CIV PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



require confirmation on other soils, whether that at the experiment 

 station is exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. Mr. Pickering gave 

 expression to this in his pointed speech after luncheon. He said : 

 " . . . One important result has followed the establishment of 

 the Woburn Experimental Farm, and that is the starting of similar 

 stations elsewhere. True, a number of separated, disjointed, small 

 stations are not exactly satisfactory. One large Government station, 

 supplemented with subsidiary stations in different parts of the country, 

 and all experiments carried on in one way, is undoubtedly the necessity 

 of the times in horticulture; but failing this ideal (to which legislation 

 has not yet risen) the best thing is to have as many small private 

 stations as possible; and if we at Woburn have been instrumental in 

 leading to the establishment of such stations we shall have had our 

 reward. " 



As official reports on the Woburn experiments are issued from time 

 to tinie, it is unnecessary to refer to them in detail, but some of the 

 more impressive of those actually seen were concerned with: — 



1. Grassing under fruit trees, compared with cultivation. 



2. The comparative values of spring and winter pruning, and of 

 pruned and unpruned trees. 



3. Eoot pruning annually, biennially, and quadrennially. 



4. Careful and careless planting. 



5. Differences in the behaviour of varieties. 



6. Systems of planting fruit plots for farmers, market growers, 

 and cottagers. 



7. The relative merits of fruits and vegetables grown separately and 

 intermixed. 



8. Effects of manured and of unmanured land on different kinds of 

 fruit trees. 



9. Silver-leaf disease. 



10. Frost protection (smudge fires, radiation, &c.). 



The inspection of the experiments was delightfully varied by a drive 

 through the park, the abbey being reached by one of the beautiful turfed 

 alleys called the Ehododendron Walk. Numerous kinds of pine trees 

 and other magnificent woodland and forest trees bounded each side of 

 this walk, testifying to the artistic conception of the original planter 

 and producing a deep impression on the minds of our party of practical 

 gardeners. 



At the Abbey luncheon was served, and, needless to say, enjoyed. 

 Before leaving the dining-hall. Sir Albert iiollit, D.C.L., LL.D., 

 Litt.D., said: ** We have been told there are to be few or no speeches 

 to-day, but as Woburn is an experimental and trial station, I 

 have been asked by the secretary to try the experiment of disobeying 

 rules by raising one speech and pruning it severely. We really 

 cannot enjoy such bountiful hospitality and entertainment as have 

 been extended to us and then depart in silence. To do so we should be 

 even less appreciative than the man who arranged en pension terms 

 with the landlady of a l)oarding-house and then said, ' But I ought to 



