224 
JOUEA\iL  OF  HOETTCULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDEXER. 
September  3  1896. 
however,  was  Thames  Bank.  This  covered  an  enormous  amount  of  space, 
and  being  near  one  corner  of  the  house,  had  the  advantage  of  an  extra 
amount  of  light,  Stirling  Castle,  Royal  George,  and  Princess  of  Wales 
may  be  mentioned  among  the  other  varieties  grown  as  standards.  As 
soon  88  the  fruit  is  gathered  the  shoots  are  freely  thinned,  and  that  seems 
to  be  the  only  pruning  necessary,  except  to  keep  each  tree  clear  of  its 
neighbour.  Between  these  two  large  houses,  in  a  warm,  sheltered 
position  in  the  open  air,  is  a  standard  Peach  tree,  which  annually  bears 
a  good  crop  of  fruit.  Strange  as  it  may  appear,  it  was  not  planted  in 
the  orthodox  way,  but  simply  laid  in  “  by  the  heels,”  in  soil  having  a 
large  per-centage  of  coal  ashes  in  its  composition.  As  the  conditions 
sppeared  to  suit  the  tree  it  was  allowed  to  remain.  In  such  poor  soil 
tne  growth  made  is  very  short-jointed  and  firm,  and  consequently  ripens 
well.  This  doubtless  accounts  for  the  regular  crops  produced. 
Peach  and  Nectarine  culture  on  walls  in  the  open  air  and  under  glass 
copings  is  conducted  in  a  masterly  way  throughout.  They  are  clean", 
healthy,  and  carrying  grand  crops.  One  very  large  example  frequently 
carries  forty  dozen  fruits,  and  although  I  did  not  take  the  trouble  to 
count,  there  must,  I  think,  have  been  quite  that  number  upon  it  at  the 
time  of  iny  visit.  Sea  Eagle,  that  favourite  variety  for  the  exhibition 
table,  was  in  grand  form,  the  trees  being  large,  strong,  and  the  fruit 
something  to  be  proud  of.  Trees  of  Alexander  had  just  been  cleared  of 
their  crops,  and  Hale’s  Barlj  wanted  a  few  more  sunny  days  to  ripen 
the  highly  coloured  fruits.  All  the  best  varieties  of  both  Peaches  and 
Nectarines  are  grown.  Strong  young  trees  are  planted,  and  after  the 
first  shortening  are  allowed  to  cover  their  allotted  space  as  quickly  as 
possible,  and  yet  we  do  not  find  old  trees  with  bare  branches  at  the  base 
as  the  restrictive  trainers  used  to  tell  ns  we  should.  Pears  on  walls  are 
principally  trained  horizontally  or  as  diagonal  cordons,  and  though  the 
crop  is  not  so  heavy  as  usual,  it  is  by  no  means  a  light  one.  Such  varie¬ 
ties  as  Pitmaston  Duchess,  Glou  Mor§eau,  and  Duchesse  d’AngoulSme 
gave  promise  of  perfecting  many  grand  fruits.  The  collection  includes 
most  of  the  best  varieties,  but  those  enumerated  caught  my  eye  by  their 
censpicuousness,  and  were  remembered  as  old  and  familiar  friends. 
On  entering  one  of  the  fruit  gardens,  enclosed  by  walls,  1  noticed  a 
remarkable  change  had  been  effected  since  my  last  visit,  made  twelve  or 
thirteen  years  ago.  In  this  garden  a  series  of  iron  arches,  fences,  and 
pillars  were  erected  many  years  ago.  Apples  and  Pears  were  planted  and 
trained  to  them  with  mathematical  precision,  and  the  walks  were  edged 
with  low  horizontal  cordons  ;  in  fact,  it  was  quite  a  model  fruit  garden, 
in  which  the  trees  were  trained  in  the  true  French  style.  The  training, 
as  then  practised,  was  perfect ;  but  the  one  thing  necessary  to  complete 
the  picture  was  wanting — viz.,  regular  and  abundant  crops  of  fruit.  The 
labour  expended  upon  the  trees  was  great,  the  reward,  proportionately, 
insignificant.  The  restriction  system  has,  therefore,  been  abandoned, 
and  the  trees,  no  matter  what  their  original  form  of  training  was,  have 
been  allowed  to  grow  freely.  The  shoots  are  now  thinly,  very  thinly, 
disposed,  and  some  of  them  are  shortened  at  the  winter  pruning. 
No  summer  pinching  is  now  practised,  as  Mr.  Woodward  maintains  to 
do  so  is  a  waste  of  time,  and  that  it  is  detrimental  to  the  health  of  the 
t  ees.  That  he  has  good  grounds  for  such  opinions  is  conclusively  shown 
by  the  fine  crops  of  grand  fruits  he  is  able  to  show  visiting  gardeners, 
and  1  doubt  not  that,  before  the  season  is  over,  exhibitors  will  be  able  to 
see  them  “  on  the  boards.”  I  must  not  forget  to  mention  a  good  accom- 
p]  ehment  in  the  way  of  liftirg  Apple  trees.  I  was  shown  four  trees  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  years  old  which  were  lifted  and  planted  in  other 
pc  sitions  last  winter  ;  these  were  quite  healthy,  and  were  carrying  good 
crops  of  fruit.  This  I  think  is  no  mean  achievement  during  a  dry 
season  like  the  present. 
The  stems  of  the  wall  trees  in  the  open  air.  are  at  Barham  Court 
protected  by  virgin  cork  or  bark  stripped  from  other  trees.  Strips 
from  a  foot  to  18  inches  in  length  are  placed  against  the  stem  and 
fastened  by  means  of  string  or  wire  ;  this  Mr.  Woodward  avers  prevents 
the  bark  of  the  young  trees  becoming  hard  and  tough,  and  causes  it 
to  grow  clean  and  smooth.  The  idea  seems  to  me  to  be  a  good  one, 
and  is  certainly  worth  a  trial,  as  when  trees  are  trained  to  a  wall  the 
stem  is  deprived  of  the  protection  from  sun  which  the  branches  give 
to  a  bush  of  standard  trees. 
Where  fruit  is  grown  on  such  an  extensive  scale  water  is,  of  course, 
an  important  item  to  be  reckoned  with.  Fortunately  a  good  supply  is 
obtained  here.  This  is  pumped  from  the  Medws  y  into  a  large  iron  tank, 
whence  it  flows  freely  to  any  part  of  the  garden.  Thus  we  find  that 
soil,  situation,  and  an  ample  supply  of  tepid  water  secure  conditions 
at  once  suitable  for  successful  fruit  growing  and  good  gardening  gene¬ 
rally,  But  these  conditions  will  not  alone  secure  success.  Skill,  energy, 
and  judgment  on  the  part  of  the  chief  are  required  to  us'  such  resources 
to  the  best  advantage.  The  gardens  at  Barham  Court  are  presided  over 
by  such  a  chief,  who  is  fortunate  in  having  a  liberal  and  considerate 
employer,  whom  it  is  at  once  a  pleasure  and  an  honour  to  serve. 
So  much  space  has  been  taken  up  in  attempting  to  do  justice  to  this 
famous  fruit  garden,  that  only  a  few  words  can  be  devoted  to  the  kitchen 
garden  and  glass  department,  but  good  work  is  apparent  everywhere. 
The  houses  are  light  Structures  admirably  adapted  for  growing  plenty 
of  cut  flowers  during  the  winter  months,  and  Tomatoes,  Melons,  Cucum¬ 
bers  in  summer  time.  Bach  of  these  crops  are  grown  in  a  way  that 
shows  their  culture  is  thoroughly  understood.  Indeed,  one  has  only  to 
know  Mr.  G.  Woodward  to  be  convinced  he  is  a  man  who  does  thoroughly 
everything  he  takes  in  hand. 
That  his  geniality  is  not  behind  his  cultural  achievements  I,  for  one, 
can  prove,  for  I  have  to  thank  him  for  causing  me  to  spend  a  few 
pleasant  hours,  which  flew  like  moments  on  the  wings  of  time. — 
E,  Dunkix 
Chrysanthemums  at  Strath pieldsa ye. 
Two  things  may  prevent  the  Duke  of  VVellington’s  able  gardener^ 
Mr,  McHattie,  from  competing  at  the  N  A.C.S.  grand  Jubilee  show  in 
November  next.  The  first  is  one  I  would  rather  not  refer  to,  and  the 
second  the  possibility,  such  as  besets  all  human  efforts,  that  some 
unlooked-for  failure  may  come  ere  the  competition  is  due.  But  so  far 
as  human  ability  can  prepare  for  the  competition,  it  does  seem  aa  if 
there  had  been  no  lack  of  effort  at  Strathfieldfaye.  . 
There  is  indeed  a  large  stock  of  plants  in  the  finest  possible  condition, 
and  such  as  affords  to  their  experienced  grower  the  highest  satisfaction. 
In  all  counted,  marshalled  in  long  lines  of  from  twenty  to  100,  very 
nearly  1200  of  these  show  bloom  producing  plants,  mainly  in  10-inch 
pots,  though  perhaps  one-fourth  are  in  rather  smaller  ones.  In  many 
cases  buds  have  been  taken,  but  in  many  more  they  were  just  being- 
taken.  As  to  varieties  they  are  innumerable.  It  is  not  possible 
apparently  to  mention  one  of  repute  but  the  reply  is  "  We  have  it,”  and 
very  likely  150  varieties,  all  of  the  finest  form,  will  produce  none  too 
many  from  which  to  select  seventy-two  distinct  blooms  in  November 
next.  The  plants  have  retained  their  leafage  well,  and  the  wood  is 
bard. 
There  is  no  evidence  of  mildew,  and  should  aphis  appear  it  is  soon 
removed  by  applications  of  efllcient  insecticides.  Watering  is  done  very 
carefully  and  intelligently.  It  is  very  evident  the  man  in  whose  charge 
the  plants  are  thoroughly  understands  the  philosophy  of  Chrysan¬ 
themum  watering.  Apart  from  this  huge  batch  there  are  several 
hundreds  of  plants  grown  for  conservatory  or  cutting  purposes.  How 
many  other  of  the  great  private  growers  there  may  be  who  are  preparing 
for  the  greatest  Chrysanthemum  contest  of  the  century  it  would  be  hard 
to  say.  Probably  just  now  everyone  regards  his  prospects  of  success  as 
rosy.  Would  that  all  could  secure  the  full  reward  their  great  efforts  so 
truly  deserve. — A.  D. 
M.  Calvat's  Jubilee  Varieties. 
Within  the  past  few  years  Mons.  Calvat  has  done  much  toward® 
adding  to  and  improving  the  Japanese  section  of  Chrysanthemums  by 
the  introduction  of  new  and  superior  varieties — to  wit,  Madame  Carnot, 
itself,  perhaps,  the  finest  Chrysanthemum  in  existence  at  the  present 
time.  Early  in  the  present  year  he  introduced  and  distributed  no  less 
than  thirty -four  sorts,  which  he  styled  his  Jubilee  set  in  commemoration 
of  the  celebration  of  the  N.C.S.  festival.  From  the  raiser’s  point  of 
view,  the  balk  of  these  are  a  distinct  gain  to  the  Chrysanthemum  world  f 
but  this,  of  course,  remains  to  be  proved. 
So  freely  were  they  distributed  amongst  leading  English  cultivators 
that  abundant  opportunity  has  been  given  to  test  the  ability  of  the  bulk 
of  them  to  uphold  their  recommendation.  Mons.  Calvat  is  far  too 
shrewd  a  man  of  business  and  too  good  a  judge  of  the  flower  to  allow 
his  enthusiasm  for  certain  varieties  to  get  the  better  of  discretion  in 
sounding  their  praises  that  we  may  safely  look  to  the  majority  of  the  set 
giving  us  superior  blossoms.  Quoting  from  a  letter  from  M.  Calvat  him¬ 
self  in  the  spring  he  says,  “  In  my  opinion,  Calvat’s  A.  Gold  is  superior 
even  to  Madame  Carnot.”  From  this  remark  I  am  looking  anxiously  to 
the  time  when  the  first  bloom  of  this  new  Chrysanthemum  opens  itself 
to  English  gaze. 
Judging  from  the  growth  of  no  less  than  twenty-  even  of  the  thirty- 
four  sorts  I  have  here  on  trial,  I  note  a  distinct  improvement  in  the 
habit.  Instead  of  the  tall,  weakly,  attenuated  style  which  some  new 
varieties  formerly  contained,  the  present  set  offers  a  distinct  contrast 
in  this  respect.  With  me  the  plants  range  from  2  feet  high  to  5  feet 
6  inches.  In  no  case  will  any  grow  beyond  2  yards  this  year  ;  perhaps- 
next  year,  with  stronger  plants  to  stare  with,  we  may  find  them  a  trifle 
taller. 
Especially  pleasing,  however,  are  the  bulk  of  the  set  in  this  respect.. 
M.  Edouard  Andre  is  noteworthy.  Though  only  3  feet  in  height  the 
plant  carries  a  profusion  of  large  deeply  coloured  green  leaves,  and  is 
furnished  with  most  promising  buds,  apparently  “  taken  ”  at  the  rigiit 
moment  to  give  satisfactory  blooms.  L’Emindra  is  adother  exhibiting 
similar  tendencies  ;  the  manner  of  growth  is  all  that  could  be  desired. 
Madame  Gustave  Henry  should  please  the  severe  critic  of  the  lanky 
growing  section.  Perfectly  formed  buds  are  procurable  on  plants  3  feet 
6  inches  from  the  top  of  the  pot.  M.  Villeneuve  Butel  has  gone  6  inches 
higher  than  the  preceding,  and  is  furnished  with  a  profusion  of  deeply 
cut  leaves. 
Baronne  Ad.  de  Rothschild  with  me  is  the  least  satisfactory  of  all  in 
the  matter  of  growth.  The  two  plants  have  lost  their  foliage  fully  three 
parts  up.  The  leaves  first  exhibit  a  dark  speck  which  spreads  rapidly. 
Perhaps  other  growers  will  say  if  this  is  peculiar  to  the  variety,  or  must 
I  put  it  down  to  cultural  deficiency  ?  Madame  J.  Bernard  has  especially 
dark  leaves  and  stems  from  3  feet  to  4  feet  high  with  perfectly  formed 
flower  buds.  M.  Hoste  grows  but  2  feet  6  inches  high,  with  extra  stout 
leafstalks.  Calvat’s  A.  Gold  has  extra  dark  purple  coloured  stems  and 
dense  green  leaves,  in  height  ranging  from  3  feet  to  5  feet  high,  according 
to  the  date  of  bud  taking. 
Mount  8t.  Eynard  is  a  fac-simile  of  Edwin  Molyneux  in  point  ot 
