THE GARDENING WORLD. 
35 
January^i8, 1908. 
Apple King of Tomkins County. \_Maclaren and Sons. 
- K,ing of Tomkins Gountg. - 
aoles should be at least 4 ft. across and 
sept clean from weeds for several years. 
Skin off the turf, which can be placed 
jrass downwards at the bottom of the 
loles. 
When planted, early trees may be 
rruned early in March, but if planted 
ifter Christmas defer it to the autumn, 
rhere are three forms of pruning, sum- 
ner, winter, and branch pruning. Sum¬ 
ner pruning is shortening all laterals in 
fuly to five inches to form fruit spurs, to 
rolour the fruit, and to swell the crop, 
[n winter, from November to March, these 
are cut back to one joint beyond the basal 
ruds, and the main shoots are reduced 
according to the vigour, space, and size 
of the tree, always cutting to a bud point¬ 
ing outwards. Branch pruning ought to 
be confined to old trees, and is best done 
before the leaves fall, as boughs that cross 
and dead wood can be easier detected 
and sawn out, and the ends, if neatly 
rounded with a sharp knife, will heal 
better. Do not cut back leaders or newly 
planted trees till the following March, 
but all laterals may be spurred in. 
With the exception of Peaches, Nec¬ 
tarines, Figs, Morello Cherries, and 
Black Currants summer and winter prun¬ 
ing applies to all other trees. The prun¬ 
ing of Peaches and Nectarines consists of 
cutting out the shoots that bore last year, 
and training the current year’s growth in 
their place. With Apricots and dessert 
Cherries prune on the spur system, and 
keep as close to the wall as possible. On 
“ Morellos ” and Figs the less knifing done 
the better, simply removing the boughs 
that cross. Should green-fly attack your 
Plums, the summer pruning may be done 
earlier and again later, being careful 
not to prune too hard the first time. The 
best system for all stone fruits is fan¬ 
training; Pears and Apples, horizontal; 
cordons upright if the wall is high, but 
if low, train obliquely; and vines, per¬ 
pendicular. For protection when in 
bloom, it is a good plan to have an over¬ 
hanging coping or slates embedded on 
the top of the walls, and it is best to have 
14 gauge galvanised wire 9 ins. apart 
(horizontally), fixed to within 2 ins. of the 
-wall by driving eyes, placed about 8 ft. 
apart, in preference to nailing. This will 
be healthier for the trees, and develop 
more fruit spurs. My allotted space is 
taken up. 
R. E. Whitewood. 
Isle of Wight. 
-- 
To Catch Slugs. 
Slugs are very fond of fresh bran. A 
. few flower pots set upside down with a 
■ pinch of bran put under each and renewed 
daily will be the means of catching a lot 
jof these pests. 
Odontoglossum John Clarke. 
The above is one of the harryano- 
crispum group of hybrids and bears 
flowers of'huge size gorgeously marbled 
with purple on a white ground. The 
:upper half of the lip is white and the 
rest thickly blotched with deep crimson. 
A plant with a spike 3^ feet long carried 
ten flotvers and eight buds. First-class 
Certificate by the R.H.S. on November 
26th to Baron Schroder (gardener Mr. H. 
Ballantine), The Dell, Egham. 
The above is an American Apple, and 
readers should be careful not to confuse 
the name with King of the Pippins, which 
is a British Apple and much better known 
in all parts of this country. Both are 
cultivated, however, in this country, as 
King of Tomkins County is one of the 
very few Apples raised in America which 
do well here. The specimen from which 
our photograph was taken was given us by 
the Agent-General for British Columbia, 
Salisbury House, Finsbury Circus, Lon¬ 
don, on the occasion of the great autumn 
show of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society in November last. More often 
than otherwise, it is simply named Kings, 
as they are fond of short names across the 
Atlantic, and that also applies to market 
people in this country. 
The fruit is of very large size, more or 
less angular, with a closed eye in a 
plaited cavity at the top and a short stalk 
inserted in rather deep cavity at the base. 
As grown in Columbia, the greater part 
of the surface is of a bright crimson and 
glossy, at least after so much handling, 
while the shaded side during late autumn 
and winter becomes bright yellow. The 
flesh is yellow, crisp, and tender after 
this time of the year, and delicoiusly 
sweet, without any taste of acidity, as is 
the case with many other American^varie- 
ties. It has been fit for use as a dessert 
Apple for some weeks, but it can be kept 
till May by those who have a cool fruit 
room, where the moisture can be pre¬ 
vented from escaping, thus causing the 
skin to shrivel. 
As a rule, American Apples take a 
long time to decay, and they are also 
capable of being kept for many months if 
placed in a cool fruit room or in a re¬ 
frigerator.- In some cases at least the 
Americans put them in a house and have 
the house covered up with snow so as to 
keep the Apples cool and thereby prevent 
them from ripening till about the time 
they are wanted. In this country the tree 
grows freely, bears profusely, and is very 
hardy. It may be grown in the form of 
a pyramid, a standard, and probably, 
also’ as a bush, that is, a tree with a very 
short stem. If grafted on the English 
Paradise, it would make a useful and 
handsome Apple for small gardens. In 
this country the season for dessert pur¬ 
poses continues from January till May. 
- +++ - 
North Lonsdale Rose Society. 
This progressive society will hold their 
show this year on July 17th in Todbusk 
Park, Ulverston, when an open challenge 
shield, eight challenge cups, several gold, 
silver and bronze medals, and money 
prizes, in all exceeding £ 200, will be 
awarded for Roses, Sweet Peas, \iolas, 
and herbaceous flowers. The schedule, 
which is the best ever issued by the So¬ 
ciety, may be obtained from the hon. 
sec., Mr. F. J. Harrison, Rosedene, Ul¬ 
verston. 
