June 15, 1907 



HORTICULTURE 



779 



sylv&tica variety alba. These are more graceful and 

 airy than many of tlie stiff. Hat kinds one often sees. 



Viola cornuta and its wliite variety are valuable early 

 plants and so are the varieties Administration and Wiite 

 Perfection. Clumps of English primroses and poly- 

 anthiises are always pleasing and fascinating. 



The only pasonies in bloom are anomala, tenui folia, 

 tcnuifolia hybrida, arietina, and Barri. The large 

 single flowers and the nicely cut leaves of these early 

 flowering species are quite attractive. Irises in bloom 

 are pumila, olbiensis, olbiensis variety sulphurea, nudi- 

 caulis, florentina Germanica variety. Purple King and 

 oristata. 



Good practical advice at this time is to keep the hand 

 fork busy weeding out switch grass and other obnoxious 

 weeds which are sure to be annoying. Now is an op- 

 portune time to begin to take notes of plants that are 

 wrongly placed so that they can be moved in fall to 

 places where they will make more pleasing comljina- 

 tions of color. 



British Horticulture 



TIIL; STUA'WT.liRKY CROP 



The unfavorable weather which has marred the 

 opening of the summer has caused a great deal of 

 anxiety amongst strawberry growers, particularly those 

 who are growing for the early market. A correspondent 

 in "Garden Life" points out that in America it is a 

 common practice to apply after flowering a dressing of 

 nitrate of soda at the rate of about a hundred weight 

 per acre, and as it has been shown by Dr. Dyer's exper- 

 iments that artificial fertilizers not only increase the 

 crop but also hasten its ripening he suggests that the 

 practice might with advantage be adopted in Britain. 

 The writer also shows that apart from late frost the 

 strawberry is fortunately not exposed to many risks. 

 There are two fungoid diseases by which it is sometimes 

 iittacked^ — mildew, easily recognized by the white 

 tlireads which spread over the foliage and fruit, and 

 leaf blight, distinguished by red patches on the leaves. 

 Both may be cured by spraying with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture. Amongst insects, the most troublesome are red- 

 spider, chiefly under glass where the plants have been 

 kept too dry, and several of the ground beetles. The 

 latter eat the seeds, and in consequence the fruit instead 

 of swelling is small and hard. These beetles are usually 

 trapped by means of tins half filled with sugar and water 

 sunk to their brims between the rows in different parts 

 of the bed, 



A VISIT OF FRENCH HORTICULTURISTS 



A party of French gardeners took advantage of an 

 excursion arranged by a trade society this week and 

 visited London, where ':hey were accorded a genial wel- 

 come. They visited the great Temple show on the 

 second day, and were delighted with the magnificent 

 display. The staging of the plants evoked their warm- 

 est admiration. A hearty greeting was extended by the 

 officials of the Eoyal Horticultural Society. After 

 niakins a tour of the tents the visitors saw the chief 



places o£ note in the Metropolis, including the parks 

 and the famous Kew Gardens, whilst some of the party 

 samjjled the eloquence in the House of Commons, and 

 exchanged compliments with some of the members of 

 Parliament who are interested in promoting a good 

 feeling between Britain and France. In the evening 

 tlie inevitable dinner took place, the visitors being the 

 guests of British nurserymen. There was a pleasant 

 jnterchange of good wi.shes between representatives of 

 the two countries. Many of the British nurserymen 

 retain happy recollections of tlie kindness they have 

 received when making a tour of inspection in France, 

 and the present visit afforded a splendid opportunity 

 for showing their gratitude, xiltogether the trip was 

 a great success, and the Parisians returned with very 

 pleasant remembrances, besides being impressed with 

 the high standard reached at our premier show. 



A SALE OF ORCHIDS 



An important sale of orchids belonging to the late 

 Sir Frederick Wigan, recently took place in London, 

 with very satisfactory results, the total realized being 

 about £4,000. There was a good attendance of 

 buyers, among.^.t whom there was a gi'eat keenness to 

 secure lots, especially for the white cattleyas. and the 

 remarkable hybrids. Three plants of Miltonia vexil- 

 laria Memoria G. D. Owen realized 500 guineas, 420 

 guineas, and 390 guineas, respectively. M. v. alba 

 made 38 guineas. Cattleya labiata alba sold for 66 

 guineas, C. 1. Cooksonige, 72 guineas; C. Mossise The 

 Queen, 31 guineas; C. M. Wagneri, 28 guineas; C. 

 Schroderse alba, 27 guineas. A good type of Sophro- 

 Cattleya Doris made 40 guineas, whilst a smaller plant 

 realized 13 guineas. A fine specimen of Cymbidium 

 Devonianum sold for 32 guineas. Megaclinium fal- 

 catum, G 1-2 guineas. Some of the smaller plants made 

 good prices. There was a keen competition for the rose- 

 blotched C. bellatulum Princess Clementine, which 

 went for 44 guineas. The high prices which prevailed 

 indicate that there is no decline in the value of the best 

 kinds of orchids, and that there is still an unlimited 

 demand for some of the choicest specimens in spite of 

 the high value placed on them. The cult of the orchid 

 is as flourishing as ever, although for the rarer speci- 

 mens orchid growing must remain the hobby of the rich. 

 There is a remarkable fascination in the collection of 

 the rarer specimens. 



CHRYSANTHEMUM AND CARNATION SHOW 



At the next market show, arranged under the 

 auspices of the National Chrysanthemum Societv, a new 

 departure is to be made in the shape of carnations. 

 There are several market florists who cultivate tree car- 

 nations to perfection, and there should not be any 

 difficulty in arranging a good display. The committee 

 nuiking the arrangements include Mr. A. Smith, the 

 raiser of Britannia. In the chrysanthemum section 

 jirizes will be offered for exhibits of market growers, 

 nurserymen and commission salesmen. Special awards 

 will be made from the best novelty not in commerce, 

 the best packed two boxes of market bloom, and the 

 best memorial design of chrysanthemum blooms. In 

 the carnation section prizes will be awarded for a col- 

 lection of winter-flowering carnations in vases to fill a 

 table space of 8 ft. by 3 ft. also for 36 blooms of 

 various tints. 



^tXr/. Ckeli"^. 



