June 11, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
645 
The Cottage Grounds in Kew Gardens will be left in 
their present " semi-wild and exceedingly picturesque 
state,” says the Journal of the Kew Guild. The public 
will have access by a broad path commencing near 
the Isleworth Gate, passing towards the Kew 
Observatory, thence turning to the left past the 
Queen’s Cottage to the Cypress Walk. Bluebells and 
Red Campion are at present the glory of the grounds, 
and it would be a public loss if either they or the 
Brambles were destroyed to make room for a public 
promenade. 
A Flower Hunter in Queensland and New Zealand is 
the title of a book recently written by that intrepid 
botanist and artist, Mrs. Rowan. In it she relates 
the discomforts and calamities which attended her 
in her extensive peregrinations through the countries 
mentioned As the result of her travels, Mrs. Rowan 
his increased her collection of drawings of the flora 
of these countries to a considerable extent, and she 
has something to say of snakes and other creeping 
things which are to be found whilst searching for 
the flowers. Mr. John Murray is the London 
publisher of the book, and the price is 14s. 
Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society.-—The 
Floral Committee at the meetings of March gtb, 
April 20th, and May nth, 1898, awarded First-class 
Certificates to Messrs. V. Schertzer & Sons, of 
Haarlem, for Frimula veris acaulis coerulea (March 
9th); to the botanical garden of Utrecht, for 
Cineraria Lynchi (May nth); to Mr. Baron van 
Boetzelaer, of Maartensdijk, for Eulophiella Elisa- 
bethae (May nth); and to Mr. A. D. den Older, of 
Leiden, for Plantago lanceolata fol. varieg. (May 
nth). A Certificate of Merit was awarded to Mr. 
Baron van Boetzelaer, of Maartensdijk, for Stauropsis 
(Vanda) gigantea (April 20th). 
Rose Show for Newton-Stewart, N.B.-We are 
pleased to observe that the committee of the Newton- 
Stewart Floral Fete are to have an exhibition of 
Roses, herbaceous plants, and horticultural sundries 
on the 6th of July. Already there is an assur¬ 
ance that the exhibition will be on a very large scale, 
some of the leading houses having promised to send 
exhibits, while the enthusiastic manner in which 
it is being taken up locally augurs well for a success¬ 
ful show. Any seedsman or nurseryman desirous 
of exhibiting any of their specialities should make 
early application to the secretary, who will be 
pleased to allot sufficient space and see to the proper 
erection of the stand. We wish the exhibition every 
success. 
To Encourage the Children.—The Toronto Horti¬ 
cultural Society proposes to make a most commend¬ 
able departure from the general routine of the con¬ 
duct of such societies by presenting 1,000 plants to 
the children of public schqo’s in the city, such plants 
tabe cared for by the recipients and exhibited by 
them at the Chrysanthemum show in the fall, when 
prizes will be given to the best specimens. The 
children will thus be induced to take a deep interest, 
which in many cases will be likely to culminate ia 
an abiding one, in plants and plant life, apart from 
the interest that the healthy, and health-giving com¬ 
petition will inevitably promote. We should like to 
see the precedent thus established followed in every 
centre, not only across the Atlantic, but in this 
country and the Continent as well. 
The Lands of Arniston, which belong to the family 
of Dundas, of Arniston, the head of which house is 
down for a baronetcy in the list of Birthday Honours, 
extend to upwards of 10,000 acres in Midlothian, 
1,000 acres being well covered with timber. The 
estate lies at a considerable altitude on the northern 
slope of the Moorfort Hills, and although naturally 
in an exposed situation has been so well looked after 
since it was acquired by the house of Dundas in 1591 
that it is one of the most fertile estates in the upper 
districts of the Lothians. The author of Waverley 
was a frequent visitor at Arniston, for in his diary we 
find the following entry:—“I am always happy in 
finding myself in the Old Oak Room at Arniston, 
where I have drunk many a merry bottle, and in the 
fields where I have seen many a hare killed ” Sir 
Robert Dundas, the present proprietor of Arniston is 
an enthusiastic arboriculturist, and the members of 
the Scottish Arboricultural Society are always 
certain of a hearty welcome from him. 
Violent Contrast. —The Judas-tree and Love-tree 
are popular names applied to Cercis Siliquastrum.— 
Patterson. 
The Orchid Houses at Kew have long been inadequate 
for the proper housing and cultivating of this im¬ 
portant and popular class of plants. For some days 
past they have been undergoing demolition, and are 
to be replaced by four smaller houses built or con¬ 
structed on the principles most approved by the 
leading Orchid-growers. The Orchid pits will also 
be extended. 
They mistook both cause and remedy.—A London 
suburban gardener, being greatly annoyed by his 
plant enemies, went across the way to get a bottle of 
Lemon Oil from the local sundriesman, and was 
returning with the bottle exposed in his hand. Two 
missionaries (natives) seeing the bottle and a serious 
face, and never divining the cause of the trouble to 
be of the common or garden bug order, held out a 
tract with the encouraging words, “ Here my good 
fellow, this will cheer you.”— Snaggs. 
Bad for the Glasshouses.—On Saturday, the 14th 
ult., a severe hailstorm visited Kansas City, Mo., 
U S A. The damage done by the hailstones was 
very great, their average size being from 8 in. to 9 in. 
in circumference according to reports, whilst it is 
stated that some of them weighed from 8J to 9 ozs. 
each. Not only glass but crops of all kinds have 
suffered much, and, in fact, many of them have been 
totally destroyed by this aerial bombardment. To 
quote the words of our contemporary, The Florists' 
Review, the place was “simply Deweyized.” 
The Lily Fields of Bermuda. —It is well known that 
it is from Bermuda that many of the necessary 
supplies of Lilium longifiorum, and its charming 
variety L. 1 . Harrisii are annually drawn, but just 
exactly how these Lilies first got to Bermuda is not 
known. It is probable, however, that they were first 
taken thither by some of the English governors, and 
quickly making themselves at home in the soil and 
the climate became generally distributed amongst the 
gardens in the islands. The cultivation of L. 1 . 
Harrisii for sale was in reality opened up by Mr. F. R. 
Pierson, of Tarrytown, N.Y., U.S.A., in the autumn 
of 1881. Mr. Pierson's attention had been previously 
called to the fact that the Lily grew with freedom in 
the Bermudas, and this visit which was fated to have 
such far-reaching results was made as the immediate 
consequence. Arrangements were made by him with 
General Russell Hastings for the systematic cultiva¬ 
tion of Lilium Harrisii, and from this point the 
iodustry increased in size and importance year by 
year until it reached its maximum in the years 
1894-5-6. In 1896, the number of bulbs grown 
amounted to upwards of 4,000,000. Since that time 
the acreage devoted to the bulbs has decreased, and 
prices have advanced somewhat, but the industry is 
still one of the chief sources of revenue to the 
islanders. 
Fruit Prospects in North Britain. —At Saughall the 
outlook is decidely favourable. Apples are an average 
crop ; Pears, Raspberries, Gooseberries, Currants, 
and Strawberries very good, the latter having greatly 
benefited by the recent copious rains ; Cherries, 
Plums, and Damsons, very fair, and Apricots 
decidedly above the average. At Ince, despite an 
abundance of bloom, all except small fruits will be 
scarce. At Norley, on the other hand, they all 
promise well. Shocklach has suffered severely from 
blight, and heavy thunderstorms followed by frost. 
Plums, Damsons, Pears, and Apples have received a 
deal of damage. At Backford, the Damson trees 
have been attacked by green fly, and the prospects of 
a crop are not inviting. Pears are a full crop in this 
district, however, and Plums and Appier are fair. 
Fordsham and Kingsley have both suffered severely 
from the cold weather and hailstorms of May. The 
trees bloomed well, and set well for fruit, but the 
inclement weather has blackened and withered the 
leaves and fruit. Such Pears as Jargonelle and 
Hessle, both of them prime favourites in the neigh¬ 
bourhood, are an utter failure. Cherries, however, 
look well, and are thus an exception among stone 
fruit,which is poor in this district. The season.which 
a few months ago looked as if it were going to be 
early, seems now to be rather backward, so much 
time having been lost through the very cold spring. 
The Daisy did not make its appearance in the 
Southern States of America till after the civil war ; 
and is believed to have been transported there in the 
hay sent to feed the army horses. 
The Hardy Azaleas in the pleasure grounds at Kew 
have been in their glory for many days past, the 
early, midseason, and late varieties keeping up a very 
lengthened display. Their delicious and powerful 
Honeysuckle fragrance may be perceived far down 
the wind on the lee side of the beds ; and their 
masses of brilliant colours may be sighted for great 
distances down the vistas or grassy avenues between 
the trees. Some of the shades of colour that may 
be noted are white, pink, lilac, rose, purple, cream, 
sulphur, yellow, golden-yellow, orange, orange-red, 
salmon, red, scarlet, crimson, glowing fiery-red, &c. 
The Great Exhibition of British Grown Fruit held 
under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society 
since the year 1894 I s 0De of the great horticultural 
events of the year. It is held by the R.H.S. 
conditionally upon the receipt of donations towards 
the prize fund of £100, and we are pleased to see 
that a sufficient sum has been received to admit of 
the schedules being printed and circulated. The 
show will be held as usual at the Crystal Palace, the 
dates fixed being September 29th, 30th, and October 
1st. In view of the present general favourable 
promise for a good fruit year we may expect to see a 
display fully equal to any that have gone before. 
Prizes are offered in 172 classes. At the end of the 
schedule lists are given of the varieties of Apples, 
Pears, and Plums, each variety being placed in the 
section in which it will be allowed to be shown by 
the society. In view of the confusion between 
culinary and dessert varieties of the fruits named 
that existed until the R.H.S. took the matter in 
hand, these lists must be of vital importance to 
intending exhibitors. 
A New Park for Margate. —The good people of 
Margate are indebted to the public spiritedness of 
Mr. John Woodward, a native of Margate, and a 
member of an old Margate family, but now a resident 
of Croydon, for a very handsome breathing space 
known as Dane Park. About three years ago certain 
farm lands situate in the Dane Valley, immediately 
adjacent to the town, came into the market. Mr. 
Woodward then conceived the idea of purchasing 
them, and presenting them to the town as a site for a 
public park and recreation ground. This he did in 
February, 1896, and the only conditions attached to 
his munificent gift were that all the roads of the 
estate should be fifty feet wide, and that the work of 
preparation should be completed within twelve 
months of the following Michaelmas when the 
tenants should give up possession. The laying out of 
the park was entrusted to Messrs. Cheal & Sons, of 
Crawley, Sussex. Mr. Joseph Cheal, the landscape 
gardener of the firm, has with great success under¬ 
taken the laying out and planting of various public 
parks in different parts of the country, and is .the 
recipient of the Gold Medal given for this class of 
work at the Gardening and Forestry Exhibition at 
Earl’s Court in 1893. Mr. Cheal has certainly made 
the most of the natural advantages of the Dane Park, 
which is twenty-three acres in extent, ten acres of 
the original purchase having been disposed of to 
defray expenses. On entering the grounds the visitor 
is attracted to the lake, a small but picturesque piece 
of water o’erhung with fine old trees. There is a 
miniature island in the centre of the lake, and in the 
background some imposing rockwork prettily planted 
with a variety of subjects. Clumps of trees and 
shrubs, and lines of trees are planted over the whole 
of the ground. The cricket field, lawn tennis courts, 
bandstand, shelters, and children’s playground are 
other features that will not lack appreciation. The 
seats provided are due to the kindness of the Hon. 
Member for Thanet. The opening ceremony was 
performed on Wednesday, June 1st, by the Lord 
Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London, who were 
received by all the elite of the neighbourhood, includ¬ 
ing the Mayor and Mayoress of Margate (Mr. and 
Mrs. G. F. Brown). The whole town was cn fete for 
the occasion, and the decorations and illuminations 
were carried out upon an extensive scale. Com¬ 
memoration trees were planted at the close cf the 
opening ceremony by the Lady Mayoress, the 
Mayoress of Margate, Mrs. John Woodward, and 
Miss Coleman. 
