546 
TOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  27,  1901. 
Early  Summer  in  Warwickshire. 
Of  all  parts  of  rural  England  few  surely  can  excel  the  beautiful 
and  historic  region  of  Warwick  and  Kenilworth.  Turn  whichever 
way  your  inclination  leads  you,  all  is  lovely  and  abounding  in  hosts 
of  interest.  Such  a  spring  as  the  one  now  past,  and  such  an  early 
summer  following  suit,  is  presumably  of  very  rare  occurrence  indeed. 
Brilliant  days  from  early  morn  to  late  evening,  with  cool  and  dewy 
nights,  and  a  bracing  and  refreshing  breeze  by  day,  aided  by  a  just 
sufficient  rainfall  about  once  in  two  or  three  weeks,  seems  to  have 
brought  about  a  wealth  of  fresh  foliage,  and  a  maximum  of  flower  and 
blossom  seldom  equalled,  and  possibly  never  surpassed.  What  the 
harvest  will  be  in  Iruit,  grass,  and  corn,  qui  vivra  verra ;  but  verily 
the  promise  is  great,  the  position  pregnant  with  possibilities  ;  and  of 
the  first  named,  if  one  excepts  tl.e  Apple  crop,  which  was  universally 
a  bumper  one  last  year,  a  prolific  supply  seems  almost  assured. 
In  the  writer’s  own  little  niche  and  coign  of  vantage,  and  so  far  as 
his  observation  round  about  these  parts  goes.  Plums,  Damsons,  and 
Green  Gages  should  be  excellent,  Pears  abundant  and  heavy,  Apricots  a 
full  crop,  Currants  and  Gooseberries  ditto,  and  Strawberries,  now  that 
a  bountiful  rain  has  come,  if  only  the  blackbird  and  slug  to  some 
extent  cease  from  troubling,  a  magnificent  one.  Thus  with  the  Lilac, 
Laburnum,  and  May  fast  passing  away  (and  what  an  abundant  show 
they  have  been  !)  and  Philadelphus  and  Berberis  in  lull  flower,  with  all 
the  fruits  of  the  earth  coming  to  maturity  and  approaching  perfection, 
there  is  much  to  cheer  and  hope  for  besides  the  bright  blue  skies  and 
glorious  sunshine,  which  seem  to  set  all  things  living  in  unison  with 
their  charms.  As  regards  Strawberries,  of  some  dozen  and  more 
varieties,  not  one  kind  has  shown  any  lack  of  a  full  spread  of  bloom, 
and  all  alike  have  set  with  extraordinary  universality.  No  black  eyes 
this  time.  King  Fro^t  for  once  seems  to  have  ignored  this  pet  victim 
of  his.  A  curious  incident,  which  may  be  mentioned  en  passant ,  is 
that  an  entire  bed  of  British  Queen  last  summer  had  no  blossom,  and 
consequently  no  fruit  at  all.  The  whole  lot  were  apparently  barren, 
the  foliage,  however,  making  up  by  extra  luxuriance.  They  were 
accordingly  doomed,  and  destined  to  be  rooted  up  in  toto.  Through 
stress  of  work,  and  owing  to  the  writer  leaving  for  the  winter  rather 
early  in  the  autumn,  the  contemplated  sacrifice  was  not  carried  out. 
With  a  good  deal  of  interest  therelore,  and  a  greater  amount  of 
satisfaction,  the  whole  plantation  this  summer  are  observed  to  be  in 
full  bearing,  and  promise  a  complete  recompense  for  their  misdeeds  of 
a  year  ago. 
Before  leaving  the  subject  of  this  favourite  fruit,  it  may  be  said 
that  in  a  light  loam  soil,  and  with  no  special  attention  in  the  way  of 
rich  dressing,  Monarch,  Leader,  and  Sir  Joseph  Paxton  appear  to  give 
the  best  results,  the  first  two  affording  monster  specimens,  while  a 
Dutch  kind,  which  was  brought  over  from  Amsterdam  two  Aprils 
ago  carries  off  the  premier  palm  for  producing  the  earliest  dish.  For 
some  years  the  plan  of  putting  the  plants  all  down  the  borders  both 
sides  of  the  paths  has  been  pursued  with  excellent  results,  and 
increased  facilities  alike  for  weeding,  picking,  netting,  and  tending  the 
sets  generally.  In  leaving  the  subject  of  fruit,  the  landscape  around 
these  parts  must  be  alluded  to.  It  has  often  been  said  that  the  road 
from  Coventry  to  Warwick  is  one  unsurpassed  for  beauty  and  variety 
by  any  other  in  England.  Be  this  as  it  may,  and  comparisons  are 
proverbially  odious,  it  is  in  any  case  a  remarkably  fine  one.  Seen 
under  such  auspices  as  the  present  season,  with  side  views  among  the 
bowers  of  pink  May,  golden  Laburnum,  and  white  or  purple  Lilac  in 
such  truly  rural  and  delightful  villages  as  Merriden,  Hampton-in- 
Arden,  Allesley,  or  Ashow,  with  their  greenery  of  Oak  leaf  Copper 
Beech  (save  the  Irishism),  Sycamore,  and  Cedar,  the  fascination  of  a 
late  spring  or  a  midsummer  sojourn  in  these  parts  is  one  not  lightly 
to  be  deemed  as  capable  of  being  improved  upon. 
The  drive  or  walk  through  Stoneleigh  is  a  revelation  in  itself, 
and' a  feast  for  the  eye  to  dwell  upon.  Through  the  liberality  of  its 
venerable  and  noble  owner,  the  six  miles  of  parkland  can  be  traversed 
in  its  entirety  at  all  times.  Leaving  the  undulating  rises  and  falls  of 
the  somewhat  hilly  deer  park,  with  its  magnificent  and  massive  timber 
hoary  with  age,  a  beautiful  flat  and  open  expanse  is  enjoyed  till  the 
white  stoned  Abbey,  with  its  turrets  and  gables,  is  past,  to  lead  to 
other  glories  after  passing  over  the  picturesque  bridge  spanning  the 
Avon,  as  you  emerge  into  a  drive  of  another  mile  or  two  embowered 
with  Rhododendrons  on  either  side.  Not  far  from  this  estate,  and 
immediately  oft  the  main  Warwick  road,  is  that  exquisite  gem  in 
landscape  views,  Guy’s  Cliff.  Of  historic  (and  prehistoric)  interest, 
the  scene  where,  as  the  story  goes,  Sir  Guy  killed  the  dun  cow,  a 
monster,  the  huge  bone  of  which  is  still,  I  believe,  preserved  in 
Warwick  Castle,  bewitches  one.  With  the  old  mill  behind  you,  and 
great  boulder  stones  to  lean  or  sit  upon,  immediately  beneath  you  is 
the  millstream,  spreading  out  into  a  broad  mere  or  lake,  with  swans 
and  Water  Lilies  riding  stately  upon  its  waters,  and  carrying  your  eye 
over  their  charms  to  the  proud  and  lordly  pile  beyond,  a  feudal 
stronghold  of  picturesque  and  imposing  appearance. 
Yet  but  a  mile  or  so  further,  and  a  similar  distmce  from  the 
modern  and  fashionable  Spa  of  Leamington,  another  ancient  castle  raises 
solemnly  and  grandly  its  massive  walls,  her  towers  and  castellations 
keeping  guard,  as  it  were,  over  the  silent  river  and  meads  below.  The 
view  from  the  bridge  over  the  Avon,  towards  Warwick  Castle,  is  too 
well  known  to  be  enlarged  upon  here.  So,  too,  is  the  immense  ruin  of 
Kenilworth,  but  a  short  distance  in  the  opposite  direction,  the  favourite 
happy  hunting  ground  of  brother  Jonathan,  in  whose  eyes  the  attrac¬ 
tions  of  the  ancient  seal  of  the  famous  Eirl  of  Leicester  lorm  a 
formidable  rival  to  even  the  mystic  spells  of  Stratford-on-Avon  in  this 
same  county,  conjuring  up,  as  is  inevitable,  ideas  of  the  scene  of  the 
great  water  pageant  in  the  mere,  now  dry,  but  easily  traced  still, 
where  the  imperious  Faerie  Queene  was  entertained  by  her  unfortunate 
favourite  of  the  moment.  Space  forbids  touching  on  many  other 
spots,  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  interesting  for  their  natural  beauties  or 
sacred  memories  of  yore. — J.  A.  Caknegie-Cheales. 
- - 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
Examination,  1901. 
The  annual  examination  in  the  principles  and  praotioe  of  horticul¬ 
ture  was  held  on  April  24th,  225  papers  being  sent  in.  Three  hundred 
marks  were  allotted  as  a  maximum,  and  all  candidates  who  obtained 
200  marks  and  upwards  were  placed  in  the  first  class.  The  total 
number  was  109,  or  48'4  per  cent.  The  highest  number  of  marks, 
290,  was  awarded  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Watkins,  from  the  Horticultural 
College,  Swanley,  Kent.  Those  who  secured  150  and  less  than  200 
marks  were  placed  in  the  second  class.  The  number  was  85,  or  37'7 
per  cent.  Those  who  obtained  100  marks  and  upwards  were  ranked  in 
the  third  class.  The  Dumber  was  25,  or  11T  per  cent.  Six  candidates, 
obtaining  less  than  100  marks,  were  not  placed.  Comparing  these 
results  with  those  of  the  last  two  years  the  entry  has  slightly  decreased 
— viz.,  from  236  in  1900,  to  225  in  1901 ;  both  are,  however,  greatly  in 
excess  of  the  number  of  entries — viz.,  165  in  1899. 
It  will  be  noticed  that  the  percentages  have  fallen  in  the  first  and 
third  classes — viz.,  from  60  to  48  in  the  former,  and  from  13  to  11  in  the 
latter ;  but  in  the  second  class  it  has  risen  from  26  to  nearly  38,  that  is  as 
compared  with  the  results  of  1900.  The  lowering  of  the  percentages  of 
the  first  class  may  be  attributed  to  a  slightly  increased  difficulty  in 
some  of  the  questions,  more  especially  in  the  “  principles.”  It  was 
felt  by  the  examiners  that  the  “requirements”  drawn  up  some  years 
ago  scarcely  met  the  increased  knowledge  of  many  students,  especially 
when  prepared  at  the  various  horticultural  colleges.  A  new  syllabus 
of  botanical  requirements  will  be  issued  for  1902.  The  decrease  in  the 
percentages  of  the  third  class  is  a  good  sign,  as  it  indicates  a  greater 
preparedness  in  the  majority  of  the  examinees. 
It  is  very  satisfactory  to  report  that  the  steady  improvement  in  the 
answers  to  the  questions  in  the  “  practice  ”  continues,  although  there 
is  still  room  for  improvement  in  some  directions.  Some  candidates  had 
full  knowledge  of  the  elementary  principles,  but  failed  altogether  when 
they  came  to  the  practice.  Candidates  would  do  well  to  remember 
that  a  gardener  may  rise  high  in  his  profession  with  little  or  no 
knowledge  of  the  composition  of  plants  or  trees,  and  may  never  have 
heard  of  phloem  or  xylem  ;  but  cannot  possibly  do  so  unless  he  knows 
— when  and  how  to  repot  choice  plants ;  the  rotation  of  crops  in  the 
kitchen  garden  ;  the  best  kind  of  fruit  trees  to  plant  and  the  right 
time  to  plant  them,  and  so  on. 
Some  of  the  candidates  could  not  name  a  succession  of  varieties  of 
Pears,  and  did  not  know  the  name  of  even  one  stewing  Pear.  Some  of 
them  would  sow  Scarlet  Runners  in  March  in  rows  2  feet  apart.  No 
gardener  will  ever  attain  a  high  position  in  his  profession  unless  he  is 
careful  to  obtain  a  full  praoiioal  knowledge  of  the  minor  details  of 
garden  work';  as — e.g.,  how  to  handle  a  spade  or  lay  down  a  rake.  A 
novice  usually  lays  down  the  latter  with  the  teeth  upwards,  and  will 
shock  the  sensibilities  of  a  well-trained  gardener  by  the  way  he  stands 
over  his  spade.  Without  aDy  doubt  it  is  well  that  students  should 
have  as  muoh  knowledge  as  they  can  possibly  obtain  of  the  elementary 
principles ;  but  this  can  never  take  the  place  of  the  practical  part, 
which  should  be  studied  quite  as  freely,  and  especially  in  and  by  actual 
practice.  (Signed),  George  Henslow. 
James  Douglas. 
First  Class 
No.  of  marks 
gained. 
1  Watkins,  E.  M.,  Swanley...  290 
2  Squire,  E.  F.,  Swanley  ...  280 
of  Ardington,  M.,  Swanley  ...  270 
\  Shrubshall,  A.  H.,  Essex  ...  270 
{Clapham,  V.  H.,  Swanley...  260 
Cooper,  J.  J.,  Walsall  ...  260 
Goffin,  L.  L.,  Essex  ...  260 
Sansom,  M.,  Wimbledon  ...  260 
(  Creswell,  W.  T.,  Oxford  ...  255 
9-  Wright,  F.  D.,  Lady  War- 
(  wick  Hostel  . 255 
(  Draper,  H.,  Swanley  ...  250 
1  -]  Jones,  W.,  Wanstead  ...250 
(.Nicholson,  G.  O.,  Harboro’  250 
No.  of  marks 
gained. 
f  Adams,  L.  L.,  Lady  War¬ 
wick  Hostel  ...  •••  245 
Balch,  A.,  Polmont  Station, 
N.B . 245 
Bedell,  E.W.,  Swanley  ...245 
Chandler,  A.  E.,  Guildford  245 
,,  I  Fleischmann,  M.D.,  Ilkley  245 
14-1  Gandy,  L.  A.,  S.  Devon  ...  245 
Henderson,  A.,  Swanley  ...  245 
Leyshon,  R.,  Oxon  ...  ...245 
Peacock,  F.,  Lady  Warwick 
Hostel  . 245 
Rendle,  A.,  Essex  ...  ...  24,. 
Thomson,  B.  D., Swanley...  24 
