Learning from the past.

Yes! OK. I perhaps have already bored everyone regarding that Victorian Garden series. For me it actually taught me lots even having seventy plus years of gardening behind me. My Dad was born 3.7.1896 Mum was born 4.7.1897.

Dad was a hardworker, served in both world wars. He had spent his early years in Ireland. This must have rubbed off on him, because, give him a spade or fork, and he'd dig away until the cows came home. He never actually taught me anything related to horticulture. However, needless to say, begining at the age of five years, I learned so much from him. Not just gardening but, something I can't really explain. It was like a meaningful driving force. How to survive.

We had a very large allotment on which we grew potatos, mixed brassicas, most root veg, some soft fruits and flowers. Dad was medically retired from government employment. His specialist consultant. Mr. John Bodley-Scott also her Majesty's personal consultant, reckoned, Dad had served his country enough.

So Dad worked away on the plot. We had no machinary and no onsite water. Money was a kind of rude word. So apart from paying, I think about one pound for the plot for the year. Seeds were bought from Ryders fo a few pence a pkt. The rest was hard work and sweat.

Now to work. At the same time relating to that great BBC series, The Victorian Gardener. OK. We had no garden wall. Our progress was to operate the practice of crop rotation, so that each year a section of the plot would lay dormant. Only the runner bean section stayed the same. Likewise the soft fruits and flowers.

So may you ask. What's this to do with the BBC series. So many of the practical features, making a hot bed, grafting, tying in, winter protection and root veg clamping. From our plot. We harvested enough root veg, clamped and sacked to last through the winter until the new harvest. I wonder how many of my friends today can boast the same.

So so much of thet series, brings back so many memories.

 

@Mike Allen before I pass any comments, are you referring to a BBC series that was recorded in the late 1980's? The gardener in it was a Harry Dodson if my memory serves.

 

Yes that's the one

 

That series, and the two that followed it, not only taught me a lot, but made me think about things today.

As an example. In one of the episodes, they mentioned that the gardener was supposed to be able to provide a fresh pineapple that was the centrepiece of the table on Christmas Day. If it could be done in Victorian England, then why must we fly in fresh pineapples today?

There was a lot of info on natural fertilisers and pesticides also, which raises a question. If things could be kept under control without pollution then, why are we unable today? Has all the knowledge been lost?

 

Hi @Sandy Ground , as regards to fresh pineapples..... they grew them in hothouses which you can still do today ( a heated greenhouse/conservatory etc ).

You're mixing up growing just one or two for the family table and growing thousands ( if not millions ) for mass consumption.

That's why they're imported in such great numbers.


As for pollution, it was way, way, way greater in those days than it is today, just on a more localised scale ( eg... what makes pollution so bad nowadays is when you factor in China, USA, India etc ).

In those days you had iron foundries etc, steam trains, all sorts of factories pumping waste into rivers ( you could always tell what colour carpets were being made in my town by the colour of the river right upto the 1990's ).

Look up old pictures of places like Coalbrookdale ( some excellent paintings done of the Severn Valley and the industrial revolution ). Also old photos of towns such as Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham and you'll see that the buildings were all black.

 

@KFF when I mentioned pollution, I was meaning the various chemicals such as roundup and artificial fertilisers more than more than that produced by burning coal, etc.

As regards fresh pineapples, and other tropical fruits. They were available to the public pre WW2, and at that time, there hadnt even been any Transatlantic transport flights.

 

I have a gardening book from the war times, a reprint and at the front a caveat about some methods of control used then like Cyanide or burning paraffin rags to dispose of wasps nests, soot or block meta for slugs. Remember DDT as a pesticide?
Not so rosy then really and probably many more that we aren't aware of.

 

You are spot on RobB

I have a few old gardening books....like to read how they did things in the past etc.....and the poisons they used, without protection too, was scary. Nobody was remotely aware of the dangers

At least we are now made aware of the dangers and possible dangers of modern chemicals.....so much so that scaremongering tactics are the norm nowadays

With reference to pineapples earlier, places like Heligan down here produce pineapples for the table. A lot of work goes into it though so, economically, not worth while

 

I have two interesting old books, that I dip into from time to time. One is "The Amateur Gardener" by Mrs Loudon revised and edited by W Robinson dating from late 19th early 20th century the other is "The Culture of Vegetables and Flowers from Seeds and Roots" an 1884 book from Sutton and Sons of Reading. They are now based about a mile away in Paignton. Both books are interesting and useful although timings need to be taken with a pinch of salt, climate change has moved things earleir and extended the growing season. Both make frequent use of arsenic, and strychnine for moles and mice/rats. Turpentine, alcohol, sulphur and strong shag tobacco being recommended for insect and some fungus pests.

 

They were the Good Old Days, well for the wealthy anyway.
I dont think the bloke in the street was eating fresh pineapple for Christmas, even before WW2, cant remember my parents mentioning it, they were over the moon with an orange in the old Christmas stocking.

The Victorian gardening programme was a good insight into how hard the poor old gardeners had to work to provide food for the "House".

 

I love books so much that I browse ebay for collections of books on disc. Not only does the information contained therein prove to be of special interest, but also the actual writing. So often the article is written in such a manner and with prose, that you feel something of a closeness to the writer, whereas, some modern day writings seem to be bland and lack that warmth.

 

Ah, you are so right Mike.
Not exactly a writer from ancient times but Christopher Lloyd had a wonderful way with words and, as you say Mike, made us feel a closeness with him as though a friend was talking.

Not such an avid reader now but books were a big part of my life and study

 

During my gardening career. I worked for the LCC later that changed to the GLC. A certain Mr. Livingstone was leader of County Hall. It seemed, he really did have that, 'flexible friend' as expense never appeared to be a problem.
HM. Gov. Then decided to disband the GLC and the parks & gardens went over to the local councils. Finding out that there was no guarantee of long term employment fo me or my staff, I left.

I was soon head hunted by a MOD Dept. (Military). Here I had it agreed that, provided the department was cared for, then what was left over was mine. This was when I realised that although funds to support a 'Jolly', gardenwise the unit/department was, tighter than the proverbial gnats a***. Fortunately I had grown up to be industrious and had become apt in many practical skills. This perhaps may have been my start to follow in the footsteps of, 'The Victorian Gardener'

Following a dispute and physical threat towards me. I left. No sooner having done that, and I was asked to rejoin the dept and care for the garrison commanders garden At Rushgrove House. It is now an assortment of odds & sods. WWW. Rushgrove House. Here, life was different. I had a garden with a walled garden, a large lawn and two smaller lawns. A fair sized pond full of mirror carp. Fruit trees, ornamental and flowers. The second and last Brig; to reside there was great. The general running of the garden was left to me. However thankfully the Brig. & his wife had travelled far and wide, so. Good Morning Mr. Allen. When we were posted to Blah blah country, we discovered this vegetible. Will you do the neccessary. 'B...hell. Never heard of that one. So I did my best. Then the dinner party. Oh! Mr. Allen. We are having a dinner party next tuesday. If I give you a list, do you think you could manage to come up with something? Thankfully, perhaps boastfully. I never failed.

One morning at breakfast break in the kitchen. I sat there alongside Eric, the batman, Jack the govenors driver and the two lady home helps. Somehow the subject of earnings cropped up. I happened to have a recent pay slip in my pocket. Anne, the Brigs. wife almost burst into tears. OH! Mr Allen. What an insult to you and your profession. My pay slip showed. Take home pay £98.74 I worked more hours than I was paid for. I loved my work.

So to me, when I viewed the DVD's of this great series. Ye! like the cinema days, Hey ho! I'm the hero on the white horse. The portrayals in the films, Yes forgive me but. Yes, that's me. Been there done that. Perhaps like the professional soldier. If I was fit enough. I'd do it all again.

In all honesty. OK. I started out working as a Solicitors Clerk. Then I became a traffic cop. I still look back and enjoy the later but. Workwise my heart and soul remains in the garden.

 

I've recently bought some gardening books, the latest is by Percy Thrower 1974, Fresh Vegetables and Herbs from Your Garden. So easy and understandable, old varieties recommended, some I have too. Photos of him in a suit or collar and tie and never mucky. I can hear his voice reading with me and it's a pleasure as no hype or exaggeration.

 

One of my favourite garden authors is Vita Sackville West who wrote a number of books before her death in1962. She was from a privileged background but wasn't afraid to get down and dirty with the earth. I learned a lot from her writings and the beautiful gardens at Sissinghurst are a living memory of her passion for gardening.

Another blast from the past is Beverley Nichols who wrote in a whimsical way about the trials and errors of gardening. I have all his books and love the descriptive language and the opinionated way he dismisses some of our best loved flowers and plants.

I find today's garden writers too "politically correct" when they showcase their gardens. Everything is lovely and no one is happy to admit their likes and dislikes. I did hear Monty Don say he disliked begonias on one of the Chelsea programmes which didn't do him any favours with the begonia growers.