OCTOBER. 



151 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL GARDENS. 



The remarks which have recently appeared in your pages in reference to 

 the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens seem to have produced some effect 

 upon the official mind at South Kensington from what I hear ; and as you 

 condemned the plan and pointed out the defects in the design even before 

 the gardens were finished, it is so far satisfactory to myself and other of your 

 readers to know you were not misled by all the fuss published by your con- 

 temporaries, and the silly remarks which so constantly met our cars about this 

 chef d'ouvre of Mr. Nesneld. My object, however, is now to direct your attention 

 to Chiswick, which we are told is soon to be taken in hand by way of improve- 

 ment, and to hope, if it is attempted, the same faults will not be committed 

 there which unfortunately are so universally condemned at Kensington. Some 

 years ago a very pretty spot was made in oiie corner of Chiswick by their then 

 Superintendent (Mr. McEwen), which suggests what might be done on a larger 

 scale. I suppose there is not room for a complete arboretum, or even for a 

 pinetum ; but much instruction might be afforded visitors by planting all the 

 most characteristic species of hardy trees ; arid further by classing them some- 

 what in the way they are placed together in such catalogues as Lavvson's or 

 Knight's. As I remember how strenuously you advocated retaining Chiswick 

 years ago when it was wished to break it up, you, probably, will now keep 

 your eye upon it ; and, if it is to be altered, do pray try what you can do to get 

 introduced some bits of nature— tint, shade, and water, with instruction, so far 

 as it can be combined with the above. 



Another Country F.R.H.-S. 



[We know nothing of what is proposed to be done at Chiswick, and excepting seeing 

 what appeared in the columns of our contemporary a few weeks ago, have heard nothing on 

 the subject. We certainly advocated the retention of Chiswick, but that was for experi- 

 mental and practical purposes, for which it is well adapted, and which is noAV admirably 

 carried out there. So far as making Chiswick a place for recreation and instruction ^oes 

 there is a large spaceof ground which might be converted into ornamental gardens or pleasure 

 grounds, combined with a more extended arboretum than the Society now possess but notliinc- 

 very striking in landscape gardening could be produced without a large outlay, so we think.— 

 Eds. E. & P.J 



DYE APPLES. 



In your June Number is a short paragraph anent the reported use of 

 Apples or Apple juice in calico-printing, with the request that some one in 

 the manufacturing districts would kindly inform you if such was really the 

 case, as then you thought you could, out of your extensive pomological expe- 

 rience, give the information which varieties it would be best for growers to 

 cultivate, some being more distinguished for the production of malic acid than 

 others. As soon as I read this I " made a note of it," and prohlised it imme- 

 diate attention ; but the pressure of other subjects and duties has compelled 

 me to neglect it as well as many of equal importance I hail from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Cottonopolis, and, though removed by time and distance, keep^up 

 a chain of communication with a long circle of friends. Sorry are we to know 

 that scarcity of work, bringing inevitable poverty in its train, is with them 

 not the exception but the rule. The Lancashire operative is no servile hypo- 

 critical beggar. No man on the face of the earth is so independent, none so 

 impatient of eleemosynary aid ; and we know from sources too genuine to be 

 doubted how bitter are the thoughts that men, willing and able to work are 

 compelled by all-convincing hunger to accept charity. Oh, ye with geneidus 



