24 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 14, 1895 . 
Violas can not only be grown, but will give 
great satisfaction for decorative purposes 
under the influence of the dry climate of 
the London district. Continental horti¬ 
cultural papers have described the cultural 
treatment given to Violas here, and the 
resulting success. 
While the crops of fruits and the abun¬ 
dance of flowers, even at this late period 
of the year, leave nothing to be desired, 
the collections and trials of vegetables are 
following each other in due succession. 
The Broccoli, Cauliflowers and Brussels 
Sprouts are excellent samples of vegetable 
growth, testifying to the rich character of 
the soil and the tillage to which it is 
subjected. Then on the whole it must be 
affirmed that Chiswick is not only up to 
the usual standard, but ahead of former 
years in many respects. If there is little 
science to explain physiological facts, very 
little, if anything, is wrong with the 
practical work compared with that to be 
seen in the best of gardens where there is 
any pretence at cultural skill. Whatever 
the intention of the Royal Horticultural 
Society may be, the fact remains that the 
practical work conducted here by Mr. 
Barron has been productive of results that 
have not hitherto been surpassed in any 
one year since we first knew the gardens. 
This is all the more remarkable, con¬ 
sidering the reduced staff" by which the 
gardens have been manned for many 
years past. 
-— 
The flora of British India includes something like 
1,200 species of grasses. 
About a million and a half of people visit Kew 
gardens during the year, but chiefly in the summer 
months. 
The enlargement of the Temperate House near the 
Pagoda in Kew Gardens, has now been commenced, 
and will be pushed on with all speed. 
A big Sunflower, standing 6J ft. high with leaves 
15 in. across, and a bloom 15 in. in diameter and 
45 in. in circumference, is flowering in the garden 
of Mr. Steven Searle, Station Road, Mayfield. 
Scotch Grapes took the cake at the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Fruit Show in Dublin, Ireland, on the 30th 
ult. Mr. Kirk, gardener to Mr. J. Thomson-Paton, 
Norwood, Alloa, carried off first for six bunches of 
Grapes, and first for four, and was awarded the 
Royal Horticultural Medal of Ireland. 
Use a separate brush for each colour of Begonia 
about to be fertilised for the production of seed in 
assorted colours. Every stray grain of pollen serves 
to spoil a strain, and usually accounts for the rogues 
that come up in a seed bed. Such waifs should not 
be set down to reversion, if by careful working and 
correct observation you can prove the contrary. All 
such work should be conducted under glass. 
Royal Botanic Society of London.—In the Victoria 
Tank of the above Society, in the Regent’s Park, is 
one of the finest plants of the Royal Water Lily ever 
before seen in London. The surface covered by the 
plant is over 400 square feet. There are ten gigantic 
leaves, each measuring more than 7 ft. in 
diameter, while the beautiful flowers are corres¬ 
pondingly fine. An early visit to the gardens to view 
the plant is desirable, as, though it is now in its 
greatest perfection, being grown as an annual, it will 
shortly begin to decay. 
Amateurs have in some instances led the way 
in the proper methods of cultivating tuberous 
Begonias. In their cool conservatories the plants 
were sturdy, short jointed, and floriferous, whereas 
in the warm houses of professional gardeners, who 
believed that the plants required a high temperature 
to bring them to perfection, they were lanky and 
but poorly furnished with blossom. Matters have 
been greatly mended since those early beginnings, 
and the infancy of the race. 
Seaweed is eaten to a large extent in the west of 
Ireland during the winter months. 
One hundred and twenty-three tons of water are 
given off into the air by an Oak tree carrying 
700,000 leaves during the season. 
The oldest book in the world is stated to be the 
Papyrus Prisse, kept in the national library at Paris. 
It is believed to belong to the 34th century B.C. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland.—On the 
30th ult., the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland 
held their Autumn Flower and Fruit Show in the 
beautiful grounds at the rear of Lord Iveagh’s resi¬ 
dence, Harcourt Street entrance. The entries in all 
classes were considerably over the average, and in 
fine weather no more enjoyable spot could be found 
than in the tents and cool shade of the trees in the 
garden. 
Few plants are more easily propagated than 
tuberous Begonias. Given a low span-roofed house 
or a pit and all you have got to do is to make up a 
propagating bed consisting chiefly of sand, to fill it 
with cuttings, to keep them moist and the house cool 
and shaded during the heat of the day. No artificial 
heat is needed during the summer months. The 
bed may be emptied and refilled with cuttings four to 
six times during the course of the season. 
A Remarkable Cabbage.—An agricultural corres¬ 
pondent vouches for the following:—In a field of 
Cabbages in the Lincolnshire Fen district at the 
present time there is growing one of the largest 
specimens ever produced. It occupies the space of 
about a dozen ordinary plants, measures 12 ft. to 
13 ft. round the extreme outer edge of the leaves, and 
is nearly 5 ft. across. The other plants in the field 
are of natural size, having been planted out in the 
spring. 
At Philadelphia.—A gardener says of tuberous 
Begonias : “ Not excepting any other plant, tender 
or hardy, these Begonias are the only ones that have 
really done well one season with another. In a 
year, when through the whole month of July we had 
only two clear days, the more it rained the more 
the Begonias seemed to thrive. Another summer 
that was dry and warm, and everything else showed 
the effect of the drought, the Begonias kept their 
freshness wonderfully. No other plant will give 
such rich returns for so little care.” 
Syndical Chamber of Belgian Horticulturists.—At 
the monthly meeting of this society in the Casino, 
Ghent, on the 1st inst., the committee awarded 
Certificates of Merit to Dieffenbachia Fournieri, 
shown by M. Ed. Pynaert-Van Geert; to Vriesia 
Henrici (pscittacina x splendens), presented by M. 
L. Poelman-Maenhout ; to Tradescantia reginae, 
shown by M. Ed. Pynaert-Van Geert; to Laelio- 
cattleya andreana (Cattleya bicolor x Laelia elegans) 
shown by Mr. Albert Truffaut; to Anisogonia 
decussata, shown by M. Desmet-Duvivier ; and to a 
collection of cut flowers of Cactus Dahlias, staged 
by Mademoiselle Eugenie Guequier. A Botanical 
Certificate was accorded to Rottlera hamosa, shown 
by M. E. Pynaert-Van Geert. 
The Marquis of Bute’s Vineyards.—Writing about 
the Cardiff Vineyards Mr. A. Pettigrew, F.R.H.S., 
says :—“ The bright sunshine and dry hot weather 
during the months of April, May, and June was 
most favourable to the growth of the vines. The 
plants flowered early and set well, but the long-con¬ 
tinued dull, cold, wet, sunless weather so prevalent 
for some time after the early part of July has been 
very much against the development of the fruit. 
To make matters worse, the vines in the older vine¬ 
yards at Castle Coch have been attacked by the 
common mildew for the first time since they were 
planted. The Whitethorn hedge surrounding the 
vineyard was the first to be attacked, and from it it 
spread rapidly over the vines—both fruit and 
leaves—and I am afraid the Grapes at Castle Coch 
will consequently be a failure this year. The vines 
in the vineyard at Swanbridge are clean and healthy 
and free from any signs of mildew. There is a fair 
average crop, and the fruit has obtained the size of 
large marrow Peas. Both vines and fruit look well, 
and if the weather from this date should prove 
favourable I have no doubt the Grapes will ripen 
satisfactorily. 
The yield of Wheat in Manitoba this year is 
estimated at 30,000,000 bushels; oats 22,000,000, 
and barley 3,500,000 bushels, and the grain is said to 
be splendid. 
The Lettuce is said to act as a compass plant, and 
that its leaves grow straight up, and have the 
faculty of twisting till the edges point due north 
and south. 
The general impression that double-flowered 
Begonias, and especially those with large flowers, 
are unsuitable for bedding purposes, we believe is a 
mistake, and one that is exceedingly difficult to 
rectify. Double varieties with both large and small 
flowers, already in cultivation, have proved that it 
is as much a case of individual suitability as any¬ 
thing else. The same fact applies to single sorts, 
some of which are as useless for outdoor culture as 
the unsuitable double ones. 
Australian Lemons.—A Covent Garden sale of 
Lemons, just received from Australia, has attracted 
particular attention to the scarcity of this fruit, and 
the capabilities of the Irrigation Colonies of Mildura 
and Renmark as Lemon-growing districts. Five 
hundred cases were disposed of at prices ranging 
from 9s. 6d. to 14s. 6d. per case, which is regarded 
as an exceptionally good price at auction, but not 
fully representing the value of the fruit, and higher 
prices are confidently expected when the quality 
becomes known. Compared with the fruit com¬ 
monly sold in England, its value is at least as three 
to one. It has a thin smooth skin of pure pale 
colour, a very juicy pulp with but few pips, weighs 
heavily, and is of full average size. Samples are 
now to be seen at the London Office of Messrs. 
Chaffey Bros., Limited, 35, Queen Victoria Street, 
London, E.C. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.—A meeting of 
this Society took place on the 3rd inst., at 5, St. 
Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Mr. Murray, the presi¬ 
dent, in the chair. Mr. Wm. Sharp, Freeland, 
Forgandenny, in a communication on " Orchid 
Culture," remarked that to cultivate successfully, 
one should imitate nature as much as possible, and 
find out the natural surroundings of each individual 
Orchid—altitude, temperature, moisture, &c. He 
described the method of planting, discussed the 
somewhat difficult question of watering, gave it as 
his opinion that manure should be given—this being 
matter of controversy among Orchid growers—and 
emphasised the point of cleanliness. Numerous 
other useful hints were given as to the cultivation of 
the Orchid, than which, Mr. Sharp observed, there 
was no more beautiful example in plant life of 
nature's handiwork. In a short discussion which 
followed, Mr. James Grieve, Mr. George Wood, Mr. 
Robert Morrison, and others took part, and Mr. 
Sharp was awarded a hearty vote of thanks. 
Park Place, Henley-on-Thames. —The annual re¬ 
union of gardeners who have served at different 
times in the gardens at Park Place, was held on 
August 29th, and favoured by splendid weather. As 
usual a cricket match was arranged between the 
past and present members, although, sad to say, the 
old-time associates proved that they were “ past ” in 
more senses than one, being only able to wield the 
willow to the tune of some twenty-six runs, as 
against ninety-one compiled by their opponents. 
An excellent lunch was provided, which everyone 
attacked with great gusto, despite the fact that the 
day was oppressively hot. In rising to bid the 
guests welcome in the name of Mrs. Noble, and 
to propose the health of the hostess, Mr. Stanton 
said that pleased as he was to see such a 
large gathering, that pleasure was tinged with 
sorrow that none of his Continental friends were able 
to be present to share in the festivities, and he would 
like to mention the names of such brethren in horti¬ 
culture as Berat r Ducret, Gravereau, Rebillon, 
Flament, the brothers Courtois and Trousse, Fortin, 
Emile Revoiron, and Albert Pelletier—the last two, 
alas, absent for ever. Mr. Stanton also remarked 
that the linking together of past and present was one 
of the signs of the times, and he was pleased to see 
