August 28, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
181 
here a pair of plants of A. cuneatum winch have not been disturbed for 
at least ten years. They occupy 20-inch pots, and are as nearly as 
possible the same size—viz., 5 feet through, or if measured over—that 
is, from the points of the fronds on one side to the same on the opposite 
side—8 feet. The fronds are large and of a healthy dark green colour. 
During such weather as we are now having water is given about every 
other day, but in bright warm weather they have it every day with 
occasional additions of such manure as happens to be about—guano, 
fish-potash, soot, or cowshed water. Indeed they do not object to 
stronger doses of these than is generally considered safe. There is also 
here a plant of A. concinnum latum that has been in the same pot for 
some years, and is subjected to similar treatment as the above mentioned. 
It has at the present time about eighty fronds (all this season’s growth), 
those fully developed measuring from 3 to 4 feet in length.—T. S., 
Henbury Hill. 
- Rhodochiton VOLUBILE .—We grow this somewhat peculiar¬ 
looking yet interesting and showy greenhouse climber, and well does it 
repay the attention it receives. As a supplement to the note by Mr. 
A. Young, on page 136, I would say that it is easy of growth. Seeds 
sown in March in sandy soil and given a brisk bottom heat quickly 
germinate. As soon as large enough to handle the plants are placed in 
small pots, keeping them in a temperature of 60° until established, 
when cooler quarters will suit them. As growth proceeds some form of 
training the young shoots is necessary, so that the flowers which droop 
downwards may be seen. Wires stretched under and close to the 
rafters in the greenhouse are suitable, and the flowers show to the 
greatest advantage. Wire trellises may be made for the plants if they 
are required for moving about. Strong healthy plants will flower in 
August from the March sown seed. Red spider is an enemy of this 
climber, and should be kept in check by copious supplies of water both 
on the foliage and at the roots. Occasional applications of weak liquid 
manure promote healthy growth, and consequent freedom in flowering. 
A compost of three parts loam to one of peat, the same amount of leaf 
soil, and a free admixture of sharp sand, will grow the plants well. 
—E. M. 
- Thinning Fruit. —It is a midsummer work of great import¬ 
ance to thin out the winter fruit, and sometimes in a large orchard it 
looks like an endless job ; but where there are large over-bearing trees 
it is almost a necessary labour if one expects to preserve the strength 
and vitality of the trees and to get good fruit from them. In thinning 
out the fruit in the orchard one must be his own judge as to what trees 
need the work, and for what purpose he wants the fruit. Where the 
fruit is to be sent to the market a great deal of thinning out will be well 
repaid ; in fact, if fancy fruits are to be raised for sale it will pay to 
thin out about one-half the fruit. Many orchardists cannot do this, for 
it seems like a waste of fruit. It may be a waste in quantity, but not 
in quality. One large juicy Pear or Apple will bring more than two 
small ones. In addition to this the fancy fruit will often find pur¬ 
chasers, while the small will rot on the stands before anybody cares 
about buying them. The trees are also injured by allowing too much 
fruit to remain on the branches. Limbs if not broken off are at least 
twisted out of shape and the whole vitality of the tree lowered by the 
excessive strain upon it. One must go through the trees systematically, 
pulling off all the wormy small fruit that can be found. Sometimes a 
gentle shake of the tree will bring down many of the worthless, for as a 
rule they are not so firmly fastened on the branches as the better fruits. 
Where two or three Apples or Pears are hanging from the same spur it 
is pretty safe to pull one or two of them off. Fruit should never, for 
proper development, hang together, nor rest upon a branch or limb of 
the tree. It should have no support except that which comes from the 
stem. During years of scarcity of fruit many who make a practice of 
thinning out fruit other years refuse to pull any off. They become 
frightened, and think that every Apple and Pear will count. This is a 
mistake, for if the fruit is scarce the chances are that the price of fancy 
fruit will be very high, and it will pay all to make the fruit on the trees 
as large and perfect as possible. The prices they will realise will 
demonstrate to them the advisability of thinning out in summer, even 
though there are but very few Apples and Pears on the trees. There is 
nothing lost in this work whenit is properly done.— George Wilson.— 
( A mcrican Ag riculturist.') 
PEAS. 
As Peas are most important vegetables, care is necessary in selecting 
suitable varieties in order that a daily supply may be maintained. 
Those, like myself, who have no ground to spare, cannot afford to have 
a glut of Peas at one time, consequently reliable varieties must be 
depended on, and new sorts grown only sparingly. It is very interest¬ 
ing to watch new varieties, especially when they (as is usually the 
case) are to excel all other sorts in cultivation, and I thank H. S. Easty 
for giving his experience of new Peas as tried with older sorts. Among 
the new early Peas I have tried this year Sutton’s Improved William I. 
proved the best. It is a great improvement on the old William I. It 
comes in more than a week earlier, and is at least 6 inches shorter. 
With me, as with Mr. Easty, William I. varies, while the Improved 
William is regular in pod and growth. 1 think William Hurst will 
make a good dwarf Pea, but it came up so badly with me that I could 
not judge fairly of it. I tried Carter’s Anticipation. It gave a good 
crop of good peas very similar to Prince of Wales both in habit and 
crop. If I were limited to only one variety I think it would be Prince 
of Wales. I shall be glad if some of your readers will name a more 
useful variety for the general crop.—J. L. B. 
Amateurs’ Classes. 
The remarks of “ Novjce,” page 113 of the Journal , will be echoed 
loudly, I imagine, by many of the same class of cultivators. Around 
the outskirts of towns, and even in them, there are numbers of amateur 
Chrysanthemum cultivators who spend much time and money in attend¬ 
ing to the wants of their favourites, and I know of no body of growers 
who are more enthusiastic than they are. Dealers in Chrysanthemums 
find some of their best customers among amateurs, who have in many 
instances just cause for complaint in the way the classes are made and 
the prizes allotted. But there is another side to the question. Com¬ 
mittees of Chrysanthemum societies have to consider the public, who in 
most instances are their main supporters. This renders their task of 
pleasing everybody in the manner of arranging the classes and value of 
the prizes arduous. Managers keep in mind that the public go to shows 
to see, not merely numbers of flowers, but the best that it is possible to 
obtain by advanced cultivation, and thus the classes are arranged in the 
manner most likely to insure the object in view. It is well known that 
by far the greatest interest is attached to the “ open ” classes, and with¬ 
out any exception that I can call to mind the finest flowers have 
been found in those classes. It will be conceded, therefore, that 
committees are justified in providing classes that bring together the 
finest blooms. The second part, that relating to growers within a 
certain radius, is so arranged to please the subscribers. I know it is a 
fact that many subscribers who are not exhibitors do not like to see 
what they term strangers come and take away all or the best of the 
prizes from the local growers, who may be equally as clever, only they do 
not happen to have the same opportunities as those who can show in 
the “ open ” classes. I know that is the reason why many classes are 
made with a limitation to the distance in which a competitor shall 
reside. 
From the foregoing remarks it may be thought I do not consider that 
amateur cultivators contribute sufficient merit to an exhibition to war¬ 
rant committees in providing better prizes for them. I do not wish 
in the least to speak disparagingly of this body of cultivators. I know 
many cases where they have staged flowers which could not be found 
fault with by the best judges. At one large exhibition the premier 
incurved bloom was found in the stand of an amateur, and I, as a com¬ 
petitor in the open classes, had to “ take a back seat. I was much 
pleased that the person in question succeeded in beating all his more 
favoured brethren, because he was, and is still, one of the most enthusi¬ 
astic amateurs that I know. . , , ' 
That body of cultivators to whom “ Novice belongs may and do 
contribute largely in point of numbers to a show, but for reasons which 
are obvious to all, the high quality which is aimed at is not generally 
found in their exhibits ; hence the apparent reason why amateurs are 
not so well provided for as those who compete in the open classes. In no 
place that I know are there so many amateur Chrysanthemum growers 
as around Portsmouth, and nowhere does this section receive so much 
encouragement at the hands of the Committee of the Chrysanthemum 
Society. As many as twelve classes in the cut bloom part of the schedule 
are specially set apart for amateurs, and good prizes are offered. This, 
it must be conceded, is liberal treatment in a schedule consisting of 
thirty-eight classes for cut blooms. Yet in spite of this generous treatment 
they are not quite satisfied, and a considerable number have formed 
themselves into a society which they term the “ Portsmouth Cottagers 
Floral Society.” This Society has not been formed in antagonism with 
the chief Society, but rather with a view to assist it, by subscribing to 
and collecting funds, whereby a special class and suitable prizes may tie 
obtained and offered by this newly formed body of enthusiasts, to be 
competed for at the parent Society’s exhibition in November, such com¬ 
petition to be limited to members of the newly made Society. Such a 
project cannot but commend itself to all concerned in the advancement 
of Chrysanthemum culture. I would specially draw “Novices atten- 
