366 



THE 



GARDENERS" MAGAZINE. 



dropped in quantity to the extent of six bushels, and in 



amount of ^229, the actual quantity and value being 



But few plums were received from 



;£i49> against 3,843 



of the value of /3>°57> last year 



value to the 



496 bushels and £118 respectively. 



foreign orchards, the aggregate having been 91 bushels, of the value of 



bushels, 



Unenumerated fruits show a decrease in quantity of nearly 1,000 bushels, 

 and an increase in value of about feoo, the aggregate having been 

 ^88,573 bushels, of the value of ,£56,078. The imports of potatos were 



the total being 1,055,256 cwt, as compared 



and Cocker, about two hundred varieties have been rec 

 are not more than a hundred and fifty distinct forms At ' ^ probal % *Wi 

 planted, are thriving amazingly, owing to the cool mm< r the P Un ^*t 



flowers already produced are of fine size, 

 the merits of the varieties for bedding and general garden 

 tion to the trial because it is one of the most complete ZerTJ* * 

 should be of great interest to southern growers w„ , . eld > a °d 



moist weather and the 



« is, of course, too <*ri„ * 



> 100 early ye t to ^ 



us e, but wc duw uim 



great interest tu auuiuern growers, because of the hnt'^ °* tt 

 Chiswick. Varieties that come through this test successfully ar i t 7 Ckmt 

 extensively cultivated in the south of London, whatever their l ° 



large, 



with 



Of this large quantity we received 484,317 cwt 



again very 

 385,640 cwt. last year, 

 from Germany, against rather more than 1,000 cwt. in 1897, and 10 cwt. 

 in 1896. France sent us about 30,000 cwt., and the Channel Islands 

 over 100,000 cwt. less than last year, owing probably to the comparative 

 lateness of the spring. The increase in values has not been in pro- 

 portion to the augmentation in supplies, for while the latter were nearly 

 doubled, the value is returned as only about one-third more. Onions 

 again indicate a decrease, only 352,399 bushels having been received, 

 against 463,939 bushels last year ; the values in the two years being 

 ,£60,889 and £72,57% respectively. It is satisfactory to observe that 

 there has been a considerable appreciation in the value per bushel, and 

 the prices now ruling are sufficient to justify a considerable extension in 

 the home cultivation of these esculents. 



elsewhere. 



me nts or dei 



Since T 



The Spanish Genista (G. hispanicd) has for some weeks past been one of 

 the most showy of shrubs, and even at this date, in spite of continued wet 



Orchid Hybridisation is one of the most fascinating 0 f pursuitJL . 

 taken up with a view to profitable returns or merely as a hobb 

 Dominy raised the first hybrid orchid many years have passed awa/'and 

 men have risen to horticultural fame by reason of their achievements • n0U * 1 

 species or intercrossing hybrids. Among those who have taken special* 

 orchid cultivation, introduction, and hybridisation, scarcely any are belt ° 

 than Mr. James O'Brien, V.M.H., who has been the hon secretary of tteR H? 

 Orchid Committee since its formation, and who knows orchids at sight ta» 

 probably than any man living. With such a wide knowledge, and oppottiSfa 

 for seeing new hybrid orchids, Mr. O'Brien should place a most into** 

 account before the Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society on Tuesday^? 

 June 14, in his lecture entitled " Hybrid Orchids." The lecture commeLai 

 three o'clock, but the committees meet as usual at noon. On this occasion, 

 Sherwood Silver Cup, for annuals and biennials decoratively arranged, will 

 competed for for the first time. 



New Industries for Trinidad.— The usefulness of the botanic garden 



and stations in our various colonies cannot be over-estimated, but, unfortHMidf, 



weather, it is a golden glory. There are several fine spreading masses on the t h ere j s too great a tendency on the part of colonists and planters to follow oil 



higher rockwork in the Rock Garden at Kew, so densely flowered that scarcely methods and put N all their eggs in one basket." To a large extent this basket 



anything but the golden colour is visible. A correspondent, writing from North t h e case in the West Indies, where the collapse of one industry has brought rat 



Wales, states that two large masses, each four feet across, have been a great to whole colonies. In an able lecture given by Mr. J. H. Hart, superintend* 



attraction just outside the London and North-Western station at Abergavenny. 



of the Trinidad Botanic Gardens, and published in the BuUetin from that aub> 



We agree with him that the species is one of the most effective and beautiful of lishment , a good idea of the industries that might profitably be developed in tk 



early flowering shrubs, and, as it lasts a long time when cut and placed in water, 



colony is given. Mr. Hart shows that although various rubber producing tm 



it deserves to be more extensively cultivated. The Spanish genista has been succeed fa the is]andy and those ^ ^ botanic gardens yieM from fouf {Q ^ 



grown in British gardens since 1759, but its value is not yet fully recognised except pounds of rubber per year> yet the cultivation of these has not Ucn 



for large rock gardens, where it is generally used with advantage, and always upon any scale Qutside the gardeng# Then> ft is pointed Qut that while j 



provides an early summer display flowering during May and June. exports logwood to the value of £300,000 a-year, Trinidad sends none to mark* 



Autumn Fruit Show.— The Royal Horticultural Society's exhibition of although she could produce quantities, and of the finest quality. NoowptaH 



fruit to be held at the Crystal Palace on September 29, 30, and October 1 will either cedar or mahogany in Trinidad, and yet these grow so well on the i 



include a section for market gardeners, and if there is a spirited contest for that were the colony transformed into a mahogany and cedar forest it would be 



the prizes the produce will constitute an interesting feature. In the division open one of the r i c hest British possessions. Trinidad might easily grow suffice* 4 



to market gardeners only there are four classes for grapes, one of which is for 

 Hlack Hamburgh, and in these classes the fruit is to be shown in single layers, 



these woods to supply the United Kingdom. Besides these industiies Mr. Hut 

 mentions fifty other products capable of development in the colony, and h» 



weighing not less than twelve pounds. There are seven classes for apples, to be , ecture shows that those most inte rested have largely failed to take adrutap 4 

 ?^Jf^i C A S 0 A^!! S r!^l f0 ^ Pea^S, three / or f lums and damsons^ and one the opportunities and advice that a well kept botanic establishment afford* 



The Devon Gardeners' Outing will this year take place on July 6, tk 



excursion being to Tavistock and Endslei^h, the latter charming e*tabB*»J* 



being open on that day to the members and friends of the I >evon ami Eie * 

 Gardeners' Association, by kind permission of his Grace the Dake of Bedfoii * 



As usual Mr. Andrew K :e, w 



each for peaches, cobs or filherts, tomatos, and melons. Another new feature is 

 the provision of classes for collections of apples and pears to be grown in specified 

 zones, but the prizes appear to us to be insufficient to promote a brisk competition, 

 except in the case of growers resident in the counties within a short distance of 

 the metropolis. One class in the section is for six dishes of apples, four cooking 

 and two dessert, and the other for six dishes of dessert pears, and these are repeat, 

 ing ten times, making twenty classes in alb In this section the Kentish growers 

 will compete among themselves, but the other English zones contain fr >m six to 

 eight counties, while the Welsh, Scotch, and Irish growers compete in the classes 

 provided for the respective countries. The sections in which the competition is 



whom the property reverted a short time since 



The pirtjr taw 



secretary of the association, has made the best of arrangements. 

 the Queen Street Station at Exeter at five minutes past nine, and travels by •»» 

 carriages (L. and S.W.R.) to Tavistock, arriving there at a quarter to 

 After an inspection of this historic old town, luncheon will be provided at fW*W 



open to cultivators in all parts of the United Kingdom are similar to those of twelve, and then brakes will take the travellers to ™* e ^ . 

 nreviniK v**r«. and mn f «nn.nM„ u^k j • j.'.l ^_ i. Tavistock a substantial meat tea will be provided, and mis win p / 



previous years, and consequently both collections and single dishes have ample 

 provisions made for them. The classes, rules, and advertisements are mixed up 

 in the schedule in a manner that to our mind is highly objectionable in publications 

 emanating from the leading horticultural society of England. 



f ruit Culture in Wiirtemberg. —Mr. T. R. Mulvany, in discussing the 



Lectures at the Chiswick Gardens will 



The income from fruit is one 



present condition of the rural industries in Germany, states that in Wiirtemberg ~~ w ~ f j ^ — - ~ - a( j m ittance 



fruit culture is carried on with much success. Nowhere in Germany has he seen held in the Big Vinery, and commence at eight o'clock^ *^f^ ^ ^ J 

 finer orchards and fruit trees than in Wiirtemberg. " 

 of the chief items in the farmers' books. It reaches an average of £400,000 per 

 annum. Some parishes realise several thousand pounds sterling from cherries 

 alone. However, most money is derived from the apple ; the greater portion of 

 the apple and pear crop is devoted to the making of cider and perry, only a few 

 varieties, not suitable for liquor, being sold or dried. It is a remarkable fact that all 

 the home-made wine and cider is drunk in Wiirtemberg ; this is regarded by Mr. 

 Mulvany as a proof of how little the people suffer from poverty. The farm hands 

 and country-folk all drink wine or cider, and the consumption of gin, whisky, and 

 brandy is very small indeed. 



The Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society doe* not make its wel1 as educating his hearers. 



awards broadcast provided its work during March, April, and May is an indica- 



Tavistock a substantial meat tea will be provided, t s eaB git 



followed by a short social gathering ere the journey homewards is co 

 five minutes to eight. Those intending to join this excursion should coram 

 as early as possible to Mr. A. Hope, 54. High Street, Exeter. 



~ be delivered l ? A< J£ 



Professor Henslow, M.A., on June 15, 22, 29, and July ^ ^ ^ k 



i^wixj uiwmv* — — o that in ^^^"^ 



accorded to all gardeners in the Chiswick district, and we PfPWW 



there is likely to be a good attendance from the Ealing and Kewji 

 the following order Professor Henslow will give lectures upon 



General Knowledge of Vegetable Physiology to C ™"* lOT ° omtn 

 Cultivated Vegetables " ; " Origin of the Commoner w 

 "Origin of Species in Nature, with Suggestions for txp ■ ^ 

 Variation under Cultivation." We heartily recommend tnesei ^ 

 of all ages who can attend, for we are sure they will be 0 ^ fonie**!* 



value, and we may add that Professor Henslow has the 



to the members of the Chiswick staff and the Chiswick Gf rfeI ^^ m 



: The «' Imp*** 



of a 



five 



r wt 



The 



methods of procedure. There was a meeting each month, and 

 HI, were certificated, four only gaining the highest awards. 



vuirr^ and Si I"n T^* OKmltAt Cineraiia L y n <*i, Plantago lanceolata 

 v -in';.,at i, and Eulophiella El /itipthi. v j c. • . 



certificate of merit, and, like he elohiJ °k TT a 

 of Maartensdijk. eulophiella, wa? shown by Baron van Boetzelaer, 



HorticuiL 0 ^ s^Lt Z^HSZ ? ca,e b Wiag held thii year by lhe R °y al 



of about a hundred and thirty J v ? S ^ rder ^ a fUn alto e ether 



!r »'»«> >a,ds. 1 rom Messrs. Dobbie and Co., Forbes, Crane, 



The Weather of 1897-98. -Although It may be a ^h* 



know what the weather will be during a certain peno { of the ,\s:r ^ s< " 

 weather records are not without value. Hence the annua 1 ■ p ^ ^ 



Royal on the weather of the year is anticipated with c ° ns | nete0|0 j c|f . Fn* ■* 

 who devote any considerable share of their attention o of bright 

 report issued the other day we leam that the number o ^ rjuspbel 

 recorded during the twelve months ending April 30, 1 9 ^ ^ ^ ^ 

 instrument was 1,529 out of the 4.454 hours during w ^ 



horizon, so that the mean proportion of sunshine tor 1 J ^ «*j lVP~ 



a run altogether sunshine being represented by I, The rainfall for^the sam ^ j ^toj* 



being 7-2iin. less than the fifty years' average. 



