742 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 23, 1887. 
THE VICAR'S GARDEN. 
As a means of relaxation to weary brain-workers, a 
quiet stroll through the pleasure grounds or among the 
flower-borders of a well-kept garden, stands second to 
none ; and to the professional gardener a look in at 
one of his neighbours, will often impart stimulus and 
strength, when more or less cast down by the dis¬ 
appointments and vexations incident to his calling. 
A few evenings back we enjoyed a pleasant half-hour 
in the vicar’s garden, which looked as it always does— 
gay enough for the most vulgar admirer of flaming 
colours, and choice and refined enough to satisfy the 
most Eesthetic devotee of Flora. We had the pleasure 
of seeing a quarter of the improved Field Poppies—a 
sight, we suppose, not to be seen elsewhere. These are 
the produce selected from a chance break a few years 
back ; they have developed into one of the most 
striking successes in the improvement of our hardy 
field flowers which this, or any past generation, has 
witnessed, and only equalled by the transformation of 
the weedy-looking Yiolas of the cornfields into the 
superb varieties of our modern florists, and the im¬ 
provement effected in the Hollyhock by Msesrs. Laing, 
Chater, Benham, and others. 
Considering the short time these Poppies have been 
in hand, the diversity of colours now seen among 
them is astounding ; varying from the purest white, 
through various shades of pink, to the most vivid and 
intense scarlet, some with well-defined white lacing, 
and there are indications of a strain of carnation-sti'iped 
ones being developed among them. There are a goodly 
number of double ones, and there seems, practically, 
no limit as to the size, colour, or doubleness of flowers 
which these will yet assume. At present there are no 
yellow ones among them ; this we think quite con¬ 
clusive against the idea that Papaver nudicaule has 
had something to do with the origin of this strain. 
ITeither in colour of flowers or habit of growth is there 
anything to warrant a conclusion of that kind being 
drawn. They will, from their intrinsic merits, become, 
not only the most popular of Poppies, but the most 
sought after of anything in the. way of hardy perennials. 
They must become everybody’s flowers, for they can 
be grown anywhere and anyhow. When scattered 
amongst shrubs in the hardy herbaceous borders, they 
are very decorative, and when they become plentiful 
should be sown pretty freely in such positions, where, 
being of light growth and occupying so little room, 
they will not overpower other things. They will serve 
to enliven the borders when there is a paucity of bloom 
among other things, and being cheap—as they soon 
must be—can, at any time when desirable, be thinned 
out, the better types being retained. Their value for 
house decoration cannot be over-estimated. Being 
light, bright, and graceful, they admit of being utilised 
in combination with Ferns and grasses or other flowers. 
It is very pleasing to record a success of this kind, which 
occurs, perhaps, but once in a generation. They must 
not be confounded with the ordinary garden Poppies, 
bearing but little likeness to them, and being infinitely 
removed from them in point of merit, are destined, we 
believe, to run those old favourites out of cultivation. 
Among other good things in flower, we noticed a 
particularly fine and distinct variety of Lilium auratum, 
named Yirginale—one of the very best and most 
distinct forms of this popular Lily we ever saw. 
L. Jenningsii, L. Szovitzianum, and L. Parryii are 
samples of the rare and good gems of the Lily tribe to 
be seen here. We noticed Iberis Gibraltarica, which, 
to our surprise, was described in The Gardening 
World, a few weeks back, as being pure white ; this 
fine thing is, unfortunately, not quite hardy. Among 
hardy flowering shrubs, Buddlea globosa ought to be 
better known and more often seen than it is, being one 
of the most distinct and handsome hardy flowering 
shrubs we have. A good plant of it will always draw 
forth the most unqualified admiration from those who 
see it for the first time, but it must be placed where it 
has ample room. We notice with pleasure Phlox 
suffruticosa represented in a few varieties. As these 
flower in advance of the taller-growing and more varied- 
coloured P. decussata, they are well worth all the care 
and attention which can be bestowed upon them, both 
the individual flowers and spikes being very choice and 
beautiful, and most of them are deliciously scented. 
These not so many years back were first favourites in 
the north, but since the improvements made in P. 
decussata they seem to have got into the background. 
Scarlet Giant Poppies, a splendid strain of Foxgloves, 
with Gaillardias, German and Spanish Iris, are freely 
interspersed among other less conspicuous subjects. 
Spiraea aruncus is a fine back-row plant, or to stand 
out in an isolated position. Among humbler-growing 
things Leptospermum prostratum claims attention, not 
only for its beauty, but for the length of time it 
continues in bloom. The drought is telling very 
seriously against us. Some time since I wrote a few 
lines, which I never forwarded, quoting the old adage, 
“When Ash is before Oak we shall have a soak: 
When Oak is before Ash then we shall have a splash.” 
The Oak was most distinctly before the Ash this year 
at the time I penned those lines, and nothing seemed 
more unlikely than that we should have a dry time, 
such as we are experiencing now ; so perhaps there 
may be some truth in the old saying. At all events, 
it is only too true to suit either our comfort or con¬ 
venience this season. — IV. P>. G. 
-- 
GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
THE PRESIDENT “AT HOME.” 
We take the following extracts from The World, of 
Wednesday, July 6th.:—The arrangements of Sir Julian 
Goldsmid’s own room speak volumes for the industry of 
its inmate. Ground-glass screens him from the 
irreverent gaze of the inhabitants of Brick Street ; in 
one corner his secretary, Mr. Hutchense, is engaged in 
the dissection of a heap of “charitable appeals,” and 
the master of the house, seated at a homely writing- 
table, covered with American leather, below the window, 
is making notes for an article which he has promised to 
contribute to an early number of the Liberal Unionist. 
Two massive mahogany stands are weighed down with 
their burden of Blue-books and Parliamentary papers ; 
a carefully underlined copy of Mr. Chamberlain’s 
Speeches on the Irish Question is next-door neighbour to 
a curious little enamel eighteenth-century clock ; and 
you are surprised to discover that the sketches in plain 
frames on the pale yellow paper are by Salvator Rosa, 
Luca Giordano, Du Moustier and Delfos. Sir Julian 
Goldsmid has half-a-dozen replies still to dictate, and 
while you await his leisure your eye wanders to the plain 
gray chimneypiece where art, politics and good works 
seem to foregather in picturesque confusion amidst the 
bronzes. The Tunbridge Petty Sessions list rests 
against a case containing miniatures of Henry the 
Eighth and his wives ; a catalogue of the Orchids at 
Somerhill divides the post-cards of the Liberal Union 
and the Geographical Society, while the Tunbridge 
Cricket Club separates the University of London and 
Brompton Hospital from the Anglo-Jewish Association 
and the Jews’ Infant School. A pile of new books, a 
specimen of Japanese metal-work, and a curious 
painting on parchment occupy a prominent position on 
a round table in the centre of the room, which Sir 
Julian Goldsmid presently explains to you is sacred to 
recent purchases, the ultimate destination of which is 
still undetermined. 
Hard work has been the great feature of Sir Julian’s 
career ever since the time when he beat most of his 
competitors at college. Alpine adventure was then 
his favourite diversion, and he had climbed most of the 
celebrated peaks of Europe before he carried off the 
highest honours which the University of London could 
give him, and joined the Oxford Circuit in search of 
briefs and forensic fame. Just one-and-twenty years 
ago he succeeded his father as member for Honiton, 
and made his maiden speech in support of Mr. Bouverie’s 
Fellows of Colleges Declaration Bill. Mr. Goldsmid 
soon acquired a reputation for courage and industry at 
"Westminster ; but in 1868 he lost his seat by the dis¬ 
franchisement of Honiton. In the course of the same 
year he married. His wife possessed all the enthusiasm 
and passionate love of art and music which traditionally 
belongs to the Florentine race from which she came, 
and she brought with her all the light and brightness 
of the South to her English homes in London and at 
Somerhill. Her husband soon found another seat at 
Rochester, and he continued to represent that ancient 
borough for nearly ten years. In 1875 Mr. Cross made 
him a member of the Senate of the University of 
London. 
Sir Julian Goldsmid, who succeeded to the title on 
the death of his uncle in 1878, played a notable part in 
the grave debates on foreign affairs which marked the 
years 1878 and 1879. He studied most of the great 
Continental questions on the spot, and in his travels 
he always found time and opportunity to add to his 
collection of pictures and porcelain. For many years 
he was treasurer of University College, and took an 
active share in its management. He laboured diligemly 
on numerous Parliamentary Committees, and displayed 
as much zeal in the interest of the Jewish Schools and 
the Anglo-Jewish Association as he did on behalf of 
the Brompton and University College Hospitals or the 
Metropolitan Working Clas3 Dwellings Association. 
Sir Julian Goldsmid thoroughly mastered the various 
subjects to which he turned his attention. He has 
since embraced the political faith of a Liberal Unionist, 
and South St. Pancras now claims the services once 
given to Honiton and Rochester. He is at present one 
of the eight Chairmen of Railway Committees in 
Parliament. __ 
THE WEATHER AND FRUIT 
PROSPECTS. 
The weather in this district of Yorkshire has been 
very unfavourable for all sorts of outdoor fruits. With 
the exception of a shower we had about three weeks 
ago, we had no rain from May 22nd up to Saturday, 
July 16th, when we were favoured with a nice shower 
of about an hour’s duration. It was astonishing to see 
how much fresher and healthier every plant, bush and 
tree looked immediately after. Before the nice shower 
of Saturday, whatever way one chose to turn, every¬ 
thing had the same burnt-up and parched appearance— 
plants dying in the borders, Strawberries gradually 
disappearing in the beds, lawns turned from a glossy 
green to a dull brown colour. 
During the past few weeks the temperature has been 
very changeable, the thermometer registering during 
the day as high as 75° to 80° in the shade, and falling 
sometimes as low as 11° during the night. With a 
favourable season the fruit-crop would have been an 
excellent one in almost every class. Apricots with us 
are an abundant crop, the trees being literally covered; 
considering the extremely dry weather, the fruit is 
swelling wonderfully well. Peaches in the open air 
here, are doing better than they have done for some 
years, but we have been greatly troubled with green¬ 
fly ; the want of rain and with only a limited supply 
of water, has prevented us from doing them complete 
justice. The same is applicable to Plums (Gages) ; 
they are quite an average crop. Yictorias are especially 
good. Those grown in the standard and bush form 
will yield an immense quantity of fruit ; the branches 
are already bent down under the weight of it. Pears 
of the hardier sorts are quite an average crop. Jar¬ 
gonelles, and others of the better sort, are not so 
plentiful, the late spring frosts having hurt them very 
much. Never did a season open with better prospects 
for a crop of Apples, the trees in this district being 
completely covered with blossom, but the continued 
dry weather has told heavily on them. In some places 
just now, on looking through the orchards, the Apples 
are to be seen lying in hundreds below the trees ; if 
we do not get sufficient rain soon, I am afraid Apples 
will be very small, and, on light soils, very scarce. 
Cherries have been very abundant, but small. 
The leading varieties of Strawberries grown are 
Sir Joseph Paxton and President in their respective 
places as early and second early, with Elton Pine as 
late. Of the former I cannot speak too highly ; it 
has done first-class with me this year, being of splendid 
size and excellent flavour. The excessive drought 
seems to have affected it very little. President, on the 
other hand, is deficient in flavour and is absolutely 
tough, which, no doubt, must be the effects of the 
weather. Elton Pine seems to be more easily affected 
than any of the others ; on light soils it has almost 
disappeared. 
Caterpillars have wrought fearful havoc on Goose¬ 
berries and Red Currants. They have been cleansed 
time after time, but all to no purpose, they always 
finding their way there again. Where the bushes have 
been kept clean good crops are to be seen hanging, and 
those who have taken the trouble to clean them will be 
rewarded for their labour. Currants, both Black and 
Red, are very plentiful, and, like everything else, have 
suffered severely for want of rain, and are very small. 
It has been the cry for weeks back, how much good a 
shower of rain would do. Day after day the clouds 
have looked threatening, we have heard the thunder 
and seen the lightning, but alas ! the rain has always 
passed over to some more favoured part. I think the 
