Jane 6,1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
501 
their presence. Even on those far too rare occasions when the Com¬ 
mittees are convened there the attendance is usually small, yet from a 
purely horticultural aspect probably there is no work done by the 
members of more real interest than is put before them at Chiswick. 
To some extent the Council is to blame for this neglect of their 
delightful gardens. They do nothing to entice attendance, not even on 
show days. What would it cost the Society to hold just one fSte day or 
reception of all the members of the Committees daring the summer? 
making it a special gathering, as much of a social as of a professional 
character, the morning devoted to work, which is both pleasant and 
useful; the afternoon and evening to friendly association, discussion, 
and enjoyment. To how great an extent would such a gathering help 
to popularise Chiswick in the estimation of its more practical supporters. 
Bealising my own personal responsibility as a Fellow, I went to the 
gardens a few days since, just to see how they were looking and what 
could be learnt in them. A special need, I trust, amply satisfied ere 
this appears in print, was rain—a universal want. The Chiswick ground 
is very porous, and soon parts with its moisture. Still everything was 
looking exceedingly well, and every effort had been made to utilise the 
dry weather to clear the ground and keep down weeds. Mr. Barron’s 
assistance is none too great, and in some cases heads count for more 
than backs ; yet it is pleasant to see old servants, men who have in 
earlier days worked hard in the Society’s interests, still employed and 
doing their best. A couple of more stout backs could, however, find 
ample occupation, especially where, as at Chiswick, what is done needs 
to be done with special care, as the work is generally of greater 
importance than is what usually is found in ordinary gardens. 
There is good promise at present of a fruit crop there. Strawberries 
blooming and fruiting profusely in several parts of the gardens, and 
including apparently almost every known variety, should present this 
year a splendid opportunity for the Fruit Committee to sample them. 
This chance has not offered for two years—in 1893, because of the 
exceeding drought, and last year because of the late spring frost. Even 
now there is a fly in our pot of ointment, for a heavy rain is badly 
needed to set up the plants, as it is now with the crop a critical time. 
Given a heavy rain, then a fine lot of fruit should be assured. Were 
the Council less anxious to market the fruit, and more desirous of enter¬ 
taining the Committees, no doubt an invitation to a Strawberry feast at 
Chiswick a few weeks hence would be freely responded to. Apples on 
nearly all trees are a great set, the fruits now swelling. How Nature, 
when there is such a big bloom, does her own thinning, may be exemplified 
here, where two blooms perfect themselves and ten fail. 
The small bush or half-standard trees in the northern side of the 
gardens that seem to crop so well every year, are again full of fruit, 
some rather large trees transplanted last autumn excepted. Those will, 
however, fruit next year, no doubt. It is worthy of observation, and 
perhaps accounts for these small trees fruiting so freely when so many 
others fail as last year, that Mr. Barron does not hard prune or really 
shorten back the shoots. He thins out somewhat. Black Currant fashion, 
cutting out old branches hard down as needed, keeping the heads thin, but 
the branches hanging free. That promotes a somewhat drooping habit of 
growth, and perhaps because the bloom is not so much exposed to frost 
as is the case with flowers on stiff hard-pruned trees, it escapes injury. 
In any "case it is not possible to have better average results than these 
trees on the Paradise stock give at Chiswick. 
Pears are generally plentiful on the wall cordons ; a very fine stock 
indeed of trees thus trained. They seem to be thin on the upright 
cordons, and a moderate crop on the fine pyramids in the gardens. 
There seems to be plenty of this fruit in any case. The old Plum 
quarter has been grubbed out, and a quarter formerly utilised for Potatoes 
and Peas has been planted with young trees in rows of three on each 
side of a centre path. There is abundance of room yet. All these are 
doing very well, and they seem to include every known useful variety. 
These trees are of both bush and semi-standard form, and in a few years 
should present a fine fruitful plantation. There is a very fair set of 
Peaches and Nectarines on the trees outside. 
Under glass the large span-house just within the gardens is now 
becoming an interesting feature. The Vines trained to uprights some 
10 feet in height inside have nearly covered the under side of the roof, 
the rods running across overhead and partially down towards the eaves. 
They are fruiting very well. I noticed very little fruit set on the upright 
stems, however, and should have thought planting quite at the sides, 
running the rods right to the ridge, would have been best. Still, the 
method of planting seen may have its objects and lessons. There is a 
grand lot of Tomato plants standing along the sides of the house. 
These are in full fruit, and should give a capital trial early. There are 
of Tomatoes two other later sowings, one in a span house, the plants 
3 feet in height, and one in a lean-to 1 foot in height. 
The Fig house is a most interesting feature. The collection is of the 
most complete nature, trees of all sizes ; though the bulk are in very 
large pots, all in the most perfect health, are fruiting abundantly. It 
is very doubtful whether a finer collection or better grown trees in 
pots are to be found anywhere in the kingdom. Atrial of some 100 
varieties of bedding Violas cannot fail to attract attention. They are 
planted out in rows of six across the line of beds that border the path 
leading to the old Council room. No doubt later after they have become 
strong they will make a very attractive feature. To me they offered 
cause to ask why so much sheer rubbish should be indulged with names, 
but tastes over Violas seem just now to have rather run wild. However, 
favoured with rain, these Violas promise to do very well. Elsewhere 
Sweet Peas in great variety, herbaceous Phloxes in abundance—far 
too many, in fact; perennial Asters, and Paeonies present plenty of 
attractive material. 
Vegetables seem in grave danger of getting crowded out. I notice 
in the quarter devoted to Peas on one side, and runner and dwarf Beans 
on the other, that each variety has perforce to be restricted to rows 
10 feet long. Perhaps it is enough, but it is rather bare stint all the 
same. Peas need sticks badly, and have all been well earthed. They 
have, like Peas everywhere, come up in some places thinly, but perhaps 
that may be all the better for the trials in the end. Beans seem to be 
largely represented. In another quarter there are some sixty-eight 
varieties of Potatoes planted, nearly all being well through the ground. 
Any harm from frost is now improbable. Raisers seem driven to their 
wit’s ends to find new or distinctive appellations, and some are amusing. 
Some others seem to be boldly stolen from well-known varieties in 
cultivation. That is a method of nomenclature which should be 
severely repressed, and I hope the Fruit Committee will notice it. 
These things I have mentioned do not comprise everything of interest 
that may be seen at Chiswick, but they suffice to show how the gardens 
are being utilised. Some day, perhaps, all the garden space may be 
utilised for fruits and flowers, the Council finding a couple of acres 
of ground somewhere else in the neighbourhood where vegetables can 
have wider representation and more justice rendered to their economical 
importance than is now shown. A very light, elegant span-roof curvi¬ 
linear house, 50 feet by 14 feet, erected in the gardens by Messrs. Skinner, 
Board & Co. of Bristol, will, no doubt, attract much attention and 
ample criticism later. Its construction is novel, as also is its glazing. 
It is wonderfully light, but how far it may be serviceable or enduring 
has to be shown.—A. D. 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Division B.—Horticultural Practice. 
Questions. 
9, Name six of the best species of hothouse flowering plants, and 
give some of the general details of culture. Name some of the insect 
pests that infest such plants, and state the best method to be adopted for 
their destruction. 
10, Give general details for growing Peas, and the method of culture, 
time of sowing, &c., to give a supply for as long a period as possible. 
What is the use of the nodules on the roots ? 
11, What is an Alpine plant, as the name is generally understood in 
gardens 7 Describe the cultural requirements of such plants, and the 
best way to propagate them. < 
12, What is the original parentage of Cauliflower and Broccoli ? Give 
the method of culture, and the best varieties to obtain a succession all 
the year round. 
13, Give some details of the culture of Grape Vines under glass. 
Describe the diseases to which they are subject, and the insect pests 
which attack them, and their cure. 
14, What kind of fruit trees and bushes are best adapted for culture 
in small gardens? Briefly describe the best method of culture, and 
arrangement of the trees and bushes. 
15, In a walled garden, what kind of fruit trees would you recom¬ 
mend to be planted on the four aspects—south, north, east, and west ? 
What distance apart should the trees be ? Suggest the best width of the 
borders, and height of the walls. 
16 (a). What do you consider the best class of soil for fruit trees, 
and how ought it to be prepared for them ? 
(&), Is there any method of culture likely to prevent canker in 
Apple trees, or gumming in Apricots, Cherries, and Plums ? 
Answers. 
9, Allamandas, Clerodendrons, Eucharis, Euphorbia jacquiniasflora, 
Gloxinias, and Stephanotis floribunda are six of the best species of stove 
or hothouse-flowering plants. Allamandas, Clerodendrons, Euphorbias, 
and Stephanotis require to be grown in a light position near the glass 
in an average temperature of 65°, providing a light shade during very 
hot weather in the summer. They succeed best when planted out in a 
well-drained border of soil composed of loam, peat, leaf soil, and sand, 
the growths being trained on wires. The Euphorbia is excellent for 
the back wall of a stove, where with an average amount of light to 
help ripen the wood it produces bloom in midwinter if afforded a 
temperature of not less than 60°. Daring the period when the young 
wood of the plants named is being made a moist atmosphere is essential j 
at the flowering period a buoyant and airy temperature, with com¬ 
paratively cool conditions for all in winter but the Euphorbia. The 
Eucharis succeeds in pots or beds, a temperature of 70°, and a moist 
atmosphere with frequent syringing to promote free, strong growth. 
On the completion of this a more airy temperature must be maintained, 
finally subjecting the plants to cool conditions with little water to 
assist the completion of the ripening process. When placed in heat 
again the flower spikes are thrown up almost immediately. Gloxinias 
enjoy a moist temperature of 60° to 65° during active growth. When 
at rest the plants are leafless, and the tubers should be kept dry in a 
temperature seldom falling below 50°. As growth commences in the 
spring the tubers must have attention to repotting in a compost of loam, 
peat, leaf soil, and sand. A little bottom heat at this stage promo'es 
growth. Water sufficiently, but not excessively at any stage. Give 
weak liquid manure when the pots are full of roots. Continue liberal 
treatment after flowering and until the foliage shows signs of decaying, 
