68 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 29, 190C. 
The gardener attributes this circumstance 
to his practice of watering the borders with 
hot water all through the season. The 
house in the meantime is kept fairly warm. 
The bunches of Madresfield Court are in 
many instances perfect, and the finest ever 
grown at Larbert House. They are 12 in. 
to 14 in. long, and six of them have been 
allowed to a rod. The largest of them 
measure 7 in. across the shoulders, a very 
good size, considering that the variety is 
not given to the production of big shoulders 
and wide bunches. The careful and perfect 
way in which the bunches had been thinned 
attracted our attention very much. The 
huge, shapely bunches of Mrs. Pince would 
weigh about 5 lbs. to 6 lbs. each ; and they 
were much better finished than those often 
seen in gardens. The huge bunches of 
Muscat Hamburg are triangular and weigh 
about 4^- lbs. to 5 lbs. each. The berries 
are finely developed, dead ripe, and had 
been so carefully thinned at the proper 
season that the bunches are now perfectly 
solid and the stalks completely hidden. 
The third or late vinery contains several 
varieties, different from those already men¬ 
tioned. The new or relatively new Appley 
Towers, grafted on Alicante, carries the 
largest bunches of that variety we have 
seen this year. The oblong berries are of 
the deepest black, covered with a fine 
bloom. This stock is evidently well suited 
for it ; but its value can better be deter¬ 
mined when the rods have been cut away, 
leaving Appley Towers to enjoy the full 
benefit of the root system of the foster¬ 
parent. About nine to eleven bunches of 
Lady Downes are borne by each rod, and 
they are perfectly finished and of great 
length, Mrs. Pearson succeeds well here, 
and is handsome in appearance when 
mature, as the berries retain their clean 
and clear skin to the last. The variety is 
much appreciated here on account of the 
fine quality and flavour of the berries. 
About seven bunches of Gros Maroc have 
been allowed to a rod, and the magnificent 
berries are perfectly finished. The differ¬ 
ence between Gros Maroc and Cooper’s 
Black cannot be detected, when grown side 
by side, well grown and given similar treat¬ 
ment, The huge, globular berries of the 
last named are very decidedly hammered at 
the end. When poorly grown the berries 
are oval, appearing distinct, but the two are 
really synonymus, as is proved by good 
cultivation. Gros Colman requires a great 
deal of heat to mature the crop, which is 
not yet so well finished as the rest. All 
the rods of this variety, however, have been 
grafted with Appley Towers, and Gros 
Colman will presently be cut out,because the 
flavour of the berries is not appreciated at 
Larbert House, and the space is thus need¬ 
lessly occupied at present. The back wall 
is furnished with Lady Downes, which 
bears useful table bunches, though now 
much shaded by the Vines against the 
glass. 
The foliage of the different varieties is 
assuming beautiful tints, more or less 
decided according to the sort, and is much 
used for garnishing at the dinner table, as 
well as for decorating vases. These beau¬ 
tiful tints are due to the results of a liberal 
application of oxide of iron to the borders 
two years ago. The Vines at Kippen are 
on the red sandstone, and Mr. Airdrie con¬ 
ceived the idea of applying the oxide of iron 
to get colour in the foliage, and the results 
prove the correctness and utility of the 
practice. Root pruning of the Vines is 
carried out every two years on a plan that 
would be considered drastic by many culti¬ 
vators. A trench is taken out, at a distance 
of 2 i ft* from the Vines or thereby, and 
right down to the drainage. At the same 
time all the roots projecting into the trench 
are cut clean away with a sharp knife. The 
outside border was so treated the other 
week ; and the inside borders wilLnext be 
dealt with, if, indeed, the operation has not 
by this time been accomplished. 
Granaries Required.—Seven out of every eight 
loaves eaten in London are made of foreign Wheat. 
Weeds.— According to the late Sir John Lawes 
weeds reduce the value of a crop one-fourth. They 
largely absorb the efficiency of manure, and are 
often a harbour for insects. 
Weather in London.—Save for a light shower of 
rain on Monday morning, the 24th inst., the weather 
during the past week has been bright and agreeable. 
Tilia argentea, the White or Silver Lime, is the 
most fragrant of the genus. The perfume it emits on 
a gently breezy evening can be detected many yards 
off. 
The “ Hurst & Son ” Musical Society will 
resume rehearsals at the Bishopsgate Infant School, 
Bishopsgate Churchyard, E.C., on Monday, October 
1st, Full particulars as to forthcoming concerts 
will be notified in due course. 
Worthy Benevolence.—In the will of the late 
Mr. Benjamin H. Pierce, of Watertown, a bequest 
of 8i.ooo is left to the Massachussetts Horticultural 
Society, the income therefrom to be devoted to the 
introduction of new fruits. 
American Carnations versus English.—A writer 
to one of the American florist papers who had seen 
Carnations at some of the English exhibitions last 
summer, deprecates them most vigorously. Our 
Carnations in Britain appear to be nowhere when 
American varieties are compared with them. 
Death of Mr. William Saunders.—Mr. Wm. 
Saunders, superintendent of the Experimental Gar¬ 
dens and Grounds, Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, D.C., died at his home in that city, on 
Tuesday, September nth, aged seventy-eight. Mr. 
Saunders was a native of Fifeshire, Scotland. He 
commenced gardening in Scotland, going thence to 
London and afterwards to America. 
Horticultural School for Hampshire.—We learn 
that the Hampshire County Council have just 
established a farm and horticultural school at Old 
Basting. The farm comprises sixty-one acres, and 
the instruction is to be open to both sexes. The 
instruction will, as far as possible, be kept on 
practical lines, and with sufficient science to secure 
a proper understanding of the practical work. Mr. 
Wm. Nixon is manager and head teacher, and the 
chairman and secretary of the Royal Counties Agri¬ 
cultural Society are on the committee. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland.—At a 
meeting of the council, held at 61, Dawson Street, 
Dublin, on Tuesday, September nth, when the 
secretary’s report of the autumn show was heard and 
adopted as satisfactory, the council, on the recom¬ 
mendation of the judges, awarded the following 
medals:—Messrs. W. Drummond & Sons, Limited, 
for their beautiful collection of hardy cut flowers and 
plants, including a new Acer Drummondi, which 
was greatly admired; Messrs. Richard Hartland & 
Sons, Cork, a Gold Medal, for a grand exhibit of 
miscellaneous fruit and flowers; Hugh Dickson, 
Belfast, for a collection of tuberous Begonias, &c. ; 
Messrs. McGredy & Sons, Portadown, for a collec¬ 
tion of cut blooms of tuberous Begonias, most 
beautifully arranged. A Certificate of Merit was 
awarded Messrs. Dicksons, Chester, for collection of 
Phloxes and hardy herbaceous cut flowers. 
Honey Production in Queensland.—Queensland 
is a splendid country for bees, since nearly all its 
forest trees flower and give large supplies of honey 
and pollen, and the winters are so mild that the bees 
are not compelled to remain in the hives and con¬ 
sume their own stores as in colder climates. The 
supply of honey which the colony could produce if 
the industry were shown to be profitable is practi¬ 
cally unlimited. In the apiaries, having all the 
modern appliances, much of the wax is, after being 
clarified, made up into " foundations," and put into 
the hives for the bees to work into new comb, and Is 
of great advantage when flowers are plentiful, and 
enables the greatest advantage to be taken of the 
bees' labour in honey-gathering at the best time. 
The bees in a strong hive will convert several sheets 
of foundation wax into honeycombs, and fill them 
with honey in far less time than it would take them 
to make a single comb. It is stated to take about 
15 lb. of honey to produce 1 lb. of wax. 
Physalis Francheti.—The beautiful bladder 
calyxes which enclose the fruits of this Physalis are 
now at their best. The stems should be cut and 
dried so that the “bladders” may be secured for 
winter decoration. 
An Appreciative Correspondent.—Mr. George 
Potts, of Streatham, S.W , has been a correspondent 
of The Gardening World for more than ten years 
past, and tells us that he still delights to contribute 
to its pages. Other correspondents from time to 
time have taken an interest in his practical remarks 
upon various popular and useful garden subjects. 
Loughborough and District Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association.—The members of the 
above association attended the annual general meet¬ 
ing and dinner on the evening of Tuesday, the 18th 
inst., in the Co-operative Room, Woodgate. The 
annual report referred with satisfaction to the posi¬ 
tion of the association. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—The follow¬ 
ing are the dates fixed for the exhibitions 
of the National Chrysanthemum Society 
in 1901:—Early Autumn Exhibition of Chrysanth¬ 
emums, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 
October 8th, 9th, and 10th; Great Autumn Com¬ 
petition and Fete, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thurs¬ 
day, November 5th, 6tb, and 7th; Early Winter 
Exhibition, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 
December 3rd, 4th, aDd 5th. 
The Autumn Squill (Scilla autumnalis).—It 
may be of interest to state that I saw several 
colonies of this rare plant to-day at Greenwich. 
This and our recent find of Spiranthes aestivalis at 
Chislehurst, brings two fresh plants into the flora of 
Kent.— A. D. Webster. [In the Flora of Kent (1899) 
it is recorded that Ray mentioned the occurrence of 
Scilla autumnalis at Blackheath in 1696; and Reeves 
stated that it was still therein 1884. Other botanists 
have found it between Plumstead and Shooter's 
Hill; on the green between Lea and Eltham; at 
Chalk in gravel pits ; and near Shorne Warren. It 
is, therefore, nobnew for Kent. Spiranthes aestivalis 
does not appear to have been previously recorded for 
Kent.— Ed.] 
The Sale of Poisons and the General Election. 
—The following is a question which my society is 
forwarding to be answered by each candidate at the 
coming General Election:—“Are you prepared to 
support a Bill in Parliament, making it legal that 
chemical compounds (although containing poisons) 
which are not for medicinal use nor intended for the 
preparation of medicine, may be retailed by traders 
such as agricultural agents, seedsmen, nurserymen, 
corn dealers, iron and hardware dealers, and other 
tradesmen (including pharmacists), for any trade or 
technical purpose, in original sealed packages as 
received from the wholesale dealer or manufac¬ 
turer ? ” I trust that your readers who are interested 
in the subject will use their best endeavours to also 
bring the question to the front.— T. G. Dobbs, Secre¬ 
tary, 5, Clement's Inn, Strand ,London, W. C. 
The Jersey Potato Crop.—There have been 
published lately, says The Midland Counties Herald, 
some interesting particulars of the Jersey Potato 
season now concluded. From May 12th to July 21st 
the total quantity of Potatos shipped from the island 
was 54,062 tons, valued at ^445,872, or about £8 4s. 
per ton. Owing to damage by frost, the crop this 
year was not nearly so abundant as last year. The 
price, however, kept up so well, until all but a small 
proportion of the Potatos had been shipped, that the 
total return in money was much greater than that of 
some much larger crops. In fact, it has only been 
twice exceeded. The money returns exceeded £32 
per acre, an average surpassed only in 1896, when 
the return was over £58 per acre. It is not all 
profit. The expenses are very heavy, the growers 
paying rents amounting in many cases to £10 an 
acre, and even more for specially-favoured spots; 
while the expenditure on manure and labour is also 
very high, bringing the total outlay in many cases 
up to about /30 per acre, including seed, part of 
which is frequently bought afresh in England. 
