320 
'lOURXAL  OF  TTORTTGULTURE  AFfD  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  20,  1899. 
TRANSFORMATION  IN  FRUIT  TREES. 
WiiAT  ftu  incentive  it  onplit  to  he  to  tlie  reader-workerH  of  “ onr 
Journal  ”  to  record  their  experiences  in  its  jmgcp,  after  Hiich  a 
niinulely  detailed  account  on  paj^e  LIT-  (April  (ith)  hy  Mr.  Jno.  Miles, 
of  the  method  of  coinliatin^^  the  enemies  thcire  described  of  llritish 
fruit  growers.  'I'hat  article  is  worthy  of  hein^  framed  and  hung  up  in 
(wory  fruit  room  in  the  kingdom.  'I’lie  writer  of  it  jilairily  Bhow.s  wliat 
may  ho  achieved  l>y  exertion  and  j>er8everancc  (and  tlnn'o  is  little  or 
nothing  gained  without).  I  do  not  believe  that  Mr.  Miles  is  a 
grumbler  alnmt  hail  times  for  fruitgrowers,  for  I  su.spect  he  is  too 
tjiisy  to  grnrnhie.  I  regard  those  men  ns  benefactors  to  the  llritish 
public  who  ]iroducn  fruit  of  the  linest  (piality  and  exceeding  in 
value  that  of  the  foreigner.  I  wish  there  were  more  such  workers  as 
Mr.  John  Milos. — (iKO.  I’k  kku. 
[Our  jiraclical  and  industrious  corresjiondent  should  be  grateful  to 
the  “foreigner”  all  the  same,  for,  by  the  character  of  his  wares, 
stimulating  home  growers  to  greater  activity  and  the  adoiition  of 
bettor  methods  in  tirodncing  for  the  million  Iruit  worthy  of  the  name 
and  nation.  Mr.  Miles’  record  of  experience  was  very  useful,  and  his 
notes  wore  readily  published. 
'I'lio  method  advised  by  Mr.  Molynoux  in  the  lecture  referred  to  on 
the  ])age  above  cited  was  first  made  known  to  the  Ihilish  jiublic 
through  the  fhniriidl  of  llorticullnn'  by  an  Knglishman,  Mr.  f.eonard 
t’oates,  who  landed  in  America  with  about  £5  in  his  pocket,  and  has 
for  some  time  been  one  of  the  largest  nurserymen  and  fruit  growers  in 
( 'alil'ornia. 
We  suspect  there  are  many  imjirovers  of  Ajiple  and  other  fruit 
trees  in  Britain  who  are  either  “  too  busy  ”  or  disinclined  to  narrate 
their  methods,  while  it  is  certain  there  are  many  spoilers  of  fruit  trees. 
We  could  give  instances  of  the  jieculiar  methods  of  some  of  those 
so-called  gardeners  (whoso  ignorance  is  so  great  as  to  enable  them 
to  refrain  from  seeking  knowleilgo  anywhere),  that  would  startle  the 
Miles,  Bickers,  and  other  good  men  ;  but  it  is  more  pleasant  to  refer 
to  the  work  of  an  improver, 
A  short  time  ago  we  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting  the  gardens  of 
the  historical  Abbey  of  Battle,  near  Hastings.  There  is  a  lino  kitchen 
garden  there,  splendidly  managed,  and  numbers  of  trees  that  had  when 
“taken  to”  by  Mr.  Hamm  got  in  the  liahit  of  growing  everything 
that  trees  can  support  except  Mistletoe  and  fine  clean  fruit.  A  crusli 
and  a  crowd  of  usoh'ss  wood  and  apologies  for  leaves,  with  scale  and 
moss  much  more  abounding  than  even  small  sjiceked  fruit,  “not  fit 
lor  sending  in.”  Tho.'ie  were  the  characteiistics.  'riio  trees,  in  fact, 
occupied  much  ground  uselessly.  'J'ho  worst  were  rooted  out  and 
now  trees  jilanted,  the  remainder  treated  with — well,  with  “brains;” 
and  Jiero  is  nothing  better  when  these  are  educated. 
Saws  and  chisels  were  brought  into  operation,  and  all  weak, 
worthless,  and  cankered  jiarts  cleared  out,  the  better  branclus 
retained  at  2  to  d  feet  asunder,  and  the  extension  growths  of  these 
not  shortened.  'I’lie  woi-st  atoms  and  branches  were  scraped,  and  all 
jiarts  sprayed  with  the  caustic  solution  mentioned  by  Mr.  Miles. 
The  ground  was  soaked  during  the  resting  season  with  strong  liquid 
nnuiure,  and  Ijine  and,  soot  w  ere  also  used  freely.  'J’ho  effect,  of  the 
treatment  was  apparent  in  clean  branches,  fresh  young  growths,  and 
bold  leafage.  By  the  thin  disjiosal  of  these  gi’owths,  so  that  the  sun 
could  shine  between  them,  the  foliage  was  of  the  best  character,  the 
wood  well  stored  with  nutrient  matter,  and  as  little  or  no  shortening 
was  done  the  stems  became  studded  with  bold  fruit  buds.  'I’he 
trees  must  very  shortly  bo  wreathed  with  I  lossoms  of  the  finest 
character,  to  bo  followed,  w'eafher  permitting,  with  tons  of  excellent 
fruit. 
As  affording  evidence  of  what  may  bo  done  in  the  renovation  of 
crippled  Apple  trees,  it  may  bo  stated  that  the  iiroduce  of  some  of  these 
<'ld  trees  enabled  Mr.  Camrn  to  “  come  in  first  ”  last  autumn  at  the 
tTystal  Balaco  in  the  class  “open  to  growers  in  Surrey,  Sus.'^ex,  Hants, 
Dorset,  Somerset,  Devon  and  (Jornwall.”  Such  are  the  facts.  What 
lias  been  done  in  a  few  instances  may  be  accomjdished  in  many  in 
improving  fruit  trees  that  are  capable  of  renovation  when  the  varieties 
justify  the  work.  Though  the  practice  cannot  bo  carried  out  in 
extensive  jdantations,  thorough  soakings  with  strong  liquid  manure 
at  anytime,  from  the  autu'.nn  tosjiring,  when  the  liipiid  will  pass  down 
freely,  have  a  far  quicker  and  more  potent  effect  in  invigorating  enfeebled 
trees  than  accrues  from  surface  sprinklings  of  artificial  manures, 
however  good  these  may  be  ;  but  thorough  cleansing  and  common  sense 
pruning  in  the  form  of  branch  thinning,  with  little  shortening  of  the 
better  parts,  are  essential  accompaniments.  l-nder  such  procedure, 
and  in  some  cases  of  grafting,  also  especially  by  jdanting  and  intelli¬ 
gently  managing  young  trees  in  wisely  chosen  varieties,  such  a  traus- 
formatioii  may  be  effected  in  home-grown  fruit,  which,  if  jiroperly 
jdaced  before  the  laiblic,  will  compete  successfully  with  any  that  can 
bo  brought  against  it  in  the  best  market  in  the  world — Britain.  It  is  a 
question  of  men  and  their  methods,  nothing  else.’] 
Rose  Sifow  Fixtukeh  in  1899. 
June  Kith  (Tuesday). — Cambridge. 
„  llth  (Wednesday). — Yorkf. 
„  21st  (Wednesday). — Isle  of  Wight  (Shanklin). 
„  24  th  (Saturday). — Windsor. 
,,  2Tth  (Tuesday). — Westminster  (N.B.S.). 
„  28th  (Wednesday). — Bath,  Croydon,  Iteading,  Richmond, 
Maidstone,  and  Ryde. 
„  29th  (Thursday). — Canterbury,  Eltham,  Norwich,  and  Sutton. 
July  1st  (Satuiday). — Crystal  Palace  (N.R.S.). 
„  4th  ('buesday). — Gloucester  and  Harrow. 
„  5th  (Wednesday). — Ealing  and  Hanley®. 
„  Cih  ('I'hursday). — Colchester  (N.R.S). 
„  7th  (Friday). —  Hereford. 
,,  11th  (Tuesday). — Wolverhampton. f 
„  13th  ('I'hursday). — Brentwood  and  Helensburgh. 
„  20th  ('bhursday). — Salterhebble. 
„  25th  ('i’uesday). — Tibshelf. 
®  Shows  lasting  two  days,  f  Shows  lasting  three  day.s. 
'bhe  above  are  all  the  dates  definitely  decided  upon  that  have  a» 
yet  reached  me.  I  shall  he  glad  to  receive  the  iixtures  of  any  Rose 
shows  not  named  above,  or  those  of  any  horticultural  (xhibitions  where 
Roses  are  made  a  leading  feature,  for  insertion  in  future  lists. — 
EuwaiU)  Mawi.ey,  Jiosebunk,  Jkrlchamsled,  Jlerls. 
A  COKKECTION. 
AVilu  you  allow  me  to  correct  an  error  into  which  I  have 
unwittingly  fallen  in  the  present  issue  of  “  The  Rosarian’s  Year  Book,’^ 
and  wherein  1  stated  that  Messrs.  Darkness  had  succeeded  to  the 
business  of  Mr.  May  in  Bedale.  1  am  assured  that  this  isnot  the  case, 
'bhe  present  firm  of  Messrs.  J.  &  A.  Majq  of  Hope  Nurseries,  continues 
the  busine.ss,  which  was  imrchased  by  them  from  the  late  Mr.  Henry 
Mav's  executors  about  five  years  ago,  and  has  not  only  been  carried 
on  by  the  May  family  for  three  generations,  but  is  now  in  a  flourishing 
condition. — The  Eiutoh  of  “Tue  Rosaiuan’s  Yeah  Book.” 
NOTES  ON  TOMATOES. 
The  final  potting  or  planting  out  of  Tomatoes  must  be  attended  to 
now  in  all  cases  where  the  plants  are  sufficiently  advanced  in  size.  Sorno 
advocate  planting  them  in  a  border,  while  others  pin  their  faith  or» 
pot  culture.  The  grower  must  be  guided  by  circumstances.  If  the  plants 
are  not  near  the  glass  or  in  a  very  light  position,  it  would  be  folly  to 
plant  them  out  permanently  and  expect  them  to  fruit  abundantly,  la 
such  cases  they  are  better  managed  in  pots,  because  the  pots  being 
portable,  they  can  bo  easily  elevated  to  positions  near  the  glass,  which  is 
indispensable  to  the  welfare  and  success  of  Tomato  growing. 
A  low  span-roof  structure,  well  heated  and  ventilated,  is  undoubtedly, 
the  best  house  for  growing  'romatoes.  A  border  should  run  down  each 
side  with  a  base  of  wood  or  stone  at  no  great  distance  from  the  glass. 
Four  to  fi  inches  of  soil  may  be  placed  ii.  tnis  about  14  inches  wide,  this 
being  held  together  with  u  row  of  lojse  bricks,  and  if  the  base  of  the 
bed  slightly  inclines  to  the  front  ready  escape  will  be  afforded  for  the 
supertiuous  water,  (iood  stiff  holding  loam,  half  decayed  and  fur/y,  is 
suitable  compost.  It  will  not  need  enriching  with  much  manure,  but 
burnt  refuse  and  some  pounded  lime  rubbish  will  materially  improve  it. 
Place  out  the  plants  nut  less  than  a  foot  apart  on  small  mounds,  just 
covering  with  soil  to  give  the  roots  a  start.  More  can  be  added  as  needed 
from  time  to  time.  The  soil  must  be  made  firm  about  them,  and  not  too 
freely  watered  at  first. 
In  j)Ot  culture  the  final  potting  is  made  in  11,12,  or  13-inch  jiots.  A 
small  (juantity  of  drainage  should  be  effectively  placed  in  the  bottom  of 
the  pots.  On  this  insert  the  jilants,  and  add  no  more  soil  than  will  cover 
the  ball  when  made  firm.  A  very  light  position  must  be  chosen.  Some¬ 
times  a  temporary  shelf  is  reijuisite,  as  the  plants  must  be  near  the  glass. 
VV'ater  carefully  until  the  roots  have  worked  into  the  compost.  As  the 
plants  grow  and  become  established,  the  pots  may  be  gradually  lowered 
to  the  jiosition  they  must  ultimately  occupy.  As  soon  as  practicable 
commence  training  a  main  stem  to  a  wire  under  the  roof.  Rub  out  all 
others  as  well  as  side  shoots  originating  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves. 
'I'he  compost  allowed  them  to  root  in  will  suffice  until  the  first  Iruits  are 
set,  when  fresh  may  be  added,  A  little  heat  is  beneficial  to  assist  the 
early  growth,  but  ventilation  must  be  constantly  showed. — E.  D.  H. 
