UMASS/AMHERST ill I II 2066 0333 3416 0 Hi HUllM l«« 1 tflfr \ : .', l|fj| mil* IlHI uilimifHmniifnii 1! JlM II :.:Ji'l: ■'.■'(' ';.''' .'■!' : ■•'' i"i i i • ■ .■ . :i : ■'<■'■•' :- !!.■■•'. , bhuiIhu M ■■■ : ; ' HHHV pjl |Wffl| r,,':''''''' ' 1 '■ ■ ' Illllll ' Bfflf ifllr Ml P Hit will 1 w n LIBRARY This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS only, and is subject to a fine of TWO CENTS a day thereafter. It will be due on the day indicated below. 1828 Library Bureau 13-723 June 24, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 31 Mttkl^ mimttaUb Jnurnal OF HORTICULTURE AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESTABLISHED IN 1S41.) VOL. LXXI.— THIRD SERIES. JANUARY TO JUNE 1922. LONDON 5, TAVISTOCK STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C.2. 1922. "p 6 June 24, 1922 The Garden e^e' Chronic INDEX OF CONTENTS. JANUARY TO JUNE, 1922. (For Special Headings see under Answers to Correspondents ; Books; Certificated Plants, etc.; Nursery Notes; Obituary; Plants, New; Scientific Committee; Societies; and Illustrations.) Aberdeen Parks, gift of a motor-car . to the Superintendent of, 176 Aberdeen University, forestry at, 162 Acacia dealbata, 123 Acer macrophyllum, 317 Acid phosphate, the effect of, on the flowering of Roses and Carnations, 314 Actinidia, 270 Aesculus indica, 21 ; A. octandra, 317 Africa, South, a new Gladiolus from, 49 Agapetes macrantha, 101 Agricultural problems, 176 Albinism among Orchids in nature, 75 Aldenham : Chinese climbers at, 270, 305; Chinese shrubs at, 114, 123, 137, 179, 199, 213 Alder, fasciation in, 337 Alexander, Mr. H. G., 284 Allotment holders, conference of, 265 Allotments, 50, 97 ; a Bill relating to, 62 Allwood, Montagu C. (The Perpetual Flowering Carnation), 155 A'pine garden, the, 75, 87, 104, 111, 129, 177, 192, 211, 225, 255, 289, 303 Alpine plants from seed, raising, 156 America : Dahlias in, 190, 265 ; Gladiolus in, 17 ; Irises in, 314 American Iris Society's medal, 284 American Rose Society, 26 American Sweet Pea Society, 298 Annual, a good blue-flowered, 95 Annual flowers for northern gardens. 182 Annuals: for garden decoration, 128 ; for the rock garden, two good, 192 Answers to Correspondents : — Adiantum Ferns attacked by grubs, 60 ; Allotments, tenure of, 174 ; Aphelandra and Exacum, 173 ; Apple tree, cankered, 60 ; Arauca- ria imbricata, timber oi, 108 ; Azalea leaves diseased, 188 ; Beetles found in a writing case, 250 ; Bego- nia Haageana, 204 ; Black Currant leaf blister, 296 ; Blood as a manure, 250 ; Bones as manure, burnt, 173 ; Border flowers, ar- rangement of, 160 ; Bowling green, 236 ; Brassicas, Club-root in, 312 ; Brunfelsias, propagating, 188 ; Bulbs from a pheasant's crop, 108 ; Bullfinches in the garden, 72; Car- nations, eelworm in, 312 ; Cattleya citrina, 282 ; Chrysanthemum Ra- yonnante and its sports, 48 ; Chry- santhemum rust, 72 ; Chrysanthe- mum sport, 72 ; Chrysanthemums, 264 ; early-flowering, 48 ; early- flowering, in pots, 188 ; Climbers, sweet-scented, for a pergola, 84 ; Coleus, 296 ; Crickets in green- house, 296; Crops, out-of -season, for market, 72 ; Cypress, Roman, 48; Daffodil blooms, rash from, -'.■188; Daffodil bulbs, blind flowers from, 144 ; Dahlias for garden decoration, 220 ; Elm shoot with grubs, 236; Ericas, greenhouse 36 Flowers for market, 120 ; Frames and nursery beds, 173 ; Glass- houses, the rating of commercial, 12 ; Grafting, crown or rind method of, 60 ; Grapes, diseased, ' 282 ; Hawthorn, diseased, 84; Hip- peastrum seedling, 188 horticultu- ral trade papers, 24 ; Horticulture, training in, 250; Horti-plough, 24; Hyacinth blooms dropping off, 24 ; " Hybrids," the meaning of, 24 ; Hydrangeas, 328 ; Kerosine spray, 24 ; Lapageria rosea, 48 ; Lawn grass seed, 108 ; Lawn, sowing bare patches on a, 188 ; Lawn, weedy, 188 ; Lawns, estimate for making, 12 ; Lawns, mossy, 36 ; Leaves, to skeletonise, 36 ; Library, the R.H.S., 132 ; Lily-of-the-Valley as a market flower, 108 ; Loggia, plants for a, 174 ; Magnolia grandi- flora not flowering, 24 : Manure's for cordon Apple trees, 24 ; Market bunches of flowers, 12 ; Melon plant diseased, 204 ; Mistleto, establishing, 173 ; Mushroom hardened by disease, 108 ; Mush- room uniformed, 173 ; Nicotianas for summer bedding, 24 ; Orchids, failure with, 144 ; Peach and Nectarine leaves dropping, 204 ; Peach flowers failing to. develop, 160 ; Peach leaves diseased, 312 ; Peach mildew, 312 ; Peach trees dying, 204; Peaches and Nectarines, pruning newly planted, 36 ; Phlox, dark crimson, 204 ; Plants for tufa or stone pockets, 48 ; Potatos, diseased, 204 ; Potatos with weak growth, 328 ; Primula obconica cross, 96 ; Primula seeds germinat- ing slowly, 96 ; Rabbits eating fruit tree stems, 48 ; Red Spider, 282 ; Rhododendron hybrid, 36 ; Romneya Coulteri and double Hollyhocks, 188 ; Sand tennis court, 174 ; Shamrock, 220 ; Shrubs, dwarf, to flower from July to December, 12 ; Soil on an ant's hill, 24 ; Soil, treatment of, 60 ; Stocks failing, 96 ; Sweet Peas dying at the roots, 96 ; Tennis court, hard, 264 ; Tennis court, red gravel, 264 ; Tetraehlorethane, 188 ; Thorn, early-flowering, 120 ; Thuya Lobbii, hedge of, 24; Thuyopsis shoots dying at the tips 250 ; Tomato flowers, 96 ; Tomato seedlings, dying, 282 ; Tomatos, diseased, 188 ; failing, 204 ; black rot in, 328 ; foot rot in, 328 ; Trees and shrubs, 296 ; Tulip bulbs, 328 ; Tulip, fasciated, 312 ; Tulips eaten, 312 ; Vegetable Marrow, giant, 264 ; Vegetables for three hundred people, raising, 132 ; Vines, treat- ment of old, 1 88 ; Violets, failing, 24 ; Wall shrubs, 12 ; White fly, 338 ; on out-door plants, 96 ; Willow gall gnat, 338 ; Worms in soil, 96. Antirrhinums, 27 ; for summer bed- ding, 104 Apple crop, the, 324 Apple tree, a young bush, 64 Apple trees, silver leaf in, 238 Apples : Bushey Grove, 157 ; Cal- ville Blanc, 11, 47, 94; Court pendu-plat, 94, 113, 171 ; Graven- stein, 157 ; Isle of Wight Pippin, 57 ; John Standish, 185 ; Laxton's Pearmain, 201 ; Nanny, 157 ; Nonesuch, 81 ; Norfolk Beauty, 11 ; Orleans Reinette, 23 ; Reinette du Canada, 125 ;Rosemary Russet, 185 ; Roundway's Magnum Bonum, 125; Rushock Pearmain, 233; Sack and Sugar, 81 ; St. Edmund's Pippin, 46, 94. 125 ; Sops in Wine, 81 ; Stoke Edith Pippin, 324 ; Winter Pearmain, 185 ; Winter Quoining, 201. Apples : dual-purpose, 23, 113, 157 ; Pearmiin, 303, 336; russet, 46, 94, 171 Aquatic and waterside plants, 293 Aquilegia Stuartii, 192, 234 Arbutus Menziesii, 41 Aristolochia gigas Sturtevantii, 184 Arnold Arboretum, disastrous storm at the, 13 Arran, island of, vegetation m, 13 Artichokes, Jerusalem, 33 Aster Porteri, 148 ; A. subcaeruleus, 148 Aucuba japonica, berries of, 148 Austen on fruit trees, 90 Award, new, of Garden Merit, 73 Azalea procumbens, 137 B vbiana stricta rubro-cyanea, 303 B ilfour. Sir Isaac Bavley, retirement of, 145, 161 Beaton, Donald, 196 Beccari, Dr. Odoardo (Asiatic Palms), 252 Beans, Runner, 185, 324, 335 Bedding out sixty years ago, 271 Bedding schemes, summer, 254, 333 Bee diseases, 145 B jgoaia Dregei, 209, 308 ; B.Froebelii ; 153 ; B. Gloire de Lorraine, 10 ; B. Martiana gracilis as a bedding plant, 95 Bagonias: forming bulbils at the axils of leaves, 36, 48, 56 ; winter- flowering, 48, 70 ; winter-flowering, at Steep Park, Jarvisbrook, Crow- borough, 34 Belgian Horticultural Society, a new, 85 Bilney, Mr. W. A., 122 Birches, Silver, at Warren House, Kingston, 79 Bird's method of obtaining nectar, 222 Birds in town gardens, 222 Birmingham Flower show, 238 Bishop's Park, Fulham, alterations at, 73 Bisset, the late Mr., 134 Blackberry, a late-fruiting, 50 Blinds for glasshouses, 202, 234 Bluebells and Lilac at Kew, 267 Books: gardening, and their dis- posal, 103 ; high prices for old garden, 307 Books, Notices o£ : Asiatic Palms (Dr. Odoardo Beccari), 252 ; Carna- tion Year Book, 133 ; Early British Trackways (Alfred Watlcins), 134 ; Flowering Plants of South Africa, 14, 191 ; Fruit, Flower and Vege- table Trades' Year Book, 13 ; Fungi (Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan), 38; Journal of the R.H.S. Gardens Club, 109; Kew Guild Journal, 122; Manual of the Trees of North America (Charles Sprague Sargent), 134 ; Orchard Fruit Tree Culture (F. J. Fletcher), 223 ; Practi- cal Gardening (If. P. Wright), 287 ; Review of Applied Mycology, 206 ; Rose Annual, 1922, 223; Soil conditions and Plant growth (E. J. Russell), 73 ; Sturtevant's Notes on Edible Plants (U. P. Hedrick), 15; Sweet Pea Annual, 1922, 1 ; Sweet Peas and How to Excel with them (H. J. Wright), 75 ; The Perpetual- Flowering Carnation (Montagu C. Allwood), 155. Bordeaux mixture, the effect of, on plant processes, 265 Border plants, thirteen good, 18 Box Hill, a large addition to, 38 Box trees at Box Hill, 199. Boy Gardeners' Club, 146 Brassavola, 183 Brasso-Cattleya Thorntonii alba, 149 Brasso-Laelio-Cattleya Jupiter, 323 BritishlEmpire exhibition of 1924, 266 Broadside, an Italian, 180 Brodiaea Bridgesii, 316 ; B. Howellii, 51 Bromeliads, 77 Bromelias, fibre from, 252 Brown, Mr. N. E., 190 ; honour for, 85 Bryophyllum calycinum, 142 Buckthorn, the Sea, 41 Bud variation in potatos, 334 Buildings, temporary war, in London's parks and open spaces, clearance of, 49 Bulb, a neglected, 225 Bulb garden, the, 3, 51, 135, 147, 195, 215, 225, 243, 253, 289, 303, 316, 331 Bulb growers, Dutch, in England, 13 Bulb land at Spalding, demand for, 97 Bulbophyllums with feathered lips,331 Bulbs, effect of last summer's drought on, 234 Cabbage : a disease-proof, 38 ; a good crop of Spring, 171 ; Spring, 118 Cabbage root maggot, control of the, 314 Cairns, Mr. John, 38 Cambridge Botanic Garden, 284 Cambridge Horticultural exhibition, 86 Campanula barbata, 129 ; C. raddeana, 148 Canadian City's Parks, British Superintendent for, 133 Cape Pelargonium! for summer bad- ding, 333 Cardamino rotundifolia, 191 Carnation Bis Greenfield, 158, 184, 234, 263 30S a. IV. The Gardeners' Chronicle INDEX June 24, 1922. Carnations for export, packing, 306 ; winter-flowering, 141 Caryopteris Mastacanthus, 167 Castanea sativa heterophylla, 5 Catalogues, appeal for, 286 Cattleya intermedia Aquinii and C. Dusseldorfei Aquinii, 301 Cedrus Libani, 56, 81, 111, 233 Celastrus angulatus, 270 Celeriac, 201 Celery, blanching, 171, 234 ; economy in the growth of, 171, 234 Centenarian widow of a gardener, 175 Cephalanthera rubra in Britain, 92 Ceratozamia mexicana, 209 Certificated Fruits and Vege- tables : — Apples : John Standish, 160 ; Laxton's Pearmain, 60; Peter Lock, 132 ; Broccolis, Alexandra, 95 ; April, 95 ; Champion, 95 ; Early Angers, 95 ; Early Feltham, 95; Eastertide, 95; Eclipse, 95; Edinburgh Mai ket, 95 ; Edmonton, 95 ; Evesham Giant, 95 ; June, 95 ; Late Queen, re-selected, 95 ; Lea- mington, 95 ; Reading Giant, 95 ; Snow White, 95; Spring White, 95 ; Swan, 95 ; White Emperor, 95; White Mammoth, 95; Cauliflowers : All the Year Round, 119; Autumn Giant, 119; Early Dwarf Erfurt, 119; Early Dwarf Midsummer, 119; Early Emperor, re-selected, 119; Earlv Favourite, 119; Empress, 119"; Feltham Forcing, 119; Improved Large Erfurt, 119: Incomparable, 119; Magnum Bonum, 119; Purity, 119; St. Omer, 119: Celery: Early Rose, 119; Golden Self- Blanching, 119 ; White Plume, 119 ; Orange, Seedless Washington Navel, 83 ; Tomato : Aviator, 119 ; Beatall, 119; Golden Nugget, 119; Hill- side Comet, 119; Kondine Red, 119; New Sceptre, 119 Certificated Plants : : Aeranthus (Angraecum) Leonis, 219 ; Angulo- caste Sanderae, 107 ; Asparagus Lewisii, 159 ; Auricula Glow, 235; Azalea Chicago, 219; A. Fraternite, 219; A. Frederick Engels, 219; A. Korang Yuki, 249 ; A Thomas More, 219 ; Aubrietia Maurice Prichard, 219 ; Begonia Lady Bell, 311 ; Bougainvillea Mrs. Butt, 187 ; Brasso-Cattleya Albion, 185 ; B.-C. Andre Maron, 308: B.-C. Hon. Mrs. Fitzroy, 308; B.-C. Joan var., Golden Aureole, 308; B.-C. Jupiter, Lady May Cam- bridge, 248 ; B.-C. Penelope var., rubra, 142 ; B.-C. Pink Pearl, 308; B.-C. Queen of England, 142; B.-C. Ruby var., Rosetti, 59 ; B.C. Rutherfordii The Dell var., 35 ; Brasso-Laelio-CattleyaCamada,107; B.-L.-C. Jupiter, His Majesty, 272 ; B.-L.-C. J. Jarvisbrook var., 272 B.-L.-C. Jupiter, var., Jove 308 ; B.-L.-C. Lady Rachel, 234; B.-L.-C. Lady Rachel var. Ivorine, 308; B.-L.-C. Truffautiana, Low's var., 219 ; Caladium Dr. Mar- cais, 310 ; C. l'Etendard, 310; Calanthe Harrisii, 11 ; Carnations : Atlantic, 143 ; Aviator, 172 ; Cream Saffron, 274 ; General Joffre, 172 ; Jazz, 172 ; Maine Sunshine, 172; Nigger, 143 ; Steerforth, 274 ; The Herald, 172; Toreador, 143, 172; Viceroy, 274; White Pearl, 172 ; Wivelsfield White, 143, 172 ; Catasetum Trulla, Dovercourt var., 219, 248 ; Cattleya Douai var. Our Princess, 142 ; C. D. var. Prince Henrv, 106 ; C. Dupreana alba, 185 ; C. Enid Colossus, 70 ; C. Irene var. Grandis, 308 ; C. I. West Point var., 237 ; C. Linda var. Radiance, 142 ; C. Tityus var. Evansiae, 142 ; C. T. var. Royalist, 248; C. T. var. The Emperor, 106; C. T. var. Wed- ding Bells, 107; C. Trianae var. Dreadnought, 142 ; Chimon- anthus fragans luteus grandiflorus, 63 ; Crocus speciosus, 165 ; C. Tommasinianus, 165 ; Croton M. Andre Thiebaut, 310 ; Cymbidium Alexanderi, Bolholt var., 185; C. A. var. Imperial Prince, 158, 235 ; C. A. var. Rajah, 185 ; C. A. Rosalind, 131 ; C. A. Westonbirt var., 131 ; C. Butterfly, 107 ; C. Castor, Bridge Hall var., 185 ; C. C. St. Mary's var., 185 ; C. C. var. claytoniensis, 186, 235 ; C. C. var. Primo, 142 ; C. Curlew var. Rosy Gem, 107 ; C. Dryad var. Silvarum, 142 ; C. eburneo-gigan- teum, 248; C. Elfln, 235; C. Garnet, 248 ; C. Kittiwake, 107 ; C. Mastersii, Cusson's var., 12 ; C. Miranda, 107 ; C. M. var. Bronze Beauty, 107 ; C. Nelly var. Golden Glow, 272 ; C. Nirvana, 142; C. Redstart, 107 ; C. Redstart var. Bright Eyes, 107 ; C. Schlegelii, Fowler's var., 82 ; C. Thrush, 107 ; Cvpripedium Aesmanii, 58 : C. Akar, 235 ; C. Alma var. Hilde- garde, 58 ; C. ambarleyense, 12 ; C. Argo var. March Along, 58 ; C. aure-Euryades var. Whitecap, 106; C. Bantive, 82; C. birkda- lense var. Chanticleer, 12 ; C. bourtonense, 58 ; C. Brilliantis- simum, 12 ; C. Challenger, 12 C. Conference magnificum, 82 ; C. Conquest var. compactum, 58 ; C. Cotswold, 82; C. Cyclops Westonbirt var., 58 ; C. Dalmatian, 11; C. Dulciora splendens, 58 ; C. Elise var. Grand Monarch, 11 ; C. Eurybiades Bedfordiae, 11 ; C. Gold Mohur, 235; C. Gratrixiae, 58 ; C. Grey Friar, 11 ; C. Hestia Edgemoor var., 106 ; C. var. Empress of India, 58 ; C. Idina Becton's var., 142 ; C. LordWolmer var. Arenea, 58 ; C. Lord Wolmer Westonbirt var., 70 ; C. memoria F.M. Ogilvie var. Invincible, 82 ; C. Merlene, 58 ; C. M. var. Golden Noble, 70; C. Monte, 12; C. Nellie Pitt, 35 ; C. Niobe Leeanum var. Tom Clare, 70 ; C. Odin, West Point var., 106 ; C. Olympas The Secretary, 235 ; C. Perseus Regina, 70 ; C. Piceaninii, 12 ; C. Porthos, 82 ; C. Pyramus West Point var. , 106; C. Roy Hartley, 12; C. Sanacderae Bedfordiae, 11 ; C. San Actaeus v :r. giganteum, 58 ; C. Thais, Edgemoor var., 235 ; C. Trebizona, 12 ; C. Verona var. Cyme, 82 ; C. Victor Hugo var. Little Gem, 142; C. Viking, 70; Dandrobium Ashworthiae Bed- ford's var., 248 ; D. Cybele album magnificum, 235 ; D. C. West Point var., 235 ; D. Dr. Hartlev, 185 ; D. Mrs. S. Gratrix, 235 ; D. nobile rotundum, 142 ; D. Perfection, 158 ; Dianthus Mascot, 311 ; Eriea carnea King George, 35 ; Erinacea pungens, 249 ; Eu- patorium Raffillii, 159 ; Freesia Wistaria, 131 ; Gloxinia Bacchus, 311; Hydrangea Parsifal, 274; H. Prof. Bois, 274 ; Iris Citronella, 311; I. Mile Schwartz, 309; I. ochracea coerulea, 311 ; I. Orestes, 274; I. Queen Mary, 309; I. Souvenir de Mma Gaudichau , 309 ; Laelio-Cattleya Aquitania, Sander's var., 185; L.-C. Elysian var. Solaris, 58 ; L.-C. General Allenby, 185 ; L.-C. Schroderae var. Prince Henry, 70; L.-C. Vesuvius var. flammaa, 308 ; Lupinus polyphyllus, Six HiUs Strain, 311; Lycaste Imschootiana, Bridge Hall var., 248 ; L. Lucianii, 35 ; L. plana Measuresiana, 185 ; L. Skinneri var. Apple Blossom, 142; L. S. Delight, 185; L. S. Goliath, 185 ; L. S. Lady Patricia Ramsay, 142 ; L. S. Our Princess, 106; L. S. Perfect Gem, 106; L. S. Princess Mary, 82 ; L. S. Purple Emperor, 142 ; L. S. Red Cap, 248; L. S. Symmetry, 142; Miltonia Lord ■ Lambourne, 83 ; Mimulus luteus flore pleno, 311 ; Narcissus Brightling, 220 ; N. Chinita, 220 ; N. Coronation, 234 ; N. Everest, 234 , N. Firetail, 249; N. Glorious, 234; N. Golden Pedestal, 187 ; N. Magnolia, 220 ; N. Mrs. Percy Neale, 234 ; N. Ma- gog, 187 ; N. Mountaineer, 220 ; N. Orange Glow, 220 ; N. Pelican, 249; N. Rob. Berkeley, 220; N. Sea Shell, 249 ; N. Silver Chimes, 187; N. Silver Salver, 249; N. Sunris-, 234; N. White Coral, 249; N. White Dame, 132; N. White Nile, 187 ; N. Xenophon, 220 ; Odontoglossum amabile Prin- cess, 106; O. Amber, 248; O. aspersum Hartley's var., 142 ; 0. Colossus, 308 ; O. Conqueror var. Illustrious, 308 ; 0. orispum Athertoniae, 235 ; 0. o. Astraea, 185; O. c. Brunhilda, 185 ; O. c. Cygnet' 235 ; 0. c. Earl Balfour, 308 ; O. c. Hero, 59, 82 ; O. c. Iron Duke, 234; O. c. Lord Darby, 82; O. c. majesticum, 185 ; 0. c. Marlind, 185; O. e. Mary Regina, 308; O. c. Medusae, 12' ; O. c. Noel, 58 ; O. c. Queen of the May, 308 ; O. c. R->mao, 82 ; O. c. Rivalry, 235 ; O. o. West Point Elegance, 248 ; O. c. West Point Monarch, 185 ; O. c. X.L. All, 70; O. Dodeham magnificum, 82 ; 0. Doraq, 248 ; O. Doreen var. Queen of the Belgians, 308 ; O. Duke of Clarence, 248 ; O. Duke of York, 235 ; O. eximium rotundum, 308 ; 0. e. var. Mabel, 186 ; 0. Faustina Claygate Lodge var., 272 ; O. Garnet, 158 ; O. Iphis, 106 : O. Ithone Edgemoor var., 11 ; O. leightmense, 58 ; O. Llewellyn var. Mrs. Hanmer, 235; O. Lobbiae, 82 ; O. Orestes var. Mary, 106 ; O. Pescatorei alba Haddon House var., 248 ; O. P. Gratrixiae, 308 ; O. P. Rex, 185 ; O. Princess Mary, 11 ; O. Purple Emperor, 272; O. St. Edmund, 11; O. St. Gaorge var. Brilliant, 248 ; O. Thwaitesii Hartley's var., 185 ; 0. Wilckeanum aureum, 82 ; Odontioda Alcantara, Beardwood var., 185 ; O. Alcazar, 235 ; O. Antinous, 59 ; O. Bradshawiae var. Brilliant, 106 ; 0. Cissie, 107 ; O. Cilleham flammea, 235 ; 0. Cora, 83; 0. Cordor, 59; O. Evelyn, Edgemoor var., 248 ; O. Hanmerae, 82 ; O. Hypatia, West Point var., 248 ; O. Joyce var. Milky Way, 185 ; O. Juno, 185 ; O. Latona var. lilacina, 107 ; O. Laura superba, 235; O. Opal, 131 ; O. Orange King, 272 ; O. Radiant, 272; O. Sultan, 248; 0. Thalia, 35 ; O. Venus, 107 ; O. Viscount Lascelles, 82 ; O. Wilsonii var. Sunbeam, 142 ; Odon- toma Charlesworthii Bedford's var., 58 ; O. Merope var. vivicans, 310 ; Oncidioda Stuart Low, 186 ; Papa- ver orientale Thora Perry, 311 ; Pelargonium Sir Percy Blakeney, 274 ; Pieris taiwanensis, 131 ; Pinks : Bridesmaid, 274 ; Lord Lambourne, 274 ; Red Indian , 274 ; Potentilla f rutioosa var. Farreri, 311 ; Potinara Juliettae, 107, 185 ; Primrose Clarkson, 235 ; Primula fasciculata, 249 ; P. George, 235 ; P. Lingwood Beauty, 235 ; P. malacoides Princess Mary, 83 ; P. obconica Salmon Queen, 274 ; Pyrethrum Eileen May Rob- inson, 311 ; Pyrus Eleyi, 249 ; Rhododendron Aurora, 219 ; R- Coalition, 274 ; R. Falconeri, 274 ; R. Geoffrey Millais, 274 (see p. 299); R. Norman Gill, 274; R. Robert Fortune, 274; R. orbiculare, 274 ; R. sino-grande; 249; R. Souv. de D. A. Koster, 219 ; Roses ; Elsie Baekwith, 216 , Mrs. Hornby Lawis, 216 ; Souvenir de Claudius Pernet, 186 ; Sovereign, 216; White Ophelia, 249 ; Saxifraga hybrida Gam, 159 ; Sophro-Cattleya Prince Shimadzu, 131 ; S.-C. Saxe West Point var., 214 ; Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya Ade- lina var. Doraballa, 235 ; S.-L.-C. Falcon, We3tonbirt var., 131 ; S.-L.-C. King George, 158 ; S.-L.-C. Mars, 107; S.-L.-C. Samuel Gratrix, 142 ; Sophronitis grandiflora Bed- ford's var., 248 ; Stellera Chamae- jasme, 274; S .reptoearpus Sut- ton's Giant Blue, 219; Telopia speciosissima, 274 ; Tulips: Carrara, 280 ; Dido, 280 ; Fantasy, 280 ; Phemis, 280 Certificate in horticulture, 298 Chamber of Horticulture ; annual meeting and dinner, 176, 248 Charlock, destruction of, by spraying, 221 Cheiranthus mutabilis, second flower- ing of, 23 Chelsea show, 251, 272 ; an Amen-_ can's impression of the, 292 Chestnut Sunday, 284 Chicago, a new park for, 37 Chimonanthus fragans luteus grandi- florus, 63 Chionodoxas, 253 Chrysanthemums : A. S. Watt, 39 > Helen Margerison, 39 ; Majestic. 39; Mrs. Chas. Davis, 39; Mrs. Chas. H. Curtis, 39; Mrs. Gao. Monro, 39 ; Mrs. H. E. Dixon, 39 ; Mrs. Peter Murray, 39; Mrs. Spencer Chichester, 39 ; Mrs. T. J. Fleming, 39 ; Prince Albert, 39 ; Rosemary Simmons, 39 ; Shirley Golden, 39; Victory, 39 ; Viscount Chinda, 39 Chrysanthemum? : early-flowering, 156 ; early flowering, for garden decoration, 168 ; late-flowering, 27; some of the newer, 39. Cirencester Agricultural College, re opening of, 284. Claremont, sale oi, 175. Clematis, 270 ; C. macropetala, 1 1 1 Climbers : Chinese, at Aldenham, 270, 305 ; for the greenhouse, blue flowering, 305 Club for boy gardeners, 146 Club for farmers, horticultural, 26 Coal gas, harmful effect of on plants, 297 Cocculus variabilis, 270 Codiaeum Disraeli, 292 Codiaeums, 291 Coelogyne pandurata and its hybrids, 301 Colchester munificent gifts to, 25 Cone, a proliferous, 237 Corydalis nobilis, 192; C. solida, 163 Covent Garden Estate, sale of a por- tion of, 252 Covent Garden Flower Market stands, rent of, 146 Crab, the Bechtel, 313 Crabs, ornamental flowering, 253 Crocus aerius, 51 ; C. species, 126 June 24, 1922. INDEX The Gardeners' Chronicle. V. C. speciosus, 165 ; C. Tommasin- ianus 165; C. vitellinus, 51 Crocuses, awards to, 165 Crown-gall, notes on the control of nursery stock against, 198 Cultural memoranda, 23, 55. 170, 316 Currant, Black, cuttings, 22 Cyananthus lobatus, 255 Cyclamen latifolium in the United States, 68 Cydonia Maulei, a new value of, 63 Cymbidiums : at Westonbirt, 192 ; hybrid, 183 ; hybrid, the cultiva- tion of, 259 Cypress, the Monterey, 213 Cypripedium Charles Puddle, 116 ; C. Idina, Beckton's var., 127 -.JC. Lawrenceanum Hyeanum, 75 Cypripediums, colour and form in, 99: new, 51 Daffodil society, proposed national, 109 122 Dahlias, 323 ; in America, 190, 265 Daisies (Chrysanthemum maximum), 326 Damsons, 11 Darwen, horticultural show at, 221 Davidia involucrata, 293 Dendrobium Ashworthiae and allied species, 241 ; D. atroviolaceum, 241 • D. Hodgkinsonii, 241 ; D. John- soniae, 241 ; D. Madonnae, 241 ; D. Phalaenopsis Schroderiana, 241; D. spectabile, 241 Dendrobiums of the D. Phalaenopsis group, 301 Derby, a new park for, 206 Deutzia, 123 Dianthus Spencer Bickham, 211 Dickson, Mr. Alexander, 14 Dipelta, 123; D. floribunda, 321 Diseases, loss of crop due to plant, 315 Divers, Mr. W. H., 134 Do plants know time ? 31, 47, 95, 118, 158, 172, 189, 202, 216, 247 Douglas Fir seeds as gifts to France and Great Britain, 175 Dracaenas, 154. Dragea sinensis, 270 Drought and root-growth, 13 Drought of 1921 and its effect on garden plants, 8, 18, 32, 44, 56, 80, 105, 172, 286, Drynham, dry wall gardening at, 191 ; spring flowers at, 148 Dry wall gardening, 191 Dutch bulb growers in England, 13 Edinburgh Botanic Garden, 205 ; new Regius Keeper of the, 189 ; Narcissus cyclamineus at, 195 Edinburgh Parks, annual inspection of, 206 Edinburgh proposed new park for, 145 Edmonton to Peace River and North- West Territories, 266 Egg plant, the scarlet Tomato- fruited, 10 Elliott, Mr. Clarence, 176 Entertainment tax and flower shows, 176 Epidendrum Endresii, 208 Epigaea repens, 225 Eranthemum pulchellum, 225 Estate nursery and plantation com- petitions in Scotland, 37 Eucalyptus, the genus, 133 Euonymus, 123 Exacum macranthum, 104 Exochorda Albertii, 10, 47 Fairohild lacture, 253 Farmer, Prof. J. B., honour for, 146 Farrer's, thelate Mr. Reginald, second exploration in Asia, 66, 90, 126 Fibre from Bromelias, 252 Ficns stipulata, 308 Fire blight. 313 Fletcher, F. J., {Orchard Fruit Tree Culture), 223 Florists' Flowers, 6, 27, 397, 192 Flower garden, the, 4, 17, 28, 40, 52, 64, 77, 88, 100, 112, 124, 136, 150, 164, 194, 178, 210, 226, 242, 256, 268, 288, 302, 318, 332 Flower paintings : at the Brook Street Art Gallery, 97 ; at the Royal Academy, 300 Flower show abandoned, 133, 206 Flower shows and the entertainment tax, 85 Flowers, French import tax on English, 313 Flowers in season, 74, 85, 238 Food exhibition at Olympia, 49 Food of the Teredo, 190 Foreign correspondence, 135, 286 Forestry, 156, 166, 300 ; at Aberdeen University, 162 Forsythia suspensa var. atrocaulis, 167 ; F. intermedia var. specta- bilis, 167 Fragrance, what is ? 46 Fraser, Mr. J., 110 Freesias : breaking in, 255, 319 ; coloured, 147 French Chrysanthemum Society, 86, 299 French flower growers' visit to London, 251 Fruit-cages, roofing of garden, 158, 184, 202, 216, 308 Fruit and Potato traders, 121 Fruit crops, the Queensland, 97 Fruit garden, hardy, 4, 16, 28, 40, 64, 76, 89, 100, 113, 124, 136, 151, 164, 178, 195, 210, 227, 242, 247, 256, 268, 288, 302, 318. 332 Fruit garden, the market, 22, 69, 116, 181, 245, 324 Fruit prospects, 324 Fruit register. 11, 57, 69, 94, 81, 113, 125, 136, 157, 171, 185, 201, 233, 247, 306. 324, 336 Fruit show at Hereford in 1922, commercial, 37 Fruit show, Imperial, 49 Fruits, gold medal exhibit of hardy, at Worcester, 57 Fruit trees in pots damaged by voles, 34, 47, 95, 118, 142 Fruits under glass, 5, 16, 28, 41, 52, 65, 76, 88. 101, 112, 124, 137, 150, 165, 179, 194, 210, 226, 242, 256, 268, 288, 302, 318, 332 Fuchsia splendens, 181 Fuel for heating greenhouses, a new kind of, 106, 135, 142 Funkias, 3 ; for shady positions, 34 Galanthus Ikariae, 147 Galtonia candicans, 215 Gardeners' Chronicle, seventy-five years ago, 2, 14, 26, 38, 50, 62, 74, 86, 98, 111, 122, 134, 147, 163, 177, 191, 206, 222, 239, 253, 267, 285, 299, 315, 330 Gardener's Company, 329 Gardeners, legacies to, 14, 62, 74, 162, 190, 266, 314, 330 Garden hints, 86 Garden notes from South-West Scot- land, 335 Gardens at the Ideal Home exhibition, 130 Garrya elliptica, 257 Garton, Mr. John, honour for, 146 Gentian, a new tree, 190 Gentiana acaulis, 303 ; G. lutea, 47 Geum reptans, 66 ; in its natural habitat, 177 Ghent Quinquennial exhibition, 206 Gibbs, the Hon. Vicary, 26 Gladiolus, a new, from S. Africa, 49 Gladioli : in America, 17 ; planting, 103 Glasgow International Flower show, 162 Glories of the Snow, a note on the, 253 Gloxinia, 7, 95 ; the drooping- flowered, 55 Gooseberry mildew, American, 176 Grape : Canon Hall Muscat, failure of, 130 ; Gros Colman at Nymans, Handcross, 34 Grape room at Tewin Water, 43 Grape Vine, the, 215, 232, 246, 262, 335 Grapes, the setting of Muscat, 263 Grass seed, sowing lawn, 34 Gravetye Manor, Forest Ramblers Club at, 329 Gray, Mr. John, 184 Greenhouse, hothouse and stove, the, 78 Greenhouses, blinds for, 234 Greenland, the flora of, 134 Green manuring, 298, 329 Grevillea asplenifolia, 181 Grimoux, M. Le Loup, honour for, 74 Gypsopbila paniculata, 319 H HiBRANrHtTS P.IATEN3IS, 233, 239 Hague, exhibition at the, 218 Hailstorms, severe damage by, 283 Hardening plants, 251 Hardy flower border, 149, 177, 191, 240, 319 Hedge trimming competition, 121 Hedrick, U. P. {Slurtemnt's Notes on Edible. Plants), 15 Hedge-Nettle, the Corsican, 111 Hedychium, a new, 209 ; H. deceptum, 209 Henderson, the late Andrew, 23 Henderson, the late William, 296 Herbaceous borders, 89 Herbaceous plants, some suggestions for planting, 89 Herbarium, sale of a famous, 330 Hill, Dr. A. W., 98 Hippeastrum, 243 Holboellia coriacea, 270 Holland County Potato show, 109 Holland, the bulb farms of, 190 Holmes, Mr. E. M., accident to, 50 Holyrood Palace, decorations at, 284 Hopetoun House gardens, 25 Horseradish, 171 Horticultural industry, importance of the, 237 Horticulture, British, and Quaran- tine Order, No. 37, 162, 222, 284 Horticulturists, honours for, 298 Hyacinths, forced, 184 Hyde Park, spring flowers in, 266 Hydrangeas, 123 ; in tubs, 87 Hypericum patulum Henryi, 123 Ideal Home Exhibition, 86 ; gar . dens at the, 130 Ilex, 123 Imperial fruit show, a Canadian im- pression of the, 49 " Index Kewensis," 25 India, popular flowers in, 267 Indoor plants, 7, 77, 104, 154, 181 , 259, 315, 334 Insects beneficial in the garden, 238 International Commercial Horticul- tural Conference, 62, 207, 230 Invalids, horticultural, 122 Inventions, new horticultural, 12, 48, 108, 174, 282, 328 Ionopsidiuni acaule, 192 Ipomaea rubro-caorulea, 135, 202 Ireland, notes from, 32, 285 Iris Conference, 266, 325 ; in Paris, 2, 162, 190, 308 Iris, the cult of the, 314 Iris unguicularis, 10, 158, 184 Irises : Bearded, 117 ; garden, 118 ; i America, 314 " IsabeUe," 23, 47, 56, 91 Joshua, Miss L. H, appointment of, 'at Swanley Horticultural College, 13 " Journal of Pomology " and horti- cultural science, 297 " Kalendarium Universale, or The Gardener's Universal Calendar, etc.," 184 Keeble, Prof. F. W., honour for, 298 Kew gardens : Bluebells and Lilac at , 267 ; notes from, 87 ; Royal visit to, 265 ; the Director of, 85 ; Whit-Monday at, 298 Kew Guild : annual meeting and dinner, 297 Kirk, the late Sir John, 26 Kirton, experiments and demonstra- tions at, 221 Kitchen garden, the, 4, 16, 29, 41, 53, 64, 76, 88, 101, 112, 125, 136, 150, 164, 178, 194, 210, 226, 242, 256, 268, 289, 303, 319, 332 Knight, Thomas Andrew, as a pomo- logist, 201 Kolkwitzia amabilis, 123 Kralage, Mr. Ernst H., 222 Ladds, Mr. Frank, 2 Laelio-CattleyaMelita, 287 ; L-C.Sol, 149 Larches, giant, 213, 294 ; the Amis- ton, 258 ; The Dunkeld, 337 Lardizabala biternata, 23 La Soeiete Lyonnaise d'horticulturc, 25 Lectures at Aberdeen, 109 ; at Glas- gow, 74 Leeds Chrysanthemum Show, 146 Le Mans international Show, 86 Lept03permum Seoparium, 123 Libonia floribunda, 70 Ligustrum Delavayanum at Alden- ham House, 179 Lilacs, new, 298 Lilies for greenhouse decoration, 203 ; in 1921, 228 Liliurn testaceum, 3, 34, 118 Lime-sulphur, 110 Linaria dalmatica, 240 Litho3permumpetraeum, 319 ; L. ros- marinifolium, 99 " Loder " Rhododendron cup, 244 Long Ashton, tasting day at, 262 Lonicera Maackii, 137; L tragophylla, 270 Lysimachia, 177 M MacLaren, Mr. B. H., 62 Magnolia Soulangeana, 308 Magnolias, 21 Manse garden, the, 320 Manuring, the value of green, 29S, 329 Markham, Mr. H., 50 Medal awards, the R.H.S., 146 Medals, theft of horticultural. 2S.> Melons. 23 ; wilt in, 10, 34, 81, 118 Mescmbryanthomum and some new trenera separated from it, 9, '2~. H. 55, 65, 80, 92, 105, 129, 151, 198. 214, 231, 261, 307 Mice and voles, trapping, 106 Michaelmas Daisies, 89 ; wilt, diseas • of, 63 Ministry of Agriculture, war memo rial at the, 2 Mistloto, 23 ; on an Aim Mid, 106 VT The Gardeners' Chronicle. INDEX June 24, 192:. " Monro" concert, the, 86 Monro, Mr. George, presentation to, 248 Moore, Sir Frederick, retirement of, 252, 322 Moyne's, Jacques le, botanical draw- ings, the discovery of some of, 44 Musa Cavendishii, 106, 142, 202, 234, 263, 308 Musselburgh public park, handsome bequest for, 25 Mutisia decurrens, 286 Mycorrhiza plants, notes on, 102, 152 Myrtus Luna, 317 N Narcissus cyclamineus at Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, 195 ; N. President Viger, 243 ; N. Silver Chimes, 195 National Auricula Society, jubilee of the, 162 National Chrysanthemum Society's outing, 313' National Daffodil Society, a proposed, 109, 122 National Dahlia Society, new secre- tary of the, 50 National Institute of Agricultura Botanv, 26, 74, 109 ; fellowship of the, 49 Nettles, dietetic and medicinal value of, 170, 232 Nicotiana, 177 Nicotine, substitute for, 247, 324 Nierembergia rivularis, 87 Nursery Notes : G. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone. 45 ; Perry Amos, Enfield, 336 ; Sutton ' & Sons, Reading. 93 Nursery trade, the U.S.A., 146 Oak bark, stripping and harvesting, 300. Oak, the dwarf or scrub, 257. Obituary :— Bain. William, 96 ; Barnard, Harrv A., 143; Battram, E. H., 119; "Bavin, W. H., 48 ; Bisset, William Edward, 12 ; Bottomley, Prof. W. B., 160 : Boulger, Prof. George Simonds. 250 ; Carruthers, Dr. William, 312 ; Carter.yW, 36; Christie, Alexander Davidson, 296; Clarke, F., 328; Clarke, W. H., 132; Cobb, Walter, 220; Collins, Luke, 174; Crow- der, W. A, 143; Dickson, Hugh, 312 ; Fleet, Dr. W. Van, 119 ; Garton, J., 282 ; Harcourt, Vis- count, 119; Harlev, Dr. John 12 ; Hassall, A, 338 ; Henderson, Wm., 296 ; Irvine, Alexander Forbes, 250 ; Kirk, Sir John, 26 ; Luizet, Gabriel, 263 ; Mackenzie, Osgood, H., 220; Murrell, P.., 36 ; Nash, George V., 60 ; Neve, Mrs., 296 ; Nutting, Thomas, 60 ; Osburne, Dr. Cecil A. P , 60 ; Page John, 119; Parkin, William, 338; Russell, Francis Peckham, 119;. Shaqie, George Baxter, 12 ; Smith, John, 84 ; Tisdale, Samuel, 96 ; Tough, George, 108 ; Wag- horn, W., 187; Walsh, Michael H., 236; Williamson, Hugh. 144 ; Willingham. Charles, 144 Wright. Samuel Thomas, 236, 237 Odontioda Heniyi, OrcMdhurst- variety, 271 ; 0. Louisa, 20 Odontoglossum Belenus, 127; O. Ithone var. Papillon, 20 ; 0. Purple Queen, 271 Odontoglossums with branched spikes, 140 Olearia stellulata, 99 Olympia, food exhibition, at, 49 Orchid houses, the, 4, 17, 28, 40, 52, 64, 76, 88, 100, 112, 124, 136, 150, 164, 178, 194, 210, 226, 242, 256, 268, 288, 302, 318, 332 Oncidioda Stuart Low, 149 Onoidium ornithorhynchum, 10 . Onions, 118 " Orchard and Fruit garden," 138 Orchards, pigs in, 116 Orchid: a new multi-generic hybrid, 98 ; hybrids, 20, 51, 92, 140', 183, 208, 323; mycorrhiza. 98, 183, 200: notes and gleanings, 3, 20, 51, 75, 92, 99, 116, 127, 140, 149.5183, 208. 241, 271, 301. 323, 331 Orchids, albinism among, in nature, 75 ; at the Warren House, 208 : carriage of, by passenger train. 14 : in hot weather, 287 : jewel, 92 ; of 1921, 3: rare British, 10; re- potting, 331 ; resting, 208 ; scale insects on, 183 Ormskirk Potato show, 162 Ornithogalum nutans. 225, 331 " Orr's Flower Garden," 30, 193, 247, 263 PiEONiA Mlokosewttschii, 149, 172 Palm, the many uses of a single. 314 Palms of the Riviera, 29, 67, 153, 317 Paper as a mulching material, 86 Parasites, facultative, 313 Paris, Iris conference in, 162, 190. 308 Parrotia persica, 74, 99 Passports for plants, 224, 246 Peach trees, leaf curl, of, 298 the training of, 170 Pears : Conference, 11 ; The Blickling, 69 Pears, some good late, 11 Peas, main crop, 94 Pedicularis, new species of, 265 Pelargoniums, Cape, 333 : zonale. 334 Perennials, raising, from seed, 55 Pests, prize for exterminating forest. 315 Phacelia campanularia 95 Phloxes, seedling, 27 Phytolacca clavigera, 39 Pieris taiwanensis, 139 Pines, seedling, for room decoration, 77, 148 Pinks as an edging for borders, 77 Pinus canariensis, seedlings of, 77, 148; P. patula, 181, 227 Piptanthus concolor, 137 Piric, Mr. W. G., 330 Plane, the western. 21 Plantations, natural reproductions of, 166 Plant breeding in California, 113 Plant conference at Washington, 252 Plant names, catalogue of standard- ised, 109, 190 Plant processes, the effect of bor- deaux mixture on, 265 Plant sensitiveness, 283 Plants, New or Noteworthy : — Agapetes macrantha, 101 : Cera* tozamia mexicana, 209 ; Chimon- anthus fragans luteus grandiflorus, 63; Clematis macropetala, 111; Dipelta floribunda, 321 ; Hedy- chium deccptum (see also p. 163), 209; Pseonia Mlokosewitschii, 149, 172 ; Pieris taiwanensis, 139 ; Populus x generosa, 321 ; Rhododendron Fargesii. 239 ; R. oreodoxa, 239 ; praeteritum, 149 ; R. Sino-grande, 291, 298 ; Steudnera discolor, 101 Plants : failure of southern, to colonise in the northern hemisphere, 245, 270 293 ; for the waterside, 293 ; northern and southern, 245 ; on "hardening," 251, 319; raising conservatory, from seed, 56, 68 : raising spring bedding, from seed, 239 ; small decorative, for furnish- ing. 240 ; some old favourite garden, 225 ; suitable for naturalis- ing by shady woodland walks and dells, 154 ; thirteen good border, 18; under glass, 4, 16, 28, 52, 64, 76, 88, 100, 112. 124, 136, 150, 164, 178, 194, 211, 226, 243, 257, 268, 288, 302, 318, 332 Platanus occidentalis, 21 Plum Aphis, leaf-curling, 337 Plum crop, prospects of the, 244 Plum Rivers' Late Orange, 125 Plums : self-sterility in, 201 ; silver- leaf in, 69 ; Pond, freeing a, from weeds, 10 " Popular Gardening," 133 Populus X generosa, 321 Potato show at Ormskirk, 162 Potato, the origin of the, 37 Potato trade, the Jersey, 100 years ago, 265 Potatos : Crusader, 81 ; Di. Vernon. 53 Katie Glover, 53 ; K. of K„ 50 Potatos, 53 ;l bud variation in, 334 ; curl in, 128 ; Sweet, in Queensland, 2 ; the probbm of immunity to wart disease in, 104 ; trials of, 110, 121, 189 ; prizes for, 222 ; wart disease of, 162 Potinara, a new multi-generic hybrid Orchid. 98 Pot plan's by passenger train, conveyance of, 284 Prain, Sir David, retirement of, 26, 85 Primrose, the wild Chinese, 87 Primroses, the Spetchtey, 240 Primula grandis, 104 ; P. JuliseandP. acaulis, hybrids of, 145 ; P. limnoica, 31 ; P. ob3onica, 308 ; P. sinensis, 181 Primulas, progress in, 93 Produce, the marking of foreign, 133 Promenaea, 183 Primus amvgdalus macrocarpa, 271 Publications received, 26, 38, 62, 74, 86, 98, 110, 134, 147, 163, 177, 191, 206, 222, 239, 253. 267, 285, 299 Purdom, Mr. William, the late, 14 Pyracantha crenulata var. yunnanen- sis, 87 Pyrus latifolia, 87 Quaratine Order No. 37, and British Horticulture, 162, 222, 284 Queensland, fruit crops in, 97 ; Sweet Potatos in, 2. Raisfall : at Tirley Garth Gardens, 26 ; in Central Wales, 184 ; in South Wales, January and Feb- ruary, 142 Raspberry Pyne's Royal, 157 Rats, exterminating, 37 Recreation grounds, new public, 313 Rents in Covent Garden Flower market, 146 Rhododendron campanulatum, 300 ; R. Fargesii, 239; R. Geoffrey Millais, 299 ; R. hippophaeoides, 87 ; R. orbiculare, 299 ; R. oreo- doxa, 239 ; R. praeteritum, 149 ; R. Princess Alice, 315 ; R. sino- grande, flowering of, 291, 298, 330, 337 ; R. sutchuenense, 227 Rhododendron cup, the Loder, 244 Rhododendrons, 42, 70, 87 Rhododendron seedlings : Chinese, and lime, 10 ; in Moss, raising, 172 Rhubarb exhibition, 86 Rock and formal gardens at Chelsea show,, 26 Roof gardens, American, 176 Root restriction and fruitfulness, 145 Rose, a new, 134 Rose garden, the, 140, 245, 333 Roses and Carnations, the effect of acid phosphate on the flowering of, 314 Roses, early-flowering rambler, 333 Roupala Pohlii, 334 Royal Academy, floral pictures at the, 301 Royal Botanic Society : Gardens of the, 62 ; School of Gardming, 206 Royal Gardens, Kew. 146 Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund, 82, 163; Festival Dinner, 238 Royal Horticultural Society, 61 ; examinations, 85 ; Daffodil show, , 172 ; Msdal awards, 146 R.H.S. Gardens' Club Journal, 109; Russell, Dr. E. J., 73 ; (.Soil Conditions and Plant Growth), 74 ; honour for, 298 Sr. Lucia, 98 Salvia. 193 ; S. leucantha, 29 Smguinaria canadensis, 319 Sircococcus, 213 Sirgent, Charles Sprague (Manuel of the Trees of North America), 134 Sirra33nias, 334 Savoie, the trees and shrubs of, 212 Sixifraga aspera, 225 ; S. corio- p'lylla, 211 S;iadipityj, a proliferous cons of, 247 Sebnbifie Cermiittss : — A-batus Unedo in flower, 48 ; Begonia Gloire de Lorraine damaged, 48 ; Lilies, winged seeds of, 48 ; Plums, hybrid, 95 ; Quercus coccifera. 95 S-o'lani, garden notes from S. W3St, 335 Scottish Forestry Commission's work, 109 S ^uteUaria costaricana, 334 S >dum caeruleum, 192 Seedlings, effect of "drip" on, 294 Seedsman's broadside, a, 54 S ^sd sowing, 316 Shambrook, Mr. A, presentation to, 73 S'linfield, dry season at, in 1921. 14 Shrewsbury flower show, 85 ; profits from, 238 Shrubs, Chinese, at Aldenham, 114, 123, 137, 179. 199, 213 Silene Schafta, 75 Silver leaf disease, 176 Sitka Spruce in Sussex, 79 Snowdrops, early, 25 Societies : — Association of Economic Biologists, 25, 72, 74, 131, 203, 238, 329 ; Bath and West and Southern Ceunties, 266, 310 ; J British Carna- tion, 62, 72, 143 ; British Florists' Federation, 47 ; British Mycolo- gical, 25, 71, 172; Cardiff Gar- deners', 95, 173 ; Deeside Fie'd Club, 235 ; Didsbury and District Hort., 96 ; East Anglian Hort., 96, 235 ; Elstree and District Hort., 71 ; Falmouth spring show, 235; Federation Horticole Profession- als Internationale, 218 ; Garden- ers' Rjyal Benevolent Institution, 13, 58, 85 ; Gaildford and District C.irys., 62 ; Horticultural Club, 23S, 294 ; Huntingdonshire Daffo- dil, 187 ; Manchester and North of Eigland Orchid, 11, 58, 70, 82, 185, 215, 245, 3J3; Mmehester Parks Horticultural Debating, 237 ; Mid- land Daffodil, 217, 234; National Chrysanthemum, 49, 82, 297 ; National Dahlia, 37, 72, 233 National Rdso, 14, 35, 216 ; Nitional Tulip, 206, 296 ; National Viola and Pansy, 263, 328 ; Nether- lands Horticultural and Botanic (jubilee). 222 ; Norfolk and Nor- wich Hort., 58 ; North of England Horticultural, 162 ; Perthshire and Forfarshire Fruit Growers, 24 ; Reading and District Gardeners', 173, 203 ; Royal Caledonian Hori- cultural.t 47, 96, 142, 203, 263; Royal Horticultural, 35, 48, 59, 83, 95, 119, 131, 158, 172, 186, 249, 272, 295, 310 ; Royal Horti- June 24, 1922. INDEX of Aberdeen, 70, 329; Royal Horticultural of Ireland, 203 : Royal Scottish Arboricultural , 47, 337 ; Societe Nationale d'Horticulture de France, 309; United Horti- cultural Benefit and Provident. 36, 96,143, 204. 263, 337; Wakefield and Northern Tulip, 162 ; Watford Hort., 24, 71 ; Yorkshire Gala, 326 330. Solandra grandiflora, 259 Soldiers, "" blinded, as garden-net makers, 162 Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya Eileen, 51 Spinach, New Zealand, 324 Spray-gun, the, 244 Spraying a neighbour's plants, 158 Spraying trees from an aeroplane, 49 330. Spring, a late, 221 Spring bedding schemes, 197 Spring flowers, 211 Squirrels, grey, in Kensington Gar- dens, 145 Staking, 121 Stapelia gigantea, 106 ; S. holocarpa, 137 Stellera Chamaejasme, 299 Steudnera discolor, 101 Stevenson, Mr. and Mrs. J. B., golden wedding of, 176 Stocks, doubling in, 10, 46 Stocks, East Lothian, 240 Stomata, influences affecting the functioning of, 146 Stranvaesia Davidiana, 213 Strawberries : earliest out-door, 284 ; some experiments with, 57 Sugar, home-grown, 190 Summer bedding schemes, 254 Summertime, 85. 133, 234 Sutton and Sons' Primulas. 93 Swanley Horticultural College, ap- pointment at, 13 Sweet Pea, Mascotts Ingman, 15 Sweet Peas, 192 Swift, Mr. G-, presentation to, 134 Tasmanian visitor, a, 175 Taxation concessions, 221 Tax on English flowers, French import, 313 Tecophilaea Leichtlinii, 135 Tewin water, the Grape room at, 43 Thefts at a nursery, 2 " The Flower Garden," 30 Thompson's " Gardener's Assistant," 202 Tirley Garth Gardens, rainfall at, 26 Tomato Victory, 130 Tomatos, British-grown, 330 ; sleepy disease of, 25 ; wart disease of, 62. Tool, a new planting, 293 Topiary as an aid to advertising, 106 Trade notes, 12, 36, 60, 120, 144, 174, 187, 282 Trail, Prof, memorial to the late, 161 Trees and shrubs, 5, 21, 41, 79, 87, 99, 111, 123, 137, 148, 167, 181, 227, 257, 271, 300, 317 Trees and shrubs of Savoie, 212 Trevoria chloris, 323 Trichosma suavis, 183 Trillium undulatum, 243 Triteleia uniflora, 195, 331 Tulip Carrara, 326; T. Fantasy, 319. Turnip gall weevil, 146 Tulips, branched, 319 ; Darwin, May-flowering and cottage, ex- hibition of, 206; the Florists', 37, 128. 140, 155, 169 ; notes on, 269 ; the behaviour of in 1922, 316 up Ulmus campestris pyramidalis, 227 Urceolina pendula, 315 U.S.A. nursery trade, 146 Vegetaiies. C4,'ll8, 171, 185, 201, 324. 335, the genetics of, 146 Vegetation in the Island of Arran, 13 Veronica diosmifolia, 209 ; V. Hulk- eana as a pot plant, 259 ; V. spec- iosa, 209 Veronicas : and Lilies as greenhouse plants, 247 ; two useful, 209, 247 Vine, the, 215, 232, 246, 262, 335 Vines, cyaniding, 170 Viola trials at Wisley, 2 Violets in frames, 158 Voles, 34, 47, 95, 118, 142, 157, 184 W Walks, on edging, 168 Walnut, the Fern-leaved, 5 Ward's, Mr. Kingdon, sixth explor- ation in Asia, 6, 30, 115, 138, 166, 196, 229, 260, 290, 321 Ward's, Mr. Kingdon, seventh ex- pedition in Asia, 121 The Gardeners' Chronicle. VII. War memorial at the Ministry <>f Agriculture, 2 Warren House, Orchids at the, 208 Washington, plant conference at, 252 Water levels, underground, 266 Watei works, the biology of, 61 Watkins, Alfred (Early British Track- ways), 134 Westonbirt, Cvmbidiums at, 192 White fly, 294, 319 , White. Mr. E., 146 Whit-Monday at. Kew, 298 Williamson, Miss M., presentation to. 252 Wilson, Mr. J. G., retirement of, 176 Wimbledon Common, extension of, 190 Wimbledon tennis courts, Silloth turf for, 61 Windsor Rose show, postponement of, 297 Wisley : notes from, 19, 70, 111. 16S, 224, 267, 331 ; trial of Salpiglossis at. 238; trial of Violas at, 2 ; visit of biologists to, 329 Woolly aphis, or American blight, 33 Worms, white, 305 Wright, H. J. (Sweet Peas and How to Excel with (hem), 75 Wright, the late Mr. S. T., 236, 237 329 Wright, W. P. (Practical Gardening), 287 Yeld, Mr. George, 266 Yorkshire Gala, 326 Ypres, the ramparts of, 221 Yucca wood table, 330 VII [. The Gardeners' Chronicle. INDEX June 24, 1922. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, Acacia dealbata flowering in the open at Walhampton Gardens, Lyming- ton, 123. Agapetes maerantha, 100 Ailanthus glandulosa, foliage and fruits of, 212 Aldenham House, Elstree ; beds of spring flowers at, 197 ; Chinese Vines at, 304 ; Rubus bambusa- rum at, 305. Alder, a fasciated, 319 Alexander, Mr. H. G., portrait of 284 Apple tree, a young bush, 64 ; a veteran Keswick Codlin, 336 Apples : — Bushey Grove, 157 ; John Standish, 185 ; Laxton's Pear- main, 201 Arbutus Menziesii in California, 40, 41 Arecastruni Romanzofnanunr, 153 Argyroderma roseatum, 105 Babiana stricta rubro-cyanea, 303 Bain, William, portrait of the late, 96 Balfour, Professor Sir Isaac Bayley, portrait of, 162 Bananas, a home grown bunch of, 263 Barker, Mr. J. T., portrait of, 4 Bilney, Mr. W. A., portrait of, 122 Birches, Silver, at Warren House, Kingston, 79 Bonnewitz, Mr. Leo., at Messrs. R. Wallace & Co's nurseiy, 314 Broadside, an Italian, conventional illustration of the " Maranto " plant reproduced from, 180 Broadside of 1769, Messrs. Vilmorin's, 54 Brown, Mr. N. E., portrait of, ISO Biyophylluni calycinum, 142 Butiarecastrum Nabonnandii, 153 Cabbage Flower of Spring at Taplow, 171 Cairns, Mr. John, portrait of, 38 Campanula earpatica in the front of a herbaceous border, 89 Carnation plants as packed for export, 306 Carnations: Brilliant, 269; High- land Lassie, 269; Rosalind, 269; White Pearl, 141 Cedrus Libani, some of the large specimens of, at Chorleywood Cedars, 111, 233 Cephalanthera rubra, 92 Ceratozamia mexicana, male cones of, 207 Chimonanthus fragans luteus grandi- florus, 63 Conophytum fratemum, 261 ; C. globosum, 231 ; C. gratum, 261 ; C. Leopoldtii, 214 ; C. minutum, 231 ; C. mundum, 307 ; C. Nevillei, 307 ; C. oviforme, 231 ; C. trun- catellum, 261 Conophytums, outline sections of types of growth of, 214 Cotoneaster salicifolia var. floccosa, 114 Crocus aerius, 51 ; C. speciosus as naturalised, 164 ; C. veinus, 165 ; C. vernus in colonies in the grass, 211 Cymbidium Alexanderi, Westonbirt var., 135 ; C. Curlew var. Rosy Gem, 115; C. Kittiwake, 193"; C. Miranda, 193 ; C. Redstart, 193 Cypripedium Idina, Beckton's var., 127 ; C. Lawrenceannm Hyeanum, 75. Dahlia Delice, as used for bedding at Kew, 255 Dendrobiurn Ashworthiae, 240; D. atroviolaceum, 241 ; D. Leeanum, 201 ; D. Phalaenopsis, 301 ; D. Williamsianum, 301 Dianthus Allwoodii exhibited by Messrs. Allwood Bros., at the Chelsea show, 274 Dickson, Mr. Alexander, portrait of, 14 Dipelta floribunda, 321 Divers, Mr. W. H., portrait of, 134 Dracaena Broomfieldii var. supeiba, 154, D. fragrans var. Lindenii, 155 Dry wall garden at Diynham, 191 Elliott, Mr. Clarence, portrait of, 176 Elm, a pyramidal, at Aldenham, 226 Flower border exhibit from the Maytharn Gardens, at Chelsea show, 289 Forsythia intermedia var. spectabilis. 167 ; F. suspensa var. atrocaulis. 166 Fraser, Mr. John, portrait of, 110 Freesia Eldorado, 147 Fruit, gold medal exhibit of, at Worcester, 57 Fruits exhibited by Messrs. G. Bun- yard & Co., Gold medal collection of, 45 Funkia Sieboldiana, 3 Gaebya ellipitica, 257 Gibbaeum geminum, 129 ; G. gibbo- sum, 151 ; G. perviride, 151 ; G. pubescens, 129 ; G. Shandii, 129 Gibbs, the Hon. Vicary, portrait of, 26 Gladiolus Cameo, 16 ; G. Dunlaps, 17 Grape room at Tewin Water, Welwyn, 43 Grevillea aspl .-Mfolia, 181 H Hidycbium deceptum, 209 Hill, Dr. A. W., portrait of, 98 Holloellia coriacea, 270 Hydrangea hortensis in a tub, plunged in a lawn, 87 Ideal Home exhibition, garden de- signed by Queen Alexandra and arranged by Messrs. J. Carter & Co., at the, 130 Iris garden exhibited by Messrs. G. Bunyard and Co., at the Chelsea show, 335 Iris garden exhibited by Messrs. R. Wallace & Co., at the Chelsea show, 280 Iris Ann Page, 118; I. Asia, 117; I. Dominion, 267 ; I. ochracea ccerulea, 325, I. Phyllis Bliss 117 Keeble, Prof. Sir Frederick W., portrait of, 298 Krelage, Mr. Ernst H, portrait of, 222 Lauds, Mr. F. W., portrait of, 2 Larches, the Dunkeld, 258 Lilium centifolium, 229; L. Hcnryi, 228 ; L. rubellum, 331 Lithops pseudotruncatella, 65 ; L. turbiniformis, 55 Lithospermum rosmarinilolium, £9 Loniceranitida, 137: L. tragophylla, 217 M MacLaeen, Mr. B. H, portrait of, 62 Magnolia Soulangeana, 21 Markharn, Mr. H., portrait of, 4, 50 Miltonia Lord Lambourne, 91 Moore, Sir Frederick, portrait of, 252 Mottet, Mons. S., at Messrs. R. Wal- lace & Co.'s, nursery, 314 Mutisia decurrens flowering on a rockery, 286. N Narcissus Everest, 225 ; N. Nevis, 253 : N. Orange Glow, 243 ; N. Silver Chimes, 195 Odontoglossum, sections of, showing mycorrhiza, 200 Odontoglossum Faustina, Claygate Lodge var., 287 ; O. Purple Em- peror, 272 Odontonia Merope var. vivicans, 323 Orchid, sections of a root and seed of an, showing fungus present in the tissues, 183 Pear, The Blickling, 69 Phacelia campanularia, 95 Phloxes, seedling, at Aldenham House gardens, 27 Photinia Davidsoniae, 199 Phytolacca clavigera, 39 Pieris taiwanensis, 139 Pinks, an edging of, 76 Pinus canadensis, seedliirgs of, 77 Pirie, Mr. W. G., portralfof, 330 Plum Rivers' Late Orange, 125 Populus generosa, 320 Potatos : — Crusader, 81 ; Di Vernon, 53 ; Katie Glover, 52 Potinara Juliettae, 113 Prain, Sir David, portrait of, 86 Primula limnoica, 31 ; P. malacoides var. Piincess Mary, 103 ; P. Silver Star, 93 ; P. Winteri, 19 Queen Alexandra's garden, ar- . ranged by Messrs. J. Carter & Co., at the Ideal Home exhibition at Olympia, 130 Rhododendron Cup (the Loder), 244 Rhododendron Fargesii, 42, 239 ; R. orbiculare. 291 ; R. oreodoxa, 245 ; R. praeteritum, 149 ; R, Princess Alice, 315 ; R. sino-grande, 290 ; R. sutchuenense in a Scottish garden, 227 Rhododendron seedlings raised in moss, 172 Ribes laurrfolium, 213, Rock and water garden exhibited by Messrs. W. H. Gaze & Sons at the Chelsea show, 285 Rock garden exhibited by Messrs. G. G. Whitelegg & Co., at the Chelsea show, 278 Rosa lucens, The Premier, 273 Rose garden exhibited by Messrs, J. Cheal & Sons, at the Chelsea show, 277 Roses :— Elsie Beckwith, 217 , Blush Rambler, 333 ; Sovereign, 223 Rothschild, Mr. Lionel de, portrait of, 238 Rubus barnbusarum at Aldenham, 305 Russell, Dr. E. J., portrait of, 74 s Salvia leucantha flowering a second time in the same year, 29 Sanguinaria canadensis, 319 Sarracenia flava gigantea, 334 Saxifraga Irvingii, 148 Sciadopitys, a proliferous cone of, 247 Smith, Prof. W. Wright, portrait of, 206 Solandra grandiflora, 259 Spring flowers at Aldenham House, Elstree, 197 Stapelia gigantea, 106 Stellera Chamaejasme, 299 Steudnera discolor, 101 Summer bedding in association with statuary, 254 Sutton & Sons' gold medal exhibit at the Chelsea show, 275 Sweet Pea Mascotts Ingman, 15 Telopia speciosissima, 317 Trachycarpus excelsus, 67 Tudor garden exhibited by Mr. Herbert Jones at the Chelsea show, 276 Tulips :— Mabel, 169 ; Masterpiece, 169; Sir Joseph Paxton, 169; Talisman, 169 Vines, Chinese, at Aldenham, 304 W White, Mr. Edward, portrait of, 146 Wister, Mr. J. C, at Messrs. R. Wallace & Co.'s nursery, 314 Woolly aphis, 33 Wright, Mr. S. T., portrait of the late, 236 Y Yeld, Mr. George, portrait of, 266 Claremont, Esher, Surrey, April 15, 1922 SUPPLEMENTARY ILLUSTRATIONS. Coloured supplements :- — Apple, Nor- folk Beauty, January 7, 1922 Codiaeum (Croton) B. Comte, June 2, 1922 Exacurn macranthum, 1922 March 4, January 7, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. THE (Bavbtncxz (Eljrtfttirk No. 1828.— SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1922. CONTENTS. Begonia Gloire de Lor- raine 10 Bulb garden, the — Lilium testaceum . . 3 Drought in 1921, and its effect on garden plants 8 Egg Plant, the 'scarlet Tomato-fruited . . . . 10 Exocorda Alberta . . . . 10 Florists' flowers . . . . G Fruit register — Apples : Calville Blane 11 ; Norfolk Beauty 11 Damsons 11 Pear Conference . . .. 11 Some good late Pears . . 11 Funkias 3 "Gardeners' Chronicle" seventy-five years ago 2 Indoor plants — Gloxinias 7 Inventions, new horticul- tural. . 12 Iris conference, French. . 2 Iris unguicularis .. ..10 Ladds, Mr. Frank . . . . 2 Melons, wilt in 10 Mesemhryantlicmum and some new genera separated from it . . 9 Ministry of Agriculture, war memorial at the . . 2 Obituary— Bisset, W. E 12 Harlcv, Dr. J 12 Shirpe, G. B 12 Orchid notes and gleanings — Oncidium ornithorhyn- chuni 10 Orchids of 1921 . . . . 3 Orchids, rare British. . 10 Pond, freeing a, from weeds Potatos.sweet, inQueens- land Rhododendron, Chinese, seedlings and lime Societies — Manchester and North of England Orchid . . Stocks, doubling in Sweet Pea Annual, 1922 Thefts at a nursery Trees and shrubs — Castanca sativa hetero- phylla The Fern-leaved Wal- nut "Ward's. Mr. Kingdon, sixth expedition in Asia Week's work, the W-isley, trial of Violas at 10 10 11 111 1 ILLUSTRATIONS. Barker, Mr. J. T., portrait of 4 Beckett, Mr. E., portrait of 4 Chrysanthemum Mrs. 1). Andrews .. .. "> Funkia Sieboldiana . . . . . . . . . . . . ' 3 Glottiphyllum arreetum .. .. .. .. .. 9 Gloxinia, a fine plant of the erect flowering type of . . 7 Gloxinia x Brilliant . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hathaway, Mr. J. E., portrait of . . .. .. .. 4 Jordan, Mr. P., portrait of . . .. .. .. .. 5 Ladds, Mr. Frank, portrait of . . . . . . . . 2 Markham, Mr. H., portrait of . . .. .. .. 4 Pateman, Mr. T., portrait of .. .. .. .. 4 Pear Conference, a well-cropped espalier, tree of .. 11 Coloured Supplemen t : Apple NorfolkJIieauty Average Mean Temperatche for the ensuing- wee".; deduced from observations during the last fifty years at Greenwich, 37.9. Actual Temperature : — Gardener*' Chronicle Office, 6. Tavistock Htreei Oovent Garden, London, Wednesday, January 4, 10 a.m.: Bar. 30; temp. 4JO. Weather— Sunny. The year 192 1 will be memor- 1921. a5ie ;n the annals of horticul- ture on account of the prolonged drought, which was the severest within living memory. Extremes of weather, either of wet or drought, heat or cold are the most serious problems the gardener has to con- tend with, and it is not surprising that the drought was reflected in a general failure of many plants and crops in the south, while numerous subjects were killed out- right ; it vvas also responsible for some inter- esting happenings, such as the general flowering of plants that are natives of hot, dry districts. We do not propose to refer further to the drought here, as on another page we are publishing the first instalment of a series of notes from well-known gar- deners in different parts of the country on the effects of the drought in their particular districts, in the belief that they will consti- tute a useful record of the behaviour of garden plants -in a season of abnormal dry- ness. The year 192 1 opened auspiciously, for vegetation was healthy and the weather of early spring seasonable without much frost ; moreover, the crops had wintered well. Trees and shrubs made good progress, and early flowering subjects, such as the Almond and Forsythias, were never more beautiful in flower. Fruit trees gave promise of bounti- ful yields, for fruit buds were plentiful and the wood well ripened. Later, however, the nights turned very cold, with bright sun by day, causing wide fluctuations of day and night temperatures that imposed a severe check upon developing vegetation. Actual frost held off until the fruit blossom was well expanded, but at the end of April and the beginning of May the fruit blossom of neariy all kinds of fruits was ruined by frost, Apples alone escaping injury. The bountiful Apple crop compensated, in some measure, for the scarcity of nearly all other hardy fruits, and the Imperial Fruit Show at the Crystal Palace in October was an ex- hibition almost entirely of Apples. As this show was held mainly in the interests of commercial fruit growers, whose principal crop is this fruit, the shortage of other kinds did not affect it, and with plenty of Apples success was assured. This great exhibition doubtless had its inception in the efforts made by growers in such centres of the fruit-growing industry as Maidstone, Cam- bridge and Hereford, to stimulate the con- sumption of home-grown fruits, and rather than hold an Imperial Fruit Show annually we think it would be wiser to allow these several organisations to continue their shows, with a big exhibition, say, once in every four or five years. The interest taken in the ex- hibition by the Ministry of Agriculture proves the great value of the special horticultural department of the Ministry to the gardening industry, and with the Chamber of Horti- culture, the Horticultural Trades' Associa- tion, and the British Florists' Federation actively engaged in looking after the business interests of the craft, horticulture has ceased to be merely the Cinderella of farming. The Royal Horticultural Society and the special horticultural associations accomplished much useful work during the past year, and the support all received proves that public interest in gardening is as keen as ever. The progress made by the National Rose Society in the past few years has been phenomenal and the holding of some of its shows in association with the R.H.S. is in the best interests .if both societies and of horticul- ture generally. The National Chrysan- themum Society is to be congratulated on the success of its show, which was entirely of Chrysanthemums and not, as in the past Ifltw years, held in conjunction with an R.H.S. fortnightly meeting. The show was held on two days and the hall was thronged with visitors on both dates. We are glad to know that the National Dahlia So- ciety will hold its annual exhibition this year entirely on its own. All these floral societies should continue to look to the Royal Horticultural Society for help in even- direction and especially in the matter of providing accommodation for their annual shows. Although, as has been mooted, it might be possible for these special societies to arrange for their exhibitions to be held in a common hall of their own, the centre n!' horticultural activities in the metropolis should be "Vincent Square. The R.H.S. ex- hibition at Chelsea was as successful as eyer, and the Holland House show was one oif the best held in Lady Ilchester's beautiful London estate. As it is unlikely that this latter place will be again available for the holding of flower shows, the Council has made arrangements for a great exhibi- tion under cover at Holland Park Rink in October next. The provincial exhibitions, including those at Shrewsbury, York find Birmingham, were well attended and showed a steadv return to their pre-war importance. Most of the smaller societies; however, found it difficult to hold their annua! shows, as expenses have increased, but not so re- ceipts, and there is the Entertainment Tax to pay in addition. Those responsible for horticultural exhibitions may. of course, drop all additional attractions, such as bands, and thus obtain freedom from the tax, but this would not prove profitable in all cases. Agitation is on foot to form a special society in" the interest of Daffodil growers under the title of the National Daffodil Society, but the latest suggestion is to create a National Bulb Society to embrace all bulbous flowers. The reason may be a wish to force the hands o:' the R.H.S. to do more for the Daffodil cult, and especially in the matter of litera- ture on the subject, such as the continuation of the Daffodil Year Book. After a period of 134 years the publication of the Botanical Magazine was suspended, much to the regret of all lovers of plants, for this work affords easy reference for identifica- tion purposes and is to be relied on for its accuracy. The abnormal costs entailed in colour printing nowadays renders such a work as this unprofitable as a commercial proposition and its continuance could only be undertaken by some body with funds at its disposal for the purpose. We are glad t-i know that the R.H.S. has accepted this responsibility and will continue the publi- cation of the Botanical Magazine in 1922. Our gardens have been enriched during the past year by many new plants and the awards to novelties by the R.H.S. have been as numerous as ever. Plant collectors in China continue to send home large consign- ments from the flora of that vast country and great hopes are entertained that several useful alpines and Rhododendrons will be forthcoming from the seeds collected by mem- bers of the Mount Everest Expedition. One of the saddest events of the year was the death of Mr. Reginald Farrer, in Asia, just as he was terminating his second plant-collecting expedition ; it is regrettable, too, that most of the results of his recent labours were lost, a- there was no one on the spot to look after this latest packages. We were fortunate in receiving a large amount of MS. from this intrepid collector and brilliant writer a few weeks before his decease, so that we are able to put on record his more recent discoveries. Mr. Kingdon Ward is at pre- sent engaged in plant collecting in Asia and we shall "continue to publish the series of his articles commenced in these pages last year. Horticulture has lost by death several other prominent members, notably the veteran Mr. George Paul, whose knowledge ol gardening, and especially of Roses and shrubs, was profound — a man loved by his friends and esteemed by all who knew him — Mr. Robert Ballantyne", Mr. Joseph Godseff, Mr. R. A. Rolfe, Mr. James Coey, Mr. Archibald Findlay, Mr. Edwin Molyneux and Mr. William Purdom. all men of ability and whose loss to gardening is great. Altogether the year 192 1 was not kind to horticulture, so, with our readers, we look forward to happier conditions and better results in 1922. ^^^^ ColoureJ Supplementary Illustration— With the present issue we publish a coloured supple- mentary illustration of Apple Norfolk Beauty, a description of which is given on p. 11. The Sweet Pea Annual, 1922.— Sweet Pea enthusiasts cannot fail to be interested in the National Sweet Pea Society's Year Book just, issued under the title of the Sweet I'm Annua! Although the new issue lacks tin- substantial binding of former years, it is well tilled with interesting and instructive matter. Mr. S. B. Picks adds something to his already numerous discoveries concerning " The Early History of the Sweet Pea," and it appears that Ceylon is now ruled out of court as a. possible source of the. original Sweel Pea. In the " History of the National Sweet Pea Society " Mr. Charles H. Curtis reviews the work earned out by the Society during the twenty-one years of its existence and makes a snecial point of the wonderful improvement made in the flower between the years 1900 and 1921. The institu- tion of (lie Henry Eckford Memorial Medal is recorded, and an' appreciation is published "1 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 7, 1922 Mr. R. Bolton, the first holder of this important award. Mr. Andrew Ireland discasses "The Cul- tivation of Sweet Peas under Glass," and Mr. G. H. Burt contributes an interesting study of " The Life of a Sweet Pea Plant." The in- terest shown in Sweet Peas by Colonial mem- bers is reflected in two contributions from British Columbia and one from New Zealand, and the former are accompanied by illustra- tions of Sweet Pea seed crops in the far West. The Annual Report and Financial Statement for 1921 are included, as well as an Audit of the first prize exhibits at the show held in July, 1921, the prize-winners at the same ex- hibition, and an alphabetical list of members and their addresses, but the most important item from the point of view of seedsmen and exhibitors is the report of the Floral Com- mittee upon the trials held at Reading and the up-to-date Classification and Too-much alike Lists. Humour is not wanting, and it is found chiefly in Press cuttings on " Sweet Pea Topics in the Year 1941." Trial of Violas at Wisley.— The Royal Horti- cultural Society has arranged to carry out a trial of Violas in their gardens at Wisley during the coming year, and growers are invited to send three plants of each of the varieties they desire tried to reach the Director, R.H.S. Gar- dens, Wisley, Ripley, Surrey (Goods via Horsley Station, L. and S. W. Ry. ) on or before Feb- ruary 28, 1922. Entry forms may be obtained from the Director on application. War Memorial at the Ministry of Agricul- ture.—On the 21st ult. Sir Arthur Griffith Boscawen unveiled, at the Ministry's new offi- ces, 10, Whitehall Place, London, a war mem- orial to the 38 members of the staff of the Ministry who died on active service in the war. The memorial, which is fixed in the entrance hall, consists of a marble of cartouche form, surmounted by a bronze roundel bearing a re- plica of the old seal of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries within a wreath supported 'by emblems. It was designed by Mr. H. Duncan Hendry, A.R.I. B.A., a member of the Minis- try's staff. The names on the tablet include Lord Lucas, a former president of the Board, who was killed near Bapauine in 1916 whilst ■serving with the Royal Flying Corps. French Iris Conference. — The French National Horticultural Society is organising a Con- ference, to take place at its own offices in the Rue de Crenelle, Paris, of which the subject will be the Genus Iris, to cele- brate the centenary of the raising of the first garden varieties in France by M. de Bures. about the year 1822. The Iris Committee will assemble on the ordinary meeting days of the Society, i.e., the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, from April 1 to July 30 at 2 p.m.. At the height of the flowering season, if there are sufficient exhibits to warrant it, the committee may also meet on the remaining Thursdays, at the same time. Plants and cut flowers should arrive at the Society's office at latest in the morning of Thursday. The Society will undertake to stage any plants the senders of which cannot attend themselves; but the Com- mittee should be informed at least eight days in advance of any exhibits being sent. Cut flowers should be gathered in bud, with the whole of the stem and a few of the lower leaves. They should be carefully packed in such manner as to ensure their being in tile best condition on the Committee day. The Conference provides an excellent opportunity to growers of Irises, whether amateurs or professionals, to have their plants examined and doubtful names verified. Exhibits may be awarded prizes, and certificates of merit may be given to new plants of value. Papers sent on the subjects given below will be examined beforehand by the Committee, and will be discussed at the plenary session of the Conference, which will take place on May 27, 1922, at the same time as the horticultural Con- gress. Papers must be sent to the Iris Commit- tee at least a month in advance. (1) The history of the raising of varieties of garden Irises, groups Pogoniris, germanica. pumila. (2) The history of the introduction, hybridisation, and varieties of Oncocvclus, Regelia, Regeliocv. due, and Evansia. (3) The history of the intro- duction, hybridisation, and varieties of bulbous Irises af the group Xyphion, Juno, etc. (4) The history of the introduction, hybridisation, and classification of the varieties of Iris in the group Apogon (Kaempferi, sibirica, ochroleuca, etc.). (5) Hybridisation in the genus Iris. (6) Classifi- cation of varieties among garden Irises (group germamca). (7) Cultivation and multiplication of Irises in the four above-named groups (each group may be treated separately). (8) Utilisation of Irises in the ornamentation of gardens and cool greenhouses, for the production of cut flowers, etc. (9) Pests and diseases of the Iris. (10) Studies of the Iris from the point of view of the perfumer and chemist. (11) Elemen- tary study of the genus Iris from the amateur's point of view. (12) The Iris in decorative arts. Papers treating of the Iris from other points of view will also receive consideration. Mr. Frank Ladds.— Although still a young man, Mr. Frank W. Ladds has been for many years the head of the firm of Philip Ladds, growers for market, of Swanley Junction, Meopham and Bexley Heath. It was at Bexley that his father, the late Mr. Philip Ladds, com- menced business as a plant and flower grower about the vear 1860, and laid the foundation of MR. FRANK W. LADDS. a business which now considers the disposal of 25,000 Erica hyemalis just before Christmas to be an ordinary routine item. Bedding plants of most kinds, but especially Pelargoniums, are grown in enormous quantities and in fine quality by Mr. Ladds, and other big crops grown in the ten acres of glasshouses or the sixty acres of open ground include several sorta of Heaths, Palms, Fuchsias, Cyclamen, Genistas, Solanums, Marguerites, Ferns, Hyacinths, Hydrangeas, Chrysanthemums and Tomatos. Before taking charge of the business, Mr. Frank Ladds spent about three years with Mr. Sweet, of Whet- stone, and he was a very young man to take over so great a responsibility. Nevertheless, he accepted it, and the fame and increasing business of his firm is the measure of his suc- cess as plantsman and organiser. In this latter connection Mr. Ladds was extremely useful to his fellow-craftsmen in many ways during the war period, and is still a valuable asset to the plant and flower growing trade by virtue of his official association with the Kent Growers' Asso- ciation. British Florists' Federation, Horticul- tural Trades' Association, and last, but not least, the Chamber of Horticulture. Mr. Ladds is a born fighter, but his obvious honesty of pur- pose and overflowing good humour are probably equally as helpful in winning over bis or^-onents as are his cogent arguments fired on with machine-gun rapidity, but no matter how keen the fight at a Government office, the Railway Clearing House, the Committee Room or the Council Chamber, or what the result of the fight, Mr. Ladds will shake hands equally heartily with victim or victor, as the case may be, and it is because of this characteristic that he is held in such high esteem by all who have business relations with him. It should be added that Mr. Ladds is a high authority on Chrysanthemums and a prominent member of the Floral and Executive Committees of the National Chrysanthemum Society. Thefts at a Nursery. — Two men were sen- tenced to three months' imprisonment at Enfield Police Court on the 2nd inst, for steal- ing Carnation blooms from the nurseries of Messrs. Stuart Low and Co., Enfield. Their capture is the sequel to more than a score of similar robberies at the same nurseries during the past two years. The thefts usually occurred just before a flower show, and the choicest blooms were always stolen. Carnations that had been grown especially for exhibiting at the Eritish Carnation Society's show on Novem- ber 30, 1921, mysteriously disappeared, and the police were called in. The thieves were detected on Christmas Eve leaving a green- house with biooms in their possession, and, although they pleaded guilty to the charge on that occasion, they would not admit responsi- bility for the long series of previous thefts. Sweet Potatos in Queensland. — The Queens- land Department of Agriculture is experimenting in the culture of Sweet Potatos with a view to improving the type and yield. These excellent tubers have been grown 'for over fifty years by Queensland farmers, and when Kanakas were employed on the Sugar plantations, it was no uncommon thing for 10,000 acres to be under this crop for the use of the " boys." Latterly, smaller quantities have been grown for market and home consumption. Growers have been con- tent with six to eight tons of Sweet Potatos to the acre, but recent intensive experiments have yielded 30 to 36 tons an acre. Data are now being collected with a view to correct the classification and nomenclature of the many varieties grown in the State. In addition to tubers grown for human consumption or as food for cattle and pigs, attention is being given to those which yield most starch for manufacturing purposes. Should it be possible, as is hoped, to produce and manufacture starch, glucose, power alcohol, and other commercial products from Sweet Potatos, there will be a great expansion of the cultivation of this crop in Queensland. Appointments for the Ensuing Week- Monday, January 9, United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society meet. Wed- nesday. January 11. — East Anglian Horti- cultural Society's! meeting; lectin^ 'by Mr. .T. E. Fitt on "Berried Shrubs": Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society's meeting; Newport and District Gardeners' Association's lecture by Mr. E. Brown on " Winter Flower- ing Plants in the Greenhouse." Thursday, January 12.— Bristol and District Gardeners' Association's meeting. Friday, January 13. — Paisley Florists Society's meeting. " Gardeners' Chronicle " Seventy five Years Ago.— Funlcia grcmdiflora.—lhis is one of the greatest conquests made by Dr. Siebold upon the barbarity of the Japanese, and at the same time one of the most precious things introduced into our gardens. It is the most beautiful of all the known species— equally remarkable for the size of its gay foliage as for the profusion and delicious fragrance of its flowers. The leaves are very large, lanceo- late, and rather long-acuminated, with hardly heart-shaped and little elevated lobes stand- ing on the base. They are of a lively green colour, with distinct swellings between their nerves. The plant bears multitudes of very long, funnel-shaped flowers, which are white as snow, and very sweet. Its caulinary bracts are very large, foliaeceous, sessile, and bearing flowers. The hardly inflated and campaniform limb is divided into six rather narrow, long, revolute, and blunt segments. The exserted and ascending stamina, reclinate. according to the curvature of the perianth. The style is robust and green, and bears a capitate stigma. — Oh. L. (We believe that the sole possessor of this plant is Mr. Van Hontte, of Ghent). Onrd. Chron., January 2. 1847. January 7, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. ORCHIDS OF 1921. Progress among Orchids wa6 admirably demonstrated during the past year, both in private gardens and trad© establishments, and the Orehid displays at the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, the Manchester •and North of England Orchid Society, and at the provincial shows were better and more numerous than usual. The Orchid Committee of the Royal Horti- cultural Society granted thirty-one First- Class Certificates and seventy Awards of Merit, beside a number of Preliminary Commendations to seedlings flowering for the first time. Lt.-Col. Sir Geo. L. Holford, K.C.V.O., Westonbirt, Tetbury (gr. Mr. H. G. Alexander), whose grand display of Cypripediums at the last -show of the year will be long remembered, received four First-Class Certificates and a number of Awards of Merit, the higher award ieing secured for Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya Falcon (S. grandiflora x L.-C. Aureole), the best rich scarlet of the year, and an interesting instance of successful scientific methods ; Laelio-Cattleya Orange Blossom, a grand, rich yellow; Cymbidium Landrail, and C. Dragonfly. Among Sir Geo. L. Holford's other awards were those to Cattleya Mary Sander with a fine head of white flowers; C. Fabia, Westonbirt variety, the -richest in colour of the set evolved at Weston- birt; the pretty Odontoglossunv Lady Avice Menzies; some pretty new Cypripediuims and Cymbidium Martin. Baron Bruno Schroder, The Dell Park, Engle- field Green (gr. Mr. J. E. Shill), received First- ■Class Certificates for the fine, white-petalled Laelio-Cattleya Schroderae var. The Conqueror; L.-C. Ivanhoe, The Dell variety; L.-C. Mrs. Willoughby Pemberton ; L.-C. Golden Glow; the clear yellow Brasso-Cattleya Mrs. J. Leemann, The Dell variety; the rich yellow Brasso-Laelio- Cattleya maculata aurea, and for the large and handsome Dendrobium Model, The Dell variety; the best of the other plants to gain awards were Laelio-Cattleya Victrix, which shows evidence of Cattleya Trianae Backhousiana in its petals in a marked degree. Sir Jeremiah Colman, Bart., Gatton Park (gr. Mr. J. Collier), the largest amateur exhibitor of the year, added to his noted collection of white Brassavola hybrids, raised at Gatton, the charm- ing Brasso-Cattleya speciosa var. Lady Colman, a clear white flower, of fine size, for which a "First-Class Certificate was secured; and Brasso- Cattleya Gatton Snowflake ; two other very remarkable hybrids being Laelio-Cattleya Copper King, unique in colour ; and Dendrobiiim Gatton Sunray. a clear yellow D. Dalhousieanum cross. W. R. Fasey/Esq., Holly Bush Hill, Snares- brook (gr. Mr. E. J. Seymont), one of the most constant exhibitors, especially of fine Odonto- glossums, received a First-Class Certificate for the very richly coloured Odontoma W. R. Fasey (M. Venus x Odm. Louise), and Awards of Merit for Odontoglossurn. Rufus, 0. Barnaby Rudge, 0. Sandow, 0. Faustina, 0. Chu Chin Chow, curious 0. aspersum cross; 0. Desde- • mona, 0. Gloriette, Odontioda Nubia Fasey's variety. and Miltonia vexillaria Purple Emperor, a remarkable dark rose-purple flower. H. T. Pitt. Esq.. Rosslyn, Stamford Hill (gr. *Mr. Thurgood), exhibited regularly, his groups "being always of special interest by reason of the selections oF rare species included. Fine Miltonias were a feature with him last season. M. Venus var. Fascinator securing a First-Class 'Certificate, whilst the fine golden yellow Brasso- Laelio-Cattlpya Golden Crown, the richly coloured Odontoglossurn Bullecourt, and Laelio- Cattleva General Maude var. Rubens gained Awards of Merit. Pantia Ralli, Esq., Ashtead Park (Orchid •grower Mr. Fames), received Awards for Laelio- ^Cattleya Sargon Ralli's var., L.-C. Canary II., a -verv pretty yellow, and Odontoglossurn Phillipsianum. Other remarkable exhibits shown by amateurs and receiving recognition were the beautiful Vanda coerulea Bodnant Rose of Ladv Abercon- way; the showy Brasso-Cattleya Heatherwood var. Prince of Wales of J. J. Joicey, Esq., both F.C.C. plants; the large and handsome Cyir.bidium Alexander! giganteum of Mrs. Bischoffsheim ; Cattleya Pittportia var. Lady Leon, and Cypripedium Lady Leon, of Sir H. S. Leon ; the very fine Cypripedium Bedfordiae, shown by Dr. Bedford, and some showy novelties shown by the Duke of Marlborough on various occasions. [To be concluded.) FUNKIAS. THE BULB GARDEN. LILIUM TESTACEUM. I am somewhat surprised that Mr. Arnott (see p. 309, vol. LXX) should recommend planting bulbs of this Lily at a depth from six to nine inches. That may succeed in very sandy soil ; but as it is not a stem-rooting species, in or- dinary garden soil I find that three or four Funkias hold a very high place among hardy herbaceous plants with bold, handsome foliage, and they are eminently suited for planting in a variety of positions in the garden. The several species and varieties vary considerably in their flowers and foliage. The handsome F. Siebold- iana (see Fig. 1) makes a fine marginal line for a shrubbery border, and may be used with good effect as a permanent edging to large beds that are filled either with hardy or tender summer subjects to produce a sub-tropical effect. They are also useful for grouping in front of the herbaceous border where bold foliage groups are required. Funkias are accommodating plants, and strong clumps may safely be divided and replanted at almost any time from autumn until spring. They grow best in a deep, rich, free soil, and, like most strong-growing herbaceous plants, enjoy liberal supplies of well decayed FlG. 1. FUNKIA SIEEOLDIANA. inches is ample. It seems to share with one of its reputed parents, the Madonna Lily, a pre- ference for shallow planting, and all the sun it can get. It may be noted that L. ohalcedonicum, its other reputed parent, is not a stem-rooting species. It is a pity that the older specific name for the Nankin Lily, isabellinum, has been dropped in faivour of testaceum. which means " brick- coloured," an epithet which is far from appro- priate to the flushed-apricot hue of this Lily's corolla. " Isabellinum " is the Latinised version of the French isabelle, meaning " dove-coloured" — the hue of a turtle-dove's breast, which pretty closely matches the flower. The origin of " isabelle," however, has no connection with tnrtle doves though it is not devoidof romance. When Archduke Albert caused Spinola to lay fiege to Ostend on Julv 5, 1601, his wife Arch- duchess Isabel, vowed that she would not change her chemise till the city was taken. The siege lasted three yen re and ten weeks. Not until September 14. 1604, was the Archduchess re- leased from her vow. When at last she doffed her chemise, it was of a hue which the French dyers exerted themselves to match, and Parisian milliners, with an eye to court, patronage, rnrrtanticallv named it " isabelle " ! Herbert Maxwell, Monreith. farmyard manure. The largest growing species are Funkia Sieboldiana, F. Fortunei and F. ovata, of which there is a variety with variegated leaves. The smaller growing F. lancifolia has a number of forms including several variegated sorts as well as a white- flowered form. A very beautiful, but less well known species is F. subcordata (syn. F. grandiflora). Towards the end of August and September this plant produces its large, pure white, sweet-scented flowers, but it requires a warm and sunny position in a well-drained, sandy loam, or it may prove uncertain in flowering. In colder districts it is well worth growing in pots for the autumn decoration of the greenhouse. For some reason F. tardiflora is not well known in gardens; botanically it is regarded as a variety of F. lancifolia, but for garden purposes it is quite distinct, especially in its flowering period. It blooms from the end of September until November, whereas F. lancifolia flowers during July. Whatever its specific raid; it is a very beautiful plant, ami. like F. aubcordata, makes a good pot plant for the cool greenhouse. Some of Mir Funkias make good dwelling-room plants and they are effective cither in <>r out of bloom, for the foliage is exceedingly handsome. 1- Coutts. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 7, 192 The Week's Work jl THE HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. By H. ilARKHAM, Gardener to the Eael of Steaffoed, Wrotham Park, Barnet. Planting Apples. — Arrears of planting Apple trees should be done while the weather remains open and the ground in a suitable condition. Do not plant the roots too deeply ; if the stems are covered with soil to the depth of two or three inches this will be suffi- cient in most cases. 0 n heavy land I prefer to plant on mounds raised a few inches above 'h ground level. I n p 1 a n ti n g shake a few shove lsful of fine, light soil amongst the roots. Standard trees in orchards and paddocks should have a clear stem of 6 ft. to 7 ft., so that the future heads are kept well above the reach of sheep and cattle. Plant only good, useful varieties for the different purposes, and those that will maintain a supply of good sound fruits over a long period. Bramley's Seedling, Newtown Wonder, Lane's Prince Albert. Chelmsford Wonder, Dumelow's Seedling, and Crawley Beauty, are excellent and late keeping cooking varieties. All young standards should be securely staked to prevent swaying by high winds, which break many of the finer roots. Correctly label the trees and protect them against injury by hares and rabbits. Pruning. — In pruning young trees take cari> to select from three to five shoots at equal distances apart and shorten these more or less, always cutting just above a bud pointing out- wards. As a rule from 10 in. to 15 in. of growth will be sufficient to retain. Very careful prun- ing is necessary when the trees" are young to form an evenly balanced, fruitful head. As the trees increase in size less pruning will be needed. THE ORCHID HOUSES. By J. T. Barker, Gardener to His Grace the Duke of Maeiooeotoh. K.G., Blenheim Palace, Woodstook, Oson. Forewords.— In the cultivation of all plants under glass, it is essential that the conditions should be as near as possible to those the d i ff e r e n t species en- joy in their native habi- tats. Success depends en- tirely upon t h e condi- tions provided for the differ- e n t plants which go to make up a collect ion .'vet (even when the best pos- sible condi- tions are pro- vided) cer- tain districts are more favourable for certain plants than others. Cleanliness being one of the greatest aids to good cultivation, the annual cleansing of the houses should be com- pleted as soon as possible. Whilst this opera- tion is in progress, a favourable opportunity presents itself to thoroughly cleanse the plants, eveu if they are not infested with insect pests. Temperatures. — At this season it is advisable to keep the temperatures of the different houses at those figures given so many times in these pages for the winter months. No effort should be made to hasten the plants into growth, but, those which have developed secondary growth during the winter should be placed where they may receive the maximum amount of sunlight, and heat, according to their respective genera. Plants grown in high temperatures in winter are more liable to receive a check through a tem- porary fall in the temperature during a very- cold night than plants accustomed to less warmth. The plants will not suffer from the temperature dropping a few degrees during severe weather provided the atmosphere and the plants are in a dry condition. Another im- portant detail to observe is that the lowest temperature in the houses during the twenty- four hours should be in the early morning, with a gradual rise until mid-day, and then a gradual falling-off till the night temperatures are reached. The two extremes of a very warm, dry atmosphere and a low, cold, damp one should at all times be avoided, as much harm may accrue from either. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. By James E. Hathawat, Gardener to John BRennand, Esq., flaldersby Park, Thirsk, Yorkshire. Trenching. — Advantage should be taken of dry weather to complete the work of trenching land. It is not necessary to trench all the ground of , the kitchen garden every year ; not everyone has s u ffi c i e nt labour to do tins, but effort should be made to trench the plots which are to be cropped with Peas, Onions and Beans. Take out a trench. 3 ft. wide, removing the i: 1st and second spits to the op- posite end of the plot to be dug ; the bottom spit should then be broken up and covered with a layer of half-decayed leaves. The top spit of the next trench should then ibe thrown on top, with a coating of manure added, and this in turn have the second spit thrown over it. The next trench will now be ready for breaking up the bottom. If the ground is not of a very heavy texture, the bottom spit may be brought to the top, and this method in a few years' time will ensure a depth of 3 ft. of rich soil, which is essential to good vegetable cultivation. The rougher the ground is dug the better, and no effort should be made to break up the soil finely. Heavy lands should receive liberal dressings of river sand, old mortar rubble, road scrapings and burnt refuse, in fact, anything that would have a tendency to keep the soil open. On no account should trenching be done when the soil is vet. General Remarks. — Celery should be pro- tected from severe weather by Bracken Fern or any light material of a similar nature. Frames containing vegetables should be attended to carefully and, whenever possible, freely venti- lated. The glass should be well protected in frosty weather. All decaying leaves should be kept picked off from such crops as Lettuces and Cauliflowers in frames, otherwise loss from damp will follow. PLANTS UNDER GLASS By T. Pateman, Gardener to Sir C. Nali^Cain, Bart., The Node, Codicote, Welwjn, Hertfordshire. Forewords. — As cleanliness in the plants and houses 's probably the greatest aid to success- in indoor plant cultivation the plant houses should re- ceive a. thorough cle a n s i n g during the early weeks of the pre- sent month. The glass,, wood work and walls- should be- thorou g h 1 y washed with- strong soapy water, and the walls afterw a r d s 1 i mewashed. An irnport- a n t thing: to guar* crowding the plants on the stages ; many attempt to grow too many plants, a mistake which is as fatal to success as any other error in cultivation. With the advent of the Nevt Year, no time should be lost in making the selection of seeds for the year's requirements. Obtain the best strains of the various kinds of flowers needed for indoor cultivation, and, whilst it is desirable to rely mainly on old and tried varieties, a few novelties should be included. . Carnations. — The propagating of these most- valuable flowers should receive attention when- ever suitable shoots for cuttings are available- Cuttings inserted now should produce good flowering plants that will bloom early in autumn. In selecting the cuttings, choose them from the- healthiest and most vigorous plants, an important item m maintaining a healthy stock; a weakly cutting taken from an unhealthy plant will often result in failure. The cuttings should be made- about 3 inches long, with a " heel," and in- serted in a small pot filied with about equal parts- of good loam, leaf-mould and sand ; the cuttings- should be inserted around the edge of the re- ceptacle. They should be watered with a fine- rose can and stood in a propagating frame where- a temperature of 55° is maintained. Very little air is needed until roots develop, beyond re- moving the glass every morning and wiping it. with a sponge to clear it of condensed moisture. THE FLOWER GARDEN. By F.nwiN- BrrKnT, Gardener to the Hon. Viiart Girrs. .Wdenham House, Hertfordshire. The Mild Winter. — Following a summer of exceptional drought, with, as yet, little rain, few opportunities have occurred for proper roou action, and the plants are conse- quently not in the hap- piest of con- ditions. Thi& must be borne in mind where- it is contem- plated break- ' mg up her- baceous bor- d e r s for replanting. It is as well to do this work every two or three years in order to re- duce the size of stiong growing subjects, but replanting may not be necessary this year, and it will be better to allow most of the subjects to remain undis- turbed, merely furnishing them with a dressing; of manure that should be forked into the soil. The Borders. — Where herbaceous borders- have not been trimmed and tidied this work January 7, 1922. THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. v. 120 Gold Medals and Cups in 6 years. ■ Y" ■A, 1922 CATALOGUE. Seeds, Potatoes, Manures, Bulbs, etc. FREE ON REQUEST. WEBBS' COLLECTIONS OF FLOWER SEEDS. J GARDENS, LAWNS tL GREENHOUSES. PURESTS.MOST PRODUCTIVE" 1 922 CATALOGUE. Seeds, Potatoes, Manures, Bulbs, etc. FREE ON REQUEST. WEBBS' COLLECTIONS OF SWEET PEAS, j 12 varieties 6s. | 12 ,, (smaller pits.) 3s. ■ 18 fine varieties ... 10s. | 25 Hs. T I 120 Geld Medals and Caps in 6 years. ^2j^£5*^^h^Su^S^ 720 Gold Medals and Cups in 6 years. '■''■- --v ^- i;. ; VI. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 7, 1922. SOLE MAKERS AND PATENTEES :— THE EN-TOUT-CAS CO., LTD., SYSTON, Near LEICESTER. IONDON OFFICE AND AGENTS :— PAGETS, 109. PICCADILLY, W.l. THE LARGEST CONTRACTORS IN THE WORLD FOR l'.v A|. ^^Ki pointment I toH.M.thoKlne Hard and grass Tennis Courts Bowling Greens, Croquet Lawns Cricket Pitches, and general Lawn and Garden formation. Write for Booklet No. 30. WONDERFUL NEW INVENTIONS WALKER'S FRUIT TREE PROTECTORS Against Birds, Frost, Cold Winds, Wasps. Applicable to Bush and Wall Fruit Trees. YOUNG CARNATION PLANTS ALL CROPS INCREASED \ BY 100% TO 200% For full description write for pamphlet to MAJOR C WALKER, BRECON, SOUTH WALES. 2 1 oz. FOREIGN, these sizes, 200 feet boxes, delivered London. 21 oz. BRITISH, cut to buyer's sizes, delivered free and sound in the * 24x18 L^^^^^^ » country in quantities. Manufacturer! of GENUINE WHITE LEAD PAINT ("Father Thame*" Brand, regd.) and of BEST LINSEED OIL PUTTY. GEORGE FARMILOE & SONS, Ltd., 34, st. Md St., west smitbeeid, london, e.c.i. And "Blackfriars" Wharf, Upper Ground St., S.E. STOCK LISTS AND PRICES ON APPLICATION. We have fine stocks of all the best Commercial Cut Flower Varieties. Ready from January onward, ex 2 inch Pots. Catalogue willingly sent on request. We can supply lOO plants in 8 distinct varieties for 90/- carriage and packing paid for cash, 50 at the 100 rate. When you think of Carnations you think of The leading 'arnauionHaiaeis rul Specialists iti the World, Dept. 2, HAYWARD'S HEATH. EVERY GARDENER KNOWS THAT ets there and makes the Garden gay all the year round . %ivP Sold everywhere lor Horticultural purposes in Packets atlod.and — 1/6, and in BRANDED and SEALED BAGS ; 7 lbs., 4/- 1 14 lbs., T/-: agios., 12/- 1 56 lb., 22/-. "a lbs.. 40/-. Or direct from the works Carriage Paid in the United Kingdom for Cash with Order (except packets.) CLAY & SON. Memurt Manu/aclureri and Bone Crushers, STRATFORD. LONDON. E. IT IS THE STANDARD FOOD FOR PLANTS. January 7, \9±2. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. Jiould be done forthwith; old growths and stakes should be removed, and the border forked over carefully. Fern borders should he left for the present, for, though it is often advised that the dead fronds should be cut away, this is a mistake, as the fronds of the previous season are Nature's own and efficient means of protect- ing the crowns from frost. A light forking or Boeing of the Fern borders may, however, be done. The Shrubberies. — Whilst the weather remains open every advantage should be taken to re- arrange shrubberies and plant subjects afresh, generally cleaning and tidying up the ground prior to forking it over to move and aerate the soil. Where small shrubs are being moved this does not call for special precautions, but where larger specimens are being placed into fresh quarters, care should be taken to retain as large a ball of soil around the roots as possible. This prevents too much root movement, and the plants will greatly benefit from such care and become established more readily. Where plants have been sent by rail from a distance the roots may have become exposed and possibly damaged ; if this has occurred they should be trimmed care- fully and replanted in good soil. Standards and subjects with large heads should be staked at the time of planting, to prevent root damage from the tree swayfcng in rough winds. Holes for the reception of the plants should be pre- pared carefully, and the soil at the bottom forked deeply. This lis of speciail importance in heavy, clayey soils, where, if the holes are dug in advance, the sides and bottom may set hard and form a basin holding water arjout the roots, a condition that is harmful to most vegetation. The moving of shrubs occasionally is very essen- tial; too often one sees what might be otherwise very beautiful portions of a well-kept garden spoiled by allowing the plants so to grow into one another that all beauty of shape and ap- pearance is lost, the shrubs becoming drawn in growth, and the whole presenting an untidy tangle. Every shrub should be allowed ample space for development, and the choicer the sub- ject the more important this is, for whereas proper trimming and pruning will materially assist in keeping the plants shapely, yet the moving of some and the retention of others is certainly the best way to obtain good specimens. FRUITS UNDER GLASS. By F. Jordan, Gardener to Lieut. -Col. Spender Clat, M.P., Ford Manor, Liogfield, S'urrey. Melons. — Where efficiently heated pits will soon be available for these plants, a few seeds of an early maturing variety may be sown this I - - ^___^ — .- - - month. Melon seeds being plenti- ful, they may be sown singly or in pairs i n a mall pots, plung- ing the lat- ter in a bot- tom heat of 75°, with full exposure to light. Sow rather more seeds than are re- quired, dis- carding, in 1 the case of 1 two growing iu the same pot, the weaker seedling when the seed leaves have developed. A good body of fermenting materials, consisting of Oak or Beech leaves and stable litter, should be secured, so that everything will be ready by the time the plants are large enough for plant- ing finally. This early batch should be grown in 11 or 12 inch pots. The pots may be plunged where they are to remain, or, better still, set them on other inverted pots to pre- vent sinking and possible strangling of the plants later, placing the fermonfcing material around them. Drain the pots well, using the roughest of the compost, which should consist of fairly heavy loam and lime rubble, to which a little bone meal has been added. at the bottom. JIako the soil fairly firm. If planting out is more convenient, the same compost, placed on turf, grass side downwards, in the form of a ridge, will answer equally well; but, unless the hot-water pipes are equal to maintaining a bottom heat of 75°, the pot plants will ripen their fruits first. A night temperature of 65° to 68°, 75° to 85° by day, with sun heat, and a moderately moist, grow- ing atmosphere secured by frequent sprink- lings according to the weather, should be main- tained. See that the pits are made sweet and clean for the reception of the plants, thoroughly cleansing the glass and woodwork. ments or lobes. The basal part of the leaflet is the broadest, being sometimes 1^ in. broad, but mostly less and cut down to the midrib. The tree can be multiplied by grafting on ^•edlings of the ordinary Walnut, ami there seems to be no reason why it should not be more common. The word Walnut means the foreign nut, as mdioated by the names Welsch Nutz in High Dutch, Walsch Noten in Low Dutch, and by Walsch Nut, used by John Gerard. CASTANEA SAT1VA HETEROPHYLLA. In the early part of the present century 1 found four small trees of the above variety on Esher Common; and now that the Pine trees ■have mostly been cut down, for the purposes of the late war, I found it again during the Fig. 2.— chrysanthemum mrs. d. Andrews; a white Japanese variety. f.c.c nationaj chrysanthemum society. november 28, 1921. shown by mkssrs. keith loxfobd and co., sheering, harlow. TREES AND SHRUBS. THE FERX LEAVED WALNUT. The above is the only distinctly ornamental of the many varieties of Walnut which have originated under cultivation. It is the Juglans regia laciniata of modam botanists; the J. tilicifolia, of Loddiges' Catalogue, ed. 1836; and the Xux Juglans foliis laciniatis of Reneaulm, who published a book in 1611. This would indi- cate that a cut-leaved Walnut existed 310 years ago, whether the same form or not. It. is strange that a distinct and beautiful variety could have existed so kmg and yet be so un- common in gardens. There are small trees at Syon House and Holland House, or at least there wee a few years ago. I saw it last autumn iu the nursery of Messrs. L. R. Russell, Rich mond. The leaves are twice as broad as those of the common Walnut, with leaflets 3i in. to 6i in. long, and stalks up to three-eighths of an inch long. The leaflets are greatly elongated and very irregularly cut into long, pointed seg- past summer. Mr. W. J. Bean also found a tree of it there some years ago. The variety was listed in Loddiges' Catalogue for 1836 under the name of C. asplenifolia. There were several other contemporary names, but. the d« scriptions indicate the came sort of tree that occurs on Esher Common. Few of the leaves are strictly normal, and seldom, if at all so, on the long summer shoots. The broader ones aie of various forms, but towards the top, or some times at the top, are numerous very long, linear leaves about a quarter of an inch wide, more or less. These narrow leaves gave rise to one of the old names, C. salicifolia, or Willow-leaved; but as many forms of leaves occur on the sa.nic shoot, the name at the above heading best, expresses the variation. This, aft well as other nanus, are sometimes listed in catalogues of trees and .suggest variations, T have not seen a fruiting tree of the variety in the wild state, and the question arises whether or not it occurs from seeds of the type, which is a common tree on the Bagshot sand formation. J. F, THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. Ja.nuabv 7,_1922. EDITORIAL NOTICE. ADVERTISEMENTS should be sent to the PUBLISHER, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, W.C.2. Editors and Publisher.— Our correspondents would obviate delay in obtaining answers to their com- munications, and save us much time and trouble, «/ they would kindly observe the notice printed weekly to the effect that all letters relating to financial matters and to advertisements should be addressed to the Publishes ; and that all communi- cations intended for publication or referring to the Literary department, and all plants to be named, should be directed to the Editors. The two departments. Publishing and Editorial, are distinct, and much unnecessary delay and contusion arise when letters are misdirected. MR. KINGDON WARD'S SIXTH EXPEDITION IN ASIA.* 8. — Into the Wild Country. I HAVE said that the Pine clad hills round Yung-pei, starved of flowers as they are, nevertheless are richer than similar country yet passed through. Besides the violet Dracocephalum everywhere met with, and a blue Boraginaeeous flower also widely distributed, there ds a Euphorbia with bright scarlet bracts (a striking plant, this) and a Hemerocallis, with large blooms for its size, tawny orange in colour — there are also the bright orange-flowered Stellaria and several Labiatae. One feature all these plants . have in common : they all have enormously developed root-stocks, hard, woody, often tuberous, and as large as a small Potato, in which case (e.g. , the Euphorbia and Stellaria referred to above) they probably serve as water reservoirs. From these growths the roots descend far into the inhospitable soil. On May 22 we started northwards again, and, crossing the mountains which run immediately east of the city, entered the wild country. All pro- visions, both for men and animals, had to be carried, as we could get nothing on tihe road for several days at least. All this country east of the great bend of the Yang-tze is very dry, and we found the mountains covered wlith shrubs instead of trees. The streams, however, where they flowed in deep, narrow_ valleys, were fringed with forest, tangled up with climbing plants, which abound. As if to emphasise the fact that we really were in the dry country, it ibegan -to pour with rain, and Iby the time we reached a campang ground we were soaked through and had the disagreeable task of putting up tents in the rain. However, as it was practically the first rain we had had since leaving Lashia, five weeks previously, we really couldn't grumble. More- over, there were many fine plants abroad. A Roscoea, with ivory white flowers, -was a delight. There is little grace about these perky Mono- cots, but their colours are beyond cavil ; even the purple-flowered species, very common along this route, is a splendid thing. An Azalea, .with very pale pinkish-purple flowers, mottled the slopes with colour, and a white Rhododendron, already met with far away to the south-west, was still in bloom. The corollas of this latter are eaten in Ta-K and elsewhere as a vegetable, under the illuminating name of " white flowered vegetable." Clematis montana was also in flower — the first of the genus we had seen, and a couple of days later a second species with rich velvet-purple flowers was found. This, however, is widely dis- tributed in the dry parts of Yunnan. Deutzia, yellow Jasmine. Privet, and other shrubs, were in flower. There was a much greater variety of trees and shrubs here than we had yet come across in the dry mountains. Barberry, Coton- easter, Oaks, Maples, Willow, Poplar, and many Leguminosae may be mentioned, in addition to those referred to : a small tree of the order Rosaeeae, crowded with blossom, scented the air with Meadowsweet. Amongst several lianas, was a species of Actinidia, and on a bare lime- stone cliff matted tangles of a Vitis quite new to me grew in profusion. We crossed a pass of 9,612 feet, and, descend- ing a narrow ravine, camped at 8,984 feet in a valley which promised quite a lot of surprises, • The previous articles hy Mr. Kinerdon Ward Were published in our issues nf Mnv 14, .Tune 18, .Tnly 23. August 20. September 3. October 8, and Ootober 29. "1921. considering that the mountains did not rise much above 10,000 feet here. I am talking about camp already, and have said nothing about the field of the cloth of fine purple, where we had lunch, a meadow of pinky- crimson Candelabra Primula. It really was a fine sight, notwithstanding the obtrusive colour. The plant, wihich is a sort of giant Primula burmanica, grows 20 inches high under the shady hedges, with a few (generally only two or three) crowded whorls of large flowers which vary in colour from almost pink to a nearly Tyrian purple, with orange eye. There is a very light powdering of meai on the calyces and pedicels, and only a suspicion of scent. But the flowers are phenomenally large for a Candelabra Primula, though they are of the colour mo6t frequently met with in the section. Curiously enough, we did not meet with the plant again till we reached Yung-ning, when it turned up again in the meadows. Primula Pois- sonii also grows here abundantly, but always on wetter ground, in actual bogs ; this vile coloured species stayed with us all the way to Yung- ning. If one could only find a blue or a red Candelabra ! But they grow too far from heaven for that, I fear : there are no Candela- bras at much over 12,000 feet. Marching down the valley next day, we found the hillsides dabbled with purple Roscoea, and with white Salvia. There is a variety of this latter, speckled -with purple, having darkly pig- mented calyces, whereas, in the wihite-flowered form they are green. Deutzia, Clematis, a small-flowered Akebia, Philadelphus and Azalea, all blossomed profusely in the ravines, but above the stream, the slopes were thinly covered with Pines, which, however, managed to stand up straight and not resemble corkscrews. Here and there a Tsuga grew on the rock. We crossed a pass of nearly 10,000 feet and found true Rhododendron Delavayii, the crimson flowers having the almost black honey glands which are a feature of that species ; these the Shui-ning plant previously referred to lacked. Over the pass we came on masses of a blood- orange Candelabra Primula — a fine plant. The buds are distinctly brick red, but they are more orange when open. A slight powdering of meal whitens the calyces as an early snowstorm might whiten the trees ; and there is a fugitive scent of Cowslips, for which the exile sniffs desperately. We saw this plant henceforth every day till we reached Yung-ning on May 28 ; sometimes in the open meadow, sometimes in deep shade, or by streams, scattered, or in masses. Good plants were as much as twenty inches high, the flower whorls tightly jammed witlh blossom. After travelling through wooded ravines and Pine forest all day, we emerged into broad, open, grassy valleys, and camped while it was still quite light, the weather having turned fine again. This country to the east of the great bend of the Yang-tse is one enormous block of lime- stone, sliced into by streams, which, at first flowing north and south more or less parallel to the trend of the mountain axes, eventually turn east or west, and break through the ranges. There is a tendency for the water to disappear underground, and even at this season, not a few of the streams were dry. The whole region Is very dry, and where the vallevs are wide, only a thin covering of Pine and Oak is seen below 10.000 feet. Variety is added to the scenery and to the vegetation by deep ravines, filled "with trees, giving shade and shelter to a number of other plants: and in places are grassy meadows. delightful spots in which to camp. On May 24 we crossed a fair-sized river, climbed to a pass, and descended into a typical valley. That is to say, being wide and open at the summit it was dry and bare; bat presentlv we came to Pine woods, where the slopes were carpeted with two species of dwarf Rhododen- dron, both of them over, though I secured lin- gering flowers. With them grew Barberry, Cory- lus and Holly-leaved Oak. Presently the valley narrowed and we came to groves of Oak and Alder by the stream, and halted on suoh a wooded lawn for lunch. A most odd little Aristolochia grew in the Pine woods (here, on the dry, rocky slopes : and a series of scarps displayed a number of Primula capsules, suggesting mnscarioides or something near to it. There was not a sign of a new plant coming up, but by collecting every capsule 1 cculd find, we managed to coax a few clinging seeds from a living death, in the hope that tliey would open their eyes in a new land. It may be remarked here that more or less bare scarps are of frequent occurrence through- out this limestone region, both down in the valleys and high up in the mountains. Some of these cliffs are very conspicuous objects, visible from a great distance. For the most part they are as bare as they look, but in chim- neys and crevices plants often lurk, especially at high altitudes. Of these cliffs nione anon. That afternoon we ascended another valley, and crossed several beautiful grassy meadows, rather marshy, and crowded with flowers of a somewhat tame appearance. At the head of this valley was a high rocky range, which had been in sight all day; unfortunately the pass to be crossed left it well to a flank, and next day it dropped out of sight behind. We camped by the stream at 8,000 feet, the country still being almost uninhabited. F. Kingdon Ward. FLORISTS' FLOWERS. THE CARNATION. What one generation of florists or lovers of flowers may esteem perfect in a Carnation may by another and a later generation be set aside as unworthy of attention. This has been the case for as long as anytliing is known of the plant. The old English Carnation was eclipsed by the yellow or "orange-tawny " strain, in- troduced by the merchant Lete in the 16th century, that again, in the 17th century, by Dutch varieties, conspicuous by the enormous proportions of their flowers, and these in turn by a more refined strain about 1740 from France, and its progeny served to keep florists employed in improving its characteristics and that of the Picotee for a very long time. In 1820 we read of more Continental varieties being dispersed. Up to the end of the 'eighties of last century the florist confined his attention to, and bestowed his homage on , Carnations and Picotees of a rigidly florist type — Picotees with pure grounds and the edges of their petals neatly margined in colour. Carnations also with pure grounds striped with various colours. But there were always a few varieties with self colours grown in gardens, though in the one in which I served my time none but show flowers was admitted. When the Carnation Manual was published in 1892 there was already a fair selection of border varieties, and in it a selection of -selfs for borders is given. However, they all belonged to a type or strain that has been super- seded by another, the characteristics of which I propose to notice. Briefly the first-named were wanting in stamina, flowered but sparsely, and the " grass " grew in a cluster close to the ground, an example of which is seen in Sam Weller. On reference to notes I find that a new type was in existence in 1893-4. The plants were very robust, upright in habit, with flowers non-drooping, but upstanding and a pro- portion producing shoots on the stems, and showing a partially perpetual tendency. Of British cultivators, Mr. Martin Smith, if not the originator, was certainly the first who worked up this strain. His first plants were obtained from Mr. Matthew Campbell. of High Blantyre, who once told me he had obtained plants from America quite distinct in growth from ours, particularly in their rigid stems. Mr. Smith also, though later, procured plants from B'enary, the German florist, and he informed me that Germania had been one of his stud plants for many years. This old variety has exactly the general habit though not the robust- ness of the novelties Mr. Smith produced annually. It was introduced about 1890. In 1892 I cut over 300 dozen of its blooms and had about 2.000 plants in the autumn, while in the ensuing spring T struck as many more from stem cuttings. Against all the rules Mr. Smith set about producing varieties with colours Janu ary 1922. J THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. so remarkable that new sections had to be found for them by the names of Fancies and Yellow Fancies. Such flowers may have been pro- duced before, but, if they were, no doubt the earlier florists would dispose of them as mon- strosities. However, no one need be told how popular they were and are and how useful to the mere gardener who has ladies to provide with flowers. Their productiveness is remarkable, and has been increased in the later varieties, strong layers of which will throw as many as ten flowering stems, and if grown in pots will continue producing odd flowering stems all the, winter. I recollect one of the earlier varieties grown in pots never having been with- out flowers or buds for the space of three years. Perpetuals are obviously similar in diversity of production to other Carnations, and we seem to be within reasonable distance of varieties as remarkable for colouring as in the border sec- tion. Out of a small number of seedlings which have flowered or are now flowering a large pro- portion are Fancies, one, a true yellow ground. Some are pink striped with red, some flushed, and one at present in course of expansion reminds me of the variety Sir D. Haig. A single is a true bizarre, and in the hope of F2 throwing doubles of the same type, it was allowed to bear seed, which, however was completely devoured by voles. Another single of these seedling Carnations is marked exactly like a Pink with a ringed eye of deep rose, the other parts of the petals being blush, spotted. What I esteem the most remarkable break is one of the Painted Lady type with the stone-white reverse of the petals curling over on the crimson front. There is no apparent, reason why any of the breaks, as well as a true apricot self, should have occurred, as the seeds were derived from selfs and from Alma Ward. It seems to demonstrate the wonderful variability of the Carnation, and also leads one to conclude that Perpetuals have inherited " blood." which one would never have antici- pated to be possible. For the encouragement of others who might like to try raising seedlings I may add that all ours are grown in 4-in. pots, potted on from thumbs, the seedlings being transferred from cutting boxes to these. The seeds are sown as soon as ripe and this year's seedlings are now in thumbs, singly. P. P. Brotherston. INDOOR PLANTS. GLOXINIAS. A glasshouse filled with choice varieties of Gloxinias with their masses of richly coloured flowers is a most beautiful object. When the erect-flowered varieties made their appearance the older type with drooping blooms gradually disappeared from cultivation. At first there were only a few colours, and these without any brilliancy, but by continual fertilisation and selection a remarkable change has been accom- plished, and there are now strains of the finest quality, the plants free flowering, of compact habit, and with flowers of perfect form :ind great substance. The colours include scarlet, violet, pink, purple, crimson-scarlet, and pure white while others are beautifully marked with distinct shades in great variety. A fine plant of the erect-flowered type is illustrated in Fig. 3. There is also a strain with extra large flowers delicately spotted and marked in an infinite variety of colours which are extremely interesting and unique, these making a pretty contrast to the self and other shades of colour. The Gloxinia has not proved itself to be very amenable to hybridising with other genera. An interesting hybrid was raised from Gesnera pyramidalis fertilised with the pollen of a brilliant scarlet Gloxinia ; it was put into com- merce under the name of Gloxinia Brilliant (see Fig. 4). The flowers wei'e as large as those of a medium-size Gloxinia, horizontal in position, and of a brilliant carmine-crimson. Many other crosses were made both ways between Gloxinias in variety and Gesnera in variety, but the result was practically the same, the Gesnera predominating in each case. All bore drooping flowers of different shades of mauve, but none was equal to the Gloxinia. The Gloxinia is easy of culture provided it is grown in a moist atmosphere and a tempera- ture of 65°. If grown in cooler conditions the plants flower later, and do not grow so vigorously, or give such good results. The first batch of seed should be sown at the beginning of January in a temperature from 65° to 70°. Well-drained pots or seed pans should b« filled with clean crocks to within two to three inches of the top, and over these should be placed a thin layer of some of the rougher parts of the prepared soil, filling the receptacle to within half an inch of the rim. The surface should be made perfectly level and firm by pressing it lightly. The seed should be just covered with fine, sandy soil, and watered with a fine rose pot. Shade the 6oil from the bright sun, and never allow it to become dry. may be easily examined. Place them under a dry stage or in a cellar with a temperature about 55°. The corrns should on no account be allowed to get dry enough to shrivel nor should they be kept clamp, as this would cause rotting. The corms may be started again in the beginning of January or February in shallow boxes, or potted singly in small pots placed in a genial, moist atmosphere with a temperature of from 65° to 70°. Pot moderately firmly in soil con- sisting of two-thirds turfy loam, one-third good leaf-mould or fibrous peat, and a little decayed cow manure with silver-sand added. Water the soil sparingly at first ; shift the plants into larger pots as required, but be careful not to over-pot them. When the flower buds begin to appear and the plants are well rooted a little liquid manure FlO. 3. — A FINE PLANT OF THE ERECT FLOWERING TYPE OF GLOXINIA; EXHIBITED BY MESSRS. E. WEBE AND SONS. Cover the pot or pan with a piece o£ glass, tilted at the back about an inch, until germina- tion takes place. When the seedlings appear they should be gradually exposed to the light and air to pre- vent them becoming drawn or weak. As soon as they are large enough to handle prick them off, about an inch apart, in shallow boxes or pans, and when sufficiently strong repot them singly in small pots. When the roots of the plants reach the pots, and before they become pot bound, give them another shift as required. Be careful not to over-pot the plants. Gloxinia seedlings will flower, under normal conditions, in about eight months from the time of sowing ; when in bloom select the best varieties for next season's flowering. After they have done flowering gradually ripen the plants by withholding water, and when they are fully ripened and have lost their foliage shake the soil from them and store the tubers in boxes or pans in a little nearly dry coconut fibre or sandy soil, in which condition they is beneficial to growth. Shade the plants from bright sunshine, and, until they are in flower, keep the atmosphere always moist by damping the stage and floor in order to prevent that troublesome pest, the mite, attacking them. The mites are so small they can scarcely be detected by the naked eye, and if not dealt with in time the plants will be ruined for the season. Avoid draughts and a dry atmosphere, which encourage the spread of mite and thrip. The latter pest may be guarded against by fumigating the house from time to time when the plant commences to make fresh growth. To increase the stock of any special variety, take well ripened leaves and make them .into cuttings below the principal veins, about three inches in length, and put the leaf cuttings in small pots. The stock may also be increased from leaves laid on sandy soil with the principal veins cut across, and placed in heat under a hand-light or frame. These will form small conns for flowering the following season. John Ilea!, V.M.H. 8 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. .Iascary 7, 192L\ THE GREAT DROUGHT OF 1921 AND ITS EFFECT OM GARDEN PLANTS. S.W. Scotland. The northern frontier of the great drought of 1921 has been the Caledonian Canal. All the Scottish counties south of that line shared the shortage of rainfall which prevailed in ^n^land. Conditions in the Northern High- lands may be best illustrated by quoting from a letter received on November 9 from Mr. Osgood Mackenzie, whose fine collection of shrubs and herbs is grown on the west coast of vapour suspended in the air protects vegeta- tion from scorching, and plenty of stones in the soil check both evaporation and radiation. No genus is more liable to suffer from drought than Rhododendron, whereof upwards of ninety species are grown here, chiefly Asiatic. Not one plant has been lost, but the season's growth has been normal, with plenty of bloom set for 1922; the result might have been different had not all young Rhododen- drons, and those older ones, whose upright or sparse habit exposes the soil over their shallow roots to sun heat, received as usual a heavy mulch of withered leaves during the winter. Fig. 4. — gloxinia x bkilliant (kef. p. 7). Ross-shire: — "W.iat we have suffered from perpetual rain all this summer and autumn, I cannot describe; never a dry day north of the Caledonian Canal." In 1920 the conditions were just reversed. .During the summer months when all in the south were shivering and soaked, the summer north of the Caledonian Canal was exceptionally warm and sunny. In the extreme south-west of Scotland (this garden lies actually further south than Durham) no rain fell between April 27 and July 22, a drought unprecedented in my recollection. Owing, however, to a cool subsoil — boulder clay underlying sharp loam full of stones of all sizes — and to the humidity of the atmosphere nea.r the sea, we really have no losses to com- plain of, except an occasional plant of the Kabschia section of Saxifrage. The invisible Lilies and Roses flourished exceptionally ; there has been a total absence of Botrytis on the former ; but L. giganteum was far below its average height of flowering stem. There was practically no green fly on Roses; but this has been the case during the last four years, which I attribute to the industry of the tits that occupy nesting boxes in the garden. Before these were put up, we used to suffer badly from green fly. Amaryllis Belladonna flowered most pro- fusely, more so than usual. On the other hand, Lycoris squamigera, which flowered freely in 1920, produced nothing but leaves in 1921. Among Chilian shrubs, Eucryphia pinnati- folia and E. oordifoka 'were sheeted with blossom; Berberidopsis corallina (on a wall) was not so good as usual, and Tricuspidaria lanceolata resented the cold and wet summer of 1920 by a deficiency of bloom, the flower- buds being set in the summer preceding that in which they open. Mitraria coccinea suffered from the heat and flowered poorly, while Abutilon vitifolium and Desfontainea spinosa were as free as usual. In the Australasian flora all species of Olearia and Senecio revelled in the sunshine; but not one out of about forty Cordyline australis bore flowers, though several of them did so in 1920. Herbert Afaxu-ell, Alonreith. Sussex. I am afraid it is rather difficult to send any definite particulars as to the effects of the drought of 1921 in my garden. So far the eifects are not very marked, but I feel sure another six months will re\eal a certain amount of serious damage to flowering shrubs. Certain plants have suffered, but shrubs will recover if the winter is normal and the spring of 1922 favourable. Fruit trees on the whole seem to have got through very well. There is a good deal of weak growth. The most noticeable feature was the late fall of the leaf on many Apples. There is a fair show of fruit buds on Apples, Pears and Plums. Vegetables were damaged, and in many cases winter greens had to be planted two or three times before a crop was established. Potatos were a light crop, and " growing ..ut." was very marked. Carrots were com- pletely checked in growth, and when rain came growth recommenced. The result is that most of the roots contain a hard core, and are useless for cooking. On the whole I should prefer to give an account of the effects of the drought about April or May, 1922. Charles C. A. Nix. Tilgate Forest Lodge, Crawley. Warwickshire. The outstanding feature of the abnormally hot summer at Ward End Park, Birmingham, was the remarkable recovery of grass. Situated on the top of rising land, the ground is practically a bank of sand and gravel, then fore grass showed the effect of the hot sun more than that on heavier land. The grass was burnt completely off, yet it recovered, and looks better than it ever did before by reason of the fact that one half was not cut and the plants seeded all over the place. Patches that have never had grass on before are now thickly covered with grass. The only trees or shrubs we have lost through the drought are thpse transplanted last season. Rhododendrons, although at one time they looked dead, broke into growth, and one of Cunningham's White was in full flower in August. Self-sown seed- lings of various flowers have been common. Collerette Dahlias which came up in the border last spring flowered well, but what surprised me most were two beds of Golden Verona Pelargonium — hundreds of seedlings came up at the end of July, and 90 per cent, were true to type, with golden foliage. Chrysan- themums were very dwarf, and varieties which in normal seasons grow 6 feet tall,' were only 2 feet 6 inches high. I left a few rows of Majestic Potatos in the ground until the first week in November, and found the secondary tubers were of suitable size for seed, and there were plenty of them. A. J. ISlgar, West End I'm/:, Birmingham. Norfolk. In answer to your inquiries concerning the effect of the drought of 1921 in my garden 1 must begin by stating that it is situated on the top of a hill, that the soil is very poor and sandy, and that I had no water to use for the garden, as I was fearful of my well (my only water supply) failing. Under these circum- stances it will be understood that my list of plants which have done well is a very small one. On the whole the fruit crop was wonderful. Pears, Apples and all small fruit, except Rasp- berries, were really good, and there was a half crop of Plums. Vegetables were very puoi and dried mo. January 7, 192-' THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. vn. Dick. son Robinson 's Features out of Dickson & robinson's —New Garden Seed Catalogue FREE The King's Seedsmen. dee Onion Garden Seeds 1922 QtCKSCW*BOI COCOA-NUT 10„ flicks A RoK •'*■« |/ Cathedral St., \1 Vegetable Seeds Seed. Po+ ickson & Robinson Cathedral St., Manchester A PRIVATE SEED-TESTING STATION Licensed under the MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE. Vlll. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 7, 1922. T. BATH & CO., LTD., Horticultural Builders and Hot Water Engineers (Head Offices and Showrooms, over 100,000 feet floor space), SAVOY STREET, LONDON, W.C.2. WORKS:— RILEY WORKS, HERNE HILL, LONDON, S.E. 743, OLD KENT ROAD, LONDON, S.E, OVER QUARTER MILE FRONTAGE. One hundred various buildings always erected. FIVE ACRES FLOOR SPACE. Over one thousand various buildings always in stock. Call and see the Houses being made and materials used, ^&F . *»i,rM*! /fr'.,.'*;if)l'^fl«miWHMVw(,HwwWl..... Estimates for every description of Horticultural Wood, Iron and Asbestos Build ings\F REE. 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Sold by all Seedsmen, or from the sole makers : KIRK & CO., 19, Salamander Street, LEITH. CANNON HALL MUSCAT Grown with Bull's Food for Plants at Menpes Fruit Farm. MENPES FRUIT FARM, LTD. Dear Sirs, For many years we have exclusively used your " Food for Plants " for our Vines, and the results have invariably been all that could b: desired. Please repeat our last season's order for 3 tons and oblige. Yours faithfully, \For Menpes Fruit Farm, Ltd., ftrUS^, Manager- Per cwt., 36/-; 56 lbs , 19/-; 28 lb... 10/6 ; 14 lbs., 6/- ; 7 lbs., 3/6. Tins, 10d,, 1/8 and 3/6. Supplied by all Seedsmen and Nurserymen Sole Manufacturers : BULL'S PLANT FOOD Co. Chelsea Works, Lewisham, LONDON, S.E. 13. January 7, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. Plants which have withstood the drought are Roses, Fremontia californica, Romneya Cnulteri, all the Chinese species of Berberis, Lilfura Henryi, Zauschnei'ia californica, Oxalis valdiviana, 0. lobata, 0. purpurata, Saxifraga cochlearis major, S. pyrenaica, S. Cotyledon, S. pyramidalis, S. longifolia, Androsace sarmentosa, A. Chumbyi, and all the Cotoneasters. Plants that died from the effects of the drought in this garden include almost ail the mossy Saxifrages, S. Aizoon, S. Aizoon rosea, S. oppositifolia, and S. Elizabethae; Poten- tilla nitida, Desfontainea epinosa, all the Pernettyas, Paeonia lutea, and many Thuya Lobbii, 8 ft. high, in a hedge. Practically the whole of the plants in the large herbaceous borders were reduced to dried sticks with shrivelled flowers (if any). All the different varieties of Ericas except E. stricta and mediterranea, Daphne Cneorum, 1J. Blagayana, Saxifraga apieulata. S. sancta, and Androsace lanuginosa all suffered badly. Montbretias (a speciality here) had their leaves all driid up and smothered with red spider. All Primulas and Gladioli suffered. Sydney Morris, Earlham Hall, Norwich. (To be continued.) of a finger, the younger incurved like the horns of a bull." Flowers sessile; stigmas 8. M. taurinum. Haw., Syno,,., p. 224 (1884). I think it probable that to this species should be referred M. angustum, Salm. Dyck, Hort. Dyck., 1818, p. 17, and Mes., §7, f. 6 and 6B (not of Haworth, but named by the latter M. angustum var. pallidum, Rev., p. 101, with the statement that it is "perhaps a distinct species or variety of another species "). Its flowers are 2-^-25 in. in diameter. 12. G. praepingue, N. E. Br. Leaves ob- liquely cruciate, not depressed, up to 3 in. long, some tongue-shaped with the points obliquely in- curving, others narrower without any oblique curve or ridge near the point, others with subu- late triangular or broad compressed points, bent and ending in a soft white bristle, whitish or shining near their bases, or as if frosted over with exceedingly minute papillae, when young minutely ciliate. Flower about 2 in. in dia- meter, nearly sessile, or according to Salm. Dyck with a pedicel 9-10 lines long. Stigmas 8. M. praepingue, Haw., Obs., p. 179 (1794); Salm. Dyck, Mes., §7, f. 5. 13. G. cruciatum. N. E. Br. Leaves exactly CTiiciate (but the pair as figured by Salm. Dyck MESEMBRYANTHEMUM AND SOME NEW GENERA SEPARATED FROM IT. (Continued from page 336, Vol. LXX. ) 10. G. longum, N. E. Br.— Leaves 2-ranked, tongue or strap-shaped, 3-5 in. long and about 3 in. broad, ascending or spreading, moderately straight, variablv obtuse or more or less hooked at the apex. Pedicels up to 2 in. or more long. Flower 2-2£ in. in diameter. Capsule 6-7 lines in diameter, slightly domed at the top. M. longum, Haw. Obs., p. 177 (1794), founded upon M. foliis linguiformi longiore, Dillen., Hort. Kith., p. 238, t. 185, f. 227; N. E. Br. in Journ. Linn. Soc. hot., v. 45, p. 70. M. lingmfornie, D. C, PI. Grasses, t. 71, not of Linne. M. lucidum, Haw., Suppl., p. 89 (1819), and Rev., p. 96. M. adscendens. Haw., Synop., p. 220 (1812). not of Salm. Dyck. This species is distinguished from the •others 'that Tiave 2-ranked leaves, by the ascending leaves and long pedicels. But in his Revisiones, p. 96, Haworth seems to have substituted a different plant, with several varieties to it, having sessile or subsessile flowers. With the exception of the variety uncatnm quoted under G. uncatum (p. 336, 1921), I can find no clue to what plants these may have been, but think it quite possible they may have been hybrid forms raised from seeds pro- duced in Europe, and I feel sure that several of the forms now cultivated under this and various other names are also of hybrid origin. The plant figured as M. heterophyllum, Jackson in Andrews Bot. Rep., v. 8, t. 540 (not of Haworth), I suspect to have been one of these seminal forms. It has very long leaves irregularly incurved-hooked at the apex, pressed to the ground and flowers about 2J,- in. in dia- meter on pedicels an inch or more long. Haworth (Rev., p. 102) names this plant M. angustum var. heterophyllum, but according to his original description of M. angustum, it has nothing in common with that species. It may be the same as M. longum var. flaccidum, Haw., Syno;)., p. 22. A. A. — Leaves not in two regular ranks, but pointing in various directions, the pairs crossing one another obliquely or rarely at right angles. * Leaves usually broader than thick, flat above, without a hump or teeth on the flat face. 11. G. taurinum, N. E. Br. Leaves oliliouely cruciate, half-cylindric, obtuse, very thick, incurved, " less cruciate than M. cruciatum, usually somewhat finger-like and nearly the size that of the capsule, is made from Salm. Dyck's. figure, as Haworth's original description is rather vague, and does not agree very well with Salm. Dyck's figure and description. But 1 think there can be no doubt that both descrip- tions refer to the same plant, the difference being caused by Haworth having described from a young plant that had not assumed the adult form. In his Revisiones, p. 100, he describes three varieties besides the type, all of which he states were received from Salm. Dyck. Original drawings of some of these varieties made in. 1823 and 1826 are preserved at Kew, and merely represent young plants not arrived at maturity, and as they seem better to agree with. Haworth's description, support my above expressed view that he described from immature plants. * * Leaves nearly cylindric, ascending, with- out teeth on the face. 15. G. arrectum, N. E. Br. (new species. Fig. 5). Leaves 2-3 (rarely 4) pah' to each branch or growth, suberect or ascending-spreading, usually more or less curved, and the pairs set obliquely to one another, 2-3 inches long. 3£-5 lines broad near the base and 3-4 l:nes thick. FlG. -■ — GLOTTIFHYLLUM ARRECTUM. X. E. BR. (NATCBAL SIZE; are obliquely crossing each other), 3-in. iong, 1 in. broad at the base; all old leaves appear swollen ( ? convex) on the upper side, particularly near the somewhat dilated base. Pedicels stout, 1 2 in. long, of equal thickness to the very calyx. Flowers large. Petals not so long as those of M. difforme, but broader. Stigmas 8-9. M. cruciatum, Haw., Obs., p. 173 (1794), and Misc., p. 35; Salm. Dyck, Mes., §7, f. 7. If Salm. Dyck's figure correctly represents Haworth's species, the leaves are unequal, much curved, 2-4 in. long and 6-9 lines broad, semi- terete, flat above nearly to the obtuse tip. Pedicels 2 in. long. Flower 2^ in. in diameter. 14. G. Salmii, N. E. Br. Leaf-pairs crossing one another, variously curved, 3-4 in. long, 7-9 lines broad at the base, thence tapering to an acute point, flat above, convex beneath, with the apical part sometimes obliquely prolonged beyond the flat surface and laterally compressed or keeled. Flowers sessile, 2-2£ in. in diameter. Capsule depressed, half included. M. Salmii, Haw., Suppl., p. 89 (1819); Link and Oto, Icon. PI. Sel., p. 95, t. 44; Salm. Dyck Mes., §7, f. 8. The above description, with the exception of somewhat cylindric, but with the inner face more or less flattened, not at all keeled on the back, acute or subobtuse, smooth, glabrous, light green, not at all glaucous nor dotted. Flowers subsessilo or on pedicels 1-2 lines long and li line thick. Calyx 4-lobed ; lobes 3-4^ lines long and as much in breadth, broadly ovate, obtuse, green, all with membranous margins. Corolla 2-3 inches in diameter, cup-shaped, expanding in sunshine, scentless; petals about 50, in 1 series, lax, 12-16 lines long and about 1 line broad, linear, very obtuse or subtruncate and notched at the apex, bright yellow on both sides. Stamens numerous, erectly spreading in a ring around the stigmas; filaments pale yellow ; anthers darker yellow. Stigmas 7-8. widely spreading, about 2 lines long, lanceolate, acute, plumose, pale yellowish-green. Capsule, subglobose, with a high dome-like top, 3-5 lines in diameter, 7-8 valved. Sent to me from Sevenfontein in Swellendam Division, by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans. 6922. It [lowered in September, 1921. This species is easil j distinguished from all ill.' others by its ascending, nearly cylindric leaves. .V. E. Brown. T o be continued.) 10 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 7, 1922. SCARLET TOMATO-FRUITED EGG PLANT. Perhaps a few further notes on this ornamen- tal plant (see p. 269, vol. LXX.) may be of inte- rest. It is not an Egg Plant, though related to the Egg Plant. The fruits are quite different, both externally and internally. Nor is it a Tomato, though the fruits externally resemble an early form of the Tomato. The confusion of the name with Solanum ovigerum, which is an Egg Plant, doubtless arose because by accident a Continental firm appears to have disti-ibuted seed of this plant under the name S. ovigerum. Dunal (1852) dis- tinguished a plant which was growing in a gar- den under the name S. texanum, and said it was distinct, but not very dissimilar from S. integri- folium, Poiret, which he places next to it. Some botanists since his time (Kew apparently among them) have placed the two species, as he con- sidered them, together, as not so distinct from one another as to be regarded as more than forms of one species, which would then have the older name of S. integrifolium. Dunal's plant was figured in Ic. pict. fac. sc. Monsp., vol. 9, t. 857, and he states, " Habitus S. csculenti," i e., the Egg Plant. The seed from which it was grown was sent from Texas, but not directly. S. integrifolium is native in Mauritius, and was figured by Jacquin in Hortus Botanicus Vindobonensis, t. 12, and elsewhere under the name of S. aethiopicum, but it was known long before his time. Apparently the same thing appeared in Robert Morison's Plantarum Hisioriae Universalis Oxonicnsis (1715), sect. 13, t. 2, vol. 3, p. 525, under the name S. pomi- ferum, fructu rotundo, striate, duro, and Caspar Bauhin mentions it in his Pinax (1623), and J. Bauhin in his Historia (3, p. 920), while Dodoens refers to it as Mala aethiopica in Stirpium Historiae Pemptades Sex (1616) 459. It is thus an old plant well known to early botanists. F. J. Chittenden, Wisley. CHINESE RHODODENDRON SEEDLINGS AND LIME. In 1920 Professor C. S. Sargent, Director of the Arnold Arboretum, very kindly sent me some Chinese Rhododendron seeds collected in 1919 by Forest, in Yunnan. The soil in this district of Vancouver Island has very little, if any, lime in it; the ground for miles is covered with such plants as Gaultheria, Vacci- nium, Kalmia, Ledum, Bleehnum, Linnaea, .and other subjects known to prefer soil of a peaty nature, and the only Rhododendron that ever failed with me as regards soil was a batch of either R. hirsutum or R. ferrugineum. I •don't remember which now, but it was the want of lime that killed them. I divided each packet of the seeds sent me by the Arnold Arboretum, and on June 4. 1920, sowed one half in a box with the ordinary soil, the other in a compost of one ounce of air-slaked lime — that had been exposed to sun and rain for years — to each pound of foil. The seeds, placed in a cool, half-shaded situa- tion, germinated at about the same time and at the same rate in both boxes, but the seed- lings in the lime mixture soon turned brown, and to-day not one of them is alive, and the box now has a covering of green moss, in which over a dozen different species of flower- ing plants, including a Mountain Oak (some- times associated with Rhododendrons in the Himalayas) is growing, showing that there -could have been nothing poisonous in the soil and that the percentage of lime could not be considered excessive. Owing, no doubt, to the long distance they had travelled, the Yunnan *eeds germinated very poorly compared with a sample of home-saved R. californicum, sown as a test in the lime mixture, but now also dead. Those alive, in the box with the ordi- nary soil, are numbered P. No. 15745, F. No. 17827, F. No. 13769. R. detoulum: F. No. 15667, R. Scottianum ; F. No. 17828, and F. No. 15736. The last two numbers had very fine seeds, and the seedlings look as if they might he deciduous. George Fraser. Ucluellet, Van- couver Island, B.C HOME CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents.] Freeing a Pond from Weeds. — From my note recommending swans for the extermination of Potamogetons (see p. 304, vol. LXX.) it might be inferred that some other weeds would also be exterminated. This, I daresay, may be expected, but swans are far from being indiscriminate feeders, and they will not touch perhaps the majority of those weeds that are the least desir- able. After the extermination of several kinds of Potamogeton, I have found them of little use. The only way of dealing effectively with a weedy pond is to drain it and dig out the weeds that root in the mud. This I have had to do a number of times. Loose floating vegetation like Limnanthemum can be dealt with quite effectively in summer by a man with a punt, and a rake, it might be with assistants, one on each side of the pond, with a rope end each to keep the punt in position. I have found that very little good can be done with scythe blades strung together. If the pond is not too deep, it is possible for a man to wade into it and pull out the young growths of Typha, which often extend very inconveniently. For the cleaning out of a pond, by which is meant the removal of weeds, some years ago I got an estimate of 6d. per square yard from a firm of drainage contractors, but at that time it was possible to do the work for much less by hiring one's own men. I have never adopted the scheme, but I have often thought I should like to try the plan of diverting the water supply and culti- vating the bed of the pond until all the water plants were dead. It would then be possible to plant only the choicest and most desirable sorts, exercising a very careful Index Expurga- tortus. First on this list I would place Nuphar luteum, which seeds freelv and quickly becomes a nuisance. Very carefully I would keep out Polygonum nmphibium. which I have known to grow in the deepest water of the pond, and also apparently from the same stock on the driest ground of the whole garden. Waterfowl are not now in question, but they may cause a con- siderable amount of work and trouble bv pulling down the banks and making very ugly breaks in the curves determined upon. I have never seen the plan referred to. but at Cambridge. Whereof I write, the difficulty was effectively and easily overcome by laving wire netting on tlhe turf. It was soon hidden by the grass, and few, I believe, ever knew of its presence. To meet the turf margin from the water it is of great value to have the bank lined with old bricks, unless some more expensive method to accom- plish the same end is preferred. R. Inrin lynch, V.M.H. Exocorda Albertii (Regel).— Doubtless as the result of the past abnormal summer and mild autumn, Exocorda Albertii is flowering (Decem- ber 13) sparingly on the bare shoots of this year's growth. The racemes are shorter, flowers smaller and more compact, suggesting at a little distance the white variety of Daphne Mezereum. an impression enhanced by the leafless branches, though naturally the habit of growth is not the same. I would like to know if plants elsewhere have behaved in a similar manner. There are no flowers on E. macrantha or E. grandiflora. A. Ii. H., Smeaton, East Lothian- Iris unguicularis. — This Iris, established in a row at the foot of a south wall, continues to produce its fragrant blue flowers During December the border has been most beauti- ful— a mass of blue colour. It has been flower- ing since the middle of October in very poor soil, and flowers have been cut almost daily. They are best cut in the bud state and opened in water, and when cut down as low as pos- sible they last longer than those with a com- paratively short length of stem. I attribute the early flowering of this Iris to the unusually long dry, warm season. James A Paice, Alden- ham Vicarage Garden. Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. — Referring to your recent reference to the measurements of ■plants of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine grown at Hindhead Court, it may be of interest to give the dimensions of those grown at King's Walden Bury. Several houses are occupied by Winter- flowering Begonias, one house being wholly given up to B. Optima, in 5-inch and 6-inch pots. Of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, several in 10- inch pots have a circumference of 7 ft. 6 in., diameter 3 ft. and height 2 ft. 9 in. Some twenty plants, including the white Turnford Hall form in 6-inch pots, measure 6 ft. 6 in. in circumference, 2 ft. 4 in. in diameter, and 2 ft. high. The sticks which support these plants are practically hidden by the foliage and the masses of flower. A. J. E art- less, King's Walden Bury Gardens. Wilt in Melons. — In answer to the inquiry by " Ardtara " (page 316, vol. LXX.), regarding the application of sulphate of copper, I dust the powder freely on the Melon stem from base up- wards, at frequent intervals. One tablespoonful of sulphate to a gallon of water, syringed over the foliage, leaves a deposit which is also bene- ficial. This remedy was kindly suggested to me in answer to an inquiry in Gard. Chron. last spring. Sulphate of copper does not prevent the disease, but prolongs the life of the plant attacked and allows it to finish good fruit. Without its use, my plants have always col- lapsed when the fruit begins to net. One of our leading mycologists is studying the disease from plants I'have sent him. Melons were a success here until 1914 ; since then, I have had "Wilt," even in houses in which Melons have never been grown before. Anxious. Doubling in Stocks. — I have been, and still am, very much interested in the articles and correspondence relating to the doubling of Stocks. Personally, as a young student of Men- delian Law, I support Miss Saunders in her statements; incidentally my experience also coincides with hers. As someone seeking the light where it is not (for does not the mature i xneriences of these competent gardeners, Messrs. Brotherston and Taylor, shut out the vista which Mendel had opened before us), I ask why do these two gentlemen not proceed to enlighten us upon their method of defying fundamental laws. I would far rather believe that the much derided scientist is right and that the Lothian methods are, after all, only a perpetuation of the abnormal. I also observe Mr. Brotherston's remarks (page 97, vol. LXX.) relative to the history of Mal- maison Carnations, which remarks apply equally to other subjects, vegetable or floral. A strong constitution is only to be got when based upon a good pedigree, and in starting new stocks it is often only possible to work upon tradition, the results of which are only known in all their several details to the breeder himself, and some- times, maybe, his superiors. I do not think that Messrs. Brotherston and Taylor would really wish to contradict Miss Saunders, who merely states a scientific fact supported by practical demon- stration and general experience, so that I have no doubt thev will willingly elucidate any mystery (if there is one) surrounding their statements. G. R. Sargeant, Kelso. Oncidium ornithorhynchum.— This pretty species has recently passed out of flower. As soon as new roots are observed at the base of the new growths, the plant should receive attention. If the pots are of a suitable size and the compost in good condition, the latter need only to be resurfaced with fresh material. Some may, however, require repotting, and such should be attended to at this stage. The plants succeed best in a position near the roof glass in an intermediate house. J. C. Rare British Orchids.— If Mr. G. Claridge Drace will refer to that delightful book on natural history, A Hundred Years in the High- lands, by Osgood Mackenzie (Arnold, 1920), he will there find a record of the discovery of that rare Orchid — Cephalanthera rubra — at the Gair- loch. The late Lord Avebury pointed out with pride to several naturalists, including the late Professor Marshall Ward, quite a little colony of this Orchid, growing by the margin of the racecourse at High Elms. Since that time I have again seen it, where long may it remain undisturbed. A lengthy descriptions of Orchis maoulata praecox will be found in the second edition of my British Orchids, and more fully in the Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. A. D. Webster. January 192 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 11 FRUIT REGISTER. APPLE NORFOLK BEAUTY. In the coloured plate accompanying this issue we present" our readers with an illustration of Apple Norfolk Beauty, a variety rirst exhibited by Mr. W. Allan (gr. to Lord Suffield), Gunton Park, Norwich, at a meeting of the Royal Hor- ticultural Society held on October 15, 1901, when it was granted an Award of Merit. He ex- hibited it again on December 9, 1902, when a First Class Certificate was awarded. Norfolk Beauty appears to have resulted from a cross between Warner's King and Waltham Abbey .Seedling, as these two varieties were growing closely together where the seedling appeared and the fruits bear some resemblance to both. The Apple is a culinary variety in use from October to December. The fruits are large, round, slightly flattened, lemon yellow in colour, with a faint red flush ; the closed eye is set in a moderately deep and plaited basin round which are more or less prominent, knobs. The long and thin stem is set in an even, narrow and russety cavity. It is an excellent culinary variety, of good flavour and crops well. Apple Norfolk Beauty was introduced to commerce in 1902 and is already regarded as one of the standard early sorts. APPLE CALVILLE BLANC. To the aged or toothless, this Apple is most commendable, as it has flesh of remark- able tenderness, not unlike that of James ■Grieve when in first-rate condition, the texture being soft and Pear-like, with a sugary juice, sub-acid and refreshing. The tree requires a warm situation, and does well only as a cordon, espalier or bush. It is also suitable for growing as a pot tree in cold orchard houses, and is very productive if stood in proximity to Bismarck or Worcester Pearmain. The keeping qualities extend to March, if properly stored. It is a very old French variety, and was known in the 16th century. /. L. DAMSONS. Whilst planting Damsons in the hedgerows in Herefordshire and Shropshire — from which pro- lific crops are obtained— the thought often occurred to me that the majority of gardeners plant Damson trees in too rich a soil, thus accounting for the trees being unproductive. My contention is, this particular member of the Prunus family should have a restrictive root run consisting of soil well charged with lime and lime phosphates, such as is provided in mortar rubble, bone-meal and basic slag, I have particularly noticed how well certain varieties do in one place compared with their comparative failure in another. Large crops of fine, luscious fruits may be obtained from bush- formed trees, especially of the Merryweather and Ring's Early Damson. For standard planting, I prefer 'Bradley's King, which makes a tree of medium size, with oval-shaped, deep black fruits having a beautiful bloom and of brisk, sweet flavour. The growth \>{ this variety is moderate, and the tree most fertile. B'arleigh or Cluster Damson is a late keeping variety. The fruits are oval, small, and of good flavour. The growth is compact, and the tree of great fertility. The variety Frogmore is the sweetest of all the Damsons, and when the fruits are perfectly finished and ripe they are suitable for dessert. They are roundish-oval in shape and coloured purplish-black with a thick blocm. The tree grows vigorously and is most productive. Pomona.. SOME GOOD LATE PEARS. Glou Morceau is one of the best late Pears, but the fruit should be allowed to hang on the tree until they are thoroughly ripe. I have gathered this variety on November 20, having covered the tree with a double layer of fish netting to ward off frost. It is a good sized fruit, and when put on the table in good con- dition is very refreshing and buttery. Beurre d'Aremberg is another very good late Pear. Marie Benoist is a large Pear, and is in season through December. Its flavour is not, perhaps, so luscious as some, but it is accept- able as a large and handsome fruit at the pre- sent season. Princess is another late variety of good flavour. Winter Nelis, from trees on a N.W. wall, is a fine flavoured Pear, and may be kept until Christmas. I consider this one of the best of all late Pears. For cooking purposes, no variety is superior to Catillac or Pound Pear. Moreover, the tree is a free grower and good cropper, and it seldom fails to fruit on any kind of soil. Uvedale's St. Germain is also very good from now onwards till April. I have grown upwards of 80 varieties of Pears, and consider these the best for use at the end of December. W. A. Cook. PEAR CONFERENCE. A well-known pomologist declared in our hearing that if he were restricted to a single Pear for his garden he would chose the variety SOCIETIES. MANCHESTER AND NORTH OF ENGLAND ORCHID. December 15. — Committee present : The Rev. J. Crombleholme (in the chair), Mrs. Slingsby, Messrs. R. Ashworth, Dr. F. Bedford, B. J. Beckton, J. Birchenall, A. Burns. A. Coningsby, J. Cypher, A. G. Ellwood, J. Evans, W. Giles, Dr. R. N. Hartley, J. Howes, A. Keeling, J. Lupton, D. McLeod, F. K. Sander, E. W. Thompson, and H. Arthur. Awards. First-Class Certificates. Cypripedium Dalmatian: The large, white, dorsal sepal has a green base spotted with purple; the petals and pouch are reddish-brown. C. Elise var. Grand Monarch (Hermes X Lady Dillon) : A variety with very large, flat, dorsal sepal that has a white-green base, and heavy purple spots; the petals and pouch are light brown, Odontoglossum Princess Mary: An exceptionally Fig. 6. — a well-cropped espalier tree of pear conference. Conference. This high praise is certainly merited by the variety, for, in addition to its prolific and consistent fruiting qualities, it possesses the merit of hardiness and grows well in most kinds of soil. The variety is named from the National Pear Conference held in 1885 at Chiswick, when it was shown by Messrs. T. S. Rivers and Son, The fruits have a very characteristic appear- ance and may be easily recognised. They are pyriform in shape with a dark green skin that fades to pale yellow when ripe, with much russet spotting. The flesh is pale" yellow, very juicy, melting and of good flavour. Because of its hardiness and fine cropping qualities this Pear is extensively cultivated :by market growers, and those with small gardens will find it one of the most suitable for their purpose, as it succeeds splendidly trained as a cordon. Fruits from trees on warm walls are of ex- ceptionally fine quality ; an espalier tree trained on a south wall at the Node, Welwyn, is illustrated in Fig. 6, but the fruits shown re- present only a portion of the crop, as some had been gathered before the photograph was taken. fine, white flower heavily blotched with deep reddish-brown. From S. Gratrix, Esq. Cypripedium Eurt/biades Bedfordiae: The large, white dorsal sepal has a green base and deep purple spots; the petals and lip are greenish-brown. C. Sanacdcrae Bedfordiae: The dorsal sepal is clear white, green base, petals and pouch greenish-yellow. From Dr. F. Bedford. Odontoglossum St. Edmund (Jasper X spectabile) : A fine flower of good shape with bluish-purple markings. O. Ithone Edgemoor var. : A large flower with a white ground, blotched with intensely deep claret-brown. From A. Hanmer, Esq. Cypripedium Grey Friar (Grovesianum var. Richard Ashworth X Traceyanum var. Lad} Evelyn James) : The dorsal sepal is white with a green base and small purple spots; the petals are yellowish-green with a brown line in the centre; the lip is yellowish-green. From Dr. H. N. Hartley. < \, I, in/In' Harriett: A beautiful large white flower. Prom the Hon. Robert James. 12 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 7. 1922. Awards of Merit. Cypripedium amberleyense (Lady Dillon X Mrs. Mostyn), Piccaninii (majesticum x Leeander superba), C. Brilliantissimitm, C. Birk- dalense var. Chanticleer, from Hy. Green, Esq. C. Trebizona, C. Monte (Farrieanum x nitens), Odontoglossum crispum Medusae, from S. Gratrtx, Esq. Cymbidium Mastersii Cusson's var., from A. T. Cussons, Esq. Cypripedium Challenger (Curtmanii x Beryl West Point var.), from A. Hanmer, Esq. C. Ray Hartley (Earl Tankerville x alportense), from Dr. R. N. Hartley. Groups. Lt.-Col. Sir George Holford, K.C.V.O., Westonbirt, Tetbury (gr. Mr. H. G. Alexander), staged a group of Cypripediums, for which a Gold Medal was awarded. Mrs. Bruce and Miss Wrigley, Bury (gr. Mr. A. Burns), were awarded a Silver-Gilt Medal for- a group of Cypripediums. S. Grathix, Esq., West Point (gr. Mr. J. Howes) was also awarded a Silver- Gilt Medal for a group of Cypripediums. H. Green, Esq., Birmingham (gr. Mr. G. W. Marsh), was awarded a Large Silver Medal for a group of Cypripediums. A. Hanmer, Esq., Buxton (gr. Mr. G. Giles), was also awarded a Large Silver Medal for Cypripediums. A. T. Cussons, Esq., Kersal (gr. Mr. F. Cookson), staged a group for which a Silver Medal was awarded. Silver Medals were also awarded to Messrs. Cypher and Sons. Cheltenham, and Messrs. Sanders, St. Albans, for collections. TRADE NOTE. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. ©bituarp. George Baxter Sharpe.— It is with great regret we have to record the death of Mr. George Baxter Sharpe, which occurred on the 24th ult., following an operation. Mr. Sharpe served his apprenticeship with Messrs. William Paul and Son, of Waltham Cross, and afterwards spent some time with Messrs. William Bull and Sen, of Chelsea, but for the past 45 years he was propagator and grower at Hollamhy's Nur- series, Groombridge, where he was held in the highest esteem by employer, fellow-employees and all who knew him. The funeral took place at Eridge Green on Wednesday, the 28th ult. William Edward Bisset — It is with deep re- gret we announce the death of Mr. Wm. E. Bisset, Show Superintendent of the Royal Horti- cultural Society. Mr. Bisset, who was 55 years of age, passed away at a nursing home on Thursday, the 29th ult., the cause of death bedng cancer, and was buried at West Nor- wood Cemetery on Monday last. During the eight years Mr. Bisset had been in the service of the R.H.S. he made many friends in the horticultural world, and with ready courtesy was always eager to give ewery assistance to exhibitors and to promote the fcrtterests of the Society and of horticulturists generally. He was formerly in the service of Messrs. Milner, Son and White, and we understand that for a time he was also engaged in farming at Brighton. He rendered valuable assistance in connection with the International Horticultural Exhibition of 1912, and it was in the following year that he was engaged by the R.H.S. to assist in the organisation of their exhibitions. The shows at Chelsea and Holland House involve a large amount of work, and fit is notoriously no light task to satisfy all the exhibitors' require- ments; yet Mr. Bisset did his part in the organisation of these great exhibitions to the satisfaction of everyone. We understand that a fund is beJing raised in aid of Mr. Bisset's widow and that Mr. Frank Reader of the R.H.S., who is acting as treasurer, is prepared to receive subscriptions from all who desire to show their appreciation of Mr-. Bisset's services to horticulture. Dr. John. Harley. — We regret to announce the death, at Beedings, Pulborough, on the 9th ult., of Dr. John Harley, aged 88. Dr. Harley was a prominent geologist, but he was also interested in botany, and his memoir on the parasitism of the Mistleto was published by the Linnean Society in 1863. At a recent meeting of the Transport Sub- committee of the Chamber of Horticulture, the Secretary submitted a memorandum from the railway companies setting forth modifications to their proposed classification in respect of the nursery side of horticulture, which have already- been published in detail. The Committee briefly discussed these niodificatons, and with the ex- ception of evergreens, they were considered very satisfactory, giving a lasting benefit to traders. A message was received from the Railway Clearing House, that the companies had con- sidered the formulae with respect to shrubs and plants, submitted the previous week, and they could not see their way to modify their proposed classification in these commodities, on the grounds that the formulae were not suffi- ciently distinctive and would be liable to abuse. This Committee was of opinion that they should stand or fall by their previous decisions in this respect, and agreed to recommend that the Chamber carry this matter to the Rates Advisory Committee, whose decision in matters of re- classification is final and binding. The meeting agreed to recommend that cases pressing for lower classification as to bulbs and evergreens also be prepared, and it was resolved to draw up a full report to the Parliamentary and Transport Committee, outlining: — (1) What modifications have been conceded by the railways; (2) Ob- jections that have been lodged and rejected; (3) Request for permission to proceed before the Rates Advisory Committee. The question of expenses in this matter was brought forward by the Secretary, and it was generally thought that each association concerned should contribute equal proportions thereto. NEW HORTICULTURAL INVENTIONS. Latest Patent Applications. 31.277. — Deutsche Gold and Silber-Scheideans. -talt. — Treatment of seeds for agricultural purposes. — November 22. 31,165. — Holmes, R. — Plant fertiliser. — Novem- ber 22. 31,268. — Savage. A. J. — Hand tool for cultivat- ing and scarifying land. — November 22. 32.310.— Llewellyn, G. E.— Combined shovel and fork. etc. — December 2. 52,116. — Rasmussen. E. — Material for fumi- gating plants, and process of using it. — November 30. 30.280.— Ballantyne, J. B.— Beehives.— Novem- ber 14. Specifications Published last Month. 171,155.— Broadbridge, W.— Production of fer- tiliser. 171,744.— Edmonds, J.— Machine for spraying fruit and other trees or plants and crops generally. 171,784.— Western. C. J.— Construction of hand grubber or hoe. Abstract Published last Month. Teaching Gardening. — An apparatus for teaching gardening has been invented by Mr. C. H. Jones, of 14, Custom House Street, Aberystwyth. It consists of an oblong frame having flanges along adjacent sides, and a series of oblong troughs of wood or light material, whose length is less than the width of the frame and which represent garden plots. The uncovered parts of the frame repre- sent an alley and a path respectively. Grooves are provided to carry off drainage water. The device is used to illustrate the series of crops or plants, and plants so raised may be trans- ferred to the garden. For those who desire further particulars of the invention, the patent number is 170.198. This list is specially compiled for Thr Oar- deners* Chronicle by Messrs. Ravner and Co., registered patent agents, of 5. Chancery Lane, London, from whom all information relating to patents, trade-marks, and designs can be obtained gratuitously. Messrs. Rayner and Co. will obtain printed copies of the published specifications, and will forward them, post free, for the sum of Is. each. Dwarf Shrubs to Flower from July tc December : E. D. The Heaths which would be in flower during the period named would include Daboecia polifolia, Erica ciliaris, E. ciliaris Mawiana, E. Mackaii, E. Tetralix and its varieties alba, mollis and Williamsii ; E- vagans and the varieties alba, grandiflora, St. Keverne and rubra, and probably E. carnea and E. c. alba. Other shrubs which, no doubt* would be suitable for your purpose are Ceanothus americanus, C azureus, Clethra alnifolia, Escallonia montevidensis, E. Philippi- ana, Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, Indigo- fera Gerardiana, Daphne Mezereum grandiflora and D. Cneorum. Estimate for Making Lawns : A. C: It is- impossible to suggest any but very approxi- mate costs of garden work without a personal knowledge of the nature of the ground and local conditions as regards labour. If you have- reasonable doubts as to the fairness of any estimates submitted, it may probably be worth while, before coming to any decision, to call in a consultant who, after viewing the ground, would be able to advise you on the point ; but as rough guides, we may say that •we should consider a fair price for making and sowing tthe lawn with best grass seed and protecting the latter, from birds would be. on a level site and ordinary soil, about £30- For the cricket pitch, as stated, probablv the cost would be about £55. But it should be clearly understood that these figures must only be considered as rough estimates - N imes of Fruit : J. S. 1, Blenheim Pippin ; 2, Gascoyne's Scarlet; 3, Barnack Beauty. — C. T. 1, Hambledon Deux Ans; 2. Bess Pool ; 3, American Mother ; 4, Reinette de Caux ; 5, Mannington's Pearmain : 6, Cal- ville St. Sauveur; 7, Benoni ; 8, Scarlet Non- pareil ; 9, Duke of Devonshire ; 10, Tyler's Kernel; 11, Fondante du Panisel ; 12. Autumn Xelis ; 13, Glou Morceau. Names of Plants : II. B. M . Cymbidium giganteuni. — E. B. Schizostylis coccinea. Market Bunches of Flowers : 77. L. It i- usual to place from twelve to eighteen stems of Sweet Peas in a market bunch, the number varying according to the amount of flowers on each stem. Nine to twelve stems go to form a bunch of early-flowering Chrysanthe- mums, while six to twelve stems of Storks are placed in a bunch according to their size : side shoots are usually bunched in dozens, and main shoots in sixes Twelve Asters con- stitute a market bunch. Rating of Commercial Glasshouses : 77. L. The rateable value of glasshouses is assessed by tin- owner, or whether they are removable as they U-arn that they have been constructed, just as with other buildings. There are no fixed rules to guide them in arriving at the value, except in such districts as Worthing, where the glasshouse industry is of consider- able importance. It makes no difference whether the glasshouses are rented or used by the owner, or whether they are removable or not. Sunk Garden. B. A. L. — We have no plans or illustrations of sunk gardens ,ther than those which have appeared at various times in our pages. Wall Shrubs: A. 77. In addition to the Roses and Ivies, the following is a list of plants suitable for clothing the wall. Actinidia ohinensis, Ceanothus Veitchiaims, Clematis montana, C. montana rubens, C. Beauty of Worcester, C. Countess of Lovelace, C. Duchess of Edinburgh, C .Tacknianii superba, C. Lady Northcliffe,. C. Marcel Moser, C. Nelly Moser. C. Ville de Lyon, Eleagnus glabra variegata, Jasminum officinale, Lonicera Late Dutch, Polygonum Baldschuanicum, Wistaria sinensis, Vitis Coignetiae V. Thunbergii and Berberis stenophylla. All of the above may be obtained from a nurseryman dealing in trees and shrubs. Communications Received. — V>\ B. w. — A. M — W. J. M — H. I,.— T. G— W. A. C— D. A — Beginner— T. H — M. I! VV. J. B— A. C. B. January 14, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 13 THE (Sarfottm' (Kbrmtirk No. 1829.— SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1922. CONTENTS. 23 Apple Orleans "Reinette Appointment at Swan- ley Horticultural Col- lege .. Arnold Arboretum, dis- astrous storm at the Books, notices of — Flowering Plants of South Africa Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Trades' Year Book Sturtevant's Notes on Edible Plants Cheiranthus mntabilis, second flowering of . . Cultural memoranda — Melons Dickson, Mr. Alex. Drought and root- growth Drought of 1921 and its effect on garden plants Dutch bulb growers in England Fruit garden, the mar- ket „ ILLUSTRATIONS Dickson, Mr. Alex, portrait of Gladioli: Cameo 16: Dunlaps .. Magnolia soulangeana, flower of .. Primula Winteri Sweet Pea Mascotts Iagman 13 13 14 13 15 13 Gardeners' Chronicle " seventy-five years' ago Gladiolus in America . . Lardizabala biternata . . Mesenibryanthemum and some new genera separated from it . . Mistleto National Eose Society Orchids by passenger tram, carriage of Pea, Sweet, Mascotts Ingman Plants, thirteen good border Purdora, Mr. William, the late Societies — Perthshire and Forfar- shire Fruit Growers Watford Horticultural Trees and shrubs — iEsculus indica Magnolias The Western Plane Week's work, the Wisley , notes from 24 24 21 21 21 16 19 14 17 21 19 15 AVEnAGE Mean Temperature for the ensuing week deduced from observations during the last fifty years at Greenwich, 38.3. Actual temperature : — Gardeners Chronicle Oftiee, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London, Wednesday, January 11. 10 a.m. ; Bar. 30.4 ; temp. 43°. Weather — Sunny. The most striking manifestation The of the effect of the drought of Drought last year was the all but total and Root ^.Testation of the.growth of the Growth, aerial parts of recently-planted shrubs and trees. Throughout the spring and summer months such plants scarcely moved. Toward the end of the period of drought — or, at all events, in the latter part of the year when rain began to visit the earth, albeit in small quantities — such of these plants as had not been killed outright began to make some growth. In the majority, however, the amount of late growth made by the plants which we had under observation was but slight. It was therefore a surprise to us to discover when lifting numerous woodv shrubs which had been planted in nursery beds durin • the autumn of 1920 or the spring of 1921, that the amount of root growth which thev had made duiing the year of drought was in most cases amazingly great. It is true tuat the soil conditions were favourable to deep rooting, for the ground of the new nurserv quarter was reclaimed pasture and the turf had been buried somewhat deeply durina the digging. Hence supplies of moisture wi^rn conserved in the deeper layers of the soil, and it was doubtless in search of these stores that the roots went burrowing deeper and ever deeper. Nevertheless, we Dcnfess that we have never seen such root develop- ment as was made by these trees and shrubs. Cordon Apples and Pears on the Doucin stock, for example, the shoots of which had made next to no growth at all. had such masses of roots as would ordinarilv be found r.ot in one year but in three. Stranvaesia undulata Pytacantha Lalandii, P. Gibbsii, Olearia Haastii and numerous other snruhs showed alike abnormal root development. It would, of course, be rash to assume what took place in this particular garden is typi- cal ; nevertheless it would appear not un- likely that where plants were not kilted c utright, thev responded to the drought bv throwing all their energies into root growth, lhe sun, dry air and limited water 'supply would, of course, make the growth of shoots all but impossible, and for once in a wfvle we experienced in this country what is a normal occurrence in hot climates. ihus. as Mr. Balls has pointed out in his most interesting book on The Cotton Plant <>i Egypt, every day during the growing season when the Egyptian sun rises in a cloudless sky, all growth of the Cotton plant is ar- rested, to be resumed instantly each time a cloud passes over the face of the sun. Granted that this great root-growth was general during the drought of last year, we have one explanation of the otherwise puzzling fact that the leaves of trees hung much longer than is usual upon the branches. For it is reasonable to suppose that the large root development at last sufficed to provide ade- quate supplies of water to the shoots- It will be interesting to observe whether, as should be the case if these observations are correct, next season's growth is more vigor- ous than usual and whether fruit trees, for example, will not surprise us, not only t>v setting fruit freely, as to judge from their well-formed fruit buds they will, but also bv an abnormal vegetative growth. It would be indeed curious if one of the consequences of the drought of 1921 proved to be a need for extensive root-pruning to check the undue vegetative growth of 1922. Appointment at Swanley Horticultural College. — Miss L. H. Joshua has been appointed in charge of the decorative department at Swanley Horticultural College. Miss Joshua is an old student of Kew, and for the Dast ?■; years his been engaged in Messrs. R. Wallace and Co's nursery, as propagator in the hardy plant department. Her new duties will include Hie management of the plant houses and Sewer garden, and she will act as a lecturer on these subjects. Miss Joshua has many friends ;n the horticultural world who will wish her every success in her new sphere. Dutch Bulb Growers in England.— We learn that Messrs. De Graaff Bros., the well-known Dutch firm of bulb growers, have purchased about sixty acres of land near Spalding, in Lin- colnshire, for the purpose of a bulb farm. This, enterprise will be watched with great interest as it remains to be seen whether the Dutch growers .will be as successful in England as in their native land. Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Trades' Year Book.— The Year Booh * issued by The Fruit Trades' journal, is in the form of a quarto diary, allowing one week per page, together with a large amount of information of especial in- terest to those engaged or intimately connected with the fruit, flower and vegetable trades. The various wholesale and retail trade associations ore listed, as well as the names and addresses of their secretaries, and the principal floricultural societies are also included. The Florists' Calen- dar indicates the most popular flowers available during each month, while the Fruiterers' Calen- dar shows the average prices obtained for English and foreign fruit from January to November. 1921. Postal information, hints for sowing and planting the principal crops of vege- tables cultivated for market ; a spraying calen- dar, a fruiterers' ready-reckoner, tables of market weights and measures, a table of imports of fruits and references to the several London fruit, flower and vegetable markets are all in- cluded in this useful publication. * The Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Trades' Year Hook and Diary, 1322. Lockwood Press, 1, Mitre Court, l-'l.rt Sir. -I. 10 C I I'l- 2s. fid . 1'osl free. The Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution. — The eighty-second annual general meeting of the members and subscribers of this Institution wilL' be held at " Simpson's," 101, Strand, London,, on Thursday, January 26, 1922, at 2.45 p.m.,. for the purpose of receiving the report of the Committee and the accounts of the Institution (as audited) for the year 1921 ; electing officers for year 1922; and for the election of twenty annuitants on the funds. The chair will be taken by Sir Harry J. Veitch, V.M.H., Trea- surer and Chairman of Committee, at 2.45 p.m. The poll will be open at 3 p.m. and close at 4 p.m. Vegetation in the Island of Arran. — A corre- spondent in the Scotsman gives some interesting particulars of the climate of Arran, which en- joys an immunity from frost that is seldom ex- perienced on the mainland. Arran is separated from the Ayrshire coast by a stretch of the Firth of Clyde, which at its narrowest point measures 15 or 16 miles across. Not more than 5 or 4 degrees of ground frost have been registered therein recent years, and consequently vegeta- tion only occasionally receives a check, so that plants which are commonly grown under glass succeed in the open in that favoured island- Gardens in the neighbourhood of Whiting Bay contain fine specimens of Bamboo, Eucalyptus, Myrtle, and a Dracaena 12 feet high. Pelar- goniums planted in thei borders in 1915 remain undisturbed and uninjured. On New Year's Day, 1921, hybrid tea Roses from out-of-doors were employed for the decoration of the dinner table. At Couper-Angus such tender sugjects as Dahlias remain in the ground over the winter, and Lihum bulbs require no protection. In Arran Hall gardens, Clianthus puniceus blooms freely out-of-doors, whilst on the public high- ways hedges of Fuchsia and Escallonia macrantha are the admiration of visitors. Lilies do especially well in the island, and L. auratum grows to perfection at Ormidale. Brodrick, some of the spikes carrying thirty-five to forty-five blooms. Disastrous Storm at the Arnold Arboretum- Mr. Euan Cox writes : " Boston, U.S.A., and its neighbourhood have just weathered a storm which must be unique in any part of the globe. I write weathered, but it is a euphemism; for the damage can be counted in millions of dollars. It had all the appearance of an ordinary autumn- gale with a wind speed of 45 miles an hour, with driving rain. What is unique about the storm is the fact that the moisture fell as ram and not as sleet or snow, for during the entrre three days while it lasted there was from two to ten degrees of frost. This meant, that wherever the rain touched a solid surface it immediately turned to ice. It is difficult to imagine the mag- nitude of the disaster in an area of 50 miles- square. Practically every tree of any size has. been shorn of its branches. On the railway" from Boston to Worcester, a distance of 38 miles, there is hardly a telegraph pole standing. Some have snapped sheer, but the majority have been torn clean out of the ground from the weight of ice hanging on the wires. It needed no stretch of imagination to imagine oneself once more on the Western Front. The woods might have suffered in the same way from an intense bombardment of high explosive. The telegraph wires are twisted and knotted like a wire entanglement. It is a scene of desolation. Within a radius of two miles from Worcester it is calcu- lated that 50.000 trees have been so badly damaged that not even the trunks can be saved. The Arnold Arboretum has suffered severely. The long row of enormous Willows and the famous collection of Maples have practically disappeared. In a way, it is luckv that the large trees bore I be brunt of the attack, for I hear that the roller tion of Mr. Wilson's shrubs has suffered com- paratively little damage. This account, can give no morn' than the broad outline of the damage, but it is hoped that a full report will be given Inter to show the extraordinary wavs in winch damage was done, and also to explain why rain should fall for three days with the temperature below freezing point. Perhaps some of the readers of The Gardeners' Chronicle could ex- plain this phenomenon, for T ha,ve seen no ex- planation in tin' newspapers." The phenomenon 14 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE- January 14, 1922. to which Mr. Cox draws attention is known as a silver thaw and is due to the temperature at a short distance above the ground being higher than that on the ground itself. Such abnormal conditions obtain when the ground and the lower air have been rendered excessively coid from some cause, such as a warm, moist upper current in advance of an approaching cyclone bringing clouds and Tain. Silver thaws are sometimes seen in the south of England, and one occurred in London on January 22, 1867. The phenomenon is stated to be common on Ben Nevis in Scotland. National Rose Society.— The forty-fifth Annual General Meeting of the National Rose Society will be held at Caxton Hall, Victoria Street. Westminster, on Tuesday, January 17, at 2.30 p.m. Members attending are invited to remain to tea at the conclusion of the business pro- ceedings, and after tea the President, Mr. E. J. Holland, will exhibit a set of the latest lantern slides acquired by the Society. The Late Mr. William Purdom. — Mr. William Purdom, whose death at Pekin on November 7th. 1921, was announced in our issue of December 31, 1921, was a native of Heversham, West- morland, and was forty-one years of age. We learn from the Kew Bulletin that he chose the profession of a gardener and gained experience at Brathay Hall Gardens, Messrs. Low ?.nd Sons' nuTseries, Enfield, Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons' nursery, Coombe Wood, and at Kew Gardens, which (lie entered in August, 1902, and where he remained until December, 1903. His association with Mr. Reginald Farrer as travelling companion in his first exploration in China is recorded in Farrer's works, Eaves of the World and The Rainbow Bridge, and the esteem and affection with which Farrer regarde-1 Purdom is expressed in his dedication of the first book to Purdom. whom he refers to as "an abso- lutely perfect friend and helper." In 1917 Pur- dom was appointed head of one of the five de- partments of forestry maintained by the Chinese Government, and during his term of office he established nurseries in various parts of Honan in furtherance of large schemes of re-afforesta- tion in the north of China. Legacy to a Gardener. — The late Mr. Thomas Emlbleton, of the Cedars, Methley, and Layton Manor, Yorkshire, bequeathed the sum of £1,500 to his gardener, Mr. John Lee. Mr. Embleton bequeathed substantial sums to several other servants, including £1,500 to his coach- man, Mr. J. Bell; £1,500 to his estate foreman. Mr. _ Marshall Hardy ; £2.500 to his nurse, Annie Robinson, and, to his servants not men- tioned in his will, the sum of £30 in the case of males and £20 in the case of females for each year's service. Dry Season at Shinfield in 1921.— The rainfall at the Leading University College Gardens. Shinfield, during 1921 was much below the average, and the total of 14.41 inches indicates the trying conditions under which Mr. A. J. Cobb ar.d his staff carried out their duties, in- cluding the conduct of a large trial of Sweet Peas on behalf of the National Sweet Pea Society. The rainfall during the year was as follows: January. 2.24 inches; Februarv, .38; MaTch. 118: April. .55; May, 1.75; Julie, .37; July, .2; August, 1.4; 'September, 1.91; October. 1.07: November, 2.14: and December, 1.22 inches. " Flowering Plants of South Africa." — The fifth part of this work, being issue No. 5, Vol. IT., January, 1922, contains illustrations and de- scriptions of ten South African plants. The work is almost a replica of the Botanical Maga- zine save that the pages are a little larger, which is rather an advantage, for it permit of easy disposition and grouping of the various details of t;he flowers. Plate 41 is of Aloe Wiokensii, which is described as one of the most. beautiful and showy of the South African Aloes ; at first glance the inflorescence might be mis- taken for that of a Kniphofia. Watsonia Gal- pmii, plato 45. has the appearar.ee of a good garden plant. The leaves are up to 35 cm. long and over 1 em. broad; the inflorescence is simple or branched, and 'bears reddish pink blossoms. Kniphofia alooides, plate 47, is an old garden plant, well known in this country as Tritoma Tjvaria and also as Kniphofia Uvaria. It is stated that two varieties of the plant are found in the coastal districts of Natal, known as nobilis and maxima. It is the most robust and valuable species of the genus. A curious climbing Crucifer, Heliophila scandens, is illus- trated in plate 48. The plant is said to be groov- ing in the succulent house at Kew, where it flowers about mid-winter. Holmskioldia specios-i, plate 49, forms a large bush, ten to twenty feet high, and when in full bloom is one of the most conspicuous objects in the veld. The inflores- cence is very pretty, the flowers having a large pink calyx and violet, corolla ; the blossoms are arranged* in axillary cymes about 4 cm. long. Other plants illustrated are Commelina ben- ghalensis, Hessea Zeyheri, Ceropegia tristis, Massonia latifolia, and" Rhamphicarpa tubulosa. Mr. Alexander Dickson.— We congratulate Mr. Alex. Dickson, head of the firm of Messrs. Alex. Dickson and Sons, Ltd., of Belfast, New- townards, and Dublin, upon the honour which MR. ALEXANDER DICKSON. the French Government have conferred upon him in granting him the rank of Chevalier of the Order of the Merite Agricole, for ser- vices rendered by him to horticulture in France. Although the head of a firm which does not confine its attention to Roses, it is not too much to state that Mr. Alex. Dickson has devoted the larger part of his life to the development of the new Roses for which his firm is famous throughout the world, and he has been very largely instrumental in beautify- ing our gardens with Roses of such colours as were hardly imagined to be possible in these flowers twenty-five years ago. Mr. Dicksonhas been a frequent visitor to France, sometimes at the request of the French Minister of Agri- culture, and he has sat upon Government juries at Paris and Lyons on some seven occasions, and, of course, he has made frequent visits to the trials of Roses at Bagatelle. Evidence of the high position of his firm is shown by the fact that it holds a warrant from His Majesty King George V. and has held similar appointments under King Edward and Queen Victoria Mr. A. Dickson has for many years been a member on the Council of the National Rose Society, and he is also a member of the Council of the Horticultural Trades' Associa- tion, while as a kind of recreation from ordinary business he finds time to represent his native town on the County Council of Down. Carriage of Orchids by Passenger Train.— On behalf of Orchid growers, the Chamber of Horti- culture recently approached the Railway Clear- ing House with reference to the excessive rates charged for the conveyance of Orchids by pas- senger train. To the representations then made, the railway authorities have made concessions which, in addition to affording relief from the previous special rates charged for these plants, will remove the absurd anomaly of denying Orchids in bud or flower the benefits of the owner's risk rate. On and after February 1, Orohids in less than truck loads, in soil, or in soil in pots, packed in substantial crates or wooden boxes, so constructed as to admit of other traffic being loaded on top thereof, will be conveyed by company's risk at the general par- cels scale, "and at owner's risk at the usual owner's risk scale. If not so packed, and the plants are one foot or less in height, a general parcels seale plus 50 per cent, will be charged (C.R.) and the general parcels scale (O.R.). If above one foot in height, the general parcels scale, plus 25 per cent, will apply (C.R.), and the ordinary owners' risk 6cale, plus 25 per cent. (O.R.). If packed other than in soil, or in soil in pots, the C.R. rate will be the general parcels scale, and the O.R. rate the ordinary owners' risk scale. In all these cases the com- pany's risk rates include collection and delivery and" the owner's risk rates include delivery where arrangements for these services are in operation. If Orchids are packed in owner's risk vans, maximum weight 50 cwt. per truck, the seal' will be the same as for carriages. If packed in truck-loads in company's vans, the loaded-van scale plus 25 per cent., station to station, will be applied (C.R.). and the ordinary loaded van scale will apply O.R. One prominent firm of Orchid growers has informed the Cham- ber that these concessions are of considerable benefit, especially in connection with the dis- patch of plants to exhibitions. Appointments for the Ensuing Week.— Tues- day January 17 : Roval Horticultural Society's Committee meetings ; Cardiff Gardeners' Society's meeting.— Wednesday. January 18: British Florists' Federation annual meeting and dinner; Hertford Horticultural Society's meeting.— Thursday, Januarv 19 : Manchester and North of England Orchid Society's meeting— Friday, January 20 : Eastbourne Horticultural Society's meeting.— Saturday, January 21 : British Myco- logical Society's meeting at University College, London. " The Gardeners' Chronicle " Seventy-flye Years Ago.— The Victoria regia.— Curtis'.' Botanical Magazine, for the present month is wholly occupied by a history of Victoria regia. the most noble of all aquatics, and of which living plants exist in the Royal Botanical Gar- den, at Kew. We need not say that Sir William Hooker has done justice to his subject. "In addition to a sketch of the royal plant re- posine on the surface of the quiet waters in which it loves to dwell, we are presented with many details of its structure, never before pub- lished. The living plants to which we have alluded were raised from Bolivian seeds, brought homo by Mr. Bridges, one of the most inde- fatigable and successful investigators of the Natural Historv of South America. We must refer to this interesting monograph for full in formation respecting the plant, our limited space not permitting us to extract more than the following memorandum supplied by Mr. Bridges : "During my stay at the Indian town of Santa Anna, in the province of Moxos, Republic of Bolivia, during the months of June and July. 1845. I made daily shooting excursions in the vicinity. In one of these I had the good for- tune ('whilst riding along the woody banks of the river Yacuma. one of the tributary rivers of the Mamore) to come suddenly on a beautiful pond, or rather small lake, embosomed in the forest, where, to mv delight and astonishment, I discovered, for the first time. ' the Queen of Aquatics,' the Victoria regia! There were at least fiftv flowers in view, and Belzoni could not have' felt more rapture at his Egvptian dis- coveries than I did in beholding the beautiful and novel sight before me, such as it has fallen to the lot of few Englishmen to witness." Gard. Chron., Jon. 9. 1847. January 14, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 15 NOTICES OF BOOKS. Notes on Edible Plants. From a memoir of the compiler of these .notes,* whioh follows the brief preface by Dr. Bedrick, we learn that Dr. E. Lewis Sturtevant was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on Janu- ary 23, 1842. His school-days finished, he entered Bowdoin College in 1859. and left in 1861 to enlist in the Union Army, which was then engaged in civil strife. Subsequent to his army career, he studied medicine, and later he becajne a successful farmer at South Fram- ingliam, Massachusetts, where hi9 carried out important breeding and cultural experiments, and published the results of his researches in the periodical literature of his time. In 1882 lie was appointed first Director of the Experi- ment Station at Geneva, a post he held until 1887, when he was retired. Taking as his motto, " discover, verify and disseminate," Sturtevant was one of the pioneer builders of the Agricultural Experiment Stations in the United States of America, whose researches and publications have now a world-wide repu- tation. He died on July 30, 1898. at Wausha- kum Farm, where so many of his early experiments had been made. After remaining untouched for twenty years, ■the notes left by Sturtevant were edited and arranged for publication by Dr. U. P. Hedrick, Horticulturist at the Geneva Station. They comprise the work under ('notice, a sumptuous volume of nearly 700 pages, containing useful historical information relating to the food- plants capable of being utilised for human sus- tenance. Probably few besides students of economic botany realise that nearly 2,900 species of plants, exclusive of Fungi," are in use throughout the world as human food, most of which are cultivated for that purpose. Numerous sources of information have been drawn upon for the notes, as a glance at the list of authors and titles appended to the volume shows. The plan of arrangement adopted is to give the botanical names of the plants in alphabetical order, thereby securing easy reference. The common names and synonyms are given in indices at the end. The first entry, a short one, may be quoted ss an illustration of the form the notes take — Aberia caffra Harv. and Sond. Bixinae. Kai Apple, Krtu Apple, Kei Apple. South Africa. The fruits are of a golden yellow color, about the size of a small apple. They are used by the natives for making a preserve, and are so exceedingly acid when fresh that the Dutch settlers pre- pare them for their table, as a pickle, with- out vinegar. f It will be seen that the work is of the nature of a dictionary of edible plants, and in most instances it gives authorities and references to original sources of information. It is rather remarkable in this connection that Watt's Dictionary of Economic Products of India, the standard work of reference for information re- garding the uses of plants found in India, and the East generally, is omitted from the list of works to which reference is made. Although now conveniently arranged for re- ference in one volume, much of the information has been published previously, but it is claimed for the work that new knowledge may be found in the following directions: (1) The original home of many esculents is given for the first time. (2) New landmarks in the Tiistories of edible plants are pointed out. (3) An effort has been made to mention all culti- vated esculents. (4) Though much new infor- mation is given regarding the historv of food plants of the Old World, it is especially full and accurate in the discussion of esculents of the New World. (5) It presents much new information on tEe varieties that have been • Sturtemnfi Notes on Edible Plants. Edited br 1- ■ P. Hedrick. Tiepoi't of the New Tork Experiment Station for the year M19. 27th Annual Report Vol 3 pt. II. (Albany U.S.A., 3. B. Lyon and Co.), 1919' -r.p. 686, with portrait. t Jackson, J. K., Treat. Bot. 2; 1255. 1870. produced in plants by cultivation. (6) It adds much to geographical botany. (7) It contri- butes much data for the study of acclimatisa- tion. The home of the Cacao plant (Theobroma Cacao) is South America, and the history and uses of the plant in that country are men- tioned, but the note gives no information re- garding the acclimatisation of the plant in the Gold Coast, which is now the leading Cacao- exporting country. The remarkable develop- ment of the industry in the Gold Coast is illustrated by the fact that the export has grown from 80 lb., of the value of £4, in 1891 to an export of 176,000 tons, valued at £8.278,000, in 1919. It is to be regretted, A NEW SWEET PEA. Among the several novelties in Sweet Peas v. hich arrested the attention of the Floral Com- mittee of the National Sweet Pea Society at the trials held at Reading last year, the one which was subsequently to bear the name of Mascotts Ingman received sufficient votes to secure it an Award of Merit. But another variety, which was eventually found to carry the name of Renown, was considered to be identical with the former, and the Committee agreed that the award should be conditional upon both senders agreeing to distribute the variety under the same name. Messrs. Ireland Fig. 7. — sweet pea mascotts ingman; considered identical with renown. therefore, that the notes were not brought more up to date before they were published, as this would have greatly increased their present usefulness, but this defect may, we hope, be remedied in a future edition. It will be evident from what has been said that thi9 book presents in a concise and con- venient form a mass of useful information regarding the esculent plants otf the world, and as a work of reference for the gardener, the colonist, the student of economio botany, and all interested in plants, it should prove of great value. The type, printing and paper are all excellent, and the generous margins to the pages would admit of lengthy addi- tional manuscript notes. In these days of costly book production it is a pleasure to see and handle such a work. and Hitchcock, of Mark's Tey, are responsible for Mascotts Ingman, which is a very fine carmine variety (Fig. 7), while Renown is one of Messrs. Dobbie and Co.'s novelties. Unfor- tunately, these firms could not agree to dis- tribute the variety under one name, consequent- ly, to quote from the report of the Floral Com- mittee, " as neither firm could see their way clear to alter the names already given, the Award of Merit is struck off." It will be readily understood that failure to secure the award uijder these conditions does not affect the merit of the variety, which has flowers of fine, rich carmine colour, of huge size and of first-rate form. The flowers illustrated in Fig. 7 represent a spike exhibited by Messrs. Ireland and Hitch- cock under the name of Mascotts Ingman during the past season. 16 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. Jantjaky 14, 1922. The Week's Work. THE HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. By H. Mareham, Gardener to the Earl of Strafford, W'rotham Park, Harriet. Damsons. — These trees, when suitably planted, form a capital screen to the more tender kinds of fruits. There are many good varieties to select from, -which will yield excellent crops of fruit, where other kinds may not succeed. Bradley's King, Prune Damson, Farleigh Prolific, and the Merryweather are varieties to be recommended. Morello Cherries.— The pruning and training of Morello Cherries should be done as soon as the leaves have fallen, so that the work is completed before very cold weather sets in. If, however, the work has not yet been done, it should be carried out in favourable weather. It is not necessary to remove all the shoots and branches from the walls annually, but the trees should be carefully gone over, and the old shreds examined with a view to removing any that are compressing the bark. Train in sturdy, fruitful shoots at intervals all over the trees, but guard against crowding the wall with useless wood. Young Morello Cherry trees should, if not equally balanced in growth, be removed from the wall and the shoots regulated. The main brandies should be trained at equal distances and suitable angles to build up an evenly balanced head. Allow room in the ties for the shoots to swell, and take care that no old twine ties are overlooked, for these would cut into the bark. General Remarks. — Keep a watch on the doings of birds, especially bullfinches. Syring- ing the trees with soap-suds or Quassia extract, and thoroughly dusting them with lime and wood ashes, will sometimes prevent birds from destroying fruit buds. Feeding the roots should not be overlooked, especially on light, shallow land ; soakings of liquid farmyard manure, not too strong, will prove very helpful; or a g I mulching of decayed manure may be given in time for the rain to wash its fertilising pro perties down to the roots. only sufficient plants to ensure a few more cut- tings if the others fail or it is desired to propa- gate again in early April to produce small plants for growing in 6-in. pots for decorating pur- poses. Winter Flowering Begonias. — Winter flower- ing Begonias of the Mrs. Heal, Optima, and Exquisite type will, in most cases, have passed out of flower by this date. These plants need careful attention with regard to watering. It is not wise to withhold water altogether, but just sufficient should be given to keep the plants from drying off completely. The plants should be rested in a temperature of 50° to 55°. Begonias of the Gloire de Lorraine type that have passed out of flower should be cut back and watered sparingly for a few weeks, with a view to starting them into new growth to obtain cuttings for next season's stock. PLANTS UNDER GLASS By T. Pateman, Gardener to Sir C. Nall-Cain, Bart., The Node, Codicote, Welwyn. Hertfordshire. Souvenir de la Malmaison Carnations. — Perhaps the best results are obtained with these charming flowers when the plants are kept in a somewhat dormant state during the winter, and this may be done by keeping them on the dry side and iii a comparatively cool house, admitting plenty of fresh air whenever the outside conditions are favourable for ventilating. Very little fire heat is needed, only sufficient should be need to keep the atmosphere from becoming too damp or to exclude frost. Chrysanthemums.— Cuttings of Chrysanthe- mums that were inserted in early December, with a view to producing large flowers, should be removed from their propagating quarters as soon as they have rooted. Place them in a cool house or frame as near the roof-glass as pos- sible to prevent them becoming drawn. They may remain in this position for a week or ten days, when they should be placed singly in small 60-sized pots ; if three or four cuttings have been rooted in a small pot it is not advis- able to allow them to remain in the receptacle until the roots have become matted together. The soil for this potting may consist of three parts good loam and one part leaf-mould mixed with a little bone meal and just sufficient silver sand and burnt garden refuse to keep the compost porous. Cuttings of the single and decorative varieties may now be inserted. These will strike readily in a temperature of 45° to 50° : while 5t is not advisable to propagate these Chrysanthe- mums in a high temperature, a lower tempera- ture than 45° to 50° is not to be recommended. After the cuttings have been procured many of the old stools may be thrown away, retaining Fig. 8. — gladiolus cameo (see p. 17). THE KITCHEN GARDEN. By James E. Hathawat, Gardener to John Brennand, Esq , Baldersby Park, Thirsk, Yorkshire. Peas. — Peas raised from a. sowing made in November should be carefully watched and pro- tected from birds and slugs. Wire netting, one foot wide, arched over the plants and pegged down on both sides of the rows, provides the best protection from birds, but if wire is not available, small Spruce branches stuck on either side of the rows will help to keep birds away. A dressing of soot and wood ash will act as a deterrent to slugs. A further sowing should be made in a sheltered situation when the ground is in a favourable condition. Peas should also be sown in pots, boxes, or turves, the last for preference. The turves should be cut about 9 in. wide and about 4 in. thick and placed turf side downwards on boards about 4 ft. long. Afterwards 6coop out about an inch of the loam and substitute a mixture of loam, leaf -soil, sand and wood ash. sifted through a half-inch sieve. Carter's Eight Weeks and Sutton's Pioneer are suitable varieties for sowing now and there are many other sorts which may be used. After sowing, germinate the seeds in a cool house or frame. The Seed Order. — The greatest care should be taken in making the selection of seeds for the coming season. If notes were taken during the past season of varieties which did well, refer- ence to them will help to simplify matters. It is not always an easy matter to select the most suitable varieties for particular districts, for those that may succeed in one part may not do- so well in others. If extra fine vegetables are required, such as for exhibitions, do not rely on old seeds. Cucumbers. — A sowing of Cucumbers should now be made in 60-sized pots, placing one seed in each receptacle. Germinate the seeds on a slight hot-bed in the Cucumber house ; the seed- lings will appear very quickly, and need plenty of llight and warmth"; a temperature of 70° is suitable, but in very severe weather they will take no harm if it drops to 65°. Remove all decaying foliage from, winter fruiting Cucum- bers. Keep the shoots thinned. Tomatos. — A sowing of Tomato seed should be made to raise plants for early fruiting. Sow- thinly in well-drained 6-inch pots, rilled with good, sifted soil composed of two parts loamr one part leaf-soil, one part spent horse drop- pings, and enough sand to render it porous. Place the seed pans in a Cucumber house, and as soon as the seedlings appear stand them near to the roof-glass. As soon as the plants are big enough to handle pot them singly ir* thumb pots. FRUITS UNDER GLASS. By F. Jordan, Gardener to Lieut. -Col. Spbndee Clai, M.P., Ford Manor, Linfftield, Surrey. Figs. — Pot Figs in houses that were closed for forcing last month may have the ferment- ing material replenished. TLis may not be absolutely necessary, but it plays a prominent part in the successful cultivation of these early fruits, not only in affording warmth, but also in maintaining suitable atmospheric conditions,, and helps in preventing early attacks of red spider. A steady bottom heat of about 75°, with a night temperature of 60° to 65° on. mild nights, and 70" to 80° by day, with a very small amount of fresh air admitted on all favourable occasions, will be found suitable conditions for Fig trees started early last month. The second house, containing per- manent trees, may now be closed. This is, in many cases, the earliest house, while late houses should be kept as cool as possible. As these trees are grown in restricted borders, it is often possible to place fermenting mate- rials over the roots. This will not only help- to maintain the requisite temperature, but give off the necessary atmospheric moisture for starting the trees. Strawberries. — The present is a suitable time to house the first batch of Strawberries, _ as- much care is necessary to be successful with plants started last month. Place the plants on a bed of fermenting leaves, as the gentle warmth will stimulate the roots before the crowns make much progress. Clear the pots of •weeds and make the soil firm when it is mode- rately drv. Sufficient moisture will be ob- tained from the leaves for the first few weeks, and water should only he given the roots after careful examination. The same remarks apply to plants stood on shelves in the Strawberry house proper, during their early stages of forcing. A niffht temperature of 40° to 45° will be sufficient for the first few weeks. Propapatinc Vine Eyes. — Where younsr vines are required for growing in pots or planting out as " green " vines now is a suitable time to raise them from " eyes." The young vines will then be in readiness for potting or planting out any time from March to June. The " eyes " may be inserted in small pots or in squares of turf and placed on the bed fin a Melon or Cucumber house where plenty of bottom heat and mois- ture are available. January 14, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 17 THE FLOWER GARDEN. By Edwin Beckett, Gardener GlflBS, Aldenhani House to the Hon. Yicari Hertfordshire. Frost Protection. — After the very mild season prior to the turn of the year, there is great probability of the old saw, " As the days lengthen, so the cold strengthens," being realised, and steps should be taken to protect any subjects that are likely to be adversely affected on the borders and shrubberies. One of the most efficient means, for such plants as Kniphofias and Montbretias is a good layer of cinder ash placed around and over the plant where this is possible, whilst dwarf shrubs likely to be adversely affected Should be enclosed in " wigwams " formed of Spruce boughs, or similar growths thrust into the soil around the plant, and tied together at the top; stems of taller subjects may be protected by wrapping 'hay bands around them from the ground level. The Rockery and Alpines. — Many subjects dislike overhead damp, and such as Androsaces, Marrubiums, Asperulas, and other woolly-leafed subjects repay for overhead covering during the winter season ; a piece of glass of sufficient size to cover the plant from above, and fixed into position in some way or other, will easily accomplish this. At this season especially close watch must be kept against slugs, which are fond of Dianthi, Campanulas, Silenes, Ompha- lodes, and rare Saxifragas, whilst the short- tailed vole is another depredator in similar directions. Measures should be taken against both as soon as discovered. Look over the spring bedding occasionally, and stir the soil around the plants; also, after a spell of frost, see that they have not broken loose from the soil, a remark that also applies to any Alpine plianits that) niay 'have been pPanted in late autumn. Plants in Pots. — Where Alpine and other hardy plants are being grown in pots, the soil should he stirred frequently, and watch kept for slugs. Alpines in pots and pans should not be coddled too much, for they can stand many degrees of frost, but where pots are a con- sideration, the frames may be covered during severe weather. THE ORCHID HOUSES. By J. T. Barker, Gardener to His Grace the Dl'KE OF Marlborough, K.G., Blenheim Palace, WoodBtock, Oson. Ventilating. — Owing to the amount of fire heat required to maintain the necessary warmth, especially in the hotter divisions, it is quite easy for any house to acquire a stuffy condition, unless fresh air is admitted daily. At this season discretion must be used in ad- mitting air, but it must be done by some means every day, as a dry, stagnant atmosphere is most injurious to the plants. The observant cultivator will soon find the difference between a badly ventilated and a judiciously ventilated house, not only by his own personal comfort, but in the health and vigour of his plants. Houses vary considerably in their requirements, according to the plants grown in them, their position and proximity to the heating appara- tus. Orchids need fresh air, but should not be exposed to cold draughts. ' To those who do not succeed with Orchids exactly as they would like, I urge a closer study of the atmospheric conditions of the houses. Dendrobium The flower buds of many of the deciduous and semi-deciduous varieties of Den- drobium are developing, and the roots will re- quire more water than they have received since the past season's growth was completed, but the plants should be allowed to become dry before being watered. When the outside temperature does not fall below 40°, maintain a minimum temperature of about 60°, but during colder weather the temperature of the house may be allowed to drop slightly without harm accruing, provided a dry atmosphere is maintained. Any check given to these plants during the develop- ment of the flowers, either from an excess or deficiency of water, or from too low a tempera- ture, will reduce the size and quality of the flowers to a considerable extent. When the flowering season is over the plants should be kept growing very slowly until the days get longer and the weather conditions are mere conducive to the plants making satisfactory growth. The flowering period may be pro- longed by placing some of the more forward specimens in gentle warmth. The change from the cool resting quarters to thai of a warm house should be gradual, as should any forcing of the plants be attempted there is the dangur varieties last season, however, promised better results ; the figures represent the dates of flower- ing. Cameo (4.9) (Fig. 8), deep coral, shading to deep salmon in the throat, lower petals golden yellow. Rose Ash (6.9), old rose, blended ashes of roses, and Silver Moon (28.8), milk white, all carry their flowers well. (Tlie latter, like most of the whites, becomes slashed with pink with age.) Fallen Leaf (12.9) and Ragten (30.8), although flowers of an unusual colouring fail somewhat in this respect. Perhaps I ought not to close th.sse notes without mention Fig. 9. — gladiolus dunlaps. of them making premature growth, instead of flowering. Plants which were forced in previous years readily respond to this treatment, and some varieties respond readily to gentle forcing, but this should only be attempted with strong, well- rooted, vigorous plants, which have been well ripened and matured. THE GLADIOLUS IN AMERICA. Jack London, referred to in my notea on p. 157, Vol. LXX., was raised in California, and until last year represented the only variety from that land of sunshine which grew with any degree of success with me. The flowers of the majority a! the varieties I have tried have been too heavy for the spike. Several of a now race of Kunderdii Gladiolus, a cross between a Knnderii variety and tile species Quartinianus. They are said to come into bloom about one month later than other flowering kinds planted at the same time, graw Indian Summer a year or two ago and it did not flower until the' first week in October, although planted in March. It produced a Hue spike. In 1921 I planted four other varieties at the same time (9.4) as Fire Ribbon. The latter flowered on 17.7, Dunlaps (Fig. 9) on 4.9, Arcadia on 10.9, Areola on 12.9, and the fourth. Storm King, much after that date. The three that bloomed first are quite distinct, and Areola has a feature which 1 have never noticed in any oth,?r Gladiolus. The flowers that have not fully developed during the day, partially close at night and open out again in the following morning. G. C. 18 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 14, 1922. EDiTORIAL NO TiCE. ADVERTISEMENTS should be sent to the PUBLISHER, 5, Tavistock Street. Covent Garden, W.C2 Editors and Publisher.— Our correspondents would obviate delay in obtaining answers to their com- munications, and save us vtuch time and trouble, */ they would kindly observe the notice printed weekly to the effect that all letters relating to financial matters and to advertisements should be addressed to the Publishes; and that all communi- cations intended for publication or referring to the Literary department, and all plants to be named, should be directed to the Kditors. The two departments, Publishing and Editorial, are distinct, and much unnecessary delay and confusion arise when letters are misdirected. THIRTEEN GOOD BORDER PLANTS. OLD things need not be therefore true, 0, brother men, nor yet the new. Thus spake A. H. Clough from his view- point of human circumstance, and the amateur gardener, reviewing the good and ill of the memorable summer of 1921, may thus para- phrase the couplet to fit Ids own case — Many old plants are very good ; Some new ones don't please as they should. It may be of some use to those who have blanks to fill in their borders, and care to do so with herbs tihat are not met with in every garden, if leaving out Lilies and Roses, I jot clown some notes on things that have contributed to the gaiety of the past season. I shall restrict the list to a baker's dozen, well knowing how prone one is to prose about his pastime. Paeonia Cambessedesii, the gift of an Irish lady who collected it in the Balearic Islands. In my opinion it is the loveliest of the genus and the earliest to flower. Before tlhe New Year it had pushed up shoots a couple of inches long, intensely scarlet, and, as experience in former winters goes to prove, immune to any ordinary degree of cold. These shoots will lengthen out to the Iheight of a foot, and in April, when clad with leaves with a silvery lustre on the upper side, rich red on the lower, will bear cup-shaped blossoms of tender rose, enclosing a bunc'h of golden anthers whence protrude the scarlet stigmata. The habit of this plant is neat and compact, and it relishes lime in the soil. Geum Borish. — 1 bless the day when 1 first met this — tfhe choicest of its kind — at the R.H.S. show. It is quite free from the sprawling habit which mars the merit of the varieties Mrs, Bradshaw, Gibson's Scarlet, Heldreicliii, etc. It carries its flowers, the colour of red lead, with golden anthers, erect en wiry stems, and is lavish of them throughout summer and autumn. It began to flower on April 30 last, and is still starred with a few blooms on t;his New Year's Day. Dracocephalu'm Forrestii. — A recent introduc- tion from Western China, with bright green Heath-liko foliage and rich purplish-blue spikes of blossom continuously produced. It grows about one foot higjh and is well suited for the front of a border. Gladiolus tristis. — This plant is not in- cluded in the Kew Hand List, but it has been established in this country for several years, and deserves to be more generally grown. Had I been asked to name this species I should have called it gracilis ; tlhe epithet tristis is far from appropriate to the delicate sulphur hue of the vase-shaped blossoms It sends up its rush-like leaves in autumn, which remain green all the winter, till it flowers in June. TFhis plant prefers a sunny exposure. Inula Rotleana. — A Himalayan 6pecies, the handsomest of a comely family. Grows two feet high and is of the easiest culture. Lobeu\ Cavanillesii.— A Chilian plant, bearing plenty of gay scarlet flowers lined with yellow, in July. Perhaps tender in cold dis- tricts, but revels under a soutlh wall. Nerine Bowdenti. — Exquisite is the right epithet for this plant, which is not usually named in li>ts >f hardy subjects, but which seems quite jhappy here under similar condi- tions to those that a<*ree with Amaryllis Belladonna. Salvia hians. — The blue and white blossoms of this Himalayan species are so charming as to warrant its place in the select number; but here, at least, it is somew|hat niggardly in pro- ducing them. Probably in sunnier districts it would be more liberal in display. Phygelius cajfensis, the Cape Figwort. — I never realised the full merit of this plant until several years ago I received from the Edinburgh Botanic Garden one thai bore scarlet blossoms. That wihich had been in the garden here for half a century produced flowers of dull brick- red. A free and showy herb; but to get the best of it let it, be trained against a south wall. It is hardy in the open border in the south and west, but straggles over too mucli space to be effective, and smothers weaker neighbours. Craspedia uniflora. — This New Zealand Com- posite also I owe to my good friends in Edin- burgh. In 1920 I received a plant with a single flower-head thereon. Seed ripened and was sown, and the numerous offspring flowered freely in 1921. It is a very neat plant, nine inches or a foot high, producing many solitary, globular, rayless yellow heads. Saxieraga Aizoon rosea. — This is one of the very best of the encrusted section. It makes a pretty edging, and thrives better in the open border "than on the dry retaining wall where I first grew it. The plant increases fast. Roscoea capitata. — A purple Ginger-wort from the Himalayas which I got from Bees', Ltd. It is a rich-coloured counterpart of the sulphur- hued R. cautlioides, eighteen inches high, but flowering a montih later. Another species or variety obtained from Bees' under the unsatis- factory name of August Beauty, closely re- sembles R. cautlioides in form, height and colour, but does not flower till August. All species of Roscoea require careful labelling, be- cause none of them show above ground till a few days before they come into flower. They spread satisfactorily by underground runners, so t;he ground should not be disturbed round the parent plant. A very desirable family. Poterium obtuscm. — An aristocratic kinsman of our native Salad Burnet, and a notable addi- tion to our border in July and August. It grows three feet high, and its elegant foliage flames, blushes or pales into attractive tints in the autumn. Herbert Maxwell, Monrcith, January 1, 1922. THE GREAT DROUGHT OF 1921 AND ITS EFFECT ON GARDEN PLANTS. (Continued from- page 9.) Hertfordshire. The drought of 1921 punished this garden severely from the beginning of June until the welcome fall of two inches of rain on the 12th of September. The soil is ill adapted to with- stand a period of more than a week without rain in the summer months. It is for the most part very shallow, and the subsoil, a coarse and hungry gravel, makes for rapid drainage. Old trees have filled most of it with such a network of roots that they take first toll of any moisture in the ground, therefore in such a season as we experienced it was inevitable that the damage should be great, that the benefit of extra sunshine and, dryness of atmos- phere should be noticeable in certain plants, and also that others should add to our know- ledge by behaving in an unexpected manner. In the first class, namely, those one would expect to suffer first and most must be placed almost all shallow rooting plants and those that demand a great amount of moisture in the atmosphere. Ferns and Mossy Saxifrages showed signs of distress by the end of Mav. Many of both are dead, most of those still alive are ruined for a season or two. Even in the most favoured nooks Polystichum and Hart's Tongue fronds were short — mostly scorched at the tips. In situations that drained out more the season's growths was no more than an inoh or two of living green. An old plant of Adinntum pedatum among Primula Bulleyana was. scorched up in mid-July, but a younger one planted partly under the north side of a fair- sized boulder, in imitation of the successful clumps at Wisley, has remained green. Asaram europaeum, normally an evergreen, lost every leaf. They dried up to a tea-leaf consistency, broke to pieces, and were blown away by the persistent N.E. winds. Deciduouc species such as A. canadense and A. caudatum suffered almost as badly. At one time the rhizomes appeared dead, but recovered and filled out with sap after rain fell. Epimediums, especially those with thin and deciduous leaves, such as E. alpinum and E. Musschianum, were badly scorched. Rodgersia podophyllia, R. tabularis, R. aesculifolia and R. pinnata lost the undersized leaves they had managed to make. On the contrary Saxifraga peltata showed its Californian origin by developing and lasting as well as usual. Primulas such as P. japonica, P. Bulleyana and its hybrids ; P. nulverulcnla, P. chionantha, P. Beesiana and Cts hybrids, and other moisture lovers, even though well watered failed to make satis- factory roots after flowering, and have mostly died. ' P. Juliana and its hybrids, though losing their leaves, seem to have been saved by the storage in the fleshy rhizomes. Heaths suffered severely. Several old stretches of Erica carnea and E. darleyensis being killed. E. vagans and E. stricta stood the best of the family. Rhododendrons and Azaleas are sad sights. Many late flowering varieties failed to open their flower buds. Young growths were either scorched up altogether, or the edges of the very undersized leaves burnt brown; only the earliest flowering varieties formed any flower buds for the coming season. Zingiber Mioga, the hardy Ginger from Japan, made growths of four inches instead of a yard high, and failed to flower. Anemone vitifolia,t Farrer's pink flowered variety, never opened a bud ; all were scorched brown. Bamboos suffered terribly. B. palmata, even where old growths had been thinned out and some good soakings supplied to the vigorous young shoots, became a buff coloured eyesore. A few young shoots replaced the dead ones since the September rain, and look as though they will withstand the frosts. Arundinaria anceps lost every green leaf, and the young canes started too late to ripen. A. nitida, though looking brown and ugly for months, has clothed itself in greenery, and looks none the worse; even two large clumps moved in May have not suffered seriously. It was too dry for Alstroemerias even. The stems were short, and the flowers small and soon over. Anemone japonica, too, when it flowered a month later than usual, looked more like A. sylvestris than its trill self. Eucryphia pinnatifolia, such a wonderful picture for several weeks in 1920, was in beauty for but a few days in 1921, and the flowers that first opened were small, and later ones were scorched and browned. Early Chrysanthemums were markedly delayed in their period of flowering, but owing to the glorious weather of October they have seldom been finer. Amicia Zygomeris grew well, but flowered later than usual, as also did Parochetus communis, where established for stock in a cold frame as well as where newlv olanted in what in most years is a moist bed. In contrast with the retarded flowering of Anemone japonica and late appearance of Bamboo shoots mentioned above, the earliness of flowers from certain bulbous plants or those with storage corms such as Cyclamen and Colchicum was very noticeable. Mereiidera Bulboeodium appeared early in July, a fort- night sooner than in most seasons. Leucojum autumnale was not far behind, and Colchicum autumnale in a damp meadow broke all pre- vious records by flowering a week before tj variegatum and C. Bornmuelleri usually the two earliest. C. byzantinum followed after C. autumnale, before' the end of July; by thai time Cyclamen neapolitanum made a good show under a Cedar. After a wet summer it 1ms frequently happened that Amaryllis Belladona has sent Jant/aby 14, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. vn. x: sc X X X x x X x x 5? 5? X x X x K X X X X H X X X x x x x x x te ^"» fcs- *>» x x X %!' be *■) 6? X X 5€ X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Pea Progress. By scientific cross-breeding ani sehcthn w; hive secured remarkable improve- ments in Garden Peas during r3cmt yean, ani it is now possible, under suitable cultural conditions, to obtain a successive supply of Delicious Marrow* fat Pea i for a period extending from early Sn nmcr to la'c Autumn. By Apprintment. WEBBS GARDEN PEAS iXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X rhe Finest Breeds in Cultivation. First Early Per Pint Per Quart Webbs' "New Surprise," IS to 18 in. 2/3 4- Webbs' "Little Marvel " 12 to 18 in. 2/3 41- Webbs' "New Pioneer," 3 to Sift. 21- 3/6 Second Early ^ebbs' " Stourbridge Marrow ," 5 ft 2/6 4/6 Webbs' "Rival Marrowfat," 3J ft. 21- 3/6 Webbs' " Defiance Marrowfat," 4ft. 2/6 4/6 Main Crop Webbs' New " King- George, ' S ft. In sealed packets only, at 1/6 & 2/6 each Webbs' " Senator," 2£ to 3ft. (The most Prolific Pea ever raised.' 2/3 41- Webbs' " Relince" Marrowfat, 5 ft. 2/3 41- Late Main Crop Webbs' "New Masterpiece," 4ft. 2 3 41- Webbs' " Distinction," 3 J to 4 ft. 26 4/6 Webbs' " Selected Gladstone," 3i ft. 2 3 4- *' ' Senator ' Pea carried a splendid crop of pods and hanging on each side so thick that one could hardly see any lems, p >ds proiu-ed in pairs, simply grand as it fills with the pod "-Mr. A. W. TAYLOR, II rl Gxrdmer to LORD INCHCAPE, G.C.M.G., KC.I.E., K.C.3.I. WEBBS' COLLECTIONS OF PEAS FOR SUCCESSION. 4 pint , 4 fine sjrts (our selection) - - 7/- 6 ,, 6 ,. ,, ,, ,. - - - lO/- 6quarts, 6 ,, , ,, ,, 18 6 12 ,, 12 ,, ,, ,, - - - 36/- 24 ,, 12 , - - - 68- Webbs' "King George" Pea. Award of Merit, B.H.S, Wisley Trials. '" King George Pea' did very well. I grew it tor exhibition, and it was the fi test that we had. The pods measured 71 inches in length and were w 'II filled It is a gra nd variety for exhibition." — Mr. A. R. SEARLE. He id Gardener to THE MARQUIS OF NORTHAMPTON. fl WEBBS' GARDEN CATALOGUE (SEEDS, POTATOES, BULBS, MANURES, 6c.) POST FREE. Gardeners are requested to .rrlve employer's nan n WEBB & SONS, Ltd., The King's Seedsmen, STOURBRIDGE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Published every Friday at 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C. 2. Tin Gard eners Ch ronicie 1. THE DATES OF MEETINGS HEREIN GIVEN, SUPPLIED BY THE SECRETARIES OF THE RESPECTIVE SOCIETIES, ARE AS COMPLETE AS CIRCUMSTANCES ii-Duning the operation of the Summer Time Act the times given JAN U ARY. 1 S 2 M 3 Tu 4 W 5 Th 6 F 7 S 8 S 9 M Tu W Th F S s M Tu W Th F S s M Tu W Th Kew Gardens re-organised, 1841. '"Gardeners' Chronicle" first issued, 1841. Cardiff Gard. Soc. meet. Roy. Agricultural Soc. of England Council meet. ; Nat. Viola &. Pansy Soc. meeting. Wargrave & Dis. Gard. Soc. meet. Moon, First Quarter, 10.24 a.m. 1st Sunday after Epiphany. United Hort. Ben. & Prov. S^c. meet. ; Fire Insurance due. Penny Postage, 1840. Roy. Caledonian Hort. Soc. ann. meet. ; Sheffield Chrys. Soc. meet. ; East Anglian Hort. Soc. meet. Bristol & Dis. Gard. Assoc, meet. Paisley Florists' Soc. meet ; Roy. Hort. & Arboricultural Soc. of Ireland Council meet. ; Full Moon, 2.37 p.m. Ringwood Soc. meet. 2nd Sunday after Epiphany. (15) British Museum opened, 1759. Roy. Hort. Soc. Corns, meet. Brit. Florists' Fed. Ann. meet. ; Hertford Hort. Poc. meet. Wargrave & Dis. Gard. Soc. meet. ; Manchester N. of England Orch. Soc. meet. ; Linnean Soc. meet at 5 p.m. Eastbourne Hort. Soc. meet. British Mycological Soc. meet. 3rd Sunday after Epiphany. Battle Dogger Bank, 1915. Irish Gard. Assoc. & Ben. Soc. meet. Gardeners' Roy. Ben. Inst. Ann. meet & election at Simpson's Restaurant ; Bristol & Dis. Gard. Assoc, meet. Assoc, of Economic Biologists meet. Nat. Auricula Soc. ann. meet. 4th Sunday after Epiphany. Roy. Hort. Soc. Corns, meet ; Bath & W. & S. Counties Soc. Council meet. FEBRUARY. 1 W 2 Th 3 F 4 S 5 S 6 M 7 Tu 8 W 9 Th 10 F 11 S 12 S 13 M 14 Tu 15 W 16 Th 17 F 18 S 19 s 20 M 21 Tu 22 W 23 Th 24 F 25 S 26 S 27 M 28 Tu Roy. Agricultural Soc. of England Council meet. ; Nat. Viola & Pansy Soc. meet. ; Pheasant & Partridge shooting ends. Wargrave & Dis. Gard. Soc. meet ; Manchester & N. of England Orchid Soc. meet. ; Linnean Soc. meet. 5th Sunday after Epiphany. John Lindley b., 1799 ; Moon, First J Quarter, 4.52 a.m. Nat. Chrys. Soc. Ann. meet, at R.H.S. Hall' Roy. Caledonian Hort. Soc. meet. East Anglian Hort. Soc. meet. ; Sheffield Chrys. Soc. meet. Roy. Gard. Orphan Fund Ann. me?t. & election. Paisley Florists' Soc. meet. ; Roy. Hort. & Arboricultural Soc. of Ireland Council meet. Ringwood Soc. meet. Septuagesitna. Full Moon, 1.18 a.m. United Hort. Ben.& Prov. Soc. meet. Roy. Hort. Soc. Corns, meet, and ann. gen. meet, at 3 p.m. Hertford Hort. Soc. meet. Wargrave & Dist. Gard. meet. ; Manchester i^. Gaid. Assoc meet. Paisley Florists' SOC. meet. Sir Trevor Lawrence 1)., 1831. 1st Sunday after Christmas. V 111. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 14, 1922, OVER QUARTER MILE FRONTAGE. One hundred various buildings always erected. T. BATH & CO., LTD., Horticultural Builders and Hot Water Engineers (Head Offices and Showrooms, over 100,000 feet floor space), SAVOY STREET, LONDON, W.C2. WORKS:— RILEY WORKS, HERNE HILL, LONDON, S.E. 743, OLD KENT ROAD, LONDON, S.E. FIVE ACRES FLOOR SPACE. Over one thousand various buildings always in stock. Call and see the Houses being made and materials used. Greenhouses, Conservatories Forcing Houses, Vineries, Garden Frames, Lights, Heating Apparatus, Rustic Work, Rustic Houses, Garden Requisites and Furniture, Portable Buildings'and Huts, Motor and Cycle Houses, Bungalows and Pavilions, Poultry Houses, Appliances, etc., etc. Estimates for every description of Horticultural Wood, Iron and Asbestos Buildings FREE SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE No 16 POST GLASS ' 16 oz. to 21 oz. Size in Btock. SPECIAL QUOTATIONS ON DITI DC Hyacinths, Daffodils, Crocuses, Earlv DIJIjD3 and Darwin Tulips, Irises, Anemones, etc. Bulbs, finest quality and lowest prices. Also Bulb bowls, bulb fibre, manures, potting materials, and insecticides, etc. Send for illustrated Bulb Catalogue No. 4, post free, which describes our bargains and gives full particulars of Bulb Culture. FREE Evcrv TIIWR'FW Best Qnality Imported Timber. Sash r.very IHUDIjII narSi cmS| WaU p|ate8_ Matchlngi Board*. Large stocks. RECEIPT OF REQUIREMENTS GARDEN TOOLS Lawn Mowers, Rollers, Rubber Hose and Hose Reels, Galvanised Water and Wheel Barrows, Galvanised Corn Bins, Wire and Tanned Netting, Spraying Machines and Syringes, Wood Trellis, Garden Arches, Water Cans, Stakes, Bamboo Canes, Forks, Spades, Rakes, etc. Send for illustrated Tool Catalogue No. 6, post free. WILLIS BROS.' Garden Fertiliser A REAL MANURE NO NOT A SUBSTITUTE. STABLE MANURE REQUIRED. For digging in orras a top dressing. For Kitchen Garden and Herbaceous Borders. We are constantly receiving,.- orders and testimonials from satisfied users both on heavy and light soils. lewt. 17/6; J cwt 101- ; 28 lbs. S/- ; per ton £16 10. All Carriage Paid. VINE MANURE. 27 6 per cwt , 15/- half cwt. , carriage paid. Mr. KIDD, NEW -ERkIES GARDENS. RADLETT. has v on 3 firsts and 3 seconds in Grape claa9 at R.H.S. Fruit Show and writes us tiiat he has only used our ma ure on hi • vinos for years with above resuits. LAWN MANURE For renovating Lavns afte dry season. 20/-; erc.v ., £19 pe ton cartage raid. LAWN SAND and DAISY KILLER. For destroying daisies and otb r we ds on Lawns and encouralng the gra-ses. 27/6 per cwt., 66 lbs 16/-, £26 per ton, -aniagc paid. WILLIS BROS.' WINTER WASH For Fruit Trees. Safe, reliable" =pray tor winter use. Kills lichens, mii^el cale.and other trait-tree pests. This ls.nn a ■» stic soln wasii, ' ut. a lime su phur ra xed witn stTili mgand othi-r Ingredients. I oes not Injure the bark of fruit-tr es. 1 gallon 10/-; 6 gallons 45/ ; 'carnage paid. Tins included. BONE MEALS. SUPERPHOSPHATE. NITRATE OF SODA. SULPHATE OF AMMONIA. KAINIT, SULPHATE OF POTASH. BASIC SLAG etc.. SUPPLIED, Send for ur list of Garden Manures and Horticul- tural Sundries, Free on abplicatto t. \mJJ I f ¥C D *./*£. Horticultural Manure W ILLltJ DrOb. and Garden Sundries. (HARPEHDEtf) Ltd. HARPENDEN. HERTS. Wallace's Novelties in Rhododendrons and Azaleas Rhododendron Hugo De Vries, A.M., R.H.S., Chelsea. 1921. possessing all the fine qualities of Pink Pearl but of better habit, flowering more freely, with broader and more massive foliage. Flower trusses large, well filled, and of splendid shape. 35s. each. Rhododendron Britannia. A.M., R.H.S., April, 1921, one of t..e most telling crimson varieties in cultivation. Bold trusses ot flowers of rich flaning colour. A few well- budded plants, 63s. each. Three New Azaleas. Dr. Oosthoek, A.M., R.H.S., May, 1920, the deepest red yet raised. 10«. 6d. King Albert. — Pure bright yellow. Unsurpassed for colour effect. 7s. 6d. Robespierre, A.M., R.H.S., April, 1921, immense trusses of rich clear salmon. 15a. We have a grand stcck of AZALEAS of unsurpassed quality for FORCING OR PLANTING, including the finest forms as Coccinea Speciosa (flaming orange), Anthony Koster (yellow), J. C. Van Thol (scarlet), and Unique, (nankeen and orange), and others. The Rhododendron Walk in " The Old Gardens," Tunbridge Wells. (From a photograph taken in late May, 192t.) NO W RFA DV I Our New Catalogue of TREES end IW VV KKE*f\U I ! SHRUBS for Garden and Woo land, containing descriptions of Rhododendrons and Azaleas, and such grand novelties as Pyrus Sargentii, Viburnum Carlesii V. fraferans, Osmanthus Delavavi. New Berber-is Philadelphus, etc., als;> spec el list of Shmbi for Forcing, post free on application. R. WALLACE & CO., LTD., "CI)f #Ia Patents;," TUNBRIDGE WELLS. January 14, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 19 up its flower spikes so late in November that they failed to open. This season they appeared early in August, and continued in succession until the end of September, many clumps blooming freely that had never don© so before. A. Parkesi (the Kew Belladonna) blossomed in the open here for the first time in ten years. Zephyranthes Candida in the var. major were in time to ripen seeds in October, and young plants from those of the latter were two inches high at the end of November. Sternbergia lutea var. angustifolia was an astonishing sight. A long edging of it in an Iris border was a solid band of yellow, as gay as yellow Crocuses in spring. Lilium Henryi gained a fresh value by growing as tall as usual and flowering well, but unlike its behaviour in 1911, when it seeded abundantly, only six pods were formed and ripened. Lilium testaceum ripened seed, as did also the old garden form of L. candidum. Crocuses were delayed, and save for one clump of C. cancellatus, which bore a few flowers in August, none appeared before the its admirers and practical jokes for many small boys for two months. Hitherto there have been but three or four ripe fruits at a time ; last season it was hard to gather the first half dozen any day without being shot by an equal number of the yellowish-green Gherkins ready to discharge their juice and pips. Here, as in all other gardens I visited during the year, I learnt two facts new to me. No established Rose of any species or variety suffered in the vigour of its young growth, but apparently rejoiced in the drought. Blue forms of Conifers were uninjured alongside green forms that are to all appearance dead. This is very marked with forms of Lawson's Cypress, and it would seem that the waxy coating that gives these their glaucous appearance is able to check transpiration sufficiently to save their lives under conditions that prove fatal to green varieties. Another lesson was the vindication of the Arab proverb, "Dig for a hundred days, irrigate for one." Deeply trenched ground where trees were felled last winter, though planted rather mollis is just beginning to flower, and Hellebores are to be seen on the banks of the ditches. Whereas in some other gardens there was an unprecedented flowering of Iris unguioularis (styiosa) in the autumn of 1921, there aro at present at Wisley very tew blooms showing. A good baking is conducive to the free flowering of this plant, but it is possible that as the position occupied at Wisley is excep- tionally dry, .t found the past summer too severe and is consequently backward. Primula Winteri (see Fig. 10) is flowering freely at the top of the rock garden, in spite of the attacks of mice, four of which have been caught in traps close by. This beautiful plant does well at Wisley because its loots obtain a plentiful supply of water, and the crowns are protected from -.vet by overhanging rocks. The flowers are all thrum-eyed and set no seed; this might be rectified if some pin-eyed forms were introduced. Propagation can be effected, jhowever, by separating and replanting the new crowns formed. Protection from wet by means of glass sheets Fig. 10. — primula winteri : flowers pale purple. September rain fell. Even then C. zonatus and C. speciosus made no show for fully a week, but when they did appear, favoured by the continuance of sunny days, they were finer than usual, the latter forming a sea of blue in certain borders where it has colonised freely and stretches many yards wide. All Californian plants were better than usual, and notably so Romneyas and Zauschneria californica var. mexicana, always satisfactory here, but this year a flare of scarlet from July till the November frosts. Solanum Torieyi, with its flat heads of immense Potato-like flowers almost as fine as those of S. Wendlandii is another drought lover, and was in great beauty for many weeks. Oxalis purpurata (Bowiei) was a lovely sight mingled with Verbena venosa, where both have lived for some dozen or more seasons in a south border. Nerine Bowdeni was in good form under a wall, and some spikes cut in early October have ripened apparently good seed in water with a pinch of sugar added to it. Ecballium Elaterium, the Squirting Cucumber, had an unusually large crop of its explosive fruits, providing daily amusement for late in the spring, helped Berberis of many species, some really too old for moving, not only to live but to make fair growth. In it, too, some small portions pulled off an old clump of Polygonum cymosum grew into a mass seven feet high, covered with white flowers, whereas the parent clump wilted badly and failed to flower ornamentally until after the rain fell. E. A . Bowles, Myddeltvn House, Waltham Cross. ,To be continue i NOTES FROM WISLEY. Authentic accounts of Primroses picked in Scotland so long ago as three weeks encouraged expectations of finding a very early show of spring flowers at Wisley. It is a little sur- prising, therefore, to find so few ugns of bloom in early January. But the gardens do not lack interesting features, for many of the berried shrubs are still beautiful. Some of tjhe Pyra- canthas have had. their fruits spoiled by frost, especially those with berries unripened, such as Pyracnntha, angustifolia. The insufficiently appreciated Hamametis has been given to such plants as And rosace primuloides, A. Ohumbyi, Lewisia Cotyledon and Campanula mirabilis, which are apt to rot if water is continually dripping on them. The only plant in flower in the alpine jhouse is Saxi- fraga burseriana trident ina, which alone is worth a visit. The bog garden in the Lower part of the rock garden has been dug out and the Mimulus removed, as it was becoming loo assertive. Ptliloxes will be much in evidence at Wisley this year, since, in addition to the trial of 350 varieties, a large border is devoted to themi. This border has been established for a year, and is now being dressed with leaf-mould and material from the ditch-bottoms, wihich is now easily obtained owing to the absence of water. This border also contains varieties of Chrysan- themum maximum and some good Tradescantias. The drought of 1921 has been too severe for many plants of Primula japonica and P. pulveru- lenta which carpeted the wood last year, but the Azaleas and Rhododendrons should make a good show this season, and Lilium giganteum should not disappoint visitors during 1922- T. E. a. WAiH. 20 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 14. 1922. ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. ORCHIDS OF 1921. [Concluded from j). 3.) Nurserymen. Messrs. J. and A. McBean, Cooksbridge, nave been deservedly successful. their exhibits always showing excellence and good taste. The firm started the year at the first meeting in January by securing a First-Class Certificate for the handsome Odontioda Hypatia, McBean's variety, and an Award of Merit for Odontioda Madeline McBean's variety. Other awards obtained during the year were Cattleya Enid alba var. Kathleen, and Laelio-Cattleya Eunice alba var. Constance, both fine white varieties, receiving Awards of Merit on February 22; and F.C.C. for Odontoglossum crispunr R. Felton; 0. Diamond var. Perfection; 0. Rosina var. Invincible; the famous O. crispo- Solon Carminetta, and the richly-coloured Odontioda Joiceyi splendens. The retmaining eight Awards of Merit were for Odontoglossum Radiant McBean's variety, 0. crispnm Ada Evans, O. St. George vor. Vulpus, Odontioda Enchantress, Oda. Cillehani var. Ada Evans, Cymbidium Excelsior, Cattleya Falco, and the clear yellow Laelio-Cattleva* Allan.anda. the best of its class. Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., Hay wards Heath, were well represented at nearly every meeting of the Royal Horticultural ^Society during the year, showing the most novelties. Large-flowered Sophro-Laelio-Cattleyas were always a speciality, and in 1921 their First- Class Certificate plants included those of the best, viz., S.-L.-C. Joseph Charlesworth, S. -L. -C. Prince Hirohito, and S.-L.-C. His Majesty, all large and of indescribably ricn shades of colour ; and Odontoglossum Britannia. The Awards of Merit were for Odontoma Ceres, 0. Melia, 0. Thais, new departures which have yet to be shown in the mature stage. Others receiv- ing awards were Charleswortheara nobilis. a curious cross of Oncidium macranthum; Brasso- Cattleya Sofrano var. Prince of Orange ; Laelio- Cattleya Athene, and Oncidium Papilio Charles- worthii, the very distinct representative of the only species to 6ecure recognition, the entries for species before the R.H.S. Orchid Coniruiltee being unfortunately very few. Messrs. Armstrong and Brown, Orchidhurst. Tunbridge Wells, have been amongt the largest exhibitors of distinct strains of those favourite hybrids, Odontioda and Odontoglossum, the range in colour being very remarkable. Among their First-Class Certificate plants were the large scarlet Odontioda Marion Worsley, shown at Chelsea; the deep red O. Dauntless Orchid- hurst variety; the ruby-red 0. Magna rubra, shown at Chelsea; and the superb white and yellow Odontoglossum Armstrongii. Awards of Merit were for Odontoglossum crispuir. Victor Newton, O. eximillus var. Rex. and Dendrobmni nobile Sir F. W. Moore, a great advance on the famous Dendrobium nobile nobilius from which it was raised NEW HYBRIDS. {Continued from page 270, Vol. LXX.) hamc. Parentage. Brasso-Laelio-Cattleya Doris Brasso-Laelio-Cattleva Latefa Bras^o-Laelio- Cattleya Mis. Ahvyn Harrison Brasso-Laelio-Cattleya Venus Cattleya Mamie Catt'eya Miss Phyllis Marshall Cattleya Snowclad Cattleya Troilus Cymbidium Hebe Cypripedium Asion Cypripcdium 1-asil Cypripedium Cappamagna Cypripedium Carolina Cypripedium Dulciora Cypripedium Lvulston Cypripedium Fairville Cypripedium Glatcua Cypi-ipedium Marigold Cyj ripedium Mellaetis Cypripedium Mi hican Cypripedium Osprey Cypripedium Papilio Cypripedium Piimrosc Cypripedium Seattower Cypripedii'iii Sincerity Laelio-Cottleya Brilliant Laelio-Cattleya Clementine ... Lnelio-Cattlcya Dragonosa Lnelio-Cattleya Epsom Laelio-Catlleya Euryoda laelio-Cattleya Faith Laelio-Cattleya Golden Guinea Laelio-Cattleya J. Stanley Todd Laelio-Cattleya Lucienne Laelio-Cattleya Mildred Laelio-Cattleya Oriflan.me .. Laelio-Cattleya Ptpita Miltonia Lena Odontioda Alcazar Odontioda Alva Odontioda Augela Odontioda Arlotta Odontioda Beryl Odontioda Boida... Odontioda Cora Odontioda Dacia Odontioda Enchantress Odontoglossum Agapetum ... Odontoglossum Beryl Odontoglossum Cardinal Wolselty.. OdoDtoglossum Creola Odontoglossum Creon Odontoglossum Helvetia Odontoglossum lthone Odontoglossum Leucorrhodum Odontoglossum Magali Odontoglossum Urodora OdontogloBBum Vesuvius Oncidiooa Pallas Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya Anzac Vuylsttkeara Adonis Vuylstekeara Edna Vuylstekeara Eros Vuylstekeara Eva Vuylstekeai a Felicia , Vuylstekeara Kora Vuylstekeara Ruby , (B.-C. Digl:.yano-Mos8iae x L.-C. Fascinator. L.-C, Fascinator x B.-L. Sue^sa B.-C. Mrs. J. Lecmann x L.-C. Rubens B.C. Mrs. J. Leemann x L.-C. Britannia Magpie laphael alba x Drapsiana primulira Clarkiae x labiata Mulleri x intertexta Juliettae Clotho x Luetreae eiythroitylum x Pauwelsii Queen Alexandra x aureum Oedippe Majesiicum x Lcesnum Hercules Cari inal Meicier x iNubia Carola x Dewier! ilindeanum Helen 11. x Wellesleyae Loid Ossulstou x Eve Fairrieanum x Earl Tankerville aureum x Carola villosum auiifeium x Wripleyi aureum auriJeruni x J Howes Calypso var. Flamingo x Mrs. Mostyn Lucifer x Car; ctacus aureum x Spiceriacum Actatus, Lrewetfs var x Lotus Leoniae x Princes9 Pi tricia Ltrd Wolmer x Reginald Young C. Iiis x L.-C. Black hrince L.-C. Feronia x L.-C. Fascinator C. Dn gon x L.-C. Luniinosa L.-C. Ophir x C. Gaskelliana alba L.-C. Euiydice x C. Rhoda L.-C. Phoebus x C. Dowiana aurea L.-C. Myra x C. Dowiana am ea L.-C. Phcenix x C. Trianae plumosa C. Daphne x L.-C. St. Gothard L.-C. Phoebus x C.Sibyl L -C. Thyone x C. Rex St. i.otbard x Colmaniana vixilhtiia supeibii x ( hai leswcithii Ooa. Hippolyta x O. l'Empereur Oda.Wiitonii x O. Harryanum o. Doris x Oda. Cooksoniae Oda. heatonensis x O. eximium i'. eximium x uda. Wilsonii C. Notzliana, fine variety x O. Nathaniel ... Oda. Coronatic.n x O. eximium O. eximium x Oda. Joan ... Odm. haivengtense x Oda. Madeline amabile x Maillardianum Uro-Skinneri x Amethyst lilustrissimum x Alexandrina Epicasta x Harryanum magnifieum Jasper x Maillaidianum crispo-Hiinyanum x Maillardianum ... Aglaon x Dusky Monarch crispo-Harryinum x Regale Rossii x Magali Sander Uro-Skinneri x Dora eximium x Amethyst tigrinum x C. Noezliana [" L.-t . Domiuiana x S.-L.-C. Marathon ... .'. M Warsceviczii x Oda. Madeline Miltonioda Haiwoodii x Oda Charlesworthii M. Warscewiczii x Oda. Charlesworthii Miltonioda Harwoodii x Oda. Brtwii .. M. Warscewiczii x Oda. Felicia ... ... .". Miltonioda Haiwoodii x Oda. Cooksoniae . Miltonioda Haiwoodii X O. Ashworthianum Fxhibitcr. Charlesworlh. charlesworth. A. Harrison. fanders. Pantia Ralli. Eeq. K. J. Hanbury, Esq. Sanders. A. Hanmer, Esq. Sanders. Charlesworth. Rev. J. Crcmblebolnie. Rev. J. Crombleholme. Rev. J. Crombleholme. Rev. J. Crcmbleholme. P. Smith, Esq. P. Smith, Esq. Rev. J. Crombleholme. Rev. J. Crombleholme. Rev. J. Crombleholme. Rev. J. Crombleholme. Sir Geo. Holfoid. Rev. J. Crombleholme. F. J. Hanbury, Esq. Rev. J. Crombleholme. Sanders. Sanders. Charlesworth. S. Gratrix, Eaq. Pnntia Ralli. Eiq. Charlesworth. Hassall. rantia Ralli. Etq. Sanders. <_ barh swoith. Hassall, Armstrong & Brown. A Hanmer, Esq Charlesworth, Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. McBean Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworlh. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Chailesworth. Sanders. Sanders. P. Smith, Esq. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Chailesworth. Charleswoith. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth, Messrs. Stuart Low and Co., Jarvisbrook, Sussex, made good displays during the past year, Sophronitis crosses being prominent, and several of their fine novelties flowering for the first time were recorded. Awards were secured for Sophro-Cattleya Dorea, Low's variety, one of the best large scarlet forms; Brasso- Cattleya Admiral Jellicoe var. Rosita, large and rich purplish mauve, and the rich yellow Dendro- bium Butterfly Low's var. Messrs. Flory and Black, Slough, have shown many novelties and secured awards for several, the best of which are Cattleya Prince Shimadzu, Laelio-Cattleya Vivid and Odontoglossum Trident. Great improvement in high colours in Brassavola hybrids have been shown during the year, the Brasso-Laelio-Cattleya Jupiter var. Majestica, for which Messrs. Hassall and Co., Southgate, obtained a First-Class Certificate last June, being one of the best. Unmistakable evidence of the activity of the hybridists is given in our list of new hybrid Orchids, periodically published during the past year, three hundred and twenty novelties having been recorded in brief, besides descriptive notes of the best. The following Orchids were illustrated in The Gardenes' Chroii icle in 1921 : — Brasso-Laelio- Cattleya Imogen, November 5, p. 233; Cymbidium Dragonfly, February 26, p. 101 ; Cypripedium Dixon Thorpe, June 11, p. 285; C. Penelope, coloured supplement, January 1 ; Dendrobium Mode!, The Dell variety, March 5, p. 116; Laelio-Cattleya Allamanda, September 3, p. 121; L.-C. Golden Glow, August 20, p. 99; L.-C. Orange Blossom, April 23, p. 201; Miltonia Venus var. Fascinator, May 14, p. 235 ; Odontioda Joiceyi splendens. May 21, p. 245; 0. W. R. Fasey, April 16. p. 183; Odontoglossum Armstrongii, October 29, p. 221 ; O. crispo- Solon Carminetta. June 25. p. 309; O. Desde- mona II., May 14, p. 234; 0. Pescatorei Lady Holford, December 10, p. 295; Sophro-Laelio- Cattleya Falcon, February 19. p. 91; S.-L.-O. Prince* Hirohito, May 28, p. 259; S.-L.-C. Rex Orchidhurst variety, November 19, p. 259. ODONTOGLOSSUM ITHONE VAR. PAPILLON. A flower of tliis handsome new cross between O. Aglaon ( eximium x Vuylstekeae) and O. Dusky Monarch (unrecorded) is sent by Ernest R. Ashton, Esq., Broadlands, Camden Park, Tunbridge Wells fgr. Mr. Kent). It is a fine flower in every respect, the ground colour, white, heavily blotched witli reddish-purple. A very remarkable feature in the flower is that each segment bears in the middle two ovate- oblong, whitish opaque patches, like some of the markings on a tropical butterfly. The labellum has a large purple blotch, the front and margin being white. Mr. Ashton also sends flowers of 0. xanthotes var. Mrs. F. M. Ogilvie, snow white with seme pale yellow markings; O. Black Prince; O. Mrs. Harold King, and 0. Camden (Lambardeamim x regale), a new cross of large size, white, Gnely blotched with bright mauve. 0D0NTT0DA LOUISA. A flower of th'y new hybrid raised between Odontoglossum Louise (Ossulstonii x Fescatorei) and Odontioda Chantecler (Oda Cooksoniae x C. Noezliana), raised by Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., is sent by Pantia Ralli, Esq., Ashtead Park, Surrey (Orchid grower Mr. Farnee). It is a very beautiful hybrid of model form and closely ad|hering to Odonto- jjlossuni in size and shape, the O. Pescatorei in all its parents predominating in its almost circular flower with equally broad sepals and petals, and finely expanded lip. The ground colour of this fine hybrid is white, but the greater part of the surface is taken up by large confluent blotches of ruby- purple colour, the wihite showing on the margins and bases of the petals. The lip has one large purple blotch in front of the prominent yellow crest, and some smaller blotches inside the white margin. There is little evidence of Cochlioda Noezliana except a slight vermilion shade in the purple blotching. January 14, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 21 TREES AND SHRUBS. MAGNOLIAS. The Magnolias are amongst the most beautiful of trees and shrubs, suitable .for the .smbellish- meht of gardens and pleasure-grounds. In spite of their beauty they are by no means so common in good gardens as one would expect. This probably is due to the fact that they are by no means the easiest of subjects to transplant successfully; intending planters should insist on having trees that have been regularly shifted, for plants that have not been disturbed develop large, fleshy roots, which are apt to die back when they are injured. If planting cannot be done early in the autumn, it is wise to wait until the spring, just before the trees start into growth. The ground .for planting should be carefully prepared; it should be enriched with a compost consisting of good mellow loam, with the addition of good fibrous peat and well-decayed leaf-mould. When the tnses are well established in the soil they are quite capable of taking care of themselves in soils of average quality. Many of the species flower so early that the blossoms are liable to injury by spring frosts, but such handsome sorts as M. stellata and M. Sonlangeana (see Fig. 11) open their flowers in succession over a fairly long period ; thus it seldom happens that the entire crop of flowers of these species is entirely destroved. It is also advisable to plant in sheltered positions, as rough winds damage and discolour the flowers. M. grandiflora, the evergreen Magnolia from the Southern States of America, is usually seen planted and trained on walls. Although in sheltered positions in the south and western counties it is frequently seen growing quite well in the open, this species varies con- siderably in its freedom of flowering — the so- called Exmouth variety usually being the best in this resp9ct. Other species of Magnolia native of |the Southern TTnited States are M. acuminata (Cucumber Treel with handsome foliage and yellow tinted, slightly fragrant flowers (this species makes a fine, large tree) ; M. Fraseri, which attains a height of 30 to 50 feet, and bears white flowers and leaves which are often a foot in length ; M. tripetala, with large, white flowers, and leaves from 1 to 3 feet in length ; M. macrophylla, another large- leaved species bearing large, white flowers with a purple blotch at the base : the blooms often measure 8 to 10 inches across: and M. glauca, with small very fragrant flowers. M. conspicua (the Titian) is a native a! China, and flowers from Febrnarv to May, its beautiful white flowers being often in part injured by frost. Many fine specimens of this species are met with in old gardens: there are numbers of varieties, or hybrids of this species with the Japanese M. obovata, such as H. Soulangeana and its var. nigra, also M. Lennei, both beautiful plants, their large flowers being white inside and purple on the outer side of the petals. Other varieties are Alexandrina, spectabilis and speciosa. Among the Japanese species are M. stellata, a very fnee and early flowering tree, with starry-sh'aped and dWlioiously scented white flowers, which are borne in succession over a long period; M. obovata, of which there are several varieties; M. Kobus. with creamy white flowers, this in its native state forms a tree some 80 ifeet in height: and M. salicifolia, a small, slender tree with white flowers, some-, what resembling M. Kobus ; this species has only recently flowered in this country. Other beautiful and distinct species are M. parviflora. M. Watsonii and M. hypoleuea. The beautiful M. Camphellii, from the Himalayas, is not hardy except in favoured positions in Ireland and in the south and western counties of England. More recent introductions from China are M. Delavayi, a species with very large, ever- green leaves and creamy white flowers (except in the west this handsome Magnolia requires the shelter of a wall), and M. Wilsonii. J C. THE WESTERN PLANE; PLATANUS OCCIDENTALIS. With regard to the inquiry by Mr. J. D. Colledge about the existence of tthis tree in England (see Gard. Chron., December 31, 1921, p. 335) and the reply by Mr. A. D. Webster, it is quite true that the latter gentleman sent me in August, 1919, fruit-bearing twigs of a Plane at Westcombe Park, Blackheath, which he considers to be true Platanus occidentalis. They did not appear to me to belong to that species, but more likely to one of the several forms of the " London " Plane (P. acerifolia). But as Prof. Henry had just then concluded an exhaustive study of cultivated Planes and published the results in Vol. XXXV. of the Proceedings of ike Royal Irish Academy, I forwarded the twigs to him for his opinion. He kno.vs more about the subject probably than auy- men ceased to offer P. occidentalis in their cata- logues in large quantities wihen all they have to supply is the common " London " Plane or tome of its progeny. Il\ /. Bean. iESCULUS INDICA. Readers contemplating the planting of orna- mental flowering trees of the largest size, in pleasure grounds and parks, should not omit to include ^Esculus indica, the Indian Horse-Chest- nut, a subject also for a wide, imposing avenue. Towards the end of May, most arboriculturists regard the Common Horse-Chestnut (iEsculus Hippocastanum) as our most beautiful flowering tree. A month to six weeks later, no one who has seen the Indian Horse-Chestnut flowering at Barton, Suffolk; Tortworth, Gloucester; or Kew will dispute the claim that the Himalayan species is equally attractive, and, if possible, FlG. 11. — MAGNOLIA SOULANGEANA; FLOWER NATURAL SIZE, WHITE FLUSHED RICH PURPLE. one else. His reply to me was as follows : "Y.mi are quite right about the specimen of Plane from Westcombe Park. It is not P. occidentalis, and is identical in leaves and fruit with a branch from the large tree of P. acerifolia at Ranelagh." T|he mere fact of a Plane producing solitary fruit-balls does not prove it to be P. occi- dentalis, although that is an almost invariable characteristic of the species. The Plane known as P. hispanica (doubtless a seedling from P. acerifolia) very frequently bears solitary fruit- balls. P. occidentalis has been, raised frequently at Kew from American seed, but none of the plants have ever succeeded well. One young tree grew to about 12 feet high, but became much can- kered on the stem and eventually died. Per- sonally, I have never seen other than small plants of P. occidentalis in this country, and no satisfactory evidence has yet been produced of the existence of even moderate-sized trees in England. It is time, at any rate, that nursery- more valuable, because at the later date the galaxy of trees and shrubs in flower is past. Before the flowers open, and again after they fade, trees of iEsculus indica attract attention because of their luxuriant leafage. The tree is hardy, except perhaps in the coldest parts of the British Isles ; probably the difficulty of importing the seeds, which soon lose their vitality, explains why this Horse-Chestnut is so little 'grown. Now, however, that the home- grown trees ripen fruits in most seasons, plenty of young trees should be available for planters. The fruits are darker skinned than those of the common Horse-Chestnut: when they are ripe the seed collector at Kew has to be about early in the morning before the gardens open, as small boys have discovered there are dark ' conkers.'' .^sculus indica is also known as Pavia indica : a full-sized figure of the inflorescence and foliage formed the subject of the supplementary illustration in Gard. Chron., February 28, 1903. and the plant is also illustrated in Bot. Mag., tab. 5117. A. O. 22 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 14, 1922. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM AND SOME NEW GENERA SEPARATED FROM IT. (Continued from page 9.) *** Leaves with a hump or food teeth on the flattened base. 16. G. difforme, N. E. Br. Leaves as described by Haworth obliquely cruciate, 1-6 in. long and i-^ in. broad, some semicylindric from the base upward with a kind of half-twist at about the middle, with a sort of lobe-like tooth near the compressed-triquetrous or somewhat dolabriform tip, which often ends in a straight curved or hooked harmless bristle; other leaves without either a tooth or lobe-like rising, but hooked or gibbous near the point, or with a concavity above, one side of which forms a ridge. Some leaves microscopically ciliate towards the tip. Peduncle of plants flowering in the open air very short or scarcely any except the quad- rangular base of the calyx. Flower 2-2^ in. in diameter with fewer, longer and more lax petals than in G. semicylindicum, according to a draw- ing at Kew. M. difforme, Linn., Sp. PI., ed. 1, p. 487 partly, as to M. foliis difformibus, Dillen., Hort. filth., p. 252, t. 194, f. 242 (not 241), and Haw., ■Obs., p. 169 (1795) not of other authors. The two figures of Dillenius were considered to represent one species by Linne, but Haworth retained the name M. difforme for the plant represented by Fig. 242, and separated that figured at 241 under the name of M. semi- cylindricnm, and he was probably right, for I have not seen any among the plants I have raised of the latter species at all like the Dillenian figure 242, which represents the pedicel a3 being about f in. long and distinctly angular, and there is drawing at Kew. made in 1826, of what was doubtless the plant Haworth described, which has the pedicel about an inch long, much thickened upwards and almost winged-angular (Haworth states under M. cruciatum, Obs., p. 175. that it is "not of equal thickness"). But probably both these figures were made from plants grown under glass, causing the pedicel to elongate. The plant figured by Salm. Dyck as M. difforme is a totally different species, represented with long cylindric pedicels that are not thickened upwards, nor at all angular. 17. G. semicylindricum, N. E. Br. Leaf-pairs obliquely crossing each other, variable in size, 2-4 in. long and 3-4 lines broad and nearly as thick, half-cylindric, but the flat face not nearly extending to the variably formed compressed tip, with two blunt teeth on the upper side beyond the middle. The leaves are sometimes tipped or hooked with a short soft bristle. Pedicel 6-8 lines long, very slightly thickened at the apex and slightly angular. Corolla 1J -If in. in diameter; petals more numerous and more crowded _than those of G. difforme, according to the Kew drawings of these species. M. semicjylindricum, Haw., Obs., p. 238 (1794), founded upon M. foliis difformibus, Dillen Hort. Kith , p. 252, t, 194, f. 241, which is a much reduced figure of the plant. M. bidentatum. Haw., Suppl., p. 89 (1819J • Salm. Dyck, Mes., §7, f. 1; N. E. Br. iii Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot., v. 45, p. 125. M. bigibberatum Haw., in Phil Mag., v. 68, p. 338 (1826) not of Salm. Dyck. I have this plant in cultivation, raised from seeds from Mount Stewart, Jansenville Division, sent to me by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, 5579, and find that it varies very much in size and appear- ance. Haworth seems not to have realised that Dillenius' fig. 241 is a much reduced repre- sentation of the plant, and considered size of specific value. There is no difference whatever between his three supposed species. N.B.— M. semicylindricum. Salm. Dyck, Mes., §7, f. 2, not of Haworth: M. difforme, Salm. Dyck, Mes., §7, f. 3, not of Linne nor Haworth ; and M. bigibberatum, Salm. Dyck, Mes., §7, f . 4, not of Haworth are three differently named plates all representing the same species, and might even have been drawn from the same individual in different years. All the names given to the plant represented are wrong, but I have not seen any plant like it, so refrain from giving it a name. 18. G. ochraceum, N. E. Br. Leaves 3-4 in. long, triangular or semiterete, obtusely pointed, slightly thickened upwards, one of each pair broader than the other towards the apex and slightly recurved, the other narrower and straight, flat above, one side convex, the other fiat or even concave; the younger leaves finely ciliate. Pedicels 3-4 in. long, slightly com- pressed, thickened above. Calyx compressed top-shaped, 2-edged, 5-lobed, two of the lobes much elongated, leaf-like, 3-angled, ciliate. Corolla 1-2- in. or more in diameter; petals 8 lines long, in two series, reciirved-spreading and oblique, brownish-yellow, paler on the back. Stamens numerous, erect, scarcely half as long as the petals ; filaments, white. Ovary flattish on the top. Stigmas 5, lanceolate, acute, plumose, greenish-yellow. M. ochraceum, Berger, Mesemb. and Portul., p. 234. Doubtful Species. M. heterophyllum, Haw., Obs.. p. 420 (1794). This is quite an unknown plant whose position is doubtful. It is not at all the same as M. angustum var. heterophyllum, Haw., with which it has been confused by Sonder. It is described by Haworth as a singular and very distinct species having robust green leaves that are not dotted, the lower being somewhat like those of M. canum, Haw. (not of Berger), and the upper somewhat like, but not quite so large as those of M. difforme, Linn. Nothing more is known of this species. Haworth (Misc., p. 36) states " I once saw two plants of this fine species alive in the collection of Messrs. Malcolm, nurserymen, at Kennington." Although placed under the DirTormia group by Haworth, I do not think it can be a species of Glottiphyllum. M. surrectum, Haw., Rev., p. 101 (1821). This species also does not appear to be a Glottiphyllum, although placed in the same group by Haworth. According to a drawing of it at Kew it was raised in 1817 from seeds collected by Bowie. It is a very distinct species, with three pairs of ascending-spreading semi- terete or nearly terete obtuse leaves about 2-2^ in. long, 2- in. broad, and nearly as thick, placed at right-angles to each other, and not at all tongue-shaped, of a dark green colour and not dotted. I have not seen anvthing like it. -V. E. Brown. (To be continued.) THE MARKET FRUIT GARDEN. December. 1921, did its best to make up the deficiency in the year's rainfall. With 3,04 in. of rain it was the wettest month of 1921, and the heaviest rainfall for any single day in the year occurred on the 14th, though that was only 0.66 in. However, the total rainfall for the year was brought up cnly to 15.23 in., which, it is to be hoped, will long stand as a record. It is only 0.39 in. more than half the average for the previous twenty years in my district. In other words, the total rainfall for 1921 was 14.45 in. short of the average. Moreover, the number of days on which rain fell. 106. was 46 below the average. January and December were the only two months with over 2 in. of rain, whilst February, July, and September had less than 1 in., and June no rain at all. When Are Fruit Buds Formed? It is wonderful how much knowledge some of the old gardeners gained about the plants they grew, apparently simply by observation and thought. I am delighted with one of the seventy-five observations concerning the culture of fruit trees quoted in The Gardeners' Chronicle, p. 300. Vol. LXX., from Bradley's Treatise of Husbandry and Gardening. He says : " Blossom buds are formed by the first sap between April and June, and filled for bear- ing between July and October." The reason why this pleases me so much is that it appears to re- concile the apparently conflicting results of two modern investigations, both of which have been referred to in these notes more than once. Some elaborate American experiments estab- lished the fact that Apples form their fruit buds for the following year quite early in the season, within about a month, in fact, of the trees coming into life in spring. Then came the late Mr. H. E. P. Hodsoll's theory that the biennial bearing habit of Apples could be overcome by manuring, the unique feature of his system being a dressing of soluble fer- tilisers early in August to feed the fruit buds for the following season, the trees by that time having practically completed their growth and the hanging crop, and therefore being obliged to store the food material in the buds and other parts. This theory appealed to me as being well worthy of further trial, but I could not quite see why the trees should be fed in early autumn for fruit bud development if the buds were actually formed several months before, as the American investigations seemed to prove beyond reasonable doubt. Bradley's " observation " seems to supply the solution of the problem. The blossom buds are formed between April and June, but are " filled for bearing " between July ,-nd October. Early autumn, therefore, should lie the right time to manure the trees, in order to feed the buds for the next year's crop. Incidentally this manuring should also help the treee in the following spring, when the new buds are being formed, since at that time, root action hardly having started, the trees are drawing on re- serve food material stored in their system during the previous autumn. Later on, when root action and sap flow are in full swing, they can utilise the manures given .n the ordinary way in winter. Black Currant Cuttings. I am much obliged to Mr. H. E. Durham (p. 327, Vol. LXX) for giving me another method of treating Black Cur- rant cuttings, with the idea of getting them to throw up plentv of shoots from below the ground level. The idea appears to be excellent, and will be given a trial. But to carry it through to the end involves leaving the bushes three years in the nursery quarters, l'robablv. however, they could be transplanted to their permanent positions as two-year-olds, and planted deep, in place of filling in the trench and leaving them for another year. 1 have generally transplanted my bushes as year- lings, planting deep. ;-o as to &et the base of the shoots well under the soil. There is no doubt that deep planting is verv important. Bushes that are planted shallow "seldom make large specimens. Effect of Spraying; on the Soil. When orchards are (-prayed year after year with the same washes, the foil must receive a considerable amount of the chemicals em- ployed. In some cases this is beneficial, as when the trees are sprnved with limewash, but in others the result in time -.night be injurious, for all that is known to the contrary at pre- sent. It has been suggested, for instance, that the continued us-» of 'ead arsenate might in time affect the soil, rendering it unhealthy for plant growth, I nropose to use a solution r" copper sulphate every winter, or rather }arly spring, on such varieties of Apples as are liable to scab, having found this ro be a partial preventive of this disease, and I wondered if this might in time iniure the trees throu-jh the soil. Apparently, however, there is no fear of this. Some French investigators have found that the soil of vine yards which are repeatedly sprayed with copper sulphate for nany years does become very rich in copper, even up to 100 lb. or more per acre in che surface soil. The metal is retained by the fine particles of the soil, owing to their absorbent properties, and also by the chemical reactions in which it may be in- volved, so that the drainage water is able to remove only an infinitesimal amount. Vine- yard soils thus become constantly richer in copper; but their quality does not vary, as they fix it with such energy that the plants are not able to assimilate too much. As a matter of fact, copper has been found in vary- ing amounts in all soils and in all plants. It is evidently soluble in the (ell sap, as it travels January 14, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 23 about the plant at the Lame time and in the same manner as '■he nutritive principle, with- out in any way harming the tissues through which it passes. It is suggested that it may even be of use to them. Dbal-Purpose Apples. Iu some official notes un the Imperial Fruit Show, published in the Journal of the Ministry ■of Agriculture, it is pointed out that most of the varieties of Apples exhibited by overseas growers are suitable for both dessert and cook- ing. It is suggested that, as these Apples have T>een successful in the home markets, it may be necessary for growers to consider seriously whether the great degree of specialisation which in the British section was manifest by the very large fruits of Brantley's Seedling and the small ones of Cox's Orange Pippin is either neoessary or wise. In my opinion we should be making a mistake if we introduced more dual-purpose varieties. The public cer- tainly prefer big Apples for cooking. Again and again market reports state that good large cookers are in demand, whilst smaller samples are cheap. In times of glut the latter are almost unsaleable. It is difficult to sell cooking Apples which have the size and colour of dessert fruit. It is true that we have two excellent dual-purpose Apples in Newton Won- der and Blenheim Pippin, but in these cases the large fruits are sold for cooking and the small for dessert. At present we have the finest dessert and the finest cooking Apples in the world. If we went in for dual-purpose varieties, we could make neither claim with truth. After all, are not our dessert varieties quite as suitable for cooking as any of the imported dual-purpose Apples? Worcester Pearmain is about the only market variety I know that does not cook well. There is nothing to prevent people from cooking Cox's Orange if they like. It is cer- tainly excellent for the purpose, but it is diffi- cult to make people believe that a dessert Apple will cook well. Market Grower. CULTURAL MEMORANDA. MELONS. I have read with much interest the recent notes in the Gard. Chron. regarding " wilt " in ~S\ eions and how to cure it, but all Melon growers should bear in mind the old adage "Prevention is better than cure." I venture to suggest that under proper cultivation there should be no wilting. I have grown Melons for the past twenty years, and have had little or no trouble with damping or canker at the collar. The soil best suited to Melons is a yellow loam, somewhat consistent. The object is to provide a rich holding medium which will encourage the young plants to make an abund- ance of roots. To two parts of such loam add one part of well-rotted farmyard manure, rubbed through a half-inch riddle and enough coarse, sharp sand to keep the whole porous. I sow my earliest batch in February, preferably one seed in a thumb pot, as this prevents disturb- ance of the roots when potting. Plunge the pots over a bottom heat of 70°, allowing the tem- perature to rise to 80° lin the daytime. My aim Is to get plants with as strong a constitution as possible right from the very beginning, as soft, drawn stems always lead to disappointment. When the seedlings show their third or rough leaf, pot them moderately firmly in 3-inch pots, using a similar mixture. Before potting, the soil used should fee warmed to the temperature of the house, and when watering always use tepid water. A week before the plants are ready for their fruiting quarters — which will be ascertained by turning a plant out of the pot to see if it is well rooted — make up a bed in ridge form. 2k feet wide, 9 inches deep at the slides, and rising to 18 inches in the centre. By this method the soil will become warmed to the same tempera- ture as that of the house in which the Melons are to be grown. For the Melon bed, chop up good fibrous turf into pieces about 3 inches square. To each barrow-load of soil add half a barrow-load of decayed farmyard manure, and one 6-inch pot of crushed bones, mixing the whole well together. Set the plants 18 inches apart in the centre of the ridge (some may think this rather close). Beat the bed firmly all over, and cover it with an inch of loose soil to leave a rough surface. Give the plants a good soaking with tepid water and be sure that the whole bed is well mois- tened. The leader should be allowed to run up with- out being stopped until all the fruits have formed, then stop it two joints above the last side shoot carrying fruit. Stop the side shoots one joint beyond each fruit, and tie the growth upright about 6 inches from the leader; thin out the leaves as the plant develops, but do not remove a leaf where there is a fruit near its base. Maintain a buoyant atmosphere in the house by damping the floor twice a day until the time for pollinating, when the house should be kept dry. When pol- linating it is most essential that three to tour fruits on each plant should be set on the same day so that they swell in unison. Syringe the foliage once a day after bright sunshine, taking care not to wet the base of the plant, as in nine cases out of ten this is the main cause of cai.ker or wtilt. Give air on all favourable occasions, but guard against draughts. All through the growing season the collars of the plants must be exposed to the light, and this can be done by cutting away with a sharp knife the cluster of leaves which form at the base of the olam>. Care must be taken in doing this, as a ragged cut may mean decay. When the plants are lin full growth, with the fruit swelling freely, afford an occasional watering with liquid manure, always bearing in mind that one good soak'ing is better than six sprinklings. When netting commences the waterings should be gradually reduced as the fruit ripens. Th'is treatment should procure a good crop of Melons, each weighing from 6 to 7 lb. Donald Allan, Marks Tey. HOME CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents.] Mistleto. — Our experience here tends to con- firm Mr. Dallimore's observation on the result of resistance on the part of a tree to invasion by Mistleto (see p, 390, December 24, 1921), namely, that more swelling is caused by suc- cessful than by unsuccessful resistance. Mistleto, if it ever was indigenous in Scotland, disap- peared with the primaeval forest ; but it grows and fruits freely when sown north of the Tweed. About forty years ago I sowed a quantity of berries on young Apple and Haw- thorn trees. The Apple trees now carry huge clumps of Mistleto, four and five feet in diameter, but the swelling on, the branches is hardly noticeable. Of the Hawthorns so treated , only one remains, the rest having been removed to relieve choice Rhododendrons. The survivor is Paul's Scarlet variety; there is a large swell- ing on one of its branches, from which pro- trude a few twigs of the parasite, none of them more than two inches long. When another Hawthorn of the same variety was removed two years ago, I noted similar swellings, and even shorter twigs of Mistleto. Both Apple trees and Thorns were slender saplings when the berries were applied in March, to their previous year's growth. This seems to indicate greater power of resistance in the Hawthorn than in the Apple tree ; but whereas I have seen Hawthorns in the south of France crowded with Mistleto, it may he that Paul's variety keeps the parasite better at bav owing to superior vigour. Herbert Maxwell, Monrcith. Apple Orleans Keinette. — With regard to your interesting report in the Gard. Chron., of December 17, 1921, page 317, concerning Apple Orleans Reinette. submitted to the R.H.S- Fruit and Vegetable Committee, by Mr. Bunyard, I find that Scott in his Orchardist, second edition, published in 1873, states, " I received it under the name of Court Pendu de Tournay, 1st size, 1st equal., December to March, introduced here in 1872, and has not yet fruited." It would be interesting to know if the variety is grown by anyone under this name. G. J. Warren, The Gables, Balcombe, Sussex. The late Mr. Andrew Henderson. — I would like, through your columns, to thank Mr. C Orchard for his" kindly remarks (p. 337, Dec. 31, 1921) concerning my father, the late Mr. Andrew Henderson. Although only seven years old at the time, I well remember my mother making the pork pies for the gardeners who came to the meetings at Wimbledon House, though I may remind Mr. Orchard sometimes mutton was sub- stituted for pork. My sisters also join wiuh me in thanks for your own and Mr. Orchard's appreciation of rny father's work and goodness. Thomas Henderson, 14, Wichham Road, Beckenham. 1 failed to notice the announcement of the death of Mr. Henderson on p. 337 of Vol. LXX. This clever craftsman was all that Mr- Orchard writes of him, but of too retiring a disposition to have had justice done to his abilities as a gardener. At Wimbledon House, " intensive " cultivation was in full swing long before the expression was invented. And" his Orchids, Grapes, Pineapples, etc., were first-class. I kept up a correspondence with him till the infirmities of old age came upon him. I think it was George Turner who introduced me to the club, and Mr. Bentley. who I believe is still living, was another member. The first communication I sent to The Gardeners' Chronicle was an account of one of the meetings. It appeared in the number for February 14, 1874, but they had been noted long before that. The late William Tait, of Downie's Edinburgh, so well known in Scotland, was a nephew of Mr. Henderson's. His father, and, later, his brother, carried on a successful joinery business in Tyninghame for many years. B. P. Brotherston. Second Flowering of Cheiranthus mutabiUs. —Among the many floral freaks of 1921, I may mention the profuse flowering for the second time of . Cheiranthus mutabilis, L'Herit. it flowered freely in May, as usual, and at Christ- mas I had two plants with at least 30 flower spikes each, in an exposed situation on the top of a rockery. I hr.ve had this species (which is a native of Madeira) in cultivation for about 50 years, having had it originally from my old friend, the Rev. H. Harpur Crewe, and have never known it bloom a second time in the same year before. No doubt the deficiency of rain in 1921 has been the cause. Every month of 1921 has been below the 20-year average rainfall here; in the last few days of December we needed 1.78 in. of rain to reach the average of 2.87 in. Alfred 0. Walker, Vlcombe Place, new Maidstone. " Isabella. "-J have long been familiar with this word as a colour name and also with the story that gave rise to it. But when Sir Hei- hert Maxwell (see p. 3) states that it is a French word meaning dove-coloured, I am more than perplexed. Dove-colour, Plum-colour, mouse- colour, and many similar quasi-coloured names seldom convey the same idea to the reader or hearer as is intended by the person using them. Dove-colour here in the south of England is usually intended to describe a distinct shade ot soft pale grey. Isabelle, on the contrary, IS a proper colour name used in French to describe a. light brown shade. For synonyms in French, there are fauve, bai. peau de bufflc, and cer- tainly none of these is what we know as dove- colour. Buff or pale buff may be considered the best English translation, or even tan. These shades are certainly more applicable to soiled linen than dove-colour ! C. H. P. Lardizabala biternata.— This climber grew in I he garden I had charge of in Killarney, on a south wall, but did not seem so happy as at Monreith, for although it flowered fairly well, it did ik.i make any appreciable growth. In spite of this. I always felt proud of the flowers that did appear. Mandevilla suaveolens in a similar 24 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 14. 1922. position was rampant and flowered quite freely, and in 1911 several of its peculiar seed pods developed and ripened. Sir H. Maxwell's hesi- tation to have his plant torn down reminds me of a case when a mansion was at the time a blazing furnace, and an individual looking on asked a man directing a fire hose to play on to the creepers and try to save them! A. Elgar, Ward End Pari-, Birmingham. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. SOCIETIES. WATFORD HORTICULTURAL. Miss Bradford, J.P., presided over the December (1921) meeting of this society, at the Council Chamber, Watford. Miss Bradford in her opening remarks paid tribute to the fine power for good which the society exercised in a large, populous and growing district such as Watford, and said that the hardworking committee of this organisation had done magnifi- cent work during the war period in maintaining and improving local food supplies. The subject for the evening, " Pruning Fruit Trees," was ably dealt with by the lecturer for the evening, Mr. F. W. Miles, and the interest of an audience numbering well over 100, was fully held for con- siderably over an hour. PERTHSHIRE AND FORFARSHIRE FRUIT GROWERS. A movement which has been on foot for some time to establish a fruit growers' associa- tion for Perthshire and Forfarshire was brought to a successful issue on January 7. when a meet- ing of fruit growers was held in Blairgowrie to consider the matter. There was a good and re- presentative attendance presided over by Mr. Wm. G. Macpherson. Blairgowrie. It was re- solved to form a fruit growers' association for the two counties, and office bearers and a committee were appointed, with Mr. Macpher- son as Chairman and Mr. McDonald, Walton, Blairgowrie, as Vice-Chairman. THE WEATHER. THE WEATHER IN DECEMBER. The month of December, 1921, opened with a five days' continuation of the cold, easterly weather ex- perienced in November; but a very "mild, westerly wind afterwards set in, and this continued with scarcely any interruption to the month's close, the latter half of December being very stormy and at times wet, at Southport. The earlier weeks had been quieter, with a damp atmosphere, but only small amounts of rain fell. The mean temperature of the complete month was so high as 44.4°, or 4.7° above the normal for Decem- ber. Frost in the shade was restricted to a couple of days, and even ground frost to seven days. Of bright sunshine. 42.7 hours were experienced, or 8 hours more than the average. The total rainfall, however, amounted to 3.87 inches, implying an exoess of 0.70 inch. Wind movement was so much as 491 miles per day, or 74 miles per day above the normal. There were no fewer than 511 hours of wind from westerly points^ (i e., off the sea). Gal?.s ocoupied 68 hours, distributed over eight days ; but really destructive force was not attained (except in a few momentary Busts, and even these were not severe) There was no snow, and very little fog. Hail fell on three days. A notable smooth, glazed frost was produced on the morning of December 5. — Joseph Baxendell, The Fern- ley Observatory, Southport. THE WEATHER IN SCOTLAND. December, 1921, was another month of mild, dry. bright weather with slight falls of snow on two days. The mean temperature was nearly 3.5°, and the rainfall fully 1 inch, below the normal. Rain fell on 16 days to a total of 1.55 inch, the 21st being the wettest day with a fall of 0.38 inch. Bright sunshine was recorded for 49.8 hours, being an average of 1.6 hour per day and a percentage of 23. With a mean of 29.79 inch, the barometer varied from a highest of 30.38 inches on the 4th to a lowest of 29.15 inches on the 20th and 28th. The mean temperature was 41°, with a mean maximum of 47° and a mean minimum of 35°. The highest maximum of 55° was registered on the 8th and 31st, and the lowest minimum of 27° on -the 5th, while the lowest maximum of 56° occurred on the 4th and the highest minimum of 43° on the 8th and 17th. On 9 nights the temperature fell below the freezing point. Oa the grass the mean minimum was 30°, with a lowest of 20° on the 5th; there were 17 nights of ground frost. At 1 foot deep the soil temperature with a mean of 40° fluctuated between 41° and 36°. The prevailing winds were from the west, with gales towards the end of the month. — John Davidson, Director of Studies, St Andrew* Provincial Committee at the Training College Hardens, Ktrkton-oJ.ilains, near Dundee. " There are few gardeners, and still fewer amateurs, who do not on occasion require immediate informa- tion upon various points of practice. But either from an unwillingness to inquire, or from not knowing of whom to make the inquiry, they too often fail to obtain the information they are in want of. And let no one be alarmed lest his ques- tions should appear trifling, or those of a person ignorant of that winch he ought to know. He is the wisest man who is conscious of his ignorance ; for how little do the wisest really know 1 — except that they know little. If one man is unacquainted with a fact, however, common, it is probable that hundreds of others in the same position as himself are equally in want of similar information. To ask a question, then, is to consult the good of others as well as of one's self. — Gardeners' Chronicle, No. 1, Vol. 1, January 2, 1841. Hedge of Thuya Lobbh : /. M. W. As the young plants are only two feet apart and they have already met, it will not be necessary to stop them until they are within six inches of the desired height. The tops of vigorous young examples of this evergreen are nearly always whip-like in character, and they stiffen with age. We note with satis- faction the good preparations that were made previous to planting the Thuyas The well- being of the hedge will be all *he greater secured if attention is paid to after cultivation in such matters as keeping the surface regularly hoed in order to prevent the growth of weeds and to aerate the soil. Horti-Plough : H. L. Information about the Horti-Plough could be obtained from the makers, Messrs. Mote and Boland, Somerset Road, Teddington, Middlesex. The cable is wound on to a drum by moving a lever back- wards and forwards, and this draws the plough along. Horticultural Trade Papers: Japortica. The Horticultural Advertiser is published at Lowdham, Notts, and communications should be addressed to Mr. C. E. Pearson; the Nur- seryman and Seedsman is published at Hatton House, Great Queen Street, W.C. ; and the Horticultural Trades' Journal, by the Hortus Printing Co., Junction Road, Burnley, Lanes. Hyacinth Blooms Dropping Off: Constant Reader. The trouble is probably due to the action of cockroaches (see Card. Chron., December 31, p. 332). Hybrids; B. A hybrid is the progeny result- ing from the crossing of two distinct species; i.e., the pollen from one species is used to ferti- lise the second species, and the seeds resulting from such a combination will produce plants showing tome of the characteristics of each parent. For instance, Begonia Gloire de Lorraine is the result of crossing the South African Begonia Dregei with B. socotrana, which is a native of the island of Socotra. Of course, you will understand that the seed parent must be so treated that neither its own pollen or the pollen of any other species than the one desired to be used as the male parent is allowed to fertilise the flower. Kerosine Spray: Anxious. Six pounds of copper sulphate, 85 pounds of lime water, and 1J, gallon of paraffin are sufficient to make 100 gallons of the wash. The copper sulphate is first dissolved in a little of the water and the clear lime water run into it. The paraffin is then added, and the whole churned up with water to make 100 gallons. If a lesser quantity than 100 gallons is re- quired, you can easily work out the pro- portions. Magnolia grandiflora not Flowering: Con- stant Reader. The type species rarely flowers before it attains considerable size, but the flowering may, at times, be hastened by growing the plant in very firm and rather poor soil until it has formed the habit of flowering, after which, under the conditions stated, top-dressing would be necessary. Boot- pruning would not be advisable unless the growth is very rampant, and even then it should be practised with caution. The prun- ing of this evergreen Magnolia should consist in removing, during the winter or early spring all the side shoots that were formed during the previous year. This may be done by giving them a sharp, downward jerk, or by cutting them off close to the leading shoot from which they spring. The Exmouth variety of Magnolia grandiflora blooms in a much younger state, and this we have seen, in the West of England, as young bushes not more than 4 feet high, bearing four and five flowers each. Manures for Cordon Apple Trees: G. B. If your recently planted cordon Apple trees are growing satisfactorily, the use of animal manure is not to be recommended, as this would cause them to make too much wood growth at the expense of fruiting. Seeing that the soil was formerly rich pasture-land and that the turves have been dug well under the surface and the subsoil loosened, the trees should fruit satisfactorily, but a little basic slag applied in the autumn, with a dressing of potash in the spring, will favour the production of fruit rather than of wood. When the trees are cropping heavily, it would be an advantage in hot, dry summers to apply a mulch of stable manure, as this would help to conserve the soil moisture, and, by feeding the roots, enable the trees to mature their crop. Names of Plants: /. P. Drimys Winteri.— Dendron: 1, Sequoia sempervirens 2, Crypto- meria japonica— W. J. M. 1, Eranthemum pulchellum; 2, Fious repens variegatus. — L. C. Danae Laurus (Ruscus racemose) ;_2, Solanum aouleatissimum. Nicotianas FOR Summer Bedding: Constant Reader. The seed should be sown in mode- rate heat towards the end of the present month, and as soon as the seedlings are large enough to be handled they should be pricked off at 2 inches apart in boxes containing leafy, sandy soil and placed in a warm house. After a few weeks a further transplanting will be necessary, and. if this can be done in 3-inch flower-pots, the plants will be best for planting out in the flower-beds, but many gardeners obtain good results from plants which have been grown in boxes. The soil at this stage should contain more loam than before. After having been potted or trans- planted into boxes, the plants should be re- placed in the same temperature as that in which they were growing. Ten days later they may be gradually hardened off and be planted out in their flowering quarters at the end of May or early in June. The sorts which ?ive the best floral display are the hybrids of N. affinis and N. Sanderae while N. sylvestris and N. grandiflora -are robust species which hear handsome foliage surmounted by smaller flowers. Primula obconica: C. F. The flower of Primula obconica submitted is rather more blue in the colouring than usual. Soil on an Ants' Hill: H. W. The soil which you describe as being obtainable from an ants' hill would probably be suitable for use in potting plants, but it would have to be mixed with plenty of sand, as, being in a fine state of division, it would probably set so closely when watered as to exclude the air from entering freely. Mixed with such materials as bone meal, wood ash. crushed mortar, and well-rotted stable dung, it should be suitable for a variety of gardfii purposes. Violets Failing: H. L. We have made a careful examination of the soil in which your Violets are growing, and can find no pest that would be likely to cause the damage you describe. Send an affected plant and some of the white worms you refer to. The grubs should he enclosed in a tin box sepa- rate from the plant, which should also be packed in a tin box, if possible. Communications Received— W. S W — N. G.— W. H. M.-Tenrab— H. H.— R. V. B — J. F — W. S. B— W. I.— E. B.— E. K— D. P.— J. A. P. January 21, 192: THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 25 THE (Baxitmtxz (Upcomtk Ko. 1830.— SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1922. CONTENTS. Artichoke?, Jerusalem .- 33 Association of Economic Biologists . . . . 25 Begonias, winter - flower- ing, at Steep Park, Jarvis Brook, Crow- borough . . . . 34 Club for farmers, horti- cultural . . . . 26 Colchester, munificent gifts to .. ..25 Drought, the great, and its effect on garden plants 32 Florists' Flowers — Antirrhinums . . 27 Late - flowering Chry- santhemums . . 27 Seedling Phloxes . . 27 Flower garden, the . . 30 Fruit trees in pots dam- aged by voles . . 34 " Gardeners' Clvronicle " seventy-five years ago 26 Gibbs.the Hon. Vicary . . 26 Grape Gros Colman at Nymans. Handcross_.. 34 Grass seed, sowing lawn . . 34 Hopctoun House Gardens 25 " Index Kewensis " . . 25 Ireland, notes from Kirk, Sir John . . Lilium testaceum Melons, wilt in .. Obituary — Carter, Wat. . . Murrell, R. . . Palms of the Riviera . . Prain, Sir David, retire- ment of Primula limnoiea Rainfall at Tirley Garth Gardens Rock and formal gardens at Chelsea show Salvia leucantha Snowdrops, early Societies — National Rose Royal Horticultural . . United Hort. Ben. and Prov : Tomatos, sleepy disease of ■ Ward's, Mr. Kingdon, sixth expedition in Asia : Week's work, the . . : Woolly aphis, or American blight ! 32 26 34 36 36 29 25 ILLUSTRATIONS. ■Gibts, Hon. Vicary, portrait of the Phloxes, seedling, at Aldenham House Gardens Primula limnoiea Salvia leucantha Woolly aphis, or American blight 31 29 33 Average Mean temperature for the ensuing week deduced from observations during the last fifty years at Greenwich, 39.1. Actual Temperature : — Gardener*' l.'ltromcle Office, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London, Wednesday, January IS, 10 a.m.; Bar. 29.8; temp. 41°. Weather— Bright. The aptly-named Sleepy Dis- Sleepy ease which not infrequently Disease affects Tomato plants and of Tomatos. causes loss of crop has been the subject of thorough and .able investigation* by Mr. W. F. Bewley, Mycologist to the Research Station of the Nursery and Market Garden Industries Development Society. The conclusions reached by Mr. Bewley are of great im- portance and point the way to the preven- tion, if not to the absolute cure, of this disease. The agent producing the disease is almost invariably the fungus Verticillium albo-atrum, but in some cases it is another and altogether distinct fungus, Fusarium lyco- pcrsici. It is easy for a grower to ascertain which of the two fungi is the cause of an ortbreak, for Verticillium is a fungus which grows best and therefore does most damage at a relatively low temperature — 7o-72°F., whereas the Fusarium is a high-temperature iungus and thrives best at 82-84°F. The symptoms of Sleepy Disease are well known ; a generally stunted plant with leaves on -which ye'low blotches occur. When condi- tions are favourable to the spread of the disease, the plants suddenly succumb to it without any previous sign of infection. In this state the limpness of the leaves is a sure sign of the impending death of the pU-nts. A certain means of identification of the disease is afforded by the post-mortem dissection ; for in any plant affected with sleepy disease, a brown stain running along the wood from the point of infection in the root and up the stem may be seen. The fungus, Verticillium albo-atrum is able to gain entrance to the root of the Tomato * Fizlh Animal Heporl (1920) of the Experimental and Research Station, Turner's Hill, Cheshunt. plant either by way of a wound or through Uk- intact surface, and inasmuch as it has been shown by Mr- Bewley to thrive vigor- ously when it gains access to soil which has been partially sterilised, soil-sterilisation is of littie value in preventing the disease if means are not also taken to prevent the re-irifection of the soil. That such means must be thorough may be judged by the facts, first, that the fungus continues to grow and may pass into a resting stage on the remains of the roots of diseased and dead plants left in the soil, and second, that as has been shown by careful inoculations and re-infections, num- erous plants beside the Tomato may serve as hosts (or nurses) of the disease-producing fungus. Among such plants are the Potato which, when infected, also shows yellowing and wilting, the Egg Plant, Antirrhinum, Cucumber, and sundry others, such as seed- ling Sycamore and Elm. From experimental inoculations made in Tomatos growing at oifferent temperatures and at different times of the year, Mr. Bewley has shown that owing to ihe temperature requirements^ of the fungus, the disease is worst in spring when the temperature is relatively low, is checked in summer with a rising and higher temperature and reappears again in autumn as the temperature falls. Following the line pointed to bv this evidence, Mr. Bewley has shown that "it is possible to check the disease and obtain a crop by increasing the temperature of the houses in which the Tomatos are growing. Additional! boiler heat sufficient to produce a temperature just above 770 F. has proved successful — especi- ally if at the same time the house can be shaded; for with a lowered rate of trans- piration of the plants, the progress of the disease is less rapid. In one experiment of this kind, of 68 per cent, of plants showing sleepy disease 58 per cent, recovered and no longer showed wilting. Other points of great interest to growers are that "soft" grown plants are less liable to Sleepy Dis- ease than are "hard" grown plants, and that the practice sometimes adopted of giving plants a check at an early stage is calcu- lated to render them more prone to the disease; also that plants grown in a soil rich in humus are more apt to exhibit Sieepv Disease than are those which are grown in poorer soil. One variety only, Manx Marvel, appears to be highly resistant, and the investigators at the Experimental Station are at present engaged in endea- vouring to raise varieties immune to this serious disease. British Mycological Society.— The programme for the meeting of this society, to be held on Saturdav, January 21, in the Botany Lecture Theatre, University College, Gower Street, W.C., at 11 a.m., includes lectures as follows: — Dr. W. Brown. " On the Germination and Growth of Fungi at Various Temperatures and in Various Atmospheres " ; Miss D. M. Cayley, on " Die Back of Stone Fruits due to Diaporthe perniciosa and the Behaviour of Monospore Cultures in Artificial Media " ; Mr. W. B. Crow, on " The Morphology and Affinities of Leucono- stoo mesenteroides " : Dr. H. Wormald, " Notes on Crown-gall " ; Dr. M. C. Rayner, on "Obligate Symbiosis in Calluna " ; Mr. W. J. Dowson, " Michaelmas Daisy Wilt." Handsome Bequest for Musselburgh Public Park.— A handsome bequest for the maintenance of Lewisvale Public Park, Musselburgh, was in- timated at the last meeting of the Town Council of that Burgh. It was announced that the late Mr. Douglas Brown, formerly of California, native of Musselburgh, and a son of a former magistrate, had bequeathed, subject to a life rent, one-seventh of his estate, to be devoted to the maintenance of the Park and also to defray the salary of the park-keeper. The Lewisvale Park was presented to the Burgh by Mr. Douglas Brown and his brothers as a memorial of their late father. The Provost expressed the gratifi- cation of the Council and inhabitants at this in- timation, and the Bxu'gh treasurer said that the income would be quite sufficient to maintain the Park and pay the park-keeper's salary. La Societe Lyonnaise d'Horticulture. — After seventy-eight years' existence and active work in Lyons, the Societe d'Horticulture Pratique du Rhone has amalgamated with the Associa- tion Horticole Lyonnaise, adopting the above- nanied title. It is interesting to record that this amalgamation is, in fact, a reunion, for the Association Horticole broke away from the parent society some years ago. Other societies that have emanated from the Societe d'Horticulture Pratique du Rhone are the Societe Pomologique de France, the Societe Fran9ai.se des Rosieristes, and the Societe Fran- caise des Chrysanthemistes, all prosperous and progressive organisations engaged in a special branch of horticultural work in their own par- ticular spheres. The official organ of the newly constituted society will be issued during January of this year, and will be known as the Lyon Horticole et Horticulture Nouvdle Reuwis, Early Snowdrops. — Mr. S. Arnott, of Max- welltown, writes : I was agreeably surprised on January 2 to be informed that a clump of Snow- drops was in full blcom that morning, and evidences of this were brought to me, as I was confined to bed through illness. The clump was composed of bulbs of one of the hybrid Snowdrops raised by the late Mr. William Thomson, High Blantyre, Lanarkshire. These were derived from Galanthms nivalis and G-. plicafaus, but the iaiser kept no record of which was the pollen, and which the seed parent. These hybrids are mostly of exceptional size and beauty. Other clumps, including one of G. Elwesii, flowered in quick succession, and during the week ending January 9 a goodly number of Snowdrops were in bloom. This is remarkably early for our neighbourhood, although at St. Mary's Isle, Monreith and other places in the seaboard counties of Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire, Snowdrops in December are quite common. Munificent Gifts to Colchester. — Lord Cowdray has presented the town of Colchester with the sum of .£10.000 for the purchase of the Holly Trees Mansion for the extension of the public park. This makes the second gift of £10,000 to the town, the other being for the purchase of Colchester Castle and other property for the town's use. Lord Cowdray has announced his intention, in connection with Lady Cowdray, of contributing a further £3,000 to provide new entrance gates and railings in connection with the extension of the public park. " Index Kewensis." — A further Supplement, making the fifth, to the Index Kewensis, brings up the list of known plants to the year 1915. It is a large volume, containing 277 pages, and the geographical distribution of new species is riven in greater detail than in previous parts of this monumental work. Numerous names ac- cidentally omitted from previous Supplements are included, and others are reinserted in cases where the reference originally given was not the earliest. Association of Economic Biologists. — A general meeting will be held at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. January 27, in the Botanical Lecture Theatre of the 'imperial College of Science. South Ken- sington, London, S.W.7 The chair will be taken bv the President, Sir David Prain, F.R.S., and Professor E. P. Stebhing, Professor of Forestry in the University of Edinburgh, will open a discussion upon "The Importance of Scientific Research in Forestry and its Position in the Empire." Hopetoun House Gardens— Much to the re- gret of all who know Hopetoun House, the seat of the Marquis of Linlithgow, in West Lothian, the Marquis has intimated his decision to close the establishment on account of the burden of taxation. This decision will probably mean some changes in the gardens, which have for so many years been among the finest in Scotland, 26 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 21, 1922. and have been maintained in splendid condition under the care of a succession of able gar- deners, such as the late Mr. Smith, Mr. T. Hay, now of Regent's Park, London, and latterly of Mr. Highgate, who has worthily maintained the traditions of Hopetoun. Where all departments of gardening have received due attention, it is impossible to discriminate, but it is well known that hardy flowers have been a conspicuous feature of these noble Gardens. In an interview with a Press corre- spondent. Lord Linlithgow stated that he was extremely sorry to have to close down the gar- dens at Hopetoun House, as these were of great interest to himself and his family. It was a satisfaction to him to know that his head gar- dener, Mr. Highgate, was a moving spirit in the allotment movement and in the encouragement of Scottish gardening, and it had always been a pleasure to send Mr. Highgate to various places to lecture on horticultural subjects and to judge at local shows. Rock and Formal Gardens at Chelsea Show. — We are asked to state that all exhibitors who propose to arrange Rock Gardens or Formal Gardens at the Chelsea Show to be held on May 23 to 25, and who have not already re- ceived a communication from the Royal Horti- cultural Society, should communicate with the Secretary, Mr. W. R. Dykes, at once. American Rose Society. — We learn from an American contemporary that this society now has a membership roll of 2,000, of which there are some in sixteen different foreign countries. Evidently the Rose is a popular flower in the United States, and there is probably no other special floricultura-1 society there with so large a list cf members. Sir John Kirk.— The death of Sir John Kirk, in his 90th year, is a great loss to British science. Born at Barry, near Arbroath, For- farshire, on December 19, 1832, Kirk devoted himself at an -early age to the study of botany, He followed the profession of medicine, and his proclivities and profession determined his career. He organised- a, party of medical men as a volunteer corps to aid the British wounded in the Crimean War, and his great chance came when, in 1858, he was selected to accompany Livingstone in his Zanzibar expedition. For five years he acted as second to that great explorer and was with him in the discovery of Lake Nya-sa. Returning to England in 1863, he spent much time at Kew in working out his botanical collections. From 1866 he held various offices at Zanzibar, and there he remained with in- creasing influence until 1886. Thanks to him, \ German designs on Zanzibar were- in a large measure frustrated, and it was through him that negotiations, which led to the foundation of British East Africa, were set on foot. After his retirement, Sir John settled at Sevenoaks, and during the years spent in retirement he devoted himself with never-failing energy to the advance- ment of science. Horticultural Club for Farmers.— Steps have already been taken to form a club for the newly- organised horticultural section of the Young Farmers' Club at the Model Village, Welwyn Garden City. At the opening meeting, Mr. W. Jenkins, of the Ministry of Agriculture, was able to state that twelve young people had under- taken to cultivate the fruit-belt, which it is hoped will be a distinct and attractive feature of the village. Mr. H. Etchers and Captain J. G. Simpson have volunteered to superintend the future work of the new club. National Institute of Agricultural Botany. — In connection with the proposal to create a fellow- ship of the Institute of Agricultural Botany, the Prime Minister has shown his interest in the work of the Council in a letter sent by him to Sir Lawrence Weaver, the Chairman. The letter is as follows : " Dear Sir Lawrence, I have been following with great interest the rapid progress of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, and congratulate you and your col- leagues on the serious and useful work the Institute is already doing for the farming com- munity. You are wise to broaden the- basis of your organisation by creating a Fellowship of the Institute, which will enable every one con- cerned with the improvement of crops to help forward the good work. I gladly show my appreciation of what you are doing by asking to be enrolled as one of the first Life Fellows of the Institute. With all good wishes for its con- tinued progress, both in successful work and in wide support from everyone interested in agriculture. — Believe me, Yours sincerely, D. Lloyd George." The Hon. Vicary Gibbs. — The Hon. Vicary Gibbs' garden at Aldenham, Elstree, is famous throughout the world of horticulture, not only for its general beauty, but particularly for the wealth of flowering trees and shrubs which it contains, and, moreover, those who have lacked the good fortune to see Aldenham in its growing gtary are yet able to enjoy the reflex of its beauty by reading the descriptions of choice plants which the Hon. Vicary Gibbs and his gifted head gardener, Mr. Beckett, contribute with such generous and skilled hands to the hor- ticultural Press. The Hon. Vicary Gibbs has the versatility of the cultured Englishman, and when his garden is fallow in winter he devotes his leisure to genealogical research — results of HON. VICARY GIBBS. which have appeared in the Complete Peerage, the fifth volume of which has recently been pub- lished. The trees and shrubs at Aldenham repre- sent much devoted labour, both in their acquisi- tion and cultivation, and among them are to be found many of the best plants, both from North America and from China. During the period of the war the Hon. Vicary Gibbs set a fine ex- ample in patriotism by devoting a large acreage at Aldenham to the cultivation of vegetables. The energies of the staff were diverted from the pleasure grounds to the Potato fields, and the crops which were raised were not only a real con- tribution towards an increased food supply, but showed what high yields may be obtained when the pleasure gardener turns his skill to market gardening. The Hon. Vicary Gibbs, whose knowledge of horticulture is no less than his devotion thereto, has had a busy life — a partner in Antony Gibbs and Sons, merchants and bankers, he occupied a seat in the House of Com- mons for the St. Albans Division of Herts from 1892-1904. Born in 1853. he is the second sur- viving son of the first Baron Aldenham, was educated at Eton and Christ Church. Oxford, and was called to the Bar in 1880. It is well for horticulture that in spite of the difficulties of the present time, men like the Hon. Vicary Gibbs continue to follow Candide's advice : "Let us cultivate our gardens; alike in the pleasure which they derive and give they are happy." Retirement of Sir David Prain.— Sir David Pram, C.M.G., F.R.S., who has occupied the post of Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, since 1905, will retire under the age limit at the end of February of this year. It will be remembered that Sir David Prain was formerly director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Calcutta, and came to Kew as successor to Sir W. Thiselton Dyer. Sir David's work as u botanist is very widely known, while his capabilities as an organiser and a horticulturist are reflected in the admirable condition of the famous national gardens which have been under his care for seventeen years. The First Lord of the Treasury has appointed Mr. A. W. Hill, F.R.S., D.Sc., as successor to Sir David Prain. Mr. Hill has been Assistant Director at the Gardens for fourteen years and was previously Fellow and Dean of King's College, Cambridge, and University Lecturer in botany. Mr. Hill will take up his new duties on March 1. Rainfall at Tirley Garth Gardens.— Mr. J. B. . Allan, Tirley Garth Gardens, Tarporley, Cheshire, informs us that the rainfall there during 1921 amounted to 21.31 inches, or 14.32 inches less than in 1920. The heaviest rainfall occurred on October 3, when 1.22 inch was registered. February was the driest month with .35 of an inch of rain. In August, the rainfall amounted to 4.48 inches, and this was the wettest month in the year, with 22 rainy days. January had the most rainy days, with a total of 24. There were 170 days in which .01 of an inch or more of rain was registered and 118 days in which .04 of an inch or more was recorded. The driest spell of weather was from June 26 to July 22, when there were 25 dry days. The hot- test days were July 8 and 9, when the tem- perature rose to 95° in the shade. The coldest day was on November 6, when 11° of frost was registered. Appointments for the Ensuing WeeK.— Wednesday, January 25. — Irish Gardeners' Asso- ciation meeting; Wimbledon and District Gar- deners' Society's meeting; Newport and District Gardeners' Association's lecture by Mr. G. E. Davies on " Propagation." Thursday. Januarv 26.— Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution annual general meeting and election of annuitants at Simpson's, 101, Strand, W.C. ; Bristol and District Gardeners' Association meet- ing; Royal Botanic Society's meeting; Hornsey and District Chrysanthemum Society's annual general meeting. Friday, January 27. — Associa- tion of Economic Biologists meeting ; Paisley Florists' Society's meeting. Saturday, January 28. — National Auricula Society's annual meeting. " The Gardeners' Chronicle " Seventy Ave Years Ago.— Birmingham and Edgbaston Horti- cultural Society. — We understand the donations which have been so liberally contributed for the purpose of improving and embellishing the Botanic Garden at Edgbaston now amount to little short of £400, the whole of which has been raised within the last few weeks, and it is highly probable that a considerable addition thereto will soon be realised. We learn that it is intended, as soon as the state of the funds will admit, to erect a Geranium house, in addition to the present buildings, to be devoted exclusively to the culture of the numerous varieties of that beautiful and favourite plant. A Garden Committee has been appointed, to- whom will be confided the direction and superin- tendence of improvements which it is decided to carry into effect in the forthcoming spring. The Committee, it is said, will direct then- attention to the floral department of the gar- dens (irrespective of the present botanical arrangement) , with a view to render them more generally attractive than they have hitherto proved, by means of a regular and unbroken suc- cession of flowers. Birmingham, Advertiser, Dec. 31. Gard. Chron., Jan. 16, 1847. Publications Received— On Forms'- of the Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Resistant to Mildexn (Sphaerotheca humuli {DC) Burr). By E. S. Salmon. Reprinted from the Annals of Applied Biology, Vol. VIII.. Nos. 3 and 4, November, 192L University Press, Cambridge. — Seed Trade Buyer's Guide for 1922. Pub- lished bv the Seed World, Chicago, Hlinois. Price $1.00. January 21, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 27 FLORISTS' FLOWERS. ANTIRRHINUMS. Although the Antirrhinum is a hardy peren- nial it may be treated as an annual, and grown as such it forms one of the most showy ot sum- mer bedding subjects. The habit of growth is admirably adapted for bedding purposes ; there are dwarf, intermediate, and talt forms, and in many instances the effect is greatly enhanced by a combination of the three types, especially in the case of large numbers in beds or wide borders. The colours of the flowers include a wide variation of hues, those enjoying the greatest popularity are the self's, or at least those in which only one shade predominates. Seeds of many distinct colour forms may be had from seedsmen, and the plants may be relied on to give good results. To secure stock for a summer display a sowing of seed should be made at the end ot January; use small, shallow boxes tilled with light, sandy soil made moderately firm, and scatter the seeds thinly over the surface. Cover the seeds lightly with fine soil, in which a little old mortar rubble has been mixed, and place the seed pans in a moderately warm house or frame. As soon as the seedlings appear, place them in a light, airy position to prevent damping, and when large enough to handle prick them out into boxes. Afford the plants a little warmth until early in April, when they may be planted out into a cold frame or any position where protec- tion can be given during cold, wet weather. By pinching out the tin of the leading shoots side growths are induced to develop, and bushy plants thus obtained, which, by the time the borders and beds are cleared of the spring flower- ing plants, should he in excellent condition for planting permanently. Antirrhinums will grow well in most kinds of soils, but well drained ground is most suitable. Any attempt to winter the plants on stiff, cold ground, with a view to obtaining a spring and early summer display of flowers is sure to end in failure. On a friable sod plants raised from seeds sown at the latter end of July in the open ground, and transplanted early in the autumn to allow them time to become established before winter, will give a wealth of flower in the spring. In suitable soils Antirrhinums sometimes grow to a height of 4 to 5 feet, and assume quite a shrubby appearance; such plants whori in flower are most beautiful objects. When preparing the sites for Antirrhinums it is better to exclude manure unless the soil is exceptionally poor, especially for autumn planting, as excessively rich soil is productive of rank, sappy growth at the expense of flowers. To prolong the flower- ing season, all seed vessels and dead flowers should be kept removed. Good colour varieties are : — Coral Red, Orange King, Rich Apricot, Pale Apricot, Bright Pink, Mauve Queen, Yellow King, White and Crimson Gold — suffused. James A. Paice. SEEDLING PHLOXES. I doubt if there is a more pleasant phase of gardening than that of raising new varieties of popular kinds of flowering plants with a view to obtaining improvements on existing varieties ; with many kinds of florists' flowers this enter- prise proves interesting and exciting. The accompanying illustration (Fig. 12) of a bed of seedling Phloxes at Aldenham in 1921 conveys some idea of the contrasts in colour found in such a display. At Aldenham we carry out a considerable amount of this class of work, dealing with such subjects as Pentstemons, Polyanthuses. Strepto- carpus and Asters, but I never recollect anything to be compared with these seedling Phloxes. They were seen by many folk, and gave great pleasure to all; in fact, it was a difficult task in some instances to draw attention to other points of interest at Aldenham, once the visitor had reached the Phloxes. One gentleman, who has done very much good work among Phloxes ex- pressed the opinion that he had never seen any- thing to equal ours. There were about 1.400 seedlings, and of these nearly 500 were selected as worthy of a second season's trial, inasmuch as they showed prospect of advance in comparison with existing varieties. My sole reason for setting out these details is t.i endeavour to emphasise the great pleasure that this sort of enterprise can afford to those who will undertake it. Unfortunately, the illus- tration does not show the wonderful range of colour tones and tints that the flowers displayed. The seeds were sown at the end of October, 1920, in a light, sandy compost, and placed in a temperature of about 50° to 55°; when the young seedlings were sufficiently large enough to handle comfortably, they were pricked off into boxes. After they had become established, they were gradually hardened off, and were planted out into the bed in rows, 1 foot apart, with 6 inches between the plants in the rows. They were carefully supported by Spiraea sticks, each plant being tied to its support, and, to further help them to resist the effects of any rough winds, the sticks were in turn tied to lines of tarred twine run along the rows and attached to stout stakes inserted at the ends of the rows. Until flowering took place, the Dutch hoe was kept, busy along the rows to keep down weeds, and aerate the soil, while the plants' require- ments in the way of water were carefully to remember that the photograph was taken early in March. Since then I have searched the regular channels for an advertisement of this variety, and am still searching, though with the conviction now that it must be pay- ing the raisers better to sell the flowers than the cuttings, although I note that this Chry- santhemum was exhibited at the last R.H.S. fortnightly meeting in the old year. In the meantime the alternative for the majority of us is to make use of the sorts that are avail- able, and fortunately there is a fair choice. As a flower. Cheshunt White leaves little to be desired, but the plant has a poor habit. I grow this sort four together in a 9-inch pot, and stop the plants once in April. In an average season this stopping results in January flowers, but last year Christmas saw them at their best. The Favourite is a later introduction, with a habit as ne herbaceous and similar flowering subjects (as to vegetables, and therefore in making a new bed or border see that the soil is thoroughly and deeply worked. Further, make sure that the drainage is in good condition, and where beds are made in positions that are not of easy access to land drains, then some form of drain, such as a good layer of broken bricks or large stones, should be put well down to form a place to which surplus water can soak until such time as it can get away into the surrounding grounds Old beds that are being got ready for bedding purposes should receive some form of plant food, either in the way of animal manure, well decayed, or a dress- ing of a reliable artificial manure, for it must be borne in mind that exhaustion of such food is constantly taking place in th.G3e beds that are occupied year after year with such plants. Where it can be done, it is as well to remove some of the soil, say, to i. depth of from two to "three feet,1 and replace it with good stuff, such as decayed turves well chopped up. Where heavier material only is available, mix with it, a good proportion of gritty material such as road sand. Summer Bedding. — There are many extra sub- jects which are used nowadays to enhance greatly the beauty of summer bedding. The modern style of flower bedding is not of such a formal character as at one time, and a great variety of half-tender plants may be used for the purpose that are at the present season of the year being sheltered in pits and frames. Most of these are presumably young plants raised from cuttings that were struck towards the end of last season, or when the sununer bed- ding was removed to make way for the spring bedding. As the very best results can be attained only from really well-grown specimens, these young plants should now be re-potted into suitable-sized pots, and grown on in a warm temperature to develop healthy growth, so that by the time they are ready to be hardened off they will be shapely speci- mens of full beauty. This work may be carried out as opportunity presents during the next month, and will be found to well repay fur careful attention. Where slock of the nature referred to was not propagated during the fall of the year the work should be undertaken forthwith. Many growers pot. the best of the. bedding plants as they are lifted, with a view to propagating from them now, and if the larger specimens devoted to this purpose are brought, into growth in a house having a genial tempera- ture, and fairly moist atmosphere, they will soon provide ample material for use as cuttings. The latter should, when ready, be inserted without further delay in sandy compost, and potted on as soon as they arc suitably rooted. Fuclisias, Pelargoniums, Heliotropes. Swainsonias, Cal- ceolarias, Iresines, Plumbagos, and many other bedding plants may thus be dealt with now. FRUITS UNDER GLASS. By F. Joedan, Gardener to Lieut. -Col. Sfendee Clay, M.P., Ford Manor, Linjrfield, S'urrey. Cucumbers — Make a further sowing of Cucumber seeds, as young plants raised now will make rapid progress as the days increase in length, proviided they are grown in plenty of heat and moisture. A night temperature of 65° to 68°, with a corresponding rise during the day, will be suitable for the next few weeks. Plants already fruiting require extra care and atten- tion during this month ; encourage the young growths to develop as much as possible by affording the roots light top dressings of rich compost, and watering them occasionally with warm, diluted liquid manure. Admit a little fresh air, if only for a short time, on bright days to prevent a stagnant atmosphere. Damp January 21, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 29 the beds and paths lightly, according to the weather, in order to maintain a moderately moist atmosphere. Ventilation and Temperatures. — The ventila- tion of fruit houses requires to be done with great care and needs constant attention during the early stages of forcing. Guard against cold draughts and checks from sudden changes in the outside temperatures. Notliing will be gained by attempting to force the plants unduly dining very cold weather; slow progress now is soon made up later when more genial weather ami longer days prevail. General Remarks The pruning of vines or Peaches should be completed without further delay. The houses should be washed and painted if possible, especially if mealy bug or red spider has been troublesome. Place a sheet on the border and carefully rub the loose bark off vines ; carefully collect up all the rubbish and burn it. Wash the vine rods with Gishurst Compound to destroy any 'insects that may be harbouring on them, and also as a preven- tive against further attacks. Permanent Trees in Borders. — The house con- taining trees planted in borders should be closed, if this has not been done already. Examine the borders carefully and supply the necessary moisture down to the drainage, using tepid water. Promote atmospheric moisture by damp- ing the walls and paths, and not so much by direct syringing of the trees, especially in dull or damp weather. Keeping the trees constantly moist is detrimental to their progress. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. By Jasifs E. Hathawat, Gardener to John Bbennind, Esq , Baldersby Park, Thirsk, Yorkshire. Onions. — Where large Onions are required for exhibition the seed should be sown now in pots or boxes. Where plenty of room is available 60-s!iized pots are the best receptacles as seed pans, but Onion seed may be sown in well-drained boxes, about 3 to 4 in. deep. Cover the drain- age material with rough fibre from turves, and fill the box with a mixture of rich fibrous loam, leaf-mould, decayed horse droppings, wood ash, and, if the soil is of a heavy texture, sand to lighten it. The whole of the materials should be passed through a half-inch sieve. The soil should not be too wet nor too dry, and should be imade firm, and the boxes should be filled nearly to the top.' Press the surface perfectly flat, and sow the seeds thinly, shaking soil over them through a very fine sieve to cover them. The seed pans or boxes should be placed near to the roof-glass in a house having a tem- perature of about 55° to 60°. If the seedlings are grown in an excessive amount of fire-heat they will become drawn and spindly. In gardens where Onions sown out-of-doors do badly this is the best method of growing the plants form- ing the main crop. Leeks. — A sowing of Leeks should be made now. The general treatment should be simlilar to that advised for Onions, but the seed is best sown in 60-sized pots, and the soil should not be made too firm. Hot Beds. — As fast as materials are available continue to make hot-beds. Stable litter and leaves in equal proportions make good hot-beds. Beds on which it lis intended to place portable frames should bo made 3 ft. wider all round than the size of the frame. Tread the litter and leaves firmly. Soil which has been sifted through a half-inch sieve should be placed in the frames to a depth of about 8 inches. As soon as the soil is in a suitable conditlion (which may be ascertained by means of a thermometer or a stick pushed into the fermenting materials) early types of Carrots may be sown in rows 10 to 12 in. apart, and Radishes sown thinly between them as an intercrop. Early Snowball and Milan Turniips may also be sown in these frames. Turnip seeds germinate very quickly, and so soon as the seedlings appear air should be admitted when the weather is favourable to prevent the plants becoming drawn. Shallots.— Shallots should be forthwith planted if not already done. Level the ground with a rake and plant in rows made 1 foot apart, allow- ing 9 inches between the bulbs in the rows. Shallots should be planted practically on the top of the sobl. and only just pressed into the ground. Afterwards draw the soil to them, leaving only just the tip of the bulb showing. Garlic may also be planted now, but this herb should be planted deeper than Shallots. PALMS OF THE RIVIERA. Jur.AEA chilensis, Mol. (J. spectabilis, H. B. and Kut) is a Palm which resembles Butia very much, but is a much larger size. Though this Palm is not rare in the Riviera gardens, still it is not met with frequently, though it was introduced many years ago. and before several other Palms which are now met 'with every- where, such as Phoenix canadensis and Washing- toriia. The reason is that Jubaea chilensis is slow growing, and that it commences to flower only at the age of fifty or sixty years, while Phoenix canadensis, which is quick-growing, flowers and fruits at the age of eight or ten years. Apart from this, Jubaea chilensis is a much lets ornamental Palm than Phoenix canadensis. Its trunk is even thicker and its leavts shorter and more stiff, also less grace- fully arched. The fact of it being less orna that such a stately Palm, the only native Palm of the Chilian mainland, should be thus exter- minated without adequate means being taken to replace the felled trees or some way found to tap the sap without cutting down and thus destroying the Palm outright. It is so much more regrettable, as the sap is not the only iisie- ful part of the plant, for the kernels of the fruits are edible, as. indeed, are probatory those of all Palms belonging to the tribe Coccinea. The kernels of the fruits of Jubaea chilensis are single in the fruits, which vary according to varieties, from the si/.e of Walnuts to that of a middle-sized Apricot. While the flesh of the fruit is full of fibre and of no value for eating, the kernels have a very fine flavour, like that of the well-known Coco-nuts, hut superior. The kernels are much appreciated in Chili and used for all purposes, for which Coco-nuts, Almonds and such nuts are used, that is either eaten raw or boiled with sugar, in cakes or in other ways. The fact of the kernels of Jubaea chilensis being so valuable may, perhaps, prevent the utter destruction in the 'wild state of this interesting Palm and eventually lead to its cultivation, especially as it is not exacting as to the kind of soil in whioh it will grow and resists great drought. To those who like to combine the useful with the ornamental, I could not give better advice Fig. 13. — salvia leucantha flowering a second time in the same yeah. menial Lnan Phoenix canadensis and that, though it was introduced much earlier, it did not picduc-5 seeds, when Phoenix canadensis already did so, accounis for its relative rarity in the Riviera. Still, like all Palms, it has a great ornamental value, and is well worth planting, especially as it is very hardy, much more so than Phoenix canadensis, and is, with its tall, straight, smooth trunk, always an imposing Palm when of a certain age. As stated, the trunk is smooth, the bases of the dead leaves, though remaining for many years, finally falling off. The folioles are bent, like the folioles of Butia and all Palms of the tribe Coccinea, so that each half is turned downwards, while in the Phoenix the halves are turned upwards, forming a run in both cases. Unlike the Butia, to which Jubaea chilensis bears a great resemblance, the petioles are spineless. This slow-growing Palm reaches in time, probably in the space of cen- turies only, a height of twenty to twenty-eight metres, but such very large individuals, which exist only in the wild state in a few parts of its native country, Chili, are becoming exceed- ingly scarce, since this Palm is frequently cut down to obtain the sap from the trunk, this sap being boiled until it acquires the consistency of syrup or sugar, which it replaces in its native country. After the plant has been felled, the top is cut off, and from this cut continues to flow for months a quantity of sap, which fills tfie enon 9 trunk. It is rather unfortunate than to plant a few specimens of Jubaea chilen- sis, and where the temperature of the district is favourable to the tree, that is where frosts as low as 15° C. occur occasionally, but do not last more than a short time, this hardy Palm will exist, though, of course, like all plants, it will do better in climates where its vitality is not put to such a severe trial. Dr. A. Bobert- m Proschowiky, Jardin d' Acclimatation, Les Tropiques, Nicr, France. SALVIA LEUCANTHA. Tins very prettv Labiate conies from Mexico, and ia usually treated as a greenhouse shrub, though in the West of England we grow it out of doors. It usually flowers profusely during July and August, but in 1921, owing no doubt to the extraordinarily fine summer, we had two crops of flowers, the second of which was un usually good. The photograph (Fig. 13) was taken here at Tolvean, Redruth, on November 7. Tfie corolla is white and densely woolly, while 1 lie rachis is equally woolly, but it is violet or amethyst, and the whole looks uncommonly pretty. It is a splendid companion for Leonotus I fHiniirus or Salvia Pride of Zurich. A stock plant gives numerous cuttings in the autumn, and they in their turn, when rooted and planted out in April, make a handsome show (luring the following summer. //. II'.. 'Redruth. 30 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 21, 1922 EDITORIAL NO TICE. ADVERTISEMENTS should be sent to the PUBLISHER. 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, W C 2 Editors and Publisher.— Our correspondents would obviate delay in obtaining answers to their com- munications, and save us much time and trouble. if they would kindly observe the notice printed weekly to the effect that all letters relating to financial matters and to advertisements should be addressed to the Publishes ; and that all communi- cations intended for publication or referring to the Literary department, and all plants to be named, should he directed tn the Editors. The two departments. Publishing and Editorial, are distinct, and much unnecessary delay and confusion arise when letters are misdirected. Local News.— Correspondents will greatly oblige by sending to the Editors early intelligence of local events likely to be of interest to our readers, or of any matters which it is desirable to bring under the notice of horticulturists. MR. KINGDON WARD'S SIXTH EXPEDITION IN ASIA.* 9. — In the Limestone Country. WE were now deep in the limestone country, and as we went northwards the country grew drier. Many of the streams disappeared underground, and I imagine that at certain seasons there would be difficulty in finding water. In such a region the only permanent water supply would be that derived from melting snow, and the snow line could not be expected to be much below 19,000 feet. So far we had not glimpsed a snow peak, nor so much as a lurking patch of snow. The passes we crossed were not above 9,000 ifeet, the highest peaks some four or five thousand feet higher, grim and bare looking. Nevertheless we found new flowers every day, and the flora was clearly growing richer in spite of the disabilities under which it laboured. Clearly we were travelling towards the souroe of supply, in the direction from which the flora had originally come. Also the mountains w.ere growing higher, so that we found more species for the same altitude than hitherto. So far east of the Yangtze we had ifound but seven species of Rhododendron below 10.000 feet alti- tude, including R. Delavayi and two white flowered species already found far to the south of Ta-li, the purplish-pink Azalea, and three dwarfs. At least six species of Oak occurred commonly, and the Conifers were becoming more varied, though Pines were still by far the commonest trees. A shocking purple Pleione was plentiful in the Pine woods, though scat- tered: it vied with the Roseola in outrage. On May 25 we got down into more populated coun- try—open valleys of hard, red earth, where there was cultivation. Amphicome arguta warned us not to expect flow.ers here. In the evening we came down, to a considerable stream, tho La-pa-bo, which I mention by name because it is not marked on any map. A pretty Cornus was in flower here, with large and cream-coloured bracts, and masses of fragrant white Jasmine grew everywhere: it was the 6ixth species of that genus we had met with. On the arid, shrub-clad slopes thi9 pale blue Iris kumaonensis, funny little dwarf that it is, alone cheered our hearts, though Primula Poissonii glared baleifully at us from the bogs, which were not numerous. All next day, till late in the afternoon, me were marching through cultivated valleys, where surprising quantities of Paddy are raised. The flora in the waysfde ditches and on the gentle slopes was astonishingly unromantic ; in fact we were back to civilisation — or in what goes by that name in China. We even passed • The previous articles by Mr. Kingdon Ward were published in our issues of Mav 14. June 18, July 23. August 20, September 3, October s, October 29, UNL; and January 7, 192&. through a village where a five-days market was being held, and saw the finest assortment of Mosos. Lisus, Lao-pang, and other picturesque bill tribes to be met with in a day's march. However, in the evening we turned off ifrom the valley and climbed up amongst broken lime- stone crags, where we found a few flowers. A Thalictrum with purple blossoms just opening out was probably T. Delavayi ; a fine, hairy- leafed Geranium grew on the rocks, and an orange-eyed Aster with brilliant violet ray. Dwarf blue Irises dotted the slope, and a Vetch with yellow flowers was rampant in the gullies. The country here was very much broken up, and the going correspondingly hard. Our route lay practically north, behind a range of limestone hills, which separated us from the valley we had been following earlier in the day; but streams from the west broke through this range, and had to be crossed. It was the same next day, but we crossed a pass and returned to the other side of the range, only to find our- selves in a valley where the stream flowed south instead of north, so that these main streams also flowed eastwards to the Litang river, instead of west to the Yangtze, whose gorge here must be very narrow. It was not a little surprising to find a Ficus growing on the bare limestone crags up here. A maroon-red Paeony was coming into flower— it looks a fine colour with the sun shining through the blooms. This species, in favourable situations, forms a small bush up to four feet high, springing from a large woody rootstock. We did not come across the yellow P. Delavayi. The country was still very bare, not even Pines growing on these south-facing slopes under 10.000 or 11,000 feat. In the afternoon we ascended another wide valley where there was some cultivation; then, leaving that behind, where the stream issued from a ravine, we camped at an altitude of 9.167 feet. In the stream bed here grew Tamarisk bushes, their pale, sea-green foliage looking fresh and pleasing. A Leycesteria was in flower, and a charming little Picea, laden with cones, young and old, growing in honourable isolation, made a delightful picture. Tremendous cliffs rose steeply on either side, up one of which we had to climb next day. The other, facing north, had rolled down a long scree of big boulders, and here grew thickets of shrubs, conspicuous amongst which was a Dipelta, with tender, white flowers, orange spotted, and a Sehizandra. There was also a lot of Bamboo, but no trees save a few gaunt and scattered Tsuga, waving streamers of green lichen. We started early 'for the big climb on May 28. Up through the steep Pine woods, till we could see over the heads of the mountains we bad recently crossed, and still up. It grew per- ceptibly cooler, and still we mounted. The ground was purple with Roscoea which, how- ever, varies widely in depth of colour. One might suspect it to be stained with the varia- tion of each soil, only there is an absolute monotony of soil ; we never were off limestone during the week's march- A purple Morina grew here too — possibly M. betonicoides — and all the familiar Pine- wood flowers already re/ferred to. Then we left the Pines and came out on to the open ridge covered with shrubs such as we had already seen in abundanoe. Only the white Rhododendron, a shrub of four or five feet, mottled the slope. The Azalea was also still in flower, with Pieris. Desmodium, etc. 7'' KUigdon Ward. "THE FLOWER GARDEN." In the year when Queen Victoria ascended the throne, Messrs. Orr and Co. commenced to issue a series of books on gardening, which are interesting as showing the stage that horti- culture had reached at that period. The first of these dainty volumes was that whose title stands above this article. The other two were respectively The Greenhouse and The Orchard, written by Charles Mcintosh, of Claremont and Dalkeith Palace, and illustrated, as was The Flower Garden, with Baxter colour prints and engravings. They were published in numbers at Is. each. I have been unable to identify the writer, or rather, editor, of this, the first volume, but there is internal evidence that he was a Scot, and, obviously, well edu- cated. The remarks on landscape gardening, witli which the volume opens, did not please Loudon, who slated the writer unmercifully in The Gardeners3 Magazine. Notwithstanding, we are obliged to the writer for information, and for designs of then existing flower gardens, which Loudon failed to supply, and not im- possibly he may have incurred the displeasure of that gentleman by ridiculing some of his designs. The author's point of view as opposed to the striving after " irregularies " — sometimes grotesque, instances, of which are mentioned, it summed up in the remark that " it is a nar row, partial and incorrect principle to represent nature as irregular". At the same time, it seems to be quite forgotten that gardens are not natural." It is stated that the style of flower gardening — which has continued till the present time — was introduced about 1790. A plate of a geometrical flower garden shows the method of arranging and the plants to be used. For spring, there were Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, Violas of sorts (an oid name revived later) Ranunculus, Anemones, and Stocks. For summer and autumn there were choice Dahlias, Verbena chamaedrifolia, Calceolarias, Fuchsias, Helio- trope, Scarlet Geraniums, Lobelia, Stocks, Violas, Campanula pyramidalis, intermixed with Lobelia fulgens, and Lobelia sptendens with Campanula persicifolia, and two beds of Roses and herbaceous plaats. Though many of these names represent beauti- ful plants, yet' I am afraid that the choice in 1837 was at best a pour .me, and the lists are interesting chiefly as showing that the founda- tion was laid ready fur tin- superior class of phi cits (bat succeeded them shortly thereafter. (The chapters on florists' flowers are not lengthy, but extended enough to contain all that is needed to obtain a clear conception of their status. The lists of varieties are very lung and the prices usually are attached. Thus, of Tulips, there are about 400 names, the prices ranging from 2s. 6d. each to £50 for Parmegiano, a Bybloemen. There were, however, varieties still' higher priced, but these were never catalogued. A Tulip bed in full bloom, fully protected bv a shed-like construction and with a sheet" of calico stretched over the plants to prevent drip, affords a good idea of the care taken to perfect the blooms of Tulips. Some 150 Hyacinths arc named and priced, among which are a few still appearing m bulb catalogues. The Ranunculus was still popu- lar, though approaching decline, and of this, some 500 varieties appear. Prices were mostly one shilling, and none reached a pound. They are divided into no fewer than 18 colour sec- tions. Anemones, if the number of varieties named affords a criterion for judging, were less popular, onlv 146 being listed at prices as low as 6d. each. The Dahlia, however, was as popular then as now, more than 900 varieties being named. These are distinguished by colour only, and the height of each is given; heights ranging from 2 to 7 feet. The beginning* of the Show and Fancy sections are clearly in- dicated. About 130 Auriculas are named and priced. Some, as Lee's Bright Venus and Taylor's Glory, have no price attached, but Conqueror of Europe is as much as £3, while Booth s Freedom is 15s., and Lovely Ann 5s. Many are as low as 4s. each. An Auricula stage, a frame, an implement, for flattening unruly January 21, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 31 petals and other engravings are included in this chapter. A fine print of the beautiful old double crim- son Primrose appears in the chapter on Polyan- thus ; I wonder the plant still exists, being a difficult client to please. A fine example of a scarlet Bizarre illus- trates the chapter on the Carnation, of which ah. ait 270 are named, of Picotees 120, and yellow grounds 40. These are all comparatively cheap, 4s. to 5s. the pair being the price generally. All but an insignificant minority have their raisers names prefixed, but alas! as little is known of the identity of these folk as of the particular flowers, flogg, of course, we know, and Turner, Glenny, Tyso and Will- mer ai'e not unfamiliar, but of Ciook and Snook and the rest, we are oblivious. In those days, Carnations had as many troubles to con- tend against as now. Our author has Ins doubts as to who or what was responsible for the eating down to the very " stumps " of the leaves of Carnations. He laughs at the sus- picion of Tats, but is not so sure albout cats, for do not cats eat grass? Of the guilt of spar- rows, he has no doubt. A little less than 2U0 Pinks are named, mostly at 2s. per pair. Hogg and Turner are largely l-epresented as raisers, but the Pink men, as. a rule, are different from Carnation growers. About 350 Pansies are named, the varieties shown in a plate giving one to wonder how such things could be named at all. From this time, however, the Pansy made great progress. A different account of the origin of the Pansy is given here from that generally accepted. Lee. of Hammersmith, was attracted by some seedlings he saw in a garden at Wal- ton, and added to these some he imported froi Holland, among which was the large blue, and from these nil the varieties then cultivated had been raised ! So difficult is it to get at facts. The list of Chrysanthemums is that pub- lished earlier in The Gardeners' Magazine. Jn addition to these, there were others raised by one or two persons. Mr. Freestone, gardener to W. Brereton, Holt, not only raised new varieties, but bad succeeded in flowering them the same year from seed. The number of Roses exceeded any other flower by many hundreds, and an epitome of the history of many kinds is given, not quite complete however. There are, too, very large select-ions of plants and shrubs, that devoted to hardy Heaths, having a plate of greenhouse kinds beautifully executed. The botanical names of species are translated into English, and some curious examples are among these. " Alpine," for instance, is " kin," but the greatest attempt of all is " Canadian Shepherd for Shepherdia canadensis ! Vulgar names I have not met with elsewhere are Primrose rose for Rosa bamaespherica, and Aaron's Rod for Phlox paniculata. Among the large number of plants treated in brief fashion, the Hollyhock is absent. Like so many others, its time was coming speedily. JR. I'. BrotAerston. HOW ARE PLANTS AWARE OF TIME ? The majority of people would, perhaps, reply off-hand to this query that it is a question of season, which plants are compelled to know by force of physical circumstances, such as condi- tions of temperature and moisture; but very little reflection will show that this answer is incomplete. In my garden, as a weed, I have a Cape Oxalis. much like 0. versicolor, and now, in spite of being chilled and discouraged by the worst weather of the year, it insists on growing, evidently with all the vigour it can bring to bear, while in much more favourable weather it is perfectly quiescent. It has no encouragement whatever, and it is growing apparently only because it is the time of growth in South Africa. Many would say " of course," and pass the matter over, but I think there is here a mystery that no one has attempted to explain — so far as I remember. It is notorious that plants do flower at the right time according to the calendar rather than at the right season according to physical conditions, so much so that none marvel ; indeed, it is the sole explanation why we have various plants in flower when thev are the most valuable, and growth, too, at a fixed time is often one of the great difficulties of cultivation. There are, however, various things to observe which require some explanation. It would be thought, for instance, that there would be for- get fulness in the dormant seed, so that a seed- ling raised in this country would readily accom- modate itself to seasons of the English climate, corresponding with those of its natural home. It' it does this in some cases, it does not in numerous instances I have in mind. I believe I am correct in stating that seedlings of Aloe raised from an imported packet of seed, which may have been sown at any time of the year, would in every case flower when the plant flowers in South Africa, i.e., according to calendar, paying no regard whatever to corre- sponding seasons in this country. Moreover, I believe that English-grown seed would result in then may not be induced in the habit of a plant if ages of repeating seasons take the place of the klinostat? I am aware, of course, that there are instances of accommodation to climate, as, for instance, I believe, the change of the flowering season in the case of Australian Acacias planted in India. R. Irwin Lynch, V.M.H., Ohelston, Torquay. PRIMULA LIMNOIGA. GRAIB. Primula limnoica, which is illustrated in Fig. 14. belongs to tin- denticulata section of the genus. The chief difference between it and P. denticulata lies in its somewhat narrower leaves, which are closely set with short, pilose hairs, while the peduncles are clothed on the upper part near the capitate head of flowers Fig. 14. — primula limnoica. the same way. I have had various experiences of this kind, but, obviously, it is not the kind of thing that one could carry very far in experi- ment. For many years I have had my mind upon this subject, but I cannot say that I have any fixed theory, though, as shown by Sir Francis Darwin, rhythmic action can sometimes be very wonderful in plant life. As an example the ease of Dandelion stalk just now occurs to me. If laid horizontally it naturally turns up, if, however, it is turned the other way after a sufficient interval of time by a klinostat it reverses, and if then the klinostat is made to turn at the same interval of time, the turning first one way and then the other by this Dande- lion stem becomes automatic, and if the klinostat is finally stopped, nevertheless the Dandelion stem continues to turn first one way and then the cither at the correct interval of lime. What with a yellow farina. So far the plant has not proved so hardy as its better-known ally, but it will evidently succeed under the same conditions, that is, in rich, moist soil in half shady situa- tions. The lavender-blue flowers are produced in heads, on stems from 6 inches to 15 inches high, during April or May. This species was found by Forrest in the Taping Valley, Upper Burma, at an altitude of 3.500 feet n.' April. 1917. He states that it- grows in boggy situations by the sides of streams. Farrer came across it in 1919 growing on the Hpimuw Hill at an altitude of from 7.000 feet to 9,000 fee!. He describee it as abundant on the Brackened slopes, making drifts of blue when in flower. These flowers have little or no scent, The plant figured was shown by Mr. Lionel do Rothschild at ;i meeting of I he Royal Horticultural Society on March 8, 1921. W.'l. 32 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 21, 1922' THE GREAT DROUGHT OF 1921 AND ITS EFFECT ON GARDEN PLANTS. (Continued from page 19.) Hampshire. The drought at Exbury was even more severe than in other parts of England, only about 60 per cent, of the rainfall at Kew being registered. All the uewly olanted shrubs and the Rhodo- dendrons in the woods had to be watered from the beginning of Slav to the middle of October, with the exception of two weeks. There was, however, an adequate water supply, and as a result very few plants suffered. Some newly planted Austrian and Scotch Kirs outside the watered area succumbed, whereas the ever- green Oaks and Picea orientalis seemed to relish the drought and heat; in fact, some 7-1't. evergreen Oaks acquired in 1921 have done remarkably well. The ponticum Rhododendrons in the woods looked very sorry for themselves, made hardly any growth, and hung their leaves straight down, but the later rains revived them, and there seems to be practically no casualties. Cobaea scandens. which survived the winter on the verandah of the house, fruited freely in the open, and the large green fruits have been quite attractive; ripe seed has been gathered. Buddleia alternifolia seeded for the first time. Viburnum Henryi was particularly attractive, covered with its red berries Cera- tostigma Willmottiana flowered freely and was very attractive at the end of October. Rhodo- dendrons set flower-buds more freely than 1 ever remember, every .plant being covered with some hundreds of buds, and they should bo a glorious sight in 1922. Altogether the season appears to have been one eminently suitable to Chinese plants. Lionel de Rothschild, Exbury, Hampshire. Lancashire. The year 1921 will be long remembered by gardeners in Manchester and its immediate neighbourhood as one of the most productive and successful seasons for many years past, Gardeners and allotment holders who gave ordinary attention to the culture of their vege- table plots were rewarded in most instances with abundant crops. Flowers in private gardens and in public parks were never seen in greater profusion, in better colour, or in the aggregate blooming over a longer period than during the past year. Two factors were mainly responsible for these effects, viz., the long spell of bright, dry weather and the abnormal absence of smoke in the atmosphere brought about by the coal strike. The following are a few details regard- ing the effect of the drought upon various vegetable and fruit crops, trees and shrubs : — All Brassica crops were exceptionally good. There was a marked absence of the Cabbage, fly, which is the more remarkable as this pest has been extremely destructive in this district during late vears. The only failures were with Turnips and Kohl Rabii. Where the ground was deeply tilled and manured Peas gave magnificent crops, both in quantity and quality, the pods being thoroughly well filled. Early and second early varieties matured rather quickly, and only in the case of deep cultiva- tion did they produce a second crop. Beans of all kinds were good. Kidney and Runner Beas gave heavy crops, and it was a very poor allot- ment or garden where the owners did not secure Beans to salt in sufficient quantities for use through the winter. Although Celery is generally regarded as a moisture-loving plant the crops last year were exceptionally fine. Beet. Silver Beet, and Jerusalem Artichoke! produced very heavy and fine, clean crops. Leeks produced very fine, well-matured stems. Potatos were about the average, although in some instances the drought seemed to suit this crop exceptionally well. Witch Hill and Edzell Blue were two of the best early immune varieties grown. King George, as a second- early, yielded a fairly heavy crop. Great Scot and Kerr's Pink in some gardens produced close on sixteen tons to the acre. Kerr's Pink is about the only variety which has shown any tendency to produce second growth. Summing up one may safely say that the vege- table crops on the whole were very abundant in 1921, of excellent quality, but of short dura- tion. It must be borne in mind, however, that the rains which came in August in the northern part of the country saved many garden crops which were on the verge of ruin, and helped them on wonderfully. With regard to fruit. Pears suffered from frost, and bitter winds when in bloom, and conse- quently a meagre crop of fruits set, The fruits, however, which did set on the whole developed well. In some cases trees which lost all their first crop of blossom, flowered a second time shortly afterwards; the fruits set well and in some instances were a heavy crop. Apple trees were later coming into flower and these fruits set magnificently. Owing to the drought and the impossibility of spraying and watering the trees in June the fruits dropped all too freely. Notwithstanding this the crops on many trees had to he thinned, and on the whole the fruits developed well and were of good quality and colour. Generally speaking, neither Apples nor Pears kept as well as usual. One unusual experience was the splitting of the fruits of Warner's King and Bramlev's Seedlings after they had been safely stored. This is a con- dition that has not previously been observed in this district, and one is apt to put it down to the effects of the drought. Pears and Apple shoots have ripened most satisfactorily, and the trees are packed with well- developed fruit buds, which thus show encouraging prospects for next year. Plum trees were badly caught by frost when in bloom, the crop being an absolute failure. Raspberries, Blackberries and Loganberries all suffered from the frosts and cold winds early in the season, when the terminals, the young foliage and the flower buds were considerably damaged. The result was short crops of rather poor quality. A few of the earliest blooms of Strawberries opened with blackened centres, but in spite of this the plants produced the heaviest crop that has been known in the district for many years past, and the fruit was really magnificent, being of excellent quality. Black Currants produced a heavy crop of ex- ceptional quality and of large-sized berries. Red and White Currants did well and pro- duced very satisfactory crops. Gooseberries were a light crop, but this was not due to the drought as most of the bushes were damaged by late frosts. It was found that in the case of all fruit-bearing plants where the ground had been well mulched the ill effects of the drought were not noticeable. On the whole herbaceous flowering plants flowered very abundantly during 1921. although in many instances they were over very early, but produced second crops of blooms. Dahlias made a great show and produced an abundance of fine blooms until the frost destroyed them in November. Roses suffered rather from frosts and winds in their- first growth and blooming. The blooms were not very good and had no lasting power. On the contrary, the second crop was magnifi- cent, and the plants bloomed on until the first days of November, and when cut lasted ex- ceptionally well. Although the first growths of Sweet Peas were 'browned by the frost the plants did well, but the crop was produced on the secondary growths. After such a small rainfall it was naturally expected that the leaves of most deciduous trees and shrubs would fall very earlv in the year. This proved quite a false expectation as the trees were clothed with luxuriant foliage later into the season than has been the case for a great number of years past. Beech, Ash, Oak. Thorn and Elm retained their leaves until the sharp frost which was experienced about the last week in November. Shrubs also made new growths late in the season, and in some in- stances^— Rhododendrons for example — bloomed a second time. II*. 11°. Pettigrew, Manchester. Oxfordshire. Eryobotrya has flowered in these gardens this year for the first time. The tree is growing on a wall facing south, but sheltered by shrubs and tall Cupressus macrocarpa. It has made good growth and fine foliage each year, but has never ilowered until this year. The soil here 's a stiff 'nam over very stiff clay. Iris stylosa has also flowered much more freely than usual. The first blooms were fully three weeks in advance of other years. V. Gammon, Eynsham Hall Gardens, Witney, Oxon. (To be continued,) NOTES FROM IRELAND. The rainfall registered at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, for the 11 months endmg November 30, 1921, totalled 22.41 inches; the annual average rainfall for ten years at Glasnevin is 27.15 inches. Rhodostaohys andina, a conspicuously charm- ing Bromeliad, recently flowered at Glasnevin, planted at the foot of a greenhouse wall ; it is furnished with a soft rose-pink inflorescence. Near at hand was a little colony of a Polyanthus Narcissus, sent to Sir Frederick Moore from Crete, in full flower; it is a pretty, refined plant in flower, and the earliest of its family. The dying year was remarkable for a wealth of blossom on such winter-flowering subjects as Chimonanthus fragrans, Lomcera fragran- tisslima, and Iris stylosa, which yielded a rare crop of blossom, in both the wdiite and typical colour, for some three months previously, while the ubiquitous winter Jasmine is cheery every- where around Dublin, but rarely are its full possibilities revealed as seen in one garden in the Monkstown district, where an old plant is pruned annuallv after flowering, and fed liberally, resulting in a pendant shower of strong, arched sprays five feet, or more long, now one mass of golden glory. At the 92nd annual general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland held at the" offices, 5, Molesworth Street, Dublin, on December 16, visitors were much interested in a remarkable display of Calanthe Veitchii, shown in arched sprays four feet long with up to three dozen flowers on a spike. The exhibit further in- cluded some handsome Cypripediums in such kinds as Sanderae. Leeaiium giganteum, Lady Moore, violacenm and Portia, and was from the gardens of B. H. Barton, Esq.. D.L., Straffan House, Co. Kildare (gr. Mr. V. Streeter), to whom a First-Class Cultural Certifi- cate was unanimously awarded. At the previous Council meeting of the above Society, a First'-Class Certificate was awarded to Messrs.' Wm Cotter and Co., Corporation Fruit and Vegetable Markets, Dublin, for the new Irish seedling Potato named Mahon's Fingallian. This fine Potato was raised by Mr. Malum, gardener to the Earl of Fingal, Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath, and has been under* control trial for several seasons ; it is a very prolific main-crop, round, rough-skinned variety, with shallow eyes, and the haulm remained green, sturdy, arid unaffected by late blight when that of Arran Chief and similar main-crop sorts had quite died down. At the last monthly meeting of the. Irish Gardeners' Association, at which a Potato com- petition was held amongst the members. Mr. Wm. Cotter handed in a cheque for £25, as prizes during the coming year for Mahon's Fin- gallian Potato and has further presented ten guineas to the R.H.S.I. for the same object. The 24th annual meeting of the Drummond Benefit Association for land stewards and gar- deners was held at 58, Dawson, Dublin, December 20, Mr. P. J. Reid. St, Anne's Gar- dens, Clontarf. presiding. The balance-sheet disclosed assets, chiefly invested in trust securities, on bank deposit, and cash on hand. £3,189 5s. 2d. Since the Association's incep- tion the amount disbursed in assisting members and the widows and orphans of deceased mem- bers, exceeds three thousand pounds. Here, as elsewhere, Apples are keeping badly and the Potato crop generally, which was plen- tiful and fairly good, is inclined to be trouble- some under storage, 7v'.. Dublin. January 21, I'.Ui'. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 33 WOOLLY APHIS. OR AMERICAN BLIGHT. Woolly Aphis, or American Blight, is one of several species of aphides that feed on the sap of trees, and it does much damage to Apple trees. Schizoneura lanigera, to give it its scientific name, can be readily detected along the stems of young, infested branches and about the bole of the tree, by its white, tufty, woolly masses. Its size, when fully grown, is about i inch long and about 1-8 inch across, and as it mul- tiplies in various forms during growth, haying winged females producing live young, wing- less females also viviparous, and males without winge that pair with egg-laying, wingless fe- males, its numbers are rapidly augmented. It is a dark purplish-brown colour, oval in shape, with very small eyes, legs and an- tennae very short, a body covered witlh a cottony coat most markedly' developed towards the tail. The legs, when contracted under the body, are quite hidden, allowing dense masses of the pests to He close together. As the aphides are wholly suctorial in their haJbits, depending mpon the sap for their nour- ishment, they are provided with a rostrum or haustellum, which is grooved on one side along the entire length, and in this groove lie the three setae, or piercers, used in puncturing the bark. The rostrum is divided into three separate members, or joints, the first, arising from the lower portion of the head, being much the longest ; the second is more dilated and HO, 113. —R6.ST.UUM OF WOOLLY APHIS; SHOWING THE OPEN CANAL ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SHEATH. formerly was thought to be perforated and not channelled like the others, But, as may be seen from the illustration (Fig. 15), also is grooved; the third or tip portion is obtusely pointed, can Bweep round in a circular manner, and has a stout ring at the point through which the piercers may be seen occasionally to protrude. The edires of the channel are armed with fine hooked hairs, and others can be seen near the tip, employed probably for tentative pur- poses. The setae (Fig. 17) are very fine and very elastic, and will return to their former position when bent in a medium such as glycerine or Canada Balsam ; they possess no barbs or other serrations, are finely furrowed along their length and possess a central canal. While members of some genera of aphides and the blue tit is especially useful in ridding infested trees of the pests. ./. II". PlasHtt, Richviansworth, Fig. 16. — woolly aphis, from the underside; showjng the rostrum. are furnished with exceedingly short rostra, others have this organ produced to an extra- ordinary length. Normally, the rostrum of the Woolly Aphis is short, reaching to about the second pair of leg*; (fig. 16) , but when first born it appears disproportionately long and stout, protruding far beyond the tail. It soon ceases to grow, however, whilst the rest of the body rapidly develops. Living in dense companies and, by the in- cessant probing and pricking of the bark by their setae, setting up warty and spongy swellings caused by the increased flow of sap t<» tiic wounds. it follows that the small twigs attacked produce stunted leaves and fruit, and often die. Closely packed as they are with heads towards the bark and woolly tails or backs uppermost, the Woolly Aphis is capable of withstanding great cold, and an instance is recorded where some of the insects were taken alive in the month of December while the ther- mometer registered 20 deg. F., and snow was on the ground. Moisture, too, does not readily penetrate ibetween the waxy threads, and pro- vided as the pests are with plenty of tat glo- bules throughout their body, they are prac- tically weatherproof. The woolly fibres are given off from a series of four longitudinally arranged pores down the back, and form a means of protection and con- cealment. Various kinds of applications have been used and suggested for the eradication of these in- sects, such as tars, fish-oils, ammoniacal gas liquors, tobacco water, lime and soot, soap- washes, and others, but whichever is used a thorough and careful hand-brushing is neces- sary, as mere spraying is insufficient. A strong solution of soft soap, with paraffin added, is very good, used as suggested, so long as no crevice is left untouched. It should be re- membered also that these woolly aphides come up from the roots, so the soil should be disinfected. The little ladybird insects (Coccinellidae) will devour American Blight, JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES. It may be of interest to describe the excel- lent collection of Jerusalem Artichokes exhibited by Messrs. Vilmonn, Andrieux et Cie. at the last meeting of the French National Horti- cultural Society, comprising no fewer than 26 different varieties. .Some were old, others- some named and some unnamed — had been raised at Verrieres. Among the older varieties were the common Artichoke, widely known for a long time, with large, red irregularly shaped tubers; the Egyptian variety, received from that country in 1895, and probably a seedling from the common kind, winch it much resembles, except that the tubers are smaller and more irregular in outline; the Improved White variety, received from England in 1892, with very white and warted " tubers, producing a large yield; the Pink, with piriform tubers, regularly shaped, and of a coppery-pink colour. The varieties raised as seedlings by Messrs. Vilmorin included the Long Red variety, intro- duced more than half a century ago, with long, fairly large tubers, very deeply coloured, almost violet; the Patate. a well-known variety, raised in 1889, with long yellow tubers, but little " warted "; the Piriform variety, raised in 1903, Fig. 17, rostrum of woolly aphis with the three setae extended. with purplish-red tubers of long shape— larger and more shapely than the common kind, but less prolific in yield; the Spindle, raised at Verrieres in 1913. a very interesting produc- tion, with pinkish-yellow, fusiform tubers, very shapely and smooth. This variety has been sold lately, especially in England, under the n'ime of " Topinhel," and stated to be a hybrid, 34 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 21, 1922. viz.. a cross between Helianthus tuberosus and H. doronicoides or H. decapetalus. Besides those already described, seventeen recent varieties were shown, which have not yefc been named. Most of them produce tubers witlh a yellow skin, more or less dark, oval or long-shaped ; several appeared decidedly inter- esting. The percent-age of sugar in the tubers accord- ing to analyses taken in 1920 (i.e., the quanti- ties of reducible sugar ubtained after hydrolisis) varied between 14.5 per cent, for the common Arlichrke with red tubers, 16.6 per cent, for the white variety, and 21.2 per cent, for the .Spindle. Among the unnamed varieties, several contained 18 per cent, and 19 per cent, of sugar; the tubers were large, rounded and regular in shape. It is now nioit than a century since Messrs. Vilmorin turned their attention to the improve- ment of the Artichoke. At the meeting of April 13 1809. of the Societe d' Agriculture du Departement de la Seine. Philippe-Andre de Vilmorin gave a report of the results he had obtained in his experiments in raising these plants from seed * He believed he had found " a means of regenerating the race, if that were necessary, and perhaps of obtaining inter- esting varieties, as |had been found possible in the case of the Potato." Already he had ob- tained forms with tubers variously coloured red. yellow or whitish. On April 20, 1831. Louis de Vilmorin. his son, presented to the same society a paper on the number of sowings he had made the pre- vious year, which had resulted in plants ex- hibiting numerous variations in the size, number and positions in the ground of the tubers produced. He had come to the conclusion that the Artichoke was an exceedingly variable plant when multiplied from seed, and therefore capable of improvement. This opinion was confirmed shortly afterwards by a lettert which he sent to Tessier. the editor of the Annates dc V Agriculture Frangaise, in which he remarked, however, that there would always, it at any i-ate for a long time, be a difficulty In the way of raisers who wished to make numerous and re- peated sowings— viz., that the plant does not seed, or scarcely at all, in the north, and very little in the centre, of France. In this letter Louis de Vilmorin also stated, in reference to the colouring of the tubers: " The colour is also very variable, about a third of the plants raised from seed having produced yellow or yellowish-white tubers, instead of led, as in the cultivated species." At the meeting held on March 4. 1857. of the Imperial and Central Agricultural Society* Louis de Vilmorin presented a collection of 28 varieties of Artichokes, in which No. 1 repre- sented the old kind, and the 27 others the results of sowings made by his father and himself. Henry de Vilmorin {1843-1899) went on with the experiments. He procured some seeds from Corsica, with the assistance of Dr. Joseph Michon, and made a number of sowings. To- wards 1890 he reported several times to the various societies on the subject of Iris work. From the point of view of appearance and colour the tubers showed great variation ; about a third were yellow, the rest varying from pink to purplish red. In 1895 the i ariety Palate was placed on the market. It had yellow tubers, of a long shape which made it easy to pull them out of the ground. Philippe de Vilmorin continued the experi- ments of his predecessors on a very large scale, and obtained several varieties oE merit, notably the Spindle, which has been already men- tioned. It may easily he seen that the develop- ment of the Jerusalem Artichoke, introduced into Europe from North America about 1607 (according to the opinion of M. C. C. Lacaita — see his interesting article in Kew Bulletin, 1919) has been very slow. It may, however, be hoped • Annates de V Agriculture Francaise, Tome 38. p. 222. t Annales de V.lgrieulture Franeaise, Tome 8, 3e Serie. p. 227. t Unite',,, den Seances. Society Tmperiate et Oentrale U' Agriculture, tome 12. p. 322. that if its cultivation is undertaken in earnest in the countries where the plant attains normal development, if the seed is sown on a large scale, and judicious selection is made among the resulting plants, progress may become very rapid. The Artichoke is important from an industrial point of view as being a source of alcohol, and if the abundant yield of the white variety could be combined with the regularity of shape found in the Palate variety, and the richness in sugar of,, the Spindle, it might he said that genuine progress had been made. -4. M. HOME CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editors do not. hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents.] Funkias for Shady Positions. — Funkias are very accommodating plants, as instanced by Mr. Coutts in his interesting article in your issue of January 7th (p. 3). In addition to the posi- tions mentioned, it may not be generally known what excellent plants Funkias are for shady and partially shady places. Even under trees, in good soil, they thrive well. I have seen them used for covering the ground under Pines, where the stems were bare; also under Oaks. Considering what handsome plants they are. and the many and varied positions they are able to till so well, it is surprising they are not more largely grown. Arthur J. Cobb, University College, Reading. Liliuni testaceum. — 1 am glad that the differ- ence of opinion regarding the depth at which to plant this beautiful Lily has been the means of inducing Sir Herbert Maxwell to write such an interesting note as that which appeared on page 3. My own experience has been in favour of deep planting; but it is only fair to say that Mr. A. Grove, one of our best authorities on the culture of Lilies, recommends that L. testaceum should be planted at the same depth as L. can- didurn. for which he advises one of 4 inches, can oidy state that in most cases in which I have observed this Lily doing exceptionally well, it was at a greater depth than 4 inches — at least 6 or more. Of course, much depends on the nature of the soil and the exposure of the posi- tion, and I am not disposed to be dogmatic on the point. S. Arnott. Wilt in Melons. Your correspondent " Anxious " recommends the use of sulphate of copper for the above disease, and not only advises sprinkling it on the base of the stem, but also syringing the foliage with a solution of the salt. Surely there is some mistake in this; a solution of copper sulphate would burn up every piece of foliage, as it is a strong corrosive, and. as is well known, is used for this purpose to destroy Charlock, and algae in ponds, though, certainly, at a greater strength than is recommended by your correspondent. Can it be that a Bordeaux mixture or Bungundy mixture in powder form is meant, as these are very often referred to as sulphate of copper? I think this matter should be made clear, as I have seen disastrous results to foliage from the use of copper sulphate dissolved in water without the addition of a base to neutralise the acid present in the salt. C. G. Damage to Fruit Trees in Pots by Voles. — During the recent cold weather, early in the present month. I had occasion to examine the protecting material around and over our orchard house trees, which were standing in the open on a bed of coal ashes. I was astonished to find many of the trees completely ringed by voles. Tiie Cherry trees had suffered most, for every tree had been eaten for several inches in a complete circle from the pot upwards. The Peat's and Apples had also suffered, but not to the extent, of the Cherries. It was singular that the Plum trees were not touched. The trees in question were standing in a fully open position in front of the fruit range, which position they have occupied during their resting period for several seasons, and no damage had been done by voles before. I have never known pot trees to be attacked by voles previously; although 1 have seen trees in grass orchards and shrubs, notably Laurels, badly eaten during severe weather. The damage to our pot trees was all done in a few days, when bitter, cold winds were prevalent in this district. This may possibly account for the voles being driven into the pro- tecting material, hence the damage. Those having pot trees covered with protecting material, either litter and leaves, still in the open, will be well advised to examine their trees frequently, and so possibly avoid damage being done hy these destructive pests. /. Hawkes, Cliveden Gardens. Shenfield, Essex. Sowing Lawn Grass Seed. — The hot and dry- season experienced during 1921 was disastrous to lawns in many parts of the country, and the small amount of rain that has fallen since has failed to bring them into good condition. It will therefore be desirable, especially in the absence of good turf, to sow the lawn areas with grass seed. There is no better time for this work than the latter half of March or the early part of April, as the showery weather usually experi- enced then is favourable to rapid germination. The ground should first be thoroughly prepared as for turfing, made solid by treading, and worked to a perfect level by means of a finely toothed rake. Quantities and kinds of grass seeds found suitable per acre for producing a fine sward on most soils are as follows : — Lolium perenne tenue, 20 lb., Cynosurus cri.sta.tus, 5 lb. ; Festuca dui'iuscula. 3 lb, ; F. ovine, tenui- folia. 2 lb. ; Poa nemoralis. 2 lb. ; P. semper- virens, 2 lb. ; P. trivialis, 2 lb. ; Triticum tlavesceiis, 1 lb. ; Trifolium repens. 6 lb. : and T. minus, 2 lb. Thus. Glover, Benfleei 7 /nil. Grape Gros Colman at Nymans, Handcross — Mr. James Comber, gardener to Colonel Messel, O.B.E., has grown some remarkably fine bunches of this well known and often despised Grape- The berries were as large, as Czar Plums anu beautifully finished, when I saw them hang- ing on the vines on January 2. When grown to perfection, it is certainly the best late black Crape. The skin is thin, the flesh melting, and the flavour delicious. The vinery is a lean-to- facing due south, rather higher than generally seen. I gathered from conversation with Mr. Comber that this variety needs generous treat- ment, free circulation of air, and gentle warmth from the heating apparatus. I noticed the branches were further away from the glass than usual, and no shading had been given. It. //. 1 1 oil, ,ii. Crawley. Winter Flowering Begonias at Steep Park, Jarvis Brook, Crowborough. -Mr. C. Milner, gardener to W. B. Woodrow, Esq., is an enthu- siastic and successful cultivator of the increas- - ingly popular winter flowering Begonias, and he has a brilliant display of them at Steep Bank. B. Gloire de Lorraine var. Mrs. Rothschild, and the variety Turnford Hall are both grown in quantity. The large conservatory is practically filled with glorious plants in about 7-in. pots averaging 2- feet to 3 feet in diameter, and 2i feet high. The colour of the pink variety is extremely rich, and each plant is a specimen with clean, healthy foliage and fine long sprays of bloom. I noticed suspended from the roof three grand baskets of the pink variety, each 3j feet in diameter and a perfect mass of bloom, associated with Cobaea scandens variegata grow- ing luxuriantly from the pillars and rafters of the house, and forming a charmingly effective com- bination. Mr. Woodrow is evidently a plant lover, and has given every encouragement to his gar- dener. I understood from Mr. Milner he found April the best time to propagate these Begonias, the cuttings being then in the right condition to pioduce healthy and vigorous plants. About equal parts leaf-mould and loam, with a good addition of coarse sand are used for the cuttings: and one part leaf -mould and three parts loam, with sand, is the compost used for potting on. For the final potting one part leaf-mould, three parte fibrous loam, with most of the fine soil removed, and sand forms the compost. Mr. Milner does not mix organic manure in the com- post, preferring to top dress the roots with de- composed cow manure and fibrous loam. Careful watering is practised at all times and the plants are never allowed to become dry. It was on January 7th I saw the Begonias at Steep Park, and the display was well worth the journey to Crowborough. J?. TI. Uolton. January 21, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 35 SOCIETIES. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. January 17. — The first meeting of the year was held on this date and there was a fairly good attendance. The exhibits were good but not so numerous as usual, although they com- bined to make up an interesting display, con- sisting chiefly of capital groups of vegetables, fruits. Carnations, and early hardy flowers. The Orchid Committee granted four Awards of Merit and the Floral Committee one only. Orchid Committee. Present : Sir Jeremiah Colman, Bart, (in tne chair), Messrs. Jas. O'Brien (hon. secretary), Arthur Dye, Gurney Wlilson, C. J. Lucas, Fred. K. Sanders, R. Brooman "White, Frederick J. Ha.nbury, C. H. Curtis, W. J. Kaye, Pantia Ralli, A. MeBean, H. T. Pitt. J. E. Shill and S. W. Flory. Awards. Award of Merit. Brasso-Cattleya Butherfordii The Dell variety (B.-O. Digbyano-Mossiae Queen Alexan- dra x C. Gashelliana alba), from Baron Bruno Schroder (gr. Mr. Shill), The Dell Park, Engle- field Green. A superb white Brasso-Cattleya, of model form, the petals and lip being effec- tively crimped and fringed. The only colour is the pale lemon yellow tinge on the disc of the Hip. Cyjiripedium Nellie Pitt (Idina x Pyramus var. Black Prince), from H. TV* Pitt, Esq., Rosslyn, Stamford Hill (gr. Mr. Thurgood). Dorsal sepal broad and flatly expanded, pure white, with large claret-red blotches ascending from the yellowish base. Petals very broad, honey -yellow with dark blotches; lip tinged with purple. Ly xaste Lucianii (Skinnei'i X lasioglossa), from W. R. Fasey, Esq., Holly Bush Hill, Snaresbrook (gr. Mr. E. J. Seymour). This Orchid was imported as a natural hybrid some years ago, and has been shown on several occa- sions since. The plant now shown had fifteen flowers and buds. Sepals light mauve, petals white, the hairy lip having rose spotting on white ground. Odontioda Thalia (Schrbderiana x Lambeau- iana), from Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., Haywards Heath. The plant bore four large and finely formed flowers of ruby-purple colour with a gold shade. Lip rosy-mauve with dark blotch in front of the yellow crest. Preliminary Commendation. To Odontoglossum crisp-um Viceroy, a grand home-raised seedling of model shape with pure white flowers, from Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., Haywards Heath. Cultural Commendation. To Messrs. Sanders, St. Albans, for a very fine plant of the pure wl ite Valid:* Watsonk with many flowers. Groups. Messrs. Sanders, St. Albans, were awarded a Silver Flora Medal for a very effective group — tastefully arranged on a base of green Moss, and including fine Odontoglossums, Odontiodas and Cypripediums, with a very interesting selection of species, including the rare Coelia bella, with white flowers tipped with violet ; Epidendrum polybulbon luteo-albumi, and various Lycastes, both species and hybrids. Novelties in the group were Odontioda Jupiter (O. Magali Sander x Oda. Joan), with a branched spike of nineteen flowers of large size and bright chestnut-red colour, the lip being blush white in front ; and Odontoglossum Mosaic (forcnosum x ardentissimum), with large white flowers evenly blotched with rose-purple. Messrs. Stuart Low and Co.. Jarvisbrook, Sussex, were awarded a Silver Flora Medal for a pretty group in which the varieties of Laelia anceps, both white and coloured, were well re- presented, the coloured forms containing a good specimen of the rare var. Roeblingianum, with petals marked like the lip. Good scarlet Soph- ronitis crosses, including the new S.-L.-C. Nestor with salmon-red flowers, were also shown with Odontoglossum cordatum Low's variety, 0. TJro-Skinneri splendens and var. album, and various other species of Odontoglossums. Messrs. Flory and Black, Slough, were awarded a Silver Banksian Medal for a small group of specially good hybrids raised at Lang- ley, and including the new Sophro-Cattleya Phyllis (C. Tityus x S. grandiflora), with good red flowers. Messrs. J. and A. McBean, Cooks- bridge, showed a set of their superb Odonto- glossums. Other Exhibits. Mrs. Farrer,, Ingleborough, sent Oypripedium Virginia Farrer's variety (Fairrieanum x aureum Oedippe), raised by the late Reginald Farrer, whose death under lamentable circum- stances we recorded last year. The plant bore three very pretty flowers, with white dorsal sepal tinged with mauve, and bearing fine dark-feathered lines. R. Gerrish, Esq.. Milford Manor, Salisbury, showed Odontoglos- sum Gorizia (Jasper X President Poincare), with fine flowers of an unusually clear violet tint. Pantia Ralli, Esq., Ashtead Park, Surrey (Orchid grower, Mr. Fames), sent Odonto- glossum Violetta (Armstrongiae x Doris), a per- fect flower with rich violet^purple blotching. W. R. Fasey, Esq., sent probably the finest form of the large pure white Lycaste Skinneri alba magnifica yet shown. Messrs. Sanders showed Odontoglossum Crjesos (harvengtense x Fascination), a distinct yellow-ground hybrid with dark purple blotches. Floral Committee. Present : Messrs. H. B. May (in the chair), W. J. Bean, W. B. Cranfield, James Hudson, John Green, G. Reuthe, John Heal, Donald Allan, F. McLead, J. Jennings, C. R. Fielder, T. Stevenson, W. B. Gingell, Charles Dixon, H. J. Jones, R. W. Wallace. Chas. E. "Pearson, E. F. Hazelton, W. P. Thomson, Clarence Elliott, W. R. Dykes, and R. C. Nptcutt." Award of Merit. . Erica carnea King George V. — This is one of the varieties of Erica carnea collected in Swit- zerland some years ago by Mr. Potter for Messrs. Backhouse, of York. It differs from the species Hn having a more compact habit and in flowering much earlier. We were in- formed that the floriferous little bush on view had been in bloom continuously since last Sep- tember. Shown by Messrs. R. Wallace and Co. Groups. Carnations were represented by really good blooms. Lord Lambourne, C.V.O. (gr. Mr. H. Cunningham), Bishop's Hall, Romford, contri- buted a tastefully arranged collection of such sorts as Carola Snowstorm, Wivelsfield White, Edward Allwood and Mrs. C. F. Raphael (Sil- ver Flora Medal). A collection from Messrs. Allwood Bros, was noteworthy for the bright colours and general freshness of the blooms. The most prominent varieties were Edward All- wood, Mary Allwood, Wivelsfield Pink, Wivels- field Claret, Laddie, and Benora (Silver Flora Medal). Many varieties of Carnations were displayed by Mr. C. Engelmann, who had particularh good blooms of Topsy, Laddie, Benora, Cupid, Saffron and Triumph (Silver Flora Medal). As- sociated with a praiseworthy collection of Car- nations Messrs. Stuart Low and Co. displayed a batch of freely flowered plants of the fragrant Daphne indica rubra, and also of well flowered Azalea indica varieties and Acacia platyptera. Amongst the Carnations a vase of Laddie was prominent (Silver Flora Medal). Plants of Azalea indica in variety were shown by Messrs. L. R. Russell, Ltd., amongst which were displayed such uncommon Bromcliads as Tillandsia Zahnii, T. Lindenii and Vriesia splen- dens major (Silver Grenfell Medal). Chrysanthemums of unusually good quality for so late in the season were shown by Mr. S. Aisii. The chief varieties were Winter Cheer, Nagoya and The Favourite (Silver Bank- sian Medal). An exceptionally artistic arrange- ment of Iris tingitiana was made by Messrs. Carter and Co., and the many flowers were of much more than average merit (Silver Bank- sian Medal. A selection of Erica carnea varieties, with the type of E. praecox, were shown by Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., who also displayed Haniamelis mollis and H. japonica rubra (Silver Grenfell Medal). A capital rock garden was made by Messrs. Wm. Cutbush and Son, who planted it with various dwarf shrubs and such alpines as Sedums, Saxifrages, Sempervivums and Arenaria balearica (Silver Banksian Medal). A small model rock garden and sunken garden was exhibited by Mr. C. Dixon (Bronze Flora Medal). Messrs. Skelton and Kirby made a small rock garden in which Ericas and Nandina domestiea predominated (Bronze Banksian Medal). An interesting collection of sprays of Conifers was shown by Mr. G. Reuthe, who also had Christ- mas Roses and Iris histrioides (Bronze Flora Medal), while Mrs. Hopkins showed miniature succulents and a few alpines. Fruit and Vegetable Committee. • Present : Messrs. C. A. Nix (in the chair), Wm. Poupart, Owen Thomas, E. A. Bunyard, F. Jordan, Wm. Pope, E A. Merrvweather, E. Beckett, T. Pateman, James Kelly, W. Bates, A. Bullock, S. B. Dicks, W. H. Divers, G. P. Berry, A. W. Metcalfe, G. Reynolds, and J. G. Weston. Groups. A particularly noteworthy collection of Apples was contributed by Messrs. G. Bunyard ant> Co. There were no fewer than 75 varieties, and each was rqiresented by a goodly dish of firm and shapely fruits, • High colour predominated, and in this respect the collection was even better than at the Autumn Fruit Show. The follow- ing varieties were perhaps the most prominent — Wealthy, Newton Wonder, Wm. Crump. Forster's Seedling, Rougemont, Scarlet Holland- bury, Baumann's Red Winter Reinette and Mother (Gold Medall. An excellent exhibit of Apples and Pears was made bv Sir Charles Nall-Cain (gr. Mr. T. Pateman), The Node, Welwyn. The dessert varieties of Apple were excellent lin their medium size, good form and typical colouring. These included Cox's Orange Pippin. Cox's Pomona, Rival. Paroquet, Adam's Pearmain and Clay- gate Pearmain. The culinary sorts were also admirable, and of these Lane's Prince Albert, Newton Wonder, Lord Derby and Royal Jubi- lee were fine examples (Silver-Gilt Kriightian Medal). The only collection of vegetables was from Messrs. Sutton and Sons, who staged splendid' Leeks in such varieties as The Lvon, Sutton's A.l, Improved Musselburgh and Royal Favour- ite. Sutton's Al Kale and Couve Tronchuda were also particularly good. Forced Dandelion and Chicory. Potatos' and Onions were also well shown (Silver Knightian Medal). NATIONAL ROSE. January 17. — There was a larger attendance than usual at the Annual General Meeting of" this Society, which was held at Caxton Hall. Westminster, under the presidency of Mr. E. J. Holland. In moving the adoption of the Report for the year, the President remarked that from the many appreciative letters that had been received, it was evident the publications of the Society met wit'i lh<> approval of the general body of mem- bers. When discussing the financial state of the Society, Mr. Holland remarked that for a long time it had been the custom of the Society to pay all debts during the year in which *hey were incurred, but this year it had not been found possible to continue this desirable custom. It would be seen from the Statement of Accounts that while there was a balance in hand of just over £14, there was an unpaid account of £1,058 18s. 5d. due to the printers. This sum was incurred for the issue of the various pub- lications, and a great proportion was for the Enemies of the Base and the Selected List of ftosrs, which would be issued to new members during the present year, and it was confidently anticipated that the deficit would be cleared off before llic end of the year. There had been a reoord increase in member- ship during the past year, when no fewer than 1.604 new members joined the Society. 36 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 21, 1922- Feeling reference was made by the President to the great loss that had been sustained by .the deaths of Mr. George Paul and Mr. John Hart. Mr. Paul was one of the oldest members and was closely associated with the work of the Society almost to the day of his death. Mir. John* Hart, who was "well known as a -successful amateur Rosarian, was also an active and valuable member of the council. The proposal was seconded by Mr. H. R. Darlington, who also paid a tribute to the memories of Mr. George Paul and Mr. John Hart. There was no discussion, and the report was unanimously adopted. The Dean Hole Memoriil Medal for the past j^ear was awarded to Mr. Samuel McGredy, who was unfortunately unable to come across from Ireland to receive it personally. In making the announcement, Mr. Holland referred to Mr. MoGredy's well-known genial disposition and enthusiastic love of Roses. He was a particu- larly successful raiser of new varieties of merit, of which he had raised a record number ana had been awarded fifty Gold Medals of the National Rose Society. In formally presenting the financial statement ^the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Preston-Hillary, re- minded the meeting that it had already received Jin admirably lucid explanation of the reasons for the adverse financial position, and in view •of the general increase in costs of all descrip- tions this was unavoidable. He pointed out that on the receipt side the income from sub- scriptions was £500 more than ever before, and the income from advertisements and sales of ■publications had also increased. An enthusiastic vote of thanks was accorded •to Mr. Courtney Page, the Hon. Secretary, in appreciation of his great work for the Society, and in reply he referred to the extra- ordinary efforts made by members in proposing new members. The trade had assisted greatly in this direction, and Mr. H. R. Eotwright, an amateur, had proposed over seventy mem- bers. Of the 7,386 members of the Society there were. Mr. Page stated, only 31 whose subscriptions were unpaid, and he felt sure that this small number would soon be further re- duced. In giving interesting particulars of the office work done during the past year he sa:d •that 1.300 technical questions were answered. On the close of the meeting the members at- tending adjourned for tea. which was followed by an exhibition of the latest lantern slides ac- •quired by the Society. UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT AND PROVIDENT. The monthlv meeting of this society was held in the R.H.S 'Hall on Monday. January 9, Mr. Arthur Bedford in the chair. Seven now TnemlDers were elected, and four members were allowed to withdraw double the amount of the "interest on their deposit account, amounting to £13 17s. One member withdrew the sum of £10 from his deposit. The sum of £5 8s. 5d. •was passed for payment to one lapsed member, and £53 14s 4d." was passed for payment to •the nominee of one deceased member. The siik pay for the month on the ordinary side amounted to £89 15s. 3d., and on the State side to £83 lis., while maternity benefits oaime to £6. Three members were assisted in regard to the cost of dental treatment, and one in regard to optical treatment, from the extra benefits provided by the State section. The sum of £800 was invested in Funding Loan by the State section, and the trustees were instructed 4o invest £1,000 on the private side. William Carter. — We regret to announce the death, on December 18 last, of Mr. William Carter, at the age of 76 years. The deceased entered the emplov of Messrs. Nutting and Sons, Ltd., 106, Southwark Street, London, in 1874. and he represented this firm for many years on Romford and other markets, where he made many friends amongst market growers. Owing to failing health, Mr. Carter was compelled to retire a few months ago after 47 years of loyal service with the same firm. INQUIRY. Can any reader give me the names of Begonias that produce tubers or " bulbils " at the tips of their growth, oi in the axils of their leaves, and, if so, whether such tubers are formed before or after the plants have flowered? Coombe. ®t>ituar\>. R. Murrell. — We are informed that Mr. R. Murrell, Rose Acre. Shepperton, died somewhat suddenly a few days ago from a severe attack of influenza. He was an expert Rosarian and cul- tivated a large collection of Roses. Only two years ago he added several acres to his nursery at Halliford, and in this addition he took a very keen interest during the past season. His death, in the prime of life, is a great loss to the world of floriculture. TRADE NOTE. Traders are no dou'bt acquainted with the scheme 'which the Government have initiated, whereby traders and others can obtain facilities from their bankers to enable them to finance their export trade. Briefly, the Government are prepared, under certain conditions, to guarantee drafts against shipments of goods exported from this country, and the scheme has quite recently been extended, now covering general credits and credits in Tespect of specific transactions. Explanatory leaflets can be obtained front the Department o* Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, S.W.I. Horticultural traders having an export busi- ness, which at the time may be of diminishing value on account of the existing depreciated ex- changes, could with advantage apply for Govern- ment guarantees under this scheme, but in this case difficulties might be experienced by reason of horticultural commodities, such as fruit and forest trees, plants, insecticides, fertilisers, etc.. not being listed with the Department. Therefore. any horticultural trader wishing to avail himself of the facilites offered by the Government, and, after acquainting himself with the conditions of these credits, is invited to communicate with the Secretary of the Chamber, 18. Bedford Square, W.C.I, as the Chamber has received official notification that special commodities can be listed with the Export Credits Department. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Books : A. S. R. Cactus Culture, by W. Watson, price 2s. 3d., and Orchitis for Everyone, by C. H. Curtis, price 27s. free by post, would be suitable for your purpose, and can be obtained from our Publishing Department. Book on Fruits : Eastnor. Fruit and Us Cultivation, by T. W. Sanders, obtainable from our Publishing Department, price 8s. 3d. post free, would be suitable for your purpose. Greenhouse Ericas : F. M. K. The type of Ericas used for pot cultivation may be propagated by means of cuttings inserted during the spring, selecting small, twiggy shoots, about 1£ to 2 inches in length, and young growth that is just sufficiently firm to prevent damping. August is also a suitable month for propagating these plants, but on the whole 6pring is the best time, as the rooted cuttings may be potted, and become nicely established in thumb pots before the winter. The receptacles in which the cut- tings are rooted should be clean — 48-sized pots are very suitable, and should be filled with crocks to at least half their depth, the crocks being covered with coarse peat to keep the drainage clear. Fill the pots with fine sandy peat, which should be rammed very firmly, finishing with clean silver sand on ' the surface. The cuttings should be carefully dibbled into the soil. The speci- men you enclose is Erica hyemalis. Mossy Lawns : Mere Grass. The use of lime on lawns is good practice, as the grasses, in common with so many other plants, require lime for their well being, and its application will also assist in checking the spread of the moss. For this purpose it may be applied as freshly slacked iime at the rate of 5 lb. per square yard as soon as this may be conveni- ently done. As suggested, a short-handled domestic fire shovel would be useful in spreading the lime evenly. If the lawn is in otherwise good order it would not be neces- sary to rake it over before applying the lime; but the dead moss should be raked out later on. The dressing of lime may well be followed by soot during the early spring; this will give a very dark green colour to the grasses. Superphosphate is an excellent moss destroyer, and, at the same time, is a good fertiliser. This may be applied towards the end of February at the rate of 41b. per square rod, or an even stronger application made he made without fear of injury to the grasses. Names of Plants: IT. S. Wickkam. Viburnum rhytidophyllum.— .1. M. D. Cryptomena japoniea ; an old introduction to English gardens, and not at all rare. Pruning Newly Planted Peaches and Nec-. tarines : G. C. When pruning newly planted Peaches and Nectarines great care is neces- sary in keeping the basal and lower branches well furnished with fruit-bearing shoots. We recommend in Your case that each young shoot be cut back two-thirds its length, and the weaker shoots half their length, and any unnecessary shoots removed altogether. This will cause* growths from buds near the stem and an ample supply of shoots at the base of the tree for future years. In dis- budding a basal shoot must be preserved, so also must the terminal shoot on the same branch, and any necessary shoots in between required for shaping the tree must be kept on the upper side of the branch. The same remarks applv to the Cherry, but much de- pends on the size of the tree. As a rule, the crowth a voung Cherry tree makes the hrs„ Year is small, and shoots must be corrected in the same way as for the Peach; later prun- in°n will be confined to the extreme ends of the branches, and in cutting back the cur- rent year's shoots to a couple of buds to form fruit spurs. The treatment for Apricots the first year is similar to that recommended for Peaches; later, the trees will be composed of main branches, and the small shoots which issue from the latter must be shortened bacK to three buds to form fruit-bearing spurs along the whole of these main branches. Rhododendron Hybrid : A O. W. You^wUl probably be able to obtain the hybrid mentioned from Messrs. R. Veitch and Sons, Exeter. To Skeletonise Leaves: P. Put 6 oz of washing soda into two quarts of boiling water. Slack 3 oz. of quicklime, and add to the soda solution. Boil the whole for 15 minutes, let it settle, and then pour off the clear fluid. Put this on the fire and boil; while it is boiling put in the leaves and boil them for one hour or so. Take out a leaf, and if the epidermis comes away easily when rubbed between the finger and thumb (under clean water), the leaves are ready. After the epidermis is removed, put the skeletons into a solution of a wineglassful of chloride of lime to a quart of water, in order to bleach them; some will be finished in about 10 minutes others in about an hour ; when white, throw them into pure water to clean out the bleach, and float out on to slips of paper. The best leaves to commence with are Holly, Poplar, Ivy and Laurel, and they should have no signs of decay in them. Communications Received— I.enton SaJdsz- W H. M.— E. N.— A. J. 8.— Regular Reader— Ii. T. — T. V.— H. A.— A. N.— C. W. January 28, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 37 THE (Batbmtxz (Kljrmtkk No. 1S31. — SATURDAY, JANUARY 2S, 1922. CONTENTS. Apple Calvllle Blanc .. Apples, russet Box Hill, large addition to •Cabbages, disease-proof Cairns, Mr. Jolm Chicago, a new park for Drought of 1921 and its effect on garden plants Estate nursery and plantation competi- tions in Scotland Cxochorda Albertii .. Florists' flowers — Some of the newer Chrysanthemums . . Florists' Tulips Fragrance, what is Fruit show at Hereford in 1922, commercial . . "" Gardeners' Chronicle '* seventy-five years ago 'Gentiana lutea. . Inventions, new horti- cultural " Isabelle " Mesembry a n t h e m u m and some new genera separated from it . . ILLUSTRATIONS. Arbutus Menziesii in California I.. Cairns, Mr. John, portrait of Fruit exhibited by Messrs. G. Bunyard and Co. Phytolacca clavigera Rhododendron Fargesii Tewin Water, the Grape room at 47 Movne's, Jacques le. 46 botanical drawings, the discovery of some SH of 44 :w National Dahlia Society 37 .18 New or noteworthy 37 plants — Phytolacca clavigera 39 Nursery notes — 44 A Kentish fruit nursery 45 Obituary — XI Bavin, W. H. 48 47 Potato, the origin of the 37 Rainfall of 1921 38 Rats, exterminating . . 37 Rhododendrons 42 39 Societies — 37 British Florists' 4« Federation 47 Royal Caledonian . . 47 37 Royal Horticultural ' Royal Scottish Ar- 47 SH boricultural 47 47 Stocks, doubling in . . Tewin Water, the Grape 46 48 room at 43 47 Trees and shrubis — Arbutus Menzeisii . . 41 The Sea Buckthorn.. 41 44 Week's wo rk, the 40 45 39 42 43 Average Mean Temperature for the ensuing week deduce^ from observations during the last fifty years at Green- wich, 39.6. Actual Temperature : — Gardeners' Chronicle Office, 5, Tavistock street, Covent Garden, London, Wednesday, January 25, 10 a.m.: Bar. 29.6 ; temp. 40°. Weather— Dull. Students of horticultural his- Tho Origin tory will find much of interest of the in Professor Hindrick's sump- Potato, tuous volume of Sturtevant's Notes on Edible Plants, a review of which appeared in our issue of January 14, and they will be grateful to the Editor for having accomplished an onerous and important task with such skill and thoroughness. Although much has been written on the origin of the Potato, there are few contributions to this much-debated subject which provide so many facts as are contained in Sturtevant's notes. The diffi- culties of elucidating the origin of anything are illustrated strikingly by the case of the Potato. Men are late in realising that any new thing they do may have historical inter- est, and hence, when interest is quickened and later generations cast about to discover the origin of this or that, the records, if they ever existed at all, are found to be too meagre for certainty. Humboldt's observa- tions recorded by Sturtevant (p. 545 op. cit.) that the Potato was in cultivation at the time of the discovery of America^ in all the temperate regions of Chili to New Grenada seems to be borne out amply by subsequent researches. Thus in the vocabulary of a now extinct S. American tribe (the Criibcha) the names of ten distinct varieties of Potato are to be identified. The earlier records, such as those of Peter Martyr which refer to the time of Columbus, are rendered doubtful by the references thev make to " betatas " which may refer not to Solanum tuberosum, but to the Sweet Potato. The "papas" referred to by Peter Cieca as being used by the inhabitants of Peru would seem without doubt to be true Potatos, and date from about the same time as another record by Cieza de l.eon from the region of the Collao to the effect that trie inhabitants' principal food are "Potatos" which when dried are called chunus — it is to be observed that chunus or frozen Potatos are still the ordinary food in the Collao. That the dis- eases of Potatos are no new infliction is apparent from the observation of Garcilasso de la Vega that the "papas" of the Collao, round and moist, are inclined to rot soon. Hawkins appears, according to Sturtevant, to have been the first Englishman to interest himself in Potatos, and in 1564, speaking of the tubers growing in Margarita Island off the coast of Venezuela, says that " they are the most delicate rootes that may be eaten and doe far exceede parssnips or carets." Sturtevant suggests that Hawkins carried the Potato to N. America in 1565 when he relieved the famine among the French on the banks of the river May, Florida, in 1584, Hawkins' appreciation is all the more curi- ous in that for a long time after its introduc- tion the Potato was held in but light esteem in Europe. Already, in 1597, Gerarde had the Potato growing in his garden. Mortimer, whom Sturtevant quotes, wrote in his Gar- deners' Kalendar for 1708 that the root is very near the nature of the Jerusalem Arti- choke, although not so good and wholesome, but it may prove good to swine. The pre- judice continued for long, and in 1754 Mi'Ier says of Potatos that "they are despised by rich and deemed only proper food for the meaner sort of persons." An amusing con- firmation of the aphorism "what Lancashire thinks to-day, England thinks to-morrow," is supplied by the fact that when the Potato was introduced to Lancashire in 1728, its cultivation became general in the county and gradually spread to other parts of the coun- try. Sturtevant is of opinion that the history of the Potato seems to imply that at first its tuber was of such poor quality as not to obtain general liking. We are, for our part, inclined to believe that cultivation and not the tuber was at fault. In the sixteenth century the standard of cultivation, as judged by the average yield of Wheat, was not high — not exceeding ten bushels to the acre. Much land was undrained nr imperfectly drained and in these circumstances the Potato which finds its best flavour, although not its great yields, in light, sandy soils, might well have produced tubers of generally unpleasant flavour. On the other hand, and in support of Sturtevant's view, Europe was for a long time no more well-disposed than was England to the new food plant, and the ruse said to have been resorted to by Parmentier — whether it be true or not. serves to illustrate this fact. As recorded in this journal,* the story goes that it wa^ only by withdrawing at night the military guards set by day to protect his ex- perimental plots that he succeeded in getting Potatos into the category of "stolen fruit" which appears sweetest to the pilferer. In the present state of knowledge it is, perhaps, useless to speculate on the origin of the Potato. It would seem probable, however, that in the case of this plant as in that of other edible plants, the numerous varieties point to a hybrid origin, although in the case of the Potato the hybridity would appear to be between races and not, as in the case of Wheat and Maize, between species. National Dahlia Society.— The annual general meeting of Ihe members of the National Dahlia Society will be held on Tuesday, January 31, at 4 p.m., in t;he Lecture Room at, the Royal Horticultural Hall, Vincent Square, West- minster. Estate Nursery and Plantation Competitions in Scotland.— In the year 1912, the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society started a series of com- petitions open to estate nurseries and plantation.", * Hard. Citron., February 21, 1914. and these competitions have been conduoted in connection with the Society's Forestry Ex- hibition at the Highland and Agricultural Society's show. During 1921 the show district included the counties of Clackmannan, Dum- barton, Perth and Stirling. Two of the estates entered were also in the 1912 competition, con- sequently it will be seen that the competitions have completed their first circuit or rotation. In the Nursery Section, Class I. is for estate nur- series not exceeding two acres in extent, and Class II. for those of more than two acres. In the Plantations Section, there are seven classes in all. The first three classes are for plantations of not less than two acres, consisting mainly of Conifers (I.) under ten years of age; (II.) ex- ceeding ten years and not exceeding twenty years; (III.) exceeding twenty years and not exceeding forty years. These are confined to estates having less than 300 acres of woods. Classes IV., V. and VI. . are open to estates having more than 300 acres of woods, and the plantations are similarly specified, with the ex- ception that they must be not less than five acres in extent. Class VII. is for plantations mainly of hardwoods not exceeding 35 years of age and not less than two acres in extent. The nurseries and plantations entered in 1921 were of a high order of merit and the majority of the plantations were under twenty years of age. In the Nursery Section a Gold Medal was awarded to the Dunkeld Estate and a Silver Medal to the Keir Estate, while in the Plantation Section Silver Medals were awarded to the estates of Kedr, Dunkeld, Doune, Ardchullary, and Tulli- chewan. According to the report published in the recent issue of the Transactions of the Royal Scottish Arboricvltural Society, the judges found a tendency in most places to in- crease the planting distance, especially so far as the more rapidly growing Conifers are concerned. Florists' Tulips. — The members of the London School-Gardening Association and their friends are to be favoured by a lecture on " Florists' Tulips " by their president, Sir A. Daniel Hall, The lecture will be delivered at the London Day Training College, Southampton Row, at 7.30 p.m., on Friday, January 27. Commercial Fruit Show at Hereford in 1922 — The Imperial Fruit Show of 1921 was discussed at considerable length, and its management was subjected to considerable adverse criticism at a meeting of the West Midland Commercial Fruit Show Association held at the Shirehall, Here- ford, on Monday, the 9th inst. The members of the Association decided to hold a commercial fruit show at Hereford this year (date to be fixed), but expressed themselves ready to con- sider the possibility of joining in an Imperial Fruit Show if it 'were held in the north of England during the present season. Exterminating Rats.- -In connection with the crusade for the extermination of rats in this country, it is interesting to observe that in different countries different methods are em- ployed to destroy these rodents. An interesting method is described in the Queensland Agri- cultural Journal, which is as follows: "Put down a tempting bait and surround it with a ring of caiustic soda. Outside the ring of soda place a ring of wet rags or bags. The rat, to reach the bait, must walk over the wel bags, and so wet its feet. He then walks over the caustic soda, which, of course, burns him. He will next lick off the irritating sub- stance, and becomes a dead rat. The same pro cedure may be adopted at the main entrance to a rat's tunnel. Close up all the holes possible, and put wet rags at the entrance, and soda outside, and then the bait." A New Park for Chicago.— The authorities at Chicago have already commenced the con- struction and lay-out of Lake Front Park, which is to connect Grant Park with Jackson Park, and will cost approximately 50,000,000 dollars. This park will be six miles long and about half a mile wide, and will contain a series of island-dotted lagoons 400 to 700 feet wide, extending through its centre. These lagoons will be spanned by seven artistic con- crete bridges, so as to give ready access to 38 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 28. 1922. street, converging on the outer drive. The construction of this new park will necessitate the filling in of two square miles at present occupied by water averaging 15 feet deep, and it is estimated that this undertaking alone will require about 40,000,000 cubic yards of soil. About twenty miles of main drive way will be constructed, in addition to subways and five long viaducts over the Illinois Central Rail- way. When finished, the park will provide sis miles of lake frontage, which will include ex- tensive beaches for bathing. A Large Addition to Box Hill.— We learn with great pleasure that Miss Warburg has presented seventy acres of land (purchased from Lord Francis Hope's trustees) to the nation as an addition to Box Hill. This magnificent gift is Miss Warburg's tliankoffermg for the conclusion of the war, and the area occupies a site on the right side of the Happy Valley, and runs with the boundary of land held by the National Trust, aoove the Zig-zag. Beech and Larch woods and the Round Tower are included in these seventy acres of beautifully situated and charmingly wooded land. The Rainfall of 1921.— Although time has not permitted a comprehensive summary of the rainfall records for 1921, a selection from the 3,000 returns made to the Meteorological Office has sufficed to give a preliminary idea of the distribution of rain in relation to the average fall in the British Isles. Probably every gardener will agree that in the year 1921 there was a very unusual shortage of rainfall, but we gather from a recent review of the year* that the area affected in an extreme degree was not very large. During the months of January, March, and December the total rainfall was above the average at all meteoro- logical stations in the western half of Scotland, and over a considerable part of the Western Highlands there was an excess of more than 10 per cent. In a small area in the northern Pennines and some isolated spots in Ireland there was more than an average rainfall', hut with these -xciptions 'here was a deficiency throughout the British Isles, and this deficiency increased in a marked degree towards the east and south ..f England. Around Aberdeen the deficiency was 40 per cent, below the average, and in Ireland to the east of Cork, the cle- ficien:y was more than 70 per cent. Soutn cast of a '.in? Jra.vu roaghlv7 from the Bristol Channel to Yorkshire, the deficiency was more than 30 per cent., and rhiough&ut almost the whole of the district below a line from Ply- mouth to Yarmouth the deficiency was more than 40 per cent., while in the east of Kent there was less than half the average rainfall. The driest years hitherto recorded were probably 1854, 1864, 1870, and 1887, i nd in each of these vcars considerabl? areas experienced less than 70 per cent, of the average rainfall, while in 1&87 almost 'he vholrj of England and Wales, as well as nore lhan half the area of Scotland and Ireland, had less than 30 per cent. The general nereentajie of the average rainfall in the dry years of 1364, 1870, 1887, and 1921 respectivelv were as follows:— England and Wales, 78, 82, '74, 71; Scotland, 94, 80, 80, 99; Ireland, J6, 95, 77, 83; British Isles, 85. 84, 77, 82. Throughout the greater part of the Thames Valley, the rainfall was unpre- cedently low during 1321. The highest ininfal! record in this district was barely 20 inches, and over the whole of the valley it was less than 17.5 inches, while in the area belcw Lechlade the rainfall was less than 15 inches. 1' ram the review referred to we learn that the most remarkable totals were observed in the Thames Estuary and the southern Fen dis- tricts, where considerable areas had less than 12 inches of rain; these v ere undoubtedly the driest places in England during 1921. The review concludes with the obsert ation that most of the water supplies of the south-east of England are drawn from underground sources, and it may be that well-supplies are being used up in a manner analogous to *: The Meteorological Magazine. His Majesty's Stationery Office. Imperial House. Kingsway, W.C. Price 7d., post free. living on capital It is known that the under- ground water in the chalk formations depends intimately upon the rainfall for its mainten- ance, and in particular the winter rains per- colate freely into the fissures of chalk and com- pensate for the draft made during the summer. It is an ominous fact that percolation records made during 1921 in the south of England show that no water had reached the chalk since May, and that the quantity between Feb- ruary 1 and December 31 was not more than the equivalent of 1.75 inch of rain. Unless, therefore, an unusually rainy period inter- venes between this and the early summer, the outlook for the summer of 1922, from the point of view of water supply, is not very jiromising Mr. John Cairns. — Mr. John Cairns is almost as well known in the south of England and on the Continent as in Scotland, for he is no stay-at-home Scot. Mr. Cairns received his early training with the firm of Messrs. W. Drummond and Sons, Stirling, and after five years spent in their establishment he obtained employment with Messrs. Austin and McAslan, of Mitchell Street, Glasgow, and he has re- mained with this firm of seedsmen and nur- MB. JOHN CAIRNS. sery men ever since, and is now one of the partners. Mr. Cairns possesses a wide know- ledge of plants and is thoroughly well acquainted with all that, pertains to the seed trade, and to his wide knowledge and ex- perience he adds a charming personality which must be a fine asset to the firm with which he has been associated for so many years. Eleven years ago Mr. Cairns was appointed a director of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Horti- cultural Society, and the present year is his third period of office a6 Chairman of the Direc- tors of that Society. He is taking an especially keen interest in the International Horticultural Exhibition which is to open at Glasgow on August 30, and he is sparing no efforts to ensure its success. We have had the opportunity of inspecting a draft of the schedule which is to appear shortly, and we feel sure that the wide range of subjects dealt with and the handsome prizes offered^ will attract exhibitors from all parts of the United Kingdom. Both Mr. Cairns, the Chairman, and Mr. Hugh M. Matkie. 124, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, the Secretary, will readily answer any communications sent to them with reference to the forthcoming great exhibition. The Flora of Jan Mayen Island. — One of the most interesting items in the programme of the general meeting of the Linnean Society, held on the 19th inst., was an exhibition of lantern* slides, together with an account of the Flora ot Jan Mayen Island, communicated by Dr. W- Rushton Parker. Dr. Parker considers that the Flora of Jan Mayen may be divided into four main groups — the floras of the sea-shore, of the bird-cliffs, of sheltered places in the "tundra," and the mountain flora. The most luxuriant flora, which consists of Taraxacum or Oxyria, grows either under the bird-cliffs or in places where tuff has been reassorted by water. The limit of flowering plants seems to be about. 3,000 feet. The total phanerogamic vegetation consists of about 43 species, all of which are common to both Norway and East Greenland. The origin of the flora presents a very com- plicated problem. Seeds have probably been- brought there on the feet of wading birds which migrate to and from their breeding-grounds in East Greenland. It is highly improbable that Jan Mayen lias ever been connected with either Iceland or Greenland. Many plants have pro- bably reached Jan Mayen during very recent years. Disease-proof Cabb.iges.--At the request of the National Kraut Growers' Association, the authorities at the Wisconsin College of Agri- culture have developed a strain of Cabbages immune to the " Yellows " disease, which has been a scourge for some years throughout the- Cabbage growing districts of the United States. Tests conducted on disease-infected soil show that the new Cabbages are immune to the disease, while old varieties growing in parallel rows have been almost all killed. That the Wisconsin authorities consider the new strain to be quite immune may be gathered from the fact that the Association already referred to will distribute 5,000 pounds weight of the new Cabbage seed throughout the I nited States at an early date. This will be sufficient to plant 40,000 acres, and the amount has heerr obtaineil from stock grown from the disease- resistant strains supplied bv the experts at the Wisconsin Experiment Station. Appointments for the Ensuing Week — Tues- day, January 31 : Royal Horticultural Society's Committee meeting : Lecture by Captain A. W. Hill on " Botanical Stations in the Cameroons and Nigeria"; National Dahlia Society's Annual meeting at R.H.S. Hall; Bath and West and' Southern Counties Society's Council meeting; Cardiff Gardeners' Society's meeting.— Wednes- day, February 1: Royal Agricultural Society's- Council meeting; National Viola and Pansy Society's meeting. — Thursday, February 2 1 Manchester and North of England Orchid Society's meeting ; Linnean Society's meeting at 5 p.m. ; Wargrave and District Gardeners' Society's meeting. " The Gardeners' Chronicle " Seventy five Years Ago. — Substitute for the Potato. — Con- sidering what a cottager may grow at least expense to supply the loss of the Potato, it occurred to me that the Scarlet Runner may be grown in large quantities, for the sake of the seed, with great advantage. I, therefore,, had some dressed to try, and when scalded, they readily slip out of the skin, and soon boil tender, anil either with a little pepper and. salt only, or the addition of a very small piece of bacon stewed with them, make a most, ex- cellent, dish. The expense attending the growth of the plant would be the sticking, which might be obviated by putting the seed into the earth close to the hedge or fence of the cot- tager's garden or allotment, which would form a support without further trouble, and the space thus occupied would be very trifling. Peas thev may certainly grow more extensively in their "allotments than they have hitherto done, to preserve dry instead of eating them green but they would be more open to the attack of birds than the Scarlet Runner.— PoVypodium. Jan. 7. (These have been often recommended.) Gard. Chron., Jan. 23, 1847. Publication Received.— Fungi. By Dame- Helen Gwvnne-Vaughan. Cambridge University Press, Fetter Lane, E.C. Price 35s. net. January 28, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 39 FLORISTS8 FLOWERS. SOME OF THE NEWER CHRYSANTHE- MUMS. Judging by Uie results of the past season, the introductions of three and four years ago do not include so many reliable exhibition sorts as was anticipated, Wm. Rigby, Mrs. Algernon Davis, Princess Mary, and Edith Gavel] being the chief exceptions from a list of about thirty. High hopes were entertained in some quarters that such varieties as Golden Champion, Undaunted, Mr. Lloyd George, Mrs. H. Tysoe and Louisa Pockett would replace with advantage Lady Talbot, F. S. Vallis. and other of the old sorts : but they have not done so, with the consequence that older varie- ties wore very much in evidence in the season 3921. This latter year's introductions and those of 1920, however, promise better, and th ■ following amongst them should supply blooms of high quality for1 some years to come. Prince Albert. — This is a deep yellow sport from Princess Mary, and needs no recommenda- tion. But, as is essential with the parent, the plants need to be well cultivated to secure an early first crown bud. otherwise the blooms show an eye. Majestic. — This variety has already won its spurs-, being shown at practically every exhibi- tion of note last season. Dwarf plants are not generally associated with monster blooms, but this variety is a remarkable exception, a fact which will insure its popularity. Early pro- pagation and a natural break are points to observe with this choice Chrysanthemum. Mrs. H. E. Dixon.— This variety was better in 1920 than last year. In an attempt to ob- tain natural second crowns our plants grew over 6 feet tall, and the buds were rather late. It appears to be necessary to root the cuttings in December to obtain second crowns, or to anticipate the second break by stopping about the third week in June. Mrs. Spencer Chichester. — This is a prim- rose yellow incurving Japanese variety of fine form. Our plants did not show any signs of breaking in the middle of June, and were stopped, which brought the development of the buds to the third week in August. In an or- dinary season early propagated plants should break naturally. Mrs. Geo. Monro. — This magnificent velvety crimson does not appear to be of much use it' first crown buds are chosen, and yet it is rather slow growing, so needs rooting very early. Shirley Golden. — The blooms of this Chry- santhemum are something after the form ot Lady Talbot, and the colour of James Eraser, when the variety was grown on the early bud. In its early stages the plant is one to perse- vere with, for it is rather delicate, but when it is growing freely in 6-inch pots, it soon puts on as robust a look as the average variety, and runs on to the second crown bud. Mrs. Peter Murray. — A fine habited Chry- santhemum producing a solid bloom of rich purple colour. Buds of the natural break and first crown buds cpen perfectly. Rosemary Simmons. — Another of the Lady Talbot "build," but a variety that requires growing well to obtain good blooms. Plants stopped at the end of May were late by a fortnight, and this in a hot summer. Mrs. T. J. Fleming. — This is of the colour of Sir E. Letch worth when that variety is grown on the early crown bud, but it is a much larger bloom, and will doubtless be more heard of in the future. Of medium height, the plant has, a strong habit, and requires a long growing season, so a stopping early in April is essential. Helen Margerison. — This is another pink Chrysanthemum of good quality. Grown to a natural first crown, the buds are somewhat late iinless the break occurs early in June. Viscount Chtnda, — An erratic grower, which takes after Mrs. Algernon Davis in that it is a persistent bud thrower. This failing has ap- peared in districts widely apart, and From root cuttings, so the fault does not rest alone with stem cuttings, which are often said to be the source of this trouble. Late rooted plants have done best, second crown buds being easily secured. Mrs. Chas. H. Curtis. — This reminds me of the variety Mrs. H. J. Stratton in colour, but it should last longer than that variety, as the blooms are more solid, and better formed. Natural crown buds seem to finish the best. A. S. Watt.— This may be described as a glorified Princess Mary. The blooms are cer- tainly a little deeper coloured, otherwise there does not appear to be much between the two, excepting there is no need to stop- the plants. Victory. — For a good white of proved merit it is necessary to go back to the season of 1919 for this variety. It is a monster bloom, NEW OR NOTEWORTHY PLANTS. PHYTOLACCA CLAVIGERA . Tile Phytolaccas are mostly coarse-growing perennials, with succulent stems and large, fleshy rootstocks, suitable for the wild garden or shrubbery borders. The 6pecies generally met with in cultivation are the North American P. americana (syn, P. decandra), tbe Virginian Fokeweed, and P. acinosa (syn. P. edulis), a common plant in the Himalayas and Western China. These two plants are distinguished by the former having the carpels composing the black fruits entirely enclosed in a skin, giving it the appearance of a berry. In P. acinosa the carpels are all separate. An arborescent member of the genus occurs in Fig. 18. — Phytolacca clavigera; a new stecies of pokeweed. with long, drooping florets which incurve at the tips. The plant is of medium height, and in an average season stopping at the end of April seems necessary to produce blooms early in November. Mrs. Chas. Davis. — This is the latest iwhite sort and, judging by the tine blooms, it will be- come popular. I have it from one of the spe- cialists that it is the best white sort he has handled, better than Queen Mary, YV. Turner, and Mrs. A. T. Miller, while the plant is a much better grower than the two first named. Next November I hope to have verified these statements. The following are still in the front rank of exhibition varieties :— A. F. Totield, Wm. Rigby, Mrs. O. Drabble, Dawn of Day, Francis Jolliffe, Mrs. R. C. Pulling, Princess Mary, and Mrs. Algernon Davis. Y. G. South America ; this is P. dioica, which lias stems from 20 ft. to 30 ft. high. A fourth species, P. clavigera, is illustrated in Fig. 18. This is a robust growing peren- nial, about 4 ft. high, with rounded, terminal spikes of small rose-pink flowers that are suc- ceeded by black fruits packed into a dense, club-shaped mass. The individual fruits have their carpels enclosed in a skin, as in the American P. americana. This species is a native of Yunnan, where it was found by Mr. G. Forrest, who sent seeds to the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. There it flowered and fruited freely, growing from 3 ft. to 4 ft. high. Specimens in fruit were exhibited by Mr. Amos Perry at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on June 21, 1921, when the plant obtained an Award of Merit. W. !■ B 40 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 28, 1922 The Week's Workjl THE FLOWER GARDEN. By Edwin Beckett, Gardener To the Hon. Ticahi Gibbs, Aldenham House, Hertfordshire. The Rose Garden. — Work in the Rose garden occasionally falls into arrears in winter, and where this has occurred labour should be diverted to it. New beds should be well and properly prepared, and when ready the plants carefully and firmly planted. Where planting is already finished, attention should be given, after periods of heavy winds such as we have ex- perienced this season, to ascertain if the plants have become loosened in the soil, and where this is found to be the case they should at once be made firm again. Renovations to old beds should also be carried out, and when all these operations are completed a winter wash formed of one ounce of blue vitriol (copper sulphate) to two gallons of water should be well sprayed over the plants and beds, to act as a preventive against fungous diseases and a deterrent to insect pests. Do not apply the wash when the weather is frosty. THE ORCHID HOUSES. By J. T. Bareer, Gardener to His Graoe the Dcke of Marlborough, K.G., Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxon. Coelogyne. — C. cristata and its varieties have their flower spikes well advanced, and should be carefully watered, as an excess of moisture at the roots or overhead may cause them to turn black and decay. The rare C. Mooreana is a most lovely Orchid that produces its blooms at this 6eason. It is easy to grow if treated much in the same manner is C. cristata, but prefers slightly more heat, hence the necessity for placing it at the warmest end of the intermediate house. This beautiful, if somewhat neglected, genus of plants must not be exposed to much sunlight at any season, as their rather thin leaves readily scorch, especially if the plants are at all dry. C. elata and C. ochracea are also pushing up their flower spikes, and require water whenever they become dry at the roots. Plants of C. pan- durata, C. Massangeana, and other varieties of this rather large family that have rot us yet commenced to grow mucst be kept on the dry side. There is a great diversity, both in style and season of growth of these plants, also in their treatment, some growing in cool and others under tropical conditions. Many require a long season of rest to induce tleni ■4 t' / '^,V ' V -v. _ m, M V V ftifflM ■ ft^T* ■ - Fig. 19.— . HENZTESII IN CALIFORNIA: SHOWING LARGE BRANCHES NEAR THE RASE OF THE TREE. (SEE RAGE 41.) STARTING FRoSI Rockery and Rock Edges.— Where rockeries are to be formed, advantage should be taken of open weather to commence this work so that the mass of stone and soil may have the fullest opportunity of settling firmly in position before the time arrives for spring planting. Rock edges, which aTe nowadays superseding the old grass verges and Box-edgings along the fronts of herbaceous borders, should also be put in posi- tion. For either purpose it should be bome in mind that the rocks are only provided for the benefit of the plants, whereby a cool, moist root- ing medium is secured, and not, as many seem to think, the prime feature of the "whole. .Another point to be remembered is that alpine plants benefit greatly, when grown under arti- ficial conditions, if they are provided with a good, deep compost of a suitable nature, either in pockets or crevices, for many of the dwarf- growing alpine* send out roots a yard long in search of food, coolness and moisture. Rockeries and stone edges already in existence should be examined, and, where the plants are found to be lifting themselves out of the soil, a top dress- ing of suitable compost should be applied. The composts suited to the various subjects differ considerably, and it is of great benefit alike to the cultivator and to his plants to make a careful study of particular plant requirements in this respect. to produce flowers; others produce flowers in the greatest profusion. Miltonias of the Brazilian Section.— These should be examined to see if any of the plants are in need of more root room or new material. It is necessary, perhf^s, to point out that a plant may want repotting without being in need of a larger receptacle. In some instances a plant will deteriorate from causes not always apparent, and it will then be advisable to place the plants in smaller receptacles ?o that they may become well rooted. koots being the chief feeding medium of plants, and as no plant can survive long if root action is not thoroughly healthy, the necessity for pay- ing close attention to the condition of the compost will be obvious. To the close observer plants will teach the cultivator their require- ments. Miltonias of the Brazilian section, being dwarf growers, do best in shallow pans suspended from the roof. All old and useless pseudo-bulbs should be cut away and the grow- ing parts made up afresh, giving each leading growth room to develop. Those portions which have few roots to hold them in position should be pegged down firmly to the compost. Should it be desirable to increase the stock, the back portions, if the eyes are good, may be placed in small receptacles, where many will make new growths and eventually new plants. Those back portions having no roots are best re- moved. The whole of these Brazilian Mil- tonias succeed in a shady part of the inter- mediate house, and delight in ample drainage with a small depth of compost made up of Al fibre and Sphagnum-moss, cut up moderately tine and placed somewhat firmly around the rhizomes. THE HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. By H. Markham, Gardener to the Earl of Strafford, Wrotham Park, Barnet. Gooseberries.— The pruning and thinning of Gooseberry bushes should receive careful attention, especially where large fruits are desired. Overcrowding of the branches is one of the principal causes of failure, and should be prevented. When thinning the bushes, cut out sonie of the oldest branches and leave plenty of the younger wood, not forgetting that the Gooseberry crops all along the pre- vious season's growth. Side shoots should b« spurred back to two or three eyes, and the leaders and other parts required for filling uj open spaces be left almost ft their full length As a guide to the primer, the branches should be far enough apart to allow the hand to pass between them without coining into contact with the spines. Gooseberry bushes delight in plenty of air and light about their stems. Old, scraggy bushes are never profitable, the fruits being small and flavourless; they should be grubbed up. After pruning is completed, rake a little of the old soil from under the bushes, apply a good dusting of lime and soot, and top-dress with suitable soil and manure. Young Gooseberry Bushes.— These are easily raised from cuttings, and a sufficient quantity should be rooted annually for either new plantations or filling up gaps as required. Firm, short-jointed shoots should be selected, those with little pith, from 15 to 18 inches long. Remove the eyes along the cutting, with t lie exception of five or six at the top, to form the head. Insert the cuttings firmly in the soil, 3 inches apart, in lines 12 inches apart, and see that they are kept free from weeds and firmly pressed back into the 6oil when loosened by frost. Black Currants.— Keep the bushes well t binned, and encourage strong, young growth from the base, as it is from this young wood the fruits are produced. Feed the roots more or less according to the nature and condition of the soil. Very old trees, when cut almos' down to the ground level, sometimes throw up strong, fruitful wood, and continue, with feeding, to produce good crops for several years. PLANTS UNDER GLASS By T. Pateman, Gardener 1o Sir C. Naix-Cain, Bart The Node, Codioote, Welwyn. Hertfordshire. Euphorbia (Poinsettia) pulcherrima.— After the inflorescences of these plants have been cut for decorating purposes, or as the plants pass out of flower, they should be cut back, leaving about 15 inches to 18 inches of stem. They ihould then be stood under the stage in a moderately warm house until they are required for starting into growth to produce cuttings for next season's stock. Euphorbia jacquiniaeflora requires practically the same treatment as that advised for the Poinsettia. Plant Cleaning.— During the present month special efforts should be made to sponge and clean such plants as Codiaeums (Crotons. Cordylines. Dracaenas, Palms and climbing plants in the houses. If the cleaning of such plants is completed this month it will relieve pressure of other work that comes with the lengthening days, and, moreover, the plants will be in a clean state for propagating next month. Bouvardia— Where Bonvardias are grown in quantitv. and it is found necessary to increase the stock, old stock plants should be placed in a warm house after being cut back, to in- January 2S, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 41 duce them to break into new growth. Given a moist atmosphere, young growths will soon be available for propagating purposes, and when they are about 3 inches in length they may be removed and inserted, several together, in small 60-sized pots, using a good, open compost, with a sprinkling of silver sand on the surface. When making a hole with a small dibber to receive the cutting, the sand will fall to the bottom for the cutting to rest upon and prevent it from rotting at the heel. Bouvardias may also be increased by means of root cuttings. These may be obtained by shaking out some of the old plants and cut- ting the strongest roots into pieces about 3 inches in length; dibble these into pans or boxes, in sandy soil, and place them in n warm propagating case, where they will soon commence to grow. To be successful with Bouvardias, frequent fumigating is necessary during their early period of growth. FRUITS UNDER GLASS. By F. Jordan, Gardener to Lieut. -Col. Spender Clai, M.P., Ford Manor, Linffield, Surrey. Pot Vines.— If the earliest vinery was closed in December the buds of the vines will now be swelling freely, and the temperature may be increased '■ from 3° to 5° at night, and from 5° to 10° during the day, as forcing should be done as much as possible during the day for the next few weeks. Renovate the fer- menting material if the pots are plunged in Utter, as this softens the fire heat and helps to supply the necessary moisture with light syringings on bright days. Disbud the vines as soon as it can be seen which shoots show the best bunches, and discontinue the use of the syringe direct on the vines, supplying the neces- sary moisture by damping all bare spaces. Let the temperature at this stage range from 55° to 58°, according to the outside weather, or until the vines are approaching the flowering stage, when the night temperature may be increased to 65° with 10° higher by day. Water the roots only after a careful examination of the soil, and give sufficient, tepid water to penetrate the whole bell of roots. Early Permanent Vines. — In many cases these vines are the earliest from which ripe Grapes are expected to be cut in May or June, and the vinery should be closed early this month. Vines which have been forced annually will quickly respond to a temperature of 48° to 53°. Little or no ventilation is necessary for the first few weeks. Thoroughly soak the border with tepid water, giving sufficient to reach the drain- age, and supply the necessary atmospheric mois- ture by syringing the vines and other available spaces on fine days. Later vineries should be kept as cool as possible for so long as the pipes are secure from frost. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. By James E. Hathawai, Gardener to John Bbennand, Esq . Balder6by Park, Thirsk, Yorkshire. French Beans. — Successional batches of French Beans should be sown at intervals of three weeks for the purpose of maintaining a regular supply. They should be sown in eight- inch pots, well drained and half filled with a compost of good loam and Mushroom-bed manure; place the seeds evenly, about six to eight in a pot. and stand the pots in a house with a temper;! tine of 60° to 65°. As soon as the seedlings reach the top of the pot afford a top dressing, and place the pots near to the roof glass. French Beans are very susceptible to red spider, therefore the atmosphere of the house should be kept moist and the plants syringed at least twice a day in bright weather. Where heated pits are available French Beans may be sown in them, but the bed should be raised well up to the glass. Plants raised earlier will now require plenty of weak liquid manure. Mushrooms. — Horse droppings should be collected, and the larger the quantity that can be got together at once the better; the droppings should be spread out in a shed as gathered, and when sufficient have been collected they should be thrown into a heap about 2 ft. thick, and turned over about every second morning for ten days. Afterwards the manure will not need so much turning, and as soon as it is in a suitable condition and the heat begins to decline it should be made into Ibeds, the size of which must depend on the amount of material at hand. It is better to make smaller beds than to wait till enough manure is gathered ready to make a large one. A Mushroom bed should be made as firm as possible by beating the manure with a wooden mallet. When the bed is made a thermometer should be placed in it to test the temperature. Do not spawn the bed until the temperature is at about 80°. An eighteen-inch depth of material will suffice, but the deeper it is the better as it will retain heat longer. Three or four days after spawning cover the bed with a two-inch layer of finely chopped loam which has been stacked for a season ; make this firm with the back of a spade. Mushrooms resent an excess of fire heat; a temperature of 60° is ample, but the house should be kept well damped. I do not advise covering the bed with litter or hay, as this has a tendency to en- courage wood lice. The species is hardy in most parts of Great Britain, though I have always failed with it in my cold climate at Dawyck in Tweed-dale. I have seen a fine plant at Castle Menzies in Perthshire, and I believe there is a good speci- men at Fife. It bears fruit in this country ; I have myself gathered good seed from Mr. Clinton Baker's tree at Bayfordbury in Hert- fordshire. The fine specimen at Kew is well known. Elwes and Henry report a tree at, Bassetwood, near Southampton, which was not. less than fifty feet high, with a girth of 3 ft. 2 in., in 1908. Arbutus Menziesii bears transplanting badly, and therefore it ought to be grown in pots until it is put in its per- manent quarters. Nurserymen in this country do not seem tc stock it, and yet there is not the least difficulty in getting seed from California. F. B. S. Balfour, Dawyck. THE SEA BUCKTHORN. The beauty of Hippophae rhamnoides is so great when densely laden with berries that many people would plant it in their gardens if they were aware that male and female plants are necessary in order to get fruit; or if they could get plants Fig. 20. — HUGE TRUNK of an akeutus MENZIESII CALIFORNIA. TREES AND SHRUBS. THE MADRONA: ARBUTUS MENZIESII (PURSH). It is ourious that this finest evergreen tree of the Pacific Coast is still comparatively so rare in cultivation, though introduced by David Douglas in 1827. It is, of course, named after xVrchibald Menzies, who thirty years earlier than Douglas explored Buget Sound and the adjacent bays, inlets and islands when he accompanied Vancouver to the N.W. Pacific Coast in 1793. I have seen a tree, when drawn up among tall' Conifers, reach a height of about 100 feet in the forests of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, but never there of any considerable girth. Its smooth stems of rich, reddish ibrown. and crown of shining foliage, are most con- spicuous, and only rivalled in beauty by Cornus Nuttallii when in full flower— that finest and largest of Dogiwoods. The two are often seen together in the more Northern range of the Arbutus. The latter extends south so far as the Santa Lucia Mountains, 100 miles south of San Francisco. In California I never saw it as a very tall tree; but in Marin County, im- mediately north of the bay of San Francisco, there are growing several specimens which reach the immense girth of over twenty feet. I saw these trees about nineteen years ago in company with that excellent botanist, Mr. R. W. Menzies of San Francisco, who is seen beside the trunk in the photographs (Figs. 19 and 20) of them taken last September. from the nurseries so labelled. The berries are variously described as orange-yellow, bright orange and yellow. Loudon describes the. Sea Buckthorn as grow- ing wild from Kent to Yorkshire, on cliffs above sea-level, and as plentiful on the sandy flats between Yarmouth and Cromer. Philip Miller described the berries as yellow, and stated that he had seen the species growing naturally on the sea banks in Lincolnshire. He states he had seen a red-berried variety on the sea banks of Holland. I have recently seen a broad belt of this shrub about three miles long, stretching from Skegness to Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, and have no doubt about its being a native there. The berries are orange-yellow, though a few bushes with yellow berries have been seen. All become yellow after a sharp frost. This seems to cor- reot their acidity sufficiently for the birds to attack them. A frost occurred in November and the berries had mostly disappeared by the end of the year, the birds eating them being the missel-thrush and possibly the fieldfare, for both are very abundant there just now. The grow- ing town of Skegness is actually encroaching upon the Buckthorn, and bushes of it can be seen between some of the houses. The sea is receding along this coast, and the first plant to take possession of a heap of sand is Ammo- phila arenaria (the Maram Grass). Then corner the Buckthorn, binding the sand just above high-water mark. Ridge and valley suc- ceed one another landward, the innermost series being used as extensive golf links. J. F. 42 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 28, 1922. EDITORIAL NO TICE. ADVERTISEMENTS should be sent to the PUBLISHER, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, WC2 Editors and Publisher.— Our correspondents would obviate delay in obtaining answers to their com- munications, and save us much time and trouble, if they would kindly observe the notice printed weekly to the effect that all letters relating to financial matters and to advertisements should be addressed to the Publisher; and that all communi- cations intended for publication or referring to the Literary department, and all plants to be named, should be directed to the Editobs. The two departments. Publishing and Editorial, are distinct, and much unnecessary delay and confusion arise when letters are misdirected, Local News- — Correspondents will greatly oblige by sending to the Editors early intelligence of local events likely to be of interest to our readers, or of any matters which it is desirable to bring under the notice of horticulturists. Illustrations.— ZVi« Editors will be glad tn r*M»*«» and to select photographs or drawings suitable for reproduction, of gardens, or of remarkable flowers, trees t etc., but they cannot be responsible for loss or injury. RHODODENDRONS. MR. COWLEY'S interesting little letter on Rhododendron Alice (see p. 301, Vol. LXX) has made me wish t hat Mr. Mangles was still among us : tor though at this time of day pioneer work ought not to be necessary, there seem to be left a large number of people for whom the term Rhodo- dendron means the section known as " hardy hybrids " and that alone. Mr. Mangles look a broader view, and con- stantly reiterated his praises of the species and the direct hybrids therefrom; and no one who has growl these would willingly confine himself to the so-called hardy hybrids, which they so far surpass in beauty of flower and ioliage, in the length of their season if flower- ing, and in their intrinsic interest. Mr. Euan Cox not long ago wrote an article to 77/. • Gardeners' Chronicle, in which he lamented the deadly monotony of the hardy hybrids at the Chelsea Showj and he might have added that their period of bloom was confined to the six hottest weeks of the year, when the sun mav do as much damage to tlio flowers as the frost sometimes does to those which ai'2 produced earlier. 1 am completely in accord with Mr. Cowley in Ins remarks on the use of peat. Not only is it unnecessary, but in heavy soil, and if the right sort is not obtained, it may be ab- solutely deadly. In my early gardening days I used to send a wagon to the moors and bring in peat— quite oblivious of the lesson before my eyes provided by the presence in this garden of bushes of that fine old plant known as Smith's Scarlet, in perfect health and over 20 feet high, which must long ago have outgrown any peat which may have been supplied to -them when they were planted — and many a Rhododendron I lost thereby. Also, 1 find that, when a nurseryman sends me a plant which has been grown in peat, it is as likely as not to die in this heavy soil, accom- panied as it is by a wet climate. But should an untoward fate confine me to but six varie- ties, they would not be hardy hybrids — not even the handsome Alice, nor our opulent friend Pink Pearl. Leaving out the tender species and hybrids, and choosing only those of medium size, I think they would be the pale yellow R. campy- locarpum, the best lavender blue form of R. Augustinii, the brilliant scarlet R. neriiflorum, R. Roylei or R. cinnabarinum, the lovely pink seven-lobed R. Fargesii (Fig. 21), and R. Thom- sonii with its waxy, crimson bells. Yet. the last is unwillingly substituted for the blood-red K. arboreum, excluded only because it is not ab- solutely hardy. But tmong so large a number of glorious species and their hybrids it is almost impossible to make so limited a choice. Rhododendron Mrs, Kingsmill, which is de- rived from R. campylocarpum x R. Auek- landii, and was originally raised by Mr. Mangles, is perhaps the first of all in my estimation, for it has eight or nine large and delicate flowers of the I alest possible shade of cream, and appeals to some of us even more than most of its more showy compeers; but since it is a first cross from R. Aueklandii, it would not be hardy everywhere. Hardiness is, of course, the crux, though a lot may be done by putting the plants in a place absolutely protected from the morning sun. Still, this puts out of court R. Nuttallii. the largest of all in flower; the incomparable R. Lindleyi, with its ally R. Ualhousiae; R. Scottianuni, R. After these come Glory of Leonardslee, Gill's Triumph, Glory of Penjerrick, and the others of the same cross, i.e., blood-red K. arboreum x R. Aueklandii, raised by Sir Ed- mund Loder and others. R. Loderi and R. Cornubia in its best varieties can hardly be omitted, and they may be a shade hardier than those just enumerated. So much for the hybrids; and. so far as my small experience goes, I am inclined to agree with Siedel's dictum that to make a good hybrid one at least of the parents should be a pure species, rather than that both should be unmitigated mongrels. What a wonderful variety there is, too, among the species! They range from trees 80 feet high, such as R. giganteum, recently discovered by Forrest in China, and its near ally R. protistum, down to absolute carpet plants tike R. prostratum, found from 16,000 feet altitude upwards; whilst R. Forresfii and Fir,. 21. — RHODODENDRON FARGESII; FLOWERS ROSY-LILAC WITH RED SPOTS. A'lsnopuep an.1 ! umssB.ro a pus •nuoppvqv, sweet-scented R. Edgeworthii and R. bullatum; the beautiful, frilled E. Veitchii, and some few others. Whilst I am on the subject of the hybrids of the doubtfully hardy .sorts, one or two more of the best may be mentioned. The finest scarlet I have ever seen is blood-red R. arboreum x R. Thomsonii, raised by a friend, and, I believe, still unnamed; and hailing from the same place is the finest white, R. arboreum album x R. Aueklandii. Almost on a. par with these is an exceedingly beautiful hybrid, R. campylocarpum x R. Aueklandii. raised here, of a wonderful shade of yellowish pink, on which, unfortunately, a tree of Pinus insignis, 8 feet in diameter, fell and almost destroyed after its first flowering; also, a plant of doubtful parentage, which I have named R. Gilian, again raised here, with fine foliage and flowers, the shape and colour of those of R. Thomsonii. but twice the size. ui^s- ot(4 Suoitl Sui;ooj 'a'aj a>[i[ quiip soi[[B S}t as they grow. And the foliage varies im- mensely, from the enormous leaves of R. sino- grandc — I have just been out and measured one 1 foot 9 inches by 10 inches— to the minute ones of R. serpyllifolium; some are dark green and bullate above, others smooth aud pale or glaucous, and beneath there is every kind of tomentum, from bright red brown to grey, and in some cases a white waxy covering. The inflorescence is of many shapes, colours, ami sizes, R. Nuttallii being some 7 inches across, and R. Tschonoskii so small that it is apt to escape detection altogether. Some- times the flowers are flat and salver-shaped, and from this range through every variation to the cylindrical tubes of R. spinuliferum and R. Keysii, which scarcely open at the mouth. The colours found in the flowers are of almost every shade, except blue, and even this is approached in the lavender tints of 4238 January 28, 1-922 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 43 Wilson— Augusfciirii forma, in R. fastigiatum, Ii. mtricatum, R. hippophaeoides, R. scintil- lanSj etc. Among the most remarkable are the black- crimson of R. haenialeum, the orange of R. dichroanthnm and R. apodectum, and the yellows of R. campylocarpum, R. Wardii, R. Boothii, R. aureum, R. sulfureuni, and others. The habit of growth is also very diverse, in some cases tree-like, with lofty trunks, bare of branches in their maturity, in others in the form of large bushes, or in that of tall, slender shrubs with fine, attenuated branches, or, again, dwarf, spreading, sturdy little plants, as exemplified in the R. haematodes and R dicliroanthum series, and so down to the minute alpine carpet plants. In the Azaleoid section there is much charm also, and what a pity it is that one so seldom sees the Apple-blossom flowers of R. Vaseyi or those of the peerless R. Schlippenbachii, broad in the limb, pale clear pink, and deli- cately spotted with green. Whilst for the gardens of the curious there are R. Prze- walskii, R. ehrysanthum, and R. Championae, which may be said never, or hardly ever, to flower at all ! Whence it may be gathered that there are Rhododendrons to suit every garden, from the largest park to the tiniest rock-work ; and a representative collection can produce a flower or two ont-of -doors all through the year, except during severe frost. What more lovely sight can be imagined than a big bush of the blood-red R. barbatum in full flower in January or February? True, it is sometimes spoilt by frost, but when once the wind veers to the west or south more flowers come out to replace those which have been destroyed. Much the same may be said of R. Nobleanum, but that begins to bloom earlier, sometimes in September, and goes on at intervals throughout, the winter. Why is it, I wonder, that its white variety is so sel- dom seen? It is at least as beautiful as the type, but seems rare, and the plant here, a gift from Sir Isaac Bayley-Balfour, is one of my greatest treasures. Many species are, as regards their flowers, only known to us so far from dried specimens and the collectors' descriptions, but yearly more are declaring themselves for the first time; especially is there a wonderful promise tor next spring, and among others I hear that 6778 Forrest, the true lacteum of Franchet, with canary-yellow sweet-scented flowers, has buds in one garden. One word as to the pestilent practice of grafting. It is to ne feared that it is always with us, but seed, cuttings, and layers are the most satisfactory methods of propagation from the point of view of the planter, and many of us would welcome a nurseryman who would raise them in these ways; nor would we grudge paying more for plants on their own roots than for those now sent out, often troubled as they are with suckers, and frequently grafted on unsuitable stocks. Finally, let those in search of beauty, who are anxious to improve their minds and their gardens, make an effort to attend the Rhodo- dendron show, which, I hear, is to be held under the auspices of the R.H.S. on April 25, and I think they will come away with their eyes opened to the possibilities of this genus, albeit cut flowers cannot be expected to com- pare with those on the plant in site. With the view of disarming criticism, I may say that many, very many of the species and their hybrids I have omitted to mention, and possibly the initiated will find their favourites or their most-prized hybrids— if thev are raisers of such things— left out. But 1 must plead ignorance in some cases and lack of space in others, and will end by expressing the hope that this somewhat discursive letter may be the means of introducing new plants to some few, or, better still, encouraging them to try seed-raising and hybridisation for them- selves. 7J. J. V. Mayor, Lmneilrn. Si. Tiidy, Cornwall. THE GRAPE ROOM AT TEWIN WATER. As so many gardeners are interested in main- taiaing a supply of Grapes over as long a season as possible, no doubt many of your readers will be interested in the method which obtains at Tewin Water. I had the pleasure of designing washed, and the ceiling is lined with stained match-hoarding. In front there is a two-inch air cavity, and in the roof there are six hit- and-miss ventilators equally and triangularly placed in the outer and centre walls at the ground level, and there are somewhat similar ventilators at the roof. By this means a con tinuous current of air passes round the two rows Fig. -THE GRAPE ROOM AT TEWIN WATER, WELWYN. the Grape room illustrated in Fig. 22, which is a lean-to brick structure with slated roof. It is built on a northern aspect, is 21 feet long and 5 feet 4 inches wide. Trie height to the ceiling in front is 7 feet 5 inches, and the back wall is 9 feet high to the ceiling. There are live sky-lights in the roof and two windows in front, which provide sufficient light fox all the necessary work that has 'to be done in the Grape room, but the lights and windows are easily closed by means of sliding shutters. The floor is of solid concrete with a smoothly finished surface. All the walls are plastered and cement of inoh-and-a-quarler hot water pipes and then out through the three gauze wire ventilators into the roof's highest point. The .stained lattice shelves arc designed to hold the Copped Hall ibottles. and are fixtures on the back wall and gable end, but removable in tin- front, where they can be arranged right and left as required. The equableness of the temperature is splendidly maintained, and there is no difficulty in keeping Grapes in splendid condition until the end of A|.nl. The capacity of bhe Grape room is 500 bunches. 11. Lloyd, The Gardens, Tewin Water, Welwyn, Kcrte 44 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 28, 1922. THE DISCOVERT OF SOME OF JACQUES LE MOYNE'S BOTANICAL DRAWINGS. A discovery of considerable interest to the student of botanical illustration has come to light in connection with an album of drawings in the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington. This album had been exhibited as a specimen of early bookbinding, but the drawings it contained were brought to the notice of Mr. E. T. Gunther. M.A.. F.L.S., the librarian of Magdalen College. Oxford, who very kindly directed my attention to them. Both the album, of small folio size, and the paper it contains belong to the sixteenth cen tury ; and the very beautiful water-colour draw- ings, fifty-nine >n number, are without doubt the work of a French artist, Jacques (or Jaques) Le Moyne, dit de Morgues (or de Morogues). who accompanied one of the French expedi- tions to America as an artist, ajid who (settled in London after his return, dying in 1588. In 1586 Le Moyne published in London a quaint little book of woodcuts of animals, birds, ind plants, entitled La Cl'f des Champs, which is now exceedingly scarce. I am convinced that some of the woodcuts of plants in this book were made from these drawings of Le Moyne which have now come to light, but only a careful comparison would determine how many. That such a set of plant drawings by Le Moyne existed has been pointed out by Prof. Hatton in his Craftsman's Plant-Book. These water-colour drawings are highly finished and show great artistic skill. Some ;ne ornamented with vorv life-like drawings oi butterflies and insects. , The colouring is strik- ' ingly fresh, and looks almost too fresh for the date at which they* were executed, which must have been prior to 1586. Their fine preserva- tion is no doubt partly due to their having been kept in book form and in a fine binding. Seventeen of the drawings have names added by the artist, in Latin or French, and the first drawing has what looks like a sig- nature of the artist — Demorogues. It i- this name, considered in connection with the date of the binding and paper, and also from the fact that some at least of the originals <-f the La Clef des Champs woodcuts are amongst the drawings, that convinces me that this very beautiful and probably unique set of sixteenth- century plant drawings is the work of Le Moy ne. The plants depicted include many which were commonly found in the gardens of the period. Tne Daffodil, Violet, Snowdrop, Lily of the Valley, Eoses, Stocks, the Daisy, Car- nations, Marigolds. Lavender, Poppies, both wild and cultivated, and a fine Iris are among the garden flowers depicted. The fruits include the Pear. Apple, Pomegranate. Lemon, Grapes, Walnut, Cherries, Medial-, Fig and Damson. Other plants are the Artichoke, Millet, the Cucumber, etc. The exquisite colouring and finish of these drawings is most remarkable. The woodcuts of La Clef des Champs did but scant justice to the fine drawings of Le Moyne, but his worth as a plant artist is now substantiated. These drawings of his show a keen love and peti- tion of the delicate beauties of plants, and were undoubtedly painted direct from nature. They bear out his own words in tho preface to his book, where, in speaking of the purpose of his drawings, he pays they " pourront seriiir a crux qui aymeut ei disirent d'apprendre chases bonnes H Jiontiestres." These drawings have been removed from the album in which they have remained so long. and are to be placed in the Prints and Draw- ings Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It is hoped that the authorities will see their way to allow these unique specimens to be exhibited for a time in the galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Ken- sington. S. Savage. MESEMBRTANTHEMUM AND SOME NEW 6ENERA SEPARATED FROM IT. ; (Continued from pane 22.) L1THOPS, N. E. BEOWN. Very dwarf succulent plants, in nature glow- ing buried in the ground with their tops scarcely, or not at all, rising above the level of the su, face, consisting of a single growth or of two to many growths in a clump. Each growth a more or less obconic or rarely compressed- cylindric body with a transverse fissure across the top dividing it into two short lobes, flat or convex on the top when adult, but in a juvenile state with only a central orifice at the top, as in the genus Conophytum. Flower solitary, from the centre of the fissure. Calyx exserteu from or partly included in the fissure, more or less compressed, without a tube above the ovary, 4-7 (usually 5-6) lobed. Corolla without a tube; petals numerous, widely spreading. Stamens numerous, collected into an erect column. Style short, sometimes almost absent; stigmas 4-7, filiform. The above generic name which I give to the plants I now separate from Mesembryanthemum is formed from the Greek words lithos. a stone, and ops, the face, on account of their resem- blance in colour and appearance to the stones and pebbles they grow among. The remarkable resemblance of these plants to pebbles is well demonstrated by an account given by Dr. E. Marloth in the Transactions of the South African. Philosophical Society, Vol. 15, p. 1UO, in an interesting description of the manner in which plants imitate the ground and stones they (tow among. Dr. Marloth states that Mr. Ham- mond Hook (? W. Hammond Tooke), "Dunn- a stay in the Karroo had often used a certain footpath which passed for some distance ovei bare ground merely covered with pebbles. One day, however, he saw some of these pebbles bearing bright yellow flowers, one on the top of each stonelet. The number oi these flowering pebbles increased every day until there were hundreds of them on the otherwise bare veld. It was Mesembryanthemum trun- catellum, Haw., which occurred rather plentifully in this locality." The resemblance to pebbles must be very great for anyone to frequently walk over the ground on which they grow with- out discovering that they were not stones until flowers appeared. But Dr. Marloth is quite wrong in his identification of the plant, which I have no doubt whatever is a species of Lithops unknown to me at present. For M. trunca- tellum grows in tufts, does not resemble peb- bles, but is glaucous-green and dotted, and has light straw-yellow flowers that only open in the evening. I have given an account of the resem- blance of these plants to stones on p. 250 of Volume LXX., and have also there stated and explained that they all belong to the small group known as " windowed plants." The window, however, is sometimes quite obscured by coloured pigment, which acts as a screen to soften the light, yet does not prevent it from penetrating into the interior of the plant and reaching the chlorophyll laver (see Fig. 112. p. 251, Vol. LXX. When these plants are very young and have only a central orifice, there is nothing in their external appearance to distinguish any of them from the genus Conophytum ; compare, for example, Fig. 84, E, with 84, 0, on p. 207, and with Fig. 97 on p. 223, Vol. LXX. But when the adult condition with a fissure all across the top is assumed, or the plant flowers, the distinc- tion between the two genera is very obvious. While, in any of its stages, if a longitudinal section through a plant is made, the peculiar disposition of the chlorophvll laver, as shown in Fig. 112, p. 251. Vol. LXX.", will at once serve to distinguish this genus from Conophytum, in which the chlorophyll layer covers the whole surface. Although in nature these plants grow buried in the soil with the top level with or just rising above the surface, they often refuse to grow in that way in this country. For if planted with their tops just above or level with tno soil, I have found that the first new growth that is made in most cases rises far above the ground level, doubtless due to the absence of such intense light as they get in their own country. On the contrary, I have one plant of L. Lesliei that I planted over two years ago, with its top level with the earth in the pot, that has in no way changed or made any attempt to develop a new growth since it was planted, but has remained plump and healthy all that time, and has not flowered. But planting them level with the earth in this country is to risk their loss by rot, as I have found from ex- periment, for it is very difficult to know when the moisture in the soil is greater than the plant will endure at any particular season. For, as I have previously stated, the watering of these plants is an art requiring special knowledge. If insufficiently watered at the proper season they do not flower, and if overwatered they rot. The thermometer and dryness of the atmosphere should also be consulted as guides to the amount of water that should be given and how often it should be applied ; for a tablespoonful may be enough for three weeks in June or December, yet not more than enough for two or three days in August. I have found L. ful- viceps and L. optica to be especially sensitive to a little too much water at the wrong season. The plant I described in the Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol. 45, p. 68, as Mesembryan- themum locale, and associated with species of this genus, may belong here, but it is only known from an' imperfect, dried specimen, and cannot be properly placed until the living plant from near the Gamka Eiver is obtained, for after re-examining the specimen I am now in- clined to think that what I supposed to be a transverse fissure mav be only a furrow due to shrivelling. -V. E. Brown. (To be continued.) THE GREAT DROUGHT OF 1921 AND ITS EFFECT ON GARDEN PLANTS. (Continued from page 32.) CUMUERLAND. The summer of 1921 was remarkable in north- west England for its abundant sunshine, and also for the drought in the early summer months, which was not so prolonged here as in the south. August provided many refresh- ing showers, and we enjoyed an exceedingly fine autumn. This combination had a very marked effect on vegetation, many plants flowering a second time. The common Holly was in some instances literally covered with its flowers, and wild Eoses were abundant late in the season. During the middle of October the writer c-athered 126 sorts of wild flowers and 21 grasses. When walking through Holker Hall Gardens the home of many interesting plants, I found some plants anticipating early spring, such as the lovely Chilian Crinodendron Hookern. with its dark green, glistening, linear leaves and lovelier crimson, rompanulated flowers. Another Chilian plant, Berberidopis corallina did well, and Osmanthus mvrtifolius produced its small white flowers. Spiraea confusa had even finer flowers than in May. A noble plant of 'Yucca recurva bore its pyramidal spikes n creamv white flowers, and near by a small reservoir a fine group of Phormium tenax bore spikes carrving black seeds. Laurus nolnlis, with a perfume not unlike that of Lemons, carried plenty of its oval, yellow or green seed- pods. T. JR. Ciicl-ney, Arnside, Camforth. Haddingtonshire. The year 1921 was remarkable for its weather and for the manner in which vegetation adapted itself to the changes, good and bad. The autumn was glorious, and there was no winter— if the occurrence of frost and snow make winter. Bitter weather in late spring was followed by lengthened summer's drought and a high temperature; in August there was abundance of rain, which, unhappily, left some localities un- refreshed. The effects and results of the drought have demonstrated once more how little we know of Nature's ways, and how what were deemed unshakable facts were mere opinions. How is one to account for the non-flowering of a num- January 28, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 45 ber ol large specimens of Agapanthus, white as well as blue, in tubs and planted out, while small plants of both have flowered? My own opinion is that the former had received no check to growth owing to the previous abnormal autumn and winter. Serious inflictions of insect pests were not un- expected, yet vegetation was singularly free from them. Violets were seriously weakened by red spider in 1920, but in 1921 there was no difficulty in controlling that pest. So with Grape vines; not a leaf was attacked by any insect during the whole period of intense heat and excessive drought, while sometimes in seasons of alternate dryness and wet red spider has appeared. The reason would seem to be that a period of dull and wet weather predisposes the foliage to attack, when a spell of hot sunshine follows— a condition that had softened the leaves. Another point regarding Grapes is that White Muscats here had reached the flowering stage when fuel ran out, and knowing from experience that Muscats set more perfectly in a high temperature than a low one, a deficient set and clusters of diminished proportions were antici- pated. Nevertheless, I do not remember a better quite so fine. More fruit dropped during August, however, than usually is the case. The promise for another year, if clean and perfect foliage may be taken as an indication, is good indeed. Up to the beginning of August the expectation of securing Strawberry runners was low, yet new plantings were made as usual of healthy, nicely rooted plants. The transformation in vegetables was equally remarkable. Cauliflowers were expected to button, and lo ! fine heads were abundant for weeks. But the excitement was not beneficial in every instance. Seedling Cabbages grew so fast they had to be planted a fortnight earlier than usual, which necessitated a later planting to make sure of a crop. A disturbing element of the great heat was the early maturing of crops. Plums were from three to five weeks earlier than usual, and so with Figs, while Apples matured and were gathered two to three weeks before the normal time. A curious circumstance in relation to Potatos was brought to my notice. On lifting there was nothing but mops of fibrous roots and tiny tubers, the size of Peas, just commencing to grow. This was doubtless due to very imperfect piece of Fig or a Grape impaled on a " Nipper " trap proved a certain bait. It is probable the open winter of 1920-21 was responsible for such a plague as these proved. It is fortunate they eat only a few select things, otherwise nothing would escape their voracity. B. P. Brotherston, Tyninghamr Gardens, Prestonkirk. [To be continued.) NURSERY NOTES. A KKNTISH FRUIT NURSERY. No Kentish Man or Man of Kent entertains the slightest doubt that his county is the pre- mier fruit district of Great Britain, a corner of England so specially favoured by nature in climate, soil and situation as to be called " The Garden of England." With rich scenery goes a fertile soil, so that rural industries flourish, and, in the higher branches, such as market-gardening, flower-gardening and fruit- growing, Kent growers — who are luckily favoured with a near market in the metropolis with its teeming population — are pre-eminent. Some of the finest fruit-growing land is met Fig. 23. — gold medal collection HARDY FRUITS EXHIBITED BY MESSRS. G. BUNYARD AND CO. AT THE ROYAL horticultural society's fruit show of 1921. (See page 46.) set, due no doubt to the heated external atmos- phere at the time of flowering. It was only at the end of the coal strike when rain came and the berries began to crack that heating had to be resorted to in order to stop cracking. One hears of splendid Grapes produced without applied heat, and even the presumption that every particle of sun heat needs to be conserved in order to meet the requirements of the vines has been proved to be erroneous. One, indeed, hears of failures, due probably to a system' of over damping and under ventilating. Plum trees on walls facing west cropped very lightly, or not at all, but on an east aspect, where as a rule the trees are less fruitful, seven out of nine carried much larger crops than usual. This was very marked in the case of a Green- gage, a Washington, and a White Magnum Bo num. _ The rain caused an extraordinary transforma- tion in the appearance of Apples. From under- sized fruit for the time of year, Apples, in the course of a few weeks, attained proportions rarely seen. Cox's Orange Pippin, Ribston Pippin and James Grieve were, perhaps, never cultivation. It is impossible to make people with small gardens comprehend the importance of deep cultivation. Year after year the Potatos are planted in the same ground, a few inches of the surface soil alone being turned over, -with results always poor, and, in the present instance, yielding nothing. The crop here turned out well. Many Potatos were as large as those of 1920, when it was thought the season was re- sponsible for overgrown tubers. Some growers lifted up to 14 tons to the acre. Such results I am certain are due to deep cultivation, deep planting and getting the crop planted in Feb- ruary, so that the drought had only a slightly deterrent effect on growth- In half a ton lifted here there was only half a cwt. of small size. An unusual amount of damage was done by voles assisted by two species of mice. The former commenced early in 1921 by eating through the stems of young Brussels Sprouts, and by an attack on young Perpetual-flowering Carnations. They destroyed also whole beds of Picotees. No bait either in trap or as poison tempted them, and it was not until fruit began to ripen that they were reduced in numbers. A with in the valley of the Medway, and tin; centre of the fruit-growing industry maj be regarded as Maidstone, with Sittingbourne Eor Cherries. Maidstone is at once associated in the gar dener's mind with one of the most famous fruit nurseries in the kingdom, for various circum- stances have contributed to make the name of Bunyard, of Maidstone, a household word in horticultural circles. Bunyard's nursery has been known to successive generations of gar- deners, for it was in the closing years "f the eighteenth century that it was established by Mr. James Bunyard, who, like many other suc- cessful pioneers in the nursery business, was a private gardener. James Bunyard was suc- c led in (lie business by bis son Thomas, but it was the latter's youngest son George— one of the greatest "f English pomologists, and the author of valuable works on fruit-growing — who raised this famous fruit-growing establish- ment t., the very forefront of its prosperity. It was during Mr. George Bunyard's proprie- torship that the first three acres of land wen acquired at Allington, a village just outside the 46 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 28, 1922. town of Maidstone, and these three acres formed the nucleus of the celebrated Allington nursery, which has since been enlarged to 165 acres. The two sons of Mr. George Bunyard— Mr. E. A. Bunyard and Mr. G. Norman Bun- JaTd— worthily carry ..n the traditions ot the 'firm and in September last we accepted an invitation from them to visit the Allington nur- sery Although still a young man, Mr. E A Bunyard has a wide reputation as a nomologist, -and he has placed fruit growers under a, debt by publishing at considerably expense, out of his own pocket, The Journal of Pomology, a monthly periodical dealing with their special interests, besides giving them the useful Handbook of Fruit*, which is as reliable as Hogg's Fruit Manual. Mr. Norman Bunyard is as interested in plants and flowers as his brother is in fruit, and under his special care this branch of the business has become second only in importance to that of tree growing The first thought that arises in the mind ot the visit..,- to a fruit nursery of this extent is I he vast number of young fruit trees that must be planted annually "in gardens of tins county, for quarter after quarter is filled with young Apple. Pear. Plum. Cherry. Peach. Nectarine Apricot, and other kinds of fruit trees in all styles of training, and how well the soil suits them is evidenced by their splendid condition. Tn one part are seen four or five acres "1 standard Pears, in another equally large ai;eas planted with bush Apples, in another, flat- trained Peaches and Nectarines, and so on_ Thirtv-tliousand standard trees in one batch ot such 'popular Apples as Lane's Prince Albert Bramley's Seedling. Newton Wonder and Allington Pippin, show the extent to which fruit trees are propagated at Allington. In addition there are large stocks of Gooseberries, Currants. Raspberries, Loganberries, Almonds, Walnuts. Medlars, Mulberries, hardy Grapes, and other kinds, together with everything else such a nur- sery is called upon to supply. The older Apple trees in fruit were the feature of the place at the time of our visit, for the Apple crop in every part of Kent during the past season was the greatest within living memory, and Allington had its full share. The most remarkable trees were large, bush-trained specimens that were almost replicas of thosr in the upper' orchard at Wisley. This is certainly a profitable method of training the Apple, and mav be likened to a series of cordons radiating from a main stem, for the side shoots are pruned closely to obtain spur growths the whole length "f the bran. lies. Trees of this type were (.. be seen at the Nod.'. Welwyn; where Mr. Patcman had to use props to support the weight of fruit, and this notwithstanding the. crop had been thinned drastically. A few remarks on certain varieties ot Apples that specially appealed to us may be of interest to readers. Royal Jubilee, a comparatively modem variety, is a most reliable cropper, whilst the large, conical, golden fruits arc ot beautiful appearance and splendid for cooking. The tree, has a characteristic flat-headed habit of growth, the shoots forming a drooping canopy supported by the stem. It is amongst the latest of Apples to flower, from which fact it fre- quently escapes injury by frost. Hector McDonald, one of the numerous Apples raised by the late Mr. Chas. Rose, is of the Lane's Prince Albert type. The trees were bearing a profusion of exceedingly handsome fruits. Sanspareil is useful for either culinary or dessert purposes, and keeps until April without shrivelling. The yellow fruits with red stripes are very pleasing in appearance. James Grieve is a good September dessert Apple with a Cox's Orange Pippin flavour: it is a reliable bearer and last season cropped profusely. Transparent de Croncels is a French Apple of merit, not much grown in this country, but the tree is said to be of great hardiness. The fruits are quite distinct, the colour being almost white with a little dark flushing in places. Cutler Grieve is a handsome Apple of the Worcester Pearmain type, but keeps much later. It is a vigorous grower and fertile, indeed it has all the necessary qualities looked for in a dessert Apple except rich flavour; still, it is juicy and very sweet, and is worth growing for market. By their splendid exhibits of hardy fruits displayed at the principal London and provincial shows (see Fig. 23), the Maidstone firm has dono much to encourage fruit growing arid to provide the public with opportunities for com- paring varieties of Apples and Pears, as well as of ascertaining the i-orrect names of the varieties. In addition, it should be remembered that Messrs. G. Bunyard and Co. have introduced several fine new fruits, as recorded in our pages at various times. Besides fruit trees, large areas are devoted to Roses, flowering trees and shrubs and herbaceous and alpine plants, so that most subjects required in a garden can be supplied from stock in this extensive and finely kept nursery. HOME CORRESPONDENCE. RUSSET APPLES. In dealing with Russet Apples (Vol. l.XX.. p. 337), Pomona has omitted to include one of the choicest and finest of the type in his list of varieties. The variety in question is St. Edmund's Pippin. I do not know why it is called a Pippin, for it is actually a russet in character. It received a First-Class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1875. and it is really worthy of that high award. For some reason it has never made much headway in popularity, and it appears to be unknown to the average writer when recommending a list of high-grade Apples to prospective planters. This general lack of appreciation is cer- tainlv not founded upon lack of quality nor yet upon' any difficulty in the way of fertility, for it is a good grower and an almost certain annual . rapper. I have to thank Mr. Charles E. Pearson, of Lowdliam, for my introduction to this fine Apple. I was on the hunt for varieties <.t really outstanding merit in regard to quality when Mr Pearson kindlv sent me a couple 01 trees of St. Edmund's Pippin, with the remark that the variety would certainly have to be included in a half-dozen of the best flavoured Apples in cultivation. I entirely agree with Mr. Pearson, and I go a great deal further in mv own appreciation of this variety. 1 haw a 'fairly large collection of Apples over a hun- dred varieties in all-a„d 1 put St. Edmunds at the top of the list for quality. It is in season in October and November. I cannot understand why this Apple is not more popular There is another Apple of a decided russe type, and which is very finely flavoured 11 is Reinette de Canada. It is in season from November to March, and a reliable cropper. It like St. Edmund's Pippin, is ft favourite where it is known. These two varieties, with the addition ot Gravenstein and Roundway Magnum Bonum , are the finest flavoured Apple, in my °flectioiv All tour arc superior to Cox s Orange Fipp n in my experience. It may be heresy to .write h„s of what is regarded as the finest Br it. Ample but the point is this: Have Apple i owes in general tested any of the our sorts which I have named as fully as they have done Cox's Orange Pippin? The latter is so o ten written about as the finest Apple in oultivat.on that I am afraid prospective groweis accept it on that, valuation only. It is, of course^ a re- markably fine variety, but I prefei my St Edmund's Pippin and my Kouadway Magroun Bonum season after season. It is not a ques t o of soil, for I do not confine mv criticism o the locally grown Cox's Orange fw™-* have sampled fruits from several English CTast- differ, undoubtedly, but. I find that several worshippers at the shrine of Cox s Oranee Pippin have become conveits to St. Edmund's whilst several doughty champions ot Co™" Orange Pippin whom I have met-and who call it the finest British Apple-had never heard of St. Edmund's Pippin! George M. laylor, Edinburgh. [The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents.] Doubling in Stocks Mr. G. R. Sargeant states (p. 1U) that he is a young student of Mendel, and as such he ventures to express the opinion that the Lothian methods of saving Stock seeds in order to produce a maximum number of seedlings possessed of double flowers are a perpetuation of the abnormal. My reply is simply this. The Lothian methods are founded upon years of practical experience and give, undoubtedly, the best results. If Miss Saunders, or any other scientist, can demon- strate a method which will give equal results in regard to a high percentage of doubles in the seedlings, without the ageing of the mother plants. then Mr. Sargeant may condemn the Lothian methods and deservedly so. The doubling of the Stock has always been :\ puzzle to the Mendelian student. I have a great admiration for the research work already done by Miss Saunders, but I believe she has a long way to go before she finally puts the fact of doubling upon a valid basis. The fact of single Stocks producing double-flowered seed- lings from the first saving of seed is nothing new. Miss Saunders gets an average of about 56 per cent. Horticultural literature of three quarters of a century ago shows that growers got seed from one-year-old plants that produced practically cent, per cent, doubles, and the ques- tion of the perpetuation of the strain became an acute difficulty. But what was the type of those old Stocks ? They were not, and coulw not possibly have been, East Lothians — the noblest and hardiest of the race. Mr. William Cuthbertson. Chairman of the Wisley Garden Development Committee, has interested himself in this matter, and at his request I have sent setds of what I regard as the true form ot the East Lothian Stock to Wisley for trial and experiment. I am not aware that there is any mystery in any statement I have made in my contributions to the debate on this subject, but. if Mr. Sargeant is under that impression and will inform me upon what point he has any difficulty. I shall do mv best to enlighten him. George M. Taylor, Edinburgh. What is Fragrance '-—Not many botanists go into details concerning the scents of the plants they describe; but, when 'hey do, they are sometimes at great variance with the modern idea of fragrance, especially the older botanists. In the case of the Mints, Sole nearly always gives lis idea of their particular odour. Con- cerning his Mentha villosa, he says, the whole plant has a disagreeable goatish, miiity smell; and of M. v. secunda. that it smells much like Spearmint. Both these are forms of M. fylvestris. concerning which 'Babington says, scent sweet. Sole's M. sylyes- ! ris is really M. rotundifolia, and he describes it as having a strong, volatile mixed smell of amber, camphor, and Mint. Babington states it is acrid. It is ihe Apple-scented Mint of modern writers, and was everywhere gro,vn in our grandmothers' gardens for mixing with cut. flowers for the sake of the scent. Sole's M. rotundifolia was M. alopecuroides, and he stated the smell resembled Spearmint, but not so strong. Under Spearmint (M. viridis) he states, " The whole plaut has a most fragrant and refreshing smell." Most people whom I have consulted consider it has an acrid smell; and the Students' Flora iecords, " It may be distinguished by its pungent smell." Sole de- scribes his M. palustris as having a goatish, minty smell. He says that Peppermint has a most agreeable odour of pepper, and speaks similarly of M. odorata, M. gracilis, M. pra- tensis, M. rubra, M. gentilis vanegata. M. cardinea, M. paludosa and M. arvensis agrestis. adding the word aromatic to several of them. He seems to contradict himself somewhat when lie states that M. rivalis has a heavy, mixed, goatish smell of Peppermint; while M. piperita sylvestris has a disagreeable goatish smell ot Peppermint. His M. aquatica major had a " smell like a ropy chimney in a wet summer, January 28, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 47 where wood fires have been kept in winter- time"; while M. arvensis had " a strong, full- some, mixed smell of mellow Apples and ginger-bread." This author may be compared with Har.'ev, who wrote come volumes of the Flora capemis. The last eight of his species of Pelargonium he describes as foetid, although they are reckoned amongst the sweetest-scented of the species by modern cultivators. .7. F. Apple Calville Blanc. — A correspondent men- tions this Apple on p. 11. I have often wondered why Calville is masculine, and not feminine. According to the rules for the deter- mination of French genders, this name ought to b-i Calville Blanche. Le Jeirdinier Solitaire gives that form. The Pomological Section of the National Horticultural Society of Franca gives the masculine, with the feminine form as a synonym. But, surely, grammatically it ought to be feminine. C. H. P. " Isabelle." — I agree with C. H. P. (page 23, that the term " dove colour " in English parlance indicates soft, pearly grey. But if he will look up "isabelle" in a French-English dictionary he will find it translated " dove colour," the reference, as I mentioned in my note, being to the fawn-coloured breast of the turtle dove, not to the blue-grey plumage of our rock doves and cushats. The French have named another colour from the rook dove, namely, gorge-de-pigeon, from the iridescent plumage on the neck of the rock dove. Herbert Maxwell, Monreith. Damage to Fruit Trees by Voles. — Mr. Hawkes (page 34) does well to draw attention to the damage done to his fruit trees by voles. I recollect a similar occurrence taking place at Pencarrow during the time the late Mr. H. Jones was in charge of the gardens. Vines had been planted in an outside border, and the borders covered with leaves and stable litter. During the vines resting period an unobserved colony of voles took posesssion of this covering, and wrought destruction by severing each vine stem near the surface of the border. This reminds me of damage done to vines by frost, which I may here be allowed to refer to. Soon after taking charge of the Hendre Gardens, and in the early days of the phylloxera scare, I paid a visit to Mr. J. Roberts, at that time in charge of the gardens at Gunnersbury Park, who showed me vines attacked by this troublesome pest, and pointed out its effects. I noticed that the unsatisfactory symptoms were similar to those in the Hendre vines, which were perplexing me at that time, and on reaching home I had no difficulty in finding that we also had attacks of the phylloxera to contend with. At that time it was generally considered that this insect was harmless in this country to vines planted in outside borders; and so we replanted the vineries in this manner. In the late spring of the second yearafter the vines were planted and had made considerable growth^, a severe frost occurred, followed by bright sunshine in the early morn- ing, and upon entering a Muscat vineryl found the vine leaves hanging down— the result of the vine stems having been frozen through. The young growths were killed. Had the freezing of the stems been discovered, and had they been thawed, the sap might have been liberated before the sun gained power, and probably no damage would have been done. This points to the advisability of protecting the stems of vines planted in outside borders, particularly in low situations similar to that of the Hendre 'Gardens. 77/a?. Coomber, V.M.H., Lansdowne House, Lydney. Are Plants Aware of Time?— The article by Mr. Lynch (on p, 31) is extremely interest- ing to all lovers of Nature. May I ask him to kindly explain what a " klinostat " is? I have searched all my dictionaries without obtaining any information, and I want to test a Dandelion. There are many interesting facts connected with plants which "one does not find in books, and all interested in plants will welcome any more notes on similar unusual subjects. W. H. Divers, Westdean, Hook, near Surbiton. Exochorda Albertii.— In reply to A. ]i H. (page 10) I beg to state that I have a fine plant of this beautiful shrub growing in the sunniest exposed corner I can afford it in a garden in East Lothian, not far from1 his own. It has been established for six years, but has not yet borne flowers. As a result, however, of the fine sum- mer of 1921, I am pleased to note that its branches are set with a fine crop of bloom buds, which should give a good display later on in the season. Fortunately, my plant has not behaved like his, and its buds are still dormant and in proper seasonal condition George M. Taylor, Edinburgh. Gentiana lutea. — A yellow Gentian seems to appeal to some lovers of this exquisite race as it is represented by the nume- rous blue species, -,onie of which aie of almost transcendent beauty. But those who know it not need not expect to find in Gentiana lutea a yellow-flowered companion to our Gentianella, G. acaulis, or to that newer and delightful introduction, G. Farreri. On the contrary, it founds its claims upon the gar- dener by its nobility of mien and the bold- ness of its corrugated foliage rather than the brightness of its yellow flowers, which some call " golden," but do not always come up to that description, being duller in hue. In the garden it is possible that we have not made enough of G. lutea. It would appear to be a flower which ought to be planted in bold masses, with the plants not too close together, so as to show their true attractions. A wild garden would seem to afford scope for a plant like this, especially if planted in good, strong, rich soil, where it might reach its full stature of 3 to 4 feet and carry its clusters of starry, yellow flowers. In cultivation in the border it is not always so free-flowering as it should be. S. Arnott. distance for Scotch Pine, while this might be extended to 5£ ft. in the case of Larch and 6 ft. in the case of Douglas Fir. SOCIETIES. ROYAL SCOTTISH AEBORICULTURAL. The annual business meeting of this society was held at 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, on January 20th. His Grace the Duke of Atholl, K.T. , president, occupied the chair, and among others present were Lord Lovat, chair- man of the Forestry Commission ; Viscount Novar, honorary secretary of the society ; Sir John Stirling Maxwell, one of the Forestry Com- missioners; and Mr. John Sutherland, Assistant Forestry Commissioner for Scotland. Tlie report by the council stated that the neb increase of membership for the year was 42, and that the total membership wras now 1.724. The statement of accounts showed a. balance of £152 8s. 2d. over expenditure, mak- ing, with a balance of £45 7s. 3d. at the credit of the capital account (of uninvested funds), and £175 2s. 4d. at the credit of the Education Fund, a total balance at the close of the ac- counts of £372 17s. 9d. The total invested funds amounted to £2,212 2s. 3d. The following office-bearers were elected : — President. Duke of Atholl, K.T. (re-elected) . Vice-President. 'Mr. A. Spiers, Edinburgh : Councillors, Messrs. J. H. Milne-Hosne, Jas. F. Hardie, David Keir, Win. Leven, and Peter Leslie, B.Sc. Mr. Robert Galloway, S.S.C.. was re-elected Secretary and Treasurer, and the various honorary officials were also re-elected. Various topics were discussed, including the adverse influence of high railway rates on home-grown timber; the society's essay competi- tion bv pupils in rural schools on forestry sub- jects, n which no fewer than 1,359 essays were sent in, and for which 26 prizes and 307 certifi- cates wrere awarded ; and the Government grants for forestry in connexion with the relief of unemployment. At the close of the business a discussion was • initiated by Mr. G. U. MacdonaTd, Haystoun. Peebles, on " Economic. Planting," in which Lord Lovat stated that, investigation had showed that 4i ft. seemed to be a reasonable planting ROYAL CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL. The annual general meeting of this society (with which is now incorporated the Scottish Horticultural Association) was held at Dowell's Rooms, George Street, Edinburgh, on January 11th. Mr. David King, the president, occupied the chair. The report by the council stated that the first year's working of the combined societies had been successful, and that the monthly meet- ings were well attended. The scheme for the institution of Certificates in Horticulture for practical gardeners had been completed and the first examination fixed for April next. The financial statement showed that the balance of revenue over expenditure was £6 10s. 9d., and that the increase in the funds for the year was £242 12s. 8d. The Duke of Atholl, K.T., was elected hono- rary president ; Mr. David King was re-elected president, and the following were elected to the- other vacancies: — Vice-president. Mr. W. J. Thomson; Councillors, Messrs. W, Lamont, X. H. Alexander and Robert Fife. BRITISH FLORISTS FEDERATION. The plague of influenza was responsible in some measure for the comparatively small attendance at the fifth Annual General Meeting of the British Florists' Federation, held at the Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street, W.C., on Wednesday, the 18th inst. Fortunately, the room in which the meeting was held w-as an extremely pleasant one. The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting .having been read and signed, cor- respondence was read, which was chien'y in the nature of regrets from members unable to be present. The Report of the Committee for the year 1921 and the Financial Statement- were then presented. In the former, reference was made to the new offices of the Federation at the offices of The- Gardeners' Chronirle; to the opening of the new home of the Chamber of Horticulture at Bedford Square, in which event the Federation took a notable part ; to co-operative advertising, in which, apparently, retail florists are not willing to join with the growTers and salesmen; to growers' difficulties, especially with reference to Lygus pratensis, a pest that does a great deal of harm to Chrysanthemums, and which is being investi- gated on behalf of the members; to salesmen's problems, with special reference to the French flower trade; and to traders' troubles, notably the disabilities under which members suffer in connection with the transport of pot plants by passenger train, and concerning which Mr. F. W. Ladds and other members are working continuously to secure better terms The Statement of Accounts showed a turnover of £337 16s. lid., with an income from subscrip- tions of just over £250, and £43 derived from advertisements in the Florists' Bulletin. A cash balance of £6 17s. Id. is carried forward. Mr. Alfred W. White, the president, who occupied the chair, moved the adoption of the Report and Financial Statement, and referred briefly to the principal items therein, pointing out that there had been some -light falling off in membership during the year, owing, probably, to the fact th.it no great difficulties had arisen, but he expected that, as soon as a difficulty arose, wherein the assistance of the Federation was needed, there would be an increase of members. The Federation was working in close and happy relationship with other bodies of similar character, and a largo amount of useful work was being done in a quiet way. The motion was seconded by Mr. John Colling- ridge and carried. A vote of thanks to the Officers and Com- mittee for their services during the past year was accorded on the motion of Messrs. R. Coryton and Mr. A. Bird. Mr. W. E. Wallace 48 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. January 28, 1922. proposed the re-election of Mr. A. W. White as President. This was seconded by Mr. W. A. Cull; both proposer and seconder paid high tribute to the services Mr. White had rendered to the Federation. Mr. White was unanimously re-elected, and suitably acknowledged the honour conferred upon him. All the retiring members of committee were re-elected on the proposal of Mr. G. Shawyer, seconded by Mr. W. Bobins, and on the motion of Mr. D. Ingamells and Mr. George Shawyer, Messrs. Cobley, Kay and Co were re-elected honorary auditors. At the close of the formal business several members referred to the rumours concerning the proposal of the Covent Garden Estate Com- pany to raise the rents of the stands in the Flower Market. At the invitation of Mr. White, the Secretary, Mr. C. H. Curtis, re- ferred to this matter, and stated that it was already being dealt with, and that a meeting of all the stand-holders would be called to consider the proposal and, if desirable, to consider counter proposals. Mr. G. Shawyer referred to the inspection restrictions upon bulbs imported from Holland, and thought that bulbs for forcing might be exempted from the conditions now imposed. This matter was referred to the Bulb Committee. Later in the evening, members and friends, including ladies, dined together at the Con- naught Rooms under the presidency of Mr. Alfred W. White. The tables were pleasingly decorated with Carnations, Tulips, and Nar- cissi, provided by several of the members, and a capital programme of music was carried out under the direction of Mr. A. Bird, who also contributed several items. Speeches were few and brief, the only toasts being those of The (Kin"," " Success to the British Florists Federation," *' The Ladies." and " Flowers and Florists " In addition to the President, the chief speakers were Mrs. A. W. White Mr. George Monro, Mr. J. Collingridge, Mr. W. G. Innes, and Mr. D. Ingamells. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. Scientific Committee. January 17, 1922.— Arbutus Unedoin Flown-. —Mr. Marsden Jones showed a flowering branch of Arbutus TJnedo and a variety (?) with very narrow leaves. Begonia Gltrire de Lorraine Tiamaned. — Plants of this Begonia were received with the foliage badly disfigured through the attacks of thrips. especially evident along the veins. Winged Seeds of Lilies— Seeds of Lilium X sulphurgale were exhibited to show the wing which is not found in L. regale itself. ©bituar^. W. H. Bavin. — Many gardeners in the southern counties will regret to learn of the death of Mr. W. H. Bavin, who passed away on, Sunday, the 15th inst., after a prolonged illness. Mr. Bavin had represented Messrs. William Cutbush and Son for a long number of years, and was well known in the horticultural world, and especially at Tonbridge, where he lived. He was held in high esteem by all who knew him, and the deepest sympathy is being extended to Mrs. Bavin and her two sons in the great loss they have sustained. REPLY. BCLBIL PRODUCING BEGONIAS. In reply to Coombe, bulbils are produced in the axils of the leaves of Begonia discolor, pre- ferably called B. "Evansiana. These bulbils are produced at, or soon after, the time of flower- ing, that is, when growth is checked. As a bud-producing Begonia, the most extraordinary species is B. phyllomaniaca, which at all seasons produces buds on the stem, leaf stalk and leaf surface. Coombe would probably be interested in the root stock of Begonia socotrana, which is quite unique, although it does not per- haps come under the terms of his inquiry ; trust- ing to recollection, I think it may best be described as a cluster of scaly buds — bubils, in a 'broad sense of the word. B. I. L. NEW HORTICULTURAL INVENTIONS. Latest Patent Applications. 973. — Atyeo, W. W. — Mowing machines. — January 12. 1084. — Bennett, G. — Vegetable, flower, etc., frames and lights. — January 13. 1222. — Jones, G. H. — Handle for spades, forks, etc. — January 14. 867. — Purser, A. J. — Watering devices for hose pipes. — January 11. 408. — Butes, E. — Edging for garden paths. — January 5. 238.— -Jennings, W. T. — Supports for plants. — January 4. Specifications Published Last Month. 173276. — Molassine Co.— Artificial manure or fertiliser. 173188. -Inlcpen, R. S.— Hoes, hand cultiva- tors, and similar gardening implements. Abstract Published Last Month Sterilising Soil. — Patent No. 168710. A process and apparatus for sterilising soil by steam pressure has been invented by -Mr. T. R. Bean, of Northland Vale, Guernsey. Soil and other substances are sterilised by subjecting them to a temperature above 212° F. by means of steam exerting a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The apparatus com- prises a tapered receptacle mounted on trun- nions and adapted to be. tipped to discharge the contents; the lower end of the receptacle is provided with a fire-box and a water container having a 6team space communicating with the soil container by one or more perforated pipes. The cover of the receptacle rests on a rubber band, and is secured by screw clamps. It may be lifted by means of a winding drum and a chain. The apparatus is mounted on a wheeled frame and is provided with a mud- hole and chimney, and means for preventing it from swinging in such a way as to tip the fire out. In a stationary form of the appara- tus, steam is supplied to the soil-container from a detached boiler. This list is specially compiled for The Gardeners' Chronicle by Messrs. Rayner and Co., Registered Patent Agents, of 5, Chancery Lane, London, from whom all information re- lating to Patents, Trade Marks, and Designs, can be obtained gratuitously. Messrs. Rayner and Co. will obtain printed copies of the published specifications and for- ward them post free for ihe sum of Is each. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Correction: Mr. P. R. Murton writes asking us to state that his new appointment (see p. XIII. January 21) is at Carclew and not Carslew, as printed. Chrysanthemum Rayonnante and its Sports : A. II. There is already one sport of Chrysanthemum Rayonnante on the market, and apparently it is very similar to, if not identical with, the one you have ob- tained. The spcrt referred to goes under the two slightly dissimilar names of Mrs. Guy Harewood and Miss Gina Harewood, and it is described as light rosy fawn, which is evidently much the same shade of colour as the pinkish orange of your description. Of this sport there is plenty of stock in this country. Early-Flowering Chrysanthemums : T. II. Six first-rate early-flowering varieties of Chry- santhemums for disbudding, including two white sorts, for cultivation for market, are Sanctity, white; Framfield Early White, white; Cranfordia, yellow; Almirante. bronze; Betty Spark, pink (September); and Cranford Pink, pink (October). The formula you sug- gest for use for top dressing Chrysanthemums in pots would no doubt be suitable for that purpose, but we strongly recommend you to use a well compounded organic manure unless you are in a very large way of business. Lapageria rosea: H. S., India. A corre- spondent kindly informs us that you can obtain seeds of Lapageria rosea from Mr. S. P. Chatterji, nurseryman, 78, Marcale- danga, Main Road, Calcutta. Names of Plants: A. A*. 1, Abies ooncolor; 2, Quercus Turneri; 3, Quercus acuta var. bannbusaefolia; 4, Osmanthus rotundifolius ; 5, Osmanthus ilicifolius. — W. M. B. 1, Staun- tonia hexaphylla ; 2, Vitis striata ; 3, Escal- lonia illinita; 4, Genista hispanica ; 6, Vibur- num rhytidophyllum; 6, Elaeagnus macro- phylla. — IT. L. Billbergia nutans (Brazil). — G. R. 1. Cordyline australis lentiginosa; 2, Nephrolepis exaltata superba : 3, Pteris serrulata cristata; 4, Adiantuni scutum; 5, Pteiis cretica albo-lineata ; 6, Pteris serrulata. maxima; 7, Adiantuni Pacottii; 8, Cordylini australis: 9, Kentia belmoreana. — A. J. S. The Begonia is B. President Carnot. The Orchids are: 1, Cypripedium Leeanuan ; 2, C. chrysotoxum ; 3, C. Boxallii ; 4, C. Calypso ; 5, C. vemistum ; 6, C. ealophvllnm ; 7, C. insigne. — F. S., Gawsworth. Chimonanthus f ragrans. — Lenton Sands. Pleroma ruaerantha. Plants for Tufa or Stone Pockets : G. S. It is rather difficult to 6tate what plants would succeed in the dry corner of your fernery. The moist atmosphere of a fernery would hardly suit Cacti, or any class of suc- culent plants, as they must have dry atmos- pheric conditions, especially during the win- ter. Among Ferns, those most likely to succeed are Nephrolepis exaltata, of which there are many fine forms, and they are really not very particular where they grow. You might also try some of the strong-growing forms of Begonia Rex. If you have water laid on, you might connect the supply pipe to a perforated pipe at the top of your rockery and thus provide a ready means of watering your plants, more or less, according to the weather and their needs. Rabbits Eating Frttit Tree Stems: S. II". //• The only satisfactory way of preventing rabbits from " barking " the stems of young fruit trees is to erect a rabbit-proof fence round the orchard. At least 6 inches of the netting should be laid flat on the bottom of a shallow trench all round the orchard, while the fence proper should be a little over 3J feet high. Wire netting 4 feet wide will serve the purpose, and should be attached to stout posts set not more than 3 yards apart. A point of the utmost importance is that the buried portion of the wire netting should be turned outwards to prevent rabbits from burrowing under the fence. A detailed description of this method of fencing was given in our issue of January 31, 1920 (Vol. LXVIL, page 56). Roman Cypress : G. The Cypress that is such a great feature of many South European gar- dens is the Upright Roman Cypress (Cupres- sus sempervirens), -md from the description we suspect that this is the species meant. Although it is not commonly met with in this country, there are good examples in certain of the' older gardens of the home counties and elsewhere. Second-Hanp Book : A. 0. W. You would most likely be able to procure the work you mention from either Messrs. Wheldon and Wesley, Great Queen Street, W.G., or Messrs. H. Sotheran and Co., 140, Strand, W.C. Winter-Flowering Begonias : W. W. II". We believe you will be able to obtain plants of the various winter-flowering Begonias from Messrs. Stuart Low and Co., Enfield, Middlesex, or Messrs. Clibrans, Altrincham. Communications Received —J. J.— II. T.— G. K. P. — H. B. M.-R. S. B.— W. A.— W. H.— E. B.— L. S. February 4, 1922. THE GABDENEES' CHRONICLE. 49 THE (B avbmtxz Cljrmtkl* A'o. 1832.— SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1922 CONTENTS. Begonias forming bulbils Bulb garden, the — Brodiaea Howellii Crocus aerium and C. vitellinus Canadian impression of the Imperial Fruit Show •Cedrus Libani .. Cultural memoranda — Raising perennials from seed Brought of 1921 and its effect on garden plants. 56 Fellowship of the National Institute of Agricul- tural Botany Fruit Register — Apple I sle of Wight Pippin .Fruit trees, spraying, from an aeroplane Fruits, gold medal, at Worcester ,Food exhibition at Olyni- pia '" Gardeners' Chronicle " seventy-five years ago 50 ■Gladiolus, a new .. 49 Gloxinia, the drooping- flowered . . . . 55 Holmes, Mr. E. M. .. 50 Imperial Fruit Show, 1922 49 " Isabelle " . . . . 56 56 55 49 49 Markham, Mr. H. Melons, prevention of wilt in . . .... Mesembryanthemum, and some new genera sep- arated from' it, New Secretary of the National Dahlia Society Obituary — Nash, George V. Nutting. Thomas Osburne, Dr. Cecil . . Orchid notes and glean- ings- New Cypripediums New hybrids Orphan Fund, Royal Gar- deners' Parks, war-buildings in the London Plants from seed, raising conservatorv Potato K. of K. Potatos Seedsman's broac'side, a . Strawberries, some ex- periments witli Societies — Gardeners'Royal Bene- volent Inst. Manchester and North of England Orchid.. Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Royal Horticultural .. Week's work, the ILLUSTRATIONS Broadside of 1769, Messrs. Viimorin's •Crocus aerius. . Fruit, gold medal exhibit of, at Worcester -Grafting, crown or rind method of Lithops turbiniformis. Markham, Mr. N., portrait of -Potato Di- Vernon Potato Katie Glover 54 51 57 60 55 50 53 52 The Fellowship of the National ^Average Mean Temperature for the ensuing week deduced from observations during the last fifty years at Greenwich, 37.11. Actual Temperature : — Gardeners' Chronicle Office, 5, Tavistock street, Covent Garden, London, Wednesday, February 1, 10 a.m.: Bar. 29.9; temp. 46°. Weather— Fi.ie. The Council of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany has taken a wise step in establishing a system of Fellowship whereby all who institute of are jn sympathy with the aims Agricultural 0f tne Institute may, on cer- Botany. tain conditions, become Fel- lows and take a part in [promoting its work. The conditions of Fellowship are set forth in a brochure issued by the N.I.A.B., containing a brief summary of the aims and activities of the Institute. The aims are, succinctly stated, the improve- ment of yield and quality of farm crops and the present work o-fthe N.I.A.iB. consists of thiee branches. One, devoted to crop im- provement, provides facilities for the intro- duction and field-testing of new varieties of agricultural plants. Another consists in the official seed Testing Station, and the third is concerned with the carrying out on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Potato immunity trials at Ormskirk, the object of which is to ascertain which varieties, and par- ticularly which new varieties of Potato, are ■resistant to Wart Disease- This immunity- testing work, long conducted with marked benefit to Potato growers by the Ministry, has now been extended and includes maturity trials and the investigation of synonyms. Horticulturists need no convincing as to the importance of all these branches of the Insti- tute's work. They are aware that there is no finality to the improvement of varieties, and they aire also aware that, of new •varieties put on the market, many are called hut few are chosen. In the case of Potatos, iif is well that new varieties should be ex- amined by drastic tests at the time of their introduction as to their -immunity from or susceptibility to Wart Disease, and1 it is no less important that the place of each new variety in the Potato world — whether early, mid-season or late — should be determined, for in the case of " earlies," at all events, a difference of days in the time of maturing is of decisive importance in determining the use of a variety for market purposes. The National Institute proposes to keep it's Fel- lows in touch with the work which it is> doing at Cambridge and at Ormskirk, both by means of periodical meetings, at which the work of the Institute will be described and discussed, and by appointing to the Council representatives of the Fellows. Al- though the Fellowship scheme has but recently been launched it has already met with a wide response. The first Fellow to be enrolled was the Prime Minister, who, in1 a letter to the Chairman of Council, Sir Law- rence Weaver (see p. 26), expressed his whole- hearted sympathy with the objects of the In- stitute and his earnest hope for the full attainment of those objects. The terms of Fellowship are such as should, and, we are sure, will secure a large membership. The annual Fellow's subscription is one guinea— with an entrance fee of one guinea — and candidates may either become annual Fellows, or by a limited com- position of seven guineas may enjoy ten years of Fellowship or become life Fellows by payment of a subscription of fifteen guineas. The excellence of the work already done by the Institute is an earnest of the success which will attend its efforts, and that success, needless to say, will be hastened and enhanced if, as is to be hoped, a numerous body of Fellows comes into being. The help which they will give is both moral and financial. Every guinea subscribed by a Fellow will be the means of ensuring the Institute a larger measure of financial aid from the Development Commission and, moreover, every Fellow, by taking an active interest in the work done by the Institute, helps in a very real manner to make that work more effective, for a science remote from the general life and affairs of a people is a sterile science, but one which is part of their life and enters into their affairs is fertile and twice blessed — blessing him that gives and him that takes. Imperial Fruit Show. — An Imperial Fruit Show will be held this year at the Crystal Palace on approximately the same dates as last year's show. There will be a United King- dom section, an Overseas section, and a British Empire section, and it is expected that tropical and sub-tropical fruits will be displayed, in addition to Apples and Pears. Matters relating to finance and organisation will be left entirely to the staff of the Daily Mail, while technical matters will be decided by a Trades' Committee. The decision to hold this show was made at a meeting of the Imperial Fruit Show Advisory Committee held at the Ministry of Agriculture. National Chrysanthemum Society.— The annual generil meeting of the members of the National Chrysanthemum Society will be held in the Floral Committee Room of the Royal Horticultural Hall. Vincent Square, "West- minster. S.W., at 6.30 p.m. on Monday, Feb- ruary 6, when the report of the committee and the statement of accounts for 1921 will be presented and officers elected. A New Gladiolus from S. Africa. — Mr. A. E. Kunderd, the well-known American Gladiolus specialist and former President of the Ameri- can .Gladiolus Society, in a paper on the Gladi- olus read to the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, on December 15, referred to a new species of Gladiolus received from his brother- in-law, Dr. Hall, in South Africa. He did not. disclose the name, but described the plant as having tall, slender and graceful foliage and stems. It bore on the main stem upwards of forty blossoms, and four of its branches de- veloped more than thirty blossoms each, so that the plant produced about 175 individual flowers. Mr. Kunderd described the work of the Cana- dian raLser Groff as monumental, and he paid a tribute to such pioneers as Lemoine, Childs and Max Leiohtlin. Mr. Kunderd is himself a suc- cessful raiser of Gladioli, and commenced hybridising this flower about 35 years ago. The Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund The annual general meeting of the subscribers to this Fund will be held at " Simpson's," 100, Strand, London, W.C. , on Thursday, February 9, 1922, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Committee and Statement of Accounts for the past year ; to elect officers for the en- suing year; to elect four children to the bene- fits of the Fund ; and to transact such other business as may arise. The chair will be taken at four p.m. Food Exhibition at Olympia.— The Inter- national Trade Exhibitions, Ltd., and The Trades Markets and Exhibitions, Ltd.. are combining to organise a great food exhibition, to be held at Olympia from September 6 to 26 this year. This exhibition should provide a most fascinatng object-lesson with regard to the sources from which our principal food sup- plies are derived. We understand that many foreign Governments propose to make large displays at fhe exhibition. Vegetable products will occupy a large area, but all other kinds of food materials will be exhibited. Spraying Trees from an Aeroplane.— The American Florist records the spraying of fruit trees in America from an aeroplane. The experiment was conducted by the Ohio Depart- ment of Agriculture in co-operation with an airman of the United States Army, who fastened a container filled with arsenate of lead to the side of his machine, and, arising to the proper altitude on the windward side of a badly infected orchard, released the powder with such effect that the insects were all killed. The operation from the time of releasing the powder until landing lasted only 51 seconds. In America, where Apple orchards are of very great extent, it is anticipated that an extensive use of this method of spraying will he adopted by growers. Temporary War Buildings in London's Parks and Open Spaces. — We are very pleased to notice that at last a decided clearance is being made of some of the war-time huts in the T/on- don parks and open spaces. The beautiful Embankment Gardens were almost entirely covered wjith temporary buildings, which are now in process of removal, and the site will probably be cleared in about three weeks time. The huts in Tower Gardens, Millbank, have also been taken down, and it is expected that the ground there will be completely cleared at the end of next week. The Admiralty huts in St. James's Park will take about four or five weeks to remove, and the demolition of the Passport Office, in that Park, commenced on Tuesday last. Several of the store huts in Regent's Park have also been demolished, and the ground cleared. It is to be hoped that all these eyesores 111 London's most, beautiful spots will be removed at the earliest opportunity, and the grounds restored to their legitimate purpose of pleasure and recreation. A Canadian Impression of the Imperial Fruit Show— The Canadian Horticulturist niokes aoverse observations on the judging at the Imperial Fruit Show, held at the Crystal Palace in October. 1921, and published an illustration of three of the twenty boxes of Newton Wonder Apples staged by the Spalding and District Bulb Growers' arid Market Gardeners' Associa- 1 1, ,1 1 . that won the first prize in the culinary class of the British Empire section. Our Canad- ian contemporary states that the fruits were not graded uniformly, there being Apples on' the faces o 1 ili.- boxes ranging in diameter from 7>l to 53 inches. " The packing was decidedly amateur- 50 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 4, 1922. ish, rather than commercial, many boxes having a solid layer of three rows across on the faces and four rows in the tiers beneath." It is re- cognised bv the critic that the judges had a difficult task on account of the high standard of excellence of the exhibits in general, and he ex- cuses them because they were not familiar with the ideal box pack, but states that some of their decisions would be impossible at an Apple show in Canada, or in the United States. The writer claims that the boxes were not of the standard required and that the twenty boxes that won the principal awards were 20 by 11 by 10 inches and not 18 by 11£ by 10^, as required. The criticism is further made that by the system of packing adopted, the Apples would not "'carry safely." The critic, however, was much im- pressed with the good quality of the Newton Wonder Apples, and with their well-grown appearance. Remarking on the exhibits in the overseas section, he states that the second prize exhibit for King of the Pippins lost the first place because the quality was " too good" that is, too highly coloured, and blames the judges for misinterpreting the Canadian Fruit Maries Act, both in regard to this and other varieties. The criticisms are made by a well-known Cana- dian expert who, it is stated, on three occasions won the sweepstake prize at the New York State's show for the best box of Apples grown in America. A Late-fruiting Blackberry. — Mr. W. Crisp, of 22, Pretoria Road, Halstead, records in a letter to The Field the discovery of a late- fruiting Blackberry during a country walk on November 15. He was enabled to gather 10i lbs. of fruit, and could have obtained more had he the time to gather them. To quote from the letter, the berries " were red, like a Raspberry, and they make quite excellent jam, the flavour being like that of the Loganberry. It is a. great bearer of fruit in long bunches and a strong grower. It comes in about six weeks after the ordinary Blackberries, and when all softl fruits are over. It would pay to plant in woods both for fruit and for game cover. It also produces abundant food for pheasants, and will keep them in the wood at a time when they are given to wander far afield for acorns." It is to be hoped that Mr. Crisp will take measure's to secure suckers from such a valuable wilding in order that the plant may be pTopagated and distributed ; it should prove specially valuable for purposes of hybridising and raising a race of late-fruiting Brambles. There is just a possibility, however, that the fruits were a second crop that found the season exceptionally favourable for them to ripen, for it is well known that :he early blossoms of Brambles are sometimes all sterile and that the plants are then enabled to develop secondary growths which flower later in the same season. Allotments. — The report of the Departmental Committee appointed by the Ministry of Agri- culture and Fisheries and the Secretary for Scotland, to investigate the present position as regards provision by local authorities of allot- ments in Great Britain has been issued, and may be obtained at His Majesty's Stationery • Office, Imperial House, Kingsway, W.C., price 7d. post free. The report has been compiled on the evidence of various societies, organisations, and authorities connected with the allotment movement, which apparently originated in the nineteenth century at the time of the develop- ment of the industrial system and the growth of towns. The greatest number of allotments under cultivation was in 1918, when they totalled 42,277, representing an acreage of 2,551, but the 41,756 allotments in 1919 represented a slightly larger acreage, namely, 2,641 acres. The ohief recommendations of the Committee are that local authorities should purchase land for allotments wherever practicable ; that schemes under the housing and town planning acte should provide for the preservation of sites for allotments; that loans for the purchase of lands for allotments should be excluded from the debt of local authorities; that county coun- cils should be empowered to let land direct for allotments ; that co-operative allotment associa- tions should be empowered to obtain loans for the purchase of land from the Public Works Loan Commissioners; that the principle- of State assistance in the encouragement and develop- ment of the provisions of allotments already con- ceded in Scotland should be extended to Eng- land and Wales; that six months' notice should be required to terminate a vacancy, and that, where less than six months' notice is given, the tenant should be compensated for his crops and unexhausted manures. We hope to refer in more detail to the report in a subsequent issue. Mr. H. Markham.— The genial head over the I.arl of Strafford's gardens at Wrotham Park, Barnet, has had a wide and varied experience, consequently he is well known to gardeners in many parts of England and Wales, while his eminently practical gardening notes, which have appeared in our pages over a long period of years, have extended his reputation. In his earlier years he was employed in the gardens at Hornsea House, Hull; Ivy Bank, Burnley; Bodrhyddan, Nort>i Wales; Burghley House, Stamford; and Longford Castle, Salisbury. After servixg several years under the late Mr. Richard Gilbert, at Burghley, Mr. Markham was sent by that famous gardener to Longford Castle, where he remained three years under the late Mr. H. W. Ward. It was on the recommendation of Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Ward MR. H. MARKHAM. that Mr. Markham took over the charge of Mereworth Castle Gardens, where Lord Fal- mouth at that time took a great interest in choice fruita, especially Peaches and Nec- tarines, and gave Mr. Markham every encouragement to acquire a collection and produce large crops of fine fruits. Thirteen years later, there was a general agreement among thos^ best qualified to give it that the Peach and Nectarine trees at Mereworth were among the finest trained specimens to be found in this country. From Mereworth Mr. Mark- ham went to Wrotham Park, Barnet, where he makes a special feature of fruit culture, but also keeps the other departments of the garden in first-rate condition. He is proud to have charge of the old vines planted at Wrotham by the late Mr. William Thompson in 1848-9, as well as the ancient specimen of Black Hamburgh filanted in 1785, said to have been from a stock originally received from Holland in 1710. and from which Mr. Mark- ham cut and exhibited fine bunches in Sep- tember, 1921 (see p. 141. Card. Chron., Sep- tember 10, 1921). Mr. Markham has for many years been a member of the Royal Horti- cultural Society's Fruit and Vegetable Com- mittee. Apart from business matters, Mr. Markham is a musician of no mean order and a delightful raconteur. Potato K. of K. — In view of the fact that other Potatos have been sold under the name of this variety, the Ministry of Agriculture directs the attention of sellers of seed Potatos to the description of the variety of late or main crop Potato known as " K. of K.," which is as follows : — " Shape, oval ; eyes, shallow; skin, white, splashed crimson, more proounced round eyes, especially at rose end ; flesh, pale yellow ; colour of sprout, rose; haulm, upright; foliage, light green with small corrugated leaves ; flowers, mauve in colour, tipped with white. The variety- does not flower freely." This description has been approved and recognised by the Ministry. The variety is immune to Wart Disease. Growers and dealers who sell Potatos of a dif- ferent variety under the name " K. of K."' are liable to a penalty under the Seeds Act, 1920. New Secretary of the National Dahlia Society. — At the annual meeting of the National Dahlia Society, held in the Royal Horticultural Hall on Tuesday last, Mr. A. C. Bartlett was appointed lion, secretary in succession to Mr. Gerald Hillier. who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his services during the past year. Mr. Bartlett is well known in the horticultural world both as a writer on gardening and a skilful cultivator of plants. Accident to Mr. E M. Holmes— The nume- rous gardening friends of Mr. Edward Morell Holmes, for many years Curator to the Phar- maceutical Society's Museums, Bloomsbury Square, will be sorry to learn that he has met with a serious accident, necessitating the- amputation of a leg. The injuries were re- ceived as the result of a motor accident, and, following an action in the King's Bench Divi- sion. Mr. Justice Salter has awarded Mr. Holmes £1,000 damages, with costs. Mr. Holmes is a recognised authority on medicinal plants, and the results of his experiments in their cultural requirements have been pub- lished in The Gardeners' Chronirlr and other journals from time to time. In 1915 Mr. Holmes was awarded the Hanbury Medal, which was first struck in 1881 to perpetuate the memory of Daniel Hanbury, the eminent ph a rmacogn<>sist . Appointments for the Ensuing Week.— Mon- day. February 6 : National Chrysanthemum Society's 'annual meeting at R.H.S. Hafll. Tuesday, February 7 : Royal Caledonian Horti- cultural Society's meeting; Bournemouth Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Association's meeting. Wednesday. February 8 : East Ang- lian Horticultural Society's Meeting; Sheffield Chrysanthemum Society's meeting; Wim- bledon and District Gardeners' Society's meeting. Thursday, February 9: Bristol and District Gardeners' Association's meeting ; Hornsey and District Chrysanthemum Society's meeting; Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund annual meeting and election at Simpsons, 100. Strand. W.C.. at 4 p.m. Friday. February 10. Paisley Florists' Society's meeting ; Royal Horticultural and Arboricultural Society's Council meeting. Saturday, Eebruary 11. — Rfngwtood Society's meeting. " Gardeners' Chronicle " Seventy five Years Ago.— Double Stocks. — The cause of the pro- duction of double flowers in Stocks seems to be a disputed point. I gave a friend part of some seed of 1843, of my own saving, and I sowed from the same parcel, both in the autumn of 1844 and the spring of 1845; in both seasons the produce was double; but my friend in- formed me that his flowers were nearly, if not all, single. The soil on which the plants pro- ducing single flowers grew was warm, gravelly material; the other was a stiff loam, well worked; this, I imagine, clearly proves that the nature of the soil has great influence in the production of double flowers. In saving; the seed, I paid no regard to the parts of the flower, but merely saved some of the single from among double flowers. — J. L., Deplford^ Gard. Chron., January 31, 1846. February 4, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 51 THE BULB GARDEN. ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. CROCUS AERIUS AND C. VITELLINUS. Crocus aerius (see Fig. 34) is one of the most lovely of spring-flowering Crocuses and a flower of much beauty in every respect. It is a native of Asia Minor. It often blooms in March, but sometimes earlier, and is one of the species which has secured for itself high favour in the eyes of specialists in these flowers. The bald description that it has " medium-sized flowers of bright lilac or lavender-blue with a yellow throat " fails to convey the lovely shades and graduations of the interior of the flower. It varies a great deal in size and shade, and selected varieties are occasionally offered; the variety C. aerius major is a charming sort. I have heard of a white variety, C. aerius albus, but have never met with it. In my experience C. aerius requires a warm, sheltered, sunny place in light soil, and the conns should bo planted from 1^ to 2 inches deep. In Crocus vitellinus, which has for a synonym Crocus syriucus, -ve have a pleasing little Crocus which, unfortunately for some of us, blooms from November to March, and is, consequently, liable to fall an easy prey to the vagaries of our winter season. Those who are fortunate enough to possess a garden in an exceptionally mild tnd equable district may succeed well with it in the open, and the writer can recall flowers of C. vitellinus sent him to name which were growing in a garden in an exceptionally mild part of the north- west of England and near the sea. These were blooms culled from large quantities of this Crocus planted in the grass and giving great pleasure almost every year in the dead of winter. But to most of us this gratification is denied, and we must content ourselves with sheltering our clumps of C. vitellinus which aro planted in the garden under a hand-light, cloche, or frame, or, better still, grow them in pots in a cool greenhouse or alpine house, where, screened from the weather, the flowers may expand without fear of untimely destruc- tion. Small though they are, they are very pretty, being bright orange-yellow, with scarlet stigmata to add to their attractions. The variety graveolens is not so acceptable. Its flowers are smaller, and the strong and rather offensive odonr, which has given rise to its varietal name of graveolens, lessens its value. Its flowers are striped or flushed with black. C. vitellinus, to far as culture is concerned, is as easily grown as any other Crocus. Its protection from rough weather is only called for in order that its beauty may be revealed and retained under favourable conditions, S. Arnott. BRODIAEA HOWELLII. Although I greatly prefer September and October for planting the Brodiaeas, the work may be done as late as J?ebi*uary and March, if the weather is open. The corms, however, require to be kept properly, lest they become partially shrivelled ?.nd therefore weakened by being too long out of the soil. Brodiaea Howellii is one of the best garden species, and it has been more appreciated through its variety, B. Howellii lilacina. Both the type and the variety have long leaves and scapes about 12 to 18 inches tall, and carrying umbels of funnelled flowers, each about half an inch in diameter. Those of the variety .ilacina are more numerous than those of the type, and often exceed 18 or 20 in number. The flowers of B. Howellii are of a pretty porcelain white streaked <.r flushed with blue. Those of B. Howellii lilacina are delightful in their colouring of delicate lavender-blue or lilac, with the segments of white. In order to succeed with B. Howell!, it must have an open, light, well-drained foil, that should be made fertile by the addition of decayed manure. A sunny place should be selected for planting, and the surface be kept rather loose, in order to allow the heat of the sun to penetrate the ground. Two to three inches is a suitable depth at which to plant. A NEW CYPRIPEDIUMS. Clive Cookson, Esq., Nether Warden, Hex- ham (gr. Mr. W. J. Stables) sends flowers of four handsome Cypripediums, two of which are new crosses. C. Carina (Leeanum Clinka berry ajium x Villma) is a large flower with white dorsal sepal having a broad claret band up the middle and some small rose lines, the petals and lip being pale yellow tinged with red-brown. C. Griqua (Graceae var. J. W. H. Page x Lawrenceanum) has a white dorsal sepal tinged with rose, the large lip being light brownish rose. C. Bantam, Cookson's variety (Hera Euryades New Hall Hey var. x C. nitens Drewett'e variety) is a model flower with white dorsal sepal bearing large claret-crimson blotches ascending from a small, emerald-green base, the broad petals and lip, with shining surface, being dark chestnut red. C. Georgius Rex var. (Minos Youngii x Alci- biades illustre) resembles a large form of C. Minos Youngii in a great degree. SOPHRO-LAELIO-CATTLEYA EILEEN. Messrs. Stuart Low and Co., Bush Hill Park, Enfield, and Jarvisbrook, Sussex, send the first flower of a finely formed and brightly coloured cross between Cattleya Moira (Fabia x Mantinii) and Sophro-Laelio heatonensis (L. purpura-ta * S. grandiflora). All the seg- ments are broad, of firm substance, and flat'y arranged, the petals especially being broader than long. The sepals of S.-L.-C. Eileen are purplish rose; the petals tinged with violet on white ground on the inner halves, the outer parts dark red with a gold shade, the blending of the colours having a glowing effect. The lip is ruby- crimson with a reddish orange base; the column fleshy, pure white. The flower, it is said, was taken from a very small plant, which, when matured, will probably give a still more remarkable bloom. Fig. 24. — crocus aeritjs ; flowers ltlac-purple. NEW HYBRIDS. [Continued from January 14, page 20.) Parentage. Brasso-Cattleya Peace Brasso-Laelio-Catt!eya Gattou Orange Brasso-Laelio-Cattleya Pink Pcail ... Brasso-Laelio-Cattleya Our Princess Cattleya Pharoli Cyrabidium Erica Cypripedium amberleyense Cypripedium Challenger Cypripedium Grey Friar Cypripedium Blanchette ' ypripedium Carina Cypripedium Griqua Cypripedium Idaho Cypripedium Leonora Cook Cypripedium Piccanini Epidendrum Gatton Lilac Epidendrum Lilac Queen Lielio-Cattlcya Bronze Prince Laelio-Cattleya Yellow Hammer ... Lielio-Cattleya Lumabilis Odontioda Ganesa Odontioda Hemera Odontioda Hera OJontioda Janet Odontioda Jupiter ... Odontioda Karoa Odontioda Lakonia ... Odontioda Louisa Odontioda Maureen Odontioda Mercia "" Odontioda Moyra Odontioda Naralda Odontioda Orthia , Odonlioda Priola * Odontioda Priscilla ... .,', Odontioda Raraona C. Dusseldorfei Undine x B,-C. Digbyano- . Mendelii Fortuna C. chocoeusis x B.-L. Mrs. Gratrix B.-L.-C. Everest x C. Trianae ignea L.-C. Thyone x B,-C. Digbyano-Mossiae Alexandra Adula < Fabia Piiuwclsii x grandiflorum Lady Dillon x Mrs. Mostyn Curtmanuii x Beryl Govesianum x Tracyanum niveum x Psyche Leeanum Clinkaberryanum x Villma ... Graceae var. W.H. Page x Lawrenceanum Mrs. F. Sander x Muriel Holliugton var. Venus Earl Tankerville x Mrs. Godmau insigne var. majestieum x Leauder ... kewense X evectum stamfordianum x Boundii L.-C. Ophir x C. Fabia Hippolyta x Cauhamiana L -C. Luminosa x C. amabilis Oda Brewii x O. President Pt incare ... ,, x O. Aireworth . Oda. Lambeauiaua x O. amabile splenden3 . Oda. WiUonii x Oda. Cooksoniae Odm. Magali Sander x Oda. Joan O. Louise x Oda. Joan O. Aireworth x Oda. Cooksoniae Odm. Louisei x Oda. Chanted ei* O.cximium x Oda. Chanticler O. Dora x Oda. Felicia C. vulcanica x Oda. Charlesworlhii ... O. Doris x Odi. Bradshawiae O. Louise x Oda. Royal Gem O. Rolfeae X Oda. Madeline , Oda. Lambeauiaua x O. Jasper O. criapo-Harryanum x Oda. Sanderno Exhibitor. Duke of Marlborough. Sir J. Colmau. Sanders. Flory &. Black. Sanders. Sanders. II. Green, Esq. A. Hanmer, Esq. Dr. R. N. Hartley. C. Cooksou, Esq. C. Cookson, Esq. C. Cookson, Esq. C. Cookson, Esq. Mrs. Bruce and Miss Wriglcy II. Green, Esq. Sir J. Colman. Sir J. Colman. Sir J. Colman. Sir J. Colman. Sir J. Colman. Cuarlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Sanders. Charlesworth, Charlesworth. Pantia Ralli, Esq, Charlesworth. Charlesworth. charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth. Charlesworth Charlesworth. Charlesworth. 13 52 tHE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. FebkT/ABY 4, 1922. The Week's Work. THE ORCHID HOUSES. By J. T. Baeeeh, Gardener to His Grace the Duke of Marluorough, K.G., Blenheim Palace, WoodBtook, Oxon. Odontoglossum. — The various members of the genus Odontoglossum will now be in all stages of growth ; some just starting, others in full growth, whilst many are sending up their flower spikes. The latter should be carefully and neatly staked as they attain sufficient length. Flowering plants are best placed by themselves in the lightest position in the house, where they may be examined from time to time for the presence of slugs, which devour the spikes and do irreparable harm. Full exposure to the light, combined with moderate heat, is a great assist- ance in the development of flowers. Small ui weakly plants should have their spikes removed as soon as they are observed, as the production of flowers may mean the death of the plant. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. By H. Mareham. Gardener to the Eael or Strafford, Wrotham Park, Barnet. Apricots. — As -Apricot trees bloom early, the pruning and regulating of the branches should be done before the buds are far advanced. If the trees were given proper cultural attention last summer very little pruning will now be required, beyond shortening fore-right shoots and stopping young branches that are needed to fill bare spaces or to replace unsuitable branches, etc. Examine the ties and remove any that are faulty, using fresh ones where needed, allowing ample space for the swelling of the bark during the coming season. Young trees that made rather strong growths last year will need to have these shortened to ripened wood, and the suitable shoots for filling bare spaces and building up <* goodly shaped tree carefully secured to. the wall or trellis, as desired. Top dress the roots of older, fruiting trees, after removing a portion of the top soil, with a mixture of fibrous loam, o'.d brick mortar, and a little. well-rotted manure. Cordon Apples. — As cordon Apples are useful useful for a variety of purposes, such as cover- Cng fences, walls, "and arches, and usually bear good crops of fruits early, they should be planted Fig. 25. — potato katie glover (see p. 53). Weakly, unhealthy plants are very precocious in the production of flower spikes, which, if allowed to develop, never produce satisfactory flowers. Should any plant be in need of fresh rooting material, and its new growth in the desired condition, that is some few inches long, and about to send out fresh roots, it may bo repotted. The condition of all Orchids that need repotting should be closely studied, for if the work is done when the plants are about to maKC roots, they will receive only a very slight check. It is much easier to keep a healthy plant growing than it is to nurse an unhealthy plant back to a vigorous condition again. Most plants appreciate fresh material, especially at the season when they are developing fresh roots. A compost consisting of equal portions of peat fibre, and Al fibre of a soft nature, with Sphag- num-moss, to which some broken leaves may be added, will be found suiitable for Odonto- glossums. Newly-potted plants need to be watered with extreme care at this season, as the plants will not produce fresh roots in a saturated compost. freely. The borders should be thoroughly pre- pared and the drainage made good, especially where the soil is of a heavy nature and rest- ing on a great depth of clay. Either single or duuble upright cordons will quickly make use- ful fru'iting trees, and may be used for filling bare spaces on walls or fences. Plant at a suffi- cient distance from the wall to allow ample space for the thickening of the stems as the trees increase iin size. The following is a select list of useful dessert Apples that will give a supply of excellent, fruits over a long period : Ellison's Orange, Cox's Orange Pippin, Egre- mont. Russet, Allington Pippin, Maidstone Favourite. Kibston Pippin, Wyken Pippin, Duke of Devonshire, May Queen, and Adams's Pearmain. Espalier Pears — When pruning these trees thin out the old spurs where they are crowded in order to encourage strong and fruitful buds to develop all along the branches. Timely atten- tion in this respect will greatly improve both the fruitfulness of the trees and the size and quality of the fruits. PLANTS UNDER GLASS By T. Pateman, Gardener to Sir C. Nall-Cain, Bart The Node, Codicote, Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Cineraria— A batch of the earliest plants may be brought in from the frames and placed in an intermediate house; by treating the plants in this way a long succession of bloom may be obtained. The leaf-mining maggot is sometimes troublesome, but occa- sional spraying with a nicotine emulsion will do much to prevent the appearance of this pest and also keep green fly in check. A little soluble plant food mixed in the water about every tenth day will be found very beneficial for feeding the roots at this stage of growth. Allamanda. — These climbing plants should be cut hard back without further delay. Where they are grown in pots, they should be re- potted into larger receptacles if this appears desirable, or a portion of the surface soil may be removed and new material added. Allamandas may be trained en wires, and will be found to make fine specimen plants during the summer months. Cuttings may be in- serted now in sandy soil in a fairly high tem- perature, when they will soon root. The Conservatory.— Every effort should be made to keep the conservatory as bright as possible. Fresh batches of various kinds of bulbs and Azaleas should be brought on in the forcing quarters, so as to maintain the display. These subjects, with Cyclamen and Primula, will give a pleasing effect. Watering must be done carefully at this period. Ferns. — At +his season of the year Ferns are generally in a dormant state, anil may safely be potted into larger leceptacles. Where good turfy loam is available for this work, a mixture of equal parts loam and peat, with clean, rinelv broken crocks, and silver -and added to assist .mod drainage, will form a very suitable com- posi for most kinds and varieties of Ferns. THE FLOWER GARDEN. By Edwin Beckett. Qartlensr to the TTnn. Vi.ary Gidus, Aldenhara HouEe, Hertfordshire. Lawns and Drives. — As they form important adjuncts to the pleasure grounds and gardens lawns and carriage drives should be kept thoroughly clean and tidy, and rolled on all suitable occasions. New walks should be pre- pared at this lime of the year, and grass verges trimmed where necessary. Clean, well-rolled drives and walks add greatly to the appearance of a well-kept garden. East Lothian Stocks. -To provide beds of these lovely, sweet-scented, early flowering plants, the seeds should now be sown in heat and the young plants pricked off into boxes. Great care should be exercised when watering these plants, and they should not be sprinkled over- head, as this would cause the plants to rot off at the base. Autumn-sown plants that are being wintered in cold frames should also be protected from an excess of moisture for the same reason. They are fairly hardy subjects, and it will not harm them if a little frost delays their progress. Sharp frost may harm them, but a few degrees will be beneficial. Sweet Peas. — Modern practice tends to the raising of Sweet Peas in pots during the autumn and wintering them in cold frames. This is not, however, practicable everywhere, and where plants are required for early flower- ing seedlings should be raised in gentle heat. so°that rhev will be i eady for planting out in April. Sixty-sized pots should be employed, and filled with a good, sandy compost. Sow three seeds in each pot, and thrust the seeds down into the soil to a depth of about I to i inch. A temperature of about 60° will secure rapid germination. When the seedlings are well through, place (hem in cold frames, after hardening off, and protect them from frost during severe weather. At a later stage, when they have become well hardened, afford ample ventilation when the weather is suitable, but steps should be taken to protect the young plants by means of netting, when the frames are open, as birds are very partial to them. Guard also against damage by mice. February i, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. o3 FRUITS UNDER GLASS. By F. Jordan, Gardener to Lieut. -Col. Spendeb Clay, SI. P., Ford Manor, Ling*6eld, Surrey. The Orchard House.— A tew trees of such varieties as Cardinal and Early Rivers' Nec- tarines, with Duke of York, James Walker, and Duchess of Cornwall Peaches, will have been started. Another batch of these trees should now be introduced to gentle warmth, with a few Peregrine Peaches in addition. Select well rooted trees in moderate-sized pots, trees with short-jointed wood, full of buds. Allow plenty of time for the plants to develop slowly in ;i moderate temperature of 43° to 48°. Encourage the trees to grow as much as possible during the daytime when eun heat is available, a.s little or no fire heat will be necessary, except in severe weather. Plunge the pots, where this is possible, and renovate the fermenting material in the earlier houses, as recommended for pot vines. Cucumbers. — Plants raised from seed sown as recommended in a previous calendar will now be ready for planting out. See that the pits are clean, and make up a bed of leaves and litter, on which place small mounds of soil, about four feet apart, composed of two parts loam and one part each nf old Mushroom-bed manure and leaf-mould. Set out the plants as soon as ready, when the mounds have become warmed through. Maintain a humid atmos- phere by lightly syringing the plants and damp- ing the paths and other surfaces. Let the temperature remain at present similar to that lecommended on p. 28 in the issue of January 2\. Melons. — Although the weather has been fairly mild, it has been almost sunless, and young plants are consequently weak, no matter how suitable the houses or pits. A few more feeds should be sown to raise a batch of plants that may have to take the places of those which persist in remaining weak. These new plants, when once they root freely, make rapid progress as the days lengthen FOTATOS. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. By Juifs E. Hathawat, Gardener to John BREnn*ni>, Esl , Rnlttersby Park, Thirsk, Yorkshire. Mustard and Cress. — Sowings of these salad plants should be made once a fortnight in shallow boxes. The seed should be sown on a flat soil surface without any covering. When a crop has been cut it is not necessary to empty the box ; if the surface is skimmed off and a little fresh soil added another sowing may be made at once. Young Onions for salad use may be raised in a similar manner. Mint. — Roots should be lifted and placed in boxes eight to ten inches deep; the roots can be cut out in squares the size of the box, dropped in and slightly covered with soil ; if placed in a temperature of 60° a supply of fresh Mint will be forthcoming. Seakale.— To obtain supplies of Seakale over a long period, roots should be intro- duced into warmth every fortnight. A Mush- room house is a suitable place for forcing Sea, kale, also underneath plant stages where the light can be excluded. The roots should be well moistened with the syringe twice a day. A temperature of 50° to 55° is sufficient, for in a higher temperature the growth develops weakly. In taking up the clowns save the smaller roots for propagating; these should he cut in lengths of 6 inches and placed in boxes filled with soil just sufficient to cover them, and placed in a cold frame. These prepared roots will be ready for planting in the open in April. Seakale in the Open — Plants in beds in the open may have pots placed over them, and if the pots are covered with fermenting material good blanched stems will soon be available for use. Rhubarb — Roots of this vegetable should »u regularly introduced to a warm dark place aim treated very similarly to Seakale. A stock of crowns should be lifted when the weather is open, so that in frosty weather there will be no difficulty in maintaining a constant supply of leaf stalks. For a number of years past I have presumed to offer, in your columns, some adyice regard- ing the new varieties of Potatos as they were put on the market. To-day there is a slump iin Potatos, nevertheless several new varieties are before the public, a.nd are being taken up by keen growers, if not in large quantities yet, sufficient to carry out experimental trials. Messrs. Sutton and Sons are offering their new early Dunvegan, which is a white round, immune to wart disease. I was privileged u> see it lifted at the Ormskirk trials in July, and its appearance and crop then delighted every one. One of the largest growers present asked Mr. Lasham (Messrs. Sutton's Potato expert): "'What price 10 tons, Mr. Lasham''" Katie Glover (see Fig. 25) is one of Findlay's introductions, and received an Award of Merit at Ormskirk. It is a second early round, of a pinkish colour, and may have a future before it. It will be in the running at Ormskirk this season for a higher award. K. of K. is also one of Findlay's ; the tubers somewhat resemble these of Katie Glover, but with a most dis- tinct haulm, producing very many stems of a Edward and Arran Chief, which are not immune to wart disease, to be planted in clean fields in infected areas, is bound to bring about a new condition of things, and tend to the spread of wart disease, I think. It is up to the growers to help in suppressing any outbreak of wart disease that may occur as a result of this concession. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland has just published the acreage under each variety of Potato in Scotland i;n 1921, and it is interest- ing to note that among earlies Epicure heads the list with over 9,000 acres ; Eclipse (includ- ing Sir John Llewellyn) is next, and Duke ot York (including Midlothian Early) is third, but both these are under 2,000 acres. Sharpe's Express has 887 acres. These are all suscep- tible to wart disease. Edzell Blue, Dargill Early, and Witch Hill are the immunes. and of these* the last is the Potato for the connoi- seur. In the second early group Great Scot is easily at the top with 13,196 acres. Mr. Chit- tenden, Director of the R.H.S. Gardens, at the International Potato Conference in 1921, stated that he considered this the "best all- round Potato." Arran Comrade conies next with 5.607 acres. For garden culture and for exhibi- FlG. 26. POTATO DI-VERNON. rather thin, wiry growth, Katie Glover, on the contrary, having an ideal " top." Di- Vernon (Findlay) (see Fig. 26) is a thick kidney in shape, splashed with purple at the eyes. My experience, of it two years ago was as follows: — I paid Mr. Findlay five guineas for 1 lb. of tubers, which I cut up into single eyes and planted in my private garden. The yield was 56 lb. I was doubtful of its being popular on the early market on account of its colour, but Sir Matthew Wallace and Mr. T. Scarlett assure me if it is early enough the colour splashes will not be prejudicial. Crusader (the late Dr. Wilson) is a late kidney variety, not unlike a refined Golden Wonder in appearance, which is being distri- buted widely for the first time this season. Unlike the first two preceding sorts, which cost the purchaser some eight or ten shillings a pound. Crusader may be had for seven or eight shillings a 'stone — quite a reasonable price for a new Potato. Rhoderick Dim (S. T. Farish) is a late round variety I hat obtained Lord Derby's Gold Medal at Ormskirk i:n.l920. but the season of 1921 did pot suit it so well jis previous ones. Given a normal season, it will yield a great crop of tubers which cook splendidly and keep well The changed policy of the Ministry of Agricul- ture, which w'ill again allow varieties like King tion purposes I think it is the best of the second earlies. This Potato and Great Scot are both immune. British Queen is represented by 5,592 acres. King George and The Ally have both de- creased acreage. King George from 5,540 in 1920 to 2,327 aeres in 1921. 1 am not surprised at tlii.s, as it always, in my estimation, lacked quality and is apt to go black when cooked. Arran Chief has a great place. It is at the top of the main- crops, with 28.283 acres; King Edward is next with 14,038 acres; Kerr's Pink. 11.809; Golden Wonder. 5,305; Up to Date types. 4.665; Tin wald Perfection, 4,179; Majestic, Abundance types, Langworthy, and the old Champion, which is still grown in the north of Scotland, have each a record of over 2,000 acres. Among the immune varieties Tinwald Per- fection and Majestic are in very g I demand. Kerr's Pink has lost some <>f its popularity on account of developing much see. mil growth lasi season, but where weight of crop s wanted it must be considered. My friend, Mr. G. W. Leak. Managing Director of Messrs. R. H. Bath, Wisbech, tells me he raised 46 tons of Kin's Pink from 2'. acres of [-round last season! Where Golden Wonder will grow, and it will succeed in most places if it lias very generous treatment, my advice is to plant some ground with it. as there is no late Potato that Ins ever I u raised to equal it in quality on the table. //. CutllbntSOn, Dii,l,lni,jl,ui, N.B, 54 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 4, 1922. EDI TORI A L NO TIOE. ADVERTISEMENTS should be sent to the PUBLISHER, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, W C 2 Editors and Publisher.— Our correspondents would obviate delay in obtaining answers to their com- munications, and save us much time and trouble, '/ they would kindly observe the notice printed weekly to the effect that all letters relating to financial matters and to advertisements should he addressed to the Publisher; and that all communi- cations intended for publication or referring to the Literary department, and all plants to be named, should be directed to the Kditors. The tu-o departments, Publishing and Editorial, are distinct, and much unnecessary delay and confusion arise when letters ire misdirected. Local News.— Correspondents will greatly oblige by sending to the Editors early intelligence of local events likely to be of interest to our readers, or of any matters which it is desirable to bring under the notice of horticulturists. A SEEDSMAN'S BROADSIDE. THE earlier history of most great indus- trial concerns is largely made up of odds and ends, many of which, lightly- regarded at the time, have been destroyed. Those which, by some curious accident, still exist, have become of the highest documentary value. Buckle, in his History of Civilisation in England, and Maoaulay in his History and Essays found much of then- most valuable data in the flotsam and jetsam of literature; and no branch of commercial activity is more dependent for its history on what may be regarded as ephemeridea "than that which deals with the history of the dealer in seeds and plants. Carlyle has declared that " ten histories of kings and courtiers were well exchanged against the tenth part of one good History of Booksellers" ; and the same, I think, might be said of the seedsman and nursery- man. The history of botany has been told many times, but little credit has been given to those who have done so much to import and dis- tribute garden plants of all kinds. Unfortun- ately, those who have had the knowledge and some of the material have not had the time to compile an adequate history of the nursery and seed trade. It would not be an easy task, but it would be Us own reward. Meanwhile, it is interesting to deal with some of the many points in its history, and one of these seems to suggest, itself in a very curious and unusual broadside which I have had the good luck to add to my modest col- lection—an advertisement in the* shape of a broadside issued by the historic and world- esteemed house of' MM. Vilmorin et Cie., of Paris. The most ancient British firm of seeds- men is, I think, that of Dickson and Co., of Edinburgh, which lias had an uninterrupted existence since 1729— nearly two centuries: I have one of their catalogues dated 1794. But that firm, no longer includes among its partners anyone of the name of Dickson. MM. Vilmorin, however, continue to direct the firm which has been in their family for over two centuries, and which, in a sense, goes back much farther, for they absorbed in the 18th century the business of one Le Febvre*. which existed prior to 1692 on the Quai de la Megisserie. Paris. This, as its name indicates, was a very important centre when distribution of merchandise was solely confined to road coaches. The founder of the Vilmorin-Andrieux brajnch of the business, so far as can be definitely ascertained, was one Pierre Geoffroy. who died on June 2, 1728, and whose widow,' Jeanne Diffetot, continued it after her hus- band's death, and she was succeeded by her daughter Claude Geoffroy. The business was I hen, as now. on the Quai de la Megisserie. formerly called Quai de la Ferraille. In 1745. he Sir, ir le Frlnrc, stir le gutty de hi Mtffhserie, ii mi itriniil ttssortiment de graines et vignons de sanfMi," recorded A. de Pradel in Le Litre Commode ./.-,. adressej de Paris pour 1692; and in- M-ntm Lister. w:io Ei'oompanied the ISnrl o' Portland i n Ins Knihassy tn Paris, of wliieli he published an account in 1698. speaks of this same Le Febvre :is :i seedsman, of ilia nursery and of his particularly fine Tulips. Mdlle. Geoffroy married Pierre Andrieux, whose knowledge of plants procured him the appoint- ment of Botanist to the King, Louis XV. — /* hien aime; and M M. Vilmorin still possess the actual orders to Pierre Andrieux from the King for seeds and trees to be supplied for the gardens of the Tuileries. Pierre Andrieux and his wife had one daughter. Adelaide, who, on July 14, 1774, mar- ried Philippe Victoire Leveque de Vilmorin. M. de Vilmorin was born on September 22, 1746. at Landrecourt, near Verdun of imper- ishable memory ; he was the youngest of ten children of a nobleman greatly reduced in cir- cumstances by the wars, and, an orphan at 13, he went to Paris at an early age. intending to take up the medical profession. He became acquainted with Antoine Nicholas Duchesne (1747 — 1816). the eminent botanist, and, among others, also with Pierre Andrieux. whose daugh- ter, as already stated, he married ; he then be- came a partner in his father-in-law's business, which changed its title to Andrieux et Vil- morin, and afterwards to that of Vilmorin- Andrieux ; and as such it has always remained. In common with other business houses, the establishment had its sign, which was originally .1 1/ f'nq de la bonne Foy, which was altered in 1747 to An Roi de* Oixeaux. But during the how to make it. The broadside concludes with the following: Les curieiix qui roudront choisir eux-memes leurs arbres, plantes et arbustes, pottrront atler an jardin du sieitr Vilmorin Andrieux. One wonders where in Paris M. de Vilmorin's nursery garden was at that time situated. The broadside derives a special interest from the little account which is written on the back, evidently by a clerk, but signed by the head of the firm himself. The account is as follows : — Du ler deeembre, 1769 Lotier dorant 4 Jacintes doubles 3 Narcisses id. ... 3 paq. de Coloquintes liv. sols, den 1 — — 1 4 — — 9 — 12 — 4 — 4 autres paquets de fleurs a 6s. 1 Pour Monsieur Chaussee 12 paquets de fleurs a 6s. ... 3 12 — 8 Is — Recti Comptant Vilmorin-Andrieux. It was probably Pierre Philippe Andre Leveque de Vilmorin, who was born in Paris *5» ■ ' - '■-'"'"H' of Schizanthus are exceptionally fine, while Clarkias, in orange shades particularly, combine to make a most effective group. Y. G. {To be concluded.) RAISING CONSERVATORY PLANTS FROM SEED. When making the seed order in spring, one realises how much the conservatory depends for its brightness, the year round, on plants which may be raised from seeds. At this season of the year especially, excepting for bulbs 3 practically all the dwarf plants in flower were raised from seed included in last year's order. Cyclamen, for instance, although they are generally classed amongst those to be raised in autumn, are no less satisfactory if raised from seed sown in a brisk heat ■ cry early in February, since the plant- have no dull days to contend with, like those raised in autumn, and it is surprising the difference this makes. In fact, in July, when both are ready for their flower- ing pots, there is little, if any, difference be- tween the two batches. I have also hail occa- sion to purchase young plants from boxes in March, and where then* is not sufficient heat t ) warrant sowing now, it is a plan to be commended. Primulas of the sinensis type will shortly be at their best from seed sown in April and Slay, 1921. Simple as is the raising 0f these flowers, December trie* them, unless there is a free circulation of warm air in the growing house, and extra care is taken, when watering, not to wet the collar of the plant. Primulas should not be taken into the conservatory until they are nearly in full bloom, otherwise the trusses will not develop evenly. P. stellata will do with much cooler conditions than the ordinary type of P. sinensis, as the plants are not so subject to damping as are the older varieties. P. obconica is the least fastidious of all green- house Primulas, and it is worth going to a little trouble to obtain seeds from those who have exceptional strains. P. malacoide,s and P. kewensis, amongst the smaller types, are useful. All these may be sown at the same time. Likewise Cinerarias, which from January to May are indispensable to any show house. In addition to the large-flowered and Stellata types, Sutton's Peltham Beauty, with a habit much similar to the last-mentioned varieties, but with large flowers, is worth including. Herbaceous Calceolarias merit attention, and few plants are more showy. June is early enough for ; owing the seed. C. Clihrani bears the same relation to the herbaceous type as the Star Cineraria does to the large-flowered form. The flowers are clear golden yellow. A variety, however, is assured if the hybrids are sown. Amongst these the John Innes strain is very rich in mauve and cream shadf *. Although HOME CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the op'nions expressed by correspondents.] Isabelle (see pp. 3, 23. 47).— The correct use - I the word is evidently desirable. The follow- ing information is taken from Littre's Dic- tionary, than which there can be perhaps no higher authority : (1) Originally noun, signify- ing a kind of stuff in colour midway between white and yellow; " les isabelles pales et dorees seront teintes avec un peu de raucourt (rocou) " (1669), Rocou, Rocourt, Raucourt or Raucourt ( Mod. Brasilian-urucu) being a dyeing material obtained from Bixa Orellana, and used to pro- duce a yellow or golden yellow on silk, etc. (2) Adjectival use, whence, for instance, " cheval isabelle."' a pale yellow, self-coloured horse became simply an isabelle or cream, as we should say. Littre does not regard the ascribed derivation from the archduchess as having any foundation. The tint given by the well-known vegetable dye should fix the matter. H. PL J>urhnm. Pravention of Wilt in Melons.— Wilt or canker in Melon plants may be due to several causes, including bad ventilation, the use of the knife, and by a too frequent use of the syringe. From the seedling stage to ripening of the fruit, the plants need an adequate and continu- ous circulation of fresh air, without creating a draught or reducing the temperature; this will prevent moisture from condensing, and the plants will develop strong, leathery leaves, capable of resisting red spider, and so do away with the necessity for the syringe. Continuous and timely attention to stopping ami pinching with the thumb and finger-nail will prevent the pro- duction of superfluous leaves and largely ob- viate the use — and consequent wounds — of the knife. J>nr, Staff,. Cedrus Libani.— We have a group of four magnificent trees of Cedrus Libani, the largest of which is 25 feet in circumference, at 3 feet from the ground. These Cedars are reputed the largest in England and the age variously computed at from 450 to 1.000 years. They almost strip themselves of "needles" every third or fourth year, and are very slow growing. Cedrus atlautica glauca is also very fine here. Gould any reader kindly give me information n -|h < ting Cedrus Libani, tin' introduction of the tree to this country, and the reputed ages of specimens. G. II". Staccy, Tin Gardens, Chor- leywood Cedars. Begonias Forming Bulbils at the Axils of Leaves (see pp. 56. 48). — Having grown Be- gonia martiana for the past five seasons, my experience of it is that bull its are formed in 1 1n- axils of leaves and flower stalks at the time the flowers commence to open, and are ready t" drop when the flowers fade, as a slight shaking then will practically clear the plant of them. I believe that. B. martiana is a variety of B. graeiilis. It is a very fine subject for the con- servatory during August and September. The plant requires a warm temperature and a peaty soil, with a liberal quantity of silver sand. I find that the tubers decay at the end of the second season, but as the plant is easily raised from the bulbils, if sown the same as seed, at the end of April, there is no difficulty in keep- ing up the stock. This beautiful Begonia should be more widely grown for indoor decora- tion. Four plants iii an eight -inch pot make a fine bush about 3 ft. high and 18 in. through, as laterals develop from every joint. G. Horw. Craigavad House, Co. Down. February 4, 192i THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 57 SOME EXPERIMENTS WITH STRAWBERRIES. It is fate, but none the less unfortunate, that the origin of the garden Strawberry is quite un- known. It is a descendant of the Pine variety, which may or may not be Fragaria granditiora. This Pine came from Holland to England, but where it was found in the first place history apparently fails to relate. There is an old romance that it came from Surinam, which is about as probable as the somewhat older story that there were unicorns in Florida, and, in con- sequence, lions, as animals were supposed to be found next to their natural enemies. A more probable suggestion is that the Pine is a sport from F. illinoensis, but it is past belief that the Americans should have failed to reproduce it, for a native fruit with '' soniis " flavour would have had volumes written about it. Eight or nine years ago I self-fertilised a Pine obtained from Cambridge Botanical Gardens. It produced too mixed a progeny to be ranked as pure. A cross with F. chiloensis, which I self- fertilised, gave various forms of foliage and many sterile degenerates. One of these degenerates was quite new to me; it started as a mono- phylla and gradually developed more leaflets till at one time it had young leaves with one, two, three, four and five leaflets, all of about the same age, and distributed just anyhow about the plant. My Pine may not be a warranted genuine article, but I doubt if a better could be found; there are many forms of Pine to-day, including a fluctuating variegated form, which is sometimes green, sometimes mottled or splashed with white. In all the crosses I made with the' Pine variety I found nothing in the nature of the Mendelian equality ratio, in any simple character. My work on simple characters has been limited to such things as white and red fruits, white and pink flowers, double and single flowers, runner making and bush, hairy leaf-stalks and hairless, with a few other experiments of an obvious type, so it is quite possible some cross of Pine x F. species may have produced a simple 1 : 1 ratio which I neglected, but I do not think this likely. The fact that there are probably multitudes of characters in foliage was very clearly demon- strated in a cross, F. chiloensis x F. e.at or (Hautbois); the first generation was uniform in all respects, except sex and structures depen- dent upon sex. Unfortunately, the degree of female sterility has been so great that I have failed to raise a plant from a self-fertilised or brother-fertilised female, but the cross-back F. chiloensis x (chiloensis * elatior) has pro- duced a family with no two plants alik.? in foliage, and, further, it is impossible to grade the leaves, starting at one end with F. chiloensis and ending at tine other with 1'. olatior. Whilst endeavouring to obtain some light on the Pine by analysis, I have carried on parallel work of reconstruction, based on the supposi- tion that the garden Strawberry is the outcome of a series of crossings between species well known in England and Holland in the eighteenth century and earlier. Here I have wasted much time through ignorance on the subject of fertility and sterility, a subject which I can but say I consider has been grossly neglected in the past. With the gleam of light I have very recently obtained on this subject I hope to make better progress in future. The value of unfinished work is frequently less than that placed on it by its originator, but the storing of facts in inaccessible places is not a habit to be encouraged, accordingly, I trust the following may be acceptable : — On a large scale I crossed F. vesca and F. virginiana, using both plants as male and female parents. The results were two families of plants alike in character and uniform in all respects except sex. The majority of these plants were female sterile, and no well-developed fruit has been obtained from them, either by hand pollina- tion or by chance. From hermaphrodites, which set occasional seeds, I have grown nine plants. all rather closely resembling one another and their parents. From this I suggest that the female, containing all the F. virginiana and F. vesca factors, when crossed with pollen con- taining all the virginiana and vesca factors, can only produce seed when certain combinations of factors ai'e formed, the same as, or similar to, the original cross. That the chances of pure F. virginiana ovules meeting pure F. virginiana pollen are so remote that the appearance of a pure F. virginiana grand-child is not to be ex- pected (the same also applies to a pure F. vesca grand-child). That, as above stated, the problems of sterility and fertility have been neglected too long. The foliage of this cross resembled that of F. virginiana in colour, and was intermediate in shape and texture, many plants producing multi-foliate Leaves. Continuing, I crossed F. chiloensis with a (virginiana x vesca) grand-child. The progeny flowered in the summer of 1921, and fruited to some extent, though the prolonged drought seriously affected the crop. The size of fruit was too dependent on the amount of seed set to grade the fruit, but there were distinct indica- tions that some plants, under favourable pollina- tion, would produce fruits about the size of those - f I . chiloensis, whilst a majority would be about midway between F. vesca and F. GOLD MEDAL EXHIBIT OF HARDY FRUIT AT WORCESTER. The display of fruits on the occasion of the Worcestershire Root, Fruit, Grain and Flower Society's exhibition held in November last, at the County Hall, Worcester, was certainly the finest of its kind ever seen in that old City. In aJl the classes entries were numerous and filled with excellent produce, the competition being exceptionally keen in the sections for Apples and Potatcs. In the fruit section the principal class was for a cjisplay of hardy fruit arranged on & table 8 feet by 4 feet, and de- corated with hardy foliage. The first prize in this class was a Challenge Cup, value forty guineas, together with a Gold Medal. W. J. Gresson, Esq. (gr. Mr. T. Parry), Stoke House, Severn Stoke, Worcester, won the pre- mier prize with a superb exhibit (Fig. 29) decorated with great taste. Most of the better known varieties of Apples and Pears were re- presented and the specimens were of good size and bright colour. Quinces. Medlars, Walnuts and Red Currants were also exhibited, the whole making a grand display of nearly sixty dishes. Mr. Gresson had to compete against Fig. 29. — first prize exhibit of hardy fruit at Worcester show. virginiana. The F. vesca. flavour appeared both in the large and small fruit in about half the plants that fruited. The leaves are nearly always multifoliate and vary greatly in shape, colour and texture. The plants resisted the drought exceedingly well. A sample of these plants will be tested for fertility this year. A hatch of seedlings is being raised from self- fertilised plants in the meantime. The F. chiloensis x F. elatior cross, mentioned above, has been used as pollen parent to F. vir- giniana and the plants grown have scarcely de- veloped sufficiently to enable any conclusions to be drawn. My hope is to unite a plant with fair- sized and F. elatior flavoured fruit to a plant of the F. vesca x (virginiana * chiloensis) cross, with fair-sized and F. vesca -flavoured fruit : then, if all goes well. I should have a recon- structed Pine variety, with a pedigree of a kind to rely upon. Even supposing the Pine does not appear (it is long odds against it doing so) there will be a flavour or flavours ready to pass to the race of modern giants, which, lik» all giants, seems to be docile and, from the hybridist's point of view, obliging. All this experimental work has been con- ducted by me at the John Innes Horticultural Institution, Merton, under the kind supervision of Professor Bateson. and with the assistance of Ins able staff, to whom I owe a deep debt of gratitude. I '. II- Sichardson. four other exhibitors. It may be added that Mr. Gresson was also successful in the leading class for a display of Potatos arranged on a table space 5 feet by 4 feet, and here he won a Silver Cup, value fifteen guineas, and a Silver Medal. Exhibits from Stoke House (Tar- dens also won many prizes at the National Potato Show held in Birmingham in 1920. Visitor. FRUIT REGISTER. APPLE ISLE ok WIGHT PIPPIN. In mid-December a gentleman sent me a boj of specimen Apples for naming, and I was de- lighted to handle a sort, well known to me in my boyh I days, Isle of Wight Pippin. Trees of this old. useful sort arc, I believe. prevalent on the island after which il is named. The fruits are useful both fur dessert End cook- ing purposes. The tree is most productive, and by keeping the fruits in a cool atmosphere its season may be extended to the end of December. The fruits are of second "i- medium sizes the skin is coloured rich yellow and covered with a russety shading >>n the shaded side, givfing the whole a luscious appearance. Trees of this useful pippin may he obtained from nurserymen in the South "f England, and if only grown for productiveness would he well worth planting. /'"Ilinn/l. 58 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 4, 1922. SOCIETIES. MANCHESTER AND NORTH OF ENGLAND ORCHID. January 5. —Committee present: The Rev. J. Crombleholme (in the chair), Messrs. R. Ash- worth, B. J. Beckton, J. Birchenall, A. Burns, D. A. Cowan, J. C. Cowan, J. Cypher, A. G. Ellwood, A. Hanmer, Dr. R. N. Hartley, J. Howes, A. Keeling, D. McLeod, F. K. Sander, E. W. Thompson and H. Arthur (Secretary). Awards. First-Class Certificates. Cypriped'unn Oralrixiue. — The large, flat, dor- sal sepal is white suffused with rose and heavily spotted with dark red; the petals and pouch are bright reddish brown. G. Cyclops Weston- birt var. A beautiful flower of large size, and perfect shape. From Mrs. G-ratrix. G. Bourtonense (Harefield Hall x Blanche Moore). — A well-shaped flower ; the dorsal sepal is green with deep white margin, the green covered with brown spots ; the petals and pouch are light brown. O. Hestra var. Empress of India. — The dorsal sepal is heavily spotted with deep purple ; the petals and pouch are dark brown. All from S. Gratrix, Esq. C. Merlene (Lord Wolmer x Silene).— The dorsal sepal is white with small green base and a few black spots; the petals and pouch are light green ; Luelio-C'attleija Eli/sian var. Solaris (L.-C. Myrrha x L.-C Smilax). A large flower; the sepals are deep orange and the petals orange-crimson ; the lip is deep crimson, and throat veined with orange. From D. Smith Esq. Odontoma Charlesworthii Bedford's var., from Dr. F. Bedford. Awards of Merit. Cijpiipediuin Dulciora splendens (Helen II. - Wellesleyae) and C. Lord Wolmer var. Arenea, from the Rev. J. Crombleholme. C. Conquest far. compactum, and Odoulo- glossum crispum Xoel from S. Gratrix, Esq. Cypiipediitm San-Actaet/s var. giganteum, I'. JEsmanii [sEson giganteum x Beebmani), from P. Smith, Esq. G. Alma var. Hildegarde, from Mrs. Gratrix. C. Argo var. March Along, from B. J. Beckton, Esq. Odontoglossum leightmense (Rossii x pro- merens), from Dr. R. N. Hartley. Groups. S. Gratrix, Esq., West Point (gr. Mr J Howes), staged a group for which a Gold Medal was awarded. It included Cypripediums in great variety. Silver Medals were awarded to Mrs. Bruce and Miss Wrigley, Bury (gr Mr. A. Burns, the Rev. J. Crombleholme. C ayton-le-Moors (gr. Mr. E. Marshall), and Messrs. Cypher and Sons, Cheltenham, for collections. NORFOLK AND NORWICH HORTI CULTURAL SOCIETY. This old society (dating back to 1829) held its annual meeting on the 28th ult. The report was not such a favourable one as could be wished. Owing to financial loss, the committee has decided not to hold a spring show this year. The Rose Show will be held on the last Thursday in June in the grounds of Bracondale Woods, Norwich, and the Chrysanthemum and Fruit Show in the latter part of November. J. E. T. Pollard, Esq., who was hon. secre- tary for many years, was elected president, and Mrs. Hoffman, Blickling Hall, kindly consented to accept the vice-presidency. As the hon. secretary, Mr. R. J. Preston had notified his wish to retire , it was agreed, upon the sug- gestion of Mr. H. Perry, that a paid secretary should be engaged. For this position, Captain Sandys Winsch was elected. He is Parks Superintendent of Norwich, and his office is at St. Peters Street, Norwich. GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. January 26. — We were glad to notice a very considerable increase in the attendance at the annual meeting of this excellent horticultural charity over that of recent years, although there is every truth in the frequent contention that a small meeting betokens great confidence in the management. Regret was voiced by all present that the chairman and hon. treasurer, Sir Harry J. Veitch, was absent on the advice of his doctor, thus breaking the long sequence of his presidency at these annua] gatherings of friends and supporters of the Institution. We are happy to state, however, that Sir Harry is not seriously indisposed, but keeping to ihis room as a precaution, in view of the un- settled weather and prevalence of illness. Amongst those who attended we noticed Messrs. P. C. M. Veitch, John White, H. G. Cox, A. Bullock, Ov\en Thomas, John Heal. H. M. Veitch. Leonard Sutton, R. Frogbrook, George Monro, C. H. Curtis, P. R. Barr, Geo. F. Tinley, J. F. McLeod, E. Monro, Donald McDonald, J. Linford, W. 0. Hiehle, J. R. Pulham. D. Iiigamells, A. R. Lake, R. W. Wallace, C. R. Fielder, T. Passmore, and Percival Etheridge. On the motion of Mr. P. C. M. Veitch, .Mr. Leonard Sutton was appointed chairman, and after the secretary had read the minutes of the previous annual meeting, the annual re- port of the committee for 1921 was presented, of which the following are extracts : — EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR 1921. In presenting tlieir S2nd Annua] Statement, together with the Accounts (as audited) for 1921, the Committee are pleased and thankful to report that, owing to the means so kindly placed at their disposal by the friend,, t the Institution, they have been enabled to mainta n the work during the year without any curtailment of efficiency or benefits, alrjlongh they cannot conceal their grreat anxiety for the future, in view of the unsettled nnanciul state of the country, which must necessarily affect the income of all charities, and they therefore very earnestly appeal to their friends and wedl-wishers to do their utmost to continue their support and interest in this National Horticultural eharity. At the beginning of the year there were 250 annui- tants oa The list — m..a and widows receiving ±'20 and £16 a year respectively. During the year several have passed away, three of whom, having left widows whose circumstance.; being in every way deserving, were placed on the funds in succession to their late husbands in accordance with Rule III, 13; and today the Com- mittee recommend that 20 applicants from, an approved list of 48 candidates be added by election in add.tion to one candidate who has been nominated to receive tile " Arthur W. Sutton Pension." The Annua! Festival Dinner in a'd of the funds, which was held on May 27 at the Hotel Victoria, under tlhe Presidency of His Hoyal Highness the Duke of York, K.G., proved very successful, and the eloquent advocacy of the Royal President on behalf of th.. ciaims of the charity resulted in a much valued ad- dition to the amount required towards earning on the work. The Ooarmiittee have the great pleasure to announce the following very generous gifts: one of War Lean from Arthur W Sutton, Esq., F.L.S., J. P., V.M.H.. to found an " Arthur W. Sutton Pension "; and another from Mrs. Monro, J. P., Major E. G. Monro, Geo. Monro, Esq., and Bert J. Monro, Esq., to found a " Geo. Monro Trust " in memory of the late Geo. Monro, Esq., V.M.H., who was a member of the Com- mittee for 45 years. It is needless to say how welem* these gifts are rnd how much they are appreciated. The Committee desire to offer their thanks to th? ladies and gentlemen who have again so kindly allowed their beautiful gardens to be opened to the public on behalf of the funds. Reference is also made to the kindness o< Sir Hurry J. Veitch (treasurer), Mrs. Monro, J. P., Geo. Monro, Esq., and Bert J. Monro. Esq., in providing an allow- ance of £10 each to four unsuccessful candidates at the last electVm. The Auxiliaries still prove very valuable adjuncts to the Institution, each having materially udded to the funds yearlv, ilie Worcester Auxiliary having raised the largest amount during the past year since it was established. The Committee have the sad duty to announce the loss by death of manv valued friends and supporters, whose' passing away" will be deeply felt. Amongst them mav be mentioned: The Earl cf Ducie, P.C. ; The Lord' Balfour of Burle'gh. K.T. ; The Lord Mount. Stephen, Mnjor-Geneial Sir Edward Coit;s; The Rt. Hon Sir Ernest Cassel. P.C; Liidv Veitch; Mrs. Adair: W. L. A. Burditl-Coutts. Esq., M.P. : C. S. Huntirg, Esq.; .T. C. Geiselbrecht. Esq.; and Walt-r Speed. Eq, V.M.H. ; also Geo. Paul, Esq. J. P.. V.M.H.. for 50 years a warm friend of the Institution; and R, G. Waterman, Esq., Hon. Secretary to the Liverpool Auxiliary, a devoted worker for tine cause. HARRY J. VEITCH. Treasurer tc Chairman of Comnutt e GEO. J. INGRAM, Se:rtr, The Chairman moved the adoption of the report and statement of accounts and proceeded to offer a. few remarks on the Fund. He con- gratulated Ilie committee mi a satisfactory year's work and considered that much of the success was due to the efforts of their hard- working Secretary, Mr. Geo. Ingram, and their Hon. Treasurer. Sir Harry Veitch. No fewer lhan 250 homes were benefiting through the In- stitution, and although the amount allotted to each individual was small, it made all the difference in the world to those people who received it. and was especially valuable to poor people in their declining years. The Fund was to be congratulated on having for its President the Prince of Wales, and the Institution was honoured by having the Duke of YorK as Chair- man at the Annual Festival Dinner last year, and he hoped that His Royal Highness's pre sence was an inspiration to all the younger members of the company present on that RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS OK THE GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. For the Year ending December 31, 1921. PvECEIPTS. To B dance with Bankers, January, 1921 : — On General Account On 1 1 -posit Account Do. (Wolfe Legacy and In • terest) Balance with Secretary January, 1921 Annual Subscriptions Donations Schroder Annuity Additional Residue Miss Hillman's Estate Dividends and Interest (less tax) Income Tax refunded Deposit Interest (Wolfe Legacy) Arthur W. Sutton. Esq.. Gift of sU per cenl . War Loan (per contra) 1,198 in 3 200 0 0 891 17 6 1.213 18 0 2,571 8 1 20 0 0 4 17 'i ."47 1 6 232 4 3 2,297 17 2 4,914 0 5 635 0 0 PAYMENTS. £ s. d. £ -s d By Annuities and Gratuities . . 4.341 19 2 Rent. Fuel, Lighting and Salaries of Secretary and Clerk (including travel- ling expenses) 687 8 7 Expense of Annual Meeting and Election r, a 5 Printing and Stationery £163 2 9, less Adver- tise meats, £45 4 3 . . 117 18 6 Cheque Books (1920, 1921) 211 1(1 1 Postage, Reports, Polling Papers, Appeals and Ordinary 67 7 7 Ti lephone Charges 3 is 11 Cost of Wreath 4 4 0 Carriage. Telegrams, Typiug and Incidental Expenses 22 15 10 Advertisements (1920, 1921) " Fry's Charities 5 5 0 941 14 11 Arthur W. Sutton, Esq. Gift of 4t per cent. War Loan (per contra) 6S5 0 0 Balance with Bankers, December 31, 1921 :— On General Account 807 0 2 On Deposit Account 200 0 0 Do (Wolfe Legacy and In- 910 9 1 Balance with Secretary, December 31, 1921 4 14 :: ooo 3 (!• £ 7.8 tG 17 7 (Signed)G. H, COBLEY, KAY &CO. (Honorary Auditors). Chartered Ai countants. •£1208 i« required to meet the quarterly payments due cu Decembi i :;i. 1021. February 4, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 59 occasion. The paragraph referring to the deaths of prominent supporters of the charity in- cluded many distinguished horticulturists, and their lose showed the need for fresih supporters to carry on the useful work that had extended over eighty years. Mr. Etheridge, in second- ing the adoption of the report, stated that nothing gave him greater pleasure than to help institutions of this kind. Although not attached to horticulture in a commercial sense, he loved his garden, and knew the strain and stress gardening involved and the worry all are ex- periencing in these times of reduced finance. The Institution was doing most laudable work, but he considered that funds should be forth- coming to support not 250 annuitants, but 500. He paid high tribute, to the committee, to Sir Harry Veitch and the excellent Secretary, whose work had been second to none. MJr. Etheridge advocated obtaining many more small subscriptions, and he would like the com- mittee to accept them as low as 5s., so that means of help would be within the reach of all. We were living in most strenuous times and he considered that the financial strain was far greater now than at any time during the war; we must retrench, not with regard to these poor pensioners, but rather go forward and build up a much larger subscription list. At this stage of the proceedings, the Chair- man read a telegram from Sir Harry Veitch as follows: "Very sorry not to be with you. Cordial greetings to all friends." It was de- cided to send a telegram to Sir Harry thanking him for his message and wishing him a speedy recovery. The election of officers was next proceeded with. Sir Harry Veitch was re-elected Treasurer on the proposition of Mr. Owen Thomas, seconded by Mr. George Monro. Mr. Geo. Ingram was reappointed Secretary, and the retiring members of the committee were all re- elected. The Hon. Auditors and Arbitrators were also re-elected and the Scrutineers of the iballot appointed. The meeting was then ad- journed until the declaration of the poll. The successful twenty candidates were as follows : — Thomas Jones, 5.276; Henry J. Godfrev. 4,943; Aaron Rawle. 4,858; Thomas East, 4,447; John G. Bristol, 4,311; Thomas Leslie, 4,172; Wil- liam R. Baker, 3,681: Martha. Chudleigh. 3,489; James Dougall, 3,453; William Hunter, 3,286; Thomas Cranham, 3.219; John Dey, 3,197; James Taverner, 3.103; Emily S. Whiting. 2,923; Elizabeth A. Wilson, 2.834; Elizabeth A. Trussler, 2,653; Selina A. Martin, 2,651; Emma Woodhatoh, 2,615; Eliza- beth Rye, 2,658; and William Hill, 2,602. In addition to the above, Mr. Joseph Mallard was awarded the Arthur W. Sutton Annuity, and sums of £10 each, being one year's allowances, were given by Sir Harry J. Veitch, Mrs. Geo. Monro, Mr. Geo. Monro, Mr. Bert Monro, and Mr. Leonard Sutton to five unsuccessful can- didates. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. January 31.— A bright and attractive exhibi- tion was held in connection with the (meeting of this date, and although it was not such an extensive display as many Fellows anticipated, it was a most interesting one, consisting chiefly of Orchids, Carnations, Primulas and earlv hardy flowers, the latter including numerous Daffodils, Hyacinths and Crocuses gently forced into bloom. Novelties were few in number and the Floral Committee made no awards at all to new plants. Orchid Committee. Present: Frederick J. Hanbury, Esq., in the chair, Messrs. Jas. O'Brien (Hon. Secretary), R. Brooman White, Walter Cobb, Arthur Dye, S. W. Flory, J. T. Barker, Chas. H. Curtis, J. E. Shill. H. T. Pitt. T. Armstrong. E. R. Ashton. Richard G. Thwaites, C. Cookson. Gurney Wilson, and C. J. Lucas. Awards. First-Class Certificate. Odontioda Cordor (Oda Coronation x Odm. Doris), from Messrs. Armstrong and Brown, Orchidhurst, Tunbridge Wells. A grand variety, with a fine spike of ten flowers, equal in size, and form to a good Odm. crispum. Sepals arid petals rich red, tinged with mauve. Lip with a dark red blotch in front of the yellow crest, and white front, spotted with red. Awards of Merit. Odontioda Antinous [Oda. Coronation x Odm. exidtans), from Messrs. Armstrong and Brown. Flowers perfectly formed, deep violet, tinged with red. Lip, lilac colour, with violet blotch in front of the well-defined yellow crest. The plant 'bore three flowers. Odontoglossiim crispum Hero, from Messrs. Charlesworth, Hayward's Heath. Probably the finest of the grand strain of Odm. crispum raised true by Messrs. Charlesworth. The plant bore a noble spike of large and finely-formed pure white flowers, the sepals having each one reddish blotch. Brasso-Cattleya Ruby var. Sosetti (B.-C. Mrs. J. Leemann x C. labiata), from Messrs. Stuart Low and Co., Jarvisbrook. One of the brightest and most richly coloured of the sec- tion. Flowers deep rosy-mauve. Crest of the lip chrome-yellow with gold lines from the base. The spike bore three finely-formed flowers. Groups. Messrs. Sanders, St. Albans, were awarded a Silver Flora Medal for a pretty group, most effectively arranged in green moss, each plant standing out distinctly. The back was of Cym- bidiums, including Alexanderi, Pauwelsii and Butterfly, the novelty being C Tracyanum leopardinum with a fine spike of large flowers i-venly spotted with chocolate red. Cattleyas, Laelio-Cattleyas, Odontoglossums and Cypri- pediums, were well displayed, with several very rare species, including tihe delicate Otochilus fuscns, with a spray of pretty white flowers, the peculiarity in which is the globular gland at the base of the upper sepal, which possibly acts as a nectary. Scarlet Sophronitis, with many flowers, and species of Masdevallia and allied genera were arranged in the front. Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., Hayward's Heath, were awarded a Silver Banksian Medal for a select group, in which the richly-coloured Odontoglossum Tityus. violet with white margin, the snow white Odm. eximium Virginae, and the yellow Odm. Phillipsianum aureum with the new Odm. eximatum were attractive features. Messrs. Flory and Black. Slough, were awarded a Silver Banksian Medal for a group including some Sophronitis crosses; the very fine Odontioda St. Quentin var. rotundum with white flowers marked on the inner part of the segments with light red ; Laelio-Cattleya H. T. Pitt and Brasso-Cattleya Floryi, attractive plants of unusually good colour. Other Exhibits. G. W. Bird, Esq.. Manor House, West Wick- ham (gr. Mr. H. Redden), showed a fine speci- men of his deep purple-tinted Odontioda Trebi- zond (Odm. Fascinator x Oda. Charlesworthii), which secured an Award of Merit in 1918. Messrs. Armstrong and Brown showed the handsome Cypripedium Satyr (Beryl x Hera Euryades) with a fine white dorsal sepal, richly blotched with deep maroon. Messrs. Hassall and Co.. Southgate, showed a fine plant of the rich red Oncidioda Cooksonii with over 100 flowers. Flora! Committee. Present : Messrs. H. B. May (in the chair), W. J. Bean, G. Reuthe, Reginald Cory, Jas. Hudson, R. C. Notcutt. Hugh Dickson, John Heal, George Harrow, C. R. Fielder, Andrew Ireland, Donald Allan, W. Howe. Charles Dixon, W. B. Gingell, Arthur Turner, H. J. Jones, Chas. E. Shea, Chas. E. Pearson, W. H. Page, W. B. Cranfield, and E. A. Bowles. AWA3D. A card of Cultural Commendation was awarded to Mrs. A. M. Robinson, Eaistgate Manor. Chichester, for exceptionally large blooms of Violets Princess of Wales, Marie Louise, and Mrs. D. Lloyd George. Groups. On a floor space, just inside the entrance of the hall, Messrs. Sutton and Sons arranged an exceedingly attractive collection of their noted Primulas. The large exhibit was arranged very skilfully and included particularly well-grown plants, as well as admirable strains. The stellata strain, which included Improved Giant White, bearing large, pure flowers of good tex- ture, and Coral Pink, were especially graceful, and served also to draw attention to the solid value of the sinensis section. Of the latter, Giant Crimson, Reading Pink, and Coral Pink, amongst the single-flowered varieties, were ad- mirable, whilst the double-flowered variety Queen of Pinks bore a profusion of charming flowers. On a table space Messrs. Sutton and Sons had a second exhibit and this was a grace- ful display of spring bulbs growing in delight- ful bowls of fibre. Besides many Hyacinths and Narcissi there were bowls of Lachenalias, Ane- mone blanda, Crocuses and Lily-of-the-Vallev (Silver-Gilt Flora Medal). Carnations were of especially good quality- Messrs. Allwood Bros, had an interesting col- lection of their recently raised Perpetual-Border varieties at the end of a display of Perpetuals and Perpetual-Malmaisons. Of the latter, Mrs. C. F. Raphael, which seems to be always in season, was particularly attractive. The newer Jessie Allwood was also of merit ; the yellow flowers were very bright and harmonise well with those of pink shades (Silver Grenfell: Medal). Although good Carnations formed a large part of the contribution by Messrs. Stuart Low and Co., it was the small plants of the fragrant Daphne indica rubra and the various Mimosas that attracted most attention. Besides these there were equally well-flowered .examples of Camellias and Azalea indica in variety (Silvei- Banksian Medal). The varieties of pink shades of colour were very prominent in a collection- of Carnations shown by Mr. C. Engelmann. Of these the most prominent were Laddie. Delice, Boadicea and Cupid (Silver Banksian Medal). Several informal little rock gardens added greatly to the variety and interest of the show. Messrs. Wm. Cutbush and Son planted theirs with shapely, dwarf Conifers and Ericas, and such alpines as Saxifrages and Sedums Adjoin- ing the rock garden they had a group of decora- tive pot plants of Eucalyptus Gunnii (Silver Grenfell Medal). Messrs. Waterer. Sons and- Crisp displayed good batches of Irises in their rock garden. The principal sorts were I. stylosa lilacina, I. reticulata and I. sindjarensis. They also had pretty patches of Scillas and Crocus versicolor Cloth of Silver (Silver Grenfell Medal). Besides a pleasant little rockery surmounted with dwarf Conifers, Skimmia japonica, freely berried, and the like, and planted with Iris reticulata, Saxifrages and Sedums. Messrs. J. Cheal and Sons showed various Conifers and branches of Hamamelis bearing quantities of at- tractive flowers (Bronze Flora Medal). Mr. Dixon again made a little model sunken gar- den backed by a low rockery (Silver Banksian Medal). Amongst a small collection of Conifer branches, Mr. G. Reuthe included several species of Athrotaxis and Pinus. He also showed other trees and shrubs, alpines, Iris histrioides. Christmas Roses and Eranthis hyemalis (Bronze Flora Medal). A beautiful patch of Saxifraga Burseriana magna was conspicuous in the low rockeiw built by Messrs. Skelton and H.uidy, who also dis- played Saxifraga Elizabethae, various Ericas and Conifers (Silver Banksian Medal). Many plants of Azalea indica were shown by Messrs. L. R. Russell. Ltd., and these were interspersed by several Bromeliaids and Begonia manicata, with a smaller collection of small Camellias in full bloom, and sprays of Primus triloba (Silver Banksian Medal). Mr. S. Aish continued his exhibits of unusually late Chry- santhemum blooms by showing good ex- amples of such varieties as Heston White, Percy \. Dove and Enfield White. <30 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 4, 1922. Fruit and Vegetable Committee. Present : Messrs. C. G. A. Nix (in the chair), "W. Poupar't, H. S. Rivers, G. Berry, A. H. Pearson, E. A. Merryweather, Geo. F. Tinley, Ed. Beckett, E. Neal, W. Bates, S. B. Dicks, W. H. Divers, W. Wilks, .and S. T. Wright. There were no groups on this occasion, but several interesting seedling Apples were sub- mitted for awards. Award of Merit. Apple Laxton's Pearmain. — This variety was raised from Wyken Pippin crossed with Cox's Orange Pippin, the same parentage that resulted in another excellent variety, namely, Laxton's .Superb. The fruits greatly resemble Cox's Orange Pippin in appearance, but are of a duller red and have a longer stalk ; the eye is very much like Cox's. The quality is excellent, .although the specimens were about a fortnight past their best condition. The flavour partakes of the Cox's Orange Pippin type and the flesh is a very pale green and not pure white. The raisers inform us that the tree is of very vigorous growth, upright in habit and a very free crop- per. Exhibited by Messrs. Laxton Bros., Bedford. Other Exhibits. An excellent Apple, without a name, sup- posed to be a seedling raised from a pip of Newtown Pippin, was shown by Mrs. Alice G. Harrison, Haltondale, Wellingborough. It is probable that the pip was taken from a fruit of Northern Spy, which the Committee con- sidered it so nearly resembled as to be almost identical. The quality of this rather upright, ribbed fruit, with a bright crimson flush at the base, is excellent, and it may prove a more fertile type in this country than the old Northern Spy, which, is a very shy bearer in British gardens. Mr. E. A. Bunyard brought from the Ailing- ton Nurseries specimens of Apples ; Ananas Reinette, often known as Pineapple Reinette, is a very highly flavoured variety like a smooth ■Cockle's Pippin or Coe's Golden Drop ; the Pine- apple flavour is very pronounced : Reinette Grise de Saintonge is a large jussety Apple with firm, solid, juicy flesh, of excellent flavour, and the fruits had the appearance of keeping until much longer. The third variety was William Crump, an excellent late Apple for quality, but sadd to he so shy in bearing as to be unprofitable for planting. An Apple named Good's Bushy Grove was sub- mitted on October 5, 1920, and a deputation was appointed to inspect the tree ; the report received was favourable, and the Committee recommended an Award of Merit, but the grower will be asked to substitute another name, under which it will be recorded. ©bituarp. Thomas Nutting. — We learn with regret of -the death of Mr. Thomas Nutting, gardener at Childwickbury, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, for 36 years. He died on January 24 at Child- wickbury Gardens, aged 71 years. The late Mr. Nutting commenced his gardening career at the early age of twelve years in Messrs. Osborne's Nurseries, Fulham, where he remained for five years. From there he went to Danesfield Gardens, where he remained for nearly two years, proceeding thence to Sherborne Castle for a similar period, under the late Mr. Pragnell : he was also at Canford Manor for a year, and subsequently at Wotton Gardens, near Ayles- bury. From the last-named gardens he pro- ceeded to Chirk Castle as foreman. His first appointment as head gardener was to Richard Naylor, Esq., Kilmarsh Hall, Northampton, which post he held for a period of three and a half years, when he left to take a similar appointment to Henry Hall, Esq., Alton, Hants, where he retrained for a further three and a half years. In 1886 he was appointed gardener at Childwickburv. near St. Albans, to the late Sir J. Blundell Maple, and he remained at Child- wickbury until his death, in the service of J. B. Joel, Esq. Mr. Nutting was a clever gardener, and won many awards as an exhibitor , All who came in contact with him found him of a genial and kindly nature, and were im- pressed by his fine character and remarkable keenness in all matters appertaining to his pro- fession. No doubt the sad bereavements he suf- fered in recent days in the death, first of his beloved daughter, and shortly afterwards of his devoted wife, tended to shorten his span of life. George V. Nash. — A correspondent sends us some interesting particulars of the late Mr. G. V. Nash, who was curator, under the official title of head gardener, of the New York Botanic Garden since 1896. Mr. Nash, who died in the summer of 1921, visited Kew in 1891 for the purpose of examining the collec- tions there, and made a selection of over 1,000 species from duplicates of the indoor plants fo'r the gardens at Bronx Park. He was a most lovable man and took a prominent part in tihe development of horticultural interests in New York City, for, apart from his connection with the Botanic Gardens, he was (intimately asso- ciated with the many horticultural associations and the numerous floricultural shows held in that city. He was secretary of the Horticul- tural Society of New York for 10 years, and held that office at the time of his death. He is described in the American horticultural Press as "A striking figure; his presence, his practical and systematic knowledge, and his helpfulness will be greatly missed." Dr. Cecil A. P. Osburne. — We regret to an- nounce that Dr. Osburne passed away on Tues- day, the 24th ult. The funeral took place in the churchyard of Old Catton, on Friday, the 27th ult. * Apart from his profession, the doctor was a keen horticulturist, his leanings being towards floriculture. He was always ready to purchase the best varieties of any subject that appealed to him. Perhaps his great in- terest in his beautiful garden was the collec- tion of Irises he had got together. He had over a quarter of an acre devoted to the Germanica section, and these he attended to personally, trving all the time to find out their likes and dislikes and making experiments! to impart vigour and combat disease. He was president for the past two years of the Nor- folk and Norwich Horticultural Society, and always exhibited largely at its shows. TRADE NOTES. The Parliamentary Committee of the Cham- ber of Horticulture has considered a Report from the Transport Sub-Committee, sum- marising the work done during the past year, the concessions already obtained by direct con- ference with the railway companies, and the points upon which the Sub-Committee asked for instructions to proceed before the Rates Ad- visory Committee. The chairman, M>. G. W. Leak, remarked that the Report was very satis- factory as regards the Chamber's particular case [or nursery commodities. The report was adopted and the Sub-Committee given instruc- tions to proceed. The question of the expenses incurred to date, also the cost of briefing counsel to plead the case before the Rates Ad- visory Committee was then discussed, and it was agreed that Associations concerned should unite in defraying the same. Major Matthews submitted a letter from the private secretary to the President of the Board of Trade stating that the Board was prepared to receive a statement of a case for horticulture, and also to receive a deputation thereon. This refers to efforts being made with a view to the possible inclusion of horticultural produce in a Bill, which the Board of Trade have stated in the House of Commons, they propose to in- troduce to amend the present Merchandise Marks Acts. Extended powers of p'rosecution and compulsory labelling of foreign produce are points likely to be pressed for, and it was agreed that a conference of associations was necessary in order to decide on and draft the various points entailed, also to elect delegates. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Adiantum Ferns Attacked by Grubs: A. E. P. The insects you sent are the larvae of weevils, and these are exceedingly destruc- tive to Ferns. Turn the plants out of the pots and remove as many of the larvae as can be seen by means of a pointed stick. Place the plant in the pot again and make four holes in the soil with a piece of stiff wire and pour a little carbon bi-sulphide in each. This material is very inflammable and due precautions should be taken in using it. If these methods fail, wash all the soil from the roots and repot the plants in soil free from the grubs. Cankered Apple Tree: T. E. H. The plan you propose of cutting 'he main stem down below the seat of the disease and grafting afresh may be adopted, but such an un- healthy tree is best destroyed and a fresh on? planted in the ground it occupies. If you decide to re-graft, adopt the rind or Fig. 30. — crown or rind drafting. crown method, as shown in the accompany- ing illustration, Fig. 30. Of the sorts you mention, moose either Warner's Kinjj. Annie Elizabeth, or Allington Pippin, all of which are vigorously growing varieties. Names of Fruits : F. II'. Duke of Devonshire. — N. G. : 1, Annie Elizabeth ; 2, American Mother ; 3, Lane's Prince Albert ; 4, Colonel Vaughan. — Rosamund : Norfolk Beefing. Names of Plants: B. B. M. Both the Orchids are forms of Dendrobium nobile. No. 2 ap- proaching D. n. nobilius in colour. Treatment of Soil : F. 11. You do not state the area of land, kind of soil, or number of men available. When first working the land, it was a bad plan to remove the turf, as you took away the most fertile portion. It should have been ploughed in, cross- ploughed, rolled, ploughed again if necessary, and harrowed down fine, after being left exposed to the weather. Probably the best thing to do now is to trench as much as possible, say to 3 feet depth, putting in a good layer of manure at the bottom r*f each trench, after breaking up the bottom. A portion of the area done properly will prove more profitable than the whole only half done. If the soil is heavy, make sure the drainage is efficient. Potatos form an "deal crop for growing on newly broken pasture land. Communications Received- C. D.— E. B.— J. E. W. — Q. U.— Sir D. H.— F. W. U.— R. H. C— W. K.— W. B. B.— .1. R.— J. V.— R. C. D.— A. R. B.— Dr. P.— W. A. February 11, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 61 THE (&avbmzv% (Kljrmrali Jfo. 1833.SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1922. CONTENTS. Allotments, a Bill re- Plants, raising conser- lating to . . . . 62 vatory, from seed 6R Begonias, winter- flowering . . . . 70 Rhododendrons 70 British Carnation Societv 62 Royal Botanic Society's •Cyclamen latifolium in gardens 62 the United States . . 68 Farrcr's, the late Mr. Society 61 Reginald, second ex- ploration in Asia . . 66 Fruit garden, the market 69 Association of Eco- nomic Biologists . . 72 Pear The Blickling ..69 British Mycological . 71 ■Gardener, legacy to a . . 62 Elstree and Dis. Hort. 71 " Gardeners* Chronicle " Manchester and North seventy-five years of England Orchid. . 70 Geum reptans . . . . 66 National Chrysan- themum 70 ■Guildford and District Chrysanthemum So- National Dahlia ;2 ciety 62 Royal Hort. of Aber- Henry, Prof., and Czecho- deen 70 slovakia . . . . 61 71 International Commercial Horticultural Confer- ence . . . . . . 62 Libonia floribunda . . 70 Tomatos , wart disease attacking 62 Trees and shrubs — "WacLaren, Mr. B. H. . . 62 A new value of Cydonia Mesembryanthemum and Maulei 63 some new genera sepa- Cedrus Libani. . 63 rated from it . . . . 65 Waterworks, the biology Michaelmas Daisy wilt .. 63 of fil .Palms of the Riviera . . 67 Week's work, the 64 Plants , new or note- Wimbledon tennis worthy — Chimonantbus fragans for «1 luteus grandiflorus 63 ILLUSTi Wisley, notes from ATIONS. 70 Apple tree, a young bush, thre • Chimonanthus fragans luteus g I.ith ops pseud otruncatella 65 MacLaren, Mr. B. H., portrait Pear The Blickling . . Of . . 62 Trachycarpus excelsus 67 Average Mean Temperature for the ensuing week deduced from observations during the last fifty years a$ Greenwich, 39.2. .Actual Temperature : — Gardeners' Chronicle Office, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, Loudon, Wednesday, Februarv 8 10 a.m. Bar. 30.3; temp. M°. Weather— Sunny. ' The most gratifying statement Royal jn the Annual 'Report of the Horticultural Council of the Royal Horti- Society. cultural Society for 192 1, which will be presented offici- ■allv at the annual meeting on Tuesday next, is the one referring to membership, which records an increase of no fewer than .1,214 Fellows— a reminder that horti- culture is as popular as ever with the in- habitants of this country. The total membership on November 15, 1921, was l6.494— compared with 15,280 on December 31, 1920 — the largest total in the history of ithe Societv. The number of fellows elected in 192 1 was 2,160 and, seeing that losses by death amounted to so many as 150, the number of Fellows who resigned is much smaller than might be expected in such times of adverse financial circumstances. We understand that 360 Fellows have been already elected this year. With such a large membership it is not surprising to ifind that the amount received from subscrip- tions reached the fine total of ,£23,099 and, in addition, nearly £400 was contributed ■as entrance fees. 'Receipts of all kinds, in- cluding dividends and interest, income from shows, hall lettings, advertisements, sale of publications, etc., made a grand total of £37>f>°4. With regard to the Society's shows, there was a considerable profit on the one held at Chelsea, but, as usual, the Hol- land House exhibition resulted in a k»ss ; and there was a deficiency on the exhibitions as a whole, for the cost of the various meetings, conferences, etc., was £6,187 4s. lid., ■compared with receipts amounting to -£5i925 !4S. 3d. The Vincent Square balance- sheet shows a profit of £12,262 os. iod., but •of that sum £7,979 5s. 6d. was required to '.meet the excess of expenditure over revenue in connection with the Wisley Gardens, so that the total available balance tor the year amounted to £4,282 15s. 4d. The work at Wisley probably represents the most valu- able of all the activities of this important Society, and no one will grudge the neces- sjary funds for its efficient maintenance, but the Society mav not always be in the happy financial position in which it finds itself at present, and we commend to the Fellows the appeal of the Council for an endowment fund for the gardens and the founding of permanent or the increasing of existing temporary scholarships for the in- vestigation of definite problems, for, as the Council truly states, the future progress of horticulture depends upon the scientific in- vestigation both of plant life and the soil, and their reactions upon one another. We are glad to see that the Society is in negotia- tion with the National Rose Society fur making a Rose trial garden on a part of the new land recently acquired at Wisley, but we are not sure that the soil of these gardens is best suited for Roses, although doubtless the skilful cultivation and great care which all plants receive at Wisley may compensate largely for any deficiency in this respect. The experiment of holding a great exhibition in the autumn of 1922 at the Holland Park Skating Rink will, we trust, be justified ; and as the show will be held entirely under cover, there will be little risk of failure owing to inclement weather, which has sometimes spoiled the shows at Holland Park. There are plenty of challenge cups from supporters of the Society, and at the October show in the Holland Park Skating Rink the Gordon-Lennox Cup will be offered for fruit ; two Orchid challenge cups pre- sented by trade growers for Orchids ; the George Monro Memorial Challenge Cup for the best exhibit of Grapes by an amateur, and one of the Allwood Carnation Bowls for amateur growers of Carnations. In addition to all these trophies the Council is offering silver cups in the various sections of the schedule as well as the Coronation Cup for the best exhibit in the show. A new award has been created by the Society to be known as the Award of Garden Merit, and this will be recommended by the Wisley Garden Committee to plants that are either well known to the Council, Committees and garden staff, or which have been tested at Wisley and proved to be excellent for garden or greenhouse use. Apparently the two days' meetings, instituted for the first time last year, have proved a success, for the Council has decided to extend the period to include March in 1922, and lectures will be held at 5 p.m. during the summer months from April to September inclusive. Nothing is said in the Report as to the publication of Pritzel, but we notice that there is a sum of £859 2s. 2d- invested in India 2J per cent, stock, representing the amount of the fund on December 31, 1920. As the estimated cost of publication is a very much larger amount than this, the Societv will find itself committed to a considerable expenditure from its funds, unless those who have pressed =0 urgently for the revision contribute in a larger degree than they have done. The Lindley Library received an addition of 129 books during the year and a considerable number of volumes were bound. Although the increase of the library is not so rapid as some could wish, the steady accretion of books from year to year has rendered it necessary to place certain works not in fre- quent use in a store, and thus relieve con- gestion in the library. One of the most interesting paragraphs in the Report to pro- fessional horticulturists is that deaiing with the appointment of new' holders of the Vic- toria Medal of Honour to fill vacancies taused by five deaths during 1921. The new members selected are the President (Lord Lambourne), Mr. W. A. Bilney, the Rev. Arthur Boscawen, Mr. John Firaser and Mr. William Poupart, and, we believe, the choice will be confirmed by horticulturists generally, for these are all worthy of this high honour. We notice that the name of the late Mr. J. Seden has not been removed from the list of present holders, and we find no one nominated in his place. This is doubtless an oversight. Altogether the R.H.S. has had a very successful year : we look to it to lead in horticultural progress ai d to lend its powerful aid to those kii.lred floricultural societies which are actuated by similar motives — the furthering of the interests of British horticulture. Prof. Henry and Czechoslovakia. — We learn that Prof. Augustine Henry has been elected a corresponding member of the Czecho-Slovakian Botanical Society " in recognition of thi in- estimiole services rere'ered to botanical science in the course of his studies." In August last, Prof. Henry visited the localities of Czecho- slovakia and Poland in which the Larch occurs as a wild tree. The European Larch, as is well known, is widely distributed in the Alps, but it has besides three out-lying stations little known to British foresters : — One in the Sudeten Mountains in Silesia, another in the Tatra range of the Carpathians, and a third in the so called plateau of Poland, a hilly district situated to the north of Krakow. In the wild forests of these three regions, it grows mixed with Spruce, _ in each case over a limited area. The Silesian Larch is scarcely known in cultivation, though a small quantity of seed is reputed to have been imported a few years ago. The Carpathian and Polish Larches have never been introduced into this country. It is possible seed may be ob- tained this season from all three localities, but the crop of cones has been very meagre, ana there are great difficulties in obtaining a supply. The Larch is of splendid growth and the timber in all these forests of fine quality; and in Poland and Silesia descends to a much lower altitude than in Switzerland or the Tyrol. Indeed, in Poland, it descends to tire zone of the Oak and Hornbeam, which fringes the Spruce forest. Its natural regeneration is very good. It may in- terest our readers if, at this point, we record the fact that a copy of Trees of Great Britain and Ireland, the well-known work by Mr. H. J. Elwes and Prof. Henry, was sold at an auction of books in Dublin on 'February 2, for £37. Silloth Turf for Wimbledon Tennis Courts.— The committee of the All-English Lawn Tennis Club have laid their new courts at Wimbledon with Silloth turf brought from the Solvvay Firth. This Cumberland turf, which is so highly prized for bowling-greens, is rarely used on tennis lawns on account of its high cost and the ex- pense of carriage. Altogether 12,000 square yards of this Silloth turf have been laid. The turves were cut in foot squares, one inch and a half thick. The Biology of Waterworks.— This was the title of a lecture delivered to the members of the Gilbert White Fellowship at 6, Queen Square, London, last Saturday, by Sir Sidney Harper, F.R.S. He remi'nded his audience that in the 'eighties the people of Hamburg had their water taps stopped, and in some cases eels and other animals came through when a tap was turned on. But such were not the_ only troubles experienced 'by the waterworks engineers in their endeavours to provide a healthy supply of water. Investigations at Hamburg showed that there was " an El Dorado of animal life" in the water pipes there. The greater part of this water population consisted of polyzoa, which formed gelatinous masses as large as cricket balls ; there were also fresh-water sponges, worms, leeches, molluscs a.nd Crus- tacea, as well as the eels aforementioned. The polyzoa nourish during the summer and die in winter, but before doing so throw off "buds," which develop in the next spring. These egg- shaped little " buds." technically known as 62 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 11, 1922. " statoblasts," break away from the parent body, and often become attached to birds and are conveyed to other waters, there to start fiesh colonies. Fresh-water algae carried into water pipes is also at times a fertile source of worry. At Manchester 700 tons of " pipe- moss " were removed, with much labour, from the pipes. As Sir Sidney pointed out, the remedy is efficient filtration, and in this respect it is interesting to know that the sand filter, invented 'by James Simpson in 1829, has been but little improved on. By forming a film over the surface of the sand minute living things like diatoms, on which the statoblasts feed, give valuable assistance in the filtration. Legacy to a Gardener.— The late Colonel Walter Morrison, V.D., of Malham Tarn, Yorkshire, and Moor Court, Sidmouth, Devon- shire, who left estate provisionally sworn at £2,000,000, bequeathed the sum of £1,000 to his gardener, Mr. George Petty. He left a similar sum to Jiis steward, housekeeper and groom. Wart Disease Attacking the Tomato.— Investi- gations carried out by the United States Department of Agriculture have proved that Tomatos are susceptible to wart disease of Potatos. Out of twenty-eight varieties of Tomatos planted in a wart-infested garden in Eastern Pennsylvania, twenty-six sorts were found to be susceptible to the disease. The fungus attacks only the stems and roots of the Tomato plants, causing the formation of small warts, and the disease does not appear to reduce the yield of fruit. The investigators state that there is a danger of affected Tomato plants serving to carry over the disease from year to year in the absence of Potatos, and the complaint may be introduced into localities free of wart disease through transplanting Tomato seedlings that have been in infested soil. Other plants belonging to the Solanaceae were tested as to their susceptibility to wart disease, but, so far, with inconclusive results. International Commercial Horticultural Con ference. — We learn that the Annual Conference of representatives of the Federation Horticole Professionelle Internationale will be held this year in Holland, at the Hague, on April 20. Mr. Krelage is the President for 1922, and the Conference is always held in the country of which the President is a national. A Bill Relating to Allotments. — We are glad to notice from the King's speech at the opening of Parliament on Tuesday last, that the Govern- ment intends to bring forward a new Bill re- lating to allotments. The situation with regard to allotments has been thoroughly considered lvw p Denartinentrti Committee appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture, and doubtless the chief recommendations of that Committee, to which ■we referred on p. 50, will form the basis of the new Bill. Under the present conditions, with practically no security of tenure, the majority of allotment holders are unwilling to continue the cultivation of their plots, knowing that their efforts would be wasted, although most of them are as enthusiastic cultivators as ever. Local authorities have the power to provide allot- ments, yet many are unwilling to move in the matter, and in most places the provision of permanent allotments is regarded as an im- possibility. The Royal Botanic Society's Gardens. — We are glad to notice from the Quarterly Summary issued by the Royal Botanic Society, London, that several improvements are to be "undertaken in the Society's gardens at Regent's Park, and especially in the provision of new greenhouses. Some of the smaller greenhouses are in a dilapidated condition, and it is proposed to spend the sum of £2.000 on new ones, of which amount £1,300 has already been promised. The large conservatory has been cleared of its former occupants, and is being replanted with beautiful, rare, and interesting plants. Ornamental climbers have been planted at the bases of the iron columns supporting the roof, and the Palms, of which there are many fine specimens, will have more room to develop, and be seen to greater advantage than hitherto. In the out-door gar- den, the trees and shrubs have been pruned, and many worn-out specimens removed. The flower beds and borders have been trenched and re- planted with choice herbaceous plants, and with bulbs for a spring display. Several new beds have been laid out on the lawn to the left of the Broad Walk. The lake has been cleared of superfluous reeds and flags, and most of the accumulated silt used for enriching the soil of the shrubberies near by. The beds containing representatives of Natural Orders have also been replanted. Large numbers of plants have been contributed to the gardens by the authorities at Kew, Cambridge Botanic Garden, Chelsea Physic Garden, Miss Ellen Willmott, Mr. T. Hay, Superintendent of Regent's Park, and others. Mr. B. H. MacLaren. — The superintendent of the public parks and gardens of Brighton, Mr. B. H. MacLaren, was educated at Christ's College, London. He studied agriculture, forestry and estate management at Tamworth Agricultural College, and, later, gained prac- tical experience on some of the largest farni6 in Warwickshire and Wiltshire. But horti- culture proved a stronger attraction than agri- culture, consequently, Mr. MacLaren served for a considerable period with Messrs. J. Back- house and Son, of York, where he eventually MR. B. H. MACLAREN. became foreman in the landscape department. Having gained a wide experience in the north of England, he came south and joined the land- scape department of Messrs. J. Cheal and Sons, Crawley, and while in the service of this firm he obtained the position of Assistant Superin- tendent of the Brighton public parks and open spaces in 1913. In 1915, Mr. MacLaren joined the Army, and, passing through the School of Military Engineering, obtained a commission in the Royal Engineers and went to France, where he eventually became Company Com- mander. The excellence of his work secured the appreciation of his superiors, and, finally, Captain MacLaren was mentioned in Lord (then Sir Douglas) Haig's dispatches. Shortly after returning to his old position at Brighton, his former chief retired, and he was appointed Superintendent, a position he now occupies, to the great satisfaction of the Town Council and inhabitants of Brighton. Mr. MacLaren has greatly improved the attractions of the famous sea-side resort, and he has been especially suc- cessful in reconstracting the whole of the Valley Gardens, forming boulevards, and im- proving the surroundings of the Royal Pavilion. Mr. MacLaren's department is a large and busy one, as he has under his control small holdings, allotments, woods, street trees, parks, gardens, sports' grounds, nurseries, open-air markets and the winter gardens. Fortunately, Mr. MacLaren is a young man, and the suc- cess he has achieved encourages the hope that Brighton may become as famous horticulturally as it is socially. Guildford and District Chrysanthemum Society. — We are glad to learn that the Guildford and. District Chrysanthemuni Society, which ceased its activities during the war, has been recon- stituted, and will hold an exhibition in the Borough Hall, Guildford, on November 1st and 2nd next. The Secretary is Mr. Walter Miles,. Ashbrook, Cadogan Road, Surbiton. The British Carnation Society. — The Spring, Show of this flourishing society will be held in the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster, on March 21. In addition to numerous increased money prizes, valuable challenge trophies are presented by Lord Howard de Walden, Regi- nald Cory, Esq., George Monro, Esq., and others. There are special classes for florists,, notably one for a decorative exhibit of Carna- tions on a table space 15 feet by 6 feet, the first prize in which is the Covent Garden Chal- lenge Trophy valued at £20. Schedules may be obtained post free from the Honorary Secretary, Mr. P. F. Bunyard, 57, Kiddermin- ster Road, Croydon. Appointments for the Ensuing Week- Monday, February 13.— United Horticultural 1 Benefit" and Provident Society's meeting; Bath Gardeners' Society's meeting ; Purley Horticul- tural Society's meeting. Tuesday, February 14. — Royal Horticultural Society's Committees'" meeting and annual general meeting, at 3 p.m. ; Cardiff Gardeners' Society's meeting. Wedes- day, February 15. — National Dahlia Society's Schedule Committee's meeting, at R.H-S. Hall, at 4 p.m. ; Hertford Horticultural Society's meeting. Thursday, February 16. — Manchester and North of England Orchid Society's meeting ; Lihnean Society's meeting, at 5 p.m. ; War- grave and District Gardeners' Society's meeting. Friday, February 17. — Eastbourne Horticultural Society's meeting. " Gardeners' Chronicle " Seventy-five Years- Ago. — Carrot Bread. — The Belgian Carrot mixed with flour makes capital bread, as does also the red Carrot : but the colour is somewhat, against the latter, although the bread is superior to that made with the white Carrot, being pleasanter in flavour, moister, and yet firmer, as you will see from the enclosed specimen. Instead of equal quantities of Carrots and flour, only one-fourth of the former is used, a half being found to render the loaf too close in texture. A peck of flour by itself yields three good-sized loaves, but mixed with 7 lb. of Carrots produces four, and of excellent quality. As regards the preparation, I followed the in- structions in the Chronicle to the letter. Carrots grown on sandy soil are better than those from clayey land, as, when boiled, you may pass ai I fork with the greatest ease through the former ; but those from the clay are hard at the heart,, therefore much more difficulty is found in break- ing them up. They should be mixed with the flour while warm, a point, as I understand, of considerable importance. In beating the Carrots up, use a wooden bowl and spoon, the wood affording hold which other vessels do not. F- Nash, Ludlow, February 2. (The bread was good, but it tasted too much of the Carrot for a fastidious palate).— Gard. Chron., Feb. 6, 1847. Publications Received. — Rosen for Market. By F. J. Fletcher. Vol. III. and IV.. Market Nursery Work Series. Benn Bros., Ltd., 8, Bou- verie Street, E.C.4. Price 4s. 6d. each net. The Genetic Relations of Plant Colours in Mahe. By R. A. Emerson; Resistance of the Roots of Some Fruit Species to Low Temperature. By D. B. Carrick; The Crane Flies of New York. By C. P. Alexander; Raising Colts. By M. W. Harper. A Modified Babcoek Method' for Determining Fat in Butler. By Nelson W. Hepburn, Working Plan for a Communal' Forest for the Town of Ithaca, New York. By John S. Everitt. An Fconomic Study of Farm Layout. Bv W. I. Myers. Some Fffects <>/" Potassium. Salts on Soils. By R. S. Smith. All published by the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, New York. FebrVaky 11, 192Z THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 63 MICHAELMAS DAISY WILT. TREES AND SHRUBS. A paper on this disease was read by Mr. VV. J. Duwson at the mosting of the British Mycological Society on the 21st ult. He dealt with it as it occurs at the R.H.S. Gardens at Wisley. The disease was first noted by growers in the early summer of 1920, and is very widely spread. So far, it has only been recorded in the groups Novae Belgii and Novae Angliae. The obvious symptom to the horticulturist is a wilting of shoots soon after they have reached a foot in height in early summer, i.e., the leaves of an entire shoot are noticed to have turned yellow; they rapidly dry, shrivel and turn brown. Shoots coining up from the ground as suckers behave in the same way. In some instances a variety is soon killed, e.g., Climax; others, e.g., Gladys Donellan, are resistant, as they also are to mil- dew (Erysiphe cicboracearum) and to drought. Examination of shoots with yellow foliage does not reveal mycelium in the tissues in the early stages of the disease. A plentiful mycelium is found, however, at the base of older steins; and on shoots long dead mycelium can be traced ill the way up ; it is also present in the root- itock. The mycelium, which is very fine, is confined for the most part to the larger vessels of the xylern, and is particularly found in those of this protoxyleni. Careful staining shows that the hyphae invade tracheids and medullary rays. Very small microconidia are also seen in the vessels. At first a Fusarium was isolated, but this proved to be non-pathogenic. Finally, a species of Cephalosporium was obtained which, when inoculated into healthy plants raised by transplanting rooted suckers, by introducing mycelium or conidia into incisions, caused the characteristic wilt. The fungus produces myriads of microconidia in culture. .The fungus apparently differs somewhat from that isolated by Wiltshear at Long Ashton. The inoculations enabled the first symptoms of the disease to be accurately described. In all cases oi' inoculation at or about ground level, some of the lower leaves became mottled after about three weeks time, and a few clays later became yellow. The mottled leaves appealed in no particular order, and the yellowing often started on one side of the midrib and later spread to the other side. It was impossible to find mycelium in the neighbourhood of the mottled and yellowing leaves, and thus it ap- peared unlikely that the symptoms can be ex- plained by this actual bloc-king of the water- conducting elements by hyphae. A toxin was therefore looked for. It seemed probable that if the fungus excreted a toxin it would do so in water cultunes, and thus the trouble of extracting it artificially would be avoided. The liquid from some of these cultures was filtered through a Berkfeld filter into sterilised flasks, and into these vigorous gneen shoots of various Michaelmas Daisies were placed. The results obtained were that shoots in the fil- tered liquid turned mottled in three days and yellow in six, while controls remained green for ten days. In a dialyser of goldbeaters' skin the active principle passed through the membrane into surrounding .sterilised water in three days, and shoots in this acted as in the previous experi- ment. Mesophyll cells of Aster leaves were set up in suspension in hanging drops of water from the cultures. After twenty-four hours the chloroplasts were seen to migrate slowly to one or both ends of the cells, become clumped together in a mass, and in from three to six days slowly disintegrate, after which the cells were plasmolyzed. It seems, therefore, that a definite substance secreted by the hyphae of Cephalosporium at the base of shoots becomes sucked up in the transpiration current, and arts as a poison to the chloro- phyll-cells, bringing about the symptoms of wilt noticed in flic field. The research is still in progress, but it is thought that it will be possible to eliminate the disease by striking cuttings from the ends of vigorous suckers so as to avoid the slightest chance of including mv^elium. A NEW VALUE OF CYDONIA MAULEI. I would like to .put in a good word for Cydonia Maulei. In a distant sort of way it reminds me in its garden position of the Love Apple, and the more ancient inhabitant the Scarlet-Runner Bean. No one gives us a better idea of an up-to-date border of annuals in the last half of the eighteenth century than Swinden in The Beauties of Flora Displayed. Among the tender ones, which grow from 2\ to 3 feet high, we find " No. 157, Love Apple, Solanum; Yellow: and Red Fruit." With the colon after yellow it must mean yellow flowers and red fruit. It would be easy to multiply instances, but there is very little doubt but that Love Apples were once regarded, like Scarlet Runners before them, as suitable and proper inhabitants of th.9 flower garden. To- day, when we regard their uses as culinary herbs as giving them their chief, if not their only, value, they have been transferred to the kitchen garden. I do not exactly suggest that the same thing will happen with regard to years ago Henry Blight's son Allan, a success- ful Liverpool shipowner, sold the old home at Knotty Ash, on the outskirts of Liverpool, and now lives somewhere under the shadow of the Malvern Hills. Joseph Jacob. CEDRUS LIBANI. In answer _to Mr. Stacey's inquiry on p. 56, this tree was probably introduced about 250 years ago. It is* not mentioned in Evelyn's b'ylva, which was written in 1664, and, according to Veitch's Manual <>f Coniferae, one of the oldest Cedars in England was that in Bretby Park, Derbyshire, which tree was known to have been planted in 1676. Cedrus Deodara and C. atlantica are comparative newcomers, both having been introduced during the last 100 years. The Ohorleywood Cedars cannot, there- fore, (be as old as Mr. Stacey says they are estimated to be. Perhaps Mr. Stacey has noticed the Cedar in the grounds of St. Albans Abbey, which people say Queen Elizabeth planted. It would be interesting if some correspondent could tell us whether the Bretby Park specimen h still alive. A. Simmonds, Maidstone. Fig. 31. — chiiionanthtjs fragans luteus grandiflorus. Cydonia Maulei, but it is quite on the cards that it might. It is no great stretch of imagination, especially after reading on page 241 of My Garden, in Autumn fruits making a good jelly to " eat with roast mutton as a change from the orthodox Red Currant,'' to find cm my next visit to Myddelton House that he had taken some of the plants from thi9 little hillock: on the rock garden and transferred them to a place in the kitchen garden, where their object would be to produce an abundance of those deliciously coloured, scented and tasty pale-orang.e, tiny, Quince- like fruits which provide a jelly of — so, at least, I think — far higher value than to be classed among condiments. Well-made ** Maulei " jelly is every bit as good as auy Ghiava jelly from the East or West Indies. So far as I know, most varieties of Cydonia make good jelly. One year, thanks to th^e kind- ness of Mr. Bean, of Kew, we had a grand trial of some of them at a tea party given for the express purpose of picking the best. Hence- forth, " Maulei " jelly will be connected in my memory with Henry Bright, the author of one of thi9 earliest, most readable and most scholarly of all chatty garden books, A Tear in a Lancashire Garden, for his daughter was one of the judges who voted in the unanimous verdict of " Maulei " being placed first. That garden, I deeply regret to say, no longer re- joice in the guardianship of a Bright. Two NEW OR NOTEWORTHY PLANTS. CHIMONAXTHUS FRAGAXS LUTEUS GRANDIFLORUS. At the meeting of the French National Horticultural Society, held on the 26th ult,, a Certificate of Merit was awarded to an inter- esting form of Ohimonanthjus, exhibited by Messrs. Vilmorin and Co., of Paris. The plant is a yellow-flowered form of Ghimonanthus fragrans, Lindl., but the flowers are much larger than those of tile variety luteus, introduced many yeai-s ago and always very rare in gardens. In fact, the flowers of the variety C. fragans luteus grandiflorus (Fig. 31) are at least as large as those of the grandiflorus variety figured in the Botanical Register, tab. 451. The flowers have many segments — twenty, sometimes more — broad and obtuse. The flowers are as remarkable for their rich yellow colour as is the plant for its freedom of flower- ing. This new variety was raised from seeds collected in 1906 in the district of Zi-ka-wei (Eastern China) by R. P. Ancel. It is certainly a very interesting shrub from a decorative point of view, and vary superior to tile type generally met with in our gardens. '1 lie Yerrieies specimen is about three metren high and as much through. A. M. (H THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. Febkuarv II, 1922. The Week's Work. THE FLOWER UAKUEfl By Edwin Beckett, Gardener to the Hun. Ykart Gibbs, Aldenhaw Huuae, Hertfordshire. Border Chrysanthemums.— Plants lifted in the autumn and placed in cold frames will be making good, healthy growth, and suitable shoots should be selected tor cuttings. Insert these in good, sandy compost, and place them iu mild heat, and, when well rooted, harden them off, and iot 'hem singly as soon as convenient. Shrubberies, etc. — Advantage should be taken of the open weather to push forward all outdoor work possible, such as moving shrubs and trees, planting fresh specimens, seeing to the necessary staking, and generally renovating the shrub- beries. Pruning and trimming should be pro- ceeded with, so that all may be put in first- class order pending the time when rough, bois- terous weather puts a stop to work of this nature. Willows and Dogwoods. — The present is a suitable time to propagate those finely coloured woody subjects, the Willows and Dogwoods. These plants may be used with magnificent effect for winter decoration of the garden, when planted in good stretches by themselves, and especially in close proximity to water, such as a lake or well-tended stream. During the period when flowers are absent from the garden and leaves are few, the bark colours of the Willows and the rich, warm reds and brilliant yellow tones of the Cornuses give a fine effect in the landscape. To raise new plants is quite a simple operation. Cut the old growths into portions about 9 inches long, and insert them in the open to a depth of about 6 inches; make them firm, and thereafter little attention will he necessary, as such shoots form roots readily. The resulting plants should be moved to permanent positions before they are two years old, as they are difficult subjects to trans- plant successfully. Cornus alba and its varie- ties; C. sanguinea, and its varieties; and C. stolonifera flaviramea are all finely coloured Dogwoods, whilst Salix vitellina, S. decipiens. S. vitellina britzensis, S. acutifolia, S. daph- noides, and S. purpurea have beautiful coloured stems. The Weather. — Up to the time of penning these notes we have experienced very little severe weather. There has been one brief spell of snow, very little frost, and, generally during the month of January, damp, muggy days of high temperature. We have had one good rain, and things are becoming advanced beyond their season owing to the genial conditions ruling. In consequence of all this, it is necessary to again urge the necessity of protecting tender plants from the possibility of injury by frost. PLANTS UNDEE GLASS By T. PiTMUH, Gardener to Sir C. Nall-Cain, Bart The Node, Oodioote, Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Gloxinia. — The Gloxinia is a useful decorative subject for the warm greenhouse, and to ensure a long succession of flowers a few of the old tubers should be placed in shallow boxes con- taining leaf-mould and sand. When they have started into growth the plants may be trans- ferred to pots of suitable sizes. Seeds of Gloxinia should also be sown now. The result- ing seedlings should make fine plants for flowering in August. It is always advisable to raise a batch of seedlings each year, as such plants are more vigorous in growth than older specimens. Sow the seeds in 6-inch pots filled with equal parts of loam and peat, with a good dash of sand added. Cover the seed as lightly as possible, and place a sheet of glass over the pots, also shade them from bright sunshine. Palms. — Established Palms of any consider- able size should receive attention with regard to potting or surface-dressing, whichever is considered necessary. Palms seem to succeed best, provided proper attention is given to watering and feeding the roots when they are somewhat restricted in root space. Also, such plants are more serviceable for decorative pur- poses. Top-dressing of the roots and the use of manure water will be found a great assistance to the plants that are cultivated in small pots. Where it is considered only neces- sary to surface-dress the plants and the roots are too near the surface of the pot to allow for top-dressing, a band of zinc should be fitted around the top of the pot, several inches in depth, to allow of this being done. For established Palms, good loam, with plenty of sand and charcoal added, constitutes a suitable compost. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. By H. Markham, Gardener to the Eael or STBArroRD, Wrotham Park, Barnet. Bush Apples and Pears.— Young bush trees of Apples and Pears should be very carefully pruned. All shoots not required for building up the tree should be cut out, keeping those best situated and leaving only sufficient to form a well-shaped fruitful tree. The side growth should be spurred back to within a couple or three buds, whilst the leaders, if they are sturdy and well matured, should be retained for quite two-thirds of their length. In the case of Fig. 32. — young bush apple tkee, three yeabs from planting; showing properly-balanced HEAD. bushes (see Fig. 32), a centre leader is not re- quired. The central main growth of pyramid trees should be encouraged to develop. If the trees were summer-pruned, the chief operation needed now is to cut back the side growths to within a couple of buds of their bases and to shorten the leaders to the length required. Cut out entirely a few of the worst-placed branches in trees that are crowded with growth, and reserve suitable young growths for filling open spaces, if desirable. Top-dress and mulch all fruitful trees to encourage them to develop strength. Bush fruit trees should never be over-cropped. The roots ehould be fed liberally to assist both the finishing of the fruits and the building up of strong, fruitful buds for the following season's crop. Espalier trees that have not filled the available space should be very carefully pruned, retaining suitable growths at equal distances apart, to build up an evenly balanced head. In shortening the leaders leave one bud above the two required to form the side branches ; the top bud will form the next year's leader and the side ones young branches ; repeat this annually till the top pair of branches has been formed. Side leaders should be shortened, more or less, according to their length and strength. As a rule from 10 to 15 inches of growth will suffice. THE ORCHID HOUSES. By J. T. Barker, Gardener to His Grace tha Dukb of Marlborough, E.G., Blenheim Palace, WoodBtook, Ozon. Cypripedtum. — Members of the insigne sec- tion, also the many hybrids which produce their flowers at the same season, having passed out of bloom, may receive attention as regards re- potting, should it be necessary. A suitable compost consiists of equal parts of peat fibre, Al fibre, and Sphagnum-moss, wiith clean, loam fibre added. The use of the last material may easily be overdone, especially if the loam is of a heavy nature. The pots should be well drained, and the new material kept slightly on the dry side until the roots have entered it freely. These plants may be repotted as soon as their flowers are cut or faded, and after repotting they may be placed in their growing quarters, where, under proper conditions, they should thrive until their flowers appear again in the autumn. Zygopetalum. — Such species as Z. Maokayi, Z. crinitum, and others of this section, should be repotted, if necessary, as they pass out of flower. The roots of the different species and hybrids vary to a considerable extent, some making large, succulent roots, others roots of a thinner and more wiry nature. The nature of the roots of the different plants offers a good guide as to the nature of the compost to be used. Those with tlnick, fleshy roots, delight in a rough, open compost, which should be placed. quite firmly in the receptacles. The strong grow- ing members may be afforded a substantial rooting material, such as fibrous loam, Osmunda fibre, and Sphagnum-moss, in equal proportions, cut up according to the size and nature of the plants, and well mixed together. For the more delicate growers the amount of loam fibre should be slightly reduced. Whilst the weather is favourable, a good stock of Sphagnum-moss, and other material, should be obtained, so that when the busy season for potting arrives there may be no delay. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. By James E. Hathawat, Gardener to John Bhbnnand. E3q , Baldersby Park, Thirflk, Yorkshire. Potatos — Potatos that were planted in December in pots should now be top-dressed. Another batch should be planted in 10-inch pots half filled with good fibrous loam, manure from a spent Mushroom-bed and leaf- mould. The sprouts on the seed tubers should be reduced to three at the most. Place the pots in a vinery or Peach-house, and, as soon as the haulm begins to grow, expose the plants to plenty of light. An excess of fire heat should not be used otherwise the plant will get drawn. The advantage of growing the early Potato crop in this way fa that the pots may be moved into cooler houses as required. Potatos may now be planted in heated pits, and if plenty of space is available it is best to plant for successional cropping. Where heated pits are not availabl» hot-beds should be made and the materials allowed to remain for a week or more until the rank heat of fermentation begins to decline, before putting on the soil. The latter should be at least 8 inches deep, and the sets planted 12 inches apart in rows 18 inches or more apart, according to the varieties used. Sharpe's Victor, Victory, Dargil and Witch-hill are suit- able for forcing. Potato sets intended for plant- ing later should be set up in boxes for sprout- ing, and, if they are backward, a few placed in warmth as required. Broad Beans. — A sowing of Broad Beans should be made in boxes or in turves in a similar manner as was recommended on p. 16 for Peas. Germinate the seeds in a frame or cool green- house. A batch may also be sown in the open as soon as the weather permits. Choose ground that has been well manured and trenched ; sow in rows made 3 feet apart and 1 foot wide, placing a double line of seeds in each trench. Arrange the seeds on their sides at a distance of 6 inches apart. For early cropping a sheltered position should be selected. February II, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 65 Asparagus — Batches of this vegetable should be introduced to warmth as required. The best method is to force the crowns in frames on hotbeds. Place about 4 inches of soil in the frame and plant the crowns in about 3 inches of sod. The temperature of the frame should not be higher than 65° when the roots are puv in, and the frame should be well protected in frosty weather. FRUITS UNDER GLASS. By F. Jordan, Gardener to Lieut. -Col. Spkndeb Claz, M.P., Ford Manor, Linjrfleld, Surrey. Cherries — These precocious trees had, down to the end of the past year, an excellent time for plumping up their buds, and one began to fear that the unseasonably mild weather miight have a prejudicial effect on the flowers. Sharp frosts have now intervened and lowered the ex- ternal temperature so that a little fire heat has become necessary to maintain a mean tempera- ture of 40° in the house. Those who wish to have ripe Cherries at the end of May and the beginning of June must exercise patience for the present, and hasten the development of the trees when solar heat favours steady forcing. When the buds begin to swell the mean tem- perature of the house should range from 40° to 45° at night, and 50° to 55° by day, always with a little fresh air admitted, and atmospheric moisture in proportion to external conditions. As the davs lengthen more air may be admitted through the top and front ventilators, especially when the pipes are warm, but the beat should be shut off at night for the present unless the temperature falls below 40°. The very earlv sorts, such as Guigne d'Annonay, Bigarreau dp Schreken, and Early Rivers will make good progress, but at the same time insect pests, such as green and black fly, will become more troublesome, no matter how carefully the trees were cleansed, but these pests easily succumb to one or two mild fumigations, the last of which should always precede the opening of the first flowers. Few fruits do so well or last so long as Cherries, planted in narrow, inside bor- ders, and the majority of growers restrict their varieties to three or four of the best sorts which ripen in succession ; but a dozen or more varie- ties may be grown in pots. Cherries are imoatient of fire heat, and manv growers fail with these fruits through maintaining an exces- sively high temperature and keeping the trees too close in the early stages. A body of mild fermenting material placed amongst the pots, whilst of value for providing warmth in the early stages of forcing, will render direct syringing a secondary consideration. A fairly dry atmo- sphere and a steady warmth from fire heat, with nlentv of air to raise the temperature to 60° or 70° with the aid of the sun, will not only (insure a good set of fruit, but a mass of most fragrant blossoms. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM AND SOME NEW GENERA SEPARATED FROM IT. (Continued from, p. 55) CC. — Top of the lobes entirely without tuber- cles or slight furrows or raised dots when in a plump growing condition, smooth except some- times in L. Lesliei. (4) L. pseudotiruncatella, N. E. Br. (Fig. 33). — Growths solitary to many n the plants upon arrival. 2V. /'.'. Brown. [To be continued.) THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. Febbuaby 11, 1922. EDITORIAL NOTICE. ADVERTISEMENTS should be sent to the PUBLISHER, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, W.C.2 Editors and Publisher.— Our correspondents would obviate delay in obtaining answers to their com- munications, and save us much time and trouble. »/ they would kindly observe the notice printed weekly to the effect that all letters relating to financial matters and to advertisements should be addressed to the Publisher; and that all communi- cations intended for publication or referring to the Literary department, and all plants to be named, should be directed to the Editors. The two departments. Publishing and Editorial, are distinct, and much unnecessary delay and confusion arise when letters are misdirected. MR.REGINALD FARRER'S SECOND EXPLORATION IN ASIA.' No. 37. — The Moku ji in August. DURING the ten days that I have been up the Moku-ji there were moments when it was clear, with rain; there were hours of cloud without. The flowers all about the camp were a picture of gaiety, but how they are ever going to ripen their seed I am really at a loss to say. Fortu- nately for fertilisation, the insects up there are of Spartan breeding and indifferent to wet; in the intervals of biting the collector it is to be hoped that they fertilise his flowers. The camp was just about at the top limit of the alpme coppice; above it a steep region of Bamboos and glades intervened before the high alpine scrub was reached. Just below, several lateral streams plunged down in cataracts to join the main waterfall in a gorge; and the opposite ban it towered up and up in crags and gullies to the high crests above. On the way up there had not been anything new to note of any great moment ; the. dulness of the alpine forest in these ranges is pheno- menal. The alpine coppice, however, is more profitable; I am struck by an elegant Oastanea with true Chestnut-looking fruits, which I hope may also prove to be a time Chestnut indeed, as I am told that its nnts are a favourite food. Two shrubby Hypericums, toe. begin to be pleasant in August, one most graceful, with pendulous Willow-like sprays, and the other coarse-leaved and erect, but with flowers almost as large as in H. calycinum. A fat-thvrsed Neillia also struck me as the most solidly effec- tive of its kind that I have yet seen, and, of course, Bosa sericea is the commonplace of all bushy stretches. A tittle higher and the stand- ing ambition of my heart was gratified by the discovery of a, yellow Daphne. Desire granted, however, is proverbially disappointing, and I am not. as yet, having sleepless nights auout the seed of this species. Of course, one can never tell, either for good or ill. how a plant will develop under cultivation ; it is very possible, indeed, that in more favourable conditions in the garden this Daphne may reveal much finer characters than it does at the moment. In a narrow region of the alpine zone it occurs quite commonly under the coppice. And there, in the dripping twilight, it cannot do more than make a thin, spindly growth of 18 inches or so, with ill-furnished. inconspicuous heads of Apricot-coloured flowers that, appear to be scent less. "But I did come on one well-garnl'shed plant, and in this the effect was quite respectable A remarkable thing about this region, as compared with that of Hpimaw, is the much greater height to which many species ascend. Conspicuous in the glades of the lower alpine legion are the occasional snowy inflorescences of LiTium giiganteum, which in the southernly part of the range has never been seen, at least by me, above 5,000-6,000 feet at the most. Whatever other good things these meadow-slopes contain only the later weeks of August will reveal. Even now the huge snow-mass blocks the glen at ten thousand feet, though higher up the last of • The previous articles by Mr. Farrer vrere published in our issues for June 21, June 28, July 12, August 9. August 23. September 0, September 27, October 18, November 1, November 32. and December 6, 191°; January 3, January 17, February 7, February 28, March 20. April 24. May 2!). Julv 10. Julv 31, September 4. October 2, December 4. 1920: Januarv 1. January 29. February 19. April 2. April 30. June 4. July 9. Augpist 6, September 34, October 32, November 13, December 3 and December 7 1921. these are now crashing to pieces unexpectedly with a rumbling roar like avalanches — and in a few days more the crowded violet-sapphire eyes of Primula sonchifolia will be peering baldly from the dank brown earth banks thus revealed. Imagine finding Primula sonchifolia still in bloom or bud in August, at any height, on any of the Hpimaw Alps ! With it, rarer, and only on the Moku-ji is to be seen the China-blue loveliness of P. euosma still ; but there is no doubt thab both these species are here (I should say) on the northernmost, fringe of their distribution. P. euosma, indeed, I have always noted as a severely local species, but on the Hpimaw Alps P. sonchifolia is universal, magnificent and abundant. Here, though, I have seen it so poor as hardly to be recognisable, down on the Chinese side (only) of the Chawchri, it is only on the uppermost slopes of the Moku-ji that it ' is to be met with in anything like proper pro- fusion or character. Of course, Primula., on these granitic ranges, cannot be expected to show great prodigality in species, though with P. nuda, P. euosma, P. sonchifolia, P. serratifolia, and the new white and crimson, it certainly makes up in quality - for any lack of quantity. But these Alps wholly lack the lowland species so conspicuous further south. Below Hpimaw the glens at 6,000- 7,000 feet will give you P. seclusa. and the open meadows, P. Beesiana, P. limnoica (F. 823), and P. helodoxa Even about Hpimaw itself, the open slopes at 6.000 feet are blue in April with P. limnoica. But here, though many are the lovely and inviting-looking marshes and green lawns between 6.000- 9.000 feet, to which I have rushed panting up, in confident certainty of a Primula, not one is to be foundi in any of them, and I have at last sadly learned that in these parts it is useless to hope for a Primula under 11.000 feet at least. They do not even have the fringy P. obconica so lovely at 8.000 feet on the Shing- rup Chet. Their only exception is the curious little species of which I spoke as having found it in bud beside a. waterfall at 10,000 feet under Shing Hong Pass. On the Moku-ji it fortunately also occurs, and enables me to give its portrait. It always seems to be very occasional and sporadic in the first place; and always to confine it -elf exclusively to wet vertical faces in the second. Xot that too much stress must be laid on these peculiarities, since P. limnoica. about Hpimaw, likes the openest, driest banks, and P. praticola (if you please). I myself have never seen, except in the very shadiest depths of the very darkest gorges in the very deepest forest. This new plant, moreover, need not, I think, greatly distress gardeners with its fads. It is a disappointing little species, with handsome sprayed up foliage, and, at the best, a 6-inch scap'e. with, at the very best, some 8-12 flowers. But these, though of as bright a golden yellow- as P. Palinuri, have also P. Palinuri's pinched, narrow outline, and are only about a quarter of the size. Before, however, we attain the camp, I must also draw your attention to the Thalictrum of the lower "glades, for this is a truly superb species, of which I hope great things, in rich and cool herbaceous borders at home, if only it has not the nasty kink in its temper which has cheated so many of us out of the pleasure that T. Delavayi and T. dipterocarpum ought to have afforded. ' Perhaps it even is T. Delavayi. in an unrecognisable condition of health, for certainly no plant could look more comfortable- natured' and easy to satisfy, in any circumstances that also suit T. aquilegifolium. It is, how- ever, far larger, attaining 6-8 feet, and so im- pressive, indeed, that while it was still growing I made sure that, its flowers would be dull and gieen. Instead of which," they turn out to be of a lovely lavender-blue, produced in enormous, showery panicles, far above foliage that matches their e'normousness. but has all the delicacy of T. adiantifolium's on a quadrupled scale. The Luk Sang Thalictrum of last year had much the same stature, I fancy, and purple flowers: but as that was a calcareous plant of dry, rocky slopes, from only 6,000-7.000 feet, 1 am not dis- posed to identify it rashly with this granitic lover of cool alpine glades. Reginald Farrer. GEUM REPTANS. Geum reptans seenis always to remain a rather rare plant in gardens. When I look back, the only really prosperous colony I re- member in cultivation was at Backhouse's. Nur- series, York, about twenty years ago. There the plant grew in a bed of brown river sand (with probably something to its liking under- neath) and there it flourished, flowered, and even increased, by means of its Strawberry-like run- nel's. There is never the least difficulty in Aiding plants labelled Geum reptans in gardens, and. moreover, one can generally pay the price of G. reptans for Geum montanum labelled as G. reptans. Often have I speculated on these lines, offering a good herring only to catch a poor sprat ! Geum leptans always grows high in the Alps, at about 7,000 to 9,000 feet altitude. It is local rather than truly rare, for it is quite widely distributed, and in its chosen stations it is often profusely abundant. Always it is a moraine or a scree plant, growing on deep beds of big coarse boulders, into which it roots deeply. .Mature, established plants are extremely diffi- cult and laborious to collect, and it is a mis take to try, for even if one can secure them intact, they are difficult to deal with and diffi- cult to re-establish. Until 1920, I had somehow always managed to miss Geum reptans in the Alps. But in June of that year I arrived at the Lantaret, and then one of the first things I came upon when I walked out of the hotel was Geum rep- tans. There is a great delta-shaped scree pour- ing down from the heights that face the hospice, less than a mile away. The intervening meadows were a flowered ' carpet of every alpine loveliness: Soldanellas, Gentiana verna, Viola calcarata of every shape and colour, alpine Forget nie-not, Anemone alpina and Anemone vemalis, Poet's Narcissus and many, many others. It was more wonderful than any- thing even that I have ever seen at Mt. Cenis itself. I splashed up a shallow stream set with numerous islands, each a perfect tiny gar- den of turf and rock, Gentians and Pansies, the largest island no bigger than a tablecloth. And so to the great barren-looking scree, of harsh, tumbled stones, which poured steeply from a high neck in the towering cliffs overhead. Directly I got on to it I realised what a vast unmanageable rough-and-tumble it was. The stones ranged from the size of my fist to the size of my hotel. Very soon, and quite unexpectedly — though these high screes are always good hunting — I came upon the first Geum reptans. and after that, far up the slopes, the plant grew by the hundred. From a thick, woody stem there .^pouted a tuft, or several tufts, of six-inch feathered leaves of soft, fresh green. Each tuft carried several flowers, often four or five, like very large, rich golden .Strawberry blossoms, each set well and boldly up upon its own pink stem. I wandered about over that scree for a long, long time, drawn from one splendid Geum to another. There was little else of in- terest. Hutchinsia alpina. Iberidella, Saxifraga oppositifolia, and a few others, but Geum rep- tans was the most albundant and the most splendid. Then, despite what I had always read of the difficulties of collecting Geum reptans, I settled down ligbtheartedlv to collect it. At ground level I found a* thick woody stock, going straight down among the stones. This stock was thumb thick, or thicker, and its home wai like a roadside heap of road-metal, greatly mag- nified. I took off my coat and sat on it. and settled down to remove 6tones from around my Geum. There was no soil, just big stones. It seemed a simple thing to lay bare the roots of a plant by pulling out stones and tossing them down the" slopes, so I tossed stones, big and little, for a very long time, and finally achieved a basin a vard' across and some eighteen indie, deep. My Geum stood up in the centre like a miniature Coco-nut Palm. But still tW woody stock descended into the scree, and at 18 inches I had reached no sign of a root, February- 11, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 67 though at this depth the interstices between the stones were filled with coarse, moist grit. Finally I gave up my first Geum reptans as a bad job, slid a barrowful of scree down into the basin I had made, and set out for younger plants. But even such younger ones as I found were very hard to lift. Although a few that I got up had a root or two emerging like leather bootlaces from their trunks, I could get none clean out in 6uch condition as to give me any hope of establishing them at home. They have, however, lived in a grudging sort of way. Undoubtedly Geum reptans is difficult to collect. Obviously, the best way would be to get the Strawlberry-like runners. These were pushing out in all directions, questing over the rooks and poking down between the stones in search of a rooting place. But in mid-June these long, slender runners were only just be- ginning to show signs ui developing youngsters at their tips; they were far too immature to be taken off. The following summer, 1921, 'however, I re- turned to the Lantaret in mid-July. I had a horrid shock. The flowers were all gone and the visitors had arrived. Those wonderful meadows of the previous year were like my own doormat at home — with less soil. It was only by going very much higher, on the Gali- bier Pass, that I found any flowers, and then they were a different set. The stream below the Geum scree had shrunk, so that the little island gardens were now flowerless and no lunger islands. But Geum reptans was there, with even a belated blossom or two, and many silky heads of ripe seed, and, best of all, the runners had developed splendid little plants at their tips, each with a leaf or two; some with young roots sprouting and groping for a foot- hold down in the deep cavities among the rocks; and the rest with a sort of fleshy callus all .^eady to burst into roots at the least encourage- ment. These were delightfully easy to collect, and they travelled home in an airtight tin without distress. Dibbled into pans of soil with an inch-thick " icing " of silver sand, they rooted in a week or two, and have looked very pleased with pot life ever since. The seed, too, which I collected, and sowed with more charity than faith, has surprised me by germinating with almost embarrassing freedom. Now, having overcome the usual difficulty of securing live plants, with roots, of the true Geum reptans, there arises the problem of how to flower them. But I do not think that should be so difficult as is generally supposed. Clarence Elliott. Stevenage. PALMS OF THE RIVIERA. I should have mentioned the Chinese Hemp Palm, Trachycarpus exeelsus, H. Wend] (see Fig. 34), before in these notes, because it is one of the commonest Palms in Riviera gardens, and well known also in the warmer parts of England, where this, the hardiest of all Palms, resists the winters, though it is much finer in the warmer climate of the Riviera. It is a very distinct species on account of the blackish fibres, like thick, long hairs, which densely cover the trunk right down to the soil, surrounding the bases of the dead leaf- stalks., which never fall off, however old the Palm is, and never decay. The long, blackish, hair-like filaments, ibeiug rather strong, are used hy the Chinese for making ropes. The trunk is rather slender, much more so than the trunks of the other Palms I have mentioned hitherto, and which belong to the same tribe, th? Corypheae (Washingtonia, Erythea, Brahea). The rather dense crown of palmatifid leaves — the blades being almost of circular form of one metre in diameter anil carried on leaf- stalls of the sain.? length of a beautiful dark green — makes this Palm quite ornamental. It is quick growing in good, sufficiently moist soil, and will succeed anywhere here in the full blazing sun or in perfect shade and. as usual in this last situation, the leaves become softer and of a deeper green, being thus of a less stiff appearance than when grown in the full sun. It may, on account of its quick growth, be used very profitably for creating Palm woods or clothing such places as have a northern position, where other Palms do not prosper except, as I said in a former article, Chamaerops humilis, a much smaller species. The flower spadices are like thos.3 of most other Palms, and develop in a circle from the axils of the older leaves. The I have very rarely met it coming up spon- taneously in really wild places, just as is the rase with so many species the seeds of which germinate readily enough in gardens where the soil is loosened by cultivation, but hardly ever where such is not the case. Perhaps, also, the fruits of the Palm are not much appreciated by birds or animals, which might disseminate the seed. The Palm grows some ten metres high, and is thus a species of medium height. Fig. 54.— trachycarpus excelsus; a palm hardy ix the warmer runs of the British isles. flowers, of light-yellow colour, are followed by a great number of ornamental, bluish-black, kidney-shaped fruits that arc the -./ .,n ordinary Bean. Seeds germinate freely under the plant, and ■s Uin^s spring up in "great aumbers. The species is quite naturalised here in gardens, and is sometimes seen coming up on rubbish heaps constituted of garden refuse, but Some other species of Trachycarpus have been described, buf these are exceedingly rare in Riviera gardens. They differ so little, at leasl those cultivated here as different species, that 1 should, up to nun, hesitate about their identity. Prof. Beccari, who has described i hese speee-s. admits himself that (lie characters are little distinct. 1 may here stale that th- L'aiins which 1 have raised from seeds received 68 THE GARDENERS9 CHRONICLE. Febeuaky 11, 1922. from India under the name Trachycarpus Martianus, H. Wendl, cannot be distinguished from T. excelsus, at least up to the present. T. Martianus, differently from T. excelsus, sheds its leaves and thus has a clean trunk, which is not the case with my plants, nor with such as I have met in other gardens. It is, therefore, probable that the true species may not yet have been introduced, and that the Palm going -under the name of T. Martianus on the Riviera is either chiefly T. excelsus or some other species. Thi9 true Trachycarpus Martianus grows to a height of seventeen metres, has a thin, grace- fully bent trunk, and leaves of the same size as those of T. excelsus. I should like to obtain fresh seeds of the true species, which is found in the Khasya mountains in Assam and Nor- thern Burma, as well as of other species of this very hardy genus of Palms, and should be pleased to r.&ceive them from anyone who reads thesD notes. In parts of India, such as Mount Takil, in Kumaon, other species are found at great altitudes, and these Palms should certainly prove hardy, not only on the Riviera, but perhaps in the milder parts of England; also in Yunnan, China, are found one or mora wild species. Dr. A. Robertson Proxchowsky, Jardin d' Acclitn citation, Leu T ro piques, Fabron, Nice, France. RAISING CONSERVATORY PLANTS FROM SEED. [Concluded from page 56.) Coming now to seeds for present 6owing to carry on the display until November, tuberous- rooted Begonias deserve prida of place. We live in an age of specialists, and where the massive double-flowered varieties are required the best source for the seed is one of the few firms that have built up a reputation for these plants. The new Narcissus-flowered type is worth including as a novelty. The pendulous section for hanging baskets is just as easily raised from seed, and few subjects receive more admiration when well grown. Gloxinias, under rather warmer conditions, furnish a welcome succession to old tubers in August. Streptocarpus hybrids show as great an im- provement as any greenhouse plants which are habitually raised from seed, and are now quite as useful as Gloxinias. Stove treatment was at one time recommended, but inter- mediate conditions are quite as satisfactory. Although Clerodendron fallax requires warm house culture, it may, when in flower, be used in the conservatory, and the large heads of scarlet flowers and luxuriant foliage are wel- come, since in their season handsome plants are none too plentiful. Cannas are never out of place, and young plants revel in a fair amount of heat and moisture. Messrs. Sutton and Sons have a pink variety which associates well with M. Crozy's hyibrids. Browallia speciosa major is a plant with a neat habit and bright blue flowers. TCxacum affine produces sweetly scented mauve flowers on bushy little plants 9 inches high. All the Impatiens prove useful during the summer, for they remain in bloom over a long period and give very little trouble in culti- vation if fed liberallj. Few summer annuals are more attractive than Statice Suworowi. with its long spikes of bright rose-coloured flowers, which last well when cut. Torenia Fournieri is another profuse-blooming annual with violet-blue flowers. Gesneras and Achimenes, grown in the same conditions as Gloxinias, ara useful plants for autumn effect. Although most of the Asclepias are of peren- nial habit, early sown seeds of A. curassavica will produce handsome plants in their first season, and the l eddish orange-scarlet flowers, borne in erect clusters, are most striking. Blue flowers are not plentiful in the garden in winter, and for its handsome spikes in this shade Coleus thrysoideus should not be overlooked. Another handsome pot plant js Campanula pyramidalis, in blue and white varieties, seeds of which should be sown in August and the plants grown on under cool conditions. Humea elegans is another biennial of attractive appearance, and well repays the little extra care needed to grow it Amongst indoor plants which are looked upon as more permanent occupants, but which may be raised from seeds, are Hippeastrum, yellow-flowered Richardias, Hibiscus Manihot, Acacia dealbata, show Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Solanums, and several Palms. 7 '. G. CYCLAMEN UTIFOUUM IN THE UNITED STATES. The notes on Cycamen in the Gard. Chron. of December 24, "1921, by Mr. John Heal, px-ompts n.e to send a few remarks on these plants as grown in the United States of America. Mr. Heal states that the Cyclamen is one of the most popular of winter-flowering plants. This applies to the U.S.A. particularly, for since an Order put an end to the importation of Azaleas, the Cyclamen has been used most extensively in tneir place. True, good Azaleas are now being raised by a few growers here, hut it will be years before enough are produced to replace the Belgian stocks ; moreover, their cost will never make them a profitable specula- tion for the average grower of forced plants. •The Cyclamen, however, may be grown by everyone if they have the facilities and the interest; those that haven't can buy the plants half-grown and flower them fairly easily. Tt is astonishing how the Cyclamen has been taken up by American growers during the past two or three years ; until the Germans were able to get their crops of seed over here in 1919 there was not nearly enough seed to meet the demand, and as there were only two or three glowers in U.S.A. producing seed, the supply of English seed had to go round as far as possible. Since 1919, German seed has been coming into this country in quantity, and every plant grower up and down the country has tried his hand. Some, especially those who always specialised in Cyclamen, have made a great success of the plants, and, incidentally, much money; others have had bad luck with them, and especially this season. Mite is a serious pest, and. in a general way, it is only those with some European experience who have kept this and other pests in check, due, of course, to the fact that they know the importance of cleanliness, and growing the plants in moist, cool conditions. I may be wrong, but I do not think anyone at home produces such wonderful plants of Cycla- men as are produced by a few growers here, including Messrs. Roland, Boston; Craig, Phila- delphia ; Petersen, Cincinnati ; and Lehnig, Hackensach. All these growers have had Euro- pean training, and probably have European trained labour. Thos. Roland is of English birth, and is one of the greatest pot-plant growers in this country. His largest Cyclamen plants, well over 2 feet in diameter in 8-inch pots, were retailing this Christmas in New York at $20, say, £8 each. I may state that for quality of flowers these commercial growers' plants are not so fine as I have seen in England ; generally speaking. English seed produces finer flowers, but not such vigorous plants as the German seed. At least I am informed that this is so, but for all that I have seen plants raised from English seed in March carrying well over 100 flowers, and nearer 3 feet than 2 feet across. These were shown in New York by a private gardener, a Scotchman named Stuart. He is a great enthusiast on Cyclamen, and as he was in England this past summer, he made a pil- grimage to Harlington, Middlesex, just to talk Cyclamen with the veteran grower of the St. George's Nurseries. Mr. Tom Avery. I often think that had Mr. Avery been in America during the past ten years he would be rolling along the highways in his twin six motor-car, instead of handling a water-can. I may mention that the commercial growers here mostly sow in flats and transplant the seedlings singly at a fairly early stage of their develop- ment. The marvel about the seedlings is that they grow so well in large houses, despite the hot summers here; shading is done with scrim on wires, and watering or spraying by means of a hose. I have never seen anyone using a can, but I assume they do adopt this method of watering when the plants are small. Ashes are used on the benches, which are rarely solid. I have not met a grower who gives his plants cold frame treatment in the summer, although there are some that do so, even in Canada. American growers make two or more sowings, the first as soon as the seed is available. In this respect the Germans get in first; moreover, as they have been sending such large quantities, doubtless some left-over stock is utilised ; the wise grower prefers such seeds, because it ger- minates more" readily than fresh, but others think of fresh seed only, and therefore do not start sowing before some time in August. Plants from the early sowings in the hands of expert growers begin flowering in October, but there are some who can get good plants in 4-inch and 5-inch pots from March sowings. I am rather surprised that Mr. Heal recom- mends the saving of old corms, and especially drying them off. Even in England I thought old corms were more or less taboo; at least those who saved them keep them growing. Treated like seedlings, that is, shaken out after flowering and repotted in fresh soil and brought along as seedlings, old corms make fine plants, but if a 2 ft. specimen can be obtained from seed inside eighteen months, old roots are not worth considering. In this country no one appears to save them. Regarding potting, plants required for bloom- ing early in winter and for the Christmas trade are in their flowering pots by September or October, but later plants are potted on even so late as December. Repotting, of course, checks the blooming somewhat, but it results in finer and more substantial specimens. If allowed to. get pot-bound, the plants do not last long after reaching the buyers' home. It is rather remarkable that the variegated type, such as St. George a.nd crimson St. George, are not handled by commercial growers here. I have not seen a plant anywhere, yet some of the seedsmen list them. I suppose it is a ques- tion of cost; for the average American plant grower is apt to consider price first, and for this reason gives German seed a preference. One German grower here was, I found last year, paying some attention to variegation in the foliage. He had been selecting towards this end. He was quite surprised when I told him that if he kept on another five years he would just about be where the St. George's nursery was ten or twelve years before. Yet several seed lists quote the variegated varieties men- tioned, and references have been made to them, and even pictures published in the American trade papers. American growers are no wiser than tnose of other nations when it comes to watcning for new plants. Indeed, I might hazard mat the general run of commercial growers here are even more chary of trying a new thing than growers in England; they wait until someone leads the way, then all follow suit, Roses and tarnations excepted. There are probably various reasons tjv this ; many growers are of foreign extraction or foreign born, none too well versed in the English language, and therefore not given to reading much. Others, like some at mime, ara suspicious, too slow, or too busy to botner about things they know nothing of. And »nen, of course, there are some who know so moch that they do not interest themselves in what others are doing; they assun.e they are far ahead of the outside world. Luther Buibank once said he was too much concerned with his own work to pay heed to what others were doing. Such people live in a world of their own ; there are lots of them everywhere. T. A- W., New York February 11, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. m THE MARKET FRUIT GARDEN January was a month of changeable weather, the most cheering feature of which was the substantial rainfall. Here, in East Sussex, i .mi i or snow fell on 21 days, the total for the month being 4.30 in., which is well above the average, and. more than was recorded in any single month of 1921. Much of this rain conveniently came at night, so that there was no serious interruption to outdoor work. It soaked away quickly into the dry earth ; but drains are run- ning again, and wells that have been dry for weeks are filling at last, which is evidence that wo are getting back to normal conditions. There was a good deal of cold east wind during the month, and a blizzard on the 15th, which left the ground covered with snow for three days, on the last of which 14 deg. of frost were registered 4 ft. from the ground. It is to be hoped, therefore, that vegetation has received a wholesome check. It is early to prophesy, but I fancy we shall have a later spring than in the last two years. The first yellow Crocus was in bloom in my garden on the 29th, a fortnight later than last year; and fruit trees do not appear to be so forward. As a late spring is favourable to fruit crops, prospects so far are cheerful. Pruning. The work of pruning is well forward. As a natural result of last season's drought there is 'ess new wood than usual, and in many instances fruit spurs have formed right up to the tips of the shoots. In such cases the pruners are in- structed to search for a wood bud lower down, cut to that, and then clear the shor^t of spurs for several inches from the end. This, I hope, will set them growing again. There are fewer fresh canker wounds on Apples than usual, but there is a good deal of scab on the young shoots of such varieties as show the winter stage of this fungus, notably Cox's Orange. When the trees begin to show signs of life they will be sprayed with a simple solution of sulphate of copper, 10 lb. to 100 gallons of water. I believe that this is the best preventive we have at present against scab or brown rot. The later the spray- ing can be done the better the result, but it must not be delayed too long, as the wash is very destructive to foliage. Slight scorching of the outside leaves oniie expanding fruit buds, however, appears to do no serious harm, though one likes to avoid it. New Fungicide Wanted. The East Mailing experiments with summer fungicides emphasise the fact that we have no really satisfactory wash of this kind. Bordeaux mixture is the most successful against scab, but the fact that it russets the fruit is quite sufficient to condemn its use in commercial orchards, apart from the risk of scorching the foliage of certain varieties. Lime-sulphur, which many of us have adopted as a substitute for Bordeaux mixture, is less effective against scab and causes a proportion of the fruit to drop before it matures. Ammonium polysulphide is almost useless against, scab though valuable for mildew. It seems, therefore, that we are badly in need of a new fungicide. Surely the chemists who worked such wonders during the war could accomplish this. There is an urgent need for a fungicide that is really effective as a preventive of scab without being harmful to the crop or the trees, for nothing does more than scab to lower the quality of our Apples and Pears and make it difficult to place a good sample on the market. Possibly further investigation will discover a safe formula for Bordeaux mixture. It seems absurd that there should still be in use several formulae for such an old fungicide. The 8-8-100 formula (8 lb. copper sulphate, 8 lb. lime, 100 gallons water) may perhaps be considered as the standard ; but it is hopelessly liable to cause russeting and scorching. The 8-25. 100 and the 6-20-100 formula? are less harmful, but have not Droved by any means free from objection at East Mailing. The question is, Can the copper sul- phate be still further reduced without impairing the value of the mixture as a fungicide ? There is reason to believe that this might be done. A visitor to my farm, who has grown fruit in Tasmania, where scab is apparently much more harmful than it is here, told me that he has used as little as 3 lb. of copper sulphate in 100 gallons of wash with good results. He believed that the wash could hardly be too weak, pro- vided that the spraying was done at the best time. In Tasmania the. best time has been estab- lished by careful tests. It is just when the fruit buds are in what he called the "final pink ': stage, which would be about at the time when we usually spray for aphis and psylla. There is, of course, no reason why this should be the best stage for spraying to control scab in this country. Some time within a fortnight after the fall of the bloom is generally considered to be correct, though we have no definite evidence. Tasmanian Style of Pruning. From the same source I gained some interest- ing information about the system of pruning followed by growers in Tasmania. The trees are grown with about ten branches radiating from a short stem. These branches are never allowed to multiply or sub-divide, but are treated as cordons. So far, the system may not appear to differ much from that followed in a good many English gardens; but the treat- leaf is prevalent which have not a trace of the disease. Yet in other places it is practically impossible to grow Victoria at all. What are the conditions that favour the diseass? Growers hold conflicting opinions on this question. Some think that starved trees fall easy victims, anil claim to keep silver-leaf at bay by generous manuring. Others believe that over-luxuriance brings the trouble. Whatever the cause may be, there is no doubt that the effect is very serious. Many orchards of Victoria have been grubbed, and few are planting the variety, which is our best mid- season Plum. As a result, we are threatened with a gap between the early and late varieties. In some cases this is filled by Belle de Louvain, which suits me very well, but is a very shy bearer in some districts. Probably a better market variety is the Purple Pershore, which is said to be a very heavy bearer and less liable to silver-leaf than many kinds. The Pershore growers were not unnaturally inclined to keep this variety within their own district, but it has leaked out and is being planted extensively in other parts of the country. Market Grower. Fig. 35. — pear the blickling. ment of the laterals is quite different. There is none of the foolish short spurring commonly seen in this country. The laterals are left several inches long, or even full length in the case of some varieties, until they form natural fruit spurs, after which they are shortened to one of those spurs. Quite a lot of temporary wood may be left at the base of the tree, so as to bring it early into bearing, this being gradually reduced as the upper part of the tree conii9s into fruit. The leaders are shortened annually. Both Apples and Plums are pruned on this system. There is no proof, of course, that, the plan would prove to be the best in this country, but it would be worth trying on an experimental scale. Trees so trained have several advantages, the chief of which is that the branches can be bent down for pruning and fruit-picking, thus doing away with the nuisance of steps or the damage of ladders. They are also economical for spraying ; and the pruning, once the trees ane in bearing, is practi- cally fool-proof. Silver-leaf in Plums. Without questioning that silver-leaf is caused by the fungus Stereum purpureum, there are still mysteries connected with this serious disease of Plums. Why does it attack some orchards and not others? There are old, neglected orchards of Victoria Plum, the most susceptible variety, in districts where silver- FRUIT REGISTER. PEAR THE BLICKLING. This variety of Pear (see Fig. 35) gained an K.H.S. Award of Merit, January 8, 1907 when exhibited by Mr. William Allan, of Gunton Park Gardens, Norwich, who discovered it some years previously growing in the gardens at Blickling Hall. Mr. Allan has kindly forwarded us specimens of the variety from Gunton Park Gardens, with the remark that he considers it quite one of the finest flavoured Pears in season in January, if not the best. That such a com- petent fruit grower as Mr. Allan should express such a high opinion of the variety after some fifteen years' acquaintance with it, is high testi- mony to its merits. It has been described as a late Doyenne du Cornice, and it has a similar white, melting, juicy flesh, but there is just a traoe of grittiness in the variety which is absent from Doyenne du Cornice. According to Mr. Bun- yard, in A Handbook of Fruits, the variety is said to have been introduced from Belgium by a monastic order, and he describes it as a delicious fruit, rather like a late Comte de Lamy. The tree makes a moderate amount of growth which is of good fertility ; in the majority of gardens it would probably succeed Ibest as a wall tree. The specimen illustrated in Fig. 35 is from a photograph of one of the fruits kindly sent us by Mr. Allan. 70 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 11, 1922: NOTES FROM WISLEY. A few spring flowers are now beginning to appear at \Visiey, the most conspicuous so far being Snowdrops. A lew Crocuses are showing, and here and there a Narcissus bulbocodium. Ifamamelis arborea is in flower' and near by is H. japonica var Zuccariniana. The flowers of the latter are of a paler yellow and smaller than those of H. mollis, which is seen to great advantage in the wood against the background of evergreens. The flowers give out a pleasant odour, which may often be detected at a con- siderable distance. Another shrub with a delightfully scented flower is Viburnum fragrans ; this was raised from seed sent home by the late Reginald Farrer, and it is now in bloom for the first time at Wisley. A welcome surprise on the border behind the glasshouses is the unusually free flowering of Pairotiia persica. The half-opened flowers, which often escape notice, here stand out in the sun- light almost like scarlet berries. Pieris (Andromeda) floribunda is well furnished with its clustered spikes and should soon be a mass of flowers. The common Hazel is be- ginning to bloom, and many species of Salix have already burst their buds. Under glass, the trial of Carnations is pro- viding some bright colour. An Antirrhinum trial is also in progress, but at present the plants are. naturally, quite small. In the Alpine house the flowers of Saxifraga Burseriana major, S. B. glabra and, most charm- ing of all, S. B. crenata, are to be seen, as well as S. Irvingii. The germination of some of the seeds sent to Wisley by the Mt. Everest expedition lis providing a good deal of speculative interest. J. E. <;. white. HOME CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents.] Rhododendrons. — No one reading Mr. Magor's interesting remarks (p. 42) on the above subject will contradict him as regards the beauty and excellence of the plants he mentions, but I feel that some reference to climate and situation should be made for the benefit of your many readers deeply interested in Rhododendrons, but lacking the Knowledge to discriminate be- tween species of service to them as garden plants and those suitable only for very favoured spots where they can not only be grown but flowered. Suppose, for example, a reader should be attracted by the six plants named by Mr. Magor as his choice, and let us assume such a reader lives in Cheshire. The eastern side of this * ountv is one of the best districts for the growing of hardy hybrids, but the probabilities are that he would never see a bloom from any of the six species except R. Augustinii, and I conclude that he would be annoyed at the result. The Rhododendrons named by Mr. Magor may be grown by experts in favourable spots, but, even then, many dis- appointments will follow. I agree entirely with Mr. Magor's contention that the species and finer hybrids he mentions are incomparably more beautiful than the hardy hybrids, but when it is considered that these specialities can only be grown by perhaps 2 per cent, of persons interested in the cultivation of Rhododendrons, it seems necessary to point out their limitations. This is not the moment for me to enlarge upon the possibilities of hardy hybrids, which thrive equally well in the suburbs of Manohester or in gardens side by side with their more delicate relations, but on reading Mr. Magor's article I felt constrained to take up the cudgels on behalf of that some- what abused section of Rhododendrons. I ven- ture to suggest that, should cultivators in the greater part of England be restricted to the species and few hybrids mentioned by Mr. Magor, the landscape would suffer to a very considerable extent. F. Gamer Wotercr. The Cottage, Bagshot. Libonia floribunda — A perusal of several issues of The Gardeners' Chronicle, ranging over different years, fails to find any mention of this plant, I may have overlooked such a reference, or perchance the name Libonia is otherwise rendered — in which case such informa- tion will be much welcomed. Neither is there sudh a name given in the 1901 issue of Thomp- son's Dictionary, nor is it to be found in a very recently-published gardening dictionary. The omission of this plant from more latter- day writings would seem to indicate that it is none too well known, which is a great pity, as this Libonia has real beauty and decorative worth approaching, when well grown, some of the winter-flowering Begonias. The flowers are tubular-shaped, about an inch long and bicoloured, a blending of scarlet and yellow which, when seen in a grouping of several plants, is most distinct and attractive. The foliage is glossy, small and ovate, while the blossoms depend, like those of Solomon's Seal, along the stem, varying in length, according to the strength of each shoot or growth. Cuttings are easily rooted in sandy soil from shoots pro- curable towards the end of spring and early summer. After their first potting, Libonias may be grown in cold frames, while, for a time pre- vious to being housed for the winter, outside treatment is not harmful to healthy plants. During December and January, when at their best, a greenhouse temperature ranging from 45° to 52° is sufficiently high. One plant in a 48-sized pot, or three in a 7-inch pot, give useful results — while specimens grown as " cut- backs " would appear to flower more freely than so-called one year-old plants. C. Turner, Ampthill Fart Gardens. [Libonia floribunda is a plant common in cul- tivation, and our correspondent's failure to find tli, name in some gardening works may be due to its being described under its more correct name of Jacobinia pauciflora. — Eds.] Winter flowering Begonias. -Several corre- spondents have during the past few weeks referred to these beautiful flowering plants in your pages, and it is true that the autumn and winter-flowering Begonias make a glorious dis- play during the dull months of the year. The Gloire de Lorraine type flowers first, in October and November, and at Christmas that magnificent variety The King comes into bloom. I have plants of this variety (end of January) two feet high and the same distance through. Plants of Mrs. Peterson, with its beautiful dark foliage and pink flowers, in four inch pots, are as large as those of The King. All the plants are" clean and have not, been fumigated once, and I attribute this freedom from pests to my method of cultivation. The worst evil is rust; as soon as this is detected the plants should be burnt, as there is no practical cure for it. I never allow the water pipes to become too hot; should the pipes be overheated many times a grower will very soon find his plants infested with green fly and thrips. All the Begonias revel in heat and moisture; the house should be closed early, and shaded from sunshine so as to keep the growth soft until the autumn months, when the plants will naturally become harder as the flowering period arrives. For potting compost 1 use a light mixture of turfy loam one part, leaf-mould two parts, and the same of peat, with plenty of sand. No chemical manure is used. During the past season I used dried sheep manure rubbed through a half-inch sieve, in preference to dry cow manure, but an imdue amount erf this fertiliser would cause the plants to make excessive growth, which re- sults in fewer flowers. I give the plants plenty of water during the growing season, and use the syringe freely, but during the winter give water only when it is needed. When cutting back the plants it is a good plan to do this gradually, removing the flower stems first and leave six to eight inchec of growth for the production of cuttings. It is a barbarous practice to cut the plants down to within an inch or two of the pots. When feeding use liquid cow or sheep manure; soot water may also be given the roots. Win. Fulford, Jh'mw House Gardens, Aldenham. SOCIETIES. MANCHESTER AND NORTH OF ENGLAND ORCHID. .T '.nuart V). — Committee present : Messrs. J Cypher (in the chair), B. J. Beckton, Dr. F. Beiford, J. Birchenall, D. A. Cowan, J. C. Corran, J. Evans, J. Howes, A. Keeling, D. McLeori, J. McNab, E. W. Thompson and H. Arthur (Secretary). Owing to the adverse weather the exhibits were not so numerous as usual. Awards. First-Class Certificates. Od.-mtoglossum crispum X.L.All. A largf white flower of pertect shape, with small led spots or- the lip. Cypripedium Viking. The dorsal sepal is white, with a brownish-green base and a deep broad claret line down the centre ; the petals are greenish-yellow with brown lines and a dark brown line along the centre; the pouch is greenish -yellow. From S. Gratrix, Esq. Cattleya Enid Colossus. An exceptionally large flower of fine shape and dark, round lip. F'rom D. Losh-Thorfe. Esq. Awards of Merit. Cypripedium Merlene air. Golden Noble (Selene x Lord Wolmer) ; C. Lord Wolmer ii estonbiri vac. From Mrs. Gratrix. c. Nidbe Leeanum car. Tom Clare From Miss Bolton. C. Perseus Jiegina (Alcibiades illustris x Lady Dillon). F'rom S. Gratrix, Esq. Laelio-Cattleya Schroderac car. Prince Henry, From D. Losh -Thorpe, Esq. Cultural Certificate. Mr. F. Cookson for Calanthes in variety. Groups. S. Gratrix, Esq., West Point (gr. Mr. J. Howes), staged a group of choice Cypripediums, for which a large Silver-Gilt Medal was awarded. A. T. Cussons, Esq., Kersal (gr Mr. F. Cook- son), was awarded a Silver-Gilt Medal for a group of Cypripediums. Messrs. Cypher and Sons, Cheltenham, were awarded a Silver Medal for a group of Cypripe- diums in variety. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL OF ABERDEEN. The first of a series of lectures under the auspices of this society was given in the Botany Classroom, Aberdeen University, on Wednes- day, the 1st m-t., by Dr. MacGregor Skene, lecturer in vegetable physiology at Aber- deen University. These lectures were previ- ously conducted by the North of Scotland Horticultural Association, a body which for many years did valuable propaganda work for horticulture, but is now merged in the Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen. Dr. Skene took for his subject " The Making of a Flower," and delighted his large audience with a most instructive and interesting lecture. To get to the beginning of the long series of evolutionary changes which had produced the flowers which delighted i hem to-day in then wild state, and which *ormed the material with which breeders had worked to produce their garden forms, it was necessary, said Dr. Skene, to go back a long way. The seed came before the flower, and it was in the geological epoch, when coal was being laid down" that there first arose a race of Fern- like plants which bore seed. The production of seed might be looked on as giving protec'i to the reproductive units. guarding them against drought, and so allowing the seed plants to grow in dry places and to conquer great areas of the land surface. Later fhese earlv seed-bearing Ferns became the origin of a stock of plants represented to-day by the Cycads Tn the vegetation of the secondary geological period the Cycads were dominant, and in that period they produced members in which the reproductive organs were arranged ,., a nrimitive lower. From such l.^muings the flowering plants of to-day had evolved, the February 11, 1922 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 71 most primitive type now extant being probably the' Tulip Tree. The factor which had determined the pro- duction of colour, scent, and nectar was the insect visit, which transferred pollen from stamen to stigma. All these features were to be explained in relati m to the insect, and, if those characters which were determined by this inter-relation were taken away, there was no flower in the ordinary sens6 left. The dependence of the flower on insect pollination was evident in many ways. The Monkshoods ■were pollinated by bumble-bees,, and in their distribution they always kept within the bumble-bee zone. Red Clover, Trifolium pra- ten&e, set no seed in New Zealand till bees had been introduced. Foreign garden plants had fre- quently to be pollinated by hand, in the absence of insects. With wild flowers as material, man had fashioned the garden varieties, using the tools of selection and hybridisation. He had converted a. few wild species of Tulip into thousands of varieties. The Tulip was a capital instance of the fascination of the history of a cultivated flower. Brought by merchant seamen of Holland to Leyden, its cultivation became such an obsession in the seventeenth century in Holland that laws had to be passed to prevent dishonesty in a trade in which incredible sums changed hands for a single bulb. Thus was laid the foundation of the great Dutch bulb trade. The lecture was illustrated by beautiful limelight views, and hearty thanks were accorded Dr. Skene for the highly instructive evening he had provided. pelled the interest of his audience. Rotation of crops, the art of intercropping, the vexed question of manuring, and the best varieties of vegetables were all dealt with. The Chairman, in proposing a vote of thanks, added interesting remarks con- cerning the seed-growing industry. ELSTREE AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL. The annual meeting of this Society, held re- cently, was followed shortly afterwards by the annual dinner and sodial evening. Mr. Edwin Beckett presided at the annual meeting. A very satisfactory state of affairs was reported by the Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. J. Pritchard, on behalf of the Committee. After meeting all claims, and making a donation of ten guineas to the local sports club, the avail- able balance was shown by the accounts to have risen during the year from £9 16s to no less than £36, in addition to whlich there is a deposit account with the bank of £20. Amounts received during the year as subscriptions, dona- tions, and for special prizes amounted to £65, whilst the Society expended £72 upon prizes at the annual summer show. Special votes of thanks were accorded to Lord Aldenham, the Hon. Vicary Gibbs, and the Hon. Edlith Gibbs, for their great help and support, and it was announced that the show for 1922 would take place at Aldenham Park, on July 15 next. During the evening several new members were elected. Votes of thanks to the Chairman and Hon. Secretary terminated the business. The annual dinner which took place at the " Plough Inn," Elstree, was a great success, the chair being taken by H. F. Thomas, Esq., Elstree. The company numbered about 80. The toast, " Continued Prosperity of the Society," was moved by the Chairman in a humorous speech, and was responded to, on behalf of the Society, by Mr. W. Cutbush, who empha- sised the usefulness of the Society. The toast of " The Chairman " was moved by Mr. Ed. Beckett in a short but excellent speech, and was suitably responded to by Mr. Thomas. The musical items, which were numerous and varied, assisted greatly in making the evening an ex- ceedingly pleasant and successful one. WATFORD HORTICULTURAL. The third of a series of lectures promoted by the above Society was given in the Council Chamber on the 25th ult. by Mr. F. W. Miles (County Staff Lecturer). Major E. W. C. Monro presided over a large attendance. Taking " Up- to-Date Vegetable Cultivation " as his subject, the lecturer dealt with it in a style which com- BRITISH MYCOLOGICAL. A meeting of the British Mycological Society was held at University College, London, on Saturday, January 21, the President, Mr. F. T. Brooks, in the chair. The first paper was by Mr. W. B. Crow on Leuconostoc mesenteroides, which was formerly frequent in sugar works and was principally responsible for the so-called "frog spawn" which appeared in the vats containing sugar solutions. Symbiosis in Calluna vulgaris. This was followed by a critical review by Dr. M. C. Rayner of a recent German paper by H. Christoph, in which he comes to quite opposite conclusions from her well-known results on obligate symbiosis in Calluna vulgaris. The experimental results of her own work were first summarised. Christoph, who is apparently still in ignorance of these experimental facts, concerns himself with the manner in which the roots of Calluna, in common with the Ericaceae, become infected by a mycorrhizal fungus, and with the subsequent relations between plant and endophyte. As a consequence of germinating seeds on sterilised and unsterilised soils, he concludes that infection takes place always from the soil, never from the seed- coat. Moreover, he concludes that the relation between plant and fungus is entirely casual in nature and claims to have raised and grown healthy plants, the roots of which remain free from fungal infection. Unfortunately, the records of all experiments carried out by Christoph with sterilised seeds are at present valueless, since he offers no proof whatever that such seeds and the seedlings obtained from them were free from infection from micro- organisms. Nor were his seed cultures grown under aseptic conditions, since he records infection from the soil in some of them by other species of fungi, an infection regarded as of no consequence since the species concerned are incapable of infecting the roots. Christoph isolated a fungus from the roots of Calluna, but was unable to identify it in pure culture as it did not spore. He claims to have established its identity by successful inocula- tion into seedlings, but the latter were already well rooted. Dr. Rayner pointed out that the obligate relation between plant and fungus which follows from her experimental results and the regular infection of seedlings from the seed- coat in no way involves the absence of the mycorrhizal fungus (a species of Phoma) from soil or precludes additional infection of roots from that source. It is obvious, indeed, that the soil about Calluna roots will always con- tain hyphae of this fungus, although the ex- tent to which the latter can grow as an independent saprophyte in soil under natural conditions is at present unknown. Die Back of Stone Fruits. Miss D. M. Cayley followed with a descrip- tion of the " die back " of stone fruit trees due to Diaporthe perniciosa. In the investigation of " die back " in stone fruit trees, although different fungi have been found to be very generally present on the diseased tissues, D. perniciosa has proved to be by far the most prevalent. The fungus has been isolated from Peach, Peach stock, Apricot, manv different varieties of Plum, Apple stock (Type n.. Mailing), and wild Sloe. This " die back " appears to be of very general occurrence in fruit- growing areas in 'this country. The disease attacks trees of all ages, but the damage is most noticeable in young ones where the whole tree is killed very rapidly after the first external symptoms have appeared. The development of the parasite in the host plant is slow ; infection occurs for a considerable time, in some cases probably years, before any definite external symptoms appear, but once wilting has set in the affected areas die rapidly and the fungus completes its life history as a saprophyte on the dead wood. The first symptoms may be either rapid wilting and browning of the leaves during the growing season, or premature yellowing and fall of the leaves in autumn. in either case the parts affected are killed out- right in a short time. The bark at first looks healthy, and frequently no external symptoms can be seen before wilting sets in. In other cases the bark may take on a reddish tinge, or slightly sunken areas may extend longitudinally down the stem or branch. The smaller branches or stems instead of being cylindrical are in- clined to be angular or flattened. This angular appearance is due to the uneven development of secondary thickening, which is arrested in the diseased area, whereas normal growth continues in the parts of the periphery unaffected by the fungus. Callus may form on either side of the sunken area, with the result that the bark is split longi- tudinally down the stem. As the disease develops, transverse elongated excrescences form on the bark, very similar to, but much more numerous than, the undeveloped lenticels on normal bark. These excrescences are caused by the development of stomata immediately beneath, or in between the external layers of cork. Pycnidia develop in these stomata, break through the bark, causing the lenticel like spots, and the spores are liberated as whitish tendrils. The fungus kills the cortical tissues, the- phloem, cambium and medullary rays, and penetrates the wood, causing considerable dis- colouration of the xylem. The wilting, how- ever is not due to the n.echanical blocking of the vessels by the fungus itself. The vessels are, however, considerably blocked by tylosis and gummy deposits. Diaporthe is one of the Pyrenomycetes, with a pyenidial stage belonging to the form genus Phomopsis. It is difficult to get the fungus to complete its life history on artificial media in pure culture, although sowings of ascospores and pyenospores grow well on various artificial media. In three instances, however, peritheciai have been observed in pure culture, from sow- ings of pyenospores, thus proving that both stages belong to the same fungus. Inoculation experiments on one year old shoots of Prince of Wales Plum, although they showed definite stages of infection, accompanied by gumming, have not produced, so far, the typical wilt. Other inoculations on the current year's young shoots of Peach, with pure cultures isolated from different varieties of Plum, and from Apricot and Peach, gave rise to rapid wilt and die back. These results show that all the strains are definitely parasitic on the Peach. Experiments with mono-ascospore and mono- pyenospore cultures have given very interesting results, showing that there probably are two- distinct biologic strains occurring on the Plum, and a third on the Peach, which, when grown together in a Petri-dish on an artificial medium, show a peculiar phenomenon of repulsing one- another, although they are all capable of parasitising the Peach. So far, all the mono- ascospore cultures derived from the same perithelium have proved to be of the same strain, and the segregation in the different strains appears to take place at some period before the development of the pyenospore. The investigation of this part of the problem is not yet complete, the initial results being brought forward for discussion. Dr. W. Brown continued his account of investigations on the physiology of fungi. The germination of fungal spores is markedly affected by the action of volatile substances proceeding from plant tissues. Thus the germination of spores of Botrvtis cinerea is accelerated by the action of volatile substances arising from the petals of Rosa centifolia, and from a large variety of leaves. Ruta, Eucalyptus, Choisya. Pelargonium, Apple, etc.. and from Apple friiit. The parasitic capacity of the spores is also increased in the presence of such plant tissues, the spores in virtue of their more vigorous germination being enabled to penetrate leave {e.g., Be*» Wves) which they are unable to- 72 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 11, 1922. attack in the absence of such stimulation. In other cases very distinct retardations have been obtained, e.g., in the case of Botrytis spores in presence of Orange, Onion, and Potato tissue. These effects are also obtained with other fungi. It was found possible to reproduce the phenomena by use of a chemically pure sub- stance such as ethyl acetate. Mr. W. J. Dowson's paper on Michaelmas Daisy wilt is published on p. 63. ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC BIOLOGISTS. At the meeting of this Association held on Friday, January 27, the President, Sir David Prate, in the chair, Professor E. P. Stebbing opened a discussion on " The Importance of Research in Forestry and its Position in the Empire." The history of forestry research in India from its initiation to its great post-war developments was described, and the scope and value of the work of the various branches of the research divisions indicated. The speaker then reviewed the state of forestry research in the overseas dominions, pointing out the great value and high quality of timbers obtainable within the Empire. The research organisation in this country was discussed and the general prob- lems needing urgent investigation indicated, the warning being given, however, that the research* side should not be developed more quickly than the planting work. A plea was made for the establishment of a fully equipped research insti- tute, which would work in collaboration with the educational centres. Until such an insti- tution was available a fuller use should be tmade of the study centres. A keen discussion followed, in which the following gentlemen took part : Lord Clinton, Mr. Robinson. Professor Troup, Professor Groom, Professor Crocker, Dr. Munro, Mr. Hiley, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Guilliband, Dr. Brierley, Mr. Chrystal and Sir David Prain. NATIONAL DAHLIA. January 31. — The annual meeting of the National Dahlia Society was held in the Lecture Room of the Royal Horticultural Society, Vincent Square, Westminster, on this date, about twenty members being present. The chairman, Mr. Joseph Cheal, was unable to be present, owing to indisposition, and Mr. D. B. Crane was elected to the chair. After the minutes of the previous annual meeting had been read and confirmed, the secretary read the report of the committee for 1921, of which ithe following are extracts: — " The committee is glad to record a most satisfactory season, so far as the name flower is concerned. The flowering period was un- usually long, and the general quality of the blooms at the annual show was very high. The trade exhibits reached a high standard jjf excellence and competition was good, especi- ally in the classes devoted to Cactus varieties and decorative sections. " Encouraged by the success of last year, the Society has arranged to hold an independent show on September 6 next in the R.H.S. Hall. " The sincere thanks of the committee are tendered to the donors of special prizes and to the Floral Committee, the members of which paid several visits to Wisley in order to inspect the varieties on trial there and to assist in drafting the scheme of Dahlia classification, which seems to have been accepted with general approval. The great assistance given to the Society by the Horticultural Press in assisting propaganda and recording the doings of the ■Society generally is also recorded. " Owing to lack of funds, it is not yet possible to resume the publication of the Society's Year Book, but lists of the best varie- ties in the different sections are published, as a supplement to the schedule." The treasurer, Mr. J. Green, read the state- ment of accounts, which showed a credit balance of over £21, largely made up of un- appropriated proportions of life members' sub- scriptions. The principal items on the re- ceipt side were:— Subscriptions and donations, £53 18s. 9d.; prize fund, £15 18s. 6d.; and advertisements in sehedule, £8 6s. The past year's expenditure included : — Prizes, £40 19s. 9d. ; printing and stationery (includ- ing the schedule), £24 16s. 6d. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, referred to the useful work done by the Society during the past year, and appealed for an increased member- ship, as it was by this means that the Society would be enabled to find funds to carry on its work. The treasurer, in seconding the adoption of the report, stated that the accounts were as good as could be expected ; the Society had over £21 in hand, but most of that sum really represented the value of life subscrip- tions, and should not be utilised for ordinary purposes, unless in very exceptional circum- stances. The report and balance-sheet were adopted without further comment. The altera- tion to by-laws proposed last year, whereby the number forming the General Committee was reduced from forty to twenty-four, ex- clusive of the officers, was confirmed, and the month of the annual meeting altered to Novem- ber, in order that the schedule could be pub- lished earlier, with a view to enabling those who intended to exhibit obtaining their plants early and making their arrangements in good time. It was decided to limit the number of vice- presidents to six and to extend the list of patrons. The following were elected vice- presidents :— Messrs. J. Cheal, W. Cuthbertson, J. Green, S. Mortimer. W. Stephens, and J. T. West. Mr. Reginald Cory was re-elected presi- den; Mr. J. Cheal, chairman; Mr. J. Green, treasurer; and Mr. J. Emberson, show superin- tendent. The following new members of the General Committee were appointed: — Messr6. H. H. Thomas, H. L. Bro.Yson, A. F. Tofield, A. J. Cobb, W. G. Cramp, and Steven Jones. The following gentlemjn were appointed mem- bers of the joint Floral Committee for ad- judicating on novelties submitted for award in conjunction with the R.H.S. floral sub- committee:—Messrs. J. Cheal, J. T. West, J. B. Riding, J. Green, and D. B. Crane. Mr. Gerald Hillier, who resigned the office of hon. secretary, was given a hearty of vote of thanks for his services. On the proposition of Mr. J. Green, Mr. A. C. Bartlett, 318, Kew Road, tKew, was elected to the vacancy. BRITISH CARNATION The following new Carnations were registered by the British Carnation Society in 1921: — Bartlow Beauty. — Seedling, salmon colour, sweet-scented. From Mr. Fred M. Folkhard, Bartlow House Gardens, Bartlow. Cameron. — Seedling, mauve, parentage Britannia x Mikado. From Mr. Herbert G. Cullwick, Westlake Gardens, West Coker, Yeovil. Freedom. — Seedling from Mary Allwood, sal- mon-scarlet, fragrant. From Mr. G. Car- penter, West Hall Gardens, Byfleet, Surrey. Leslie. — Sport from Circe, cerise, clove-scented. From Mr. W. G. Douce, The Gardens, Calthorp Towers, Rugby. Lorna Doone. — Seedling, rose pink. From Mr. H. T. Mason, Hampton Hill. Nigger. — Crimson, fragrant. From Mr. C. Engelmann, Saffron Walden. Nora Wicks. — Seedling from May-day, pink, fragrant. From G. Carpenter, West Hall Gardens, Byfleet, Surrey. Olive Beckwit/i — Sport from Mrs. C. W. Ward, flesh-pink to light orange. From G. Beckwith and Sons, Ware Road, Hoddesdon. Sir Edgar Mackay Edgar. — Seedling, crimson clove, fragrant. From Messrs. Stuart Low and Co., Bush Hill Park. White Queen.— .Seedling, pure white, fragrant. Frcm A. J. Whitworth, Datchet, Bucks. Wivelsfield Fancy.— Seedling, flesh-pink flaked pure rose. From Messrs. Allwood Brothers, Haywards Heath. Wivelsfield Pink.— Seedling, salmon cerise, fragrant. From Messrs. Allwood Brothers, Haywards Heath. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Bullfinches in the Garden : S. M. Bull- finches are amongst the most destructive of all birds in the garden, and although, as you state, some persons believe that they only attack buds containing insects, Mr. J. G. Blackey, in an article on the subject in Gard. Chron., March 15, 1919, states that although he examined the crops, stomachs, etc., of no fewer than Z10 of these birds which he captured or shot in the garden, he never found present in the food a single bud con- taining an insect. The best method of clear- ing the garden of these destructive birds is by shooting them with a gun ; but many would object to doing this as bullfinches are very handsome birds. Mr. Blackey states that trying to frighten them with a gun is useless, for the birds come back in a few minutes. He recommends placing strips of bright tin, 1 inch by 6 inches, on poles aibove the trees, so that they may be swayed about 'by the wind and thus frighten the bullfinches. Considerable correspondence on the subject of birds in the garden was published in Gard. Chron., Vol. LXV., January to June, 1919. Cheery Stocks : C. N. The stocks were the common Cherry and Mahaleb respectively. Chrysanthemum Rust : T. V. Seeing that your stock plants were infested with the disease, it is not surprising that you find the cuttings from them are also affected. It would be best, even at this stage, to obtain stock from a fresh, source ; (but if thi3 is impossible, spray the plants at intervals with dilute Bordeaux mixture. Keep a careful watch for any leaves that may show signs of the disease and gather these and burn them at once. Chrysanthemum Sport : S. B. W. The variety appears to be of fair decorative value, and we would suggest that you propagate the sport and send blooms next season to the Floral Committee of the National Chrysanthemum Society. Names of Fruit : Cross Waltham. 1, Rad- ford Beauty ; 2, Dumelow's Seedling (syn. Wellington) ; 3, Lord Derby. Names of Plants : A. W. 1, Haemanthus species, probably H. virescens albinos ; 2, Lirope graminifolia (syn. Ophiopogon spica- tus) ; 3, not recognised. Out-of-Season Crops for Market : H. F. P. To make a profitable business by growling what you call " out-of-season crops " would require not only experience of how best to grow crops against the natural seasons, but also several greenhouses or frames, and conse- quently a certain amount of capital. And it does not follow that " out-of-season " crops could be sold to " the moneyed classes " and at " fancy prices," unless you are prepared to attend personally to the marketing as well as the growing. You might begin in a small way by growing Lettuces, Short-horn Carrots, Radishes, Spinach, Endive and Turnips in frames with hot beds of manure beneath them during the winter, say, from October to April. This would be a kind of intensive cultivation, and you could not do better than read how these crops are grown out of season in French Market Gai-dening, by John Weathers, which can be obtained from our publishing depart- ment, price 5s. 6d. post free. If you have had no experience in growing these crops the book will tell you how one crop may be cul- tivated to follow another under the same light, and how to provide for a succession, in a warm greenhouse you could grow early French and combing Frenoh Beans as well as the other crops mentioned. It would be better to start in a small way at first until you began to find out what you could grow best, and what would sell best. Try frame Radishes for a start : good, well-washed roots tied up in neat bundles usually sell well dur- ing the winter and spring months. Communications Received-— T. G. A. C— A. E. H.— Tvohurst— J. Mrs, P.— H. P. B— H. St —J. E. Sainte-Mcsnic" H.— F. A. H.— D., Jerusalem. Febrtjaby 18, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 73 THE (&axbmtx% (Sljrmmk Xo. 1834.— SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1922. CONTENTS. -AJpine garden, the — I Lectures, horticultural. Silene Schafta 75 at Glasgow 74 Association of Econo- Melons, wilt in . . 81 mic Biologists 74 Mese mbryanthe mum -Award of Garden Merit 73 and some new genera Birch, the Silver, in separated from it . . 80 woodland 79 Obituary — Bishop's Park, Fulham, Smith, John 84 alterations at Books , not i ces of — 73 Orchid notes and glean- ings— How to Excel with Albinism among Or- Sweet Peas 75 chids in nature . . 75 Soil Conditions and Pines, seedling, for room Plant Growth 73 decoration. . 77 Catalogue, an early Vii- Pinks as an edging for morin 78 borders 77 Cedrus Libani 81 Potato Crusader 81 Drought of 1921 and its Russell, Dr. E. J. Shambrook, Mr. A., pre- 74 effect on garden plants 80 "Flowers in season 74 sentation to . . 73 Fruit register — Societies — Apple Nonesuch 81 Manchester and North Apple Sack and Sugar 81 of England Orchid 82 Apple Sops in "Wine . . 81 National Chrysanthe- "" Gardeners' Chronicle " mum 82 seventy-flve years 74 Royal Gardeners' Or- phan Fund 82 Cardeners, legacies to 74 " Royal Horticultural . . 83 •Greenhouse, Hothouse Trees and shrubs — and Stove 78 The Sitka Spruce in Grimoux, M. Le Loup, Sussex 79 honour for 74 Week's work, the 76 ILLUSTR ATIONS. Birches, Silver, at Warren Hous e, Kingston 79 Cypripedium Lawrenceanum B 75 Pinks, an edging of 76 Pinus canariensis for room de »ration 77 Potato Crusader 81 Russell, Dr. E. J., portrait of 74 Average Mean Temperature for the ensuing- week deduced from observations during the last fifty years at Greenwich, 39.3. Actual Temperature : — Gardeners' Chronicle Office, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London, Wednesday, February 15, 10 a.m. Bar. 30.1; temp. 45°. Weather— Dull. Soil Conditions and Plant Growth. The wonderful advances of knowledge of the soil in rela- tion to plant growth which have taken place during the past decade are illustrated by the fact that whereas, in the first edition of Dr. Russell's work* of this title, published in 1912, 166 pages sufficed to summarise what was known on this subject, some 400 pages are now required ; and Dr. Russell does not waste words. It is no exaggeration of language to say that during this period soil science has been remade. In 19 1 2 the old view which regards the soil as an inert assemblage of mineral and decay- ing humus particles was still widely held ; tc-day every student of the soil realises that this picture of soil-constitution is as insuffi- cient as it is simple. It is true that before iqi2 the foundations of the new science had ■been laid. The role of nitrifying bacteria had been discovered and the importance of humus had, of course, long been recognised. It was known also, long before that date, and thanks in large measure to Sir Hum- phry Davy, that the physics of the soil is of no less importance in relation to plant growth •than is its chemistry. It was also well understood that the water-relations of the soil are of the utmost importance in their effects on fertility. The great progress of soil science of recent years has been due gather to the intensive cultivation of special aspects of that science by numerous and highly skilled workers than to the intro- duction of any absolutely new ideas. The sole exceptions to this statement are perhaps *The Rothamsted Monographs on Agricultural Science Soil Conditions and Plant Growth (Fourth Edition)', by Edward J. Russell. Messrs. Longmans, Green and Co. Price 16s. net. the application of the discoveries in the physical chemistry of colloids to the soil, and the extension of the idea that the upper layers of the soil are the abodes of an ex- tensive microscopic flora and fauna com- posed of bacteria, algae, protozoa and inter- organisms, and that the actions and inter- actions of these minute denizens of the soil count greatly in determining soil fertility and probably in the actual manufacture of plant-food. The puzzling behaviour of clay — its strange properties of puddling under pressure, flocculating and becom- ing easier to work when subjected to frost or when treated with lime, are becoming more intelligible now that the colloidal nature of clay is recognised. As Dr. Russell points out in his chapter on the colloidal properties of soil, each of the two chief constituents of soil, clay_and humus, possesses colloidal properties. To these properties are due the power of soils of atsorbing substances from solution, as, for example, potash salts, phosphates and salts of ammonia • with the result that soluahle salts of those substances used as artificial manures do not wash out but remain at the service of plants growing in the soil- In the case of clay, the colloidal view bids fair to change fundamentally current opinion as to the cause of certain of its properties. According to the older opinion, the chief physical properties of clay are to be as- cribed to the excessive minuteness of its particles, which range downwards until the smallest are invisible under the microscope. The more recent suggestion, however, is that the stickiness and other properties of clay is due to the fact that a watery colloid substance forms a gelatinous film round each of the minute solid clay particles. We mav thus picture a clay soil as consisting of an incredibly large number of extremely minute particles, so small as to be .invisible even by the aid of the microscope, around each of which is a gelatinous envelope. In the vast tract formed by these envelopes, the micro organisms flourish much as they may be made to flourish in the laboratory on plates of gelatine or agar-agar. There they live and die, and according to recent views, by their lives and deaths manufacture the food which the roots of plants absorb from the soil. There is no page of Dr. Russell's book which is not of interest both to the scientific student and to the practical grower. The enthusiast for indiscriminate intensive cultivation who urges the conver- sion of all grass land into arable might also learn wisdom from a perusal of these pages. From them he would discover that cultiva- tion makes a heavy and unavoidable toll on the soil and that the cost of making good the loss — e.g., of nitrogenous food, material which ensues from cultivation — must in the case of not a few soils prove prohibitive to their arable cultivation. The amount of loss which ensues when prairie land is brought under cultivation may amount (p. 181) to so much as 68 lb. of nitrogen per acre per annum, and the same loss is observed when heavy dressings of manure are applied to land in this country. The crop is nourished, but the soil is impoverished by a larger amount than the crop is benefited. This leakage of costly plant food appears to be due to the decomposition of nitrogen com- pounds to gaseous nitrogen, so that instead of all the nitrogen contained in or applied to the soil awaiting obediently the attention of the soil-nitrifying bacteria and appearing as usable nitrates, som,e is deicomiposed Iby other agencies, with the result that the nitrogen escapes into the air. Those, again, who have trouble with sour soils will gain much useful information from a perusal of Dr. Russell's remarks on pp. 239-244. The sour or acid soils which give an acid reac- tion with litmus present many interesting features. They may be improved >by liming or they may be used for the cultivation of those crops which are not too intolerant of acid conditions, as, for example, Lupins, Alsike, Oats, Potatos and certain grasses. As acidity increases so the number of species growing in the soil decreases. At Rotham- sted, on grass plots on soil with a neutral reaction, there are forty-five species ; on grass plots which are somewhat acid, fewer, and on the most acid plots only seven species grow. _ The flora is generally a good index of acidity ; for example, where soils are markedly acid, as on the bake land of the Wiltshire Downs, Sheep's Sorrel, Scarlet Pimpernel, Knawel (Scleranthus annuus) are present, whereas Toad Flax, the white and Bladder Campion are absent, although abundant on neighbouring chalkv soils. _ A far more extensive review than is pos- sible in these pages would be required to do Justice to the industry and judgment which Dr. Russell has expended in writing this admirable book. Enough has been said, however, to indicate that anyone who culti- vates the soil and would like to cultivate it better, should obtain and peruse his book. Admirably written, concise and lucid, Dr. Russell has conferred, by preparing this new edition, a great boon on everyone who makes a study of the right mode of exploitation of the soil in the interest of agriculture and horticulture. Alterations at Bishop's Park, Fulham.— Improvements in Bishop's Park, Fulham, have been sanctioned, entailing an expenditure of £2,445. One item Which the Fulham children will appreciate is the importation of one hun- dred and .twenty tons of sea-sand ; this is to be placed near tihe paddling pool in imitation of the seaside. Presentation to Mr. A. Shambrook— On the occasion of the annual meeting of the Derby^ shire Gardeners' Association, held on the 3rd inst., Mr. A. Shambrook was presented with an illuminated address and a suitably inscribed gold-mounted umbrella in recognition of the valuable services he has rendered to the Society during the many years he has beeu resident near Derby. Mr. Shambrook stands in the front rank of plantsmen, and visitors to the Royal Horticultural Society's meetings will remember the magnificent Cyclamen and Begonias he has exhibited at Vincent Square, and for whioh he has obtained the highest awards; while horticulturists in the Midlands are aware that he has been awarded several large Gold Medals of Birmingham for similar displays. Mr. Shambrook has taken up new duties with Lady Markham, Avonside, Barford, and his loss to the Derbyshire Association will be a gain to the Warwickshire district. The presentation was made by Alderman A. Green, who referred to Mr. Shambrook's capabilities as a gardener and especially to the services he had rendered the Derbyshire Gardeners' Association. The New Award of Garden Merit.— As an- nounced in our issue of February 11 (p. 61), the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society has just established a new award for ornamental plants, especially intended to mark plants of proved and outstanding excellence for garden decoration. It is to be known as the Award of Garden Merit, and -will be bestowed by the Council on the recommendation of the Wisley Garden Committee, generally, but not necessarily exclusively, to plants which have been thoroughly tried at Wisley. It may be given to plants long grown in our gardens as well as to more recent introductions, provided thev are of out- standing merit in their class and do not require very special treatment to bring out their ex- cellences. We learn from Mr. F. J. Chitten- den that the first award was made at the meet- ing of January 31, 1922, to Hamamelis mollis. 74 TEE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. Febbuak 18, 1922. This Chinese species of a genus represented by H. arborea and H. japonica in Japan and H. virginiana and H. vernalis in America (all of them now growing in British gardens) was in- troduced in 1879 by Mr. Charles Maries to Messrs. Veitch's Coombe Wood Nursery, but did not become well known for a long time. It is the finest of the genus both in flower and foliage, and particularly valuable in the shrub border in January, when it produces its delight- fully fragrant, golden-yellow flowers in pro- fusion, in clusters along the bare last year's twigs. The long, narrow petals are straight (not crumpled, as in other members of the genus), rich golden-yellow, except for the red- dish base, and set in a red-brown calyx, smooth within, hairy without. The bush grows to six or eight feet in height (possibly more), and has stout spreading branches. It is accom- modating as regards soil, but grows best in good loam. When young, a little leaf soil aids it, but later it can take care of itself. It requires no pruning, unless to correct a slight tendency to sprawl. Legacies to Gardeners. — The late Mr. Chris- topher Geiselbrecht, of Beechdale, Eltham Road, Lee, Kent, who, during his life-time was a valuable supporter of both the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution and the Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund, left the income from £3,000 in trust for each of his gardeners, Mr. George David Judge and Mr. Harry Cox, for life, and £2 a week for their wives if they should survive them. Association of Economic Biologists. — The annual general meeting of this Association will be held at 2.30 p.m. on Friday, February 24, in the Botanical Lecture Theatre of the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington, London, S.W.7. The usual annual business of the Association will be transacted, and LV. John Rennie, of tJhe University of Aberdeen, will read a paper on " The Present Position of Bee Disease Research " ; this will be followed by a demonstration by Dr. Rennie of " Polyhedral Disease in Tipula Species." The new coun- cillors will meet on the conclusion of the general meeting to elect the officers of the Association for 1922. Honour for M. Le Loup Grimoux. — In recog- nition of his services rendered to horticulture in general and to Chrysanthemum specialists in particular, the National Chrysanthemum Society has awarded an Honorary Fellowship to M. Le Loup Grimoux, the organiser, and moving spirit of the Le Mans show, held in November, 1921. M. Grimoux is as skilful a grower as he is an organiser, and is now re- garded as the cleverest grower of large Chry- santihemum blooms in France. Flowers in Season.— A sheaf of flowering branches of Parrotia persica, sent by Mr. An- thony Waterer, has adorned our editorial office for several days past. Mr. Waterer informs us that Parrotia persica is not a plant which flowers in a young state, but is extraordinarily fine when it attains some considerable age and size. The tree from which the sprays were cut is twelve feet high, and has a circumference of thirty feet. Mr. Waterer sent flowering branches to Mr. W. J. Bean, at Kew, who, in acknow- ledgment, wrote: "Thanks for the Parrotia persica. It is extraordinarily fine, and I do not remember having ever seen it so good." The flowers are not conspicuous individually, but the numerous orange led stamens and the rich red- dish-brown bracts are very effective when, as in the specimens referred to, they occur in large numbers along every twig. Horticultural Lectures at Glasgow.— A sylla- bus of interesting lectures on horticultural sub- jects has just been issued by the Glasgow and West of Scotland Horticultural Society. The subjects and lecturers include " Garden City Pro- blems," by Mr. J. M'Gran, Coodham Gardens, Kilmarnock, on February 22; " Rock and Water Gardening," by Mr. William Besant, Sunlight Cottage, Kelvingrove Park, on March 29; "The Culture and Training of Hardv Fruit.'' by Mr. D. Grant M'lver, Mira- mar Lodge, Skelmorlie, on October 4; and " Our Allotments— As They Are and What They Might Be," by Mr. Alex Buist, Gryfe Nursery, Bridge-of-Weir, on December 6. The Society's programme includes an outing to Loch Lomond Park on Saturday, June 2, and the great Inter- national Show to he held at Kelvin Hall, on August 30, 31, September 1 and 2. Dr. E. J. Russell.— Research stations, like human habitations, come to assume in the course of years a distinctive and individual character of their own. It is as though they absorbed and radiated the spirit of those who abide in them. In this sense Rothamsted, over whose destinies Dr. Russell presides, may with propriety be described as a happy home of research. A suc- cession of remarkably gifted men, Lawes and Gilbert, Warrington, Hall and Russell, have all done notable work there and have established Rothamsted's fame throughout the world. The success which has attended the quest of dis- covery into soil science by these workers shows no sign of abatement ; indeed, thanks in. large measure to Dr. Russell, that success bids fair to increase with yet greater rapidity. For Dr. Russell possesses m high degree not only the capacity for research, out also the yet rarer RUSSELL, F.H.S. faculty, that of inspiring research in others. Hence the laboratory at Harpenden has become a great research centre whence issue results which, illuminate science and aid practice. The most striking example of Dr. Russell's power to compel belief in research and to get belief ex- pressed in endowment is provided by the Lea Valley Research Station, the origin of which is due no less to the public spirit of the growers than to the foresight and enthusiasm of Dr. Russell. When Dr. Russell became Director of Rothamsted he had already proved himself one of the foremost investigators in agricultural science, and during his tenure of that important office he has enhanced his reputation and that of the Institute. He began his career as lec- turer and demonstrator in chemistry in Victoria University, Manchester, in 1898. and after three oi four years became head of the Chemical Department of the Agricultural College, Wve, which post he held till 1907. From 1907-1912 he was Goldsmiths' Company's soil chemist at Rothamsted, and at the end of that period he was appointed director of the Research Station. Clear headed, of sound judgment and unbounded enthusiasm, Dr. Russell is the happy possessor of other gifts also, which with his fine training and wide knowledge make him a great power for good. Wonderfully lucid in exposition, he possesses — as people say, naturally — the art of expressing himself with a charming simplicity, which his colleagues admire and envy. As our readers know, he is the author of numerous scientific works, of which the most important are Soil Conditions and Plant Growth; Lessons on Soil ; Soils and Agriculture of Kentr Surrey and Sussex, (with A. D. Hall) ; A. Student's Hook on Soils; and Manures and Manuring for Higher Crop Production. During the war Dr. Russell's untiring energy was sufficient to • nable him to keep work going; at Rothamsted, and at the same time to perform service of great national importance as technical advisor of the Food Production Department and as member of the Munitions Panel and of the National Salvage Council. Hi.<« scientific work has been recognised by his election to the Royal Society (1917), and his public services by the award of aTi O.B.E. Foreign countries have bestowed upon him numerous honours, but what he must hold most dear is the universal regard* in which he is held by his scientific colleagues of this country and throughout the world. National Institute of Agricultural Botany. — At a meeting of the Council of the N.I.A.B., held on the 9th inst., the first election of Fel- lows of the Institute took place. One hundred and ten candidates were elected, among whom were the following :— H.R.H. the Duke of York the Prime Minister, the Duke of Bedford, the Mar- quess of Crewe, the Earl of Ancaster, the Earl of Derby, the Earl of Crawford, Viscount Mil- ner, Lord Clinton, Lord Bledisloe, Lord Ernie,. Sir' Gilbert Greenall, Sir Harry Verney, Sir Matthew Wallace, the Hon. E. G. Strutt, the Rt. Hon. E. C. Pretvman, M.P., Lt.-Col. the Rt. Hon. Sir A. Grifnth-Boscawen, Sir Thomas Middleton. Mr. Charles Adeane, Mr. Samuel Farmer, Mr. R. R. Robbins, and Lady Mar- garet Boscawen. Appointments for the Ensuing Week.— Mon- day, February 20: Reading and District Gar- deners' Association's meeting; lecture on. "Flowering Bulbs, Plants and Shrubs; Forcing: and Retarding," by Mr. H. Mew.— Wednesday, February 22: Glasgow and West of Scotland Horticultural Society's lecture on " Garden City Problems," bv Mr. J. M'Gran; Irish Gar- deners' Association's meeting; W imbledon and District Gardeners' Society's meeting; Elgin. Horticultural Society's meeting— Thursday, February 23 : Bristol and District Gardeners Association's meeting; Royal Botanic Society s meeting.— Friday, February 24: Association ot Economic Biologists meeting; Paisley Florists Society's meeting. " The Gardeners' Chronicle " Seventy-five Years Ago.— J Disclaimer.— In our advertising columns of Saterdav last was an announcement by -Messrs. Hubbard and Co. that they had for sale, as a cure for the Potato disease, some lime analysed by Prof. Lindley. We beg to state- that" this use of Dr. L.''s name was without his. knowledge; that he never analysed any lime for Messrs. Hubbard and Co., and that he does not recommend magnesian limestone as a cure- for the Potato disease. In the year 1844, nearly three years ago, he, in civility to these parties, of whom he has no knowledge whatever, procured an analysis of magnesian limestone, to- be made for them, for which he paid one guinea, which was repaid by Messrs. H. and Co., but they were perfectly aware that it was for the analyst whom Dr. L. employed, and that he has no part in the analysis. Under these circum- stances, Dr. Lindley cannot but feel that a_ use has beeii made of his name by the advertisers, which was unauthorised and improper. Gard. Citron., February 13, 1847. Publications Received. — The Microscopic Study of Bacteria in Cheese. By G. J. Hucker ; Composition of Some Soils from- the Chautauqua County Grape Belt. By R. O. Collison ; The Use of Agar Slants in Detecting- Fermentation. By H. J. Conn and G. J. Hucker; Rose Bengal as a General Bacterial Stain. By H. J. Conn; A Modification and' New Application of the Gram Stain. By G. J. Hucker; The Use of Various Culture Media in Characterising Actinomycetes. By H. J. Conn: Plant, Lice Injurious to Apple Orchards. Bv F. Z. Hartzell and L. F. Strickland; An Investigation of the Seed of the Silver Maple. By R. J. Anderson. All published by the New- York Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York. February 18, Idii. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 75 THE ALPINE GARDEN. SILENE SCHAFTA. Schafta's Catchfly is one of the most valu- able of rock plants, but is not so mucli sought after by those who endeavour to secure novelties and rare species, many of which do not possess a tithe of 'he real value of Silene Schafta. The plant is very easily cultivated in any rock garden or rockery, and in the usual soil provided for the subjects which are generally cultivated there. I have found that it will thrive and flower in sun and in practi- cally full shade, always provided that it is not under the drip of trees. Other points in its favour are the ease with which it is cultivated and (of special value to those who have to study economy) the cheapness of plants, and still more of see^ls from which a good stock may be easily raised for a few pence. Silene Schafta is a pretty little plant, suit- able for edgings or for almost any place in rockwork, thriving even in crevices with a fair quantity of soil. It is of trailing habit, but not so vigorous as to be a danger to its neigh- bours. It has neat leaves and numbers of medium-sized flowers of a colour often called " purple-rose," which is probably as near to a colour description as it is possible to reach. The plant generally begins to flower in sum- mer, and continues to bloom until the advent of frost. I have, indeed, had it in bloom after a good deal of frost well into October. This long and late flowering habit makes this Silene all the more valuable. It may be increased by division or cuttings, the former being performed at any time— in spring by preference — and the latter struck in summer under a bell-glass, hand-light, or frame in sandy soil. But raising plants from seeds is the best method, as it is cheaper where a stock is required, and gives good plants to bloom the following year. The seeds may be sown in light soil in the open in April or May in shallow drills abont i inch deep, and should be covered with sandy soil. If the weather is dry, careful watering through a fine rose is necessary. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, thev should be trans- planted about 3 inches apart, and removed in autumn to where they are to flower. The seeds may also be sown in pots or pans under glass in spring. S. Arnott. ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. ALBINISM AMONG ORCHIDS IN NATURE. Examination of the facts connected with the production of albinos (and varieties resulting from albinism) in the species of Orchids in their native habitats discloses some interesting particulars. Species with decided yellow colouring, especially in the labellums, such as Oncidiums, are very numerous, but none of them has given an albino, and when colour suppression occasionally takes place the result is a paler yellow, with often a tinge of green in place of the purplish colour in the sepals and petals, but never white. On the contrary the species of Onoidium marked with (Shades of rose or purple, invariably give a pure albino, familiar instances being Oncidium incurvum album and 0. ornithorhynchmn album. It seems that the yellow and green in the flowers ane more in the nature of body colour influenced by the vegeta- tive Bystem, than the various cyanic tints which are floral surface colours and displayed generally on white or whitish ground, which gives the albino after the colour lias vanished. The facts emerge throughout the whole of the Orchid family that true yellows do not giv,9 albinos, while purple-tinted species seldom fail to do so. Instances to the contrary have been recorded, viz., the so-called Anguloa Clowesii alba, which is known to be the normally white Angulna eburnea, and Sobralia xantholeuca alba, which was a seedling reversion resulting from hybridisation. While yellow-flowered species do not tend to produce whites in nature, the purple-tinted ones invariably do so. The matter of albino Cattleyas and others has been recently referred to, and other familiar instances are found in the genus Spathoglottis where the yellow forms give no whites, but the brightly- coloured rose and purple S. plicata furnished" Sir Jeremiah Colman's snow-white S. plicata alba. In Odontoglossum two good examples are 0. XJro-Skinneri album and O. bictoniense album, in which the decided deep rose of the lip disappears and leaves pure white; the sepals and petals losing the purple and brown in their markings, which, however, appear as light sections give no whites; and so on through tire whole tribe. Except in the C. niveum section the Cypripe- diums give no albinos, th,? colour in the lip and dorsal sepal being retained, though changed by colour suppression to pale yellow or green. The bright green on pure white in C. Law- renceanum Hyeanum (Fig. 36), and which is transmitted in C. Maudiae class in a. remarkably beautiful degree, is proof of the almost ineradicable nature of the green, and the evanescent character of the mauve and claret colour which has been eradicated. The question of colour in flowers is a very interesting one. J. O'B. Fig. 36. — cypripedium lawrenceanum hyeanum. green. Vanda coerulea, Saccolabiums, Aerides, and all other species with rose and purple tints give instances of the same kind, even the little African Stenoglottis fimbriata and S. longifolia, of the same nature as our own British Orchids, also furnish albinos. It is curious, however, to note that the yellow-flowered Orchids which are firm to their colour in nature rapidly undergo a change when used by the hybridiser in our gardens, and lend themselves readily to the production of white forms, the intensifying of purple and crimson, or the heightening of their own yellow according to the combination which' the hybridise! decides on. Scarlet-flowered species do not give albinos, but, generally, in cases of suppression of their normal colour, the result is yellow, instances being the yellow Sophron'itis granditlora Rositteriana and Saccolabium miriiatum Interim. Dendrobium and Epidendrum having sections with rose, purple and other tints of this class readily produce albinos, while the yellow NOTICES OF BOOKS. How to Excel with Sweet Peas. How easy it is to grow Sweet Peas is shown by Mr. Horace J. Wright in a little brochure on the flower,* forming one of the excellent series of booklets on gardening subjects pub- lished by Country Life. Those who have failed to find the secret of success — and it is notorious that many excellent gardeners cannot grow Sweet Peas successfully — will be stimulated to try again by the author's remark that no plant is easier to grow. Wherein lies the secret? Probably it is found in the preparation of the soil, with which Mr. Wright deals fully. Where the soil is suitable, Sweet Peas provide some ot the best subjects for decorative purposes, both in the garden and for the provision of cut blooms, and advice from such a noted specialist of the flower on its cultivation will be welcomed, especially by beginners. * Sweet Peas and How to Exeel \rith Them. By Horace .1. Wrig-ht. Country Life Bonk'ets. Price 8(1, net. 76 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. FeBkoary IS, 1922. The Week's Work. THE ORCHID HOUSES. By J. T. Babeeb, Gardener to Hie Graoe tha Duki of Mablbobocqh, K.G., Blenheim Palace, Wooditock, Oxon. Miltonia. — Members of the vexillaria section of Miltonia that were potted last autumn have filled their pots with roots, and are making rapid growth. They require plenty of water, and should not be allowed to suffer for want of moisture, either at the roots or in the atmo- sphere. Those varieties which produce their flowers in the autumn, such as M. vexillaria Leopoldii, superba, and several hybrids, may be repotted, should they require it, and be in the necessary condition — that is, about to develop fresh roots. A mixture of equal portions of peat, A.l fibre, and Sphagnum-moss, with a quantity of broken leaves will furnish a suit- able rooting medium. These and other plants should be_ continually watched at this season, especially after a cold snap, for attacks of thrip, and other insect pests. Owing to the increased amount of fire heat necessary at such times to maintain the requisite temperatures, it is not always possible to provide suitable atmospheric moisture. Dipping the plants in a solution of Quassia extract is a safe and sure remedy, and, as prevention is better than cure, it is advisable to dip them at intervals, as the leaves of Orchids are easily disfigured by this pest, which is par- ticularly partial to Miltonias. Calanthe. — With the exception of the late flowering varieties, of which C. Regnieri is an example, Calanthes have passed the flowering stage, and should enjoy a season of rest in a house having an average temperature of 55° to 60\ They should be exposed to all the light possible to ripen the pseudo-bulbs. Many growers, to my mind, rest these plants in a too low temperature, which is often the cause of disease and spot in the leaves and pseudo- bulbs. Water will not be needed, and the atmo- sphere should be kept on the dry side. The best place in which to rest the plants is on a shelf, where they will receive all the light possible. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. By H. MiREEAM, Gardener to the Earl or STBirroRD. Wrotham Park, Barnet. Vines.— The pruning of hardy vines should be completed at an early date in order that the cut surfaces may become hardened before the sap begins to rise, otherwise bleeding will be sure to follow. Established vines grown on the spur system will need the laterals cut back to two plump buds, and leaders that have not reached their limit may be allowed to extend more or less according to the length and strength of the growth and buds. From 3 feet to 4 feet may be left if the growths are well matured and the buds suitable. After the pruning is completed, remove a little of the loose bark and apply a dressing of Gishurst Compound or some other suitable insecticide, brushing the specific well into the crevices, and dressing the part about the eyes with a' little weaker solution. The roots should be top-dressed with a mixture of rich soil, bone meal, and brick mortar, and fed liberally with liquid manure at intervals. Orchard Trees.— Trees that have become grown over with mosses and lichens should have their stems and main branches thoroughly scraped and brushed with a stiff brush, and then well dressed with a mixture of lime and soot, fusing; a whitewash brush for the work. The smaller branches are best dressed with a similar mixture by means of the syringe. Caustic alkali is a safe and excellent material to use if the formula for making it is strictly adhered to. Those entrusted with the appli- cation of this strong chemical should be very careful not to let any of the liquid touoh the flesh. Gloves should be worn, and the work 6hould be undertaken when the buds are in a dormant state. Woolly Aphis.— The infestations of woolly aphis last summer were amongst the worst I remember, and entailed much labour in keeping the pest in reason- able check. Nicotine, applied with a soft brush, did much to destroy the aphis, and proved the best remedy, notwithstanding other insecticides were thoroughly tried. are the worst enemies of these plants, there- fore frequent fumigatings or spraying with an insecticide is to be recommended in the early stages of growth. PLANTS UNDER GLASS By T. Patemin, Gardener to Sir C. Nall-Cain, Bart The Node, Codioote, Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Roses. — Where Roses have been specially grown in pots for flowering indoors, they should be pruned and the drainage put in perfect order. Afterwards place them in a tempera- ture of not more than 45°, and syringe them only on bright days, so that the moisture dries before night. This treatment mav be con- "~^; ^E?: Fig. 37. — an edging of pinks. (See page 77.) tinued until the buds are formed, when syringing should be discontinued. Admit a little air by the top ventilators when outside con- ditions will allow, but prevent cold draught, as thess encourage mildew to develop, which is very detrimental to successful Rose cultivation under glass. Cyclamen. — The florists' Cyclamen is one of the brightest and most useful flowering plants for the early winter and spring decoration indoors, and well repay a little extra care bestowed on their cultivation. Plants that were raised from seed sown during August and were pricked out into pans or boxes should now be ready for transferring to small 60-sized pots. The soil for this potting may consist of equal parts loam and good leaf-mould, with a little old mortar rubble and sufficient sand added to keep the whole porous. After potting them the plants should be stood on a bed of ashes in a light position, as near the roof glass as possible to prevent them becoming drawn, but it will be necessary to shade them from bright sunshine. Cyclarr.ens at this stage should be grown in a temperature of 50° to 55°, with a rise in the day by sun heat. Mite and greenfly THE KITCHEN GARDEN. By James E. Hathawat, Gardener to John Beennand, Esq , Baldersby Park, Thirek, Yorkshire. Brussels Sprouts. —This crop requires a long growing -.season, and disappointing results are often due to neglect in ihis matter. A sowing may be made in boxes in a cool, well- ventilated greenhouse- if a cold frame is available, seed may be sown in it, either in rows or broadcast; but where several varieties are grown it is best to sow in rows. A close watch must be kept for slugs, or they will soon destroy all ■he seedlings. Dusting with soot or lime will help to keep the pests in check, but the best method is to search for them after dusk with a light. Spinach. — To ensure an rirly crop of Spinach, seed f-hould be sown in frames on a slight hotbed. Let the re ws be at least one foot apart. A sowing should also be made on a warm border as soon as the land is in a favourable condition, and, to ensure a regular supply, other small sowings every three weeks from now onwards. The beds of Spinach sown in the autumn should be kept hoed and free from weeds whan the ground is favourable for working. Cabbage. — Hoe the rows of autumn-planted Cabbages as soon as the weather permits, as. the plants thrive best when the surface is kept stirred legtilarly. As soon as the plants begin to grow freely a light sprinkling of sulphate of ammonia about the roots wiN greatly assist rhem. This fertiliser is best applied when there is rain. Old soot and liberal dressings of wood ash are also valuable fertilisers for Cabbages. All blanks in the rows should be made good at the earliest opportunity, with rlants reserved for the purpose. Planning. — At the beginning of each season a plan of the kitchen garden should be drawn up, and the plot6 allotted to the various crops. This will save a lot of time in the busy plant- ing season, and a glance at the plan will show what each plot has carried for years back, and also the amount of manure which has been applied. By F. FRUITS UNDER GLASS. Joedah, Gardener to Lieut. -Col. Sfihdib Chi, M.P.. Ford Manor, Linf«.ld, Surrey. Grape Room. — Examine Grapes in bottles fre- quently and remove mouldy berries as soon as they appear. Examine the bottles and fill them with water if necessary. If any Grapes are still hanging on the vines, they should be cut and bottled at once, so that the house may be cleaned and the vines pruned and rested. Keep the temperature of the Grape room about 45 deg., and the surroundings as dry as possible. Plums.— Although forced Plums lag behind Cherries at the finish, the two grow weli together until some time after the fruits are set and swelling. Their treatment as regards fresh air, a low temperature, and slow development is in every way identical. In the selection of Plums for forcing, none but the very best dessert sorts should be chosen, and the trees should be grown in pots, as the plants may then be turned out of doors as soon as the crop is gathered. There are, however, many cold houses planted with Plums in the north, and many more in Scotland. The plants may be removed to a cool house of any description when the crop is approaching ripeness, but the fruits cannot be rushed into ripening at the finish. Like other stone fruits they respond satisfactorily when started early and attended to carefully through their different stages of growth. Routine Work. — The cleansing of late fruit houses should now be concluded; this is one of the most important operations connecter1 with February 18, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 77 successful fruit culture. Remove all loose materials from the borders, taking care not to damage the fibrous roots while doing so, and top dress the borders with good loam, adding a little lime rubble if the loam is very strong; and bone meal, with a sprinkling of vine manure, more or less, according to the age of the vines or Peaches. Wash the vines with Gishurst Compound or other insecticide, but do not remove much loose bark from the rods; rather give the latter an extra dressing of the specific if mealy bug or red spider has b€»n troublesome. These remarks apply also to late Peaches on which scale or other pests wens troublesome last season. SEEDLING PINES FOR ROOM DECORATION THE FLOWER GARDEN By Edwin Beckett, Gardener to the Hon. Yicari GIBB3. Aldenham House, Hertfordshire. Dahlias. — A start should be made, where it is desired to increase and raise new stocks of these valuable plants, in propagating them. Last season's tubers that were lifted and stored for the winter should be started into growth in a genial atmosphere, and when the young growths are about 3 to 4 inches long removed Fig. 38. — pinus canariensis; three seedlings in a cream jab. from the tuber by means of a sharp knife and inserted in the usual way in small 60-sized pots containing a sandy compost. Strike them in a temperature of from 65* to 70°, and when they have become well rooted, transfer them singly to 48-sized pots. After allowing the plants to become established in the same temperature, gradually harden them off ready for planting out later. The old tubers may also be divided in March or April, to increase the stock. Fresh Dahlia plants should be purchased in April, and potted and grown on for a time in frames prior to planting them in the open at the end of May. Rhododendron and Azalea Beds. — In many gardens, where soil conditions are unsuitable, if not distinctly adverse to the growth of these fine flowering shrubs, special beds should be pre- pared for them. At this season the beds should be very lightly forked over (without disturb- ing the roots) and a rich top-dressing, com- posed of one part good loam, one part peat or leaf soil, and one part well-decayed farmyard manure applied. The materials should be trod- den firmly into position, after which the surfacp should be lightly raked over and the bed made neat and tidy. This treatment will Ibe found of great assistance to these plants. Whilst deal- ing with Rhododendrons, I may call attention to the necessity of removing all dead flowers during the flowering season, to prevent seed pods from forming. I send herewith two photographs of Canary Isle Pines growing in moss fibre without drain- age. One (Fig. 38) shows three unbranched plants, and the other (Fig. 39) one branched at the base. The seed was sown in these pots (cream-jar size) in the spring of 1917, and they have been growing and keeping healthy in this confinement without drainage ever since, merely given a little water weekly or so. They make pretty table plants, being of a feathery appear- ance and light glaucous green in colour. So far, they have kept to their seedling foliage of simple needles, though plants grown from seed sown the same time in flower pots formed adult needles in the spring of 1921. Once they do . this they lose their youthful charm. The photo- graphs were taken on August 20, 1921, and the plants represented are from seeds given me by Prof. A. Henry. Realising that the seedlings would be of little use for outside planting in this climate, I casually put a few seeds in moss fibre to watch germination and seedling growth, never imagining that they would exist and re- main healthy for any length of time. I am not awai-e that Pines have ever been tried in moss fibre without drainage before. They have the advantage over Oaks and Chestnuts so grown, in being decorative the whole year round. John Parkin, The Gill, Brayton, Cumberland. PINKS AS AN EDGING FOR BORDERS' Among old-fashioned garden plants, few are more valuable for providing a dense and con- tinuously beautiful edging for beds and borders than the popular varieties of garden Pinks. In cottage gardens such edgings are very popular and look well throughout the winter, and are particularly attractive in summer when in full bloom. There is no question as to the hardiness of such varieties as Mrs. Sinkins and Her Majesty, and every gardener is aware that Pinks are among the easiest plants to propagate. The accompanying illustration (see Fig. 37) shows a long herbaceous border edged with Pinks, and it will be granted that a live edging of this character is preferable to one of tiles. INDOOR PLANTS. BROMELIADS. Bromeliaceous plants comprise a very extensive family, embracing ^Echmea, Tillandsia, Vriesia, Caraguata, Bilbergia, Nidularium and others. Some of them are amongst- the most beautiful and ornamental of plants, and should find a place in every collec- tion where plants are grown in warm green- houses or for conservatory decoration. The ex- quisite colouring of the bracts and flowers of many of the species and hybrids, and the beauti- fully marked foliage of the others should place them in the front rank in any collection for the warm greenhouse or conservatory. A great advantage with Bromeliads is that they do not occupy a considerable amount of space. Large specimens are fine ornaments, very distinct and exceedingly useful for grouping. They are of easy culture, and being epiphytes do not require so 'large an amount of soil as many plants to keep them alive. They thrive well during ^the winter in a temperature of about 55° to 60° in a house having a comparatively moist atmos- phere. When the growing season commences the temperature should be increased to 65° or 70° ■with plenty of moisture, and the plants should be shaded from the direct rays of the sun. The plants are increased readily by division or from suckers. The soil most suitable for them is a mixture of two-thirds rough fibrous peat, one- third light, turfy lo(xm, and li,ve Sphiagnum- moss, with silver-sand added. Over-potting is to be guarded against. Well drain the pots, the best drainage material being clean, broken potsherds with a little charcoal, if procurable. The following is a list of some of the most beautiful Bromeliads whtich come within the scope o flower buds for the coming season, after carry ing a good crop of fair-sized fruits, which have kept well. Rain fell on 112 days; an average rainfall is 27 inches, and the amount registered in 1920 was 26.50 inches. In 1921 the record was as follows :— January, 2.32 inches; Feb- ruary, 0.47; March, 1.36; April, 0.97; May, 1.66; June, 0.29; July, 0.40; August. 0.72; September, 1.34; October, 0.63; November, 1.84; December, 1.53; total, 13.53 inches. J. W. Harris, Bcvendean Gardens, Oxsholt. (To be continued.) February Is, 1922. TUB GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 81 FRUIT REGISTER. APPLE SOPS IN WINE. No other variety of Apple can vie in colour with this old and very good quality sort. Noticing a few baskets of it in a West Mid- land fruit market some weeks since, I was im- pressed with the intense colour of the fruit this season over and above what I have seen previously. The variety should be perpetuated if only for the beauty of the tree in the land- scape. The fruit is above middle size, very dark red on the sunny side, rich orange red on the shaded side, and has a bloom on the surface. One of its peculiarities is the red colouring of the flesh. The tree grows vigorously, and is productive. Apple Sops in Wine is a splendid cooking sort. APPLE SACK AND SUGAR. This pretty old Apple is becoming extinct, it being doubtful if trees could be procured from any nursery in England to-day, and the only specimens I know are large decaying trees in one or two orchards. These trees are so full of flower spurs it is difficult to get suitable wood for grafting purposes ; nevertheless, the coloura- tion of the fruits is of great beauty. Small to medium in size, this Apple has a pale yellow skin with streaks of red ; the flesh is white, tender and juicy. Trees of this old variety may be found in Devonshire, Hereford- shire and Somersetshire, and probably in other counties. APPLE NONE SUCH. This Apple stands practically in a category of lits own, it having most remarkable leaves and wood, the former being covered with a fine whitish tomentum, the latter being somewhat thorny. It has been known since 1668. One large tree of this peculiar growth I noticed near Ocle Pritchard a few days before the fruits were gathered, and I was impressed with their beautifully finished appearance, after Peas- good's Nonesuch style. The fruit us of middle size to large, nearly round; eye small, stalk short, slender, inserted in a shallow cavity ; skin beautifully marbled with red, yellow and green ; flesh very white, melting with a full sub-acid juice, flavour first- class as a culinary sort. It will keep until November. I think many of these old, useful varieties are somewhat localised and never get far afield. Pomona. HOME CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents-] Cedrus Libani.— The estimate of the age of the Cedars at Chorleywood cited by Mr. Stacey (page 56) provides a liberal margin between 450 and 1,000 years. There is no certain evidence of the exact year when the Cedar of Lebanon was first grown in England, but the question was carefully gone into by Messrs. Elwes and Henry in their Trees of Great Britain and Ireland, pp. 458, 459, with the result that they could find no authentic record earlier than that of John Evelyn, who states in the third edition of his Sylva, published in 1679, that he had received seeds from Mount Lebanon. As he discusses the existing condi- tion of the forest on Mount Lebanon with some detail, he would have been pretty sure to have mentioned any young Cedars growing in Eng- land at the time when he was writing. Loudon accepted this as proof that Evelyn was the first to grow Cedars of Lebanon in England, and he considered that the trees mentioned by Sir Hans Sloane as growing in his garden (now the Chelsea Physic Garden) in 1685 were into this country, it is supposed to have been not earlier than 1663 — one of the earliest records is of one planted in 1676 at Bretby Park, Derbyshire. Joseph Cheat, Crawley. The trees at Chorleywood are well known, and are mentioned in Trees of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. III., p. 463. It is supposed that Evelyn first obtained seed which was planted at Enfield by Dr. Uvedale about 1670, which makes the date of intro- duction about 250 years. The fine Cedars at Bayfordbury were raised from the Enfield trees and planted in 1765. The largest tree has now, at 5 ft., a clean stem, with a girth of 20 ft., and it is 97 ft. high. Surely a fine tree for 155 years! I do not agree that the Cedar is slow of growth. Many fine trees are mentioned in the above-quoted work by Elwes and Henry. H. Clinton Baker, Bayfordbury. Wilt in Melons. — I am very grateful to C. G. (page 34) for his kind correction. 1 should have written Bordeaux mixture powder sulphate of copper (2 lb. tin) guaranteed 53/60 per cent, genuine sulphate of copper. I was advised last year in the Gard. Ohron. to try Bordeaux paste; this I could not obtain, POTATO CRUSADER. Fig. 41. — potato crusader. Amongst the many promising new varieties of Potatos raised in recent years Crusader (see Fig. 41) holds a high place, and will doubtless become popular with growers, not only for the table, but also as an exhibition sort, as the tubers are of very imposing appear- ance. The specimen illustrated was from a grand dish of the variety exhibited by Messrs. Dobbie and Co. at the National Potato Society's Exhibition in November, 1921. Crusader is an early main-crop sort and was raised by the late Dr. Wilson, of St. Andrews. It is immune to wart disease and, so far as can be judged, very resistant to late blight. It is a strong grower, and has a most distinct, erect-growing haulm. Given good cultivation it will produce a splendid crop of perfectly shaped kidney tubers of excellent cooking quality. Last year a well-known Ayrshire farmer planted one _ ton of Crusader in light soil during April, and the crop lifted in September weighed 19 tons. The early main-crop varieties have a special value in seasons when late blight is prevalent, for the grower is enabled to lift the tubers at a time -when the soil is comparatively dry and before the disease has affected the crop to »ny considerable extent. the oldest in England. The last of these trees died about 25 or 30 years ago, and had to be removed. It is evident that the Cedars at Chorleywood cannot be 300 years old, and are probably much leS6. Herbert Maxwell. Mon- reith. I was interested in Mr. Stacey's note on Cedrus Libani at Chorleywood, and I imagine that these are some of the finest trees in the country. I visited the native habitat of the tree a few years since and ascended the Lebanon to see some of the oldest specimens remaining. I took measurements of some of these, and the largest measured 42 ft. in circumference at 4 ft. from the ground. This gives a dliameter of 14 ft. through, as against the Chorleywood tree's 25 ft. circumference and 8 ft. 4 in. diameter. Fine as the Chorleywood trees are it will take them some years yet to reach the dimensions of the Lebanon trees. The largest one that I saw was on the Jubal Baruk or one of the southern spurs of the Lebanon range, and the altitude was 6,200 ft. according to my aneroid barometer. The majestic beauty of these monarchs may be imagined as they grip the rocky mountain side and stretch out thelir enormous pendulous branches towards the valleys below. As to the date of introduction of this Cedar and used the above mixture instead. Growers whose Melons suffer from wilt will regard Mr. Allan's treatment of Melons as set out on page 23 as being the very best. Wilt disease is not like the canker caused by excessive moisture, as plants grown in good houses, planted high and dust dry at the collar, wilt just the same as plants in cold frames. My Cucumbers also suffer in the same way. Anxious. Mr. Bates refers (p. 56) to tlhe causes of " canker or wilt " in Melons, bjut my own observations have led to the deduction that these are two widely dissimilar diseases. Canker affects various portions of the plants, usually commencing in the stem just above the soil level, and showing first in the form of excrescences on the outside of the stem and mid- rib of the leaves, and for some days the plants will not show any other sign of ill-health. The mysterious wilt disease, on the contrary, shows no injury to the plant externally, but causes the whole of the foliage to wilt or droop with the first direct rays of bright sunshine. Canker can be guarded against by due regard to watering and ventilation, but I have yet to hear of a re- liable specific or preventive for the wilt disease. J. E. Pal ii" r, Tihtone /."'/;/< QardtnSj Tav •porley, Cheihire. 82 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. Febkuaby 18, 1922. SOCIETIES. MANCHESTER AND NORTH OF ENGLAND ORCHID. Thursday, February 2. — Committee present: The Rev. J. Crombleholme (in the chair), Messrs. Ashworth, B. J. Beckton, J. Birchenall, A. Burns, A. Coningsby, D. A. Cowan, J. Cypher, A. G. Ellwood, W. Giles, Dr. E. N. Hartley, J. Howes, A. Keeling, J. Lupton, D. MeLeod, E. W. Thompson, and H. Arthur (secretary-). Awards. First-Class Certificates. Odontoglossum crispum Hero, a large white flower of perfect shape. 0. Wilckeaniim aitreum, one of the best forms of this lovely yisllow variety. Odontwda Viscount Lascelles (Odta. Madeline x Odm. L'Aiglon), flowers richly blotched bright reddish brown, on a white ground. Cypripedium memoria Z'T. M. Ogilvie var. Inducible, a finely shaped flower, the dorsal sepal richly spotted: from S. Gratrix, Esq. Cymbidium Schlegelii, Fowler's var., from Mrs. Bruce and Miss Wrigley. Lycaste Skinneri var. Princess Mary, a large flower of beautiful rose colour, from Mrs. Gratrix. Awards or Merit. Cypripedium Conference maanificiim, C. Por'tAos (Alcibiades?), C. Cotswold (Blanche Moore x G. E. Moore), 0. Haulier (Gaston Bui- tel X leyburnense), from Hv. Green, Esq. Odontoglossum crispum Lord Derby, 0. Dodc- liain magnificum, and Odontioda Hanmerai (Odta. Sanderae x Odm. Jasper), from A. Hanmer, Esq. Odontoglossum Lobbiae, from Mrs. Bruce and Miss Wrigley. O. crispum. Romeo, from S. Gratrix, Esq. Cypripedium Verona var. Cyme, from Col. Sir J. Ruther- ford, Bart. Groups. Mrs. Bruce and Miss Wrigley, Bury (gr. Mr. A. Burns), and S. Gratrix, Esq., West Point (gr. Mr. J. Howes), were awarded Silver- Gilt Medals for collections of Cypripediums. A. Hanmer, Esq., Buxton (gr. Mr. W. Giles), staged a group to which a large Silver Medal was awarded. Hv. Green, Esq., Birmingham (gr. Mr. Geo. W. Marsh), was awarded a Silver Medal for a group, and Dr. R. N. Hartley, Wigan, was awarded a Bronze Medal for a group. Messrs. Cypher and Sons, Cheltenham, were awarded a Silver Medal for a group of Cypripediums, Masdevallias, Coelogynes, fitc. NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM The annual general meeting of this Society was held in the Floral Committee Room at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster, on the evening of Monday, Feibruary 6. when Mr. E. F. Hawes presided. The meeting was of a purely business, character, as there were no controversial matters arising, but Mr. C. Har- man Payne added considerable interest to the proceedings by referring at some length to the Le Mans sihow and its attendant functions. The report of the Committee and accounts for 1921 were presented, and adopted on the motion of the Chairman. Reference was made in the report to the fine exhibition held in November, and to the financial success which attended it. It appears that the Floral Com- mittee granted fourteen First-Class Certificates and four Commendations to new Chrysanthe- mums ; 56 novelties were submitted for its con- sideration. The educational interest of the Society was well sustained by Mr. M. Mills and Mr. Harold Wells, 'both of whom gave lec- tures after the business proceedings at Com- mittee meetings held last autumn. It is a pleasure to be able to record an improved financial position ; whereas £3 13s. • was brought forward from 1920, .£14 19s. 3d. repre- sents the balance in hand at the end of 1921. Receipts included .£109 5s. in subscriptions, and £70 2s. 6d. in special prizes, with £78 taken at the gate at the November show. The en- tire turnover was £335 Is. The Society has a reserve fund of £50, and its surplus of assets over liabilities is given as £87 Is. 6d. Following the adoption of the report, the election of officers took place, with the result that Sir Albert Eollit was re-elected President; Mr. J. Green, Treasurer; Mr. E. F. Hawes, Chairman; Mr. D. Ingamells, Vice-Chairman; Mr. C. Harman Payne, Hon. Foreign Corre- sponding Secretary (for the 34th time) ; Mr. C. H. Curtis, General Secretary and Editor, and Messns. R. A. Witty and S. J. Bayley, Hon. Auditors. The eligible retiring members of Committee wsre re-elected and vacancies were filled by the election of Mr. W. J. Taylor, Pinner, Mr. R. C. Pulling, Lewishain, and Mr. T. Smith, Kingston. On the proposal of the Treasurer, the mem- bers decided to make a small presentation to Mrs. Curtis in recognition of her kindly help to the Society on the occasion of the November show. ROYAL GARDENERS ORPHAN FUND. The annual general meeting of the supporters of the Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund was held on the 9th inst., at Simpson's Eestaurant, Strand. Mr. E. Sherwood, Hon. Treasurer of the Fund, occupied the chair, and there were present Messrs. B. Wynne, D. Ingamells, G. F. Tinley, John Douglas, J. F. MeLeod, H. J. Jones. E. Leech, W. E. Wallace, C. H. Curtis, J. M. Bridgeford, D. Swain, L. Sutton, and G. Reynolds. The meeting was of very short duration, and there was scarcely any discussion. The chair- man submitted trie annual report of the Exe- cutive Committee and statement of accounts. The chief items in the report are those following : — EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. " With a deep sense of thankfulness your Committee is enabled, in presenting their thirty-fourth annual report, to congratulate the supporters of the Fund on the completion of another year's satisfactory work, not- withstanding the adverse influence which the jnvxjit financial situation everywhere lias on all charitable institutions. That the Fund has been enabled to make provision for the disbursement of over one thousand five hundred and twenty-four pounds among no fewer than one hundred and twenty-seven children during the past year in such times a* these cannot be other than gratifying, but it must be recognised that this has only been possible owing to the hearty co-operation and support of all who have tile welfare of the Fund at heart, and to whom most grateful thanks are due. " At the commencement of the yenr one hundred and eleven orphan children were in receipt of the full benefits of the Fund, and sixteen more were added at tlie annual meeting in February. The fact that there are only four approved candidates appealing for election :it tlie ensuing annual meeting, speaks eloquently of the splendid services rendered to their country by gardeners of military age whose dependents are being provided for by the Ministry of Pensions, instead of having to apply to this Fund for assistance to aid in their main- tenance until they can earn their own livelihood. This state of affairs cannot, however, be of long duration, and your Committee very earnestly appeals for con- tinued financial help to pliable the useful work now in progress to be effie.ie.ntly carried on — and if possible to reinstate the invested funds which had of necessity to be parted with during the war. The Committee feels that this appeal will not be made in vain. " Gratifying success attended the holding of the annual festival dinner in the Counaught Rooms, on June 22, under the presidency of the Right Hon. Viscount Elveden, M.P., and resulted in a net gain to the fund of over eleven hundred pounds. "Tour Committee again has to acknowledge with great thankfulness an increasing measure of support by the members of Gardeners' Improvement and Horticultural Societies in various parts of the country. " Among the special contributions received during the year your Committee gratefully acknowledges the receipt of a legacy of £365 18s. 4d. from the executors of Mr. William Phipps, who was well known to the older generation of horticulturists as gardener for many years at Bowood, Wiltshire. We have also to acknow- ledge generous gifts from Percival David, Esq., the Rt. Hon. Mary Countess of Ilohester, Tile Lady Batter- sea, and Mr. Robert B. Ker, part prooeeds of a flower and fruit show held in the Liverpool Cotton Market. " The loss which the Fund has1 sustained during the past year by the deaths of generous supporters is again a heavy one. and your Committee records with deep regret the passing away of Lady Veitch, The Lord Mount Stephen, Mr. William C. Dawes, Mr. W. E. George, J.P., Mr. George Paul, J.P., Mr. W. G. liigdeni, Mr. G. F. Nixon, Mr. J. C. Geiselbrecht, Mr. C. Archer, Mr. F. Harris, and Mrs. Penton." Mr. D. Ingamells seconded the adoption of the report, which was passed without comment. The chairman proposed the election of Viscount Elveden as a vice-president, and referred to the great success whidh attended the festival dinner over which his Lordship kindly presided. The election was confirmed by the unanimous vote of those present. The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers. Mr. E. Sherwood was, on the proposition of .Mr. J. F. MeLeod, re- appointed Treasurer, and thanked for his valu- able services in connection with the Fund. Mr. Sherwood, in reply, thanked the meeting for re-electing him and declared that he had the interest of the Fund at heart, and was always ready to render it any benefit that was in his power. The retiring members of the Committee, Messrs. W. H. Cutbush, D. Ingamells, R. B. Leech, J. F. MeLeod, A. W. Metcalfe, D. Swain and Geo. F. Tinley, were, on the proposition of Mr. L. Sutton, re-elected, and Messrs. W. Poupart, J. H. Smith, and T. A. Gardener, who resigned, thanked for their pa^t valuable services. To fill these three vacancies, Mr. W. Auton, Mr. A. Dawkins and Mr. J. Wort were elected mem- bers of the General Committee. The Auditors, Messrs. Peter R Barr and A. Witty were also re-appointed and thanked for their services. On the proposition of Mr. D. Ingamells, Mr. Brian Wynne was re-elected Secretary of the Fund. At this stage of the proceedings, there being no ballot, the four fal- lowing children were, on the proposition of Mr. W. E. Wallace, elected to the benefits of the pund -—Janet Helen Robertson, Robert David Robertson, Noel G. Tyler and Kenneth Edward Tyler. CASH STATEMENT FOR THE YEAE ENDING RECEIPTS. DECEMBER 31st, PAYMENTS. 237 15 43 13 6 0 230 6 8 12 6 To Subscriptions : General Local Secretaries ,, Donations : General Local Secretaries ,, Legacy : Mr. William Phipps ,, Proceeds of Annual Festival Dinner ,, Advertisements in List of Subscribers ,, Dividends on Stock and Interest c Deposit, &c. „ Income Tax returned Balance last Account 281 8 6 ■1: 18 is :*65 IS 1,178 8 18 6 294 17 44 11 0 7 ^ 122 .-, 680 19 7 9 £3,083 8 4 By Children's Allowances „ Grants in Aid ,. " Emma Sherwood Memorial ., " Maybud Campbell Fund '*. . „ " James Campbell Fund " . . £ 1,435 50 £ s. d. 13 0 0 13 0 0 13 0 0 1,524 10 0 Secretary's Salary . . . .T 300 0 0 Rent, Insurance, Firing and Lighting 02 4 4 Printing and Stationery 72 5 Printing and Posting List of Subscribers SI 6 8 Advertising 1 10 Expenses in connection with Annual General and Com- mittee Meetings 25J1. 5*3 11 Bank Charges 9 Postages 45 12 Petty Cash : Sundries 7 12 301 5 2,125 15 9 Balances : Cash at Bank . . •407 4 5 Cash on deposit 650 0 0 Cash in hand . . 0 8 2 i 957 12 3,083 s 4 Having inspected the Securities and examined the Booki and Vouchers supplied to us, wc hereby certify the above Account to be correct. PETER It. BARR, ) RICHARD A. WITTY, ; Auditors January 23rd, 1922. Incorporated Accountant I • Approximately £400 is required to meet quarterly payments on January 1st. February 18, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLEi 83 BOYAL HORTICULTURAL. February 14. — The annual meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society was held on Tues- day last in the Vincent Square Hall, Westmin- ster. The number of exhibits was not so nume- rous as usual at the annual meeting, but there was & capital attendance. The chief features of the exhibition were Orchids, Carnations, Primu- las, Azaleas, early hardy flowers, and, in the fruit and vegetable section, a group of vegetables and collections of Oranges and Apples. The Narcissus and Tulip Committee held its opening meeting for the season, but only one novelty was submitted. Awards were made to novelties by all the other committees. The Orchid Committee granted one First-Class Certi- ficate and one Award of Merit; the Floral Com- mittee recommended an Award of Merit to a variety of Primula malacoides and the Fruit and Vegetable Committee conferred a similar award on Seedling Washington Navel Orange, shown by Messrs. T. S. Rivers and Son. Floral Committee. Present : Messrs. H. B. May (in the chair), W. J. Bean, W. R. Dykes,' Reginald Cory, James Hudson. Chas. E. Pearson, W. P. Thom- son, R. W. Wallace. Hugh Dickson, Clarence Elliott, W. B. Cranfield, H. V. Warrender, E. A. Bowles, G. Reuthe, John Heal, Donald Allan, C R. Fielder, J. F. McLeod, W. Howe, Mon- tagu C. Allwood, W. B. Gingell, H. J. Jones, D, B. Crane and Amos Perry. Award of Merit. Primula malacoides Princess Mary. — A charming and useful plant of much sturdier habit than the typical P. malacoides, and with larger blooms. The foliage lis stiffer and firmer than in the type and has some white farina on the underside. The flowers are i to | inch in diameter, rich rosy lilac in colour, with a light orange-yellow eye. Shown by Messrs. Jas. Carter and Co. Other Interesting Plants. Mr. A. C T. Woodward, Arley Castle, Bewd- ley, showed Clematis F. 559. This has small leaves, each of the three leaflets being divided into three. The flowers are rose coloured, with numerous segments and borne on long stalks. It is from the Da-Tung Alps and, apparently, one of the recent discoveries in China. Saxifraga Mariae-Theresae, from Mr. P. Rosenheim, Chetwynd, East Molesey, was referred to the Scientific Committee. Groups. Composed principally of two sorts of Primula, Hyacinths and Tulips, the exhibit by Messrs. Carter and Co. was singularly effective. A whole length of tabling was utilised, and raised along the centre were small collections of Primula stellata Fairy Queen Improved — a flori- ferous variety in which the clear white petals have a distinct rich carmine zone around the yellow eye — alternating with groups of miniature Hyacinths in various colours. An informal bordering was composed largely of Primula mala- coides Princess Mary, and of this excellent variety there were very many plants all as well grown as the stellata variety. Bowls of Tulips in such sorts as Prince of Austria and the double-flowered Tea Rose pleasantly inter- spersed the Primula bordering (Silver-Gilt BanK- sian Medal). The collection of greenhouse plants shown by Messrs. Stuart Low and Co. included a very effective standard of Acacia Balileyana, little bushes of Chorizema cordata. Erica Veitchii and many varieties of Azalea indica. A goodly collection of cut Carnations adjoined the plants, and of these two large vases of the Hon. C. Knollys and Mrs. C. F. Raphael of the -perpetual- Malmaison varieties were admirable, while there were also verv manv valuable perpetual varieties (Silver Flora 'Medal). Carnations were also excellently shown by Messrs. Allwood Bros., who gave special pro- minence to a large stand containing mixed perpetual-Malmaison sorts. This was an ex- ceedingly effective arrangement, and the many blooms diffused a pleasant fra.grance. Near by there was a large stand of Wivelsfield Pink, of glowing colour, which was enhanced bv the good yellow of Maine Sunshine, which is prob- ably the best of all the yellow varieties. Ridh deep colour was provided by a massed vase of the velvety crimson Triumph (Silver Flora Medal). By the use of many artistic bowls and small jardiniere amongst his vases of Carnations, Mr. C. Engelmann made a novel and effective dis- play. It was a large exhibit, and of the very many good sorts on view it was those of pink shades of colour that were the most pleasing. These included Laddie, Cupid, Lady North- cliffe, Peerless and Bona (Silver Banksian Medal). Begonia manicata, a free-flowering greenhouse species which is equally effective as compara- tively small specimens in 6 inch pots as when grown to a much greater size, was given the central place by Messrs. L. R. Russell, Ltd., in a collection of plants. There were also well flowered specimens of Azalea indica, A. mollis and Ghent hybrids, while at one end was a small group of Prunus triloba and the double- flowered Peach (Silver Banksian Medal). A collection of cut blooms of the Sheepwell strain of scented Cyclamen latifolium was con- tributed bv E. Worhall. Esq. (gr. Mr. Lay), Sheepwell House, Potters Bar. The blooms illus- trated High cultivation, but, probably owing to the cold weather, the fragrance was not readily apparent (Bronze Flora Medal). Shrubs with ornamental foliage and in flower were an interesting feature in the hall. Amongst a representative collection by Messrs. J. Cheal and Sons there were branches of Parrotia per- siea just disclosing the stamens of its lively red flowers. This medium-sized tree is not only strikingly brilliant when in flower, but is also of great value for its autumn foliage. Flowering shrubs included Rhododendron praecox and Pieris (Andromeda) floribunda, while of spring flowers there were Crocus versicolor, Grape Hyacinths and various Saxifrages (Silver Bank- sian Medal). Berberis hyemalis and sprays of Hamamelis were prominent in an exhibit by Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., who also showed pans of Crocuses, Primroses and Irises with a goodly mass of Lithospernrum prostratum (Silver Bank- sian Medal)._ A batch of the attractive foliage plant Veronica glauco-coerulea attracted atten- tion in the contribution by Messrs. Skelton and Kirby, who also showed some interesting Saxi- frages (Bronze Flora Medal). Dwarf Conifers suitable for the rock garden were shown by Messrs. R. Tucker and Sons, who also had little colonies of Adonis amuren- sis in full bloom and many Saxifrages. Of the latter, Saxifraga macedonia, bearing many yel- low flowers, and S. Mr. Leng, with primrose vellow blossoms, were very attractive (Silver Banksian Medal). An exceedingly gay and attractive planting of Irises, Crocuses and other spring flowers was made by Messrs. Waterer, Sons and Crisp. Amongst the Irises were excellent examples of I. reticulata, I. sind— pers, I. Sindjarensis and I. persica. The last-named was particularly charming ; the contrast between the deep velvety blue lip and the rich orange central marking is most effective (Silver Flora Medal). Many good varieties of Polyanthus were shown by Mr. W. MrLLER. who also staged various Daffodils, Grape Hyacinths and Snowdrops, while the Misses HorKINS had a little rockery suitablv planted (Bronze Flora Medal). Chief amongst the plants shown by Messrs. Barr and Son were many Christmas Roses and the dainty little hardv Cyclamen, such as C. ibericum roseum and C. i. ruhrum. Along the back there were many vases of Narcissus Grand Soleil d'Or of very rich colour (Bronze Flora Medal). Eucalyptus Gunnii. as small plants, was again shown by Messrs. Wm. Cutbush and Son, who also had Sarcococca ruscifolia, a lowdy shrub which thrives under shade, bearing both flowers and last year's berries (Silver Banksian Medal). Mr. G. Reuthe again showed various Conifers and alpines with little bushes of Correa cardi- nalis hearing its bright little cylindrical flowers (Silver Banksian Medal). In the Orchid Annexe Messrs. Segers Bros., Ltd., wholesale growers, set up an exhibit of Tulips. These had apparently been brought from Holland and presented a bright and fresh ap- pearance. The double-flowered varieties included Mr. Van der Hoef (yellow) and El Toreador (crimson and fawn), while amongst the singles were Lenotre (a good pink Darwin that forces, well), McKinley (carmine and orange) and Victoire d'Olivierre (a darker Bartigon), which, may be forced into bloom three weeks earlier than that variety. Narcissus and Tulip Committee. Present: Messrs. E. A. Bowles (in the chair),. W. R. Dykes, J. W. Jones, G. Churcher, F. Herbert Chapman, George Monro, W. B. Cran- field, G. Reuthe, Arthur R. Goodwin, Peter R. Barr and Charles H. Curtis (hon. sec.). The Committee met for the first time this season, and the only plant before it was Nar- cissus St. Valentine, an early yellow-flowered Cyclamineus hybrid of Barrii form. Orchid Committee. Present: Frederick J. Hanbury, Esq. (in the- chair), Messrs. Jas. O'Brien (hon. secretary),. Gurney Wilson, J. Wilson Potter, Stuart H. Low, E. R. Ashton. T. Armstrong, A. McBean, W. J. Kaye, H. T. Pitt, J. T. Barker, J. E.. Shill, Fred. K. Sander, H. G. Alexander, Chas. II. Curtis, 8. W. Flory, Arthur Dye, W. H. White, C. J. Lucas and R. Brooman White. Awards. First-Class Certificate. Miltonia Lord Lamibourne, from Messrs- Ch.arlesworth and Co., a marvellous hybrid of which the derivation is not recorded, but the- fact is clear that nothing equal to it in colour, form or floral beauty has ever been shown. The probability is that it is a further development of Messrs. Gharlesworth's M. Venus (Phalaenopsis x vexillaria), the model shape of the flowers- giving strong suggestion of that showy hybrid. The sepals are white, with the inner two- thirds bright violet colour ; the petals are- broad and coloured reddish-violet. The lip i& broad and almost circular in outline, the basal mask being of thick, radiating lines of violet- crimson, fronted by violet, the broad margin being white. It is certainly one of the finest hybrids raised and well worthy of the honour- able name bestowed on it. The award of a. Silver-Gilt Flora Medal was also made to this- superb novelty. Award of Merit. Odontioda Cora (Oda. Coronation x Odm. eximium), from Messrs. Charlesworth AND' Oo. The large, finely-formed flowers are reddish- purple with some white at the edges and tips, of the segments. The lip is white, with ruby- blotch in front of the yellow crest. Groups. Baron Bruno Schroder, The Dell Park, Englefield Green (gr. Mr. J. E. Shill), was- awarded a Silver-Gilt Lindley Medal, as a mark of appreciation of his charming group, and* the high state of excellence attained by his gar- dener in the matter of fine cultivation, every plant being a superb specimen, in itself, un- surpassable in its class. The arrangement of the- group added to the attraction of the fine plants which were set up with very graceful foliage plants. About twenty grand specimens of Cym- bidium Pauwelsii in many varieties, with their arching spikes of from twenty to forty flowers each, formed the main object, and beneath- these were arranged a fine lot of Calanthe Baron- Schroder, the largest and best Calanthe, both the light and the dark forms-- being included. Laelio-Cattleya Schroderae- of fine varieties, a large and finely- formed Cattleya Trianae and others were in- cluded in the collection. A Silver Flora Medal was awarded to Messrs. Sander, St. Albans, for an excellent group of Cymbidium Alexanderi Gottianum, Yellow Ham- mer, Martin, and others in fine variety, arranged with Odontoglossums, Dendrobiurns, and Cypripediums, the last-named including good C. Eurvbiades and C. Charlotte Dillon. Messrs. Fi.ory and Black, Slough, were- awarded a Silver Banksian Medal for a group of hybrids, including Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya Lang- leyensis, Sophro-Laelio Nerissa, two fine forms; 84 TEE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 18, 1922. of Laelio-Cattleya William Pitt, and the white Cattleya Brenda. Other Exhibits. Lt.-Col. Sir Geo. L. Holford, K.C.V.O., Westonbirt, Tetbury (gr. Mr. H. G. Alexander), showed the pretty little Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya Prudence (S.-L. Orpetii x C. Fabia), with four neatly-formed magenta-crimson coloured flowers. Messrs. J. and A. McBean, Cooksbridge, staged a selection of showy hybrids, including Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya Marathon, the white Brasso-Cattleya Bianca, Laelio-Cattleya Eunice alba, Cattleya Eunice alba, and yellow Cypri- pediums. Messrs. B. F. Felton and Son, Hanover Square, florists, arranged a very pretty stand •of Cymbidiums and Odontoglossums overhanging their exhibit of fruits from South Africa. Messrs. Charlesworth and Co. exhibited a fine yellow and white Odontoglossum Wilck- •eanum aureum. Fruit and Vegetable Committee. Present : Messrs. C G. A. Nix (in the chair), E. A. Bunyard, W. Poupart, P. C. M. Veitch, H. S. Rivers, Geo. F. Tinley, P. D. Tuckett. A L. Smith, Ed. Beckett, S. B. Dicks, G. Reynold, T. Pateman, E. Neal, W. J. Jefferies, E A. Merry weather. E. Harriss. A. Metcalfe, J.' C. Allgrove, W. H. Divers, G. Berry, S. T. "Wright and A. Bullock. Award of Merit. Orange Seedling Washington Nai-el. — This is a large-fruited variety with a somewhat rough skin of a pale yellow colour and with, in most ■cases, the characteristic " navel " end. The .flesh is exceedingly juicy and of excellent flavour; the foliage is large and of deep lustrous •oTeen colour, paler on the under surface. Trees of this variety grown in pots were included in a. collection referred to below. Shown by Messrs. T. S. Rivers and Son. Groups. A collection of Citrus fruits shown by Messrs. T. S. Rivers and Son was awarded a Silver- ■Gilt Hogg Memorial Medal. The collection made a very bright and attractive feature in the hall and the large size and generally fine .appearance of these home-grown Oranges was a revelation to many visitors, and especially the profusion in which they were shown. Some were very bulky trees in large tubs and there -were also smaller plants in pots more suitable for decorative purposes indoors. All bore heavy ■crops, the most notable varieties being St. Michael, or Long Orange; Egg Orange. Non- pareil, St. Michaels and the Boscellio Orange. •Citrus corniculata and the Myrtle-leaved Orange represented distinct forms, and there was also the hardy Citrus trifoliata (syn Aegle sepiaria), which is used in the south-west of England as a hedge plant and is said to survive as much as 30° or 40° of frost. American raisers have •crossed this plant with several of the_ sweet ■Oranges in order to obtain a hardy strain, and Messrs. Rivers showed two of these hybrids; ■one named Rusk Citrange had borne fruits with them, and these are like small Tangerines, but with a very disagreeable flavour. Sir Montague Turner, Bedfords, Havering, Romford (gr. Mr. A. Barrett), showed a collec- tion of 48 varieties of Apples, which, consider- ing the late season, were in remarkably fine condition. Amongst the more notable dishes ■were those of Scarlet Pearmain, Sure Crop, Cox's •Orange Pippin, Cornish Gilliflower, Aldington Pippin Melon Apple, Ribston Pippin, Christ- inas Pearmain, Annie Elizabeth, Margil, Hor- mead's Pearmain, Bedford's Seedling, and Sear- let Pearmain (Silver Knightian Medal). Messrs. Sutton and Sons showed some excel- lent vegetables in a group that was deserving of praise for its arrangement. In the centre was a large hatch of variegated Kales and on stands and Baskets were Tender and True and Hollow Crown Parsnips: Prize Taker Leeks, Improved Reading and Brown Globe Onions, •excellent Chicory, Scorzonera, Seakale and Sal- safy. Improved Red Intermediate Carrots, Arti- chokes, Potatos and fine heads of Extra Curled Scotch Kale (Silver Banksian Medal). Annual Meeting. The Lecture Room was filled with Fellows when Lord Lambourne took the chair at the annual general meeting. In proposing the adop- tion of the report of the Council, which has been circulated, the President drew special atten- tion to the paragraph on " Bribery and Secret Commissions in Horticulture," saying that he " knew for a fact that commissions are ten- dered," a state of affairs which, in his opinion, reflects discredit on all concerned. The Council of the R.H.S. was anxious to do all that lay in its power to discountenance such practices, and Lord Lambourne appealed to all Fellows to report any cases that may come to their notice to the proper authority. Home-grown bulbs are again to receive the attention of the Society, and the announcement of a show of dried bulbs next autumn, followed by a dis- play of flowers in 1923, was received with general approval. The work on "Pritzel" was briefly reviewed and it appeared that, up to date, 250.000 cards have been compiled, so that it is hoped to publish the work towards the end of next year. The copyright of the Botanical Magazine, w^ich may otherwise have been lost to the country and horticulture generally, lias been presented to the Society by a " number of men interested in gardening," so that publica- tion will continue, and it is hoped to issue a com- plete volume for this year. The alliance with the National Rose Society was commented upon and great expectations raised over the Rose trials which are to be held at Wisley in the near future, which it was confidently hoped would not be adversely affected by soil conditions. A well-deserved tribute was paid by Lord Lambourne to the public spirit displayed by the members of the various committees who, with- out recompense, expend much of their time and, in some cases, money in attending the various meetings. Lord Lambourne reminded the meet- ing that nearly all the members of committees were busy men, and it was always the busy men who found time for such work and whose services were of the greatest value. Mr. C. A. Nix, who seconded the adoption of the report, explained that his resignation of the post as Treasurer was due to the great increase in the financial work of the Society which, he felt, required the attention of a more experienced man than himself, and this the Society had found in Mr. C. T. Musgrave. Re- ferring to the balance-sheet Mr. Nix explained that the new item connected with insurance related to the large shows which the Coun- cil felt, in view of the large attendances, should be safeguarded from loss which might occur through bad weather. He felt that, generally, 1921 had been a good year for the Society, and he was much more optimistic than he was a twelvemonth ago. The only comments on the report were by Mr. Bickerton, who suggested that the Council consider providing easier means of reaching Wisley : that a gallery at the Hall would ease the congestion, and that attention should be paid to " correlated science." In reply, Lord Lambourne said that the matter of facilities for reaching Wisley were under consideration, and in the meantime he reminded the meeting that a London General Omnibus ran from Wey- bridge station, and by it Fellows could travel to a point quite near to the Society's gardens. The provision of a gallery was debarred by the L.C.C. regulations. As to correlated science Lord Lambourne frankly stated he was not sure he understood what was meant, but he was sure it would receive due attention from the Coun- cil! In the absence of further nominations the officers and Council as published were declared duly elected. The most interesting ceremony was the pre- sentation of five Victoria Medals of Honour. The recipients were Lord Lambourne, Messrs. W. A. Bilney, William Poupart, John Fraser and the Rev. Arthur Boscawen. Lord Lam- bourne's medal was presented to him by the Rev. W. Wilks amid great applause. On behalf of Messrs. Dobbie and Co.. Mr. W. Cuthbertson received the Lawrence Medal, which was awarded for their display of Tulips at the Hall on May 10 and 11 of last year. ©bituarp. John Smith. — An interesting personality has been lost to horticulture by the death of Mr. John Smith, who laid out the Comely Bank Cemetery, Edinburgh, and acted as superin- tendent of it for twenty-seven years. He had long passed the allotted span of life, but re- mained mentally alert to the end, and died after a very brief illness. A native of Dun- glass, Mr. J. Smith gained experience of gardening in early life at various English and Scottish gardens. He was outside foreman at Shrublands, Ipswich, in the days when it was the correct thing for foremen at that famous establishment to wear top hats. While in these gardens one of his colleagues was the late Mr. Donald Matheson, subsequently of Meikleour Gardens, Perthshire, and the father of the present general manager of the Caledonian Railway Company. For nine years Mr. J. Smith ' had charge of extensive gardens in Florence, where he acquired a wide knowledge of the Italian language. On his return from Italy he went to Lewis Castle, Stornoway, and subsequently to Edinburgh. A clever gardener and organiser, Mr. J. Smith was also a keen angler. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Hawthorn Diseased: C. W. The trouble is apparently caused by one of the Rose cankers, but the material you sent was insufficient for a proper diagnosis. Names and Addresses : T. Sainte-Mesem. The following are the names and addresses you require : Messrs. Stredwick, St. Leonards, England; Mr. J. T. West, Tower Hill, Brentwood, England; and Messrs. Burrell and Co., Howe House Nurseries, Cambridge, England. Name of Fruit : J. H. C. Broad Eye Pippin. Names of Plants : A. N. 1, Picea sitchensis; 2, Abies nobilis; 3, A. concolor; 4, Cephalo- taxus pedunculata; 5, Abies grandis; 6, Picea Omorica : 7, Picea excelsa var. ; 8, Abies Veitchii; 9, Picea Morinda; 10, Thuya plicata; 11, Cupressus Lawsoniana; 12, C. nootkatensis var. pendula; 13, C. Lawsoniana var. inter- texta; 14, Pinus inops; 15, P. Murrayana; 16, P. Pinaster; 17, P. sylvestris; 18, Arbutus Unedo. — (;. K. P. Quercus Lucombeana (Lucombe Oak). Potato Sharpe's Express : B. P. B. There is no evidence of disease in the tubers you sent ; they have the appearance of injury by frost, as you suggest. Sweet scented Climbers for a Pergola : W. M. B. It is no easy matter to select nine sweet-scented climbers suitable for a pergola. The following plants would be best for your purpose : — Akebia quinata, a species with small, claret-purple flowers; A. lobata, small, dull purple flowers; Boussingaultia baselloides, small white flowers ; Jasminum officinale, white flowers; Holboellia latifolia, flowers purplish green ; Stauntonia hexaphylla, whitish-green flowers. It is doubtful whether either of the two last-named would flower away from the shelter of a wall. Chimonanthus fragrans (Winter Sweet) might be used to cover the pillars of a pergola. There is a choice of Honevsuckles, Lonicera Caprifolium, L. Periciymenum, of which there are several varieties, such as serotina, which flowers until late in the season, and is commonly known as Late Dutch Honeysuckle, while the var. belgica is known as Dutch Honey- suckle, a very strong-growing variety ; Clematis paniciilata, white flowers; and C. calvcina, which is not over-hardy away from "a wall. The Wistarias are slightly fragrant, especially W. multijuga; in any case, they are beautiful plants for a pergola. Vitis vinifera (Grape Vine) is fragrant when in flower, as also is Viti6 riparia. Communications Received .— W. F— G. W. S — O. A. C— J. I.— H. & G— J. R. G.— S. A.— W. J. P— H. T.— C. M. E.— A. G. H. February 25, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE^ 85 THE Xo. mo.— SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1922. CONTENTS. Alpine garden, the — Hierembergia rivu- laris Annual, a good blue- flowered Apple trees damaged by voles Austen on fruit trees . . Begonia martlana graci- lis as a bedding plant .Belgian Horticultural Society, a new Brown, Mr. N. E., hon- our for Jarrer's, the late Mr. Reginald, second ex- ploration in Asia . . JHowers in season Fruit register . . ■" Gardeners* Chronicle " seventy-five years ago ■Gloxinias Ideal Home exhibition Jsabelle, the definition of Kew Herbarium, new Keeper of the Kew, notes from — The wild Chinese Primrose . . Mesembryanthemum and some new genera separated from it . . "Monro "concert 86 Nursery notes — Progress in Primulas Obituary — Bain, William Tisdale, Samuel Orchid notes and glean- ings— Cephalanthera rubra in Britain Jewel Orchids Xew hybrids Paper as mulching ma- terial Prain, Sir David Royal Horticultural So- ciety's examinations Shrewsbury flower show Societies — Cardiff Gardeners' .. Didsbury and District Horticultural Royal Caledonian Horticultural Royal Horticultural Trees and shrubs — Hydrangeas in tubs . . Pyrus latifolia Rhododendrons Vegetables — ■ Main-crop Peas Week's work, the ILLUSTRATIONS. Bain, Mr. William, portrait of the late Campanula earpatiea Cephalanthera rubra Hydrangea hortensis Miltonia Lord Larabourne . . Phacelia campanularia Prain, Sir David, portrait of Primula Silver Star 95 96 96 95 87 87 87 94 88 i 9" s? 91 95 8« Atihage Mean Temperature for the ensuing- week deduced from observations during the last fifty years at Greenwich, 39.7. Actual Temperature : — Gardeners' Chronicle Office, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London, Wednesday, February 22, 10 a.m. Bar. 30.1; temp. 41°. Weather— Sunny. Sir David Prain, whose re- The tirement from the post of Director Director of the Royal Botanic of Kew. Gardens is announced to take effect at the end of the present month, has held that office for some seven- teen years. His high botanical and ad- ministrative attainments, his tact and address in public affairs and his extraordinary devo- tion to duty have made the period of his Directorship memorable and have assured him of permanent fame. More than this he has achieved, for he has won not only the admiration but also the affection of all who have had the good fortune to be associated with him in public affairs. The general public are probably unaware of the onerous nature of the work of the Director of Kew or of the inadequate provision made by the State for the execution of that work. Lavish in deputing labours to the Director, the State is, we believe, parsimonious in the provision of assistance to the Director in the discharge of his multifarious duties. If this be true, it is a limitation which should immediately l>e removed, for it is an extravagance which an impoverished State can no longer afford. In spite of restricted means and notwith- standing the difficult period of the war, Sir David has sustained and enhanced the pres- tige of Kew. In numberless ways he has helped the various Government Departments, — Colonial Office, Foreign Office, Ministry of Agriculture ; and his wise counsel, exquisite tact, unfailing firmness and courtesy have distinguished him as a great public servant. Sir David's training combined with his natural gifts made his success at Kew certain. Educated in a parish school in Scotland and in the Grammar School and University of Aberdeen, he subsequently studied medicine at Aberdeen and Edinburgh and, in 1884, entered the Indian Medica) Service. Within two or three years of his taking up these duties, Sir David became Curator of the Herbarium and Library of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. In this post he remained for eleven or twelve years until, in 188S, he succeeded Sir George King as Superintendent and Director of the Botanical Survey of India, which offices he held until his appointment to Kew in 1905. During his career in India honours and offices were showered upon him. Neither could disturb the natural imperturbability of the man nor could the labours involved by multitudinous duties exceed his wonderful powers of work. His publications are numerous and important, and in preparing for them, Sir David Prain worked hard and travelled much, visiting many parts of India, Assam, Tibet, .Burma, as well as the Anda- man and Nicobar Isles. It is an unfortunate coincidence that three such distinguished and experienced men as Sir David Prain, Sir I. Bayley Balfour and Sir Frederick Moore are retiring from their several posts— at Kew, Edinburgh and Glasnevin— at about the same time. Their ripe experience and mature wisdom were never more needed than at the present time, for economy — which we all recognise as necessary — is likery to affect all these gardens adversely and must make the task of their successors, which in no case could be easy, even harder than it might otherwise have been. As an- nounced in these pages, Sir David (whose portrait we have much pleasure in repro- ducing on page 86), will be succeeded by Mr. A. W. Hill, who, as Assistant Director, has had a long experience of Kew. In assuming his new and important office, Mr. A. W. Hill will have the good wishes of all horti- culturists. Royal Horticultural Society's Examinations. — The following dates have been fixed for the R.H.S. examinations this year: — General Ex- amination in Horticulture: Wednesday, March 29 ; entries close on February 28. — Teachers' Ex- amination in School and Cottage Gardening ; Preliminary and Honours' Written Examination. Saturday, April 22.— Honours' Practical Ex- amination at the R.H.S. Gardens. Wisley, Friday. June 23, and possibly also June 22 : entries close on March 18. — National Diploma Examinations (for the members of the gardening profession only) : Preliminary and F'nal Written Examinations. Saturday, May 27; Practical Examinations at the R.H.S- Gardens. Wisley; Preliminary, June 27 and 28; final, June 29 and 30: entries close on Saturday. March 4. Syllabuses and entry forms may be obtained from the Secretary, Royal Horti- cultural Society, Vincent Square, Westminster. Honour for Mr. N. E. Brown. — We are glad to learn that the Captain Scott Memorial Medal has been awarded to Mr. N. E. Brown, A.L.S., in recognition of his work on the South African flora. This award is made by the Council of the South African Biological Society. Mr. Brown's articles on " Mesemibryanthemum and Some New Genera Separated from It." now appearing in our columns, are creating widespread interest among lovers of succulent plants, and especially among scientists resident in South Africa. New Keeper of the Kew Herbarium. — Dr. Otto Stapf is shortly retiring from the office of Keeper of the Herbarium at Kew. and will be succeeded by Mr. Arthur Disbrove Cotton. Dr. Stapf joined the herbarium staff at. Kew in 1891, and was appointed principal assistant in 1899. He became Keeper of the Herbarium, in succession to Dr. W. Bolting Hembley, in 1908. Mr. Cotton was appointed assistant at the Herbarium in 1904, and subsequently became a 1st Class assistant in the Plant Pathology Laboratory. During recent years he lias held an imnortant post under the Board of Agriculture in the De- partment of Plan! Pathology at Rothamsted. Summer Time. — A Bill recently introduced in Parliament provides that summer time shall begin on the last Saturday in March (or if that is Easter Eve on the preceding Saturday), and end on. the fiist Sunday in October. The dates have been fixed in agreement with France and Belgium, in order to obviate the confusion that has occurred ui previous years in the railway services, owing to summer time being different in these respective countries. It is probable that these dates will be marie pennaneiit for summer time in all three countries. Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution. — Dur- ing the year 1921 the Worcester and District Auxiliary contributed the splendid sum of £125 to tile Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution. Subscriptions amounted to £66 2s. 6d., while £71 6s. 3d. was the sum derived from the open- ing of Madresfieid, Davenham, and Ynys-y- Maengwyn Gardens to the public by the Right, Hon. Earl Beauchamp, Dyson Pen-ins, Esq., and Roger J. Corbett, Esq., respectively. The open- ing of the Madresfieid gardens realised £33 17s. The officers and committee of the Worcester and District Auxiliary are to be congratulated en the success of their work during the past year. Flower Shows and the Entertainment Tax. — The Hornsey Horticultural Society has been suc- cessful in obtaining exemption from the enter- tainment tax in respect of their last two annual exhibitions, for which a demand of £28 12s. 9d. was made by the authorities. A deputation from the committee interviewed the Excise De- partment, and the Commissioners stated that, whilst as a society they nad rendered themselves liable to taxation by holding a concert in con- nection with their shows, the fact that during the short history of the society they had dis- tributed £590 among local charities was a big recommendation for sympathetic treatment. The Excise Department withdrew their claim for en- tertainment duty in respect of members' sub- scriptions in 1920 and 1921, but required duty, amounting to £9 4s., to be paid in respect of the tickets sold but not used for the shows in those years. As regards the future, the Com- missioners stated that the inclusion of any music, sports, racing, side shows, and other extraneous attractions would operate as a bar to exemption from entertainment duties. Shrewsbury Flower Show. — As announced in our advertisement columns last week, the exhibi- tion of the Shropshire Horticultural Society will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, August 16 and 17. The schedule has been issued, and in- cludes classes for all kinds of cultivators. The total value ot cash prizes offered amounts to £1,200. In addition there are valuable challenge cups offered for Carnations, fruits, formal and informal flower gardens, Roses and rock gardens. Shrewsbury Flower Shew has come to he re- garded as one of the greatest horticultural events of the year, and we are glad to know that the society has been enabled to re-establish its ex- hibitions to their pre-war importance, and it is confidently expected that the one of 1922 will be equal in interest and extent to any that have preceded it. Flowers in Season. — Some finely grown and exquisitely coloured Cyclamen have been re- ceived from Messrs. Clibrans, Altrincham. The blooms represent this firm's giant-flowered strain, and, among the several varieties sub- mitted, those which most attracted our atten- tion were Rose, rich reddish-rose; Crimson. .1 deep red -hade; Salmon Scarlet and Salmon, both of brilliant colour; a daintv Giant Pink: and the large Giant White. The flowers all sbow evidence that Messrs. Oi'brans are con- tinuing their work of selection in the direction of improving the form and extending the range of colours in this useful winter flower. A New Belgian Horticultural Society.— A society, or club, for garden lovers, has been formed in Brussels under the name of " Le Jardin ri'Egremont ("The Pleasure Garden "I. The organ of the society, also called Le Jxvrdin :I'K, irimont, is bound up with another monthly journal, that of the Naturalist i Beiges. It appears to make appeal more especially _ to amateur gardeners, an. I an editorial note give? one of its objects as that of "struggling against 86 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. FEBRl-ABr 25. 135?. the banality, the poverty, even, of too many gardens in Belgium." Four committees have been formed, to take over special branches of the Society's work — Technical, Design, Botanical, and Editorial — the latter being charged with the production of the journal. The first number of the Society's journal is an attractive issue, and the journal should be able to attain in due course a separate and successful existence. " Monro " Concert.— The twenty-third annual concert, conducted by the " Geo. Monro, Ltd.," Concert Committee on behalf of various charities, was held at Queen's Hall, Langham Place, on the loth inst. A lengthy and excellent programme of about two dozen items was pro- vided, including some very fine music by the band of the Grenadier Guards. There was a large attendance. The floral decorations on the stage were carried out by Messrs. Wills and Segar, while the "Daffodils on the tables were given by Messrs. Lowe and Shawyer. These concerts have been the means of rendering a large amount of assistance to various charities, and during the year 1921 the committee made donations of £10 10s. to the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution, £3 3s. to the Roval Gar- deners' Orphan Fund, £5 5s. to the Wholesale Fruit and Potato Trades' Benevolent Society, £6 6s. to the Royal Surgical Aid Society. £6 6s. to the Charing Cross Hospital. £3 3s'. to St. "Dunstan's. £3 3s. to the London and Home Counties Benevol"nt Fund, and £2 2s. to the Covent Garden Lifeboat Fund. Paper as Mulching Material.— According to the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, ex- periments made by the Hawaiian Pineapple Packers' Association show that when paper is used as mulching material Pineapples give greatly increased yields. The paper mulch consists of a strip of paper, in which are cut holes largo enough for the Pineapple plants to grow through. It was found that the plants treated in this way grew uniformly larger, greener, and more healthy, and the fruits were also larger. It was claimed, that the paper mulch prevented the growth of weeds and the packing of the soil through heavy rains, thus greatly reducing the cost of cultivation. In the association's experi- ment station the growth of plants provided with the paper mulch was three times greater in weight and much healthier than those on other plots without the paper. Cambridge Horticultural Exhibition.— In con- nection with the Royal Agricultural Society's show to be held at Cambridge, a horticultural exhibition has been arranged for July 4 to July 7, which will be undeT the superintendence of Mr. Peter Blair, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent. An attractive schedule has been provided, and substantial prizes are offered for a group of miscellaneous plants, for Orchids, Delphiniums, Begonias, hardy perennials. Perpetual Carna- tions. Border Carnations, Sweet Peas, and Roses. In the group class the first prizie is £45 and the second prize £40. " Garden Hints." — A number of useful garden hints and reminders is issued in a booklet under this title by the Humber Fishing and Fish Manure Co., Ltd., Hull, manufacturers of the " Eclipse " fish manure. The publishers ask us to announce that free copies of the booklet will be sent to readers of this journal on their making application to the firm. In these times, when stable and farm-yard manure are scarce and dear, such useful organic manures as the Eclipse fish manure offer excellent substitutes for animal dung, and many growers, professional as well as amateur, are making extended use of tihem with good results. The book under notice gives the best methods of employing the fertiliser. Le Mans International Show. — It is interest- ing to record that this show, held last Novem- ber, has proved to be a great financial success. The total expenditure amounted to about 100,000 francs, and after taking into account the sub- sidies granted Iby the .State and the municipality there remains a balance on the credit side of :he account of cbout 10,000 francs. This ad- mirable result reflects great honour upon the organising committee and upon the Mayor of Le Mans and his energetic helper, M. Leloup- Grimoux, neither of whom spared themselves to make a success of the show. French Chrysanthemum Society. — This society, like so many others with a small annual sub- scription, has found that, owing to the higher cost of postage and printing, it can no longer carry on its work under the old subscription of five francs per year. Consequently the annual subscription for this and succeeding years has been raised to eight francs per member. At the present rate of exchange, and considering the advantages the society offers, members resi- dent in the United Kingdom will probably con- sider it to be one of the cheapest subscriptions in the horticultural world. The Registrar of Novelties. M. Reiser, appeals to raisers to send him their catalogues, so that the catalogue of his society may be kept up to date. A Rhubarb Exhibition. — The ninth annual Rhubarb show of the Leeds and District Market Gardeners' Association will be held at the Griffin Hotel, Leeds, on Saturday, March 4. Prizes are offered in six classes, and include a gold medal for the best six sticks of Victoria SIB DAVID PBAIN, F.R.S. (SEE P. 85.) or any other variety over 5 lb. in weight; a silver cup of the value of thirty guineas for the best six sticks of Dawe's Champion, and a silver cup offered by Messrs. Garcia Jacobs and Co. for the best three marketable bunches of Victoria Rhubarb, not to exceed § lb. each. The cups are to be won three times in all before they are the property of any exhibitor. The annual dinner, followed by a smoking concert, will be held on the same occasion. The secretary is Mr. J. R. Groundwell, Scott Hall Gardens, Buslingthorpe. Leeds. A Warning.— Mr. J. Harrison, jun., Presi- dent of the Horticultural Trades' Association, requests us to draw attention to an instance of disgraceful trading on the part of an un- scrupulous Dutch vendor of bulbs. It appears that an English customer, attracted by the low prices quoted, sent the Dutch vendor an order for bulbs, and enclosed a remittance for £1 Is. Although free delivery was pro- mised, the customer had to pay Is. 6d. on the consignment. Many of the bulbs were rimall. broken, and mildewed, and some not true to name. The only passable lot (if true) were Pheasant Eye Narcissus. Mr. Harrison points out that, had a British trader supplied such bulbs, the customer could have repudiated the contract and obtained the return of his money through the courts, but there is prac- tically no redress in such a case as this, owing to the difficulty and cost of taking legal proceedings outside the jurisdiction of the British Courts Mr. Harrison considers that it is high time the Government took steps to prevent the British public from being fleeced by an unscrupulous- type of Dutch trader, and he believes reputable British and Dutch firms alike will desire to see such cases as this exposed. Lecture on Potatos. — A lecture on " Practical Lessons from the International Potato Confer- ence " will be delivered by Mr. W. Cutbbertsoa at the Royal Horticultural Society's meeting on Tuesday, February 28, at 3 p.m. Ideal Home Exhibition. — A series of interest- ing conferences has been arranged by the Gar- den Cities and Town Planning Association during the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition, to be held at Olympia in March. Several of the lec- tures will be concerned wTith horticultural and agricultural questions, notably : — Thursday, March 2, Poultry; Friday, March 3, Utility Small Garden; Monday, March 6, Young Fanners' Clubs (British day) ; Tuesday, March 7, Young Farmers' Clubs (International day) ; Tuesday and Wednesday, March 14 and 15, Garden Cities and Town Planning ; Thursday, March 16, Utility Small Garden ; Monday,, March 20, Bees; Tuesday, March 21, Poultry; Friday, March 24, Fruit Growing. Among the chairmen who will preside at these conferences are the Minister of Agriculture and Lord Astor, and the speakers are all authorities on theii- respective subjects. Tickets for any of the con- ferences may be obtained from the Secretary, Garden Cities and Town Planning Association. 3, Gray's Inn Place, London, W.C.I. , and will include' free admission to the Exhibition. Appointments for the Ensuing Week.— Tues- day, February 28. — Royal Horticultural Society * Committee meetings; lecture by Mr. W. Cuth- bertson, at 3 p.m. ; Cardiff Gardeners' Society's- meeting. Wednesday, March 1. — Royal Agricul- tural Society's Council meeting ; National Viola, and Pansy Society's meeting. Thursday, March 2.— Manchester and North of England Orchid Society's meeting; Linnean Society's meeting, at 5 p.m. ; Wargrave and District Gardener.,' Society's meeting. " Gardeners' Chronicle " Seventy-five Years Ago.— The Margill Apple. The origin of this favourite Apple has not been clearly traced; but it is supposed to be English. It has been recog- nised in no foreign collection, excepting in some in which it has been introduced by its English name. Rogers, in his Fruit Cultivator, 1834r states that he has known it for seventy years, it being then in repute as a dessert frulit. The first tree of it he saw was an espalier in the Sheen Garden, planted by Sir William Temple. It deserves notice on account of its very dwarf habit, rendering it most eligible for borders, or other situations where large trees would be objectionable; for its constant and abundant bearing, hence its synonym of Nerer-fail ; and,. finally, for its close approximation in point of flavour to the Ribston Pippin. The flesh is firm, juicy, sugary and rich, with a Ribston Pippin flavour, but more perfumed. In perfection from November till February. The tree is dwarf, but healthy, and so productive that attention is necessary to prevent it from over-bearing itself. Shoots purplish-brown, sprinkled with minute pale dots. Leaves small, ovately lanceolate, par- tially folded, regularly serrated ; petioles long, slender, downy; stipules lanceolate, an inch or- more in length. Flowers middle-sized ; petals longish ovate, somewhat cordate at the base. In pruning this variety, instead of only fruit- spurs, a sprinkling of young shoots should be encouraged, by judicious shortening at the- winter pruning, and the spurs should be indi- vidually thinned. Sometimes the entire cluster may be dispensed with, but in this case the cut should not be quite close to the branch, for at the base of the spur latent buds generally exist to form a fresh succession. 7?. T. . Gard. . Chron., Feb. 20. 1847. Publication Received. — The Forest Flora of New Smith Wale..-. By J. H. Maiden. Vol. VII. Part 9. William Applegate Gullick. Sydney- I Price, 2s. 6d. per part. February 2>j, 1921 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 87 NOTES FROM KEW. TREES AND SHRUBS. The Wild Chinese Primrose. One of the most interesting subjects in flower in the Conservatory (No. 4 Greenhouse) at the present time is a group of some fifty plants oi Primula sinensis, the wild Chinese Prim- rose. They are the progeny of plants raised from seeds collected by Mr. F. H. Wilson. The plant was first introduced in 1820, and a figure of it appears in the Botanical Magazine, tab. 2664. The plant figured has purplish-crimson blossoms, but those flowering at Kew are a dainty shade of pale lilac. One item in the Bot. Mag. description is very in- teresting, because it still holds good of the species to-day, i.e., "it is generally considered very shy of producing seeds.1' Persistent pol- lination is necessary to obtain any seeds at all, but, fortunately, the plants are perennial.. Rhododendron hippophaeoipes. Growing in its habitat at from about 10,000 feet to 14,000 feet elevation, this is one of the hardiest and most distinct of the newer Chinese Rhododendrons. It is a much bramched, small shrub up to 4 or 5 feet high, with small some- what hoary leaves, hence the name hippo- phaeoides. The flowers are borne in a terminal inflorescence of six or seven blooms in a crowded, head-like umbel. Plants raised from seeds vary very considerably in the shade of colour, which includes lavender blue, blue purple, pale purplish rose, and rosy lilac. R. hippophaeoides has been described as a tall-growing R. intricatum. In addition to its value in the rock garden, the subject of this note should find a place in groups along the front of the shrubbery border, whilst for lawn beds it will be a delightful companion plant to the popular R. racemosum. It is readily in- creased by seeds and cuttings. R. hippophaeoides was collected by Mr. George Forrest in several localities of Yunnan during 1913-14. His numbers include 10,333 F. (open situations, alpine shrub), 11487 F., 12461 F. (open marshy meadows), 12562 F. and 12633 t< Mr. Kingdon Ward also collected this species in Yunnan (269 B., K.W.) in May 1913. PyRACANTHA CRENULATA VAR. YUNNANENSIS. In some respects, this Chinese Pyracantha is proving one of the most valuable and distinct of the family. Now, during the second halt of February, it is the only one adorned with quantities of shining, light red fruits. Rathei smaller than the popular variety Lalandei the fruits ripen later than those ot that form and also those of P. Gibbsii, a closely-allied species, from which it also differs in the coarsely crenate, spathulate leaves. It was first duced from Yunnan by Mr. R. 1 . 1906. Ducloux, in THE ALPINE GARDEN. NIEREMBERG1A RIVULARIS. A good plant of Nierembergia rivularis is a beautiful object in the garden; its cup-like blooms of pearly white are set above the heart- shaped, dark green leaves. It is one ot the must lovely of dwarf plants, and where it is happy makes a spreading carpet of growth. Its habitat is the River Plate, whence we have but a tew flowers which are truly hardy; there it grows on the muddy river banks. The ideal conditions with us would almost appear to be a rich, sloping bank facing south, with water flowing under- neath, so as to be within reach of the roots. These conditions are not easy to secure, especially as a drier medium in winter is advisable. The finest plants I have ever seen were grown in pots and pans set in zinc pails of water, and standing on inverted pots, the water being only at such a level that the base of the pots was immersed about a couple of inches in the water. In late autumn the pots were removed from the pails and placed in a frame for the winter, being brought out again in the spring and subjected to the same treatment as before. Some are for- tunate enough to find N. rivularis do well on the level in the ordinary soil of their gardens. S. Arnott. PYRTJS LATIFOLIA. The above tree is generally known as the Service Tree of Fontainebleau from the fact that it was first found in the Forest of Fon- tainebleau, in France. It is the most common form in private gardens, but might be more often planted than it is, for it is very hand- some in fruit, and seems to bear more regu- larly than P. Aria. The fruits are large, abundant, and orange-coloured when mature. A tree I had under observation for the past two years bore down the branches with the weight of fruit. The tree is regarded as a hybrid between P. Aria and P. tonninalis, yet the seeds are fertile and come true to the parent, for I have seen a self-sown tree in fruit and also much younger seedlings. The tree is somewhat variable, and a form with shorter, broader leaves grows wild in the west of England. Indeed, there are several forms, but I refer to that with the largest and broadest leaves, which suggests the supposed flourish anywhere in our islands, given reason- able shelter and a soil devoid of lime. What would the Rhododendron Dell at Kew, which affords delight annually to tens of thousands, be if none but natural species were grown there ? It is quite true, as Mr. Magcr has stated, that there are very many places in our country where the choicer species might be grown successfully, and are not; but he is the last person who should disparage hybrids, foras- much as, if the crossing of natural species be a crime, he himself is deeply dyed in guilt, being the fabricator of a whole crowd of Asiatic cross-breds ! There is a purpose, too, to which those who prize and can grow the tenderer species can put the showy hybrids. Suppose it be intended to plant a woodland glade with some of the nobler species — ealophytum, Falconeri, Griffithianum, sino-grande, or the like — they must be set wide apart, having regard to the dimensions they will one day attain. But it must be many years before they bloom, whereas Fig. 42.— a specimen hydrangea hortensis in a tub plunged in a lawn. parents. Froai some source or other this has got into Park Place, Henley-on-Thames. The best situation for trees of this class is on the outside of belts or clumps in parks, because they are of moderate height, and fruit best when fully exposed to light and air. On the contrary, they soon get overtopped ^ when surrounded by tall-growing trees. ./. F. RHODODENDRONS. Mr. F. Gomer Waterer's note of warning (p. 70) is a timely one. If, living as I do on the west coast, where most of the Asiatic species introduced in recent years will thrive — if, I say, I have ever spoken disrespectfully of hybrids, let me make amends by acknowledg- ing gratefully the splendid results of the work of Mr. Waterer's firm and other skilful and patient cultivators. If it were possible to re- visit Great Britain as it was in the eighteenth century, how one would miss the glow and glitter which they have ensured fur early summer in thousands of parks and gardens. I confess to sharing Perdita's strong preference for natural species over hybrids, but Hint should not blind one to the magnificence of the illicit offspring of Rhododendron arboreum. cau~asicum, Griffitliiamun. etc., win h will the hardy hybrids flower freely in their youth, and will not only illumine the glade with colour, but provide shelter for the species that are set there for permanence, and be cut out when these approach maturity. Herbert Maxwell, Monreitli. HYDRANGEAS IN TUBS. For providing floral displays in courtyards. on terraces, and in large bare spaces contigu- ous to dwellings, tubs and vases filled with various subjects are much used, but of the widi range of plants available for such purposes none is more satisfactory than a large, well- flowered Hydrangea, especially where the barrenness of the situation is unduly great. Another position for which such a specimen is supremely suitable is a circumscribed piece of lawn devoid of flower beds. Set in such a spot is the specimen herewith shown (Fig. 42,, and it represents one of several so used. The illustration suggests a more natural setting, as distinct from the impression given when Hydrangeas are used in association with flagged "paving or gravel; moreover, the natural effort is enhanced by the sinking of the tub in the grass. C. Turner, AmpthHl Pari "irdens 88 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE, February 25, 1922. The Week's Work. THE ORCHID HOUSES. By J. T. Baeseh. Gardener to Hie Grace the Ddkb oi Marlborough, K.G., Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxon. Vanda, Aerides, and Saccolabium. — Al- though these old-world Orchids are not seen in many collections at the present tin.e, they are worthy of cultivation, for when in bloom they are dslightful objects. Those showing signs of renewed root action may be given attention in such matters as repotting or resurfacing the compost. I do not advocate resurfacing Orchids as a rule, but in repotting these plants there is a danger of breaking many of the thick, fleshy roots when turning the plants out of their recep- tacles. In the case of well-rooted, healthy speci- mens it is desirable to renew the compost on the surface after the long resting season. Care should be taken that the drainage is perfect. Plants that have become leggy through the loss of their lower leaves should be reduced by- cutting away a portion of the stem. This shortening must be governed by the condition of the roots; for it is not desirable to remove them' all. The growths should be fastened securely to neat stakes, sufficiently strong to hold them in position. A suitable compost con- sists of clean, broken crocks, and live Sphag- num-moss, pressed moderately firmly, for unless the compost is made firm the moss will not grow satisfactorily, and the plants will not thrive. The majority of these plants do best grown in the warmest house, preferably stand- ing on a damp base. Vanda tricolor, V. suavis, Aerides crispum, A. crassifolium, and A. Warneri do better in a warm, intermediate temperature. Masdevallia.— Plants that are in need of fresh rooting material may at this season receive attention in this respect. Any of the stronger growing species such as M. Harryana and M. ignea, that did not receive attention in the autumn may now be dealt with. The strong glow- ing members are best grown in pots ; the smaller varieties in shallow pans, suspended well up to the roof-glass. Equal parts peat, Polypodium and Osmunda fibres, and Sphagnum-moss, with some broken leaves added form a suitable root- ing medium. M. tovarensis, with others of the same nature, are amongst those requiring atten- tion at this season, just as they commence to grow. As the roots are incapable of pushing through hard masses of material, the plants should not be potted too firmly. They are best grown at the warmer end of a cool house at all seasons. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. By James E. Hathawat, Gardener to John BRENnand, Esq , Baldcrsby Park, Thirsk, Yorkshire. Horse Radish. — This useful vegetable does not receive nearly the attention it should, for it is usually planted in some out-of-the-way corner and practically left to take care of itself. The same ground may be continually used for this crop, but it is best to take up half the bed every year, store the thick roots, and select long, straight pieces for replanting. The longer the cuttings are the better will the results be. The ground should be trenched and enriched witli well-rotted manure. If of a heavy texture, add such materials as mortar rubble and wood ash to lighten it. Holes should be made 1 ft. apart, and the sets placed in them, with the top end at least 4 in. above the surface. Chinese Artichokes. —These tubers should now be lifted and stored if this has not been done already, otherwise they will begin to grow agal'n. New beds should be "made on ground that has been dug deeply or trenched : the plants do best in open, sandy land. Plant in rows made 18 in. apart and set the tubers 10 in. distant in the rows. The quickest way of planting is to rake the ground over and insert the sets with a dibbler, about 3 in. deep. Herbs. — Perennial herbs, such as Mint, Sago and Thyme should be lifted, divided and re- planted. A border facing west is best suited for these plants. The ground should be trenched and well manured ; heavy land should be lightened by adding wood ash, lime rubble, sand and other material of a gritty nature. Mint, and especially on heavy land," benefits greatly by such materials. Cucumbers. — Plants iaised from seed, as pre- viously advised, are ready for planting out. A hotbed should be made of litter and leaves, and the materials allowed to ferment for ' a week. The ventilators should be opened suffi- ciently to allow the rank gases of fermentation to escape. A mixture of good loam, leaf- mould, horse-droppingi. wood ash, and mortar rubble forms a suitable rooting medium, and should be placed in mounds 3 to 4 ft. apart, according to the height of the house. The soil should be thoroughly warm before the Cucum- bers are planted. Each plant should be care- fully staked and tied to the supports. It is not advisable to tie the shoots to the wires for a few days until the bed has finished sinking. A temperature of 70° should be maintained at night; but ;f the weather is severe 65° will be sufficient, with a day tem- perature of 75° to 85°, according to the weather. Plenty of atmospheric moisture must be maintained, or red spider will soon make its appearance. PLANTS UNDER GLASS By T. PArtMAK, Gardener to Sir C. Nail-Cain, Bart The Node. Oodioote, Welwyn. Hertfordshire. Seed Sowing.— Seeds of the following subjects may be sown forthwith : Gloxinia, Streptocarpus, Browallia speciosa major, Begonia, Gesnera, Saintpaulia ionantha, and amongst foliage plants Asparagus medeoloides (Smilax), Asparagus plumosus, and its variety nanus; A. Sprengeri. Grevilleas, Acacias, and Eucalyptus. The soil for raising seed should be made as light as possible, and the receptacles should be clean and dry before filling them with the soil. For raising small seeds I prefer to use 6-inch pots, with ample drainage, to pans or boxes; in my opinion small seed germinate much better in these pots. For Gloxinias, Begonias, and all small seeds the pots should be filled with soil and watered through a fine rose several hours before sowing the seed, which should be distri- buted evenly over the surface without any cover- ing of soil. Place a sheet of glass over the receptacles, and shade from bright sunshine; under these conditions no further watering is required until the seeds have germinated. When moisture is needed, the pots should be held in a vessel containing water. Hard-coated seeds, such as those of Asparagus and Acacia, will germinate more readily if soaked in warm water for twelve hours or more before sowing. Propagating. — If a suitable house or pit is available where a bottom heat of 70° to 75° may be maintained, cuttings of various subjects will readily take root provided the temperature men- tioned is afforded them. The following are all useful for decorative purposes : Codiaeums (Crotonsl. Cordylines, Dracaenas. Pandanus Veitchii and Abutilons. Low-growing plants, suitable for carpeting and the covering of pots, such as Pilea muscosa, Panicum, Selaginella, and Tradescantia may also be propagated. Grow these plants in small pots of varying sizes adapt- able for arranging with other flowers. Canterbury Bells — Seedlings of Campanula Medium that were potted on in October may now be brought on steadily in a cool green- house. These imposing hardy biennials may be had in flower six weeks or more before those growing lin the open without forcing them m the least. Canterbury Bells are most beautiful plants for the conservatory, as well as being useful for decorating purposes generally. THE FLOWER GARDEN. By Edwin Beckett, Gardener to the Hon. Ticaht Gibbs, Aldenh&m House, Hertfordshire. Frame Plants. — Keep a close watch on all plants that are being raised in frames for plant- ing in the beds later, and ventilate the frames freely on all suitable days. Calceolarias that are being raised in boxes should have the points nipped out, and afterwards potted to encourage the development of side growths to make bushy specimens. The Shrubbery.— The Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) and Winter-sweet (Chimonanthus fragrans) have flowered freely during January and early February, the blossoms being of quaint, yet simple, beauty. They are not large, spreading subjects, and may well be planted in tiny groups of shrubs, where they will flower from November to March, according to the weather conditions and situation. Another beautiful, early-flowering shrub, well deserving of extended cultivation, is Daphne Mezereum, and its variety album. This year the plants are fur- nished with a considerable number of flower buds, which, at the time of writing, are just beginning to open, and the plants should prove a wonderful sight until such time as the leaf buds begin to -unfold. Work in the shrubberies should now foe almost completed, though pos- sibly many climbing subjects and climbing Roses still require attention. Clematis Jack- manii, and similar kinds, should be attended to now, with a view to removing surplus and worn-out shoots. Care should be taken with this work, as the present view is that disease of the hybrid Clematis enters the plants through damaged wood. Climbing and rambling Boses should have sufficient of the older growths removed from their bases to permit of room tor younger and healthier growths, which will fur- nish the plants with vigorous flowering shoots. When pruned, tie the growths neatly and securely to their supports. Antirrhinum.— This plant probably gains in favour year by year as a bedding and border subject, and there are many charming varieties. Autumn-sown plants may be planted out at the end of the present month if the weather con- ditions are at all favourable, and, with this object in view, the plants should be carefully hardened off, so that they are in a suitable con- dition when required. Montbretia.— Every two or three years Mont- bretias should be lifted, and the strongest cerms selected to form fresh beds on a new site. The other oorms should be discarded as worthless. Three years should be considered the limit for the corms to remain undisturbed by lifting, and thereafter a new position should be selected for them. FRUITS UNDER GLASS. By r. Jordah, Gardener to Lient.-Col. SriNDM Cm, M.P.. Ford Manor, Linr«eld, Surrey. Strawberries.— Where the earliest Straw-berry plants in pots are throwing up their flower stems and young leaves are pushing freely, liquid of a slightly stimulating nature may be given more liberally, especially where the pots are five inches in diameter, and filled with busy roots. Manv growers are of the opinion that pot Strawberries cannot be over- watered, but this is a mistake, as many plants are completely ruined by becoming water- logged early in the year. Mischief generally proceeds from the opposite cause, and this fact strengthens the belief that even when water is really not wanted, it can do no harm. Experienced growers can tell by the appear- ance of the plants when the roots need water, which should be given without wetting the crowns. As the plants come into flower they should be placed rather thinly in the lightest part of the house, where fresh aor will circulate freely amongst them. In the event of small blooms being numerous, a number of the flowers may be pinched off with great advan- tage to the others. When the berries are well February 25, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 89 set complete the thinning to eight fruits per pot at this early season, and remove the plants to shelves in a vinery or the hottest house at command. Feed the roots freely until the fruits show signs of turning colour, when clear water only should be given, and the supply gradually reduced when the berries are coloured. Succession plants should be placed in light pits, where they can be kept in a temperature of 45° to 50° on mild nights, and a few degrees higher by day, but on no account should they be hurried, therefore admit plenty of air whenever possible without creat- ing cold draughts. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. By H. Mibeham, Gardener to the Earl or Stbajtobd, Wrotham Park, Barnet. Peaches and Nectarines.— These trees may be pruned and the branches regulated to form an evenly balanced head. If the branches and young shoots were given attention last summer in the matt ere of thinning end disbudding, very little pruning will be- needed now. The aim of the pruner should be to furnish the tree with young fruiting wood in all parts, and especially near the main stems, so that there will be ample shoots of a suitable type to take the place of any of the older growths that may be removed. The crowding of young shoots should be guarded against, and although thin training is repeatedly advocated by experts, it does not seem at times to be strictly adhered to. Take care to allow ample room in the shreds and ties for tlie swelling of the wood, and be mindful not to damage any of the bark with a rap from the hammer when driving in the nails. All sturdy, well matured shoots that are needed should be trained in their full length, but those wITich are long and unripe may be pruned back to triple buds. Do not use more shreds or ties than are absolutely necessary to hold shoots or branches in position, as this is a waste of time and shreds. Planting Young Trees.— In preparing th«» stations for the reception of the roots of fresh trees, remove the old soil to the depth of 2 feet or a little more. See that the drainage is per- fect. Use a rkh mixture of fibrous loam, old brick mortar, wood ash, and some well-decayed manure for placing about the roots. It is advis- able to first cover the drainage with turves placed grass side dowrwards to prevent the drainage from getting choked with the finer par- ticles of the fresh compost. In planting, keep the stems a few inches from the wall, and do not bury the roots too deeply, but spread them cut evenly. A few good varieties are: Peaches, Hole's Early, Rivers' Early York (a, fine Peach), Pere- grine, Dymond, Stirling Castle, Noblesse, Bar- rinaton, Bellegarde, Violette Hative, and Sea Eagle. Npctarines : Earlv Rivers, Lord Napier, Elruge, Pineapple, Humboldt and Milton. Loganberry.— The main details to observe in the cultivation of the Loganberry are to train the best of the younger shoots in position, to remove the old growths, feed the roots freely and apply a rich dressing of manure more or le?s, according to the nature of the soil and the strength of growth made annually. The shoots of the Loganberry are verv brittle, and great care must be taken in training them in position. HERBACEOUS BORDERS. SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR PLANTING. Hardy herbaceous plants are extremely popular, for there is nothing more beautiful and useful than a well arranged border of hardy herbaceous plants pleasingly grouped. Either a long border similar to the one at Hampton Court or a double border separated by a path, as seen at Petworth Park, is a glorious garden feature practically the whole summer and autumn. Colour schemes are often attempted, but these usually end in disappoint- ment, because the plants used do not flower at the same period. A fine effect may be obtained with Delphi- niums, Phloxes and perennial Asters in quanti- ties, if bold clumps of each are intermixed throughout the whole length of the border. The result -will be a beautiful display of Delphiniums in June and early July, and Phloxes at the end of July and August, while the Asters will carry on the display throughout Sep- tember and October. Where space permits and arrangements can be made for separate beds, orange-crimson and yellow flowered plants together make a brilliant effect. Plants of Geum Mrs. Bradshaw, Rud- beckia speciosa (Newmanii), Montbretias, red and scarlet Phloxes, Heleniums Riverton Gem and Riverton Beauty ; Solidago Golden Wings, Alstroemerias, Hemerocallis, Kniphofias, Lychnis chalcedonies., Monarda didyma, Rud- beckia Golden Glow, Trollius, Heuchera san- guinea, Gentaurea glastifolia, C. macrocep'hala, Rudbeckia californica, and R. nitida are all suitable for the purpose. For a cool, partially shaded border a blending Spark's Variety ; Boltonia asteioides and B. decurrens. The above-named plants properly arranged in a suitable position will give a charm- ing effect, and will be found a decided change from the ordinary mixed borders. B. H. Holton, t rutrlcy. MICHAELMAS DAISIES. Perennial Asters, or. as they are sometimes termed, Starworis, form splendid border sub- jects by themselves, the plants ranging in height from 2 feet 6 in. to 6 feet 6 in. i strongly advocate the lifting of the plants and dividing -them each year for replanting, and the work slhoaild be done now. The plants should be placed on one side whilst the border is be- ing prepared for theii' further reception — by deep trenching and the incorporation of well- decayed manure — and protected from frost and drying winds by lightly covering them with spent manure, leaf-mould, or tine cinder ash. Fig. 43. — campanula caepatica in the front of a herdaceous border. jf blu If. Nor is even this all that greeted my eyes from the camp. By now I really had believed that the great book of Rhododendron must cer- tainly be closed for the year. Yet no; the Moku-ji has yet a speciality of its own in the form of yet another species in that curious and very definite group distinguished by particu- larly brilliant flowers, and by their remarkable corolloid attachment at the base. We have already had F.1024 (16831, F.1669; here is yet another, a low bush with the leaf-reverse either pure white or ashen, and with waxy bells, more lively in outline than those of F.1669 or F.1683. and in a freely-varying series of flauio-vermilion tones. R. haematodes and R. flaocisrerum I do nut know, but their ally, the true R. euchroum, has no cupular base such as distinguishes this closely allied Sino-Burmese association, which seems, therefore, to form a group apart. Their special feature is this corolloid " calyx." This is not really a proper Rhododendron calyx at all; when the trumpet falls, the irregularly lobed cup, of similar colour, hangs on for a while, and then comes off in separate tabs, like sepals, on its own account. Traces of this strange additional beauty already begin, as I have pointed out, in R. aemulorum (F.815). but in the three species of this season it is an unvarying diagnostic feature. So that, with the glowing crimson-scarlet bushes of the Rhododendron to crown the varied scene, there was no reason to accuse my limited prospect from the Moku-ji camp of dullness; nor to quarry material for further raptures out of such smaller fry as a high-alpine Cle- matis trailing big white Maltese crosses over the bushes up above, and arousing false hopes of a long-hoped-for white high-alpine Moddenii Rhododendron to match R. snnrannbium. or of a big silver Edelweiss abounding all about in masses, which stands out in my mind from all its kin for English gardens on account of its unique preference for damp and even wet places. Prijinnld Fair> r. AUSTEN ON FRUIT TREES. A Treatise of Fruit Trees, etc., by R. A. Austen (Oxford, Robinson, 1657, sm. qto., 2nd ed.), contains many interesting matters. In the matter of grafting, like many other old authors, he advises different lengths of graft, according to circumstances, thus : " If the stock be low as near the ground for a standard tree, grafts need be short, three or four buds or but a couple; if for wall trees or a fruit hedge, then long grafts about a quarter of a yard are best." In budding (p. 51), he states, " cut the bark on both sides of the bud and about a quarter of an inch above and as much below, let that end which is to be downwards be a little sharp that it may more easily go down and throw away the bark on the opposite side of the bud, then with a quill, the one half cut away, a pen of Steele (made thin for the purpose, like one half of a goose quill), take off buds and bark, by putting it between the bark and wood ; and be sure that the root of the bud be in it, if there be a little hole in the middle of the bud within, then the root is not there, throw away that bud, such will not grow." The interest here centres some- what on the " Steele pen," the introduction of which is often ascribed to a much later date. In regard to Quinces, we find (p. 60), " Also to inoculate such Quince buds upon old Pear trees, which take better than grafting. But first this must be done, cut off the top or head of a Pear tree (or some of the boughes), and the next summer inoculate the young shoots; I find the buds take well on Pear trees." I have asked many whether thev have met with a Pear stock for the Quince, 'but without any affirmative reply. Austen also grafted the Medlar on the Pear and states that ,; the fruit will be much better and the trees larger than upon White- thorne." For manuring fruit trees he endeavoured to gel some direct action (p. 71) : " So also take a bar of iron (in winter time) and make many holes among their rootsand powerin Bests blood, washings of beer vessels, fat water or the like; these very much refresh the trees." Canker: " To cure it, cut it out, if it be on the body or great boughes of trees and wash the place with cow dung and urine mixt ; and then cover up the place with clav mixed with horse dung, and cut off the smali branches that are dead, but withal! endeavour to stop the fountaine and cause of it (being a sharp and virulent sap) by laving cole ashes, or ashes of burnt wood, nettles, feme and such like vegetables to the roots, but if the trees grow on gravel ground they will hardly be cured without altering the soil' in great measure." The application of dung was in much favour in later times, as in Forsyth's celebrated composition, and besides tending to keep the bark edges moist and protec- ted from the air the bacterial action may have helped to kill off or inhibit the Xectria, just as so many saprophytic bacteria are able to kill off" pathogenic sorts of man. Such applications are perhaps worthy of renewed trials. Dealing again with budding and grafting, he asks and answers the question, " What flags are best to bind withall. Those flags are best to use for binding grafts and buds inoculated, which are three square of a brown colour, of a middle size: the biggest are too hollow and spongv. the least are too small and weak: they are to be had from the mat makers at all times of the yeare. or else thev may be cut out of the ditches and dried in sommer. and laid up to use as occasion is." The question of identification of the " flags " is of interest, and on considera- tion it seemed likely that they were obtained from the Burr Reed (Sparganium). I put the problem of diagnosis before one of our Botany Professors, and he kindly examined a number of possible " flagges." with the result that he also came to the conclusion that they must be Sparganium. It may be noted that Baltet in V Art cle Cireffer gives high encomium to this material, second to which comes the leaf of Typha. It may well be that he was attracted In it from tradition. Anyhow, it is a good material and common enough in some parts of the country, 'bough T have not yet found it close I,. Hereford. 77. F. . V.rrhnm,' February 25, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 91 DEFINITION _0FJ' ISABELLE." It is encouraging to find that Dr. Durham thinks the correct use of the word Isabella is de- sirable, and that he goes straight to his Littre for the meaning of a French word rather than to a French English dictionary as recommended by Sir Herbert Maxwell. At the best of times a dictionary is a good servant but a bad master; hence the higher the authority the greater the value of the information. It is fair to presume that Sir Herbert really meant that some French- English dictionaries give dove-coloured as one of the meanings of Isabelle, and if dove-coloured means a brown in any shade or variation, there is an end of this question so far as I am con- cerned, but according to common usage it does not. Following his advice given, I turned up Boyer's, the first French-English dictionary that I always use, for old words, and there read : " Isabelle, a light bay. It is also subs. : Voila un bel isabelle, this lis a fine isabella colour." Nothing is said in that definition about doves or the colour of them. Isabelle is not only a French colour name, but a German one, too, and with the slightest devia- tion in spelling it- is also an English and an Italian word used to denote a colour. What the exact shade of that colour cs, or, in fact, any other colour, I venture to say is impos- sible to define by any art of mere verbal descrip- tion. Some other more effectual means must be employed, as will be shown later. But we can arrive at something like a general idea by consulting standard authorities. The invaluable " Larousse." like others, gives us the romantic story of Isabella and her vow, which we may dismiss as a mere faliry tale. Fortu- nately the authenticity of this story is a thing apart from the definition of the colour, and, true or false, does not affect the question. Larousse tells us that Isabelle is cafe an la it colour — very explicit, no doubt, if one knows precisely what quantity of " lait " is put 'into the " cafe." As we are considering the word as a French one we must go to Littre. He gives a most copious account of it. Dr. Durham has con- densed the definition rather severely, or perhaps it would be better to say he has omitted to quote all the most forceful examples of the use of the word, that appear to bear upon the case. A very material omissiion on Dr. Durham's part is that of Sect. 3. " Isa- belle," says Littre, quoting a passage from the memoirs of the great Cardinal de Retz. " is to-day what we call ventre de biche." There is not much dove-colour about that. The great French lexicographer evidently paid scant atten- tion to the Ostend siege story, for he dismisses is thus — rien nc garantit cette liistoriette. Now as an English word. Isabelle can be found in many of our dictionaries, and is en- titled to be considered such, particularly when it can be proved historically to have been in use for more than three centuries, as we shall see when we come to deal with another authoritv. But, firstly, let us turn to Dr. Brewer. wrho in his Reader'? Handbook speaks of Isabella or Isabelle in these terms : " A pale brown colour or buff, similar to that of a hare." He, too, relates the story of its origin. The same writer in his Dictionary of Phrase and Fable states : " Isabelle — the colour so-called >!s the yellow of soiled calico. A yellow dun horse is called in France un cheval isabelle, or. as we English term it, especially in connection with those horses used to draw the royal carriages in pro- cessions, cream-coloured." Without unduly multiplying examples. Ogilvie and Annandale's Student's English Dictionary has this entry : " Isabel. Isabella. French Isabelle said to be fr. for a queen or princess of this name. A pale brownish yellow colour." The popular Nuttall include* it, and states : " Isabel, a brownish yellow colour, so-called from the colour of the linen of Isabella of Spain Now comes a very severe blow to the authenti- city of the mmanfic story which is currently supposed to have given rise to the use of the name as a colour. In the Oxford Dictionary, Vol. V., p. 499, there lis, in a way similar to that adopted by Littre, not only a definition following each word given, but also examples of its use, with dates and references to the works from which those examples are taken. Quoting from Webster under Isabel, it gives; : " Isabel yellow is a brownish-yellow with a shade of brownish red," while Isabella is described as " greyish yellow, light buff." Then follows the oft-repeated story about Isabella's vow. The first example given of the use of this word in English absolutely demolishes the authenticity of its derivation. The siege of Ostend lasted from 1601' to 1604, prior to which latter date the colour name Isabelle -is not sup- posed to have been in existence. Yet it was, notwithstanding. A quotation, dated 1600, shows In pomology Isabelle or Isabella is probably no longer in use. And yet the great French gardener. La Quintinye, used it to describe the coloair of a Pear. In his Inst ructions pour les Jardinsy Vol. I., 1700, p. 354, we read : " La Poire Pousseline . . . son color is est d'ini Isabel fort rlair," and again on p. 356, " Poire Chat . . . le coloris est d'un Isabele fort c/air, ct beaucowp j^1'^ Q"c VIsabele ordinaire de Chat bruU. That this term was not unknown tin English at that period finds confirmation in London and Wise's translation of La Quintinye's work, The Complete (rord'ner, 1704, wheie it i;: used in the form Isabella in both cases. May I be per- mitted to inquire were these dove-coloured Pears? After all, readers can even now have only a Fig. 44. — miltonia lord lambourne. r.h.s. first-class certificate and silver-gilt flora medal, february 14. shown and raised by messrs. charlesworth and co. (see p. 83). that- the term was already in use in English ; for in an Inventory of Queen Elizabeth's ward- robe item 505 was " one rounde gowne of Isabella-colour satten . . . set with silver spangles." So much for the romantic story. Isabelle, in German, means light bay or cream- coloured for ahorse. Isabellen farbe, a yellow- dun, or cream colour. In Italian. Isabella is also used as a colour name for dun or bay,- and in none of these notices can any reference be found to dove- colour, no matter what the compilers of some French-English dictionaries may have added to the old signification. Although Isabella is a Spanish proper name, it is curious that it does not appear to serve the purpose of a colour name in that language, the nearest equivalent being liaijo. vague., and each one probably a different, notion of the exact shade of bay, cafe nit lait, pale, brown, buff, brownish yellow, dun, or cream- colour, that the above-named writers intended to convey by the use or definition of Isabelle. The proper force of words lies not so much in the words or names themselves as in their application and in the ideas that they convey. And this want of correspondence of the colours themselves with their verbal descriptions is the very reason why a standard colour chart for florists and others was devised some years ago 1,\ i in- French Chrysanthemum Society. Let the reader turn to the R&pertoire de Coitletirs, \'\"<\ plate 309. entitled Isabelle. and there he will at once have ocular demonstration of wliat tliat colour is in four different tones. I ', //arinui Payne. 92 TEE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 25, 1922. ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. CEPHALANTHERA RUBRA (RICH.) IN BRITAIN. Your valued and able correspondent, Mr. A. D. Webster, recently drew my attention in your pages (p. 10) to that excellent account of West Ross Natural History by Mr. Osgood Mackenzie. He stated that there is a record of the above plant in it, but I think there is no doubt some other species of Orchtid was mis- taken for this very local plant. apparently considered that any narrow-leaved plant with a fibrous root was his longifolia. This led to Haller publishing an elaborate paper on the Orchids professedly to correct his errors. In the later editions of the Sy sterna Linnaeus adopted many of Haller's suggestions. C. rubra was first made known as British in 1797, when it was published as Serapias rubra tin Sm. Eng. Bot.t i. 437, having been gathered in " last June on Hampton Common, Gloucestershire, by Mrs. Smith, of Barnham House." In a letter to Sowerby the Rev. W. Lloyd Baker, however, says he found it some Fig. 45. — cephalanthera rubra. There has been great confusion in Britain re- specting the above species, and that is in some measure due to the perplexing changes which the name of the plant has undergone. The plant has long been known on the Continent, although Linnaeus is at his very worst in describing the sect-ion to which it belongs : indeed, he has jumbled the Marsh, the Red, and the White Helleborines together under one species ! He years ago. Smith (English Flora, iv., 46, 1824) gives 'it another name and calls it Epipactis rubra, and he uses some words which are quite applicable to-day and may be worth quoting : " Old authors, indeed, are so full of mistakes respecting [the synonyms] that the greatest at- tention is requisite to understand what they mean, and they often misunderstand each other. Recent writers have not been more happy as to NEW HYBPJDS [Continued from February 4 page 51.) Odontioda Saga Odoutioda Selene Odontioda Sheila Odontioda Synia Odontioda Tacita Odontioda Thalia Odontioda Thelma Odontioda Theresa ... Odontioda Thiasa ... - .. Odontioda Valeria Odontioda Vera Odontioda Vesta , Odontioda Zarina Odontioda ZiLia.1i Odontoglossum Asta Odontoglossum Camden , Odontoglossum Croesus , Odontoglossum Melpomene Odontoglossum Mosaic Odontoglossum rubescens Odontoglossum Senlac Odontoglossum Serapis Odontoglossum Tagus Odontoglossum Terentia Odontoglossum Venada Odontoglossum Watson ii , Odontoma ardens Odontonia Bleu-ardent Odontonia Eurydice , Odontonia Leila , Odontonia Milly Odontonia Mvra Odontonia Olivia Odontonia Pierre Chollet Odontonia Sheila Odontonia Stella Odontonia Thisbe Odontonia Verona Oncidioda Miget Sophro^Cattleya Eleanor Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya bletchleyen- sia Rophro-Laelio-Cattleya Una , Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya Phyllis .., Parentage. Oda. Elissa x O. Doris magnificum O. Louise x Oda. Cooksoniae O. Aireworth x Oda. Chanticler Oda. Joan x O. Kilburneanum O, illustrissimum x O ia Royal Gem Schroderi x Lambeauianum O. Dora x Oda. Wilsonii Oda. Dora x Oda. Coronation Oda. Brewii x O. Aglaon majesticum 0. Jasper x Oda, Cooksoniae O. Elissa x Oda. Joan Oda. Charlesworthii x O. Prince Albert O- crispo-Harryamim x Oda. Chanticler O. Jasper x Oda. Diana Dreadnought x Jasper Lambardeanum x regale harvengtense X Fascinator Aglaon x Prince Albert formosum x ardentissimum Rossii rubescens x majesticum Jasper x Lambeauianum eximium x Dusky Monarch Othello x Doris magnificum Maillardianum x illustriseimum cri^po-Harryanum x Aglaon Aireworth x Maillardianum . Odontonia Louise x O. amabile splendens ... M, Bleuana x O- ardentissimum x O. Aireworth „ x O. Promerens „ x O. percultum O. Ashworthianum x M Charlesworthii M. Bleuana x O. triumphans Charlesworthii Odontonia btugensis x M, vexillaria M. Bleuana x O. Lambeauianum 0. Ashworthianum v M. Bleuana, fine variety M. Bleuaua x O. crispum xanthotes M. Bleuana x O. Rolfeae Oncidium anthocrene x C, Noezliana C. Fabia x S. grandiflora C. Fabia x S.-L. Marriottiana L.-C. Geo. Woodhams x S.-L.-C. Nestor C. Tityus x S. grandiflora Exhibitor. nomenclature, which they have rather confounded than improved." In mere recent times Cephalanthera rubra, to use the authentic name as defined by the French botanist Richard, who established the genus Cephalanthera as distinct from Helleborine, had been recorded from South Somersetshire (by Collins in 1835 (a solitary specimen), but no one else has verified it, and I am not aware if anyone has seen the specimen, and certainly no one has recorded it again. Watson (Top. Bot., 386) gives "with a query "Hunts., Mr. Wood- ward." No one else has found it (in that county, and the plant was doubtless a form of Helleborine. Watson also brackets York Mid-West, of which no trustworthy record exists. We must say the same of the West Ross-shire record. In more recent times my friend Mr. T. W. Attenborough tells me he has an impression of seeing it near Wye, in Kent- — '"' '" 'I''''"1'' « I"'1 ll''1 Light Blue or Dark Blue is the better of the two blue suits, so they must have equal praise. u THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 25, 1922. VEGETABLES. MAIN CROP PEAS. The period over which seeds of Peas may he sown to obtain pods for successional use is very lengthy as compared with that of most other kitchen garden crops, and may be said to extend from the end of February to June, and even July in some cases. Whether dwarf, medium, or tall varieties are o-rown, they require identical treatment as regards the preparation of the ground. Shallow or, as they are sometimes termed, hot soils should be dug as deeply as the nature of the sub-soil will permit, and manure should be freely mixed with both spits. Deeper, naturally reten- tive soils will grow Peas well without being trenched ; in fact, more rows of Peas are spoilt owing to the rooting medium being too retentive of moisture than from any other cause. The roots of culinary Peas lire by no means robust, and when they enter a cold, wet sub-soil many of them perish, or become knotted and incapable of performing their functions. Early trenching of the soil may be necessary to ensure the pul- verisation of the surface, but if the work is done in fine weather just prior to sowing the seed, and the surface trampled firmly at the time of sowino- the seed, the result will be much mure satisfactory. In any case trenching alone will not guarantee a healthy growth m very hot weather, and nothing but anticipating dryness at the roots and well moistening the soil to a good depth will prevent a great check being given. Nor do I believe in the plan of digging narrow trenches and filling them with manure. If manure and labour are scarce, then concen- trate the former, but not in trenches. Instead of this, double dig the proposed site of the row to a width of 3 ft., and well trample the ground prior to sowing the seed; allow ample space between the rows, which should run north and south. Growing another crop, such as Potatos, between the rows of Peas, is .better than arranging the latter closely together with an idea of economising space. In any case, the rows should be arranged as far apart as the varieties are known to attain in height. It is not easy to state the exact distances apart at which to sow the seed in the drills, so much depending on the habit of the variety, some branching more strongly than others. Many of the main crop varieties are of spreading habit, and if sown thickly in the rows, the plants produce a light crop, which is soon over. Such sorts should be sown 6 in. apart. The drill should be made fairly wide, and 3 in. or 4 in. deep, and the seed covered with not less than 2 in. of fine mould. Coating the seed with red lead is the surest preventive against mice eating them. As soon as the plants are through the soil, give them a dusting of newly slaked lime, and afterwards sprinkle each side of the row with soot. These materials will ward off snails and birds, and at the same time act as fertilisers. Staking requires a little practice to be done well, yet so small an amount of judgment and care is usually bestowed, on . this . work, that before the haulm is half as high as the sticks, it is through on one side and falling over, so that the sticks are of but little use. Small boughs should be placed on each side of the row to support the young plants until the tendrils are strong enough to take hold of the larger stakes. Nor should the final staking be delayed until the plants have fallen about. Better use stakes that are too tall than not tall enough ; they need not be very thick, and should not meet at the top, so that there may be plenty of room for the foliage as it grows larger. When staking is finished, fork up the ground on each side of the row, and give another dusting of lime. When the pods commence to swell they will be greatly improved, both in size and fulness, by the application of liquid manure to the roots when the soil is moist and also by thinning the pods and stopping the plant at its growing point as soon as the setting of the pods commences. The rows should also be mulched, where neces- sary, with manure or other material to check evaporation. A mixture of one part kainit, two parts nitrate of soda, and four parts superphosphate of lime, applied at the rate of 6 lb. or 7 lb. to the square rod when the plants are about nine inches high, favours the development of vigorous, healthy growth, which is not very susceptible to attacks by either insect or fungous pests. The mixture should be applied during periods of heavy rain. Those who do not use this special mixture may stimulate the plants with native guano or one of the recognised fertilisers — Thompson's or Clay's, for example. Such stimulants as liquid manure from stables and cowsheds, or that made by immersing soot and manure in tubs or tanks, are also highly bene- ficial if applied near the roots after the flowers have set ; and they greatly assist in improving the plant's growth of both haulm and pods. Soft water, or water which has been exposed to the air for some time, should only be used, as hard. cold, water arrests free growth, and in the case of Peas renders them susceptible to attacks of mildew, which seems impossible to cure when once it has attacked the plants. There are few vegetables that differ so much constitutionally as the different varieties of Peas, and those only should he grow:n to any extent which by experience have proved to be best suited for the grower's particular district. In giving a list of the best varieties, I do not for one moment pretend to name those only which are worthy of cultivation, or that will succeed best in every county, but simply those which I have proved to be of exceptional merit, and which seldom fail when properly grown. High quality is, in my opinion, the most essential point in this vegetable, and those enumerated below are some of the finest maincrop varieties : Selected Duke of Albany. Quite Content (one of the best sorts, and I have never known it to fail), Peerless, Centenary, Perfection, and Alderman. Successional sowings should be made — planting one or two rows at a time about -very fortnight up to the middle of June : or tin- old rule followed of waiting until one sowing is just through the soil before making another may he adopted. James A. Pake. FRUIT REGISTER. Till; ORIGIN OF TIIE PINE STRAWBERRY. Mr. Richardson in his article on the Straw- berry (p. 57) speaks of the origin of the Pine Strawberry as being unrecorded. It is. how- ever, very definitely stated by Duchesne in his F/istori, Naturelh des Fraisiers as coming from seeds of the Chili variety as first brought to France and planted at Cherbourg. The follow- ing are his exact words: — /.< - graines des Frutilles envoyies de Cher- bourg i u 1760 el Semies, font dans notre Jardin. qua Trianon ei an jardin du Boi, y out produit de veritables Fraisiers Ananas. Nous venom dr Vohserver dans hues premieres fleurs, qui tout hermaphrodites parfaites. Cela nous apprend Vorigint dv Fratsier Ananas; rt quelle est la degeneration d it. Frutiller en Europe." Frutilles, it should be said, was the name given to Fragario chiloensis when first imported into France, from frutilla, a Spanish word meaning a little fruit. This information is to be found at the end of Duchesne's book, in an appendix, which may account for it having been overlooked by Straw- berry historians. E. A. Bunyard. Maidstone. APPLE ST. EDMUND'S RUSSET. Having known and grown th'is variety o\ Apple for a number of years I can fully endorse the remarks of your correspondent, Mr. G. M. Taylor, on p. 46. This Apple was first brought to my notice by my old friend. Mr. H. French, who was st the time in charge of the gardens at Forthamp- ton Court, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. In the autumn of 1914 I procured some espalier trained trees of this variety from Messrs. Wheeler and Sons. Gloucester. These were planted at Moreton House, near Dorchester. The soil in that district is light and sandy, but the trees have never failed to carry a crop of good, clean fruits, which are just the right size for dessert purposes. My employer (who is very keen on a really gp-~d Handlist of Tender Dicotyledons, is a synonym of B. gracilis. B. martiana gracilis is, I expert, merely a garden name. I have known a B. martiana (without the gracilis) much weaker in habit, said to be hardy, at Tregoney, in Cornwall. R. Irwin Lynch. Are Plants Aware of Time-? (see pp. 31, 47).— Tn answer to Mr. Diver's query as to what is a klinostat, it may be described as a clock- work arrangement in connection with a mechanism for revolving the subject under experiment, or for altering its position with relation to the earth or to light, at intervals of time determined on. An account of its use and some of the experiments performed by its aid will bo foimd in any good modern work on plant physiology. Tt is a somewhat expensive apparatus, and I suggest to Mr. Divers that he can get a result without its use in the Dandelion stem experiment to which I referred, if only he can find time to devote to it. I would suggest that he select a vigorous Dandelion stalk nearly, but not quite, fully grown; let th.9 lower end be wrapped in wet moss, and lay it flat on the table. When the stalk has turned up in its attempt to assume the vertical, he should note the time. This done, place it on the edge of the table or on the edge of a bos, with the tip pointing down- wards. Note the time, and, when it again turns upwards, observe how long it has taken to turn from one position to the other. At this interval now indicated, keep the stem turned, as by the klinostat, until the stem bends by itself automatically without any turn- ing over. I am sorry 1 can give no reference to a book in which this experiment is de- scribed. I believe the account I give must be perfectly reliable. It was told to me by the late Sir Francis Darwin, I, no doubt, having provided the Dandelion stalks, and there would have been nothing for me to remember, had it not been the automatic and periodic turning of the stalk, all the rest being commonplace enough. It is well known that certain plants do flower, as in the case of the Aloe, about the time they are in flower in the country of origin ; but I am very anxious for precise information as to what happens, in the case of such plants, when seedlings are raised from seed saved in this country. How far does the dormant seed convey a knowledge of the calendar to the seedlings? There must, I think, be some conveyance of this knowledge — if I may use this word for want of a better' term. Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, a hybrid raised in Europe, blooms, I believe, as required by parentage, at a time not the happiest for its comfort in our plant houses; the parents were B. socoirana and, I believe, B. Dregei. R. Irwin Lynch. Fig. 47. — phacelia campanularia. A Good Blue Flowered Annual.— To those who are fond of blue flowers, I would recommend sowing seeds of Phacelia campanularia (see Fig. 47), as it is one of the earliest of annuals to bloom, and a succession of flowers is main- tained over a long period. This strikingly beautiful annual did exceptionally well in the hot, dry summer of 1921, and it is especially effective as an edging plant, for it only grows some 8 or 9 in. tall. The flowers are bell-shaped and of a brilliant ultramarine blue. In some respects the foliage is very ornamental, for the colour is sage green with a purple sheen about the margin, which is very deeply lobed. Phacelia was formerly included in the genus Whitlavia, of which the most useful species is gloxinioides, so named from the resemblance of the flowers to a Gloxinia. The blooms have n blue lip and white throat. Annual. Apple Trees Damaged by Voles. — A case has been reported to me of Apple trees being gnawed by voles to a very serious extent. I advised painting the stems with a strong mix- ture of lime and cow manure. This is stopping the pests, but the operation is too slow as there are fifty acres of fruit trees concerned. I think I remember reading some- thing in the Gardeners' Chronicle, a short time ago about voles, and I wonder if your readers can give any information about stopping the depredations of these pests that would be helpful. G. II. IIoHingworth. SOCIETIES. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. Scientific Committee. Javtuiy 31: — Present: Mr. E. A. Bowles (in the chair I, Rev. W. Wilks, Messrs. Balfour. Loder, Hales, Arkwright, Hosking, Fraser, and Chittenden (hon. sec.). Hybrid Plums. — Mr. J. Fraser showed a series of dried specimens of hybrid Plums which he had collected, growing wild, in various places, and commented upon their prob- able derivation. Querent coccifera. — Mr. Worsley showed acorns of an Oak growing in the mountains of Arragon, from which he had cut walking sticks. The Oak was apparently Quercus coccifera, which usually makes a bush not more than six feet in height. Awards to Broccoli. The following awards have been made by the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society to the undermentioned varieties after trial at Wisley. Awards of Merit. No. 29. Early Angers, from Messrs. Nutting and Sons; Nos. 30, 31, Early Feltham, from Messrs. Watktns and Simpson and Messrs. Barr and Sons; No. 38, Spring White, from Messrs. Sydenham; No. 53, Snow White, from Messrs. Sutton and Sons ; Nos. 54, 57, 58. Leamington, from Messrs. J. Carter and Co., Messrs. Barr and Sons and Messrs. Cooper Taber and Co; Nos. 69, 70, Champion, from Messrs. Barr and Sons and Messrs. Nutting and Sons; No. 75, 4pn7,.from Messrs. Finney; No. 79, Evesham Giant, from Messrs. Watkins and Simpson; No. 81, Eastertide, from Messrs. Sutton and "Sons; No. 82, Heading Giant, from Messrs. Sutton and Sons: No. 98, White Emperor, from Messrs. Barr and Sons ; No. 96. Alexandra, from Mr. Scarlett; No. 99, Edinburgh Market Late, from Mr. Scarlett; No. 10i, Eclipse (Cattell's), from Messrs. Cooper, Taber and Co. (these last-mentioned three varieties were considered to be much alike) ; No. 103, Swan, from Mr. Clucas ; No. 106, Late Queen re-selected, from Messrs. J. Carter and Co.; No. 112, White Mammoth, from Messrs. Barr and Sons ; No. 122, Edmonton, from Messrs. Watkins and Simpson; Nos. 125, 126, 127, June, from Mr. Clucas, Messrs. Finney and Messrs. Nutting and Sons. Highly Commended. Nos. 51, 52, Late Feltham, from Messrs. Watkins and Simpson and Messrs. Barr and Sons ; No. 63. Victory, from Mr. H. Hill ; No. 88, Model, from Mr. Dawkins;, No. 91, Tender and True, from Mr. Woodward; No. 93, Satisfaction, from Messrs. Sutton and Sons j No. 94, Lathom Late, from Messrs. Artingstall ; No. 97, Longstander, from Messrs. Barr and Sons ; No 104, May, from Messrs. Nutting and Sons ; No. 116. Latest of All, from Messrs. Sutton and Sons. Commended. No. 39. Mid Feltham, from Messrs. Watkins and Simpson. CARDIFF GARDENERS'. At the Januarv meeting held at the Queen's Hotel, Cardiff, Mr. M. Toy presided. Mr. C Chipman, a representative from the Bristol Gardeners' Association, read a paper on " Dry Wall Gardening." This subject is finding- favour in the Cardiff district, and is one of which Mr. Chipman is a master. The Cardiff Parks Department exhibited very fine Lachenalias, and Mr. Freeman some good Roman Hyacinths. Some fine sprays of Pyraeantha angustifolia and Hamamelis mollis were also shown. 96 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. February 25, 1922. UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT AND PROVIDENT The monthly meeting of this Society was held in the R.H.S. Hall, on Monday. February 13. Mr. Chas. H. Curtis presiding. Seven new members were elected. Two members over the age of 70 years were allowed to withdraw £36 3s. 9d. and £55 5s. 5d. respectively, from their deposit accounts, and two members with- drew interest amounting to ,£12 9s. The death certificate of one deceased member was re- ceived, and the sum of £20 13s. Id. was passed for payment to his nominee. The sick pay for the month on the private side amounted to £102 13s. 6d., and on the State side to £90 13s. Maternity benefit claims came to £6. Seven members were assisted in respect of cost of dental treatment The draft of the .Committees' annual report and balance-sheets of both sections of the Society •was read and passed for presentation to the annual general meeting, which will be held at the R.H.S. Hall on Monday. March 13, at 7 p.m. EAST ANGLIAN HORTICULTURAL CLUB. At the February monthly meeting of this Club, J. A. Christie, Esq., Framingham Manor, gave a most interesting discourse on " The Losette system of fruit tree pruning." Mr. Christie has made a close study of it and carried it out with great success with his fruit trees. A striking evidence of this was that from trees so pruned he won the first prize in the large class for Pears at the R.H.S. 1921 Fruit Show. Mr. Christie, by means of a blackboard and chalk, showed how this system of pruning is done, down to the finest details. DIDSBURY AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL. A meeting of the above Society was held on the 19th ult., and in the absence of the Presi- dent, the chair was taken by Mr. Doidge. A lecture on " The Cultivation of the Sweet Pea " was given by Mr. Hamhlett, of Stock- port. The lecturer dealt with such details of cultivation as the chipping or soaking of the seeds ; seed-sowing, which, he said, is best done in October ; planting the seedlings in the open, for which operation the month of April ds to be preferred if the weather is favourable; tying, disbudding and feeding. He recommended re- moving all the soil from the roots before trans- planting the seedlings in the open. The follow- ing varieties were recommended by Mr. Ham- blett: — Constance Hinton, Elegance, Mrs. T. Jones, Charity, Splendour, Hawlmark Prink, Melba, Royal Scot, Tangarine, R. !F. Felton, Gladys. Annie Ireland, Picture and Mrs. A. Hitchcock. At the meeting held on the 2nd inst., the President. P. Sohill, Esq., occupied the chair, and Mr. Leach, of Altrincham, gave a paper on the " Culture of Peas and Beans." ROYAL CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL. The ordinary monthly meeting of this society was held at 5', St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, ■on the 7th inst., Mr David King, president, in the chair. Mr. King delivered the opening address for the session, taking as his subject "The Train ing of the Youth Who Takes up Horticulture as the Serious Business of Life." Any youth of ordinary capacity, said Mr. King, might "become a gardener, but to be a successful gar- dener he must have a real love of plants and for all that is beautiful in Nature, and he must make up his mind to take his share in a*l the work connected with his profession when he enters on his apprenticeship and to perform it to the best of his ability. He was nut one of those who thought that the day of the fine private garden, had gone, but their number was becoming fewer, and when it became a matter of choice with a well-trained young gar- dener whether he should aim at becoming n head gardener in a private establishment " or enter commercial gardening he unhesitatingly- said that, if ability was to be rewarded to the full, the latter held out the greater inducement. But only those who had plenty of grit, and well- directed energy and perseverance, could hope to succeed in a business of this nature. Dr. Burns, Economic Botanist to the Bombay Government, gave a short address on " Hor- ticulture as it is Practised in India." ©bituar?. William Bain.— The news of the death of Mr- William Bain, for 47 years gardener to the late Sir Trevor and Lady Lawrence, will be learned with regret by our readers. He died at Gail- . loch, Ross-shire, on the 2nd inst., in his 30th year. Mr. Bain retired from tne position of gardener at Burford Lodge when Lady Lawrence died in 1916, and went to spend the evening of his life at his native village of Gairloch. He resided with his nephew and enjoyed good health up to some three months ago ; he was able to be about a week before his death, although during the last few days he suffered intense pain. The older generation of gardeners will remember the many rare and interesting plants which Mr. Bain brought to the meetings of the Royal Horti- THE LATE WILLIAM BAIN. cultural Society from Sir Trevor Lawrence's garden at Burford Lodge, which was not only full of interesting plants, but charm- ingly designed, and under Mr. Bain's care main- tained in great perfection. In a letter to us Mr. Aubrey T. Lawrence refers to Mr. Bain as a devoted friend of his family and states that he was happy in his retirement and greatly in- terested in his little garden, and that he was laid to rest in his mother's grave in one of the mo ,t beautiful spots in Gairloch. Samuel Tisdale. — We learn with much regret that Mr. Samuel Tisdale died on the 14th inst., aged 88. at the residence of his son-in-law. Mr. Wm. Wiles, florist, 33-34, Upper George Street. Brvanston Square, W. Mr. Tisdale started hia career as Rose propagator with the firm of Messrs. Richard Smith and Co., of Worcester. He afterwards entered the service of Messrs. Barr and Sugden (now Messrs. Barr and Sonsl as manager of their nursery, Garrett- Lane, Tooting, where the firm's famous collection of Daffodils was grown, and where they conducted their seed trials, and he remained with this firm some 25 years, retiring in 1901. when Messrs. Barr and Sons were establishing their nursery at Surbiton, He then went to live with his son-in-law at Bryanston Square, assisting him in his florist business. Mr. Tisdale was always a very active and intelligent gardener, and was closely associated with the cultivation of the fames collections of new seedling Daffodils raised by Edward Leeds and William Backhouse which were acquired by the late Mr. Peter Ban-. He was buried on Saturday, the 18th inst., at Streatham Cemetery, which occupies the site of Barr's old nursery, where for so many veal's he was cultivator of the many plants which were grown there. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Names of Fruit : Gardener, Herts. Pear Vicar of Winkfield; Apples: 1, Calville St. Sauveur; 2, Manmngton's Pearmain. — E. A. H. 1, Lady Henniker; 2, Golden Noble; 3, Christ- mas Pearmain; 4, Newton Wonder; 5, Lord Derby; 6, Annie Elizabeth.— A. E. R. 1, Scarlet Nonparil; 2, Reinette Van Mons; 3, Newton Wonder; 4, Small's Admirable; 5, • Round Winter Nonsuch. Names of Plants: Mrs. P. 1, Begonia fuchsioides ; 2, Eupatorium riparium ; 3 Echeveria secunda. — fyehurst. Impossible to identify with certainty the specimens sent; send when in flower or fruit. Primula obconica Cross : /. E. M. The variety appears to be pure P. obconica. Re- puted hybrids of P. obconica and P. sinensis have been exhibited at the R.H.S. meetings. On May 8, 1917, Adeline Duchess of Bedford showed a variety stated to be a hybrid be- tween P. obconica and P. sinensis, and it received an award of merit under the name of P. obconica Eureka. Propagation of Plants: C. II'.. Durban. We do not know of any special work dealing with this subject, but it is fully dealt with in the larger dictionaries of gardening, such as Thompson's Gardener's Assistant. Seeds of Primula Germinating Slowly : G. J. H. The reason of your Primula seed taking so long in germinating is probably due to its being old; old Primula seed that has become very hard always comes up very erratically. Seeds of most Primulas germinate best if sown as soon as they are ripe, and in some cases even before being perfectly ripened. Another cause may be careless watering of the seed pan. If the soil is not kept continu- ously moist, the seed coats, after having become toft, will harden again, and this is especially likely to happen in the case of the sinensis type, resulting in irregular ger- mination. Stocks Failing : li. S. B. As no fungus was present in the plants we can only assume that the trouble is due to some cultural error, pro- bably an excess of moisture at the roots. Sweet Peas Dying at the Roots : J. ( '. The roots are not attacked by ;i> fungous disease, but a few eelwoi-m were present and these may- be the cause of the trouble. Take the pre- caution to sterilise your potting soil by steam- ing or baking, as eelworm is evidently present in your garden. The Late Mb. G. Massee : I!'. H. S. Mr. George Massee. author of Dispases of Culti- vated Plants and Trees, died in February, 1917 (see Gard. C/iron., February 24, 1917). Tomato Flowers : D. S- F. The flowers of the Tomato are hermaphrodite, that is, the stamens and pistils are both present in the same blossom. White Fly on Out-door Plants: F. K. So far a6 we are aware there is no effectual remedy for White Fly on out-door plants. Worms in Soil: Mrs. C. M. E. The drop- pings collected from your fowlhouse would make useful manure if allowed to be- come dry and then mixed with a good quantity of dried soil before applying it to the land. The white worms have nothing to do with eelworm, which are microscopic creatures, and you need not fear that they will follow through the use of poultry manure. Fowl manure is a very rich nitro- genous fertiliser, and, if you use it in the way advised — that is, allow it to become dry and then mix it with several times its bulk of dry soil — it may be used with advantage- for any kind of crop. Cor"iimni<-ations Received -O. T— T. T. T.— T. A. C— M & Co.— H. M. C.— A. E. T— D. A.— H. T.— A. R. B. March 4. 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 97 THE No. 1S36.— SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1922. CONTENTS. Allotments 97 Mistleto on an Almond tree 106 104 Musa Cavendishii 10b Primula grandis 104 MycoiThi2a plants, notes 102 Antirrhinums for sum- mer bedding 104 New or noteworthy plants— Agapetes macrantha Steudnera discolor Orchid myeorrhiza Orchid notes and glean- Bulb land, demand for, at Spalding Cup competition for allotment holders . . 07 97 101 101 Drought, the great, of 1921, and its effect Colour and form in on garden plants . . 106 Cypripcdiums 99 Exacum macranthum. . 104 Potatos, the problem Flower paintings at the of immunity to wart Brook Street Art Gal- disease in 104 lery 97 98 Fru.t crops in Queens- Societies— land 97 Cardiff Gardeners * . . 100 Fuel for heating green- Manchester and North houses, a new kind of 100 of England Orchid 100 " Gardeners* Chronicle " Roval Horticultural 107 seventy-ilve years ago 98 11)0 Gardening books and Topiary as an aid to their disposal 103 advertising 100 Gladiolus, the planting of 103 Hill, Dr. A. W. 9H Lithospermum ros- Mesemoryanthemum anc marinifolium 99 some new genera separ- Olearia stellulata . . 99 ated from it 105 Parrotia persica 99 Mice and voles, trapping ILLI 106 JSTF Week's work, the tl.TIONS. 100 Agapetes macrantha 100 I0t> Hill, Dr. A. \V. portrait of 98 Lithospermum rosmarinitoliur l 99 Primula malacoides var Prm cess Mary 103 Stapelia gigantea 10K Steudnera discolor 101 Coloured Supplement : Exacum macranthum. average Mean Temperature for the ensuing week deduoed from observations during the last fifty years at Greenwich, 40.4. Actual Temperature : — Gardeners' Chronicle Office, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London. Wednesday, March 1, 10 a.m. Bar. 30.1; temp. 52°.— Weather— Fine. The Report of the Depart- Aiiotments, mental Committee appointed by the Ministry of Agricul- ture to investigate the present position with respect to the provision by local authorities of allotments in Great Britain* was briefly , referred to on p. 50. The brief historical review which prefaces the Report traces the origin of the small allotment to the nine- teenth century, but — no doubt because of the ■ devotion of the committee to more pressing subjects — it contains no reference to the interesting and early experiments in small cultivation which were made during that and probably earlier periods. The number of allotments increased considerably during the years 1909-1914. Those provided by local authorities numbered 58,64s in the former year and 130,526 in the latter. The great expansion of allotments which, as is well- known, occurred during the war, was in large measure due to the powers taken by the Board of Agriculture under the Defence of the Realm Regulations to enter on land for the purpose of cultivating it ; which powers were delegated to urban local authorities. Of the large numbers of new allotments which came into existence during' the war many, and particularly those pro- vided by urban local authorities, were situ- ated within town boundaries, and hence the allotment problem has become in increasing measure an urban problem. The extra- ordinary powers taken under D.O.R.A. ex- pired in 1920, and the powers of possession in September, 1921, but by a subsequent Act the possession may be continued for two vears from the termination of the war, and for a further three vears with the consent of the Railwav and Canal Commission. Holders of allotments were naturally con- ~~» Published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1922. Price 7d. post free. cerned at the prospect of the land they culti- vated ceasing to be available, and it was largely as the result 'of this widespread feeling of apprehension that the Depart- mental Committee was appointed. The committee speak highly of the value of allotments from the national and social points of view, and that the beneficent effects operate on large numbers may be judged from the fact that the number of allotments in 1920 is estimated at over one million, occupying 157,620 acres. The committee recognise the importance of security of tenure to allotment holders, and recommend that local authorities should adopt a long- sighted policy and purchase land for allot- ment purposes whenever practicable, also that where the land so acquired is on the outskirts of towns the authority should be empowered to give special transport facilities to allotment holders. The committee further recommend that loans for the purchase of allotment lands should be excluded from the debt of the local authority under the Public Health Act, and in order not to diminish the borrowing power of the authority for other purposes. They hold also that pro- vision of land for the purpose of allotments should be borne in mind in preparing schemes under the Housing and Town Planning Acts. The committee recognises, that in large towns the cost of conveniently situated land may be beyond the purse of the local authority, and urges therefore that in those circumstances, and when State finance shall admit of it, the central authority shall have power to make grants towards the acquisition of land. Other recommendations concern the length of notice to terminate tenancy, and include the sensible suggestion that notice given between Lady Day and Michaelmas in any year shall be invalid, but on the contrary they advise, if their own recommendations are adopted, that compensation shall not be paid for dis- turbance or for crops, provided that a proper six months' notice be given. The committee offers the following definition of an allotment garden : "A piece of land not exceeding forty poles in extent which is cultivated by a person not as a market garden, but for the production of vegetables and crops mainly for consumption bv himself and his family." The Committee suggests that twenty poles is the largest area which, if used for vegetable production, can be culti- vated properly by an individual in his spare time, and therefore proposes that the maxi- mum size of an allotment should be of this dimension. Coloured Plate. — The subject of the coloured illustration presented with the present issue, Exacum macranlhum, is remarkable for the deep and rich blue colouring of its flowers. As blue is a popular colour, and blue-flowered plants for flowering under glass are comparatively few in number, it is regrettable that Exacum macran- thum is' so seldom grown. That it severely tests the skill of the cultivator would appear to be a reason for, rather than against, its inclusion in a selection of choice flowering plants for the stove and greenhouse. On p. 104, Mr. J. Courts, Kew, gives directions for the cultivation of tli is handsome, plant. Cup Competition for Hove Allotment Holders. — Mr. E. Bull, a member of the Hove Town Council, has signified his appointment, as chair- man of the Hove Allotment Holders' Associa- tion by offering a Silver Cup, to be competed for by allotment holders at the next annual ex- hibition. The former chairman of the Hove Allotment. Holders' Association was Sir George Casson Walker. Two Forthcoming Exhibitions in Paris— M. Lucien Chaure advise:- us that the National Hor- ticultural Society of France will hold, in 1922, at the Jardin d'Acclimatation, Paris, two Inter- national Horticultural Exhibitions. The first will open on May 26 and continue to June 2; it will consist of Roses, flowering shrubs, flowering plants, forced fruits, vegetables, horticultural sundries, horticultural fine erts, etc. The second exhibition will be held from October 27th to November 5th, and will consist of Chrysan- themums, seasonable flowering plants, fruits, fruit trees, vegetables, etc. Horticulturists, arboriculturists, market gardeners, working, pro- fessional or amateur, of all allied and neutral countries are invited to exhibit. There will also be conferences, excursions, a.nd meetings in con- nection with these exhibitions. The full pro- gramme may be obtained from the secretary of the society, 84, Rue de Crenelle, Paris, 7, on and after March 15th. Demand for Bulb Land at Spalding. — At a public auction at Spalding, on the 22nd ult., there was keen bidding for properties at Pode Hole, near Spalding, that came under the ■hammer, and which were in a high state of cul- tivation and suitable for bulb growing and market gardening. A farmhouse and 68 acres of land, known as Trent Farm, in the occupation of Mr. Charles Scott, under a lease expiring April next, realised £4,200, Mr. A. E. Simons, of Ramsey, being the purchaser ; 21 acres of land in the same occupation, with cottages, were bought by the same gentleman for £1,350, and he also gave £900 for 17 acres of grass and arable land. The Queensland Fruit Crops. — Following upon very favourable weather conditions, a record crop of all varieties of fruit is indicated this season in Queensland. Late varieties of Orange were marketed fairly early, when a good demand existed. In the Cook district there is a frequent variation in the season of ripening for this fruit, and by the aid of irrigation ripe Oranges may be obtained in any month of the year. The quality is exception- ally good. The area under Pineapples has greatly increased during the past few years, and up to the present canning has been the only means of dealing with the increased product. In addition to Bananas, Papaws now find much favour with planters, chiefly because they give early returns, a tree being usually productive within twelve months of planting. Cherrimoyer trees, though usually about five years before coming into bearing, were much in demand last season, and inquiries suggest an increased demand for the next planting. This luscious fruit is rather exact- ing in its choice of location, but under favour- able conditions is very profitable. Mangos are doing well in the more tropical parts of the State, and even in cooler regions good results are obtained by inarching the trees. Flower Paintings at the Brook Street Art Gallery. — A visit to the exhibition of paintings by H. d'Arcy Hart, at the Brook Street gallery, is like stepping straight out of the cold rain of February into the warm sunshine of full summer, for nearly all the subjects are taken from the summer garden. Zinnias, Delphiniums, Sca.bious, Antirrhinums, and Pansies adorn the walls and provide the rich colouring which makes a herbaceous border so cheerful and satisfying. From the point of view of arrange- ment, most of the flowers which form the sub- jects of the various paintings are too tightly packed in the vases, reminding one of the com- pressed posies from a hospitable cottager's garden. The colours, however, with very few exceptions, are excellently blended, and tone well with the blue vases in which most of them are displayed. " Zinnias and Larkspur " is a pleasant arrangement toi Zfinnias and Del- phiniums, with a few Pansies intermixed, set in a pot of blue china. " Tulips and other Spring Flowers" is a very bold picture, and well illustrates the value of long-stemmed flowiers lor decoration. In two paintings of Tulips the. colours tone excellently with the china of the vase. " Autumn Flowers" is one of the larger paintings, in which Delphiniums and Zinnias also figure. The flowers are well done, but again it must be remarked that they are too tightly paeked in the va.se to look really artistic. 98 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. March 4, 1922. " Marigolds " is a really delightful picture of Marigolds set ill a position where they get, and hold, the sunshine-. " A Summer Bouquet," is, from our point of view, the best picture in the exhibition. The Zinnias have plenty of room to display themselves to the best advantage, and are thoroughly well painted. Three spikes of Delphinium behind give just the variety that is needed. There are several pictures of Ane- mones, of the St. Brigid type; one of the prettiest arrangements consists of blue and red flowers, possibly a trifle too closely packed. " Asters in a Glass " is a very simple but very pleasing conception, and the one next to it, " Autumn Tints," is another illustration of the advantages of high top light on Marigolds and single Asters. Orchid Mycorrhiza. — The value to the gar- dener of a complete knowledge of the liabits of the plants he cultivates is shown in a striking degree in the case of Orchids, a race of plants that includes some of the most beautiful subjects in the floral world. These plants are amongst those which Dr. Rayner refers to on page 102 in her interesting article on plant partnerships, wherein she shows that certain plants are de- pendent on fungi in association with them, for their successful growth. It has been found that the roots of Orchids have a sort of mantle about their roots, which, when examined under the microscope, is found to consist of the mycelium of a fungus. Should the medium in which the Orchid is grown be sterile of the particular fungus which it favours, the flowering plant is unable to succeed, but it is not likely to be absent when the plants are propagated vege- tatively, for the roots will carry sufficient of the particular fungus — to which the general term mycorrhiza is applied — with them when they are repotted. In the case of Orchids raised from seed the medium in which they are ger- minated is not likely to contain any of the necessary mycorrhiza, and this explains the diffi- culty the earlier raisers hacl in obtaining seed- lings. Our present knowledge of Orchid mycorr- hiza is most lucidly summed up by Mr. J. Ramsbottom in an article included in Messrs. Charlesworth and Co.'s catalogue of Orchids. 1922, accompanied by several excellent illustra- tions showing sections of Orchid roots and seed- lings with the fungus associated with them. Mr. Ramsbottom refers to other plants which show the same consistency of fungus infection besides Orchids, and we hope to deal with his paper in greater detail in a subsequent issue, for the subject is one of absorbing interest to raisers. St. Lucia. — The success of our Empire depends upon the good will and industry of all its parts, but few other than those who have travelled extensively, fully understand how great is the good will and industry of the officials who deal with horticultural and agricultural matters in the smaller and distant colonies. To this office come copies of many and varied annual reports indicating progress in these directions, and the one just to hand, from St. Lucia gives a very good idea of the work performed under the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies. We learn that in 1920 no fewer than 36,208 plants and cuttings, chiefly of economic subjects, were distributed to planters from the nurseries attached to the Botanic Station, in addition to a large number of seeds. The control of insect and fungous pests which attack Bananas, Sugar Cane, and Coco-nut Palm, occupies a great deal of attention from the Department, and the need and use of preventive measures is emphasised in the programme of agricultural education carried out in the primary schools at St. Lucia, and in connection with the instruction given to teachers in practical agriculture. The report of the Government Ground Provisions Depot show that the public institutions in St. Lucia were kept, regularly and fully supplied through the year 'with Potato*. Farine. Peas, Yams, Bananas, Bread- fruit, Plantains and Pumpkins, and that on 'the occasion of the visit of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, in September, 1920. this depot supplied the ships accompanying him with 2,000 Oranges, 57 bunches of Bananas, six barrels of Mangos, two barrels of green Limes, and a few dozen Pineapples. It is interesting to observe that there are numerous Agricultural Credit societies in St. Lucia, and that the total loans against these societies at the end of the year was ,£2.811. Dr. A. W. Hill.— The new Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, Dr. A. W. Hill, has already proved himself to be a man of great ability, with a thorough knowledge of botani- cal science and wide horticultural sympathies. Moreover, he has travelled extensively and held many positions of importance. Dr. Hill is a native of Harrow. After early schooling at Margate, he entered Marlborough College in 1890, and while there displayed a great taste for biology, a taste subsequently developed into keen stud}'. From Marlborough he went .as an Exhibitioner to King's College, Cambridge, be- coming a scholar of his college in 1896, and obtaining a First Class in Part I. of the Natural Science Tripos in 1897, with a First Class in Part n. of the same Tripos in the following year. He worked for some time under Dr- W. Gardiner, and in 1899 became Senior Demonstrator in Botany at the Cambridge Uni- versity, and in 1905 University Lecturer in Botany. Since his appointment at Ke./, Dr. Hill has applied botanical knowledge to the DR. A. W. HILL, F.R.S. furtherance of economic ends, and in this connec- tion he has added to his knowledge of economic botany, and its value to the Empire, during an official visit to the West Indies in 1912, and more recently during an official visit to the Cameroons. In 1910 he paid a naturalist's visit to Algeria. Dr. Hill's work in connection with the War Graves Commission is well known. Apart from his official duties. Dr. Hill shows a warm interest in those employed at Kew, and his sympathy with the large body of Old Kew- ites, by whom he was appointed President of the Kew Guild for the year 1920, has been shown on numerous occasions. To follow in the train of a succession of such a series of directors as Kew has enjoyed might intimidate a weak man, but on the contrary it must, and we are convinced will, serve as a stimulus and inspira- tion to the new Director, for whom we wish as long and brilliant a career as that of his predecessors in this great office. Potinara : a New Multi-generic Hybrid Orchid. — Among many remarkable hybrid Orchids ex- hibited at the Royal Horticultural Hall, West minster, on the 28th nit., none was more in- teresting than Messrs. Charlesworth and Co.'s new Potinara Juliettae. derived from a cross between Sopjro-Laelio-Cattleya Marathon and Brasso-Cattleya Ena. As the parentage indi- cates, the new hybrid is a combination of four genera — Cattleya, Laelia, Rrassavola and. Sophronitis. The new generic title follows the general rules for such names and has been given. in honour of M. Potin, Vice-President of the National Horticultural Society of France, and President of the Orchid Committee of that Society. M. Potin gave a prize of 1,000 francs last year for the finest hybrid obtained by cross- ing the genera Cattleya, Laelia, Brassavola and. Sophronitis, and this was awarded to M. Mar- coz, of Brunoy, for Brasso-Cattleya Chandon (Cattleya Jeanne Payet x Brasso-Cattleya Mrs. Leemann). M. Potin has announced tha>t he will, give a prize of the same value during 1922 for a hybrid raised under similar conditions. Appointments for the Ensuing Week. — Tues- day, March 7 : Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society's meeting; Bournemouth Gardeners' Association's meeting. Wednesday, March 8 : East Anglian Horticultural Society's meeting; Sheffield Chrysanthemum Society's meeting ; Wimbledon and District Gardeners' Society's meeting. Thursday, March 9 : Bristol and Dis- trict Gardeners' Association's meeting. Friday, March 10: Paisley Florists' Society's meeting; Saturday, March 11: Ringwood Society's meeting. " The Gardeners' Chronicle " Seventy five Years Ago. — Covering Vine Borders with Glass. — I have covered Vine borders with glass in a temporary way, and with such beneficial results that I have made provision for covering with glass the outside borders of an extensive range of vineries erected here last summer. It is a move in the right direction, and will do away with the unsiglitliness of fermenting materials, but will never* supersede them in beneficial re- sults, when the latter are supplied with proper care. In the case of early forcing through a long and severe winter, borders covered with glass alone will not produce that equability of temperature betwixt root and branch, which is so essential to the Vine, that fermenting manure and leaves would do. My outside borders are 20 feet in width, with a fall from the houses of 2 feet 8 inches ; and I have run a flue along the front of the border and up the ends, working into wing walls; next the soil is a 4iJ-inch brick wall, then a-^-inch vacuum next a flue 15 inohes deep and 11 inches wide, and upon the cover of the flue is placed at 3 feet distances brioks on edge, which carry a stone coping bevelled off on the surface in order to throw the water off to the walk in front. The coping is so contrived that the heat from the flue is thrown on the surface of the border. Other minor details, as temporary rafters, etc., will be supplied when the Under is about to be covered with glass. The glass will be something like 10 inches above the soil, a space sufficient for the heat given cut by the flue to circulate in. The furnace is placed in the centre, so that I can either heat the border of two houses or of four at the same lime. I shall not be able to fix glass on the bolder, however, before the winter of 1848, or until my young Vines have become permanently established ; till then, dung and leaves must suffice, a covering to which I am very partial. James Roberts, Baby Castle. Gard. Chron., February 27, 1847. Publications Received. — Manual of the Trees of North America. By Charles Sprague Sar- gent. Houghton Mifflin Co., 4, Park Street, Boston, Mass. Price $12.50. City Homes on Country Lanes. By William E. Smythe. Macmiflan and Co., St. Martin's Street, W.C. Price 13s. net. Planting and Care of Street Trees. By F. L. Mulford. Farmers' Bulletin 1209. Take-all of Wheat and its Control. By Harry B. Humphrey. Farmers' Bulletin 1226. Kanred Wheat. By J. Allen Clark and S. C. Salmon. Department Circular 194. The Beet- Sugar Industry in the United States in 1920. By C. 0. Townsend. Bulletin 995. Control of tlie Argentine and in California Citrus Orchards. By R. S. Woglum and A. D. Bor- den. Bulletin No. 965. All published by the - United States Department of Agriculture, and obtainable from the Government Printing Office, Washington. March 4r 192?. TEE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 99 ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. COLOUR AND FORM IN CYPRIPEDIUMS. Among hybrid Cypripediums we see more plainly than in most other genera the wonderful results obtained by raisers i'i the development of rich colours and the improvement of size and form of the flowers. In Cypripedium, as in Laelia, Cattleya, Sophronitis, and Cochlioda Noezliana crosses, the smaller and least florally perfect species have played the most important part in the production of the magnificent hybrids which have commanded the attention of modern Orchid lovers. Cypripedium Boxalli, a species which was slighted on its introduction on account of its smaller size and narrow dorsal sepal, with the edges rolled back, as compared with ('. villosum (of which some wrongly considered it a variety), has in its ungainly dorsal sepal intense, almost black, blotching on a shining surface. This species alone could have conveyed to the oharm- ing set begun in C. Hera (Euryades), resulting from the cross between C. Boxallii and C- Lee- anum (insigne x Spicerianum), the colour com- bination, which appears with intensified beauty in C. Eurybiades, C. Pyramus, and a host of others. The size of the blotching, and its ulti- mate blending into a. broad central band of colour on the dorsal sepal, are marked features that appear in intensified form in C. Mrs. Wm. Mostyn and allied forms, of which C. Boxallii is an ancestor. C- insigne in its many varieties has laid the foundation of one of the largest, best and most popular sections of Cypripedium. C. exul, how- ever, of smaller size, stood in the same position to C. insigne as C. Boxallii did to C. villosum, and it was at first thought to be a small form of insigne. But the hybridist proved the error, as its pretty little flowers, of model shape, with well-defined dark blotching on the shining surface of its dorsal sepal, produced a character- istic section commencing with C. Earl Tanker- ville, and quite distinct from the C. insigne crosses. C. Spicerianum, beyond reproach as a species — it has a large, pure white dorsal sepal, with, in some varieties, a broad median band of dark claret colour — heads another section of excellent form, but the important point is that the broad coloured band on the dorsal sepal gives a feature which no other species could supply, and this appears in many hybrids having this species as an ancestor. One of the best examples is C. Viking (Buchanianum X illustre), one of the finest of Cypi ipediums, and which can only have obtained the deep violet band on its white dorsal sepal through the C. Spicerianum in its ancestor C- Lathamianum. C. Fairrieanum, small of stature, beautiful to the artist, but far from perfect from the floriet's view, gave us one of the most beautiful of sec- tions in the Cypripedium family. The delicate tracery on its flowers, and the characteristic form appear in some degree in the larger and more ornate varieties raised from it. C. niveum, C. Godefroyae and C. bellatulum give a beautiful and distinct section, ranging from pure white, purple spotted, to heavily blotched forms, the characters of which appear in repeated crossings with dissimilar hybrids. C. Chamberlainianum, C. Rothschildianum. C. Stonei, and others of this class, give us sections with longer spikes of several beautiful flowers; all are favourites in gardens, but the most deservedly popular classes are those usually giving but one flower to the scape, such as the C. insigne, C. villosum, C. barbatum and C. Spicerianum groups. We see these remarkable flowers obtained by crossing very dissimilar parents, but few stop to consider the wonder of it all. Imagine, for example, the strap-shaped, leathery, green leaves and totally different flowers of C. insigne, and then examine the smaller and more delicately formed C. bellatulum, with its thick, mottled leaves, with a glassy layer on it6 upper surface covering the cellular tissues beneath, and then call to mind the fairly intermediate C. Helen II., resulting from the crossing of the species named and one can but marvel at the powers of adaptation in nature whereby two such dis- similar structures — and others equally wide — ■ could be merged. J. CB. TREES AND SHRUBS. OLEARIA STELLULATA. Of the fin© species of Olearia described by Mr. W. J. Bean in his indispensable work on Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, he specifies 0. stellulata as the least hardy ; but here, on the west coast of Scotland, it has stood uninjured for many years. It has a longer flowering season than any other member of the genus known to me, usually beginning with a few scattered flowers in January, and gradually increasing the display, until in May the bushes are closely sheeted with snowy, or rather with chalky, bloom. The flowers produced in winter seem as insensible of cold as those of the Witch Hazels. We had a snowstorm last week (early February) with 8°, 3°, and 8° of frost on three makes, every February, a picture visible a good many yards away. Seen against the occasional blue sky that even dull February gives, the jewelled 'branches of the Parrotia are ' par- ticularly beautiful. It is strange that a plant so hardy, so glorious in crimson and gold in autumn, and so pleasant a sight in earliest spring, is not more often planted. F. J. Chittenden. LITHOSPERMUM ROSMARINIFOLIUM. Blue flowers are always welcome. We n<9ver grow tired of them, and we never have enough of them. Unlike the better-known Litho- spermum prostratum of trailing habit, the species under notice is of compact and upright habit, growing from one foot to two feet in height. It is an evergreen shrub with bright green, narrow, Rosemary-like foliage and pure Gentian-blue flowers* That distinguished writer and traveller, the late Mr. Reginald Farrer, formed a very high opinion of this plant, as witness the following excerpt from his historical musings in Among the Hills. " It is seldom, indeed, that the Fig. 48. — lithospermusi rosmarinifoliuh. successive nights, yet the sprays of blossom on this Olearia never drooped, and I gathered some on February 6th quite fresh. In the figure of this plant in Mr. Bean's book, Vol. II., page 107, the leaves are represented as having smooth margins, but in our plants they are distinctly and symmetrically toothed. Of the amazing profusion of seed ripened by this and most other species of Olearia not one in a million gets a chance of germinating here owing to the rankness of our native herbage. We grow eight species, but I have found only a single self- sown specimen of 0. nummularifolia. On the other hand, another shrub from the same region, Veronica parviflora, is a positive nuisahce'owing to its multitudinous progeny. Herbert Maxwell, Monreith. PARROTIA PERSICA. You do well, on page 74, to call attention to the flowering of Parrotia persica. Mr. Gerald Loder tells me that at Wakehurst it has been quite conspicuous this year, and others have re- marked upon its beauty. There is a specimen at Wisley, planted in 1905, and now forming a large spreading bush about 14 feet in height, with every branch set densely with the curious scarlet-anthered flowers. Probably it is flower- ing in most plaoes with greater freedom than usual, but for the past five years this plant has annually produced a good many flowers. The hazy, red effect they give composes well with the dangling tassels of the Hazel and the yellow and red Hamamelis arborea near by, and plant-collector in Europe can .escape the ubiquitous royalty of Queen Mary; as Duchess of Milan it is she who allows him to pluck her Saxifrages from the cliffs of Tenda : as Countess of Tyrol she watches him hammering out Daphne rupestris : as Queen of Naples and Jerusalem she has a vested right of guardian- ship over Iris Lortetii and Lithospermum rosmarinifolium : as Queen of Spain she is the sovereign lady of Erinacea pungens : and to the Queen of Sicily I am quite happy to leave her monopoly of ugly little Antirrhinum siculum." Lithospermum rosmarinifolium has been found wild in Italy and Greece. It is said to be hardy in many English gardens— in others not. It is certainly a plant for a warm and favoured spot. The plant should be protected in winter with branches of Box or Pine, though it has withstood several winters unprotected in an Essex garden. Speaking generally the Lithc- spermums prefer soils of peaty character, though L. rosmarinifolium has been known to thrive amazingly over chalk. The flowering season of this species varies It will persist in producing stray blooms in winter, and should there be a mild spoil of weather between snowstorms this Lithospermum is almost certain to open its lovely blue flowers. The main season of flowering is May and June, though it will throw a strong bloom hero and there in tho autumn, as it does in its nativo haBitat on (li,o rocks of Naples and Capri. Herbert Cowley. B 100 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. March 4, I92Sf. The Week's Work. THE FLOWER GARDEN. By Edwin Beckitt, Gardener to the Hon. Ticibi GIBBS, Aldenham House, Hertfordshire. The Shrubberies — The moving and replanting of shrubs and trees should be completed os soon as possible, and the work of pruning, staking and tying completed. Staking is an essential operation where standard trees are concerned, not only in the young stage, to train a suitable leading shoot, but also with older subjects that have been moved, to support them against heavy winds, otherwise they may grow out of the upright and lose many of their finer roots through the tree being swayed to and fro by the force of the wind. Creepers should be examined, trained in position, and relieved of wood, so far as this is considered necessary, to prevent severe crowding of the shoots. Especially look to climbing subjects trained PLANTS UNDER GLASS By T. riTiiMH, Gardener to Sir C. NiLl-Cim, Bart The Node, Oodioote, Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Hydrangea hortensis — Where these plants have been kept under very cool conditions dur- ing the winter, a batch may be started into growth. Examine each specimen carefully, cut away the weak and useless growths, and, where it is considered necessary, repot them into larger receptacles. Specimens that do not require re- potting should have some of the surface soil removed and be top-dressed with a rich com- post. Plants raised from cuttings last autumn and now in small pots may be transferred singly to 4^-inch pots, or three may be grown in a 6-inch pot. Presuming the cuttings were well ripened when inserted the plants should, in most cases, produce excellent flowers this season. Salvia splendens. — Old stock plants of Salvia splendens may be cut back and stood in gentle warmth to obtain young growths suitable for use as cuttings. Syringe the plants occasionally to induce them to break into growth. When the young shoots are a suitable size insert several of them around the edge of a small pot and root them lin a propagating frame. Roots Fig. 49. — agapetes macrantha (see p. 101). up poles, with a view to tying the growths, to prevent an untidy appearance. At the same time carefully examine the poles, to see if they need reinforcing or replacing. Where it. is desired to plant creepers, the present is a suitable time to do this work, and those of a tender nature should receive wall protec- tion. There are many beautiful subjects that may be trained up poles in shrubberies, adding considerably to the interest and beauty of the latter. When all necessary operations are com- pleted, the soil should be forked over carefully, leaving the surface rough for the time being. Care should be exercised so as not to fork too deeply, or too closely, around the plants, otherwise detrimental root disturbance may be caused. Cuttings in Frames. — Plants of Pentstemons and Violas, raised from cuttings inserted iu frames in the autumn, should be ventilated freely and the soil around them stirred occasionally with a pointed stick. It will sometimes be found that plants of Pentstemons raised in this way appear to have died off, . but this 'is generally found only to be a fading-off to the base from whence healthy young growth will appear at a later period. will develop readily in such conditions, and when suitably established may be potted singly. This plant is subject to attacks of red spider, and white fly is also very partial to it ; in view of this fumigating or spraying with an insecti- cide will be necessary on frequent occasions. Salvia leucantha. — Cuttings of this strikingly pretty Salvia may be inserted in small pots. This species roots readily in very cool condi- tions. Although very rarely met with, this Sage produces flowers over a very long period and makes a useful plant for grouping with foliage and other plants indoors. When rooted the plants may be grown on in 7-inch pots, using a compost of loam, leaf-mould and manure from a spent Mushroom-bed. Primula obconica. — A sowing of one of tne h?st strains of this Primula should be made now. From this sowing fine plants may be had in flower during the early autumn and winter; in fact, P. obconica may be termed a perpetual greenhouse flowering plant, for, fed judiciously, it will continue to flower throughout the year. The sprays of flowers are invaluable for use as cut blooms in vase decoration. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. By H. Mieehim. Gardener to the Em or STBuroBD. Wrotham Park, Barnet. Strawberries. — In favour-able weather, trench and heavily manure land that is required for planting with Strawberries that have been forced in pots under glass, so that by the time the fruits have been gathered, and the plants duly hardened, the soil will have settled down again. The plants may then be planted firmly in good time, and will thus have a longer season to develop sturdy crowns, which are so very necessary for the production of good crops erf fruit the following season. Young Strawberry Plants in nursery beds or in pots propagated from layers last August should be planted in rich land which has been prepared for them in advance. Plant rather firmly at 20 inches by 24 inohes apart, and put two or three in a clump if they are somewhat small and weak. Last season, owing to the continued spell of drought, strong, healthy layers were not plenti- ful, and those that were raised and planted early did not make satisfactory crowns ; and especially was this the case on light, porous soils. Old Strawberry Beds. — When the soil is in a workable condition, remove any weeds that may be present, stir the soil amongst the plants writh the Dutch hoe, dress the land freely with soot and apply a good mulching of rich farmyard manure. All Strawberries, and especially those growing on light land, are somewhat weak, and I greatly fear the coming crops will not be good. Plants that received good attention and were freely mulched as soon as the crops were gathered are looking muoh stronger than plant6 that did not receive this attention. Fruit Room. — Keep the fruit room clean and well ventilated in favourable weather. Remove any decayed fruits, and see that the atmosphere is sweet, as the flavour of Apples is qnickly impaired when the fruits are stored in a musty fruit room. THE ORCHID HOUSES. By J. T. B»bkbe, Gardener to Hie Oraoe the Lkki or Mablbobouoh, E.G., Blenheim Palace, Woodstook, Oxon. Cymbidium. — The Cymbidiums comprise some of the most popular and beautiful Orchids in existence. They are easy of culture, and do not require much fire heat. They are evergreen, and send up long spikes of flowers, which may be used for a variety of purposes in decorations. Plants that have passed out of bloom (either species or hybrids), and sending up young growths, should, if they are in need of fresh material, be attended to when the new roots appear from their bases. These Orchids resent disturbance at the roots, and if the compost is still suitable, and there is room in the pots for the new pseudo-bulbs to develop, it will be wise to defer the operation of repotting until next season, as the plants produce flowers more freely when in a pot-bound condition. The speci'es and hybrids of this nseful genus grow well in a cool position in a house having an inter- mediate temperature, and should not be sub- jected to the direct rays of the sun at any time. Red spider will sometime attack the leaves, especially if the plants are grown in a dry atmo- sphere, and should be kept in check by sponging the plants from time to time with a weak insecticide. These Orchids will succeed in a similar compost to that used for Cypripediums. but slightly more loam may be added, provided it is of good quality. They should be potted firmly, and watered with extreme care for some considerable time. Those that are now develop- ing their flower spikes may have attention at a later date. These should have water afioTded them whenever thev become dry, and well rooted plants will benefit from weak Hqmd manure given the roots occasionally. Temperatures.— As the days lengthen, and the sun has more power, the temperatures of the different, houses should be gradually increased ; at the same time the atmospheric moisture should also be increased. March 4, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 101 FRUITS UNDER GLASS. Bj F. JoBDiif, Onrd.nsr to Litst.-Col. SruiDia Cm, M.P.. Ford Manor, Linf-field, Surrey. Pot Vines. — Yearling vines Uiat were cut down to two buds last month and kept dry in a cool house may now be placed in heat, where they must be gradually moistened to cause them to break into growth before they are shaken out for repotting. If the cut surface received a dressing of styptic, little or no bleeding will take place. When the shoots have grown from one to two inches long the strongest and most promising plants should be selected for re- potting. Meanwhile prepare a suitable number of 11-inch pots, and get the crocks and compost ready for use. All composts in which bone- meal or other highly concentrated stimulants form a part are greatly improved by lying for two or three weeks in a dry, warm potting shed or vinery before they are used. Fruit Trees in Pots. — The chief points to observe in pot fruit culture are to grow the trees in a light, well ventilated house, with at least one row of 4-inch pipe running around the interior, and to have healthy thoroughly established trees that have filled their pots with roots at the time the plants are taken in for the mildest forcing. Experienced gardeners buy maiden trees, pot and grow them on, and in this way prepare them for forcing. Amateurs lacking the convenience to do this may purchase mature trees specially prepared by the nurseryman. None but the very best sorts of each kind should be grown under glass, and the grower will do well to duplicate some of the best varieties. The secret of success in growing hardy fruits in pots lies in preventing a high temperature >w close atmosphere when the weather is fine, and seeing that the temperature does not fall below 40° in severe weather. Those who observe these conditions with the usual cultural atten- tion should succeed in forcing pot fruit trees successfully. Pears and Apples may be quickly increased in size, once the pips are formed, by closing the house for three or four hours on fine afternoons. NEW OR NOTEWORTHY PLANTS. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. By Jamfs K. Hathawat, Gftrdeoer to John Brennakb. Esj , Jloldersby Park. Thirsk. Torkihire. Parsley — To maintain a good supply of Pars- ley leaves a succession of sowings shouTd be made throughout the season. The first sowing should be made in boxes filled with soil sifted through a half-inch sieve and placed in a gentle heat. Covent Garden Garnishing is one of the best varieties. Red Cabbage. — Where the aiutumn-;own Red Cabbages have not been a success, a sowing of Dwarf Blood Red should now be made in boxes and the seedlings brought o:i io gentle warmth. These seedlings will form good heads by the autumn. Jerusalem Artichokes.— As soon as the soil is in a favourable condition this crop should be planted on ground manured the previous season. The tubers should be planted 4 in deep and in rich land, in rows made 3 ft. apart, allowing 2 ft. between the tubers in the lines. Sutton's White is the best variety. Artichokes are very accommodating subjects, and wiill thrive in comers where not much else will grow. They should be planted much more extensively, espe- cially by cottagers. Asparagus — Where new beds are required it. is a good plan to sow seeds in thumb pots and raise the seedlings in gentle warmth. Place about two seeds in each pot; by this method strong plants will be available for planting in (he beds in May. General Remarks.— The weather during the week has been favourable for ground operations and all trenching and digging should be com- pleted at the first available opportunity. AGAPETES MACRANTHA. This is certainly one of the most beautiful of the tender Vacciniads, a class of plant that is now rarely seen in gardens. The flowers h'ive a very attractive appearance, and a good description of them is given by the late Sir William Hooker in his remark that " in texture and marking they reseuibie some hand- some piece of china oi porcelain." I 1 ave rarely seen a more lovely plant. The indi- \Tdual flowers are larg3r and handsomer than those of Thibaudia pulcherrima, whicili was at one time looked upon as the prince of East Indian Thibaudias, both these plants at that time being included in the latter genus, but under more recent revision the Asiatic species are referred to the genus Agapetes, while the Thibaudias are all American. The flowers of Agapatas macrantha (Fig. 49) last a long time; they are Z\ inches long and but, unfortunately, like so many others, it is seldom met with outside botanical collections. When in flower, this plant immediately attracts attention with its broadly ovate, acu- minate spathes, 4 inches long, which recurve after opening, and are of a beautiful yellow colour inside and out, with a large, suffused purple blotch at the base. The spadix is li inch long, the upper third being free and densely clothed with hexagonal anthers that are shortly columnar, the lower two-thirds densely clothed with ovaries which are hemi- spherical and two-celled, with a five-angled discoid stigma surrounded by five to eight short clavate staminodes. The leaves are oblong-ovate, acuminate, peltate, concave, with distinct notches at the base and a strong midrib which proceeds back as from the insertion of the petiole; the upper surface is dark green, while the under surface is glaucous green, with two large purple blotches between each pair of nerves, which Fig. 50. — steudnera discolor, hort. bull. 1 inch in diameter, and produced on the woody parts of the stem, two or three peduncles sometimes springing from the same point. The peduncles are red, and thicken from the base up to the flower. The corolla is white and five-angled; between the angles are nume- rous distinct, oblique, wavy, red lines, more or less V-shaped; the mouth is contracted, while the five acute lobes are, refle.vcd. The stamens and styles are exserted, the styles bring longer than the stamens. The some- what leathery leaves are lanceolate acuminate, quite entire and glabrous. Agapetes macrantha was first raised in this country by Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter, from seeds received from the Kola Mountain, Moul- mein, and sent by the well-known collector, Mr. Thomas Lobb. It is sometimes spoken of as being sub-epiphytic, but here at the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, it is easily cultivated in peat in a pot, just as in the case of Pentap- terygium serpens. STEUDNERA DISCOLOR. HORT. BULL. There are numbers of Aroids that arc worth a place in the warm greenhouse, and I hi' sub- ject of this note is certainly one of them, makes the plant very decorative as a foliage subject. S. discolor (Fig. 50) is often confounded with Sleudnera colocasiaefolia, and sometimes known by that name, but S. colocasiaefolia, G. Kooh. described and figured in Kegel's Gartenflora, Vol. XVIII., page 323, t. 633, and in V Illustration Borticoh, Vol. XIX... t. 90, is quite a distinct plant in many respects, the spathe being yellow on the outside and a rich purple brown within, with only two staminodes and the ovary is five-celled, while the leaves are scarcely notched at the base and are green on both sides. Steudnera discolor is said to have been introduced from India, but probably is not indigenous to thai country, for, according to Koch and Regel, it is a native of South America and was first im- ported by Linden, while the other species, and the genera, most nearly allied to Steudnera, belong to Srh, iit's section, or tribe, Astero stigmeae, which are for the most part Ameri- can, although S. discolor is said to closely resemble in the form of foliage Colooasia. attinis var, Jenningsii, which is found in the Khasia Mountains. /•'. '.'. Preston, Cambridge Botanic Gardens, 102 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. March 4, 1922. EDITORIAL NOTICE. ADVERTISEMENTS should be sent to the PUBLISHER, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent. Garden, W.C.2. Special Notice to Correspondents.— The Editors do not undertake to pay for any contributions nr illustrations, or to return unused communications or illustrations unless by special arrangement. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for any opinions expressed by their correspondents. NOTES ON MYCORRHIZA PLANTS. ALTHOUGH partnerships of one kind or another are so familiar, the frequency of such associations in the plant world and their resemblance to those known to us in the social and political worlds, is probably little realised. In the case of many associations between plants, especially those between green and non-green plants, the original relation was not improbably one of attack and defence; from this has been evolved the more or less stable condition frequently described as sym- biosis and regarded as involving a state of mutual benefit between the partners. It is proposed in this and a succeeding article to give some account of what has been revealed by recent research about those curious and unexpected partnerships between vascular plants and -fungi known to botanists as mycorrhiza. It is well known, not only to botanists, but also to practical gardeners, that the roots of many plants are beset with fungus threads or hyphae. The mycelium may invest the tip and the younger part of the root, forming a con- spicuous sheath from which project numerous thread-like hyphae. as in the Beech and many of cur forest trees, or it may ramify sparingly upon the surface of the root and penetrate deeply into the living tissues. When thin slices of such roots are examined microscopically, it is often difficult to realise that the tissues are indeed those of a healthy plant, so vigorous is the de- velopment of the fungal invader. This remark- able combination of root tissue and fungus in healthy plants was named mycorrhiza by Frank nearly half a century ago, and to this botanist and his immediate successors we owe much de- tailed knowledge of the occurrence of the condi- tion among flowering plants and the distribution of the fungus upon and within the root tissues. Frank and his colleagues distinguished rather sharply between the condition common to so many forest trees, in which fungal hyphae form a conspicuous sheath about the tip of the root, penetrating the tissues slightly or not at all, ai.d that found in plants such as Orchids, in whi h mycelium is scantily developed upon the outside of the root but deeply distributed in the tissues. Extreme forms of the two conditions certainly occur, although it is somewhat doubtful if they are so sharply distinguished from one another as was believed when Frank named them respec- tively ectotrophie mycorrhiza and endotrophic mycorrhiza.. What impressed the earlier workers was the invariable presence of mycorrhiza in the roots of plants belonging to certain families, and the fact that the relation between -vascular plant and fungus was evidently very different from that which exists when a parasitic fungus in- vades the tissues of a flowering plant and gives rise to the symptoms of disease. Speculation naturally followed as to the physiology of the relationship. For long, nothing was known of the systematic position of the fungi concerned, since they do not form sport's when, growing in and upon roots, and the isola- tion of any such fungus from the root with which it is associated has only recently been accom- plished. On the other hand, sections of the roots of Orchids and certain other plants when examined microscopically yielded evidence point- ing to an exchange of food material, and the "view became current that mycorrhiza was a manifestation of so-called svmbiosis between flowering plants and various fungal species, i.e., that in. each case the two organisms were grow- ing together in an intimate partnership in/volvine sxc.ha.nge of food materials and some degree of mutual benefit. Since mycorrhiza is specially characteristic of the roots of woodland and other plants frequent- ing soils rich in organic remains, and since thera is great competition in such soils for water and mineral salts, the somewhat obvious suggestion was made that the fungus partner aids ill absorption of water and mineral salts from the soil Until quite recently it was assumed by botanists that the fungi present entered the roots from the soil, and experiments were put on record which were believed to show that plants which normally formed mycorrhiza did not do so and did not thrive when planted in soil which had been " sterilised "■ in such a way as to destroy the mycelium, or spores present. Beyond the fact that an exchange of nutritive materials obviously takes place in certain cases in whic'i there is ocular proof of digestion of mycelium by the cells of the invaded root, little or nothing has been known with certainty of what may be called the bionomics of these plant associations. Working partnerships of this kind between plants so different in their food require- ments and mode of life as vascular plants and fungi must always be of great interest to the biologist. Recent discoveries bearing on the nature of the " symbiosis " which exists in cer- tain mycorrhiza plants are not only of great scientific interest, but have a practical bearing on horticulture, inasmuch as they relate especially to two groups of commonly culti- vated plants — the Orchids and the Heaths. The discovery of the real state of affairs in Orchids at once threw light upon the difficulty experienced by growers in raising plants from seed and the favourable effect, produced by mix- ing small pieces of root from the parent plant in the seec1 pans, a procedure long familiar to practical men. In the mycorrhiza of Orchids, hyphae occur sparingly upon the outside of the roots; within, the tissues are extensively invaded by mycelium, which penetrates to the very limits of the vas- cular tissue in the centre of the root Certain cells show the fungus in an active condition, others contain only a dense mass of structure less material. It is not difficult to relate these two tvpes °f tell one to another by others show- ing an intermediate condition and to satisfy oneself that in the first case the fungus is growing freely at the expense of a supply of starch and other food materials obtained from the Orchid plant, while in the second case the tables have been turned, and the root cells have digested the mass of mycelium contained in them. Now recent researches have shown that invasion of the roots of Orchids is not due, as was formerly supposed, to a casual infection from the soil in which the seedling Orchid plant is growing. More in- teresting still is the fact with which we are now familiar, that infection by the root fungus ordinarily is essential for development of the embrvo "within the seed into an Orchid plant. When the minute seeds are taken from an unopened Orchid fruit, they are free from con tamination by any other organism. Whon sown under controlled conditions on a sterilised substratum they do not develop a seedling plant unless the fungus present in the roots of the parent is also introduced. The stage of develop- ment which can be reached by the seedlings without this preliminary infection varies with the spec;es of Orchid. It may be a very early one or extend to the formation of a couple of leaves. In the vast majority of Orchids root- formation awaits the signal of infection and does not occur without it Failing infection at the stage critical for each species, deve!oom°nt cea.-es and the embryo perishes prematurely. The root-fungi have been isolated from the lvnts of manv Orchid species, their behaviour on different kinds of artificial media is known, and their manner of forming spores when grown independently outside the plant. As a rule, only the fungus strain present in the root can induce development of the seedling in any given species, and in this and manv other ways is indicated how advanced is the degree of adaptation between the two partners. Let us now review what is known of the nutritive rela- tions of the two partners in Orchids. It is clear that the fungus can profit, by a supply of sugar and can thus indirectly tap sources of supply otherwise inaccessible except to green plants. Since it is not possible to raise an Orchid plant without its appropriate fungus, it cannot be proved definitely that ab- sorption of water and salts by the plant is really facilitated by the distribution of the fungus within and without the roots. On the contrary, it seems clear that the green plant can profit by the wholesale digestion of hyphae which takes place in the root-cells, because the fungus can utilise sources of nitrogenous food in the soil and in this way place them in- directly at the disposal of the plant. There is at present no evidence whatever that any of the Orchid fungi can use atmospheric nitrogen as a source of food. It may possibly be assumed that advantages associated with the increased food supply counterbalance the drawbacks attendant upon the indispensable character of the association. The latter will certainly operate as a check upon the spread of ai:y Orchid species in nature, since a seed carried away by the wind can grow into a new plant only under conditions favourable to injection, e.g., in the neighbourhood of roots of the same species. The bionomics of the partnership is even more puzzling in the case of those curious non- green Orchids, e.g., the Bird's Nest Orchid— which grow in Beech woods and elsewhere. These species are not infrequently rootless, and in no case can they serve as sources of sugar formed from the carbon dioxide in the air. It would seem that here the fungus is the work- ing partner, sinco it can draw upon the soil humus for both its carbonaceous and nitro- genous food materials. Indeed, in the case of a remarkable Japanese species, Gastrodia elata, it has been proved that the Orchid plant is parasitic upon the fungus during part of the life cycle; a turning of the tables indeed! and one, moreover, of the most unexpected kiniT since the fungus host is that well-known and troublesome parasite, the Honey Agaric (Armil- iaria mellea). The Gastrodia plant consists of a rootless tuber which periodicallv throws up an immense inflorescence. Owing to the absence of roots and the corky covering of the tuber, fresh supplies of food material can enter the plant onlv through the root-like strands or rhi/o- morphs of the funaus. These invade the tuber in the manner usual to any fungus parasite, but for once have found a victim well able to cope with their activities. Food materials pass into the tuber from the soil mycelium, with which the penetrating strand is continuous, and even- tually the whole of the invading hyphae are digested and the soluble products absorbed by the cells of the tuber. Only when this happens can the plant reproduce itself bv means of seed. Those tubers which escape infection develep small branch tubers which dwindle in size as the food material contained in the mother tuber becomes exhausted. The behaviour of the seed at germination is not known. To label these non-green Orchids " sapro- phvtes " is but to advertise our ignorance of the facts. The story of Gastrodia gives an in- dication of the possibilities provided by the relationship, although it is quite probable that each species mav have solved the problems of nutrition in a different manner; and when studied experimentally, each may unfold a lite history of equal or even of greater interest. In the light, of our present knowledge, it is clear that the satisfactory raising of Orchids calls for control of infection at germination, and that this can best be ensured by fring- ing seeds into contact, with a " pure culture" of the appropriate fungus soon after they are sown. It is satisfactory to learn that this method of culture has already been adopted with excellent, results. The most recent, researches on the conditions controlling the ger- mination of Orchids tend to show that it may be possible to replace the effect produced by entry of the appropriate fungus by other means, for 'example, by the addition of _ certain sub- stances to the substratum on which the seeds are germinating. It remains to be seen whether such methods can be utilised commercially by Orchid growers. M. C. liaynrr. Miroh 4, 1922. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 103 PLANTING GLADIOLUS. These beautiful bulbous flowers may be planted during March and the beginning of April, the time varying according to the locality and kind of soil. On light, warm soils they may safely be planted now, but in the case of cold, heavy ground, it is wise to defer planting .until the end of the present month or beginning f>i April. On light Boils the corms should be placed at least four inches deep ; on heavy soils the planting should be done more shallowly and a little coarse sand sprinkled around each corm. There is a wide range of colours to choose from, and the plants are useful for various situations, such as in large beds or borders by themselves, or in groups in the herbaceous border. In the last situation they may be planted for a succession between Paeom.is, Oriental Poppies, or other early-flowering perennials. They may also be grown in beds of dwarf shrubs, or in vacant spaces in the front of shrubbery borders. The ground should have been well prepared some- time in advance of planting; and, just before putting in the corms, it is well to lightly fork the surface, after first dusting the surface freely with lime. J. C. GARDENING LOOKS AND THEIR DISPOSAL. During the past two years I have sold hundreds of gardening books, to buy rarer items for my library and to make room for others. The best medium for the sale of these books has proved to be The Gardeners' Chronicle, the sales being obtained by adver- tising in a small way and following up in- quiries for other books. As regards the general Press, no paper beats The Publishers' Circular. Readers who wish to dispose of their books must be careful not to ask five or six times as much as thev are worth. Tims, to offer twelve volumes of a gardening paper for £7, when tile volumes are obtainable for 15s. the lot. is waste of both time and money. I have refused thousands of offers of books which, if prices had been " possible," T would have taken, and much time is wasted in needles? correspondence with those who do not wish to dispose of their books except for a small fortune. Some idea of suitable prices for works readers often wish to dispose of is given below: — R.H.S. Journal, Is. each part, or 3s. a volume unbound. For bound volumes, in the usual poor condition (needing rebinding), 5s. a volume is the maximum. The Gardeners' Chronicle, unbound. sale practically nil. Bound and complete before 1900, 4s. to 5s. a volume maximum; after 1900, 6s. to 7s. 6d. For completing sets there is a market for single volumes up to 15s., but they must be "-very much wanted." The Garden, early bound volumes, 2s. 6d. each, later 4s. to 5s. each, for quantities much less. Horticultural Society's Transactions, 1820-26, about 25s. ; badly soiled incomplete sets much less. Bun- yard's Fruit Garden, if for re-sale, 25s. to 30s., otherwise up to £2 for clean copies (not £4 as sometimes offered). Thompson's Gardeners' Assistant varies in price. Old sets are sometimes valued as low as 30s. ; good clean recent sets fetch £4 to £5. Old Floral Magazines about 2s. 6d. each, sometimes less. These very often have missing plates, and are then quite unsaleable. Cottage Gardener, com- plete, Is. a volume, sometimes up to 2s. 6d. Lowe's Ferns, 8 volumes 30s. Nicholson's Dictionary of Gardening up to £7 for really pood sets; no sale at all for parts. Schlich's Forestry, if complete, about £4; and Loudon's Arboretum, ct Frutirctum Britannicum<, eight volumes, up to 50s. Many books offered by gardeners are use- less, but in some cases such items can be dis- posed of if the would-be vendor makes up collections containing a proportion of works the public wants. Tt pays to price big books low if one wants to turn this class of thing into money. It is possible to come across stray cases where garden libraries are being made up, and where those who are planning them will be glad to take one or more parcels; if not, certain purchasers may buy the use- less with the useful and burn the former. The writer has on occasion bought several such collections. Parcels of 25 books for a round sum, say £4, are saleable. Messrs. Dulau and Co. Messrs. Foyles also buy a fair number. I am on the look-out for about 500 books at the present time, and may be able to relieve readers of some of their rarer works. If these books are offered to dealers, however, take one-third off the prices (and do not quibble about post or carriage extra), so that they may make something on the transaction. Send them full details of title, author, and publishers' name, date Fig. 51. — primula malacoides var. princess marv. r.h.s. award of merit, feb. 14, 1922. shown by messrs. j. carter and co. (see p. 83). Odd parts of periodicals are the worst bug- bears in unsaleables. Collate these and com- plete them in as long a run as possible, how- ever, and it will be surprising what good prices they fetch. Failing to dispose of the books by advertis- ing, they should be offered to booksellers, such as Messrs. Wheldon and Wesley, Ltd., and edition, size, binding, illustration, coloured or plain, number of volumes, and, above all, whether clean or soiled, as these details are essential. Above all, do not work on the principle that those who reply to your adver- tisements are out to " do " you. otherwise you cannot expect to transact business. A Book Collector. 104 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. March 4, 1922. INDOOR PLANTS. EXACUM MACRANTHUM. (See Coloured Supplementary Illustration.) The subject of the coloured plate presented with this issue is a native of Ceylon where it is found at elevations of 6,000 ft. It 'is really a variety of the older E. zeylanicum, which was figured in the Bot. Mag., t. 4423, in 1848. while the subject of the coloured plate was first (lowered in 1853, and figured in Bot. Mag., t. 4771, the seed being sent from Ceylon by Mr. Thwaites. There are some twenty species of Exacum, natives of India, Eastern Asia, the Malayan Archipelago and Socotra. Of this number, only four or five have ever been in cultivation. The subject of this note differs from the type E. zeylanicum, in its larger and more ' richly- coloured flowers. The latter are bright blue- purple, with large yellow stamens, consequently a freely flowered plant is a verv striking and beautiful object. It is a matter for regret that E. macranthum is a scarce plant in gardens, for since Messrs. James Veitch and Sons gave up business seed has not been offered in any home or Continental list. That this Exacum was never a common plant in gardens, is, no doubt, due to the fact that, like many other beautiful plants belonging to the natural order Gentianeae, its successful cultivation is by no means easy. It is best treated as a stove biennial, and grown in a temperature of about 60°, although when in flower it will do well in a warm green- house The seed is very fine, and should be sown on the surface of the soil, and covered with the merest sprinkling of sand; cover the pots with a piece of glass until germination takes place. It is best to defer sowing until the later part of July, as the smaller plants have a better chance of coming through the winter in good condition and flowering " is deferred until the following summer, when weather conditions aie all in their favour. The potting compost should consist of one half good fibrous loam, and one half peat, adding some charcoal and enough clean, coarse sand to render the mixture poroi .- I'lants of Exacum macranthum require careful watering during all stages of cultivation, especially during the winter months; and 1 suspect it is in the lack of care in this respect that most cultivators have gone wiong. If kept in a fairly dry atmosphere and artificially pollinated, the flower will set and ripen seeds under cultivation. But although best raised from seeds, this Exacum may be propagated by means of cuttings. Among batches of seedlings a pure white flowered form has appeared at rare intervals. Well grown plants should attain a height of eighteen inches. E. affine is a. native of the island of Socotra. It is figured in the Bot. Mug., t. 6824, and has small bluish-lilac coloured flowers, which are sweetly scented. It is a small, compact growing species, some six to nine inches high, and is generally classed as a warm greenhouse biennial, but is best treated as an annual, for if seed is sown early in the year, the seedlings will flower towards the end of summer. R, tetragonum var. bicolor, figured in the But. .\fcig., t. 1847, is a native of the East Indies. E. bicolor, which has been in cultivation, is, 1 believe, a rare species, endemic to Ceylon, where it is found at elevations of 5,000 6,000 ft. ; the flowers are described as nearly white, shaded with blue. J. Ooutts. ANTIRRHINUMS FOR SUMMER BEDDING. As the days grow longer and brighter, the thoughts of all gaiden lovers turn naturally to the arrangement of their flower beds and borders for the coming season ; to those who may be in doubt as to what plants would make the best and most effective display all through the sum- mer and autumn at a minimum cost, the fol- lowing remarks may be useful. Apart from Pelargoniums (Geraniums), I consider that the Antirrhinum is the most adaptable plant for furnishing a succession of bloom, and a bed of the newer named varieties rivals in brilliancy some of the finest beds of Pelargoniums, and the plants certainly withstand the weather con- ditions of our fickle climate much better. There are three types of Antirrhinums; tall, inter- mediate and dwarf or Tom Thumb, and these may all be grown to advantage in masses of one colour or in ribbon borders. To obtain a display of bloom about the first week in July the seed should be sown at the end of January or early in February. I usually sow the seed in boxes filled with compost consisting of three-parts good sifted loam, one part leaf-mould, and sufficient sharp sand to render the soil porous. The compost should be pressed moderately firmly in the boxes, leaving the surface level, and well watered the day before sowing the seed. Sow thinly, and cover the seed lightly with a mixture of half line soil and half sand." Place a sheet of glass over the box and stand the latter in a house or frame having a temperature not over 50°, until the seed germinates. As scon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them off into boxes about two inches apart.. Grow them as near the roof glass as is convenient, admitting plenty of air after the first week. I advise sowing the tall and intermediate varieties a fortnight earlier than the Tom Thumb type. About the middle of March, place the boxes of seedlings in cold frames and grow the plants on slowly, removing the lights altogether dur- ing the day time in dry weather, as the An- tirrhinum is very hardy, but thrives best when the soil is not excessively wet. With cool treatment it is quite safe to plant Antirrhinums in the beds in which they are to flower, the first week in May. Antirrhinums will grow well in any soil, but to get the best results it is necessary that they ihould be planted in well-prepared soil contain- ing a liberal quantity of well-rotted manure ; it is not advisable to use rank or fresh manure. Tread the soil almost as firmly as for an Onion bed and rake the surface level before planting. As .-ubjects for a dry situation there are few plants superior to Antirrhinums; the addition iif well-rotted dung to the soil will serve to retain moisture about the roots in hot weather besides furnishing fond to the plants. There are so many good varieties to choose from that come true from seed that it is diffi- cult to know which to select, but I have found tlie following 12 varieties of the intermediate type make a most effective show of colour when grouped in beds : Amber Queen ; Bonfire, orange-scarlet; Coccinea, intense orange-scarlet; Cottage Maid, rose-pink with a white tube ; Crimson Queen ; Prima Donna, apricot, with white tube (an immense flower) ; White Beauty; Fascination, pink self (a very charming variety); Fiery Belt, brilliant orange with a white tube; Maize Queen; Mauve Queen; and yellow Queen. For borders, the finest of the tall section are : Crimson King ; Moonlight, apricot with nil flush: Cottage Maid, rose pink with a white throat; White King: Torchlight, orange- scarlet with a yellow centre ; and Dobbie's Yel- low King, the "finest Antirrhinum of its colour. To prolong the flowering period, cut away all exhausted flower spikes before they seed. A good plan to prevent robbing the flower beds for house decoration is to plant a bed of mixed mi in ties in some odd corner of the garden. Ths flowers from these surplus plants may be used for cut blooms, and will last in water from ten to fourteen davs. Donald Allan, Mark* Teg. THE ALPINE GARDEN. PRIMCLA GRANDIS. The specific name of grandis has an attraction to many, conveying, as it does, the impression of flowers of massive proportions, or. at least stand- ing out above those of other species by a con- siderable degree. We are apt to imagine that it is only the Rowers which are referred fo by this specific name, forgetting that a plant has other features which might justify the appella- tion. In the case of Primula grandis, the specific name refers to the large size of the heart-shaped leaves. At flowering time, there rises from amid these large leaves a tall scape hearing a cluster of flowers. The plant seems to have exhausted itself in its effort to produce such big leaves and so tall a stem, and has little material left to form flowers at all commensurate with its other features. The tubular yellow flowers hang from long pedicels, but their size is so insignificant that they seem out of place on such a commanding plant. This Primula is a native of the Caucasus, and appears to be hardy in this country, but it resents, drought in spring and summer. It is most suited for the bog garden, but. will grow in a moist border, or, better still, in a low tspot at the base of the rock garden, where, planted in peat and loam, it will receive the moisture draining from above. The plant is easily, though slowly, raised from seeds, and is also increased by division. S. A rnott. CALCEOLARIA POLYRHIZA. Calceolaria polyrhiza has small, curiously- formed yellow flowers and neat leaves. It is of creeping habit, and a stretch of it rambling among the stones of a retaining wall makes a pretty sight in summer when it blooms. Although it has not the large flowers of such Calceolarias as C. plantaginea. C. Kellyana, or the still more tender C. violacea, it is a dis- tinct and pretty alpine of easy growth, and hardy well into Scotland. It is increased by division, and seems to prefer a rather peaty soil, moist in summer but rather dry in winter. I have, however, grown it quite well in a dry, sandy loam. It likes the sun, but will do in partial shade. Those who desire a pleasing addition to the usual subjects planted in the crevices of paved paths will find this Calceolaria valuable for the purpose. 8. A. THE PROBLEM OF IMMUNITY TO WART DISEASE IN POTATOS In the summer of 1917 a number of Potato seed balls were collected from large crops growing in Scotland. In each case the fruiti were taken from near the centre of large areas, the presumption being that the flowers would be selfed and would not be cross-fertilised, at least by any other varieties. In the spring of 1918 the seed was sown, and in the autumn the tubers produced by each seedling were saved. In the spring of 1919 the best half- dozen or so tubers of each variety were planted in the workhouse grounds at Ormskirk. They were lifted at the end of September, and accurate records made as to their immunity from Wart Disease. The records were mis- laid after Mr. John Snell's death, but they were recently found and forwarded to me by Mrs. Snell. They consist of 163 pages of notes on nearly 500 seedlings. The following are the most interesting, and. I think, indicate that a Potato will be found that will breed true to immunity from seed: — dumber Nam' cl- iRected Doubtful ot Parent of Number with or pi ints. Seed. I e'ean Wart Disease. failed. 29 President 14 16 _ 8 Priory Qneen . 8 — 17 Favourite 14 2 1 29 Clinnx . 26 2 1 38 Templar... 28 5 5 62 Adroir-1 43 5 9 63 Majestic 38 1 22 3 Priory Queen, Favourite, and Admiral are all varieties of the Abundance type, and carry a strong resistance to Wart Disease. Had Mr. Snell been spared, the work would, no doubt, have been continued on these lines, ty. Cuth* brrtfion, Ditddinfjston, N-B- March 4, I9i'i THE GARDENERS' CHRONIGLEi i05 1HE GRtAT DROUGHT OF 1921 AND ITS LFFECT ON GARDEN PLANTS. {Concluded from page 80.) London. It is, no doubt, difficult for some of us whose interest lies in the land to realise that the great heat and drought of 1921 may be lot the general good. Large trees suffered for want of moisture, to say nothing of held and garden crops, herbaceous plants and shrubs, and the pre- fence of hordes of insect pests. But under- neath all the temporary loss and inconvenience there lies a very deep lein of good, which, 1 think, ought not to be lost sight of. Perhaps one of the most potent reasons for satisfaction lies in the effect of the sun's hot rays on the physical condition of the soil. On fallow land, that which was sparsely cropped, and to a limited extent on land which was fully cropped, the effect was similar to that brought about by winter frost, and the more nearly the soil approximated to clay the more was this effect noticed. If the surface of heavy land is kept loose, cracking of the soil will never be a formidable danger. The sweetening of the soil during such a period must be a real gain to much cultivated land, while many enemies failed to survive such a course of drought as we were subjected to. I am convinced that many ground insect pests ire dependent on at least a certain degree of moisture to enable them to move aboit easily and multiply, if not quite dependent on it to live. Moreover, these pests are searched for, in a droughty period, much more intensively by the birds which prey on them, for at such times birds have a, difficulty in finding sufficient food. In this connection one often observes a disturbance by birds in places they do not trouble to search at times when their quarry is found by much less intimate searching. Hot and dry conditions are very trying to all forms of vegetation, but there is little doubt in my mind that in the long run they may be very beneficial to the cultivator, enabling him to get batter returns afterwards for his labour. Fj. J. Piatt, Parhfield Gardens, f Ugh gate. Devonshire. The remarkable amount of sun-heat during 1921 enabled many tropical plants to blos- som in the open air which are not often seen in perfection in our gardens. This is especially true of the scarlet Pomegranate (Punica Granatum), which opened many brilliant, waxen blooms of the brightest scarlet here in the open garden. The plants grow in a sheltered corner facing the south-west, in South Devon ; but if grown in an embrasure between two sunny bow-windows, or on a south wall, this beautiful plant will grow in colder parts of the kingdom if the site Ibe well-drained and fully exposed to sunshine. As it drops its leaves rather early {i.e., as soon as the weather becomes frosty) and remains in a bare state until the following May, it is not often injured by a late frost ; it blossoms every year in the writer's garden from August to the beginning of October, although not always in such pro- fusion as in 1921. /. L. Richmond, Lustleigh. Leicestershire. The interesting articles on the effects of the dry season of 1921 raise the question as to what effect the hot, dry weather will have on all kinds of vegetation during the season now open- ing? Hardly a week passes but that some un- usual change in plant life is observed 1 am sure it will prove highly interesting and in- structive to take careful note of the progress of vegetation in gardens. Fruit trees that were planted on good soil and carefully tended do not appear to be much the worse for the hot weather, in fact, there is less wood and more fruit buds. Pears and Plums were scarce last season, no doubt owing to frosts when the trees were in bloom. The weather during the first two months of 1921 was unseasonably warm, hence the flowers were too far advanced to with- stand tile cold spell. Apples escaped, and there was a great crop. This year, all fruit trees are full of fruit buds, and promise another good crop, and as vve have not hod what is called a " summerish January," we may hope for a mild spring and the opportunity for fruit blossom to set properly. Many Apples produce good crops in alternate years, and as last year was an " Apple year," it will be interesting to note if these particular trees produce a good crop two years in suc- cession. They certainly look as though they will do so. I have never seen so many fruit buds on our Pear trees before, and conclude the past season is responsible for this. This year's re- port on the fruit crops will, no doubt, give us many surprises. I should have thought berry-bearing shrubs would have been likewise affected, but, evidently, this is not always so. Some bushes of Berberis Wilsonae growing on a partly-shaded border were loaded with berries, while others in full sunshine had none at all, neither did they make so much growth. Chimonanthus fra- grans on a south wall has flowered abundantly for several weeks, and I gathered a quantity of seed, which is encased in large green pods. Our plant has flowered before, but never produced seed. Rhododendrons look exceedingly pro- mising, especially those that were well watered, and all are well set with buds. Azaleas planted in partial shade are covered with buds, while those in exposed places are almost without any. It was exceedingly difficult to soak the roots of these latter specimens with water, as the peaty Fig. 52. — argithoder*ha roseatum, n.e. br. natural size. soil became so hard ; however, of about a hundred plants, we were fortunate enough not to lose one. The hot weather of 1921 assisted the ripening of seeds. Such seeds as have been sown (here have germinated quickly, and I should say\ this W'ill be true of all kinds of seeds, and especially those of outdoor subjects. It. II'. Thatcher, Carlton Park Gardens, Market IJarboro'. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM AND SOME NEW GENERA SEPARATED FROM IT. (Continued from page 93.) 3. A. roseatum, N.E. Br. (Fig. 52). Plant solitary, or perhaps tufted with age? Leaves 2-6 to a plant or growth, but probably in nature only 2-4, with the inner pair sub-erect, united below for nearly half their length and but slightly separated above, with the inner face Hat ; 4-6 lines long and 5-6 lines broad, broadly ovate, sub-acute, with sharp edges, and the back very rounded and distinctly keeled at the apical part, which is not prolonged beyond the flat face, about 4-5 lines thick; surface very smooth, white, prettily tinted with rose, especially at the mar- gins and keel. Flower and capsule unknown. Little Namaoualand : Locality and collector nnknown, possibly from the vicinity of Warm- bad. I obtained this distinct and very pretty specie? from the late Mr. W. J. Doree, but have n*> other information concerning it. In size and form it somewhat resembles A. subalbum, but. the ro^y tint of its leaves at once distinguishes it from that and all known species. 4. A. necopinum, N.E. Br. Plant tufted with age. Leaves 6-12 lines long, 5-9 lines broad on the flat face, and 3-6 lines thick, del- toid-ovate, obtuse, the dorsal part not or but shortly produced beyond the flat face, obtuse, faintly keeled. Flower sessile be- tween the leaves, with two compressed bracts under it. Calyx 6-lobed; tube obconically campanulate, about 2 lines long and 2£ lines in diameter; lobes 1-2 lines long, ovate or oblong, obtuse, green with membranous margins. Corolla 7-9 lines in diameter; petals numerous, in 2-3 series, widely spreading, 3-4 lines long, linear, bright yellow. Stamens very numerous, in a dense ring at the top of the calyx- tube. Stigma less than 1 line in diameter. M. necopinum, N.E. Br. in Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. v. 45, p. 90. M. testiculare var. v, Haw. Misc. p. 24, and Synop. p. 205 M. octophyllum var. /3, Haw. Rev. p. 85. Locality unknown. Introduced by Masson, and by Pillans. ** Leaf distinctly much longer than broad, with the edge of the flat face blunt or somewhat rounded and somewhat cartilaginous, and when decaying often becoming reddish-tinted. 5 A. duale, N.E. Br. Plant tufted with age. Leaves with the flat or slightly convex face 4-10 lines long and 3-6 lines broad at the base, thence tapering to a more or less acute point or nar- rowly oblong and obtuse, with the dorsal apex sometimes produced shortly beyond it, slightly keeled, up to 4 lines thick. Flowers unknown. M. duale, N.E. Br. in Journ. Linn. Sot. Hoi. v. 45, p. 89. Van Rhynsdorp Division : on ridges near Bakhuis. Pearson and Pillans. 54E3. This species is very similar to A. necopinum in general appearance, but readily distinguished by the blunt, somewhat cartilaginous edges and keel of the leaves. It has not yet flowered with me. Doubtful Species. Possibly the plant I described as M. socium {Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. vol. 45, p. 91) may belong to the genus Argyroderma, but I have not yet seen its flowers, and the skin of the leaves does not seem to be of quite the same texture. It is a small species, quickly forming a tuft, with half-cylindric, suberect leaves 3-10 lines long, 3-4^ lines broad, and 2±-4 lines thick, obtusely rounded and faintly keeled at the apex, whitish-green tinted with lose when exposed to the sun. Another plant that may also prove to belong to this genus is M. octophyllum, Haw. (Rev., p. 85, excluding the reference to the figure of M. testiculare in the Botanical Magazine, t. 1573, and all varieties). From Haworth's descriptions of this plant (which is as follows, " Leaves on the living plant 6-8. oblong-ovate, half-terete, more erect than those of M. testicuhre ") it is im- possible to form an opinion of it, especially as he quotes the Bot. Mag. figure as belonging to it, which is most certainly due to some error, I think probably by Haworth entering the reference by mistake in the wrong place in his manuscript. Fortunately there is a drawing of it preserved at Kew. which is labelled " M. octophyllum, Haw., May 7, 1827. Received in 1826 from A. H. Haworth Esq." This drawing, therefore, represents the typical plant of Haworth, and is all that is "really known of it. For the only plant I have ever seen of it was in the rich collection of Mr. W. Wilson Saunders at Reigate, about the year 1866, when Mr. T. Cooper called my attention to it and said it was believed to be a descendant of Haworth's original plant. That plant, to the best of my recollection, was the same as in 1873 I found to be represented in the Kew figure. It is a tufted species, each growth with three or four pairs of smooth, whitish-green or whitish leaves about 7-12 lines long. 3-4 lines broad, and 2i-3J. lines thick at the much thickened or dilated apical part, which is twice as thick as at the base, flat on the face, very convex on the back, and keeled at the apical part. Flowers sessile and yellow, according to Haworth. Locality unknown. N. K. Brown. (To be continued, i rr displayed Adonis amurensis, many Crocuses. Iris reticulata. Iris nind-pers and a dain'» v hush of Cytisus White Gem (Silver Banksian Modal). The bronzy green foliage of Borberis dulcis nana served as an excellent foil to the flowers of Erica darleyensis in the collection of Messrs. Skelton and Ktrbv, who also had various alpines and Nandina domestica (Bronze Banksian Medal). Besides various Saxifrages and other alpines, with Ericas and Iris reticu- lata, Messrs. Maxwell and Beai.e showed some excellent Violets. The blooms of La France 108 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. were grown under glass, while the bunches of Princess of Wales were from the open ground (Bronze Banksian Medal). Several vases of attractive Narcissi, including the dainty N. cyclamineus, with Hyacinths, were displayed by Messrs. Barr and Sons. Besides the ordinary Snowdrop, there were bunches of the larger Galanthus nivalis grandis. Some attractive Crocuses and Hellebores were also «m view (Bronze Flora Medal). Under the clock Messrs. Sutton and Sons had a colour scheme in Crocuses. The shades used were purple and lilac with white, and these made an attractive display. All the flowers were exceptionally large and fresh (Silver Bank- sman Medal). From the Maytham Gardens, Rolvenden, was shown a batch of Anchusa myosotidiflora, which attracted a great deal of admiration. The blue Forget-me-not-like flowers were freely produced, and made quite an effective display. March 4, 1922. ©bituar^. Narcissus and Tulip Committee. Present : Messrs. E. A. Bowles (in the chair), J. Jones, G. Churcher, G. W. Leak, F. H. Chap- man. W. B. Cranfield, W. R. Dykes, A. R. Goodwin, G. Reuthe, Herbert Smith, W. A. Watts, and Chas. H. Curtis (Hon. Sec). This Committee made no awards to novelties. A particularly effective group, composed en- tirely of Tulips, was arranged by Messrs. Sutton and Sons in the centre of the hall. The flowers were set almost on the ground level, arranged in bowls of various size, and in large baskets, over a ground work of black velvet. About fifty-six varieties of Tulips were displayed, and their quality and arrangement well maintained the high reputation the Reading firm has achieved with bulbous plants (Silver-Gilt Flora Medal). Another capital group was the one from Messrs. R. H. Bath. Ltd., and in this display practi- cally every Tulip and Narcissus, in every bowl or pot, was of outstanding merit from the point of view of high cultivation. Tulips Brunhilde and King, of the Yellows attracted general at- tention and merited all the admiration they re- ceived (Silver-Gilt Flora Medal). Mr. W. A. Watts, St. Asaph, showed an early incompara- bilis Daffodil named Princess Victoria; it has yellow flowers carried on stems 2 feet long. Fruit and Vegetable Committee. Present : Messrs. 0. Thomas (in the chair), E. A. Bunyard, Geo. F. Tinlev, S. B. Dicks, W. F. Giles, G. Reynolds. W. Pope, Geo. Keif. J. C. Allgrove, W. H. Divers. Rev. W. Wilks, and J. Harrison Mr. W. Pope, Welford Gardens. Newbury, showed a seedling Apple named Pope's None- such. It is of the Radford Beauty type, has a large, wide eye without any depression, and a stalk about three-quarters to an inch long set in a fairly deep cavity. The fruit is round in outline and heavily flushed with red on the sunny side, the shaded portion being a rich mellow yellow. It is a late-keeping Apple of good quality, and the fruits shown had the appearance of keeping in good condition for another two months or more Captain H. B. Tate (gr Mr. A. E. Moss), Billesby Manor, Alcester, Warwickshire, showed a dozen dishes of Hanwell Souring Apple. An interesting example of Burr-Knot on Apple shoots was brought to the notice of the Com- mittee. This abnormal condition of growth is caused by the development of adventitious roots and might be mistaken for galls caused by woolly aphis. The abnormality gives the name to the old Burr-Knot varietv of Apple (syn. Bide's Walking Stick), a good culinary sort in use during October and November. Hogg states in The Fruit Manual that " the tree is a close and compact grower, and a profusion of burrs are produced on the branches, which emit incipient roots. If a branch furnished with these burrs is inserted in the ground it will take root and become a tree. The name of ' Bide's Walking Stick ' originated from a person of that name having cut a branch for a walking- stick in Cheshire and brought it to his place near- Hertford, when, having inserted it in the ground, it took root and became a tree." George Tough. — We regret to record the death, at his residence, The Neuk, Banchory- Ternan, Kincardineshire, of Mr. George Tough, forester, Crathes Castle. He had reached the goodly age of 74, and was 37 years in the service of Sir Robert Burnett, Bt., and Sir Thomas Burnett, Bt., of Leys, Crathes Castle, Kincar- dineshire. A highly respected member of the community, Mr. Tough was well versed in his profession, and had under his charge one of the finest and most valuable wooded areas in Scot- land. Few, indeed, were the strangers who visited Scotland in quest of information on woods and woodcraft who failed to pay a visit to Crathes Castle Woods, and never did they go away disappointed. Mr. Tough was steeped in the lore of the profession he loved so well, and a day spent with him was an education, and a pleasure not soon forgotten. The large and representative body of tenants and estate staff which followed his remains to the grave showed the respect and esteem entertained for him. He is survived by a widow, six sons and four daughters. NEW HORTICULTURAL INVENTION. Latest Patent Applications. 3,639.— Bradbury, B. M. F.— Combined flower holder and watering can. — February 8. 3,894. — Mclntyre, J. — Means for supporting plants. — February 10. 4,099.— Rayner, G. H. T.— Spades, shovels, and forks. — February 11. 3,320. — Kershaw, W. — Apparatus for supply- ing grease to fruit trees, etc. — February 4. 2,030.— Gaunt, C. F.— Apparatus for seed- sowing. — January 23. 1,775. — Alder. G. C. — Garden shears, hedge- clippers, etc. — January 20. Specifications Published Last Month. 174,521.— McBride, T. J.- Machines for dis- tributing seeds and, or, fertilisers. 167,452.— Witzel, K.— Hand tools for culti- vating the soil. 148,560.— Eberhead, R. P.— Process for the manufacture of a natural plant manure. Abstract Published Last Month. Insecticides.— Patent No. 172,462. A new insecticide particularly for use on fruit trees has been invented by Mr. W. Coker of Canberra, Linton Road, Hastings. The insecticide is applied either by spraying or by saturation of rag, etc., wrapped around the trunk. It is made by soaking Tomato plants, after the fruit has been picked, in water, or by expressing the juice therefrom. Messrs. Rayner and Co. will obtain printed copies of the published specifications and for- ward on post free for the official price of Is. each. This list is specially compiled for The Gardeners' Chronicle, by Messrs. Rayner and Co., Registered Patent Agents, of 5, Chancery Lane. London, from whom all information relating to patents, trade marks, and designs, can be obtained gratuitously. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Araucaria tmbricata Timber : ,?. R. A, The wood of Araucaria imbricata may be cut up into boards and used much in the same way as the timber of Scots Pine is employed. It should not be allowed to come into contact with the ground unless it is first creosoted. Araucaria wood may be used for interior work in buildings or for the making of common furniture, boxes and manv other purposes It o °S? ?f the most widely used soft wood's of South America. Lawn Grass Seed: Wulfruna. The approxi- mrat;e~W61ght of med neede°- to sow an area of 100 feet by 40 feet, in order to make a good lawn quickly, would be 27 lb. The value of lawn grass seed has increased con- siderably of late, so that its present price can- not be stated definitely, but we should not expect it to be less than 3s. per lb. The seed may be sown as early in March as the con- ditions of the soil and weather permit. A dry calm day should be selected for the sowing,' and the suitability of the soil is generally tested by treading"on it; if it adheres to the boots, the work should be postponed until it is drier. To ensure even distribution of the seed, it is good practice to set out the ground into strips, three feet wide, with the garden line. Lily-of-the-Valley as a Market Flower ; H. F. The average prices for Lily-of-the- Valley in Covent Garden market last year were 3s. per bunch for spikes of extra special quality ; 2s. per bunch for special quality, and Is. per bunoh for spikes of second grade quality. These grades are known in the mar- ket as extra specials, specials and seconds respectively ; each bunch contains twelve spikes with a little foliage. These flowers travel best packed in shallow boxes. We know of no special work on the Lily-of-the-Valley. " Bulbs " from a Pheasant's Crop: G. A. C. The " bulbs " are the swollen root stocks of Arrhenatherum avenaceum var. bulbosum, the Onion Couch. This is a tall growing kind and one of the Oat grasses. The swollen root stocks develop just below the surface of the soil. Each " bulb " is solid, round, and smooth, about the size of a large Pea, and capable of withstanding drought for a long- time. Mushkoom Growing in a Cellar: L. G. A. Turn the manure about four times on alternate days in a cold shed, until it is well mixed and the rank gases of feimentation given off into the air. Make the bed about 15 in. deep, ramming the materials as firmly as possible. When the heat has declined to 75 deg. or 80 deg. the spawn should be inserted just under the surface, about 9 in. apart, using pieces about 2 in. square. The surface should then be made firm and cased over with about 1^ in. of fine loam and again, made firm with the back of a spade. The l>ed should not be watered during the first month or six weeks; a covering of two or three inches o£ long, light litter will help to conserve the moisture arising from the manure. Should water be necessary afterwards, it should be applied through" a fine rose over the litter. If you maintain a temperature of 50 deg., a little more or less warmth according to the weather, loss of moisture will be much less marked, and when no fire heat is employed syringing or damping is not necessary or advisable. If you harvest 25 or 30 per cent, of the Mush- rooms that show you will have a good crop. Mushroom Hardened by Disease : W. F. The specimen received is a somewhat large form of the ordinary cultivated Mushroom, but the gills have become somewhat mal- formed and drawn away from the stem, as a consequence of an attack of Mycogone perniciosa. The disease appears to be in an early stage, as only the verticillium is at present apparent. Names of Fruit: T. A. C. 1, Broad Eye Pippin; 2, Sturmer Pippin.— D. 1. Winter Strawberry. — J. H. Bramley's Seedling. Names of Plants : .7. M. The large leaf re- presents an Aristolochia, probably a form of A. gigas. The spotted-leaved plant is Maranta maculata, and the other is an Orchid, Communications Received— G. C— H. F- W. H. F.— L. and B.— .T. B— T. S.— H. M.— R. ,T.- .1 1'.— C E. S-R. W. It.— T. R. M.— A. F.- A. B. W.— A. G. L. U u o c 5) O 0) c £ "5. a 3 P z z > o h <-n ID < si U o o u s CS s Lc <; X w March 11, 1922. TEE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 109 THE (Sartottm' (tljrrrmrk No. 1837.— SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1922. CONTENTS. Aldenham, Chinese shrubs at . . . . 114 Alpine garden, the — The Corsican Hedge- Nettle .. ..Ill Fraser.Mr.J 110 Fruit garden, the market 118 ■Fruit register — Apples Cnurfc-pendu- plat and St. Edmund's Pippin Dual-purpose Apples ~ ' Gardeners' Chronicle seventy-five years ago Holland County Potato show Irises, garden Journal of the R.H.S Gardens' Club Lectures at Aberdeen IJlium testaceura Lime-sulphur Melons, canker in National Daffodil Society, proposed National Institute of Agricultural Botany Nursery notes — Concerning bearded Irises 113 113 110 109 118 109 109 118 110 118 109 109 Obituary — P.attram, E.H. .. 119 Fleet, Dr. W. van ..119 Harcourt, Viscount 119 Pace, John 119 Russell, P. B,. 119 Orchid not ei ant gleanings — Cypripedium Charles Puddle ii rt Plant breeding in California 113 Plant names, stan- dardised 109 Plants, new or note- worthy— Clematis macrop^tnla 111 Potato trials in Wales 110 Societies — Royal Horticultural 11!) Trade notes 120 Tri-e3 and shrubs — Crdrus Libani 111 Vegetables — Onions lis Spring Cabbage US IIS Ward's, Mr. lungdon, sixth expedition in Asia 11a Week's work, the 111! Wisley, notes from Ill .. 117 ILLUSTRATIONS. Cedru? Libani at. Chorleywood Cedars, large specimens of Ill C'otoneaster salicifolia var. flocccsa 11+ tymbidium Curlew var. Rosy Gem 115 Fraser, Mr. John, portrait of .110 iris Ann Page 118 ; I. Asia 117 ; I. Phyllis Bliss .. 117 Fotinara Juliettae . . . . . . . . 11:1 Averioe Mean Temperature for the ensuing week deduced from observations during the last fifty years at Greenwich, 40.9. Actual Temperature : — Gardeners' Chronicle Office, 5, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden London. Wednesday, March 8, 10 a.m. Bar. 30.1; temp. 44°.— Weather— Raining. The second annual report of The National the Council of the National institute of Institute of Agricultural Agricultural Botany is a record of achieve- Botany. ment "0f wnich the Council, and particularly the chairman. Sir Lawrence Weaver, have every reason to be proud. Notwithstanding building difficul- ties, the Institute has been provided with a permanent and worthy home. The buildings at Cambridge are admirably planned, ade- quate, at all events for many years, for the manifold work which is carried on there, and, thanks to the good taste of the archi- tect, Mr. P. Morelv iHorder, they demonstrate that it is possible in the laboratory-type of building to combine utility and grace. As we have explained on a previous occasion, the work of the Institute is two-fold — the improvement of crops and the testing of seeds. Both branches of work call for a high degree of experience and skill, and out of both important advantages to British agriculture and horticulture are bound to accrue. It is, however, to the former branch that general interest will be chiefly directed. The work of this branch falls into several sections, the chief of which are those concerned with Cereals and Potatos. The methods employed cannot by the nature of the case be quite 'dentical in the case of these two crops. The latter of them stands by itself, and the task of improving the Potato is in the charge of a committee presided over by Dr. Sala- man, who has had wide experience in Potato breeding and whose enthusiasm for and devotion to this work are a guarantee that the interests of Potato raisers and growers will be most actively promoted bv the In- stitute. Beside the immunitv trials carried on at Ormskirk on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, there have been established by the Institute an important series of maturity trials, the object of which is to gain and impart certain information as to the time of maturing of the chief varieties, particularly those belonging to the early section. Knowledge of this subject, which is of great practical importance, is still very scanty. In the absence of certain informa- tion it cannot even be asserted — although it is probable enough — that the limes of maturity of given varieties of Potatos are constant relatively to one another. Visitors to the Royal Agricultural Show, which is to be held at Cambridge this year, will have an opportunity of seeing the methods adopted bv the Institute with the object of investi- gating time of maturing. About one and a half acre of the ground on which the show is to be held has been set aside for demonstrating trial plots of Potatos, Wheat, and other Cereals. What is to be regarded as the main function of the Institute is to bridge the gap between the producer of a new variety and the commercial exploitation of that variety. Before a new and promising variety can be put on the market, it must be tested thoroughly and a sufficient stock c" it worked up. These tasks are heavy and tedious, and it says much for the enterprise of British seed houses that they have in the past been discharged so well. It is by no means the object of the Institute to enter into competition with firms engaged in this work, but rather to provide a means whereby everyone who has a good thing may secure its being put to a searching and authoritative test. Already numbers of promising new varieties of Potatos are under trial, and so also are several new hybrid, winter, white Oats, which have been raised at the Plant Breeding Institute at Cam- bridge. The plan to be generally adopted in these trials is to provide, first, a pre- liminary trial for the purpose of ascertaining that each new variety comes up to a certain standard, and for "providing seed grown under known conditions, sufficient for the full trial which will take place in _ the following year and in several localities simultaneously. We hope that everyone interested in improvement of crops will lend support to the Institute. It is open to all to do so by becoming Fellows of the Insti- tute, and when it is realised that 2,000 Fellows would suffice to provide the Institute with a means sufficient to enable it to carry out its programme in its entirety, we are sure that that number will speedily be enrolled. Arnott Lectures at Aberdeen.— There was con- cluded on Friday evening, 3rd inst., in Robert Gordon's Technical College, Aberdeen, the annual Arnott course of lectures. Founded a considerable time ago for the benefit of the humbler classes these lectures have ever proved a great success. This year the lecturers and the subjects they dealt with were as follow :— "American Forests," by Mr. Peter Leslie, M.A., B.Sc. ; "Insect Gardeners and Flower Lovers," by Dr. Macgregor Skene; and the " Measurement of High Temperatures," by Dr. William Maitland. All these gentlemen hold lectureships in Aberdeen University, and with the aid of lantern slides, specimens, etc., worthily upheld the traditions of the Arnott lectures. Naturally, horticulturists predominated in the audiences. Scottish Forestry Commission's Work.— Keen satisfaction is being expressed in the Highlands of Scotland on the good news that, despite the recommendations of the Geddes Committee, the work of the Forestry Commission is to be con- tinued. Lord Lovat, chairman of the Com- mission, has received intimation that the Govern- ment has decided to continue its grant. The sum arranged is understood to amount to about £220.000. True, this is considerably less than the amount sought, but it will be adequate to enable the Commission's work in the Highlands to be continued. Complaint was made in certain quarters regarding the large allocation to Scot- land, but those now carrying out afforestation operations in the north very quickly impressed upon the Government authorities that the Scot- tish Highlands offered the best opportunities for the successful development of the scheme. Needless to say, the good news will remove apprehensions which existed regarding unem- ployment and other consequences which might have arisen had the work of the Commission been upset. Holland County Potato Show. — The Holland Countv Potato Show is to be held in Boston on Thursday, October 26. 1922. All the local Agricultural and Farmers' Societies are co- operating with the Show Committee, and re- presentatives have been appointed by the follow- ing Societies : — Boston Farmers' Union. Boston Agricultural Society. Holland Farmers' Union, South Lincolnshire Potato Merchants' Associa- tion, and the Boston Allotments' Association. A preliminary schedule is to be issued imme- diately for the information of competitors; it will include open classes for traders, classes open only to the County of Lincoln, and also a class for new or improved implements used in the cultivation of the Potato. Proposed National Daffodil Society. — A meet- ing to consider the proposal to form a National Daffodil Society will be held in the Lecture Room at the R.H.S. Hall at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, and not on Wednesday, March 15, as previously anr/ounced. All who are interested in Daffodils are invited to attend the meeting. Standardised Plant Names. — We learn that the American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature proposes to issue an " Official Catalogue of Standardised Plant Names." This work will represent the labours, extending lover five years, of Messrs. Frederick Law Olmsted, Frederick V. Coville, and Harlan P. Kelsey. These gentlemen have had all possible help from the Bureau of Plant Industry in the Department of Agriculture at Washington, to- gether with the aid of many capable collabora- tors. The " Catalogue of Standardised Plant Names " will include the appifjved scientific names of plants in American commerce, and the synonyms whioh have been most generally used for such approved names ; the approved common names of such plants where the names have been formulated, and important synonymous or unapproved cbmmon names ; authoritative lists of varietal names, in important classes, such as Rose, Iris, Paeony, Dahlia, Lilac, Rhododendron, Chrysanthemum, Sweet Pea, etc.; and the approved varietal names of fruits, according to the newly revised code of the American Pomo- logical Society. These important lists will be included in the main alphabetical' order, or where more than five pages long, in an appen- dix , such lists being either supplied by the various organisations devoted to the subjects treated, as the American Hose Society, the American Iris Society, or by a known authority. A distinct arrangement of type faces will in- dicate the various values of the names listed. Orders for this catalogue sent to Mi-. Harlan P Kelsey, Salem, Mass., U.S.A.. prior to March 31, will" be executed for $3,75 if remittance accompanies the order; after March 31, the price will be $5. Journal of the R.H.S. Gardens' Club. -The issue of this journal for 1921 has as a frontis- piece the handsome tablet that was erected as a memorial to ithe Wisley students who fell in the war, of which an illustration was given in Gard. Chron., June 25, 1921, with a notice of its unveiling bv Lord Lambounio. The fauna and flora, of Wisley are dealt with in articles by Mr. G. Fox Wilson and Mr. Edwin ]•',. Turner, in " Wild Plants as Hosts of Insect Pests at Wisley " and " The Wisley Flora," respectively. There' is also an interesting paper on " Insei'ls and their Environment," delivered by Mr. \V. J. Lucas, before the Wisley Scientific Society. A short notice of Wisley Church, by " W.D.C." shows ill,- present building to be 110 TEE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. March 11, 1922. of late 12th century date, although 'there are traces of the foundations of a Saxon church. The most imposing feature of the church is con- sidered to be the rounded chancel arch. There is a good deal of old timber in the roof, and on a. rectangular panel in one of the oaken pews is 'the date 1630 in raised figures. The church received extensive restoration in 1872, and all the internal fittings are modern, except an old, 16th century, wrought-iron hour-glass bracket fixed on the wall near the pulpit. The cup and paten of the church dalte back to 1713 and 1714 respectively. Mr. J. Fraser gives an account of a botanising expedition on \Ben .More in June. This mountain has an elevation of 3,840 feet. Amongst the plants wihich he discovered were Caltha palustris minor, Salix myrsinites, S. herbacea and S. Lapponum. Mr. .Fraser repeated his visit in September, when he found Saxifraga stellaris, S. aizoides, S. nivalis, Polygonum viviparum, Carex atrofusca and Juniperus eibirica. On this occasion he experienced one of those storms of rain anu driving cloud which are common in the High- lands, and he states " I got wetted for half my length, and my boots would hold no more water. When I got on the public road they made such a noise that I removed and emptied them, wrung my stockings and soon forgot all about it, as the wind dried me long before 1 got to Killin, as on many a previous occasion." The activities of the various clubs associated with the gardens, and the doings of old students, are recorded, and there is a list of the Club members, with their addresses. Trial of Potatos in Wales.— Trials of Potatos conducted in various centres by the Department of Agriculture, University College of North Wales, Btaigor, in association with the County Councils of Anglesey, Carnarvonshire, Denbigh- shire and Flintshire show great differences of yields of the same variety in tire different centres ; in some cases as much as one hundred per cent. The highest average yields amongst early varieties were Dargill Early, 7 tons 14 cwt., and 'Witch Hill, 7 tons 1 cwt,, com- pared with Arran Rose, 6 tons 16 cwt., and Re- sistant Snowdrop, 6 tons 12 owt. The highest yield in the second earlies was King George, 12 tons 18 cwt., while amongst late sorts Lochar, 13 tons 19 cwt., and Kerr's Pink, 13 tons 13 cwt., gave the heaviest yields. As showing the influence of district on the yield, the crop per acre at the centres in Flintshire was in every respect higher than in the four other stations. At Tre Eden Owain, Flintshire, Great Scot gave a yield of 15 tons 4 cwt., the average of four centres in Flintshire for this variety being 14 tons 5 cwt. This was also the average yield in the Flintshire centres for Kerr's Pink. The second earlies, Ally and Arran Comrade, gave yields of 12 tons 8 cwt. and 12 tons 11 cwt. respectively. Most of these varieties have been tested for three years by the University Col- lege, Bangor, and the results of the different years agree very closely. Lime-Sulphur. — Messrs. E. S. Salmon and E. Horton* have discovered that calcium casemate is a valuable material for adding to lime-sulphur for increasing the wetting properties of the fungicide. Their experiments were conducted with Hop plants, grown in a greenhouse, affected with the Hop mildew. Although cal- cium casemate has been used in conjunction with lime-sulphur as an insecticide, there are no records of its having been previously used in improving lime-sulphur as a fungicide. In the first experiments one pea- cent, of calcium caseinate was used with lime-sulphur (1.3C sp. gr.) at the dilutions 1 :99, 1 :149 and 1 :199, con- taining respectively 0.16. 0.11 and 0.08 per cent. of polysulphide sulphur. At the first two strengths the patches of mildew on the sprayed leaves were killed, but at the strength 1 :99 the specific was clearly not quite fungicidal. In another series of experiments the lime-sulphur was used at the dilution 1 :99 with 0.5 per cent, of calcium caseinate. and this again proved com- pletely fungicidal. The value of calcium caseinate appears to 'be simply to secure the * Lime-Sulphur and Calcium Caseinate ax a Funpi- eide. By E. S. Salmon n.nd E. Horton. Research Department, S.E. Agricultural College, Wye. complete wetting of the fungus, and is made by stirring two parts of commercial casein and one part oi slaked lime in twenty parts of water for about two irours and allowing any undissolved solid to settle. The soiipernatant liquid, used without filtration, is, roughly, ten per cent, solution of oalcium caseinate and hall a gallon or one gallon of it is used in the preparation of ten gallons of lime-sulphur wash according as it is desired to have 0.5 or 1.0 per cent, of cal- cium caseinate present. It is considered pro- bable by the experimenters that lime-sulphur mixed with calcium caseinate would be valuable for use against American Gooseberry mildew, and with this dilution there would be little risk of disfiguring the ripening Gooseberries. Mr. J. Fraser, V.M.H.— The Royal Horti- cultural Society has recently awarded its highest honour, the Victoria Medal of Honour in Horti- culture, to Mr. John Fraser, and on no one has that honour- been more worthily bestowed. We doubt whether anyone possesses such a wide general knowledge of horticulture and botany as does Mr. Fraser, and he is ever ready to place that knowledge at the disposal of others. A man of untiring energy, studious, a voluminous note-taker, a careful and kindly critic, always genial, and of a retiring, modest MR. JOHN FRASER, V.M.H disposition, Mr. Fraser is greatly beloved by all who know him, and as he has resided for very many years at Kew, and has visited the majority of horticultural meetings held in London during that period, he has a very wide circle of friends. To this circle he has added many other friends, seeing that he is an ardent British botanist, and has tramped over a very considerable part of England and Scotland in search of, or to verify, native plants. He commenced his gardening career in 1874, and continued his studies for 5^ years in Scotland. In February. 1880, he came south, joined the staff of the Royal Horti- cultural Society, at its famous old Ghiswick gardens. There he remained two years, and left to take oharge of the new rock garden at Kew. Later, he had care of some of the glasshouses, and altogether he remained in the gardens at Kew for three years. In 1885, he commenced work in the Jodrell Laboratory on behalf of Sir John Lubbock, who later became Lord Ave- bury. Mr. Fraser's chief work was the stndy and description of tseedlings, seeds, buds, stipules, pollen, and other botanical matters for Lord Avebury's classical works on A Con- tribution to Our Knowledge of Seedlings, and Buds and Stipules, and he remained as botanical assistant to Lord Ave'bury from 1885 to 1912. In 1887 he became Assistant Editor of the Gardening World, and was its Editor from 1895 until 1909. Several books on horticul- tural subjects have been written by him, whilst he has contributed to such well-known works as Thompson's Gardeners' Assistant, Cassell's Popular Gardening, .and Caiscll's Popular Science, and edited the 1917 edition of John- son's Gardener's Dictionary. Mr. Fraser has also been a regular contributor to The Gar- deners' Chronicle since 1883. He is a member of the Floral and Scientific Committees of the R.H.S., and probably no one contributes more specimens for the consideration of the latter body than does Mr. J. Fraser. Appointments lor the Ensuing Week. — Mon- day, March 13. — United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society's Annual meeting; Bath Gardeners' Society's meeting; Purley Horti- cultural Society's meeting. Tuesday, March 14. — Royal Horticultural Society's Committee meeting (two days) ; lecture by Dr. A. B. Bendle on " Plants of Interest in the Day's Exhibi- tion"; Cardiff Gardeners' Society's niieeting- Wednesday, March 15. — Hertford Horticultural Society's meeting. Thursday, March 16. — Man- chester and North of England Orchid Society's, meeting; Linnean Society's meeting at 5 p.m.; Wargrave and District Gardeners' Society's meeting. Friday, March 17. — Perthshire Royal Horticultural Society's spring flowsr show; Eastbourne Horticultural Society's meeting. Saturday, March 18. — British Mycological Society's meeting at Cambridge. The Gardeners' Chronicle'' Seventy-five Years Ago. — Quinoa. — In 1841 my employer, Sh- J. S. Richardson, Bart., gave me a package of Quinoa seed, with instructions to sow it on a warm border about the end of March, in rows- 18 in. apart. The plants came up in about three weeks very closely ; they were thinned cut to 4 in. apart in the row when 2 in. high,, and the thinnings were transplanted the same distance from each other as those left. They all grew most luxuriantly till the beginning of August, the plants being then about 5 ft. high, with an extraordinary quantity of seed, which was ripened by the middle of September. The seed was cooked in various ways, and tried by my employer ; but I do not think it was. relished by any of the family. I also had it boiled both with milk and with water, and made in the form of a pudding, but none of my family liked it. Sir John sent plants of it for inspection to the late Dr. Graham, of Edinburgh, who replied : " Your plant is called in S. America Quinoa, and is, in botanical phrase, Chenopo- dium Quinoa. It is much cultivated in moun- tainous situations and very extensively used as food on the western side of the continent. I believe it is used in various forms, but the- 1 principal are two — first, boiled with water into a kind of gruel, and variously seasoned accord- ing to taste; second, roasted, boiled in water like coffee, seasoned to taste. The South Americans are said to be very fond of it. and live in great part upon it. Europeans rarely relish it. It is extensively used from Lima all | along the west coast. I ought to have said the seeds alone are used in the above way. It bears cultivation well in the open air here, and ripens its seed very freely." I may remark that to sow it in a Cucumber frame answers no good end. as it grows freely in the open air and transplants well. William Sharpe, Pitfour Castle Gardens, March 1. Card. Citron., Morel, 13, 1847 Publications Received.— Experiments and Suggestions for the Control of the Codling Moth in the. Grand Valla/ of Colorado. By E. H. Siegler and H. K. Plank. Bulletin No. 959. Results of Work on Blister Beetles in Kansas. By F. B. Milliken. Bulletin No. 967. Studies in the Clarification of J'nfermented Fruit Juices. By Joseph S. Caldwell. Bulle- tin No. 1025. dictation of Initial Temperature to Pressure, Vacuum, and Temperature Changes in the Container During Canninq Operations. By C. A. Magoon and C. W. Cul- pepper. All published by the United States Department of Agriculture and obtainable from the Government Printing Office. Washington, D.C. SFakcii 1ft 1922. THE GARDENERS' GffRONICLE. rrr NEW OR NOTEWORTHY PLANTS. CLEMATIS MACROPETALA, LEDEBOUK. Though known to botanists for some years through specimens collected in Siberia, the late Mr. Reginald Farrer appears to have been the first to introduce living plants of this distinct Clematis to our gardens. His numbers F. 315 and F. 559, the latter exhibited by A. C. T. Wood- ward, Esq., Alley Castle, Bewdley, at the meet- ing, of the Royal Horticultural Society on February 14. have been identified as C. macropetala... It is a slender, climbing, deciduous species, be- longing to the Atragene section. The leaves are biternate, the flowers solitary, two to three inches across, sepals lilac and white, petal-like segments filling the centre. Mr. Farrer described it as a charming climber scrambling over rough shrubs in Kansu. A. 0 TREES AND SHRUBS. CEDRUS LIBANI. The correspondence arising from Mi'. Stacey's note on page 56 on the Cedar of Lebanon ia very interesting -.nd instructive. I am in accord with Mr. H. Clinton Baker (page 81) that Cedrus Libani is not slow of growth, although the nature of the soil would have an influence in this respect. Her2 at (Joombe House, Croydoi'., are four specione'is planted in a row in front of the residence, and it is my opinion that the whole four trees are about the same age, although each tree is entirely different, leading me to believe that they were from seedlings raised about the same time as the Bayfordbury specimens. One of our trees is very much smaller than the other three, which I attribute to it being planted on the site of some ancient underground building. The Chorleywood speci- mens (see Fig. 54) are, no doubt, about the same age as those at Coombe House. The largest of our four trees is 20 ft. in circumference. The fact of the Chorleywood tree being 5 ft. more in circumference would depend on the rapidity of growth in its earlier stages, and not so much on a given number of years. The falling if the needles jvery third or fourth year in such, large quantities may be due to fogs. The Cedars here and in the neighbourhood drop their leaves annually, and I have noticed that if we have a succession of heavy fog^ the trees shed their needles when the latter are in a green state. There are other specimens close to Croy- don, namely, at Beddiugton, Addington, and Hayes, and these appear to be about the same age as those at Coombe House. I give the cir- cumference of each tree at 3 ft. from the ground (they are greater above and below that height) and the spread of branches: — No. 1, circum- ference 15 ft. 8 in., width of branches 94 ft., height about 75 ft. to 80 ft. ; No. 2, circum- ference 20 ft. 8 in., width of branches 107 ft., height about 90 ft. to 95 ft. ; No. 3, circum- ference 16 ft. 3 in., width of branches 92 ft., height about 75 ft. to 80 ft. ; No. 4, circum- ference 8 ft. 8 in., width of branches 61 ft., height about 60 ft. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 bear cones and produce catkins ; No. 4 is barren of both. — Mark Hills, Coombe House Gardens, Croydon. With reference to the correspondence on the Cedars at Chorleywood, I used to know these as a boy, and I thought the estimate of their age— from 450 to 1,000 years —was exosssive as well as vague. I wrote to a gentleman who is well informed and who knows the Cedars, and he writes as follows: — " It is not definitely known when the first Cedar was introduced into England, but the fact that it is not mentioned in John Evelyn's Sylva, written in 1664, is fair evidence that there were no big specimens in the country then. The first brought to Europe is said to have been introduced to France in 1549. A tree still (1901) growing at Bretby Park, Derby- shire, has been thought to be the oldest in England; this was planted in 1676." F. L. Govett, Lavershot Homestead, Windlesham. THE ALPINE GARDEN. THE CORSICAN HEDGE-NETTLE. It will be news to many who have seen the little Stachys Corsica offered as a novelty at distant intervals to know that it has been in cultivation for almost one hundred years. I am informed on good authority that it was introduced to this country in 1823. The fact that the plant is occasionally lost in winter as one which has a good deal to do with its being offered afresh. Small plants do not suffer so much from adverse weather as large ones, and I have had spreading masses so crippled by rain, followed by hard frosts, that they were not worth retaining and had to be re- placed by small ones. It is a remarkably pretty little plant, which makes a close carpet of small, rather hairy-looking leaves, and is almost covered with little flowers