494 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June »0, 1892. 
- A Gaedener’s Illness.—A gardener bearing a name not 
unknown in the horticultural world, having for some time past been 
stricken down by illness of a very serious nature, is by the kindness of 
his proverbially kind employer permitted, though incapacitated, to 
retain his position and to have his son, who is now serving creditably 
as head gardener, to act as under gardener in carrying out his father’s 
duties. This of necessity liberates the foreman, who kindly concurs in 
the arrangement to meet the emergency. He is twenty-six years of age, 
well trained, industrious, intelligent, and trustworthy, capable of 
managing a garden in which two to four or five men are employed, or is 
willing to serve as foreman in a large establishment. As it would be a 
great relief to the prostrate gardener to know that his foreman does not 
sustain loss through the misfortune, we shall be glad to forward any 
letters we may receive from ladies, gentlemen, or gardeners that may 
lead to a worthy man obtaining the desired employment. The case is of 
such a special nature, and the whole circumstances are so well known to 
U3, that we feel justified in mentioning it in a special manner in these 
columns. 
- Tree Planting at Warwick Castle. — Before leaving 
Warwick Castle on Wednesday, 22nd, their Royal Highnesses the Prince 
of Wales and the Duke of York performed the interesting ceremony of 
planting two Cedar trees as mementoes of their visit to the ancient and 
princely home of the Earl and Countess of Warwick. The trees planted 
were two Cedars of Lebanon, having been raised from cones obtained 
from the famous Cedars which abound in the Castle grounds. The 
planting was performed in the presence of the Earl and Countess of 
Warwick, Lord and Lady Brooke, Lady Eva Greville, Capt. the Hon 
Alwyne Greville and Mrs. Greville, and the Hon. Sidney Greville, The 
Countess of Warwick placed a coin of the realm under the centre of each 
tree. The arrangements were carried out by Mr. H. Dunkin. Lord 
Warwick’s gardener. 
- Why Not in England? —A daily paper says that the experi¬ 
mental farm established by the Government of Victoria for the purpose 
of ascertaining the suitability of the soil and climate for numerous kinds 
of crops, and for the instruction of students in agriculture, now extends 
to nearly 5000 acres. It is situated at Dookie, in the north-eastern 
district of the Colony, and has been in practical operation for the last 
seventeen or eighteen years, A small portion of the land is under Vines, 
another portion is devoted to Zante Currants, and various medicinal 
plants are also cultivated. The Dookie experimental farm, however, 
represents but a small part of what is being done for agriculture by the 
Government of Victoria. The Agricultural Colleges Act provides for 
the permanent reservation from sale of 150,000 acres of Crown lands by 
way of endowment of State agricultural colleges [including horticulture, 
it is hoped], and experimental farms. 
- Death of Mr. T. B. Hague.—M r. T. B. Hague, a well known 
'Sheffield amateur horticulturist, died on June 17th, after a lingering 
illness of many months. He was at the time of his death President of 
the Walkley Amateur Floral and Horticultural Society, having held 
that office for ten years. He took the heartiest interest in the welfare 
of the Society, frequently exhibiting the products of his skill at its 
fortnightly meetings. The annual summer shows, together with several 
.spring shows held by the Society, were to him a source of infinite 
pleasure and pride. He cultivated Roses especially well, also the 
decorative varieties of Dahlias, Carnations, Picotees, Pansies, and many 
kinds of hardy herbaceous plants. In former years he grew Orchids, 
Primulas, and Chrysanthemums successfully, and was always considered 
a good judge of these as well as of other flowers. The Sheffield, Hal- 
lamshire and West Riding United Chrysanthemum Society numbered 
Mr. Hague as one of its most active promoters, and he also took part in 
the negotiations which resulted in the provincial show of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society at Sheffield. His funeral took place on June 
21st at the Burngreave Cemetery, and was attended by a large circle 
of his horticultural friends who esteemed him for his geniality, his 
uniform kindness and ready help whenever sought either by professional 
or amateur. Some beautiful wreaths of flowers adorned his coflin, one 
of which was sent with deepest sympathy by the Walkley Floral 
Society.—E. D. S, 
— Hoeing versus Mulching.—I n his note on Mulching in the 
Journal of June 16th, “H. W. W.” says :—“ Without incessant watering 
or heavy mulching it is impossible to obtain satisfactory crops from 
light shallow soils in dry hot summers.” I should like to know whether 
gardeners in general agree with this. For my own part, without 
questioning the value of mulching, I must say that I have greater 
faith in the constant use of the hoe. If the surface crust is constantly 
broken the lines of evaporation are severed, the soil itself serving as a 
mulch. Moreover, air has free admission. I doubt if gardeners realise 
the immense value of a continual stream of fresh air flowing to the roots 
of plants, and, in my humble opinion, which many may contradict, 
mulching, as generally understood, is greatly overdone. When 
“ H. W. W.” says that it is “ impossible ” to obtain satisfactory crops 
without it under the conditions he specifies, I think he greatly 
exaggerates. It may be impossible to him, but it is not to others. 
—E. H. M. 
- Cambridge Botanic Garden. —In the annual report of the 
Botanic Garden Syndicate we find that the new range of plant houses, 
commenced in 1888, has been completed during the past year, with the 
exception of the Filmy Fern house. A special collection of Ferns 
has been formed in the tropical Fern house for the purpose of illus¬ 
trating the tribes and sub-orders according to the “ Synopsis Filicum.” 
An improvement has been made at the end of the bog garden, where 
moisture-loving plants of various kinds are grown, by the substitution 
of stone for tree stumps. These were objectionable on account of the 
fungi growing upon them, and are now removed to a more suitable 
position for the purpose of yielding supplies of fungi. The culture of 
aquatic and marsh plants has been extended. The bed of peat in which 
the Ericaceae are grown has been enlarged, and in its altered condition 
has proved to be satisfactory. About 1168 plants and 1336 packets 
of seeds have been received. Contributions have been received from 
several Botanic Gardens and a return has been made to most of them, 
694 plants and 1412 packets of seeds having been distributed. Among 
some of the interesting plants received are : Lathrma clandestina, a 
showy flowered root parasite, which at the date of writing is well 
established; Mutisia retusa, a climbing Composite, Iris paradoxa X 
iberica and others of Prof. Foster’s hybrids; Phytelephas macrocarpa, 
a Palm, the nuts of which afford vegetable ivory; Streptocarpus 
Wendlandi, a new species ; Arissema Leschenaulti and Turneria auran- 
tiaca, an apparently good plant of an order rarely represented in cultiva¬ 
tion. As showing the progress of the Garden, it may be mentioned that 
in summer, when annuals were in growth, no less than a fourth of the 
genera of the vegetable kingdom, according to the standard of the 
“ Geaera Plantarum,” were represented. Many specimens have been 
added to the Botanical Museum from the Garden. 
PROGRESS IN BEGONIAS. 
To those in whom an interest in our valuable florists’ flowers is 
not swamped by an absorbing regard for Orchids it must be a 
source of great satisfaction to mark the progress made in tuberous 
Begonias. Their early history has been written too many times 
to need further recapitulation, but it might almost be claimed that 
there have been two distinct stages in the course of development 
which they have undergone with such magnificent and striking 
results. In the one may be traced the evolution of form, size and 
colour—the development, in short, of flowers. In the other we 
see results gained in habit and vigour—the development of the 
plant. It would be futile to set one against the other, and wrangle 
as to which stage is the more important; it is far more to the 
point to recognise how completely the advantages of flower beauty 
are interwoven with those of compact habit, handsome leafage, 
and vigorous stems. So recently as five or six years ago it was 
common to observe the loveliest of flowers sadly marred by being 
half hidden with leaves and drooping their faces downwards. They 
were delightful in form and beautiful in colour, but as neither 
could be properly surveyed and seen to full advantage they could 
only be compared to valuable stones in a bad setting. That was 
the point at which the first stage referred to left us, and had 
progress ended there the battle would only have been half won, 
but happily our leading hybridisers were alive to the requirements 
of the occasion, and the second stage made good disadvantages and 
defects. 
Now that we are so far on the road it is of interest to form a 
mental comparison between the present standard and that of a 
few years ago. Those who are able, from a more or less intimate 
knowledge of both, to grasp the difference between them will be 
the best able to judge what an important part the second stage in 
Begonia development has played. Recollections of the past may 
be brought into line with observations of the present, and the old 
set of varieties plaoted in mental array by the side of the new. In 
the one is found a beauty of blossom that seems hardly capable 
of further improvement, but with short weak stems and drooping 
flowers ; in the other, long stiff stalks bearing the flowers erect well 
abovQ the leaves. When this process is followed the great 
