August 3, 1893. 1 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
105 
afternoon lie had to return thanks to that distinguished company for 
congratulating himself and Dr. Gilbert on the work they had carried on 
together for fifty years. When two persons were joined together in 
marriage they could not part—they were bound together by a solemn 
tie. Dr. Gilbert and himself were bound by no ties ; but this con¬ 
nection, as he had said, had continued fifty years. What was the cause of 
that ? It was nothing less than that he had an immense love of the 
work they were engaged in. He had delighted in the work from the 
very beginning, and had given as much time to it as he could consistent 
with other duties; but Dr. Gilbert had made it the work of his life. 
Had it not been for the labours of Dr. Gilbert the affairs of Rothamsted 
would have been in a diflferent state to that in which they now were. 
Dr. Gilbert was not only at work when he was at home, but what were 
called holidays were spent by him in visiting other countries and places, 
by putting himself in communication with other bodies, so that he 
might make his own work more valuable to those at home. This year 
he was going to Chicago to deliver a course of lectures on the work at 
Rothamsted. Sir John Lawes then cordially thanked those present for 
the presentations which had been made to him, and hoped that in 
fifty years’ time such a representative assembly as he saw in front of him 
would meet to do honour to those who came after them. (Cheers.) 
Dr. Gilbert, in acknowledging the gifts, referred to the coldness 
and doubt with which their early experiments were received, especially 
when they departed from the orthodox lines, and instanced how those 
who at first opposed them eventually were converted and became their 
firm advocates and supporters in a work so important to the agricultural 
interest. He thanked Sir J. Lawes for the very kind way he had 
referred to their connection, and expressed the hope that it would 
continue, although in the natural course of things it could not be 
expected to exist for many more years, but they desired that matters 
would be left in such a way that their work might still be carried on 
by others. (Cheers.) 
Votes of thanks to the Executive Committee and to the Minister 
of Agriculture for presiding brought a memorable function to a pleasant 
conclusion. Most of the visitors afterwards attended a reception given 
by Lady Lawes in the picturesque old manor house at Rothamsted.— 
(“The Times.”) 
CARNATIONS AT SLOUGH. 
Caenatiok growers, like others interested in horticulture, will have 
cause for remembering the season of 1893. Good blooms have been as 
abundant this year as on any other previous occasion, but the period of 
flowering has been disastrously short. Evidence of this one could not 
help noting in many ways. Where possible dates of the Carnation shows 
were altered to meet the requirements of growers, and in such cases 
flowers of excellent quality were staged. There were, however, excep¬ 
tions to this rule, and where it was found practically impossible to 
change the dates of the shows according to the season, the display of 
bloom was far from being extensive. In a similar manner the Carna¬ 
tions in the garden have been affected, and it is only by the greatest 
difficulty that it has been possible to retard the blooms. Nurseries 
as well as private gardens have suffered in this way, and on calling at 
Mr. C. Turner’s Royal Nurseries, Slough, a week or so ago I found most 
of the blooms practically past their best. I was, however, in time to 
take a hasty glance at the flowers that were exhibited at Birmingham on 
Saturday, July 22nd, before the boxes were despatched to the railway 
station. 
For the purpose of keeping the blooms clean, and perhaps retarding 
them, many plants were in pots in shaded houses. It could be easily 
seen that the Carnations had been exceedingly fine, and that a large 
and choice collection is grown at Slough. The best in flower at the 
time of my visit included some grand varieties. Among the seifs Rose 
Wynne was specially noticeable. This is a crimson self with a fine 
broad petal, and the bloom is very large. When shown at the Earl’s 
Court Exhibition last year it attracted attention, and a first-class 
certificate was awarded for it. King of the Scarlets was also exceed¬ 
ingly good. This is a grand self of good shape and substance, and 
should be found in every garden. Iver White is one of the best white 
Carnations in cultivation, being of good habit, early, and very profuse 
in flowering. Rose Unique, a splendid flower with broad petals, was in 
good condition, as likewise was Salamander. The latter is an exceed¬ 
ingly fine bloom of a salmon scarlet colour, and has been certificated. 
Germania, one of the best yellow seifs, was in first-rate condition ; and 
of Rose Celestial, a large rose-coloured self, and an improvement on the 
well-known Mary Morris, it can only be said that it should be found in 
every garden. The Governor is a fine white with a blush tint, and 
Dazzle is a very bright scarlet of a free flowering habit. The latter is 
strongly recommended for bedding purposes. Ne Plus Ultra, a fine 
fringed white, was grand, and Duchess of Fife, a soft pink shade, was 
specially noteworthy. Tree or perpetual flowering Carnations are also 
extensively and well grown, and the same may be said of seedlings. 
The latter were past their best, but the huge beds of them left evidence 
of what a grand display of bloom there had been. The flowers were 
obviously produced in hundreds on each plant, the latter forming a 
sturdy tuft of growth. 
With regard to the Picotees these, like the other sections, are 
admirably represented. The plants are vigorous, healthy, and the 
flowers, what remained of them, were all that could be desired. Duchess 
of Sutherland is a most distinct and beautiful variety. The flower is 
large, full, and heavily edged with bright rose. Madeline is an extra 
fine variety, with broad pure white petals, edged with bright rose ; and 
in Gazelle we have a medium sized but good shaped flower, with a rich 
purple edge. Romulus is a grand Picotee, with a buff ground suffused 
with pink ; and Countess of Jersey is a yellow ground variety, edged 
with bright rose. Annie Douglas is an attractive flower, with a yellow 
ground and deep pink margin. Victory is a splendid variety, with an 
orange-coloured ground, flaked and edged with red ; and Old Coin is 
another distinct variety of the same character. Lord Rendlesham, Mrs. 
Henwood, and Sunset are also good yellow or buff ground varieties, and 
being good growers will doubtless find their way into most collections if 
they have not already done so. Carnations are by no means the only 
plants that are well grown at Slough, but to see them was the purport 
of my visit, hence, for the present, the reference to them alone.— C. 
The Chrysanthemum Season, 
I THINK the coming Chrysanthemum season will be more “ peculiar ’' 
than either early or late. Some varieties have been much affected by 
the very hot season. The wood has ripened and plants are showing the 
crown bud, in some cases three weeks earlier than in other seasons, 
while in other varieties the weather has not mads any appreciable 
difference. Although it is more than likely that some of the best blooms 
will be seen towards the end of October, yet many of the varieties usually 
taken on the “crown buds” will this season have to go to the “ terminals, 
and thus the majority of the flowers will probably develop somewhere 
about the usual time.— Geo. Woodgate, Warren House Gardens, 
Kingston Hill, 
Chrysanthemum Prospects. 
It is difficult at present to accurately guage the prospects of the 
season as to its being early or late. My opinion is that it will 
not be a late one, but rather the opposite amongst the general body of 
cultivators who cannot be said to have had much experience in the 
cultivation of Chrysanthemums primarily for cut blooms. My reason 
for thinking so is this. There is such a tendency nowadays to obtain 
size in the flowers, and those persons to whom I chiefly allude have learnt 
that the early formed buds give the largest blooms in one way, and as 
many of the plants showed “crown” buds during the month of July 
they were loth to let them pass, and consequently many were “ taken,” 
with the result that must inevitably follow, early and coarse flowers. 
By following such a method of culture I prognosticate much 
grumbling from the middle of October about the earliness of certain 
varieties. When we see such varieties as Mdlle. Lacroix and Peter the 
Great showing the colour of their florets and developing from 
“crown” buds in July, what must we expect in October? Such 
instances as this are but examples of what are to follow. Experienced 
growers know that buds “ taken ” in July are entirely useless with 
but few exceptions, that they fight shy of any that form at that time, 
preferring to have others which will show themselves about the third 
week in August, as the result of pinching out the July buds and 
running on the growth another stage.—E. Molyneux. 
The Chrysanthemums about here are forming their “ crown ” buds 
very early—in fact, too early to be of any use for exhibition. Stanstead 
White, Etoile de Lyon, E. Molyneux, Beauty of Castlewood, Viviand 
Morel, and Comte de Germiny have all shown the “crown” bud. 
During the past week buds could plainly be seen on Avalanche, Puritan, 
W. H. Lincoln, Hamlet, Louis Bcehmer, Mrs. A. Hardy, Gloire de Rocher, 
and several others. W. H. Lincoln, Madame Lacroix, and Viviand 
Morel have already thrown three “ crown ” buds each. 
The following varieties of incurves are also showing this morning 
(July 31st) Jeanne d’Arc, third bud ; Mons. Bahuant, third bud ; 
Madame Pierre Blancard, over 6 feet high ; Ami Hoste, G. Doughty, 
Queen of England, and also on a plant of Miss M. A. Haggas that was 
pinched back on May 29th. Several others look as though the bud 
would appear in a few days. With the exception of Mrs. A. Hardy, 
Beauty of Castlewood, and Louis Boehmer, none of the buds have been 
taken. The plants are very strong and healthy, and at present have not 
received any stimulant with the exception of a little soot water occa¬ 
sionally. Taken all round, I am afraid it will be a difficult matter to 
time the buds with any certainty, and several gardeners I have spoken 
to on the subject are of the same opinion. It would be interesting to 
know how other Chrysanthemums are behaving in different localities.— 
W. J., Suit071, Storey, 
CANKER IN FRUIT TREES. 
In Mr. Abbey’s article entitled “ Canker in Fruit Trees ” occurs the 
following passage, on page 50 :—“ There is no question about the Pear 
trees ; they or their fruit are troubled with the scab fungus, Cladosporium 
or Fusicladium dendriticum var. pyrinum, which attacks the young wood 
and produces cankerous scaly condition of the bark, &c.” 
There is a fungus which attacks the young wood of the Pear tree as 
