October 16, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
107 
At the end of August or beginning of September is 
generally when they receive their earthing up, the soil 
being banked up nearly to the top ; the collars are left 
around the plants, and the soil, well pressed around 
these, is prevented from falling into the heart of the 
plants ; a dry day should be selected for this work. 
For early work and showing in August, the earthing up 
is done at the end of July, and hollow tiles are placed 
perpendicularly between the plants and moulded up 
the same as the Celery ; into these water and liquid 
manure ai'e poured, and so conducted through to the 
roots ; it also helps to keep the ridges dry. 
The sorts chiefly grown are Manchester Giant Red, 
Newsome Prize Red, Gragg’s Champion, Lancashire 
Prize White, Manchester Giant White, Excelsior Pink, 
and Sulliam Prize. There are others which bear only 
local names and which lose their original characters, 
by many growing and seeding their own special 
favourites..— B. L., Huddersfield, October 11th, 1886. 
-- —5 * 3=0 - 
Hardening Uiscellany. 
The Madresfield Court G-rape.— Mr. Crump, 
in criticising my remarks on the “gimlet” practice 
described by me at p. 75, complains of the experiment 
as being incomplete. I agree that the experiments 
would have been more interesting had the one Vine 
been subjected to the boring process, and the other left 
to take its natural course. To more firmly establish 
my case, I may say that previous to this year the 
Vines have failed to bring their crop to maturity, 
cracking rendering the bunches almost useless. This 
induced me to try the “gimlet” process, and the 
results were as described at p. 75. Perhaps Mr. 
Crump would give us his opinions as to what caused 
such a favourable change in the character of the Vines, 
if it was not the boring. Your correspondent does not 
say that his friend altogether condemned the process of 
boring, but that the experiment was not successful 
enough to warrant him publishing the results ; neither 
does he cite an instance where it altogether failed. It 
would be interesting to know the experience of other 
readers who* have tried this boring practice, as I am 
sure a remedy would be gladly welcomed by all who 
know and grow this grand Grape. As such good results 
were obtained this season on Vines that had hitherto 
failed, I put forth my plea for a trial of the process 
described at p. 75 by those who have hitherto failed in 
preventing this vexatious cracking. — Wales. 
I have much pleasure in giving my experience with 
the above in corroboration of Mr. Crump’s statement, 
at p. 92, that the cracking of this Grape is owing to 
“ atmospheric conditions. ” We have the variety here 
in two houses—one with three rods, the other a single 
cane. I shall give my experience with the former 
first. The season previous to my conversion to the 
atmospheric theory, I noticed that the-berries cracked 
most from the middle of the rods" upward, the bunches 
nearest the pipes being almost void of it. The idea 
struck me that a drier atmosphere was what was wanted 
to prevent the mischief ; for it is no joke, after bestow¬ 
ing so much care on them up to colouring time, to have 
to cut out berries from fine-formed bunches, and so 
often completely spoiling their appearance, especially 
for exhibition ^purposes. Well, when next season’s 
colouring time came round, acting on the previous 
lesson, we always kept the pipes warm day and night, 
except when the sun shone brightly, with air on top 
and bottom, which consequently caused a nice warm 
circulation of air through the house ; and practising 
this for the past two seasons, we have not had above a 
dozen cracked berries, and I attribute the cracking of 
those to having to close the house on wet, stormy 
nights. Now for the single rod, which is planted in 
a house with six other varieties, and which gave me 
clear proof that^the cause of the berries cracking could 
not be attributed to the roots. The rod in question was 
carrying nine bunches, averaging If lbs. in weight, and 
had been showing colour for five days previous to 
having a thorough drenching of water at the roots. 
The watering being done during the forenoon of a 
bright sunny day, with a good bit of air on, and having 
warmth in the pipes by two o’clock, the house was 
fairly dry before the air -was reduced to a minimum, 
and the consequences were that we had only two 
cracked berries, which might have been caused by the 
moisture retained in the house. I think I may say, 
with some degree of certainty, that had the roots any¬ 
thing to do with it, instead of having “two berries 
cracked ” we should have had dozens of them. I may 
just add that if the outside atmospheric conditions are 
such as to cause the house to be closed at night, I would 
advise whoever may be in charge to attend to putting 
on air as early as the weather will permit in the 
morning.— J. E. Miln. 
A Vine of this, growing with four other kinds, has 
fruited here for the fifth time without producing a 
cracked berry, and it had no different treatment to its 
companions, beyond, on more than one occasion, being 
supplied with an extra dose of water at a stage when 
some writers advise it to be withheld. Laterals on 
some shoots carrying bunches have been closely 
pinched, and some left' as on other Vines, but with 
the same result. To this, however, I attach but little 
importance, as the few shoots left may have been 
sufficient to appropriate the supply of sap that would 
otherwise tax the distending powers of the skin of the 
berries, assuming the theory of cracking to be correct. 
A more conclusive experiment would be to have two 
Vines side by side—as Mr. Crump at p. 92 suggests for 
the boring test—and closely pinch all growths on one, 
and allow those on the other to extend, as advised by 
some growers. It would, perhaps, be as well to state that 
our Vinery is very light and dry, and requires frequent 
damping to maintain anything like a humid atmo¬ 
sphere. Excepting on two or three occasions from the 
time the Vines were planted they have not received 
any liquid stimulants, which may have something to 
do with the cracking.— W. P. B. 
I have read with much interest the letter of “Wales,” 
and also Mr. Wm. Crump’s reply, respecting the 
cracking of this fine Grape. I have it planted out in 
two mixed Vineries with inside borders, and as I have 
to make all the houses as attractive as possible with 
plants—the two Vineries named chiefly with Ferns—I 
am sorry to say the borders receive rather more water 
than I like ; but notwithstanding this, the Madresfields 
have never yet shown any signs of cracking, and with 
all, the other Vines are in excellent health. I may add 
that the borders are made of loam and “Thomson’s 
Vine and Plant Manure,” of which I have a very high 
opinion.”— J. M. 
Mr. William Forsyth, formerly gardener at 
Gunnersbury, committed suicide on Ealing Common 
on the evening of the 5th inst. He was seventy-three 
years of age, had been gardener at Gunnersbury for 
twenty years, and during the last sixteen years had 
been living on a pension received from the Rothschild 
family. 
Judging Chrysanthemum Flowers. —Mr. 
Udale, in his admirable paper on this subject, omits 
reference to the weight which should be given to 
absolute variety in a stand of flowers. No doubt he will 
say, “But variety is absolutely essential where re¬ 
quired.” That is correct, but the sort of variety I 
mean is when, for instance, in a stand of twelve blooms 
not more than one of the “ Empress ” family, or of the 
“ Rundle ” family, or, indeed, of any of the sportive 
kinds; is seen. Of course, the “Rundles” beingrather 
small—though, as a rule, very perfe.ct—flowers, are not 
so often seen in stands as are the members of the 
“Empress” family, which are, on the other hand, if 
big, usually coarse, but shown because big, too much 
weight being given to size. Whilst in a box of 
twelve only one “Empress,” for instance, should be 
admitted, only two should be allowed in a twenty-four 
stand; and the same rule should hold good at all shows. 
Sported kinds are not bond fide distinct because they 
are able at times to revert to their original forms. I 
do not think there is much force in the suggestion as 
to colour-blindness ; it is not nearly so widespread an 
affliction as is commonly believed. That a judge should 
have fairly good eyesight is important, and when a 
man’s sight fails him he should withdraw from the 
discharge of the functions of a judge. What exhibitors, 
however, should aim at, and judges should encourage, 
is the presenting of absolute distinctness or variety in 
the colours of their flowers, for in too many cases it is 
very hard indeed to distinguish one flower from another ; 
and blooms of the same kind, but one having deeper 
colour than the other, perhaps from age, have before 
now been found in the same stand. For that reason, 
where growers have a big lot of plants to select from, 
they have little excuse for thus cutting the matter so 
fine ; whilst those who grow small collections should 
take note of really good distinct sorts at the shows, 
and weeding out dubiously distinct kinds, substitute 
sorts that show without question they are really 
distinct.— A. D. 
Harbinger Primrose.— We have among our 
winter-flowering plants some of Gilbert’s Harbinger 
Primroses, and 1 may say, that to overrate its value as 
a winter-floweriug subject is, indeed, difficult. It is a 
variety which produces its blossoms in great profusion 
throughout the dark days of winter, and, for purity, 
eclipses all other whites of my knowledge. These 
beautiful flowers form delightful objects in all kinds of 
floral decorations, &c., and receive a great amount of 
admiration by all who see them. I can confidently 
recommend it to all who may have a great demand for 
white flowers during the winter, and are obliged to fall 
back upon hardy plants to meet their requirements. 
We take up ours from their summer quarters, and pot 
them at the end of September or the beginning of 
October, as circumstances permit, and place them in a 
cold frame until they have taken to the pots sufficiently 
to withstand the sun ; we then transfer them to a shelf 
near the glass in the greenhouse, and with this simple 
treatment it is wonderful the quantity of flowers they 
produce.— H. Markham, Mereworth Cottle, Maidstone. 
What will he do with them?— An amateur 
friend -writes respecting his Carnations (he is a member 
of the Oxford Carnation and Picotee Union, and, 
therefore, an enthusiast)“Carnations have bloomed 
well, but owing to the late dry season they made but 
little grass— i.c., shoots for layering—and I shall, I fear, 
lose several varieties. I have a heavy batch of seedlings 
of a continental strain, from which I hope to pick out 
a few -worthy of keeping, particularly yellows and 
fancies. . I shall sow about 3,000 choige seeds for 
next year. I have about 400 varieties for testing next 
year. I shall have a heavy lot of layers from Mr. 
Dodwell’s seedlings, besides from named varieties ; it 
took my man six days to layer them, but where they 
are to be put I cannot tell, unless I clear out everything 
else. But this is only a new phase of the floral mania.” 
Well, we are glad of the mania ; let it thrive and 
spread. There are thousands of people of easy means 
who want some pleasant occupation. Let it spread to 
them; there will be less dyspepsia, and a more 
thorough enjoyment of life if they are attacked by it 
and succumb to it. 
Daffodil General Gordon versus Henry 
Irving (see The Gardening World, Oct. 2). —The 
voice is certainly Jacob’s, but the hand is that of Esau, 
There is still a mystery “ locked up” with poor General 
Gordon. One reason :. during the spring of 1885 I 
bloomed the bulbs in fair quantity for test. While in 
flower, I asked for blooms from some of the best houses 
in England, and received some from three sources, 
what is now known as Henry Irving in all cases. One 
party, indeed, who it is presumed held the greatest 
quantity, refused to send even a bloom, though he was 
said to have had it for years. I have been reading up 
what was written so hotly on the subject, Mr. Wolly 
L)od being more than explicit after his twelve hours 
trip up the Nile looking for the general, but failed to 
find him. It is hard to blame the Royal Botanic 
Society for the errors ; but, certainly, for special pur¬ 
poses, when I am selling Daffodils for twenty years, I 
intend to have the telephone at work between here and 
all the gardening paper offices near Covent Garden. 
It will be of the greatest advantage to an isolated 
trader.— W. B. Hartland, Temple Hill, Cork. [Not 
much ! Ed.] 
Dwarf French. Marigolds.— A box of blooms of 
beautiful Marigolds has just come to hand, sent by Mr. 
A. Dean, of the Seed Grounds, Bedfont. They represent 
a very fine strain of this popular garden flower ; there 
are three distinct types of flower : one, the true gold- 
striped, with regular bands of shining maroon on a 
golden ground ; another has a pale sulphur ground 
colour, banded with gold in the same way ; the third 
is of a rich chestnut-self colour. For exhibition 
purposes it would be difficult to imagine abetter strain, 
the flowers are of good show size, highly symmetrical, 
very double, without any of the confusion about the 
centre, that disfigures’so many of the French Marigolds, 
termed “ buzzle-eyed ” flowers. It is really pleasant 
to see the old French Marigold in such perfect form. 
