104 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 31, 1903. 
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 
Quizzings by “Cal.” 
1 was recently speaking of the imported Sweet Potatos and 
Yams, but from latest accounts it would appear that the sales cio 
not justify continued importations of them. 
* -X- * 
One article that has, however, proved a gigantic success is the 
Banana. 
* * * 
Messrs. Pink and Sons, of Portsmouth and elsewhere, attend 
to the vast importations from Jamaica, and from them I have 
received a very interesting little pamphlet detailing the value of 
the Banana as a dietetic article, together with a number of 
recipes for preparing the same. * * 
The paper also contains a number of illustrations of the 
Jamaica Banana’s home which are interesting to any patriotic 
Britou ' * * * 
I believe'Messrs. Pink will send the pamphlet on receipt of a 
stamp. * * * 
Exactly how hardy Cyclamen persicum is cannot be stated, but 
I recently saw a number of plants removed from a frame which 
had been their sole protection. 
* * * 
The frame was an ordinary wooden one, and the light had had 
no covering whatever, save an inch coating of frozen snow. 
* * * 
For more than a week the temperature was below freezing, 
ran win" at night from 5 to 17 degrees of frost. 
° ° c * * * 
The plants in question were perfectly sound when the ice 
eventually thawed, several of them being in bloom. 
* * * 
I may say the plants were practically dry during the period 
of their incarceration. 
* * * 
Some years ago I saw a Pumpkin scaling some 1201b., and m 
a lit of bravado hurled it at the head of an American editor. 
Of course, I speak figuratively, my object being to make him 
squirm. . * » 
My attempt utterly failed, for he showed figures of a squash 
which was exhibited at Chicago. It tipped at 3421b. This was 
bad enough, but a Californian came at me with a 490-pounder, 
together with a 2251b. Pumpkin. 
° * * * 
Not satisfied with these, he instanced a 1751b. common Beet, a 
401b. Radish, a 401b. Sweet Potato, and an 181b. common Potato. 
I at once wrote to friends to authenticate such items, which they 
did • moreover, considerably adding to the list. 
* * * 
Here is what Californian soil can; produce, and which were 
actually exhibited or spoken of at the State Fairs m 1901 . 
J **')(• 
Two pound Oranges, Peaches at lglb. each, Pears scaling 
pi-lb. Lima Beams 18in. long, Watermelons 1251b., a Corn¬ 
stalk' 23ft. high, 351b. Cabbages, and 101b. Cauliflowers. 
For further edification as to average yields, seventeen-year-old 
Oran"e trees give a net return of 1800 per acre. 
° •*- 
A five-year-old Peach orchard of 3 acres yields $750 net. 
J * * * 
Another man from 250 Peach trees picks 38.2701b. of fruit, 
profiting thereby to the tune of $956 from 2^ acres of ground. 
One hundred and seven Pear trees yield 6£ tons of fruit. One 
settler gets a crop' of Potatos from February planting to the 
tune of ^12.8441b. per acre, following this up by 6,9001b. as a 
second crop from August planting. One Apricot tree gives 
a,2001b. of fruit. Three thousand pounds of Asparagus are 
obtained from one-eighth of an acre in a season. 
* * * 
These are a few items that have been brought forth from 
California! 
* * * 
In speaking of Black Currants, F. W. Moore might well 
have added Boskoop Giant! 
Although introduced several years ago, it is not grown to any 
great extent. I go as far as to say it is the finest Cun-ant extant 
* * * 
It is a great yielder, and the berries are almost like Cherries, 
in very long clusters. Weight for weight it will give “more than 
Baldwin. Moreover, it is, I think, hardier, as it withstood the 
late frosts of last spring better than any. 
* * -se¬ 
lf has been claimed that it is mite-proof ; but personally I 
have never had the opportunity of proving this, owing to my 
complete immunity from the pest. 
* * * 
This year, however, I find the Baldwin is slightly attacked, 
whilst Boskoop is entirely free, although growing alongside the 
former. 
* * * 
Speaking of mites, there are many still unacquainted with the 
scourge. 
* * * 
An old gardener last season showed me several bushes which 
he imagined were an extra early variety, owing to early and 
abnormal swelling of the buds. 
* * * 
He informed me that they came like 1 that every spring, yet 
scarcely bore any fruit. 
* * * 
Nevertheless, despite my advice, he hesitated to grub them up, 
and they still remain in their old position ; and it is not unlikely 
that I am indebted to them for the outbreak among myi own 
plants. 
* * * 
There are some who question the advisability of sprouting 
Potatos before planting. 
* * * 
At a lecture recently Mr. J. Murray described his tests at 
Friskney. Sprouted British Queen yielded 8 tons 6 g cwt. per 
acre, while unsprouted gave but 6 tons 14§ cwt. Sprouted 
Triumphs turned up 8 tons 19 cwt. per acre, unsprouted 
6 tons 16 cwt. Apart from this, a sprouted Potato has a great piull 
over others, inasmuch as it gets away quicker, rendering the 
foliage older and more vigorous before the disease comes along. 
* • * * 
Not a few inspectors of nuisances are nuisances in themselves. 
* * * 
The ignorance they display is amusing, were it not for the 
trouble they cause. A Scarborough fruiterer was recently sum¬ 
moned for displaying black Bananas. In the examination the 
simple inspector admitted he did not know Bananas turned black 
if frosted. 
•x- * * 
If he went to America he would have his work cut out hauling 
up vendors of black Bananas. But I fear he would get short 
shrift, as buyers show greater preference to such fruit. 
* * * 
Speaking of “back to the land,” the “ Small Holdings Syndi¬ 
cate ” rent several hundred acres of Lord Carrington’s Lincoln¬ 
shire estate, and sublet small holdings to anyone desiring them. 
The scheme is proving a great success, as numbers of persons who 
had moved into towns have returned to the country, where they 
can get holdings suited to their means. If other big landowners 
follow suit there are rosy prospects in store. 
* * * 
I wonder where the idea that Parsnips were not good until 
frosted first emanated. I have been testing the theory, and 
find it all moonshine ! 
* * * 
What an appetite England has to be sure! 
* * * 
For the week ending January 17th 32,666 cwt. of Apples came 
into the country. 
* * * 
To instance a few more items, 34,052 bunches of Bananas and 
154.705 cwt. of Oranges ; and then to look at Onions, 112,551 
bushels. 
* * * 
It makes one weep—the figures I mean, not the Onions (they 
always make me whimper!). And they ought to be English 
grown. 
* * * 
Armour may corner American Potatos, but we received 
79.852 cwt. from somewhere, and I know where ! 
* * * 
Belgium, Channel Isles, France, Holland, and “made in 
Germany,” 
