82 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  24,  1901. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
Scientific  Committee,  January  15th. 
Present  i^Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the  chair),  Mr.  Bowie,  Mr.  Michael, 
Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Mr.  Sutton,  Mr.  im  Thurn,  Mr.  Hudson,  and  Rev.  G. 
Henslow,  Hon.  Sec. 
Loss  of  reserve  matter  in  ‘pruning. — The  following  communication  on 
pruning  Vines  was  received  from  Mr.  Thomas  Sharpe,  Westbury, 
Wilts  : — “  The  method  in  vogue  cf  managing  the  growth  and  subsequent 
pruning  of  Vines  appears  to  result  in  considerable  loss  of  reserve 
matter.  Physiology  teaches  that  the  compounds  elaborated  in  the  ; 
leaves,  after  necessary  supplies  are  made  to  current  growth  and  fruit, 
are  stored  for  future  use.  Some  of  these  are  stored  for  the  use  of 
buds  on  the  shoot,  the  following  spring.  No.  1,  the  lowest  or  basal 
bud,  is  required  for  fruiting  lateral  next  season,  but  No.  2,  the  next 
and  onwards,  are  not,  and  are  therefore  out  off  at  pruning  time, 
resulting  in  the  loss  of  all  the  reserve  matter  stored  in  the  shoot  above 
No.  1.  If  I  understand  aright,  every  living  cell  of  a  plant  is  a  perfect 
entity,  though  the  connecting  strands  of  protoplasm  may  manifest  a 
quasi  symbiosis,  the  supreme  object  of  which  is  perpetuation  either 
sexually  or  vegetatively  as  en¬ 
vironment  may  render  exigent.  A 
mole,  a  rat,  a  rabbit,  or  even  a 
toad  may  burrow  under  a  Straw¬ 
berry  plant  in  summer,  destroying 
more  or  less  of  the  roots.  The 
plant,  deprived  of  a  full  supply 
of  sustenance,  becomes  a  suitable 
host  fcr  red  spider,  which  makes 
its  wonted  havoc.  The  plant  in 
consequence  makes  but  miserable 
growth  in  August  and  September. 
The  flowers  of  this  plant  next 
season  will  be  small,  but  the 
pollen  abundant,  the  growth  of 
the  tori  stunted,  but  it  may  bear 
a  mass  of  seeds.  Again,  a  heal' by 
Blenheim  Apple  tree  attracts 
attention,  the  owner  having  ar¬ 
ranged  a  manure  heap  in  f-uch  a 
position  that  the  liquid  from  it 
will  keep  the  Blenheim  over¬ 
supplied.  Result  :  More  growth 
the  first  season,  but  a  diminishing 
growth  afterwards  for  a  few  years, 
then  two  heavy  crops  of  wretched 
fruit,  all  core  and  seeds.  In 
these  two  instances  of  untoward 
environment  the  plants  have 
adapted  themselves  by  ooncen- 
trating  all  their  stamina  to  seed 
production.  Can  we  turn  such 
adaptations  to  account  by  the 
prevention  of  preparation  for 
vegetative  perpetuation  above 
No.  1  bud  in  the  Vine  growth  ? 
Acting  upon  these  thiughts  I 
disbudded  my  laterals  above  No.  1 
last  July.  Apart  from  really 
satisfactory  appearance  the  Htrn- 
burghs  exhibit  no  striking  developments  near  the  spurs,  but  the 
Muscat  shows  protuberances  at  the  bases  of  the  spurs,  and  these 
are  quite  conspicuous  on  that  part  of  the  rod  which  is  four  years 
old.” 
Mr.  Hudson  observed  that  it  is  always  the  basal  bud  which  is  used 
for  stock  purposes,  as  the  eyes  or  buds  are  inferior  in  strength  from 
below  upwards  along  the  la'eral  shoots.  The  basal  bud  always  gives 
the  most  compact  bunches  of  Grapes,  the  others  supplying  looser.  He 
added  that  no  pruning  should  be  done  until  all  the  leaves  had  fallen. 
If  the  reserve  material  be  contained  in  the  shoot  above  the  basal  bud, 
and  it  be  suggested  by  Mr.  Sharpe  that  this  could  be  utilised,  then 
every  bud  must  be  suppress^  except  the  basal.  Experiments  would 
show  by  comparison  with  those  in  which  the  lateral  had  been  pruned 
down  to  the  basal  buds,  whether  the  Grapes  showed  any  superiority.  It 
is  hoped  that  Mr.  Sharpe  would  continue  his  experiments,  and  record 
comparative  results. 
Injured  Peach  shoots. — Mr.  James  Hawkes  of  Osterly  Park 
Gardens,  Isle  worth,  sent  shoots  with  the  following  remarks:  “During 
the  past  two  seasons,  about  the  time  the  house  is  closed  for  forcing,  a 
great  many  of  the  young  shoots  of  Royal  George  (age  of  tree  twelve 
years,  growing  in  an  early  Peach  house,  and  ripens  end  of  June)  have 
black  rings  round  them,  and  from  the  buds  small  globules  of  gum 
exude.  The  tree  in  question  has  cropped  well,  has  plenty  of  fibrous 
roots,  and  the  growth  is  not  over-strong.  It  has  not  been  subjected  to 
high  or  extremes  of  temperature,  and  is  well  supplied  with  water,  nor 
has  it  beeu  overfed  with  manure.” 
The  specimens  were  sent  to  Dr.  W.  G.  Smith  for  examination  and 
report. 
Climbing  Cereus. — Dr.  Masters  exhibited  photographs  of  a  spirally- 
climbing  CeretiB  having  a  flattened  stem,  and  tufr.s  of  small  prickles 
proceeding  from  the  edges.  It  has  been  named  C«reu9  Wittii,  and  is 
from  Brazil.  The  photos  were  received  from  Dr.  Schumann  of  Berlin. 
Mr.  P.  Im  Thurn  observed  how  a  Cereus  in  Guiana  at  first  grows 
flat  against  a  support,  but  when  it  rises  freely  above  assumes  a  more 
cylindrical  character.  It  would  seem,  therefore,  to  be  one  of  Kerner’s 
so-called  “  leaning”  climbers,  often  forming  a  lattice-work  by  inter¬ 
section  of  their  shoots,  if  it  have  no  adhesive  roots  such  as  this  species 
of  Cereus  possesses.  Mr.  Henslow  observed  that  the  change  of  form 
is  probably  correlated  with  a  different  distribution  of  the  mechanical  or 
supporting  tissue,  for  he  finds  that  an  Ivy  shoot  when  supported  has 
more  pith  and  less  wood  than  one  of  the  same  diameter  growing  freely 
in  the  air,  in  which  the  proportions  of  wood  and  pi* h  are  reversed. 
(See  “  Gardeners’  Chronicle,”  xxix.,  third  series,  page  38.) 
Carnations ,  single  and  double,  on  one  plant. — A  drawing  was 
received  from  Mr.  Cuthbertson  illustrating  this  not  uncommon  occur¬ 
rence.  Mr.  Michael,  Mr.  Sutton,  and  Dr.  Masters  had  observed  similar 
cases,  as  in  Begonias  also,  especially  late  in  the  season.  An  analogous 
occurrence  is  seen  in  Clematis  “  Proteus,”  which  bears  double  flowers 
early  in  the  season,  but  single  ones  afterwards.  In  all  cases  it 
appears  to  be  due  to  a  check  in 
nutrition. 
i  Piri'is  cone. — Dr.  Masters  exhi¬ 
bited  a  fine  c  tie,  received  from 
Sir  Ch.  Strickland,  of  Pinus 
ponderosa  vur.  Be  ithamiana.  It 
is  a  native  of  California. 
Mistletoe  variety. — Mr.  Corderoy 
of  Didoot  sent  a  bough  of  Mis- 
tleio  bearing  longer  and  broader 
leaves  than  those  of  the  usual 
wild  form.  It  was  believed  to 
have  been  cut  from  an  Apple 
tree.  It  was  observed  that  the 
variety  arose  from  some  innate 
cause,  bur  of  course  traceable  to 
its  parasitism,  and  that  as  Apples 
vary  by  the  change  of  their 
environment,  so  the  Mistleto  is 
similarly  affected. 
Australian  Rhubarb.  —  Mr. 
Sutton  cal  ed  attention  to  a 
variety  of  Rnubarb  from  Australia 
growu  at  Reading  for  some  few 
years.  It  starts  into  growth  every 
year  in  November,  producing 
leaves  with  stalks  2  feet  long  and 
three-quarters  of  au  inch  in  dia¬ 
meter  of  a  scarlet  colour.  Un¬ 
fortunately  in  this  climate  it  can 
only  be  depended  upon  during  a 
mild  season,  the  late  frosts  having 
destroyed  it.  As  Rhubarb  is  a 
native  of  N.-E.  Asia,  it  had 
apparently  quite  changed  its  habit 
in  Australia,  where  the  seasons 
are  reversed ;  but  has  for  the 
present  retained  its  period  of 
leafing  which  it  acquired  in  the  S. 
hemisphere. 
Clararia,  rare. — Mr.  Bunyard  sent  a  plaut  growing  on  Pine  wood  in 
a  cellar.  It  is  snow  white,  much  bra-  ching  with  pointed  ends.  Dr.  M.  C. 
Cooke  reports  that  it  is  the  rare  species  C.  Krouibholzi. 
Pear  Joseplpe  de  W(alines. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  held  in  the  Drill 
Hall  on  Tuesday,  January  15th,  Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  &  Sous,  Ltd.,  Royal 
Exotic  Nurseries,  Chelsea,  placed  before  the  Fiuit  and  Vegetable 
Committee  examples  of  this  excellent  Pear,  and  received  for  it  a 
first-class  certificate.  It  is  a  very  old  variety,  having  been  raised  in 
1830  by  Major  Esperen  of  Malines,  who  named  it  after  his  wife.  Dr. 
Hogg  describes  it  in  the  “Fruit  Manual”  as  follows  : — “Fruit,  above 
medium  size.  Skin,  yellow,  with  a  greenish  tinge  on  the  shaded  side, 
and  with  a  tinge  of  red  on  the  side  next  the  sun  ;  the  whole  surface 
strewed  with  large  russet  spots.  Eye,  open,  set  in  a  rather  shallow 
depression.  Stalk,  three-quarters  of  an  inch  long,  stout,  and  inserted 
in  a  narrow  cavity.  Flesh,  yellowish,  with  a  tinge  of  red,  melting,  and 
very  juicy,  sugary,  vinous,  and  riobly  flavoured,  with  a  high  rose-water 
aroma.  A  most  delicious  Pear  ;  in  use  from  .January  till  .May.  The 
tree  is  hardy,  and  an  excellent  bearer.” 
Pear  Josephine  de  Marines. 
