February 3, 1900 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
365 
of female flowers open, they must be gone over each 
day and fertilised, all overhead syringing being sus¬ 
pended. When it is seen that three or four fruits are 
swelling together, all others must be removed, taking 
care to distribute the crop over the plant, remember¬ 
ing that a fruit near the top wire will give one at the 
base a week's start in the matter of swelling. Keep 
all shoots and fruits below the wires. Another top¬ 
dressing of rich stuff should now be given and 
syringing re-commenced, and continued until the 
fruits are netted. In the case of varieties prone to 
splitting, it may be advisable to discontinue it as soon 
as netting commences, leaving a crack of air on the 
top ventilator at night as well. 
Watering must be done with judgment. Do not 
keep the soil constantly wet, but allow it to reach 
the dry side—not so much as to cause the plants to 
flag—then soak it thoroughly, taking care to keep 
that around the stem, dry. Manure water, particul¬ 
arly deer or sheep, is very beneficial. Nitrate of 
soda is helpful, too, but needs careful usage. By the 
time the fruits attain their greatest size, waterings 
should be rather more frequent and less in quantity 
or splitting may ensue. The fruits may be supported 
with pieces of fish net, but those sold in various 
sizes for the purpose are infinitely preferable. 
When colouring commences, just sufficient water 
must be given to keep the foliage fresh, at the same 
time admitting more air. Do not shade at any 
period of growth, except immediately after planting, 
if it is possible to do without it. 
The fruits must be cut and removed to a cool 
place directly the odour emitted and the cracking 
round the stem say they are ripe. 
The period during which the flavour of a Melon is at 
its best is short. It deteriorates very rapidly, too, after 
the fruit is once cut, making it advisable to use them 
soon after cutting, and only growing moderate sized 
varieties for general use. 
For early crops there are no varieties much better 
than Hero of Locking and Blenheim Orange, white 
and red flesh respectively. 
Earl's Favourite is a grand flavoured green flesh 
Melon, but is rather difficult to finish, and is longer 
about than some care for. Eureka and Frogmore 
Scarlet are both good scarlet-fleshed Melons, while 
if size and good quality are wanted Windsor Castle 
and Royal Jubilee may be grown — Practical. 
-•*—- 
THE NEGLECT OF FLOWERING 
SHRUBS. 
Under the above heading Mr. Geo. Bunyard, 
V.M.H., of Maidstone, lectured before the Fellows of 
the R.H.S., at the Drill Hall meeting of January 
23rd. The outstanding points of the lecture were 
Mr. Bunyard’s condemnation upon the too frequent 
exhibition of ignorant and unseemly pruning ; the 
lack of knowledge which garden lovers or owners 
displayed when approached on the question of 
shrubs for their gardens; and then the cheapness of 
this ornamental section of vegetation, and the few 
limitations existing against the selecting of almost 
all members of the class, were points which gave 
matter for discussion. The proper methods of ho v 
to prune, and what to prune, received attention, the 
remarks fully corroborating what has lately been 
advocated so fully in The Gardening World. A 
word of advice was offered to buyers. Very often 
the customers, especially lady and gentlemen 
customers, visited the nursery at a time when shrubs 
were very unattractive, during their resting season, 
with nothing to show save their bare stems. Did 
they but visit the same collections when these were 
in their hey-day of loveliness, the selections would 
most certainly be more liberal and suitable. 
The bulk of our commonly planted shrubs could 
be obtained at the rate of 6d. a plant, while newer 
and rarer specimens might be had for thirty pence 
a-piece. Cheapness, Mr. Bunyard thought, was in 
some cases, even a deterrent, it being a source of 
satisfaction with certain folks to boast of the high 
prices given for the articles they own. Mr. Bunyard 
alluded in complimentary terms to the good work 
done by such frequent exhibitors of hardy flowering 
shrubs as Messrs. Veitch, Russell, Cheal, Paul, 
Waterer, Barr, Laing, &c. 
The special characters of shrubs, or the classifica¬ 
tion of them, for particular situations, was un¬ 
fortunately not seriously attempted. True, special 
reference to the Gorse for steep dry banks, to the 
Forsythias for nicely sheltered yet open positions 
were noted, but save this, very little more. The 
more extended use of ornamental Crabs, the large 
number of flowering Cherries, the Rose Acacia, the 
Snowy Mespilus (not half often enough seen), the 
Dogwood’s, Cornuses, Leycesteria formosa, Maples, 
Spiraeas, the Liquidambar, Tilia trifolia, Pavia 
macrostachya, and the host of berried plants, the 
Rhus Cotinus, then the Azaleas for autumn tint of 
foliage, besides species and genera more frequently 
met with, each received special mention. Sufficient 
use was not made, said the lecturer, of the object 
lessons provided in our foremost botanic gardens, 
and in many public and private ones. The lecture 
was much appreciated, and the paper will furnish 
a valuable contribution to the R. H. Society’s 
Journal. It, with Mr. Harry J. Veitch’s paper on 
“ Shrubs for Foliar Effect,” span a great division in 
aesthetic outdoor gardening. 
ARDEN1NG JiSCELLANY, 
HARPAL1UM RIGIDUM. 
Members of the Sunflower tribe are quite common 
enough in our gardens; too common in some. But 
in Harpalium rigidum we have a tall growing and 
most graceful flowering plant. It may be increased 
by division, and so rapidly does it extend its limits 
when soil and situation are suitable that in the her¬ 
baceous border it becomes necessary to retrench its 
dimensions yearly. It furnishes a capital plant for 
naturalising in copses or in the more sparsely planted 
shrubberies. It grows from 2 ft. to 5 ft. in height, 
according to variety, bears large yellow flowers, is 
well clothed with foliage, and likes a deep soil. 
FENNEL AS A DECORATIVE PLANT. 
The soft sprays of Fennel,like the fluffy feathers of an 
ostrich’s back, are very full of beauty. The fact of 
their being dark, deep green too,is another attraction. 
Seen by a pond side in the early days of summer, I 
think nothing is more in keeping with the circum¬ 
stance and surroundings than are plants of the 
Giant Fennel. Then later on in June, when the 
candelabriform umbels of yellow flowers have de¬ 
veloped, how altogether prepossessing is the dignity 
of Ferula communis. It is very readily raised from 
seeds.— H. 
CYTISUS NIGRICANS. 
In C. nigricans we have a shrub perfectly hardy in 
this country, yet one which from not being known is 
simply allowed to be neglected and to hang in the 
background. It blooms in June, the racemes being 
yellow, the individual flowers being blotched with 
purple spots. The leaves are tri-foliate, each leaflet 
being ovate and of a beautiful deep green. It 
grows 5 or 6 ft. high, having twiggy branches. Two 
flowering stems of the above are shown on a coloured 
plate of the Revue de L'Horticulture Beige for January. 
AN ORNAMENTAL BEECH. 
Fagus Sylvatica, the common Beech tree of our 
woods and parks, is certainly inspiringly handsome 
when seen in a good condition. We cannot call it a 
suitable subject for the pleasure grounds, however. 
But in the fern-leaved Beech, F. s. asplenifolia, we 
have a subject whose beauty and worth for such 
positions as above noted is unique. Yet, how 
seldom is any reference made to it. The tree grows 
in the form of a bush, putting forth twiggy shoots 
and long, deeply serrated or incised leaves. Its 
whole appearance well deserves the popular appella¬ 
tion of the Fern-leaved Beech.— J. 
TIMELY HINTS. 
Pot the following subjects:—Stove Plants, Tube¬ 
roses, Gladioli, Liliums, Carnations, bedding Pelar¬ 
goniums, or moss the roots and box them where pots 
are scarce, Canterbury Bells, &c.. Top dress 
Phalaenopsis and other Orchids. Sow Tomatos, 
Melons, Cauliflower, Lettuces, &c. Prepare hot¬ 
beds for spring plants and for raising seeds, &c. 
Wash houses and plants. Prepare indoor borders 
for climbing plants, Asparagus, &c. Top dress fig- 
borders with maiden loam and lime rubble, watering 
afterwards. Finish cleaning late vinery. Early 
Vines must have the laterals pinched, troughs filled 
with liquid manure, and surface soil moistened. 
Start midseason Peach house. Early Peachery is in 
bloom, and should be kept dry and balmy. Roses 
should receive attention, dewing them at mid-day 
when the weather is bright. Prune Apples, Pears, 
Gooseberries, and Currants, and mulch them.—- 
Recorder. 
- 4 -- 
OBITUARY. 
Mr. James Fraser. 
The burgh of Turriff, Aberdeenshire, has lost its 
oldest inhabitant in the person of Mr. James Fraser, 
who passed away at his residence on the Castlehill, 
on the 18th ult., within two hours of being ninety- 
eight, and, therefore, within a year of being as old 
as the century. He was a native of the parish of 
Drainie, Elgin, and after being in the profession for 
some time, he went to Birkenbog, Portsoy, Banff¬ 
shire. Leaving that place in 1843, he went to Ard- 
middle House,Turriff, as gardener, where he stayed 
till about 1874 or 1875, when he retired to property 
he acquired on the Castlehill. The Turriff Horti¬ 
cultural Society for many a year has been much 
patronised by exhibits from Ardmiddle House ; and 
Mr. Fraser was a staunch supporter of the same in 
his day; in fact, so long as he was able to move 
about he took an active interest in its affairs. The 
members of the society presented him with a silver 
snufl box, which he carried about, and treated his 
friends and acquaintances to a pinch of snuff. So 
well known was he that " Old Gardener Fraser ” 
was the title by which most people spoke of him. 
Influenza was the ailmeDt that finally carried him 
off; and he was buried in the old churchyard, 
Turriff, on the 22nd ult. His wife predeceased him 
in i860. 
“ Almost a Centenarian.” —In all probability the 
father of Scotch gardeners has passed away in the 
person of the late Mr. James Fraser, gardener, who 
died at Castlehill, Turriff, on the 18th inst., aged 98 
years. Mr. Fraser was engaged by the late Dr. 
Adam as gardener at Ardmiddle House, Turriff, in 
the year of the disruption, 1843, and for the long 
period of thirty-three years he conducted gardening 
operations at Ardmiddle with great acceptance by 
his employers. The gardens and grounds at Ard¬ 
middle saw many improvements carried out under 
his management; and during Mr. Fraser’s long 
engagement he served three generations of the 
family. It was with great regret that the late Mr. 
Milne parted with his faithful and trusted servant 
twenty-five years ago, when Mr. Fraser retired from 
active duty and took up his residence in Turriff, 
which just now by his death mourns the loss of its 
oldest inhabitant. Mr. Fraser was a pawky, shrewd, 
typical Scotchman, and a gardener all over. Locally 
Mr. Fraser enjoyed a reputation as being an 
authority on all matters connected with horticuture, 
and in his day few could outdo him in the art of 
growing good vegetables and hardy fruits; while, 
from personal remembrances, I can speak of him as 
an expert in the cultivation of Strawberries, Melons, 
and Cucumbers. The immediate cause of Mr. 
Fraser's death was a sharp attack of influenza, that 
deadly enemy of all mankind. — John Machinnon, 
Terregles, Dumfries , N.B., Jan. 27 th, 1900 . 
- 
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 coming 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 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. 
The prize last week was awarded to Mr. J. McAra, 
The Gardens, Kingsburgh, Prestonkirk, N.B., for his 
article on “A Suitable Position for Forsythia sus- 
pensa.” Several others of the competitors were 
very close upon the first, particularly Mr. A. Dickson, 
The Gardens, Glenormiston, who had some fresh 
information on “ Freesias." 
