May 8, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
871 
something to every parent cell matured in it that determines what kind of 
fruit the tree coming from it shall bear. And every tree coming from such a 
cell must be true to its kind. If there is any way by which the contents of 
two cells, determined by different kinds of wood, should be united, would 
not the union be a hybrid ? We have already seen that such a result follows 
in hybridising and cross-fertilising. We have also seen that in building up 
a tree the cells often absorb the cell walls between them, and unite their con¬ 
tents, and proceed to form new cells by their united contents. We are 
constantly bringing such cells in contact by the process of grafting, and it is 
in grafted trees that sports are generally, if not always, found. A cell in a 
scion is placed in contact with a cell in the stock; they absorb the cell walls 
between them, unite their contents, and these proceed to build a strain of 
wood different from either ; in time this blossoms and bears fruit, uniting 
the qualities of both scion and stock. It is a graft hybrid, but is called a 
sport. I think all sports come from a union of cells of different varieties. 
We may not always trace this. As in the animal kingdom, the mixed strain 
may reach far back—sometimes over several generations—so in plants ; the 
strain may not become apparent for years, but when it appears it gives a new 
variety. 
There is another union of cells to which I wish to refer. A bud is 
virtually a single parent cell in its winter costume, with its spring ration 
enclosed. These bud cells may be split, and the halves of different ones 
united, thus mixing their contents as effectually as in hybridising. Mr. 
Meehan assures us that he has done it. During the last season I split the buds 
of several kinds of Apples and united them, and have three united buds living. 
I cannot tell what kind of fruit they will bear, but I know that halves of 
different buds united and grew well. This is a union of different cells, and I 
see no reason why their substance did not unite to form a parent cell which 
multiplied itself to build up the shoots just as any other cell does, and I 
cannot see why it will not be a mixed or hybrid wood, and bear a mixed or 
hybrid fruit. If so, I shall not call it a sport, but a graft hybrid. And such 
are all sports. They are hybrids resulting from the union of different cells. 
This certainly applies to the variegated Laburnum, Jessamine, and Abutilon, 
which we know were the result of grafting, and I think equally well to the 
Itose, the Apple, and all other sports. I come to this conclusion from the 
truths and principles found in the works of the most distinguished authors 
in our valuable library. Most of these authors speak of sports and graft 
hybrids, but none attempt to account for them except ex-President Clark of 
our own college, and he, rather doubtingly, in his report for 1870, says : “ It 
may be possible that a part of a cell of the scion may unite with a part of 
the cell of the stock, and form a kind of mechanically crossed cell, capable 
of reproducing itself in infinite variety.” This “infinite variety ” is foggy. 
If he had said, capable of producing a new variety, it would have been nearer 
the truth. But if he had considered what he had already stated about the 
union of cells by the absorption of their transverse septa, he would have 
seen that it is not necessary to take parts of cells, but that by simply 
bringing cells of different varieties together, they will often absorb the 
intervening cell walls, unite their contents, and form a mixed cell producing 
a new variety, and all that is mechanical about it is the method by which the 
cells are brought in contact. From the foregoing I conclude that all 
vegetable sports are hybrids, produced by the natural union of cells of 
different varieties, and that when more familiar with the subject we shall 
no longer call them sports but hybrids. 
ROCHDALE AURICULA SOCIETY. 
The second annual Show of this recently revived Society was held in 
the Public Hall on Saturday last. The display of Auriculas was very good, 
every class being well filled, and in nearly every case the competition was 
close. In addition to the Auriculas, collections of stove and greenhouse 
plants were staged for the decoration of the Hall by S. Barlow, Esq., 
Stakehill, and J. H. Lancashire, Esq., Deeplish Hill. Mr. Barlow also sent 
two large baskets of Primula Sieboldi varieties, and one of Primula rosea. 
Mrs. Scholfield, Fern Lea, sent a good plant of Dendrobium Wardianum, 
reflecting much credit on her gardener, Mr. Butterworth. Dr. Morris sent 
a fine plant of Trillium grandiflorum, having thirteen expanded flowers, 
and a seedling Trillium, which differs from the parent in having much 
larger flowers and larger and lighter-coloured foliage. This variety is very 
free-flowering, the plant in question having nineteen expanded blooms. 
He also staged a good specimen of Cypripedium pubescens. The Society is 
to be congratulated on the success of their Show. The Judges were 
Messrs. J. Booth, Failsworth ; J. Cheetham, Rochdale ; and T. Lancashire, 
Middleton, and their awards were as follows :— 
Six dissimilar Auriculas.—First, Mr. H. Wilson, Halifax ; second, Mr. 
Pohlman, Halifax; third, Mr. W. Bolton, Warrington, the same gentlemen 
occupying similar positions in the class for fours. The pair class was well 
filled, and Messrs. Pohlman; S. Barlow, Stakehill ; and J. Beswick, 
Middleton, were the successful exhibitors. In a class for pairs from small 
growers the prizes were taken by Messrs. R. Heys, executors of J. Fletcher, 
and E. Elliott, all local growers. The maiden class pairs were allocated 
to—first, Mr. Brodie, Rochdale; second, A. Potts, Esq., Chester ; and third, 
Mr. S. Lord, Rochdale. 
Alpine Auriculas. —Four dissimilar varieties.—First, Mr. Beswick ; 
second, Mr. R. Heys, Norden ; third, Mr. Pohlman. Single plants.—Premium 
and first prize, Mr. Pohlman, with seedlings ; second, Mr. Beswick, with 
Goliath of the Alps ; third, fourth, and fifth, Mr. R. Heys, with Diadem and 
seedlings ; sixth, Mr. Barlow, with a seedling. 
Green edges.—First, Mr. Wilson, with Col. Taylor ; second, Mr. Potts, 
with Prince of Greens ; third and seventh, Mr. Pohlman ; fourth, Mr. 
Beswick ; fifth, Mr. Potts ; and sixth, executors of J. Fletcher. 
Grey edges.—First, Mr. Wilson, with Lancashire Hero ; Mr. Pohlman 
taking first, third, fourth, and fifth ; Mr. Royds second ; and Mr. Bolton 
sixth prizes. 
White edges.—Mr. Lord premium and third with Acme and Catherina ; 
Mr. G. H. Wheeler, Rochdale, second with Trail’s Beauty ; Mr. H. Wilson 
second and fourth ; Mr. Bolton fifth ; and Mr. Pohlman sixth. 
Selfs.—Mr. Pohlman premium with Ellen Lancaster ; Mr. S. Barlow was 
first, fourth, and sixth with seedlings; Mr. Royds was second with a 
seedling ; Mr. R. Lord, Todmorden, third ; and executors of Mr. J. Fletcher, 
fifth. 
Polyanthuses. —Pairs.—First, Mr. J. Beswick, with Lancer and Exile ; 
second, executors of J. Fletcher, with Cheshire Favourite and George IY. ; 
third, Mr. R. Heys, with Cheshire Favourite and George IV.; fourth, Mr. 
S. Barlow, with a seedling and Prince Regent. In single plants Mr. Beswick 
took the premium, first, second, third, and sixth prizes ; Mr. Barlow was 
fourth ; and Mr. S. Lord fifth.— James Brodie, Hon. Sec. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
May is one of the most trying months for the kitchen gardener, as a 
constant watch has to be kept on young seedlings. Failures of seed will 
now be found. All kinds of grubs and insects are most likely to attack 
tender young crops, and, worst of all, the weather may not prove so genial 
as could be desired. Having to contend with these difficulties makes May 
anything but a comfortable month, and we can only advise perseverance, 
as in a few weeks everything will be growing strongly, and any extra 
attention devoted to the crops now will be amply compensated for by-and-by. 
Snails and slugs are always plentiful and very active at this season. 
In the early morning and just before dark at night are their favourite 
feeding times. In wet weather they are sure to be busy then, but when 
the ground is hard and dry they are not troublesome. All young vege¬ 
tables are liable to be eaten by them, and we strongly recommend a sharp 
supervision. Gathering them with the hands is a very good way of deal¬ 
ing with them. Two or three of our garden boys scour our kitchen 
garden every morning by six o’clock, and we never suffer much from these 
pests. Soot and Ime in a dry dusty state are also excellent for destroy¬ 
ing them, and they act as fertilisers as well. If small handfuls of bran 
are put down about 6 p.M. covered with a Cabbage or Rhubarb leaf, and 
looked at three hours afterwards, crowds of snails will be found congre¬ 
gated on the bran, and they can then be destroyed. This is the best of 
all traps for them. 
Salsafy and Scoizoncra .—These are most useful winter vegetables, and 
to have them in perfection from November onwards the seed should be 
sown now. An open soil is most suitable for them ; the drills should be 
15 inches apart, 2 inches deep, and the seed should be sown very thinly, 
as ultimately the plants should stand 10 inches apart. 
Celery .—The earliest may now be put out in the trenches. The 
plants should be lifted from their present quarters with good balls of soil 
attached to the roots, and as soon as they are planted in the trenches a 
thorough good watering should be given. Attention must be given to 
this at all times as the only means of preventing early Celery running to 
seed. Respecting the distance they should stand apart, we never like to 
have the plants closer to each other than 10 inches. 
Runner Beans .—Do not sow all these at once or in May, but keep 
some and sow about the middle of June, when a fine lot of healthy tall 
bearing plants will be the result. It is a common mistake to sow this 
crop too early, and the consequence is that tender pods are generally very 
scarce in October and November, but they need not be so if this hint is 
borne in mind. 
Cauliflowers .—Fill up any blanks which may occur in the plantations. 
Thin out plants from the seed beds, and dibble them in where they will 
have more room. Sow a pinch of seed of Veitch’s Autumn Giant to 
produce plants for putting out after Potatoes are lifted in June, and these 
will produce a fine batch of late heads in November. 
Cabbages .—These are now heading freely. In cutting them, if the 
stumps are left they will produce a fine lot of small sprouts in two or 
three months hence, but where this plan is not followed clear them off at 
once and fill up with other crops. We prefer to have successional batches 
of plants heading rather than keep on the old ones and sow frequently. 
If a quantity of Suttons’ All Heart or Dickson’s Redbraes is sown now 
a fine lot of young and tender heads will be produced in September and 
October, and they are very acceptable then. Earth up spring-planted 
Cabbages, and do not let weeds grow between any of them. 
Potatoes .—In many gardens Broccoli quarters are only now being 
cleared, and if any of their owners are doubtful as to whether to plant 
Potatoes there, we would say, Plant by all means. Early and second 
earlies are the best to put in, but all varieties will do well if the situation 
is favourable. Earth up all the early ones which are now showing above 
the soil in quantities. Any which may have been frosted down will 
sprout up again, although the stems will never be so strong, and the crop 
will be lighter than it would have been had all gone on welh . 
Watering .—In sowing seed or planting in very dry soil it is an advan¬ 
tage to water thoroughly after these operations ; and when any vegetable 
crop, such as Peas or Beans, Lettuces or Cauliflowers, show signs of suffer¬ 
ing for want of water it is best to give them a supply, but nothing is 
gained by surface dribblings, and merely wetting the foliage or the surface 
of the soil is worse than nothing. Water thoroughly or not at all, and 
then it does not matter whether it is done in the morning, noon, or night. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. — Earliest I/onse.—As the fruit ap¬ 
proaches ripeness, more air with a gradual diminution in the supply 
of moisture with a gentle heat in the pipes will insure good flavour. 
