608 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 26, 1894. 
of the future is a mower for large lawns 
and cricket fields propelled by an electrical 
engine. We already have a steam lawn 
mower, but for some reason or other we do 
not hear much about it; and now that 
electricity has been applied so successfully 
to purposes of propulsion, its application 
in a somewhat diminutive way to lawn 
mow'ers ought not to be difficult. Here in 
any case we have wide scape for the talents 
of the ingenious. The propulsion would 
have to be from behind, of course. Perhaps 
the best arrangement would be an engine 
moving on very broad wheels or rollers, 
that to avoid turning had a mower fixed 
both back and front. We, however, make 
to our readers a willing present of the 
idea. 
^owN Trees. —We are indebted to Sir 
Herbert Maxwell for some useful in¬ 
formation respecting the adaptability of 
certain trees and shrubs for town culture— 
not that anything very new is presented, 
but at least it is well to have undoubted 
facts occasionally reiterated. It is not 
merely in the Metropolis, but in many 
other towns, that trees are planted, which 
everyone at all conversant with town trees 
condemn, and amongst them especially is 
the Lime. It would seem in many direc¬ 
tions as if there were a belief that this was 
the only town tree, whereas, ample experi¬ 
ence has now shown that it is one of the 
worst. 
Why, with all the knowledge now so 
general with respect to the exceeding value 
of the Oriental Plane as a town tree, the 
Lime should still be so largely planted, can 
only be explained on the hypothesis that 
the latter are cheap, that nurserymen have 
big stocks on hand that must be got rid 
of, or that ignorant planters will have 
nothing else. The Oriental Plane has not 
only the great faculty to withstand the 
smoke of towns, but also those insect pests, 
thrips and spider. Lime leafage, as the 
summer advances, because of the excre¬ 
tions of the green fly of the Lime, soon 
collapses. The tree is best suited for a 
cool, damp situation, whereas towns get ex¬ 
ceedingly hot, and the air and earth very dry 
and arid. 
We note with pleasure that Sir Herbert 
Maxwell is in the New Review down upon 
Conifers. These have generally been 
lamentable failures. Very common de¬ 
ciduous trees and shrubs seem best in some 
cases, but we have no more successful 
town shrub than the Fig, which if late in 
pushing leaves, at least retains them in the 
most healthy form to the very latest. We 
are no admirers of the Robinia Pseud- 
acacia anywhere, but whilst it does very 
well in towns it certainly does be^t when 
hard lopped or cut back everj' few years. 
The same may be said of Poplars, for all 
these trees much sooner age in towns than 
in the couhtrj^, and the best method to re¬ 
juvenate them is to lop hard and thus create 
new growth. 
.\RKS, Gardens and Open Spaces. —Of 
the more important features of the 
Local Government Act of 1894 is the 
power granted to Parish Councils to pur¬ 
chase or hire land for allotments and re¬ 
creation grounds. It may seem hardly 
credible, but so it is, that there are 
thousands of parishes even in the rural 
districts in which there are neither play nor 
recreation grounds, or public allotments. 
That seems to be incredible so far as the 
countryis concerned, where land is, though 
enclosed, yet largely lying waste and 
unproductive, or else entirely unavailable 
for the purposes named. 
We turn for a moment to the great 
Metropolis, and regard its now splendid 
areas both in parks and gardens. It was 
but last week that we published information 
concerning the opening of a new lung or 
open space at Peckham Rye^ and under the 
operations of the public spirit shown by 
the London County Council that expansion 
of lung area is still going on. How strange 
it is to find that land which is of such ex¬ 
ceeding value being set apart for ever in 
towns as open spaces when in the coantr}^ 
where land is often almost worthless, no 
effort seems to have been made to supply 
aven an ordinary playground, much less a 
park or public garden. 
We do most earnestly hope that Parish 
Councils when established will use their 
powers so far as relates to the obtaining of 
land very liberally. How often have we in 
the rural districts heard the cry raised 
“ Land, land ever3'where, but not a foot to 
call our own,” except it be the road side or 
ditch. Naturally w'e want to see every 
village have its public garden as well as 
recreation ground, and its public area of 
allotments. If towns can supply the 
former so freely it should not be difficult 
for rural districts to do so, and especially 
to supply the latter, because these owing to 
their great productiveness under good 
cultivation, add to the wealth of the dis¬ 
trict as well as to the happiness and health 
of its inhabitants. ’ 
--j-- 
Mr. R.T. H umphris, late of the Brewery House 
Gardens, Wareham, Dorset, has been engaged as 
gardener to Lady Shelley, at Boscombe Manor, 
Bournemouth. 
A Gardener’s Association has recently been formed 
at Smethwick, with the Rev. G, Astbury, “ the father 
of Horticultural Societies in Smethwick,” as 
treasurer, and Mr. G. Newman as honorary 
secretary. 
The Beckenham Horticultural Society’s Summer 
Show will 6 e held in the Recreation Grounds, 
Croydon Road, Beckenham, on Wednesday, 
July 25 th. 
Sir John Llewellyn, Bart., of Penllergare, was on 
Monday presented with a portrait of himself in 
recognition of his services as Mayor of Swansea, 
in 1891 . 
A Public Park for Macclesfield.—Mr F. D. Brockle- 
hurst, of Harehill, Cheshire, has handed over the 
Victoria Park for the recreation of the people. The 
value of the gift is estimated at something like 
10 , 000 . 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—We are re¬ 
quested to state that the annual outing and picnic 
of the members of the above Society is arranged to 
take place on Monday, July 23 rd, and will take the 
form of a water excursion up the River Thames from 
Windsor, arrangements being made to dine and take 
tea at Bourne End. 
Aquilegia Stuartii. — This striking plant, with deep 
blue sepals and white petals, was shown at the last 
meeting of the Scientific Committee by the Presi¬ 
dent, Sir Trevor Lawrence. It is one of the 
numerous hybrid forms of Aquilegia cultivated in 
gardens {Garden, 1888 , pi. 670 ). It is an improved 
form of A. glandulosa, refined in colour, very large, 
and attractive. 
The Severe Weather. —Reports to hand from 
various parts of the country tell a terrible tale of the 
damage done to fruit and vegetable crops by the 
frost on Monday morning last, and the excessively 
cold wave which has passed over the country since. 
The greatest degree of damage seems to have fallen 
upon Potatos, Strawberries and Plums, the tops of the 
former and the flowers of the Strawberries being black¬ 
ened and killed over hundreds of acres, while kidney 
Beans, Scarlet Runners and other tender things have 
suffered in proportion. The glorious weather pre¬ 
viously experienced tempted many to commence 
getting out their tender plants, who have grievously 
suffered for their temerity. 
Injuries to Leaves of Rhododendron and Gaultheria. 
—Dr. Hugo Muller exhibited, at the last meeting of 
the Scientific Committee, leaves of R. ponticum and 
Gaultheria Shallon with the edges completely 
riddled, some being destroyed as far as the midrib. 
The plants from which the leaves were taken were 
injured regularly every spring. Mr. McLachlan 
suggested that the injury was caused by weevils 
(probably a species of Sitones). The better way to 
deal with them would be to watch at night, and 
shake the insects over a sheet of white paper or 
calico, and destroy them at regular intervals. 
A Hybi'id Lily.—Within recent times various 
hybridists have been trying their hand upon the 
Lilies. Many deny that they can be hybridised at 
all, while others have brought forward a few 
instances to prove that it can be done. M. 
Sprenger, as stated by the Bulletin d'Arhorkulture, 
has obtained a hybrid between Lilium croceum and 
L. elegans, the former being the seed parent. To 
this he gives the name of L. croceo-elegans. The 
leaves are shorter and broader than those of L. 
croceum. The inflorescence consists of several 
flowers on a cottony peduncle. The flowers are 
about 4 in. long and of a deep scarlet colour with 
numerous black spots. 
Coryanthes Wolfi.—This singular species first 
flowered in Europe by Mr. F. W. Moore, curator of 
the Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, was referred to the 
Scientific Committee at the meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, on the 8 th inst., on account 
of the specialised character of the flowers, which are 
orange coloured, spotted with reddish chocolate. 
The hood is concave and almost solid. In every 
other species it is helmet-shaped and hollow beneath. 
The horns at the base of the column are very large. 
The plant is a native of Ecuador, and grows on 
Cacas trees in the littoral districts of the Guayas. 
It flowers when these level lands are mostly inun¬ 
dated. The flower spikes are stiff and upright, and 
not pendulous as in other species. 
Chrysanthemum Cups and Tubes. —An esteemed 
correspondent writes :—” I saw the other day ex¬ 
amples of some very simple, but apparently very 
efficient, tubes and cups for Chrysanthemum blooms 
that Mr Springthorpe, of Coombs Court, Kingston, 
has patented. These have brass springs to retain 
them in position, and are so easy of flxture and 
simple in arrangement that one wonders the plan 
has not been long since adopted. Could not the 
National Chrysanthemum Society institute a sort of 
competition for prizes or certificates for patented 
cups and tubes at its November show, and thus 
enable growers and exhibitors to discern which of 
the competing forms are the best and cheapest. 
Prices per dozen should be stated and the decision 
left to the members of the Society, who should first 
sign a book and then have a ballot paper handed 
them for voting purposes. That would be a very 
popular arrangement.” 
Flowers and the Voice.—If a French specialist, 
M. Joal, is right, says the Daily News, admirers of 
fashionable singers and actresses will do well not to 
persist in loading them with wreaths and bouquets. 
The smell of flowers, says M. Joal, is injurious to 
the voice. The rose, and all flowers with a very 
strong scent, are especially to be avoided, he says; 
but personal susceptibility, he thinks, has much to 
do with the matter. He knows operatic singers who 
have completely lost their voices through their 
passion for certain flowers. To some the Violet is 
especially injurious ; others would do well to avoid 
Lilac, and others again should strictly taboo the 
harmless-looking Gardenia. The advice, however, 
would certainly be more practicable if the alarmist 
would condescend to tell us which particular people 
come into the different categories enumerated. 
Singular effect of Cold upon Trees.—M. Em. 
Rodigas, in the Bulletin d'Arboriculture, states that 
the winter of 1892 and 1893 was very rigorous in 
Poland. M. Ed. de Jankowski reports in Pomologie 
Francaise, 1894 , p. 96 , that in January, 1893 , the 
thermometer went down one night to 35 ° centigrade 
below freezing point. His head gardener related to 
him later on that having occasion to go into the 
garden for some purpose or another, where there is 
a greenhouse, he heard the silence oL the night 
broken by detonations similar to those produced by 
the report of cannon. When it was day, it was ascer¬ 
tained that the noise had been made by some Cherry 
trees sixteen years old, and which had been rent 
from the top to the base. The furrows had been 
well packed with hemp and ointment, but half of the 
