each branch, and as the plants increase in size and number of branches, often only one bud upon the weaker branches; it is much better to have from ten to twenty strong blossoms than a larger number of weak ones, and the foliage is likewise more healthy.

ART. VII. History, Description, and Mode of Treatment of Bishop's Early Dwarf Pea. By Mr. DAVID Bishop.

I SEND YOU some seed of an early pea, which I believe is not at a own in England, and only to a few of my friends and acquaintance in Scotland; among whom, it has attracted considerable attention, and is known by the name of Bishop's Early Dwarf.

The following is a short historical notice and description, with an account of the manner of treatment; which, should you deem worthy of a place in the Gardener's Magazine, is at your disposal. I obtained this pea some years ago from a large sowing of the Spanish Dwarf. At that time it had nothing to recommend it to notice, but that of being dwarf and early. Indeed it had the appearance of a bad bearer, for upon the plant I found, were only two pods; but I considered it, even in that state, worthy my attention. I saved its seed,

and grew it in pots and boxes for two years, and each year it increased in productiveness. On the third year I sowed it in a warm border, and was happy to find, I had not only got an early, and dwarf pea, but at the same time a very productive one.

The height that it attains even in the richest soil, is seldom more than twelve inches; but as it produces a great number of branches it occupies a considerable breadth. The pods are of moderate size, and the peas they contain (fig. 23. a) are larger than the Early Frame (6) or even the Charlton. (c)

a

23

The flowers are large, and a border or plot in bloom has a fine appearance. Respecting its productiveness it will be found fully to equal either of the above mentioned sorts, and in very good soil to surpass them. From its dwarf size, it will be found admirably adapted for small gardens; and for an early crop, it may be sown close to the bottom of a wall, where it may be easily protected from the Spring frosts, if found

necessary, by placing a board length-wise in front, with the upper edges resting on the wall, and the lower on the ground. Or, the upper edges may be fixed to the wall, by means of hinges, or thongs of leather, and kept tied up in good weather, and let down in bad. I have, however, in this country, without using any means of protection, gathered a dish of good peas on the 23d of May. I have likewise sown the produce of peas which came to maturity in June and July, and obtained a good crop in the Autumn of the same year. But what I consider most worthy of attention is, that its dwarfness and earliness point it out to be the only fit pea for forcing; and I consider it in the power of every gentleman who is possessed of a small pit or peach-house, to have young peas at his table, at least during the months of April and May.

When sown in the open ground, this pea should have nearly the same room given it as French beans have; that is, about eighteen or twenty inches between the rows, and from one inch to two inches between each pea: this will be found quite thick enough; and as a quart will go over as much ground as a peck does in common cropping, there will be found a great saving of seed.

New Scone, near Perth, 10th Dec. 1825.

I am, Sir, &c.

DAV. BISHOP.

P. S. The method of rearing peas in pots and boxes, in hot-beds, and hot-houses, and afterwards transplanting them out into the open ground, is a common practice with gardeners, and often succeeds very well; particularly if they are not too long in transplanting them; but I would recommend a method, not so well known, as far preferable to that of pots or boxes, particularly when they are to be raised in a hot-bed. This consists in having a quantity of turf cut into pieces, of about nine or ten inches long, and three or four broad, which are placed in a regular manner over the surface of the bed, grass side downwards, and a row of peas is sown upon each row of turf, and afterwards covered with soil; when they are fit for transplanting, no more is required, than to lift out the turf, piece by piece, with the peas growing upon it, and place them where they are to produce their crop. By this means the roots receive no injury; nor does the plants sustain the least check in transplanting. This method may be practised, with similar success, in the raising of potatoes, beans, &c.

Note by the Conductor.-We have distributed the peas sent us, among Messrs. Malcolm and Gray, Cormack, Son, and

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.

It covers

"This tree was planted in the year 1806, and has been under my management to this present time, 1824. 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, fr the stem to the extreme point, and all of them or 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 observ

ation.

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

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)