708 
r HE GARDENING WORLD 
July 10, 1897. 
The season, obviously, is yet too early for 
the northern growers who make themselves 
felt in droughty summers when Roses are 
early and getting past their best in the 
south. They will have to make the best of 
the northern shows this year. 
Essex and Herts likewise supplied the 
four premier blooms in their respective 
classes, namely, Horace Vernet, Madame 
Cusin, Muriel Grahame, and Kaiserin 
Augusta Victoria. The latter is a vigorous 
hybrid Tea and took the place of a hybrid 
perpetual in the amateur’s division. The 
above four are also some indication of the 
Roses which have given great satisfaction 
this year. Kaiserin Augusta Victoria was 
one in a stand of nine blooms of that 
variety. It occurred in many other stands 
in fine form. There was a magnificent 
stand of twelve blooms of Horace Vernet, 
which were remarkable for the variations 
of colour, leading many to suppose that 
there were two or more varieties in the stand. 
The lighter blooms were much shaded with 
rose, while the rest were of a glowing crim¬ 
son shaded with maroon. All the leading 
exhibits contained magnificent blooms of 
Gustave Piganeau, and there was a splendid 
box of twelve blooms. Conspicuous also 
were whole stands of Mrs. J„ Laing and 
Her Majesty, the blooms of the latter being 
of good average rather than large size. La 
France was fairly good and the allied 
Caroline Testout was often in handsome 
form. Amongst Tea Roses, Madame Cusin 
stood out prominently for texture and 
colour. The Bride, Catherine Mermet, 
Madame de Watteville, Ethel Brownlow, 
Marie Van Houtte, Maman Cochet, and 
several other Teas were also in grand con¬ 
dition. Comtesse de Nadaillac seemed 
rather scarce. Amongst new Roses Madame 
la Marquise Litta (1893) an d Kaiserin 
Augusta Victoria (1891), both hybrid Teas, 
were in fine form, beautiful, and full of 
promise, taking leading awards. Both re¬ 
ceived Awards of Merit from the Royal 
Horticultural Society on the 29th ult. The 
British Rose Mrs. W. J. Grant, also a 
hybrid Tea, was shown under that name, 
and under the American appellation of 
Belle Siebrecht. 
Garden and buttonhole Roses came in 
for marked attention from the public on 
account of their great decorative value and 
wonderful beauty. Under the name of 
garden Roses anything, single or double, is 
included that does not come under the 
designation of hybrid perpetual, hybrid Tea, 
Tea or Noisette. They were represented in 
great variety. Buttonhole Roses ccnsist 
largely of Tea and Noisette varieties, cut in 
the bud state, in which they are admittedly 
prepossessing. What charming bits of 
colour are presented by Ma Capucine, 
L’ldeal, and William Allen Richardson in 
their apricot, salmon-red, and yellow tints ! 
Crimson Rambler is characterised by bold¬ 
ness, showiness, and profusion of bloom, 
but lacks the refined charm of those 
previously named, while yet in bud. It is, 
however, a pillar and trellis rose par 
excellence. The huge miscellaneous group 
of Palms, Crotons, Caladiums, Begonias, 
&c., exhibited by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
contributed in no small degree to the effect 
of the show. 
-- 
National Carnation and Picotee Sooiety (Southern 
Section).— This branch of the society has altered the 
date of its show from the 17th.to Wednesday the 21st. 
inst., owing we suppose to the lateness of the flowers. 
Four millions of Sesterces, or-about /30,000 ster¬ 
ling were spent by the Emperor Nero in procuring 
Roses for one feast. This is a florists' bill of quite 
presentable size. Is it not a pity for the trade that 
Nero is not alive to-day ? 
Three thousand pounds of pepper were demanded 
by Alaric, amongst other thiDgs when he besieged 
Rome in A. D. 408. 
The bark of the Elm is often bored by beetles, 
and a sea-going bark is not always sea-worthy, but 
the bark of a dog is always sound.— Snaggs. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, July 13th, in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Westminster, from one to five p.m. 
A lecture on " Mutual Accommodation between 
Plant Organs " will be given by the Rev. Prof. Geo. 
Henslow, M.A., F.L.S , etc , at three o'clock. 
The botanical garden at Pisa was established in 1544, 
and is considered to have been the first garden of the 
kind in Europe. The Botanical Garden, Oxford and 
the Physick Garden at Chelsea were not established 
till nearly or quite a century afterwards. The Pisa 
garden was founded by Cosmo de Medici, and was 
enriched by plants from Europe, Asia and Africa. 
Royal Visitors to the Windsor Rose Show.- The 
Grand Duchess Serge of Prussia, Princess Christian, 
and Princess Beatrice visited on the afternoon of 
Saturday, June 26th, the Rose show of the Windsor & 
District Society which was held in the Home Park by 
permission of the Queen. Mr. B. R. Cant’s prize box 
of Roses was sent to the Queen for inspection at Her 
Majesty’s special desire, as were also the exhibits of 
other first prize-winners. 
South African Orchids.—It is reported that in that 
part of Swaziland which was ceded to the 
Boers prior to the coming into office of Mr. 
Chamberlain no less than thirty new Orchids 
which have never yet been cultivated have been 
discovered by a Transvaal official. One of these is 
said to possess a pseudo-bulb scented like eau de 
cologne, and the largest flower ever seen amongst 
South African Orchids. All these good things may 
find away into our gardens if Mr. Chamberlain and 
Oom Paul can settle matters. 
Coloured Memorial Wreaths —At one time pure 
white, and pure white only, was de rigueur for the 
composition of Memorial wreaths, croses, etc. Then 
small fronds of fern, a few Violets, and other flowers 
of half mourning shades were used. This has led to 
the employment of even bright coloured Pelargoniums 
for floral tokens that are designed for public or semi¬ 
public funerals. A very attractive feature that has 
crept into use is the employment of tufts of narrow 
Croton leaves, and in some of the larger designs some 
of the smaller Caladium leaves have even been used 
with excellent results. 
The Potato Disease, like the poor, is always with 
us, and our knowledge of its methods of growth is 
daily improving ; also our system of attacking it. 
Lately the statement has been circula ed that 
Potatos properly supplied with potash and phos¬ 
phoric acid never become badly infected. Dealing 
with this announcement a contemporary supplies an 
analysis of diseased Potatos compared with the 
average of fifty-three analyses of sound Potatos, to 
demonstrate the difference. It was found that the 
ash of a diseased tuber contained 37 86 per cent, of 
potash, and 9 96 per cent, of phosphoric acid, as 
compared with 60 37 per cent, of potash and 17 33 
per cent, of phosphoric acid in the sound tuber. 
Whether this can be turned to practical value re¬ 
mains to be seen. 
Onion Cut-Worms have caused great alarm amongst 
the Onion growers of New York, U.S.A., district. 
In 1895 and 1896 they did a great deal of damage 
and in the latter year they destroyed about 46% of 
the Onion crop. In 1895 some entomologists started 
to work to discover the life history of the worm and 
to develope a plant to check its ravages. A bulletin 
just issued contains the result of their labours. It 
states that most of the damage is done by the dark¬ 
sided cut-worm (Carneades messoria), one of the 
climbing cut-worms. There is only one brood of 
worms a year, and this appears in the spring in the 
uncultivated and neglected places. From thence the 
worms travel to attack the Onions. A dry bait com¬ 
posed of bran, middlings, and Paris Green was found 
by experiment to be readily eaten by the worms, and 
to be most deadly in its effects. This bait can be 
easily distributed by means of a seed-drill. 
The baffled gardener looked dismayed, 
And, muttering something, scratched his head, 
To see his Carrots turning red. 
“ Console your grief ” the maggot said, 
" Your wormy Ca r rots died in bed.”— Jarge. 
Cardiff Horticultural Society.— At a recent meeting 
at which Mr. Peace presided, it was arranged to 
illuminate the gardens as usual on the date of the 
show, August x ith and 12th. A display of fireworks 
is to be given by Messrs. Brock, of Crystal Palace 
fame. 
A new Weed Destroyer.— A solution of sulphate of 
copper for getting rid of weeds is recommended by 
Le Journal d'Agriculture Pratique. A vinegrower of 
Marigny called attention to the fact that when 
spraying his Vines with such a solution certain wild 
plants that were accidently sprinkled were killed. 
Experiments in this direction have been made this 
spring and it has been found that a 5% solution of 
the copper sulphate applied at the rate of 2 10 gallons 
to the acre had given a good account of Charlock. 
M. Brandin, president of the Society of Agriculture 
at Melun, tried the dressing in fields of Wheat and 
Oats badly choked up with Charlock and Thistles. 
The weeds perished, but the corn continued to grow 
vigorously. One field only was an exception, and in 
this case rain fell heavily in the night following the 
application. It seems passing strange that the corn 
should escape while the weeds were killed, and we 
should like to know more about this method of 
destroying weeds before we recommend it. Still 
there is nothing to hinder the conducting of experi¬ 
ments on a small scale at first. 
Ealing and District Gardensrs’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society.—The annual excursion of this society 
has been arranged for Thursday, July 22nd, 1897, 
and will take the form of a river trip to Margate. 
It has, further, been arranged that the outward 
journey be made by the magnificent paddle steamer 
the “ Royal Soverign,” and the return journey by 
the new and superb paddle steamer "La Marguerite.” 
Cold luncheon will be supplied on board the 11 Royal 
Sovereign” at 12.30 p.m., and tea on board “La 
Marguerite” at 6.30 p.m. Luncheon, tea, and fare 
(including rail from Tilbury and Fenchurch Street) 
7s. 6d. Time table.—‘* Royal Sovereign " leaves 
Old Swan Pier (London Bridge) at 9.35 a.m., and 
arrives at Margate at 2.15 ; ” La Marguerite” leaves 
Margate at 6.30 p.m., and arrives at Tilbury at 9.15 
p.m., thence by train to Fenchurch Street at to. 10 
p.m. N.B.—Latest available trains leave Ealing 
(District) 8.22 a.m. for Monument. Acton (N. 
London) 8.12 a.m. for Broad Street. Tickets and 
other information may be obtained from the com¬ 
mittee, from Mr. Geo. Cannon, St John’s Nursery, 
Ealing; Mr. C. B. Green, n, Myrtle Road, Acton; 
or Mr. W. Roberts, hon. secretary, 55, Haven Lane, 
Ealing. 
National Chrysanthemum Society’s Annual Outing. 
—The annual picnic and outing will take place on 
Monday, July 19th. The members will travel to 
Henley-on-Thames by Great Western Railway, 
and launches will be waiting at the Royal Hotel 
landing stage to convey them to Greenlands, the 
residence of the Hon. W. F. D. Smith, M.P. 
Dinner and tea will be provided in a spacious 
marquee in the grounds, and during the afternoon 
there will be an excursion down the river, returning 
to Greenlands for tea. Ladies are specially invited. 
The charge for the day—including return fare from 
Moorgate Street and Paddington to Henley and 
back, launches with dinner and tea—will be 10s. to 
members, and ns. to non-members. Members not 
using railway tickets, but joining the party at inter¬ 
mediate stations, or at Henley, will pay 7s. 6d., and 
non-members, 8s. As this is certain to be a highly 
popular trip, combining delightful grounds and 
gardens with a water journey on the Thames, early 
application must be made for tickets so that the 
necessary arrangements may be made, more 
especially in reference to ample accommodation by 
rail, and for dinner and tea. Members requiring 
tickets from Moorgate Street, which will be avail¬ 
able from any intermediate station to Paddington, 
must state this on application, and they can alight 
either at Praed Street or Bishop's Road for Padding¬ 
ton. No applications for tickets can be entertained 
unless made by the evening of Friday, July 16th.— 
Richard Dean ( Secretary ), Ealing, London, W. 
