854 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 19, 1893. 
hoped will open their eyes to see that unless they thin out their trees 
and give them some root assistance by liquid manure or mulching, 
they can never get a profitable crop in face of the fine examples now put 
on our market from well-managed trees on cultivated land. More and 
more it is evident that if fruit culture in this land is to succeed we 
must bring into it all the gardener’s thought, care, and attention. In 
passing, a word as to the marvellous colour in Apples this season. A 
preacher said recently, that after he had seen the vineyards of the south, 
and the flowers and fruits of that region, he should readily give the 
palm to an Apple orchard in its wreath of September coloured fruit. 
The Winter Queenings, Colonel Vaughan, and others were scarlet in 
colour. As an expert I have fruit sent from all parts for naming, and it 
has been a “ lesson of the season” to see the same kinds from different 
people, in some cases four times as large as that from trees not properly 
cared for. 
I am of opinion that we should grow some of our Apples on walls, 
the beauty of the fruit and the fulness of flavour then obtained seems 
to indicate they ought to have some such warm position. Calville 
Rouge, Sturmer Pippin, Washington, and other fruits, which have not 
always time to finish in our short summers, are very fine this year. 
Many kinds have been so large as to suggest a doubt as to their 
authenticity, Kerry Pippin, several Pearmains, Duchess of Oldenburg, 
being twice or three times their usual size ; other Apples passing as 
kitchen sorts are sweet table fruit. I am inclined to think the far 
travelling and deep rooting nature of the Apple has been much in their 
favour. Canker in such sorts as Lord Suffield has been quite wanting, 
and the trees are wonderfully strengthened for future crops by an 
abundance of hard well ripened wood. It is remarkable that the surface 
rooting Paradise stock has given such fine fruit in a dry season, as even 
where mulehed early there has not been rain enough to set free the 
stimulating properties of the material used. 
I anticipate in lifting time we shall find they have made more tap 
roots than usual. Where land is full,of porous and water-absorbing stones 
the drought has been little apparent, and it may be well to add this to 
our other lessons, and introduce stone of the nature of our Kentish 
surface ragstone where these do not exist on one of the most stony spots 
in our nurseries. The maiden Apples are grand and sturdy, and close 
to 6 feet tall. On flinty or gravelly lands they have suffered severely. 
Naturally, as a pomologist, I dwell much on this subject; but I trust 
not more than its importance deserves. It is quite evident we try to 
grow many sorts of fruits which our capricious climate does not as a 
general rule suit, and from the knowledge thus gained we may learn 
much. Where the land has been kept clean by constant moving of the 
surface soil no doubt a store of good has been laid up for many years to 
come, and as far as fruit is concerned I look upon the Indian summer 
just passed as an untold blessing. 
Passing now to the flower garden, what a trying time we have had 1 
Herbaceous plants completely dried up, with us no flower on Pfeonies or 
the tall growing Campanulas, Alpines gone never to return, Roses over 
in a “ flash in the pan,” and only here and there in the season a glimpse 
of what they might have been, until the autumn when they have, so to 
speak, made up for lost time, and given us a grand display. The Teas 
have naturally done best, and those who have cultivated deeply will 
have reaped a reward ; but most will have, like myself, to find comfort 
in the fact that if the trees have made little wood that it is well ripened, 
and may resist a strong frost successfully. The worshippers (and they 
increase fast) of the Daffodils have been seriously curtailed in their 
devotions, for the flowers literally rushed out and then withered, several 
not even showing their beauty. Possibly they look to more highly 
developed bulbs for a grand display in 1891. 
Bedding out was a serious matter, yet the display has been bright, 
because there has been an absence of coarse leafage, telling us to keep 
these beds a little less rich. Begonias with me have failed when they 
did show flower ; a gale generally scattered the half-opened blossoms, 
and never have the beds been gay. They seem to like a partial shade ; 
in this position I have seen good beds. Cactus Dahlias have been extra 
fine, and the Pompons very chaste. A dry time evidently suits these ; 
it says we should start them early and grow into size, so as to make 
the most of our summer. I must not touch Lilies, Chrysanthemums, 
and the like. 
I now pass to Conifers and forest trees. The early leafage of these 
was grand, and seldom was it seen to such advantage. Many trees have, 
however, died outright from want of food, and here we may learn to 
persevere in Philip Frost’s system of surface feeding for choice examples. 
Flowering shrubs have been very short-lived, and Lilacs were burnt up 
while half opened ; on the other hand, the double kinds were grand. 
I would here put in a plea for all these striking shrubs, and ask if we 
treat them fairly by relegating flowering shrubs to crowded shrubberies 
and plantations. How seldom we see a fully developed example of any 
of them on our lawns, and when we do, how grand is their proportions, 
and what a glorious sight they are in flower 1 I refer to such as Guelder 
Roses, Lilacs, Syringas, and the Sumach. I have not alluded to the trying 
time for plants under glass demanding extra care on the gardener’s 
part. It is, however, evident that the lesson here is—provide more 
shading that can be used at short notice, and remedy defects in the 
want of more ample ventilation. 
The utmost care has had to be exorcised in keeping down aphides, 
and all garden pests and wasps have never before been so numerous. 
Lay in a store of materials ready to begin battle should they appear 
in 1894. I have wandered in my subject, and have rather outlined a 
map, and will leave others to fill in the details and point out the 
omissions and defects of my paper. 
Eveitts of the Week. —But few events of horticultural interest 
will take place in the metropolis during the ensuing week. The Com¬ 
mittees of the Royal Horticultural Society will meet at the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Westminster, S.W., on Tuesday, the 24th inst., when, as- 
mentioned elsewhere, a special display of vegetables and fruit is antici¬ 
pated. A meeting of the Floral Committee of the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society will take place at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, 
on Wednesday, the 25th inst. 
- The Weather in London. —As mentioned in another para¬ 
graph, the weather has been unusually mild in the metropolis during^ 
the past week. Much rain has also fallen at intervals. Sunday proved 
fine, as likewise did Monday, but it rained more or less all Tuesday.. 
Wednesday opened fine and bright, similar weather continuing at the 
time of going to press. 
- Royal Horticultural Society.—T he next meeting will be 
held on Tuesday, October 24th, in the Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria 
Street, Westminster. The Council of the Society have offered special 
prizes for Apples and Pears grown in the open air, and also for Grapes. 
At 3 P.M. Mr. A. Dean, F.R.H.S., will deliver a lecture on the 
cultivation of Onions, examples of which would be welcomed at the 
meeting. 
- Death op Mr. H. B. 0. Beale.—W e regret to hear of the 
death, on the 12th inst., of Mr. Herbert Edward Child Beale, eldest 
son of Mr. E. J. Beale, of the firm of Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High 
Hoi born. The deceased, who was a very amiable and promising young 
gentleman about thirty years of age, was educated at King’s College,, 
and then took a prominent position at Hoi born, but his health broke 
down, and we understand he has spent most of the last two or three 
years in California, Jersey, and the south of France. 
-Horticultural Literature. —A gold medal and 10,000 
FRANCS (£400) prize. At a meeting of the National Society of Horti¬ 
culture of France on the 10th of August, 1893, the President called 
attention to the paper of M. Charles Baltet on the Comparative Study 
of French and of Foreign Horticulture. The subject was one of sis 
which had been proposed for treatment at the Horticultural Congress 
in May, 1893, and for it M. Baltet had been awarded the gold medal 
which the National Society of Horticulture had placed at the disposal 
of the Congress. Also that in consideration of the same work the 
National Society of Horticulture had seen fit to award to M. Charles 
Baltet the prize of 10,000 francs bequeathed by the late Dr. Joubert de 
I’Hyberderie for the purpose of encouraging literature conducing to the 
advancement of horticulture. We are informed that this is the most 
distinguished honour of its kind hitherto conferred in France, and con¬ 
gratulate the distinguished pomologist on its acquisition. 
- The Fruiterbrs’ Company. — A dinner was given on 
Wednesday evening the 11th inst., at the Mansion House, by the Lord 
Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, “ to meet the court of the Fruiterers’ 
Company.” It was preceded by the presentation by the Company, in 
accordance with ancient annual custom, of a choice collection of 
English-grown fruit, the ceremony taking place in the drawing-room. 
After dinner the Dean of Rochester (chaplain to the Fruiterers’ 
Company), in proposing the health of the Lord Mayor and Lady 
Mayoress, remarked that there were times when fruit had become a 
most important factor in the prosperity of the country. As regarded 
the owners, the occupiers, and the labourers on the soil, he regretted to 
say that there was most profound ignorance with respect to fruit, in 
connection with which he thought we had rather retrograded than 
progressed. Leaving out Herefordshire, Worcester, and Devon, the 
orchards of England were generally a disgrace, hut there was really a 
grand future open for fruit. The farmer had been standing still, 
while the manufacturer had been making immense progress. Every 
landlord ought to try and get his tenant to make a profit from all 
sources on his farm. There were great possibilities in the advancement 
of the culture of fruit, and he was proud to belong to a society which 
had done much in this direction. 
