438 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 11, 1899. 
The Sweet-scented Vernal Grass, Anthoxanthura 
odoratum, which gives the pleasant smell to new- 
mown hay, is one of the earliest of our British 
grasses to bloom. Curiously enough, the seed has 
rather low germinating powers, and if 70 per cent, of 
the seed grows, it is reckoned to be a good percent¬ 
age, whilst in many other grasses almost every seed 
will grow. The Sweet-scented Vernal Grass is 
rather bitter to the taste, although not disagreeably 
so; and it is much relished by cattle. It is, there¬ 
fore, regarded as a very important constituent in 
mixtures for meadows and pasture lands. 
Grand International Horticultural Exhibition — 
Under the auspices of the Ligue Horticole L’Union, 
Mont St. Amand, Ghent, Belgium, a grand inter¬ 
national horticultural exhibition will be held there 
during April and May next, as indicated by a pictor¬ 
ial poster mounted on brass rods, and sent us last 
week. The floral illus tration consists of Palms 
in front of which are hybrid Anthuriums, single and 
double Dahlias, Cattleyas, Odontoglossums and 
other Orchids. These flowers and plants are repre¬ 
sented in their natural colours, the effect being 
artistic and the whole well executed. 
The National Dahlia Society.—The annual report 
for 1898 and the schedule of prizes for 1899 of this 
influential society that looks after the welfare of the 
Dahlia are before us, as usual combined in pamphlet 
form. The report comments upon the unfavourable 
character of the season of 1898, but goes on to state, 
taking this into account, the annual exhibition wasa 
success with its total of 6,312 blooms staged, although 
this was a decrease of 456 as compared with 1897. 
That year, however, was an exceptionally favourable 
one, and the exhibition was the largest ever held by 
the society. The financial statement shows that the 
income from all sources, including the balance of 
^21 is. id. from 1897 was £202 2s. 7d. The entire 
expenditure, including all prizes awarded at the 
Crystal Palace exhibition, and the cost of issuing 
the official catalogue amounted to £186 i 3 s. iod.,thus 
leaving a balance in hand of £15 3s. 9d. This is a 
smaller balance, it is true than the one accruing from 
1897, but the issuing of the catalogue has been an 
extra expense, but one that marks a step in the right 
direction. The grand exhibition of Dahlias is fixed 
to take place at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, on 
September 1st and 2nd, and we hope that there will 
be no drought this year to plague the grower of the 
handsime autumn flower. The secretarial duties 
of the society continue to be discharged by Mr. J. F. 
Hudson, M.A, and Mr. Edward Mawley is still 
treasurer, while there is a weighty list of patrons, 
patronesses, and vice-presidents. 
Carnation Mrs. Thos. W. Lawson.—The minds of 
American florists are still in a state of agitation con¬ 
cerning the purchase by Mr. Thos. Dawson, of 
Messrs. Lawson, Weidenfeld & Co., of Biston, of 
the Carnation Mrs. Thos. W. Lawson, for the un¬ 
heard price of 830,000. At first the truth of the 
transaction was denied, but it has now transpired 
that it did definitely take place, but other events are 
following fast in the train of this extraordinary pur¬ 
chase. In a letter to The Florists' Exchange, of 
February 4th, Mr. Lawson challenges any American 
florist to produce a Carnation to equal Mrs. Thos. 
W. Lawson, and offers to pay 85,000 for a single 
flower (not a plant) of such a variety. Furthermore, 
he engages, providing the lucky grower has a stock 
of 8,000 plants to purchase him out for 830,000. 
Yet another offer is made, viz., a prize of 85,000 to 
anyone who shall before February 1st, 1900 produce 
a finer Carnation than Mrs. Thos. W. Lawson. 
These tempting offers will most assuredly put the 
florists of the New World on their mettle, and Mr. 
Lawson has probably sown for himself a pretty crop 
of trouble in investigating the many claims which 
will certainly be made; indeed, the challenge has 
already been accepted by Mr. C. W. Ward, of 
Queens, New York, who is thus the first claimant in 
tbe field. Mr. Ward has a seedling which he avers 
is going to win him the dollars, and he has already 
offered to submit it to the judgment of Mr. Peter 
Fischer, the raiser of the variety Mrs. Thos. W. 
Lawson. It seems that United States horticulturists 
at all events are ia for a bad spell of Carnation 
mania that bids fair to eclipse that visitation of 
Tulip madness which attacked the Tulip growers of 
Holland in the seventeenth century. 
The Philippine Islands contain no fewer than 256 
distinct species of birds. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Ltd.—The catalogue of herbaceous 
and Alpine plants for 1899 issued by tbe Tottenham 
firm is before us. It is a well got up and profusely 
illustrated production in attractive covers. While 
maintaining its character as a catalogue very full 
descriptions are given of most of the plants, and the 
cultural notes attached although terse are of value. 
The illustrations have come out with remarkable 
clearness and give a capital idea of the subjects that 
they represent; they are indeed illustrations that 
illustrate. A new branch, that of landscape garden¬ 
ing, has recently been added to the undertakings of 
the firm, and a couple of typical samples of 
artistically laid out gardens and grounds are figured. 
An index is given to the contents of the catalogue, 
and this facilitates reference to any subject that it 
may be desired to look at. 
Fruit Cultivation by Farmers.—An important paper 
on this subject was read by Mr. Spencer Pickering, 
F.R.S., at the Farmers' Club, Salisbury Square, 
Fleet Street, E.C., on Monday, February 27th, when 
there was a large attendance of members and friends. 
The paper reviewed the present unsatisfactory state 
cf orchards attached to farms, and referred to the 
general neglect as being incomprehensible, when 
farmers generally were good cultivators, who knew 
well from experience that only the best attention 
could give the best results. The advantages of a 
system of co-operators in the collection and distribu¬ 
tion of fruit for sale were dwelt upon, and the 
necessity of careful grading and packing, illustrated 
by the respective prices of fruit in the market. In 
reference to railway rates Mr. Pickering considers 
the companies are not so difficult to approach as 
some imagine, and thinks fair terms might often be 
made by a little tact on the part of the producer. 
The relation of landlord and tenant in the matter of 
fruit planting was very ably and judiciously treated. 
It was advocated that the landlord should provide 
the trees and the needful fencing, tbe tenant to pre¬ 
pare the ground, plant the trees, and guarantee the 
essential after-attention. The compensation due to 
an out-going tenant to be determined by competent 
valuers. Considerable discussion followed, and an 
unanimous vote of thanks to the lecturer concluded 
the proceedings. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association.—At a 
meeting of Devon and Exeter gardeners held on the 
evening of Wednesday, the 1st inst., at the Guildhall, 
Exeter, Mr. G. Camp, gardener to Mr. E. Byrom, 
Culver, read a very instructive paper on " Plants for 
House Decoration.” Mr. Camp reminded his audi¬ 
ence that about thirty years ago elaborate floral 
decorations began to come into fashion, and this had 
continued up to the present day, revolutionising the 
business of flower growers. There was no branch 
of gardening that so taxed the abilities of the gar¬ 
dener as the production of a continuous succession 
of plants suitable for decorative work. Such Palms 
as Latania borbonica, Chamaerops excelsa, and 
Thrinax elegans were the most lasting of any for 
standing in dwelling-rooms. There were also 
numerous Ferns suitable for the purpose. Coloured 
foliage plants were an agreeable contrast to Palms 
and Ferns. Subjects that forced well were next 
dealt with, and Deutzia gracilis was especially 
lauded. Two or three year old Deutzias were the 
most useful, but a batch of cuttings should be struck 
each year in January, or early in February. Calan- 
thes were lasting and invaluable for the filling of 
baskets. Speaking of trailing, Mr. Camp said an 
abundance of this class of material was indis¬ 
pensable, Panicum variegatum and Tradescantia 
multicolor came in for favourable mention. Green 
was always acceptable, and nothing was better re¬ 
ceived than Asparagus medeoloides, popularly known 
as Smilax. Sprays of this, brightened with a bit of 
colouring here and there, were most decorative upon 
the dinner table. In table-dressing no plants should 
be employed that would hide the guests from each 
other, and 15 in. of height was therefore enough for 
table plants. Any obstruction of conversation should 
also be guarded against. All plants used for 
house decoration should be grown in pots of the 
smallest dimensions possible. A brisk discussion 
followed the reading of the paper. 
Never Peel Potatos Thickly, for the most nutritious 
properties lie nearest the skin. 
Begonia semperflorens flore pleno. —A double var¬ 
iety of the well-known Begonia semperflorens has 
been raised in the nursery of MM. V. Lemoine & 
Son, Nancy, France. Judging from a photographic 
illustration in Moller’s Deutsche Gartner-Zeitung for 
March 4th, the flowers resemble those of a Stock in 
form and build, though the arrangement is entirely 
different. 
Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associa¬ 
tion.— On the 2nd inst. Mr. James Hudson, The 
Gardens, Gunnersbury House, Acton, delivered a 
lecture at the bi-monthly meeting of the above 
association. He took as his subject some of the 
more important of recent introductions and other 
interesting plants, including Acalypha hispida, 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, Nymphaea stellata, 
Ixoras, Salvia splendens grandiflora, and Dendro- 
bium formosum giganteum. On these subjects he 
imparted a considerable amount of information to a 
full and interested audience, his remarks being of a 
cultural and extremely practical nature, calling 
forth a considerable amount of discussion and many 
questions, to which Mr. Hudson gave satisfactory 
replies. He was accorded a hearty vote of thanks 
for his address. 
Native Guano—The importance of suitable 
fertilisers for field and garden is every day becoming 
of greater importance and their use more general. 
We notice that the Native Guano Company, Ltd., 
29, New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, E.C., has issued 
a pamphlet of some sixty-four pages of testimonials 
as to the efficacy of Native Guano. These testi¬ 
monials number hundreds, and come from all parts 
of the country. Native Guano has been examined, 
tested, and reported upon in most favourable terms 
by such high authorities as Dr. C. Meynott Tidy, 
M.B., F.C.S.; Professor Dewar, F.R.S., F.C.S.; 
and Dr. A. B. Griffiths, Ph. D., F.R.S.E. The 
latter gentleman has experimented largely with the 
manure in connection with Oats and Mangolds, 
excellent results having been obtained. 
British Railway Traffic Rates.—A vigorous crusade 
is now being carried on against the unfair railway 
traffic rates that have been and are crushing the life 
out of the agricultural industries. This movement 
is almost entirely owing to the praiseworthy initia¬ 
tive taken by Messrs. Wm, Wood & Sons, Ltd., of 
Wood GreeD, London, N. We say "almost” be¬ 
cause, although the Messrs. Wood have been the 
first to take vigorous action, and to organise the 
kicking of the British producer, they have only 
voiced the complaint that is to be heard from all 
parts of the country. To use the Messrs. Woods' 
own words, " The cumulative incidence of these 
ratej has always had the result of hopelessly handi¬ 
capping the British agriculturist with his favoured 
foreign rival. Individual expostulation has hitherto 
been of little avail.” It is proposed to call a meet¬ 
ing of representative growers and the heads of allied 
trades *' to see if something can be done towards 
forcing the hand of the traffic monopoly, and open¬ 
ing the eyes of the railway companies to the fact 
that they have hitherto been * killing the goose,' 
and strangling the agricultural produce of these 
islands.” The Daily Mail has taken the matter up at 
the Wood Green firm's invitation, and has lent the 
whole of its magnificent influence to fighting the 
battle of " home against foreigner.” The few 
figures that are in its pages given are eloquent 
enough. Thus a ton of fruit sent to London from 
Stanley costs 20s. by rail, and only 12s. by road. 
Again, it is stated that Kent fruit is sent to London 
by slow trains, and foreign fruit by fast trains, with 
the result that the home produce often misses the 
market. All those wishing to further the object of 
the committee that has been formed to deal with the 
business, should apply to "The Secretary, United 
Opposition Committee, 37, Norfolk Street, Strand.” 
Mr. James L. Wood, F.R.H.S., the managing 
director and senior partner of Messrs. Wm. Wood 
& Son, Ltd., will also be happy to give his personal 
attention to enquirers. We hope to see more 
reasonable terms granted to our home producers as 
the outcome of this agitation, and that even if our 
British-grown stuff is not given preferential rates it 
will at least be put on even terms with the 
foreigner. 
