December 12, 1889. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
515 
it will justify the title. Being naturally rather critical, I thought it 
possible I might find in it something with which I might not agree, 
but as to treatment I have found nothing, and the only exception I can 
take is with reference to some of the lists of varieties to be cultivated, 
but even there I may be wrong, as the advice is addressed to small 
cultivators. My experience would not justify me in leaving out of a 
list of twelve Pears Comte de Lamy. It is a constant bearer, never 
varies in quality, which is that of the very highest kind. Comte de 
Flandres, Van Mons Leon le Clerc, and Zephirin Grbgoire are superior 
to some named in the work. As to Plums, Jefferson is for all qualities, 
size, flavour, appearance, and free bearing, superior to any other. It 
makes the most delicious preserve, more delicate than Apricot. How¬ 
ever, fruits vary in different localities, and my experience may be 
exceptional.— Edmund Tonks. 
I HAVE carefully read the prize essay of Mr. J. Wright. It is full of 
detail, and contains more reliable information on fruit growing than has 
perhaps ever appeared in the same space before. Not only does the 
author say and illustrate what to do, but also what not to do. The 
illustrations convey the right and wrong methods of doing things in a 
small space and simple manner. On page 26, for instance, fig. 5 dis¬ 
plays at a glance, without reading, how to plant Strawberries and how 
not to plant them. The method of planting, tying, and pruning Rasp¬ 
berries is also represented in the same excellent manner. Good methods 
of planting and pruning, and the reverse, are also instructively figured 
on pages 76 and 77. The work is written to aid cottagers and other 
small holders of land to grow fruit, and is just what is needed by them. 
But it should also be in the hands of every gardener. Young men 
especially should read it attentively, and they may learn more about 
hardy fruit growing than they frequently do after several years of 
ordinary practice in gardens. I regret that such a good and cheap little 
book was not in my hands twenty years ago. It would have saved me 
many blunders and mistakes since then.—W m. Babdney, Norris 
Green. 
Both Mr. Wright and the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers must 
be congratulated on placing before the public such a wonderfully cheap 
and practical essay. Good fruit always pays, and if growers get a third 
of what is stated they may be satisfied. Living as I do in a fruit- 
producing county, I know the difficulties small growers have to contend 
with in disposing of what is termed soft fruit in small quantities, and 
jam factories or agencies for buying up fruit, such as are now being 
established at Pershore and a few other places, are very advantageous. 
There are capital selections of the various fruits to be grown, and they 
are equally profitable for growing in gentlemen’s gardens. Plain and 
concise instructions are given on the different modes of culture. Mr. 
Wright commences his essay with the smaller fruits, such as Straw¬ 
berries, Red and Black Currants, Raspberries, and Gooseberries, and 
then follows on with Apples, Pears, Plums, and Cherries. There are 
also chapters on manuring, grafting, thinning, gathering, storing, and 
marketing fruit. The Apples named are good, but how far the Broad¬ 
leaved Paradise stock will be suitable for bush trees on the majority of 
soils and districts remains to be proved. On strong soils I have found that 
the Ecklinville Seedling, Stirling Castle, Small’s Admirable, Domino, 
and Keswick Codlin, are equally fruitful, and do not make over- 
luxuriant growth on the Crab stock. The illustrations, as to form of 
trees, planting, pruning, packing the fruit, with plans of gardens, are 
useful, and altogether we have a capital shillingsworth.—A. Young, 
Ablerley Hal Gardens, Stourport. 
I sincerely hope my Irish countrymen will read well and inwardly 
digest the handbook on profitable fruit culture by Mr. J. Wright, issued by 
the publisher of the Journal of Horticulture, and which perforce places 
within the most convenient brief limits the most practical information 
on this increasingly important subject. In my rambles through this 
singularly favoured island—I mean by Nature and climate— I have 
often noticed one, two, three, or more acres of orchard attached to the 
farm houses here and there, but especially in Munster, and I regret to 
say in every instance those orchards are sadly neglected. Anything 
like root-pruning, winter dressing, removal of moss, dead branches, or 
top-dressings seems never to have been thought of. Geneially those 
orchards are let every year at some small sum, barely sufficient in some 
cases to pay the rent and taxes. They are invariably Apple orchards— 
indeed, I never met a Pear, Plum, Cherry, or Damson preserve—and 
seem to be the remains of the old cider industry that existed beside the 
Suir and Blackwater and other favoured localities in the past century. 
In thi3 locality I remember seeing two old cider presses a quarter of a 
century since beside the public road, where Apples were regularly pur- 
cha»ed as they passed in carloads into town to make that wholesome and 
exhilarating drink. As to climate, I doubt if any part of England ex¬ 
cept the counties bordering the Channel has as mild or salubrious a 
climate for fruit culture. To-day (6th December), for instance, the 
open air temperature is 50° here, and I see telegrams notifying you have 
had six days smart frost around London and 10 feet of snow on the 
Continent in a more southerly latitude. The soil and climate of 
Munster cannot be excelled in the British Isles. Information is neces¬ 
sary, and a little more. That information, and that little more, Mr. 
Wright tells succinctly and in such a way that it would be impossible 
to do justice to it by summarising. 
The book should be in the hands of every farmer—they are the 
great middle class—every shop-keeper having a garden, and every 
owner of a villa and suburban residence where they can grow fruit. 1 
can hardly suggest cottiers, as the great mass of them, unlike the same 
class in Great Britain, are only slowly emerging from poverty, and think 
it a good thing to have common food the year round. Since I read 
Mr. Wright’s book I have been thinking how this valuable manual 
could be placed within the reach of the rising generation, and have 
come to the conclusion that the Board of National Education should be 
requested to place it on their list, so as to make it accessible to their 
teachers and the higher classes in the schools. This might be followed 
up by allowing some small result fees to advanced boys who answered 
best on the general subject. The rising generation must be looked to— 
the past are hopeless, and the present have different aims and objects 
that I cannot further refer to. 
I think, too, the Commissioners of National Education when ordering 
their inspectors to report on teachers’ school farms and gardens, should 
add some gratuity for those who grow fruit best. If the teacher under¬ 
stood and grew fruit, and gave an occasional lesson to his higher 
classes, using his own garden as an illustration, this would give a 
much-needed stimulus to fruit culture all over Ireland. One hundred 
pounds a year would do this—would pay the premiums and result fees. 
If we have a paternal government why not have a commencement made 
at once? Mr. Wright could readily append questions to the several 
chapters, to facilitate its use as a text book, if my suggestion, which 1 
know to be practicable, w T ere adopted.—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
What a capital manual the “ Profitable Fruit Growing” is ! The 
only thing to which I take exception is Adam’s right leg, which is- 
certainly out of drawing, and that I suppose is the fault of the Worship¬ 
ful Company of Fruiterers.— Edward Luckhurst. 
[We wonder what grounds our correspondent has for questioning the 
accuracy of the anatomical drawing of the ancient limb by the 
“ ancient” Company referred to for their heraldic device.] 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
December 10th. 
The last Committee meeting of the year is never expected to be 
largely attended by exhibitors, but the members of the several Com¬ 
mittees usually assemble in. good numbers to join in mutual good wishes 
for the coming year, and hearty votes of thanks to their respective 
Chairmen. The exhibits were not abundant at the Drill Hall, West¬ 
minster, on Tuesday last, and the central tables which have been 
required at every previous meeting were dispensed with, the side tables 
sufficing. Yet several interesting exhibits were cintributed, and more 
certificates were awarded, especially amongst the Orchids, than at some 
gatherings when the exhibits have been more numerous. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., in the 
chair, and Messrs. P. Crawley, C. Ross, Harrison Weir, R. D. Blackmore, 
AY. Bates, G. W. Cummins, G. Cliffe, W. Dominy, W. Wildsmith, G. T. 
Miles, W. Warren, G. Bunyard, J. T. Saltmarsh, A. H. Pearson, J. 
Willard, J. Smith, G. Wythes, J. Hudson, H. Balderson, F. Q. Lane, 
G. Norman, Sidney Ford, and J. Wright. 
Some Apples that had previously been before the Committee from 
Messrs. W. & J. Brown, Stamford, were again presented. Toogood’s 
Seedling was considered too much like Golden Noble. Duncombe s- 
Seedling and South Lincoln Beauty were not considered to possess 
qualities entitling them to any special award. A dish of very fine 
Apples bearing a general resemblance to Bramley’s Seedling, yet sweeter, 
was sent from the gardens of A. H. Smee, Esq., and was considered 
worthy of further investigation. Mr. R. Doe, gardener to Lord Savill, 
Rufford, sent a dish of a seedling Apple, Beauty of Stoke, like a conical 
Blenheim Pippin, large, firm, and a variety of promise ; considered 
worthy of further investigation. Mr. Ross, Welford, sent a dish of a 
seedling Apple, clear vellow in colour, remarkable in that respect as 
being a seedling from the Scarlet Nonpareil. It is above medium size,. 
somewhat conical, tender, and of good flavour. It is named Atalanta, 
and met with much approval, and more information is wanted on its- 
cropping quality. Mr. Ross also sent a very fine fruit of Smooth 
Cayenne Pine Apple, foi which a cultural commendation was unani¬ 
mously awarded. , „ 
The Rev. W. W. Wilks, Shirley, sent fruits of the “ Tree Tomato 
Cyphomandra betacea. They were acutely egg-shaped, 3 inches long 
and l£ inch in diameter in the widest part, dark salmon in colour, firm, 
sprightly and agreeable, and possessing a brisk Tomato flavour. A 
cultural commendation was unanimously awarded, accompanied with a 
request that plants be grown at Chiswick. Mr. Wilks sent the following- 
description of the p’ant with his exhibit :—• 
“ Tree Tomato.— The ‘ tree ’ on which the fruits shown have been 
grown is about 9 feet high, with a spreading much-branched head. The 
leaves when young are of a violet purple colour, changing with growth 
into a deep green. They are very large when fully developed, lhe 
blossom is precisely like a Solanum, being, in fact, to an ordinary ob-^ 
server, identical with that of the plant commonly known as Black 
or 1 Woody Nightshade.’ It is an abundant bearer, the fruit ripening 
late in November and throughout December and January. The fruit 
| when raw has a much firmer flesh than a Tomato, and is slightly more 
I acid, but when cooked it is almost indistinguishable from the ordinary 
