October 3, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
69 
Tobacco is grown in Germany on an extensive 
scale, supplying more than half of what is annually 
consumed in that country. 
A Plum stone, swallowed by the infant child of John 
Kirk, Maxwelltown, Dumfries, was the cause of its 
death. The child had picked it up from the floor, 
and was choked by the stone lodging at the opening 
of the larynx. 
Sweet Pea Extra Early Blanche Ferry.— This is said 
to be a fortnight earlier than the old variety. When 
Sweet Peas have become weeded out, this one is 
predicted to take the place of Blanche Ferry. 
Empress of India and Painted Lady. 
A Talipot Palm in bloom.—The Talipot is one of 
the most remarkable of Palms, flowering only once, 
after which it dies. The huge spathe, enclosing the 
panicle of flowers, bursts with a loud report. One 
of these Palms has just flowered in a village near 
Nagoda on the banks of the Gintota River, in the 
Southern Province of Ceylon. The 11 Sarasavisan- 
daresa " says this is quite a unique occurrence in the 
district. 
The Yellow China Aster, if not a startling novelty, 
is, at least, an interesting one, and on that account 
welcome. The quilled heads of flowers are distinctly 
yellow, though pale, and the plant is only of 
moderate vigour, yet we hope that both these short¬ 
comings will be surmounted in the near future. 
Most, if not all, gardeners would welcome a golden 
China Aster. He will be fortunate who first 
secures it. 
The late William Henry Knight, gardener to the 
King of the Belgians, was born and bred at Kelso, in 
Scotland. When the King built his octagonal 
church within the grounds at Laeken after the 
destruction of his palace by fire, on the ist January, 
1890, the massive columns of the arcading were 
ordered at Aberdeen. They consisted of polished 
red granite, and were procured as a compliment to 
the King’s favourite head-gardener, just recently 
deceased. 
Successor to Dr. Trimen in Ceylon.—Mr. Willis, of 
Cambridge, left London on August 21st last, to take 
the place of the well-known Dr. Trimen, as director 
of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Ceylon. 
Mr. Willis is well-known and much esteemed at 
Cambridge, and his practical and scientific botanical 
attainments all tell in his favour as one well-fitted to 
do justice to the responsible post he is called upon to 
fill for the Ceylon Government and public. Mr. 
Willis, after a distinguished career at the University, 
went to Glasgow as botanical assistant in the 
University there, where he greatly extended his 
knowledge and experience. Mr. Shipley, Science 
Lecturer, at Christ's College, Cambridge, is editing 
a series of books, and Mr. Willis is mainly responsible 
for the compilation of that entitled the " Pocket 
Cyclopaedia of Botany.” Professor Marshall Ward 
knows from personal experience, the kind of man 
wanted at Peradeniya, and considers Mr. Willis the 
right sort of man to follow Dr. Trimen. He also 
thinks that Mr. Willis’ Encyclopaedia will prove a 
very useful little work. Possibly its usefulness bad 
something to do with this appointment. 
The New Zealand Godwit.—Those who take delight 
in natural history will find an interesting article on 
this sea-shore bird by James Buckland in the English 
Illustrated Magazine. The bird is a native of New 
Zealand, simply because it lives there from the end 
of October to the first days of April, for that is the 
summer season at the Antipodes. During the rest of 
the year this migratory bird leaves New Zealand 
with the regularity of the calendar, and flies over an 
expansion of ocean equal to one-third of the earth's 
circumference to its breeding regions in the arctic 
regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It might be a 
good nut for the naturalist to crack as to whether the 
southern godwit is not a native of the north of Asia, 
seeing that it breeds there. The Maori name for 
the bird is the "kuaka,” and near the northern end of 
New Zealand is a bay to the eastward of the head¬ 
land Te Reinga. Here the ” kuaka ” assembles in a 
vast flock covering the sands of the seashore, and 
hardly leaving room for the individuals to rest, pre¬ 
paratory to the start for the long journey to the 
northern regions. The sight of this vast assemblage 
of the birds from the various parts of New Zealand 
preparatory to their departure, is a phenomenon 
which few naturalists have the pleasure to behold. 
The Boy in the Garden, where novices in cycling are 
allowed to practise, finds that the notice boards to 
keep off the grass are ineffective, because those who 
sit between two wheels are liable to kiss the ground. 
— Wagg, 
Some New Freesias of a clear white, clear yellow, 
reddish and purplish tints have been raised in the 
United States by a woman, or as we should say, a 
lady gardener. Some fine new forms of Cosmos 
were also raised by a woman. 
Flowers of the Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus), 
and also of L. maritimus, are said to be useful for 
keeping in sick rooms and otherwise, because the 
sweet odour has the effect of driving away the house 
fly. 
Distribution of Bedding Plants. — The Com¬ 
missioners of Her Majesty’s Works and Public 
Buildings intend to distribute, this autumn, amongst 
the working classes and poor inhabitants of London, 
the surplus bedding plants in Hyde Park, Regent’s 
Park, and in the gardens at Hampton Court. If the 
clergy, school committees and others interested in 
this distribution would apply to the superintendents 
of those respective places, which lie nearest to their 
parishes, they will receive early intimation of the 
number of plants each applicant is likely to receive. 
Holland House, Kensington, the town residence of 
the Earl of Ilchester, was once the residence of Fox, 
the great statesman, who lived and died here. 
Samuel Rogers, the poet, used to wander where the 
quaint Dutch garden is now situated. Addison also 
lived here, as well as William Penn, the founder of 
Pennsylvania. Tradition points to the law n opposite 
the south front, as the spot where Cromwell laid his 
plans in conjunction with Fairfax, who, with his 
troops, was quartered here. Amidst the vast changes 
that have taken place since then, the estate still 
maintains its quaint rusticity, tree-planting, sheep- 
pasturing, and haymaking within sound of the 
bustle and stir of the greatest city on earth ; yet it is 
almost completely secluded and shut out from the 
gaze of the outer world. 
“ Peaches grow here like Weeds,” Mr. T. Rhodes, 
of Griqualand East, South Africa, writes to tell us, 
and continues, " They are now in full bloom (August 
31st.)—A beautiful sight, all blossom and no leaves, 
but I am afraid they will not be beautiful long, as I 
am told that the locusts are only six miles away ; 
and if they come here as they did last year, in half an 
hour everything will be eaten up, as there are millions 
of them. What with rinderpest and locusts the out¬ 
look for the farmers is very bad indeed ; however, 
we must trust in Providence.” Mr. Rhodes says 
nothing of the Argemone mexicana pest, misnamed 
the Scotch Thistle, and which the Govenor of Cape 
Colony marked out for extermination in his recent 
proclamation. 
Shirley Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association. 
—The monthly meeting of the above was held at the 
Parish Room, Shirley, Southampton, on the 21st 
ult., Mr. B. Ladhams, F.R.H.S., presiding over a 
thin attendance, very bad weather prevailing at the 
time. Mr. T. Lowns, Hon. Sec., Winchester G. M. 
I. Association gave an excellent lecture on “ Root 
Crops for Gardens,” and a very useful discussion 
followed. A report was read of experiments with 
Potato sets, showing that tubers of a good size 
planted whole were better than small or cut sets, the 
latter being the worst. The foreign Onion vendor 
was also discussed, and the question, ” Cannot we 
grow these Onions?” did not receive a very 
satisfactory reply. It is bad enough to import the 
Onions, but worse still to import the retailer. There 
was a good exhibition of produce. Mr. C. G. Stuart 
Menteth, J.P., Rownhams Mount (gardener, Mr. W. 
Risbridger) had a splendid collection of six sorts, for 
which a certificate was awarded; also another 
collection of six sorts, received a V.H.C.. Mrs. 
Keats, Rownhams House, (gardener, Mr. G. W. 
Bushell) showed six sorts of vegetables, receiving 
V.H.C.; Messrs. Cozens Bros., Rownhams, received 
V.H.C. for Dahlias, Cactus and show ; Mr. B. 
Ladhams, Shirley Nurseries, had a certificate for 
seedling Heliopsis scrabra “B. Ladhams”—a good 
thing. M. W. Perkins, J.P., Portswood (gardener 
Mr. J. Miles) received a V.H.C. for a bunch or 
cluster of Walnuts, thirteen iu number, making a 
remarkable specimen; Mr. G. W. Othen had a V.H.C. 
for three dishes of Pears. Hearty votes of thanks 
to the lecturer, and the exhibitors closed the meeting. 
The latest thing in Centenaries is the Potato cele¬ 
bration, which is to take place in Ireland. 
Work is always in Order, and he is a lucky 
individual who finds time for anything else.— 
" Florists' Exchange 
A Deputation of Scots to the Jubilee Show.—It is 
rumoured that a deputation of the principal horti¬ 
culturists of the north will visit the series of shows 
to be held at the Royal Aquarium in November in 
connection with the Jubilee of the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society. Our northern friends, we are sure, 
will be certain of a hearty welcome, and certainly the 
occasion will be one well worthy of a special trip 
from Northern Britain, or, indeed, from anywhere 
else, inasmuch as these shows will probably be the 
biggest that this century has seen. We also under¬ 
stand that a similar deputation is a-foot from the 
Royal Aberdeen Society somewhere about next May 
in connection with the Temple Show, and a tour 
amongst the principal establishments on the east 
coast. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—The meeting of 
the Floral Committee of the National Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Society at the Royal Aquarium, on September 
23rd, did not call forth very much worth mentioning. 
Only one Chrysanthemum was submitted, for par¬ 
ticulars of which see another column. Mr. John 
Green, Dereham, sent a few very nice forms of 
Cactus Dahlias, including samples of the early 
decorative variety known as Aurora. This sort is of 
dwarf habit, is very floriferous, and commences to 
bloom early. A vote of thanks was returned by the 
committee. Mr. Green also sent some cut shoots of 
a new seedling winter flowering Begonia with a 
request that the Committee would express their 
opinion upon it and inform him as to whether there 
was anything like it in cultivation. Opinions, how¬ 
ever, were divided, and it was ultimately decided to 
ask Mr. Green to send a plant. From all appear¬ 
ances the seedling in question is not far removed 
from B. martiana. 
- m%~ -- 
KOYAL SCOTTISH ABORICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
As mentioned last week a party of members of the 
Royal Scottish Aboricultural Society on Saturday 
afternoon, made an excursion to the woods and 
policies of Armiston, Midlothian, kindly thrown open 
to their inspection by Mr. R. Dundas. The visit 
proved a most interesting one. 
The Armiston estate extends to over 10,000 acres, 
of which about 1,000 acres are covered with planta¬ 
tions and woodlands; and lying at a considerable 
altitude on the northern slope of the Moorfoots, the 
situation is naturally cool and exposed ; but great 
improvements skilfully carried out have converted it 
into one of the most fertile and highly cultivated estates 
in the upper districts of the Lothians. On arrival at 
Gorebridge Station the party were met by Mr. 
James Cook, factor on the estate, who ably dis¬ 
charged the duties during the visit. 
Early in their walk through the policies, the party 
had their attention directed to a grove of Oaks said 
to have been raised from acorns obtained from 
the Duke of Portland's estates in Sherwood Forest. 
After encountering some notable Sycamores—one of 
the largest of which had a height of over 100 ft. and 
a girth of 16 ft. 3 in. at a height of 5 ft. from the 
ground—the party spent a considerable time in the 
“ wilderness,” the avenues of which were laid out 
towards the end of the seventeenth century, and 
which yet bear testimony to the taste and attention 
to detail of the school of landscape gardening founded 
by Le Notre. A stately old Silver Fir, supposed to 
have been one of the first introduced into Scotland, 
attracted considerable notice, as did also some 
remarkably fine specimens of Scots Fir, Beech, 
Larch, Lime, Norway Spruce, and Cedar. The 
avenues of Beeches and Limes were much admired. 
The company had also an opportunity of being shown 
over the flower gardens, lawns, and shrubberies. 
Before taking their departure the party were 
received in the mansion-house by Mr. Dundas, and 
served with tea. 
At the close cordial votes of thanks were accorded 
to Mr. Dundas, and also to Mr. Cook for his services 
as leader. Similar thanks are also due to the 
secretary, Mr. Galloway, who carefully attends to all 
the arrangements necessary upon the occasion of 
these excursions, and we are quite sure that these 
