20 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 13, 1890. 
sort of thing finds no place ; what one sees at 
these gatherings is the honest product of the 
district, and the peripatetic exhibitor is con¬ 
spicuous by his absence. 
/|)rchard-house Apples. —It was an excellent 
^ idea on the part of the compilers of the 
Crystal Palace schedule of last week’s show to 
pat in classes for Apples and Pears solely of 
orchard-house production. In previous years, 
orchard-house fruits intermixed with outdoor- 
grown fruits invariably were fair samples 
entirely grown in the open air. How the 
competition is limited solely to house-grown 
fruits, and the samples shown last week were 
just what we might expect to find in so 
beautiful a climate as California. It does seem 
to be a reflection upon our climate that it 
should be thought needful to grow Apples 
under glass. Of course it is not absolutely 
essential to have Apples so grown, because in 
ordinary seasons Apples are plentiful enough 
out of doors; but there can be no doubt but 
that in the matter of finish, colour, and beauty, 
fruits grown in houses do repay for so costly a 
method of culture. Of all such grown fruits 
Apples are the most enduring; indeed, when 
kept in a cool place they will endure several 
months. Those who exhibit for prizes, or as 
an advertisement, find superb samples such as 
orchard-house culture produces to be very valu¬ 
able. There are many fine varieties which 
will develop their perfect qualities only under 
such conditions, and it is worth the while to 
get these beautiful qualities produced some¬ 
times, especially in bad fruiting seasons. 
From a purely market point of view, it 
would be useless to attempt to grow orchard- 
house fruit for profit. They must always be 
luxuries, except when they can be utilised as 
previously referred to. The nearest approach 
to fruits such as orchard houses can produce 
are found on walls and cordons. These give 
tons of superb fruits without doubt, but still, 
even in the most favourable seasons, they lack 
that beautiful finish which characterises glass- 
grown samples. It would, indeed, seem as if 
one never did obtain in Apples that perfect 
development of which any variety is capable 
of displaying except when produced under 
glass. Costly as the method of culture may 
seem, yet it is certain that the house devoted 
to Apple culture is needed after all only for a 
short season, and may be utilised in other 
ways for several months of the year, so that a 
worse use may be given to an orchard house 
than growing show Apples. 
c 1|iE5T Year’s Apple Crop. — We want to 
"v make, all in good time, a practical sug¬ 
gestion in relation to next j r ear’s Apple crop, 
for, taking up the role of the prophet, we 
prognosticate one of the greatest Apple crops 
of the generation. It is not merely that the 
time for a big crop is at hand. There is the 
crop being manufactured in the womb of time, 
if we may use such a metaphorical expression, 
but the process is going on literally and 
effectually in the trees, which are so abundant 
in our gardens and orchards. That apocryphal 
personage — the oldest inhabitant—can hardly 
remember a finer promise, of bad and bloom 
production than the present season shows, and 
Apples must follow in enormous quantities. 
Hext year, then the opportunity to hold 
a grand national exhibition of this popular 
fruit offers in a way which should attract the 
immediate attention of the various societies or 
authorities. Which body will be the first to 
take the field ? We shall have opportunity 
to see Apples from nursery trees on diverse 
stocks, Apples from gardens on established 
dwarf and standard trees, the same from 
orchards, also from respective counties and 
countries ; then Apples assorted, early, mid¬ 
season and late, cooking and dessert—in fact. 
Apples sent out in every diverse form and' 
character which these fruits present. 
Specially do we want to see methods for 
utilising Apples for sparse cropping seasons 
such as the present, whether by the process 
of evaporation, or as jams, jellies, canned, 
bottled, or whatsoever way possible. Here is 
a matter in which the Royal Horticultural 
Society might lead. Fruit associations might 
join, so also might the vegetarians, the 
preservers, the market growers and fruit traders 
—in fact, everybody taking intelligent interest 
in Apple culture and consumption should have 
a part in the management of the great national 
Apple show of 1891. Who will lead 1 we 
ask again, for it is high time someone did. If 
got into the hands of some petty parochial body, 
who want only to grind their trumpery axes, 
the thing would be crippled at the outset; but 
taken up by a really representative committee, 
from which all mere personal motives were 
excluded, the exhibition might be made, 
without exception, the finest display of Apples 
ever seen. 
fMjELONS.—The more we see of these seed- 
produced fruits, the more are we assured 
as to their unsatisfactory nature from year to 
year, but especially so during such seasons as 
the present, when the comparative absence of 
sunshine has largely affected the production of 
flavour adversely. It is very obvious that 
Melons without flavour are worthless. The 
fruits are grown to be eaten, but eaten they 
cannot—indeed, will not—be unless palatable. 
A flavourless Melon is absolutelj 1 ' nasty, and it 
may be accepted as an established fact, shown 
practically at every exhibition where Melons 
are cut, and especially so this year, that fully 
50 per cent, are worthless for eating, and of 
the remainder not more than 20 per cent, 
are really excellent. It is most obvious, 
therefore, that having regard to this erratic 
quality in Melons, there can be no other course 
open to judges at shows in making awards than 
to taste them. 
To judge solely by appearance, probably in 
nine cases out of ten the poorest-flavoured 
fruits would win. But a protest, and a proper 
one, has been made against the method of 
tasting now in force, the result of which is 
that the fruits are rendered very unsightly, 
and for all other purposes useless. The un¬ 
sightliness might be got over very well, did 
anyone follow the judges and turn the fruit 
round, so that the huge incisions so commonly 
made, exposing the seeds also, might be for the 
time hidden. The cutting in this way specially 
exposes the seeds, and presents to light-fingered 
persons a temptation to abstract those of 
specially good varieties. 
It has been proposed that small holes made 
with a cheese taster would answer all purposes, 
as a large piece is unnecessary for tasting. 
That is perhaps true, but where fruits run each 
other close for flavour, a second tasting is often 
needful. Still, any form of cutter which would 
extract enough of the fruit without rendering 
it unsightly, would be useful. A really first- 
class Melon is such a rarity, that once cut and 
found, others besides judges are tempted to 
taste such a novelty. Still, such should not 
be permitted, as even Melons are the exhibitors’ 
property, and merit every consideration. 
--- 
Rochester and Chatham Floral and Horticultural 
Society.—The autumn show of this society is to be 
held in the Corn Exchange, Rochester, on the 17th and 
18th of this month. The honorary secretary is Mr. T. 
W. Blaynay, 3, Belgrave Terrace, Strood, Rochester. 
Brixton, Streatliam, and Clapliam Horticultural 
Society.—The thirty-first annual exhibition of Chry¬ 
santhemums, &c., will be held at Streatham Town 
Hall, on Tuesday and AVednesday, November 4th and 
5th, 1890. The honorary secretary is Mr. J. Salter, 
34, AVingford Road, Brixton. 
Crystal Palace Autumn Fruit Show.—The second 
fruit show of the season, inaugurated by the Crystal 
Palace Company, is announced to be held on Thursday, 
Friday, and Saturday, October 9th, 10th, and 11th. 
B. S. Williams Memorial.—By an accident in 
copying the list of the committee, Mr. H. Cannell’s 
name was omitted. Mr. Cannell was not only present 
at the meeting on the 12th of August, but was the 
mover of the resolution, and entered his name on the 
subscription list for the sum of five guineas. 
Gardening Engagements.—Mr. Tom Smith, late 
foreman at Hawkstone Gardens, Shrewsbury, has been 
appointed gardener to Lieut-Col. Benett-Stanford, 
Pyt House, Tisbury, Wilts. Mr. J. Hounslow, as 
gardener to the Marquis of Headfort, The Lodge, 
Virginia, co. Cavan, Ireland. Mr. AV. E. Close, as 
gardener to G. Bence-Lambert, Esq., Thorington 
Hall, Dersham, Suffolk, Mr. George Murden, as 
gardener to T. AVilliams, Esq., Henstaff Court, Llan- 
trisant, Glamorganshire. 
Mr. McIntosh, gardener to Col. Milne Holme, at 
Paxton House, Berwick-on-Tweed, is, we regret to hear, 
obliged to leave in November next on account of ill- 
health. Mr. McIntosh has been at Paxton about 
fifteen years, and his illness is exciting much sympathy 
among his friends, he being quite unable to undertake 
the duties of another situation. With a view to 
enable his wife to start a small business of some kind, 
a committee has been formed among his friends and 
neighbours to raise a subscription, which, we hope, will 
be well responded to. It is a very deserving case, and 
subscriptions will be gratefully received by Mr. George 
Murray, Nabdean, Paxton, or Mr. John Pringle, Paxton 
House. 
An Historical Myrtle. —AVhen the Emperor AAulliam 
arrived at Osborne, in August of last year, the Queen 
showed her grandson a very vigorous Myrtle, which has a 
history, in the garden near the tower, from whence 
floats the royal flag. Ou the marriage day of the 
Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia, father of the present 
Emperor, with the Princess Royal, and at the moment 
the young married couple were taking leave of the 
Queen, the Crown Prince when bidding farewell to his 
mother-in-law, took a spray of the Myrtle from the 
nuptial bouquet, and presented it to Her Majesty. 
The Queen took the spray, and sent it on the same day to 
Osborne, that it might be rooted and planted in the 
garden. That spray, as stated by the Rccue de VHorti¬ 
culture Beige, has become the little tree which the 
Queen showed to her grandson. 
Death of Mr. James Backhouse.—AVe regret to 
announce the death of Mr. James Backhouse, head of 
the firm of Messrs. James Backhouse & Son, of Holgate 
Nurseries, which took place at his residence, AVest 
Bank, on Sunday. Mr. Backhouse inherited a love for 
botany and horticulture from his father, and in com¬ 
pany with him explored the flora of Teesdale, and some 
of the wilder districts of Scotland. His love for 
natural history, however, extended far beyond that 
department, which he had made peculiarly his own, 
and he was a recognised authority on many questions 
of scientific research. He was throughout life a 
member of the Society of Friends, and for many years 
a recognised minister of that religions body. In politics 
he was a Liberal. He was greatly interested in the 
advancement of religious liberty, temperance, and 
international peace. He leaves a widow and two 
children to deplore his loss. 
Death of Miss Marianne North.—AVe regret to 
learn of the death, on the 30th nit. at Alderley, of Miss 
Marianne North, the accomplished traveller and artist, 
who a few years ago presented to the nation an 
exhaustive collection of coloured drawings of plants 
made in many lands. This lady, in the course of her 
travels, made a collection of pictures of highly interest¬ 
ing subjects, painted by herself from nature. It is 
virtually a pictorial record of her expedition round the 
world. Among the countries whose natural products 
were thus carefully delineated may he mentioned 
Tenerifte, Brazil, Jamaica, California, India, Ceylon, 
Borneo, Singapore, Java, Japan, Australia, and New 
Zealand. Besides the scientific interest of the collection 
there are several fine landscapes and striking bits of 
natural scenery, as well as glimpses of the social aspects 
of life in those lands. The pictures and objects are to 
he seen in a building, specially erected at her own 
expense, in Rew Gardens. Miss North has, in fact, 
sacrificed herself to the cause of science, for her last 
journey to South America brought on a long and pain¬ 
ful illness, to which she has just succumbed. 
Drastic Remedies.—With the exception of indoor 
cultures, we, in this country, have little experience of 
disease amongst Strawberries ; but our cousins across 
