724 
r HE GARDENING WORLD 
July 17, 1897. 
the luscious fruit. Strawberry picking is as 
important an operation during its season as 
hop-picking. Light spring vans take up a 
position at one side of the field, and between 
the pickers and the vans, boys pass to and 
fro carrying the baskets of fruit which the 
vans, in their turn, convey to the nearest 
available railway station, to be conveyed 
from thence, not only to the London 
markets, but to all the great leading towns 
in the midland and northern counties. 
Special trains are called into requisition to 
whirl these luscious but perishable fruits to 
their several destinations, for without them 
the industry in its present dimensions could 
not exist. Something like one or two hun¬ 
dred tons of Strawberries a day pass through 
Covent Garden during the height of the 
season ; yet the share falling to the poorer 
inhabitants of London is but small. 
The glut of Strawberries is already over 
as far as the southern counties are con¬ 
cerned ; and the crop has been for the most 
part harvested in glorious weather. The 
heavy rain about the middle of June might 
be looked upon as Nature’s last supply of 
water to bring the crops to perfection. The 
Strawberry plant requires a good supply of 
moisture, but as soon as the fruits are 
fairly well coloured, that supply should 
cease, or nearly so, otherwise the fruits 
carry and keep badly, thus entailing untold 
losses. Only a momentary inconvenience 
was caused by the great thunderstorm 
which traversed the country on the 24th 
ult., when the rain was unaccompanied by 
hail and tempests of falling ice; and 
fortunately for the Kentish growers the hail 
was very local in its occurrence. Had the 
hailstorm that occurred in parts of Essex, 
Herts, and Beds visited the Strawberry fields 
of Kent, the fruits, ripe and unripe, would 
have been beaten to pulp. 
In the United States of America the 
more southern towns supply the more 
northern with fresh fruits, the harvests 
passing successively northwards with the 
sun, till the northern fields and gardens 
return the compliment to the south in the 
shape of late fruits. To some extent this is 
done in Britain; but surely it could be 
carried to a much greater extent to the 
advantage of northern and southern 
growers alike, as well as to the home 
industry in fruit culture. For instance, Mr. 
Gladstone himself admits that though the 
climate of Aberdeenshire is one of the 
worst in the country, yet it can and does 
grow good Strawberries, and harvests them 
long after the crop of the more southern 
parts of the island has been accounted for. 
Even supposing that the appetite of con¬ 
sumers were fairly satiated for a season, the 
northern crops would still be available for 
preserving and conserving for use during 
the remainder of the twelve months. 
■»g» — 
Telling Lies to children is like planting weeds 
amongst flowers. 
Gladiolus is diminutive for gladius, a sword, and 
means a little sword in illusion to the shape of the 
leaves. 
The best Fruit- —Izaak Walton in his well-known 
book the " Complete Angler," say s •' God could have 
made a better fruit than the Strawberry, but he 
didn’t.” 
Growing Trees were converted into Newspapers in 
less than three hours at Elsenthal. During that 
brief space of time the trees were cut down, made 
into paper and the latter printed. 
Lecture on Roses.—The Rev. J. R. Buchanan gave 
an exhibition of Roses with a lecture at Herne Bay 
on the 3 th inst., in aid of the Herne Assistant 
Curate Fund. In the course of his long experience 
he had never seen Roses in greater perfection than 
they are this year. He grows Roses largely in his 
own garden. 
Red Poppies bloom year after year on the field of 
Waterloo. 
Rosa canina —The Romans credited the roots of 
the wild Rose with curative properties in cases of 
dog bites and hydrophobia. The specific name 
" canina ” is supposed to refer to this belief. 
The Bermuda Bulb Growers are in a bad way 
according to the American Florist. They have 
exported all the good ones and have kept tbe 
diseased stock for propagating purposes. If this 
practice has been pursued for long complete failure 
cannot be very far off. Japan will thus have one of 
her most formidable rivals in the bulb-growing 
industry crippled, which will be a good thing for the 
England of the far east. 
The Value of Common Salt. — The Sanitary Record 
has been taking up the cudgels on behalf of common 
salt, and finds that it may be put to a variety of 
uses and is of service in all of them. Salt is said 
to be the best sanitary and hygienic agent we possess. 
Salt sweetens the pasture, prevents mustiness in hay, 
and imparts moisture to dry soil. Stables and cow¬ 
sheds may be purified by it, and it is stated, more¬ 
over, to be one of the best-known insecticides. In 
the domestic circle salt is used for seasoning food 
and preserving meat. Finally, on the farm it is said 
that it improves the crops and ripens them earlier, 
grain being plumper and the straw whiter where it 
has been employed. 
Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society—At a 
meeting of the Floral Committee of this Society on 
June 12th, 1897, First Class Certificates were 
awarded to Messrs. E. H. Krelage & Son, ofHaarlem, 
for Anemone coronaria fl. pi. The Bride ; to Mr. H. 
J. Lemkes, Jr., of Alfen, a/R, for Pteris Wimsetti; 
and to Mr. Jac Smits, of Naarden, for Rosa hybr. 
Thea Souvenir du President Carnot, Rosa hybr. 
Thea Souvenir de Mad. Eugene Verdier, and Rosa 
hybr. fragans Fiamette Nabonnad. Certificates 
of Merit were accorded to Messrs. J. Stravers 
& Son, of Willige, Langerak, for Pelargonium 
zonale Hortulanus Budde; and to Messrs. E. 
H. Krelage & Son, of Haarlem, for Tropaeolum 
Leichtlini. Votes of thanks were accorded to the 
botanical garden of Utrecht for Viola tricolor 
Thomas Glen and Anastatica heirochuntica. 
West of England (Plymouth) Chrysanthemum 
Society. —The committee of the above society, with 
their friends to the number of forty odd, had their 
annual outing on Wednesday the 7th inst. Leaving 
Millbay station at 6.30 a m., they journeyed as far as 
Sharcross. Alighting there they partcok of breakfast. 
This being over a steam launch conveyed them 
across to Exmouth, where they had the pleasure of 
inspecting the extensive Nurseries of Mr W. J. 
Godfrey, of Chrysanthemum fame. His collection 
is one of the finest in Devon, and he has raised many 
a good seedling. The plants were all in the best 
possible condition, strong and clean, with foliage to 
the pot, which augurs well for the " Autumn Queen.” 
Begonias and Carnations are also well done here, 
and were quite a show, indoors and out. The Peach 
houses and vineries too were very promising ; some 
very large bunches are taken from the latter, and 
usually exhibited at the Exmouth Chrysanthemum 
Show in November. After seeing the various depart¬ 
ments, luncheon was partaken. After this a move was 
made to reach Budleigh Salterton, which was done 
by road, three large brakes conveying them thither. 
From Salterton they drove on to Bicton, to view the 
beautiful gardens there, which were kindly thrown 
open to them by the generous owner, The Hon. 
Mark Rolle. Here they spent about two hours look¬ 
ing through the many glass-houses and the extensive 
flower garden and pleasure grounds which were all 
in very excellent order. Leaving Bicton at 5 p.m , 
they were driven over Woodbury Common, thence 
on to Exeter, which they reached about 7-30. p.m. 
Here a sumptuous dinner awaited them at the Bude 
Hotel, which was much appreciated after the long 
dusty drive over the moor. The company left St. 
David station a little after 11, reaching Plymouth 
about 1 a.m., most of them apparently glad to get 
home after such a long day’s outing. The weather 
was very fine which added greatly to the day’s enjoy¬ 
ment. — Devonian. 
Five Thousand unloaded Bees Weigh a Pound, so 
that one is equal to the one-five-thousandth of a 
pound. When loaded with honey or pollen it weighs 
about three times this amount. 
The State Legislature of Iowa, U.S.A., has by reso¬ 
lution adopted the wild Rose as the official state 
flower, and the legislative bodies of Michigan have 
chosen the Apple blossom as their floral emblem. 
A Royai Rose.—Mr. T. Giles, of Dartford, for¬ 
warded a handsome flower of the Rose named Her 
Majesty to the Queen at Buckingham Palace on the 
20th June. He received the following reply :—The 
Private Secretary has received the Queen’s com¬ 
mands to thank Mr. T. Giles for the kind and loyal 
expressions conveyed in his communication of the 
21st June, and for the accompany Rose. Bucking¬ 
ham Palace, 25/6/97.” 
Desperate Remedies.—First male passenger (in 
train from Waterloo to Windsor): " When I first get 
hold of Xavier Olibo, I had pretty well to cut him to 
pieces.”—Second M. P.: " That’s the way to do it. 
I gave the Marquise de Castellane the same treat¬ 
ment. In some cases there’s nothing like the knife ! " 
[Old lady in the corner nearly faints on hearing of 
these atrocities, and changes her compartment at 
Vauxhall ; but, after all, the supposed assassins were 
only enthusiastic Rose-growers.] 
New Brighton Rose Show. —This fixture was held 
on the 10th inst. in the charming grounds of Dr. 
Bell, the beautiful weather drawing the elite of the 
neighbourhood. The blooms were of unusual 
excellence, those from Messrs. A. Dickson & Sons, of 
Newtownards, Co. Down, being of high merit and 
gaining first prizes for forty-eight distinct 
varieties, twelve blooms of any light sort, 
twelve Teas or Noisettes, and twenty-four 
varieties, three trusses of each. A special Certifi¬ 
cate of Merit was awarded to this firm for Lady 
Moyra Beauclerk (hybrid Tea). Amongst the more 
important blooms in these stands were Miss Bessie 
Brown, Ulster, Muriel Grahame, Alice Lindsell, 
Alice Grahame, Avoca, &c. Messrs. Dicksons, 
Limited, Chester, secured an equal first for twelve 
light sorts, and seconds in the other open classes. Mr. 
H. V. Machin secured the National Society's Gold 
Medal for twenty-four varieties of high excellence, 
also the first award for eighteen sorts. For twelve 
varieties, Mr. T. R. Bulley was to the fore. Mr. 
Machin secured the premier awards for the best six 
dark, and six light varieties, and for the twelve Teas 
or Noisettes. The same exhibitor won the National 
Society’s Silver Medal and first prize. Hardy 
perennials were in strong form, Mr. T. R. Bulley 
staging the finest. Mr. Chas. Young, West Derby, 
was awarded a Certificate of Merit for a very fine 
collection of Carnations. Dr. Bell and Mr. T. R. 
Bulley, the hon. secs., were responsible for the very 
satisfactory arrangements. 
Outbreak of Potato Disease.—The Potato disease, 
we regret to say, has broken out in various parts of 
South Lincolnshire, where the acreage devoted to 
the tuber crop is as large as in any district in the 
kingdom. It is seldom, indeed, that the presence of 
the disease-fungus is detected so early in the 
season, but the atmosphere is laden with the unmis- 
takeable odour associated with the diseased haulm. 
The intense heat at times experienced, the torrential 
rains, and the highly electrical condition of the 
atmosphere have no doubt all encouraged this early 
development of Potato blight. Field and garden 
crops have alike been attacked, but the efficacy of 
sulphate of copper sprayings has been so clearly 
demonstrated that growers may, if they please, 
guard their crops with almost absolute certainty 
against destruction. We learn that Messrs. Straw- 
sons, of 71a, Queen Victoria Street, London, who 
have done such excellent service in checking the 
spread of Potato disease in Ireland, are this season 
supplying their fungicidal preparations containing 
sulphate of copper in quantities suitable to thegrower 
of 100 acres or more of potatos on the one hand, and 
to the humble cultivator of a small allotment on the 
other. The value of their preparations has been so 
fully recognised in Government and other official 
reports that no excuse can be pleaded for going to 
foreign sources for appliances and materials that can 
be more cheaply obtained at home — The Times, 
July 5th, 1897. 
