764 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 1, 1896. 
present, though a solid and “meaty” fruit 
was secured in the best strains of Ignotum, 
when that was in its prime. 
One of the faults Tomato growers, both 
here and in the United States, asfarasout- 
door cultivation is concerned, is that they 
are often too late in transferring their plants 
to the open ground. Tomatos are really 
harder than people imagine. If shifted into 
larger pots as they require it, and properly 
hardened off before submitting them to the 
open air, and then planting them out, they 
commence rooting in the fresh soil 
directly; and though apparently making 
but little top growth on account of the cool¬ 
ness of the atmosphere, they are becoming 
thoroughly established at the root, which is 
a great point gained. The beginning of 
June is generally considered the proper 
time to plant, and some defer it for a week 
or a fortnight later, whereas in ordinary 
seasons they may be transferred to the open 
in the middle of May, at least in fairly 
sheltered places. As the temperature rises 
the plants are ready to grow away rapidly. 
This is a much better plan than keeping 
them struggling for existence it may be in 
pots in a frame. 
Another point that used to be combated 
by many growers was that Tomatos 
succeeded best on relatively poor soil, and 
that the same facts applied to Potatos. 
Both these notions have been exploded by 
observation and by properly conducted 
experiments. The result of experiments in 
Maryland goes to show that potash increases 
the percentage of acid in the fruit, and 
phosphoric acid the sugar contents. On 
the other hand nitrate of soda has a retard¬ 
ing effect upon maturation if applied in 
large quantities or late in the season. 
These facts have been abundantly proved 
in the case of other crops by Messrs. 
Lawes and Gilbert in their extensive trials 
at Rothamsted, Herts. Phosphatic manures 
hasten the maturation of a crop and nitrate 
of soda increases vegetative vigour and 
keeps the plants green and growing till a 
late period of the year. The nitrate should 
therefore be applied early in the season to 
cause the plants to grow away vigorously ; 
the phosphates, being slowly soluble, may 
be applied as early as January, after the 
ground has been trenched. Nitrates are of 
primary importance to Tomatos, and the 
ruling element in the growth of the plants ; 
but phosphates and potash must also be 
given in due proportion. Nitrates do not 
lessen productiveness, but in order to get 
the full advantage of the same, they must 
be applied so as to accelerate growth early 
in the season. 
With regard to the fertilisation of the 
flowers, Mr. Munson advances nothing that 
is fresh. Tomatos are self fertilising, and 
providing all things are equal, they set 
freely enough in the open air. At present 
there are complaints in this country about 
the falling of the flowers; but that is 
another matter, and entirely due to the 
excessive aridity of the atmosphere. Under 
glass, especially in the early part of the 
season, it is of primary importance to keep 
the atmosphere relatively dry, and assist 
fertilisation artificially by lightly tapping 
the stems, while the sun is shining, during 
the early part of the day. 
— . 
London’s Flower Bill.—It is estimated that 
Londoners annually spend in cut flowers consider¬ 
ably over £i, ooo,ooo sterling. 
Flowers at Weddings.—At the Duke of Marl¬ 
borough's wedding 30,000 sprays of Lily of the Valley 
were used to decorate the church. When Lord 
Rosebery was married some 10,000 white Roses were 
employed in decorations. As this ceremony took 
place in March it may be imagined what an 
enormous length the flower bill must have been. 
Cricket.—The following matches have been played 
and won by Hurst & Son in each case ; —Hurst & 
Son v. Hicks Nash & Company : scores—Hurst 135, 
Hicks Nash & Company, 83. Hurst & Son v. St. 
Ann’s Institute: scores—Hurst no, St. Ann’s Insti¬ 
tute 29. 
Flowers at Balls.—When Colonel North, the 
Nitrate King, first came to England, the flower bill 
for one of the first balls given by him amounted to 
the tremendous sum of £ 10,000. At a ball given in 
Covent Garden last year over 2,000 plants of Lilies 
of the Valley were imported from the South of France 
at the cost of two shillings a dozen sprays. 
Gosport Amateur Gardeners’ Association.—At the 
monthly meeting held recently at St. John’s Boys’ 
School, Mr. George Churcher in the chair. Mr. 
Pike read a paper on “ Bulb Culture.” There was 
a capital show of flowers and vegetables, and a very 
keen competition for the diploma for the best collec¬ 
tion of vegetables. Mr. Lee being disqualified for 
showing more than the specified number of Peas, the 
diploma fell to Dr. Kyffin, who came next in order 
of merit. 
Cheshire Teachers at the R.H.S. Examination.— 
The Cheshire County Council made grants to a 
number of elementary teachers last winter to enable 
them to undergo a course of instruction at the 
Agricultural College in the principles of botany and 
horticulture, with a view of competing for the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s certificates. The result of 
the examination in May last shows that seven of 
these teachers secured certificates of various orders 
of merit. 
Viola Conference, 1896 . — A conference meeting will 
be held in the Museum, Royal Botanic Society's 
Gardens Regent’s Park, on Saturday, Augujt 8th 
1896. An introductory address will be given by the 
chairman, Mr. A. J. Rowberry, after which papers 
will be read by Mr. R. Dean, Dr. Veit B. Wittrock, 
Mr. C. Jordan, and Mr. J. W. Moorman. At 1.30 p.m. 
there will be an adjournment for luncheon and the 
conference resumed at 2.30 p.m. Mr. H. A. Needs, 
Mr W. Baxter and Mr. J. D. Stuart will then read 
papers, after which the report of the judges of seed¬ 
lings will be submitted to the conference. The 
meeting will conclude by making arrangements for 
next year and electing officers. 
Gold Medal for Begonias.—The annual flower show 
of the Nottinghamshire Horticultural and Botanical 
Society was held in the grounds of Colwick Hall, 
Nottingham, on the 15th inst. Plants, fruits, and 
flowers, including Roses, were the features of the 
show, which was opened by the Mayor of Notting¬ 
ham. Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, 
London, were awarded a Gold Medal for a magni¬ 
ficent collection of tuberous-rooted Begonias, which, 
for wealth of colour aDd perfection of growth were 
pronounced unsurpassable. The Mayor in his open¬ 
ing address commented upon various things, and 
spoke in high praise of the Begonias in particular. 
Gloxinias and Begonias at Park Vale, Birmingham. 
—A glorious display of the above is now in perfection 
at the above. A house is devoted to each kind, and 
they are seen to great advantage. Being well 
growD, profusely flowered and arranged amongst 
Adiantums, they are seen to great advantage. 
Amongst the former—Messrs. Sutton’s superb strain 
— noticeable are the following:—Her Majesty, the 
best white in cultivation, free flowering, and flowers of 
great substance ; Sutton's Scarlet, and Purple; and 
the spotted hybrids are perfection. Amongst the 
Begonias, all the best single and double named 
varieties are grown, as well as many selected 
seedlings.— Urbanus. 
Bournemouth Gardeners’ Outing. — The members 
of the Bournemouth and District Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association held their annual excur¬ 
sion on the 2 1st ult. Cadlands Park, close to South¬ 
ampton Water was the place selected. The grounds 
of this estate belong to J. Drummond, Esq , of 
London, and are very extensive. The drive through 
Lord Montagu’s estate and the view of the old abbey 
at Beaulieu were highly enjoyed by the party. At 
Cadlands Park they were met by Mr. Laurie (the 
steward) and Mr. Garner (the gardener). The 
gardens and pleasure grounds were beautiful, but 
suffering from the drought. Fine views of South¬ 
ampton Water and the surrounding country were 
obtained from here, as well as of Portsmouth and 
the Isle of Wight from the top of the mansion. 
Luncheon was provided in a large marquee upon 
the estate. 
Potato buttons.—Potatos are now largely employed 
in the making of buttons. When treated with 
certain acids the tubers become as hard as stone, 
and may be used in the manufacture of various 
articles for which bone and ivory have been hitherto 
employed. Really there seems no end to the uses to 
which the most popular of vegetables may be put. 
Smart Work.—An experiment has recently been 
made in Austria, according to Pearson’s Weekly with 
a view to discover the space of time required to 
convert trees into newspapers. At Elsenthal at 
7.35 a.m. three trees were sawn down; at 9.35 a m. 
the wood having been in the meanwhile, stripped of 
its bark, cut up, and converted into pulp became 
paper, and passed from the factory to the press, from 
whence the first printed and folded copy was issued 
at ten o’clock. Thus in 145 minutes the trees had 
bebome newspapers and a further proof had been 
afforded that the age of miracles is not passed. 
The Costers and the Liverpool Shopkeepers.—Coster¬ 
mongers, basket-girls, draymen and some others are 
having a bad time of it at Liverpool where the 
magistrates and others are making a determined 
attempt to put down that kind of traffic on the streets 
under plea of the wilful obstruction of certain high¬ 
ways. A large number in batches have each been 
fined 40s., and costs. Mr. Sellers in arguiDg the 
case on behalf of his clients, said that in his opinion 
they had a prescriptive right to carry on their coster 
business in any place or thoroughfare, for the fruit 
trade dated practically from the time of Adam, when 
there were no drapers’ shops. 
Orchids at the Sale Rooms —There was a fair 
attendance at the Central Sale Rooms of Messrs. 
Protheroe and Morris on the 24th ult., notwithstand¬ 
ing the holiday season. Four plants of the beautiful 
Cypripedium bellatulum album created some lively 
bidding, and the finest piece consisting of six growths 
and thirty leaves, varying from 1 in. to 8 in. in length 
had reached the sum of twenty-five guineas at the 
fall of the hammer. The lowest price for a plant 
was four-and-a-half guineas and this was of course 
the smallest. A grand importation of 3,000 pieces 
of Odontoglossum crispum of the finest Pacho type 
collected by Mr. John Carder and brought home 
under his personal care, kept a large number of 
buyers waiting in lively expectation for the sale of 
that lot to commence. Single pieces fetched 7s. to 
28s. each. Lots of three and six pieces sold well at 
a somewhat lower average. 
Ichthemic Folks on the Move.--Saturday last was 
the occasion of a lot of early rising at Ipswich, for 
soon after day-break, the employees and office- 
staff from Messrs. Colchester, Griffin Mills, set out 
for Great Yarmouth on pleasure bent—the day being 
the one chosen for the annual outing which the 
firm generously provides for the factory hands and 
operatives. In the matter of weather the fates were 
propitious, and the otherwise oppressive heat of a 
July sun was tempered with a fresh breeze blowing 
in from the sea. Yarmouth reached, an ample 
breakfast was duly discussed within the Steampacket 
Hotel, which formed the headquarters for the day, and 
the party proceeded to devote itself to the pursuit of 
the many pleasures of this noted seaside resort. Some 
sought the Broads,on fishing intent; others of a nautic¬ 
al turn embarked in some of the beach yawls for a 
cruise, whilst the remainder “did” Yarmouth and 
the neighbouring villages of Caistor and Garleston 
by steamboat, break, and tram. Other objects of 
interest were, of course, the famous church of St. 
Nicholas, and the busy open-air market-place, 
which, on a Saturday, is crowded with the old-time 
canvas-covered stalls, at which all and sundry things 
may be bought. The market gardeners muster in 
strong force at these Saturday markets, and the pro¬ 
duce on sale is excellent. At 1.30 p.m, host Hulbert 
provided, with commendable promptitude, for the 
healthy appetites which the morning’s diversions had 
engendered, and a really bountiful repast was served 
to the complete satisfaction of the large company 
interested in the disposal of the good things pro¬ 
vided. After dinner song and sentiment found willing 
listeners and ready helpers, the company after¬ 
wards despersing for further out-door entertain¬ 
ment. By the courtesy of the Great Eastern 
Railway Company, the party were enabled to 
return by special express at a late hour, after a 
most enjoyable and pleasurable day, Ipswich being 
reached safely, and in good time. 
