758 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 2, 1890. 
flowering earlier or later in the open, and the operations 
can be more safely conducted under cover, the pro¬ 
tection of gauze, however, being unnecessary for a 
many-pistilled flower like that of the Strawberry. It 
will he wise not to over-fertilise or apply too much 
pollen, as when many seeds are obtained from a fruit 
the whole are generally weaker than when a few well- 
developed seeds are secured. I have an impression also 
that an excess of alien pollen tends in the Strawberry 
to a predominance of the characters of the pollen¬ 
bearing male parent. 
As to Forthcoming Results. 
It may be anticipated that as the cultivated Strawberry 
is a cross-bred fruit, there will be considerable variety 
as well as some wide breaks in the progeny from inter¬ 
crossing, but generally the offspring will show 
characters intermediate between the parents, and with 
perseverance it will be possible to gain the end sought. 
Having practised Strawberry crossing so long, however, 
it is somewhat discouraging to know that Noble, 
probably the most remarkable break in Strawberries of 
recent years in this country, was obtained without 
artistic intervention. I surmise there are some who will 
like to know its actual origin—such is easily told. In 
1884 I grew and sowed the seed from a large and hand¬ 
some fruit of Forman’s Excelsior (a fine and good-shaped, 
firm-fleshed Strawberry on light soils). From this sowing 
I obtained only five plants, one of which proved bolder 
than the rest, and subsequently became “ Ennobled ” 
—the remainder were not acquisitions. Now, con¬ 
sidering that I have during the past thirty-two years 
from my own work of cross-breeding raised at least 
10,000 seedling Strawberries, and out of these only nine 
have as yet been sent forth to the world, although all 
have had to be tried, and many after being largely 
cultivated for years have had ultimately to be abandoned, 
and that out of a small batch of five from natural 
fertilisation there should be one distinct gain, I feel 
that the work of a cross-breeder who can only point to 
such results is not altogether satisfactory, nor, I may 
feelingly add, profitable. Although Noble was only 
from natural, or insect, or wind fertilisation, I am able, 
with some confidence, to indicate its breed, and that it 
contains American blood, as the fruit from which it was 
grown was taken from a row of Forman’s Excelsior 
grown contiguous to one of Sharpless Seedling, a large, 
early, and vigorous sort; and if the foliage, habit, fruit, 
and periods of maturity of these two varieties be 
examined and considered, it will appear tolerably plain 
that Noble has a goo I deal of each of these varieties in 
it, and that the advantages of American blood have 
been secured without the agency of man. The influence 
and weight of Noble will, however, doubtless soon be 
apparent in forthcoming varieties, for by intercrossing 
it with all the best varieties, and reversing the crosses 
in most cases, a large number of seedlings have been 
obtained and are on trial. In carrying out my own 
work I have found that the seed of Noble is lighter, and 
does not vegetate so freely as that of the varieties 
crossed with its pollen, and it may be that to this 
imperfection of seed the fertility of Noble in quantity 
and size of fruit may be owing. I have also introduced 
with success the blood of other American seedlings into 
my crosses, and I am a believer that in this introduction 
of new blood there is greater probability of further 
advancing our own home race of Strawberries, a field in 
which there is yet ample scope for progress. 
-- 
COLOURS OP PLANTS. 
At a lecture delivered at a meeting of the Society 
of Arts, on some considerations concerning colour 
and colouring, Prof. A. H. Church, F.R.S., said: — 
The texture and translucency of flowers and leaves 
greatly modify the hues of the colouring matter 
they contain, and of the light which they reflect. 
The peculiar glistening of the cell walls in the 
coloured tissues of flowers is a case in point; it is 
sometimes erroneously spoken of as crystalline. The 
distribution of the various colouring matters of flowers 
in the cells, when the coloured tissues are examined 
under the microscope, is seen to be much less regular 
than might be imagined, and is doubtless one of the 
causes of the peculiar chromatic beauty of many 
flowers. In speaking of the colours of plants some 
reference must be made to the green of foliage. If the 
fully developed leaves of a forest tree in summer some¬ 
times tend towards a certain heaviness and monotony 
of hue, still there is, even in this case, a degree of 
variety present. Some leaves are in shadow, some 
transmit the incident light, some reflect the blue of the 
sky or the grey of the clouds, some display in perfection 
their local colour, and some show in different parts the 
various hues just indicated. And then, too, it must 
not be forgotten that the green colour of foliage varies 
with its age, and that it always possesses a singular 
characteristic which distinguishes it trom other greens, 
for if we place a spray of green leaves upon a piece of 
green cloth, or green paper resembling it in general hue, 
we shall yet find that the natural pigment differs 
materially from the artificial in its chromatic consti¬ 
tuents. To prove this you need not have recourse to 
prismatic analysis ; you have only to illuminate both 
surfaces with red light, or to inspect both through a 
piece of red glass, to see a very striking difference, 
especially noticeable with the yellowish green foliage of 
young branches. 
-- 
FRUIT CROPS IN LANCASHIRE. 
So far as I can learn, fruit crops are under an average 
throughout this district; even some of the small 
berries are thin. In this garden we have a full crop 
of Apples, but, like everything else, they have made 
but little progress the past two or three weeks in 
consequence of the wet, cold, sunless weather. Pears 
are a light crop, and for the first time in ten years our 
Beurre d’Amanlis trees are almost fruitless. Though 
the temperature was low on several nights whilst the 
trees were in flower, the thermometer did not fall below 
freezing, and the air was dry ; I am therefore unable 
to explain the cause of our scanty crop, unless it was 
the caterpillar, but they did not seem to be so numerous 
on them as on the Apples. 
Of Plums we have none, Gooseberries, Currants, 
except black, and Raspberries are as beautiful as anyone 
could wish. In some gardens Gooseberries are almost 
a failure, for which I think the bud-destroying birds 
must be responsible. Cherries on walls are the usual 
crop, and seldom varies ; Peaches and Nectarines, 
considering the little attention paid to them, are a fair 
crop, but in neighbouring gardens, these, and especially 
Apricots, are a heavy crop. Strawberries were 
abundant, but the continued wet has spoilt many 
of the fruits. I have not had an opportunity of 
trying any of the new varieties, except about a dozen 
plants of Noble, which did very well on a south 
border, and the flavour was passable. On this point 
I find tastes differ, and whilst many—perhaps the 
majority—appreciate Keen’s Seedling, others prefer the 
brisker-flavoured varieties. Personally I prefer British 
Queen to any other sort for flavour.— W. P. Roberts, 
Cuerden Hall, Preston. 
-->X<»- 
BORDER CARNATIONS AT 
CHISWICK. 
In order to encourage the cultivation of Carnations in 
the open border, a large collection of different varieties 
has been got together and planted on the same piece of 
ground, under exactly similar conditions, in the 
Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, at Chiswick. 
As every Carnation grower knows, the past season has 
been peculiarly unfavourable to the proper development 
of the blooms, causing the calyx to split, or the flower 
to be battered and disfigured when it does expand. 
Moreover, comparatively few kinds were at their best at 
the time of the Carnation Exhibition and Conference on 
the 22nd of July. Seedlings, both single and double, 
were profusely flowered, and although the blooms 
lacked the size, quality, and refinement of the named 
exhibition kinds, yet the quantity of flowers and their 
brilliancy of colour is often remarkable. All the kinds 
are planted in rows three in a clump, and the single 
sorts so treated often exhibit a mass of bloom about a 
yard across. The colours vary from pink and rose to 
deep rose, purple, scarlet and crimson. Some of the 
single kinds had purple flowers, resembling the Corn 
Cockle (Lychnis Githago), while most of them were 
very ornamental in character. Some of the unnamed 
selections of former years showed a vigorous habit of 
growth, and in some cases flowers of high quality. The 
older and named kinds may be expected to flower for 
some time yet. 
Seles. 
The white varieties are pretty numerous, and would be 
difficult to distinguish by the flowers alone. Those of 
vigorous habit would, of course, prove most eligible for 
border decoration. Virgo has broad, nearly entire 
petals of great purity, and the stems rise to a height of 
18 ins. The flowers of Elaine are large and full, but 
the petals are more numerous and not flat. Those of 
The Bride are also large and full, but out of doors, at 
least, the margin becomes of a rosy pink hue. Nurse 
Finns is a dwarf variety not exceeding 10 ins. or 12 ins., 
and the flowers are so double that the central petals 
are nearly erect, but they are broad and of good sub¬ 
stance. The young growths of this variety are 
plentifully produced. Similarly dwarf is TV’. P. Milner, 
but the broad petals are slightly incurved at the edges, 
as also occurs in the case of Mrs. Frank Watts. The 
latter is a more vigorous grower, reaching a height of 
15 ins. Snowdrift is a large-flowered kind of gTeat 
purity, but some of the numerous inner petals are 
slightly folded. An unnamed seedling was seen 
growing to the height of 24 ft., and branching very 
freely. Ossian is pure white and full, but rather 
deeply dentate at the margin. A very early kind is 
Comtesse de Paris, as the flowers were mostly faded at 
the time of the Conference. 
The coloured varieties aTe pretty numerous, and 
usually prove the most attractive to the general public, 
while they are most useful for border decoration or for 
cut flowers. Napoleon III. is a brilliant scarlet, tinted 
with rose when it first opens. The Crimson Clove will 
always be popular, on account of its fragrance. Thalia 
is notable for the enormous size of its rosy carmine or 
scarlet flowers, with broad petals. The Comte de Paris 
is later in coming into bloom than the Comtesse de 
Paris, and is a more vigorous grower, reaching the 
height of 24 ft., and is much branched and floriferous. 
A seedling of the Old Clove group was notable for the 
size of its crimson and fragrant flowers, but the con¬ 
stitution of the plant does not appear to he vigorous. 
Maggie Lawrie, judging from its great vigour, would 
prove a good border variety. The flowers are soft rose 
fading to pink, and are borne on stems 2 ft. high. 
M. Welsh is about equally tall, and much branched, 
with brilliant scarlet flowers of medium size. 
Three plants of Horace formed a mass about a yard 
across, and extremely floriferous. The flowers are 
brilliant scarlet, but not very refined. For border 
culture it would, however, prove useful. The Moor is 
a large velvety crimson flower, and the stems are much 
branched. Rowena is much of the same habit as the 
last, and has bold brilliant scarlet flowers. Both are 
good border varieties, and the last named received an 
Award of Merit at the Conference on the 22nd ult. 
The blooms of Fair Maid are flesh-coloured, rarely with 
a few scarlet stripes. A pale rose seedling had flowers 
of good quality. Scarlet Gem has larger blooms than 
Rowena, but the plant is moderately floriferous. One 
of the finest of its class is Purple Emperor, with rich 
dark purple flowers of great size. Those of Mrs. George 
are deep rose and of great size, while those of Mrs. du 
Crouz are rosy scarlet, and very freely produced. Very 
distinct in its way is Terra Cotta, also known as Mrs. 
Reynolds Hole. Plenty of foliage is produced at the 
base of much-branched stems, rising to the height of 
24 ft. or 3 ft. The flowers are very fall, and of the 
colour described by the first name. Much after the 
same style is Beatrice, which may be described as 
orange-salmon fading to buff. It has the same vigorous 
habit and floriferous nature. 
Yellow 7 Kinds. 
Both Carnations and yellow-ground Picotees may be 
placed here. Of the latter class is Frank Barrett, 
which is striped with red on a light yellow ground, and 
is very floriferous. Canary Yellow varies from 1 ft. 
to 2 ft. in height, and has large double flowers with 
broad petals. The flowers of Yellow Supreme are 
clear yellow, with the petals incurved at the edges. 
An unnamed seedling in the collection has its yellow 
flowers flaked with pink, and sometimes with scarlet. 
Madame Van Houtte is heavily striped with crimson- 
purple. Pride of Pensliurst, as is well known, is a 
beautiful yellow Carnation, but as seen out of doors 
here it is a poor, weak grower. A clear yellow variety 
named Amber is much more vigorous when placed out 
of doors. Of the many yellow kinds in the collection, 
a large number of seedling, unnamed kinds were not in 
bloom when we examined them. One, however, had 
large yellow flowers, variably striped with crimson. 
Bizarre and Flaked Varieties. 
As far as those in flower were concerned, the simply 
flaked kinds far outnumbered those in which the ground 
colour is striped with two other distinct shades. A 
curious and pretty variety is that named Olivia, the 
rosy scarlet ground colour of which is flaked with a 
slaty hue. It is very floriferous. The Coroner is a 
scarlet variety, faintly flaked with rose. Squire 
Whitbourne is flaked with purple on a blush ground, 
and the branching stems flower very freely. The pink 
ground of Zebra is flaked with a brilliant scarlet. 
Purple Emperor grows to the height of 2 ft., and the 
