November 14, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
959 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Cross-breeding the Pink.— Just two centuries ago it is said 
that one, Fairchild, first cross-bred the Pink, and the experiment 
was successful. 
* *- * 
Mb. J. Adams, for the past 7-g years head gardener at Lynch- 
mere House, Haslemere, has been appointed head gardener to 
A. H. Howe, Esq., Harefield Grove, Rickmansworth, Herts. 
* * * 
Second Ceop of Damsons and Plums. —Mr. Clarke, of Old 
"Warden, Bedford, recently gathered a second crop of Damsons 
and Victoria Plums, the second crop being finer than the first. 
* * * 
Rainfall at Chichester.— A correspondent living in the 
above district sends us an account of the rainfall there from the 
commencement of the year till the end of October. The figures 
are very significant, and very abnormal in our experience. The 
figures are: January, 3.38in. ; February, 1.41; March, 2.82; 
April, 2.56; May, 2.88; June, 2.45; July, 3.83; August, 5.21; 
.September, 4.09; October, 9.01. The last figure is phenomenal. 
* * * 
Chrysanthemum Mr. F. S. V allis. — In reference to this 
variety, which received an Award of Merit from the Royal Hoi-- 
ticultural Society, as stated on p. 934, we learn that Mr. W. J. 
Godfrey was the only exhibitor who entered the variety for a 
certificate. The other two exhibitors mentioned had blooms 
at the Drill Hall on the occasion, but they did not enter them 
for certificate, although some of their blooms were called: into 
requisition in order to settle some points in dispute. 
* * * 
Strawberry St. Joseph at Inverness.— There is at present 
on view in the window of the premises of Messrs. F. Urquhart 
and Co., Union Street, Inverness, a plant of the perpetual-bear¬ 
ing Strawberry St. Joseph. It bears a crop of blossom, unripe 
fruit, and ripe fruit. There is also a dish of the same fruit, 
which was grown near Inverness. The St. Joseph is a cross 
between an alpine and a garden variety. It is very hardy, and 
in some districts is very prolific. 
* * * 
Improvements at Cuckfield, Arundel, Sussex. — A meeting 
was held at Cuckfield on the 30th ult., to consider a proposal 
to plant trees and place seats in suitable places. The meeting 
was convened for the purpose of forming an association by 
means of which improvements would be carried out without 
putting the cost upon the ratepayers. The association would 
supplement the work of the councils, and assist in making the 
place attractive to visitors. At the same time it was definitely 
proposed to plant trees on Whiteman’s Green and put seats in 
Spinning Field. 
* * * 
Sale of a Charity Farm. —The Parish Council of Llanasa 
have sold for a sum of £700 a small farm situated at Llandrillo- 
yn-Rhos, Colwyn Bay, which belonged to the parish, and the rent 
of which was devoted to a distribution of bread. The sale of 
the farm was decided upon on account of the fact that the farm 
buildings were dilapidated and needed considerable repairs, 
which, if effected by the Parish Council, would have swallowed 
the income of the charity for some years, and thus deprived the 
parishioners of its benefits. The money will be devoted to the 
purchase of another farm when a suitable opportunity occurs. 
* * * 
Recipe for a Dish of Chrysanthemums.— The Parisians have 
recently been imitating the Japanese in preparing a dish of 
Chrysanthemums for fashionable dinner parties in the Ville 
Lumiere. The recipe is : —“ Take a large, fresh Chrysanthe¬ 
mum, and after thoroughly washing it, plunge the petals into 
a carefully-prepared mixture of beaten eggs and Hour, then 
take them out, and plunge them very quickly into hot oil. They 
are then spread for half a minute upon blotting-paper, powdered 
with sugar, and served. The result will be found to be deli¬ 
cious.” * * * 
Jasminum nudiflorum. —We are usually satisfied and consider 
the seasons normal if this deciduous Jasmine comes into bloom 
in February, or even Christmas, if the weather is fairly mild, 
about those times or a little previously. A few sprays may be 
occasionally seen in November. On the walls of the cottages 
between Coulsdon and Kenley, Surrey, it is now in full bloom, 
and has been since the third week in October. Surely this would 
indicate mild times, or that the abundant rainfall has had the 
effect of stimulating this beautiful climber into bloom in 
advance of its usual time.—P. C. 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWER . 
The Editor invites enquiries for reply m this column. These 
enquiries may cover any branch of gardening. Questions should be 
put as briefly as possible, and written on one side of the paper only ; 
a separate sheet of paper should be used for each question. 
Readers are also invited to give their fellow gardeners the benefit 
o / their experience by sending supplementary replies. 
Replies cannot be sent by post, even if a stamped , addressed 
envelope is enclosed , and th* return of specimens cannot be undertaken. 
Anonymous communications are treated in the usual editorial manner . 
Address letters: The Editor, “The Gardening World,” 37 and 
38, Shoe Lane, London, E.C. 
Treatment for a Rose Garden. (S., Potter’s Bar.) 
The first tilling we should recommend you to do is to lift the 
whole of the Roses as carefully as possible, lay them on their 
sides in another part of the garden, and cover up the roots with 
soil. Commencing now with empty beds, you should trench the 
soil to a depth of 2ft. to 3ft. If the clay below is very bad, it 
need not be turned to the surface, although a quantity of it mixed 
with the ordinary soil would be very beneficial indeed. While 
the trenching is proceeding you should incorporate with it as 
much good farmyard manure as you can spare, preferably cow 
manure, or even that obtained from pig sties. The Roses may 
then be planted after the soil has had about a- week to settle, 
choosing a dry day when the soil does not puddle, and spreading 
out the roots, and then treading the soil firmly after the roots 
have been carefully covered up. See also an article on this 
subject entitled “ Hardy Trees and Shrubs,” under “ Work of the 
Week.” From what you say, however, we are afraid the Roses 
are rather old and worn out; possibly, also, they have been 
neglected. You may succeed, however, in renovating a good 
many of them. We should not cut any of them back until the 
end of March, or till all danger of frost is over. You should then 
cut them pxety hard back, with the view of getting them to push 
out young shoots from near the base. It might be worth your 
while to get a few new Roses to take the place of the worst of the 
old ones. After they have been planted, you should well mulch 
the ground with rank manure, consisting chiefly of litter, to keep 
out the frost. A top-dressing like this every year would be very 
beneficial, and some good soil might be placed on the beds now 
and in after years, these operations being done in the autumn. 
Growth on a Terrace of Stone Chippings. (W. E. B.) 
The specimen you sent us is one of the gelatinous Lichens, 
which is simply a low form of plant life, a combination of an 
alga and a fungus-. The reason why it is growing so plentifully 
on the terrace of stone chippings is because it has found the 
conditions suitable to its well-being. Plenty of moisture must be 
present, and, possibly, the situation is shaded asi well, though 
the amount of rain which has fallen this year would be quite 
sufficient to make it happy and comfortable, and that is all the 
explanation that can be given of its growing in such a situation. 
It may be destroyed by means of any of the weed-killers, or even 
by a dressing of salt or lime. We presume, if the ground is 
shaded either by buildings or trees, you cannot well alter the 
conditions as to shade and moisture. The above remedies, how¬ 
ever, will meet the case. 
Forcing Tulips, etc. (Oak Tree.) 
See under “ Stove and Greenhouse ” for reply to your inquiry. 
Marvel of Peru in Winter. (Western) 
The large fleshy roots may be taken up and stored in the same 
manner as Dahlias during winter. In some situations where the 
soil is light -and well drained it is possible to leave the roots 
where they grew, merely covering them with a thick layer of 
bracken or litter if the stems have been cut down by frost. An¬ 
other method of ensuring that the rain or melting snow will be 
kept from the roots is to place some boards over the top of the 
soil in a more or less slanting position, so that the water may 
run away, thus keeping the soil dry. Such plants ought to come 
into bloom much earlier than if you were t-o sow seeds in the 
open air next year. Roots preserved in a cool greenhouse, or 
similar warm place, and slightly started in heat before planting 
them out, will come into bloom earlier still. In case of losing 
all of the roots, you can raise seedlings in heat, treating them 
the same as a half hardy annual, and they will come into bloom 
fairly early after being planted in the open ground, and give a 
long succession of bloom. 
Carnation Maggot. (A E. S.) 
In the case of valuable varieties it would be worth your while 
to cut off the tops containing the grabs, and search down the 
