160 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 11, 1898. 
put them to. Here again we find uses 
varying according to the condition in 
which the leaf crop has been harvested, 
because if got together fairly dr)* they wilL 
keep in that state for a long period, and 
are then most useful for protective pur¬ 
poses. For the covering of vine borders 
outside few materials are so efficient as dry 
leaves, as they protect the ground from 
cold rains and snow, and 5mt do not in an}'’ 
way engender sourness or fermentation, 
which if providing temporary warmth is 
often productive of later evil. 
Leaves well and cleanly collected form 
capital plunging material in pits, frames 
and houses. They are valuable for the 
mulching of Roses, especially if a little long 
manui e be shaken over them to keep them 
in their place. Leaves stacked in heaps 
exposed to the weather and frequently 
turned soon decay, and constitute excellent 
leaf soil and manure. There are many 
ways by which leaves can be fully utilised 
in gardens, hence they may become after 
all blessings in disguise. 
-- 
Royal Seedsmen. —We learn from Manchester that 
Messrs. Dickson, Brown & Tait, the well-known 
seed merchants of that city, have just been appointed 
seedsmen to Her Majesty the Queen, under Royal 
Warrant. 
The Manning Testimonial.—We are requested to 
state that after consultation with Mr. Manning, the 
testimonial committee have resolved to present him 
with a dining room suite with clock and ornaments 
to match, and an illuminated address containing the 
names of all the subscribers. The final arrange¬ 
ments will await the return of Mr. Manning to 
London. 
The Floral Sketch Book.—Mr. John Weathers, 
Assistant Secretary to the Royal Horticultural 
Society, proposes to publi.=h under the above title 
five large drawings each month of as many new, rare, 
or interesting plants. Each plant figured will be 
fully described, and historical and cultural notes 
will also be given. The first number will be ready 
by January 6th, 1894. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—The annual 
dinner of this Society will take place at Anderton’s 
Hotel, Fleet Street, on Thursday, November 30th, 
when the President, Sir Edwin Saunders, will take 
the chair. The challenge trophy. Holmes’ Memorial 
Cups and Medals will be presented to the winners 
during the evening. A meeting of the General 
Committee will be held on Monday evening, 
November 20th, and at the termination of the 
regular business, Mr. Charles E. Shea, The Elms, 
Foots Cray, Kent, will read a paper on "Judging 
Chrysanthemums.” 
Second Fruiting of Pear Claude Blanchet.—It 
was stated sometime ago by the Bulhibi d'Arbori¬ 
culture de Floriculture, &c., that the above Pear give 
the first fruits of the season. There are some 
upright cordons of the variety in the collection of 
the Belgian State School of Horticulture at Ghent, 
and the same tree which yielded the early crop 
brought a second one to maturity on the 20th 
October. The fruits were well developed. P'rom 
this fact the fertility of the tree has been confirmed. 
In the same row of trees was a young specimen of 
Pear Directeur Alphand, bearing fruits measuring 
4jin. in length and lijin. in circumference. Such 
fruits must be handsome in appearance. 
A Remarkable Physiological Fact.—It appears that 
the trees in the public plantations at Ghent have 
been liable to great injury from mischievously 
disposed persons. A moderate sized Elm tree 
situated on the Boulevard des Hospices, behind the 
hospital and near the bridge of Maternite, had its 
bark torn off last spring by some malicious party ; 
yet the tree has not suffered from the mutilation. 
Gradually from the top downwards, there began to 
grow a layer of cellular matter, and to-day the new 
bark completely covers the trunk, with exception of 
some spots which remain denuded where they have 
been tampered with by one or other of the curious. 
The cortical layer of the lov^er half is very thin; 
upon that part there are buds, while upon the other 
half it has a thickness of about Jin. The Bulleti/i 
d'Arboriculture say's " we record the fact for 
naturalists.” 
TECHNICAL EDUCATION 
IN HORTICULTURE. 
The Council of the Scottish Horticultural Asso¬ 
ciation, having been again allocated a portion of the 
residue grant by the Town Council of the City of 
Edinburgh, has arranged a course of lectures on the 
vegetable garden, to be delivered during the ensuing 
winter and spring. The scientific and practical 
aspects of the subjects chosen will be treated of by 
eminent authorities, and the lectures will be free to 
all interested in the advancement of Horticulture. 
The lectures last season were well attended, and the 
number of young men who competed for the prizes 
was satisfactory ; but the Council trust the atten¬ 
dance this season will be larger. Prizes will be 
given to successful competitors, who must have 
attended three-fourths of the lectures, and must be 
under-gardeners or nurserymen, and approved of by 
the Council. Intending competitors should intimate 
such, in writing, to the hon. secretary, Mr. Robert 
Laird, 17, South Frederick Street, Edinburgh, at the 
beginning of the session, and not later than ist 
December. 
Syllabus. 
In Dowell's Rooms, 18, George Street, Nov. 22, 
Introductory Lecture, by Mr. M. Dunn, Dalkeith. 
In Surgeons' Hall, Nicholson Street, Nov. 29, Dec. 
6, 13, 20, 27, and Jan. 3, 1894, “ The Chemistry of 
the Vegetable Garden,” illustrated by diagrams and 
experiments, by Mr. W. Ivison Macadam, F.R.S.E., 
F.I.C., F.C.S., etc. In Dowell’s Rooms, 18, George 
Street, Jan. 10, 17, and 24, " Physics as applied to 
the Vegetable Garden,” by Mr. A. N. Macalpine, 
Consulting Botanist to the Highland and Agricul¬ 
tural Society. In Minto House, Chambers Street, 
Jan. 31 and Feb. 7, “The Chemistry of the Soils; 
The Old and New Doctrines,” by Dr. Hunter, Minto 
House. In Dowell’s Rooms, 18, George Street 
Feb. 14, "Peas, Beans, Asparagus, Sea Kale, and 
Rhubarb,” by Mr. A. H. Scott, The Gardens, Cam- 
busdoon, Ayr. Feb. 21, " The Brassica and Allium 
Tribes,” by Mr. Williamson, Tarvit, Cupar-Fife. 
Feb. 28, " Root Crops,” by Mr. Loney, Marchmont, 
Duns. March 7, “ Mushrooms, Cucumbers, and 
Tomatos,” by Mr. P. W. Fairgrieve, Dunkeld. 
March 14, “ Salads,” by Mr. Temple, Carron House, 
Falkirk. The lectures will commence at 7.30 each 
evening. 
- ^ - 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
If the routine work has been kept well under, this is a 
comparatively quiet time in this department. The 
removal of all decaying leaves and the stalks of 
Asparagus and Cauliflowers requires attention, as 
well as hoeing, or better still handweeding, when 
necessary. If hoeing is done, the ground should be 
raked over to remove all the weeds possible, as the 
soil seldom gets dry enough now to kill them. 
All vacant pieces of ground should be manured if 
required, and dug over as opportunity affords. Many 
of the Brassica tribe are growing fast. We have a 
planting of Cabbage intended to come in in the 
spring, which are growing so fast that, having plenty 
of other greens for winter use, we shall partially lift 
with the fork to check their growth. This will make ■ 
them in a better condition to withstand severe frost, 
should we be visited with it. 
Another thing requiring attention very shortly is 
the proper housing or laying in of root crops. 
Carrots, where the ground is not wanted for other 
uses, will do quite as well where they are, only those 
who decide upon leaving them so should make some 
provision to be ready,when frost comes, either to cover 
up some part of the bed with leaves or any other kind 
of litter available, or to lift a portion of the crop 
and lay them in thickly in layers. Our own practice 
for years has been to lift the whole of the crop be¬ 
fore any long-continued frost is likely to set in, and 
lay them in thickly in trenches, covering up a por¬ 
tion so that we could always get at them during the 
severest frost. Workmen, if not looked after, will 
often cut off the tops too close to the crown, and 
this causes the roots in time to go rotten, so should 
be avoided. For storing Onions there is nothing 
better than a dry shed and roping or bunching 
them, but they keep admirably on shelves if properly 
harvested. Never mind frost, they will withstand 
the severest we ever have with impunity. 
Beet we prefer housing in a frost-proof shed or 
outhouse where it is readily got at. We have 
generally stacked ours up in dry ashes, and have had 
roots fit for use till the crop of Egyptian was ready 
to pull the next summer. This is excellent when 
young, but worthless to store away for winter use. 
Sometimes we have laid our crop of Beet in the 
same way as the Carrots, but where this plan is 
decided on the leaves should be allowed to remain on 
the roots, as they form a partial protection against 
frost. Beet is usually considered very tender and 
liable to injury from frost, but we have repeatedly 
had them frozen when in the ground without being 
hurt. Still, if left on the ground exposed to the air 
they soon succumb to it, therefore care must be taken 
when at any time they are up ready for removal off 
the ground, and if from any cause they have to be left 
out at night to throw something over the heaps of 
roots to protect them. 
Beet laid in outside in trenches cannot, unless 
some little extra care is taken, be kept in good con¬ 
dition so late in the season as those under cover, be¬ 
cause if left to itself it starts into growth sooner. To 
prevent this it should once or twice be removed out 
of the ground, and dried sufficiently to destroy the 
young fibres. Parsnips are far better left in the 
ground unless the ground is wanted. No frost will 
hurt them, but a few may be got up and laid in 
handy to be covered up for use during frosty 
weather. A little forethought will save both labour 
and mattocks when the earth is frost-bound. Tur¬ 
nips we never store but in small quantities, generally 
in a heap covered over with leaf soil or anything to 
exclude frost. Salsafy and Scorzonera we treat in 
the same was as Carrots.—IF. B G. 
-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
FROM THE LONDON PARKS, &c. 
Battersea. 
The display in this park has been open to the public 
exactly one month, and is expected to last another 
fortnight at least. The early and late varieties have 
their uses in prolonging the display, for without them 
it would be impossible to keep up a respectable 
appearance for so great a length of time. From the 
public point of view, the house has been greatly 
improved since last year. The middle partition has 
been taken out and an elevated path, guarded by 
ropes, runs down the centre of the house. On either 
side of this an equal broad bank of Chrysanthemums 
runs from one end of the house to the other. A full 
view of the whole is therefore had from either end of 
the building. The elevated path also enables a 
better view to be had. Formerly the path (a narrow 
one) ran along one side of the house. 
The London parks generally represent all types 
of Chrysanthemums better than many of the collec¬ 
tions elsewhere, and which are more up to date, and 
consist almost exclusively of Japanese kinds. The 
incurved types are hardly yet at their best, except 
the small and early varieties. Mons. R. Bahaunt is 
an exception, the large Chestnut-red flowers of 
which are even now past their best. Of the small, 
old kinds, Mrs. G. Rundle, Nil Desperandum, 
Prince Alfred, Lord Wolseley, Mr. Bunn and Prin¬ 
cess of Wales, are at their best, or some of them past. 
The same may be said of the delicately-tinted 
Jeanne d'Arc. Madame Darrier is a bronzy-yellow 
variety with yellow tips. Large flowers, such as 
Empress of India, Emily Dale and Lord Alcester, 
promise well, but would require a week or ten days 
more from the time we saw them. Amongst the old 
fashioned reflexed types the salmon-red Triomphe 
du Nord is in its best form. A line of pompons runs 
along the front of the groups, and a few are scattered 
through the rest. The white Madamoiselle Martha 
and the globular pink Madamoiselle Elise Dordan 
are in very attractive form. 
Amongst the Japanese kinds, the much neglected 
Madame C. Audiguier is in fine form, with its broad, 
incurved, twisted florets. Viviand Morel is as 
variable as ever. The bright yellow Gloriosum shows 
itself off well by contrast with such darker kinds as 
the deep reddish-purple Alberic Lunden. J. Shrimp- 
ton is evidently to be a dwarf and very free flowering 
kind, for w’e noted six blooms on one plant. The 
silvery-pink Wm. Tricker is getting more and more 
popular, and is here grown in some quantity. 
Hamlet is getting out of date in the more modern 
collections, but its soft red and compact flowers are 
still cherished here. Sunflower has attained a large 
size, and is still the finest of its class. Wm. Seward 
