828 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 16, 18Sfr 
utmost to hasten the due expansion of the flowers, the other will be 
equally engaged in retarding those under his care. In both in¬ 
stances there is danger of bad results, but the former is the more 
serious, and will need the closest attention to avoid mishap. When 
a cultivator has entered for a particular show, and he finds his 
blooms are late, he will probably, if a novice, become nervous, and 
in endeavouring to bring his blooms up to time will employ too 
much heat and keep his houses too close. This is a great mistake, 
and must inevitably lead to disaster, the flowers opening weakly, 
thin, and irregular, as well as being much more liable to that 
mysterious malady “ damping ” than if they expanded under cooler 
and more airy conditions. The Chrysanthemum will not submit to 
forcing, as usually understood, and I have in past years seen some 
most promising collections spoiled by undue haste in this respect. 
This is a note of warning that is not so likely to be needed this 
season as regards the southern growers, but there are some excep¬ 
tions, as already mentioned, and nothing is ever gained by inconsis¬ 
tent hurry. “ Hasten slowly ” is a motto equally as well adapted 
for Chrysanthemum growers as it is for the affairs of life generally. 
Retarding the blooms for the earlier shows will be difficult if 
warm bright weather continue, but it will not be so serious if the 
weather remains dry. In the metropolitan district the unwelcome 
fogs have already made their appearance, but the buds are not yet 
sufficiently advanced to be injuriously affected. As the blooms 
expand slight shade for an hour after the fog disperses has been 
proved to be beneficial in several instances that have come under 
my notice, and has assisted in preventing scalding, which is often 
the precursor of “ damping.” Another matter which assists in pre¬ 
venting blooms keeping well is having them too near the glass 
where they are subjected to sudden and frequent fluctuations of 
temperature, which must affect such a delicate structure as the 
florets of any section of Chrysanthemums, but especially those 
termed “ large exhibition ” varieties, which are most in danger of 
being grown too luxuriantly. 
Some curiosity is being expressed as to the behaviour of the 
novelties which were brought into notice last year, and it will not 
be surprising if a few of them are a little disappointing, not from 
lack of merit themselves, but because they have been propagated 
so extensively that the constitution of the plants must have been 
weakened to some extent, and tests the skill of the best grower to 
produce good results from a weak cutting. A few blooms of Mrs. 
Alpheus Hardy have been seen, but not at their best, though it 
will probably appear in many of the exhibition stands this year. 
A pink sport or form of this is already talked about, and it is 
rumoured that a series of forms of the same type may be expected. 
Many will be desirous to see how the variety Robert Canned pre¬ 
serves the characters it displayed when first shown, and the reso¬ 
lution not to send it out this year was undoubtedly a wise one. 
Really meritorious additions to the incurved list come, however, 
so slowly that they are the more urgently sought. It is doubtful 
if there will be many novelties from the Continent of sufficient 
value to supersede any of those already in cultivation, for every 
year it becomes far more difficult to obtain any advance on those 
previously sent out. The seedlings raised from seed saved in 
this country will be watched with much interest, especially as one 
of the parent varieties is Edwin Molyneux. Seedlings from 
imported seed are numerous, and may be expected to yield some¬ 
thing good, though the prizes are necessarily small in proportion 
to the blanks. 
Though all the principal societies are offering good prizes, and 
have provided comprehensive schedules, the great event of the 
year will be the centenary celebration by the National Society, 
and it is confidently expected that the available space in the build¬ 
ings devoted to it at Westminster will be taxed to the utmost. 
The several other attractions of Conference, banquet, and con¬ 
versazione, are also likely to induce a large gathering of Chrysan¬ 
themum admirers. At this and all the shows the officials charged 
with the arrangements have a formidable task to perform, and 
a good deal of mutual forbearance and consideration is necessary 
to ensure a smooth execution of details. Exhibitors can help by 
sending in their entries early, and by staging their exhibits in good 
time on the morning of the Show. Having the arrangements com¬ 
pleted promptly for the judges to commence at the appointed time 
is important, for more mistakes are caused in this and other 
matters by hurried work than in any other way. The calm men, 
whether show officials, exhibitors, or judges, invariably do the 
best work, and this opinion is formed on a wide experience 
amongst all classes. It is a character that is worth cultivating,, 
especially by those who are just entering the Chrysanthemum 
ranks in either of the capacities named.— Lewis Castle. 
THE CULTIVATION OF APPLES FOR MARKET: 
[A paper read by Mr. G. Ilammond, Brentwood, at the British Frait Growers’Meeting, 
October 15th.] 
It is not without considerable hesitation and diffidence that I 
appear before you this evening to read a paper upon this subject, 
knowing as I do that many older and abler men than myself have 
already dealt with it, and I can hardly expect to say anything new. 
Still I am aware that instruction in the cultivation of fruit as in 
other things must be line upon line, precept upon precept, here a 
little and there a little ; and as it is possible that I occupy a some¬ 
what different position, and therefore see things from a different 
standpoint from many who have preceded me, I hope it may not 
be altogether -wasting your time in listening to what I have to say 
upon the matter in hand. 
I wish it to be understood at the outset that my remarks refer 
to the cultivation of Apples for profit, therefore of course for 
market, as distinct from the growth of extra large fruit for the 
exhibition table, or the growth of a large number of sorts for the 
supply of the gentleman’s table and kitchen for the longest 
possible time. With regard to the cultivation of the Apple one 
thing has been clearly proved by the recent Show at the Guildhall— 
viz., that this fruit can be grown, and well grown, over a very 
much wider area than has been generally supposed, and that 
although our esteemed Kentish friends may have led the van they 
can by no means claim a monopoly of either suitable soil or 
favourable situations for the growth of this fruit, but as in the 
case of the queen of flowers so also with the most useful of 
fruits. Although some soils and situations may be naturally better 
adapted than others, still with a wise selection of sorts, combined- 
with careful and attentive culture, it is possible to succeed almost 
anywhere between the Channel and the Tweed ; nor do I forget 
that most useful fruit is grown beyond the border, and some of our 
most useful kinds have come to us thence. Our Secretary also, 
and his companion in travel, have convinced us that the Apple at 
least can be profitably grown with care and attention even in the 
Emerald Isle, and we may hope that some of the labour hitherto 
spent upon the Potato may be diverted to the growth of the- 
Apple, with the best results of bringing more money into the 
pockets, better health to the bodies, and greater comfort and con¬ 
tentment to the homes of our Irish friends. 
Now the first point in the successful culture of the Apple un¬ 
doubtedly is “the thorough preparation of the ground before planting.’* 
It is not enough simply to make a hole in otherwise unbroken ground 
just large enough to thrust in the roots, but the whole field, or 
portion to be planted, should be well stirred to a depth of not less 
than from 12 to 18 inches. I myself in this matter prefer not to 
bring up the subsoil to the surface, nor do I think it necessary to 
insist upon the ground being double-trenched. In my opinion a 
good preparation may be made at less cost, either with the “ steam 
digger ” or by a good ploughing with a subsoil implement of some 
kind following the plough, and breaking up the bottom of the 
furrow. This process should, if possible, be repeated, and if the 
second ploughing or digging can be done crosswise of the fruit so 
much the better. If the soil be poor a good coating of manure 
should be carted upon the land before the first ploughing ; if the 
soil be in good condition this may not be necessary. 
Having well prepared the ground, the next thing to be done is 
to mark out the lines in which the trees are to be planted, and at 
this stage it will be advisable to decide as to what shall be done 
with the ground—whether it shall be laid down with grass or 
planted with other fruits, as more room should be given in the case 
of orchards than in gardens, as I will presently show. The ground 
should be marked out both lengthwise and crosswise, and may be 
done either with a marking line and hoe or by an implement made 
for the purpose, such as may be often seen in the county of Kent. 
The trees will then, when planted, be equidistant, and straight in 
every direction. 
