JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
April  9,  1907. 
Apple,  Rambour  Franc. 
lice  planting  at  All  Saints’  Churchyard,  Poi^lar,  liad  been 
nnislied.  It  was  stated  that  the  suggestion  of  the  association 
to  open  the  front  part  of  St.  Luke’s  Churchyard,  Old  Street,  had 
been  adopted,  and  a  grant  of  seats  was  made  for  this  ground. 
Seats  were  also  granted  for  a  recreation  ground  at  Leyton,  for 
Jlrooinfield  Park,  N.,  and  for  Christ  Church,  Westminster.  'It 
was  decided  to  take  steps  to  oppose  the  Old  Bridewell  Burying 
Ground  Bill,  in  the  House  of  Commons,  which  had  passed  the 
I'pper  House,  and  which  seeks  to  repeal  the  general  law  against 
building  on  disused  burial  grounds,  in  favour  of  a  private  owner. 
It  was  stated  that  it  had  definitel.y  been  arranged  to  remove  tlie 
Duke  of  York’s  School,  Chelsea,  and  it  was  agreed  to  continue  to 
make  efforts  to  secure  the  preservation  of  the  most  picturesque 
part  of  the  site.  A  grant  of  apparatus  was  made  for  a  gymnasium 
at  South  Bromley.  It  was  mentioned  that  the  Horticultural 
Society  was  likely  to  give  up  its  fine  gardens  at  Chiswick,  and  it 
was  agreed  to  see  whether  they  could  be  continued  under  some 
other  management.  It  was  mentioned  that  Clifford’s  Inn,  E.C., 
was  advertised  for  sale  on  May  14,  and  it  was  resolved'to.  find  out 
Avhether  the  garden  which  forms  part  of  the  site  could  be  pre¬ 
served. 
Yccc'as  are  subjects  that  ornament  all  gardens  wherever  one 
may  find  them,  tor  it  almost  seems  as  tliough  no  place  is  unsuitable 
for  their  growth,  or  their  characters.  That  they  impart  a  sense 
of  tropical  appearance  has  often  been  remarked,  and  they  are 
classic  plants,  meet  for  Italian  gardens  where  vases  and  statuary 
are  abundant.  And  though  so  artistically  satisfactory,  theu' 
cultural  requirements  are  exceedingly  simple,  while  the  plants 
themselves  are  perfectly  hardy  y ‘indeed,  to  see  them  covered 
with  snow  or  shimmering  with  hoar-frost  crystals,  is  only  another 
phase  of  their  everlasting  beauty.  Then,  again,  when  in  flower, 
what  dignity  is  theirs !  and  the  paniculate  inflorescence,  uprising 
many  feet,  is  a  perfect  symbol  of  voluptuous  effulgency  and  token 
of  fruitfulneas.  They  would  lead  one  on  to  ruminate  of  “  lessons 
from  the  rippling  brooks,  sermons  in  stones,”  and  the  good  that 
lies  in  everything;  but  there  are  many  things  continually 
betokening  the  mortal  to  mundane  actions,  and  which  sever  both 
similes  and  sermons.  The  illustration  is  kindly  lent  by  Mr.  Ed. 
Owen  Greening,  editor  of  “  One  and  All  Gardening  for  1903  ” 
(2d.),  whicli  little  book  we  reviewed  shortly  ago. 
Yucca  acutifolia. 
(See  page  323.) 
According  to  the  authority  of  Dr.  Hogg  in  his  “  Fruit  Manual,” 
this  is  a  very  old  variety ;  yet,  while  this  may  be  so,  it  is  not 
a  little  singular  that  the  variety  is  so  very  rarely  met  with. 
Inquiries  made  among  many  fruit  growers  have  failed  to  elicit 
any  knowledge  of  its  cultivation,  and  in  no  fruit  catalogue  that 
has  come  into  my  hands  does  it  appear  in  the  extended  lists  of 
culinary  varieties.  Some  might  be  inclined  to  say  that  a  variety 
that  has  lain  so  long  unrecognised  can  have  none,  or  but  little, 
merit  to  recommend  it.  Such  a  thought,  however,  vanishes 
wdien  full  grown  fruits  are  view'ed  by  the  practical  or  the  unskilled 
grower,  for  its  size  and  distinct  shape  is  sure  to  arrest  immediate 
attention,  if  not  an  admiration,  because  of  these  striking  cha¬ 
racteristics.  I  was  so  much  impressed  myself  with  the  size  and 
di.stinctness  of  the  crop  of  the  one  tree  I  found  here,  that  I  at 
once  resolved  to  increase  the  numbers  by  gi’afting,  which  I  did, 
and  many  have  been  the  inquiries  for  grafts  from  an  inspection 
of  the  fruit  in  a.  growing  or  gathered  state.  Even  Mr.  Bunyard, 
such  a  connoisseur  of  good  Apples,  fell  a  victim  to  the  alluring 
attraction  of  a  dish  staged  at  the  Crystal  Palace  fruit  show  a  few 
years  since. 
On  a  free  stock  it  is  very  vigorous  in  its  growth,  and  when  so 
vigorous  there  is  always  a  tendency  towards  paucity  of  crop. 
On  the  Paradise  stock  I  fully  expect  that  both  size  and  extent  of 
fruit  and  crop  would  be  a  marked  attribute  of  this  variety. 
Dr.  Hogg  gave  its  season  as  September  and  October;  it  will 
keep  soundly  some  time  later  than  this,  though  October  and 
November  may,  under  ordinary  circum.stanoes,  be  said  to  be  its 
perfect  season.  The  “  Fruit  Manual  ”  description  says  ; 
“  Rambour  Fi?anc. — Fruit  very  large,  4in  broad  and  3in  high, 
roundish  and  flattened,  with  five  ribs  on  the  sides  which  extends 
to  the  eye,  forming  prominent  ridges  round  the  apex.  Skin, 
yellow,  marbled  with  thin  pale  russet  on  the  shaded  side,  but 
streaked  and  mottled  on  the  side  next  the  sun.  Flesh  yellowq 
firm,  and  of  a  leathery  texture,  brisk  and  sugary,  with  a  high 
flavour.  An  old  French  Apple  mentioned  by  Rea  as  far  back 
as  16(35.” 
The  original  tree  in  these  gardens  is  of  large  size,  growm  as  a 
natural  bush  or  small  standarcl,  and  must  have  occupied  its 
position  many  years,  probably  iifty ;  but  there  is  no  record  to 
prove  its  origin  or  date  of  planting.  It  is  of  healthy  growth, 
quite  free  from  every  suspicion  of  canker,  and  though  not  a 
heavy  bearer,  it  is  rarely  wdthout  a  crop  of  medium  extent. — 
W.  Strugnell,  Rood  Ashton. 
Exhibition  Schedules. 
The  third  exhibition  of  the  National  Sweet  Pea  Society  will 
take  place  at  Prince’s  Hall,  Earl’s  Court,  London,  S.W.,  on 
Wednesday  and  Thursday,  July  15  and  16,  1903.  Altogether 
there  are  thirty-six  classes,  the  firet  being  a  ”  Special  Classifica¬ 
tion  Class  ”  (see  schedule)  for  nineteen  varieties.  The  lion, 
secretary  is  Mr.  H.  J.  Wright,  32,  Dault  Road,  Wandsworth, 
S.W.  *  *  The  Durham,  Northumberland,  and  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne  Botanical  and  Horticultural  Society  have  arranged 
their  exliibition  for  July  23  and  two  following  days.  There  are 
sixty-nine  classes  in  three  divi.sions,  plants,  cut  flowers,  fruits, 
and  vegetables  being  represented.  Special  prizes  by  trade  firms 
are  offered.  In  class  35,  for  eight  dishes  of  fruit  the  first  prize 
is  £5 ;  class  18,  first  £3,  for  eighteen  bunches  of  herbaceous 
flowers  ;  and  £6  for  a  collection  of  Roses  in  class  10 ;  there  being 
other  good  awards;  and  class  1.  for  a  group  of  miscellaneous 
plants  affords  £23  in  four  prizes,  £10  and  a  Silver  Banksian  Medal 
being  the  first.  The  secretary  is  Mr.  J.  B.  Reid,  Cathedral 
Buildings,  Dean  Street,  Newcastle.  *  *  The  Abbey  Park 
Floral  Fete  at  Leicester  is  one  of  the  groat  exhibitions  of  the 
year.  It  is  now  arranged  for  August  4  and  5,  and  schedules  are 
obtainable  from  Mr.  John  Burn,  Superintendent  of  Abbey  Park, 
Leicester.  There  are  a  large  number  of  special  prizes  offered  by 
nur.serymen,  and,  in  addition,  class  1  of  the  schedule  offers  £20 
as  a  first  for  a  group  of  plants  on  160  square  feet  space.  The 
prizes  in  all  the  leading  classes,  however,  are  very  good,  for 
Leicester,  like  Shrewsbury  and  some  other  places,  has  a  fame  in 
this  direction.  There  are  seven  divisions  and  137  classes.  *  * 
The  fifteenth  annual  flower  show  of  the  Cardiff  and  County  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  will  take  place  on  July  22  and  23.  There  are 
148  classes,  in  five  divisions,  embracing  every  section  of  garden 
produce,  with  decorative  classes  and  others  for  wild  flowers  ;  the 
Glamorgan  Bee-keepers’  Association  also  hold  their  exhibition  in 
conjunction.  £6  is  given  as  first  for  four  plants  in  class  1,  and 
there  are  numerous  good  in-izes.  The  secretary  i.s  Mr.  Harr\ 
Gillett,  66,  Woodville  Road,  Cardiff.  *  *  The  Rugby  and 
District  Chrysanthemum,  Fruit,  and  Floricultural  Society’s  Show 
takes  place  'on  November  11  and  12.  Schedules  are  obtainable 
from  Mr.  W.  Bryant,  8,  Barby  Road,  Rugby. 
