60 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 25, 189?, 
and vegetables, the demand being very great, as one 
can imagine. 
There are upwards of thirty-five acres of pleasure 
grounds, with over six miles of walks, to which 
visitors have free access at all times; also to the 
plant houses. We congratulate Mr. Macdonald 
upon being the possessor of such a gigantic establish¬ 
ment, and so ably managed, as I beard some ladies 
express. A home from home is, indeed, found at 
the Athole Hydro .—A. Outram. 
---*«- 
THE WOBURN EXPERIMENTAL 
FRUIT FARM. 
During a visit of the Essex farmers to the exper¬ 
imental farm, by the permission of the Duke of Bed¬ 
ford and of the Royal Agricultural Society, the 
following notes were made by Mr. C. Wakely, horti¬ 
cultural lecturer to the Essex County Council: 
" As might be expected (from the limited time the 
trees have been planted) very little difference was to 
be seen in some of the plots, as experiments must be 
conducted over a number of years in order to obtain 
reliable results. Hence the value of the farm as an 
experimental station will increase from year to year. 
One of the most forcible lessons learnt was that 
of the importance of the proper planting of, and 
after-cultivation around, youDg trees. In order to 
illustrate this, trees of the same age and kind had 
been planted on adjoining plots of ground. In one 
case the planting was thoroughly done, whilst in the 
other the roots were placed in the hard ground with¬ 
out any previous preparation, and the weeds had 
been allowed to grow afterwards. Some of the trees 
planted in the latter way were quite dead, and the 
remainder were in a very sickly state. 
" The importance of the pruning of young trees in 
order to get them well furnished with useful wood 
was also well illustrated. The difference between 
pruned and unpruned trees was very marked. The 
former were developing into shapely specimens, whilst 
the latter consisted of a few weakly, badly-furnished 
branches, never likely to give satisfaction. These 
two experiments are specially commended to the 
notice of Essex farmers. 
“ An effort is also being made to solve the question 
as to the time at which the newly-planted trees 
should be pruned, whether in the year of planting 
or in the following cne. This question has caused a 
deal of discussion, and the results to be obtained 
under the two systems will be closely watched for by 
fruit growers. 
"Experiments in deep and shallow planting are 
also being carried out, but sufficient time has not yet 
elapsed to give good results. The droughts since 
planting have also interfered with this experiment. 
" Further experiments are also being conducted in 
order to ascertain the best time for planting trees— 
autumn, winter, or spring. The last season appears 
to be the best, but fuller proof is certainly called 
for."— The Journal of the Essex Technical Laboratories. 
-» I - - 
WEEDS. 
It is not every garden that can boast of growing 
more than a dozen weeds in perfection. In most, 
one particular one holds predominant sway, either 
Cbickweed, Groundsel, or Shepherd’s Purse. But 
in a garden that I knew in the West Riding of York¬ 
shire the following all grew luxuriantly : - 
Coltsfoot, Couch Grass, Groundsel, Shepherd’s 
Purse, Chickweed, Docks, Bindweed, Dandelions, 
Buttercups, Knot Grass, Peppermint, Willow Herb, 
Germander Speedwell, Yarrow, Lady’s Mantle, 
White Goosefoot, Hedge Woundwort and Common 
Nettle. 
The owner of this garden (who bad only had it a 
short time) was in a terrible way about the state it 
was in, and waged war continually against the 
weeds. I often heard him murmuring to himself as 
he worked away (even by moonlight sometimes). 
" One year’s seeding, is 
Seven years’ weeding." 
" Have you ever seen such an untidy garden ? ’’ he 
repeatedly asked me. " No,” I used to reply 
laughingly, " although I have been in many, I never 
saw one before where the couch grass was as tall as 
yourself, the Convolvulus twined all round the 
Gooseberry and Currant bushes, and such quantities 
of Dandelions grew that anyone would think you 
were going to make gallons of Dandelion Tea." 
" Well, you lazy fellow, set to and help to get rid 
of them," was his invariable answer. 
" I will have a go at the Couch Grass, but nothing 
else," was my reply. I dared not confess it to him, 
but in my secret heart I could not help admiring the 
lovely yellow heads of the Coltsfoot, the graceful 
white flowers of the Convolvulus, the exquisite blue 
of the Speedwell or Veronica, and the pretty little 
flesh-coloured flowers of the Knot Grass. I remem¬ 
ber something rather funny in connection with the 
latter plant. One day I heard a lady (a very clever 
botanist) go up to another who was first beginning 
the study of wild flowers, and say, "See, Miss 
G- , this is Knot Grass." " Well, I never said it 
was,” smilingly replied the other one, not knowing 
there was a K in the word. I enjoyed a hearty good 
laugh at them both. 
My " go ” at the Couch Grass was generally over 
in ten minutes, for after digging furiously for a cer¬ 
tain piece, which would always break in two as I 
took hold and pulled, my temper (I am ashamed to 
own) would so get the master of me that I would fling 
away the spade as far as I could, and march back to 
bully my friend. 
" You would never make a gardener, you have no 
patience," he generally remarked as he worked in¬ 
dustriously on. 
It is three years since I first saw this garden, but 
when I went again this summer I should not have 
known it for the same place. My friend, with pride 
on his countenance, showed me all round. There 
was hardly a weed to be seen, just a stray bit of 
Groundsel and Chickweed here and there. 
" You see what a great blessing it was I weeded so 
persistently that first year,” he remarked to me. 
“ I must confess,” I replied, " that I don't like the 
garden as much as I did, it looks bare; I miss the 
Convolvulus, Dandelions, and Docks. You should 
have left a few in odd corners for " auld lang 
syne.’ ” His disgust was so great that he walked off 
and left me.— Solanaceae. 
-- 
Gardening §Jiscellany. 
DAHLIAS FROM BLOXHAM. 
Messrs. Townsend Bros., The Nurseries, Bloxham, 
Oxon, are well-known cultivators and exhibitors of 
Dahlias. They also engage in cross-breeding and 
raising new varieties. A box of blooms on our table 
contains decorative and single Dahlias. That 
named Monarch is a decorative sort to be sent out 
next year, and is notable for the enormous size of its 
blooms, which are of a rich maroon-crimson, Many 
of the outer florets measure ij ins. across, but the 
others are not so much flattened. That named Mr. 
Chipperfield is smaller, though still a large Dahlia, 
and of a rich dark salmon-red, and as far as we 
remember it is quite distinct. Sulphur Queen is of a 
pleasing soft yellow, more or less shaded with a 
subtle tint of pink, which shines through from the 
back of the florets. It will be distributed next year, 
but Lady Sefton is new for this year. Like the three 
previous ones this also is a decorative variety, but 
the smallest bloom. The ground colour seems to be 
purple, heavily overlaid with scarlet, but shading 
into orange at the base. It is certainly a charming 
combination of colour, and should be valued for cut 
flower purposes. New single varieties are Beauty, 
Speckled Gem and Little Fairy. The first-named is 
scarlet, with a dash of cream along the centre of the 
broad florets. Speckled Gem grows only 18 ins. 
high and bears flowers that are striped and variously 
mottled with crimson on a yellow ground. Little 
Fairy is the most distinct of the three, and pretty, 
though the admirers of flat flowers might not line it. 
The single row of ray florets are scoop-shaped, and 
heavily shaded at the base and around the sides with 
a rich buff orange, while the remaining area is of a 
delicate blush pink. For cut flower purposes this 
ought to find a large share of favour amongst the 
British public. 
THE WIREWORM BEETLE. 
The problem of dealing with the voracious wireworm 
always presents itself at some time or other to the 
gardener, and the result is that we hear of many 
desperate attempts to get rid of the pests. A plan 
recently adopted with success in Cambridgeshire in 
a Barley field where the Click beetles were very 
numerous is worth repetition. A wisp of Clover was 
placed under a tile and left as a bait. It was occa¬ 
sionally examined and any beetles it contained put to 
death. So successful was the trap that within the 
space of a fortnight no fewer than sixty of the beetles 
were killed. Assuming half of these to be females, 
we get thirty, which, at a moderate computation 
would each lay thirty eggs, which tots up to an 
equivalent of goo wireworms or 930 including the 
thirty killed which were supposed to be males. This 
may serve as a hint to the harassed gardener, for 
wisps of Clover are neither rare nor expensive 
articles. 
VIOLA MARCHIONESS. 
This Viola'is without doubt one of the very best 
bedding varieties we have at the present time. Its 
colour is rich creamy white with clear yellow eye 
without rays of any sort. The flower is of good size, 
almost round and of splendid substance. The habit 
is all that could be desired, being robust, close and 
symmetrical ; and the flowers having long footstalks, 
stand well clear of the foliage and are of uniform 
height. When seen in rows it has a charming effect, 
and is also well adapted for cut flower purposes 
when arranged with its own foliage or otherwise.— 
Coila. 
FUCHSIA FULGENS. 
A small circular bed filled with this Fuchsia in the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Chiswick 
has rendered a capital account of itself during the 
past year. When we take into consideration the 
beauty of this half-hardy species, and the excellent 
effect produced by the racemes of bright scarlet 
flowers in contrast with the large, dark green leaves, 
it becomes a matter for some wonder that from en¬ 
joying a considerable share of popularity it has been 
sadly neglected of late years. In very few gardens 
do we meet with any more than a straggling plant of 
it, and that in a more or less miserable condition. 
As a sub-tropical bedding plant considerable use 
might be made of it, either in filling small beds en¬ 
tirely with it, as at Chiswick, or employing it as a 
dot plant among dwarfer subjects. F. fulgens was 
introduced to this country from Mexico in 1830. 
PHLOX COCCINEA. 
To those who are on the look out for a Phlox pos¬ 
sessing a telling and durable colour, as well as a good 
branching habit, I would recommend this grand old 
variety. The flowers are certainly smaller than 
what is expected now-a-days, but the form and sub¬ 
stance is above reproach, and in colour it is a rich 
vermilion. When massed in beds with suitable sur¬ 
roundings, it has a grand effect ; and is also welcome 
in groups on the mixed border where it makes its 
presence felt in no unmistakable way.— Coila. 
APPLE AND ROWAN JELLY. 
Take about an equal weight each of Rowan berries 
and Apples. Slice up the Apples, skins, cores and 
all. Put the Rowan berries and Apples into an 
enamelled pan with just sufficient water to cover 
them. Put the pan on the fire until the water is on 
the point of boiling. Then mash up the contents of 
the pan finely. Strain the whole through a piece of 
gauze, and to a pint of the juice add one pound of 
loaf sugar, and boil until the juice solidifies suffi¬ 
ciently to form a jelly. The thicker it is the better, 
and the longer it will keep when stored. 
-» « - — 
SOCIETIES. 
POLLOKSHIELDS HORTICULTURAL.— Sep., 8th 
and 9 tli. 
The 15th annual exhibition held at Maxwell Park, 
Pollokshields, Glasgow, was not so large as in other 
years, although the plants exhibited were remark¬ 
ably good. Cut flowers were also a feature of the 
show, Asters being specially noteworthy. Dahlias, 
Gladioli, and herbaceous plants were good. Fruit 
was in small quantity, but excellent in quality, more 
particularly the grapes. Vegetables also showed a 
falling off, but Celery, Potatos, and Greens were in 
capital condition. 
In the open classes, and also in those confined to 
villa residents in Pollokshields, Mr. G. Irvine was a 
heavy winner, showing some excellent pot plants. 
Mr. J. Gault, Maxwell Park, also was most success¬ 
ful in the classes for bouquets, sprays, buttonholes 
etc., displaying a good deal of taste in his various 
arrangements. 
