October  8,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
351 
-  The  First  Snow  of  the  Season.— Under  the  above  heading 
we  read  in  an  evening  newspaper  that  the  Grampians  in  Scotland  and 
Snowdon  in  Wales,  were  “  enveloped  in  a  mantle  of  white”  on  Tuesday. 
- Education  in  Gardening.— Mr.  John  Ettle,  The  Gardens, 
Glais  House,  Glamorgan,  has  been  appointed  assistant  lecturer  at 
University  College,  Notts,  under  the  joint  county  scheme  of  agricultural 
and  horticultural  education. 
-  Unwelcome  Visitors. — The  Ceylon  Botanic  Gardens  have 
bad  some  unwelcome  visitors  of  late.  The  “National  Nurseryman”  says 
five  wild  elephants  prowling  about  the  gardens  caused  considerable 
damage  by  tearing  up  water  piping,  A  group  of  monkeys  invaded  the 
garden  and  destroyed  a  Flame  Tree,  while  Sawbeer  deer  ate  and  broke 
down  shrubs,  and  it  was  necessary  to  rout  the  animals  with  packs  of 
hounds. 
- The  Rabbit  and  Buttercups. — A  Co.  Dublin  farmer  has 
made  the  discovery  that  the  rabbit  can  do  a  great  deal  of  good  in  one 
way — that  of  getting  rid  of  the  troublesome  Buttercup,  which  often 
proves  such  a  plague  in  grass  land.  This  gentleman  had  some  rich 
alluvial  land  along  the  banks  of  the  river  LifEey  which  had  become 
completely  overrun  by  Buttercups,  His  son  started  a  rabbit  colony, 
which,  like  the  Buttercups,  increased  and  multiplied  so  fast  as  to  be 
regarded  as  a  nuisance.  The  bunnies  took  to  feeding  on  this  particular 
flat  all  last  winter,  and  this  summer,  strange  to  relate,  the  pretty  but 
troublesome  Ranunculus  has  entirely  disappeared,  and  on  close  examina¬ 
tion  it  was  found  that  the  rabbits  had  scooped  out  the  centres  of  the 
roots,  as  sheep  would  eat  Turnips,  completely  destroying  the  plants. 
The  hint  might  be  taken  by  agriculturists  having  Buttercup-infested 
fields.  Of  course  the  question  of  “  two  evils  ”  has  to  be  considered.— 
(“  Rural  World.’’) 
-  Roadside  Fruit  Trees. — These  are  not  a  great  success  in 
England,  and  consequently  the  planting  of  Apples  and  Pears  along  the 
sides  of  thoroughfares  has  not  been  carried  out  by  municipal  bodies  or 
district  councils.  It  seems,  however,  that  the  matter  has  been  attended 
with  some  success  on  the  continent,  especially  in  Alsace-Lorraine,  and 
some  parts  of  Belgium  and  Switzerland,  for  fruit  trees  planted  to  form 
avenues  along  the  high  roads  have  added  considerably  to  the  revenue, 
in  spite  of  the  small-boy  evil.  Now  it  is  proposed  to  plant  fruit  trees 
along  the  road  sides  in  the  rural  districts  of  northern  France,  where  at 
least  they  will  relieve  the  monotony  of  everlasting  lines  of  Poplars. 
Provided  the  public  could  be  prevented  from  breaking  down  fruit  trees 
to  obtain  the  fruit,  there  is  no  great  reason  why  they  should  not  be 
used  for  avenues  where  the  soil  and  situation  are  favourable,  for  in 
spring  their  flowers  are  beautiful,  in  summer  they  afford  a  leafy  shade, 
in  autumn  the  fruit  is  useful  and  profitable,  and  later  still  the  coloured 
foliage  gives  some  fine  effects. 
-  Apple  Judging.  —  Generally  the  fullest  satisfaction  was 
expressed  with  the  Apple  judging  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  the  only 
classes  seeming  to  give  trouble  being  those  for  “any  other  variety  ”  in 
both  sections.  In  the  kitchens  deeply  coloured  and  fair  sized  handsome 
Holland  bury  8  were  preferred  to  grand  Gloria  Mundi  and  superb 
Waltham  Abbey  Seedling.  Both  these  latter  varieties  were  from  a 
cooking  point  of  view  much  superior  to  the  Hollandburys,  but  the 
Judges  seemed  in  this  case  to  have  been  much  taken  with  the  high 
colour.  Turning  to  the  R.H.S.  code  of  judging  rules  I  find  under  the 
heading  cooking  Apples,  “  Size  is  a  merit  if  it  be  added  to  good 
quality,”  That  sentence  sums  up  the  customary  rule  in  judging  cooking 
Apples.  If,  of  course,  to  size  be  added  evenness  of  sample,  perfect 
characteristic  form,  and  freedom  from  scar  or  blemish,  the  Judges 
would  teem  in  this  case  to  have  read,  “Colour  is  a  distinct  merit 
even  if  size  and  quality  be  lacking.”  Perhaps  these  persons  had 
never  seen  the  code  of  judging  rules.  If  that  be  so  then  each  set  of 
Judges  should  in  future  be  furniehed  with  a  copy,  with  an  expressed 
desire  that  their  awards  should  be  based  on  the  rules.  In  the  dessert 
analogous  class  Melon  Apple,  as  large  as  the  Hollandburys  just 
referred  to,  was  placed  first.  They  were  grand  samples  of  the  variety, 
well  grown,  bot  lacking  colour  or  special  beauty,  and  too  large  for 
dessert  purposes.  Next  came  very  beautiful  Washingtons.  Now  exhi¬ 
bitors  generally,  when  they  set  up  either  collections  or  single  dishes 
of  dessert  fruits,  ignore  mere  size,  and  select  such  highly  finished 
samples  as  are  well  within  the  size  commonly  held  to  be  suitable  for 
3essert.  It  is  perhaps  to  be  pleaded  that  the  Melon  Apple  gave  both 
size  and  quality.  Admitting  that  to  be  so,  should  there  not  be  all  the 
same  some  recognised  standard  as  to  size  in  respect  of  dessert  samples? 
—A.  D. 
-  Mr.  W,  G.  Head. —  Many  were  the  expressions  of  sympathy  at 
the  Crystal  Palace  Show  with  the  esteemed  garden  superintendent,  who 
underwent  an  operation  of  a  most  serious  and  critical  nature  on  the 
21st  ult.  We  have  seen  Mr.  Head,  who  was  cheered  by  the  solicitude 
of  a  host  of  friends,  and  we  trust  that  the  greatest  medical  skill  obtain¬ 
able,  and  the  best  possible  attention  which  he  receives,  will  have  the 
happy  result  which  all  hope  for — early  recovery. 
- The  “Yates  Thomson  Conservatory”  at  Liverpool. — 
By  that  name  we  suspect  the  splendid  conservatory  that  has  been  erected 
in  Sefton  Park  will  be  known.  It  has  been  constructed  by  Messrs, 
Mackenzie  &  Moncur,  and  furnished  by  Messrs.  James  Veitch  &  Sons. 
The  cost  has  exceeded  ^10.000,  and  we  believe  the  whole  intentions  of 
the  donor  have  not  yet  been  carried  out.  Mr.  Tates  Thomson  formally 
handed  over  this  generous  gift  to  the  Corporation  of  Liverpool  on 
Monday  last,  through  the  Lord  Mayor,  the  Earl  of  Derby,  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  and  appreciative  assemblage.  We  have  been  favoured  with  a 
report  of  the  proceedings,  which,  however,  did  not  reach  us  in  ^ime  for 
publication. 
-  A  Vegetarian  Colony. — The  Vegetarian  Colony  at  Oranien- 
burg,  near  Berlin,  founded  in  1892,  is  in  a  most  flourishing  condition, 
for  though  started  by  seven  enthusiasts,  there  are  at  present  forty-seven 
homesteads,  where  thirty-seven  families  and  ten  single  men  have  built 
houses  and  raised  their  crops.  Besides  vegetables  necessary  for  their 
own  food,  they  have  planted  35,000  fruit  trees  and  15,000  berry  bushes, 
and  have  fenced  in  the  property  with  a  hedge  of  Hazel  Nuts.  The  colony 
obtains  excellent  prices  for  the  produce,  as  the  quality  of  the  vegetables 
raised  by  them  is  superior  to  that  obtained  elsewhere  in  the  district. 
-  Raising  Large  Trees. — In  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  they 
have,  says  “  Meehans’  Monthly,”  a  fashion  of  lifting  large  trees  where 
the  grade  has  been  raised  that  does  not  seem  to  be  in  practice  elsewhere, 
Two  ropes  are  attached  to  the  top  of  the  tree  so  that  each  can  be  drawn 
in  different  directions.  A  trench  is  dug  around  the  base  of  the  tree,  the 
circle  being  as  wide  as  may  seem  judicious.  When  dug  to  the  depth 
desired  the  earth  is  forked  away  from  the  ball,  on  one  side,  and  a  block 
set  under  the  roots  as  a  sort  of  fulcrum.  The  rope  on  that  side  is  drawn 
over  the  block,  and  the  result  is  the  lifting  up  of  the  mass  of  roots  on 
the  opposite  side.  A  little  earth  is  then  placed  under  these  elevated 
roots,  and  the  opposite  rope  drawn  to  that  side.  This  lifts  the  roots 
over  the  block  and  more  earth  is  placed  there.  The  tree  by  the  aid  of 
the  opposite  ropes  is  then  drawn  backwards  and  forwards,  more  earth 
being  placed  at  each  turn.  In  a  very  short  time  the  tree  may  be  elevated 
as  many  feet  as  may  be  desired,  standing  on  the  summit  of  a  firm  mound 
of  earth.  Trees  25  to  50  feet  high,  with  trunks  12  to  18  inches  in  thick¬ 
ness,  have  been  lifted  in  this  way  with  very  little  check  to  future 
growth. 
- Emigrants’  Information  Office,  31,  Broadway,  West¬ 
minster,  S.W. — The  October  circulars  of  the  Emigrants’  Information 
Office  and  the  annual  handbooks  show  the  present  prospects  of  emigra¬ 
tion.  It  is  too  late  in  the  year  for  the  ordinary  emigrant  to  go  to  Canada. 
In  British  Columbia  mining,  especially  gold  mining,  has  developed 
greatly  during  the  last  year,  but  no  one  should  start  for  the  fields  unless 
he  has  £25  in  his  pocket  for  his  journey  and  other  expenses.  With  a 
view  to  encouraging  wine  making  in  Victoria,  the  Government  have 
determined  to  give  a  bonus  of  3d.  per  gallon  on  all  Victorian  wine 
exported,  and  also  a  bonus  of  Is.  per  gallon  on  brandy  made  from 
Victorian  wine  or  Grapes,  and  shipped  abroad.  There  is  a  plentiful 
supply  of  artisan  and  other  labour  in  the  Colony.  In  South  Australia 
there  is  no  demand  for  more  labour.  In  Queenelandi  speaking  generally, 
prospects  are  improving,  and  more  Crown  land  was  taken  up  in  1895 
than  in  any  previous  year.  In  Tasmania  the  agricultural  statistics  for 
1896-6,  which  have  just  been  issued,  show  that  farmers  have  on  the 
whole  been  doing  well.  The  yield,  however,  of  Apples  and  Pears,  the 
cultivation  of  which  is  largely  carried  on  in  the  south  of  the  island,  was 
not  so  good  as  usual.  There  is  general  prosperity  in  all  parts  of  New 
Zealand,  and  the  temporary  depression  which  prevailed  some  two  years 
ago  is  passing  away,  A  special  leaflet  has  been  published  by  the 
Emigrants’  Information  Office,  warning  intending  emigrants  against 
farm  pupil  agencies  and  lauid  companies,  more  particularly  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  Canada  and  the  United  States ;  and  the  attention  of  the  public 
is  specially  called  to  the  lately  published  report  by  Her  Majesty’s  Consul 
General  at  San  Francisco  on  the  “  Distress  caused  to  British  Emigrants 
to  California  by  fraudulent  land  syndicates  and  emigration  agencies.” 
Foreign  Office  Reports,  Miscellaneous  Series  No.  404,  price  Ijd.  Further 
information  can  be  obtained  from  the  Secretary,  31,  Broadway,  West¬ 
minster,  S.W. 
