THE QARDBNINQ WORLD. 
72 
January 23, 1904. 
moistened with, the water, dried, and sown. Only a small 
amount of the propagating material is required for an acre of 
ground. Each legume has its own. distinct order of microbes, 
and a supply of each is kept at the department laboratory. The 
immense value of these nitrogen-forming germsi will be forced 
on public attention if they prove equal to the task of making 
the practice of commercial fertilisation a. relic of the past.— 
“ American Gardening.” 
Salt and Daisies. 
Most gardeners use common salt for some use or other. I 
do not know if any of your readers have used it on the lawn 
to destroy Daisies. I have used it with good results. My 
method is to apply it when the grass is white with hoar frost, 
sprinkled on then. The salt and white frost together create 
intense cold, winch is death to the Daisies, and the grass doesi 
not suffer much at the time, but will grow more vigorous the 
following summer. A. H. 
Ants in Hothouses. 
I noticed ini your issue of October 24th, in “ Questions and 
Answers',” that “ A. M. D.” seeks information how to rid the 
house of these troublesome pest®. You there set forth many 
methods of doing this, most of which, I have used' with only 
partial success. In my experience, which extends over many 
years, I have frequently had to contend with these, and have 
used a large number of means to' get rid of them, none of 
which gave me satisfaction. 
Diu’ing the past summer these attacked our fruit in the 
Peach house, especially some choice gage Plums'. I resolved 
to try the new Talks Beetlecute. This was used according to 
instructions given on the box—namely, to sprinkle it on their 
runs. This was done night and morning for two days, when 
they all disappeared. 
Some few weeks ago the small tropical ant gave us trouble 
in our stovei on scone Orchids. The powder was used ini the 
same way, with equally good results', and in our Mushroom 
house it was equally good to rid us of woodlioe. ' Whether 
they ate it or not I cannot say, or whether it has an objection¬ 
able smell to them. Anyway, it. is most useful in the garden. 
Added to this, the vendors say it isi nom-poisoinous. It has no 
smell SO'far as I can observe. , 
It isi also strongly recommended for destroying beetles!, and 
no' doubt will find an extensive sale when known. J. C., F. 
Chard. 
Messrs. Bull's Primulas, 
Last week a. very fine strain' of Chinese' Primulas was brought 
to our office by Messrs. Wm. Bull and Sons, King’s Road, 
Chelsea. The average of the strain was very good indeed, and 
there were magnificent flowers upon which they laid little 
stress, because the colour wa,s not popular with certain people. 
Nevertheless, there was sufficient variety to please everyone in 
the matter of colour. 
Amongst the fimbriata, strain was, a magnificent variety 
named Duke of York, which we should describe' as the finest of 
the high-coloured ones. The flowers were of an intense madder- 
crimson, and beautifully fringed. The variety was sent out 
two years ago for the first time. We understand that it is, a 
very robust variety, and throws its flowers well above the 
foliage. A self yellow Primula amongst the Chinese' race ha,si 
not yet been, produced, but P. sinensisi alba, oculato-lutea, has 
a very large orange-yellow eye covering about half the flower, 
and very handsome indeed. 
Two' blue varieties were brought to our notice, but the finer) 
was that, named Imperial Blue, which had larger flowers and 
was darker coloured. Another variety which stands veiy high 
amongst the dark colours was fulgene, having rich scarlet 
flowers. Sunshine, having bright magenta-crimson flowers, 
ought also' to be mentioned here on account of its very dark 
colour. Chiswick Red, although brought out so many years 
ago, still maintains its high standard' and brilliant scarlet- 
carmine flowers. Very beautiful also was Ruby Queen, with 
carmine-crimson flowers tinted with magenta in the centre. 
That named Comet comes nearest to Ruby Queen in its 
carmine-crimson flowers, but a darker maroon zone surrounds 
the eye. 
About two years ago a, very handsome variety was sent out 
under the name of Countess which has beautifully fringed 
flowers of a delicate pink hue. These light shades are always 
popular, because they usually stand out well in a collection 
whether in daylight or under artificial light. The flowers of 
Pink Beauty might be described as blush-pink, and they cer¬ 
tainly are of a soft, and delicate and wherewithal pleasing 
colour. The finest of the white varieties was Mont Blanc, with 
snow-white, flowers of great size and substance and beautifully 
fimbriated. 
Accompanying the above was a number of double varieties, 
including a fine one named Primula sinensis fimbriata 
alba, which we might describe as a good market strain with 
white flowers. P. ®. fimbriata rubra might be described as 
the counterpart of the white one for market purposes, and the 
plants being strong in constitution and very free flowering, 
they are well suited for such work. 
Accompanying the above was a, number of double varieties 
most of them belonging to the strain which is really semi¬ 
double and very serviceable, because they can be propagated 
from seeds. They are also valuable for the durability of the 
flowers, either in the cut state or upon the plant. There was 
one variety, however, that had a much greater number of 
petals than the ordinary semi-doubles, yet even this isi obtain¬ 
able from seeds. The flowers are of a charming shade of 
blush-pink beautifully fringed, and quite full by comparison 
with the resit, recalling, in fact, the fine double strain, which 
existed some years ago 1 , but had to be propagated by cuttings) 
or division,. This was named P. s. flore pleno Blushing Beauty 
and is quite new. 
That named P. s. fulgens fl. pi. is the counterpart of the 
single one except in the matter of doubling. It is also the 
darkest coloured amongst the doubles. Indispensable also to 
a, collection, of doubles is P. s. alba fl. pi., with white flowers; 
P. S', rosea, fl. pi., with blusih-rosei flowers; P. s. rubra fl. pi., 
with dark red flowers ; and P. s. striata fl. pi., the flowers of 
which were striped and mottled with crimson-red. All of tliei 
above having fl. pi. attached to them are what we should de¬ 
scribe as semi-doubleis!, readily perpetuated from seed and 
worthy of cultivation on account of their durability. 
Obituary. 
Mr. Hugh Fraser. 
It is with regret, we have to record the death of Mr. Hugh 
Fraser, of Edinburgh, who passed away on the 13th inst., aged 
seventy years. 
Mr. Fraser was in the. employ of Messrs. T. Methven and 
Sons, Edinburgh, for fifty years, acting as traveller during a 
considerable period. 
Mr. Fraser was in the employ of Messrs. T. Methven and 
which had a large sale when published. 
It, was under Mr. Fraser’s care that Rhododendron Thomsonii 
first, flowered in Europe, and from that splendid variety many 
of our rich crimson Rhododendrons derive their origin. 
By the death of Mr. Fraser the Scottish Horticultural Asso¬ 
ciation has lost one of its original members, and one who filled 
the posts of vice-president and president with great ability. 
Hogmanay Harvest Home. —A sight the like of which may 
never again be seen by any person now living was witnessed on 
New Year’s Day, when, on the farm of Chapel, near Moffat (Dum¬ 
friesshire), a portion of the harvest of 1903 wa,s “ led ” in from 
the fields. 
