June  18,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
535 
Since  that  date,  twenty-five  years  or  more  ago,  a  change  has 
come  over  the  aspect  of  British  horticultnrai  exhibitions,  due  to 
the  alteration  in  men’s  minds.  One  of  the  things  most  forcibly 
demonstrated  at  the  latest  Temple  Flower  Show  was  the  public 
passion  for  the  lovely  and  handsome  plants  of  the  open-air 
borders.  Crowds  of  visitors  lingered  lovingly  by  the  beautiful 
groups  set  up  by  the  leading  cultivators,  and  absolutely  no  sec¬ 
tion  of  the  entire  exhibition  attracted  so  many  or  such  ardent 
admirers.  Think  of  that  in  connection  with  Perry’s  South  Ken¬ 
sington  exploit:  a  greater  contrast  is  not  possible.  And  to  Mr. 
Robinson,  we  repeat,  belongs  the  lion’s  share  of  the  honour  for 
this  hapiry  revolution.  His  aged  friend,  Mr.  Peter  Barr,  has 
said  that  “after  Mr.  Robinson  had  preached  hardy  plants  from 
the  housetops  for  thirty  years,  people  began  to  think  there  was 
something  ‘  in  it,’  ”  and  having  once  caused  attention  to  be  given, 
the  rest  was  easy,  or  only  a  matter  of  time.  Mr.  Robinson  is  the 
Loudon  of  our  day.  We  therefore  welcome  the  re-issue  of  a 
book  that  all  hardy  plantsmen  find  to  be  of  capital  interest  and 
great  practical  service.  A  keen  observer  has  stated  “  Alpine 
Flowers  ”  to  be  the  author’s  best  work,  and  all  Avho  possess  “  The 
English  Flower  Garden,”  and  have  studied  it,  will  be  able  to 
appreciate  this  high  compliment.  We  will  not  go  so  far  as  that, 
but  we  do  say  this,  that  the  book  we  herewith  notice  is  an 
admirable  exposition  on  rock  gardens,  their  position  and  proper 
construction,  and  the  culture  and  selection  of  all  the  plants 
covered  by  the  title  of  the  work. 
A  few  quotations  from  its  pages  will  elucidate  the  character 
of  it.  Writing  of  materials  used  in  construction,  he  says:  “If 
we  could  choose,  sandstone  or  millstone  grit  woidd  perhaps  be  the 
best ;  but  it  is  seldom  that  a  choice  can  be  made,  and  happily 
almost  any  kind  of  natural  stone  will  do,  from  Kentish  rag  to 
limestone;  soft,  slaty,  and  other  kinds  liable  to  crumble  away 
should  be  avoided,  as  also  should  magnesian  limestone.  Stone 
of  the  district  should  be  adopted  for  economy’s  sake,  if  for  no 
other  reason.”  Mr.  Robinson  points  out  the  folly  of  making 
elaborate  artificial  rock  gardens  if,  by  a  little  excavating,  the 
natural  rocks  of  the  ground  can  be  laid  bare  and  transformed  to 
the  purpose.  Too  often,  however,  no  attention  has  been  given 
in  this  direction,  and  weeks  or  months  of  misapplied  energy  (not 
to  mention  money)  have  been  wasted. 
Illustrations  (small  engravings)  are  freely  disposed  through¬ 
out  the  pages  to  ocularly  demonstrate  how  to  build  and  how  not 
to  build,  and  every  operation  is  carefully  reasoned  out,  so  that 
the  reader  is  made  capable  of  judging  for  him  or  herself.  These 
illustrations,  we  may  add,  are  not  so  good  or  clear  as  they  ought 
to  have  been  in  very  many  cases,  being  too  small,  but  they  are 
sufficiently  understandable.  Lists  of  the  principal  alpine  plants 
that  need  either  a  calcareous  or  a  granitic  soil  are  supplied,  and 
from  this  it  is  seen  that  different  species  even  of  the  same  genus 
have  distinctive  preferences.  Thus  Daphne  Cneoruni  inclines  to 
a  calcareous  tilth,  and  D.  peti'sea  enjoys  a  granitic  roothold,  and 
a  great  number  of  others  could  be  cited  from  this  book.  Certain 
plants  need  poor  soils,  and  a  word  or  two  is  devoted  to  this 
head. 
Discussing  various  forms  of  rock  gardens  Mr.  Robinson  says  : 
“  Where  the  ground  is  low,  there  is  not  the  slightest  need  for 
placing  stones  all  over  the  surface  ;  an  occasional  one  cropping  up 
here  and  there  from  the  ma.ss  of  vegetation  will  give  the  best 
effect.  Alpine  flowers  are  often  seen  in  multitudes  and  in  their 
loveliest  aspect  in  some  little  elevated  level  spot,  frequently 
without  rocks  being  visible  through  it,  and  where  they  do  occur, 
merely  peeping  up  here  and  there.  .  .  .  Fortunately,  the 
flowery  turf  and  gentle  mound  are  much  more  possible  to  us  than 
the  morraine  ruin  or  arid  cliffs.”  The  author  is  wroth  at  those 
who  build  mounds  mostly  of  stones  that  become  arid  and  parched, 
when  one  of  the  fundamental  needs  of  alpines  is  a  cool  moist 
bottom.  In  making  eminences  in  rockeries,  the  basis  should  be 
a  mound  of  soil,  with  a  few  stones  inserted  here  and  there.  Great 
boulders  are  generally  unnecessary,  unless  for  very  expansive 
gardens,  where  the  shrubby  and  taller  vegetation  can  correctly 
be  planted.  A  few  page  illustrations  depicting  photographic 
views  of  the  best  rock  gardens,  even  though  they  might  have 
added  to  the  price  of  the  book,  would  have  served  a  useful 
purpose. 
Even  slugs  and  worms  are  not  overlooked  in  tliis  treatise,  nor 
could  they  be,  seeing  that  the  most  precious  gems  are  often  lost 
through  these  slimy  creatures.  “  Fencing  off  ”  by  means  of  little 
canals  is  recommended  for  the  choicer  subjects,  and  toads  should 
be  encouraged,  but  above  all,  hand-picking  in  the  evening  or  very 
early  morning  is  best.  The  concluding  sections  of  Part  I.  em¬ 
brace  cascades,  bridges,  the  British  alpine  and  moor  garden, 
rock-garden  fernery,  wall-gardens  (greatly  enlarged  from  the 
second  edition),  marsh  gardens  and  selections  of  plairts;  frames 
for  alpines  and  flowers  in  pots ;  annuals  for  the  rock  garden  ;  with 
a  useful  section  on  “  What  to  avoid,”  and.  lastly,  a  brief  xlisquisi- 
tion  on  the  geological  aspects  of  rqckwork.  Then  follows  the 
account  of  the  two  trips  referred  to  in  our  opening  lines,  and  the 
last  189  pages  (there  are  344  altogether)  are  devoted  to  descrip¬ 
tions  of  plants,  each  alphabetically  arranged,  yet  a  good  index  is 
provided  at  the  end. 
Tlie  Cultivation  of  the  Tomato/ 
This  is  a  pi'ize  essay  by  Robert  Holmes,  F.R.H.S.,  Tomato 
spcciali.st,  Tuckswood  Farm,  Norwich,  the  well-known  success¬ 
ful  grower  of  Ciirysant hemums  and  other  things,  and  has  been 
placed  in  my  hands  for  review  by  the  editor  of  the  Juuinal  of 
HorficnUurc. 
In  the  preface  the  author  admits  being  acttiatcd  by  “selfish 
motives,”  inasmuch  as  the  intention  is  to  avoid  writing  replies 
to  iiKiuiries  respecting  the  growth  of  Tomatoes  and  their 
diseases,  as  these  have  been  so  numerous  as  to  “  become  quite 
beyond  the  power  of  an  ordinary  busy  man  to  give  them  any 
sort  of  proper  attention.”  Hence  the  book.  Albeit,  tlie  author 
offm’s  expert  advice,  given  b.y  correspondence,  upon  any  subject 
mentioned  in  the  book,  fee  os.,  payable  in  advance.  Thus  the 
“labour  of  love”  culminates  in  "business,”  from  which  stand¬ 
point  my  remarks  will  be  drawn. 
In  the  introductory  chapter  the  author  introduces  the  adage 
“  An  Apple  ai  day  keeps  the  doctor  away,”  and  “  To  eat  an  Apple 
going  to  bed  will  make  the  doctor  beg  his  bread  ”  ;  but  how  these 
sayings  suggest  another,  “If  drugs  won’t  do.  try  the  Tomato,” 
IS  not  explained.  In  Professor  A.  H.  Church’s,  F.R.S..  “  Food,” 
the  components  of  Apples  and  Tomatoes  are  given  as  follows:  — 
In  100  Parts. 
Am  Es. 
Tomatoes. 
a'  er 
8!)  8 
Albumiuoids,  etc . 
0'4 
1-4 
Sugar  . 
e-0 
Malic  acid . 
1-3 
0-7 
Pectose,  pectin,  and  gum 
5-2 
Cellulose  . 
_ 
Cellulose  and  pectose 
_ 
1-3 
Mineral  matt-T 
0-4 
0-8 
The  nutrient-ratio  of  the  Apple  is  1  :  27,  the  nutrient-value 
is  lli;  the  nutrient-ratio  of  the  Tomato  is  here  l:o;  the 
nutrient-value  8L  Why,  then,  try  the  Tomato? 
Under  “  Glass  House  for  Tomatoes,”  Mr.  Holmes  lays  stress  on 
the  situation  being  “  one  to  secure  a  maximum  of  sunshine  and 
adequate  ventilation,”  span-roof  house  preferable,  14ft  to  18ft 
wide,  of  any  desired  length,  walls  not  less  than  4ft,  “  so  as  to 
give  ample  room  and  air  space,  which  is  very  necessary  for  the 
Tomato.”  “The  typical  Guernsey  Tomato  house  is  300ft  long 
by  42ft  wide,  and  22ft  in  height  to  the  ridge  board.  A  hou.'-e 
pf  these  dimensions  holds  4,000  to  5,000  plants,  and  the  crop, 
if  quite  up  to  the  average,  would  weigh  eight  tons,  the  value  of 
which  would  be  about  £250.”  This  is  a  very  reasonable  estimate 
of  cropping,  3^1b  to  4 Jib  (nearly)  per  plant,  and  of  value  3Jd. 
per  lb.  But  what  when  the  crop  is  devastated  by  sleeping 
disease,  feather,  and  clubbing?  These  are  factors  to  be  reckonecl 
with,  also  low  prices,  such  as  2d.  per  lb.  Our  author  presents 
his  ideal,  says  nothing  of  cost  of  structure,  expense  of  produc¬ 
tion,  and  marketing,  wear  and  tear,  and  interest  on  capital  ;  or 
even  losses  by  disease  and  glutted  markets.  Truly,  Mr.  Holmes 
says  at  the  commencement  of  his  very  practical  little  book  : 
“In  this  country  open-air  cultivation  in  unsuitable  seasons,  and 
also  cultivation  in  glass  houses  under  many  of  the  unfavourable 
conditions  which  prevail  is  both  difficult  and  unprofitable.”  To 
render  successful  practice  feasible  is  evidently  our  author’s  in¬ 
tention,  details  being  given  on  the  most  essential  points,  so  that 
by  following  the  advice  given  in  the  pages  of  the  book  the  groAver 
may  have  “  good  crops  practically  free  from  disease.” 
The  articles  on  sowing  seed,  Ac.,  soil,  manuring,  drainage, 
sterilisation  of  soil,  planting,  space,  Ac.,  are  all  sound,  based  on 
the  healthy,  sturdy  plant  given  due  room  and  a  sustaining, 
floi'iferous  habit  from  soil  duly  charged  Avith  adequate,  but  not 
excessive,  supply  of  nutrition. 
On  the  vexed  question  of  “pots  versus  planting  out”  tho 
facts  are  given  that  plants  groAvn  in  pots  produce  fruit  mostly  of 
first  quality  Avith  bloom  setting  freely,  the  roots  being  Avell  under 
control  and  also  less  liable  to  disease  than  planted  in  ‘the  soil 
of  the  house.  Particulars  are  also  given  of  a  perforated  metal 
pot  of  novel  design,  specially  made  of  galvanised  iron,  for 
Tomatoes,  and  is  made  by  Mr.  Chas.  A.  Gunton,  Bridge  Street, 
Noi'Avich.  Temperature,  ventilation,  light,  fertilising  of  tho. 
bloom,  Avatering,  training  and  pruning,  removal  of  foliage,  top¬ 
dressing  and  feeding,  receive  a  due  share  of  attention,  particular 
stress  being  irlaced  on  proA'iding  an  abundance  of  mineral  con¬ 
stituents,  potash  and  phosphates,  in  order  that  nitrogenous 
matter  may  “  Avork  the  oracle”  to  the  benefit  of  the  grower. 
Formula  is  given  for  a  good  mixture,  composed  of  sulphate  of 
ammonia,  muriate  of  lAotash,  superphosphate,  and  Veltha,  in  the 
latter  of  Avhich  our  author  has  much  faith,  reminding  of  the 
adage,  “There  is  nothing  like  leather.” 
Raising  from  cuttings  is  not  advised  for  main  crops,  seedlings 
being  preferable.  Open-air  culture  is  replete  Avith  cogent  matter, 
and  then  come  diseases,  upon  AA’liich  the  data  is  afforded  that 
‘If  Tomatoes  are  properly  cultivated,  very  little  disease  Avill 
appear.  In  unsuitable  glass  houses,  hoAvever.  and  AA'hen  groAvn 
under  conditions  favourable  thereto,  many  diseases  Avill  attack 
the  Tomato.”  These  diseases  are  divided  into  tAvo  classes,  viz., 
tliose  conveyed  to  the  plant  through  the  medium  of  tho  soil,  ami 
those  A\hich  attack  the  loaves.  For  sleeping  di.sease,  club-root. 
rutlisbed  by  Ito’oert  Holmes,  TucksAvood  F.inn,  Norwi -h,  piice  Is. 
