808 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
[ October 6, 1892; 
- Profit in Prunes. —A writer in the American “Pomona 
Progress,” basing his estimates on the profits of his own Prune orchard 
and the figures given him by four of the most careful growers in Pomona 
Valley, California, makes the rosy statement that 10 acres planted with 
French Prunes will, within ten years, yield an annual net income 
of £1000. The outlay for such an orchard during the first four years 
will be something less than £600, including interest. This outlay will 
be nearly equalled by the crop of the fifth year, while a handsome 
profit is assured the next season. 
- Flavour in Tomatoes. —The theory that yellow Tomatoes in¬ 
variably have a higher flavour than red ones will not bear examination. 
To assume that mere difference in the colour of the skin and flesh, with¬ 
out any change in the texture or composition of the flesh, will enhance 
advour, is too absurd. It is like the opinion that white blossomed 
runner Beans have better flavoured pods than scarlet flowered ones, and 
yet one is but a colour sport from the other. Flavour will be found in 
Tomatoes very much just as the plants have been grown in ample light, 
and have not been over-watered or fed. There can hardly be too much 
sunlight or warmth to make Tomatoes good. A very handsome looking 
yellow plum-shaped Tomato shown at the Drill Hall last week was 
found to be more flavourless than any of the red ones. It is only to 
start a theory and plenty of disciples are discovered, yet it is generally 
found that the theory has no tangible basis.—D. 
- Victoria Asters. —This section of annual Asters have been 
unusually good during the present season, and have well sustained their 
character for usefulness in the months of August and September, not 
only as border plants, but for cutting purposes. The range of colour 
that is procurable in this section renders them both valuable and 
interesting. Distinct hues can now be had from separate packets of 
seed. We have a long border filled with Boses, and enough space is 
allowed in the front for one row of the Victoria Aster and another in 
front of it of the dwarf Chrysanthemum-flowered section. When the 
Boses have passed their best, as is the case in August, the Asters main¬ 
tain the border in a bright condition. Like most annuals Asters do best 
in a rich soil. We have plenty of plants this year carrying a dozen good 
blooms, which would be considered far too many if exhibition was the 
aim, but as decoration of the garden, combined with providing cut 
flowers, is the object, the more blooms the plants produce the better. 
Where so many persons make a mistake in growing Asters, as well as 
with other half-hardy annuals, is in giving too much heat when pre¬ 
paring the plants. When this is the case they are weakened in their 
infancy, and cannot afterwards give good blooms, nor a quantity of 
them. A cold frame is all the protection our plants have, but we sow 
the seed the first week in March, ample time is then allowed for a 
gradual steady growth. The plants when in bloom never exceed 1 foot 
high. One stake in the centre of each plant prevents the weight of the 
blossoms from over-balancing the plants.—S. 
-Emigrants’ Information Office, 31, Broadway, West¬ 
minster, S.W.—The October circulars of the Emigrants’ Information 
Office, and the annual editions of the penny and other handbooks, with 
maps, show the present prospects of emigration. The Canadian Govern¬ 
ment is offering bonuses of five to ten dollars a head to those who take 
up land in the North-West or British Columbia. The Government 
Immigration Agencies in the Province of Ontario have just been 
abolished. Emigrants are warned ttat the system which exists of 
paying premiums in this country for instruction in farming in Canada 
is liable to grave abuse, and is considered by the Canadian Government 
to be unnecessary. Sydney, in New South Wales, suffers, as usual, 
most of all from the prevailing depression, and no one without money 
should go there at the present time unless he has work waiting for him. 
In country districts there is work to be had on vineyards, stations, and 
farms, especially at this season of the year. In South Australia almost 
the only demand last quarter was for ploughmen, shearers, and general 
farm and station hands, of whom, however, there was a plentiful local 
supply. In Queensland the re-introduction of the Pacific Islanders to 
work on the sugar plantations, which has lately been authorised by the 
Government, has given an impetus to sugar growing, and consequently 
to the manufacture of machinery for plantation and agricultural pur¬ 
poses, but there is no demand for fresh hands. In South and Western 
Australia, Tasmania, Cape Colony, and Natal there is a demand for small 
capitalists, farmers, and fruit growers. As the Brazilian Government 
are endeavouring to introduce European labourers into some of the 
tropical provinces of Brazil, it becomes necessary to repeat again most 
strongly the warnings which have been frequently issued from this office 
against British emigration to that country. 
- A New Industry for Forest Districts. — Mr. W.* S. 
Manning writes from 2, Gray’s Inn Boad, London : “ As your valuable 
paper circulates in many woodland districts allow me to make ithe 
following suggestions for those interested in forestry, or the welfare of 
their poor neighbours. A new industry might be gradually started, 
where hedge nuts or beech nuts abound, and permission can be obtained 
to gather them, if these nuts could be gathered and sent up to London, 
or other large towns. Both could be sold at 2d. per lb., or by the cwt. 
at 10s. to 12s. in any quantity, and the kernels would sell at 5d. per lb. 
The shelling would afford evening work for the elder children during 
the autumn months, and I shall be glad to find an outlet for the first 
200 or 300 lbs. offered, and pay cash on delivery at a London railway 
station for either of these nuts on the above terms to make a start. To 
secretaries of gardeners’ societies I may add that I shall be glad to give 
an address or open a debate on what is man’s best and natural food free 
of any charges.” 
-Summary of Meteorological Observations at Hod- 
sock Priory, Worksop, Notts, in September. —Mean temperature 
of month SPl 0 . Maximum on the 19th, 67'4° ; minimum on the 18tb r 
SG'l 0 . Maximum in the sun on the 25th, 1241° ; minimum on the grass 
on the 18th, 27-4°. Mean temperature of the air at 9 A.M., 55-5°. Mean 
temperature of soil 1 foot deep, 54'8°. Nights below 32°, in shade, none ; 
on grass, 7. Total duration of sunshine in month, 109 hours, or 29 per 
cent, of possible duration. We had four sunless days. Total rainfall, 
D74 in. ; maximum fall in twenty-four hours on the 20th, 0.99 in. Bain 
fell on thirteen days. Wind, average velocity ll'O miles an hour ; velocity 
exceeded 400 miles on one day, and fell short of 100 miles on one day. 
Approximate averages for September :—Mean temperature, 55'5° ; sun¬ 
shine, 110 hours ; rainfall 2 26. A rather cool, but otherwise fairly 
normal month. The first three weeks were fine. The bulk of the harvest 
was secured in good order, but the rest of the month was showery and 
unsettled.—J. Mallender. 
- Cholera Precautions and Horticultural Imports. —It 
is feared by the importers of seeds and bulbs that the precautions 
against cholera may kill or keep out of the country a good many plants 
besides the comma bacillus. The long delays at quarantine in the close 
holds of steamships will injure many seeds and bulbs and kill many 
living plants outright. Besides this a delay at this season of active 
opening of the autumn trade is most annoying, and it will cause much 
disturbance if not pecuniary loss. Many invoices have not yet left the 
other side, and importers hardly know whether to countermand their 
orders or allow the stock to take the chances of quarantine delay, and 
what is still more dangerous, of quarantine disinfection. It may be that 
some of the vapours used to destroy cholera germs will not kill Holland 
bulbs, for example. But some of the processes in which hot steam is 
used to kill the comma bacillus by sheer heat would be likely to cook 
bulbs beyond all hope of germination. We hope the dangers of the 
situation are not so serious as some have feared. Importers will doubt¬ 
less order shipment only from clean ports, and if health officers use 
proper judgment in selecting their modes of disinfection seeds and bulbs 
ought to escape without injury. But it is well worth while for the 
importers of stock of this character to make a united effort to secure fair 
treatment. Thus writes “ Garden and Forest ” (American). Happily 
there is no cause for precautions with British exports. 
- A Distinct Single Begonia. —Any good break in these 
flowers is welcome. I saw on Sunday last, when taking a stroll round 
the outskirts of that fine Somersetshire town Yeovil, what was evidently 
a very brilliant display of Begonias in a show house, over which was 
the name of Mr. B. B. Davis. To pass such a show, even though 
recently pretty well satiated with Begonias, was against gardening 
nature. I therefore found Mr. Davis, and had a close view of his beau¬ 
tiful single and double flowers. They have not all the good things at 
Forest Hill or Swanley by any means, but it does seem a surprise to 
find Begonias in such splendid form at Yeovil. The gem of the collec¬ 
tion, however, in my estimation, was a striking single crimson, the 
flowers being both five and six petalled, large, flat, and regularly placed. 
One of the blooms there was 6 inches across, but others have exceeded 
7 inches. That will show that the variety has the merit of size, as well 
a9 the novelty of surplus petals. The sort is four years old, and first 
gave four-petalled crimped-edged flowers ; then came the following year 
six petals, in all cases of large flowers. The following year they pro¬ 
duced five petals, and now this year they have been six again, except in 
the case of one late bloom. Here is the prospect of a break, which 
should give to us quite a new and even more beautiful strain of 
Begonias than we now possess. Mr. Davis promised he would do his 
best to send the flowers to the Floral Committee, — Alex, Dean, 
