November 24,.1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
197 
Apricots.—The practice of loosening the branches 
is recommended by experts as a means for retaining 
health in wall trained Apricots. 
Mr. John Hunter, a jobbing gardener at Duns, 
Berwickshire, was standing on a ladder in Newtown 
Street on the 14th inst, when he slipped and fell, 
cutting his head badly. He was carried home in a 
semi-conscious condition, but gradually sank and 
died of his injuries the same day. He was a man 
about seventy years of age. 
The efficacy of Spraying;—There are always a 
number of persons with very conservative ideas, and 
who look askance at " new ” remedies for troubles. 
Spraying is a case in point. We are therefore 
pleased to see in the Irish Farming World, a letter 
from a Connaught Irishman which states how 
beneficial Potato spraying has been in Co. Galway. 
Crops twice sprayed at the proper time in some of 
the worst lands in the West, have turned out 
eminently satisfactory both as regards the soundness, 
size, dryness, and produce. The letter was prompted 
from the author, having seen a letter stating spray¬ 
ing to have been practically a failure. 
Mr. Angus M’Leod, for many years superinten¬ 
dent of public parks and gardens at Edinburgh, has 
tendered his resignation to the Town Clerk, on 
account of failing health. Besides doing faithful 
service at Edinburgh he has been gardener in 
several important places previous to his appointment 
at the northern capital. For instance, he was some 
time gardener to Sir W P. Galloway, Thirkleby 
Park, Thirsk, Yorks ; also at Burghley House, 
Stamford, Lincolnshire, the seat of the Marquis of 
Exeter ; Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham, and 
Milton Park, Peterborough, both seats of Earl Fitz- 
william ; and, lastly, Newbattle Abbey, Dalkieth, the 
seat of the Marquis of Lothian. 
The late William Stocking.—It Is not often that 
one meets with a gardener's career having such long 
service attached to it as the deceased had, and who 
closed that career early this month. He served the 
present Lord Amherst, of Hackney, and his father 
before him for sixty years, in the capacity of head 
gardener, forester, and woodman. Daring that 
period he was not out of harness more than two 
months through ill health, and he was given strength 
to remain at his post till within a fortaight of his 
death, although he had attained the good old age of 
eighty-two years. He was placed to rest in a coffin 
made from wood of an Oak tree he had seen grow 
under his charge, by his Lordship’s express wish. 
He was of a quiet retiring nature, but bad a kindly 
feeling to those around him, which brought him 
many friends, as was seen by the very large number 
who attended his funeral, as also by the many floral 
tributes sent by members of Lord Amherst's family, 
and other friends. Although belonging to the old 
school he remained young by adopting any new 
methods. He leaves one son, a widow, and four 
daughters to mourn his loss.— J. C , F., Chard. 
Ealing and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society.—The thirteenth annual session 
(igoo-:) of the Ealing Gardeners’ Society com¬ 
menced on October 2nd. The first paper was 
read on October 30th. Mr. W. B. Gingell was 
the author, the subject being "Road and Path 
Miking.” Following meetings are November 13th, 
•' A Few Hints on Growing Roses,” by Mr. H. 
Burgess. On November 27th, Mr. F. W. E. 
Shrivell, F.L.S , takes up the subject of " Manures." 
Mr. J. Gibson expounds "Vegetable Culture” on 
December nth. January 15th brings up Mr. W. 
Chaffer, who dilates on " Pruning and Training 
Fruit Trees.” And on January 29th the culture of 
" Stove and Greenhouse Flowering Plants for 
Exhibition ” is explained by Mr. C. Long. Mr. A. 
Pentney, on February 12th, has, no doubt, some¬ 
thing poignant to say on “ Plant Diseases and 
Advertised Remedies.” " Planting ” is the limitless 
theme to be dealt with by Mr. J. Hawkes, on Febru¬ 
ary 26th. Mr. A. Wait, on March 12th, treats 
“ Bedding Plants ” ; and Mr. C. Edwards, on March 
26th, considers the " Herbaceous Calceolarias.” 
The annual dinner and prize distribution comes off 
on April 2nd, igoi. The meetings are held in the 
Municiple Buildings, the room is open at 7 o'clock, 
the business commencing at 8. Tempting money 
prizes are offered for various collections at every 
alternate meeting. The hon. secretary is Mr. W. 
Roberts, Braemar Gardens, North Common Road, 
Ealing, W. 
A Hydrangea hortensis, 10 ft. in diameter, and 
bearing 482 trusses, was recently to be seen in the 
garden of M. H. Walsh, Esq., Woods Hole, Mass. 
U.S.A. 
Snow fell heavily in North Perthshire on the 12th 
inst. so that all outdoor labour was suspended. On 
the hills and more upland districts the snow accu¬ 
mulated to a considerable depth, although there was 
no drifting. 
The Ashford Collection of Orchids.—On the 
13th and 14th inst. Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, 
of Cheapside, London, conducted a sale of the fine 
collection of Orchids got together by G. Shorland 
Ball, Esq., Ashford, Wilmslow, Cheshire, realising a 
sum of £4,666. The highest price obtained for a 
single specimen was 120 gs. for Cypripedium callo¬ 
sum Sanderae, consisting of two old and two new 
growths. C. insigne Sanderae, consisting of twenty- 
one growths, old and new, fetched 100 gs. Next in 
order came C. i. Luciani, 90 gs- ; Cattleya labiata 
alba, with seven stems, five leaves and one flower 
sheath, 85 gs.; one strong crown of Cypripedium 
callosum Sanderae and Laelia praestans alba, each 
60 gs. ; C. insigne bohnhoffianum, 56 gs.; C. law- 
renceanum hyeanum, 55 gs. ; Cattleya labiata alba, 
small piece, 50 gs.; Cypripedium venustum 
measuresianum, 48 gs. ; and many others at high 
prices. Good Orchids, it will be seen, can yet find 
eager buyers. 
The Charlock Pest.—The yellow flowered cruci¬ 
ferous plant that converts corn-fields into seas of 
gold about May and June, though beautiful when 
seen in its glory is yet one of the direst plagues that 
trouble the farmer. He abhors Charlock. (Char¬ 
lock has many different names both scientific and 
colloquial.) Coming to his assistance, Mr. G. F. 
Strawson has for a few years past largely experi¬ 
mented with copper-sulphate solutions, sprayed upon 
the Charlock. He has used strong solutions, weak 
solutions, and all grades of strength or virulency 
between the extremes. He has sprayed when the 
Charlock was very young, aud at various stages up 
to the period of its maturity. He has kept a strict 
record of the several results and has formed from 
them a very reliable opinion on how best to proceed 
for the suppression of Charlock. The report of his 
work in Charlock spraying during 1900 has just been 
published. We might select a few figures showing 
results but it is more commendable to point out that 
complete copies of the report can be obtained for the 
asking, from Mr. Strawson direct. The matter is 
important, so much so that all in any way troubled 
with Charlock would do well to apply for copies to 
(City Bank Building ), 71A, Queen Victoria Street, 
London, E.C. 
A Horticultural Library.—The Croydon and 
District Horticultural Mutual Improvement Society, 
though not long in existence, seems to have a grand 
co-operative and enthusiastic working system from 
which great things may be expected. Croydon is 
blessed with a number of well appointed public 
libraries, the officials of which are active and 
generous. Having heard through the energetic hon. 
secretary of the above society that certain botanical 
and horticultural works would be welcomed they 
extended their beneficence, and now we have a 
publication before us which includes a list of the 
books on botany, agriculture, and landscape garden¬ 
ing in the Croydon Public Libraries, the publication 
of which list has been done by the Horticultural 
Society for the special use of its members. We 
think the Croydon gardeners are exceedingly 
fortunate, and trust that so many as can will give 
their support to the society and its officers. In " the 
list ” we count 115 works on botany, divided system¬ 
atically under the headings Physiological and 
Structural Botany, Economical Botany, Geographi¬ 
cal Botany, Phanerogamia, Cryptogamia, and so on. 
The books on agriculture (which includes horticul¬ 
ture) are equally well represented, and, indeed, the 
study of their titles is an education in itself! All 
the best books by the ablest and clearest writers are 
there, and, we think, that if other similar societies 
would only use some of the powers they possess in a 
like endeavour horticultural education throughout 
the land would rise at once from its conservative 
grooves, and, in many cases, apathetic condition to 
higher ideals and a state of progress. Co-operation 
with education will eventually lift gardening to its 
true level among trades and professions. 
Parisian Boulevards.—The trees in the streets 
and public places of Paris are estimated by M. 
Mangin to number about 80,000. Of these 26,000 are 
Plaae trees, 17,000 Chestnuts, and 15,000 Elms, the 
remainder being Sycamores, Maples, Lindens, with 
apparently only one Oak and one Mulberry. The 
Paper Mulberry in the Avenue de Bois-des Boulogne 
used to be a fine sight when covered with its orange- 
coloured fruits. 
Plants and their Food.—Mr. Pearson continues 
his series of articles on the above subject in the 
November Knoivledge. The following is an extract: 
—” Many plants, including a large number of 
Orchids, the Heaths which constitute the larger mass 
of the plant-population of our moors, as well as 
many familiar British trees, possess few root-hairs 
or none at all, their place being supplied by the fine 
thread-like filaments of the fungus. This so-called 
‘ mycorhiza ’ or • fungus-root ’ is of two kinds. In 
many ground Orchids, and in the members of the 
Heath family, the fungus establishes itself in the 
external cells of the root whence it sends out into the 
soil free filaments which serve the purpose of root- 
hairs. In the Beech and related trees the connection 
between the fungus and the root is less intimate. 
Here the filaments do not penetrate the outer cells 
of the root, but, instead, become closely interwoven, 
forming a mantle over the end of the root,, investing 
it as the finger of a glove invests its occupant. From 
this mantle proceed numerous filaments which force 
themsel ves among the soil-particles after the manner 
of root-hairs. In most cases little is known of the 
fungi which enter into such unions with the roots of 
higher plants. In some, notably in that of the Pine, 
the mycorhizal filaments belong to the fungus whose 
fruits are so well known under the name of ■ truffles.’ 
In this association of fungi with the roots of higher 
plants the benefit is mutual. When the filaments 
penetrate the living cells of the roots they undoubt¬ 
edly receive therefrom organic substances which the 
fungus, being destitute of chlorophyll, is unable to 
build up for itself. In return, it to some extent saves 
its host the necessity of forming root-hairs, whose 
duties are performed by its loose ends. Whether 
the mycorhiza which simply invests the root of its 
host without penetrating its cells is of similar service 
is not certain." 
Syndical Chamber of Belgian Horticulturists.— 
At the meeting of this body in conjunction with the 
Royal Agricultural and Botanical Society of Ghent 
on the 4th inst., the jury awarded Certificates of 
Merit to a lot of Chrysanthemums presented by M. 
de Vriesere-Remens (with unanimity); to Chrysan¬ 
themum Mrs. Coombes (Jones, 900), shown by M. le 
Comte O. de Kerchove de Denterghem ; to Cattleya 
Martinii (C. aurea x C. bowringiana) and Cattleya 
labiata Roi des Pourpres, C. labiata x C. Eldorada 
alba, all staged by M. G. Vincke-Dujardin, of Bruges 
(by acclamation) ; io Laeliocattleya varjenewskyana, 
Cattleya labiata autumnalis, C. hybrida (C. labiata 
x C. dorman’aaa), C. St. legeriana, C. labiata 
autumnalis Lindeni, C. hyb. gottoiana moortebeeki- 
ensis, C. labiata autumnalis Georges Putzys, C. 
labiata autumnalis var., C. Harrisoniae (with un¬ 
animity). Laelia praestans amabilis (with acclama¬ 
tion and the congratulations of the jury), Cattleya 
labiata autumnalis Marie Henriette de Wavrin, C. , 
gaskelliana alba, Laelia praestans var., Vanda 
caerulea Arthur Van de Heede (with unanimity), V. 
c. L. Desmet-Duvivier (with unanimity), V. c. 
Camille Van Cauwenberghe (with unanimity), and 
V. sanderiana var. (with acclamation), all shown by 
M. le Marquis de Wavrin. Certificates of Merit 
were also accorded to Cattleya aurea var., Cattleya 
hardyana Madame Desmet-Duvivier, C. gigas var., 
and C. hardyana var., all exhibited by Mr. M. Ver- 
donck; Cypripedium Memoria Moensii, shown by 
M. Maes Braeckman ; Cattleya labiata, staged by M. 
G. Vincke-Dujardin; Houlletia claeseana, shown 
by M. Florent Claes; a lot of cut flowers of new 
Chrysanthemums, 1900 (with unanimity), and 
another lot of cut Chrysanthemums, exhibited by 
M. E. Fierens (by acclamation and the congratula¬ 
tions of the jury). A like award was given to a 
group of Chrysanthemums shown by M. le Comte 
O. de Kerchove de Denterghem, and a Certificate of 
Merit to M, Buyssens, his chief grower at the winter 
garden, for the object lessons concerning the different 
manures applied in the culture of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums. 
