April 18, 1891. 
THE GABDENING WORLD. 
521 
T HE CHINESE ARTICHOKE (Stachys 
tuberifera).—JAMES CARTER & CO. have grown a very 
fine lot of this new Vegetable, and beg to ofter selected tubers, 
price Is. per lb., 6s. per 7 lb., 10s. 6f. per 14 lb. Trade price on 
application. An Illustration and full Cultural Directions are 
given in their Illustrated CATALOGUE of sterling Novelties. 
Rost free to intending customers. 
Royal Seedsmen by Sealed Warrants.- 237 and 23S, High 
Holborn, London. 
N EW CHRYSANTHEMUMS for 1891.— 
JAMES CARTER & Co. have one of the largest and 
most perfect stock in the country. For full particulars, see 
Carter's beautifully Illustrated CATALOGUE, Gratis and Post 
Free to intending customers. 
Royal Seedsmen by Sealed Warrants. — 237 and 23S, High 
Holborn, London, W.C. 
(REGISTERED) 
YOB 
GREENHOUSES, 
SKYLIGHTS, WINDOWS, 
&c. 
Lasts the whole Season. 
Sold in 1 lb. Packets, 
With Directions for Use, 
price, Is. each. 
1 lb., free by Parcel Post, 
Is. 4 hd. ; 2 lbs., free by Parcel 
Post, 2s. Sd. 
B. S. WILLIAMS & SON, 
Victoi’ia and Paradise Nurseries, 
UPPEB HOLLOWAY, LONDON, N. 
Next Week’s Engagements. 
Tuesday, April 21st.—National Auricula Society’s Southern 
Show at the Drill Hall, Westminster. Sale of Orchids at 
Protheroe & Morris’s Rooms. 
Wednesday, April 22nd.—Royal Botanic Society’s Show. 
Thursday, April 23rd.— Sale of Palm seeds, Plants from Belgium, 
&c , at Protheroe & Morris’s Rooms. 
Friday, April 24th.—Sale of Orchids at Protheroe & Morris’s 
Rooms. 
For Index to Contents ^Advertisements, see p. 530. 
“ Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man."— Bacon. 
SATURDAY, APRIL 18tli, 1891. 
* 
CURRENT TOPICS. 
CJuriculas. —The holding of two meetings 
of the Royal Horticultural Society two 
weeks in succession is not a common event, 
and therefore we would remind our readers 
that the annual southern show of the National 
Auricula Society takes place in the James 
Street Drill Hall on Tuesday next. As to 
how far the lions of the show—-the Auriculas 
—will be ready for inspection is a matter 
respecting which w T e find it difficult to offer 
an opinion, especially when so able a culti¬ 
vator as the Rev. F. D. Horner, who resides 
in- far-away Yorkshire, not only deprecates 
the employment of artificial heat for pro¬ 
moting early blooming, hut all the same 
manages to have his plants in splendid bloom 
much earlier than do those who reside in the 
so-called sunny south. 
I loubtless the term “ heat ” has relative uses. 
T\ hat one has none of at all is to another a 
power of from 70° to 80°, whilst to another 
it is not heat at all, hut only a gentle 
stimulating of the atmosphere. We may 
safely venture to aver that of the Auriculas 
shown next Tuesday there will be few that have 
not been helped along by artificial heat more or 
less. Practically the season is so late that 
the show would have been better generally if 
it could have been postponed for a week or 
fortnight. Still, being a fixture it is needful 
to push the plants on to time, and pushed 
on in some way they must be. 
We hope to see a good show, but shall he 
much surprised if complaints of the lateness 
of the season he not general. Even such 
very hardy things as Primroses and border 
Polyanthuses, which are as a rule so full of 
bloom by the middle of April, are fully a 
couple of weeks behind, and these too may 
he indifferently shown. Had we a warm 
hurst of weather wonders could he accom¬ 
plished in a few days, but the general con¬ 
dition of the atmosjihere retards rather than 
helps vegetation. 
“TDoots.” —This is a somewhat indefinite 
"H. heading, because’ readers may well ask 
what sort of roots are alluded to. Literally we 
refer not to roots so much as plants, but in the 
common phraseology of the grower and dealer 
all sorts of hardy plants are, for marketing 
purposes, designated “ roots ” ; and at this 
season of the year, when trade is active, 
literally hundreds of thousands of these hardy 
plants change hands. We have good authority 
for stating that the trade in these “ roots ” has 
this spring been unusually active. Very likely 
the severe winter thinned the stocks found in 
private gardens, and most certainly it did so in 
the grounds of many trade growers. Still there 
were enormous quantities left, and the fortu¬ 
nate owners of them have of late been very 
busy. 
Roots, so-called, include such simple things 
as clumps of carpet Sedums, Pansies, Daisies, 
Creeping Jenny’s, Primroses (double and 
single), Violets (double and single)—although 
these have suffered severely in the metropolitan 
district—Hollyhocks, Rockets, Boy’s Love, 
Canterbury Bells, Valerian, Pulmonarias, 
Eorget-me-nots, Thyme, Pinks, Carnations 
(double and single), indeed many things which, 
easily and freely raised by seeds or division, 
can be produced cheaply and in vast quantities. 
Of single Carnations enormous quantities are 
raised and sold annually, and it is feared that 
although purchased originally by those who 
understand them, they do eventually pass into 
the hands of people who seem to enjoy a 
delusion, as being sold to them as named 
doubles, they find in time that they have hut 
purchased rubbish. However, all other “roots ” 
are really what they are represented to he, and 
their production and sale furnishes a livelihood 
for a large number of industrious persons. 
‘Mrost and Vegetation.— It is very probable 
-H that by this time most of the harm done 
to vegetation by the severe frosts of the past 
winter has been made apparent. In some 
parts it is less than anticipated, and in others 
more. The general effect of the frost on all 
forms of winter greens, and assumedly hardy 
vegetables, have long been known. Almost 
everywhere the evidences of those effects have 
been put out of sight and the ground cropped 
afresh. Amongst hardy flowering plants the 
mischief has been less, because in most cases 
those plants were either below the snow-line or 
had pushed little growth. 
It is in the biennials that the worst mischief 
is seen, but happily these can soon he replaced 
by the production of others from seed. Shrubs 
here and there hear a woeful aspect, especially 
those of a really tender nature. Still, ever¬ 
greens have suffered most, and our old friend 
the Bay has had to endure its periodical killing 
down to the ground, from whence, let us hope, 
like the traditional Phoenix, it will rise from 
its ashes with renewed vigour. The somewhat 
tender Euonymus also has largely suffered, so 
also have Laurustinuses. Our finest flowering 
shrubs —- Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, 
Ribes, and many other beautiful things— 
happily seem little the worse for the severe 
weather. The experience of the winter in 
relation to harm done to shrubs may well he 
educational in regard to future planting, for it 
is not worth while to plant largely of shrubs 
which are really not hardy. 
As to Roses we know full well the mischief 
wrought amongst them ; thousands have been 
killed, hut even these the enterprise of the 
trade will soon replace. A severe blow lias 
been given to the weak-headed standard, which 
seems at once so difficult to protect and so 
susceptible to harm. So far as the fruit trees 
generally are concerned, there appears little 
that is detrimental to report. 
-- 
Gardening Engagements.—Mr. J. Graham, gar¬ 
dener at Miln Graden, Coldstream, as gardener to J. 
Houldsworth, Esq., Coltness, Wishaw. Mr. J. Mayne, 
gardener at Stowford Lodge, Ivy Bridge, as gardener to 
the Hon. Mark Rolle, Bicton, Devon. 
Chrysanthemum Show at Chard.—We learn from a 
local correspondent that the good folks of Chard, 
Somersetshiie, have decided to hold a Chrysanthemum 
and fruit show in their Com Exchange, in November 
next ; and will offer prizes that will tempt growers of 
large and small numbers to compete. 
The Birmingham Gardeners’ Association.—At the 
concluding meeting of the winter session, April 6th, 
Mr. H. E. Milner, F.L.S., the well-known landscape 
gardener, read an admirable and lengthened paper 
on “The Influence of Art in Practical Landscape 
Gardening,” and much valuable information was given. 
A hearty vote of thanks was accorded, and reference 
made to the great abilities of Mr. Milner’s father as a 
landscape gardener. 
Early Potatos in Ireland : This Year’s Crop.—The 
Londonderry Sentinel says :—One of the finest samples 
of early Potatos we have ever seen at this period of the 
season has just been sent us (March 26th) by Mr. R. 
Allison, gardener to Mr. Hume Babington, Creevagh. 
They are of the variety known as Sutton’s Early Regent, 
and are exceedingly healthy and well grown. They 
were planted in December in the garden, and only 
covered during the night. 
The Patent Instantaneous Automatic Tap Splicer, 
Hosepipe Coupler, and Nozzle will be welcomed 
as an easy and immediate remedy for damaged India- 
rubber hose. It received a Certificate from the 
judges, Mr. Thomas of Chats worth, and Mr. Bennett 
of Rangemore, Burton-on-Trent, at the spring show 
at Birmingham on. April 8th and 9th. Messrs. Frazer 
& Co., Queen Yictoria Street, London, E.C., are the 
patentees. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society. 
—The quarterly meeting of the committee of this society 
was held on Monday evening last at the Caledonian 
Hotel, Mr. Nathan Cole in the chair, when six new 
members were elected, making a total of twenty-five in 
three months. Two members have died during the 
quarter, viz., Mr. T. W. Vine, of Oak Park, Tralee, and 
Mr. R. H. Bar'd, of Forest Hill. The amount standing 
to the credit of the late Mr. Vine has been paid to his 
widow, together with a contribution of £b from the 
Benevolent Fund, Mrs. Vine being left with four young 
children. The amount standing to the credit of the 
late Mr. Bard has also been paid to his widow. A 
general meeting of the society was subsequently held 
for the purpose of altering rule 20, respecting the date 
fixed for holding the annual meeting. The rule will 
now read “Second Monday in March,” instead of 
“ Second Monday in February.” 
The Fragrant Nephrodium.— This designation is 
well merited by Nephrodium fragrans, better known 
perhaps under the name of Lastrea. Many forms 
are described as fragrant, which are only so at certain 
stages, as in the case of Polypodium pustulatum, which 
is fragrant only when in fructification. The same 
thing would apparently apply to Adiantum fragrantis- 
simum, for the fronds emit no perceptible odour at 
any other stage. On the contrary the fronds of Nephro¬ 
dium fragrans give off a distinct odour of Violets at 
all stages of growth apparently. It may he seen in the 
nursery of Messrs. J.Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. The odour 
of Polypodium pustulatum is compared to that of the 
Peruvian Heliotrope (Heliotropium peruvianum). 
Camellia, The Duchess.—The flowers of this variety 
are of large size, and of a pleasing pink colour. The 
outer petals are obovate and notched, while the central 
ones are more narrow and pointed. Flowers in three 
stages were exhibited at the Drill Hall on the 14th inst., 
by Messrs. William Paul & Son, Waltham Cross. The 
bright green leaves are elliptic in the outline inclined 
to ovate. An Award of Merit was accorded the variety. 
