August 19, 1899. 
ttiK GARDENING WORLD. 
811 
more humble and say you never saw better Roses 
than mine!” Here also we learn that the happy 
owner does the "entire pruning, and caterpillar- 
squashing, and syringing,” and we may also add 
watering. The book is very moderate in size, run¬ 
ning only to fifty-two pages, and a glance at the con¬ 
tents will give a clue to the matters dealt with in the 
book. They are — on the choice of Roses; on 
arrangement of beds; soil; on filling the beds; on 
planting; on pruning ; on caterpillars and culture ; on 
watering; on exhibition ; on winter. Caterpillar- 
squashing must be a serious business to this cultiva¬ 
tor ; but thinking it must be done at all hazzard, she 
screws up courage, and declares war. Under the 
same heading green fly, mildew and rust are dealt 
with, and recipes given for each, except in the case 
of red rust, for which no cure is known, though the 
author thinks it does not do any permanent harm, 
notwithstanding the falling of the leaves and the 
shabby appearance of the Roses for the rest of the 
season. 
The chief items of culture in summer is to keep the 
plants well syringed, and the beds well hoed. The 
next day after watering, or after rain, the hoe is 
set to work to loosen up the surface. Moreover, 
disbudding is practised more or less according to 
the variety. On the whole the information ten¬ 
dered is concise, strictly practical, and sound as 
far as it goes. Beginners would no doubt like 
more details on certain points; and the wonder is 
that so enthusiastic a rosarian could restrain her 
pen in a subject she loves so well in practice. On 
the other hand it comes to our knowledge that a 
certain lady hopes to out-rival Lord Brougham's 
Roses in the Riviera, though as far as we are 
aware she has not yet rushed into print about the 
matter. 
Whatever the size of the author's garden there 
are only three dozen varieties of Roses in it, all of 
which are named and briefly described. Her 
rosary is full, but she changes the varieties some¬ 
times, particularly when she gets a weak grower. 
She admits, however, that Roses which fail with 
her furnish no criterion for other people's gardens, 
but that the latter must determine what will suc¬ 
ceed with them by actual trial. This also is good 
observation and good advice; so that we readily 
take it for granted that she understands Roses, 
and that hers are all she says they are. Tea 
Roses are most strongly represented ; but Noisettes, 
hybrid Teas and a few hybrid perpetuals are also 
grown, because they grow strongly and bloom 
freely. 
The National Footpath Preservation Society. 
Fourteenth Annual Report, 1898-9, London : 42, 
Essex Street, Strand, W.C. Price 6d. to Non¬ 
subscribers. 
This report of the National Footpath Preservation 
Society is a pamphlet of some thirty-seven pages 
giving in brief outline the doings of the society for 
the half-year ending 30th April last. The object of 
the society is for the preservation of national or 
public footpaths, so that they may not be closed by 
private individuals, companies, &c., to the exclusion 
of the general public. After carrying on work for 
fourteen years the society had a conference with 
the Commons Preservation Society, at which it was 
proposed and agreed to amalgamate the two for the 
sake of increasing their strength and utility, provided 
the voters were agreeable to such amalgamation. 
Accordingly at the annual general meeting on May 
8th last, the amalgamation was effected. On and 
after the 131I1 July last, the two societies having thus 
joiaed were to be known under the joint name of the 
Commons and Footpaths Preservation Society, with 
the address of x, Great College Street, Westminster. 
To those interested in the preservation of footpaths 
and commons (and who is not) the report of the 
society should prove useful in showing what has 
been done and likely to be done in preserving the 
public right of way and other rights dear to the 
community at large. The nation is now fully alive 
to the inestimable value of open spaces in the strict 
sense of the word, as well as the still greater blessing 
of being able to use the paths and commons for the 
purpose of getting to and fro, and for recreation. 
These rights are now so safeguarded that the 
closing of them is becoming more and more a matter 
of difficulty for those who would like to grab them, 
thanks to the societies under notice. 
Some of the occasional papers printed and 
published by the society have already appeared in 
The Gardening World, so that there is less 
occasion for going into details here. Many thousands of 
papers have been circulated by the National Footpath 
Preservation Society, during its fourteen years of ex¬ 
istence, so that much valuable information on the 
subject has been promulgated for the public good 
The main prerogative of the society is to give legal 
advice to those desiring it, when public rights are in 
danger. The funds at the disposal of the society 
would not permit of f ghting the cases that have 
arisen and may arise; but the voting of sums towards 
local expenses was also an item in the programme of 
work. Much valuable information in cases that have 
been under consideration during the past year are 
given in the report, which will no doubt prove use¬ 
ful to Justices of the Peace and other individuals or 
local governing bodies. The Secretary is Mr. John 
Miller, Commons and Footpaths Preservation 
Society, 1, Great College Street, Westminster. 
-. 1 - — 
LONDON PARKS AND GARDENS. 
I.—Hampton Court Gardens. 
Hampton Court has a reputation for summer bed¬ 
ding, and deservedly so; for the displays this 
season, notwithstanding the incidence of the droughty 
wsather, are well up to that high standard of excel¬ 
lence from which that reputation has been acquired. 
And, although there must be necessarily a limit to 
perfection, yet it would seem as if the authorities 
here were tireless in their efforts to produce some¬ 
thing each season superior to that which has gone 
before. Certain it is that the bedding arrangements, 
both in the matter of taste and in the boldness of the 
grouping, have never been superseded. 
The plants, moreover, exhibit a vigour and a flori- 
ferousness which implies not only first-class culture, 
but a copious use of that solvent fluid—water— 
without which surface-rooting summer subjects 
would soon pine and die. Watering, however, in 
most places is but a make-shift to tide the plants 
over a trying period ; but at Hampton Court the 
condition of the flowers is such that the labour is 
more than justified. 
The beds, moreover, are as varied in character as 
they are numerous in extent and design. Some 
occupy places parallel to the grand parade, and some 
at right angles to it; while others come midway 
between these positions, or are otherwise disposed 
All are filled to repletion with selected subjects, and 
all are exceedingly gay with their respective floral 
contents. Where the beds are so numerous, and the 
display of flowers so gorgeous and grand.it would be 
mere repetition to detail their effectiveness and 
general beauty; they must be seen to be properly 
appreciated. There are, however, a few combina¬ 
tions of such merit, that struck my fancy that I feel 
bound to record their characteristics. 
On entering the gardens from Bushy Park, then, 
one is bound to notice two circular beds composed of 
tuberous-rooted Begonias of the variety La 
Fayette, a double, free-flowering, crimson-scarlet 
form, which glows with colour. Intermingled with 
these are a few plants of the new Abutilon (A. 
Swartzii), with creamy-white variegation, a most 
effective and striking introduction. The "carpet” 
consists of Leucophyton Brownii, a curious and 
slender-looking silvery plant, with narrow leaves 
and rigid habit, the whole being surrounded by a 
band of Echeveria secunda glauca. A third bed 
contained also some very fine double varieties of 
the tuberous Begonia, with here and there a jellow 
variegated Abutilon, the groundwork consisting of 
Sweet Alyssum (Koniga maritima), while Fuchsia 
Golden Treasure did duty as an edging. One of the 
boldest and best of the larger beds, however, 
possessed the following plants:—Acalypha tricolor, 
Hydrangea hortensis, Plumbago capensis, Trades- 
cantia discolor, Anthericum Liliastrum variegatum, 
Ligustrum ovalifolium aureum (Golden Privet), 
Stenotaphrum americanum variegatum (Australian 
Buffalo Grass), the whole being edged with Chloro- 
phytum elatum variegatum, a liliaceous plant with 
golden variegated leaves. 
One other very attractive but very distinct com¬ 
bination of plants by contrast was a bed of Carna¬ 
tions in variety, with a foundation of Viola Duchess 
of Sutherland, a lilac-mauve variety, exceedingly 
floriferous, and which produced quite a chaste 
appearance. Saxifraga caespitosa was used as a 
border line. 
The above are merely representative of some of 
the numerous and beautiful displays of taste and 
charming combinations which prevail here, and are 
only intended as an index to the many other groups 
and good things for which these gardens are famous. 
No mention of Hampton Court, however, would 
be complete without a reference to the herbaceous 
border, which is about a quarter of a mile in extent, 
and which, therefore, may be said to be a border of 
magnificent proportions. Here all the leading types 
of hardy plants find a congenial home, and produce, 
as a result, a rare combination of colour and variety. 
Just now the Phloxes, Sunflowers, Hollyhocks, Del¬ 
phiniums, Montbretias, Erigerons, Dahlias, Pent- 
stemons, Gaillardias, Campanulas, and hosts of 
other things, are in their prime, and, together, con¬ 
stitute a floral display of the most gorgeous 
description. 
The old Vine, too, is still in character, and carry¬ 
ing, as usual, about 1,200 bunches of Grapes of the 
Black Hamburgh variety. As this Vine was planted 
in the year 1768, it is now 131 years old, a fact which 
is sufficiently remarkable But when we take into 
account its present condition, its bearing propensi¬ 
ties, and its capabilities of bringing to maturity a 
heavy crop of fruit each season, it is more remark¬ 
able. It is calculated that this old Vine has pro¬ 
duced at least 83,000 lbs. of luscious Grapes since its 
installation. 
Everybody, of course, visits the Vine, and as there 
is now nothing to pay the numbers of sightseers who 
came on the last Bank Holiday assumed gigantic pro¬ 
portions ; for, notwithstanding the popularity of the 
bedding and the gardens generally, the old Vine 
seems to be the chief attraction. — C. B. G., Acton, W. 
--» 3— - — 
IMPROVED SPIMO FOR SPRAYING 
PEAS. 
The present season is amongst the worst I ever 
knew for the growing of late Peas. What with the 
dry hot weather added to the yellow thrips it has 
made it well nigh impossible to keep late kinds 
moving. 
According to my usual custom I made three sow¬ 
ings, from May 14th to June 6th. These kinds were 
Walker's Perpetual, Chelsonian, and Ne filus 
Ultra, on well cultivated land. When they had 
attained from 18 in. to 2 ft. high they became 
attacked with yellow thrips, so much so, that I 
feared they were ruined. 
Having just obtained a gallon of Improved Spimo 
from a firm at Paddock Wood, Kent, who manu¬ 
facture this, I resolved to try syringing the Peas in 
the evening with it. This was done after sunset, so 
that it may not dry up too quickly. A second appli¬ 
cation was used at the end of three or four days ; 
but before the second was applied it cou'ld bs seen 
the first bad done good. 
After a week or ten days! the improvement was so 
great that I resolved to give them a mulching and 
watering. This was repeated, and now (August 9th) 
they are as clean as anyone could wish, and bloom¬ 
ing finely, having grown from 6 ft. to 7 ft. high. 
This day I gathered a grand dish of Chelsonian. 
I am confident had we not syringed them with 
" Improved Spimo,” the thrips would have ruined 
them in a week or so. I am sending yon, Mr. Editor, 
some haulm, so that you may see how badly they 
were attacked by the crippled leaves, and how 
beautiful and clean they are now. They have Peas 
on them and an abundance of bloom. 
I am convinced that there is much virtue in 
" Spimo,” as I have proved it to be grand for dress¬ 
ing many things to keep down insect pests 
I note it is recommended for dressing Hops ; and 
this is what induced me to try it on Peas, feeling 
sure it would not injure these if it did not injure 
Hops. The only drawback to it is its smell, but 
this passes off in a day or so. It is easily mixed, 
and instructions are given on each can.— J. C , F., 
Chard, Somerset. 
[The haulm sent measured 5.J ft. to 6 ft., exclusive 
of the roots. The foliage on the lower half of the 
stems was very much injured and discoloured, with 
the usual traces of thrips, which have been so much 
in evidence this year in various, widely separated 
gardens, as related to us by different growers, and 
judging by the ruined samples sent us by corres¬ 
pondents. The upper half of the stems were fur¬ 
nished with clean, healthy foliage, of a bright green, 
and carried well-filled pods of Peas, so they are all 
that our correspondent says they are. We take it 
