772 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 8, 1895. 
mentioned, every succeeding year witnesses 
the influx of new varieties charac¬ 
terised by numerous lines and markings, 
distributed more or less thickly all over the 
petals. This is of most frequent occurrence, 
perhaps, amongst the yellow ground sorts 
termed fancies. Varieties, striped and 
shaded in several ways with red, orange, 
terra-cotta, and heliotrope, and which a 
florist of the old school, some years ago, 
would have termed fancy Carnations gone 
mad, are now looked upon with increasing 
favour, judging from their frequency upon 
the exhibition table. We are tempted to 
ask whether florists wilfully break or 
negligently allow their own rules and 
standards of perfection to be broken ? Or, 
on the other hand, is it a bid for greater 
popularity amongst the flower-loving 
public, or a craving after novelty in colour 
combinations ? We presume that both the 
latter hypotheses are mainly responsible for 
this state of matters, and are the more 
convinced of their correctness, judging 
from the fact that the judges at a recent 
exhibition were “ instructed to award the 
prizes in the yellow ground classes, to the 
most effective flowers, whether the mark¬ 
ings be longitudinal, curvilinear, or of a 
mixed character.” 
The improvements that are being effected 
amongst the seifs, usually spoken of as 
border Carnations are truly wonderful, 
whether we regard them according to 
breadth of petal, general refinement, purity 
or intensity of colour, or freedom from 
splitting of the calyx. We would fain hope 
that constitution is not being overlooked; 
and could wish that more efforts be made 
to breed fine varieties from clove-scented 
types. 
Mr. Alexander Findlay, from the Gardens, Dupplin 
Castle, Perth, has been appointed head gardener to 
Harvey Pichell, Esq , at Maresfield Park, Sussex. 
Death of Mrs Anthony Waterer. —We regret to 
record the death on the 23rd ult. at the Knap Hill 
Nurseries, Woking, of Ann, wife of Mr. Anthony 
Waterer, aged seventy-four years. 
Lady Finger Radish is handsome, tender, and 
grows quickly. 
Roses should not be planted in proximity to large 
trees, but in fairly heavy, well enriched soil, mulched, 
watered, and well fed. 
Preparations are already being made fora monster 
floral carnival at San Jose, California, next spring. 
It is proposed to spend 50,000 dollars on the affair. 
The great Hamburgh Grape vine in Germany, which 
was planted in the year 1771, and is now 60 inches 
in circumference, is the largest in the world. 
Peas are not progressing in France as could be 
desired ; the early sorts are drying up prematurely, 
and the later sorts are not making a healthy 
growth. 
The drying and curing of Roman Hyancinths and 
other French bulbs has been much retarded. 
Dutch Hyacinths, first size bulbs, will be scarce 
again this season, and while a large surplus of Tulips 
is inevitable, a very large percentage will be under 
forcing size. Von Sion Narcissus will be somewhat 
smaller than usual, but the bulbs are likely to be 
sound and fully matured. 
Seed Promise in France. —The state of affairs in 
the south of France just now is gloomy in the 
extreme. After the hot weather has fairly set in, an 
occasionally shower is all that is needed, as a plenti¬ 
ful supply of water is obtained by irrigation. For 
some time past the heavy rains, combined with heat, 
have been almost continuous, and the maladies pe¬ 
culiar to this district have appeared in the most 
aggravated form. White flower seeds are the crops 
principally affected. Carrots, ODions, and Leeks 
are in an equally deplorable condition. In flower 
seeds, Phox, Petunia, Scabiosa, Salpiglossis, Stock, 
Pansy, and Zinnia are suffering most of all. 
Mulching keeps the soil in a loose and porous 
condition, also moist in severe drought, keeps down 
weeds, if at all heavily laid on, and in decaying adds 
greatly to the fertility of the garden. 
The more you cut Sweet Peas the longer they will 
continue flowering profusely. Allowing the seed to 
mature early impairs the vigour of the plant and 
shortens to a certain extent the period of flowering. 
Lychnis Flos-cuculi semperflorens flore pleno has 
an attractive appearance, nothwithstanding the un¬ 
attractiveness of its name. It is good for cutting, 
beautiful in colour, and if planted in quantity makes 
a fine display with its beautiful rosy flowers. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.—At a meeting 
of this body, held on the 2nd ult , a paper on the 
11 Gardens of Antiquity ” was read by Mr. Chapman, 
The Gardens, Easter Dudingston Lodge, Joppa, 
Edinburgh. He treated of the gardens of Babylon, 
Egypt, Persia, Greece, and dealt with horticultural 
progress in modern times. 
Proposed Park for Hampstead. —A movement has 
been started by a number of influential residents in 
Hampstead to secure the estate of the late General 
Fraser as a park and recreation ground. The pro¬ 
posed park is situated by Finchley Road and West- 
end Lane, and has an area of 13 acres. The grounds 
are finely laid out and abound with flower beds and 
winding paths, 
Apples in Devon. —A correspondent states that in 
Devonshire, the promise of a heavy crop, held forth 
by the abundance of Apple blossom in May, is not 
likely to be fulfilled, owing to the severe and long- 
continued drought. The advent of frequent heavy 
rains will, however, save the rest of the crop, and 
cause the fruits to swell up in such a way as to com¬ 
pensate largely for the deficiency in number. 
Mushrooms. —Judging from the great heat of June 
and July, it is considered probable that the crop of 
Mushrooms from the fields this season, will be 
heavy. The idea is that the heat has favoured the 
development of the spawn; but evidently the all 
important and necessary moisture has been over¬ 
looked. 
Tenacity of Life.—Last winter the frost had access 
to the roots of an India Rubber plant in a pot and 
killed the roots. The stem gradually died and dried 
up from the base upwards, the leaves following suit 
and falling off in succession. Even now about 3 in. 
of the apex of the stem is alive, and the bud had 
sufficient vitality to burst its stipular covering, and 
still looks as if it meant to grow. 
Sweet Pta Exhibition at San Francisco.—At the 
exhibition of Sweet Peas by the California State 
Floral Society, June 14th, an interesting feature was 
the able paper by the Rev. W. T. Hutchins, Indian 
Orchard, Mass., the well-known specialist. The 
essayist asked members of the society not to rely on 
cheaply grown seed, as in such cases they would 
very likely receive an inferior article not up to the 
types of Mr. Eckford’s selections. To produce well 
grown seed and maintain the standard, requires the 
services of high-priced labour. He also gave des¬ 
criptions of some of the newer varieties. 
Local Protection of Birds.—Mr. Asquith, before 
leaving the Home Office, on the application of th e 
Hunts County Council, ordered that the Act of 1880 
should apply to the linnet, the nuthatch, and the 
swallow as if those species were included in the 
schedule to the Act. The taking or destroying of 
the eggs of the kingfisher, the nightingale, the 
nuthatch, the owl, the wild duck, and the wood¬ 
pecker is prohibited within the county. 
Roof Gardens.—Several New York hotels have 
flower gardens on the roof, reached by means of 
lifts. There are also shady arbours in which refresh¬ 
ments may be consumed. 
Swans and Pond Weeds.—At Burghley, the seat of 
the late Marquis of Exeter, there is a piece of orna¬ 
mental water that used to be so choked up with 
weeds, that three men had to be employed during 
the summer months to keep them down. Two pairs 
of swans now do the work more effectually. 
The Orange was introduced to Portugal from China 
in the early part of the 16th century, and found its 
way to England after that date. 
Pelargoniums grow in the form of great bushes, 
5 ft. to 6 ft. in diameter, and are covered with a pro¬ 
fusion of pink and scarlet blossom, as well as of other 
hues, according to the species, in South Africa. 
The Duke of Devonshire has presented a valuable 
site of about six acres to the Buxton Town Council 
for the purpose of forming a public park. 
Cherries—It is stated that over 500 tons of 
Cherries were sent from Sittingbourne to London on 
the 25th ult. 
The Journal of the Kew Guild—the publication of 
which has been unavoidably delayed this year in 
consequence of the family bereavement of the Editor, 
Mr.Watson, whose wife died on April 6th last—is now 
to hand we are pleased to say, and hope to be able 
to refer to it again shortly. 
Forty-eight distinguished members of the Royal 
Scottish Arboricultural Society are on a visit to 
Germany, in order to inspect the German forests, 
and to make themselves acquainted with the man¬ 
agement of forests there. They will stay in Germany 
until the 6th of August. 
Mr. F. M. Coldwells, formerly M.P. for North 
Lambeth, who was one of the directors charged with 
fraud in connection with the Balfour group of com¬ 
panies, died suddenly on Monday evening at his 
house at Bournemouth. At the inquest, held 
yesterday, it was stated that he had frequently 
declared that his financial worries and the criminal 
action againxt him were killing him. Medical 
evidence that death was due to syncope was adduced, 
and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. Mr. 
Coldwells commenced life as a gardener in a very 
humble way. 
Gardeners’ Royal Eenevolent Institution —We are 
pleased to hear that the energetic secretary of the 
Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution has 
succeeded in getting a donation of ten guineas from 
the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers. H.R.H. 
Pincess Louise (Duchess of Fife) and the Duke of 
Fife have graciously signified their interest in the 
work of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Istitution 
by adding their names to its list of vice-presidents. 
Importation of Cut Flowers. —In a recent issue we 
stated that an association had been formed in Amer¬ 
ica to discountenance the importation of the cut 
flowers of Lilium Harrisii from the Bermudas into the 
United States. Recently an association has been 
formed in Holland to endeavour to stop the exporta¬ 
tion of cut flowers from that country, and which is 
calculated to injure the trade of cut flowers and 
bulbs in this country. The leading English growers 
have also come to the conclusion that this traffic 
must be stopped. A meeting convened to consider 
that subject was held in the Hummun’s Hotel, 
Covent Garden, on the 26th ult. The secretary fro 
tern is C. H. M. A. Alderson. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—At a meeting of 
the executive committee held on the 26th ult., Mr. 
W. Marshall presiding, the death of Mr. John Wills, 
a valued member of the committee having been 
reported, the Secretary was instructed to convey 
to Mrs. Wills the deep sympathy of the committee 
in her bereavement, and their profound regret at the 
loss of so generous a supporter of the fund, and of 
such a sincere and valued friend. The special 
receipts since the previous meeting included five 
guineas from the Wimbledon Horticultural Society, 
the result of a sale of flowers ; £7 realised at a Rose 
Fair at the Croydon Show, per Mr. G. W. Cum¬ 
mins ; and box collections by Mr. W. A. Miller, 
Nuderly Hall Gardens, Kirkby Lonsdale, £1 11s. 3 d.; 
and Mr. C. Herrin, Dropmore, 17s. 6d. 
The Rose Fete at Eastbourne.—The day opened at 
Eastbourne on the 26th ult. with a heavy thunder¬ 
storm, but brilliant sunshine favoured the grand 
procession in the afternoon. Many of the houses on 
the Grand Parade were decorated with very great 
artistic skill. The first prize, consisting of a hand¬ 
some clock, was awarded to Araluen ; the second, a 
set of silver salt-cellars, to Mrs. Theodore Drew, of 
Claremont. Immense crowds of people flocked into 
the town, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. 
