488 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 10, 1900. 
other cases this tendency to vary has been 
induced in our own gardens. In any case 
it has been well said that skilful and in¬ 
telligent gardeners do but seize upon the new 
things that turn up, whether good or bad, 
and turn them to advantage. A different way 
of expressing it is that cultivators cannot 
command any desirable variation they may 
have in view, though they may labour 
patiently and wait for their reward. The 
constitution of some plants is more pliable 
than that of others, in which case the 
cultivator sooner gets rewarded; though 
it must be admitted that some have to retire 
from their self-imposed tasks, unthanked 
and unrequited. Many old garden, flowers 
have been so improved that latter day cul¬ 
tivators may rear and bloom hundreds of 
seedlings before they get one superior to 
existing favourites. Here it might be said 
the cultivator is worthy of his hire ; but the 
realisation of it does not always follow, 
that is, the compensation may be inade¬ 
quate for the labour and time expended in 
securing the novelty or improvement, for 
they are not always synonymous. 
The cultivation of a plant, brought from 
its native habitat, may induce variation as 
the result of cultural treatment; increased 
food, or a plentiful supply of it; by the lack 
of competition with the plants in its native 
habitat ; and by the new environment and 
climatic conditions, if grown in the open air, 
or the new conditions provided in hothouses. 
On the other hand variation may be induced 
by hybridisation, or fostered by cross¬ 
breeding under the fresh physical conditions 
above mentioned. Hybrids may be con¬ 
sidered the direct result of design ; and 
cross-bred plants the outcome of more ex¬ 
tended or prolonged operations. Sports 
may and do arise from hybrids as the result 
of reversion, or the separation of artifically 
combinedcharacters. They may be confined 
to variations in colour, but sometimes 
extend to differences in form, either of 
flowers or foliage, or both. 
Some admirers of flowers decry the pro¬ 
duction of novelties, or portend disaster to 
the existing simplicity of flowers, by the 
alteration of their form, or the production 
of double varieties ; and for such reasons 
try to dissuade the cultivator from spoiling 
them by his so called improvements. Simple 
and single flowers are graceful and pleasing, 
and moreover, have their uses. In propor¬ 
tion to their utility so will they find 
admirers and cultivators, but that need not 
stay the hand of those who would improve 
upon the wildings for the gratification of 
mankind ; for, after all, that is the aim and 
end of all novelties and improvements. No- 
one has ever been able to transform the 
irregularity of the Sweet Pea into the 
regularity characteristic of the Buttercup 
but between the two there is a vast extent 
of possibility, within which the plantsman 
may prosecute improvements, without fear 
of the ultimate results. Have Delphiniums,. 
Paeonies, Dahlias, Carnations, Daffodils 
and other popular flowers been spoiled by 
the evolution or development to which they 
have attained? One and all of them have 
truly been glorified from a decorative point 
of view. In the landscape or even the 
garden border, lively and bright masses of 
them are suggestive of holiday attire, and 
bits of bunting that indicate rejoicing. 
Fashion in these days changes with more 
or less rapidity and novelties, whether of 
variation or improvement are but an endea¬ 
vour to meet the demands, and satisfy the 
desire for freshness and advancement. It 
may satisfy the peculiar tastes of the 
Japanese to remain contented in contem¬ 
plating a tiny, crooked, artificially restricted 
tree for 50 or 100 years ; or please other 
oriental nations to reman stationary in the 
embellishment of their antiquated gardens. 
as in aught else ; but all that is entirely 
foreign to the spirit of the Briton. 
Another protest goes abroad that the 
doubling of flowers, and the reduction of 
irregular ones to a uniform regularity are 
against the aim and design of Nature. 
Such flowers they say are no longer cap¬ 
able of reproducing their kind, and if left 
to their own resources would inevitably 
perish. To some extent this is true ; but 
it all depends upon the form which the so 
called doubling takes. Many double flowers, 
whose organs of reproduction have been 
left unimpaired, are perfectly fertile, and 
regularly raised from seed. Moreover, the 
statement does not apply to exotics culti¬ 
vated in gardens, so long as a remnant is 
left in their native habitats. Exotics from 
warm climates could not live here without 
artificial protection,whether singleor double, 
improved or unimproved. There are greater 
agencies at work tending to the extermina¬ 
tion of wild flowers. As the land becomes 
more and more closely cultivated a large 
percentage of our native plants get exter¬ 
minated or have to take refuge on hedge 
banks, waysides, river banks and other un¬ 
cultivated places. Where the land is built 
upon they become entirely exterminated. 
As the world comes more and more under 
cultivation and the sway of mankind, so the 
native plants dwindle. In the province of 
Bengal, India, the soil has so long and so 
closely been cultivated, that no wild plants 
but the weeds of cultivation are to be found. 
Then it may happen that a large number of 
cultivated and improved plants of garden 
and field will outlive their wild relatives, 
as, indeed, is the case to-day. 
Strawberries are now on sale in Covent Garden 
Market. 
Quantities of Grapes are being sent to the soldiers 
in South Africa. 
Weather in London. —The weather has been cold 
again, with showers on occasions. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
flower show of the Royal Horticultural Society will 
be held on Tuesday, March 13th, in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Westminster, from 1—4 p.m. A 
lecture on the" Evolution of Plants,’’ illustrated by 
various garden strains coming true from seed, will 
be given at 3 o'clock, by Mr. R. Irwin Lynch. 
Captain W. A. Harrison, eldest son of Mr. John 
Harrison, of the well-known Leicester firm of seeds¬ 
men, sailed from Southampton on February 17th in 
charge of a contingent of 113 men of the Leicester¬ 
shire Volunteers, bound for the front in South Africa. 
The men were, in fact, going to join the 1st Leicester¬ 
shire Regiment, and at Southampton they embarked 
on the ss. Guelph. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association.— 
Mr. F. W. E. Shrivell lectured before the above 
association on Thursday, March 1st, his subject 
being "Further experiments with chemical manures 
in Kitchen and Maiket Gardening.’’ After our 
liberal note upjn Mr. Shrivell’s work, in a recent 
issue, it will be needless to repeat the results of the 
experiments already submitted. Superphosphate 
and kainit are more serviceable when dug into land 
in autumn and winter, leaving the applications of 
nitrate of soda till such time as the growing crops 
are able to immediately utilise it. As a lawn dress¬ 
ing, to help the grass and suppress Daisies, Crows- 
foot, Plantagcs, or Buttercups, the following was re¬ 
commended per roo square yards:—r4 lbs. basic 
slag, 9 lbs. kainit, and a later dressing of nitrate of 
soda. If Clover was not wanted, phosphates and 
potash should be omitted. At the conclusion of the 
interesting lecture a discussion was carried on by 
Messrs. P. C. M. Veitch (chairman), Slade, Weeks 
and Merriott. The lectures have been most satis¬ 
factory, and voted by all to be valuable. Several of 
the members of the Exeter Gardeners’ Association 
have already seen the benefit of applying the in¬ 
formation in their practice. 
The Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—At a meet¬ 
ing of the Committee of this fund, held on the 2nd 
inst., Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane Nursery, Upper 
Edmonton, was unanimously elected chairman, in 
succession to Mr. William Marshall. 
A Gardener’s Dream.—It may have struck many 
that the notice of the Ealing gardener's dream (page 
421 last week), which he had on the 26th, should 
have come out so strangely true. We went to press 
on the Wednesday, and things at that time looked 
black enough with Gen. Buller, yet we had not 
reached our offices on the Thursday before we heard 
11 the joybells pealing ’’ (or at least the shouts of a 
Fleet Street crowd), and, furthermore, the fact that 
Ladysmith really had been relieved on the Wednes¬ 
day. Thus in both instances the gardener's dream 
was a strict fereshadowing of events, and fortunately 
not barren! 
Ancient Society of York Florists.—York is well 
supplied with horticultural exhibitions, having the 
Gala Floral Fete, one of the most distinctive meet¬ 
ings in the land, and besides this the show held 
under the auspices of the above society. The 
annual schedule and prizes for the present year’s 
show is to hand. The sum of £400 is offered in the 
various classes, so that there should be no decadence 
from a horticultural standpoint. Looking over the 
report the impression is certainly satisfactory, and 
though the committee have to own to an excess in 
expenditure of £23 9s. nd. over receipts, the society 
they are able to say is gaining ground. The balance 
of £188 odd is still at the society's call. The 
schedule of classes is much the same as heretofore. 
The secretary is Mr. Geo. F. W. Oman, A S.A.A., 
38, Petergate, York. 
The Acquisition of the Alexandra Palace.— 
The fact that the Alexandra Palace can be purchased 
for £100,000, and made free to the public, has come 
as a great surprise, a delightful surprise to the great 
majority of Londoners. A body of philanthropically 
disposed gentlemen have already deposited £5,000 
as a first instalment of the purchase, the remaining 
sum is hoped to be raised, without difficulty, by 
public donations and County Council grants. The 
Palace itself is a magnificent building, capable of 
seating in its central hall about 20,000 people. 
Around it are about 162 acres of land. The rapid 
spread of London makes it imperative to seize every 
chance of saving an open space on the edge of the 
widening circle of houses. In addition to the money 
needed for the purchase of the Palace and grounds, 
it is hoped that sufficient money will be subscribed 
to purchase the Grove, consisting of 10 acres of 
splendid woodland, situated on the west side of the 
Palace, for which £11,000 is asked. Mr. Cecil 
Rhodes has some property in the neighbourhood of 
the Alexandra Palace, and someone has ingeniously 
suggested that he should buy the Palace, and thus 
make himself popular with Londoners forever after. 
Woolton Gardeners' Society —A meeting of the 
above was held at the Mechanics' Institute on the 
1st inst ., Mr. J. Stoney presiding over a good attend¬ 
ance of members and friends. The secretary, Mr. 
R. G.Waterman.gave a lecture on his " Tour through 
the south of Ireland," illustrated by over eighty 
coloured lime light views, chiefly taken from Queens¬ 
town, Bantry, Kenmare, and Kiilarney, and kindly 
lent by the Great Southern and Western Railway 
Company. The lecturer took his audience through 
this delightful scenery and on through Tralee, 
Velentia, Cahirciveen, Sneen, Parknasilla, Limerick, 
&c. The habits of the people and their dwellings 
were enlarged upon ; the beauties of nature were ex¬ 
plained and illustrated by the pictures; and a 
general idea was given of its valuable qualities to 
produce fine timber and plants by measurements cf 
various kinds. Specimens of the Ash and Holly 
measured 4^ ft. in diameter ; Wellingtonia gigantea, 
3 ft.; and Yew, 2^ ft. Furze, Osmunda, and 
Bracken, were stated to reach very large proportions ; 
whilst many of the hardy Ferns were unusually fine. 
Great credit was given for the admirable catering 
that was met with, and the unfailing kindness and 
courtesy of the natives to their large numbers of 
visitors. Some account of the general charges was 
given, which were considered moderate. A hearty 
vote of thanks was tendered to the lecturer for the 
pleasing and satisfactory account of the southern 
portion of the Emerald Isle. 
