June 22, 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
685 
Carnations.—At last it has come, we always 
expected something of the sort, and now we learn 
from our American contemporaries that the Carna¬ 
tion is being advocated as the National Flower with 
President McKinley much in its favour. Certainly 
they could not have chosen a better flower, nor one 
that is more popular in America, where the Carna¬ 
tion craze has almost reached to that stage when it 
may be designated a mania. 
Lawn Weeds.—We hear of many strange things 
growing on lawns, but the complaint of a corres¬ 
pondent who is seeking advice from a well known 
paper is far ahead as regards the undesirability of 
certain plants. His lawn has become infested with 
no less a plant than Apium graveolens (wild Celery). 
If this is really true ne has not taken much pains 
with his lawn, as this is one of the rankest of our 
ditch weeds, and ought not to trouble lawn owners 
by spoiling the verdant carpet of their tennis 
court. 
Forestry in Sweden.—Nearly one-half of the 
total area of Sweden is under forests. The area of 
the country is under 100,000,000 acres, and of these 
no fewer than 47,000,000 acres are planted with 
trees. Over one-third of these Swedish forest lands 
belongs to the State, to certain communities or to 
public institutions. The desire to increase the 
public forests in the country has led the Swedish 
Reiksday to devote a large sum of money annually to 
the purchase of land, in order to establish new 
forests, or, as they are called, Crown parks. This is 
one of the many instances in which our Government 
at home might profitably take a leaf out of the 
oreigner’s book. 
Table Decorations — The American Florists 
Review often publishes articles and photographs of 
extraordinary things which are carried out at 
American dinner parties, and has again in the issue 
for June 6th, a photograph of the table arrange¬ 
ment at the Chicago Club on the occasion of a 
banquet given in honour of the visit of the French 
Ambassador. The table was in the form of a hollow 
square with the lights, which were alternately red 
and white, arranged along the inner edge. The 
centre of the square gradually sloped down to a 
fountain in the centre, whose edge was covered by 
a circle of closely packed yellow Parrot Tulips, 
The slopes were composed of Ferns, and at either 
corner was a flag composed of red and white Carna¬ 
tions and blue Cornflowers. Two French and two 
American flags were represented. The tables were 
traced with Asparagus Sprengeri and Apple blossom 
while overhead was an immense canopy of nothing 
but trusses of Lilac. Imagine the perfume, and 
then imagine having a meal amongst it. 
Pars 
Cricket at Kew Gardens.—Although during the 
time a gardener is at Kew he has plenty to do, he 
finds time somehow to indulge in the national game 
of cricket. It always proves a severe contest 
between the outside and the inside men. The first 
match between the two parties took place last week, 
and resulted in a win for the outside by a 
large figure ; they made 108 for 9 wickets, and then 
declared, while the inside only made 47. The inside 
men were in a rather unfortunate position, as there 
has been a general exodus from the inside to the 
outside, with the result that, as far as cricket is con¬ 
cerned, the inside has had the worst of the exchange. 
In several instances they have given up one of their 
best men for a non-cricketer, and then to emphasise 
the mortification which the inside must feel, Why- 
tock, who was last year their leading wicket taker, 
bowled against them this season, and by way of 
showing his good fellowship towards his old com¬ 
rades, performed the hat trick with their wickets. 
Some of the inside men did not shine much. Pro¬ 
bably they have had a deal of their energy melted 
out of them during the past few weeks. Anyhow, 
out of 47 runs Ball made 25, and Sillitoe 20, so it 
does not leave a very big score for the other nine. 
They have the herbaceous department to thank for 
this ignominious defeat, for two of the men from 
that department secured the whole of the wickets, 
Eavis taking six and Whytock four. Pride is sure 
to fall, and it did with these victors, for they played 
Windsor Royal Gardeners on the following Satur¬ 
day, and had their combs cut by being defeated by 
17. Perhaps after their previous brilliant victory, 
they ran a bit wild and got out of training. 
Tobacco Consumption.—There is a brighter out¬ 
look for the culture of the Nicotiana than ever, for 
women are now becoming quite devoted to the 
fragrant weed in almost, every country. In Russia 
they indulge in this little luxury to such an extent 
that the railway companies are providing extra 
smokiDg carriages for women where they can travel 
and enjoy their "bacca” wi hout disturbing the 
peace of non-smokers, as in this country. 
The Vinegar Plant.—The so-called Vinegar 
plant is a very simple organism—a fungoid growth 
named Penicillium glaucum crustaceum. It forms a 
web of a tough, leathery nature, floating on the top 
of decaying fluids, the fermentation of which it 
greatly assists. It is sometimes found in the dregs 
of wine left in old bottles, brownish in colour, and 
semi gelatinous. It is a variety of the common blue 
mould which one sometimes finds on the top of jam. 
The latter mould also causes changes in the surface 
layer of jam, making it become sour instead of sweet’ 
Boston Public Gardens, U.S.A.—From a photo¬ 
graph of the above gardens reproduced in the 
American Florists' Exchange the gardens do not seem 
furnished so well as they ought to be; they look 
far too bleak and open, with nothing but walks and 
flower beds. With such a supply of water 
available as they possess the gardens might be made 
far more artistic and more sbady than what they 
look at presert The ground is a reclaimed swamp 
and, according to the description of it before taken 
in hand by the Council, was much the same as that 
on which Battersea Park has been laid out, but the 
landscape effects which we have in Battersea Park 
are wanting in its American contemporary. 
National Chrysanthemum Society’s Annual 
Picnic.—The annual picnic and outing will, by the 
kind permission of Alfred Tate, Esq., take the form 
of a visit to Downside, Leatherhead, when the 
gardens and grounds will be open to inspection. 
The date fixed for the picnic is Monday, July 8th, 
in order to see the Rose garden at its best, and the 
cost, inclusive of railway fare, conveyance to and 
from Downside, with use of the conveyances during 
the day, dinner and tea, will be nine shillings and 
sixpence. Ladies are specially invited The com¬ 
pany will be conveyed to Leatherhead Station by 
the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, 
from Victoria, London Bridge, and Addison Road, 
at the times set forth on the annexed programme. 
Dinner will be provided at the ' Swan Hotel,” 
Leatherhead, and tea on the grounds at Downside. 
Members and friends joining the party at Leather¬ 
head, but not using railway tickets, will be charged 
seven shillings and sixpence. Those intending to 
join should communicate with Mr. Richard Dean, 
V.M.H., Ranelagh Road, Ealing, London, W., and 
let him know by Monday, July xst, how many 
tickets they require for themselves and friends, so 
that the necessary railway and other arrangements 
may be made. It is particularly requested that those 
applying for railway tickets will say whether they 
will travel from London Bridge, Victoria, or Addison 
Road, iq order that adequate railway accommoda¬ 
tion may be provided. Parties wishing to sit 
together at dinner must give the secretary notice to 
that effect. The following is the programme for 
Monday, July 8th, 1901 :—10.20 a.m., assemble at 
Victoria Station; 10.35 a.m., train leaves for 
Leatherhead. Change at Epsom ; 10,15 a.m., train 
leaves Addison Road, Kensington, change at Clap- 
ham Junction; 10.45 a.m., train leaves London 
Bridge; 1147 a.m., train reaches Leatherhead. 
Conveyances will meet the train at Leatherhead 
Station and drive to the 11 Swan Inn," and from 
thence there will be drives to Cherkley Court or in 
the neighbourhood until dinner. There is a 
pleasant walk of a mile and a half to Cherkley 
Court across the fields; 1.15 p.m. sharp, dine at the 
“Swan Inn”; 2.30 p.m., conveyances will take the 
party to Downside, and during the afternoon there 
will be an inspection of the gardens, cricket, lawn 
tennis, croquet, and bowls can also be engaged in r 
5 15 p.m., tea will be provided at Downside. After 
tea the conveyances will be available for drives in 
the neighbourhood; 8 32 p.m., train leaves for London 
Bridge, reaching there at 9.42 p.m.; 8.44 p.m., 
train leaves for Victoria, reaching there at 9.48 
p.m ; 9 50 p.m., train leaves Clapham Junction for 
Addison Road. 
Irish Fruit Prospects.—A severe storm swept 
over the South of Ireland during the latter end of 
May. The trees were loaded with fruit, and 
promised a good harvest, but it has now been 
almost completely destroyed. 
FREE BEARING APPLES AS LATE 
KEEPERS. 
To have Apples fit for culinary use as late as the 
month of June necessitates the cultivation of sorts 
especially suitable for that purpose. But localities 
differ for Apple culture as well as for other fruits, 
and some that succeed well in some gardens do not 
in others. The nature of the soil, altitude and lati¬ 
tude has much to do with success. I have proved 
this frequently, and when forming a selection 
eighteen jears ago, suitable to a low lying wet soil, I 
planted sorts of trees by the half dozen, and some 
specially useful and free bearing by the dozen. A few 
which found greatest favour were the Codlin classes. 
Keswick never fails; Stirling Castle is one of the 
best in every respect from early in September to the 
end of the year. Lord Grosvenor is loaded with 
large fruit every season, and is a robust grower not 
subject to disease of any sort. Lord Suffield is one 
of the best but (along with Cellini) had to be dis¬ 
carded by reason of its cankering proclivity. Seaton 
House is in excellent condition from September till 
May, and is sound and in good condition at the 
middle of May. Golden Spire is an early Apple but 
keeps well to January and never fails to bear abun¬ 
dantly. Bramley’s Seedling is an abundant bearer 
and keeps well till March or April. Northern Green¬ 
ing does better in England than Scotland, but it is a 
free bearer and keeps to late in April. Sandringham 
is a free bearer and keeps well till May. Yorkshire 
Greening is our latest and keeps well till June. 
These are by far the most useful culinary Apples we 
have grown in the north, and their hardiness renders 
them very valuable. Among dessert sorts the best 
have proved to be Irish Peach, Devonshire Quarren- 
den, Red Astrachan, Worcester Pearmain, King of 
Pippins, Kerry Pippin, Golden Pippin, and Fearn’s 
Pippin. In this locality the most of dessert Apples 
ripen badly, and do not keep well. This small, list 
bears well and ripens nearly as well in the north as in 
the south. Many Apples are wasted by allowing a 
current of air to pass through them. We keep them 
dark—and with three or four layers of fruit on each 
shelf—and the latest have paper laid over them. 
They do not shrivel, loss is nominal, and they retain 
their flavour well.— M. T ., Canon, N.B. 
GARDEN CROPS IN WEST LOTHIAN. 
This season has caused me to slightly alter my 
ideas regarding well-ripened wood as a necessity 
for plants to produce abundance of bloom. I have 
always clung to the opinion (held by the majority of 
gardeners, I believe), that only well ripened wood 
could produce heavy crops. As everyone must 
remember, last season was the most sunless, wet 
autumn experienced for many years. With what 
result ? In this locality the flowering shrubs have 
never carried finer crops of flowers Hybrid 
Rhododendrons are magnificent, the Hawthorn is 
literally covered with bloom, while Lilacs, Geans, 
and others are a'so over the average. 
Turning to the kitchen garden, Strawberries are 
(with the exception of Royal Sovereign) heavy crops, 
Red Currants the same. Black Currants showed 
well, but the heavy gales we had recently have done 
much damage to this crop, also to the Gooseberries, 
which showed a fair average crop. Raspberries are 
very late, but promise fair. Cherries when in 
flower caught some bitterly cold winds, which 
caused them to set only moderate crops. Plums, on 
the other hand, set a splendid crop ; while the few 
Apples grown have also set better than ever before 
here. They showed a great amount of blossom, and 
the wSather proved propitious for once. 
Among vegetables, Peas and Potatos never 
looked better; Onions, Beet, and Kidney Beans, 
too, look well; while the Brassica tribe are not so 
promising except early Cabbages. All other things 
are a good average for the season. Tomatos (under 
glass, of course) never set better, and are fully as 
forward as usual. Roses are healthy, but late, and 
bedding stuff generally is doing well. We have had 
a very cold spell since June 9th, and little appear¬ 
ance of more genial weather yet, June 17th. Rain, 
