330 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTIGULTURF  AND  COTTAGF  GARDENER. 
October  7,  1897. 
■Mr.  J.  Assbee,  P.R.H.S. ;  and  all  who  had  the  privilege  of  attending 
the  meetings  will  be  satisfied  that  no  gentlemen  more  competent 
could  be  found  to  deal  with  these  important  subjects. 
Only  an  outline  of  the  general  character  of  the  addresses  delivered 
will  be  given  here.  They  Avill  presumably  be  found  in  extenso  in  a 
forthcoming  issue  of  the  Journal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
that  will  be  distributed  amongst  the  Fellows ;  and  here  let  it  be  said 
that  the  contents  of  the  periodical  issues  of  the  Society’s  official  organ 
seem  to  become  more  and  more  interesting,  and  at  least  ecjual  in  value 
the  amounts  of  the  subscriptions  of  the  great  majority  of  the  Fellows 
to  the  Society. 
Taking  the  subjects  in  the  order  above  mentioned,  Mr.  Bunyard, 
in  his  “  Progress  in  Fruit  Culture,”  first  gave  an  outline  of  the 
character  of  a  well-kept  garden  in  1837,  mentioning  the  varieties  of 
fruits  that  were  then  generally  gTOwn  against  walls  and  on  borders 
of  diverse  aspects.  He  brought  under  review  Apples,  Pears,  Piumst 
Cherries,  Apricots,  Strawberries,  and  other  kinds  which  were  then  the 
most  popular.  He  pointed  out  the  extreme  care  of  the  gardeners  of 
old  in  the  management  of  wall  trees,  and  feared  that  such  care  was 
rarely  exercised  now,  the  modern  gardener  depending  more  on  under 
glass  produce. 
The  essayist  went  on  to  recognise  the  work  of  the  old  masters  in 
advancing  the  art  of  fruit  culture,  such  as  Messrs.  Ronalds,  Thompson, 
Wilmot,  Pearson,  and  especially  Mr.  Thomas  Rivers — the  “  father  of 
garden  or  bush  tree  culture” — Avho  did  such  good  work  in  improving 
the  quality  of  British  fruit.  Nor  were  what  may  be  termed  legislative 
and  mechanical  matters  overlooked,  such  as  the  abolition  of  the  glass 
duty  in  1845  and  the  introduction  of  heating  by  hot  water,  with  the 
invention  of  the  tubular  boiler  by  Mr.  E.  Weeks  in  1835,  and  its 
subsequent  improvement. 
kir.  Bunyard  also  naturally  adverted  to  the  exhibitions  and  con¬ 
ferences  of  the  past  as  giving  great  stimulus  to  fruit  cu.ture,  especially 
the  Apple  Congress  at  Chiswick  in  1883,  and  the  memorable  show  in 
the  London  Guildhall  in  1890.  There  is  little  doubt  that  those  tAvo 
eyents  gave  a  greater  impetus  to  fruit  groAving  in  Britain  than  any 
other  efforts  during  our  good  Queen’s  reign.  He  did  not  tell  us  that 
the  Guildhall  ShoAv  Avould  not  have  hem  forthcoming  but  for  the 
spirited  undertaking,  during  a  “  bad  fruit  year,”  of  Mr.  A.  H.  Smee 
and  himself  undertaking  to  fill  the  Guildliall  if  no  one  else  Av^ould  join 
in  the  endeavour,  but  the  fact  Avas  brought  out  in  the  subsequent 
discussion. 
Brought  under  review  also  was  the  literature  pertaining  to  fruit, 
prominent  place  being  given  to  the  late  Dr.  Hogg  for  his  classic  Avork, 
the  “  Fruit  Manual.”  The  Avorks  also  of  Messrs.  Rivers,  Bull,  Wright, 
Cheal,  and  others  being  cited,  as  each  in  its  way  (as  the  speaker’s  OAvn 
Avorks  have  done)  helped  forward  the  object  in  view.  Amongst 
workers  in  the  cause  of  fruit  culture  the  late  Sir  Henry  Scudamore 
Stanhope  of  Holme  Lacy  Avas  justly  referred  to  as  a  leader,  followed 
by  such  practicalists  as  Messrs.  Ingram,  Jones,  Woodbridge,  Ross, 
Speed,  Thomas,  Woodward,  Wildsmith,  Ford,  Mclndoe,  Hunter, 
Goodacre,  Luckhurst,  and  others ;  Avhile  even  the  gardening  press  was 
not  overlooked. 
As  will  be  perceived,  the  address  was  comprreheusive,  but  Avhile 
the  author  fully  admitted  the  good  w'ork  of  the  past,  he  looked  for,  and 
confidently  anticipated,  still  better  work  in  the  future  from  the  skilled 
and  intelligent  gardeners  of  Britain;  and  so  does  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture.  _ 
Mr.  A.  W.  Sutton  followed  the  next  day  (Fiiday),  and  in  a  com¬ 
prehensive  ])aper  dealt  Avith  the  progress  of  vegetable  cultivation 
during  the  Queen’s  reign.  This  has,  at  least,  been  as  marked  as  in 
the  case  of  fruits,  and  Avith  results  certainly  not  less  important.  It 
transjured  that  the  grand  old  octogenarian  and  founder  of  the  great 
Reading  firm  w'as  asked  to  contribute  a  paper,  but  as  his  physical 
powers  were  not  equal  to  his  mental  activity  it  was  prudent  for  his 
son  to  act  in  his  stead. 
Mr.  Sutton  observed  at  the  commencement  that,  though  the 
“  cultivation  ”  of  vegetables  was  mentioned  in  the  p)rogramme,  he 
thought  it  would  not  be  expected  of  him  to  enlarge  on  that  aspect  of 
the  question,  but  rather  to  speak  on  the  improvement  of  the  vegetables 
cultivated.  This  he  did  for  nearly  an  hour  Avithout  a  tedious  moment 
to  his  hearers.  He  commenced  Avith  what  he  called  the  “  Prince  of 
Vegetables” — the  garden  Pea,  mentioning  the  principal  varieties  that 
AA’ere  grown  in  the  thirties,  including  the  Scimetar  and  Charltons, 
tracing  improvements  step  by  step  to  the  present  day,  which  have 
culminated  in  a  revolution. 
Mr.  Sutton  observed  that  real  interest  Avas  aAvakened  in  the 
improvement  of  Peas  by  the  introduction  of  the  famous  Ne  Plus  Ultra, 
Avhich  came  out  as  neAv  under  sev'cral  names  during  three  or  four 
consecutive  years — no  small  tribute  to  the  intrinsic  merits  of  the  still 
favourite  of  many  cultivators.  Passing  along,  the  speaker  noted  a 
distinct  gain  effected  by  ,the  introduction  of  Veitch’s  Perfection, 
Dr.  McLean’s  seedlings  brought  out  by  klr.  Charles  Turner,  and 
Sir.  Laxton’s  varieties.  A  special  tribute  was  paid  to  tbe  Avork  of 
Sir.  CulverAvell ;  and  the  varieties  Telegraph,  Telephone,  Stratagem, 
Pride  of  the  Market,  and  others  introduced  by  Messrs.  Carter,  were  cited 
as  examples  of  further  progress.  Sharpe’s  Queen,  Webb’s  Wonder, 
and  some  of  Sir.  Eckford’s  varieties,  all  had  recognition,  Duke  of 
Albany  having  a  special  mark  of  approval.  It  was  obtained  by  selec¬ 
tion  from  Telegraph  by  Sir.  Abbott  in  Sir.  Firth’s  garden  at  Sheffield. 
Nor  could  the  essayist  omit  mention  of  the  early  large-podded 
Slarrowfats  on  dw'aif  sturdy  stems,  plants  of  Avhich  went  direct  from 
the  Temple  Show  last  year  to  tbe  entrance  hall  of  Windsor  Castle, 
the  varieties  having  subsequently  become  favourites  at  the  Royal 
table.  Such  varieties  as  Daisy,  Veitch’s  Slaincrop,  Alderman,  and 
Laxton’s  Gradus  were  also  cited  as  good  additions  to  modern  Peas. 
Interesting  Avere  the  remarks  on  raising  and  fixing  the  characters 
of  Peas.  As  the  result  of  cross  fertilisation  every  pea  in  a  pod  may 
produce  a  different  variety,  and  these  again  shoAV  variations,  so  that 
Avatchlul  c..re  and  prolonged  patience  Avere  needed  in  firmly  establishing 
new  varieties.  Sending  new  Peas  out  too  soon  lesults  in  confusion. 
J'he  preservation  of  purity  in  stocks  also,  as  all  seedsmen  kneAv, 
entailed  more  labour  in  sorting  and  selection  than  the  outside  public 
had  any  idea  of. 
AdA^erting  to  Broad  Beans,  Mr.  Sutton  regarded  them  as  more 
stationary  than  most  vegetables,  but  Avas  still  surprised  the  old 
Mazagan  should  be  so  much  groAvn,  since  there  Avere  both  earlier  and 
better  varieties.  For  usefulness  an  approving  Avord  Avas  given  to  the 
Harlingtou  Windsors.  Then  there  Avere  the  continental  Longtiods, 
such  as  the  Seville,  but  the  English  Giants  Avere  hardier  and  better. 
We  do  not  know  to  what  particular  section  Bunyard’s  Exhibition 
belongs,  nor  Avas  it  mentioned,  but  Ave  have  seen  it  Avin  many  prizes 
in  large  competitions  at  cottagers’  shows.  Of  French  Beans,  varieties 
were  mentioned,  including  Fulmer’s  Forcing  and  Negro,  that  A\'cre 
groAA'n  in  1837.  Among  the  greatest  advances  since  were  Canadian 
Wonder  and  Ne  Plus  Ultra,  though  there  Avere  ncAver  sorts  Avhich 
have  come  to  stay.  A  feAv  words  of  Avai'in  approbation  Avere  given  to 
the  new  climbing  French  Beans,  both  for  their  productiveness  and 
tenderness,  while  the  old  Scarlet  Runner  has  given  rise  to  forms 
remarkable  for  the  length  of  their  pods. 
Passing  reference  was  made  to  Asparagus,  preference  being  given 
to  the  best  selections  of  Argenteuil  for  cultivation,  while  there  was 
room  for  improvement  in  the  cooking  of  this  delicious  esculent. 
Ancient  varieties  of  Beet  w'ere  mentioned,  also  modern  improve¬ 
ments,  such  as  Nutting’s,  Dell’s  and  Cheltenham  Green  Crop;  while 
the  old  flat  Egyptian  Turnip-rooted  was  being  siqjerseded  by  the 
symmetrical  globe-shajAed  forms.  Similar  improvement  Avas  apparent 
at  exhibitions  in  Carrots,  while  perfect  models  Avere  also  to  be  had  in 
Turnips,  thanks  largely  to  the  selections  of  klessrs.  Dobbie.  As  to 
Parsnips,  the  chief  advances  Avere  found  in  Student  and  Carter’s 
IMaltese,  but  a  new  variety  named  Tender  and  True  has  recently  been 
exhibited,  Avhich  is  said  to  exceed  all  others  in  quality. 
'J'he  Brassicas  received  a  goodly  share  of  attention,  beginning  Avith 
the  Cabbage.  A  hint  Avas  given  that  the  very  early  continental 
varieties,  such  as  Express  and  others,  were  like  the  old  Early  York,  only 
suitable  for  spring  sowing,  for  which  also  the  Nonjiareil  is  valuable. 
