34 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 15, 1888. 
GardehingKotesfrom Ireland. 
Brookville, co. Dublin. 
This is the residence of G. McMasters, Esq., M.A., 
and although a small place as regards the extent of the 
garden, it has for many years past been noted for the 
many good things sent in from it for competition at 
the various shows held by the Royal Horticultural 
Society of Ireland. As a grower of Hyacinths, Mr. 
Hatton, the experienced gardener, holds first place in 
Ireland, and is, I believe, the winner of several prizes 
for these, including two valuable cups. "When it is 
borne in mind that Hyacinths are never exhibited in 
Dublin until the last week in April (it was on the 26th 
this year), it can be easily understood how great must 
be the experience of the grower, and the many shifts 
he must be put to in order to bring his plants at that 
late season on to the exhibition table with the necessary 
prize-taking qualities; yet this is just what Mr. 
Hatton has been contriving to do, and freshness and 
stoutness of growth are two points which always 
characterise his exhibition Hyacinths. 
Fuchsias. 
These are also grown for exhibition, and in my notes 
last week on the late show, I referred to a lot of six 
plants from this place as having taken a first prize. But 
a point in connection with this lot of Fuchsias, which 
I think reflects much credit on Mr. Hatton’s manage¬ 
ment, was that they obtained the first prize at the summer 
show, as well as at the late one. On both occasions 
they presented the appearance of having been well 
handled, and were splendidly bloomed from below the 
pot rims to the tops of the plants ; the names of these 
shorv plants are Electric Light, Wave of Life, Madame 
Cornelissen, Grand Duchess, Elegance and Penelope. 
Besides these there are some fine grown plants of Lord 
Beaconsfield, B,ose of Castile and other varieties. 
Roses. 
These are always exhibited as cut blooms, but there 
is a fine collection of Tea Poses in pots, and various 
others trained as climbers. Among those grown in 
pots I noticed a very fine free-growing Pose, named 
Countess de Nalladas, and which, I understand, is a 
comparatively new Pose, being in the hands of growers 
only for the past two years. It is somewhat after the 
manner of Homere in growth, and is to all appearance 
quite as free a bloomer. In a house about 70 ft. or 
80 ft. long, and of considerable breadth, there areplanted 
out in a border two climbing Devoniensis, and these 
have covered nearly half the upper portion of the roof 
for the whole length of the house. Immense quantities 
of flowers are cut from these during the season, and are 
found to be more satisfactory in that respect than a 
large Marechal Niel, which formerly occupied the same 
space. From the base of each of the Devoniensis a 
very strong shoot has started this year, and as there 
is already top growth enough, instead of training 
these up, they are about being utilised to form plants 
either for pot or open cultivation. The plan of 
preparing them was to notch them near the base, and 
afterwards to place a good thickness of soil round the 
cuts; this W’as done about a month ago, and already 
the young shoots are pushing out roots strongly, and 
they may be relied on for producing large flowers for 
exhibition purposes, for the next tw'o or three years. 
The lower portion of the roof of this house is occupied 
with Tines, and there is a remarkably good crop of 
Grapes 
Gn them. There are three kinds grown—namely, 
Black Hamburgh, Madresfield Court and Black 
Alicante. The strange thing about this house is that 
it has no sun on it after mid-day, and there is no means 
of giving fire-heat ; yet the crop is always well coloured 
and the berries of fine flavour. At present they are 
commencing to turn, and as Mr. Hatton is a believer 
in the admission of plenty of air during the ripening 
process, I have no doubt he will make them turn in 
satisfactorily, late as the season is. All the structures 
devoted to plant growing are designed on the lean-to 
pattern, and are well adapted for subjects which require 
to be kept dwarf, as well as those to be grown to a 
moderate height. In the centre of one of these, which 
is attached to the dwelling-house and treated as a 
conservatory, there is planted out in a small bit of 
rockwork a fine specimen of Begonia erecta multiflora. 
On account of the large number of flowers produced 
by this plant throughout the year it is a great favourite, 
especially during the winter months, when the blooms 
are much more valuable than at any other time. 
Clematis Jackmanni. 
I have noticed this climber flowering very freely in 
some places this year, but I have not seen it anywhere 
to better advantage than it was here. It was trained 
over arches at each end of a walk, and the enormous 
mass of flowers made them, when viewed from either 
end of the walk, look, when stationary, like solid lines 
of blue. It was not from one side alone this appearance 
was presented, but from both sides. The effect of the 
colouring was still more beautiful when the arched line 
became agitated or rippled with the wind, as then the 
resting breadth of lovely colour became inflated to 
double its size. 
Hedera Helix R/£gneriana. 
This Ivy is one that is not often met with, but it 
appears to have found a place here suitable to its 
growth. Covering some fencing at the northern end of 
the garden, and trailing its way among Ivies of smaller 
growth, it looked very remarkable indeed. This will 
be easily understood when it is stated that the leaf 
with its footstalk attached measured 16 ins. in length, 
and that, without the footstalk, it was 9§ ins. in length 
and T\ ins. in breadth. I have seen this Ivy treated 
as a shrub, but I have never met with it under such 
conditions producing foliage of the dimensions here 
given, although it might be reasonably supposed such 
a mode of growth would be more favourable to foliage 
development than where it was fighting its way 
through plants of kindred growth. 
A Victoria Plum Tree. 
In a year like the present, when there is a general 
complaint as to a thin set of Plums, it comes almost as 
a surprise to one to meet with a downright good crop 
of them. On a wall here is a Victoria tree, laden 
down both right, left, and centre. Of course, I daresay 
there are many who will turn up their noses at the 
mention of Victoria Plums. ‘ ‘ They are always sure, 
sir, because they are of little use !” Well, I do not 
think that is a good reason for not having them. 
Though not accounted good for dessert, the cook will 
not refuse them, and besides, there is a very strong 
opinion that even dessert Plums are much more whole¬ 
some to eat after undergoing the cooking or preserving 
process than when used in the usual way. However, 
be that as it may, the crop on this tree was a very 
heavy one. I think I have touched on most of the 
points likely to interest the gardening reader; but 
there is one thing in connection with these small 
places which comes strongly to my mind when visiting 
them, and that is, the good examples of plant culti¬ 
vation to be met with, and where the other odds and 
ends are equally well cared for. — TV. D. 
-- 
PACKING FRUIT FOR MARKET. 
By Jajies Webber, Covent Garden.* 
Ignorance displayed in packing and want of know¬ 
ledge of the condition in which fruit should be sent to 
market are the principal causes of loss to the fruit 
grower in this country. In packing we are far behind 
our continental brethren, for while they study not only 
the condition most suitable for travelling, but even the 
package in which the fruit is to be sent, we frequently 
send it too ripe, and make use of any package that may 
come to hand, with little regard as to whether it is 
too deep or too shallow, or will hold such quantities as 
are ordinarily marketable. 
Packing is such an important factor in the attain¬ 
ment of good prices for market produce that it ought 
to he one of the essential points in the education of a 
gardener ; for what is the use of growing the best fruit 
in the world if it be spoiled in transit ? At least one- 
third of the hot-house fruit sent to market is de¬ 
preciated in value, and sometimes rendered worthless, 
by bad packing ; whereas, if all came in marketable 
condition the price would he lower to the consumer, 
the supply being larger, and a better result all round 
would accrue to the grower. Bearing this in mind, I 
beg to submit the following remarks as applying to 
London markets. 
Golden Pules. 
There are three golden rules to be observed in sending 
fruit to markets. 
1. — Never send it too ripe. Peaches especially 
should be packed hard, as they travel better in that 
condition, and are rarely used by the shopkeeper till 
two or three days after purchase. 
2. — Never, if possible, send it for Saturday’s market, 
as with the exception of Strawberries the retailer in¬ 
variably provides himself beforehand with what he 
requires : Monday and Tuesday for the first part of the 
* A paper read at the Crystal Palace Fruit Couference, on 
SeptcmLer 7th. 
week, Wednesday and Thursday for the latter part. 
In hot weather, when fruit ripens fast, small con¬ 
signments may he sent on Friday. 
3.—All fruit should he sorted into bests and seconds, 
and in some cases into thirds, as there are always 
buyers of bests, and buyers of seconds and thirds, but 
seldom buyers of mfxed. 
Grapes. 
■ Among hothouse fruits, Grapes being most important, 
as growing all the year round, claim our first attention. 
There are two sorts of baskets in which Grapes may he 
sent to market—viz., the “handle” and the “baby.” 
The former is more useful for ordinary work and is 
safer, as the handle is used for lifting, anl to a certain 
extent is a protection to the fruit in preventing other 
goods being placed on the top. A little packing should 
be laid in the bottom of the basket, then a lining of 
white paper. The bunches should be packed close 
together, shoulder upwards, and the basket tied over 
with a sheet of stiff paper with a label “Grapes with 
care ” on it. Grapes packed this way will travel any 
distance. Special bunches travel in “ handles,” each 
bunch tied to the basket, without the centre being 
filled np. The latter mode is recommended in the case 
of special fruit only. The “ baby ’’ basket should only 
be used for short distances, and where a regular supply 
is sent, and where the railway porters are accustomed 
to them. It is more convenient than the “handle” 
for displaying iu the shop windows, and shows off the 
fruit better. The basket should be lined with white 
paper and a little packing placed in the bottom, the 
bunches being simply laid in close together. The 
whole fits nicely into a hamper known as a “flat,” and 
with the ordinary Grape label invariably arrives in 
good condition. 
Peaches and Nectarines. 
Peaches should be packed iu shallow boxes of sufficient 
depth to allow a good bed to lay upon and a slight 
layer of packing on the top. The box should contain 
only twenty-four best or thirty-six seconds. Each fruit; 
should be wrapped in soft paper. A very effective way 
of packing Peaches, so as when the box is opened the 
class of fruit can be seen at once by the buyer, is to 
roll a double slip of tissue paper round each fruit, 
leaving the crown exposed. This requires a sheet of 
paper to be placed over the fruit before finally filling up 
with the packing. I know of no packing better than 
moss, which should be properly dried and cleansed 
from all grit. It is cooler and more elastic than any 
other substance. Each fruit should he completely sur¬ 
rounded with it. Next to moss is bran, hut care 
should be taken to shake it down well and refill the 
box before fastening the lid, as it settles down with the 
oscillation of travelling, leaving part of the fruit 
exposed and liable to injury. "Wadding is not elastic, 
and is too heating. 
Strawberries. 
Strawberries should be packed in boxes in single layers 
containing from 1 lb. to 14 lb.,, according to size, each 
Strawberry being placed in a Strawberry leaf on a thin 
layer of moss with onl}' a light layer of leaves on the 
top. Each package of, say five or six boxes, should 
have a label “ Strawberries with care, this side up ” on 
the top of it. When the season is full on they lose 
value if delivered after 8 a.m., as the trade then supply . 
themselves from the “morning gathered,” delivered 
by the growers themselves. 
Tojiatos and Outdoor Fruit. 
Tomatos should be packed in ‘ ‘ handle ” baskets con¬ 
taining from IS lbs. to 20 lbs., and should be well 
coloured, but not too ripe, otherwise they are apt to 
split. 
Suitable baskets for sending outdoor fruit to market 
can always be obtained of the salesmen. These consist 
of quarter sieves, half sieves, and sieves. The former 
hold 12 lbs., and are used for best samples of all kinds 
of soft fruit. Half sieves are used for Cherries, 
Currants, Plums, Pears, and Apples. Sieves are used 
mainly for Apples. A half sieve of soft fruit should 
contain 24 lbs., of Plums 28 lbs., of Apples from 
21 lbs. to 24 lbs. Soft fruit should be simply stuck 
down with a sheet of paper. Hard fruit should he 
stuck down with dry packing, such as hay or straw. 
All fruit opens better with a sheet of paper covered 
over. 
Pears. 
Pears, especially early varieties, should be sent directly 
they can be removed from the trees. On no account 
should they be allowed to get ripe. The system in 
vogue iu France is well worthy of imitation by growers 
in this country. The fruit is carefully sorted, in many 
instances into four sizes. Cases are made to contain 
two tiers, each tier consisting of twenty, twenty-four, 
