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THE GARDENERS 1 CHRONICLE. 



[November IT, 1888. 



eight varieties, — a very good selection indeed. 

 Under the name of T. subaspera, shot-purple, 

 is one well worth cultivating. I have seen 

 bunches of cut flowers of Tradescantias, and espe- 

 cially of the rich deep blue variety used in stands of 

 bunches of cut flowers of hardy perennials ; the blue, 

 white, and carmine afford an excellent contrast. At the 

 great Whitsun show at Manchester, where collections 

 of hardy flowers are shown in pots, the Tradescantias 

 play an important part. As a matter of course, 

 nearly all of them have to be forced into flower, but 

 the Tradescantias bear forcing well. As they grow 

 to a height of from 12 to 18 inches, they should 

 occupy about the third row in the herbaceous border ; 

 but ample room should be given them, as in suitable 

 soil they make large tufts when they are well-estab- 

 lished. As the Tradescantias do not appear to seed, 

 the sole mode of propagation is by means of division 

 of the roots. S. B. 



WALL TREE BORDERS.— There is no rule with- 

 out its exception, but in the case of wall tree 

 borders the rule is to plant the borders perpetually 

 with vegetables or flowers, and the exception is to 

 find the border left unoccupied. That wall trees do 

 not suffer appreciably under such double cropping of 

 the borders is evident from the fact that almost 

 universally good vegetable crops are taken off the 

 borders, which are annually dug and manured up to 

 within 3 feet of the tree stems, and yet trees do well 

 and produce abundant crops of fruit. There seems 

 to be no doubt whatever that wall trees, especially 

 the tenderer stone-fruits, suffer far more from 

 climatic conditions and frequent changes of tempe- 

 rature than from defective cultivation of iruit 

 borders. The fact is that gardeners cannot afford, 

 even if they would, to dispense with cropping of 

 their wall tree borders. These, and especially the 

 warmer ones, are invaluable for the growth of early 

 vegetables ; indeed, are indispensable. It is just 

 possible that borders of, say, from 10 to 12 feet in 

 width, if not thus surface moulded and cropped, 

 would, if left constantly hard or mulched, soon become 

 close and sour and inimical to root development 

 (Vine borders do not become so). I know very well 

 that at Ditton Park, Slough, with its 400 yards length 

 of 10 feet wall, and double that length of cultivated 

 border, the walls carrying superb trees of all ordi- 

 nary kinds, and presenting, on the whole, one 

 of the best examples of wall tree culture in the 

 kingdom, all the borders up to within 3 feet 

 of the trees are close cropped. Perhaps the 

 chief secret of success there lies in the fact 

 that prior to planting new trees, a foot depth of 

 rubble and rough turf was always placed well 

 below ; and thus the roots were kept out of the sub- 

 soil, and induced to run deep in the well-manured 

 soil beneath the vegetable crop. A. D. 



Societies. 



LINNEAN. 



The first meeting of the session 1888 — 89 took 

 place on Thursday evening, November 1, Mr. William 

 Carruthers, F.R.S., President, in the chair. The 

 following were elected Fellows of the Society : — 

 "William Overend Priestley, M.D., F.R.C.P. ; John 

 "Way, M.D. ; and John Evans, Esq. 



Professor Bower exhibited and made remarks upon 

 some adventitious buds on a leaf of Gnetum gnemon. 



Mr. John Young exhibited (1) a rare bird, Plu- 

 vianellus sociabilis, unobserved for fifty years, and 

 lately rediscovered by him in Patagonia ; (2) a cluster 

 of nests formed of lichen (Usuea) by a swift, as sup- 

 posed of the genus Collocalia, from a cave in Eimes, 

 one of the Society Islands; (3) remarkably elon- 

 gated tail feathers of domestic cock (11 feet in 

 length) artificially produced by the Japanese ; (4), 

 nest and eggs of the snow bunting (Plectrophanes 

 nivalis) taken during the past summer in Scotland. 



Mr. Thomas Christy exhibited a new method 

 of transmitting light to a microscope by means of 

 a curved rod of glass. 



The Rev. K. Baron read a paper on the " Flora of 

 Madagascar," in which he gave an interesting account 

 of his explorations and collections in that island. 

 In a second paper entitled, " Further Contributions 

 to the Flora of Madagascar," Mr. J. G. Baker, F.B.S., 

 described the principal novelties brought home by 

 Mr. Baron, and paid a well deserved tribute to his 

 energy and ability as a botanical explorerer. The 

 next meeting of the Society will be held on 

 November 15. 



EOTAI HORTICULTURAL. 



Tuesday, November 13. — At this meeting of the 

 above Society there was but a small assemblage of 

 garden productions, apart from a trade group of 

 Cyclamens in bloom, the interest centering in the 

 various business mentioned elsewhere. 



Floral Committee. 



Present : G. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair ; and 

 Messrs. Rev. W. "Wilks, J. O'Brien, J. Laing, J. 

 Walker, G. Duffield, H. Herbst, B. Wynne, C. Noble, 

 C. Pilcher, J. Dominy, II. Ballantine, H. M. Pollett. 



From the Royal Gardens, Kew, came a small but 

 beautiful collection of Nymphaia blooms, viz., N. 

 lotus devoniensis, bright piuk ; N. 1. pubescens, very 

 light rose, anthers orange-coloured ; N. lotus, Linn., 

 white and yellow ; N. kewensis X , of the colour of 

 N. 1. devoniensis, but with more breadth in the petal ; 

 and lastly, N. Ortgiesiana, flowers of light pink, with 

 anthers of an orange hue. 



Mr. H. Ballantine, Baron Schroder's gardener, 

 exhibited Lselia Victoria (L. crispa X L. Dominyi). 

 The petals and sepals are purplish-rose, lip 

 dark purple — this colour running down into the 

 lower end of the throat where it is margined with a 

 yellow suffusion. The spike was twin flowered. 

 Some beautiful flowers of warm-house Rhododen- 

 drons were shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 

 most of them being recent hybrids. We may men- 

 tion a few of the best: — Maiden's Blush, pale flesh ; 

 Duchess of Edinburgh, scarlet ; Primrose, the colour 

 of its namesake ; Aurora, salmon ; Empress, crim- 

 son ; President, orange ; Rose Perfection, one of the 

 choicest and with a large truss, too; Princess 

 Alexandra, a pretty white ; and Princess Christian, 

 yellow. 



Mr. W. Cummins, of The Grange, Wallington, 

 showed Disa graminifolia, a slender-habited plant, 

 with two flowers of a deep shade of blue. 



From the garden of B. D. Knox, Esq., Caversham 

 Park, Reading (gr., Mr, Lawrence), came a small 

 species of Oncidium, with a small compact spike of 

 yellow and brown flowers, which individually 

 measured half an inch across. 



Mr. G. Stevens, nurseryman, Putney, showed 

 Japanese Chrysanthemum Mr. Garner, an orange- 

 coloured flower, with florets slightly twisted ; and 

 also the better-known Avalanche. 



A Japanese Chrysanthemum named Charles 

 Delmas, of a chestnut-brown colour, was shown by 

 Messrs. J. R. Pearson, Chillwell, Notts. 



Mr. W. Warren, of Norton Gardens, Isleworth, 

 staged 240 Cyclamens, in good bloom— excellent 

 market stuff. 



From Dropmore came fine cones of Pinus Lam- 

 bertiana. 



FiitsT-cxAss Certificates. 

 Chrysanthemum Mr. Garner, from Mr. G. Stevens. 

 Chrysanthemum Avalanche, from Mr. G. Stevens. 

 Lffilia Victoria x, from Baron Schroder. 



Medals. 

 Silver BanJcsian. — To Mr. W. Warren, for group 

 of Cyclamens. 



Fruit Committee. 



Present : H. J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair ; and 

 Messrs. P. Crowley, G. W. Cummins, R. D. Black- 

 more, J. Smith, W. Warren, S. Ford, A. Pearson, 

 W. Marshall, J. Willard, J. Cheat, J. Roberts, and 

 P. Barr. 



Chiswick sent a collection of Beetroots, consisting 

 of Egyptian, Pine-apple, Improved Black, Prag- 

 nell's, Nutting's Dwarf, and Veitch's Selected Red, 

 Dewar's, Dell's Crimson and Dracsena-leaved, all of 

 these being from seeds obtained from Messrs. J. 

 Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. Most of the roots appeared 

 to be of good colour, and none was too large for 

 ordinary use. 



r Ellacombe's Victoria and Covent Garden Red 

 came from Messrs. Rutley & Silverlock, seedsmen, 

 Victoria Embankment. 



Dobbie & Sons' New Purple is a Beetroot of good 

 colour and shape. 



Chiswick likewise sent a large collection of Onions, 

 amongst them being some few blood-red Onions 

 which, in some instances, were raised from Messrs. 

 Vilmorin & Co.'s seeds. 



There was a remarkable similarity in shape and 

 color amongst all of them, and the bulbs did not 

 show to advantage when compared with the larger 

 yellow and brown-skinned bulbs of more popular 

 varieties of Onions. Southport red Globe (Veitch) 



and Red Meeieres (Vilmorin) approached nearest to 

 the perfection in form seen in the first-named. Thirty 

 varieties or Strains of varieties of light-skinned 

 Onions were shown, a few being of French origin. 



Mr. J. Willard, gr. to Lady Burdett Coutts-Bart- 

 let, Holly Lodge, Highgate, exhibited some examples 

 of the new vegetables mentioned in our columns 

 recently. — Asparagus Chicory. By sowings made 

 twice or thrice during late spring and summer a 

 succession of edible flower-stalks can be ob- 

 tained, the removal of the first stalk resulting in 

 the formation of a number of others. It may be 

 forced and blanched in the open by using a Seakale- 

 pot to cover it ; but it would seem that some kind of 

 ventilation is then necessary to preserve the plant 

 from the effects of damp. 



Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, showed a 

 boxful of tubers of Stachys tuberifera; also some 

 cooked tubers. 



Mr. Tozer, Leamington, showed a seedling Potato, 

 raised in 1887 from seed ; it is a long, slender, white 

 tuber. 



W. Roupell, Esq., Streatham, showed sixty varieties 

 of Apples and received a Bronze Banksian Medal. 

 Some of the fruit was of remarkable goodness, 

 notably Peasgood's Nonsuch Apple, Pitmaston, 

 Duchess, and Baltet Pere Pears. 



H. A. Lane, Esq., Mileham, Streatham, exhibited 

 a small collection of Apples and Pears. 



A seedling Grape, the produce of a cross of Gros 

 Colmar with an unknown variety, was shown by 

 E. H. Woodall, Esq., St. Michael's House, Scar- 

 borough. It is a large black fruit, with crisp flesh, 

 and indifferent flavour. 



First-class Certificates. 

 Stachys tuberifera, from Messrs. James Carter 

 & Co. 



Onion Southport Red Globe, from Messrs. James 

 Veitch & Son. 



Medal. 



Bronze Banksian. — To Mr. W. Roupell, for collec- 

 tion of Apples. 



PORTSMOUTH CHRYSANTHEMUM 

 SHOW. 



November 7, 8, and 9. — The fourth annual exhi- 

 bition of the Portsmouth Chrysanthemum Society 

 was held as usual in the capacious Drill Hall, Land- 

 port. The entries were more numerous than on any 

 former occasion, and the show itself was a great 

 success. 



Cut Blooms, — These were the most important part 

 of the exhibition, as many as 1800 being staged in 

 the various classes. The competition in the class 

 for thirty-six incurved and Japanese was close, a 

 handsome Challenge Trophy, valued at £25, and £6 

 in money, being the prizes for the best stand. 

 Messrs. W. & G. Drover, Fareham, secured the 1st 

 place rather easily, the incurved blooms being large, 

 fresh, and well finished ; the Japanese were of good 

 quality, and were well put up. The more noticeable 

 blooms were E. Molyneux, Boule d'Or, M. J. M. 

 Pigny, Fimbriatum, Madame Baco, and Avalanche 

 among Japanese varieties ; the best incurved were 

 Lord Alcester, the premier bloom in the show ; 

 Golden Empress, Empress of India, and Mrs. Ship- 

 man. 2nd, Mr. W. Neville, gr. to F. W. Flight, 

 Esq., Twyford, Winchester, with a neat collection of 

 smaller flowers ; 3rd, Mr. Penfold, gr. to Sir F. Fitz 

 Wygram, Leigh Park, Havant. 



In the class for twenty-four incurved and Japanese 

 varieties there were seven competitors. 1st, Mr. E. 

 Molyneux, gr. to W. H. Myers, Esq., Swanmore 

 Park, Bishop's Waltham, with blooms in his cus- 

 tomary well-finished style, the varieties, however, 

 containing no novelties ; 2nd, Mr. G. Trinder, gr. to 

 Sir Henry St. Mildmay, Bart., Dogmersfield Park, 

 who staged well ; Boule d'Or in this stand, taking 

 honours as the premier Japanese bloom in the show. 



For twelve Japanese blooms, distinct, 1st, Mr. 

 Inglefield, gr. to Sir J. W. Kelk, Tedworth, Marl- 

 borough, with massive clean bloom, E. Molyneux 

 and Ralph Brocklebank being the best. Mr. E. 

 Molyneux was a close 2nd. 



For the same number of incurved varieties the last 

 named exhibitor was 1st, with blooms of medium 

 size, fresh, and well finished ; 2nd, Messrs. Drover, 

 whose blooms were marked by a slight want of 

 freshness. 



For twelve blooms each of Mrs. G. Rundle, Mrs. 

 Dixon, and G. Glenny there were three competitors. 

 The last-named exhibitors were 1st, with symmetrical 

 and fresh blooms. 



