THH GARDENING WORLD 
313 
January 14 , 1899 . 
leaves. If you have yet to sow seed you should not 
make up the bed until three or four days before the 
plants are ready to be transferred to it. 
Tea-scented Roses for a South Wall — B. O .: 
Gloire de Dijon will do almost anywhere, for it is of 
very hardy constitution. For two other good 
varieties you may take your choice from Climbing 
Devoniensis, Homer, Madame Falcot, Safrano, and 
Belle Lyonaise, all of which are first-rate. 
Marechal Niel Rose on an East Wall — B. O .: 
An east wall is not the most suitable for this grand 
Noisette Rose, as it is rather too bleak for it. A 
south or west wall would be better. 
Ants on a Peach Tree— December: Your plague 
of ants on your Peach tree was probably caused by 
the presence of brown scale, of which the ants 
are very fond. In order to prevent it another year 
keep the tree free from scale. A wisp of cotton wool 
tied round the main stem a few inches from the 
ground would also serve to keep the intruders from 
getting up the tree by that way. 
Narcissi.—Geo. L. C.: The tender young tops of 
the bulbs would certainly sustain injury if severe 
frost caught them, and it will be wise to have some 
protective material in readiness for their benefit. 
The mulching of cocoanut fibre refuse you speak 
about, does not appeal to us very strongly, for the 
bulbs will grow through it very soon, and more will 
then have to be put on, and more again. These 
additions would weaken the bulbs considerably, 
while as soon as the fibre becomes wet it ceases to 
be of any protective service. You will do better to 
procure a quantity of boughs of evergreens, and 
when frost comes stick these in the ground, at inter¬ 
vals all over the bed, arranging them so that they 
cover the growths. Heather is also first-rate, and 
failing the evergreens you will do well to employ 
this. 
-—- 
SOME GOOD APPLES. 
Golden Spire. —This, as its name imples, is of a 
beautiful bright yellow, some fruits taking on quite 
a touch of crimson on that side nearest the sun. The 
fruit averages about 3 in. in depth, has an agreeable 
acidity, and is altogether a most tempting Apple for 
the kitchen. The tree is a great bearer, and should 
prove an excellent market variety, in use from 
September to Christmas. The accompanying illus¬ 
tration gives a general idea of the outline of a variety 
rapidly becoming popular. 
Peasgood's Nonsuch is a very large Apple, hand¬ 
some in appearance, and not to be despised as a 
dessert fruit, though usually classed as a kitchen 
variety. It makes a good exhibition Apple, the side 
next the sun becoming a lovely crimson with us ; in 
fact, it was noted at the late Crystal Palace show 
that the Peasgood's Apples from Devon were far in 
advance of those of any other county as regards 
colour. We have it as a cordon, also in espalier 
form. It bears well in both instances. I have seen it 
recommended as a standard,but should have thought 
the fruit too large for this, and likely to be much 
bruised with the winds in early autumn. It is fit for 
use from September to well into December. As far 
as form and size go it is a handsome Apple, the 
accompanying illustration showing a good average 
specimen from young trees. 
Ecklenville. —This is a large flat Apple of a pale 
straw-colour, a profitable variety for market, a sure 
and heavy bearer, does well as a standard, is in 
season from September to the middle of November, 
and is a kitchen variety. 
Warner’s King is another kitchen Apple of large 
size, pale green in colour, round but rather flat in 
appearance. The tree is a free bearer and ready for 
use early in October and the succeeding month. 
This season, with us, the medium sized fruits have 
kept best. It is a good market kind. 
Blenheim Orange Pippin, too well known to 
need any praise from me, is a large flat fruit, 
orange, streaked with red, a first-rate Apple for des¬ 
sert or kitchen, and has only one drawback, which 
is, that the tree takes several years before it comes 
into bearing. The best way, where practicable, is to 
head down old trees, but healthy, and graft the 
Blenheim on to them, such soon coming in to bear¬ 
ing. It is fit for use in November, and we have kept 
this variety plump well into April.— J. Mayne.Bicton. 
(To be continued.) 
Apple Golden Spire. 
CLOVENFORDS, GALASHIELS. 
The visitor to the establishment of Messrs. Wm. 
Thomson & Sons, Tweed Vineyards, Clovenfords, 
Galashiels, for the first time, will be impressed with 
the upland or highland character of the sitation. At 
a much lower level runs the classic Tweed at the 
bottom of the valley which here makes a great sweep 
to the south in conformity with the great hills that lie 
in its path. The geologist would probably say that the 
river made the mountains by cutting out the valley 
and carrying away the material. In any case the 
visitor is upon classic ground, and can see the “ sister 
heights ” of Yair and other mountains mentioned by 
Sir Walter Scott. Not far off is Ashiesteel, where the 
world-renowned novelist commenced his remarkable 
career in a humble way before he planted his foot in 
Abbotsford. He lived, however, for six months at 
Clovenfords before going to Ashiesteel. 
Our visit, however, had another object in view, 
namely, to see the Vines of which so many have 
heard for years past; and in the hands of Mr. John 
Thomson we proceeded at once to the range above 
the public road, entering the large vinery of the Gros 
Colman Grape. The building is 200 ft. long, as are 
most of the other houses, 24 ft. wide, and 16 ft. high. 
The Vines were planted in 1870, cropped in 1871, and 
have been ever since, yet the magnificent crop 
carried by the Vines spoke volumes of the care that 
must have been taken of them, and the judicious 
cropping to which they have been subjected. It was 
about the middle of September and the large bunches 
and berries were about half coloured. They would 
be ripe about the middle of October, and be fit for 
cutting from Christmas onwards through the present 
month. The stout laterals were of a rich brown 
colour, and the vigorous foliage showed that they had 
been well exposed to light. The spacious interior 
reminded us of the big vinery at Chiswick. 
Muscat of Alexandria occupied another house 
200 ft. long, but the crop had been cut, and the 
foliage was ripening off. A bench running along the 
back of this house was occupied with Ferns, the 
establishment not being solely devoted to Vine 
culture. Only the best and most useful market 
Ferns are grown, such as Pteris tremula, P. Wimsettii, 
Asplenium fabianum, A. bulbiferum, and fine plants 
of Adiantum cuneatum. 
A Tomato house, 200 ft. long, with a path down 
the centre, was planted on either side with Forth 
Vineyard, Austin’s Eclipse, and Comet. The 
bunches of fruit were hanging like ropes of Onionsg 
Conifers are often employed for decorative purposes 
in the North and very effective many of them are. 
Here were bushy plants, 1 ft. high, of Juniperus ber- 
mudiana and Retinospora plumosa in pots. An early 
house of Tomatos, of the same length as the above, 
also containedf our rows of plants. Thesehouses have, 
of course, a low roof, giving the plants all the advan¬ 
tages of light. 
In another range we entered a big span-roofed 
vinery occupied with Gros Colman bearing a heavy 
crop of large bunches and equally fine berries. The 
wood of the Vines was hard, brown, and well ripened. 
Our readers may be interested in the treatment given 
the Vines enabling them to bear heavy crops annually 
for so many years. Messrs. Thomson & Sons do not 
believe in overcropping and ruining their Vines as is 
often the case in market gardens. The best of cul¬ 
tural treatment is given, and feeding proportionate to 
the needs of the Vines in carrying the crops to 
perfection. The borders are top-dressed with the 
well-known specific, Thomson's Manure, when the 
house is started, again when the bunches are thinned, 
and a third time, when the berries are about half 
swelled. A walk runs down the centre of the vinery, 
and four rows of hot-water pipes are located there, 
with another row at either side of the house. Glas¬ 
gow gas cinders are used as fuel, being preferred to 
coals, as they give a good steady heat. Another three- 
quarter span vinery occupying the angle of a wall, 
was at one time the Grape room, fitted up with racks 
for bottles to hold the bunches. The house was kept 
dark and cool, preserving the Grapes for six weeks at 
Apple Peasgood’s Nonsuch. 
