October 80, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
897 
be well laden, although I have seen heavier crops on individual trees. 
Speaking to a head gardener a short time ago on the subject, he told me 
he estimated the crop of one tree at thirty-five pots, and had known it 
bear forty. I was through some orchards a few days ago noted for 
Blenheim Pippins, and a grander sight I do not remember; although 
the orchards are small I estimated the crop at 250 pots. Cider fruit is 
not as good as last year, neither are the crops on bushes, cordons, or 
pyramids in gardens as good. I believe most of the varieties mentioned 
by “ J. A. W.” (page 285), are grown hereabout, but Cobham, which we 
used to call Orange Pearmain, and I should like to know if it is the same, 
has been my best tree of fruit. Although I cannot boast of 18 ozs. each, 
I have a good crop varying from 8 to 10 ozs.—not a bad size for a 
dumpling. Old Manx Codlin is laden to the ground like an umbrella. 
But the question of canker is again introduced, that is why I write. 
The subject was so thoroughly threshed out here last winter that I was 
ashamed to see my name connected with it. I thought about it, talked 
about it, wrote about it, and I think dreamt about it, until I seemed to 
have canker on the brain from the opposition my views met with ; Mr. 
Harrison Weir, I believe, being the only writer who helped me to battle 
with the fixed opinions in the gardening press handed down from gene¬ 
ration to generation without investigation. 
I do not think anyone who has not had the advantages of a micro¬ 
scopical examination of infected or infested pieces of wood is in a position 
to judge the cause, and even then skill is required in the manipulation to 
bring out the effect. I have not time to deal with each theory advocated 
separately, but will say that I am convinced that insects and not heavy 
soil and about half a dozen other theories are the chief cause of canker, 
if not the only cause. On page 206 of the Journal, March 13tb, 1884, 
speaking of canker “ Eitchie ” says, “ The garden soil was decidedly 
heavy, with a wet subsoil, &:c., and yet canker was unknown.” When 
doctors differ who is to decide 1 —J. Hiam, Astrcood Banlt, Worcater- 
shire, 
[A Worcestershire Pot is 80 lbs., including the hamper, or 72 lbs. nett 
fruit.] 
A TOMATO PEST. 
I SEND you some leaves of Tomato plants which are infested by a 
small white fly. When first I saw this minute insect I was not aware of 
the injury it can cause, but at last I discovered it. This fly has become 
a plague. In spite of frequent fumigation it has entirely destroyed a 
large greenhouseful of Tomatoes, and I have been obliged to pull up the 
plants—the leaves and fruit, otherwise perfectly healthy, became covered 
with a black sticky substance stopping their growth. When the plants 
were touched clouds of flies rose from them, and I think millions must 
have been destroyed by the fumigation. I have another greenhouse now 
suffering from them, and I am nearly at my wit’s end to know how to 
extirpate them. Not only do I find them in the greenhouse, but they are 
in multitudes on an Apple tree trained to a wall and on Roses and other 
plants in the open air. The leaves I send are after fumigation with 
tobacco. I do not know whether any other person has suffered in 
the same way. I have never had them in my garden until this year. 
—T. S. M. 
[Knowing that Mr. Iggulden had been troubled with the same enemy 
we submitted the above letter to him, and append his comments thereon 
as follow :—“ Probably 90 per cent, of growers of Tomatoes under glass 
have had to contend with Aleyrodes vaporariorum, this being the name of 
the pest which has proved so troublesome to “ T. S. M.” Unfortunately 
the insects do not confine themselves exclusively to Tomatoes, and several 
gardeners have discontinued the house culture of Tomatoes owing to 
these plants being almost certain to become affected by the Aleyrodes, 
and from which the pest spreads in all directions. The Tomato being 
a woolly-leaved plant, sponging or washing with an insecticide is most 
prejudicial to them. We have tried various remedies, but find that 
fumigation with tobacco paper the most simple and effective. One 
fumigation will destroy nearly all the insects in a winged state, but does 
not in the least affect the myriads of eggs attached to the under sides of 
the leaves. Great numbers of flies are hatched daily, and are soon old 
cT>nnnVi fn cftrrv on the work of increase. The only plan then to be 
Fig. 66. — Me. Smee’s Orchids in the Oden Air (see page S98) 
