440 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 16, 1893. 
Mr. Mawley’s Analysis. 
With great respect for Mr. Mawley’s analysis, I yet think there is 
something in Mr. Grahame’s reasoning. I have no doubt that Mr. 
Mawley’s results are as near perfection as possible, but as these results 
are expressed in “ crude figures,” it seems to me fair to state that the 
new Roses present an insuperable difficulty to that mathematical 
accuracy which should be expressed by figures. They do not afford the 
same data for calculation as the other Roses, and therefore the results 
founded on their data do not stand upon the same footing as the other 
figures in the list. This is only an outside view. Mr. Mawley has 
probably forgotten more about statistics than I ever knew, but it is well 
sometimes to take outside views into consideration. 
In the old “ Rose elections ” the opinions of rosarians were the only 
data, and the result, of course, was only the general opinion ; but this 
was, if the electors were numerous and representative enough, fairly 
without cavil.—W. R. Raillem. 
A GOOD Rose, like good wine, requires no special commendation or 
assistance by the principle of selection, and as certain vintages year by 
year work to the front in the estimation of connoisseurs, so a good Rose 
as it becomes known is more and more cultivated, and therefore 
exhibited by the best rosarians. Time therefore would do all that was 
requisite in placing a good Rose in its proper position. Impostors soon 
disappear, effete ones die out, and genuine good varieties work to the 
front. If Mr. Mawley is, by an elaborate system, mathematically 
correct, I think it would be satisfactory for him to clearly explain this 
method. 
To show that other authorities of high standing think ordinary 
figures (the analysed results of the experience reported by a large 
number of rosarians) to be sufficient to establish the position and 
habits of all our greatest Roses, I would instance and recommend the 
perusal of the R.H.S. report on the Rose Conference held at Chiswick 
in 1889. This, in my opinion, is the most valuable digest on the cul¬ 
tivation of Roses, and the results thereof, which has yet been published. 
Nothing but actual figures are there used or discussed, and the results 
arrived at are given with clearness and mathematical precision.— 
Charles J. Geahame, Croydon. 
As Mr. Grahame (page 418) claims that he has friends who adopt 
his views on the above matter, perhaps it would be well if they would 
say so in the Journal of Horticulture. In the meantime allow me to 
express my feeling that the attack he has made upon Mr. Mawley 
is entirely unwarrantable. 
Mr. Mawley’s analysis I have for many years looked forward to as 
the crowning of the Rose season, and I fully endorse your remarks of 
appreciation thereof. Painstaking care and thoroughness have dis¬ 
tinguished all of them, and these characteristics I would commend to 
the notice of your correspondent. Long years before Mr. Grahame 
became a member of the N.R.S. Mr. Mawley was doing valuable work 
for it, to which work the Society owes much of its position to-day. If, 
therefore, his work was now to be attacked it would have been more 
becoming if the attack had proceeded from someone who could claim to 
have done something for the Rose at least approaching in value to what 
Mr. Mawley has done. 
As you are aware, I have usually signed the notes I have sent to 
your columns, but remembering the tremendous onslaught which a 
gentleman had to endure, who ventured to differ from Mr. Grahame 
last year, I take refuge on this occasion in the name of my county— 
Bucks. 
POMONA FARM NURSERIES, WITHINGTON, 
HEREFORD. 
The above is the largest fruit tree nursery in the fertile county of 
Hereford, and very easy to reach, as it adjoins Withington Station on 
the Great Western and London and North-Western railways, also about 
four miles from the ancient city. Having arranged a convenient day 
with Mr. J. Watkins, the well-known proprietor, to see his famous fruit 
grounds, he met the writer at Hereford Station, with a sharp trotting 
horse and conveyance, driving direct to his Whitecross Nursery, out of 
the city. There was a magnificent collection of fruit trees of all kinds 
and forms, clean, and in the best of health, very small trees being well 
supplied with fruit buds. The planting season being an early and 
favourable one, great activity was exercised in lifting trees and execut¬ 
ing orders. In one instance 500 standard Apple trees were being 
packed at the time of my visit, and better rooted trees could not be 
desired. 
Like all nurserymen Mr. Watkins has trees to suit all classes of buyers, 
and standards, half-standards, trained pyramid and bush trees are in 
vast numbers. Dumelow’s Seedling is very much to the fore here, and 
H this excellent Apple would answer everywhere the same as with Mr. 
Watkins, nothing would pay better to plant. All the trees ranging from 
small maidens to tall standards are covered with large fruit buds, and 
entirely free from canker. Ecklinville Seedling is in great demand, and 
a large quarter is occupied b^t. Annie Elizabeth, Cellini, and King of 
the Pippins cover a large space. Beauty of Bath and Bramley’s Seedling 
Mr. Watkins considers to have a great future as Apples suitable for both 
market and private establishments, consequently many are grown to 
meet any requirements. Potts’ {Seedling is another favourite, and the 
same remark applies to Worcester Pearmain, Stirling Castle, Yorkshire 
Beauty, and Warner’s King ; in fact, all the leading market varieties are 
grown extensively in the Whitecross Nursery. Hereford Beefing is in 
much favour by farmers, and many trees are sold to them. I think they 
are wise to plant such a variety that is valuable for market, owing to 
its high colour ; and if prices rule low it is equally valuable for cider 
making. Many other varieties of cider Apples are grown in great 
numbers, for which a good demand is found. Some of the choicer 
Apples are worked in a lesser degree, such as Ribston Pippin and Mr. 
Gladstone ; but though these are only produced by hundreds instead of 
thousands, they are equally healthy and vigorous, and free from canker. 
There are many other sorts of Apples, too numerous to name, that are 
grown in very large numbers. Pears are also grown here, but to a less 
extent than at the Pomona Nurseries, the principal kinds consisting of 
Williams’ Bon Chretien, Marie Louise, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and 
others, all being clean and admirably grown, and of all forms. 
A large plot is filled with all the best and most famed Lancashire 
prize Gooseberries, each plant having a clean stem of about 1 foot from 
the soil to the branches. Winham’s Industry, Whitesmith, and Keep¬ 
sake are very largely grown. Keepsake is a favourite with Mr. Watkins, 
as he finds it one of the best market varieties, producing heavy crops of 
large berries almost from its infancy. Crown Bob is another good kind, 
and represented by a large stock, also many others. Currants, especially 
Black, are in great force, and finer well rooted plants could not be 
desired. Black Naples, Ogden’s Black, Lee’s Prolific, and Black 
Champion (Carter’s) are grown by thousands. Amongst White 
Currants, White Champion is praised highly, as it produces the finest 
berries and clusters in great profusion, and is here considered by far the 
best in its class, while similar honours are awarded to Le Conde amona 
the Red, being an improvement on the well-known Raby Castle 
Currant, 
Plums are only grown on a limited scale at the Whitecross Nursery, 
so we pass on to the Pomona Nurseries. About a mile before reaching 
there we come to some of Mr. Watkins’ fruit plantations, in which fruit 
is grown for market purposes. Standard fruit trees are planted in long 
lines with bush trees between in the lines, and between these lines are 
Gooseberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, and Currants. When it is stated 
that Mr. Watkins has about 100 acres of orcharding, independent of 
his nursery grounds of 60 acres, it will be at once apparent that his 
opinion is valuable as to the varieties of each kind of fruit most suitable 
to plant for profit, and a conversation with him on these matters is not 
only interesting but extremely educational. 
On leaving these fruit plantations we arrive at the top of a hill over¬ 
looking the nurseries. Hop yards, residences, cider mills, packing sheds, 
and offices. After a short drive through the nurseries we adjourn to 
Mr. Watkins’ house, where we rest for a little time, and again sally 
forth. I should mention here that Mr. Watkins has adopted an excellent 
plan on his house worthy of imitation. Instead of planting the usual 
ornamental climbers, cordon Pears have been planted on the favourable 
aspects. The trees have grown splendidly, and produce magnificent fruit. 
Not only are the trees highly attractive when in bloom but very useful 
in supplying first-class fruit, much of which finds its way to the 
exhibition table. Leaving the house we pass to a field filled with stocks 
for working next spring, and about to be added to the nurseries. Thence 
we proceed to view the cider fruit. 
Imagine a large grass field covered with bright red and golden fruit, 
varying from 2 feet to feet deep, weighing hundreds of tons, and 
then some idea may be formed of the quantity of cider manufactured. 
Bach variety is kept separate and carted away to the mill, and here a 
few remarks on the mill itself may not be out of place. As the fruit 
is brought into this department it is shot into a large room, in 
which is a huge hopper for filling a crushing or pulping machine, the 
revolutions of which are 2000 per minute, keeping a man busy with a 
large shovel supplying this hungry monster with fruit. After passing 
through this process it is conveyed by machinery to another part to 
have the liquid extracted, which runs through a large 2-inch hose full 
hore into great vessels. All this work is done by steam power, and on 
the most approved principles, and as the work is completed the cider is 
bottled or put in casks, according to quality or demand. One note¬ 
worthy point was the extreme cleanliness prevailing in every portion of 
the manufactory. For this reason alone Mr. Watkins well deserves the 
large orders he obtains for his cider and perry. The making of the 
latter was over at the time of my visit, and except that Pears are used 
instead of Apples the process is much the same. 
Opposite the cider factory is the fruit room containing at least 300 
varieties of Apples of large size, and mostly of exquisite colour. It 
would take up too much space to name even the most striking in detail, 
but the following are worthy of a place in every exhibitor’s collection— 
Belle de Boskoop, Atkins’ Seedling, Flanders Pippin, Devon Red (very 
high colour). Lady Waldron, Crimson Costard, Warner’s Seedling, similar 
to Washington but heavier, Backley’s Seedling, Scarlet Tiffing, and 
Roundway Magnum Bonum, very fine ; some of the fruit must weigh a 
pound each. Many other comparatively unknown varieties deserved 
noting, but time would not permit. Leaving the fruit we pass to the 
trees in the nursery, which are in far greater numbers and variety than 
