740 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 23, 1898. 
small, stunted, yellow, and of poor but very 
irregular growth. Mr. Pickering mentioned 
these two cases as samples of bad practice 
often pursued by the British farmer. No¬ 
thing is worse for the fruit trees than allow¬ 
ing the ground beneath to be covered with 
grass. The evaporation of moisture from 
grass-covered land is about four times the 
amount of that given off by naked soil. 
A considerable number of trials have been 
conducted in the matter of manuring, by 
using nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, 
leaving out one or other of the fertilisers in 
each case. Fruit trees, at lease in the 
young condition, do not seem to respond to 
manures in the same way as farm crops on 
the same soil. For instance, one plot re¬ 
ceived no manure; a second got half the 
usual quantity ; a third got the ordinary 
amount; a fourth plot had this doubled, 
and other plots had three or four times the 
regular amount given them. No results 
were apparent in either case. At first the 
manure was scattered upon a circular area 
round the tree, and the circle is widened 
annually. When the trees are full sized 
and cover the ground, manure will be ex¬ 
tended over the whole surface. Why there 
should be no results from the use of manures, 
either in large or small quantities, is a 
mystery which the near future may unravel; 
but in the meantime it would be interesting 
to determine the reason for this strange 
behaviour. The ground may contain all 
the elements of plant food which the trees 
can utilise at present, but the fact remains 
to be discovered and demonstrated. Arti¬ 
ficial manures were employed in all cases. 
Elsewhere some trees were carelessly 
planted in well prepared ground, and their 
rate of growth has been good. This is sur¬ 
prising and serves to show the accommodat¬ 
ing nature of fruit trees, and their power of 
recuperating. Some trees were badly 
planted in unprepared ground, and a few of 
them are making headway, but very ir¬ 
regularly. In another instance close by, 
the ground which had been overgrown with 
weeds has been cleaned and the trees have 
greatly recovered making good bushes. 
There is another valuable lesson in this for 
the careless fruit grower. It shows that a 
neglected orchard may be renovated simply 
by improving the method of culture. Ex¬ 
periments were also made with deep and 
shallow planting. Trees were planted at 
depths ranging from one to three feet, but 
there is very little difference between either 
of the sets now. This may appear to explode 
a theory held by fruit growers generally; 
but it may have reference solely to the 
character of the soil in the matter of natural 
drainage and fertility. 
Other experiments are being conducted 
near the brook in the lower portion of the 
grounds. Autumn, winter and spring plant¬ 
ing was tried, and the evidence was slightly 
in favour of the latter, though there was 
little difference in growth. The Black 
Currant Mite threatens to destroy the 
plantations, particularly some of the varie¬ 
ties, in spite of spraying with insecticides. 
The Common Black Currant is most 
immune from attack. Lee’s Prolific and 
Carter’s Prolific are almost free ; but Black 
Naples gets very much destroyed, and 
and Baldwin’s Black is the worst, the bushes 
being almost killed. No insecticide has yet 
proved efficacious and practical. A number 
of screens are placed round trees in one of 
the quarters to imitate crowding and as¬ 
certain the effect of it. Those trees entirely 
surrounded get drawn up and taller than 
the others. Some of the screens are open 
at certain angles to the points of the com¬ 
pass in order to ascertain the most suitable 
direction for the rows of trees to be planted. 
Plantations of Strawberries have been 
treated with different kinds of manure, and 
last year the nitrates gave slightly the best 
return in fruit. The ground thermometer in 
the lower part of the ground shows that the 
disadvantage to fruit trees has reference to 
air drainage rather than moisture, the air 
being cold and stagnant by comparison 
with that on the high ground. 
Oranges in China.—During the past year 53,614 
cwt. of Oranges, valued at £10.216, were exported 
from Foochow, in China. The fruit trade, in the 
future, promises to be of some considerable import¬ 
ance. 
Harvesting Hay on the Ice.—In one of the States of 
America there is a shallow lake where the grass, 
growing in the bottom, projects considerably above 
the water. During winter, when the lake is frozen 
over, the farmers find it a profitable occupation to 
cut the hay and sell it. 
Carnation Countess Ferrers is the name given to a 
new Carnation that has been raised at St. Anne’s, 
Clontarf, Ireland, which promises to be one of the 
most successful introductions of the season. In size 
and colour it approaches the popular Souvenir de la 
Malmaison, but exhibits rather a richer shade of 
pink. The perfume is both strong and agreeable, 
and in this respect the variety is far superior to some 
of the other modern forms. 
Mr. James Gibson, who for some years past has 
given great satisfaction to his employer, E. H. Watts, 
Esq., Devonhurst, Chiswick, has been appointed 
head gardener to W. R. Hudson, Esq., Danesfield, 
Great Marlow, Bucks. The estate runs to 3.000 
acres, and since the present proprietor took it over 
vast improvements have been effected, both on the 
agricultural portion and in the garden. Admirably 
furnished bothies have been built for both young and 
married men; some splendidly fitted glasshouses 
have been put up, and others are under the course 
of construction. The place has an ancient reputation, 
and that will not ody be re-established but greatly 
increased. There is a fertile, walled-in vegetable 
garden, that will presently be turned to excellent 
account. We understand that there were between 
300 and 400 applications by gardeners for the situa¬ 
tion. Mr. Gibson leaves Devonhurst on the most 
friendly terms with his present employer, whose only 
regret is the losing of a good gardener. He com¬ 
mences his duties at Danesfield on August 1st next. 
Visitors at Woburn Abbey.—After inspecting the 
Woburn Experimental Fruit Farm at Ridgmont, and 
partaking of luncheon in a fine building on the farm, 
the party of inspection on the 13th inst. were driven 
to Woburn Abbey in two brakes, under the care of 
Spencer Pickering, Esq. Amongst the visitors were 
Dr. Masters, Messrs. G. Norman, J. Jennings, Luck- 
hurst, A. F. Barron, S. T. Wright, W. B. Latham, J. 
Asbee, Cheal, Jun., Udale, J. Fraser aDd others. 
Woburn Abbey is a great quadrangle of buildings 
enclosing a central court, and in these respects re¬ 
minding us of Hampton Court. The party were 
broken up into two, and conducted through and 
round the whole quadrangle of rooms to inspect the 
pictures, &c. After this the beautiful grounds were 
inspected. The park is very extensive (three miles 
by two miles within the walls), and some parts of it 
are roamed by herds of deer from various parts of the 
world, including many species of deer and allied 
genera. There is a fine avenue of Beech, Oak, Elm, 
Lime, Ash and other trees, about 120 years of age, 
and now in the foil beauty of summer leafage. One 
grand old Beech measures no ft. in height, and 
possesses 48$ ft. of clear trunk up to the first branch. 
Near the mansion are magnificent trees of Taxodium 
distichum, 65 ft. high, in a moist soil overlying blue 
clay ; also Cedrus Libani, C. atlantica and C. a. 
glauca in healthy condition. Araucarias die after 
getting into the sand beneath. Huge, globular 
bushes of the Portugal Laurel were covered with 
masses of powerfully fragrant flowers. Beds of 
Heaths on the grass included Erica carnea, E. 
vagans, varieties of Caluna vulgaris and Daboecia 
polifolia. The beds in front of the house are planted 
chiefly with tuberous Begonias. The Duke of Bed¬ 
ford was away from home, but the privileges granted 
the party were much appreciated. 
Grey Coat School, Westminster. —Her Royal High¬ 
ness the Duchess of York distributed the prizes at 
this school on the 15th inst. The whole of the floral 
decorations were admirably carried out by Messrs. 
John Laing & Sons,of the Forest Hill Nurseries,Forest 
Hill, London, S.E. They also made the bouquet 
presented to Her Royal Highness. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, West¬ 
minster, on Tuesday, July 26th, 1 to 5 p.m. Bam¬ 
boos will be a special feature at this show, and at 
3 o’clock Mr. A. B. Freeman-Mitford, C.B., will 
lecture on the “ Economic Uses of Bamboos.” 
Making Himself Known..—At a recent show in the 
neighbourhood of the Metropolis, the following was 
overheard :—A gentleman in neat black cloth, and 
bright silk hat, patronises the refreshment tent, and 
draws near to some leading horticulturists sitting in 
a group. A gracious bow to each by the silk bat, 
and a word of expostulation. “ Yes; I have cer¬ 
tainly been overlooked. My merits have not been 
appreciated as they deserve. I quite think it time I 
advertised myself. Then probably I should become 
better known.” Addressing each: "What paper 
would you suggest ? ” No. 1, replied, " The 
" Referee." No. 2 advised " Pick-me-up.” No. 3 
recommended "A Society Journal.” Roars of 
laughter. " Thank you gentlemen. Yes—Pick-me- 
up—Yes—that shall be the one. Good day.” This 
is a fact.— Snaggs. 
Victoria regia at Regent's Park.— The great Water 
Lily of South America has developed wonderfully 
fine proportions in the gardens of the Royal Botanic 
Society this year, several of the leaves measuring 
5 ft. 9 in. to 6 ft. inside the very deep and upturned 
rim. The plant has been flowering for some time, 
and the other day three flowers in various stages of 
development were calling for attention from visitors. 
The oldest was in its second day of expansion, the 
petals being all reflexed and showing a remarkably 
dark colour All the petals were of a deep rose, some 
of the smaller ones in the centre being tinted with 
crimson. The rose flowers and the deep rim of the 
leaves would indicate a distinct variety. A second 
flower was white, being in its first day of expansion. 
A third bud, rising well out of the water, had its 
sepals slightly parted, showing the white petals 
inside them. In spite of the moderate amount of 
sun we have had, the Victoria is really fine this year. 
The large square tank in the Lily house affords 
plenty of room for its development. 
Self-irrigation in Plants.—For many years past 
there have been many believers in the old theory 
that plants absorb moisture, and even plant food in 
solution, through their foliage, even though it has 
been scientifically demonstrated that the leaves do 
not absorb water under normal conditions, that is, 
unless they are actually flagging owing to an in¬ 
sufficient supply from the roots. Another proof of 
it is that the plants have generally made ample pro¬ 
vision to throw it off, not retain it. There is ample 
evidence, on the other hand, that plants have made 
ample provision to carry it within reach of the main 
body of feeding or absorbing roots wherever they may 
happen to be situated. This phase of the subject is 
taken up and explained, as well as illustrated, by the 
Rev. A. S. Wilson, M.A., in the July number of 
Knowledge. The fact is amply demonstrated in the 
general inclination of the leaves of the Beech, Elm, 
Lime, Plane and other trees of like habit, whose 
feeding roots are at some distance from the trunk, 
the leaves being directed outwards, and inclined tier 
above tier like the slates on a house. Caladiums, 
Alocasias and allied plants have the blades of their 
leaves inclined outwards from the top of the petiole, 
which is so bent or inclined to throw the water away 
from the centre. On the other hand, plants which 
have the main body of roots in a central position 
below them have channelled petioles to carry the 
water collected on the leaf surface towards the 
centre. This class of plants are very plentiful, and 
include such as Tulips, Hyacinths, Palms, Radishes, 
Bananas, Tree Ferns, Rhubarb, Thistle, Dandelion, 
and huQdeeds of others. The stems are also often 
angled and furrowed or fluted, or striated, so as to 
act as guides for the descending current. Auriculate 
leaves throw the water upon the leaves next below 
them. 
