596 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 19, 1900. 
forced subjects being now practically over. 
At present there is a wealth of Rhododen¬ 
drons, deciduous and evergreen Azaleas, 
Spiraea confusa, Statice profusa, Pelar¬ 
goniums, Richardia africana, R. elliottiana, 
Prurus sinensis flore pleno, Hydrangeas, 
Astilbe japonica, &c. Of Richardia elliot¬ 
tiana there are about ioo seedlings, which 
have all been raised here through the in¬ 
dustry of the gardener. A considerable 
area of glass frames, in different parts of 
the garden, but particularly in a space 
recently put in order for their reception, 
is now packed to overflowing with all sorts 
of subjects, although the bedding plants 
are mostly under temporary shelter. A 
large batch of healthy specimens of Cypri- 
pedium insigne is making satisfactory pro¬ 
gress in one of these frames. The same 
may be said of large plants of Statice pro¬ 
fusa, Hydrangeas, &c. One house is, in¬ 
deed, monopolised by Hydrangea paniculata 
grandiflora and Lilium eximium. Celosias, 
already about 6 in. high, make a fine lot. 
Those frames that were occupied with 
Asparagus in winter now house Vegetable 
Marrows, which will soon be ready for use. 
One batch of Melons in frames has been 
set, and another is now ready for pollina¬ 
tion. The conservatory by the mansion is 
kept gay with Hydrangeas, and Ivy-leaved 
Pelargoniums set in greenery of Dracaenas, 
Bamboos, Fatsia japonica variegata, and 
other subjects. The outdoor flower and 
fruit gardening we must refer to on 
another occasion. 
Appointment.—Mr. Thos. Foster, late head gar¬ 
dener at St. Doulough’s Park, County Dublin, has 
been appointed head gardener to E. Downs Martin, 
Esq., J.P., Sprigley, Killyleagb, County Down. 
Weather in London.—The weather conditions of 
the past week have been unsettled and deceiving. 
Everyone complains of the lingering coldness, for 
while the sun shines bright an east wind blows 
steadily and keen. Showers of rain have fallen at 
intervals, but the force of the wind has in most 
cases carried them over. Flying dust is a present 
nuisance. 
Drastic Treatment, but Satisfactory.—In the 
entry for a single specimen Palm Mr. Geo. Wood, 
gardener to J. Buchanan, Esq , Oswald House, 
Edinburgh, generally, or always, secures first prize 
at the Edinburgh shows. He has a beautiful 
Kentia, tall and of noble leaf growth. This he 
manages to confine to a comparatively small tub by 
regularly slicing off an inch or two from the circum¬ 
ference of the root-ball. Some care is required till 
the plant re-establishes itself. 
The “Hurst & Son” Cricket Club.—We are 
reminded that cricket has substituted football, by 
placards announcing “ i o'clock scores,” by young 
men with their leg-pads among their train luggage, 
and definitely by the arrival of "Hurst & Son ” 
membership ticket and cricket match list. As usual 
N. N. Sherwood, Esq. is president; Messrs. Aiton, 
Cox, Wm. and Ed. Sherwood, vice-presidents ; Mr. 
W. Cox, hon. treasurer; Mr. T. Swift, hon. 
auditor of the club’s affairs. Mr. S. N. Sampson is 
again the captain, and Mr. W. Riden, hon. secretary, 
in connection with matches, &c. Their list of en¬ 
gagements lasts them throughout the summer, and 
these we hope they will mostly win. 
Moderation in all Things.—The supply of cut 
flowers, particularly Daffodils and Callas, has been 
overwhelmingly abundant this spring. So many 
hundreds of acres have recently been planted up 
with spring-flowering bulbous plants, and so many 
more tons of flowers as a consequence have been 
offered on the market, that the cut flower trade (in 
certain of its sections) has as a consequence suffered 
in profitable returns. A case was recently instanced 
in the Daily Telegraph. A Long Sutton grower 
despatched to Sheffield seventy-eight dozen bunches 
of Violets, six dozen bunches of Narcissi, and three 
dozen Arum Lilies. His return is said to have been 
twelve postage stamps. Though the story seems far¬ 
fetched, there surely is a danger that immoderate 
quantities of flowers are being supplied. 
Taxodium distichum.—On behalf of the Hon. 
Charles Ellis. F.L.S., the president of the Linnean 
Society of London recently exhibited photo¬ 
graphs of a large tree, Taxodium distichum, growing 
at Oaxaca in Mexico, and of another gigantic tree a 
native of Cambodia. The circumference of the 
former, at a height of three feet from the ground, 
was stated to be 143 feet, while the height was esti¬ 
mated to be not more than 100 feet. The native 
name for this tree is Sabino. Mr. Daydon Jackson 
read an account of it, quoting from Loudon's Mag. 
Nat. Hist., vol. iv. (1831), p. 30, and Humboldt’s 
“ Views of Nature,” p. 274. The second gigantic 
tree, which could not be satisfactorily determined 
from the photograph, had been observed growing on 
the Makong River, near the celebrated ruins of the 
great city of Angkorwat, in Cambodia. 
Beckenham Horticultural Society.—On Friday 
evening, May nth, a paper was read before the 
members of the above society by Mr. James Hudson, 
V.M.H., of Gunnersbury House Gardens, entitled 
“ Fruit Trees in Pots.” Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, 
Cherries, Figs, Apples, Pears, and Apricots were 
each dealt with, cultivation carefully described, and 
varieties recommended for various seasons and pur¬ 
poses. Mr. Hudson’s long experience and success 
as a grower of fruit trees in pots made the sub¬ 
ject of great interest, and value to those privileged to 
hear him. One of the principal recommendations 
was the rotation of crops that could be followed by 
growing fruit trees in pots, numerous instances being 
given by three crops of various subjects being per¬ 
fected in one house annually. Nine or ten-inch pots 
were considered ample for any tree, repotting every 
year, using Banstead loam and a local loam contain¬ 
ing a large percentage of iron, and mortar rubble, 
bones and horn shaving being sprinkled on the few 
crocks necessary. Great stress was laid on low 
night temperatures. Every detail was carefully 
described. A discussion followed, in which Messrs. 
Burge, Taylor, Crosswell, Webster, Price, and Russ 
joined.— M. W. 
Syndical Chamber of Belgian Horticulturists.— 
At a meeting of this body in conjunction wiih the 
Royal Horticultural and Botanical Society of Ghent, 
in the Casino, Ghent, on the 6th inst., Certificates of 
Merit for culture and flowering were awarded to 
Polygala dalmaisiana, presented by M. Em. de Cock ; 
to Corea speciosa, Kennedya purpurea, Pimelea 
spectabilis, and Adenandra ciliata, all presented by 
Mr. E. Collumbien ; to Eriostemon myoporoides, 
and Polygala dalmaisiana, exhibited by M. le Comte 
O. de Kerchove de Denterghem (with unanimity) ; 
to Acacia Drummondi, Veronica diosmaefolia, 
Eriostemon floribundus, Bauera rubioides, and 
Acacia linearis (with unanimity), all exhibited by 
M. E. Bedinghaus: to Anthurium Souvenir 
d'Antoine Chautin, shown by M. Louis de Smet (by 
acclamation); and to Azalea balsaminaeflora, 
staged by M. Oscar de Smet. At the same meeting 
Certificates were granted to cut flowers of Odonto- 
glossum crispum var.,Cymbidium eburneo-lowianum, 
Odontoglossum crispum Souvenir du Jubilee, 
Zygopetalum Perrenoudi, Cattleya intermedia 
Parthenia (by acclamation), and Odontoglossum 
crispum punctatum, all presented by M. G. Vincke- 
Dujardin, of Bruges ; to Odontoglossum Cervantesi 
lilacinum, shown by M. J. de Cock ; to Odonto¬ 
glossum ruckerianum colorans, shown by the 
Company ” La Lys,” Ltd., of Peteghem-lez-Deynze ; 
to Masdevallia Pourbaixi, shown by M. E. Vervaet; 
to Dendrobium atro-violaceum, and Cattleya 
Schroderae var. Ami Arthur Vanden Heede, both 
exhibited by M. le Marquis de Wavrin ; to Azalea 
Mdlle.Germaine Van Coppenolle (a sport) presented 
by M. J. de Kneef; to new Dracaena Armand de 
Meulenaere (seedling 1898), shown by M. L. 
Denobele; to two seedling Azaleas and a collection 
of six new Azaleas, all shown by M. J. Vervaene 
(with unanimity). Honourable Mentions were 
accorded to Hardenbergia monophylla fol. var., 
shown by M. E. Bedinghaus ; to Correa ventricosa, 
shown by M. Em. de Cock; to Libonia floribunda, 
presented by M. Em. Collumbien; to Genista 
evaiistiana, exhibited by M. le Comte O. de Ker¬ 
chove de Denterghem. Honourable Mentions were 
granted to Aerides sanderianum, shown by M. G. 
Vincke-Dujardin; to Laelia purpurata var., shown 
by M. J. Boeiens, and to a seedling Azalea, shown by 
MM. Versypt Brothers and Sisters, 
A Choice Laelia elegans turned up at the sale 
rooms of Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, Cheapside, on 
the nth inst., and created a keen competition as to 
who should become the happy owner. Eventually 
it reached 35 gs. at the fall of the hammer. 
Primroses and their Allies.—Mr. R. Lindsay, 
in bis lecture on " Primroses ” at the Caledonian 
Horticultural Society’s recent exhibition in Dowell's 
Rooms, stated that about 220 species of the Prim¬ 
rose geous are known to botanists. One-third of the 
whole are found in the Himalayas, one-third are 
natives of Japan and China, and the rest are 
natives of Europe and America Somewhere about 
120 of the species are in cultivation. The popular 
species number only about three dozen, and from 
these many varieties are being developed. Five 
species are natives of Britain. In conclusion Mr. 
Lindsay observed that while there was ample evi¬ 
dence in hand of hybridisation occuring, no one had 
yet been able to hybridise Primroses artificially. 
Potato Trials.— Trials were carried out last year 
by the Yorkshire College at Leeds with the object of 
testing the relative merits of a number of leading 
varieties of Potatos. The trials are certainly of 
more value to farmers than to gardeners, yet the 
results are also interesting for the latter class. In 
the trial the varieties which yielded the heaviest 
crops were Up-to-Date, General Roberts, Scotch 
Triumph, Hough Giant, and Challenge. The first- 
named gave a yield of n tons 2§ cwts. per acre; 
Gen. Roberts, 10 tons if cwts.; Hough Giant, 9 tons 
g| cwts.; Scotch Triumph, 9 tons 8 cwts.; and 
Challenge, 8 tons 15 cwts. But on the score of 
quality Sutton's Abundance stood clearly first, 
though its yield per acre was down as low as 6 tons 
7J cwts. Next it in point of quality came Up-to-Date, 
General Roberts, Challenge, Maincrop, Hough 
Giant, British Queen, and Scotch Triumph. The 
best keeping Potatos were found to be Maincrop, 
Hough Champion, Bruce, Beauty of Bute, Saxon, 
and Market Favourite. 
Sweet Pea Bicentenary Celebration.—Seldom, 
if ever, has a proposed exhibition of a special flower 
received such general support as that of the Sweet 
Pea, to be held on July 20th and 21st next. At 
the present time, about two months ahead of the 
exhibition and conference, financial matters are in a 
most satisfactory condition, while the applications 
for schedules serve to indicate the widespread 
interest that is being taken in this popular flower and 
its exhibition. On Friday, the nth inst., the execu¬ 
tive committee met at the Horticultural Club, with 
Mr. George Gordon, V.M.H., in the chair, when it 
was reported by the honorary secretary, Mr. R. 
Dean, V.M.H., that the whole of the North Nave of 
the Crystal Palace would be devoted to the forth¬ 
coming exhibition, and a suitable room be provided 
for the conference proceedings. The trade displays 
will form a border around the competitive exhibits, 
and these latter will be relieved by tables of plants. 
One great improvement promised is that the tables 
will be draped with green baize, and consequently 
there will be no unsightly array of boxes and other 
impediments below the flowers. In connection with 
the conference arrangements were made for papers 
to be read as follows : 11 The History of the Sweet 
Pea,” by Mr. S. P. Dicks ; “ The Evolution and 
Improvement of the Sweet Pea,” by Messrs. J. 
Eckford and C. H. Curtis; “ Classification of Sweet 
Peas,” by Mr. W. P. Wright; " Sweet Peas in 
America,” by Rev. W. T. Hutchins; and “Some 
New Points in the Cultivation and Decorative Use 
of the Sweet Pea,” by Mr. H. Dunkin. Fifteen 
judges, including three ladies, were selected for the 
competitive exhibits, and it was decided the Exhibi¬ 
tion Committee should judge the trade exhibits. 
Applications for space must be made to Mr. R. Dean, 
Ranelagh Road, Ealing, as the entire arrangements 
for the show are in the hands of the committee. 
Intending exhibitors and others will be interested to 
learn that a luncheon will be provided at the Crystal 
Palace on July 20th ; tickets, 5s. each, including 
wine ; breakfast will also be provided earlier in the 
day at is. 6d. per head. With a view to secure as 
large an attendance as possible, the Executive Com¬ 
mittee is calling a general committee meeting for 
4 o'clook on Thursday, May 24th, the second day of 
the Temple Show, at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet Street. 
It is hoped that all committeemen in town will make 
a special effort to attend and receive the report of 
the Executive Committee. 
