalis state, the trees made vigorous ef- forts to supply what had been destroyed, and generally produced a great profusion of breast- wood. ‘This circumstance arose in some mee- sure, from the moths, asthey came out, chusing in preference to deposit their eggs in the flower- buds. In spring 1805, I had recourse to fresh- water, which I threw upon the trees, with as much violence as a hand force-pump was capable of ; but from the worm being rolled up in the blos- som, it was defended from moisture, which other- wise seems destructive to it, and I did little or no good by this application. In spring 1806, I attempted their destruction by soot. After. having wetted the trees by 106 HORTICULTURAL ‘MEMOIRS. means of a force-pump, I applied the soot with a bellows, containing it in a hooper attached to the pipe, with proper holes in the upper part. By this instrument, I had the soot properly ap- plied, and I flattered myself that I now had hit upon the means of destroying the caterpil-- lar completely ;. but 1 found myself again dis- appointed. i After a great deal of trouble, and much ex- pence, my trees still wore a sickly appearance, excepting that the breast-wood was always abun- dant. I now found my difficulties increased, my trees rendered unfruitful, and yet producing a profusion of fore-right shoots. I had formerly experienced. the good effects of cutting the roots of fruit-trees which were too luxuriant in their growth, and had one of the trees laid open for this operation, in the season 1807—8. The roots were large, but with few fibres; I found it necessary to shorten them, not only to stop the rambling growth complain- ed of above, but to furnish the tree with pro- per feeders, in order to render it fruitful, in case of getting the better of the caterpillar. In. this operation, I observed, upon examination, that the ‘soil was deficient of a proper: quantity of animal substance. I consequently set about ma- king up this deficiency. | In 1807 and 1808, fodder was very scarce, and many old horses killed. 1 availed myself DESTROYING FRUIT-TREE CATERPILLARS, 107 of this circumstance, and collected all the dead horses Icould procure in the neighbourhood, and I soon found myself master of above twenty carcases. I had the trees on my east and south aspects treated as follows: A circular trench was made about three feet distant from the trunk, and so deep as to cut every root through : into this trench was put half a horse at least, divided into proper pieces, and covered up. ‘The following spring, however, the cater- pillars were not in the least diminished. In spring 1809, I resorted to tobacco-liquor, and I found every worm which it could get at with the force-pump destroyed ; but they are so well protected from any liquid, that but lit- tle was done in this way towards their destruc- tion *. ) Owing to the severe treatment above descri- bed, and the depredations of the caterpillars, no fruit was produced: my trees, however, looked quite green and healthy. In August and September, I found the moths very numerous, flying about’ my trees; I was certain, that they must deposite their eggs at this * The result of the experiments with the tobacco-liquor, was communicated to Mr Walter Nicol, in a letter dated the 29th November 1809, which has been since published by him in his Villa Garden Directory, and Gardener's Kalene dar. 108 . +») ..HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, season, because at no. other do they exist. Cer- tain also of their being deposited, upon or in the fruit and wood buds, I thought, if a proper liquor could be procured, sufficiently pungent and deleterious, to kill them, and not to injure the trees, I might yet have a crop of fruit. Cheered with the hope of having a reward for — seventeen years application, I set about this last operation with alacrity. _ In the beginning of January last, 1810,-I took five lbs. of flowers of sulphur, three Ibs. soft soap, one lb. potash, four pints very strong to- bacco-liquor, (the expence of all which is but trifling), and made up the mixture to ten pints, with fresh-water; I put the mixture on the fire in a pot, and, when as intimately mixed as possible, I applied it in a lukewarm state, with a painter’s small brush so as not to miss a single bud; and potful after potful was mixed up, till I had washed thirty-four full grown wall-trees, apple, pear, and cherry. Several trees which | had been dressed with horse-flesh as above, were left unbrushed, that they might be compared with those which had been washed, This application has at last proved successful : and now, on the Ist of June, I must say that no money that I ever laid out, yielded me so much | pleasure, nor gave me such a prospect of profit. My trees, which had for many years exhibited an appearance of barrenness, are now full of most DESTROYING FRUIT-TREE CATERPILLARS. 109 healthy well-spread flowers, the stamina with fine anthere upon them, quite bold ; nota single apple-tree on the whole wall so washed, being bar- _ren, and the cherries and pears set quite thick. I have had visits from a number of profession- al men this spring, who have expressed their ad- miration of the trees so treated. It is proper to add, that those which were left unwashed, are nearly as usual, full of caterpillars, which I fear will resist my utmost efforts to reduce them at this season. I have applied tobacco-liquor in its strongest state : it has had a good effect, but still the power that they have to resist every liquid, remains as an insuperable bar to their entire de- struction, unless it be applied with a brush. I used twenty-five lbs. sulphur, and a corre- sponding quantity of the other ingredients for thirty-four trees. The soap and_tobacco-li- quor, gave a tenacity to the mixture, so as to | hold the particles of the liquor apart, while the potash penetrates deep into the buds and bark, and destroys the eggs which produce the worm, and consequently destroys the glutinous matter which prevents the leaves and flowers from ex- -panding. | I attribute the present healthy appearance | of my trees, entirely to the above application. The cutting of the roots has thrown them into a profusion of flowers, while the wash has destroy- ed the destroyers of my fruit and trees. Iam | 410 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS: - therefore fully satisfied of the exellence of this. . wash; and must say, that I neversaw any thing applied to fruit-trees, nearly so effectual for de- stroying this kind of caterpillars. : Another good effect.of the wash may be stated. Six of the apple trees mentioned; have been for the last eleven years, much injured by mildew ; but at this time there is hardly an infected leaf to be seen. Kirkcaldy, \ ist June 1810: ON THE CULTURE OF ONIONS. 11? IX. Observations on the culture of Onions, and parti- cularly on the advantages to be derived by trans- planting them from a seed-bed into regular rows at a proper distance from each other. By Mr James Macponatp, Gardener to His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Dalkeith. (Communicated 3d December 1811.) "Exe Onion, a well known root, is in this country in common use among persons of almost every description; and on that account, every improve- ment upon the culture of it may be considered as a matter of some consequence. From this consi- deration, I think it may not be improper to com- municate to the Horticultural Society some ob- servations on this subject. The method which I am to recommend, is not merely speculative ; for I have employed it with manifest advantage during four successive years; and have found from experience, that it not only produces ex~ cellent onions, but effectually prevents any de- 112 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS: struction of the root, either by worms or by rot. As the ground which I cultivate in the way of garden, is a light thin soil, it is not so favour- able for the production of onions as many other soils. This led me to make many different ex- periments, and I am happy to say, that I found the following method far exceed my most san- ~ guine expectations. | In the end of February 1808, I sowed my ge- neral crops of onions ; and in each break I left one bed unsown. I pointed over the empty beds, and then drew, in each bed, which was four feet and a half in breadth, six small drills. I then thinned out my young onion plants, and having prepared puddle, consisting of one part of soot, and three parts of earth, mixed with a suf- ficient quantity of water, I took the young plants and dipt the whole of the roots in this puddle. I then transplanted them irito the drills, at the distance of four or five inches from each other. A moist day is preferable for this work 3 and when that is the case; the vegetation seems to be in no degree retarded by their being’ moved. Nothing farther is afterwards wanted, but to keep the beds free from weeds, by hoeing with a small hoe between the rows as soon as weeds appear. . ~ Proper hoeing seems to promote the growth of the. onions;.and by the end.of August or ON THE CULTURE OF ONIONS. 118 September, those treated in this manner, will far exceed those which are not transplanted, both in quality and in size. I also found them en-— tirely free both from worm and from rot, while those which were left in the seed-bed, were a good deal infested in both these ways. In the end of January 1809, I again sowed my onion crops, making a still greater reserve of ground, by interlining the beds, sowing one, and leaving another unsown. In April I pointed over the empty beds, and transplanted the onions in the same manner as formerly mentioned. This trial was attended with equal success. ‘The crops of transplanted onions, far exceeded the others, both in quality and size. . In the beginning of March 1810, I again sow- ed my onion crops, leaving a still greater reserve of ground for transplanting, nearly a quarter of an acre. ‘This trial wasattended with equal success as the two former. In the transplant- ed onions, there was not the least appearance of worm or rot; and they swelled at least one- half larger than those whieh were not trans- planted. Indeed they were equal in size to the best Spanish onions; heavier for their balk, and firmer. They had also a more pungent taste than is in general observed in Spanish onions. VOL. T. ah 114 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. The seeds employed, were those most com- monly used about Edinburgh ; chiefly the Stras- ‘burg and Reading onion. All the kinds employ- ed, succeeded equaily well when transplanted. After these repeated trials, I have no doubt, that the cultivation of onions, by transplanting, is an important improvement ; and will be be- ‘neficial to the community. It wiil, 1am con- vinced, be attended with less expence, and more profit than the ordinary mode of culture. The transplanting may be performed by boys or ‘girls, who will do as much of this work as any man can do in the same time, and at much low- er wages. This method has the advantage of ‘permitting the clearing away of weeds, by hoe- ing in place of hand-weeding, which is in every respect much more beneficial to the growth of the plants. Besides this, a few beds of thick ‘sown onions, may furnish plants for as many acres. ‘The ground to be planted, may be under winter or spring crops, and it will be sufficient to clear it of these, by the end of April, or the ‘beginning of May, when the transplanting is to take place. Those growing in the seed-beds, will, in the mean time, afford the necessary sup- ply, either for the family or market. The advantages of this mode of cultivating onions, like many other things in gardening, re- ON THE CULTURE OF ONIONS. 115 quires only practice and perseverance to afford conviction to every one. And Iam happy to say, that many practical and amateur garde- ners, who have seen the crops in Dalkeith Park, are fully convinced of these advantages; and I take this opportunity of presenting to the Caledonian Horticultural Society, a few of my onions, as a sample of the generai size. a 116 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. NOTE. Tue onions alluded to in the preceding paper, sent by Mr Macdonald, were much admired by all the members who were present at the meeting. The Committee for Prizes, unanimously voted to Mr Macdonald an extra medal for his communication ; and it was thought advisable, that it should be printed in the first Number of the Memoirs, that every garde- ner may have it in his power, to try the mode of culti- . vation which he has recommended, during the ensuing season. It will give much satisfaction to the Society, if those who make trials, will communicate the result to Mr Neill, Secretary. COVERING THE SOIL IN HOT-BEDS, &c. 117 X. COMMUNICATIONS From Mr Henpzrson, Brechin Castle. (Read 4th Septeniber 1810.) 1. Directions for covering the soil in Hot-beds, Pineries, &c. For this purpose, lay on the surface fine drifted river or sea sand, three inches deep. This co- _» vering possesses many advantages. It will extir- pate the slater or wodd-louse, as the nature of the sand prevents the insect from concealing itself from the rays of the sun. In dung hot-beds, it keeps down the steam. ‘To fruit, it affords a bed as warm and as dry as tiles or slates. This _ Covering also retains the moisture in the earth longer than any other; and is itself sooner dry. It gives the Houses a clean neat appearance, and. though it cannot be expected to remove the in- fection where already introduced, will be found. a poweriul preventive of that great evil mils dew. VOL, Is q 118 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, 2. Observations on the sowing of early small seeds. ‘Ir appears to be a fact, that the produce of _ some small seeds, is connected with the time of sowing. Six yeats ago, I sowed on the flower border in front of our hot-houses, about 140 dif- ferent kinds of annuals, allowing to each a patch of earth, and tallying them. In the other bor- ders and shrubbery, I sowed the same kinds with equal care, and gave each patch about half a. spadeful of compost dung. Of the first sowing, all the kinds grew except about five or six; of the second, not ten different kinds appeared in all our extensive borders. It happened, that, at the time of the first sowing, there was.a field in the park laid down in grass, and at the time of the second, another was laid down with equai — care. In the first, the clover was complained | of as too abundant ;. in the second, there was no clover at all, except about the head ridges.’ Sixteen years ago, I observed the very same re- sult in an early and a later sowing of lucern. The natural course in these instances, would be to lay the blame on the seeds, and complain of the merchant; but it turns out, that the seed in these cases were taken from the same bags. There must therefore be some other cause of the failure of the latest sowing, and it will be found in the relation of the time of sowing, to the production of those insects which. de- ON SOWING EARLY SMALL SEEDS. 119 stroy the seed-leaf of the plant. Insects are not produced, as is vulgarly imagined, by the east wind, but proceed from eggs, chrysalides, &c. deposited the former year. At certain seasons, provided the weather is warm, these insects are produced in astonishing numbers. It is worthy of observation, that plants suf- fer most severely, when frost succeeds a few days of warm weather. The warmth first hatches the insect; the cold checks vegeta- tion, and retains the plant in the seed leaf; and by this, is the young brood supported. In weather of this sort, the annual.weeds of the same age with these early plants, will be observed in the same manner perforated and cut down. An angler must imitate the flies which are hatched at their respective seasons; and on his attention to this branch of his art, depends in a great measure his success. As different insects are hatched at different periods in the season, it will be of advantage to regulate the time of sowing in such a manner, that the vege- tation of the seed, and the birth of its enemy, -may not meet together. In all the cases above mentioned, early sowing was advantageous. ‘here are crops, however, which do not admit of this precaution, and for them proper antidotes are to be sought. In turnips which are so frequently lost in the seed- IQ 120 - HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. leaf, I have found, that the expedient of dusting the ground with soot, deserves more attention than it receives. . It should be employed ina damp motning ; and when rain falls soon after the operation, it will be needful to go over the ground a second time., For field turnip, a box might be fixed on the roller to sow the soot with the seed, or a machine might be formed for dust- ing the plant when it is in the seed-leaf. For garden turnip, the best machine is the hand. Brechin, } 28th August 1810. ©N THE VARIETIES OF THE SCOTCH FIR. 19] XI. On the var ieties of the Pinus siloestris, or Scots Fir. By Mr Grorae Don, Forfar. Communicated in a Letter to Mr P. NEILL. (Read 5th March 1811.) IT am not acquainted with the latitude of subjects your Horticultural Society means to embrace ; but I trust the following observations on the Pinus silvestris of Linneus, the well known Scots Fir, may not be unworthy of its notice. One would be apt to think that little new were to be expected concerning the history or qualities of a tree that is not only indigenous to our country, but has been cultivated among us from time immemorial; especially after an ex- cellent monograph on the genus Pinus, by a first- rate botanist and observer, Aylmer Brook Lam- bert, Esq; F. R. S. and a Vice-President of the 3 122 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Linnean Society, published not longer ago than the year 1803. During the winter of 1810, when walking in some woods in the neighbourhood of Forfar, composed of Scotch Fir, for the purpose of col- lecting mosses and lichens, my attention was withdrawn from these humble tribes, by ob- serving the very dissimilar appearances of diffe- rent trees, of what botanists consider as one species of Pinus, the Pinus silvestris. Afier examining a great number of trees, I became satisfied that it is possible to distinguish in our plantations, at least fowr varieties; and one of these indeed is of so fixed and marked a character, that it may probably be entitled to rank as a species. It seems somewhat curious, that in Dr Smith’s Flora Britannica, jn Hull’s British Flora, and in Withering’s Arrangement,—while perhaps not fewer than six or seven varieties of some species of plants, not of the least known eco- nomical use or importance, are enumerated,— not one variety of the Pinus silvestris should be noticed. It may here be proper fo state, that lately, while observing the cutting down of a fir plan- tation, near Forfar, I was not a little surprised at the great difference in the size, and conse- quently the value, of some of the trees in com- parison with others of the same species, the dif- ON THE VARIETIES OF THE SCOTCH FIR. 128 - ference in value being not less than four times that of others, and in some individual trees ex- ceeding six times. I was ata loss to account for this fact, as the trees were growing promiscuous- ly in the same soil and situation, and had been equally thinned. On more minutely examining those trees that far exceeded the others in size, I perceived that they were all of that variety which I have suggested as probably entitled to rank as a species. About a month ago, I re-examined the varie- ties of the Pinus silvestris, in order to collect some cones of each variety for seed ; and I was then led to examine them with considerable care, I think the following remarks may tend to distinguish and characterize the different vazie- ties, Var. 1. Tue Common Variety, which I shall rank as the first, is well known by its branches forming a pyramidal head ; the leaves being marginated, of a dark or full green colour, and but little glaucous underneath ; the cones being consider- ably elongated, and tapering to the point; and the bark of the trunk being very rugged. This variety seems to be but short-lived, becoming soon stunted in its appearance, and it is altoge- ther a very inferior tree to either var. 2. or 3. 14 124 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Var. 2. Tuis strongly marked and permanent variety, is distinguished from the former, by the disposi- tion of its branches, which are remarkable for their horizontal direction, and for a tendency to bend downward close by the trunk. The leaves are broader than in var. 1., and serrulated, not marginated as in var. 1. From that circum-. stance alone, I should at once pronounce them distinct. The leaves are distinguishable at a distance by their much lighter and beautiful glaucous colour. The bark of the trunk is not so rugged as in var. 1. Its cones are generally thicker, not so much pointed, and they are smoother than those of var. 1.. The tree seems to be a more hardy plant, being easily reconcil- ed to very various soils and situations. It grows very freely, and quickly arrives at a considerable sIZe. rR ny! This is the sort which I conceive might con- stitute a distinct species; and from the disposi- tion of its branches, I would be inclined to call it Pinus horizonialis. _ May I here be allowed to conjecture, that the fir woods which formerly abounded in every part of Scotland, and the trees of which arrived at a large size, had been of this variety or species? { have certainly observed, that the greater part ~ ON THE VARIETIES OF THE SCOTCH FIR. 195 of the fir woods of the present day, and which are so much complained of, are of the common variety, or var. 1.3 dt least not more than one tree out of ten or twelve, is of var. 2., or the - more desirable kind. I think this is the most na- tural way of accounting for the supposed decline of the Scots Fir jn this country ; for two rea- sons; 1. Because var. Q. still retains all the good qualities ever ascribed to the Scots Fir; and, 2. Because, as var. 1. produces its cones much more freely than the othef, the seed-ga- therers, who were only to be paid by the quan- tity, and not by the quality, would seize upon the former, and neglect the latter. The evident remedy for this defect in our plantations of Scots Fir, is therefore the culti- vating exclusively this second and well marked variety. | Even granting it to be only a variety, it seems indisputable, that any fixed variety in a timber tree, rendering it more valuable, is as well wor- thy of being attended to, as are fixed varieties in cultivated grains, or culinary vegetables ; and the great improvements that have resulted to agriculture and horticulture from attending to such. varieties, are too well known to need to be insisted on. 196 - HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Var. 3. Tuis is likewise a remarkable variety, and seems quite distinct both from var. 1. and Q. Its leaves are of a still lighter colour than those. ~ of the last ; insomuch, that they appear of a truly light glaucous hue, approaching to a sil- very tint. Its branches form, like var. 1., a pyramidal head; but it differs remarkably in its cones, from both the former varieties ; the cones in this variety having the appearance. © of being beset with blunt prickles, bent back- ward, The leaves are serrulated,—a character which at once distinguishes it from var. 1., with — which the tree agrees in having a pyramidal head. This variety is more common than yar. @., and it is also a good tree. Var. 4 I have observed a fourth variety, the leaves of which are somewhat curled or rather twisted, and much shorter. This seems to be a scarce variety, as | have not hitherto seen more than three or four trees of it. It very nearly ap- proaches Pinus Banksiana of Mr Lambert’s Moe- nograph. \ ON THE VARIETIES OF THE SCOTCH FIR. 127 Brrore concluding, I may remark, that Mr Lambert, in his Monograph, mentions a variety found by Thunberg in Japan, having the branches horizontal. Can this be my var. 2.2 Mr Lambert thinks it may be a distinct species. —And I beg leave to add, that as I have col- lected seeds of all the above varieties, and have sown them in my grounds at Forfar, I hope to be able, in the course of the autumn, to shew the young plants to any gentleman desirous of distinguishing the varieties in the seedling state. 4 I have collected all the cones I could possibly find of vars. 2. and 3., being the most valuable, and mean to raise them extensively, as the most effectual means of promoting a reform in this department of the nursery business. Forfar Garden, 10th February 1811. 128 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. XII. COMMUNICATIONS ‘From Mr Swrrtu, Keith-Hall. (Read 4th December 1810.) 1. On preventing the Worms in Carrots. Asour five years ago, I had a heap of pigeon- dung, which lay through the winter months ona quarter of the garden. Having occasion to remove all this dung to other parts of the gar- den, I laid down the quarter with carrots, and was surprised to observe an extraordinary pro+ _ duction of this vegetable on the spot where the dung had lain, both with respect to their size _ and cleanness. And although some worms might have been found in the other parts of the quarter, _ yet I could perceive none in the spot above al- . luded to. From that time, this circumstance induced me to adopt the practice of sowing my carrots al- ways in one particular spot of ground, which Thave annually manured well with pigeon-dung, ON PRESERVING CAULIFLOWER. 189 laying on almost as much of it, though of a hot nature, as if it had been rotten horse-dung. And I have the satisfaction to observe, that I have never failed to have an extraordinary crop, and what is of more consequence, can venture to af- firm, that a worm could not be found in my car- rots during the four years i I have continued this practice. Last year, in thinning my carrots, I transplant- ed a few of them into a piece of gtound that had been well dunged with rotten horse-dung ; and though they grew very well, yet they were so much cankered, that they were almost unfit for any use. All this leads me to think, that pigeon-dung is a good preventive of the worm in carrots. 2. On preserving Cauliflower through a great part of the Winter. As cauliflower isa most desirable vegetable, so it deserves to be cee as long for use as pos- sible. In 1808, I had a large quantity of this vege- table in full head in the beginning of November. Being at a loss for a shed or such place as is commonly used for hanging it up, in order to preserve it, I dug a pit along the bottom of a wall, about eighteen inches in depta, and much about the same breadth. Ona dry day, I pulled up the stocks of cauliflower, keeping the leaves 130 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS: as entire as possible, and lapping them round the flower. I began at one end of the above men- tioned pit, laying in my cauliflower with the roots uppermost, and the tops inclining down- wards, the roots of the one layer covering the. tops of the other, and so on with the whole of my stock. The pits were then covered closely up with earth, and beaten smooth with the back of the spade, in order that the rain might run off. It is to be observed, that the covering had a considerable slope from the wall. The experi- ment succeeded to my wish; and I was able, oc- casionally to give a dish of fine cauliflower till the middle of January 1809. Keith-Hail, Ilth August 1810. i —————— rc TS PESTROYING INSECTS ON FRUIT-TREES. 131] XII. On destroying Insects, and removing Mildew, and Canker in Fruit-Trees. By Mr Davin Wercuton, Gardener to the Earl of Leven and Melville, Fife. (Read 6th March 1810.) [ suaxt state my own practice, which has been tolerably successful ; and if it do not exhibit much of novelty, it may at least have the good effect of inducing others to communicate what ' they may consider as superior modes. The Thrips.—There is no insect so fatal to grapes as the thrips. To prevent them, the vines should be well washed with the engine every evening. If washed in the heat of the sun, the vines are materially injured. Indeed all vines should be washed every evening, until the berries begin to colour, whether infested With insects or not; and after that, no water should be given, either te the borders or trees. 132 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. When the washing of the trees is neglected, the thrips generally make their appearance. They may readily, however, be destroyed by a fumi- gation of tobacco and damp hay. After such | fumigation, the plants should be well washed with pure water. The White-bug is very hurtful to many peach- houses and vineries. The cause of this insect making its appearance, is much owing to the trees not being properly washed every day with the engine. When a vinery is overrun with this insect, all the old bark must be stript off the vines, and all the shoots and trellis proper- ly sponged over with black soap and warm water. JI always make it a rule at the winter pruning, to take off the outer bark, whether in- fected or not, as the White-bugs lodge between the old and new bark. With regard to peach- trees that are infested with the White-bug ; in the winter season they should be sponged all over in the same way, and if any appear in the spring, it is a good way to tie pieces of mat round the stem, and the large branches of the tree ; about these, the insects take shelter from the heat of the sun. Once every day these mats must. be taken off, and thrown out of the house. Soon after you begin forcing, you will observe the female much larger than the male, at which time she always goes into a hollow of the tree or bark, and lays some thousands of eggs. These — DESTROYING INSECTS ON FRUIT-TREES. 183 are easy to be observed, and may be picked out with a pin or small piece of stick. This is an effectual way of preventing the increase of them. | The Brown-bug sometimes make its appear- ance on peach-trees, particularly when the trees are shaded or near the flues. In the winter sea- son, the trees should be washed with lime-water ; and the trees should be syringed with it, after the leaves have fallen. The Green-fly is very destructive to peach- trees, particularly when forced. ‘They are most effectually destroyed by washing the trees regu- larly every day after beginning to force. Most people give over washing when the flowers make. their appearance, but I always continue the washing; I never found it prevent the fruit from setting. And if any of the flies make their appearance, I keep them under by pro- per watering with the engine, and by pick- ing off the first buds on which they appear. I find this prevents them from breeding, and I have never had occasion to use tobacco- smoke. ) | The Red-spider is a much more destructive insect than the former, both on peach-trees and vines, and its generation is promoted by the same cause, (a dry heat) ; but constant watering, in the same manner subdues it, always taking care that. every part of the leaves be wetted, otherwise the VOL. I. K 134 ' HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. insects shelter themselves in the dry parts, and by that means escape the effects of the water. ~The Mildew does much more injury to peach- trees, than any of the former. It is still uncer- tain whether it proceed from the soil, or from the air, or whether it be an insect or fungus. I have tried various experiments to ascertain its nature, but hitherto without success. It may be remarked, that trees or plants with rough spongy leaves, are more generally attacked by it, and those with firm and-smooth leaves, are almost always clear of it. For instance, I have often had melons and cucumbers growing in the same frame ; and the cucumbers, owing to their leaves being rough and spongy, were affected, while the melons remained clear. Further, nectarines growing in the same house along with peaches, being smoother in their leaves and fruit, are sel- dony hurt by it. ‘The fruit of the Red Magda- lane and Royal George peach, are seldom ex- empt from it, owing to the fruit being more rough and downy. I have budded the Red Mag- dalane peach upon the Newton and Noblesse peach, and found the graft of the Red Magdalane affected, and the fruit on the other branches not affected. _ [ amof opinion, that mildew does not increase upon the trees from shoots being left in the tree thattwere affected last year ; for Ihave left: shoots ‘covered’with it, and found buds spring’ from ‘the same shoots with none ‘of it on DESTROYING INSECTS ON FRUIT-TREES. 135 them; and others that were clear, produced buds with mildew upon them. At Melville garden, where the ground is low and damp, there is no mildew upon the peach-trees: where the hot-houses stand, the subsoil is a dry open rock, forty or fifty feet above the level of the other ground: here the mildew makes its ap- pearance. The mildew may be kept under, (I cannot say be cured), by washing trees affected by it, with a mixture of sulphur and lime-water. My mode of application is, by the garden en- gine, with a little soap, or any other thing that will separate it from the trees; this clears them at the time, but does not prevent the mildew from returning again *. K 2 * My friend Mr Joun Hay of Edinburgh, having been very successful in preventing mildew, I shall here state his mode of management in his own words: ‘* Whenever mildew was observed to affect a leaf or the point of any shoot, the diseased leaf was picked off, the point of the shoot dipped in water in-which black soap had been dissolved, and it was well drudged with a bellows-pluff, filled with sulphur, (sometimes mixed with Scots snuff.) This was generally done in the evening, and it was washed off with the engine or squirt, the following evening, if the state of the trees with respect to flowering or ripe fruit, did not forbid it. All the trees that were ever under my care, were thus prevented from being ine jared ; but strict attention was always paid to the checking of the mildew at its first appearance.” 156 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. The Honeydew, in some seasons, is very de- structive to trees upon open walls: it isa gluti- nous substance, which seems to contract the minute vessels of the more tender parts, and prevents the proper circulation of the fluids, whereby the leaves and shoots are often destroy- ed. This matter may easily be perceived, either by its sweet taste, from whence it takes its name, or by its adhering to the fingers when touched. It makes its appearance on the young shoots and the young leaves: this is the reason why their under sides are most blemished by it; for the side of the leaf first appearing, becomes the lowest when full grown. A few days after the honeydew comes on, the green and blue fly ap- pear, especially upon plum-trees; and if the weather be warm, two. or three days will make them increase in great numbers: at first they have no appearance of wings, but if the weather continues dry and warm, they will soon be fur- nished with wings, and take their flight. There are many successions of them, and they greatly injure the leaves and young shoots of the trees. It 1s imagined by some, that this glutinous mat- ter is perspired by the tree, and that the in- sects come to feed upon it; and this is my own opinion. I have observed that the honeydew sticks closest to the weakest trees, and.to the weakest shoots of any one tree. The method I DESTROYING INSECTS ON FRUIT-TREES. 137 practise to get rid of the flies, is this: I water the trees two or three times a-week in a plenti- ful manner, if the weather be dry ; and while the honeydew continues upon the trees, I add. a little common salt and a quantity of broom boiled, to the water. This mixture effec- tually kills the flies, and.does not injure the trees, if too great a quantity of salt be not added. This management will make the trees shoot stronger ; the dews at the same time rising from the surface of the border, resting on the leaves, and tending to hinder the breeding of these insects. The Bight in some seasons is very destruc- tive to fruit-trees, both standards and on walls The general opinion is at present, that it pro- ceeds from cold dry winds ; but I am of opinion, _ that it proceeds from too much moisture, especial- ly if the weather be cold at the time, hindering the perspiration of the moisture from the tree ; for it is well known, that all trees draw a large quantity of water from the ground, and evaporate it into the air. I think there is no effectual re- medy for this: But draining the ground where too wet, may have some good efiect. The Canker in fruit-trees, may, in a great measure, be prevented by proper care. I al- ways find that a cold wet soil or wet gravel, has been a principal cause of bringing on the canker K3 138 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. in many kinds of trees, particularly the tender sorts; and that a mossy bottom is the worst of any. A dry gravel is the best bottom for all fruit-trees. The wall-borders here, (Melville in Fife), are eighteen inches, of a light loam up- on dry gravel ; and we have peach-trees ina good bearing state, and free from canker, that are supposed to have been planted 90 or 100 years — ago, and plums and cherries of the same age. I am of opinion, that trees when decayed in the top, if their roots be safe, may, by proper cutting, be renewed and brought to a bearing state, and continue for a long time. ‘Two years ago, I cut down a large Brown Beurré pear upon the wall, that was decayed in the top, and had given over bearing; and I trenched the border around it. It has made fine strong healthy shoots, and is producing some flowers this season, which is the second year since it was cut down. I likewise cut down an old standard Swan Egg pear, that was so much decayed and overgrown with moss, that it appeared good for nothing; and a Muirfowl Egg, in the same state; and they have produced remarkably fine healthy shoots. ‘There are some sorts of peaches, and particularly the Royal George, tha gun, where budded, upon all soils. Ihave lost three of them in houses under my management I tried various. methods to save them, by binding them tight DESTROYING INSECTS ON FRUIT-TREES. 139 with linen-cloth and plaster of cow-dung, but they always continued in a sickly state for one or two years, and then died. I last year planted a Royal George here, which had been two years trained, and in the course of the summer it be- gan to throw out large. quantities of gum at the bud, and about a foot above it, and also in some of the largest branches: it appeared altogether in a very sickly state. I had recourse toa paint- er’s brush and a little white paint, and covered all the places infected with gum; and in the large branches, I cut out all the infected wood, and gave the wounds two coats of white paint. This season, it is appearing as healthy as any of the other trees, and promising to have a good crop, and there is no appearance of gum break- ing through the paint. I find that the tender kinds of fruit-trees are most subject to canker. I have observed a stand- ard-tree. that was full of canker, to be cured by removing it to a south wall. I have found that a cold wet season, or a heavy load of fruit, will bring on canker. The hardy kinds are always free from the canker, while tender kinds in the same soil, are full of it; there- fore, in planting fruit-trees, care should be taken to plant the hardy sorts in the most ex- posed situations, and the tender ones in the most sheltered. K4 140 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. I have had peach-trees upon open walls full of the canker; have put a glass-case over them, and have found, when the wood was well ripen- ed, the trees free of it. I have grafted hardy kinds on trees that were almost useless with the canker, and have thereby obtained healthy trees, and great crops of fruit. There are some fine trees that have been treated in this manner at Craiglockhart, near Edinburgh, of my grafting. | Standard-trees are very often lost for want of pruning; and I think, that, in general, those that are pruned in the common way, are worse, instead of better for it. The common way is to get into the middle of the tree, and to cut all the branches from that place, leaving the top full and crowded. Now, I think, that the pruning should be con- fined to the fruit-bearing branches of the extre- mities; thinning these out regularly, that the remainder may find a free passage through them; by which means, the wood will ripen better, and the tree will. keep the freer of can- ker. With regard to bringing a strong tree into a bearing state, I never was at any loss; for by taking the mould from the roots, and pro- perly trimming them, cutting out the strong- est, In proportion to the growth of the tree; it DESTROYING INSECTS ON FRUIT-TREES. 141 will shew plenty of blossoms the second year following. The best and cheapest method that I know for saving the blossoms of wall-trees, is, to take Norway spruce branches, from which the leaves have fallen, and stick them into the ground, with their tops against the trees; fastening others to the top of the wall, with their ends down- wards, so as to meet the former; over which, put three plies of old nets. Fern leaves are bet- ter, where they can easily be had. The nets will keep the branches firm, and the branches will’ keep the nets from the trees. These should: remain until the fruit be set, and have begun to swell. There is another great cause of the failure of crops of peaches and nectarines in hot-houses, which never happens on the open wall, and that is by the buds being too much swelled by pro- tection in the autumn, and the trees being then exposed to the frost, which makes the buds, when forcing commences, drop off, in place of turning out sound blossoms. I have always found, that riders (2. e. wall-stand- ards) of every kind, bear more fruit than dwarfs ; the reason of which, I think, is, that the sap is more refined in passing through the long stem of the tree, and rendered more fit for entering the blossom. This led me to think, that only a small 142 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. quantity of water should be given at the time of the ascent of the sap ; and I always keep my trees very dry all winter; and in the spring I give no more water than what is necessary to keep them in life before the fruit begins to swell. Thus managed, the stronger trees set their fruit in general more plentifully, and produce much better fruit than weak ones. Melville Garden, } D. W. Fifeshire, 1810. QN HOT-HOUSE FLUES. 143 XIV. Remarks on the Construction of Hot-House Flues. By Rogerr Stevenson, Esq; Civil Engineer. (In a Letter to Mr P. Netut, Secretary.) J sec to communicate to you for the informa- tion of the Horticultural Society, the particulars of an experiment made some years since, with a view to the heating of drying-houses, for the purposes of bleachers and manufacturers; be- ing of opinion, that the same principle may be usefully employed in the heating of stoves, vineries, &c. in gardens. _ The apartment in which the experiment was made, measured fifteen feet in length, and nine feet in breadth upon the floor. The fire-place was at one end, and the fuel was supplied on the outside of the walls. From the fire thus situated, a flue six inches by ten inches, was con- ducted under a floor of tile-brick ; this flue was made to cross under the floor several times, be- 144 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. fore it reached the chimney, at the farther end of the room. By this means, the smoke and heat were longer detained in their passage to the chimney, and being made to traverse the - whole of the floor, it was confidently expected, that the temperature of the apartment would be speedily raised to about 100 degrees of Fahren- leit. The result, however, proved otherwise, for it was with considerable difficulty that a temperature of from 60° to 70° could be main- tained, : : The flues were then removed, and cross walls erected in their places for supporting the floor. These cross walls were of open brick-work, so. that the whole space under the floor, formed one large flue for the smoke and heated air. After making this alteration, the same quantity of fuel was put into the same fire-place, as before, and the temperature was speedily raised to 150°, at which it could be maintained for any length of time, with the ordinary expenditure of fuel. I was some time since applied to by Messrs Rennie, Airth and Company of Arbroath, (who are extensively concerned in the bleaching of yarns), regarding the heating of a new drying- house, which they had just erected. It was stated that their former drying-house was much smaller than the new one, and that with two fires, and flues constructed in the ordinary way, so much difficulty was experienced in producing | | | | ON HOT-HOUSE FLUES. 145 a suflicient degree of heat, that they were afraid. eyen a third fire, in very cold damp weather might be found necessary, on account of the larger dimensions cf the new house. Upon visiting the works, I found the walls of the house so far advanced as to be ready for the roof, It is situated at one end of a plot of grass land, unconnected with any other building, and therefore exposed on all sides to the weather. I recommended that the earth within the house, should be excavated to the depth of four feet, which was as low as the foundation of the walls had been carried. When this was done, a fire- place was opened at one end of the house, and a flue was carried to the other end, when it turned, and was brought down the middle of the floor, and after being conducted a second time to the end of the house, opposite the fire- place, it communicated with a chimney which carried off the smoke. This flue, measuring three feet in height, and two feet in breadth, makes its evolutions in a space equal to the area of the building, and four feet. in depth under the sole of the door. The flues were therefore not only much larger than is common, but as the division walls for supporting a pavement floor over the flues, were all made of open brick work, the whole space above described, was thereby converted into one large flue, or cham, ber for heated air, which is made to issue from 146 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. the open joints left between the pavement stones of the floor, and circulates freely to every patt of the interior of the building; so that with one common fire, the temperature of this drying- house, whose area measures thirty-five feet by eighteen feet, and fourteen feet in height, from the ground floor on which the flues rest, is speed- ily raised to, and easily maintained at, from 70° to 90° of Fahrenheit, while hung full of wet yarn, and while the shutters in the upper part of the walls are set open, to allow the steam arising from the process of drying the yarn to escape. This effect, which is much greater than could be produced in the old drying-house be- longing to the same gentlemen, although of much smaller dimensions, and heated with ‘two fires, is to be ascribed entirely to the larger Bly of the new house. It therefore appears, that the simple applica: tion of as large flues as the circumstances of hot: houses will admit, would not’ only be attended with much advantage in point of ‘economy, as 4 very small fire would be ‘sufficient! to main- tain the temperature usually’required in hot- houses ; but, what is perhaps of ‘more conse- quence, flues properly constructed upon this prin- ciple can be easily regulated, and’ will induce a much more uniform degree of heat. It seems from this experiment, that the flues in general use, are of too ‘small dimensions,—that there is not ON HOT-HOUSE FLUES. 147 capacity in them for allowing the heated parti- cles of air to expand; and that the heat passes through the narrow flues and makes its escape with the smoke in a latent state, without being allowed to act upon a surface large enough to rob it of its caloric. Upon this principle, churches and large halls might be heated ; and one fire might be made to heat a much greater range of vineries than is in practice at present: it would also be a great improvement in the construction of hot-houses, and even of garden inclosures, to make the walls hollew *, as well on account of such a construc- tion inclosing a space for air, which is an excel- lent non-conductor, as of the facility with which a fire may be applied, by converting the whole or greater part of the wall into a flue, or recept- acle for heated air. When this is to be done, the fire-place should be kept as low as possible, and after answering its purpose in the hot-house, the flue might be made to communicate with the hollow garden-wall, and the smoke made to escape at a chimney situated, according to cir- cumstances, at a greater or less distance from * You will recollect to have seen in the town of Peterhead, - in Aberdeenshire, a dwelling-house with hollow walls of brick- work, belonging to a Mr Leslie of that place, who I believe has some thoughts of taking a patent for his ingenious method of making bricks, and building houses with double or hollow & walls, 148 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. the hot-house. An apartment heated with flues of a large construction, is less incident to sudden changes of temperature than where the flues are small. The heat in large flues can be regulated with much precision, and they are attended with the advantage of seldom or never requiring to be cleaned. In all chimneys of this kind, an aperture should be made in the wall witha close shutter, near the top of the chimney, where a lighted candle or lamp should be introduced, for an hour or two immediately after the fire is put on, in order to create a current, and thereby bring the smoke to issue at the chimney top, Iam, &c. Edinburgh, 20th Nov. 1810. ON FRUIT-TREES. 149 XV. On the means of bringing Fruit-trees into a bear- ing state, and on preserving Fruit. By Mr Roserr Incram, Torry. (Read 3d December 1811.) As the methods proposed for bringing pears into early bearing are various, I beg leave to offer for the consideration of the Society, some which I have adopted, and all of which I have. found to be more or less effectual. In the first place, pears that grow strong and luxuriant, and which may not bear from these circumstances, I have found to be rendered ‘fruitful by cutting their roots in the spring, when they begin to push; but this must be done with care. ‘They must be dug round, about two feet from the stem of the tree, and got fairly under, so as to cut the leading roots ; if this is done, it will in most cases bring them into bearing. | ! VOL. I. L 150 ‘HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. In the second place, I have found pear-trees brought to bear, by transplanting; and when this is to be adopted, I would recommend, that the trees should be dug all round, and all the leading roots cut, one year before lifting, and care should be taken that the roots be cut clean and not split, for when split, they are long in healing over, and do not throw off fibres so freely. When trees are to remain one year — after cutting their roots,“I would recommend, - that the space that is dug round each tree should be filled up with fine earth; when this is done, it will encourage the. tree to make young roots, which will be found of great service to the tree when transplanted. The transplanting, I think, should take place about the end. of November. In the third place, I would recommend bud- ding or grafting, if the trees stand in proper si- tuations. French pears are in general the most shy to bear, and I have found, that budding has brought them into bearing, and has answer- ed better than the two former plans.’ I have been able to bring the most of the kinds into bearing from three years budding, and have had — from most of them a full crop, having from a dozen to a dozen ‘and a half on each branch so budded, and the fruit much larger and finer than on those whose roots were cut, or those that were transplanted ; because on trees that are * ee ON FRUIT-TREES. 151 transplanted, when they begin to bear, the fruit is often for years quite small, and without the proper flavour. This will be found to be the case, particularly when trees are old before being transplanted. This naturally arises from the check the tree has got. The trees that I have budded ever again, were from eighteen to twenty years old. ‘They soon filled the wall, some of the buds making above four feet the first season. The kinds that were budded again, were the Crasanne, Beurrés, Bergamots, St Ger- main, Chaumontelle, and Swan Egg, all of which have borne well. It may not be improper here to take notice of a fact that has occurred this season with regard to budding. I have a young tree of the Gansel Bergamot, about twelve years old; three years ago i put a few buds on a Swan Egg pear from this tree, and this season I had the pleasure of having five clusters of flower- buds, but they were all destroyed with the frost in the spring, except one pear, which came to be a handsome fruit. The mother tree has not shewn any flower-buds yet, which clearly proves, that budding wiil bring trees sooner into bearing ; and I am convinced it not only does so, but that working over again much improves the quality of the fruit. When trees are very old, though in good health, buds from such old trees are sometimes La 7 152 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. very ill to take, or even to graft upon; these I would recommend to be cut in, and to bud or graft upon the young wood which the tree makes from being so treated. The budding or grafting may be done on the present year’s growth; this I have found to answer very well, the trees push- ing and making strong wood afterwards, and producing fine fruit. It may be proper here to remark, that a num- ber of trees, both pears, and apples, are much hurt in their bearing, from the mode of pruning. In the. first place, it 1s a common practice to cut off all the young shoots of the present year’s ‘srowth leaving two or three eyes; this I con- sider as an effectual way to encourage useless growth, and particularly at the stem of the tree, which often more resembles a wellow-stool than any thing else. ‘This is a strong reason why — there is no fruit near the stem of the tree, for it is not from that wood that the fower-buds come. All this wood should be cut close off in the spring, (if it has not been so cut in the summer pruning,) and if so done, a great deal of useless growth will be prevented, and the strength of the tree saved .for better purposes. In the first place, it will greatly enlarge the size of the fruit, and will also strengthen the fruit-buds for ano- ther year. Some French pear-trees shew a great deal of flower-buds, and often produce little fruit, and ON FRUIT-TREES.. 158 for this reason, that they are weakened from over-flowering. The Brown Beurré is one in particular that shews a great deal of flowers, and often produces little fruit. I had some trees of this kind that I got scarcely any fruit from, un- til I cut off almost the one-half of the buds, only leaving those that were strongest, and closest to the tree; from this management I have had good crops. Last year (1810,) I had upwards of twenty dozen from one tree, and this year there is a fair crop, as the season goes. ‘This pear-tree is very liable to canker, particularly if allowed to have long spurs; and I would there- fore recommend keeping the spurs very short. If this be done, it will greatly help to save the trees from canker. | I would also recommend keeping the spurs of all other pear-trees short, and only leaving those that are youngest ; for when the spurs are al- lowed to grow strong, you seldom have any fruit from them. Ifthe spurs are thus thinned out, it will greatly promote their bearing, and make the fruit much finer. With regard to training on a wall, I would recommend the fan-way, in preference to the horizontal; for this reason, that pear-trees are much inclined to bear at the extremity of the branch, on the fine young wood; from training them fan-shaped, you have it in your power to L$ 154 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. fill up the tree occasionally in the centre with young wood; whereas, in the other case, you have it not in your power so readily to accom- plish this. . ' Having thus made a few remarks upon bring- ing pear-trees into bearing, it may not be im- proper to say a few words on the gathering of pears and apples, and of promoting their ripen- ing, as many of the kinds of pears in this climate scarcely ripen, and I am convinced they might be artificially brought to maturity., 1. There isa practice too common of making a general sweep at once of the fruit off the trees ; but this should not be done; they should be gone over careful- ly, and those only taken off, that part from the tree freely. Those that are left will grow larger, and will ripen as well as the first gather- ed: the gathering of fruit, therefore, should be repeated as often as found necessary. 2. I consider that a great deal of the winter pears are too soon pulled, and the reason of it is: We have often some frost early in autumn, and when that happens, the fruit is gathered before it has got the full benefit which the tree can afford. But pears are not very soon hurt by frost; for I have tried the experiment, and allowed them to remain, although there was a little frost in the night, and they have suffered no harm from that ; but, on the contrary, I found the fruit improved a ’ ON FRUIT-TREES, ; 155 a great deal from remaining on the trees, perhaps fourteen days longer than they would have done, had they been gathered when frost came on early. Every one who has got fruit to gather, must judge when the tree ceases to nourish it ;- for when this is the case, it will part from the tree by being gently lifted up. . The pears or apples when pulled, should be carefully laid one by one into the baskets, so as not to bruise one another. There seems to be an universal desire to have fine kinds of fruit ; but I am sorry to observe, that there is so little taste in the country for having good fruit-rooms ; the most of them being very cold and damp. When fruit is put into such places, instead of ripening, it will grow quite tough, and in most cases musty-tasted, and scarcely eatable. A fruit-room, should there- fore be perfectly dry, and free of all dampness ; and those pears and apples which this climate barely ripens, should be kept warm and dry, in a temperature corresponding to that heat which ripens them in their native climate. ‘This plan Ihave found to answer very well: it was in this mode that the pears were kept which were sent from Sir William Erskine’s garden, and shewn to the Society last December, (1810). The Chaumonteile pears were kept in from 60 to 70 degrees of heat, in close drawers, and some L4 2 - a 156 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. of the others from 50 to 60 degrees. This I knew by always keeping a thermometer along with them. I would recommend, that a fruit- reom should be fitted up with drawers, of about six inches depth, by three feet in length, and two in breadth. As to the number of drawers, or the size of the house, it must depend on what fruit the proprietor has to fill it with. The drawers should be made of hard-wood; for I have known. fir spoil the flavour of the fruit. _ The house should be made to admit plenty of free air when required, for this will be neces- sary for keeping the fruit in good condition; and the drawers in which the fruit is kept, will re- quire to be drawn out occasionally, to admit fresh air, which will prevent the fruit from get- . ting musty-tasted. ‘There should be a stove in the house, which should be used frequently, to keep up a proper temperature. It being of the greatest importance to have the table served as early with fruit, and also as late as possible ; if the above plans be adopted, they will not only be the means of improving fruit, but will render it sooner fit for use. I have been able to bring ‘Crasanne pears to the table about the middle of November, and have kept them until March ; and Chaumontelle pears from the middle of December, until the end of April, (and the other kinds in proportion to their general keeping). ON FRUIT-TREES. as7y Care must also be taken that they be not kept too warm, for if this be the case, they will shrivel in the skin, and not have the due fla- your. It must be observed, that no more should be brought to ripen, than will serve until those that are kept colder come in their turn; and the quantity will depend on the consumption by the family. All pears that ripen freely on the - tree, if wanted to be preserved for the table longer than they commonly keep, should not be allowed to stand until they are dead ripe; but should be gathered sooner. You will thus be able to keep them some weeks longer than you could have done otherwise. I have been able to keep French Bergamot pears until Christmas, while others, gathered from the same tree, were fit for the table in the middle of October. The soil in which the trees grow at Torry, is for the most part a strong black loam, with a bottom of sand and clay mixed. The soil is two feet deep, with flags under each tree, about a yard square. The manure given the borders is a compound of fine strong rich earth, from the cleaning of ponds or ditches, with dung *-and lime all mixed tegether, about two carts of dung to six carts of earth, and one cart of lime. This compound is turned over several times, and lies twelvemonths before it is used. Of this I have given the borders within these nine years, 158 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. two complete dressings, about six inches deep all over, trenching it into the borders; and I have occasionally given them common surface- dunging with the same. ‘This sort of composi- tion, I prefer to common dung. The trees have . improved both in health and bearing, and pro- duce much finer fruit. The wall is fourteen feet high, and the borders the same breadth. The common cropping of the borders is sallads, and a few bulbous roots. I consider heavy crop- ping with vegetables very hurtful for the trees, and it should be avoided if possible. Should any of these remarks be of service, or found to add any thing to the general stock of knowledge of the Caledonian Horticultural So- ciety, I shall feel myself gratified. Iam at pre- sent engaged with some experiments, to ascertain what length of time pears and apples may be pre- served in full perfection, &c.; and should any of them be found effectual, I shall take the ear- liest opportunity of communicating them to the — Society. . | ‘Torry Garden, } 42th November 1811. ON FRUIT-TREES. 159 NOTE. Mr Incram having, at different times, produced most satisfactory proofs of the efficacy of his method of keep- ing fruit, by exhibiting the finest pears ever seen by any member of the Society, at a period of the year, (7th February), when the same kinds of pears, preserved in the ordinary way, would have been completely destroy- ed ; the Society resolved to bestow upon him some mark of their approbation for his successful skill in this par- ticular. They accordingly agreed, (10th March 1812), that a piece of plate, with a suitable inscription, should be presented to him. They at the same time directed the Secretary, to give him thanks in the name of the Society, for the offer which he has made of communi- cating to them the result of future experiments on this subject. \ 160 © HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. XVI. Observations on the preparation of Soporific Me- dicines from common Garden Lettuce. By Anprew Duncan, sen. M. D. & P. C Read 6th March 1810.) Ovcivum, or the inspissated white juice which exudes from the capsule of the Papaver somni- jerum, when wounded, has long been allowed to be one of the most useful articles employed . in the alleviation or cure of diseases. The high encomium bestowed upon it by the illustrious SYDENHAM *, has been fully confirmed by the testimony of many succeeding practitioners. It is, however, much to be regretted, that there are individuals of the human species, with whom, from peculiarity of habit, opium seldom fails to produce distressimg consequences. ‘There are ‘also conditions of disease, in which it may be very necessary to induce sleep, or allay pain, . ° » / . ° oe ¥ “ Tta necessarium est Opium, in hominis periti manu, ut “* sine illo, manca sit, ac claudicet medicina,”"——Sydenham, de Dysenteria anni 1670, gc. ON SOPORIFICS FROM LETTUCE. 1618 though circumstances occur by which the use of opium at that time is contraindicated. Hence, it has been long a desideratum in the healing art, to discover other powerful quieting medi- cines. For, although it is hardly to be expected, that an article will ever be discovered, so exten- sively useful as opium, yet, a good soporific may be found, which with some, will have less in- fluence, either as exciting sickness at stomach, as occasioning confusion of head, or as inducing a state of constipation. It has been the opinion of many, that all the milky juices spontaneously exuding from wound- ed vegetables, possess somewhat of the same se- dative power, with the milky juice of the poppy. Few plants in Britain, afford such milky juice more copiously than the common garden Lettuce, the Lactuca satioa of Linnzus ; and every one must have observed, that this juice, when spon- taneously inspissated by the heat of the sun, on the wounded plant, soon assumes the dark co- lour of opium, while, at the same time, it pos- sesses in a high degree the peculiar, and I may say, specific taste, which distinguishes that sub- stance. And besides this, it is a well known fact, that lettuce was much used by the ancients as a soporific. These circumstances led me to turn my thoughts on some method of collecting and pre- paring this substance, that I might try its ef- 162 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. fects in the practice of medicine. And, after several trials of different modes of preparation, what I shal! now briefly describe is the best method I have yet been able to discover. ’ I dedicated to this experiment, in my garden at St Leonard’s Hill, near Edinburgh, a’ small bed of that variety of lettuce, which is commonly © known among gardeners by the name of Ice Let- tuce. J allowed the plants, about a hundred in number, to shoot up, till the top of the stem was about a foot above the surface of the ground. IL then cut off about an inch from the top of each. The milky juice immediately began to rise above the wounded surface. Though then of a white appearance, it had next day formed a black, or dark coloured incrustation, over the surface where the stem was cut off. I found it impossible to separate this by scraping, as is done with the milky juice exuding from the head of the poppy, when it has assumed the form of opium. I there- fore cut off with a sharp knife a thin cross slice of the stem, to which the whole of the dark-co- Joured opium-like matter adhered. This was thrown into a wide-mouthed phial, about half filled with weak spirit of wine, the alcohol dilu- tum of the Edinburgh Pharmacopeia, formed of equal parts of rectified spirit and water. By this menstruum, the whole black incrustation on the thin slice of the stalk was dissolved, and the spirit, as may readily be concluded, obtained both the colour and taste of the black incrustation. ON SOPORIFIC FROM LETTUCE, 163 Each of my plants, in consequence of the fresh wound inflicted by the removal of the thin cross slice, afforded a fresh incrustation every day. And by throwing these into the phial, I soon obtained what I concluded to be a saturated solution of the exudation from the lettuce, or rather of the milky juice in its inspissated state. It was then strained off, to separate the pure so- lution completely from the thin slices of the stalk. To this strained spirit, which had nearly both the appearance and taste of the ordinary laudanum of the shops, I have given the name of Solutio spirituosa succi spissati lactuce. From trials made with this solution, both on myself and others, I have no doubt that it is a powerful soporific. But to obtain a form in which it might be exhibited, with greater certainty as to the dose, I evaporated the spirit, and thus brought the residuum to a dry state. In this state, it has very much the appearance of the opium imported into Britain, particularly of that which is imported from Bengal, and which is a much softer substance than the Turkey opi- um. To this opium-lke substance, I have given the name of Lactucarium. And from some trials which Ihave made with it, when exhibi- ted under the form of pills, it appears to me to be little inferior in soporific power to the Opium which is brought from Bengal. ; 164 -* HORTICULTURAL MEMOIR& From the dactucarium thus obtained, I have formed a tincture, by dissolving it to the extent of one ounce, in twelve of weak spirit, which is the proportion of opium to spirit, in the Liquid daudanum of the Edinburgh College. To this formula, I have given the name of Tinctura lac- tucarii.. I consider it as the best formula I have yet been able to contrive, for obtaining the so- porific and sedative powers of the Lactuea sativa. And in different cases, I have, I think, seen manifest good effects from it, both as inducing sleep, allaying muscular action, and alleviating pain, the three great qualities of opium, which demonstrate it to be one of the most powerful se- datives. At present, however, I intend nothing more but to communicate to the Caledonian Hor- ticultural Society a method of preparing a sopo- rific medicine from common lettuce. For ascer- taining more fully its medicinal effects, I am at present engaged ina series of trials, which may perhaps be likewise communicated to them. Meanwhile, it will afford me great satisfac- tion, if the above short account shall draw the attention of others, particularly of professional gardeners, to the same subject, and shall lead to the discovery of a better method of obtain- ing an useful medicine, from a plant so easily cultivated in every garden. Perhaps this im- portant object might be somewhat forwarded, ON SOPORIFICS FROM LETTUCE. 165 if the Caledonian Horticultural Society were to propose a prize, as a reward to the person who should be most successful in preparing a medicine from the milky juice of the Lactuca. But it should be an essential condition of that prize, that he should. send them, not only a specimen of the substance prepared, but also an exact account of his method of preparing it. In consequence of the above suggestion, the Caledonian Horticultural Society, at their quar- terly meeting on the 6th of March 1810, agreed to propose a Prize Medal for each of the two fol- lowing questions : 0 1. For the best method of preparing a soporific medicine from the inspissated white juice of the common Garden Lettuce. Specimens of the me- dicine to be produced. 4 2. For the best method of preparing opium in Britain, and the most advantageous. manner of eultivating poppies for that purpose. yoru. wt Mw - ee ee ee ay ee 166 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Further Observations on the preparation of « Soporific Medicine from common Garden Let- tuce. By Dr Duncan sen. November 1811. From the writings of the most eminent medi- cal authors, it appears, that garden lettuce was em- ployed many centuries ago, for the purpose of pro- curing sleep. Galen, who flourished about the commencement of the Christian era, mentions it frequently in his writings. And it is said, that in an advanced period of life, when distressed for want of sleep, he used it with success *. Among the moderns, this article has not been altogether neglected. Some observations and ex- periments have been made respecting its medi- cal powers, both in England and in America ; particularly by Dr Cox of Philadelphia, and Dr George Pearson of London. , About two years ago, I read to the Galedeatn hdlnae Hypnoticam esse jam cognoverunt veteres : Celsus, qui papaveri ideo adjungit ; Galenus, qui sibi ipsi senex in- somnis vesperi lactuca comesa somnum conciliavit.”—MurR- nay, Apparatus Medic. vol. i. p. 109. % ae ON SOPORIFICS FROM LETTUCE. 167 Horticultural Society, a short account of a me- thod of preparing a soporific medicine from this plant. That account so far engaged the atten- tion of the Society, that they proposed a Prize Medal as an honorary reward, for the best method of preparing a soporofic medicine from the inspissated white juice of the common garden let- tuce. I am happy to learn that some ingenious men, have not been neglectful of this subject; and I would fain hope, that even our inconsiderable premium may lead to an honourable and useful competition. Among others, I have myself made farther trials with this vegetable, and I now pre- sent to the Society specimens of five different preparations of lettuce, all of which, ‘may, 1 think, be usefully employed in the practice of medicine. Of the method of preparing the first, second, and third of these, viz. 1. the Spirituous Solution, or tincture of the dried juice; 2. The Extract, which I formerly styled Lactucarium, and which is prepared by the evaporation of that solution or tincture ; and, 3. The Tincture of the Lactuca- rium, which is prepared by dissolving that sub- stance in diluted spirit of wine, I have nothing to add to what I formerly related to the Society. I may however observe, that, from repeated trials, T have found ail of them to be useful soporifics. _ But the preparation of these requires much time, M 2 168 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. and great attention ; and in preparing the lactu- carium, it may be easily injured by the impro- per application of heat. The two additional preparations, which I now present to the Society, the Inspissated Juice, and the Tincture of the leaves of Lettuce, may be made very easily, and at a very trifling expence. Although not so powerful as the solution or exe tract, prepared from the inspissated milky juice, yet they will, I am_ persuaded, be found upon trial, to be highly useful in the practice of me- dicine. Method of preparing the Inspissated Juice of Let- tuce, or the Succus Spissatus Lactuce recentis. Taker any quantity of the leaves and stalks of the lettuce, when the plant is nearly ready to flower. Bruise them well, and including them in a hempen bag, compress them strongly till they yield their juice. Let this juice be eva- porated in flat vessels, heated with boiling water. Let the evaporation be continued till the ex- pressed juice be reduced to the consistence of thick honey. According to the trials which I have made, twelve pounds of lettuce will yield about eight ounces of inspissated juice, | ON SOPORIFICS FROM LETTUCE. 169 Method of preparing the Tincture of Lettuce- leaves ; or the Tinctura Jolior um siccatarum Lactuce sativa. To one ounce of the dried: leaves and stalks of the lettuce cut down, add eight ounces of the diluted Alcohol of the Edinburgh Pharmacopeceia. Let the vessel containing this mixture, be kept for a week ina warm place, shaking it frequent- ly. Let the liquor then be strained through paper, and kept for use. About fifty drops, may be taken for a dose. : Additional observations on the Lactuca, presented to the Caledonian Horticultural Society, by Dr Duncan sen, May 1. 1812. In two former short communications to the Society, I have given an account of a method of preparing from the common garden lettuce, dif- ferent articles, which may, I am convinced, be employed with advantage in the practice of M3 170 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. © medicine, To these I have given the following names : : : Koel 1. Solutio vel Tinctura succi spissatt Lac- tuce, ; Rees Prepared from! the inspissated juice spontane- ously exuding from the plant when wounded. 2. Lactucarium, An extract prepared by evaporating the above solution of tincture. , 3. Tinctura Lactucarii, Prepared by dissolving the lactucarium in proof-spirit of wine. 4. Succus spissatus Lactuce, Prepared by inspissating the expressed juice of the recent plant. 5. Tinctura foliorum Lactuce, Prepared by extracting the active powers of the lettuce, from the leaves of the dried plant, by warm infusion in proof-spirit. To my former observations, I can now add, that during the course of last winter, I have made many trials of these articles, both in hos- pital and in private practice. I have particu- larly employed the first, and the fourth of these ON SOPORIFICS FROM LETTUCE. 171 preparations, in the clinical wards of the Royal Infirmary, where the effects were observed by many attentive and ingenious students. They have witnessed the benefit which may be de- rived from them in procuring sleep, in alleviat- ing pain, and in allaying inordinate action, par- ticularly troublesome cough. I am therefore not without hopes, that when the experiments I have made, are more generally known, they may have the effect of calling the attention of other medical practitioners, and of some intelligent gardeners, to a subject, which, in my opinion, is ef considerable importance. 172 WORTIGULTURAL MEMOIRS, “° Bige Sl Account of the state of certain Fruits con, ~ growing in some ve parts of the Highlands of Scot- land. | | By Auexanper Gipson HonTer, Esq. of Blackness. : (Read 3d December 1811.) ‘Tar “ example is better than precept,’’ is an old and trite observation; and in nothing will it be found more true than tin horticulture.— What we see our neighbour do, we naturally conclude, we may do ourselves; and in general we as naturally conclude, that nothing more can be done :—And hence improvements and dis- coveries are of so slow growth. We know that our northern climate of Scotland 1s capable of producing certain fruits, trees, and crops, with which we are well acquainted; and we are apt to take for granted, that it is capable of produ- cing nothing better. Whereas, every person of observation, who travels over this country, and looks around him, must be satisfied, that we are FRUITS IN.THE HIGHLANDS, 173 only beginning to learn what our country and climate are fit to produce ; more especially when’ aided by draining, planting, inclosing,: and, si- milar means of improvement. It isa well known ‘facet, that it is little more: than sixty years.since some larches were planted in pots in the: Duke of Athole’s' gréen-house at Dunkeld, as being plants too: delicate for our climate; but that.soon getting too large and luxuriant for the house, they were transferred to:a.warm: and sheltered situation in front, where they at present. remain, in the state of lofty trees. Till: lately; it was generally believed, that the Scots pine was the only tree fit for planting im Scotland, at least in high, bleak and exposed si- tuations, where other trees would not grow 3; whereas it is now found, that the Scots pine, to be produced in any perfection, generally requires a better soil and situation, than most of our other trees; and that the larch in particular, far from being the tender plant which was at first supposed, it will thrive at a height of 800 feet beyond the region of the Scots pine. _ Wheat, we find we can grow. with advantage, at an elevation where we formerly failed with barley. | Potatoes will thrive well in peat-moss, (pro- vided it be dry), where we had not even com- mon grass ;—and carrots, artichokes, and aspara- 174 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS» gus, may be successfully cultivated in mere sand, which previously produced nothing. > But, without multiplying instances farther, and to come more directly to the object of this paper, the application of this doctrine to hor- ticultural pursuits; it is known to many mem- bers of this Society, though not generally, that the excellent pears, the Swan’s Egg and Muir- fowl Egg, often produce more regular and abun- dant crops, and with stperior flavour of fruit, when grown on standards, than when. trained on the best walls ; although the wall-fruit may be of larger size. The same I believe to be the case with the Grey or White Beurré,—the French and Autumn Bergamots,—with the Chau- montelle, strange as it may seem,—and, accord- ing to Mr Forsyth, with the Eschasserie, and even the St Germain’s, and probably with many others with which I do not pretend to be ac- quainted. It has been discovered too, that many of our plums, e. g. the Green Gage, the chief of its family, often produce better crops, and of more excellent quality, when growing on standards, than on the best exposed walls. I shall state what I myself witnessed in this way, in the course of the present year (1811), un- favourable as the season has been ; ina place too the least of all likely, or at any rate where I least expected to meet with any thing of the sort. FRUITS IN THE HIGHLANDS. 175 I had occasion, in September last, to make a rapid and short excursion to the Highlands,—to Fort William, Ben Nevis, and other places. I was not a little surprised at the quantities of ap- ples and pears I noticed at different places, in remote Highland districts; such as Captain Stewart’s at Ballyhulish, and Mr Cameron’s of Glen Nevis; but these being in sheltered situa- tions, and very little elevated above the sea, there was the less room for wonder, more espe- cially when the instance I am about to mention, is considered. | In returning homewards, we struck off the great road, at High Bridge, and came up Glen Spean, and so onwards by way of Loch Laggan. After visiting the parallel roads of Glenroy, we stopped a night at Keppoch, the hospitable re- sidence of Mr Macdonald of Glenco, to whom We were not known even by name; but, being benighted, he gave us quarters in the kindest manner. Keppoch is situated in the parish of Kilmani- -vaig, about eleven or twelve miles south from the western extremity of Loch Lochy ; and from the rapidity of the course of the river Spean, on which it is situated, its elevation above the level of the sea must be very considerable; and besides, calculating from the western sea, it is a long way inland. I could see few or no trees of 176 “HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, any consequence, in this -part of the country ; but hearing by accident, that there was a sort of garden or orchard in the neighbourhood, with a considerable quantity of fruit-trees in it, I de- termined to examine it. From the impression I had formed of the country on the preceding day, I was completely at a loss to guess where this | same garden could exist, or any thing of the sort; for in fact the country looked extremely wet and wild, taken even as a Highland country. There was not a stack in the corn-yard, although the farm paid a rent of L. 600 a-year, (if I re- member rightly), the whole corn being lodged in the barns ; necessarily implying a very scan- ty produce of corn, My time was limited ; but getting up early in the morning, I was conduct- ed to the garden, which I found situated ona sott of bank, sloping towards the river, sur- rounded by an old thorn-hedge, and sheltered by a few spruce and larch firs of a good size, and in a very thriving condition, of the age of about thirty-five years, as I guessed. I particularly noticed, that this garden was not even their best soil; there being a haugh of fine land beyond it, towards the river, in which were their drilled crops, turnips, potatoes, and some corn., On entering this garden, (or rather orchard), the loads of apples and pears, and the vast size | and healthy appearance of the fruit-trees, ab- f FRUITS IN THE HIGHLANDS. 177 solutely astonished me ;—in fact, I think I can venture to assert, that I have no recollection of ever having seen a greater crop on the same num- ber of trees, in any one place. As I have said, the trees were of very large size in general, and they were loaded with fruit, from the lowest to the top branches, which last were bent quite downwards in a pendulous state. Many of the younger and smaller trees were propped and supported by forked sticks ; and other branches were shewn to me, which had been broken down by the weight of the fruit. It at once occurred to me, that this crop must have escaped the severe weather of spring, by blossoming later than ours in the Lothians. On examining the fruit, they proved, no doubt, to be chiefly of the ordinary kinds: some of these I was unacquainted with, and many of them I could not name; as it is often more difficult to name the coarser sorts, than the finer and more valuable. I observed, however, of apples, the White Hawthornden, Strawberry, and Red- streak, and an apple generally called the Sugar and Water ; and of pears, the Early Carnock in great abundance, and of excellent colour and quality ; and the uncommon little excellent pear called John Monteith’s ; the fruit of this last, very small and mach scabbed, but of good flavour. I perceived they had the Crawford or Lammas, but its fruit was past. I looked in 178 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ~ vain for our excellent Scots pear, the Auchan ; it did not seem to exist in the garden. Great as. was my surprise with the apples and pears, it was nothing when compared with that excited by the plums. ‘There were several trees loaded to excess with the true Damson, (if I be not very much mistaken, but which I am un- willing possitively to assert it was;) in fact the trees were clustered with them, and literally black and blue, as was the ground below them : For this fruit seemed to be utterly disregarded, not being a good eating plum. I recommend- ed strongly to Mr M. to order a stock of sugar, and preserve them in pots; when he could not fail to turn them to excellent account. I next took particular notice of a good sized roundish pale-red plum, somewhat resembling the Imperial, though assuredly not it ; and even a better fruit, as I thought. With this plum I confess myself unacquainted ; the stone was free, in a large open cavity ; the flesh fand flavour extremely good. But I am well acquainted with the _ next I have to mention, the Yellow Magnum and GREEN-GAGE, both thriving luxuriantly, and with excellent crops of fruit; the Magnums large, well-shaped, free from gum, and of a rich yellow colour all over ; the Gages, of the true brownish and green colour, and completely ripened, though some of them were cracked by FRUITS IN THE HIGHLANDS. 179 the rains. These were. growing on standards, in the heart of Lochaber, and where the snow on the tops of the hills was visible to us from the garden on the 23d of September! And so little were they thought of, that our conductor did not know their names, in English at least, and I did not inquire whether he did so in Gaelic. Indeed he took more delight in calling our ats tention to a stock of shot cauliflower, as being a much finer thing: more uncommon in that garden it undoubtedly was, being at the time quite unique. I own I was much surprised by what I have thus attempted to describe, perhaps with some prolixity ; but I conceive the notice of facts like these, to be of the utmost importance, both to this Society, and to the country in general. If some of the best and most esteemed fruits will _ thrive so luxuriantly, and produce fruit in such perfection, with so little-aid, and with so few apparent local advantages, in the inland parts of Inverness-shire, surely the fact fcannot be too generally known, nor the planting of these too generally recommended. Horticulture may thus become an object of serious attention in the Highlands ; and where fruit-trees thrive s so well, expected to do so. Before leaving the Bitch of Keppoch, I re- gret I did not take more particular notice of the * 180 _ HORTICULTURAL! MEMOIRS, * soil. As far as my recollection serves, it was more of a clay than a loam; little of it at all culti- vated, only a patch or two dug occasionally for vegetables, and no appearance of drains, or any other work of art; though the country is naturally one of the most wet and rainy in Scot- lJand.. In short, so far as I could observe, it did hot appear to possess any particular local advan- tages, beyond most other considerable residences in the Highlands, and not so many as we very frequently meet with, in respect either to soil, shelter, exposure or climate. To conclude, every day’s experience seems to shew us that we are ignorant what our country and climate are capable of producing, more es- pecially when aided by proper care, attention and skill; and that we are only learners in the extensive field of horticulture ;—a doctrine which cannot. be too much kept in view, and inculca- ted by our Society. And when it is further ob- served, that most part of the varieties of fruits we are at present acquainted with, have been discovered either by chance, or by random ex- periment ; that new sorts and improved varie- ties are coming to light daily, as well as new and improved modes of cultivating them; and that, by well regulated experiments, we have every probability, not only of improving those we already possess, but of discovering sorts bet- ter adapted to our country and climate ; surely FRUITS IN THE HIGHLANDS. 181 these considerations must instigate us strongly to exertion and perseverance. It is but a few years since the first Ribston Pippin was disco- vered growing in a hedge at Ribston-Hall, the seat of Sir Henry Goodricke, in Yorkshire. Who can say but that a better summer pear than the Jargonelle may yet be found out? and better apples than the Golden Pippin or the Nonpareille? Let us then by every means in our power, en- deavour to propagate and improve those fruits we are already possessed of, and if possible try to produce new sorts and varieties, of finer qua- lity, better adapted to our climate, and (with God’s blessing) we may indulge the hope of in due time ‘ reaping the fruits in abundance,’ Loretto House, Nov. 1811. VOL, I. N 182 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. XVIII. An easy method of destroying the Blue Insect that breeds on the bark of wall-trees, and causes them to canker and die. By Mr. cian pucaliny Gardener to Lady Elcho, at Amisfield. a (Read 5th March 1811.) Ts May 1807, when I entered as gardener at Alderstone, near Haddington, many of the wall- trees were infected with the blue insect. In particular, there were two golden pippin apples so overrun, that I was going to throw them out, or at least to cut them over, and re-engraft them in the following spring. During the winter, however, I ioc to try an experiment for the destruction of the insects and their eggs. I collected a considerable quan- tity of chamber-ley ; and when it had been kept for several weeks, I one afternoon unnailed the affected trees, and with the garden engine washed them with the stale ley. It was after sunset, and so hard a frost, that the liquid was soon con- ON DESTROYING. THE BLUE INSECT. 183 verted into ice upon the branches. I nailed the trees again to the wall, and atthis time took no farther notice of them. In the following summer, the trees made fine wood in every part; and the next year again, (1809), they bore the best crop that I ever saw ; and they are now as healthy as any trees in the garden. | A few of the vermin, indeed, still ap- peared, which had lain concealed about the spurs ; but ‘where the stems were clean, there were none to be seen. — I intended to have repeated the experiment on the same trees during the past winter, as the insects seemed again to be on the increase: but my removing to Amisfield in November last, has prevented it. Here, however, I have ample room for the same sort of experiment ; as nearly one-half of the trees in this garden, is affected, and severely injured by the same insect. I intend to have recourse to the above remedy; and shall com- municate the result. Meantime, as the experiment is very simple, and within the reach of every one, I thought it best to communicate it without delay to the Society, 184 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Additional Remarks by Mr Barnet. In the course of winter 1811, I repeated the experiment with chamber-ley on several fruit- trees here ; and have since had the satisfaction to find that they are entirely freed of the blue insect. It does not appear, however, that the applying of the liquor in the time of frost, is ne- cessary to its success; trees washed in fresh weather, being equally cleaned by the applica- tion. Amisfield, — May 1812, | | | ON MOVING LARGE FRUIT-TREES, 185 XIX. Observations on the Transplanting of Fruit-Trees at an advanced age, especially Pear-Trees : On the cause of Barrenness in Pear-Trees ; and on the best method of rendering them produc- tive. By Mr Tuomas Tuomson, Wemyss Castle, Fife. (Read 5th June 1811.) I src the indulgence of the Society, while I re- late the circumstances that first induced me to make the experiments on fruit-trees, which are to form the subject of the present communica- tion. In the year 1785, I was engaged to take charge of the Garden of Tyningham, in East Lothian, belonging to the Right Honourable the Earl of Hadinton, where there was a choice collection of the best kinds of fruit-trees culti- vated in this country. ‘These in general had given satisfaction, excepting upon one wall of French pears, which his Lordship said had very N $3 186 - - HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. much disappointed him, as at a former period they had borne fine crops, but had latterly al- most ceased bearing; and the very few fruit they now produced, were of an exceedingly in- ferior quality: These evils, he imputed to the roots having got down into a bad soil. To me it appeared obvious, from the strong growth of the. trees, that it was not ‘to any defect in the soil or the roots, that the mischief was to be — ascribed ; but to a belt of planting, that had been placed too near the wall, so as almost to exclude the sun and air. I was persuaded that the pear-trees would do no good unless the belt were reduced. As the proprietor would not consent to remove this or- namental belt of planting, I then proposed to re- move a few of the best kinds of the pears, toa more favourable situation. With this plan he was highly pleased; but he said he was afraid it would not be practicable to do so with safety, as the trees had stood twenty-five years, and many of them covered 500 square feet of wall. I re- solved, however, to make the trial. In the month of November, I opened a trench * | four feet from the stem of the trees, in a circular form, and sufficiently wide to enable me to get to all the strong roots, which I cut off smoothly, with a sharp knife; I then filled up the trench again with fine rich earth. Though the spurs of the trees had got rather far from the wall, yet I ON MOVING LARGE FRUIT-TREES, 187 did not judge it prudent to cut them at the same time with the roots, as I thought they would, if left, cause the roots to push out a greater quantity of young fibres in the summer ; and that it would be against the tree to have both the wounds of the roots and top to heal at the same time. . The November following, I cut-in the spurs as close to the wall as possible ; and where this could not be accomplished to. my liking, I touk them off altogether. To those who are pre- judiced in favour of old practices, it may appear strange to deprive a pear-tree of its spurs, as they might doubt of its being likely to geta fresh supply. I had, however, a different opi- nion; for having observed, that generally where a large branch was cut off,.a number of young shoots made their appearance, I therefore con- cluded, that a tree deprived of a large portion of its roots, instead of forming wood-buds, would form only flower-buds, This I found, to; be the case ; for all along the branches, where the spurs had been taken off, a number of strong buds were formed, which in many cases became fruit- buds the second year, , I do not know any circumstance in the train- ing and managing of pear-trees, especially of the more delicate kinds, of greater importance, than that of keeping their spurs close to,-the wall, with the knife; for when they have been neglected for a few years in this respect, they N4 188 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. become little better than standards, the fruit. small and gritty,and of very inferior flavour, so as hardly to be known. Two years after cutting the roots, I removed the trees to the situations intended for them, having previously made pits of sufficient width and depth, and having at hand a quantity of rich fresh mould for filling them up. Considerable care must be observed in this part of the operation, as upon its being well performed, depends much -of the success. I generally proceed in the following manner +: The tree being uwnnailed from the wall, the branches are bound together, so as to prevent their breaking; a trench is then opened on the outside of that which was made for the purpose of cutting the roots; the whole ball containing’ the roots is then undermined, and as much of the loose earth is removed as can be done without injuring the young fibres on the outside, they being what the tree must depend upon for its immediate support : the tree must then be care- fully moved to its new situation, placing it a little deeper in the pit than it had formerly stood, and raising it gently, as the mould is filled in, and at the same time distributing the fibres as regularly as possible, with the hand, and not al- lowing them to remain in tufts. If this is not attended to, they will be apt to become mouldy and rot, which would be a great loss to the tree. A bason of a few inches deep, should be formed. ®N MOVING LARGE FRUIT-TREES. 189 all round the stem of the tree, extending as far as its roots, for the purpose of ‘watering, which ‘should be done frequently if the soil is dry. Nail the branches slightly to the wall, allowing sufli- cient room for the tree to subside; and in the following March they may be nailed in for good. In the course of the summer, they may be wa- tered twice or three times a week with the gar- den engine, over all their branches; but this should be done only when the evenings are fine and free from frost. Of all the trees treated in the above manner, not one failed ; most of them had fruit the second year after moving, and the third they had a fine crop of large and well fla- voured fruit, and were besides in as great vigour as if they had never been removed. Barrenness in the pear-tree may arise from va- rious causes, but most generally from improper situation, or a too copious supply of the vegetable sap ; for example, planting the Colmar, Cressane, Beurré, &c. on a north-east or north-west aspect ; when it is certain, that these not only require the best aspect, but also a very good season to bring them even to tolerable perfection in our cli- mate. When barrenness happens from the above cause, I know of no remedy so likely to effect a cure, as that which I have before recommended, and which I have practised with so much suc~ cess. 190 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Barrenness in the pear also happens from the improper selection of stocks or scions, or some- times from both. Pear-stocks are generally rai- sed from seeds ; and seedlings, though produced from the same tree, are very different in their nature, some growing very strong and luxuriant, while others are dwarf and crabby. If a luxu- Tiant stock be grafted with a scion taken from a : strong shoot neat the stem of the tree, and the young tree be planted in a deep rich soil, it may become a fine looking tree, but very unfruitful, making wood only, without forming flower-buds. I have tried various methods to render such trees fruitful, but have found none to equal that of root pruning. This however must be done with much caution; the strength and vigour of the tree should be well considered, and also the nature of the soil. Inno case should the roots be cut nearer to the stem than about four feet, and only such as are strong, and especially those that have a tendency directly downwards. The cut should be made with a sharp instrument, and very clean so as to heal easily. When root pruning has once been performed judiciously, it seldom needs to be repeated; at least if it has had the effect of throwing the ‘tree into a fruit- bearing state, as then a desiccation takes place in the whole: plant, which will prevent it again; becoming so luxuriant. ON PEAR-TREES. 19] Experiment made on a Cressane Pear-Tree. Tuts tree was planted against a south wall, and trained with an upright stem, and its branches horizontally trained, covering a space of wall sixty-five feet in length, and twelve feet high. It had borne fine crops for many years; for two or three years it had not borne such good crops as formerly, and had got in- to a very luxuriant state, for a tree of its size and age; this I attributed to its roots having reached a richer stratum of soil, as the border in which it was planted had been raised above six feet, to bring it toa level with the rest of the garden. I therefore thought it might be difficult to get at its roots, to cut them so effec- tually, as to produce a sufficient change in its constitution, and resolved on trying the follow- ing experiment. ‘The earth was removed from the lower part of the stem for a few inches be- low the surface, and with a hand-saw the stem was cut two thirds through, and the earth filled in again. ‘The effect produced was astonishing ; instead of throwing out such a quantity of shoots as it had done for the last two or three years, it produced only flower-buds, and the next sea- son I had the satisfaction of seeing it produce a fine crop of fruit: at one gathering, I took from it forty-seven dozen of fine handsome fruit, Wemyss Castle Garden, r April 1811, ) 199 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. XX. On destroying Caterpillars, removing Mildew, &¢. By Mr Joun Kyte, Blair Drummond. (In a Letter to the Secretary.) { sez by the Weekly Journal that you are to have a meeting of gardeners soon. Aslam at too great a distance to attend, I here offer you a few remarks. If you think it worth while, you may let them be known to my horticultural | brethren. As to the Caterpillars on gooseberries, I have © tried many ways. The only way that I got the better of them, was to take them at the first | appearance, which is seen by small holes in the undermost leaves; pick off these leaves, which is soon done. I have commonly had to go over them a second time; but by so doing, I always preserve the fruit and the bushes from being hurt. But now I have fallen upon a better way. When the leaves ate fully out, go to the cow- dung-hill, and take the cow-urine; water round. ON CATERPILLARS, &c. 193 below the bush, on the surface of the ground, but not on the bush ; it will improve your crop, and free you of caterpillar. The Mildew on peach-trees, is occasioned by a very destructive insect. I was very much hurt with it here, and tried several ways, but could not get clear of it, till I watered the borders with cow urine; and for nine or ten years I have not had the least appearance of it. I give them a watering at the winter dressing, end of November, or in December, and then another after they set a-growing. I likewise do the same to the vines, and I never miss a good erop. As to Hot-beds, 1 make the beds with moss and dung ; I take the dung new from the stables ; lay first about a foot and half of dung, then a stratum of peat-moss about four inches, and then dung about six inches, moss four inches, and dung, and so on till I make the bed a proper height, giving allowance for sinking; and in less than three weeks it is ready for the seed or plants. I have used this method for several years with great success, and it makes fine ma- nure. The moss must be broke small, but it is not to be expected that every gardener has it in his power to get proper moss. Blair Drummond, Feb. 26, 1811. } 194 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. XXL. On destroy ing Wasps. By Mr Joun Mrircuexr, Moncrieft-House. (Read Hh a 1811.) | Havine been much troubled with wasps at this place, I have made trial of several methods to keepthem under. Destroying their nests is most efficaceous ; and the following simple way of do- ing so, I have practised for several-years past, and find it most beneficial. | The method I take to find out their nests, is | by observing, in a quiet sunny day, the course | of the flight of the wasps from the garden, fol- lowing them as far as I can observe them flying ; then waiting till others pass the same way, fol- lowing them likewise; and so on until I-reach ! their habitations. Having marked the place; in | the evening, when I think they are all in, Icome provided with a lantern and candle, and a match of damped gun-powder, made in a roll’on the end of a small piece of wood; I light it, and it ON DESTROYING WASPS. 195 burns like a squib; and introducing it into the hole, I put my foot on it for a few minutes. I then dig until I see the works, and having a panful of water ready, I throw it upon them, and work it all together like mortar. When the nest happens to be on a bush or tree, I hold the match below it, when the wasps soon fall stupified to the ground, and are destroyed in the same way as above. When I began to destroy wasp-nests in this way, I have in one season, and within 300: yards of the garden, destroyed upwards of fifty nests, without getting a sting, or passing a single wasp. They are every season diminishing in number, and I have not the smallest doubt, if every garde- ner were to use the same method, a great many fine fruit would be preserved, as well as honey- bees, which are much destroyed by wasps. In the common way of hanging up phials against trees, a great many wasps may be en- ticed into them ; but still the hive is breeding more. Large white glass phials, however, are useful for destroying the darge black flies, which are likewise very destructive to peaches. I puta little jam or jelly into them; I find it has a good effect to entice them into them ; and this is the only method I have found to keep them under. Moncrieff- House, } 21st February 1811, > e 196 ~ HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. XXII. On destroying the Green-fly, &c. and on bringing Pear-Trees into a bearing state. By Mr Wiutam Beattie, Gardener to the ee Hon. the Earl of Mansfield, at Scone. (Read 3d September 1811.) [ src leave to submit to the Society, a method — which I have practised with success, for the de- struction of the green-fly, as well as the black | vermin that infest cherry-trees. Take one peck of unslaked lime; put it into an hogshead ; fill it up with water ; having first bored a hole to draw it off by about a foot or nine inches from the bottom, so that the lime, when slaked, may lie under the hole: Let it stand twenty-four hours, then draw it off; and add half a pound of common soda, such as “6 used for washing, to the hogshead of lime-water. Twice | or thrice watering with this liquor, by means of a garden-engine, will destrey the vermin. Care must be taken not to exceed in the specified quantity of soda, otherwise it will destroy the ON DESTROYING THE GREEN-FLY, &c, 19% foliage being very acrid. The tub containing the lime, may be filled up a second time with water, stirring it well up, and may be used as before, adding the soda. New burnt lime is best ; for I found that lime that had lain some time, did not act so speedily, though by repeated application, it answered the purpose. Bringing Pear-trees inio a bearing state. Ir may be proper for me first to state to the Society, the nature and state of the trees on which my experiments were tried. The garden at Scone, is only five years old, the soil very strong in general, and the trees very luxuriant ; in particular peaches ; and pears so much so, that although they were nearly cever- ing the walls, I never had any blossom for fruit. Last year, in June, when nailing in the young shoots, the trees still appearing luxuriant, I be- gan to think of some method to check their rapid growth. Cutting the roots of trees in winter has been often represented by writers as sure to throw them into a bearing state; but it had not the desired effect with me, although I had adopted that plan two winters before. I now therefore began to think of cutting the roots at this period of the year, (June,) but was somewhat afraid of killing the trees. I VOL, f. O 198 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. however made the experiment on two peaches ; and after a week, I saw no alteration in the fo- liage. I then proceeded to cut the roots of the rest of my peaches, and also of two pears, an Autumn Bergamot and Golden Beurré; and, this spring, I had the satisfaction of seeing a very fine show of blossom, fruit being out of question: this season (1811.) The pears were both une commonly full, the Golden Beurré in particular. I believe indeed, that tree in general bears early. From the success (as I thought) that attended this experiment, I have this year cut the roots of the whole of my pears on a south aspect, con- sisting of Colmars, Cressanes, Poir d’Auch, &c. The result shall be communicated to the So- ciety. As some pears bear principally at the extremi- ties of the branches, perhaps, by training them in. the fan manner, and laying in some young shoots yearly, they would probably bear the second year, or more properly speaking, the third, when the shoots are two years old all over the tree. Scone Gardens, t July 15. 1811, — ON PREVENTING THE MAGGOT. 199 XXIII. On preventing the Maggot infesting the roots of Shallots, &e. By Mr Wiix11am Hennerson, Gardener to Sir Alex. — _ ander Muir Mackenzie, of Delvine, Bart. (In a Letter to the Secretary.) Read 3d September 1811. Tue following very simple mode of preventing the maggot from infesting the roots of shallots, and of preventing worms from attacking carrots, you will please to lay before the Caledonian Horti- cultural Society, at their next Quarterly Meeting. In all sorts of soils and aspects, shallots are in general destroyed or much hurt by the maggot ; but if my mode of culture be adopted, it will, I trust, be found completely to prevent the depre- dations of the insect. I pick out the very smallest of my shallot- roots for planting. I plant about the middle of October, the ground being previously manured with old well rotten dung, or house-ashes. The O02 200 . HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, | autumn-planting is the whole secret. By this management, I never have seen the shallots hurt by the maggot in the smallest degree. | When trying this experiment, I had a pared of spring-planted shallots, only seven feet dis- tance from those planted in the autumn. The spring planted parcel was totally destroyed by the maggot, while those planted in the autumn, were very productive and good. . The smallness of the roots planted, prevents them from growing mouldy. : The most intense frosts, I never have found to hurt the roots in the winter. : I planted last October, in one small bed, 204 shallot-roots, and lifted this August out of the same, above 5000 good clean roots, measuring in general about 34 inches in circumference, A preventive against the Worms infesting the Roots of Carrots in light early soils. Tuis garden is of a light early soil, and sel- dom produced. a clean crop of carrots, until I adopted the following mode of sowing, which occurred to me in the year 1807, having then got bad carrot-seed, a Beneral complaint at that time. I sowed the seed about the middle of March ; but finding by the Ist of May, that I had a very thin crop, I prepared the other half of the ON PREVENTING THE MAGGOT. 901 same brake, which was all under celery the year before, and I sowed four times the usual quan- tity of seed, knowing it to be bad: from this quantity, I obtained a good crop. The early sown, I allowed to stand, although very thin ; they were all destroyed by the worms, while those sown on the Ist of May were clean, good, and early enough for a general crop. Ever since that time, I have sown my princi- pal crop as late as the Ist of May, except in the year 1809, when I made the same experiment again, with the same result as in 1807. I am now therefore induced to believe, that it is owing to early sowing, that carrots are destroy- ed by the worm in light early soils. Delvine, 16th August 1811. } 03 Se "> ee ee ee tw Pate 202, HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ; XXIV. On transplanting large Fruit-Trees, whether Wall- Trees, Espaliers, or Standards. ’ By Mr James Stewart, Gardener to Sir John Hope, Bart. Pinkie. (Read 3d September 1811.) _ Tus first thing cleiming attention, is to prepare proper pits for the reception of the trees. They ought to be of a size sufficient to admit of the roots being spread out at full length, with two feet additional for encouraging the growth of new roots. If the trees are to be planted in borders which have been previously occupied by other trees, the soil should if possible be re- newed, but if that cannot be accomplished, as was the case at Pinkie, a cart-load at least of fresh good soil from some old pasture or ground that — has not been in cultivation, (loam, if good, 1s to be preferred,) with a quantity of well rotted dung, should be allowed to each tree, mixing the whole well with the old soil. In transplanting large wall-trees, begin with . ON TRANSPLANTING LARGE FRUIT-TREES. 903 drawing a semicircle, of extent according to the size of the tree: should the branches cover from 150 to 250 square feet of a wall, it may be eight feet in circumference, measuring from the trunk of the tree each way. Dig a trench round the semicircle three feet wide, and six inches below the roots; be careful in preserving the whole, and work out the earth from amongst them with a blunt three-pronged fork, throwing out the loose mould with the spade. Proceed thus till you have got fully under the tree The roots should be tied together loosely; the branches carefully loosened from the wall, and tied up in parcels to prevent their being injured. The tree must then be conveyed to the place where it is to be planted, Place it upright in the pit, so as the surface-roots may be level with the top of the border. Wellbroken earth is then to be packed in underneath and for about a foot round the bottom of the trunk, to fill up all vacuities where roots originate. All the roots are then to be earefully spread out at full length, cutting off those that are dead, bruised or knotty ; the remainder to be cut smooth at the ends, and at different lengths, keeping some at full length, others at five, four and three feet, and some even at one foot long ; taking care to preserve as many of the small fibres attached to the leading roots as pos- sible. Begin first at one side of the semicircle next to the wall, and lay out a set of the bottom O4 204 . HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. roots in a level and fan direction, taking care to spread out the small fibres in regular order ; co- ver this first layer with from two to three inches | of mould, packing it well with the hand, then spread another layer above the former, packing and covering as before, and so on till you finish at the top, never attempting to lay more at one time than can be readily reached. with the hand ; never setting a foot upon the roots that have been covered. In this way proceed with layer. after layer until you reach the centre of the semicircle ; then begin at the other side, and proceed as be- fore, cover the whole with earth to the height of two inches above the level of the border ; and after this, lay rotten dung three inches thick above all. A good watering should then be given, : to settle the earth about the roots. A few boards may be laid at the bottom of the wall to prevent the roots being trodden upon, while nailing up the trees. The principal branches only should be fixed at first, nailing up the whole five or six weeks after- wards, when the border has had time to settle properly. The only difference in moving espalier and standard trees is, that a full circle is to be dug round them. _ The best season for transplanting laa teed is from the middle of November to the middle of March. Dry mild weather should be chosen, | ON TRANSPLANTING LARGE FRUIT-TREES. 205 - frost and wet being both very unfavourable to. this operation. Above one hundred and sixty large trees have been transplanted at Pinkie within the last four vyears. Only three of these have failed ; and “some omissions took place in the management of these, otherwise they might also have succeeded. Several of the tratisplanted trees bore half a crop the first year; and one standard apple, above a bushel the’ second year. Watering and sprinkling water over the bran- ches of newly transplanted trees in dry weather is of great benefit. Pruning is to be attended to when the trees begin to shoot. It must be regulated by the strength of the tree: if the tree be vigorous, little pruning is requisite ; if otherwise, the knife ey be more oe used. Pinkie House, \ August 1811. A Committee of the Society having been appointed to examine the state of the transplanted trees at Pinkie, the following report was received, and an extra Sil- ver Medal was awarded to Mr Srewarr for this com- munication. . 206 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. “* September 1812. “* We were agreeably surprised to see very plentiful crops of fine fruit, on the trees in Pinkie garden, which were transplanted when full grown, between four and five years ago, when the site of the fruit-garden was changed, On the wall-trees espaliers and standards, the crops were equally good. Many of the branches of the standards were quite pendulous with the load of fruit. Numbers of the wall and espalier trees measure from twenty to forty feet between .the extremities of the branches, and are quite healthy. The principal kinds of trees transplant- ed, are Jargonelle, Winter Achan, Green Yair, and Carnock pears; and Hawthorndean, Non- pareil, Codling, Ribston Pippin and Gogar Pip-_ pin apples. Mr Stewart’s undertaking was per- haps the greatest of the kind ever attempted in this country : it has been most successful 3 and it is to be hoped that horticulturists will know how to appreciate so excellent an example. JaMEs SMITH. Pat. NEILL.”’ | i —— ON PRESERVING APPLES, &c. 207 XXYV. Method of preserving Apples and Pears: . By Mr James Stewart, at Pinkie. Mr Srewarr, having at the quarterly meeting of the Society on 5th June 1810, produced specimens of various kinds of apples in the most perfect state of preservation, was request- ed to communicate his method of keeping fruit; and after- wards transmitted the following account. Tue best time for gathering fruit, is when it begins to drop off spontaneously. This is from the middle of September to the end of October, Ladders which will reach to the top of the trees must. be provided ; likewise baskets for the re- ception of the fruit. In plucking fruit, the best rule is to take what appears ripest in your hand, and raise it level with the foot-stalk , if it parts from the tree, lay it carefully into the basket ; otherwise let it hang. The trees should there- fore be examined every three or four days, In the fruitery, the fruit is to be laid in heaps, and covered with clean cloths and mats aboye, or with good natural hay, in order to its sweat- ing. This is generally effected in three or four 208 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. days; and the fruit may be allowed to lie in the sweat for three or four days more, They are then ta be wiped, one by one, with clean cloths. Some glazed earthen jars must then be pro- vided, with tops or covers; and also a quantity of pure pit-sand, free of any mixture ; this is to be thoroughly dried on a flue. Then put a lay- er of sand an inch thick on the bottom of the jar; above this a layer of fruit, a quarter of an inch free of each other. Cover the whole with — sand to the depth of an inch; then lay a second stratum of fruit, covering again with an inch of sand, and proceed in this way till the whole be finished. An inch and a half of sand may be . placed over the uppermost row of fruit. The jar is now to be closed and placed in a dry airy si- tuation, as cool as ean but entirely free from frost. The usual time at which each kind of fruit ought to be fit for the table being known, the jars containing such fruit are to be examined, turning out the sand and fruit cautiously into a sieve. The ripe fruit may be laid in the shelves of the fruit-room for use, and the unripe is carefully to be replaced in the jars as before, but with fresh dried sand. wf Some kinds of apples managed in this way, will keep till July. Pears will keep till rR ‘the Terling till June. — —— — ——-__- __— i. Ree ee ON DESTROYING THE PINE-BUG. 209 XXVI. On destroying and preventing the Pine-bug. By Mr Avexanper Murrueap, Gardener to Sir John Belsches of Invermay. In a Letter to Mr Netti, Secretary. SIR, Since I wrote you last, I have seen some pine plants very much infested with the bug, and have completely cured them. According to your re- quest, and in order that the cure may come soon- er to the public, I shall endeavour to give the ne- cessary directions as distinctly as possible. First, take a small brush made of bass-mat, tied on a small stick, flat on the other end, to go down to the under end of the leaves where the bugs harbour most. With the brush and water clean them as well as possible, then put one pound of flowers of sulphur to one common garden pan- ful of water, if a little more, there is no danger of hurting them ;—the quantity according to the number you have to clean ;—put the pine plants into this liquor, and let them remain for twen, 210 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ty-four hours; be sure they are all covered, which may be done, by putting a board over them, and a small weight on it : when they have been immersed for twenty-four hours, take them ouf, set them on end with their tops down, let them stand till they be dry; then pot them, and treat them in the same manner as plants not _ infected. Do not replace them among infected plants ; if they are to be put into a pit where infected plants have been, remove the old tan or leaves and put in new. There need not be so much sulphur-liquor made up at once as may be necessary to cure a whole stock; but as one quantity of plants comes out, you may put in another: I have not found it to lose the effect. I last winter made up some in a pot, and as the fruit was eat, I took the crown and suckers that were on the plant, and put them, time after time into the same liquor, and found no defect in the cure. If in winter, it will be advisable to take the chill off the water, and keep it in a stove; if conve- nient to be done in summer, ‘the plants will take growth sooner. Some presume to say, that healthy plants will not take the infection. I beg leave to differ from them. . I got it by introducing plants, not know- ing them to be infected. I have at present some plants which I cured two years ago; and there ON DESTROYING THE PINE-BUG. 2h 1 is not the smallest vestige of the bug to be seen, which may be proved by mspection. The way that I pursued to clean my stock was this, I took crowns and suckers year by year, (after performing the cure on them,) and put them in a pit by themselves, filled with fresh leaves, as I use leaves only. ? | I do not think it advisable to apply the cure to fruiting plants. By shaking the earth from their roots, and otherwise going through the cure, the fruiting would be injured. I even did not trust my lads to clean my plants, but did it myself. I think I cleaned from twenty to thirty per hour, Iam, &c. Invermay, \ / 16th Aug. 1811. Ir was agreed that the above communication should be referred to Mr Beatie at Scone, and Mr Mirtcrern at Moncreifie House, as a committee of the Society, to examine and report. The following report was ‘accordingly received ; and thereupon the Silver Me- dal was voted to Mr Murruean, and his communi-. cation ordered to be printed. \ ‘NG 212 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. _ Mr Tuomas Dickson, Secretary. SIR, WE were favoured with yours requesting us to inspect an operation by Mr Muirhead for killing. the bug on pine plants. We had some difficulty to find any plants infected in this part of the country, but at last happened to fall in with some by accident; they were sent to Mr Muir- head’s, and we attended and saw the operation performed on the 2d of April. On the 9d of May we inspected them again, and found the insects completely destroyed. No doubt re- _mains in our minds, that in general it will prove an effectual remedy, and be of much use to those who may happen to have infected plants. We are, &c. | Ws. Beatriz. Joun Mitcuetrt, Moncreiffe Garden, i 2d May 1812. / RECEIPTS FOR CURRANT-WINE. 218 XXVIII. ‘Receipts for making Currant-Wine, which were - presented to the Caledonian Horticultural So- - ciety, during the years 1810, 1811 and 1812. ‘Aone other prizes announced by the Caledo- nian Horticultural Society, for the years 1810 and 1811, honorary premiums were proposed for ‘the best currant-wines ; and it was required, that each competitor should send an account of the method employed in preparing the wine. In consequence of this proposal, medals were award- ed to several different Ladies, as will be seen from the list of prizes, published in the 1st Number of these Memoirs, p. 243; and the following are the receipts which were given in with the three wines which were adjudged to be the best in each of these.two, years. September 1810. No. 1.—“ To every. English pint of Phe juice of fully ripe white. currants, were added two English pints of cold water, and one pound of raw sugar. | VOL, 1. % e14 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. | ‘‘ The fermentation was promoted by gentle agitation every day for eight or tendays. Butno article was added to proiiiote ferifientation. ‘© When it appeared from the taste, that the li- quor had obtained the pure vinous state, without either great sweetness on the one hand, or any obvious acidity on the other, which state was ac- quired in about the space of a month, the further progress of fermentation was checked by the ad- dition of a small quantity of pure ardent spirit. One bottle of good whisky, free from any pecu- liar flavour, was added to esenty gallons of the wine. <‘ After this, the cask was bunged up, sti allow- ed to remain at rest for six months. The pure wine was then racked off from the sediment, into another cask, in which it was allowed to remain twelve months before it was bottled. «« The wine now sent ta the Caledonian Horti- cultural Society, marked Vino pellite curas, was prepared in autumn 1805; so set it is at pre- sent five years old. No. 2.—-The wine to which the second prize was awarded, was marked On n’est jamais trop vieux pour apprendre, ‘The following was the receipt which accompanied it. “© One Scetch pint of currant juice ; One Scotch pint and a half of water ; Three pounds of sugar ; half lump sugar, and half soft sugar. RECEIPTS FOR CURRANT-WINE. Q15 » © Mix them together ina tub, then fill your barrel, What is over, keep for filling up, as it works: over; but it is better not to fill up more than twice. When done working, add one Scotch pint of aquavite or brandy, to twenty pints of the fermented liquor. | - * The wine sent, is flavoured with a small quantity of clary wine, the growth and manu- facture of Drumsheugh.’’ No. 3.—-With the wine marked Beatus ille qué procul negotits, ==Horna dulct vino promens dolio, Dapes inemptas apparet, the following receipt was sent : “‘ Squeeze the currants, when fully ripe, through ahair-searce. To every Scotch pint of juice, add two of cold water ; and to every Scotch pint of li- quid so mixed, a pound and a half of raw sugar. Dissolve the sugar thoroughly in some of the water before it be put into the barrel. It will begin to work in twenty-four hours. Fill it up every se- cond day with sugar and water made very sweet, (about one pound of sugar to a Scotch chopin of water, ) first taking off all the scum with a spoon. “‘ If the weather happen to be very hot, and if _the fermentation go on very briskly, filling up every third day will do better than every second day. When the fermentation is over, bung it P2 216 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. up close, and paste brown paper over the bung, Put leather between-the bung and the barrel, to keep it very: close. ‘Bottle it nine months afterwards.”’ September 1811. No. 1.—The first prize was adjudged to wine marked The true Falernian, with which the fol- lowing receipt was transmitted, «This currant-wine was made in the year 1805, in the proportion of one English pint of currant- juice, to two of water, with one pound of sugar ; but with the Dutch red currant, which the makers of it consider as a great improvement, from the effect which that kind of currant has, both on the colour and taste of the wine; and on that account, it ought certainly to be more cultivated. “ Wine made of the Dutch red currant does not require any spirits ; ; and will keep as well as any foreign. wine,”’ : No. 2.—Was marked Veritas, and according | to the sealed letter which accompanied it, the fruit, sugar and water, were as under: , “« To every Scotch pint of juice, a pint and a half of water ; and to every pint of the mixture, a pound and a half of sugar,’’ RECEIPTS FOR CURRANT-WINE. 217 No. 3.—Was marked Noble deeds are done by wine. According to the receipt sent, it was pre- pared in the following proportions. “¢ One English pint white-currant juice ; One English pint water ; And one pound of raw sugar. ‘* At the end of ten days, the fermentation was moderated by the addition of a little malt spirit.”’ September 1812. For the year 1812, a prize-medal was offered for the best home-made wine without the use of any imported material excepting sugar. Thirty-two different kinds were presented to the Society, many of which were excellent. But the judges gave the preference to a wine marked Ce vin d Ecosse Merite quelque chose ; which was found to have been prepared ipniingl to the following receipt : “ For a twenty pint cask, five one-half pints of white-currant juice, eleven pints of water, and twenty-eight pounds of sugar are required: Mix allin a large tub; skim the liquor well ; put it.in a barrel, and fill up the barrel with water and ‘sugar (one pound of sugar to a pint of water,) as long as the liquor ferments; after- wards add half a bottle of whisky ; then bung up the barrel. The wine will be ready for bott- ling by April or May.”’ P3 218 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ” XXVITI. Some Observations on the treatment of the Currant- bush during the ripening of the Fruit. By Mr James Macponatp, at Dalkeith Park, (Read 3d September 1811.) Tuc many excellent specimens of British-made wines, from the fruit of the currant-bush grow- ing in this country, which have already been pre- sented to the Caledonian Horticultural Society, ought to encourage our exertions for the improve- ment of that fruit. Iam therefore of opinion, that the following observations on the treatment of the currant-bush, may with propriety be laid before the Society. The plan which I am now to recommend, has mot, as far as I know, been employed by any other gardener; and with me it has for some years past, succeeded far beyond my expecta- tion, both in procuring abundance of fruit, and in increasing their flavour and size, = EES eee ON THE CULTURE OF CURRANTS, 219 I prune my bushes in December or January, shortening the last year’s shoots from an inch to an inch and an half. I at that time also clean and dig the ground among the bushes. The following spring they make strong shoots, and shew fruit abundantly. But when the fruit ar- rive at the period of stoning, then is the time when they require every assistance that can be bestowed, to make them swell freely, and toa good size. When, therefore, the fruit begin to shew any colour, which is in general about five or six weeks before they be fit for being pulled ; I take the knife and shorten all the young sum- mer shoots to five or six inches before the fruit. As I find that doing this by means of the knife is tedious, I have, for two years past, employed hedge-shears for clipping off these shoots. This answers equally well with the knife, and may be done at one third of the expence. A man may in this way go over half an acre of bushes in a day. By this method of pruning, at the season when the fruit is ripening, I find that the ber- _ Ties swell to a size full one-half larger than they formerly did with me. But besides this, it has the farther advantage of giving both sun and air more free access to the fruit.. By this means, the damp, as it is called, which is often very de- structive to currants in wet seasons, is prevented ; the damp seeming to arise from the bush being P4 51 9 Soy HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. too: much crowded with superfluous wood, and thus. deprived of air. , _ This practice, therefore, it is ‘my intention ta- continue ; and I trust that it will be found equally: advantageous by others who may adopt it. And _ I may conclude with observing, that several in- telligent gardeners, who have seen the fruit pro- duced under this method of treatment, have ex~- pressed great admiration, both of the general crop and of the size and flavour of the berries. At the General Meeting in September 1812, Mr Mac- DONALD produced some branches of his currant-bushes with the berries upon them; and these samples met. with universal. approbation, ON CANKER IN FRUIT-TREES. .- 921 XXIX. On Canker in Fruit-Trees. By Mr James Surrx, Gardener to the Right Hon. the Earl of Hopetoun, Ormiston-Hall. (Read 10th March 1812.) Tuar the canker, that most destructive dis- temper in fruit-trees, has made considerable ha- voc of late years, is evident from the mutilated state of several gardens and orchards in the country. Some of them, which, at a former pe- riod, produced fruit in great abundance, are, at present, in the last stage of existence ; the old and young trees being equally infected with this _ desolating malady. There are but few places in which this baneful disease does not prevail in a greater or less'degree ; and it is certainly a very fortunate circumstance when an orchard or garden is entirely free from so obstinate a dis- temper,. more especially, if it has been planted any length of time. For, although anew gar- den or orchard planted with young trees, may —_— oor 299 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. appear very healthy for a few years, yet the dis- ease may break out and render the most sanguine expectations abortive. As fruit-trees, especially apples, in some par- ticular places, and some delicate kinds in almost any place, are so liable to the canker, it must sure- ly be of the utmost importance to have this dis- temper prevented, or to assist and relieve in- fected trees, when they are in a curable condi- tion. The writer therefore proposes to lay be- fore the Society, the result of his experience and observations on the treatment of trees so in- fected. In order to treat this subject as distinctly as possible, it will be necessary to divide it into three separate heads. Ist, The pernicious effects of procuring scions for grafting, in a promiscuous manner. 2d, The effects of soils, subsoils and situations. 3d, The effects of injudicious pruning, acci- dental wounds, and other circumstances. ~ In discussing each of these heads; the causes of the canker will be pointed out; a few cases mentioned as they occurred in practice ; and the ‘means of preventing the canker, or of relieving the trees when in a curable condition, will be shown. : ON CANKER IN FRUIT-TREES, 323 I. Bad effects of procuring Scions in a promis- cuous manner. It is a received opinion with many, that the canker and cause of failure in several of our best fruits, proceed from the same sorts being conti- nued by grafting such a length of time ; and in- stances are given of the degenerate state of the Golden Pippin, the Grey Leadington, and seve- ral others of our best British apples. ‘This in some respect may be true, and it is much to be wished that they could be produced from seed. But it is well known, that fruit-trees when raised in this manner, sport in endless variety. Al- lowing the above opinion in some degree its force, there is another cause of the degeneracy of fruit which has operated with a more power- ful effect, that is, the promiscuous manner in which scions have been collected for raising plants, without considering the state of the trees from which they were taken. ‘The procuring of scions from infected trees is an undoubted means of extending the canker, which thus frequently appears very unexpectedly, especially if the trees were not raised by the person who planted them, or who comes to superintend them — afterwards. For, though the branches from which the scions are taken, may appear to be healthy, yet, if the other parts of the tree be ——_ B24, HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. much affected with the canker, the juices of thé scions will also be vitiated. When they are graft- ed on good stocks, they may indeed have a healthy appearance fot a few years; but as the seeds of the disease are carried along with them, it sooner or later breaks out in the young trees, and renders them unfit for any thing, but to be grubbed up and cast into the fire. When this disease concurs with a bad soil, or indifferent climate, or is encouraged by injudicious or care- less pruning, the malady increases with double rapidity, and soon ends in the total destruction of the trees. Among the Various cases in the writer’s prac- ticé in raising young trees from those infected with the canker, the following instances are men- tioned as being among the most conspicuous. 1. The large Dutch Codling apple trees being all nearly exhausted with the canker, and being anxious to preserve the sort, various attempts were tried to rear young plants, but all, sooner er later, proved abortive. The following was the most singular: a healthy stock was pitched on, and a vigorous scion grafted on it. The shoot produced the first year, was three and a half feet. long ; the second year it began to advance with equal vigour, but about midsummer, the canker broke out a foot above the graft ; in three weeks time, it ran round the young stem, and the top of the tree died almost immediately. ON CANKER IN FRUIT-TREES,. 225 2. In a Jargonelle pear. The scion was tar ken from an old tree which had been cut down and trained anew. As the young shoots were much infected with the canker, the most healthy one was chosen, and grafted on a stock in a south- west aspect. It continued to thrive for two or three years, when it was attacked by the canker, and the following season was almost overrun, On cutting away the diseased parts, it was found that the distemper had. so completely infected the whole plant, that the pith or medullary part of the shoots had the appearance of a. black thread, which continued downwards, and ter- minated where the tree was grafted. At the same time, the stock was found to be perfectly whole, 3. In 1804, a quantity of scions from apple trees were procured from different places, and grafted on good stocks.. As they were new sorts in this situation, they were carefully numbered, and observations made on the state of the trees from which they were taken. In 1805, twenty of the above young trees were planted as half standards. ‘This year (1811,) the destructive consequence of infected scions is clearly eyinced in the state of these trees: two of them are en- tirely killed by the canker; four of them are in an infected and sickly state: however, the re- mainder are in a healthy and luxuriant condi- tion, and bid fair for a’crop next season. The 226 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. cause of the above canker cannot be ascribed to the soil, as it is all of an equal quality ; but solely to the infection having been carried along with the scions,—an opinion fully countenanced by the state of the trees from which they were taken. Thus, it is evident, that grafting with scions taken from unhealthy trees, is attended with very bad consequences, and sooner or later ends in the total destruction of the plants. Therefore, such scions should always be rejected, when there is an opportunity of procuring others from healthy trees. In some particular sorts, it is not easy to attain scions for grafting, from trees which are entirely free of the canker ; therefore, the most healthy should be chosen, as there are still a few trees to be found even in the worst of cases, to which a decided preference ought to be given. Some particular kinds of fruit when rai- sed from healthy plants, are of four times more value than the general run. Il. Effects of Sorls, Subsoils, Situations, &c. _ Tue canker is sometimes brought on, or great- ly encouraged, by pernicious soils. There are cer- tain grounds which will corrode the roots in such a degree, that the trees ina short time will be all overrun with the canker ; stiff clayey grounds: ON CANKER IN FRUIT-TREES. 227 in flat situations, likewise encourage the canker, more especially if they be high and late. In such situations, vegetation is commonly late, the trees are kept longer in a growing state in the autumn, especially in wet seasons, and the young shoots not ripening properly, are liable to be killed by early frosts. When these shoots are left on the trees, they encourage disease, and sometimes bring on an incurable canker. Soils, may be tolerably good, and yet coun- teracted by subsoils of a corroding or very re- tentive nature. But as thése in the worst degree are commonly rejected, or proper means used to render them otherwise, they may be passed over ; yet there are several subsoils that will corrode the roots of trees in a slow and almost impercep- tible manner and bring on the canker, These should also be avoided, for they are equally, if not more disadvantageous than the former, and it is a great mortification, at the end of fifteen or twenty years, to find expectations blasted, at a time when the trees ought to have made a full remuneration for the trouble and expence of rearing them. In gardens or orchards which have been long oceupied with fruit-trees, the soil is generally exhausted by the nourishment formerly afforded, and when young trees are planted, they make but little progress, In a few years they get into oe NEARS ETS SELES 928 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. a sickly and dwindling state, shin frequently brings on the canker. » ) The canker is sometimes bought on ins pla- | cing trees in improper aspects, or planting the finer sorts as standards in cold situations. _. Examples might be given of the pernicious ©, effects of soils on apple, pear, peach trees, &c. _.but as these evils aré so conspicuous to those em- ~ ployed in the cultivation of fruit, it will be un- ~-necessary to mention them. | - On the effects of subsoils, the two following in- stances, from a number, may be mentioned, of ‘their corroding nature, which was rather unfore- ;seen, as the soil j is what may be eee tolerably spoados Tiw Jags. 4 : le In 1794, a Jargonelle pear-tree was plant- ed in a south-west’ aspect. The tree advanced in a vigorous and healthy manner, bearing good crops for a few years. In 1806, it had extend- ed thirty-five feet on'a wall twelve feet high, and in-that season it produced forty dozen of fine pears. Since that'time, it has gradual- ly become infected with the canker. For these two years past, the tree has not only been com- pletely overrun, but the fruit has likewise been infected. On digging two and a half feet deep in the border, it was found that the roots had penetrated into a very indifferent subsoil, which, in all probability, had induced the disease. ON CANKER IN FRUIT-TREES. 229 2. In a south-east aspect adjacent to the above- mentioned wall, a peach-tree was planted, which continued to advance with equal rapidity for a few years, but on the roots coming into the sub- soil, the canker broke out in an obstinate man- ner, and rendered the tree useless in a short time. yi Among the cases of exhausted soil, the fol- lowing have been particularly observed by the writer. 1. A plot of ground consisting of about half an acre, which had been occupied with fruit-trees for seventy or eighty years, was almost cleared ; and in 1794, young ones were planted. Since that period, they have advanced in a very slow and sickly manner, and several of them have been infected with the canker, which terminated in their destruction. The remainder continue in a dwindling and sickly state. The soil is a black loam, and on being examined, it was found to be nearly four feet deep, moderately dry, and to every appearance was not made up of any pernicious substance. 2. On being desired to examine the state of a garden and orchard in the neighbourhood, which is situated on the sea-coast, in a favourable cli- mate, the soil was found to be pretty good. ‘The oldest trees seem to have been planted about the beginning of the last century ; but, from authene tic accounts, the greatest number was planted in VOL. I. Q. 880 _ HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. 1740, and the remainder within the last twenty: years. This garden and orchard have produced abundance of fine fruit, but at present they are very much exhausted, the whole trees being less or more infected with the canker. The young trees are equally ill as the old ones, if not worse, which proceeds from the worn-out state of the soil, which has carried an exhausting croap of trees such a length of time. 7 Instances might be given of the pernicious effects of placing the liner fruit-trees in impro- ‘per aspects, and of those which require wails, being planted as standards, for the canker is very frequently brought on by so doing. But, as these effects are so obvious to every one in the least acquainted with their cultivation, it seems un- necessary to notice them. | Thus, the canker may be brought on, and fostered by pernicious soils and subsoils ; or great- ly encouraged by exhausted soils, cold situations, and improper aspects. Soils of a corroding nature, should be careful- ly avoided, else disappointment will be the ine- vitable consequence. But where it happens that no choice of situation is left, the bad soil, to a proper depth, should be removed; and to guard against the destructive consequences of the subsoil, the bottom should be paved, or covered over with a composition which the roots cannot penetrate. It should then be filled up with ON CANKER IN: FRUIT-TREES. 231 fresh loam of the kind best adapted to the diffe- rent sorts of trees intended to be planted. Soils which are retentive, should be drained in an effectual manner. When the situation is flat, although the soil may appear to be tolerably good, the fatal effects of latent water should be particularly guarded against. In such situations, the placing of flags under the trees, will be found to be of the utmost importance, as it makes the roots take a horizontal direction, and they are thus not so apt to penetrate into the subsoil ; be- sides, if it should ever be found necessary to re- move any of the trees at a future period, it could be done with more ease, and with more safety to the plants. Although this may appear but a trivial object, yet experience frequently shews, that it is of considerable utility in the cultivation of fruit. Exhausted soils, such as are found in gardens and orchards which have been long occupied with fruit-trees, require considerable labour and expence, before they can be brought to a state fit to produce young plants in a healthy and vi- gorous manner. In some cases, it would be most advantageous to make new plantations of fruit-trees at once, if the situations will allow. But when old gardens or orchards are wished to be preserved, the most effectual manner of renewing the soil, so as to produce fruitful and vigorous trees, is to remove those which have 232 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ceased to bear, and are in asickly or cankered condition. ‘Then the ground should be covered over to a considerable depth with new soil, well enriched with manure, which may be stronger or lighter as the old soil requires ; to which may be added, a proportion of lime, (or lime-rubbish from an old building passed through a screen, ) to act as a stimulus, and to set the dormant par- ticles of the old soil to work. After this, the ground should be trenched over to a proper depth, blending the old and new soils together in the operation of trenching. What young trees are wanted, should be planted at the pro- per season, adapting the sorts to the situation. With respect to situations, or improper aspects, in the case of infected trees ; the best method of recovering them, is to remove them to situations more congenial to their nature. This should be done before the juices are completely vitiated, otherwise the best situations or aspects will not produce the desired effect. The canker may also be prevented by planting healthy sorts adapt- ed to the situations or aspects. Il. Effects of injudicious pruning, accidental wounds, &c. Tue canker in fruit-trees, is sometimes brought on by pruning in a careless manner, leaving ON CANKER IN FRUIT-TREES. 233 stumps of improper lengths, or leaving the wounds ragged and exposed, so as to lodge and retain water, which by the operation of the ex- ternal air, causes rottenness to take place. This gradually penetrates deeper and deeper, until the disease takes so firm a hold of the trees, that it is impossible to remove it, and it often termi- nates in an incurable canker. » Trees frequently suffer much from accidental wounds, such as limbs being torn off by high winds, the bark knocked off by ladders, ham- mers, &c. hurts by nails, or the branches cloth- bound ; as also by allowing the branches on standard-trees, to cross each other, which, by their friction in high winds make large wounds ; birds destroying the buds ; insects and other ver- ' rain preying on the foliage and young shoots; _ all which are attended with very pernicious con- sequences to fruit-trees, and are frequently the means of bringing on the canker in an obstinate _ degree, if left entirely to the efforts of nature. Several instances might be given of the effect of careless pruning, but the following may chiefly be noticed. ‘Some years ago, several large limbs “were cut off from an old apricot-tree with a hatchet in the time of autumn, and the wounds left in that manner until the following spring. On examining the wounds, some of them were found extending more than three inches below where the branches were cut, which must soon 934 ‘HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. have ended in the total destruction of the tree, had the wound not been dressed anew, and covered ' over with soft paste, to exclude water and ex- ternal air. Innumerable instances might be given oi the injuries sustained by fruit-trees from high winds, wounds from ladders, &c.; and the destruction of {buds, foliage, and young shoots, by birds, in- sects and vermin; but as these are so conspicu- | ous in neglected orchards and gardens, it will be unnecessary to mention them, From what has been said on improper pru- ning, accidental wounds, &c. it appears certain, that the canker may be brought on, or greatly encouraged by treating trees in a careless man- ner. Therefore, all pruning should be performed in a careful and neat manner, never leaving un- necessary stumps or ragged and unsightly wounds. When branches of any considerable magnitude are amputated, the wounds should always be covered over with some soft substance that will adhere to the place. When limbs of trees are torn off by high winds, ‘or wounds made accidentally, they should be dressed with all convenient speed, to prevent -any bad consequences. All the branches which cross others, should be pruned off, and measures taken to prevent the trees from being overrun | with insects and vermin, By these means, the. ON CANKER IN FRUIT-TREES. 935 trees will be kept in a healthy state, and not be so liable to be attacked by the canker. It is certainly much easier to prevent, than to cure that destructive distemper, if it has completely Jaid hold of the trees. Thus, the canker may, in a great measure, be prevented or relieved, by avoiding the evils and using the precautions pointed out. And the wri- ter has no hesitation in saying, that this power- ful enemy to fruit-trees might be almost, if not wholly, banished from the country, were more attention to be paid to the procuring of healthy stocks and scions ; planting the trees in congenial soils; adapting the sorts to the situations and aspects ; pruning the trees in a judicious manner ; ‘paying proper attention to accidental wounds; and keeping the trees free from insects. Before concluding, the writer cannot in silence pass over a circumstance which is very closely connected with the cultivation of fruit, and 1s most unaccountable, nay, almost unpardonable, in this enlightened age of science! the more especially, as horticulture is now brought to such perfection. Itis the careless and indifferent man- ner in which the situations of gardéns and or- chards are fixed on at present, compared to the care exercised at a former period, and that espe- cially when a choice is left. Prior to the Refor- mation, when the cultivation of fruit was almost entirely under the superintendance of the clergy, 4 ~~ . 236 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS.» _. proper situations for fruit frequently determined - the sites of the abbeys and monasteries. Hence, the fruit-trees continued healthy, and reached to a great age. Some of them, or their imme- | ‘diate offspring, are at present standing as an oc- ; ‘cular demonstration of the merit of the choice. SS now, gardens and orchards are frequently laid out in some obscure corner, and little or no attention paid to the nature and quality of the | soil or subsoil. Hence, fruit-trees; become mu- tilated and diseased in a few years, and the ex- a pectation is often blasted, after considerable ex- pence has been bestowed in rearing them. It is a certain fact, and cannot be too strongly enforced, that to indifferent soils, and above all, pernicious subsoils, the failure in the cultiva- tion of fruit in this country is to be attributed, much more than to the want of climate. Ormiston- Hall, 29th Nov. 1811: 6 ueamyou po dg ey & By J) Ve LEC Md TT 7L » L1A shomepy pamynapiopy unru0pezn) ON THE GOLDEN ORIGINAL APPLE. 237 xX, Observations on the Propagation, by cuttings, of the Original, the Mother, the Oslin, or the Bur-knot Apple-tree. By A. Duncan senior, M. D. & P. (Read September 4, 1810.) Amone the various kinds of apples which are propagated in Britain, there is one to which, in my opinion, less attention has been paid than it deserves. The apple to which I allude, is, in different parts of the country, known under dif- ferent names. At St Andrew’s, once the metro- politan See of Scotland, and of course the resi- dence of numerous ecclesiastics, to whom, as is well established, we are principally indebted for the introduction of the finest fruits into Scotland, it is generally known by the name of the Ovi- ginal apple. At Aberbrothock, a place still ce- lebrated for the venerable ruins of a magnificent and picturesque abbey, it has the appellation of the Oshn apple. By several of the profession- al gardeners in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, R 238 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. it is stlyed the Afother apple, by others the Gol- den apple ; and in different parts of England, as well as in the works of some eminent horti- culturists, it is denominated the Bur-knot apple. ‘The last of these names is evidently derived from the appearance of the tree: For it in ge- neral abounds with a particular sort of burs or knots. The appellation of Oslin, is supposed to be derived from its being first brought into Bri- tain from a village of the name of Oslin in France. ‘Fhe denomination of the Golden apple, has, in all probability, been given it from its beautiful yellow colour. But of all the names by which it has been distinguished, that of the Ori- ginal, appears to me to be the most characteris- tic: For, from the easy method in which it is propagated, it may justly, I think, be considered as a Afother or Original apple. 3 Every bur observable upon this tree, can, I think, be clearly demonstrated to be in reality, a root above ground; and this bur requires only to be planted in a proper soil for sending out nu- merous fibres, which will nourish and support even a large branch connected with it. ‘This’ mode of propagation by slips, which among the apple tribe, is almost, though not altogether, pe- culiar to this species, has long been known, and is not without some remarkable advantages. For, by this means, a tree in full bearing, and of a considerable size, may be obtained almost imme- ON THE GOLDEN ORIGINAL APPLE. 239 diately. Of this a very strong proof is at pre- sent afforded in the garden of Mr Peacock, at Pilrig, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. In the month of February last, he cut off from an old Original tree, about fifty branches, each provided with a proper bur. ‘These were im- mediately planted in a good soil, and almost all of them grew luxuriantly. More than one-half of these slips, though detached from the mother tree only in the spring, blossomed the same year, and produced ripe fruitin the autumn; and I think there can be little doubt that they will continue to be good bearing trees. Indeed, this is also demonstrated in Mr Peacock’s garden. Three years ago he planted a pretty large branch furnished with a proper bur; and that autumn I counted above fifty fine apples upon it. Last year it produced upwards of twenty, and this year there are more than forty upon it. Hence, there can be no doubt, that a branch furnished with a bur, at once becomes a permanently bear- ing tree. The same fact has also been fully con- firmed in other gardens in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, especially in the garden of Mr Lyon at the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, and in my own garden at St Leonard’s Hill. Indeed, this circum- stance has been long and well known at St Andrew’s, where this apple is more cultivated than at any other place with which I am acquaint- ed. I have had an opportunity of witnessing it R2 940 - HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. from the earliest period of my life, especially in the garden of my grandfather, Mr William Vi- lant, formerly Professor of Civil History in the University of St Andrew’s, a zealous amateur in gardening, who was particularly partial to this apple. Nay, the probability is, that this mode, of propagating it was known in Scotland, as early as the apple itself was introduced into the country. But this ready mode of multiplying the Original apple by slips, has, I think, been less attended to by professional gardeners, than, from its importance, it deserves. The Original apnle has not indeed the pro- perty of beinga keeping apple. It is eaten with greatest advantage immediately when it falls from the tree, In consequence of a gentle shake, after itis fully ripe. When used at that time, ‘very few apples are superior to it, either in ap- | pearance, in smell, or in taste. In point of taste, we have indeed no certain standard, each judging for himself. I shall oniy observe, that the Ori- ginal apple has a considerable degree of sweet- ness, and a pleasant acidity, combined with a pe- culiar, and what I think a very delicate flavour ; in point of smell, I know no apple superior to it ; and its appearance when fully ripe, is that of a most beautiful yellow. It does not however retain these qualities for any length of time; but when taken immediately from the tree, I am ac- quainted with no apple which excels it, in any ON THE GOLDEN ORIGINAL APPLE. 241 —” of the three qualities mentioned, in taste, in smell, or in colour. From the colour, it 1s not improbable, that the Original, is the Aurea mala, much esteemed by the Romans in the days of Virgil *. Nay, a fertile imagination may carry it to much more ancient times, and suppose it to be the Golden Apple which grew in the Garden of Hesperides. * Quod potui, puero, sylvestri ex arbore lecta Aurea mala decem mis:. Vira. Ecl. 3: Additional Observations on the Original or Bur- knot Apple, by Dr Duncan senior. (Read September 1. 1811.) At the Quarterly Meeting of our Society, held on the- 4th of September 1810, I read some observations on the Original Golden apple, which is known in some parts of England by the name of the Bur-knot apple, from the numerous protuberances resembling burs, which appear on many of its branches. In that paper I asserted, that every bur, on whatever part of the tree it might be situated, was in reality a root above ground : And I then expressed a hope, that at some future meeting, I might be able to afford R 3 949, HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ocular demonstration of this, to every membet who might be present at that meeting. Such ‘demonstration, Iam now, I think, ‘able to ‘pro- duce: For I have brought to the Society, several branches cut from a tree in my own garden, which have been ‘planted some of them two years, others only about six months ago. From even the slighest inspection, it must clearly appear to every one, that all the burs sunk in the ground, give out numerous fibres, affording nourishment to the branch, and thus producing both new wood and fruit. I would particularly call the attention of the Society to the branch NO. 1. This branch I cut from a tree in my own garden, on the morning of the 4th of September 1810, that I might then exhi- bit to the Society the appearance both of the fruit, the leaves, and the wood. ‘That branch, after the removal of the apples, which were, I believe, eaten at our last anniversary dinner, was planted the next day. It was taken from the ground yesterday, and is again exhibited to the Society. ‘Those members who examine it, will observe, that although it contains no fruit, and has not made much wooed, yet that there is. a considerable crop of healthy leaves. But I beg leave particularly to direct the attention of the members to the numerous fibres issuing from a large bur which was sunk under ground, afford- ing, in my opinion, incontrovertible ocular de-. ON THE GOLDEN ORIGINAL APPLE. 045 monstration, that every bur in this particular species of apple, is in reality a root above ground, which wants only a nidus into which it may send forth its fibres. With the branch now exhibited, whose roots have been produced from the burs, I also now present to the Society a branch containing both fruit, leaves and burs, which was cut from a tree this morning. It is not my intention to plant this branch with a view of repeating the experiment which I have related. If any mem- ber doubts the accuracy of it, he may easily re- peat it for himself. But I wish to recommend it to the Society, to employ some ingenious artist to make an accurate drawing of it, with a vicw to a -coloured engraving. By this means, the Original Golden apple, which is at present but little icultrvated, although it perhaps may ‘be the Aurea mala of Virerl, ‘or ‘the ‘Golden -apple-of the ‘Hesperides, will be accurately ascertained: And if the same plan of proper engravings made from drawings taken from nature, were followed with regard to several other of the best kinds of apples, a great deal of confusion which at present prevails with regard to the names of apples, both among professional gardeners and zealous amateurs, might ‘be effectually remedied ; and many ‘mistakes which are committed ‘by nursery- men, might be’easily prevented. R 9A4 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS: At the request of the Society, an ingenious artist, Mr P. Syme, made a drawing from na- ture, exhibiting the flower, fruit and tree, of the Original apple. These have been copied in plate NO. 2. The figure at the bottom of the plate in contour lines, is the representation of a branch which was not planted erect, but laid in the ground. Explanation of Plate 2. Vol. 1. / * Tuts plate is taken from a drawing made by Mr Syme, of a tree which grew in Dr Duncan’s garden. It was about three feet in height, and was cut from a much larger tree growing in the same garden, early in the spring of 1811. It was taken up in autumn, that the drawing might be made. A. The point at which this branch was cut off from the tree. B. B. A large burwhich was sunk under ground, send- ing out numerous fibres in all directions. C.C C. Burs on different parts of the tree. H. H. A line marking the depth to which the branch, when cut off, was immersed in the earth. The fruit and flower represented in the side figures, were drawn from portions taken from the mother tree. ON THE GOLDEN ORIGINAL APPLE. Q45° The figure at the bottom of the plate drawn in contour lines, was taken from another branch cut from the same mother tree; but in place of being planted erect, it was laid horizontally in the earth, about the depth of three or four inches. E. E. The two extremities of the branch. KF. F. F. Fibres coming from almost every bur. G. G. A line marking the surface of the earth. The branches above it, were all shoots made during the course of six months. 216 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, Extract of a Letter from the Right Hon. Sir — Joseph Banks, Bart. to Mr T. Dickson, Secre- _ tary, On the advantages of turning the Branches of Fruis-trees over the walls against which they are planted. (Read 10th March 1812.) SIR, coeeeécoess dm your 15th question, you Te= quire information concerning the best method of bringing full grown fruit-trees into bearing. On this subject, the Society may not be acquainted with a practice which I first learned of a mar- ket-gardener at Isleworth, when riding past his — garden, That of turning fruit-trees, pears espe- cially, over the wall against which they are plant- ed, and nailing their branches in an inverted di- rection on the other side. I have practised this method with the best suc- cess on the Gansel Bergamot pear, one not very free of bearing. It had stood against a north wall for several years, without once making a fruit bud. About three years ago, I turned it ON CLAY-PAINT, B47 over the wall, and had it nailed with the branches pointing downwards: the spring after, it bore about a dozen of very fine pears, and this au- tumn, the south-side wood, which has increased very much, produced at least ten dozen of the finest pears my garden afforded me. This practice has now hecome not unfrequent. Mr Aiton, at the Royal Gardens, has turned some pear-trees on a west wall, over to the east-side, where is a paddock for young horses: he does not ‘sirffer the branches’to réach $0 I¢v as ‘to be within the dauaeere of being cropt by the horses, and he annually gets a considerable crop from these inverted beanies I have also sitcceeded perfectly in bringing Duke'Cherries over from'the north wall, on which aspect, We, in this country, obtain a valuable crop of cherries for the months of Joly and August, The branches brought over to'the south wall, produced this year the earliest fruit, and had the lareest and fairest berries. This,-in our climate, is a material improvement, ‘as dute 3 ‘cherries seldom succeed on a south wall: the tree requires to have its root cool, and when it 4s exposed'to the rays of a sonth stn, produces in general smali and imperfect fruit. : T beg, Sir, ‘only ‘to add, that ‘the’'in ation ‘contained in this letter, is offered to your ee lent ‘institution, merely as ‘a mark of attention from one who knowshow toa poreciate the value of their labours. Iam, Rien 248 HORTIGULTURAL MEMOIRS.« XXXIL. On the utility of Clay-Paint, in destroying va- rious Insects on Kruit-trees, curing Mildew, Sc. In a letter from Mr James ScouGat to Mr Neill, Secretary. (Read 10th March 1812.) SIR, | Broughton Place, 1st March 1812° Osszryinc, that the Caledonian Horticultural Society is desirous of obtaining information on. the best method of destroying the coccus, thrips and fly, infesting various kinds of frutt-trees, on walls and in hot-houses; I shall take the liberty of stating to you, for their information, what has been my practice for many years past, and which, though simple, I can assure you, has been attended with the greatest success. Take a quantity of the most tenacious brown clay that can be obtained; diffuse it among as. much soft water, as will bring it to the con- sistence of thick cream or paint; pass it through a fine sieve or hair-search, so that it may be made perfectly smooth and unctuous, and free from any. gritty particles. ON THE UTILITY OF CLAY-PAINT, &c. @4g9 When the trees are pruned and nailed in, go over the whole carefully with a painter’s brush dipped in the clay-paint, not even missing the young shoots, but more especially the stems and larger branches; this layer, when it becomes dry, forms a hard crust over the whole tree, which enveloping the insects closely, complete- ly destroys them, without doing the smallest in- jury, either to the bark or buds. By covering the trees with matts or canvas in wet weather, it may be preserved upon the trees as long as is neces- sary. If one dressing has been found ineffectual, it may be repeated, and the second coating will in general answer the purpose. It frequently happens, that peach and necta- rine trees which have been hard forced, become, what gardeners term hide-bound ; when that is the case, a good dressing with the clay-paint, whenever they are pruned and tied in, will be attended with admirabie effects, especially, when the dew-syringe is freely used, after the fires are set a going, and the houses shut in: by retaining ‘the dewy moisture upon the bark and buds, it nourishes both, makes the flowers much stronger, the fruit set much thicker, and keeps the trees . free from insects, when they are in a state most liable to be injured by them. Indeed, I can confidently say, that peach or nectarine trees, managed in this way, will seldom be either hide- bound, or attacked by insects. “A50 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. "Mildew is a disease to which peach and necta- rine trees are very liable ; but a seasonable appli- cation of the clay-paint, is the best cure that I have ever tried, and has the additional recom- mendation, of not injuring the trees in any stage ~ of growth, which many other applications com- monly used are apt to do. When there are pine-stoves with vines on the rafters, a difficulty which most gardeners have felt, is to get the eyes of the vines to break equally; only two. or three eyes at the extre- mity of the shoot generally breaking, where ten or twelve are wished for. J have for several years past, applied the clay-paint to these with the greatest success, and will venture to say, that every eye on a vine-shoot so situated, may be broke with as great certainty as in a vinery: the advantage to them, seems to arise from the clay retaining the moisture upon the shoots and buds for a greater length of time, when watered with the syringe, by which the buds are always kept in a kindly state of moisture. From the simplicity of the above method, | doubt not there are many who may not think very highly of it ; but all I request of these gen- tlemen, is, that they will give it a fair trial before they condemn it. When I went into Northum- berland, where I resided for twelve years, many of my neighbour gardeners ridiculed my new practice in this way; but I had the pleasure of ON DESTROYING, THE TURNIP-FLY. 451 a gay if Al / seeing it very generally adopted, and most suc- cessfully, before I left the country. The syringe I used, was one constructed by myself, with brass roses fitted to the end, of dif- ferent degrees of fineness, so that water might be thrown against the trees in a strong body, or as finely divided as dew : they are to be seen in the different seed-shops in Edinburgh. I shall feel happy, should the above hints be of use, and meet with the approbation of the So- ciety. Iam, &c. 952 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, | XXXII. d bb A On Preventing the Depredations of the Turnip. Fly. | . : : | By Mr Arcuisatp Gorriz. | | ‘| Rait Garden, 25th October 1811. To the Secretary of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. SIR, Should the result of the following ex- | periments, made to prevent the depredations of — | the turnip-fly, merit your attention ; your com- municating them to the Caledonian Horticultural Society, will much oblige, &c. ee Iw the month of March 1810, I had a sowing of early Dutch turnips above ground, on a south border, soil strong black loam. About the 20th, “I observed some of the flies begin to attack them, and in a few days they all disappear- ed, To prevent this happening to. the next ON DESTROYING THE TURNIP*FLY. 463 sowing, I steeped the seeds two days previous — to sowing, in a strong ley mixed with sulphur. About the middle, of April, this sowing began to rise, and the seminal leaves were fully ex- panded in two days, when they likewise be- gan to disappear. The next sowing without sulphur, was above ground about the latter end of April ; and this, I endeavoured to preserve, by sowing a little soot along the drills; at the same time, I dusted over some rows with coal-ashes, river sand, and road dust, two rows with each. ‘I was surprised to see the fly devouring the tur- nips dusted with soot so voraciously, that few of them stood one day, and what remained, were totally dispatched next morning, although none were burnt by the soot, it being laid on quite thin. The next that gave way were those co-' vered with ashes ; and lastly, those coverd with sand, became a prey to the destructive insects. After a number of other unsuccessful experi- ments, I tried how quicklime might defend the young turnips from their merciless devourers. I dusted over a few rows with it; and it was washed off about a week after, when I found the - turnips uncommonly fresh and green, although they had been almost devoured previous to my applying the lime-dust. I then went on with confidence, dusting all my young turnips the moment I perceived the fly begin to threaten them. Leaving a few rows undusted, to prove Ss Asi HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. - he experiment, I found those I left undusted yr off rapidly. EL - Iwas doubtful that my success was in some measure owing to the advanced state of the sea- son, and the consequent rapid progress of vege- tation, but from repeated trials made in the early part of this season with uniform success, I am confirmed in the opinion, that quicklime dusted over the seminal leaves of young turnips, is both an easy and effectual method for preventing the depredations of the turnip-fly.. A bushel of quicklime is sufficient to dust over an acre of drilled turnips; and a boy may soon be taught to lay it on almost as fast as he’ could walk along the drills. If the seminal leaves are powdered in the slightest degree, it is sufficient, but should rain wash the lime off before the turnips are in the rough leaf, it may be necessary to repeat the operation, if the fly begin to make ‘its ap- yg got ON PRUNING OF FRUIT-TREES, B55 XXXIV; On Pruning of Fruit-trees: By the Hon. Baroy. Hepzurn. 2 (Read oth June 1812, eu Mr Baron Hepburn. begs leave, with: deference; to. direct, some part of the attention of the Cale- donian .Herticultural: Society, to,.ascertain the best mode or system of pruning fruit-trees:,, In tracing the first principles of such a system; ithmay be proper, in the first place, to ascertain what species of fruit-trees show: their blossoms upon the wood or branches of the immediately preceding year; which. seems to, be the case with the apricot, the peach, and nectarine; and in the shortening of these branches by the knife, (and particularly of the peach and the nectarine, ° which seem most to require this operation, ) to direct the attention of the practical. gardener to leave a wood-bud immediately behind the knife,-as the blossom-buds before a wood-bud never 5g AS56 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. swell off their fruit kindly, and rarely even ma- ture it. | 2dly, To ascertain what species of fruit-trees show their blossoms upon the wood or_ branches of the former year, which seems to be the case with some of the minor plums, such as the Drap d’Or, the Damson, the Cherty, &c. plums. . 3dly, What species form their blossoms on spurs, which seems to be the case with the Mag- num, the Imperial and Green-gage, &c. plums. 4thly, How long these spurs are in growing before they are matured to blossom, that is, whether these spurs require more than one year to mature them to blossom ; and it merits atten- tive observation also, whether a dry and a bright autumn may or may not occasionally shorten the usual time of maturation. Apple-trees seem genetally to require two years to mature their fruit or blossom buds, al- though in avery favourable autumn, a blossom- bud matured on the wood of last year, has been observed occasionally, particularly at the ex- treme bud, when the branch has escaped the knife, which is not always the case. | Pear-trees, some French authors say, are al- ways three years in maturing their blossom- buds, and probably this rule holds very general ly ; but in March 1811, some blossom-buds were observed upon a Muirfowl Egg pear, ON PRUNING OF FRUIT-TREES. 457 which had been grafted only two years upon a Jargonelle stock of twenty years old, and it was changed to the Muirfowl Egg, because the Jar- gonelle, for three years before the change, seem- ed sickly, and many of its spurs had turned carious and died. Here the observations stop, for the devastating storm on the 7th, the 8th, and the 9th days of April of that year, destroy- ed these blossoms, and almost every blossom and fruit in the garden last year. This isolated fact may perhaps lead to a con- jecture or question, whether pear-trees, on bear- ing, may not have some roots peculiarly directed by nature, to search for the food to nourish fruit or blossom buds, and other roots, to collect food for wood shoots, and that the check given by the grafting, may not have left the fruit or blossom juices to collect in these roots for two years, and thereby to force or mature the formation of the Fruit or blossom buds one year sooner than usual. The Crescent pear generally shews its blos- som only at the extremity of its branches, or very near it: query, If a particular mode of pruning could be discovered to invite this tree to give blossom nearer home? Long spurs have been left all over the tree with some, but only partial success, that is, a few and feeble blossom-buds are generally shown towards the stem. It may be tried, whether the Crescent should be trained in the fan way, like an apri- Data A583 HORTICULTURAL-MEMOIRS: > cot or peach; in place of one stem, and branches trained horizontally from -it,) as im the ordinary way, or whether the 77ght hand branches might not be trained, after twoorthree yearsof growth, across ‘the stem to the deft; and the de/t hand branches trained in the same way to the:vight. One consequence, and perhaps only one: would | follow, that the:branches: of the same length, if thus trained, would ‘cover less wall, before show= ing blossom, | ON PREPARING LETTUCE OPIUM. 259 : XXXYV. Observations on a method of preparing a Soporific Medicine from the common Garden Lettuce. By Mr Joun Henverson, Brechin. (Read 8th December 1812.) A uazzx loam is the best soil for lettyce... Ip should be trenched the preceding year, and well manured. The coss kinds of lettuce are the best for opium. ‘They should be sown.ona warm border about the middle of March, and when two or three inches long, should be planted in rows in the prepared ground, The beds should be four feet eight inches in breadth, that is, bed and path. If the weather is dry, the plants must be watered till they have taken root, and great care must be used to keep them clear of weeds, by stirring the earth with small hoes. When the plants have run up ina stem, and the flower on the top has attained the consistency of cauliflower fit for the table, the collecting of the opium is to commence. It ought not to be later, on account of the hardness of the stem ; and it. cannot be earlier, because the stem must : : 54 B60 | HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. - be sufficiently long to be separated from the leaves in cutting. The opium is found in:the milky juice of the plant. The person who col-- lects it, should have a knife with a sharp hook » blade for cutting, and a straight lance-pointed blade for scraping off the gum or juice. He is: to have alsoasmall cup hung from the body | by a belt, with a bit of lead fixed to the. bottom of it, to make it hang. perpendicular. Dry weather is an indispensable requisite to the operation, and even then it cannot be begun sooner than ten o’clock A.M. The first cut- tings ought to be four or five inches in length, should be made very quickly, and in a horizon- © tal direction, and to prevent the juice from drop- ping, are to be instantly turned upside down in | the hand, which may hold in this manner from six to ten pieces before scraping. This operation is performed by the lance-pointed knife, which is to be drawn over each cutting with the point a little elevated. The juice will run along the blade, and the pieces being all cleaned, is to be taken off the knife into the glass. ‘The cuttings after this may be dropped into a basket, and may be used for feeding swine. In this manner, two rows may be regularly gone over, standing in the path. The operation of cutting must be performed in the forenoon, to allow the juice on the tops of the plants to harden ; and the harden- ed juice must be all collected before night. This Cae | ON PREPARING LETTUCE OPIUM. AGI is to be done, by taking the glass in the hand, and with the lance-pointed knife, gathering intoit all the hardened juice on the tops of the plants. Good plants may be cut ten times, each cutting after the first being about three inches, and it will be of use to make these with a slope, that the juice may be more easily collected. The quantity in the glass is now to be spread on stone plates, and dried in the sun, or before a fire, till it can be formed into a mass. To pre- serve the flavour, it must be kept dry, and free of moulding. | The advantage of raising opium in this man- ner, must depend on the judgment of medical gentlemen as to its relative value. An estimate of the expence may be formed from the following observations, which are the result of two years experiments. No. 1. of the balls transmitted with this paper, was collected from plants of all ages, and by vari- ous methods. No. 2. was procured by the strict observation of the preceding rules, and may be considered a fair ground of estimate : 300 plants cut six times, making 1800 cuts, with twelve hours labour, two hours of each of six days, produced one ounce opium. Allow to an acre } 60,000 plants, and make 360,000 cuts, and they will yield, at the above rate, 200 ounces or 12 lb. English. It took great exertion to produce one ounce by twelve hours labour t a62 “HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS» | on. different. days; and employing women in the work, the expence of, labour cannot be taken at less than, two. shillings. per ounce, ‘or L. 20 for the whole acre. , Reckoning for rent of land, manure, labour and accidents, it does not appear, that the article can, be brought to market at less ‘than L..5,Sterling per lb. -- It was stated, that the plants, might, be cut ten,times ; but it is to be taken into the account, that every succes- sive cut is less productive than the former, and some of the latest will hardly yield enough, to pay the cost of labour. Heavy rains, which dash the sand among the plants, in the time of collect- ing, are particularly hurtful, and in some seasons would destroy the crop entirely. 1t is thus evi- dent, that the culture of the article is both, very expensive and very precarious. If the Society should judge it proper to encourage it, the writer of this paper humbly suggests, that an eligible mode might be, to ensure a certain price fora given quantity. : . . It might have, been mentioned, that lettuce is very liable to the attacks of snails, wire- worms, &c. Report of a Committee. The Committee appointed by the Horticultur- al Society, for examining the Dissertations given ON PREPARING LETTUCE OPIUM. ‘A463 in for the Prize-medal to be awarded for a Dis- sertation, on ‘thé best method of preparing a So- « porific Medicine, from the inspissated white juice « of the Common Garden Lettuce,” beg leave to report to the Society, 1. That two candidates only have appeared to compete for the medal, viz. Dr Duncan senior, who has given three papers to the Society. on this subject; on March 6th 1810, November 1811, and May 12. 18123 and,Mr John Hen- derson of Brechin, who has given a Dissertation on Lettuce Opium, which merits a place in the Transactions of the Society. 9. That they are of opinion that a medal should be given to Dr Duncan for his bringing this subject before the public; for his great zeal in prosecuting it, and for his excellent ob- servations on this subject ; and for his directions for preparinga Soporific Medicine from this plant. 3. That they are of opinion, that a medal should also be given to Mr John Henderson, for his very accurate account of the culture of the lettuce, and mode of preparing an opium from it; and for the specimens of opium which he sent to the Society along with ‘his papers. : James Home, Preses- - EpInpuran, ): of Bee 841812. bo0 264 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS XXXVI. A method of stowing Vegetables for Summer use. In a letter from Mr Joun Henperson, Brechin, to the | Secretaries of the Horticultural Society. (Read 9th June 1812.) Wrru all the directions for keeping vegetables, there is still, in late places of the country, a con- siderable interval between the end of the old crop and the beginning of the new. By great expence and trouble, a few articles may be for- ced ; but for general use, nothing can be procured in that manner. By the following method, I have preserved, in abundance, roots of all kinds till the return of the natural crop. By the month of April, the ice in our ice- house is found to have subsided four or five feet ; and in this empty room I deposite the vegetables to be pre- served. After stuffing the vacuities with straw, and covering the surface of the ice with the same material, I place on it case-boxes, dry ware casks, baskets, &c. ; and fill them with turnips, carrot, beet-roots, celery, and in particular po- tatoes. By the cold of the place, vegetation is ON STOWING VEGETABLES FOR SUMMER. 465 so much suspended, that all these articles may be thus kept fresh and uninjured, till they give place to another crop in its natural season. I may mention also, that in this way I have procured my first early potatoes for the table. In an ice-house, vegetation 1s not entirely suspended, and if a portion of potatoes is left in the boxes in the month of August, they will put forth buds and roots, and in December or January, will yield a few dishes of new potatoes. ‘This crop would be improved, by throwing a few spadefuls of earth into the boxes in August. Where there is not access into an ice-house, vegetation may be considerably retarded, by placing the roots in vaulted cellars, caves, coal- pits, mines, or any place deep in the earth. 266 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS» EES ET XX XVII. Directions for ee Caterpillars on Goose- berry-bushes and Fruit-trees. By Mr Roserr Exuiot, Gardener to Sir Thomas Gibson Carmichael; Bart, (Read 8th December 1812.) In the year 1806, I found my trees and. bushes in general much infested with caterpillars. I tried many supposed remedies to no purpose. At last, remarking that the black currant bushes were not attacked, and that an elder bush, close by the side of my gooseberry flat, was also ex- empt from the attacks of the vermin, I resolved to try the effect of the juices of these plants in protecting the other kinds. I therefore pre- pared an infusion of them, and as quicklime is a very powerful and penetrating article, I added a proportion of it to the infusion, ‘The following is the recipé for the mixture I adopted: Take six pounds of black currant-leaves, and as many of elder-leaves, and boil them together _ ON DESTROYING CATERPILLARS, 467 in twelve gallons of soft water; then take four- teen pound of hot lime, and-put it in twelve gallons of water; mix them altogether; then wash the infested bushes and trees with the hand engine; after that is done, take a little hot lime and lay at the root of each bush or tree that has been washed ;\ which completes the operation. By these means, you will completely destroy the caterpillars, without hurting the foliage of the bush or tree’ in the least! -A-dull day is to be preferred to any other for washing. When the foliage is all off the bushes and trees, wash them over with the hand-engine, ‘to clean them of de- cayed leaves ; for this purpose, any sort of water will do. Then stir up the surface of the earth all round the roots of the bushes and trees, and lay a little hot lime about them, to destroy the eggs. This I have never found to fail of suc- cess, since my first trial, six years ago. The above mentioned proportion of leaves, lime and water, will serve for two acres of ground or more, covered with trees and bushes in the ordinary manner, and will cost very little money | indeed. The same proportion is to be observed in | making a wash for the rest of the trees or bushes. CASTLECRat<, Aug. 5. 1812. ~ 268 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS! XXXVI. On planting Peach-trees on a north border, and introducing ther stems through the wall, to be trained on the south aspect. In a letter to Mr Nemxt, Secretary.’ (Read 9th March 1813.) Sir, Errol House, 22d Feb. 1813. Ir would be unnecessary for me to take up the Society’s time with any long detail of the reasons which induced me to adopt the plan of introducing the stems of peach-trees through a wall, and training them on an opposite aspect. Suffice it to say, that the soil in the south border here, where peach-trees had long stood, being much exhausted, of which the old peach-trees be- gin to shew evident symptoms, that circumstance rendered it advisable to adopt some plan, in or= der to fill the wall with young healthy plants, to be nourished with a fresh soil. To have plant- ed young trees on the same border, without re- newing the soil, would have been a useless waste of money ; as it must have ended in disappoint- _ ment. On the north side of this wall, there was ON PLANTING PEACH-TREES. Abo xoom for a border, and as it had never been oc- cupied by fruit-trees, it occurred to me, that trees might prosper by being trained on the south side of the wall, although their roots were planted on the north side. Accordingly I set about trenching and preparing the north border for receiving peach-trees, which I have now planted. I prefer such plants as have stocks of sufficient length to reach through the wall to the south side; judging the stock to be more capable of resisting any external injury than the wrought part of the plant. The holes for ad- mitting the plants from the north to the south side, are six inches in diameter, slanting upward, and about six inches from the south border; and I have also riders introduced, the same way, be- tween the dwarfs, at four feet from the surface of the south border. After what has been so ably written on the preparation of fruit-tree borders, by the late Mr Nicol, and others, it would be presumption in me to say any thing on that subject; but it would appear evident, I should think, to every horticul- turist, that if a dry bottom be necessary for the welfare of fruit-trees in a south border, it will be still more essential to pay particular attention to that point, when trees are planted on a north border, where the same proportion of evapora- tion cannot be supposed to take place. It may VOL. I. ig 470 | HORTICUTURAL MEMOIRS. ‘be a matter of doubt, with some, whether the roots of tender trees planted on. so unfavourable an aspect, may have the same chance of success as those planted on the same side where they are to be trained. But it is a circumstance well known to most gardeners, that the vine has yield- ed many good crops when the plants were plant- ed outside of the hot-house, and the bearing part of the wood only introduced within the house. Certainly, then, thecontrast between the tempera- ture of a north and south border, in spring and summez, bears no proportion to that of the out and inside of a hot-house in winter, when vines are frequently forced. At the same time, this method, I know, has given way to modern prac- tice, perhaps more from an idea of its being un- natural to have one part of the plant enjoying a» warm, while the other is exposed to a cold tem- perature, than from any material advantage re- sulting from that circumstance, either to plants or fruit. Although I have mentioned peaches, as the trees on which I am now making the experi- ment, I have no doubt but every other species of fruit-trees may be so managed with an equal chance of success; and in new gardens, where the walls are planted on both sides, by planting riders opposite to dwarfs, ashoot may be taken through the wall immediately above the dwarf ; and likewise a shoot of the dwarf uuder the rider, or to fill any casual vacancy, as the judgment or ON PLANTING PEACH TREES. an the fancy of the gardener may direct. And when the principal trees fill up the wall, these shoots, or part of them, may be easily removed, nor will their roots have exhausted any of the soil in the principal borders. By this means, the most favourable aspects will soon be filled, and the effects, if judiciously directed, will be at once pleasant and profitable. Should this plan succeed, as I flatter myself it will, some of the old peach-trees may remain un- disturbed for some time, and continue to afford a small supply of fruit until it be necessary to remove them, as the young trees come on to fill the wall; and when ultimately cleared away, the south border may be wrought and cropped freely, and may, before the north border be ex- hausted, be brought to afford nourishment to those plants which at present it seems incapa- ble of supporting. I do not delay sending this for your perusal, in case you should judge it worthy of communi- cating it to the Caledonian Horticultural Society, that others may be induced to make the experi- ment. TQ G72 - - HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. XX XIX. On the Gooseberry Caterpillar, and on the Worms which infest Carrots and Onions. By Mr Joun Macxray, Gardener at Errol House. (Read 10th March 1812.) 1. Gooseberry Caterpillar.—Much has been said respecting the destruction of the gooseberry caterpillar, and various devices which have pro- ved more or less successful have been tried. About nine years ago, when I came to Errol, I found these vermin very formidable, and ma- king vast havock among the leaves of my goose- berry plants. I procured some tobacco and soft or black soap, and I boiled 4 Ib. of tobacco, with the 1 1b. of soft soap, in about 18 Scots pints of water, and kept stirring the liquid while boiling with a whisk, in order to dissolve the soap; this liquor, when milkwarm, or so cool as not to hurt the foliage, I applied to the bushes with a hand squirt in the evening, and in the morning I found all the ground under the bushes covered ON DESTROYING CATERPILLARS; &c. “473 ever with dead caterpillars. I partly attribute the success of this wash to the tenacious quality of the soap, which adheres to the leaves longer and closer than tobacco juice alone would do; this practice I continued for six years, always when I saw any symptoms of the approach of caterpillars. I found them to diminish consider- ably every season, and for the three last years, I have not seen any appearance of them in the garden. I judge from this, that the liquor must have either destroyed the eggs of the insect, or they must have been killed before having time to deposite their eggs. It may be right to remark, that the liquor has no bad effects on the foliage of the plants. . 2. Worm in Carrot and Onion. —Garden-ground in general, being successively cropped with ve- getables very near a-kin in nature to each other, and from the frequent application of manure, - soon becomes a receptacle for worms, maggots, and other vermin, which prove destructive to the roots of carrots, onions, cauliflower and other tender vegetables, from which they are always free in new soils, or ground that has never been cropped before with such vegetables. ‘The gar- den-ground at Errol, has been occupied as a gar- den for upwards of a century, and consequently 1s subject; in common with other old gardens, to the attacks of several species of vermin. ‘This Ts B74 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. first induced me to try to remove this evil by a rotation of cropping ; and the most rational me- thod that presented itself, was, to follow straw- berries that had been four or five years planted, with onions, and artichokes that had stood the same time, with carrots; for the caterpillars do not choose to attack either the strawberry or ar- tichoke. This plan I found to succeed, and I have now regularly practised it. with uniform success for nine years. In order to enable me to do this, I have planted a succession of strawberries, and artichokes an- nually ; for which trouble I have found myself amply repaid, by larger and more regular crops of strawberries than could have been expected, had the same plants been allowed to remain for eight or ten years, asis sometimes practised; and I have al- wayshad a successionof artichokes from my young plants in November, after my old plants had done bearing. In some cases it may be safe to crop thrice with onions or carrot in the same spot, but not oftener, as some symptoms of the worm and maggot generally appear the second or third year; but from the ground being four or five years under strawberries or artichokes, plants on which those vermin cannot subsist, they soon perish, and the ground where the rows stood, has all the advantage of a new soil. Soot applied as a manure is a good preventive of the maggot in onions, but it rarely happens that a gh ON DESTROYING CATERPILLARS, &c. 7S sufficient quantity can be procured for that pur- pose: shallots, however, from requiring only a small spot, may be much improved in growth, and entirely preserved from maggot, by apply- ing old hot-bed dung as manure, in the bottom of the drills, well mixed with soot; on this mix- ture, plant the shallots, and cover to a proper depth. ‘The soot prevents the appearance of the maggot, and at the same time, greatly improves the strength of the shallots: I have never found this plan fail. Cauliflower and broccoli roots may be pre- served from the effects of worms, by water- ing the drills well with soap-suds before plant- ing, and occasionally afterwards; this not only prevents the worm, but encourages the growth of the plants, and in some measure prepares the ground for other vegetables subject to the same sort of attack. Errot Hovss, 27th Dec. 1811. { T4 a nan ee oe a at ene ym rn ee on om nnn en ee eR a et Ne an EN eS <= a ee ’ ae HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, XLe On preserving or retarding the blossoms of Fruit- trees. Ina letter from Mr Arcuipatp Gorrie, to Mr Dicr- son, Secretary. (Read 8th December 1812. ») SIR, Rait Garden, 26th October 1812. Tie preserve the blossom of tender fruit-trees from the effects of late spring frosts, has long occupied the attention of gardeners in this nor- thern part of the island. Various methods have been resorted to, with various degrees of suc- cess. Common nets have been long employed as a screen, and of late woollen nets have been used by some, as a more effectual protection for ten- der wall-trees. Woollen nets indeed appear better calculated to resist the bad effects of hoar-frosts, than the common nets that have been long in use; but nets of any kind are found to be too open a screen for resisting the pernicious effects of dry frost winds, which not unfrequently hap- pen about the end of March, and beginning of April, Although soft easy showers may be in ON PRESERVING BLOSSOMS. ATT soine measure conducive to the regular setting of the fruit, and the general health and cleanli- ness of the foliage ; yet I apprehend, that wash- ing rains, if they happen to fall with any degree of force on the blossom of wall or other trees, when the fecundating farina is performing its office, the consequence is very fatal to the em- bryo fruit. ‘To prevent this, as well as to protect the blossom of young fruit from the effects of frosts, screens of canvas rolled up in the day time, and let down at night, or in time of heavy rains while the trees are in flower, are used by many with tolerable success. In a conversation I had with General Stuart on this subject, he recommended to me, to try to retard the progress of vegetation in the trees as much as possible, during the early part of the spring, so that before they came in flower, much of the severe frosts might be over. The idea appeared to me so well founded in reason, that, independent of my duty as a servant, I thought it merited a candid trial; and to carry it into execution as far as possible, I thought of shading the wall-trees from the mid-day sun, as early as the 20th of February, when the blossom began to swell. The branches of the silver-fir were the most convenient article wherewith I could form such a shade; but to tie them close to the tree as is generally practised, I considered as very unfa- vourable both to the blossom and the wood-buds, A78 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. *) as in that case they tend to weaken both, and render the young shoots an easy prey to the aphis or other insects. ‘The labour attending the removing of the branches so often as I judge neces- sary for retarding the progress of vegetation in the early part of the season, and for promoting it after the trees were in full flower, also presented an in- surmountable obstacle to my fixing them to the wall in the common method. I therefore had a frame made on a very simple construction, of which I herewith inclose a draught, and sub- join an explanation: the revolving parts of this frame I covered with the branches of the silver fir, and found every purpose I intended com- pletely answered. On the 20th February, I covered most part of the peach-trees with this frame, except a few that I left to be afterwards covered with woollen nets, that I might‘compare their success with ‘those under the frame. I shut up the frame close all day, and opened it every night, from the g0th February to the end of March, at which time the blossom had made little or no advance from the time the frames were put up; and the trees which [ left uncovered, were beginning to expand their blos- som, which I then screened with woollen nets. About this time I did not open the frames, except a few hours in the afternoon, when the rays of the sun were oblique, for the first three weeks in April, but shut it close every night, in ON PRESERVING BLOSSOMS. 479 case of frosts hurting the blossom, which, al- though not expanded, was now in such a state of forwardness, as to be liable to injury from chilling frosts. About the fourth week in April, they began to blow, and by the first of May were in full flower, and those under the woollen nets had dropt their petals, and were beginning to set. The difference in the appearance of the peach trees, under the different modes of treatment, was at this time strikingly visible: the flowers were off the trees under the nets, and their green foliage fully expanded, while those under the framé were in full flower, without the wood- buds having made much progress. As soon as the trees under the frames were in blossom, I opened the frames every morning by six o’clock, and shut them at eight in the even- ing, admitting as much sun as I could, to for- ward the wood and setting of the fruit ; the par- tial shade which even the open frames afforded, prevented the scorching rays of the sun from shrivelling the tender petals, a circumstance which I have frequently found injurious to peach and plum blossom. I-always teok care to shut the frames during a boisterous wind or a heavy fall of rain, while the trees were in blos-~ som. } About the first of June, I removed the frames and nets, and gave the trees a washing with the 480 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. engine. At this time, I could distinguish little dif. ference between the progress the fruit had made under the nets, and that under the frames, but a visible difference was perceptible in the young wood ; the young shoots of the trees that were under the frames were fair and vigorous, while those under the woollen nets were sickly, and a great part of them curled,—a disease peculiar to peach-trees in exposed situations, occasioned I suppose by the action of the chilling blast on the sap vessels of the tender foliage ; the vegeta- tive juices being diverted from their natural course, and flowing spontaneously toward the extremity of the shoot, form a mass of spongy wood and foliage. Although the trees which had been under the frames, had a fine healthy appearance, I was still apprehensive, that the check I had given them in the spring, would be felt at the time of ripening. I found, however, that those trees which had been under the frames, had their fruit ripened a week sooner than an early purple peach which was under a woollen net ; the fruit was more equal, and the wood still maintains a decided superiority. I do not mean to say, that nets in all cases ought to be rejected. I know that many excel- lent crops of fruit have been obtained with no other screen, and in well sheltered gardens they are generally used; but in exposed situations, such as the garden at Rait, where the situation ON PRESERVING BLOSSOMS. 481 is an eminence, and the planting intended for shelter has not yet arrived at maturity, tender trees, such as apricots, peaches, &c. require more protection than nets can afford, In point of expence, of which the making of the frame forms the greater part, although more wood is necessary for constructing it than is commonly used for other screens, this article will not materially add to the expence, where gentlemen may have plantations to thin in the neighbourhood of their gardens. T hired a joiner by the day at 2s. 6d., and found that the expence of the frame for each running yard of the wall (which is fourteen feet high) amounted toone shilling, including the saw- ing of the fir timber ; and as it can be laid up in little room when asunder, if kept dry, it may last for twenty year. I by no means presume, that those who have canvas screens already, should lay them aside and adopt my method of shelter, although I have little apprehension, that those who may give it a fair trial will feel disposed to relinquish it for the more expensive mode of covering either with hets, gauze, canvas, or cotton wrapper. The frame, if rightly constructed, will be open- ed and shut with the greatest ease and speed ; the method of putting it up, opening, shutting, and taking it down, will be seen by the draught and subjoined explanation. AS8S2 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Explanation of Plate 3. Voi. 1. aaaa, The upright posts made of wood, two inches square, and fourteen feet six inches long, into which ~ the cross bars 6 b b, &c. are mortised; the poles stand six feet asunder. _cc, The upper leaves of the frame, which open _ outward on their pivots dd, &c. The leaves are all made of inch deal, by inch and quarter broad. ee, &c. Small pieces of wood nailed on the inside of the upper and middle bars, to prevent the leaves of the frame from falling inward on the wall. f; The lower leaf of the frame, which opens out above, as represented in the transverse section, to ad- mit the rays of thesun to the lower parts of the wall. This leaf revolves on its pivots d d. gg, A transverse section of the wall and frame, as it stands when the leaves are open. The bottom or low end of the frame stands out two feet from the wall, and every other pole is fixed at the top, with an iron holdfast immediately under the cope. Theleaves of the frame are to be covered with branches of the silver-fir so as to cover the vacant spaces at the end, middle and sides, marked 72, &c. k, A horizontal view of one of the upper cross bars in which the upper leaves move round. The cross bars are made of inch and quarter wood, and of a breadth to correspond with the upright poles into which they are mortised. Ul, &c. Small wooden pinsin the ends of the crossbars, to hold the frame tight when it is up. 272] JO PIS poy Bi SR ee eee ew ee ee we oe we ee eee tee eee ee eee te eee ene ee wees - ° zy = af Oy : by 1% 3. i= Ba | | BAZ 7 et, i cmb ct Pee Gamer ool me ig = ? ie ok wr ON PRESERVING BLOSSOMS. | “483 It may be necessary to add, that the space einer 1 the wall and the frame marked / in the transverse sec- tion, should have a kind of partition ..., twelve R feet, formed of silver-fir branches, tied to the tree, and” every second pole as at m. This will prevent a too free _ circulation of air along the wall, and preserve a degre t __ of serenity very essential to the setting of the fruit. ‘iit “ ae Sen V* We 4 284, HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, XLI, An account of some delicate Plants cultivated in the open air, in the Island of Guernsey ; with Hints on the means of naturalizing tender Exotics. By Dr Maccuttocu of Woolwich. In a letter to Mr Neri, Secretary. (Read 14th September 1813.) SIR, Havin visited the Island of Guernsey some years ago, I was much struck with the peculiar ' luxuriance exhibited by many plants, which either grow with reluctance, or refuse to grow at all, even in the mildest counties of England. ehT variety and splendor of these productions, give a character to its horticulture, which is very impressive to an English visitor, and which excites surprise, when compared with the very slight advantages of climate this island appears, from its geographical difference of position, to possess. As some of these facts seem capable of leading to useful results in this valuable art, I ON NATURALIZING TENDER PLANTS. 485 have turned to the notes I then made, with the hope that they might afford you a few minutes amusement. Among those productions, its Ama- ryllis * is almost too well known to be enumer- ated, It is said to have been brought from Ja- pan, a country possessing such a variety of cli- mate, thatit might wellafford plants suited toany la- titude. Ithink, however, it is yet a point to be as- certained, whetherthereis any thingin theclimate of Guernsey, peculiarly favourable to the growth and flowering of this plant. This is a fact which cannot be determined till the cultivation of it is carried on in England to the same extent in which it is practised in Guernsey. The garden- ers of Britain are satisfied with returning to the earth the few roots they receive in flower, but are scarcely content to wait till the period of flowering of the exhausted individual shall again return. From such impatient and narrow trials, no conclusion can be drawn against its possibili- ty. In Guernsey, every gardener, and almost every petty farmer who has a bit of garden- ground, appropriates a patch to this favoured root; and the few hundreds of flowers which are brought to England in their season, or which are kept for ornament on the island, are the produce of thousands of roots which are there planted. The average rate of flowering is not more than VOL, I. U *# Amaryllis Sarniensis. 4386 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. fifteen or eighteen in a hundred. The soil in which they are raised is light, and the beds .are covered with sand; in other re- spects, there is no particular care taken of them, except keeping them very clean. What. por- tion of this success depends on climate, cannot, as I have already said, be known, till experiments on a similar scale are tried»in England. It1 is, however, true, that the bulbs are frequently in- jured in ‘the winter, by a frost which has no effect on the hardy geraniums ; so that it would be requisite in this country to guard against this danger, at least by matting or occasionally covering the beds. I may add, that some of i its congeners, the Amaryllis belladonna, vittata, un- dulata and formosissima, also flower in Guernsey without care, and with great certainty and vigour. A shrub of great beauty, the Magnolia grandi- flora, is well known to be shy of flowering in England, if we except the mild climate of Cornwall, to which that of Guernsey bears a near resemblance. In this little island, however, its flowering is as certain as its growth is luxu- riant. Among the more hardy of the tender plants which also grow freely i in Guernsey, and which Cornwall but barely preserves through the rigour of winter, are the Hydrangea hortensis, Fuchsia coccinea, Geranium. zonale, inquinans, vadula, glutinosum, and some others, which pass the winter without difficulty, and emulate in ON NATURALIZING TENDER PLANTS. 487 the summer the luxuriance they possess in their native climates. Many tender and. transient varieties of flowers, and among those the varie- ties of the pink tribe, are remarkable for the facility and certainty with which they are pro- pagated, and for the constancy of their charac- ters. Every rustic cottage is covered with ge- raniums, and ornamented with numerous pinks, rarely seen in this country but among careful florists. Even the greenhouse is influenced by the climate. It is well known, that the Helio- tropium Peruvianum,; a plant otherwise of suf- ficiently easy cultivation, is in England much limited in its growth, becoming woody and feeble after it has attained a certain height. Here, on the contrary, if placed on the bed of earth in the house, although no artificial heat be applied, it soon fills the whole space, running over the bed, and striking fresh roots from its branches as it advances. But of all those shrubs which require the protection of the greenhouse in England, the Verbena triphylla, is that of which the luxuriance is here the most remark- able. Its miserable stature and bare woody stem are familiar to us. In Guernsey, it flourishes . perfectly exposed, and attains the size of a tree of twenty feet and upwards, spreading in a circle of a diameter equal to its height, and its long branches. reaching down-to the ground on all sides. Its growth is indeed so luxuriant, that U2 438 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. it is neccessary to keep it from becoming trouble- some, by perpetually cutting it almost to the root ; from which fresh shoots fourteen feet in length, resembling those of the osier willow, are — annually produced. JI may also enumerate a few other plants of tender constitution in Britain, which appear equally hardy in this more uni- form climate. The Celtis micrantha, which ranks among our stove-plants, grows with very little care out of doors. So do both the double and single varieties of Camellia Japonica, the lat- ter often attaining the height of twenty feet. Some species of Olea are also hardy, as well as many of the Proteas, the whole of which re- quire in our own island the shelter of the green- house. Such is the case also with many species of the genus Cistus, and among them I may ‘name crispifelius and formosus. I may add to this enumeration, Yucca aloifolia, Dracocepha- lum Canariense, Jasminum Azoricum, Nerium oleander, Clethra arborea, Daphne odorata, Mimulus glutinosus, Correa alba, Melaleuca hypericifolia, Gorteria rigens, together with a very large number of the genera Ixia and Erica, all equally requiring the protection of the green- house, during the severer winter of our island, and many of them ‘subject to perish at that sea- son, notwithstanding this care. I need scarcely add, that the Myrtle defies the utmost rigour of EE ON NATURALIZING TENDER PLANTS. 489 a Guernsey winter, and flourishes in the greatest Juxuriance. In the production of many fruits, the gardens of this island are no less remarkable. The supe- riority of its Chaumontelle pear is well known, a superiority which the grafts imported into England do not retain. Yet in this respect it ~ yields to its neighbour, Jersey ; and I may add, for the consolation of English gardeners, that this pear, even in these islands, is reared under the warmest walls, succeeding but indifferently in any other situation. The purple and green fig grow readily as standard trees, and produce perfect fruit every year. Many varieties of the melon ripen without glasses. The Romana is even raised in Jersey, without the assistance of the hand glass, and is cultivated there in large quantities. ‘The usual method of proceeding with it, is to dig a hole in the earth, into which is thrown a small quantity of hot dung, and above that ten or twelve inches of earth. The seeds are then sown, and the young plants, al- though sometimes covered with hand glasses for a time, are often left entirely to nature. The attempts to raise Oranges have not been numerous, but in different gardens there are trees of the Seville and sweet orange, both standing under the shelter of a wall, and pro- ducing fruit in abundance every year. They require, however, to be protected by mats in the U3 490 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. winter. Ina lower, but not less useful depart- ment of this art, the Parsnip, the favoured root of the island, is remarkable for its bulk and goodness. But the circumstance to which I would chiefly call your attention, is the naturalization of a native of very warm climates, the Canna Indica $ a circumstance which confirms and illustrates the remarks made by Sir Joseph Banks, on the naturalization of Zizania aquatica. This very tender plant has become thoroughly habituated to the climate, scattering its seeds every year, so as to prove a weed in the gardens which it has occupied. I attempted to introduce it here al- so, from seeds which I brought from Guernsey ; but my experiment was interrupted by an ac- cident, and I have never since attempted to re- peat it. Ithink it is not only desirable that it should be repeated, but that similar attempts © should be made to naturalize other ornamental or useful plants, which have as yet foiled us, chiefly perhaps because the trials’ have been ill conducted. Abundant experience has shown, that the propagation of a plant, by cuttings or offsets, has little or no effect in changing its con- stitution, and the instances above cited, equally show us, that the seed will produce a hardier progeny, a progeny which in time may possibly be habituated to bear all the range of tempera- ture which the globe affords. To carry this ON NATURALIZING TENDER PLANTS. 491 speculation into practice, it is evident, that in most cases the attempt will be unavailing, if the transition is violent ; and that we should often fail in our endeavours to naturalize the inhabi- tants of Bengal or Jamaica, to the climate of England or that’ of Newfoundland. It is pro- bable, however, that in the immense number of untried plants, many might be found, which, like the Canna Indica, would even bear a change as great as that now mentioned: but to pursue this system of naturalization with any great hopes of success, it would be necessary that the transition should be more gradual, and that the transplantation should be carried from a hot cli- mate, through some intermediate one, to our own more ungenial shores. ‘The very peculiari- ty of the climate of Guernsey, arising chiefly from the uniformity of its temperature, would afford us ground to hope, that it possesses many of the requisite properties, and that it would form the step required in this experiment. It is certain, that neither the thermometric state of a given country, nor any meteorological condi- tion which we haye yet been able to observe, are competent: to explain the peculiar affection of plants for particular regions of the earth. The observations. of Monsieur Ramond, in the “¢ Annales du Museum,’’ which have been trans- lated by Mr Salisbury, show this ina striking point of view. From these we see the persever- U4 A929 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. “ing regularity with which certain plants affect peculiar elevations, apparently unconnected with | the nature of the soil, but bearing a relation alone to particular states of the atmosphere, which we have no means of appretiating. Simi« lar facts are familiar to botanists in our own ‘country, in the very limited zones of elevation, affected by our alpine plants. But perhaps of individual instances, the strongest and best known, is that of the Caper, Capparis spinosa, whose delicacy of sensation has, I believe, hi- therto precluded its cultivation in any other cli- mate than its native one: Whatever this ob- scure condition of a climate may be, it appears ‘that the island of which I have been speaking, posesses requisites appertaining to it which are not common, and which, to us at least, in the present state of things, are elsewhere inaccessi- ble. These considerations, therefore, should stimulate us to make trials, which, in their re- - sults, may possibly prove useful as well as orna- mental. Many of the fruits which are now too tender to bear our climate, might be taught to produce seeds, which would give us products equal in goodness to the original, and of hardier character. It is not unlikely, for example, that a variety of the Melon, from seeds produced in Guernsey, might be made to grow without the aid of glass in England. Perhaps, even the Ca- per or the Orange might be naturalized through ON NATURALIZING TENDER PLANTS. 493 the same medium. ‘That process which has na- turalized the Canna Indica, might go far to put us in possession of many other desirable objects, at least in cases where, like the melon, the gene- rations can be rapidly repeated, and where the produce goes hand in hand with each successive generation. Thus, possibly, even the elegant Pine of Norfolk Island, might become a British tree, although the toil of many years would be requisite for effecting such a purpose. An economical object which depends on this property of plants, remains yet to be noticed. This, which is still more in our power, is proba- bly of more consequence than either of those a- bove mentioned ; I mean the perfect naturaliza- tion of the Vine. It is well known, that from many of the ordinary varieties cultivated in this country, we can always insure a crop of grapes, but not always a crop of ripe ones. From two or three of these, the chance of ripening out of doors is considerable; from many others it is hopeless. It is not improbable, that by succes- sive sowing of seeds, other varieties might be produced, still more certain of ripening than those which succeed best with us, the Miller and Sweetwater. We should thus acquire pos- session of an article of cultivation of great im- portance, by which a useful addition would be made to the agricultural proceeds of land in particular situations, and by which we should (22. a ee 8. oe Pe an le Ss Ss a — oi ae ook j gu HORTICULTURAL ‘MEMOIRS. ‘be enabled to fabricate wines of quality suffi. — ciently good to compete with those of foreign growth. A more important object is the perfect natur- alization of the Potato, an effect as yet but very partially obtained, notwithstanding the length of time during which this valuable root has been a subject of cultivation. It is certain, that this imperfect naturalization has been the result of the common practice of propagating by the tu- bers, to the almost total neglect of the seeds. It is true, that seeds have been occasionally . sown, and new varieties thus produced ; but the experiment has stopped in the first stage, having been always undertaken for the mere purpose of producing these varieties, without any re- gard to that much more important object, the production of a plant sufficiently hardy to bear at least the first frosts-of winter. In the south- ern parts of our island, it is not a desideratum of much importance, as the tubers are in general ful-_ ly formed before the plant is killed by frost ; but in the northern parts it isan object of great conse- quence, the plant being frequently killed long before the roots have attained maturity. In the Highlands of Scotland, in particular, where a frost will frequently occur early in September, the crop is often prematurely destroyed, and the uses of this vegetable are in consequence mate- rially limited. It is plain, that it would be ne- ON NATURALIZING TENDER PLANTS. 495 cessary to sow the seeds of successive generations many times, before the requisite degree of har- diness could be expected, and that the process would demand both patience and time. Yet, if it requires more of these than we can expect from the ordinary culivator, it is an experiment which we may at least recommend to those pu- blic bodies, who so laudiby exert themselves in ameliorating the agriculture and horticulture of this country. The difficulty of procuring seeds from seedling plants, could doubtless be obviat- ed in some measure, by depriving the young plant of its tubers, and thus compelling it to di- rect its energies to the other and more common mode of propagation, with which nature has pro- vided all plants. I cannot, however, conclude this speculation, without noticing a formidable objection which stands in the way of our attempts to naturalize particular plants. In every case where the use- ful varieties have been the result of cultivation in a warmer climate from a base and useless pa- rent, it is to be feared that the process followed in naturalization, would again throw the plant back to its original state. This objection ap- plies chiefly to those fruits, such as the peach, the apple, and grape, which, in their present cultivated state, are almost entirely the produce of art. For this reason, it is not improbable, that all attempts to naturalize the grape to a A96 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. : cold climate may fail; yet the trial deserves to be made. The case does not apply equally to — the potato. The original plant appears to be — | yaluable, independent of any artificial charac- ter, and would consequently admit of a change, tending even to some degree of deterioration, | before it was materially injured in its proper~ | ties. ROTATION OF GARDEN CROPS, 997 XLIT. Account of a successful rotation of cropping, ob- served in the Garden at Airthrey Castle. By Mr Tuomas Ketry, Gardener. In a letter to Mr Netut, Secretary. (Read 8th December 1812.) Sir, Airthrey Castle, 16th Nov. 1812. We have a rotation of cropping here, which, for a number of years, has never failed to give excellent crops. I beg leave to lay it before you, that you may, if you think proper, com- municate it to the Horticultural Society. The first of the rotation is celery. For this crop’ we choose a piece of poor ground, generally what has been run out by German greens ; about the first of July, we lay out two broad ridges seven feet broad, and five feet betwixt them, allowing three feet at each Hl side ; then we cast out the space of seven feet, a spading and shovelling deep, laying the earth SERA Sareea DE ae APE PIO PI 49s HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. equally on each side, and filling the ridge a foot deep with dung. ‘The dung we use is from the dunghil where winterings have been going. After smoothing and treading the dung, we cover the whole with about four inches of the earth | thrown out, taking great pains in properly plant- ing the celery across the ridge, about fourteen inches row from row. When it is fully earthed up, it will stand four or five feet from the top to the bottom of the ridge. These ridges have several advantages above single rows, or the mode com- monly practised. By digging so deep, there is, in the course of ‘blanching, a great quantity of new earth mixed with the old surface and dung; and further, the: celery is thus:‘kept dry through the winter, which prevents it from rotting. ‘One of ‘the ridges may be planted a fortnight later than the other, when the one will come in well for the winter, and the other for the spring; | and if some be wanted early, a single row or two may be planted in a warm place-in the com- mon way. The next season after the celery, we plant the ground with spring-raised cauliflower and red beet ; the beet sown not sooner than the first of May, about eighteen inches row from row. The third year we sow the ground with onions ; these we sow in beds four feet wide, and with one foot of an alley; we think this way better then rows, as we can get, them clean- ROTATION OF GARDEN CROPS. AO9 ed without treading the ground. The Portugal onion does well here. The fourth year, we crop with German greens or pease. All these crops have been often raised here, without failing in any instance, and with. out any manure after the celery, $00 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. XLII. Account of a small economical Orchard near Tra- nent, in East Lothian. By Mr James Situ, Ormiston Hall. In a Letter to Mr Nett, Secretary. (Read 9th March 1813. ) SIR, Tr you consider the following communication of any value to horticulture, I beg you will have the goodness to lay it before the Society. It may be of some importance to those who have only a small piece of pasture-ground, to learn that they may convert it into an orchard with- out seriously diminishing its utility as pasture. In the month of June last, I was asked by a friend, to call upon Mr Vallange in Tranent, to see a small orchard he had lately made. I found Mr Vallange a vigorous old man, who had re- tired from business, and amused himself in the cultivation of fruit-trees. The ground he at present occupies in that manner, is about two ACCOUNT OF A SMALL ORCHARD. 301 Scotch acres, about three quarters of an acre of which are occupied with full grown trees, which carry very weighty crops of fruit: the remain- ing acré and a quarter, has been planted about two years, and is divided from the old orchard by a wall. Both the old and new orchards are in grass, except a small part allotted for kitchen vegetables. As the new orchard particularly drew my at- tention, I shall give a description of it by Mr Vallange himself, and then mention some things omitted by him, adding a few remarks that oc- curred to myself when on the spot. “© Sir, Tranent, 3d July 1812. “Although I was not taught horticulture, it was always a pleasant pastime to me to work amongst fruit-trees. As you have told me your method of planting, I think it my duty to give you a description of mine in my new orchard. I had pastured the ground for above twenty years with horses and cows, and mean to continue it for pasture ; for which cause, my method of plant- ing was as follows: I began by measuring off my distances, putting stakes in the places where the trees were to be planted, and drew a circle round each stake about four feet diameter. IL _. then dug up the turf, and laid it aside: I took out _ some of the earth, and planted the trees in the _ centre, pressing down the plant to make the VOL. I. 302 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. roots spread, not to go too suddenly down, and — thereby to escape the beneficial effects of the sun: I covered the roots two inches thick with earth, tramping it gently, covering the whole circle two inches thick with well rotted dung: I | then threw in the rest of the earth ; then put the ‘turf, with the grass side downward, circular ways — | about the plant, about eight or nine inches from the root of the plant, widening it m the build- ing: when that was done, I enlarged the circle the breadth of a spade round, and laid that turf on the outside and above the other, with the grass side upward: I then put in dung, which would be ready to receive the roots kindly when they approach it: the turf was well beat down with a spade, and the inside pared to the resem- blance of a bason or punch-bowl, and I put the paring above the dung to prevent evaporation. Thus I finished my plan, and thus I still have _as much pasture as before the trees were plant- ed. Iam, &c. WILL”. VaLLance.” This orchard, as formerly mentioned, is only about an acre and a quarter in extent. It is planted with 384 trees, to which Mr Vallange means to add a few more, to make out 400. The largest proportion are apple, the remainder pear trees. The trees are planted in rows about twenty feet distant, and ten feet between the plants in the rows. The soil is a deep rich ACCOUNT OF A SMALL ORGHARD. 303 black loam,'and having been occupied as pasture for a considerable length of time, is in good con- dition. As it was a great object with Mr Val- lange, possessing only a small spot, to keep this ground in pasture for a cow, it was some time before he could settle on a plan to gain his fa- vourite amusement of cultivating fruit, with safety to the trees, without destroying his pas- ture. At last, having planted the trees as de- scribed in his letter, and raised the turf about a foot high, each tree stands as in a bason of about eighteen inches diameter at the bottom, and three feet at the top ; the bottom of the bason is at the same level withthe ground. The turf be- ing only of a moderate breadth and manured below, the roots of the fruit trees meet with no obstructions, and the plants are in a vigorous state, while the surface for pasture is not lessen- ed. The next object was to secure the cow from hurting the trees; for which end Mr Vallange put on her a collar, (such as is used in stables for horses,) with a ring, and round each fore-leg above the ancle, a leather belt with a buckle: the end of an iron chain is fixed to one of the belts ; passes through the ring of the collar; and the other end of the chain is fixed to the other belt on the opposite leg ; so that, as the animal advances forward, the chain becomes alternately longer and shorter on the opposite sides. By x2 304 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. these means the cow grazes amongst the young trees without hurting them, and her head being confined nearly to within a foot of the ground, she eats the grass on the outside of the circles of turf, without being able to touch the inside, or hurt the trunks of the trees. The cow can lie down and rise pretty freely-; and does not seem to feel inconvenience from the restraint she is under. She is taken into the house to be milked and get water. Mr Vallange thinks she has produced more milk this season when thus- restrained, than at any former period. As if toadd to this singularity of a cow grazing in a young orchard, Mr Vallange allows two pigs to range init. ‘They are of course furnished with: nose-rings, to prevent them from turning up the turf. The dung from the animals enriches the soil ; and according to all appearance, in a short time this little orchard will become of conside- rable value. The only thing against the orchard at present is, being somewhat exposed to the north and east winds: This Mr Vallange is trying to obviate, by placing some of the strong- est growing pear-trees to protect against these: points. : SUPERIORITY OF COMPOST MANURES. 305 XLIV. ‘ Observations on the superiority of Composts te simple Dungs. By Mr Davin Weicuron, Gardener to the Earl of Leven and Melville, Melville House, Fife. (Read 8th December 1812.) Tus first thing to be done in gardening, is to consider where to get materials for making com- post ; and as this compost is to be adapted for the improvement of the soil which the gardener is to work upon, it ought to be mixed according as it is either for light sandy, or heavy soil. It is evident, that light land must require a compost of a heavy nature, such as the scourings of ditches or ponds, and clay ; and no less so, that the other kinds of land require a compost of a light or fiery nature, such as will divide its heavy and adhering particles. The following forms a good compost for cold clayey land: Three load of light mould ; one load of rotten dung ; one load of sharp sand ; one load of coal- X 3 306° * HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ashes ; half a load of lime, with a quantity of pigeon, sheep or other hot dungs. And the following is a suitable compost for light sandy ground : Two load of the natural soil; three load of pond earth, or the scourings of ditches; three load of strong loamy earth; one load of clay; | two load of dung, and one load of marl, if to be found. In both cases let them all be well mixed to- gether, and thrown up in a large heap, and turned over once or twice before being used. It is my opinion that all dung should be laid up in this manner. Indeed, the common way of spreading dung over land, be it either arable or pasture, can by no means answer the end; for the fertilizing particles of dung being of a vo- Jatile nature, are readily exhausted by the ac- tion of the sun and air. I have always observed, that there is no land so soon worn out as light sandy ground. Though clay land be much more intractable than this; yet being of a heavier texture, the fertilizing particles seem to remain longer in action than in amore sandy ground. For this reason, clay- land is by some preferred, especially if dug or rather trenched every year, and laid up in ridges all winter to meliorate. I shall now state the manner of using the com- post so prepared. A trench being opened in the SUPERIORITY OF COMPOST MANURES. 307 borders or ground where it is to be used, and the compost lying at hand, fill the bottom of the trench eight inches deep with it; then take up the whole ground in the next trench ten inches deep, and spread it over the compost that is laid at the bottom of the trench. Which done, co- ver that bad or indifferent earth over again with the same thickness of compost ; by which means, you have three strata, two of compost, with the indifferent earth in the middle. And this being done at the latter part of the year, let it remain till the spring ; at which time, dig the ground over, mixing the compost and the old mould to- gether; which, by the washing of the rains, and the action of the frosts in the winter, will great- ly improve it. It may perhaps be thought strange that I have not recommended more dung, that being gene- rally esteemed the grand improvement for all lands, and indeed it is what most people are fond of. If they have dung enough all is well, and they think vegetation cannot fail of going on. This is especially the case in the repair- ing of worn-out grounds. But with this, I can by no means agree. I esteem dung no more than a good ingredient to mix with earth and other sorts of compost. It ought to be well mixed and incorporated with them, and they being all consumed together, make an excellent X4 308 HORTICUTURAL MEMOIRS. compost fit for new planted trees, or for repair- ing worn out ground. Whether the land worn out, be either heavy or light, the two different composts which I have recommended, will suit them; and for other lands, one of a middle quality may easily be formed. I have avoided running into sub-divisions of the kinds of soils ; since doing so, tends rather to mislead than to instruct gardeners in the exe- cution of their business. _ Sait gus Sere PESTROYING GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLAR. 809 ——————————————— XLV. A method of Destroying one sort of the Goose- berry Caterpillar. By Mr Joun Tweenies, Gardener to Mr Hamilton, Sundrum. Tn a Letter to Mr Anprew Dicxson, Treasurer. (Read 9th March 1813.) SIR, In compliance with your request, I here send you my mite of information for destroying one of the kinds of gooseberry caterpillar. Upon a fair trial, it will be found sufficient as a radical cure. If it is thought to merit a place in the Memoirs of the Society, I have no objection to its being ynserted. I aml, &e. Amone the various necessary acquirements which a gardener ought to possess, that of sub- duing the devouring hordes of insects with which he is continually annoyed, is certainly an 310 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. important one. There is not a seed thrown from his hand, nor a plant which he puts into the ground, but is liable to be destroyed by insects, reptiles or vermin of one description or another. Many insects not only feed upon the plants, but constantly lodge about them, and thus produce a great many distempers and failures in the ve- getable kingdom, often imputed to other causes. Among gardeners, gooseberry caterpillars have long been complained of : almost every year has produced. a new receipt for their destruction : still we find a repetition of the complaint, and another method wanted. Had a complete know- ledge of their modes of life, and the seasons of their transformation, been acquired, the destruc- tion of some kinds could readily have been ac- complished. ‘There are two distinct kinds, of one of which only I am now to treat. In the year 1803, I selected a few bushes very much overrun with caterpillars, on purpose to observe the progress of the caterpillars, as also to see what became of them at last; and after strict observation, I found that these caterpillars went into winter quarters precisely under the» bushes whereon they were fed, and if any old dung or rotten leaves lay under the branches, or about the roots, they gathered to such in great numbers: these substances appear indeed, to be the chief material of which their chrysalids are, formed. DESTROYING GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLAR. 311. - In the spring following, I put some of these chrysalids into a hot-bed, and confined them, on purpose to obtain a knowledge of the parent fly ; and though they had been exposed to the preceding winter frost by their own choice, being only covered at most two inches under the sur- face, they, with the exception of four out of fifty, produced each a full grown fly. It must of course be admitted, that the inclemency of the weather cannot destroy them in the chrysalis state, as was supposed by many would have been the case. | It may easily be understood, that gooseberry bushes ought not to be planted beside box-edg- ings, flower-borders, and beds or rows of straw- berries, as is often done, all these affording suitable winter retreats to the caterpillars. I immediately removed all my bushes, both cur- rants and gooseberries, into quarters by them- selves, and placed them in rows, as the growth of the different sorts required. I then adopted the following simple method of destruction: In the course of any of the winter months, I pare all the earth from un- der the bushes to the depth of about three inches, into a flat ridge betwixt the rows; and on the first dry day following, I either tread, beat or roll these ridges, and trench the whole down one and a half or two spade deep, ob- 312 - HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, serving to tread the foul earth into the bottom of the trench. The natural season of this ete is from the middle of April to the first of June; between which times, the cold easterly wind is most pre- — dominant, which causes the fly to take shelter under the young foliage; hence arises that an- cient notion of such insects being brought by the east wind. On the foliage they lose no time in breeding and depositing their eggs. I have often seen those vermin so late as July, and even in August; this is probably owing to their having been buried from the sun’s influence in the com- mon process of digging, being then deprived of immediate warmth, and so remaining longer in their nymph state. Sunprum, \ 1st Jan. 1813. CULTIVATION OF SEA-CALE. $13 XLVI. | Observations on the cultivation of Sea-cale. By Sir Georce Srevart Macxenzir, Bart. Ina Letter to Mr Netuz, Secretary. (Read 9th June 1812.) Sir, Osservine that the cultivation of Sea-cale is one of the subjects on which the Horticultural Society desires information, it may not perhaps _ be useless, that I should inform you of the method I directed my gardener to follow, several years __ ago, and which he has since pursued with com- plete success, producing that admirable vegetable in the greatest perfection. ‘The method probably | has nothing new in it; but as Sea-cale is not yet | very generally known, and asIdo not observe any communication respecting it in the first number of our Memoirs, a short statement of _ my plan, may not be unacceptable. B14 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. Two long trenches were dug, and the greatest part of the soil removed from them. The depth was about eighteen inches, and about eight inches of soil were left. A quantity of river sand was — then put into the trenches, and spread over the bottom to the thickness of six inches, and then well mixed with the soil below. The trench was now a foot deep, and it was filled six inches more with a very light sandy loam, and the whole dug over again and well mixed. The seed was now sown in a line along the middle of the trench and as the plants grew, they were — earthed up, and at last the trenches were reduced to slight hollows. The plants began to show themselves so stout the second year, that I re- solved to make use of some of them; and the method I took to blanch them, and which my gardener has practiced ever since, was to shake'a quantity of dry clean straw loosely over the plants, taking care to remove it whenever it became wet and heavy.. Through this light covering the plants shot freely, and remained perfectly white and clean. I have frequently heard gardeners, | ‘to whom I recommended this mode of blanch- | ing, assert, that straw breaks the plants; but ‘my reply has always been, that they must have | been very careless, if ever they had actually tried it. .By using the rows alternately, the | plants. are kept strong; and by being left to SS CULTIVATION OF SEA-~CALE. S15 grow one season after being cut, they recover their vigour for a renewal of the operation. It appears to me, better to raise Sea-cale from seed, than from offsets, on account of the plants from the former producing larger roots. As this vegetable is really worthy of ample space being alloted to it, over-cutting should be guarded against. . Such is the simple method by which I have been furnished with Sea-cale in the high- est degree of perfection. But the labours of the gardener are often rendered fruitless by the carelesness of the cook. Sea-cale should be tied into small bundles before being: boiled ; and it cannot easily be overdone. When taken out of the water, which ought to be perfectly clean, it should be well drained, and allowed to stand a few minutes before the fire, that a considerable portion of the water may evaporate. Sauce, such as may suit the taste of those to whom it is to be served up, may then be poured over it. I have never had occasion to have this vegeta- ble forced; but though I have not practised it, Y may mention to you what has occurred to me as a method, simple, and likely to be success- ful. Let planks, bricks, or flags, eight or ten inches broad be placed on edge, on each side of the row to be forced, and covered with cross spars, 516 _ HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. having a space of about an inch between thett. Over this let a sufficient quantity of prepared dung be laid, leaving at every ten feet a small part open. The quantity of dung should be such, that the heat may be no more than just enough to draw up the plants, to use a gardener’s phrase. © Should you consider this short communication — of sufficient importance to be attended to by the Society, you may lay it before the next meet- ing. Iam, &c. EpInBURGH, i 6th April 1812. FS ARSE OF GOWRIE ORCHARDS, 317 XLVI. An Account of the Orchards in the Carse of Gowrie. | By Messrs Macuray and Gorris. (Read 14th September 1813.) Tue Carse of Gowrie is situate on the north bank of the Tay, and lies between Perth and Dundee. It measures in length, from Kinfauns to Invergowrie, about sixteen miles, and is about four miles in breadth, from the Tay north to | the sloping ground, or Braes of the Carse. Nearly in the middle of the Carse, there is a rising ground which runs, in a parallel direc- tion with the river, almost the whole length of the Carse, beginning west from Pitfour, and end- ing at Invergowrie. The summit of this gently sloping ground may be estimated to rise from 60 to 100 feet above the level of the sea; and on it are situate the different zmches of Inchture, Inchmartin, Inchmichael and Megginch, as also _the villages of Leetown, Errol, Inchture and VOL, 1. 3 818 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. - Longforgan, the demesnes of Pitfour, Murie, Errol and Dremmie, and the orchards of Ar- gaith, Murie, Errol, Megginch, Horn, Inch- martin, Inchture, Moncur and Overyards. Ex- cept the orchard at Murie, which is just laying out, and consists of about two acres, the other or- chards are very old, and some of them a good deal decayed. The soil about Leetown to the east of Pitfour, is a brown-coloured sandy loam, ona cold clayey bottom ; but to the eastward where the ground rises higher, at Argaith, Murie and Errol, the soil is a good black loam, on a gravel- ly or tilly* bottom. Megginch and Inchmi- chael are considerably lower than Errol, and partake of the clay soil of the Carse. From Inchture eastwards, the soil is a reddish brick- coloured loam, or a mixture of sand and clay. To the north of this rising ground, and be- tween it and the Braes of the Carse, is a fine level, from one to two miles in breadth. This is supposed, and has every appearance of ha- ving been the bed of the Tay at some former period. Its present surface is about forty feet above the level of the sea, and is composed. chiefly of a black mossy soil in the middle, and a sound black loam towards the sides. Many who are still alive, remember when this part * Till is an expression used for a composition of gravel and elay: having the poverty of the one, and the retention of the other, it is reckoned a bad subsoil. . CARSE OF GOWRIE ORCHARDS. 319 of the Carse was entirely a marsh, producing nothing but reeds, junci, carices, and other marsh and aquatic plants: it was held as a com- mon, and afforded pasturage for cattle; but the common being divided, the whole of this long marsh was drained, and the Qua, the only re- maining loch or pool, was drained five years ago ; so that the whole tract from Glencarse to Inver- gowrie, along the bottom of the Braes of the Carse, is now ina high state of cultivation. No attempt to raise fruit-trees in this division has been made, so far as we know; nor would the mossy soil of which it is chiefly composed, either encourage or justify the attempt. It may be observed, however, that, about fifty or sixty years ago, the ground under fruit-trees in the Carse of Gowrie, was nearly equal to what it is at pre- sent, when the agricultural extent was not near- ly one-third of its present dimensions. Towards the river side, the soil is a strong clay, from fourteen to twenty feet deep, having different strata of river sand, at various. depths from the surface. Under this is a bed of moss, which is to be met with along the bank of the Tiver at many places between Inchyra and In- - vergowrie. In this moss are found the remains of old trees, and: some. are even found among the clay which covers it. In this division, is situate the orchard of Monorgan, by much ‘the largest and best in this district, and perhaps one of the Yo 3 320 | HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. oldest, as also Bogmill, Bow seaines Seaside, and the Pow of Errol. Where the strata of sand ap- : pear within three feet of the surface, as at the Pow of Errol, the trees arrive to a great magni- tude, and seem to retain their vigour to a great age ; pear trees in particular grow to a larger size “here and at Bogmill, than at most other places of the Carse. In many of the old orchards of the Carse, we noticed some large trees lying along the surface, with their branches bent upward, and producing as healthy wood and as fair crops of fruit as. those that were still standing; indeed, the ad- vantage seemed to be on the side of those trees which the storm or some accident had laid on their sides. In particular, we observed a pear tree at the Pow of Errol, which, to the best of our information, must have lain upwards of fifty years; its stem measures about twenty feet in length, and about twenty inches in diameter ; when it fell, the trunk had split right above the root, and the wound has since increased, sO that only about six inches of the bark on the un- der side of the trunk remains sound, to con- vey nourishment from the root to the branches, which have now formed tops as large as four ordinary trees of from twenty to thirty years standing. Although the trunk is” split and shattered in many places, the branches, which look like so many thriving trees, exhibit more CARSE OF GOWRIE ORCHARDS. 321 of the appearance of health than many other trees in the orchard, notwithstanding the limi- ted channel through which they receive their nourishment. We judge, that the health of these stems may be owing in some measure to the settled state of the roots, (which can suffer nothing from wind-waving, ) or perhaps from the moisture which surrounds the bark of the trunk, where there may be still the remains of vegetable life; but we leave it to other horticulturists, to form what conclusions they may think proper on this subject. ‘The instance we have given is by no means a solitaty one, but may be met with in some degree in every old orchard. We shall now give a description of the new orchards that are laying out in this quarter. There is an otchard laid out this season at Glencarse, within the policies belonging to Tho- mas Hunter, Esq. of Glencarse. It measures about three acres, has a south aspect, and is well sheltered from the north, west, and east, by thriving plantations. The soil is a rich black loam, from two to five feet deep. The trees are from twelve to fifteen years old. ‘The proprie- tor, who carries on these improvements with the spirit and judgment of a horticulturist, has with- held no necessary expence nor pains in having the ground drained, and the trees judiciously pru- ned and regularly watered, partly from the drain- ings of the cow dunghill. The trees have a X'S $22 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. - healthy appearance ; and from the situation, soil and management of this orchard, it promises to make a respectable figure among the Carse or- chards. — sd Within the policies belonging to Genera! Stuart of Rait, a new orchard is just now laying out on . ‘a rising ground, having a south aspect, and rising gradually from 40 to 120 feet above the level of the sea; it contains from eight to nine acres, and the soil, like the most part of the Braes of the Carse, is a strong black loam, from one to four feet deep, partly on a rocky and partly on a gra- _ velly bottom. It is naturally sheltered on the north by the rising ground, on the east and west. by astrip of planting, and on the south by a stone wall. It has been completely drained, and as it forms a part of the lawn, it is laying out by a plan given by the proprietor, which differs from most other orchards, in the rows being all circular, expanding regularly from a centre; the advantages presented by this mode of planting, are, the trees being planted with the same precision and regularity as if they were in straight lines, without the stiff: formality of straight lined orchards, which can be no way ornamental ina lawn; nor, from the’ detached manner in which the trees appear to stand, can they prevent the influences of the sun and air, to the same degree as if planted in straight lines. As to ploughing, it will be performed without CARSE OF GOWRIE ORCHARDS. 323 ever turning the horses, and the next ploughing it may be reversed to throw back the furrow ; perhaps the space next the centre may have to be thrown up with the spade, but that being a small spot, will occasion but a trifling expence. At Murie, there is a new orchard fenced in with a stone wall, consisting of nearly two acres. The ground is trenched and drained, and it is to be planted as soon as the season will permit. The soil isa clay loam, mixed with the black loam that was on the surface. It is the property of Miss Yeoman of Murie. At Benvie, in the parish of Liff, the old orch- ard, from whence the Benvie pear takes its name, has been lately renewed. The original pear-tree of that name is still alive: it has been” at some former period laid over by the wind; the original stem is about five feet in circumference, _and fourteen feet in length; it is much shattered and decayed, but where the branches begin to bend upward, fourteen feet from the root, it has sent forth new roots, which supply a_ large thriving top with nourishment : its having struck _root at such an.age, we consider as very singular, and we conclude from it, that this variety of pear shews a disposition to grow by layers. ‘The tree we mentioned at the Pow of Errol orchard, which must have lain upwards of fifty -yeats, shews no disposition to root, except one . Y4 394 “HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. of the young Béinehes: that had been whe Cos vered with earth. . At Birithrie, an extensive siehad has beer lately laid out, wherein is planted from 2000 to 3000 fruit-trees. It lies i the parish of Liff, and is the property of Mr Webster, who has laid it out ; it measures about nine acres, and the young. trees have a very promising appearance. The ground of this orchard is chiefly a steep den, and is one of the many situations of that kind in the Braes of, the Carse, that might be cultivated in that manner with advantage. At Abernyte, an orchard has been ites: planted. It is situate in a steep den north from: Ballanden, and is the property of Mr Miller. Like most other new orchards here, it was planted _ with standard apple and pear trees, two or’ three years grafted: the soil was trenched, and large pits were made and filled with a com- post of prepared mould, mixed with lime and dung: the trees were planted with their roots’ spread in every direction, within eight inches of the surface ; the mould was laid over them, and the top of the pit left level to receive the rains: and surface water. CARSE OF GOWRIE ORCHARDS. 325 List of the principal Apples, Pears, and Plums, cultivated in the Carse of Gowrie Orchards. No. APPLES. 1. Tower of Glammis, or Carse ' of Gowrie, UGE _ Winter Apple. 2. Moncrieff Pippin, or Gogar, Winter. 3. Lady’s Finger, or Magnum- bonum, - Winter. Table, 4. Cat’s Head, = Winter. 5. Norfolk Beaufin, = . Winter. ° 6. Naked Apple, = Winter. 7. Ribston Pippin, -— _ Winter. Table. 8. Loman’s Pearmain, “i Winter. 9. White Codlin, a Autumn. 10. Dupplin Codlin, “ Autumn. 11. Kinnowl Codlin, a new ex- cellent apple, - "Autumn. 12, Glammis Pippin, - November. 13. Moncur Apple, — = - : Winter. 14, Royal Codlin, - November. 15. Hawthorndean, - ~~ Winter. 16. Stoup Leadington, = “Autumn. 17. Scarlet Leadington, = Autumn, 18. Striped Leadington, = Autimn. 19. Grey Leadington, - Winter. Table. 20. Monstrous Rennet, = November. 21. Lamont. - Winter. 22. Black Stock, or Fox Whelps, Winter. 23. Green Fulwood, — = Winter. 24, Bulastrae Hill, — = November. 25. White Captain, = Autumn. 26. Summer Strawberry, or Brans dy, & é Autumm: 326 - HORTICUTURAL MEMOIRS. 27. Winter Strawberry, or Win- ter Brandy, - 28. Carlisle Codlin, - - 29. Royal Russet, - 30. Lemon Pippin, =. 31. Summer Queening, - 32. Winter Queening, - 33. Oslin, or Arbroath Pippin, 34, Red Wine, or Queen of Eng- land, a N. B.—The above are all great bearers. 35. Yorkshire Green, - 36. Margill, e 37. Chartreaux Corpendu, -« 38. Margaret, = 39. Nonsuch, m4 40. Dutch Codlin, - 41. Golden Rennet, = 42, Juneating, - 43. Summer Pearmain, - 44. French Corpendu, - 45. Summer Redstreak, = 46. Winter Redstreak, S 47. Orange Pippin, = 48. Golden Russet, =~ 49. Maggy Duncan, a large green apple, = = 50. Lady Johnston, a large beau- tiful apple, - . Red Calville, at . White Leadington, - . Balmano Pippin, - = ist) ON Gx GG & t© rs . Sugar Loaf, Dies . Lady Apple, = & tori Winter. » November: Winter. Winter. Autumn. Winter. | Autumn. November. Winter. Winter. Autumn. November. November. Autumn, Winter. Autumn. Autumn. November. _ Autumn. Winter. Autumn. ji Winter. November. . November. Autumn. Autumn. Autumn. November. Winter. Table. Table. Table. Table. Table. ‘Table. . Table. Table. Table. Teale. ~ Table. Table. Table. ed CARSE OF GOWRIE ORCHARDS. 327 46. Maclean, - MMT TMT TOMMTTTTTTD 2 ex cM PF22D @ \ $s g thes 2a , t COLTS NOT a esPaMe esas SUASENCMATSRACSTASSTRASEAATONEASURUSECUSCOGSNUC GEOL Tiina TTA ‘% CAST-IRON ESPALIER RAILS. 4,35 mortise two cross bars into these posts, and to nail upright splits to the bars. ‘The great de- fect of this method is, that, by the bulk of the posts, rails and splits, so great a strain is. thrown upon the stones, during high winds, that they cannot long resist it; and the consequence is, that the rail soon begins to twist, whilst the part sunk into the stones, in spite of every pre- ‘caution, will in no very long time decay, in consequence of moisture getting in between the wood and the stone, The substitution of cast iron in piace of wood, in many departments of mechanics, has induced a gentleman in Dunbartonshire to try an espalier rail of that metal, an elevation of which is given in the annexed figure *. AA A are the supports on which it stands; the centre one is a piece of of seasoned oak, driven into the ground, and sunk a little below its surface. It receives the triangular piece marked B, which keeps up the centre of the bottom rail, and through which the upright arrow to the right and left of the middle one is put. Those at the sides of the figure, are stones of two feet in length, having their tops hewn into a hemispherical shape, and in the middle perforated by a hole of four inches in depth, which receives the column EE. The upright arrows marked C CG, are each furnish- Ff * Plate V. 2 A364 2: HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. ed with a ruff at the place where oe meet. the top and bottom rail. The columns are in length six feet, their bot- toms are sunk four inches into the stone, as was said before: the diameter at the point marked F, is 14 inch; and that marked G, 13 inch: the arrowsare in length five feet, their diameter one- half inch ; the bottom rails are in thickness three-eighths of an inch, and in breadth one inch and five-eighths ; the top ones #ths by 14th inch. It is hoped, the above will convey a tolerably accurate idea of the thing. It may be necessary to add, that the columns at the points marked F and G, have a flank projecting at right angles to the column having a hole, through which, and through a hole in the end of the rail, the leaden rivet is put, for fastening the rail to the column. | 7 It now only remains for me to give an ac- count of the expence attending its erection. From the circumstances of a few of the rails be- ing broken by accident, when bringing them from the foundry, and a few remaining more than were needed, I am not able to speak upon this with entire accuracy ; but the statement I here make, may be regarded as very near the truth : 81 cwt., or 4 ton ] cwt., at 17s. per cwt., gives L. 68, 17s. The length of the rail when put up, is exactly $00 yards; of course the ex- pence of the metal at the foundry, will be about CAST-IRON ESPALIER RAILS. 437 ° 4s. Td. per yard. As to the expence of putting up and painting, it being all done by our own hands, with the occasional assistance of a black- smith for the putting up, Iam not prepared to speak correctly ; but it did not cost less than | i The lowest estimate we had from a carpenter for a wooden rail, was L. 72, independent of put- ting up ; soit appears that the iron one is cheaper at the first, and it may be expected, from its durability, to be infinitely cheaper in the end. 438 ° HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS¢ LXXII.- Experiments and Observations on-the Potato, By Mr Danyiet Cricuton, Gardener, Minto, In a Letter to Mr Nettt, Secretary. (Read 26th March 1814.) SIR, Ir you think the few following experiments and practical observations on the potato, are worth communicating to the Society, you may do so. In 1803, I got a good kind of potato for seed- stock, from a friend of mine, who had planted the same kind for many years before that period. This sort I planted several years, with complete success, and without any appearance of curl. [| make ita rule to pit those I intend for seed, imme- diately when dug out of the ground in autumn ; and never expose them to the air, but during the time they are preparing for planting in the spring. In 1806, however, I observed a little curl among OBSERVATIONS ON THE POTATO. 439 them. In 1807, I happened to plant a quarter at two different periods: the first planted, turn- ed out good as usual, and free of curl: the last planted had more than the half of them curled. ‘The seed tubers were all cut at one time; but on account of the weather turning unfavourable for planting, the last half of the quarter was not planted until a month after the first. The seed was kept, during that month, in a hamper, covered up with straw, in a shed, but not exclu- ded from the air, which, in my opinion, was the reason of them curling. The teuth of this opinion, I think I ascertained in the following years. In 1808, I planted for a general crop, part of the first planted of last year’s, which turned out well, and had nocurl amongst them. This year I exposed to the air, for four weeks, as much seed as planted a row ; they turned out all curled, less or more. In 1809, I planted the general crop as usual ; they turned out with not one curl amongst them. This year, I exposed to the air for three weeks, as much seed as planted a row; this row had © more than the half of them curied. In 1810, I planted the general crop as usual, which turned out well, and no curl amongst them. This year, I exposed seed to the air, for one row, one week ; for one row, two weeks 5 and for one row, three weeks. ‘They turned 440 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. out as follows: the seed that was exposed for one week, had very few curled ;—the seed that was exposed for two weeks, had about one-fourth of them curled ;—and the seed that was exposed three weeks, had about the half of them curled. In 1811, I planted the general crop, guarding as usual against exposure to air. It turned out well, and there was no curl amongst the plants. This year I planted several rows of those whose seed was exposed to the air last year, of which I picked those that had not the curl, that I could discern ; but this year they turned out nearly all curled. I also planted a row exposed ten days to the air; half of them was curled. In 1812, I planted the general crop as usual, which turned: out well, and free from curl. This year I planted a row of those that had their seed exposed ten days last year, of which I took those that were not curled. This year they turned out more than the half with curl. In 1813, I planted the general crop as usual ; had a good crop, and nocurl. I this year ex- posed a few for one and two weeks for two rows, as I had done three years before, and found them turn out curled, in proportion as they had been exposed to the air. I am now satisfied in my own rauiait that the curl in the potato, is occasioned by the way the potatoes are treated that are intended for seed, I have observed, all around this part of the coun- OBSERVATIONS ON THE POTATO. 441 try, that wherever the seed-stock is carefully pitted, and not exposed to the air in the spring, the crop has seldom had any curl; but where the seed-stock is put into barns and out-houses for months together, such crop seldom. escapes turning out in a great measure curled; and if © but few curl the first year, if they are planted again, it is more than probable the half of them will curl next season. I have merely stated the facts which I ob- served, and willingly leave the discussion of the theory to other hands. Iam, &c. Dan:. CrRicuTon. Minto Ganven, 7 5th March 1814. ii $42. HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. LXXIL On increasing the Quantity of Manure. By Mr Tuomas Bisuor; Gardener, Methven Castle. (Read 26th March 1814.) Ix compliance with the request of the Society’s circular letter; of the 8th of December last, } beg leave to offer the following communication, as to the best means of increasing the quantity of manure, and applying the same for purposes in horticulture. Experience hath taught us, that manures af- ford the most essential assistance to the improve- Ment and fruitfulness of soils; and luxuriance of crops grown-thereon. ‘The fear that agri- eulturists may sometimes entettain, of having their ground in too high condition for particular crops, never creates the least alarm im the mind of the gardener, whose crops depend more on ON INCREASING MANURE. 4.43 the luxuriance of roots, stems and flowers, than in the maturation of seeds. That most vegeta- bles, which are of, quick growth, or such as ar- rive early to a state of maturity, require a grea- ter proportion of manure to bring them to per- fection, than those of the same genus, which are slower in growth, will be readily admitted by ail who are conversant in their culture. For instance, a fair crop of late potatoes can be ob- tained from ground in an indifferent state, where some of the earlier sorts would not produce more than the seed planted. The same may be observed as to the later and earlier sorts of peas, beans, and sundry others. As the gene- rality of garden crops, are therefore of that nature which requires ground in the highest order, to produce them good, and the means which a gare den affords, of itself, for the increase of man- ure, is so very circumscribed, it is with the grea- test propriety that the Society proposes, for the consideration of horticulturists, an article, the want of which is so frequently felt, although absolutely necessary to be obtained. Without enumerating the various means that, with careful economy, may be used for its increase, such as collecting the urine of animals, chamber- lye, soap-suds, or mixing fresh soils of opposite qualities, I shall confine myself toa plain statement ofa method f have practised for these several years 444 - HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. past, with much sticcess, afid shall offer a few observations connected therewith. Situated the same as many others, to whom the produce of the stable-yard is the only al- lowance of dung that can conveniently be al- lotted for the garden, which, although every way advantageous for hot-beds, and other purposes of forcing, yet to use it as a manure for garden crops, without having its qualities altered by fermentation, or blended with substances of a heavier nature, would, in many cases, be more> injurious than beneficial; I therefore, during the summer and autumn, have all the offals in the garden, such as weeds, leaves of strawberries and other vegetables, short grass, peas and as- paragus haulm, with the foliage of trees and shrubs when newly shed, carefully collected into a heap. These are all turned over and mixed during the winter, that they may be suf- ficiently rotted to mix with the dung against the end of summer. I have also another heap formed with the prunings from gooseberry and currant bushes, fruit-trees, raspberry shoots, clip- pings of box-edgings, and loppings from shrubs ; also the roots of greens and cabbages; which are generally burnt at two different periods in the year, viz. in spring and autumn; but pre- vious to each burning, I endeavour to pare up all the coarse grasses around the gatden, with a portion of the soil adhering thetcto, and when- ON INCREASING MANURE: 445 ever these are sufficiently dried, have them col- lected to the heap intended tobe burnt. The firé is kindled at a convenient distance from the heaps, and a portion of such as burn most easily is first applied, until the fire hath gained a consi- derable power. After this, the process of burning is continued, by applying lighter and heavier subtances alternately, that the one may pre- serve the action of the fire, and the other prevent it from reducing them too much to ashes. When the whole are thus con- sumed, a quantity of mould is thrown over the heap to prevent the fire from breaking through ; and whenever it can be broke into with safety, it is then mixed up into a dunghil with the rot- ted vegetables, moss-earth and stable-yard dung, in such proportions as is likely to insure a mode- rate fermentation, which is generally completed in three or four weeks ; at which time, I think, it is most advantageously applied, in having it carried to the ground, and instantly dug in. Whenever it is practicable to get as much of it used this way early in autumn, when the ground is dry, I prefer it, rather than using it in winter, or early in spring; as this renders it neces- sary to dig the ground, so manured, a second time before cropping, which incorporates it with the soil, and- thereby renders it a fit receptacle for seeds, especially those of the smaller sorts. VOL, ;1< Gg “ 446 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. I have also practised Lord Meadowbank’s me- thod of fermenting peat-moss with dung on/y, and - have found it to succeed as a garden manure ~ very well, but not equal to the above compost, nor so well adapted as a manure for fruit-tree _ borders ; and for vegetable crops, I have ex- perienced greater benefit in using it, than from an equal quantity of street-dung, which cost 8s. per cart load. The advantage with tie every gardener may use this method, in converting the offals and rubbish of the garden into a source of fruit- ful manure, must be perfectly obvious, although he possesses not all the different articles above mentioned ; forin whatever way the rubbish from the garden can be used, to ignite the greatest por- tion of soil, sward or vegetable substances, rot easily rotted, a greater quantity of the most fertil- izing manure will be obtained, and above all o- thers, the most congenial to the growth of fruit- trees. The powerful effect which fire has upon every soil, (even clay,) in improving its fertility, will not easily be credited by those who have had no opportunity of ascertaining it; but certain it is, that burnt soil, applied in making fruit-tree borders, will be found more conducive to the health and fruitfulness of the trees than any appli- cation of dung, which, for a few years only, hath the injurious tendency to cause them produce spongy luxuriant shoots, subject to blights, and ON INCREASING MANURE. 447 several other diseases, that, with the greatest dif-, ficulty, can hardly, if ever, be brought back to that firmness of texture, roundness and shortness of bud, which is so very desirable in all fruit- bearing trees. It is therefore of the preatest importance, wherever a garden or orchard is to be planted, if the ground be under grass, to have it pared, burnt and fallowed, previous to trenching, by which means, a fund of excellent manure is ob-. tained and incorporated with the soil: Where- as, to trench down a sward with much grass be- yond the action of the weather, will increase the damps arising from a wet bottom, by forming. - there a stratum similar to that of peat-moss. This Ihave had occasion to suspect, is very de-, trimental to the roots of trees. Having attached such ean eg to soil and vegetable ashes, I trust I shall not be under- stood as applying the same to coal ashes, from which I. have seen the most pernicious ef- fects, when applied in quantities, to garden ground. It frequently happens, when a garden hath een long and severely cropped, or through the application of unsuitable manure, that the soil becomes quite sterile and barren: Composts of fresh soils may be advantageously applied to re- cover its fertility ; but. where moss-earth, of a dry loamy nature, can be got, a less quantity of it will be equally serviceable: even peat-moss, Ge2 448 = © HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. when exposed in a heap for five or six months, and well broke and turned over, will be found of great advantage. The good effects of both have been fully experienced by myself, as well as others, in this neighbourhood. On the application of manure, so as to pro- duce the greatest benefit, I would only observe, that it ought to be applied as much as possible when the ground is in a dry state; and never when it is much wet or drenched with rain ; nor suffered to lie exposed to the air, after it is put on the ground: and also, that, by a proper pre- paration of the ground, at certain seasons, before using it, half the quantity will produce as abun- dant a crop, as the whole, when such prepara- tion is neglected. . It has been a practice with gardeners, from time immemorial, to ridge up their vacant ground before winter, that the frost may act freely thercon, which is attended with advantages only on clay soils. But when the same method can be adopted, to expose soils to the more benign influence of the sun in the beginning of summer, it will be found in a greater degree conducive to: iis fertility, and a less proportion of manure applied, will operate more powerfully. It is my constant practice, during the above season, to,have every vacant piece of ground dug over to a good depth, and laid up as whole and as open as possible, that the sun’s influ- ON INCREASING MANURE. 449 ence and drying winds may have the greater effect upon it, although it should only remain in that state a very few days, before it is man- ured, and again put under crop. That intend- ed for late crops, such as broccoli, turnip, or winter spinage, frequently remains so for seve- ral weeks, whereby it receives the meliorating advantages arising from a summer fallow; and when put under crop with a very small quantity of manure, never fails to insure a good return. ‘These observations must be known to many,— will be useful to some,—and may be the means to induce others to make further trials, for the increase and advantageous application of an arti- cle so essentially necessary in horticulture. Mernuven Caste, } 24th February 1814. Gg3 450 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIR§, LOeRTV: ~ On the Prevention of the Blight in Fruit-Trees. By Mr Grorce Sinciair, Gardener, Woburn Abbey: (Read 26th March 1814.) Amone the terms in use to denote the diseases of plants, that of blight seems to have the least precision in its application ; for it is taken-in ge- neral, to signify that affection of plants which ap- pears in the preternatural colour, disfigured and sickly state of the leaves and flowers. From whatever cause the disease may arise, it is evi- dent, that a yariety of causes bring on this af- fection,—different species of insects, unfavour- able weather, andthe like. ‘To prevent or palli- ate the injuries of these to plants, requires very different means. The species of Aranee and the Acarus telarius, which spin their webs over the leaves of plants, cannot be destroyed by the same means, as that which is found effectual for the vont PREVENTING BLIGHT IN FRUIT-TREES. 4051 different species of Aphides, which not only ex- tract the juices, and give to plants a sickly appearance, but likewise are the well known cause of the honeydew. The larve of different Phalene Tortrices, or grubs, as they are com- monly called, are singly often the cause of blight ; the former by rolling and curling up the leaves, and the latter by eating the substance of the leaves and flowers. Though it may be vain to attempt to arrange with accuracy, the various diseases of plants, while the knowledge of their internal structure and economy, is still so limited ; nevertheless, some degree of precision should be adopted and followed in the application of terms. Physiolo- gists have arranged the various diseases of plants under two chiei classes; those that are brought on by external causes, as accidents, insects, para- sitic plants, and the like; and those which arise froma corruption of the sap by improper sail or situation, insects at the roots, or most frequently the extreme age of the plant *. Under the first, among others, we find, wounds, fissures, defo- lation, mildew, honeydew, leprosy, and galls. Under the second, a2ré barrenness, canker, gan- ‘ * Gangrene and canker, are common on young trees. They arise from a corruption of the sap ; but it seems highly pro- bable that the age of a plant can only be ascertained from the age of the parent tree, or that which afforded the graft, and not from the age of the stock on which it is grafted, Gg4 452 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS, grene, dropsy, and consumption, which last seems rather to be the uncontrolled effects of two or more of the foregoing. Blight may be there- fore with more propriety considered an order of diseases, rather than a single or specific disease. That species of blight, which is caused by the larvz of the Phalenz Tortrices or grubs, 1s very common and destructive to the or- chard trees in this part of the country. The following remedy, which I have used for these five years bypast, for the orchard trees of His Grace the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn, has been productive of the most beneficial effects. I have therefore much pleasure in submitting the process to the Caledonian Horticultural So- ciety. : : here ave two orchards of about six acres in extent at Woburn-Abbey; one is furnish- ed with apple-trees, and the other with cher- ry-trees. They are placed under circumstan- ces unfavourable to the growth of these trees, in regard to exposure. Until the following re- medy was tried, they were every year more or less subject to the ravages of the larve of these insects, varticularly those of the Zortrices. His Grace the Duke of Bedford instructed me to submit the trees to the action of caustic lime. It -wasthus effected ; A waggon load of lime was plac- ed in the orchard, immediately after the fall of the leaves, and suffered to slake by the weather. Ad- | yantage was then taken of the morning dews, to PREVENTING BLIGHT IN FRUIT-TREES. 453 powder every part of the surface of the trees with the lime, while in its most caustic state. The trees then exhibit that appearance which they assume after a fall of snow, or an intense hoar frost. ‘This has been repeated every year, and there has been but one feeble attack by the insects since, and this I attributed to the lime which was that season used, having lost much of its causticity before it was applied, and to a heavy fall of rain which immediately followed the process of liming. Though the lime does not seem to have an im- - mediate effect uponthe different algae and musci, which cover the stems and branches of the trees, yet when once these parasites are displaced, they never recover themselves, if the process of lim- ing be annually repeated; at least that is the re- sult of this practice in the present instance. The apple-trees were here the most affected with the different mosses and lichens; but since the process of liming has been yearly repeated upon the trees, they have not made their appearance,—a circumstance which I con- ceive will prove to be of much advantage to the occupiers of extensive orchards. ‘The expense is but little, if the lime be not at too great a distance: seventy bushels, properly applied, will be sufficient for an orchard of five acres extent, completely furnished with full grown trees. It is most essential, that ‘the alge be re- Aina HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. - ~ “moved from the trees before the process of lim- ing is adopted; because they not only injure the tree, as it is well known, by closing up the pores of the bark, but they also form the princi- pal nests where the eggs of those insects are de- posited during the winter season. The Lichen farinaceus, and Lichen fastigiatus, were by far the _ most common on the apple-trees here. ‘These grew from two to three inches in length, form- ing dense tufts, which completely protected the eges from the action of the lime, and defeated the purpose of its application, When the bark of the trees is rugged, with numerous fissures, - the insects prefer these for nests to the lich- ens, being thereby better protected from the wet. [Even in the scales of the buds at the end of autumn, I have found the eggs of the Phalana ‘dispar, and those of a species of Aphis. Ina single specimen of the Lichen fastigiatus which is now before me, there are the nests of a species of acarus, with the parent, and a great number of eggs, and that of a species of musca or fiy in the chrysalis state: they occupy different sides of the plant. From the disappointments which J have experienced in trying remedies for diseased trees, my faith in palliative or even preventive means, is not very great, except such as have a powerful influence over the general health of the plant, as change of soil, exposure, &c.; the only exception that I know to the contrary, is PREVENTING BLIGHT IN FRUIT-TREES. 455 the liquor discovered by Mr Nicol, which, in my practice, I have ‘never found to fail of success ; only the process is two minute for orchard-trees, and it would in this case be too expensive. The different algee which were removed from the trees, previous to their undergoing the pro- cess of liming, were as follows: Fi : tr Lichen farinaceus. Herb, Saucers mealy, on the edge of the foliage : Leaves grey glaucous green, upright, compres- sed, branched. Grows from one to three inches high; warts on the edges of the branches mealy, as is the whole plant, flat, or rising, resembling saucers. Dillenius. Engl. Bot. 889. . Lichen fastigiatus. Herb. Saucers pale grey green, lateral and terminating ; foliage pale grey green, upright strap . shaped, branched, pitted, convex, ending in sharp points. E. Bot. 890. Withr. Arr. vol. 4. 50. Lichen calicaris. Lichen siliquosus. Shrub. Saucers grey white, lateral ; plant solid, compressed, branched. Dillenius. Withr. Arr, vol. 4. p. 39. . Lichen parietinus, Crusts leaflike, loose. Saucers tawny yellow, leaves full yellow, curled. E. Bot. 194. Withr. Arr. vol. 5. p. 33. Lichen physodes. Saucers red brown, on pedicles ; leaves whitish above, black underneath, hollow as if inflated ; segments jagged, blunt. E. Bot. 126. Withr. Arr. v. 31. 456 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. 6. Lichen pallescens, Crusts with saucers,: Saucers pale brown, crust grey white. Jacquin, Coll. III. 5. fig 3. a, a. Withr. Arr. v. 20. Most frequent on the cherry- trees, forming large white patches. 7.. Lichen botryoides. Crust with black lines; Green, powdery. Flora Danica, 899. 3. With. v. p. 3. This is not acted upon by the lime, nor is the following moss. 8. Hypnum velutinum. Shoot, creeping, branches crowded, upright ; leaves awl-shaped, hairy at the end E, Bot. Withr. Arr. vol. ili. 848. ON PRUNING PEAR-TREES. 457 LXXV. Observations on Pruning and Training of Pear- Trees. By Mr AtEx. Stewart, Gardener, Valleyfield. (Read 14th June 1814.) T+ has often occurred to me in pruning and training of pear-trees against a wall, that it was necessary to adopt some other than the common mode of pruning, so as to obtain a succession of young bearing wood, in place of trusting to the spurs, which, in a short time, become hard and cankery, and seldom produce any fruit, but at the extremity of the branches, Training pear-trees in the fan-shape, has of- ten been recommended and adopted, with a view to obtain a succession of young bearing wood, but in general it has been found not to answer the purpose in many respects. When trained in this way, the upper part of the tree is apt to 458 HORTICULTURAL ME MOIRS. get into too luxuriant a growth, thereby depriv= ing the lower branches of their proper share of nourishment, which is so requisite in every part of the tree to render it fruitful. Training in a horizontal direction, I conceive to be the most eligible plan, both for equalising the sap, and covering the wall in the neatest and Most regular manner. Yet, from the general mode of pruning trees trained in this way, the branches soon become full of spurs and breast- wood, which turns hard and cankery in a few years, and seldom produces any fruit but at the extremity of the branches; consequently, the middle of the tree becomes barren more and more, as the branches extend on the wall. This deficiency is found to exist in most trees that have arrived at a bearing state, although every precaution has been taken in pruning and thin- ning the spurs to render them fruitful, which has in general proved ineffectual, and has led me to try the following mode of pruning : The trees that I have under my management, had been planted about ten or eleven years ago, when I determined to alter the mode of pruning them. At this time, they were beginning to bear tolerably well, but it was only at the ex- tremities of the branches ; and the trees, nearly meeting each other on the wall, would soon have caused confusion. ‘The trees are trained with * ON TRAINING PEAR-TREES. 459. an upright stem, and the branches in a horizon- tal direction. I began at the bottom of the tree, and cut out every second branch within a few inches of the stem on both sides, taking three or four from each side of the tree; and upon other trees, I removed every second branch all the way up to the top. It is two years since i performed this operation, and the trees have made fine bearing wood, which I am in hopes will produce fruit this season. By taking out every second branch in this manner, I have been enabled to lay ina number of side-shoots from the branches that were left, which have formed fine fruit-spurs, equal to the young wood that js produced from the stem of the tree: The side-shoots, I intend to remove, as the others ad- vance. Inthe mean time, I expect them to be of considerable consequence. Besides, the en- couraging of these shoots prevents the tree from throwing out so much breast-wood, as it might otherwise do. I intended to have taken out some more of the branches last year; but in consequence of a quantity of blossom-buds being on them, I de- ferred the operation until this season. After removing every other branch as I have before described, I then mean to begin with the other old branches that were left, but not until the young wood has arrived at a sufficient length, say four or five years ; and after removing those 460 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. branches, I mean to lay in side-shoots from the young wood that was first obtained, in the same manner as I do now from the old wood that is left. I have great hopes, as far as I am at pre- sent able to judge, that, by proceeding upon this principle, I shall always be able to keep a regu- lar supply of fine young bearing wood in every part of the tree, which is the object at which I aim. : | Should the Society think the method that I have adopted, worthy of their notice, it will give me great pleasure to communicate what further may result upon the subject. VALLEYFIELD, 5th March 1814° END OF VOLUME FIRST. sare to meen on INDEX TO bs, VOLUME FIRST. BiVeevrrvewerss A Allium Canadense, or Tree Onion, on the cultiva- tion of the - wt = Apple, on the Original, Mother, Oslin, or Bur-knot on the same, - = - on the Carlisle and Keswick Codlin - Apple-trees, on destroying the Blue Insect on = Apple and Pear-trees, on bringing old ones on walls into a bearing state, by pruning, x 2: Apples and Pears, on the manner of preserving = Asparagus, on-a new method of planting - B Banks, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph, on the advantages of turning the Branches of Fruit-trees over the walls against which they are planted, - it INDEX. Wey Page Bark of Trees, method of preventing Hares and Rabbits from attacking the - - 361 Barnet, Mr Peter, on destroying the Blue Insect on Fruit- trees, . - ar - 182 Barrenness, on the cause of, in Pear-trees, = 185 Beattie, Mr William, on destroying the Green-fly, &c., and on bringing Pear-trees into a bearing state, - 106 Beta Cicla, or Mangold Wurzel, on the cultivation of 420 Bishop, Mr Thomas, on increasing the Quantity of Manure, - - - 442 Blight, on preventing it in Fruit-trees, - 450 Blue Insect, method of destroying, on wall-trees, ~ 382 — method of destroying it on Apple-trees, —- 394 C Can-flues, on the construction of, in Hot-houses, 65 & 353 Canker, on that infesting Fruit-trees, = 131 & 221 — onthe same, ° - ~ 333 & 336 Carnation, on the cultivation of : 3907 — on the same, =i - 401 Carrots, on preventing the Worms infesting the roots of 128 __.—— on the same, - - 200 — on destroying do. = - 199 & 272 Caterpillars, on those infesting Gooseberry-Bushes, 95 on the same, - = 100 on the same, - - 192 ——— on the same, - mo 266 —— - on the same, - - 272 ————— on those infesting Fruit-trees, . 104 a on the same, ~ = 266 eee) the, Sale, - - 309 Cauliflower, on preserving it through a great part of he Winter, — - - 129 INDEX. Cauliflower, on preserving the root from the attacks of worms, - - Cherry-trees, on the management of - Clay-paint, useful in destroying Insects, curing Mil- dew, &c., - - S Cloudberry-bush, on the cultivation of the = Codlin Apple, on the Carlisle and Keswick = Compost, on its superiority to simple Dung, 2 Crawford, Mr William, on the culture of the Carnation, Cressane Pear-tree, experiment on - Crichton, Mr Daniel, his experiments and observations on the -Potato, - - Crops, on a successful rotation of - Cumming, Dr Robert, Dalkeith, on a new kind of Ground Onion, introduced into Scotland by Mr John Burm of the Royal Navy, - - Curl in Potato, Observations on the, by Mr Dickson, ee — on the same by Mr Shirreff, - Currant-Wine, Receipts for making - ———-Bush, on the treatment of = coi Dick, Mr John, on excluding Wasps from Hot-houses 3 3 t 2 Dickson, Mr inoue: his observations on the Curl in Potato, - - & Discourse, read by Dr Duncan senior, at the Quarterl 3 > 3 Yi Meeting of the Society, = = Don, Mr George, on the varieties of the Pinus Silves- tris, or Scots Fir, - - Dow; the Rev. Dr Anthony, on a new method of pre- serving Potatoes, - - Duncan, Dr Andrew, senior, Pistol of the Institution of the Society, aes és sie i Page AT5 49 248 383 374 S05 401 191 438 297 348 49 60 213 218 356 int INDEX.: Duncan, Dr Andrew, senior, on the preparation of So- . porific Medicines from common Garden Let- tuce, > ee onthe same: - on the Original, or Oslin Apple, ie ven on the same, - on Can-flues in Hot- houses, oe ——_—_—__—_—___——— Communication to him 1 from Dr Lettsom, on the Mangold Wurzel, or Root of Scarcity, i Dung, the simple, inferior to Compost, 2, E Elliot, Mr Robert, on destroying Caterpillars on Goose- berry-bushes and Fruit-trees, = Espalier Rails, on Cast-Iron ones, Fe Exotics, on the means of naturalizing some tender ones, Experiment made on a Cressane Pear-tree, : F Fir, Scots, on the varieties of the ‘ Fletcher, Mr John, appointed Experimenter to the So- ciety, - -- Flues, remarks on the Construction of, for Hot-houses, —~- on those of earthen-wure, called Can-flues, - Forcing of Sea-cale, - - on the same, - - French Pears, on the Cultivation, of, in Scotland, - 424 305 INDEX. ¥ Page French Pears, list of some of the principal - a Fruit, on the method of preserving - 149 on the same, - - 207 Fruit-trees, on the Caterpillar infesting - -104 — —- on destroying Insects, Mildew and Canker on - 131 - on the method of bringing them into a bear-~ ing state, - - 149 ——-—-—- on destroying the Blue Insect on = 182 - on the same, - - 394 ——__—_——- on the Transplanting of, at an advanced age, 185 —- on the same, - - 202 - on the Canker in = 131 & 221 - on turning their branches over the wall a- gainst which they are planted, : 246 __-—-—- on destroying Insects on - 248 ——_———- on the Pruning of - 255 —_————- on destroying Caterpillars on = 266 ——__——- on preserving or retarding the Blossoms of 276 —- on the Canker in © - - 33S - on the same, - = 336 - on preserving the Blossom of - 340 ——-——- on preventing Hares or Rabbits from at- tacking the Bark of - 361 a - on preventing the Blight in ~ 450 Fruits, on various sorts of, growing in the Highlands of Scotland, - 5 172 G Garden Crops, on a successful rotation of = 297 Se rotation of, useful in preventing vermine, 274 Gibb, Mr John, on the Caterpillars infesting Goose- berry-Bushes, - = 100 Gibbs, Mr William, on the Forcing of Sea-cale, “ 383 wi INDEX, Googeberry-bushes, on the Caterpillar infesting .- + be ———--__— on the same, = em on the same, - ~ ay a on the same, - 52 el OE opuitel samejy,- = ae eae on the same, a Gorrie, Mr Archibald, on preventing the depredations of the Turnip-Fly, - oe —on- preserving or retarding che Blosseoms of Fruit-trees, = ——— —_._.___ his account of Orchards,-in. the Carse of Gowrie, SS ——__—______ —__ — his Observations on the Lactuca- rium or Opium, prepared from the common Garden Lettuce, ao —_.___ + his communicatien of an Address from the Rubus Chamemorus, to Mr Neill, one of. the Secre-_ c . taries, - = ‘Green-Fly, on_destroying the = ne Guernsey, Island of, an account of :some delicate. Plants cultivated there.in the open air, = —_——— on the Cultivation of the Parsnip there, H Hay, Mr Alexander, on the Renovation of old Peach- trees in Hot-houses, and on destroying the Blue Insect - on Apple-trees, - -— J > . Hay, Mr John, Edinburgh, his methed of preventing i? Mildew, - - Shs Henderson, Mr,Jonn, Brechin, on \coyering the -soil, in Hot-beds, Pineries, &c., - ——-—— on the sowing of early small seeds, ’ INDEX. Henderson, Mr John, on preparing a Soporific Medicine from the common: Garden Let- tuce, = ——-+— Medal awarded to him, - ——-_-———. on stowing Vegetables for Sum- mer use, - Henderson, Mr William, Delvine, on preventing the ' Maggot infesting the roots of Shallots, &c., - Hepburn, the Hon. Baron, on the Pruning of Fruit- trees, - - Highlands of Scotland, on various Fruits growing in the Hot-beds, on covering the soil of = Hot-houses, on excluding Wasps from = Hot-house Flues, remarks on the Construction of 2 — on those of Earthen-Ware, called Can- Flues, - - — on the same, - - Howison, James, Esq., on the preparation of Opium in Britain, - Medal awarded to him by the Society, = Hunter, Alexander Gibson, Esq., on the state of various _ Fruits found in some parts of the Highlands of Scot- land, - * - 3 I Ingram, Mr Robert, on the means of bringing Fruit-trees into a bearing state, and on pre- serving Fruit, - Insects on Fruit-trees, method of destroying — - —on the same, - - 149 131 948 viii INDEX. K ’ ment, : Page Kelly, Mr Thomas, on a successful rotation of Garden ae “Crops ; 297 Kirk, Mr James, on preventing the Mildew on Peach-trees, 363 Kyle, Mr John, on destroying Caterpillars, removing Mildew, &c., - a 192 1b Hactucarium, or Opium, prepared from the common Gar- den Lettuce, observations on the = 347 Laird, Mr James, on preserving the Blossom of Fruit- trees, “ . 340 Lettsom, Dr John Coakley, his Letter to Dr Duncan senior, on the Beta Cicld, or Root of Scarcity, - 420. Lettuce, the common Garden, om preparing Soporific Medicines from — - es = 160 & 259 ==. on the manner of preparing the Inspissated Juice of - ° 168 SO 4 preparing the Tincture of - 169 ———--_ additional observations on - ib. ——— various preparations from - 170 | — on the same, - - Oo Ah Lorimer, Charles, Esq., on the Construction of Can- | flues in Hot-houses, = ~ 65 ‘ M Macculloch, Dr, of Woolwich, on some delicate Plants cul- | tivated in the open air, in the Island of Guernsey ; and on naturalizing ten- der Exotics, - 284 UAE cial Sebago on the cultivation of the Parsnip, as it is practised inthe Islandof Guernsey, 404 ! a INDEX. Macdonald, Mr James, on the culture of Onions, - on the treatment of the Currante Bush, - Machray, Mr John, on the Gooseberry-Caterpillar; and on the Worms which infest Car- rots and Onions, “ —______—_—_—— his account of Orchards in the Carse . of Gowrie, 2 Mackenzie, Sir George Stewart, on the cultivation of Sea- -{Cale, - iti " Macmurray, Mr John, on Gooseberry-Caterpillars, and the Maggots on Onions, - Maggots, on those infesting Onions, : ~_____ on the game, - Manyold-Wurzel, or Root of Scarcity, on the cultivation of Manure, on increasing the quantity of - Compost preferable to simple Dung for - Medals, extra, awarded by the Society to— 2 My Dr Duncan senior, for his communication on the *) preparation of a Soporific Medicine from the com- mor. Garden Lettuce, - Mr John Henderson, Brechin, for his communica= 5 2 3 tion on the same subject, - Mr James Macdonald, Dalkeith, for his communi- 2 cation on the culture of Onions, = Mr Robert Ingram, Torry, for his comrhunication on the best mode of keeping Fruit, - Mr James Stewart, Pinkie, for his communication on, Transplanting large Fruit-trees, - Mr Alexander Muirhead, Invermay, for his commu- nication on the means of destroying the Pine- Bug, - - James Howison, Esq. ~Cressburin, communication en the preparation of Opium in Britain, - * INDEX. Members of the Society, List of : Menzies, Mr William, his account of a new Pruning Instrument, - - Middleton, Mr John, on Cast-Iron Espalier Rails, Mildew, on removing - = ——-—— on the same, - - on the same, - “ on the same, _ = = on preventing it on Peach-trees, - Mitchell, Mr John, on destroying Wasps, < —______-—____ on the cultivation of the Carnation, “Muirhead, Mr Alexander, on destroying and preventing the Pine-Bug, Bs N Nicol, Mr George, on the Allium Canadense, or Tree Onion, - - Office-Bearers, their Election, < — Elected 3d December 1811, < Onions, on the Maggot infesting - — on the culture of s on destroying Maggots infesting the Shallot on Worms infesting - on a new kind, calied the Burn Onion, —- - Onion, the Tree, or Allium Canadense, - Opium, on the preparation of, in Britain, by Dr Howi- son, : - e ———_—- on the manner of extracting - ~———-— on the manner of gathering “ 349 INDEX. Opium, the British, exhibited by Dr Duncan in the Clinical, Wards of the Royal Infirmary, with all the effect which could be produced by the best Turkey, - ——— species of Poppy best for yielding - Orch: ards, account of, in the Carse of Gowrie, - ze Ni - account of a smali economical one near Tranent, Ordinary Members of the Society, payments by z = mode, of admitting List of - LE Parsnip, on the cultivation of, in Guernsey, - Peach-trees, on planting them on a north border, and introducing their siems through the wall, to be trained on the south aspect, = on preventing Mildew on “ — on the Renovation of old ones, - Pears, on the cultivation of French - - a List of the principal sorts of French ~ Péar-trees, on the cause of Barrenness in = on rendering them productive, = —————. experiment made on one, (the Cressane,) on Transplanting them at an advanced age, —_—_———. on bringing them to a bearing state, - on Pruning and Training, - Pine-Bug, on destroying and preventing the 2 Pineries, on covering the soil in “ ’ Pinus Silvestris, or Scots Fir, on the varieties of the Plate Ist, Explanation of 1% : 2d, —— 3d, = Page t on ~ oe we 2 w Co 3& SS Wom ©} od ee) Mi INDEX. Poppy, the species of, best fitted for yielding Opium, Potato, observations on the Disease, called the Curl in — on the same, = f ———— a new method of preserving the - —— experiments and observations on the “ Prizes awarded for 1810-11, z Pruning of Fruit-trees, remarks on - — effects of injudicious “ oe Vok Pear trees, s i ——— a new Instrument for - .——— of old-worn out Apple and Pear-trees, so as to bring them again into a bearing state, - R Rails, on Cast-Iron Espalier 2 Regulations of the Society, ore Rotation of Garden Crops, on‘ a successful “ —____—_—— - on the advantage of E Rubus Chamzemorus; its ss to Mr Neill, one of the Secretaries, - 4 § Sang, Mr Edward, on the Caterpillar infesting Fruit-trees, —_—_______— ——- on the. Canker in Ditto, - Scions, bad effects of procuring promiscuously - Scougal, Mr James, on the utility of Clay-paint, in de- stroying Insects on Fruit-trees, curing Mildews, &c., Sea-cale, on the cultivation of = —- on the forcing of - —- on the same, Z b Seeds, on the sowing of early small ones, - Shallots, on destroying Maggots infesting the roots of INDEX.» _ Shirreff, Mr John, on the Curl in Potato, ~ Sinclair, the Right Hon. Sir John, information extracted from various communications addressed to him, on the Carlisle and Keswick Codlin Apples, : Sinclair, Mr George, Woburn Abbey, on the prevention of the Blight in Fruit-trees, - Smeal, Mr Joseph, on preventing Hares and Rabbits from attacking the Bark of Trees, ~ Smith, Mr James, Glasgow, on the Canker in Fruit-trees, Smith, Mr James, Keith-Hall, on a new method of plant- ing Asparagus, ws - on preventing the Worms in Carrots, - - on preserving Cauliflower through a great part of the Winter, - Smith, Mr James, Ormiston-Hall, on the cultivation of French Pears in Scotland, - — _ his List of the princi- pal sorts, - SO Wanker imi nnit- trees, - on asmall economical Orchard near Tra- : nent, - Sojl, on covering the, in Hat-beds, Pineries, &c., “ on the effects of, and on sub-soils and situations, i Soot, as a Manure, a good preventive of the Maggot in Onions, - - Stevenson, Robert, Esq., on Hot-house Flues, - Stewart, Mr Alexander, on Pruning and ‘Training Pear- ¢rees, ahs a : gi 129 - siv INDEX. Stewart, Mr James, on Transplanting Fruit-trees, -—- on preserving Apples and Pears, “Syme, Mr Patrick, appointed Painter to the Society, ; Dee Thomson, Mr Thomas, on the Transplanting of Fruit- trees at an advanced age, espe- cially Pear-trees, - —— > on the’ cause. of Barrenness ‘in Peartreess 2 = = is SSUES —- on the best method of rendering Pear-trees productive, = Transplanting of Fruit-trees, — on the same, - Tree Cnion, or Allium Canadense, observations on the Turnip-fly, on preventing the depredations of the - Tweedie, Mr John, on destroying one sort of the Geose- berry Caterpillar, - - U Underwood, Mr Walter, on the management of Cherry- trees, 2 - Vv Vegetables, a method of stowing, for Summer use, WwW Wasps, method of destroying - on the method of excluding them from Hot- houses, = < Page 202 207 48 264 194 356 aerate INDEX, a io Weighton, Mr David, on destroying Insects, and remov- ing Mildew and Canker in Fruit- trees, - on the superiority of Compost to simple Dungs, - Y B Young, Mr John, Belmont, on Pruning old-worn out Apple and Pear-trees upon walls, so as to bring them again t9 a bearing state, a = KV Page 131 305 2 : : : : . < : a = - : : a 1 - LY N ait vit + Na NAS. 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