220 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 2, 1899. 
FRUIT GROWING IN SOUTH WALES. 
Mr. John Basham, of Fair Oak Gardens, Bassaleg, 
Newport, Mon., is a well-known and conspicuous 
figure at many of the meetings of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society in London, such as at the Crystal 
Palace and at the Drill Hall. On November 21st 
he read a paper before the Fellows of this society 
under the title of “ Fruit Growing in South Wales.’’ 
Mr. Basham first defined the “lay of the land” 
by giving the boundaries of South Wales proper, 
on its north, east, south, and west sides. The 
acreage of the various counties was detailed, and 
also the quantity of land laid out in orchards. On 
the whole there is computed to be 228,603 acres of 
orchard land in the Welsh counties. Of this 6,015 
acres are in South Wales, Monmouthshire having 4,000 
odd, while in the other five southern counties there 
are something over 2,000 acres. Fruit growing in 
South Wales was rather vaguely stated as having 
originated 100 or 200 years ago. Many of the trees 
in various of the orchards over the parts in which 
Mr. Basham travelled were reckoned upon as being 
a century in age, many even running a long way past 
this venerable span, and still said to be bearing re¬ 
munerative crops. The trees in the moor orchards 
or alluvial flats do not live so long as those in more 
sheltered and drier spots. These low-lying orchards 
have also to be frequently renovated. Ditches take 
the place of hedges, because these, when thrown up, 
are protective, and are a means of draining the land. 
In springtime, sometimes hundred of acres in the 
lower areas are flooded, so that here the South 
Wales cultivators have a very serious problem to 
face and work against. The land is thoroughly pre¬ 
pared by dressings of suitable soil, and by spade 
culture. When the trees have been planted and 
staked, they are mulched with stable manure. As 
shelter plants the English Elm and the Willow are 
employed. These soon establish themselves, but 
under conditions in which the Elm and the Willow 
thrive, one would hardly expect fruit trees to flour¬ 
ish. Yet the fellows of the R.H.S, both on the 2£st 
of November last and at frequent previous meetings, 
have had ample proof that good fruits, in every re¬ 
spect exemplary, are to be found in the counties of 
South Wales (Mr. Basham and his friends exhibited 
at the meeting we name, 100 dishes of lovely Apples). 
After his opening remarks had been delivered, the 
lecturer settled down to a detailed description of the 
scenes, the orchards, trees, crops, people, &c., of 
picturesque “gallant little Wales.” The Welsh pro¬ 
nunciation, words and names, as they were gargled 
out, together with a sprinkling of jokes which Mr. 
Basham sandwiched between the descriptions of 
places, helped to brighten his story. Instances of 
fallacious pruning and other details of treatment 
which had come under Mr. Basham’s notice were 
referred to. He mentioned how greatly benefited 
had some old trees been, by the deposition of dead 
animals about their roots. Tbe 4 iCturer also en¬ 
umerated the best varieties in the various parts. 
These prove to be popular throughout the land. 
The chairman, Mr. Pearson, of the Chilwell 
Nurseries, Notts., strongly condemned the practice 
of burying dead animals at the roots of trees, re¬ 
marking that the idea ought to be abandoned. 
Carrion could be of little or no good to the roots 
for half a century after being buried. Mr. Bunyard, 
of Maidstone, seconded the vote of thanks which 
Mr. Pearson had proposed, at the same time com¬ 
plimenting Mr. Basham on his paper and his ex¬ 
hibits, and expressing the hope that some day his 
collections might rival, or beat those of “ that 
little fruit grower down in Kent,” himself smiling, 
the audience likewise joining with him 
——-a—- 
MULCHING FOR WINTER. 
At this season when young fruit trees, shrubs, &c., 
are planted by the thousand, one of the most impor¬ 
tant matters of cultural routine is that of mulching. 
Autumn and winter mulching is different from that 
which we apply in spring — the purpose rather is 
different. The autumn mulching prevents the freez¬ 
ing of the soil around the newly embedded roots, and 
tender roots are surely the better for-being protected 
from frost. Shrubs and trees of doubtful hardiness 
when mulched may be left with good hopes of pull¬ 
ing through a fairly hard season. (It may here be 
parenthetically expressed that heavy summer mulch¬ 
ings are not at all recommendable, as from experi¬ 
ence with some fine specimen Abies so treated, they 
grew most vigorously well into the autumn, and then 
upon a sudden frost the 30 ft. tops were nipped 
back.) 
In the case of recently transplanted trees, the roots 
of which are now laying hold of the soil in contact 
with them, their vigour and strength will be much 
benefited from a top mulch, whose weight and pro¬ 
tection act together in more ways than one, for the 
good of the roots. The transplanting certainly 
causes a check so that anything which will mitigate 
or alleviate hurt or harm, is to be recommended and 
practised. Good farmyard and stable manure is, 
perhaps, the best possible material for a mulch, but 
where this cannot be spared, or if used, at least, only 
in proportions, mixed with other matters, half de¬ 
cayed leaves may be added or even used alone. 
What the roots lose in food or enriching compounds, 
they gain in the greater warmth and protective 
power which the leaves impart. 
In spring time all mulchings should be removed. 
• Mack,” or farmyard manure mulchings greatly 
shrink as a natural consequence from what they 
deliver to the roots, but even these mulchings may 
require to be lessened, and the surface soil just 
slightly loosened. There can be no two opinions 
but that in nine-tenths of our gardens, more liberal 
treatment in respect to mulching fruit trees and 
shrubs, would be the means whereby debilitated 
trees would be converted to trees of vigour and great 
beauty. In conclusion one very weighty item in the 
successful establishment and health of newly planted 
trees is that the roots should be kept in an undis¬ 
turbed position. Swaying trees can never settle half 
so quickly or easily, nor be so good as properly 
staked trees .—Harrison D. 
ARDEN1NG jflSCELLANY, 
ELEA GNUS REFlEXA VARIEGATA. 
This, one of our very best variegated shrubs, and 
well adapted for training against a wall, is not so 
frequently met with as its merits would lead one to 
expect, because just now it rivals in brightness and 
beauty any of the forms of Euonymus which we see 
plentifully used for this purpose in almost any 
locality. Another recommendation is the dissimilarity 
in form of the foliage and the looser style of growth. 
Like the Euonymus it forms when kept moderately 
pruned an excellent bushy shrub, and rivals the 
Golden Queen Holly when seen under similar circum¬ 
stances. To those unacquainted with it I may add 
that the leaves are longer and narrower than the 
most generally known varieties of Euonymus with a 
deep green margin and a blotch of deep golden- 
yellow covering the centre of the leaf. Upon near 
inspection the entire surface of the leaf will be 
found overlaid with russety, powdery scales, which 
when the plant is grown under glass give it a rather 
dirty aspect. This fact may account in some 
measure for the sparseness with which it has been 
planted. Its appearance under these two separate 
conditions is somewhat remarkable.— W. B. G. 
TWO GOOD HARDY CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Among the varieties which we find in cottage cr 
small gardens, and which have for some time been 
favourites, might be mentioned the Cottage Pink, 
otherwise receiving the distinguished title of 
Emperor of China. It is a good old sort, lending 
a pretty shade of pink, and has a neat form. It is 
quite hardy and flowers during November. It is re¬ 
marked that the foliage becomes of a crimson shade 
after frost, so with crimson beneath, and heads of 
pink above, few things are more worthy of cultiva¬ 
tion. It does well indoors. Then to give us yellow 
we have Soleil d'Or blooming almost at the same 
period. These two are both hardy varieties of great 
usefulness. 
FUCHSIAS AS CLIMBERS. 
Most of us have seen if not grown Fuchsias as an 
ornamental drapery to pillars or divisional beams of 
a house, and from having seen these many have 
imitated the idea. It is worthy of extended adop¬ 
tion. The bells, if one might so term the form of 
the Fuchsia blooms, lend themselves very well to 
such a form of training, for then their full beauty in 
the pendent state is seen in the best manner. 
EARWIGS. 
The best trap for these is made from old rubber 
water tubing cut into 4 in. lengths, one end of which 
is plugged up by a cork. These being placed among 
plants infested with the pests form a good hiding place 
for them, from which they are most readily dislodged 
by taping the traps against a pail of water. No hay 
or other stuffing is required. Anyone after using 
them one season will not readily go back to the pot 
and hay system. — W.B.G. 
APPLE “TEN COMMANDMENTS,” 
Here we have a curious name for quite as curious 
an Apple. Samples came from its local region in 
one of the South Welsh counties, and were shown in 
a fine collection amounting to 100 dishes exhibited 
at the Drill Hall by Mr. John Basham. The variety 
is purely local and not greatly known, even by 
southern Welshmen, but its merits are most, because 
it is a curiosity. It is nearly black, somewhat of a 
conical form with a knotty apex and depressed eye ; 
otherwise the surface is even, and everywhere the 
skin is smooth. 
Deep blood-red, or reddish purple, chestnut-red 
&c., as you see it and care to describe it for in points 
of colour it is emphatically certain, that no two see 
alike. What its eating or cooking qualities are I 
cannot say.— H. 
VIOLETS. 
There is a tendency among hybridists and cultiva¬ 
tors to strain all points to develop the size of the 
blooms of the various plants which they have selec¬ 
ted for special attention. One might have almost 
considered that the little modest Violet would have 
escaped “ the spoilers hands ” (?) but this is not so. 
We have repeatedly seen exhibits in London which 
have gone to prove that by-and-bye the Violets may 
be seen quite as large in form as those other mem¬ 
bers of its order and genus the Pansies. Many of 
the Violets are already just large enough. We 
should really be sorry to see them at all increased 
because, though they would then be more adaptable 
for vase arrangements, it is yet almost certain that 
we should lose their present charm in fragrance, the 
depth of Violet colour, the modest, drooping habit 
which for so long now has captivated our regard, and 
it would raise them to a higher but most surely a less 
refined standard. Some of the larger and more 
recently heard of varieties are Princess of Wales, 
Amiral Avellan, California, rather older, and Vic¬ 
toria. Of doubles, Lady Hume Campbell is an im¬ 
provement; Comte de Brazza and Neapolitan, are 
fine old varieties. 
-- .--- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
TUNBRIDGE WELLS. —November 15///. 
This long established Chrysanthemum Society held 
its annual show in the Great Hall at Tunbridge 
Wells, on Wednesday, November 15th. The change 
of venue seemed to bring with it increased fortune, 
for a better show has not been seen at Tunbridge 
Wells during the existence of the society. The 
judges at this show were Mr. James Douglas, Great 
Bookham ; Mr. Woodward, gardener to Lieutenant- 
Col. Warde, M.P., Barham Court: and Mr. T. 
Moorehouse, Groombridge. Mr. E. Charlton is 
secretary to the society, and his valuable services 
are ably seconded by Mr. C. Osborne. Mr. H. Mill- 
borough is chairman. 
In the competition classes, open to exhibitors 
within a 15-mile radius from theS.E.R. clock tower, 
for a group of Chrysanthemums, J. A. Le Lacheur 
(gardener, Mr. N. Turner), The Wildernesse, came 
first ; Major Lutwidge (gardener, Mr. G. Elms) fol¬ 
lowing as a good second. For a group of miscel¬ 
laneous plants arranged for effect, Walter Cobb, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Howes), Dulcote, Tunbridge 
Wells, was the first prize-winner, beating Mr. Drew 
(gardener, Mr. J. R. Booth), Tunbridge Wells. For 
four dwarf-trained specimen Chrysanthemums, Mr. 
H. Kimber was the winner. 
In the cut blooms class, the Marquis of Aber¬ 
gavenny (gardener, Mr. A. Wilson) was here the 
leader. T. Webb, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. Austin) 
came in second. 
In the larger class, however, for the twenty-four 
blooms of Japanese, in eighteen varieties, Mr. 
Howes again stood as a first prize taker. Miss Can- 
