578 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  16,  1897 
OUTDOOR  TOMATOES. 
To  grow  Tomatoes  successfully  out  of  doors  a  good  sunny  position 
should  be  chosen.  The  seeds  may  be  sown  by  the  middle  of  January,  and 
the  plants  raised  in  a  warm  propagating  pit  or  frame.  As  soon  as  they 
are  large  enough  to  handle  they  must  be  placed  singly  in  S-inch  pr  ts> 
using  a  mixture  of  good  fibrous  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  a  little  sharp  sand 
previously  warmed  to  about  the  same  temperature  as  that  in  which  the 
seedlings  are  growing.  Cold  soil  chills  the  tender  roots  and  gives  the 
plants  a  check,  from  which  they  may  be  long  in  recovering.  Sturdy 
plants  should  be  the  object  of  the  cultivator,  and  these  can  easily  be  had 
if  a  good  start  has  been  made  by  giving  the  plants  plenty  of  room,  and 
keeping  them  as  near  the  glass  as  possible.  Short-jointed  plants  fruit 
much  quicker  when  planted  out  than  those  that  have  been  allowed  to 
become  drawn. 
By  the  first  week  in  April  the  plants  will  be  in  a  condition  to  need 
more  air  than  before,  and  a  liberal  amount,  avoiding  sharp  currents,  will 
be  of  great  service  in  preparing  them  for  planting  outside.  This  may  be 
done  about  the  end  of  April  or  the  first  week  in  !May  ;  but  great  care 
must  be  taken  in  covering  them  every  night  till  they  are  safe  from  frost. 
The  varieties  which  I  have  grown  this  year  are  Carter’s  Earl}’,  Chis¬ 
wick  Red,  Viceroy,  Polegate,  and  a  seedling  the  result  of  a  cross  between 
the  old  Red  and  Polegate.  Chiswick  Red  is  a  splendid  cropper  outside* 
Carter’s  Early  is  also  good  ;  but  for  an  indoor  Tomato  the  latter  is 
the  best  I  have  grown. 
There  is  yet  one  more  feature  in  outside  culture — namely,  getting  the 
fruit  to  ripen  after  it  is  grown.  1  often  hear  people  say  they  can  grow 
plenty  of  Tomatoes  outside,  but  cannot  get  them  to  ripen.  Let  them 
cover  the  plants  at  night  from  about  the  middle  of  September,  and  they 
will  find  that  most  of  the  fruits  will  ripen  well  outside.  This  is  not  only 
much  better  when  ripened  on  the  plants,  but  it  saves  a  good  portion  of 
the  crop  being  spoilt  through  being  picked  green. 
The  enclosed  photograph  w'as  taken  on  September  the  27th.  Now, 
October  27th,  the  whole  of  the  crop  has  been  gathered.  Only  the  last 
set  fruits  failed  to  ripen.  The  length  of  wall  is  40  feet,  and  this  is  the 
sixth  year  in  succession  that  Tomatoes  have  been  grown  on  the  same 
ground  -with  excellent  results.— W.  J.  Empson,  The  Gardens,  Ampthill 
Honse,  Ampthill,  Beds. 
[It  will  be  conceded  on  examination  of  the  illustration  that  Mr. 
Empson’s  system  of  culture  is  an  excellent  one.] 
RASPBERRY  LEAF  RUST. 
The  leaves  submitted  to  the  Editor  by  Mr.  Briscoe-Ironside,  and 
mentioned  on  page  532,  are  infested  with  the  Raspberry  brand,  or  leaf 
rust,  Phragmidium  (Aregma)  Rubi-Idsei  (gracile),  which  infests  both 
wild  and  cultivated  Raspberries. 
Your  correspondent  has  sent  both  a  young  and  a  mature  leaf  of  the 
infested  Raspberry,  but  on  both  the  fungus  is  in  the  matured  condition. 
The  parasite  appears  on  all  the  green  parts,  commonly  on  the  under  side  of 
the  leaves,  in  the  form  of  small  spots,  usually  very  numerous.  In  the  early 
stages  of  attack  the  leaves  exhibit  no  trace  of  infection  on  the  upper 
surface,  but  as  the  disease  advances  yellowish  specks  appear,  and 
ultimately  the  leaf  becomes  brown  and  dies,  more  or  less,  the  leaflets  or 
leaves  sometimes  falling  prematurely,  thus  considerably  weakening  the 
canes  and  prejudicing  another  season’s  crop  of  fruit. 
The  fungus  is  one  of  those  producing  different  spores  at  various 
seasons.  The  earliest  or  spring  form,  giving  rise  to  orange  yellow  spots 
on  the  leaves,  is  composed  of  the  so-called  mcidiospores,  and  notable  for 
not  having  any  distinctive  name.  These  spores  are  small  spherical  or, 
from  being  jammed,  angular  bodies,  and  being  readily  blown  about  by  the 
wind  cause  the  rapid  spread  of  the  disease. 
The  spores,  however,  of  the  next  generation  are  of  a  brighter  yellow 
colour,  known  as  midsummer  and  uredospores.  Lastly,  black  spots 
only  are  found  late  in  the  season — September  and  October  in  this 
country.  The  black  spore  differs  from  either  of  the  preceding  forms, 
being  cylindrical,  and  rests  over  the  winter,  either  attached  to  the  leaf  or 
on  the  ground,  and  may  be  regarded  as  frostproof  and  waterproof. 
The  spore  germinates  in  the  spring  and  produces  several  minute 
globose  sporldia,  which  are  wafted  along  and  upward  by  the  slightest 
currents  of  air,  and  catching  on  the  under  side  of  a  Raspberry  leaf 
amongst  the  down  they,  in  presence  of  moisture  (always  evaporating  from 
the  earth  and  from  the  stomata),  send  out  slender  tubes,  which  enter  the 
tissues  of  the  leaf  from  below,  either  by  a  stoma  or  by  directly  piercing 
the  cuticle.  Once  in  the  leaf,  the  tube  divides  or  branches,  forming  a 
seat  of  mycelial  hyphm,  and  pustules  are  developed. 
Coming  to  means  of  prevention,  the  first  thing  deserving  of  attention 
is  to  watch  early  in  the  season  for  the  first  pale  lemon  spots  on  the  under 
side  of  the  leaves,  removing  and  burning  them  before  they  burst.  That  will 
end  the  parasite.  The  alternative  plan  is  to  spray  the  leaves  on  the  under 
side  with  Bordeau.x  mixture  or  some  powder  preparation  containing 
sulphate  of  copper  ;  but  Raspberry  leaves  are  very  easily  injured,  a 
quarter  strength  Bordeaux  being  quite  strong  enough,  and,  what  is  better, 
effective.  Raking  up  and  burning  the  affected  leaves  at  the  end  of  the 
season  goes  a  long  way  in  preventing  the  disease,  and  deep  digging — that 
is,  drawing  the  surface  soil  into  the  spaces  between  the  plants  and  burying 
it  well  down,  may  prove  effective.  -  G.  Abbey. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Deill  Hall,  December  14th. 
The  last  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  was  held  on 
Tuesday,  and  was,  taken  as  a  whole,  very  successful.  The  various 
exhibits  were  splendidly  diversified,  and  examples  of  excellent  culture 
were  frequently  observable.  Mr.  W.  H.  White's  collection  of  Calanthes 
was  a  superb  feature  of  the  show.  All  sections  w'ere  represented  in 
greater  or  lesser  numbers. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present:  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair); 
with  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  and  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard,  J.  Cheal,  J.  H.  Veitch, 
J.  Willard,  G.  Reynolds,  F.  Q.  Lane,  T.  Fife,  H.  Balderson,  G.  Wythes, 
J.  H.  Laing,  G.  Woodward,  W.  Bates,  A.  F.  Barron,  W.  Pope,  W.  Farr, 
W.  J.  Empson,  A.  Dean,  and  J.  Wright. 
As  will  be  seen  there  was  a  good  attendance  of  members,  as  is  usual 
at  the  last  meeting  of  the  year,  also,  as  is  usual,  they  were  not  over¬ 
whelmed  with  work. 
A  few  examples  of  Celery  were  sent  from  Chiswick,  but  only 
one  met  with  special  approval ;  this  was  Sutton's  Solid  White,  with  very 
firm  fleshy  stalks  and  hearts,  remarkable  for  great  tenderness  and  sweet¬ 
ness.  Award  of  merit  was  granted  b}'  nine  against  six  votes. 
Pear  President  Barahe  was  sent  by’  Mr.  W.  Allan  from  Gunton  Park. 
A  medium  size  fruit  of  the  shape  of  Fondante  d’Automne,  with  a  large 
open  eye  ;  very  juicy,  tender,  and  sweet.  An  award  of  merit  was  granted 
unanimously’. 
Prague  I'eleriac  Geant  de  Prague. — Splendid  bulb-like  roots  of  this 
vegetable  were  sent  by  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.  ;  also  fine  samples 
of  Couve  Tronchuda.  A  cultural  commendation  was  awarded. 
Mr.  Owen  Thomas  sent  splendid  samples  of  Frogmore  All  the  Year 
Round  Cucumber.  Much  approved,  but,  as  previously  stated,  desired  to 
be  seen  in  February.  The  greater  the  test  the  greater  the  triumph  when 
success  is  finally  won. 
Mr.  S.  Mortimer  sent  a  dozen  boxes  of  selected  Conqueror  Tomato  ; 
extremely  bright,  flat,  but  rather  small,  and  fruits  corrugated  (silver 
Banksian  medal), 
Mr.  H.  Berwick  sent  from  Sidmouth  fifty-six  dishes  of  Apples,  some 
of  them  very  fine,  including  Hormead  Pearmain,  Newton  Wonder,  and 
Striped  Beefing  (silver  Knightian  medal). 
Twenty  dishes  of  Apples  were  sent  by  Mr.  J.  Day,  gardener  to  the 
Earl  of  Galloway,  Galloway  House,  Wigtonshire  ;  excellent  fruit  for  the 
district  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Fruit  Flavour  Classes.— The  first  prize  for  a  dish  of  Apples  w’as 
taken  by  Mr.  C.  Herrin,  Dropmore,  with  Adam’s  Pearmain  in  good  form  ; 
Mr.  C.  Ross  being  second  with  Cockle’s  Pippin.  For  Pears  the  first 
prize  w’ent  to  President  Barabe,  from  Mr.  W.  Allan,  Gunton  Park  ;  and 
the  second  to  Mr.  G.  Wythes,  Syon  House,  with  Winter  Nelis. 
Floral  Committee.— Present  :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  H.  B.  May,  C.  E.  Pearson,  R.  Dean,  J.  H.  Fitt,  G.  Stevens, 
J.  Hudson,  J.  F.  McLeod,  T.  Peed,  J.  .Tennings,  C.  J.  Salter,  C.  Jefferies, 
W.  Bain,  G.  Gordon,  C.  E.  Shea,  H.  J.  Jones,  H.  J.  Cutbush,  E.  Beckett, 
R.  M.  Hogg,  J.  Walker,  E.  Mawley,  G.  Paui,  C.  Blick,  H.  Turner,  and 
the  Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart. 
A  large  group  of  Chrysanthemums  came  from  J.  W.  Temple,  Esq., 
Teyswood,  Groombridge,  but  quality  was  not  a  very’  conspicuous  feature 
(silver  Flora  medal).  Mr.  W.  Farr,  gardener  to  A.  F.  Pears,  Esq., 
Spring  Grove  House,  Isleworth,  staged  a  collection  of  well-grown  plants 
of  Begonia  Gloire  de  Sceaux.  The  plants  were  carrying  good  flowers 
above  the  metallic  bronze  foliage.  A  few  green-foliaged  plants  w’ere  used 
to  increase  the  effect.  Mr.  Farr  also  sent  a  group  of  Poinsettias  composed 
of  dw  arf  plants  with  richly  coloured  bracts  of  good  size  (silver  Banksian 
medal).  Mr.  J.  Bryson,  Helensburgh,  staged  a  number  of  seedling 
decorative  Chrysanthemums  in  which  quality  was  conspicuously  absent. 
Bunches  of  magnificent  Zonal  Pelargoniums  were  exhibited  by  Messrs. 
H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  Kent.  The  richness  and  diversity  of  the 
colours  made  this  one  of  the  most  effective  exhibits  in  the  show.  Parti¬ 
cularly  conspicuous  were  Countess  de  Morelia,  Mrs.  Simpson,  T.  W. 
Lawton,  Owen  Thomas,  Duchess  of  Marlborough,  St.  Cecilia,  Herrick, 
Mrs.  W.  Partridge,  Wordsworth,  Shelley,  Niagara,  Lord  Reay,  Lord 
Farrer,  Soldier’s  Tunic,  and  Lady  Tennyson  (.silver  Banksian  medal). 
Messrs.  H.  Low  A  Co.,  Upper  Clapton,  staged  a  collection  of  Cy  clamens 
and  t  arnation  Winter  Scarlet.  The  plants  of  the  (  yclamens  were  rather 
small,  but  were  producing  flowers  of  good  quality  and  substance  (bronze 
Banksian  medal). 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons.  Royal  Exotic  Nursery,  Chelsea,  sent  several 
pots  of  the  hybrid  Begonia  Ensign,  as  well  as  plants  of  anew  hybrid  called 
Winter  Cheer.  This  is  very  floriferous,  the  colour  being  rosy  carmine. 
Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  &  Son,  Highgate,  sent  a  large  collection  of  double 
Primulas.  The  varieties  represented  were  Princess  and  IMarchioness  of 
Exeter.  The  plants  were  carrying  large  numbers  of  flowers  of  good  shape 
(silver  Banksian  medal).  Mr.  G.  Cragg,  gardener  to  W.  C.  W alker.  Esq., 
Winchmore  Hill,  sent  flowering  sprays  of  Cissus  discolor,  and  Mr.  J.  R. 
Tranter,  Henley-on-Thames,  flowers  of  Chrysanthemum  Mrs.  J.  R. 
Tranter. 
