692 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 1, 1899. 
fungicides. If figures alone are studied the 
results would appear complicated. In the 
first place there was no doubt about the 
presence of the disease in the field,for the crop 
was very badly attacked in 1895. Secondly, 
it must be kept in mind that Turnips and 
Swedes were grown upon the same plots 
for four consecutive years. Last year (1898) 
the crop was almost a complete failure 
owing to the severe and long continued 
drought. Ten of the plots were treated 
with various fungicides during January, 
1896, but neither of them seem to have had 
any particular effect in checking the 
ravages of the disease for that year, for 
more of the roots were diseased than other¬ 
wise. For instance, where caustic lime 
was applied at the rate of one ton per acre, 
the results were 2 tons. 1 cwt. of sound 
roots, of Sutton’s Champion Swede; 12 tons 
2 cwt. slightly diseased ; and 1 ton. 18 cwt. 
badly diseased. In 1897, without further 
dressing, the same plot gave Magnum 
Bonum Swedes at the rate of 11 tons 5 
cwt. of good roots; and 12 cwt. of bad ones. 
Achilles Turnips under the same treatment 
gave 8 tons 12 cwt. good ; and 1 ton 12 cwt. 
bad roots in 1897. Then, again, where 4 
tons of caustic lime were employed in 1896 
the results were 4 tons 13 cwt. sound roots 
of Champion Swede ; n tons 18 cwt. slightly 
diseased ; and 16 cwt. badly diseased. 
Without further treatment in 1897 the 
results were 16 tons 16 cwt. of good Magnum 
Bonum Swedes ; 6 cwt. bad roots. In 
the case of Achilles Turnips the results 
were 3 tons of good roots ; and 1 ton 
12 cwt. bad roots. During 1898 the crops 
were practically a failure on account of the 
drought, so that no figures need be given, 
suffice to say that the proportion of sound 
roots to diseased ones was fully maintained. 
Of course, under good farming with a pro¬ 
per rotation of crops, there would only be 
one crop of Turnips upon the same land 
in the course of four years. The most im¬ 
portant fact to bear in mind is that the 
fungicides did not show any effect in check¬ 
ing the ravages of the disease till the second 
year after their application. If this should 
be confirmed by further experiments a great 
point would have been gained. The fungi¬ 
cides could then be applied to the ground 
a year before sowing the Turnips. All the 
forms of lime employed, namely, caustic 
lime, gas lime, and chalk, gave similarly 
good results by checking the disease and 
apparently acting as fertilisers; but, as 
already stated, they did not show any effects 
till the second year after their application. 
Experiments on the manuring of Potatos 
have been conducted on the Trial Grounds 
of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, since 1895, in 
connection with the Reading College. Some 
extracts have been taken from a paper 
prepared by Mr. Arthur W. Sutton, F.L.S., 
which appeared in the Journal of the Royal 
A gricultural Society for December last ; and 
three tables give an exhaustive and 
graphic summary of the experiments. 
Table I. shows results which gardeners 
and cultivators generally would scarcely 
expect from manures. Most of the manures 
applied in 1895 gave the best results 
during the second and third year after their 
application. This, however, would appear 
to apply more particular to the soil at 
Reading, and other districts where the soils 
happen to be similarly light and sandy, 
and the season a dry one. The presump¬ 
tion is that the residue of previously applied 
manures is more efficacious than a dressing 
given directly for any particular crop. In 
the case of farmyard manure, none but 
well made and rotted material should be 
given to sandy and gravelly soils, as that 
would be more likely to increase the 
moisture-holding power of the soil and like¬ 
wise its fertility. 
A strange result is also made evident in 
Table II., which deals with plots that had 
been manured annually for three consecutive 
years. The crops were lighter than where 
manure had been applied during the first 
year only. The double dressings of nitrate 
of soda during three consecutive seasons 
gave the heaviest returns in tubers ; but 
when the cost of the manures and the 
extra labour are reckoned up this method 
of growing Potatos is found to be costly 
and unremunerative. It is generally be¬ 
lieved that the best returns come from land 
that has been manured in early winter, 
rather than in spring ; but in this case no 
particular advantages followed either 
system as far as could be seen or deter¬ 
mined. The effects of the manuring in two 
sets of experiments, undertaken on fresh 
land last year, were somewhat marred by 
the long continued drought. The most 
economical returns came from plots 4 and 
6. The first received 2 cwt. of nitrate of 
soda, 3 cwt. superphosphate, and 1 cwt. of 
sulphate of potash. In the case of plot 6 
only 2 cwt. nitrate of soda, and 3 cwt. of 
superphosphate were applied. The omis¬ 
sion of potash does not seem to have made 
itself evident. 
The Seed Trade in Boston has been suffering very 
severely on account of«the great drought. Unless 
there is a change very soon it is feared that the hay 
and other crops will be seriously affected. 
Death of Mr. William Spooner.—We regret to 
record the death, on June 2ist, of William, eldest 
son of the late Mr. Stephen Spooner, of the Hounslow 
Nurseries, in his forty-seventh year. 
Drought.—The effect of last year's great drought 
and of the only moderate supply of rain or snow last 
winter is again being demonstrated by the effects 
produced on outdoor vegetation at the Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Kew. In many places the lawns and grass¬ 
lands are as brown as a young fox’s tail. 
Burnham Beeches.—A railway station will be 
opened at Burnham Beeches on July 1st. The 
station will be very convenient for visitors to the 
wooded retreat in Bucks known as the “ Artists' 
Ideal,” and belonging to the London County 
Council. Visitors have at present to walk from 
Slough, a distance of three or four miles. 
Halberton Cottage Garden Society will hold their 
twenty-seventh annual show on Thursday, August 
3rd, 1899. Prizes are given iD forty-three classes of 
competition in gardening or garden produce, and 
there are also knitting and needlework competitions, 
and for spar making, and classes for poultry, butter, 
and cream. There will be amusements with music 
during the afternoon and evening. We wish this 
cottagers' show success. 
Roses at Southampton.—The Rose show held on 
the Pier, Southampton, last year, was so successful 
that the Council of the Southampton Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society decided to make the exhibition an 
annual event. The second show was held on the 
27th and 28th ult. The entries were numerous, in¬ 
cluding an exhibit from the Royal Gardens, Osborne, 
Isle of Wight. The exhibits were staged in the 
pavilion and a large marquee erected for the 
purpose. 
Mushroom Farming.—It is an easy undertaking or 
farmers to plant up many of the banks, headlands, 
or parks with Mushroom spawn, and to reap a profit 
of 2d. on the lb. A correspondent to the Field 
points the method. He himself a few years ago dug 
out here and there holes ij ft, or so deep, half filled 
them with horse droppings, put in a quartered cake 
of spawn, covered this over with more droppings, 
and then filled the hole in level with mould and the 
soil. The belt of land so planted has yielded 
enormous crops ever since. Of course, fresh and 
good spawn is absolutely necessary, but this need 
not cost more that 2$d. a cake. Spawn can also be 
made at home by one part cow dung, half part 
horse droppings, and a one-tenth part of mould. 
We can advise such experiment to gardeners with 
meadows in charge. 
Death of Mr. George Fry.—As we go to press we 
are sorry to hear of the death of Mr. George Fry, of 
Lee Cemetery, Lewisham, Kent, on the morning’of 
Wednesday last (28th ult.), at the age of eighty-one. 
The funeral is to take place at Lee Cemetery to-day 
(Saturday), at 3 p.m. He was a noted raiser of 
Fuchsias, and we shall refer to the matter again 
next week. 
Birmingham and Midland Counties Chrysanthemum 
Society. — This,one of the great horticultural societies 
of the United Kingdom, now presents its balance 
sheet and annual report for the year 1898, and 
announces its great show to be held at Birmingham 
on November 7th, 8th and 9th, 1899 (see advertise¬ 
ment). Financially and otherwise the society is 
secure, and from the report we learn that the 
innovation of having admitted thousands of school¬ 
children without charge was a pleasing and successful 
feature and one from which, we feel sure, the 
society will ultimately reap a benefit. 
Melon Prince of Wales’ Favourite.—A sample of 
this variety reached us the other week from Mr. A. 
McDonald, gardener to Harold St. Maur, Esq, 
Stover Park, Newton Abbot. The above name was 
given to it owing to the Prince of Wales being 
partial to it when he visited the place some years 
ago to see the late Duke of Somerset. The fruit 
was oval, or shortly oblong, and moderate in size 
with a clean-looking yellow rind, netted with gray. 
The flesh of the variety is white, of great depth, 
very tender, juicy and sweet. Being fully matured 
the outer rind was very thin, all the rest being 
usable, tender and pleasant eating. 
/ 
Mr. Alexander Urquhart, Gardener and Land 
Steward with Mr. and Mrs. Allan, Stormont Castle, 
Belfast, for the last 2J years, was presented by 
them before leaving their service with a beautiful 
carriage clock in case, with inscription, and a hand¬ 
some sum of money on the occasion of his marriage 
and leaving this country to go out to his uncle in 
California to take up Orange growing. His uncle 
owns a large orchard out in Los Angeles, California i 
and is originator and grower of the “ Improved 
Navel Orange.” He was also presented by his 
workmen and fellow servants with a handsome gold 
chain and appendage, with inscription, before leaving 
Stormont. He sails for California on the July 7th. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—Referring to the 
exhibition of hybrid plants at Chiswick, Tuesday, 
July nth. 1839, in connection with the International 
Conference on hybridisation, the following medals 
have been offered:—-1.—A Veitch Memorial Medal 
to the raiser of the best new fruit intentionally 
raised by cross-breeding or hybridisation in Great 
Britain, and never previously exhibited. 2.—A 
Veitch Memorial Medal to the raiser of the best new 
flower (Orchids excluded), intentionally raised by 
cross-breeding or hybridisation in Great Britain, 
and never previously exhibited. 3.—A Veitch 
Memorial Medal to the raiser of the best new Orchid 
intentionally raised by cross-breeding or hybrid¬ 
isation in Great Biitain, and never previously 
exhibited. 4. — A Veitch Memorial Medal to the 
raiser of the best new vegetable intentionally 
raised by cross-breeding or hybridisation in 
Great Britain, and never previously exhibited. 
5.—A Veitch Memorial Medal to the raiser of the 
best new fruit intentionally raised by cross-breeding 
or hybridisation out of Great Britain, and never 
previously exhibited. 6.—A Veitch Memorial Medal 
to the raiser of the best new flower (Orchids excluded), 
intentionally raised by cross-breeding or by hybrid¬ 
isation out of Great Britain and never previously 
exhibited. 7. — A Veitch Memorial Medal to the 
raiser of the best new Orchid intentionally raised by 
cross-breeding or hybridisation out of Great Britain, 
and never previously exhibited. 8. — A Veitch Mem¬ 
orial Medal to the raiser of the best new vegetable 
intentionally raised by cross-breeding or hybrid¬ 
isation out of Great Britain, and never previously 
exhibited. The above medals will only be awarded 
should the exhibits be considered sufficiently merit¬ 
orious, and the result of intentional not accidental 
cross-fertilisation. Exhibitors must give full details 
in writing as to parentage, and record any other 
points which may assist the judges. 9.—A Williams 
Memorial Medal to the best collection of hybrid and 
cross-bred plants.— W. Wilks, Secretary. 
