Ids. 
February  6,  1902.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
Obituary. 
The  Late  Mr.  David  Syme. 
“  At  New  York,  Liiicolnskire,  suddenly,  on  January  25,  David 
Syme,  managing  director  of  Peter  Lawson  and  Son,  Limited, 
Edinburgh.” 
This  somewhat  curt  announcement  in  the  “  Scotsman  ” 
new.spaper,  of  Monday,  January  27,  was  read  by  many,  especially 
of  the  older,  members  of  the  seed  and  nursery  trade  with  a  feel¬ 
ing  of  deepest  regret.  Few  men  in  the  trade  have  so  long 
occupied  a  prominent  position  and  been  so  warmly  beloved  as 
the  late  David  Syme.  He  served  his  apprenticeship  to  the  seed 
trade  in  Glasgow,  with  Messrs.  J.  and  R.  Thyne,  a  fellow- 
apprentice  being  the  world-wide-known  Peter  Parr,  of  Daffodil 
fame,  tlie  two  having  always  afterwards  maintained  a  warm 
friendship.  After  varied  and  educative  business  experiences  in 
Glasgow,  Mr.  Syme  entered  the  service  of  Messrs.  Peter  Lawson 
and  Son,  Edinburgh,  about  forty  years  ago,  and  soon  afterwards 
undertook  the  management  of  their  extensive  nurseries,  at  that 
time  probably  the  most  noted  for  general  nursery  stock  in  the 
three  kingdoms.  Their  name  and  fame  was  worthily  maintained 
under  Mr.  Syme’s  regime,  who  later  assumed  management  of 
their  world-wide  seed  business.  Wlien  the  firm  came  to  grief 
over  unluckv  speculations  outside  of  the  seed  trade,  through  the 
exertions  of  Mr.  Syme  the  business  was  formed  into  a  company 
in  1872,  and  has  since  been  successfully  carried  on  under  his 
spirited  oversiglit.  Latterly  tlie  nurseries  were  abandoned,  and 
the  energies  of  the  companv  concentrated  on  the  wholesale  seed 
business,  which  possesses  a  very  wide  connection  over  the  three 
kingdoms,  the  Continent,  and  America. 
Of  late  years  Mr.  Syme  has  been  less  known  to  gardeners  than 
of  jmre,  when  few  horticultural  gatherings  were  complete  without 
his  genial  presence.  Mr.  Syme  possessed  a  very  varied  knowledge 
of  horticultural,  arboricultural,  and  agricultural  subjects,  few  men 
knowing  ornamental  trees  and  slirubs  better  than  he,  while  his 
intimacy  with  Grass,  Clover,  and  Turnip  seeds  was  unique.  He 
was  an  acknowledged  authority  on  these,  and  his  services  were 
frequently  called  in  as  arbiter  in  intricate  trade  disputes.  About 
six  years  ago,  at  his  jubilee  as  a  seedsman,  the  trade  entertained 
him  to  dinner  in  London,  and  presented  him  with  a  handsome 
service  of  silver  plate  as  a  memento  of  the  occasion  and  as  a  token 
of  the  warm  place  he  held  in  the  affections  of  those  who  knew 
him  best. 
Apart  from  his  knowledge  of  thoySeed  and  nursery'  trades,  Mr. 
Syme  was  a  great  social  force,  a  man  of  very  varied  and  extensive 
intelligence,  whose  convei'sation ,  brimful  of  wit  and  humour,  and 
always  expressed  in  terse,  elegant  language,  as  he  would  tell  of 
his  many  interesting  experiences,  of  his,  many  sojourns,  and  of 
the  people  of  all  grades,  from  princes  downwards,  whom  he  had 
met,  was  always  cliarming.  He  was  a  ready  and  eloquent  public 
speaker,  full  of  apt  illustration  and  anecdote.  Many  will  now 
recall  with  melancholy  pleasure  the  very  enjoyable  evenings  spent 
in  the  old  dining-room  of  Bungholm  House,  and  at  his  later  resi¬ 
dences,  where  he  dispensed  liberal  hospitality,  and  Avhere  every 
guest  felt  under  his  magic  spell  through  his  always  kindly 
welcome. 
Mr.  Syme  died  in  his  seventy-third  year,  and  enjoyed  fair 
health  till  his  death,  though  the  end  came  with  startling  sudden¬ 
ness.  Many  thought  him  older  because  they  had  known  him  so 
long,  but  for  enthusiasm  and  youthfulness  of  spirit  he  was  one  of 
those  Avho  never  grow  old.  His  friends  Avill  deeply  lament  his 
death,  and  feel  that  a  sunbeam  has  passed  out  of  their  lives  never 
agam  to  brighten. 
Heaven  rest  his  soul,  where’er  he  be 
Is  the  wish  o’  inonie  mair  than  me  ; 
He  had  twa  fauts.  or  m^ybe  three  ; 
Y et  wliat  remead  : 
Ae  social,  t  onest  man  want  we  ; 
Kina:  David’s  deaii  ! 
T.  M.  E. 
An  Observer’s  Notes. 
Umler  this  hea-'.ing  there  are  many  short  interesting  notes  owr 
readers  anight  send. 
February  7-13.  Plants  dedicated  to  each  day. 
Fri.  7 
Sat.  8 
Sun.  9 
Mon.  10 
Tu.  11 
Wed.  12 
Thrs.  13 
Small  eft  seen  in  ponds. 
Wild  Goose,  or  (irey  Lagg,  goes. 
Sea  Curlew  goes. 
House  Pigeon  lays. 
Primrose  floAvers. 
Partridge  pairs. 
Golden-crested  Wi-en  sings. 
NarroAv  Spring  Moss. 
Roman  Narcissus. 
Mezereon  (white). 
Rod  Prinn-ose. 
Common  Hepatiea. 
Polyanthus. 
YelloAv  Crocus. 
"Writing  from  Roscrea,  eo.  Dublin,  iMr.  R.  Miller  mentions  botli 
Primroses  and  Avild  Strawlierries  as  being  in  flower  thei’e. 
SnoAvdrops  in  the  open  air  are  (juite  plentiful  at  Kcav.  Crocuses 
are  also  gay. —  R. 
A  pair  of  sparroAvs  have  commenced  nesting  operations  under  the 
roof  of  a  house  at  ToAvnsend  near’ Dorchester.  Primroses  and  Violets 
in  bloom  have  been  gathered  on  the  outskirts  of  the  toAvn. — I).  C.  C. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
APRICOTS. — The  pruning,  training,  regulating,  and  final 
cleansing  of  trees  on  walls  should  noAv  be  dealt  Avith,  as  if  mild, 
sunny  mornings  occur  frequently,  the  buds  will  SAvell  rapidly, 
and  the  trees,  especially  on  favourably  situated  Avails,  Avill  soon 
begin  to  open  their  floAvers.  This,  hoAvever,  is  not  encouraging  to 
the  cultivator,  as  early  ffoAvering  may  prove  most  disastrous  to 
the  prospects  of  a  crop  of  fruit.  The  pruning  and  training 
which  is  best  carried  out  during  the  pi-esent  month,  should  not, 
at  all  events,  either  encourage  or  retard  the  fioAvering  period. 
It  is  a  case  of  dealing  Avith  the  trees  at  a  convenient  time,  before 
the  various  kinds  of  buds  begin  to  swell,  Avhen  they  are  liable  to 
be  easily  detached.  In  pruning  Apricots  on  walls  there  Avill  be, 
most  likely  if  the  trees  are  old,  a  number  of  useless  branches. 
These  should  be  remoA'ed,  even  at  the  risk  of  the  trees  gumming, 
as  they  are  liable  to  do.  "With  younger  trees  the  pruning  and 
training  should  be  such  that  there  is  little  need  for  taking  out 
any  of  the  principal  branches;  but  if  unduly  croAvded,  it  is 
better  to  remove  a  branch  or  two  here  and  there  annually, 
leaA'ing  all  cuts  smooth.  The  reduction  of  young  shoots  may  next 
take  place.  Those  on  the  loAver  sides  of  the  branches  particularly 
may  be  freely  dispensed  with,  though  some  may  be  shortened  to  a 
fcAv  buds,  so  that  they  may  form  artificial  spurs.  On  the  upper 
sides  young  groAvths  may  predominate,  though  it  is  Avell  not  to 
croAvd,  the  surqDlus  being  either  cut  out  entirely  or  left  suffi¬ 
ciently  short  to  form  spurs.  Natural  spurs  are  also  produced  on 
the  Apricot,  and  these  are  ahvays  to  be  preferred  to  the  artifici¬ 
ally  formed.  In  laying  in  jmung  shoots,  they  usually  need  a  little 
shortening,  but  it  must  be  giAmn  either  at  a  single  Avood  bud  or 
at  a  triple  bud.  Wood  prroAvth  is  necessary  above  the  fruiting 
portions  of  shoots. 
PLANTING  GOOSEBERRIES  AND  CURRANTS.— Young 
bush  trees  in  the  open,  and  cordons  against  Avails  or  for  training 
on  a  wire  fence,  may  be  planted  noAV,  providing  the  ground  is 
not  too  Avet.  If  so, (it  Avill  be  better  to  Avait  a  short  time,  until 
the  surface  of  the  soil  dries.  The  trees  may  be  planted  on  the 
richest  ground  available,  a  deeply  dug  and  well  enriched  plot 
always  being  the  best  for  these  frnits.  Plant  bushes  6ft  apart. 
RASPBERRIES. — Wherev'er  there  is  a  Avell  established  plan¬ 
tation  of  vigoi'ous  plants,  there  are  sure  to  be  plenty  of  suckhrs 
Avhich  can  be  utilised  for  forming  a  fresh  plantation.  The  best 
planting  canes  are  not  the  strongest  looking,  but  those  freely 
furnished  AA’ith  abundance  of  fibrous  roots.  Richly  prepared  soil 
is  the  best  for  Rasnberries.  Plant  in  lines  or  clumps.  By  the 
former  plan  place  the  lines  not  less  than  5ft  apart,  and  the  young 
canes  a  foot  asunder.  Clumps  should  be  4ft  apart,  placing  three 
plants  in  each,  and  training  to  a  central  stake.  To  insure  future 
success,  cut  the  neAvly  planted  canes  doAvn  to  the  ground,  thus 
encouraging  strong  growth  the  first  season. — Lymington,  Hants 
Fruit  Forciflt 
VINES— EYES  AND  CUT-BACKS.— Eyes  may  now  be  in¬ 
serted,  using  pots,  pans,  or  square  pieces  of  turf.  Select  plump 
buds  on  firm,  Avell  ripened  wood,  filling  the  pot  or  pan  with  rich, 
friable  loam ;  insert  the  eyes  Avith  a  pinch  of  sihmr  sand,  and 
about  half  an  inch  beneath  the  surface  ;  plunge  the  pots  in  a 
bottom  heat  of  80deg.  Cut-backs  should  he  placed  in  a  house 
Avhere  they  AA'ill  have  a  temperature  of  60deg  to  Oodeg  at  night, 
and  70deg  to  75deg  by  day.  When  they  have  started  into  growth 
shake  them  out,  and  return  to  the  same  size  of  pot,  using  friable 
loam,  and  give  a  rather  close  and  moist  atmosphere  until  re¬ 
established,  when  they  should  have  a  position  near  the  glass,  so 
as  to  insure  sturdy,  short-jointed,  thoroughly  solidified  growth. 
EARLIEST  FORCED  VINES. — The  Vines  in  floAver  must 
have  a  temperature  of  60deg  to  65deg  at  night,  and  70dGg  to 
75deg  by  day  artificially.  Keep  the  atmosphere  someAvhat  drier 
by  free  ventilation,  leaving  a  little  air  on  at  night,  yet  keeping 
the  floors  sprinkled  three  times  a  day  during  bright  weather. 
Any  shy-setting  Grapes  may  haim  the  pollen  distributed  by  brush¬ 
ing  the  bunches  with  a  camel’s-hair  brush.  Step  the  laterals  at 
the  first  leaf,  and  keep  those  pinched  to  one  joint  throughout  the 
season,  but  those  beyond  the  bunch  may  be  alloAved  to  make  tAvo 
or  more  joints  before  stopping  them,  provided  there  be  space  for 
the  full  exposure  of  the  leaves  to  light.  Avoid  oA'ercroAvding  the 
foliao^e  ;  it  is  better  to  reduce  the  laterals  than  do  that. 
HOUSES  STARTED  AT  THE  NEW  YEAR.— The  Vines  are 
now  in  leaf  and  .showing  fruit.  Disbud  Avhen  it  is  seen  which 
shoots  are  likely  to  afford  the  be.st  bunches.  One  bunch  on  a 
spur  is  as  much  as  is  likely  to  finish  satisfactorily,  but,  if  there 
