396 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  5,  1898. 
GARDEN  TEACHING  IN  STAFFORDSHIRE. 
In  connection  with  the  important  question  of  keeping  the  rural 
population  on  the  land,  providing  them  with  remunerative  employment, 
and  enabling  them  to  make  the  most  of  a  limited  income,  the  Stafford¬ 
shire  County  Council  some  three  years  ago  started  ten  experimental 
schools,  lollowing  much  the  same  lines  as  had  been  adopted  in  Surrey, 
but  providing  a  more  complete  equipment.  At  each  centre  twelve  plots 
are  provided,  which  are  of  equal  size,  and  each  plot  is  worked  by  one 
pupil.  The  County  Council  provides  the  seeds  and  manure,  and  lends  at 
each  centre  a  toolhouse,  a  wheelbarrow,  and  the  necessary  tools  for 
twelve  pupils.  The  pupils  pay  a  small  fee,  which  is  usually  about  a 
shilling,  for  the  session  ;  this  fee  is  intended  to  cover  the  rent  of  the 
plots,  and  usually,  as  a  reasonable  rent  is  charged  by  the  local  landowner, 
this  amount  is  sufficient  to  cover  the  expense.  The  produce  of  each  plot 
belongs  to  the  pupil,  and  in  several  cases  last  year,  in  addition  to  what 
the  pupil  used  off  his  plot,  money  was  realised  from  the  sale  of  the 
produce  of  one  plot  which  would  have  been  sufficient  to  defray  the  rent  of 
I  he  whole  of  the  plots  at  the  centre. 
During  the  present  summer  there  will  be  twenty-five  centres,  and 
instruction  will  be  provided  for  1300  pupils.  The  teachers  are  not 
unfrequenily  the  rural  schoolmasters,  who  are  selected  partly  from  the 
tact  that  they  have  shown  their  practical  skill  by  the  way  in  which  their 
own  gardens  have  been  cultivated,  and  partly  from  their  possession  of 
the  certificate  of  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society,  the  double  qualification 
being  insisted  upon.  In  other  cases  the  head  gardeners  of  noblemen  or 
gentlemen  in  the  localities  have  been  allowed  to  act  as  teachers.  Lord 
Harrowby’s  gardener  being  in  charge  of  the  school  at  Sandon,  and  Lord 
Hatherton’s  gardener  of  that  at  Penkridge. 
For  the  coming  session  it  has  been  decided  to  provide  an  additional 
plot  at  each  centre  for  the  cultivation  of  small  fruit.  This  plot  will  be 
tinder  the  direct  management  and  control  of  the  teacher,  and  contain  six 
Gooseberry  bushes,  six  Currant  bushes  (including  Black,  Red,  and  White), 
a  row  of  Raspberry  canes,  and  two  rows  ot  Strawberries,  while  space  will 
be  left  for  propagation.  The  plants  have  been  selected  by  Mr.  Cock,  the 
County  Instructor  in  Horticulture,  and  supplied  by  Messrs.  Dicksons  of 
Chester.  It  will  not  be  possible  to  do  very  much  until  the  plants  have 
made  some  growth,  but  in  future  regular  instruction  will  be  given  on  the 
cultivating,  pruning,  and  propagating  of  small  fruit  bushes,  and  it  is  hoped 
that  the  result  will  be  not  only  to  encourage  the  growth  of  small  fruit 
throughout  the  county,  but  to  introduce  to  the  notice  of  cottagers  a 
number  of  improved  varieties  of  Gooseberry  and  Currant  trees,  and  also 
of  the  best  kinds  of  Raspberries  and  Strawberries,  as  the  pupils  will  be 
able  to  propagate  these  lor  themselves,  and  thus  to  introduce  them  into 
their  own  gardens. 
Village  Gardening  Schools  and  Their  Cost. — Schools  are  intended  specially 
for  the  young  labourer  or  under  gardener.  Exceptionally  a  pupil  will 
develop  marked  skill  or  aptitude  such  as  would  mark  him  out  for  the 
position  of  head  gardener  or  for  the  business  of  a  market  gardener.  In 
such  cases  a  thorough  course  of  instruction,  extending  over  at  least  two 
years,  is  desirable.  This  higher  form  of  teaching  is  provided  at  colleges. 
In  Staffordshire  a  scholarship  of  £!i0  per  annum  is  offered  each  year  to 
enable  promising  pupils  to  proceed  to  a  horticultural  college,  and  to 
remain  there  for  two  or  three  years.  In  various  other  counties  similar 
horticultural  scholarships  are  also  awarded.  The  labourer’s  son  in  even 
a  remote  village  is  thus  able  to  start  with  instruction  provided  at  his 
own  door,  and  to  pass  on  to  the  best  gardening  colleges  in  the  country. 
In  Staffordshire  the  payments  to  the  teachers  and  the  equipment  of 
the  schools  is  conducted  on  a  liberal  scale,  and  everything  supplied  is  of 
the  best  quality.  The  Committee  insists  upon  at  least  forty  school  lessons 
being  given,  each  of  at  least  two  hours’  duration,  and  the  teacher’s 
remuneration  is  calculated  on  the  basis  of  2s.  6d.  per  hour.  The  initial 
cost  at  a  new  centre  for  the  provision  of  toolhouse,  tools,  wheelbarrow, 
and  for  the  preliminary  rough  digging  and  manuring,  varies  from  £12  to 
£15,  while  the  subsequent  cost  averages  about  £12  per  centre,  or  £l  per 
pupil  per  annum.  This  cost,  however,  does  not  include  the  proportion  of 
time  devoted  by  the  county  horticultural  lecturer,  or  to  organisation  and 
visits  of  inspection. 
It  is  thought  that  by  training  the  young  man  to  intelligently  under¬ 
stand  the  reason  for  the  operations  he  performs,  to  cause  him  to  read  and 
to  think,  and  thus  to  enable  him  ultimately  to  make  two  blades  ot  grass 
grow  where  one  grew  before,  our  rural  population  can  be  maintained,  and 
the  migration  of  all  that  is  best  from  the  country  to  the  large  centres  of 
population  prevented. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
A  Pill  for  a  Grumbler. 
Many  probationers  who  take  interest  in  the  “  Domain  ”  must  have 
had  a  grin  over  the  remarks  of  “Grumbler”  on  page  356.  He  writes 
with  all  the  confidence  of  a  sage,  and  if  he  had  not  stated  that  he  was  a 
foreman  one  might  have  pictured  him  as  a  self-satisfied  old  fogie,  and  a 
famous  hand  with  the  spade.  There  are  two  sides  to  every  question.  I 
write  as  a  foreman  who  has  had  experience  with  young  gardeners,  some 
who  paid  premiums  and  some  who  did  not  ;  and  though  here  and  there 
one  meets  with  a  black  sheep,  as  in  all  other  capacities,  our  young  men 
us  a  body  are,  in  my  opinion,  as  able,  energetic,  industrious,  and  intelligent 
as  the  probationers  in  any  other  occupation.  Since  the  “  Domain  ”  has 
been  opened  I  have  noticed  the  improvements  made  by  some  of  those  who 
take  advantage  of  it,  and  would  remind  “  Grumbler  ’’  that  nothing 
succeeds  like  success.  We  never  know  what  we  can  do  till  we  try,  and 
it  is  an  easy  thing  for  one  to  resign  himself  to  the  happy  fate  that  he  has  not 
the  necessary  ability  before  he  makes  an  effort.  Many  of  the  best  writers 
of  the  day  remember  a  time  when  as  beginners  they  tried  over  and  over 
again  before  success  crowned  their  efforts. — Another  Foreman. 
[Very  true  ;  and  this  particular  foreman  has  had,  and  now  enjoys,  a 
better  reward  for  his  perseverance  than  he  at  one  time  anticipated.] 
Tying  Vine  Shoots. 
The  excellent  advice  by  “  Vitis”  on  this  subject  (page  348)  is  worthy 
of  attention  from  all  cultivators  of  the  Vine.  The  perusal  of  the  notes 
reminded  me  of  an  instance  which  fully  corroborate  the  remarks  there 
made. 
A  few  years  ago,  when  occupying  a  general  foreman’s  place  in  the 
Midlands,  we  had  a  midseason  vinery  containing  several  varieties 
generally  known  as  possessing  greater  “  snapping  ”  proclivities  than 
others.  The  Vines  in  question  manifested  signs  of  an  exceedingly 
promising  nature.  I  was  instructed  to  tie  down  the  young  growths,  but 
foreseeing  the  inevitable  disastrous  results,  I  suggested  it  would  be  better 
to  bring  them  down  gradually.  Anxious  to  meet  the  wishes  of  my  chief, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  see  creditable  and  satisfectory  results,  I  pursued 
the  latter  course,  merely  keeping  the  ends  from  the  glass. 
But  the  gardener  declared  his  intention  of  tying  them  down  himself. 
The  result  was  not  noticeable  till  the  following  morning,  when  a  sad 
spectacle  was  witnessed.  Fully  a  score  of  the  best  shoots  had  snapped  at 
the  heel.  After  continued  experiments  and  observation  I  find  the  most 
liable  to  snap  are  Black  Alicante,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and  Gros 
Colman.  I  must  differ  slightly  from  “  Vitis,  ’ for  in  my  opinion  Black 
Hamburgh  is  one  of  the  best  for  tying.  In  fact,  I  have  repeatedly  tied 
whole  houses  of  them  without  a  failure. 
Great  care  should  be  taken  not  to  place  the  tie  too  high,  or  the  shoots 
will  snap  beyond  the  bunch.  Bring  the  matting  in  a  slanting  direction, 
and  if  the  wires  run  horizontally  slip  the  tie  along  the  wire  until  able  to 
give  the  final  one.  Attend  to  this  every  alternate  morning,  and  patience 
and  perseverance  will  yield  satisfactory  results. — ViNlFERA. 
Winter  Flowering  Roses — Fortune’s  Yellow. 
The  delicate  Rose  bud  is  always  appreciated,  but  never  so  much  as  in 
the  winter  and  early  spring  months,  and  those  anxious  to  obtain  them 
from  December  onwards  may  achieve  wonderful  results  if  a  start  is  made 
at  once.  It  is  necessary  at  the  outset  to  consider  which  are  the  most 
suitable  varieties,  and  how  to  grow  them  in  quantity.  Failure  in  growing 
a  bountiful  supply  often  results  from  no  other  cause  than  growing  a  large 
number  of  varieties,  the  majority  of  which  prove  next  to  useless  for  the 
purpose.  It  is  much  better  to  abandon  the  idea  of  having  a  large  number 
for  the  mere  sake  of  having  them. 
There  are  many  beautiful  Roses  recommended  for  winter  flowering, 
but  I  think  there  is  none  that  can  surpass  the  old  variety.  Fortune’s 
Yellow.  Though  despised  by  many  who  are  only  acquainted  with  it 
grown  outside,  with  proper  treatment  under  glass  it  produces  an  endless 
number  of  delicate  orange  coloured  blooms,  which  are  a  source  of  delight 
to  all  beholders. 
If  anyone  has  a  suitable  span-roofed  house  in  which  to  grow  Tea 
Roses  (planted  out),  this  old  variety  cannot  be  too  highly  recommended, 
and  no  grower  should  be  without  it.  Many  others  bloom  abundantly  as 
the  season  advances,  but  Fortune’s  Yellow  flowers  as  freely  in  January 
as  in  April.  It  is  also  a  remarkably  good  Rose  for  cutting,  as  the  buds, 
if  cut  before  they  are  fully  expanded,  open  freely  in  water,  which  is 
not  the  case  with  many  other  sorts  during  the  winter  months.  It  has 
been  grown  in  these  gardens  for  several  years  with  remarkable  success. 
After  being  planted  in  a  good  stiff  compost  it  is  trained  over  the  roof 
of  the  house  ;  when  it  has  ceased  flowering  it  is  rested  for  a  short  time, 
and  then  pruned  back  to  about  a  couple  of  eyes,  from  which  it  grows 
mo>t  vigorously. 
The  only  pest  that  ever  attacks  it  is  green  fly,  w'hich  is  hardly 
allowed  to  show  itself  before  it  is  eradicated  by  fumigation.  Climbing 
Devoniensis,  Marechal  Yiel,  Gloire  de  Dijon,  and  Reine  Marie  Henriette 
are  also  excellently  grown,  but  none  can  be  compared  to  Fortune’s  Yellow, 
as  its  splendid  foliage  adds  greatly  to  its  beauty. — S.  S.,  Lockings. 
Persian  Cyclamens. 
This  is  one  of  our  best  greenhouse  flowering  plants,  and  as  such  is 
worthy  of  careful  attention,  and  it  is  hoped  these  few  notes  may  be  of 
service  to  young  gardeners  and  readers  of  the  “  Domain.”  Early  in 
August  clean,  shallow  pans  should  be  prepared,  first,  by  being  well 
drained  and  then  filled  with  a  compost  comprised  of  fine  loam,  leaf  mould, 
and  sand.  The  seeds  should  be  sown  thinly,  merely  covering  them  being 
all  that  is  required  in  this  respect.  Place  the  pans  in  a  shallow  frame, 
having  an  equable  temperature  of  60“.  A  pane  of  glass  should  be  put  over 
each  pan,  covering  this  with  a  sheet  of  paper,  as  the  seeds  germinate  more 
readily  in  darkness.  Keep  the  soil  moist,  but  on  no  account  get  it 
soddened,  or  disaster  will  result. 
In  about  six  weeks  the  seeds  will  have  germinated,  on  the  appearance 
of  which  the  glass  and  paper  must  be  removed  and  the  seed  pans  placed 
as  near  the  roof  glass  as  possible.  ^Vhen  germination  has  well  taken  place 
the  pans  should  be  removed  to  a  house  having  a  temperature  of  about  65°, 
again  being  placed  near  the  glass.  Keep  the  young  plants  moist,  frequently 
spraying  with  the  syringe.  After  being  in  this  temperature  for  a  month 
or  so  they  may  be  taken  to  a  house  having  a  temperature  of  55°  to  60°, 
standing  the  pans  on  damp  cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse,  which  wdll  cause 
sufficient  moisture  around  them  at  this  season  of  the  year.  When  the 
young  plants  are  considered  large  enough  they  may  be  placed  in  3-inch 
pots,  retaining  them  in  the  same  temperature,  and  standing  them  on  damp 
fibre.  A  compost  as  advised  before  will  be  suitable  for  this  potting. 
