806 
August 19, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
R. Cannell’s home is beautifully posed upon a c m- 
manding eminence, and is healthy and pleasant. 
When among the bush-fruits the plan of training 
Red Currants as tall (4 ft.) standards (upon Ribes 
sanguineum) came to us as something not often 
seeD, and as worthy of notice. Such a method of 
budding high would fit the Currants for growth 
above smaller fruits. Black Currants might be 
grown as dwarf bushes, and these other standard 
Currants would find a place between the rows, rising 
of course, above them. 
The golden Raspberry Superba without stakes was 
bearing up well. It was dwarf, and bearing freely. 
Apple and Pear trees, Plums and Apricots, each and 
all were found in various stages and differently 
trained, but all strong and clean. Bright shrubs like 
the Golden Privet, the purple Hazel (Corylus 
Avellana purpurea), the variegated Elms, golden 
Elder, and lots of others were there. Then the 
Thuyas, Retinosporas and Cupressus, or the trees 
commonly known by these separate generic names, 
occupied brake after brake. Roses run to acres also. 
Tomato Lister’s Prolific. 
Vegetables. —We canrot hcpe to notice all the 
good things in this direction. One thing must not 
be left without remark, and that is ihat whatever 
trials or stocks of vegetables or other plant seeds 
find a place in the collections, all are most carefully 
rogued, cultivated, selected, to save from. "V egetable 
Peas occupy a few acres ; and then Onions, Leeks, 
Cabbage, and other Brassicas are in such evidence 
that one wonders how the varieties and the high 
standard of each can be continuously maintained. 
Beans, Parsnips, Lettuces. Carrots, Potatos, and 
other things are, of course, also put out for seed. 
To save the purity of the various crops plants of the 
same class are not, except with the Peas, grown 
together, but are kept widely separate. The tillage 
of the soil must be thorough to give such favourable 
yields. 
In the vegetable grounds Mr R. Cannell has his 
splendid stock of Aquilegias upon which he is spend¬ 
ing his efforts. The new strain of hybrids which he 
has produced are dwar r , very sturdy and erect, large- 
flowered, and numerous at that. The next move will 
now be for brighter colours. Besides these fine 
flowers one will see all the hosts of annuals and 
perennials, of which a bright selection might be 
chosen. But "enough is as good as a feast,” and 
it behoves us to close. For kindness shown at the 
visit our thanks are warmly given. 
--- 
PHORMIUM TENAX. 
I note in your last issue that the above-mentioned 
plant Is flowering over in our Sister Isle. It is in 
bloom with us in Devon. Our plants, three in 
number, are planted close to a running stream of 
water where many of the Bamboos and Arundinarias 
thrive luxuriantly ; but only one clump is flowering, 
and but one spike, which stands just 8 ft. high and 
carries two dozen seed pods from which we hope to 
raise a young stock later on. It is several years 
since either plant flowered; probably the past and 
present tropical-like summers, combined with com¬ 
paratively very mild winters, have had something to 
do with the flowering of this New Zealand Flax 
plant. P. tenax variegatum also proves hardy with 
s, but as yet has made no attempt at flowering, but 
at Tukesland, Ivybridge, the residence of J. 
MacAndrew, Esq., there is an immense clump of the 
latter, and to my knowledge it has flowered on more 
than one occasion. This also is planted as near the 
water edge as possible; but I think a slight protec¬ 
tion is afforded this plant during severe weather. It 
would be interesting to know whether it is in bloom 
this summer, and if ever they have been able to get 
any seed to germinate from it. I may add that the 
Judas tree (Cercis Siliquastrum) has flowered nicely 
and is carrying several pods of seed.— J. Mayne, 
Bicton. 
Tg™ 1 ■■ 
TOMATO LISTER’S PROLIFIC. 
Having heard a lot of talk about a very free fruiting 
Tomato, I took the opportunity, when spending a 
few days at Rothesay, early in July, of paying a visit 
to the nurseries of Messrs. Alex. Lister & Son, 
Meadoxbank, Rothesay, to have a look at the 
prodigy. I was agreeably surprised to find that the 
talk about it had not been exaggerated in any way 
by the growers who had spoken so highly of it. 
The history of the plant as given to me by Mr. 
Lister is as follows : — " About five years ago a friend 
brought a packet of seed from America, and asked 
Mr. Lister to give it a trial, the result of which was 
that the most of them were considered worthless 
with the exception of one or two plants, which were 
kept for further experiment, and this has been fully 
justified in the splendid results now attained. By 
crossing and careful selection duriDg the last five 
years Mr. Lister has succeeded in producing what I 
consider the most prolific Tomato that is to be seen. 
The plant is of sturdy habit, very close-jointed and 
produces enormous bunches, some of which I found 
to be 18 in. long and fully as much across. On 
counting ever the set fruits on one bunch as many 
as forty were found. From twenty to forty were- 
quite common. The Tomato is a plant largely given 
to fasciation ; but in this variety it has taken the; 
proper direction. The fruit is medium-sized, as; 
might be expected from the quantity it carries ; the 
flesh is very high coloured and the flavour good. I 
hear it is asked for in preference to other well known 
sorts. Mr. Lister had three houses in different 
stages of growth, all in robust health and uniform in 
character, so that the Tomato seems to have got 
fairly fixed and true. The accompanying illustra¬ 
tion was prepared from a photograph of one plant in 
a tub. 
Many other things call for notice, specially Roses’ 
and Carnations. The Carnations are remarkably 
fine. Great care has been taken here by raising; 
seedlings crossed with varieties having vigorous con' 
stitutions, and for border work, this is what is 
wanted. A house is devoted to the tree section, 
which was in good condition. Mr. Lister has great 
faith in giving them plenty of soot right over them, 
and they seemed to thrive under it like sweeps. 
A bed of Sidalcea L ; steri was very showy, its 
spikes of white being very distinct from older 
forms. 
Dahlias are largely grown in an open, airy spot,, 
and are remarkable for their strong, sturdy charac¬ 
ter, the plants rarely exceeding 3 ft. in height. 
Pansies and Violas are always to the front here, as 
everyone knows. This has not been a good season 
for the Viola. Many failures are known, but they 
always manage them well at Rothesay. Perhaps 
the fine air from the sea helps them. In any case 
they have made a name for themselves far and near. 
— Visitor. 
- ■§■ 
TRIALS AT CHISWICK. 
Most, or all, of the trials of Peas, Dwarf Kidney 
Beans, Potatos, Tomatos, and Violas grown this 
season in the garden of the Royal Horticultural 
Society at Chiswick, have now been inspected 
by the Fruit and Vegetable, and Floral Commi!- 
tees. Perhaps, in comparison, the trial of French 
Beans is the largest. So many as fifty-five stocks, 
each represented by a few rows, have been tried 
side by side. As most of the leading varieties 
of this vegetable were in the trial the few which have 
been awarded the three marks (XXX) for advanced 
merit may well be looked upon with respect. The 
collection of Tomatos is very large and two received 
awards. 
The following vegetables have received Awards of 
Merit from the first-named Committee at one or 
other of their meetings on June 24th, July nth, and 
July 25th. 
Pea, Duke of Cornwall, is a tall growing 
variety, 5J ft., bearing pods in pairs which are long, 
straight, and pointed. The average number of Peas 
in a pod is nine, which are large and sweet. The 
haulm and pods are deep green bearing a very heavy 
crop and strong. Ready, June 29th. Messrs. Too- 
good & Sons, Southampton. 
Pea Glory of Devon. —This is a splendid crop¬ 
ping Pea. The pods are borne in pairs and are long, 
straight, and pointed. It is a heavy cropper, with 
nine large seeds in a pod. The haulm is deep 
green and strong, reaching to 5J ft. Messrs. 
Toogood and Sons, Southampton. 
Pea Dwarf Triumph.—A remarkably fine form 
with vigorous dark green haulm, and large, fine 
sized pods. Messrs. Toogood & Sons. 
Pea Dalby’s Prolific —This variety bears its 
pods in pairs, and these average eight large sweet 
Peas each. The haulm and pods are deep green. 
The plant is very strong and bears heavily. Height 
4 ft. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd , King's Road, 
Chelsea. 
Pea Nobleman, bears its pods in pairs, and these 
are slightly curved and pointed. They average 
seven large Peas each. And the haulm is remark¬ 
ably robust, deeply coloured and bears well. 
Height 2J ft. Mr. A. Dean, Kelvedon. 
Pea, Winnifred. —Growing to 2 ft., this variety 
bears very heavy crops. The pods are borne in 
pairs, having generally eight large sweet Peas, 
closely packed. The haulm and pods bear a good 
depth of colour. Mr. A. Dean, Kelvedon. 
Pea Alderman Selected — A fine Marrowfat 
Pea and a heavy cropper. The seeds average nine 
comparatively large specimens per pod. The 
pods are long, straight, and in pairs; haulm £>nl 
pods, deep green ; height, 5 ft. Mr. A. Dean, 
KelvedoD. 
French Beans. —Of these the following received 
an Award of Merit:— 
Ne Plus Ultra. —A splendid variety shown by 
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Royal Exotic Nur¬ 
series, King’s Road, Chelsea; Messrs. Hurst & Son, 
152, Houndsditch, London ; Messrs. Geo. Cooling & 
Sons, Bath ; Messrs. Dicksons, Ltd. : Mr. A. Dean : 
and Messrs. Watkins & Simpson. 
Stringless.— With a moderate growth and dwarf 
habit, StriDgless combines the powers of a good 
cropper and first-rate quality. Messrs. Watkins & 
Simpson. 
Veitch's Progress. —A sturdy variety of fine 
dwarf habit, good cropping powers, and fine large 
pods. Messrs Jas. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea. 
Everbearing. —The growth and foliage here is 
moderate, the pods short, but borne in great trusses 
and thrown well up. The crops are heavy. It is fit 
for use on the 19th of July. Mr. A. Dean ; Messrs. 
Hurst & Son; and Messrs. Dicksons, Ltd., of 
Chester. 
Covent Garden Early Negro. —This variety 
was just a day earlier than the preceding. It has 
much the same character, too, only that the pods 
are long and straight, and not borne so profusely. 
Messrs. Watkins & Simpson. 
