September 15, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
248 
capital value. I think, if carefully looked at from a landlord’s point 
of view, it will be seen that it is not only the duty but the interest of 
landlords to give every facility that they legitimately can to good tenants 
as regards this matter of fruit culture. 
We take one more extract, dealing with what we term the 
accelerating of profits in fruit culture. No doubt our author likes 
these to be as quickly produced as possible, and as he is not a 
selfish man, is imbued with the same desire for others, hence 
remarks: 
One great drawback to fruit culture in the past has been the time 
that must necessarily elapse after planting before realising a return. 
According to the old methods it was useless to expect anything like a 
profitable return from fruit trees for at least ten to twelve years after 
planting. Modern science and practice have, however, done much to 
alter this. Necessity in this case, as in many others, has stimulated 
invention, and by the use of dwarfing stocks and other similar means 
almost a revolution in fruit culture has been accomplished. Many of 
our Apples for which we had to wait years for a crop will, by working on 
the Paradise stock, now yield fruit the second season after grafting ; and 
what the Paradise has done for the Apple the Quince has done for the 
Pear. 
What -was said of the Pear, according to the old lines is now changed 
into the following :— 
“ That ‘ Those who plant Pears 
Grow fruit for their heirs,’ 
Is a maxim our grandfathers knew. 
But folks have learned since, 
If you graft on the Quince, 
The fruit will develop for you.” 
We hope that many readers will realise the truth of the 
prophetic utterance, as they may if they discriminate, for there are 
a few Pears that are the least profitable in the end on Quince 
stocks. One instance is afforded in the Pear garden of Mr. Thomas 
of Sittingbourne. His Pitmaston Duchess Pears on free stocks 
are the most profitable of all his varieties, and we are well within 
the bounds of strict accuracy in stating that any one of his trees 
on the Pear stock has given a greater value of fruit during the 
past fifteen or twenty years than have three on the Quince, and we 
could cite other examples. There is plenty of sound information 
in the book to enable “ fruit to develop ” for the growers if they 
follow intelligently the methods advised in land preparation, 
planting, pruning, and the selection of appropriate varieties for 
the positions and object in view. The work is well printed, 
usefully illustrated, and is worthy of being associated with other 
handbooks on the subject—hardy fruit culture — on which it 
treats. 
ALLERTON TOWER. 
The residence of Sir Thomas Earle, Bart., is a fine imposing mansion 
and is about ten minutes walk from Allerton Station on the L. and N.W. 
Railway. It is situated in charmingly wooded grounds, from which at 
nearly every turn beautiful and varied views present themselves ; whilst 
from the tower and south side of the terrace the river Mersey can be 
seen for a long distance, with its numerous array of ships sailing to and 
fro from all parts of the world. The house is approached by a winding 
drive, along which are some fine old trees, and, what are so seldom 
found in this neighbourhood, two large Mulberry trees, which are every 
year laden with fruit. A short turn through a walk bordered on each 
side by Rhododendrons, and we are on the terrace. Here we get a 
grand view of the pleasure grounds, the features of which are the 
perfectly kept lawns so free from all kinds of noxious weeds. The 
walks are quite straight, and have been evidently made to match the 
architecture of the house. The lawns stretch away in the distance, and 
here and there fine old trees are to be noticed, together with banks of 
shrubs. 
The flower garden, although small, is very tastefully bedded, and it 
is just as well that it is no larger, or much of the delightful effect of the 
terrace view would be entirely spoiled. On the left of the terrace is a 
small conservatory, leading into a long corridor. The outside of the 
corridor is festooned with creepers, but what impressed me most was a 
fine old Vine, running the whole length immediately underneath the 
roof. This not only proves ornamental when in active growth, but as 
autumn turns the green leaves into purple and crimson and gold, its 
usefulness for decorative purposes cannot be over-estimated. Much 
more might be done with outside Vines in respect to the foliage, thereby 
saving the partial destruction of many Vines under glass, which in 
some cases have to have many of the leaves stripped for use in garnishing 
dishes of fruit throughout the autumn and winter. 
Passing from the terrace, down a flight of stone steps, we come to a 
broad gravel walk, on each side of which are planted three fine specimen 
Irish Yews. A turn through a doorway and we are brought into the 
quarter where the plant houses, vineries, and Peach house are situated. 
The first we enter is a greenhouse filled with a splendid assortment of 
plants appropriate to such a structure. Particularly attractive were the 
Fuchsias trained up the roof. The next house is a stove and fernery 
combined. A grand Allamanda Hendersoni in full bloom occupied a 
large space on the roof, and good plants of Asparagus plumosus, useful 
Ferns, and table plants covered the stages. The vinery is in three 
divisions. In the early one the heating is not sufficient, and to counteract 
this Mr. Stoney, the gardener, has the ropes removed and the ventilating 
sashes nailed down, so that not a breath of air is admitted until April. 
How well this succeeds is shown by the magnificent bunches of Muscats 
and Madresfield Court, which have taken high honours at the Liverpool 
Show over a period of years. The second vinery has four Black 
Hamburghs, two Muscats, and one Madresfield Court. This again has 
only a flow and return pipe running through, and those who cling to 
the impression that Muscats are never satisfactory in a mixed house, 
and that they want so many degrees of heat more than other Vines, 
would have it shaken could they see what is done at Allerton. In the 
centre of this house a chamber is built, which is entered by a small door. 
Here is done all the Mushroom growing and the forcing of Seakale and 
Rhubarb. The late house is planted with one Bowood Muscat, three 
Lady Downe’s, and three Alicantes, and the same splendid crops are to 
be seen. The centre portion of the flooring in this house is always 
occupied with Camellias in pots, which at the time of my visit were so 
thickly set with buds as to necessitate the removal of some hundreds of 
them. Before closing reference to the Vines I may also add that the 
magnificent collections of vegetables exhibited with such conspicuous 
success year after year at Liverpool are grown on the outside Vine 
borders, and apparently with not the slightest detriment to the Vines. 
Passing along a small walk, bordered on each side by herbaceous 
plants, we come to the fine Peach house, which is 300 feet long and in 
three divisions. The first house has the trees on the back wall only, the 
front being filled with miscellaneous greenhouse plants. The varieties 
in this house are Teton de Vbnus, a fine Peach, of good colour, and with 
excellent cropping qualities, but one seldom met with, and Grosse 
Mignonne, Improved Downton, Pineapple, and Lord Napier Nectarines. 
In the second division on the front trellis is a stately old Royal George 
Peach. It covers a space 30 feet in length, and the stem 1 foot 
from the ground is 27 inches in circumference. It never fails to carryi 
crop of from 250 to 300 fruits, and all of the finest quality. The others 
on the front are two Bellegarde, carrying superb crops, and Noblesse, 
which is Sir Thomas Earle’s favourite Peach. On the back are two 
Stirling Castle, Alexander, Dr. Hogg, and Violette Hrttive and Victoria 
Nectarine. The late house is without fire heat, and consists of the 
following on the back wall:—Walburton and Late Admirable, Royal 
George, Barrington, Noblesse, Balgowan, and Victoria Nectarine. A 
few cordon Pears are planted between of the following varieties, all carry¬ 
ing good crops :—Jargonelle, Williams’ Bon Chretien, Hassle, Pitmaston 
Duchess, Marie Louise, Brockworth Park, Doyennb du Comice, Duchesse 
d’Angouleme, and Josephine de Malines. Along the front are Plums 
planted out. The chief sorts are Coe’s Golden Drop, Purple Gage, 
Green Gage, and Jefferson, all free from insects, and carrying fine crops. 
I may here mention that with the exception of one or two young trees, 
none of the other Peaches and Nectarines has been lifted for ten years. 
A hard surface, a good mulching of decayed manure during the fruiting 
period, free watering, and training the shoots thinly are the means by 
which such excellent crops are produced throughout the entire range. 
A few old-fashioned forcing pits, used firstly for the forcing of early 
Potatoes and the propagation of bedding plants, were filled with splendid 
crops of Lockie’s Perfection Cucumber and Masterpiece Melon, and in 
another was an old Stephanotis, which is never out of flower, and which 
was a perfect sheet of lovely wax-like flowers. There is also a rosery 
in the pleasure grounds, which was very gay. In the vegetable depart¬ 
ment the crops are excellent. There is not a foot of spare ground, and 
what is more not a weed to be seen. There is also, a short distance from 
the house, a finely cropped garden of vegetables some 100 yards long by 
22 feet wide. Considering the number of hands employed in the 
gardens it is nothing short of wonderful that the whole of the grounds 
are kept in such a thorough manner. Mr. Stoney’s courtesy has earned 
him hosts of friends.—R. P. R. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
SHEFFIELD, HALLAMSHIRE, AND WEST RIDING UNITED 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
The second annual summer Show of this Society was held in the 
Museum, Orchard Street, Sheffield. As compared with some of the 
district exhibitions held in tents this display of plants, flowers, fruits, 
and vegetables was small, and lacked some of their interest; but upon 
the whole it was a creditable display, and serves a useful purpose in 
drawing attention to the main objects of the Society, which are to culti¬ 
vate energy and enthusiasm among all classes of Chrysanthemum 
growers, and endeavour to enlist their support as well as that of the 
general public for the November Exhibition. This summer Show gives 
many supporters of the Society, who are not Chrysanthemum growers, 
an opportunity to compete for small prizes given for other plants and 
flowers at a time of the year when outdoor flowers and many kinds of 
vegetables and fruits are fairly plentiful. 
The response accorded by the amateur members of the Society was 
most praiseworthy, especially in the classes devoted to herbaceous Phlox, 
Gladioli, Dahlias, Stocks, and Asters. These flowers were all numerously 
and well shown by the amateurs, far exceeding in quality those in the 
professional classes, where competition, except in those for vegetables, 
was only weak. The display of plants was very poor, doubtless owing 
to the soaking wet weather of the first day, and the objections which 
some had to a two-days show. The frequency of exhibitions at the time 
