312 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 4, 1903. 
menced to form a collection, however small, they cannot be too 
strongly recommended to do so-. I assure them there is much 
pleasure in store, and the outlay necessary is so small that 
they are within the reach of all. 
The main secret of success in then - cultivation is to plant in 
good soil; allow them plenty of room, and tie out the growths 
so that they can develop perfectly. The present will be a good 
time to plant out those which have been wintered in cold frames, 
and a mixture cf loam, leaf-soil, decayed manure, and road 
grit should be prepared for planting them in. Plant, firmly, a. 
suitable distance being 2 ft. apart all ways. To ensure their 
safety against slugs, which are unquestionably very numerous 
this season, place round the plants some finely-sifted cinder 
ashes, a sure preventative against the ravage® of these pests. 
The old plants which have been allowed to remain in the 
ground through the winter should now be taken up, divided, 
and replanted in a. similar compost to that advised above. 
Any plants which have made long growths should have the 
points pinched out to induce them to' form nice stocky plants, 
and there is yet time to propagate any varieties by taking off 
the young growths, breaking up from the old stems. If taken 
off with a heel, so much the better. Insert in a sandy compost, 
and keep close for a few days in a cold frame. These will be 
nicely rooted and ready for planting out at the end of the 
present month. 
For the benefit of those who- have not had an opportunity of 
selecting, I append a list of some of the best of the older sorts. 
To the late Mr. Piercy we owe a. debt of gratitude for the 
good work he accomplished with this class of plants, and we 
have to thank him for many tine varieties.. < )ne of the first to 
mention is Piercy’s Seedling, an invaluable variety for bedding 
purposes, as it requires no staking and never fails to produce 
a wealth of blossom. It has. a. dwarf, bushy habit, and the 
colour of the flowers is deep orange. Flora is. a. fine clear 
yellow, and one of the best of this colour. Mdlle. Marie Masse, 
a deep pink, and its sports, Orange Masse and Ralph Curtis, are 
•specially good, all about 2 ^ ft, in height. Ivy Stark has orange- 
coloured flowers, and is oiie of the most desirable. Harvest 
Home is crimson and old gold. White St.. Crouts and Mrs. 
Cullingford are two of the best whites ; Mrs. R. Mallinson. 
golden yellow ; Ryecroft crimson, dark red ; and Ryecroft 
Glory, yellow, the latter being valuable because it flowers very 
late in the season. 
•There are some varieties that succeed well in this part of 
the country which, of course, would not. do so in other districts, 
particularly in the north, but all those mentioned, except the 
last, would, I think, be suitable for most localities. 
The herbaceous borders will now need an occasional hoeing 
to promote the growth of the plants, and to keep down weeds, 
taking care not to- injure the shoots which are just coming 
through the surface. 
See that any small and delicate plants are net being injured 
by their stronger neighbours, and place some sifted cinder ashes 
round to prevent the slugs rava ging them. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Letters to the Editor. 
Judging at Flower Shows. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —As the season has arrived when the various horticul¬ 
tural societies will be busily arranging matters in ‘connection 
with their summer and autumn shows, perhaps it is well to 
remind them of the importance of selecting men as judges who 
are known to have a thorough practical knowledge of their work. 
This advice is all the more important on account of the growing 
anxiety and tendency of some men to get appointed as judges at 
horticultural exhibitions who never grew vegetables, fruits, or 
greenhouse plants in their lives, and yet’ have the confidence an.d 
impudence to offer themselves as judges and lecturers upon that 
which practically they know nothing at all about. Therefore I 
would advise committees of horticultural societies and others 
interested in horticultural work before selecting men as judges or 
lecturers carefully to inquire as to their practical knowledge of 
the work they may be required to do, remembering that being 
able to talk is not the only qualification required. All quacks 
can do that. What is most wanted is a thorough practical know¬ 
ledge of the difficulties to.be encountered in producing speci¬ 
mens of the things exhibited, and of the qualities of the different 
varieties placed before them. To have things judged by gooc 
practical men is a compliment to the best of exhibitors, but tc 
have them judgfid by horticultural quacks is an insult to the 
humblest cottager. Amateur. 
Fruit Growing and Orchard Planting. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —The letter of your correspondent Mr. Peebles is ; 
curiosity in the way of ingenious thinking and planning. Surely 
there must be a great many vacant brain-cells in his cranium 
to form such an abrupt conclusion as he does on this question, 
viz., that because two acres of a ten-acre field have to be plantei 
with fruit trees the centre of the field has to be selected 
and that the remainder of the field has to be left in a slovenly 
state (see page 226). Wonderful conclusions! Could not hi- 
imagination carry him a step further, and place his fruit-roon 
in the centre of his two-acre plot of fruit trees planted, am 
thus save our enlightened correspondent “Cal” the laborious 
work of carrying half a ton of Apples from the middle of ; 
thicket, and through slovenly-cultivated ground, to—where? 
How the half ton of Apples got to the middle of the tlrickei 
Mr. Peebles does not say ; or was the exertion of the planning 
and finding out the number of trees required for the two acres 
as far as his brain power would carry him? 
I have no doubt but that in the garden where lie is employed 
there are a few walks laid down, so that he can train easy 
access to different parts of the garden ; or has he overhead 
traction? In planting his two acres of fruit trees in the centre 
of Ins ten-acre field, "did he overlook the fact that he would 
sometimes require to get to the centre of his two acres ? 
But why lias the remainder of the ten acres to lie in a slovenly 
state? Are there more brain cells vacant here, or are they 
lying in a slovenly state- uncultivated? Even if this were so. 
there is hope of improvement—even as the “ G. W.” lias im¬ 
proved lately—if he continues reading his Gardening World. 
To return. The subject of planting fruit trees on the dwarf¬ 
ing stock, close together, as recommended in former articles 
on a piece of ground to themselves—as we treat most other 
garden crops when we vyant to be successful in their culture- 
lias much to recommend it. Judging from Mr. Peebles’ letter, 
he has had very little experience in growing in this way. 1 
think he may have seen that plot of trees I referred to in the 
R.H.S. gardens, but either he took no notes or has forgotten 
the circumstances. He is also wrong when he says that the 
method of close planting on the dwarfing stock is not largely 
practised. Round about from where I am writing it is largely 
practised, and the wisdom of the practice becoming morH 
apparent every year. So much so, that very few varieties are 
being planted on the free stock. 
“ H. E. E.” (page 246) makes his planting of an orchard liiucl 
more understandable when he puts the pith of the article m 
a postscript in a letter two weeks later than the article ap 
peared. But lie, too, is evidently not well posted up in thy 
growth and behaviour of the Apple and Pear on the dwarfin'! 
stock. He can very well leave the nurserymen to take care ot 
themselves ; as long as there is a demand for standard trees 
the supply will not, fail. Even in this age we do not expect 
everyone to do better than the last generation did. Then 
are a few who lag behind even yet, and it requires the lash ot 
the whip to get them out of old and deep ruts. A. W. 
Hardy Fruit. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,—T am pleased to see an article on the above subject ir 
last week's issue. I will be glad if m some future issue oi 
'“'G: W.” Mr. Mayne would tell us about budding; what time 
to bud the different kinds of fruit, such as Apples, Pears. Plums 
Cherries, and Peaches. I am most interested in Peaches. A 
friend gave me a few scions to try by grafting, which I did ? 
few days ago ; hut as I have a lot of stocks to suit all of the 
above fruits, I will thank you. Mr. Editor, Mr. Mayne, oi 
someone else to give me a little information on budding; that 
is, when to bud the different kinds above named. W. W. 
