March 9, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
197 
June 20th (Tuesday).—Westmiuster (N.R.S). 
„ 28th (Wednesday).—Clifton,* Richmond (Surrey), and Windsor. 
„ 29th (Thursday).—Eltham. 
July l&t (Saturday).—Crystal Palace (N.R.S.), 
„ 4th (Tuesday).—Canterbury and Gloucester. 
„ 5th (Wednesday).—Croydon, Ealing, and Lee.* 
„ 6th (Thursday) —Bath, Norwich, and Sutton. 
„ 11th (Tuesday)—Wolverhampton.f 
,, 13th (Thursday). — Worksop (N.R.S.), Harleston, and Wood- 
bridge. 
„ 14th (Friday).—Helensburgh. 
„ 15th (Saturday).—New Brighton. 
„ 27ch (Thursday).—Southwell, 
* Shows lasting tw'o days. f Shows lasting three days. 
to Tea Roses from frost. I have now some Tea standards on the very 
highest point in my grounds, and though only protec e by a little Fir 
branch or two, even the protruding tips are unhurt. 
With my Tea standards on the lower ground, where they have 
suffered so severely in past winters, I took severe measures, determined 
they should not be killed if they could be kept alive. So I dug under 
one side of each row, and bent and pegged the plants down on the other 
side flat on the ground, and covered them, first lightly with straw and 
then with 6 inches or so of mould, they were thus clamped like Beet or 
Mangold. My Marbchal N els, the few I have left, were treated in the 
same way, but, of course, I do not know yet how the poor things like it. 
For my Tea buds —standard stocks budded last summer with Teas—I 
found what 1 believe will prove to be a capital protection in the straw 
cases used by wine merchants for covering the bottles they send out. 
The budded laterals must of course be cut rather short, but you may 
leave a wild bud or two beyond the “ work ” and yet have room to slip 
these useful nightcaps over their heads far enough to prevent their 
being blown off. It is desirable to see that the top string of each one is 
as tight as possible, and then this covering seems to have the following 
advantages : It requires next to no preparation, is on and off and on 
again in a moment, and makes no litter ; acting as a thatch it keeps the 
bud dry as well as warm ; and, lastly, I have no doubt they can be pro¬ 
cured in quantity very cheaply at hotels and cluhs, if something be 
offered for the collection beforehand. 
I shall be glad to receive the dates of any Rose Shows not mentioned 
above for publication in my next list of fixtures, which will be issued 
early in April.— Edward Mawley, Mvsehanh, BerUhamsted, Herts. 
National Rose Society. 
I HOPE that I may be excused for interfering in the little 
tournament now going on in the pages of the Journal of Horticulture 
between Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Grahame, of which I think we may 
now say to both combatants. Hold, enough. Of course, 1 think it was a 
pity that the main question should have been shunted off the line and 
the issue joined on a side matter which had, as I believe most rosarians 
think, nothing to do with it. I am sorry that Mr. Pemberton took the 
line he did in his attack on Mr. Grahame, but I do think we may ask 
that you would kindly interpose your editorial fiat and say the “ incident 
is finished,” as the diplomatic phrase runs. Both are well accounted of 
in the Rose world—one as one of our most successful exhibitors, the 
other as one who has done good yeoman service for the N.R.S., has 
procured a large number of members, and has induced the Society to 
introduce the new system of exhibiting according to amount of Roses 
grown ; therefore I say to both. Bury the hatchet, and if they are sill 
thirsting to scalp each other I hope you will promptly take it from them 
and bury it yourself.—D., Deal, 
National Rose Society—The Rose Controversy. 
What was my horror on opening the Journal this week to find that 
the apparition I thought laid, had again arisen to haunt me from 
the dank Essex marshes ! It has struck me that the following short and 
hitherto unpublished extract from the drama, entitled “The War in 
the Rose World,” best explains how the “ Veracity ” case stands. 
DRAMATIS PERSONAE. 
The Very Rev. P. {Bishop of Havering'), a i)roud rosarian of ancient 
fame, and a leader of men on clay. 
Sir C. J. G. (of Coombei), a Surrey linight of some slight renown. 
And OTHERS. 
ACT. V.—scene 4. 
Scene—Sometohere near London. 
(A battle is raging in the distance, and from out the melee two linights 
are seen to separate themselves and apjiroach.) 
Very Rev. P.—Hold and stand fast, impostor 1 Thou sorry knight 
and ignorant novice of ’89. What canst thou know of Roses ? Defend 
thyself ! 
Sir G. J. G.—Softly, good sir, softly ; although, mayhap, not quite 
so old a hand or doughty champion as thou art, yet perchance I may be 
granted an earlier year of birth—even say that of ’78. 
Very Rev. P. (musing). —Ah 1 “ IF ” this were true, then it were 
possible I might apologise. 
Sir C. J. G.—Most reverend sir, even with your reserved “ IF,” I 
would accept your withdrawal, and without reservation. 
Very Rev. P. (suddenly becoming enraged). — No, false knight 1 
Thou daredst to doubt my veracity, so here’s at thee 1 (Deals Sir G. a 
foul blow, who at once collapses, and is carried off the ground.) 
[Band plays “ The Bogey Man.”] 
Tableau. 
N.B.—The influenza and the effect on many of a severe Lenten diet 
at the momoot accounts for many hallucinations, — Charles J. 
Grahame, Croydon. 
[We think, as “ D., Deal," suggests in his letter, that the time has 
arrived for dropping the curtain,] 
The Winter and Tea Protection. 
We may now hope to have seen the last for this winter of really 
severe frost suflScient to be fatal to Tea Roses, and in the easter.i 
counties we have certainly been more leniently treated than in the two 
previous seasons. I am becoming more than ever convinced that elevation 
—a high position—is the most desirable precaution for avoiding injury 
Retarding Teas, 
I wonder those exhibitors who complain about their Teas being all 
over by the time of the principal shows do not try some methods of 
keeping them back. The north side of a wall will not do, for Teas do 
not like shade, and too late pruning will not do either, or the plants will 
have spent too much of their strength. Years ago, when I lived in a 
higher situation and grew Teas better than I do now, 1 used to retard 
mine by the simple process of mulching heavily. Mulching is commonly 
used in the autumn to keep plant roots warm, but it should not be 
forgotten that a blanket will keep ice cold as effectually as it will keep a 
man warm. My mulching, not less than 3 or 4 inches, of long wet 
manure was put on in late winter when the soil was thoroughly chilled, 
and kept on till the last, and I believe it was successful, but the plants 
being more backward did not, of course, look so strong as others in May, 
and one is apt to be dissatisfied at that time. Still, there was no Tea 
Rose show in those days, and then as now, the man who had good store 
of first bloom Teas well into July had a great pull over his rivals. If 
anyone feels inclined to try it, I should recommend the experiment being 
tried with a few at first. 
The Grecian Pruning Saw. 
I have been surprised that I could not get any of the ironmongers 
in the large town near ^vhich I live to understand what I meant by a 
pruning draw-saw of the form known as “ Grecian.” It is a very 
simple saw, yet always seems to me the best and handiest instrument for 
cutting through large roots in the ground without moving the soil. I 
have got one again at last from a large firm of seedsmen, and to-day, 
being too cold for any other job connected with Roses, I sallied forth to 
my old trade round the hedges of collecting standard Briars. The saw 
was new and sharp (it is apt to get soon blunted in sawing through the 
soil), and it was astonishing what quick work it made of getting strong 
stocks out of cramped positions in thick hedges without injuring the 
roots. With a little single-hand stock axe for removing the earth, a 
large strong pair of pruning scissors for branches and small roots, and 
the Grecian saw, I had twenty-nine good Briars in a little over two 
hours, and felt I had earned my dinner. Root-pruning of fruit trees is 
not often required on my soil, but I should think this would be the 
best instrument to use in such cases, though of course the cut part 
should be afterwards pared with a sharp knife.—W. R. Raillem. 
DISCUSSION ON PEACHES. 
Peach Culture Indoors and Odt. 
Where ripe Peaches are wanted at midsummer the forcing should 
have commenced in January, and in such cases the opera or must pro¬ 
ceed cautiously. Do not maintain too high a temperature to begin 
with; 45° at night with a rise of 5° by day should be the maximum 
until the buds begin to open, when a higher temperature will be 
necessary. Tbe borders must receive a thorough soaking of tepid water 
80 that they will require no more while the fertilising is going on, as the 
fruit will set better in a dry atmosphere than in a humid one. Air 
should be given on all favourable occasions, and the available surfaces 
damped only on the mornings of fine days until the fruit is set. In 
forcing Peaches thus early I find a camel’s-hair brush the best fertilising 
agency ; the flowers should be gone over daily with it at about noon, or 
as soon as the pollen is dry. It is rather tedious work, but it pays for 
doing ; on fine dry days the pollen can be dislodged by giving the tree 
a sharp rap with the hand. When the fruit is set the forcing can be 
hurried on fora time provided the wea’ber is favourable, but the trees 
have yet a criiical period of stoning to pass through, and here again 
caution must be our guiile. Let tbe temperature bo steady ; 60° at night 
with a rise of 10° by day. Previous to this the fruits should have been 
thinned to the number that is required to be left on to ripen. Keep 
the roots well supplied with water, also lue the syringe frequently oa 
the trees until ibe fruits begin tr ripen, when it must be reduced until 
after the fruit is gathered. 
It has been said, and there is much truth in the assertion, that good 
