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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  23,  1899. 
which  gives  much  promise  an  a  bush,  Northern  Greening.  Winter 
Hawthornden,  Stone’s,  The  Queen,  Potts’  Seedling,  Queen  Caroline,  Peas- 
good’s  Nonesuch — which  is  not  a  good  bearer  atSyon — and  Sandringham 
are  some  of  the  better  cooking  varieties.  Dessert  sorts  are  numerously 
grown,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  Mr.  Gladstone,  Mother,  St. 
Edmund’s  Pippin — a  variety  Mr.  Wythes  thinks  highly  of — Scarlet  Non¬ 
pareil,  White  Transparent,  Wealthy,  Sturmer  Pippin,  James  Grieve, 
Irish  Peach,  and  Lady  Sudeley  as  a  portion  that  have  fruited  well  this 
year. 
Peaks. 
Pears  are  as  extensively  and  as  well  grown  as  Apples,  and  these 
occupy  a  large  extent  of  wall  space — east,  west  and  north  aspects — both  as 
espalier  and  cordon-trained.  The  latter  form  an  interesting  and  extensive 
collection,  and  furnish  many  dishes  of  fine  exhibition  fruit,  Beurrd  Diel 
fruits  splendidly,  as  also  do  Glou  Morceau  and  Durondeau,  Le  Lacteur, 
Beurrd  Bachelier,  Beurre  Baltet  P6re — fine  as  a  cordon — Beurre  Ranee, 
Fondante  d’Automne,  Conference,  Marie  Benoist,  Pitrnaston  Dnchess, 
Marie  Louise,  Nouvelle  Fulvie,  LouislBonne  of  Jersey,  and  Doyenne  du 
Cornice. 
The  collection  is  such  an  extensive  one  that  to  give  a  complete  list 
would  need  too  much  space,  but  a  few  of  the  newer  and  uncommon  sorts 
deserve  mention  that  are  both  grown  in  pyramid  and  cordon  forms.  Mag¬ 
nate,  Marguerite  Marillat  (fig.  80),  President  d’Osmonville,  Triomphe  de 
Vienne,  Dr.  Jules  Guyot,  Docteur  Joubert,  Fondante  de  Thirriott,  Beurrd 
Moitillet,  Baron  Leroy,  and  Bellissime  d’Hiver  are  a  few  of  the  prominent 
ones  that  are  good. 
Stone  Fruits. 
Peaches  on  the  open  walls  are  extensively  planted,  and  a  finer  stock  of 
trees,  numerically  and  culturally,  I  have  never  seen  in  a  private  garden. 
Though  the  soil  is  light,  and  bhe  past  summer  has  been  so  hot,  the  trees 
were  perfectly  healthy,  almost  robust  in  their  growth,  and  free  from 
insect  attacks.  From  500  to  600  feet  run  of  wall  is  devoted  to  Peaches 
and  Nectarines,  the  aspects  varying  from  south  to  north.  This  is  the 
only  instance  where  I  have  come  across  Peaches  trained  to  a  north  wall, 
and  they  appeared  as  happy  as  the  others  more  favoured.  No  coping 
beyond  that  which  the  capping  of  the  wall  furnishes  is  used,  and  blister 
is  almost  unknown  in  spring. 
Several  bush  trees  were  noted  growing  in  a  south  border,  probably 
10  or  12  feet  from  the  wall ;  these  Mr.  Wythes  is  inclined  to  move  to  a 
cooler  position,  with  a  view  to  retarding  their  flowering  in  spring.  The 
varieties  that  do  best  outside  are  Hale’s  Early,  Amsden  June,  Waterloo, 
Royal  George,  Grosse  Mignonne,  Stirling  Castle,  Bellegarde,  Crimson 
Galande.  Dymond,  Nectarine  Peach,  Sea  Eagle,  Late  Devonian  and 
Golden  Eagle. 
Plums  are  not  such  a  success  as  Peaches,  the  soil  not  being  so  well 
suited  to  them  ;  but  Apricots  rarely  fail  to  bear  heavy  crops,  a  long 
length  of  wall  facing  south-west  being  fully  furnished.  Cherries, 
like  Apricots,  do  capitally,  and  extend  over  a  long  season,  mostly  from 
west  and  north  walls.  Governor  Wood,  Early  Rivers,  Bigarreau 
Napoleon,  most  of  the  Duke  section,  and  St.  Margaret  are  the  sorts  most 
largely  grown. 
Strawberries, 
An  acre  of  ground  is  devoted  to  Strawberries  for  the  summer  crop,  the 
greater  portion  of  the  plants  being  treated  as  annuals.  This  system  Mr. 
Wythes  finds  to  be  one  best  suited  to  his  soil,  but  it  entails  a  considerable 
amount  of  labour.  Runners  are  layered  early,  and  planted  as  soon  as 
there  is  vacant  ground  ready,  the  clearance  of  early  spring  vegetables 
providing  suitable  sites.  The  plants,  as  I  saw  them,  were  strong  in  leaf 
and  crown,  and  gave  promise  of  a  good  crop  in  due  time.  Royal 
Sovereign  is  the  most  largely  grown,  and  suits  the  soil  well,  Vicomtesse 
is  prized  for  preserving,  and  President  for  its  high  flavour.  Others, 
including  the  late  section,  are  planted  in  lesser  numbers.  The  ground 
cleared  of  Strawberries  comes  in  conveniently  for  planting  winter 
vegetables,  that  are  better  for  having  firm  soil. 
The  demands  for  bush  fruits  would  naturally  be  heavy,  and  require 
considerable  numbers  of  trees  in  their  several  kinds.  Gooseberries  were 
grown  as  trained  cordons,  and  a  new  trellis  was  ibeing  prepared  for  them 
to  replace  others,  or  to  supplement  existing  stock. 
From  the  foregoing  notes  it  will  be  observed  that  the  hardy  fruit 
department  is  both  extensive  and  well  carried  out  under  the  able  director¬ 
ship  of  Mr.  Wythes,  and  his  staff  certainly  deserve  a  word  of  commenda¬ 
tion  for  the  excellence  of  their  work  in  every  detail.  The  day  chosen  for 
my  visit  was  an  unfortunate  one,  rain  continuing  from  the  commencement 
until  the  close  of  the  inspection  of  the  several  departments.  Some  notes  on 
the  indoor  fruit  shall  form  the  subject  of  another  paper,  which  I  may,  in 
passing,  say  is,  in  a  measure,  as  extensive  as  the  outdoor  grown.  Of 
fruit  rooms  there  are  several,  but  the  principal  one  is  a  commodious 
structure  admirably  fitted  up  with  suitable  staging.— W.  S. 
Tomato  Golden  Nugget.  —  The  disfavour  in  which  yellow- 
fruited  Tomatoes  have  been  for  a  long  time  held  seems,  I  think,  to  be 
passing  away,  at  any  rate  as  regards  the  smaller  kinds,  and  the  variety 
named  above  is  certainly  worth  growing.  The  fruits  occur  in  a  dis¬ 
tichous  bunch  or  raceme,  rather  than  in  clusters,  like  most  sorts,  and 
are  individually  as  large  as  a  small  Walnut.  They  look  extremely 
pretty  dished  up  on  Fig  leaves  or  on  the  foliage  of  a  Vine  that  colours 
well,  like  Gros  Guillaume  or  Madresfield  Court.  They  have  been 
used  for  dessert  on  several  occasions  this  year,  and  though  some  may 
think  them  out  of  place,  they  certainly  look  very  nice,  and  are  freely 
eaten. — C.  H. 
Recent  Weather  in  London.— The  weather  in  London  during 
the  past  few  days  has  been  somewhat  more  seasonable,  and  there  have  been 
one  or  two  night  frosts.  No  rain  has  fallen  since  Saturday,  but  each  day 
has  brought  slight  fogs.  Tuesday  was  raw  and  cold,  with  local  fogs.  At 
the  time  of  goirg  to  press  on  Wednesday  it  was  hazy  but  mild. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Examinations  in 
Horticulture,  1900. — The  day  suggested  for  the  examination,  April 
17th,  being  Easter  Tuesday,  and  highly  inconvenient  to  many,  has  been 
altered  to  Wednesday,  April  25th. 
-  Tomato  Eclipse. — This  has  again  been  one  of  the  most  useful 
Tomatoes  I  have  grown.  The  fruit  is  about  the  same  size  as  that  of 
Conference,  and,  like  it,  of  excellent  shape,  but  according  to  my  expe¬ 
rience  it  is  a  good  deal  earlier  and  more  free  fruiting.  It  sets  well  early 
in  the  year,  and  the  fruit  on  even  my  earliest  plants  had  to  be  very 
severely  thinned  The  Tomatoes  are  grown  on  about  3  inches  ol 
soil  for  a  start,  and  fed  by  top-dressing  as  the  season  advances,  never 
giving  anything  in  the  way  of  stimulants  until  the  first  fruits  have  set 
and  are  swelling  freely. — H.  R.  Richards. 
-  Resting  Ferns. — Though  always  green  and  fresh,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  many  of  our  evergreen  Ferns  take  a  distinct  resting  season, 
and  at  such  times  should  not  be  subjected  to  forcing  conditions.  In 
many  instances — especially  where  Ferns  are  grown  for  cutting  for  sale 
— an  attempt  is  made  to  keep  them  growing  when  they  should  be  at 
rest,  and  although  for  a  time  the  plan  is  successful  the  plants  soon 
tire  of  the  unnatural  conditions,  and  fail  to  break  strongly.  The 
longer  they  are  treated  thus  the  worse  for  them,  and  those  having  fine 
forms  and  varieties  under  their  charge  will  be  wise  in  keeping  an  eye 
on  the  finishing  growths,  and  when  activity  is  past  for  the  season  treat 
them  accordingly. — Grower. 
-  Pear  Beurre  de  Capiaumont.  —  Among  autumn-ripening 
Pears  this  variety  is  worthy  of  extended  cultivation,  being  a  great  and 
almost  constant  bearer ;  also  an  excellent  market  fruit.  It  is  of  good 
appearance  with  its  obtuse  pyriform  shape,  almost  covered  with  fine 
cinnamon-coloured  russet,  and  reddish  orange  shining  out  through  the 
russet  on  the  side  next  the  sun.  The  flesh  is  buttery,  melting,  with  a  rich 
vinous  and  sugary  flavour.  It  keeps  sound  for  some  time  after  it  is  ripe 
if  stored  in  a  cool  temperature.  It  does  very  well  on  the  Quince  stock, 
and  bears  abundantly  in  quite  a  young  state.  It  forms  a  handsome 
pyramid,  especially  on  the  Pear  stock.  It  is  somewhat  variable  as 
regards  quality,  with  which  the  season  has  more  to  do  than  the  soil.  It 
succeeds  well  either  as  a  cordon,  espalier,  or  wall  tree.  It  is  also  well 
adapted  for  the  northern  parts  of  our  island. — W.  G. 
-  Insect  or  Other  Plant  Pests. — It  was  the  other  day 
remarked  to  me  as  very  odd,  that  although  we  have  had  two  specially  hot 
dry  summers,  with  mild  winters,  yet  tnat  generally  insect  pests  have 
given  comparatively  little  trouble.  Cold  seasons  seem  with  us  here  to 
breed  these  pests  more  freely  than  hot  dry  ones  do.  In  America  the 
comparatively  dry  atmosphere  seems  to  breed  pests  wholesale,  if  we  may 
judge  from  the  frequent  publication  of  information  respecting  these  depre¬ 
datory  insects  and  means  of  battling  with  them.  Many  of  the  remedies 
used  in  America  seem  to  be  quite  uncalled  for  here.  The  troublesome 
Onion  maggot  seems  to  have  almost  entirely  disappeared.  This  form  of 
pest  has  not  materially  troubled  Carrots,  but  aphi3  did  to  an  unusual 
extent,  and  this  pest  with  the  Cabbage  beetle  gave  more  trouble  than  all 
others  put  together.  Both  were  very  difficult  to  combat,  because  gene¬ 
rated  so  rapidly  by  the  very  hot  soil  and  atmosphere.  But  these  pests  after 
all  were  more  the  passing  effects  of  a  season,  and  a  good  soaking  winter 
may  destroy  their  progeny  materially.  But  fruits  have  suffered  little. 
Apple  caterpillars,  or  those  of  the  lackeymoth,  have  given  little  trouble,  the 
Pear  slug  has  not  been  conspicuous,  and  even  the  feared  Black  Currant 
mite  has  been  little  heard  of  outside  certain  Kentish  districts.  Fungoid 
diseases  have  given  little  trouble  also.  Of  course,  with  cold  wet  seasons 
these  may  return  in  force,  because  they  thrive  under  such  conditions. 
But,  on  the  whole,  taking  the  season  generally,  gardeners  have  to  admit 
that  beyond  the  special  vegetable  troubles  named  very  little  harm  has  been 
done  by  insect  pests.  All  the  same,  when  they  do  exist  they  should  be 
fought  with  persistency. — A.  D. 
