616 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 25, 1901. 
Case of Libel.—In the High Court of Justice, Mr 
H. J. Jones was on Tuesday last awarded £50 
damages against Mr. W. Wells for libel. 
Paris Green.—This well-known insecticide and 
fungicide is extensively used by United States 
fruit growers. The official report for the year 1899- 
1900 states that in Lousiana alone, over fifty-three 
tons were examined by the authorities as it was 
brought into the country. Seeing how far a small 
quantity will go it must have been used over a large 
area. 
New Free Pleasure Resort.—The beautiful 
palace and grounds known as Alexandra Palace 
have been opened to the public for ever free, except 
on certain special occasions, not to exceed twenty 
each year. The original structure put up to com¬ 
memorate the exhibition of 1861 was burnt down in 
1873. The present building covers seven acres of 
ground and cost upwards of £300,000. The inter¬ 
esting opening ceremony was performed by the 
Duke of Bedford. There were many high officials 
and notable people present. 
Quassine for Aphides on Roses, &c.—Some little 
time ago we received a tube of Quassine from 
Messrs. Thomas Christy & Co., 4, 10, and 12, Old 
Swan Lane, Upper Thames Street, E.C., for trial on 
Rose bushes. Quassine is a liquid or semi-liquid 
preparation from quassia chips, and being in this 
form is easily and quickly prepared, compared with 
the time necessary to manipulate quassia chips. It 
is a new preparation, but instructions for using it are 
given upon the tubes. We placed it in the hands of 
an amateur whose Roses were badly affected with 
aphides owing to the sheltered position in which 
they are growing. He engaged the help of a gar¬ 
dener, and the two made ap attack upon the pests. 
Besides the Quassine a little soap was also dissolved 
in the water according to custom, to make it more 
effective. The preparation did its work well as the 
aphides,which completely covered the young shoots, 
became motionless even where they were not dis¬ 
lodged, and Siphonophora Rosae is not easily over¬ 
come even with strong tobacco water. The applica¬ 
tions did not extend to neighbouring gardens, how¬ 
ever, and winged specimens again colonised the 
bushes. Our advice is that other Rose growers 
should also take the remedy in hand. 
Kew Guild Dinner.—The annual dinner of the 
above Guild was held at the Holborn Restaurant on 
Tuesday, May 21st. There was a meeting of the 
Guild before the dinner, and the reports submitted 
showed that the financial position is very satisfac¬ 
tory. The Guild started as quite a small affair, con¬ 
sisting of one or two generations, but it has advanced 
rapidly in importance. The Journal of the Guild 
gives this year over 600 names and addresses. They 
are widely distributed ; the directory shows that 45 
are in Asia, 20 in Africa, 56 in America, 16 in Aus¬ 
tralasia, and many scattered out in islands in the 
Pacific and other oceans. In fact, it is, as the direc¬ 
tor said,when proposing the toast of the Guild, that 
there is not a country where British enterprise is 
active, but where one may find a Kewite doing his 
share in the country’s interests. There was never 
a time when Kew men were in more demand; a sort 
of stamp is put on them when they pass through the 
Kew training, and the Kew trade mark is known 
throughout the world as a mark of recommendation. 
Kew is always open to a limited number of Conti¬ 
nental horticulturists, and it gives great pleasure to 
the men to mix with their confreres of other countries 
and study their ways and manners, and their various 
methods of horticulture. Some professional singers 
were engaged to enliven the proceedings after dinner, 
and that their efforts at entertainment were well 
appreciated was well shown by the repeated encores. 
The song of the evening was a very appropriate 
parody on “ The Absent-minded Beggar," which 
was loudly encored. It was worked on a gardening 
theme, and Dig ! Dig, Dig! was substituted in the 
place of the familiar words. The old favourite, 
“ The Fine Old Irish Gentleman,” was given as an 
encore. A lady singer gave many delightful senti¬ 
mental songs and took part in several pretty duets. 
About 150 sat down to dinner, which was well served 
and thoroughly enjoyed. The usual toasts were 
given, that of the chairman receiving musical 
honours. Many of the faces present showed signs 
of haviDg recently experienced tropical suns. 
This year 225 papers were sent in at the R.H.S. 
examination. This was eleven less than the previous 
year. 
Royal Botanic Society of London.—Botanical 
people are not credited with being gay as a rule, but 
the above society mean having a good time during 
the coming summer. They started their season well 
at the spring show, and drew together a very fashion¬ 
able gathering. They have arranged for no less than 
ten pastoral plays during the season, four in June 
and six in July, besides numerous evening fetes and 
promenades. 
Notes from Hamilton.—A few lines in reply to 
" Notes from Hamilton," p. 591. I should like to ask 
if the words used, " bloomer friends,” were intended 
as a slur on the young gardeners of Hamilton. It is 
too bad as accidents will happen, and if intended it 
is unfair to throw stones. As our famous poet Burns 
puts it : 
” The wisest man the warld e'er saw, 
He dearly lov'd the lasses, O.” 
A word on behalf of these young gardeners. Put 
them alongside any of our working bodies of men 
and they will hold their own in any respect, although 
it is a pity that so many weeds get amongst the good 
seed. As you mention would be professional 
gardeners, why not make a step in Hamilton in a 
mild form to protect that high branch of civilisation, 
—A Cabbage Grower. 
[The reference to young gardeners did not include 
the lady gardeners, but was intended for those who 
took part in the discussion on '• Gardeners' Griev¬ 
ances " in The Gardening World some time ago, 
and none of them were lady gardeners. The terms 
" bloomer friends,” we take for granted,was intended 
for a rub against the dress rather than for the 
wearers, against whom we do not suppose any slur 
was intended. Our correspondent's article, by an 
oversight, was not signed, but we suppose he will 
reply to this matter and put it right.— Ed.] 
» ■ » 
LEEKS. 
No time should now be lost in planting the early 
crop of the above. Where it is desirable to grow 
very fine examples, it is advisable to make a shallow 
trench precisely as for Celery, but only taking out 
about 5 in. of soil. The bottom of the trench should 
have a good coating of very rotten manure which 
should be dug in a couple of inches or so. The 
surface should be levelled over and pressed down 
with the foot. Two rows should be planted in each 
trench, and should be planted so that each plant in 
the opposite row is at angles with the other. Water 
very freely during dry weather. Towards the end 
of the summer when the plants have made good 
growth they should have a mulching of fine manure, 
and some of the soil from the side of the trench 
should be worked on to it and over it. They should 
have another good watering with manure water if it 
can be had, aod the plants will advance quickly, 
becoming blanched at the base previous to use. 
Many methods are adopted to blanch; but none 
beats the old fashioned and best method of blanch¬ 
ing with soil, as thereby the snowy whiteness every¬ 
one admires in the Leek is retained.— T. W. Dollery , 
The Gardens, Whitburn, Sunderland. 
WINDOW BOARDS. 
The time is now approaching when all the windows 
will look gay with flowers, for to see the sills in front 
of a house well stocked, is a very pleasing spectacle; 
it also gives the house a more respectable appear¬ 
ance. The window gardener has to judge for him¬ 
self the plants and colours that suit his taste best, 
but let him take a suggestion, a substitute for 
window boxes. This is to say that in place of these 
boxes boards painted green could be placed in front 
of the pots so as to hide them. Suppose that one 
has a good box full of plants all thriving well except 
one which is infested with insects, this one must be 
moved at once or all the others will become likewise 
attacked. Now to remove a plant from a closely- 
packed box without disturbing the others is not at 
all an easy matter ; therefore the gardener is utterly 
at a loss to know what to do. But suppose boards 
instead of boxes are used, and all the plants are 
grown in pots, when one is deficient it can be 
removed and another one replaced without the 
slightest trouble. Those window sills that bend 
round at the ends can have jointed boards fitted in.— 
George William Dickson, 107, Belsize Road, South 
Hampstead, London, N.W. 
IVY-LEAF PELARGONIUMS. 
To grow the Ivy-leaf Pelargonium for winter use 
good plants ought to be ready for potting into their 
flowering pots, which would be from large 6o r s to 
the 6-in. or 32 s. Well draining the pots is very 
important, next the soil,good loam forming the staple 
with a good dash of leaf mould, road grit, and bone 
dust. Repot fairly firm, transfer the plants after 
potting to cold frame and keep a little closer than 
before, potting when growth starts. Harden, and 
expose to the full rays of the sun on a coal ash 
bottom, watering, stopping and picking off all flower 
buds that show when the plants get well rooted. 
Give weak guano water once a week and house 
about the first week in September, keeping 
the house open day and night till wanted to 
flower. Then shut the house, according to the 
weather, and maintain a temperature of about 55 0 of 
a day with a little rise by sun and near about 45 0 to 
50° of a night, keeping the house fairly dry and the 
air buoyant. When flowering is over, which would 
be, if well done, about February, take cuttings, cut¬ 
ting them off square below a joint. Insert in sandy 
soil in a warm house, potting them into 6o’s when 
ready. — J. Harewood, Sussex. 
CATTLEYA LABIATA SCHRODERAE. 
This is a very beautiful Orchid, and richly deserves 
a place in every collection. It is distinguished from 
the other varieties of C. labiata on account of the 
flowers being more constant in form and colour than 
other types of Cattleya. The flowers are of a 
beautiful and uniform delicate rosy-blush tint with a 
large blotch of orange-yellow in the throat and a 
pretty frilled lip. It should be potted immediately 
after flowering. I find pots suit it best, using peat 
and a little sphagnum. Pots should be carefully 
drained, and should be potted moderately firm, 
bringing the new compost well to the base of the 
pseudo-bulb. Should any portion sway, steady it by 
tyiDg to neat sticks. The plants should be watered 
freely during growth, and moderately dry whilst at 
rest — G. W. 
MULCHING CARROTS, ONIONS, &e. 
The present will be an anxious time for gardeners 
and others that are troubled with the maggot at¬ 
tacking crops of Carrots, Onions, &c. I have seen 
several remedies tried, the most successful being a 
mulching of lawn Grass that has become fermented. 
It may be applied to the depth of an inch immedi¬ 
ately the crops appear above the ground; and 
several dressings will be required until the crops 
reach an advanced stage. I have also seen this 
mulching applied to crops of Cauliflower, Broccoli, 
&c„ and without a doubt is a great preventive 
against the dreaded maggot that so often ruins such 
crops.— Fraser McNicol, Sauchieburn Gardens, Stirling. 
EREMURUS. 
These are a class of plants that have not the 
popularity in herbaceous collections that they should 
be accorded. In fact they are only frequently met 
with, and that in gardens where herbaceous plants 
stand in eminence. They thrive well, and have a 
majestic effect in a rockery if tall flowering plants 
can be accommodated. If used in herbaceous 
borders, they are bast adapted for the back row, and 
flowering as they do rather earlier in the season than 
most of our tall herbaceous plants, help greatly to 
keep the border bright in the early summer months. 
There are numerous species in cultivation, but 
Eremurus himalaicus seems to be the most popular. 
They are of easy culture and succeed well in any 
moderately good garden soil, provided it is on the 
moist side as they seem to be partial towards that. 
They are quite easily raised from seed, and, if sown 
in heat in February and kept gradually growing, 
they may be planted temporarily in a spare corner 
in the autumn to gain strength before being trans¬ 
ferred to their permanent quarters. During the 
winter months a dressing with spent Mushroom 
dung will be found beneficial.— F. Burns, Terregles 
Gardens, Dumfries. 
