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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ XoTember 14, 1872. 



everything fulfil these two important requisites — to require 

 the least possible amount of tirne and care in its execution, 

 and to allow the accumulation of the greatest possible number 

 of fruit-bearing branches upon a given extent of ground. 



The chief objection brought forward against pruning is that 

 the practice of it shortens the life of the trees. This aspersion 

 is deserved. It is certain that the suppressions made every 

 year at the time of the winter pruning, and above all, those 

 inflicted upon the buds during the course of growth, have a 

 very baneful effect upon the good constitution of the organised 

 matters intended for the yearly s-apport of the tree. In eon- 

 sequence of these mutilations, th e layers of wood and liber 

 are imperfectly produced, and the new roots can with difficulty 

 find then- way into a region of earth which is yet unexhausted 

 by the growth of previous years. The cause of this complaint 

 increases every year, and the signs of decrepitude appear long 

 before the time when it would otherwise make itself known in 

 trees left to~ themselves. Thus, if a Pear tree under a suitable 

 system of grafting is able to live for forty years, one of the 

 same variety, if placed in similar conditions, but unsubjeeted 

 to any such interference, will exist as long as seventy. 



Must we, therefore, give up pruning ? We do not think so, 

 for it affords us the following advantages : — 1, On an equal 

 expanse of land we get a greater number of fruit-bearing 

 branches, and, consequently, a greater quantity of fruit. But- 

 even if the amount of fruit obtained yearly did not exceed 

 that given by the orchard trees, the balance would still remain 

 upon the side of the pruned ones, although they live a shorter 

 time than the former. An orchard Pear tree capable of exist- 

 ing seventy years, does not begin to yield its greatest sum of 

 fruits until the framework is perfectly developed, which gene- 

 rally happens about its thirtieth year, and in the forty years 

 still left to it in which to yield fruit it only does so biennially, 

 or, in fact, only during twenty years, whilst pruned Pear trees, 

 although attaining to but forty years of age, begin to give 

 their greatest amount of fruit towards then- sixth, and bear 

 a crop every year. We have, then, at least thirty productive 

 years instead of twenty, 2, The whole income which the tree 

 is capable of yielding is not only more plentiful, but it is 

 realised in a much shorter time. 8, Lastly, as we have shown 

 above, the fruit is larger and better. 



Must the necessary consequence of all we have already said 

 be that the culture of orchard or unpruned trees should be- 

 come abandoned ? We think that this would be rather too 

 sweeping a decision. It is in every respect a question of 

 capital. Orchards cost little to make and maintain, but the 

 capital required for then- cultivation gives but a small interest. 

 The fruit garden demands for an equal extent of ground a 

 very large capital. — A. du Breull. — [Revue Horticole.) 



CALLS AT THE NURSERIES. 

 Me. Forsyth's, Brunswick Nursery, Stoke Newington. — 

 On calling the other day we were glad to find Mr. Forsyth 

 Still maintained, and is determined to maintain, his high 

 reputation for the culture of the Chrysanthemum. Mr. Salter, 

 of Hammersmith, was at length compelled to retire after with- 

 standing for many years the determined attacks of the rail- 

 ways. He was called the " Chrysanthemum King;" but if to 

 Mr. Salter we owe the introduction of the major part of the 

 splendid varieties cultivated at the present day, we are no less 

 indebted to Mr. Forsyth for showing what they are when well 

 grown, what great dimensions their blooms attain, and what 

 effective objects large and well-grown specimens are. Depart- 

 ing from his usual practice, Mr. Forsyth has placed his collec- 

 tion, amounting to 300 or 400 pots, not in his show house, 

 which is now filled with Camellias and Azaleas, but in a long 

 span-roofed house, and he has not grown any large specimen 

 plants such as in former years excited so much admiration ; 

 still he has a display which for variety of colour and general 

 excellence fully keeps up his well-earned reputation. Chrysan- 

 themums near London are late this year ; those at the Temple 

 being an exception to the rule, but during the next week Mr. 

 Forsyth's will be in the height of beauty. We shall not give 

 a list of the best of the older varieties, which are all excel- 

 lently represented, but will confine ourselves to mention- 

 ing a few of the best of the last and present year. Among 

 the former may be noted Renown, orange with a lighter 

 centre, large and finely incurved ; Model, rosy pink ; Felicity, 

 white, lemon centre ; and Mount Edgcumbe, pale yellow, 

 t'nged with rose. Chrysanthemums of 1872 are repre- 

 sented by Duke of Roxburghe, yellow, tipped with bronze ; 



Mr. Howe, a sport from John Salter, orange amber ; White 

 Yenus, a beautiful pure white, with larg^ florets, altogether a 

 very fine flower, like lilac Venus, of whij'.i it is a sport; Lau- 

 rinda, rose purple, fine ; and Duches; of Manchester. Cf 

 Japanese varieties, Elaine, pure white, sent out by Mr. Forsyth, 

 received a first-class certificate from the Royal Horticultural 

 Society's Floral Committee on the 6th inst., when exhibited by 

 Mr. Rowe — a distinction it well deserves. Fair Maid of 

 Guernsey, another variety of the same class and colour, but 

 larger, will no doubt prove to be a valuable decorative kind. 



VIENNA INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 

 At the meeting held yesterday at South Kensington to con- 

 sult as to the steps to be taken to worthily represent British 

 horticulture at the approaching International Exhibition at 

 Vienna, Dr. Hogg, the Chairman, after stating the object for 

 which the meeting was convened, invited discussion as to the 

 best mode of carrying out the end in view. Considerable 

 doubt was expressed by several of those present as to the 

 possibility of conforming to the official programme ; the gene- 

 ral impression was that this could not be strictly adhered to ; 

 and the length and expense of transit was another element 

 which was a serious consideration, especially as there was no 

 likelihood of assistance from the Government grant. It was 

 thought, however, that the Austrian Government would meet 

 that difficulty in a liberal spirit. Several exhibitors having 

 promised their support, it was proposed by Mr. Harry J. 

 Veiteh, and adopted by the meeting : — 



1. That cultivators be invited to make a permanent exhi- 

 bition of hardy plants, such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Coni- 

 fers, Hollies, Clematis, Roses, &c, and that these be sent as 

 early in the year as possible, so that they may be established 

 at the opening of the Exhibition. 



2. That at a later period of the year cultivators be invited 

 to unite in sending exhibitions of flowering, fine-foliaged, and 

 pot plants, also cut flowers ; and that all exhibitions be re- 

 garded as simply illustrations of British horticulture, and 

 without any competition between the exhibitors. 



3. In addition to these, a great fruit exhibition will be made 

 in the autumn under the management of the Royal Horticul- 

 tural Society. 



Dr. Hogg said he ought to mention that at the last meeting 

 it was stated'that there were a number of vans at South Ken- 

 sington which might be placed at the disposal of the exhibitors. 



STOKE NEWINGTON CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW. 



The Stoke Newington Society's twenty-sixth annual Exhibi- 

 tion took place on the 11th and 12th inst. Although the number 

 of exhibitors of specimen plants was not equal to that of former 

 years, and we think, too, there were not so many cut blooms, 

 some of the latter in particular were so large and so perfect that 

 it is hardly conceivable that they could be exceeded. In the 

 open class for twenty-four cut blooms Mr. Rowe, gardener to 

 Mrs. Lewis, Roehampton, was first with very fine examples of 

 Prince Alfred, Lady Harding, J. Salter, White Globe, &c. Mrs. 

 S. Dixon & Co., Amhurst Nurseries, Hackney, were a very good 

 second. For twelve blooms Mr. Rowe was again first with 

 Prince Alfred, Jardin des Plantes, Prince of Wales, Queen of 

 England, Empress Eugenie, Lord Derby, Princess of Wales, 

 Mr. Brunlees, Antonelli, Mrs. George Rundle, Princess Beatrice, 

 and Lady Slade. Mr. Priekett, gardener to Mrs. Bowerbank, 

 Stoke Newington, was second. For six Mr. Rowe was first, and 

 Mr. Holmes, gardener to Mrs. Pannell, Upper Clapton, second. 

 In the amateurs' classes the principal prizetakers were Mr. E . 

 Sanderson, Mr. C. Sanderson, Mr. Slade, and Mr. F. Godwin. 



In the "maiden" class B. B. Baker, Esq., 3, Palace Road, 

 Roupell Park, Streatham, was first with magnificent blooms of 

 Prince Alfred, Prince of Wales, Lady Harding, Princess Teck ; 

 Baron Buest, and White Globe. For Anemone-flowered, large 

 and Pompon, Mrs. S.Dixon & Co., Amhurst Nurseries, were first. 

 The same firm was also first for Mr. Shirley Hibberd's prizes 

 for the best collection of plants, Mr. Monk being second, also 

 first for six, and first for three specimens. These collections 

 included fine plants of Dr. Sharpe, Mrs. George Rundle, Lady 

 Harding, Annie Salter, and Prince of Wales. For six Pompons 

 Mr. Monk was first with excellent specimens. 



THE WILLOW OF SCRIPTURE. 

 I ah inclined to think that the Willow by the waters of 

 Babylon is the Oleander, which is abundant in bloom on most 



