772 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 5, 1899. 
XV n r. -r ~ f rf-~ ■ « --—— I ■ 
but the bronzy and orange sorts point 
equally totheblending ofatleast twoparents, 
having scarlet and yellow flowers respec¬ 
tively. B, rosaeflora was used in some of 
the earliest crosses made by the hybridist, 
and the same may be said of B. Clarkei. 
The small bright scarlet flowers of B. Davisi 
are very freely produced, but except in 
several of the dwarf, small-flowered bedding 
varieties very little or none of its influence 
can be detected in the large-flowered race. 
In fact we should give pre-eminence to B. 
Veitchi and B, Pearcei as the most dominant 
parents of the modern race. The desire for 
large, circular flowers, and broad leaves, is 
gradually eliminating the last traces of B. 
boliviensis, with its narrow leaves, and long, 
narrow petals. There is beauty in flowers, 
however, apart from their size and rotundity, 
and we should like to see other standards 
for the development of races in gardens 
than those just named, seeing we have 
beautiful material at hand with which to 
make a commencement. 
Visitors to Kew Gardens in 1898 reached to the 
total of 1,277,215. The maximum total for one day 
was 71,871 on the last day of May, and the fewest 
number (67), on November 21st. 
Bad Fruit in London.—The seizure and destruction 
of fermented fruit still continues to agitate the 
London public. Surely such an experience should 
teach the British fruit grower to dispatch his fruit 
to market in smaller packages or baskets. 
Zea Mays Caragua is one of the most vigorous of 
the green leaved varieties of Maize, and the variety 
Cuzco is, perhaps, equally vigorous. They are 
highly suitable for planting in beds of plants in the 
sub-tropical garden. For small beds Zea Mays 
gracillima would prove serviceable, as it is a dwarf 
and more slender form. 
Caterpillars in the Mall. — The trees in the Mall and 
St. James’s Park, London, have lately suffered 
horribly from a plague of caterpillars. For a fort¬ 
night past the branches of the trees have been 
shaken, to the destruction of many thousands of the 
nasty '• crawling things.” The thunderstorm and 
the recent rains have also been of great service, but 
another thorough sweeping is required. 
The Fibres of the Philippines.—The Manila Hemp 
or Albaca is by far the most important of the fibre 
plants of the above-named islands. Its fruit is not 
edible, but in general respects the plants are like the 
Plantain or Banana. There are numerous grades, 
distinguished by their colour and consistency. 
Nearly the whole crop is placed on foreign markets, 
and from the export it forms a most important item 
in the Philippine export trade. Many of the 
Cottons yield different quantities and qualities of 
fibre. Aloes, Pineapples and various species of 
Palms are greatly used as fibre plants. 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association.—A large number of members assem¬ 
bled on Thursday at St. John’s Parish Room, Red- 
land, to hear a paper by Mr. W. Staddon on the 
“ History and Cultivation of the Apple.” Mr. W. 
Lock, the Society’s Chairman, some time ago offered 
a prize of 20/- to nnder-gardeners for the best essay 
on any subject connected with horticulture. The 
competing essays were judged by Mr. W. W. 
Pettigrew, of Cardiff, who gave the premier honours 
to Mr. Staddon for the essay with which he favoured 
the society on Thursday. The subject, which is full 
of interest to gardeners, was dealt with in a manner 
that showed the writer quite at home in his treat¬ 
ment of it, giving his views alike upon planting, pro¬ 
pagating, pruning, training, feeding, and the value of 
the Apple, which he characterised the king of fruits, 
as a food and medicine. A short discussion followed, 
and a very hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr. 
Staddon for his effort. Prizes for Carnation blooms 
(6) were awarded Messrs. Ross and McCullock, and 
the Society’s Certificate of Merit given to Mr. Ross 
for a bunch of Gropes, and Mr. Binfield for a plant 
of Cattleya Rex. 
Paeonies are enjoying decidedly more attention 
now than ever before. 
Rain in Ayr. —While’the country around London, 
and for a considerable distance outwards has been in 
a burnt-up condition for many weeks past, a Kilmar¬ 
nock correspondent tells us that storms of rain are 
the order of the day there ; and that the weather has 
been damp and unsettled for some time. 
Illustrations of Irises. —In the most recently pub¬ 
lished number of Tijdschrift voor Tuinbouw, Ernest H. 
Krelage has an article on Irises, illustrating which 
there is a double-page coloured plate of Iris Gatesi 
(named after Rev. T. F. Gates), a native of Armenia. 
It is a noble flower of tremendous size and peculiar 
colouring, also remarkably pencilled. There is also 
a distinctly clear full-page block of Irisbismarckiana 
(syn. I. Sari nazarena), hailiDg from Lebanon. 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Annual Outing. — 
A very enjoyable day was participated in by about 
fifty members of the Reading and District Gar 
deners’ Mutual Improvement Association, when 
recently a visit was made to Gunnersbury and Kew, 
the occasion being the annual outing of the associa¬ 
tion. Leaving Reading by the 8 o’clock traiD, the 
party reached Gunnersbury about 11.15, where they 
were received by Messrs. Hudson and Reynolds. 
After partaking of refreshments, kindly and thought¬ 
fully provided by Mr. Leopold de Rothschild, 
the party started on a tour of this delightful 
place. Much interest was manifested in the Water 
Lilies and fruit houses at Gunnersbury House, 
whilst the floral decorations on the “ front ” at 
Gunnersbury Park were greatly admired, as also 
were the large Grape and Peach houses, all filled 
with excellent crops of fruit. Before leaving Gun¬ 
nersbury, Mr. C. B. Stevens, the popular president 
of the association, who accompanied the members 
throughout the day, proposed a hearty vote of 
thanks to Messrs. Hudson and Reynolds for the 
interest they had taken in the party, and to Mr. 
Leopold de Rothschild for his kindness in allowing 
them to inspect his beautiful gardens, and for the 
hospitality so unexpectedly shown. Leaving Gun¬ 
nersbury, a move was made to the 11 Rose and 
Crown ” Hotel, Kew Green, where a substantial 
luncheon was provided. Afterwards the party 
broke up into several groups and proceeded to Kew 
Gardens, where three or four hours were spent in 
inspecting the houses and grounds, Reading was 
reached at about 10 p.m., bringing a most successful 
outing to a close, the arrangements for which were 
carried out by Mr. Woolford, the respected chair¬ 
man of the association and hon. secretary, pro tern. 
Seed Dispersal. — At the R.H.S. meeting, held in 
the Drill Hall, Westminster, on Tuesday, July 25th, 
Professor Boulger gave a very full account of the 
various contrivances which are made to work 
harmoniously for the spreading and safe disposal of 
seeds. The lecture lasted for fifty minutes. He 
mentioned instances of wind carriage, as is the 
method of dispersing winged seeds (samaroids), 
water carriage, as in Cocoanuts, Palm seeds, and 
such-like, mentioning at this juncture the case of the 
Apple pips, which have germinated in Iona, and 
which, though in no special way adapted for water 
carriage, must have been brought by its means from 
a long distance. Then he gave instances where the 
seeds of Senecio or Ragwort, catch on to the hairy 
bodies of passing animals ; or the cases where birds 
and animals ate succulent fruits, passing off the 
seeds in distant parts. The lecture lost much of its 
romance and freshness from being too accurately or 
intensely scientific. All the minute details of struc¬ 
ture in plants, little known to any but professional 
botanists, were very freely cited and enlarged upon. 
The paper, however, will be very instructive to the 
Fellows when they have it before them to study at 
leisure. Professor Henslow, who occupied the chair, 
gave expression to his views on certain points. He 
said that though Nature had so many and seemingly 
such accurate contrivances for seed dispersal, it 
was not always the case that she succeeded in her 
designs. He instanced the Dandelion and Daisy, in 
which the seeds (achenes) of the former had a 
pappus or parachute affair to carry them about, and 
a hook at the base of the seed to catch hold of some 
anchorage. The Daisy seed had no such helps, and 
yet which of the two predominated ? He knew how 
his lawns stood, at any rate. Votes of thanks to 
lecturer and chairman closed the meeting. 
The Silver Cup for the aggregate total of points in 
the first division of the Carnation and Picotee show, 
held at the Crystal Palace, on July 21st, fell to Mr. 
Charles Turner, who was next to Mr. Blick. 
Weather in London.—The last eight days have 
been beautiful though rather on the hot side. 
Wednesday, July 25th, finished close and dull, rain 
falling at night. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 
were breezy, bright, and delightful. Sunday reached 
to 84° in the shade. The other days maintained 
splendid holiday weather. 
Mr. Septimus Pye at Tam worth. —Ia our report of 
the Tamworth Floral Fete on p. 765 Mr. Septimus 
Pye, Catterall, Garstang, is said to have received a 
Silver Medal for an exhibit of Pansies and Violas, 
whereas he really was awarded a Gold Medal. His 
stands of these popular flowers were admitted to be 
the best exhibit of the kind in the show. 
The Virtues of the Tomato.—Recent investigations 
go to show that the Tomato possesses very consider¬ 
able medicinal virtues, says the Farmers' Gazette. As 
a blood tonic the juice of the Tomato has been found 
productive of excellent results. During the recent 
war with Spain the Americans largely used an extract 
of Tomatos as a health preservative among certain 
sections of their troops. The use of the Tomato in 
this connection was the outcome of experiments 
specially made for the purpose under the authority 
of the U. S. Government. 
Bee Keeping. —A Cheshire correspondent bewails 
the fact of his bees having been smitten by the 
tempting odours of a jam factory near them, in the 
steam of whose cauldrons many of them perished. 
The flowers and fruit, too, says he, are sadly in want 
of some attention from the bees, and yet last week 
we mentioned a case in which a lady was sued for 
/50 because of the embarrassment which her bees 
caused to the next door neighbour and her garden. 
Such are the perplexities of life. 
George Monro’s Employees’ Outing. — Annually, 
George Monro, Esq., of Covent GardeD, London, 
treats his employees to a day’s sport in the country, 
providing also a hearty dinner at a hotel in con¬ 
junction with the outing. This year his party—he 
himself was unavoidably absent—went on Saturday, 
July 23th, to the ” Hare and Hounds” Ground at 
Claygate, in Surrey. The sports commenced soon 
after 3 o'clock, and the dinner at 7 o’clock. 
A party of seventy or nearly, mustered 
at the grounds, including Mrs. G. Monro, 
Junr., Messrs. G. Monro, Junr., A. G. Monro, W, 
M. Job, B. J. Monro, and J. B. North. The winners 
of the sports events are here briefly noted:—100 
yards handicap, final : A. Goddard, first; W. Whit¬ 
lock, second ; H. Ford, third. The final for the 150 
yards handicap came out so : H. Ford, first; J. Con¬ 
nor, second ; R. Beauchamp, third. For a like dis¬ 
tance (porters only): W. W T hitlock was first; H. 
Ford, second ; J. Connor, third. Also the same dis¬ 
tance for the officers exclusively : D. Phillips was 
first; W. Eves, second. Ditto (shops only) : first, 
A. Goddard ; second, W. Cole (scratch); B. Brown, 
third. The cigarette and soda water race was 
amusing, final: W. Whitlock, first ; E. E. Lloyd, 
second ; — Maddison, third. Final, Egg and Spoon 
race: A. Goddard, first; D. Phillips, second; G. 
Holmes, third. 100 yards three-leg race (porters 
only): F. Maddison and G. Lowe, first; G. Barrett 
and W. Whitlock, second. Ditto (open) : W. Eves 
and D. Phillips, first; C. H. Townsend and T. A. 
Earl, second. 100 yards Consolation race: J. 
Adcock, first; G. Holmes, second ; W. Beresford, 
third. Long jump (porters only) : T. Haddon 
(second last year, penalised 6 in.), first; W. Whit¬ 
lock (winner last year, penalised 1 ft.), second. A 
tug-of-war between clerks and porters resulted in a 
win for the porters both times. At the dinner a 
varied programme of toasts and songs was gone 
through. Mr. T. Simmons proposed " The Firm." 
A little later on Mr. G. Monro, Junr., briefly replied 
as the time was far spent. He read a letter from the 
head of the firm stating how much he wished to be 
present with them as formerly, and hoped that the 
staff would heartily co-operate with him as in times 
past in maintaining the prosperity of the business. 
The distribution of prizes then followed, the prizes 
consisting of valuable articles of a utilitarian 
character. The train returned from Claygate at 
9.30 p.m. for Waterloo. 
