December  13,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
543 
would  long  be  spared.  He  paid,  too,  a  glowing  but  thoroughly 
deserved  tribute  to  Mr.  Edward  Mawley.  Mr.  Keppel  H.  Gifford 
seconded  this,  and  wag  profuse  in  hi.s  praises  of  Mr.  Mawley  and  the 
committee.  Both  Mr.  D'Umbrain  and  Mr.  Mawley  replied,  the  latter 
maintaining  that  it  was  the  committee  who  did  the  work. 
Alterations  to  By-Laws. 
Mr.  H.  P.  Landon  proposed,  and  Mr.  G.  Mount  seconded,  the 
following  addition  to  By-Law  3: — “  The  committee  shall  have  power 
to  fill  any  vacancy  in  the  officers  of  the  society,  or  in  the  committee 
which  may  occur  during  the  currency  of  any  \ear.”  The  desirability 
of  this  was  so  obvious  that  it  was  carried  unanimously. 
Dr.  Shackleton  was  the  proposer  and  Mr.  J.  Bateman  the  seconder 
of  an  alteration  in  By-Law  12,  which  will  hencelorth  read  as 
follows  : — “  That  affiliated  societies  have  the  privilege  of  offering  for 
competition  the  medals — except  gold  medals — of  the  National  Rose 
Society,  whicli  medals  may  be  obtained  tor  this  purpose  at  the 
following  charges — viz.,  silver-gilt  medal,  14-.  ;  silver  medal,  11a.  ; 
and  bronze  medal,  5s.  fid.  None  of  the  medals  shall  be  awarded  by 
an  affiliated  i-ociety  for  any  seedling  Ro.'-e  or  for  any  decoration  or  vase 
of  flowers.  Ro  medals  sent  without  prepayment.  No  afifiliated  society 
shall  offer  more  than  four  of  the  National  Rose  Society’s  medals  at  any 
exhibition.”  Mr.  G.  W.  Cook,  who  was  on  the  agenda  to  bring 
forward  an  alternative  scheme,  withdrew  this,  and  spoke  strongly 
in  favour  of  the  above,  and  there  was  no  dissentient  when  it  was 
put  to  the  vote. 
It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Geo.  Gordon,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Geo. 
Paul,  that  the  following  addition  be  made  to  regulation  18  : — “  For 
four  trebles,  2  feet  long  ;  for  six  trebles,  2  feet  9  incbe.s  long ;  for  eight 
trebles,  3  feet  fi  inchts  long.”  This  is  another  step  in  the  direction  of 
securing  uniformity  in  the  sizes  of  boxes  which  proposition  was  first 
brought  forward  last  year,  and  made  to  apply  to  a  few  of  the  mote 
important  duly  specified  classes.  The  committee  now  proposes  to 
institute  standard  sizes  and  apply  them  to  all  classes  during  the  year 
1902.  This  has  not  yet  become  law,  but  is  sufficiently  close  thereto 
to  make  it  advisable  for  all  members  to  have  their  new  boxes  on  the 
scale  published  in  the  society’s  regulations. 
The  Rev.  A.  Foster-Melliar  moved  that  definition  5  be  altered  to 
read  as  follows : — “  Size  shall  imply  that  the  bloom  does  not  in  this 
respect  Jail  below  the  standard  oj  the  class  then  being  judged.”  The 
proposer  made  a  somewhat  humourous  speech  in  support  of  the 
alteration,  but,  notwithstanding  the  support  of  Mr.  Burrell  of 
Cambridge,  it  w’as  lost  by  an  overwhelming  majority,  the  consensus 
of  opinion  beii  g  that  it  would  tend  to  encouragement  of  mere  size. 
This  was  certainly  not  Mr.  Foster-Melliar’s  idea,  as  he  is  beyond  doubt 
a  stickler  for  quality  as  represented  by  excellence  of  colour,  lorm,  grace 
and  substance  of  petal,  as  well  as  size.  Mr.  C.  E.  Shea,  Mr.  0.  G. 
Orpen,  Mr.  G.  Paul,  and  the  Rev.  J.  H  Pemberton,  all  spoke  strongly 
in  opposition  to  the  motion,  which  received  only  four  suppoiters. 
Election  of  Committee. 
The  committee  recommended  the  election  of  Captain  J.  Ramsay 
to  be  a  vice-president  of  the  society,  and  that  Messrs.  T.  B.  Gabriel, 
K.  H.  Gifford,  W.  E.  Martin,  H.  E.  Molyneux,  Lewis  D.  Pawle,  and 
WillTayler,  with  . the  Rev.  F.  Page  Roberts,  le  elected  members  of 
the  committee  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  scrutineirs  of  the  ballot, 
Messrs.  A.  Mount  and  A.  Turner,  having  performed  their  office,  the 
chairman  announced  that  the  persons  indie ited  had  been  duly  elected. 
Provincial  Exhibitions  in  1Q02. 
In  relation  to  the  provincial  exhibitions  for  1902  Mr.  Mawley  read 
a  letter  from  the  secretary  of  the  Exeter  society,  stating  that  his 
committee  would  be  delighted  to  welcome  the  National  Rose  Society 
in  1902,  and  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  commence  the  necessary 
arrangements  at  an  early  date.  This  is  very  satisfactory,  and  the 
West  of  El  gland  growers  will  have  an  opportunity  of  showing  their 
calibre  on  their  own  ground.  A  communication  was  also  read  trom 
the  Helensburgh  secretary  regarding  the  holding  of  the  northern 
exhibition  there  in  1902,  but  further  information  was  going  to  be 
forwarded  alter  the  meeting  of  the  local  committee. 
After  Mr.  George  Paul  had  made  a  few  remarks  anent  the 
peculiarities  of  the  railway  companies  in  making  their  ch-irges.  Sir 
Alexander  Arbuthnot,  Bart.,  rose  to  propose  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr. 
Chas.  E.  Shea  for  presiding.  Sir  Alexander’s  remarks  were  brief  but 
straight  to  the  point,  and  conveyed  in  admirable  language  a  well 
deserved  :ribute  to  the  chairman  for  bis  management  of  the  meeting. 
Meedless  to  say,  the  proposal  was  carried  with  acclamation.  This 
brought  the  meeting  to  a  close. 
At  5.30  the  annual  dinner  was  held  under  the  chairmanship  of 
George  Girdon,  Esq.,  V.M.H.,  and  we  understand  a  most  enjoyable 
evening  was  spent.  ^ 
Hardy  Frnit  Garden. 
Cordon  Fruit  Trees. — This  system  of  growing  fruit  trees  possesses 
many  advantages,  and  is  well  adapted  for  gardens  of  limited  space, 
especially  if  a  suitable  wall  is  available  upon  which  to  train  the  trees. 
Walls,  however,  are  not  really  indispensable,  but  if  they  are  so  situated 
that  they  command  a  good  open  aspect,  and  the  soil  at  their  base  is,  or 
can  be  made,  suitable  for  fruit,  it  will  be  economical  to  plant  and  train 
Apples  or  Pears  upon  them.  The  training  of  cordons  is  simple,  and  a 
number  of  varieties  can  be  grown  on  a  restricted  space  ;  moreover,  the 
culture  and  attention  required  are  of  an  interesting  nature,  and  there  is 
every  prospect  of  good  crops  of  choice  fruit. 
Verticil  and  Diagonal  Cordons. — The  best  and  most  popular  form  of 
cordon  training  is  the  vertical  for  high  walls,  and  the  diagonal  for  low 
walls  and  espaliers.  Single-stemmed  cordons  for  training  in  either  of 
the  above  ways  may  be  obtained  as  one-year-old  fruiting  size,  or  as 
maidens.  The  older  trees  will  fiuit  the  soonest,  but  it  is  interesting  for 
the  cultivator  to  grow  the  trees  from  the  maiden  plants.  The  treatment 
for  growing  both  single,  vertical,  and  diagonal  cordons  is  practically  the 
same.  In  growing  from  maidens  select  clean,  vigorous,  healthy,  trees. 
Prune  them  to  half  their  length,  selecting  a  wood  bud.  Shorten  the 
roots  to  uninjured  parts,  and  reduce  the  tap  root  considerably. 
Apples  ought  to  be  on  Paradise  and  Pears  on  Quince  stocks,  these 
being  more  fibrous  rooting,  and  tend  to  produce  fruitfulness.  It  must 
be  decided  at  the  time  of  planting  whether  the  cordons  are  to  be 
vertical  or  diagonal.  If  the  latter  the  plants  must  be  18  inches  apart 
so  that  the  branches  may  have  a  space  of  not  less  than  a  foot  between, 
them  on  the  wall.  The  single  vertical  cordons  may  be  planted  a  foot 
apart  as  a  minimum  space,  but  some  varieties  will  be  all  the  better 
for  18  inches.  The  latter  trained  to  stakes  in  the  open  should  have 
18  inches  to  2  feet  distance  between  them. 
Diagonal  cordons  to  be  trained  to  rails  or  wires  stretched 
horizontally  should  have  the  lines  of  these  5  feet  apart,  and  not  over 
6  feet  high.  The  soil  must  be  well  prepared  by  bastard  trenching, 
incorporating  some  loamy  soil  and  burnt  refuse,  working  a  wider  space 
beyond  the  requirements  of  the  roots.  Plant  diagonals  at  an  angle  of 
45°.  When  the  shoots  push  select  one  of  the  strong  upper  shoots  as 
leader,  and  train  quite  straight  in  the  proper  direction.  The  side  shoots 
must  be  pinched  to  the  third  leaf,  and  to  one  afterwards  as  made. 
Allow  the  leader  to  extend.  At  the  winter  pruning  the  stopped  side 
shoots  must  be  pruned  back  to  the  best  bud  nearest  the  stem.  Excess 
of  vigour  will  be  rectified  by  fruiting,  though  if  this  is  not  so  apparent 
lift  and  replant,  carefully  shortening  any  undesirable  long  roots,  and 
making  the  soil  firm.  The  vertically  trained  cordons  will  be  the  more 
likely  to  require  the  lifting  process,  as  the  sap  rushes  to  the  top  faster 
than  in  those  growing  diagonally. 
Horizontal  Cordons. — This  form  is  more  ornamental  than  useful  or 
profitable.  Trees  with  a  single  stem  and  two  branches  starting 
horizontally  from  the  top  should  be  planted  as  an  edging  to  a  fruit 
garden  walk.  Similar  trees  may  be  planted  at  intervals  of  6  or  8  feet, 
thus  forming  a  line  of  cordon  oranches.  Horizontal  cordons  with  a 
single  branch  may  also  be  planted  6  feet  apart,  and  trained  on  wires  in 
one  direction.  When  the  branch  of  one  has  extended  to  the  main 
stem  of  another,  graft  both  together  in  the  spring,  and  thus  form  a 
living  continuous  line  of  fruitful  branches.  If  maiden,  or  even  older 
trees  are  employed  for  planting  single  horizontal  cordons,  insert  them 
obliquely,  so  as  not  to  cause  a  sharp  bending  of  the  stem,  which  is  not 
desirable.  Rub  off  all  shoots  on  maiden  stems  when  growth  begins  to 
the  height  of  training  wire.  The  leading  shoot  selected  should  be 
trained  forward  in  the  same  line  as  the  main  stem  the  first  summer, 
gradually  depressing  it  to  its  position  by  the  time  the  buds  break  in 
spring.  Pinch  the  side  shoots  in  summer  to  four  leaves,  and  cut  them 
back  in  winter  to  a  good  bud  near  the  stem.  This  bud  will  eventually 
form  a  fruiting  bud. 
Cordon  Gooseberries. — Gooseberries  lend  themselves  admirably  to 
cordon  training  on  walls  or  trellises,  especially  on  north  walls  where 
the  fruit  can  hang  late.  In  originating^*  the  cordons  obtain  plants  one 
year  from  the  cutting  with  a  clear  stem  of  6  inches.  After  planting,  which 
should  be  for  single  cordons  a  foot  apart,  shorten  the  stem  to  12  inches. 
The  leading  shoot  pushing  in  spring  secure  to  a  stake  or  wire.  The 
small  laterals  which  will  grow  from  this  new  shoot  in  summer  pinch  to 
first  leaf  and  shorten  to  an  inch  in  autumn.  If  necessary,  shorten  the 
leading  shoot  in  winter  to  a  foot,  so  as  to  cause  side  shoots  to  be 
produced,  which  in  summer  pinch  to  four  leaves  and  spur  them  in  to 
an  inch  in  winter.  Cordons  may  be  formed  with  several  branches  each 
a  foot  apart.  Spurs  forming  naturally  retain  at  full  length. 
Gridiron  Training  Apples. — This  simple  method  of  training  is  a 
useful  and  profitable  method  of  culture,  either  for  walls,  espaliers,  or  in 
the  open.  The  trees  should  be  on  the  Paradise  stock,  planting  them 
