298 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October ], 1885. 
represents in a reduced form the crop of Hawthornden on wood produced 
last year at Maraton, the branches being quite bent down with the weight 
of their load. Where the growths are fully exposed to the sun and air 
throughout the season fruit buds form freely enough on trees in favourable 
positions. Thinning early in summer is far more important than pruning 
in winter in the production of fruit buds ; and if cultivators were to thin 
more and shorten the shoots less there would be more fruit on many 
trees. 
Plants under glass are in excellent condition throughout. A very 
simple method of striking tuberous Begonia cuttings may be noted. A 
few inches of light sandy soil is spread on the north side of a wall, and 
the cuttings dibbed in it in the summer. Kept moist they root quickly, 
and. form good tubers by the autumn. Some hundreds of plants were 
rooted in August and growing freely. A notable feature of the conser¬ 
vatory are Zonal Pelargoniums as wall-co7ering plants, Guillon Mangilli, 
Wonderful, and some others being ablaze with flowers from base to 
summit, and it is a question if any other plants could cover the space so 
effectively. On the outside of the mansion are some grand old Magnolias 
which produce their handsome flowers freely ; and on the lawn is one 
of the finest Golden Wellingtonias in the country, the tasselled drooping 
sprays resembling at a distance plumes of yellow Celosias. Lord Cork 
takes great pride in his garden, and it is certain he would have a difficulty 
in finding a better all-round gardener than his present one, who in turn 
is well assisted by his foreman, Mr. Coombe, who will make a good 
gardener for someone by-and-by. A little gardening in the north will 
be referred to in a future issue.—J. W. 
AMERICAN BLACKBERRIES. 
Thotjoh Mr. J. Muir should ‘‘more than once ” have “decried” the 
Kittatinny and other American Blackberries, yet somehow they still live. 
No doubt after being so repeatedly denounced it must be very annoying 
to think that this “decried” fruit should find supporters who, strange 
though it may seem, still like them and still will have them, yet it is so. 
It is not to be expected that the Editor would like us to “air” our 
introductions in any other than in the advertising columns ; but, as the 
introducers into this country of the Wilson-Junior Blackberry, we would 
like to say that, if acceptable to Mr. Muir, we shall next year be very 
pleased to send to him a di-h of this monstrous and, as we claim, greatly 
superior Blackberry. As Wilson Junior was not introduced until after 
1884 (which was the year Mr. Muir says he planted his) he, of course, has 
not grown this magnificent variety, and we are assured that when he does 
even he will change his opinion. 
Amongst many other items as to the first-class qualities possessed by 
American Blackberries, we beg leave to quote verbatim a passage from 
what we think all practical men will consider a most sensible lecture. 
We are alluding to “ Some Thoughts and Suggestions on Fruit and Fruit¬ 
growing,” delivered at Wrexham, September 11th, before the North 
Wales and Border Counties PomoLgical Society, by Mr. E. J. Baillie, 
F.L.S., and which, as it happens, appears also in that week’s issue 
(September 24th) of the Journal of Horticulture, page 266. 
In commenting upon the American Blackberries this gentleman con¬ 
cludes as follows : —“ The Blackberry presents another feature which 
should commend it. As a decorative plant for old walls or old fences it 
has few equals, and whilst pleasing the eye for the greater part of the 
year, a,9 it is always interesting and attractive, from its first early leafage 
in spring to its rich autumn foliage, which is not impaired by ordinary 
conditions more or less affecting other ornamental plants, and the leaves 
do not fall, as a rule, until quite late in the season. The varieties of this 
fruit best adapted for cultivation are the Wilson Junior, Dorchester, 
Lawton, and Parsley-leaved.”— Viccars Collyer & Co., Leicester. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
The Best Method of Staging Chrysanthemums. —Two 
interesting classes are provided in the National Chrysanthemum 
Society’s schedule of the Show to be held on November 11th and 
12th at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster—namely, for “the 
best method of staging Chrysanthemum blooms for exhibition 
without cups, and with or without boai-ds.” One is for twelve 
incurved and the other for the same number of Japanese, a prize 
of two guineas being offered in each, and it is especially provided 
that the prizes may be withheld “ unless a method of general 
practical value be submitted. ’ We have had some inquiries 
respecting these classes and therefore give the full particulars, as 
there are probably others who are interested in the matter. 
Unquestionably it would be a great advantage if a less formal 
method of showing the blooms could be adopted than is at 
present practised, or if it could only be applied to a few classes it 
would serve to diversify the effect. 
Chrysanthemums at Camberwell. —Active preparation is 
being made at Mr. Davis's nursery, Camberwell, for his annual 
exhibition of Chrysanthemums, there being about 2000 specimen 
plants of the best varieties. Some of these are already being 
placed under glass in the handsome show house which is now 
devoted to them, and they all look as promising as could be wished. 
The foliage is vigorous and the growth strong, but not too 
luxuriant, and the buds look clean and free. The early-flowering 
varieties are still beautiful, and it is impossible to over estimate 
their value at this season when flowers are becoming scarce. It 
is unnecessary to repeat the names of the varieties as they have 
recently been described in the Journal, but a word of praise is 
due to Madame C. Desgranges and its beautiful yellow companion, 
G. Wermig. Both are floriferous varieties and come grandly 
under glass, the blooms being larger and purer in colour than 
when out of doors. Indeed, I am told one grower has been 
selling blooms of Madame Desgranges for some weeks past at 3s. 
per dozen, and that he has cut as many as twenty dozen at one 
time from a small house. 
Numbers of new varieties are under trial and no doubt some 
will be found meritorious, but a rigorous system of selection is 
being adopted, and all that are not distinct will be destroyed. 
The early-flowering bronze-coloured Mons. Pynaert Yan Geert 
is proving a variety of sterling value, being extremely free, of a 
pleasing hue and pretty form. Bouquet National is a good 
companion for it, of a rosy crimson tint and equally free. 
Manure for Chrysanthemums. —Yarious practices are 
recommended by different growers in the supply of manure, 
either liquid or otherwise, to Chrysanthemums, and with care no 
doubt they can all be made to produce similar results. One of 
the simplest and most efficacious stimulants is that employed 
by Mr. Davis with great advantage. This is sulphate of ammonia, 
which is used for weak-growing plants or when the applications 
are commenced at the rate of half an ounce to the gallon of 
water, increasing the strength of the liquid to 1 oz. to the gallon. 
It readily dissolves and is quick in its effects upon the plants. 
Clay’s Fertiliser is also useful for these plants, and is strongly 
recommended by many.—A. 
Late Chrysanthemums. — I see by the schedule of the 
National Society that an exhibition is to be held in the middle 
of January for late Chrysanthemums, and no doubt it will prove 
very interesting. It will enable the public to see that the Chrys¬ 
anthemum season can be extended over at least six months of 
the year, and it will also show what varieties are the best suited 
for late flowering. Might I suggest that a few prizes for late 
Grapes offered at this Show would add greatly to its usefulness 
and exactly meet the wishes of many gardeners ?—A Surrey 
Gardener. 
TOMATOES FROM CUTTINGS. 
I CAN hardly agree with “Kitchen Gardener” on taking cuttings 
from Tomatoes for early use in spring and in the autumn. A9 he does not 
state which cuttings we ought to take, some might be -misled. I have 
cut ripe Tomatoes in March, and I hope my few hints will be useful to 
others. 
In the first place I sow seed of the Old Red the first week in September, 
place the pots in a warm house until the seedlings appear, then remove 
them into a cool house, where they will get plenty of light and air. As 
soon as they are ready I pot them into small 60’s, keeping them shaded 
till they get hold of the fresh soil. At the end of the month they will be 
ready for large 60’s. In this size I keep them until the first week of 
tbe new year, when the plants will be about 9 inches high. And now for 
the cuttings. Where am I to get them from unless I cut the plants down ? 
This I do, taking care to leave about three eyes on the plant, and these 
come in for succession. I take the head off the plants for my cuttings, 
because my experience as a Tomato grower has shown me that the best 
fruits were had from the leading growth. But this practice I only recom¬ 
mend where Tomatoes are grown in pots and where they are wanted early 
in the year. 
The Tomatoes sent to you with this note are grown in boxes on the 
north side of my early vinery, which is a span-roof house, and are cut 
from my second plants this season, my early plants being over in June. 
These are grown in boxes in the open, and are brought into the vinery as 
soon as the old plants are cleared out. 
My reason for writing this note on Tomatoes from cuttings is to point 
out which cutting ought to be taken to get early fruit. No Tomato pays 
me so well as the Old Red, for fancy sorts will not fetch any more in 
price, and where I get a pound of one of them I can cut six of the Old 
Red.—J. W. L. 
[We have seldom if ever seen finer fruits than thoso sent by onr 
correspondent.] 
SEASONABLE HINTS ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
After a very trying season it will now be necessary for all growers 
of florists’ flowers to make ready for the coming winter, and to be pre¬ 
pared for all eventualities, as it is impossible to forecast, although the 
probability is that after two such mild winters it will be better to be pre¬ 
pared for a severe one. 
Auriculas.—A lthough I shall not myself move any collection into 
winter quarters just yet, many will in cooler latitudes be ready to move 
theirs. I do not think that I have had a larger per-centage of autumn- 
