596 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 22, 1897. 
The Bee Line—When a man goes off in a bee line, 
it is generally supposed he has one in his bonnet — 
Snagg's Philosophy. 
" The Botanists of Philadelplva and their work ” is 
the title of a book about to be published by Mr. 
John W. Harshberger, of that city. It runs to 500 
pages, and contains 50 full page engravings. 
Mr. John H. Cumming, who has been gardener and 
steward to Viscount Gough, St. Helens, Booterstown, 
for the last ten years, has been appointed to take 
charge of the gardens of Lady Stewart, Grandtully 
Castle, Ballinluig, Perthshire. 
An unusually fine Bouquet of white Niphetos and 
yellow Catherine Mermet Roses came from Cardiff 
to the Queen’s Drawing Room on the nth inst. It 
was expressly made for Miss Mabel Hill, daughter 
of Col. Sir Edward Hill, M.P. 
Violet Amiral Avellan and Sulphurea — These two 
quite new Violets are amongst the most distinct that 
have been placed before the public for some time. 
Tne flowers of Amiral Avellan are plum-purple 
and in this respect quite unlike the blue, violet and 
lavender shades, hitherto so prevalent. The flowers 
are deliciously fragrant. Those of Sulphurea are 
equally distinct in their way, being of a pale yellow, 
but certainly yellow, and may possibly in the near 
future give rise to something finer in the same 
direction. 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution.— We are 
requested to state that the 58th Anniversary 
Festival Dinner in aid of the funds of this Institu¬ 
tion will take place on Wednesday, May 26th, at 
6.30 for 7 p.m. (ihe first day of the Temple Flower 
Show) at the Hotel Metropole, under the presidency 
of the Right Hon. Lord Rothschild. As a large 
gathering is expected on this occasion, the secretary, 
George J. Ingram, 50, Parliament Street, London, 
W.C., will be greatly obliged if those friends who 
desire to be present will intimate their intention to 
him as early as possible, in order that the necessary 
arrangements may be made. 
Victorian Era Fund.—Now that we are entering 
upon a season, when flowers are plentiful, might I 
suggest that flower show committees throughout the 
country adopt the means that our members hope to 
carry out ? The Liverpool Horticultural Associa¬ 
tion have kindly placed at our disposal sufficient 
space to arrange a stall for the sale of plants, fruits, 
flowers, &c., the proceeds to be devoted to the above. 
The exhibition will be held at Sefton Park, on July 
31st, and August 2nd. We have already many 
offers of assistance as to the furnishing of the stall, 
and we look forward with every hope that our 
efforts will be liberally supported by visitors to the 
show. Could not this suggestion be generally 
adopted throughout the country ? Rose shows 
especially should prove excellent opportunies to help 
to realise the £ 5,000 that the treasurer asks for, and 
which should not be asked for in vain.— R. G. 
Waterman, Secretary and Treasurer, Woolton Gardeners' 
Mutual Improvement Society, Liverpool. 
Mr. David Wylam.— By occupation this Tyne-side 
man is a collier, but an amateur in horticulture and 
a very successful one. During the last 20 years or 
more, he has been an ardent exhibitor at various 
shows in the northern counties. Sometimes after 
becoming a resident in the mining village of Shank- 
house, near Cramlington, he acquired a love for horti¬ 
cultural pursuits, and like most amateurs commenced 
cultivating his garden. Then he took to a higher 
branch of horticulture, growing and devoting the 
whole of his spare time to the cultivation of stove 
and greenhouse plants in the hothouses he built in 
his garden attached to the colliery residence. At 
one show at Cramlington he carried off no less than 
27 first and 17 second prizes, making a record which 
would be difficult to beat. Owing to the kindness of 
his employers, the coal-owners, he gets a holiday, 
during the show season which enables him to put in 
an appearance at most of the shows between York 
and Berwick He competes both in the amateur and 
open classes with great success, spreading dismay in 
the ranks of both classes at many shows. The 
success of the Cramlington show owes much to Mr. 
Wylam and his exhibits. 
International Botanic Garden.—A movement is on 
foot in America to establish an institution of this 
description on one of the islands in the Gulf of 
Mexico. 
Begonia weltcniensis is one of the most easily 
cultivated of window plants, and if placed in a well- 
drained pot of light, but rich soil, merely requires to 
be regularly watered and thoroughly exposed to the 
light to become an ornament of the first water. 
Rapid Growth of Eucalyptus.—Some trees of E. 
globulus, the well-known Blue Gum Tree of Australia, 
planted in Florida, grew to a height of 40 ft. in four 
years, with a stem 12 in. in diameter. Very similar 
results have taken place in Guetamala, where some 
trees have grown to a height of 120 ft. in twelve 
years. Both instances indicate that growth must 
have taken place at the rate of 10 ft. annually. In 
our relatively cool climate and short season, the tree, 
when planted out under favourable circumstances, 
will make 4 ft. to 6 ft. of growth during summer. 
Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums and heaths of various 
colours are taking the place of scarlet Pelargoniums, 
Calceolarias, and Marguerites which have hitherto 
monopolised the windows of the wealthy in the west 
end of London, rather too exclusively. Ferns and 
Palms are also more or less used. Creeping Jenny 
will be difficult to displace from dingy and shaded 
windows. The plan of using Crotons, Tillandsias, 
and other plants of that description by the late Mr. 
John Wills, does not seem to be adopted by others. 
The windows are now gay, however. 
Sutton's Cycling Club.—Under this title a cycling 
club is formed at Reading consisting of members of 
the firm of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, and employees 
only. There are club rules and road rules which 
must be respected. Duiiog the season from May 
19th, to September 15th, inclusive, arrangements 
have been made for 15 Wednesday afternoon runs to 
various places, such as Moulsford, Windsor, Burn¬ 
ham Beeches, Newbury, Streatley, &c. In offering 
timely advice, we should advise the members to be 
economical of the tyres in the interest of the plants 
that produce them, and of the “ tires " in their own 
interest. 
The Marechal Niel Rose was named by Empress 
Eugenie in the days of her splendour. When 
General Niel returned from the Franco-Prussian 
war, a poor man gave him a basket of yellow Roses. 
In remembrance of the gift, the general struck a cut¬ 
ting from the stem of one of the blooms. When it 
grew into a good sized bush he took it to Empress 
Eugenie, who was delighted yyth the gift and the 
donor, but was surprised the plant had no name. 
She said, “ I will give it a name ; it shall be the 
Marechal Niel.” In this manner it dawned upon 
General Niel that he was promoted to the office of 
Marshal of France. 
International Horticultural Exhibition at Ghent — 
The fourteenth international exhibition (the 163rd of 
the society) of the Royal Agricultural and Befenical 
Society of Ghent will be held from the 16th to the 
24th April, 1898, under the high patronage of their 
Majesties, the King and Queen, of the Government, 
of the province and of the city of Ghent. Prizes con¬ 
sisting of Gold Medals (va'ue 100 francs, and 50 
francs) framed Silver Gilt Medals, and others with¬ 
out this arrangement, and Silver Medals of the first 
and second class will be awarded to the winning 
exhibitors in the 716 classes in which they are 
offered. Numerous classes are set apart for groups 
of various new plants, obtained in gardens or im¬ 
ported ; for groups of Orchids in flower, as well as 
Orchids remarkable for their culture or flowering, 
for stove plants ; for collections of Aroids consisting 
largely of Anthuriums, species and hybrids, 
Alocasias and Caladiums ; also for groups and col¬ 
lections of Palm?, Cycads, Pandanus, Ferns, flower¬ 
ing and non-flowering greenhouse plants, many cf 
which are specified. Hardy forced shrubs also 
receive patticular attention, together with hardy 
evergreen perennials, alpines, soft-wooded plants 
grown in greenhouses, hardy and tender, bulbous 
and tuberous plants, Azalea indica, Camellias, 
Rhododendrons, Agaves, Yuccas, succulent plants 
generally, Conifers, fruits, bouquets, horticultural 
art and industry, &c. 
Lime is a name applied to two trees belonging to 
different families, namely, Tilia, belonging to Tilia- 
ceae, and Citrus Limetta, belonging to Rutaceae, the 
latter tree being the rightful owner, though this is 
usually ignored. 
A pie served to Charles II. contained a heterogenous 
mixture of potatos, chestnuts, mace, currants, bar. 
berries, pepper, nutmeg, cloves, sugar, wine, lemons, 
eggs, artichokes, oysters, citrons, lettuce, sparrows, 
and eryngo root. 
Fruits turning red when ripe.—According to 
Pearson's Weekly, the reason for the fruits turning red 
when ripe is “ to attract the attention of the birds 
and thus secure the dispersion of the seed.” The 
same remarks would apply to all the colours 
exhibited by fruits when mature. Red is probably 
the most conspicuous colour, hence we see it 
developed most frequently in fruits in order to insure 
the attention of the birds which eat the pulp 
surrounding the seeds. The pleasure which some 
animals, the human included, experience on beholding 
colours most probably originated in the utilitarian 
experience that certain bright colours meant food. 
French Strawberries for this Country. —The Straw¬ 
berry industry at Plougastel in France is a thriving 
one, and of great importance to the growers who 
make a fair profit upon their enterprise. Instead of 
sending their fruit by way of St. Malo to this 
country, the growers formed themselves into an 
association, and chartered the small but fast English 
steamer, the Resolute, to convey their products direct 
from Plougastel to Plymouth, whence they were sent 
to London, Birmingham and other large towns 
where they found a ready market, and being in good 
condition owing to this rapid transit they com¬ 
manded a higher price than when they were carried 
a more roundabout way. Twelve voyages were made 
by the above steamer and one by a French vessel, 
carrying in the aggregate 282 tons of Strawberries, 
green Peas, small Onions, and Potatos, of the respec¬ 
tive value of £2,962 for the Strawberries, and £241 
for the vegetables. The result was very satisfactory 
to the shippers, and the service is to be increased 
during the coming season. • 
A Basket of Orchids for the Princess of Wales.— 
The Prince of Wales visited Cheltenham on the 
13th inst, when he had an enthusiastic reception, 
and a loyal address of welcome. There was also a 
procession through the crowded streets and a 
yeomanry review. Following the route of the pro¬ 
cession, the first thing to be noticed was a choice 
display of the products of Mr. James Cypher’s 
nursery. On each side of the road a column had 
been erected in a very novel manner, at various 
stages of which towering and spreading Date Palms, 
beautiful flowers and foliage plants lent enchant¬ 
ment to the view. Hydrangeas and Ivy-leaf Pelar¬ 
goniums were there by the score, together with 
Lilies and other flowers. At the apex of the roof 
of each greenhouse a flagstaff had been erected, 
carrying the royal banner, while the motto, " God 
Bless the Prince of Wales,” expressing the wish of 
all his fellow-townsman, had been placed by Mr. 
Cypher in a very prominent position. When the 
Prince was taking his departure and had arrived at 
the door of his saloon carriage, he turned and shcok 
hands with the Marquis of Worcester, Gen. Russell, 
M.P., Gen. Luck, the Mayor, and Dr. Ward- 
Humphreys. Mr. Cypher was present with a 
charming basket cf the most choice Orchids, and 
having communicated his desire to Captain Holford 
to present them to the Prince, was accordingly intro¬ 
duced, and asked his Royal Highness if he would 
accept the flowers as a gift for the Princess of 
Wales. The Prince smilingly consented, and said 
he should be pleased to take it home to the Princess, 
and that it was very beautiful. The basket was 
loosely arranged with long spikes of Odontoglossum 
Alexandrae and O. cirrhosum, and had long sprays 
of Oncidium obryzatum majus turned over the 
handle, with elegant sprays of Asparagus. Theie 
were also included in the basket a few flowers of 
Cattleya Mendelii, Laelia purpurata, Cypripedium 
Rothschildianum, and C. grande. The basket was 
handed into the saloon, in which his Royal Highness 
at once took his seat. 
