168 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February-  25,  190<1=. 
Apple,  Adam’s  Pearmain. 
Tliis  is  a  very  distinctive  Apple,  generally  about  the  size  of 
an  average  King  Pippin.  The  skin  is  slightly  rough  and  dry,  of  a 
bright  yellow,  with  coppery  red,  striped  deeper  red,  and  spotted 
and  patched  with  russet.  The  flesh  is  tender,  of  a  sweet,  rich 
flavour,  quite  tirst-class,  and  it  has  a  season  extending  from 
November  to  January.  The  tree,  which  is  of  average  fertility, 
has  a  compact  habit,  and  the  growth  is  moderate.  We  do  not 
think  anyone  can  do  wrongly  to  include  Adam’s  Pearmain  for 
dessert  purposes.  It  well  deserves  a  wall. 
Notes  on  Apples. 
I  am  quite  prepared  to  be  told  that  the  first  variety  upon 
wliich  I  propose  to  offer  a  few  remarks  is  out  of  date,  and  by 
many  sorts  that  we  now  possess,  completely  outclassed.  In  many 
respects  this  is  no  doubt  true,  for 
Duchess  of  Oldenbueg 
is  by  no  means  a  new  Apple,  and  by  no  stretch  of  tlie  imagination 
can  it  be  correctly  described  as  a  really  first-rate  variety.  Yet 
it  has  merits  which  entitle  it  to  some  consideration  for  home  con¬ 
sumption.  It  is  too  soft  for  a  market  Apple,  travels  badly,  and 
does  not  keep  well  when  gathered.  For  its  cropping  capabilities 
in  cold,  wet  soils  and  districts  one  or  two  trees  should  be  planted 
for  private  use.  It  is  really  a  delicious  cooking  Apple,  and  though 
our  friend,  “  W.  R.  Raillem  ”  would  spurn  it  for  dessert  purposes, 
owing  to  its  lack  of  sweetness,  I  have  known  it  appreciated  for 
table  by  some  persons,  and  its  appearance  in  good  seasons  leaves 
little  to  be  desired,  especially  the  fruit  from  young  trees.  It  is, 
moreover,  one  of  the  best  sorts  for  jelly  that  I  am  acquainted 
with. 
Potts’  Seedling 
is  an  Apple  it  has  been  the  custom  of  some  to  praise  in  and  out 
of  season.  In  heavy  soil  in  the  Midlands  I  have  found  the  variety 
very  disappointing.  Not  only  w’as  growth  poor  and  slow%  but 
fruit  was  produced  in  very  small  quantities;  on  the  other  hand, 
planted  in  the  w’arm,  dry  soil  of  Surrey  growth  and  fruitfulness 
were  everything  that  could  be  desired.  Fine  samples  sell  readily 
in  the  markets,  a  capital  cooking  sort,  but  one  I  sliould  not 
recommend  to  be  extensively  planted  without  a  first  trial. 
Court  of  Wick. 
Court  of  Wick?  Yes!  I  know’  it  is  dreadfully  old,  it  is  also 
lamentablj^  small,  and  there  is  something  about  the  texture  that 
is  far  from  commendable.  But  it  is  a  late  dessert  Apple,  and  of 
these  we  have  not  too  many.  Moreover,  the  tree  is  naturally  a 
very  late  bloomer,  and  frequently  escapes  frost  when  many  other 
sorts  are  destroyed.  Oiven  my  own  way  I  should  alw’ays  have 
at  least  one  tree  of  this,  for  though  the  fruit  may  be  small,  it  is 
very  pretty  when  ripe,  and  of  taking  appearance  for  table,  and 
though  we  have  better  varieties,  this  one  is  not  to  be  despised 
in  a  bad  season. 
Pe.\sgood’s  Nonesuch. 
A  .shy  sort!  I  hear  somebody  exclaim.  This  very  fine  variety 
has  that  character  I  am  well  aware,  yet  I  have  seen  it  in  the 
Surrey  fields  bending  the  branches  of  young  trees  to  the  earth 
beneath  a  load  of  brilliantly-coloured  fruit.  These  trees  were 
rationally  treated  in  pruning,  the  main  growdhs  allowed  to 
extend,  and  allowed  ample  room  for  light  and  air  to  pass  freely 
amongst  them.  I  am  confident  that  if  manj’^  of  our  so-called  shy 
varieties  were  allowed  to  develop  in  a  more  natural  manner, 
and  were  not  continually  hacked  back  so  ruthlessly,  we  should 
hear  less  of  shyness  and  non-bearing.  So,  with  this  grand  Apple, 
“  give  it  its  head,”  and  behave  generously  to  its  roots,  and  it 
will,  I  have  no  doubt,  crop  a,s  w’ell  as  many  others. 
Thus  far  but  four  varieties  have  been  mentioned,  but  if  time 
permit  I  may  liai'e  something  to  say  in  connection  with  other 
sorts;  in  the  meantime  some  of  the  Journal  contributors  may 
have  a  few  remarks  to  offer  upon  this  important  subject.  These 
will  be  welcomed  by  no  one  more  than — Provincial. 
Primula,  Holborn  Blue. 
As  mentioned  by  us  on  page  137  of  last  week’s  issue,  the  first 
mention  of  a  blue  Chinese  Primula  occurs  in  the  year  1882. 
Messrs.  Carter  write  pointing  out  that  the  Primula  was  their 
Holborn  Blue,  which  received  a  first-class  certificate  on 
January  10  of  that  year;  also  that  it  emanated  from  their 
nursery  at  Forest  Hill,  near  London. 
Societies. 
National  Fruit  Growers’  Federation. 
The  usual  monthly  meeting  of  the  council  was  held  at  Ihe 
Westminster  Palace  Hotel  on  Monday,  the  l.'ith  inst.  The 
following  were  present:  Colonel  C.  W.  Long,  M.P.,  chairman  ; 
Messrs.  J.  Idiens,  Evesham;  C.  D.  Mhse,  Gloucestershire;  H.  F. 
Gatting,  Herefordshire ;  W.  Idiens,  Cambridgeshire ;  Hon.  and 
Rev.  A.  Baillie-Hamilton,  Guernsey;  S.  Boorman,  Surrey; 
F.  Smith,  T.  May,  A.  Meskin,  A.  S.  White,  W.  Horne,  and  Percy 
Manwaring,  from  Kent ;  A.  H.  H.  Matthews,  secretary  to  the 
Central  Chamber  of  Agriculture,  and  A.  T.  Matthew’s,  secretary! 
Communications  were  read,  and  twenty-five  new  members  w’ere 
elected.  The  coming  departmental  inquiry  into  the  fruit 
growing  industry  was  discussed,  and  in  response  to  an  invitation 
from  the  Board  of  Agriculture  an  official  witness  to  represent  the 
Federation  was  appointed. 
An  important  discussion  took  place  on  the  question  of  the 
assessment  of  agricultural  land  being  raised  when  planted  with 
fruit.  A  typical  case  was  brought  forward  from  Kent,  in  whicli 
the  rent  is  £120,  and,  because  it  has  been  planted  with  fruit 
trees  the  income  tax  assessor  raised  the  assessment  to  £358,  which 
was  maintained  by  the  commissioners,  and  from  which  decision 
the  tenant  was  told  there  was  no  appeal.  Mr.  C.  D.  Wise  said 
this  W’as  a  mistake,  and  that  such  cases  could  be  carried  to  the 
higher  courts.  He  also  gave  two  instances  which  had  occurred 
in  his  neighbourhood,  when  similar  attempts  to  raise  the  assess¬ 
ment  had  been  successfully  resisted.  Another  w’ell-known  case 
in  Norfolk  was  cited  in  which  the  tenant  had  gained  his  case  on 
appeal.  Mr.  Thos.  May  said  that  such  land  should  be  treated 
as  farm  land  under  Schedule  B,  and  mentioned  a  case  at  Bromley 
when  it  was  so  decided.  The  council  agreed  that  the  whole 
subject  required  careful  investigation,  and  it  was  referred  to  the 
departmental  inquiry  for  consideration. 
The  Railway  Advisory  Committee  then  presented  a  report, 
stating  that  the  Great  Western  Company  have  agreed  to  place  a 
few  of  their  ventilated  fruit  vans,  now  only  used  on  pas.senger 
trains,  on  the  goods  train  service  on  trial,  the  Advisory  Committee 
to  report  on  their  suitability.  The  van  is  an  excellent  one,  and 
a  very  great  improvement  on  the  open  trucks  which  have  to  be 
sheeted.  The  railway  authorities  admit  that  they  ivill  also  save 
much  time  by  dispensing  with  the  sheeting,  and  that  they  will 
thus  be  able  to  run  the  trains  more  punctually.  This  being  the 
case  there  is  eveiy  hope  that  sheeted  vans  will  soon  become  things 
of  the  past. 
The  Midland  Companj’  have  been  asked  to  add  torpedo 
ventilators  to  the  roofs  of  their  passenger  fruit  trains,  and  so 
prevent  much  damage  from  the  heating  of  soft  fruits,  wliich  also 
leaves  a  smell  in  the  van  detrimental  to  the  next  load.  Mr. 
Eaton,  the  superintendent,  has  promised  careful  consideration  to 
this  suggestion.  The  committee  has  followed  up  the  question  of 
evening  special  passenger  trains  to  pick  up  fruit  from  sending 
stations,  and  .so  enable  late  afternoon  picking  of  soft  fruit  to  be 
performed,  and  the  fruit  landed  in  northern  markets  in  the  morn¬ 
ing  almost  equal  to  morning  picked  fruit.  Revised  passenger 
and  goods  service  rates  have  been  issued  by  nearly  all  the 
companies  in  pamphlet  form,  handy  for  the  pocket,  enabling  the 
grower  to  see  at  a  glance  if  it  would  answer  his  purpo,se  to  pay 
slightly  more,  and  so  catch  an  earlier  market  All  these  matters 
were  brought  before  the  Board  of  General  Managers  by  the 
deputation  from  this  Federation  about  fifteen  months  ago. 
Various  other  questions  affecting  the  industry  w’hich  have 
been  dealt  ivith  by  the  council  w’ere  again  considered,  and  it  was 
thought  best  to  leave  them  for  the  consideration  of  the  coming 
Departmental  Inquii-y  Committee.  The  council  expressed  the 
confidence  they  feel  that  their  interests  ivill  there  be  in  good 
hands,  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  having  expressed 
his  pleasure  at  the  work  of  the  Federation.  Hopes  were  felt  that 
the  growers  would  now’  recognise  the  value  of  combination  as  a 
means  of  making  known  their  wants,  for  which  the  Federation 
is  so  well  adapted.  It  was  decided  that  in  future  all  members 
should  be  welcome  at  the  meetings  of  the  council,  Monday, 
March  14,  at  2.30  p.m.,  being  the  next  fixture. 
Royal  Horticultural,  Drill  Hall,  February  23rd. 
Tlie  meeting  was  exceedingly  rich,  varied,  and  interesting, 
orchids  being  prominent,  as  well  as  ferns,  hardy  spring  flowering 
plants,  forced  shrubs.  Palms,  Primulas,  Cyclamens,  and  Italian 
Hyacinths.  Owing  to  the  gardeners’  meeting  being  held  in  the 
afternoon,  we  were  unable  to  be  present  at  Mr.  Lewis  Castle’s 
lecture  on  “  Pomology.” 
Fruit  and  Vegetable  Committee. 
Present :  Mr.  George  Bunyard  (in  the  chair) ;  with  Messrs. 
W.  Poupart,  Jos.  Cheal,  S.  Mortimer,  E.  Beckett,  Geo.  Keif, 
H.  Markham,  J.  Jaepes,  H.  Parr,  F.  Q.  Lane,  G.  Reynolds, 
John  Lyne,  W.  H.  Divers,  James  H.  Veitch,  and  Ow'en  Thomas. 
There  w’as  no  exhibit  before  this  body. 
