720 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 15, 1898. 
have, perhaps, ere now discovered that 
their various evidences of fruit precocity 
are not at all singular. They may, how¬ 
ever, well make and preserve notes of these 
early maturings for quotation and reference 
in future years, for, as we have said, it is 
not likely that we shall see such earliness 
repeated for a long period. 
ore about Tomatos. —It is only recently 
that we referred to Tomatos in these 
columns, but it seems impossible to allow 
reference to these most valuable iruits long 
to remain quiescent. The fact is, in rela¬ 
tion to Tomatos, that every year seems to 
find them becoming more and more inter¬ 
esting, as well as valuable, not merely from 
the cultural and market aspects, but also 
because of their dietary excellence. Just 
now we may see in our shops a capital 
object-lesson in the shape of foreign fruits 
selling at id. and 2d. per lb. and English 
fruits selling at 6d. to 8d. per lb. Now it 
is obvious that no nonsense can be greater 
than that sometimes heard as to foreign 
competition injuring the home grower. 
Why, the prevalent price for good 
English Tomatos now, with the enormous 
areas of glass houses devoted to their 
culture, shows that this immense area 
could be doubled to-morrow with profit to 
the investors. We venture 1o think that 
the existing prices are far too high as it is, 
because they largely prohibit the consump¬ 
tion of the best class of fruits. There is 
absolutely no comparison between the 
relative merits and appearance of the best 
home and foreign fruits, and although we 
have seen a somewhat absurd charge made 
that by using a black-lead brush freely on 
foreign fruits they can be made to pass for 
home-raised ones, we think that no one 
now can be so green as to be deceived. 
No doubt a little later on we shall see 
home grown fruits very much cheaper, but 
from the consumers’ point of view we 
should like to see them cheaper now. Our 
opinion is that the Tomato is literally miles 
away from the height of its popularity. 
Still further that, like the Apple and the 
Potato, it has come to stay. We do not 
for one moment share the gloomy view of 
some pessimists that the taste is a mere 
fashion, and that presently, to the ruin 
of growers, it will change. So far from 
that being the case there is every proba¬ 
bility that the appreciation of the Tomato 
will grew and grow illimitably. 
ingle Carnations. —Just at the time 
when the favourite double Carnation 
is holding high festival by presenting itself 
in all its perfection and variety at exhibi¬ 
tions, it is not an unsuitable time to draw 
attention to the merits, if only for domestic 
decoration, of the single forms. We saw 
but the other day an example in which 
these single Carnations, set up with Gypso- 
phila, made a very charming combination, 
and secured much admiration. That, 
however, is but a trifling recommendation 
perhaps, but it is worthy of some atten¬ 
tion. 
The single forms come from seed freely, 
and they seed abundantly, hence they can 
be increased enormously with ease. There 
is in commerce a single strain known as 
“ Jacks,” but these are cultivated for im¬ 
provement, solely, so far as their leafage is 
concerned, and very fine leafage a good 
strain of these “Jacks” have. But then 
florally we should never be content with 
existing single Carnations, even though the 
flowers are so pretty and so pleasing for 
domestic decoration. We want to see them 
doubled in size, and even have finely cut or 
lacerated edges, for though these may be 
the detestation of the florist, they are the 
delight of those who prefer informal look¬ 
ing, graceful flowers. 
Did we but try, there is no telling what 
a wealth of beauty may yet be obtained 
from single Carnations. If we could but 
engraft on the plants such size and colour 
as Dianthus chinensis Heddewigii gives, 
what a gain it would be. Who will try what 
can be accomplished ? There is no telling. 
Single Pink flowers are very beautiful, 
then why not single Carnations ? 
^%rade and Gardening. —Unless there is 
speedily a great revival of trade it is 
but too evident that gardening will 
materially suffer. We have already heard 
of numerous cases in which trade depression 
or financial failures have led to reductions 
in garden expenses and the dismissal of old 
servants to a painful extent; and there is 
too much reason to fear that soon this evil 
may be greatly extended. Gardening is in 
no sense responsible for this misfortune, 
but it is, unfortunately, the first to suffer, 
perhaps because it is the most innocent. 
As gardeners we deeply deplore this, and 
all the more so because very much of the 
depression from which horticulture suffers 
comes from the evil days upon which the 
sister art of agriculture has fallen, the 
product almost entirely of bad seasons and 
severe epidemics amongst our flocks and 
herds. We have, no doubt, whatever, 
because things have in previous times been 
as bad or worse than they are now, but that 
they will presently improve ; and if garden¬ 
ing suffered less then, it was because it was 
not so extensively practised as it is nbw. 
It is possible that things may be worse 
before they are better, but we sincerely 
hope not. In any case it is just as well to 
boldly' face the difficulty, and be prepared 
for the worst. Gardeners, who after long 
and faithful service are turned adrift, 
certainly merit our earnest sympathy in 
their great trouble. 
-- 
The Waltham Abbey and District Flower Show will 
take place in a field near Waltham Cross Station, on 
Thursday, the 27th inst. 
Mr. John Adams, late of Clovenfords, and formerly 
foreman at Normanby Park, Doncaster, has been 
engaged as gardener to Thomas Hardman, Esq., 
Corbar Hall, Buxton, Derbyshire. 
The Rothamsted Jubilee Memorial.—At a recent 
meeting of the Rothamsted Jubilee Fund, it was de¬ 
cided to ask the Minister of Agriculture to preside 
on the occasion of the dedication of the memorial at 
Rothamsted and the presentation of congratulatory 
addresses to Sir John Lawes and Dr. Gilbert. This 
ceremony will take place on Saturday, the 29th inst. 
Pampisford Hall, Cambridgeshire, was offered for 
sale by auction last week, by order of Mr. W. Parker 
Hammond, but failed to obtain a single offer. This 
property includes a mansion built in the Italian 
style and an arboretum which is noted for its rich 
collection of coniferous trees. The area is 790a ir 
8p, with the actual and estimated rent roll of £1,193 
per annum. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society. 
—The quarterly meeting of this society was held on 
Monday evening last at the Caledonian Hotel, Mr. 
Nathan Cole presiding. Three new members were 
elected, making thirty-five in the six months. The 
death of a non-paying member was reported as 
having occurred in May last, and the amount stand¬ 
ing to his credit (£24 7s. qd.), was paid to his widow. 
The late member ceased to contribute in 1886. 
There is only one member on the sick fund at the 
present time, and the treasurer reported that he had 
invested £200 in West Bromwich Three per Cent 
Stock since the previous meeting. 
Choice Orchids.—At Protheroe & Morris's rooms, 
on the 7th inst., some very choice Orchids came 
under the hammer, but there were not many buyers 
present. One of the only two known plants said to 
be in existence of Cattleya Mendelii Bluntii w’as 
withdrawn at 145 guineas, the reserve not being 
reached. A form of Cattleya Hardyana, and by no 
means the same thing as the original, fetched 75 
guineas. There was a fair run on the imported 
pieces of Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Schroderianum, 
and the new- Eulophiella Elisabethae realised from 
two guineas to thirteen guineas per plant. 
Living Up a Tree. —At Washington, the official 
capital of the States, a veteran of the Civil War lives 
literally “ up a tree." He has built a home in the 
branches of three great Oaks at Mount Pleasant, a 
suburb of Washington. There he lives, 30 ft. above 
the ground, surrounded by squirrels, birds, and 
books, with the fresh air blowing over him, and 
enjoying himself immensely. He calls his abode 
“ Airy Castle," and many visitors to Washington 
“ do ” this castle as one of the numerous sights of 
the city. 
Haldon Hall, within an easy distance of Exeter, 
has, with the extensive parks and grounds, passed 
from the Palks to T. B. Bolitho, Esq., M.P., of 
Penzance, and since it became his property, the 
Hon. gentleman has spent large sums in improving 
the fine pleasure grounds so much visited by the 
public. Mr. Bolitho is the right man in the posses¬ 
sion of such an estate, especially as he lends his 
immense wealth to giving pleasure to the public 
without stint, and the result of his expenditure at 
Haldon in extending the beauty of the grounds will 
be appreciated as deserved. 
New Plants Ceritficated in Ghent.—At the last 
meeting of Chamber Syndical of Belgium Horticul¬ 
turists, Certificates of Merit were awarded to Mr. 
L. Desmet-Duvivier and Mr. F. Desbois, for Stro- 
bilanthes Dyerianus; to Mr. F. Desbois for 
Hydrangea otaxa compacta and Nicotiana colossea 
foliis albo marginata; to Messrs. Edm. Vervaet 
& Co. for Odontoglossum Trianae var.; to Mr. 
Charles Vuylsteke for Cypripedium Harrisianum 
robustum ; to Mr. A. Van Imschoot for Cattleya 
guttata Leopoldi, and Grammatophyllum Ellisi ; to 
Mr. Jules Hye, for Odontoglossum elegantissimum 
and to Mr. Schmitz for Cattleya Mendelii virginalis. 
A Reminiscence of the Queen.—At the judges, 
luncheon at the Manchester Rose Show, on the 6th 
inst., Mr. Bruce Findlay, in proposing the toast of 
" Happiness to the newly-married couple," men¬ 
tioned the following incident, which is no secret, 
inasmuch as it is known to Her Majesty the Queen : 
—In the year 1821 his father was a gardener in the 
then Duke of York’s garden at Oatlands Park, in 
Surrey. The Princess Victoria, then a baby, was in 
the garden with her nurse, and fell into a pool of 
water, and Mr. Findlay’s father, who was near at 
hand, pulled the baby out of what might have been 
a watery grave. 
Hengrave Hall, Suffolk, the historic sixteenth 
century edifice erected by Sir Thomas Kyston. who 
was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, was put up for 
sale last week, but failed to find a purchaser, the 
property being withdrawn at £68,500. The great 
feature of Hengrave is the windows, many of which 
contain painted glass of much interest. In the old 
chapel the window has twenty-one lights, brought by 
Sir Thomas Kyston from the Low Countries, each 
light representing an allegorical or scriptural subject, 
beginning with " The Creation of the Heavens," and 
ending with "The Day of Judgment.” Other 
windows, notably the Oriel window of the morning- 
room, have numerous coats of arms, eithei of local 
or historic interest. 
Scottish Horticultural Society. —A meeting of this 
association was held at 5, St. Andrew Square, 
Edinburgh, on the 4th inst , Mr. James Grieve, 
Pilrig Park, in the chair. There was a fairly 
numerous attendance of members. Mr. Gallacher, 
Redbraes Nursery, read a paper on "TheBouvardia," 
in which he touched on the beau ty of its flower and 
its usefulness as a decorative plant, giving in detail 
his own mode of treatment, which all the later 
speakers agreed was in entire sympathy with their 
own for showing good results. There were exhibits 
from Mr. Chapman, Easter Duddingston, of flowers 
of Desfontanea spinosa and Veronica cupressiodes 
var. variabilis from the open; and from Mr. 
Carmichael, Pitt Street, of the fruit of Laxton’s 
Competitor Strawberry. 
A well-travelled Dracaena.—The beautiful speci¬ 
men of Dracaena Sanderiana shown by Messrs. F. 
Sander & Co., at the late Ghent Quinquennial, where 
it formed one of their first prize group of six new 
plants, has by its subsequent wanderings proved 
