38 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 15, 1900. 
damp : ny more than dirty, for together, these two 
causes are active allies of rottenness. The room in 
the last place must not he too dark, must be cool and 
oaght to be ventilated sufficient to prevent a stag¬ 
nant atmosphere. The conditions are necessary 
where fruit has to be kept long and well.— F. G. 
KitcHen Garden Calendar. 
Peas.— The late dry weather in the southern 
counties has been much against the growth of 
the Pea crops, and both those coming into bearing, 
and others that are more advanced, have needed much 
care to bring them to perfection. As a late Pea, 
Autocrat still holds its own, the pods being both of 
good size and well filled, while the peas are of first* 
class quality. Birds and mice are very troublesome 
at the present time, nets should therefore be used to 
protect them from the former, while the old figure- 
four trap ought to be set for the latter. As the 
nights are getting cold the late sowings ought to be 
protected with spare lights or canvas. Here the 
temperature has fallen to freezing point on two 
occasions, while in several places during the past 
week it has gone as low as 33 0 ; this being so it is no 
longer safe to leave tender crops unprotected at 
night. 
French Beans. —Late sowings of these that were 
made in frames with a view to giving a supply after 
those growing in the open had been cut down, must 
now be afforded protection, otherwise the first severe 
frost will turn them black. Pods on Runners that 
are ready for use should bs gathered and taken to a 
cool cellar. In such a place they will keep fresh 
for a week or more. They should be gathered every 
day in order that none may spoil. This is a good 
time to preserve them for winter use, by covering 
the pods with salt, which will form a brine. Beans 
treated in this manner will keep fresh for a month or 
two. 
Marrows and Ridge Cucumbers are amongst 
the first to suffer ; all fruit should therefore be cut 
from these when ready, and taken to a cool place. 
If the lights are placed over the plants these will 
afford them a protection, but this cannot always be 
effected. 
Spring Onions. —Where the foliage has died off, 
the bulbs may now be lifted and stored away in a 
cool, dry place. When thoroughly ripened there is 
no necessity to allow them to remain on the ground, 
for when left out and the weather becomes showery 
the bulbs take up too much moisture, and do not 
keep sound so long as they otherwise would do if 
stored when thoroughly dried. Afterwards the 
ground should be manured and prepared for another 
crop. 
Late Potatos. — When these are ripe the crop 
should be lifted. D y weather should be chosen for 
this work, as the tubers turn out so much cleaner, 
and are therefore in a better condition for storing. 
Forcing.— It will now be necessary to make pre¬ 
parations for forcing, and as leaves will soon fall 
these should be collected in heaps. If put together 
when fairly dry they will retain the heat much longer 
than if collected when wet. Weeds will also grow 
apace after a rainfall, the soil being so warm. 
Every effort should be made to keep them under so 
that the gardens may present a tidy appearance. 
While they are small, the hoe should be kept at work 
amongst growing crops, as this will not only destroy 
any seedlings, but will assist the crop to grow. 
Winter Spinach should be thinned as soon as 
large enough to handle, till the plants stand 3 in. 
apart. They may be allowed to grow thus for a 
time, when if every other plant is drawn These may 
be used in the kitchen. Late Turnips ought to be 
thinned to a distance of 9 in., so as to allow ample 
rjom for the bulbs to swell. Celery that is suffi- 
c ently forward may now be earthed up, but so long 
as the dry weather continues it is best left that an 
abundant supply of water may be given to the roots. 
Clean off the old flower stalks from Globe Artichokes, 
and point over the ground between the plants to give 
the same a tidy appearance. Make a sowing of 
Mustard and Cress where protection can be afforded 
in case of heavy rains. Prick out Lettuce and 
Eacive as soon as large enough. Make a sowing of 
Parsley tD slaud the winter, and see that there is 
ample of this planted out where protection can be 
afforded.— F. W. J. 
PEOPLE WE HAVE MET. 
Mr. George Wood. 
The face and form of Mr. George Wood is well 
known to all who are frequent visitors to the Edin¬ 
burgh flower shows; and many others know his 
name and fame from the numbers of prizes he 
usually captures for decorative groups of stove 
plants and Orchids. Mr. George Wood is nothing 
if not an enthusiastic gardener, and he is supported 
by a generous employer, James Bucharan, Esq., 
proprietor of Oswald House, Oswald Road, Edin¬ 
burgh. 
Mr. Wood began his gardening career with the 
late Mr. George Williamson, of Montgomery Street, 
Edinburgh, who carried on a florist’s business there. 
He had a large vinery and the stock of plants in the 
houses was of the usual kind suitable for market. 
Soft-wooded plants were thoroughly well grown and 
Ferns were largely included. Mr. Williamson at 
that time depended largely upon his Grapes, and as 
he had a fruit warehouse and prices being much 
higher than they are now, he did well by them in 
his retail trade. Having seen how the most useful 
decorative plants were treated to give the best 
results and having been initiated in the practice of 
Vine culture, he took leave of his old florist master, 
and went as journeyman to Tullyallan Castle, 
Perth, under Mr. Gilroy, gardener to Lady Osborne 
Elphinstone, where hardy fruits in general, and wall- 
fruits in particular, were specially cared for. Some 
of the old school of gardeners exercised severe 
exactitude in the training of perfect wall specimens, 
and Mr. Gilroy was one who took great pride in the 
undevlating symmetry of his trees. The walls were 
all built of brick, of ample height, and the trees 
repaid the care bestowed on them by yielding large 
crops. These trees Mr. Wood says, were always 
heavily mulched and were regularly assisted by 
manurial waterings. The flower garden at Tully¬ 
allan Castle was also at that time a source of 
attraction to numerous visitors who often came long 
distances to enjoy the beds and borders. The 
grounds here were splendidly wooded, and the fine 
collection of Conifers gave the young aspirant an 
opportunity to study their individualities and 
qualities. 
Having acquired a farther knowledge of his pro¬ 
fession we find the subject of our notes back again 
in the Scottish capital to gain greater experience 
with that class of subjects which he has been so 
successful in cultivating, as head gardener at Oswald 
House, namely, stove and greenhouse plants, besides 
also Melons, Vines and kitchen garden crops in the 
gardens of Thos. Nelson, Esq., St. Leonards Park, 
under Mr. James Manson. From here, after serving 
twelve months he decided on seeing how thiDgs are 
done in the laying out of new grounds. Accordingly we 
find him hard at work in the Metropolitan Cemetery, 
Morningside, Edinburgh, laid out by the late Mr. 
John Come. Though the work was rough, Mr. 
Wood has found the experience he then gained in 
making roads, laying drains, levelling, planting and 
turfing, to have been of great benefit to him in his 
successive engagements. Such work is what every 
young gardener should be conversant with. 
Then the celebrated nurseries of Messrs. Dicksons 
& Co. found him profitable employment for a short 
while previous to his migration to the well-known 
gardens of Dunkeld House, belonging to the Duchess 
of Athole, which were so ably managed for nearly a 
quarter of a century by the late Mr. P. W. Fairgrieve. 
Dunkeld House has loDg been celebrated for its fruit 
crops, inside and out, and during his year’s stay 
with Mr. Fairgrieve, the then journeyman had charge 
of the vineries, which were at their best, and from 
which the gardener gained many prizes for Grapes. 
Walls with all manner of aspects were here specially 
built by the late enthusiastic gardener, so that he 
might have the earliest and the latest fruits. Mr. 
Wood now bethought himself of obtaining a fore¬ 
man’s place, and was appointed as right-hand man 
to the late Mr. James Spence, who then directed the 
gardens at Oswald Hons?, the position Mr. Wood 
now fills. 
He served two years as foreman before he took 
upon himself the full responsibility of head gardener. 
This event occurred when he left Oswald House, 
where exhibiting bad taught him something of what 
is necessary in that line, his new and wider interests 
being directed to Woodside, Musselburgh, owned by 
the late James McKelvie, Esq. Here the next 
eleven years were spent, transforming what was at 
first a park, into a well-planned and equipped 
garden. Mr. Wood was instrumental in having 
three vineries, two peacheries, one stove, one green¬ 
house, and two Rose houses erected at Woodside. 
This was no small undertaking, and demanded the 
fullest qualities of an able gardener. Extensive 
pleasure grounds, orchards, and kitchen gardens 
were also completed, and the cropped grounds 
Mr. Wood speaks of as being both early and pro¬ 
ductive. 
While here Mr. Wood began his career as an 
exhibitor, and was successful, Upon the death of 
his employer, he was obliged to find another charge, 
and fortunately he was offered the head gardener’s 
situation at his old suburban sphere at Oswald 
House gardens. Before leaving Wcodside, how¬ 
ever, Mr. Wood was honoured with the presentation 
of a handsome marble clock and two bronze orna¬ 
ments to match, by a few friends as a token of their 
esteem. 
Since he has been at Oswald House (a period of 
nine years) his successes as an exhibitor in various 
directions have called him into prominence. Mr.Wood 
thoroughly appreciates the generous spirit of his 
employer, who so kindly encourages his exhibiting. 
No doubt Mr. Buchanan knows that he is himself 
benefited while at the same time, in more ways than 
one, he is a benefactor. Mr. Buchanan, of course, is 
himself a keen horticulturist. 
Among his prizes, Mr. Wood has the Williams 
Memorial Medal, won for a group of plants shown 
at the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society’s 
show in September, 1894. He also won the Turner 
Memorial Cup at the same society's show the follow¬ 
ing year, and has had many prizes at the Chrysanth¬ 
emum shows of the Scottish Horticultural Associa¬ 
tion. All our recollections of Mr. Wood impress us 
with the geniality and kindliness of his character, a 
character honest and sincere, his endeavours being 
always to do the best that caa be done. 
Forestry in Germany.—"Germany is credited 
with the greatest development in practical and 
theoretical forestry. The forestry schools of Ger¬ 
many are of two grades: F'irst, the academies, 
graduates of which become candidates for the posi¬ 
tion of assistant forester ; and second, the forestry 
department of the universities, graduates of which 
become head foresters and teachers. There are six 
forestry academies and three schools of forestry in 
Germany. The University of Munich has eight- 
professors of forestry."— American Gardening. 
