212 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 2, 1899. 
France and inspected those on sale in the 
market at Reims and found that “ they 
were no better, scarcely so good ” as his 
own. Readers may remember that 1888 
was a very cold and wet year in Britain, 
and Mr. Tod puts forward the above facts 
for the benefit of those who never tire in 
depreciating our climate. He thinks that 
if one could foresee the kind of weather we 
are likely to have it would be greatly to the 
advantage of the Vines to make wet seasons 
“Sabbatical years” thereby giving the 
Vines a rest that they would fully repay 
during the following year by the greatly in¬ 
creased crop and better quality. If the 
quality of the fruit and the wine made from 
Grapes off old Vines is superior to that of 
young ones, this is a special reason why the 
health of the Vines should be respected by 
not over-cropping them. He believes also 
that they should not be over fed with rich 
and stimulating manures, as the best wine 
is made from plants growing in poor, chalky, 
gravelly, or slaty schist soils. 
Mr. Tod has also a serious objection to 
the use of chemical applications for the pur¬ 
pose of curing diseases. He mentions a cer¬ 
tain vineyard where repeated washings with 
Bouillie Bordelaise so stimulated the Vine 
that they made unhealthy and precocious 
growths which did not shed their leaves in 
due time, and were, consequently, greatly 
destroyed by frost in November. He believes 
in pruning in October, because there is no 
bleeding then, and the wounds dry up 
before the advent of frost. The past season 
was a good one for Vines in this country, 
and the first Vine to ripen its fruit in Mr. 
Tod’s garden was the variety Brandt, which 
matured about the middle of September. 
Trebbiano and Syrian are not good varieties 
for open air culture here, but he is to graft 
them with Moore’s Early, Chasselas Rose 
and others more suitable for our climate. 
He grows them upon espaliers in the open 
ground, taking two main shoots right and 
left and in close proximity to the ground. 
About four upright rods from these are 
allowed to grow and bear fruit. The Vine 
of the variety Brandt is nine years old and 
9 ft. high. Syrian is 13 years old and 
carried amongst others a bunch weighing 
30 to 40 ounces. Trebbiano is 16 years old 
and carried six bunches of Grapes. Some 
illustrations show the method of training. 
The best open air Grapes he has seen this 
season were grown on a cottage wall at 
Hampton, Middlesex, the variety being 
Chasselas Rose. 
The Paper-white Narcissus is already being largely 
sold by “ hawkers ” in the streets. The trusses are 
sent from France. 
Mr. Win McIntyre, son of Mr. John McIntyre, 
Woodside, Darlington, has been appointed head 
gardener to Shandon Pole Gell, Esq., of Hopton 
Hall, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. 
Dressing Chrysanthemum Blooms—A contempor¬ 
ary speaks of a Chrysanthemum whose flower heads 
sometimes measure 14 in. in diameter. From a 
rough state this is transformed by means of pincers 
and brush till it is transformed into a first-class 
incurved variety. Rare varieties take three hours to 
dress them, though the more common ones are less 
fastidious. Three or four years practice at this work 
makes a man eligible for a big salary. I am always 
learning but I " hae ma doots.'' — Chav. 
Botanic Gardens, Dublin. — Visitors to the above 
gardens noted with pride the blooms of the 
Arachnanthe Lowi. This Orchid has never flowered 
before, although it has been in the possession of 
Mr. Moore for sixteen years. Though a native of 
Borneo, it is not often one hears of it in flower. 
Tfce plant in question carries six racemes, five of 
which are over 6 it. and one not quite so long. The 
flowers are dimorphic, and each raceme carries on 
the average close on thirty-four blooms. In colour 
they have a yellow ground mottled with chocolate. 
Violets are manufactured into a variety of con¬ 
fectionery which moneyed folks at times care to 
indulge in. The lovely flower heads are subjected 
to great pressure and by a varied manufacturing 
process they form a crystalline mass. 
Careful Packing of Apples.—It was recently ex¬ 
pressed by one most competent to say so that if the 
local fruit growers or orchardists in South Wales 
would only take the trouble to gather, grade and 
pack their Apples they could raise prices from the 
present figures of 2s., 3s. and 4s. per cwt. to so 
much as 14s. and 15s. for the same weight. As it is, 
they shake the trees, with the result that every fruit 
is bruised, and in value greatly lessened. 
Imports of Plants and Shrubs—One would have 
thought it enough with the thousand or two of nurseries 
in the United Kingdom, many of them crammed 
with all that is best in the hardy plant, flower roots, 
shrub and tree lines, but yet even with these (hardy) 
subjects foreigners have established a trade and one 
which they are causing to increase. In 1879 the 
value of these imports was returned at £137,000 ; in 
1884, it reached £212,000; in 1890, £308,000; while 
in 1898 it was £436,600. In the aggregate, of 
course, these sums are not great, especially when 
compared with the amounts paid away in importing 
a large variety of other horticultural products or 
subjects. Still, why need we go to thousands of 
pounds to introduce supplies of those things which, 
if anything can be grown in the United Kingdom, 
these can. Our own exports of shrubs and plants do 
not amount to £50,000; this, of course, as distinct 
from seeds. 
A New Wash for Hops and Fruit Trees.—Messrs. 
Dixon, Son & Taylor have invented a wash for Hops 
and fruit trees. They found it exceedingly success¬ 
ful, and some months ago sold some to a neighbour¬ 
ing Hop grower, who states that the results were 
quite successful. They now propose to sell the 
wash to those who may require it. The special 
advantages they claim for it are(1) That it is 
cheaper than any other wash on the market; (2) 
That it is more deadly to insects generally ; and ( 3 ) 
That it in no way damages the tender leaves and 
shoots of Hops, fruit trees, Roses, &c. The 
inventors have named it the “ Dixlor” Wash. Mr. 
J. Mayne, of Bicton, who has tried it says, " I have 
tried the insecticide sent me, as per instructions 
given on the cask, and found that one application on 
Roses under glass, that were badly infested with 
greenfly, quite dislodged the enemy, leaving all 
hors de combat ; and not the least injury was done to 
the tenderest young growths. I have also tried it on 
some Peach wood, where that worst of all aphides, 
black fly, was lurking, with the same satisfactory 
results. I hope to prove its efficiency more in the 
spring when aphides are more numerous. In the 
meantime I consider it a first-class insecticide, and 
very safe in its use. 
Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associ¬ 
ation. —At the bi-monthly meeting of this association 
on the 23rd ult., a lecture on the " Value of Chemic¬ 
al Manures ” was delivered by Mr. F. W. E. 
Shrivell, F.L.S., of the Experimental Grounds, Ton- 
bridge. He stated that the scientific aspect of the 
experiments was conducted by Dr. Bernard Dyer, 
while he himself superintended the practical work. 
The experiments were so unique that the French 
Government have copied them, and gardens have 
been laid out on the same lines in the United States 
of America. The experiments were started on two 
acres of ground, which now extend to eight acres. 
Two acres are devoted to Apple and other fruit trees; 
two acres to Hops, and other areas to small fruits 
and vegetables. They have been trying to use 
chemical manures in preference to the heavy and less 
portable London manure. All the Brassica tribe he 
said could be grown cheaper, earlier and better by 
means of chemical manures. In recording experi¬ 
ments on Damsons, he stated that by the use of 1 
cwt. of nitrate of soda per acre, 450 sieves of fruit 
had been obtained ; 2 cwt.gave 501 sieves ; and in the 
third year of the experiment 4 cwt. of nitrate of soda 
gave 527 sieves. Speaking of Strawberries he found 
that an application of potash in the form of kainit 
had proved harmful to a crop of Royal Sovereign, 
reducing the crop from 1 ton 17J cwt. on unmanured 
ground to 1 ton 13 cwt. where the kainit had been 
applied. 
The Pcet Laureate and the Birds. — The Society 
for the Protection of Birds is issuing a Christmas 
card, bearing some verses by the Poet Laureate, 
which are entitled *• Peace and Good-will to the 
Birds." 
Royal Horticultural Society—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, December 5th, in the Drill 
Hall, James Street, Westminster, 1-4 p.m. A 
lecture on " Some of the Plants Exhibited ” will be 
given by the Rev. Prof. G. Henslow, M.A., at 3 
o’clock. 
The National Flower of Germany is the Cornflower 
(Centaurea Cyanus) ; of Canada, the Sugar Maple 
(Acer saccharinum); of Italy, the White Lily 
(Lilium candidum); Spain, the Pomegranate 
(Punica Granatum); Greece, the Violet (Viola 
odorata); Egypt, the Lotus (Nymphaea Lotus) ; 
France, the Fleur-de-lis (Iris) ; Prussia, the Lime 
(Tilia) ; and of Saxony, the Mignonette (Reseda 
odorata). 
Killarney's Lakes. — The historic and far-famed 
spot admired alike by poet and horticulturist, was 
offered for auction, on Tuesday, November 21st, 
before a crowded audience. The majority were 
composed of fashionable folk on curiosity bent. 
There was a keen buzz of excitement as to who the 
buyer might be, local or foreigner. J. North, Esq., 
was entrusted the task of auctioneer, who held it in 
the Antient Concert Rooms. The sale was practi¬ 
cally a fiasco, as only £50,000 was offered by Dr. 
Moore for somebody unknown. The offer was 
declined, as they required at least as much mere 
before the home of Arbutus Unedo (the Strawberry 
Tree) will change her steward. Ultimately it was 
bought in for the vendor at £51,000. Since then the 
lakes have become the property of Lord Ardilaun, 
Ashford House, Cong, Galway, and sometimes 
spoken of as the Dublin millionaire. His lordship 
seems to appreciate waterscape, for there is much 
water in the neighbourhood of Ashford House. He 
has no intention to restrict the facilities at present 
accorded to visitors to the lakes ; and the present 
tariff is to be placed on a mere equitable basis. 
Government Botanical Gardens and Parks, Nilgiris. 
-— From the report, prepared by R. L. Proudlock, 
Esq., Curator, of the Botanical Gardens and Parks, 
Ootacamund, Nilgiris, we quote a few particulars 
which may be interesting as showing what is being 
done in that part of India. The rainfall for the 
year 1898-99 was 49 in. 63 cents., which was up to the 
average for Ootacamund. There were two droughty 
periods, however, which proved very trying for 
such plants as Primroses, Calceolarias, and Ivy, 
which thrive best in a northern exposure there. All 
youDg trees recently planted also bad a trying time 
of it, and fully half of the labour staff was kept 
watering for a period of three months. Over a 
thousand trees and shrubs were planted in different 
parts of the gardens, and others transplanted, in¬ 
cluding the only Beech tree on the establishment, 
and which was brought into a more prominent 
position. The Australian Daisy (Vittadinia austra¬ 
lis) proves a veritable pest in this part of the 
country. About half an acre of ground was pre¬ 
pared and planted with Chrysanthemums for the 
production of cut flowers during July, August, and 
September. A collection of ninetj-one Roses was 
planted, including a number of the best of Lord 
Penzance's hybrid Sweet Briers. Some Daffodils, 
presented by the Director of the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, gave very satisfactory results. Seeds of 
Sequoia gigantea, obtained from Philadelphia, have 
germinated, and the seedlings doing well. It is ex¬ 
pected they will do well planted on northern ex¬ 
posures at an elevation of 7,000 ft. Various econo¬ 
mic products are also mentioned, which have been 
planted, harvested, or experimented with. In ex¬ 
perimenting with Eucalyptus citriodora and E. 
Globulus it was found that 50 lbs. of fresh leaves of 
the former gave 7 fluid ozs. of oil, whereas a similar 
weight of leaves of E. Globulus gave only 4 fluid 
ozs. of the oil. Improved methods of distilling it 
were also discovered. The curator was allowed to 
see over the West End Laboratory, Ootacamund, in 
March last, and noticed that distillation was being 
carried on by the wasteful old process. He showed 
the proprietor how to prevent the waste. 
