January 21, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
325 
The Chiswick Trials, 1891.—A collection of standard 
and typical varieties of different vegetables will again 
be grown (as far as space permits) for comparison with 
new varieties. Besides this general collection, specially 
exhaustive trials of varieties of Runner and Kidney 
Beans, of Turnips and Carrots, together with new 
varieties of Peas, Potatos, and Tomatos will be carried 
out. In the floral department it is proposed to continue 
the trial of hardy border Carnations and Pinks ; 
Perennial Asters and Sunflowers, of which a very large 
and complete selection has been sent to the gardens 
from America, will also be grown in view of a Conference 
upon them on October 6th ; Cannas and zrnal 
Pelargoniums are also proposed for trial this year, and 
a collection of both hardy and greenhouse Azaleas and 
Rhododendrons will be formed, with the prospect of a 
Conference upon them in May, 1892. A very large 
collection of Herbaceous Pseinies lias been made, and 
will be an object of great and increasing interest and 
instruction now the plants are more fully established. 
Adulterated Food Commodities.—The official re¬ 
ports of the Belgian laboratories, in the number for 
September, show that they have been occupied in 
making 11,835 analyses, of which 836 were alimentary 
substances for man, for the most part discovered to be 
adulterated. The boldness or audacity of certain 
adulterations passes all limits. The report showed that 
pepper contains 20 per cent, of pounded glass and 
sand ; butter sold as pure as much as 60 and 70 per 
cent, of margarine ; chicory contains heath soil or peat, 
all this is known; but they put tin, indigo, and fuchsine 
into bonbons ; they cast 70 per cent, of roasted rye into 
coffee, and that mixture may be guaranteed as pure 
coffee ; 25 per cent, of soil is mixed with the flour of 
mustard ; frankly, this surpasses all prevision. Food 
destined for beasts, and the matters spoken of as 
fertilisers, are adulterated in the same proportions. 
Early History of some of our Native Plants.— 
At the last anniversary of the Linnean Society, Mr. 
Carruthers, F. R.S., in a presidential address, gave a 
novel account of the researches of Mr. Clement Reid, 
whose discoveries in the glacial deposits now number 
130 species, some of which took possession of the 
island as its ice-covering disappeared. The remains of 
these earliest members of our present vegetation are 
buried in the Cromer Forest bed with the bones of the 
extinct mammoth, the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, 
the cave bear, the still-living horse, red deer, beaver, 
mole, &c. Fifty-three of the species in the Cromer 
beds, with the exception of Salix polaris and Hypnum 
turgescens, belong to the Germanic types of our Flora. 
Trapa natans and Picea excelsa have become lost. 
The minute peculiarities which separate Salix herbacea 
from S. polaris were present in the plants which grew 
in the glacial beds. The Mosses, Ferns, Gymnosperms, 
and Augiospeims exhibit the same characteristics with¬ 
out addition or modification as their living descendants. 
—Journal of Botany. 
The Change in the Weather.- A decided change 
in the weather took place in the Midlands on Monday, 
and in the southern counties on Tuesday, when the 
temperature rose steadily, while there was a fall in the 
barometer, and a steady south-westerly breeze. In the 
evening a sharp hailstorm passed over the southern 
suburbs of the metropolis, and on Wednesday morning 
severe frost set in again. In London the maximum for 
Tuesday was 44°, a point which has not been exceeded 
since the 4th December. Over the western and north¬ 
western parts of the country, however, the barometer on 
Tuesday night was inclined to rise again, with a shift of 
wind to the north-westward, colder weather, and snow 
or hail showers. From the general indications there 
was every reason to fear that this very unwelcome 
change would extend eastwards ; and although it was 
not clear whether we should get any renewal of hard 
frost, it seemed quite certain that for the present at 
least we are not to be favoured with any permanent 
mild weather. 
The Brotherhood of Sparrow Killers.—As related 
by the Bulletin d'Arboriculture de Floriculture, Ac., 
the members of the Association for the Extermination 
of Sparrows have just had their annual reunion at 
Borssele, Zeland, where they have to give an account 
of their hunting exploits during the year. The report 
states that 424,472 sparrows have been destroyed, 
which makes 212,072 more than the obligatory 
number that the members of that society have to 
deliver annually. M. F. Van Duyne has been pro¬ 
claimed champion, having himself slain 502 house- 
sparrows. It is not only a platonic honour to be king 
of the sparrow killers, but it has pecuniary advantages 
for the dignitary ; be is exempt from taxation for the 
current year, and during that time he occupies the 
lucrative post of accountant, with the emoluments of 
527 francs for the whole year. 
EARLY-FLOWERING IRISES. 
Will you allow me to call attention to some of the 
newer Irises as being valuable conservatory plants at 
this season. Iris Bakeriana is a perfect gem, the 
standards pale blue, the falls intense dark blue with 
white centre, spotted with rich blue ; Iiis reticulata 
var. histrioides, the standards bluish lavender, the 
falls blue with yellow and white markings. In different 
plants the lavender shade is more or less pronounced. 
I have planted bulbs out of doors, but rather fear their 
standing the frosts of this exceptional winter. I 
believe that we owe to my friend, Mr. Max Leichtlin, 
the bringing into commerce of both these Irises.— 
George F. Wilson, Hcatherbank, Weybridge Heath. 
-- 
DIELYTRA SPEOTABILIS. 
This well-known spring-flowering plant, although 
classed among hardy herbaceous subjects, is often much 
injured by occasional severe frosts in March or early 
in April, just when the bloom spikes are about their 
best. It would be advisable, therefore, for amateurs 
and others whose stock of other plants is limited, to 
have a few of the Dielytras potted up and secured 
under a frame or any other convenient glass structure. 
One good clump may be divided into two or three 
plants of useful sizes. This procedure does not 
necessarily come under the head of forcing, but simply 
to preserve the bloom in the best possible condition. 
A prolonged show of bloom may, however, be obtained 
by potting and housing a few additional plants at once, 
Dl ELYTRA SPECTABILIS. 
and for these a little heat will be advantageous. The 
plants should be kept in a uniformly moist condition, 
but water must be given continuously during a con¬ 
tinuance of dull weather. The plants should be stood 
in an airy position whilst flowering, but out of direct 
contact with strong draughts. Plants in the open 
borders may be secured from ordinary spring frosts by 
placing a few stout stakes around them, and covering 
up neatly with mats.— M. M. 
-- 
THE YOUNG MEN. 
I ah quite in touch with the views expressed by your 
correspondent “Father Christmas” in reference to 
under gardeners, who are, perhaps, neither worse nor 
better than they were twenty years or more ago ; at any 
rate, such is my impression. It is not my intention to 
make wholesale denunciations regarding our young 
friends, but to relate a few facts that have come under 
my notice in the gardens I have worked in. In garden 
No. 1, there were fouryoung men and the foreman, the 
latter of whom had a fair knowledge of grammar, and 
wishing to brush himself up in it, he invited us to join 
him in learning it, which we all did. About a month 
after we started, one absented himself from the friendly 
class, shortly after another went, and before the end of 
the season, the foreman and myself were the only two 
who met, he of course acting as teacher, as it was my 
first attempt at learning grammar. Having started only 
in autumn, we got through Lennie by late spring. 
In garden No. 2 I had three companions, not one of 
whom, I think, in the three years that I was there, 
ever spent one half-hour in any study whatever, and I 
may say further that I have no recollection of them 
ever reading a book on gardening or even spend a whole 
evening in the bothy, unless it was at cards. In garden 
No. 3 the under gardeners numbered nine, but only 
one, the apprentice, had any idea of grammar, and I 
prevailed on them to join me in studying it. A good 
start was made, the gardener sending his two lads who 
were out-boarders at a school not far off. Long before 
the spring our number had dwindled down to the two 
lads and the apprentice, who now holds an important 
Government appointment. 
Your correspondent, “Ardnahan,” in last week’s 
issue complains with much reason of appointments 
being given to incapable and unworthy men, whilst the 
studious, able and deserving are left out in the cold ; he 
should, however, recollect that useful knowledge is 
worth seeking for its own sake. Since I have had 
young men under me I have not thought fit to interfere 
with their liberty after working hours, but I have 
thrown out gentle hints as to how they might profitably 
spend their leisure hours ; the advice given, however, 
has seldom been acted upon. The enclosed label will, I 
think, show in a measure the ignorance existing 
amongst young men. It is the production of one who 
had served in three large gardens before coming here 
[and is very discreditable to him.— Ed.]. Every young 
gardener should surely know how to write correctly 
such an old name as Jeanne Delaux. You will, I think, 
conclude that the writing is that of a person who rarely 
puts pen to paper. The writing might be excused if the 
label were free from other comical features, and I 
daresay many of your readers could send samples 
equally, if not more discreditable. 
Asunder gardener, one of my first self imposed tasks 
after entering a fresh place was to ascertain the names 
of all the plants and write them down in a book, and 
with the aid of a good catalogue or the Cottage 
Gardeners’ Dictionary correct the spelling. This being 
completed—in many instances—the houses they grew 
in were measured and drawn to scale. I do not expect 
young gardeners to master half a dozen sciences, but I 
do think we have a right to expect them to master the 
simple rudiments of their profession. — Wellwisher. 
-— - » >Z< —- 
THE TUBEROSE. 
The above popular name has no connection with a 
Rose, as is sometimes suspected. It is a mere cor¬ 
ruption of the specific name of Polianthes tuberosa, 
and which merely meant tuberous ; but that in itself 
is also a misnomer, seeing that the rootstock is a true 
tunicated bulb. Polianthes is derived from polios, 
white, and anihos, a flower, in reference to the colour 
of the flowers. 
The first description of the plant appears in L’Ecluse’s 
History of Plants in 1594, and it could not have been 
introduced to Europe long prior to that. He received 
a half-dried flower scape, having only one bloom open, 
from Bernard Paludanus, of Rome, consequently his 
description was rather imperfect. One of its early 
name3 was Hyacinthus indicus tuberosa radice. Ray 
appears to have been the first to record the plant under 
the name of Tuberose, which might have been adopted 
from the growers of those days. Philip Miller first 
described the double variety in 1731, and it was then 
only to be seen in the garden of Mons. de la Court, near 
Leyden, a person who disgraced his name in history by 
selfishly destroying some hundreds of bulbs lest any¬ 
body else should become possessed of such a valuable 
plant. Before this, however—namely, in 1629—the 
single form had reached this country, and the annual 
supply of bulbs in Philip Miller’s time came from 
Genoa, in Italy. The plant was originally a native of 
Mexico, but it soon spread into many countries, both 
in the Old and New World, where the climate was 
sufficiently warm to grow it to perfection. At present 
it is largely grown in countries bordering on the 
Mediterranean, and in France for perfumery purposes, 
also in the East Indies and America. 
About 1820 and that period we received our supplies 
of the double form (which even before then had 
become the most popular) from North America and 
I taly. Richard Anthony Salisbury, of Chapel Allerton, 
with whom it was a great favourite, not only cultivated 
it with considerable success, but even believed that it 
could be profitably grown for the sale of the bulbs in 
this country, and mentioned several of the more 
favoured parts of the south of England where it might 
be successfully grown ; but so far his predictions have 
not been fulfilled. 
His method of culture was somewhat elaborate, but 
not impracticable to any one having a genuine love for 
the plant. He advised and himself practised the 
selection of well-drained ground under a south wall, or 
failing such, he constructed hedges of reeds to protect 
his beds from the north wind. The reeds mentioned 
were probably the stems of Arundo Donax, which is 
still largely grown in some countries bordering on the 
