March 2, 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
421 
Weather in London.—The weather of the past 
week has been mild and more or less humid, in 
place of the frost and snow of the previous week. 
American Fruit has risen greatly in favour in 
European markets by reason of the excellence of the 
showing made at the Paris Exposition—at least, so 
the Americans say ! 
The Fern Bulletin for January. — We have 
received the January issue of The Fern Bulletin 
The portrait of Dr. Lucien Marcus Underwood 
forms the frontispiece, and an appreciative editorial 
sketch of his work finds a place on the pages. 
“The Canadian Horticulturist,”—This well 
organised Canadian journal for January contains 
numerous special articles of a very practical nature, 
to which we may more fully refer. The number 
contains a frontispiece of the Directors of the Fruit 
Growers' Association of Ontario all in their beaver 
caps, and a fine body of gentlemen they seem to be. 
The index to volume xxiii. is also given. 
Kew Guild: Annual General Meeting.—By a 
regretable oversight we stated last week that the 
annual general meeting of the Kew Guild was to be 
held on Thursday, February 28th. Although not 
alone in making this mistake, we apologise to old 
Kewites, and say that the old date of the annual 
meeting has been altered. This year it will be held 
at the Holborn Restaurant, London, at 7 p.m., on 
Monday, May 20th. (The Temple Show opens on 
Wednesday, May 22nd). The annual dinner of the 
Kew Guild will also take place on May 20th, at 
7.45 p.m., ju,t after the general meeting. 
Croham Hurst for the Public.—About two years 
ago the Croydon Town Council purchased thirty- 
five acres of the beautifully-wooded hill, known as 
Croham Hurst, to the south of Croydon. The 
remaining forty-five acres were under the invidious 
eyes of the builders, and about seventy of the 
members of a committee met at an open-air meeting 
for the purpose of considering what steps should be 
taken to preserve the wood intact. The result of 
this meeting on January 22nd, 1899, was that the 
whole of the eighty acres have been preserved for the 
use of the public for ever. The council decided to offer 
£15,003 for the remaining forty-five acres, thus 
bringing the resolution to a very successful issue. 
Spring Catalogues.—Many of the spring cata¬ 
logues contain, says an American journal, besides 
order blank and return envelope, an application for 
post office money order properly filled In, save 
spaces for the amount and name of sender. 
Miss Jekyll’s Favourite Colour in Cinerarias. 
—Amongst the many and varied expressions of her 
loves and tastes in the world of flowers it is interest¬ 
ing to note that Mess Jekyll says that “ except in the 
case of the clear blue and the white the range of 
colouring of the Cinerarias is of a coarse and un¬ 
pleasant character.” Many of them, it is true, are 
of an uninviting character, even although extremely 
rich in many of their more intense hues. The dark 
velvety blue found amongst them cannot, as far as 
we remember, be matched by any other blue amongst 
plants, and some have cherished a special admira¬ 
tion for this hue, but many of the shades forcibly 
recall the royal purple, so extensively used as a sign 
of mourning during the obsequies of the late Queen 
Victoria. 
Hamilton and District Gardeners—The young 
gardeners of the Hamilton and District Association 
and their friends had their combined dance and 
assembly in the Liberal Club Hall,on Friday,15th ult., 
when there were over forty couples present Dancing 
commenced at 10 o'clock with great merriment, and 
they tipped the light fantastic toe to the excellent 
music of Mr. Johnston’s Quadrille Band ” till the wea 
short oors ayunt th’ twal.” Messrs. Stewart and 
Jones did the honoured duties of M.C.'s in a happy 
and creditable manner, ably assisted by a willing and 
energetic committee. The whole affair was a great 
success. At the close the committee met and handed 
over ios. 6d. to the Scotsman War Fund. They also 
did honour to a young gardener. Private James 
Mixton, of Allenshaw Gardens, being a pri¬ 
vate in the 1st Coy. V.B. Scottish Rifles, 
and leaving for South Africa. He acted 
as treasurer for the above assembly, was presented 
with a handsome silver-mounted pipe and pouch 
with 3 lb. of good tobacco. Mr. D. M. Burns, 
Earnock Gardens, the secretary of the above, made 
the presentation, and wished the young soldier a 
good journey and a speedy return. Private James 
Maxton feelingly replied.— J. M. 
Utility Poultry Club.— Laying Competition, 1900—1901.— The laying competit'on of the Utility 
Poultry Club ended on February 5th, after a duration of sixteen weeks. The pens, consisting of four pullets 
in each, were under the management and personal supervision of Mr. Geo. C. Ring, The Manor Poultry 
Farm, Slough. 
Pen. Breed. 
xst month. 
2od month, 
3rd month. 
4th month. 
Total. 
Eggs. Pts. 
Eggs. Pts. 
Eggs. Pts. 
Eggs. Pts. 
Eggs. Pts, 
Order. 
1.—Faverolles (E.) 
. . 0 
.0 . . 
0 
.0 , . 
1.. 2 .. 
25 ..50 •• 
26 
. 52 
.. 7th. 
2—Ancoaas .. 
0. 
.0 . . 
0. 
• 0 • • 
0.. 0 .. 
II ..22 .. 
II. 
. 22 
.. 12th. 
3 —Langshans (Bl.) 
0. 
• 0 
2 
.4 .. 
i 5 -- 3 ° •• 
I . . 2 . . 
18. 
• 36 
.. 9th. 
4—Houdans 
. . 0. 
j 0 • • 
0. 
.0 .. 
2.-4 .. 
13..26 .. 
15 - 
• 30 
.. 10th. 
5.—Lines. Buffs ., 
.. 16. 
.30 .. 
32. 
.61 
12..24 .. 
13..2S .. 
73 - 
. 140 
.. 3rd. 
6.—Leghorns (Br ) 
.. c 
.0 . . 
2. 
.4 .. 
6.. 12 .. 
0. . 0 
8. 
. 16 
.. 13th. 
7.—Orpingtons (Bl ) 
. . 0 
• 0 . . 
0. 
.0 .. 
11..22 .. 
14..28 .. 
25. 
• 50 
.. 8th. 
8.—Leghorns (Bf.) 
.. 28 
.56 .. 
19 . 
.38 .. 
22..44 .. 
12..24 .. 
81. 
. 162 
.. 2nd. 
9—OrpiDgtons (Bf) 
0. 
.0 . . 
l 7 • 
•34 •• 
31. 62 .. 
19 . .38 .. 
67. 
•134 
.. 4th 
10.— Leghorns (Bf.) 
0. 
.0 
3 - 
.6 .. 
21..42 
14..28 .. 
38. 
• 7 6 
.. 6th. 
11.— Ply. Rocks (Ba ) 
•• 56. 
I ] 2 
22. 
•44 
19..38 .. 
30..60 .. 
127. 
• 254 
.. 1st. 
12.—Leghorns (Br.) 
. . 0. 
. 0 .. 
0. 
. 0 .. 
2.. 4 .. 
5 .10 .. 
7 - 
• 14 
.. 15th. 
13.—Wyandottes (Bf.) 
• • 0. 
.0 . . 
0. 
.0 .. 
0. . 0 
0. . 0 .. 
0. 
. 0 
.. 20th. 
14.—Leghorcs (Wh.) 
. . 0 
• 0 • • 
0. 
. 0* .. 
0. . 0 
0. . 0 .. 
0. 
. 0 
.. 20th. 
15 —Wyandottes (Par ) 
. . 0. 
.0 
0. 
. 0 .. 
0. . 0 . . 
1.. 2 .. 
1. 
. 2 
.. 17th. 
16.—Leghorns (Wh ) 
0. 
.0 . . 
0. 
. 0 _.. 
II..22 .. 
28.-56 .. 
39 - 
• 78 
.. 5th. 
17. — Wyandoties (S.) 
• • 0. 
• 0 . . 
0. 
. 0 .. 
3-- 6 .. 
5. .10 .. 
8. 
. l6 
.. 13th. 
18. — Minorcas (B 1 . ) .. 
• • 0 
.0 
0. 
.0 .. 
0. . 0 . . 
1.. 2 .. 
1. 
. 2 
.. 17th. 
19.—Wyandottes (Wh.) 
. . 0 
. 0 . . 
0. 
.0 .. 
3.. 6 .. 
10..20 .. 
13 
• 26 
.. nth, 
20.— Minorcas (Bl.).. 
0.. 0 .. 0.. 0 .. 0.. 0 .. 7. .14 .. 
* One Pu'let died at the beginning of the month. 
7 - 
• 14 
.. 15th. 
N.B.—In scoring two points are given for every egg weighing over ij ozs.; one point for every egg 
reaching that weight or being under. 
Prizes —1st, Mr. C. Booth, Hundleby Grange, Spilsby, £3; Mr. Holmes-Tarn's, £1; Mr. J. Dunn’s 
value, £1 ; Mr. Simon Hunter’s value, 15s. ; Mr. J. W. A. Pedley's value, xos. 6d , for pen making highest 
score in the first month ; 2nd, Mr. J. Lupton, Boardman Terrace, Ingleton, Yorks., £3 ; Mr. Simon Hunter's 
value, 15s. ; Mr. J. W. A. Pedley’s value, ios. 6d., for best pen of Leghorns ; 3rd, Mr. W. F. Soell, Marsh 
Farm, Yeovil, £2 ; 4th, Mr. J. Swales, Bents House, Reeth, Richmond, Yotks., £1 ; 5th, Mr. W. Berry, 
Upper Gate, Ingleton, Kirby Lonsdale, 15s. ; 6tb, Mr. W. H Pugh, Blackburn Road, Clayton-le-Moor] 
Accrington, Lancs., The Dairy Outfit Company’s 11 Cosy ” Brooder, value 15s. ; 7th, Mrs. Austin, Allscott, 
Wellington, Shropshire, Mr. P. Percival's value, ios. 6d. Mr. J. Robinson's Consolation Prize.—Mrs. J. 
Wrighr Crewdson, Inglewood, Wilms'ow, Cheshire. Mr. T. Garnett's Prize, value ios. Cd., for the best pea 
judged from show standard is awarded to the owner of Pen 19, Miss L Bethell. Newton Kyme, Tadcaster. 
Age —The pullets in the winning pen were hatched March 10th ; 2nd pen, April 10th ; 3rd, April 2nd ; 4th, 
March 31st; 5th, March and April; 6tb, April 30th ; 7th, April 17th. Pen 12, May; Pen 13, Jan. 7th. 
The results of the preceding competitions were:— 
1899—1900. (At Clitheroe). 
^ 97 —8. (At Northallerton) 1st pen .. 161 eggs. 1. Mr. C. Bird .. S. Wy. .. 223 eggs. 
2nd pen.. 149 ,, 2. Mr. Wilson .. Br. Leg. .. 161 ,, 
1898—9. (At Penrith) 1st pen .. 154 ,, 3. Mr. W. Richardson Bf. Orps. .. 151 ,, 
2ndpen.. 149 ,, 4, Mr. T. Garnett .. Bl. Langs. .. -132 ,, 
It should be noticed that the first four pens in the preceding corapettion laid 667 eggs as against 565 laid 
by the entire 20 pens in the competition just ended. N.B.—These competitions are not given to determine 
which is the best breed ; the club recognises that good laying is a question of strain and not of breed, and 
endeavours by means of these competitions to make known those fowls which under a systematic treatment 
during the four worst months of the year have proved themselves to be good layers. 
The National Diploma in Agriculture. —Publi¬ 
city has just been given to the regulations and 
syllabus of the examination for the National 
Diploma in agriculture, which is to be held under 
the joint auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society 
of England and the Highland and Agricultural 
Society of Scotland this year. The examination is 
to be again held at the Yorkshire College at Leeds, 
and is to commence on the 6th May. As our readers 
will remember this examination was instituted for 
the first time last year when it took the place of the 
separate agricultural examinations annually held by 
the Royal and the Highland societies respectively. 
Under the new conditions the examination is to be 
taken ia two parts, one of which is known as the 
first year course, and includes mensuration and land 
surveying, agricultural botany, general chemistry, 
geology, and agricultural entomology. At least a 
year must elapse between the taking of this examina¬ 
tion and the second part in which the subjects are— 
practical agriculture, agricultural book-keeping, 
agricultural chemistry, agricultural engineering, and 
veterinary science. Oi these subjects agriculture 
very properly gets the highest number of marks with 
a total of 500. In the first year’s examination (for 
which agriculture is not a subject) mensuration, 
land surveying and agricultural botany get 200 each, 
and general chemistry, geology, and agricultural 
entomology, 100 marks each. In the second year’s 
examination 500 marks are, as already indicated, 
allotted to agriculture, 200 to agricultural book¬ 
keeping, 200 to agricultural chemistry, 200 to agri¬ 
cultural engineering, and 100 to veterinary science. 
All particulars regarding the examination can be 
obtained either from the secretary Royal Agri¬ 
cultural Society of England, 13, Hanover Square, 
London, W.C.; or from the secretary Highland and 
Agricultural Society of Scotland, 3, George IV. 
Bridge, Edinburgh.— The Farmers' Gazette. 
— - 
SALVIA PATENS 
Produces spikes of beautiful blue flowers—and a 
charming shade of rich sky-blue it is. This is one of 
the good old Salvias, which have withstood the test 
of time. It is admired to-day for the unique shade 
of its dazzling blossoms. This Salvia, when 
employed in alternation with dot plants of Lobelia 
cardinalis Queen Victoria to relieve a carpet of white 
Violas, produces a sight of gorgeous brilliance and 
exquisite purity, especially so when the silvery white 
Viola Niobe (Sydenham’s) is used for the ground 
work. The easiest and best mode of propagating 
Salvia patens is by sowing seed in February, when, 
if grown on, it will flower the first or same year. 
They make good pot plants, and may be placed out¬ 
doors when all danger of frost is gone. They make 
enchanting masses when associated with white or 
scarlet flowering stuff. Salvia patens is tuberous 
rooted, but only half hardy (as a rule) and requires 
rest during winter.— H. H. Gibson, The Gardens, Glen- 
cairn, Belfast. 
- •*« - 
PHYSALIS 
Is a genus of perennials generally grown for their 
decorative fruit pods cr calyxes. There are P. 
Alkekengi (Winter Cherry), producing long, slender 
stems with terminal white flowers in summer, much 
resembling the Abutilon in habit of growth and 
flower. P. Francheti is a Japanese form of recent 
introduction, with enormous fruit pods of an orange 
colour. This is undoubtedly the best of the three. 
Honesty (Lunaria biennis) and P. Francheti require 
no description for their effectiveness for filling large 
vases at Christmas and throughout winter. In 
autumn cut these above-named varieties when they 
change colour, and store in a dry room for future use. 
For Physalis edulis, better known as the Cape 
Gooseberry, the glass structure is essential to bring 
it to maturity. Edulis, as we know, denotes edible 
fruits. I do not imagine it is grown universally for 
its fruit, but the flower of the same is admirable for 
cutting. Propagate from young growths or seeds. 
Now is the time to sow seeds of the first-mentioned 
two. Sow in 6 in. pots filled with sifted soil and 
place in a greenhouse. Prick off in boxes or pots, 
an I harden off to be planted out at the end of May 
in their permanent situation on the warm side of a 
wall if obtainable. In severe winters cover the roots 
with Titter or bracken. — Adam V. Main. Coltness 
Gardens, Wishaw. 
