670 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
June 20th, 1885. 
Paul & Son, Messrs. Barr & Son, Messrs. Hooper & 
Co., Mr. Van der Rees, and Messrs. Kelway & Son. 
Roses were also well represented, especially the Tea 
section. In these classes the leading winners were 
Mr. B. R. Cant, Colchester ; Messrs. Paul & Son, Mr. 
Rumsey, Waltham Cross ; and Mr. Gibson, gardener 
to T. F. Burnaby Atkins, Esq., Halstead Place, Seven- 
oaks. Other successful exhibitors of cut-blooms were 
Mr. C. J. Salter, with Orchids; Mr. T. S. Ware, with 
herbaceous plants; Mr. Turner with Show Pelar¬ 
goniums ; Mr. H. James with stove and greenhouse 
plants; and Mr. K. Dixon, gardener to Sir J. M. Wilson, 
Searles, Uckfield, with wild flowers. 
The display of fruit, which at the June shows in 
former years was always one of the leading features, 
seems to be getting of a poorer character every year, 
and certainly requires but little notice this time. The 
prize offered by the Fruiterers’ Company only brought 
out one exhibitor, Mr. Robins, gardener to E. Dyke 
Lee, Esq., Hartwell House, Aylesbury, who had a fairly 
representative collection, which would have been much 
better had all the fruits been ripe. Mr. Douglas was first 
or Melons with Scarlet Premier and Hero of Lockinge ; 
and Mr. H. W. Ward, gardener, Longford Castle, 
second, with the last-named variety and Read’s Scarlet 
Flesh. The best basket of Black Grapes came from 
Mr. Bates, gardener to Mrs. Meek, Poulett Lodge, 
Twickenham; and Mr. P. Feist, gardener to R. J. 
Ashton, Esq., Bishopsgate House, Staines, had the 
finest sample of Muscats. The finest of nine Queen 
Pines was staged by Mr. H. Morris, gardener to A. P. 
Vivian, Esq., M.P., Tiabach, South Wales. The first 
prize dish of Black Hamburghs, good, well-coloured 
bunches, came from Mr. Smith, gardener to W. H, 
Sewell, Esq., Warren Hill, Loughton; and Mr. 
Mowbray, gardener to the Earl of Leven and Mel¬ 
ville, with Black Prince was first in the any other 
Black Grape class. The best ripened Muscats came 
from Mr. Cakebread, gardener to Sir Philip Rose, 
Rayners, Bucks. With Peaches and Nectarines, Mr. 
Mowbray was also first, showing Royal George and 
Noblesse, Pitmaiton Orange, and Elruge. Mr. Lax- 
ton sent from Bedford good samples of his new 
Strawberries, The Captain, a flat, cockscomb-shaped 
fruit of good size and fine colour ; and Noble, a large, 
fine-looking sort, of a rich crimson colour, and stated 
to have been grown entirely in the open air. Messrs. 
Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, sent their early variety, 
Pauline, a long, tapering fruit, not of a particularly pre¬ 
possessing appearance, whatever other good qualities it 
may possess. Mr. B. S. Williams had a good-looking 
round, yellow-rhined, white-fleshed Melon, named 
Harefield Grove; aDd Mr. Cypher, Cheltenham, had 
somewhat of a novelty in the shape of a splendid cone 
of Encephalartos villosus. 
The new plants certificated, besides the Orchids 
mentioned in another column, were Spirrea palmata 
alba, with pure white flowers; Euonymus japonicus 
“ Silver Gem,” a handsome silvery variegated form ; 
Fagus sylvatica tricolor, a pretty rosy-red and bronze- 
green variegated-leaved variety, pretty in a small 
state ; Cyathea divergens, a distinct and very handsome 
Basket Fern from New Grenada, with long graceful 
arching fronds ; and Phyllanthus Chanti'ierii, all from 
Messrs. Veitch. Alocasia Hendersoni, a very hand¬ 
some, noble-looking plant, with long leaves of a rich 
dark and light green metallic hue, from Messrs. E. G. 
Henderson and Son. Cupressus Lawsoniana erecta 
vividus alba variegatus, sufficiently described by its 
name, from Messrs. Charles Lee & Son. Agapanthus 
umbellatus variegatus, is a pretty golden variegated¬ 
leaved variety of this old and popular favourite, 
and came from Mr. B. S. Williams. Caladiums 
Raymond Lemonier, silvery-grey ground, with crim¬ 
son centre; Albo luteu maculatum, almost white 
ground colour, with a few crimson spots ; and Comte 
de Germany, a small-leaved variety, pale green and 
crimson ground, with small white spots; Begonia 
Mr. Brissenden, a fine large double crimson-scarlet; 
and B. Salmonea, a pretty double variety, of a pale 
salmon-red colour, came from Messrs. John Laing & 
Co. Broditea stellaris, a showy violet-purple shaded 
flower, came from Messrs. Barr & Son ; and Cattleya 
Mendeli marginata, from Mr. H. James. Mr. Cypher 
was the exhibitor of Dendrobium Falconeri delicatum 
and Dendrobium crystallinum album. In the Florists’ 
Flower Section the certificated plants were Show 
Pelargonium Pluto, from E. B. Foster, Esq.; Statice 
floribunda, from Messrs. C. Lee & Son ; Fancy Pelar¬ 
gonium Mrs. Langtry, from Mr. Turner; Verbenas 
Purity and Dr. Feyerlin, and Begonia Louise Bouchet, 
from Messrs. Cannell & Son; Decorative Pelargo¬ 
niums Vesper Bell and Portia, from Mr. J. Wiggins; 
and Carnation Pride of Penshurst, from Messrs. 
Veitch. 
THE BAOBAB TREE. 
The Baobab or Monkey-bread, Adansonia digitata, 
has long afforded the most celebrated instances of 
vegetable longevity; Humboldt indeed calls them 
“ the oldest organic monuments of our planet.” 
They are not uncommon on the western coast of 
Africa. The tree is remarkable for the small height 
it attains, compared with the immense diameter of 
the trunk and length of its branches. Trunks which 
are 70 ft. or 80 ft. in circumference rise to the height 
of only 10 ft. or 12 ft., when they divide into a great 
number of extremely large branches, 50 ft. or 60 ft. 
long, which, spreading widely in every direction, form 
a round verdant mass perhaps 150 ft. in diameter, 
and only 70 ft. in height. The roots likewise are of 
vast length ; one of these, laid bare by a torrent which 
had washed away the earth, was traced to upwards of 
110 ft. without reaching the extremity. To these 
peculiarities, rather than to the nature of the wood, 
which is light and soft, the great age to which the 
tree attains may probably be traced. Its form opposes 
an effectual resistance to the tempests which would 
overthrow ordinary trees. The history of these 
Baobabs, possibly of the very trees which Adanson’s 
account has rendered famous, reaches back to the 
discovery of the coast of Senegal and of the Cape de 
Verde Islands by Cadamosto in 1455, who in his 
narrative mentions the singular disproportion between 
the height and girth of these trees. But they were 
first fully described by the French naturalist Adanson, 
who examined them scarcely a century ago. The 
largest trunks measured by Adanson were 85 ft. in 
circumference, or 27 ft. in diameter. Golberry is 
said to have measured one that was more than 100 ft. 
in girth, and M. Perrottet in 1824 met with many 
Baobabs in Senegambia varying from 60 ft. to 90 ft. 
in circumference, yet still in a green old age, and 
showing no signs of decay; but, on the contrary, if 
wounded in the smallest degree, they exuded a copious 
sap. There can therefore be no doubt respecting 
the prodigious size which these trees attain, and there 
is great reason to suppose that Humboldt was right 
in supposing them to be the oldest in existence,— 
Forestry. 
- ' —- 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Orchids.— B. I). K. —Pescatorea cerina, true.— W. Thom¬ 
son. —The largest, darkest coloured, and best Oncidium 
crispum we have ever seen. 
Names of Plants. — A. A.— Saxifraga granulata flore- 
pleno. 
Orchid Baskets. —At p. G52 for Mr. Percy 'Williams read 
Mr. Sydney Williams. 
Erratum. —At p. 650, in the note on the Rocky Mountain 
Columbine, the fifth line should read “ blue, and the corolla 
pure white, forming a most pleasing combination.” In the 
same column for “ Arenarias” read “Armerias.” 
Amateur Rosarian.— A. T. A'.—At the National Rose 
Society’s Shows no person is allowed to compete as an amateur 
who habitually sells Rose plants or Rose blooms, nor any per¬ 
son in the employ of a nurseryman. 
Communications Received.— W. S.—A. W.—E. J.—S.W. 
—W. C.—T. B—E. H. J.-J. Scott—J. B.—T. S. B.-J. D. 
—T. Williams— Sunderland.—R. 0—P. H. A—J. W. C.— 
I— Nemo— M. T—S. & S.—D. P. L. 
— - i ■ - v — 
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
The Editor begs to inform his readers that special 
attention will be paid in the columns of The Gardening 
World to the answering of questions on all subjects 
connected 'with practical horticulture, in which depart¬ 
ment he will have the assistance of several gardeners oj 
great experience and known ability. To save time, 
however, as far as possible, correspondents are specially 
requested to write only on one side of the paper; to 
write their questions in as few ivords as possible con¬ 
sistent with clearness; and where two or more questio?is 
are asked on widely different subjects, to be good enough 
to put them on separate pieces of paper. 
Correspondents who may require their communica¬ 
tions, if not accepted, to be returned, must in all cases 
enclose stamps for the return postage. The name and 
address of every writer must be given, not ■necessarily 
for publication, if that is not desired, but simply as a 
guarantee of the writer's bona Jides. No notice what¬ 
ever will be taken of anonymous letters. 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
June 17th, 1S85. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 
39, Seed Market, Mark Lane, report a very small 
attendance on Market, and business quiet. Values of 
all kinds of Clovers are firm, last week’s prices being 
fully maintained in the few transactions which have 
been completed. Advices recently received from some 
of the producing districts on the Continent indicate a 
short crop of White, and if these prove reliable, an 
early advance may be looked for. Sowing Rape and 
Mustard meet with improved demand at last week’s 
quotations. Bird Seeds still move slowly and show no 
change in values. 
- a-. s — 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
June 19th. 
Fruit.—Average AVholesale Peices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Apples, hsieve. 2 6- 6 0 j 
— Nova Scotian, per 
barrel . 
Grapes, per lb. 2 0- 5 0 
Melons, each. 2 0-36 
Peaches, per doz. ... 3 0-10 0 , 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 
Horse Radish, bundle 3 0-30 
s. d. s. d. 
Pine-apples, Eng.,lb. 2 0-40 
—St. Michaels, each 3 0-70 
Kent Filberts and 
Cobs, per 100 lb. .. 
Strawberries, per lb. 16-40 
4 0 
6 0-80 
2 0 
2 0-30 
16-20 
0 6 - 
Artichokes, Globe,per 
dozen . 2 0- 
Asparagus, English, 
per bundle . 
Beans, French,per lb. 
Beet, per dozen 
Cabbages, Spring,doz. 
Carrots, per bunch.. 
Cauliflowers,English 
per dozen . 4 0- 6 0 
Celery, per bundle ... 1 6- 2 6 
Cucumbers, each ... 0 6- 1 0 
Endive, French, per 
dozen . 2 6- 3 6 
Garlic, per lb. 0 6- 
Herbs, per bunch ... 0 2- 0 4 
Potatos. —Kent Regents, 80s. lo 100s. per ton ; Kent Kidneys, 
80s. to 100s. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
Lettuces, Cabbage, 
per dozen . 2 0- 
— Cos, each . 0 6- 
Mushrooms, p. basket 10-20 
Onions, per bushel... S 0- 7 6 
Parsley, per bunch... 0 6- 
Radisnes, per dozen... 1 6- 
Small salading, per 
punnet. 0 4- 
Spinach, per strike...20- 
Tomatos, per lb. 2 0- 
Tumips, per bunch... 0 6- 
Young Carrots. 1 6- 
Young Turnips. 1 6- 
s. d. s. d. ' s. d. s. d. 
Abutilon, 12 bunches 2 0- 4 0 Lily of the Valley, 
Anemone, 12 bun. ... 16-20 12 bunches. 03-09 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 2 0- 6 0 Marguerites, 12 bun. 30-60 
Azalea, 12 sprays ... - Narcissus, various, 
Bourvardias, per bun. 0 9-16 doz. bun. 
Camellias, 12 blooms - Paeony, 12 bunches... 5 0-12 0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 10-30 Pelargoniums, per 12 
Chrysanthemums, 12 sprays. 0 6-10 
bunches . - —scarlet.per 12 sprays 0 4-0 6 
— large, 12 blooms... - Pinks, various, 12 
Cyclamen,doz.blooms - bunches . 10-40 
Cineraria, per bunch - Primula, double bun. 10-16 
Day Lily, 12 bunches 6 0- 9 0 Primulas,Chinese,bun. 
Epiphyllums,12 blms. - Pyrethrum, 12 bun. 2 0-40 
Eueharis, per dozen 3 0- 6 0 Rhodanthe, 12 bun. 00-90 
Gardenias, 12 blms. 10-40 Roses (coloured). 20-40 
Heliotropes,12 sprays 0 6-10 Roses, indoors, p. doz. 10-30 
Hyacinths, Roman, Roses, per dozen 
doz. sprays. - bunches. 4 0- 9 0 
Iris, 12 bunches. 4 0- 9 0 Spirtea, 12 bun. 6 0- 9 0 
Lapageria, white, 12 Stephanotis, 12 spr. 2 6-40 
blooms. 2 0- 3 0 Tuberoses, per dozen 06-10 
Lapageria,red,12blms.l 0-2 0 Tulips, per doz. 
Lilium candidum, 12 Violets, doz. bun. ... 
blooms. 16-20 — French, per. bun. 
— Longillorum, 12 — Parma, per. bun... 
blooms. 3 0- 6 0 White Jasmine, ban. 
Lily of the Valley, Woodroffe, 12 bunches 
doz. sprays. - I 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, per 
dozen . 6 0-24 0 
Arum LiUes, per doz. 0 0-1S 0 
Azalea, per doz. 
Balsams, per doz_ 6 0-90 
Begonias, per dozen 4 0-12 0 
Bouvardias, dozen ... 9 0-18 0 
Calceolarias, per doz. 6 0-90 
Cineraria, per dozen 
Cockscombs, dozen 4 0-60 
Cyclamens, doz. 
Cyperus, per dozen 4 0-12 0 
Deutzia, per dozen ... 
Dracaena term., doz. 30 0-60 0 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0-24 0 
Epipliyllums, doz. ... 
Evergreens, in var., 
per dozen . 6 0-24 0 
Ferns, in var., dozen 4 0-1S 0 
Ficus elastica, each... 16-70 
Fuchsias, per doz. ... 6 0-12 0 
Foliage Plants, vari¬ 
ous, each . 2 0-10 0 
Bedding Plants, in varief 
Genista, per dozen 
Heaths or Erica, var., 
per doz.12 0-42 0 
Hyacinths, doz. 
Hydrangea, per doz. 9 0-13 0 
Ivy Geraniums, per 
dozen . 3 0- G 0 
Lilium longiflorum, 
per doz.IS 0-36 0 
Lobelias, per doz. ... 4 0- 6 0 
Marguerites, per doz. 9 0-13 0 
Mignonette, per doz. 4 0-60 
Palms in variety, each 2 6-21 0 
Pelargonium,per doz. 6 0-18 0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet 
per dozen . 3 0- 9 0 
Petunias, per dozen 6 0-90 
Pomsettia, doz. 
Rhodanthe, per doz. 6 0-90 
Spirtea, per dozen ... 9 0-12 0 
Stocks, per dozen ... 3 0- 5 0 
Tropieolums, per doz. 3 0-60 
V, Ss. to 16s. per hundred. 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Adiantum Neo-Cale- 
donise. 665 
Amateurs’ Garden, the ... 664 
Aquilegias, new hybrid ... 668 
Bachelors’ Buttons . 664 
Broccoli, late . 667 
Chrysanthemum Coquette 
de Castille . 666 
Coral-tree, the . 662 
Cucumber Carter’s Im¬ 
proved Telegraph. 666 
Dendrobium Phalsenopsis 66S 
Dodecatheon splendidum 
(illustrated) . 661 ; 
Eeeles, gardens round. 661 
Eueharis Lilies, our. 666 
Fruits of the Duke of York 
Island . 662 
Holly, flowering of the ...659 
Hyacintlius azureus .665 
Kitchen Gardener's 
Calendar . 607 
PAGE 
Lavateria arborea varie- 
gata . 661 
Melon. Blenheim orange 666 
Nemophila insignis . 667 
Orchids at Regent’s Park 66S 
Ornithogalum longebrac- 
teatum . 666 
Perennials, select hardy. . 663 
Poetry in Business . 663 
Poppies, giant . 665 
Potato Conference . 659 
Pyrethrums, double. 667 
Rose Prospects . 659 
Roses of recent introduc¬ 
tion. 660 
Royal Botanic Show . 669 
Scottish Gardening . 662 
Thorn, Paul's Double. 667 
Tulips, notes on. 661 
Vegetables, new. 667 
Viburnum plicatum. 663 
Work in the Plant-houses 666 
