42 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 16, 1891. 
low one—“ The prizes are better, the competition less keen, &c.” If 
once the principle, “ How much can I get out of it?” is allowed to 
decide our actions in this or any other matter, then good-bye to the 
good fellowship and the esprit de corps which have hitherto so happily 
characterised N.R.S. exhibitors. “ W. R. Raillem’s ” question as to what 
I meant by his old position I do not regard as written seriously. 
I am very glad that this little controversy is not likely to decrease 
the esteem existing between those who take part in it ; so long as they 
refrain from personalities, and “ measures, not men.” are the subject 
of their attacks, all will be well. The subject of a remedy for what I 
consider a grievance has my attention, and it is improbable that I 
shall trouble you any further until I think I have something practicable 
to propose.—J. B. 
Notes on the National. 
‘•A bad season for the Roses 1 ” “Yes, indeed; a sma'l Show to 
day ! ” Granted, but in many respects one of the most enjoyable 
the Society has ever held ; in fact, there were so many points of interest 
that the time for closing had arrived before one had time to fairly 
grasp them. 
First among these special features must be mentioned the triumphant 
presence of many old Roses and varieties that are but seldom seen. The 
G<5n6ral Jacqueminot in Mr. Knight’s twelve, to which the medal for the 
best amateur bloom was awarded, was surely one of the very finest ever 
seen, and this grand old Rose now shares with his young rival Ulrich 
Brunner the honour of having won the medal in both the amateur and 
professional divisions. Then what splendid form our sweet-scented old 
friend Xavier Olibo was in all through the Show ; but specially fine was 
the bloom in Messrs. Burch’s stand, which was more than once considered 
for the medal in the trade division. Yiolette Bouyer, Barthelemy 
Joubert, Annie Laxton, Lord Macaulay, Frangois Levet, and Dr. Hogg 
are varieties that do not often put in appearance at the shows 
now-a-days ; but here they are to-day, some of them in very fine 
form. 
To go from the veterans and their doings to the other extreme, this 
Show was remarkable for the fine form of the new Roses. Two or three 
years ago the names of Gustave Piganeau and Souvenir de S. A. Prince 
were unknown in the Rose world, and yet to-day they win the two 
medals for best H.P. and best Tea in the trade classes. The former 
seems to be a specially great acquisition, of good growth, fine size and 
form of petal, and beautiful glowing colour. It sent deponent home in 
a great hurry to work every bud he could find on one small plant. But 
the crown as queen of the whole gathering must surely be awarded to 
the fair Irish belle, Margaret Dickson, sent out only last month by those 
energetic growers, Messrs. Dickson of Newtonards. I believe no other 
Rose has ever won first prize for twelve of a sort in two classes at the 
same Show, and it was by no lack of competition that she achieved this 
triumph. The twelve shown in the classes for white Roses could only be 
characterised by one word—perfection. Not only was there no hint of a 
faulty bloom among the dozen, but there was not a soiled petal nor a 
damaged edge to be found. This grand novelty will be wanted by every 
grower, and will double Messrs. Dickson’s already great fame as raisers, 
and abundantly reward them for their plucky run from Newtonards to 
Sydenham. Very full of promise, too, is Messrs. Paul & Son’s fine 
seedling, so well named after their able Rose foreman, Charles Gater. 
A well deserved compliment, Mr. Paul, to an able assis‘ant and good 
rosarian. Messrs. W. Paul & Sons also showed their fine Tea Corinna in 
good style, and if of free growth it will be very acceptable. Full of 
interest, too, was the fine collection of seedlings of various kinds shown 
by Lord Penzance, and if Mr. A. H. Gray got no award for his beautiful 
seedling from W. A. Richardson it was only because it was not shown in 
the class provided, and he must have been compensated by the warm 
eulogium passed upon it by the President of the Society, Dean Hole of 
Rochester. Nor was the interest confined to new Roses; but in the 
person of Mr. E. Tate of Leatherhead the Show produced at least one 
new exhibitor tf great promise. This gentleman may have shown 
before, but if he has I have overlooked his name, and to-day he was first 
for twenty-four singles with a most excellent stand, beating such able 
growers as Messrs. J. Brown, Mawley, Gurney, Fowler, and Rev. Foster 
Melliar, and winning in at least three other c’asses. If he continues 
in this style those who are now at the top of the tree will have to 
buckle on their armour yet more firmly if they intend to reta’n their 
places. 
Then, too, the Show was very interesting as “ a soldier’s battle, ” that 
is to say, the greater excellence was found rather in the amateurs’ classes 
than in those of the professional growers. Mr. Lindsell’s stand, though 
only winning from the Bath blooms by two or three points, was one of 
very level excellence. Mr. Tate’s twenty-four has already been referred 
to, and coming down to Mr. Knight’s first prize twelve we had a box 
which was a centre of admiration all the day long. In addition to the 
medal-winmng Gbnbral Jacqueminot he had Duke of Teck in such form 
and size as must have gladdened the heart of Mr. Geo. Paul; Marie 
Baumann, such a bloom as I have not seen since she won the medal for 
Mr. W. J. Grant in the year of the Shah fiasco, and Alf. Colomb and 
others in the very pink of condition. It was an oft repeated remark of 
several good judges that it was probably the finest amateur's twelve 
ever staged, and very proud was the writer to get an award in such 
company. 
There are some of the points which made the National Rose Show of 
1891 so specially pleasureable to visitors, and in the hope that they may 
be of equal interest to some of your readers who were unable to be 
present I send you these jottings.—J. B. 
PROLONGING THE SUPPLY OF HARDY FRUITS. 
[First prize essay by Mr. A. WRIGHT, Devonhurst, Chiswick, Chiswick Gardeners? 
Association.] 
C Concluded from page 4.") 
Training the Trees. 
The best form of training to adopt is that so well known as tire 
“fan.” This is without doubt the best for all stone fruits, as a 
young branch can be more readily laid in, if by chance any should go off 
with gumming. If on the other hand pyramid trained trees are to be 
grown, two rows may be planted in the bed, and at 5 feet or G feet apart. 
This will give ample space to form good sized trees, the fruit of which 
can be readily reached, and it would also be possible to give every 
attention to them. This system allows of double the number of varieties 
being grown in the same space. I am inclined to think that there would 
be little d'fference as to the quantity of fruit gathered from either 
system, but where variety is wanted pyramids should be planted. 
Round the centre bed make a path 3 feet wide, and edge it with, 
some suitable material. I know nothing better for this purpose than a 
brick on edge, or p’aced so as to allow the angle to form the highest 
part. This will leave a border 6 feet wide on each side. Devote one- 
border to Gooseberries, making two rows, and plant the bushes- 
4^ feet apart, but have one row in the wake of the other, or what is- 
well known in gardens as “ crow footing.” This would al'ow the bushes 
more room than if they were planted opposite one another at right 
angles. The other border could be planted with Red, White, and Black. 
Currants, the number of each varying according to the demand. The ends- 
of the houses are now left, and we plant these with Blackberries, which 
could be trained up the wire, or a trellis c .uld be formed with two wires- 
about 2j feet from the end, and the p'ants trained to that. As regards 
the Alpine Strawbenies, I piopose planting a row of them on each side 
of the path r.uud the house or have a row t etween the Cherry trees. A 
good supply of fruit could be thus obtained during the lat'er part of the 
summer and early autumn, as the plants continue in bearing a consider¬ 
able time. The most suitable month for planting is Oct /bsr, as early in 
the month as possible, so that time is allowed for the trees to make some- 
fresh roots before the winter, and enable them to start away strong in 
the spring. After planting (which should be done when the soil is in a 
dry fibrous condition) make the trees secure by placing a stout stake to 
each to prevent them being shaken about by the wind ; and in tying- 
them be careful to leave plenty of room for the swelling of tie wood 
or the tree settling down in the soil. It is too often the case that when 
the trees arrive from the nursery they are at once planted, and if against 
a wall immediately nailed, with the result that they are often “ hung 
up,” and the cause of death never suspected. 
Pruning. 
Nothing further will require attention before the end of February,, 
when pruning may be done. Cherries if grown on the fan-trained 
system will require little more than the tops of the shoots taken off, or 
if any strong shoots should be likely to outgrow the others on the tree,. 
cut them back the same length as the weaker ones. The system of 
cutting the growths back to within 5 or 6 inches of the base, as recom¬ 
mended by different authors, finds few adherents amongst the present 
generation of gardeners. All stone fruit trees should be cut about as- 
litt'e as possible, and to avoid this in training the Cherry trees I would 
recommend summer pinching as being preferable. This also exposes the 
fruit better to light and air, and so improves the flavour. In planting 
Goosebeiries select bushes having stems a foot or more high, which will 
keep the fruit from the ground, where it is apt to get spoilt after being 
ripe if the wet weather ensues. The best system of pruning to adopt 
with Gooseberries is thinning the young shoots, leaving plenty of 
young growths for fruiting. Spur-pruning still finds many advocates,, 
but in the south thinning the shoots answers better. With Goose¬ 
berries I would also advise the removal of all strong growths from the 
centre of the bushes during the summer, so as to allow plenty of air to 
c'rculate among the fruits, and the wood is also better matured. This is- 
often neglected in most gardens, but I think on account of the pressure 
of work in other directions at the time ; but if one goes to the expenser 
of erecting a protection for the trees every precaution should be taken 
to ensure the greatest success. 
Red and White Currants should also be selected with clean stems at 
least a foot in length between the ground and the lower branches. The 
fruit is not only kept away from the ground, but suckers cannot form at 
the base of the bushe3. The pruning I would advise being carried out 
on the spur system, so well known es to need no repetition here ; but 
the same remarks apply to them as to the Gooseberry. With regard to- 
the removal of all gross and unnecessary growth during the summer. 
Black Currants r. quire somewhat different treatment as regards pruning,, 
and the bushe3 should only be thinned out at the winter pruning. In 
cutting the branches back see that some are cut down mar the base so 
as to encourage young growth, which will kef p a good supply of young 
fruit-bearing w r ood from the base to the top, and so secure a Jarger 
crop. 
Blackberries should be planted about 2.^ feet apart, and the young- 
growths trained to the end of the bouse, or if planted against a trellis 
leave sufficient shoots to tie in about a foot apart. Remove all super¬ 
fluous shoots as they grow, and the old bearing wood will require io be 
removed every year, the young growths being laid in their p'a'-e. If 
the latter are &trong and robust they may be cut back to about G feot. 
in length. Plant the Alpine Strawberries from runners in the usual 
