JULY 



HORTICULTURE 



British Horticulture 



RHODODENDRONS 



At the leading shows, notably at the one held at 

 the Royal Botanic Garden, Regents' Park, indications 

 have been afforded of the magnificence of the rhodo- 

 dendrons secured by the patient work of enthusiasts 

 in this branch. During the last half century a great 

 deal has been accomplished in this direction, until 

 we have a delightful variety of shades. The brilliant 

 effect which can be obtained from a massing of the 

 blooms on undulating ground was demonstrated 

 recently at Regents Park, where Messrs. J. Waterer & 

 Sons, of the American Nurseries, Bagshot, had a 

 quarter of an acre of these popular subjects under 

 canvas. Messrs. Waterer, who cultivate sixty acres 

 of rhododendrons in Surrey, have raised some of the 

 finest specimens now in cultivation. The firm's an- 

 nual displays at the • Botanic Gardens, Cadogan 

 Gardens, and the Thames Embankment, together 

 with the constant introduction of attractive seedlings, 

 have done an immense deal to popularize the Ameri- 

 can varieties on this side. Continental nurserymen 

 have also borne their share in this work, for one of 

 the best hybrids is undoubtedly Mme. Marie Van 

 Houtte, a name which stands high amongst horticul- 

 turists throughout Europe. This is a white bloom, 

 with bronze and gold markings on upper petals, 

 edged with a slight tinge of pink, building up a huge 

 truss full to the last petal. 



A FLORAL HEALTH RESORT 



Rhododendrons flourish particularly at Bourne- 

 mouth, a sylvan seaside retreat on the Hampshire 

 coast. At Ashton Court, Branksome Park, there is 

 one of the most complete private collections in this 

 country, numbering about six hundred varieties. It 

 is a flowering shrub in every way suited to the soil, 

 locality, and natural environment of that district. 

 It is usually contended that plants which grow in 

 peat require little or no manure, but this plan is not 

 followed out at Ashton Court. The practice is to 

 give the beds and borders a good dressing of well- 

 decayed cow-manure every two years, so that one- 

 half is done one year and the other half the next. 

 This is allowed to remain as a mulch the first year, 

 and in the following year the beds are skimmed over 

 with a spade, and the manure turned in. In addition 

 to cow-manure, this year some liquid is being applied 

 made from ichthemic guano, used at the rate of half 

 an ounce to a gallon of water, giving the plants a 

 good soaking twice at about a fortnight's interval. 

 This is used on plants that appear exhausted through 

 continuous flowering, and seem to need a reviver. 

 It is the custom to water early and often, commenc- 

 ing first with all that have been transplanted the 

 previous autumn, and are carrying plenty of flower- 

 ing buds. These are given several good soakings 

 during dry spells in March and April. 



SWEET PEAS FOR EXHIBITION 



A large entry is expected at the show of the Na- 

 tional Sweet Pea Society at the Royal Horticultural 

 Hall, on July 4th. On that day — a very appropri- 

 ate one, by the way — Professor H. J. Webber will 

 lecture on the progress of horticulture in the United 

 States. A foretaste of what will be seen at the show 

 was afforded to-day at the Royal Horticultural Soci- 

 ety's exhibition by Mr. Henry Eckford, the veteran 

 raiser of new varieties, of Wem, Shropshire. Mr. 

 Eckford labored to improve the sweet pea years 

 ago, and his work was then depreciated by those 

 who had not his foresight. He has raised some popu- 

 lar varieties which have gained him world-wide 

 fame. At his well-arranged stand to-day were the 

 trio of novelties which appear last on his list. These 

 are Romolo Piazzani, a violet blue; Black Michael, 

 bright reddish maroon; and David R. Williamson, 

 bright indigo blue. These new comers are likely to 

 be much in evidence at the shows. Mr. C. W. 

 Breadmore, another sweet pea specialist, of Win- 

 chester, has several new introductions, including 

 George Herbert, an immense bloom of a salmon pink 

 hue; Lady Abedare, a delicate pink; and Dora Bread- 

 more, with well-expanded blooms of pale buff-yellow, 

 slightly tinged with pink. These will be seen at the 

 National show. 



A REMEDY FOR CUCUMBER " SPOT " 



For some years market nurserymen have been 

 suffering severe losses through the ravages of the 

 cucumber spot disease, and until recently all sug- 

 gested remedies had been tried and found wanting. 

 Mr. H. D. Ladds, nurseryman, of Swanley, has dis- 

 covered what he regards as a reliable cure, and ar- 

 rangements were made a few months ago to conduct 

 some trials. Should the experiments prove success- 

 ful it was decided that the secret should be purchased 

 from Mr. Ladds. Tlie sum suggested was £1,000, 

 and a fund has been raised to secure this amount. 

 At a meeting of the committee appointed by the 

 growers a resolution has been passed, expressing the 

 opinion of that body "that the application of Mr. 

 Ladd's treatment to diseased houses of cucumbers 

 has enabled the owners of such houses to continue 

 the profitable growing of cucumbers for market, and 

 the committee are of opinion that Mr. Ladd's specific 

 is a valuable one, -and fully worth the amount which 

 has been asked for it." The formula is to be made 

 known to those who have subscribed to the fund. 

 It shows the need of a Government Department on 

 this side to deal with matters of this kind. The 

 Board of Agriculture is too busy with sheep and 

 cattle diseases to have any time to look after the 

 interest of nurservmcn and fruit growers. 



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June 20, igo$. 



