21)2 



THE GARDENERS* MAGAZINE. 



April 13, 1912. 



J 



leaf. If insufficient for the needs of tho 

 tree the growth is more or less stunted, 



in the soil, the leaf 



and, when in 



and stem undergoes rapid development, the 

 tissues are soft, and the foliage is liahle 

 to fungoid attacks. Nitrate of soda and 

 Iphate of ammonia are the two chief 

 nitrogenous manures, both rapidly become 

 available as plant food when applied to the 

 soil, and unless taken up by the roots a 

 considerable proportion of their fertilising 

 properties will be carred away by the drain- 

 age water. Nitrate of soda sliould be used 

 in preference to sulphate of ammonia in 

 soils containing a large percentage of lime, 

 and the s(Kla base has the power of convert- 

 ing a small percentage of the potash 

 contained in soils into a form available as 

 plant food. Phosphatic manures promote 

 early root development, and fruit produc- 

 tion, and, therefore, of much value as aids 

 in fruit culture. The nu^re important of 

 these to fruit growers are basic slag and 

 superphosphate of lime. Tlie first is rather 

 the cheaper of the two, aiul, owing to its 

 relatively slow a<*tion, is hvst applied dur- 

 ing tlie winter, while the superphosphate of 

 lime is the most suitable for use after 



growl li has commenced. Potash is essen- 

 tial to the i>rocess of assimilation, and con- 

 tributes liberally to the production of 

 fitarch, sugar, and cellulose in the trees 

 and their fruits. It also assists in the 

 development of the tissues, and renders the 

 plant better able to resist the attacks of 

 fungoid and other diseases. Kainit is the 

 cheapest of the potassic compounds, but the 

 more ex|)ensive muriate of potash is more 

 rapid in action, and, therefore, the best 

 for use when growth has commenced. Ap- 

 plications of potassic maniu es are the most 

 beneficial on light soils, in which potash 

 is usiuilly <leficient, and, as a rule, should 

 be made during the winter. Lime "s 

 Uvseful in improving tin- pliyvical condition 

 of soils, in projnoting the activity of the 

 beneficial bacteria, and in converting potash 

 in the sf)il into an available form; and it 

 is essential in success in the cultivatioii of 

 stone fruits. The fertilisers of special 

 value for use when the fruit is set nic 

 superphosphate of lime and niti;itc id" sdda, 

 to be used at the rate of 3oz. and loz. r(^- 

 s]>ectively to the square yard. The effects 

 siiould be closely watched, and if the 

 growth is not so strong as eould be desired 

 a second dreJtsing at about half the rate 

 of sulphate of ammonia may be given a 

 month later. But for the reason stated, it 

 is important that nitrogenous manures be 

 not used in excess of requirements. 



weie invited, and have been received from 

 all parts of the world where daffodils are 

 grown, and for these tlie committee wish 

 to tender their thanks. At a meeting held 

 on Tuesday, April 2, the committee closed 

 the fund, whkh, with £3 7s. Id. interest, 

 amounted to £309 los. 5d. Receipt books' 

 stationery, printing, and postage amounted 

 to £3 Is. 7d., and the silver-gilt Peter 

 Barr Memorial Cup (which does not b- 

 volve the creation of a trust, as an annual 

 medal would have done) cost £39 17s. 6d. 

 leaving a balance of £266 16s. 4d., which 

 has been handed over to the Royal Gar- 

 deners' Orphan Fund. Th^i lici«i^U/>*>^ 



will 



are frequently added to by the plantmg 

 of commemorative specimens by Royal and 

 other visitors. Prior to his engage- 

 ment at Rood Ashton, Mr. Strugnell was 

 for some time with the late A. R. Baily, 

 Esq., Willow Vale, Frome, removing there 

 from Benham Court, Newbury. At both 

 places such excellent work w^as done as to 

 establish his reputation. Foreman under 

 Air. W. Iggulden, at Marston, for two 

 years, Mr. Strugnell became much inter- 

 ested in the production and exhibition of 

 high-class fruit, vegetables, and plants. 

 Mr. Strugnell occupied foi" some time a 

 similar position in the extensive gardens of 

 Buckland, Breconshire, South Wales, the 

 residence of J. G. Gwynne-Holford, Esq., 

 and, as at Marston, he had the advantage 

 of being under one of the leading expo- 

 nents of the gardening art. In the earlier 

 days of his probation Mr. Strugnell occu- 

 pied positions in the gardens of Brentry 

 House, near Bristol, and Sneyd Park, Clif- 

 ton, both places of note, and it is evident 

 from the success achieved in the manage- 

 ment of the gardens of which he has had 

 full cliarge, and notably those of Rood 

 Ashton, that full advantage was taken of 

 the excellent opportunities he had for the 

 acquisition of a knowledge of high-class 

 gardening. 



The Bank Holiday.- Although the 



weather was much colder on Monday than 



for several days previoiisly the liol day conjunction with tlie great qumquennia 



flower show of the Royal Society of Agri- 

 culture and Botany. The park of 250 acres 

 in which the ex]iii)iti()n will be held will, 

 in accordance with tlie announcement we 



The handsome cup^ 

 designed and made by Messrs. Elkington| 



arded annually in connection 

 with work among daffodils," and the honour 

 of holding it for the first year falls to the 

 Rev. G. H. Engleheart, V.M.H., and it 

 will be presented to him at 11.30 a.m. on 

 April 16, in the Xo. 3 room at the Royal 

 Horticultural Hall. Although the fund is 

 closed, the committee does not dissolve at 

 ])resent, but will meet annually for the 

 purpose of aw^arding the cup in accordance 

 with the original suggestion. 



Ghent International Exhibi- 

 tion. — An International Exhibition will 

 be held next year at Ghent which, it is 

 hoped, will rival in size and importance 

 the exhibition that was held at Brussels in 

 1910. This exhilMtion will be organised in 



Mr. W 



who has for 



makers took full advantage of the oppor- 

 tunities they had for enjoying the mani- 

 fold attractions of public parks and gar- 

 dens and other open spaces within a short 

 distance of the metropolis. Those parks and 

 gardens in which there arc displays of early 

 flowers attracted many thousands of visi- 

 tors, but large numbers also went to Hanip- 

 stead Heath and Epping Forest. The 

 increasing popularity of the Royal Gardens. 

 Kew, wa8 evidenced bv the fact that 

 127,000 visitors passed through the gates 

 during the day. The immense specimen 

 of Agave atrovirens, which is now coming 

 into bloom, attracted much attention, and 

 the crowds that thronged the arboretum 

 showed the glorious displays of daffodils in 

 the grass were highly appreciated. 



Accident to Miss G. F. Lindsell. 



— The manv friends of Mr. G. H. Lindsell 

 will deeply regret to learn of the loss he 

 has sustained by the death of Miss G. F. 

 Lindsell from an accident which occurred 

 at Hastings on the 2nd inst. Miss Lind- 

 sell, who was on a visit to her brother at 

 Bexhill, was fond of climbing, and some- 

 what reckless in relation thereto, and 

 when on her way to Hastings along the 

 cliffs she appears to have slipped near 

 Ecclesbourne. and fallen to the foot of 



nearly twenty years been in charge of the X'.T/r' f' f'/^" tne toot o 



, " - N 1 • 1 1 1 J. 1 i. T> 1 tne cliirs tliere, and to have been knled 



charming and highly-kept gardens at Rood j^i.tantaneouslv 



Ashton, Trowbridge, has long occupied a r^^*^- r> 

 leading position among practical horticid- ----- 



turists in the West of England. During the 

 period Mr. Strugnell has occupied his pre- 

 sent position many alterations and improve- 

 ments have l>een carried out in the Rood 

 Ashton gardens. The.se have included the 

 cutting down and clearing of overgrown 

 timber and shrubs, and the introduction of 

 )iew features, among the latter being the 

 construction of pergolas for roses and other 

 climbing ])Iant.s, rock gardens, herba- 

 ceous borders, and slirubland extensions. 

 Mr. St!-ugne]l is well known in the western 

 counties as an exhibitor of fruit and vege- 

 tables, where he has won many of the lead- 

 ing prizes in good company, and at the 

 Royal Horticultural Society's exhibitions of 

 fruits his name occasionally appears among 

 thovse of other pi ize winners in the classes 

 for hardy fruits. Specimen lawn trees are 

 the special ]>loasuro of his eni]doyer. the 

 Right Hon. Walter Long. M.P., and thc>e 



Peter Barr Memorial Fund.- 



In 1910 numerous <laffodil lovers expressed 

 a desire to see a fuml raised for the ptu'- 

 pose of commemorating the life and work 

 of the late Mr. Peter Barr, V.M.H. The 

 members of the Royal Horticultural So- 

 <*iety's Narcissus and Floral Committees 

 considtM-ed ttie matter, and the proposals 

 most favourer! were the institution of a 

 Peter Barr MeTn(»rial Medal and the pro- 

 vision of a fund for the maintenance of 

 an orphan tluough the medium of the 

 Royal Gardeners' ()r])han Fund. To g ve 

 effect to these pro])Osals, Me^^srs. .1 . T. 

 Bennett-I\^i'. ^f.A.. V.M.H. , William ('nth- 

 bertsoM. J. P.. R. Hooper Ptvirsoii, Williijni 

 Poupart, Chas. E. Shea, Walter T. War(\ 

 and the Rev. J. Jacob were elected to form 

 an executive committee, with Mr. Wm. 

 Marshall, V.M.H., as chairman; Mr. H. B. 

 Afav, V.M.H., as treasurer; and Mr. Chas. 

 H. Curtis as hon. secretary. Donations 



were able to make some time since, contain 

 the magnificent building which has been 

 designed for the society mentioned. 



The Early Potato Crop.— The 



l)lanting of potatoes in Jersey during 

 March was niuch delayed by the heavy 

 rains, and some part of the early crop in 

 the island may be rather later in coming 

 to market than usual. Much, of course, 

 will depend upon the weather that will 

 be experienced during the next few weeka. 

 Breadths that were planted early in 

 February present a very promising appear- 

 ance, for the growth is even^ and nmoh 

 earthing up has been already done. The 

 haulm is hardly so stout as usual at this 

 period of growth, but with the brighter 

 weather that has been experienced of late 

 it will soon evince a material improvement 

 in this revspect. The planting of early 

 potatoes in Ayrshire commenced, in thf 

 Girvan district, under favourable condi- 

 tions about the middle of February, but 

 owing to the wet weather that has been 

 experienced it was not possible to proceed 

 with the work so expeditiously as in most 

 years. The early plantings have made an 

 excellent growth, and are now puslimg 

 freely through the ground. In the dis- 

 tricts in Cheshire and Lancashire, wher« 

 early potatoes are largely grown, plant- 

 ing is fully a fortnight later than iM 

 and, owing to the wet state of the soil ] 

 is feared that, excepting where the soil is 

 light and sandv, the growths will not stari 



away so freely as could be wished. 



Fruits 



in 



London 



South African 



l.-The supplies of grapes, pears, 

 and i)lums from South Africa were r^^'T 

 during the past fortn -lit in exceptiona - 

 large quantities, and as they ^vere lana 

 wlien the railway ti'affic was in 

 uiscd state owing to the coal strike, i^i- 

 ivnlised at (\)vent Carden very low pt^JJ^^ 

 The consignment brought by the , 

 Castle liner Eciinl)urgh Castle ^"f \at 

 of 27,750 packages, and was the l^^'.^Yfrica- 

 has yet been received from South A 

 It consisted of grapes, pears, and p 

 The grapes included Red and \Vhite n 



