November 23, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
181 
SPORTS. 
This most interesting phenomenon in the vegetable 
kingdom was treated in a very popular and interesting 
manner by Dr. Masters, in a lecture he delivered before 
the Eiling Gardeners’Mutual Improvement Society, on 
the 13th inst. Dr. Masters had provided himself with 
some coloured diagrams, branches of plants, and 
flowers, which added greatly to the interest of the 
subject. Commencing by asking, “ What is a sport ? ” 
he proceeded to say what it is not. It is not a seedling 
variation. It is not merely a stage of growth. This 
was illustrated in the case of the Ivy, branches of 
which were produced showing that when it could no 
longer cling or climb, it took on a more arborescent 
character, producing its blossoms, and ripening its 
fruit. Some branches of the Euonymus, showing the 
type in different stages of growth, were also produced, 
exhibiting very remarkable divergences. Retinospora 
squarrosa was also shown, and branches of others, Dr. 
Masters expressing the opinion they were all different 
stages of growth of R. pisifera. Fruiting spurs, and 
the long gross shoots of fruit trees were also instanced 
as different stages of growth. 
Sports are not sexual variations merely. What then 
are sports ? The excessive variability of plants is a fact 
in botany ; no two things are absolutely alike. A sport 
is a general or particular case of variability, and the 
leading characteristics of sports are that the variation 
occurs suddenly, and that there is a simultaneous 
appearance of these sports. An illustration was here 
shown of a white Moss Rose, producing a shoot that 
had a red blossom, while the calyx was destitute of 
moss, and quite of the Provence character. The theory 
advanced by Dr. Masters was that at some time or the 
other the two types had become blended, and now one 
of them was re-appearing in its original character. As 
to the cause of sports, they did not arise from 
conditions of culture, but rather from a process of 
unmixing ; and, therefore, sports are due to the un- 
mixing of certain blended elements. All plants and 
animals commence by being neutral, as in the case, of 
protoplasm. Then they pass through various stages, 
some becoming male, and some female, and some her¬ 
maphrodite, and it is by a process of nnmixing that 
sports are generated. This is but a mere outline of a 
highly instructive address listened to with closest 
attention throughout. Some discussion followed, and 
at the close a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Dr. 
Masters. 
-- 
OTES ON 1ERUITS. 
NotTVELLE FuLVIE PEAR. 
Tears ripening at this season of the year and later do 
not present the buttery character so well marked in 
many of the early autumn-ripening kinds. Although 
the flesh of that under notice is melting, it breaks 
short, but is, notwithstanding, tender, soft, and 
whitish, with an abundance of juice of good flavour. 
The variety therefore takes rank as one of first quality 
for dessert purposes, and must be included amongst the 
valuable late-ripening kinds. It is said to ripen or to 
be in season during December and January ; but in the 
gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, at Chiswick, 
it is already fit for use and of good quality. The fruit 
is of medium size, pyriform, and very thick at the 
upper end, tapering rapidly to the stalk. The skin is 
of a uniform pale russet, but is sometimes described as 
yellowish green marbled with fawn, and covered all 
over the exposed side with rich brown. Like many 
other kinds of fruit, it varies considerably in different 
localities, and that grown in and around the metropolis 
is nearly always of a different hue from specimens 
grown under the influence of clearer skies. 
Passe Colmar Pear. 
If the popularity of a fruit is to be determined by the 
number of its synonyms, then that under notice must 
be popular indeed, for it has no less than fifty, which 
must have arisen from its being grown at many 
different places. Tlu fruit is very variable in size, 
and on oid trees must be described as small. It does, 
however, under certain circumstances attain a good 
size. It is shortly pyriform, yellow when ripe, and 
more or less spotted, marked or splashed with pale 
russet, the larger patches being generally towards the 
base or round the eye. The fruit is a late-ripening 
one, but should be gathered before it is damaged by 
frost, and comes into season about the beginning of 
October, keeping in good condition through the next 
month. The flesh is pale or nearly white, and although 
melting, can hardly be described as a buttery Pear ; 
but it eats firm, with a slight tendency to be crisp. 
The flavour is, however, excellent, and from its 
ripening at this late period of the year, the variety is a 
very meritorious one for dessert purposes. The tree 
bears heavily if grown on the Quince ; but owing to its 
ripening very late, it should be grown on a wall with 
any aspect except a northern one. 
--- 
THE SEASON. 
On every hand we have unfailing testimony to the 
mildness of the season, even in the third week of 
November. The other day we received a boxful of 
hardy, half-hardy, and even tender subjects in great 
variety from Mr. Alfred Gaut, The Gardens, Berwick, 
Shrewsbury. Amongst them were large and well- 
colouied blooms of several varieties of Clematis, 
TrOILEOLU.W PERIGRINU-W. 
measuring from 3 ins. to 5i ins. across. There were 
also Pelargoniums, Tropseolums, Canary Creeper, 
yellow and brown Calceolarias, Phlox Drummondi in 
great variety, as well as Pentstemons, Mignonette, 
Tagetes signata, and other bedding plants, generally a 
little tarnished, but yet profusely in bloom. Three 
species of Centaurea, including C. montana alba and 
C. Cyanus, were wonderfully fresh, and the same might 
be said of some Godetias with large and delicately- 
Kniphofia aloides. 
coloured petals. A spike of Kuiphofia aloides as fresh 
as it might have been in September, and the Canary 
Creeper (Tropteolum perigrinum) above mentioned did 
not consist of a solitary flower, but quite a spray of 
bloom. 
The steel-blue bracts of Eryngium amethystinum 
were as bright almost as one could expect them in 
summer. Another good herbaceous plant is Helenium 
autumnale, with yellow flowers, but which is now 
quite out of its usual season. The old double white 
Matricaria Parthenium Prince Albert is less frequently 
seen in modern collections than it might be, for the 
flower heads are of a useful size for cut-flower purposes, 
and long lasting. Although the foliage gives off a 
rather powerful odour when bruised, the flowers are as 
mild as those of a Chrysanthemum and similar. 
Amongst others still emitting an odour may be men¬ 
tioned the common Marigold, Mignonette, Tropreolums, 
Centaurea moschata, C. montana alba, and a free- 
flowering species of Escallonia, whose white flowers 
had a faint smell of wild honey. Accompanying the 
flowers were some leaves of several species of Narcissus 
and Gladiolus of considerable length, showing a too 
advanced state for November in case a severe winter is 
yet before us. Flower stalks of Strawberries carried 
blossom and fruit in various stages of advancement, 
some of the latter being of considerable size, quite soft, 
and assuming the red colour of maturity. 
-- 
VINE BORDERS—RESTRICTION. 
As there is so much difference of opinion, and so many 
different methods of practice, as well as various theories 
in connection therewith, it is with a certain amount of 
diffidence that I approach this subject. Excellent 
results are, however, often produced by what appears to 
be directly opposite treatment. It may be that these 
results are not directly due to the restriction or non¬ 
restriction of the roots of the Vine, but probably to the 
general skilful treatment by means of feeding material, 
soil, and so forth. Several years ago the exponents of 
these different methods of practice carried on a hot and 
furious warfare in the various horticultural journals of 
the day, each clinging most tenaciously to his own 
system, and endeavouring to show by results that his 
was the best way. Some advocated inside borders 
alone, others outside, while others adopted the system 
of planting the Vines inside the house, and allowing 
the roots to pass into outside borders through arches 
made in the walls. 
I always thought the exponents of this latter practice 
had the best of it. Some would, perhaps, think that 
after all that has been said and tried, that a right and 
proper conclusion has been arrived at, and we were 
all quite agreed, but such does not seem to be the case. 
As we go about the various gardens in the country, we 
still see the different systems and practices carried on 
by really good men with good results. I believe most 
gardeners can work each in his own way best. In 
broaching this subject, I have no intention to presume 
to dictate to the readers of The Gardening World, 
as to what system they should follow, as I know many 
of them are men of good practice and standing, but a 
little simple reasoning and argument, explaining one’s 
practice and experience, does not necessarily mean 
dictation. Quite the contrary, it shows the practices 
and opinions of others, and much may be learnt 
thereby ; and it is with such intentions as these that I 
venture to give my opinion and practice on this 
question. Now, if we wish to grow a plant well, we 
consider its nature and character, especially the feeding 
capabilities of its roots ; the latter being more in 
accordance with the question at issue. 
It is well known that the Vine is a gross feeder, 
and its roots will often wander a long way in search of 
food, if not placed under restriction. Those of us who 
have had occasion to lift the roots of old Vines have 
seen that, they have been found far into the soil of the 
garden beyond. In the June number, 1S67, of a monthly 
periodical then in circulation (The Gardener), and edited 
by Mr. W. Thomson, now of Clovenfords, there is mention 
of Vine roots being found at 50 yards distance from the 
Vine at Cumberland Lodge, near Windsor, which is 
quite probable, and others have been recorded as having 
been found at distances which would appear most 
extraordinary to those who did not understand their 
character. I must say that I favour the restrictive 
system with both inside and outside houses, because 
under this we have the roots entirely under command, 
they can be examined at will, and the roots lifted and 
arranged if necessary, without so much check to the 
plant as would be the case if they had been allowed to 
wander at will. They can also be properly fed and 
watered, because we know where the roots are. 
A few years ago I took charge of a garden where there 
were several large vineries. The roots of the Vines 
in two of these, one chiefly of Black Hamburgh, the 
other of Muscat, and all old Vines, had been lifted 
in the spring of the previous year. The old roots had 
been allowed to penetrate through the kitchen-garden 
walk into the Raspberry plantation beyond, and 
consequently could not be traced to their extremities, 
and had to be cut off rather short, to the permanent 
injury of the Vine. I went there in September and 
found a miserable lot of Grapes in these two houses ; 
the second year was little better, and it was not until 
the third year that any perceptible improvement was 
seen. In the other houses we had good Grapes, the 
roots having been kept within bounds, but these were 
never satisfactory, and were afterwards rooted out and 
young Vines put in their place. Now if the roots of 
