Angust  12,  1897. 
JOtIRN'AL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
139 
younger,  Mr.  Alfred  Sutton,  has  just  passed  quietly  and  happily  away. 
He  was  not  so  much  before  the  public  as  his  more  active  brother,  Mr. 
Martin  Hope  Sutton  ;  he  preferred  the  shade  rather  than  the  sunshine  ; 
but  his  wise  counsels,  his  gentle  and  loving  disposition  which  endeared 
him  to  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  were  of  great  value  in  the 
regulation  of  so  great  an  establishment  at  that  of  the  Reading  firm.  I 
had  the  privilege  of  knowing  him  for  many  years,  and  a  man  of  a 
more  gentle  and  equable  temperament  it  would  be  indeed  difficult  to 
find.  He  was  ever  the  ssme,  and  his  time  and  counsels  were  ever  at  the 
disposal  of  those  who  needed  them.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  religious 
convictions  and  foremost  in  every  philanthropic  and  religious  work 
until  age  and  infirmity  compelled  him  to  resign  many  of  his  engage- 
■  ments.  I  shall  always  retain  a  pleasant  recollection  of  my  intercourse 
with  him  in  his  own  home,  and  should  be  sorry  to  lose  the  opportunity 
of  testifying  to  the  worth  of  a  truly  Christian  man,  and  an  honest  and 
upright  citizen.  There  are  many,  especially  young  men,  to  whom  he 
has  rendered  great  and  valuable  service,  and  who  will  ever  cherish  the 
most  grateful  recol'ections  of  the  loveable  man  who  counselled  them  as 
a  father,  and  talked  with  them  as  a  friend  and  brother. — D,,  Beal. 
NOTES  FROM  iRELAND. 
Our  last  brief  notes  from  the  Dublin  district  were  chiefly  con¬ 
cerned  with  anticipating  the  effects  of  the  spring — “  The  spring 
made  dreary  by  incessant  rains,'’  —  and  the  consequent  long- 
deferred  work  in  its  unavoidable  hurry  and  rush.  Although  to 
balance  up  at  present  would  be  somewhat  premature,  it  is,  at  least, 
interesting  to  note  the  rather  important  stage  now  arrived  at,  par¬ 
ticularly  in  relation  to  the  difficulties  encountered  at  the  start 
augmented  by  the  abnormally  wet  winter  which  left  the  land  in  a 
highly  saturated  condition. 
On  the  broader  question  of  farming,  which  I  venture  to  think 
is,  possibly,  better  done  on  the  whole  in  this  my  area  of  direct 
observation  than  in  any  part  of  the  island,  both  present  and  pro¬ 
spective  appearance  are  satisfactory.  Late  planting  of  the  Potato 
crop  undoubtedly  entailed  some  anxiety  respecting  the  effect  that 
might  obtain,  but  it  is  pleasant  to  record  that  those  fears  were 
groundless,  and  nothing  could  be  finer  in  their  way  than  the  broad 
plantings  to  be  met  with  on  every  side.  The  growth  from  planting  time 
was  apparently  uninterrupted,  and  the  sturdy  luxuriant  haulm  has 
been  for  some  time  gay  with  blossom.  Some  acres  near  at  hand  of 
Sutton’s  Maincrop  are  really  charming,  giving  the  effect  in  the 
distance  of  an  enormous  Heliotrope  bed  at  its  best.  Beauty  of 
Bute,  by  contrast  with  the  floral  display  made  by  the  former,  looks 
sombre,  but  the  dark  hued  foliage  is  a  picture  of  health. 
Grower*  view  present  prices  of  earlier  varieties  now  being 
lifted  with  something  akin  to  dismay,  as  against  the  universal  satis¬ 
faction  felt  by  consumers  who  are  now  able  to  purchase  the 
esculent  tuber  at  the  low  rate  of  2*.  8d.  per  cwt.,  city  prices  on  the 
last  day  of  July  ;  even  previous  to  this  a  glutted  market  led  to  heavy 
croBS-channel  shiprcent*.  Improved  varieties,  imported  seed,  well 
worked  land,  and  an  energetic  stirring  and  moulding  as  growth 
develops  tell  their  own  tale,  and  nowhere  are  disadvantages  apparent 
as  the  result  of  late  planting.  On  the  contrary,  where,  in  rare 
instances  this  season,  undue  haste  hurried  the  seed  into  ill-prepared 
soddened  land,  weak  gappy  growth  led  to  the  conclusion  that  it 
was  better  to  re-plough  than  chance  results. 
First  and  second  crop  meadows  were  converted  into  the  hunter’s 
provender  with  some  little  difficulty,  owing  to  a  spell  of  showery 
weather  ;  but  the  quality  has  not  apparently  suffered  to  any  appre¬ 
ciable  extent.  Those  who  took  advantage  of  a  spell  of  splendid 
weather,  with  practically  uninterrupted  sunshine  during  the  week 
ending  July  17th,  for  the  making  up  of  hay  on  old  pasture  land 
were  fortunate  (or  wise)%  From  that  date  to  the  end  of  the  month 
rain  was  more  or  less  the  dominant  element.  Some  fine  breadths 
of  Wheat  are  here  and  there  to  be  seen,  and  are  now  rapidly 
putting  on  the  harvest  tint.  Turnips  and  Mangolds  have  from  the 
start  done  well,  and  promise  to  make  an  equally  good  finish.  To 
sum  up  this  phase  of  culture,  our  neighbour  the  farmer  may  be 
congratulated  on  the  general  aspect — that  is,  if  prices  are  left  out 
of  the  question,  which,  we  suppose,  it  is  hardly  pcssible  to  do  ;  but 
where  so  good  a  market  is  found  between  the  city  and  its  garrison 
on  the  one  hand,  and  the  great  hunting  centres  of  “  The  Wards,” 
“Meaths,”  and  “  Kildares”  on  the  other,  demand  will  doubtless 
pay  for  supplj — and  pay  well,  for  our  hunting  gentlemen  know 
what  is  good,  and,  what  is  more  to  the  point,  insist  upon  having  it. 
Apropos  of  this,  the  supply  of  home-grown  wheat  straw  has  for 
some  time  been  exhausted,  and  compressed  bales  of  foreign  growth 
take  its  place.  Grazing  leaves  the  beast  in  that  happy  condition 
of  not  having  to  walk  all  day  seeking  what  he  may  devour,  for 
grass  is  both  plentiful  and  good,  particularly  in  those  esses  where 
a  dressing  of  superphosphate  was  given,  which  appears  to  promote 
the  growth  of  sweet  herbage,  particularly  Clover. 
Where  farming  merges  into  gardening  in  the  way  of  vegetables 
for  market  (outdoor  fruits,  with  the  exceplion  of  Strawberries,  are 
sparsely  represented),  the  retentive  soil  of  the  Kildare  side  of 
County  Dublin  is  admirably  adapted  for  the  production  of  good 
supplies  of  greenstuff,  such  as  Brussels  Sprouts,  Broccoli,  and 
Cabbage  ;  good  samples  of  the  latter,  at  various  seasons,  being 
shipped  to  Glasgow.  Jerusalem  Artichokes,  also,  are  looked  upon 
with  favour,  whilst  Scarlet  Hunners  and  French  Beans  are  well 
supplied  to  meet  the  demand  of  our  own  metropolis  ;  picking  of 
the  latter  had  commenced  ere  July  was  out.  Field  Peas  have  been, 
and  are  at  present,  both  plentiful  and  good. 
In  Lord  Annaly’s  demesne  the  extensive  ranges  of  glass,  chiefly 
employed  in  the  production  of  Peaches  and  Tomatoes,  excellent 
examples  of  each  are  to  be  seen.  Of  the  former  it  would  hardly 
be  possible  to  find  trees  more  luxuriantly  healthy  or  carrying 
heavier  crops  of  high-coloured  fruit,  and  the  Luttrellstown  Peaches 
have  created  a  name  for  themselves  in  iie  Dublin  market,  having 
their  corresponding  pecuniary  value.  With  that  popular  production, 
the  Tomato,  Mr.  Buggins,  his  Lordship’s  manager,  is  equally 
successful.  In  a  general  survey  of  hardy  fruits  the  most  optimistic 
pen-painter  could  show  here  but  little  couleur  cU  rose;  bush  fj-uits, 
to  say  the  least,  having  been  but  thin  in  quantity  and  indifferent 
in  quality.  The  same  remarks  will  probably  record  the  doings  of 
the  Apple  and  Pear  tribe  this  year.  A  vagary  recently  noticed  was 
a  large  wall  tree  of  Louise  Bonne  showing  quite  a  crop  of  bloom 
amongst  the  thinly  dispersed  half-swelled  fruits. 
It  is  gratifying  to  notice  that  among  the  arrangements  for  the 
forthcoming  visit  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  York  to  our  shores  a 
visit  to  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  autumn  show  on  the 
19  th  proximo  is  contemplated.  This  will  take  place  in  Merrion 
Square,  which  from  its  general  adaptability  to  the  purpose  is  one  of 
several  moves  in  the  right  direction  the  Council  have  made  to 
restore  the  prestige  the  premier  society  (so  far  as  the  prefix  of 
“  Royal  ”  is  concerned)  formerly  held. — K,,  Dublin. 
WATERING  WALL  TREES. 
An  insufficient  supply  of  moisture  at  the  roots  during  critical 
times  is  the  cause  of  many  failures  in  fruit  growing,  especially  in 
the  case  of  trees  trained  to  walls.  As  soon  as  the  trees  begin  to 
suffer  in  this  respect  they  become  subject  to  the  attacks  of  insects 
and  diseases  innumerable,  which  not  only  prevent  the  season’s 
crop  from  finishiijg  satisfactorily,  but  also  weaken  the  trees  to 
such  an  extent  as  jeopordise  their  prospect  of  producing  good  crops 
the  following  year.  The  present  is  a  critical  time,  when  the  culti¬ 
vator  may,  by  a  little  extra  attention,  almost  double  the  value  of 
fruit  grown  upon  walls.  Inferior  produce  is  often  a  drug  in  the 
market,  but  the  finest  samples  will  command  remunerative  prices. 
Let  us  take,  for  example.  Peaches  and  Nectarines  which  are 
beginning  their  last  swelling.  If  given  abundance  of  moisture  at 
the  roots,  and  a  surface  mulching  of  short  manure,  the  fruit  will 
attain  a  large  size,  and  have  good  juicy  flesh  as  well  as  high 
colour.  Without  extra  moisture,  small,  dry,  and  often  compara¬ 
tively  flavourless  fruit  will  be  the  rule  ;  such  can  only  be  sold  at 
rubbish  prices,  which  scarcely  pay  for  picking  and  sending  to 
market.  The  same  remarks  apply  to  Pears  ;  fair  examples  pay, 
inferior  ones  do  not.  The  Jersey  growers,  so  long  noted  for  their 
magnificent  Pears,  use  enormous  quantities  of  water  throughout 
the  summer  ;  to  that  fact,  as  well  as  to  their  fine  climate,  must  be 
attributed  their  success. 
To  my  mind,  one  of  the  first  requisites  for  the  profitable 
conduct  of  commercial  gardening  is  an  ample  supply  of  water, 
with  mean*  of  distributing  it  in  an  economical  way.  When  it  has 
to  be  carried  or  carted,  the  labour  involved  makes  it  too  expensive 
for  use  on  a  large  scale,  and  there  are  many  instances  in  which  a 
moderate  outlay  judiciously  made  will  secure  good  water  in 
abundance.  Many  gardens  are  so  situated  that  streams  on  high 
ground  might  be  easily  diverted  to  properly  made  ponds  or  tanks, 
from  which  the  whole  garden  could  be  supplied  through  pipes,  no 
other  power  than  the  natural  force  of  gravitation  being  needed  to 
secure  distribution.  In  others,  hydraulic  rams  would  force  the 
water  from  lower  ground  into  ponds  or  tanks,  and  thus  supply 
abundance  of  tepid  water.  Rubber  hose,  with  one  of  the  many 
forms  of  distributors  attached,  could  then  be  kept  constantly  going 
where  needed,  the  only  labour  required  would  be  that  of  occasionally 
shifting  the  distributor  when  a  particular  part  had  been  thoroughly 
watered.  Driblets  are  of  little  use  in  hot  weather. 
When  abundance  of  water  is  given  of  course  liberal  feeding  , 
must  be  resorted  to.  This  can  be  given  in  several  ways-— viz.,  by 
mulchings  of  manure,  by  applications  of  artificial  fertilisers,  and 
liquid  manure  given  after  clear  water  has  been  applied.  When  the 
