556 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 22, 1892, 
and Princess of Wales produced large, full, and .perfect flowers Mr 
Berners keeps cows—beautifully bred Jerseys I think they are ; and the 
manure from his little farmyard is just suited to the character of the 
soil. Hard pruning is the rule, the heads well thinned out, and this 
with the natural result—well-ripened firm wood. 
On the S.E. side of the Rectory, which is beautifully situated, 
are three terraces, leading down to the Italian garden, which should 
have been a blaze of colour when I last saw it ; but it had been under 
water, or rather under mud and water. We who live in East Anglia are 
not likely to forget that awful storm on the night previous to the Ipswich 
Rose Show.. The wall of the terraces are clothed with Ampelopsis 
Veitchi, choice Ivies, and Tea Roses ; while the beds on the Italian garden 
are filled chiefly with Tuberous Begonias and Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums. 
Beyond these beds are banks of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and Lilium 
auratum, revelling in the prepared peaty loam. Some very fine speci- 
garden^ S ^ 1U ^ 3 and ^ oa ^ ers 8 ive a pleasing finish to this interesting 
The kitchen garden is highly cultivated, quality being the first con¬ 
sideration. In spite of the light soil the Strawberry beds yield heavy 
crops of fine fruit, the four varieties relied upon being Noble, Keen’s 
Seedling Garibaldi, and British Queen. Oh ! that the quality of this 
last could be had together with the constitution and cropping qualities 
of some other of our Strawberries 1 M 
Of i a t e years Mr. Berners has launched out strongly in another 
direction in order to satisfy his love for flowers ; for five consecutive 
years has he won first honours at Ipswich for Chrysanthemums in 
groups, besides many first prizes for cut flowers, Japanese and incurved 
In November, 1890, he boldly attacked the Royal Aquarium stronghold! 
and came back to Harkstead winner of the first prize for thirty-six. 
n all about ~00 plants are grown, a few among the many special 
favourites being Viviand Morel, W. H. Lincoln, Lilian Bird, Edwin 
Molyneux, Etoile de Lyon, Gloire du Rocher, and Beauty of Castlewood. 
1 forgot to mention the Gloxinias. Veitch’s erect strain are the only 
ones grown, and they are cultivated in very considerable numbers. The 
gardener is very proud of them, and he has a right to be. Of Cucumbers 
Veitchs Perfection is the favourite; Tomatoes, Ham Green and 
Perfection; Melons, Countess, Read’s Scarlet Flesh, and Denham Beauty. 
ron maly ! Who !S the gardener, and what is his staff? To have won 
oOO prizes in twelve .years is an achievement! Most of the exhibitors 
and their gardeners in the larger amateurs’classes at the home, southern, 
and East Anglian Rose Shows know and respect genial, kind-hearted, 
and unselfish George Jordan. He is a thorough gardener in all its 
branches, equally expert in the use of the spade as in the propagation 
of the tenderest of. stove plants. Not afraid of work, and withal, loving 
his craft, systematic, quick, but sure, he, and a most excellent under 
gardener, with a small lad thrown in, do the whole work. It is clearly 
evidence of the saying that perhaps more and better work is done when 
the staff is rather under than over-handed. Robert Rush, Jordan’s right 
hand, has the cows and farmyard to look after as well. 
To my mind Harkstead Rectory gardens are a great credit to all 
concerned, from the master who loves his flowers and is proud of his 
gardeners, to the small boy who can gather Strawberries all the after¬ 
noon without eating any himself ; for the moment he stops whistling 
la-ra-boom-de-ay or some other equally classical melody, Jordan looks 
round to see what s the matter.— John Hopper. 
[We have pleasure in inserting a small portrait of the “master” and 
accomplished amateur gardener, the Rector of Harkstead.] 
FRUIT—A PLETHORA OF VARIETIES. 
HAvraa seen Mr. Watkins’ collection of 270 dishes of distinct 
varieties of Apples at the Hereford Show, I can corroborate all that he 
says on page 538 of the Journal of Horticulture relative to the collection 
being educational as well as effective. I am sorry some award was not 
made in recognition of its value. At a London fruit show a medal 
wou d have been awarded to such a collection. Mr. Watkins is to be 
thanked xor helping to make the first Herefordshire Fruit Show a success, 
nniwf? do . u , bt tb ? Society is. well supported by subscriptions 
collections like Mr. Watkins will receive their reward. 
Considering the different requirements of people I do not think that 
nurserymen are to blame in offering to the public a long list of varieties 
of frmt. It is well known that some sorts will do well in one place, but 
not in.another. I like to have my Keswicks, Cellinis, Tom Putts 
Blenheims, Mdre de Manages, Dumelow’s Seedlings, and King of the 
Pippins in plenty ; but at the same time I like to have my experi¬ 
mental quarters, where new sorts can be grown and their qualities as to 
aloneZ?W tVT differen t 8 ° ils ’ not for own satisfaction 
alone, but for the benefit of the general public. Profitable fruit culture 
tor market, as your correspondent remarks, is best limited to a few 
select free cropping and well coloured varieties, he they local or 
otherwise, and known to suit the soil in different districts; but let 
us not discourage the production of new varieties of Apples any more 
Jo^CmNNERY frmtS WMe retaining our old wel1 tried favourites.— 
tbpm n A A S t , h ®r e „ are to ° man y sorts, but no one is compelled to grow 
lf / r °“J S ° man ? ifc is difficult t0 ma ke a best selection, at 
would w gh •J )e f0Und ’ W M re the “ambers limited, that some selections 
selection fc fP» lt Var , 10us 8 °' ls ° r situations, and the larger the area of 
sn itS t h great l r P r °bability that all soils and situations can be 
suited. I very much doubt whether any half dozen of nurserymen who 
grow their tens of thousands of trees, in various parts of the country, 
would agree on any best selection, and it would no doubt be the same 
r aS growers are concerned. Apples vary so much ia 
different places that a wide range of selection is essential. It is those 
who, having tried new or hitherto unknown sorts, find them of poor 
quality and value, yet continue to grow them, who are to blame. The 
nurseryman would gladly cut down his ponderous lists if he could, but so 
long as certain sorts are asked for they must be furnished. If the trader 
has to decline an order because he has not all or only a few of the sorts 
wanted, the customer goes elsewhere, and probably never returns. The 
trade must not be blamed for what they cannot help. They are the 
purveyors to the public, and not censors. The very best that can be 
done in each locality or county is to advise what sorts are found 
to thrive best, and publish lists of such for the information of planters. 
Any who still persist in growing worthless sorts then have only them¬ 
selves to blame. It is very often needful to point out that for market 
sale some sorts are more suitable, whilst for ordinary domestic use aad 
keeping a long season others are better. It will take twenty years- 
yet to purge our gardens and orchards of worthless varieties, and even 
then some now. esteemed sorts may be then thought but second-rate. 
\\ e are increasing our stock of Apples almost rapidly. New ones come 
into commerce more readily than old ones are expurged. The more 
Apple knowledge is spread the easier will it be for growers to determine 
which only are the best varieties for their purpose.—A. D. 
W—fl }-• 1 
O WORKJoiitheWEEK., h 
• —K 4—. I 
It 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines— Earliest House.— The trees must not 
be syringed after the blossoms show colour, but a moderate moist 
atmosphere should be maintained by damping the paths and borders in 
the morning and in the early part of the afternoons of bright days. 
Maintain the temperature at 50° to 55° by day, with an advance from 
sun heat to 60° to 65°, but not without complete ventilation, 50° being 
sufficiently high for the night. If the weather is cold and sharp, the 
temperature may fall to 45°, or during severe frosts to 40° at night 
which is more advantageous than a higher and drier heat. The house 
should be freely ventilated when the weather is favourable, especially when 
the blossoms show the anthers clear of the petals; avoiding cold draught? 
however, but admit a little air constantly by the top lights. Houses°that 
have innumerable “chinks ” of air may remain closed in stormy weather. 
The temperature, however, must be raised early in the morning to 50°, 
and be kept between that and 55° through the day j but 55° must not 
exceeded by artificial means, nor an advance allowed above it without 
a free circulation of air, and it is not a good plan to “ bottle ” sun heat 
at this stage. A close moist atmosphere favours growth more than the 
setting of the fruit. Under favourable climatic conditions the pollen is- 
dispersed in golden showers (clearly visible in the sun) when the day is- 
bright and ventilation has been attended to early, and the “ set ” is- 
generally a favourable one, even without artificial fertilisation. The 
trees or trellises, however, may be sharply shaken every day from the 
first pollen on a tree becomes ripe until the latest flowers thereon have 
cast their petals. A plume of Pampas Grass drawn over the blossoms- 
lightly scatters the pollen, or a rabbit’s tail mounted on a small stick 
may be similarly used. A camel’s-hair brush passed over pollen-laden 
anthers and applied to the stigma of each flower is, however, the most 
certain method of artificial fertilisation, operating after the house has 
been ventilated some little time. 
Second Early House. —The trees must be started without delay to 
have ripe fruit in May or early June according to the variety. Alexander 
and Early Louise Peaches started now will ripen the fruit in May, but 
Stirling Castle and Royal George started at the same time will be a 
month to six weeks later in ripening their fruit. Fire heat should only 
be employed to keep out frost at night and to insure 50° by day, above 
which ventilate freely, and close the house at that temperature, except 
that a little air should be admitted constantly by the top ventilators in 
close fitting houses. Bring the trees on slowly, not hurrying them in 
swelling the buds ; and if these are too abundant rub off those on the 
under side or at the back of the growths. Sprinkle the trees in the 
morning and early in the afternoon of fine days only, damping sufficing 
when the weather is dull. Apply water if necessary to bring the soil into 
a thoroughly moist condition. Outside borders may be covered with 
about 3 inches thickness of leaves and litter, but avoid thick and rich 
coverings. 
Succession Houses.— These cannot be kept too cool after the leaves 
are all down and the trees have been pruned and dressed. If the roof 
lights are fixed the borders must be carefully examined, and water 
supplied to keep the soil thoroughly moist. Dryness at the roots during 
the rest period is a fertile source of the buds falling, and thorough 
waterings will not do any harm provided the drainage is effective. The 
lights, however, should be removed from the roof whilst the trees 
are at rest. The frosts are never so severe as to injure the wood of trees 
in good health and profitable use, and the borders become thoroughly 
moistened by the winter rams and snow, so that they seldom require 
