February 28, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
19.3 
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 
Quizzings by “Cal.” 
There are various ways of beating drums, but I note that one 
trade grower after flowering is over removes the plaints from their 
pots, and partly submerges them in 4 inches of water, the bottom 
of which should be muddy. 
* * * 
Politics and horticulture have not hitherto worked together, 
but it is possible that the Liberal party may drop the Home 
Rule business and make land reform a special feature. If the 
difficulties that stand in the way of land owners and cultivators 
can be removed, then the party that offers to do the work will 
assuredly get considerable support. 
* * * 
Our food supplies are under consideration by a special com¬ 
mittee, the purpose being to discover whether something can be 
done to enable our own people to grow more, instead of having 
to depend on abroad for three-fourths of the supplies. Protec¬ 
tion would not find favour. One trade journal calls for better 
methods of distribution by means of all-night special cars on the 
cross-country tramlines, so that produce can be loaded from the 
fields direct to market. 
* * * 
The one great item is money, and perhaps some day the 
Government will put a hand to the plough. 
* * * 
Speaking of Arums, might I ask what the Godfrey variety is, 
and whence it hails. [See The Gaedening Would, p. 116, 
second column, 28th line from the top. It was raised by Mr. 
Godfrey, Exmouth, Devon.—E d.] 
* * * 
I note it is being 
supplies. 
grown extensively in Guernsey for trade 
* * * 
Several years ago a dwarf ever-blooming variety appeared in 
U.S.A., which produced three times the quantity of flowers as 
did the old type, with a much dwarfer habit. 
* * * 
This was followed by Calla frugrans, -a creation of Luther Bur¬ 
bank, which was identical to the previous variety, with a good 
substantial perfume. Regarding the latter, I may say I grew it 
for a couple of seasons, afterwards giving it to a trade grower', 
who appreciates its dwarfness and free blooming qualities. 
* 7T * 
A year or so ago I saw mention of a green and a crimson Arum. 
Where are they ? 
* * * 
An Oxfordshire watercress grower has suffered greatly of late 
from the caddis worm. 
* * * 
Formerly the stream where liis beds are formed was the home 
of large quantities of trout. A gentleman, however, near by 
established a heronry, with the result that these birds cleared 
out the fish. 
* * * 
i. The worm, losing its natural enemy, increased enormously, 
attacking the watercress, to its owner’s great loss. Such are the 
ways of nature ! 
* * * 
Mr. Burbidge touches a good subject on page 117, but it re¬ 
quires a number of others like himself before anything definite 
l| could be decided. Men who have made their mark in horticul¬ 
ture would, or should, be able to form a committee in order to 
discuss the possibilities of such a guild. 
* * * 
The trade, I should imagine, would be quick to see the ad¬ 
vantage of such a sooiety, and render help. 
To obtain a necessary start a good sum would be required as a 
guarantee, but rot for the purpose of forming a philanthropic 
society, as it should wholly and solely be self-supporting. 
Apart from heads, foremen, and journeymen, I fancy another 
section would be Required, that of the single-handed gardener, 
wfio. maybe, also attends to other items apart from gardening • 
for what might he be termed ? 
A journal wouid be a necessary adjunct to the guild, pao- 
ns.iea, say, mommy, anu oy means oi uns tne most up-i/n-nute 
Knovvieuge oouiu me imparted. 
.. * 
Members only would be allowed to contribute to its pages, 
ana tne organiser would need a wat-Cniui eye in praer iu iiilpU.i. 0 
lire greaieso amount oi knowledge m tne smallest amount ux 
space. 
* -K * 
To obtain only reliable members the method of proposal, as in 
friendly societies, would have to be adop&ert. 
* * 
Many points must necessarily crop up before the guild could 
be inaugurated, and a committee, who have to conclusively prove 
the value of a society before they could induce the gardener 
man to part with his money. Britishers, and none more so than 
gardeners, ire a conservative race. 
* vr * 
The editor gives an exhaustive view on the subject of etherisa¬ 
tion on page 121, but, like ail previous articles on the subject, 
there remains much to be answered. 
* -«■ * 
Since its introduction in 1891 in Demark the method has 
greatly increased, also spreading to France and Germany. 
* * * 
Questions that arise are: What is a large tank, and what 
quantity of ether is necessary for a given number of cubic feet ' 
* * * 
One writer considers it a waste of time to give two treatments 
of 48 hours each, when equal success has been achieved with 
one, without any exposure to the air. Further, some plants 
may require a greater amount of ether than others, and the man 
that discovers this first, and makes known his researches, will 
confer a very great favour on the market man. 
* * * 
The remarks re raising Peaches from stones, on page 131, re¬ 
mind me of a certain American, who stated that stoneless 
Peaches could be raised by bending over the top branch and 
pegging it down till rooted. 
* * * 
He was extremely emphatic on the point; but the editor’s offer 
to buy all the stoneless Peach trees at gold mine prices never, so 
far as I have heard, brought any result. 
* * * 
‘•Mr. Hardy Plants” does well to speak of Pentstemons. I 
had a collection from Dobbie’s last season which afforded me a 
great deal of pleasure. 
* * * 
M. Cuthbertson is a huge thing, as is Miss Willmott. Baden 
Powell, Maitre Antifer, A. Thompson, Rachel, Lucian Biarb 
Leila Cowan, Melodrama, and Camiile Guy are all rare beauties* 
and I strongly urge readers to take up their culture 
* * * 
Messrs. Bull’s Primulas evidently turned the office quizzer’s 
brain. On page 135 Primula sinensis fimbriafa alba is given as 
Invent Garden Red and P. s. fimbriata rubra as Covent Garden 
White. [Wrong this time. That machine man changed “la” 
into “fir.”—E d.] ° 
* * * 
Respecting the ridging, system, a.s spoken of by “ W. P. R.” on 
p. 136 1 may say I grow many of my Carrots oil ridges. Long, 
straight roots result by the method, and they appear less liable 
to the 11}-. Lettuces, etc., can be grown between the ridges. 
* * * 
Like J. Eraser, I am quite convinced that Sweet Peas fertilise 
themselves. One has only to pull down the keel of an expanded 
flower to find the stigma fully coated with pollen on its bearded 
side. By the way, why is the stigma only roughened on one 
side ? 
* * * 
Many thanks, Mr. Editor; readers of the “ G. W.” may con¬ 
gratulate themselves on having a real live botanical editor, which 
few journals can boast of. Botanioally A. Hemsley is correct. 
Figuratively X am also ; in fact, I may say substantially correct, 
owing to the modern flowers being really joined in the keel. 
* * * 
Personally, I am mighty glad it is so, for I can imagine a lower 
pair of petals sprawling outside the wings. I have seen manv 
ugly so-called double flowers caused by an additional wing or half 
of a standard. 
* * * 
Mr. Thatcher kindly forwarded me a sample of his “ Wood’s ” 
patent zinc label. Assuredly an excellent thing in every wav, 
but perhaps too expensive for the backyard gardener. 
