292 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 4, 1896. 
almost any soil and situation, providing this annual 
shift is attended to, and may be increased to almost 
any extent by splitting up the old stools with a 
sharp knife every autumn. Being very floriferous 
and sweet-scented when grown in quantity it loads 
the surrounding air with the most delicious perfume. 
A striking effect is produced by associating it with 
blue Canterbury Bells.— W. B. G. 
PEACH BUDS DROPPING. 
On p. 237 of a recent issue, M. T. deals with the 
tendency so many Peach trees exhibit—viz., that of 
dropping their buds. That this is exceedingly vexing 
we must all admit, and yet although some varieties 
are more prone than others to sin in this way there is 
no doubt whatever that the evil is caused in many 
cases and aggravated in all by want of proper treat¬ 
ment. In addition to the cultural errors pointed out 
by M. T., there are others quite as disastrous. One 
of these is to allow the borders to become dust dry 
during the winter months, with the result that many 
of the roots perish. Another is too hard forcing, 
than which no greater mistake can be made. 
Peaches do not take kindly to hard forcing, especially 
in the earlier stages, and therefore it must never be 
attempted or the buds will be sure to drop to a 
greater or less extent. 
ASPLENIUM NIDUS 
If a list were to be made of plants possessing hand¬ 
some and conspicuous foliage the above noble Fern 
would occupy a prominent position. Its large un¬ 
divided fronds are almost as imposing as the leaves 
of the Musas, and the plant, being much dwarfer in 
stature it may be grown where room for the latter 
cannot be found. The fronds run from 2 ft. to 4 ft. 
in length and from 5 in. to 8 in. in width tapering up 
to a more or less acute apex. They are borne upon 
a stout stem raised a very little way from the surface 
of the soil and are deep shining green in colour. 
The plant may be grown in a cool house with a night 
temperature during winter of about 45 0 Fahr., 
although a rather higher temperature than this 
during the winter months appears to suit it better. 
Plenty of water is an absolute necessity at all times, 
and during the summer months occasional doses of 
liquid cow manure will be of great service. 
A PLEA FOR SINGLE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Where cut flowers are in much request these 
should be grown in great quantity. No description 
of their beauty could be too glowing, and except that 
they require plenty of water they are no trouble- 
One can even dispense with stopping, but, of course, 
undue tallness is the result. No taking or rather 
leaving of the buds is necessary. No removal of 
shoots from the main stem is required, for these all 
grow and flower. The durability of the blooms is 
also remarkable as we may have them long after the 
much-prized large flowers are over. A few of the best 
are : George Sands, anemone centre ; Mary Anderson, 
white; Nellie,lilac,white centre; and Calliope,crimson, 
anemone cemre. A few good plants grown well, and 
mixed among the heavier varieties relieves them and 
makes a pleasant change ; besides, as previously 
stated, they are absolutely no trouble. — J. G. 
Pettingey, Strawberry Dale Nursery, Harrogate. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM MISS ROSE. 
Single Chrysanthemums have undoubtedly a great 
deal to recommend them to those who are desirous 
of obtaining quantities of flower for cutting from, 
In this respect, at least, they are far and away 
superior to the double-flowered kinds. There are 
many lovers of beauty, moreover, who declare the 
single bloom to be more beautiful, more graceful, 
more artistic than the larger flowers in favour of 
which the public have declared so vehemently of late. 
One of the very best of the many nice single-flowered 
varieties that we now have is undoubtedly Miss 
Rose. It is very dwarf in habit, and may easily be 
induced to make compact little bushes. The flowers 
which are rather below the medium size, are of a 
pretty soft pink, and are produced in almost prodigal 
profusion. It comes in pretty early in the season, 
and may be classed as a second early. Some of the 
very best samples of it that we have seen this season 
were grown in thirty-two pots, and that this some¬ 
what restricted root-run in no way offended them 
was amply evidenced by the number of flowers 
borne by the plants, as well as by the fact that the 
stems were clothed with large healthy leaves right 
down to the pots. 
THE NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. 
In most gardens this is spoken of as the “old” 
Neapolitan. The inference that one would be in¬ 
clined to draw from the use of this particular adjec¬ 
tive in connection with the variety, also the peculiar 
inflection with which it is oft-times pronounced 
would be that it is entirely out-of-date, superseded 
by later introductions and not worthy of cultivation. 
This, however, is a mistake; for no matter how 
many other sorts have been given us there is still 
room for the Neapolitan. Of the double blue 
varieties Marie Louise usually finds the greatest 
amount of favour, and is largely grown, often to the 
total exclusion of our older friend. This should not 
be, however, for while Marie Louise is far superior 
for early work, the Neapolitan, flowering somewhat 
later, produces a profusion of blooms when those of 
the other have nearly ceased to come. The two 
varieties are also very distinct as to colour of flower 
and habit of growth, as every gardener knows who 
has grown the two side by side, Marie Louise being 
of more vigorous habit. 
- —►*.- 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Potato Growing. 
The Potato in Field and Garden. By W. J. 
Malden. London: William A. May, itlark 
Lane Express Office, 150, Strand, W.C. 1895. 
Price 3s. 6d. 
Mr. Malden has had wide experience in the culti¬ 
vation of Potatos both in Britain and Ireland, as a 
perusal of his book will soon testify. He is also the 
author of other books pertaining chiefly to the 
agricultural interest. In this instance he has got 
together a considerable amount of information on 
the various topics and questions relating to the culti¬ 
vation of Potatos, the introduction of new and 
improved varieties, means of checking diseases by 
spraying, proper methods of cultivation and other 
modes of prevention. The book is divided into 
ten sections, some of which deal with soils, planting, 
manuring, seed varieties, treatment during growth, 
digging Potatos, cost of feeding, value of the crop, 
&c. 
He speaks of the speculative features of Potato 
growing, and has got hold of a prevalent and rather 
amusing idea amongst farmers that the occasional 
destruction of the crop by disease is regarded with 
great satisfaction, especially by those who may be 
situated in favoured localities that have mostly 
escaped the murrain. This practically means 
enhanced prices for them and here comes in the 
speculative character of Potato growing. Indepen¬ 
dently of a good crop, the author alscr complains of 
the markets being always glutted with inferior ware. 
This should be a boon to the poor, who always 
derive satisfaction from a cheap article. The grower 
on the other hand is anything but pleased or 
recompensed by the poor prices obtained. 
There is a necessity for the production of new 
varieties inasmuch as old ones tend to degenerate in 
vigour. This has become most noticeable since the 
advent of the Potato disease in this country. The 
points to be developed in the production of new 
varieties are vigour, disease-resisting power and 
quality. Robustness in a new variety is desirable 
rather than otherwise, as that vigour is gradually 
lost by age. Early varieties flower very sparingly or 
not at all; but they may be induced to do so by the 
removal of the tubers as they form. That discovery 
was made many years ago we believe by Mr. Knight 
in this country. The flowers are independent of 
insects for fertilisation, as in the case of the Tomato, 
so that those who undertake cross-breeding of 
varieties should adopt means, as here described, to 
prevent the access of foreign pollen. 
Numerous illustrations are given in the text which 
runsto 217 pages, andthecontents beingpretty full, no 
other index is given. Spraying is fairly fully dealt with 
and illustrated; and Bouillie Bordelaise, though not 
completely effective, secures a greater weight of crop 
free from disease and also pays after the spraying 
expenses have been deducted, so that it merits con¬ 
sideration on that account. The author does not 
forget, however, that disease-resisting varieties of 
Potatos are desirable. As in another case we could 
mention the spraying experiments were conducted in 
a season when the disease was by no means very 
prevalent nor destructive. Other less destructive 
diseases are briefly described and several insect pests 
are mentioned, including surface caterpillars, the 
yellow underwing moth, and wireworms, which are 
amongst the more destructive. Other insects are 
included such as the Colorado beetle, the Potato 
frog-fly, and the caterpillar of the death's-head moth, 
but they do so little harm that they might have been 
omitted or regarded in the same light as Burns did 
the mouse in the corn-field :— 
I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve; 
What then ? poor beastie, thou maun live ! 
A daimen-icker in a thrave 
’S a sma’ request: 
I’ll get a blessin’ wi’ the lave 
And never miss't. 
-* 2 *- 
HURST & SON’S CLOVER AND GRASS 
SEED CIRCULAR, 
January 1st, 1896. 
In accordance with our annual custom we beg to 
offer our report upon the various Clover, Grass and 
forage-seed crops. 
It is many years since we were able to indicate 
such large supplies of generally good qualities. From 
almost all the European producing districts the 
offerings are above the average, and our home-grown 
crops are also heavy, and of excellent quality. With 
the knowledge of these good supplies, the market 
prices have commenced at a low, and what we may 
presumably call a safe level, for all clean and 
thoroughly genuine samples. 
English Red Clover and Cowgrass are large 
crops in almost every district, but according to the 
time of harvest vary considerably in character : the 
earliest saved seeds are small in grain and rather 
foul, while the later saved are bold, of good colour 
and very free from weeds. In some agricultural jour¬ 
nals lately, a considerable amount of correspondence 
has been passing relative to the superiority in yield, 
hardiness of plant, and general higher value to the 
farmer, of home-grown seeds. We have for years 
pointed this out, based upon comparative trials that 
we have made from time to time, and we still adhere 
to the conclusion. All we can now say is what we have 
oftentimes said before ; if you desire English-grown 
seeds see that you get them. The appearance of 
much of the English Red Clover this year is so like 
Continental that a large margin of profit can accrue 
to the sellers of substituted samples. 
Single Cut Cowgrass is also in good supply. 
Foreign Red Clover. —From both France and 
Germany we have large offerings. The French seed 
is extremely low in price, and much of it, as usual, 
weedy in character. North of France Red is a 
strong growing and fairly hardy plant, but the seed 
should always be machine-cleaned ; some of the 
German Reds are bold in grain and clean : in this 
respect they are superior to the majority of the 
English-grown samples. The paternal Government 
of Germany will not allow seed dealers to defraud 
farmers by selling them rubbish, and the German 
farmer, we are inclined to think, knows how to lay 
out his money to better advantage with a view to 
the future than many of his English brethren. After 
the re-cleaning process for their own consumption, 
tons of siftings from German Clovers are shipped 
yearly to Great Britain and Ireland to foul our lands, 
and further impoverish our long-suffering agri¬ 
culturists. The American and Canadian crops of 
Red we cannot quite estimate ; conflicting reports 
reach us : no doubt the low prices prevailing on this 
side deter shipments. 
White Clover.— In contrast to season 1894 ft 16 
crops in all districts, with the exception ot the 
United States, are large ; a good crop of English 
was secured in good condition, and the French and 
German crops are severally above the average in 
character and quantity. 
Alsike.— Following the large crops of the former 
season, we have to record again large y ields in all 
districts. This article is now at the lowest price it 
has ever touched. 
Trefoil. —Very large crops of generally excellent 
quality in England, France and Germany. 
Lucerne.— Short crops in both France and 
America. 
Sainfoin. —Crops of both giant and common large ; 
French Giant reported a very small crop. 
Italian Ryegrass.— An average crop of excellent 
quality in the Mayenne district. Good crops in 
other districts of France, and also in England and 
Ireland. 
Perennial Ryegrasses. —An average crop of 
very high natural weight per bushel. As prices 
rule low to commence with, the upper weights should 
be in good demand. 
Natural Grasses with very few exceptions are 
in good supply. Meadow Foxtail is the notable 
exception ; this is very scarce. Cocksfoot and 
Timothy are both used in such increased quanti¬ 
ties now, that the good supplies are very 
welcome. 
White Mustard. —Fair average crop, of excellent 
quality. 
Rape turns out to be rather a short crop The 
acreage was fairly large, but the yield is disap¬ 
pointing. Prices are moderate. 
Spring Tares are opening at low prices. 
Hurst 6- Son .— Office and sample rooms, 152, Hounds- 
ditch, London, E. 
