310 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[October, 



grew attached, which would point to its annual 

 nature. 



DAMSON DYE vs. DAMSON PIE. 



BY WM. T. HARDING, MOUNT HOLLY, N. J. 



Desirous of seeing one (»f the " model farms" 

 of England, I secured an introduction to 

 one of the most enterprising farmers in Staf- 

 fordshire, who, after a brief glance at my cre- 

 dentials, cordially assured me he was at my ser- 

 vice for the occasion. The fame of the farm led 

 me to seek an interview with the intelligent 

 agriculturist, who so successfully managed it. 

 It soon became obvious to the writer's precep- 

 tions of such matters that the noted granger 

 possessed a thorough, practical and scientific 

 knowledge of all things bucolic. 



He was an adept at floriculture, too, as was 

 evident from the gay parterres which adorned 

 his well-kept grounds. And in his business pur- 

 suits, pleasure and profit seemed mutually 

 united in making life enjoyable. 



Learning that 1 was on a visit from the United 

 States, our conversation soon drifted to matters 

 agricultural and horticultural, on this side the 

 sea, as well as the social, moral and political 

 features of the country. Thus pleasantly led 

 along, we inspected his well tilled fields — some 

 two hundred acres in extent, where everything 

 indicated that thrifty farming was worth follow- 

 ing. The modern implements of husbandry, all 

 bright and clean, with the excellent machinery 

 of both American and English makers, adapted 

 for all agricultural purposes, were ample and 

 complete. The live stock, also, were of choice 

 breeds, and their excellent condition, showed 

 they were well cared for, and well might the 

 owner feel proud of them. 



After viewing the farm, where all and every 

 thing seemed to flourish, we returned to the 

 pleasant surroundings of the comfortable domi- 

 cil, and looked over the tidy, handsome green- 

 house and vinery, with -a number of pits and 

 frames, which were highly creditable to the 

 owner. The soft mossy lawn, more clastic than 

 any velvet carpet could possibly be, was as ver- 

 dant and smooth, as ever footsteps pressed, and 

 over which, we passed to the orchard — which 

 was enclosed within a remaikably fine close 

 clipped holly hedge, ten feet high. The apple 

 trees, I was informed, when kept free from the 

 American blight (as that is the cognomen by 

 which the pest is known), bore tolerable crops; 



but nothing like the beautiful fruit he frequently 

 saw in the markets sent from this country. His 

 remedy for the destruction of the insect nuisance 

 was linseed oil, put on with a painter's brush all 

 over the trees, at least once a year, or whenever 

 seen to be infested. The pear, plum and cherry 

 trees, with quinces, medlars and fill)erts, I Was 

 assured, bore abundantly, as did also the goose- 

 berries, the huge, luscious English kinds, cur- 

 rants, raspberries and strawberries in the vegeta- 

 ble garden ; while the peach, nectarine, fig and 

 apricot trees, trained on the garden walls, were 

 as fruitful as need be. 



I noticed an additional orchard of damsons, 

 several acres in extent, that had recently been 

 planted, and to my query, Why so many? was 

 informed they were not intended for culinary 

 purposes, but to supply a new demand of the arts, 

 and for which they were immensely profitable. 



Now, here was something new under the sun, 

 as the sequel will presently show. As I had 

 hitherto looked upon the domestic damson as 

 one of the most useful and palatable fruits eaten, 

 either in a natural state, preserved or otherwise 

 prepared, I felt astonished at the assertion. As 

 damson pudding and pie had been one of the 

 gustatory delights of my youthful days, and for 

 which I sometimes feel a yearning now, I was 

 at a loss to know what other art, save that of 

 mastication, could find a use for damsons. But 

 good reader, be not amazed when the secret is 

 divulged, as it was told to me, they were in- 

 tended for dyes instead of pies. "The fact is 

 this," said my friend, " I last year sold nearly all 

 my damson crop, which realized £50, or $250, to 

 parties who, in the season, go about the country 

 buying up all the ripe fruit they can find for 

 dyeing purposes.'' 



•And so it seems the discovery has been made 

 that damson dye gives an indelible rich color to 

 textile fabrics, and for such uses is highly valued. 



Accepting an invitation to lunch, I noticed 

 several large, well-filled bookcases, and on the 

 table of a very cosy sitting-room lay some of the 

 leading magazines of the day, with a number of 

 newspapers, conspicuous among which was The 

 Gardftier's Chronicle, The Garden, Agricultural 

 Gazette, &c., all of which indicated their inten- 

 tions were to keep pace with the times. 



There seems to have sprung up a new race of 

 agriculturists in England who have faith in 

 "book-learning,"' and admit that brains, as well 

 as muscles, are of use on the farm, and which, I 

 opine, is as true of that country as of this. 



