November 15, 1883 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
421 
as was said, is an acre and a quarter in area, nearly square in sliape, and 
shaded, unfortunately, on the west by a row of tall Elms. There is a 
deep ditch by the Elms, cut with a view to intercept the roots, hut it has 
been found impossible to check the incursions of the invaders. They 
descend the slope, cross the ditch at the bottom, and appear on the other 
side, sending up, if unchecked, scores of wiry suckers. Some of the roots 
diave been discovered 35 yards from the Elms themselves. The eastern 
half is comparatively free from Elm roots, and the orchard trees have 
made, of course, a much more vigorous growth in consequence. The 
subsoil is London clay, but the surface has been regularly dressed twice 
■a year with stable manure, and at least three times yearly also with 
liquid manure from the cowsheds. It is mainly owing to this systematic 
•dressing and a careful selection of kinds that Mr. Templer owes his 
success. The ground under the eastern side has been under regular 
tillage until a year ago, and crops of vegetables and soft fruit have been 
grown. It is the owner’s intention, however, to lay it down and eat off 
with sheep. Pigs he believes furnish the best manure, but they are less 
tidy and more troublesome to manage. His single experiment in the 
way of root-pruning orchard trees was to his mind conclusive. One tree, 
a Lemon Pippin, was pruned by opening a trench on one side of it two 
years ago ; the pruned side had not a single fruit, the unpruned half was 
literally loaded with fruit. There are 160 trees in all, about half of them 
Apples; a third Plums, chiefly the Victoria and the Purple Gage, the 
latter a great favourite, bearing handsome medium-sized fruit having a 
•delicious flavour. The only Pear carrying a crop this year is the Winter 
Helis ; as a rule, however, he has found Pear-growing unprofitable. 
The Apples are all grafted on suckers from an old tree which stood 
at the time in a neighbour’s garden. They are planted 7 yards apart in 
Ihe rows and 6 yards from row to row. This distance is now too close 
■for most of the Apple trees, and careful and systematic pruning is neces¬ 
sary to keep the branches from interlacing. The varieties grown consist 
of Blenheim Pippin, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Fearn’s Pippin, Ribston Pippin, 
which cankers badly, as usual, on a clay soil, and is to be discarded, and 
Devonshire Quarrenden and Lemon Pippin. Culinary sorts in order of 
importance are Round Winter Nonesuch, Norfolk Beaufin, Keswick 
<Codlin, Northern Greening, and the Minchall Crab. The Nonesuch pro¬ 
duced eleven bushels of fine fruit. “ Ye see, sir,” said the dairyman, 
swelling with evident satisfaction as he eyed his trees, “ I likes a tree 
with a good spreading growth—a framework like. Why, measure that 
tree with your tape.” It was a Blenheim Pippin, planted twenty-eight 
j'ears ago. The girth at 3 feet 6 from the ground was 2 feet 8 inches, 
.and the spread of branches 30 feet 6 inches in diameter. The round 
W inter Nonesuch was 3 feet 1 inch in girth and 31 feet through ; it had 
hqrne eleven bushels. Another, Blenheim, was 2 feet 6 inches in girth, 
with a crop of seven bushels. A Fearn’s Pippin, bearing six bushels of 
handsome fruit highly coloured, was 2 feet in girth and 21 feet through, 
■and next to this a small yellow Apple, much like the old Whiting Pippin. 
The tree, although of the same age, was only 1 foot 4 inches in girth, and 
bore a comparatively light crop. This question of girth of boll and 
spread of branches of Apple trees is an important matter to consider for 
those who, like my friend, grow for profit and look to their orchards as a 
source of income. At a moderate estimate this little orchard produces 
£45 worth of fruit yearly. Several of the trees, notably the Blenheim 
Pippin and Cox’s Orange Pippin, were bearing crops, the value of which 
■at a fair market price was as much as the ground they covered. “ But 
which,” I inquired, “is your most regular cropper?” “Well, sir, tek 
’em altogether the Minchall Crab. It is a good keeper, a capital sauce 
Apple, and a good regular cropper. For a kitchen Apple it is most 
^useful, and useable even when quite young or half grown.” 
I had forgotten to say that the dairyman has lately sold off his stock 
■and employs himself in his orchard and garden. It is not only a source 
of interest and gratification to him from the time when the rosy petals 
float away on early summer airs till he climbs the ladder to pick the 
.glowing fruit, but it is also a source of income, and altogether a profitable 
and delightful occupation for his leisure hours.—T. YV., Harrow. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
November 13th. 
A FELL and interesting meeting was held on Tuesday in the conservatory) 
many novelties being shown, and the Chrysanthemums were in especially 
strong "force, Cyclamens and Carnations also being well represented. 
Fruit Committee. —John Lee, Esq.,in the chair. Present—Messrs. H. J. 
Veitch, S. Lyon, Arthur W. Sutton, John Burnett, James Smith, R. D. 
Blackmore, and George Paul. Messrs. Veitch & Son, Chelsea, sent collections 
of Beets and Brussels Sprouts, self-blanching Celery, and Capsicums, the 
latter being very interesting, and representing nine varieties. Mr. YV. Allan, 
gardener to Lord Suffield, Gunton Park, Norwich, was awarded a bronze 
medal for three magnificent bunches of Gros Colman Grapes, weighing 
together 15£ lbs., the largest one being 6f lbs. Mr. Allan also sent fruits of 
Improved Telegraph Cucumber 20 inches long, for which a cultural commen¬ 
dation was awarded. Mr. G. YV. Cummins, The Grange, YY r allington, showed 
three bunches of Mrs. Pince’s Muscat, large and fairly coloured. Mr. B. S. 
Williams sent fruit of a new Grape named Winter King, which the Committee 
required to see again. It was said to have been produced by Gros Colman 
worked on Raisin de Calabre, but was very distinct from either. The berries 
are long and deep black. Mr. Thomas Woodford, Atherstone, showed fruits of 
£i seedling Apple named Mrs. Stourton, which was not considered of special 
merit. Mr. G. R. Allis, gardener to Major Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, 
Biggleswade, showed three good bunches of Pearson’s Golden Queen Grapes, 
the berries large and well coloured. Mr. Allis also showed three bunches of 
Lady Downe’s Grapes, large and well ripened. Mr. Horsefield, Heytesbury 
Wilts, showed three fine bunches of Chatsworth Seedling Grape, each weighing 
about 5 lbs., well coloured, and of good sweet flavour. Messrs. J. Dickson 
and Sons, Chester, showed a fine well-netted fruit of Master Charlie Melon, 
of which, however, the flavour was not very good. 
First-class certificates were awarded for— 
Apple , Tyler's Kernel (T. Parker, Moreton Cove, Hereford)—A firm heavy 
Apple, about 3 inches deep, slightly conical, with an open deep eye, freely 
streaked, and Suffused with crimson on one side. 
Apple, The Sandringham (C. Penny).—The certificate previously awarded 
for this Apple was confirmed. 
Floral Committee.—G. F. YVilson. Esq., in the chair. Present—Messrs. 
W. B. Kellock, James Hudson, Harry Turner, John Dominy, James Cutbush, 
H. Ballantine, G. Dnfficld, II. W. Ridley, John YVills, W. Bealby, H. Bennett, 
John Laing, and the Rev. G. Henslow. Messrs. J. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, 
exhibited a large and choice group of Chrysanthemums, incurved, Japanese, 
and Pompons, including several novelties, especially amongst the Japanese. 
L’Ordu Rhin, a golden-yellow Japanese, was very noteworthy for the number 
of its flowers, the large white M. Astory and the mauve Bouquet Fait were 
similarly notable. Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, showed a group 
of new Chrysanthemums, chiefly Japanese, including several excellent 
varieties. Particularly fine were Salterii and Comet, two of Mr. Salter’s 
varieties, both certificated. Rosea superba, with fluted bright rosy florets, is 
a handsome variety, and Angele, purplish mauve, is distinct, the florets being 
flat at the base, but twisted into a point at the apex. Messrs. J. Veitch 
also had several novelties, amongst them being Cyathea microphylla, a 
Peruvian Tree Fern, with finely divided fronds 3 to 4 feet long. Spathi- 
phyllum Minahassse, from Celebes, has a white broadly lanceolate spathe 
6 inches long by 3 broad ; the spadix is much shorter and white also ; the 
leaves are elliptical, 8 to 9 inches long by 6 to 8 broad. Zygopetalum 
crinitum caeruleum was considered to be a variety near intermedium, with a 
dark violet-purple lip. Some others were shown and certificated. Mr. YV. 
Bull, Chelsea, exhibited a collection of new Sarracenias and other plants, 
several of which were certificated. Cymbidium giganteum was shown with a 
spike of six fine chocolate-veined flowers. Adiantum Legrandi, with finely 
divided and curiously bunched fronds. 
Mr. H. B. Smith, Ealing, exhibited a large group of Cyclamens, for which 
a silver Banksian medal was awarded, the plants being extremely vigorous, 
with large numbers of massive white and crimson flowers. A bronze 
Banksian medal was awarded to Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, for a 
choice collection of Carnations, well grown and profusely flowered. The 
varieties were chiefly Irma, deep rose ; Purity, white ; Jean Sisley, salmon 
and red ; Zouave, deep scarlet; and Alegatiere, rich scarlet. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, had a collection of single 
Chrysanthemums, which attracted much admiration, the colours being 
diversified and clear. In each case the central florets are yellow, as in other 
single Composite. The best are Mrs. Wills, large mauve and white; Miss 
Lingard, white ; Mrs. Santley, crimson-purple; Miss E. Terry, large rich 
crimson ; G. A. Sala, small rich crimson ; Mrs. Langtry, delicate blush ; 
Arthur Sullivan, crimson and white ; Gus Harris, rosy purple ; Dr. Kellock, 
rose, large ; Henry Irving, pale pink ; and Mr. Toole, clear yellow. Flowers 
of the white Chrysanthemums Star of Wyke and La Vierge, both good 
varieties. Plants of a variegated Libonia floribunda and a gold-variegated 
Heliotrope named Albert Delaux were also represented. A. R. Kesterton, 
Esq., Dudley House, Nightingale Lane, Balham, exhibited a plant of Oncidium 
Schillerianum, with a large panicle of small yellow flowers. A vote 
of thanks was accorded to Mr. Hudson, The Gardens, Gunnersbury House, 
for a plant of Celsia cretica, bearing three fine spikes of flowers. Mr. Fry, 
Virginia Water, showed a sport from Chrysanthemum Golden Empress, 
which was considered to be Empress. Mr. May, The Gardens, Northau 
House, Barnet, Hants, showed blooms of Chrysanthemums Wm. Robinson, 
a buff-coloured Japanese, and Bouquet Fait, unusually fine. A vote of 
thanks was accorded to H. J. Buchan, Esq., YVilton House, Southampton, 
for a double spathe of Anthurium Andreanum, the outer spathe 6 inches 
long, with smaller one growing from the base of the spadix. Mr. B. S ; 
Williams, Upper Holloway, showed a plant of Begonia Madame Henri 
Guche as an ornamental-foliage variety, with handsome shining leaves, 
crimson, green, and silver. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. G. YV. 
Cummins, gardener to A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, YVallington, for a 
large-flowered and deeply coloured variety of Oncidium YVeltoni. Mr. Ward, 
gardener to G. Waddell, Esq., Ston^ Stratford, showed a plant of Dendrobium 
album with two flowers. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. G. Allen, 
Horthenden Road, Sale, for a plant of Nephrolepis exaltata, which was shown 
as a seedling. Votes of thanks were accorded to Mr. W. Smythe for a fine 
flower of Amaryllis reticulata; to Mr. YVallis, The Gardens, Keele Hall, 
for a flower of a double Eucharis with ten petals; to Mr. YV. Parkinson, 
Birkenhead, for flowers of double white Primula ; and to Mr. Odell, Gould 
Green, Hillingdon, for a group of deep crimson single Primulas. Messrs. 
T. Jackson ifcYjon, Kingston, exhibited a stand of Chrysanthemums, several 
of which were certificated. A pretty group of Chrysanthemums was also 
shown from the Society’s Gardens at Chiswick, and included many of the 
newer varieties, extremely well flowered. 
Mr. G. F. Wilson exhibited specimens of the Wilson Digger, an instru¬ 
ment with a trowel-like handle and a long narrow steel blade for lifting 
plants. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following plants :— 
Rhododendron Curtisi (Veitch).—A very distinct species from Sumatra, 
of compact habit, with lance-shaped thick leaves, 1J to 2 inches long, quarter 
to half-inch broad. The flowers are bell-shaped, slightly pendulous, three- 
quarter inch long, deep shining crimson with a tinge of scarlet, and are borne 
in heads of three or four. 
Zygopetalum Burkei (Veitch).—A pretty species from Guiana ; flowers 
four to six in a spike. Sepals and petals 1 inch long, green, mottled and 
streaked with chocolate. The lip is white, the projection at the base being 
purple. 
Cymbidium affine (G. N. YVyatt, Esq., Lake House, Cheltenham).—A fine 
plant with two spikes were shown of this beautiful Orchid. The larger 
spike contained thirteen flowers ; the sepals and petals white, 2 inches long ; 
the lip white stained with purple. It is very fragrant and of sturdy habit. 
Sarracenia Swaniana (Bull).—A hybrid between S. variolaris and S. 
purpurea, with deep red pitchers, having broad heavily veined lids. 
