70 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 1, 1898. 
Locusts have been so numerous in South Africa 
during the past year that railway trains have been 
stopped by them. 
Bee Poison..—The idea has long been prevalent 
that the irritation caused by the sting of the bee was 
due to formic acid; but the poison resists heat, 
whereas formic acid would volatilise on the applica¬ 
tion of heat. The irritation is believed to be due to 
a poisonous alkaloid, which poisons the blood locally. 
Dr. Langer, of Germany, has been publishing various 
interesting statistics concerning bee stings. One 
hundred and forty-four bee keepers described them¬ 
selves as being unaffected by stings, nine of them 
being naturally so, and the remainder by treatment. 
Some, however, could not acquire this immunity. 
Dr. Langer says that a 5 per cent, solution of 
permanganate of potash will counteract the poison of 
stings, and recommends an injection of a 2 per cent, 
solution. 
-- 
TWO WAYS OF GROWING FRUIT. 
There is in this neighbourhood an excellent illustra¬ 
tion of the truth of the opening remarks of your leader 
in the issue for August 27th, p. 819. A grower (who, 
by the way, has a reputation for good cultivation of 
his ground), planted several acres with half standard 
Apple trees—I cannot be sure how long ago; but it 
is less than five years, the length of time I have been 
in the neighbourhood and observed these trees. The 
variety I cannot tell, as I can only observe from the 
road as I pass, but judging from the appearance of 
the trees now nicely studded with medium-sized, 
well coloured fruits, it is a late dessert Apple. But 
two facts I have noticed, and wish to record, believ¬ 
ing these to be the secret of success. One is that the 
soil is kept stirred and free from weeds. Goose¬ 
berries about 6 ft. apart are growing beneath. The 
other is that the knife is used sparingly and judi¬ 
ciously. Careful thinning of the wood and little 
shortening is practised, and I note each year the 
crop on those trees is heavier. Just now it gives 
one pleasure to see them. 
I contrast with these some (many, I am sorry to 
say), trees in the garden under my charge. They are 
standard Apples and Pears of the best varieties 
planted about ten years ago, and for five or six years 
after planting subjected each year to an indiscrimi¬ 
nate, severe pruning, all the growth being cut away to 
within 2 in. or 3 in. of the main branches. When I 
took charge here nearly five years ago, the pruning 
was badly done, and the first year’s crop was a good 
supply of flower sticks, which I thinned out, 
slightly shortening that growth which I thought ad¬ 
visable to leave. I had the satisfaction of seeing, 
after two years, wood which every fruit grower likes 
to see, studded with fruit spurs or bloom buds; but 
not till this,the fifth year, have many of them bornea 
fair crop of fruit. Thus ten years have been wasted, 
perhaps longer, through senseless, thoughtless prun¬ 
ing ; ard many trees are irretrievably ruined 
through canker, doubtless caused by excessive prun¬ 
ing —A P. 
-- 
SCARLET RUNNERS. 
To many the subject ofScarlet Runners may appear 
too prosaic to occupy an inch or two in one of your 
columns; and my only excuse for obtruding upon 
your readers in this connection is that, having seen 
two plantations of them very similar at first sight 
growing and flowering most profusely, and both 
having liberal supplies of water to their roots, one 
plantation up to the present time yielded the most 
scanty results, while the other has been, and is still 
bearing a heavy crop of Beans, and in all likelihood 
will do so till the advent of frost. Asking my friend 
with the abundant harvest a few questions as to the 
treatment which has led to so successful a result, I 
found that during the heat wave he has nearly every 
evening syringed his Runners, it being his belief that 
by so doing the pollen has been better distributed 
and rendered more efficient in the fertilisation of the 
bloom. Another rarely practised plan, and withal 
a good one, coming under my notice, is the sowing of 
Scarlet Runners in a pit or frame early in the season, 
pinching them back as required, and removing the 
lights entirely as soon as the weather will permit, or 
ensure their safety. Mr. Salter, of Woodhatch 
Lodge Gardens, Reigate, makes this a regular cus¬ 
tom, and sets a high value upon the plan, enabling 
him to gather Beans in plenty for weeks, and often 
for months before those sown in the open come in, 
and form a most agreeable addition to the lot of 
vegetables at command, during a time when the 
choice in most gardens is at best a rather restricted 
one.— W. B. G. 
- .|» 
SOCIETIES. 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY.— 
September 26 th. 
A meeting of the Floral Committee of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society was held on the above date 
at the Royal Aquarium. There was not much forth¬ 
coming and no certificates were given. Mr. G. 
Thrussel, Goff's Oak, Cheshunt, sent blooms of a 
capital early yellow named Yellow Queen, a sport 
from Queen of the Earlies. This the committee 
desired to see again. Mr. J. H. Wittey, Nunhead 
Cemetery, sent Norbet Puvrez, a dwarf, early- 
flowering, copper-coloured variety of considerable 
merit. 
Crimson Pride was a very fine early-flowering sort 
from Mr. W. Wells, Earlswood Nursery, Redbill, 
Surrey. This was sent out last year by Mr. Wells 
as Pride of the Market, but owing to the existence of 
a yellow variety of that name the name has been 
changed. The colour is rich crimson and the flower 
is of good size. A verdict of “commended" was given* 
Mr. Wells also sent Louis Lemaire and Henri Yvon, 
sports from the early flowering variety M. Gustave 
Grunnerwald. 
Mr. H. J. Jones, of Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham, 
S.E., sent three blooms of Soleil d’ Octobre, a grand 
yellow sort of great size, with long, droopiDg florets. 
These blooms excited a good deal of discussion and 
the variety narrowly missed gaining a certificate 
although it was “ commended." 
A new Chrysanthemum tube was sent by Mr. H. 
BurgiD, Eynesbury, but it obtained no award. 
Mr. A. Wright, Falkland Park Gardens, South 
Norwood Hill, S.E., had a stand of a new form of 
cup and tube. These were fitted with wire supports 
and collapsable tubes whereby the flowers, whilst 
perfectly rigid, may be raised to any height upon 
the stand from 4J in. to 8 in. These tubes are being 
made by Mr. John Pinches, of 3, Crown Buildings, 
Camberwell, S.E. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The awards mentioned hereunder were made by the 
committees of the Royal Horticultural Society at 
the meeting on the 20th ulto. : 
Orchid Committee. 
Laelia splendens. — This hybrid Laelia was 
obtained by crossing L. purpurata with L. crispa. 
The sepals look rather narrower than they really are, 
seeing that they are revolute longitudinally for the 
greater part of their length. Both sepals and 
petals are blush-rose in hue. The lip is large and 
deep purple in colour, with a big yellow-white 
blotch at the throat on either side of the rostellum. 
The throat itself is striated with heavy, dull purple 
lines. The margin of the lip is much waved and 
gophered. The flower is, taking it altogether, a 
large and noble one. Award of Merit. Messrs. Jas. 
Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea. 
Cattleya Intertextii.— C. Warnerii and C. 
Mossiae were the parents of this hybrid. The 
sepals and petals are rather dark, being of a deep, 
rather dull rose, but the huge, rich purple lip, with 
its marginal line of silver is very striking. The mar¬ 
gin is also much crisped and gophered, and the 
flower is a large and very showy one. Award of 
Merit. Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, Ltd. 
Miltonia Binotii. —Here we have an intermediate 
form between M. Candida and M. Regnelli, which 
has given rise to the belief that it is a natural hybrid 
between these two species. The lancelate, accum- 
inate sepals and petals are dull nut-brown, with a 
narrow margin of yellow-brown. There is a 
regularly defined basal zone of dull magenta. The 
lip is large, slightly involute longitudinally, and light 
purple in colour, with a few rather prominent veins 
of a deeper shade. The flower is not so large as M. 
Candida. Award of Merit. Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart, (grower, Mr. W. H. White), Burford Lodge, 
Dorking. 
Miltonia leucoglossa. —Here the lanceolate, 
acuminate sepals and petals are green-white in 
colour, with several heavy blotches of chocolate- 
brown in the centre of each segment. The lip is 
large, and, as usual, the most prominent feature. It 
is obovate in shape, the colour is a rather sullied 
white, and the margin is waved. Award of Merit. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart. 
Floral Committee. 
Pandanus Sanderi. —In this we have a plant which 
closely resembles the popular P. Veitchii in habit and 
vigour of growth, but the leaves are rather thicker 
and longer, and the colours are green and gold, dis¬ 
posed in longitudinal stripes of varying width, and 
in about equal proportions. Occasionally the green 
will be confined to one-half the leaf, and the golden 
hue to the other half. The plant is a highly decora¬ 
tive subject, and will prove both an ornament and 
an acquisition to our stoves. First-class Certificate. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans. 
Ligustrum Walkeri. —This is a very distinct 
and beautiful Privet of rather dwarf, branching 
habit. The branches, which are slender and ele¬ 
gant, leave the stem at nearly right angles, and 
have a graceful, drooping character. The leaves are 
small, ovate in shape, and bright green in colour, 
whilst the margins are prettily waved and wrinkled. 
The bark is light brown. First-class Certificate. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt. 
Populus Ontario variegata. —In this we have 
a handsome Poplar with deep green, cordate leaves, 
blotched and splashed to a varying degree with gold. 
Award of Merit. Mr. J. Carter, Willow Bank, 
Keighley. 
Chrysanthemum Louis Lemaire. —For descrip¬ 
tion of this early-flowering Chrysanthemum see p. 
39. Award of Merit. Mr. W. Wells, Earlswood 
Nurseries, Redhill, Surrey. 
Chrysanthemum May Manser. —For descrip¬ 
tion see p. 39. Award of Merit. Mr. H. J. Jones, 
Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham, S.E. 
Adiantum Faulkneri. —This is a new market 
Fern of very great merit. In appearance it comes 
close to A. lambertianum, but is more erect in habit, 
and thus a little taller. The pinnules are small, nar. 
rowly cuneate in shape, and the stipes are thin, 
black and shining. For cutting purposes the fronds 
are very useful. Award of Merit. Mr. Thomas 
Rochford, Turnford Hall Nurseries. 
Acer Juhlkei variegata. —Here we have a hand¬ 
some Maple with green and white foliage. The 
leaves are primarily five-lobed, each lobe being 
further cut and divided rather deeply. The leaf- 
petioles are bright rose in colour, and add consider¬ 
ably to the attractiveness of the tree. Award of 
Merit. Messrs. Paul & Sons, Cheshunt. 
Althaea tota alba. —This is a very handsome 
Mallow with large white flowers, and deep green, 
palmatifid leaves. Award of Merit. Messrs. Paul 
& Sons, Cheshunt. 
Cactus Dahlia Countess of Lonsdale.— For 
description see p. 22. Award of Merit. Messrs. 
Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury. 
Cactus Dahlia Prcgenitor.— In this we have 
an example of a new type of Cactus Dahlia. The 
florets are long and incurving, but their chief fea¬ 
ture is that they are much furcated at the tips, each 
of the florets being long and acute. This imparts a 
very elegant appearance to the flower, and we shall 
be pleased to see more of the same build. The 
colour is deep, rich crimson. Award of Merit. 
Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. 
Cactus Dahlia Viscountess Sherbrooke. —In 
this variety the florets are very long and incurving, 
the flower being of medium size and excellent form. 
The colour is a rich salmon-scarlet. Award of 
Merit. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. 
Cactos Dahlia The Clown. —For description 
see p. 22. Award of Merit. Messrs. Keynes, 
Williams & Co. 
Pompon Dahlia The Duke. —For description 
see p. 39. Award of Merit. Messrs. Keynes, 
Williams & Co. 
Fancy Dahlia Watchman. —The flowers are of 
medium size, but rather flat. The ground colour is 
rich yellow, striped and blotched to a variable ex¬ 
tent with dull crimson. Award of Merit. Messrs. 
Keynes, Williams & Co. 
Show Dahlia William Neate. —Here the colour 
is a deep terra cotta. The flower is large and of 
capital form. Award of Merit. Messrs. Keynes, 
Williams & Co. 
