90 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
Oct. 11th, 1884. 
G-olden Noble Apple.—Those of our readers 
who have scanned the interesting list of classes which 
constitute the schedule of prizes for the Fruit Show 
at South Kensington, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and 
Thursday next, can hardly fail to be struck with the 
fact that Golden Noble and Waltham Abbey seedling 
Apples are coupled together, and leading to the belief 
that the authorities regard them as one and the same 
variety. That assumption, however, would be a 
mistake, as we learn that the reason for this coupling 
is not to be found in the belief that the two kinds are 
the same, but simply because they pass under the 
same names in many localities. That the Apples are 
singularly distinct any one who has the least acquaint¬ 
ance with them knows, but when the kinds were first 
put into commerce they seem to have got a little 
mixed. Golden Noble is always to be distinguished 
by reason of its handsome rounded, smooth form, and 
when ripe its rich yellow spotless skin. The eye is 
small and closed, yet prominent. The habit of bearing 
on the part of the tree resembles that of the Yellow 
Ingestre, that is, at the points of the shoots rather 
than from side buds. On the other hand, Waltham 
Abbey Seedling is a semi-conical Apple, of rugged or 
angled outline, and somewhat russetty skin, has a 
large open eye, and softer flesh than that of the 
other. Both are excellent keepers, but the latter is by 
far the most productive ; indeed it is one of the most 
regular and freest-bearing Apples in cultivation. The 
habit of the tree is compact and drooping; much like 
that of the Manx Codlin, but it gets larger. We should 
say that for ordinary kitchen purposes, and specially 
for cottagers’ gardens, it is hardly possible to find a 
kind more profitable or suitable. We shall look for 
this class on the 14th with much interest, because 
both are first-rate Apples, and merit high encourage¬ 
ment. 
- >^r< - 
Melons swelling their fruits should now be 
pushed on with all possible despatch, by maintaining 
a bottom heat of from 80 deg. to 85 deg., a night 
temperature of 70 deg. and 75 deg., running up by day 
10 deg. or 15 deg. higher, with sun heat. Give plenty 
of atmospheric moisture at closing time—say about 
2 p.m.— until the fruits begin to ripen, when the 
distribution of water in the house should be gradually 
discontinued and air be admitted more freely. Keep the 
pipes sufficiently warm to sustain a buoyant atmos¬ 
phere during the time the fruits are ripening, and 
until they have been removed from the plants as 
required for the table. In order to assist the swelling of 
the fruits one or two good soakings of tepid diluted 
liquid manure should be given to the roots when 
necessary, but after the fruits show signs of ripening 
only sufficient clear water to prevent the plants from 
flagging should be given, and with a view to securing 
high flavour in the fruits, a chink of air should be left 
on the top and bottom ventilators all night. 
Autumn-bearing Raspberries.—These should 
find a place in every garden in which dessert in 
variety is a sine qu& non, inasmuch as they come into 
bearing just as the summer-fruiting variety has gone 
out of season, and, unlike that kind, bears on wood 
of the current year’s growth until the fruit is destroyed 
by frost. This is a good time to obtain canes and to 
plant in liberally -manured ground, in rows 4 ft. apart, 
and 12 ins. or 15 ins. asunder in the rows, in a sunny 
border, securing the individual canes to a short stick 
or a couple of strings strained to a series of upright 
posts, to prevent them from swaying. After planting, lay 
on a couple of inches thick of short dung between the 
plants and rows as a winter dressing. About next 
February these canes should be cut down to within a 
couple of inches of the ground, after which, in due 
time, a series of suckers will spring from the old 
“ stools,” which, according to the strength of the 
latter, will be more or less strong. Hence the neces¬ 
sity of getting the canes planted early in the autumn, 
so that the roots may have time to take well to the 
soil before they shed their leaves. The strongest of 
the young canes should be trained, as above recom¬ 
mended, during the summer about 6 ins. apart, and all 
superfluous shoots should be cut out as soon as they 
appear, so as to concentrate the energies of the plants 
in the development of stout, short-jointed canes. 
Belle de Fontenay is one of the best autumn-bearing 
varieties that I am acquainted with.— E. 
->£<- 
Hardy Fruits at the Crystal Palace.—It was 
a liapjpy thought of the Directors of the Crystal 
Palace Company to arrange for a display of hardy 
fruits simultaneously with the exhibition of “ the 
noble tuber,” organized by the International Potato 
Committee, and the results fully justified their 
expectations, for of Apples and Pears especially, 
notwithstanding the paucity of the crop this season, 
the display was a thoroughly good one, and the fruits 
and Potatos combined made an exhibition of great 
practical interest. The whole of the exhibition was 
contained in the central transept, the various products 
shown being staged on long tables conveniently 
arranged to allow of a free passage between each, with 
a row of well-grown, medium-sized decorative plants 
placed in the centre of each table to relieve the 
monotony of the straight rows of plates. This 
feature of the show was remarkably well carried out 
by Mr. Head, the garden superintendent at the Palace, 
and bore witness to Iris skill as a grower of plants, 
as well as to his good taste as a decorator. In 
point of numbers, and also in quality, the Apples 
took a considerable lead of the Pears, and the Kentish 
samples again stood out pre-eminent. In the larger 
classes, Mr. Haycock, gardener to Roger Leigh, Esq., 
M.P., Barham Court, Maidstone, held his own against 
all comers, his examples of both Apples and Pears 
being simply magnificent. Of Apples he had no less 
than ninety-five dishes, and attention was irresistibly 
drawn to his culinary varieties by reason of their 
remarkably fine size, and rich colour in the case 
of those sorts, which possess this element of 
beauty. Messrs. Rivers & Sons, Sawbridgewortli, 
Mr. A. Waterman, and Mr. Goodacre, were the other 
prize winners, and a fine collection from Mr. 
Sidney Ford, gardener, Leonardslee, Horsham, was 
unnoticed, a fact which says much for'the quality 
of the fruits of those placed before him. Mr. 
Haycock’s Pears were unusually fine for the season, 
and his nearest opponent was Mr. G. Goldsmith, 
gardener at Hollanden, Tunbridge Wells. The other 
successful competitors were Mr. Waterman and the 
Messrs. Rivers. Mr. Goldsmith was also second to 
Mr. Haycock for twelve dishes of Pears; and first for 
the same number of Apples. The Miscellaneous Class 
brought out some very fine trade collections. Messrs. 
James Veiteh & Sons had a collection of no less than 
ninety dishes, and received a first-class certificate for 
the variety named “ The Sandringham,” -which came 
to the front at the Apple Congress last year. Messrs. 
Cheal and Sons, Crawley, had a very extensive 
assortment of Apples and a few Pears, all nice clean 
samples. The Messrs. Rivers sent a collection of 
Peaches and Plums, and Mr. J. Butler, Orchard Lane 
Gardens, Sittingbourne, sent a fine lot of Pears, 
specially noticeable in this exhibit being superb 
samples of the Pitmaston Duchess. Messes. Richard 
Smith & Son, Worcester, sent some splendidly coloured 
examples of their New Worcester Pearmain. 
Nova Scotian Apples formed a striking and most 
interesting feature of the same exhibition. These 
were arranged on a long table immediately in front of 
the grand orchestra, and being shown in considerable 
numbers, and in good condition notwithstanding their 
long journey, made a most imposing display. The 
finest samples shown, however, -were not equal in size 
and weight to the produce of some of our Kentish 
gardens, but for the most part they were highly 
coloured, and most attractive in appearance; The 
exhibitors to whose enterprise we owe this fine display 
were Mr. R. W. Starr, Starr’s Point, Port William; 
Mr. E. E. Dickie, of Canard ; Messrs. E. & 0. Chase, of 
Cornwallis; Mr. H. Duncauson, of Falmouth, Hants 
County ; Dr. H. O. McLatchy, Wolfoille, and the 
Fruit Growers’ Association of Nova Scotia. The 
varieties most known in this country which were best 
represented were Gloria Mundi, Gravenstein, Rhode 
Island Greening, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Blenheim 
Orange, and Emperor Alexander ; while of the purely 
local sorts, the most conspicuous for then fine size and 
other good qualities were the Chebucto Beauty, Falla- 
water, and Pewaukee. The interest in this fine display 
was increased by the exhibition of some well filled 
barrels, showing the method of packing adopted for 
sending the fruits to the London market. 
Autumnal Crocuses.—Several of these pretty 
little plants have already been noticed in these 
columns, and in addition the following may now be 
seen at Kew :—C. iridiflorus, a fine Transylvanian 
species with large flowers, the outer segments rich 
purple, and inner segments pale lilac.—C. asturicus, 
a beautiful Spanish species with lilac-purple flowers.— 
C. Salzmanni, a pretty North African species, with 
flowers and leaves appearing together; the lilac flowers 
are elegantly feathered with purple lines.—C. Clusii, a 
Portuguese species with purple flowers which appear 
with the leaves.—C. Cambessedesii, from the Balearic 
Islands, has the outer segments pale buff with 
beautifully feathered purple veins, and white inner 
segments.—C. longiflorus, an Italian species with 
pretty lilac flowers.—C. Boryi, an Eastern species with 
rather small white flowers.—E. eancellatus, an Asiatic 
species, with white flowers, and some forms with 
feathered purple markings. In the wild garden, too, 
a number of species are planted in the grass, several 
of which are flowering, the grass forming a very pretty 
background. 
The Thrifts.—Many of our readers will be 
acquainted with the common Thrift (Armeria vulgaris, 
known also as Armeria maritima), for it is found on 
the shores of the British Isles, and on the tops of the 
Scotch mountains. Thrift is the passive participle of 
tlireave or thrive, press close together, and meaning 
the “clustered” pinks. So called from its growing 
in dense tufts. There is now in cultivation a charming 
group of Giant Thrifts, producing from a crowded tuft 
of leaves, varying in size and colour, numerous heads 
of large flowers; these are produced in great abundance, 
and they are not only most attractive, but very useful 
in a cut state. There are A. cephalotes rubra, a red- 
flowered form of the round-headed Armeria; A. 
plantaginea rubra, a finely-coloured form of the 
plantain-leaved Thrift from the South of Europe, 
There are also in cultivation a few fine varieties of the 
co mm on Thrift; the white-flowered form is very good. 
The Thrifts do best in well-drained deep sandy loam, 
and they can be increased by division of the roots, 
which it is desirable should be done once in every two 
or three years, as old plants do not bloom so freely as 
young ones. The common Sea Thrift (A. vulgaris) 
makes a very good and serviceable edging to garden 
paths. 
Salvia farinacea and S. G-reggii.—These two 
fine species are just now flowering in gardens, and 
very effective they are at this comparatively dull period 
of the year. Both of them are natives of Texas, and 
of somewhat recent introduction ; the latter especially 
is still very rare. S. farinacea has shiny green, 
oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, coarsely and distantly 
serrate leaves, which are 2 ins. to 3 ins. long, and long 
racemes of violet-blue flowers. The calyx is almost 
truncate, and covered with dense white tomentum, 
and the corollas, which have usually a white throat, 
are f in. long. It grows to about 2 ft. high, and is 
very effective. S. Greggii is of dwarfer and more 
compact habit, and is closely allied to the better 
known S. Grahami. The leaves are Jin. to 1 in. long, 
elliptic-oblong, obtuse, entire, and shining green in 
colour. The flowers, which are bright carmine in 
colour and nearly 1 in. long, are borne in graceful 
racemes. The calyx is three-toothed, and green with 
brown nerves. It has a scent somewhat resembling 
Rosemary. Both species succeed well under similar 
treatment to S. fulgens, and their native country 
would indicate them to be still hardier than that well- 
known Mexican species. 
--- 
Choisya ternata.—Too much cannot be said in 
praise of this charming flowering-plant. It is well 
managed by Mr. J. Roberts at Gunnersbury Park. 
He keeps his plants in small pots, plunges them in 
oocoa-fibre or some such material in the open-air 
during summer when they set their buds; and when 
in flower they receive liberal supplies of liquid 
manure.— E. W. 
