July 1, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
693 
Weather in London.—'Thursday (June 22nd), rained 
steadily all day, and was mild. Friday was at first 
dull, but clearer and warm later. Saturday was 
breezy, but very hot. Sunday, moderately bright 
and very much cooler. Monday became oppressively 
hot. Tuesday was bright, warm and breezy. 
Wednesday opened bright and warm. 
Electric Currents for Puddings.—Electricity does 
great things for mankind now-a-days, but probably 
Sir Isaac Newton would not have been equal to Mrs. 
Q-•. Seeing a large electric arc light for the first 
time, she went into the grocery shop, and address¬ 
ing the shopman, said, " I say, mister, how do you 
make that big light o’ yours ? I’m tired o’ burning 
paraffin.” The man answered that it was sustained 
by electric currents. “Oh! is it? ” said the old 
lady, “ then weigh me a pound ; if they won’t do for 
lighting, they’ll come in for puddings.” 
Fasciated Asparagus.—The fasciated stems often 
met with in beds of the common Asparagus must be 
accounted for by the vegetative vigour resulting 
from high feeding and rich soils. A specimen comes 
to us from Mr. J. Fraser, The Gardens, Coldra, 
Carleon. The stems were so flattened out as to 
form a thin, corrugated mass or plate, more or less 
spirally twisted near the apex, and thickened there, 
resembling a cockscomb. The sides in one case 
were thickly furnished with slender and short 
branches. The tops of the sticks at least appeared 
as if they would have made good eating if cooked. 
Cooking and Dessert Apples—According to a 
writer in The Field, of June xoth, we are told that 
the best eating Apples are very often also the 
best for cooking, as in the case of the Blenheim, 
Newton's Fippln, Colville Blanc, Sturmer, D'Arcy 
Spice, and Cox's Pippin. This is true so long as 
they are good eating, that is, crisp, mellow, acidulous 
and sugary. The same writer takes exception to 
the classing of Apples as dessert, or cooking, and 
’remarks that it prevents people from fixing in their 
minds the really good varieties suitable for a given 
district. His arguments are somewhat original. 
--*•- 
WATERER’S RHODODENDRONS AT 
REGENT’S PARK. 
It should be sufficient guarantee that the show of 
these lovely flowering shrubs, made by Messrs. John 
Waterer & Sons, Ltd., Bagshot, Surrey, in a part of 
the Royal Botanic Society's Gardens at Regent’s 
Park, is of a very high-class order when we say that 
Dukes and Duchesses, Earls and Countesses, and 
titled ladies and gentlemen to the number of many 
hundred visited the show on Monday, June 19th. It 
is also significant of the great appreciation which 
the great South African diplomatist, Mr. Cecil 
Rhodes, proved when we say that 3,000 have been 
ordered for the Cape. But, really, I never saw such 
a truly beautiful display got from one class of plants 
used alone as I saw under the great tent where they 
are amassed. We all know the charms of Rhodo¬ 
dendron clumps on the lawns or over the banks in 
the pleasure grounds of gardens; and it is just an 
advance upon such as this, which is on show now, 
and will be continued for the next six weeks. 
The plants are of varied form, height, and appear¬ 
ance, and the gorgeous colouring is brilliant and 
varied, covering half an acre. They are shown 
gracefully in their individuality, yet compact, too. 
Brought there in bud some six weeks ago, the great 
care in lifting, transporting, and in re-planting and 
grouping are worthy of the sincerest tributes. 
The ground from which the beds rise is of the 
most varied character, rising to heights, but never 
too high, falling low, or again sweeping outward and 
then inward. The general plan of arrangement is in 
having an outer border rising and falling, ajutting 
and receding, broken up and winding gracefully 
around the area. Then irregularly posed beds with 
lines as varied as the hues of the occupants, cover 
the central space. The plants themselves are a 
literal mass of bloom, just like smothering wreaths 
of snow multifariously tinted. The following are 
only a few of the many fine varieties:—James 
Mason, pale magenta; Kate Waterer, pale cerise, 
having a yellow mottled central upper petal, and de¬ 
scribed by a lady admirer as “ just like an Orchid ” ; 
B. W. Elliott, of a deep rosy-pink with maroon 
marked upper petal; Mdme. Carvallis, white with 
the faintest of pink flush and yellow upper petal; 
Odoratura, a sweetly scented dwarf and compact 
fprm much sought after; F. B. Hayes, pure white 
with maroon blotch on the upper petal; Michael 
Waterer, deep crimson; Star of Windsor, large open 
white variety with beautiful yellow upper petal; 
Album grandiflorum, white and extremely large ; J. 
H. Agnew, deep peach with maroon above; Mrs. 
Tom Agnew, one large mass of pure white; Lady 
Hillington, one of the best for forcing; pale, creamy, 
and peach ; Countess of Tankerville, Delicatissi- 
mum, and various others.— D. 
FLOWER NOTES. 
Spring flowers were late generally. Wallflowers, 
which seemed almost destroyed in February, have 
recuperated wonderfully and gave abundant sup¬ 
plies, especially the improved yellow varieties, which 
are better than we ever had them. They are grow¬ 
ing on strong, damp soil, and rather shaded from 
sun. Primroses, in variety, are strong—and like 
Polyanthus close beside them—on a damp and shady 
position flowered freely. Auriculas, lifted in a half¬ 
dead state from a sheltered border and planted on a 
cool, shady border, facing north-west, flowered freely, 
and the plants are now healthy. Doronicums were 
a mass of yellow flowers; in a line of 300 ft. long 
they looked imposing. Border Chrysanthemums on 
a sheltered border did not ripen their growth early, 
and have done badly—both in the open ground and in 
frames. Paeonies were never more promising, both 
in shady positions and in full sun. Tulips were not 
first-rate, but improved as the season advanced. 
Violets, in the open, never did worse; both in shel¬ 
tered positions, under walls, and in less favoured 
quarters, in open borders, they have died off in great 
numbers. Pansies planted out from protection are 
flowering freely. Bullion is a mass of yellow blossom. 
I notice that most flowering shrubs, especially Ber¬ 
bers Darwinii, on old walls, Rhododendrons of all 
classes among the hardy species, Lilacs, Azalea 
mollis, and Ghent Azaleas, Staphylea colchica, flower¬ 
ing Currants, and others, have done, or are doing, 
all one could desire. Roses grow slowly. They 
suffered somewhat, not having ceased to grow all 
the winter, and climbers (which, in many cases, 
grew last season to 9 ft. and 12 ft. long) had to have 
several feet of dead wood cut off; Mdme. d'Arbly 
made enormous growth and suffered the most.— M. 
Temple, Canon, N.B. 
■ » ■- 
CRICKET., 
Hurst & Son v. Gloucester & Sons. 
This match was played at Woking on June 21st, 
1899, and won by Hurst & Son by 15 on the first 
innings. 
Hurst & Son. 
Squire, b G. Gloster_20 
Portch, c Harwar, b G. 
Gloster. 11 
Swinfen, c & b G. Gloster o 
Main, c Aylott, b G. 
Gloster... 4 
Sampson, 1 b w, b Miller 22 
Laker, b G. Gloster .... g 
Duggleby, b G. Gloster.. 0 
Locke, b G. Gloster .... 3 
Jerry, not out. 6 
Thake, c & b Miller .... o 
Foster, b G. Gloster .... 1 
Extras. x 
Total. 77 
Gloster & 
c & b Hart. 57 
c Harwar, b Cole¬ 
man . 10 
runout. 21 
c Harwar, b Butt : 
b Hart. 22 
st Harwar, b Hart 6 
c Hart, b Miller.. 0 
c Harwar, b Hart o 
not out. 1 
did not bat. o 
did not bat. o 
Extras. 9 
Total (8 wkts).. 127 
Sons. 
Aylott, b Swinfen. 6 
Butt, c Jerry, b Main .. 5 
Hart, c Sampson, b Main o 
Coleman, b Main . o 
Miller, b Swinfen . 3 
Harwar, c Squire, b 
Swinfen . 5 
G. Gloster, c Laker, b 
Main. 7 
Searle, b Swinfen. 13 
Mayhew, st Jerry, b 
Portch. 19 
D. Gloster, b Swinfen .. o 
F. Gloster. not out .... o 
Extras. 4 
b Swinfen . 15 
b Swinfen . 30 
c Swinfen,bPortch 0 
not out. 1 
not out. 2 
b Swinfen . 1 
Extras. 1 
Total. 62 Total (^ wkts).. 50 
The visiting team were entertained after the 
match at a banquet given to Mr. H. W. Gloster on 
the occasion of his 64th birthday. One hundred and 
forty were present, and a very enjoyable evening was 
spent. 
MESSRS. W. CLIBRAN & SONS’ 
NURSERY, ALTRINCHAM. 
A look in at this nursery is always a pleasure; and if 
one’s eyes are kept studiously at work and the mind 
receives and retains the impressions conveyed, a 
source of profit is so readily at band that it becomes 
one, to use every effort, to gain the most from such 
an opportunity. I had such a treat a few days ago 
and though I should weary you if I were to describe 
all I saw, perhaps a few notes gathered, whilst 
walking through when the temperature in the houses 
ranged in some cases from 8o° to ioo Q F., and the 
sun’s rays outside indicated a figure even higher 
than this. It will therefore be gathered that minute 
inspection of some things was impossible; of others 
it was a matter of difficulty ; and yet there is much 
to be seen, and the area of operations is constantly 
extending. It is hardly necessary to repeat the 
statements given in the firm’s catalogue of the date 
and number of men employed when first the business 
was started, or of the acres now under cultivation 
and treatment, the men engaged, and the several 
branches and establishments where operations are 
carried on. That an extensive business is conducted 
with satisfaction and success may be stated without 
any shade of reservation ; for a look in at the offices, 
packing sheds, and delivery vans tells its own tale ; 
and one feels certain the representatives of the firm 
in various parts of the country are in close touch 
with the citadel at home ; and that all their attacks, 
which are constant, persistent and heavy, have but 
slight effect on the general stock; for as soon as a 
house of one size is cleared out, others are following 
so closely that it can scarcely be seen where the gaps 
were or that the stock is materially diminished. And 
thus it should be. The credit of those in the field— 
this is no slight matter—and the reputation of those 
who hold the fort, which is even more so, depend 
absolutely upon the latter’s quick dispatch of those 
things the representatives are instructed to procure; 
and thus a healthy and satisfactory state of things 
is brought about and maintained to the mutual 
advantage of all. Plants, shrubs, trees, herbaceous 
plants, bulbs and seeds are included in this survey, 
each having its share of the thought and labour 
exercised on the establishment as a whole. 
The houses are built for use, not for show or 
appearance. They well answer the purpose to which 
they are devoted, and though I imagine local talent 
was cheaply engaged in their erection they are still 
thoroughly well able to produce fine plants in 
quantity, and are likely so to do for many years to 
come. There can be no doubt that the earth floors 
and surfaces are one of the helpful conditions to all 
culture, and when extensive growers adopt this, 
depend upon it the practice does not require further 
argument or demonstration. Take away the cement, 
which holds and gives no moisture, the flagstones 
that are but slightly better, let a moisture-holding 
material be used, and if earth floors can be permitted 
so let them be. Iron gratings laid on the floor or 
just about it, if possible, is to be preferred in private 
establishments for cleanliness sake, but even so the 
moisture rises and the plants are benefitted thereby. 
We enter a store and here are nice plants of 
Cyanophyllum magnificum and Sphenogyne latifolia, 
two fine foliage plants that made a stir when first 
introduced, and for many years were seen in collec¬ 
tions at flower shows, whether in the metropolis or 
county exhibitions; and doubtless they will come 
to the fore again. Close by were Crotons in good 
health and colour, new sorts that are good, as,well 
as older varieties proved to be invaluable. A number 
of seedlings are here, among which were the Pride 
of Oldfield, and Oldfield Beauty, narrow leaved forms 
of similar attractiveness ; Mrs. Clibran, Masterpiece, 
and a Pettigrew having broader and well variegated 
foliage. Acalypha Sanderi was in evidence in several 
houses, and always arrests attention. Gardenia florida 
is grown in large numbers, and is found invaluable 
for cutting. In a large tank I observed a nice clump 
of Nymphaea zanzibarensis, whose pale blue stellate 
flowers stood up above the water, and were very 
showy and beautiful. By the side of this were pieces of 
Pontederia crassipes floating off the surface. Other 
choice stove plants were close by, saleable and useful. 
In the greenhouses, were many hard-wooded 
Acacias, Boronias, Bouvardias, capital Tremandra 
veriicillata, many forms full of flower of the stout 
yet showy Kalosanthes. ’Tis a pity these are not 
more frequently seen in private collections, for they 
are worthy of a good place. Arthropodium cirrha- 
