1042 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 24. 1904. 
as they fruit from spurs they should be cut back to the second 
or third eye from their base, and where the sjiurs are at all 
crowded they should be thinned out. Where young shoots are 
laid in for the further extension of the tree, 12 in. or 14 in. 
is quite sufficient for one year, as when more is retained they 
often fail to break at regular intervals, and this last remark 
applies to all wall or trained trees, with the exception of 
Peaches and Nectarines, which should be nailed in their entire 
length. 
Apples and Pears.— These may be pruned as recommended 
for Apricots, the only difference being that they require more 
room between the main branches, about 7 in. or 8 in. being 
sufficient. 
Plums and Cherries. —These also fruit from spurs, and 
should be pruned in the same way as advised above, but should 
be laid in closer together, about 3 in. apart being the usual 
distance. 
Bush Trees : Apples and Pears.— These should be allowed 
to grow with the centre well up, pruning the side shoots so that 
they slope away gently from the top; thin out well in the 
centre as the tree increases in size so as to get the full benefit 
of the sun and air. Cut back the young shoots to within a foot 
or 14 in. from their base each year until the tree has attained 
its allotted dimensions, after which they must be pruned close 
back each year. 
White and Eed Currants.— These should be cut back fairly 
close, unless further extension of the bush is required, when 
about 6 in. or 8 in. should be retained, but never more than 
that in any one year. 
Black Currants.— Unlike the last named, these should not 
be spurred back but retained in their full length, cutting out 
any old or crooked wood where at all crowded, also all suckers 
that are not required. 
Gooseberries. —These require very Severe handling, other¬ 
wise they will severely handle those who attempt to pick the 
berries; they should be so pruned that eveiy shoot retained 
is at least 10 in. apart at the tips. Thin out first all the old 
and weakly growths, and retain the strongest and best-placed 
branches. 
General Remarks. —When pruning any kind of tree or bush, 
always cut back close to an eye, and when a saw is used, always 
make the cut sloping downward as much as possible, as if the 
wet gets in, it will soon cause the tree or branch to rot. 
E. T. L. 
Current Topics. 
Hardiness of Phormium tenax. 
In recent numbers various vital points have been touched 
upon which would constitute absorbing phases for some 
animated discussions, provided your enthusiastic critics were so 
disposed to manifest the enthusiasm which they do on some 
occasions. For instance, in a November number you make 
some reference to Phormium tenax variegatum growing out of 
doors in the Lowfield Nurseries, Crawley, and you express your 
surprise at not seeing this splendid Lilywort more frequently 
planted in private establishments. It would be interesting to 
know what percentage of your readers, practical, professional 
or otherwise, are actually aware that the Phormium and the 
Aralia (probably now known as Fatsia japonica) are both hardy 
enough to withstand the severity of our winters out of doors. 
I know for certain that both of these plants are usually re¬ 
garded as greenhouse subjects by a large percentage of the 
people. Recently I saw a vigorous specimen of Phormium 
growing in the shrubbery which had been in the same situation 
for a considerable number of years, and during one severe 
winter the thermometers in the immediate vicinity registered 
6 and 7 deg. below zero, and even that intense frost did not 
injure the Phormium in the slightest; indeed, it seemed better 
able to withstand the rigour of our winters than some of the 
surrounding shrubs, as some of them actually were crippled. 
Chrysanthemums in miniature. 
In an early December issue another intricate and absorbing 
phase was propounded by someone who had visited the Edin¬ 
burgh Chrysanthemum Exhibition. This individual positively 
averred that the adjudications there were entirely misplaced, 
and suggested that exhibitors would be proceeding in the right 
direction if they devoted more attention to the perfecting of 
their blooms in miniature. An intricate and problematic 
phase, indeed. This same writer further asserts that journal¬ 
istic puffing has scored no sensational achievements in the pro¬ 
duction of immense exhibition Chrysanthemum blooms. As¬ 
suming, then, that visitors to the next autumn exhibition view 
a dozen stands of immense, massive, highly developed and 
richly coloured blooms, and perhaps two stands most perfect 
in miniature are awarded first and second prizes, sweet will 
be. the confusion in which they seek the shade. Viewing this 
matter in either the most spasmodic or prosaic manner pos¬ 
sible, I am forcibly compelled to conclude that under the cir¬ 
cumstances a bit of journalistic puffing becomes an imperative 
necessity. Should this revolutionary measure become gen¬ 
erally adopted at Chrysanthemum exhibitions the framing of 
the schedules or defining of the rules whereby the modus 
operandi of exhibitors and adjudicators alike would be made 
unmistakably distinct is an undertaking which would have to 
be entrusted to some progressive journalist or other dialecti¬ 
cian of some acknowledged standing. 
Young Orchards. 
The perfecting of exhibition Chrysanthemum blooms in 
miniature is an intricate and absorbing phase in practical 
horticulture somewhat akin to the stupendous averment that 
young orchards ought to be planted 3 ft, apart. This colossal 
assertion was candidly made quite recently, but its exponents 
have now apparently retired from the field. But it cannot 
be claimed for them that they have retired on their laurels, 
seeing that they failed conspicuously to convince anybody that 
the adoption of this revolutionary measure would benefit 
British fruit growing in the slightest degree. What rejoinder 
would those embryo pomologists have to offer the world for 
acceptance, when they are informed that it is being asserted, 
by experienced practical men that on heavy, retentive soils, in 
late districts, some varieties of Apples, the weaker constitu- 
tioned and shyer-bearing varieties, of course, grafted on the 
Paradise stock begin to canker and show signs of decay when 
they are about seven years old, and that in a few years after¬ 
wards they are practically worthless. This is a vital point 
which cannot be overlooked in the universal adoption of this 
revolutionary measure. Seeing that the unregenerate world 
positively declined to be persuaded that any advantage did 
pertain to the adoption of this colossal scheme, it therefore 
becomes necessary for its exponents to redouble their efforts 
and to blaze into action again. Certain it is that another 
volley from those thundering guns is positively essential to 
clear the atmosphere sufficiently to enable anyone to see the 
advantages of planting young orchards 3 ft, apart. 
Transplanting Roses. 
Yet another absorbing phase in practical horticulture which 
cannot go unchallenged is the suggestion to remove and trans¬ 
plant Rose bushes every third or fourth season. This stupen¬ 
dous averment was complacently made in a contemporary 
quite recently. It would be interesting to know how many 
of your rosarian readers follow this abnormally vague and ques¬ 
tionable method of Rose growing every third or fourth season. 
I have every reason to believe that the individual who made 
that extraordinary assertion is himself an exhibitor of Roses, 
and lias gained several first prizes in fair competition at the 
exhibitions held in Manchester, Durham, Ovenden and other 
places, but experience prevents me from corroborating the 
statement that plants subjected to this treatment are benefited 
thereby. J. C. Peebles. 
Mr. James Birrell, for over four years foreman at Inverar- 
doch Gardens, Doune, Perthshire, has been appointed as gar¬ 
dener to Sir Alexander Campbell, Bart., of Kilbryde Castle, 
Dunblane, Perthshire.— D. W. 
