6o8 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



September i 7i i898 



A Visit to Sawbridgeworth. 



To those who are more or less concerned with the all -important question of fruit 

 production, whether for home use or the supply of the markets, a visit to the 

 Sawbridgeworth Nurseries, which enjoy, and deservedly so, a world wide reputa- 

 tion, is at all times interesting and instructive ; but possibly the interest is greater, 

 and the object lessons more striking when the summer is approaching its close, 

 and the abundance of finely-developed and rapidly-ripening fruit testify to the 

 soundness of the position long since taken up by the Messrs. Rivers on the ques- 

 tion of fruit culture, and the remarkable skill that is brought to bear upon the 

 management of the several departments. However that may be, a walk through 

 the orchards under glass and in the open, and an inspection of the enormous 

 breadths of young fruit trees in various stages of development, with Mr. T. Francis 

 Rivers, the highly esteemed head of the firm, as guide, is pleasant and profitable, 

 for in the course of the perambulation much information relating to the several 

 aspects of fruit culture is obtained in an agreeable manner. At Sawbridgeworth 

 the production of fruit on a large scale is associated with the manufacture of trees 

 by the tens of thousands, and consequently it is not only possible to see at a 

 glance the conditions under which the trees are being prepared for the several 

 methods of culture, but the wide-spreading orchards, on the formation of which 

 so much scientific and practical knowledge has been brought to bear, demonstrate 

 the methods by which the trees may be the most profitably utilised. The know- 

 ledge thus gained of the peculiarities of varieties, the influence of stocks, relative 

 merits of the several forms of trees, and the distances and methods of planting 

 must be of immense value, and there can be no doubt that fruit growers appreciate 

 rhe public spirit shown by the firm in freely communicating their experience to 

 those in need of information. 



One of the most important features of the nurseries is the orchard-house culture 

 of choice fruits, which originated at Sawbridgeworth, and has been brought to so 

 high a degree of perfection by the firm. For a considerable period after the late 

 Mr. Thomas Rivers first advocated the cultivation of peaches and nectarines in 

 pots as the best means of obtaining abundant supplies of these luscious fruits, the 

 pot-culture of fruit trees was not regarded with special favour by any consider- 

 able proportion of the horticultural community, chiefly because of the labour 

 involved in supplying the trees with water. But the firm, convinced of the advan- 

 tages of pot culture, have not at any time during the forty or fifty years that have 

 elapsed since the system was fiist introduced to public notice wavered in their 

 allegiance to it, and during the past fifteen years or so this system of culture 

 has attained to a high degree of popularity. Trees grown in pots under glass 

 necessarily require more attention in a given period than do those trained to open 

 walls ; but the fact is now recognised that, in consequence of the uncertainty of the 

 results, it may be necessary to give the wall trees two or three years' attention for 

 each crop of fruit obtained, whilst the pot trees will give a satisfactory crop 

 annually. The regularity of the yield is a strong point in favour of the cultivation 

 of peaches, nectarines, and some other kinds under glass, and with the trees in 

 pots it is possible to grow a larger number of varieties than would otherwise be 

 practicable. In the cultivation of fruits for market, the largest profit is derived 

 from growing a few varieties ; but in maintaining the home supply it is desirable 

 to have a rather large selection of varieties ripening at various periods, and thus 

 obtain a continuous succession of fruit extending over several months from the 

 same structure. Mr. T. F. Rivers is of the opinion— and this is based on close 

 observation and long experience - that from a span-roof orchard-house one hundred 

 feet m length and twenty-four feet in width, filled wMi pot trees, will provide 

 an ample supply of fruit from May till October. This is a point of some importance, 

 for the fruit is available for use during the whole of the summer, when it is the 

 most highly esteemed. From one of the houses at Sawbridgeworth of these 

 dimensions, 3,816 peaches and nectarines have been gathered in one season, the 

 same house giving shelter from spring frosts to pears, plums, and apples, which 

 were taken out of doors for the summer to finish up their crops. This year upwards 

 of three thousand fruits of Early Rivers nectarine were gathered and marketed in 

 April from a houseful of pot trees which had received but little assistance from fire 

 heat. Combining large size and brilliant colouring with earliness, it is not surprising 

 that this variety should have become immensely popular with growers for market, 

 and is being extensively planted in private gardens. 



The number of orchard houses at Sawbridgeworth is considerable, and they 

 show some variation in design, but they all agree in being spacious, substantial, 

 and evidently ventilated. Ventilators are provided along the sides and at the apex, 

 for a free circulation of air about the trees is considered essential to their wellbeing 

 and to the full development of the characteristic colour and flavour of the fruits of 

 the several varieties. The houses also agree in having a soil surface, which is con- 

 sidered preferable to a paved floor, as not only can the pots be plunged in the soil 

 but the moisture rising from the loose surface increases the humidity of the atmos- 

 phere and thereby contributes to the health of the trees. The peach and nectarine 

 trees of fruiting size, of which there are many hundreds, range from perfectly- 

 formed pyramids from twelve to fifteen feet high to shapely bushes with a height 

 of three or four feet. From the earlier houses the fruit had been gathered when 

 we were at Sawbridgeworth at the end of August, but in the later structures there 

 were immense crops of fruit of the highest quality. The trees occupying eight 

 and ten inch pots were carrying from four to five dozen fruits each, while the huge 

 pyramids in larger pots had proportionately heavier crops. One might discuss at 

 some length the relative merits of the peaches and nectarines that by reason of their 

 productiveness and high quality demonstrated their value for pot culture, but it 

 must -suffice to mention the names only of a few of the best. The peaches of special 

 excellence include Alexander, Amsden June, Early Louise, Hales Early, Dagmar, 

 eondor, Crimson Galande, Early Grosse Mignonne, Goshawk, Alexandra 

 r^obiesse, Royal George, Stirling Castle, Barrington, Sea Eagle, Gladstone, Lady 



comprise Cardinal 



Goldoni, Stanwick 



Mt ; n ^J" a • frZ**** plums > P*"* apples in pots is carried on very 

 2l^E& w h the Same de 8 ree of access as in the case of the peaches 

 m«J^^ S ' C We r re s P eciall y interested in the house devoted to cherries, for 

 robust h«£h % u grea r ** A ^nsiderable dimensions, and all were in 

 w^ an abuAd ?£ the <*op had been gathered, but there 



l^^&fjj^^ m ?-**«°* and late varieties, for cherries, like 



nart n? 8 ti f 5^ attain ^ maturity, and improve during the 



versant with *JU^Sto£d i^he onl° ^a™* w** *TS^ 



met at Sawbridgeworth with £LS 25 ~ fhered SOOn a 



fruits 



„ ripe. We 



as yet not generally known, 



From this house a plentiful .,, , g remark abl e for the immense size of the fruit. 



I encmu supply IS obtained from May until September, and 



such fruit as is here obtained would be found a very acceptable addition tn tK 

 throughout this comparatively long period. Plums are grown with the same d£S 

 of success as the chernes, and of the varieties grown in pots, we wero «™ ? n 

 struck by the Early Transparent, Golden Transparent, and Late TansLS^f y 

 handsome gages raised by the hrm, and all remarkable for their delirirniofll. 

 The chief points of difference in the trio is in time of ripening, andTom 

 succession may be had for at least two months. a 



The cultivation of apples and pears in pots may at first sight appear \*m 

 desirable than the pot culture of the stone fruits mentioned, but it is not Dossil h> 

 to walk through the houses and quarters in which the apples are grown oidevote 

 a short time to an examination of the groups of pears outside at Sawbridgeworth 

 without being convinced that the system has much to recommend it. This vear 

 the choicer pears grown against walls and in the open quarters are in many cases 

 producing a very light crop, if they have not completely failed to produce fruit - 

 but the pot trees at Sawbridgeworth are as heavily fruited as the strength of the 

 trees will permit, and the aggregate produce will be very large. The chief advan- 

 tage of growing pears in pots is the certainty of an annual crop of fruit of high 

 quality, and this advantage is sufficient to counter-balance the additional labour 

 involved in this method of culture. As so well known the great hindrance to the 

 successful culture of pears in the United Kingdom is the liability of the flowers 

 and the young fruits to injury from spring frosts, and it is by no means an ex- 

 ceptional experience for cultivators situate in favourable districts to see the whole 

 of the crop swept away by two or three sharp frosts or a spell of cold, wet 

 weather when the trees are in bloom. To obviate this risk the trees at Saw- 

 bridgeworth are grown in pots, and from February until the end of May they have 

 a place in the orchard house where they can be kept safe from frosts and the 

 effects of a period of cold, wet weather. Here they invariably set a heavy 

 crop, and when there is no further risk of frost they are taken out of doors to a 

 warm and somewhat sheltered position, and have their pots plunged to nearly 

 level with the rim in a border of moderately rich soil. Those grown in pots 

 with perforated sides root freely into the border, and the great masses of fibrils 

 that push from the perforations must render valuable aid to the tree in supplying 

 the food necessary for the development of the growth and fruit When the trees 

 are lifted from the borders the roots extending beyond the pot are cut away, and 

 this process is repeated year by year with evident advantage. As the trees 

 can be arranged rather close together during the earlier stages of growth a large 

 number can be accommodated in a house in proportion to its size ; and in many 

 gardens sufficient pear trees could be flowered in an orchard house devoted to 

 peaches and nectarines to produce a liberal supply of fruit throughout the season. 

 Pears are not kept wholly under glass, for it is found that the fruit ripening in the 

 orchard house is not so highly flavoured as when fully exposed to atmospheric 

 influences from the end of May onwards. Apples, on the other hand, attain to 

 a high degree of perfection both as regards appearance and quality when ripened 

 in the orchard house. There is one other detail to which special attention is 

 given at Sawbridgeworth, and that is the protection of the fruit of pears in pots 

 from birds, and we refer to it because of the many instances which come under 

 our notice of pears being rendered worthless by tomtits and other birds. At Saw- 

 bridgeworth protection is given by means of old fish nets supported by strips of 

 deal, and this has the advantage of being inexpensive and simple. 



The plum orchards at Sawbridgeworth are of special interest, inasmuch as they 

 serve to illustrate in a marked manner the immense value of the services that 

 have been rendered the community by the firm in raising and distributing the 

 plums with which the name of Rivers is so intimately associated. The three 

 varieties of special importance from 1 the market point of view are Early Rivers, the 

 Czar, and Monarch, and of each of these there are immense orchards which serve 

 to show the suitability of the trio for market culture and it may be assumed to be 

 a source of profit to the firm. Early Rivers, now highly popular as one of the 

 finest of the early plums, has this season been so heavily cropped as to render the 

 use of stout supports necessary. The trees from which the crop had not been 

 gathered were quite black with the fruit which weighed down the branches. The 

 Czar, which formed an admirable succession to Early Rivers was also bearing 

 enormous crops and the Monarch was not less productive. These yield a continuous 

 succession, and it is of interest to mention that the fruit of the last named, which 



Ar\**c nr\f vaaaIi — - m * , •« 1-1 , . mm 1 1 4. K^kl^ tr\ rrC\ClC 



Belle 



Lou vain 



from an excess of moisture as in the case of other late varieties, Bene uc i^u.-... 

 has also been largely planted and is held in high estimation for its productiveness 

 and other good qualities, some of the older orchards are formed with standard 

 trees, but Mr. T. F. Rivers considers bush trees decidedly the best, inasmuch 

 as the fruit can be gathered by women without injury to the trees and the cost or 

 marketing materially reduced. The more recently planted apple orchards 

 have also been formed with bush trees and with satisfactory results, 

 Worcester Pearmain and other of the sure bearing varieties carrying excellent 

 crops. 



In turning from the orchards to the young trees that are being prepared for 

 supplying the demand from planters much is found that is of interest in its relation 

 to this phase of fruit culture. It will probably be of interest to mention that 

 associated with the home nursery is a freehold farm many hundreds of acres u 

 extent, which is largely utilised in the production of fruit trees. The farm is 

 within a short distance of the home nurseries, and spreads over the upper part 01 

 the south-western slopes of the valley of the Stort, and it is therefore convenient 

 of access, and by reason ot its exposed position is especially favourable to the 

 proper ripening of the wood as well as fruit. The soil is a deep friable loam, 

 equally adapted to the growth of fruit trees, cereals, and roots, and we consequently 

 see all three growing in association, with manifest advantage to each. Fruit trees 

 are so exhaustive of certain constituents of the soil that it is a great advantage n 

 give the land a rest from three to four years ; and, appreciating this, 

 Rivers have adopted a system of rotation by which at least three farm c 

 taken from land that has be™ ~», n ;~l Vw fmir trees before it is again 



Messrs. 

 are 



trees 



— „j, aU u H ung in ls course ot procedure me scvu« T^nrou* 



have the advantage of what is practically new land, and in consequence a vigorou. 

 growth is obtained without heavy* manuring, which has a tendency to produce 

 soft, large-jointed wood and fat , 0 ots. It is not possible to conceive condition 

 Z£S£Z?±* the development of an abundance , of ^us roots «*£3s 



wood 



' — ~-viwuiC 1 



n such a conspicu 



, aP ^ ran p C th ,- "fenced planter so justly admires. TtatMJ™ -g" 

 s on the Paradise «t~.i, u c Bawn chnots. each of an * T 5£jg 



year 



paratci . 



r_Zri7 rar aaise stock have from five to seven snoots, w.« «■ — - t 

 ength of four feet, the shoots beb^tout and short-jointed, and ea* 



m the mind with regard to their at&ining perfect maturity. What is true ot 



apple trees m their third — • ' r * *" 



iKKjl f ° r ». without exception, they are making arrce, _ ■ d ^ ve 



the slightest indication of a check from drought or any other W»^«a| 

 ample promise of growing into handsome and fruitful trees when transferred 

 their permanent quarters in various parts of the United Kingdom. 



