202 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Marcn 6,1890v 
Next as to shelter around orchard fruit trees. I have always been 
lb favour of it, buD never before have seen Willows suggested as on 
page li6. I think that another move in the right direction. I have 
thought Poplars, Larch, Spruce, and Scotch Firs to be the best for that 
purpose. _ 
As to associations for assisting less fortunate fellow gardeners, I 
think the idea is a good one. We see the good of the one at Birmingham, 
and no doubt in many more places equally as good results might be 
obtained. These must have the ways and means of helping many 
if they really are in distress, but as in numerous other societies there 
are sure to be black sheep, and they make it worse for the more 
deserving when applying for relief. 
I see a fellow gardener asking for means of destroying Tarrow on 
his lawn. I certainly would advise him to make an exchange. I am 
sure that it is a useful herb for cows in milk. I have always noticed if 
any is found on pasture where cows are turned out you will always find 
that part is eaten oil as short as a mowing machine could cut it, and 
often the grass surrounding the same is left untouched. I should 
hesitate if I were in his place before destroying so useful an herb. 
I am pleased to see a Society of French gardeners has been formed, 
with the object of establishing more cordial relations between France 
and England on the exchange principle. 
On page 176 is an article on the “ Cultivation of the Orchard.” 
If properly manured I do not see any objection to cultivate with vege¬ 
tables that are off before the crops of fruits require to be gathered. 
I have seen such light crops as Radishes, Lettuces, Cauliflower, and 
early Potatoes grown with great advantage and profit to the tenant, and 
found employment for many bands at a time of year when employment 
would have been scarce. I always think if a deep trench was cut round 
each healthy tree, just the circle of the branches overhead, and with 
every root shortened, would make the trees more fruitful, and conse¬ 
quently more profitable, and allow the ground between to be made 
profitable without robbing the fruit trees as suggested, 
Returning again to the orchards. I have noticed in Kent and other 
places as well that the best results have been obtained from plantations 
that have been sheltered from north and east winds, and on ground 
slightly rising to north, thus having the full benefit of sun south-east 
and south-west. 
half-a-crown, can it be wondered at that it does not pay? Have the 
artisans of Dublin no taste for sujh shows, that they should be thus ex¬ 
cluded 1 I think it is full time that the gardeners and nurserymen o# 
Ireland put their shoulders to the wheel and worked together for th& 
good of the Society in question and the general advancement of horti¬ 
culture. True, of late years the prospect has been anything but en¬ 
couraging, yet I believe the worst is past, and that there are brighter 
days in store for our “ unfortunate country,” as we are so prone to 
call it. 
Ieish Gardeners.— I find in Mr. Chas. Lewis’s paper on Gardening, 
page 158, the following sentence:—“Irishmen and Welshmen are 
lagging in the rear.” I venture to join issue with the writer of that 
statement. Perhaps he has not been in Ireland to see for himself, and 
is therefore not well informed. Having spent the greater part of my 
life in this country, I think my opinion will carry greater weight than 
Mr. Lewis’s. As regards nationality, give us the same privileges which 
are granted to English or Scotch gardeners, and I will venture to pre¬ 
dict that we will not only hold our own but lead the way. My motto 
for every young gardener is Nil Desperandum. Let us who hold positions 
of trust, and who are held responsible for those who serve under us, 
encourage young men by precept and example to take an interest in 
their work, encourage sound reading, drawing, and writing —the latter, 
I am sorry to own, a great many are deficient in. 
Gardeners’ Benefit Societies. —I think it would be a very good 
thing if all the different societies of this nature were to unite. I 
believe it would answer the purpose better for which they are formed- 
I am pleased to see on page 160, under the heading of “ Gardeners out 
of Situation,” that a correspondent mentions a Society for the relief of 
gardeners was formed in Belfast. I wish it eveiy success.— R. Russeld, 
Falmerstown, 
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS—A CATALOGUE COMMENTART 
(^Continued from,page 180.') 
I send you these few comments for what they are worth. You can 
make what use you think proper of them. I can send any amount 
of specimens of cankered wood if required, not only fruit tree wood 
but of other trees I have seen growing under the same conditions.— 
G. C., IVarwich. 
I intend making a few remarks on some subjects which seem to be 
among the leading questions of the day. The proposal of a Hall for 
Horticulture is well worthy the support of everybody who takes an 
interest in gardening. It is far from creditable to the gardening com¬ 
munity that the leading Society, to which we all look for guidance in 
matters relating to horticulture, has no suitable meeting place in London. 
The proposal which Baron Schroder made at the meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society of Tuesday, 11th February, is one wel'worthy of 
support, and I have no doubt it will be supported. We find at the 
meeting in question over £2000 was promised—truly a good beginning. 
Large Chrysanthemum Blooms. —It is seldom that Mr. D* 
Thomson’s writings find their way into the Journal. I wish we had 
more of his sound practical advice. He condemns fishing rod Chrys¬ 
anthemums, and I hope he will continue to do so. I think Chrysanthemum 
societies might do a great deal to encourage the dwarfing procen. I never 
could see any beauty in Chrysanthemums trained as standards or on 
balloon trellises, as the twisted stems give the plants an unnatural 
appearance. As regards Chrysanthemum societies in England, I find by 
Mr. ^ Molyneux’s able article on the subject, that the majority of them 
are in a flourishing state. All honour to Portsmouth and other societies, 
which, after certain hours, allow the industrial classes an opportunity 
to inspect them at a low price. This is not done in Dublin and 
elsewhere. 
The Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. —I am sorry 
to have to admit that this Society is not in as good a position financially 
M I desire to see. At the same time I am compelled to ask. What work 
is it doing compared with what it might do were it placed under the con¬ 
trol of an energetic council ? Why not have its monthly meetings 
where papers could be read by some of the leading gardeners in the 
neighbourhood ? Perhaps Mr. McKenna could be induced to tell how 
he managed to grow the fine Grapes which were the admiration of 
visitors at the summer and autumn shows ? Might we not also have a 
few words of sound sense from Mr. Bedford, Straffan House Gardens, on 
how to grow the beautiful Orchids which are such a credit to him Z I 
throw out these few hints, not in any carping spirit, but as a well-wisher 
of the Society. Anything I can do to assist it I shall only be pleased to 
do, if the directors bestir themselves and keep abreast with the times. 
When I find that the charge for admission to all the Society’s shows is 
Ophirie (Gonbault, 1841).—A strong, long, rapid grower, of vigorous- 
constitution and quite hardy, with abundant but not thoroughly ever¬ 
green foliage, having more of the character of the true Noisette than 
any of the Roses mentioned in this section. Not very liable to mildeyw 
or to be injured by rain, but almost always comes quartered, which is 
indeed its normal shape. Only valuable for its quaint coppery red 
colour, which I have always imagined somehow or other to be the source 
of that shade wherever it appears in our Tea Roses. Not free blooming,, 
but a fair autumnal. The flowers are very small, and the plant is really 
not with growing, except as a curiosity or from old associations. 
Reve d’Or (Ducher, 1869).—A very strong climbing Rose, of most 
free and rapid growth, fine evergreen foliage, and generally great merit. 
It has one most desirable piece of good manners as a climber. Other 
Roses of this section and of the Gloirede Dijon race are apt, when grown 
on a wall, to become weak and bare in foliage towards the bottom, so- 
that all the blooms are out of reach, and the plants look unsightly from- 
the naked appaarance of the lower portions of the branches. This i» 
not the case with Rgve d’Or, and it adds considerably to its value as a 
climber, that the lower parts of the plant are generally fairly and 
decently clothed with blooms and foliage. Not liable to mildew, and" 
can stand a little rain as well as most. The blooms come well in clusters,, 
well shaped, of much the same colour as Safrano and Sunset, but- 
rarely large enough for exhibition. It is wonderful as a free bloomer, 
the plant being smothered with flowers from top to bottom during the-. 
first crop, and a fair amount of blooms, if the plant be in good health, 
continue into the autumn. It is quite hardy, and to my mind one of 
the very best of climbing Roses. Not so large as Gloire de Dijon, nor’ 
quite so good as a continual bloomer, early and late, but superior to it in 
manner of growth for covering a wall, 
Solfaterre (Boyau, 1843).—A strong climber, with large open loose 
blooms of little merit. It is tender, not so good as Lamarque, and. 
would probably never have come into use if it had been raised at a. 
later date. 
Triomphe de. Ren’^es (Lansereur, 1837).—This old Rose is a fair 
grower, but not strong enough for anything but a dwarf wall. It is a 
free bloomer, with characteristic wood and habit, but very tender, and 
easily killed by frost. The blooms require a good deal of heat, and to- 
be protected from rain ; they are very fine when you get them good, of 
most perfect pointed shape, sweet scent, and capable of reaching a full' 
average size. It is quite good enough to show in any company when 
grown at its best, but we never see it, and this, perhaps the finest 
shaped of all this section, does not appear in the N.R.S.’s catalogue at. 
all. It is certainly very difficult to grow well, and has probably been 
more often spoken of than seen during its long existence of fifty-two 
years. 
WilUam. Allen Richardson (Ducher, 1878).—Of good growth, but 
not long enough to be called a climber ; not liable to mildew or mucbt 
