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THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 28, 1897. 
Mr. G- Hollingworth, gardener to Lord Tredegar. 
Tredegar Park, Newport, Mon., has been appointed 
gardener to Miss Talbot, Margam Park, Port Talbot, 
Glamorgan, S. Wales, in succession to Mr. J. Muir, 
who, we understand, has been appointed assistant 
agent to the same lady. 
Culture of Hydrangeas.—The Garden and Forest 
announces a new method of growing this popular 
subject, recalling what occurs in the case of the 
Chrysanthemum. Cuttings are put in pots filled 
with fibrous soil, leaf mould, a little while sand 
together with some bone meal or other phosphatic 
manure. No side shoots are permitted to grow, the 
w T hole plant being confined to a single stem. Liquid 
manure is given as soon as the flower buds are 
formed. In this country, however, the mode of 
culture here given is by no means new nor unknown 
to market growers and some others. 
Flower Swindles.—The cunning hawker is not be¬ 
hind in taking advantage of the widespread passion 
for flowers, and more or less ingenious swindles are 
not uncommon. The demand for the Parsley Fern 
has been met by the faking of the humble Carrot. 
Cutting off the crown of the plant and transferring it 
to a pot he has a Fern, and—the public buys. 
With zeal worthy of a better cause he sets to work 
to remedy the niggardliness of nature by giving 
scent to flowers to which it has been denied. All 
sorts of flowers are sprinkled with perfume, others 
are coloured by means of chemicals until they are 
gay enough to catch the eye, or strongly scented 
enough to arrest the olfactory nerves of the public. 
The fostering attentions of the faker should not be too 
harshly judged, however,for after all he has a praise¬ 
worthy motive from a British point of view—viz., to 
make money. 
Shirley Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Associa¬ 
tion. —The monthly meeting was held at the Parish 
Room. Shirley, Southampton, on Monday, i6th inst., 
Air. B. Ladhams, F.R.H.S , presiding over a fair 
attendance of the members. Mr. S. Heaton, 
F.R.H.S., and lecturer in horticulture for the Isle of 
Wight County Council, gave an address on the 
diseases of plants. The lecturer dealt with the sub- 
ject under three heads: (i) parasitic and insect 
attacks ; (2) deleterious gases, &c., in the air affect¬ 
ing nutrition ; (3) a redundancy or deficiency of 
light, air, mcisture, and warmth. Careless trans¬ 
planting and pruning might also cause serious 
injury, whilst the absence of proper plant food, and 
an excess of organic matter in the soil were com¬ 
mented on as fruitful sources of diseases. Attention 
was also called to the value of rotation cropping. 
As to combating disease, the lecturer recommended 
in severe cases the destruction of the plants by fire, 
and light attacks to be treated w-ith spraying or 
fumigation. He believed every man should make 
experiments for himself. At the close of the 
address a discussion followed, and then a hearty 
vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Heaton. 
“ Favourite Flowers of Garden and Greenhouse."— 
This handsome work, being issued in weekly parts, 
is now in a very advanced stage. When completed 
it will be illus:rated with 316 coloured plates, and 
PI. 3C6 appeared in the part which reached us last 
week, representing the Bird’s-nest Fern (Asplenium 
Nidus). Besides this there are five other plates, 
namely, Phalaris arundinacea, Selaginella Martensii, 
Aspidium aculeatum, Aspidium falcatum, and 
another made up of Briza maxima, Lagurus ovata, 
and Aira pulchella. Popular names accompany 
the botanical one. The history of each genus is 
given in the text, followed by a description of the 
principal species The nomenclature is that adopted 
by the best authorities, and the descriptions are con¬ 
cise, and in language that may be understood by any 
educated person, whether a botanist or otherwise. 
Native plants, as well as exotics, come in for notice, 
but we a-e rather astonished at the prominence 
given to Scirpus setaceus, which, although common 
in some parts of England, is best known to the 
botanist. It will never rival S. riparius (Isolepis 
gracilis) to which it is compared. NothwithstandiDg 
the limits of space we think Selaginella uncinata 
(caesia) and S. Braunii might have been included, 
for they are very widely cultivated. We have nothing 
but praise for the coloured illustrations, which are 
far superior to those generally issued in popular 
works of this kind 
Keeping the flowers Awake — While chloroform and 
ether put the animal world asleep, Dr Johannson, of 
Copenhagen, says that they have a wonderful power 
of keeping the vegetable kingdom awake. Closed 
flowers can be re opened instantly by either of them. 
Noah’s Ark is to be seen in Petersham Park, close 
to Richmond Park. It is not the original ark of the 
original Nouh, however, but a bower formed by the 
roots of a Horse Chestnut about twenty-five years of 
age that project out of the ground to a height of 
some 3 ft. thus making an arch ’neath which the 
children love to play during the school treats when 
the park is thrown open. 
A Reg’lar Fraud — Mr. Chamberlain’s well-known 
love for Orchids is responsible for the following. 
During the progress of a political meeting in the 
provinces at which the Colonial Secretary w-as one 
of the speakers, an old man of the labouring class 
pushed his way to the front and asked a friend who 
stood by, “Which is ’im ? " "Who?” “Whoy, 
Chamberlain! Which o’ thot crowd's ’im.” "That 
clean-shaven chap there—him with the eyeglass,” 
was the reply. " Is that Chamberlain ? " said the 
labourer in a disappointed tone. " Of course it is ! 
What do'ee think o’ him, eh ? ” Whoy, I thinks he's 
a reg’lar fraud ! That’s what I thinks.” His com¬ 
panion then began a spirited defence of the great 
politician. " I knows nowt about politics ” remarked 
the labourer pushing his way out. " They said as 
’ow 'e wore a little orchard in his button’ole and - 
theer, it oint owt but a tater blossom." 
Crewe Borough Flower Show —The annual show of 
this society was held on the 18th inst. There was 
good competition for fruits, flowers, and vegetables, 
but some of the local champions figured largely in 
the list of first-prize winners. The leading award 
for four gre’enhouse- plants was secured by Mr. W. 
Latham, who was also first for two greenhouse 
plants, two and one specimen Fuchsia. Mr. James 
Tomkinson, who was twice beaten by Mr. Latham, 
came to the front for double Pelargoniums and 
tuberous Begonias. Other first-prize takers for 
plants were Mr. J. Hough, Mr. Walker, Mr. J. E. 
Fenna, Mr. W. May, Mr. F. Yoxall, Mr. J. H. 
Mason, and Mr. A. Baker. Most of these exhibitors 
figured largely in the classes for cut flowers ; and 
Mr. J. Greenwood, Mr. C. Greenwood, and Mr. J. 
Barnes were added to the list. Fruit was staged in 
fair quantity. Leading prizes were taken by Mr. 
J. Yoxall, Mr. A. Rogerson, Mr. C. Powell, and Mr. 
J. Sumner. 
Ealing Gardeners’ Society.—In addition to the 
annual outing the members of this Society have, 
during the summer, been able to visit some of the 
leading gardens in the neighbourhood, in conse¬ 
quence of the kindness of the proprietors and their 
head gardeners. This has been felt to be a great 
privilege; and, as such, has been much appreciated 
and enjoyed. In fact, these evening visits have 
proved a great success ; for, being on a line with the 
objects of the society, they also have tended towards 
educational, as well as horticultural improvement. 
This new departure of the society has given many 
young men an opportunity of seeing, for the first 
time, systems of culture, constructions of buildings, 
modern machinery, and other details, which must be 
very gratifying to those who wish to be up-to-date 
and to otherwise understand the principles of their 
profession. The visits, so far, have embraced the 
beautiful grounds of Osterley Park, Isleworth, the 
historical residence of the Earl of Jersey (gardener, 
Mr. J. Hawkes), where lawns, lakes, and landscapes 
do abound : Spring Grove House, Isleworth, the new 
and substantial home of A. Pears, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. W. Farr), where everything is brand new and on 
the most substantial scale ; and Syon House, Brent¬ 
ford, the river-side mansion of Earl Percy (gardener 
Mr. G. Wythes), where the extensive park and 
gardens are so full of glass-houses and famous trees 
and shrubs, that Kew, on the opposite bank of the 
Thames, is suggested by comparison. As there are 
about fourteen acres of grass to be kept cut, a steam 
lawn-mower is a des'dera'.um, and as this machine 
was running at the time of the visit, it materially 
helped to increase the interest in the surroundings. 
We understand the arrangements were carried out 
by the vice-chairman, Mr. C. B. Green, and the 
hon. secretary, Mr. W. Roberts. 
ARDEN1NG ffllSCELLANY. 
■ISi 
DWARF BEAN OSBORN'S PROLIFIC. 
Whether forced in pots during w-inter or grown in 
the open ground this variety is dwarf and fruits 
freely in proportion as the conditions are favourable. 
It has given rise to a remarkable crop in the garden 
of T. Lily, Esq., Ealing Hill Fark, Ealing, once more 
testifying to its capability and profitableness when 
properly treated. The ground was trenched and 
well manured, so that the plants have never suffered 
in the slightest on account of the dry weather. Mr. 
John Hay is a good vegetable gardener, and when he 
has had sufficient time to get the whole of the 
ground in good order, will make every square yard 
of it give an account of the labour put upon it. 
PHLOX COQUELICOT. : 
This is the newest highly coloured Phlox we have 
had sent across the Channel. It differs frem the 
now famous Etna, in beiDg more of a reddish scarlet ; 
poppy red, I believe, would be a good description for 
it. Mr. John Forbes, Hawick, has it in splendid form 
just now. It is a very telling variety when seen at a 
distance, is above the average size and better 
branched than some of the newer ones I have seen of 
late. I should much like to see the colour and form 
of good old Coccinea introduced into some of the 
new dwarf, large flowered varieties. It would indeed 
be welcomed.—IF. 5 
JASMINUM FLORIDUM. 
In this we have a very pretty yellow-flowered species, 
a native of China, and doubtlessly hardy in many 
parts of this country, particularly when planted 
against a wall. A plant has been flowering for some 
time past against a west aspect wall at Kew. The 
pinnate leaves are neat and consist of three to five 
dark green leaflets. The flowers are moderate in 
size but bright yellow, starry, and produced in 
trusses terminating the young shoots. Being of 
moderate growth, the species would be very suitable 
for planting agffnst low walls where the taller 
growers would be inadmissible. 
SWEET PEAS. 
So much has recently appeared in The Gardening 
World respecting Sweet Peas that one feels some¬ 
what shy of saying anything further on the subject. 
I fully endorse all the editor and others have said as 
to the beauty and value of the improved varieties. 
I have been content with a mixture of them, and 
very beautiful they are. One sowing has to do duty 
for the season, which it will always do provided they 
are not allowed to produce seed. Ours have run up 
to 7 ft. in height at the present time, and bid fair to 
go much higher. I had a wrinkle given me as to 
this, namely, the height of the boughs employed, 
culled, I believe, from a parish magazine —The Dawn 
0) Darkness, or some similar production — that the 
higher the supports the higher the Sweet Peas would 
go. — IF. B .G. 
TECOMA RADICANS. 
This is seldom seen, but at Glenfield, Dennington, 
growing in front of the house—three stories high— 
it is perfection, flowering most profusely. Grand 
trusses of orange-scarlet flowers are most attractive, 
I often wonder this grand old plant is not more 
often seen. Mr. Chaston Scace, the owner, I con¬ 
gratulate upon his success in flowering this gem.— 
SECOND-FLOWERING OF THE 
CHINESE WISTARIA, 
Wistaria chinensis, although comparatively a 
common tree or shrub, is always interesting, except 
perhaps in winter time, when only its long, twisted, 
gnarled, or knotted branches are in evidence. When 
these, however, put on their spring garb and become 
clothed in bluish purple the elegance of the Wis¬ 
taria is generally admitted. But, still there seems to 
be something wanting, and that want is only 
supplied in seasons like the present, when, by some 
occult cause, or combination of climatic influences, 
