July  9,  1896. 
JOURN-AL  OF  HORTIGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
B5 
- -  Vitality  of  Seeds. — Prof.  Wm.  Saunders,  the  Director  of 
the  Dominion  Experimental  Farms,  has  made  the  interesting  and 
practical  usefal  discovery  that  the  vitality  of  seeds  is  largely  affected 
by  the  season  in  which  they  are  gathered.  For  instance,  he  found  that 
in  1894  a  large  number  of  cereals  had  a  much  larger  percentage  of 
growth  than  in  1893  and  1895.  If  this  had  occurred  in  only  a  single 
instance  it  would  not  have  proved  much,  but  the  results  followed  along 
a  long  line  of  articles, — (“  Meehans’  Monthly.”) 
-  Killinq-  Wireworms. — A  remedy  that  has  been  successfully 
adopted  in  America,  in  cases  where  wireworms  are  plentiful,  might  well 
be  given  a  trial  here.  The  great  necessity  for  killing  the  beetles  before 
they  have  had  a  chance  of  depositing  their  eggs  has  been  grasped,  and 
poisoned  bait  is  distributed  over  the  fields  where  the  beetles  are  present. 
Cut  Clover  having  been  proved  to  be  a  very  fetching  bait  bunches  of  it 
are  dipped  in  some  arsenical  preparation  before  being  spread  out  to 
invite  the  depredators.  The  results  are  stated  to  be  highly  satisfactory 
from  a  cultivator’s  point  of  view. 
-  Carrots. — I  find  Carrots  to  be  in  small  gardens  and  on  allot¬ 
ments  rather  irregular  this  season.  That  is  no  doubt  largely  due  to  the 
great  dryness  of  the  spring,  seed  having  germinated  indifferently.  But 
it  is  evident  also  that  the  maggot  has  been  actively  at  work  amongst 
the  plants,  another  product  to  some  extent  of  the  drought,  as  whilst 
moisture  is  obnoxious  to  the  moth  or  fly  when  the  breeding  season 
prevails,  it  is  equally  the  case  that  moisture  helps  to  more  rapid  growth, 
and  thus  even  where  the  maggot  is  abundant  less  harm  is  done.  But  it 
is  equally  evident,  and,  indeed,  almost  strange,  that  the  Onion  maggot 
has  done  very  little  harm  generally  ;  spring-sown  Onions  are  very  good. 
Where  there  is  thinness  it  is  due  not  to  the  maggot,  but  to  bad  germina¬ 
tion  of  seed,  owing  to  the  dryness.  Why  the  Onion  maggot  should  seem 
to  be  so  harmless  this  year  is  odd,  as  it  might  have  been  expected  that 
the  warmth  and  dryness  both  of  last  year  and  the  present  one  so  far 
would  have  been  particularly  promotive  of  insect  development. — Aj  D. 
— ^  Tasmania^  Apple  Orchards.  —  The  trees  in  the  Apple 
orchards  of  Tasmania,  from  which  a  great  deal  of  fruit  is  shipped  to 
England  every  spring,  are  planted  closely,  sometimes  12  feet  apart  each 
way,  but  usually  10  feet  apart  each  way.  They  have  a  short  main  trunk 
or  none  at  all,  with  from  five  to  nine  main  branches  starting  as  nearly 
as  possible  from  the  ground  and  forming  an  inverted  cone  open  in  the 
centre.  Each  of  these  branches  is  kept  covered  with  fruit  spurs  as 
nearly  as  possible  down  to  the  ground,  and  therefore  a  large  portion  of 
the  Apples  are  borne  below  the  point  where  our  own  trees  carry  any 
fruit  at  all.  Summer  pruning  is  practised  before  the  Apples  have 
matured,  so  as  to  check  prolific  growth  and  encourage  fruiting,  and 
partly  to  let  the  sun  in  and  give  the  Apples  colour.  This  also  is  the 
reason  for  having  the  centre  of  the  tree  open,  because  the  fruit  does  not 
colour  as  well  as  it  does  in  climates  which  are  drier  and  more  sunny. 
In  some  cases  a  stake  is  driven  into  the  ground  near  the  trunk  and 
passes  up  through  the  centre  of  the  tree,  and  the  branches  are  supported 
by  twine  attached  like  umbrella  ribs  to  this  central  stake.  In 
other  cases  props  are  used  to  hold  up  the  limbs.  A  very  interesting 
description  of  these  orchards,  with  illustrations  showing  the  low  and 
closely  pruned  trees  loaded  with  fruit,  is  found  in  “  The  Garden  and 
Field,”  published  in  Adelaide,  South  Australia. 
-  The  Beach  Plum. — The  Beach  Plum  is  a  big  bushy  shrub  or 
a  small  bushy  tree  found  wild  in  abundance  in  sandy  banks  along  the 
seashore.  There  is  a  current  impression  that  the  Beach  Plum  grows 
only  3  or  4  feet  high,  but  this  is  wrong.  We  had  it  15  feet  high  at 
Dosoris,  g,nd  when  we  used  to  cut  it  back,  young  growths  2  to  3  feet 
long  would  shoot  up  in  a  year.  Along  the  seacoast  at  Dosoris  it  was 
quite  plentiful.  As  a  wild  plant  it  is  one  of  our  most  beautiful  shrubs, 
and,  fortunately,  it  is  perfectly  at  home  in  cultivated  grounds.  In  the 
garden  it  roots  well,  grows  well,  looks  well  all  summer,  blooms  with  the 
utmost  profusion,  and  later  on  ripens  a  heavy  crop  of  little  purple  Plums. 
Although  the  fruit  is  edible  and  gathered  and  used  for  preserves,  it  is  not 
a  Plum  the  small  boy  will  ever  hanker  after  ;  and  it  is  as  much  insect 
stung  and  wormy  as  are  any  other  Plums  we  know  of.  The  flowers  are 
small,  white,  and  produced  in  such  abundance  on  the  still  leafless 
branchlets  as  to  give  the  shrubbery  the  appearance  of  a  bank  of  snow. 
For  seaside  planting,  that  is,  for  places  where  the  salt  water  may  now 
and  then  wash  over  the  roo^s,  we  have  nothing,  says  an  American  con¬ 
temporary,  better  for  use  than  the  Beach  Plum.  It  stands  pruning  well, 
and,  strange  to  say,  although  a  denizen  of  our  sandy  seashores,  it  likes 
good  garden  ground  when  it  can  get  it ;  but  it  is  grateful  for  a  foothold 
anywhere, 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Eesults  op  EXAMIA'ATIONS, 
Several  correspondents  having  written  requesting  the  results  of  the 
examinations  in  horticulture,  held  on  May  6th,  we  herewith  publish 
them  with  the  Examiners’  report  in  accordance  with  official  list  forwarded 
to  us  by  the  Council  of  the  Society. 
Examiners’  Report. 
To  the  President  and  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
Gentlemen, — We  beg  leave  to  report  that  we  have  examined  the 
papers  submitted  to  us — in  all  152. 
Of  these  we  selected  sixteen  as  worthy  to  be  placed  in  the  first  class, 
fifty-three  in  the  second,  and  forty-nine  in  the  third.  The  remainder 
were  passed  over. 
The  candidates  were  distributed  over  the  whole  of  Great  Britain,  but 
no  papers  were  received  from  Ireland. 
The  examination,  as  a  whole,  shows,  in  our  opinion,  that  a  more 
intelligent  appreciation  of  the  principles  underlying  practical  horti¬ 
culture  is  prevalent  than  was  the  case  in  previous  years  ;  nevertheless, 
there  is  abundant  evidence  to  show  that  if  the  hands  are  trained  to 
work,  the  eyes  are  not  correspondingly  taught  how  and  what  to  see. 
Correct  observation  of  the  most  common  objects  is  still  rare  except 
among  those  who  have  had  the  advantage  of  adequate  training. 
MAXIMUM  NUMBER  OF  MARKS  OBTAINABLE,  300. 
First 
No.  of  Marks. 
1.  E.  T.  Hearn,  Chelmsford  ..  255 
2.  W.  Pratchett,  Chelmsford  . .  240 
3.  W.  H.  Patterson,  Chelms¬ 
ford . 237 
4.  W.  Q.  Martin,  Chelmsford  . .  235 
5.  Joseph  Mitchell,  Crewe  . .  230 
6.  Miss  Gertrude  Cope,  Swanley  227 
7.  F.  J.  Chittenden,  Chelms¬ 
ford  . ,  . . 225 
8.  J.  AV.  Dupre,  Handforth  . .  217 
Cl.\ss. 
No.  of  Marks. 
9.  Miss  F.  M.  G.  Micklethwait, 
Swanley  ..  ..  ..  215 
10.  H.  Ward,  Derby  ..  ..213 
11.  F.  C.  Stacey,  Chelmsford  . .  210 
12.  Arthur  H.  Beeby,  Chelmsford  207 
13.  Miss  S.  L.  Saunders,  Chelms¬ 
ford  . ,  . .  . .  . .  205 
13.  Miss  H.  AV.  Hotten,  Swanley  205 
13.  John  R.  Giles,  Dudley  . .  2o5 
16.  Miss  A.  Geoghegan,  Swanley  200 
Second  Class. 
1.  J.  Laws,  AVimbledon. .  ..  195 
1.  J.  H.  Annear,  Chelmsford  . .  195 
1.  A.  Owens,  Kemsing  . .  ..  195 
1.  Miss  L.  Saunders,  C^helmsford  195 
1.  Miss  Una  Barker,  Swanley. .  195 
1.  C.  J.  Langley,  Chelmsford  . .  195 
7.  J.  H.  AVilliams,  Chester  . .  190 
7.  H.  Swain,  Dudley  ..  ..  190 
7.  E.  AV.  Cork,  Leicester  . .  190 
7.  J.  Hill,  Chelmsford  . .  . .  190 
7.  Miss  0.  Field,  Swanley  . .  190 
7.  Miss  E.  Malden,  Stroud  . .  190 
13.  B.  F.  Mason,  Stourbridge  ..  185 
13.  H.  Brook,  Nelson  ..  ..  186 
13.  R.  Bellerby,  Askham  Richard  185 
13.  A.  D.  Henderson,  Swanley  . .  185 
13.  Miss  E.  A.  Ford,  Swanley  ..  185 
18.  W.  E.  Stevens,  Brierly  Hill .  180 
18.  J.  Poulter,  Accrington  . .  180 
18.  J.  Child,  Altrincham  . ,  180 
IR  Miss  N.  Guinn,  Swanley  . .  180 
18.  Miss  H.  N.  Payne,  Swanley  .  180 
23.  Miss  L.  A.  Dunington, 
Swanley  ..  ..  ..  175 
23.  N.  AVarren,  Darwen. .  ..  175 
25.  Miss  L.  Udall,  Swanley  . .  170 
25.  E.  Smith,  Burnley  ..  170 
Third 
1.  L.  Farraar,  Swanley,^  ..  145 
1.  J.  Collett,  AYordsley. .  ..  145 
1.  H.  J.  Smith,  Clifton..  ..  145 
1.  C.  H.  Barden,  Swanley  ..  145 
1.  C.  J.  George,  Swanley  . .  145 
6.  E.  Allard,  Cambridge  . .  140 
6.  Miss  0.  L.  A'erney,  Kingston 
Hill . 140 
6.  T,  Lyon,  Aigburth  . .  . .  140 
6.  G.  H.  AVUcking,  Leicester  ..  140 
6.  Miss  M.  White,  Chelmsford  140 
G.  G.  P.  Selden,  Reigate  . ,  140 
6.  S.  Andrews,  Farnham  ..  140 
13.  H.  Phillips,  Dudley..  ..  135 
13.  F.  R.  AVilley,  Forest  Hill  ..  135 
13.  T.  Woof,  Dudley  ..  ..  135 
13.  A.  Evans,  AVarrington  ..  135 
13.  F.  Iiazenb}',  Cambridge  ..  135 
18.  A.  Jewell,  Swanley  ..  ..  130 
18.  M.  Tucker,  Swanley. .  ..  130 
18.  Miss  E.  Barrett,  Chelmsford  130 
18.  J.  C.  Scammell,  Salisbury  . .  130 
18.  J.  W.  Thompson,  Coniston..  130 
23.  H.  Blundell,  Swanley  . .  125 
23.  J.  W.  Bamforth,  Dudley  . .  125 
23.  John  Sutton,  Stourbridge  . .  125 
23.  G.  Underwood,  Leicester  . ,  125 
I  25.  A.  Randall,  Aigburth  ..  170 
I  25.  Hans  Trier,  Champion  Hill . .  170 
29.  M.  Baton,  Stewarton  ..  165 
;  29.  AV.  J.  Butler,  Swanley  . .  165 
31.  R.  Oddie,  Lymm  ..  ..  160 
I  31.  A.  D.  Thompson,  Swanley  ..  160 
I  31.  A.  A.  Stevens,  Farnham  ..  160 
i  31.  G.  Sherman,  Woodbridge  ..  160 
!  31.  E.  Jackson,  Aigburth  ..  160 
31.  H.  S.  Langford,  Swanley  .  ..  160 
31.  A.  J.  Cocks,  Swanley  ..  160 
31.  G.  A tkey,  Swanley  ..  ..  160 
I  39.  J.  Ettle,  Swansea  alley  ..  157 
40.  C.  Lawrance,  Swanley  . .  155 
40.  Miss  E.  M.  Groome,  Swanley  155 
:  40.  I.  Godber,  Chesterfield  . .  155 
I  40.  G.  AV.  Brookbank,Wimbledon  155 
40.  A.  N.  Pierce,  Redhill  . .  155 
i  45.  H.  Greenfield,  Swanley  ..  150 
45.  Miss  E.  A.  Benians,  Swanley  160 
I  45.  A.  George,  Cambridge  . .  150 
,  45.  A.  D.  Morris,  Chester  . .  150 
:  45.  F.  Pownall,  Great  Haywood  .  150 
45.  AA'.  Bygrave,  Royston  ..  150 
45.  J.  Slack,  Holmes  Chapel  . .  150 
.  45.  C.  E.  Walter,  Swanley  ..  150 
I  45.  J,  Read,  Holmes  Chapel  . .  150 
Class. 
i  27.  John  Snell,  Tadcaster  . .  120 
27.  0.  D.  Carter.  Chelmsford  . .  120 
27.  AV.  AValker,  Coulsdon  . .  120 
27-  G.  Cole,  Salisbury . 120 
27.  N.  E.  Hopkins,  Southend-on- 
Sea  . .  . .  . .  . .  120 
I  32.  Miss  A.  Morison,  Sw'anley  ..  115 
‘  32.  A.  So wman,  Woodbridge  ..  115 
32.  W.  Pascoe,  Southampton  ..  115 
32.  F.  Holt,  Accrington . 115 
36.  J.  Barkham,  Ryde,  LAV.  ..  112 
37.  Miss  N.  V.  M.  Baker,  Chelms¬ 
ford .  ..  110 
37.  G.  H.  Hodgson,  Grantham..  110 
37.  W.  G.  Cole,  Richmond  ..  110 
37.  AV.  Jennings,  Holmes  Chapel  110 
37.  J.  Loder,  Abingdon  . .  ..  110 
37.  J.  S.  Thompson,  Swanley  ..  110 
37.  Miss  J.  Newsham,  Swanley  110 
;  44.  Miss  A.  N.  Roach,  Alderley 
Edge  ..  ..  ..  105 
45.  W.  Pilcher,  Swanley  . .  100 
45.  W.  Sproston,  Great  Haywood  100 
45.  H.  D.  Prosser,  Glasbur’y  ..  100 
45.  J.  K.  Elsie,  Merstbam  . .  100 
I  45.  G.  F.  Dale,  Little  Haywood  100 
