196 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 28, 1903. 
** News of the Week — (continued). 
Sir Walter Raleigh's Tree. —Londoners, as a rule, know 
very little about their own city, and probably few people in the 
metropolis are aware that the famous tree in Gray’s Inn Gardens 
is dying, even if they knew of its existence. In the days when 
Gray’s Inn Walk was the meeting place of the choicest society, 
Sir Walter Raleigh returned from his memorable voyage to 
America, bringing with him a Catalpa tree. Queen Elizabeth 
promised to come in state to the garden and plant the tree, but 
she was prevented by illness, and Lord Bacon acted as her 
deputy. It is cheering, however, to learn that although the 
famous tree is dying, a more juvenile Catalpa, an offshoot of the 
older tree, is still vigorous and strong. 
* * * 
The prices of Broccoli up to the present are by no means 
satisfactory, and as a protest to the abominable and ridiculous 
returns which are being sent back from the markets the growers 
in some parts about Penzance have commenced to cut down the 
plants for manure in the fields. In one case at least a grower has 
ploughed a whole field under, and doubtless, if in a few days 
there is no advance in price, others will follow in the same way. 
The best offer which has been made locally at Marazion is three¬ 
pence per dozen for choice stuff delivered at Marazion. This is 
considerably better than any returns from up-country markets, 
but this only gives one shilling and threepence per crate, in 
which there are the standard five dozen, and this will not pay for 
the labour which has to be added to all other expenses. 
* * * 
Monstrous Form of Geum rivale. —At the meeting of the 
Linmean Society of London, on February 5th, referring to an 
exhibition on December 4th, 1902, by Rev. John Gerard, of a 
monstrous form of Geum rivale, Mr. B. Daydon Jackson exhibited 
specimens in further illustration of median proliferation, from 
the herbarium of Sir James Edward Smith, and the British 
collection in the possession of the society. He also stated that 
the proliferous form was mentioned by C. Merrett in his “ Pinax,” 
1667, p. 22, as occurring “ at Breardiff, in a wood of Mr. Brear- 
cliff, below his house,” and by John Ray, in his “Synopsis,” 1690, 
p. 89, as “ Caryophyllatum flore ample purpureo quadruplici aut 
quintuplici serie petalorum observavit D. Lawson prope Strick¬ 
land magnum in Com. Westmorland.” This locality is men¬ 
tioned by J. Petiver in his “ English Plaints,” tab. 40, fig, 4, in 
1711, when figuring the plant as “ Chilling Avems,” Late authors, 
as Relhan in his ‘ Flora Cantabrigiensis,” 1785, p. 200 ; ed. 3, 
1820. p. 207; and Withering’s “ Arrangement,” ed. 2, 1787 p. 
538 ; ed. 3, 1796, vol. ii. p. 478, refer to this form ; the latter 
author also states that “ when cultivated in a dry soil the flowers 
ai'e apt to become double or proliferous,” op. cit., p. 478. 
* * * 
Ivew Plant-lists anh Guides. —It may interest our readers to 
know that the undermentioned hand-lists of plants and guides to 
the gardens and museums are on sale at the Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Kew, and can only be obtained there. Those requiring 
the books should apply to Mr. W. Watson, the curator. Books 
passing through the post must have the postage paid in addition 
to the price of the hand-lists or guides : — 
Key Plan and Index to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 
5th Ed. 1900. 
Official Guide to the Museums of Economic Botany. No. 2 : 
Monocotyledons and Cryptograms. 1894. 
Official Guide to the Museums of Economic Botany. No. 3 : 
Timbers. 2nd Ed., revised and augmented. 1893. 
Official Guide to the North Gallery. 5th Ed., revised and 
augmented. 1892. 
Hand-list of Trees and Shrubs grown in Arboretum (excluding 
Coniferae). 2nd Ed. 1902. Part IT. (1st Ed.) : Gamopetalae to 
Monocotyledons. 1896. 
Hand-list of Ferns and Fern Allies cultivated in R.oyal 
Gardens. 1895. 
Hand-list of Herbaceous Plants cultivated in the Royal 
Gardens. 2nd Ed. 1902. In paper and also in cloth boards. 
Hand-list of Orchids cultivated in the Royal Gardens. 1896. 
Hand-list of Tender Monocotyledons cultivated in the Royal 
G ardens. 1897. 
Hand-list of Orchids and Tender Monocotyledons, also in one 
volume, cloth boards. 
Hand-list of Tender Dicotyledons cultivated in the Royal 
Gardens. 1899. In paper and also in cloth boards. 
Mycologic Flora of the Royal Gardens, Kew. 1897. 
The Snowdrops at Mulgrave Old Castle, Whitby, are now at 
their best—about a month earlier than usual. 
■* * * 
The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. —The Earl 
of Warwick will preside at the sixty-fourth anniversary festival 
dinner in aid of the funds at the Hotel Metropole on June 24th 
next. The secretary, Mr. G. J. Ingram, 175, Victoria Street. 
London, S.W., will be glad to receive the names of those will¬ 
ing to act as stewards or to in any way assist to make the gather¬ 
ing a success. 
* * * 
Mr. George Stanton, who has, with his many other duties, 
had charge of the gardens at Park Place for the last thirty-two 
years, is giving up the management of Ihe gardens in order In 
devote all his time to the farms and estate. He is succeeded in 
the gardens by Mr. T. .T. Powell, who has been under Mr. 
Stanton for many years as foreman. 
* * * 
Death of Mr. Stanley Rickary. —The death occurred 
yesterday morning, at his residence on Alnwick Moor, of Mr. 
Stanley Rickaby, a familiar figure for many years in the town 
of Alnwick. He was the first freeman of the borough to carry 
out the idea of introducing the Strawberry industry on the free¬ 
man’s land, and practically the pioneer of what is now an im¬ 
portant industry in the town. 
*• * * 
Henry Darch, one of Stratton’s oldest inhabitants, died on the 
17th inst., after a short illness. Nearly eighty years of age, he 
was at Iris daily occupation—gardener to Mr. Rawlins, of Stam¬ 
ford Hill - up to within the last fortnight. 
* * * 
County Council Garden for Bucks. —Commendable facilities 
are being offered for the encouragement of horticulture among 
the juvenile section of the community by the Bucks County 
Council, which is under the presidency of Lord Cottesloe. The 
idea is to establish a “ County Council Garden,” the technical 
education authority undertaking to employ a skilled instructor, 
and also to supply the requisite seeds, manures, and such-like, 
and each lad instructed will not only have the superintendence 
and cultivation of his own plot, but Ihe absolute advantage of 
the crops which by his industry, he produces. Beyond a small 
fee for a course of lectures, these amateur gardeners will not be 
put to any other expense. 
* * * 
Coronation Oak Tree. —Princess Christian visited the Royal 
Holloway College, Egham, to plant an Oak tree in commemora¬ 
tion of the Coronation. Her Royal Highness, who was accom¬ 
panied by Prince Christian and attended by Miss Loch, was 
received at the principal entrance by Sir Joseph Savory, the Dean 
of Windsor, Sir Charles Ryan, and Mr. Walpole Greenwell, who, 
as well as Prince Christian, are governors of the institution. At 
the north-west end of the college buildings a new spade was 
handed by Miss Wilsdon, the botanical instructor, to Her Royal 
Highness, who planted with it an English Oak. the gift of the 
King, which had been sent from Windsor Forest. The ceremony 
concluded with the National Anthem. 
* * * 
Fruits and Flowers in 1902.—At a meeting of the Royal 
Meteorological Society, held on the 18th inst., Mr. E. Mawley 
read a paper showing that in all parts of the British Isles last 
year was for the most part cold and sunless. Rain fell at 
unusually frequent intervals, so that, although the total quantity 
proved deficient, there at no time occurred any period of 
drought. Wild plants were everywhere behind their mean dates 
in coming into' flower, but the departures from the average were, 
as a rule, slight until about the middle of May. After that time, 
until the end of the flowering season, the dates of blooming were 
later than in any other year since the present series of records 
was instituted in 1891. The swallow, cuckoo, and nightingale 
were a few days earlier than usual in making their appearance. 
All the fruit crops were more or less deficient, with the exception 
of Strawberries, which yielded well, but were, like most other 
fruits, lacking in flavour. 
A cash prize of one guinea will be awarded to the person who sends 
the greatest number of original news items, particulars of trade and 
professional changes, notices of novelties, etc., during the quarter 
ending March 3isf, 1903. Letters marled “ News' should be 
addressed to The Editor as early in the week as possible. 
