332 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 17, 1889. 
by allowing each shoot sufficient space for the full development of the 
leaves that strong well-ripened wood can be obtained. Further, all the 
shoots that will not be required should be removed at a comparatively 
early period of the summer, the precaution being taken to proceed 
gradually with the work, that the trees may not be subjected to any 
material check. At the commencement of the disbudding the cultivator 
must determine what shoots will be required for laying in, and having 
selected those occupying suitable positions, must so shape his course 
that no shoots beyond what are absolutely necessary are laid in. To 
lay in two or three times as many shoots as are required, in case they 
may be wanted, as is frequently done, is one of the several hindrances 
to Peach culture, and the practice cannot be too strongly condemned. 
The summer disbudding should indeed be so carried out that the winter 
pruning will consist chiefly in cutting away the shoots that have borne 
fruit, and shortening those of the previous season. 
To discuss the relative merits of varieties would be interesting, but 
to do so would be to go beyond the scope of my paper. But as having 
a direct bearing upon the question under consideration, I would urge 
the more extended culture of the excellent early Peaches and Nectarines 
raised at Sawbridgeworth, and the fine early Peaches received from 
America, more especially on soils and in districts not particularly 
favourable to these fruits. Ripening their fruit in the second half of 
July and at the beginning of August they complete their growth early, 
and plenty of time is afforded the wood to attain full maturity. They 
are also of service in greatly prolonging the season, a point of no small 
importance in gardens of all classes. Concurrently with an extension 
of the culture of the early sorts there should be a reduction in the space 
devoted to the late kinds, for under the most favourable conditions only 
are they even moderately good. 
There is only one other point to which I would direct the attention, 
and that is root pruning. This phase of Peach culture seldom receives 
the attention its importance demands. We see in all directions trees 
producing fat wood, and we see also cultivators endeavouring to check 
the production of wood of this description by cutting away the stroDg 
shoots at their base. If it is necessary to check an undue luxuriance of 
growth the roots must have attention, and they may be simply shortened 
or the trees be lifted and then have the roots shortened according to the 
condition of the trees. When they have occupied the same position 
several years without being disturbed at the root, it is necessary to 
proceed cautiously with repressive measures. But in all cases it is 
essential to shorten any strong roots that may have struck down into 
the subsoi', for in no small degree do they promote the production of 
soft unripened wood. It is indeed necessary to keep the wood near the 
surface, for to have them within the influence of the sun and air is a 
prime factor in the production of an abundant supply of richly 
flavoured fruit. 
APPLES. 
[By Mr. R. Smith, Yalding.] 
Notwithstanding the foreign competition I maintain British 
growers could hold their own in the English markets if they would 
spend more time and labour upon the trees in the orchards, and keep 
the Apple trees clean from lichen and insects. Nothing improves the 
bark of Apple trees more than whitewashing the stems and all the 
large branches with lime. I have noticed the last few years how clean 
and bright the bark has looked in the spring after being whitewashed a 
year or two ago. I strongly recommend throwing powdered lime into 
the heads of large Apple trees during the autumn and spring months— 
as soon as the leaves are off in autumn, and before the buds swell in 
spring. This work is not costly, and can be done by any handy 
labourer. 
I find the Apple trees in orchards, say forty or fifty years old, have very 
little time and attention devoted to them. Here is the great error. From 
the small wood in the heads of such aged trees yield very inferior fruit, 
and such helps to glut the market. If the British Apple grower for 
market is to hold his own in open competition with the foreign growers 
he must use every means in his power to grow only good fruit. This 
means high class cultivation. That is what the Apple wants. It is the 
high-class cultivation that I wish to impress very forcibly upon the 
grower. I have here two samples of Apples taken from old trees from 
an orchard. These trees have been cleaned as advised above. These 
specimens are equal in size and colour to any from young trees of the 
same variety; one is Beauty of Kent and the other is a local variety 
called Brenchley Pippin, a seedling raised at Brenchley in Kent, rather 
small Apple, but as shown is of fair size and good colour, much like the 
King of the Pippins in shape, and for size of a well grown King. This 
Pippin is an excellent cropper. I have never known it fail in twelve 
years. But what I want to point out is that good sound Apples can be 
grown on aged trees in the orchard if properly cared for as to prun¬ 
ing and keeping them clean and manuring, not disturbing the roots by 
digging about them. Keep the land well mulched with farmyard 
manure from time to time—that is, in autumn and summer. Aged trees 
want a little pruning every year, rather than a severe pruning oc¬ 
casionally. I have no doubt whatever the British Apple grower for 
market has many drawbacks. He wants more security of tenure. This 
will come before long. The landlord begins to find out it is to his own 
interest that the tenant has security for his investment of his own 
capital on the land he holds. 
Every Apple grower for market should make a point of visiting his 
neighbours every autumn, as much would be learnt in this way. No 
doubt a few would be found who would go in for high-class cultivation 
and planting the best varieties suitable to the districts. Many mistakes 
have been made in not getting the right sorts for the localities, con¬ 
sequently a great loss of time and season is the result. 
Events of the Week. —The Royal Horticultural Society’s Fruit 
and Orchid Committees will meet in the Drill Hall, James Street, 
Westminster, on Tuesday, October 22nd, at 11 A.m. The National 
Chrysanthemum Society’s Floral Committee will meet at the Royal 
Aquarium, Westminster, at 2 P.M., on Wednesday, October 23rd. On the 
last named day the Horticultural United Provident and Benefit Society’s 
Annual Dinner will take place at the Cannon Street Hotel at 6 P.M., 
N. N. Sherwood, Esq., in the chair. Tickets can be had from Mr. W. 
Collins, 9, Martindale Road, Balham, S.W. 
e 
- The Fruiterers’ Company’s Prize Fund. —Amongst th 
subscribers to the fund of £5000 now being raised by the Fruiterers’ 
Company for the encouragement of fruit growing in England are His 
Grace the Duke of Westminster, £50 ; His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, 
£50 ; Her Grace the Duchess of Grafton, £5 ; the Earl of • Dartmouth, 
£20 ; Lord Crewe, £5 5s.; Lord Wolverton, £10 10s. ; the Baroness 
Burdett-Coutts, £50 ; the Right Hon. W. H. Smith, M.P., £20 ; Messrs. 
Crosse & Blackwell, £52 10s.; C. A. Sperati, Esq., £21 ; F. Gorringe, 
Esq., £10 10s,; R. Barrow, Esq., £5 53. ; and J. H. Cunningham, 
Esq., £5. 
- We learn with regret that Mrs. M. Williams died at the 
Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, on the 10th inst., 
and we express our hearty sympathy with the veteran horticulturist, 
Mr. B. S. Williams, on the loss he has sustained. 
- Gishurstine. — Price’s Patent Candle Company usually 
remind us of the approach of winter by sending samples of this valuable 
dressing for boots. It is largely used not only by workmen on the land 
in wet weather, but by young men who are employed under glass, where 
much watering and syringing has to be done, and is found to exclude 
wet and act as a preservative of the leather. 
- Heavy Yield of Potatoes.—A correspondent sends us 
a record of the proceedings in taking up and weighing the crop 
of half an acre of Potatoes in the middle of a field in Yorkshire, as 
grown under ordinary farm management by Mr. John Shelboume. 
The tubers, which are stated to be of extraordinary size, weighed 9 tons 
4^ cwts., or 18 tons 9 cwts. per acre. The variety is new to the district, 
and is named Excel All. 
- Plant and Tree Labels. — We last year referred ap¬ 
provingly to Chandler’s copper labels, some samples of which are 
now before us. They are as thin as paper, and when laid on 
a soft pad and firmly written on with an ordinary pencil or style, the 
names are indented and remain legible no doubt for years. They require 
no string or wire attachment for placing round the trees, the tags for 
this purpose being part of the labels, and, being flat, do not cut the 
bark. 
- Mandevilla suaveolens. — In your issue of September 26th 
the question is asked, “ Who has tried it in a cold house or against a 
wall ?” In the island of Guernsey it grows freely out of doors. I have 
