August 31, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
831 
WEBBS’ 
EARLY FORGING 
F LOWER R OOTS 
ROMA N HYACINTHS— 
Early White, selected roots .2s. per doz. 
Ditto .. .. .. .. .. .. 15s. per 100. 
FINEST NAMED HYACINTHS .. 6s. to 12s. per doz. 
POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS— 
Double Roman .. .. .. 3d. each, Is. C d. per doz. 
Paper White .. .. .. .. 3d. each, Is. 6d. per doz. 
EARLY TULIPS— 
Due Van Thol, single, scarlet and yellow, 9 d. per doz., 5s. 100. 
Ditto double ditto 8 d. per doz., 3s. Qd. 100. 
WEBBS’ BULB CATALOGUE. 
Beautifully Illustrated, and containing complete 
cultural instructions. 
Now ready , Gratis and Post Free. 
Seedsmen by Royal Warrants to H.M. the Queen 
and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. 
WORDSLEY, STOURBRIDGE. 
The New 
P LANT COLLAR. 
No more Pot-bound 
Plants. Beale’s New Imper¬ 
ishable Terra Cotta Metal Ex¬ 
panding Plant Collar for ex¬ 
tending the Rooting Space in 
Flower Pots without Re-pot¬ 
ting. This Collar is invaluable 
for Tomato Plants in pots, 
Pot Vines and FruitiDg Trees, 
Roses, &c., and also for large 
pot-bound Stove Plants, 
Palms, Chrysanthemums, and 
all other plants that require 
surface feeding. It fits any 
size and shape of pots. All 
sizes, from 6 to 12 ins., kept 
in stock ; any other sizes cut 
to order, per instructions. 
For 6-in. pots, 4s. 6 d. per doz.; 
S-in.,5s.perdoz.; I0-in.,5s. 6 d. 
per doz.; 12-in., 6s. 6<i. per doz. Carriage paid.—Sole Manu¬ 
facturers, R. BEALE & Co., New Southgate, London, N. 
B.S.WILLIAMS 
Begs to announce that lie has received 
his Annual Consignments of 
DUTCH 
BULBS 
And is now executing orders for the 
same. 
The quality of the Bulbs is un¬ 
usually fine this year. 
For Particulars and Prices see 
ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, 
Forwarded Gratis and Post Free 
to all applicants. 
ROBERT SYDENHAM, 
NEW TENBY ST„ BIRMINGHAM, 
The celebrated importer of Bulbs, will send bis revised 
Pamphlet, “ How I Came to Grow Bulbs,” and the 
cheapest Price List for reliable Bulbs ever issued, 
free on application. 
I can guarantee my best Bulbs to be the finest that come from 
Holland, and will undertake to replace, at half price next year, 
any which, with fair treatment, do not flower satisfactorily ; 
or any bulbs that are not perfectly satisfactory when received 
may be returned and the money refunded, as my great aim is to 
send out nothing but the best at moderate prices. 
White Roman Hyacinths, 2s. doz., 15s. 100; or 
a very grand sample, 2s. 6d. doz., 19s. 100. 
Freesia refracta alba, the coming Flower of the Day, 
planted now, will bloom at Christmas, Is. doz., 7s. 6d. 100; 
extra selected Bulbs, Is. 6d. doz., 11s. 100. 
I MAKE A SPECIALITY OF HYACINTHS. 
One dozen, first size and named, for pots or glasses, 4s. 
A splendid dozen, unnamed, for pots, 3s., for water, 3s. 6d. 
Capital second-size Hyacinths, quite equal to what are often 
sold as first size, 2s. 3d. doz., or 16s. 100. 
A choice collection of all the best Hyacinths for Exhibition 
purposes from 3d. to 8d. each. 
Splendid Bedding Hyacinths, Blue, 9s. ; Red, 13s. ; White, 
16s. ; or mixed, all colours, 11s. per 100. 
Tulips will be dearer and scarcer this year, owing to the 
great increase 1 demand, but having made very advantageous 
purchases, my prices will be but little above those of last year. 
I shall have a very select collection of Narcissi at reduced 
prices, and I shall have a grand lot of Scilla sibirica, Chionodoxa 
Luciliae, Snowdrops, Crocuses, Winter Aconites, Ixias, English 
and Spanish Iris, Ranunculus, Lilium Harrisi, &c., &c. 
A full list ready shortly, and sent post free on application. 
(Please Mention this Paper.) 
Letter Orders have same care as for my own planting. 
ROBERT SYDENHAM, 
NEW TENBY STREET, BIRMINGHAM. 
Next Week’s Engagements. 
Monday, September 2nd.—Bulb Sales at Protlieroe & Morris’s, 
and Stevens’ Rooms. 
Wednesday, September 3rd.—Bulb Sale at Stevens’ Rooms. 
Thursday, September 4th.—Bulb Sale at Protheroe & Morris's 
Rooms. 
Friday, September 6th.—Grand National Dahlia and Fruit 
Show at the Crystal Palace. Sale of Orchids in Flower at 
Protheroe & Morris’s Rooms. 
Saturday, September 7th.—Bulb Sale at Stevens' Rooms. 
11 Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man." —Bacon. 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1889. 
CURRENT TOPICS. 
|||r. Gladstone on Fruit Growtng. —Mr. 
*** Gladstone has once more taken up the 
mantle of a prophet, and has declared that in 
this country there is a great future for fruit. 
We believe that to he the case also, hut, all 
the same, think that the process of fruit 
culture is best developed by small aids, and 
in no way better than through the agency 
of small holdings, allotments, and well-stocked 
gardens. The planting of large areas of 
fruit is a speculation of too risky a kind. 
Still further, it tends simply to place the 
hulk of the resulting crops in the hands of 
the jam manufacturers and the dealers, rather 
than into the mouths of the people direct. 
We want to see a widespread development 
of fruit culture amongst the small holdings 
and gardens of the kingdom, so that the 
mass of the people may secure it direct, and 
if of their spare produce they can sell direct 
to their less fortunate neighbours, so much 
the better. In that way myriads may be 
benefited, while no one is tempted to enter 
into dangerous, and possibly illusive, spec¬ 
ulations. The absurd objection of one person, 
that fruit consisted so largely of water, was 
well and properly replied to by the ex- 
Premier. What is there in nature that 
does not largely consist of water 1 Why, 
meat contains some 75 per cent of water, 
and yet its prime cost to the consumer is 
(relative to the cost of fruit and vegetables) 
enormous, whilst it is produced in the most 
roundabout fashion. Even water itself is 
eomposed of gases, and thus everything in due 
time resolves itself into gases, so that it might 
he pleaded that it is folly to produce solid 
food at all, as being hut gases in another 
form. If Ave must have solid food, and that 
is an indisputable requirement, Ave can hardly 
have it in a more pleasing form than in that 
of SAveet Avholesome fruit. 
pples on Pears : A Slight Mistake.— 
That the ex-Prime Minister is a reader 
of our contemporary, the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture, seems to be evident by his reference 
to that paper in his recent HaAvarden speech, 
and therefore it is all the more unfortunate 
for the credit of garden journalism that he 
should have—doubtless misled by the authority 
in Avhich the matter Avas found—quoted so 
ignorant and ludicrous an assertion as that 
“ Avhen Pear trees cease to bear, they should 
be cut doAvn and re-grafted Avith Apples.” 
Editors cannot, of course, be responsible for 
the ignorant views held by some correspondents; 
but even Mr. Gladstone may not at all times, 
in the hurry of reading, notice that considerable 
difference exists betAveen practical and noil- 
practical opinions. 
It is unfortunate that such an absurd pro¬ 
position as that Apples Avill thrive if Avorked 
on to Pear stocks should ever have been 
admitted into any gardening publication ; and 
Ave see the resulting evil in this case—that an 
eminent statesman, avIio took the journal’s 
authority as sufficient, regarded the suggestion 
as practical, AAdiilst it is the very reverse. It 
may be good policy Avhen such statements are 
made to publish them accompanied by conclusive 
evidence that they are Avildly absurd, because 
it may tend henceforth to prevent others from 
entertaining or holding similar illusions. Those 
afflicted Avith stunted Pear trees which have 
become barren will, perhaps, act most Avisely 
if they Avill grub them out altogether; but if 
they decline to do that, at least they may take 
their heads off, and re-graft Avith some robust 
free-fruiting kinds of Pears, Avhicli may in time 
develop into large healthy heads. 
I^nions. —An esteemed Scotch correspondent 
last week alluded to the dimensions of 
some fine Onions groAvn in his locality, and 
seemed to desire comparison soutliAvards. We 
are noAV able to take up the challenge, for 
but the other day at the Basingstoke Elower 
Show, Mr. Kneller, gardener to Wyndham 
Portal, Esq., of Malshanger Park, A r ery easily 
took first place in the conqaetition for twelve 
bulbs Avith some Avonderful samples of Mr. 
Deverill’s grand variety Ailsa Craig. The 
samples Aveighed in the bulk no less than 
30 lbs., an average of 2} lbs. each, but the 
largest Avere a little over tbit weight, and 
some Avere a little under. Then the bulbs 
Avere also very handsome ; there Avas not an 
aAvkward-groAvn one amongst them. 
The Ailsa Craig variety partakes someAvliat 
of the globe form, as its great Aveight is 
found more in depth than in breadth. 
Still, every bulb Avas admirably proportioned. 
This variety seems, so far, to present the 
very finest bulb producer yet introduced. It 
Avas worthy of notice that prior to the 
appearance of Mr. Ivneller’s samples, it 
seemed as if the splendid bulbs of Kousham 
Park Hero, put up by Mr. Bowerman, of 
Hackwood Park Gardens, could not he 
excelled. The dozen of these Onions 
Aveighed 20 lbs., Avere Avonderfully hand¬ 
some and clean, and also A’ery bright ; the 
largest Aveighed If lbs., and measured 18 ins. 
round. This variety, however, is very flat, 
