November 24, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
457 
special exhibition of their own. The exhibitors are themselves, the 
judges are the public, and the prizes are the orders that are disbursed 
for the good things on view. There is a catalogue instead of a schedule, 
and the big blooms are on the plants instead of on a board. This leaves 
no room for complaint about crowded blooms and over-dressing. Good 
culture helps Nature all it can, and then leaves the verdict in the hands 
of visitors. If they like a variety they signify their approval in an 
acceptable way ; if they do not, and it cannot be improved upon for 
another trial, that Chrysanthemum is cast into the outer darkness, and its 
place knows it no more. I need not go into details about varieties, for 
some special remarks were made on them a short time ago, but let it be 
said that Mr. C. (“ Chrysanthemum ”) Pearson as buyer, and Mr. 
Pithers as grower, have done their work with judgment and skill. There 
are few high-class novelties which are not represented in a condition 
that does abundant justice to the treatment they receive. Viewing the 
collection broadly it is not surprising to hear that visitors go to inspect 
it from nearly all parts of the country, and considering it individually 
it is just as little cause for wonder that not a few of them draw upon it 
for their own future supplies. 
General Plants, 
Some of the structures at Chilwell must be amongst the finest in the 
country. They were erected by the late Mr. J. R. Pearson, and were a 
source of considerable pride to him. His sons and successors do that which 
doubtless would have pleased him most—keep them in good condition 
and excellently furnished. For Zonal Pelargoniums the midland firm 
enjoy a world-wide reputation, the growth of years. Their strains are 
marked by vigour of growth, fine trusses, and beautifully rounded sub¬ 
stantial pips. There is much food for enjoyment in the collection to all 
lovers of these plants for pot culture, and grateful recognition should be 
made of the excellent work that has been done with them. A passing 
reference by no means does them justice, but there are other things to 
note, and space fills all too rapidly. Asparagus plumosus grows as one 
rarely sees it. It is planted out in a border originally prepared for 
Lapagerias, the soil being good and very porohs. The plants flourish like 
weeds, growing in dense massses 3 or 4 feet thick from the face of the 
wall. There appears to be enough for supplying the whole county. 
Another plant in splendid condition is Tabernmmontana coronaria 
flore-pleno. It, too, is planted out, and enjoys a steady heat. Its growth 
is wonderfully luxuriant, and it flowers nearly all the year round. It is 
a most useful plant, for the blooms are invaluable for cutting. Marechal 
Niel Rose is rarely done so well as it is there. The stock of plants pre¬ 
pared for sale is enormous, and they are conspicuous for sturdy growth 
and perfect ripening. Clematises are another great feature, and 
Adiantums, which fill one of the huge houses above referred to, are 
splendidly managed. There is a little surprise in store in the collection 
of Orchids. Ah ! you did not know that Pearsons’ did these. Just so. 
But they do. The collection is not the largest in the world, but it is 
choice and well managed. I was particularly struck with the Coelogynes. 
These are Mr. “ Chrysanthemum’s,” too. He might not admit that he is 
rather proud of them, but he looks at them so fondly that you know he 
is. They are splendidly grown, and in perfect health. Note the 
luxuriant leafage and fat bulbs. They are as significant as the plump 
rosy cheeks of a schoolboy before he has made himself ill by unheard of 
exploits in Apple-eating. 
Fruit at Chilwell. 
Speaking of Apples brings Mr. A. (“Apple”) Pearson to mind. He 
is brimful of energy, and not to be kept waiting with impunity. His 
is the fruit department, and to the fruit nursery he conveys me when at 
length I fall into his hands. Chilwell tells the same significant story as 
the southern localities with respect to fruit. The demand keeps on 
growing, and more land is being broken up for planting. It is well 
done without any question ; two crops of roots are taken and then 
Clover is sown. A good dressing of stable manure and night soil is 
spread on, and this with the Clover dug in. The land is dug over and 
the subsoil broken up a spade deep. It is not brought to the surface, 
but is thoroughly loosened and left. This is all done by hand labour. 
The work is doubtless hard, and the process somewhat expensive, but it 
is sound and will give its reward. A comment to Mr. Pearson on its 
healthy, even though laborious character, elicits the information that in 
his younger days strength was imparted to a delicate constitution by a 
few months’ hard digging with the men. Mr. J. R. Pearson was a far- 
seeing man, and did not spare his sons when he saw his way to ultimately 
benefiting them. When the soil is first thrown up it looks suspiciously 
tenacious, but in a very short time it softens and crumbles, then planting 
is at once taken in hand. That is the way to manage the land for fruit. 
Skimming the surface with a plough may be very well for corn, but it 
is not enough for trees that have to remain years on the land. 
Newton Wonder Apple. 
If Mr. C. Pearson looks lovingly on the Coelogynes, what shall I say 
of Mr. A.’s attitude towards the firm’s great Apple Newton Wonder? 
His catalogue of its virtues is inexhaustible. All his eloquence (and 
there is a good flow of it) fails to do it full justice. There is abundant 
reason for a little enthusiasm. The Wonder is a fine Apple—a very fine 
Apple. Wherever one goes—north, south, east, and west—its good 
qualities are sung, and other fruit nurserymen speak highly of it 
besides Mr. “ Apple ” Pearson, so it is not a personal matter. The 
variety is a splendid keeper, of fine cooking quality, a heavy bearer, and 
does well both on the Paradise and Crab stocks. It is a late Apple 
that is bound to force its way into favour both for market and home 
use. It has a general resemblance to Wellington, and possesses the very 
open eye of that variety. There is a fine stock of it at Chilwell, from 
maidens to five or six-year-old trees, and plenty of trained material in 
different stages, so that all requirements are provided for. Throughout 
the nursery it is conspicuous for its sturdy growth and broad substantial 
foliage. 
Trained and Standard Trees. 
There is a very fine stock of trained trees. There must be several 
acres of them altogether, and all are excellently managed. To begin 
with, all have been transplanted once or twice, and hence the roots are 
of the right character, so that instead of coarse sappy shoots sturdy 
matured growth is observable. A great deal of care has been devoted to 
the training, and the trees are all excellent examples of good workman¬ 
ship. Mr. Pearson has a little way of pulling out his knife and severing 
ties where the work has not been done to his entire satisfaction, then 
leaving a streamer of matting on the tree for indicating that it has to be 
done over again. The workmen do not relish this by any means, and in 
course of time learn to avoid its occurrence by careful work. Newton 
Wonder, New Northern Greening, Lane’s Prince Albert, Bismarck, and 
Potts’ Seedling, are all largely represented. It is worth noting that the 
Wonder has a tendency to bearing at the tips, and should not be shortened 
except where extension is wanted. Is it generally known that Potts* 
Seedling is a particularly good town Apple? If not it ought to be. 
There are few varieties which do so well in smoky localities. Plums are. 
grown largely as horizontals, and look remarkably well. Pears also com¬ 
prise a large and representative collection. Marshal de Cour is one of 
the hardiest and most vigorous of them all, while Doyenn4 Boussoch, 
proves its value as a market variety. It is twice the size of Hessle, and 
a better cropper. A tree was pointed out that has borne well for eleven 
years. This is worth remembering when the dearth of really good market 
Pears is considered. The standards are splendid trees. There are about 
60,000 of them, all staked. What an amount of labour it must entail. 
But Mr. “ Apple ” believes in doing everything well. His ideas are 
sound, that you soon find out in talking to him, and the evidence of your 
eyes will tell you the excellence of his methods. There is a grand 
collection of Apples and also of Damsons. To complete a morning 
among them that has begun with Chrysanthemums at daybreak is a task 
the fulfilment of which is at once a benefit and a pleasure.—W. P. W. 
Events op the Week.— Now that the majority of the Chrys¬ 
anthemum Shows are past horticultural matters are comparatively quiet 
in the metropolis. The annual dinner of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society will take place at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, on Wednesday, 
November 30th, when Sir Edwin Saunders will preside. The customary 
auction sales will also be held, for particulars of which see advertisements.. 
- The Weather in London, — During the past week the 
weather in the metropolis has been comparatively mild for the time of 
year. Saturday was bright, though rain fell heavily during the night. 
Sunday opened fine, however, similar weather continuing on Monday, 
but with fogs in the morning. Tuesday proved dull and foggy. At the 
time of going to press it is cloudy, but fine and colder. 
- The Weather in Kirkcudbrightshire. — Contrary to 
expectation the weather during the past week has slightly improved. 
Heavy rain fell on the night of the 14th, but the 15th, 16th, 17th and 
18th, although dull, were dry. Fog, however, prevailed in the evenings. 
The night of the 18th was clear and a little frosty, but heavy rain fell 
all day on the 19th. The 20th was dry but dull, and to-day (21st) is 
also dry with faint gleams of sun,— S. ARNOTT; 
-The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution.—T he 
friends of this Institution with ourselves, will be very pleased to hear 
that the financial result of the Anniversary Festival Dinner, held at 
the Hotel Metropole on November 15th, and reported in our last issue, 
from all sources amounted to nearly £2200. 
- Chiswick Gardens. — The Chrysanthemums in the great 
vinery are still very interesting, filled as the building is from end to 
end with plants grown much more naturally than is usually the case. 
Disbudding has, it is true, been practised to a certain extent, but 
many of the plants are regular bushes, carrying from twenty to thirty 
blossoms, instead of the regulation two or three at the most.—W. WilkSj 
Secretary. 
