January 6, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
293 
Potash is stated to give colour, flavour, and firm¬ 
ness to all fruits. 
Ludwig Moller, of Erfurt, Germany, sends us a 
very well got up calendar for igoo. The pictorial, 
or brightening element, is lent by a fringe of beauti¬ 
fully depicted Fuchsia sprays, bearing their pendent 
blooms, whose curving lines curl around the square 
centre-piece of the date-recorder. The calendar is a 
worthy representation of German lithographic art. 
Ipswich and East of England Horticultural Society. 
—The annual general meeting of the above was held 
in the Town Hall, Ipswich, on Thursday, December 
28th, 1899. Mr. Albert Ranson presided and among 
those present were Messrs. R. C. Notcutt, G. 
Gilbert, T. E. Mayhew, A. E. Stubbs, J. Talbot, E. 
C. Sayer, W. Messenger, H. Kerridge, Lewis Cann, 
A. Bennett, P. Cornell, W. E. Harrison, A. SowmaD, 
J. Buttram, W. E. Close, R. Ennals, S. R. Row- 
botham, &c., with the secretary, Mr. H. E. Archer. 
The committee presented tbeir report which gave a 
good record for the last season’s work. They ex¬ 
pressed the wish at the same time, that more of the 
eminent horticulturists around the countryside of 
Ipswich could be led to send the garden stock to the 
society’s exhibitions. If they did, both the society 
and the visitors to its shows would derive a benefit. 
It is to be hoped that the appeal may be responded 
to. The society had also become affiliated with the 
National Chrysanthemum Society, for the sake of 
being abie to enter in certain stipulated classes of 
this latter society's show schedules. They voted 
their thanks to the donors of special prizes ; to Capt. 
E. G. Pretyman, M.P., their president; to the Great 
Eastern Railway Company and to the Press. The 
statement of accounts showed a balance at the bank 
of £44 15s. 2d. Motions and voting on amended 
rules or original propositions, &c., were other 
items on the programme. New officers were also 
elected. 
Reading and District Gardeners.—The annual 
general meeting of the Reading and District Gar¬ 
deners' Mutual Improvement Association was held 
at the Abbey Cafe, on Monday, the rst inst., and 
was well attended, the president, C. B. Stevens, 
Esq., occupying the chair. Before the usual busi¬ 
ness was commenced the president announced the 
judges' awards in connection with the Essays 
arranged during 1899. They were as follows• 
"The planting of a garden with hardy fruit trees 
and bushes " (open to all) : 1st (30s ), Mr. G. Hinton, 
The Gardens, Walmer, Reading; 2nd (20s), Mr. E- 
Trollope, The Gardens, Coombe Lodge, Whit¬ 
church; 3rd (ros.), Mr. C. P. Cretchley, The Gar¬ 
dens, The Honeys, Twyford. “ Plants suitable for 
lable or room decoration and their culture ” (open 
to assistant gardeners onlj): 1st, Mr. J. Botley, 
The Gardens, Blythewcod, Maidenhead ; 2nd (20s.), 
Mr. C. Townsend, Whiteknights Gardens, Reading ; 
3rd, Mr. T. Pembroke, Greenlands Gardens, Read¬ 
ing. The adjudicators were Mr. T. Turton, Sher¬ 
borne Castle, and Mr. }. Hudson, Gunnersbury 
House. The annual report and balance sheet was 
read by the secretary, and was of a very encouraging 
character, showing that the association was in a 
very prosperous condition. The election of officers 
for the ensuiDg year was then proceeded with, and 
resulted as follows :—President, C. B. Stevens, Esq. 
(fo irth year) ; Chairman, Mr. E. Fry, The Gardens, 
Greenlands ; Vice-Chairman, Mr. G. Hinton ; 
Librarian, Mr. E. J. Dore ; Asst. Librar'an, Mr. F. W. 
Exler; Treasurer, Mr. F. Macdonald; Auditors, 
Messrs. A. Smith and W. Badcock; Committee, 
Messrs. F. Bright, A. W. Blake, R. Chamberlain, C. 
P. Cretchley, D. Dore, H. Farey, W. Goddard, F. 
Lever, T. Neve. E. S. Pigg, G. Stanton, G. Smith, 
W. Smith, W. Townsend, H. Wilson, and J. Wool- 
ford ; whilst Mr. H. G. Cox, Fernlea, Junction 
Road, Reading, was unanimously elected Hon. 
Secretary. A feature of the meeting was a magnifi¬ 
cent display of Primulas, Mr. Townsend, The Gar¬ 
dens, Sandhurst Lodge, showing some splendidly 
flowered P. obconica (rose); and Mr. F. Lever, The 
Gardens, Hillside, some well-grown P sinensis in 
small pots, as well as some good plants of Lachena- 
lia pendula. Mr. Wilson, The Gardens, Redlands, 
exhibited some well-coloured specimens of Newton 
Apples. The best thanks of the members present 
having been given to the exhibitors and to the past 
officers, the first meeting of 1900 was brought to a 
close. 
Information for Emigrants. — The state and pros- 
pests of emigration as at present existing is pub¬ 
lished in an issue for January 1st, 1900, by the 
Emigrants’ Information Office. It is too early in 
the season for the ordinary emigrant to go to Canada, 
unless he has friends to go to or money to help him 
until spring. In New South Wales there is practi¬ 
cally no demand for ordinary farm or station hands, 
&c., unless they are specially competent, and have a 
little money when they arrive. In Victoria there is 
not much general demand for labour. There has 
been a considerable amount of settlement on the land 
recently, and drainage has made special progress. 
In South Australia there has been a demand for farm 
hands and for married couples without children for 
farm and station work. In Queensland farm 
labourers, &c., are also in demand, and, of course, 
there is the usual demand for female servants. Free 
and assisted passages are now being granted to farm 
labourers and female servants from seventeen to 
thirty-five years of age, who hav'e never been other¬ 
wise engaged. The same demand prevails in Western 
Australia. In Tasmania the timber trade has been 
busy, and men and the sawmills have been fully 
employed, but the supply of farm hands is 
sufficient. Shearers have no difficulty in finding 
employment during the present busy season. Per¬ 
sons are warned against going at present to South 
Africa. Full particulars can be obtained from the 
E. I. Office, 31, Broadway, Westminster, S.W. 
Many public libraries and institutions are also able 
to supply circulars. 
--- 
FORCING ASPARAGUS BEDS AT 
SYON. 
I am sure the writer of the note on p. 249 quite un¬ 
intentionally gave the system or method of forcing 
adopted here as my own ideas. I have never claimed 
it in any way ; indeed, in any advice given or notes 
written, I have stated our beds to have been in bear¬ 
ing for twenty years. The matter is readily ex¬ 
plained. The writer oLthe note in question saw the 
trenches being filled, and it was at once asked was 
" that your system of forcing,” and the answer was 
“ yes ”—I meant ours — and it was commented upon, 
but in names mentioned ; and I regret the mistake 
made as the writer made no note at the time. I 
believe Asparagus has been found at Syon in per¬ 
manent beds for at least fifty years, so there is no 
need to appeal to Mr. Barron as suggested by D. on 
p. 261. Of course, during that time there have been 
new beds, and in different positions, as we have 
during the past few years increased the Kitchen 
Garden area by at least three to four acres; and 
where the original beds stood there are heated 
frames. But let me add the method adopted by my 
excellent predecessor is now altered. Wooden 
sliding shutters were used, and frames, which is net 
the case now ; but that is merely a matter of detail, 
as Mr. Woodbridge's system, and doubtless, others 
before him, was centred pn the permanent bed 
system, which we still adopt. I find in writing a 
note on this system as long ago as March 15th, 
1890 (in The Garden), I begin with these words : 
A though an old system it ought to be practical, 
where a large quantity of this favourite vegetable 
is required. This shows I had not the slightest 
idea of claiming it as my own plan; and through 
illness I had not seen the note referred to, and 
trust the Editor will accept this explanation.— 
G. Wythes, Syon. 
-»S«- 
CORONILLA GLAUCA. 
The above is a greenhouse plant of no mean order 
for flowering during early autumn and the dull 
months of winter, though rarely met with at the 
present day, yet its pale yellow pea shaped flowers 
are conspicuous wherever stood among a collection 
of greenhouse plan's. And as yellow flowers at this 
time of year are not over plentiful I would urge its 
extended culture, especially to gardeners who are ex¬ 
pected to keep up a good show of flowers in¬ 
dependently of cut bloom, as this plant does not lend 
itself for this purpose so well as many other things, 
but is most useful for conservatory work blendiog 
well with Marguerites, Solanum, Capsicastrum, 
Libonias, Eupatoriums, &c. It is half hardy with us, 
standing out against an east wall for two years ; but 
the severe frost of 1894 proved too mnch for it, so 
we have not put any out since. As far as my ex¬ 
perience goes, I cannot say that they are the easiest 
of plants to propagate in the usual way of placing 
the cuttings in pots and keeping close. Having tried 
them in slight bottom heat, also under a bell-glass, 
and placed in the greenhouse, with me the majority 
have failed to emit roots under this treatment. The 
little shoots turn a sickly yellow and eventually 
wither. By far the greatest success has been with 
cuttings dibbled in on a border of the Camellia 
house, where ninety per cent, rooted and grew away 
satisfactorily after being potted up. Thanks here are 
due to one of the journeymen who happened to put 
in half-a-dozen as a trial, when, to my surprise, every 
one rooted ; and orders were given to put in a good 
batch, with the same excellent result. In passing, I 
may mention we have been successful with Genistas 
in the same way, another plant a bit slow at times to 
emit roots when put in as cuttings. Coromllas 
should not be pinched too much, at least, such is not 
our practice, preferring to see them as half standards 
from 3 ft. to 5 ft. in height. Plants can be kept 
several years, but care is required in the short days 
that no more water is given them than is really 
necessary, as they are very impatient of being kept 
sodden. In the spring, after flowering is done, they 
should be cut shapely in, and, a few weeks after, have 
the ball of soil slightly reduced and placed back in 
the same size pot, or a bit larger as the plant may 
require, using loam, leafsoil, a little peat, and the 
usual dash of sand. After getting established, place 
them outdoors in May, paying attention to watering, 
staking, &c., until they are again housed, which 
should be early in October. Seven-inch pots are 
large enough for fair specimens.— J. Mayne. 
NOTES FROM SHERBORNE CASTLE. 
This garden has had a name from a gardening 
point of view for many years. Mr. Pragnell’s 
death caused a change, and, his successor being an 
experienced fruit grower, is well able to sustain the 
reputation, and most probably lift it to a higher 
level. 
Being a west of England operator, and having 
known Mr. Turton for many years, I paid him a 
visit early in December, and found him busy 
amongst the fruit trees, superintending the planting 
of some young bush Apples. 
Evidently he is persuaded what is worth doing 
is worth doing well, as he had made great provision 
for a good root run ; and this is the way to start 
young trees, if you want them to give a good 
report of themselves in later life. 
Another thing I observed, Mr. T. does not believe 
in planting poor trees because they are cheap. No; 
such trees are cheap, cost what they may, when in 
prime condition. A good well rooted and prepared 
tree is by far the cheapest in the long run. 
When I saw my old friend, he then left his inter¬ 
esting work and went with me, and we took a survey 
of the gardens, omitting the pleasure grounds, as 
night was drawing on. It was plain enough that 
lifting, root pruning, transplanting, and destroying 
old trees, replacing them with new, were the order 
of the day in this garden. Added to this, I observed 
that the house of Mrs PinceVines had been destroyed, 
as they did not answer as they did in former years. 
I remember when this house was planted first, 
which must be over thirty years ago. They are to 
be re-planted by the same kind, as this variety did 
grand here for many years. I have seen some grand 
crops from these Vines, and where the variety dees 
as here, it is a most desirable kind to grow. 
In one of the vineries was a fine lot of late 
Chrysanthemums. Princess Victoria is thought 
highly of, and I thought it a long way before L. 
Canning. W. H. Lincoln was in good form and 
very dwarf. 
In a light warm house was a good batch of 
Primulas, and a good strain from the Reading firm, 
with a good batch of Pelargoniums in full bloom. 
What attracted my attention was a large quantity 
of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, in sma 1 pots, 2 ft. to 
3 ft. across, and which surpassed any I have seen 
even at the Drill Hall, and this is saying a good deal. 
These mixed with Eucharis in bloom and Ferns 
made a fine show. 
In the fruit room were some good Muscats from 
Vines of which Mr. T. lifted pirt of the roots quite 
late in the spring. The colour was grand, no shank¬ 
ing, and good in berry. This shows this kind needs 
fresh sweet food to do its best,and keeping the roots 
near the top. 
