74 



majority did. A large number of slides showed how they grew, ^J*^ d ° f 

 reproduction, and the immense number they were capable of £^^™J* 

 favourable conditions. Even when climatic conditions were 

 resting spores were produced, which could carry on the work when the cond ons 

 were become favourable. There will be another lecture on the subject, 

 and Beneficial Fungi," on February 21. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Mellor 

 brought a very instructive evening to a close. 



READING GARDENERS' ASSOCIATION. 



At the meeting of this association on Monday last, " Strawberries from Seed, 

 or the Cultivation cf the Alpine Strawberry," was the subject of a paper read by 

 Mr. James Hudson, of Gunnersbury, in the British Workman club-room, when 

 Mr. C. B. Stephens presided over a good attendance of members. The subject 

 was certainly a new one, and, perhaps, the first time that a paper on this particular 

 fruit has been given before a gardeners' association. In the discussion which 

 followed, all the members taking part had to plead ignorance of the cultivation of 

 the Alpine strawberry, but after what the lecturer said in its favour, and the fact 

 that a dish of strawberries during September and October would be a great 

 addition to the dessert, as well as being greatly appreciated by employers, many of 

 the gardeners present will no doubt be giving this variety a trial. 



Mr. Hudson, in introducing his subject, said : The Alpine strawberry is at the 

 present day a comparative stranger in many gardens, both large and small, but he 

 was fully persuaded that when it is given a fair trial a great majority of gardenerr 

 will be disposed to extend its cultivation. The culture is of the simplest, and 

 given weight for weight upon the same space of ground, the u Alpine " will not 

 be one whit behind that of the average crop of other strawberries. The real 

 success of the culture of the Alpine strawberry is in the raising of one's own seed- 

 lings, or in the purchasing of seedlings. The French adopt the plan of growing 

 their stock from seed ; but it is only within the last few years that English firms 

 have catalogued the seed, although the plants from runners are, as a rule, offered 

 in most of our strawberry lists in a similar way to the large-fruited varieties. This 

 plan of offering the runners instead of the seed did nothing for, but rather acted 

 against, any extended culture. After dealing fully with the system of cultivation 

 carried out at Gunnersbury, the speaker gave much valuable advice as to soils, and 

 their adaptability for growing Alpine strawberries, also the position most suitable. 

 As to varieties, the Alpine strawberry as it was known only a few years back, must 

 not be taken as the present-day standard of this fruit. The two varieties best for 

 general cultivation are Royal Ameliore and Sutton's Large Red Alpine ; the 

 former producing fruits two inches long, whilst the latter, although not quite so 

 large, is equal to it in every other respect, and with some it would be preferred 

 because of its more handsome shape. Other varieties worth growing are Belle de 

 Meaux, colour of the deepest red, and flavour first-rate ; Berger Improved, a 

 variety very highly thought of by French growers ; and Large White Alpine, 

 which, on account of its colour, makes a pleasing change for the dessert. A hearty 

 vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Hudson for his interesting paper. A box 

 containing from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and forty spikes of well- 

 grown lily of the valley, many of the spikes having fourteen and fifteen bells each, 

 was shown by Messrs. Rigg and Fixter, The Nurseries, Caversham, and attracted 

 great attention. Fight new members were elected. 



LIVERPOOL HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 



The members of this society held their eleventh annual dinner and social 

 evening at the Adclphi Hotel, Lime Street, on Saturday, when one hundred and 

 twenty members sat down to an excellent repast. W. Fletcher Rogers, Fiq., 

 presided, and after dinner a full programme of music and song was thoroughly 

 enjoyed, the following artistes giving capital renderings : Messrs. J. W. McDonald, 

 A. Li. Howard, G. Smith, A. D. McCormick, and A. G. Davies. The accom- 

 panists were Mr. Krnest Hawkins and Mr. Woodward. At the close, votes of 

 thanks were accorded to the chairman and artistes.- 



J. V. T. 



NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 



A meeting was held on Monday evening last, at Anderton's Hotel, of the 

 General Committee of this society, when Mr. T. W. Sanders occupied the chair. 

 The minutes and correspondence having been disposed of, a list of special prizes 

 offered to the society was read. It was resolved that the Classification Committee 

 shall hold a meeting on Monday next to discuss certain matters relating to the 

 work placed in its charge. The new rules were then submitted and finally 

 approved of for presentation to the members at the annual meeting on February 28. 

 The most important alteration being the appointment of a Finance Committee. A 

 rough financial statement was submitted, and an estimate of the prizes, amounting, 

 with medals \c, to ^757, that will be offered lor competition at the society's 

 shows during 189S. New members were elected, and the meeting closed after a 

 somewhat lengthy and formal agenda paper, rather later than usual. 



New Inventions. 



Lawton's Patent Pot-suspender. — A considerable number of contri- 

 vances have been introduced for the purpose of facilitating 

 the suspension of pots containing growing plants ; but we 

 know of none that are superior to the invention which has 

 been introduced by Mr. J. George, 14, Redgrove Street, 

 Putney, under the above designation. The invention, as 

 will be seen from a glance at fig. I, consists of a double 

 strand of wire so bent as to form an exceedingly strong 

 spring— so strong, in fact, as to grip an ordinary glass 

 tumbler sufficiently firm to admit of 

 its suspension when filled with water 

 and flowers. In using the suspender 

 the straight portion is thrust down on 

 the inner side of the pot, and the two 

 bent portions are brought over the 

 rim on the outer side as so well seen 

 in fig. 2., and when so placed the pot 

 is very firmly gripped. Two, three, 

 or four suspenders [may be fixed to 

 each pot or pan, according to its size, 

 but for a receptacle of moderate 

 Fir.. 1. dimensions two will be sufficient to 



hold it securely. The invention will 

 be specialty useful in the orchid house ; but wherever pots 



I 



■ • 



2. 



or pans containing 



't it X^k 



ANSWERS.T 



m correspondents! 



Editorial communications should be addressed to the Editor of the Gardener 

 Magazine, 148 and 149, Aldersgate Street, E.C. 



The Editor will be glad to receive photographs of gardens, plants, flowers, trea 

 fruits, &c., for reproduction in the Gardeners' Magazine. He will also be 

 greatly obliged by correspondents sending early intimation of interesting local 

 events relating to horticulture. ^ In sending newspapers containing matter to 

 which they wish to draw attention, correspondents are requested to distinctly 

 mark the paragraph. 



Specimens of plants, flowers, and fruits for naming or opinion should be sent to 

 the Editor of the Gardeners' Magazine, " Endsleigh," Priory Park, Kew, 

 Surrey, and as early in the week as possible. All parcels must be sufficiently 

 prepaid. 



Secretaries of horticultural societies are invited to send early notification of forth 

 coming exhibitions and meetings, and are requested to advise us concerniEg 

 change of dates 



Botany Examination.— C. E. S., York: The work referred to, 



" Botany for Beginners," is published at 3s. 6d. by Bradbury, Agnew, and Co,, 

 9, Bouverie Street, London. 



Chrysanthemum Bed L. Canning. — G. D., Cardiff: We have not 



heard that anyone has procured the stock of this new market variety, but if yon 

 apply to Mr. M. A. Felgate, nurseryman, Herley-on-Thames, who exhibited it in 

 November last, you will learn whether he has disposed of the stock or is willing 



tO'Sell. ] % . v --:-r> r v- V V~;/. 



Flowers and Insect Attraction. — E. P., Norwich: A series of pipei< 



upon the interesting subject of colour in flowers and its attraction for insects his 

 been given by Professor Plateau in the Bulletin of l'Academie des Sciences de 

 Belgique. A letter to the secretary of this academy at Brussels will procure the 

 information you need as to dates and prices. 



Roses for Archways. — G. R., Hants: Nine good varieties for the pur- 

 pose you mention are F£licite Perp^tue, Dundee Rambler, Alice Gray, Ayrshire 

 Queen, Crimson Rambler, Gloire de Dijon, Madame Berard, Blairi No. 2, awl 

 Waltham Climber No. 1. Some of the Sweet Briar hybrids would also makeg 

 roses for archways of considerable extent. 



Carbonate of Copper. — J. D., Devon : The following is a good metl 

 of producing the ammoniacal carbonate of copper suitable for spraying tree; when 

 in a dormant state. Obtain one ounce of carbonate of copper and dissolve it 

 by means of one volume of 26 per cent. Beaum£ ammonia mixed in seven 01 

 eight volumes of water. This complete mixture may be stored in a corked 

 bottle, and when wanted for use should be diluted with nine gallons of water 



Chrysanthemum Bloom.— N. C, Upper Norwood : Your letter contain 

 ing the small chrysanthemum bloom reached us safely, but it is impossible to name 

 a variety from a flower mutilated by compression between notepaper and envelo l^ 

 especially a white flower. We cannot undertake to name florists' flowers, for to do 

 so correctly would necessitate the cultivation of complete collections— a matter 0: 

 practical impossibility. 



Carnation Gloire de Nancy.— W. D., Southsea: There is no question 



as to the hardiness of this variety, sometimes known as the White Clove. In some 

 gardens, of course, the Old Crimson Clove will not succeed first-rate, an 

 in such Gloire de Nancy cannot be expected to do itself justice ; where IT 

 one does well there also will the other. The chief objections these carnal^ 

 have is to very light soil over a sandy or gravel subsoil, for here they suffer xm 

 drought in summer and make little growth. 



Orchid Cultivation.— H. T., Plymouth : There are several works devote* 

 to the description and cultivation of orchids, and they vary in price according ^ 

 their size and comprehensiveness. Either of the following are good wo: 

 Manual of Orchidaceous Plants," by Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Che sea^ \ 

 vols., £5 J8. ; « The Orchid Growers' Manual," 25s., Messrs. B. S. Wj^*;* 

 Son, Upper Holloway ; and " The Amateur Orchid Cultivators' Guide Book, > • 



lit! 



Blake and Mackenzie, Liverpool. fl _ 



Malformed Fuchsia Flower.— W. F. S., New Brighton: The tt<JJ 



sent is one in which there is an attempt at doubling in two ways. J here hBse 

 flower within a flower, much after the manner of the I lose in Hose polyan. ^ 

 and similar examples, although the inner tube is"not much extended ; 1 . 

 flowers the tendency to doubling has also proceeded on the usual lines, ina J£ 

 the development, or reversion, of the stamens to a petaloid fcrm. In cu 

 plants the tendency to double, in flowers, is often encouraged by superau 

 energy, the result of strong growth and high feeding. ^. 



To Destroy a Tree. — G. D., Cardiff*: There are plenty of '** ^ 

 whereby a tree can be destroyed, but they differ considerably in the len^n . 

 necessary to accomplish the end in view. If you do not Wish to cue a * ^ 

 tree, one of the easiest methods of killing it will be to ring bark it. This 

 done at once by taking off a strip of bark about a foot wide right r ° un< L }. ^ 

 and near the base; the bark must be removed right up to the w0 f _ nn V: 

 prevent sap circulation, and you will have the questionable pleasure ot s„ *H> 

 tree succumb quickly. 



Gas-lime will give kill aU*V 



weeks after * 



H would t* w 



GasLime on Meadows. — A. P., Oxford 1 



tation and insects with which it conies into contact, for about six 



pressed wi 

 simplicity 



efficiency 



save lor the purpose of killing the grass. Give the meadow a dressing "SZjyfi 

 farmyard manure as soon as possible, or give a dressing with su P er E?g^ptf' 

 using this at the rate of from two to three hundredweight per acre. 1 . e 

 phosphates applied now will become available when the grass roots are 

 vigorous and active ; as a manure it encourages the growth of the finer g ^ 

 clovers. A light dressing of nitrate of soda given at a later period, w ^ 

 growth has commenced in earnest, will prove beneficial, and if the soil isv 

 inclined to soon become dry, then a fairly free dressing of nitrate • . 

 serviceable, and secure a heavy crop of hay. Nitrate of soda, how * v *£ Jo** 

 encourage the coarser grasses at the expense of the finer ones and ^ 

 Provided the meadow has been manured, as previously suggested, then ^ 

 application of nitrate of soda should be at the rate of one to one ana 

 hundredweight per acre. 



