Febraary IS, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
123 
A n interesting feature of the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on Tuesday last was the proposal of a plan announced by 
Baron H. Schroder for raising the necessary funds for the acquire- 
-ment of land and the erection of a building that would not only 
afford the requisite conyeniences for the transaction of the business 
of the Royal Horticultural Society, but for other societies, includ¬ 
ing those of a benevolent nature connected with horticulture. 
The proposal of the Baron is to acquire a fund of £40,000 to be 
invested in trustees, the interest from the investment of which is 
to be devoted to meet the demands for ground rent; and a portion 
of the principal to the erection of a building. The invested sum 
is to be repaid to the contributors without interest by the annual 
redemption of bonds. 
When a gentleman of the wealth, position, and influence of 
Baron Schroder initiates a movement of this nature, that fact of 
itself must inspire confidence, and induce many who are in a 
position to do so to co-operate with him in carrying it on. There 
are many persons of wealth V'ho are deeply interested in horti¬ 
culture who may be expected to willingly invest in the fund to be 
created for such a purpose when they see that it is being established 
on a substantial basis. 
The Baron’s proposal met with a warm reception, and in the 
course of a few minutes, after the meeting was over, and many 
gentlemen had left the Council room, spontaneous offerings 
amounting to £2600 were made towards the object in question. 
We have obtained the names of some of the gentlemen, with the 
amounts of their promised contributions :—Baron Schroder offers 
£1000, Messrs. F. Sander & Co. £200, Messrs. S. Courtauld, N. N. 
Sherwood, and H. J. Yeitch, each £150 ; Messrs. P. Crowley, T. B. 
Haywood, Dr. Hogg, C. Mordaunt Matthews, and H, M. Pollett, 
each £100 ; Messrs. G. Deal, John Laing & Sons, G. Paul, H. J. 
Pearson, T. F. Rivers, and Rev. W. Wilks, £50 each ; Miss 
J. Douglas, H. Cannell & Sons, Mr. John Treble, and Messrs. 
Sullivan, £25 each ; Mr. George Bunyard and Mr. Charles Toope 
10 guineas, and Mr. Cecil H. Hooper £5. This is evidence of 
earnestness, and the best beginning that has yet been made by hor¬ 
ticulturists towards providing a suitable central establishment in 
the metropolis that will adequately represent the great and grow¬ 
ing art and industry with which they are connected. 
Obviously those names only represent a fringe of the horticul¬ 
turists of the kingdom, and it is hoped the contributions attached 
to them are a foreshadowing of the realisation of the much-needed 
and desirable undertaking. The moment seems favourable for the 
prosecution of an enterprise of this nature. Commerce is expand¬ 
ing, trade is extending, and the Fellows of the Royal Horticultural 
Society increasing. The great garden-loving community, moreover, is 
satisfied that the Royal Horticultural Society is pursuin g its legitimate 
functions, and the feeling is practically unanimous that the present 
London office and hall are wholly inadequate for the purposes of the 
Society. They were obtained as the best procurable for affording 
temporary accommodation, and always in the hope that premises of 
a more suitable nature would be in due time provided. Baron 
Schroder’s proposal appears the most practical that has yet been sub¬ 
mitted. It is made at an opportune time, and has been hailed with 
an unanimity of satisfaction that commends it to the most favour- 
No, 503.—VoL. XX., Third Series. 
able consideration of horticulturists, amateur and professional 
over the length and breadth of the land ; it has the merit also 
of not imposing on the Royal Horticultural Society any fresh 
liabilities. It is not promoted by the Society, but for it and 
under its auspices ; and not for it alone, but for allied Societies 
and all appropriate objects, not the least being those of a 
benevolent, charitable and prudential character, as represented by 
existing institutions, which at present are without a recognised 
home and habitation. Baron Schroder’s broad and business-like 
proposal is commended to the favourable consideration of all who 
are in sympathy with the object in view. 
METHODS OF TRAINING WALL TREES. 
PE.4.RS. —After having decided what varieties are most likely to 
suit the position, still further thought ought to be bestowed upon the 
selection of Ihe trees. What buyers should stipulate for is medium 
sized comparatively young trees, and not extra strong overgrown speci¬ 
mens. The latter may fill more space, and even arrive at a bearing 
state during the first or second season after planting, but they are 
far from being the best in the end. As an instance we will take a 
horizontally trained tree with three, or it may be four, pairs of 
branches. These being very stout, and the side branches somewhat 
long and rigid, are not easily drawn up together when packed, a 
proportion of them as a consequence being badly damaged in the 
transit. The roots also of large trees are not often when received 
proportionate to the top growth, and the subsequent progress of 
these trees is usually very unsatisfactory indeed. Younger trees 
with their more pliable branches are much less liable to injury 
during their journey to fresh quarters, and being sufficiently well 
furnished with roots very little check is experienced in their re¬ 
moval, so that they are not long before they surpass the more 
stunted old trees. It would be an impossibility to me to point 
out better Pear trees both against walls and in the open 
than are to be seen at the Cardiff Castle Gardens, and I believe 
the whole of these were originally planted as maidens. Mr. Petti¬ 
grew, the gardener in charge, is, however, an experienced skilful 
grower, and it is not to be expected that all can successfully 
emulate what he has done. But if all cannot succeed with 
maidens, or trees that have had one clear season’s growth from 
the graft or bud, as the case may be, this is no reason why 
the other extreme should be followed, or much too old trees 
planted. 
Although there are several other methods of furnishing walls 
with Pears, none is so popular as the good old plan of espalier, 
or horizontally training, and it is of this system I will first treat. 
Trees that I have found do nearly as well as maidens are those 
that have been twice cut down, these being furnished with two 
pair of branches and a leader. The latter being duly shortened to 
about 12 inches in length should next summer produce two well- 
placed side branches and another leader, and in this manner a fresh 
pair of branches, or even two pair where the summer growth is 
sufficiently early and firm to admit of the leader being cut back in 
July every year. If maidens instead of three-year-old trees are 
planted, these must be cut back to within 4 inches of the stock and 
side branches, and leaders selected and laid in as advised in the 
case of the older trees. Supposing either of these young trees are 
well planted and cared for, they are capable of forming leading 
shoots from 24 inches to 30 inches long for several summers 
in succession, the branches and main stem presenting a clean 
healthy appearance, fruit of the best quality following in due 
course. 
For covering walls quickly there is nothing better than one, 
two, or three-branched cordons, these being planted so as to bring 
the leading branches about 15 inches apart. Single cordons can be 
had by simply ordering maiden trees, any side shoots on these 
No. 2159.—VoL. LXXXII., Old Series. 
