Septem'ber 57, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
291 
England, especially in Herefordshire, Apples are not only finer in 
size, but also much better in colour than last year. Many varieties 
of the Warner’s King, Bramley’s Seedling, and Tower of Glamis 
type were last year as green as possible, a tinge of colour being an 
exception, but the same varieties are this year putting on a 
beautiful flush on the sunny side. Other varieties naturally highly 
coloured are magnificently finished this year. Worcester Pearmain, 
Wealthy, Gascoigne’s Scarlet, American Mother, and a few others 
are one ma^s of red, and I say with “ E. M.,” on the next page 
to “ Lincoln’s ” query, “ Why this is so I am at a loss to under¬ 
stand.’’ No doubt the Apples and Pears at the Crystal Palace 
fruit show will be some of the best coloured ever staged. 
Grapes Shrivelling. 
Some correspondence has recently appeared in the Journal 
about Grapes shrivelling, special reference being made to Muscat 
of Alexandria. This defect seems to more than usually prevalent 
this year. Several houses of Muscats, containing noble bunches 
with fine berries, that I have seen recently were beginning to 
shrivel considerably, and this in spite of large, clean, and healthy 
foliage, showing that the Vines were in good condition ; and not 
only are Muscats shrivelling, but also other varieties that stand 
well as a rule, such as Alicante, Gros Colman, Alnwick Seedling, 
and Lady Downe’s. In several well known Grape-growing estab¬ 
lishments the berries more or less shrunk—puzzling the grower 
as to the cause, as the watering, ventilation, cropping, and general 
conditions were highly favourable to the berries remaining sound 
and plump. That splendid Grape Mrs. Pince is well known for its 
skin shrivelling at the nose of the berry soon after it is ripe, after¬ 
wards not spreading, but keeping the same for months. This 
year in my own case Mrs. Pince shrunk at the point of the berry 
immediately it was ripe, in spite of all efforts to prevent it. 
Quality of Fruit. 
Another matter which is causing some unpleasantness in one or 
two gardens is the indifferent flavour of Grapes this season, the 
employer blaming the gardener. This, I think, is wrong, as the 
sunless season has much to answer for. A man may be one of the 
cleverest gardeners in existence, but he cannot perform the impos¬ 
sible without sun. Grapes or any other fruit may be very pleasant 
to the eye, but the flavour will not be excellent. I have been 
at a few horticultural shows this year, but it has been quite an 
exception to taste either first-class quality Grapes or Melons, and 
other judges that I have spoken to on the subject have noted the 
lack of good flavour in the fruit. Even with outside fruit, the 
Figs, Pears, Peaches, Nectarines, and dessert Apples are far from 
being so agreeable a flavour as in more favoured and sunny seasons. 
—Fruitman. 
EIPENED WOOD. 
The correspondence on “ Ripened Wood ” has been very in¬ 
teresting, and as a proof that “ Sceptic’s ” theory is not sound is 
apparent by the absence of supporters. “ Azoto ” (page 274) gives 
him a hard nut to crack re the unripened wood on the outdoor Vines 
at Castle Coch. It is seldom that the American Blackberries can be 
termed a success in this country, but this year they are much 
better than usual, which arises, I think, from the wood being so 
well ripened last year.— Fruitman. 
In availing myself of the space courteously promised for the 
desirable object of converting “ A Sceptic ” to the doctrine of 
ripened wood, he will please understand that, as a worker, time 
only allows me to stick my spade in the ground for a brief space, 
while I asa him to accompany me in an imaginary ramble round 
my little world of work. 
Gossoon ! bring me any Journals of Horticulture you may find 
on my desk. What ? only the two last numbers. No matter, we 
shall probably find in them thoughts from other minds bearing on 
the subject of ripened wood. It does not quite accord with my 
notion of fair play to bring so powerful an auxiliary to mine aid, 
especially as “ Sceptic ” appears to stand atone ; yet it is that I am 
more desirous to place facts for his consideration, and attempt his 
conversion by moral suasion rather than by force of argument. 
Allons ! Fruit trees generally are interspersed through the 
garden. We have had some previous discussion on this point of 
the question, is there anything relevant to this in these pages of the 
Journal? Yes, “Fruit at Sawbridgeworth,” page 220. “In view 
of the controversy now appearing in these pages re the importance 
of ripened wood, the writer inquires of Mr. T. F. Rivers his 
opinion on the question. Smiling, the Sawbridgeworth expert 
said, “If not the frost in May it was probably the winter moth 
which caused the failure in the crop and not the well ripened 
wood.” Like many others, indeed one might say all practical 
growers, Mr. Rivers lays che greatest importance on well ripened 
wood, and to this having been so well accomplished last year 
attributes his enormous crop this season. 
We pass on by a breadth of Raspberries, in which a man is 
busy removing the old canes in order to facilitate the ripening 
process of this year’s wood, generally admitted to be sound 
practice, I believe. Gooseberries come next. Aught bearing on 
this in the Journal ? Yes, in “ Work for the Week,” page 258 9 :— 
“ Well pruning and thinning out now . ... to receive the 
ripening influences of the autumn.” To this advice I make bold 
to include the whole category of fruit bushes according to their 
individual requirements, so as time flies we proceed. Here are a 
few pot Strawberries for forcing, no ripened wood in this case I 
allow, hut turning to page 241 we find, “ When standing so closely 
together as the pots will allow the plants grow into a confused 
mass, excluding air and sunshine, the consequences (please note) 
being unripened crowns and soft flabby leaves.” How strong the 
Roses have grown this season ! Yes, see we are removing all 
superfluous wood, needless to say why; but you, “Sceptic” are 
mayhap not a Rose grower. If not, I assure you a severe winter 
with unripened wood means something like a catastrophe. Pre¬ 
suming that you are noting the flower beds and herbaceous borders 
I may say that in both the ripened wood process, though not so 
apparent, is not absent. The succulent crowded growths of the 
Zonal Pelargoniums are most difficult to propagate; we look out 
for the hardest wood, which, too, is ripened in some degree. 
About the borders ? Here also I see the beneficent influences of 
ripening in bulb, root, or stem ; but as I am getting rather wide 
of the text we will—“ Oh ! yes, come into the houses,” say you, 
“ Sceptic.” Yes, but you must see my “ Mums ” first. You are 
perchance not a “ Mum ” grower, then I must tell you that in this 
department ripened wood is a primary article of our faith. Turn 
to page 246, Mr. Arderie’s paper on Chrysanthemum culture, 
“ Plants that have been subjected to doses of nitrate of soda or 
sulphate of ammonia are very liable to damp when in bloom, 
especially if the wood has not been well ripened .... it 
must be well ripened by natural causes.” See, I have even gone 
so far as to sacrifice some of those large stout leaves to admit 
the blessed sun rays to their stems. Now for the houses. Vines 
first. With these, you will recollect, “Sceptic,” I broached the 
subject and elicited your first controversial note, so having had an 
innings let us see what others say on the matter. On page 234-5 
“Work for the Week” gives four instances — viz.. Vines early 
forced in pots . . . “ stout, well-ripened wood.” Earliest- 
forced houses . . . “firm, ripe wood.” Succession houses 
. . . “ ripening of the wood by increased light.” Young Vines 
. . . “should be assisted with fire heat until the wood is ripe.’^ 
On page 253 Mr. Pettigrew’s lecture on Lord Bute’s vineyards is, 
“ In 1879 the fruic did not ripen ... if the fruit cannot ripen 
neither can the wood, and without ripe wood there can be no 
Grapes.” We are long enough in the vineries I am sure, now for 
the Peach houses. In “ Work for the Week, page 258-9 is three 
instances—viz.. Peaches and Nectarines, “ in the case of trees that 
do not ripen the wood well.” Succession houses, “ the wood being 
ripe.” Late houses, “ midseason kinds will ripen the wood.” Keep 
the same page open, please, and note as we go through the plant 
houses. Fuchsias “fully exposed to the sun to ripen and harden 
the wood.” 
I will now pocket these two numbers of the Journal. Only 
two, mind, from which I have quoted, and those not selected for 
the purpose : just the weekly teachings of departmental experts. 
Pray note the Camellias, Azaleas, and other greenhouse plants ; 
unripe wood means but little or no blossom next season. From 
the plant stove we are removing the Dendrobes to a light airy 
place. Ever the same old story. 
And now, “ Sceptic,” my spade awaits, or I would willingly 
take a turn in the shrubbery and pleasure grounds with you amongst 
the Coniferse, Rhododendrons, and evergreens ; but I trust ere this 
there is no longer any necessity, that my mission is accomplished, 
and that you do believe that ripened wood is neither “ a fad nor a 
fallacy of the age : ” and that Nature, whose chief object in the 
animal and vegetable kingdoms is reproduction and perpetuation of 
each species, in our department never adapts better ways and 
means to accomplish her desirable objects than that of the text, 
and he who is desirous that she should do so that he may take his 
full tribute of fruit or blossom must give that aid our horticul¬ 
tural teachers never cease to point out. 
With the text pure and simple I have finished ; but it is, 1 
think, capable of reasoning under another head—viz., the severe 
tax man imposes on Nature in his real or fancied requirements 
in which “ Poverty and neglect sharpen the scythe of Time.” We 
too often expect Nature to do her duty whilst we neglect ours. 
Here, I think, “ Sceptic’s ” '’’ievance nrobabi^ la^s. “ Mor-.^ 
