October 28, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
135 
shiftable quantity in other cases. On the score of 
differences between species and varieties, we have 
listened delightfully to his definition, that it was not 
so much the amount of difference between one form 
and another as its constancy. Garden races and 
varieties may differ more from one another and from 
the original wild type, thao do species from one 
another; but as all their d fferences may be bridged 
over by intermediate forms it is thus shown that they 
have no constancy, and that their importance is 
thereby disproved. 
Although Mr. Baker retired from the keepership 
of the Herbarium last spring, he still continued his 
lectures to the students in the lecture room and the 
gardens last summer, and to our knowledge he 
accompanied them, at least on one occas ; on, of a 
field excursion. One of the more recent acknow¬ 
ledgments of his services was when the Linnean 
Society, on the occasion of their anniversary meet¬ 
ing on May 24th last, formally presented Mr. 
Baker with their Gold Medal, in recognition of his 
important contributions to botanical science. It is 
our earnest hope, and in that we feel sure of support 
from Kewites and others in every quarter of the 
Queen's dominions, that Mr. Baker will erj iy health 
for many years to come, the perfect enjoyment of a 
useful life, and well earned rest. 
The accompanying portrait is a very good likeness 
of Mr. Baker at the present time. 
-•*>- 
Kitctien Garden calendar. 
The weather of the past two weeks has been so 
favourable as to tempt one to think that summer was 
not yet ended, but we must bear in mind the end of 
October is here, therefore any roots such as^Beet, 
Carrots and the like that have not yet been stored 
should be got under cover with as little delay as 
possible. Celeriac should be earthed up to protect 
the roots from frost and material ought to be got in 
readiness for protection in case we should be visited 
with an early spell of bad weather. All the forward 
Celery ought to receive its final earthing, while the 
soil is dry and in a workable condition. The late 
lots should, however, be left, as earthing would m3ke 
the leaf stalks too tender to withstand the severe 
winter. 
Late green crops have made good headway this 
last three weeks, and though far from the average, 
should the weather keep open, they will still grow. 
While the soil is still dry pay strict attention to 
freeing all growing crops such as Spinach, Winter 
Onions, Spring Cabbage, Lettuce, &c., of weeds. 
If the hoe is run between them the sun has still 
sufficient power to wither them up. Cauliflower 
that are turning in should be carefully looked over 
each day and any that are forward enough ought to 
have the leaves brought together and tied with a 
piece of matting. This is far better than covering 
the hearts with leaves, as the frost causes them to 
fall down and thus expose the hearts to the full 
rigour of the weather. 
The present is a good lime to take a survey as it 
were of the season’s work, while many things are 
still fresh in one's memory. This is aho the best 
time to make plans for future crops that the ground 
may be manured and dug accordingly. In most 
places labour is all too sparingly employed, so that 
many things have to be left undone that might other¬ 
wise have been dote with advantage. Where the 
soil is light it should be trenched for such roots as 
Carrots, Parsnips, Beet, Onions, &c., that it may 
become somewhat consolidated before spring, for 
when such work is done a short time previous to 
sowing the soil is left so porous that should a dry 
summer follow the root crop will be anything but 
satisfactory. Where it is possible to employ labour 
digging ought to be taken in hand. 
November is usually a dull, moist month, with 
plenty of fogs and but little sunshine. Falling 
leaves accumulate very fast and are a source of great 
trouble in a kitchen garden situated near to a wood. 
Every effort should be made to clear them up from 
amongst the growing crops as they hold the moisture 
and so cause the plants to become weak and spindly. 
There is also far more pleasure to be derived from a 
well kept place even though small than from one 
three times the size, if such is allowed to become 
untidy. 
Seakale should be lifted for forcing as soon as 
the leaves have fallen. It is not advisab'e to use too 
strong a heat, as this causes the growths to be tough. 
Absolute darkness is essential and this with a genial 
moist atmosphere will soon cause growth to com¬ 
mence. Rather more heat is needed to induce the 
roots to push now than later on ; but if dug up and 
laid under a north wall for a few days before intro¬ 
ducing into the forcing house there will be but little 
difficulty experienced in getting a crisp well blanched 
growth. Rhubarb should also be taken up and 
treated in like manner. 
Where winter salads have to be kept to provide a 
regular supply Endive, Lettuce, Chicory, Mustard 
and Cress, together with American Cress, Lamb's 
Lettuce, small Onions, Chervil, and a little Taragon 
will be required. As the former will need blanching, 
this can be done in various ways, such as covering 
the plants in the open, by tying or taking up and 
putting in a dark house. Whichever mode is 
adopted allow ample time so that blanching may be 
thoroughly effected. Chicory is a great favourite 
with some, but to have this in the finest possible 
condition the young growth must be crisp and 
tender. When the foliage is dry take up and plant 
in frames Lettuces that are ready for use, and 
plant them in cold frames where lights can be put 
over them in bad weather. Sow Radishes on slight 
hot beds for drawing when small .—Kitchen Gardener. 
- 
Apples. —Root pruning may safely commence at any 
time now. The sooner indeed, that the work of 
pruning is started the better the result in the 
development of buds, &c., next year. Trees in damp 
situations and whose roots are scarred and rusted 
like Potatos in bad land, should be seen to, for under 
such conditions the trees are invariably merely mak¬ 
ing rank wood-growth without any adequate recom¬ 
pense in the way of fruits. Lift the tree bodily if it 
is not too large, and after carefully examining the 
bad roots and pruning the same, proceed to alter the 
mechanical conditions of the subsoil around the seat 
of the tree. Rough stones may be somewhat built in 
for drainage. Over these, place rough cinders, and 
cover the stone bottom with an inch or two of soil. 
Of course, these operations will necessitate some 
slight excavations. The tree may be raised just a 
slight bit higher than it was before, but not much, 
else not only will the functions of the tree be seriously 
changed or upset, but it will not have stability. 
Every root should be carefully spread out and fresh 
soil to which has been added lime-stones, aid drying 
material of any sort which will help to make the soil 
freer and warmer, should be incorporated. The tree 
may need to be staked. Pruning of the branches 
may be delayed until all the leaves are off, after 
which a severe pruning should be given. Other 
Apple trees in need only of root pruning, had better 
have this done now. The general drainage of the 
land should not be neglected if it is possible at all to 
get an outlet for the drains. 
Pears. —Almost the same remarks apply to Pear 
trees. Wall Pears shed their leaves more quickly 
than almost any other fruit tree, so that where rOot- 
pruning in their case is needed this might be finished 
before the Apple trees are tackled. A good top¬ 
dressing of soot, some lime, and wood ashes, should 
be given over the surface of the ground in which the 
roots are working. Above this again, manure of a 
sappy nature from the cow sheds and stables might 
be thickly laid. The advantages of this in winter 
are twofold. It allows the nourishment slowly to 
ooze down to the roots, and it keeps the soil warm 
and protected, so that the roots may remain in a 
quietly working state. 
Plums. —Lime along with both soot and wood 
ashes are largely used by many first-class hardy 
fruit growers for incorporating with the natural soil 
in which the trees—Plums, Apricots, Peaches, or 
Cherries—are growing. It is altogether beneficial 
without one drawback. Apricots are said to be 
benefited in some way or by the old method of 
loosening the branches and shcots from the wall. 
These are slung in bunches of four or five branches 
or shoots, and made secure by cords to different 
parts of the wall. There should be as little play 
given to the bunches as possible else the buds will 
grow gradually fewer from being knocked off. What 
good there is in the practice it is hard to understand. 
It is bound at any rate to be harmful to the wall and 
to occupy much time. Some consider that it retards 
the development of the buds tiil the weather is more 
likely to be fine for the flowering period. 
Bush Fruits.— The planting of these may also be 
gone on with. Cordon trained Gooseberries are 
very popular now, and the same maybe said of Cur¬ 
rants. The Cordon plants have the advantages of 
being very simple to manage, and of conserving their 
strength toward fruits and stout wood. The propor¬ 
tion of their roots and the amount of the nourishment 
given to them, must be in a like ratio to the needs 
and amount of branch growth. Strawberiies should 
now be planted in the plantation rows. It is not too 
late yet to expect a crop from stout plants though 
they have been delayed in planting till this time. 
Raspberries which had the old canes taken from 
them as soon as the fruits were past, will by 
now have developed strong shoots for next year. 
If the old canes have not been cut out, they may 
as well be thinned now. The plants will benefit 
from a good mulching.— J. H. D. 
©leanings ftpim flje Dnttlti 
of Stiencq. 
The following subjects were brought before the 
Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on October 10th : — 
Potatos, with scab.—A number of samples 
were received with the descriptions of the manures 
supplied. They were forwarded to Dr. Smith for 
examination and report. 
Fungus on Chrysanthemum leaves.—Some 
leaves badly spotted with a brown fungus were 
received and forwarded to Dr. M. C. Cooke for 
further examination, who reports as follows : " The 
Chrysanthemum disease is the ‘ rust,' which I refer 
to Uredo Hieracei; but I cannot tell for certain until 
the Puccinia is found. I had it two or three years 
ago from Slough. It is capable of spreading, and I 
should destroy all the infected leaves by burning, if 
sprinkling with Condy’s fluid proves ineffective. It 
is better to sacrifice the entire plants, than for it to 
establish itself as a permanent pest, like the Holly¬ 
hock disease (P. Malvacearum), to which it is allied. 
It is impossible to give the cause, but probably in¬ 
fection from other plants.” 
Five-merous Eucharis.—A blossom of this 
plant, with its whorls regularly arranged in series of 
fives—most unusual for a monocotyledon-was 
received from Mr. E. Escombe. An examination 
revealed the fact that it originated in twin flowers 
coherent. The stem a short distance below the base 
of the inferior ovary contained very numerous and 
scattered fibro-vascular cords. Nearer the flower 
they became thirty in number, and so entered the 
base of the twin ovaries. These were united by a 
common wall, in which two of the cords normal to 
the ovaries were suppressed. Hence the superficial 
cords were now reduced to ten only. This number, 
therefore, laid the foundation of the supply for the 
four whorls (perianth and stamens) of five parts 
each. Apart from the two united ovaries of three 
cells each and six rows of ovules in each cell, no 
trace of the twin-origin was visible. 
Chrysanthemum arrested.—Mr. E. H. Jen¬ 
kins, of Hampton Hill, sent branches of the variety 
Madame Desgranges in which the majority of the 
flowers were very small, with yellow petals on short 
stiff branches. There had been great difficulty in 
expansion from the bud. This was considered to be 
due to the excessive drought. The later flowers 
were nearly normal on slender pedicels. It was 
remarked that various kinds of Chrysanthemums had 
behaved in the same way elsewhere, as well as other 
Composites, such as Rudbeckias. The cultural care 
had been quite correct, but while one plant was a 
failure, another in the same pot was normal. Such 
cases are not uncommon, some individuals succumb¬ 
ing to a disease, while others, under the same con¬ 
ditions, may resist it. Mr. Jenkins asks if the form 
represents the original type. It does to some extent, 
being like the double form of the small C. indicum 
cultivated at the beginning of the century, and 
figured in the *' Transactions R H.S. 11 It shows a 
tendency to arrest and reversion The actual cause 
is obscure, but it would seem to be most probably 
climatal. 
