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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  12,  1899 
Distinct  from  either  of  those  previously  noted  are  Burkei  and  Burke  i 
excellens  with  Curtisi  superba,  each  in  its  way  singularly  handsome  in 
appearance.  Coming  to  more  modern  ones  we  have  Tiveyi,  and  last  but 
not  least  Balfouriana  (fig.  63)  which  is  magnificent  in  every  respect.  It 
was  exhibited  at  the  meeting  of  tht  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  held  on 
August  16th,  by  Messrs.  'Veitch,  and  is  from  a  cross  between 
N.  Mastereiana  and  N.  mixta,  which  favours  both  parents.  The  illustra¬ 
tion  represents  an  average  pitcher.  The  ground  colour  is  claret  towards 
the  lid,  and  light  green  at  the  base,  with  numerous  dark  crimson  splashes. 
The  pitchers  are  very  handsome,  and  incline  towards  X.  Mastersiana, 
especially  in  size. — G.  H.  E. 
HAROT  FRUITS  AT  HESSLEWOOD. 
Readers  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  will  have  studied  with 
interest  the  problems  which  Mr.  G.  Picker,  who  has  charge  of  these 
gardens,  has  from  time  to  time  placed  before  us.  Bearing  these 
articles  in  mind,  it  is  perhaps  superfluous  on  my  part  to  say  at  the 
outset  that  he  is  an  enthusiastic  hardy  fruit  grower,  though  he  by  no 
means  neglects  the  whole  garden  for  his  hobby.  I  do  not  propose  to 
describe  the  gardens  at  Hesslewood,  as  I  went  with  the  intention  of 
seeing  the  Apples  particularly,  ai.d  have  a  chat  on  the  crops.  I  shall 
therefore  confine  myself  entirely  to  that,  the  most  useful  of  our  British 
hardy  fruits. 
Having  reached  Hesslewood,  I  was  not  long  in  finding  the  genial 
Mr.  Picker,  and  wfith  equal  promptitude  ascertained  that  the 
equinoctial  gale  which  was  blowing  had  upset  his  equilibrium,  by 
tearing  a  great  many  of  his  best  fruits  from  their  legitimate  places  on 
the  trees.  But  after  a  hearty  hand-shake,  and  a  few  minutes’  conver¬ 
sation,  we  dived  into  the  depths  of  Apple  lore.  I  was  astounded  to 
see  such  crops  of  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin.  The  fruits  were  much  above 
the  average  size,  and  the  colours  were  simply  marvellous.  Stirling 
Castle  was  perfection  personified.  The  trees  were  carrying  extremely 
heavy  crops,  and  were  making  a  Dice  growth.  This  and  Lane’s 
Prince  Albert  Mr.  Picker  couples  as  the  most  useful  of  culinary 
Apples.  The  latter  was  in  grand  form,  both  as  regards  crops  and 
weighty  fruits  ;  many  of  the  trees  had  only  been  planted  three  years. 
Ecklinville  Seedling,  Lord  Suffield,  Lord  Grosvenor,  Keswick  CodliD, 
and  the  very  early  sorts,  had  been  gathered,  but  I  was  informed  that 
they  had  carried  heavy  crops  of  fine  fruit.  For  exhibition  Warner’s 
King  and  Peasgood’s  Nonesuch  are  renowned,  and  they  were  here  of 
monstrous  size,  and  will  prove  hard  to  beat  if  the  exhibition  arena  is 
entered  this  autumn. 
Mere  de  Menage  was  carrying  extremely  heavy  crops  of  beautifully 
coloured  fruits,  the  trees  being  perfect  pictures ;  one  fruit  which  the 
gale  had  torn  from  the  tree,  not  the  largest  by  any  means,  turned  the 
scale  at  18  ozs.  Lord  Derby,  with  its  heavy  crops  of  handsome 
fruits,  is  best  described  as  an  ideal  dumpling  Apple.  Tower  of  Glamis, 
with  which  the  gale  had  played  great  havee,  still  retained  sufficient 
for  an  average  crop.  Margil  is  a  great  favourite,  and  the  trees  were 
burdened  with  heavy  crops  of  Apples,  beautiful  both  as  regards  size 
and  colour.  Ribston  Pippin,  I  was  informed,  had  produced  excep¬ 
tionally  heavy  crops  for  the  last  six  or  seven  years,  and  again  was  no 
exception  to  the  rule — indeed,  the  exception  is  to  find  a  tree  without 
a  heavy  crop.  The  fruits  of  Cox’s  Pomona,  on  trees  which  had  bx  en 
planted  three  or  four  years,  were  remarkable  for  their  great  size  and 
colour,  while  Newton  Wonder  more  than  maintains  its  reputation. 
Brownlee’s  Russet,  which  is  so  useful  in  February  and  March,  was 
splendidly  represented,  as  was  the  cook’s  favourite,  Dumelow’s 
Seedling.  This,  I  learnt,  was  carrying  larger  and  finer  fruits  of  a 
much  better  colour  than  it  has  ever  produced  at  Hesslewood  previously. 
Potts’  Seedling  was  heavily  burdened  with  useful  Apples,  while 
Improved  Cockpit,  which  must  be  used  as  soon  as  ready,  bore  an 
excellent  crop. 
Golden  Winter  Pearmain  is  one  of  Mr.  Picker’s  favourites,  which 
means  that  it  is  a  sure  cropper  of  valuable  fruit.  Eve  or  Trumpington 
is  worthy  of  a  place  in  any  collection,  for  its  colour  was  magnificent. 
Ileinette  du  Canada  likewise  was  carrying  heavy  crops.  Alfriston, 
contrary  to  past  experience,  was  practically  barren,  while  Schoolmaster 
was  just  the  reverse.  That  handsome  Apple,  Gascoyne’s  Scarlet,  was 
carrying  bright-coloured  and  large-sized  Apples,  and  was  an  object 
lesson  to  East  Riding  Apple  growers.  Bismarck  must  never  be 
neglected;  it  was  carrying  fine  crops  of  medium-sized  beautiful 
Apples.  Maltster  is  another  exception  to  the  rule  of  general  excel¬ 
lence,  it  having  thrown  its  fruit  owing  to  the  drought.  Small’s 
Admirable  was  carrying  fruit  above  the  average  size,  and  crops  in  the 
way  of  Lane’s  Prince  Albert.  Golden  Spire  deserves  extended  culture, 
and  was  bearing  heavy  crops  of  typical  fruit  above  the  average  size. 
Cellini  has  thrown  its  fruits  owing  to  the  great  drought,  but  it  usually 
bears  a  crop.  Cornish  Aromatic  was  in  splendid  form. 
Then  I  got  a  surprise  and  an  eye-opener,  for  I  found  that  Mr. 
Picker  had  removed  all  the  Peaches,  Apricots,  and  other  fruits,  and  the 
whole  south  wall  of  the  garden  was  planted  with  cordon  Apple  trees. 
Here  was  the  new  Allington  Pippin  carrying  crops  of  handsome  fruits^ 
and  should  its  flavour  come  up  to  expectations  it  will  be  a  strong 
rival  to  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin,  which  is  planted  by  its  side,  and  was 
cropping  equally  as  well  as  on  the  bush  trees  in  the  open  gardens. 
Margil  as  a  cordon,  likewise  Ribston,  was  magnificent.  Warner’s 
King  is  not  satisfactory  as  a  cordon,  as  the  fruits  are  not  as  fine  as 
those  on  bushes.  Baumann’s  Red  Winter  Reinette  was  beautiful,, 
bearing  heavy  crops  of  brightly  coloured  fruits.  Why  should  we  not 
plaDt  more  of  this  class  of  Apple,  which  combines  beauty  with 
usefulness  ? 
There  were  other  varieties  under  cultivation  and  trial,  but  I  think 
I  have  mentioned  enough  to  give  readers  an  idea  of  the  crops  of  Apples 
which  Mr.  Picker  grows  in  these  gardens.  Neither  the  soil  nor  the 
locality  is  ideal  for  Apples,  as  a  stiff,  hard  clay,  which  no  root  will  live 
in,  rises  to  within  a  foot  or  two  of  the  surface.  It  was  easy  to  see  and 
learn  that  Mr.  Picker  had  transformed  the  Apple  trees  under  his  charge 
from  a  barren  to  a  fruitful  state,  and  this  has  been  done  by  no 
haphazard  means,  but  by  attention  and  sound  cultivation.  The 
afternoon  I  spent  at  Hesslewood  was  a  veritable  lesson  to  me  on  hardy 
fruit  culture,  which  he  was  as  pleased  to  impait  as  I  was  to  receive,, 
and  1  look  to  the  time  when  he  will  give  forth  the  fruits  of  his 
knowledge  in  the  pages  of  our  Journal. — J.  T.  B.,  Hessle. 
LILIUM  RUBELLUM. 
This  beautiful  Lily  is  the  most  recently  introduced,  and  without 
exception  the  loveliest  of  Japanese  Lilies  for  pot  culture.  During  the 
last  two  years  it  has  been  sent  to  the  European  and  American  markets 
in  large  quantities ;  but,  unfortunately  for  the  shippers,  at  a  con¬ 
siderable  pecuniary  loss,  through  their  not  sufficiently  appreciating  the 
requirements  for  the  packing  of  the  bulbs.  The  buyers,  on  the  other 
hand,  have  not  been  successful  in  its  cultivation. 
The  blame  for  this  is  due  to  the  exporters  not  giving  their  clients 
a  description  of  the  conditions  which  surround  this  Lily  in  its  native 
habitat.  It  grows  in  the  northern  part  of  Japan,  and  is  therefore  quite 
hardy.  It  is  found  in  Pine  forests  with  a  dense  undergrowth  of 
Bamboo,  the  soil  being  dry  and  poor.  It  follows  that  success  is  likely 
to  attend  its  culture  only  by  keeping  the  above  information  in  mind. 
It  is  therefore  suggested  that  a  poor,  stony  loam  be  used  with  2  inches 
of  drainage  and  three  bulbs  to  a  5-inch  pot,  keeping  the  soil  slightly 
moist.  Over-watering  is  sure  to  be  disastrous.  The  pots  should  be 
kept  in  the  shade,  but  not  such  as  would  naturally  draw  the  plants. 
The  Lily  attains  a  height  of  1  foot,  and  is  compact  and  sturdy  in 
growth.  This  character  should  be  maintained. 
It  may  safely  be  said  of  this  pretty  Lily,  which  blooms  in  April, 
or  earlier,  that  it  will  prove  to  be  the  gem  of  the  greenhouse,  con¬ 
servatory,  or  sitting-room.  In  Yokohama,  out  of  doors,  it  flowers  at 
the  end  of  April  and  beginning  of  May.  It  should  be  grown  on  a 
raised  bed  of  poor,  dry  soil,  and  out  of  the  sun’s  rays,  or  plant  it  on 
a  dry  bank,  facing  east  or  north.  We  in  Yokohama  grow  it  under 
deciduous  shrubs  close  to  the  roots,  where  the  condition  of  dryness  is 
natural,  and  protection  is  secured  from  the  sun’s  rays. 
L.  Ivrameri  grows  in  the  south  of  Japan  under  the  same  conditions 
as  L.  rubellum.  It  flowers  one  montn  later,  takes  the  same  cultural 
treatment,  and  attains  a  height  of  3  feet. — G.  W.  Rogers,  Yokohama. 
[L.  rubellum  was  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Wallace  &  Co.  at  the 
Temple  Show  in  1898,  when  it  received  a  first-class  certificate  from 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  It  is  most  distinct,  and  its  freely 
borne  widely  expanded  cup  shaped  flowers  are  rose  coloured.  If  our 
correspondent’s  suggestions  prove  successful  at  home  it  will  doubtless 
be  of  great  decorative  value  and  become  justly  popular.] 
Poisonous  Plants. — One  of  the  misfortunes  of  our  time  is  that 
there  is  no  attempt  made  to  collate  the  large  number  of  facts  spread 
over  the  literary  world  in  the  various  publications  issued  everywhere. 
The  United  States  Government,  State  establishments,  and  wealthy 
societies  might  well  undertake  tasks  of  this  kind,  but  instead,  they  spend 
time  in  experimenting,  suggesting,  and  noting  about  matters  that  have 
been  abundantly  testified  to  generations  ago.  Just  now  before  us  an 
official  document  notes  the  bare  possibility  that  precocious  ripening  in 
the  Peach  may  indicate  the  beginning  of  the  disease  known  as  the 
yellows,  and  another  giving  a  list  of  the  poisonous  roots  of  plants  growing 
in  the  State,  without  the  slightest  reference  to  the  roots  of  the  common 
Elder,  and  expressing  doubt  about  the  noxious  character  of  the  edible 
Parsnip  in  its  wild  state.  When  Mr.  Hovey,  the  President  of  the  Massa¬ 
chusetts  Horticultural  ^Society,  died,  resolutions  for  the  perpetuation  of 
his  memory  covered  many  suggestions.  The  writer  of  this  paragraph 
suggested  that  that  Society  could  do  no  belter  honour  to  his  memory 
than  to  make  an  index  of  his  valuable  magazine,  that  facts  recorded 
through  this  great  work  would  be  invaluable  to  the  cause  of  horticulture. 
Even  at  this  late  day  the  writer  feels  the  immense  importance  of  such  a 
task,  and  is  making  a  subject  index  of  “Hovey’s  Magazine”  at  his  own 
expense. — (“  Meehan’s  Monthly.”) 
