315 
January 12, 1901. THE GARDENING WORLD 
pike (6 lb.), ist pike (Woolhampton), isfc perch 
(i lb. ii oz.), ist chub (3 lbs ), ist roach (1 lb. 5 oz.). 
S. Warrilow.—3rd roach (1 lb. 3 oz.), 2nd roach 
(gross ,|0ij lb.), 2 " firsts " and one " third ” matches, 
3rd eel. 
H. Belcher.—3rd chub, 4th roach (1 lb. 2f oz ), 
2 “ firsts,” one " second ” matches. 
W. R. Smith.—2nd perch (1 lb. 4 ozs.), 5th roach 
(1 lb. 2 oz.), 4th roach (gross), matches. 
W. H. Stacey.—yih roach (1 lb.), 3rd roach (gross 
weight 35 lb.), end match, ist chub (Woolhampton). 
R. Bowsher.—2nd pike, 2nd match, 4th chub. 
C. Cooper.—2nd roach (1 lb. 4 oz.), 2nd chub 
(2j lb.). 
W. W. Albury.—ist gross weight roach (half- 
hundred-weight), ist match. 
J. Sadler.—ist eel (3 lb. 2 oz.), 5th chub. 
H. Goodhall.—ist perch (juniors’), 3rd roach 
(juQiors’), 3rd match. 
H. Swain.—2nd eel (2 lb. 13 oz ), 2nd pike (Wool¬ 
hampton). 
J T. J. Wicks.—ist roach (juniors'), 2nd perch 
(ditto). 
Mr. F. J. Plumer.—2nd chub (Woolhampton), 2nd 
match. 
A. Knight.—3rd perch (15! oz.). 
W. H. Chalk.—5th gross weight roach, 3rd match. 
H. Church.—4th perch. 
C. Goseltine.—Matches. 
R. Bryant.—5th perch. 
E. Spong.—2nd roach (juniors’), ist match. 
D. Cooper.—6th roach (1 lb. t oz.). 
KEW NOTES. 
Between the presentment of Kew at its best and 
Kew at its least attractive state, there is a very wide 
difference. Of course this is common to every 
garden, but to Kew in particular; for there are 
exceedingly few gardens throughout the Kingdom 
that equal or surpass Kew in the beauty and variety 
of their design and composition. 
It is within the houses that the floral wealth lies 
at present, yet here and there an early flowering 
hardy shrub enlivens the scene. The Witch Hazel 
with its curious yellow flowers on the chocolate- 
brown shoots; the brilliant masses of the naked 
yellow Jasmine, and the fragrant Chimonanthus, or 
rather C. fragrans grandiflorus, which is the 
commoner of the two. are each attractive in their 
way. The precocious Honeysuckle —- Lonicera 
fragrantissima, which forms a nice bush for a 
rockery, and L. Standishii are very much alike ; and 
though neither of them are very showy, yet they are 
favourites for winter. The value of Kadsura 
chinensis variegata as a wall plant is brought 
prominently before one at this dull season. Jasmi- 
num humile also on a wall, had developed a few odd 
blossoms. The luxuriant dark green pinnate leaves, 
however, will be the principal feature of this Indian 
shrub till the proper flowering season in June and 
July. Ribes speciosum with its pendent racemes of 
crimson Fuchsia-like flowers, and its spring growth 
appears as an anomaly altogether at this mid-winter 
period. This species was brought from California 
in 1829. 
The difference between Crataegus Pyracantha and 
its more free-fruiting variety, C. P. Lelandii, seems 
to be easily detectable in the orange coloured berries 
of the species, and the scarlet berries of the variety. 
The latter is a first-rate subject grown as a bush in 
the shrubbery. There are very finely berried 
samples of it as a bush in Finsbury Park. C. P. 
Lelandii also flowers and fruits more freely and 
earlier than the type. Both shrubs, however, are 
very useful for garden decoration. Then again 
when one is on the quest for ornamental subjects for 
the outdoor garden, what takes the eye sooner than 
the golden Ivies ? Be they conducted upon upright 
pillars, or on loosely linked chains slightly raised 
from the ground level, at the edge of terrace slopes, 
or on the walls of a dwelling house, they have a rich 
an! pleasing colour and appearance. There are 
quite a number of ornamental trees and shrubs, such 
as the red-wooded Cornus, the golden Willow, the 
white barked young Birches, the Buckthorns, 
especially the Sea Buckthorn when berried; 
Euonymus sieboldianus with its interesting and 
beautiful fruits, Rhamnus verniciflua, and the better 
forms of the golden variegated Elaeagnus, that are all 
worthy of a few remarks upon their qualities for 
winter decorative purposes. 
Genista sagittalis has been used in one instance as 
an edging plant at Kew; and it would do if there 
was nothing better. Among the meritorious hardy 
shrubs in bloom we must not overlook the remark¬ 
able Rhododendron aahuricum, whose fragile lilac- 
mauve flowers are freely produced at this dreary and 
cold time of year. It is found all over Northern 
Europe and Asia, but from its appearance one would 
never imagine it to be a vigorous and hardy plant. 
The usual flowering period is March, so that it is 
really out of season at this time. It has long been 
known in this country, but why it has not been far 
more liberally planted is one of the puzzles that at 
times face one. 
The Rock Garden. 
Though there is really nothing in the rockery to 
notice for its attractiveness at the present time, yet 
a few things may be mentioned now that planting is 
engaging attention. Veronica Hectorii always 
catches the eye, and as it is an evergreen it is of 
perennial value. Schizocodon soldanelloides wher¬ 
ever it is known is appreciated as one of the alpine 
gems. We do not see it named in either Messrs. 
Barr & Son’s, or Messrs. J. Backhouse & Son's hardy 
plant catalogues, so that the stock, if in commerce, 
must be very limited. Shortia galacifolia, however, 
can be had, and to all lovers of alpines who have not 
this little prize, we would say "get it.” At the 
present time its leaves shine with a crimson-red 
glow. It is grown in an open, quite exposed pocket 
in the Kew rockery, and does not seem to be very 
difficult to cultivate. 
Polygala Chamaebuxus purpurea and P. C. rosea 
are both doing a little in the way of flowering. One 
of the earliest of the Snowdrops, Galanthus Fosteri, 
bedecks one of the brown-earthed slopes, and the 
flowers are sturdily sprightly. The vigorous, close 
growing Arabis procurrens from Transylvania, 
south of Hungary, offers us its cold, white clusters. 
But the sky-blue “ eyes ” of Lithospermum prostra¬ 
tum are even yet unabashed by the season, which 
proves its mildness and the persistence of the 
flowers, for they still peep out from under the woody 
growths. Iberis gibraltarica is also in flower ; and 
so with the rather weedy Chrysogonum virginicum, 
having yellow blooms like a Potentilla, and which 
would be appreciable in an out-of-the-way place. 
Selaginella denticulata, which is frequently used to 
cover indoor borders and pots, and which resembles 
S. kraussiana, flourishes Ai in the shelter of some 
of the obliquely disposed stones. It is very interest¬ 
ing to see it doing so well in the open air. The 
Christmas Roses have begun to flower, and will 
continue fresh for a few months. The rock garden, 
however, is taking its nap, and only the whispers of 
the southern zephyrs can call out the dormant 
charms. 
--J——- 
MULTIFLORA STRAIN OF STREPTO- 
CARPUS. 
Some weeks ago we inspected a large batch of this 
strain of Streptocarpus in full bloom in the nursery 
of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, London. 
By repeated intercrossing, seed sowing and selection 
a great deal of variety has now been developed in 
this particular strain. Some are very nearly pure 
white, one merely having piDk veins on the lower 
lip, and another a lemon band in the throat with 
three short violet lines ; while a third one was pure 
white and certainly an acquisition. Equally impor¬ 
tant in its way was an erect flowered mauve variety, 
which may possibly be fixed and give rise to a new 
strain. Very beautiful and distinct was a blue var¬ 
iety with violet veins. The flowers of many of the 
forms measured 2J in. across. Darker than either 
of the above was that having maroon purple flowers ; 
others diverged into clear indigo-blue flowers; 
intense violet with almost black blotches in the 
throat ; white with pale blue blotches and wavy all 
round the edges of the broad segments; a very fine 
white, with violet blotches ; light blue; and glox- 
inioides, a very wide open white flower with radiating 
violet veins. Another house and a frame were full 
of resting plants that had been flowering all the 
summer. 
Various winter flowering subjects were gay in other 
houses, including Calla The Godfrey, which is finding 
favour with many cultivators. Begonia Gloire de 
Jouy has silvery spotted leaves and magenta-rose 
flowers. B. nigra is not unlike B. Gloire de Lorraine 
in its foliage, but all parts are larger, including the 
rich rosy-carmine flowers. Bijou des Jardins is a 
semi-double variety of B. semperflorens, of 
dwarf habit with deep red flowers. Many other 
winter flowering Begonias were blooming at the 
same time. Seeds were being collected every day 
from the summer flowering tuberous varieties, many 
of which were carrying large fat pods. 
A new variety of Zonal Pelargonium was notable 
for its large, round, magenta-rose flowers. Very 
floriferous was Salvia splendens grandiflora, in dwarf 
plants grown in 48-size pots. Primula sinensis Earl 
Beaconsfield, with pure white double flowers, is now 
a rare plant in gardens. The foliage of Cobaea 
scandens variegata was still bright. Young Abutilons 
were flowering in pots, as were Bouvardias in the 
leading and popular varieties.' 
--» 8 « - 
NEW INVENTION. 
The “Strawberry Support” for which a full patent 
has been applied fer by Mr. H. Low, The Gardens, 
Larbert House, Stirlingshire, is an appliance for 
keeping the fruit of Strawberries up off the ground, 
therefore keeping free from earth, worms, snails, &c. 
It has already been shown at Edinburgh, Glasgow 
and Dundee, on the occasion of the flower shows at 
those places. 
Mode of Using. 
Insert the standard a few inches into the ground, 
as near the centre of the plant as possible, take a 
sling in the left hand with the hooks or catches 
pointing towards the body, then take a truss of fruit 
in the right hand, work the thick stack into the 
spiral, and book up on the ring of the standard 
to whatever height required. Where there are few 
fruits on a truss, two or three trusses can be put into 
one sling if wanted. They will be invaluable for 
pot work, as they will keep the fruit from being 
splashed with water, liquid manure, or whatever is 
used to feed with. They will, practically speaking 
last for ever, so that the work entailed every year 
making birch forks is done away with. They can be 
used outside after the pot fruit is past, so that they 
can be made to do two turns in one year. 
Uses Outside. 
The professional will find that it does all that is 
claimed for it, that is, keeps the fruit perfectly 
clean. By being exposed more to the sun it takes on 
a deeper colour and is better flavoured; it also 
will ripen a few days earlier to start with, and 
should the weather be wet and unfavourable the 
fruit will dry much quicker, avoiding waste through 
rotting. The appliance should not be fixed until 
after the fruit is set, as the leaves hanging over the 
blossom will protect it from frost, should frost 
happen to come when they are in bloom. After the 
fruit is all gathered go over all the plants and cut 
all fruit stalks between the base of the plant and the 
sling, lift the sling when the old truss will fall out. 
There should be a few boxes kept for keeping them 
in when not in use, separate boxes for the standards 
and slings and all put in with the circle ends in the 
standard and the spiral ends in the sling altogether. 
The amateur gardener will find it as useful for 
him as it is to the professional, if not more so, as 
he cannot get straw or hay so easily. 
The market grower, especially those who cater 
for the shops for selling dessert fruit in small 
baskets, will find it enhances the look and flavour of 
bis fruit a great deal, therefore commanding a higher 
price. 
The first cost, which is the only one, will be made 
up for in three or four years’ time, by the amount of 
extra fruit got off a given space. The time spent in 
putting on and lifting after the fruit is gathered 
(which would only be four or five hours in the 
season) is compensated for in the gathering, as 
every fruit is seen at a glance, and can be gathered 
much quicker ; the fruit is also cleaner and better in 
every way. 
Hints for Amateurs on the Cultivation of 
the Strawberry. 
All amateurs, who contemplate going in for Straw¬ 
berry growing, should procure their plants, if they 
have to buy them, as near the beginning of August 
as possible. The piece of ground where it is in¬ 
tended to grow them should be trenched the previous 
winter, and a liberal supply of farmyard manure 
worked in. Any light crop that can be got out by 
the first week in August can be taken off the ground; 
afterwards hoe and rake off any weeds. The ground 
should be well firmed by treading,then give it a rake 
