220 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Sei temper 11, 18C(X 
anxious to be as guarded as possible in any expression of opinion. "We 
should, however, fail in our duty were we not to state in the most 
emphatic manner that there is room, not only for improvement, but for 
an enormous development of the industry. There is no reason, apart 
from the apathy of the people, why Ireland should not only be inde¬ 
pendent of America and other countries for its supplies of Apples, but 
be in a position to export large quantities of that important fruit. We 
know that it receives immense quantities of American Apples during 
the winter and spring months, and in August we saw considerable 
quantities of Tasmanian Apples in the shops. There is evidently a 
good demand for Apples, and it is assuredly not a satisfactory state of 
things for the Irish people to import from countries some thousands of 
miles distant fruit that can be produced at home. The climate is 
admirably adapted to the growth of Apples, the heavy rainfall and the 
atmospheric humidity being favourable to the production of fruit large 
in size and clear in the skin. Cultivators not well acquainted with the 
conditions that obtain regard the atmospheric humidity as fatal to 
success. They, in fact, consider the ripening of the wood and the 
formation of the flower buds an impossibility with an annual rainfall 
of 40 inches. As the result of our observations and inquiries, I have to 
tell you that there is but little difficulty as to the maturation of the 
wood. On the shores of Lough Neagh, with an annual rainfall of 
about 35 inches, we saw in gardens and orchards under the charge 
of experienced cultivators heavy crops of all our best kinds of Apples. 
The fruit was not only plentiful, but of the largest size and finest 
quality. We were particularly struck with the crop of Stirling Castle, 
which was then being gathered for market, the price realised in Belfast 
being 10s. per cwt. The finest of our dessert and kitchen Apples were 
also met with in the most productive condition some ten miles south of 
Cork, where the annual rainfall averages 45 inches. In a fruit garden 
in the last named county Pears were bearing not less satisfactorily in 
the open quarters than were the Apples, the fruit of many of the varieties 
being equal to the finest samples received from the Channel Islands. 
Pears, Plums, and Cherries have so small a space in orchards, and are 
so generally grown agaiust walls in gardens, that the extent to which 
they can be successfully cultivated in the open cannot at present be 
satisfactorily determined. It is a question well worthy of the attention 
of those who have opportunities for experimental culture. The pro¬ 
bability is that they might in many districts be grown with considerable 
success. Inquiring of one cultivator \yhether he had many Damson 
trees, he said No ; he had only two. and these usually produced about 
3 cwt. of fruit each. The excessive moisture of the atmosphere is highly 
favourable to the growth of both mosses and lichens, more particularly 
the latter. They quickly attach themselves to the fruit trees, and when 
a’lowed to remain undisturbed they soon cover the whole of the 
branches and impose a check upon the growth, but evidently not so 
severe as might be imagined. To keep the tree free from both lichens 
and mosses is by no means difficult. We had a striking proof of this in 
a garden near one of the great cities belonging to a merchant, who 
devotes much attention to fruit culture. The garden contains com¬ 
paratively large collections of Apples and Pears. The trees were all 
bearing heavy crops, and the fruit was so finely developed that it was 
not surprising to find the proprietor regarding fruit of Warner’s King, 
weighing 1 lb. each, as by no means exceptional. The point, however, 
that we wish to biing out is the fact that there were no traces of either 
moss or lichen on the trees, and the immunity from these plagues was 
due to the trees being annually painted with a mixture of which clay, 
lime, ami petroleum form parts. The cost is practically nothing, and the 
trees were equal to any that could be found in Kent. 
To effect a general improvement in the condition of fruit culture in 
Ireland will be slow work, but with well directed efforts we have no 
doubt as to the ultimate success. We must first endeavour to create an 
interest among the owners of land, whether they be private individuals 
or corporate bodies such as the great City companies. Probably one 
of the best means for doing this will be to show, ns in our report we 
shall be able to do, that many of the districts are well adapted to fruit 
culture, and that by judicious planting and management the value of 
the land may be greatly enhanced. What is especially wanted is the 
planting of experimental orchards on large estates in various parts of 
the kingdom. These are required for the purpose of testing the relative 
merits of varieties for the respective districts, and training young men 
in the management of orchards and the marketing of the fruit. The 
cost of planting from 10 to 20 acres with fruit trees would not be great, 
and whilst giving a good return annually the plantation would form 
a practical school of immense value. The conditions under which 
farms are now held are favourable to the planting of fruit trees, but I 
in the present state of tneir knowledge it is hopeless to expect tenant 
farmers to plant largely. Nor perhaps is it desirable they should do so 
until they have had opportunities for acquiring sufficient knowledge to- 
engage in the work with the full assurance of success. Knowing how 
fruit culture may be made to increase the wealth of many districts, we 
are naturally anxious that there should be as few mistakes as possible. 
It would also be an enormous advantage if, in conjunction with these 
experimental plantations, the bottling and preserving of the soft fruits 
were carried on exactly as in the case of Lord Sudeley’s fruit farm at 
Toddington, as it is essential that the utilisation, as well as the produc¬ 
tion of fruit, should receive a full share of attention. In the meantime 
much might be done to show that existing orchards may be greatly 
increased in value by judicious thinning of trees, by regrafting worth¬ 
less kinds still vigorous with the finest sorts, by manuring trees 
that are in an exhausted condition, and by keeping the wood free- 
from lichen and moss by application of limewash or other suitable- 
dressing. 
It is not only desirable that there should be an extension and im¬ 
provement in the culture of fruit for market, but the fruit trees should 
be planted more extensively on small farms and in cottage gardens for 
home supply. At the present time this phase of fruit culture receives 
but scant attention. Mr. Bullock Ilall, one of our Vice-Presidents, has 
for several years past been doing much to promote the planting of fruit 
trees in Ireland, and has generously distributed large numbers amongst 
various classes of the community in the south. He is still engaged in 
the good work with such modification as experience has suggested, and 
it was gratifying to hear how greatly the majority of those who had re¬ 
ceived trees appreciated them. In a recent letter he complained that 
but little interest had been taken in the matter by the parish priests,, 
and we refer to that point for the purpose of saying that with their 
influence they might do much to promote the profitable culture of fruit 
in gardens and small holdings, and thus render valuable service in tho 
cause of the health and welfare of a large body of the community. 
PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 
By Mr. T. F. RIVERS. 
The continually increasing imports of Peaches of not very good- 
quality point to the fact that a demand exists. Although the Peaches on 
the street barrows are at present very inferior, if a profitable sale can be 
made the quality of the fruit will soon be improved, and the continental 
Peach orchards from which the supply is drawn will bejjplanted with 
sorts that will command a ready sale and probably a higher price. In 
America the sale of Peaches is enormous, and thousands of acres are 
planted for the supply of this demand. The distance from them 
markets being as great as the available districts of France are from us, 
we may look forward some day (if a favourable soil and climate can be 
found) to the supply of the English markets iby foreign growers. It 
will be for English growers to consider whether it is possible to com¬ 
pete successfully with the. out-of-door Peach orchards, and to create a 
demand by the production of fruit which will tempt buyers to give a 
sufficient price to pay the producer. 
It is absurd to suppose that in England wall culture without glase 
can ever be employed with profit for Peach growing, but a reasonable 
profit may, I think, be derived from cultivation under glass. Span- 
roof houses may be erected at a moderate cost. By planting half¬ 
standard trees with untrained heads the great expense of training will 
be avoided, and if the trees are not overcropped an annual and certain 
return may be expected in unheated houses from] July to October. If 
glass cannot compete with foreign orchard Peaches in the supply of the 
streets, they can at all events supply the shops. During the last 
thirty years many varieties have appeared in England which have 
altered the conditions of Peach growing. Many gardeners can recollect 
that July Peaches, as a rule, were small and very inferior, this 
precocity being their only merit. In place of these small and worthless 
sorts we have large and good fruits, the earliest being the Alexander, 
which I received from Messrs. Capps V Son of Fort Pulaski, Illinois, 
U.S.A., about 1874. This is a large bright coloured fruit of excellent 
quality, freestone, and firm enough to bear carriage well. At the same 
time Messrs. Capps sent me the Amsden June Peach, quite as early, but 
not so good in quality. This Peach, however, appears to have improved 
since its introduction, as it seems to be popular with some. I have, how¬ 
ever, invariably found it to be a clingstone and bitter. The Waterloo is 
another American Peach of good quality, ripening in my orchard house 
about a week after the Alexander. This is also a large bright Teach. 
After the Waterloo there is a series of July Peaches : the Early 
Beatrice, small, but a most abundant bearer ; the Early Louise, 
