May 19, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
697 
Grass Seed Imports.—Last year Great Britain 
and Ireland imported Grass and Clover seeds to the 
value of £549.535 sterling. 
Mushroom House.—The best position for a Mush¬ 
room house is wholly or partially under ground. 
Thatched roofs are also to be recommended. 
Royal Horticultural SocietyTemple Flower 
Show, May. 23 rd, 24 th and 25 th.—The thirteenth 
great flower show of this society held annually in 
the Inner Temple Gardens (Thames Embankment), 
will open on Wednesday next at 12.30. Judging 
from the large number of entries received, the show 
promises to be quite up to its usual standard of ex¬ 
cellence. The following well-known amateurs are 
among the names of intending exhibitorsDuke of 
Northumberland, Nepenthes; Lord Gerrard, Car¬ 
nations ; Lord Wantage, K.C.B., Fruit and Vege¬ 
tables ; Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Orchids ; Sir J. 
Pigott, Bart., Crotons and Palms; Sir J. Pease, 
Bart., Fruit and Vegetables; Sir F. Wigan, Bart., 
Orchids; Alex. Henderson, M.P., Fruit and Vege¬ 
tables ; Henry Little, Orchids; R. I. Measures, 
Insectivorous Plants; Ludwig Mond, Orchids; 
Leopold de Rothschild, Water Lilies in Tubs, and 
Fruit Trees in Pots. 
The Chiswick Garden.—Anyone visiting Chis¬ 
wick and the garden of the Royal Horticultural 
Society at the present time would find abundance of 
gay colour and fresh greenness. The large orchard 
of fruit trees is laden with blossoms and everything, 
of course, has its first viridescent mantle. Tulips 
have been "on trial” in the garden this year, so 
that a present visit would reveal a galaxy of these 
glorious hardy bulbous bloomers. Paeonies are 
in bud and the large and well treated collection will 
soon be waving its pretty mop-heads to the passing 
breezes. Phloxes seem to be on trial; there is a 
fine collection on a sunny brake. Tomatos are being 
treated on the one-shift system and are as happy and 
healthy as need be. Vines and Peaches are well 
furnished and clean. Caladiums, of which there is 
a representative collection, are splendid specimens 
all of them, and marvellously grand in contour and 
colour. The frame ground with its lengths of pits, 
is completely filled with Chrysanthemums (now 
established in 5-in. pots), hardy alpines in pots, 
bedding plants and miscellaneous stock. The alpine, 
garden bears its far-gathered gems—sheets of various 
Aubrietias, Alyssums and Arabis, Primroses, Scilla 
nutans, Phlox setacea, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Doron- 
icum plantigineum, Ranunculus amplexicaulis, Iris 
pallida variegata and Orobus vernus. Avery bright 
leaved little plant is represented by Thymus citri- 
odorus aureus, and a pretty shrub just at the back 
of the Thyme, viz., Kerria japonica variegata. The 
entire keeping of the place leaves nothing to be 
desired. 
Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society.— 
In a pamphlet of some 14 pages we have a register 
of the plants, flowers, &c., which received First-class 
Certificates, Certificates of Merit, Botanical Certifi¬ 
cates, medals, &c., from the permanent committees 
of the Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society 
during the past year. Cannas and Chrysanthemums 
have received a fair amount of attention and en¬ 
couragement ; but in the case of Chrysanthemums, 
at least, the society has been moderate in giving 
awards by comparison with this country. Cactus 
Dahlias must be popular amongst our Dutch neigh¬ 
bours across the water, for as many as fourteen 
received First-class Certificates, and six varieties 
received Certificates of Merit. Some of them were 
placed on the table by four different exhibitors ; and 
many of them have received awards in this country, 
particularly those raised here. Some of the Delphin¬ 
iums certificated were also raised in this country. 
Of the other plants certificated several are well 
known in this country, so that such honours cannot 
all be given to new plants. Others, however, are 
more than likely to find their way to this country 
in course of time. Fragaria vesca fol. var., Leontc- 
don autumnale fol. var., Arrhenatherum fol. var., and 
Spiraea Ulmaria var. aurea variegata are variegated 
forms of British plants, of which the three former 
may find their way into gardens here, although we 
are afraid they would have failed to get certificates 
here. Dianthus caesius albus is a white flowered 
form of a British plant, and Myosotis palustris Sen¬ 
sation should be a superior form of a British wilding 
ihat might take well here. 
Worthy of Imitation ! — From Gardening 
(American) we learn that "The City of Berlin has 
set aside the sum of 2,000 marks for the purchase of 
plants to be placed in the hospitals.” 
Bermuda and its Floral Productions.—Bermuda, 
that land of the Lily and the Rose, is known to gar¬ 
deners and florists all over the world. In a recent 
number of The Florists' Exchange appears a very in¬ 
teresting article under the above title. Bermuda 
furnishes neariy all the Easter Lilies, so that the re¬ 
ferences made upon the growth of the bulbous plants 
are timely Landing at the wharf of the Island, ten 
minutes' walk will take one to the Lily fields, Very 
few pieces of available ground are without a crop ; if 
not Lilies, then Onions, Potatos, Bananas, Grass— 
something. About this season of the year many of 
the fields are waving tracts of flowers and green 
stems. All around,Trom nearly any part, glimpses 
of the green Atlantic, glistening in the sunshine, 
can be obtained. Since the adoption of a more 
scientific husbandry the improvement in Lily crops 
has been most marked. More careful selection of 
stock has been practised ; the sets are now rather 
generally treated with one of several mixtures to kill 
mites and diseases. The problems of fertilisers and 
humus supply are also carefully considered, and the 
plants are now being sprayed with Bordeaux Mix¬ 
ture to prevent disease, rather than be dribbled upon 
after a disease has obtained a sure footing ; and in 
general cultivation is receiving closer attention. As 
before stated, selection is being carried out. If one 
or a number of plants flower earlier than the others, 
these are marked separately and propagated. Thus, 
in the course of a few years, the growers hope to have 
extra early flowering varieties. Such stock would 
also be of value to the importer and he who pots the 
bulbs for forcing. The forcing would be a speedier 
and a simpler business. At the same time care is 
being exercised so that only the most robust are 
chosen, for without constitution they are of no value. 
Disease-resisting strains are likewise being specially 
evolved. Many of these outcomes are the result of 
the experiments being made in parts of the United 
States to prove whether or not the Easter Lily could 
not be successfully cultivated as a commercial pro¬ 
duct within their own borders. The cuitural oper¬ 
ations in Bermuda are all manual Ploughs are 
light, one-horse, and reversible harrows and culti¬ 
vators are almost unknown. Lilies and Onions are 
grown in bods four feet wide, and weeded with finger 
and thumb. Freesias are grown in large quantities 
for exportation, one year being sufficient to develop 
a marketable crop. Among other plants which grow 
freely or wild, and which used to be, if not now, cul¬ 
tivated for export, are Roses of all kinds, Cycas, for 
their foliage; Bryophyllum and Cacti, which flower 
freely on any old wall; (Euphorbias, (or Poinsettias ; 
Acalypha Hibiscus, Geraniums, Crinum, Hip- 
peastrums, Bougainvillea, and some members of the 
Palm tribe. 
APPLES. 
I was pleased to read the remarks of your valued 
correspondent.M. Temple, re the above, especially so 
as regards Margil a great favourite here, and as he 
says, bears most freely, while the flavour is not far 
behind Ribston Pippin. It is a sure cropper with 
us, and the trees this year are again full of blossom, 
and look most promising ; but to-day, 13th, the east 
wind is cwfullycold again and certainly will do fruit 
blossom no good ; while on the morning of the nth, 
quite a white frost was seen in the low lying 
meadows, our thermometer falling as low as 35°, too 
great a change from three weeks back, when all 
thought summer had come to stay. For the well¬ 
being of vegetation, it is to be hoped milder weather 
will soon return, or, I am afraid, the Apple 
crop, the nation’s fruit, will fall short of our expect¬ 
ations a few weeks back in this part of the country. 
Of course Margil is much earlier with us than in 
Scotland, and is usually ready to store early In 
October, and generally used up quite by Christmas. 
We have Northern Spy in good condition at the 
present, but unfortunately it is not one of the free 
croppers, though it carried a heavy crop last season 
and is again covered with blossom. Lord Eurghley 
is a good late keeper in the dessert clas-. I have 
only sent in the last dish during the past week, 
though with us it is not a heavy cropper. Tom 
Putt is a good kitchen Apple up to the new year, 
bears well most years and should be more often met 
with than it is. It is preferred here before any 
other for jelly making, probably on account of its 
brilliant colour. Beauty of Kent is a grand Apple, 
large size, and good (or kitchen use or dessert; the 
specimens being as firm as could be a few weeks ago 
when sent in. We have grafted a few trees more of 
this, this season.— J. Mayne, Bicton, Devon. 
CARNATIONS FOR LATE FLOWERING. 
Perhaps the following few remarks on extending the 
period of Carnation flowering may be useful to some 
of your readers. I saw the practice carried out in 
one of our biggest establishments, and with very 
good results. The notes, however, will apply only to 
tree flowering Carnations. During this month select 
a few plants of any well known variety (say, Miss 
Joliffe), pinch out the points of the growths and 
place them in a cold frame to break afresh. Towards 
the end of June this will have taken place, and the 
plants should then be repotted. This process must 
be very carefully carried out, only pricking away a 
little of the old soil, so as to allow for a slight shift 
into a larger pot. The potting finished, replace the 
plants in the cold frame and strictly shade them 
from all sun. It will be helpful until re-established 
to dew them overhead with the syringe, and, of 
course, water most carefully. The plants may need 
a second stopping; but this must be left to the 
grower's discretion, it depending upon how late he 
wishes them to bloom ; and also upon the strength of 
the variety. Any grower to whom this method is 
new should give it a trial, and I think he will be fully 
satisfied with the results.— C. Turner, Middlewich. 
-—- 
DOUBLE WALLFLOWER IN POTS. 
This is one of the most showy and useful hardy 
spring flowers we have. And I have often been sorry 
that it is so much neglected for greenhouse decora¬ 
tion. It is also greatly valued by most laaies for 
room adornment. So I think a few hints might 
lead to its more frequent use. The present time will 
do nicely for sowing the seed, and I find it advan¬ 
tageous to sow in pans or boxes placed in a cold 
frame or greenhouse. Prick out into boxes as soon 
as ready, and plant out in good garden soil 1 ft. apart 
each way as soon as they are strong enough. Keep 
clear of weeds all summer, and if the season is very 
dry they pay for receiving a good dose of water 
occasionally. About the beginning of October I lift 
the plants carefully with as good a ball as possible, 
and place in 7 in. or 8 in pots. If only single spikes 
are wanted 6 in. pots will do. Drain well, and pot in 
fairly good soil. Stand on the north side of a wall 
for ten days till quite established, when they ought 
to get all the sun and air possible. On the approach 
of frost remove to a cold frame, giving air on every 
suitable occasion. About the beginning of March, if 
taken into a cool greenhouse and given frequent 
supplies of liquid manure, the result wiil more than 
repay any little trouble they may have caused—C. 
Blair, Binny, Uphall, N.B. 
---- 
ARUM CULTURE. 
The Arum is a great water-loving plant. The most 
satisfactory way is to plant it in trenches for the 
summer. By this time, May, they will have done 
flowering. Stand them in a cold house or frame to 
harden a little. In June choose the sunniest part of 
the garden, making trenches north to south. Turn 
the plants out carefully, remove the crocks and re¬ 
duce the ball to about half. Plant firmly in good 
rich soil, finishing with a good layer of rotted man¬ 
ure on the top. Plenty of water must be given 
through the summer, with manure water twice a 
week. Keep the hoe among them lightly for weeds. 
By September they should be strong plants and 
should be taken up and put three in a io-in. or 12- 
in. pot, two in 8 in., or one in 5-iD. pots. The 
smaller ones make nice decorative plants for table. 
Pot very firmly in a mixture of loam, rotted cow 
manure, leaf soil, sand, and a sprinkling of soot. 
Water, syringe and stand in shady place facing 
north. Oq the appearance of frost remove them in¬ 
doors. S> ringe with solution of soft soap and water for 
greenfly or sponge when the flowers are opening, or 
the pest will spoil them. As soon as the spikes are 
showing manure water twice or thrice weekly would 
be beneficial, and about once a week a little Ich- 
themic watered in. I have cut Arums before 
Christmas and still have a few.— R. J. Howell, Middle 
Aston House Gardens, near -Oxford. 
