748 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 24, 1897. 
DEVON AND EXETER GARDENERS’ 
OUTING. 
No pleasanter outing could have been enjoyed than 
that taken by the members of the Devon and Exeter 
Gardeners’ Association on the 14th inst. Fine 
weather prevailed, the great heat being tempered by 
a strong breeze, which tipped the waves with white 
and added to the surpassing beauty of the Sound and 
Hamoaze. The excursionists, who numbered about 
eighty-five, left St. David's station at 8.10 a m. by 
the north mail, two spacious saloon carriages being 
placed at their disposal by the Great Western Rail¬ 
way Company, Mr. Campfield, divisional superinten¬ 
dent, and Mr. Morris, the stationmaster, having with 
their usual courtesy made the most satisfactory 
arrangements for the comfort and convenience of the 
travellers. Details for the trip were admirably 
provided for by Mr. Andrew Hope, hon. secretary of 
the association, and Mr. W. Mackay, the hon. 
treasurer, and to these gentlemen every thanks must 
be given for their foresight and provision. A most 
pleasant journey brought the party to Millbay 
Station punctually at eleven o’clock and a move was 
made to the handsome Town Hall, Stonehouse, where 
a capital luncheon, laid by Mr. John Wills, of the 
Battery Hotel, not far off, was partaken of. After 
the meal the excursionists assembled at the Admiral’s 
Hard Ferry Pier, where a steam launch was boarded 
and a quick run was made to Mount Edgcumbe 
Park. Mr. Hope had obtained permission from the 
Right Hon. the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe to lead 
the party through the beautiful gardens apperlain- 
ing to that ancient and historic pile of buildings 
which have such an unrivalled view of the great 
Devonshire seaport. The head gardener, Mr. 
Richards, met the trippers, who had a most instruc¬ 
tive and interesting experience under his courteous 
guidance. A visit was made to the famous orangery 
in the Italian garden, where sixty Orange trees were 
seen in blossom with the fruit both in a green and 
ripened state—a curious phenomenon peculiar to 
Orange trees, which in this case were planted in 
Queen Elizabeth’s time. The stem of one tree 
measures 26 in. in circumference, and from the size 
of the whole of the specimens it is a work of some 
difficulty to transfer them in the autumn to the 
spacious winter house adjoining, a special machine 
being used for this purpose. Ocher trees and plants 
shown by Mr. Richards were the Palms, New Zealand 
Tree Ferns, and the Norfolk Island Pine, which is 
usually grown indoors, but in the genial climate prevail¬ 
ing at this corner of Cornwall is not so pampered. One 
curiosity was a long and high hedge of Quercus 
Ilex, which had been blown down by the blizzard of 
1891, but which had been cleverly lifted again and 
restored to its former verdant beauty. A Holly tree 
6 ft. 6 in. in circumference, and 25 ft. in height was a 
subject of much interest. In the French garden 
they were shown a Quercus Ilex 13 ft. in circum¬ 
ference, a Cork tree 8 ft. 4 in. round, a magnificent 
Red Cedar, a Chamaerops excelsa Palm, 20 ft. high, 
Magnolias showing their fragrant blooms, handsome 
Bamboos, and other remarkable trees. 
Pursuing their walk through the park and skirting 
the cliffs, from which a most enchanting sea view was 
gained, the members of the association arrived at 
the Countess Caroline Gardens, hanging in their 
beauty on the side of the acclivity cut by zig-zag 
paths, and smiling in a glory of foliage and flower. 
A long trudge up to the deer park with its beautiful 
stretch of turf, aad its wealth of bracken, brought the 
party to the summit of the hill, the climbing of 
which was rewarded by the magnificent view of hill, 
vale, and sea which greeted the sight. The descent 
to the gardens at the back of the mansion, the 
southern portion of which dates from the year 1550, 
was much enjoyed, the parterres so skilfully laid out 
presenting a blaze of colour, whilst upon some of the 
perfectly kept grassy banks was seen a profusion of 
wild Thyme. 
The visit to the Park ended, a steam launch con¬ 
veyed the members to Devonport, where, by the 
kind permission of the Admiral Superintendent, an 
inspection of the Docks was made, the most interest¬ 
ing object being the first- class battleship Ocean 
which is in the course of construction. 
Having left the Dockyard, the party again 
assembled at the Town Hall, Stonehouse, where 
high tea waslaid. Mr. Hope presided, and after the 
repast gave the toast of “ The Queen.” Mr. Mackay 
gave ” Prosperity to the Exeter Gardeners' Associa¬ 
tion, to which the chairman and Mr. J. Crabbe re¬ 
plied. The toast of the caterer, Mr. Wills, was also 
cordially drunk. 
After tea, some little time being left, many took 
advantage of a stroll on the Hoe, or a visit to other 
places of interest. The 8 10 p.m. train subsequently 
brought the party back to the city, all being highly 
delighted, after a truly enjoyable trip. 
—— ••«*' - 
THE YORKSHIRE COLLEGE, LEEDS. 
Dr. James Clark, who has been so successfully 
engaged for the past six years in University Exten¬ 
sion work in agriculture and horticulture, was in 
March last offered, and accepted, the Professorship 
of Agriculture in the Yorkshire College and the 
Directorship of the Agricultural Department. It i s 
the intention of Professor Clark to introduce regular 
horticulture into the College curriculum. 
Below is a prospectus of a short preliminary 
course on fruit culture which has just been com¬ 
pleted, and the examination paper set at the end of 
the course. 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
A course of twelve lectures on fruit culture will be 
given in the College by Professor Clark, M.A., 
Ph.D., on Wednesdays, at 9.30 a.m., and Fridays, at 
2 p.m., beginning on Wednesday, May 5th, 1897. 
Fee for the course, 7s. 6d. The attention of working 
gardeners is specially invited to this course. 
Syllabus of Lectures. 
The tree and its requirements, including food, 
moisture, air, light and heat. General effects pro¬ 
duced by excess or deficiency of these necessary 
conditions of growth. Uses of the different parts of 
the tree, with a review of the way in which each part 
performs its work in relation to the rest. The rela" 
tions between roots and soil. 
The growth of the tree. Leaf-buds and flower- 
buds. Development of the branches. The ripening 
of the wood. 
The flower and its parts. Fertilisation. The 
growth of the fruit. 
Preparation of different classes of soil for fruit 
culture. Precautions against unfavourable condi¬ 
tions. Selection and planting of fruit trees. Choice 
of position. Peculiarities of the different stocks in 
common use. General characteristics and treatment 
of Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, Gooseberries, 
Currants, Raspberries, Strawberries, Vines, and 
Peaches. Choice of varieties to suit local condi¬ 
tions. 
Principles of pruning, branch and root. Train¬ 
ing fruit trees. Propagation of fruit trees 
Principles of manuring. Characteristics, proper¬ 
ties and uses of farm-yard manure, and of the 
artificial manures most serviceable in fruit culture. 
The mixing of manures. 
Diseases and insect pests ; precautions, modes of 
prevention and remedies. 
The gathering, storing, grading and marketing of 
fruit. 
The Yorkshire College Fruit Culture. 
3 rd Term, 1896 - 7 . 
1. Show in a general way how the growth of the 
various parts of a tree is affected by moisture, air, 
light and heat, respectively. 
2. Explain to what extent the growth of the roots 
of a tree may affect the growth of the branches, and 
show what bearing this relation has on the general 
subject of pruniog. 
3. Describe the general differences in appearance 
and habit between the roots of the Paradise stock 
and the roots of the Crab. Why does an Apple 
grafted on the Paradise stock usually bear fruit much 
sooner than when grafted on the Crab ? 
4. Give a short account of the various stocks in 
use ( a ) for Apricots, ( b ) for Cherries, and point out 
the merits of each. 
5. Give an explanatory account of the conditions 
of soil and climate most favourable for the cultiva¬ 
tion of Pears, Cherries, and Plums respectively. 
Show with examples how different varieties of the 
same fruit may vary in their requirements and in 
their adaptability to unfavourable conditions. 
6 Describe the process of fertilisation in the 
flower of an Apple. What is meant by sayiog that 
certain Apples and Pears are " self-sterile " ? 
7. Describe in detail how you would plant an 
Apple tree, paying special attention (1) to tbe pre¬ 
paration of the ground (2) to the preparation of the 
tree and (3) to the actual process of planting. 
8. Give a short account of the nitrogenous manures 
most serviceable in fruit culture. Under what con¬ 
ditions and in what quantities should each as a rule 
be applied. 
--4-- 
MUTUAL ACCOMMODATION OF PLANT 
ORGANS. 
The Rev. Professor Henslow gave an interesting 
lecture on this subject before the fellows of the 
Royal Horticultural Society on July 13th. C. E. 
Shea, Esq., occupied the chair. The lecturer com¬ 
menced bj saying that Herbert Spencer and Darwin 
may be credited with first presenting the doctrine of 
evolution in an acceptable form to the British 
nation. We used at one time to think that the race 
came into existence fully grown, but now we know 
that the laws governing the individual also govern 
the race. Both plants and animals possess a common 
property, viz., protoplasm. This in plants can pro¬ 
duce all sorts of organs, and although it usually does 
so regularly and according to set rule it is sensible 
to environment, and will make the special organs 
that the plant is most in need of at the time. For 
convenience sake the lecturer classed plant organs 
into two sets, viz., axes and appendages. To the 
former group belong roots, stems and branches ; to 
the latter, leaves, leaf scales, bracts, stipules, and 
flowers may be referred Passing on to the definition 
of the terms analagous and homologous Professor 
Henslow spoke of the tendril of a Pea as being an 
altered leaf, and hence the homologue of a leaf; that 
of the Vine is an altered branch. The tendril in the 
Vines is analagous to the tendril of the Pea. 
The root, contined he, is apparently very different 
from the stem, but it owes this only to alteration due 
to evironment, since roots might be found perform¬ 
ing the function of stems, and stems of roots. 
Tbe normal function of the root is to take up food, 
but occasionally it becomes a reservoir or storage 
house for food. Thus the wild Beet is a perennial, 
but when placed under the stimulus of cultivation it 
becomes a biennial, having a swollen tap root. Tbe 
wild Carrot is an annual, but under cultivation is a 
biennial, with a swollen root peforming a similar 
function. As a rule roots are underground, and do 
not produce leafy buds like stems do. Raspberry 
roots, however, bear leafy buds, so do the roots of 
Elm. In some parts of the country it is a common 
sight to see hedges that have been formed in this 
way. Again, roots may become parasitic as in the 
Broom Rape. Orchid roots also turn green, dis¬ 
solve carbonic acid gas from the atmosphere, and 
form starch. 
Stems sometimes mimic by their development 
underground stems, as in the Mint. Potatos too, if 
they are prevented from forming tubers underground 
will produce them in the axils of the leaves on the 
stem. Conversely the end of a root of the Potato, 
which under ordinary conditions would form a tuber, 
will develop an aerial stem. Some trees throw 
down roots from the branches. The members of the 
Fig tribe produce aerial roots, which presently 
reach the ground, and act partly as roots, and partly 
as trunks to support the tree. Other stems perform 
the function of climbing, as in the Hop and Convol¬ 
vulus, where the stem bows around and twists itself 
about the support. Any organ, however, may assist 
the plant in climbing. Thus the Vine climbs by its 
tendrils, which are metamorphosed branches. Roots 
will also do it occasionally. 
Leaves perform the three functions of breathing, 
digesting and perspiring. A good deal of mimicry 
goes on amongst some plants, for the Stapelias of 
South Africa have imitated the Cactuses ; and their 
stems fulfil all the functions of leaves. 
Stipules are appendages at the base of leaves. 
They vary greatly in size and appearance. In the 
Pea they are foliaceous and rise out of the stem, not 
out of the leaf stalks In some of the Acacias they 
form large horns. These horns are hollow and 
afford refuge to ants which defend the trees against 
injurious insects. Stipules are also frequently turned 
into dry scales and are used to protect the young 
buds as in Beech, Lime and Oak. Sometimes a 
leaf stalk undertakes the function of leaves, as in the 
Australian Acacias. They may be known to be leaf¬ 
stalks merely by the way in which the edges point to 
sun and earth, instead of being horizontal. 
Gloxinias and Begonias may produce buds on 
their leaves. Clematis climbs by means of its leaf¬ 
stalks, which are sensitive. 
