Augnit 23, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
177 
- Large Mushrooms. —A Western contemporary says :—“ A 
giant Mushroom was found by a correspondent at Southerndown last 
week. It measured 31 inches in circumference, and weighed 1 lb. ozs. 
Another large Mushroom, weighing 2 lbs. and measuring 40 inches in 
circumference and 14 inches in diameter, the stem being inches 
round the butt, is stated to have been picked last week by Mr. Mark 
Price in a field at Little Stoke, near Patch way.” 
- Chelsea Favourite Broccoli.—S ome time ago I promised 
to send you a few lines as to the merits of Chelsea Favourite Broccoli. 
With me this Broccoli did well, not one failing, the plants producing 
large heavy heads of snowy whiteness. The growth of the plant is strong 
and the heads are well protected. I do not consider the season much 
too advanced to plant late Broccoli, as I always find that if the plants 
have been pricked out on well prepared ground, afterwards duly 
planted on firm ground from which Strawberries have been cleared, less 
failures will occur than from very early plantations.— John Chinnery. 
- Forestry ih Germany. —It has been reported in a daily con¬ 
temporary that the Queen has despatched Mr. Michie, her head forester 
at Balmoral, to Germany, in order that he may investigate the methods 
of tree growing which are adopted on the estates of the Duke of Coburg, 
the Prince of Furstenburg, and other great forest owners. There are, it 
is stated, about 25,000 acres of woodlands on the Queen’s Scotch estates 
of Balmoral and Birkhall, principally Pines, Firs, Larches, and Spruces. 
•The Queen’s finest forest is Ballochbuie which extends to 10,000 acres, 
'and was purchased by Her Majesty in 1878 from the late Colonel 
Farquharion of Invercauld. 
- A Fine Fernery. —Roebuck Park, Dundrum, the seat of 
George Kinahan, Esq., possesses a special feature in a tastefully 
arranged fernery. Some fine specimens of Dicksonia squarrosa and 
aiitarctica, carrying huge heads of fronds, are very handsome, and 
visitors by ascending a miniature alpine pass constructed in the rock- 
work are enabled to view them from a vantage point not obtainable 
from below. Very noticeable are some gigantic fronds of Woodwardia 
orientalis drooping from the rock-lined walls. Subdued light from a 
heavily shaded roof, moisture-holding rocks with damp-retaining 
gravelled walks afford those atmospheric conditions conducive to free, 
luxuriant growth and vigorous health. An inner sanctuary, where 
sunshine enters not, is devoted to those charming members of the 
family—the Filmy Ferns. Here, at one end is Trichomanes radicans 
en masse draping the walls and rocks with beautiful dark green trans¬ 
lucent foliage. Many fine specimens of Todea superba are perched on 
rocky spurs, giving an unique character to this part of the fernery. 
Other things in and about this charming suburban residence call for 
notice, but the Ferns alone are sufficient testimony to the masterly 
hand of Mr. Morrison, the head gardener.—E. K., BiCblin. 
- Wakefield Paxton Society.—A t the recent usual weekly 
meeting of the members of the above Society Mr. George Wassell, 
gardener to Mr. W. Vibart Dixon, read an essay on “ Lawns and Town 
Gardens.” Mr. Wassell explained how to form or lay a lawn with turf 
and also how to produce one by means of seed. His advice on levelling, 
draining, rolling, cutting or mowing, and manuring, was all based on 
practical and successful experience, and went to show that a well kept 
lawn was one of the chief features in connection with a good garden. 
The paper provoked a lengthy and excellent discussion, which was 
opened by Mr. Allan Willis, of Normanton, the son of a well-known 
gardener. According to “The Wakefield Express” he raised the 
question as to whether it is best when cutting a lawn to leave the grass 
on or to remove it, more particularly on bowling greens and lawns used 
for tennis.—Mr. Vere, gardener to Mr. W. H. Stewart, J.P., Milnthorp, 
recommended that the cut grass should be left on the lawns.—Mr. 
Thomas, gardener to the Bishop of Wakefield, said he was old enough to 
remember the time when there were no lawn-mowing, rolling, and grass¬ 
gathering machines; when all lawns were cut with the scythe, and 
many gardeners continued to use it. He did not advise that cut grass 
should be left on new lawns; and he recommended the use of fine 
charcoal.—Mr. Spencer, Stanley, said he had used salt moderately on a 
lawn and found that it proved a radical cure for “ the Daisy plague.”— 
Mr. J. Burton, Dirtcar, said Daisies were the result of poor land, they 
would not grow on a well manured lawn.—Mr. Wardman complimented 
the essayist on his excellent and practical paper, and on the motion of 
Alderman Milnes, seconded by Mr. W. Crutchley, and supported by 
Mr. A. Willis, a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Wassell 
for his paper. 
- Crop Prospects in the United States.—T he official 
estimates place the probable Wheat crop at 388,000,000 bushels, and the 
crop of Indian corn at 1,512,000,000 bushels. In Iowa and Nebraska 
the conditions, it is said, are extremely bad, and although some rain is 
reported from the “ corn belt ” it is now too late to do much good. A 
good Wheat crop may be taken at 500,000,000 bushels, and a huge 
crop of Maize or corn at 2,000,000,000 bushels. The former furnishes 
the largest quantity of long distance traffic, yielding the better rates ; 
but Maize yields much local traffic, as well as some “ through ” business, 
and it also indirectly increases the traffic of the railways. 
- Chblone BARBATAi—This is a useful plant for the herbaceous 
border, and is perhaps more rightly named Pentstemon barbata. For 
flowering during July and August it is especially valuable. The pink- 
red or carmine coloured blossoms are very showy, and freely borne on 
stems which sometimes grow 4 feet high. Like many herbaceous plants 
this is much improved by replanting, so as to obtain additional vigour. 
My plan is to pull the old plants in pieces early in October, retaining 
those parts at the outside of the old roots, these being more vigorous 
than the central growths. Every piece with a root grows freely; the 
divisions dibbled in sandy soil in a cold frame, remaining there until 
the middle of April.—S. 
-Gardening Appointments.—W e are informed that Mr. F. 
Bright, late foreman at Southwark Park, has been appointed as foreman 
in charge of Meath Gardens, better known as Victoria Park Cemetery. 
As a mark of respect his fellow workmen collected together and bought 
a splendid silver watch, which the Superintendent, Mr. Curie, presented 
to him on Tuesday in last week. Mr. Joseph Barclay, gardener to the 
late H. Rowland, Esq., Manchester, appointed as head gardener to 
Thos. Walker, Esq., Southfield, Bolton-le-Moors. Mr. Henry Wilson, 
for the last seven years gardener at Easthorpe House, Ruddington, has 
removed with F. Abel Smith, Esq., to Papplewick Hall, Notts. Charles 
H. Sorsby, foreman in Mrs. Garside’s garden, Carlton House, Worksop, 
succeeds the late Mr. J. Jefferson as head gardener at that place. 
-Gardening in Worcestershire. — According to the 
“ Evesham Standard” “prolific Plums have been an average crop this 
year, and the prices realised have been good. The picking of Per- 
shore Plums was commenced by some gardeners before they were 
really ready. Gardeners have been tempted to gather the fruit by the 
high prices, but during the past few days the prices have fallen off 
considerably. Other kinds of Plums, such as Damsons and Victorias, 
are fast turning colour. It is expected that the prices of fruit will 
be low in consequence of the bad trade in the manufacturing districts. 
Kidney Beans are being picked in large quantities, and the prices are 
fairly good. Dwarf and French Beans are nearly over; the prices have 
been well maintained. Cucumbers, in consequence of the wet season, 
are not a good crop, and the quality of Tomatoes will not be very good 
if there is not a spell of hot weather soon. The weather of late has 
suited all the root crops, which are looking remarkably well. The 
season for Gooseberries, Currants, and Strawberries is now practically 
over. Strawberries, considering the light crop, have realised but poor 
prices. The early Potatoes which were affected by the frosts are a poor 
yield. The late sorts would benefit now by some dry weather, which 
will be very acceptable to gardeners in the district.” 
- Eastern Lilies. —The Revd. David R. Williamson, Kirk- 
maiden, writes to us as follows :—Dr. Wallace, of Colchester, remarks in 
a letter to myself that the present season is favourable to the growth 
and development of Oriental Lilies ; and observation tells me that his 
theory is correct. From three bulbs of Lilium longiflorum giganteum 
I have this year fifty-two flowers. I measured recently two blooms on a 
plant of the beautiful “Lily of Bermuda” (originally of Japan), 
L. longiflorum Harrisi, and found they were nearly 9 inches in length. 
The normal size, I understand, is from 4 to 6 inches. L. auratum and 
L. speciosnm have grown much stronger, and are much more prolific 
than usual this year. At Logan House in this parish, where almost 
every variety of the Oriental Lily that is of any value is cultivated by 
Mrs. McDowall, L. auratum, which is always magnificent there 
is already (August 13th) in full bloom. The plants are on circular 
borders, formerly tenanted by Azaleas, midway between the mansion 
house and the gardens, and have a very imposing appearance, many of 
them growing to an unusual height and bearing a large number of 
superbly coloured blooms; virginale and platyphyllum being especially 
impressive. Mrs. McDowall has been very successful this year with 
Lilium Henryi and L. Krameri, the latter of which, as I know from 
experience, is very difficult of cultivation. 
