February 9, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Ill 
in neat and trim condition, in keeping with the holiday season we are 
now about to celebrate, and in giving the operator leisure to thoroughly 
enjoy the result of his or her past labours. There should not be a vacant 
or unplanted spot in either the flower or kitchen gardens. Both should 
now be replete with flowers and vegetables of every description. 
Happily, with us in New Zealand, the festive season comes when this 
can be accomplished, as the various departments may now be stocked 
with almost everything that is suitable for our climate. At this 
Christmas Nature is more beneficent than usual, bestowing her gifts 
with such wonderful profusion that even the most callous amongst us 
cannot but be struck with admiration at the endless variety of beautiful 
trees, plants, flowers, and fruits that everywhere abound, and by the 
verdure of the grass and other natural products that clothe and adorn 
our beautiful landscape. The frequent genial rains and splendid grow¬ 
ing weather experienced throughout the spring, and up to the present 
time, have imparted an unusual health and vigour to plant life, and 
aided in maintaining that freshness of foliage and appearance that 
everywhere meets the eye and gladdens the senses, adding also further 
to the charms and pleasures of the open air. 
“ Visitors to this remote region of the globe carry away lasting expres¬ 
sions of our genial climate and picturesque surroundings. Happy, 
indeed, should be our lot, living in this fair land of sunshine and 
flowers, and in a climate free from the extremes of heat and cold, and 
where our homes may be made bright and cheerful with the bountiful 
products of the land. Here in our island home rich and poor alike can 
revel in sunshine, and pass a pleasant time with but comparatively 
little outlay. How different to the Christmas that many of us have 
been accustomed to where hard cold winter, with its frost and snow, 
was the natural harbinger, and where flowers and fruits could only be 
obtained by artificial means. Here our splendid climate and natural 
resources afford pleasures that are unobtainable in less favoured regions, 
and where the festive season takes place in the winter. 
“ Our Christmas Tree, the Pohutukawa, takes the place of Holly and 
Mistletoe, the natural emblems of this season in England. This magnifi¬ 
cent tree may be seen growing along our coasts laden with the utmost 
profusion of conspicuous dark red blossoms, standing out in bold relief 
from the endless variety of the surroundings. Truly, ours is a land of 
fruit and flowers. Both may now be had in abundance. In fact, 
nothing is wanting as far as Nature is concerned in adding to the 
pleasures of the present season. In addition to our own temperate 
fruits, tropical fruits, such as Bananas, Oranges, Pine Apples, Mangoes, 
and other dainties, the products of the adjacent islands, are within the 
easy reach of all, a privilege that can be enjoyed to the fullest extent in 
this southern hemisphere. The endless variety of flowers that now 
adorn our garden and grounds not only add to the outdoor enjoyment, 
but are also useful for gathering to beautify and enliven the dwelling. 
There are now such a host of beautiful varieties in flower that it is need¬ 
less to attempt to enumerate even a small number. The season has been 
one of the most favourable for the growth of the different garden 
products that has been experienced for many years.” 
The Curistmas scene described by the writer is, we have reason to 
know, described with accuracy. New Zealand is a magnificent colony 
with in most parts a rich soil and delightful climate. A thirty years’ 
resident refers to it as a “ land of health and plenty, where all who are 
able and willing to work for a living will find a good one in the 
beautiful laud.” The Pohutukawa tree alluded to is a species of 
Metrosiderus, laden with crimson bottle-brush flowers in November and 
December. 
PRICESl AND QUALITY OF APPLES—MANURE. 
Mr. Kruse returns to the subject of the price and quality of Apples 
only to hriug the same charge of irrelevancy against two other cor¬ 
respondents as he ha^ brought against myself. In bis first communica¬ 
tion be wro e, “At the time Domino made about Is. home, larger sorts 
made 2a. per bushel home for selected fruit. It is true that some of 
the others made sometimes during the season 6s. per bushel in Covent 
Garden, <>r aijout 4s 9d. home, but this was very exceptional and not the 
rule.” Why, in the face of these words, does he persist that to refer to other 
varieties than Domino is to wander from the point at issue? Clearly 
and unmistakeably because it has been abundantly proved that nob vi'h- 
standing his repeated laudatory remarks about his own fruit tint of 
FIG. 21. 
other cultivators has fetched a better price in the market. Before 
superior returns were quoted against him he was prepared to refer to 
the prices brought by other varieties, but afterwards he discovered that 
they were a “ side issue” and became anxious to retire from the “ wordy 
controversy.” 
As I have forwarded documentary evidence in proof of the state¬ 
ments which I have made that what are “exceptional” prices in the 
case of Mr. Kruse’s fruit are not so in another, and several other 
correspondents have come forward to support me, surely the wisest and 
most dignified course for him to pursue would be to take a broad and 
comprehensive view of the position, and cease these futile endeavours to 
find protection in a shelter which his own words have shattered. There 
is a great question at issue, one on which it is of the highest importance 
to have an accurate reply. I did not cross swords with your corre¬ 
spondent on this matter without preliminary deliberation, for as an 
experienced and observant cultivator his opinions were entitled to a 
respect which I do not claim as an equal due for myself; but facts in 
my possession proving indisputably that there was another side in 
addition to the one which he took up, I set myself to present it clearly 
and correctly before your readers. Whether I have succeeded or not is 
for them to judge. I have not replied in kind to charges of “ heat ” 
and “superficial knowledge,” partly because I have had a long enough 
experience of the ways of the world to be able to smile at these things 
as matters of course, and partly because I have no sympathy with 
endeavours to degrade a great public question to the level of a personal 
controversy. 
I know not from what point of view readers in general view this 
question of the profit of fruit growing, but it must seem to many to 
have issues too momentous to rest upon personalities. There is work to 
be found for thousands of willing hands and food to provide for our 
teeming millions. Can English soil provide both by corn growing? 
No, and we look to fruit as an adjunctive aid to cultivators. Only 
thoughtless and irresponsible agitators will proclaim it a mine of wealth, 
but if a fair return can be realised it will be of great benefit to the 
country. Working from this standpoint it has been my endeavour to 
show what can be done with energy and enterprise combined with cul¬ 
tural skill. Neither yards of figures nor clumsy methods will avail. 
The former tempt, but they do not produce. The latter may have some 
results, but they will be unsatisfactory and profitless. With care and 
judgment waste acres may be made productive, and, as at Swanley, 
where the skill and courage of Mr. Henry Cannell have set so valuable 
an example, the land that has fed the few becomes capable of feeding 
the many. 
A few words as to the manures. Mr. Kruse says that his statements 
on the subject are fact.^ If he will turn to his article in the Journal of 
December Loth he will find that he advanced £500 a year as his anm al 
