July  9,  1903. 
29 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTA  iE  GARDENER. 
moiuunent  of  trouble.  The  soil  may  work  kindly  and  the  seeds 
are  sown,  with  the  hope  that  they  may  bring  forth  fruit.  Biit 
do  they.?  No  sooner  is  the  Avork  completed  than  the  Aveather 
puts  in  a  Avord.  It  may  turn  to  AA’et,  it  may  be  drought;  one 
way  or  the  other  usually  brings  a  like  result.  The  innocent  man 
plants  his  early  Potatoes  and  eA’erything  desirable  folloAAs  until 
the  shoots  are  Gin  high,  then  along  comes  the  frost  fiend,  and 
the  gardener  reaps  his  sorroAA'.  He  may  plant  late,  if  dry 
AA'eather  ensues  the  plants  hang  fire;  if  AAet  is  the  order,  then 
all  haulm  is  the  result.  Then  comes  hot  Aveather  as  at  the 
present  moment,  and  the  gardener  knoAvs  \Ahat  Avill  follow.  “  My 
‘spuds’  hatm  the  blight,’  saj-s  one.  “My  Solanum  tuberosum 
have  become  infested  Avith  Phytophthora  infestans,”  cries 
another.  He  prays  for  rain  at  one  period,  he  denounces  it  at 
another. 
I  shudder  to  think  of  Avhat  Avas  said  by  the  StraAA’berry  groAA'ers 
who  AAmre  suffering  through  the  lavish  supply  of  aqua  pura 
recently.  The  Peas  are  in  early  and  all  looked  rosy,  then  comes 
the  slug,  the  fiend  that  it  is,  and  aAvay  go  the  Peas;  likeAvise 
the  Beans,  to  say  nothing  of  other  things.  One  gardener  will 
plant  out  his  early  Cauliflowers,  the  slug  pays  a  visit,  another 
does  ditto,  the  rabbit  makes  a  call.  The  result  in  each  case 
is  the  same.  "NYe  gaze  upon  the  great  display  of  fruit  blossom, 
eA’en  upon  the  young  fruits,  but  Jack  Frost  chips  in  and  they  go. 
M  e  look  at  our  Currant  and  Gooseberry  bushes,  and  AA-atch  the 
buds  fattening.  Then  another  visitor  calls,  this  time  the  bird  ; 
in  fact,  many  of  them.  Should  the  fruits  succeed  in  getting 
through,  the  birds  are  there  again.  Pears,  StraAvberries, 
Currants,  Gooseberries,  Apples,  and  Plums  are  all  grist  to  their 
mill.  He  looks  rapturously  upon  his  breaking  Rose  trees  and 
sees  visions  of  prizes.  The  maggot  is  at  Avork  ere  the  leaf  is 
fully  out.  Then  comes  the  aphis,  and  perhaps  the  mildcAv. 
Some  things  the  poor  gardener  can  cope  Avith,  but  the  Currant 
mite  is  beyond  him.  The  “Mum”  rust  thriAms  despite  the 
sulphide  of  potassium.  The  Carnations  giAm  joy  as  the  buds  saa  oII 
visibly,  but  the  AA’ireworm  says  nay,  and  the  poor  biped  animal 
tears  his  hair  in  desperation.  He  AA^atches  his  “  Cues  ”  growing 
cheerily,  AA'hen  flop  they  go,  and  he  knoAvs  Avhat  is  the  matter. 
The  Melons  get  as  big  as  eggs,  then  they  take  to  rotting  off.  The 
Tomatoes  look  Avell  one  day,  the  next  they  are  limp,  and  the 
gardener  mutters  “  fungi.”  So  one  might  ramble  on  for  ever, 
but  little  value  AA’ould  accrue.  All  gardeners  knoAv,  and  haA'e 
felt,  the  meaning  of  sorroAv ;  therefore  they  will  join  Avith  me  in 
stating  Nature  sometimes  to  be  against  the  gardener.^ — A. 
Begonias  at  Rocklands,  Waterford,  Ireland, 
A  few  days  ago  I  was  afforded  a  great  treat  in  being  enabled 
to  A'ieAV  the  splendid  collection  of  single  and  double  Begonias  at 
Rocklands,  "Waterford,  the  beautifully  situated  residence  of  John 
Newson  White,  Esq.,  J.P.,  Avho  is  a  vice-president  of  the  Water¬ 
ford  Horticultural  Society  and  a  most  enthusiastic  flori.st.  I 
was  very  courteously  shown  through  the  houses  and  nicely 
arranged  grounds  by  the  head  gardener,  Mr.  William  Taylor, 
AA’ho  is  an  adept  at  Begonia  groAving,  and  Avho  has  won  many 
prizes  for  Begonia  culture.  The  Begonia  house  is  quite  a  new 
structure,  erected  for  Mr.  M’hite  by  the  celebrated  firm  of  Messrs. 
Boulton  and  Paul,  of  Nonvich.  It  is  an  ideal  house  for  groAving 
these  charming  floAvers.  Mr.  Taylor  shoAved  me  a  lot  of  seedlings 
raised  by  himself :  a  single  crimson  one,  the  flowers  being  Sin 
in  diameter;  also  a  single  crimson  one  with  a  AA’hite  centre  7in 
in  diameter ;  some  beautifully  fringed  single  seedlings ;  and  a 
few’  magnificent  seedling  doubles,  all  being  groAvn  from  seed 
saved  by  Mr.  Taylor  at  Rocklands.  I  may  say  I  have  never 
seen  a  finer  collection  of  .seedlings. 
Amongst  the  double  named  varieties  I  particularly  noticed 
Mrs.  Stothert,  a  beautifully  grown  yelloAv,  Camellia-shaped 
flowers,  the  floAvers  being  ojin  in  diameter  and  Sin  deep ; 
Leviathan,^ dark  rose,  charmingly  coloured,  and  of  robust  habit; 
Duke  of  Fife,  a  clear  rose  colour,  beautifully  crimped ;  Princess 
of  Wales,  A’ery  large  erect  flowers,  beautiful  blush  pink  colour ; 
HenshaAv  Russell,  floAAers  very  large  and  full,  beautiful  scarlet, 
very  erect  form;  Felix  Marcotte,  a  dazzling  velvety  scarlet, 
floAA'ers  large  and  splendidly  shaped,  very  compact ;  Mrs.  French, 
free  floAvering,  sulphur  aa  hite,  large  full  Aoaa  ers,  very  vigorous ; 
Rosebud,  soft  pink  and  very  nicely  shaped,  one  of  the  best 
pinks  I  have  seen ;  Duchess  of  Fife,  silver  flesh  colour,  large 
flowers;  Nurse  Mary  Cornell,  very  large,  Avell  formed  Aoaa  ers, 
beautiful  salmon  shaded  pink  ;  Lady  Ashbrook,  a  strong  groAver, 
clear  deep  yelloAA-,  splendidly  formed  flowers,  one  of  the  best 
double  yelloAvs ;  Miss  Edith  Childs,  immense  flowmrs.  Camellia¬ 
shaped,  beautiful  blush  Avhite ;  Madame  La  Baronne  de  Saint 
Didier,  strong  habit,  immense  full  flow'ers,  pale  yellow^  The 
best  of  the  single  varieties  Avere  Surprise,  large  floAvers,  deep 
velvety  crimson;  TYhite  Perfection,  very  erect  flowers;  Mrs.  T. 
Lunt,  an  enormous'  light  salmon;  Prestige,  enormous  rich 
crimson  floAvers ;  Boule  de  Feu.  large  bright  orange  .scarlet ; 
Champion,  large  deep  bronzy  yellow’. 
Mr.  Taylor  has  a  magnificent  hou.se  of  single  and  double  Zonal 
Pelargoniums.  Some  cf  the  plants  measure  3ft  in  diameter  and 
Jin  trom  top  of  pot,  groAvn  in  Sin  pots.  Some  of  the  trusses 
oiii  aoi’oss.  He  has  a  good  shoAv  of  Tomatoes,  the  variety 
being  \\  inter  Beauty  ;  I  saiA-  some  remarkably  fine  bunches  of 
fruit. 
Gloxinias  are  cultiA'ated  right  Avell  at  Rocklands;  I  counted 
as  many  as  sixty  flowers  on  one  plant,  the  plant  measuring  2ft 
across.  There  is  also  a  beautiful  iieiv  conserA’atory  attached  to 
J\Ir.  \\  lute’s  dAvelling  house.  It  is  extremely  gaj’  at  present 
with  Cannas,  Pelargoniums,  Gloxinias,  Orchids.  Adiantums 
m  variety.  There  is  also  a  very  fine  house  of  Black  Hamburgh 
Grapes  well  and  carefully  grown.  The  kitchen  garden  is  avcH 
stocked,  and  in  my  humble  opinion  is  a  model  of  Avhat  a  Avell 
kept  garden  ought  to  be.  The  Avhole  concern  reflects  the  greatest 
credit  on  the  capabilities  of  Mr.  Taylor,  and  I  only  Avish  some 
of  the  Avcalthy  ladies  and  gentlemen  around  Co.  Waterford  w  ould 
endeavour  to  try  and  emulate  the  example  shown  at  Rocklands. 
■ — J.  A.  P. 
- - 
Fruit  and  Vegetables:  Early  Summer  Crops. 
There  ahiays  attaches  an  intere.sting  anxiety  Avheii  one 
peruses  the  record  of  past  and  former  years,  and  compares  tho 
maturity  of  the  first  fruits  of  the  current  season.  That  which 
affects  1903  Aiill  be  interesting,  though  so  intensely  disappoint¬ 
ing,  because  the  reA’erses  have  been  so  many  and  frequent.  It  is, 
indeed,  an  interesting  study,  these  coinparatiA’e  records  extend¬ 
ing  over  a  series  of  years ;  and  gardeners  now  adays  are  afforded 
such  excellent  means  of  chronicling  the  returns  of  progress 
month  by  month  in  the  presentation  calendars  given  gratuitously 
by  many  of  the  leading  seedsmen,  that  there  ought  to  be  no 
serious  hindrance  to  anyone  getting  accurate  information  bear¬ 
ing  on  the  question.  On  reference  to  diaries  of  .some  years  noAv 
gone,  I  find  1893  contrasts  most  by  its  earliness  cf  the  summer 
crops.  This,  it  need  not  be  remarked,  is  entirely  due  to  the 
Aveather  in  the  early  months  of  the  year.  Fnfortunatcly  of  late 
the  experience  of  cold  AA'inds,  occasional  or  frequent  frosts,  vary¬ 
ing  in  their  severitj',  and  absent  sunshine  all  tend  to  make, 
impressions  on  the  memory  Avhich  cannot  so  easily  be  obliterated 
— at  any  rate,  from  the  gardener’s  mind. 
This  is  not  so  true  of  the  cook,  or,  indeed,  often  that  of  the 
mistress,  for  a  AA’eek  of  sunny  AA’eather  like  that  Avliich  folloAved 
the  disastrous  flood  time  of  June,  gives  cause  for  inquiries  after 
Peas  and  StraAvberries,  Cherries  and  CaulifloAvers,  just  as  though 
the  maturity  of  crops  Avere  as  spontaneous  as  is  the  alternate 
cloud  and  sunray.  An  instance  bearing  out  this  remark  Avas 
made  quite  recently  by  an  employer  to  his  gardener.  His 
Avritten  message  Avas,  “  ^Yhen  are  Ave  to  have  Peas  and  other 
summer  vegetables?  I  knoAv  the  season  has  been  bad,  but  here 
Ave  are  June  26  and  all  I  see  is  the  same  old  Potatoes  and 
Cabbages.”  In  this  case,  it  seems.  Asparagus  did  not  count,  and 
Turnips,  Carrots,  Spinach,  and  forced  Beans  Avere  beneath 
notice.  The  yearning  for  home-groAvn  garden  Peas  ci'u.shed 
these  minor  A’egetables  out  of  thought,  and  thus  the  gardener, 
anxious  though  he  evidently  Avas  to  gather  the  fir.st  Pea  pod,  had 
to  learn  hoAv  to  digest  hard  Avords,  and  to  Avonder  Avhy  the 
elements  had  dealt  so  hardly  Avith  him. 
Comparing  this  season’s  crops  Avith  that  of  1893,  1  find  in 
our  case  there  is  from  a  fortnight  to  almost  a  month’s  difference 
in  gathering  the  first.  Peas  then  Avere  ready  May  30.  this 
year  June  26  furnished  the  first  dish;  yet  though  a  .similar 
A'ariety  and  quite  as  early  a  start  Avas  made,  the  pods  required 
a  month  longer  to  fill  Avith  the  longed-for  Peas.  Exactly  three 
Aveeks  marked  the  difference  in  the  StraAvberry  crops  of  the  tAvo 
years,  and  the  same  span  divides  the  Raspberry.  Currants  are 
still  (July  4)  in  a  parti-coloured  state ;  in  1893  they  Avere  full 
ripe  by  June  19,  and  Black  Currants  Avere  ready  on  the  same 
date.  Dessert  Cherries  are  late,  and  Morellos  are  in  a  similarly 
backAA’ard  state.  Much  fruit.  Avhich  until  recently  had  given  a 
faA’ourable  hope,  noAv  changes  to  a  state  Avhich  bespeaks  failure. 
Black  fly  has  been  a  source  of  much  more  than  ordinary  trouble ; 
it  pays  its  annual  visit  ahvays,  this  year  it  behaved  Avith 
persistent  obstinacy.  • 
Comparison  has  been  made  betAveen  the  first  and  last  years^ 
of  a  decade,  1893-1903,  by  stepping  backivard  one  season  the 
unfavourable  aspect  of  the  pre.sent  year,  so  far  as  it  affect.s 
time,  does  not  seem  so  .striking.  There  is  a  gain  of  ten  days 
in  Raspberries  in  this  oA’er  last  year’s  record,  and  a  correspond¬ 
ing  march  of  time  in  Red  and  Black  Currants.  Strawberries, 
too,  Avould  shoAv  a  material  advance.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
the  spring  of  last  year  Avas  extremely  cold,  winds  coming  from 
the  north-east  for  so  long  a  time,  and  frosts  of  a  destructive 
nature  being  somcAvljat  freijiient  in  the  month  of  June.  Plums 
are  so  short  that  competition  for  time  Avill  be  scarcely  cliallenged. 
and  Pears  have  had  no  chance  at  all.  There  are  feAver  actual 
fruits  at  the  present  time  than  there  Avere  biv'-hels  la.st  year  on 
the  same  ground.  Employers  and  ooo-ks  Avill  need  many 
reminders  of  the  spring  frosts  this  summer,  autumn,  and  Avinter  ■ 
but  all  the  debating  in  the  world  will  not  replace  them,  nor  fill 
the  fruit  room  shelves. — W.  S. 
