May  13,  1697. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
409 
Blues.  It  is  unique  in  habit  and  beautiful  in  colour.  One  of  the 
disappointments  of  a  bulb  tour  is  the  reflection  that  only  if  one 
were  wealthy  could  he  hope  to  emulate  theie  superb  beds.  Even 
then  it  would  want  culture  of  the  best.  Thousands  of  spikes  are 
seen  in  the  open  fields  such  as  we  rarely  produce  even  in  pots. 
The  same  with  regard  to  other  varieties — Queen  of  the  Blues  for 
instance,  which  is  a  lovely  pale  blue,  Grand  Maitre,  Czar  Peter, 
and  Lord  Derby.  Then  amongst  the  reds  there  are  Yon  Schiller, 
the  comparatively  cheap  Gertrude,  Robert  Steiger,  Roi  des  Beiges, 
Yuurbaak,  Norma,  Cardinal  Wiseman  (a  grand  sort),  and  Gigantea. 
First  always  amongst  the  Whites  is  La  Grandesse,  but  Paix  de 
l’Europe,  Belle  Blanchisseuse,  Blanchard,  and  Madame  Yan  der 
Hoop  also  show  up  extremely  well.  Every  one  of  these  sorts  is 
represented  by  some  magnificent  beds,  and  it  is  at  once  a  source 
of  envy  and  delight  to  observe  the  splendid  trusses  which  spring 
from  a  bed  of  sand  dressed  with  cow  manure  in  the  open  air. 
There  is,  as  might  be  expected,  a  strong  family  likeness  between 
the  bulb  farms.  The  owners,  of  course,  see  differences  enough, 
just  as  Mormon  mothers  are  able  to  single  out  the  babies  in  a 
family  of  thirty  or  forty.  But  to  a  foreign  visitor  it  is  impossible 
to  distinguish.  The  confusion  is  helped  by  the  singular  fashion  in 
which  the  farms  are  mixed  up.  One  field  belongs  to  A,  the  next 
to  B,  the  third  to  A  again,  and  so  on.  I  tried  to  grasp  the  limits 
of  the  possessions  of  the  Yan  Waveren  family,  some  of  the  members 
of  which  gave  me  very  kind  help  and  guidance,  but  I  am  not  quite 
sure  whether  I  succeeded.  This  is  somewhat  the  order  of  events — 
I  admired  a  bed  of  Keizer’s  Kroon  Tulips.  “  Ah  !  Messrs.  F  and 
H,  what  a  beautiful  bed,  and  what  a  charming  lot  of  Cottage  Maid 
you  have  on  the  other  side  of  the  ditch.”  Messrs.  F  and  H  exhibit 
mixed  feelings.  “  The  Keizer’s  Kroon,”  say  they,  “  are  ours,  but 
the  Cottage  Maid  belong  to  Messrs.  J  and  A.”  I  look  again,  and 
proceed  with  diminished  confidence.  “  Well,  you  have  a  good  bed  of 
La  Grandesse  there,  and  the  Blanchards  next  to  them  are  splendid.” 
Messrs.  F  and  H  smile  dubiously  once  more.  “  Ye-es  !  but  the 
Blanchards  belong  to  Messrs.  H..  H.  Yan  Waveren.”  I  made  a 
further  attempt,  but  after  finding  that  there  were  still  four  more 
firms,  varying  slightly  only  in  the  initials,  I  gave  it  up.  I  am 
assured,  however,  that  despite  the  extent  to  which  the  plots  are 
mixed  the  growers  never  make  the  mistake  of  manuring  each 
other’s  land,  or  of  praising  each  other’s  stocks. — W.  Pea. 
APPLE  EASTER  ORANGE. 
It  is  so  seldom  that  a  dessert  Apple  is  honoured  with  an  award  of 
merit  by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  so  late  as  the  27th  of  April 
that  we  give  a  figure  of  the  above  variety,  which  was  sent  by  Mr.  Hillier 
on  the  date  mentioned,  and  met  with  the  Committee’s  approval.  The 
fruit  is  briefly  described  in  our  issue  of  April  29th,  page  361,  and  it  need 
only  be  said  now  that  the  Apples  exhibited  bore  a  general  resemblance 
to  large  fruits  of  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin,  but  were  darker  and  more  boldly 
streaked,  also  quite  different  in  quality.  The  variety  is  totally  distinct 
from  Cox’s  famous  Apple,  and  we  do  not  know  whether  Mr.  Hillier  was 
the  raiser  of  the  much  later  Easter  Orange  or  not. 
TOMATOES  IN  POTS. 
The  present  is  a  suitable  time  to  carry  out  the  final  potting  of 
'Tomatoes  intended  to  furnish  the  main  crop.  The  plants  are  easily 
managed  in  pots  and  produce  good  crops,  provided  certain  essen¬ 
tials  are  secured  for  them.  These  essentials  are  in  the  case  of 
pots  11  or  12-inch  size,  so  that  there  is  abundant  room  for  the 
roots  which  should  eventually  occupy  them  entirely.  The  drainage 
ought  to  be  effective,  but  not  too  abundant.  Water  is  required  so 
frequently  when  the  plants  are  in  active  growth  that  it  is  impera¬ 
tive  for  the  surplus  water  to  pass  freely  away  ;  yet  when  the 
drainage  is  too  free  the  escape  is  more  rapid  than  desirable. 
The  soil  is  the  next  item  of  importance.  The  main  thing  to 
guard  against  is  not  to  employ  a  light  or  freely  manured  compost. 
A  soil  rich  in  organic  matter  will  induce  growth  which  does  not 
tend  to  be  fruitful.  This  must  be  guarded  against,  in  order  that 
an  early  fruiting  condition  is  secured  ;  the  plants  can  then  appro¬ 
priate  rich  food  to  advantage,  given  to  them  as  they  demand  it. 
The  best  soil  is  undoubtedly  substantial  turfy  loam.  Should  the 
material  be  rather  poor  in  character  add  a  sixth  of  decomposed 
manure.  Leaf  soil  must  not  be  used  freely,  if  at  all.  To  insure 
porosity  broken  charcoal  and  a  small  quantity  of  pounded  brick 
may  be  intermixed.  . 
The  crocks  forming  the  drainage  should  be  carefully  covered 
with  a  thin  layer  of  turf  or  the  rougher  parts  of  compost.  On 
dhis  place  the  plants,  one  in  the  centre  of  each  pot.  Healthy, 
sturdy  plants  that  have  just  filled  their  pots  with  roots  are  the  best. 
Those  occupying  4^  or  5-inch  pots  are  better  than  larger  or  smaller 
plants.  If  turned  out  of  larger  pots  there  is  necessarily  a  greater 
bulk  of  roots  and  soil,  which  when  properly  covered  in  the  fruit¬ 
ing  pots  require  a  large  bulk  of  compost.  This  occupies  con¬ 
siderable  space,  because  it  is  highly  desirable  that  a  portion  of 
stem  should  be  buried  from  which  new  roots  will  be  emitted.  The 
compost  must  be  placed  in  firmly,  using  a  blunt  stick  so  as  to  com¬ 
press  it  sufficiently  firm.  A  short-jointed  growth  is  promoted 
thereby,  as  the  roots  are  induced  to  become  fibrous. 
After  potting  place  the  plants  close  to  the  glass  on  a  light  sunny 
shelf.  Withhold  water  for  a  day  or  two  according  to  the  weather 
and  the  temperature,  then  give  sufficient  to  moisten  the  whole 
mass.  Successive  waterings  must  be  carefully  given,  so  that  the 
compost  is  not  unduly  saturated  before  the  roots  have  had  time  to 
enter  it.  If  water  is  given  only  wh6n  the  soil  over  and  around  the 
old  ball  dries,  the  requirements  of  the  plants  will  be  met,  and  their 
steady,  healthy  progress  insured.  The  attention  given  to  Tomatoes 
at  this  stage  should  be  regular,  as  it  ought  to  be  at  other  periods  ; 
but  from  the  time  of  the  final  potting  or  planting  until  fruit  sets 
is  important.  Too  free  applications  of  water  will  cause  sappy 
growth  and  prevent  the  formation  of  flower  trusses,  and 
FIG.  83 — APPLE  EASTER  ORANGE. 
therefore  fruit.  Abundance  of  light,  and  a  proper  temperature, 
With  a  regular  circulation  of  air,  must  not  be  omitted. 
When  the  first  bunch  of  fruit  has  set  the  critical  period  is 
passed.  The  pots  may  then  be  placed  in  a  permanent  position,  the 
plants  staked  or  arranged  for  training  on  wires,  but  light  and 
plenty  of  sunshine  must  have  free  access.  Tomatoes  cannot  and 
will  not  endure  shade. 
As  soon  as  the  soil  in  the  pots  becomes  freely  occupied  with 
roots,  and  a  number  begin  to  appear  on  the  surface,  a  top-dressing 
of  compost  can  be  given.  This  may  be  of  a  richer  character  than 
that  used  in  potting.  Continue  these  applications  each  time  fresh 
roots  appear.  They  stimulate  root  action,  and  the  setting  of  the 
fruit  is  practically  certain  when  this  is  encouraged  to  be  actively 
continuous. 
A  dry  and  airy  atmosphere,  with  a  little  warmth  at  night,  is 
undoubtedly  of  great  assistance  to  Tomatoes  during  the  early 
summer.  When  fire  heat  has  been  employed  and  is  suddenly 
discontinued  fungoid  diseases  may  be  induced,  but  in  a  compara¬ 
tively  dry  warm  temperature  they  cannot  obtain  a  footing.  In  a 
suitable  structure,  and  with  careful,  regular,  intelligent  manage¬ 
ment,  it  is  possible,  in  my  opinion,  to  avert  attacks  from  fungoid 
diseases. 
The  method  of  training  the  plants  ought  to  be  referred  to. 
For  pot  culture  the  single  stem  system  is  best.  Let  the  plants 
extend  without  topping  the  leader  at  any  point,  but  rub  out  as 
soon  as  formed  the  small  side  shoots  which  appear  in  the  axils 
of  the  principal  leaves.  This  is  all  the  pruning  or  training 
required,  except  tying  the  stems  to  stakes  or  wires  as  they  advance. 
Shortening  the  main  leaves  to  the  extent  that  some  cultivators 
do  is  wrong  practice,  and  is  onlv  justifiable  when  the  fruit  is 
approaching  the  ripening  period. — E.  D.  S, 
