262 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 26,188% 
not a bunch in the show to excel, if equal, that in the Impney collection. 
In a single bunch contest Mr. Chaffins would probably have come in 
first, because of other high qualities with good finish, but for trans- 
lucency of colour the Impney bunch was unique. Lest these remarks 
may appear to savour of presumption it may, perhaps, be well to say 
that I happened to be judging in the Grape classes at the Palace, there¬ 
fore am not writing at random on this subject. Other Grapes at Impney 
were also good, and the Peach culture closely resembled that at Ketton, 
therefore no more need be said on that subject; and I am anxious to 
direct attention to a bold yet well considered example of root-pruning 
in Pears, and the striking results achieved. 
The wall is 100 yards long, and 14 feet high. The whole surface 
covered with horizontally trained trees. They have rarely failed to bear 
good crops of large fruit, but of late have been deficient in colour, 
flavour, and keeping properties. The roots had gone “down,” and accu¬ 
mulations of soil from time to time buried those nearest the surface 
about 18 inches deep. Two years ago the soil was removed from 
them to a distance of 3 or 4 feet from the wall, and a mixture of 
good turfy loam and wood ashes placed in contact with them. Mulchings 
of manure kept it moist, and the following spring young feeding roots 
were visible. These were encouraged with further dressings of “ good 
stuff,” and by the autumn the new compost was permeated with a mass 
of fibres. It was then resolved to cut the large routs off at the distance 
from the wall indicated, and to trust to feeding and the water engine 
to counteract the check thus given. The roots were sawn asunder, and 
the ends pared with the knife, more of what had proved good placed 
round them, made firm and mulched. It was bold action, but Mr. 
Parker had faith in the power of the new roots to imbibe what was 
needed, if undue evaporation from the branches and leaves was checked 
by the free use of the syringe or garden engine in dry weather. After 
the fruit was set the best on each spur was selected and retained, the 
others removed ; the result of this, with plenty of liquid food, is such a 
wall of Pears, which, for uniformity of crop, size and colour of fruit, it 
would be difficult to surpass, and I have seen nothing to approach it this 
year. The varieties were admirably chosen, presumably by Mr. M. 
Temple, and the present cultivator has done credit to the collection. 
Pitmaston Duchess Pears weighed over a pound on September 1st, and 
will be considerably heavier when gathered. 
Near one end of the wall two trees were not treated as above 
described, the roots were not cut off, and here we find different growth, 
longer softer shoots, and by contrast markedly inferior fruit. The 
difference is most striking, and the effect of skilful management is 
apparent at 'a glance. The opposite side of the wall facing cast is 
covered with Plums. The well trained trees have been similarly 
treated, and the long straight branches were roped with fine fruit from 
base to extremity, and Mr. Parker has reason to be proud of his 
work. 
As no doubt some readers will wish to know how the Chrysanthe¬ 
mums were looking, they can be told in one word—splendidly. Strength 
with firmness of growth and thick bronzy looking leaves were the 
characteristics, and no doubt the precursors of first class blooms. 
Strawberries in pots near them were equal to the best I have ever 
seen at this season of the year, and a great deal better than thousands 
will be two months later in the season. 
The terrace flower garden was very beautiful, but all that can be 
mentioned in it were the glowing rosy magenta beds of Amy Hogg 
Pelargonium. The variety is seldom seen now, but in masses as at 
Impney it is one of the most distinct and beautiful of all. 
Some Apple trees were laden with fruit, notably Stirling Castle, and 
there seemed no new outbreak of canker, so Mr. Hiam’s insects must 
have given over eating. Mr. Parker was so pleased with that gentle¬ 
man’s visit, his researches, honesty of conviction, and earnestness, that I 
regret I could not have a hearty handshake with my literary opponent. 
He did not, however, convert Mr. Parker to his views. 
BARREN ORCHARDS. 
Worcestershire is one of the greatest of the fruit-growing counties 
of England. In a drive of fourteen or fifteen miles there were orchards 
to the right of us, orchards to the left of us, and trees in the hedgerows 
overhanging the roads. But ninety-nine trees out of a hundred were 
fruitless, old orchards and young ones alike nearly destitute of fruit, 
and the majority absolutely so. The best cultivators are not better off 
than the worst, though they would have had better fruit if the trees 
were bearing. IV hatever ill effects the last insalubrious summer left 
behind a terrible hailstorm in May cut off the blossom for miles. It is 
a sad and dreary outlook, a decidedly bad year for the fruit farmers in 
that great fruit-growing district. 
ABBERLEY. 
The “Hundred House,” just beyond Witley, is the halting place for 
Abberley. It is a famous roadside inn, where magistrates’ meetings are 
held, and a favourite rendezvous for travellers. It is 500 feet above 
the sea level, and a five or ten minutes uphill walk leads to Abberley 
Gardens, and from thence is a great deal steeper and higher climb to 
Abberley Hall. Though death brings changes, the successor to the late 
squire evidently affords the means for the maintenance of his garden 
and pleasure grounds, and he (William Jones, Esq.) has in Mr. Arthur 
Young a gardener who will make the most of those means if anyone 
can, and not spare himself in the effort. 
Only a few features of the garden can be alluded to. The chief 
range of glass is 100 yards long, and comprises five vineries, I think, 
three or four Peach houses, and a Fig house. Higher up the hill side is 
a parallel range, but not so extensive, in which stove decorative plants 
are grown, with compartments for Cucumbers and Melons. At one end 
of the range and at right angles with it are two span-roofed green¬ 
houses, and at the other end a block of three houses, with a connecting 
corridor, one for Roses, and two for Orchids. These are nearly new 
and excellent, with lantern tops and side ventilation below the plants. 
The gardener’s object was to have all the air at command the plants 
required, and no sharp currents. The condition of the occupants of the 
houses shows how well their wants are met. Mildew gives no trouble 
in the Rose house, and apparently nothing else does in the Orchid 
houses. Richardson’s lath blinds are used and much liked, and besides 
suiting the plants they saved the roofs from being smashed with a. 
terrible hail storm, as hundreds of squares in the vineries were, and 
Vine leaves cut into shreds. 
Under the stages in the Orchid houses are beds of leaves, kept moist,, 
and the plants are in the best possible condition. It is hard to believe 
they were unsightly imported pieces little more than a year ago. No- 
healthier Cattleyas can be seen, while Laslias anceps, albida, and others- 
are remarkable for their vigour. After reading the account of the 
natural habitats of the plants in one of Messrs. Yeitch’s serials, Mr. 
Young suspended the plants from the roof in the Rose house in the 
summer, letting them have the full sun, and syringed them several times- 
a day. Their growth is remarkable, and stout flower stems are pushing 
from every pseudo-bulb. All other kinds are also in the most satis¬ 
factory state. Calanthes are unusually vigorous in strong loam. Most 
of them are in pots and fine, but a few in wire baskets supported on> 
pots are still finer ; and “ that’s the way,” remarked the cultivator, 
“ to grow Calanthes.” But we must move on. 
The Melons in the lean-to range demand mention. A more uniform# 
crop of handsome fruit, of the true Blenheim Orange (no other being 
grown), and cleaner, stouter plants, could not be imagined. They are 
thinly trained 18 inches or more from the glass, never shaded, never 
syringed, and had not a speck of scalding or an insect on them. They 
are grown in strong loam and lime rubbish, and not dried off for ripen¬ 
ing. Such stout dark leaves, every one exposed to the sun, impart to- 
the fruit the best of flavour. 
IVe enter the chief range. The Peaches and Nectarines were gathered 
except from two trees, and the fruits on these were up to the Ketton 
standard, thus quite first-rate. Old Vines have been invigorated and 
young planted. The improvement of the former in two years is wonder¬ 
ful. The roots being in in and outside borders is a great advantage, as one- 
set can sustain the Vines while the others that are raised and placed in 
fresh soil can take free possession and improve the growth and the fruit. 
That is what has been done at Abberley with such excellent results. 
The Black Hamburghs have produced Grapes of the first quality. Strong- 
young rods from old cut-down Muscats have full and heavy bunches. 
The late house is somewhat of a puzzle, for what is usually the freest 
and easiest of Grapes to set and finish, Black Alicante, gives far more 
trouble in those respects than does that splendid late variety Mrs. Pince. 
It is questionable if this has been seen better represented. If the fine- 
berries in the large full bunches colour well, as they promised, they will 
equal the best productions of Mr. William Taylor either at Longleat or 
Bath, and that is more than can be said of any others I have seen in my 
not very limited travels. The Alicante must be faulty in variety, for 
the Vines are in the best of health, the crop good, fruit well finished, 
but the berries somewhat irregular, owing to difficulty in setting, and 
not such as the cultivator, with his high aims, would desire to see. 
Allusion to others that are good must be omitted, or some young Vines- 
would have to be passed unnoticed. 
Both Mr. Austen of Witley and Mr. Parker of Impney have seen as- 
good Vines and grown as good Grapes as most persons have, and they 
speak in the highest terms of the Abberley culture. The youngest wer& 
planted in March this year, in an inside border—note its size—2 feet 
3 inches wide and 2 feet 4 inches deep, the 4 inches being drainage. 
Now note tbe size of the canes. The girth was not taken at the thickest 
part at the bottom, but half way up, as fairly representative, and this 
was 24 inches. It must be said they were brown, hard, with the bold 
round buds the Grape-grower loves to see. The leaves were not 15 inches- 
across, or anything of that kind, and proportionately soft and thin, 
“ like Rhubarb ; ” but I have no remembrance of any stouter in texture. 
One, as having practically done its work, was taken off and placed in the- 
scale, which it turned at 1J oz. It was an Alnwick Seedling leaf from 
a yearling Vine. Perhaps this method of estimating the value of Vine- 
growth may cause a smile. Be it so, then let the smiler prove it is not 
a better index of excellence than that of superficial dimensions. I do 
not know how the weight named compares with others that may be 
weighed elsewhere, but shall be glad to hear from gardeners who are not 
afraid to take one from a practically ripened Vine. The removal would 
do no harm, especially if from the upper part of the cane that would 
be cut off in pruning. 
Vines planted two years ago last February have yielded two good 
crops of excellent fruit, and others of the same age cropped lightly may 
be expected to produce superior bunches next year. The soil used 
in the shallow borders is heavy loam off marl with a free addition of: 
old mortar rubbish and charcoal. A little “ Thompson’s ” has been 
applied as a top-dressing to the surface covered with stable manure to 
prevent over-dryness there. Mr. Young is no believer in the rampant 
system of growing young Vines, but works, as he says, on “ Taylor’s- 
principle of stopping the leading cane at when 8 or 9 feet long, and 
pinching the laterals as practised with Vines for fruiting in pots.” Mr. 
