SOS 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



[ December 29, 1870. 



which serves as a mark for its recognition — as in the Keswick 

 Codlin Apple, the peculiar sharp rib or angle down one side, 

 not existing on all, but on three parts; or, in the Kerry Pippin 

 Apple, the short slender stalk, and the little linob at one side, 

 ol its base ; or in the Lemon Pippin, the shape of a Lemon, 

 but not always or in every example. Or take the Hoary Morn- 

 ing, which is beautifully striped, with its thick coat of white 

 bloom as if it had been out in some hoar frost, although this 

 feature is at times altogether wanting; or Dumelow's Seedling 

 with its beautiful transparent skin, its wide open eye, and acid 

 flesh, and there is no mistaking it. Take also amongst Pears 

 the Vicar of Winkfield. Who that has once had its peculiar 

 twisted, squinting look — the eye looking one way and the stalk 

 the other — pointed out to him, can again mistake it ? Again, 

 look at Knight's Monarch — round, with its short thick stalk, 

 thick leathery skin, and the crimson shade beneath the russet ; 

 or Bsun6 d'Aremberg with it3 stalk on one side, and the small 

 eye frequently wanting entirely, like Winter Nelis in this only, 

 entirely different in other respects. We know Beurre de 

 Ranee by its shape, eye, long stalk like a peg, and green flesh ; 

 TJrbaniste by its pale green skin, its soft silky feel, and its 

 small eye ; Napoleon by its bright green colour and peculiar 

 shape, as if it had been squeezed out by the pressure of one's 

 hand. Nurserymen know their trees by the leaves and habit 

 of growth better than by the fruit. Soma varieties are very 

 distinct. JoE&phine de Marines Pear is easily known by its 

 small, fall, round buds and yellowish wood. The varieties of 

 Peaches are distinguished not so much by the fruits themselves 

 as by the flowers and leaves, or the glands on the leaves, <fcc. ; 

 and so on. 



We thus by close observation and long intimate acquaintance 

 acquire a knowledge of the distinctive features and peculiarities 

 of many fruits. We know some by one feature, some by another ; 

 some by taste, others by shape or form, and others again by a 

 pecaliar mark or coloar. We know many, perhaps, without 

 knowing why or being able to impart the same knowledge to 

 others. Constant association, with keen observation, will make 

 one an anthority on fruits, whilst no amount of study withoat 

 association will do so. 



The naming of fruits is no light task therefore ; it is a special 

 acquirement to be able to do so to any extent. There are many 

 who can tell the names of the few lie may himself cultivate, 

 but in general a knowledge of the names of fruits is necessarily 

 very limited. We had a Robert Thompson and we have a 

 Dr. Hogg, but who i3 there besides ? We have fruit-cultivators 

 in plenty, but where are our fruit-nomenclators, if we except 

 the worthy Doctor ? Seeing that it is only by acquaintance, by 

 a reference to true examples of each variety, that a knowledge 

 of fruit can be acquired, it is most important that the Royal 

 Horticultural Society should still maintain its splendid col- 

 lection of fruits as examples. In the re-arrangement of the 

 garden I hope that this point will receive due attention. It is 

 the most important function of the Society to keep up a correct 

 fruit-nomenclature throughout the country. 



The editors of our horticultural journals deserve much credit 

 for their persistent endeavours to correct the names of fruit. 

 Every week we see a long list of names given : what a time it 

 must occupy ! what a patience is required to wade through basket 

 after basket of fruits, many of them possessing no character- 

 istic feature ! Senders can surely have little idea of the labour 

 required and the time to name forty or fifty sorts of fruit. It 

 is expecting too much of good nature. Having had some 

 experience of work of this sort I speak without restraint. 

 Senders of fruit to be named should bear in mind that the 

 namer has no knowledge of the circumstance under which the 

 fruit has been grown to guide him, so that mistakes will fre- 

 quently occur. The specimens selected to be sent should be 

 as characteristic of the whole bulk as possible, neither too large 

 nor too small, and if two distinct characters are found some of 

 e~ch should be sent. With Apples and Pears the stalks and 

 pyes are required, and sometimes the leaves ; with Peaches the 

 flowers and leaves ; with Grapes a bunch and leaves, and the 

 more of any variety sent the easier it is to determine the 

 name. It is altogether absurd to suppose that anyone is 

 capable of naming correctly small and deformed fruits. The 

 greatest authority on fruits after all only knows a few well-de- 

 fined forms in the great and extensive family of fruits. There 

 are hundreds of fruits, especially such as Apples, Strawberries, 

 &c, throughout the country which have no recognised names. 

 In one locality they are called by one name, and in another some- 

 thing else. To this each year are added Eeedlings more or less 

 distinct, all multiplying and confusing the already too numerous 



varieties of fruits, and making it more and more difficult to 

 give the name of any with certainty. — B. 



THE OUT-DOOR CULTURE OF TEA ROSES. 



Mb. Kent (see pages 487 and 48S), is blessed, for he can 

 grow his favourites in the sunny south without winter pro- 

 tection, nothing more than a south wall ; we in more northern 

 latitudes are differently situated, and to leave Tea Roses with- 

 out protection would be fatal — south wall or not. He has 

 given his version, let me trouble you with mine. 



During winter the bed or beds that are to hold your favourites 

 must be prepared ; any soil will not do. The best plan is to 

 make entirely new beds annually to the depth of 2 feet, using 

 good strong loam (sods), and rotten cow dung, with a little 

 sand to keep it open. My plants are always potted early in 

 November, and placed in a cold frame till January, when they 

 are brought into a little heat. They flower early — about the 

 end of March. After flowering give them rest ; in the middle 

 of April plant in the beds, and you will have flowers to your 

 heart's content during the summer and autumn. 



With me all the varieties Mr. Kent has named are good, and 

 by adopting the course I pursue, even the dwarf Boule d'Or 

 will blossom beautifully, but is always best in the bud. Gloire 

 de Dijon we all know. Adrienne Christophle, Montplaisir, 

 Madame Margottin, Solfaterre, Madame Bravy, Madame 

 Willermoz, L'Enfant Trouve, and the best, Mareehal Niel — 

 these I cannot speak too highly of. Solfaterre is a Noisette — 

 indeed, Noisettes mixed with the Teas do admirably together, 

 and they being hardy will not require lifting. 



In the case of Tea Rose3 as standards, it i3 always safest to* 

 lift them and plant at the foot of a wall pretty thickly, where 

 they can have a mat thrown over their heads in severe weather, 

 planting where they are to stand, quite at the end of March. 



Those who grow the Tea Rose must not be afraid of trouble, 

 constant attention is needed winter and summer. Keep your 

 pruning-knife in your pocket, unless it is to take off the tops 

 that are browned — no more. They will flower down to the tips, 

 and in many varieties they will by autumn form creeping Roses 

 covered with bloom. — Rosa odoeata. 



A FEW SELECT VINES. 



In writing these lines I address myself not so much to the 

 professional gardener as to the amateur who may be desirous 

 to grow a few good varieties of Grapes, but who, from the great 

 number of kinds now cultivated, is unable to select for himself. 

 The varieties enumerated below are those which will do in a 

 vinery containing plants or in a greenhouse, but whatever 

 plants may be grown with the Vines up to the time of the 

 Grapes commencing to colour they should at that stage be 

 taken out. I would lay particular stress on this, as I have 

 proved that Grapes, to be well grown and of good flavour, and 

 to hang on the Vines, should have the house to themselves 

 after the last swelling, and this more especially applies to the 

 lata varieties. 



To those who contemplate building I would say, Build two 

 small houses rather than one large one, because you will then 

 always have a house to keep plants in. Thus, in the case of 

 the early house, you may have plants in it from the end of 

 September to the middle of June ; as the heat becomes too 

 great for bedding plants they can be taken to the late house. 

 The Vines in the early house being pruned, cleaned, and tied 

 down in November, they are ready for starting in the first week 

 of January, having three weeks previously covered the border 

 with stable dung and leaves to excite the roots into action. I 

 am supposing the border to be outside. I find this a very 

 useful house for propagating bedding plants, and growing 

 Fuchsias, Azaleas, &c, till they flower. In Seotember, most 

 of the Grapes being cut, it i3 ready for the reception of Azaleas, 

 Camellias, &c, which till then have been out of doors, but 

 which should be under cover before the heavy autumn rains 

 set in. Vines grown in the same house as plants require 

 dressing twice with soft soap 4 ozs., white soap 4 czs., and 

 sulphur 4 ozs., to destroy all eggs of insects, it being impossible 

 to keep them clean, and Azaleas are about the worst plants to 

 grow along with Vines, the thrips being so hard to kill. In 

 a future paper I will describe the kind of house best adapted 

 for growing a large number of miscellaneous plants together 

 with Vines. 



In giving a short list of good useful Vines, I confine myself 



