May 9, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
413 
sent those which were set at the exam on May Ist, 1895, and I will 
leave them to judge what chance a man with theory alone would have 
in answering them.—W. D,, Turnford. 
KOYAL HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S EXAMINATION IN 
HORTICULTURE. 
Questions. 
Eight questions only to be answered ; four from Division A, in¬ 
cluding No. 6, which must be answered by every candidate, and four 
from Division B. 
Division A.—Elementary Principles. 
1 (a), What substances do plants absorb by means of their roots ? 
Explain the process of absorption by the root. 
(&), What elements do plants obtain from the air, and by what 
agency do they obtain them ? 
2, Explain the effect on flowering plants of an adequate, a deficient, 
or of an excessive amount of heat. 
3, How are “ cuttings ” made ? Describe the changes that occur 
during the process of “striking.” 
4, What are the objects sought to be obtained in digging the soil 1 
5, Write as full and orderly a description as you can of any plant in 
common cultivation, through all stages of its growth, from the germina¬ 
tion of the embryo to the formation of the seed. 
6 , What organs of the plant are represented respectively by an 
Onion, a Cabbage, a Potato, Beet, Turnip, and a pea-pod ? 
7, Describe the mode of growth of the common Mushroom. 
8 , What is meant by “ green fly 1 ” What is the best application to 
rid plants growing out of doors of this pest 1 
Division B.—Horticultural Practice. 
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 auch 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 1 
11, What is an Alpine plant, as the name is generally understood in 
gardens 1 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. 
IS, 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 1 Briefly describe the best method of culture, and 
arrangement of the trees and bushes. 
15, In a walled garden, what kinds 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 ? 
(J), Is there any method of culture likely to prevent canker in 
Apple trees, or gumming in Apricots, Cherries, and Plums ? 
[Perhaps some of our readers might like to indulge in a little home 
educational exercise in answering those questions.] 
TOTLEY HALL. 
At Totley Hall, the residence of W. A. Milner, Esq., situated four 
miles from SheflSeld, may at the present time be seen one of the best 
collections of Daffodils to be found in the north of England, numbering 
about 300 varieties. It was my privilege on May Day to view this 
magnificent show, and as Mr. Milner and his talented gardener (Mr. 
T. Bi-kenshaw) are enthusiasts in the culture of Daffodils and Orchids, 
a visit at this time of the year is instructive and interesting. 
Two long winding borders, each 12 or 14 feet in width, are planted 
with Daffodils—hundreds of thousands of bulbs—of all the best and 
most rare varieties, each being kept together, but the whole forming a 
mass of colour not easily to be forgotten. The blooms are larger and 
the plants better grown than any I have previously seen. The foliage 
is of great strength and substance, showing their cultivation is well 
understood. The bulbs are lifted every second year, the land well 
trenched, a good layer of cow manure being placed at the bottom of 
the trench, the bulbs being at once placed back into the soil. The 
massive blooms show that this treatment suits them. 
The various sections are well represented. Grand blooms are to be 
seen of Emperor, Empress, Horsefieldi, Bicolor and others. Several 
blooms were at their best of that magnificent new variety, Weardale 
Perfection, which is far ahead of all other varieties, as may be seen by 
comparing with a large bloom of Empress. Glory of Leyden and 
Madame de Graaff were showing good blooms, but were not as massive 
as the former. Other good varieties noted were Sir Watkin, Barri 
conspicuus, Shirley Hibberd, Duchess of Westminster, Barri Autocrat, 
Madame Magdalene de Graaff, Barri Sensation, Princess Mary, Back- 
housi, P. R. Barr, Maximus, and others too numerous to mention. In 
the grounds there are borders containing a choice collection of her¬ 
baceous plants, also a rockery planted with alpines. 
In the houses may be seen some remarkably well-grown Dandrobiums. 
One of D. thyrsiflorum has twenty-five fully developed racemes of bloom 
on it. This plant has had the same number of racemes for several years 
past, several being taken off to throw more substance into those that 
remain. This plant alone is worth going a long distance to see, as in 
addition to its free flowering qualities, it is one of the best varieties. 
D. Paxtoni is also well grown, and one plant was carrying thirty-eight 
fine racemes of bloom. A splendid collection of D. Wardianum is 
grown, and the plants now making strong growths, this being also the 
case with D. nobile. On inquiring of Mr. Birkenshaw what treatment he 
gave them, I found they were potted in equal parts peat and sphagnum, 
shutting the house up in which they are grown with plenty of sun heat 
and moisture, giving air at night to reduce the temperature and 
strengthen the young growths. 
Cattleya citrina is also well grown on blocks, the bulbs and blooms 
appearing to gain in strength each year. Disa grandiflora is remarkably 
fine ; they are in the best of health, and as there are upwards of 
ninety plants they will make a good show when in bloom. Other 
Orchids were doing well, as were the ordinary stove and greenhouse 
plants. A fine plant, growing on the back wall of one of the houses, of 
Clianthus puniceus, had flowered well, thousands of blooms being 
expanded at one time. Vines were carrying good crops of fruit, the 
whole reflecting great credit on the gardener. All interested in 
gardening are welcomed by Mr. Milner to enjoy the floral treat, a 
kindness appreciated by at least— One of the Craft. 
MARKETING APPLES. 
A Hint from America. 
Some essential points to be considered in the marketing of fruit were 
given by Mr, George A. Cochrane in a paper read a few weeks ago before 
a meeting of the Massachusetts fruit growers in Worcester. The salient 
points of this were printed in the “ Garden and Forest,” and we repro¬ 
duce them for the benefit of growers, to whom the hints will doubtless 
be of interest and use. 
“ For several reasons the barrel is too large a package for Apples, 
which should be marketed in boxes no larger than those used for Oranges 
and Lemons. Last autumn I advised the trial of such a package, and 
suggested that each Apple be wrapped in paper as Oranges and Lemons 
are. Three thousand cases were sent to me for shipment to Europe. 
Out of fifty growers of Apples only three understood what a close 
selection of fruit meant, and the Apples sent by these three growers sold 
in London at 2 dols. 40 cents, a case, when fruit in a barrel, which held 
three times as much as one of the cases, brought only 4 dols. Some 
growers sent windfalls, in the hope that wrapping them in paper would 
insure their safe arrival in England. Some sent Snow Apples and 
Russets mixed in the same case. Of course, when barrels are used, new 
ones and not second-hand flour barrels should be procured, for no matter 
what care is taken to dust and wash them sufficient flour will remain in 
the seams or staves of old barrels to rattle out in transportation and 
dust the fruit. 
“ In packing a barrel select a fair sample of the contents for the 
bottom layer. Place the Apples, stems down, in the form of a ring, 
beginning at the outside, and having secured this layer firmly, place the 
second layer in so as to fit closely in the interstices, then fill the barrel 
quickly and gently, and when one-third full rock it slightly to settle the 
Apples. Repeat this rocking when the barrel is about three-fourths full, 
and when it is filled place a padded board on the top and rock it while 
the board is held down firmly. Then place in sufficient fruits to form a 
cone at least 2 inches above the chime. Now force the head down with 
a barrel-screw presser, nail the chime hoops, both top and bottom, 
securely, and have the bead-lining sufficiently large to lap the presser 
that forms the head. 
“Never pack red Apples until they are of a good colour. It is an 
expensive blunder to wait until the last moment and then strip the tree 
of all its fruit. It is also a mistake to pick the Apples faster than they 
can be packed. It is a good plan to go over the trees a week or a fort¬ 
night before the general picking and remove the well-developed and 
well-coloured fruit and market it at once. Apart from the advantage 
of early marketing, such pickings help the fruit which remains, increases 
its size, and improves its colour. Apples should be headed up at once, 
and if they are to be held they should be hurried into cold storage as 
near a temperature of 32° as possible. They should never be allowed to 
lie on the ground, and under no circumstances must they be exposed to 
sun or rain after being picked or packed. Autumn varieties decay 
quickly, because they are exposed to a higher temperature after leaving 
the tree than the winter varieties are, and more fruit is lost after being 
picked in the heat than from the frost. 
“ Growers who keep Apples in bins to market during the winter 
should select and sort at the time of picking. Only perfect and healthy 
fruit must go into such bins. Cellars should be ventilated so that 
advantage of any change in the temperature can be taken and the 
fruit kept as nearly as possible at the required coolness. When the 
average temperature has been above 45° from the time of sorting to 
December 15th Apples should be marketed as soon after the turn of the 
year as possible. When they are kept in the bin after this time they 
will not stand rough usage and will not answer to ship to Europe in 
barrels. One reason why autunn fruit does not pay arises from the fact 
that large quantities of delicate fruit is placed in one compartment, 
