May 14, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
387 
which would be derived by gardeners and amateurs (the younger 
branches especially), by meeting occasionally and hearing a paper read 
on some gardening subject, and by taking part in the discussion. The 
resolution was unanimously carried, and a Committee consisting of 
Messrs. Mofhtt, Heslop, Hood, senr., Irvine, Adamson, Gardener, Russell 
Bell, R. W. Hood, Harwood, and Elliott, appointed to draft rules. 
Mr. J. Hood, junr., is the Secretary yu-u tern. 
-— Aspaeagus ai^d Jeeusalem Kale. — What useful vege¬ 
tables these Kales were during the trying time we have passed, and 
fortunate indeed are those who planted the above Kales largely in 
addition to the usual winter and spring vegetables. Whilst Cabbages 
are scarce and Broccoli and Spinach nearly destroyed, we have scarcely 
lost a plant of either variety of Kale. We have been cutting for the past 
five weeks, and have still abundance to serve us for some time to come. 
Of the two the Jerusalem is the hardier and equal as regards flavour. It 
has purplish stems and leaves, whilst those of the Asparagus are pale 
green. Wash and tie up in small bundles and boil as Asparagxrs. When 
sufficiently boiled drain and season wnth pepper and butter and serve on 
hot buttered toast, and you have a dish not to be despised. The present 
is a good time to make a sowing, and a further sowing may be made in 
three weeks. Sow in drills 9 inches apart, and net securely from birds. 
As early crops are cleared away the sowing made now will come in 
readiness, whilst the latter sowing will give a succession. Anything 
that will make a change in the list of vegetables, and which will stand 
severe winters, such as the one we have lately passed through, ought to 
be borne in mind, and some portion of the vegetable ground set aside 
for a few rows to be planted.—P., Liverpool. 
- Weathee at Liveepool.—A t last we have had some genial 
showers and a decided change in the warmness of the weather. The 
fields and hedgerows present a beautiful green appearance and signs of 
growth on every kind of tree. Fruit trees are expanding their blossoms. 
Many kinds of Pears have opened their blossoms and Cherries are 
rapidly expanding. Currants, both Red and Black, are showing in 
abundance. The latter suffered extensively with the ravages of the mite. 
Careful picking off the knotted buds has saved the trees, which are at 
present perfect pictures. I hope this short note may not have to be 
followed by one which will blight our brightest hopes.—R. P. R. 
- Feuit Peospects. — The promise of heavy fruit crops is 
splendid. Pears, Apples, Plums, Currants, Raspberries, Gooseberries, 
and Strawberries all giving indications of heavy crops. Peaches and 
Neetarines blossomed well, and appear to be setting a full crop. Apricots 
are the best set we have yet had. Filberts, I think, will be a light crop. 
It is yet early to say that there will be a fulfilment of the promise of 
Apples, Pears, and Plums, as we have the caterpillar season to pass 
through, which may blight all hopes. Our fruit plantation is com¬ 
paratively free this year from that pest, and the promise is splendid 
on all the trees. Most caterpillars to be found are on the Mother Apple 
and Beurr^ Hardy Pears. Every year these two are more severely 
attacked than any other, and the reason for it is a mystery. Some old 
standard Apples that I have examined are very badly infested with 
small caterpillars. At a distance they look all right, but on closely 
examining each bud, and opening the flower bnds or foliage, a number 
of small wretches were discovered working destruction. I should state 
that these trees were not sprayed with Paris green ; other trees in the 
same orchard were, and so far they are nearly free from insect enemies. 
—S. T. Weight, Ilerefordshire. 
- The Beighton and Sussex New Hoeticultueal and 
Mutual Impeovement Society. —This Society may now be considered 
fairly established, and it will, doubtless, accomplish the objects in view. 
At a well attended meeting of members, held at the Odd-Fellows’ Hall 
on Thursday evening, the 7th inst., the rules were discussed and passed. 
These, with some slight alterations, are those of the Liverpool Society, 
a copy of which was kindly sent by the Secretary for that pirrpose. It 
is intended to be worked on similar lines, that the members meet on the 
second Thursday of each month for mutual improvement, and to such 
meetings members are invited to take such object of interest as may be 
thought worthy. It is also intended to have shows, but for reasons well 
known to frequenters of Brighton shows, it has been deemed advisable 
to have no show this year. This has been a great disappointment to 
many, especially to those who live too far from Brighton to be able to 
attend many of the monthly meetings. The want of a show has been 
the means of keeping some from placing their names on the roll, but 
several donations from the latter class of members was announced, and 
it is hoped more may follow when the useful objects the Society has at 
heart becomes more generally known. Suggestions were made with 
regard to shows to be held next year, which seemed to meet with 
general approval, and if carried out may prove a pleasant surprise to 
those who have hesitated at joining the Society. The Secretary is Mr. 
Mark Longhurst, 18, Church Road, Hove, who will bo glad to receive 
names of new members.—R. I. 
PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 
Setting Feuits w^th the Syeinge. 
Although I cannot congratulate my opponent upon the sound 
logic or consistency of his remarks concerning this subject, I will give 
him due credit for the smartness of his repartee, for which I entertain a 
far greater admiration than for any of the “practical facts” he has 
hitherto advanced on this .subject. But before giving a short summary 
of the way in which my unstable friend has shifted his ground, I wish 
to tender my sincerest thanks for his generosity in modifying his 
assertions to suit so fastidious an individual as his opponent; but when I 
remember how well it suited his own purpose to do so I fancy I am the 
better able to estimate the apparently generous action at its true worth. 
I do not care to infer that “ J. J. C.” wilfully misconstrued the illustra¬ 
tion I gave, that time-honoured customs are not always the best, but 
may be improved upon ; I prefer to think that his natural acumen had 
for the time left him, and more serious consideration must show him 
that the shot was much nearer the mark than he would fain have us 
believe, for the simple reason that the requirements and constituents of 
the Vine are the same to-day as they were fifty years ago, just as much 
so as in the case of the structure of a Peach blossom. Although the 
structure of the latter has not changed, a vast improvement has taken 
place in the houses in which Peaches are grown, and I unhesitatingly 
affirm that with the majority of Peach houses gardeners have to deal 
with in these days, when abundance of light is secured, that, when 
practised under the conditions I have already laid down, the syringe is 
the most effectual of all implements for securing perfect fertilisation 
and at the same time retaining the trees in health and vigour, and 
I opine that in the future will be more generally practised than it 
is now. 
Before concluding I will briefly review a few of the objections which 
“ J. J. C.” has urged against the practice of setting fraits with the 
syringe with a view to showing how he has shifted his ground as 
arguments were brought forward to refute his objections. In the first 
instance ho condemned the practice because it was one that could not 
be practised indiscriminately, also because he thought converting the 
pollen into a pasty matter would not be the most suitable way of effect¬ 
ing fertilisation, and again that it would not answer in the case of 
large flowering varieties. My rejoinder to these objections showing how 
shadowy was the real foundation on which they rested, and asking if 
my vigorous critic had really practised the plan he condemned, brought 
out the information that he had practical proof of the method upon 
Vines and various plants, but could not say much in its favour, although 
mark ! nothing was said of Peach trees, but Vines and various plants. 
As he took occasion in that article to bring in the name of Mr. Coleman, 
doubtless with a view to give indirect weight to his arguments, I 
embraced the opportunity of giving him that cultivator’s written state¬ 
ment of his success with syringing Muscats, at the same time intimating 
a wish to know the conditions under which my opponent practised 
syringing fruit trees when in flower. The conditions have now comef to 
hand, and I find not the slightest mention is made of either Peaches or 
Nectarines the subjects the particular fruits which are mainly concerned 
in this controversy, but instead a case of failure is cited with such 
varieties of Grapes as Gros Colman, Lady Downe’s, Alicante, Golden 
Queen, and Alnwick Seedling. Now, with the exception of the latter, 
neither of these varieties requires assistance to secure a good set beyond 
tapping the rods and keeping up the requisite temperature ; and in the 
case of that peculiar variety Alnwick Seedling a slight syringing would 
not avail to be effective, it must be done with force enough to free the 
capsule. Readers will now bo able to judge for themselves of the want 
of force in “ J. J. C.’s ” final effusion. 
Having now pointed out the intricate wanderings traversed by my 
vivacious opponent, and how he has shifted his ground from stage to 
stage, endeavouring at the same time to brrild up a grand avenue of 
arguments and facts, which few would assail, and none could hope to 
penetrate, but unfortunately for the triumph of his cause, his arguments 
were those which could be refuted by dry hard facts and practical results, 
while many of his facts had no surer foundation than that of a fervid 
imagination, leaving ample room for the metaphorical carriage and pair 
in the form of successful practice to pass in triumph through the 
shattered and the scattered objections of my courteous and extremely 
cautious friend.—H. Dunkin, The Gardens, Longford Castle, Salis¬ 
bury. 
SCOTTISH PRIMULA AND AURICULA SOCIETY. 
This Society held its fifth annual Exhibition, on May 8th, in the 
City Assembly Rooms, Dundee. As is 'well known this has been, in 
nearly all cases, a disastrous season for Auriculas, and it was a pleasant 
