January 30, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
347 
of production has since been steadily increasing. In 
addition, the settlers annually produce considerable 
quantities of dried Apricots, Peaches, and Figs. 
New South Wales is asserted to be even more 
favourably situated than any of the other colonies 
for the prosecution of the dried fruit industry, and 
for the building up of a large export trade in Raisins, 
dried Currants, Figs, and other staples peculiar to 
the isles of the Levant and the Grecian peninsula. 
Wherever the Spanish Muscatel has been introduced 
it has proved a very prolific bearer, and were it more 
generally cultivated, there is no reason why raisins 
equal to the finest obtained from Muscatel should 
not be produced. In the Muscatel district the raisins 
are said to bring the vignerons a profit of from £40 
to £60 per acre, and, all the conditions being fairly 
equal, the Australian grown product should yield 
proportionately high monetary results. The main 
obstacle to the development of the dried fruit 
industry in New South Wales is want of knowledge 
and inexperience on the part of both vignerons and 
fruit-growers generally. The colonial Government, 
recognising the importance of encouraging the infant 
industry, has engaged the services of competent in¬ 
structors to impart practical informal ion respecting 
the various processes ; but some time must necessarily 
elapse before any tangible results are obtained. 
Here is the opportunity for those possessing the 
necessary expeiieoce, energy, and capital. Suitable 
areas for vine or fruit cultivation are readily procur¬ 
able on the easiest terms under the improved land 
system in force in the colony, labour is moderately 
plentiful, and the cost of conveyance to the ports of 
shipment has been considerably lowered. How 
great are the capabilities of the colony for Raisin pro¬ 
duction may be inferred from the fact that in addition 
to the large quantity of Grapes required during the 
last season for the manufacture of 885,673 gallons of 
wine, and 7,149 gallons of brandy, 4,017 tons were 
raised for table use. Currants and Plums are largely 
grown in the cooler districts, as are Apples and Pears, 
while Peaches, Apricots, and Nectarines abound 
everywhere. Yet, with all these opportunities, New 
South Wales, like the other colonies, imports con¬ 
siderable quantities of dried, tinned, and other pre¬ 
served fruits, which could be produced as good and 
as cheaply within its own boundaries .—John Plummer 
Sydney, New South Wales. 
-- 
VEGETABLE CULTURE FOR 
EXHIBITION. 
At a meeting of the Liverpool Horticultural Asso¬ 
ciation, on Saturday last at the Public Library, 
Liverpool, under the presidency of Mr. Thomas 
White, Mr. J. Hathaway, superintendent of the 
Southport parks and gardens, read an admirable 
paper on " Vegetable Culture for Exhibition.” As 
Mr. Hathaway has frequently proved at the foremost 
exhibitions in the north his thorough knowledge of 
this important section of gardening, considerable 
interest was evinced in the paper. 
Potatos. —A recommendation was given for an 
open, well-drained plot. He also advised his hearers 
to manure early in the autumn, and plant medium 
sized sets from the middle to the end of March, the 
rows to be 2 ft. to 3 ft. apart, according to their 
strength. He also told them to scoop out all eyes 
except one or two strong ones previous to planting, 
and after the tops are above the soil to thin out if 
necessary. 
Cauliflowers should be of quick growth through¬ 
out, not leaving the plants in the seed bed to become 
drawn. The ground should not be deficient in lime. 
Plant out in April and cut the flowers whilst the dew 
is on them, and if they are to be kept pull up the 
plant with roots attached, hang in a dark shed, 
and syringe, when the Cauliflowers will keep from 
ten to fourteen days. 
Celery should be sown in the second week of 
February in shallow boxes, and again later, placing 
the boxes on a hard bottom, on which place 2 in. 
of spent mushroom manure, then 3 in. or 4 in. of 
good soil. In preparing the trenches take out the 
soil to the depth of 10 in.,and place in 3 in. of manure, 
which should be dug in. Then add 4 in. of the soil 
taken from the surface of the trench. By this means 
a richer soil will be provided, in which the roots 
delight to roam. For early blanching exclude the 
light with brown paper, in preference to soil. To 
prevent the fly dust with soot on dewy mornings. 
Leeks should be sown in January and February 
in pots or boxes. Plant them out about the middle 
of April in trenches similar to those recommended for 
Celery. Plant so that the leaves will be across the 
trench, which will give additional room and light. 
Onions, — Prepare the ground in the autumn, 
giving plenty of manure. Sow in January, plant out 
firmly in March, allowing 15 in. from row to row, 
and 10 in. from plant to plant. Dress fortnightly 
with salt, soot, and nitrate of soda, applying the 
stimulants where the foliage is dry. 
Carrots. — Select ground that has been heavily 
and deeply manured for a previous crop. Sow in 
the first week of March up to the second week in 
Apiil. In some soils it may be advisable to make a 
large hole with a dibber the same shape as the 
Carrot, and sow the seeds in the richer soil with 
which the hole should be filled. Artificial manures 
should not be used, as they induce splitting. Par¬ 
snips and Beet are similar in their requirements to 
the Carrots. 
Peas. —These should be allotted a rich deep 
friable soil. Sow in trenches 2 in. deep, Super¬ 
phosphate of lime will prove a good dressing, 
which should be placed in a drill 3 in. from the Peas. 
When three or four pods are set take out the point 
of the growth. If an extension of the season is 
required, rub off the early flowers and take out the 
point of the growth after the early flowers are set. 
French Beans. —Sow these in the second week in 
March and from that time up to the third week in 
April, in rows 2 ft. apart, and with an abundance of 
room from Bean to Bean. After the fruit is set, 
pinch out the growing point and gather the Beans 
immediately they are ready. 
A selection of twelve kinds for show are Potatos, 
Cauliflowers, Peas, Onions, Carrots, Tomatos, 
Celery, Leeks, Beet, Artichokes, Runner Beans, and 
Cucumbers. For six kinds those that are first 
named are the best. Cucumbers should not be 
included in a collection of less than eight varieties. 
A discussion followed, after which a cordial vote of 
thanks was tendered to Mr. Hathaway. 
--4.—- 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Popular Bulb Culture : A Handy Guide to the 
successful Culture of Bulbous Plants, both in 
the Open and Under Glass. Fully Illustrated. 
By W. D. Drury. London : L. Upcott Gill, 170, 
Strand, W.C., 1897. Price is. 
This is an octavo volume of some 105 pages, in¬ 
cluding an index. The arrangement is entirely 
alphabetical from beginning to end, but Latin or 
English names are used as headings, according to 
which (in the idea of the writer) is the most com¬ 
mon. This mixed arrangement is somewhat peculiar, 
being intended to help the amateur, but whether it 
will do so or not is open to question. The adoption 
of such a system is liable to further complication, as 
may be seen by reference to Hyacinth. Here the 
popular name is used as the heading, both in the 
text and in the index. Hyacinthus is placed imme¬ 
diately under Hyacinth in the texL and includes 
Hyacinthus orientals with its varieties. Referring 
to the index we find that Hyacinthus includes H. 
candicans merely as a synonym of Galtonia 
candicans in the text, but omits H. princeps, which 
is also mentioned in the text. All Latin names in 
the index are printed in italics, so that names and 
synonyms are apparently of equal value there. The 
English names, on the contrary, are printed in 
Roman characters. The index will, however, help 
the amateur if he forgets one or other of the names. 
In dealing with popular bulbs, a pretty wide 
margin is allowed for the term in order to include a 
variety of subjects that flower in spring In cata¬ 
logues we are accustomed to Crocus, Gladiolus, Lily 
of the Valley, and Solomon’s Seal, being included 
under the general heading of bulbs, or bulbous and 
tuberous plants, mainly on account of their associa¬ 
tion with certain uses, or because they may be used 
for forcing purposes. Popular bulbs, as a term, 
must be pretty elastic, however, when made to 
include Anemones, both spring-flowering species, and 
the autumn - flowering A. japonica. Anemone 
Hepatica is also included, but under the generic 
heading of Hepatica, the correct name being recorded 
as a synonym. We think it would have served the 
amateur equally well if it had been recorded under 
its proper name, and Hepatica given as a synonym, 
because the index would have served the purpose of 
finding it in the proper place in the text. The chief 
objection to its present arrangement is that the next 
writer of a popular book may use a different classifi¬ 
cation. We meet with a similar case where Tritoma 
is used as the heading, but in the text Kniphofia is 
given as the correct name. Imantophyllum is made 
to do duty for Clivia, even although it is admitted 
that botanists do not now recognise the former. 
Really we fail to see how amateurs should be pre¬ 
judiced in favour of a long, unwieldy name like 
Imantophyllum, which is wrongly spelt if its Greek 
origin is to be followed, and botanically wrong to 
boot. Imrtophyllum Aitoni (not Imantophyllum) 
was the term used in describing this plant in the 
Botanical Magazine, yet we prefer to follow Lindiey t 
and call it Clivia nobilis. We do not mention these 
facts in a carping mcod, but because we think it is as 
easy for an amateur to learn the correct name as a 
wrong one. Beginners will certainly hail the day 
when something like unanimity is adopted by different 
writers. In the case of Tigridia the artist must have 
been taking liberties with nature, when he (or she) 
sketched two out of three flowers as irregular, with 
four inner segments each. 
Cultural details and directions for particular 
methods of treatment leave little room for fault 
finding, as far as they go, but they are necessarily 
limited in proportion with the size of the b iok, which 
we consider quite equal to its money value. The 
text is clean and distinctly printed in bold type, and 
the paper is also good. The illustrations are nume¬ 
rous and good for a book of this scope, with the 
exception of Tigridia above mentioned. The book is 
in paper covers, but those who have occasion to use 
it frequently would find it worthy of binding in cloth 
at least. 
-- 
N. C. S. DEPUTATION TO THE 
CONTINENT. 
Subjoined are extracts from the report of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society’s deputation to 
the Continental Chrysanthemum shows, 1896 :—The 
deputation consisted of Mr. Harman Payne, Mr. 
Thos. Bevan, and Mr. H. J. Jones. They left London 
on November 13th, and after visiting the Ghent show, 
a private collection near Brussels, the Paris show, 
and one at Amiens, they returned on the 21st, except 
Mr. Jones, who was compelled to leave three days 
earlier, owing to an engagement at Edinburgh. 
It is the custom at Ghent for the exhibits to be 
arranged, and the judging done, the day previous to 
the opening of the show. The Casino, where it is 
held, is admirably suited for the purpose,being a lofty, 
well lighted hall of large extent, allowing the show 
to be seen in its entirety. Cut blooms are not so 
important a feature as at an English exhibition, the 
chief effect being obtained by the employment of 
large groups of pot plants. These are tastefully 
arranged, and are interspersed with some of the 
finest groups of Palms, Ferns, and foliage plants 
possible to imagine. 
The ground plan consists of a series of winding 
paths between the groups, all of which are bordered 
with an edging of green turf, and are of sufficient 
width to allow visitors to circulate freely without 
placing the exhibits in jeopardy. 
The schedule was somewhat less comprehensive 
than that for 1889, when the N.C.S. also sent a de¬ 
putation to Ghent, and of which Mr. Payne was the 
only representative on the present occasion. The 
competition classes consisted of two divisions viz , 
(1) Chrysanthemums, and (2) ornamental and other 
plants. To facilitate the work of judging, the jury 
was divided into two sections, the composition of the 
first being—president, Mr. Harman Payne ; secre¬ 
tary, M. Dale of Paris; members, Messrs. Jones, 
Bevan, Stepman, and Val Hal, having for their 
steward Mr. Charles Pynaert. This section took 
the first 40 classes all devoted to Chrysanthemums 
Money prizes are not offered, but instead silver, 
silver-gilt, and gold medals of the society, and a few 
valuable works of art in bronze, etc. Amateurs and 
nurserymen compete in separate classes, and so far 
as Chrysanthemums are concerned the exhibits of 
the first named were a long way ahead of those con¬ 
tributed by the trade. 
The distinguishing features of the Ghent show were 
the grand exhibits of M. Ernest Fierens and M. O. 
de Meulenaere, whose excellent catalogues were 
issued to each member of the jury for reference. 
Both in groups and in cut flowers, these two gentle- 
