706 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
August 15, 1903. 
matter, and do everything it could to see that the act was not 
committed. Replying to a vote of thanks, Lord Onslow advo¬ 
cated the use of motors for the transport of produce as a means 
of stimulating the railway companies. 
* * * 
A Big Turnip. —A Turnip pulled the other week in the garden 
of Mr. Henderson, Inverquharity Castle, weighed over 2^ lbs. 
* * * 
Early Blackberries. —Some line ripe Blackberries were 
gathered on the Landley Road, near Barnstaple, on the 3rd 
inst. 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
The Editor invites enquiries for reply in 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 the 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. 
Potato Disease. —'Owing to incessant rain and absence of 
sunshine, Potato disease is spreading in Dorsetshire and in the 
Pen country. More rain will ruin the harvest, which is expected 
to commence in about a week. 
* * * 
Grass on London Bridge.— It is a well-known fact that the 
soil on any public road, if left undisturbed, will produce a plen¬ 
tiful crop of grass in a very short time. The appearance of 
grass in a street is usually sufficient evidence that the business 
of the town is very far from being brisk ; and, indeed, that theie 
is little, if any, business done there. Towns which have lost 
their markets and trade since the introduction of railways are 
not wanting, and it is no uncommon thing to see grass grow¬ 
ing in the middle of their roads at the present day. London 
Bridge is the last place in the world where one would expect 
to find grass, but it is there nevertheless. _ The slight space 
between the kerb and where the reconstruction woik is going 
on is filled with soil, which has produced a crop of grass, though, 
it must be admitted, of scanty proportions. 
* * * 
Delayed Fruit.— The South-Eastern Company’s reply to the 
Covent Garden grumbles about the late delivery of the morning 
fruit supplies is that the salesmen themselves are principally 
to blame. A van, they say, will sometimes have to go round 
the market three or four times before the salesman receiving 
the fruit will unload it. He is too busy loading the carts of 
the "reengrocers with fruit that has come to the market earlier 
to spare men to attend to the South-Eastern vans. But m 
Covent. Garden this statement is indignantly denied. I here 
have been occasions during heavy gluts when that has hap¬ 
pened,” said a dealer, “ owing to our want of space ; but a 
year like this, when we want what, fruit there is on the stalls, 
why, you can see us any morning running about looking tor 
the railway vans. And even if in heavy fruit years the railway 
vans have had to wait in the market before being unloaded, 
it is largely the company’s own fault. Had the vans arrive^ 
earlier they would not have got mixed up with the buyers 
carts.” * * * 
Fall of Willow Trees.— The collapse of nearly a dozen 
Willow trees in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, is a circumstance 
that can only be observed with regret, and whether or not the 
Estate Committee are in any way to blame for not foreseeing 
this unfortunate occurrence and preventing it, there can only 
be one opinion as to what they should do now The trees 
should be placed in position as soon as po||ible, 
tore moat around which they were planted should be filled 
in partially, if not wholly, in order to supply-the root-hold 
which the trees at present lack. The moat, or ditch was i 
appears, cleaned out a few years ago, and, no doubt, this 
operation caused the falling away from the roots of these trees 
of much of the earth to which they held. It is possible that 
some may object to forfeiting this ring of water, which was, no 
doubt, part of the original design, but there is reason to believe 
that it never was intended to allow the Willows to grow m the 
way m which they have done, but rather to make them spread 
more from a short trunk. The trees, having been allowed to 
<rrow to their present height, must be treated accordingly, anc 
m regard to the landscape, there can be no hesitation as to 
whether the little circle of water or the trees should be pre¬ 
served It is to be hoped that, no time will be lost m dealing 
with the problem efficiently. While they are about it, the 
committee might with advantage direct their serious attention 
to some of the other trees in the park, far too many of which 
are obviously out of condition. The f lien Willows are about 
15 years old. 
Wooden Espaliers for a Garden. 
A correspondent, wishing to ascertain the best form of 
espaliers, writes as follows:—“We have an oblong garden of 
about two acres in extent., and it is proposed to put wooden 
espaliers behind the herbaceous borders in the centre and prin¬ 
cipal cross walks. Could you or any of your readers describe 
one that has proved effective, giving the maximum height, dis¬ 
tance apart of supports and lathing ? Is there any book giving 
a variety of espaliers.”—.1. B. 
Orchid Seeds. (J. L. Cassels and Co.) 
Concerning Orchid seeds, to which reference was made in 
The Gardening World a fortnight ago, we are now in a posi¬ 
tion to refer you to a gardener who lias got some, and wishes 
# to sell them. They consist of species which have been crossed, 
ripened, and collected by himself. He speaks about having 
20 pods of seeds. His address is—Mr. J. H. Davenport, 36, 
Lacy Street, Stretford, near Manchester. 
Melon Leaves with Insects upon them. (Scottie.) 
The leaves you sent us were very much infested with tlirips. 
and the damage has gone rather too long if the leaves of your 
plant are all like those you sent. We think the best plan 
would be to cut off the worst of the leaves and burn them, 
then prepare a very strong solution of Gishurst Compound, 01 - 
even soft soap, provided you have none of the other handy. 
Is would even be more effective if you add a little tobacco 
water to the other solution. Close the house about the usual 
time in the afternoon, and before leaving off work, give the 
plants a thorough syringing with one or other of these insecti¬ 
cides, making sure that the under side of the leaves is thoroughly 
wetted with the liquid. By keeping the house in a close, steamy 
condition until the following morning most of the insects will 
be destroyed. If you are at all doubtful that the insects are 
completely eradicated, you could repeat the operation on the 
afternoon of the following day ; then in the morning you could 
give the plants a thorough syringing with clean water, to wash 
off the insecticide. For some reason or other you have been 
keeping the house rather dry, and that has encouraged the 
multiplication of the tlirips. If you are thorough in the appli¬ 
cation of the insecticide, you should have no difficulty in getting 
rid of the pest by the -method indicated. 
Troubles of an Amateur Gardener. (Jones.) 
We have frequently met with cases somewhat similar to yours, 
and we can agree with you that the troubles are both numerous 
and difficult, but we do not think they are insuperable. They 
have only got. to be met in detail in order to surmount them. 
We can print your letter, possibly next week, for the benefit 
of other amateurs as well as yourself, and give replies to the 
various questions raised under “ Questions and Answers. M e 
can quite understand that you would have difficulty in follow¬ 
ing the details concerning the descriptions of flowers, but that 
can be overcome, if desired, by a patient study of these things 
from week to week. Those who have pursued gardening for 
some years get acquainted with all these by means of daily 
contact with them, and by keeping up to date with current 
matter concerning them. We can single out some of your ques 
tions for answering next. week. 
Two Crops of Tomatos. (J. D. W.) 
In order to get two crops of Tomatos a year from the same 
house it would be necessary to sow the seeds for the first, crop 
early in November, and grow them on during winter, so that 
the fruits will be ready for picking in May. The second set 
of plants should be sown in time to plant, out in July, after 
the other plants have had their crop gathered and been up¬ 
rooted. It. would be necessary to pick the remaining fruits 
from the top of the plants, and ripen them on a. shelf in the 
greenhouse, so as to make way for the second set of plants. 
There is another method, namely, pinching off the top of the. 
stems after they have set a certain number of bunches. W 
