170 THE GARDENER. [April 



But why did not the Eoyal Horticultural Society take the matter 

 in hand and carry the phin into thorough effect, by which means they 

 would have turned out their pupils more fully accomplished 1 

 Instead of which they gave up Pine-apple growing altogether: in- 

 stead of doing " something for gardeners " they have fallen, since Mr 

 Knight left them, from the highest pinnacle of philosophic fame to 

 that of issuing a company of itinerant floral adventurers who go 

 about the country to hold shows of flowers of other people's cultiva- 

 tion, to " turn the penny " for the all-devouring South Kensington. 



AVhen the large-hearted Mr Paterson, then gardener to the Earl of 

 Chesterfield, held his universally public show by the side of the Royal 

 Agricultural Exhibition at Northampton, he said, If I have a surplus 

 of cash over its expenses, as no man can claim it, we will devote it to 

 the support of the widows and orphans of our class. But has the 

 Royal Horticultural Society said anything of the kind about their 

 surpluses at their provincial shows 1 Nothing of the kind. Rather 

 than do anything for the unfortunate creatures mentioned above, they 

 try to "please" the gardeners by holding a mock congress, and take every 

 original idea sent thereto off to South Kensington. If any one could 

 claim the surplus (£1000) which they took from Birmingham the 

 other day, I should say that the Birmingham Botanical Society should 

 be the first claimant on the list. John Pearsox 



KiNLET, NEAR Bewdley, February 12, 1873. 



SYBIITGING PEACH TREES WHEN IW BLOOM. 



In the March number of the 'Gardener' for this year, "D. J." says Mr 

 Simpson of Wortley is somewhat given to startling ideas — I presume because 

 he recommends syringing Peach-trees when in bloom. Perhaps it may interest 

 some of your readers if I state a few facts about syringing Peach-trees when in 

 bloom that have come under my own observation. 



The first time I saw it done was at Pingwood, Derbyshire, by Mr Prince. His 

 directions to me were, " Syringe when the weather is favourable, using your own 

 discretion;" and if I have understood Mr Simpson's notes on sj'ringing aright, his 

 directions would have been the same ; for he states, in the ' Gardener ' for April 

 1872, that his trees were syringed about three times a- week during the dullest 

 weather. It is absurd to think that Mr Simpson meant syringe so many times 

 a-day, without taking any notice of the weather, or without taking into con- 

 sideration whether the heating or ventilation were sufficient. I should have 

 stated that nowhere have I seen finer crops of early and late Peaches thau at 

 Eingwood. There were two grand houses of Peaches here last season, both of 

 Avhich were syringed when in bloom ; and I must say, two houses just as good 

 that were not syringed. I have not a word to say about Peaches setting well 

 on the dry system, but I consider syringing much better for the health of the 

 trees, especially when you are obliged to put a promiscuous lot of plants in the 

 house, and there is danger of getting thrip or red-spider on them. 



Rangemore. Pt. L, M'I^'TOiSH. 



