October 9, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
87 
Ridge Cucumber, the good-yielding properties of 
which are well appreciated by market gardeners. 
Success in perfecting Celeries has been great, there 
being six choice varieties bearing the name of Webb, 
of which the Giant White and Pink Perfection are 
newest; but the Mammoth Red and Webbs’ Pearl 
White are still prime favourites. 
Messrs. Webbs’ Melons have been magnificently 
perfected. Their International, a cross between 
President and Hero of Lockinge, yields remarkably 
fine, handsome fruits, some Melons having weighed 
6 lbs. or 7 lbs. each. President, Pride of Stour¬ 
bridge, Queen Victoria, and Royal Warrant are also 
beautiful specialities; in fact, there is no garden 
plant which can be mentioned that has not been 
taken in hand by the expert at Kinver with the 
endeavour to create better kinds by cross-breeding 
and high selection. Nor do Messrs. Webbs' services 
to horticulturists end here, as they supply them 
with excellent chemical manures in packets of from 
2 lbs to io lbs., if so little is required, or in bags 
containing qrs., cwts., or more. Farmers, of course, 
have it several tons at a time, for Messrs. Webb do 
an extensive trade in artificial manures, their 
chemical works at Saltney, Cheshire, covering five 
acres of ground. 
As to the gigantic tradings of the great Wordsley 
firm, their Kinver farms, in the south of Staffordshire, 
are if miles in length, covering about 2,000 acres. 
These farms are devoted to raising stock seeds, which 
are sent to occupiers of some 18,000 acres in 
England and the best districts of the Continent, this 
being the large quantity of land required to annually 
supply seeds to Messrs. Webbs' customers. Their 
increase of business is such that a new warehouse 
has bad to be erected during the past year, and the 
Wordsley Warehouses are now said to have nearly 
four acres of floor space. Marvellous as this seems, 
their gigantic tradings are demonstrated in a still 
fuller degree by certain counting house statistics the 
firm has supplied. . They claim that it costs them 
/8,ooo a year in postages, and /rg.ooo in carriage to 
railways ; that the tasteful covers of their various 
seed catalogues require two tons of paper; the issues 
of their Farm Catalogue running to nearly 100,000 
yearly ; their corn catalogue to about 50,000 ; that 
they buy half a million of envelopes for a six- month’s 
supply and that it takes 650 books to keep their 
accounts, the entries in which will be found to run 
from 70,000 to 80,000. But it must be remembered 
that they are large artificial manure manufacturers 
and dealers in Hops and wool as well as being seeds¬ 
men. 
They are about to bring out an entirely new Wheat 
in the coming season which will be offered for the 
first time. The great success of their Stand-up 
White Wheat, which the most furious storms failed 
to dislodge when almost every other kind went down, 
induced them to endeavour to create a red Wheat 
which should be its counterpart. They believe that 
they have succeeded beyond their most sanguine 
expectations. They name it the Standard.—/. D. 
- ■ »!» — 
TRIALS AT CHISWICK. 
Early Chrysanthemums. 
The Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
Society met at Chiswick on Monday, the 4th inst., 
for the purpose of finally reviewing the early Chrys¬ 
anthemums on trial in the open border, and which 
were not in bloom on the occasion of the previous 
meeting on the 17th ult. The varieties in full bloom 
on the 4th inst. may be regarded as late September 
and October flowering Chrysanthemums, earlier or 
later according to the nature of the season. The 
collection has really grown and flowered splendidly, 
but the plantation loses considerably in effect owing 
to the dwarf and tall varieties being mixed together 
for the sake of comparison. Three XXX were 
awarded to each of the following : — 
Eadie Wright. —This is a Japanese variety grow¬ 
ing about 2£ ft. high, and producing a profusion of 
rosy-purple flowers. Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothe¬ 
say ; and Mr. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, 
Lewisham. 
La Vierge. —Plant about 18 in. high, bushy, and 
producing a profusion of white flowers, slightly 
tinted with blush in the open, air. The blooms are 
rather late, few being open at this date. It is a 
Japanese sort. Messrs. Dobbie & Co. 
Alice Butcher. —This pompon grows about 2^ ft. 
high, and produces bronzy glowing crimson flowers 
that are very effective at a distance for bedding 
purposes. Messrs. Dobbie & Co.; and Messrs. Barr 
and Sons, Long Ditton, Surrey. 
Orange Child.— Plant 2 ft. high and freely-pro¬ 
ducing golden-yellow flowers, tinted with buff, and 
belonging to the Japanese type. The blooms are 
very useful for cutting. Messrs. Dobbie & Co. 
Madame Edouard Lefort. —Plant 18 ins. to 20 
ins. high, and producing a profusion of bronzy-gold 
flowers, with closely imbricated florets. It is a pom¬ 
pon. Messrs. Barr & Sons ; and Mr. W. H. Divers, 
Belvoir Castle Gardens. 
Lady Fitzwigram. —Flowers pure white, freely 
produced, large, and belonging to the Japanese type. 
Plant bushy, 20 ins. high. Messrs. H. Cannell & 
Sons, Swanley, Kent; and Mr. W. H. Divers. 
Ivy Stark. —This is similar to Source d’Or in 
many respects, but the flowers are darker when they 
open, ultimately fading to a paler hue, and flowering 
earlier than that well-known Japanese favourite. Mr. 
H. J. Jones. 
Bronze Prince. —Plant 2J ft. high, and producing 
in profusion large bronzy-salmon flowers of the 
Japanese type. Mr. H. J. Jones. 
Mdlle. Guindudeau. —A Japanese variety, 2 ft. 
high, and bearing a profusion of large pink flowers, 
fading slightly, but rather late in expanding. Mr. 
H. J. Jones. 
Fiberta —A golden-yellow pompon, about 2 ft. 
high, flowering profusely and very showy. Mr. W. 
H. Divers; and Messrs. Barr & Sons. 
Martinmas. —A very pretty and attractive pom¬ 
pon, about 2i ft. high, and bearing a profusion of 
soft, lilac-pink flowers. Messrs. Barr & Sons. 
Harvest Home. —Flowers large, loosely built, 
crimson, tipped with yellow, and having a yellow 
reverse to the florets. Plant about 18 in. to 2 ft. 
high, and belonging to the Japanese type. Messrs. 
Barr & Sons. 
Planche Colomb. —A Japanese type, bearing a 
profusion of medium-sized, creamy, compactly built 
flowers of a pleasing appearance. Plant about 18 in. 
to 20 in. in height. Messrs. Barr & Sons. 
Zonal Pelargoniums. 
A houseful of pot plants was examined, and XXX 
were awarded to the three undermentioned varieties. 
Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain. —The plant is of dwarf 
compact habit, and bears huge trusses and large, 
well-formed flowers of a rich salmon fading towards 
the edges. The leaves are marked with a dark zone. 
Jules Lemaitre. —Flowers huge, well formed, 
glowing crimson-scarlet. The leaves are large and 
faintly zoned. M. Lemoine, Nancy, France. 
Adolphe Brisson. —Flowers large, of a rich car¬ 
mine-pink, with a white blotch at the base of the 
two upper petals, and certainly amongst the best of 
this particular type. The plant is of sturdy, dwarf 
habit. M. Lemoine. 
* 
The present is a good season to commence a regular 
system of dealing with the refuse matter out of the 
kitchen garden and turn it to profitable account. 
Fire is the best agent to reduce it to a useful state, 
and a pit 6 ft. deep, 10 ft. wide, and 12 ft. long may 
be dug out at the present time. In the bottom of 
this pit a good body of fire should be made of old 
wood, and, on this, all matter capable of being 
reduced to ashes should be wheeled. It will be found 
that a fire formed in this way burns more sharply 
than when formed on the surface of the ground. 
This fire should be kept constantly going through the 
autumn and early winter months, when the pit should 
be cleared out and the contents may be applied to 
many uses in the kitchen garden. The rakings of 
weeds and earth combined should be placed in a 
separate heap to allow the weeds to decay ; this may 
then be turned, and if a portion of the burnt ashes 
out of the pit and some lime be added a good useful 
compost will be secured. 
Cauliflowers.— The young plants for spring 
crops will now need attention in pricking them into 
positions where they can receive protection during 
the winter. The method of potting a portion of the 
plants into 60-size pots is a good one to secure an 
early lot that can be handled and planted without 
receiving any check. In all cases it is advisable to 
keep the plants exposed to all but severe weather 
during the next three months and as near the glass 
as possible. 
Broccoli.— This crop is in a very soft state since 
the late rains, aod a check now would do the p'ants 
good. Where time can be given to the work these 
should be lifted and laid in with their heads facing 
north, at the same time burying the stems and pack¬ 
ing the soil about the base of the heart of the plants 
for protection. 
Tomatos. —The mildness of the weather has 
helped this crop to swell up a fine lot of fruit, and as 
much of this is still green, the earliest may be 
gathered and placed in a dry house to ripen. After 
gathering the most forward fruits, the plants may be 
carefully lifted, securing all the roots possible, and 
should be planted against the back walls of any 
warm houses. A good watering at the time of plant¬ 
ing, and a little shade during sunshine will help the 
plants to make new roots quickly and much useful 
fruit will be secured for another two months from 
plants treated in this way.— J. R. 
Tlie Orcljifl Brower’s Calendar. 
Work in the Houses.— The Pnalaenopses pushing 
up their spikes will require every attention to save 
them from the slugs and other pests, if they are 
still standing on inverted pots on the stage. A good 
plan would be to suspend them from the roof, using 
long hangers so that the baskets in which they are 
growing are only just clear of the stages. This will 
prevent them drying up too quickly, and at the same 
time obviate the damage likely to accrue by their 
being up too near the roof glass, where the tempera¬ 
ture fluctuates most. 
Dendrobium Phalaenopsis schroderianum.— 
This is a most valuable Orchid indeed. Its flower¬ 
ing season extends over such a lengthened period 
that we could hardly do without it. Grown in this, 
the warmest division, the plants make splendid 
growths. Small shallow pans seem to be about the 
best thing in which to establish them, using plenty 
of small crocks amongst the peat and Moss in which 
they are potted. They like a fair amount of shade 
when growing, but from now onward they must 
receive as much light as possible by being put where 
the shading, if any, is of the thinnest description. 
The moisture too about them should be gradually 
reduced. This will induce those that are large 
enough, to flower, and the small ones to take a rest. 
A crop of flowers may sometimes be had from the 
old stems, but if the future of the plant is to be con¬ 
sidered it is not desirable that they should be allowed 
to carry them all. 
Seedling Orchids.— We are all of us trying to 
outstep each other in hybridising this most interest¬ 
ing family, by working in different directions, some 
working on Cypripediums alone, others making the 
gorgeous Cattleyas their study, whilst the Dendro- 
biums have most charms with those that make them 
a speciality. In any case it is most interesting, aDd 
if we have to wait years to see the result of our own 
labours, we have the satisfaction in knowing that the 
hybridists have given us some of the most magnifi¬ 
cent Orchids it is possible to behold. But what I 
want to point out is the treatment of these diminutive 
little chaps. It is easy enough to get a fine iat seed 
pod but not so easy to find the place that facilitates 
germination. Prepared pots we have tried with any¬ 
thing but satisfactory results. The best place vie 
have found for raising Cattleyas, &c., has been 
baskets with fresh compost and a healthy j 1 mt 
growing therein. We have a nice batch all potted 
off singly in large thumbs acd small sixty-size pots, 
which we are going over; and now, at this season, 
the new growths are making up ; and as they are for 
the most part putting out some nice fat roots from 
the base, we take this opportunity of affording hem 
some fresh material, and where required, a larger 
pot. Some people, no doubt, would hesitate to dis¬ 
turb them at this time of the year, but we have found 
that, with established plants so with seedlings, the 
best time is when new roots are active, as above 
stated. After the shift they will require very little 
water. Just keep the moss alive and the small plants 
from shrivelling. This will induce a slight rest to be 
followed by renewed vigour in the spring. We have 
a nice batch of Odontoglossum seedlings which are 
being treated in the same way.— C. 
