7M 



GA RDENERS MA GA ZINE. 



A 



MORNING Mi: 



ruin xurpere saluberri 



November s> ^ 



haps, a little heavy and sombre in its style, and I think it- , , 

 more interesting than it is if it had a pleasantly written ciZT^ h l tv *« 

 is eminently prac :tical and good. The trials are tn « , ^T*' But »t 



g features of it They are in good hands, and SZv tS?. the 



is ciiiincniiy pidv.u<-<»* auu gvuvi. ineinais are to mv mind ? 1 

 strong features of it They are in good hands, and thev tell «?\ the 

 want to know in a commendably terse form I was i 1 We 



struck with the report of the raspberry trials. ' T r^H *w 5u* inly a llltl ^ 



By the time these lines appear in print we shall be in the thick of the 

 chrysanthemum season ; in 



was certainlv o i:**t 



nearly through it. Our editor, you see, has an autocratic way of putting struck with the report ot the raspberry trials. I read that the cannQ 



general " copy" away in a drawer when shows and such-like things are not procured until the autumn of 1896, and yet here in 1808 we h Were 



prevalent. Of course, if he did but recognise the fact, the gardening public report of them, j^hope nobody will say that the R.H.S. 2* a 

 as a whole is far more deeply interested in the health and doings of Peter 

 than in any number of shows. He is, so to say, a permanent exhibition 



of the most fascinating character. But things being as they are supposed certain numucr ui pcupic gumg aDoui witn a smile afte 



to be rather than as they really are (this remark is more noteworthy for report, but there always were superior people in the world. 



profundity than lucidity, I fear) I should not be very much surprised if — 



we are temporarily shelved. 



►erry rmvwWm 



achievement of no small significance. I suppose "there ^tl? h 

 certain number of people going about with a smile after reading- 51 

 report, but there always were superior people in the world S 



My remarks as to the N.C.S. imbroglio were parlously near to coming 

 a day after the fair. When they were written the great question of show 

 head-quarters was still unsettled, but before they appeared in type the 

 fray was over. I am not very much surprised to see that the executive 

 have overruled the sub-committee. There are some people who profess 



I presume that the black currants were procured from a different 

 source to the raspberries. Why do I presume this ? Simply because 

 the report shows that there is a difference between Baldwin's and the 

 Black Champion, and Mr. Bunyard, who supplied the raspberries makes 

 no secret of his opinion that the two are really one. He ought to know • 

 but then, so ought the R.H.S. Which is right ? The difference pointed 



Journal : ~ 1 A c ■ * 



to be astonished, but I think they overlook one highly important fact, of equal length and breadth ; while those of Black Champion are stated 



namely, that, although a large number of influential members are not at 

 all satisfied with many details of the management of the society, they 

 nevertheless perceive concrete advantages from the Aquarium asso- 

 ciation. It is not unlikely that the opposition is attempting too much, 

 and would achieve a greater measure of success if it were more moderate. 

 Personally, I remain of the opinion I have held a long time, namely, that 

 it lacks a leader. With a really able tactician at its head it might do 

 something, but it is disjointed and invertebrate. Tactics mean a lot in a 

 world like this. 



That there are troublous times in store for the society is not open to 

 doubt. The present management perceive that clearly enough, and they 

 give a striking proof of this in the much-debated three years clause. I 

 regard this as one of the most adroit moves on their part, and if they 

 succeed with it they will have scotched, if not killed, the opposition. 

 Were Peter appointed to the front opposition bench he would fight that 

 suggestion tooth and nail. I trust, however, that nothing will transpire 

 which will in any way interfere with our present position of neutrality. I 

 feel that the horticultural world expects from us the most carefully balanced 

 and impartial opinions. What we think about the N.C.S. business is 

 soon told. We are in entire sympathy with those who contend that the 

 Aquarium is not an ideal place for holding flower shows, but we do not 

 think that they have yet clearly proved that the disadvantages outweigh 

 the advantages. 



You all remember what happened with regard to the Drill Hall. No 

 out :ry that has yet been made about the Aquarium as a headquarters for 

 the N.C.S. has equalled that which assailed the unfortunate Westminster 

 rendezvous of the R.H.S. It was everything that was horrible, and even 

 high officials of the Society joined in the condemnation. I have no wish 

 to beat the big drum, but many of my faithful band of readers will 

 remember that the only word on behalf of the Drill Hall was uttered in 

 this column. I endeavoured to look at the matter, not from the point of 

 view of a few horticultural specialists, but from that of the great London 

 public. Time has proved which was the correct view, and nothing is now 

 heard of the noisy criticisms which were so rife a few years ago. This 

 paper, gentlemen, always takes the popular, rather than the class view, 

 and it usually comes out right side up in consequence. Perhaps it gets 

 a little abuse sometimes, and certainly it does not escape cheap sneers. 

 Hut that sort of thing only serves as a tonic. The more we get, the better 

 pleased we are. 



I am sorry to have to drag in another reference to Peter, but he 

 absolutely refuses to be silent on one particular jjmatter. So firm is he, 

 that it is quite clear that if I did not deal with the case he would write 

 direct. If that happened, woe to the unhappy person who came under 

 the lash. I am of a considerate disposition, and tone things down ; 

 Peter himself shows no mercy. The victim at present is "A. D.," and 1 

 need hardly say that the subject on which these two great minds are at 

 variance is onions. Peter complains, and, I think, with some reason, 

 that "A. D." has evaded his real argument in the most pusillanimous 

 way. His position is that this idea of sowing Ailsa Craig and other large 

 onions of what are known as the spring type, in autumn, is unpractical 

 and absurd, because all the onions wanted for winter and spring use can 

 be grown of the highest quality by sowing in the following spring. 



Now, what is "A. D.V position ? He would have us sow these sorts 

 in the August of 1899 to use in the winter and spring of 1901. But we 



can get a splendid crop for use at 

 later, that is, in the spring of 1900 



our season of sowing and his we can get another crop off the ground. 

 Will your correspondent please answer this objection ? I can assure 

 him that it is much too important a practical question to be passed over 

 m silence. A reply to it is imperatively demanded, and I am a little 

 surprised that " A. D." has not hastened forward before now with his 

 answer I can only hope that it is on the way, and if it anticipates this 

 so much the better. I may say that, in thus wording Peter's complaint 

 for him, I do so in entire agreement with him. 



-«e* A m . an . wi . th an hour on his hands can usually pass it pleasantly and 

 instructively in a perusal of the R.H.S. Journal In preference to dis- 

 missing it with a cursory run through, I generally save it up for a spell of 

 leisure, and I have not often had cause to regret doing so. It is, per- 



fc — 7 — -o— , — j — r — 7 — - ™ y ^ AlclM1 H luli »" a former 



garden of mine that gave far larger fruit than Baldwin's, though I must 

 in fairness say that the bushes were younger. 



Mr. Lees need be under no apprehension of a " wigging " from me. 

 We are on very cordial terms. True the plants which he was good 

 enough to send me have suffered somewhat from the drought, but they 

 have made a very pleasant feature in the garden for all that, and as the 

 able and genial giver has supplemented them with some admirable 

 articles in these columns I am more than content. Lux. 



Yellow-fleshed Nectarines. 



A few years ago there was by no means a great liking for yellow-fleshed 

 nectarines, but their free cropping and other excellent qualities have made 

 them greater favourites of late. The Messrs. Rivers and Son have given 

 us some very fine varieties, which should find a place in all gardens where 

 nectarines succeed, and these have helped to popularise the section. I do 

 not intend to name every yellow variety, but to briefly note those we find 

 best. 



Pitmaston Orange is one of the oldest varieties, having been raised at 

 Pitmaston, near Worcester, as long ago as 181 5. This is a very beautiful 

 fruit under glass ; it is not equal, however, to Pineapple with us for 

 open wall culture, as we find in some seasons it cracks badly, and does 

 not ripen so well as varieties of recent introduction. Another point 

 against it is that it makes less growth than Pineapple and Humboldt, so 

 that unless the situation and locality are of the best I would certainly 

 advise planting stronger growers. On the other hand, forced, or grown 

 merely with glass protection, Pitmaston Orange is one of the most 

 delicious of nectarines, as the flesh is rich and the fruits colour grandly. 

 Rivers' Orange is, with us, more reliable on open walls than the former. 

 It is a seedling from Pitmaston, and is very much like it but earlier, and 

 in many places precocity counts for a'good deal ; it is very prolific and an 

 excellent nectarine for open wall culture. The fruits are of a beautiful 

 colour, and the quality even superior to that of the parent, the flesh being 

 very sweet and juicy. Fruits are produced so freely that with us this 

 variety needs severe thinning. My favourite yellow-fleshed nectarines 

 are Humboldt and Pineapple for open wall culture. Of course, with 

 white-fleshed varieties the newer Early Rivers and Lord Napier cannot 

 be beaten. Humboldt is a very beautiful fruit, a delicious nectarine ot 

 large size. This was raised from Pineapple, and if only one kind can be 

 grown Humboldt should have the preference. This is one of the Messrs. 

 Rivers' seedlings, and one of the best nectarines grown, richly colourea, 

 having the delicious flavour of Pineapple, and being very P r0 ^ 

 succeeding where others fail. I have found this variety equally a * S ooa , on f 

 a west as on a south wall, but of course later. Its season is the ena o 

 August, but there is no difficulty in keeping the fruits longer, in 

 variety makes a free growth ; we have trees that have only oecn 

 planted three years and they are already of large size. p . 



Pineapple is a much later variety, and is another seed mg ,r °™ r 

 maston Orange ; it produces beautiful fruits on a warm wall, is a meu 

 grower, and fair cropper ; also, with us, it is far more l eh * blt **™ lv 

 parent, and is valuable for its lateness, as it ripens during tnc c j 

 part of September. The fruits are large and of rich flavour, iiesn ■ a up 

 orange colour, and skin a beautiful dark red on the sunny side, u 

 of the hardiest of nectarines, and often seen at exhibitions in tne 1 ^ 

 part of September 5 this season, on a south wall, and in spite 01 uj 

 summer, we gathered our last fruits of this variety on SeptemDe -/. 



in, also one of the Rivers' seedlings, is probably less "0^^ 

 some newer varieties of the yellow-fleshed section : one 01 iw r> 

 was no doubt Stan wick. With us it is less reliable on tne ^ 

 wall than the others already noted, but the quality is so gOOO . ina ^ ^ 



serves a place in the ~ "* - ,ron ■ 



ahead of Rivers' 



Darwi 



£3 uSrin is an early variety qmtc * 



Orange ; the fruits are handsome, ro«" d gJ» £ c00 l 

 • 1* - i* ; c on m« lent variety tor »' c . _ 



flesh a bright orange colour. It is an excellent 



larger fruiters. 



ance, but both should be grown ; the quality is good, an , 

 keeps well, it being in season about the same time as I »**PP * he fore- 

 are other varieties, but it is not necessary to name them, «« 



There 



going are our best 

 Syon 



Wythes 



