March  7,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
201 
Winter  Aconite  germinating. — Mr.  Henslow  showed  specimens  to 
illustrate  the  apparently  abnormal  fact  of  the  tuber  being  first  formed 
on  the  slender  tap  root,  and  not  on  the  radicle. 
Scabious  bracts  xirescent. — He  also  exhibited  specimens  in  which 
the  florets  were  suppressed,  but  the  bracteoles  had  become  elongated 
and  sub-foliaceous.  It  was  comparable  with  the  green  Dahlia,  wheat¬ 
eared  Carnation,  &c. 
WOKKJOfiTHEWEEK.. 
Societies. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Liverpool  Horticultural  Association. 
On  Saturday  evening  the  committee  made  arrangements  to  have 
their  meeting  at  the  Royal  Institution,  Colquitt  Street.  Mr.  Ker  gave 
a  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  Sweet  Pea.  He  spoke  of  its  introduction 
from  Sicily,  the  earlier  growers  and  localities,  the  mode  of  crossing  and 
intercrossing,  and  the  vagaries  for  which  it  is  so  noted,  down  the  long 
list  of  years  to  the  bicentenary  last  year.  Groups  were  exhibited  on 
the  sheet,  and  the  work  of  the  Bicentenary  Committee  was  highly 
eulogised,  tributes  being  paid  to  the  names  of  Eckford  in  England,  and 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Hutchins  in  America.  The  second  part  was  gone  into, 
and  the  great  exhibition  at  St.  Petersburg  fully  described.  The  opening 
ceremony  was  performed  in  great  style,  and  the  Russians,  Mr.  Ker 
said,  were  really  olever.  Such  Rose  bushes  he  had  never  seen,  from 
2  to  5  feet  in  diameter  and  perfectly  grown  ;  Lily  of  the  Valley, 
Cyclamen,  Lilacs,  hardy  shrubs  and  plants,  herbaceous  plants,  the 
feature  being  the  lovely  Phlox  canadense  grown  in  pans  and  superb 
table  decorations  exhibited  by  thirty-fire  nurserymen.  The  country 
and  people  were  admirably  depicted  throughout  by  some  hundreds  of 
slides.— R.  P.  R. 
Hessle  Gardener*’  Mutual  Improvement  Society. 
This  society  held  its  usual  fortnightly  meeting  last  week.  Mr. 
Blair  occupied  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Leadbetter  of  Tranby  Croft  Gardens 
read  a  paper  on  “  Celery  :  its  Culture  and  Variety,”  with  a  treatise  on 
the  Celery  fly.  This  proved  very  interesting,  and  the  discussion  of  it 
was  very  animated.  On  February  28th  the  society  held  its  ninth 
annual  dinner,  which  was  exceptionally  successful.  Over  sixty  members 
and  friends  sat  down  to  a  splendid  repast  provided  by  host  Raynor  of 
the  Admiral  Hawke  Hotel,  Hessle.  Sergeant  E.  K.  Hughes,  E.Y.V., 
Hessle,  presided.  After  the  usual  loyal  toasts,  the  toast  of  “  Our 
Journal”  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Picker,  Hesslewood  Gardens,  and 
supported  by  Mr.  Leadbetter.  This  was  responded  to  by  Mr.  J. 
Donoghue.  The  secretary’s  report  was  very  favourable,  there  being  a 
balance  in  hand  of  over  £10.  Complimentary  reference  was  made  to 
the  lectures  delivered  by  Mr.  Gaut  from  the  Yorkshire  College,  Leeds, 
and  the  committee  are  recommended  to  make  an  early  application  to 
the  same  lecturer  for  the  coming  season.  The  continued  success  of  the 
society  is  mainly  due  to  the  efforts  of  the  committee  and  the  energetio 
services  of  the  secretaries,  Messrs.  Coults  and  Veress. — J.  F.  D. 
Berkshire,  Reading,  and  District  Auxiliary  of  the  Gardeners’  Royal 
Benevolent  Institution. 
The  first  annual  meeting  in  connection  with  the  above  auxiliary, 
which  was  held  on  Friday  evening  last  in  the  Gardeners’  Club  Room, 
Old  Abbey  Restaurant,  Reading,  proved  a  very  successful  one.  The 
president,  Mr.  C.  E.  Keyser,  occupied  the  chair,  and  was  supported  by 
the  treasurer,  Mr.  Arthur  W.  Sutton,  Mr.  Martin  E.  F.  Sutton,  and  by 
Mr.  Harry  Veitch  (treasurer  of  the  parent  society),  Mr.  Owen  Thomas, 
of  the  Royal  Gardens,  Frogmore,  and  Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram  (secretary),  as 
a  deputation  from  the  London  committee.  There  were  also  present 
many  of  the  leading  gardeners  in  the  neighbourhood.  After  the  annual 
report  and  balance-sheet  had  been  read  and  adopted,  Mr.  Veitch 
congratulated  the  members  on  the  great  success  that  had  attended 
their  efforts  during  the  past  sixteen  months,  enabling  them  to  raise 
since  the  foimation  of  the  auxiliary  over  £130,  and  in  hopeful  terms 
spoke  of  the  bright  future  there  appeared  to  be  in  store  for  the  Reading 
branch.  The  election  of  officers  was  proceeded  with,  and  Mr.  C.  E. 
Keyser  was  unanimously  re-elected  president  for  the  second  year,  with 
Mr.  A.  W.  Sutton  as  hon.  treasurer,  and  Mr.  H.  G.  Cox  hon.  secretary. 
With  the  exception  of  three  or  four  members,  who  had  left  the  district, 
the  committee  were  re-elected  with  the  addition  of  Messrs.  Barnes, 
Macdonald,  Nichols,  E.  S.  Pigg,  Harris,  Tubb,  Hatton,  and  Gibson. 
Report  and  Balance-sheet,  Sept.  1st,  1899 — Dec.  31st,  1900. 
The  committee,  in  presenting  their  first  report,  mention  that  it  is 
but  sixteen  months  since  the  branch  was  inaugurated — namely,  on 
May  16th,  1899.  The  balance-sheet  shows  how  successful  has  been  the 
work  of  the  auxiliary  :  and  we  can  only  hope  that  other  branches  will 
spring  up. 
Donations  and  subscrip¬ 
tions  to  auxiliary  .  .  £47  12  6£ 
Life  members’  contribu¬ 
tions  .  47  5  0 
Subscriptions  to  parent 
society . 40  19  0 
£135  16  6i 
Remitted  to  parent 
society . 
Printing  and  stationery 
Postages  (per  sec.)  .  . 
„  „  (per W.  Pope) 
Cheque  books  .  .  . 
Balance  at  bank,  Dec¬ 
ember  31st,  1900  .  . 
£103  19  0 
5  3  9 
2  11  3* 
0  9  5 
0  2  0 
23  11  1 
£135  16  6£ 
Filberts  and  Cob  Nuts. — Planting. — Where  strong  suckers  can  be 
obtained  from  fruiting  bushes  these  can  be  planted  now,  first  giving  the 
ground  on  which  they  are  to  be  cultivated  the  needful  preparation. 
Moderately  rich  and  friable  loam  will  need  nothing  further  than  deep 
digging.  Poor  sandy  or  light  soil  will  also  require  deep  cultivation  as 
well  as  enriching  with  decayed  manure.  Loam  resting  on  chalk  or 
sandstone  is  suitable,  ample  dainage  being  provided  by  a  substratum  of 
this  character.  A  wet  and  badly  drained  position,  whatever  the 
character  and  texture  of  the  soil,  will  only  produce  unfruitful  trees  or 
bushes.  The  situation  must  be  open,  but  sheltered  from  the  most 
boisterous  winds,  though  fully  exposed  to  sunshine  and  abundant  air. 
The  preparation  of  the  soil  ought  to  be  completed  at  once,  the  ground 
firmed  when  dry,  and  the  suckers  planted. 
The  best  suckers  are  those  2  to  3  feet  in  height,  with  several  well 
placed  stems,  which  may  be  shortened  to  half  their  length  after 
planting.  They  should  also  be  furnished  with  an  ample  supply  of 
fibrous  roots.  In  planting  take  out  the  holes  10  feet  apart,  shallow  in 
depth,  but  wide,  so  as  to  admit  the  roots  readily.  The  strongest  roots, 
which  may  be  torn  or  injured  in  lifting,  should  be  pruned  smoothly. 
Lay  them  out  to  their  full  length,  and  spread  carefully  over  them  some 
light  prepared  compost  in  such  manner  as  not  to  turn  the  ends  of  the 
roots  in  a  contrary  or  upward  direction.  When  finished  mulch  the 
surface  with  manure.  The  following  season  shorten  the  shoots  to 
18  inches,  or  if  more  main  growths  to  form  permanent  branches  are 
required  closer  pruning  must  be  resorted  to,  so  that  vigorous  shoots 
may  push  which  can  be  utilised  for  this  purpose.  It  will  be  necessary 
to  make  a  selection  of  these  growths  and  train  them  in  a  formal  manner 
on  the  outside  of  a  wooden  hoop,  thus  forming  a  basin-like  framework, 
the  centre  always  being  open  and  free  from  growths.  A  good  bush 
may  be  formed  with  twelve  main  branches.  Encourage  them  to  extend 
until  of  sufficient  length,  and  pinch  side  shoots  to  five  leaves. 
Pruning  Established  Bushes. — Established  Nut  bushes  must  have  the 
leading  growths  shortened  closely  after  the  bushes  have  extended  to  the 
height  desirable.  The  side  shoots  are  dealt  with  in  various  ways  after  the 
flowering  period  is  over.  The  growths  bearing  catkins  or  staminate 
flowers  must  be  left  at  full  length  until  the  pollen  has  been  shed,  then 
cut  closely  back.  The  shoots  with  blossom  buds  leave  entire — that  is, 
the  small  pink  pistillate  blooms  which  when  fully  open  are  ready  to 
receive  pollen  from  the  catkins.  Shoots  bearing  neither  pistillate  nor 
staminate  flowers  are  not  required,  and  should  be  shortened  back  or 
removed  if  crowded,  likewise  all  bearing  shoots.  Sappy  shoots  which 
tend  to  grow  vigorously  remove  entirely,  and  keep  spurs  from  becoming 
elongated  by  judicious  annual  shortening.  Old  or  weakened  main 
growths  should  be  replaced  by  new  growths  from  the  base  of  the  bush. 
Blackberry  Culture.  —  The  strong  growing  garden  forms  are  on 
strong  soils  of  a  rich  character  very  prolffie.  Comparatively  young 
canes  with  abundant  fibrous  roots  may  be  planted  now  with  good 
results  as  to  growth,  but  not  as  regards  fruit  this  season.  Trench 
the  soil  two  or  three  spits,  working  in  a  fair  quantity  of  decomposed 
manure.  Plant  the  canes  5  feet  apart  in  the  rows,  the  latter  being 
8  feet  asunder.  The  canes  produced  each  season  are  of  considerable 
length,  and  must  be  trained  in  a  horizontal  form,  either  to  a  trellis, 
stakes,  or  stakes  and  wire.  Stout  stakes  6  feet  long,  and  placed 
2j  feet  apart  in  the  rows,  are  the  best  and  simplest,  but  wire  stretched 
between  stout  uprights  at  each  end  of  row  may  be  adopted.  A  limited 
number  of  canes  only  should  be  reserved  to  each  stool,  four  or  five 
being  sufficient,  cutting  out  the  weakest.  Soon  after  planting  cut  down 
the  canes  closely  to  the  soil. 
Raspberries. —  New  plantations  of  Raspberries  may  be  formed  with 
slender  canes  which  are  furnished  with  abundant  roots  of  a  fibrous 
character.  Prepare  the  soil  deeply  and  manure  liberally,  Raspberries 
being  groBS  feeders.  Plant  the  canes  in  groups  of  three.  These  groups 
should  be  arranged  3  feet  apart  in  the  rows,  the  latter  5  feet  asunder. 
Cut  closely  down  after  planting,  or  at  least  to  within  9  inches  of  the 
soil.  If  preferred  plant  in  a  continuous  line,  arranging  the  canes 
18  inches  apart,  and  train  to  wires  stretched  to  uprights  5  feet  high. 
Mulch  after  planting,  and  expect  no  fruit  the  first  season.  Prune  out 
old  canes  in  established  plantations,  and  select  for  retaining  the 
strongest  of  the  new  ones,  shortening  them  to  5  feet.  Mulch  round 
the  roots  thickly  with  manure. 
Deferred  Pruning. — Fruit  trees  of  any  kind  which  through  weather 
or  other  circumstances  have  not  received  the  necessary  pruning  should 
have  this  attended  to  without  delay.  Crowded  trees  and  bushes  will 
receive  benefit  from  thinning  out.  Rank  Gooseberry  bushes  should  be 
freely  thinned  in  the  centre,  crossing  and  intercrossing  branches 
removed,  and  older  branches  replaced  by  younger  if  the  former  are 
deteriorating.  The  growths  are  pushing  now,  so  any  dead  shoots  can 
be  readily  seen.  Shorten  the  shoots  of  newly  planted  Gooseberries  and 
