THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 7, 1903. 
Reaping and DiSteict Gaedenees’ Mutual Impeovement 
Association. —A very pleasant evening was spent by the 
members of the above association at their last fortnightly meet¬ 
ing, when Mr. W. Townsend, of Sandhurst Lodge Gardens, 
Wellington College Station, gave a paper entitled “ A Berkshire 
Garden in Summer,” illustrated with limelight views. Of 
course, the garden dealt with was that under Mr. Townsend’s 
charge, and which is noted for its beautiful outdoor flowers. The 
visitors were, so to speak, shown the principal features, which 
were the Roses, Lilies, Fuchsias, Hydrangeas, etc., which bloom 
profusely here. The slides were run through the second time 
so as to enable the members to ask questions, and, needless to 
;sav, the opportunity was taken great advantage of. , Mr. J. 
Gibson, of The Gardens, Danesfield, Marlow, made a splendid 
exhibit of the Sutton Variegated Kale, staging about three dozen 
heads, each showing two or more distinct colours of every con¬ 
ceivable shade. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lec¬ 
turer and exhibitor. 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Messes. Haet Beds., seedsmen, Ealing, are taking over the 
Vicarage Grounds, almost opposite their present seed shop, for 
the purpose of laying out and establishing a nursery. 
* * * 
Messes. John Foed and Co. , glass manufacturers, of Aber¬ 
deen and 39 and 40, Princes Street, Edinburgh, have been notified 
by Sir William Carrington that the 1 ' Prince of Wales has been 
pleased to grant them a warrant of appointment to His Royal 
Highness’s household. We have frequently described their 
exhibits of flower pots, vases for Chrysanthemums, ornamental 
pedestals, and other useful garden necessaries at the Edinburgh 
flower shows. 
* * * 
Dean Hole and the Flower Show. —At the suggestion of 
Dean Hole, who is taking deep interest in the matter, an attempt 
is to be made in Kent to revive the village flower show, which at 
one time was such a prominent feature in rural life. Dean Hole 
appeals for support in the formation of a scheme of inter-village 
flower shows on the lines of a plan formulated by Lady Gordon 
Lennox at Banbury, where a 50-guinea challenge cup and prizes 
of a substantial character are offered. The establishment of a 
similar competition in Kent, the venerable Dean thinks, would 
evoke enthusiasm and ambition among cottage and amateur 
gardeners, thereby creating a closer attachment to home life and 
encouraging healthful and useful employment in the production 
of wholesome food. 
* * * 
Mistleto being Destroyed in Normandy. —Mr. Charlesson, 
Vice-Consul at Honfleur, reports as follows respecting the export, 
of Mistleto from that port: —“ The amount of Mistleto shipped 
in 1901 during November and December was 5,600 crates (each 
crate weighing about 1 cwt.),whereas during the same months in 
1902 only 1,950 crates were shipped from Honfleur, of which 
500 crates came, from the Angers district. Large quantities of 
Mistleto come down the Seine in December from Puclair, bv 
British steamers returning from Rouen in ballast to Hull and 
ither ports in the North of England. Strict orders have been 
given throughout Normandy to destroy Mistleto from the Apple 
:r ees, and what is obtained is now gathered from the Poplar 
rees.” 
* * * 
Food and Medicine for Trees.— It is announced that M. S. A. 
Mokrshezki, an entomologist of St. Petersburg, has discovered a 
nethod of feeding trees and other plants Without the agency of 
oots. He explained his discovery in a lecture he delivered at 
1 mee ting of the Imperial Botanical Society. He has invented 
m apparatus with which he can, introduce salts of iron, either 
n the solid form or in solution, into the stems of Apple and Pear 
rees, thereby curing them of chlorose and greatly stimulating 
eir growth. On the southern coast of the Crimea he put his 
nvention to the test on some 800 fruit trees, introducing dry 
,u phate of copper as a remedy for their ailments. Photographs 
vere exhibited to show that the stems of the trees in question 
ia undergone great development. The operator also states 
a the size of the fruit can also be greatly increased in this 
vay, its colour improved, and disease eliminated. If the above 
an be substantiated and turned to practical account in this 
oun iy, fruit culture should receive a powerful stimulus. 
Rite Strawberries are reported in a garden at Sheri ngharn 
near Cromer. 
* * * 
Cherry Blossoms. —There is in close proximity to the village 
of Rossett, Oswestry, a wild Cherry tree which is covered with 
blossoms. This is rather an unusual thing in this district at 
this early season. 
* * * 
Carnivorous Plants. A public lecture on carnivorous plants 
was delivered under the auspices of the Literary Society in the 
Temperance Hall, Dundee, on the 23rd ult., by the Rev. D. G. 
Young, B.D., Moneydie. Mr. John Scott, Perth District Sur¬ 
veyor, presided. 
* * * 
Brockwell Park. —The extended portion of Brockwell Park 
was formally opened to the public by Mr. John Piggott, chair¬ 
man of the Parks and Open Spaces Committee of the London 
County Council, at two p.m., on the 28th ult. Two hours later 
on the same day Wandsworth Park was formally opened to the 
public by Lieutenant-Colonel A. Rotten, J.P. 
* * * 
Seeing and Hearing Plants Grow. —This announcement 
comes from Germany, where it is stated that two Germans have 
invented an apparatus by which the growing plant is connected 
with a disc having in its centre an indicator which moves visibly 
and regularly, and this on a scale fifty times magnified denotes 
the progress in growth. Both disc and indicator are metal, and 
when brought in contact with an electric hammer the growth of 
the plant is as perceptible to the ear as to the eye. 
* * * 
Fruit Seeds and Appendicitis. —Many very intelligent people 
are deterred from swallowing the seed of berries, grapes, and 
other fruits lest the lodgment of these small bits of indiges¬ 
tibleness may induce that dreaded accident, appendicitis. This 
fear is utterly baseless, since the healthy appendix is protected 
by a valvular arrangement which prevents even the smallest 
seeds from entering it. It is only after inflammation has already 
destroyed its normal protection that any foreign substance can 
gain access to 1 it. To feel compelled to eschew all seedy berries 
and fruits is to seriously curtail one’s dietary, and it is entirely 
unnecessary. In fact, the free and constant use of ripe berries 
and fruits of all kinds is one of the best preventives of this 
dangerous disease. Fruit-eating prevents or helps to overcome 
constipation, and constipation is the most prolific cause of 
appendicitis. The physician should thoroughly disabuse his 
patients of this mistaken notion. All the smooth seeds are harm 
less.—“Hygienic Gazette.” 
* * * 
Encouragement for the Cottager.— Lady Algernon Lennox 
is organising a competition between the horticultural societies 
of Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire with a 
view of encouraging horticulture and the cultivation of allot¬ 
ments in rural districts. The show will comprise collections of 
fruit, flowers, and vegetables grown by amateurs and cottage 
gardeners, and will be held on August 3rd (Bank Holiday) in the 
grounds of Broughton Castle, near Banbury. A silver challenge 
cup, value fifty guineas, and considerable money prizes will be 
offered. The Royal Horticultural Society has also placed two 
of its Silver Banksian Medals and two Bronze Medals at the dis¬ 
posal of Lady Algernon Lennox. In order to facilitate the par¬ 
ticipation of societies whose finances are not always too flourish¬ 
ing, no subscriptions or entrance fees will be asked, and the cost 
of conveying exhibits to the show tent will be defrayed by the 
central committee. 
* * * 
Hawthorns in America.— When the sixth edition of Gray’s 
Manual was published there were only fifteen species of Haw¬ 
thorns (Crataegus) in Eastern America. The botanists of the 
country seem to have gone to the opposite extreme since then, 
and have described something like three hundred species ; but 
so suspicious is the editor of the “ American Botanist ” on this 
point that he suspects the species after all are only individuals, 
and suggests that to avoid synonymy each worker of the genus 
should affix a neat numbered brass plate to each tree which he 
names and describes. The editor seems to think that it would 
be impossible to determine the species of the tree unless it 
happened to 1 be in bloom at the time. In our opinion and 
experience some plants that have been named and described can 
be distinguished much better while in fruit than when in bloom ; 
but in other cases it is necessary to have a whole series of speci¬ 
mens in order to complete 1 a description by which a plant may 
be recognised. 
