96 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 4, 1905. 
Fruit Preserving. 
A lecture was given by the assistant secretary (Mr. Thomas 
E. Sedgwick) on the “German Methods of Fruit Preserving” 
at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 24th 
ult. The paper was illustrated by a series of the latest paring, 
coring, and rinsing machines and other labour-saving ap¬ 
paratus. After mentioning both the great care which the 
Germans took in every stage of their fruit-preserving and the 
considerable literature which they had on that subject, the 
lecturer proceeded to describe the various methods of fruit¬ 
preserving most in use in Germany. Drying or evaporation 
was first- treated of, and a drying machine for household use, 
as perfected in the German Fruit School at Geisenheim, was 
exhibited. The making of fruit pulp was next described, and 
the German systems of bottling and canning were fully dealt 
with. Some of the methods described were only intended for 
household use, whilst others were applicable to more generally 
commercial undertakings. 
The preservation of fruit was mainly intended to be used as 
a means for carrying over the surplus of one season to another 
time when such fruit is not obtainable in a fresh state, and it 
is regrettable that such large quantities of preserved fruits are 
annually imported, and often (as last year) much fresh fruit 
is allowed to go bad upon the ground. The lecturer remarked 
that, although the best fruit always fetches the highest price 
as a fresh fruit, the smaller and even slightly damaged fruit 
would yield a good return if treated as jam (which, by the way, 
is unknown in Germany), or by some of the other methods 
described. 
The preservation of fruit was also useful as a means for 
carrying over the surplus of one season to another, or of making 
a remunerative return out of a surplus crop like that of 1904. 
The formation of the National Fruit Growers’ Association and 
of the National Fruit and Cider Institute, and the appointment 
of a Departmental Committee of Fruit Cultivation by the Board 
of Agriculture, showed that the importance of our fruit in¬ 
dustry was rapidly becoming more recognised, and it was to be 
hoped that the time was not far distant when all the fruit, 
whether fresh or preserved, was home or colonial grown. 
The subject of crystallisation was not treated of, firstly, 
because little fruit is as yet crystallised in Germany, and, 
secondly, as it was announced that Mr. C. Herman Senn had 
kindly undertaken to deliver a lecture before the society on 
December 5th on the subject of the “ Crystallisation of Flowers 
and Fruit.” 
Sweet Pea Countess Spencer. 
During the last few years no Sweet Pea has been more dis¬ 
cussed than has the variety known as Countess Spencer. Those 
who have had opportunities of judging will corroborate my 
statement when I say that, by virtue of its many and great 
merits, it deserves even more attention than it has yet at¬ 
tracted, for it is a unique variety. The flowers, which are very 
frequently borne four on a stem, are of great size. The stan¬ 
dard is broad, is perfectly upright, is not hooded, and is 
possessed of a decided crinkle running from the apex nearly to 
the centre of the flower. In addition to these peculiarities, the 
standard has a beautiful wavy appearance. The wings, too, are 
of a splendid shape. The colour is a lovely shade of bright 
shell pink, with a distinct edging of rose. 
Such is the description of the true Countess Spencer ; those 
who grew it last year, however, were fortunate if 40 per cent, 
came true, for, as is well known, this variety is very liable to 
sport. The theory has been advanced that this unreliability is 
caused by the fact that the crinkle in the standard allows ihe 
pistil to be exposed, and consequently the flower to be cross- 
fertilised, before the bloom is fully open. I believe, however, 
that it has been shown that plants grown away from any other 
variety have also, in many instances, failed to come true. 
To the exhibitor at least the sportiveness of this Sweet Pea 
is a great failing. It is probable, though, that this year will 
see an improvement in that direction, but it cannot yet be 
expected to always come true. Much will depend upon the 
quality of the strain which is grown. Mr. Eekford, I believe, 
possesses the finest selection now in commerce. 
The sports from Countess 'Spencer are well worth our notice, 
and it is probable that they have a great future before them. 
Variations in shape have been frequent, but not one combining 
novelty and merit has yet been sufficiently pronounced to be 
worthy of attention. In colour, however, the opposite is the 
case, for many lovely new and distinct shades have appeared, 
including light jrink, deep pink, rose, orange, and many inter¬ 
mediate shades. Attempts to “ fix ” these sports have already 
been made, and even in 1903 three were staged at the exhibi¬ 
tion of the National Sweet Pea Society. These all came from 
Mr. Silas Cole, gardener to Earl Spencer. The former gentle¬ 
man was also the raiser of Countess Spencer, which he first 
exhibited in 1901. In 1904 Mr. Cole received the First-class 
Certificate of the above society for a deep rose variety named 
Mr. John Ingman, which he had shown in 1903, and which the 
committee of the society had asked to see again. Other sports 
shown at the 1904 exhibition were Mrs. A. Hatting 1 and En- 
chantress. 
Orange Countess and Rosie Sydenham are two varieties 
which are in commerce this year for the first time. The former 
has an orange standard and rose wings; the latter is almost a 
rose self. 
When referring to the sports of Countess Spencer mention 
must be made of Gladys Unwin, a variety which has been very 
much advertised this year. In shape it is practically the same 
as Countess Spencer, and although, when shown at the Crystal 
Palace last year, it seemed smaller than that variety, yet it is 
probable that with equal culture the size of Gladys Unwin will 
be equal to that of Countess Spencer. In colour it is lighter 
than the latter variety, but this is no disadvantage. 
It is hard to say whether Countess Spencer as a seed parent 
will prove valuable for the purpose of improving the Sweet Pea 
as a race, but I think that we can confidently expect it to be of 
great value as the parent of a new family which will share its 
characteristics. Perhaps we may soon have a pure white 
Countess Spencer ; this would be a great acquisition, but I have 
not yet seen one. Meanwhile, however, we must all grow some 
representatives of this beautiful variety, 
G. F. Dratson. 
The Celmisias. 
In their native country, but particularly New Zealand, which 
is the headquarters for them, they occur in remarkable abund¬ 
ance. The alpine meadows are covered with a great variety 
of them in full bloom and stretching away over thousands of 
acres. There is very little variation in the flowers, as all are 
white. The foliage, however, is more liable- to variation, and 
in that are the chief distinctions of the species. The plants are 
peculiarly suited to their surroundings, and seem to fit in 
exactly with the general character of the scenery. The effect 
on the whole is pleasing indeed. 
As they live under different conditions in a state of nature it 
is necessary to provide those conditions when their cultivation 
is undertaken. Swamp-loving species delight in plenty of 
moisture, and include C. Lyallii, C. petiolata, C. Haast-ii, C. 
holosericea, and various others. Some of them delight in 
shingly ground, and would include C. discolor, C. sessiliflora, 
C. linearis, and C. viscosa. They are adapted for rock-work, 
and should therefore be planted on elevated, well-drained 
positions in a gritty soil. 
Our illustration of C. coriacea, p. 71, shows the largest of 
the species. In its native country it is of easy cultivation, and 
may be planted in any well-drained border, provided it is fairly 
well supplied with water in summer. It does not require a 
supply like those which naturally live in swamps, consequently 
our climate would supply the necessary conditions, with the 
additional precaution of keeping the snow and rain off the 
crowns in winter. Other species which succeed under similar 
conditions are C. Monroi, C. verbascifolia and C. Mackaui. As 
far as we know, only three of the above are at present in cul¬ 
tivation in this country. They would seem to be practically 
the Daisies of their native home. 
