782 



GA RD EN EES' MA GA ZINE. 



December 3, 1898. 



A 



MORN 



M 



surgere saluberri 



It is natural to drift to fruit at this time of year, for planting, in 

 favourable spells of weather, is in full swing. I daresay many of my 

 readers have noticed the difference of attitude assumed towards this 

 phase of work by private and market growers. A good many of both 

 read this paper, more of the latter than there used to be, I think. Some 

 short time ago the raspberry pruning question cropped up amongst a 

 group, and one of the party referred to a discussion in the— well, we'll 

 call it the Gardeners' News. The others corrected him on the spot. It 

 wasn't in the News, it was in the Magazine. Of course, the other 

 individual knew he was right, and there might have been a long argu- 

 ment if the quietest member of the party had not promptly fished the 

 paper out of his pocket, and clinched the matter by turning to the 

 "Mixture," Happily, my blushes were unobserved. But this by the 

 way. The difference of attitude referred to in the first part of this para- 

 graph is very marked. In private gardens fruit planting is often a 

 matter of terrific agitation ; on the farms it is proceeded with in the 

 most nonchalant way. 



I often think that gardeners make a great deal too much of planting, 

 and market men too little. The former do it to the accompaniment of a 

 considerable amount of article writing and reading, and plenty of 

 wrangling over minor details ; the latter do it with no fuss at all. ^ Both 

 are wrong. Fruit articles are often very tiresome because they reiterate 

 stale things, which are often not less misleading than old, but a certain 

 interchange of opinion does good. Doubtless, on the whole, the 

 gardener plants fruit better than the farmer. He has not to think about 

 the labour bill. When the private gardener merges into the market 

 grower he almost always finds that he has to drift into the field methods. 

 It might not be so if his capital were very large, but generally it is very 

 small. 



There is one thing in which I think both sections make a mistake, 

 and that is in putting a considerable quantity of manure beneath the 

 trees. I do not object to the plan, for the reason (which I have 

 seen stated) that the young fibres are injured by coming into contact with 

 strong manure, nor even because of its causing excessive vigour, although 

 there is undoubtedly something in this. What seems to me so dangerous 

 is the rotting down of the manure, the reduction of its bulk, and the 

 consequent gap right below the roots. A cavity of this sort serves as an 

 admirable water trap, and, if no harm results in well-drained land, I am 

 positive that it accrues in heavy ground that is not well drained. I 

 have read many miles of articles on fruit planting in the course of my 

 career, but I never remember to have seen this point raised. It is a very 

 real one, depend upon it. A very little reflection suffices to show its 

 theoretical strength, and a good deal of close personal observation has 

 convinced me that it is practical, too. I believe it to be a fertile source 

 of canker. 



I have referred to advice on practical matters that is not only stale 

 but bad. I suppose I shall catch it from some of my kind friends for 

 dragging in raspberry pruning as an instance, but it is^ so glaring a case 

 that the temptation is too strong. I once before timidly alluded to it, 

 and I believe I was chastised then, but I am prepared to endure a lot of 

 rough handling when I think I have good grounds for what I say. 

 Surely the elaborated sap in mature canes must, in descending, nourish 

 the crowns at the base, and, if it does, why cut them out in summer ? 

 Peter has been as much against me as anyone on this matter, but I 

 really believe that for the first time in his life he is going to let me 

 have my own way willingly. He has not said so in distinct terms, pro- 

 bably he never will, but there are signs and tokens not to be mistaken. 



Of course this fact will add considerably to the attention which is 

 being given to me. I can fancy readers experiencing a sudden quicken- 

 ing of interest, and muttering : u Oh ! well, if Peter agrees, it's a different 

 matter." The modification of his opposition has been brought about in 

 a very simple way. When in town for the rust conference it appears 

 that he availed himself of the opportunity to pay a long-deferred visit to 

 a"neffy" in Kent He went and returned per bicycle, and seems to 

 have caused no more damage than could be reasonably expected. I have 

 heard a good deal of this particular Kentish nephew. He has been quoted 

 against me more than once. But now was the time for my revenge 

 showed 

 were to 



NOTES FROM IRELAND. 



Growers who plant chrysanthemums outside every year in the h 

 procuring a few blooms have this year been rewarded with an abund* t 

 crop. Large masses of early flowering varieties have been magnificent 

 while really creditable blooms of both Japanese and incurved varieties 

 are to be seen growing against walls and fences ; in fact, some plants i 

 a garden near her 3, where the blooms were disbudded, are as good as 

 any I have ever see i grown under glass for decorative purposes. Of course S 

 none are up to exhibition standard, but nevertheless are very valuable 

 for decorating. Some beds of single varieties are a superb sight and 

 pompons are in close competition. A charming new early flowering 

 variety on Mr. W. Wells' (Earlswood) stand at the late Dublin Show was 

 Mytchett Beauty, a rich golden yellow, and a pleasing contrast to it was 

 Crimson Pride, a very dark crimson variety. These two caused a great 

 sensation at the show quoted, and were greatly admired by all. 



We had our first frost on the morning of November 18, but up to 

 that date summer bedding plants were in full flower, but now there is not 

 much left but snapdragons and monthly roses. Trees and hedges, too 

 dropped their foliage with astonishing rapidity. Hardy fruits should' 

 other circumstances permitting, be a good crop next year, as the trees 

 are bristling with fruit buds. When at Mullaboden recently I noticed 

 the back wall of a stove there covered with Ficus repens, which had 

 extended several yards through the house on the wall outside, and was 

 thriving splendidly, the foliage being far larger and more luxuriant than 

 inside the house. At the shady end of the conservatory, where nothing 

 bright in colour could be induced to grow, Mr. Mitchison planted a few 

 years ago two specimens of Begonia fuchsioides, which have covered the 

 wall completely, and look charming there, where I saw them in full 

 flower. The best berried plants of Crataegus pyracantha and C. p. 

 Lelandi I have ever seen were noted on the pleasure ground walls at 

 Mullaboden. 



The finest specimens, in quantity, that I have yet seen in Ireland of 

 Blenheim Pippin apples were those exhibited at the recent Chrysan- 

 themum Show at Ball's Bridge, by Messrs. Dickson and Son, of New- 

 townards. They were simply superb in size, shape, and colour ; it was 

 not simply a dish of apples, but a huge basketful. Bramley's Seedling, 

 too, in the same stand was splendid. This exhibit was probably the 

 largest yet put up in Ireland ; it was of two hundred varieties, the same 

 as frequently put up, but instead of from three to six fruits of a variety, 

 as is generally the case, there were in this exhibit but few dishes of six, 

 most varieties being represented in quantities, ranging from that number 

 to baskets containing about a bushel. That fruit growing has made 

 enormous strides in Ireland is evidenced by this splendid exhibit from 

 the go-ahead firm under notice. It would give exhibitors on your side 

 of the Channel enough to do in a competition to beat Irish fruit growers 

 now. The show of both apples and pears from private gardens made a 

 brave show of magnificent fruit. Blenheim Pippin appears to do well 

 everywhere in Ireland, judging from the splendid examples of this 

 variety brought from districts widely separated. Wonderful, too, were the 

 dishes of Beurre d'Amanlis pear, which for flavour appeared to find most 

 favour with the judges. A promising apple was exhibited by the Messrs. 

 Saunders, of Cork, under the name " Beauty of Friar's Walk," at the 

 recent show, which has since been awarded a certificate of merit by the 

 Council of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. A similar award 

 was also made to Mr. Wells, of Earlswood, for his collection of chry- 

 santhemums, and we were all delighted to learn that he had also been 

 awarded a gold medal in Paris, the information reaching Dublin forty 

 minutes after the award was made in Paris. 



Permit me to endorse Mr. Harrow's recommendation of winter- 

 flowering begonias for decorative purposes. The best and most charming 

 of them all is to my mind Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. It is a capital 

 subject for use in groups of plants, also for house decoration. Although 

 I cannot claim to be one invited to respond to " S. P." on " Is the Onion 

 Surface Rooting?" perhaps I "may be allowed to negative the query. 

 Certainly, if one only surface cultivates the ground, and leaves the soil 

 undisturbed save for a few inches on the top, so that the subsoil is ham 

 and poor, then the onion becomes a surface rooter right enough, ripens 

 prematurely, is undersized, and of little use for keeping. But, given 

 deeply-cultivated and well-manured ground, save in exceptional cases, 

 one can rely on large and sound onions. Their roots, too, will be touna 

 for more than a foot below the surface, as witnessed when digging 01a 



me more than once. But now was the time for my revenge. He f or more x ^ n a f 00t below the surface, as witnessed when digging oici 

 Peter the fading hops, and explained how careful the best growers on i on gr0 und after the crop was cleared. Where quantities of onions 

 leave the bine on the stools until it has thoroughly ripened and are required for pickling purposes "tickling" the surface will answer- 



were to leave the bine on the stools until it has thorougniy ripenea ana are required for pickling purposes "tickling" the surface win 



the sap all gone down. On no account do they remove it immediately fiairly well, but that, u S. P " is as far as I am prepared to agree with your 



the hops have been gathered. I do not know whether Peter would have lecturer. I shall be interested in reading the reply of Mr. Beckett ana 



put two and two together even then had it not been that in the return ^ ■ * ' * r " * A ~~~ 

 journey he came into violent collision with a tree. Over in the field where 

 the latter fell were raspberries. Need I say more ? Lux. 



the query quoted. I fully thought that Je age m 

 as past and\one-at least, as, far as vegetable^ are 



The Climate and Flora of Christmas Island.— Mr. C. W. Andrews, 



who has been making a complete examination of Christmas Island stated before 

 the Royal Geographical Society that this little spot in the Indian Ocean had a 

 delightful climate. Darin g the greater part of the year it resembled a very hot 

 English summer tempered with sea breezes. The island was perfectly healthy 



other celebrities to 



surface cultivation was past and gone 7 — - j,^^ 



concerned-but reallv to hear of a County Council lecturer w™ 1 ^* 

 surface " tickling » is a little too degenerate. I trust his audience win 

 make it warm for him the next time he advocates that sy jJ e ™y ELT ER# 



Brow?tstozvn Farm. 



Lands of Northern Wisconsin 



Wisconsin ii»>^> «^ -f.. y exVi Q 



Fillibert Roth, been treated deductively. The wooded area " &t f?™l* ver 3 

 reduced and at present nothing is done to protect .or re-stock tw ^ 

 lands, which are now unproductive waste land. Mr. Koth e *"™^ t the 

 policy causes a loss of eight hundred million cubic feet of wood per ye^ 

 State, besides driving from the State the industries which have been mo ^ ^ 

 spicuous in its development, depriving a cold country of a roluaDiem ^ 

 climatic conditions, and aft^tin! detrimentally the character of the mam « ^ 



. " " " r ™ — — WUYClcu wuu iorest except ^f*"/ -~~ r - ™»- 



the sea cliff and the vertical faces of the inland cliffs Many creepers and ferns 

 added to the beauty and variety of the forest scenery. For some years Mr. Andrew 

 Ross, brother of Mr. George Ross, the owner of Keeling-Cocos Island, had been 

 settled in Flying Fish Cove wiih his family and a few men from Cocos. During 

 his stay some substantial houses had been built, wells sunk, and fruit trees and 

 cocoanut palms planted, and a small experimental plantation of coffee had also 

 been made, the results showing that the island was well suited for coffee growing. 



In Mav last the total nnnnlafinn rvf tk<* Ut^j i ^»r« 



about 



Wisconsin 



