628 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 4, 1898. 
equal right to that value as some that have 
enjoyed the title on previous occasions. 
There was a falling off in the quantity of 
tuberous Begonias, though the quality was 
equally good, if not decidedly better, in the 
matter of refinement of new varieties than 
last year. The Caladiums were decidedly 
in advance of last year, in spite of the 
general lack of sunshine. Ferns were 
more numerous and better than last year. 
That shown as Phlebodium Mayi, by Mr. 
H. B. May, is a decidedly distinct thing, 
but being yet quite young we shall eagerly 
await its development to the adult staee. 
The Phyllocacti exhibited by Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Ltd., constituted the largest, 
finest, and most varied collection of these 
gorgeous flowers we have ever seen in one 
group. The cultivator, Mr. John Heal, 
well known to the gardening fraternity, is 
to be congratulated on his skill in timing 
the flowers to a date, in spite of adverse 
weather. 
Roses are always a feature of the Temple 
Show, and on this occasion were more 
numerous and varied than ever. There 
was a slight falling away in herbaceous 
plants, particularly cut flowers from the 
open, owing to the cold, wet and sunless 
spring, but their absence has been more 
than compensated by the larger quantity of 
pot plants of those and allied subjects 
shown, necessitating the central bed of 
tent No. 4 for their reception. Amongst 
them may be mentioned the extensive col¬ 
lection of Paeonies shown by Messrs. 
Kelway & Son ; and the magnificent exhibit 
of Clematis, single and double of the large 
flowering sorts set up by Messrs. Richard 
Smith & Co., as detailed in our last issue. 
The hybrids of the C. coccinea type shown 
by Messrs. Jackman & Son, were more 
numerous and finer than ever they have 
previously been. Hardy plants were also 
well represented by Messrs. Barr & Sons, 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Messrs. J. Backhouse & 
Son, Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Mr. 
Pritchard, and others. Show and fancy 
Pelargoniums were not shown last year, 
but made their reappearance in small 
quantity on this occasion. 
A pleasing sign of the times is the in¬ 
creasing attention being given to hardy 
trees and shrubs, both fine foliage and 
flowering subjects ; for that is how we must 
translate the meaning of the presence of six 
fine exhibits in place of the two or three 
last year. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, have 
had a large group of them every year dur¬ 
ing the last ten, and we believe it was never 
finer nor more varied than that sent up 
from the Coombe Wood Nursery of the firm 
last week. Outside the tents were several 
charming groups, including a very effective 
exhibit of lowering shrubs from Messrs. J. 
Cheal & Sons, fine foliage shrubs from 
Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray, and Mr. 
John Russell. 
Fruit and vegetables were more numer¬ 
ously represented, and finer than they have 
been for several years past. The heaps of 
Peas, in several varieties of half a bushel 
each, and the quantities of well-grown 
Cucumbers, exhibited by Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, were remarkable for this early period 
of the year, showing what can be done with 
their grand new marrowfat varieties. Mr. 
Empson, gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Wing¬ 
field, had a very large and splendid collec¬ 
tion of vegetables; while the exhibit staged 
by Mr. E. Beckett, gardener to Lord 
Aldenham, was equally noteworthy, and 
ample testimony to the capabilities of the 
British gardener when called upon to exert 
his faculties. Mr. S. Mortimer, Rowledge, 
was also strong in his specialities in the 
way of vegetables. The Horticultural 
College, Swanley, had a highly meritorious 
exhibit of Peas growing in pots, which can¬ 
not fail to be fraught with an object lesson 
for the students attending the instruction 
given there. 
The collection of Apples exhibited by 
Messrs. Geo. Bunyard & Co., was ample 
testimony of their skill in preserving British 
grown fruit in an admirable state of preser¬ 
vation—surely to the limit of the capabilities 
of the first and best of hardy fruits. Of 
forced fruit trees in pots the large collec¬ 
tions shown by Messrs. 1 . S. Rivers & Son, 
and Mr. J. Hudson, gardener to Leopold 
de Rothschild, Esq., were such as rarely 
come before the public in May. Gathered 
fruits were well represented by that cham¬ 
pion of the north, Mr. Mclndoe, gardener 
to Sir Joseph Pease, M.P. Descriptions of 
the finest new plants will be found under 
“ Plants Recently Certificated” in another 
column. 
--— 
Strawberries and Cream may already be had for 6d. 
at some of the seaside resorts on the south coast. 
Kew Gardens, it is announced, will be opened to the 
public at io a.m. instead of noon as hitherto, com¬ 
mencing on Wednesday, ist June. 
The New Race of Marrowfat Peas shown by Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons at the Temple Show, as noted in our 
last issue, again received the highest award in the 
vegetable division. On a previous occasion by com¬ 
mand of the Queen they were sent to Windsor for Her 
Majesty’s inspection and served at the Royal table 
the same evening. This year two baskets (Sutton's 
Early Giant) were taken from the show to Marl¬ 
borough House by command of the Prince of Wales 
for use at the Derby Dinner given by His Royal 
Highness. 
Gold Medals from the Linnean Society.—At the 
anniversary meeting of the Linnean Society on the 
24th ult., the Gold Medal of the society was awarded 
to Surgeon-Major George Charles Wallicb, M D.,in 
recognition of his researches into the problems con¬ 
nected with bathybial and pelagic life. In conse¬ 
quence of his inability to attend in person, his son 
was deputed to receive it on his behalf. At the 
same time a special Gold Medal was awarded by the 
society to Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, G.C.S.I., C.B., 
P.-P.R.S , on the occasion of the completion of 
“ The Flora of British India,” in recognition of the 
eminent services rendered by him to science during 
sixty years of unremitting labour. 
French Strawberries in Britain. - The crop of 
Strawberries in the Plougastel district of France for 
1897 was estimated at 2,870 tons by the British Con¬ 
sul at Brest. Of this quantity Goo tons were sent to 
Plymouth by steamers chartered by some of the 
growers. About 345 tons went via St. Malo to 
Southampton and Paris. The remaining 1,925 tons 
were retained in the neighbourhood of Brest. The 
Strawberries arriving at Plymouth are sent off by 
special trains to London, Liverpool, Manchester, 
Leeds, Glasgow, and Bristol. Last year two 
steamers plied regularly between Plougastel and Ply¬ 
mouth, but a third is to be chartered this year by 
another syndicate of growers. This method of send¬ 
ing fresh fruit has hitherto been very successful. 
Phyllocactus latifrons.—The lower part of the stems 
of this species are round or angular and slender, 
while the upper portion, but chiefly the branches, are 
suddenly widened and flattened so as to appear like 
leathery, oblong leaves. Flowers are produced from 
the branches in considerable abundance, and the 
long, funnel-shaped buds expand during the evening 
revealing a great number of lanceolate, delicate white 
petals, shaded with amber outside and resembling 
those of the night flowering Cereus. Like many 
ether white flowers they are sweetly scented. The 
species is one of the strongest growers in the genus, 
and is of the easiest culture in a rich porous soil, 
when supplied with plenty of moisture during the 
growing season, but particularly in hot weather. 
The plant should be kept rather dry in winter. Well 
established plants throw up stems 3 ft. to 4 ft. 
long in a season, and then throw out branches which 
arch over gracefully. The Cactus Journal for May 
gives a figure of this species, which we think might 
be tried for the purpose of hybridisation. 
Sturmur and French Crab Apples have been coming 
into Covent Garden, during the past week, in fine 
condition. 
English Peaches and Nectarines are already being 
sold in Covent Garden, the earlier arrivals of the 
former fetching from 3s. to 6s. per dozen, and the 
latter, 4s. to 6s. 
The Stirling Seed Establishment, belonging to the 
well-known firm of Messrs. Drummond & Son, was 
destroyed by fire on Whit Monday. It is estimated 
that J to,00 0 will only just cover the damages. 
Gamboge is a Gum resin, which exudes from the 
stems of several species of tree, and receives different 
names according to the country from whence it is 
obtained. Ceylon Gamboge is obtained from Gar- 
cinia Morelia; Siam Gamboge from Garcinia 
Morelia pedicellata; and Mysore Gamboge from 
Garcinia pictoria. American Gamboge is the juice 
of Vismia guianensis. 
Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland.—This 
company has generously offered to carry Potato- 
spraying powder and machines free, at the owner's 
risk, for the current season. This can scarcely fail 
to be of the utmost value to growers of the esteemed 
tuber in the Emerald Isle, and especially so now 
that spraying as a preventive as well as cure for 
disease is so extensively practised. 
The Rook and Cape Colony.—The writer on 
African sport and natural history strongly opposes 
the proposition to introduce the rook into Cape 
Colony. He remembers the case of the rabbit in 
Australia, and thinks it would be equally dangerous 
to introduce the rook to the Cape. If it would 
flourish aDd multiply there it might be the means of 
diminishing the locust pest, and that would far out¬ 
weigh the damage it might occasion to cultivated 
crops. 
The Myrobolan Plum.—Though this is often re¬ 
corded as a distinct species, it would seem that the 
garden form enjoying the name is only a variety. 
In any case, trees raised from the stones do not come 
true to the parent tree, but give rise to seedlings, 
generally inferior to the parent as far as the fruit is 
concerned. A coloured illustration of a fruiting 
spray is given in the Bulletin d’Arboriculture, de Flori¬ 
culture, &-c., for April last, showing dark red, globular 
fruits about the size of a Cherry. 
Spring Poetry.—We cull the following from the 
columns of the Florists' Review for April 28th. It is 
nothing if not original. 
Spring ! oh, Spring ! 
You’re not such a beautiful thing, 
And poets all lie when they sing 
Of your manifold charms, naughty Spring! 
Measly Spring ! 
For ’tis the grower that mighty well knows 
You’re the cause of one-half of his woes, 
And you can’t get a price for a Rose 
That'll pay for the wear of the hose, 
Hang you, Spring ! 
The Hawthorns on Hampstead Heath.—It is 
evident that the youth of London has not yet been 
taught to break away from the old custom of tearing 
down branches and boughs of the Hawthorn when 
in bloom. Adults as well as children, however, are 
guilty of this practice on Hampstead Heath and 
Parliament Fields, notwithstanding the injunctions 
of the notice boards. It may be difficult or impos¬ 
sible to stop the practice by the public highways and 
in country lanes, but surely this cannot be said of a 
London recreation ground under the care of the 
the County Council. 
Strawberries in Fancy-handle Baskets—Growers of 
this soft fruit are now adopting a method of market¬ 
ing the same in fancy-handle baskets, according to 
the Journal of Greengrocery. The less that Straw¬ 
berries are handled the better they appear when 
they reach the consumers, so that if neatly packed in 
baskets as they are gathered, no further handling is 
necessary. The baskets come from France, and 
having thus got the start of us it is considered that 
English basket makers cannot be expected to turn 
out so light and serviceable an article at the money 
We think, however, that they might be encouraged 
to furnish a cheap article of their own design for the 
home growers. They might be used for Peaches, 
Nectarines, Apricots, and other soft fruits, 
