188 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 27, 1904. 
Society of Arts on the 17tli inst. He said that the return to 
the land was the direction in which we must look for the relief 
of urban and rural districts, as well as for the recuperation of 
our degenerate physique. He regarded the British Empire as 
consisting of branches of one great family, concrete and inter¬ 
dependent. It might be for the advantage of the whole if one 
branch were to give up the production of a certain commodity, 
and entrust its production to another. At the present day 
thousands of acres of land were rrofitably utilised abroad in 
fulfilment of our requirements, and he thought, instead of 
growing wheat at unremunerative prices, we might supply our¬ 
selves with the greater proportion of our dairy produce and 
vegetable needs. If we pictured the fact of this countiy over¬ 
spread with towns of moderate size, and each surrounded by 
its own agricultural zone, we could effect great economy in the 
reduced cost of manure and carriage. These, with a population 
limited to 25,000, would profitably utilise 50,000 acres. The 
successful competition of the foreigner in vegetables and other 
produce was not due to lower rents, but to the intelligent appli¬ 
cation of science to agriculture. He thought that the intensified 
culture of the land would be accompanied by an increase of its 
labour-supporting capacity. 
* * * 
Lawn Mowers at the Crystal Palace. —An exhibition of 
motors of a very extensive character was held at the Crystal 
Palace from the 12th to the 24th inst. As far as we have seen, 
there were only two exhibitors of lawn mowers present, and 
each had motor lawn mowers. Messrs. Ransoines, Sims, and 
Jefferies, Limited, Orwell Works, 'Ipswich, had stand No. 177 
at the Automobile Show, on which thexj had patent lawn mowers. 
One had a 42in. cutting cylinder, driven by a 6-horse power 
petrol motor. It is so constructed that the driver rides on the 
machine and can steer it with the greatest ease. This machine 
can be used on extensive grass areas where the ground is not 
too hilly. It can also be used as a roller when desired. They 
had several smaller motor lawn mowers of similar design. 
Messrs. Thomas Green and Son, Limited, New Surrey Works, 
Southwark Street, London, S.E., had several lawn mowers, in¬ 
cluding Green’s patent New Century, for use in restricted areas, 
being very moderate in size. The “ Silens Messor, a machine 
also present, was of suitable size for a donkey, pony, or horse. 
Quite of another type was Green’s petrol motor lawn mower, a 
very useful machine for lawns, taking the place of a pony 
machine. The larger size had a cylinder 24in. in length, and 
was driven by a 2|-horse power motor. In this the man walks 
behind and directs the machine. A much larger machine was 
Gx*een’s steam motor lawn mower and roller. It is of simple 
design, so that a gardener or handy man may be able to work 
the machine with very little practice. The driver sits upon tin's 
machine while working it. 
Society and Association Notes. 
Manchester Field Society. —Before the members of the Man¬ 
chester Field Society on the 16th inst. Mr. Burgess gave expres¬ 
sion to' some interesting views as to how Manchester may be- 
transformed into a garden city. Much, he said, had already 
been done by public improvements, the partial suppression of 
the smoke nuisance, etc., but much more could be done, and it 
was the duty of our merchant princes to contribute willingly 
towards any movement for making the city more beautiful. 
' * * * 
Failure of Parsley Crops.— The “ quest ion ” night meet¬ 
ing of the Birmingham Gardeners’ Association on the 15th inst. 
proved highly successful. Mr. Walter Jones presided. One 
of the most difficult questions to solve was the cause of the 
almost universal comparative failure of that useful domestic 
herb Parsley around Birmingham during the past, year. There 
was a consensus of opinion that the abnormal climatic condi¬ 
tions were chiefly responsible, though the quality of some soils, 
either natural or artificial, affect the welfare of Parsley to a 
degree more or less favourable than almost any other culinary 
plants, a calcareous soil evidently being the most congenial. 
* * * ' 
Darlington Municipal Reform League.- —One of the subjects 
taken up at the meetings of the Darlington Municipal Reform 
League is that of horticulture. They have had before them Mr. 
James Morrison, the chief curator of the Darlington Parks, who 
had given them an address on the value of open spaces, and the 
advantages and pleasure to be derived from horticulture. Mr. 
Morrison set before Ms audience a high ideal of what might be 
done if the Corporation would take the matter fin hand to 
improve the homes of the people by adding to them some of 
nature's floral gems. There is a good deal to be said for the 
suggestion that the Corporation should provide for the poorer 
people flower-boxes made ready by practical men in the spring 
time, and then when in bloom to have them adjudicated upon 
and award prizes for merit in keeping and in training. In adopt¬ 
ing it Darlington would not be alone. 
o O 
* * * 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society.— The inclement weather on the 16tli inst- debarred 
a great many from attending the fortnightly meeting of this 
society, held at the Sunflower Temperance Hotel, when “ Forced 
Vegetables ” was the title of a paper read by Mr. W. A. Cooke, 
Shirley Park Gardens, who had brought with him a good collec¬ 
tion of these esculents to illustratei his paper. Those, however, 
who had braved the elements were well repaid with the cultural 
directions laid down by Mr. Cooke. The lecturer has not long 
taken up the duties of head gardener to Colonel Simpson, and 
(his was his first introduction to the local horticulturists. From 
the reception given him he is indeed a valuable adjunct to this 
society. In opening his subject, he emphasised the increasing 
demand there is for forcing vegetables, the knowledge of which 
is very essential to the gardener who wishes to keep up with the 
t imes. The varieties that came under his notice were Asparagus, 
French Beans, Cauliflowers, Chicory, Dandelion, Cucumbers, 
Mustard and Cress, Peas, Seakale, Rhubarb, Potatos, Mush¬ 
rooms, and Tomatos. Under each heading be gave detailed 
instructions how they should be treated from the seed sowing 
operations until they are, ready for the table. Following the 
paper a good discussion took place from Messrs. Bunyard, 
Gaylon, Cutler, Kitching, Fleming, Simpson, Dingwall, Boshier, 
Bentley, Radley, and 1 May. 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
The Editor invites enquiries Jor reply in (his column. These 
enquiries may cover any branch of gardening. Questions should be 
put as briefly as possible, and written one side of the paper only ; 
a S', a ate sheet oj paper should oe used for each question. 
Renders 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. 
Double Petunias from Seed. 
Do you consider it possible to get as good varieties of double 
Petunias from seed as those usually considered worth growing ? 
(D. S.) 
All double Petunias have originally been obtained from seeds, 
but those which are usually considered worth growing are the 
results of a great- deal of weeding out. For instance, out of a 
batch of fifty or a hundred seedlings possibly only one of them 
would be superior to those- already in cultivation, and possibly 
only a few of them might be equal to the parent from which 
the seed was collected. You can, of course, get seeds, rear 
plants, and pick out those that are worthy of cultivation, but 
to make sure of getting good varieties it would be necessary to 
get plants already known to be good and selected for their 
qualities. Of course, there is always the possibility of getting 
something superior from a packet of seed. If you have only 
space for a limited number of plants of good quality it would 
be- necessary to buy good varieties and propagate the plants 
from cuttings. 
Cbards aad Cardoons. 
I understand that both Chard,s and Cardoons consist- of the 
leaves of some kind of Artichoke. Can you tell me in your next 
issue how they differ? (J. C.) 
They are usually considered to belong to two different species 
of Globe Artichoke having different English names. The plant 
which is grown as the Globe Artichoke is Cynara Scolymus. 
Ohards are derived from this plant. The leaves are cut down 
early in July after the first crop of heads has been cut from 
them. The leaves commence to push up again from the root, 
and in September or October they are tied up and blanched by 
surrounding them with soil after they have been covered, it may 
be with hay bands, to keep the soil off them. The process of 
blanching takes four to six weeks. The plants may be dug up 
after blanching and stored in some place where neither light nor 
frost can get at them until required for use. These blanched 
stalks of the common Globe Artichoke are then described as 
