172 
JOURNAL of horticulture and cottage gardener. 
[ August 19. 1889. 
When Mr. Gladstone speaks again on the subject of fruit we 
should like to submit to him the desirability of advocating the 
cutting down of healthy Apple trees which either bear little or no 
fruit, or fruit of little or no value, and graft them with free-bearing 
sorts of proved merit, which we shall be glad to recommend. If 
the thousands of trees of the character indicated were treated as 
suggested, the Apple supply of the kingdom would be enormously 
improved in a very few years. Without wishing to deter persons 
from making experiments in converting Pears into Apples, we 
prefer to be responsible for the advice to make barren Apple trees 
fruitful, and turn those that bear useless fruit into producers of 
valuable crops. There is no doubt that this can be done, but there 
is a doubt that the interesting union of Apples and Pears can 
be generally and usefully effected. 
As fruit growing and cottage gardening are subjects in which I 
have taken a deep interest for many years, I am glad to find that 
Mr. Gladstone has again drawn attention thereto. It is simply a 
waste of words to argue that we need more fruit. Fruit consump¬ 
tion is growing daily, and we are still daily exchanging vast sums 
of money for fruit imported from abroad. As to the desirability 
of our growing more fruit, I question very much if there is any 
difference of opinion. The real difficulty lies in our unlearning 
foolish customs. We follow too much old beaten tracks, and in 
fruit growing especially apparently forget that these tracks were 
formed when, of necessity, we had principally to depend on our 
own fruit for all the days of the year. In olden times we had a 
little of all things, and of all possible varieties, whereas the need of 
the present day is quantity of any one variety, and that to be of 
the best possible quality, and to be sent to market in the best 
possible form. 
I have just been in Nottinghamshire, and though I passed by 
many orchards after leaving home I only saw one that, during 
the present season, would give any profitable return. Plum 
orchards might be excepted, the Victoria especially. This is the 
difficulty, but especially difficult here in the north. We plant 
hundreds of varieties of Apples, and over a period of time we have 
not twelve that will pay to grow. After the last sunless season all 
that have crop3 this year, we may take it for granted, are varieties 
adapted to whatever locality they may be found in. With me 
Cellini, though a rather small Apple, takes the palm ; and all the 
Keswick tribe, Lord Suffield, and others are bearing profitably. 
I had previously heard of some wonderful bearing Apples that 
were largely grown by Mr. Merryweather of Southwell, Notts, 
and sure enough on this gentleman's extensive establishment 
I had a surprise, his Bramley Seedlings and his Russians 
(Duchess of Oldenburg) especially being something to both 
think about and wonder over. As I have already said, in 
olden times we grew a number of varieties for a year’s supply, 
but now it is the fact that I can name a dozen fruit sales¬ 
men in Newcastle alone who will buy at a fair price all the 
Apples of good quality, of any one variety, that all the fruit 
growers of the north of England can supply. Yet we foolishly 
stand trembling about oversupply. I say again, as I have many 
times said before, let all favourably situated pasture fields be 
planted with not more than six varieties of Apples, and before 
twenty-five years are past these same fields for their Apples alone 
wifi yield from £20 to £50 an acre. In the meantime, as trees 
are growing, sheep will be feeding, and as surely the millions of 
money will be diminishing that we now send abroad. As to the 
planting, let it be well done, and then with a piece of copper wire 
run a few 4 or 5 feet memel plaster laths together, like Venetian 
blinds, and tie them round each stem to protect from rabbits and 
hares. At first this protection may go two or three times round 
to admit of expansion as the trees grow. Next put these trees 
under the charge of those who love fruit-growing, and so secure 
attention when attention is necessary. Of jam I might say the 
surprise is the rapid strides the trade has made since Mr. Glad¬ 
stone drew attention to it.— James Witherspoon, Red Rose 
Vineries , Chester-le-Street. 
THE CYCLAMEN. 
Tiie gardening papers frequently devote a page or paragraph to 
Cyclamens, and wherever two or three gardeners are banded 
together as a society a paper or essay on the same subject is- 
periodically contributed. Why is it, then, that Cyclamens are not 
grown better ? Some nurserymen grow them exceedingly well, 
but in the majority of private places are they any better grown 
now than they were say fifteen or twenty years ago ? Those who* 
travel and visit can answer that question best. My experience 
(not a very wide one by the way) induces me to hazard the sug¬ 
gestion that during the history of the plant in question it may have 
been possible to grow it worse, but not much. 
The neglected-looking specimens we so often see, with curly- 
leaves and crippled blooms, are so many libels on the character of 
these beautiful plants. On the other hand, when we see well 
grown examples with ample dwarf foliage, handsomely marbled and 
brilliantly coloured symmetrical flowers, we willingly admit that 
no time is wasted in bringing them to such perfection, and that 
nothing can be more attractive and useful during the dullest 
months of the year. 
Cyclamens when seen in good condition at a show command the- 
admiration of all. Employers see and envy ; gardeners admire, but 
despair. “ Yes, they’re grand, but we cannot do them at our place :: 
so-and-so has special houses and men, and they must have special 
treatment to get them like that.” Of course they want “ special 1 
treatment,” so do all plants. You would not treat Calceolarias and! 
Chrysanthemums alike. What Cyclamens do not want is neglect. 
Herein lies the whole secret of success or otherwise. Red spider or 
green fly if tolerated will soon produce troublesome results, while- 
too much water, too heavy or frequent supplies of food, entirely 
upset their constitutions. Yet they are not so very fastidious- 
Their wants are within the resources of most places ; simplicity of 
retail and constant attention are surprising invigorators. 
Some time in August the seed should be thinly sown in pans of 
sifted soil, two parts loam, one each leaf mould and sand ; slightly 
cover the seeds and soak by holding the pan in water (but it must 
not flow over the sides of the pan), plunge to the rim in a cold 
frame, cover with a square of glass, over which spread a few hand¬ 
fuls of the plunging material. Some recommend bottom heat for- 
the seed, but after repeated experiments I find a greater percentage- 
germinate in the frame and make sturdier growth afterwards. 
When the seedlings are seen to be pushing through admit light 
gradually, but keep the glass over the pan till the leaves touch. 
About the middle of September remove the plants to a cool- 
house for a week or two. They are best, however, in an inter¬ 
mediate house from the beginning of October to the end of March. 
As soon in the new year as convenient prepare one or more boxes; 
(mine are 30 inches long, 18 wide, and 3 deep), in the usual 
way, employing the same soil as before, but a trifle rougher, and 
prick off the seedlings 3 inches apart. These boxes will be found 
far preferable to small pots. Uniformity of moisture, both for the 
roots and the foliage, is maintained better ; and this is very important 
while the plants are small. Under these conditions insects will not 
be troublesome. If, however, a few are perceived a very small 
quantity of tobacco powder will convey the necessary hint. If 
kept close to the glass and sparingly watered the middle of March 
should find the plants with good balls of roots and ready for 
another shift. From the boxes to 4]-mch pots is a good move, 
potting moderately firm ; this time using three parts loam, one 
leaf soil, one manure, and a liberal dash of sand well chopped and 
thoroughly mixed, but not sifted. Put one large crock in the pot 
and a good supply of the roughest of the mixture. When potted 
return them to the same house for another fortnight, then remove 
them to a cool house ; syringe night and m;rning, shade from bright 
sunshine, and water carefully. 
Now is the time to look out for insects ; examine the hearts- 
frequently, as that is where the damage is done, and when green fly 
is observed you have the signal for a general dipping. Fumigating 
does more harm than good ; it injures the leaves if too strong,, 
while a light smoke will not penetrate and kill. Softsoap, at the 
rate of a quarter of a pound to three gallons of water, is safe and 
effectual. There is little difference between a cool damp house and 
a cold frame during the summer. Both answer for Cyclamens 
equally well, except that a house is usually provided with a blind,, 
which of course is better than a permanent shade. If a frame is- 
decided upon the plants may be placed there about the middle of 
May ; in a month from that time they should be ready for their 
final potting. Mix the soil as before, using 7-inch pots, and plenty 
