310 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 12, 1901. 
An Orange Peeler—The young boarding school 
ladies are adepts at peeling Oranges by the use of a 
spoon handle; but we learn of a specially made 
Orange peeler that takes after the form of a spoon, 
intended for the use of those in polite society to 
whom the peeling of these fine fruits at table is a 
source of annoyance. 
Lady Warwick Hostel, Reading.—We are glad 
to know that the appeal made by Lady Warwick for 
some well-disposed affluent person to financially 
assist the work that she has so well promoted to the 
present time has not passed unfruitful. A gentleman 
has generously offered to contribute ,£50,000 
towards this [college and experimental or training 
ground commenced by Lady Warwick, be having 
been favourably impressed with the ideals and aims 
of her ladyship's successful venture. 
The Glastonbury Thorn.—As is usual at this 
time of year references to the traditional Glaston¬ 
bury Thorn appear in papers of all kinds published 
in England and Ireland. The story of the Thorn is 
interesting, and like many other legends it is religi¬ 
ously believed in by many old people in the West of 
England and other places. At this time of year, 
when the Glastonbury Thorn (Crataegus Oxacantha 
praecox) usually begins to flower, mothers or grand¬ 
mothers will take the children of the household 
around their knees and impressively tell them how it 
was that the first tree of this precocious May bush 
came into existence. The whole story is well told in 
the Dublin Daily Express in a recent issue. This 
paper says: “ This precocious Hawthorn is now in 
bud and blossom in the University Botanical Gar¬ 
dens, Pembroke Road, Dublin. It is a peculiarly 
late or early flowering variety of the common ' May 
bush,’ or ' Hawthorn tree,’ blooming in December 
or in January. It seems first to have become popu¬ 
lar in England on account of an old tree that existed 
on Weary-All-Hill, nigh unto Glastonbury Abbey, in 
Somersetshire. This old tree had two trunks, one of 
which was destroyed by the Puritans in the time of 
Queen Elizabeth, and the other shared the same fate 
during the great rebellion. Those interested may 
find the above and other particulars of this variety 
of the Hawthorn in ' British Forest Trees,’ by the 
Rev. C. A. Johns, (5 P.C.K., 1847), pp. 184-190. 
The tradition is that the original stock came as a 
walking staff in the hand of Joseph of Arimathaea, 
who, landing in the then Island of Avelon, fixed his 
staff in the ground and fell asleep. When he awoke, 
the rod, like Aaron’s, had budded and taken root, so 
he concluded that, as the use of his trusty staff had 
thus been taken from him, it was ordained that he 
should begin his work at that place. He accordingly 
built there the little oratory or chapel, which subse¬ 
quently grew into the wonderful Abbey of Glaston¬ 
bury, one of the most magnificent in Britain. Gilpin, 
in his quaint ‘ Observations on the Western 
Parts' of England ’ (1798), gives an account 
of his visit to the abbey there, and says of 
the rustic custodian that he was remarkable for his 
zealous knowledge and piety. Every stone was 
sacred to him, every legend and tradition true, 1 but,’ 
he adds, ‘ above all the appendages of Glastonbury, 
he reverenced most the famous Thorn which sprang 
from St. Joseph’s staff, and blossoms at Christmas- 
tide.’ The actual tree Gilpin saw, however, was not 
the original one, but doubtless a lineal descendant, 
of which a stock is still maintained. This legend, 
old as it is, was doubtless a survival of the still more 
ancient reverence in which the Hawthorn tree has 
been held in northern Europe and Africa. The 
Hawthorn groves in the Phoenix Park at 
Dublin are to-day the only remains of an ancient 
forest frequently alluded to in the annals of Ireland, 
and nowhere else in Europe are there so many and 
such fine old specimens on so limited an area. Mr. 
Johns says. ‘ In Ireland to the present day it is a 
popular belief that no one will thrive after rooting 
up an old Thorn.’ The tree has from time im¬ 
memorial been held in the highest reverence, and by 
the same token we trust the beautiful old Hawthorn 
groves in our national park, may be carefully 
fostered and preserved. Seeing that of all the trees 
in the Phoenix Park the historic Hawthorns are the 
most remarkable, it might well be suggested to those 
in authority how much their beauty and interest 
might be augmented or extended by adding groups 
of all the other known hardy species of Crataegus 
from temperate countries. There are many noble 
species and varieties of Crataegus to be seen in the 
cemeteries at Glasnevin and at Mount Jerome, as 
also in the Botanical Gardens at Glasnevin, and else¬ 
where around Dublin, and the best of these would 
undoubtedly thrive splendidly in a soil and climate 
that suit our native species so well. 18 any case, a 
bold group of the variety ‘ praecox 1 now in bloom 
would afford much interest to residents, as well as 
visitors, as seen flowering at this dull time of the 
year.’’— Whitethorn. 
Ofg* 1 ■ —» 
SOLANUMS. 
Now is the time to sow the above, choosing the 
finest berries for seed. Sow in pans filled with a 
compost of two parts loam, one part leaf soil, one 
part sand, run through the J-in. sieve. Press down 
firmly, covering the seed with a light layer of soil 
and sand; place in a temperature of about 70° by 
day and 65° by night. When the seedlings are fit 
pot them up singly into Co-size pots, using the same 
compost as before, only a little coarser, and keeping 
them in the same temperature as before. When 
well rooted pot into 48 size pots, using a compost of 
three parts loam, one part leaf soil and sand, with a 
sprinkling oi bone meal mixed with the soil. Gradu¬ 
ally harden the plants to a temperature of about 6o° 
by day and 55 0 by night. Plants treated in this 
manner will be ready for planting out by the begin¬ 
ning of June. Directly after planting give a good 
watering, as this encourages the plants to root more 
readily. As the season advances and the plants 
need water add a little Clay’s Fertiliser to the water. 
This will be found to help them immensely. On 
lifting the plants they will easily go into 48 or 32- 
sized pots. When potted place in a warm pit or 
frame, and keep close for a day or two, freely using 
the syringe overhead upon them until well rooted.— 
H. Fleming, Junr., Wexham Park, Slough. 
CACTI 
Are to many the most interesting of succulent 
plants, and this is in no way surprising when we 
think of their diversity of curious shapes. Some 
are flat or two-edged, others have three edges, and 
so on up to twenty or more. Others again, such as 
Epiphyllums, appear masses of articulated, juicy, 
branch leaves, from which flowers are produced in 
wondrous quantity. The globe-shaped section look 
more like exquisite carvings than real living plants. 
A few are comparatively smooth, but many are 
carved by Nature to display a series of eye-dotted 
ribs, vhile some hide their surface outlines with 
strong bunches of long, sharp thorns present¬ 
ing an appearance, which in their native habitat 
daunts the Hod, the Buffalo, and tiger. Others 
again, like the popular “ rat's-tail,” throw their 
numerous, trailing, leafless stems over and below 
the pots, and give many a beautiful picture when 
covered with bright rose-coloured flowers. This is 
a favourite species, and often seen flourishing in a 
cottage window. There are several species of Cacti 
which expand their gorgeous blooms at midnight 
only. The following compost is not the best for all 
Cacti, but it suits most greenhouse varieties Three 
parts good fibrous loam, two parts leaf soil, one part 
each mortar rubble, charcoal, and river sand. Pots 
should be half filled with shreds and not too large. 
Cacti require plenty of water during active growth, 
and dryness while resting.— H. H. Gibson, The Gar¬ 
dens, Glencairn, Belfast. 
JOURNEYMEN. 
In following up "Black Watch” on gardeners’ 
grievances, November 3rd, I sympathise most with 
journeymen gardeners, especially those who are 
diligent and anxious, and would really turn out good 
gardeners. The majority of these require to have 
great patience, as owing to the present arrangements 
they are almost at middle life before they can get 
the chance of learning the different branches of 
their profession _ Life is not long enough to allow 
each one to study all the branches thoroughly. I 
think it very unfair in cany instances, when a 
vacancy occurs iu the houses, that the place is 
filled by a new comer, when active outside men are 
doing their utmost to please in the hope of getting 
inside, but are often disappointed, and consequently 
leave to try their luck in another place. Unless 
they are assisted by some special influence, they 
have to shift about as outside journeymen for years, 
and for the very large sum of 16s. a week. This is 
disheartening to the naturally pushing young men. 
Intelligent labourers seeing this going on try to learn 
all they can and apply, and are successful in getting 
good head places before young gardeners who are 
going over the whole of Britain trying to get inside 
to get a knowledge of inside work, so that they can 
honestly put themselves out for experienced gar¬ 
deners. This is too wide a subject to handle 
thoroughly in 250 words, but others may perhaps 
give their views on the matter.— John C. Dick, The 
Gardens, Champfleurie, Linlithgow. 
-***-- 
MONTBRETIAS. 
For beautifying the garden during summer and 
autumD, and for general cut flower decoration we 
have few plants that excel the above. The grassy 
foliage and graceful flower stems give such a charm 
.to the plants that one cannot fail to admire them.. 
They succeed fairly well for a few years if left out 
all the winter with a dressing of ashes placed over 
them, but to obtain the best results they should be 
taken up after the foliage has become brown and 
placed in boxes for the winter, using a compost of 
three parts loam, one part leaf mould, and enough 
sand to keep the soil in a porous condition. Do not 
box too thickly, and place in a cold frame, giving a 
little protection in severe weather. They should be 
planted out in April in a good-sized bed, which 
shows their beauty much more than dotting a 
few about in the borders. Plant in rows 1 ft. apart 
each way, and water freely in dry weather. By 
lifting annually the blooms attain to a much larger 
size, and the bulbs flower far more freely than if left 
to take care of themselves. A great many varieties 
are now offered, but the following will be found 
among the best : — 
Crocosmiaeflora, a grand variety, orange and 
yellow ; Etoile de Feu, large bright red; 
Pottsii grandiflora, large scarlet ; Eldorado, very 
dwarf yellow; Hurore, golden-yellow; Feu d’Arti¬ 
fice, immense spikes of orange-yellow.— H. Thatcher, 
Elstree. 
DIELYTRA. 
This is what I consider one of our best roots we 
have for forcing, or making a grand display in our 
herbaceous borders. Besides being easily grown, 
few plants are more useful. If you have roots 
plentiful in the borders get a spade and cut a little 
bit off each, and pot into 8-in. pots, or rather accord¬ 
ing to the size of your root. The potting mixture 
should be turf, leaf mould, and sand, using one 
part of each—light soil suits. Place in a tempera¬ 
ture of 55° to 65° for a few weeks, and after they 
have grown 1 it. gradually reduce the heat of your 
house, as they flower well in a cool greenhouse once 
they are that length. This is a plant that is not just 
finished after done flowering, as you can place the 
pots in any bare part of the stage for the sake of the 
nice Fern-leaved foliage. The best sorts are 
spectabilis and s. alba, which is quite new and 
superior to the older spectabilis. For the front 
s'.agiDg of a conservatory, D. eximia comes in very 
useful,as it only grows about afoot high,and can do 
with even less heat than spectabilis. The graceful 
habit of the plant renders it invaluable for decora¬ 
tion. It should certainly be grown more extensively 
than at present.—T. S. Dick, Castlemilk, Lockerbie. 
NEW CENTURY THOUGHTS. 
Centuries may come and centuries may go, but the 
gardening world must flourish to-day as it did 
before the centuries began. No craft can boast of 
such antiquity. No craftsman can obtain his liveli¬ 
hood with more healthful pleasure or less contamina¬ 
tion with sin. True, many tradesmen are better 
rewarded materially for much less mental exercise ; 
but after all the gardener is as happy at home as any 
of them. The engines of socialism are discontent, 
and are they not driven often by sons of those crafts, 
which the deeper sins of mankind necessitates ? 
Individual equality is impossible, and true happi¬ 
ness is not nourished in the soil of gold alone. When 
the world becomes a gardening world, aDd fruits, 
flowers, and vegetables are produced in abundance 
of the highest perfection, then will not the vexacious 
problem of so-called socialism be solved—solved to 
