498 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
■June G, 1903. 
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 
Quizzings by “ Cal." 
Respecting the Japanese .Fern balls, I have heard it stated that 
they can be dried oil annually, and. restarted in the spring, by 
plunging into water. 
* * * 
Would the balls equal the one illustrated on page 272 by such 
a practice ? [The rhizomes of the plants to which you refer were 
brought home in the dried state, and might have been dipped in 
water, but they are kept moist chiefly by syringing.—En.J 
* fr * 
It was a pleasure to see Narcissus Mrs. J. B. M. Camm re¬ 
ferred to on page 275. 
* * * 
Mid-March saw this variety blooming bravely in my garden. 
* * * 
I think, however, that Princess Ida is even whiter; in fact, after 
a day or two it is quite pure. 
* * * 
Duke of Westminster is another variety blooming at the same 
period, this having almost pure white segments with a lemon 
trumpet. 
* * * 
Daffodils are remarkably forward this season ; Incomparable 
Beauty, Mrs. Langtry, Stella Superba, Emperor, Empress, Will 
Goldrinig and Queen Bess, all being in bloom a full week before 
March ended, together with Heavenly Blue Muscari. I note on 
page 276 that Muscari Heavenly Blue is described as very fine, 
and indeed it is so. I grew this variety last season in pots, and 
it was truly a tit-bit to rave over. 
* * * 
I am inclined to imagine that the proposers of an Arctic House 
are desirous to see good money thrown away. 
* * * 
It is ridiculous on the foe© of it to assert that arctic flowers 
would bloom in an arctic temperature. 
* * * 
It is well known that such plants are dormant until the ad¬ 
vancing summer thaws the frozen snow and ground. 
* * * 
Moreover, the arctic regions are practically in darkness for 
seven months of the year. 
* * * 
Then, again, many flowers that bloom in the far north are 
identical to those of more southern climes. 
* * * 
The reference to the flowers of Alaska in the Christmas number 
was a clear indication of such. Maybe the writers referred to 
by the Editor suffer greatly from the heat in summer, and the 
existence of an arctic house would afford them comfort without 
having recourse to ice for their heated brows. Every period of 
the year for Chrysanthemums is a big order, Mr. Editor, and 
personally I do not think I want them about always. But maybe 
you are just hustling me with the word “ Chrysanthemum.” [We 
mean C. sinense, with big blooms. A group of 'them was shown 
by a reader of The Gardening World at the Earl s Court Ex¬ 
hibition at mid-summer in the early nineties.—E d.] 
* * * 
Of course, there are the annual summer varieties, and also the 
perennial C. maximum type. However, I once grew an ordinary 
variety which flowered, from July till Christmas. 
*' * * * 
I say ordinary merely to refer to the general type. 
* * * 
This variety was an American named Everbloaming. 
* * * 
However, its qualities were overrated, for the flowers, although 
double, were very small, and in no wise resembled the shaggy 
blossoms I was led to expect. 
* * * 
In fact, I would consider that it was on a par with the first 
double raised from C. indicum. Possibly, Mr. Blue Pencil, the 
Acalypha hispida is working on its own. 
As only the female form was brought over, might she not have 
grown tired of single blessedness, and turned out hubby blooms 1 
* * * 
Plants have queer ways, you know. Australian fruit growers 
will need to hold their ground if colonists from, the Los Angeles 
district intend settling up down under. 
* * * 
Los Angeles has grown into a marvellous city through the 
energetic growers of the surrounding country. 
The Riverside people know a thing or two about Orange grow¬ 
ing as an industry. 
* * * 
Way back in 1900 they were first on the list for exportations of 
Citrus fruits from California. Californians always work in com¬ 
pany, and at the time the Riverside Heights Association No. 10 
consisted of 190 growers, their little bits amounting to 1,436 acres 
of bearing trees. 
* * 
These few trees produced 309,771 dollars worth of fruit. 
* * * 
San Diego is a real pushful place, too, in the fruit line, as are 
Orange and Santa Ana counties. 
* * * 
Whilst harping on fruit I might as well quote the words of 
Mr. W. Goaring, who lectured on “ Fruit ” before the East Sussex 
Farmers’ Club recently. 
* * 
On being asked where pruners were to be obtained, the lecturer 
is reported to have said, “ An intelligent man could learn how to 
prune in fifteen minutes.” Umph ! if this is a sample of English 
lecturing, sakes preserve us. I have pruned for days at a stretch, 
but were I asked whether I was experienced I should reply no, 
and with a big* “ N ” too. We are often told that we can grow 
better Apples’ than foreigners, yet a grower recently sent to 
London a quantity which to the blindest of orphans would haw- 
appeared useless. 
They would not sell at Is. per bushel. It would be better for 
home growers to keep such rubbish instead of making themselves 
ridiculous by sending such stuff to their agents. 
* * * 
Many a time have 1 I seen a wholesale florist burl a pad of 
Violets, etc., across the room, and I doubt not that the fruit 
salesmen have similar feelings when they see such Apples. 
* * * 
And yet there are some who cavil at foreign importations in all 
sections of the fruit line. We take a good many cwts. of Apple*, 
but the markets would be mighty flat in March without 
Oranges! 231,557 cwts. of Oranges need a few buyers, and this 
little lot is merely one week’s importation. 
* * 
A West Sussex doctor urges anaemic girls .to eat fruit before 
breakfast, and at least twice during the day. 
* 1C * 
It means a little expense, but, as the doctor says, a little 
economy in dress will provide the means. 
* * 
Fruit, he states, is almost a certain cure. 
* * * 
There is such a fruit as the Banana, and the dyspeptic mai 
live on it entirely until a cure is effected. 
* * * 
There is the general manner of eating, that is raw, but some 
very fine dishes can) be turned out with Bananas. 
J * * * 
In a few parts the water, or rather the lack of it, is causing 
much concern. 
* * * 
The shrinkage of the Thames is no small item, the loss to the 
river being estimated at 240,000,000 gallons daily. 
* * * 
Sir A. Binnie recently stated that before long steps would ha'e 
to be taken to guard the water supply. 
* ic * 
The Chippenham Union people recently pulled a Parsnip 
which measured 4ft. 8in. in length. 
* * * 
I auess if that root was made into wine, it would be more than 
one pa’s nip. Help! Be merciful, Mr. Editor. 
