342 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ i pril 80, 1891. 
Goshawk and Soa Eagle, that the calyx of the flower frequently adheres 
closely io the ovary which afterwards forms the fruit ; if this is not 
removed at the fiist thinning it slightly disfigures the fruits at the 
]ioints, and gives to these varieties a more elongated appearance on the 
top than they should have, and jirevents them from developing evenly 
all round. Of course, as the fruits grow the calyx is in time forced off, 
but the deformity indicated may still be noticed when the fruit is ripe. 
—H. Dunkin. 
Watering Trees. 
I QUITE agree with Mr. Tunnington (page 298) that the object of 
watering a border is to prevent the soil becoming dry, birt I must 
remind him that I have not recommended that Peach trees be watered 
at stated periods generally, I merely mentioned the treatment they 
received here in passing. If Mr. Tunnington will refer to page 400, 
November 6th, 1890, he will there find the times mentioned when 1 
watered the Vines, but I also stated that it the borders were loose or 
shallow the number of waterings would be insufficient. Still I recom¬ 
mend waterings at those seasons, or as near to them as possible where 
borders require it, as I find the times suitable for giving food, such as 
artificial manure, to the roots. When a man knows the condition of the 
trees and borders he can e.asily arrange for supplying water at given 
times. I am not now referring to borders which require watering 
perhaps every week or so, but those which, owing to their compost, 
depth, or situation, require from about four to seven waterings through¬ 
out the year. As far as my experience goes more damage is done by 
excessive than by insufficient watering. Moreover, if the surface is 
kept in a moist condition, less thorough watering is required. A good 
fruit grower can always manage to have the princ pal roots near the 
.surface. I write from experience, and I have also learned much from 
waitings in this Journal.—S. Scott, Rathmore. 
Setting Fruits with the Syringe. 
I DO not feel in the least flattered by the apparently generous 
admission of “J. J. C.” when he states he has read my criticisms of 
his recent remarks with “some interest,” because I should consider it a 
somewhat remarkable fact were he not interested in i*", as it clearly 
shattered the foundations of his objections against syringing Poach trees 
in flower, and has caused him to morlify other assertions. But in the 
face of his uncompromising statement that he intends to stick with such 
absolute tenacity to the beaten track, I feel it would be labour in vain 
to attempt to convince him by either jiroof or reason of the error of his 
ways, and that the system he prides himself so much upon following 
may, under a great variety of conditions, be greatly improved upon. 
Nevertheless, I intend to point out that his recent contribution has not 
strengthened his position by any fresh argument. I am by no means 
so certain as my sanguine opponent that the system he so exclusively 
advocates is the one that the overwhelming majority of the best practical 
men pursue, and even if it were .so, that is no proof that it is superior to 
all others. Not many years ago the majority of practical men thought 
it almost impossible to make a Vine border too rich, and not being 
satisfied with animal manures they introduced animals, in the .shape 
of dead horses, but the successful men of the present day have quite 
changed their views and their practice in that direction. Time-honoured 
customs, however good in most cases, have their weak points. I fail to 
see that the camel-hair brush is always safe, for the simple reason 
that it is not always effective. I have known more than one instance in 
which the syringe was successful in setting a splendiil crop when a’l 
other methods had failed to produce such desirable results. No doubt 
we have not yet reached that grand state of mathematical precision in 
setting Peaches as to be able to apply any system without discrimination. 
But I can say without fear of contradiction that I have never known the 
syringe fail in setting a good crop, but whenever it has been used as the 
means of effecting fertilisation, it has been done with such care and 
judgment as a man who understands his business will always exercise. 
I shall require more than the bare statement of your corresponclent to con¬ 
vince me that to syringe Peach trees in the early stages to prevent green 
fly is a fallacy when 1 see daily the beneficial results of the practice. 
Those who do not syringe their trees from the time they are started 
till they come into florvei ought not to be surprised at being troubled 
with aphides, or if their trees sometimes break irregularly. There is no 
necessity to deluge them with watei', but they should be syringed regu¬ 
larly every day if the wood is dry, and in bright weather twice a day. 
I regret that my persuasive friend was not more successful with his 
attempts to set both Peaches and Grapes with the aid of the syringe, 
and I am filled with an intense longing to know the conditions under 
which he practised it. The assertion “ that the cost of a few pounds 
of tobacco is nothing when the importance of the object is considered,” 
I quite agree with. I should never think of advising anyone to refrain 
from fumigating when the trees were attacked to any extent by green 
fly; but this I do most emphatically state, that if the trees are treated 
as I have described the cost for tobacco will be reduced to a minimum, 
and the necessity for fumigating will be of extremely rare occurrence. 
I have always thought that when we.are anxious to find a loophole of 
escape there must first be something we wish to escape from; birt I 
trust my friendly critic will not remain under the erroneous impression 
that I wish to escape from any of the arguments by which he has 
attempted to surround me, because they are arguments through which 
there is room to drive a carriage and pair, like the proverbial Act of 
Parliament. When he talks about syringing in naturally damp struc¬ 
tures he would lead one to infer that a heavy syringing is necessary to 
disperse the poller. This is by no means the case. All that is wanted 
is to give the trees a firm spraying with the syringe, and with a littite 
circulation of air on the house, which is quite necessary at flowering 
time, half an hour after it would be scarcely possible to see the operation 
had been performed. When practised under the conditions I have already 
stated it is quite as satisfactory in unheatetl as in heated structures. In 
early houses more heat is required from the hot-water pipes to keep up 
the necessary buoyant atmosphere, and in late unheated houses the 
days are long before the trees come into flower, and then the fear of 
damp rests upon no surer foundation than the fleeting fancy of a fervid 
imagination rather than upon real facts. 
No one has more respect for Mr. W'. Coleman than I have, and I well 
remember reading some remarks of his two years ago in which he 
wrote, “ He did not mind stating that by syringing his Muscats when in 
flower he bad secured a tetter set than he usually obtained,” but he did 
not mention that an animated machine could not be trusted to perform 
that operation. The case of my opponent has not been improved by his 
theory, that as “the stigma of a flower situate<l oa the top of the tree 
next the glass is elevated above the stamens, the pollen is more apt to 
fall downwards than to lodge upon it.” Does he not see that it cuts the 
ground from under his other arguments ? He admits the syringing plan 
may answer in some cases when the houses are properly constructed, but 
hii greatest fear is from damp, but the object on concerning the stigcaa 
would apply in all cases in heated ami unheated, dry or damp houses. 
The real fact is that no matter in what direction the pistil points the 
flowers set equally well. 
One more point, and I have done. The large-flowered varieties of 
Peaches which I have selected seem to have been singularly unfortunate 
for “ J. J. C.’s” contention, so he asks me what about Noblesse and Haleis 
Early in flower in January ? About Alexandra Noblesse I can tell him 
this much, that the best set ever obtained upon a very strong tree was 
obta'ned by syringing when in flower at a time when I was in charge of 
the house containing it, and Hale’s Early, Early Alexander, and Elruge 
Nectarine answer under the .syringing system equally as well as those my 
friend terms the most certain croppers of all. 
In conclusion, let me earnestly advise readers of the Journal not to 
be deterred from trying for themselves, under the conditions 1 have laid 
down, the effect of syringing Peaches and Nectarines when in flower, 
both with a view of keeping green fly in check and of securing a gocet 
set of fruit. There need be no risk in the matter. Try a single branch 
till you are satisfied with the result, and in cases wdiere there has been 
any difficulty in securing a good set the chances are ten to one the 
wished-for result will follow. Meanwhile I will leave my courteous but 
emphatic opponent to pui-sue the even tenor of his way.—H. Dunkin. 
I HAVE been much interested in the discu.ssion on the above subject, 
and while agreeing with some remarks thereon I disagree with others, 
I will briefly as possible state my own practice, which has always proved 
so satisfactory that I see no cause for change. Our earliest Peach house 
is started every year about the middle of November ; the house being a 
large three-quarter span, and is planted with Royal George, Early York, 
and Early Alexander Peaches and Darwin Nectarines. The trees are 
usually in bloom at Christmas, fruit ripe in May and early part of June. 
When in bloom the trees are given a sharp rap about mid-day and the 
set is per‘'ect ; syringing or using a camel-hair brush on the flowers is 
never practised. The next house is started in the middle of January, 
and is planted with mixed varieties of Peaches and Pineapple 
Nectarines, the same mode of setting the fruit being followed. Early 
Alexander is considered by some to be a little uncertain in setting and 
swelling its fruit, but this has not been my experience. In a house 
started February the 1st we have a tree carrying a splendid crop. It is 
very unusual for any blooms to miss setting, which entails a good deal of 
work in thinning. I think much of our success in setting the fruit is 
due to feeding the trees with liquid manure after the crop is gathered ; 
in fact, they receive stronger doses then and during the time 
the trees are at rest than at any other time. I believe that the health of 
the trees, gentle forcing, a genial atmosphere, and discretion exercise a 
greater influence on the setting than anything else ; and now, after 
chronicling a success, I must confess to a failure, for which I can give no 
reason. Incur Alicante house one Vine started as usual, and has since died 
down to within 4 feet of the soil; the Vines on each side (4 feet away) 
are in capital order. Dp to this year that Vine has done equally as well 
as the others, carrying a good crop of well finished Grapes. Why it 
should start and so suddenly collai)se is a problem I am unable to solve,. 
Have any of your readers had a similar experience ?—S. T. Wright, 
Cl Iciest on, Court (rardens. 
KOOKSBURY PARK. 
The residence of J. Carpenticr Gamier, Esq, High Sheriff of tile 
county of Hant®, is most pleasantly situated three miles from Fareham 
on an elevated site. The park comjjrises 400 acres, beautifully wooded, 
and including splendid specimens of Elm, Oak, and other forest trees. 
The mansion is large, squarely built of brick, and faced with cement, 
which gives it the appearance of being of stone, the principal 
entrance, from which can be obtained good views towards the west and 
in a northerly direction, is a portico built of stone, having massive stone 
pillars. From the roof of the house can be obtained capital views of 
the Isle of Wight and the surrounding country. The approach to thi* 
mansion from the high road which runs from London to Portsmouth 
is through a double lodge entrance, the drive being about half a mile 
in length, having a gentle ascent, and winding through a w'ood some 
