140 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOOIST. 
[September, 
well set, and judiciously thinned, the foliage 
healthy and clean ; there was no doubt such 
Grapes would finish olf grandly, when they 
would be a grand sight. The Hamburghs all 
through were superb—large fine bunches, good 
berries, and a splendid colour. Taking the 
grapes all round I never saw them better.— 
M. Saul, York. 
EAISING AURICULA SEEDS. 
"HEN visiting Mr. Samuel Barlow in 
the early summer of 1883, I found 
he was adopting a somewhat novel 
method of raising Auricula Seeds. 
The pans or pots in which the seeds were 
sown were filled partly with crocks and rough 
sods, and on the surface was placed a layer of 
very fine ashes from the back of a blacksmith’s 
forge. In this the seeds were sown, being 
thinly scattered over the surface, and pressed 
into it. The pots or pans were then stood in a 
vessel containing water, and it is surprising 
how quickly the seeds germinated; but it is 
necessary that as soon as the plants are large 
enough to handle, they must be pricked off 
into pots of light sandy soil. I have this sea¬ 
son sown some seeds saved in 1883 in pots of 
light sandy soil, and placed them in pans of 
water, with a piece of glass over them, and the 
seeds have germinated much more quickly than 
is usual in my experience. There is one great 
advantage, it is not necessary to water the soil 
overhead, and this is always a risky experi¬ 
ment, as the seeds, being very small, and 
lying on the surface, are apt to be washed 
away when water is applied.—R. Bean. 
THE FRUIT CROPS OF 1884. 
^HE returns of the fruit crops, which 
we publish from all parts of Great 
Britain, are, we fear, not calculated to 
revive the hopes of the gardener or 
farmer who trusts to fruit growing to counter¬ 
balance his losses in other directions. It is 
true that there are exceptions here and there, 
but on the whole we can but record a failure. 
One special exception we have to note this year, 
and, indeed, generally—the small and soft 
fruits. Currants, Raspberries, Gooseberries, 
and Straw^berries are mostly abundaut; and if 
some of these do not travel well, others present 
no difiiculty in this way. The soft fruit may 
readily be turned into jam on the spot, and 
the evil effects of a glut in the market or of 
bruising in carriage may thus be averted. 
There is little doubt as to the cause of the 
present scanty fruit crop. It is the old story 
of spring frosts. The wood and buds were 
ripened well last autumn, and everything pro¬ 
mised a full crop, the tender leaves of Hope 
were put forth, the next day came a frost—“ a 
killing frost.” This is so common an occur¬ 
rence that it may almost be looked on as the 
normal state with which fruit growers have to 
reckon. Foreign competition will probably be 
severe, the more so as wo hear that much of 
the fruit which would, under ordinary circum¬ 
stances, be consumed in Paris is likely to be 
sent over here, as the fear of cholera has very 
materially lessened the demand in the French 
towns. Incidentally it may be said that fruit, 
even if unripe or over-ripe, cannot of itself 
produce cholera, and that those who partake in 
moderation of wholesome fruit, as reasonable 
persons should do, need not be under the 
slightest apprehension that they will thereby be 
rendering themselves more liable to cholera, 
or, indeed, to any other disease whatever. 
As a general summary of the condition of 
the fruit crops past, present, and prospective, 
we may say that:— 
Apricots are under average, except in Lin¬ 
colnshire and a few of the Midland Counties. 
Plums are under average almost every¬ 
where. 
Cherries have yielded a good average. 
Peaches and Nectarines (out-of-doors) are 
under- average, except in the Southern and 
Western Counties, where the crops are about 
an average. 
Apples are under average almost every¬ 
where ; a few localities only claim ‘ ‘ An aver¬ 
age.” 
Pears are under average everywhere. 
Small fruits are a very good average, or 
perhaps a little over average. 
Strawberries were over average and fine in 
quality, but were soon over, from the efiect of 
heat. 
Nuts are under average in Scotland and the 
Northern Counties of England ; in the Mid¬ 
land and Southern Counties somewhat better 
crops are reported, though in some parts of 
Kent Nuts are couspicuous by their absence. 
Walnuts seem rather more abundant. 
