392 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
’ October 25, 1894. 
National Kose Society.—Teophy Question. 
“ W. R. Raillem ” (page 368) misquotes me. He says that I 
state “ ‘ E. M.’ and I will not say what we want; ” and then goes on 
with an argument based on these words. This I consider such an unfair 
way of putting it, that I repeat what I did say— i.e., “ Neither says what 
he is for.” I do not profess to write with the lucidity and correctness of 
either Thomas de Quincey or Matthew Arnold, but if your readers can 
twist my words into those of “ W. R. Raillem ” they are fit to compete 
with the best masters of sophistry. However, as under shelter 
of such an evasion, “ W. R. Raillem’’ declines to give any decided 
opinion, I must, and I believe your readers will, in preference accept as 
more reliable the views of those who are usual competitors. Their 
views have been published in the Journal of Horticulture^ and I have 
already summed them up in my letter (page 338). Those competitors 
call for a reduction in the number, and they are entitled to be heard. 
I will now only add that whatever number be fixed by the Committee 
for the trophy that number should be the maximum for any amateur 
class ; also that the trophy should be the chief class in value, and not, as 
in the provincial competition, be made subsidiary in value and 
inferentially in position. 
Me. Mawley’s Analysis. 
I had intended, as last year, criticising this analysis (which I do not 
understand), but thought that probably others might accept the position 
of critic on this occasion. I am glad to see that “ Y. B. A. Z.” (page 368) 
has taken up the subject. I asked Mr. Mawley last year to clearly define 
and defend his method, but he by silence rather gave me the impression 
that, although his system might from a scientific point of view bear 
inspection and criticism, it would not stand a searching practical 
examination. I hope, however, that as others from whom I have this 
week heard besides “ Y. B. A. Z.” think that Mr. Mawley’s method of 
placing Roses is misleading, he will now clearly give us an exposition of 
his method. I would ask him in order to make it clear to select certain 
Roses as they are in his table, and if he has no objection I will name 
La France, Madame Gabriel Luizet, Charles Lefebvre, Margaret Dickson, 
Ernest Metz, Hon. Edith Gifford, and Ethel Brownlow. This list gives 
the names of old and new Roses, and covers the varied phases the 
analysis has passed through. Without this information I confess that 
criticism is useless, as I do not think any of us know what we are 
criticising in the table as an analysis. 
I have always understood that any conclusions arrived at from 
scientific data are, or should be, incontrovertible, and I look forward 
with pleasure to the possibility of seeing Mr. Mawley’s explanation, 
which I am certain will be a lucid statement. 
A Southeen Meeting at Poetsmouth. 
I have just heard that the Mayor and Town Council of Portmouth 
have resolved to invite the National Rose Society to hold its southern 
meeting in their town in 1896. I advocated this place of meeting in 
one of your contemporaries early this year, and I wish to say that the 
present satisfactory announcement is due to the good offices of the Rev. 
J. Spittal, vicar of Havenstreet, Isle of Wight, and of Alderman Scott 
Fortes of Portsmouth.— Chaeles J. Geahame. 
ROYAL GARDENS, WINDSOR. 
I WAS privileged a short time since in walking round the Royal 
Gardens and pleasure grounds in company of the genial chief of the 
establishment, Mr. Owen Thomas. I visited the Gardens frequently 
years ago, in Mr. Ingram’s time, and thought I knew them well; but I 
must say I never had the pleasure of thoroughly inspecting them and 
the magnificent park and pleasure grounds before. The kitchen garden 
is, as one would naturally expect, the largest and best kept garden in 
England if not in the world. The surface is almost perfectly level, the 
site lies open to the sun, and receives the full benefit of its rays from 
morning till night. The area of the garden is some 50 acres, and there 
are about two lineal miles of walls, 12 feet high, for training fruit trees 
on. The southern exposure of the north wall is covered with a range 
of lean-to fruit houses 340 feet long. In the centre of the range is a 
comfortable and picturesque two-storey dwelling house for the gardener, 
which commands a good view of the surroundings. On the north side 
of the wall, immediately behind the forcing houses, are bothies and bath 
rooms for the men, potting and other sheds, seed room, fruit rooms, pack¬ 
ing and store rooms ; and the space between this and the outer wall 
is occupied with Pine pits. Melon, Cucumber, Tomato, and plant houses 
and frame ground, and a large piece of ground in this department is set 
apart for standing Strawberries, Chrysanthemums, and other plants in 
pots during the summer. It is needless to say that there were fine crops 
of Grapes, Melons, and Pine Apples in each division in the best condi¬ 
tion possible. But what struck me most was a house of Tomatoes in 
full bearing. The fruits were medium sized, round and smooth, bright 
red in colour, and borne in great clusters. On inquiry I was informed it 
was “ Frogmore Selected.” The plant has a strong constitution, is a 
great bearer, and fruits well on walls in the open. Even in a season 
like the present, when most varieties outside are a failure, I saw great 
quantities of it ripening its fruits on the open walls at Frogmore. 
The garden has been laid out with care and judgment as to the 
requirements of the establishment, and is in itself a lasting memorial of 
the master mind that planned and carried out the work. It is in the 
form of a parallelogram, with broad gravel walks wide enough for a 
horse and cart to do all the hauling of manure, on to the different 
quarters and cart the crops off. The interior is divided in equal parts 
by several brick walls running east and west, and the slip on the south 
side for growing the coarser kinds of vegetables corresponds with the 
north side of the garden, where all the pits, frames, and plant houses 
are. The walls on both sides are covered with the choicest kinds of 
Pears, Plums,^Peaches, Cherries, and Apricots, and the trees are all in 
different stages of growth ; some in full bearing and others partially 
covering their allotted space, and trained in different forms. But the 
fan-shape seems to be the one most in favour at Frogmore. 
The borders by the sides of the principal walks are planted with 
pyramidal Apple and Pear trees, most of them young and in robust 
health. The Pear trees were carrying a heavy crop, almost fit to gather, 
at the time of my visit ; but Apples were scarce, as is the case in most 
places this year. The different quarters of the garden were thoroughly 
cropped with the best kinds of vegetables, and in such abundance as to 
astonish a visitor who had seen the Royal Gardens that morning for the 
first time. 
The grounds round the castle were in fine condition, and looked 
well. The massive beds in the geometrical design in the terrace gardens 
are planted with some of the choicest bedding plants. The colours are 
finely blended, and it has an imposing effect when seen from the terrace 
walks. The design, with its broad gravel walks and finely kept grass 
slopes, harmonises with the ancient architecture of the great building. 
I may add that order and neatness prevail everywhere in those fine 
gardens.—A. Pettigeew, Castle Gardens, Cardiff. 
WOKK.foii™e WEEK. Q' 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Planting Fruit Trees. —The sooner fruit trees are planted in the 
autumn when the leaves commence to fall the better. A few green 
leaves at the points of shoots are of little consequence as regards safety 
in removing and transplanting. On the contrary, they are of assistance 
in some measure in aiding fresh root action, and they show at least that 
the plants have been hitherto vigorous, containing a reserve of force 
which will be useful in re-establishing the trees. 
ildvantages of Early Planting.— There are many advantages 
secured by early planting. The ground is warm, usually fairly moist, 
and readily workable for longer periods than is the case in winter. 
Trees with a full complement of healthy, fibrous roots take to the warm, 
moist soil at once, and rarely experience any check other than what is 
beneficial. Those with few fibrous roots have an excellent chance of 
recuperating, as the fresh, sweet soil which surrounds them and the com¬ 
paratively warmer medium is conducive to the emission of a number of 
lateral fibres from smooth bare stumps. Trees, however, of this character 
are not the ideal of planters, nor should they be, preference being given 
to well balanced specimens in regard to root and branch. Such give the 
most satisfactory returns from early planting, and there is no fear of 
their failing to start well the following spring. A year is often gained 
in growth by a few weeks promptitude in the autumn. 
Preparation of the Soil. —The ground for fruit trees should, in 
all cases, be deeply dug, whether rich, poor, or of medium quality. 
The due preparation is best effected some weeks previous to planting, so 
that it is in readiness and somewhat consolidated. When this cannot 
be done the planting must follow close upon the preparation, light 
soil being made firm by treading. In poor soil a moderate amount of 
manure may be buried in the subsoil, but sparingly used in the surface 
soil unless w’ell incorporated, so as not to come into direct contact with 
the roots. A good vegetable soil needs but little addition for the early 
growth of fruit trees. It is best to encourage only a medium growth of 
wood, but a free extension of fibrous roots. A 2-feet depth of soil will 
meet the full requirements if the subsoil below is loose to admit the 
draining away of superfluous moisture. If the soil is shallow endeavours 
must be made to increase its depth, even if a foot or more of barren soil 
has to be removed. If possible substitute good loam of a holding 
character, and mix with the best of the staple. On damp, badly drained 
sites the soil must be raised above the level in order to provide a warmer 
and drier position for the roots and prevent their descent into the 
subsoil. This is often effected by providing stations for the trees 6 or 
8 feet in diameter instead of raising the whole body of soil, the base 
being drained with a foot depth of rubble or stones. 
Selecting Trees. —This is a matter which must be left largely to 
the judgment of the planter, Trained trees may be obtained as cheaply 
