686 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 6, 1896. 
made, their habits, purposes for which they 
are best adapted, the temperature most 
conducive to their well-being, and the 
system of culture necessary to attain any 
given result. Propagation and the various 
details of treatment, necessary at different 
stages of growth, have been regarded by the 
author as the most important essentials for 
a gardener desirous of acquiring the rudi¬ 
ments of his profession ; and he accordingly 
deals with them more fully than with any¬ 
thing else. What will suit the requirements 
of any given species, will generally apply to 
all others of the genus; but Mr. Baines 
does not overlook the fact that certain 
species and even varieties in particular 
cases may require different treatment, and 
makes mention of them accordingly. 
The less important genera are passed 
over in a few words, but the useful, popular, 
and more widely cultivated plants have 
several columns or it may be pages devoted 
to them as occasion may require. Lists 
are given of the more generally cultivated 
and useful species ; and a short description 
of their general features, together with their 
native habitats are supplied by way of 
assisting the gardener to distinguish them, 
and follow up their requirements. Lists of 
garden varieties are also taken into con¬ 
sideration ; but these are practically of less 
value than the species or garden hybrids 
which are of greater permanency. For 
instance, every gardener knows that the 
most select list of Chrysanthemums which 
might have been made ten years ago or 
even less, would now for all practical pur¬ 
poses except garden decoration be obsolete. 
In all similar cases it is now a well 
recognised fact that no book can long 
remain in touch with the times. These 
lists form but a small percentage of the 
contents of the book, so that their inclusion 
or exclusion is a matter of minor impor¬ 
tance, while species and valuable garden 
forms not much liable to change, will 
remain good as long as their cultivation is a 
necessity. 
In conclusion, we may say that the book 
is excellently printed in large clear type, 
the paper and illustrations leave nothing to 
be desired. The price (12s.) is somewhat 
high for gardeners, but the book, which 
forms a handsome and imposing volume, 
would be an ornament to any gardener’s 
table, and an acquisition to his library. It 
is published by Mr. John Murray, 
Albemarle Street, London. 
-. « » 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—The anniversary 
festival of this fund will be held at the Hotel Metro- 
pole. on Thursday, June i8th, under the presidency 
of His Grace the Duke of Bedford. 
Dracaena australis is now flowering in the garden 
of Thos. Gill, Esq., Roseleigh, Penryn, Cornwall. 
The panicle of blossom is 3 ft. long by 3J ft. in 
width. 
Park Place, Henley-on-Thames. —The annual re¬ 
union of past and present gardeners hailing from this, 
one of the finest private establishments in the 
country, is fixed for August 13th. 
Veitch Medals. —The presentation will be made 
at the Drill Hall, on Tuesday, June 9th, at 3 p.m., 
by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., President of the 
Royal Horticultural Society. The recipients this 
year are Mons. Henri L. de Vilmorin, Paris: 
Professor Sargeant, Boston, U.S.A.; Mr. F. W. 
Burbidge, Trinity College Botanic Gardens, Dublin ; 
and Malcolm Dunn, The Palace Gardens, Dalkeith. 
According to Mr. Frederick W. Alexander, medical 
officer of Poplar and Bromley, gardening in the 
neighbourhood of London and other large towns 
may be made to minister to the health not only 
of the possessors of well-kept gardens and their 
families, but also to all in their vicinity, owing to 
the gardens being made the receptacles of flowers 
instead of heaps of disease-producing rubbish. 
Cricket: Hurst & Son v Grindleys. —This match 
was played at Snaresbrook and won by Hurst & Son 
by sixty-one runs. For the winners Sampson made 
forty-three and Swinfen thirty runs. 
Poor Fruit Crops.— In many parts of South Lin¬ 
colnshire insects are playiDg havoc with the fruit 
trees, and great injury has been done to the crops. 
The dry weather, it is supposed, has been the prime 
cause of the mischief. 
Royal Horticultural Society. —The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria 
Street, on Tuesday, June 9th. At 3 p.m. the Rev. 
Prof. Henslow will give a lecture on “ The Move¬ 
ments of Plants," illustrated by the magic lantern. 
The People's Palace. —We are informed that the 
third annual flower show of The People’s Palace, 
and East London Horticultural Society, Mile End 
Road, London, E., will be held on June 29th, 30th., 
and 31st. H.R.H. The Princess Louise (Marchioness 
of Lome) will open the show. 
A Disastrous late Frcst. —On the evening of 
Tuesday, May 19th, when London was en fete with 
the great Temple Show, gardeners and market 
growers in the north were having a bad time of it. 
In several parts of the northern counties the frost 
was severe enough to ruin Strawberries. Potatos, 
and other early crops. In Cheshire, particularly, 
acres of young Potatos have been cut to the ground, 
and the Strawberry harvest utterly ruined. 
Lecture on Gardening at Ilkeston. —On Thursday, 
28th ult., a lecture on fruit growing was delivered by 
Mr. E. Luckhurst, F.R.H.S., in one of the allotment 
gardens atllkeston, Borrowash Valley, Derby, under 
the auspices of the Technical Instruction Committee. 
The lecturer in a practical and lucid manner went 
through the routine of bush fruit culture, and con¬ 
cluded with instructions as to dealing with insect 
pests. Numerous questions were replied to at the 
close. 
Cheap Strawberries. —The trawberry rowers of 
Brittany are preparing to charter a small steamer 
for the purpose of conveying their fruit to Plymouth 
during the coming season. As two or three hours 
makes a vast difference in the quality of the fruit it 
is said that the Brittany Strawberries may be good 
when they reach Plymouth, but unsaleable when 
they arrive at Covent Garden. South-western 
towns will, therefore, be able to enjoy cheap 
“ Strawberries and cream " this year. 
Lectures on Horticulture. —Mr. E. Luckhurst, 
F.R.H.S., lecturer to the Kent County Council, 
recently gave a practical and interesting lecture on 
horticulture, at Spondon, Derby. The garden of 
Spondon House was kindly lent for the occasion by 
the Rev. E. Priestland, a fair audience being present. 
Such seasonable subjects as the ridging of Potatos, 
thinning of crops, and the summer pruning of Red 
Currants, Raspberries, and wall fruits were treated 
on at length. 
Flowers for town-workers. —It has occurred to me 
that a quiet work which is being done to brighten 
the lives of some of our London toilers “ behind the 
scenes ” might be of interest to your readers. I refer 
to the " Flower Mission to the London Workrooms. ’ 
Once a week a few ladies meet together to make up 
into tasteful little bunches the flowers sent up by 
country friends; texts are attached to the bunches, 
and they are then taken to different workrooms 
belonging to the shops to which an entrance is kindly 
permitted by the managers, in some of the principal 
thoroughfares. The flowers and their bearers are 
eagerly welcomed, and hearts are cheered by the 
little messages and loving words given with the 
flowers. One can understand that these workers, 
whose every-day lives are so monotonous and un¬ 
varied, would be gladdened by the flowers, few of 
them ever having opportunities to see them growing 
in all their beauty. Perhaps some of your readers 
who have more than sufficient in their own gardens, 
might like to share what gives them such pleasure 
with those who have so little brightness in their 
lives. If so, weekly or occasional gifts would be 
most gratefully received by the "Flower Mission 
Secretary," Cloudesly Institute, 34, Barnsbury 
Street, Islington, N., on Thursday mornings. All 
gifts would be acknowledged and hampers returned, 
if addressed label is enclosed.— E. C. C. 
Lily of the Valley in Westmoreland—During the 
past fortnight a large trade has been carried on 
between several of the places in Westmoreland and 
the large markets in Manchester and Liverpool. 
Acres of this popular and sweetly-scented flower are 
grown at Arnside Park, which may be considered 
the chief source of supply. Great quantities are 
also grown in the vicinity of Kendal. Many a home 
has been brightened with them in Westmoreland as 
well as in more distant parts of the country. 
A Gold Medal for Tulips.—Though somewhat late 
in announcing it, we are pleased to state that the 
National Tulip Society awarded a Gold Medal at the 
Temple Show to Messrs. Barr & Son, King Street, 
Covent Garden, for their magnificent exhibit of 
“ English Amateur Tulips." Not being an award 
made by the Royal Horticultural Society, it was not 
mentioned in the official list of that body, and though 
we were perfectly aware of the award at the time we 
overlooked it when going to press. We are pleased, 
however, that Messrs. Barr’s unique collection has 
at last received a well-merited recognition. 
Rhododendron Sunday.—Last Sunday and to¬ 
morrow (7th inst.) are known as Rhododendron 
Sundays, because the Earl of Darnley, Cobham, 
Kent, opens his beautiful park, containing a mag¬ 
nificent collection of Rhododendrons, to the public. 
This beautiful place is about five miles from Graves¬ 
end, and four from Rochester, and is of easy access 
from the former town. The Rhododendrons are 
unusually fine this year, and all shades of colour 
may be seen in the greatest profusion. Thousands 
of people annually avail themselves of the opportunity 
of seeing them just as they do the Horse Chestnuts 
at Bushey Park. 
Flower Sermon in the City.—The annual flower 
service held last week in the church of St. Katherine 
Cree, Leadenhall Street, EC..passed off splendidly. 
The cjngregation was chiefly composed of children, 
most of whom carried bunches of flowers. The 
church also was prettily decorated. This “ Flower 
Sermon" was instituted by the late rector, Dr. 
Whitemore, in 1853. The idea has been since 
copied in many churches and chapels in this 
country, as well as in the United States, Australia, 
and South Africa. After the service the floral offer¬ 
ings were deposited by the children at the altar, and 
subsequently sent to the Evelina Hospital for 
Children, Southwark, and to the City of London 
Infirmary at Bow. 
Asparagus for market —The supply of early 
Asparagus in the market is more than usually 
abundant this year. From Worcestershire alone, 
14,000 bundles are daily sent to the London market. 
Cambridgeshire is also responsible for nearly 8,000 
bundles per day. There is every reason to congratu¬ 
late ourselves upon the abundance of this toothsome 
vegetable, and there is no reason that it should con¬ 
tinue to be, as it has been in the past, exclusively the 
luxury of the well-to-do. It may be of interest to 
note that the wild Asparagus still grows on 
Asparagus Island, Kynance Cove, Cornwall, although 
the depredations of visitors have nearly obliterated it. 
In the opinion of many people the wild Asparagus 
is far more delicious in flavour than the cultivated 
forms. 
Oak Apple Day.—In a seasonable article on " Royal 
and Notable Oaks ” which appears in the English 
Illustrated Magazine for June, Mr. George Clinch 
traces the history of many ancient customs associated 
with the Oak tree. Of “ Royal Oak Day ’’ itself he 
says :—“ The first anniversary appointed by Parlia¬ 
ment to be observed as a day of general thanksgiving 
for the restoration of Charles II. was on May 29th, 
1665 and Oak boughs and Oak twigs were used to 
decorate the streets as well as for personal ornamenta¬ 
tion upon every annual recurrence of the festival. 
William Pendrill, who had assisted in hiding 
Charles II. among the Boscobel Oaks, having died 
in London in 1671, was buried in the churchyard of 
St. Giles-in-the-Fields, aud it became a regular 
custom for many years to decorate his tomb with 
Oak boughs on this day. In fact, the wearing of 
Oak leaves and Oak Apples, and the frequent use of 
Oak boughs in the decoration of the village street, 
grew throughout the country with a spontaneity and 
a rapidity which suggest that there was a general 
and deep-seated prejudice in favour of the Oak. It 
is more than probable that 1 Restoration Day,' or 
' Royal Oak Day,’ became to some extent con- 
