178 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 17, 1888. 
Gardening Hotes from Ireland. 
A Few Suggestions about the Arran Islands. 
As the subject of the adaptability of the south of 
Ireland for the early growth of fruits and vegetables 
for market is at present receiving some attention, I 
think it would be a favourable time to notice the 
superior claims, so far as climate is concerned, which 
the Arran Islands possess for this purpose. In a report 
presented some time ago by Mr. John Cairns to a relief 
committee in Dublin, and whose representative on the 
islands he was for several months in the present year, 
he alludes particularly to the genial climate always 
prevailing there, and speaks also of the success with 
which fruits and vegetables could be grown there for 
an early market. As a case in point, he stated that 
the Flounder Potato had been grown there for an early 
crop, and had yielded good tubers fit for use in May. 
This, perhaps, will not surprise anyone when they are 
told that the plant Crassula coccinea, better known, 
probably, under its old name of Kalosanthes coccinea, 
lives out there all the year round, “ and produces,” as 
Mr. Cairns says in some notes of his with which he has 
favoured me, “ flowers of large size and of most intense 
colouring.” 
As a further proof of the mild climate which pre¬ 
dominates over the islands, he states that the native 
Maidenhair Ferns live out there without protection of 
any kind, and that Richardia sethiopica, better known 
under the name of Calla asthiopica, “ lives out all the 
winter, keeping its leaves green, and flowers freely 
every season. 1 ’ Another plant found to grow in 
abundance is Sempervivum urbicum. Here it attains 
the height of 2 ft., and branches out into the 
appearance of a shrub. Nowhere are three plants, one 
a native of Table Bay, another of Central Europe, and 
another of the Canary Islands, all proving the mild 
nature of the climate existing over the Arran 
Islands, and consequently the easy cultivation 
of fruits and vegetables; and although no doubt 
there would be difficulties to overcome in utilising 
the soil, &c., there is no reason why such could 
not be done. As regards Potato growing, in 
favourable years, the crop is very productive, notwith¬ 
standing the fact that the “oldest inhabitant” can 
remember them grown consecutively in the same soil 
for seventy years. The soil is described as a very 
light limestone, and the only manure used is seaweed, 
two applications of it being given to the crop during 
the season. Another matter worthy of note is that 
Sea Kale is found growing in abundance, its wild 
luxuriance surpassing even cultivated plants. 
Yet, Mr. Cairns remarks, nothing whatever has 
been done to cultivate this plant by the islanders, 
and which could be made the source of a large income, 
if grown extensively for market purposes. In addition 
to what could be done in the way of early vegetables, 
Mr. Cairns, who is a man of thoroughly practical 
knowledge, gives his opinion that the Grape could be 
grown and made to ripen its fruit out of doors. This, 
he says, might be done by training the Vines over the 
face of the limestone rock, and which presents in most 
cases a convex form with a surface as smooth as glass. 
These rocks, he says, become so hot under the influence 
of the sun, that Vines brought across them would be 
in a more favourable position for ripening both fruit 
and wood, than is found in many structures put up 
for their accommodation. With such favourable 
conditions as these in existence, no wonder Mr. Cairns 
imagines one asking him, “What has been done to 
turn them to account?” and he answers, “Nothing, 
absolutely nothing.” 
Well, I think there is room here for some enterprising 
individual to work on such lines as Mr. Hall is said to 
be laying down for the South of Ireland. The circum¬ 
stances are even more favourable than in the south, if 
I except the one of distance from the mainland. 
But in this respect the Arran Islands would he in no 
worse position than the Channel Islands, which at 
present enjoy so good a position in the early markets. 
With regard to cheap labour and a plentiful supply of 
the nimble fingers of the young, the Arran Islands 
possess a groat advantage over other places, and in a 
speculation of this sort should make a very strong 
point. In concluding his remarks in his communica¬ 
tion to me, Mr. Cairns sums up thus, “ On the whole,” 
he says, “the climate and warm limestone soil are so 
favourable, that the production of early vegetables for 
market should be the principal aim of the inhabitants.” 
To this opinion I fully subscribe, but unfortunately 
the inhabitants do not appear to be aware of what 
could he done with the fine climate they enjoy ; at all 
events they have not hitherto taken advantage of it to 
assist them to make their miserable condition of life 
anything better. There may he causes at work to 
prevent them from doing so, even if they have the 
requisite knowledge, and of which we know nothing 
I dare say it will come as a surprise to many that we 
have a climate of such rare mildness existing so near us, 
and that plants, such as 1 have named, live in a state oi 
extra luxuriance in proximity to the mainland, which is 
often swept with storms of great fierceness. Such is 
the fact, however, and in alluding to the matter here, 
I am hopeful that a further investigation by practical 
persons will lead to the extensive cultivation of early 
fruits and vegetables in the Arran Islands. 
Some Plants in Flower at the Glasnevin 
Botanic Gardens: Chrysanthemums- 
Although, as I write, we are on the eve of our Dublin 
Chrysanthemum Show, where no doubt we shall be 
treated to some big things, and of which I shall have 
something to say next week, it would be well to examine 
what is being done with general collections, which have 
not been treated for exhibition purposes, at least, with 
a view to competition. This is the case with the 
Glasnevin collection, all of which have been got in and 
arranged in the blooming-house. They extend the 
whole length of a large house, occupyiug the whole 
space from front to back, and are very tastefully 
arranged. When in full flower—which will not he 
for a fortnight — they will present a very splendid 
appearance. Just now many varieties have expanded 
their first blooms, and taking into account that the 
plants are carrying a full head of flowers, these are of 
good size and fine form. Mons. Freeman, a lilac 
incurved, is a very good one ; so also is Alex. Dufour, 
a crimson. Then there are others, such as Lord 
Alcester, a creamy yellow, and very good ; Empress 
of India, white ; Queen of England, a buff; Emily 
Dale, a creamy yellow ; Madame de Sevin, Peter the 
Great, Lady Selborne, Golden Empress of India, Mrs. 
Marsham, white ; and of the latter colour, the ever- 
welcome Elaine and its sport White Princess. 
The fine old yellow Jardin des Plantes is done here 
very well, and in size and form is still able to hold its 
own amongst yellows. The very handsome dwarf 
Chrysanthemum, La Vierge, grown here in pots, for 
early use, was still showing large quantities of flowers ; 
and I was assured that no other flowering plant for 
autumn decoration gives more satisfaction. Then the 
wonder is that more use is not made of it for this 
purpose, or even for outdoor work. The plants here 
were not much over 1 ft. high, were stout, and as they 
stood under the eye their flowers presented an unbroken 
surface of white. No doubt we shall have this 
plant more plentifully grown when it becomes better 
known, and I have noticed some plants of it already in 
the hands of some suburban growers. 
Orchids in Flower. 
There are a goodly number of Orchids in flower at 
the present time, amongst them several of somewhat 
recent introduction. One of these, Catasetum gnornus, is 
now in flower, as is also Cypripedium cenanthum 
superbum and Cymbidium Mastersii. The latter is a 
very handsome Orchid, and all that could be desired as 
to its lovely perfume. Then there are also Cymbidium 
elegans, Calanthe vestita, C. rosea, C. veratrifolia, 
Cypripedium insigne maculatum, C. Spicerianum, 
Cattleya Harrisonite, C. maxima, Odontoglossum 
grande, Oncidium varicosum, 0. iucurvum, Den- 
drobium Farmeri album, Ccelogyne Massangeana, 
and Epidendrum alatum. Considering the lateness of 
the season this is a fair show of Orchids in flower, and 
they are likely to keep the house gay with bloom for 
some time longer.— -TV. D. 
Farm Gardening. 
With reference to the remarks of “ W. D.,” at p. 146, 
allow me to say that I don’t think Mr. Hall could apply 
his argument to the wilds of Donegal or Connemara ; 
but according to my idea, south Cork, with its fine 
climate, if an industrial school for its peasantry were 
established, could be madea formidable rival to the Scillv 
Isles, Cornwall, or Brittany in a few years. Twenty 
thousand people from the river Lee to the sea-coast 
could be at work for an early spring and late autumn 
delivery to Scotland ; and they would not be able to 
give Glasgow and Edinburgh enough. We have 
Whiddy and Clonakilty Islands, which snow or frost 
never visit. What better have you in the south of 
France ? The White Sweetwater and Black Ham¬ 
burgh Grapes would fruit in the open, planted between 
the rock crevices at Crookhaven, and allowed to grow 
au nature % as at Gibraltar. I am afraid ‘ ' W. D. ” 
sees but through a glass darkly. He talks of climate 
in the surroundings of Dublin in contradistinction to 
that of England in the same article. If he comes 
south to me in spring I will show him a bloom of 
flowers in February that he won’t get in the United 
Kingdom, and our harvest should be in the spring and 
not August.— W. B. Hartland, Cork. 
THE BRITISH FRUIT GROWERS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
The Railway Rates Question. 
A meeting of the above association was held in 
the Balloon Room, Royal Aquarium, on Thursday, 
November 8th, to discuss the subject of railway rates 
in relation to fruit transit. Mr. T. F. Rivers took the 
chair at 5 p.m., and in the course of a few introductory 
remarks, said—I have to congratulate this association 
on the very encouraging success which has attended 
its formation. We have received greater support and 
sympathy than we expected, and I think we may say 
that the association has become an established fact. 
We have succeeded in drawing public attention to the 
necessity of thoroughly examining the possible outcome 
of the decadence of industrial fruit growing in this 
country, and, I hope, of arresting the serious loss which 
would undoubtedly occur, if measures were not taken 
to arrest such loss before the evil had gone too far to 
mend. This association will not have been formed in 
vain if it can succeed in attracting the serious attention 
of cultivators to the best means and methods by which 
the country can hold its own in the competition with 
which it is threatened, and the objects of our society 
are to obtain the best possible information from fruit 
growers in different parts of the country, and to 
distribute this information as widely as possible. 
With this end in view, we propose in the ensuing 
year to hold meetings in the provincial districts, 
to invite the co-operation of all who are willing 
to help us in the good work by reading papers, 
and assembling to discuss matters which are of 
vital importance to this particular industry. Our 
meetings will be held on the understanding that they 
will be entirely non-political, and this salutary ab¬ 
stinence will, I hope, meet with the hearty approval of 
all who join us. We intend to deal with matters of 
important interest in a thoroughly impartial spirit. 
One of the important points is the cost of the convey¬ 
ance of fruit, and we shall be glad if we can, by 
obtaining information, enable growers, handicapped by 
distance from the centres of distribution, to compete 
with those more happily situated. We trust that we 
shall be able to obtain by reports from competent 
persons sufficient knowledge on this head to submit our 
case to the Board of Trade. We are not accustomed in 
England to make a grievance, but to examine and 
endeavour to remove an existing one. In this par¬ 
ticular case there are good grounds for believing that 
the cost of the transport of fruit is much greater than 
it need be, and that this cost presses heavily on one of 
our native industries. There can, however, be no 
doubt that the question will he fairly dealt with. I 
must remind those who make the reports that the facts 
must be accurate, and that a case which is to be sub¬ 
mitted to the Board of Trade must be very clear and 
distinct. We also hope by inquiry and discussion to 
raise the standard of quality of fruits sent to market, 
and as planting is likely to be carried on for some 
years on a more extensive scale than has hitherto been 
known, any information as to the relative value of sorts 
in different districts will be of very great importance 
to the planter, and it will, I hope, be one of the aims 
and objects of the society to classify and determine as 
far as possible the suitability of sorts of fruits to 
different localities ; the fewer sorts the better, both for 
the fruit tree grower and the planter. It is, I think, 
known to many that a very decided liking is exhibited 
by certain fruits for particular districts. I may instance 
the Winesour Plum in Yorkshire, the Apple orchards of 
Herefordshire and Devonshire, the Bullaces of East 
Anglia, and in my own district the singular success of 
the Early Prolific Plum. A society which can visit 
the different fruit-growing districts will be able to 
gather more facts than a society which is fixed 
permanently in any one locality, and will, I imagine, 
much extend its sphere of usefulness. 
Several letters were read from members of the 
Association and others interested in the subject, from 
which it appeared that those who lived sufficiently near 
to market all sent their fruit by road, as being cheaper 
and safer, and one writer stated that it would be to his 
interest if all the railway rates were increased. The 
majority, however, at a distance from towns condemned 
the present charges strongly, Mr. Watkins, of Hereford, 
remarking that the present rates are amongst the 
greatest hindrances to the extension of fruit cultivation. 
Mr. J. Udale, Tamworth, wrote :—“Railway rates for 
the transit of fruit and vegetables under some circum¬ 
stances are quite prohibitive. Twelve months ago I 
was in the habit of sending all classes of fruit to two 
fruiterers in Birmingham. Choice fruit was sent by 
