218 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 2, 1899- 
ficifolia, that had been crossed with the pollen of 
colour varieties of the Hollyhock (A. rosea). The 
plants used as parents were all two years old. The 
seedlings all bore yellow flowers, but were unusually 
dwarf. Another batch gave quite different results. 
Six month old plants of A. rosea were crossed with 
the pollen of two-year-old plants of A. ficifolia; 
and the seedlings gave various new colours when 
they came into bloom. The plants were tall and 
vigorous, and clothed with foliage of the A. ficifolia 
type. The pollen of the two year old plants was 
thus very potential when applied to seedlings 
flowering after six months of growth. Something 
important may result if the experiments are con¬ 
tinued. 
THE WINTER TREATMENT OF THE 
VINE. 
Though there is not the exactitude required in the 
culture of Vines during the period of “slumber,” 
that they demand during growth, still it is during 
this time that the basis for successful culture 
in the coming season has to be established. Probably 
there may have been some slight signs of red spider 
toward the close of the finishing-olf period of the 
Grapes. Or during the year the appearance of the 
Vines may not have been satisfactory. Just as we 
seem to build up strength and re-assert ourselves in 
health during a long, quiet sleep, so it is the aim of 
the gardener to rectify wrongs and make the chances 
for success and health as sure and perfect as he 
knows how. 
The cleaning or scraping of Vine rods is a dis¬ 
puted practice, but the majority favour it. If, after 
having reasoned the pros and cons of the whole 
thing, and also after having experimented and 
observed the results, the gardener finds the practice 
wrong, by all means let him accept such results as 
teaching, and as guidance. On the other hand, if 
he finds that no real loss is incurred or no injury 
done —careful work considered—and also if he finds 
that less syringing is necessary, which ordinarily is 
heavy enough, then let him scrape and clean his 
Vines in the so-called “drastic” and "unnatural" 
manner which is so often pursued by good growers, A 
prepared label or “ tally,” or a piece of slate is more 
frequently preferred than knives. Be as careful as 
one may, it is a matter for surprise if when using 
knives one does not penetrate just a shade too 
deeply here and there. The rods should first of all 
be rubbed by the hands. This loosens the outer¬ 
most layers of bark. When as much as possible 
has been taken off in this way, some of the knotty 
parts, or the ribbed lines along the stems, may be 
more thoroughly cleaned by trimming them with the 
knife. The “ eyes ” of the Vines are the parts more 
particularly in need of special attention. The rods 
should be cleaned from the base to the extremity. 
Mats should be laid over the pipes and the border, 
so as to catch all the debris and insects infesting 
them. These mats should be carefully gathered up 
and their contents effectually disposed of. After 
this the rods may be thoroughly washed with warm 
Gishurst Compound, or whatever else the grower 
has found an efficacious remedy. 
Beyond this, again, a large number of highly suc¬ 
cessful growers paint the Vines with a thick, lathery 
mixture, consisting of soot, sappy cow dung, sulphur, 
a little lime, and water. By stopping up all the open 
and more or less unfathomable spaces and crevices, 
into which the bugs and spiders hie by the dozen, 
these are generally effectually disposed of. While on 
the subject of eradication of vermin, the hint might 
be dropped, and one which could be accepted with 
advantage by not a few, is to watch with a lynx’s 
eye and the assiduity of a domestic for the appear¬ 
ance of mealy bug in spring, or whenever the buds 
are breaking. After the most penetrating and pains¬ 
taking operations during the resting period it is 
quite marvelicus where mealy bug or ought else 
could come from. But come it does, both on Vines, 
Peaches, and Figs, and to suppress the first dozen or 
two may mean almost the entire extinction of the 
breed. Methylated spirit and a soft camel-hair 
brush is all that one need use, one drop of the spirit 
dabbed upon the bug being quite enough for its 
destruction. 
Then, coming to the borders after the scraping, 
these themselves should be properly scraped over 
the surface. The walls and wood-work should then 
be scrubbed and syringed with scalding hot, soapy 
water, finishing off with a deluge of cold water. 
When everything is somewhat dried the borders 
may be lightly pointed over and then top-dressed 
with fresh loam and lime. This should be firmed, 
and the whole work of having prepared for a fresh 
start may be said to be completed. It may be that 
the borders require to be renewed or altered, but 
this must form a subject for consideration hereafter. 
— Vitis. 
-HE*- 
“THE ROYAL AQUARIUM.” 
Horticulturists may be expected to know the 
above name quite as well as any other section of the 
public; but, though thousands have been within the 
building, other thousands who read the reports of the 
various flower shows held by the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum and Dahlia Societies might like to know 
something of its history. 
The building is one which the London citizens read 
of as affording “ twelve hours’ continuous amuse¬ 
ment ’’ within its precincts. The river Thames flows 
past,almost within a stone’s throw, on the south side. 
The ancient and historic Westminster Abbey casts 
its shadows over it and the great arteries from the 
widely known Charing Cross toward the south¬ 
western districts of the great city, pass around the 
sides of the Royal Aquarium. The building belongs 
to a society whose real and full title is Royal 
Aquarium and Summer and Winter Garden Society, 
Limited. This society is under the patronage of 
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of 
Edinburgh (now Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg), 
and was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on the 
22nd of January, 1876,or twenty-four years ago, come 
next January. 
The title was given because it was built as the 
largest Aquarium in the worid—the whole property 
covers nearly three acres—and though at flower 
shows the central floor area is seen like any other 
ordinary floor; yet the entire limits beneath the floor 
is divided off into huge tanks for the storage of 
water, a fact which explains the delightful coolness 
of the building in summer. 
The Royal Aquarium has been the rendezvous 
for horticulturists in many a floral exhibition, 
flower shows having indeed been held here ever 
since its completion. The first of these was held in 
the monthofMay or June, 1876, and was opened by 
the Duke of Edinburgh. The National Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Society has held its shows here continuously 
for over twenty years. 
Other events of interest in which the Aquarium 
has had connection are those of 1882, when the 
Guards were entertained here after the Egyptian 
War, the Dukes of Connaught and Cambridge being 
present, and speaking before a company of 2,500, 
At the inaugural banquet of the National Liberal 
Club held in 1883 a company of from 2,000 to 3,000 
dined, among the speakers present being two great 
statesmen now numbered with the great majority— 
William Ewart Gladstone and Lord Granville. 
To make a mere mention of other " wonders," 
“ sights,” &c., which the Aquarium authorities, with 
Mr. Josiah Ritchie the managing director and 
Mr. J. W. Wilkinson as their able secretary, 
from time to time introduce, those of two large, 
live whales were, perhaps, the most unique and 
interesting. A special tank had to be built for the 
first one which was exhibited. Of course there is 
a great variety of performances and entertaining 
items of extraordinary character always to be seen. 
Quite a host of flags, banners and buntings, float 
in quietude from the roof, probably many of them 
having a tale to tell, a history attached. Two large 
fountains are reared one at either end of the central 
area, and a great organ, whose volume of music 
swells through the whole place, has been erected at 
the west end. A large stage, with a reserved area in 
front, opens from the middle of the north wall. 
Broad galleties run all the way round the Aquarium, 
St. Stephen’s and other halls, opening off from them.* 
So now I have in a meagre way attempted to give 
readers at a distance from the great city, a glimpse 
within a building in which thousands take interest.— 
J- D - 
Fungi now include Lichens, which by the older 
botanists used to be put up as a distinct group. 
* The central area ol the floor at either end, the galleries, 
and St. Stephen’s Hall, are available for the accommodation 
otthe large shows, 
NOTICE OF BOOK. 
Calendar of Flowering Trees and Shrubs. 
By Henry Hoare. With illustrations by Miss 
Gertrude Hamilton, London. Printed and 
Published by Richard Flint & Co., 48 and 49, 
Fleet Street, E.C. Price 7s. 6d. 
In this we have a book of some 116 pages, exclusive 
of the index, and the calendar proper, whioh runs to 
twenty-nine pages. The calendar consists of lists of 
trees and shrubs which flower during each of the 
twelve months of the year. Six shrubs are mentioned 
as flowering in January, and more are added to each 
succeeding month till May, in which the largest 
number are in bloom of any time of the year. A 
little under a hundred are tabulated, but that 
number might easily be doubled. The names of the 
trees and shrubs are followed by the English name, 
when there is one, then by the colour, the nature of 
the plant, and the duration of flowering. Of course, 
many of them continue to flower during more than 
one month, and are therefore recorded in succeeding 
months. 
The after part of the book is devoted to a general 
description of the trees and shrubs enumerated, the 
arrangement in this case being alphabetical. These 
descriptions are varied in character, though never 
lengthy; and occasionally include a bit of ancient 
history, with quotations from the poets in some 
instances. References are made to the method by 
which they are usually propagated,such as by seeds, 
cuttings, layers, &c., and the soil in which they 
thrive best. An amusing slip of the pen is surely 
responsible for the statement that the white flowers 
of the Rowan, appear “ in May and June, but not in 
such profusion as the autumnal berries.” 
At the end of the book are lists of shrubs that 
thrive in towns, at the sea-side, under the drip of 
trees, shrubs suitable for making hedges, those that 
will grow in any soil, in sand, clay, peat, chalk, and 
against walls. Some coloured illustrations are 
scattered through the book which is printed on thick 
paper, with broad margins. The season of flowering 
which has been adopted for the different shrubs, it 
may be mentioned, is the latitude of London. On the 
whole, if the book is to be taken as an indication that 
increased attention is being given to the cultivation 
of shrubs, that will be a gain to gardens and garden¬ 
ing in general. 
-ego——— 
ROYAL NURSERIES, BELMONT. 
BELFAST. 
The city of Belfast is known to the world as the 
place where the " Queen of Ships ” was built, and to 
add another honour to “ Ould ” Ireland it also claims 
the nursery where the “ Queen of Flowers " is seen 
at her best, namely, the nursery of Mr. Hugh 
Dickson. It is an easy matter to reach Belmont, as 
tramcars pass the nursery gate every few minutes, 
to and from the centre of the city ; or if you prefer 
the light and airy “jaunting car ” just hold up your 
hand. A dozen or so of the “ Knights of the Whip ’’ 
will appear as if by magic, and in their own inimi¬ 
table way offer their services to “ yer honour,” assur¬ 
ing you at the same time that their regular fare is 
“ wan and three,” but as you look a " dacent gintle- 
man " we'll take you for " fifteen pince ’’ wid a dhrop 
av somethin' wet.” 
Being a Scot and wishing to keep up the national 
reputation, I spent “ tippence " on a “ caur’’ and 
arrived at the nursery, where I found the Messrs, 1 
Dickson, juniors, engaged in the packing shed seeing 
to the despatch of numerous orders. On taking a 
look round the different packages I noticed that 
" Sandy bangs a guid many saxpences to his brither 
Pat,” and judging by appearance he gets good value 
for his money. Mr. Dickson conducted me up the 
avenue to his house, both sides of which are planted 
with specimen Coniferae of the finest varieties known; 
and although planted with an eye to effect there was 
none of that "crowding” so often seen in large 
nurseries. At the end of this avenue we come to the 
Rose grounds; and seldom have I seen Roses in 
such robust health. The stock which has been 
budded this past season gives great promise of better 
things to come. 
Passing from the Rose grounds we come to the fruit 
tree department, and one has only to look at the 
trees to see that a master hand has the cultivation of 
them. Adjoining the fruit trees was a very fine 
batch of Prunus Pissardii, the fine dark purple leaves 
