322 



GARDENERS' 



MAGAZINE. 



May 21, 18^8. 



the development of growth at the usual rate. Recognising these facts, 

 Professor G off was induced to make some experiments with a view to 



ocr 



' , " . . ■ . "~»*« at iuugiy aavise those 



readers who require additional copies to give their orders at once, and th 

 the disappointment which has been experienced by readers in failing T ^ 



/.r.r.;»c nf some orevioUS issues with whirl. o„r,~l„ L . , *» 0 



transplanted trees with advantage, and, according to the annual report r PP eats greal saifclB ^ 



• - f*.i._^!^— . r-«-i^.r^r* refill vnnilfc WArA rtHt 51 1 tlPfl- 111 b - - . 



of the Wisconsin Experiment Station, successful results were obtained. In ^ . a o«nop„y,.a nas originated with v 



conducting the experiments a quantity of distilled water was supported ^ and Sibray> of the Handsworth Nurseries> 



at a height equal to or slightly exceeding that of the tree, and connected type h co , our and habit save that fte go , den flQwers ^ very doub , eand s ' lke 



by means of a tube with the cut end of one of the principal roots. persisten t ; as an early flowering shrub the new form will be welcome asX 



The water used was contained in a round glass flask, holding about two variety to the a i rea dy large number of elegant free flowering shrubs avaihibfeS 

 quarts and fitted with a rubber cork having two vertical holes through Proration earlv in the seasnn. twk,.,;., ef» — u..n- • 



it In one of these holes a short glass tube was inserted, and to this a 

 rubber tube was attached, and in the other hole a glass tube, reaching 

 nearly to the bottom of the flask was inserted for the purpose of 

 supplying the air required for ensuring the necessary pressure. The 



c» m m ~ — — ~r"j ••«* « itacu a hybrid 



between B. Darwim and B. empetrifolia, and no w one of the best known of the 

 Barberries. It is elegant and handsome, free and bright, and it seems only n 

 accordance with the general fitness of things that the new double variety shoiU 

 have originated with the Sheffield firm, by whom the parent was raised and dis- 

 tributed. It should be remembered that B. stenophylla is uninjured by our 



flask was inverted on a small platform fixed to a stout post, and the tube tributed. It should be remembered that B. stenophylla is uninjured by o» 

 connected to the root by being slipped over the cut end and tied on severest winters, and that the flowers are followed by dark and rich par pie berrie. 



tightly. 



to tne root uy ucmg onpp\,v* www 



The trees, it may be added, had their roots pruned rather of a most attracUve appearance 



severely, and when the tube had been attached to one of the roots of The Duke of Portland, in writing from Welbeck Abbey under date 



each tree the soil was placed about them in the usual way. Professor " " f ~ ^ u: 1 

 Goff states that the effect of this root pressure was very quickly shown 

 in some cases within a few hours. The development of new growth was 

 so greatly accelerated that some of the trees artificially treated com- 

 menced to make new erowth eighteen days in advance of those to which 



menceu w uirtKc new s / „„„^ 0/ l and gardening. The charity— the only one of its kind in the United Kingdo. 



no artificial pressure was applied. The water flasks remained attached ^ ^ l ^ undertaken tQ plead> fa qow fa fa 



to the trees until the middle of August, but no advantage was gained ^ distributed £U)QOQ tQ wom . out gardeners> ^ 



therefrom, and Professor Goff is of the opinion that the benefit derived hort j cu i tur i sts , an d their widows, in distressed circumstances, and has nowu 



from artificial root pressure is limited to aiding the tree in the production Ug fundg l6g persons _ 93 men and 7J w id 0W s 



May II, with reference to his engagement as chairman at the forthcoming festinl 

 of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution, says : " I have promised to 

 preside at the fifty-ninth anniversary festival dinner in aid of the funds of the 

 Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution, on June 8 next, at the Hotel Metropofe, 

 and I venture to ask for the kind assistance and support of all lovers of flowen 



I 1 



of new roots. After new leaves have been developed roots' furnished rdief at an annual cost of ^060. To meet this expenditure the only assured 

 with hairs are produced in abundance, and normal root pressure com- 



^900 



be made up by subscriptions and 



• ■ - • - " — - — — X * — w ™ — ✓sJ s * o 1 » * 



mences, and this, combined with the suction from above due to the donations. Towards this object I earnestly solicit your generous help. I may 

 transpiration of the leaves, is sufficient for the distribution of moisture mention that her Majesty the Queen has been the patroness of the charity fen 

 through the system. Although the application of artificial root pressure forty-six years, and has always evinced a warm interest in its welfare, and I can 

 is out of the question when large numbers of trees are planted, there therefore confidently appeal on its behalf. 



may be single specimens to which it may be applied with advantage, The Royal Society's Selected Candidates.— Fifteen candidates bm 

 and the experiments raise a question of much interest to horticulturists. been selected by the council of the Royal Society to be recommended for electka 



into that body during the present year. Of these fifteen four have special interc* 



' " for our readers by reason of their successful studies in botany, geology, and 



meteorology. Mr. Arthur Lister, F.L.S., has become well known by reason of 

 his researches in connection with Plasmodium, and still more so for his papen 

 relating to the Mycetozoa. Mr. Albert Charles Seward, M.A., F.G.S., 

 University Lecturer in Botany at Cambridge, has extensively investigated foail 

 plants, especially those of the Weald period, as shown by the two parts of "Tb< 

 Wealden Flora * from his pen, and already published- Mr. Alexander Uuchan. 



The Temple Show.— We shall give in our next issue a special and fully- 

 illustrated report of the Royal Horticultural Society's exhibition to be held in the 

 gardens of the Inner Temple on Wednesday and the two following days. 



The Bluebell (Hyacinthus nutans) is one of the most beautiful of our plants 

 that bloom during the spring season ; and as it readily lends itself to artistic 



treatment, it is gratifying to observe that it is being freely used in the embellish- r - . . . r ^mlf*» 



ment of the garden. Naturally, the - Blew Harebel, or English Jacint," as Gerard M.A., LL.D., F.R.S.E., is the author of many important papers on ™ 

 loved to call the plant, is to be found " In the lonely copse and shadowy dell," including the Challenger reports upon Atmospheric Circulation in 1^9, 



and this fact has suggested its suitability for the carpeting of shrubbery borders and 

 for clothing bare spaces under trees. At Kew it has been employed largely and 

 with singularly good effect for both purposes, more particularly in the azalea garden, 

 which forms a very attractive feature of the arboretum. The bluebell is also used 

 in planting on the araucaria mound in the botanic garden, and this, now 11 deck'd 

 with a thousand flowers of grace divine," presents an exceedingly beautiful effect. 



^ ^ Mw ^ m€%wwM iAi ^ Meteorology 



K ncyclop^dia Britannica. ^The gentleman whose geological investigations bait 



led to his being a selected candidate for admission to the Royal Society ^jf^ 

 General Charles Alexander McMahon, vice-president of the Geological ^ct) ^. 

 London. He was the first to discover the granitic origin of the North Iliro f*£J 



a r.^^¥^\A r<««:„„ » a ^f^Knfprl valuable naners relating to the geoltgwi 



"Fresh Hyacinthus, " as Spenser designates the bluebell, will also the "turf survey of India, the Lizard Rocks, and Dartmouth Granite 



bestrow," and this fact has been taken advantage of by the Kew authorities, and 



Strawberries—Few plants are being better helped grains trot Ml» 



many thousands of bulbs have been planted in the grass in the arboretum and other freely as are strawberries. Generally they are looking wonderfully well. 



parts of the gardens ; and, beautiful as are the effects produced in the shrubbery 

 borders and under the wide-spreading branches of trees, they are surpassed by the 

 great sheets of azure .lowers in the grass. At Syon also the bluebell is planted 

 extensively in the grass, and presents, as at Kew, a charming appearance. 



The French Vineyards have suffered severely of late years from insect 

 depredations in consequence of the insane practice of killing the birds whose chief 

 food consists of insects or their larvae. This matter is prominently referred to by Mr. 

 Consul Hearn, in his latest report on the trade of Bordeaux to the Foreign Office. 

 In his observations on the folly of destroying useful birds, he points out that the 

 appearance of the cochylis, a most destructive insect, is contemporary with the 

 destruction of small birds in the vineyards. No sooner does the M chasse " open 

 than every man and boy is seen with a gun stalking and M potting " every small bird 

 he can get near enough to. The consequence is that there is literally no bird life 

 among the' vines, and consequently insect life now reigns supreme. On one property 

 alone from July 20 to September 10, 1897, 5,000 days' labour of women and 

 children was alone employed in looking for and destroying the eggs and larvae of this 

 insect. " But only birds were allowed free action they would," the Consul says, 

 44 assuredly, gladly accomplished this work, and the women and children might be 

 employed in remunerative labour. In the streets of Bordeaux during the autumn and 

 winter thrushes and starlings are offered for sale by thousands, and yet these birds 

 live exclusively on insects." We are glad to learn that a Bill is to be shortly intro- 

 duced into the Chamber for the protection of birds 44 useful to agriculture." 



Castle Ashby and its Gardens.— With the Gardeners' Magazine of 



June 4 we shall present a special supplement, in which Castle Ashby, the seat 

 of the Marquis of Northampton, and its great gardens will be fully described and 

 illustrated. The illustrations of the gardens will include the rose garden, lake and 

 water lilies , Italian garden and conservatory, interior of the great conservatory, 

 i nor s Walk and hardy flowers, Iialim archway, view on upper terrace, lower 

 terrace garden, and picturesque trees In addition to the foregoing a double-page 

 plate of the mansion will be given. There will be no extra charge for this issue, 



is ample relative foliage, and the promise of bloom is great. It only ne °JJ 

 mild weather with abundant sunshine to ensure its setting, and another gran^ ^ 

 crop will be assured. We are now at a critical period of the mon 1, 

 twentieth, or thereabouts, often times brings one or two sharp frosts. ^ ^ 

 well hope that no more such visitations will trouble us this spring. ^ ^ j 

 mulching is much enhanced when the weather is dry, but with fre 2 ue " efer|rf ^ 

 moderate sunshine, the longer the work of mulching can safely e 

 better. Not onlv will it be less saturated for the fruits to be ^ ^ 



snores sk*ki 

 dressings,**** 



be less cold, a matter of great importance, for soil warmth is essen 

 ing, colouring, and flavouring of the fruits. Dressings of artificial 



the soil is in good condition, would, with such trequem > uu- - ' ^ 

 excess of foliage production than the development of solid, hig - JcnSt 

 It is very interesting to learn from Mr. Norman, of Hatfield House ^ ^ 

 in producing such really grand fruits as he exhibited of Roya rf ^ 



recent Drill Hall meeting he gives but little artificial food. ^ 

 are potted in due course into six-inch pots in which is one " thir best qua JitJ 

 compost consists almost entirely of rather fresh turfy loam o ^ g 



a little soot added. The potting is very firm. The plants are ^ 

 plunged in ashes out of doors, and are put into frames only jus _^ ^ ^ 

 forcing. Each plant carries about ten fruits that are very son , 

 possible flavour. _ . /^m» 



ead* 



Ml 



cinerarias 



from Mr. J«"° 



"vnauiiurdl ouciciy *» * : n t er est. ^1*7 . 



Woodside, Farnham Royal, Slough, created considerable ini Q ^ 

 small selection of a numerous progeny, from a cross tttec ^ 

 lanata and the cinerarias of gardens, the greater n j um ^| ifose a tm vA***? 



as well as 



resen 



blossoms 



C3, W»" vi4 , 



being a pure white, others 



lauve 



