IRISH GARDENING. 



Duke of Edinburgfh, Ulrich Brunner, and Victor Hugo. 

 A magnificent display of sweet pea filling the whole 

 length of one table ; some of the finest were King 

 Edward VII., Miss Wilmott, Nora Unwin, Gladys 

 Unwin, Lady Grisel Hamilton and Navy Blue. 



Fruit and Vegetables. — \n the fruit and vegetable 

 section there were many classes, and all the prizes were 

 well contested. Mr. J. W. Bennett staged a dish of 

 strawberries which were deserving of much commenda- 

 tion. For green gooseberries Mr. W. G. Keywood 

 staged the premier collection. Cucumbers were largely 

 staged. Mr. A. Jenkins first with a good form of 

 Telegraph. One of the principal features of the big tent 

 was the wonderful display of potatoes. The leading 

 varieties were Epicure and Ninety-fold. The exhibits 

 were close in order of merit, and displayed to the best 

 advantage. 



The principal prize winners were .\. Jenkins, Miss K. 

 French, Mrs. O'Sullivan, Mrs. Crowley, J. W. Bennett, 

 \V. Bateman, Mrs. D. T. Donovan, Major A. P. Longfield, 

 Mrs. French, Mrs. Hawkes, W. G. Keywood, J . Crowley. 



Notes. 



An Interesting Nlrserv. — Plant breeding, owing 

 to the impetus given to it b)' the discoveries of Mendel, 

 has now become a subject of great practical interest. 

 But many years before Mendelism was embraced 

 by the modern breeder, the late Mr. Thomas Laxton, 

 founder of the present Bedford firm of Laxton Bros., 

 was carrying on experiments in hybridisation, notably 

 with garden peas and strawberries. He was induced 

 to start this work by his friends. Dr. M'Lean and 

 Charles Darwin, and reference is made lo his results in 

 the cross-breeding of peas in Darwin's work on '• Plants 

 and Animals under Domestication." Among Laxton's 

 success in the raising of new peas may be mentioned 

 Supreme (his first), William 1st., William Hurst, Ear- 

 liest of All, Gradus and Alderman. In strawberries 

 his success was equally great, as has he not given us, 

 amongst others, the "Royal Sovereign " (sent out in 

 1893), the most popular strawberry at present grown ? 

 The present firm is keeping up the traditions of the 

 name, and each season we have two or more new 

 strawberries added to our list. It is needless to give 

 names, as we all know such favourites as the Laxton, 

 the Bedford, Leader, Bedford Champion (claimed to be 

 the biggest strawberry in the world), Reliance, Cropper, 

 &c., &c. The latest are Utility and Rival of the pre- 

 sent season. Everyone interested in strawberry culture 

 should obtain the latest catalogue of the firm, in which 

 full descriptions will be found of all the varieties. 



The Town Council of Wrexham having invited com- 

 petitive designs for laying out their public park, the 

 first premium for the best design has been awarded to 

 Messrs. Cheal and Sons of Crawley. 



The Banbridge Horticultural and Agricultural Associa- 

 tion will hold its annual show on Tuesday, the 24th of 

 the present month. Several leading nurserymen have 

 promised to stage exhibits. The show will be opened 

 by Mrs. N. D. Ferguson, wife of the president. Mr. R. 

 .AUingham, Glencar, Banbridge, is the secretary. 



Two New Insecticides. — Our attention has been 

 drawn to two recently introduced insecticides — one in 

 powder and the other in liquid form — and known as Clift's 

 Insecticide. The powder insecticide is claimed to be a 

 most effective remedy for soil grubs, leather-jackets, 

 wire-worms, cabbage fly grubs, millipedes &c, as well as 

 slugs and snails (our own remedy for the latter, by the 

 way, is ducks !). The liquid preparation, it is further 

 said, may be used with perfect safety for watering 

 the soil or lawns at the rate of five parts to 100 of water, 

 the liquid killing soil grubs, worms, and slugs. It may 

 also be used as a spraj'ing fluid. Messrs. Robinson 

 Bros, of West Bromwich are the manufacturers. 



Catalogues. 



Border Carnations and Picotees, also Malmaison 

 AND Perpetual Flowering Carnations. — This is the 

 title of an illustrated list, sent out by Hayward Mathias, 

 of plants grown at his nurseries at Medstead, Hants. 

 The list is a descriptive one, and gardeners will find it 

 convenient for reference. We have noticed that Mr. 

 Mathias has won, during the past month, several gold 

 medals, certificates, and prizes for various classes of 

 carnations. 



BcLBS, &c., 1909, is a well illustrated booklet sent to 

 us by Messrs. Little and Ballantyne. The " &c." 

 includes fruit trees and hardy perennials. 



Hartland's " New and Rare Seedling Daffodils 

 AND N.\rcissls " is a list issued from .\rd-Cairn of 

 varieties "selected from all the principal growers, 

 including what we ourselves have raised." The prices 

 per bulb range from Polly Eccles at half-a-crown to 

 Jasper, for which a price of j£3o is demanded. It is 

 certainly a very interesting list, and as all the varieties 

 are described it is worth securing. 



Vegetable, Flower, and Farm Seeds 



From the Finest Stocks and Strains in Cultivation. 

 Catalogue Post Free. 



Browne, Thompson & Co., 



Seedsmen, CORK. 



Telegrams— " Thompson, Seedsman, Cork." 



'' BECKER BROS. 



Prices— 



2/5- 2/2> 2/-, 



i/io, 1/8, 1/6, 



1/4, X/2. 



TEAS. 



8 Sth. Gt. George's St. 

 AND 17 Nth. Earl St. 



Prices — 

 2/5, 2/2, 2/-, 

 i/io, 1/8, 1/6, 



1/4, 1/2. 



Dublin. 



