52 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 27, 1890. 
like a slave to ensure the success of every 
onward move in its affairs, and spared himself 
of nothing in the discharge of the heavy 
duties he had so ably and for so long a 
period undertaken. Although not of specially 
robust aspect, yet he was invariably bright and 
cheerful of manner, and except when specially 
fagged with work or anxiety, gave outwardly 
no reason to assume that his life was so near 
its end. His nearest friends, however, knew 
that his health needed careful tending, and 
gave to him such help in his work as they 
could. Still even those nearest and dearest 
to him could not have realised the possibility 
that such energy and activity was on the point 
of exhaustion. 
There are not so many men in the world 
capable of performing the work which William 
Holmes undertook, that we can afford to regard 
his sudden death with other than intense 
regret. Even beyond that, however, we, in 
common with so many others who worked 
with him, have lost a dear, good friend, and 
deplore that loss greatly. 
Tshe National Chrysanthemum Society.— 
^ There can be no doubt whatever but that 
the lamentable death of Mr. Holmes creates a 
grave crisis in the society’s history. He had 
such a thorough grasp of every detail of the 
society’s operations, indeed they had grown up 
as it were under his fostering care, so that he 
had a wider knowledge of all that related to 
the exhibitions, the members, the society’s 
business, and all its associations than any other 
man well could have. Under such circum¬ 
stances the appointment of an efficient successor 
will demand the most careful consideration on 
the part of the managing committee, and should 
not be hastily decided. The society has not 
so A’ery long been emancipated from its old 
local trammels, so that it is essential in every 
way that the new secretary should be a man of 
broad views, and fully cognizant of the fact 
that the society has now become truly national 
in its operations, and as such must be guided 
on the most cosmopolitan lines. The society 
has before it a great future if it be wisely and 
intelligently governed. 
The rock ahead for the moment is the 
approaching great centenary celebration, the 
arrangements for which are fortunately in a 
forward state of preparation. Still, to carry 
out the scheme to a successful issue, great 
energy and the loyal co-operation of every 
member of the governing body will be re¬ 
quired; but successfully carry out the programme 
laid down, and very much may later be hoped 
for. We cannot doubt that the needful 
intelligence and ability will be found, and it 
is to be earnestly hoped that from no quarter 
will personal considerations he permitted to 
outweigh the greater ones of the society’s 
welfare. 
/|\ut-door Grapes. —It is very interesting to 
w note how much of late years attempts to 
produce decent ripe Grapes in the open air have 
been discounted by the seasons. That there 
must be something radically diverse in the 
general condition of the climate is obvious, 
when it is realised that but a few years ago 
comparatively it was not at all an uncommon 
thing for very decent Grapes to be ripened in 
the open air, on Avails or houses. But the other 
day a gardener in the neighbourhood of 
Reading remarked to some visitors to his 
garden, “ Old men tell me that just where Ave 
stand there Avas formerly a vineyard, and the 
Grapes used to ripen well.” Nothing could be 
wider of the mark now, and the vineyards, 
ancient or modern, have all become things of 
the past. 
Although we have had a very cold, wet 
season, there has been no special complaint as 
to the prevalence of mildew outdoors; indeed, 
this pest seems to be rather more prevalent 
during hot, dry seasons than in cold and wet 
ones. It is just possible the case that Vines 
more often suffer from drought than from excess 
of moisture at the roots, but they rarely suffer 
from having their heads in ample warmth. That 
condition of temperature it is not at all possible 
to give them in the open norv. It is not 
merely that the summer temperature is so 
generally Ioav, but the springs are so long and 
cold noAV that groAvth commences late, and 
the summer is half over before the bloom 
is expanded. 
After all there is no loss sustained in having 
imperfectly ripened Grapes. Since we learned 
to know Iioav luscious are house-groAvn fruits, 
Ave have little taste for semi-sour and wretchedly 
poor kinds. We can purchase in the shops 
for a mere song far better Grapes than Ave can 
at the very best grown outdoors. In the 
schedule of the ChisAvick Grape Conference 
Avas a class for outdoor-groAvn Grapes. It 
need hardly be said that such a class Avas a 
superfluity, and even if filled the fruits would 
be devoid of all value. 
he Potato Disease. —SomeAvhat reckless of 
the fact that Ireland is essentially a 
moist country, and that its rainfall, always 
excessive as compared with that of this 
country, has been specially heavy this year, 
charges of carelessness in cultivation of the 
Potato have been freely hurled at the poor 
and unoffending Irish peasantry, Avhose con¬ 
dition just norv in regard to the Potato crop is 
one calculated to evoke the strongest sympathy. 
A case Avas mentioned the other day in the 
daily papers where it was reported that the 
Potato crop in some extensive Union gardens 
Avas absolutely a failure, because of the disease, 
and yet not only had the very best cultivation 
been shown, but the best sorts obtainable 
groAvn. 
When such is the case, how unfair is it to 
lay the blame of failure, so general as it is, 
upon the shoulders of the poor peasants, wdien 
failure of the Potato crop seems so universal. 
We referred to the Potato disease in Ireland 
recently, and suggested that a better state of 
things could only be looked for Avith improved 
cultivation, good drainage, and more robust 
sorts of Potatos. The case Ave have quoted 
Avould lead to the inference that, after all, our 
suggested remedies do not avail, and truly it 
Avould seem that except Avhen the rainfall in 
Ireland is rather below the normal average, the 
cultivation of Potatos must ever be attended 
with great risk. 
To change the climate is impossible, and we 
cannot well do Avith Potatos as we do Avith 
Tomatos—grow them under glass to keep them 
from the disease. Other crops may be grown 
as substitutes, but it is not possible to furnish 
any real one for Potatos any more than one 
can be found to replace malt in the manufacture 
of beer. Very probably it will be found, Avhen- 
ever the Irish people are released from leading 
strings, that they Avill more fully strive to 
counteract even the Potato disease. 
-*>$<-- 
The John Downie Crab.—A correspondent writes :— 
A few years since this very fine variety was sent out by 
Mr. E. Holmes, late of Whittington Nurseries, Lich¬ 
field. I saw a tree of it a few days since in a garden at 
Lichfield, which was bearing a great crop of richly 
coloured, good-sized, acorn-shaped fruit. The free, 
upright growth of the tree shows off to great advantage 
the heavily laden branches of bright-coloured fruit, and 
as a handsome ornamental tree it is a great acquisition. 
Mr. Barlow’s Apples at the Manchester Show.— 
We learn from a communication made by Mr. Barlow 
to The Manchester Guardian, that the splendid Apples 
from his Llandudno garden, which were exhibited at 
the recent show at Old Trafford, were mostly—not all— 
grown under glass, but without the use of artificial 
heat. In the neighbourhood of Manchester it is almost 
impossible under the most favourable conditions to 
produce fruit of equal excellence. At Stakehill it is 
difficult to keep trees in the open garden alive. At 
Llandudno there is not so much difference in the 
quality of Apples grown in the open garden or grown 
under glass as many might suppose. The soil and the 
atmosphere are the same in both cases ; there is more 
sunlight in the open garden, and consequently a better 
colour of the fruit. Under glass the blossoms are 
better protected from spring frosts, the fruits are 
sheltered from rough winds, hail, and other storms, so 
heavy fruits can ripen out without risk of being blown 
off, and from the absence of marks made by knocks and 
bruises a higher degree of finish in the fruit is attained. 
Mr. Barlow’s trees are young, averaging about seven 
years old ; they are dwarf, 4 ft. to 6 ft. high, and are 
of the classes known as pyramidal, bush, cordon, and 
espalier. They are planted under glass in a well- 
prepared border, with the roots near to the surface, and 
are well cared for all the year round. Says our enthu¬ 
siastic friend, “The foundation of success in Apple 
growing, as in everything, is love for the subject. 
This will induce intelligent observation, study, and 
devotion, and will give another interest and another 
pleasure to life, which is thereby prolonged and made 
happier.” 
Jarrah Wood.—The last number of the Kew Bulletin 
contains a note on the properties and uses of the Jarrah 
wood, a species of Eucalyptus, native to Western 
Australia. The main difficulties in connection with its 
use in this country are the cost of freight for such 
heavy timber from Australia, and its intense hardness, 
which makes it difficult for ordinary English carpenters’ 
tools to work it. The tree which produces it grows 
generally to a height of 100 ft., and sometimes 150 ft. 
It is found only in Western Australia, extending over 
the greater portion of the country from Moore Biver to 
King George’s Sound, forming mainly the forests of 
these tracts. According to Baron Mueller, when 
selected from hilly localities, cut while the sap is least 
active, and carefully dried, it proves impervious 
to the borings of insects. Vessels constructed solely 
of it have, after twenty-five years’ constant service, 
remained perfectly sound, although not coppered. It 
has been tried at three places in the Suez Canal, and 
after having been down seven years, the trial samples 
were taken up in order that a report on their con¬ 
dition might be sent to Paris. It appears also that 
Jarrah has lately been used by the Chelsea Vestry for 
paviDg the King’s Road, and by the Lambeth Vestry 
in the Westminster Bridge Road. 
The Welcome Institute.— The distribution of prizes 
awarded at the recent flower show in connection with 
the Welcome Institute, New Cross, a report of which 
appeared in The Gardening World, took place on 
Saturday evening last, the presentation being made by 
Mrs. Edmund Hughes. The recent flower show proved 
so attractive and successful, that it is intended to 
continue it next season, but on a more extended scale. 
Such institutions as this are capable of doing much 
good in the centres of industry round London ; and 
the encouragement given to the culture of plants and 
flowers by working men, must prove of great value in 
the direction of promoting social reform, and they have 
our best wishes for their success. 
Chrysanthemums at the Royal Nurseries, Slough. 
—A finer lot of plants than those at the Royal Nursery, 
Slough, we have not seen this season. They are of the 
usual upright growth, well furnished with foliage 
right down to the bed ; and many of them are forming 
fine blooming buds. It is Mr. Turner’s intention to 
have a fine group at the National Chrysanthemum 
Society’s Centenary Show at the Royal Aquarium in 
November next. In the open ground there are large 
beds of fine bushy plants of Madame Desgrange and its 
sports for present cutting. A rude wooden framework 
enables lights to be laid over the tops of the plants to 
prevent damage from rain. Coming on to succeed 
these are the varieties forming the Rundle family, and 
then the Japanese Elaine. These also remain in the 
open ground to flower, having the temporary protection 
of lights. As a matter of course many flowers are also 
supplied by the varieties forming the large collection 
above referred to. Lastly there is a plantation of fine 
plants of Princess Teck, a late incurved variety. The 
plants will be lifted in due course, potted, and taken in¬ 
doors to bloom. 
Gloriosa superba.—This was first introduced in 1690, 
therefore it is now the bicentenary of the plant in this 
country. Its flowers continue to be produced in suc¬ 
cession throughout the summer and autumn, as the 
climbing stems elongate. A handful of flowers has 
been sent us by Mr. F. Excell, gardener to E. H. 
Leatham, Esq., Misarden Park, Cirencester. The two 
contrasting colours of the perianth segments (pale 
yellow and deep scarlet-red) stand in strong opposition 
to one another in the early stages of the flower, but in 
