November 24, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
193 
culture should be stimulated amongst the working 
classes, and favoured the introduction of a scheme of 
gardening allotments. In concluding, he noticed two 
or three recent movements connected with horticulture, 
including Professor Bayley Balfour’s suggestions as 
to lectures in the Royal Botanic Garden, to which 
he wished success. Mr. Dunn, Dalkeith Palace, in 
moving a vote of thanks to Bailie Walcot for presiding, 
remarked that he thought all interested in the matter 
had very great reason to congratulate themselves on 
the inauguration of the class. Mr. D. P. Laird 
and the chairman having acknowledged Mr. Dunn’s 
remarks, the proceedings terminated. 
-->33<-- 
THE “ LITTLE NATIONALS.” 
If it is any satisfaction to Mr. “Leo,” I am ready to 
admit in the handsomest manner that the popu¬ 
lation round the important centre of humanity called 
Chiswick is every whit as great and as respectable as 
that which encircles the Crystal Palace. As regards 
his statement that hardly one of our wise men comes 
from the east, I own I was inclined to rub my “little 
National ” eyes and wonder where it was our Douglases, 
Headlands, Morrises, Spurlings, Startups, and Cannells 
come from ; but that, of course, is a mere detail. 
I accept in the simple unquestioning faith natural to 
my tender years all that Mr. “Leo” tells me of the 
population, the respectability and the accessibility of 
Chiswick, and still I confess I am not happy at the 
thought of being taken there. I suppose even Mr. 
“Leo’s” partiality cannot entirely blind him to the 
fact that South Kensington is rather more closely and, 
on the whole, not less influentially populated than 
Chiswick. Yet what had we come to on the occasions 
of our last exhibitions there ? At the Auricula show 
at three o’clock in the day when the throng of visitors 
should be at its height, not a soul was there visible 
beyond the exhibitors and those otherwise connected 
with the exhibition. On my own particular day it 
is possible that at any one time during the show a 
dozen persons of the outside public might have been 
counted present. Now, if the public could not or 
would not be tempted to Kensington, still less are they 
likely to be lured further away from town, even to the 
important but hitherto unsuspected centre of humanity 
called Chiswick. 
I repeat, sir, after the soul-chilling Balclutha-like 
desolation of South Kensington, it was an inexpressible 
relief and joy to me to find myself back again at West¬ 
minster, and to see something like a crowd of pleased 
and happy faces about me once more. I do not pretend 
that the Drill Hall is the Crystal Palace, but com¬ 
parisons may be not only odious but ungracious, and I 
think our old lady deserves the thanks, and what is 
more the support, of all my friends for providing us 
again with a place of meeting on the whole so excellent. 
I only hope no one will succeed in befooling her on any 
future occasion to try and drag us to Chiswick.— 
National Carnation. 
-- 
FRUIT CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
Very much has been said on fruit culture, in and out 
of the horticultural press, within the last few months, 
and if the exhibits of fruit which have been such a 
pleasure to see at exhibitions were a fair sample of the 
bulk, I should say that the matter was “all right.” 
After seeing such line samples of Apples as are shown, 
we might safely go through any of the chief markets, and 
after inspecting the numerous barrels, come away 
satisfied that we could hold our own. But the exhibits on 
the show table do not represent fair market produce, 
and the cost, in care and other ways, that is necessary 
to produce such samples, would, I may say, yield but 
a poor return commercially. 
I have frequently an opportunity of inspecting 
barrels of Apples in one of the best markets in England, 
and I would say that anyone could see the superior 
appearance of the foreign-grown fruit. Last year, 
giving us a fine summer, certainly fine samples were 
grown in England, so good that little was left to 
be desired in that respect. Still, these fruits were 
grown in some of the more favoured counties for that 
purpose. I am almost inclined to say that anywhere 
north of the Trent would scarcely do to commence 
Apple culture as a special industry. I know that in 
favourable spots I may not be accurate in this state¬ 
ment, but making the remark as a general one I believe 
it is so. 
In some parts of the country, if any good is to be 
done in Apple culture, the selection of sorts will have 
to be thoroughly -proved. This year, with me, Lord 
Suffield, Hawthornden, Cellini, Lord Grosvenor, Stirling 
Castle, and Grenadier have been very good, large 
enough in size, but very much short of the colour and 
finish that the more southern counties produce. These 
might do. Other popular sorts, such as Blenheim 
Orange, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Ribston Pippin, Cockle 
Pippin, or King of the Pippins, and some other 
dessert sorts are of the very poorest description in this 
locality, so that as a paying interest with them it 
would be a poor look-out. This is my opinion, though 
I am not against Apple culture by any means.— B.M., 
Cheshire. 
-->X-<-- 
CRIMSON FLAG- OR KAFFIR 
LILY. 
The first of these names refers to the colour of the 
flowers, while the second refers to the native country 
of Schizostylis coccinea. Being a member of the Iris 
family it is of course not a Lily at all, nor do we 
attempt to justify the application of popular names, 
except for the benefit of those who are not botanical. 
The subject under notice, and of which we give an 
illustration, is a native of South Africa, and was 
originally introduced from the Transvaal. Two species 
are known, but S. coccinea is the only one in culti¬ 
vation. It is so nearly hardy that when well estab¬ 
lished it will outlive the winter without protection 
some 200 miles north of the Tweed ; and if planted 
under a wall and especially that of a hothouse it grows 
and flowers very freely. The perfection with which it 
will flower depends, however, on the mildness of autumn 
and winter, as the flowers expand at those times. It 
is a good plan to lift and pot them up in autumn, 
introducing them to the conservatory or greenhouse, 
where they will assist in rendering those houses gay 
during the dull months. Any good garden soil will 
grow the plant in the northern counties, but in the dry 
climate of the south peat or leaf-soil is necessary to 
keep the ground in which they are planted cool and 
moist. The leaves resemble those of a Flag or narrow¬ 
leaved Iris, and the flowers are deep red, almost 
crimson. The clumps should be frequently divided 
and planted afresh in spring. 
-->Z<-- 
STATIOE SUWOROWI. 
A FEW plants of this hardy annual have been con¬ 
spicuous in the borders here for their late-flowering 
qualities. Since August they have been flowering 
freely, and still have a few spikes of flower left. The 
destructive frosts of last month had no effect upon 
either the foliage or the flowers, a fact that renders the 
plant very valuable for autumn decoration. The only 
defect it has, is the weak branched spikes which, unless 
supported with twigs or small sticks, do not show up 
to advantage. I enclose a spike showing a tendency 
to produce flattened fasciated stems, due, I think, to 
the heavy rich soil in which the plant is growing.— 
J. TV. 0. [Our experience of this plant in the open 
ground exactly coincides with yours, and that, too, in 
cases where the soil was not by any means heavy, 
although rich enough for plant growing generally. 
The base of the stem is too slender to support a large 
branching spike, and whether planted in the open 
ground or grown in pots, the stems should be secured 
to neat stakes. When well grown there can be no 
question that a little attention in the way of staking is 
well repaid. The plant grows fairly well in pots ; but 
the largest and best branched spikes we have seen were 
developed by plants grown in the open ground.—E d.] 
JfOTES ON fgRUITS- 
Pear, Althorpe Crassane. 
This has been one of the finest Pears this season. It 
has been equal if not superior to both Marie Louise and 
Louise Bonne of Jersey. Marie Louise certainly has not 
been of good quality with us this season, partly 
owing to the unfavourable summer, and, I think, 
partly to the blossom or embryo fruit being injured by 
frost, as many of them swelled unevenly in size. 
Althorpe Crassane is a very uninviting Pear to look at 
amongst the others, but when it is good it is certainly 
worth cultivating for the dessert in private collections. 
It is a fair bearer as a pyramid, from which our fruits 
were gathered. The fault that it has is the tendency 
of the fruit to crack sometimes, which prevents them 
keeping so well. This is certainly a Pear that is worth 
a place where it succeeds as well as it does here in 
Cheshire ; possibly a cool season may suit it.— R. M. 
Akera Apple. 
Those who are fond of pretty Apples cannot fail to 
appreciate this new variety when it becomes better 
known. It was shown by three exhibitors at the recent 
Apple and Pear Conference held at Chiswick, and was 
awarded a certificate as a new and distinct kind. The 
exhibitors describe it as a Swedish variety, and some¬ 
times spell the name Okera. The fruit is small or of 
medium size, roundish-oblong or slightly conical, and 
of a uniform yellow colour, or more or less heavily 
suffused with salmony red, sometimes banded longi¬ 
tudinally with this colour, and evidently very variable, 
even as grown in the same soil and locality. It is a 
dessert Apple, apparently mid-season, as it has now 
been ripe for some time past, and has a tender but 
crisp white flesh of sweet and delicate flavour. Speaking 
of showy or ornamental Apples, it is several times 
larger than Api (sometimes, though erroneously, called 
Lady Apple), superior to it in flavour, and although 
less brightly coloured, is nevertheless very pretty and 
distinct. Api—otherwise known as Pomme d’Api—is 
said to require a warm season to develop its colour ; 
but specimens at the recent conference were by no 
means lacking in colour, although grown in Scotland. 
Apple, Lord Bttkghley. 
Although by no means a new Apple, this appears far less 
frequently on the exhibition table than its merits 
would warrant, considering its high quality and its late 
keeping properties. In these respects it may very 
favourably be compared to Ribston Pippin, which at 
the National Apple Congress, held at Chiswick in 
1883, was exhibited 130 times, whereas Lord Burghley 
was only represented by 37 dishes. At the late Apple 
and Pear Conference, held at the same place, it was 
neither certificated nor received any mark of distinction 
whatever. It is roundish or slightly conical, angular 
towards the top, of medium size, and at present in the 
collection at Devonhurst, Chiswick, of a deep green, 
freckled with small russety spots, and heavily flushed 
with bronzy red on the exposed side. The flesh is 
yellow, firm, brisk and sweet, while the tree bears well 
and regularly every year. It is, therefore, a dessert 
Apple of great excellence, and keeps in season from 
December till the end of May or June. In gardens 
where Ribston Pippin is much given to canker, Lord 
Burghley well deserves a trial for late use. 
Pear Doyenne de Merode. 
At the recent Apple and Pear Conference held at 
Chiswick this Pear appeared in a few collections, and 
created a considerable amount of comment, especially 
in the case of good samples, which on the sunny or 
exposed side were of a bright red, almost scarlet colour. 
The idea seemed to be that it looked too beautiful to 
taste well, a fault which applies to some of the extremely 
pretty hut inferior-flavoured French or other Continental 
Pears which we see in the market during September 
and October. As grown at Devonhurst, Chiswick, it 
lacks the bright colour which it assumes in more 
favoured sunny southern counties, but the flavour is 
excellent. It is about the size of Beurre Diel, and 
similar in colour on the shaded side, but is more 
regularly Pear-shaped, although similarly thick and 
tapers slightly to the stalk. The ground colour is 
pale yellow, thickly freckled with russet dots, and 
flushed with red on the exposed side, while the flesh is 
buttery, white, melting, and deliciously flavoured. 
The name Doyenne means “ dean’s pear, ’ and the most 
or all of the varieties bearing this name are similar in 
colour, excluding the red. 
