474 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March. 28, 1891. 
them to bring forth fruits meet for man. And 
yet Ave shall have some share in the bloom 
harvest also, for the Pear bloom, if of the hue of 
virgin whiteness, is at least beautiful in the 
mass, and this spring we look for a glorious 
outburst of bloom. 
Pray do not let any pessimist intrude a 
raven croak by declaring that such an abundance 
of bloom is not always conducive to fruit¬ 
fulness. We believe that it is a long time 
since such robust fertile bloom has been 
expanded to our admiration as the Pear trees 
will give us a week or two hence. It is 
in the quality of the bloom, and not in its 
quantity or otherwise, which furnishes ground 
for hope that we may have a fine succeeding 
fruit crop. If the bloated buds mean anything 
just now, most certainly do they mean fine 
fertile bloom and a wealth of it. We have 
had very indifferent Pear crops for several 
years, and a good crop is now due. We had 
-last autumn a wonderfully ripening time for 
avooc! and bud. We have had a winter which 
all tradition declares to be the very best fore¬ 
runner of a bounteous fruit season. We have 
a late spring, and the trees are in no case 
unduly forward, but are rather delayed. 
In the ordinary course of events we should 
have the mass of the Pear bloom fully 
expanded about the third week in April. 
That will be a capital time, and probably a 
safe one. If we have no harmful late frosts, 
all will be well. May it be so is our earnest 
wish, and that once more may our hearts be 
gladdened with trees everywhere laden with 
the luscious fruits in due course. 
/Colour in Gardens. —After a long, dreary 
^ winter, during which snow has played 
so prominent a part in the garden or land¬ 
scape, with what anxiety do we look for 
glimpses of colour from flowers, although 
it seems acceptable come from whence it 
may. Perhaps our earliest evidences of colour 
are found in the rich green which comes 
from pastures or lawns. If grass should after 
several months of greenness wear a mono¬ 
tonous aspect, at least "in the spring the 
rich verdure found in the new blades is 
indeed delightfully welcome and pleasing. 
But from flowers after all comes the most 
beautiful of colouring. Large clumps of 
Crocuses, purple and yellow; Hepaticas, red 
and blue; Squills, of the most brilliant 
turquoise-blue; Primroses in many colours; 
early masses of Tulips glowing in scarlet, yellow 
and rose ; clusters of early Pansies, or bunches 
of yellow or blood-red Wallflowers. These are 
indeed delightful features which seem exceji- 
tionally welcome just now, and of which we 
never seem to tire. 
The bedding system of flower gardening, so 
much deprecated now, still finds favour with 
many gardeners, because through it and in 
that way only do we get those bodies of rich 
hues Aldrich so many find pleasure in con¬ 
templating. The fact is, under our cold skies 
Ave have but little of. colour naturally, and 
have to create it in \ r arious Avays, and mostly 
in gardens or parks from flowers. When 
bold areas have to be planted Ave can help 
to create some effectual colouration by a 
judicious combination of foliage trees and 
shrubs; but even this sort of effect is mild 
Avlien compared Avith the brilliant gloAV 
which masses of floAver create. A treeless 
landscape is bad enough, but one eternally 
denuded of flowers Avould indeed be horror. 
Even on the bleakest of moors or the Avildest 
commons ^Nature usually gives us bright colour 
from Heather or Gorse; but still, only in 
gardens do we see those varied and brilliant 
hues which we so much delight in. Hoav 
much gardeners have done to beautify the 
earth, and how much do they deserve the 
gratitude of humanity ! We have faith that 
gardening Avill prevail so long as the earth 
endureth. 
Presentation to Mr. F. C. Goodcliild.—On the occa¬ 
sion of the retirement of Mr. F. C. Goodchild from the 
position of secretary of The Nursery and Seed Trade 
Association, Limited, the members presented him with 
a dining-room suite in token of their appreciation of 
his services. 
Locusts in Australia.—Immense destruction has 
been caused in various parts of Australia by locusts. 
Their arrival has caused great terror to the inhabitants 
in certain districts. When the locusts take flight the 
atmosphere is darkened by them, and while on the 
ground they form a compact mass or layer about 4 ins. 
deep. Every green thing, whether herb, corn, or foliage, 
disappears before their insatiable appetite as they march 
over the country. At Adelaide and in the neighbour¬ 
hood they are slain by myriads. The sea beach was 
covered by large belts of those that had dropped in the 
sea and had been washed ashore. 
Carnations in America.—Mr. J. Thorpe indicates in 
the American Florist what Carnations will be like 
before the end of the century. They should at least, 
he says, be 2^ ins. in diameter, they should have one 
colour only, the petals should be of good substance and 
regularly disposed ; the perfume should be well marked ; 
the calyx should have a length of two tiers of the flower, 
and should be sufficiently strong so as not to split when 
the flowers open. The stem should be 16 ins. long, 
and have the thickness of a pencil at the base. He 
guarantees that such flow T ers should sell at a dollar 
apiece—that is, somewhat over four shillings each. 
Effect of Chemical Manures.—According to L' 
Illustration Horticole, forty plants of Pelargonium 
of the variety Princesse Stephanie have been submitted 
to an experiment of culture which merits being related. 
They have been planted in groups of ten, in good soil, 
under identical conditions and at a short distance from 
one another, but the groups have received different 
manures. The first has been treated with a complete 
manure, that is of azote, of potassium and phosphoric 
acid ; that group has given 750 flowers. The second 
group, treated with potassium and phosphoric acid, has 
given 560 flowers. The third, which has received a com¬ 
post of azote and of potassium, has furnished close 
upon 400 flowers. Finally, the fourth, cultivated 
without manure, has only furnished 330 flowers. The 
height of all the plants and their foliaceous develop¬ 
ment were practically the same. The complete manure 
has given the best result. 
Chrysanthemum, Mrs. Alpheus Hardy.—We have 
for some time past contended that the comparative 
failure of this beautiful variety at the autumn exhibi¬ 
tions was due to the excessive propagation to which it 
had been subjected. This they are beginning to find 
out on the Continent, for L’Illustration Horticole 
bears out our statements. It says that this beautiful 
variety commences to regain the favour that was 
accorded the appearance of its first flowers, with great, 
floccose or woolly ligules, white as snow. The flowering 
which followed soon after everywhere hardly repaid the 
attention given it. That negative result could happen 
from the excessive mode of multiplication to which the 
novelty had been submitted ; the least morsel of a bud 
had been utilised as a cutting. Last autumn, after an 
attentive culture, several examples were given of large 
heads going up to 6 ins. in diameter. The reputation 
of this variety has not then been over-rated. 
The Bee, the Assistant Gardener.—Apiculture is 
in progress in our regions, says L'Illustration Horticole. 
Apart even from the honey that they furnish, the bees 
are considered as useful auxiliaries. To those who 
pretend that their reputation has been surfeited, the 
experiments of Charles Darwin reply in a formal 
manner. Already the Annals of the Hoy al Horticultural 
and Botanical Society of Ghent (vol. I., p. 238) give 
notice of mutilations caused by the bees to the organs 
of flowers. These mutilations ought to he but little 
noticeable since that, until this day they have passed 
unperceived. Besides, observation has demonstrated 
that some depredations occasioned are largely compen¬ 
sated for by the transport of pollen—the fertilizer. It 
is agreeable to add, with the Petit Journal, that the bee 
fulfils yet its role of assistant-gardener in causing the 
eggs of noxious insects placed in the bosom of the 
flowers to fall, and in thus preventing the hatching of 
the larvse which attack directly the ovaries. 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—At a meeting of the 
committee held on the 20th inst., Mr. Marshall pre¬ 
siding, the death of Mr. W. Richards, an active and 
zealous member of the committee was reported, and the 
secretary was instructed to convey to Mrs. Richards 
and family the condolence and sympathy of the com¬ 
mittee, and their profound regret at the loss of such a 
sincere and valued friend. Letters were also read from 
Mrs. Cutler, and Mr. George Dominy, the latter inti¬ 
mating that, at the request of his late father, cheques for 
£10 each would shortly be sent to the Orphan Fund and 
the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. A letter 
was also read from Mr. H. Williams, nominating Kate 
Emily Root, daughter of a late Orchid grower at 
Messrs. Sander & Co.’s, St. Albans ; and Robert 
Daglish Nixon, son of the late Mr. Nixon, gardener at 
Easton Park, Grantham, for the benefits of the B. S. 
Williams Memorial Fund ; and both cases complying 
with the rules, the nominations were accepted. Later in 
the evening a well-attended meeting of standholden 
in Covent Garden Flower Market was held, to discuss 
the question of holding a fete this year in the market. 
Mr. E. Sawyer, of Edmonton, moved, “That, taking 
into consideration the very handsome way the growers 
have assisted the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund during the 
past three years, the further consideration of holding 
another floral fete in the Flower Market be adjourned 
sine die.” Mr. Sawyer considered that the extra 
expense put upon the growers on these occasions, and 
the losses incurred by them through depreciation of 
their plants and cut floweis at the fete, were more than 
the growers ought to be called upon to bear every year. 
The motion was seconded by Mr. G. Wermig, and 
supported by Mr. Messer. Mr. Bannister moved as an 
amendment, “ That a fete be held this year in June, 
and that the consideration of the advisability of holding 
any more fetes be deferred till then.” Mr. H. B. May 
moved, “That the meeting be adjourned fora month,” 
but both amendments were lost, and the original reso¬ 
lution carried. We understand that the committee are 
endeavouring to arrange for the holding of a floral fete 
in aid of the fund at the Crystal Palace, about the 
middle of July. Further particulars will be announced 
in due course. 
-- 
EUOHARIS AMAZONICA. 
Sea'en years ago I found at this place a few pots of 
this plant. They were in a bad condition, and for 
some time I tried to improve their health, but the 
more I tried the worse they got, and at last, when my 
patience was exhausted, I consigned the lot to the 
rubbish heap, and obtained a fresh stock from my son 
at Underley Hall, Westmoreland. Since that time we 
have had, in a portion of a Cucumber house, 60 ft. long 
and 6 ft. wide, as healthy a batch of plants as any one 
could wish to see. They flower in a general way about 
three times in the twelve months, and give a good 
many odd flowers between times ; but we get the 
greatest show of bloom in mid-winter. 
The house runs east and west, and the pots stand 
on coal ashes in the back pit, the plants being more or 
less shaded by whatever happens to be groAving in the 
front pit, such as Cucumbers and Melons. The treat¬ 
ment which suits Cucumbers seems to suit the Eucharis 
admirably, but not that which is necessary for Melons 
except during the hottest part of the season—say mid¬ 
summer, as the Melons will not stand the amount of 
moisture required by the Eucharis to keep the foliage 
healthy and green. Growing only the one batch they 
get much the same temperature — that suitable for 
Cucumbers—all the year through, and that the treat¬ 
ment agrees with them the thick fleshy leaves and 
their continuously healthy appearance bear witness. 
If the Eucharis likes one thing more than another, it 
is a constant downpour from the rose of the water-pot, 
and an occasional soaking with manure-water from the 
stable tanks. 
As to compost we are not very particular—any good 
loam suiting them well. We re-pot but seldom, but 
after each flowering period the plants get a thorough 
overhauling to rid them of their pet enemy the mealy¬ 
bug, which is simply done with paraffin—one wine- 
glassful mixed with a gallon of soft water. We have a 
good-sized galvanised-iron tub, and make a good lot of 
the mixture at once, which is safer than using small 
quantities at a time, as if it gets too strong the effect is 
soon seen on the foliage. It takes three men to do the 
work properly and expeditiously—one to hold the plants 
over the tub and keep turning them over without 
allowing the leaves to touch the surface of the mixture, 
the second to keep the mixture constantly agitated 
with a syringe, and the third to use the syringe 
vigorously against the foliage as the plant is being 
turned round. The next operation is to give the plants 
a good washing with clear, soft water, and this is done 
without delay ; then the top soil in the pots is forked 
out and replaced with a top-dressing, and the replacing 
of the plants into their old positions completes the 
routine for the season. — J. Miller, Ruxley Lodge, 
Esher .' 
