316 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
I October 4,1838. 
amongst the other usual varieties. Peas were in rows 8 feet apart, and 
were wonderfully good crops of that indispensable vegetable. Amongst 
varieties we noticed Telegraph very fine and Veitch’s Perfection. The 
gardens were all stocked with vegetables, while on the walls were some 
fine examples of trained fruit trees. Peaches outside were a very good 
crop, but it is doubtful whether they will ripen. The glass structures 
are not very large, but good use is made of them. In three vineries 
60 feet long we observed some well-coloured Grapes, berries large, the 
bunches not very heavy but well finished. The varieties were princi¬ 
pally Black Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, Buckland Sweetwater, 
and on the back wall was a splendid Brown Turkey Fig with large crop 
of fruits on. We had a quiet drive back to Wooler to dinner, accom¬ 
panied by Mr. J. Noble and Mr. Henderson. The dinner over, thanks 
to the Earl of Tankerville, Mr. Noble, and Mr. Henderson, the success 
of the Society by the Chairman, Isaac Body, Esq., the reply of the 
Secretary, Mr. Davidson, and a quick run to catch the train brought 
to a close the happiest and most memorable outing that the Society has 
had.— Bernard Cowan. 
Events op the Week.— On Tuesday, October 9th, the Boyal Hor¬ 
ticultural Society’s Fruit and Floral Committees will meet in the Drill 
Hall, James Street, Westminster. The Crystal Palace Hardy Fruit 
Show opens on Thursday, October 11th, and continues until Saturday. 
A conference and meeting of the British Fruit Growers’ Association 
will be held in the Crystal Palace on the first day of the Show at 
2 P.M. Sales of bulbs will be held on Monday, Wednesday, and 
Saturday at Mr. J. C. Stevens’ rooms, King Street, Covent Garden ; 
on Monday and Saturday at Messrs. Protheroe & Morris’s rooms, 
Cheapside ; and on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Messrs. Smail 
and Co.’s rooms, 123, Fenchurch Street. 
-National Apple And Peak Conference at Chiswick, 
October 16th to 20th, 1888.— A meeting of the Executive Com¬ 
mittee was held in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens at Chis¬ 
wick, on September 27th. Present—The Rev. W. Wilks in the chair ; 
Messrs. Bunyard, Cheal, Herbst, Walker, Hibberd, Dean, Hudson, 
Turner, Rivers, W. Paul, and J. Smith. Papers to be read at the Con¬ 
ference were promised by Messrs. G. Bunyard, J. Cheal, J. Douglas, E. 
Tonks, S. Hibberd, J. Fraser, W. Wiidsmith, E. J. Baillie, M. Dunn, 
McDonald, Tallerman, T. F. Rivers, Saunders, Bear, and W. Paul. 
Great interest was manifested in the proceedings, promises of support 
being received from the leading growers. It was agreed that the Con¬ 
ference be held in the Conservatory on Wednesday and Thursday, 
October 17th and 18th, the first day (October 16th) being devoted to the 
examination of the fruit, the General Committee meeting at 3 P.M. for 
the formal opening of the proceedings. It was agreed that no prizes be 
awarded, but cards of commendation for special merit will be given by the 
Committee. It was decided that the various papers be put in type, 
previous to the Conference, for the more convenient use of the Com¬ 
mittee and press. The Gardens will be opened to the public at 1 P.M. 
on October 16th. Notices of intention to exhibit should be sent to Mr. 
A. F. Barron, Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, not later 
than Wednesday, October 10th. 
- Successful Orcharding.— We hear that 5 tons of Green 
Gages have been sent to market from the Mentmore orchards this 
season, and that the fruit realised 7s. Od. per bushel. 
- Marie Louise Violets. —I send you a bunch of Marie 
Louise Violets. We have been gathering for several weeks from the 
open border, and are now about to remove our plants to their winter 
quarters in frames, where they will, all being well, supply us with 
frequent and valuable gatherings right up to the month of May next. 
Had we a failure with our winter Violets we should miss them indeed. 
—John Crawford, CMington Ilall Gardena, Hewarh-ow-Trent. 
[Beautifully fresh and fragrant were the blooms received, and our 
correspondent may well appreciate them.] 
- Araucaria imbricata coning.— For the information of the 
Rev. W. W. Wingfield I may say these trees cone freely enough in 
various parts of England, even in the inhospitable climate of Derbyshire. 
I have had fertilised and matured seeds that readily germinate, but as 
the trade prefer foreign-grovvn seeds our home-grown are not worth the 
trouble required to produce them. I believe the ovule-bearing trees are 
more common than the pollen-bearing trees, as they are more frequently 
met with. I think they are readily distinguished by their dwarfer habit 
and dense compact dome-shaped heads. The female cones are green and 
grow erect on the points of the top growths; they take two years to 
mature, and attain a large size. The male or pollen-bearing trees- 
are much taller growing and looser in habit; the catkins are brown,, 
pendant, and they grow in clusters mostly on the points of the side 
branches, and sometimes at the junction of the one and two-year-old 
wood. The tallest male tree we have is 72 feet high, the tallest female 
16 feet high.—J. H. Goodacre, Elcaston. 
- The Weather.— We have to-day (October 1st) experienced 
most exceptional weather in the Leeds district. Changing from sharp 
frost during early morning, rain commenced about 9 A.M. At 
10 A.M. snow began to fall heavily, continuing until noon. The 
hills on becoming clear presented a most unusual picture, while¬ 
taking a nearer view of various forest trees in full foliage borne down, 
of which English Elms, Purple Beech, and Spanish Chestnut, were truly 
grand, if such a term may be allowed ; with 1 inch groundwork of 
snow the effect of scarlet Pelargoniums may be imagined.—E. BURTON.. 
- Frost and Snow in Harvest.—W riting from Lincoln, a 
correspondent says :—“ A sharp frost was experienced in the north of 
this county on Monday morning, the 1st inst., the roads being crisp and 
ice quarter of an inch thick. Dahlias, Tropceolums, Vegetable Marrows,, 
and Kidney Beans were blackened in some gardens, but many escaped. 
Heavy rain fell from midday till evening with large flakes of snow. 
The bulk of the harvest is gathered in, though much remains to be- 
secured. Apples and Pears are small, the crops light, and late itt 
maturing.” 
- Gardening Appointment. —H. Charles, late foreman to the- 
Right Hon. Lord Dynevor, Dynevor Castle, Llandilo, South Wales, has- 
been appointed head gardener to the Rev. F. B. Teesdale, AVhitminster 
House, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. 
- At Messrs. Harkness & Sons’ nurseries, Bedale, long beds of 
Gaillardias, &c , are in robust health from seed sown out of doors in 
March and transplanted when large enough in September or the follow¬ 
ing spring to where they are to flower. I saw varieties in bloom there: 
fully equal to the high-priced ones, and the Gaillardia is a very 
easily cultivated plant. 
-- - There also can be seen many thousands of plants of the 
Iceland Poppy in full bloom, proving that it is of the easiest cultiva¬ 
tion, and should be in every garden. I was astonished to see the great 
breadth of ground set aside for these plants. 
- About 7000 plants from seeds of Mrs. Sinkins Pink was- 
another surprise, and with such luxuriant growth. Mr. Harkness suc¬ 
ceeded in 1887 in saving seed which was sown in October in cold frames,, 
and the seedlings planted out in nursery beds early in April this year, 
and a great many of the plants are now flowering, some differing from 
the parent, and many promising breaks amongst them, but the true 
test will come next spring. It was refreshing to see their deep- 
green healthy growth, over 1000 plants have blooms, and not a single¬ 
variety amongst them. Messrs. Harkness & Sons exhibited thirty 
blooms of these seedlings at the great Show in Manchester in Septem¬ 
ber, and they received a great deal of attention.—D. S. 
- Cardiff Castle Gardeners’ Association.—T he second 
session of this Association was successfully inaugurated on September 
25th by Mr. A. Pettigrew reading a paper upon the “ Cultivation of the 
Pear on Walls.’ As it was previously determined to throw the Associa¬ 
tion open to the gardeners of the district, there was a large attendance,, 
the syllabus made out for the session being a very attractive one. 
- The Hessle Pear.—A s a free-bearing hardy orchard Pear 
this has no equal in the eastern counties. It is the only variety that is- 
producing profitable crops in many orchards, some of the trees being of 
immense size and yielding from 50 to 100 pecks of fruit. They are in 
great demand in the markets, and large consignments are sent to- 
London. The fruit is somewhat smaller than usual, below medium 
size, not particularly attractive in appearance, being brown and russety, 
but the quality is excellent, the peculiar flavour finding acceptance by 
most palates.— A Traveller. 
