March 26, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
471 
Erratum.—On p. 462 in the thirty-sixth line from 
the bottom of the first column for " My soil is a light 
loam or gravel ” read " on gravel.” 
There is no Lake of Haarlem now, the site having 
been drained and cultivated. A great canal aloDe 
remains which runs through seventy square miles of 
the best bulb-growing soil in the world. Fifty years 
ago the great Lake of Haarlem covered all this. 
Daffodils at Regent's Park.—At the spring exhibi¬ 
tion of the Royal Botanic Society on the 30th iDst., 
Messrs. Barr & Sons, 12 and 13, King Street, Covent 
Garden, London, offer (for competition by amateurs 
and gentlemen's gardeners) a Silver Daffodil Cup, 
designed by Mr. H. G. Moon, a Silver and a Bronze 
Medal, as prizes for the finest display of not less 
than forty varieties of Daffodils, comprising repre¬ 
sentatives of the large, medium, and small crowned 
sections. 
Cause of the Potato Disease.—Between the years 
1801 and 1846 the cultivation of the Potato increased 
nearly a hundredfold in the North-western High¬ 
lands, and became not only the staple but almost 
the only food of the inhabitants, with the result that 
they were reduced to a state of famine in the latter 
year just as much as the inhabitants of Ireland. A 
writer in the Witness had the effect of bringing that 
paper under the eye of Mr. Punch, who represented 
the Irish famine as a “judgment on the Maynooth 
Endowment.” This was resented by another writer, 
who said that the Scotch Highlanders,though opposed 
to Maynooth, suffered as much as the Irish, and 
considered that the famine was a judgment upon both 
the Irish and the Highlanders for their homicidal 
efficiency as soldiers in the wars of the empire—an 
efficiency almost equally characteristic of both 
nations. Hugh Miller dissented from both of the 
above opinions, and said, “ For my own part I have 
been unable hitherto to see the steps which conduct 
to such profound conclusions, and am content simply 
to hold that the superintending Providence who 
communicated to man a calculating, foreseeing 
nature, does occasionally get angry with him, and 
inflicts judgments upon him, when, instead of 
exercising his faculties, he sinks to a level lower than 
his own, and becomes content, like some of the in¬ 
ferior animals, to live on a single root.” This must 
be another injustice to the botanists, as well as to 
the Phytophthora, which was made the punitive 
agent, willy-nilly we suppose. 
Botanical Studies.—The currant number of Know¬ 
ledge contains the second of the series of articles on 
Botanical Studies contributed by Mr. A. Vaughan 
Jennings, F.L.S., F.G.S. The first article was 
devoted to Vaucheria, of which the life history and 
mode of a reproduction were lucidly detailed. The 
genus Coleochaete is the subject of the second artic'e. 
There are three species of this genus of fresh water 
Algae common to this country, and. although the 
plants are frequently sterile the nature of their 
reproductive process is of considerable importance. 
The commonest species are C. scutata, and C. orbi¬ 
cularis, An examination of either of these will show 
that the plant consists of a flat plate of cells 
arranged in radial rows all in one plane and never 
superposed on each other. In C. soluta the rows of 
cells are separated for a great part of their length, 
whilst in C. pulvinata the cells are no longer in one 
plane, but grow up straight or obliquely, forming a 
cushion. The genus, therefore, contains plants 
showing a series of stages connecting the flat cell 
plate with the tree-like growth of such types as 
Bulbochaete. With regard to reproduction in 
Coleochaete, there are, as in Vaucheria, two dis¬ 
tinct methods. In one case the protoplasm of some 
of the cells of ihe thallus contracts, rounds off, 
separates from the main body, and develops a pair 
of cilia, to form a free swimming zoogonidium. In 
the second case the contents of some cells form an 
oosphere, the female element, whilst other cells 
divide into four and produce antherozoids, the male 
element. The sexual fusion of these two elements 
results in the fertilization of the oosphere and forms 
.fruit. This fruit remains quiescent during the 
winter, but in the spring rapid division of cells takes 
place, forming carpospores, which in their turn 
develope into new Coleochaete plants. We have 
thus in Coleochaete an early illustration of altern¬ 
ation of generations. A capital illustration shows 
the different processes referred to. 
Presentation at Dunoon.—On Saturday evening, 
T2th inst., Mr. John Fraser, gardener, Ardenlee, 
Dunoon, was waited upon in the George Hotel by a 
number of friends, to present him with a token of 
their esteem, on the occasion of his leaving the 
district. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts 
had been duly honoured. Commissioner Crosbie, 
who presided, in making the presentation, which 
consisted of a gold albert and pendant with suitable 
inscriptions for Mr. Fraser, a gold brooch for Mrs. 
Fraser, and a purse containing money for each of their 
children, said they had now come to a very important 
part of the programme, namely, the part which had 
brought them together that evening—of presenting 
Mr. Fraser with a small memento of that happy 
evening and the many friends he was leaving in 
Dunoon. While they were sorry to part with him, 
he assured him, they would also rejoice at his 
success. In the more sunny south Mr. Fraser was 
sure to make his mark. (Applause.) Mr. Fraser 
feelingly replied, thanking all present for the kindness 
shown towards himself and family. Several toasts 
followed, including "The Town and Trade of 
Dunoon,” proposed by Mr. McGilp and responded 
to by Commissioner Shields; “ The Presentation 
Committee,” by Bailie Miliar, and replied to by Mr. 
McLeod, Hafton; " The Host and Hostess,” by 
Commissioner Shields, and acknowledged by Mr. 
Charles Smith. Among those contributing songs 
were Messrs. Dewar, Speirs, McLeod, Currie, 
McGilp, McTavish, and Allison, altogether a very 
happy social evening being spent. Mr Fraser, who 
has gone to a situation near Newport in Monmouth¬ 
shire, is followed by the hearty gocd wishes of his 
numerous friends in the Dunoon district. 
- mfm - 
THE WEEPING WILLOW. 
Salix babylonica, although it has a competitor for 
favour in the American Weeping Willow, is still to 
most people The Weeping Willow, and has a just 
claim to the title of the queen of Weeping trees. 
Anyone who has seen fine specimens of it planted 
where they have ample room to develop by the side 
of ornamental water with its long drooping branches 
falling down like sprays from a fountain into the 
- water, will readily concede that it is a thing of beauty 
worth a considerable journey to see. A possible 
drawback to it is that to see its full beauty, a fairly 
large specimen is requisite ; so that since the advent 
of the American variety which is better adapted to 
the requirements of villa gardens, it has not been so 
extensively planted as formerly. This seems regret- 
able, because the Babylonian Willow is a far more 
beautiful tree. The poet Pope is credited with its 
introduction to English gardens, for, being with 
Lady Suffolk at the time, her Ladyship received a 
parcel from Spain bound with withes, and thinking 
they might grow took one home and planted it in his 
garden at Twickenham, where it grew and became 
well known as Pope's Willow. It has a wide distri¬ 
bution, being a great favourite with the Chinese, and 
there is little or no doubt, but it was on its branches 
that the daughters of Zion in their exile hung their 
harps.— W. B. G. 
- 
BLUE AND GOLD. 
Two of the most effective colours in nature are blue 
and gold, both of which are very much in evidence 
just now at Kew. The former is represented by Chion- 
odoxa Luciliae var. sardensis, which was the other 
day a blaze of blue, a sheet of the most exquisite 
of cerulean tints. Some large beds have been filled 
entirely with this variety of the " Glory of the Snow,” 
and the result is remarkably pleasing. As, however, 
the term “ snow ” is inappropriate this year, I would 
submit that the " Glory of Kew” would be more 
descriptive. Certainly it has added to the attract¬ 
iveness of the Gardens, and caused many a visitor 
to utter exclamations of unbounded delight. 
The “ gold ” is represented by a very fine form of 
the Dutch Yellow Crocus (Crocus aureus), which has 
been freely planted in several places, but in no place 
so effectively, or conspicuously, as on the mound 
beneath the Turkey Oak in the broad walk. A 
visitor to Kew could hardly miss them ; they are a 
beacon, and send their light shimmering through the 
trees for quite long distances. They are a veritable 
bit of the field of the " Cloth of Gold,” only better 
and brighter ; in fact they look like brilliant sunshine 
on the ground. Yellow is characteristic of warmth 
it is fiery or flame-like. This circumstance, I think, 
was noted by Tennyson, for he makes CEnone say :— 
" Naked they came to that smooth-swarded bower, 
And at their feet the Crocus brake like fire.”— 
C. B. G., Acton, W. 
-- 
ROSE PAULINE LABONTE. 
This is a grand Tea Rose for climbing in the green¬ 
house or conservatory, and practically unknown to 
most of our growers, unless they have it under a 
synonymous name, as I have hunted uj? several trade 
lists but fail to find it catalogued. Given a light 
position near the glass it is scarcely ever out of 
flower, and is of robust constitution. Lady Gertrude 
Rolle brought it from France just thirty-two years 
ago, and the original plant is still thriving at Steven- 
stone, North Devon, the seat of the Hon. Mark 
Rolle. We have a fine bush of it here under glass, 
which has been loaded with flowers the past six 
weeks. It roots freely from cuttings, and is worthy 
of extended cultivation. It is good in the bud and 
holds on well when expanded ; the colour, a deep 
flesh, is most pleasing. I am sending a few blooms 
for you to see.— J. Mayne;Bicton. 
[The variety is recorded in books as a flesh- 
coloured Tea Rose of moderate vigour with flowers 
of the third size ; but after searching about a dozen 
catalogues of Rose growers we fail to find it 
mentioned by any of them. The flowers you sent 
us were large for this season of the year, firm in 
texture and durable. The salmon-flesh colour was 
slightly tinted with yellow in the centre, and the 
flowers being scented and handsome for cut flowers 
or other purposes, and the variety having been culti¬ 
vated so long in Devon, we fail to understand why 
it should have been neglected so loDg by cultivators 
generally. The foliage sent was also of good 
texture, and of a rich dark green. Ed.] 
——" 0 —-- 
READING AND DISTRICT GARDENERS. 
" Common Mistakes in Fruit Culture,” was 
the subject of an exceedingly practical and 
instructive paper given by Mr. George Bunyard, of 
Maidstone, before the Reading and District 
Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Association, on 
Monday evening last in the Club Room, British 
Workman, Reading. Mr. C. B. Stevens presided 
over a large attendance of members, including a con¬ 
tingent from the Wargrave Gardeners' Association. 
Mr. G. Bunyard in introducing his subject, said 
that his reason for taking up this particular one was 
that he, as an expert, had been very often called in 
to report on certain failures in fruit culture, and that 
if these failures were embodied in a sort of talk 
together, it would, he felt, be practical as well as 
beiDg profitable to each oDe. The whole routine of 
the cultivation of Apples, Pears, Peaches, Nectarines, 
Gooseberries, and similar fruit was touched upon, 
including planting, the cropping of the fruit borders, 
summer pruning, root pruning, soils, labelling, 
importance of the early thinning of fruit, ingathering 
of the fruit, fruit trees in pots, grafting old trees, 
artificial manures obtaining trees true to name, 
differing seasons, and the literature of the day as 
regards fruit culture. 
The paper was followed with the closest attention, 
and at the close many questions were asked, and an 
interesting discussion took place, in which Messrs. 
Parfitt, Martin, Turton, Webb, Woolford, Neve, 
Hobbs, and Hinton took part. At the close a very 
hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Bunyard 
by the members as well as their congratulations 
on his and his family’s escape from the terrible 
epidemic that has so recently visited his neigh¬ 
bourhood. 
A great feature of the meeting was the magni¬ 
ficent exhibit of Orchids made by Mr. Woolford, 
gardener to Alfred Palmer, Esq., of East Thorpe, 
including some splendid forms of Dendrobium 
nobile, and D. wardianum, two pieces of the latter 
in four inch pans, carrying eighty and seventy- 
eight blooms. On behalf of the members the 
president tendered to Mr. Woolford their thanks for 
the trouble he had taken in bringing such a fine 
exhibit to the meeting, especially with regard to 
Dendrobium nobile, as at their last meeting a con¬ 
troversy had arisen as to the advantages and dis¬ 
advantages of pruning D. nobile. Mr. Bright, of 
Whiteknights Park Gardens, showed a splendid 
head of a hybrid Clivia, and Mr. Neve, of 
Sindlesham House Gardens, varieties of App'es. 
