THE GARDEN ALBUM AND REVIEW . 
3 
affect the results, the conclusions arrived at 
may be dangerously misleading because they 
are invested with special authority. One of 
the difficulties in such trials is the selection of 
a standard for comparative purposes, but to 
place them upon a scientific and logical basis 
such standards are essential. In some fruits 
it is not easy to select suitable forms, but well 
proved varieties of the same season and type 
can generally be found that will serve the 
required purpose. Less difficulty is experienced 
as regards vegetables in this respect, and in 
my opinion no comparative trials of these 
should be undertaken without including a 
standard and well-known variety under precisely 
the same conditions. If an exhibitor can 
furnish satisfactory evidence that he has proved 
a novelty in a thorough manner there is no 
good reason why a decision should be post¬ 
poned. Failing that evidence I would advocate 
the trial of all varieties before the certificates 
are awarded. 
R. Lewis Castle. 
THE PLANTING OF FRUIT TREES. 
This matter is discussed at some length in 
the December number of the “ Wiener Illust- 
rirte Garten-ZeitungT The views set forth 
practically coincide with those that are con¬ 
sidered best by British Gardeners. Wherever 
possible it is recommended that fruit trees 
should be planted in the autumn for preference. 
Spring planting is not detrimental in favourable 
weather, especially in the case of very young 
trees. 
The hole should always be wide enough and 
deep enough to accommodate the roots when 
spread out. The soil should be well dug and 
prepared, and if poor should be replaced with a 
good compost. Having spread out the roots, 
the fine soil is sprinkled between them. The 
hole is then filled up and the soil trodden down 
firmly. The roots are afterwards given a good 
watering to settle the soil about them. It is 
important that newly-planted trees should be 
well-watered the following year in the event of 
a very hot dry summer, and a stout stake 
should also be placed to each tree at the time 
of planting to keep it from swaying about and 
tearing or otherwise injuring its new roots. 
Before planting, all injured roots should be 
trimmed and cut clean with a sharp knife. 
The writer does not recommend pruning the 
branches at the time of planting, but in spring. 
This is a matter upon which there is a difference 
of opinion amongst gardeners. Some contend— 
and we think, rightly—that the injured roots of 
a newly-transplanted tree cannot support the 
same number of buds after mutilation as 
before it. Hence it is prudent to cut away all 
weak and useless twigs, and shorten back 
strong leaders, so as to relieve the strain upon 
the injured roots beneath the soil, and the 
evaporation from the stem and branches of the 
plant exposed to the drying influence of the air. 
“ FLORA AND SYLVA.” 
The last monthly issue of this magnificent 
publication is in our opinion the very best of 
the whole 33 numbers that have appeared. 
The December issue completes the third 
volume. Mr. Robinson dedicates it to the 
memory of the great flower painter, Mr. H. G. 
Moon, concerning whose life and work he 
writes in a most sympathetic and touching 
manner. Most, if not all, of the plates that 
have appeared in “ Flora and Sylva ” have been 
from paintings by the dead artist, and no more 
fitting epitaph to his life’s work could possibly 
be written than the drawings of plants and 
flowers which he himself has placed on record. 
Lovers of really good gardening works will 
learn with regret that “ Flora and b ylva ” is no 
longer to appear as a monthly, but it is 
promised that yearly volumes shall appear, 
the first to be published in the autumn of 1906. 
The magazine hitherto has been published at 
less than its actual cost with a view to putting 
no monetary bar to its circulation, but it is 
clear, Mr. Robinson says, that a serial done in 
the best way as regards illustrations, paper, 
and printing, does not appeal to a sufficient 
number of readers to justify its being issued as 
a monthly magazine. Certainly “ Flora and 
.Sylva ” was excellent value for one shilling per 
month, and it is incomprehensible that it did 
not meet with the patronage it deserved. 
Amongst the contents of the last number 
special attention may be directed to the two 
beautiful coloured plates, one representing two 
new or little known Liliums— L. myriophyllnm 
and L. sutchuenense ;—the other displaying two 
new bulbous Irises— I. bucharica and /. 
warleyensis. Mr. E. H. Wilson writes upon 
the lilies which he introduced from China for 
Messrs. Veitch, and Mr. R. I. Lynch, of Cam¬ 
bridge Botanic Gardens treats upon the Irises. 
Articles on the Daisy bushes (Olearia), the 
Buddleias, the Aloes, and the Mulberries are 
all full of interest, while the wood engravings 
are superb. _ 
Apple—“The Baron.” —Almost everyone 
recognises the great value of “ Dumelow r ’s 
Seedling ” or “ Wellington ” as a cooking 
apple. Anything approaching it is well worthy 
of consideration. For this reason we call 
attention to a fine apple called “ The Baron,” 
which has been grown in Messrs. Spooner’s 
Nursery at Hounslow for 20 years past. It is 
a seedling from “ Wellington,” and makes fine 
prolific trees, on the Paradise stock. The 
fruits are large and handsome, roundish and 
flattened. The skin is pale yellow 7 freely dotted 
with russet, and heavily washed and streaked 
with bright crimson on the sunny side. The 
eye is large and open, while the stalk, about Jin. 
long, is set in a shallow green cavity. We 
consider “ The Baron ” a first-rate eating apple 
at Christmas time, rather than a cooker. Its 
whitish flesh is very juicy, and possesses a 
peculiarly rich aromatic flavour. 
