July 5, 1834. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
11 
Rhododendrons, Many of the choice varieties are also grown. These 
appear to grow and flower exceedingly well; but come in a few 
weeks earlier, and of course are on a much smaller scale than the 
ponticum, which in itself is quite an interesting feature at Alton 
Towers.—G. H. 
- Perpetual Green Beet. —Mr. Herbert May, Markree Castle 
Gardens, Collooney, Sligo, writes :—“This is a most excellent substitute 
for Spinach during the winter. I sowed seeds about the first week in 
June last year, giving the same treatment as for ordinary Beet. During 
last winter I was enabled to have Spinach as often as it was required, 
and I have a good crop of young leaves at the present time. There 
can be no excuse for not having a dish of Spinach all the year round by 
the help of the above mentioned variety. In this damp climate and a 
very strong stiff clay I have to deal with, I lost my ordinary crop of 
Spinach every year : but I do not mind now I have a substitute, and 
recommend it to others likewise situated.” 
- May Weather in Hertfordshire. —Mr. E. Wallis, The 
Gardens, Hamels Park, Buntingford, writes :—“ The weather during 
May has been for the most part of a very cold, dull, and damp nature. 
On two mornings frost was registered on the grass, but towards the end 
of the month summer weather set in. Rain has fallen on thirteen days 
during past month ; maximum in any twenty-four hours was 0'25 on 
the 20th ; minimum in any twenty-four hours 0-03 on the 13th ; total 
during the whole month was 1’81, against 0-88 of 1893. By the end 
of June, 1893, I had registered 7'12 ; end of June, 1894, 9’73.” 
- Wreaths at the Late President Carnot's Funeral. 
—A correspondent, who has witnessed many State funerals, declares 
that on no occasion has he seen the floral tributes so rich and numerous 
as at the funeral of the late President Carnot, in Paris, on Sunday last. 
It is estimated that £100,000 were spent in the purchase of wreaths and 
crowns. The first place was given to that of the President of the 
Republic, an immense wreath 7 feet in diameter, and made of red 
Roses and Palm leaves. Twelve two-horse cars, conical in shape, were 
loaded with hundreds of floral emblems. The tributes sent by the 
crowned heads of Europe, which came behind these cars, were carried 
on the shoulders of firemen in uniform. That of Her Majesty Queen 
Victoria, in Violets, and of the Prince and Princess of Wales, in Boses 
and Orchids, were much admired, as were also the more pretentious 
wreath of the Emperor of Germany, and the gorgeous affair in yellow 
and red flowers sent by the Queen of Spain. 
- Flies Preying upon Gnats.— Mr. Sidney J. Tindall, Wood¬ 
ford, writes to “ Science Gossip ”—“ Standing over a small pond in 
Epping Forest on Sunday the 3rd June, I noticed a number of 
very black-looking flies swiftly flying close to the surface of the water. 
Every now and again these flies would dart suddenly down upon some 
object, and then began a terrific struggle ; the fly whirled round and 
round, and jerked to right and left some inches on the surface, and 
occasionally another would come to its assistance and join in the conflict. 
When the flies resumed their flight after a battle of about a minute’s 
duration, I observed what appeared to be the lifeless body of a gnat 
floating away. Am I right in assuming that these flies are the natural 
enemies of the gnats, and destroy them when they appear on the surface 
to undergo the change from pupa to imago? I witnessei several 
encounters in the space of a few minutes.” 
- Plant Groups at Exhibitions. —There are few things which 
more fully test the decorative capacities of a plantsman than is found 
in the arrangement of a purely artistic group of plants at a flower show. 
Of course, the style of arrangement seen at shows shouM also be found 
employed at home, but circumstances will not always permit. Probably 
no position offers such a favourable opportunity for the employment 
of artistic skill as at a show where there is a large tent, smooth short 
grass for floor, and ample room. The recent show at Richmond 
enabled groups of this nature to be displayed to the best advantage, 
because the conditions named were fully provided. Very fine groups 
are nearly always found there, although we miss the late Mr. W, Brown, 
whose eroups were always so beautiful, Messrs. Fromow, who also are 
first-class decorators, and Mr. Hudson, who was el ways uncommonly 
hard to beat. Only three groups were in competition at the late show, 
but of these it was much to be deplored that the judges placed the best, 
really a most beautiful group quite worthy of the best earlier competi¬ 
tions, second ; whilst one rather heavy and formal was put first. This 
one was arranged somewhat on the sloping or graduated system, a 
style that good decorators have long since discarded. The second group, 
that of Mr. Fordham, had a most delightful base of Gloxinias, with 
Maidenhair Fern and Lilium Harrisi, Tuberoses, Palms, and Crotons 
as top plants. I fear it is not at all possible to lay down any 
guiding rules for judges in connection with decorative groups. It is 
all a matter of taste, but such a mistake as was then made seems 
unpardonable. It is so unfortunate when men’s best efforts are so 
indifferently considered.—A. D. 
- Iris Florentina.— Writing to the “ Garden and Forest,’’ 
Mr. J. N. Gerard says :—“ With its large nearly white flowers. Iris 
florentina is one of the most charming plants of the season, and should 
be in every garden. It is a reliable garden variety, and its exquisitely 
coloured flowers have a patrician air, notwithstanding this is one of the 
commonest of plants. It is also commercially valuable, and many tons 
of its roots are each year gathered, dried, and prepared to make the 
orris-root of trade. The finer grades of this root are used by perfumers, 
usually to simulate violet. It is also largely used in tooth powders and 
for sachets. Of late years oils, both liquid and concrete. Lave been 
extracted from the roots, and these have proved useful to the soap 
maker as well as to the perfumer. This Iris is also the only officinal 
species, being sometimes used in medical practice as a cathartic, and in 
large doses as an emetic. It is one of the older remedies, however, and 
is seldom used now.” 
- The Strawberry Crop. —There is little hope that the 
enhanced prices now obtainable for Strawberries will at all compensate 
growers for loss incidental to injury from frost. In some of the Kentish 
districts the harm done has been so great, and the fruits that have 
matured have been so small and so imperfectly formed, that extensive 
breadths have been ploughed-in to make room for other produce, that 
may give some return for the rent of the land. Strawberry growers 
have been specially hard hit, because their crops last year, owing to the 
drought, were so poor. It is, however, so unusual to meet with disasters 
of this kind in one season, much less in two successive ones, that many 
years may elapse ere such trouble will again occur. That a temporary 
check has been given to Strawberry culture there can be no doubt; still 
it must soon be recovered from. There can be no doubt but that the 
drought of last year is to some extent responsible for the harm done to 
the bloom this year, as it promoted undue early blooming. Still further, 
the crowns did generally lack that robustness essential to the produc¬ 
tion of fine healthy bloom. In myriads of cases the plants have failed 
to flower at all. Because of this, many who have blind plants are 
fearful lest this defect should be perpetuated. That it is an accident 
of the season seems so probable, there can be little doubt but that 
the floriferous habit of the plants will return next year. It is to 
be hoped so in any case. Happily for us there is a good prospect of 
an abundance of moat other fruits, that have perhaps greater value 
than Strawberries, and the present sunshine should help to perfect 
them thoroughly.—A. 
- Imported Tomatoes.—T he small and wretchedly coloured 
Tomatoes we see just now in shops and on costers’ barrows can hardly 
attract purchasers, and yet they do find consumers without doubt, or 
they would not be sold. I was only a few days since asked what sort 
these were, a query I was unable to reply to, because it was certainly 
the case that none were naturally coloured. The variety may have 
been the Old Red or any other of the somewhat sutured forms, yet so 
plentifully grown. A flood of light was, however, let in upon the peculiar 
colour of these cheap Tomatoes the other day when I got a note from 
Newcastle asking for information how to ripen green Tomatoes. The 
writer had purchased several boxes of green Tomatoes, and wanted to 
get them coloured ere offering them for sale. It is not possible to have 
sympathy with a dealer who purchases fruit under such conditions, 
although this man was a novice in the dealing art, but the consumers 
who purchase these fruits when they are artificially coloured by exposure 
to light and warmth are greatly deceived. As Tomatoes when in a 
green state are absolutely unfit for food, it is difficult to understand why 
they are not seized by the food inspectors as unfit, and thus prevented 
from such artificial colouration as enables dealers to impose them on 
consumers as ripe. It is indeed a pity that people should purchase such 
unwholesome rubbish, but the fact that they do shows how very much 
attached to Tomatoes the British public have become. I have no 
svmpathy with the very stupid proposals made to have all imported 
fruit branded with the name of the country where grown, but I do think 
all unripe and unwholesome fruit, even Tomatoes, should not be allowed 
to be vended,—D. 
