Tily 31, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
93 
Abbey Park being a popular place of resort. At Brighton the Con¬ 
ference will be held in the King’s room at the Koyal Pavilion. A most 
encouraging letter was read from Sir Edwin Saunders, and that gentle¬ 
man was unanimously elected a Vice-President, together with W. B. 
Waterlow, Esq., Dr. S. Makovski, and W. Id. (Bullock) Hall, Esq. Mr. 
L. Castle stated with regard to the proposed holiday trip by himself 
and Mr. Gordon in Ireland, that a large number of letters had been 
received offering suggestions as to the route to be taken, much of the 
information indicating that fruit is successfully grown in many districts, 
and that the crop this year is satisfactory. 
-- The National Chrysanthemum Society’s Annual 
Excursion. —The annual summer outing of the above Society’s mem¬ 
bers and friends, under the guidance of Mr. W. Holmes, took place 
on Monday last, July 28th, and over eighty assembled at Paddington 
Station to journey by the 10 A.M. train to Beading. Walking to 
Caversham Bridge, the party proceeded thence in the steam launch 
Fashion ” down the river to Henley, where arrangements had been 
made for dining. After dinner the larger portion of the party 
returned to the launch and had an enjoyable trip down the river 
to Marlow, returning to Henley for tea, and then home via Beading. 
A few of the more ardent horticulturists climbed a considerable hill on 
the Berks side of the Thames and visited the delightful garden at Park 
Place, the residence of John Noble, Esq., and where for many 
years the accomplished gardener, Mr. Stanton, has worked with so 
much success. The views over the valley of the Thames, the pic¬ 
turesque town of Henley, with the finely wooded Chiltern Hundreds 
as a background, w T ere exquisite, and the day being clear, a long 
stretch of country in the direction of Beading was visible. 
- By the kindness of Mr. Bobert Owen a still smaller portion of 
the party was enabled on the return to Henley to enjoy a ride through 
a charming district by the way of Marlow to Maidenhead. Greeklands, 
the residence of the Bight Hon. W. H. Smith, a short distance below 
Henley, was first visited, and there, under the guidance of the excellent 
gardener (Mr. Perkins), a tour of that most interesting garden was 
commenced. Details of all that was seen cannot be given now, but 
mention must be made of the exceedingly fine Grapes, especially the 
Muscats and Madresfield Courts. Grand bunches, colouring well, and a 
fine crop, indicate the kind of cultivation they receive. The last-named 
variety we have never seen in better condition, and “ cracking ” gives 
no trouble, plenty of water at the roots of the Vines and liberal venti¬ 
lation preventing any disaster of that character. Leaving Greenlands 
the drive through Marlow was delighful, then along the other side of 
the river to Maidenhead it was equally agreeable, and the journey by 
road concluded with a hurried inspection of Mr. Owen’s large collec¬ 
tions of Tuberous Begonias, seedling Chrysanthemums, and other plants- 
A quick run to Paddington from Maidenhead completed a pleasant 
day’s outing, which had been favoured throughout by fine weather. 
- On some of the South and West England railway lines 
station gardens are often rendered extremely bright, and two of 
the companies treat their station masters very liberally in allowing 
them ground for cultivating. Some take up the ornamental side of 
gardening and render the stations florally attractive for a good portion 
of the year, others by growing fruit and vegetables secure a welcome 
addition to their salaries. At Merton Abbey station, on the line from 
Ludgate Hill to Wimbledon, there is a good example of what can be 
accomplished in the latter direction. Mr. Young, the station master 
there, devotes his 40 or 50 rods of ground at the side of the line to 
Strawberries, Bed and Black Currants, and Gooseberries, with a few 
vegetables and Boses, and by careful attention in his spare time he 
succeeds in producing remarkably good fruit. Early Strawberries in 
particular on a warm bank are admirably grown, and would compare, 
favourably with the best in the market. Mr. Young is enthusiastic 
and evidently derives both pleasure and profit from his little garden. 
- A varied and extremely successful Show was held by the 
Surrey Horticultural Society on Wednesday and Thursday 
last week in the grounds attached to Casino House, Herne Hill, 
the residence of W. G. Gover, Esq. Three tents were filled with 
plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables, all of good quality throughout. 
Some of the principal prizetakers were Mr. J. Lambert, gardener to 
H. W. Segelcke, Esq., Elfindale Lodge, Herne Hill; Mr. W. Monk, 
gardener to G. B. Higgins, Esq., Eastlands, Dulwich ; Mr. J. Day, 
Casino Gardens; Mr. W. Clark, gardener to W. Sopper, Esq., Eversley, 
Herne Hill; and Mr. Fullbrook. gardener to B. B. Baker, Esq., Palace 
Boad, Streatham. Messrs. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, had a handsome 
non-competing group, one of the most effective we have seen this 
season. 
- The Ealing Gardeners’ Association.—T he members of 
this Association spent a pleasant day at the well-known establishment of 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Beading, on Monday last, July 28th. The party,, 
numbering about ninety, inspected the trial grounds, replete just now 
with interest, seed warehouses, and nurseries. Messrs. Sutton enter¬ 
tained the members in a hospitable manner, and the visitors returned? 
thoroughly satisfied. 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr. II. Elliott, late gardener at 
Mulgrave Castle, Whitby, has been appointed gardener to the Bt. Hon. 
Lord Hillingdon, The Wildernesse, Sevenoaks, and is succeeded at Mul¬ 
grave by Mr. James Corbett. Mr. A. J. Brown, late gardener at Bear 
Park, Aysgarth, York9, has been appointed gardener and bailiff to the 
School of Handicraft, Chertsey, Surrey. Mr. George Groves, foreman at 
Bangemore Gardens, Burton-on-Trent, has been appointed gardener to 
General Owen Williams, Temple House, Great Marlow, Bucks. 
-- Select Carnations and Picotees. — In reply to Mr.. 
Bobert Sydenham (page 76) respecting my paper on the Carnation, I 
desire to say that from circumstances over which I had no control, I 
have been prevented from giving any trial to the new varieties of the 
past two seasons. Those named are well known as good for almost all 
growers of the Carnation. No list of Picotees was given, as the paper 
referred more particularly to Carnations.—D. Cooper. 
- Laxton's Noble Strawberry.—I quite endorse all that 
Mr. Mclndoe writes in favour of this variety as an early forcer. Here 
it succeeded splendidly, the fruits were perfect in shape, much larger 
and more highly coloured than those grown in the open air ; in fact the 
fruits were phenomenal, and I was asked the question, “ What is the 
variety ? ” As I had no complaints as to its flavour or its travelling 
qualities 1 conclude that these also were satisfactory. Our method of 
growing early Strawberries is to start them in a gentle bottom heat 
afforded by leaves close to the glass, where they remain until after they 
have flowered and set, when they are removed into a rather moist, 
temperate house until the fruits begin colouring, and are then finished- 
in a dry, warm, airy greenhouse. 
- Alexander Peach. —It may, perhaps, interest your readers 
to learn that I began gathering this variety from the open wall on the 
15th of this month. Medium sized fruits, beautifully coloured, juicy 
and good flavoured. Hale’s Early, which follows, will not be ready for 
quite another fortnight. I consider Alexander the best early one we 
have, it is a good grower and crops well.— John Austen, Witley Court 
- Marie Louise Violets.—I herewith send you a gathering 
of blooms of this variety from plants now making their growth, pre¬ 
paratory to being lifted in October and placed in frames. We always 
plant out the runners early in May, and usually commence picking in 
August. This year, however, the plants are unusually robust ; they are- 
flowering freely, and will continue doing so right on till next May. 
The who’e bed is now well mulched with spent Mushroom manure, and 
receives a thorough drenching from the garden engine twice weekly. 
This treatment keeps them moist at the roots, and defies our old enemy 
red spider.— John Crawford, Coddington Hall, Newark. [The flowers 
sent were delightfully fresh and fragrant, also large and full.] 
- A Scotch correspondent writes : —“ I suppose you need not be 
told what UNSEASONABLE and ungenial weather we have had 
and are still experiencing. We have had only two dry days since the 
4th of May, but no twenty-four hours has been dry yet. It is impossible- 
to get weeds killed, and crops are not progressing : Strawberries are 
not swelling and are rotting on the ground. Bees have had only two 
days in June and July that they increased in weight any. At present 
there is no prospect whatever of any honey. On July 22nd the 
thermometer stood at 63°, and the wind was a perfect hurricane, with 
a sinking barometer. We are in great need of sunshine with a higher 
temperature. Unless that comes there will be no honey from the 
Heather either. I hope, however, for all and everything concerned 
the weather will improve.” 
- Fruit Crops. —The present year cannot be called a good one 
for fruit, with the exception that Strawberries, Bed and Black Currants, 
and Baspberries are good in this neighbourhood ; but Gooseberries only 
a moderate crop. Apples and Pears are almost a failure, especially the 
former. Many of the orchard trees and pruned bushes have only a 
slight sprinkling cf fruit. The varieties showing the best crops of 
