52 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 28, 1889. 
should be visited by what for the time of the year 
must be termed an exceptionally sharp frost. 
Early morn, however, showed evidences of 
mischief enough to make the stoutest gardener’s 
heart quake, and look with dread upon the 
tender plants exposed to the frost effects. 
Perhaps to many there was a rebound of feeling 
on finding that less harm was done than was 
feared, whilst, doubtless, others thought quite 
enough had been done to spoil the beauty of all 
tender things for the year. In one place we 
learn of the destruction of the tender Dahlias, 
in another of the comparative freedom from 
injury. With some growers the points of 
the Chrysanthemums suffered apparently ; with 
others no harm, so far as is yet apparent, was 
done ; but with all there was haste to rush the 
plants under cover, because fears were well 
grounded that a further visitation might 
immediately follow. 
We thought the frosts of the first few days 
of October last year to be unusually early, and 
speaking generally, they were, but our recent 
visitation was fully a fortnight earlier. Happily 
the frost was not so severe as was that of 
October last, nor so repeated. Had such been 
the case, the effects would have been appalling, 
as none could have been prepared for such a 
visitation. We fear this enforced rushing of 
Chrysanthemums under glass will be un¬ 
favourable to high-class flower production in the 
usual season, especially should some more hot 
days intervene. We prefer to see the plants a 
little late, as they may be helped forward, than 
too early, as the checking under glass is 
impossible. It is, all the same, satisfactory to 
learn that the early-blooming Chrysanthemums 
out in the open suffered little, but there even 
the late-bloomers out-of-doors suffer less from 
frost when in bloom, than when only in bud. 
Some few years since we had a very sharp 
frost on September 20th. This year the 
visitation was three days earlier. This is a bad 
sign, as our summer seasons are lamentably 
short as it is, and from the end of May to the 
third week in September is, indeed, but a short 
period to be practically free from frost. 
‘fpAViNG Wood.— We have on several occasions 
<r of late had ample opportunity to note the 
remarkably hard impervious quality of the red 
wood that has lately been employed in paving 
the Strand, a work which, absolutely essential 
as it is, has evoked from the local traders such 
a chorus of disapprobation. It is, of course, 
unpleasant to have one’s business so seriously 
interrupted, as occurs when an important 
thoroughfare has to be repaired; but, at least, the 
authorities concerned do seem to be mitigating 
the evil to the utmost, by using new wood 
blocks, which fairly astonish by their exceeding 
weight and hardness. Literally the blocks are 
as heavy as bricks of equal size, and almost as 
hard as iron. How they have been cut so evenly 
and so smoothly is a mystery, but everything 
seems possible to enterprising people. 
Myriads of queries were addressed by passers 
by to the paviors, anxious to learn of the new 
hard wood, but the replies were usually of a 
dubious kind. We were not so very long since 
advised to grow the Eucalyptus in this country 
for sanitary reasons, but the effort has 
practically failed, and the proposal is literally 
now “ up a Gum tree.” The Eucalyptus refuses 
to be acclimatised, and beyond that we cannot 
get in growing it. But we have found a worthy 
use for its hard wood, in employing it to pave 
our streets. Of course it is costly paving, but 
if twice as endurable as are the wood blocks in 
common use, it will prove to be cheap in the 
end. Though commonly called the Australian 
Jarrah—the paviors corrupt this into “jaw’r”— 
it is really one of the species of Eucalyptus, 
and is closely allied to the famous Red Gum, 
huge blocks of which created so much interest 
at the Colonial Exhibition at Sontli Kensington, 
when polished, by their blood-red hue. 
As the wood comes from a colony, no doubt 
the anger of the Anglophobist will be mollified, 
but we have tried to acclimatise the Gum tree 
here, and have failed, therefore we must accept 
the inevitable, and purchase our paving-wood 
from where it will grow. Happily, our colonial 
cousins will assuredly take some of our 
manufactures back in exchange for the Jarrah 
blocks. 
-- 
The Fruiterers’ Company_On Wednesday, the 
Fruiterers’ Company made their annual presentation of 
fruit to the Lord Mayor, and at the banquet in the 
evening several prominent horticulturists were present. 
Surrey Chrysanthemum Society. — The annual 
exhibition of this societjq to he held in the Peekhatn 
Public Hall, will take place on November 11th and 
12th, and not on the dates originally announced. 
The Heaton House Orchids.—The valuable collection 
of Orchids formed by the late C. J. Partington, Esq., 
Heaton House, Cheshunt, including, perhaps, the best 
grown lot of Cypripediums in the country, will be sold 
at Protheroe & Morris’s Rooms on Oct. 22nd and 23rd. 
Gardening Engagements. — Mr. J. Jenkin, for 
many years foreman at Tresco Abbey, Isles of Seilly, as 
gardener to T. A. S. Dorrien Smith, Esq., in succession 
to the late Mr. Yallance. Mr. J. Lidley, late of 
Ashwell Hall, Oakham, as gardener at Blatherwick 
Park, Northampton. 
The Venerable William Lee, of Orchardlea, Droit- 
wich, died on Tuesday of paralysis, at the age of 
seventy. For many years he took great interest in the 
subject of allotment gardens and small holdings, and 
some years ago published an instructive work on small 
farms. 
Forthcoming Auction Sales of Nursery Stock_The 
following sales of plants and general nursery stock are 
announced to take place during the ensuing month : — 
Cart House Lane Nursery, Horsell, Surrey, Oct. 7th ; 
Boscombe Nursery, Boscombe, Oct. 8th ; Sander’s 
Lane Nursery, Woking, Oct. 8th and 9th ; Elvaston 
Nurseries, Borrowash, Oct. 9th and 10th ; and Sunning- 
dale, near Bagshot, Oct. 14th and following days. 
The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. — We understand 
that the members of the Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association are organising a musical and 
dramatic entertainment, to take place on October 31st, 
in aid of the funds of this institution. Their efforts in 
this direction last year met with so much success that 
we can but hope their previous experience will enable 
them to reap an even greater reward. 
New Plants Certificated in Ghent.—At the meet¬ 
ing of the Syndical Chamber of Belgian Horticulturists, 
held in Ghent on the 9th inst.. Certificates of Merit 
were awarded to M. Jules Ilye-Leysen, for Cypripedium 
orphanum ; to M. Jules Decock, for Anthurium Madame 
Jules Decock, and Anthurium Souvenir de Louis 
Desmet; to Mr. L. Spae-Vandenneulen, for Kentia 
Dumoniana. The votiug was unanimous in the case of 
the Cypripedium and Kentia. 
A Noble Specimen of the English Yew. — 
“Rusticus” writes :—In the well-kept gardens of West 
Lodge, Darlington, the residence of David Dale, Esq., 
is a splendid specimen on the lawn of the English Yew, 
pyramidal in shape, and well clothed with branches 
down to the grass. It is over 30 ft. high and 60 ft. in 
circumference. The tree is in splendid health, and is 
one of the finest specimens I have ever met with. 
Railway Rates.—Mr. John Heywood, of Manchester, 
has just published “Some Facts and Observations con¬ 
cerning Railway Rates,” which should be read by all 
who suffer from overcharging at the hands of railway 
companies. The author of the brochure is Mr. J. W. 
Gray, of Shipley, Yorkshire, who has long made the 
subject a special studjq and has rendered much assist¬ 
ance to traders in the investigation of overcharges. 
The Losses through the Frost in Belgium.— A 
correspondent writes I have read the statement on 
this subject in your last issue with much concern, and 
deeply sympathise with my Ghent friends in their 
misfortune. I recently visited many of the principal 
nurseries on the Continent, and was much struck with 
the flue character of the stocks of Azaleas in Ghent. 
Most of the growers told me their plants were never 
better, and many of them had largely increased stocks. 
The loss of the season’s sale must be hard for some to 
bear, and I am deeply sorry for all who have suffered. 
Lilium auratum in Aberdeenshire.— “Omega” 
writes :—There is at present in bloom at the Dyce 
Quarries, near Aberdeeu, belonging to Mr. Alexander 
Meston, a fine plant of Lilium auratum. The bulb, 
which he purchased last year from Mr. R. Sydenham, 
Birmingham, is in an 8-in. pot ; its stem is 6 ft. high, 
and bears thirty blooms, averaging over 11 ins. from 
tip to tip. The flower head is about 2 ft. in height 
and the same in width, and forms one complete cluster 
of flowers. Its symmetrical form, finely marked 
flowers and rich perfume render it as a specimen all 
that could be desired. 
Tall Sunflowers. — Mr. George Herring, Bridge 
House, Maidenhead, writes:—I see you state in your 
interesting publication of the 14th inst., anent “ How 
tall do Sunflowers grow ?” that you have seen them 
attain a height of 10 ft. I have in my garden now a 
plant over 10 ft. 6 ins. in height, in capital bloom, also 
several others of 9 ft. and 10 ft., all of which have 
received no particular attention, and were only planted 
in ordinary good soil. 
Leeds Chrysanthemum Show.—The Leeds Paxton 
Society have taken up the matter of the Chrysanthemum 
Show, which has usually been held during November 
under the auspices of the Leeds Horticultural Society, 
which has this year relinquished the task of organising 
such an exhibition. The Paxton Society, being com¬ 
posed principally of practical gardeners and nurserymen 
resident in the borough, is peculiarly competent to 
successfully promote such an undertaking, and has 
determined that the show shall not be discontinued. 
The exhibition will not be entirely devoted to Chry¬ 
santhemums, but will embrace competitions in table 
decorations, &c. The Mayor has kindly consented to 
become president. 
The Floral Committee met at Chiswick on Tuesday, 
but there was only a small attendance of members, and 
the awards made were a First Class Certificate to 
Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, for a very fine orange-scarlet 
flowered Cyrtanthus, named sanguinensis, introduced 
from the Transvaal ; an Award of Merit to the same 
firm for Rhododendron Yirgil, one of the pleasing 
creamy orange hybrid greenhouse varieties; and 
similar awards to Messrs. Cannell for Single Begonias 
Mrs. Moen and Frank Beadle, the former large, bright 
orange, and the latter a fine deep crimson. They were 
also awarded a Silver Medal for a beautiful group of 
Begonias. 
The Fruit Committee on the same day had before 
them a collection of Apples from Mr. Scott, of Merriott, 
several seedling Melons of very ordinary character, and 
some exceedingly fine fruit-bearing pot Yines from 
Messrs. H. Lane & Son, of Berkhamstead, which were 
awarded a Silver Medal. 
The Manchester Autumn Fruit Show, held last 
week at Old Trafford, was an exceedingly successful 
one, flowers and fruits being staged in large quantities, 
and of unexceptionable quality. The Dahlias were 
remarkably fine, Roses grand for the season, and Mr. 
Campbell’s Gladioli better than ever. The fruit classes 
were all well contested, Mr. Goodacre securing the leading 
award for a collection. With twelve dishes of culinary 
Apples there were no less than a dozen competitors. 
Apples Grown in North Wales.—At the recent 
exhibition of the Middleton Agricultural Society, Mr. 
Samuel Barlow, Stakehill, Castletou, exhibited a 
splendid collection of Apples and Pears grown in his 
garden at Llandudno, which proved to be the great 
horticultural attraction of the day. In the middle of 
the table was an Apple—a veritable Goliath—weighing 
no less than 22| ounces, and which Mr. Barlow con¬ 
sidered the finest and most perfect fruit he had ever 
seen, and had it only had another three weeks’ growth 
it would have been at least 2 lbs. in weight. Near to 
it was a Pear weighing 22 ounces, and many of this 
giant’s fellows turned the scales at 1 lb. Middleton 
surely never saw such an exhibition before. Mr. 
Barlow also won the first prizes for dessert and culinary 
varieties at the show last week at Old Trafford. 
Ealing Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
This society is showing a good lead by offering prizes 
for the best papers on “ How to Make a Greenhouse or 
Conservatory Gay all the Year Round” and “The 
Culture of the Hyacinth and Tulip for Decorative 
and Exhibition Purposes.” The competition with 
these papers is confined to the members of the society, 
and the essays are to be sent in by October 1st, when 
they will be submitted to competent judges, and their 
awards announced at the annual general meeting of the 
society to take place early in October. This appears 
to be the right thing to do, for it is decidedly advan¬ 
tageous to young gardeners especially, to encourage 
them to commit their thoughts to paper. The money 
to be given in prizes is mainly contributed by the friends 
of the society. 
