August 14, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
131 
thus moving them care has to be taken to preserve the tap root as 
much as possible, and to keep a little soil about them, as Spinach 
transplants rather badly. When there is no need for resorting to 
transplanting, about half the plants are, when of good size, drawn 
for use, a distance of 6 inches apart being ample for those reserved. 
Frequently stirring between the rows is absolutely necessary ; tbis, 
in addition to promoting a stronger growth of the plants, also keep¬ 
ing slugs from increasing and grubs from being so plentiful and 
■destructive. Many err in placing their rows too closely together, 
this rendering it almost out of the question to surface hoe occasion¬ 
ally. Winter Spinach is perfectly hardy, any attempt to protect 
dt usually doing more harm than good. 
The Winter or Prickly-seeded Spinach is the variety most 
generally sown at this time of year, but as a matter of fact it is not 
any hardier or better adapted for the winter crops than the summer 
or round-seeded form. Neither of them is equal to the Victoria 
and Monstrous Viroflay, and either of those ought to be sown in 
preference to the older and much smaller leaved varieties. One 
leaf of the Victoria is equal to two of the smaller forms, and it is 
41 free-growing perfectly hardy Spinach.—W. Iggulden. 
LEICESTER CONFERENCE PAPER. 
FRUITS FOR LEICESTERSHIRE. 
By Mr. WILLI iM INGRAM, Belvoir. 
I apprehend that the object of the visit of the British Fruit 
Growers’ Association to Leicester is twofold ; in the first place to 
.elicit information on fruit growing as it is locally practised, and 
the second to communicate facts on the same subject, which the 
extended practical experience of the members of the Society enable 
them to do. 
Fruit trees, like other living objects in Nature, are liable to be 
constitutionally affected in growth and fertility by circumstances 
of soil, climate, latitude, elevation, and other natural causes, and as 
this England of ours presents in a limited space greater climatic 
conditions and diversity in its geological character, and therefore 
soil, than any other portions of Europe, it follows that to have 
anything like an assurance of success in fruit growing we must 
'know the conditions of soil that exist, and the varieties of trees 
that have shown by their vigour, fertility, and duration the 
mutual adaptability that is requisite between Nature inert and 
■vital. 
Pursuing the idea that certain physical conditions are important 
factors, and so necessary to be considered in the cultivation of fruit 
.trees, it may be interesting to those of our visitors unacquainted 
with Leicestershire to mention a few salient features in the geology 
of the county, and one very remarkable one is seen in the range of 
hills that rise north of the town, and constitute the Charnwood 
district. This mountain range, for such it really is, attains an 
elevation of a little over 900 feet, and the rocks of which it is com¬ 
posed, consisting of granite, syenite, slate, and sandstone, are of 
considerable economic value. I mention the occurrence of this 
■interesting range because in the long period of time .since its 
obtrusion, its waste by atmospheric causes has been considerable, 
and the debris of these hard rocks has usefully modified some of 
our heavy soil, and apart from the slow operations of Nature, 
.we have in the active working of the granite quarries great 
resources of dust and pulverised granite rich in feldspar, which 
both in fertilising action and in keeping the soil open is of especial 
value. 
A general glance at the geological map of the county of 
Leicester, and very little consideration of the circumstances it 
reveals, will be sufficient to convey the fact that it does not enjoy 
any special natural advantages that would constitute it a fruit 
,growing county. It certainly does not possess the recommenda¬ 
tions either of climate or the conditions of soil that distinguish 
districts pre-eminent for fruit growing like Kent or Hertfordshire, 
.situated in the centre of England, and having a general elevation 
of from 300 to 500 feet above sea level over the greater part 
of it (the exception on altitude being the Charnwood range which 
I have already described), it may be inferred from the rocky 
character of its more elevated parts, and its general altitude, that 
its climate is less genial than from its latitude alone we might be 
led to expect. Elevation, a great extent of cold clay land and 
•marls, both of the trias and lias, also conduce to bring about this 
'result. Whilst I have freely commented on the physical disadvan¬ 
tages of the county, I may with the same degree of freedom 
■mention the favourable circumstances resulting from the climate 
and soil that belongs to it. Its general cool climate has the effect 
of retaiding the blooming of fruit trees, and this is an advantage 
appreciated by the practical man, when, as the great churchman 
who died at Leicester Abbey said, “ The third day comes a frost, a 
killing frost.” We often hear of the destruction of the fruit- 
blossoms in the south-eastern counties when we are safe from the 
same calamity through the undeveloped condition of the buds. 
Although the river system of the county is of a somewhat 
restricted character, and there are not found the extensive valleys 
possessing rich river deposits such as are found contiguous to the 
Thames, the Trent, and the Lea, yet the materials from which 
these loams were derived exist in abundance, but in a concentrated 
form. Our granites, limes, gypsum, ironstone, and sandstone as 
they have been in the past so they remain still, a rich storehouse of 
mineral matters available for distribution by man’s agency, or the 
slower but inevitable operations of Nature in her system of soil 
making. As illustrating this opinion of the innate capabilities of 
the land of Leicestershire, I may say that whenever fruit growing 
has been taken in hand and pursued with knowledge and in¬ 
telligence, a considerable amount of success has been achieved. 
The Grapes grown by Mr. Henderson of Cole Orton had a name 
and a fame throughout the land. Beau Manor, shadowed by the 
cold rocks of Charnwood, in the skilful hands of Mr. Hamsher, has 
furnished fruit of great excellence. Gopsall and other places have 
also afforded instances to substantiate my argument, and orchards 
well placed and managed have suggested, rather than exhibited, 
what may be done in this county. 
I must in this short paper deal rather in general principles than 
in details of culture. The influence of soils on the health of trees 
is pretty well, if not understood, certainly acknowledged. An 
unhealthy tree is at once the subject for the attacks of insects. 
Good cultivation, by promoting vigour, enables a tree to overcome 
its enemies. In a deep fertile soil, or a situation naturally adapted 
to the habits of fruit trees, vitality is increased and vegetable 
existence is prolonged. Showing how important healthy foliage is in 
aiding the fruitful development of the bud we have the example of 
the late and the present season. The blighted condition of the 
trees last and the preceding year was so marked that it invited 
discussion, and numerous remedies were suggested and tried. It is 
now sufficiently evident to us that the unfruitfulness of the present 
season is largely due to the injury sustained by the foliage of the 
trees last year, for no frost of sufficient severity occurred to destroy 
Apple, Pear, and Plum blossom. This experience suggests the 
importance of maintaining the foliage of a tree in health and 
vigour. 
The two very important matters which will I hope be con¬ 
sidered and discussed at this meeting are drainage and shelter. In 
a county like this it is extremely difficult to lay down any rule for 
the former, but stagnant water should not be allowed to exist 
below an orchard. Shelter is all-important. We seem to be 
particularly exposed to the action of high winds. The question of 
belts of trees and of the sorts to be employed is also worth 
consideration. 
The selection of suitable Apples, Pears, and Plums for private 
gardens, as well as those cultivated exclusively for profit, is a 
subject that demands practical local knowledge and considerations. 
Those who grow for home consumption must naturally select the 
kinds likely to afford a supply of fruit in succession from an early 
to a late period ; while the grower for profit will confine himself 
to a few well-known prolific kinds, to come in early and late, so as 
not to be in competition with American importations. I have 
prepared a list of Apples, Pears, and Plums, which I submit to the 
Conference. 
Apples 
(Forming part of the collection grown at Belvoir and named as 
meritorious). 
Kitchen. 
Bramley’s Seedling. 
Frogmore Prolific. 
Lord Suffield. 
Stirling Castle. 
Lane’s Prince Albert (there 
are trees at least fifty years 
old at Belvoir). 
Lincoln Pippin (good variety 
for jelly, handsome bloom). 
Warner’s King (great bearer). 
Flower of Kent. 
Golden Noble. 
Jefferson. 
Sturmer Pippin, D. and K, 
Rosemary Russet. 
Reinette de Canada. 
Mere de Menage. 
Hawthornden. 
Russian. 
Domino. 
Wellington. 
Northern Greening. 
Peasgood’s Nonesuch. 
Bess Pool. 
Duchess of Oldenburg. 
King of the Pippins. 
Cox’s Orange Pippin. 
Margil. 
Early Red .Apple. 
Dessert. 
Blenheim Orange. 
Herefordshire Pearmain. 
Old Golden Pippin.. 
