332 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 2, 1893. 
TOMATOES m 1893. 
The past season, so far as my recollection goes, has been about 
the best I have ever known for outdoor Tomatoes. Plants that 
were turned out of 6-inch pots the end of May and with the first 
trusses of bloom showing had some ripe fruits before June was out, 
and throughout July and August fruited abundantly. They were 
planted against a south wall in vacant places between the fruit 
trees, and supplied with water about twice a week. These plants 
were raised from seed sown the end of March, but the general 
sowing for outdoors I made about the middle of April. The varie¬ 
ties grown here this year were Ham Green Favourite, Conference, 
Challenger, Ladybird, and also a good local sort, but other kinds, 
such as Perfection, Sutton’s Maincrop, and Sutton’s Al, grown 
in neighbouring gardens, have done remarkably well. The weather 
was so dry throughout the summer that more water than is usually 
necessary was required. 
Some seedlings of Challenger and Ham Green Favourite that 
were left in the seed pots, and about 2 inches high, were potted the 
beginning of June, grown quickly on a shelf in a Cucumber house 
for a fortnight, then hardened off for a week, and planted against 
a south border a yard asunder. A strong stake 3 to 4 feet high 
was thrust in at the same time for each plant to be tied to. There 
were two dozen plants of each of these varieties, and they have 
given less trouble and produced finer bunches and more weight of 
fruit than any forty-eight plants against the wall. The ground had 
been newly dug, and although the weather was so dry in May, 
the soil was moderately moist, also warm, so the Tomatoes grew 
quickly, and reached the top of the stakes in a much shorter time 
than I had ever seen before. When the fourth truss of flower on 
each plant was seen the point was pinched out and all further 
growth was suppressed. As they grew, all side laterals were 
pinched out, and when the fruit was fairly set some of the large 
robust leaves were reduced one-half. Some of the clusters weighed 
more than 2 lbs., none less than 1^- lb., and the fruits were even 
and finely shaped. 
I believe, and I have often done it myself, that Tomato seeds to 
produce plants for the open air are sown much too soon. The 
plants become root-bound before the weather is such that they can be 
safely turned outdoors. The middle of April is quite soon enough 
to sow the seed in heat, and when the plants appear they should, 
as soon as possible, be moved to a shelf in a sunny greenhouse to 
keep them sturdy. After potting an intermediate temperature is 
best for a fortnight, and then another fortnight in a greenhouse or 
frame, with plenty of air if the weather permits. One point of 
importance is not to plant in open quarters till the ground gets 
fairly warm. It may be warm enough under a south wall the end 
of May, but in the open the middle of June is better. Too much 
stripping of the leaves I do not believe in, but keeping the ground 
very clean with a Dutch hoe between the plants is good for them ; 
the frequent stirring and clean surface of the soil acts like a wall 
in radiating the sun heat about the plants. A yard each way from 
plant to plant is not too much space. If only four bunches of a 
pound each be obtained from each plant it will well repay the 
cultivator, but the past season has given more.—A. Harding, 
Orton IlalL 
SOILS AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN RELA¬ 
TION TO HARDY FRUIT CULTURE. 
According to the theory of the author of a paper I perused some 
time since, which treated conjointly on geology and horticultural 
chemistry, certain of the constituents of good soils required the 
agency of favourable climatic conditions to liberate them which 
otherwise would be held in suspension. Such a theoiy is, of course, 
endorsed by recognised authorities on the latter of the two sciences 
referred to, and the writer further indicated that such favourable 
climatic conditions formed one of the chief reasons why most foreign 
products were so perfectly developed and matured. On looking back at 
garden crops in general, and hardy fruits in particular, of the past season, 
it is seldom indeed that northern cultivators are enabled to record a 
counterpart in experience approaching so nearly to the standard of 
perfection set forth in the text just quoted. In the latter depart¬ 
ment especially Apples in this county (Ayrshire), taking size, quality, 
and finish into calculation, have been pronounced an unprecedented 
display at least at one of the two principal county exhibitions. Seme 
of the most conspicuous examples of high culture among culinary 
sorts included Ecklinville Seedling, Warner’s King, Emperor 
Alexander, Cellini, and Peasgood’s Nonesuch. The latter variety 
heads the list for weight, a first prize stand containing six superb 
specimens, which were said to average within a fraction of 1 lb. 
each. These were grown at Trochrague Gardens in the valley of the 
Girvan River. The mean temperature in that locality is somewhat 
higher and the atmosphere more humid than in most other parts of 
the county, the soil in the gardens being heavy. Mr. Goldie, the 
gardener, informed me that his stand of Apples was selected from 
a tree bearing an aggregate number of 200 fruits or thereby. 
Referring to Ap])le8 from wall trees growing in soil having 
a tendency to a light texture, I have noted that the fruits of some 
varieties on a south aspect, although better coloured and flavoured, 
are not up to the size they attained in wetter seasons, of which may 
be instanced Early Harvest and Lord Suflreld. On the other hand 
Ribston Pippin and Greenup’s Pippin are of full size and well 
finished, which is unusual for the latter at the middle of September 
so far north. A few fruits of Grange’s Pippin ripened a few days 
latter on a west aspect. These were also of fair size, and in common 
with the two last named varieties were from a young tree. An old 
tree of Ribston Pippin on a south aspect yielded a gathering of 
very fine specimens, although taken as a whole they were not so 
evenly in size as from the younger tree on the same exposure, but 
decidedly a better crop in every respect than for many years past. 
A young tree of Cellini, a choice culinary sort, on a west aspect, 
produced a crop of good size and extra colour. Another useful and 
handsome looking culinary variety is Saltmarsh’s Queen, but the 
only tree we had was necessarily allocated to an eastern aspect 
where the solar conditions are less favourable for the full develop¬ 
ment of most Apples. Here it carried a good crop of medium but 
evenly sized fruits though lacking in finish. Among a number of 
old trees in an orchard 'we have a few of the Gravenstein Pippin 
These, which for several years past have steadily deteriorated in size 
and quality, have this season produced abundant crops of greatly 
improved fruits in the above respects, many of them being extra well 
coloured. Occasional applications of sewage water diluted no 
doubt contributed considerably to the combined conditions necessary 
for the swelling of the fruit. 
Taken in the aggregate. Pears grown in the same description of 
soil as Apples have been more uniform, this result being probably due 
to some extent to the general condition of the trees with regard to 
vigour. Among early varieties on south and west aspects Beurre 
d’Amanlis, Jargonelle, Williams' Bon Chretien, and Hessle have 
been especially good. Louise Bonne of Jersey, occupying a position 
facing south-west, has ripened much earlier than was expected, even 
making allowance for the extra warmth that has prevailed, but being 
an old tree about half of the fruits were only of medium size, but 
highly coloured. Marie Louise, Beurre Diel, and Durondeau, the two 
former on a south and the latter on a west aspect, have all attained 
an unusually uniform and handsome size. Muirfowl’s Egg, a sure 
bearer in all sorts of seasons, although not small in size of fruits, 
is hardly up to the average of moister seasons. Beurre Capiaumont, 
on a young tree and also on a south aspect, has borne a rather heavy 
crop of good and evenly sized fruits. As many of the fruits on 
standards were blown off during the great gale of the 21st of 
August, I am unable to give further notes on Pears approaching to 
accuracy. 
In summing up it is unmistakeably evident that as results of 
the almost entire absence of frost last spring, together with the higher 
average temperature of the past summer as compared with most 
seasons. Apples and Pears on comparatively young trees have been 
extra large, well coloured, and the flavour excellent, also that the 
produce of vigorous old trees have shown an appreciable improve¬ 
ment in similar respects. The crops of Plums of most varieties 
grown in the gardens from which I write and also in the surrounding 
districts have been above the average in total weight, while the 
quality marks a high order. Soils, situation, and cultural treatment, 
however, affect the merits of fruits in a greater or lesser degree, and 
a series of reports only from different localities and cultivators 
would convey an approximately correct estimate of the fruit crops 
throughout the country, and of the cultural and climatic conditions 
upon which they depend. Such reports would no doubt be welcomed 
by all interested in pomology, including your correspondent.— 
D. M., Ayrshire. 
INSECTS OF THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
(^Concluded from 2}age 270.) 
It may seem odd that in the cheese-mite group, so called, there 
should be several species which live in the garden, and are 
mischievous to flowers ; yet such is the case, while others of the 
group are either of predatory habit or they resort to decaying 
animal substances. Cheese being an artificial compound it is 
evident that before man made it even the veritable cheese-mites 
must have found some other animal or vegetable food. As we 
know that one section of these mites feed upon bulbs, tubers, or 
fleshy roots, it is possible these may be the natural food of most, 
but the possession of a sucker by some species, and not by others, 
indicates differences of habit amongst them. It does not seem that 
