83G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 18 1890. 
twelve days. Wind, average velocity, 8 miles per hour; velocity 
exceeded 400 miles on one day, and fell short of 100 miles on seven days. 
Approximate averages for September:—Mean temperature, 55'8 0 . 
Sunshine, 110 hours. Rainfall, 2 - 51 inches. A very fine and mild 
month. The mean temperature is higher than in any year since 1880 ; it 
it also higher than any month this year, except July, which was a few 
tenths higher. More sunshire was measured than in any of the previous 
nine years, except 1885. 
- The “ Kew Bulletin ” for October contains an interesting 
paper on an edible fongus of New Zealand, which we reproduce at 
page 343. Chapters are also devoted to “ Mexican Fibre, or Istle,” 
obtained from species of Agave ; “ A Forest Plague in Bavaria,” due to 
the attacks of a caterpillar (Liparis manacha) in the Pine forests, 
where it is estimated the loss to the revenue next year will be £40,000. 
* Okro Fibre,” the produce of Hibiscus esculentus, is dealt with in a 
short chapter. “ Cocoa-nut Butter,” with a dissertation on “ the Soil 
and Cultivation of Yoruba-land,” concludes the issue for the present 
month. 
- I have read with interest the article by “ J. H. E.” on Stoke¬ 
holes in the Journal of 9th October, and have no doubt that the advice 
is on the whole sound. I think, however, I can suggest an improvement 
in the mode of building the walls. It is well known that bricks are to 
a certain extent porous, therefore water may pass through the full 
headers into the stokehole in spite of the inner facing of cement, which 
may get cracked and broken from various causes. Instead of the 
ordinary method build two distinct 41 inch walls with no full headers, and 
with a space of half an inch between the two walls, which space fill in 
with cement as the work proceeds. This will keep any amount of 
water out, and the same system is equally efficient in building under¬ 
ground cisterns. Of course, cement should also be used between the 
bricks, or cement and mortar, as described by “ J. H. E.”—R. Falconer 
Jameson. 
- Melons at the Bagot Vineyard, Jersey.—A visit to the 
Bagot Vineyard is always interesting to gardeners. Few men would 
have the courage to venture on so large a scale with one crop as an 
experiment as Mr. Bashford does ; but courage, combined with sound 
judgment and perseverance, has made this vineyard famed throughout 
tie world. The cultivation of the Melon to any extent at Bagot 
is quite a new venture; nevertheless, during last winter two new 
houses were erected for this purpose. One of them is 300 feet long 
by 14 feet, the other is 1178 feet long by 14 feet wide. This is, I believe, 
the longest house yet built for Melon growing. At the time of my visit 
on September 8th the crop of fruits (9000) had been cleared from these 
two houses, and winter Tomatoes planted that were just setting fruit ; 
but another house of later-planted ones was in full bearing, and perhaps 
it is the most extraordinary house of Melons ever seen. It is a lofty 
span-roofed house 780 feet long by 45 wide, from which the Vines were 
removed last winter. When the Vines were cut out Peas were sown, 
and a grand crop was cleared in April. Then the work of preparing 
the house for the Melons was begun. The Melon crop was not the only 
object in view, as the house was to be planted with youne Vines at the 
same time as the Melons were planted, and 4 feet only was reserved for 
them a'ong each side of the house. The work of preparing the plants 
was commenced on May 3rd by sowing the seed in a vinery where a 
little fire heat was given ; but beyond this on no occasion has any 
fire heat been used. By the first week in June the plants were strong 
and the pots full of roots, so the work of planting was begun. The 
plants were placed out in rows the full length of the house, 3 feet 
0 inches apart, and 2 feet 6 inches between the plants in the rows. 
From this time until the plants were in full bearing, and many of the 
fruits had been cut, I did not see them ; but at the time of my visit 
the appearance of the house was striking, and would doubtless startle 
many English gardeners whose experience of Melon-growing is limited 
to a two-light garden frame or a 12 feet house. All the plants have 
been grown as single cordons tied to an upright stake, and growD to 
the height of 6 feet or 7 feet, and stopped when the required number of 
fruits were set, the plants being allowed to carry from two to six fruits 
each, according to the sorts and the strength of the plants. Few varie¬ 
ties are grown, as Mr. Bashford does not grow much of anything until 
he has proved its worth. The bulk of the crop is from one of his own 
raising, and has fine netted fruit, much like Eastnor Castle. Taking 
the crop all through, the fruits are above the average size, many of 
them weighing from 5 lbs. to 7 lbs. each, and the largest have turned 
the scales at 8J lbs.— Herbert Parker, Jersey. 
A ROYAL PRESENT OF FRUIT. 
As showing in the best manner available the appreciation of the 
Fruiterers’ Company and of the Executive Committee of the Guildhall 
Fruit Show of the patronage graciously bestowed on it by the Queen, 
Sir James Whitehead, Bart., Master of the Company, proposed, with 
the permission of the exhibitors, that specimens from the different 
sections of the Show should be sent to Her Majesty. The proposition 
was at once accepted, and experts were appointed to select the dishes. 
On those chosen was placed the following printed notification :— 
T HE Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the Wor¬ 
shipful Company of Fruiterers desire that this exhibit 
should be reserved for presentation to 
Her Majesty the Queen. 
Should this wish be complied with the Name and Address of 
the Grower will be forwarded with the Fruit to Her Majesty. 
The exhibitors were delighted to leave the dishes on the tables, and 
they were collected and arranged in one of the Committee rooms. The 
collection was subsequently photographed and engraved by an artist 
(see next page), and he also engraved the largest Apple in the Show, a 
wonderful Peasgood’s Nonesuch grown in an orchard house, and ex¬ 
hibited by Mr. S. Barlow (see page 341). Instructions were given for 
accurate representation, and it will be conceded that the specimen is a 
remarkable one. It weighed, we believe, 30 ozs., the variety not 
being by any means a heavy weighing Apple. 
We publish the list, as officially supplied, of the names of the 
exhibitors and varieties, also the classes and sections from which the 
dishes were chosen that constituted the Royal collection of home¬ 
grown fruit. Mr. H. R. Williams had a copy of Mr. J. Wright’s gold 
medal prize essay on “ Profitable Fruit Growing ” for cottagers and small 
holders of land, beautifully bound in morocco and sent with the fruit 
for Her Majesty’s acceptance. 
FRUITS SELECTED FROM THE GUILDHALL SHOW FOR 
PRESENTATION TO HER MAJESTY. 
All the varieties named refer to Apples , except where otherwise mentioned. 
South-Western Zone. 
Class 2, Section 1.—Allen Williams, bootmaker, The Moor, Bodenham, 
Leominster--Warner’s King. 
Class 3, Section 1.—S. French, labourer, Marstow, Hereford-King 
of the Pippins. 
Class 7, Section 2.—Jno, Hyde, Farmer, Calderwell, Bodenham, Leo¬ 
minster——-—Ecklinville Seedling. 
Class 8, Section 2.—James Davis, farmer, Bunhill, Bodenham, Leomin¬ 
ster-Peasgood’s Nonesuch. 
Class 9, Section 2.—W. Helyar, farmer, East Coker, Yeovil-Coker 
Seedling. 
Class 12, Section 3.—S. T. Wright, gardener to C. Lee Campbell, Esq., 
Glewston Court, Hereford-Hormead Pear- 
main. 
Class 14, Section 3.—Thomas Parker, gardener to Mrs. Evans, Moreton 
Court, Hereford-Tyler’s Kernel. 
Class 15, Section 3.—W. Iggulden, gardener to the Earl of Cork, Marston, 
Frome, Somerset-Pear Doyennb du Comice. 
Northern Zone. 
Class 1, Section 1.—John Wilson, labourer, Hall Lane, Lathom, near 
Ormskirk-Tower of Glamis. 
Class 2, Section 1.—John Wilson, labourer, Hall Lane, Lathom, near 
Ormskirk-Dumelow’s Seedling. 
Class 3, Section 1.—Thos. J. Pullett, cottager, 82, Russell Street, Lough¬ 
borough-Cox’s Orange Pippin. 
Class 7, Section 2.—John Doncaster, farmer, Halloughton, Southwell, 
Notts-Bramley’s Seedling. 
Class 14, Section 3.— Samuel Barlow, J.P., Stakehill House, Castleton, 
Manchester-Ribston Pippin. 
Class 15, Section 3.—Jas. Hunter, gardener to the Earl of Durham 
Lambton Castle, Fencehouses, Durham-Pear 
Pitmaston Duchess. 
South-eastern Zone. 
Class 2, Section 1.—Fred. Marsh, cottager, The Bow, Nettelstead, Maid¬ 
stone-Lord Derby. 
Class 3, Section 1.—W. Pulling, labourer, Hill Lop, Tillington, near 
Petworth, Sussex-Scarlet Nonpareil. 
Class 8, Section 2.—Herbert Manser, tenant farmer, Omer’sFarm, North 
Down, Margate-Lane’s Prince Albert. 
Class 9, Section 2.—Richard Webb, farmer, Beenham, near Reading, 
Berks-Cox’s Orange Pippin. 
Class 12, Section 3.—F. Miller, gardener to Jas. J. Friend, Esq., North 
Down, Margate, Kent-Cornish Aromatic. 
Class 12, Section 3.—W. S. Skinner, farmer, Beresford, Boughton, Mon- 
chelsea, Kent-Worcester Pearmain. 
