738 
July 18, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
flowers ; otherwise the specific name would be as 
mythical as the generic one ; Leontodon hispidum— 
closely allied to the Dandelion (Taraxacum 
officinale)—with rough jagged leaves, and pale 
yellow flowers ; Heracleum Sphondylium, the Cow- 
parsnip, a rough-looking plant with stout stems, and 
large white umbelliferous flowers; Petasites vul¬ 
garis, the Butter-bur, with huge reniform leaves of a 
tropical appearance, and which, perhaps, are larger 
in diameter than any other British plant; Equisetum 
arvense, the common Horse-tail, with fertile and 
sterile stems, and rough exterior; Tragopogon 
pratensis, the Goat's-beard and floral clock, inas¬ 
much as the petals usually begin to open from three 
to five, a.m.—so it is said ; Sonchus asper, a sub¬ 
species of Sowthistle ; Malva sylvestris, the common 
Mallow, with large pale purple flowers; Nepeta 
Glechoma, otherwise known as Ground Ivy, but 
which bears no relation to -the other plant of that 
name ; Viola tricolor, the wild Heartsease or Pansy, 
the improved forms of which are now so much in 
demand for garden purposes; Verbascum nigrum, 
the black Mullein, with stems from 2 to 3 ft. high, 
and glowing with rich yellow flowers—a noble plant, 
and well worth attention ; this and the Foxglove, for 
instance, would go well together; Veronica 
officinalis, the pretty little blue Speedwell; Lamium 
album, the white Dead-nettle ; Echium vulgare, the 
Viper’s Bugloss, a coarse, hispid-looking plant with 
bright blue floral organs ; Brassica Napus, the Rape 
or Cole-seed with glaucous leaves, and bright yellow 
fl owers — a plant with a history, and a wrong name ; 
Cochlearia Armoracia, the common Horse-radish, 
now displaying its white cruciferous panicles of 
bloom—a doubtful native; Rubus caesins, the Dew¬ 
berry—a sub-species of Blackberry—with large 
white rosaceous flowers; Achillea Millefolium, the 
ubiquitous Yarrow or Milfoil; and two Buttercups 
(Ranunculus acris, and R. bulbosus), the former dis¬ 
tinguished by its pale yellow petals, and spreading 
sepals, the latter by its richer yellow petals, and 
reflexed sepals. 
(To be continued-.) 
-- 
CANKER IN MELON PLANTS. 
This disease is very troublesome in some places and 
gives a deal of anxiety to those in charge, and when 
it occurs under the management of skilful hands in 
well-constructed houses one is led to conclude that 
there must be something in the soil to cause it. 
Generally, however, too much water round the base 
of the plant is considered conducive to canker, and 
there is no doubt that if there is a bruise or a weak 
place at that point decay is hastened by water coming 
in contact with it. When we see the collar of the 
plant surrounded with pieces of slate, portions of 
flower pots, or pieces of tin, we conclude that the 
malady has been troublesome in the past and that 
water has long been suspected of being the cause of 
it. 
Mr. Todd, gardener to Holbrook Gaskell, Esq., 
Woolton Wood, Liverpool, plants bis late ones on a 
ridge, and instead of turning the plants out of the 
pots (4 in. ones) these have the bottoms knocked out 
and are plunged nearly to the rim and no water is 
allowed to get inside the pot. I noticed that Mr. 
Jellicoe, gardener to F. H. Gossage, Esq., Woolton, 
adopts the same plan and takes further precautions 
by inclining the pot from the path making it impos¬ 
sible for water to get inside the pot. Mr, Jellicoe 
contends that this has a tendency to check 
luxuriant growth, and that the plants come into 
bearing much sooner, and judging by a few ripe 
ones left they seem to have set near home. When 
the watering of Melons has to be entrusted to young 
hands this is an excellent protection to the collar, 
and no harm can take place from watering. 
I did not enquire but I do not think these growers 
had the usual bed of manure under their plants. I 
think the disease is more prevalent on plants in 
frames and on beds in houses or pits where a quantity 
of manure is placed under them to supply bottom 
heat or to raise the plants near the glass and the only 
time canker gave me trouble was when I used 
manure for the above purpose. For the past 
thirteen years I have put out annually over two dozen 
plants and have not lost one from canker. I cannot 
say if some varieties are more subject to it than others 
as it is only occasionally that I plant more than one 
sort (Dickson’s Exquisite) which is generally of good 
flavour, even when badly grown or when matters 
have not been what we should like for producing 
good Melons. Others that I have tried were larger 
and freer setters which is an advantage for the first 
crop if the first fruit to show can be set; and here 
I would like to ask your readers who may have had 
the opportunity of testing several varieties, if they 
will give me the benefit of their experience by 
naming one or two green flesh Melons that are free 
setters and of passable flavour.— W. P. R. 
-o*.- 
HARDY FLOWERS AT READING. 
Hardy herbaceous plants, both annuals and per¬ 
ennials have been holding their own remarkably well 
this year, notwithstanding the great heat and drought; 
and though they are not so durable as in other 
seasons more favoured with moisture, they supply 
unlimited quantities of flowers where the requisite 
space is devoted to them. The dry weather should 
also be favourable to the production of plenty of 
good seed; and in that respect good provision is 
made for next year. 
In the course of a hurried walk through the trial 
grounds of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, we 
noted a few of the many things always on trial there. 
Very chaste and highly ornamental are the numerous 
soft shades of white, pink, rose and blue to be seen 
in a strain of Campanula Medium calycanthema, 
popularly termed Cup-and- saucer Bellflowers or 
Canterbury Bells. Amongst Poppies, Papaver 
pilosum, with branching stems 18 in. high, furnishes 
a very distinct shade of soft apricot flowers with 
creamy stamens. 
Sweet Williams are well and plentifully grown in 
a great variety of distinct shades. Very choice is 
the giant Auricula-eyed type with huge, dense 
clusters of white flowers with a crimson zone. In¬ 
deed all of the types are most floriferous, and so 
easily grown that one wonders why they are not 
extensively grown in every garden. Very peculiar 
and attractive is the strain named Harlequin, the 
flowers of which are white when they first expand, 
but soon change to rose, and then to carmine. All 
of these are present in the same fascicle, owing to 
the way the flowers are produced in succession, and 
which is characteristic of the Dianthus family. 
Sutton’s superb mixed consists of all the strains 
mixed so as to give a variety of colours from the 
same packet. These Sweet Williams have been 
undergoing selection continuously for the last 
fifteen years. All of the types came from a beauti¬ 
ful salmon variety still to be seen here. The other 
shades are white, rose, crimson, pink, and the variety 
subject to the change of colour above mentioned. 
Sutton's Black is a dark maroon-crimson sort. 
Double varieties are also grown, and are 
characterised by having three or four layers or tiers 
of petals one above the other. There are white, 
rose, purple, crimson and other shades in the double 
strain. In another part of the grounds we came 
upon ten long rows of single white and a similar 
quantity of double white Sweet Wiiliams, all very 
pure and true to name, showing the dependence that 
can be placed upon them to produce the desired 
effect in the matter of bedding or border work. 
Shirley Poppies have been undergoing selection 
here for the sake of the beautifully edged varieties. 
In one direction the flowers with dark centres and 
white edges have been encouraged, and on the other, 
those with white centres and dark edges have 
been favoured. The combination of bright and 
delicate colours is very pleasing indeed. Iceland 
Poppies in all the existing shades of colour are also 
well cared for. Another plant belonging to the 
same family, namely, Eschscholtzia californica, sown 
in the autumn has flowered well and continuously 
for weeks. Rose Cardinal, a handsome variety of this 
Californian Poppywort, has flowers that are rose 
externally and white internally. The double crimson 
Geum atrosanguineum is a perennial plant and very 
continuous in the production of flowers. Here we 
came upon a plantation of Violas sown last May 
twelvemonth in the position they now occupy, and 
they have been one sheet of bloom since last March, 
A little further on comes a plantation of Sutton s 
Giant White Pansy used for bedding purposes and 
very free flowering. It is a strain having large 
white flowers with generally a few short rays, but 
sometimes rayless or almost so, and very useful for 
producing a bold effect in those parts of the garden 
most suitable to their well-being. 
Who shall gainsay the beauty of a broad piece of 
Phacelia campanularia with flowers of a more intense 
blue than many of the finest of the blue Gentians ? 
It flowers profusely even in light soil in dry weather. 
Matricaria (Chrysanthemum) inodora plenissima is 
raised from seed in quantity. Very conspicuous 
is a large patch of a rich dark crimson Sweet 
William, isolated to keep it pure. There are now 
many varieties of Centaurea Cyanus, but in our 
opinion none of them excel the charming blue of the 
type which is grown here in quantity. Delphinium 
Queen of the Blues is a handsome perennial with 
intense blue flowers, including even the small 
central petals. Close by is a plantation of Sweet 
William Harlequin with variable flowers as des¬ 
cribed above. It comes quite true from seed. The 
annual and blue-flowered Woodruff having been 
sown in the autumn has now gone to seed. Malva 
moschata alba, though old, is yet always new, for it 
is a beautiful Mallow with white flowers and finely 
cut leaves. The large golden yellow flowers of 
Bartonia aurea make it a useful subject for bedding 
purposes or border decoration. The flowers of the 
Tropaeolum Fairy Queen are primrose when they 
expand, but they soon change to a beautiful salmon- 
buff hue. 
Viola Golden Sovereign supplies a golden-yellow 
hue that is rich and conspicuous when seen in the 
mass, though the flowers are moderate in size. 
V. cornuta Mauve Queen is a very pretty and refined 
flower of a light blue or mauve. The strains of 
bedding or decorative Pansies are very numerous 
and varied. Sutton’s Perfection is a mixed strain 
with large yellow, white, purple, and blue flowers, 
with various other shades. They are also 
characterised by having three to five blotches. 
Giant Yellow is the counterpart of Giant White, and 
in our opinion even a finer strain. In effect a batch 
of them at a short distance is golden-yellow ; but on 
close inspection many of them show the short rays 
to be found amongst the white strain, with the 
same bold eye. Others have much longer rays ; 
and some ray less, golden-yellow flowers of refined 
character may be singled out. Altogether both the 
Giant White and Giant Yellow are very vigorous 
strains and germinate with the greatest freedom, 
coming on quickly and strongly. They commence to 
flower while yet quite small, and therefore very 
useful for bedding and garden decoration generally. 
Brilliant Gem is a smaller flowered race with 
brightly and richly-coloured flowers. Sutton's 
Black Prince is black enough for any purpose. 
Sutton’s Mammoth is of the fancy type with flowers 
of huge size. Trimardeau is a Continental strain 
with similar but smaller flowers. Bedding Meteor 
has very dark orange-crimson flowers, and comes 
very true from seed. The most of these varieties 
are grown together in one large plantation purely 
for trial, in order to see how true they come to 
character, and for the sake of comparison. Where 
grown for seed the plantatious are isolated to keep 
them true. 
-- 
WHINHAMS INDUSTRY GOOSEBERRY. 
There are very few people in the north of England, 
the home, by the way, of Gooseberry culture, that 
are not well acquainted with the variety known as 
Whinhams Industry. This variety is largely grown, 
and is a great favourite. The berries when green 
are in great request for the making of preserves, and 
it is estimated that over two hundred tons of green 
fruit are annually sent from Morpeth alone. ' The 
habit of the plant is erect, and the sturdy, vigorous 
foliage is erect likewise, and tends to protect the 
fruit from the frosts of early spring. 
Mr. Robert Whinham, the raiser of this cele¬ 
brated sort, was a native of Morpeth, where he 
followed the calling of a market gardener. In his 
early days he had roughed it considerably in North 
America, whither his ambition and roving disposition 
had led him. Coming back to his native town he 
settled down in the early decades of the present 
century, and proceeded to devote a great part of his 
time to the raising of seedlings The famous 
Gooseberry, which is named after him, is thought to 
have had Rifleman for one of its parents, but a good 
deal of uncertainty is attached to this. Mr. Whin- 
ham knew he had a good thing in Industry, but the 
variety did not at once receive the share of popu¬ 
larity to which it has since fallen heir. Morpeth, 
Churchyard holds the last remains of this eminent 
servant of horticulture. His last days, it is said 
