JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
IMarch  24,  1904. 
2.:>2 
should  like  to  quote  w  liat  IMr.  O.  Tlioiua.s  .saya  in  regard 
to  Apricot  culinre  as  a  commercial  feature 
\l’lu']i  one  reali.ses  that  this  valuahle  fruit  has  been  with  u.s 
for  a  matter  of  nearly  400  years,  having  been  introduced  into 
Uritain  from  Ital,v  by  Wolf  (gardener  to  King  Henry  the 
I'hghth).  in  the  .year  1.'524,  it  does  .seem  incredible  that  its  inerit.s, 
especially  as  an  article  of  commerce.  Iiave  not  been  more  fully 
recognised,  ami  its  giasat  possibilities  in  tliis  direction  more 
developed.  We  cannot  here  shelter  ourselvc.s  under  the  plea 
that  the  climate  of  France  (from  where  ten  times  as’  man.y 
.Xindcots  as  we  grow  are  export('d  to  Ifritaiu)  is  so  much  better 
suited  to  the  growth  of  this  fruit  tree  than  that  of  Fngland. 
‘•The  contrary  is  the  case,  and  if  further  proof  is  needed  it 
is  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  English-grown  Apricots,  if 
delivered  in  good  condition,  realise  in  the  market  at  least  20 
per  cent,  more  than  do  the  French;  yet  as  an  article  of  com¬ 
mercial  value  this  fruit  has  received  scarcel.v  any  attention,  nor 
have  its  possibilities  in  this  wa.v  been  turned  to  practical  use  b.y 
our  horticulturists.  As  ouo  item  that  .goes  to  make  up  the 
importance  of  the  minor  industries  associated  with  the  land  in 
this  country,  the  Anricot,  I  am  well  convinced,  is  deserving 
of  more  serious  consideration. 
‘A  wall  with  a  warm  aspect  is  ncce.ssary  to  grow  it  to 
perfection.  Where  walls  are  non-existent,  I  .should  certainl.v 
not  recemmend  expensive  brick  ones  to  be  built  for  this  purpose; 
but  V  hat  I  would  recommend  to  those  who  wish  to  make  moue.v 
out  of  their  gardens  is  to  plant  an  Apricot  tree  against  ever.v 
available  inch  of  warm  wall  they  may  have  about  their  premises, 
whether  it  is  a  wall  of  the  house  in  which  the.y  live,  or  the 
buildings  by  which  this  is  suri'ounded.  I  ma.v  sa.v  that  it  has 
been  proved  be,yond  doubt,  and  the  fact  is  now  general l.v 
atlmitted,  that  in  the  south  of  England  there  are  miles  of  garden 
walls  planted  with  varieties  of  Pears,  that  would  succeed  much 
better  jilanted  out  in  open  quarters  than  against  warm  walls. 
I’he.v  might  Avell  make  room  for  the  more  remunerative  Apricot. 
‘•Tim  hardy  variety  “Freda”  will  succeed  well  as  a  bush  or 
standard  in  warm  and  sheltered  positions  in  the  open  garden 
in  the  south  of  England,  and  deserves  to  be  more  extensively 
cultivated  in  this  way.  Before  the  trees  are  planted  the  borders 
should  be  deepl.v  trenched  and  well  manured,  in  order  to  be  able 
to  maintain  not  only  the  vigour  and  fertility  of  the  fruit  trees, 
but  also  the  surface  crops,  such  as  earl.v  vegetables  and  salads.” 
These  statements  ought  to  cause  planters  in  the  South  to 
pause  and  consider  their  position.  At  a  moment  when  fruit  cul¬ 
ture  as  an  industry  is  receiving  direct  recognition,  the.v  will  have 
an  added  weight.  In  another  issue  we  shall  review  the  concluding 
feature>  of  tliis  book.  - 
G.vrdkxixg  Aeakbook,  11)04. — e  have  received  a  copy  of 
thi.s  nnquostionabl.v  useful  book  from  the  pnblishei's,  iMessr.s. 
W.  H.  and  E.  Collingridge,  148  and  119,  Aldersgate  Street, 
London,  E.C.  The  j^ric*'  is  Is.  net  ;  by  post  Is.  3d.  The  con¬ 
tents  embrace  “A  Year’s  Work  in  the  Garden— What  to  do 
Da.v  bv  Dav,”  “  Choice  Vegetaliles  and  How  to  Grow  4’hem,” 
“•  Yhv  and  How  to  Dig,”  ‘‘Best  Floweis  for  Pretty  Borders,” 
“  Orchids  for  Amateurs,”  ”  Fruit  for  Home  Supplies,” 
“  Garden  Chr.v.santliemums,”  and  “  Hints  for  Amateurs  ”  — 
all  sulijects  that  appeal  to  those  vho  take  an  active  part  in 
niaking  the  most  of  their  gardens.  Two  coloured  plates  are « 
included  in  the  x’olume,  vhich  is  also  full.y  illustrated.  Other 
features  are  a  calendar,  diai’y,  lists  of  new  plants,  fruits,  and 
vegetabh's  introduced  dui'ing  1903,  lists  of  gardening  societies 
and  public  parks,  and  ruled  pages  for  recording  gardening 
operations. 
Woodhatcli  Lodge,  Reigate. 
In  the  .space  at  command  on  jiage  229  of  last  week’.s  issue,  we 
briefly  imticed  some  of  the  remarkable  Dendrobiums  grown  under 
Mr.  C.  .1.  Salter’s  caro  at  Woodhatch  Lodge,  and  the  comments 
herewith  bear  upon  some  other  features.  One  of  the.?e  was  the 
Sweet  Peas  in  boxes.  The  boxes  are  roughl.v  9in  deep  and  the  same 
in  nidth.  with  8ft  len.gth.  The  seeds  had  been  sown  in  lines,  one 
kind  bv  itself,  although  in  each  box  there  were  two  kinds  at  least, 
and  labelled.  The  Peas  had  germinated  vcr.v  evenl.v,  and  on 
March  10  the  seedlings  were  Min  high,  in  a  Peach  house  just 
started. 
Hardy  border  Cantations  are  cultivated  exttmsively.  and  these 
were  being  planted  in  beds  on  a  sunny  south  border,  three  rows 
of  plants,  about  twelve  in  a  row.  in  each  bed.  The  varieties 
represented  the  best  of  recent  introductions,  and  save  for  the 
•shortening  of  a  few  leaves — rthe  destructive  work  of  rats,  of  which 
there  had  been  almost  a  i»lagiu«  -the  ])lants  were  splendid  samples. 
\\  bile  sheltered  by  a  good  fruit  wall  at  a  short  distance  from  this 
hordin’,  the  beds  were  also  backeil  by  a  line  of  espalier  Pears,  the 
latter  being  the  best  quality  de.sse'rt  sorts.  The  Woodhtitch 
garden  is  admirably  situated,  and  lies  well  to  the  sun,  the  soil 
•ceming  to  be  well-draiucd,  sandy  loam. 
A  collection  of  hardwooded  plants  in  flower  showed  that  to 
these  some  attention  is  also  given,  and  that  succes.''fully,  too.  A 
point  of  some  interest,  because  so  seldom  seen,  is  that  the  indoor 
Peach  trees  are  nailcil  to  the  whitewashed  wall,  there  being  no 
wii’es  according  to  the  usual  custom.  The  trees  were  well-trained, 
with  robust  young  wood,  and  promise  well  all  round.  A  vinery 
but  lately  replanted,  showed  the  Vines  breaking  and  flowering 
evenly  and  strongly,  and  there  was  a  sweet,  growing  “smell”  in 
the  atmos23here.  Inside  bord?rs  in  this  case  are  alone  (and  wisely) 
favoured.  One  knows  exactly  where  the  roots  are  then,  and  can 
feel  also  that  all  are  faring  alike. 
Ghrysanthemums,  for  which  this  garden  has  a  just  fame,  were 
still  unpotted  from  the  Sin  size,  though  the  robust  plants  were 
quite  ready  ;  only  Air.  Salter  does  not  lielieve  anything  is  gained 
by  very  early  shifts.  Nepenthes  are  a  class  of  plants  apart,  but 
these  furnish  an  interesting  spectacle  above  the  trim  and  shapely 
Crotons  and  other  stove  plants.  The  ••pitchers”  were  borne 
abundantly. 
By  way  of  supplying  cut  flowers.  Daffodils  in  varieties  are 
forced  considerably,  but  not  in  pots— in  long  boxes,  of  a  similar 
size  to  those  used  for  the  Sweet  Peas.  A  sturdy  batch  of  ('alia 
Elliottiana  coming  on  for  flowering  was  such  as  many  gardeners 
would  have  envied.  The  flowers  here  are  u.sually  equal  in  size  to 
those  of  ('.  sethiopica. — D. 
Great  International  Horticultural  Exhibition. 
The  Poyal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society,  which  was 
founded  in  1809,  liolds  two  exhibitions  annually  in  Edinburgh  in 
Ma.y  and  September.  On  five  occasions,  ISO."),  1809,  1870.  1882. 
and  1891,  the  society  has  organised  international  exhibitions, 
each  of  which  proved  a  great  succe.ss.  After  a  lapse  of  fourteen 
years  since  the  last  international,  the  society  feels  that  the  time 
has  now  arrived  when  another  should  be  held,  to  show  the  marked 
advancement  in  horticulture  which  has  been  made  during  that 
period.  With  the  view  of  having  at  this  exhibition  the  best 
examples  of  horticultural  skill,  it  has  been  arranged  to  i.ssue  at 
once  an  advance  prospectus  giving  a  tew  particulars  of  some  of 
the  principal  classes,  in  order  that  exhibitors  may  have  ample 
notice  and  opportunity  to  arrange  for  competition."  The  council 
reserve  power  to  delete,  alter,  or  revise  any  of  the  competitions 
before  the  final  schedule  is  issued.  His  Alajesty  the  King  has 
graciously  presented  a  valuable  Silver  Gup.  w  liich'will  be  awarded 
at  this  exhibition  to  the  best  exhibit  in  the  competitive  fruit 
classes.  The  advance  prospectus  mentioned  above  has  now  been 
issued,  and  can  be  obtained  from  the  .secretary,  P.  Alurray  Thom¬ 
son,  S.S.G.,  5,  York  Place.  Edinburgh.  Briefly,  we  would  note 
that  a  representative  committee  to  co-operate  with  the  council 
of  the  society  has  been  appointed,  and  includes  men  from  different 
parts  of  f-'lngland,  Wales,  and  Ireland.  Among  these  are  Sir 
Alichael  Foster,  Lord  Eedesdale.  Dr.  AI.  T.  AIa.sters,  F.  Yv".  Bui- 
bidge.  Rev.  AY.  AATIks,  R.  Irn  in  Lynch,  and  Philippe  L.  ATlmorin, 
Paris.  The  list  of  subscriptions  intimated  to  January  31,  1904, 
is  a  long  one,  and  numerous  sums  of  £10  and  £20  or  more,  are 
promised  by  various  Scottish  nur.sery  firms  and  bodies.  The 
C  orporation  of  the  C  ity  of  Edinburgh  give  £00.  Nineteen  chief 
classes  are  specified  in  the  advance  schedule,  the  fir.st  being  for 
a  collection  of  dessert  fruit,  the  fir.st  ])rize  being  £2d,  but  the 
prizes  for  decorative  effect  are  kept  distinct.  Mr.  AA'".  H.  Massie 
(of  Dickson  and  Co.,  Edinburgh)  offers  a  50  guinea  challenge 
trophy  for  eight  bunches  of  Grapes  (to  be  won  three  times),  and 
along  with  this  goes  a  gold  badge  and  £15.  AA'e  need  not  further 
specify  the  clas.ses,  for  our  readers  will  understand  that  every 
section  will  be. amply  represented,  and  we  can  assure  tliem  that 
the  prizes  are  enticing.  4’he  show  will  be  held  next  year. 
AAhth  the  object  of  encouraging  investigation  into  problems  of 
practical  and  scientifio  interest,  the  council  have  resolved  to  offer 
special  awards  of  gold,  silver,  and  bronze  medals  and  other  awards 
for  exhibits  illustrative  of  experiment  and  research,  such  as  (1) 
an  exhibit  showing  the  result  of  any  research  or  experiment  re¬ 
lating  to  the  minute  anatomy  or  physiology  of  plants  (including 
chemistry),  and  having  a  bearing  on  the  cultivation  of  plants  ; 
(2)  any  new  fertilising  material,  indicating  the  amount  to  be  used, 
the  time  and  mode  of  application,  the  approximate  cost  and  the 
results;  (3)  improved  apparatus  for  forcing  or  retarding  plants 
for  market  ;  (4)  improvcxl  seed-testing  apparatus ;  (5)  more  effec¬ 
tive  means  of  combating  both  fungu.s  and  insect  garden  pests; 
(6)  teaching  models  and  appliances,  leaning  rather  to  horticidtural 
teaching  than  to  botany,  e.g.,  models  of  grafts,  budding,  cuttings, 
flowers  to  show  fertilisation,  Ac.  Recognising  the  outstanding 
importance  of  hybridisation  and  cross-fertilisation,  the  council 
invite  illustrations,  both  positive  and  negative,  of  these  branches 
of  horticulture.  Large  exhibits  are  not  desired,  but  each  should 
be  accompanied  if  possible  by  the  parents,  and  by  a  statement 
showing  what  was  the  exhibitor'.s  object  when  carrying  out  the 
experiments.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  exhibition  will  be  one 
of  extraordinary  interest,  and  deserves  th?  fullest  ,'^upport. 
