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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  31,  1901. 
Every  man  has,  of  course,  a  right  to  do  what  he  likes  with  his 
own,  and  when  a  change  becomes  necessary,  many  gentlemen  want 
the  new  gardener  to  take  the  place  as  it  is.  They  may  have  a  tender 
feeling  for  its  ancient  character,  or  there  are  perhaps  a  score  of 
reasons  why  they  should  be  averse  to  wholesale  changes,  and  then, 
when  the  new  gardener  commences  to  agitate  for  this  or  that  to  be 
altered,  he  begins  to  wonder  whether  he  has  got  the  right  man. 
Looking  at  it  from  the  gardener’s  point  of  view,  a  different  light  is 
shed  on  the  matter.  The  history  and  associations  of  the  place  make 
no  appeals  to  him  ;  he  wants  to  acquit  himself  well  as  a  cultivator, 
and  to  prove  to  his  employer  that  he  is  master  of  his  business.  But 
the  old  way  is  not  his  way,  and  he  seeks  to  change  it.  Perhaps  it  is 
new  houses  or  fresh  trees  that  he  wants,  or  maybe  something  else  ; 
but  his  ideas  are  misunderstood,  and  he  is,  as  it  were,  condemned 
without  a  trial.  The  old  chief  knew  all  about  this  sort  of  thing  when 
giving  the  advice  quoted,  and  had  learned  from  a  lifetime’s  experience 
of  gardeners  and  employers  the  wisdom  of  feeling  the  way.  He  had 
felt  the  disappointment  of  entering  a  badly  equipped  establishment, 
but  had  shown  his  capabilities  by  making  the  best  of  things  as  they 
were,  and  having  done  that  he  had  no  difficulty  in  getting  what 
changes  he  wanted. 
Some  years  ago  a  young  foreman  left  a  well  known  fruit¬ 
growing  establishment  to  take  over  a  new  charge,  with  the  full 
intention  of  putting  his  knowledge  of  this  brauch  into  practice,  and 
earn  a  reputation  equal  to  that  of  his  late  chief.  But  circumstances 
alter  cases,  and,  to  use  the  words  ot  the  young  gardener,  “it  nearly 
broke  his  heart.”  Doubtless  he  had  visions  of  prizewinning  Grapes 
before  his  eyes,  but  they  vanished  into  nothing  when  he  entered  old- 
fashioned  vineries,  and  saw  ancient  canes  suffering  through  years  of 
bad  treatment.  At  once  he  advocated  sweeping  the  whole  lot  away, 
and  making  a  fresh  start  with  young  Vines.  Doubtless  it  was  the 
best  course  to  suggest,  but  his  new  employer  did  not  see  things  in 
that  light ;  he  had  a  tenderness  for  the  old  Vines,  and  wanted  no 
changes  in  the  architecture  of  the  houses.  Could  not  matters  be 
improved  a  little  as  they  were  ?  The  young  man  grasped  the 
situation,  and  determined  to  make  the  best  of  it.  He  buried  his 
high  hopes  reluctantly,  and  6et  to  work.  Ambition  was  there,  also 
knowledge,  and  under  his  care  the  old  Vines  improved,  so  much  so 
that  his  master  caught  the  spirit,  and  began  to  show  an  interest  in 
his  garden  that  hitherto  had  rested  dormant.  Sentiment  was  lost 
in  enthusiasm ;  if  they  could  do  so  much  with  the  old  Vines  what 
might  they  accomplish  with  young  canes  and  new  borders  ?  And 
so  the  changes  came  about  one  by  one,  and  the  gardener  enjoys 
the  reputation  he  strived  for,  and  by  waiting  his  time,  and  making 
the  be6t  of  existing  circumstances,  taught  his  employer  the  wisdom 
of  his  early  suggestions. 
There  are  hundreds  of  these  old  gardens  in  the  country,  that  have 
been  old  for  years,  and  in  the  eyes  of  the  modern  expert  they  are  out 
of  date.  It  is  trying  for  the  enthusi  istic  young  gardener  who  takes 
charge  of  them,  but  those  who  pay  the  piper  have  the  right  to 
call  the  tune.  Fresh,  perhaps,  from  a  wride  field  of  labour,  he 
sighs  over  his  restricted  opportunities,  and  fails  to  appreciate  the 
charms  of  the  old-fashioned  garden.  He  points  to  the  old  lruit 
trees  which  adorn  the  walls,  monuments  of  the  skill  of  a  past  decade 
of  growers,  but  ancient  and  worn  out.  In  his  eyes  the  fire  heap  is 
the  best  place  for  them,  and  perhaps  the  gardener  is  right,  but  his 
employer’s  sentiment  prevents  such  a  step.  Looking  at  it  from  the 
latter’s  point  of  view  we  feel  with  him,  and  our  sympathies  are 
divided.  Ancient  Vines  and  Peach  trees,  antique  greenhouses,  and 
old-world  appliances  are  a  few  of  the  matters  which  try  the  voung 
gardener  in  the  old  garden,  and  he  needs  all  his  patience  in  making 
the  best  of  them. 
It  must  always  be  remembered,  however,  that  gardeners  are 
engaged  for  the  gat  den,  not  vice  versa,  or  things  might  be  different, 
and  because  a  man  is  not  heard  much  of  publicly,  or  does  not  figure 
in  the  exhibition  lists,  it  is  no  reflection  cn  his  ability.  He  may  be 
pursuing  a  successful  course  in  a  quiet  sphere,  and  after  all  there  is 
no  more  credit  due  to  the  man  who  does  great  things  when  he  has 
every  facility  to  aid  him  than  there  is  to  another  who  acquits  himself 
creditably  in  a  position  where  his  scope  is  necessarily  limited.  Amoral 
adorns  the  tale.  In  these  days  of  keen  competition,  wise  is  the  new 
gardener  who  adapts  himself  to  the  old  place,  should  he  happen  to 
fall  into  it,  at  any  rate  till  he  sees  the  opportunity  which  offers  more 
scope  for  his  energies. — G.  H.  II. 
- - 
Planting  Late  Varieties  of  Apples, 
And  Keeping  Them. 
There  is  a  general  unanimity  of  opinion  that  a  better  supply  of 
well-grown  late  English  Apples  is  needed.  From  Christmas  till  May 
attractive-looking  samples  are  readily  disposed  of  at  remunerative 
prices,  and  we  have  now  many  splendid  varieties,  which  if  planted 
and  cultivated  on  intelligent  lines  may  be  kept  fresh  and  plump  till 
the  spring  months.  Such  varieties  cost  no  more  to  grow  than 
earlier  ones,  and  as  they  blossom  at  a  rather  late  period,  there  is  less 
danger  of  spring  frosts  injuring  them  than  in  the  case  of  early  varieties. 
Intending  planters  should  bear  these  points  in  mind,  and  depart 
somewhat  from  the  beaten  track.  Were  I  forming  fruit  plantations 
on  a  large  scale,  two-thirds  of  the  trees  selected  would  consist  of  such 
fine  late  kinds  as  the  following  : — Dessert :  Court  Pendft  Plat,  Lord 
Burleigh,  Rosemary  Russet,  Fearn’s  Pippin,  Sturmer  Pippin,  Allen’s 
Everlasting,  and  M*y  Qu<en.  Culinary:  Newton  Wonder,  Btamley’a 
Seedling,  Lane’s  Prince  Albert,  and  Chelmsford  Wonder  I  would 
plant  more  largely  than  any  others,  because  they  are  all  of  handsome 
appearance,  and  are  fine  bearers  too.  A  few  acres  of  suitable 
land  planted  with  them  would  after  five  years  bring  in  a  rich  harvest 
almost  every  year,  and,  taking  the  return  obtained  over  a  period 
of  ten  years,  the  venture  should  certainly  not  be  regarded  in  the 
light  of  a  speculation,  but  as  one  which  would  give  a  sure  return 
for  the  labour  and  the  expense  entailed.  A  few  other  good  varieties 
are  Alfriston,  Northern  Greening,  Sandringham,  Calville  Malingre, 
and  Hambledon  Deux  Ans.  The  last  named  ought  to  be  planted  in 
elevated  ground,  where  the  wood  would  ripen  well  ;  and  it  needs 
plenty  ot  room,  either  when  grown  as  a  large  bush  or  standard. 
In  connection  with  the  cultivation  of  late  Apples — and  indeed  all 
other  sorts — a  matter  of  vital  importance  is  to  feed  the  trees 
liberally  when  they  are  well  established  and  carrying  heavy  crops; 
by  so  doing  the  Bize  of  the  fruits  may  be  greatly  increased,  and  the 
colour  materially  heightened.  Apples  possess  ng  the  dual  go  id  qualities 
of  size  and  high  colour  command  a  remunerative  price,  when  inferior 
samples,  or  those  of  only  average  merit,  are  either  a  drug  in  the 
market,  or  under  the  most  favourable  circumstances  not  a  particularly 
profitable  ctop.  When  trees  are  bearing  heavy  crops  there  is  ec*rcely 
any  limit  to  the  amount  of  feeding  which  may  with  advantage  be 
given,  and  I  am  convinced  that  the  British  fruit  grower  will  in  the 
future  devote  far  more  attention  to  this  matter  than  the  majority  have 
hitherto  done,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  more  attention  has  been 
paid  to  that  point  during  recent  years  than  was  formerly  the  case. 
In  addition  to  top-dressings  of  manure,  basic  slag  and  kainit,  il  applied 
in  the  autumn  at  the  rate  of  4  lbs.  each  per  40  square  yards,  will  help 
to  secure  greatly  improved  results.  When  the  fruit  is  set,  1  lb.  of 
nitrate  of  soda  per  40  yards,  if  given  during  showery  weather,  will 
also  help  the  fruits  to  swell  to  a  large  size. 
After  good  fruit  has  been  grown  it  is  a  very  easy  matter  to  impair 
its  keeping  qualities  as  well  as  rob  it  of  that  juiciness  and  fine 
flavour  for  which  well  grown  English  Apples  are  noted — by  storing 
in  unsuitable  positions,  or  in  an  improper  manner.  A  dry  airy  shelf 
is  the  worst  of  a  1  positions  in  which  to  store  fruits  with  the  object 
of  keeping  them  for  any  length  of  time.  Under  such  conditions 
shrivelling  soon  takes  place,  the  juice  vanishes  in  the  form  of 
eVHporation,  and  leaves  behind  a  dry  and  comparatively  flavourless 
fruit.  The  essential  point  to  observe  in  storing  Apples  and  Pears  is  to 
place  them  where  the  temperature  is  as  even  as  possible,  and  where 
frost  can  be  kept  out  without  resorting  to  artificial  heat.  A  building 
with  stout  walls  or  boarded  sides,  thickly  lined  with  straw,  and 
having  a  thatched  roof,  generally  answers  as  well  as  the  most 
elaborately  arranged  fruit  room. 
When  only  small  quantities  have  to  be  stored  I  have  found  no 
plan  better  than  that  of  placing  the  fruit  in  barrels,  standing  these  in 
a  cool  dark  room  or  Bhed,  aud  covering  with  mats  or  straw  to  exclude 
air.  Apples  so  treated  will  come  out  as  plump  and  crisp  in  March 
as  they  were  when  stored  immediately  after  gathering,  and  if  weighed 
will  be  found  to  have  lost  very  little.  On  the  other  hand  similar  lruits 
stored  at  the  same  time  in  a  drier  room,  or  even  in  the  same  room  and 
left  exposed  to  light,  will  soon  begin  to  shrivel,  and  if  tested  on  the 
scales  will  sometimes  be  found  to  have  lost  one  quarter  of  their 
original  weight.  Such  loss  represents  not  only  a  lessened  value  by 
weight,  but  what  is  more  important  still,  a  loss  of  those  high  qualities 
which  Bhould  place  the  English  Apple  ahead  of  all  others.  Truly 
the  question  of  storing  fruit  is  one  which  deserves  the  earnest  and 
thought  ul  attention  of  all  gardeners  and  fruitgrowers  in  Britain,  where 
fruitgrowing  is  each  year  be  ming  a  more  important  industry. — H.  1>. 
