THE GARDENING WORLD 
699 
July 2 , 1898 . 
in a dense tuft like erect willows about the thickness 
of a goose quill, and 5 ft. to 8 ft. high. They are 
olive-green and give rise to dense fascicled tufts of 
very slender twigs from the nodes. The lanceolate, 
bright green leaves are thin, 2 in. to 4 in. long, and 
clothe the twigs in such a way as to constitute an 
object of great beauty when full grown. For this 
reason and owing to the neat, upright habit of the 
plant it is much grown in pots and tubs for decora¬ 
tive work, and for planting in the sub-tropical garden 
out of doors in summer, when in full beauty. When 
grown entirely in the open ground, the season is far 
advanced before it attains its characteristic develop¬ 
ment. Nevertheless it is a most graceful and desir¬ 
able Bamboo. Some years ago it was often grown 
under the name of Thamnocalamus Falconeri. 
(To be continued.) 
-4.- 
Gardening ||iscellany. 
CARNATION MRS. LEOPOLD DE 
ROTHSCHILD. 
The quantity of flowers obtainable annually from 
this tree variety is surprising, when accorded suitable 
cultural treatment as practised at Gunnersbury Park, 
Acton, by Mr. George Reynolds.. Flowers are pro¬ 
duced in quantity during the winter months ; but the 
plants seem in no wise disposed to go to rest even 
when the summer is well advanced, but continue to 
develop vigorous shoots, which in due time terminate 
in flowers, thus affording, as it were, an aftermath. 
The flowers are of a rich pink, and fragrant; those 
produced in spring and summer, when light is good, 
are of large size, and very useful in the cut state. 
Malmaison Carnations also receive due attention in 
the same establishment. A large quantity of rooted 
layers of border varieties are also potted up in 
autumn and brought along slowly in a greenhouse 
for early summer flowering, and seem admirably 
adapted for the purpose. They grow and flower 
freely, affording a great variety of colours for cut 
flower purposes. 
MAGNOLIA PARVIFLORA. 
When the early flowering Magnolias have shed their 
last petals M. parviflora, a pretty and most interest¬ 
ing species, comes on the scene. The specific name 
is not particularly appropriate seeing that there are 
species with much smaller flowers in cultivation. 
As Magnolias go, the flowers of the little tree under 
notice may be described as of medium size, and pro¬ 
duced in associa'ion with the leaves towards the 
middle and end of June. The three sepals are 
broad but short, reflexed and white ; the six petals, 
on the contrary, are very much longer and of a 
beautiful pure white. The purple mass of stamens 
in the centre shows off to advantage against the 
white background. The light green obovate leaves 
are similar to those of M. conspicuaand M. obovata, 
though smaller and not precisely identical. It has 
been flowering beautifully for some time past in the 
Bamboo garden at Kew, and hails from Japan. 
A FRUITFUL ORANGE. 
The genus Citrus is found in most large gardens, 
where it is grown not only for the sake of its flowers 
and fruits, but for its cheerful, glossy green leaves. 
These latter, however, require frequent sponging, 
otherwise the " cheerful ” appearance will soon be¬ 
come an absent quality. C. Aurantium and its varie¬ 
ties are those which usually find a place in British 
gardens, when it often occupies a conspicuous place, 
especially the tub on the terrace of the mansion 
during the summer months. Mr. D. Cooper, however, 
of the Gardens, Hanger Hill House, Ealing, W., dis¬ 
poses of the tub by interring it, in funereal phrase^ 
beneath the sod, so that nothing but the tree and 
its golden fruits appear to please the eye. Several 
other sub-tropical subjects like Ficus elastica, &c., 
are similarly dealt with, the effect in conse¬ 
quence being very much enhanced. Moreover, less 
watering is required—a serious item in a droughty 
season—and the conditions generally are much im¬ 
proved. The tree in question is about 6 ft. high 
from the green sward, and 4 ft. through. It is a 
good, busby specimen, clothed to the ground, and 
carries about 100 medium-sized fruits.—C. B. G. 
Acton, W. 
SOLANUM JASMINOIDES. 
This most certainly is one of the best half hardy 
climbing plants we have. A good plant of it under 
cover is never long out of bloom. The flowers which, 
in the shade, come almost pure white, are borne in 
large trusses, and are very useful among other cut 
flowers. The climber will live outside in a sheltered 
position near London, and then flower at the end of 
summer, and on till the frost comes.— W. B. G. 
-- I -— — 
SOCIETIES. 
THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL AT BIRMINGHAM. 
June 18th to 24 th. 
Since the inauguration of this Royal Agricultural 
Show in 1839 the number of entries for, and the im¬ 
portance of, Ihe function has steadily increased. This 
year it was held at Four Oaks, Birmingham, and 
another success added to the already long list of 
successes. 
Amongst the numbers of noteworthy exhibits 
which were to be seen in the Midland town last week 
was the Royal Stand erected by Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, of Reading. This, when it was shown at 
Windsor in 1889, was honoured by visits from Her 
Majesty the Queen, and other members of the 
Royal Family. It is a stout and handsome structure, 
built of English Oak, and in its huge recesses were 
exhibited on this occasion, as on others, a large col¬ 
lection of flower and vegetable seeds, Potatos, &c. 
A highly interesting portion was a collection of 
grasses in flower, each bearing its popular and 
botanical name, with its duration of growth, season 
of flowering, and habitat, with other useful informa¬ 
tion. Some twenty varieties of disease-resisting 
Potatos were on view ; also samples of growing 
crops of Peas and Tomatos. Another special fea¬ 
ture of the exhibit was a seed germinator, the 
method of testing seeds being shown in operation. 
To the horticulturist not the least interesting portion 
was the grand display of Gloxinias. 
Messrs. Webb & Sons had a fine stand of seeds 
and vegetables of all kinds, of which we gave par¬ 
ticulars in last week’s issue. 
From Messrs. Dicksons, Ltd., Chester, came a 
collection of grass and Clover seeds, for permanent 
and temporary pastures. Special machinery for 
cleaning the samples of seeds was also shown in 
working. 
Messrs. John Fowler & Co., Ltd., of the Steam 
Plough and Locomotive Works, Leeds, and of Lom¬ 
bard Street, London, E.C., had two stands contain¬ 
ing various ingenious labour-saving machines. These 
included their patent six-furrow, turn-round plough ( 
eminently suitable for light ploughing in countries in 
which it has hitherto been found difficult to compete 
with horses. The single cylinder ploughing engines 
with self-acting coiling gear, double crank compound 
spring-mounted road locomotive engines, and the 
12-ton single cylinder steam road roller were also all 
on view. Of the machinery in motion the 10 horse 
power patent steam digger represented an exceed¬ 
ingly valuable machine. 
Messrs. Potter, Hawthorn & Co., showed their 
improved patterns of poultry houses, greenhouses 
and pigeon cotes. 
Messrs. Hill & Smith contributed a large assort¬ 
ment of fencing hurdles, guards and gates. The 
continuous iron fences vended by this firm are cheap 
and strong, and the unclimable fencing is worthy of 
attention. 
Mr. Duncan Tucker, of Tottenham, made a fine 
display of horticultural buildings. These comprised 
a conservatory specially built for the show, fitted up 
with the latest and most improved ventilating gear, 
and with a projecting bay for folding entrance doors. 
The Orchid house was of Teak, which is specially 
recommenced for buildings of this character, as the 
wood possesses great strength and “last.” This 
house was fitted with special insect proof staging 
with iron frames and slate slabs, an evaporising tank 
under the heating pipes and modern ventilating 
gear. Tucker’s patent anti-drip bar was also fixed 
in position. 
The Pomona Cider made by Mr. JohnWatkirs, 
Pomona Farm Nurseries, Withington, Hereford, 
has acquired a great name and has obtained many 
honours. It is pleasant in flavour, and while not too 
sweet, is free from roughness. Samples of this 
Cider were on view, and visitors were invited to 
taste. 
Cider and Perry in casks and bottles were also 
shown by Mr. Henry Godwin, of Holme, Hereford. 
The responsible trust of protecting the showyard 
against fire was placed in the capable hands of 
Messrs. Merry weather & Sons, Ltd., of London. 
The firm showed some of their most valuable fire 
extinguishers, which have in their time gained sixty- 
nine gold medals and awards at various exhibitions. 
The “Greenwich” and “Gem” double cylinder 
fire engines, the " Farm Homestead ” and other 
pumps suitable for farms, gardens, nurseries and 
Hop gardens, excited much interest on the part of 
visitors. The “ Valiant ” steam pump, used on one 
of Her Majesty’s ships, was likewise a source of 
interest. The engine weighs 6 cwt., and is balanced 
on a small hand carriage. 
Messrs. Webb & Sons were entrusted with the 
decoration of the exhibition hall, and this they 
carried out in an exceedingly tasteful fashion, Palms 
and flowering plants in variety being liberally 
employed. 
Stand No. 1 was occupied by Messrs. Jas. Carter & 
Co., of High Holborn, with some remarkably fine 
samples of farm and garden produce. Cereals were 
strongly represented, and amongst them such grand 
varieties of Oats as Carter’s Cluster, Golden Black 
Tartarian and Triumph, as well as Royal Prize Red 
Wheat, “Prize Prolific, and Goldthorpe Barley. 
Unique clumps of pasture Grasses and Clovers were 
so arranged as to offer precise information to those 
requiring it as to the relative values of the various 
forms for different soils and localities. The piles of 
last season’s Mangel Wurzel excited considerable 
attention, for the roots were as sound as if they had 
just been taken from the ground. 
A neat and comprehensive collection of trees for 
park and pleasure ground ornamentation was staged 
by Messrs. Little & Ballantyne, of Carlisle. They 
included the new Holly Golden King, a great im¬ 
provement in every way upon the older Golden 
Queen. Here, too, were specimens of pasture 
Grasses in flower, and swards of lawn Grass and 
permanent pasture grown from mixtures made and 
recommended by the firm. Cereals were repre¬ 
sented by high class samples of seed, and these in¬ 
cluded pure stocks of pedigree Chevalier Oats, 
Barley and Wheat. 
Messrs. Dickson, Brown & Tait, Manchester, 
showed dried Grasses and Clovers commonly em¬ 
ployed in British agriculture. The root seed section 
was evidenced by specimen bags of the finest Turnips 
and Swedes, whilst Oats, Barley and Wheat were 
all in capital condition. 
Manchester had another capable representative in 
the firm of Messrs. Dickson & Robinson, who had a 
particularly noteworthy exhibit of seeds. Capital 
samples of the famed Swedes Robinson’s Eclipse, 
Lord Derby and Perfection were shown, and the 
seed Potatos were likewise a commendable feature. 
The seeds shown were representative of the best 
strains of both vegetables and flowers. 
Messrs. W. H. Wilcox & Co., 23, 34 and 36, 
Southwark Street, London, E.C., are large manu¬ 
facturers and vendors of engineers' tools, india- 
rubber and leather goods of all descriptions con¬ 
nected with the trade, including their wire-bound 
hose and lubricating and cylinder oils. Of all 
these they had a great store on view, and great 
interest thereby attached to their stand. All the 
goods shown were of the highest stamp. 
NATIONAL ROSE, AT BATH. —June 23 vd. 
It is some nine or ten years ago since the National 
Rose Society located their annual southern pro¬ 
vincial show at Bath, and the committee are to be 
congratulated upon their selection of Bath for the 
1898 fixture, which was in every way a most success¬ 
ful one. All but one or two of the twenty-seven 
classes provided brought competitors, and in not a 
few instances the struggle for premiership was ex¬ 
ceedingly close. On the whole the quality of bloom 
forthcoming was exceptionally good, especially when 
we consider the backwardness of the season, and 
the difficulties which rosarians in all parts of the 
country have had to surmount. 
The exhibition was held in the Sydney Gardens, 
in connection with that of the Bath Rose and 
Begonia Show. 
Nurserymen's Classes. —In the big class for 
forty-eight blooms there were three competitors, 
