March 12, 1898. 



GARDENERS MAGAZINE. 



r 75 



•rh white powered arsenic mixed with roasted apple ; this can be placed 

 Onuses like the honey mixture. In all instances be very careful, for 



- times W 



a bout *^^Jj S y poison. Rhubarb leaves are said to be palatable and poisonous 

 STckets ; we have not tried them. 



"Names of Plants.— Under this heading we can only undertake to name 

 • f and specific varieties of plants, and not florists' flowers. Specimens should 

 forked in stout boxes with damp moss or leaves as packing material to ensure 

 h Preaching us in a fresh state. It is essential that flowers must accompany 

 cimens of flowering plants, that fern fronds be fertile, and that the numbers be 

 legible and firmly attached to the specimens. We cannot promise to name more 

 than six specimens at one time from any one correspondent. 



j T., Drighlington : Oncidium splendidum, a very good form. 

 S. F. C.j Crouch Hill: I, A species of Amomum, send when in flower ; 2, 

 "Maranta bicolor. 



S. M. C, Uppingham: One of the numerous florists' forms of the double 

 Anemone coronaria. It is quite hardy, but can be grown in frames or greenhouse. 



\V. T., Hull : A double form of Narcissus pseudo-narcissus. 



L. S. P., Stockport : I, Chionodoxa Lucilice ; 2, Scilla precox; 3, the 

 common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis. 



S. A , Lincoln: 1, Dendrobium heterocarpum ; 2, Odontoglossum cirrhosum. 



Names of Fruits. — We are pleased to assist our readers as far as it is 

 possible to do so in naming fruits, but it is absolutely necessary that they should 

 send us good specimens carefully packed, as it is only when characteristic examples 

 reach us in perfect condition that we are able to determine their names. We are 

 compelled to insist on the observance of this rule, as so many specimens now reach 

 us. We cannot undertake to name more than six varieties at one time ; and both 

 apples and pears should be sent when approaching maturity, but before they are 

 fully ripe, that we may have the assistance of their distinctive colours in determining 

 their identity. 



( ;. Y., Wotton : The apple is Bess Pool. 



II. G., Isle of Wight : The variety is apparently not known, and is probably a 

 local one. If you have a good dish of fruits left send some along to the next 

 R U.S. meeting, together with a letter stating what you know of the variety. Give 

 the variety a name and enter it to come under the notice of the Fruit Committee. 

 Ryde Beauty, Island Queen, or some such name would be appropriate, and give 

 some idea of the origin of the variety. 



Communications Received.— J. T.— S. F. C— S. M. C— W. T 

 L S. P.-S. A.-G. V.— H. G.— R. T.— S. C.-E. H.— G. R.— G. H. H. 

 W. M.-W. G.-S. C— R. L. II. — W. L.— B.— A. S.-W. G.— D. R. W. 

 J. C. T.-(i. S.-D. T. F.— H. C. P.— J. L. and S.— W. C.— A. C. R.— R. W. 



T 



Bard 



Se 



F 



N.C.S. Accounts. 



There are several items in the recent statistics that need further explanation. 

 J*; c ;.^^ out so heavily in show expenses-cartage 



and the hire of plants As for the first, most exhibitors elsewhere pay their 



wta™?forT T SC d T fOU , nd that the C ° St haS «* ual,ed or e «eEdid the 

 E; «„? e f h,rC0f P Iants , f ? r a great National society's show seems quite 

 I c?nn«nt £ ^ knowled g e /^ends, altogether unknown in the provinces, 

 t cannot be that exhibitors are paid for the hire of their plants, else they might 

 ^ paid twice for the same material-once in prizes and again in hire. We have 



KrbuSta^? ° f f l M eVi L S ° f ° VerCr ° W ding at ^ysanthemum and other 

 S ics Z is c 1SS r ° f . Ma £ h 5 r Ue T r ^ m T ber t0 have read of such sums 

 Sin w'i^l^S fd.,^ l7 6s.&c being paid for the hire of plants 

 with he SiL h V hows k of the National Chrysanthemum Society. Surely, 

 ?h<l I 2 u m ° f chrv santhemum growers among its members as exhibitors 



t S ? U xptSr anf' h £t ^ at hS S-t shows. Such %^^ y 

 growers fail £ see hnw S.^ 6 "^ T mean ^ i,e a few distinguished 

 Shibi or or to L 7 h l nUg , ° f pld £ tS contribute * to the proficiency of 

 horticSe t0 thC adornment and ennoblement of the science and practice of 



D. T. F. 



Ob 



^inceat Ms reside^ regret to announce, died a few days 



Mr T arJf resic J ence at Hendon, after a brief illness, at the aee of thirtv 



«nd act v^m^tf f *i al exhlbltor of the r ose, and was a highly-respected 

 meetiS of T > ° f - the committee of the National Rose Socie J At he 

 expreSd tha^hr" 1 -"" u° f S? Sodet y on Tuesda y much r^ret was 



<*eerv, he"pfa TpreseJce K° • ' S ^ m ™"™*Y passed. His 



attending will be sorell ™ LSh e K xhl , bltIOns an ?. me ? tlD S* he was in the habit of 

 ^ estimation S{S STf A5f ™7 II is P ro P osed to show 



Rose Society a^Sfe] hS^S^ Sft I P^ting to the National 



/ * memorial cup, to be competed for by amateurs. 



Soml nine miles from Lincoln is the town of Bardney. It is the centre of 

 a typical agricultural district. The land is, almost without exception, devoted to 

 farming and market gardening, and this part of Lincoln is noted for its extensive 

 seed farms, which is small matter for wonder, considering the fine system of 

 drainage and irrigation, by which many a square mile of land has been converted 

 into an area that is naturally productive. 



On entering Bardney the first object that attracts the attention of the visitor 



. J m -?K n f bui J d J n S of lar S e Proportions, with a vast amount of storage area, 

 and with up-to-date accommodation and conveniences for the reception of produce 

 and light and well-ventilated offices included in the construction. If there is one 

 feature that constitutes the local lion, surely here it is ; and the proprietor of the 

 concern, Mr William Sharpe, is as courteous as his business is prominent. The 

 Bardney seed firm of Messrs. John Sharpe and Son was founded by Mr. Tohn 

 Sharpe, and by him carried on with increasing success until he was eventually 



11* m J 6 C ° nduCt .° f the business bv his son > and on hi s becoming a member of 

 the firm the prosperity became so marked that, upon his assuming a felicitous 



domestic responsibility, the auspicious occasion was marked by the passing of 



the entire commercial control into his hands. Mr. John Sharpe still resides at 



tfardney, and, although enjoying a well-earned rest, he still takes an active interest 



in matters pertaining to horticulture, as witness the private gardens attached to 



his residence, and the range of vineries that adjoin it, which, in season, are of much 



interest. The gardens are in the charge of Mr. W. Rowland, a trusted servant 



ot many years appointment, whose pride it is to show to visitors his various stocks 

 and stores. - 



Of the evolution of the seed business, which forms the chief consideration 

 ot the present article, is may be said that, at the present time, Messrs. Sharpe's 

 seed specialities are grown in the Royal Gardens ; that large consignments are 

 dispatched in every direction to British and foreign orders; that Governmental 

 contracts for cereals, cultivated for consumption in prison and convict establish- 

 ments, and, therefore, owing to the simplicity of the dietary, subject to exacting 

 experimental scrutiny; and last, although by no means least, that the productive- 

 ness of the seeds sent out is claimed to be of a very high percentage. These are 

 sufficient proofs, were they wanted, that the gradual but substantial development 

 of the business is assured, since it is apparently progressing upon right lines. As 

 in the case of all leading seed growers, there are extensive trial grounds, which are 

 situate round about Bardney ; so that, in the case of their own novelties and 

 of other leading varieties originally obtained elsewhere, the stock is very carefully 

 tested, and grown under close personal supervision with the additional advantages 

 to constitution and habit obtainable from cultivation in this favourable district. To 

 meet the requirements of the times, new things are called into being, and the list 

 of introductions brought before the horticultural public during recent years would 

 probably form no inconsiderable list. 



Especially is the kitchen garden laid under tribute. In 1895 appeared the 

 Early Eight Weeks' pea of medium height, healchy growth, and asserted to be 

 the earliest known variety. A later introduction that has been put upon the 

 market this season, in fact, is King of the Earlies, which ought to rank royally' 

 amongst the table delights of the season, since it has a generous flavour and 

 culinary excellence. It is also of very fair growth, and its podding capacity is 

 ample ; considerations that should win for it universal appreciation. A very 

 fine tall-growing pea is the Duchess of York, a marked improvement among 

 second early varieties, and it has been described by one who has a reputation 

 at stake, as the best wrinkled pea he has ever seen ; a good bearer and of ex- 

 quisite flavour. To the cultivation and production of beans much attention has 

 been given with unusually good results. The Elephant Long Pod is one of -the 

 latest ; it is of remarkable length, and a photo submitted illustrates a well-formed 

 bean of good size, and abundant in seed. It is dwarf of habit, very early in 

 ripening, and promising well for exhibition, if only ordinary care be bestowed upon 

 it. Another variety, Lincolnshire Mammoth, is also claimed to be an acquisition 

 to the table, and a pronounced success for show purposes. Much attention 

 is also given to the cultivation of potatos, the most noteworthy varieties introduced 

 by this firm being : Lucania, an early white kidney of excellent quality and a 

 splendid exhibition variety ; Early Six Weeks, said to be the earliest round yet 

 sent out, and although a coloured variety, has proved most valuable on light land ; 

 Campania is of this year's introduction, and is likely to prove one of the most 

 valuable varieties sent out for many years ; it is a heavy cropper, and ready to lift 

 at the same time as Victor ; Mainstay is an oval-shaped variety, quite free from 

 disease, a prodigious cropper, and met with much success on the exhibitioh table 

 during the past season. At the Liverpool root show, held on October 9 last, 

 Mainstay won the first prize as the best late variety, also a special prize for the 

 best dish or dishes of potatos, and a special prize for the best dish of potatos any 

 other shape except kidney or round. These are but a few items selected from an 

 exhaustive list cf good things, equally suitable for the kitchen garden.- ' 



Ample provision is made in flower seeds, this section of the business receiving 

 much thought and care. The nurseries devoted to their culture are under skilful 

 and adequate management, while no expense is spared to secure the best results. 

 The cineraria is a favourite here, as, indeed, everywhere. Bardney Beauty is 

 noted for its fine blooms and distinct colours. The sustained popularity of the 

 aster for all purposes has led to the inclusion of many beautiful varietieY of this 

 iiiQtlv rnnnlar flnwpr. An exceedingly graceful sort. Improved Giant Comet, has 



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