><2 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 10, 1881. 
they cease to be sports. It makes no difference what name is given to 
them. He has a grafted tree, on which all the grafts have shown themselves 
the same as he put in, except one branch, which has not yet borne, is 
different in leaf, and will probably prove a sport, or what Professor Gray 
would call a bud variety. But such phenomena cannot be produced at will. 
The cell proces^ does not make it clear how the sweet and sour Apple was 
produced. Mr. Meehan’s process, by splitting the graft through the bud, is 
legitimate and natural, and can be effected, as is known. Mr. Coxe says he 
has seen an Apple in which the properties of the Newtown Pippin and a 
Russeting were mixed by the accidental intermingling of the branches of 
two trees growing in an orchard at Trenton, N..J.; one end of each Apple 
was strongly marked externally by the character of the Russet parent; the 
other equally resembled the Pippin, and the flavour and j uice of each end 
corresponded exactly with its external appearance. Here is an extraneous 
influence, from pollen or otherwise, affecting the fruit, and it seems to be 
accidental or abnormal in nature, and could not be produced at will. We 
sometimes see an Apple shaped like a Pear; this is a sport not explained 
by the cell process, and which nobody can produce. It may he that where 
two branches from two trees come together, the pollen may have fructified 
and affected the shape of the fruit (not the seed) the same year. 
Mr. Talbot did not believe in accidents in nature. When we under¬ 
stand the laws which govern variations, it is not proper to call them sports. 
The best authorities speak of species hybrids, or mules, or variety hybrids 
or crosses . He did not believe in bud variations; a bud is a cell with other 
appendage s, and the vital part is a single cell, which divides in the spring 
and carries on growth. He could not see how the Pear-shaped Apple could 
be produced by pollen, but by combining one cell with another it could be 
produced. Hybridising was formerly looked upon as being as mysterious 
as things are thought now. He brought up the subject to call attention to 
facts recorded from twenty to forty years ago. 
C. Terry asked how a bud could be split without destroying it. 
_Mr. Talbot said that he split twelve buds, and that in three cases they 
united, and are now living. In two cases where he joined halves of buds on 
a scion, and inserted the scion in another stock, they did not live. The 
foliage produced by the split buds is slightly different from that of the 
stock. The contents of the buds have united. 
Charles M. Hovey denied that all sports are hybrids, and said that it is 
folly to assert it. If a hud is cut in the germ, it will be destroyed. The 
flowers now in the fruit buds wnre formed last summer, and the wood buds 
the same, ffhere is an infi.nitesimal point in a seed—of a Cucumber, for 
instance—which, if cut through, the germ will be destroyed. The difference 
between a hybrid and a cross is that, in the former, two species are united, 
and in the latter, two varieties. The product of the former is termed a mule, 
hut sometimes it will produce seed. When we cross-fertilise a Camellia 
or a Strawberry we get something between the two varieties crossed. An 
Oak throws out a variegated leaf : where did it get the white leaf ? A Chrys¬ 
anthemum may be propagated for ten years by cuttings, and not by seed, 
and by-and-by a yellow-flowered plant produces a white one, and the two 
come out simultaneously. The Browallia will sometimes produce a branch 
with white flowers. These are all things of which we know not how they 
are done, hut the speaker hoped wn might find out. Some things are yet 
unfathomable; we cannot find out the law by which a wild stock, wlien 
grafted, produces eight or ten varieties of fruit, and all distinct. Van Mens 
did not believe in hybridising; why did his seedlings vary ? 
Mr. Talbot replied to Mr. Hovey’s last query, that Van Mons planted 
the trees which produced his seeds alongside other varieties. 
Mr. Wilder agreed with Mr. Talbot that Van Mons must have planted 
his trees in his garden with other varieties. 
Mr. Hovey said that Geraniums and other plants grown in green¬ 
houses where there are no other varieties, will vary when grown from seed. 
Nature has provided against the chance of flowers not being fertilised, by a 
surplus of stamens, as in all the Rosaceae, and there is no need of foreign 
fertilisation ; three-quarters of them do their own fertilisation. Variations 
take place without regard to their hybridisation, not only in the vegetable 
world, but throughout creation. 
William C. Strong was called on, and said that he was not inclined to 
speak, because he felt the danger of expressing crude opinions. He felt 
under obligations to the essayist for his paper, but was not ready to follow 
it. As regards hybr’disation by different kinds of protoplasm producing 
the different varieties in seed, we may, perhaps, agree ; but to divide, and 
afterwards to cross in an artificial way, admits of very grave doubts. To 
split a single cell would destroy it. 
Mr. Talbot said that Mr. Strong did not make the distinction hetw'een 
protoplasm and the beginning of a cell. One single cell divides and makes 
other cells, called the parent cell. If we can divide that and unite another 
half cell with it, it makes but a single cell. 
COMING FLOWER SHOWS. 
Exiiibitioks are as numerous as ever, the following being those for 
July, August^, aud September, of which we have received any notification 
at present :— 
July lOtU.—O.xford CRores). 
„ 14th.—Wolverhampton (three days), 
„ 16th.—Bedford. 
„ 17th.—Carlisle (two days). Wirksworth (Boses). Newport. 
19th.—M.anchcster (Rose.s). 
„ 22nd.—Royal Horticultural Society, Fruit and Floral Committees; 
Fruit and Vegetab'e Show ; Carnation and Picotce Show, 
,, 2Srd.—’Vewcastle-on-Tyne (three days). Feltham. 
„ 24th.—Sheffield (two days). 
,, SOth.—Warwick. 
August 2iid.—Liverpool (two days). Southampt; n (two days). 
„ 12Dh.—Royal Horticultural Society, Fruit aud Floral Committees; 
Cottagers' Show. 
, 14 th.—Maidenhead. 
,. 1.5lh, 16th.—Chc.adle, Che-hire. 
„ 20tli.—Shrewsbury (two days). 
„ 21 St.—Reading. 
M 26U..—Roaal Horticultural Society, Fruit and Floral Committees; 
Fruit an 1 Vegetable Show. Banbury. 
September 2nd.—Stratford-on-Avon (two days). 
„ 3rd.—Glasgow. Bath (two days). 
„ 6tli.—Crystal Palace Fruit and Dahlias (two days). 
„ 9tb.—Royal Horticultural Society, Fruit and Floral Committees. 
„ 11th.—Bury St. Edmunds (tavo days). Dundee International (three 
days). 
„ 17th.—Edinburgh (two days). 
„ 23rd.—Roval Horticultural Society, Fruit and Floral Committees; 
Fruit and Vegetable Show. 
/OKK,F0h.THE WEEK..' 
li' 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Stran'herries .—No v is the time when Strawberries are in full per¬ 
fection, and the earliest runners are induce! to emit roots strongly by 
pegging each one separately upon the mid He of a 3-inch potful of rich 
soil, each pot being plunged to the rim to check evaporation or save very 
frequent watering. Those gardeners wbo add new sorts to their collection 
as they are offered for sale are able to compare sort with sort and judge for 
themselves which are worthy of being increased and which to discard. 
For the special benefit of beginners and owners of small gardens we have 
again made a careful comparison of the best sorts now in cultivation, and 
this is the result. For large gardens where only an abundant crop of 
good-flavoured fruit is required take for a succession Black Prince, Early 
Prolific, Keen’s Seedling, Lucas, Sir Joseph Paxton, Bicton Pine, James 
Veitch, Sir Charles Napier, Dr. Hogg, The Countess, Frogmore Late Pine, 
Helena Gloede, and Loxford Hall Seedling. These are named in the 
order of ripening, and a'-e all sorts of proved merit, each having distinct 
characteristics, and all of them affording bountiful crops of fruit under 
good cultivation. For small gardens Black Prince, James Veitch, Sir 
Joseph Paxton, Helena Gloede, and Loxford Hall Seedling are the best 
selection for a succession. Where only one sort is wanted plant Helena 
Gloede, because it is hardy, robust, very vigorous, ripening the first of its 
heavy crop of large fruit with midsea=on kinds, and the last with the later 
sorts. There is no finer sight in Strawberry culture than a two-year-old 
plant of Helena Gloede in full bearing; so fine is it that, although we 
usually recommend beds generally to have the rows 2 feet apart and the 
plants 1 foot apart in the rows, yet for this fine sort we in our thin light 
soil afford 2 Let from plant to plant, and in deeper richer soil 3 feet would 
not be too much. Sir Joseph Paxton and James Veitch are both sorts of 
high excellence, worthy of a place in every garden. In new gardens it is 
unwise to confine the planting to one sort, but rather to select one or two 
early, midseason, and late kinds for trial. To those who prefer a large 
early sort in preference to Black Prince and Early Prolific, and are not 
particular about nice points of flavour, Marguerite may be recommended 
as a heavy cropper with very large fruit, but so soft that it requires great 
care if packed for sending by rail. Vicom’^esse H4ricarte de Thury 
deserves mention as an excellent early variety, a heavy cropper, bearing a 
lot of medium-sized fruit, firm, high coloured and well flavoured. It is 
an excellent variety for preserving, its only fault being its teniency in 
some soils to produce an excessive quantity of leaves at the expense of 
fruit. For this reason preference is usually given to Keen’s Seedling. 
The Vicomtesse in our garden has an abundant crop of fruit this year ; we 
value it so highly as to grow about a thousand plants of it. Bicton Pine 
is the best white sort, having large well-flavoured fruit. Loxford Hall 
Seedling is the latest of all, of compact growth, bearing a heavy crop of 
large, handsome, highly flavoured fruit, quite an indispensable variety. In 
addition to the foregoing sorts, others worthy of culture by the connoisseur 
are Anna de Rothschild, La Grosse Sucree, Due de Magenta, Auguste 
Nicaise, Boule d’Or, President, Triomphe de Paris, Harmonia, Samuel 
Bradley, and Traveller. Harmonia is worthy of especial notice, having 
plants of medium growth bearing large crops of its large firm fruit, of 
fine flavour, with a pleasant brisk acidity. 
The Soil .—Good drainage, thorough mechanical division, with plenty 
of manure and deep stirring, will render any garden soil suitable for the 
growth of good Strawberries. An extra quantity of coal ashes will 
correct heaviness or tenacity ; rich dung and lime will sweeten and enrich; 
drain pipes will not only keep the soil sound, sweet, and free from an 
accumulation of water, but will draw the air into it with its fertilising 
gases and warmth. See to the careful preparation of the soil forthwith, 
so as to be ready for the planting during the present month. The position 
of the new beds should be carefully considered ; for very early fruit a 
sloping bank or warm sunny corner is best; for the general crop any part 
of the garden that is well open to the sun ; for very late fruit a north 
border, or beneath old standard fruit trees, where it is obvious the soil 
cannot be much disturbed, but it may be managed so as to obtain fair crops 
of fruit in August by means of surface dressings of rich manure. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Figs. — Earliest-forced, Trees in Pots .—When the second crop has 
been gathered forcing should be discontinued, and the young growths 
should be allowed to draw up to the light or glass, where they will ripen 
the wood quite up to the points and set embryo fruit at every joint, but 
care must be taken that the fruit does not become too far advanced to 
stand over the autumn. Sometimes a third crop is taken, but it is had 
