January 6, 1900 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
301 
tion. In one view we are shown their arrangement 
in a tall, unornamented glass vase. Above them 
Papyrus is used, while below them and around the 
vase Asparagus, Polypodium fronds, and brown 
Beech sprays are charmingly interspersed. The 
other decorative design takes the form of a gate-like 
framework.at the bottom right-hand corner of which 
and at the centre on the top of the frame, full bloom 
Lilies with Barberries and Asparagus sprays are 
used. The left top corner is clearly raised, and here 
again there is a crowning of the Lilies, &c. The 
style of arrangement is simply wonderful, and repre¬ 
sents the most perfect of high artistic sense. 
HURST & SON’S CLOVER & GRASS SEED 
CIRCULAR. 
JANUARY 1st, 1900. 
152, HOUNDSDITCH, LONDON, E. 
According to our usual custom at this season, we 
present our report upon the various Clover and Grass 
Seed Crops of the past harvests in all parts. 
From careful enquiries and information received, 
we have come to the conclusion that an appreciable 
shortage in new seed of almost every article will be 
a special feature of the comiDg season, from all Con¬ 
tinental districts we hear this, and as a proof we 
have already been selling a considerable quantity of 
our English Red Clover to the foreign dealers. All 
appearances at this date point to a firm and steady 
trade throughout the season. 
We have special arrangements for buying EDglish- 
grown seeds in the various markets, and as here¬ 
tofore, whatever we sell as English will be absolutely 
genuine. 
We are prepared to supply the leading Natural 
Grasses according to their commercial values, and 
where any of our friends require samples that have 
been subjected to a botanist’s analysis, we shall be 
pleased to forward them. 
Our representatives will call upon our friends as 
usual during the season, and at any time we shall be 
pleased to sample enquirers or give the best informa¬ 
tion in our power. 
English Red Clover and Cowgrass. —It would 
be generally supposed that the brilliant summer we 
experienced last year would have resulted in produc¬ 
ing large crops of Clover seeds, but the want of 
moisture in June no doubt prevented any large yields 
from the maiden plants, and the continuance of the 
drought in the same way affected the second crops on 
the light lands. The only districts that have good 
yielding crops are the colder lands of the Eastern 
Counties and the South-Eastern parts of the 
Midlands; in these districts large quantities have 
already been threshed and sold, much of it going 
abroad. They are fairly large-grained, well ripened 
samples, and we hope to still get a supply from these 
districts. Some of the Western Counties that 
generally produce good crops have but little seed this 
year. It should be borne in mind that a considerable 
quantity of yearling seed is still in the merchants’ 
and farmers’ hands, and is making a better price than 
it closed at in May last. 
Single Cut Cowgrass —Is in fair supply, both 
yearling and new ; we should have enough to meet 
all requirements, without going to extreme prices. 
Foreign Red Clover. —The American and 
Canadian crops are always the principal factors in 
the market, we believe the first to be almost an 
average one, but by far the greater proportion of the 
seed is smaller and weaker than for some years. In 
Canada the new crop is reported shoit. The re¬ 
maining yearling seed, of which there is still some 
quantity on hand, is far better, and commands con¬ 
siderably more money. The States will have to 
supply to a great extent the shortage in Europe, and, 
therefore, we expect the market to gradually harden, 
and should not be surprised to see eventually a very 
substantial rise. The Continent of Europe is un¬ 
doubtedly very short of Dew seed, by the fact of 
Germany and France payiog us good prices for our 
home-grown seeds, thus pointing with some certainty 
to their not being able to export, and from all recent 
accounts we must not expect any new seed from 
Russia this season. 
White Clover.— A smaller crop of English than 
last year, of generally poor quality. America has a 
very short crop. Germany has an average crop of 
the lower grades, but really fine samples are scarce, 
and make ready sales. 
Alsike. —Has advanced very much since the close 
of last season, chiefly owing to the small Canadian 
and American crops. Germany, from the low prices 
prevailing for several years, has much neglected the 
sowing of this article, and the consequent result is a 
strong rise, with every probability of its being main¬ 
tained, and possibly another advance established. 
Trefoil.— For fine new seed the market is very 
short; our Super English samples are making much 
higher prices than last year. There is still a fair 
supply of yearling and two-year-old seed which can 
be bought reasonably, but growths are very low. 
Lucerne. —An average crop in France but a short 
crop in America. 
Sainfoin, Giant and Common. —Fair crops both 
in France and England, but much smaller than the 
unprecedented crops of last year. 
Italian Rye Grass. —The smallest French crop 
for many years, prices have risen from the com¬ 
mencement of the season and we expect will still 
advance. The Irish crop is smaller than usual, and 
prices have advanced in the face of the meagre 
French supply. 
Perennial Rye Grasses. —Following the severe 1 
years of such large acreages and abundant yields we 
find different conditions this season. Whether the 
prices of recent years were not remunerative to the 
growers or the yield this year is much less, the fact 
remains that the marketed seed is a much smaller 
quantity, and consequently higher prices had to be 
paid. We have been most particular with our clean¬ 
ing and can show excellent samples. 
Natural Grasses. —Cooksfoot about an average 
jn New Zealand, and a fair supply from America; 
growths are good. Timothy still in large supply 
and very cheap. Meadow Fescue a small crop of 
new, but a large quantity of old seed of the poorest 
growth is still on the market and buyers should be 
most particular to get growth tests. Meadow Fox¬ 
tail an average crop of good growth. Poa pratensis 
is under an average, and Poa trivialis a short crop. 
Sheep’s and Hard Fescue still cheap and gcod. 
White Mustard.—S hort crops in every district. 
Rape. —The shortest English crop for years. 
Spring Tares. —Under average crop of excellent 
quality. 
Winter Tares. —The large demand of last autumn 
has almost exhausted the stock of these. 
READ THIS. 
A weekly award of 5s. will be made by the pro¬ 
prietors of The Gardening World, to the person 
who sends the most interesting or valuable item of 
news upon passing events likely to interest horticult¬ 
urists at large ; hints containing suggestive facts of 
practical interest to gardeners or growers of plants, 
fruits, or flowers ; successful methods of propagating 
plants usually considered difficult ; or any other 
topic comiDg within the sphere of gardening proper. 
The articles in question should not exceed 250 words, 
and should be marked " Competition." The address 
of the winner only will be published. The Editor’s 
judgment must be considered final. The communi¬ 
cations for each week should be posted not later 
than Monday night. 
Questions add ADsneRS- 
Will our friends who send us newspapers he so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see. 
We shall be greatly obliged by their so doing. 
[ Correspondents, please note that we cannot undertake to 
name florists' flowers such as Carnations, Pelargoniumt. 
Chrysanthemums, Roses, nor such as are mere garden 
varieties, differing only in the colour of the flower. 
Florists' flowers, as a rule, can only be named by those who 
grow collections of them.'] 
PandanuB Veitchi Going Off. — Botan : The speci¬ 
men you sent must have been in a bad way for a long 
time past; and the decay must have begun at the 
roots and worked upwards until the whole rootstcck 
was thoroughly rotten, judging from appearances. 
The leaves have also rotted at the base simply 
because there was nothing to support them. 
Evidently the drainage of the pot must have been 
bad for sometime past, or else the plant was over¬ 
watered in the low temperature at which you kept 
it. The species of Pandanus require a stove temper¬ 
ature, which should range from 50° to 6o° at the 
lowest during the night in winter, and certainly not 
belc-w the former figure. It is poisible to keep it alive 
and healthy at a low temperature in winter, provided 
the plant is in good condition to commence wiih, both 
root and top, and if kept sufficiently dry so that there 
is no condensation of moisture in the crown of the 
plant during the night. The house should be kept 
fairly dry in winter and the night temperature not 
allowed to sink below 50° 
Concerning the Mistleto. — John Peebles: Large 
quantities of Mistleto, we are told, are sent from the 
orchards in the West of England, more particularly 
from Hereford and Gloucester, to the London mar¬ 
kets. The French also send over Mistleto from the or- 
chardsof Normandy. The statement that it isa Dative 
of Britain is quite right,as it is found growing wild on 
various trees in many of the southern counties, at 
least. As far as we know or ascertain it grew in this 
country previous to historical times. It is not con¬ 
fined to Britain, however, but is also native to 
various countries of Continental Europe, where it is 
yet mere or less plentiful. This will answer the 
question as to where it was first found, as it no 
doubt grew in various parts of Europe (including 
Britain) and temperate Asia before there were people 
to find it. The berries are not properly matured 
before the end of February or the beginning of 
March, so that we fear the berries you get in the 
florists’ shops at Christmas might not germinate, 
unless you can keep the shoots fresh in water for 
some weeks to ccme, so as to give the berries a 
chance of ripening the seed properly. Do not put 
the berries in crevices of the bark, nor cut notches 
in the same to receive them, as that would be un¬ 
natural. Get some ripe berries and rub them on to 
the smooth bark of Apple, Thorn, Poplar, Lime, or 
possibly other trees as you may think fit. The vis¬ 
cid matter of the berries will make them stick. Tie 
a piece of matting or rag over the berries to keep 
away insects and birds till germination takes, which 
will soon take place in spiing. No leaves, however, 
will appear till the third year, so that you must 
exercise patience, and then tell us of your success. 
Shrub frpm Exmouth. — J. C. S. : The specimen 
you sent was Atriplex Halimus, the Halimus Orache 
or Tree Purslane. It is a native of Spain, Portugal, 
Virginia, and Siberia, but not of Britain. It grows 
best when planted by the seaside, and for that reason 
is planted on the southern and western coasts of 
England, and may also ba seen on sandy portions of 
the coast of Jersey. Most of the tribe delight on 
the sea coast,which they frequent in a wild state. We 
have seen good bushes in the neighbourhood of 
London, but they are liable to die away. This 
species seldom flowers in England, and we do not 
remember seeing fruit. Evidently it could not long 
maintain itself except under the most favourable 
conditions. 
Soil for the Walnut — A. G. B.\ The tree will 
grow in a great variety of soils, but they must be 
dry rather than moist. Heavy wet clay is very 
detrimental to their welfare and longevity. A rather 
dry, deep, and well drained loam enables the 
Walnut to reach the largest size of which it is 
capable, and live the longest, so that you should bear 
this in mind when selecting spots to sow or plant 
Walnut trees. Calcareous or chalky soils are also 
highly suitable to their welfare, and the nuts pro¬ 
duced in such places are of the best quantity. The 
tree also succeeds by making healthy growth and 
fruiting on rocky soils, but you should sow the nuts 
in March, or rather plant them theD, in the perma¬ 
nent positions selected for the trees, so that the tap 
roots may strike downwards in search of the food 
and moisture the surface does not contain. 
Names of Plants.— Botan\ Phyllanthus nivosus. 
— A. T.: 1, Luculia gratissima; 2, Primula flori- 
bunda; 3, Pteris Wimsettii; 4, Pteris hastata mac- 
rophylla; 5, Adiantum hispidulum.— W. J.: i, 
Heliotropium peruvianum ; 2, Mesembryanthemum 
edule ; 3, Gasteria verrucosa ; 4, Aloe mitraeformis. 
— A. West: r, Oncidium varicosum; 2, Masdevallia 
Chimaera; 3, Maranta bicolor. 
Communications Received —Sutton & Sons.— 
J. H. Williams.—J. Mayne.—M. Campbell — 
Bernhard Thalacker.—R. M.—T. B.—A, J.—H. 
Jameson.—G. T. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Toogood & Sons, the Royal Seedsmen, Southamp¬ 
ton.—Toogood’s Royal Garden Seeds. 
J. Cheal & Sons, Lowfield Nurseries, Crawley, 
Sussex—Seed List. 
Kelway & Son, Seed Growers, LaDgport, Somer¬ 
set, England.— Wholesale Catalogue of Seeds. 
Dicksons & Co., 1. Waterloo Place, Edinburgh. 
—Dicksons' Garden Seed. 
Little & Ballantyne, The Queen’s Seedsmen, 
Carlisle.—Garden Seeds. 
W. Wells & Co., Ltd , Earlswood Nurseries, 
Earlswood, Redhiil, Surrey.—Special L st or Supple¬ 
ment to Descriptive Catalogue of Chrysanthemums 
for 1899-1900. 
Wm. Cutbush & Son Higbgate Nurseries, Lon¬ 
don.—Descriptive Spring Catalogue of Flower, 
Vegetable, Farm Seeds, &c. 
John Downie, 144, Princes Street, Edinburgh 
(Nurseries, Beechhill, Murray field ) — Seed List. 
