614 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 28, 1898. 
who had smaller exhibits. There were 
many interesting Orchids, as maybe seen 
by reference to our report, but the lions of 
the display were Odontoglossums, Cattleya 
Mcssiae, C. Mendelii, Laelia purpurata, 
Cypripediums, Oncidium ampliatum, O. 
marshallianum, Masdevallia Veitchi, &c. 
Nurserymen exhibiting Orchids were repre¬ 
sented by Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., F. 
Sander and Co., James Cypher, W. L. 
Lewis & Co., Charlesworth & Co., B. S. 
Williams & Son, and M. Linden, the latter 
with some others representing our Con¬ 
tinental neighbours. 
Foliage groups and flowering stove and 
greenhouse plants were more numerous, if 
anything, than on previous occasions, and 
in spite of the sunless nature of the past 
winter and spring, the exhibits were very 
creditable indeed. Evidence was not 
wanting that greater taste in arrangement 
was displayed by several of the exhibitors 
than last year, and they were certainly a 
long way ahead of their achievements at 
the earlier shows held in the Inner Temple 
Gardens. Caladiums were a strong feature 
in tent No. 5, the exhibits apparently 
getting larger and finer every year. Sun¬ 
shine is necessary to bring out the brilliant 
colouring of these gorgeous, tropical, fine 
foliage subjects ; but all things considered 
they would have been difficult to beat or 
even to match at any provincial or even 
Continental show. Malmaison and other 
Carnations were magnificent and more 
tastefully set up than ever we have seen 
them before. The new Acalypha Sanderi 
was the wonder and astonishment of all 
who saw it for the first time. The large 
groups of Clematis, Roses, Gloxinias, 
Phyllocacti, greenhouse plants in great 
variety, hardy herbaceous plants, rockeries 
of alpmes, and other exhibits made up a 
varied and magnificent assemblage of early 
summer and late spring flowers combined. 
Not the least important part of the show by 
any means were the fruit and vegetables, 
the latter being represented by Peas, 
Cucumbers, and Tomatos grown in pots as 
well as by gathered samples, besides many 
others making up some large exhibits. The 
fruit trees also attracted great attention on 
the part of visitors, and are always a source 
of profound interest to gardeners. 
A substitute for silk is now prepared from wood- 
pulp, and is said to be so perfect as to decieve the 
most expert observers. 
Poor Jobbing Gardener Again. — Gentleman : “ Well, 
my man, what is that plant ?” J. G. : “ Why, that 
is an ample lobster, sir." (Ampelopsis).— Patterson. 
A pair of Tomtits have built their nest in the letter¬ 
box attached to the workhouse at Uttoxeter, and the 
hen is now sitting on her eggs. She seems in no 
way disturbed by the dropping of letters in the box, 
which is going on constantly, 
Leaf-cutter Bees.—Mr. Fred. Enoch, F.L.S..F.E.S., 
continues his story about British bees in the May 
number of Knowledge. Thirteen photographic illus¬ 
trations of the leaf-cutter bees at their work of cell¬ 
building and the rearing of young, serve to give some 
idea of the marvellous ingenuity displayed by these 
carpenters of nature in the construction of their 
homes. There seems to be no scamping nor jerry 
building with these industrious workers, which carry 
on their work with remarkable precision without 
having served an apprenticeship. The interest 
which these bees would have for the gardener lies in 
their disfiguration of C“rtain of his plants, but 
particularly Roses, the leaves of which soon become 
riddled with holes of two different forms, circular 
and oblong. The former are about as exact as a 
compass could make them. While the entomologist 
can not only look upon this sort of work with 
equanimity but with delight, the gardener is equally 
provoked to wrath at the disfigurement of and injury 
to bis Roses. 
Mr. R. Weller, F.R.H.S., who has been 11J years at 
Glenstal Castle (4 years as head gardener, 5$ years 
as steward and gardener, and 2 years as steward to 
Sir C. Barrington, Bart), has been appointed 
steward and gardener to Captain Green, Cretans- 
town, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland. 
Mr. William Minty, after nine years’ service with 
Mrs Wood, Isle of Raasay, Kyle of Lochalsh, N.B., 
has been appointed head gardener to C. W. Dyson 
Perrins, Esq., Ardross Castle, Alness, Rosshire, 
N.B. We understand his predecessor at Ardross 
Castle Gardens, Mr. Massie, is retiring from the 
gardening profession after more than thirty years’ 
service. 
Frost in May.—A correspondent, writing from the 
mcdern Athens, says that the w eather there has been 
very cold of late, last week having been especially 
bad. Pelargoniums, Lobelias, and Pansies have all 
been frosted and spoilt. Potatos have likewise been 
" nipped,’’ and many iruit trees have had a rough 
time of it. This is much worse than our experience 
in the south, which, during the week in question, 
was anything but a pleasant one. 
Field Mushrooms.—A trifle early as yet, you will 
say, to write anent these. My little boy of 5J years 
brought in two very fine "Agaricus Campestris" on 
Sunday last, from the park. This is the earliest 
date I recollect seeing out-of-door Mushrooms, and 
it caunot be owing to any warm weather we have had 
this season ; on the contrary, I do not remember hav¬ 
ing such cold days and nights during the month of 
May for some years past, and the only reason I can 
assign for it is the deluge of rain we have had during 
the present month, which amounts to 3 38 ins. up to 
Monday, the 23rd inst.— J. M., Bicton, Devon. 
Saxifraga granulata—One of the prettiest of wild 
plants on the banks of the Thames between Kewand 
Oxford, and on the meadows adjoining it in many 
localities, is this Saxifraga, which has larger flowers 
than many of the cherished exotic species. The 
stems grow about a foot in height or often under 
that, but are sufficiently tall at the time of flowering 
in May as to surmount the grass amongst which it 
grows. The double form is pretty frequent on 
rockeries and in collections of herbaceous plants, its 
flowers lasting longer than those of the single form. 
The specific name applies to the miniature tubers at 
the root by which the plant is perpetuated from year 
to year. 
The Postmen’s Park.—Arrangements have been 
proceeding for some time past for the purchase of a 
piece of land in the city of London, known as the 
Postmen’s Park, much frequented by postmen during 
the dinner-hour and other leisure time. The vicar 
and churchwardens of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, have 
just purchased of the City Parochial Trustees the 
adjoining land in Little Britain, on condition that the 
western portion be handed over on June 24th on the 
payment of /6,ooo ; and that the eastern portion be 
handed over on the payment of a further £6,oco if 
made within the next two years. By this arrange¬ 
ment the public garden will be enlarged and 
prevented from falling into the hands of the builder. 
£3,000 is still required to complete the second 
purchase. 
Naturalisation of Flowering Plants.—A very 
interesting paper on this subject was read at the last 
meeting of the Irish Gardeners’ Benefit Association, 
by Mr. J. A. Campbell, of St. Anne’s. The essayist 
advocated the widespread planting of bulbs in all 
parts of the garden and grounds, wherever there was 
an opening. He referred to the broad acres of Mayo, 
Glencomb, near Tuam, as a happy example of the 
results produced by the naturalisation of suitable 
plants, amongst others of Narcissi, Aquilegias, 
Antirrhinums, Geranium sanguineum, and Potentilla 
dubia. At Dalkey, Cineraria maritima, Valerians 
and Veronicas grew freely on the cliffs, and added 
much to the beauty of the surroundings. In Trinity 
College Gardens, Dublin, Daffodils and other wild 
flowers abounded, especially in the grass. Straffan, 
the seat cf Major Barton, was another example of 
the grand effects produced by the naturalising sys¬ 
tem. Snowdrops especially were freely employed at 
that place. Mr. Campbell also drew the attention of 
his audience to the saving of labour that might be 
affected by planting in wild or semi-wild surround¬ 
ings, for once they were planted, many subjects were 
then able to look after themselves. 
Kew Palace was opened to the public on Saturday 
last. 
The Madder Plant (Rubia tinctoria) is cultivated in 
Hindustan, and furnishes the dye known as Turkey 
red. 
Fruits of Bragging.—A man, having boasted a good 
deal, was asked if he had grown diatoms. Yes, he 
had, in a greenhouse, in 4S's, and had flowered them 
as well, but had forgotten what the flower and foliage 
were like.— Patterson. 
Greenwich Park.—The grounds lately attached to 
the Ranger's House, Greenwich Park, were thrown 
open to the public on Saturday last (21st inst) in 
honour of the Queen’s birthday. The welcome 
change which took place in the weather cn that day 
was more encouraging to the people than it had been 
the two previous days. The site chosen for the 
opening ceremony was at the foot of a large tree in 
the centre of the grounds. The Vicar of Green¬ 
wich, at 12 o’clock noon, expressed thanks cn behalf 
of the parish for this gracious gift of Her Majesty 
the Queen to the public. 
Royal National Tulip Society.—The next exhibition 
of this society will be held at the Free Library 
Middleton, near Manchester, on Whit Tuesday, May 
31st, 1808. The exhibition will be open to the 
public from 1 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. The balance 
sheet for 1897 shows the society to be flourishing 
financially. The receipts totalled £43 9s., and the 
expenditure was £37 2s. nd , thus leaving a balance 
to the credit of the society of /6 6s. id. This com¬ 
pares very favourably with the balance of t8s. 2d. 
carried over from 1896. Exhibition Tulips in many 
cases are still in perfection about London, so that 
they should be in their prime as far north as Man¬ 
chester. The Hon. Secretary is James W. Bentley, 
Esq., Stakehill, Castleton, near Manchester. 
Violet Culture in Germany.— A large quantity of 
Violets is grown in France, and we generally speak 
of our supplies coming from thence as if no other 
country on the Continent gave the matter any atten¬ 
tion. It is evident, however, that Violet culture in 
Germany is an industry of no small importance. 
Moller's Deutsche Gartner-Zeitung, for the week ending 
Saturday, May 21st, devotes an entire issue to the 
consideration of the subject. The best Violets and 
their culture are dealt with, after which there follow 
articles on Violets as grown in private establish¬ 
ments and by nurserymen. The three newer 
varieties are Kaiser Frederick, KroDprinzessin Vik- 
tooria, and The California. A considerable number 
of other varieties are passed under review, some of 
which are well known in Britain. Illustrations of 
the Violet houses in several German nurseries show 
that this popular winter and spring flower is exten¬ 
sively grown under glass, planted out in bedk and on 
benches, much after the style of the American 
method of growing many things. They are evidently 
grown to great perfection by several cultivators. 
Border Auriculas.—There is no question but that 
these old fashioned border flowers have a great fasci¬ 
nation for the general public. Independently of their 
beauty and their fragrance, they appeal to the lovers 
of spring flowers by many ties of early associations. 
Mr. A. Grigor, gardener to Alex. O. Giil, Esq., 
Fairfield, Aberdeen, sends us two boxes of cut 
flowers from the open border where they had been 
subjected to exceptionally cold weather and sleety 
showers for ten days or so previous to the time they 
were cut. The trusses had stout stems, 6 in. to 8 in. 
in length, and each truss in many cases consisted of 
20 to 30 flowers, indicating remarkable vigour. As a 
rule, however, the flowers were less numerous and 
larger. Most of them belonged !o the show class, as 
indicated by the ring of paste round the centre. Mr. 
Grigor's flowers were mostly very dark, ranging from 
purple to violet, crimson and marcon, sometimes 
nearly black. A few were coppery and others 
inclined towards yellow. Some were intermediate 
between the show and Alpine types, leing edged, and 
a few of them were strictly Alpines. We should 
recommend Mr. Grigor to get more of the Alpine 
blo^d into his strain, or to get a packet of Alpine 
Auricula seed with the view of getting bright 
colours and golden centres if possible. As it is the 
strain is good for border Auriculas, but Alpines 
would add greatly to the value, the beauty and 
sprightliness of the whole. 
