628 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 80,1896. 
such a house, on such a spot, slip from his hands, is 
the question everybody is asking without hope of 
reply. 
Moreover, between Maidenhead and Cookham 
there are no less than three ferries, so that although 
the towing path is continuous it changes from the 
Berks side to the Bucks and vice versa. This ought 
not to be; the river should be free to all, and the 
occupiers who possess riparian rights should provide 
the ferries free. 
The river flora might also be said to be in excellent 
form and worthy of remark ; but time will only per¬ 
mit me to notice a few wild plants. The water 
meadows, of course, are gay with golden Buttercups 
(Ranunculus bulbosus) ; they at least, are always 
clothed in the same bright garb; therein they differ 
from their sisters of fashion, who think it ill becomes 
them if they appear season after season in the self¬ 
same colours. It is well, however, the former remain 
the more constant, otherwise we might not know them, 
while as to the latter, although they vary so much in 
external appearance and exhibit many changeful 
moods, they are, it must be admitted, always interest¬ 
ing. And so of the rest of the river flora, the 
great purple and white Comfreys, the black and 
yellow Sedges, the white and lilac Lady’s Smocks ; the 
purplish-blue of the creeping Bugle, the pink of the 
Herb Robert, the yellow of the curious rhynchorian 
Dead-Nettle, the blue of the Forget-me-not, the gold 
of the Gorse, the lemon of the Hawkweed, the 
orange of the Dandelion, the yellow of the larger 
Celandine and the glowing Rape, the white of 
the Catchfly and the Cow Parsley, or the lovely lilac- 
coloured flowers of the Water Violet (Hottonia 
palustris). These, and many more, may be found by 
all who care to ramble up the river from Maidenhead 
to Cookham. At the latter place, "quaint and olden,” 
there is a fine specimen Wistaria, which I feel is 
worthy of Shakesperean paraphrase — Wistaria 
blossoms that come before the foliage dares, and 
take the flowery month of May with beauty. 
However, the beauties of the neighbourhood must 
be seen to be enjoyed ; and enjoyed they will be ; for 
the stretch of country between the two places is an 
epitome of all that’s fair and lovely in this English 
land of ours. 
I fain would linger on the scene, 
Its beauties note, and book ’em ; 
But, how shall I divide the charms 
'Twixt Maidenhead and Cookham? 
Nay, more ! These two interesting riparian resorts, 
are not only rivals in fancy, but in fact; for do they 
not literally possess the same rivet in common? — 
C. B. G., Acton, IV. 
-Hh-- 
A NOVEL METHOD OF FUMIGATING. 
A piece of work, which promises to be of very great 
importance to those in the trade, was successfully 
carried out April i6tb, under the direction of Prof. 
Galloway, chief of the division of vegetable 
physiology and pathology in the Department of 
Agriculture : this was an exhibition of a new method 
of fumigating plant houses by the aid of cyanide of 
potassium. This deadly chemical has for several 
years past played an important part in the fumigation 
of Orange trees in the Southern States. Prof. 
Galloway conceived the idea that it might be utilised 
in greenhouses to kill insects, especially the pest 
which seems to be spreading everywhere, commonly 
known as the “ black spotted mealy bug,” the 
scientific name of which is Orthezia insignis. This 
little pest is a native of the tropical parts of South 
America. It was first observed in some greenhouses 
in New York State some five years ago, and seemingly 
from this beginning it spread over a wide area in a 
short period, until now there is scarcely a greenhouse 
establishment free from its ravages. Several of the 
insecticides in common use have been tried on it, and 
while they kill a great maoy of the insects, in a 
short time the plants are as bad as ever. Prof. 
Galloway, therefore, made a number of experiments 
in his laboratory with certain chemicals, to ascertain 
the exact quantities which could be used lo destroy 
the insects and yet leave the plants in an uninjured 
condition. To Mr. G. H. BrowD, of the propagating 
gardens, he showed some of his work, and that 
gentleman placed a house of Coleus at his disposal 
which was so badly infested with the Orthezia that 
they were almost unfit for bedding purpose. The 
house contains in the neighbourhood of 15,580 cubic 
feet of space. 
The time chosen for the work was after darkness 
had set in, as strong light so changes the character 
ot the liberated gases that they are then more hurtful 
to the plants than to the insects. The ingredients 
used in the operation consisted of water and sulphuric 
acid, three pints of each, and si lbs. of the cyanide 
This was divided up into three equal parts and 
placed in three two-gallon jars, arranged at intervals 
on the side benches, and near enough to the venti¬ 
lators so that the operations could be conducted with 
safety from the exterior of the house. Arrangements 
were also made so that air could be given at the top 
when the gas had done its work. Into each jar water 
was first poured, then the Sulphuric acid, this 
raised the temperature of the compound to 212 0 
Fahr., when the cynide was added, and the venti¬ 
lators closed tight. The resulting gas permeated 
every part of part of the house within two minutes ; 
after the expiration of twenty minutes air was 
admitted to the house. When it was deemed safe to 
enter in, an examination of the plants was made, and 
not a live insect could be found anywhere, even the 
eggs situated in the appendage to the body of the 
female were in a discoloured condition. Next day 
the search was continued with the same satisfactory 
results. The gas did not seem to have had the 
slightest deleterious effect on the foliage of the Coleus, 
nor on even more tender foliage, such as the tender 
fronds of Adiantum cuneatum, the leaves of Cya- 
nophyllum and Sphaerogyne and several other 
things. The cost of the operation is insignificant, 
S3 covering all expenses.—C. L. Reynolds, in the 
American Florist. 
-- 
BLANCHING ENDIVE. 
In many places where a white salad is a daily require¬ 
ment, Endive cannot well be dispensed with ; for 
however much Lettuce, which is decidedly the best 
when good, may be preferred, a well blanched piece 
of Batavian Endive is decidedly better than an 
inferior Lettuce, and is more easily attainable during 
the winter months. The object of this note is not so 
much how to grow Endive, but to draw attention to 
a method of blanching it we have practised ourselves, 
and can commend to all who may not have the 
ordinary conveniences for sheltering it in cold frames, 
etc. To be successful it is of the first importance to 
have well grown stuff ready before severe frost sets 
in. Tie it up when dry, just as Lettuce is done, then 
choose a spot on a dry hard bottom, on which form 
a ridge of cinder ashes about a foot in height and 
18 in. in width at the bottom. Lift the Endive, then 
lay the plants head downwards pretty close to each 
other, along each side of the ridge, and cover over 
with enough ashes to render them secure from frost. 
If a few loose boards or sheets of galvanis_ed iron can 
be put over to throw off heavy rains it will be a 
great advantage, as the liability to damp will be 
considerably lessened.— W. B. G. 
MANURE WATER AND FRUIT TREES. 
Now the blooming time of the fruit trees has come 
round again, the observing mind must learn some 
strong lessons. One lesson I have learnt this year, 
as in many that is past, namely, that there is no 
truth in the old saying, that if a tree crops heavily 
one year, it will not bear the following. This is often 
a mistake, and 1 could point to many trees in our 
garden that have given us big crops for three years in 
succession, and promise to find another. Some 
Morello Cherry trees have done this, and at the time 
of writing they are white with bloom. But every year 
we give them three good soakings of liquid manure 
water during the fruiting period, and this pays doing. 
If you are to have work out of a tree, you must feed 
it. — Chard. 
SAXIFRAGA CAMPOSII. 
Of the mossy-leaved section of Saxifraga this may 
be considered the finest and most easily managed. 
S geraniodes is also a fine thing but is more tender 
and shorter-lived generally, if the conditions are at 
all unfavourable. S. Camposii has found its way 
into many gardens and gets forgotten for a time 
when it turns up again owing to the observations of 
some admirer who may again bring it into prominence. 
It was so treated some years ago and being supposed 
to be a hybrid was named S. Wallacei, under which 
name it has got distributed in many gardens. It is 
one of the most distinct and easily recognised, so that 
one feels surprised at the way it gets forgotten from 
ISCELLANY. 
Hardening 
time to time. There is a fine lot of it in small pots 
in the nursery of Messrs. Barr & Son, Long Ditton, 
Surrey. The leaves are somewhat fleshy in 
character, and from amongst them arise numerous 
scapes bearing large pure white flowers. The whole 
plant is dwarf and therefore suitable for pot culture. 
Though a native of Spain it requires no artificial heat 
whatever, unless to urge it into bloom at an earlier 
period than its wont. A batch of plants in 60 or 48- 
sized pots may be put into a cold frame in the 
autumn, close to the glass, and will prove useful for 
greenhouse or conservatory work. The rockery is 
the most suitable place for it. 
GRAFTING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Has your " Mum ’’ correspondent ever tried the 
varieties of the Paris Daisies or Marguerites as 
stocks for his favourite flower ? From personal 
experience I can assure him that Chrysanthemums 
take very readily on them and grow freely during 
their own season of growth.—IF. B. G. 
JUN1PERUS CALIFORN1CA. 
In the absence of fruit it is difficult to distinguish 
the present species from the better known and more 
generally cultivated J. occidentalis. The berries of 
the latter are not unlike those of our native species, 
while in J. californica they are larger, the berry 
being dry and containing only one seed, the stony 
coating of which is harder than that of all other 
species of my acquaintance. It is of tree-like growth 
with thickly arranged branches and silvery-greyish 
leaves, but it has no special recommendation for 
ornamental planting. The growth, even under the 
most favourable conditions, is remarkably slow. J. 
c. utahensis is of low, spreading growth, with stout 
short branchlets, and an easy and pleasing habit. 
It has not generally succeeded under cultivation in 
this country.— A. D. Webster. 
BEGONIA CHARLES L.EESON. 
Flowers of two varieties of tuberous Begonias were 
sent us the other week by Mr. C. Leeson, Wrawby, 
Brigg, Lines. Both were raised from home-saved 
seed, and the plants are of stiff erect habit and very 
floriferous. The flowers of Charles Leeson were of 
Camellia shape, with the glossy, crimson-scarlet 
petals arranged round a single centre. Every petal 
was smooth, broad, of good substance, and alto¬ 
gether of excellent form. The open bloom measured 
about 3^ in. across, being large enough for any pur¬ 
pose, and of the best form according to the present 
day standard. Possibly cultivation could readily 
increase the size of the flower, if that were considered 
necessary. The other variety had larger flowers but 
the centres were more numerous and consisted of 
numerous rather closely packed petals. The outer 
petals, however, were broad and of good form. 
The rich salmon-rose colour of the flowers was the 
best feature of this variety, we give preference, how¬ 
ever, to the crimson-scarlet variety for form. 
LILIES OF THE VALLEY IN SHADE. 
It may be worth asking the question of your readers 
what their experience is regarding the growing of 
these in the shade versus in the sun. When I am 
lecturing for the Technical Education Committee on 
horticulture, I am often asked this question. I say 
grow them in the sun ; and I am led to do this from 
observation I have made during the last thirty years. 
In our own garden we have them growing under 
both conditions and that only three or four yards 
apart. These growing in the shade only give but 
few flowers compared to those in the sun. Although 
I am quite convinced they enjoy a good supply of 
moisture, and this the more so, if the beds are full of 
roots ; there is nothing can be more helpful to them 
than a good drink or two of manure water.— Chard. 
--j-- 
LIST OF AWARDS AT THE TEMPLE 
SHOW. 
The silver cups are in order of merit, the other 
awards are not so. Duplicate medals are not given 
to trade exhibitors for flowers and plants exhibited 
under different heads, but one award is made for the 
whole. Distinct awards are made for fruit and 
vegetables. 
Gold Medals. 
To Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, for 
Orchids. 
,, Messrs. Sander & Co., St. Albans, for Orchids. 
,, Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, for vegetables 
and flowers. 
