Sinclair, and some other eminent seed growers; the Horticultural Society have received some from Scotland since ours arrived. We consider this pea a most valuable acquisition to the horticulturist. ART. VIII. On a new Mode of training the Peach-tree, invented by Mr. J. SEYMOUR, and communicated by Mr. WILLIAM SEYMOUR, Gardener at Weddington, and Mr. DUFF, Gardener to the Earl of Grosvenor, at Eton Hall. We have received two letters on this subject, which, being of considerable importance, we shall insert the principal part of both of them, and add an explanatory note of our own. Sir, I HAVE taken the liberty to inform you of a peach-tree that is trained, I believe, in a different manner from any that is mentioned in your Encyclopædia. It is growing in the garden of Miles Stapleton, Esq. at Carlton, near Snaith, Yorkshire, and was planted, a two years' old tree, in the year 1806, and at this time extends forty-five feet, upon a ten feet wall, which is perfectly covered with it. It consists of forty-four principal leading branches, which are nailed in direct lines, at regular distances, in the fan form; each of the leading branches is regularly furnished with young shoots from the stem to the extreme, and all of these young shoots on the upper side. But the greatest peculiarity in this tree is, that all the shoots that bare fruit last year, are taken away and replaced with young shoots for the present year's bearing; so that there is scarcely any wood more than one year old, except the leading branches. The above-mentioned tree, with others trained in the same manner, is greatly admired by all the gardeners in that part of the country; and those gardeners who have seen both them, and Mr. Harrison's of Wortley, look upon the former as superior, both in training and the production of fruit. Should you be inclined to inquire further as to the above account, I should wish to refer you to Mr. Buchanan, of the firm of Buchanan and Oldroyd, Camberwell, Surrey; or Mr. James Backhouse of York; both of them having seen the trees. I am, Sir, &c. WILLIAM SEYMOUR, Gardener to Lionel Place, Esq. Weddington, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Jan. 21, 1826. Sir, Eaton Hall, Feb. 5, 1826. AMONGST the various methods of training the peach-tree, recommended by different writers on that subject, there is one which I have not seen in any author that I have read. A short account of it, with a sketch, was sent me a few years back, by Mr. J. Seymour, the inventor, at Carlton, near Snaith, Yorkshire. Being convinced of its superiority over every other system I had seen, I immediately adopted it in as near a manner as I could with old trees, and in the following manner with all my young ones. A maiden plant must be cut down to three eyes, and three shoots being produced, the two lower ones are left at full length, and the succeeding Spring the centre shoot is again cut down to three eyes. At the time of disbudding the trees, all the buds on the lower side of the two horizontal branches are rubbed off, and buds are left on the upper side of the branches at a distance of from nine to twelve inches from each other. These are suffered to grow five or six inches, and are then stopped; but still suffering the leading shoot to extend itself. At the second Spring pruning, the centre shoot is again cut to three eyes; or, if the tree be very vigorous, five eyes may be left; two for each side, and a centre one for again furnishing leading shoots. The leading shoots are laid in in the fan form, nine or ten inches from each other; the shoots on the leading branch are nailed to the wall in Summer, but after the Winter's pruning, they are tied to the leading shoots with strands of matting; thus keeping the space between the leading shoots clear, for the succeeding Summer's shoots to be nailed in, where they get well ripened, and mature their buds for another crop. At the Winter's pruning they are cut to three or four inches, according to their strength. I visited Carlton in January, 1825, and I never saw more healthy and regular trees. Having occasion to write to Mr. Seymour lately, I requested him to give me some account of a particular peach-tree, trained in this way, which, at the time I saw it, I much admired, and the following is an extract from his letter. "This tree was planted in the year 1806, and has been under my management to this present time, 1824. It covers just forty-five feet in length of a ten feet wall, which is regularly covered. It consists of forty-four principal leading shoots, which are nailed in direct lines, at equal distances, in the fan form; each of the leading shoots is regularly furnished with bearing shoots, at about twelve inches asunder, from the stem to the extreme point, and all of them on the upper side. There is one peculiarity in this system of management which is entirely new, that all the shoots at the Spring pruning, which bare the fruit the last year, excepting the terminal shoots, are all cut away, and the places supplied with young shoots for the present year's bearing. By this method we keep our trees regularly furnished with young wood in every part of the tree, without having the least confusion, and every part gets an equal advantage of both sun and air, so that our fruit is large and well flavoured, and I have not failed of a regular and good crop of fruit for the last sixteen years. It is certainly the easiest and most regular method that I have ever seen, and answers every purpose which gardeners have been aiming at ever since the peach-tree came under their observation." When the advantages of this method of training come to be known, I have no doubt but it will be generally adopted. I am, Sir, &c. C. DUFF. Note. If we understand the above description, then, the maiden plant being headed down (fig. 24, a), the first Winter 24 will present two side shoots, and the upright shoot shortened to three buds (b); the second year at the end of Summer, there will be four side shoots, and six or more laterals (c); in the following Spring pruning the laterals (d) which had been nailed to the wall, are loosened and tied to their main shoot (e), and the upright shoot shortened to three buds (ƒ) as before. At the end of the third Summer the laterals will be doubled on the old wood, by one having sprung from the base of the shoot tied in (fig. 25. g), and another from its extremity. (h) In the pruning of the following Spring the laterals of two years' growth which had borne fruit are cut off close, and the young laterals which had sprung from their base (fig. 26. i), are 26 loosened from the wall and tied down to succeed them; the other laterals (k), are tied in, and the upright shoot shortened (1) as before. Now, or before, the side shoots will have to be headed down once, or even twice, so as to increase their number, and regularly cover the wall. The extent to which this practice is carried, will depend on the height of the wall, and the distance of the trees from each other; the ultimate object being to produce a fan form, as regular as possible, of permanent wood, with no young wood thereon besides what is produced along the spokes of the fan on their upper side, at about 12 inches apart, and the prolongation of the shoots. ART. IX. A Catalogue of Erica, in the Collection of GEORGE DUNBAR, Esq. F. R. Š. E. &c. Professor of Greek in the University of Edinburgh. Communicated by the Professor. Sir; I HAVE sent enclosed with this a catalogue of the Erica in my possession, that you may insert it, if agreeable, in the next, or any subsequent Number of your Gardener's Magazine. I do not suppose that more than four or five plants are wanting to complete the number; though of this I am not quite certain, as some old plants have died this Winter, and I have not yet had an opportunity of examining whether I have others to replace them. My heath-house forms the southern extremity of a range of houses, extending in all to somewhat more than 100 feet, and fronts the south. (fig. 27.) It has abundance of light, as it is lighted on all sides, with the exception of about nine or ten feet of a back wall, of the height of nine feet. On the north I have a conservatory, fifty feet in length, by eighteen in breadth. (a) Next to it is a vinery, twelve feet wide, and eighteen or so in length (b): then a small stove (c), and adjoining it the heath-house. (d) The form in front and at the extremities is somewhat of the following description. (fig. 27.) The glass in front in the conservatory is four feet and a half in height, and rests upon hewn stone, and is, with the stone, about eight feet from the surface. The whole height is rather more than fifteen feet. The back wall is of brick, of the same height as the front. The sashes, springing from both, meet in the centre, at the height of nearly sixteen feet from the surface. If you are acquainted with any person here who could take a sketch of the whole, you shall be most welcome to obtain it at any time. I am much pleased with your Magazine, and think it contains a great deal of very useful information. If I have any information at any future time to communicate, I shall send it to you with much pleasure. I am, &c. 9. Ampullacea major GEORGE DUNBAR. 12. Arbutiflora 13. Arbuscula 14. Archeria 10. Andromedæflor. rub. 16. Aristata major 11. Arborea 17. - minor |