174 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 24 , 1893. 
- A New Alpine Garden. —The Horticultural Society of 
Dauphiny and the Tourist Society of the same district have combined 
to form an Alpine Garden at Champrousse at an elevation of 
1800 metres; 500 to 600 plants are already planted. The garden says 
the “ Illustration Horticole” is intended as a refuge for rare or interest¬ 
ing species whose existence in a wild state is threatened, and 
as an establishment wherein such species may be propagated for 
distribution. 
- Violas. —The Rev. David R. Williamson of Kirkmaiden writes 
to us as follows :—“ I am greatly indebted to Mr. William Dean for 
his generous references to my recent article on the Viola in your issue 
of last week. What he says of my advocacy of the merits of this 
beautiful and durable border flower is all the more appreciated by 
reason of the fact that I do not know Mr. Dean either personally or 
by correspondence. I am much gratified to find that he coincides 
with my estimate of the Countess of Wharncliffe, which by reason of 
its satin-like texture and exquisite fragrance I account much superior 
to such varieties, however admirable in other aspects, as White Flag, 
Sylvia, and the Countess of Hopetoun, whose splendid attributes, 
nevertheless, I fully recognise. Each of these is exceedingly showy, 
and very floriferous. In Mr. Dean’s interesting and instructive article 
on the ‘ History of the Pansy,’ in the same excellent number of the 
Journal, he has a eulogistic reference to Mr. Cuthbertson of Rothesay, 
which is amply deserved.” 
- Spanish Chestnuts. —In England the Chestnut has never 
been of much esteem as food. For long its propagation was left to 
chance, and it was not until the middle of the last century that it was 
first cultivated. It was principally used to provide hop-poles and pigs- 
mast. On the Continent, however, and especially in Italy and Spain, it 
formed an important, and in some places the principal article of food. 
There are many ways of preparing the Chestnut for the table. Reduced 
to a flour, with the addition only of water and occasionally a little salt, 
it is cooked in various simple ways, polenta, a thick porridge,/arzwate, 
a soup of less consistency than the polenta, or need, thin round cakes 
baked between two flat hot stones, and to which a special aroma is given 
by placing a dried Chestnut leaf above and below the paste while baking. 
These are, however, in Tuscany, usually alternated polenta, made of 
Indian Corn, or Wheat and Rye bread, in which case the amount of 
Chestnut flour consumed is reduced to one-third or one-fourth, according 
to circumstances. In the Piedmont Chestnuts are only used as fruit. 
In parts of Spain bread made from Chestnuts is in common use. When 
Chestnuts are not ground they are roasted or boiled either in water or 
milk.—(“ Vegetarian Messenger.”) 
- Kingswood Flower Show.—T his, the third Exhibition of 
this Gloucestershire Society, was a distinct advance upon its prede¬ 
cessors. Many good prizes were offered both in the open and amateurs’ 
classes. In the former Mr. J. Cypher, Cheltenham, won the leading 
prizes in his usual excellent style, Mr. Mould, Pewsey, also showing well. 
No less than three silver cups, each valued at 5 guineas, were won by 
Mr. W. Rye, gardener to Captain Bellfield, Frenchay, who had a grand 
lot of flowering and fine-foliaged plants and Ferns. Mr. W. Bannister, 
gardener to H. St. Vincent Ames, Esq., also showed plants well. Cut 
flowers were quite a feature in the display. Dr. Budd’s Roses being 
particularly good. Fruit was also of great excellence. The best collec¬ 
tion of six varieties was shown by Mr. W. Nash, gardener to the Duke 
of Beaufort, Badminton, who had remarkably good Alicante and Muscat 
of Alexandria Grapes, a handsome Golden Gem Melon, good Peaches, 
Nectarines, and Figs. Mr. Bannister was second. Mr. Nash was also 
well first for black Grapes, his three bunches of Alicante being faultless. 
Dr. Grace and Mr. Doel were also successful in Grape classes. Apples 
and Pears were numerous and good, as also were vegetables generally. 
Messrs. Jullion and Cottle are the Honorary Secretaries, and they are to 
be congratulated upon the results, financially and otherwise, of their 
labours.—W. I. 
THE DROUGHT AND CATERPILLAR LIFE. 
It is remarkable how often we find Nature brings about a favourable 
change out of circumstances that appear unpromising, and this has 
been the case in some points with the drought of the present summer. 
Both in the country and in gardens hordes of caterpillars appeared on 
many plants and trees during May, and as the dry weather continued it 
seemed likely that they would be the cause of much mischief to a 
vegetation already languishing for lack of moisture. The dryness and 
the warmth together did indeed accelerate the development of some 
species, and sent them into the pupal state earlier than usual ; but with 
regard to a larger number of caterpillars, as time went on, the result of 
the drought was manifestly unfavourable. Much moisture is hurtful to 
most caterpillars; an excess of dryness, however, tells against them, 
and, after the long absence of rain the condition of the leaves was 
such that caterpillars became unable to masticate them, and the warmth 
reduced the natural juices of their bodies, so that many of them died 
of inanition. Of course this dying off of caterpillars was more notice¬ 
able on trees and wild plants than on cultivated species, because these 
were often watered to some extent, when it was possible, and so the 
foliage or other portions of the plants were maintained in an edible 
condition. Hairy caterpillars, 1 believe, suffered less from the heat than 
did smooth ones, because the coat of hairs tended to diminish evapora¬ 
tion from the body.— Entomologist. 
ONIONS AND POTATOES AT CHISWICK. 
The following members of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee 
examined these crops at Chiswick on the 17th inst.—Messrs. H. Balder- 
son (in the chair), G. Wythes, G. Norman, G. Sage, J. Willard, J. Wright, 
G. W. Cummins, A. Dean, and A. F. Barron, Secretary. 
The Committee first inspected the different varieties of Onions which 
have been grown in the gardens this season, the general crop being 
exceptionally satisfactory, having regard to the drought and other 
Onion troubles so prevalent elsewhere. The rows of Onions are about 
20 feet long, and there were fifty of them. The seed was sown on 
March 3rd. All the various sections of Onions were fully represented, 
but there could be no doubt whatever as to the unquestionable superiority 
of the globular forms over the old White Spanish type, with their some¬ 
what flattened or hollow bases. The awards made were based absolutely 
upon the merits of the respective sorts as presented in the trial, and 
only the most striking were selected for honours. The following 
received three marks, the highest award the Committee can make at 
Chiswick. Awards of merit or certificates can only be granted at the 
Drill Hall, where samples of the respective sorts may be shown by the 
persons sending to Chiswick. 
Southport Yellow Glohe. —Very smooth, handsome, even ; Giant 
Zittau type, but finer. 
Southport Red Globe, —Very fine, handsome, even, firm, a first-rate 
one ; the best of all the red section. Seed of both from Deverill and 
Henderson, New York. 
Suttons' A1. —This is of the medium Globe type, a very fine massive 
handsome Onion, that was much admired. 
DeverilVs Cocoanut. —The finest and best of all the deep Globe or 
James’ Keeping type. 
Henderson's Prizetaker. —Also a very fine globular Onion. 
Globe Madeira (Vilmorin).—A remarkably fine stock, showing the 
best sample of the trial. 
Italian Tripoli. —The best of the white-skinned forms. 
It is perhaps surprising to learn that several Onions that have of 
late made a reputation for weight did not obtain awards, but, 
apart from lack of distinctness, these varieties under ordinary culture 
were far from being the wonders they are supposed to be. 
Potatoes, of which there is a good trial, were next taken, but probably 
one-third of the sorts need another month to mature in, whilst not a few 
were of poor appearance. About a dozen were finally selected for 
cooking, the lifted samples being all that could be desired. These 
selected samples were all most admirably served, for Potatoes are always 
well cooked at Chiswick, and the full award of three marks was made to 
the following. Sutton’s Triumph, and Windsor Castle, white round; 
Jeannie Deans, flattish white round; Lillie Langtry, red round; Early 
Regent, a now well known variety, and Redcliffe Seedling, long white 
kidney shape, great cropper. Some others full of promise will have to be 
seen and tried later. It was agreed that the Potatoes were exceptionally 
sound and good this season. 
DIGGING AMONGST FRUIT TREES. 
This practice cannot be too strongly condemned, yet it is persisted 
in, I believe, merely for the sake of appearance. If the ground is 
kept clean digging need not be practised ; if trees are well managed the 
ground surrounding them should be a network of fibres induced by 
surface dressings of farmyard manure. Where digging has been regularly 
practised for years we may look in vain for fibrous roots. The roots are 
driven down beyond the reach of the spade into material that is 
unsuitable for them, and need we wonder that the young shoots die 
back and the trees canker ? Only recently I have been engaged in 
removing comparatively young trees practically fibreless that should 
have been in good condition but for the spade. With the roots of trees 
in sour, wet, or hungry subsoil I suspect “ spraying ” for a lifetime with 
blue French broth would not prevent canker. 
If trees are to produce good crops of fine fruit they must be 
liberally fed at their roots. If farmyard manure is not available for 
periodical dressings, and the drainage from the farmyard cannot be had 
or other sewage, recourse must be had to artificial manures. A mixture 
of two parts superphosphate of lime and onepartiof nitrate of soda is 
simple and good, applying from loz. to 2 ozs. to the square yard, accord¬ 
ing to the state of the trees, as far as the roots extend, judging the 
distance by the branches. This dressing may be given two or three 
times during the season, commencing early in spring. A more durable 
manure has been recommended in the Journal, and may usefully be 
repeated here : “ 5 lbs. of bonemeal, 2 lbs. of sulphate of potash mixed 
and applied 4 ozs. to the square yard.” If applied in spring 1 lb. of 
nitrate of soda might be added to this mixture.— Fruit Grower. 
