806 
August 19, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
much more might be done, to render them 
splendidly representative of indigenous and exotic 
vegetation. Take the mangrove alone, this year for 
the first time thriving in the grounds. What a 
public attraction might be made of it if folks could 
be led to understand that this is the great extender 
of islands and continents 1 It fringes the shores of 
bays and river-mouths, for ever arresting and solidi¬ 
fying the sand and mud with its arched roofs, until 
it has erected a delta, or a foreshore, when it passes 
away, bequeathing new successors to fight the sea. 
But botany would be only the background of such 
gardens as the " Royal Botanists" have allowed, as 
it were, to run to seed. Look at their absurd regu¬ 
lations ! The public can only enter by orders from 
Fellows of the society, artists and students being 
admitted on the recommendation of their teachers. 
Fancy all the inner circle of the beautiful park given 
up to a management with this ridiculous rule of 
entry! Who takes the trouble to ask for orders ? The 
public likes to see an inviting place, and pay its six¬ 
pence or a shilling, and enter straightway This is 
one senseless point. Another is that in the large 
space enclosed smoking has been always forbidden. 
At the disconsolate meeting lately held a highly sen¬ 
sible Fellow objected very much to smoking being 
prohibited, and thought it ought to be allowed in 
certain portions of the garden. The chairman 
promised that the question of smoking in particular 
portions of the gardens "should be considered." 
Should be considered ! As if smoking could do any¬ 
thing but good to the plants ; as if anything except 
financial failure and disaster were to be expected 
from a body who hold under lease one of the most 
naturally attractive spots in the capital, and, while 
keeping as many people as possible out of it by 
absurd limitations of entry, forbid them, when inside, 
refreshments, tobacco, freedom, and pleasure of any 
substantial kind ' 
No wonder the balance sheet of the Royal Botanic 
Society is such a depressing document, and its return 
of visitors so miserable contrasted with that of its 
near and popular neighbour the Zoological Gardens. 
Yet we cannot banish from mind that any body of 
people holding such a space of open and beautiful 
grounds as these fellows owe a debt to all London 
as well as to their subscribers. They have no 
business to darken the place with puritanical 
regulations; they have no business to rest content 
with a few flower shows, and tennis matches, and 
croquet parties—calling that a year's work. They 
have no moral right to shut it, as far as possible, 
against the flower loving and fresh air loving London 
citizen, for the sake of a few, who afterwards grumble 
because the public or the State will not pay their 
debts. The gates of such a place should be'thrown 
wide; admission should be easy and immediate; 
within there should be found, besides the beauties of 
floral Nature, the simple pleasures which make 
repose more desirable. There should be music, 
there should be kiosks for refreshment and reading, 
there should be shady and comfortable chairs and 
seats, there should be available good tea and coffee 
and light food at reasonable prices. With ideas 
like these to animate them and to re-animate their 
misused property, we should soon hear no more of 
debts and deficits in connection with such an ideal 
London retreat. Nor let it be thought or said for an 
instant that it is in our purpose to suggest.the trans¬ 
formation of the Royal Botanic Garden into a Jardin 
Mabille or a Closerie des Lilas. We would have it 
always and specially dedicated to the delightful 
science which finds a seat there—to botany, which 
next to astronomy is perhaps the best worth earnest 
study of all branches of wisdom at the present time. 
But what on earth is the sin of a cigar, or the crime 
of a cup of tea, or the flagitiousness of a sally lunn, 
that these things, and music, should not be blended 
with the observation of Nature’s variety and loveli¬ 
ness, and for how long must we continue to see such 
eligible spots as these gardens paralysed and petrified 
in the hands of people, insensible alike to their own 
interests and those of the public at large ? The 
financial difficulties of the Royal Botanic Society 
are the just Nemesis of its unintelligent administra¬ 
tion. Sir Augustus Harris, if he had a free hand, 
would turn the fair green pleasaunce into a centre of 
delight and instruction for millions upon millions of 
Londoners and country visitors who do not to-day 
know even where to find its entrance gates.— Daily 
Telegraph. 
The Carnation its History, Properties, and Management, 
with a descriptive list of the best varieties in cultivation. By 
E. S: Dodwell. Third edition, with supplementary chapter on 
the Yellow Ground. London: Gardening WoIrld Office, i, 
Clement’s Inn, Strand, W.C. is. 6d.: post free, is. 7d.—Ade.J 
Hardening Miscellany. 
BIG GOOSEBERRIES. 
Having read what Mr. Mackellar has had to say as 
to some recent weights of exhibition gooseberries, I 
turned to the record found in the “ Fruit Manual," 
(edition of 1862), where there is stated the highest 
known weights of certain large varieties up to that 
time, and found that Mr. Mackellar’s 2gdwts. 26grs. 
for London is a long way beaten by 3qdwts. 7grs., 
Wonderful coming next with 28dwts. i2grs., Conquer¬ 
ing Hero 26dwts. 3grs. Catherine 2ydwts. iqgrs., 
and Companion 26dwts. 8grs. These weights will 
show that there are some big records to be broken, 
although when broken what earthly good has been 
accomplished I fail to see. Is there not a misprint 
in Mr. Mackellar’s note putting Lord Derby at 
22dwts. i7grs. as the heaviest fruit, when the next 
heaviest is put at 2gdwts. 26grs ? Should not the 
Lord Derby have been 32dwts. ?— AD. 
COUNTESS OF HOPETOUN VIOLA. 
Having regarded the excessive drought and heat 
which marked all the earlier summer I was much 
surprised, when visiting Mr. Mortimer's Nursery 
Garden at Farnham recently, to find this beautiful 
white Viola blooming so wonderfully, and on a thin, 
light gravelly soil too that is the reverse of holding. 
No higher tribute to the value of this variety as a 
white-flowered summer bedder could well be paid. 
I have seen no white variety that is at all its equal, 
even the pure white Snowflake does not at all com¬ 
pare with the Countess in endurance, whilst it has 
a compact habit. This Viola, which is one of the 
largest flowered, has very largely superseded white 
bedding pansies, very few of which have good white 
flowers or good habit.— A.D. 
THE VARIEGATED JAPAN HOP. 
I thank you for the recommendation of my Varie¬ 
gated Hop, which appeared in your last issue, and 
think if you could see some of my stock you would 
like it even more than you appear to do now. The 
weather was with us in Germany so very dry and 
hot that only those Hops really established 
themselves and show their true character which had 
plenty of water given to them. I have single plants 
growing on tall poles that are 12 ft. high, and from 
3 ft. to 4 ft. in diameter, clothed with beautifully varie¬ 
gated foliage from top to bottom. I notice that you 
say I sent some plants to the Drill Hall, West¬ 
minster, but I have not sent any there. [The 
exhibition card stated that the plants were 
exhibited by our correspondent.— Ed.] It may be 
of interest to some to know that the best way of 
raising the plant is to sow the seeds in the open 
ground in the autumn about one or two inches deep. 
Early in April they will grow freely, but care must 
be taken in the meantime that mice and birds do not 
reach them, for they are very fond of the seeds. It 
is also best to sow them where they are to make 
their growth, rather than to transplant them in 
spring. If the seeds should be sown in pans or 
boxes, be careful to avoid giving them any bottom 
heat, or they will germinate very poorly, and per¬ 
haps fail altogether .—Frederick Rcemer, Quedlinbttrg. 
CALLIRHOE INVOLUCRATA. 
The flowers of this Malvaceous plant are of a large 
size aud of a rich rosy-purple with a white eye. 
They are borne singly in the axils of leaves or bracts 
on procumbent stems that vary from 1 to 2 ft. in 
length. The habit of the plant makes it suitable for 
planting in the pockets of rockwork, so that the 
stems may spread and hang over the ledges. The 
flower stalks themselves are of considerable length, 
and thereby facilitate their being used for cut flower 
work. 
ANTHEMIS BIEBERSTEINII. 
Some of the species of Anthemis are ornamental, 
border, or rockwork plants, and others mere weeds. 
A. nobilis which has been renowned in medicine for 
its febrifugal and tonic properties has established 
itself in this country, making itself a disreputable 
weed on lawns, where it insinuates itself amongst the 
grass and is most difficult to eradicate. That under 
notice has much cut hoary leaves, with linear seg¬ 
ments, and all confined to the short procumbent 
stems. The long stalked flowers have a bright 
yellow disc and rays, and are shown prominently 
above the carpet of leaves. It is a native of the 
Caucasus, and keeps on flowering for the greater part 
of summer. Although it has been introduced for 
some time, it is seldom met with in gardens, but 
may be seen on the rockery at Kew. 
LYTHRUM VIRGATUM 
Those who object to the vigour and height of L 
Salicaria for border work will find in L. virgatum a 
neater and more refined plant. The stems are 
slender and twiggy as the specific name indicates, 
and grow about 18 in. to 2 ft. in height according to 
the soil and season and bear a profusion of deep 
rosy-purple flowers. Like the better-known British 
species already mentioned it likes a fair amount of 
moisture, and will succeed best if planted in a 
tolerably moist position, but in the full sun if free 
flowering is desired. 
RU DBEOKIA HIRTA. 
While this may be compared to R. speciosa it 
hardly equals it in decorative horticultural value. 
The stems are slightly taller and bear oblong-elliptic 
or lanceolate leaves, the larger ones and most of 
them being confined to the base. The flowers are, 
however, 2 in. to 3 in. in diameter, golden yellow, 
and surround a deep brown and shortly conical disc 
The plant varies from 18 in. to 2 ft. in height accord¬ 
ing to conditions, and is certainly a showy plant, but 
most not be grown in a water-logged soil. If the 
latter is well drained, but not dry, it will succeed 
better than if otherwise. 
ANTIRRHINUM YELLOW BEDDER. 
Looking round Mr. Forbes’ nursery, at Hawick, the 
other day, I was much pleased with a yellow bedding 
Antirrhinum, which, I understand, is to be sent out 
in the spring as a companion to the well-known 
white and crimson bedders. The plants of Yellow 
Bedder are growing alongside of the others, and has 
- all the appearance of being as compact and flori- 
ferous; in fact, I counted nearly thirty spikes of 
bloom on one of the plants. The colour is sulphur- 
yellow, with a golden-yellow mouth without spot or 
flaking of any sort ; height about 15 in. It will, 1 
feel sure, be welcomed as a decided acquisition, this 
line of colour being a long-felt want in Antirrhinums. 
I have seen many so-called yellows, but not one 
before that has the all-round good qualities of 
Yellow Bedder.— Visitor. 
INTERNATIONAL FRUIT SHOW AT 
ST. PETERSBURG. 
The Russian Society of Fruit Culture will hold an 
International Fruit Show, under the patronage of the 
Czar, at St. Petersburg, in the autumn of 1894, with 
the object of showing the present condition of the 
cultivation of fruit and vegetables, of viticulture, of 
the cultivation of various special plants, and the 
manufacture of their products. The exhibition will 
comprise the following sections: 1, fresh fruit; 2, 
fresh vegetables; 3, dried fruit and vegetables, 
preserved or treated by other processes; 4, wine, 
cider, perry, and other fruit beverages ; 5, hops and 
medical herbs ; 6, seeds ; 7, fruit trees and bushes ; 
8, horticultural implements and appliances, and 
technicality of production ; 9, literary, scientific, and 
educational accessories, collections, plans, &c. Appli¬ 
cations for further information should be addressed to 
the offices of the International Exhibition of Fruit 
Culture, 1894, Imperial Agricultural Museum, 
Fontanka, 10, St. Petersburg. 
DWARF BEDDING BEGONIAS. 
Having recently read a paper in The Gardening 
World with the above heading, it occurs to me that 
my experience may be of some service to those who 
feel disposed to test the double Begonia as a bedding 
plant. Requiring two beds of crimsons we started 
early in January a few old tubers of Begonia Marquis 
of Stafford (a variety originally sent out by Messrs. 
Laing, of Forest Hill) and struck the cuttings as 
soon as they could be obtained. These were grown 
into nice plants and bedded out at the end of May, 
and at the present date (August 15th) the beds are 
evenly covered with large well shaped flowers of the 
finest glowing crimson, carried well above the foliage. 
They have been equally good for weeks past, and 
show no signs of failing in splendour. The plan 
here indicated relieves one of keeping any great 
stock during the winter, and of making any prepara¬ 
tion for the ensuing year beyond that of storing 
away three or four old tubers of such varieties as 
may be thought useful for the purpose. The great 
secret of having double Begonias good and persistent 
is to pick off the seed flowers as soon as they appear, 
—Somersetshire Rector. 
