356 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
1 1 b. 7th, 1885. 
be employed, they would prove helpful. No one 
should he in a hurry to apply artificial heat; 
if put on, it should be done gradually and with 
great care. 
To raise the temperature is, of course, essential, 
but it will be well to keep it at 33 degs. or 
34 degs. for a day at least, that the process of 
thawing may proceed slowly. A few degrees of 
frost met in this way will do much less harm than 
is generally inflicted where the terrified cultivator 
heaps on the fuel, under the mistaken notion that 
fire is the proper antidote to freezing; and we 
may similarly apply this caution to fruit. Should 
the frost reach a store of Apples and Pears, some 
of them may be frozen hard. If they are allowed 
to thaw slowly and in the dark, they are little the 
worse for the visitation; but if allowed to thaw 
in full daylight, they would, in all probability, 
become quite spoiled in the operation. Happily, 
at the present time the atmosphere is dry, and, as 
a consequence, frost of a moderate degree is less 
destructive in its effects than when it suddenly 
follows upon a soft, moist, rainy time, and the 
atmosphere is charged with moisture. 
-- 
Liliuh aubatum. —Ten thousand bulbs of 
Lilium auratum advertised for sale at one time ! 
What becomes of all these annual importations, 
and how is the supply kept up P That many die 
here in our gardens we all know, but the why 
and wherefore few as yet seem to have made 
out. Some attribute the heavy losses to a fungus 
or disease on the scales, which they take after 
they are packed and when on their journey 
over, while others think it is from improper 
treatment after they arrive, and it is quite likely 
that both may be right. There is no doubt that 
decay of most kinds is brought about or caused 
by fungus of some sort, or if fungus is not the 
cause, it invariably accompanies decay, and all 
decomposing vegetable and fleshy matter is more 
or less subject to it, as may easily be seen by the 
mould on rotten fruit, or meat that has passed 
a certain stage and gone bad. There is no doubt 
that the Lily bulbs get much bruised in tho 
taking of them up and handling them at packing, 
and those parts of the scales are sure to decay, 
and especially if subjected to moisture, and this 
when a lot are in boxes together is given off by 
by the bulbs. We do not know, however, that it is 
much use to buyers to pursue this part of the 
subject, as what concerns them most is a remedy 
against the mischief after the Lilies get into their 
hands, and from what we have had to do with 
these bulbs, our opinion is that the best way of 
treating them is to carefully scrape away all 
the dead parts, and then dust the places over with 
powdered charcoal and lime, which will stop the 
decay. The next thing in the case of bulbs bought 
at this time of year is to set about potting or 
planting them, as the sooner they are in the 
better, and, if they are to be planted, preparation 
should be made for them by digging out holes 
and putting in turfy loam that is chopped up and 
mixed with a good sprinkling of sand, or if fibry 
peat can be got, that may take the place of the 
loam, or the two blended together. In planting, 
the proper depth to place the bulbs is about 
4 ins., when, before further covering them with 
soil, they should have some sharp sand dusted 
over them, which will help to drain off water 
from them and keep the scales clean. Equal 
parts of peat and loam also answers capitally 
for pot culture, and the sand is likewise necessary 
over the bulbs, which, when potted, should be 
placed in a cold frame and have no water, unless 
the soil becomes very dry, till the shoots show, 
when air must be given at all times when the 
weather is favourable. After flowering, the thing 
is to let the tops ripen off gradually, and soon 
after that the plants ought to be re-potted, that 
they may be in the fresh soil before the fleshy 
roots start, as after that it is impossible to carry 
out the work without doing some injury. 
On Tuesday the Fruit, Floral and Scientific Com¬ 
mittees of the Royal Horticultural Society will meet 
at South Kensington, and in the afternoon the annual 
general meeting of the Society will be held in the 
conservatory. 
The following shows are announced to be held at 
the Crystal Palace during the coming season:— 
Spring Show on March 27th and 28th ; Summer Show 
on May 22nd and 23rd; Great Rose Show on July 
4th; F u Show and National Dahlia Show on 
September 4th and 5th; Autumn Fruit Show and 
International Potato Exhibition, October 7th to 10th ; 
and Chrysanthemum Show on November 6th and 7th. 
It is reported that ten sheep were recently poisoned 
at Whitton Park, near Hounslow, from eating Rhodo¬ 
dendron leaves. 
Me. G. H. Haeding has been engaged as gardener 
at The High House, Campsea Ashe, Wickham Market, 
the seat of the Hon. W. Lowther, M.P. 
The Grand Floral Fete at York is announced to 
take place on June 17th, 18th, and 19th. 
Mr. Jaaies Hardie, of the firm of Messrs. Laird 
& Sinclair, of Dundee, died on the 23rd ult. Mr. 
Hardie was well known in the trade and highly 
respected. 
We understand that the arrangement of the 
Forestry and Horticultural Exhibition, to be held 
this year at the Alexandra Palace, has been entrusted 
to Mr. Dick Radelyffe, vice Mr. Forsyth Johnson, who 
has resigned. 
There was an excellent attendance at the sale of 
Messrs. Shuttleworth, Carder & Co.’s importation 
of the white Leelia anceps at Stevens’s Rooms on 
Wednesday. Some magnificent pieces were offered, 
and good prices generally were realized, especially 
for medium-sized specimens. Another extensive sale 
of the same species is announced for Thursday next. 
The Lea, Blackheath, and Lewisham Horticultural 
Society will hold its annual exhibition on July 8th 
and 9th. 
The Queen has accepted a copy of Mr. Folkard’s 
book on Plant Lore, which has been forwarded to 
her at Osborne by the publishers, Messrs. Sampson, 
Low & Co. 
The new edition of Paxton's Flower Garden is now 
complete, the fifty-fourth part, with the index and 
title-page to Yol. III., having just been issued. 
The exhibitions of the Reading Horticultural 
Society are fixed to be held on May 21st and 
August 27th. 
Mr. John Stevenson, of the Timperley Nurseries, 
Cheshire, died on the 23rd ult., aged 63 years. For 
many years Mr. Stevenson was a most successful 
grower and exhibitor of Stove and Greenhouse 
Plants, Ferns and Orchids, and was widely respected. 
Colonel Wheatley, R.E., of Her Majesty’s Board 
of Works, has introduced from America, presumably 
for use in the London Parks, a manure spreader, 
which promises to be a success. The distributor deals 
with dung, earthy manure, &c., and spreads it evenly 
over the ground at a rapid rate. 
— 
Proposed Gardeners’ Benevolent Institution for 
Scotland. —After Mr. Robertson Munro, of the Aber- 
eorn Nursery, Edinburgh, had read his paper on 
“Flowers and the Lessons they Teach,” at the 
meeting of the Scottish Horticultural Association, 
held on Tuesday evening, it was moved by Mr. 
Downie, and seconded by Mr. Methven, President 
of the Association, “That a Gardeners’ Benevolent 
Institution be established in Scotland.” A long 
discussion ensued, and eventually the motion was 
carried unanimously. It was next decided to bring 
the matter under the notice of the Council of the 
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, with a view, 
if possible, of starting the new institution under its 
auspices; and the mover of the resolution was also 
instructed to communicate the result of the meeting 
to the Secretaries of the Aberdeen and Dundee 
Horticultural Associations, whose co-operation is 
anticipated. 
THE ROSE GARDEN. 
The planting of Roses should be pushed on to com¬ 
pletion as quickly as possible. They delight in a stiff, 
loamy soil, therefore, where the latter is light and 
poor it will be necessary to incorporate some clay and 
short manure with it prior to planting. Do not bury 
the stems of the trees deeper than they were before in 
planting them, press the soil firmly about the roots 
with the feet, and, if standards, secure them to good 
stiff sticks, and afterwards lay on a few inches thick 
of short dung as a surface dressing, which will not 
only prevent frost from penetrating the soil, but it will 
also maintain the latter in a more equable condition 
about the roots than would otherwise be the ease. 
Besides the good resulting from a mulching of this 
kind during the summer, especially if it should happen 
to be a hot one, cannot well be too highly estimated. 
For beds we prefer Roses on their own roots. 
These may be planted about 4 ft. apart every way, 
and should be pegged down about the end of March, 
and the suckers which spring from the base of the 
plants during the summer should. be pegged down 
about the middle of July for autumn flowering. 
The following forty-eight varieties may be depended 
on for exhibition and other purposes, viz.:—Francois 
Michelon, Duke of Edinburgh, La France, Marguerite 
de St. Amand, Rosieriste Jacobs, Marie Baumann, 
Reynold’s Hole, Merveille de Lyon, Louis Van 
Houtte, Marie Victor Verdier, Madame Wiflermoz, 
John Bright, Edouard Morren, A K. Williams, 
Beauty of Waltham, Souvenir d’un Ami, Baron de 
Bonstettin, Magna Charta, Duke of Wellington, 
Madame Lacharme, Lord Macaulay, Paul Neron, 
Madame Emilie Fontaine, Archiduehesse Elizabeth 
d’Autriche, Senateur Vaisse, Comtesse d’Oxford, 
Auguste Rigotard, Antoine Ducher, Xavier Olibo, 
Madame Nachury, Madame Gabrielle Luizet, Marquise 
de Castellane, Duke of Teck, Niphetos, Charles 
Lefebvre, Etienne Levet, Fisher Holmes, Alba Rosea, 
Bartholemy Joubert, Madame Eugene Verdier, Fer¬ 
dinand de Lesseps, La Rosiere, Ca m i l le Bernardin, 
Catherine Mermit, Sultan of Zanzibar, Mons. E. Y. 
Teas, Madame Therese Levet, and Edward Andre.— 
IF. H. IF. 
- a_j ~ jj? — 
DESTROYING WEEDS ON 
WALKS. 
Many years ago, when Mr. Fleming, gardener to 
the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham, introduced what 
he described as a salting machine, and which was 
intended to greatly reduce the amount of labour in¬ 
volved in the destruction of weeds growing in the gravel 
roads, walks, &c., it was considered to be a move in the 
right direction, more especially in large establish¬ 
ments, where perhaps miles of walks and roads had to 
be kept in good order. The machine consisted of a 
boiler and heating apparatus, which distributed the 
salt and water over the walks in a boiling condition. 
Whether this contrivance was extensively employed, it 
is not my purpose now to consider, but ha-sing had to 
do battle with weeds for at least fifty years, it may be 
assumed that I have had very many encounters with 
them. 
A knowledge of chemistry and chemicals has aided 
many both for good and, I may say also, for evil, but 
unquestionably the good preponderates iu an im¬ 
measurable degree, and we are enabled now to 
accomplish things that were not thought of in our 
earlier gardening days. Fifty years ago found us 
hoeing and hand-weeding, but now independent of 
that, and salting the gravel walks, we have agents 
that we can employ with much greater facility and 
success and at less cost in the application, in fact, 
when compared, the cost of the one is nominal, when 
abour and all other contingencies are taken into 
account. 
Having under my charge a large area of gravel roads 
and walks, it occurred to me that, instead of the 
tedious and unsatisfactory way in which the work had 
hitherto been done and the use of salt being objection¬ 
able to some, an easier method could be found. 
This led me to try carbolic acid mixed with water, and 
the result of many experiments made to ascertain the 
relative proportions of each that would answer my 
purpose was that one part of carbolic acid to forty- 
eight parts of water was found amply sufficient to 
