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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER^ 
May  15,  1902. 
that  to  do  with  fruit  growing?  His  contention  in  regard 
to  Apples  seems  to  be  that  if  they  are  largely  planted  they 
will  cease  to  be  profitable,  and  he  tells  us  that  some  of  the 
American  Apples  are  sold  in  this  country  at  10s.  or  12s.  per 
barrel.  Well,  it  is  certain  that  if  there  is  a  profit  at  that 
price,  then  they  can  be  grown  here  profitably  at  the  same 
figure.  Fruit  growing  stands  on  a  totally  different  footing 
to  Corn  growing — in  txie  cheap  production  of  the  latter  crop 
machinery  plays  a  most  important  part.  In  fruit  growing 
the  greater  part  of  the  work  must  be  done  by  hand,  and 
individual  skill  and  energy  counts  for  much.  Wages,  too, 
are  higher  in  America  than  here,  so  we  are  certainly  as 
favourably  placed  in  regard  to  the  cost  of  production  as  are 
our  competitors. 
Let  us  suppose  for  a  moment  that  at  one  sweep  all  the 
rubbish  could  be  cleared  out  of  our  markets,  that  at  the 
same  time  all  foreign  supplies  were  cut  off,  and  their  place 
taken  by  six  or  seven  million  bushels  of  equally  good  English 
Apples.  What  would  be  the  probable  result?  Why, 
certainly  that  if  it  affected  the  prices  at  all  it  would  tend  to 
make  them  higher.  The  net  result  to  this  country  would  be 
that  we  should  retain  in  our  own  land  several  million  of 
pounds  which  now  each  year  we  send  abroad.  Those 
millions  of  pounds  would  provide  healthy  and  agreeable 
employment  to  vast  numbers.  The  sooner  such  a  state  of 
affairs  is  brought  about  the  better,  and  the  question  arises, 
How  is  it  to  be  done?  My  answer  is.  By  a  long  and  a  strong 
pull  in  which  all  work  together  for  a  common  end. 
I  yield  to  no  one  in  the  desire  to  see  hosts  of  prosperous 
fruit  growers  springing  up  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
and  on  page  359  I  outlined  a  scheme  which  I  fully  believe 
could  be  put  into  practice  Muth  benefit  to  all  parties  con¬ 
cerned  ;  but  the  capitalist  is  wanted  just  as  much  as  the 
small  grower.  Where  we  hear,  as  v^e  did  last  year,  that 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  one  wealthy  landowner 
had  planted  six  or  seven  hundred  thousand  fruit  trees,  how 
can  we  hope  to  meet  such  competition  except  by  adopting 
similar  methods  ourselves?  In  this  matter  of  Apple  and 
Pear  growing,  however,  there  is  room  for  all  classes,  as  the 
gigantic  task  of  growing  our  own  supplies  of  Apples  is  one 
which  deserves  our  most  serious  attention.  The  capitalist 
by  planting  largely  would  provide  remunerative  employment 
for  hosts  of  workers,  and  many  employed  on  large  fruit  farms 
could  there  gain  excellent  experience  to  befit  them  for 
taking  up  land  on  their  own  account.  The  special  attention 
the  small  grower  can  give  to  fruit  trees  does  much  towards 
placing  him  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  large  grower.  The 
capitalist  could  also  do  much  to  forward  the  work  of  fruit 
gi’owing  by  buying  land,  planting,  and  then  letting  it.  For 
the  above  reasons  I  repeat  there  is  a  crying  need”  for  a 
“  combined  effort  to  plant  on  a  big  scale,”  and  to  that  I  will 
add,  to  combine  in  adopting  suitable  methods  for  disposing 
of  the  produce. — H.  D. 
Assisting  Strawberries. 
'Hie  period  of  the  year  is  approaching  wtien  estahlisherl  beds 
of  Strawhernes  require  more  assistance  tlian  tlie  .soil  always 
affords.  The  oldest  beds,  if  not  more  than  a  few  _years  estab¬ 
lished,  need  the  inost  attention ;  but  it  i.s  u.sele.s's  to  expend 
fertilising  material  on  beds  that  have  long  since  passed  their 
best,  as  better  returns  can  be  obtained  from  younger  plant.s.  It 
IS  an  easy  matter  to  make  a  fresh  bed  each  year,  and  thus 
always  keep  the  stock  in  a  vigorous  and  fruitful  condition. 
Just  as  the  plants  are  thron  ing  up  flower  stems  is  a  suitable 
time  to  afford  a  dressing  of  artificial  manure.  A  mixture  of  a 
general  kind  will  prove  beneficial  to  Strawberries,  or  a  special 
inanure  may  be  employed  when  growth  of  the  plant.s  and  special 
vigour  needs  imparting,  so  as  to  produce  a  better  tone  and 
colour  of  foliage.  One  of  the  best  special  manures  for  Straw- 
hernes  at  this  season  is  nitrate  of  soda,  at  the  rate  of  loz  to 
the  square  yard.  Make  it  fine  by  thoroughly  crushing,  and 
spiinkle  it  round  the  plants.  This  is  a  rapidlv  acting  manure 
and  soon  produces  an  effect.  One  dre.ssing  is  iisually  .sufficient, 
fill'  general  mixtures  of  manure  may  be  spread  over  the  soil 
at  the  rate  of  4oz  to  the  square  yard.' 
Strawberries  appreciate  soot,  which  has  a  similar  effect  to 
nitrate  of  soda,  though  not  acting  so  rapidly.  When  applied 
it  IS  bettm’  to  do  so  early  in  the  season  rather  than  defer  the 
oiieration  to  a  later  period,  'the  soil  may  he  made  black  with 
it,  using  It  at  the  rate  of  a  peck  per  rod  ju.st  before  the  advent 
of  a  good  shower  if  possible.  Liquid  manure  is  of  great  service- 
to  vigorous  old  plants,  which  have  to  a  great  extent  deprived! 
the  soil  of  moisture  as  well  as  food.  Where  it  is  suspected, 
however,  that  dry  conditions  do  prevail,  it  is  important  first 
of  all  to  moisten  the  ground  with  clear  water,  then  appljdng 
a  liberal  dose  of  liquid  manure. 
Mulching  is  another  method  of  feeding  Strawberries,  and 
upon  the  whole  one  of  the  be.st.  A  liberal  mixture  of  long  and. 
short  farmyard  manure  contains  much  nutrition ;  indeed,  all 
the  food  elements  required  are  to  be  found  in  inanure  of  this 
character.  Those  parts,  too,  which  do  not  readily  decay — for 
instance,  the  strawy  parts — come  iji  useful  as  affording  a  cleani 
bed  for  the  fruit  to  rest  upon  when  ripe.  For  this  latter  reasoni 
especially,  mulcliing  is  practised  in  spring;  but  the  soluble  parts 
have  their  nutritive  value  washed  out  by  rain  and  appropriated 
by  the  fibrous  roots,  of  which  Strawberries  are  msually  well 
furnished.  The  decaying  material  in  time  forms  a  rich  medium; 
into  which  new  fibres  abundantly  penetrate. — D. 
Notes  from  Ireland. 
May  has  come  flushed  with  beauty,  yet  the  keen  east  winds,, 
.sugge.stive  of  an  earlier  month,  still  prevail.  Rain  has  fallen, 
in  considerable  quantity,  and  was  wanted,  a,s  the  dryness  of  the 
previous  month  was  above  normal.  Late  frosts  were  absent. 
Though  the  new  scenes  are  being  shifted  on  the  stage  of  Nature, 
ala.s!  there  is  a  sameness  pervading  the  main  features  of  our 
gardens.  Noticeable  on  all  -sides  are  the  pretty  May  flowering 
Tulips,  and  there  are  many  new  introductions  in  this  class.  My 
thoughts  still  linger  about  Cottage  Maid,  whether  .standing  alone 
on  a  patch  of  sward,  or  hid  in  some  nook,  sheltered  by  a 
friendly  tree  or  miniature  shrubbery.  Its  white  petals,  splashed 
with  a  light  crimson,  claim  attention  against  its  newer  rivals. 
It  Is  a  pleasing  feature  to  see  the  cultivation  of  those  bulbs, 
gaining  apace  among  our  gardeners,  and  naturalising  efforts  are- 
being  made  in  wild  gardens  and  woods  where  walks  abound. 
For  these  places  the  late  flowering  Tulips  are  almost  a  necessity. 
Their  tall  stems  and  substantial  flowers  speak  in  silence  to. 
those  whose  eyes  love  the  highest  beauty.  I  notice  in  Glasnevin, 
along  the  border  of  the  greenhouse,  one  of  the  Crinums  in  flower,, 
whilst  the  pretty  little  Arenaria  balea,rica,  a  native  of  Corsica, 
has  not  only  carpeted  its  bed,  but  hides  it  now  with  a  mass  of 
white  flowers;  whilst  the  Arabis  is  also  full  of  flower.  The- 
varii-d  Iberises  are  flowering  freely ;  the  moTuid  at  Glasnevin 
shows  them  to  advantage.  Planted  close  to  them,  is  Saxifraga 
peltata,  a  native  of  California,  and  presenting  a  mass  of  bloom. 
It  can  easily  be  discerned  by  tlie  absence  of  foliage,  which  comes 
when  the  truss  withers. 
At  Lord  Ardilaun’s  charming  gardens,  situated  at  Clontarf,, 
I  noticed  so-me  very  fine  outdoor  Primulas.  Of  these  Primula 
cortusoides  was  in  abundance.  Its  deep  rose  flowers,  borne  on 
high  stems,  is  a  desirable  acquisition.  A  native  of  Siberia,  though 
by  no  chance  a  new  species,  its  culture  is  yet  by  no  mean^  as 
general  as  its  merits  deserve.  Arnebia  echioides  had  a'so 
flowered,  which  is  rather  early,  but  conditions  and  climate  have- 
been  favourable  factors;  and  Mr.  Campbell,  his  lordship’s  genial 
gardener,  pointed  out  a  Pansy,  one  of  the  gems  of  the  lot, 
Madame  Perrett,  a.  massive  flower,  about  2in  in  diameter,  stands 
well  up,  the  petals  being  well  expanded. 
Our  fruit  prospects  are  by  no  means  rosy.  The  persistent 
winds  for  .some  time  past  have  left  a  deep  impression.  The- 
ground  is  carpeted  with  fallen  flower  buds,  and,  while  it  is  yet 
too  early  to  forecast,  there  i.s  a  general  impression  that  Cherries 
and  Plums  will  be  a  remarkably  light  ci’op. 
The  Irish  Gardeners’  Association  is  evidently  determined  to 
persist,  despite  its  varying  fortunes.  It  has  ju.st  finished  its 
winter  course  of  lectures,  and  the  committee  can  look  with  pride- 
to  the  fact  that  they  carried  out  a  good  programme  of  lectures 
by  our  leading  men,  each  of  which  was  amply  illustrated  by 
lantern  views.  The  summer  course  is  now  being  organised,  and. 
thanks  to  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Cottier,  a  prize  of  two  guineas 
is  offered  to  be  awarded  by  the  committee.  This  sum  has  been 
largely  increased.  The  first  competition  is  dated  for  June,  the 
classes  being  Roses  and  Carnations.  Although  I  do  not  wish  to 
criticise  their  -action,  yet  if  medals  were  substituted  for  money 
prizes,  these,  it  seems  to  me,  would  be  more  suitable.  They  would 
not  only  be  lasting  memorials,  but  links  in  the  chain  of  affection  by 
the  members  for  their  societ.y.  However  this  may  be,  one  thing 
stands  out  prominently,  and  that  is,  that  this  society  is  doing 
a  vast  amount  more  good  for  the  advance  of  horticulture  in  this 
island  than  their  kindred  society,  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
of  Ireland,  and,  considering  it  is  managed  by  gardeners  far 
gardeners,  their  mode  of  working  deserves  credit.  It  is  not  only 
a  benevolent  society,  but  also  a  training  school  to  our  apprentices, 
giving  them  an  opportunity  during  the  winter  months  of  gaining 
a  knowledge  of  the  scientific  work  which  is  not  always  available- 
to  those  who  enter  the  horticultural  profession. — A.  O’Neill. 
