674 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Deo«mber S8, 1893. 
Is it right when pruning fruit trees to cut “ clean away ” all growth 
(excepting leaders required for further extension of the trees) so as to 
leare no chance for any buds to start or form 1 No ; certainly not. In 
the winter pruning of trees of the Apricot, Apple, Pear, Plum, and 
Sweet Cherry (the summer “pinching ” having been duly attended to), 
all young lateral growths should be cut back to within one eye or bud 
of their bases. I am referring to established trees. In the case of 
young trees obtained from the nursery or home growers, every available 
shoot (excepting foreright shoots) should be spread out and trained 
regularly over the wall space, bending the strong unpruned leading 
growths towards the ground, and securing them to the wall in 
that position with nails and shreds, afterwards fastening the 
leaders thus operated on in their respective positions, and arranging 
the young growths over the intervening spaces. All the foreright 
shoots should be cut back to within one bud of their origin to induce 
and promote the formation of spurs and fruit buds. In the matter of 
hardy fruit culture, the main object should be to obtain large fruit¬ 
bearing trees of approved varieties of the several kinds in as short a 
time as possible. Therefore, in starting with young orchard trees, the 
leading shoots should be pruned back to within 8 or 9 inches of their 
bases after they have shed their leaves in the autumn, and should 
the growths resulting from the shortened back shoots in the spring be 
likely to become crowded or to cross each other they must be pinched 
back to within 2 or 3 inches of their origin.—A Fruit Grower and 
Exhibitor. 
JOTTINGS FROM DUBLIN. 
A JUDGING engagement took me to Dublin for a few days during 
■the month of November. I determined to make the most use of the 
short time at disposal by inspecting the chief horticultural objects 
situated in or near the city. Gladly accepting the proffered guidance 
of an enthusiastic amateur horticulturist, a jaunting car was chartered. 
The first order the “ jarvey ” received was St. Anne’s, the princely 
residence of Lord Ardilaun, situated some five miles east from Sackville 
Street. A telegram in advance made certain of finding Mr. Smith at 
home, who has had charge of these gardens for the last twenty-six years. 
A very pleasant hour was spent in his company. 
Time did not permit of more than a cursory glance at each of the 
various departments, but sufficient was seen to show that high cultiva¬ 
tion is the foremost object here. The first house we entered contained 
some well-grown winter flowering Carnations ; Winter Cheer and 
Whipper In made a bright display with their scarlet blossoms. 
Mignonette for winter flowering is largely grown, the variety Machet 
proving to be quite as valuable for this season as it is for early summer. 
Cyclamens are more numerous and their wants better understood than I 
had previously seen in any private garden. 
A new and handsome structure is devoted to tropical plants, such as 
Palms, Bananas, Tree Ferns and the like, all bearing the stamp of good 
•cultivation. In another house adjoining Crotons, Dracasnas, and other 
similar plants suitable for house decoration are grown in large numbers, 
the demand for material of this class being a heavy one. Hardwooded 
plants are not neglected either. Camellias, Azaleas, Epacris and Heaths 
are admirably grown. Rambling freely under the roof in one of the 
numerous span-roofed houses, I noted a healthy plant of Bomarea Carderl, 
which is but seldom .seen in private gardens. Orchids do not occupy a 
considerable space, but they have a healthy appearance. A very 
fine form of Vanda coerulea was flowering at the time of my visit. 
Forty guineas had been offered for one very small plant, so highly of 
was it thought by one of our greatest Orchid cultivators, so rich is it in 
its colouring. Cypripediums are well managed. Cattleyas, Laelias and 
Zygopetalums are also well represented. 
In the fruit houses there was of course little to see, but judging from 
last season’s growth the Peach crop must have been a good one. The 
Vines as far as could be judged from the appearance of the rods and 
buds give good crops of fruit, quality being the chief point aimed at and 
obtained. Strawberries in pots are numerously grown. 
Out of doors all departments are in keeping with the inside. 
Herbaceous plants are extensively cultivated. I was not a little sur¬ 
prised to hear that Salvia patens withstood the rigours of an Irish 
winter with but a protection of coal ashes, a layer being placed about 
the stems. As quite a dozen roots are growing in each clump the plants 
when in bloom must produce a good effect. Border Carnations are 
largely .grown, they are mainly planted in wide beds in the kitchen 
garden, and rockery plants form a distinct feature. The best Yew 
hedges that I have seen are here, and some lessons in hedge-clipping 
could be had, so accurately is the work done. The square columns are 
15 feet high, and many of the hedges are 7 feet, and in all cases these 
latter have perpendicular sides and flat tops. 
^ Conifers and forest trees are not of particular merit, the situation 
being too near the sea and too much exposed to wind for luxuriant 
growth. Some perfectly formed specimens of Weeping Ash I noted by 
the side of the carriage drive. Evergreen Oaks were of uniform growth, 
the foliage being rich in its tone of colour. The general appearance of 
the place, which includes 60 acres of pleasure garden, reflected much 
credit on the able custodian, who is apparently held in great respect by 
his noble employer if one may judge from the handsome present of a 
silver tea service with suitable inscription, made him upon the comple¬ 
tion of twenty-five years’ service. 
After driving back to the city a change of guides took place, I 
being handed over this time to the charge of two enthusiastic 
horticulturists, one as hearty and entertaining an Irishman as ever 
lived, as full of Irish wit and humour as the proverbial egg is 
full of meat, who could not if he tried have copied the “ jarvey ” 
(who spoke hardly a word during the whole of the day), which 
to me was a surprise, as Irish “jarveys” were noted, 1 had been 
informed, for their volubility of tongue. Just one instance of my 
friend’s native wit before I close this part of my jottings. Our spirited 
horse in going up a hill past the penal establishment took it into his 
bead to turn suddenly and sharply round. The riding on an Irish car 
being new to me I was prepared for a jump upon the slightest sign of 
danger, which drew from my friend the remark, accompanied with a 
merry twinkle in his eye, “ A sinsible man always sits still.” 
In my next I will refer to my pleasant visit to Mr. F, W, Burbidgeat 
the Trinity College Botanical Gardens.—E. Molyneux. 
The Weather in London. —Bright and genial weather charac- 
tised Christmas day. With a clear sky four hours of sunshine were 
registered in Westminster, and there was an entire absence of rain in 
the metropolis until about nine o’clock at night, when it fell heavily 
for an hour or so. The temperature continued remarkably high for the 
season, the lowest reading of the thermometer during the night being 
40°, whilst the highest in the day was 46°. Tuesday was also fine, 
but Wednesday opened dull, and as we are going to press a 
fog prevails. 
- Weather in the North. —With the exception of the 20th, 
which was a calm clear day, the weather has been disagreeable during 
the past week. There has been very little frost, but high winds and 
rain have prevailed, and there was a slight fall of snow on the morning 
of the 21st. Christmas Day was marked throughout by gusts of wind 
and cold showers. Tuesday morning was dull, but so far fair and calm. 
—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. —The 
fifty-fifth annual general meeting of the members of this Institution 
will be held at “ Simpsons,” 101, Strand, London, W.G., on Wednesday, 
January 17th, 1894, at 3 P.M. The meeting is called for the purpose of 
receiving the report of the Committee and the accounts of the Insti¬ 
tution, electing oSicers for the ensuing year, and other affairs ; also for 
the purpose of placing fifteen pensioners on the Fund. The Committee 
request that all unpaid subscriptions for the year 1893 be forwarded to 
the Secretary, Mr. G. J. Ingram, at the oflBce,50, Parliament Street, S.W., 
before the 31st inat., the date on which the financial year of the Insti¬ 
tution closes. 
- We have received Part 20 of the “ Dictionnaire Pratique 
d’Horticulture et Jardinage,” published by M. Octave Doin of 
Paris, and which is edited by MM. Mottet, Vilmorin-Andrieux et Cie, 
Alluard, E. Andre, G. Bellair, G. Legros, &c. It professes to be a 
French translation of “ Nicholson’s Dictionary of Gardening,” but in 
many respects is quite a different work, both in the letterpress and the 
illustrations. To those who understand the French language it will be a 
most useful work, and we commend it very highly to those who are able 
to make use of it. We have not received Parts 17, 18, and 19. 
- “ Index Kewensis.” —“A. C.” writes :—Relative to the notice 
of the “ Index Kewensis” in the Journal of Horticulture (page 553), 
may I offer a free translation of the very forcible Latin couplet ? 
Opus est hactenns sine pari 
Opus est quo, nullus carere potest. 
A Work, so far, quite peerless beyond doubt! 
A Work, this is, which none should be without! 
- The St. Brigid Anemones. —Mr. S. Arnott observes These 
beautiful Anemones can hardly be overpraised, and as one who has 
grown them for a number of years, and has often wished to know who 
“St. Brigid” is, I have been much interested in Mr. Burbidge’s article 
on page 504. In mild seasons I cover a small bed with a frame, and am 
thus enabled to cut flowers occasionally throughout the winter. The 
method recommended of sowing the seed in March or April is an 
excellent one for autumn and winter flowering, or for gardens where 
the Crown Anemone does not succeed permanently planted. 
