June fO, 18. ; 9. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
497 
perhaps not so high as the Chrysanthemum does now. Well-trained 
specimens require both skill and careful management, and when well 
grown fully repay the cultivator. There is one good feature about the 
Fuchsia—namely, when once you have a well-trained specimen it is easy 
to keep it in this condition for years. 
LAXTON’S STRAWBERRY NOBLE. 
I notice your Sussex correspondent in last week’s issue has opened 
the seasonable subject as to which is the earliest Strawberry in the 
open air, and mentions Noble as the result of his own experience. 
This is quite my own experience this year. I have a large plantation 
of King of the Earlies growing side by side with Noble, and I find 
the latter to have slightly but decidedly the advantage ; but besides 
the early maturity of Noble, there are many other valuable properties 
which cannot fail to make this the favourite variety with the public 
when it comes to be better known. It is far the hardiest and strongest 
in constitution I know. As a proof I may mention that I took ofi 
eight dozen extra strong runners in pots, besides 150 rooted ones from 
twelve small plants I bought from Mr. Laxton in the autumn of 1887. 
The texture, too, is so good and firm that it travels admirabljq while as 
regards size, which is of the first order, it invites attention by its re¬ 
markable uniformity. Looking along my rows of plants small berries 
are quite the exception, not the rule as usual. Its colour is a deep 
red and very bright, and covers the whole surface. I cannot speak 
quite so confidently as to sweetness and flavour, as last year I had not 
a single Strawberry that was at all perfect in this respect. The best I 
tasted was King of the Earlies, the continued rain mildewing my main 
crop and late Strawberries. I should be glad to hear from your readers 
as to what estimation they hold Noble in this respect— i.e., flavour. 
In all other properties I prophesy (because I know) that it will 
become first favourite.— Herefordshire Incumbent. 
ROSE SHOWS IN 1889. 
June 24th. Ryde. 
26th. Richmond (Surrey). 
27th. Farningham, Winchester. 
29th. Reigate. 
July 2nd. National Rose Conference at Chiswick ; Boston, Sutton. 
3rd. National Rose Conference at Chiswick ; Bagshot, Croydon, 
Farnham, Maidstone. 
4th. Bath, Canterbury, Hitchin, Norwich. 
6th. Crystal Palace (National Rose Society). 
9th. Brockham, Diss, Hereford. 
10th. *Brighton, Dursley, Ealing, Ipswich, Tunbridge Wells. 
11th. Gloucester. 
12th. Alexandra Palace. 
13th. Eltham, New Brighton. 
16th. Birkenhead, Carlton-in-Lindrrck. 
17th. Bedford, Ripley (Derby). 
18th. Sheffield (National Rose Society), Helensburgh. 
19th. Ulverston. 
20th. Manchester. 
23rd. Christleton, Tibshelf. 
26th. *Wilmslow. 
* In the case of Brighton and Wilmslow, where the Shows last two 
days, the date of the first day’s exhibition only is given.— Edward 
Mawley, Iloscbanlt , Berkhamsted, Herts, 
CHISWICK ROSE CONFERENCE. 
Apart from the exhibition of blooms to which rosarians are ex¬ 
pected to contribute liberally to the forthcoming Show at Chiswick on 
July 2nd and 3rd, there is another department of the Conference which 
may be made of a most interesting character, and for which we venture 
to solicit assistance. We extract from the official programme the 
following details :— 
“ The object of the Conference is to get together as large and as 
representative a collection of Roses of all descriptions as possible ; to 
form an exhibition of all subjects pertaining to the Rose, whether in 
its botanical, its horticultural, its literary, or its artistic aspects ; and to 
bring together for the purposes of reciprocal information and fellowship 
all those interested in the Rose and its culture. To carry out these ends, 
the assistance of all lovers of the Rose is invited. 
“ Species.—Any exhibits relating to the wild species of Rose, to 
single Roses, to peculiarities of structure, diseases, &c., will be welcome. 
Persons possessin? species of Roses, if only single specimens, are requested 
to exhibit in this class. Dried specimens are also requested. Miscel¬ 
laneous.—Including books on the Rose and on Rose culture ; photo¬ 
graphs, drawings, engravings, &c., of wild or cultivated Roses, Ac.” Rose 
growers and others willing to assist the Society in these respects are 
requested to communicate with Dr. Masters at the gardens of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, Chiswick, W. 
REVIEW OF BOOK. 
Practical Rose Growing. By John Harkness, F.R.H.S. 
If in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom, then ought 
Rose growers to be very wise. Each year seems to produce with its 
new Roses some new book on Roses, and that which we now notice 
shows that however offi and well worn the subject may be, yet some¬ 
thing fresh can be said by one who knows it, and can put on paper 
what he thinks about it. 
Messrs. Harkness have occupied a unique position as Rose growers. 
They won in 1887 the two challenge trophies of the National Rose 
Society in London and Edinburgh, and again the Jubilee tropby at 
Darlington in 1888, thus establishing themselves as well qualified to 
give an opinion on all subjects connected with Rose growing and 
exhibitions. This is styled “ practical ” Rose growing, and the book 
well ideserves the name. There is no pretentious nor sentimental 
writing about it, but a plain unvarnished tale of what is wanted. 
Messrs. Harkness have relied very much for their success in exhibit¬ 
ing on Roses grown on the Manetti stock, and, as might be expected, 
have something to say on its behalf, but what is said is said temperately, 
and few we think will quarrel with their verdict except those who 
denounce the Manetti at all hazards, and excommunicate it with “ bell, 
book, and candle.” “ Manetti stocks,” says Mr. Harkness, “ when properly 
made and carefully eyed (ought it not to be dis-eyed ?) before they are 
rooted and well grown are suitable for most of the Hybrid Perpetuals— 
smooth varieties such as Captain Christy, Countess of Oxford, &c., being 
the exceptions—which may be grown successfully in most parts of the 
north of England and Scotland, and in any cool moist situation, also in 
old garden soil rich in vegetable matter. In such positions the com¬ 
plaints of the Manetti being short-lived will seldom be made, as under 
favourable conditions of growth it not unfrequently attains its majority. 
Here, in North Yorkshire, we have Roses on the Manetti sixteen years 
old, from which in 1887 and 1888 blooms were cut that were placed in 
the winning stands.” He, however, frankly states that for the Teas and 
Noisettes the Briar is most suitable. With regard to the Hybrid 
Perpetuals a diversity of opinion exists ; however, the superiority of 
the Briar seems to be rapidly gaining ground. 
The chapter on pruning is suitable and practical. Mr. Harkness ex¬ 
poses the fallacy of leaving too much wood, and says truly—“If the 
pruning be light-handed and half-hearted the result will probably be 
plenty of Roses, but each lacking size and substance.” In describing 
careful disbudding, he gives one little practical hint which shows how 
alive he is to minute details which are oftentimes overlooked, “ When 
the leaf is much disfigured it had better be pulled ofi, or you may 
repeatedly pause to examine the same leaf when amongst your plants.” 
There are excellent chapters on situation, soil, manure, selection, &c., 
while the second part is devoted to lists of selections of garden and 
decorative Roses, but we would rather refer Rose growers to the book 
itself, which is neatly and tastefully got up, and well printed, and we 
believe it is to be had of the author at Bedale.—D., Deal. 
A PLEA FOR FRUIT CULTURE IN IRELAND. 
Having closely followed the fruit-growing controversy which raged 
in the Press last autumn, and having since planted fruit trees in con¬ 
siderable quantities both in England and Ireland, I should be obliged 
by your allowing me space in your Journal for a few remarks on the 
subject of fruit-growing as an industry for small holders in Ireland. 
On the Irish side of St. George’s Channel you start with the immense 
advantage of finding 300,000 small holdings under £15 valuation already 
in existence marked out for combined fruit, vegetable, dairy, and poultry 
farming. The two last-mentioned branches of farming are undergoing 
considerable improvement, while fruit and vegetable growing are almost 
entirely neglected in a soil and climate eminently suited for bush fruit¬ 
growing. Were these 300,000 holdings in Belgium or Switzerland, their 
small cultivators would inundate British markets with their produce. 
In Ireland this very considerable source of wealth is almost ignored. _ I 
say “almost,” for only this morning I have had the immense.satis¬ 
faction of seeing my ideal of combined fruit and vegetable growing in 
actual and most successful operation in the village of Gormanstown 
near Balbriggan. It is a long way the most encouraging spectacle I 
have witnessed during my repeated visits to Ireland in search of any¬ 
thing hopeful in any direction. I am happy to be able to add that 
the fruit-growing experiment is not confined to Gormanstown, but is 
to be met with in equally successful operation in the villages of 
Julianstown, Naul, Balscadden, Stamullen, and Duleek. 
The holdings vary from one to about four Irish acres, and the 
average net profit from each acre, one year with another, is, by com¬ 
paring statements, about £25. I know of no other use to which average 
land can be put, which would yield so good a result. Fruit and vege¬ 
table growing is peculiarly suitable to the economic conditions of 
Ireland, where small farms and large families prevail, furnishing free 
and always present labour for thinning and picking at the critical 
moment. Young hands would thus be usefully trained to picking, not 
in combination with stealing. 
The commonly reputed avarice of the Irish landlord is strikingly 
absent at Gormanstown, where 30s. is the modest rent of the Irish acre 
of first-rate garden ground I spent three-quarters of an hour minutely 
