714 
THE GARDENING- WORLD. 
July 11th, 1885. 
plains, like prairies, are akin to the ocean’s calm, and 
on them companionship seems lost. 
We read of one, when the architect wished to cut 
away a noble old tree, who said, “ No ! move the 
house, but you cannot grow such a tree in my life¬ 
time. Oh ! the hours of pleasure I have taken under 
its shade, and the sweet memories of youth and its 
associates they bring are beyond all of art’s splendours.” 
Trees vary, indeed, according to season, but each 
variation is a separate beauty; bud-leaf, lighter at 
first, then darker ; then come the rich autumnal tints, 
and then the grand visible branches stretching far 
and wide during the winter months—long, low- 
hanging limbs; and when the heavy frosts come 
the whole tree is standing jewel-decked.— T. Ii. Elliot, 
in The Prairie Farmer. 
—i— ■ -J — 
Fruit Culture under Glass.— Melons : Thus 
far the weather this season has been most favourable 
for the production of Melons of first-rate quality, and 
during the continuance of such weather as we have 
been favoured with for some time, and are still 
having, fire-heat may very well be dispensed with. 
But in the event of a change from bright sunshine to 
dull weather ensuing, the fires should be lighted so as 
to get the water in the pipes sufficiently heated to 
raise the day teniperature to 75 degs., and to prevent 
that of the night from falling below 70 degs. or 
65 degs. Especially is it advisable that this should 
be done during dull weather in houses in which the 
plants are either in flower or their fruits are approach¬ 
ing maturity, because in consequence of a more 
buoyant atmosphere than could otherwise be main¬ 
tained being commanded, a quicker and better “ set,” 
as well as more highly flavoured fruit, are secured. 
However, when the character of the weather is such 
as to render fire-heat unnecessary, the distribution of 
atmospheric moisture in the houses in the afternoon 
should be somewhat reduced in quantity. Under the 
same circumstances this remark is also applicable to 
vineries in which the Vines are swelling their crops, 
otherwise mildew would be likely to put in an 
appearance. 
Melons swelling their fruit should (prior to being 
watered) have a surface-dressing of manure, -which 
will, with proper treatment, bring about the best 
possible results. Late plantings in pits and frames 
will now be coming into flower; therefore, with a view 
to securing a good set, the sashes should be drawn off 
for a few hours—say from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.—on sunny 
days, and the blossoms be impregnated when the 
pollen is dry until a good “ set ” is obtained. Three 
or four fruits—according to the condition as regards 
strength of the individual plants and the size to which 
the varieties grown attain to—will be a sufficient crop 
for each plant to ripen. Bemove all superfluous fruit 
as soon as it can be seen which are going to swell, and 
those left to form the crop should, of course, be the 
most even as regards size, and be distributed as 
regularly as possible over the respective plants, and 
after they have attained to the size of a hen’s egg be 
elevated above the foliage on flower-pots. 
The thinning and stopping of the shoots should be 
attended to two or three times a week, and not be left, 
as is not unfrequently the case, until barrow loads of 
shoots are removed at one time to the detriment of 
the crop. About the end of next week a sufficient 
number of seeds of that excellent variety, Blenheim 
Orange, should be sown to furnish plants for supply¬ 
ing Melons in November and December in suitable, 
well-heated houses.— H. TF. Ward, Longford Castle. 
Judging Melons at South. Kensington.— 
As I took some interest in the competition for the 
Messrs. Sutton & Son’s prizes for Melons at the 
South Kensington Show on June 23rd last, I can 
perhaps make clear to “An Old Melon Grower ” that 
which at present puzzles him. In originally making 
the award, the judges were under the impression 
that Mr. Douglas, who was eventually a-warded first 
prize, was disqualified by reason of the fact that he 
exhibited one kind out of his brace of fruits, viz., 
scarlet Premier, that was not named in the Messrs. 
Sutton’s list of three kinds. Later on, however, being 
uncertain whether their reading of the schedule was 
correct, they obtained the opinion of one of Messrs. 
Sutton & Son’s managers, who stated that so long as 
any brace exhibited included one of the kinds named 
in the schedule, it was strictly within the require¬ 
ments. Therefore the previous decision was reviewed, 
and Mr. James Douglas was placed first with scarlet 
Premier and Hero of Lockinge; Mr. Eldridge, 
Chesterford Park, Saffron Walden, second, with 
Masterpiece and Hero of Bath (this exhibitor having 
also been iir the same boat as Mr. Douglas with the 
latter kind), and Mr. Fry, Eastcote, third, with a brace 
of Hero of Lockinge. The ultimate awards were made 
not on the ground that two exhibitors had two varie¬ 
ties in the brace, and one had but one variety, but 
that those kinds placed first and second were, after 
tasting, found to be of superior flavour. It was upon 
this latter ground that Mr. Herrin won with a brace 
of the same kind at a previous show.— A. D. 
“ An Old Melon Grower ” assumes rather too much 
at p. 698, especially when he writes of any of the 
exhibitors receiving unjust treatment. On two sepa¬ 
rate occasions the Messrs. Sutton of Beading offered 
prizes for a brace of Melons, to include certain 
varieties, and on each occasion the question of dis¬ 
qualifying certain exhibits was discussed; but on 
carefully reading the schedule, the judges found that 
the exhibitors had complied with the terms of the 
schedule, and awarded the prizes in the order of their 
merit. On the second occasion the judges placed a 
first-prize card on the brace staged by Mr. Fry. That 
exhibitor was ultimately placed third, not because he 
exhibited two fruits of one variety, but because they 
were inferior in quality to the others. Mr. Fry was 
certainly well within his right in showing two fruits 
of one variety ; they were named Hero of Lockinge, 
but they were certainly not the true form of that 
variety. The question might arise of the sportive 
character of Melons, but if a Carnation of the bizarre 
type sports to a flake, it cannot be shown as a bizarre; 
and if a Melon sports from its original type, it cannot 
be admissible as the true variety; at least, such is 
the opinion of An Old Melon Judge. 
Whinham’s Industry Gooseberry. —Among 
the many varieties of Gooseberries, none have more 
deservedly or so rapidly gained the favour of the 
public as Whinham’s Industry. It is not a very new 
variety, but none the less well merits a much more 
extensive cultivation. Where grown it is highly 
appreciated for its many excellent qualities ; it is of 
very vigorous growth, is a heavy cropper, and bears a 
large berry. For gathering green few varieties are 
superior to it, and when ripe it is a splendid red fruit. 
This is one of the few sorts that do well in America, 
not being troubled by mildew, and some excellent 
authorities in the States have expressed an opinion 
that it will revolutionize Gooseberry culture in that 
country. A correspondent states that “ Whinham’s 
Industry surpasses any of the older varieties for 
growth, bearing, and, what is of great importance to 
market gardeners, its earliness, weight, and size of 
berry. From a plantation of two and a half years, 
say three summers’ growth at the time of gathering, 
my average crop was from ten trees one pot, local 
measure, or 84 lbs. of berries. The growth is so good 
that trees planted 6 ft. by 5 ft. are nearly, and in 
some cases quite, touching each other.” We send you 
by same post a few branches taken at random from 
a quantity of trees in full crop, and we think you will 
agree with us that, bearing in mind the number of 
berries on the branches, that it is capable of yielding 
an immense crop of large and excellent fruit.— 
Richard Smith d ; Co., St. John's Nurseries, Worcester. 
[The samples received fully bear out the Messrs. 
Smith’s remarks as to the prolific bearing qualities of 
this variety, which we can besides, from our own 
knowledge, strongly recommend to the notice of 
growers.— Ed.] 
Indestructible Fence Posts. —A farmer writes 
that twenty-five years ago he set split white Oak 
posts for his garden fence, putting about a peck of 
air-slaked lime about each, and they are all good yet. 
He attributes their good condition to the effect of the 
lime, in which he is doubtless correct. A board that 
has been used in a mortar bed, and thoroughly 
saturated with lime, is almost indestructible from 
decay.— Florida Dispatch. 
Work in the Plant-houses.— Herbaceous 
Calceolarias.— It is somewhat surprising that this 
beautiful class of plants are not more generally grown 
than they are. If a good strain is secured, and the 
plants well managed, there are few things that excel 
them in beauty and usefulness. Although, as com¬ 
pared with many other florists’ flowers, no very great 
improvement has been made in them of late years, 
yet those who make a speciality, of them have shown 
us some improvements, especially in the habit of the 
plants, which is much more dwarf and compact; the 
colours, too, are more brilliant, though perhaps the 
flowers are not quite so regularly marked as in some 
of the older strains. 
It will now be time to sow the seed, although good 
plants may be obtained by sowing the seed any time 
from now to the end of August; yet it is not advisable 
to delay sowing much later than the end of the present 
month. In preparing the pots or pans, plenty of 
drainage should be used, and the most suitable 
compost is light loam and leaf-mould, with a little 
sand added. In filling the pots the compost should 
only be shaken down, and not pressed. After the 
seed is sown, they should be placed in a cool, shady 
position, and on no account should the seed be placed 
where there is any artificial heat. The pots may be 
covered with sheets of glass, which should be taken 
off for a short time every morning until the seed has 
germinated, when it may be dispensed with altogether. 
The seedlings should be pricked off as soon as they 
can be handled; and after they have made a little 
more growth they should be potted off singly. If 
good sturdy plants are to be secured, they must on 
no account be allowed to stand too long in the store- 
pots. From the time of sowing the seeds until the 
plants are in flower, they should have a position 
where there is a free circulation of air, but the plants 
should not be exposed to a drying wind. Although 
the plants will stand a few degrees of frost without 
being damaged, yet it is best to keep the temperature 
just above freezing, if possible, but no artificial heat 
should be used, except in frosty weather. Green-fly 
is their greatest enemy, and thrips are also trouble¬ 
some sometimes. On the first appearance of either, 
the plants must be well fumigated. Green-fly is 
almost sure to make its appearance, though if thrips 
are to be found, it may be taken as an indication that 
the plants have been kept too dry, or too much heat 
has been given. 
Acaena pulchella and A. sanguisorba.—Your 
correspondent “ Cymro,” p. 701, in his note on 
Acienas, does not mention two good species, A. pul¬ 
chella and A. sanguisorba. There is one drawback 
to all the family—they are great encroachers. They 
smothered many good plants in our borders, till we 
hit upon a plan which shows them at their best, and yet 
keeps them harmless. It is this : to have a series of 
low mounds, of about 6 ft. diameter at their bases, 
leaving 3 ft. or 4 ft. between the mounds. Acienas, and 
other free growers, iflanted on the top of these, soon 
clothe the mound. When they reach their neighbour 
they may be either left to fight it out or mix, or a 
spade cut is applied.— George F. Wilson, Ueatherbanh, 
Wcybridge, July 7th. 
Old-fashioned Flowers.—General Mills, in his 
pretty garden at The Briars, Harrow-on-the-Hill, has 
succeeded in producing a praiseworthy example of 
the perfectly satisfactory results to be obtained by 
using the old hardy border and herbaceous plants, 
with flowering and other shrubs alone, in the garden. 
The garden at The Briars, which is on the side of a 
hill, has been skilfully arranged so that the trees and 
shrubs form many nooks and separate gardens, each 
complete in itself, yet forming parts in harmony 
when viewed throughout. One great advantage which 
these dear old flowers give us over the bedding plants 
is, that they cannot be planted in any pattern of 
which we may get tired, and they carry their floral 
beauty in many instances to a great height, and thus 
pleasantly break the flat outline which is so mono¬ 
tonous in many bedding-plant displays. At The 
Briars, each month sees the garden, as it were, put 
