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THE HORTICULTURAL SEASON OF 1872.

The past year has been exceedingly productive of new plants to the British public ; no fewer than three hundred and sixty—almost an average of one daily—have been added to the list of distinct plants new to cultivators. This number does not iuclude the numerous hybrids of florists' flowers so commonly produced, which yearly add so largely to our nurserymen's catalogues. The year has also been prolific with these new hybrids, and with new varieties of fruit and of esculents.

Among new apples Beasgood's Nonesuch, an apple closely representing the American Tuscaloosa seedling, and partaking of the properties of the Blenheim pippin, has proved an acquisition for both cooking and desert purposes. The Red Hawthornton is another fruit of great merit ; it was first exhibited at Worcester, and is pronounced a valuable hardy kitchen fruit. A very handsome seedling apple, named Welford Park Nonesuch, and raised from the Golden Harvey crossed with either Lamb Abbey pearmain or Hawthornden (all three apples being grafted on the same tree), is perhaps the most beautiful fruit of modern date. It has the habit of the scarlet nonpareil, ripens in November, and received a first-class certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society. Yorkshire Beauty is another of the new apples of the year, the tree being pronounced perfectly hardy and very fruitful, the fruit is adapted for culinary use, ripening early in August.

The new grape of the year is one named Duke of Buccleugh. The bunch is large, ovate, ten inches long and broad shouldered ; the fruit is of enormous size, resembling large loquats rather than grapes, and much resembling that fruit in the color of the berry as it changes from greenish amber to golden yellow. The flavor resembles that of the old Hamburgh, and as the berries rarely contain more than two seeds each is a mass of rich juicy pulp sufficient to fill the mouth. It is the largest berried white grape in cultivation, and was raised by Mr Wm. Thomson, of Clovenfords. It received first-class certificate at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society. Among modern grapes the Waltham Bross seedling has this year maintained a very high position, many growers declaring it to be far and away the best grape of recent days. A new melon, raised by Mr Munro, of Potter's Bar, is a great acquisition. It is of the red fleshed section, and has a rich musky flavor, preferable to any of the scarlet fleshed varieties in cultivation. It also received a first-class certificate of the Royal Horticultural Society under the name of the Little Health Melon.

A new strawberry named Traveller, raised by MrLaxton, the noted hybridiser of peas, has also elicited great commendation at the hands of the society. It has the old Hautbois flavor, and is raised from those fine varieties, La Constante and Sir C. Napier. It is of a dark red color, with firm solid flesh, which will adapt it well for market purposes, and unlike so many modern " marketable" strawberries, it has a most delicious brisk, rich flavor.

The new peas of the season which have proved good and worthy of general culture are Dr Hogg and G. F. Wilson. A most exhaustive trial has this year been given at Chiswick to all the popular peas in cultivation. It would be well if in Victoria a similar trial were made so that varieties specially suiting the climate might be depended upon. There are altogether too many varieties of this useful vegetable in cultivation. A few only have been extensively tried of the modern kinds in Victoria, and the experience of English growers can afford but a poor criterion for the guidance of our market gardeners and growers. A very special quality sought in a pea for English gardens is hardiness and ability to stand frosts, and an award is frequently given where a pea possesses these qualities. la Victoria no such conditions are required; all that is wanted here is prolificness, quick maturing powers and high flavor, and the proof of these can only be given by growing a variety several seasons in the colony. Most of the peas in England are carefully staked, the abundance of elm, ash, hazel, and maple branches enabling growers to do this economically. In Victoria there are few plants suitable for the staking of peas, and therefore dwarf growing varieties will continue to be the popular varieties grown. The past season has been a most disastrous one to fruit growers and orchadists. Not only has the crop been light, but the quality has been inferior. It would he impossible to recognise those old favorites the Ribsfcon pippin, scarlet nonpareil, Adams's pearmain, in the scrubby, uncolored specimens sold in the shops this year. With every fruit has this scarcity and inferiority of sample prevailed, the apricot and peach ; even when grown on walls, were poorly ripened and flavorless ; the pear has this year, in all except a few

highly favored districts, been woody, gritty, and undeveloped. Orchard house grown fruit, is the only fruit which has in England attained anything like full development. This circumstance is giving an immense impetus* to the erection of conservatories and houses for the growth of fruit, and a trade which is unknown in Victoria is uriusually busy here in England. Yearly the " horticultural builders" are doing their best to give to fruit growers an artificial temperature and protection from the vicissitudes of the English climate; and thus the garden is brought more closely into the household. Thus ladies and children are led to take an interest in all that concerns culture, and it is no rare think to meet with young ladies deeply read in botany and possessing an accurate knowledge of orchid culture and plant nomenclature. The large number of public conservatories and of winter gardens too has a tendency to encourage this acquaintance with plants, and goes far to explain the difference in this respect between colonial and English girls and boys. The difference is certainly all in favor of the English custom, but then in Victoria horticulture is as yet only in its infancy.—" Leader."

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZMAIL18730712.2.30.1

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Mail, Issue 117, 12 July 1873, Page 7

Word Count
1,022

THE HORTICULTURAL SEASON OF 1872. New Zealand Mail, Issue 117, 12 July 1873, Page 7

THE HORTICULTURAL SEASON OF 1872. New Zealand Mail, Issue 117, 12 July 1873, Page 7

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