824 
August 25, 190b. 
fHfi GARDENING WORLD* 
SEEDS OLD AND NEW. 
The practice prevailing amongst gardeners of pur¬ 
chasing certain garden seeds annually is a wrong 
one. The finest quality of produce cannot be 
obtained in that way. Take Celery for Instance, 
A crop of Celery grown from seed three or four years' 
old is vastly superior in quality, and not so apt to 
"bolt" as a crop grown from new seed. The latter 
is coarse and stringy, whereas the former is solid, 
crisp, and more delicate in flavour. When purchas¬ 
ing seeds of this sort, far better get half an ounce or 
more according to requirements, of each sort 
desired, and lay it carefully aside for succeeding 
seasons, as it is well known that seedsmen mix old and 
new seeds together, and when pricking out the 
number of plants required it is the general practice 
to select the strongest which are invariably pro¬ 
duced from the new seeds, as these germinate a few 
days before the older ones. 
I observe the same excellent results in the case of 
"Ten-week Stocks.’’ The first season there were 
about eight single-flowered plants for every double 
one; the second season about equal numbers of 
each single and double; and in this, the third 
season, there are about ten double flowered plants 
for every single one. The plants have been grown 
in the same bed each year, and the seeds taken from 
the same packet. I can only account for it in this 
way, that the seeds producing 9ingle-flowered plants 
have failed to germinate. Only one-third of the 
seeds sown this (the third) season did germinate.— 
W. Grant. 
CHINESE EMPERORS GARDENS AT 
PEKIN. 
As China is now foremost in the public eye a glance at 
her Emperor's gardens may be of interest. The follow¬ 
ing description shows what they were over a hundred 
years ago, but as the China of to-day is the same 
almost as that of a thousand years ago, these Pekin 
gardens may be supposed to have changed not at all. 
Their description is from Mr. Joseph Spence's trans¬ 
lation of Jesuit Father Attiret's writings : 
“ As for the pleasure houses,they are really charm¬ 
ing. They stand in a vast compass of ground. They 
have raised hills from twenty to sixty feet high ; 
which form a great number of little valleys between 
them. The bottoms of these valleys are watered 
with clear streams. These run on till they join 
together and form larger pieces of water and lakes. 
They pass these streams in beautiful and magni¬ 
ficent boats. I have seen one in particular seventy- 
eight feet long, and twenty feet broad, with a very 
handsome house upon it. In each of these valleys 
there are houses upon the banks of the water, very 
well disposed ; with their different courts, open and 
close porticos, parterres, gardens and cascades, 
which, when viewed altogether, have an admirable 
effect on the eye. They go from one of the valleys 
to another, not by formal straight walks as in 
Europe, but by various turnings and windings, 
adorned on the sides with little pavilions and charm¬ 
ing grottos ; and each of these valleys is diversified 
from all the rest both by their manner of laying-out 
the ground and in the structure and disposition of 
its buildings. All the risings and hills are sprinkled 
with trees, particularly with flowering trees which 
are here very common. 
“ The sides of the canals or lesser streams are not 
faced (as they are with us) with smooth stone, and 
in straight line, but look rude and rustic, with 
different pieces of rock, some of which jut out and 
others recede inwards; and are pleased with so 
much art that you would take it to be the work of 
Nature. In some parts the water is wide, in others 
narrow , here it serpentises, and there spreads away 
as 'if it was really pushed off by the hills and rocks, 
The banks are sprinkled with flowers which rise up 
even through the hollows in the rock work as if 
they had been produced there naturally. They 
have a great variety of them, for every season of the 
year. Beyond these streams there are irregularly 
winding paths which are paved with small stones 
and which lead from one valley to another. As 
already stated these little streams are carried on to 
supply several larger pieces of water and lakes. One 
of these lakes is very nearly five miles round, and 
they call it Meer or Sea. This is one of the most 
beautiful parts of the whole pleasure grounds. But 
what is the most charming thing of all is an island, 
in the middle of this sea ; raised in a natural and 
rustic manner about six feet above the surface of the 
water. On this island there is a little palace, which, 
however, contains a hundred different apartments." 
■t- — 
SOCIETIES. 
SEYENOAKS FLOWER SHOW .—August x 5 tk. 
The annual exhibition under the auspices of the 
Sevenoaks Horticultural Society was held in Knole 
Park on Wednesday, August 15th,by kind permission 
of Lord Sackville. The weather was delightful, 
which is, of course, an important factor in the 
success or otherwise of a show of this description. 
The entries too were such that a great amount of 
canvas was required to properly accommodate them. 
In Sevenoaks the flower show is considered the 
event of the season, the public showing their appreci¬ 
ation of the function by patronising it in thousands, 
so that the committee find themselves in the 
happy position of having a balance to be carried 
forward, which speaks well for the management. 
We understand that it was a record gate and we 
heartily congratulate all concerned. The show Itself 
too was one of the best held for years.the competition 
being very keen. 
In Class I., for six flowering plants, Mr. J. Mason, 
gardener to H. J. Wood, Esq., Sidborough Court, 
Southborough, was easily first, with fine specimens 
of which his Allamandas were the most prominent ; 
Mr. A. Hatton, gardener to Mrs. Swanzy, The 
Quarry, Sevenoaks, was second with nice plants, but 
not so well trained as is usual with him ; and third, 
Mr. W. Turner, gardener to J. H. Lelacheur, Esq., 
The Wildernesse, Tunbridge Wells. For six 
ornamental foliage plants, the same order was 
maintained, Mr. Mason showing Crotons, &c., in fine 
form. 
In the class for six Fuchsias, Mr. H. Heath, 
gardener to Mrs. Petley, Riverhead, was first with 
beautifully grown plants ; Mr. G. Cowper, gardener 
to H. Foster, Esq., Hillside, Sevenoaks, was a close 
second; Mr. Hatton being third. For Caladiums, 
Mr. Turner was first. Mr. Wing, gardener to W. 
B. Dick, Esq., Carrick Grange, second. For 
Begonias, Mr. Wing led, followed closely by Mr. 
Heath. Mr. Heath had the best zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums, followed by Mr. Hatton, whilst Mr. W. 
Tebay, gardener to Mrs. Ryecroft, Everlands, had 
the best half dozen Coleus. 
Groups arranged for effect were as usual a great 
feature, there being nine competitors. All of them 
showed great ingenuity in the arrangement. Mr. C. 
Sutton, gardener to Lord Stanhope, Chevening, was 
placed first, with a very pretty light arrangement, 
in which some handsomely coloured Crotons were 
used with telling effect. Mr. A. Hoadley, gardener 
to F. L. Bevan, Esq., Rippington House, was a very 
close second; indeed, a great many thought him 
easily first. The only thing that could be argued 
against his group was the appearance at the back, 
otherwise it was an unique arrangement; Mr. Tebay 
was a close third, and Mr. Hatton fourth. Mr. G. 
Fennell, gardener to W. M. Cazalet, Esq., Fairlawn, 
Tonbridge, fifth ; and Mr. S. Cook, gardener to De 
B. Crawshay, Esq., Rosefield, extra fifth. 
For a group of Ferns, Mr. A. Hatton was first 
with a pretty arrangement, for which he is famous, 
closely followed by Mr. H. Heath and Mr. Turner, 
who were second and third respectively. 
Groups in the second division were well shown by 
Messrs. Heath, Mist and Irvine, who were awarded 
prizes in this order. 
Table Decorations, on separate tables, were again 
a feature. Mr. R. Edwards, gardener to G. Field, 
Esq., Duchy Lees, being first, with a charming 
arrangement; closely followed by Mr. S. Cook, Mrs. 
Searing, Parkwood, Swanley, and Mrs. Fennell. 
Mr. Searing had the best single Epsrgne, Mr. S. 
Cook the best dress spray, and Mr. Coleman the 
best button-holes. Mrs. M. V. Seale, the Vine 
Nurseries, had the best bouquet and the best 
arranged basket. 
Fruit. —For a collection of six kinds, Mr. C , 
Earl, gardener to O. E. d'Avigdor Goldemid, Esq., 
Somerhill, Tonbridge, was first with good dishes of 
Peaches, Grapes, &c. Mr. T. Osborne was second, 
and Mr. G. H. Sage, Bayham Abbey, Lamberhurst, 
third. For three bunches of black Grapes, Mr. A. 
Hoadley was first, with finely finished bunches of 
Black Alicante ; second, Mr. Coleman ; third, Mr. 
Osborne. For white Grapes, Mr. C. Sutton was 
first, followed by Messrs. Earl and Osborne. Mr. 
Coleman had the best Melon, and Mr. Sage the best 
Peaches, whilst Mr. Hatton was to the fore with 
Nectarines. 
Vegetables were well shown, Mr. Hoadley 
being first for nine varieties, and Mr. J. T. Barney 
for six varieties. 
For herbaceous cut flowers, Mr. Sage and Mr. 
C. Noble were equal first, both showing finely. 
In the cottagers’ tent, the exhibits were of 
excellent quality, testifying to the good done by the 
County Council in providing allotments, &c., as well 
as giving instruction by lectures. 
The trade was represented by Messrs. Seale, 
Cannell, Cutbush, Peed, &c.. who all had imposing 
exhibits. 
BISHOP’S STORTFORD.— A ugust 15 th. 
Though the committee of the Bishop's Stortford 
Horticultural Society had insured themselves by an 
£18 premium against wet weather and consequent 
poor gate takings, the insurance fortunately was not 
required. So important has the annual flower show 
become (this is the 31st) that a gate failure would 
cause the society to lose heavily. The well disposed 
grounds of John Barker, Esq., The Grange, Bishop's 
Stortford, were again placed at the disposal of the 
society. The entries in the gardeners’ and amateurs' 
classes numbered about 400, while the cottagers’ 
entries nearly touched i,ooo. Amongst the more 
prominent features of the show the floral decorations 
may be mentioned, while the groups of plants 
arranged for effect were also prominent. Begonias, 
Gloxinias, Zinnias, annual and herbaceous cut 
flowers were all in greater or less abundance. The 
increase in the entries for fruit was most satisfac¬ 
tory, the Grape classes having twenty-two extra 
exhibits. The cottagers’ produce was a very credit¬ 
able lot, and there was keen competition in the 
various classes. The trade exhibits of Messrs. 
T. S. Ware, Ltd., Feltham; Mr. S. Mortimer, 
Farnham; Mr. A. Edwards, of Arnold, Notts. ; 
Messrs. R. Wallace & Co., Colchester ; Messrs. W. 
Chaplin & Sons, Enfield Lock ; Messrs. W. Cutbush 
& Son, Barnet, Herts. ; and Messrs. G. Paul & 
Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, went far to 
increase the educational and variety side of the 
exhibition. 
The judges were: — For fruit, flowers, &c., Mr. 
James Douglas, V.M.H., Great Bookham, Surrey; 
Mr. James Hudson, V.M.H., Gunnersbury House, 
Acton, W. ; Mr. J. Sbambrook, Woodhall Gardens, 
Hertford ; and Mr. George Wythes, V.M.H., Syon 
Gardens, Brentwood. For table decorations, sprays, 
&c., Miss H. C. Philbrick, F.R.H.S., Feering Hill 
House, Kelvedon ; and for honey, Mr. W. Debnam, 
of Chelmsford. 
The officials, from Sir James Blyth, who is presi¬ 
dent, to each member of committee, but mostly Mr. 
Wm. Smith (hon. sec.), Mr. C. F. Dupere (assist, 
sec.), and Mr. M. Taylor (hon. treasurer), deserve 
the best thanks of all who enjoyed and profited by 
the show. 
Space will only allow us to mention the names of 
the principal prize-winners in the gardeners' section. 
These were Messrs. J. Barker, W. G. Gold, W. P. 
Neal, H. A. Hare, J. K. King, W. Hughes, H. A. 
Blyth, E. H. Watts, C. W. Richardson, F. Calvert, 
W. Smith, W. E. Ross, W. Smith, Thorneycroft, R. 
C. Gosling, W. B. Buckmaster, Col. Houblon, Mrs. 
A. Taylor, and others. 
LADYWELL, LEWISHAM AND DISTRICT 
COTTAGERS.— A ugust 15 th and 16 th. 
The annual flower, fruit and vegetable show of the 
above society was held in the very suitable grounds 
of Riverdale, a charming little estate bordering the 
High Street, Lewisham, on Wednesday and Thurs¬ 
day, the 15th and 16th inst. Last year's show was 
as satisfactory as the committee could have desired, 
and this year’s exhibition is even an advance upon 
that of '99. Mr. H. J. Jones is president, and he 
and his energetic committee, working on approved 
and up-to-date lines, are forging ahead. It is always 
a source of pleasure to mark progress in any society, 
and we feel sure the working men of Ladywell and 
Lewisham are proud of their horticultural society, 
and use all means in their power to support and 
spread its influence. 
At 3 o'clock, Messrs. Wallis opened the show, and 
at 3.30, the committees, exhibitors and judges met 
