THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



125 



Kibston, Irish Peaeb, Sturmer Pippin, Brownlow's 

 Russet, Beaufiu, Dutch Codlin, Majetin and Fearn's 

 Pippin are weighed down with fruit, while a great 

 number of other varieties are bearing very thinly, or 

 even not at all. The same may be said of Pears, 

 but on the whole the Pear crop will be much lighter 

 than the Apple crop. We were troubled with the 



but were destroyed by the caterpillars. I never 

 remember having seen such devastation in such a 

 short time. Oaks in the park suffered in the same 

 way, some trees being entirely denuded. Peaches 

 and Nectarines are heavily cropped. Pears and 

 l'lums very fair crops and good on walls, but thin on 

 espaliers, bush, and pyramid trees. Strawberries, 



C/<Jt° 



\ 



FlG. 10. — HEUCHERA SANGUINEA : HARDY PERENNIAL : FLOWERS BRIGHT CRIMSON. (SEE P. 1:22.) 



maggot, but are free from the caterpillar, so prevalent 

 in some places. The severe storm which passed over 

 this district on June 26 cleared us from all insect 

 pests, and trees now are clean and healthy. Straw- 

 berries with us are a heavy crop of fine fruit, but 

 quantities are rotting on the ground through con- 

 tinued rains. J. Kipling, Knebworth Park, Kncli- 



11 u fill. 



Apricots good, where the blossom was pro- 

 tected from the cold winds, driving snow, and rain. 

 Apples promised well ; good crops set on all trees, 



Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries, heavily cropped 

 and line. Cherries good on walls. Strawberries 

 are a little acid and watery, owing to so much 

 rain and little sun. There are splendid crops 

 yet to ripen. I am only speaking of the 

 earliest gatherings. Since June 19, 550 inches 

 of rain have fallen at Moor Park. Vegetables 

 look well, and have made considerable progress 

 lately. We are quite a fortnight late in all 

 outside produce. •/. Sfandell, Moor Pari: Garden!, 

 Rickmansworth, 



Leicestershire. — Some kinds of Strawberries here 

 are very good. Keen's Seedling, Pauline, II ac- 

 Mahon and Prince of Teck have failed to produce 

 flowers. J. Hamnhere, Bcaumanor Park, Lough- 

 borough. 



Rutlandshire. — Apple trees in this neighbourhood 

 are very healthy, nearly free from maggots ; but many 

 sorts are fruitless. Small's Admirable, Northern 

 (ireeuing, Lord Sufiield, Tower of Glamis, Haw- 

 thornden, and Worcester l'earmain are carrying good 

 crops. A lot of young trees, lifted and root-pruned 

 two years ago next autumn, are most satisfactory. 

 Peaches are under average ; the trees suffered much 

 from blister in the spring, Apricots bear a light 

 crop, but they are wonderfully clean and healthy. 

 Pears, a failure, except Bergamot d'Esperen, Marie, 

 Louise, Beurre Hardy, Winter Nelis, &c. Small 

 fruits are very good. Strawberries, such as Keen's 

 Seedling, Vicomtesse H. de Thury, Sir Charles 

 Napier, Loxford Hall Seedling, and Elton, were 

 also a fair average crop. The last-named variety 

 I found to be a free-bearing, useful sort. The 

 aphis family appears to be extinct this year, 

 as there are none on the Cherry or other trees 

 so far. J. Grey, Normanion Park, Stamford, 



WESTERN COUNTIES. 



Gloucestershire. — Bush fruits are good this year, 

 but not so plentiful as last, being on the limestonei 

 and the drought during the growing season last year 

 caused the trees to make little growth, especially the 

 Raspberries, the strongest canes being only 3 feet in 

 height. Apple trees have suffered with the maggot, 

 but Pear trees look well — there will be very little 

 thinning to do. A. Chapman, Weston Birt Gardens, 

 Gloucester. 



Monmouthshire. — Fruit trees here were generally 

 unusually floriferous this year, and the blossoms 

 escaped damaging frosts, yet, in many instances, the 

 crops are disappointing, particularly Apples, which 

 are partial, and considerably under average. The 

 varieties that blossomed earliest and latest carry 

 most fruit, while the foliage of all kinds has been 

 greatly injured by caterpillar. Pears set their fruit 

 satisfactorily, and are swelling well. Upon walls 

 Beurre d Anjou, Beurre Diel, Brockworth Park, 

 Flemish Beauty, Jargonelle, Louise Bonne of Jersey, 

 Marie Louise, Ne Plus Meuris, Pitmaston Duchesse 

 and Williams' Bon Chretien carry the heaviest crops ; 

 Beurre Diel and Beurre d'Amanlis being excellent 

 as standards. Amongst several kinds of Apricots 

 upon a west wall, Peach and Shipley's have the best 

 orops. Plum trees were attacked by aphis early in 

 the season, but are now clean and healthy, and 

 although generally thinly cropped, Kiike's and 

 Victoria are fairly good. Upon our heavy and 

 deeply worked soil Strawberry plants did not greatly 

 suffer from last year's drought, and they are very 

 fruitful ; but owing to rain and want of sunshine 

 the fruit lacks in colour and flavour. Respecting 

 quality the same may be said of Cherries, and 

 Morellos have cast a portion of their crop. Currants, 

 both black and red, together with Gooseberries and 

 Raspberries, are abundant, although the latter did 

 not last year make the robust growth they usually do. 

 All fruits are late in ripening. T. Ooomber, Th. 

 Hendre. 



Hereford. — The fruit crops here are, with the 

 exception of Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums, very 

 satisfactory. Peach and Nectarine trees were full 

 of bloom, but the long-continued low temperature, 

 accompanied with bitter cold winds, prevented them, 

 and also the Plums, from setting a good crop. 

 Apricots bloomed much earlier in the season, and 

 set well, and all the trees are carrying good crops. 

 Cherries are also carrying very heavy crops, and 

 Morellos and Kentish promise to be unusually line. 

 Apple and Pear trees bloomed most profusely, but 

 caterpillars caused great destruction by eating the 

 flowers, young fruits, and foliage. But in spite of 

 these drawbacks some trees are carrying excellent 

 crops, and altogether we shall have nothing to com- 

 plain about. Bush fruits are abundant, and of good 

 quality. Respecting Strawberries, I have never 



