275 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Febeuaey 1, 1859. 
Persons about to mate new borders, should tate into 
consideration their durability above all things, and pro¬ 
vide against those excessively wet periods that do so 
much damage. From what we know, and what we have 
heard, it is very easy to make borders which shall produce 
astonishing Grapes, whilst the materials are not too much 
decayed; but they soon decline when a general decompo¬ 
sition of matter takes place. 
Now, there is nothing in loam that changes materially, 
but the mere grass, and its roots ; but those are so divided 
amongst the mass, that, although it be decaying organic 
matter, there is no bulk of humus, or black residue, in 
any one portion. It is, doubtless, the introducing such 
inordinate quantities of organic matter, whether animal 
or vegetable, that ultimately produces that condition in 
the borders which old gardeners call “ puttied ”—a con¬ 
dition in which air cannot enter, nor water pass. What 
remains, under such conditions, but for the originally 
pampered roots—once like sponges—to go gradually to 
destruction? IIow different are surface dressings, the 
timely application of liquid manure, &c. 
R. Ebeington. 
BRITISH POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
{Continued from page 263.) 
Of fruit not quite ripe:— Downton Nonpaeeil, by Mr. 
Spivey. In fine condition otherwise; large,very juicy, 
but acid.— Beaddick’s Nonpaeeil, by Mr. M'Laeen, 
from espalier. Flesh tender, and very juicy, but acid.— 
Coitet of Wick, under the name of Old Nonpareil, by 
Mr. Smith, Cheshire, from a standard. Very acid and 
unpromising, as regards flavour.—A handsome, russety 
variety, called Welsh Apple, by Maek Shepheed, Esq. 
—Cottkt-pendu Plat, from Mr. Elliott, Lillishall, dry 
and acid;—and from Mr. Weight, under its known 
synonyme ( Garnons ), very juicy, and promising to be 
sugary and good.—And a sweet, juicy, oblate, dessert 
Apple, of some merit, under the name of Eastee Pippin, 
by Mr. Smith. 
Of fruit over-ripe: —Keddleston Pippin, by Mr. 
Simpson (see report of October 28). Juicy, sweet, but 
astringent. — Feanklin’s Golden Pippin, by Mr. 
Stodaet (No. 2). Soft and juiceless. 
GENERAL DESSERT APPLES. 
(Exhibited in Small Quantities.) 
Ooeonation Pippin, by Mr. Swinekd. A variety not 
hitherto described. Oblate, slightly turbinate, somewhat 
ribbed. Average diameter—transversely, 2, 3-16 inches ; 
longitudinally, 2, 1-16 inches. Pale greenish yellow, 
slightly striped, scattered over with small round, dark 
spots; very pale russet round the stalk, which is of 
medium length, slender, and deeply inserted; depressed 
at apex ; flesh tender, very juicy ; flavour brisk sub-acid. 
Spking Ribston Pippin, or Iladdoiv Pippin, by Mr. 
Lane, of Berkhampstead. This is a very little-known 
variety, but one deserving of more general growth. Fruit 
roundish, irregular. Average diameter—tranversely 21- 
inches, longitudinally 2^ inches. Rind thick ; colour 
pale green, much clouded by small patches of russet, and 
spots of darker colour; eye puckered; cavity within 
calyx deep and hollow; stalk short, thick, inserted deeply; 
flesh tender, very juicy, sweet, with a slight Nonpareil 
flavour. The specimens exhibited had, unfortunately, 
been gathered before they were ripe, and were rather 
shrivelled; but it is generally reported to be an useful, 
late-keeping variety. 
KITCHEN APPLES. 
Riplin, by Mr. Sendall, Burningkam Hall, Aylsliam, 
Norfolk. Reported to be a great bearer, and was 
considered likely to be an useful cottager’s Apple; 
medium-sized, green, codlin-shaped. Fruit juicy, tender 
flesh (producing, when baked, a soft, pale brown pulp, sub¬ 
acid.—S ec.) 
Colonel Vaughan’s, or Lady's Finger, by Mr. Smith. 
An old and very beautiful, striped, wax-like, conical¬ 
shaped Apple, very juicy, and, in some districts, a fa¬ 
vourite variety for mincemeat and cider. The same 
variety was sent by John Feeme, Esq., of Haddington, 
to be named. 
Pomme de Gibe, by G. Wolsey, Esq., St. Andrew’s. 
Reported to. be mucli esteemed in the island for dessert or 
kitchen use. Fruit medium-sized, pale yellow, tender; 
flesh juicy, and sub-acid, but not calculated for dessert 
(when baked, producing a delicious, soft, syrupy pulp, 
having a rich, pleasant flavour, and requiring no sugar.— 
Sec.) 
Violet Apple, by Mr. Fekguson. A handsome, 
striped, conical, medium-sized, but soft fruit, said to be 
very productive and useful (when baked, producing soft 
and sub-acid, but not syrupy pulp, requiring sugar; 
probably, most suitable as a sauce Apple.— Sec.).— A 
very similar Apple, in every respect, saving that it was 
more solid, and likely to keep longer, was sent by Mr. 
Swineed, under the name of Scarlet Nonpareil. 
SEEDLING APPLES. 
Several of these had been partly examined at previous 
Meetings, and kept to test their qualities as far as possible, 
that ali the information regarding them might be pre¬ 
sented collectively. 
G. Wolsey, Esq., of St. Andrews, Guernsey, sent a 
Seedling, supposed to be a cross between Golden Pippin 
and Nonpareil, and was considered to possess considerable 
merit. Fruit small, oblong, slightly conical; average 
diameter 2-j- inches each way; eye puckered, slightly 
depressed; stalk medium length, stout; skin thin, pale 
green, yellowish on the sunward side, much flaked, and 
covered with pale brown russet; texture very tender and 
juicy ; flavour brisk, very sugary, rich, and aromatic. It 
was hoped that Mr. Wolsey would send it again, with in¬ 
formation concerning the age of the tree, &c. 
Mr. Febguson sent a Seedling Apple, called the Cot¬ 
tager’s Ribston Pippin. Reported to be a vigorous 
grower, great bearer, and excellent for puddings, requir¬ 
ing no sugar. Fruit very large and sweet. (Tested by 
Secretary, and found to be exceedingly sweet and syrupy, 
when boiled or baked, and whitish coloured, but not break¬ 
ing down into a nice soft pulp.) 
A Seedling Apple, from Old Golden Pippin, sent by 
Rev. R. Baenes, of Wantage, Ardington, Bedford, 
November 9th, was not ripe on its arrival, and was kept 
over, in hopes of its coming into condition. It, however, 
shrivelled so much, without ripening, that it appeared to 
have been gathered too early, and the Society have been 
unable to pronounce an opinion upon it. If the sender 
considers it, another year, worthy of examination, the 
Council will be glad to receive it again ; but request that 
it may not be sent until it is at its best, as fruit suffers 
considerably by exposure, handling, &c., at several con¬ 
secutive Meetings; and it may, in consequence, receive 
1 less than justice. 
These remarks exactly apply, also, to a Seedling, sent 
by Mr. W. Ckaw, of Westbury Manor, which, however, 
was a solid, sugary Apple, promising to be a good late- 
keeping dessert fruit. 
Also to a Seedling, sent by Heney Boothby, Esq., 
Holme Cottage, reported to be a most prolific bearer, and 
which was a nice-looking Apple, sweet and tender fleshed, 
but much like many in cultivation. 
And the same remarks especially apply to a Seedling, 
from Old Dorsetshire Russet, sent by Mr. John Jen¬ 
nings, of Furze Hill Nursery, Shipston-on-Stour. This 
Apple is still kept, but it would be scarcely fair, at the 
next Meeting, to condemn it, however deficient it may 
be, after it has been kept since the 11th November. 
Messrs. Chateb, of Haverhill, sent a Seedling of a 
