358 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 25,1903. 
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 
Quizzings by “Cal.” 
Seeing the note concerning a long-keeping Apple on page 243 
reminds me that a Californian nurseryman recently secured the 
stock of a new seedling .Apple which was stated to retain its high 
quality for over a year. 
* * * 
The seedling has not been named nor sent out at present. 
Such a variety should not take .a long time to get over here. 
TV * * 
To refer to Primula ohconica, page 247, ’tis stated that, there 
are many beautiful colours. 
J * * * 
That can scarcely be claimed just at present, although an 
American hybridist claimed a year or so since that he had raised 
a strain containing many of the colours seen in P. sinensis. 
* * * 
The flowers were large, fimbriated, and, moreover, the poison¬ 
ous qualities of the type had been totally eliminated! 
* * * 
I note that plants of a new double variety are offered this 
season, the colour being a soft lilac. Also a variety named P. 
obconica granddfiora rubra, and another named kermesina. 
* * * 
The former is dark red and the latter rich crimson, which is 
intensified in winter. 
* * * 
Not being a glasshouse man, but strictly a hardy plant at 
present, I am fain to state that I have not gathered any Sweet 
Peas. 
* TV * 
However, I will tell “ A. P.” that if he sowed Mont, Blanc and 
the Selected Earliest of All side by side, giving both the same 
treatment, I’ll back the latter to get ahead by at least a week. 
* * * 
Either the office paragraphist or the “ Philadelphia Record ” is 
behind the times. 
* * * 
I perused the seedless Grange par many weeks, if not months, 
ago in a contemporary. [You might have done so in The 
Gardening World even earlier.—E d.] 
* .. •* 
Queer thing how hews travels. Here am I receiving my news¬ 
paper from a town 160 miles asway to learn of things that occur 
within ten miles of my residence! 
* .. * 
Respecting early Daffodils, I have had the wild Van Sion 
blooming bravely since the end of February. 
* * * 
We learn that faddists were offering a sovereign to Irish 
Guardsmen for their little piece of Queen’s Shamrock. 
* * * 
Shamrock and St. Patrick’s Day go in the same breath, which 
reminds me that some little boys with business instinct searched 
the fields around Portsmouth fox Glover. 
* * * 
This they bunched, and endeavoured to palm on wayfarers as 
real Irish Shamrock. 
* * * 
The dream of Sir William Crookes is that Niagara Falls will at 
some future date supply the world with nitrates for horticultural 
purposes. Sir William’s theory is based on the fact that the 
Atmospheric Products Company is now producing nitric acid by 
spark discharges with ordinary air. 
* * * 
The new Jasminum, primulinum, referred to on page 254, is 
already waking an interest in the market man. 
* * 45 - 
Market men rarely handle a poor thing, so one feel® one may 
rely on this hew species. 
* * * 
Speaking of Jasminum, it is queer how many people say Ja,si- 
mine. TAnd Jessamine.—E d.] 
* * * 
Beauty of Hebron Potato has held its plaice for a long time, 
which serves to prove .that a good honest American will take a 
power of moving. 
There are some who state that it is deteriorating: neverthe¬ 
less, it still ranks as the best variety for growing under trees 
* * * 
This is the statement of a market man, and a man who knows. 
* * * 
A big firm of fruit merchants were recently fined heavily at 
Hull for selling Onions which were unfit for consumption.' 
* * * 
The buyer was a hawker, who did not discover the quality of 
Iris purchase until he readied home. He thereupon sought the 
vendors, who refused to accept them. Without further ado th t 
eight bags of bulbs were canted to the inspector of foods, result¬ 
ing in tire loss of over £20 to the salesmen. That a firm of 
repute should jeopardise their business by such foolishness is 
almost past belief. One would imagine that Onions were scanv. 
but a glance at the imports for the week ending March 28th dis¬ 
closes just 124,330 bushels. Humph! 
* - * 
Quite a little stir was caused by the appearance of rel 
Daffodils, for scarcely a paper that came into my ban :1s fade l 
to have something concerning them, even if it was merely 
answering the queries of correspondents. 
* TT * 
Presumably Maypole Soap or Judson’s Dyes received an 
impetus by this unwarrantable vandalism. 
* * * 
However, it is not by any means the first- instance of a like 
nature. We have seen and heard cf green and blue Carnations. 
* * * 
Foliage, also, comes under the bands of the artificial colourist. 
At one floral depot I was continually pestered by queries as Co 
where a certain red-leaved decorative commodity was grown. 
* * 
Tlie subject that caused the flutter was merely the green- 
leaved Beriberis Aquifolium, which had been steeped in crimson 
dye previous to its delivery. 
* * * 
Nevertheless, the colouring did not detract from its value as a 
decorative subject, although it affected its monetary value, ivhieli 
was far and away better than the un-dye 1 article. 
* * * 
We are all cognisant of the uses of tartaric aoid, which forms 
the effervescing part of Seidlitz powders, the puffing constituent 
of baking powder, and lastly, I fear, the acid portion of " pure ”(!) 
fru-it juices. This sarnie alcid is not strictly healthful at, anytime, 
but a recent finding of lead in its make-up is disquieting. The 
means by which this metal was incorporated is easily discover¬ 
able, and I for one will look askance at lime and other fruit juices 
unless guaranteed pure. 
* 
Moreover, having seen, and, I may -say, used, cream of tartar 
in pastry making, etc., I intend to curtail my fondness for sue! 
items. 
* * ■*'- 
One not infrequently drop-s across writers who state tha; 
nitrates are not required by Peas, and it may be so after tin 
plants have grown somewhat. 
* * * 
But I unhesitatingly declare that nitrate of soda is highl; 
beneficial in the early growing stages. I note that America lia 
been experimenting with a nitrate spray for Peas with great re) 
suits last season. i 
* * * 
A handful of soda in five gallons of water, sprayed over th 
plants once a week after they reach three inches in height, wil 
enable the vines to outyield plants not so treated. 
* * * 
Speaking of manures, many people do not look upon sooit as a 
important, commodity, but mixed with lime (air slaked) and sal 
iu equal quantities, it- is a great stimulant for Onions, also ten 
ing to keep the fly at bay. Lime should never be added to six 
until the time of using, as it frees the ammonia of the lattei 
Anyone handling this mixture will readily detect the volatil 
vapour. An Alverstoke (Hants) gardener recently cut a Brocco. 
which scaled 151bs. and measured 36 inches across. Such wa 
the item brought to my notice recently. 
* * * 
These details, however, are somewhat vague, and one feel 
desirous of knowing whether the whole plant was weighed an 
measured. 
*■ * * 
If the dimensions given were those of the flower alone, then 
record is surely made, but if not, then I have frequently see 
plants that filled out a whole square yard of space. 
