August 5, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
769 
way, did that other popular variegated golden 
bedding plant, Mesembryanthemum cordifolium 
variegatum. 
Flower Shows have been held in numbers in Corn¬ 
wall this week, and although the season was 
unusually early the exhibits were in nearly every 
instance both creditable and fine. Especially was it 
noticeable in the case of cottage garden exhibitors, 
the numbers of which appear to be increasing every 
year " as knowledge grows." The Education Act 
seems indeed to be showing itself in Cornwall in a 
most remarkable way, and nothing can more clearly 
depict the altered character of things than the 
numerous neat, and in many cases truly tasty, gardens 
of the working men as seen from the public 
thoroughfares. 
Large Ivies.—The Rev. David Landsborough, of 
Kilmarnock, states in the Glasgow Herald that at 
Loudon Castle, Ayrshire, there is an Ivy which, 
fourteen years ago, measured three feet in girth of 
stem one foot from the ground. It climbs to the top 
of an Ash tree, about 70 ft. in height. There is, 
however, also, says Mr. Landsborough, in Kyle 
(Ayrshire) an Ivy in some respects more remarkable 
than this one. It grows on the base of what 
is now the highest storev of Dundonald Castle, and 
though one would imagine it would have poor 
nourishment there, the stem is 2 ft. 6 in. in girth at 
five feet from its roots. It may be presumed that 
this aristocratic and exalted Ivy is much older 
than the other- Johns, in "The Forest Trees 
of Britain,” mentions only one Ivy in England 
greater than those of Ayrshire. It grows at Foun¬ 
tains Abbey, and was in 1849 3 ft. 2 in. in girth 
(height not given). One is, however, mentioned as 
growing " at Gigean, near Montpelier, which, before 
1849, was 6 ft. in circumference at its base.” 
Quite an agreeable change has come over the 
gardening world of Cornwall, as well as similar good 
things for the agriculturist. As regards the latter, 
it may be said that the harvest has become general, 
and that notwithstanding the gloomy forebodings of 
many farmers, there can be no doubt whatever that 
the crops, taking them all round, are far and beyond 
what was expe< ted. The wheats, although short in 
straw, are heavily kerned, and the same remark 
applies to oats and barley. Grass lands have changed 
as if by magic, and some farmers are expecting a good 
second crop ot hay. The eflect of the recent showers 
on the Potato crop is surprising ; nearly all the late 
sorts have made an excellent start, and promise 
ample growth and good yield. It is reported by Mr. 
H. Mitchell, gardener to Mr. Basset at Teludy, that 
this season Apples, Peaches, and Nectarines are an 
average crop, whilst Pears, Cherries, and all small 
fruit are mast decidedly above the average, but that 
Strawberries, whilst under the average, were remark¬ 
able in quality. The annual Gooseberry Fair held at 
Helston was a decided failure on Saturday last. 
Green vegetables are now very plentiful, and for 
them there is now a great demand in London and the 
Midland centres. 
Roses and their essences.—Our national emblem, 
as all the world knows, is the object io other countries 
of commercial transactions. The reverential air with 
which the Englishman regards the flower, is replaced 
in Turkey and Southern France, for example, by the 
cold calculating possibilities of what it will produce. 
In the full flush of its glory, the delicate bloom is 
plucked, expeditiously placed in macerating pots, and 
subjected to a heating and pressing process warranted 
to extract its prized essential oil for use in a variety 
of toilet preparations. Perhaps a little careful study 
would enable some of our scientific cultivators to 
raise a profitable industry, and free us from being 
tributary to either the Turk or others for the sweet¬ 
smelling Rose essences. Experiments have been 
made at Leipzig with Rose plantations, with success 
that has warranted their extension, and a factory has 
been laid down for dealing daily with an enormous 
quantity of petals immediately on their collection. 
The Leipzig experimenters declare their trials to 
have shown that instead of oriental heat being 
requisite for the flowers to prosper and acquire a 
delicate perfume, "a cool and even slightly humid 
temperature is the first condition of a good yield, and 
that great heat is the enemy of Roses.” In any year 
but this the description would fit our climatic condi¬ 
tions exactly. Having in mind a now notorious 
disquisition on "jam,” and the good results it has 
produced, who will gain fame by a propaganda on 
Roses ?—Commerce. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The undermentioned subjects were awarded certifi¬ 
cates according to merit when exhibited at the meet¬ 
ing of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 25th 
ult. 
Cupressus macrocarpa lutea. —The leaves of 
this variety are of a light yellow but in no other way 
differ from those of the type. The plant is therefore 
very distinct, and should be freely planted in asso¬ 
ciation with the green form by way of contrast. The 
pyramidal and spiry form of a tall plant has a distinc¬ 
tive effect in a landscape, and being narrow, especially 
in the young state, it is suitable for small gardens. A 
columnar specimen about 3 ft. or 4 ft. was exhibited 
by Messrs. Dicksons, of Chester and received a 
First class Certificate. 
Platycodon grandiflorum Mariesii. — The 
variety here noted differs from the type chiefly in its 
dwarf stature, being about 6 in. to 8 in. high under 
gocd cultivation. The dark blue flowers have deeper 
veins. A pan of it exhibited by Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, under the erroneous name of Campanula 
Mariesii, had stems 2 in. to 4 in. high, and was 
accorded a First-class Certificate. 
Spir^a Anthony Waterer. —This is evidently a 
dark flowered form of Spiraea Bumalda with corym¬ 
bose cymes of flowers that are carmine red in bud 
and till some time after expansion, when they fade to 
a deep rose. The ste ns are slender and twiggy and 
evidently continue to bear flowers over a long period 
of time. A First-class Certificate was awarded it 
when shown by Mr. Anthony Waterer, Knapp Hill, 
Surrey, 
Didymocarpus lacunosa. —The leaves of this 
plant are ovate or cordate and confined to the root- 
stock, while the flower scapes rise to a height of 2 in. 
to 3^ in. bearing a pair of blooms much resembling 
those of a Streptocarpus to which they are closely 
allied. They are tubular,dilated upwards to a five-lobed 
lamina and of a deep violet purple except the inner 
face of the segments which is clearer and brighter. 
The species is deci iedly pretty but moderate in size. 
A Botanical Certificate was accorded it when shown 
by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Caladium Le Nain Rouge.— The name of this 
variety, meaning dwarf red, well expresses the 
character of the same. The plant is dwarf with 
shield-shaped deep red leaves, with crimson veins 
and a narro w green edge. An Award of Merit was 
accorded it when shown by Messrs J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill. 
Sweet Pea, The Belle. —The standard of this 
variety is splashed with rose and pink, while the 
wings are coloured in the same way with rose and 
blush. 
Sweet Pea Eliza Eckford. —Standard blush 
with a rosy purple stripe along the midrib of 
the outer face and splashed with pink towards the 
edges. Sometimes the whole of the outer face is 
pink, while the inner face is paler. The wings are 
creamy white. Both varieties were shown by Mr. 
Henry Eckford, Wem, Salop, and received an Award 
of Merit in each case. 
BaGONiA, Mrs. Bourne.— The large, obliquely 
cordate leaves of this variety are velvety green with 
pale veins. The flowers are of large size, bright 
yellow and inclined to produce numerous s pals. 
Three of the male flowers had the outer sepals trans¬ 
formed to leaves, serrate, hairy and green at the 
edges but yellow in the central and basal area. An 
Award of Merit was accorded the variety when 
shown by Mrs. Darwin, The Grove, Huntingdon 
Road, Cambridge. 
Carnation Esmeralda.— In this we have a fancy 
yellow ground Picotee. The yellow ground is 
slightly shaded with buff and striped with heliotrope 
from the edges inwards. The flowers are perfectly 
full with slightly toothed petals, and although not 
refined, the variety would probably answer well for 
border culture. It received an Award of Merit when 
shown by Mr. Frederick Bull, Wormingford, Col¬ 
chester. 
Melon, Lee's Perfection.— The fruit of this 
variety as shown, was large, globular, orange yellow 
netted with grey and would weigh about 5 or 6 
pounds. The rind is thin, the flesh white, of great 
thickness and decidedly juicy and sweet. An Award 
of Merit was accorded it by the Fruit and Vegetable 
Committee when shown by F. Lee, Esq , Lynford 
Hall, Mundford, Norfolk. 
The undermentioned subjects received First-class 
Certificates at Earl's Court on the 26th ult: — 
Carnation Mrs. Apsley Smith. —The flowers of 
this variety are of a brilliant, fiery red or scarlet, 
moderate in size and not inclined to split the calyx 
tube. The petals are slightly toothed. Besides 
obtaining the Certificate, this took the first prize for 
the best border variety of a self-coloured Carnation 
when shown by Mr. C. Turner, Slough. 
Carnation Crimson King. —The flowers in this 
instance are of good average size and deep crimson 
but not maroon. The petals are rather crowded but 
the calyx does not appear inclined to split. Besides 
the Certificate this took the second prize in the same 
class as the above when shown by Mr. J. Douglas, 
Edenside, Great Bookham, Surrey. 
Chrysanthemum maximum filiforml. — The 
flowers of this variety measure 3 in. to 4 in. across 
and have white rays with a large golden disc. The dis¬ 
tinctive feature of it is that the rays are more or less 
deeply three-lobed or three-parted and imbricate. It 
was exhibited by Messrs J. Laing & Sons, Forest 
Hill. 
Melon, Beauty of Syon.— The fruit of this variety 
is globular, moderate in size, and about 3 or 4 pounds 
in weight, yellow and netted. On the whole it b±ars 
a considerable resemblance to Hero of Lockinge 
in size, shape and colour. The flesh is scarlet, and 
of good thickness for the size of the fruit. It was 
exhibited by Mr. G. Wythes, gardener to the Duke 
of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford. 
-- 
HOW TO CURE TOBACCO, 
Can you or any of your readers tell me how to cure 
Tobacco for fumigating ? I have some very fine 
plants and would like to dry them.— Constant Sub¬ 
scriber, Bolton. 
We have no practical experience of our own in 
curing Tobacco, and hardly think the game worth 
the candle in this country. We may, however, give 
the experience of the late Mr. Robert Thompson, at 
Chiswick, as recorded in The Gardener's Assistant.— 
"The Tobacco acquires maturity of growth in 
the beginning of September ; this is indicated by the 
leaves becoming mottled with yellow spots, those at 
the bottom more so than at the top of the plant; 
they are also more glossy and shining than before. 
The Mushroom house being at this time disengaged 
was thought an eligible place for the curing process. 
The plants were taken up quite dry with a few of 
their roots; but no particular attention was paid to 
saving many of the latter, as the object was only to 
avoid breaking the bottom leaves (which might have 
been the case by cutting the stems) ; the plants were 
carried immediately to the house and hung on nails 
in the walls and on ropes in the middle of it. When 
all had been brought into the house it was shut up 
quite close, the fire lighted, and the temperature 
kept to 70° until ihe leaves got completely yellow, 
which they did in four or five days The heat was 
then raised to 75°, and in about a week the leaves, 
with the exception of the mid-ribs, were cured, 
and of a fine brown colour. The heat was 
then increased to between 8o Q and 90°, and 
in five days the mid-ribs were so completely 
killed that the thick ends of them would have 
broken immediately on attempting to handle them. 
The leaves were now very much curled and dry as 
fire could make them, and if subjected to any 
pressure would have crumbled to snuff. Fire was 
disconiinued, and the floor of the house well 
watered ; this vyas repeated as it evaporated ; and in 
twenty-four hours the leaves were as soft and pliable 
as could be desired : they could now be handled 
without breaking or wasting them. W hen stripped 
off the stalks they were stretchid out singly, and 
laid above one another, then well pressed to give 
them form and keep them smooth ; they were then 
tied in bands of about half-a-dozen leaves in each, 
and packed into a tub, being well pressed as they 
were put in. In this way they remained a fortnight, 
when they began to mould slightly at the midribs in 
C nsequence of the weather being moist and \tarm ; 
they were then rehung in the house, and very 
Gradually dried by fire heat . were afterwards 
brought to a moist state in the manner ab^ve 
described, and finally repacked in the tub. The im¬ 
portant points in the above mode of curing are to 
carry the plants to the house whenever they are 
taken up ; for if the sun be bright, the leaves would 
sunburn in a short time. The leaves require to be 
yellow before the heat is increased, otherwise the 
Tobacco would cure too light-coloured ; and the 
mid-ribs must be completely killed before the leaves 
are taken off the stalks; for if not once made very 
dry, they would never keep.” 
