756 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 31, 1897. 
the distance, except that they are much 
dwarfer. Hops do not constitute a feature 
in the neighbourhood of Swanley. Straw¬ 
berries are amongst the most important, 
. and their fame is known far and near. The 
crop had been harvested before our visit to 
the neighbourhood the other week, and only 
a straggling crew of gleaners held the field 
where a week or two previously an army of 
pickers were harvesting the crop. Rasp¬ 
berry gathering was in full swing. Straw¬ 
berries again cover the fields in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of St. Mary Cray and at other 
places in proximity to railway stations A 
jam factory at Swanley finds plenty of em¬ 
ployment. 
* » 8 » — 
Mr. W. Atlee Burpee, the well-known seedsman of 
Philadelphia, U.S.A , is now in this country for a 
time previous to his going to the continent. 
A Big Tomato.—Councillor J. D. Llewellyn, J.P., 
of Neath, recently cut a fine fruit of Tomato 
weighing 26^ ozs. His gardener must understand 
the cultivation of this popular fruit. 
The Sweet Pea crop of seed being harvested in 
California about the middle of July was somewhat 
below the average weight, owing to an unfavourable 
season for that crop. 
Death through eating Laburnum seeds— Two little 
girls, daughters of a miner named Paul, of North 
Hylton, Sunderland, ate a quantity of seeds which 
had fallen from Laburnum trees. Ruth, aged 5, 
died, and her sister is very ill, but expected to 
recover. 
A Promising Rose.— A new single variety has been 
raised in America as the result of a cross between 
Rosa rugosa and General Jacqueminot. Gardening 
[American) describes it as a splendid single Rose very 
near to F. Schuyler Mathew's, pure red, but some¬ 
what inclined towards magenta. 
Herr Johann Lambert, Lambert & Sons, Trier, 
Germany, died on the 23rd ult , in the 67th year of 
his age. He had been ill for a long time. The firm 
is one of the largest and best known in Germany, 
and cultivates a large stock of trees and shrubs, but 
is perhaps best known in this country as one of Rose 
growers They were the raisers of the hybrid Tea 
variety, Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, that has come so 
much to the front at the leading Rose shows in 
Britain this summer. 
Scottish Horticultural Association. —This associa¬ 
tion made a new departure on the 20th inst. Instead 
of hearing and discussing papers, the members, of 
whom a good many were present, had the privilege 
of taking part in a very fine exhibition of Straw¬ 
berries, held at 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh. 
The collection, in which there were no less than 
twenty-five varieties of this favourite fruit, was got 
together by the president (Mr. M. Todd), who had 
invited prominent Strawberry growers to forward 
samples of their crop. The invitation was heartily 
responded to, among the contributors to the exhibi¬ 
tion beiDg Messrs. Dunn, Dalkeith Palace Gardens ; 
Smith, Oxenford Castle; M’Intyre, The Glen; 
Gorrie, Mauldslie Castle ; Smith, Hopetoun House ; 
McKinnon, Terregles ; Kirk, Norwood ; Mackenzie, 
Trinity Grove; Temple, Carron House ; and Grieve 
& Sons, Redbraes Nursery, Edinburgh. There were 
also on the table some boxes of beautiful Rose 
blooms sent by Mr. Hugh Dickson, Belfast, and 
Messrs. D. & W. Croll, Dundee, as well as specimens 
of Sweet Peas by Mr. H. Eckford, Wen, Shrop¬ 
shire. The president—who had provided table 
decorations, the whole forming a capital display— 
emphasised the value and importance of the exhibi¬ 
tion, and hoped it would turn out to be the first of 
many similar shows. He also congratulated Mr. 
Dunn on having been awarded the Diamond Jubilee 
Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society of London. 
Mr. Dunn briefly acknowledged the congratulations 
of the association, and commented in some detail on 
the exhibits. He observed that all the popular 
varieties of Strawberry were shown with the excep- 
cf the Keens’ seedling. At the close of the exhibi¬ 
tion a Strawberry feast took place. 
Cherry picking has been completed in Kent, and so 
great a failure was the crop that many trees were 
not gathered at all. 
A Musician's Misconception.—A much disgusted 
amateur of stringed instruments was seen coming 
away from Regent’s Park on Siturday afternoon of 
the 17th inst On his meeting a friend who observed 
that he looked out of sorts, he replied, “ No wonder ! 
I came up all the way from Norwood to see an 
* exhibition of Violas,’and it turns out that they’re 
nothing but beastly flowers.”— The Globe. 
Cattleya giskelliana alba.—A fine form of this 
turned up at the Sale Rooms of Messrs. Protheroe& 
Morris, Cheapside, on the 23rd inst., and created 
some lively bidding until finally knocked down for 
20 gs. On the same occasion a handsome variety of 
Dendrobium Phalaenopsis was secured for 10 gs. 
The whole flower was of a uniform dark purple, in¬ 
tensifying to crimson in the throat. 
Wolverhampton Floral Fete.—In a short note on 
this subject on p. 741, an unfortunate mistake some¬ 
how or other crept into the text. The correct 
reading should be that the hon. secretary, Mr. W. 
A. Green, was taken ill on the night previous to the 
show, but Mr. Alfred Outram, F.R.H.S., of London, 
undertook the duties of secretary, which he carried 
out to the great satisfaction of everyone. It was 
most fortunate for the society that he was able to do 
so amidst his multifarious duties; and we congratu¬ 
late him upon his versatility and tact. 
Scotch Gardeners in England.—A correspondent of 
a north of England paper having made the statement 
that the great majority of gentleman's gardeners 
throughout England are Scotchmen, an Englishman 
in elucidating the matter says that “ Scotland is 
more famous for gardeners than gardens.” He 
further states that young men are employed to do 
nearly all the gardening in Scotland, both under 
glass and outside, and on that account are well 
grounded in every branch of the art. In Scotland 
these young men do the work that is mostly 
entrusted to labourers in England. When the 
Scotch apprentices have completed their term of 
engagement they must leave to make way for fresh 
apprentices. Crowds of them are thrown upon the 
market and to find employment they must come to 
England or emigrate to the colonies. This is the 
explanation which is vouchsafed by the Englishman 
to account for the number of Scotch gardeners in 
England; but that is no explanation of the fact that 
the majority of the head gardeners and many other 
distinguished horticulturists in England are Scotch¬ 
men. Who can explain that ? 
Ealing and District Gardeners’ Society.—The annual 
outing of this society took place on the 22nd inst., 
when the members and friends to the number of 
sixty-six met at London Bridge, wfiere they em¬ 
barked on the " Royal Sovereign ” for a trip to 
Margate. This was accomplished by 2.30 p.m. in 
admirable style and weather, luncheon being served 
on board, when a hearty vote of thanks was accorded 
Messrs. Green and Roberts for organisation. At 
Margate no formal arrangements were made—each 
went as he or she desired. Some courted the briny, 
or the “ yellow ” sands, while others elected to go for 
a drive, the country about the North Foreland being 
particularly fine. The cereal and leguminous crops 
were looking well, although the contrast between the 
fields of golden “Corn,” i.e., Barley and Oats, and 
the verdant tares was very marked. The Wheat also 
was ready for the sickle—indeed, some had alreidy 
fallen and was “shocked ” or "stooked,” according 
to the nationality of the observer. Potatos, too, 
were doing well and flowering freely, so much so, in 
fact, that Solanum jasminoides was suggested. At 6.30 
p.m , the elegantly-fitted and well-appointed paddle 
steamer, “ La Marguerite,” was boarded, and a most 
agreeable and enjoyable tea partaken of. Thence for 
a time our good ship danced upon the ocean wave, 
but ultimately slowed up Thames to Tilbury, as if 
conscious that the “ bosom ” of “father Thames” 
deserved more gentle treatment. This tender regard 
for the feelings “of the old gentleman” made us a 
little late; hence the party did not arrive at Fen- 
church Street quite so early as some of them desired. 
However, we believe that the trip was most success¬ 
ful, and that everybody got home without much in¬ 
convenience. 
The Flower Show of the Sandringham Horti¬ 
cultural Society held on the 2rst inst. was a great 
success. Exhibits were more numerous than usual 
and the competition keen. About 5,000 people 
attended the show. 
Jubilee Honour.—The Lord Steward has forwarded 
a Warrant of Appointment to Mr. H. G. Smyth of 
Goldsmith Street, Drury Lane, as Horticultural 
Sundriesman to Her Majesty the Queen. This we 
believe is the first and only occasion upon which a 
horticultural sundriesman has been specially selected 
for such an honour, and we congratulate Mr. Smyth 
on his appointment in this the Diamond Jubilee 
year. 
Cottage Gardening.—At a recent meeting of the 
Manchester City Council, the attention of the Parks 
Committee was called to the excellent example set 
by Liverpool in assisting cottagers in the densely 
populated districts to grow window plants in their 
homes. The proposal was somewhat coldly received; 
but it is to be hoped that Manchester will not be behind 
other cities in caring for its poor. Salford has been 
encouraging a love of flowers amongst its people with 
great success. 
The Blue Dendrobe.—Some time ago we gave some 
information concerning an importation of a blue 
Dendrobium under the name of D.Victoriae Reginae. 
Since then we have seen three different plants of it 
in flower, exhibited by as many owners. The first 
plant was the poorest, then came a better example, 
and the third was at the rooms of Messrs. Protheroe 
& Morris, Cheapside, on the 23rd inst. This was 
the best variety we have seen, the sepals, petals, and 
lip being of a dark blue-purple, except on the lower 
third of their length, which was white. The lower 
and white portion of the lip was striated with purple, 
but the apical half was the richest and most deci¬ 
dedly blue portion of the flower. All these blooms 
have appeared on the imported bulbs, so that it is 
hardly fair to the Dendrobe to lay stress upon the 
colours under those conditions. The last plant 
which appeared in public gives rise to the hope that 
something fine may yet turn up when the plants 
have made growth in this country and become 
established. The small piece sold for 16s., which 
some considered a large price for so small a plant. 
It was bought by Mr. Thomas Walters for Mr. 
Cypher, of Cheltenham. 
National Chrysanthemum Society’s Outing.—A 
large party of the members and friends of this 
society started from Paddington on the 19th inst., 
for Greenlands, Henley-on-Thames, picking up 
others at stations by the way. Arrived at their 
railway destination, they were taken in steam 
launches by the river to Greenlands, the white man¬ 
sion of which overlooks the river and is very con¬ 
spicuous amongst its trees, and surrounded by ver¬ 
dant lawns. Tall Cedars of Lebanon give the place 
an air of antiquity, and Willows, which constitute a 
striking feature of the Thames' banks elsewhere, are 
also noticeable here. Roses are very plentiful at 
Greenlands, several of the climbers being very con¬ 
spicuous. The members of the party were much in¬ 
terested in the Chrysanthemums, of which Mr. 
Perkins, gardener to the Hon. W. F. D. Smith, 
M.P., grows about twelve hundred. Mr. Perkins 
has also a fine batch of seedlings of his own raising. 
Evidence of his skill was also furnished by the fine 
crops of highly coloured Peaches and the excellency 
of the Grapes of various sorts, including Black Ham¬ 
burgh and Muscat of Alexandria. Palms, Cycads, 
and other stove plants, as well as Orchids were also 
inspected and admired by those having an eye to 
those useful subjects. A fine piece of Peristeria, the 
Dove Orchid, came in for comment. Greenhouse 
plants of all the more popular kinds are also well 
cared for at Greenlands. Malmaison Carnations 
were very fine. Melons were tempting and 
Cucumbers cool. The houses here are very numer¬ 
ous and all well filled, while the more popular flowers 
find a place in the bedding arrangements. Luncheon 
was partaken of under the presidency of the chair¬ 
man, Mr. T. W. Sanders, who rendered the usual 
loyal toasts and proposed the health of the Hon. W. 
F. D. Smi h, M.P., and Lady Esther Smith. During 
the afternoon the launches took the party down the 
river to Hurley, bringing them back to Henley in 
good time for the train. Thus a very pleasant day 
was spent. 
