170 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 1, 1883. 
smaller have often failed, and then come to the con¬ 
clusion that too great a gap existed between the two 
to admit of the one fertilising the other ; but later 
experiments have proved that mere botanical affinity 
is not everything. For instance, we will suppose we 
have a tiny Rhododendron and we Avisli to cross it 
with a strong-growing one. If we take pollen from a 
large one at random, failure will likely be the result; 
but if we carefully select the weakest shortest stamens 
we can find, success will in all likelihood attend our 
efforts. Why is this ? It is because the size and 
strength of the pollen grains have a distinct relation to 
the length and strength of the stamens. Now, strong 
pollen when applied to a stigma emits strong pollen 
tubes—tubes, in fact, which naturally grow as long, 
more or less, as the stamens on which the pollen was 
matured. Now, when these pass down a short-styled 
pistil and reach the ovules, instead of stopping as they 
should, they grow on, endeavouring to reach their 
natural length ; but this progress is fatal to the ovules, 
which are ruptured and destroyed. But when pollen 
from a weakly short stamen is taken, it often happens 
that this very weakness secures success to the operator 
not otherwise obtainable. On the other hand, when 
pollen from a small flower w T ith small stamens and small 
pollen grains is applied to the strong style of a large 
species the chances are that the tubes will never reach 
the ovules ; and should any find their way thus far and 
actually fertilise an ovule or two the resulting seeds 
are weakly, and as often as not fail to germinate. This 
has been repeatedly proved. 
Let us examine a Primula flower, keeping the above 
facts in mind. Here is a thrum-eyed flower, in which 
will be seen a pistil attached to an ovary, but very 
short. The stamens, however, are very long, for they 
reach to the top of the tube, though they appear to 
spring from the top of the tube. Tlirum-eyed flowers 
therefore have long stamens and short styles. The 
reverse form cannot be found in the frames of the 
florists, but must be sought in the open border. There 
are no stamens visible in this form, but there is a pistil 
exactly where the stamens in the other flower were. 
Cut open the tube, and it will be seen that the stamens 
are also just the length of the pistil in the other. The 
first flower is the thrum-eye, and the second is the 
pin-eye of the florist. 
Let us again, in the light of what we asked our 
readers to bear in mind, see the consequence of thwart¬ 
ing Nature as the florist does. First let us examine 
Nature’s operations. She employs simply the wind in 
many cases, but in this she employs insects. Watch 
a bank of Cowslips on a still evening. The humble 
bees are busy. One has alighted on a tlirum-eyed 
flower, and, thrusting down his proboscis for the honey 
at the base, he smears his head with pollen. He flies 
to another flower, which may be a pin-eye, and his 
dusty head is rubbed on the stigma as he again plunges 
his proboscis down to the bottom of the tube, and the 
flower is thus fertilised. But the bee does more. His 
proboscis is smeared with pollen from the short stamens, 
and just at the spot fitted for coming in contact with 
the stigma of the short pistil in the next long-stamened 
flower he visits. The result of this is that both kinds 
are fully fertilised with the proper pollen and bear a 
full complement of vigorous seed that will produce 
healthy plants. If we desire a similar result we must 
do likewise : indeed in the case of the Chinese Prim¬ 
rose seed of any kind can hardly be had any other way 
Even when properly fertilised—which it seldom is by 
private growers, hence the high price of Primula seed 
—it seldom bears a full complement of seed, which has 
caused some to suppose it a hybrid, this being an almost 
invariable character of hybrids. —Single-handed. 
(To be continued.) 
EXTENSIVE FRUIT FARMING. 
Land-owneks have for several years past been directing 
their attention to other means of utilising their estates than 
by letting them for ordinary farming purposes, and amongst 
the various projects advocated and tried none has so far 
yielded such satisfactory results as fruit culture where judi¬ 
ciously carried out. This matter continues to increase in 
importance, and numbers of proprietors are awakening to the 
fact that under good management far greater profits can be 
obtained than from the same land employed in the ordinary 
routine farming. American supplies of grain are fast render¬ 
ing it an almost hopeless task for home growers to compete 
with them, and their disadvantage is still further increased by 
the exceptionally unfavourable seasons that have been expe¬ 
rienced in recent years. At the present time there are scores 
of unoccupied farms in England, comprising thousands of 
acres, that are being worked by the proprietors, and not always 
profitably ; the present season, too, appears likely to increase 
the evil immeasurably. The matter, therefore, is of national 
interest, and any method that gives a good promise of success 
deserves careful consideration. 
Fruit-farming is attracting the notice of many land-owners 
in England, and some of the more spirited have already set 
admirable examples in this mode of utilising suitable land. 
Fruit plantations have been established in many districts, 
particularly in the southern counties, and some are now yield¬ 
ing handsome profits—a success which has encouraged more 
extensive trials of the system, and with proportionately 
satisfactory results. Some grow the fruit for marketing fresh, 
others preserve it whole or pulped for the jam manufacturers, 
and still others convert it into jam themselves ; but all alike 
who have conducted the business in a rational and practical 
manner speak very highly of the returns. We have also 
recently had several treatises upon the subject, which show it 
in a most favourable light, notably those by Mr. Whitehead 
and Mr. G. Bunyard. These and the articles in the gardening 
press generally, such as that by Mr. J. Wright a few years 
ago in this Journal, in reference to the fruit plantation at 
Barham Court, Maidstone, have done much to awaken public 
attention, and have aided greatly in the advance of this most 
important branch of commerce. 
Probably the most extensive fruit farm in Great Britain is 
that recently established by Lord Sudeley on his estate at 
Toddington in Gloucestershire, where 500 acres have been 
planted with fruit trees, bush fruits, and Strawberries. This 
is at present young, the trees having only been planted two 
years ; but the bush fruits are advancing very fast, and the 
other trees are equally promising, the soil being a good sub¬ 
stantial loam, and the district one of the most favourable 
in England for fruit cultivation. The number of trees and 
bushes required to plant this extent of land appears at first 
sight incredible, but the following particulars will give an 
accurate idea of the subject. The standards, such as the 
Apples, Pears, Plums, and Cherries, are planted 16 feet apart 
in rows that are the same distance asunder, and which in some 
cases extend to a length of three-quarters of a mile. The land 
between the rows is planted with Currants, Gooseberries, and 
Raspberries, some forty acres being specially devoted to Straw¬ 
berries, and a still greater space of pasture has been broken 
up, and is now being planted with the same fruit. Of Pears 
852 trees have been planted, representing twenty-one varieties 
—Beurre d’Amanlis, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Jargonelle, 
Beurre de Capiaumont, Easter Beurre, Bishop’s Thumb, and 
Doyenne d’Ete forming more than half the total. About 
3000 Apples are grown, which include 700 trees of Lord 
Suffield, 300 of Cox’s Orange Pippin, and 100 each of King 
