736 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 20, 1889. 
shown in fewer numbers yearly, their places 
being occupied by combinations of all sorts of 
plants, amidst which we look in vain for special 
evidence of high culture, but are, all the same, 
very useful to the average gardener, because 
they serve the purpose of supplying the 
needful decorative matter, when required. 
Show specimens are useful at exhibitions 
in helping to maintain the reputation of 
the shows, in winning prizes, and in serving 
to show to the younger generation of gar¬ 
deners how plants may he developed into 
fine specimens, if so desired. But all the 
same, the specimens are a fast disappearing 
race. First one old exhibitor and then 
another fall out of the ranks of showmen, 
and none others step in to fill their places. 
At just a few shows where some large prizes 
serve to attract the peripatetic exhibitor, 
some fine specimens may still be seen; but 
too often, all the same, they look rather stale 
after doing a round of shows, and probably 
prove less useful as examples of plant culture 
than as means whereby expenses may be paid 
over a wide circuit, and something handsome 
pocketed as well. Ten years hence, probably, 
it will he hard to find specimen stove and 
greenhouse plants at ordinary flower shows. 
®Thite Boses.— We progress slowly in the 
production of pure white Boses of good 
form and substance, such, indeed, as are fitted 
to take their place in show stands, wherein 
the form and staying qualities of flowers are 
severely tested. During the present season, 
no flower which claims to be white, amongst 
hybrid Perpetuals, seems to have taken a 
higher place than Merveille de Lyon, un¬ 
doubtedly a superb flower, but still, not pure 
white. A paper-white variety of the same 
quality would, indeed, be a grand addition to 
our show flowers. The Puritan is of more 
recent introduction, but so far seems to have 
been shown only moderately. We want 
whites of the hue of Boule de Beige, and 
of the form and substance of Marie Baumann, 
and then we shall have comparative perfection. 
Our purest whites, so far, seem to have 
been found amongst the Tea kinds, wherein 
Biplietos, Devoniensis, Marie Guillot, and 
some others have great merits; but the newer 
Bride seems likely to excel even those 
beautiful varieties, for it makes on the whole 
a better show flower, and during this season 
has been seen in wonderfully good form in 
many stands. The old Biphetos is still a 
prime favourite with many growers, but its 
petals are large and loose, and the blooms are 
best when not more than half open. It 
sadly needs substance, and that the Bride 
seems to be by no means deficient of. 
A very promising rare white Tea is Mr. 
Prince’s Souvenir de S.A. Prince, a sport from 
Souvenir cl’un Ami; but the parent has so 
long fallen out from the ranks of high-class 
exhibition Teas that the merits of its sport 
seem to be a little discounted. Still, we 
have had plenty of pink Teas, whilst whites 
are scarcer, and any fine new variety, of course, 
will he welcome. Baisers must try and 
eliminate from white Teas the creamy or flesh 
tints too often found in the centre of the 
flowers. If, too, they could give us sorts 
which are much less spiny than is Biphetos, 
for instance, it would he satisfactory. 
-- 
Bulbs for the Royal Parks.—We understand that 
Her Majesty’s Commissioner of Works has again this 
season, and for the fifteenth time, accepted the tender 
of Messrs. James Veitch & Sons for the supply of 
Bulbs, Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocus, &c., for the Royal 
Parks. 
A Winter Garden for the East End.—Sir Edward 
Cecil Guinness, Bart., has notified to the trustees of the 
People’s Palace his intention of increasing his original 
donation of £9,000 for the erection of a winter garden 
to the sum of £14,000, in order that the people of East 
London may be provided with a complete and perfect 
winter garden of the best possible design. 
The Acton Park and Recreation Ground, which has 
been laid out and planted by Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons 
for the Acton (Middlesex) Local Board was opened on 
Wednesday afternoon by Lady George Hamilton. 
Messrs. F. Rosher & Co.—We understand that Mr. 
Frederick Rosher, who has. been for forty-five years 
head of the firm of F. Rosher & Co., of Blackfriars, has 
retired from business, and that he is succeeded by his 
sons, Mr. F. Howard Rosher, and Mr. Frank E. Rosher, 
who will carry on the business under the same style 
and title. 
The Crystal Palace Rose Show.—We were in error 
last week in attributing the exhibition of a collection 
of fruit trees in pots at this show to Messrs. George 
Bunyard & Co., the whole of the specimens staged 
really coming from the nurseries of Messrs. T. Rivers & 
Sons. We regret the injustice done to the Messrs. 
Rivers, but perfect accuracy was hardly possible under 
the prevailing excitement on account of the visit of the 
Shah, and which involved arrangements which were 
inimical to careful note-taking. 
The Marechal Niel Rose.—A correspondent calls 
our attention to the curious fact that at the same exhi¬ 
bition not a single box of blooms of this Rose was put 
up. 
The Imperial Botanic Garden at Vienna.—It is 
announced that the Emperor Francis Joseph has made 
over absolutely and gratuitously to the State that 
portion of the University Botanical Garden (Viennal 
which has hitherto been reserved for the Court, to be 
henceforward used for the general purposes of the 
Botanical Garden. 
Earwigs and the “ Mums.”—A successful Chrysan¬ 
themum grower writes :—“ The earwigs appear to have 
begun business amongst the Chrysanthemums in real 
earnest, and no time should be lost before traps are 
laid for them. After trying many things, I am con¬ 
vinced that the old plan of laying lengths of Broad 
Bean stalks amongst the plants is the best plan, 
though a gardening friend in this locality does con¬ 
demn the plan, and says I am providing them with 
lodgings as well as food.” 
Fruit as Food.—Mr. W. S. Manning, The Wood¬ 
lands, Vanbrugh Hill, Blackheath, S.E., asks us, as 
many of our readers are just now desirous of preserving 
their fruit in the most wholesome fashion, to state that 
the London Vegetarian Society have printed a little 
paper on Bottling British Fruit, giving a full description 
of the American method of canning fruit for domestic 
purposes, and that he will be glad to enclose in any 
addressed wrapper, sent to him with two stamps, a 
copy of this treatise, and also pamphlets on fruit as 
food and other works on the wholesomest diet for hot 
weather. 
Sutton’s Silver or Sea Kale Beet.—Lady Nugent, 
writing from Colton Lodge, near Rugeley, on the 15th 
inst., informs us that she has this season grown the 
above Beet, and finds it an admirable substitute for 
Spinach, yielding a good crop of edible leaves that 
taste like the most delicious and delicate Spinach, 
while the latter vegetable has not done at all well on 
the same ground. The midribs of the leaves are 
recommended to be dressed and served up as Asparagus, 
but we agree with our correspondent that they are not 
very good, and in no sense a luxury. 
New Plants Certificated in Ghent.—At a meeting 
of the Ghent Syndical Chamber of Horticulture, held 
on the 8th inst., Certificates of Merit were awarded to 
Mr. L. Desmet, for a species of Oncidium and Nephro- 
dium pallidum cristatum ; to Messrs. E. Vervaet & Co., 
for Odontoglossum crispum grandiflorum ; to Mr. Jules 
Hye, for Odontoglossum hastilabium and O. Pescatorei ; 
to Mr. G. Vincke, for Cypripedium bellatulum 
grandiflorum ; and to Mr. J. De Cock, for Cypripedium 
Elliottianum. 
Merryfleld’s Superlative Raspberry.—Some very 
fine fruits of this robust-growing, free-bearing, and 
deliciously-flavoured variety have reached us from 
Messrs. George Bunyard k Co., Maidstone, who, we 
understand, have arranged to distribute the stock 
during the next two years. It was partially distributed 
by the raiser in 1887, but our first acquaintance with it 
was made at the meeting of the Fruit Committee of 
the R. H. S. in July last year, when it was awarded a 
First Class Certificate, which further experience proves 
was -well deserved. It certainly has every good 
quality to recommend it. 
New Strawberries—Early Gem and Big Templar. 
—From Mr. J. Sim, seedsman, Stonehaven, Kincardine¬ 
shire, we have received samples of his two new Straw¬ 
berries named as above, but for want of proper packing 
we were, unfortunately, unable to taste them. Early 
Gem, a medium-sized, round, well-coloured berry, Mr. 
Sim states is earlier than Rivers’ Eliza by eight days, 
bears its fruits in large clusters, and is very prolific. 
Big Templar resembles Noble in size and shape, but is 
paler in colour, and comes in between Eliza and Sir 
Joseph Paxton. Mr. Sim states that it is a more 
reliable cropper than the latter, and recommends it for 
market cultivation. 
Presentation to Mr. Lindsay, of the Edinburgh 
Botanic Garden.—On Wednesday, the 10th inst., Mr. 
R. Lindsay, the Curator of the Royal Botanic Garden, 
Edinburgh, was presented in the Waterloo Hotel with 
a wedding gift by a number of his botanical, arbori- 
cultural, and horticultural friends. There was a good 
representation of members of the botanical and other 
societies present. The gift consists of a prettily 
designed oxidised and gilt mantel clock with vases to 
match, and bears a suitable inscription. Mr. Methven 
made the presentation, and Mr. Lindsay replied briefly. 
Mr. Syme proposed Mr. Lindsay’s health. Edinburgh 
people, he said, ought to be proud of Mr. Lindsay. 
They had only to walk through the gardens to see that 
he was the right man in the right place. There were 
larger gardens, but he defied anyone to produce a 
better, almost in the world. The toast was very 
heartily received, and Mr. Lindsay responded. 
A Wasps' Nest in a Gooseberry Bush.—Wasps’ nests 
are all too plentiful most seasons in the neighbourhood 
of gardens, as many a struggling gardener knows to his 
cost, but we do not remember before having seen or 
heard of a nest being found in a Gooseberry bush. 
Such, however, has recently been the experience of 
Mr. W. H. Lambert, who on assuming charge of the 
Rectory Garden at Horsmonden, discovered one 
hanging from a branch about 2 ft. high, and hidden 
by Nettles and “ gravel bine ” (Convolvulus arvensis). 
That the nest was not discovered sooner says much for 
the character of the lads about Horsmonden—but, per. 
haps they know more than the new gardener about the 
quality of the Gooseberries on that particular bush. 
Cabbage Lettuces.—A number of different varieties 
of Lettuce have been sent us by Messrs. Geo. Bunyard 
& Co., Maidstone. All were globular and good 
specimens of the Cabbage kind, differing chiefly, as far 
as could be seen, in the colour of the leaves and the 
amount of blanching. More important points are to be 
looked for, however, in the degree of hardiness) and 
earliness possessed by the different kinds. All the 
Year Round is a good old kind of great hardiness, with 
compact and wrinkled leaves of good quality. 
Bunyard’s Winter Emerald is dwarfer, equally globose 
and compact, and all the outer ones are of a rich dark 
green colour. A taller and stronger-growing Lettuce is 
the Perpignan, which seems somewhat looser, but has 
foliage of a light yellowish green. Early Paris Market 
is an old kind much valued in France for its earliness. 
It is equally rampant in its growth as the last named, 
and nearly all the leaves are tender, crisp, blanched, 
and almost white. Bunyard’s Golden Globe closely 
resembles the Winter Emerald in its dwarf, globose, 
and compact habit, but all the leaves are of a light 
yellowish green hue, and the central ones especially are 
tender, crisp, and of good quality. 
The Parcel Post—a Capital Suggestion.—A writer 
in the Society of Arts Journal says:—“ Seeing that the 
Society of Arts was instrumental in bringing about a 
postal reform which has proved a great boon to the 
public at large, I write to ask whether some steps could 
not be taken by that influential body to introduce a 
system which has long been prevalent on the continent 
of Europe and in America—namely, the collection of 
money due for a parcel of goods delivered, such col¬ 
lection taking place at the actual time of delivery. 
This is done on the Continent by the Post Office, and in 
America by a Parcels Forwarding Company. In the 
latter country the system is so far extended as to render 
the sending of articles on approval or trial (such as 
guns, &c.) possible, even to persons who are strangers 
to the firm sending the goods, the local agents receiving 
a deposit of the value of the goods during trial, and 
refunding the same if the trial should not prove satis¬ 
factory, less a small charge. Without asking that this 
latter method should be introduced into our country, 
it would afford considerably increased facilities to trade 
were it possible to send goods through the Post Office 
to persons who had ordered them (through advertise¬ 
ment or recommendation), payment to be received by 
the employe of the Post Office, and be remitted, less a 
commission, to the sender of the goods. This system, 
called in the French-speaking countries Envoi contra 
remboursemant, has not, so far as I can learn, given 
