326 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
\ April 17, 1890. 
noticed that the Tlum trees in favoured spots were as white as snow 
with blossom, while a week later the Astwood trees are not yet open, 
and fortunately too from the reports of the frost, which are very dis¬ 
couraging. 
Apricots are much damaged by the late frosts, and most of the 
blossom has failed to set, except such as happened to touch the walls, 
which appear to have retained sufficient warmth from the sun in the 
day to protect the young fruit, a circumstance that may well be noted 
—to nail-in close. 
Plums on walls are not as well flowered as usual. In the open, as 
a’so Damsons, a fair bloom was promised, but the bullfinches, in spite 
of all my efforts, nearly cleared the trees. Most of the damage was 
done in one week, when the influenza was responsible for me not being 
able to use the gun. Over fifty were caught, and a few shot. There is 
this redeeming feature about the loss of fruit—I turned most of the 
birds into money by selling somewhere about 25s. worth, besides keeping 
a few beauties for cages. 
Apple and Pear trees show a promising number of flower buds, but 
besides being forward and liable to damage later on from frosts we 
have an unusual quantity of enemies to battle with. The caterpillars 
of the winter moths are fast hatching out on neglected trees, aphides are 
unusually plentiful for this season of the year, red spider is likely to be 
enormously represented, as mere boughs are literally red over with eggs 
in some cases. Here is also another insect fast hatching, the name of 
which 1 am not sure about, but believe it is spelt “ Cherino ” or 
Pyslla (?). The crops I fear will be dearly bought by the attention and 
materials required to do battle with such an army as confronts us. I 
have some thousands of caterpillars hatched out in pound glass honey 
jars for experimenting with. 
Gooseberry trees are almost stripped of fruit buds by sparrows and 
bnllfinches, in spite of syringing with petroleum and dusting with lime 
and soot. Currant bushes not much harmed. 
As a determined precaution against insect enemies I am placing 
some of the smaller Apple trees in a bath composed of lime, cow- 
dung, and clay, with a little petroleum and softsoap well dissolved 
and thoroughly mixed in the compound. I5y using two brushes (one in 
each hand as a support) it is not so formidable an operation as may at 
first glance seem. This effectually shuts up caterpillars and eggs, red 
spider, scale, aphides, American blight if any, and a host of other 
minute pests visible with the microscope. The buds open out of the 
mixture clear and free from pests. — J. Hiam, Astwood Banh, 
Worcestershire, 
Our garden is situated about miles from the river Humber, and is 
probably about 80 feet above high water level. The soil is a light 
8 indy loam overlying red sand. Nearly the whole of the fruit trees have 
been planted during the last twenty years, and thrive fairly well. 
The following is a summary of the prospect of fruit with us. 
Apricots on south-east aspect plenty of bloom and apparently an 
average crop set. Apples—Cox’s Orange Pippin on dwarf trees, full; 
Kibston Pippin, medium ; Lord Nelson Codlin, full ; this variecy does 
remarkably well here, and is a long way before Keswick Codlin as a 
market Apple, but does not produee such handsome fruits as Lord 
Suffield, which, as well as the Keswick, are very promising. Warner’s 
King on trees about nine years planted are showing well, as is also 
Stirling Castle. Several other varieties are only medium this season. 
Of Pears, Jargonelle on the wall is full of flow’er trusses just ready to 
expand ; Louise Bonne of Jersey, very full of buds on pyramid trees ; 
Durondeau does well here in most seasons and is again very promising. 
We have a tree of Winter Nelis on a wall which covers a space about 
18 feet by 12, which will soon be a fine sight, aspect south. Williams’ 
Bon Chretien are very full on bush trees. A large old Hessle Pear tree 
has very little blossom showing, whilst on the other hand a large old 
tree of the Green Chisel is full of buds ; this tree is more admired for its 
fine appearance than its fruit. 
Plums were a heavy crop here last year, but there is only a small 
show of b'ossom this ; Victoria, Dennison’s. Rivers’ Early, Pond’s Seed¬ 
ling, and one or two other varieties are the best on the walls. Nearly 
all varieties in the open very thin. Peaches, plenty of blossom fully 
expanded, but I fear will be injured, as wm had from -1° to G° of 
frost every night last week. Cherries, both dessert and Morellos, are 
showing plenty of bloom, as also are Siberian Crabs. Gooseberries have 
suffered more from bullfinches this winter than for several years past. 
Black Currants are showing a fair amount of bloom where they are 
tolerably clear of the mite, which is more the exception than the rule 
in this loeality.—W. W., Brough, East Yorks. 
GARDEN PRIMROSES FOR SPRING BEDDING. 
As spring flowering plants these have few rivals for filling flower 
beds during the winter and spring, and although such conspicuous 
masses as given in Myosotis, Silenes, and Wallflowers are wanting, they 
are none the less appreciated. From a packet of seed a great many 
plants may be secured, and, like some other among florists’ flowers, 
scarcely two will be found alike, which makes them all the more in¬ 
teresting. They are hardy and precocious, as only severe frosts will 
cause a break in the display, which is again resumed immediately on the 
change of weather. Seeds may be sown during the next two months, 
choosing a shady aspect, having a fine and rich soil. For the con¬ 
venience of bedding and securing a maximum amount of bloom, there 
is a decided advantage in sowing the seeds at once, and treating them 
similarly to other annual seeds which are sown in spring for the summer 
and autumn display. 
Thinly scattered on a finely prepared soil in an ordinary Pelargonium 
box, they may remain until ready for transplanting to a shady spot out¬ 
doors, and if a supply of water be given them with an occasional 
sewage application, the growth will be strengthened and the plants of 
large size by the time they are required for filling the beds in autumn. 
The foregoing remarks are quite applicable to Polyanthuses, which 
perhaps will make the bolder display of the two, and are by some pre¬ 
ferred in consequence to the Primrose. Both are equally desirable, and 
each repays for a liberal diet. Primroses from seed sown early and 
carefully grown will have buds plentifully formed by the autumn, 
which will continue to open all the winter according as the weather 
allows ; but it is in April and May when they assume their greatest 
beauty, for then they become a mass of colour in great diversity. 
Polyanthuses do not bloom so early, but this is made up in greater 
splendour, the spikes rising well above the leaves, forming completo 
bushes of bloom. These qualities do not appear to be sufficiently 
recognised, and their claims for spring displays cannot be too strongly 
urged. 
Their removal to make room for the summer occupants of the beds is 
a great disadvantage to them, happening as it does at a most busy 
period. They should be replanted immediately, and if possible in a 
position shaded by lofty walls or trees. In the absence of this, a light 
covering of strawy material would serve to preserve them from tha 
FIG. 47. —ONE OP DEAN HERBERT’S HYBRID NARCISSI (see page 321) 
scorching rays of the sun. With this attention plants will retain energy 
sufficient to be of service for bedding two or three years, but even then 
it is prudent and interesting to raise a fresh stock each or every 
alternate year. Permanently planted in shrubbery borders, by wood¬ 
land walks, or any such places, they form an agreeable brightness to the 
general surroundings in the spring.—W. S. 
THE BRITISH FRUIT GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The Committee of the British Fruit Growers’ Association recently 
held a meeting in the Horticultural Club Room Hotel Windsor, 
Victoria Street, S.W., T. F. Rivers, Esq., in the chair. The minutes of 
the previous meeting were read and signed ; a number of new members 
were also elected. The Hon. Secretary, Mr. Lewis Castle, reported that 
the Ellesmere meeting and lecture had proved most successful. Mr, 
Brownlow R. C. Tower, the Secretary of the local Society, wrote to the 
effect, “ You will be glad to hear that we had an excellent meeting here 
on Saturday night, a very attentive, intelligent audience of gentlemen, 
farmers, tradesmen, cottagers, &c., filled the Town Hall. Mr. Wright’s 
lecture was much appreciated, as also were the remarks of Mr. Baillie- 
and Mr. Bunyard. At present I think we have done all we can in the 
way of ‘ setting the ball rolling ’ in this district. In the autumn 
perhaps we may get up some cottage lectures. I am sure we are all 
much indebted to the Association for the helping hand they have given 
us all. I doubt not good will result eventually.” Mr. Baillie also 
wrote in similar terms. He said, “A splendid gathering of deeply 
interested people, and an eagerness and ‘go’ about the whole thing. 
Plenty of enthusiasm without e.xaggeration, and lots of force but no 
‘ fads.’ ” The Chairman remarked that the result was very satisfactory, 
and there was ample scope for the work the Association had undertaken 
to perform in this direction—namely, organising meetings and providing 
