August 29, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
179 
warmth in the pipes before and after the crops were gathered with 
sufficient ventilation to cause evaporation, would have insured the 
requisite elaboration of the sap, the solidification and ripening of the 
wood and buds. Such are fortunate, and can take as much credit as 
they like to themselves without anybody being the wiser, but what we 
want to have is information from those that have experienced similar 
disaster, and the way they have managed to hobble safely out of the 
difficulty on to safe and certain ground. My deductions are that the 
fruit on the lower part of the tree were a consequence of the greater 
evaporation through proximity to the hot-water pipes, combined with 
the lessened vigour, and that had enough air been given with a 
diminished amount of atmospheric moisture in the structure all would 
have been well with the upper as well as the lower part of the tree. 
This points to the necessity of a free circulation of air in the early 
stages of forcing, in order to have short jointed sturdy growth, weil 
developed stout textured foliage, the growths thoroughly solidified as 
made through the perfect elaboration and assimilation of the sap, which 
is the best of safeguards against insect pests and fungoid growths, and 
the only growth on which reliance can be placed for the ensuing crop. 
The trees in an unheated house singularly enough have retained the 
fruit equally on the upper and lower parts of the trees, and here the 
ventilation was free from the commencement and right away to the 
fruit taking the last swelling for ripening, when encouragement was 
given by a moderation of the ventilation and by early closing, so as to 
assist the ripening, and the growths being thinner and the moisture less 
the wood was more evenly ripened. Why have the trees in the un¬ 
heated houses not cast their fruit equally with those in the heated 
structures ? and why should the apparently less ripened wood of the 
unheated house trees retain the fruit whi'st that of the apparently much 
better ripened heated house trees were throwing it off ? Surely the con¬ 
fined atmosphere to which early forced trees are subjected in a cold 
sunless season is contrary to Nature’s requirements, the solidification of 
the growths (and the formation or character of the buds given) as 
made, and which no after treatment can change.— Utilitarian. 
The Weather. — Until the present week showers were of 
daily occurrence in the metropolitan district, and, indeed, appear to 
have been general, occasionally accompanied with high winds, which 
denuded many trees of fruit. Bright and calm weather has succeeded, 
and it is hoped will continue for the in-gathering of the harvest <yid the 
well-being of fruit trees. 
-We are requested to state that the Bedford and Bedfordshire 
Chrysanthemum Society’s Show is fixed to be held on November 
21st and 22nd. 
——■ A New Cherry. —In your report of the fruit departmenc of 
the Taunton Deane Horticultural Society on page 162, mention is made 
of a new Cherry shown by Mr. It. Nicholls, gardener to Earl Fortescue, 
Castle Hill, South Molton, Devon. It is well described by the writer as 
“ a large form of Black Tartarian,” equal in point of quality and larger 
in size. In addition to Morellos, the only other Cherries shown were 
Governor Wood and Florence, but they bore no comparison to the new 
variety. It is named Castle Hill Seedling, and came as an accidental 
seedling at Castle Hill Gardens. It was cared for, and Mr. Nicholls 
has a tree of it upon an east wall, where it does well. It is an object of 
special interest to Earl Fortescue, and the fruit is much appreciated by 
him. The tree is hardy, and it always crops well. It would prove very 
useful for purposes of comparison if Mr. Nicholls could send a dish of 
fruit to a meeting of the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
Society. It is perhaps too late to do it this season, but the Committee 
should see it another year. If sufficiently distinct from existing sorts, it 
is a very valuable late variety.—R. D. 
-Flower Show at the Poet Laureate’s. —The annual 
Exhibition of fruits, vegetables, and flowers in connection with the 
Freshwater and Yarmouth Horticultural Society, was held on Wed¬ 
nesday and Thursday last, in the beautiful grounds of Farringford Park, 
by kind permission of Lord Tennyson, the Poet Laureate. The weather 
was exceedingly unfavourable on the opening day, and as a consequence 
but few visiters attended. On Thursday, however, there was a more 
numerous attendance. The Exhibition was held in two large marquees 
near the Poet’s residence. There was a good show of fruit and flowers 
for competition, in addition to which some lovely floral specimens were 
exhibited by Lord Tennyson, Mr. E. Granville Ward, J.P., Mr. H. 
Somers-Cocks, Mrs. Martin (of Chislehurst), and Colonel Crozier, J.P 
Some fine samples of honey were also exhibited, and Mr. W. R. Marshall 
showed an interesting observatory hive. 
- Some Remarkable Onions. —On the occasion of the annual 
Exhibition of the Basingstoke Horticultural Society on August 20th, 
some Onions, remarkable for their great size and handsome appearance, 
were shown by Mr. Noah Kneller of Malshanger Park Gardens, Basing¬ 
stoke. The variety is Ailsa Craig, raised at Culzean Castle, Maybole, 
and the twelve bulbs shown averaged 2J lbs. each, or 30 lbs. weight the 
twelve. In 1888 Mr. David Murray, the raiser, grew one bulb to the 
weight of 2 lbs. 7 ozs., and twenty-four bulbs weighed 46 lbs. 12 ozs. 
It is needless to add that Mr. Kntller's Onions were by far the best in 
the class for twelve Onions. Mr. H. Deverill of Banbury, who is put¬ 
ting this new Onion into commerce, added a special prize of one sove¬ 
reign to the sum named in the schedule by way of commemorating the 
event. It is matter for regret that the mildew is making great havoc 
with the Onion seed now in course of ripening, and this complaint 
appears to come from all the Onion growing districts, Bedford especially. 
It is all the more to be regretted, as there was a scarcity of good bulbs 
last year for planting out for seed purposes. 
-Successful Beds of Mushrooms.—T his would appear to be 
an appropriate heading to what follows Looking in at Mr. Olivers 
pretty garden recently, Waltham Lodge, Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith, 
we noted two beds, one outdoors, one indoors, the latter in a dark 
cellar. They were spawned on July 27th, that indoors being the more 
forward, and were beginning to button on August 2Gth the day of 
our visit, scarcely a calendar month. A piece of good work this, on 
which Mr. Elmes, the courteous gardener, may be congratulated. He 
attributes his success chiefly to sweet manure. At the same garden we 
noted an innovation, this being an arbour of Vegetable Marrows ! 
Trained in this way, some 6 feet in height, their pendent fruits had a 
novel and pretty effect.—B. 
-Taking all things into consideration, Pine Apple Nectarine 
is, in my opinion, the finest of all Nectarines. Under good cultivation 
it attains a large size, is of excellent flavour, and when possessing that 
rich orange colour suffused with crimson which is peculiar to the variety 
it is not easily surpassed in appearance. Some cultivators experience 
great difficulty in producing examples that answer to the above de¬ 
scription, as it is often met with slightly shrivelled on the top of the 
fruit before the base is thoroughly ripe, and the whole appearance of 
the fruit being spoilt by rusty brown spots over the greater part of the 
surface. This is caused by exposing the fruits to too much sunshine, 
in conjunction with the shoots being trained too close to the glass. 
When the trees are trained about 15 or 18 inches from the glass, a 
thin coating of whitewash should be syringed over the roof as soon 
as colouring commences. Should the weather prove very bright another 
sprinkling ought to be given when the fruits are nearly ripe ; then 
if other cultural details are properly attended to, specimens of fine 
appearance as well as quality will be produced. When there is suffi¬ 
cient room to train Nectarines of this variety from 2 feet 6 inches to 
3 feet from the glass the fruits will colour splendidly without shading. 
—H. Dunkin. 
_A Cyclone in Shropshire.— North Shropshire was on 
Thursday, the 23rd inst., visited by a perfect cyclone—a phenomenon 
hitherto unheard of in England. Incalculable damage has been done 
to property and crops for miles around. V ithout any warning the 
cyclone came on with a great roar, which for the time drowned all 
ordinary sounds as if it were the rush of a mighty body of water. An 
intense feeling of terror was created. This deafening sound lasted 
about five minutes, and in that short space of time trees were uprooted 
and stripped of their branches, haystacks were bodily displaced, houses 
were partially unroofed, and barns and outbuildings were demolished. 
The cyclone appears to have been first felt at Mr. Sherwood’s of 
Waterloo, where a number of Plum and other trees were uprooted. It 
then went over the canal, past Bostock Hall on to V< hixall Hall, which 
suffered most. A part of a large Beech tree was carried 150 yards, 
crashing up against the strong walls of the Ha’l. Orchards, gardens, 
cornfields, and the lands around the Hall suffered considerably. The 
cyclone took a westerly course, about three and a half miles in length 
and 150 yards in width, expending itself at Tilstock Park, four miles 
from Whitchurch. All who witnessed it say it first appeared like a 
great white mass of vapour. 
_ The annual Horticultural Show in connection with the Ryde 
Exhibition and Horticultural Association was held on Thurs- 
