700 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 29, 1901. 
of dwarf habit, and bears well, but the 
flavour is not very high. The same may be 
said of Aberdeen Favourite which produces 
a good crop of small, elongated berries. 
Possibly the climate of the south is against 
it. The fruits of Loxford Hall are also 
firm but the flavour is by no means very 
high. Laxton’s No. i is deep red when 
fully mature, and possessed of a peculiar, 
rather pleasing aroma. Its parentage was 
Noble x May Queen. 
Late ripening varieties are always in 
request for maintaining a supply from the 
open air for the longest possible period, for 
which reason it proves useful to mention 
some of those coming under our notice. 
Frogmore Late Pine was just commencing 
to ripen its dark red, conical or flattened 
fruits, but the foliage is not particularly 
handsome, having a curled and unhealthy ap¬ 
pearance. Fairly late also is Laxton’s Climax 
(Latest of All x Waterloo) which produces 
conical or flattened red fruits of great size 
and handsome appearance (see p. 705). An 
old favourite is Dr. Hogg, on account of 
its delicious flavour, but it succeeds only in 
a limited number of gardens. The large, 
usually much flattened and very pale red 
fruits are only now commencing to ripen. 
Trafalgar, the result of crossing Latest of 
All with Frogmore Late Pine, is a stronger 
grower than the previous one, and like it 
possessed of pale red bluntly conical fruits 
of excellent flavour (seep. 705). Wellnamed 
is Fillbasket (Royal Sovereign x Latest of 
All), and an enormous cropper, with light 
red fruits of high flavour (see p. 705). 
British Queen was flowering and just 
developing its earliest fruits, none of the 
berries having yet assumed their accustomed 
light reddish tint. Much in the same con¬ 
dition is Waterloo, which is evidently a 
a weaker grower than British Queen. 
Amongst white varieties we noted only 
Louis Gauthier which has large, more or 
less flattened white fruits of very moderate 
flavour. Latest of All, derived from Noble 
crossed with King of Earlies, is a very 
heavy bearer, the largest of the fruits being 
about half grown or nearly. It is notable 
for the light colour of its foliage and fruit, 
at least during the present stage of 
growth. 
Seedlings are remarkably numerous, but 
being only on trial and under number, we 
can only give their parentage as an indica¬ 
tion of their affinities and possibilities. 
Some of the most promising seedlings have 
been derived from James Veitch x Vicom- 
tesse Hericart de Thury ; Royal Sovereign 
X Latest of All, a heavy cropper; and Sir 
Charles Napier x Captain, which will give 
an indication of the good qualities sought for, 
judging from the known qualities of the 
parents. Sir J. Paxton x Monarch has 
given rise to a dark crimson berried variety, 
with firm pulp and cropping very heavily. 
Promising also are the seedlings derived 
from Royal Sovereign x Dr. Hogg; Cap¬ 
tain x James Veitch, of rich flavour; 
Latest of All x James Veitch, which 
promises to be a good main crop variety, 
with light red fruits; Sir C. Paxton x 
Scarlet Queen, of delicate pleasing flavour 
and light colour; and the reverse cross of 
the last named, having richly flavoured, 
deliciously aromatic fruits, freely produced. 
After the inspection of the Strawberries 
ihe party was entertained to luncheon on 
the premises by the Messrs. Laxton. The 
chair was taken by Mr. L. Castle, who in 
a post prandial speech thanked the hosts 
for the opportunities they had given the 
party to inspect their rich collection and 
what they had done for the improvement of 
their great speciality. Mr. Luckhurst, who 
occupied the vice-chair, said that 60,000 to 
100,000 seedling Strawberries had been 
raised and passed through the hands of the 
firm during the last 40 years, and that out 
of 10,000 seedlings the chances were that 
only one might be of any superior merit. 
Royal Sovereign was one of the best of 
their raising, but it had just been eclipsed 
by The Laxton. The two sons were con¬ 
tinuing on the same lines as their late 
father, and during the last ten or fifteen 
years they had been very successful. The 
results of their work was educational as well 
as commercial, and he hoped they would 
now reap the benefit of their labours. 
Messrs. Edward and William Laxton, the 
two brothers now carrying on the business, 
each replied to the speakers and said that 
though Strawberries were their great 
speciality, they were also crossing various 
other fruits, as well as Peas. After this 
the party took their places in the convey¬ 
ances provided, and were driven to the 
Duke of Bedford’s Experimental Fruit 
Farm at Ridgmount, Beds., a distance of 
thirteen and a half miles over the hills by 
Ampthill Park and thence to Ridgmount. 
Between these two places is a piece of 
ground consisting chiefly of sand and peat, 
surrounded by woods of tall trees. Here 
■the Messrs. Laxton have five acres planted 
with Lily of the Valley, including a splendid 
plantation of the large flowered and broad¬ 
leaved variety known as Fortin’s Lily of the 
Valley. All the sorts were making excel¬ 
lent growth but particularly that just named. 
Five acres of home grown Lily of the 
Valley is a very rare sight indeed in this 
country. 
Californian Trees.—The famous Red Woods of 
California have at last been spared from the wood¬ 
man’s axe and saw, by which they were being 
quickly exterminated. The Governor of California 
has signed a bill to buy what is known as the Big 
Easin. The woods on this land are to be preserved 
as relics of the past. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society’s Rose Show will be held on Tues¬ 
day, July 2nd (in conjunction with the National 
Rose Society) in the Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate, 
S.W., 1 to 5 p.m. With the exception of plants, &c., 
shown for certificate, no other plants or groups, &c., 
except Roses may be exhibited at this meeting. For 
schedule of prizes, see R.H.S. “ Book of Arrange¬ 
ments for 1901,” page 69. A lecture on " Mimetic 
Resemblances Among Plants, a Proof of the Inherit¬ 
ance of Acquired Characters," by the Rev. Prof. 
Geo. Henslow, M.A., will be given at 3 o'clock. 
Reading and District Gardeners.—The June 
meeting of the Reading and District Gardeners’ 
Mutual Improvement Association was held, by kind 
permission of Colonel Baskerville, at Crowsley Park, 
Oxon, on Friday evening of last week, when between 
fifty and sixty members were present. The great 
feature, from the horticulturist’s point of view, of 
this lovely old fashioned residence is the "wild” 
garden occupying about fifteen acres, where Paeonies, 
Digitalis, Delphiniums, Poppies, Sweet Williams, 
Irises, Jerusalem Sage, &c., &c., grow and flower in 
their own sweet way not fearing knife or spade, and 
forming a picture not readily forgotten. After a 
pleasant hour had been spent here, the party wended 
their way to the vegetable garden, stopping to 
inspect a magnificent Oak tree in the park stated to 
have the largest stem in England. The borders of 
this garden are devoted chiefly to Roses, and the 
members were astonished at the luxuriant growth 
made. The trees had been allowed to grow " wild " 
and although carrying an immense number of 
flowers, yet many of the blooms were fit for the 
exhibition table. At the close of the ramble a hearty 
vote of thanks was accorded to Colonel Baskerville 
for the permission to hold the meeting in his grounds, 
and to Mr. Tubb, the gardener, for his interesting 
remarks respecting the various plants noted. Since 
the winter session started last October, new members 
have been elected at every meeting held, and this 
was no exception to the rule, as five were added to 
the list on this occasion. 
The New Park at Birkenhead will be opened to 
the public on August 1st. 
“ The Irish Beekeepers’ Journal.”—The Irish 
Beekeepers’ Association has just issued the first 
number of a very interesting publication bearing the 
above name. Its value cannot be over-estimated, as 
it is brimful of valuable hints on beekeeping, and 
has, we sincerely hope, come to stay. 
World’s Fair Banquet.—The Americans seem to 
do things thoroughly when they do do anything. 
For instance, the flowers employed in the decora¬ 
tions for the above banquet included 300 American 
Beauties, 10.000 Carnations, 2,000 mixed Roses, and 
four van-loads of Palms, besides minor quantities of 
other flowers and plants. 
Presentation to Mr. John Machar.—In our issue 
for June 8th we noted the appointment of Mr. John 
Machar as head gardener to the Earl of Donough- 
more, Kilmanahan Castle and Knocklofty estates, 
near Clonmel, Ireland. We learn that his full 
duties will include that of land steward and overseer. 
Mr. Machar was gardener for over twenty years at 
Broughty Ferry, eighteen of which he put in as head 
gardener at Corona, Broughty Ferry. On June 12th, 
previous to his departure from the neighbourhood, 
a large number of his friends, members of the 
Broughty Ferry Horticultural Association, and 
others entertained Mr. Machar, and made him a 
presentation of a handsome aneroid barometer 
together with a piece of silver plate for Mrs. Machar. 
The presentations were made by Mr. David Croll (of 
Messrs. D. & W. Croll), Dundee, who took the 
chair. Mr. W. P. Laird (of Messrs. Laird & Sin¬ 
clair), Mr. D. Hutchison (of Messrs. Storrie & 
Storrie), both of Dundee, and many others were also 
present. No man was better known or liked by his 
fellowmen in Forfarshire than Mr. Machar, and we 
wish him every success in his new undertaking. 
Up-to-date Crops for the Farm.—Year by year 
it has become more evident that to a great extent 
the future success of British agriculture lies in 
obtaining the utmost return from the land, either by 
the cultivation of improved varieties of cereals, 
roots, forage plants, &c., or by the liberal use of 
suitable artificial manures. In either case, those 
interested in the subject will find much that is 
instructive in the imposing exhibit made by Messrs. 
Webb & Sons, of the Royal Seed Establishment, 
Wordsley, Stourbridge, and the Chemical Manure 
Works, Saltney, Chester. The new kinds of cereals 
which they show in grain and straw respresent up¬ 
wards of 25 years’ hard work in cross-fertilisation 
and selection, and the results they have obtained by 
these means are of national importance, inasmuch 
that the crop returns of these new sorts show a large 
increase over the yield of ordinary varieties. Nor 
is it in productiveness alone that they excel, as their 
success in all of the open competitions testify to 
their superior quality ; moreover, in the many com¬ 
parative trial growths conducted by county council 
experts and professors of agriculture throughout the 
kingdom, Webb’s aew cereals invariably take fore¬ 
most place. Messrs. Webb have also achieved many 
valuable improvements in roots, grasses, clovers, 
&c.; indeed, the cultivation of their recent intro¬ 
ductions has become indispensable in the up-to-date 
economy of the farm. The practice of growing 
vegetables for market, which has reached such large 
proportions lately, is a subject to which Messrs. 
Webb have given close attention, as the exhaustive 
tests and experiments annually conducted at their 
Kinver Seed Farms amply testify. A special feature 
on their stand are the vegetables recommended for 
market gardening, including anew Tomato in actual 
growth which displays clusters of luscious fruit in 
great profusion; it is not yet in commerce, but 
Messrs. Webb propose offering it to the public 
shortly. Among the Peas—also shown in growth— 
is the celebrated Senator, one of Messrs. Webb’s 
recent introductions, and its wonderful cropping 
habit fully justifies the favour it has met with. A 
very fine collection of Sweet Peas, consisting of up¬ 
wards of forty varieties in all shades of colour, 
together with a group of Webb's Excelsior Gloxinia, 
represent the floral department of Messrs. Webb’s 
immense business, whilst they also show samples of 
their celebrated fertilisers for farm and garden 
crops, which are manufactured on an extensive 
scale at their chemical works at Saltney, Chester. 
