July 26, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
75 
The programme of the Austrian Fruit Exhibition, to be 
held at Vienna, September 29th to October 7th, has been already re¬ 
ferred to, but fuller particulars have been received, from which it 
appears that three sections—namely, for fruit, fruit products, and 
implements for fruit cultivation arc set apart for Austrian exhibitors, 
the two others for “ Competitive fruit drying,” arid “ Machinery or 
implements for the cultivation of and utilisation of fruits,” are inter¬ 
national. In the circular just issued by Count Henry Attems Leech- 
wald, Graz, Styria, full particulars are given in English respecting 
the two latter sections, the conditions of competition, space hire, 
prizes, &c. 
- Floral Decoration. —We learn that on (he occasion of the 
visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Holloway to open the 
Great Northern Hospital, the whole of the floral decorations and 
three bouquets ’ were supplied gratuitously by Mr. B. S. AVilliams, 
Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, N. 
-■“ W. J. G.” writes :—“ There is now in the garden of Bcacon- 
hill House, Exmouth, Devon, a tree of Eucalyptus globulus, which 
in a few days will be a beautiful sight. At present there are some 
hundreds of blooms, but a vast number of buds arc expanding. The. 
height of the tree is about 30 feet, and at 6 feet from the ground 
measures 24 inches in circumference. It was planted about seven years 
ago. Docs not such a specimen speak well for our mild climate? ” 
- Trade Notice. —We are informed that Mr. A. W. Crews having 
relinquished the managership of the Chad Valley Nurseries, Birming¬ 
ham, has entered into business with Mr. A. C. Cox (late of Messrs. Hugh 
Low & Co.) at Gloucester. The address of the firm is Crews, Cox and 
C'o., Southgate Street, Gloucester. , 
- The Heaviest Strawberries. —Our correspondent i; Saxor- 
ing ” wishes to know the heaviest weights of individual fruits of Straw¬ 
berries grown as a crop not for show or prizes, and whether any have 
been known weighing as much as 4 ozs. each. He says, “ I have a lot 
this year li oz. to 1J oz. each, and numbers of Dr. Hogg weighing 1 oz., 
but not one of 2 ozs.” Marguerite is a large-fruiting variety, and Mr. 
Goldsmith, at Nelsey Manor, Beckenham, has had numerous fruits this 
season exceeding 2 ozs., while it is recorded that some fruit of this variety 1 
have been obtained weighing 3.^ozs. Perhaps some of our readers can 
give further information on this point. 
- Messrs. Corry, Soper & Co. (Limited), 1G, late IS, Finsbury 
Street, write :—“ With much regret we have tp announce the death of 
Mr. George Robert Soper, a member of our firm, which occurred 
on the 6th inst., at 300, Amhurst Road,' Stoke Newington, N., after a 
long and painful illness.” 
- The Kew Bulletin for July contains much interesting 
matter, the first article dealing with the Bhabur Grass (Ischremum 
angustifolium), which is said to approach Esparto in habit and useful¬ 
ness for paper-making. A chapter is devoted to the Cayman Islands and 
their products ; another deals with Valonia in Cyprus, giving analyses 
of the acorn cups from several species of Oak imported from Cyprus for 
tanning purposes. A long article is devoted to the Prickly Pear 
(Opuntia) in South Africa, describing its value as fodder for sheep and 
ostriches, its cultivation, the species of Opuntia used, the cochineal 
industry, and the production of alcohol from Prickly Pears. The Star 
Anise, Illicium verum, with an illustration, completes a useful number. 
_Grapes at Elford. —Visitor ” sends the following paragraph: 
_“ l n July of last year some remarks appeared in the columns of the 
Journal respecting the fine quality of the Elford Grapes as grown by Mr 
J. Udale, and in a brief and hurried visit just paid by me to these fine 
old gardens I was glad to find that such high quality had been more 
than maintained during the present season. The bunches are of large 
size, and the berries exceptionally so. Mr. Udale told me that from 
careful measurements he had made he found them (Black Hamburghs) 
to measure from 1 to 1£ inch in diameter. The colour is very dense 
and deep, the bunches solid, and the berries have the peculiar 
hammered ” appearance prized by many cultivators. As they are 
likely to appear upon more than one exhibition table we are almost 
certain to hear further of these fine examples of Grape culture.” 
-Just as we go to press we regret to learn that Mr. F. 
Whitbourn, of Great Gearies, Ilford, Essex, died suddenly 
on Wednesday morning. He had long been in feeble health, but was 
out the day before he died. For many years Mr. Whitbourn has given 
much encouragement to horticulture and floriculture, and his gardener, 
Mr. J. Douglas, is widely known as a successful exhibitor. 
- “ I wish to call attention to Veronica traversi,” writes 
Mr. T. Record, “ because at this time of the year, when there are few 
hardy shrubs in flower, this is most beautiful. It is of dense habit, with 
a profusion of short-jointed shoots and pure white flowers, but when not 
in flower its narrow and pointed foliage and compact habit of growth 
makes it a desirable shrub. It seems also to be adapted for planting 
near the sea coast, for from Eastbourne along the coast to Seafdrd, 
Newhaven, and Beachy Head, it is found in most gardens, and appears 
to be quite as much at home in such places as the green Euonymus. 
The Veronica does well inland also, and may be depended upon to grow 
in almost any soil, and will successfully bear moving at any time of the 
year when not in full growth and flower. It roots freely from cuttings, 
which are best taken from the points of the shoots any time after growth 
is completed. Inserted in nursery rows under the protection of a wall 
I have not lost one plant out of a hundred.” 
- Writing from Builth, “ T. T.” says, i! We have a Lilium 
GIGANTEUM in flower here; it has produced three flower stems of about 
9 feet high, with eight to ten blooms on a spike. It is planted around 
the side of a border. The natural soil here is light and very shallow, 
not more than 6 inches of soil in places in the garden ; it lies on the 
rock.” This noble Lily has also been flowering well at Kew this season 
in a somewhat sheltered nook in the rockery, and in Mr. G. F. Wilson’s 
garden at Wisley. 
-Chrysanthemums and the Weather.—“C. 0.” writes, “ The 
recent dull and showery weather is causing a very rapid and vigorous 
growth this season, and I fear many of the naturally grown plants 
will be, long-jointed .and sappy, and attain undue height. Under the 
circumstances it would be as well to abstain from giving any stimulants 
and water sparingly during the absence of sunshine to induce as hard 
and solid a growth as possible. Strict attention should be paid to tying 
and securing the growth of the laterals as they extend, cutting away 
all but the required number to be left. ” 
-— At the ordinary weekly meeting of the members of the 
Wakefield Paxton Society, held at the “ Saw Hotel,” Councillor 
Milnes, the President, was in the chair, and Mr. Arthur Goldthorpe, 
who is one of the Vice-Presidents, occupied the vice-chair. There was 
a good attendance of the members. The annual display of Roses should 
have been made, and a discussion upon the queen of flowers opened 
by Mr. G. Bott of Walton, a well-known amateuT rosarian, but in 
consequence of the unseasonable weather the blooms were not quite 
ready for exhibition, and the show and discussion on Roses was ad¬ 
journed until the next meeting. Mr. Hudson, gardener at Sandal 
Grange, read a very interesting paper on “ The Foxglove,” which he 
strongly recommended amateur gardeners to grow in their borders and 
on their rockeries. 
- Diet for Hot Weather. —Mr. W. S. Manning writes:— 
“ Fresh fruit may be taken to any extent, without fear of any ill 
results, if good whole-meal bread and other cereal foods are taken 
with them. The Lancet and other medical journals have been speaking 
out of late strongly in favour of ripe raw fruits, early in the morning 
especially. They afford a very beneficial gentle stimulant to the 
mucous membrane of the stomach, rendering dyspepsia in every form 
almost impossible. Let your readers, therefore, who may be subject to 
any of the many “ ills that flesh is heir to,” (mainly through ill-chosen 
food probably) give a steady trial to the Edenic diet of fruit and grain, 
and they will find that, whilst they are thus doing their best to en¬ 
courage increased supplies of the most remunerative crops for the 
farmer, in taking ripe fruit for food and drink, they will be at the 
same time simply eating themselves out of their chronic ailments.* 
especially such worrying sorts as indigestion and'rheumatism, on the 
wholesomest, heartiest, and pleasantest fare that science can suggest.” 
