September 13, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
249 
- August Weather at Stirling.—T he first half of the past 
month was very wet; 3‘477 inches of rain fell on the first eighteen days, 
and on two only of these no rain was recorded. Total fall for the month, 
3’800 inches, which fell on twenty days. Greatest fall on one day, O'990 
inch, on the 13th. Mean maximum of the month, 66 0° ; mean mini¬ 
mum, 44T°. Highest maximum 74'6°, on the 24th; highest minimum 
55'4°, on the Ist. Lowest maximum 51'7°, on the 26th ; lowest 381°, on 
the 23rd.—G. McDougall. 
- The Weather Last Month.—A ugust was dull and rainy 
■up to 30th, but bright during the last two days. On the 10th we 
had a heavy thunderstorm, when 0 75 inch of rain fell in about twenty 
minutes. We also had thunder on 15th. The wind was in a westerly 
direction twenty-two days. Barometer—highest reading, 30 02 inches, 
at 9 P.31,, on 29th (it had been below 30 00 since July Ist); lowest 
29 268, at 9 AM, on 3rd. Total rainfall—3 54 inches, which fell on 
twenty-seven days, the greatest daily fall being 1 04 inch, on the 10th. 
Temperature—highest in shade, 73°, on 14th ; lowest, 44°, on 7th and 
31st; mean daily maximum, 65 87°; mean daily minimum, 50 87°; 
mean temperature of the month, 58 37° ; lowest on grass, 41°, on 7th, 
21st, and 23rd ; mean earth temperature at 3 feet, 57 70°. Total sun¬ 
shine, 120 hours 59 minutes.—W. H. Divers, Belvoir Castle Gardens, 
Grantham. 
- Knighton and District Horticultural Society.—T he 
annual show of this Society was held in the Public Hall on Saturday, 
8th inst. The number of entries was in excess of previous years, and 
the exhibition was of a very high standard of quality. The great 
attraction was the groups of plants not for competition which were 
placed in the centre of the hall. The first on entering was staged by 
Mr. Fairfield, gardener to T. Fielding Johnson, Esq., and was composed 
of Palms, Fuchsias, Begonias, Coleuses, and Adiantums of various kinds, 
having a beautiful effect. The next was by Mr. Dodd, gardener to 
H. Simpson Gee, Esq., and exhibited great skill in the freedom of the 
grouping—a little colour would have improved it. Mr. Lawson, gar¬ 
dener to Mrs. Ellis of Knighton Hayes, was the next with a magnificent 
group of smaller plants, including many beautiful Grasses, Palms, and 
Ferns. Mr. Smith, gardener to Mrs. S. Bennett of Holmdale, came in 
for a large share of admiration for the excellent way the platform was 
decorated. Mr. T. J. Gunn exhibited a grand table of fruit, while Mr. 
F. Goodwin, gardener to E. Toller, Esq., had some fruit and garden 
flowers. The same exhibitor decorated a table in the ante-room and 
obtained a pleasing effect with Begonias and D.ihlias, The vegetables 
and garden flowers in the cottagers’ classes were excellent. The 
children’s classes, which form a conspicuous part of this show, were 
well filled. During the afternoon Mr. J. H. Walker, F.R.H.S., lecturer 
to the Leicestershire C.C.,delivered an address on “Growing Vegetables 
for Exhibition ’’ to a large and appreciative audience. 
I 
FRUIT AT WILTON PARK 'GARDENS. 
During a recent visit to Wilton Park Gardens I noticed a very fine 
crop of Apricots on a south wall. It was, however, the large and even 
size of the fruit, combined with splendid colour and freedom from spot 
along with the perfect condition of the trees, that led me to make a few 
inquiries as to their management. The trees did not show the slightest 
trace of a decayed branch or gum exudation. The leaves were large, 
clean, and of that deep green tinge that speaks of unmistakeable 
health. The varieties. Large Early and Moor Park, were unusually 
handsome specimens. The wall is fitted with a 2 feet glass fixed coping, 
and protection is afforded for covering the trees while in bloom with 
canvas along the front. 
The roots are mainly confined to a border 3 feet wide, the remainder 
in front being cropped with small growing vegeltables and salads. This 
part is trenched every year up to the same distance from the wall, and 
the roots are thus kept in a limited space, iln consequence of this 
annual root-pruning the trees never have large fibreless roots, but a 
mass of fibrous ones which are of great benefit to them. Mr. Challis 
considers the immunity of his trees from gumming to this restriction of 
rooting space and the encouragement of root fibres. Certainly the 
appearance of the trees is weighty evidence in favour of the plan adopted. 
The practice of continuously watering the trees i? not resorted to, it being 
considered preferable to loosen the soil on the surface 3 inches deep 
occasionally, top-dressing it with burnt earth and old lime rubble. This 
not only acts as a mulch, but supplies the roots with the necessary 
nutriment required by stone fruit. Even last year the trees were 
watered but once, although the glass coping to a great extent prevents 
many showers falling on them. Mr. Challis regards Moor Park as much 
the best Apricot, but for hardiness Large Early cannot be surpassed. 
Altogether the method of obtaining annually full crops of fruit appear* 
to be worthy of imitation. 
Mr. Challis believes in training Peaches on the cordon principle 
with a view to covering the space quickly, and on. an outside wall with 
a southern aspect he is giving the plan a thorough trial. The wall is 
fitted with a fixed wide glass coping. The trees are planted 2 feet 
6 inches apart, trained with a central stem ; of course the side growths 
being trained thinly, and not quite horizontally. The object of this 
is to mature the current season’s growths, these taking the place of 
those branches fruiting this year, which are cut back to the base, or 
within an eye or so, leaving sufficient to secure ample growth for the 
next season. The trees are now four years old, having been planted two 
seasons, and Mr. Challis considers he will gather two dozen good fruit 
from every tree so managed. This is the first time I had seen trees 
grown on this principle, but certainly for covering a wall quickly 
and evenly the plan has much to recommend it. Peach trees trained on 
the ordinary fan-shaped system are carrying good crops. Such varieties 
as Violette Hative, Hale’s Early, Goshawk, Dr. Hogg, Amsden, Princess 
Louise, Dymond, and Taylor’s Violette Hative were most promising. 
The two latter are much appreciated, Taylor’s Violette Hative is 
regarded as being quite distinct in some respects and superior to the type. 
Of Nectarines there are full crops of Lord Napier and Humboldt. 
The leading varieties of sweet or dessert Cherries are trained as 
cordons on an east and west wall. The trees have only been planted a 
year or two, and they promise to succeed admirably, the growth being 
vigorous and the foliage clean. Fruit spurs, too, are forming readily 
where required for the production of a full crop of fruit. Figs against 
an east wall were giving fine samples of ripe fruit, Castle Kennedy 
especially being noteworthy. White Marseilles was bearing abundantly 
also; the leaves had suffered to some extent from the cold and sunless 
weather of July, showing the want of hardiness of this variety as com¬ 
pared with others. 
Strawberries are largely grown, both out of doors and in pots for 
forcing. For the latter purpose 3500 plants are annually layered in 
pieces of turf and placed direct into their fruiting pots. To see that 
the plan answers admirably one only has to look at the plants at the 
present time carrying fine foliage and already forming plump crowns. 
The bulk of this number comprises Auguste Nicaise, with a few of Noble 
and Royal Sovereign. The former having been for some years Mr. Challis’s 
sheet anchor, he rightly adheres to his favourite. Out of doors this year 
this same sort has succeeded admirably along with Noble. Sir Joseph 
Paxton and President were failures, although these varieties generally 
succeed so well. 
Pears are a heavy crop, but the fruit promises to be somewhat small 
and “specked.” The foliage, too, is pale in colour, being much affected 
by the adverse weather experienced during the last three weeks of July. 
The pyramid trees are perfection in the matter of training, being planted 
some twenty-five years since. Some bnsh-trained trees on the Quince 
are a hundred years old, and carrying full crops of fruit at the 
present time. Apples are but a thin crop. The trees, planted by Mr. 
Challis twenty-five year* ago, are trained vase-shaped, each starting 
with a clean stem from the base for upwards of 1 to 2 feet high. The 
branches then radiate off in circular form about 3 feet from the stem, 
and are then trained in a perpendicular manner 10 feet high. Each 
tree is limited to twelve branches, all of which obtain an equal share of 
light, the circle formed by the branches being about 6 feet in 
diameter. Spurs are formed the whole length, and in favourable 
seasons give abundant crops of handsome fruit. 
With regard to Peaches under glass, the tree* are planted across the 
inside border, or, in other words, transversely instead of longitudinally, 
or lengthwise next the glass. The idea which Mr. Challis had in plant¬ 
ing them thus was to secure more light for the trees growing against 
the back wall than is available under ordinary methods of training. 
The houses are lofty, being quite 20 feet high at the ridge, and three- 
quarter span structures. Instead of the roof having the usual rafters 
and sashbars, it has only light horizontal bars, the 2 feet squares of 
glass being secured with wires. Thus abundance of light is emitted all 
over the house, and there is no obstruction whatever as in the case of 
sashbars and deep rafters, so common even in modern erections. The 
trees are about 6 feet apart, and cover the whole of their allotted space. 
In some cases two trees are planted back to back as it were, and within 
8 inches of each other, and right well they succeed with this apparent 
close training of the branches. In such cases as this of double planting 
a separate trellis for each tree is required. Abundant ventilation is 
provided both back and front. Ripe fruit was gathered in May, and a 
regular succession has 'oeen forthcoming since. At the time of my visit 
magnificent fruit of Palmerston, Barrington, Prince of Wales, along 
with Pineapple and Victoria Nectarines were to be seen. In some 
instances Figs occupied the high back walls, and had borne excellent 
crops of fruit. 
Grapes are extensively grown, and were more remarkable for the 
number of serviceable bunches for home consumption than for exhibition 
displays. One house was filled with Mrs. Pince, which deserves more 
than a passing note. Handsome bunches of fruit they were, much 
superior to those generally seen of this variety. The prospect of their 
finishing satisfactorily, too, was a good one ; that rich purple tint so 
pleasing in this Grape, but so seldom realised, being noticeable. A 
houseful of Lady Downe’s was also promising. In all cases Mr. Challis 
does not favour the plan of overcrowding the rods, but gives them a 
distance of 4 to 5 feet asunder. Tne back walls are clothed with Gros 
Colman and Alicante Vines in some cases, and excellent crops of useful 
fruit the Vines are carrying. Vines in pots, trained umbrella fashion, 
with their bunches hanging downwards, all from the centre, are much 
appreciated for decoration during the autumn, Alicante being the variety 
most in favour for this purpose.—E. M. 
