920 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 31. 1903. 
Blackberries. —The Blackberry crop is exceptionally large, 
although many of the berries are not yet ripe, and, considering 
the time of tlie year, cannot be expected to ripen ; but, though 
the berries are exceptionally plentiful, they are exceptionally 
small, too. A very large quantity was received in London last 
week from Devonshire and other southern counties, and from 
some of the midland counties. They were retailed for the most 
part at prices ranging from 7d.^to 8<1 a pound. 
Jam and Salicylic Acid. —At the Cheshire Quarter Sessions, 
on the 19th October, Thomas Chandler, grocer, Stockport, ap¬ 
pealed against the conviction of the Stockport magistrates re¬ 
warding the sale of 1 lb. of jam containing 2 per cent, salicylic 
acid. The appellant contended that salicylic acid was a pre¬ 
servative, and was not deleterious to health. The Court, how¬ 
ever, confirmed the conviction. This decision will affect the jam 
trade most materially, as this season’s make is completed, and 
it was stated that fully one-half contained some proportion of 
salicylic acid. 
* * * 
The Eirch for Stealing Currants. —Two small boys were 
fined 6s. 6d. each at Truro last week for stealing Apples from a 
warden- Just a year ago they were birched for stealing Currants, 
and the father of one of them asked why the same punishment 
could not be inflicted again. “ We cannot birch them for steal¬ 
ing Apples,” replied the Mayor ; “ but we can for stealing 
Currants. That is the law.” I am myself unable to find any 
authority for this remarkable statement ; but if it is correct, 
then the law is indeed “ a hass.”— Truth. 
* * * 
Victoria Trickeri. —After rather am adverse season in the 
United States, this Victoria has again proved its superiority 
over V recia for outdoor culture without artificial heat, in the 
neighbourhood of New York and Northern New Jersey, accord- 
in. “to the aquatic specialist, Mr. William Tricker, in “ American 
Gardening.” This form of Victoria does not come from the 
Amazon like V. regia, but from Cornentes Argentina, South 
America, and has been discovered to be the U. cruziana of 
d’Oebigny, of which dried specimens were sent to Paris over 
60 years ago. * 
The Maidenhair Tree in America.— Writing in “ The Florists’ 
Exchange,” Mr. Thomas Meehan says that fo: many years the 
desired°trees of Ginkgo bilob a had to be imported or raised 
from imported seeds. Of late, however, seed-bearing trees exist 
in the neighbourhood of all large cities, so that seeds grown in 
abundance in America are obtainable. They are fertile, and 
if kept moist during winter, or in a cellar, and sown m spring, 
every seed will germinate. The tree also transplants easily, 
and the writer says that there need be no losses out of a hun¬ 
dred trees if ordinary care is taken. Considering the beauty 
of the tree, we think ‘it greatly neglected m Britain. 
Lespedeza Sieboldi. —In this country we usually look upon 
this member of the Pea family as a shrub, and relegate it to that 
department. Commenting upon some remarks made by a writer 
in an English gardening paper, Mr. Joseph Meehan speaks as 
if the latter had made a mistake in regarding it as a shrub. 
We-admit it is just on the borderland, but in all favoured parts 
of Britain the stems should be woody and persistent. Of the 
25 known species, some are annuals, others herbs, shrubs, or 
sub-shrubs. It is largely a question of climate j where the 
latter is severe, L. Sieboldi may be cut to the ground, as in 
America, where Mr. Joseph Meehan describes it as a hardy 
herbaceous perennial. 
* ■* * 
A Frost-Proof Potato. —A really frost proof Potato would 
be a boon to farmers and gardeners. The news that such a 
tuber has been introduced in France has led the Board of Agri¬ 
culture to make inquiries on the subject. It appears that, ac¬ 
cording to the Director of Kew Gardens, the plant in question 
is Solanum Commersonii, and is a native of Uruguay, Paraguay, 
and Entre Bios (Argentina). It was introduced into France 
about 1896 or 1897. The tubers are said to be quite hardy, 
having withstood at Moulins from e 7 fo 54 degrees of. frost. 
They do well in compact, moderately moist soil, while their size, 
originally that of a Hazel nut, has been brought up to that of an 
ordinary Potato. They are not yet, however, eatable, as they 
contain too much of a bitter principle, which is known as sola- 
nine. An amelioration in this respect has, it is stated, already 
been observed, and it may be possible in the future to get rid 
of the solanine altogether. In the meantime, it is believed that 
the crossing of Solanum Commersonii with the common Potato 
is an experiment which is well worth trying. 
* * * 
A New Datura. —A novelty is announced from M. Herb, 
Naples, Italy, in the form of a Datura named D. colossea 
aurea, described as a real mammoth, with bright golden yellow 
flowers. It is said to be a hybrid, 
* * * 
English Apples are fetching such high prices this year that 
growers in Somerset and Dorset are selling them instead of 
making cider. One fanner near Yeovil sold the produce of 
one tree alone for £10, which is regarded as a record price. 
* * * 
New Strain of Zinnia. —Curled and crested Zinnias have 
now been produced, but whether they will become popular re¬ 
mains to be tested. The strain is named Z. elegans fl. pi. crispa, 
and several colours may be had separately. They are being put 
into commerce as novelties by M. Herb, Naples, Italy. 
• * * * 
Long Roots of Parsnips. —Mr. O. B. Chown, of the Bell 
Inu, London Road, Kingston-on-Thames, has in his possession a 
remarkable specimen of a Parsnip, which he dug from his own 
garden. From crown to tip, which tapers down as fine as a 
needle-point, the Parsnip measures 4 ft. 6 in. in length. This 
indicates the need for deep trenching in the case of Parsnips. 
* * * 
Chrysanthemums at Sefton Park. —The display of Chrysan¬ 
themums at Sefton Park, Liverpool, is now open to the public 
every day, free, from 10 a.m. till dusk, Sundays included. Old 
and new varieties are grown alongside of each other. Mr. H. 
Herbert, the superintendent, is to be congiatulated upon the 
fine appearance of the plants. Last week we intimated that 
the display at the Botanic Gardens was also open. 
* * * 
Intentions of the Garden City Association. —The Garden 
City Association has designs on Rosyth, the site of the new 
naval base on the Firth of Forth, and a number of members 
visited the spot recently. At a subsequent meeting Dr. John 
Ross said that, from what he knew of the intentions of the 
Admiralty, they seemed to be in sympathy with the ideals of 
the association, and were willing not only to make provision 
for the health and comfort of the future inhabitants of Rosyth, 
but also to show- some regard for the preservation of the ameni¬ 
ties of the district. It was recommended that a branch of the 
association be formed to watch over the de%elopment of Rosyth. 
* * * 
Gardeners’ Course of Instruction at Edinburgh. —Evening 
continuation classes for 1903-4 have been arranged in connec¬ 
tion with the 15 Club, in the Preston Street Public School, 
Edinburgh, and in a future issue we may find space to print 
the syllabus of subjects to be gone through during the session 
for the advantage of gardeners. Other courses suitable for 
printers, bakers, and masons are also arranged. The popular 
custodian of the city parks and gardens, the president of the 
Scottish Horticultural Association, Mr. M'Hattie, is most kindly 
undertaking the superintendence of a three years’ course for 
young gardeners or intending gardeners, that commenced on 
Monday, the 12th inst., in Preston Street Public School. It is a 
new venture on new lines, and should be heartily encouraged. 
Lectures on practical gardening are to be given weekly by 
specialists in such matters. Some of the leading horticulturists 
have already kindly promised their services in this connection. 
Elementary science and botany, geography, and arithmetic, and 
other subjects, with special reference to horticulture, commer¬ 
cial and otherwise, will be included in the course, and excur¬ 
sions will be made to gardens in and outside the city, under 
the supervision of experts. Such a unique course should not 
be missed, and not only young gardeners and nurserymen, but 
lads who are at other work during the day, but are not appren¬ 
ticed to any special trade, should be encouraged by employers 
and parents to enrol. To study the beauties and wonders of 
nature is a liberal education in itself ; but this course aims at 
more, and any lad passing through it and working well, and 
who gains a certificate at the end of the three years, should be 
enabled to command higher wages and be sure of obtaining a 
situation as an under gardener. Intending colonists would do 
well to note this course. 
