November 8, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARD3N3K. 



3fl 



nine of those selected by the various electors. His list, as 

 compared with ours, is chiefly remarkable for the Tea element, 

 for counting Marfiohal Neil there are eleven as against six in 

 our list. Mr. Ellwanger further adds that he has bracketed 

 Charles Lefebvre and Ferdinand de Lesseps, because, " though 

 not the same," they " at many times strongly resemble each 

 other, and I couple them as being of equal value." He also 

 further adds — and the remark is of interest, touching the effect 

 of climate on different yet similar Roses — " In relation to 

 Mdlle. Eugenie Verdier and Marie Finger I would say they 

 are with ua quite distinct sorts ; the former I consider decidedly 

 the more refined and beautiful." 



Here let me close the first exhibition Rose eleotion. It will 

 be a fair guide to the general public. In closing it I again 

 desire to express my sincere thanks to those who have assisted 

 me by voting papers; to several, unknown to me save through 

 the pages of " our Journal," I desire to acknowledge very grate- 

 fully their private letters of thanks to me. I apologise to them 

 for my seemirjg neglect in not doing eo on receipt of the same ; 

 but time, not the will, fails me. Again sincerely thanking all, 

 I close the election of 1877. — Joseph Hinton, Warminster. 



LODDINGTON SEEDLING APPLE. 



Synonymc, Stone's Apple. 

 An Apple was lately exhibited before the Fruit Committee 

 of the Royal Horticultural Society by Mr. Killick of Langley 

 near Maidstone, under the name of Stone's Apple, and which 

 was awarded a first-class certificate. The original tree was 

 discovered on the farm of Mr. Stone at Loddington, about five 

 miles from Maidstone, and its great merit as an orchard fruit 

 caused it to be propagated in the immediate neighbourhood ; 

 but till within the last few years it has not been known out of 



and prominently plaited or ribbed basin. Stalk half an inch 

 to three-quarters long, slender for the size of the fruit, and 

 inserted in a deep, wide, funnel-shaped cavity, which is lined 

 with pale ashy russet extending over the base of the fruit. 

 Flesh very tender, and with a pleasant subacid flavour. 



This is an early culinary Apple of great excellence, coming 

 into use in September. 



The following communication was received from Mr. Killick : 

 — " I have carefully examined the tree from which this sort 

 originated. It is in the parish of Maidstone, but five miles 

 off, at Loddington, a hamlet in connection with that parish. 

 My authority for its history is a man who has had charge of 

 the farm for twenty-two years. He tells me that at that time 

 it was as large as it is at present, and has borne every year 

 since. His old master did not remember it being planted, and 

 that would carry it thirty years more. The tree is not a large 

 one, and many sorts at twenty years would occupy an muoh 

 space. The diameter of the head would be about 15 feet, 

 and the circumference of the stem about 3 feet 6 inches. Every 

 original graft in this district was taken from that tree, and its 

 growth is entirely confined to this district. The tree when 

 first planted makes a good start for the first few years, and 

 then goes into bearing, and very rarely increases much in Bize. 

 It is, therefore, very suitable for small gardens. I have some 

 trees of this kind that for eight years have cot increased ia 

 size but have oropped every year. I should recommend it 

 planted thickly for growing for profit, and to put in an odd 

 corner for every grower of the Apple." 



Loddington Seadling. 



its own neighbourhood. Now, however, it is to be found in 

 some of the orchards of the adjoining parishes, and its culti- 

 vation is becoming more and more extended. Its great merit 

 is the early bearing quality of the tree, the great size and 

 earliness of the fruit, and its excellence as a culinary market 

 variety. The habit of the tree is medium-sized and compact. 

 It does not produce long rampant shoots ; but, on the con- 

 trary, when it has oome into full bearing it produces little 

 wood, but keeps on forming an abundance of spurs. 



Fruit large, varying from 3 to 3 j inches in diameter ; round- 

 ish, slightly flattened and narrowing abruptly towards the 

 eye ; it has obtuse ribs on the Bides, which become more dis- 

 tinct towards the eye, where they form ridges round the crown. 

 Skin smooth and shining, grass-green at first, with a brownish 

 cheek ; but after being gathered it becomes a fine lemon yellow, 

 with a pale crimson cheek, marked with broken streaks of 

 dark crimson ; the surface is strewed with minute russet points. 

 Eye closed, with convergent leaf -like segments, set in a deep 



PRUNING AND RENOVATING CONIFERS. 

 " A Country Vicar" asks for advice about pruning Conifers 

 and the treatment of an unhealthy Picea Pinsapo. The sub- 

 ject is one of importance, for serious mis- 

 chief has frequently arisen through igno- 

 rance in both these matters. 



Of the Picea it is stated that it was an ex- 

 ceedingly symmetrical specimen with very 

 dense branches. Some years ago its leader 

 was killed by frost, and it has sinoe then 

 deteriorated, losing many of its interior 

 branchlets, and it has now three leaders. 

 How shall we treat this tree in order to 

 reclaim it from its sickly condition, and 

 impart vigour and symmetry to it once 

 more? Fasten a stout pole to the stem, 

 pulling the best leading shoot as near to it 

 as is possible, securing it firmly in that 

 central position, cutting off the other two 

 shoots, and cutting nothing else, for depend 

 upon it no pruning ever brought back health 

 to a Biekly Conifer. It is the roots that are 

 at fault, and this is the point to which I 

 wish to draw especial attention. Conifers 

 have been planted anywhere and every- 

 where. If the soil was thought unsuitable, 

 stations of prepared soil have been made, 

 the trees planted, and all has gone well till 

 the roots have exhausted the nutriment of 

 the good soil; then, if matters are left to 

 chance, deterioration follows, the growth 

 becoming stunted, the interior branchlets 

 dying and falling off till the tree becomes 

 so thin that, as " Country Vicak" says of 

 his Pioea, we can see the light through it. The remedy is as 

 simple as it is sure. Give the roots more good Boil, see that 

 there is no risk of any accumulation of stagnant water about 

 them, and a couple of seasons' growth will restore the lost 

 clothing of branchlets and free strong leading shoots. The 

 best way to apply fresh soil is by Burface-dressing and exca- 

 va'ing a wide trench for its reception in a circle around the 

 station, and there cannot be a better time than the present 

 for doing it. I must confess to a feeling of surprise at Picea 

 Pinsapo losing its leader from frost. P. Cephalonica, which 

 it much resembles, often does this, but Pinsapo is so hardy as 

 never in my experience to be eo affected. 



Pruning Conifers is altogether a mistake. If the side 

 branohea ever Bhow a tendency to spread at the expense of 

 the leader, simply nipping off the tips tends to oheck them 

 sufficiently. The growth of almost all of them is naturally 

 so symmetrical that no improvement can be effected by prun- 

 ing — rather the reverse. I have for the last seven years 



