| 'September 24, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
59 
Waite. Webb’s Jubilee, as staged by Mr. Pope, was 
clearly the same variety; while the fruits of Webb’s 
Jubilee, shown by Messrs. Lockie, T. A. Beckett, and 
C. Beckett were distinct in so far that they were all 
more globular in form. The winning dishes of Carter’s 
Perfection could not be distinguished from Webb’s 
Sensation or Sutton’s Perfection, and not one of the 
three were distinct from the best type of the old Stam- 
fordian or Jackson’s Favourite. Among the unsuc¬ 
cessful samples in each class were fruits which did 
show a certain amount of variation from the winning 
samples, and it would be interesting to know if these 
represented the varieties originally sent out under the 
names given, as in that case those who took the prizes 
should really have been disqualified.— Exhibitor. 
Ne Plus Ultra Runner Bean. —Keferring to 
the competition for prizes offered by Mr. Deverill at 
South Kensington, on the 13th inst., you ask for 
information as to the real character of the Ne Plus 
Ultra Bean; the awards to which were not satisfactory. 
I thought the same thing, and remonstrated with one 
of the judges because they had placed Mr. Neal’s very 
handsome sample third, and some larger but coarser 
samples first. The reply was that, being a novelty, 
nothing was known of its real character, and, therefore, 
the largest samples took the prizes. That plan is so far 
unsatisfactory that it puts the merit of mere size before 
that of form, evenness, and beauty, which is contrary 
to all the canons of judging as held by competent men 
generally. As Mr. Neal was the raiser of this Bean, it 
may be taken for granted that he, at least, knows its 
character ; and the dish of very handsome, straight, 
even pods which he exhibited indicated that such was 
his estimate of its form. That is just the appearance I 
have seen it previously displaying, and such as it always 
presents in ordinary cropping; whilst where the pods 
hang very thinly, these huge 10-in. ones, which are 
also broad and rough on the surface, will display them¬ 
selves, It is not the exceptional, but the average, 
produce of the Bean which marks its true character. 
The best form of the pods are 9 ins. long, very straight, 
smooth, and even in breadth throughout, whilst the 
colour is a deep green. Straightness combined with 
good length are its prevailing characteristics, perhaps 
as much as these are found in pods of Canadian Wonder 
Dwarf Beans.— A. D. 
Adiantum Fergusoni. — In the notes on 
Adiantums, by “ W. G.” (see p. 21), mention is made 
of an A. Fergussoni (spelt with two s’s), which 
is described as being a hybrid from A. Yeitchii and A. 
concinnum latum, raised by Mr. Kobert Fergusson. 
We have at Kew an A. Fergusoni, which was named 
and described by the late Mr. Thomas Moore in The 
Gardeners’ Chronicle in September of 1884. It was 
sent to England by W. Ferguson, Esq., F.L.S., of 
Ceylon, who has recently died. This Fern is an ex¬ 
ceptionally handsome and robust form of A. Capillus- 
Yeneris, and is quite distinct from all other Adiantums. 
It has been cultivated at Kew three years, and plants 
of it have been distributed among London nurserymen. 
To prevent a confusion of the two kinds by your 
readers, the existence of the Ceylon kind should be 
made known. The slight difference in the spelling of 
the two names will hardly be considered sufficient to 
justify both being retained. How would the name A. 
Billingense do for Mr. R. Fergusson’s plant?— W. 
Watson, Kew. 
Zinnias. — It seems unfortunate that here in 
London no representation of double Zinnias is made, 
but these favours seem more reserved for country 
shows, where they form occasionally telling features. 
I was very much struck with the fine quality and 
beauty of a grand lot of flowers I saw at Maiden 
Erleigh last month, where Mr. Turton does them 
remarkably well. The plants are not dotted about 
promiscuously in the ordinary flower borders, where 
their beauties are so largely lost, but are grown in bulk 
on a west border in the kitchen garden. The strain, 
which is almost unrivalled for quality, is of Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons supplying, and is dwarf, compact, and 
produces wonderful double flowers ; many introducing 
colours not common in other things. Some of the 
hues in these Zinnias are hardly equalled even by 
Roses. Mr. Turton grows the plants well, and well 
do they repay the little trouble bestowed upon them. 
It is so easy to raise in a house or frame, and to dibble 
out a few score seedlings, that all may have good double 
Zinnias with little trouble.—A D. 
Evergreen Oaks and Hickories.—I believe 
that the chief reason why the Evergreen Oak and 
also the Hickory are so seldom grown, is that they 
are difficult to rear and to transplant. The evergreen 
Oak is not quite hardy as a small plant, and is also not 
an easy plant to transplant successfully ; while the 
Hickory, the first year from seed, is apt to make a tap¬ 
root 2 ft. long, with a shoot above ground only 3 ins. 
or 4 ins. in length. If they be transplanted, and the 
tap-root cut in doing so, they hardly grow at all for 
two or three years ; and if not transplanted they be¬ 
come so firmly rooted as to make it difficult to move 
them. They are very handsome trees—very different 
in habit and appearance from the Walnut. I have 
been trying to cultivate them, and make out the 
species (or varieties ?) to which different names are 
given, for more than thirty years with only moderate 
success. I should be glad to know where there is a 
good collection of them. I do not learn much from 
that at Kew.— C. W. Strickland, Hildenleij, Malton. 
The market-gardeners at Olamart, that 
pleasant village in the environs of Paris, have just hit 
upon a novel and original way of dealing out justice on 
malefactorsjwith advantage to their own pockets. For 
some time past, says the special correspondent of the 
Daily Telegraph, these worthy people had noticed with 
considerable grief the disappearance of poultry from 
their yards and of fruit from their trees ; so at length 
they determined wisely on keeping a sharp look-out. 
A few nights ago an improvised patrol came suddenly 
upon three men, whom it caught in the very act of 
stripping a vine. The thieves attempted to decamp, 
but three guns pointed simultaneously at them “pur- 
wailed on them to stop ” and await the issue of events. 
Three market-gardeners then advanced to the spot, 
and, to their unspeakable astonishment, discovered in 
the delinquents three villagers with whom they were 
well acquainted. The culprits, overcome with shame 
and confusion, fell on their knees and implored their 
captors to spare them. They would never repeat the 
offence, and they would be eternally grateful if the 
matter were not brought before the court. The market- 
gardeners held a hurried consultation, and while 
reminding each other that the quality of mercy is not 
strained, a bright idea struck them. Returning to 
their prisoners they informed them that they would 
not prosecute them, but sentence them on their own 
account to various pains and penalties. They must 
expiate their guilt by three days’ hard labour on their 
property. Overjoyed at being let off the disgrace of a 
trial the delinquents consented to the bargain. The 
next morning they were up with the lark. All through 
the day they toiled in one garden or the other. The 
next two days were devoted to a like task, and 
yesterday, their term of imprisonment being at an end, 
they went about as usual, but very crestfallen, for the 
story had come out at Clamart, and many jokes were 
indulged in at their expense. 
Tree and Plant Label. —As a label for trees 
and shrubs, the sample just submitted for our inspec¬ 
tion, by Mr. C. J. Druery, Fernholme, Essex, is by 
far the best we have seen, and we feel quite confident 
that in a short time it will supersede any other at 
present in use. The label is of light sheet-iron, faced 
with enamel ; the enamel being specially thin, thus 
rendering it not at all liable to chip, while the lettering 
is also enamelled and burnt in. An imperishable label 
has thus been introduced by Mr. Druery, and one 
that, we learn, has found great favour with the 
authorities at Kew. In the sample sent, not only is 
the name of the plant given, but what is of special 
value, the synonyms and habitat as well. Could Mr. 
Druery invent a cheap stand for his labels, so that they 
might be used for alpine and herbaceous plants, it 
would be a great boon to the cultivators of such ; but 
whether or not, a more common-sense, useful, and 
imperishable label for trees and shrubs has not yet 
been offered to the public.— A. D. Webster. 
New Fuchsias. —At the annual exhibition of 
the Lavington and District Horticultural Society, 
which took place on the 14-th inst. in Clyffe Hall 
Park, the residence of the Hon. Mrs. Hay, Mr. J. 
Lye, her gardener and the noted Fuchsia raiser, 
exhibited about twenty of his splendid specimen 
Fuchsias, which occupied the whole of the centre stages 
in the large marquee devoted to plants. These plants 
were staged as an honorary exhibit, and it is doubtful 
if ever before so many fine specimens were put up at 
one time by the same exhibitor; and what is more 
remarkable, they were nearly all varieties raised by 
Mr. Lye. Two new seedlings of his, exhibited for the 
first time on this occasion, attracted much notice, viz., 
Walter Long, a distinct dark variety ; and Lady 
Doreen Long, a charming light variety of a novel 
character. Both were highly commended by the 
judges. 
The Show Pelargonium. — Calling at the 
Royal Nursery, Slough, the other day, I found that the 
bottoms of specimen Pelargoniums that were cut back 
in August had sufficiently advanced in growth to 
enable re-potting to commence. They had been kept 
in a frame, and water sparingly administered. When 
the shoots— i.e., the new growths—have pushed a little 
way, the plants have the old soil shaken thoroughly 
from the roots, the straggling roots are trimmed a bit, 
and the plants are placed in pots only just large enough 
to take the roots, the soil being rammed tightly about 
them. The plants are then placed in a cold frame and 
kept close for a time, then air is given, and sprinklings 
administered overhead. About the end of October, the 
longest shoots are stopped, and as soon as they break 
into growth again, the largest specimens are shifted 
into 7-in. and 8-in. pots, and the smaller plants into 
pots suited to their size. They are then wintered in a 
light airy house, from which frost can be excluded ; and 
in order to make fine specimens, the shoots are tied out 
to the rims of the pots, so as to form what is known as 
good bottoms.— R. D. 
How to Banish Charlock, Prashough or 
“ Yellow Weed.” —I had some fields infested with 
this some time ago, and asked this query in your 
columns, which was kindly replied to by some of your 
correspondents, but without stating a satisfactory 
method. The peculiarity of the weed is, that the seed 
is encased in an oily skin, that seems for any length of 
time impervious to air and moisture, with the result 
that it can remain long in the soil buried, and will 
grow luxuriantly when it comes to the surface. Last 
year I had two fields for grain ploughed 2 ins. deeper 
than usual, and thus brought up a quantity of seed of 
Charlock. For twenty years none was ever noticed 
before. I gave up hand-pulling as expensive and 
injurious to the grain crop, and decided to let the seed 
shed, and by harrowing the surface when moisture 
came, induce it to grow. This it has done, and I am 
now ploughing it down and getting finally rid of it.— 
W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
Tea Leaves as a Manure. —On passing, some 
time back, through a crowded London neighbourhood, 
my attention was attracted to a parlour window which 
contained a remarkably fine specimen of the scented 
Geranium. Whilst stopping to admire this plant, the 
owner—an elderly lady, who had been observing me— 
came to the door, and commencing a conversation on 
the subject of the plant, informed me that it had been 
in that window several years, being constantly manured 
with Tea leaves and the earth sprinkled with cold tea. 
The use of the Tea leaves was evidenced by the surface 
of the soil, it being thickly covered with them. If 
this simple and natural plant stimulant was capable of 
producing such excellent results in this one ease, why 
should it not be made more general use of ? In 
London alone tons of this material must be wasted in 
a week, to the great detriment of the dust-heaps. If 
collected, might it not be worth something as a 
saleable commodity 1 If not, those who have a garden 
might have the leaves thrown behind some little corner 
shrubbery, where they could not by any possibility be 
an ill sight or become offensive, and would form a 
useful reserve of leaf-manure ready for future service 
when required for gardening purposes.— W. H. Strange, 
Godshill, Isle of Wight, Sept. 1887. 
Azalea mollis.—“What are the best varieties of 
the Japanese Azalea mollis ? ” a gentleman asked of me 
the other day. I had no hesitation in giving him the 
names of the following twelve varieties :—Aurea flori- 
bunda; Alphonse Lavallee, bright orange; Baron 
Constant de Rebecque, shaded nankeen ; Baron 
Edmund de Rothschild, dark red ; Charles F. Luppis, 
rose, shaded with magenta ; Chevalier A. de Reali, 
straw-white ; Comte de Gomer, lively rose ; Comte de 
Papadopoli, rose ; Comte de Quincy, bright yellow ; 
Dr. Leon Yigne, white, shaded with nankeen ; Ernest 
Barck, bright salmon ; and Madame Caroline Legrelle 
d’Hanis, rose. Now is a good time to pot up bushy 
well-budded plants, and place them in a cold house for 
winter blooming. — R. D. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Bulbs foe Late Flowering. —It will be advisable 
now to prepare to pot the remainder of bulbs for late 
flowering, or rather those to afford the principal show. 
Yery frequently, from damp packing or storing, the 
bulbs, when left too long, are upon examination found 
to have made roots, much to the detriment of the 
