158 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 21, 1903, 
then filling in with the younger wood, giving each bearing shoot 
a space of 2 in. to 3 in., so that a new shoot of the current 
year can be trained in by its side for next year’s bearing. Tire 
same remarks as to shortening of ill-ripened growths of Peaches 
ought to have been made when treating upon the pruning, as 
in the case of the Apricot. 
Top Dressing Borders. —As soon as training is finished, clear 
away all rubbish, and move up the surface soil to a depth of 
2 in. or 3 in. with a five-tined fork, and replace with fresh loam, 
a little lime or mortar rubble, with the addition of a sprinkling 
of some approved artificial, Thomson’s being good for this 
purpose. All stone fruits are benefited with a surface-dressing 
of slaked lime and forked in, and all suckers should be removed 
with the knife as low down as possible. 
Spraying Fruit Trees- —Where only one spraying a year is 
practised, now is the time to carry out the work before the buds 
get too far advanced, choosing a dry, calm day for the purpose, 
as the wash being of a poisonous or burning nature, great care 
is required in its use, or burning of the skin may ensue. One 
pound of caustic soda and a like quantity of crude commercial 
potash will make 10 gallons of wash, and if such could be put. 
on hot, say 120 deg., it would have more effect; but this is 
out of the question when large orchards have to be done. An 
effectual wash is prepared by Robert. Campbell, of Manchester, 
sent out in'tins in a dry state of 5 lb. weight. This is sufficient 
to make 50 gallons of wash. 
Grass Orchards. — These well repay any extra attention given 
them in the matter of top-dressings during the winter or earlv 
spring months, and if manure cannot be got, any waste soil 
from the potting bench, road scrapings, etc., -well mixed back 
with a few loads of fresh slaked lime, form excellent stuff for 
scattering over the turf, or drainings from the stables or cow¬ 
houses would be anything but wasted could they, be utilised for 
the purpose. Pigs, also, sheep, are often put in orchards in this 
part of the country at this time of year, but young trees 
must be well protected with Furze, wire netting or railings, or 
the stems soon get barked and the trees ruined. 
Nuts. —To reap good crops of these, a yearly thinning of the 
branches is necessary, or the heads get one mass of spray, keep¬ 
ing out light and air so necessary for the ripening of the wood. 
This pruning is generally deferred until the tiny female 
blossoms of pink can be seen, so- that the pruner can see- what 
to remove. They are now flowering with us, and where such 
is the case the work should now be undertaken, cutting away 
all crossed branches and useless wood in the matter of suckers, 
etc., reserving a fair scattering of catkins, which are the male 
blossoms; and where it is thought there is a deficiency of these, 
some from the common Hazel should be brought in and tied 
among the branches with a view of assisting fertilisation. 
Clean up the primings and afford a dressing of manure, forking 
in the same if the ground is cultivated with the hoe; but if 
grass-land, serve the same as for orchards. James Mayne. 
Bicton, Budleigh Salterton. 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Exigencies of space at times compel delay in the insertion of many interesting Letters. 
A National Guild of Gardeners. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —I was exceedingly pleased to see the article in the issue 
of February 7th from the able pen of Mr. F. W. Burbidge, for 
he has therein brought forward a subject on which I have thought 
and said much, but I must confess that the many conversations 
I have had on this subject with both private gardeners and trade 
growers have met with but one result. The reply to my sugges¬ 
tions and arguments has been, “ No doubt ’twould be a good 
thing if it could be carried out.” If instead of muttering a 
half-doubtful approval men would but do as Mr. Burbidge 
invites, make some suggestions and express their views, some 
progress would soon be made ; but, sir, I have helped to start 
several societies of one sort and another, and have always found 
that the very people the proposed society is to benefit are the 
last to attempt to render any assistance in its organisation. 
Let us hope, however, that in this instance there will be a 
ready response to the invitation to discuss the subject and 
express opinions on the matter, for none can doubt a “ National 
Guild for Gardeners ” on some such lines as suggested by Mr. 
Burbidge would become the mainstay of the profession. Per¬ 
sonally I look forward to the time when there shall be in vogue 
a scheme similar to that of the Royal College of Surgeons, 
whereby a gardener may, after a strictly practical examination, 
take a degree or diploma, either as a general gardener or a spe¬ 
cialist in some particular branch of horticulture. Such a 
diploma would be a warranty that the holder was properly 
qualified to take a post either as a general or all-round man, 
a Rose grower, Orchid grower, or any other branch for which he 
had gained his certificate. This doubtless will not be approved 
by all, but I throw it out as a suggestion, and leave it to stand 
or fall in the battle of criticism. Heather Bell. 
Quizzings by “ Cal.” 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —Please inform “ Cal ” I am much obliged for his informa¬ 
tion, and also yours, and any others who have written, or may 
write, in answer to my query about the new brush. I can quite 
understand the reason now it did not act for me as it should have 
done. 
“ Cal ” says there is one little point he must ask information 
om “ W. W.” says he wiped off the flowers and put them to 
others that way. His quizzings are not at fault in the least. I 
do not say that. I wrote the word “ nipped ” off the flowers (the 
male flowers I meant), and brought them together that way. T 
hope, Mr. Editor, you can bear me out in that, if you have my 
query. I would have asked you to correct it, only i thought it 
was only an error of the type, and not worth troubling ^oout. 
How could I wipe off the flowers in that way, as they were bedded 
out in the open ground. W. W. 
|The worn was not very clearly written, and the printers mis¬ 
took the spelling.—E d.] 
Sweet Pea Countess Spencer. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —It has just come to my knowledge that the Sweet Pea 
Countess Spencer, for which Mr. Silas Cole received a First-class 
Certificate from the National Sweet Pea Society in 1901, is not. 
likely to be heard of any more, except in the form of regret. 
Owing to the sunless season last year it appears that the variety 
failed to ripen seeds, or that the wet weather spoiled them after¬ 
wards. If suoh is the case it is greatly to be regretted, as the 
variety gave promise of being the parent of a new race. 
The large rose-pink flowers were beautifully undulated and 
different from either the flat or hooded flowers. The plant also 
had a habit of producing four flowers on a .stalk almost regu¬ 
larly, and though this is only a tendency in certain varieties, 
nevertheless in this one it wa.s fairly usual. Possibly Mr. Cole 
removed the early flowers from the plants with the object of keep¬ 
ing up a continuity of bloom. While this is fairly legitimate 
and proper for a gardener it is quite contrary to the tactics of a 
seedsman, and I am almost sorry that Mr. Cole could not see his 
way to put it into the hands of some well experienced seedsman 
while there was still a chance of the variety becoming established 
and put into commerce, or into the hands of a .sufficient number 
of gardeners that would have rendered its loss quite unlikely. 
I can quite imagine that the climate of the Midlands is not so 
well suited for the ripening of seeds as the southern counties, 
but I am also aware that Sweet Peas can be ripened as far north 
as the Moray Firth at least, even where- the climate is so moist 
that the removal of the seed pods is quite unnecessary for the pro¬ 
duction of a continuous display of bloom till frost or cold weather 
puts a stop to. growth. If the variety is really lost the way is now 
open, for some enthusiastic raiser to try and restore the lost type 
with the large wavy standard. J. Mol. 
READERS AND ADVERTISERS are requested 
to note that the address of THE GARDENING 
WORLD is now 37 and 38, Shoe Lane, London, E.C. 
