740 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 20, 1895 
There have been no Gold Medals for new 
Roses awarded this year, though two were 
highly commended including Mrs. G. 
Sharman Crawford, already mentioned. 
Garden Roses, as usual, attracted a con¬ 
siderable amount of attention from the 
general public, but were shown in moderate 
quantity, and in many cases exhibited 
evident signs of distress before the shows 
were over. This was what might have 
been expected after such a lengthened 
period of drought. The cluster or Poly- 
antha Roses were amongst the most 
plentiful and prominent in this class; and 
indeed many of them are yet holding out 
bravely in gardens, including White Pet, 
White Fairy and others. Crimson Rambler 
is still in the ascendancy amongst the newer 
kinds in this class, and was grandly repre¬ 
sented at the Crystal Palace. The three 
varieties just mentioned might well be 
extensively planted in isolated beds upon 
the grass, in every garden where decorative 
Roses are valued. Single Roses had been 
hard hit before the advent of the Rose 
shows where they made but a poor display. 
A week or two previously they were indeed 
glorious, but had a very short innings, the 
fragile and delicate petals being scorched 
and scattered about by the burning sun, the 
heavy downpours of rain and hail, the result 
of thunderstorms, and by the blustering 
winds. Frail and fragile as are the hybrid 
Sweet Briars originated by Lord Penzance, 
they, nevertheless, turned up at many of the 
Rose shows, both urban and provincial, 
where they secured their due mead of praise 
from a wide circle of admirers, drawn to 
them by reason of their innate charm and 
intrinsic merit, as well as old time associa¬ 
tions. 
- 
H.M. The Queen drove over from Windsor to 
Slough on Monday evening last and paid the Royal 
Nursery a visit in order to see Mr. Turner’s new 
Crimson Rambler Rose in bloom. 
We understand that Mr. T. Crasp, formerly of 
Cranford Manor, Wimborne, has been engaged to 
succeed the late Mr. Woods at Osberton. 
Carnation and Picotee Union.—The annual exhi¬ 
bition of this Society takes place at The Cottage, 
Stanley Road, Oxford, on Saturday, July 27th. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next meeting of 
this Society will be held on Tuesday, July 23rd, in 
the Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria Street, London. 
At three o’clock a paper will .be read by Mr. P. 
Brotherston on “The Carnation in Scotland." 
Large Strawberry.—On the 2nd inst. in the 
Vicarage Garden, Ancroft, Mr. Jas. Nesbitt picked a 
Strawberry of unusual size, which, upon being 
measured, was found to be over seven inches in 
circumference. 
Layering Rhododendrons.—Now is a good time for 
layering Rhododendrons and Belgian Azaleas, just 
as they are coming into full growth. 
Strange place for Bees.—The Post Office at Fortrie, 
Inverkeithney, was recently taken possession of 
by a swarm of bees, which entered the letter slit 
at the window. They made forcible entry early in 
the afternoon, and were not evicted till four o’clock 
next morning. 
Golden Wedding.—Mr. Grant, head gardener and 
land steward on the Park Estate, Drumoak, and 
his wife celebrated their golden wedding on the 
28th ult. at Park. There was a large gathering of 
the tenantry and friends on the occasion, and they 
presented Mr. and Mrs. Grant with handsome 
presents. Mr. Grant has been gardener at Park 
during the whole of his married life. 
Strawberries at Fyvie.— Early in the second week 
of this month Mr. A. Harvey, Lethenty, Fyvie, 
Aberdeenshire, gathered some ripe Strawberries in 
his garden. This was the first heard of in the dis¬ 
trict, so that those in the south and whose crops are 
over may well envy the first fruits of the late 
northern district. 
A Floral sheep.—A representation of a “sheep' 1 
is Cincinnati’s latest floral monstrosity ! 
Pineapples are sold in Madagascar at the rate of 
four for a cent. 
Several Petrified Forests have been found in 
Arizona, Mexico. 
Drought in Ireland.—According to one of the 
oldest residents in Kerry this is the driest season he 
remembers in Ireland. 
Indian Corn, Beans, Squashes, Plantains, Cassava, 
Tobacco, and a few other easily cultivated plants 
used to constitute the whole of Indian agriculture. 
Owls.—There are only six or seven species of 
owls native to Great Britain, and some of them are 
rarely seen. Sportsman, spare that owl! 
Hazel nuts. —Numerous varieties are cultivated in 
Kent, but Filberts are more extensively grown than 
the Cob in the neighbourhood of Maidstone. Ground 
which is good for Hops is equally good for Filberts. 
Woollen rags make the best and most lasting 
manure, in the opinion of many growers. 
Wooden Houses.—By chemical processes wood may 
be compressed, moulded into bricks, and then 
rendered as hard as iron and absolutely fire proof. 
A hotel in Hamburgh has been entirely built of 
wood prepared in this way. 
Hyacinths in Holland.—The Hyacinth is still the 
bulb grown in the biggest quantities, though, in 
all, there are 18,000 different varieties of bulbs 
cultivated in Holland. 
Propagating Asparagus by Division.—There is 
nothing new in propagating Asparagus by division. 
In the case of fine varieties increase by division is 
the proper method, as stated by our esteemed con¬ 
temporary Gardening (American). Do not wait till 
the plants get large and old, otherwise there is a risk 
of losing some of the middle cuts in large root 
stocks. 
Plant Photographs at the Aquarium. —At the annual 
Photographic Exhibition held at the Royal Aqua¬ 
rium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July nth, 
12th, and 13th, Mr. Theodore Brown, Portland 
House, Salisbury, exhibited a series of photographs 
of groups of plants that were remarkable for their 
clearness, being some of the best of the kind we have 
seen. The photos in question were taken by means 
of the Stereoscopic Transmitter. Very pretty also 
was the representation of “Winter on the Back¬ 
waters of the Yarra,” sent by Miss M. Rollason, 
Melbourne. Magnificent views of Glengarrif Har¬ 
bour, Co. Cork, Innisfallen, Lower Lake, Killarney, 
and the Lakes of Killarney from Kenmare Road 
came from Mr. W. Lawrence, photographer, Dublin. 
Kingswood Horticultural Society. —On the 3rd inst. 
a meeting of Kingswood Horticultural Society was 
held at the King's Arms Hotel, Bristol, under the 
presidency of Mr. Philip Fussell. It was mentioned 
that the prize money, which now amounted to £215, 
for the forthcoming show had been added to by a 
guinea prize presented for six foliage plants in class 
41 open to all amateurs. Also that a special 
amateur ladies' prize of a fine Wedgwood jardiniere 
in jasper, relieved in white flaxman figures, had 
been presented for the most artistic floral arrange¬ 
ment. It was mentioned that the wires for the 
electrical tramway about to be erected would inter¬ 
fere with the display of floral arches for which 
premiums were offered, but it was pointed out 
that the committee could not now alter the schedule. 
Syndical Chamber of Belgian Horticulturists. —At 
the monthly meeting of this Society held on the 7th 
inst., to adjudicate upon the horticultural products 
brought up, Certificates of Merit were awarded to 
Phoenix humilis, presented by M. Kuyk ; to Cattleya 
Mossiae var., shown by M. Jules Hye ; to a collec¬ 
tion of twenty plants of Cattleya Mendeli, C. Mossiae 
and C. gigas, and to Cypripedium Youngi and 
Cattleya Arnoldii, all shown by the same exhibitor ; 
to Pteris longifolia Mariesii, shown by M. De Smet- 
Duvivier ; to Odontoglossum Wilckeanum, presented 
by MM. Vervaet & Co.; to Aechmea fulgens major, 
exhibited by M. Petrick ; and to a hybrid Cypripe¬ 
dium (Stonei x Spicerianum), shown by M. Pynaert 
Van Geert. 
The Wesley Tree. —It is represented that the 
"Wesley Tree” at Cambo, Northumberland, is 
greatly decayed. Various appliances have been 
used to keep the parts together, supplemented and 
fortified by a substantial fence. A new tree has also 
been planted close by, and a stone monument erected 
by Sir George Trevelyan bears the simple inscrip¬ 
tion: “John Wesley preached here on his 79th 
birthday, June 17th, 1782.” 
Hurst & Son v. Carter & Co.—At Lower Clapton 
on Thursday, the nth inst., a cricket match was 
played between the teams of Messrs. Hurst & Son, 
and Messrs. J. Carter & Co. Two innings were 
played and the match was won by Hurst & Son by 
five wickets. 
A Plea for the Blackberries.—Just now the road¬ 
side hedges in Wales are teeming with Blackberry 
blossom, and this year it seems to be more luxuriant 
than ever. I regret to see the ruthless hand 
of the loppers cutting back the growth and 
spoiling the opportunity for a grateful appetising 
meal to many a poor worker who counts upon this 
most wholesome additional food as a luxury, and 
whether culled for sale or use seems to be always 
appreciated. One would think the lopping, if 
delayed for a month, would not make much 
difference to those on whom devolve the care of our 
roads. Will the various authorities kindly see to it, 
and order it differently ?— Michael Lavin. 
National Carnation and Picotee Society (Southern 
Section).—I beg leave to remind your readers that 
the eighteenth annual exhibition of the above Society 
will be held at the Crystal Palace on Wednesday, 
the 24th inst. Upwards of /150 is offered in prizes. 
Amongst special prizes may be mentioned the 
Martin Smith prizes for border Carnations. The 
flowers to be cut from plants which have been 
wintered without protection in the open border, and 
staged without dressing exactly as they are cut from 
the plants. The Turner Memorial Trustees give a 
very handsome Silver Cup value £5 for the best 
stand of Carnations, bizarres and flakes distinct, 
and twelve Picotees distinct, open to amateurs only. 
Another special prize, “ The Ernest Benary 
Memorial Prize" (not in the schedule of prizes), 
will be given by Mr. Ernest Benary, of Erfurt, 
Germany. A large Silver-gilt Medal is given by the 
firm in memory of the late much regretted founder 
of the firm, Mr. Ernest Benary, for the most 
meritorious exhibit, either of plants or cut flowers, 
by an amateur.— James Douglas, Hon. Sec. 
Woolton Gardening Association —The annual show, 
comprising vegetables, fruit, flowers, poultry, 
pigeons, and eggs, given under the auspices of the 
Woolton Gardening Association, took place on the 
10th inst. in a field kindly lent by Mr. Holbrook 
Gaskell, in High Street, Woolton. There were 
ninety exhibits in the poultry, pigeon, and egg 
department—which is an innovation this year—and 
they made an excellent show. There were not 
quite so many exhibits in the floral section as 
compared with last year, but the quality was very 
good and compared favourably. Miss Gaskell 
distributed the prizes to the successful exhibitors in 
the evening. The show was well patronised during 
the afternoon, and in the evening the numbers greatly 
increased. The band of the Grafton-street Industrial 
School rendered a choice programme of music 
during the day, and Maypole and other dancing—the 
former being skilfully performed by children— 
helped to vary the day’s proceedings. Altogether, the 
committee are to be congratulated on the success 
which has attended their latest effort. 
Importance of Water.—Professor L. H. Bailey, 
Ithaca, N.Y., in reading a paper recently before the 
American Association of Nurseryman, said :—“ I am 
very thoroughly convinced that in all our discussions 
of the fertilization of land we overlook the great 
importance of water. Water is not only itself a 
plant food in a very important sense, inasmuch as it 
enters into the growth and structure of every plant 
tissue, but it also takes into solution every particle of 
plant food which comes into the roots of a tree, and 
it makes no difference how much fertilizer you put 
on an acre of ground that fertilizer is of absolutely 
no value if there is no water to take it into solution. 
Flower Show at Debenham.—On the afternoon of 
the 10th inst. a bazaar and flower show were held in 
Mr. Amass’s meadow, Gracechurch Street, Deben¬ 
ham, in aid of the fund for rebenching the 
Congregational Chapel. Debenham flower show 
was, some four years ago, one of the largest country 
