228 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 8, 1900. 
and place them in a cellar or simila* place 
till the ground is thawed. In northern 
counties where the soil often remains frozen 
for weeks together, a better plan would be 
to unpack the Roses at once and cover up 
their roots in deep boxes of soil, or even 
lay them on the floor and cover them with 
soil or moist sand, and this again with 
straw if necessary to keep frost at bay. 
The method of planting is dealt with 
even more fully, and' rules and details given 
that one would think unnecessary, though 
no doubt success often' depends upon such 
minutiae. In the case of wet and clayey 
soils it is of great advantage to use the 
clippings and parings of walks and similar 
gritty material for placing beneath and 
around the roots. This will allow the 
operator full freedom in treading the roots 
firmly without fear of puddling them with 
mud. Simple directions for the planting 
and staking of isolated plants, climbers or 
pillar Roses, Standard Roses, where the 
treatment differs from that accorded the 
bushes, are also placed at the reader’s (dis¬ 
posal. The same might be said of winter 
protection both for dwarf Teas and 
Noisettes as well as Standard Roses, and 
the first pruning after planting. The pam¬ 
phlet finishes up with lists of choice Roses 
for beginning a collection, including fifty 
for exhibition purposes. Sixty Roses for 
garden decoration refer to species and 
varieties which flower only once during the 
summer months. Summer and autumn 
flowering varieties make the heading of 
another list ; and needless ro say all these 
lists give the best of the varieties, for each 
respective purpose, and are thoroughly 
up to date. 
Christmas Trees (Picea excelsa) appeared in 
Covent Garden on November 28th. 
Poinsettias have been forward in many of the 
London florists' shops for three weeks. 
Cypripedium insigne Sanderae.—A small piece 
of this beautiful variety, consisting of two crowns of 
leaves and one flower, was bought at the sale rooms 
of Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, Cheapside, on the 
30th ult, for 17 gs. We understand it passed 
into the collection of H. T. Pitt, Esq., Rosslyn, 
Stamford Hill. 
Durham College of Science. — The Agricultural 
Department of this college provides courses of 
practical and theoretical instruction in agriculture 
for all classes of students at a moderate cost. The 
Durham College has a splendid record to show in 
examination successes, for at the last three held by 
the Royal Agricultural Society of England the first 
place and Gold Medal has been gained twice, and 
the second place once, by students from this college. 
There is an excellent teaching staff, the principal 
change in the teaching staff since last year being 
that Mr. T. H. Middleton, B.Sc., has taken the post 
vacated by Professor Somerville, as Professor of 
Agriculture. 
Women as Gardeners.—It was my fortune not so 
very long since to make a call at the Lady Warwick 
Hostel, Reading; and also to be shown over the 
garden and such appliances as existed for the 
practical instruction of the young lady students in 
gardening. That th,ere was the most earnest desire 
to instruct on the one hand, and a fair desire to learn 
on the other, I can have no doubt. But I saw the 
ladies' garden plots —some in process of being 
trenched, some dug, and so on, and my practical 
ideas as to how work should be done somewhat 
revolted. It was work such as I would not have 
tolerated at the hands of men for one moment. The 
packing shed and potting shed, as also the principal 
greenhouse, were in a state that caused me mentally 
to groan. I could not, seeing what was being 
attempted, exhibit myself as a harsh critic ; but 
I could only realise how difficult, if not indeed hope¬ 
less, is it to endeavour to make practical, methodi¬ 
cal, tidy gardeners out of irresponsible women.— 
A.D., in the Journal of Horticulture. 
The Cider Yintage.—So plentiful have Apples 
been this year that the cider vintage is plentiful— 
the makers, indeed, have rather more than they can 
well dispose of. But the large and cheaper quanti¬ 
ties put upon the market should work to his advan¬ 
tage by creating a taste and consequent demand for 
a wholesome wine. 
Acorn Poisoning. —In the columns of The North 
British Agriculturist for November 14th, a reader 
writes to say he has " a beast " poisoned by eating 
Acorns, and asks for medical advice on the treat¬ 
ment of the animal. Whether "the beast" lives 
till the next issue of the paper reaches him is not 
very certain. But the moral of the no'.e is, to keep 
cattle and horses away from where they might 
obtain too many Acorns. 
Tomatos from Abroad. — The supply of Tomatos 
after our own have fallen short or run out for the 
season is maintained by imports from the Canary 
Islands and the south of France. During the first 
half of this year, that is, up till the time our home 
crops become abundant, the Canaries furnished to 
British markets 16,389 tons of these fruits. What 
an enormous consumption there now is. In Ger¬ 
many Tomatos are still chiefly used as flavourings. 
The destruction of Charlock,—Referring to a note 
on this subject respecting spraying, which must be 
a costly proceeding besides the injury done to the 
growing corn by the operator walking amongst it, I 
think the most effectual way of destroying this 
troublesome weed is to let the land lay fallow for a 
season, or a sowing of Rape seed and Vetches may 
be made, and when the Charlock is well up 
commence to cut it and complete the work before 
the Charlock ripens its seed. When it has been 
allowed to seed year after year till there is as much 
or more Charlock than corn, it may be necessary to 
shallow plough the land and harrow it in order to 
encourage growth of any seed that might have been 
buried. This process may appear costly, but it has 
only to be done once, whilst in spraying some are 
sure to be missed, and they will yield a crop another 
year.— IV. P. R., Preston. 
Osier or Willow culture.—New interest in Willow 
culture for basket making, says the Journal of the De¬ 
partment of Agriculture of Western Australia, has lately 
been aroused in Australia and America. The United 
States Department of Agriculture have lately issued 
a pamphlet on the subject of the cultivation and use 
of Osiers. The treatment is of the simplest, involv¬ 
ing little care or expense. A marshy soil by the side 
of streams or rivers, or round lagoons, such as are 
unfit for other crops, is the most suitable. No 
manuring is required, and a renewal of plants is 
seldom necessary. Propagation is usually effected 
by cuttings which should be about 15 in. long, and 
planted in lines 2 ft. apart. A crop may be expected 
in the second or third year. Planted on sloping, 
swampy land Willows should also serve the purpose 
of binding the soil and prevent it being washed away 
in heavy rains. Among the best Willows for basket 
making are :—Salix amygdalina, S. viminalis, S. 
purpurea, S. lucida, and S. Caprea. 
Ealing and District Gardeners’ ^Society.—On 
the 27th ult. a most instructive and exhaustive paper 
on " Autumnal-tinted Trees and Shrubs" was pre¬ 
sented to the members by Mr. T. Humphreys, 
assistant superintendent of the Chiswick Gardens. 
Mr. Humphreys spoke of the universal love of trees, 
and of the charm and beauty begotten of their 
presence in parks and gardens. He gave a huge list 
of subjects suitable for the purpose of autumnal 
decoration. He dilated on their individual merits 
and colouration, mode of growth and general effec¬ 
tiveness, selecting some such as the Thorns, 
Sumachs, Acers, Dogwoods, Amelanchiers, Azaleas, 
Liquidambar Liriodendron, Vitis inconstans and 
many others for special emphasis. Mr. C. B. Green, 
who occupied the chair, concurred in the number 
and variety of "picture " trees and shrubs which were 
available for parks and large gardens, but suggested 
a rigid selection for those gardens which were 
possessed of roods rather than acres. Some little 
discussion of an affirmative character ensued, as it 
was held that no exception could be taken to the 
beauty of autumn tints, or the lecturer’s views 
thereon. On the proposition of the chairman a 
hearty vote of thanks was accorded. 
Yiolets in Boxes.—Mrs. Hanswirth, of Chicago, 
says that Violets best retain their odour in wooden 
boxes. 
For Potatos, the following weights of artificial 
manures are recommended per acre :—3 cwt. super¬ 
phosphate, 2 cwt. kainit, and 1 cwt. of sulphate 
ammonia mixed, and applied before planting. 
Horticulture from an Educational Standpoint. 
—Prof. F. W. Card contributes an eloquent plea on 
behalf of horticultural study and as a force of value 
in the development of man's higher qualities. He 
says: " (1) It affords a means of-livelihood among 
congenial and ennobling surroundings, with a liberal 
share cf the best things of life. (2) It affords 
recreation and companionship, particularly to those 
whose brains grow weary in other lines of work 
(3) It trains the faculty of observation, an important 
educational function. (4) A wider knowledge of it 
would help in the solution of some of the sociological 
problems of the day. (5) It gives power to man in 
the development of new forms of life. (6) It con¬ 
tributes to culture and breadth of mental vision, the 
highest result of educational training.” 
Canadians Celebrate the Return of South 
African Volunteers.— The American Florist says:— 
" Never before in the annals of the city (Toronto) 
has more enthusiasm been shown than was accorded 
to soldiers who have just returned from South Africa, 
and never have such quantities of Hemlock and Pine 
wreathing been utilised as were required on this 
occasion. The florists made a special hit by tying 
bows of patriotic ribbon on Chrysanthemums. Hot 
cakes never sold so readily as these souvenirs. One 
florist had in his window a large Union Jack made 
of Cape flowers, a stack of rifles, drums, and other 
accoutrements of war. He used khaki as a back¬ 
ground. All the florists made some attempt at 
decorating. The decorations on the lawn of the 
New City Hall, by Commissioner Chambers, were 
highly thought of ” 
Nurserymen’s Catalogues.—"A sign of progress is 
seen in the great care that many nurserymen and 
florists are giving in the preparation of their cata¬ 
logues. In a great measure the catalogue of a house 
is the travelling saleman ; it is the silent drummer, 
and even as the value of a drummer is largely in his 
personality and appearance so in a still greater sense 
even does the catalogue influence the desired pur¬ 
chaser by its apperance and manner of get-up. It is 
indeed a reflection of the personality and mind of the 
head of the business which it represents. It is bis 
creation, and it is he alone who makes it good or 
bad.” The above is from an American journal. 
While much of what is said is true, one cannot forget 
the elaborate pains taken by very old nursery firms 
with their early catalogues. These were like text¬ 
books of systematic botany, and contained an 
amount of scientific instruction that few present-day 
catalogues possess. 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association.—The fortnightly meet¬ 
ing was held at St. John’s Parish Room, Redland, 
on Thursday, November 29th. A large attendance 
was presided over by Mr. G. Brook. The paper on 
" Grape Culture” was provided by Mr. J. Kitley, of 
Alvaston, Derby, and was read in his absence by 
Mr. H. Kitley, of Clifton. It was full of useful 
information on the subject dealing with the culture 
from making the borders up to the ripening of fruit. 
Emphasis was laid on the necessity of careful pre¬ 
paration of Vine borders, which he said should be 
made narrow to commence with, adding soil as 
growth advanced. Many helpful hints were given 
as to watering, syringing, training, stopping and 
ventilation of houses, also the best method of deal¬ 
ing with many insect pests to which Vines are liable. 
Mr. Kitley claimed for Grapes that they were 
accommodating enough to be grown in almost any 
locality, he himself having succeeded in producing 
first-rate quality at the foot of the Scotch Grampians. 
The paper was much appreciated, and the thanks of 
the meeting were voted to Mr. Kitley by acclamation. 
Prizes were offered for two bunches of Grapes. The 
first, a R.H.S. Bronze Flora Medal, was awarded 
Mr. A. M. Ross, the other awards being accorded to 
Messrs. Andrew, Curtis, and Atwell. Certificates of 
Merit went to Mr. Ayliffe for a collection of vege¬ 
tables, and Mr. Atwell for two Begonias (Gloire de 
Lorraine). 
