0'tober 22,1885.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
357 
much handsomer plant than the type, and in all ways preferable. 
Amabilis, lately introduced by Max Leichtlin of Baden-Baden, is 
quite distinct, and very showy ; the varieties nana and paucifolia, 
both of which are distinct, do not appear to be in cultivation. All 
the above plants flower from early March until June, and where 
well sheltered form really handsome groups. The flowers last a 
considerable time in water, and will be found very useful in a cut 
state. Syn. of type, P. Hofllmeisteri, Klots. Natives of the Hima¬ 
layas.—D. 
(To be continued.) 
judging Cucumbers. 
Much has been written lately about judging Grapes at our exhibitions, 
and some good hints have been thrown out to judges and others on the 
subject. While attending flower shows in different parts of the country 
my attention has been drawn repeatedly to the way in which Cucumbers 
are generally judged, and I have often wondered why the subject has not 
been taken up long ago. If I understand rightly, the prizes offered by 
societies are meant to encourage the cultivation of the most useful 
varieties; but, as a rule, the prizes are given to long unproductive 
varieties that have no merit whatever but their length to recommend 
them. I have been often asked, and by competent gardeners too, “ Why 
it .was that judges encouraged the cultivation of these by giving them 
prizes, as they were unprofitable either for market or for private use ? ” 
I had to confess that I did not know myself, but that I had seen them 
marked in seedsmen’s catalogues as being good varieties for showing, and 
that, I believed, was all they were good for, as it would not pay to grow 
them for market nor for private use, when there were so many good 
prolific varieties in cultivation—varieties that yield ten Cucumbers, from 
12 to 16 inches in length, of the best quality, for every one that those 
monster long guns produce. I am fully convinced that the majority of 
Cucumber growers would give their verdict in favour of the prizes being 
given to Cucumbers from 12 to 20 inches in length. I would like to know 
your practical correspondent “ Thinker’s ” opinion on the subjeot.— 
Euphrasia. 
GARDENS NORTH AND SOUTH. 
On page 296, the issue of the 1st inst., reference was made to the condi¬ 
tion of gardens as influenced by the great heat and extreme drought that 
so long prevailed in the south of England, and to the comparative fresh¬ 
ness and consequently greater productiveness of gardens two hundred 
miles northwards. The difference that existed in those respects could not 
be appreciated except by travelling direct from one part of the country 
to another, and this I did. In Sussex, for instance, and it was the same 
in hundreds of gardens in the southern counties, it was found practically 
impossible to raise Turnips ; in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire the fields were 
packed with them, and so luxuriant were they that on some highly farmed 
land where the crop was in rows 2 feet apart the growth overlapped the 
spaces completely. Nothing could better indicate the character of the 
season in the respective localities, and northern gardeners have had a 
“ better time ” than their southern brethren in distress during the summer 
that has now closed. 
Even in the lowlands of Essex and the Fens of Cambridgeshire, so far 
as could be judged from the Great Eastern express on its way from London 
to Doncaster, vegetation appeared to be more exhausted than on the higher 
lands further north, where showers had been more prevalent and the sun 
consequently less continuously scorching. 
FARMERS’ GARDENS—ROSES. 
In the garden of one of the best farmers in England, Mr. Ismay Fisher, 
a tenant on the estate of Mr. Sutton Nelthorpe, in North Lincolnshire, beds 
of Asters far surpassed any I had seen in the south, and if Messrs. Sutton 
of Reading could have seen the products of their seed they would have 
been satisfied with the manner in which the excellence of the varieties was 
displayed. This garden, too, is noted for Roses. Not only do the blooms 
“ take the lead ” at local shows, but Mr. Fisher has as one of his posses¬ 
sions a silver medal of the National Rose Society, won at Manchester 
la9t July with a magnificent bloom of Lady Mary Fitzwilliam as the best 
H.P. in the amateurs’ classes ; indeed, good judges have stated it as their 
opinion that a finer bloom was not seen during the season. In the chief 
open class at Hull, in which some of the foremost rosarians entered, 
though all of them did not compete when they saw what they had to 
contend against, Mr. Fisher’s Roses excelled all others. He does not 
grow many, possibly not more than 200 plants, but grows them well. 
Fewer varieties and more of each of those that flourish there will be his 
future policy, dividing those that are found best adapted to rather light 
soil from others that prefer strong, and planting them accordingly. This, 
it will be conceded, is a practical method and can scarcely fail to have a 
satisfactory result. The grower of these Roses, as may be imagined, is 
not one of those persons who muddle along in one of those paradisical 
“ small h ldings ” in which the so-called “farmer’s” wife boasted they 
kept a “ hen and things.” Neither is his farm so unwieldy that he cannot 
do full justice to it, hence by high culture he places himself beyond the 
pale of “ depression,” enjoys a good social position, and can indulge in the 
delightful pursuit of growing Roses to any extent desired. 
A COTTAGER’S ROSES—LARCH. 
While on the subject of Roses a quick and profitable method of raising 
them that has been pursued for years by an industrious " son of toil ” may 
be mentioned. John Braiser “ works in the woods ” on the estate named ; 
in fact, takes the practical lead in their management, and if he could 
write about Larch culture as well as he conducts it could tell how sandy 
and apparently almost barren tracts of laud could be profitably occupied. 
Planting a hundred thousand trees a year has been part of his duties, and 
the thrifty plantations are a treat to see. There is “ money in ” Larch- 
growing as practised there and on land that is practically valueless for 
agricultural purposes. But to the Roses. This worthy woodman digs up 
Briars in the autumn and plants them in his well-tilled cottage garden. 
They root quickly and push strong shoots in the spring, ready for budding 
immediately buds can be found. This is early in June; they start 
growing at once, and often flower freely during the season. Three or 
four buds inserted in a stock form a good head by the autumn, and thus 
Rose trees are made and sold within twelve months from planting the 
Briars. This is quick work, and if the plants or trees did not give 
satisfaction customers would not be retained year after year. 
FROST IN SUMMER-THE CZAR PLUM AND HESSLE PEAR. 
In contrast with the heat that was so oppressive in the south may be 
mentioned a “ nipping frost ” that occurred a little further north in the 
same country early in August. One large, prosperous, and excellent 
farmer on the estate of the Earl of Yarborough had three acres of Potatoes 
cut down, and Scarlet Runners, where not sheltered, shared the same 
fate. In other fields I saw many Potatoes cut by frost, but not so 
seriously. Mr. Beaulab, the gentleman referred to, is a good gardener, 
apiarian, and entomologist, but gardening and orcharding are in their 
infancy in his new home ; still he has in a youDg plantation of fruits dis¬ 
covered the value of the Czar Plum as an orchard standard, trees of it 
having “ done better ” than any others. This and the Victoria he 
considers two of the most useful and profitable varieties to grow. He is 
probably not far wrong, yet while the latter is well represented in the 
north the former is scarcely known. It is known in Kent, and is being 
extensively planted by the fruit farmers there, which is about the best 
testimonial a hardy fruit can have. 
A Pear not much cultivated in the south is seen in numbers of gardens 
and orchards in the north—namely, the Hessle, and it is a question if 
there is a more reliable orchard variety in cultivation. The branches 
were borne down by their loadp, and the fruit sells readily in the markets, 
as the quality is known to be good. The Hessle Pear is in use in 
October, but once in it is soon over. It is not at all uncommon for 
fifty pecks to be gathered from a tree, and if only sold at 6d. a peck, the 
crop is of more value than the ground which the tree occupies, as it is 
not of spreading habit. In the district in question one tree of the Hessle 
is worth more than three of Beurre de Capiaumont, which is esteemed as 
an orchard Pear in some localities. 
APPLEBY HALL. 
The description of Lord St. Oswald’s Yorkshire seat, Nostell 
Priory, reminds me of calling at his lordship’s Lincolnshire resi¬ 
dence, Appleby Hall, a quaint old building, surrounded with fine 
trees and shrubs. There is an extensive lawn and pretty flower 
garden, and so far from the drought and heat checking the growth 
of grass and flowers, the beds were overflowing with luxuriant 
plants, and the mowing machine was in constant requisition. At the 
same time lawns in the south were “ burnt up ” and flowers could not 
grow for the want of moisture. The gardens at Appleby are admir¬ 
ably kept, and vegetable and fruit crops good both outside and in. 
Amongst the plants well grown under glass, Posoqueria longiflora is 
cherished ; it resembles a vigorous Toxicophlsea, and is similarly fragrant. 
The curious and brilliant Strelitzia regina was in superb condition, and 
Chrysanthemums were so good that if disbudding were practised they 
would produce blooms of exhibition quality. Mr. Johnson is not only an 
industrious and competent gardener, but appears equally skilled as an 
apiarian. He is an adept at making hives and sections, secures an 
abundance of honey of the first quality, and is quite convinced that “ bees 
pay when well managed.” That he manages them well, and the garden 
too, is beyond a doubt. 
POTATOES-THE JENSENIAN SYSTEM. 
Much has been heard about the Jensenian system of Potato culture of 
late, as “ invented ” by a Danish professor as a preventive of the 
murrain. The plan has this year been tried at Chiswick, but the season 
has not been favourable for testing its merits. If, as I understand it, the 
method consists in dividing and partially bending back the growths and 
“ crowning ” the plants with soil directly over the roots, the plan has 
been in operation at Appleby for a quarter of a century, not as an experi¬ 
ment in the Hall gardens, but as a regular method of culture generally 
adopted in the parish. The plan was to place good sets a yard apart on 
the surface of the ground and cover them with soil dug from between 
them. As growths extended they were thinned, leaving about four of the 
best, these being opened out and “crowned.” This crowning was con¬ 
tinued at intervals till no more soil could be found. The plants were 
then on hillocks, with the growths hanging down and covering the sides. 
The object of the cultivators was to get a peck of Potatoes of 21 lbs. from 
each root or hillock, and the feat was occasionally accomplished, while 
the yield was invariably great, as it ought to be considering the labour 
involved ; and what is more, and this supports Professor Jensen, when 
the murrain was raging furiously in the district in 1872 the Appleby 
crops were practically free, as I ascertained from the excellent clergyman 
of the pari-h, Mr. Cross, to whom I wrote for information at the time. I 
shall be glad to learn in what respect the Jensenian system differs from 
the method described, and which 1 saw extensively adopted in the parish 
