JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 3,1895. 
G 
nature, prolonged for years, and to him most costly ; and though his 
salary exceeded that of the great majority of head gardeners, it has only 
been by the exercise of extreme prudence that all domestic wants could 
be met. Yet he did his best to provide for the future by joining benefit 
societies, such as the admirable Gardeners’ United Provident Society, 
and now his payments will be returned to his widow less the moiety due 
to the general sick fund ; but he had not long been a member. A 
particular misfortune is that he was too late by a fortnight in effecting 
a Government (Post Office) life insurance, and only his payments can 
consequently be refunded. Still, he did what he could, and a few 
pounds are due from two or three societies. In the meantime immediate 
wants have been met, one warm-hearted reader of and writer in the 
Journal having sent a cheque for £10 “in case it might be useful.’’ It 
is gratefully accepted by the afflicted widow, Mrs. Collins, as are a few 
small sums from other friends. 
If there was one kind of duty more agreeable to her husband than 
another, it was in attending the general meetings of our charitable 
institutions for the purpose of reporting them and making their benefits 
known to the world. AH the reports of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution, the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, and the 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident kSociety during recent years 
were from his pen. 
We have said Mr. Collins was a diligent man. He had no waste 
moments. He was in the habit when he had five minutes to spare of 
taking up a number of the Journal as if in search of an idea and jotting 
down his thoughts on slips of paper—another lesson. Some he left on 
his table, as he evidently found no opening for them during the 
pressure of Chrysanthemum time. We give a few as samples—lessons 
from the life of one, which, so far as we know, and we speak after much 
refiection, was as near as can be expected in the frailties of human 
nature, blameless. 
It appears that Mr. Collins had often when in health expressed 
a strong wish to rest near the parental home of his much-loved wife, 
and his remains were therefore interred in Manthorpe Churchyard, 
Grantham, on Tuesday the 1st inst., the Journal of Horticulture 
being represented by his close friend and fellow worker Mr. Horace 
J. Wright. _ 
POSTHUMOUS NOTES. 
Looking Back. 
I OBSERVE “ J. B. R,” some time ago bemoaned the fact that early 
flowering Chrysanthemums were not represented as they should have 
been at the Aquarium Show in September. That is so, and like your 
correspondent, I was disappointed with the exhibition as a whole. 
There were unquestionably plenty of Dahlias, rich and glowing in all 
their brilliancy, but of Chrysanthemums—well, the least said the better. 
Whilst gazing at a stand of dozen blooms, for which a first prize had 
been awarded, a bystander remarked, “ Well, if I had been Mr.-, 
I should have left those flowers at home.’’ The blooms were certainly 
only third-rate in quality, but had everyone “left their flowers at home ’’ 
there would have been no Chrysanthemums. This would have made 
matters worse than they were. But considering the hundreds of 
varieties of early Chrysanthemums now in cultivation, and the splendid 
season they have bad, it is curious that they were not shown in better 
condition. September exhibitions are not, I fear, going to be a source 
of strength to the N.C.S. 
London Sparrows. 
The sparrow question appears to be like Tennyson’s brook—going on 
for ever. “ An Afflicted Suburban Amateur ’’ is not alone in his troubles. 
Another suburban amateur whom I know can sympathise with your 
correspondent. His sparrows are as cheeky and as misbehaved as they 
possibly can be. so much so as to become pests. Last spring this 
enthusiastic amateur decided to lay his little back garden down with 
turf, as the sparrows wilt not agree with his ideas of gardening. Steps 
were therefore taken to sow grass seed, this being done about the end of 
March. But alas 1 thesparrows watched the operation, and immediately 
pounced down upon the seeds. Being determined to thwart their 
designs the amateur purchased fish-netting and covered the ground, but 
it was no use. As the seeds were germinating the sparrows swarmed 
on the ground, and made their way through the netting. The result 
was a very poor crop of grass, bare patches being more prevalent than 
green verdure. In May more seeds were purchased and sown, but it 
was only by close watching to drive away the birds that a respectable 
sward could be obtained. The same with my Crocus blooms, and I 
have even seen sparrows peck Carnation foliage all to pieces. Many 
times have I wished that the London sparrows were as good as Mr. 
Witherspoon’s, but they are not, and—well, they are a nuisance. 
Apples—Profit and Loss. 
There have been enormous crops of Apples and Pears in various 
parts of the country, and, strange as it may appear, some growers wished 
they were not so plentiful. One can hardly be surprised, however, at 
this when it is taken into consideration the extremely low price realised 
for the fruit. I saw Apples sold for 2d. and 3d. per stone of 14 lbs. in 
the market of a medium-sized town in Lincolnshire. One poor man 
informed me that he had brought about 8 stone of Apples from a 
distance of nine miles, and the cost of conveying himself ' and the 
fruit was Is. Under these circumstances it will be seen that the 
vendor had a shilling for his trouble and day’s labour. The Apples 
were fairly good examples of Keswick Codlins, and tons of other early 
varieties were being sold in the same market. This is an instance in 
which it may be said that fruit-growing is not profitable, but there is 
another side to the picture. At Christmas last year I saw fine speci¬ 
mens of Bramley’s Seedling sold in the same market for 3s. per stone, 
which appeared to please the seller greatly. The moral of this is that 
it is useless sending fruit to the markets when there is glut, and more¬ 
over, by growing varieties that will keep, fruit culture is a profitable 
investment. The experience of others on this point would be 
interesting. 
Heavy Apples. 
What is the weight of the heaviest Apple on record ? The “ big 
Gooseberry’’ is practically played oat, but paragraphs have been going 
the round of the daily Press that certain growers have produced Apples 
of enormous size and weight this year. As announced in some previous 
comments of mine, Mr. Woodward of Barham Court Gardens exhibited 
a Peasgood’s Nonesuch Apple which weighed 22 ozs. at the Agricultural 
Hall, Then came the announcement that Mr. Payne, gardener at 
Wells Palace, Somersetshire, exhibited twelve fruits of the same variety 
at Bath, these weighing in the aggregate 15 lbs. The largest Apple 
was 16 inches in circumference, and weighed 22 ozs. These were shown 
at the Royal Aquarium, and a silver medal was awarded for them. 
They were unquestionably fine Apples, being so richly coloured, and a 
few remarks from Mr. Payne concerning the treatment he has given his 
trees would doubtless be appreciated by many readers of ^ the Journal. 
It is not everyone who can grow a dozen Apples that win two silver 
medals besides first prizes. But verily there is “ nothing new under 
the sun.” In the Jouri al of Dscember 15th, 1892, page 523, it was 
recorded that Mr. W. Salcombe, Ticehurst, had grown in_ the open 
air a Peasgood’s Nonesuch Apple which measured 16J inches in circum¬ 
ference and weighed 26 ozs. The heaviest on record that I know of 
was shown by the late Mr. Samuel Barlow at the Guildhall show in 
1890 ; but this fruit, which was stated to weigh 30 ozs., had been grown 
under glass. 
Looking Forward. 
The season has not been on the whole a salubrious one, yet many a 
man who has now a little time for reflection can take a retrospective 
view of his work with pride. The earnest worker has this year succeeded 
in producing a brilliant display in the flower garden, as well as excellent 
crops of fruit and vegetables. I do not mean to infer that there are 
indolent gardeners, because men who are indolent are not worthy of the 
name of “ gardener,” but rather to give a hint to yonng and old to be 
on the alert for another season. A little forethought often prevents 
much trouble and annoyance, and the past summer has taught lessons 
which every gardener who is a keen observer may turn to good account 
in the future. Men who win success are those who look ahead, form 
high ideals, and persevere.—C. 
CLEANING VINES. 
My article on the above subject (page 535 of the 13th ult.) seems 
to have upset “Erica’s” peace of mind. I am sorry for that, as my 
notes were written to assist anyone in need, and not to provoke the 
opposition of persons following different methods. Years of observation 
have convinced me that the work is often carried out thoughtlessly, and 
that denuding Vines of bark is detrimental to their well-being, as is 
proved by the greater increase in the size of sterns of Vines not peeled, 
in comparison with those treated otherwise ; this is evidence that one is 
better nourished than the other. From the better nourished Vine we 
naturally look for the best results ; that is why I like to see Vine rods 
well clothed with bark. 
Vines stripped of their hark must expose the returning elaborated 
sap more to the varying conditions of the atmosphere than when 
excessive transpiration is prevented by a thick coating of outer bark. 
All Grape growers with whom I am acquainted who aim at “ first class ” 
excellence practise what I am advocating, and the argument adduced 
above is, I think, sufficient to show that peeling Vines is prejudicial to 
attaining the highest standard of cultivation. Grapes good enough for 
home consumption are produced under the peeling process, I am well 
aware, but that does not prove it is the most correct method. Why not 
improve in one matter of detail, and so make another step towards 
securing the highest possible results ? Modifying the ways of Nature 
to suit our requirements is a different thing to unnecessarily destroying 
the tissues of Vines. As I stated before, the outer bark is given to 
protect the internal tissues, and any unnecessary interference with it 
upsets the functions of the plant more or less. 
I am glad to say I have only once had to deal with mealy bug on 
Vines, and that in the capacity of a subordinate. If I had the enemy 
to deal with now the condition of the Vines would be my guide as to 
how I should proceed. I am acquainted with many different modes of 
cleaning Vines, but those treated as I advised, and attended to promptly 
in other matters of detail, can be kept as free from pests, and produce 
as good results, as from any other treatment that I have seen. If matters 
are very bad, I readily grant the treatment must be conducted to meet 
the case, not adhering to any particular line of action. The treatment 
pursued by me is attended with every success, and I have no reason to 
alter my methods, but any person is, of course, free to adopt any other 
practice he may think best. 
It would be interesting to know something of “ Erica’s” credentials 
as a Grape-grower, as he criticises my article very keenly ; so wishing 
him a good New Year, I will await the information.—J, J. Craven. 
