March 26. i904. 
268 
THE GARDENING WORLti. 
Crocuses.— In a garden at St. Leonards there are 25,000 
Crocuses in bloom. 
* * * 
Green Figs from Guernsey are making] 12ts. a dozen, which 
is a better price than is being paid for Peaches. 
* 3- * 
Alexandra Park. —This spring 17,000 to 18,000 young trees, 
principally Ash and Thorn, are to be planted in Alexandra Park. 
Mr. L. S. Reid, for nearly four years gardener to David Ire¬ 
land, Esq., Droughty Ferry, Dundee, N.B., has been appointed 
head gardener to J. B. Gunning Moore, Esq., Coolnafranky, 
Cookstown, co. Tyrone. 
* * * 
tells the weather, says Professor von Fridland. It does not. 
says Sir Henry Trueman Wood. Exhaustive tests at Kew show 
that the idea is all moonshine, says Sir Henry. The tests at 
Kew were the reverse of exhaustive, says the Baron-Professor, 
and all the best people believe in me and my plant. All this 
is magnificent, but it is not homoeea. Who would balance 
against a tinker’s imprecation the question whether the Abrus 
precatorius really knows about the weather or not ? What we 
want is a plant that will compel the weather, not foretell it. 
The advocates of this precatorius plant seek but to rob us of our 
last refuge—hope. But for the discoverer of the weather-making 
weed, what rich rewards are in store! 
* * * 
Housing oe Fruit Pickers at Blairgowrie.— -Recently a 
public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Blairgowrie, presided 
over by Provost Smith, to consider as to the better housing 
accommodation of the large crowds of berry pickers who frequent 
the district during the fruit season. A lengthy discussion ensued, 
and ultimately it was unanimously resolved toi appoint a com¬ 
mittee to consider the whole matter and report to future 
meetings. 
Potatos £200 per lb. —Mr. George Massey, at Spalding, on 
the 15th inst., sold some small Eldorado Potatos at £12 10s. 
per ounce. This concludes his sales of this variety for the pre¬ 
sent season. The prices of Eldorados started at £20 a stone- this 
season, and advanced to the above fabulous prices. 
-X- -7V Of 
Arbor Day in Ireland. —Messrs. D. Brown and Son, Limited, 
of Domaghmore, co. Tyrone, in making comments on this subject, 
state that if members of our political associations would drop 
politics for a while and unite to beautify the land they love, 
Ireland might become the beautiful country it was 1,500 years 
ago, when St. Patrick saw it. 
* * * 
Believers in omens may find matter for reflection in the news 
that the Chestnut tree planted by the King in the Embassy 
Garden in Paris during his visit to President Loubet last year 
has already burst- into- leaf. Hitherto- the record in this re¬ 
spect- has been held unquestioned by the big Chestnut, in -the 
Tuileries Gardens, the budding -of which- has hitherto been re¬ 
garded as the herald of spring. 
* * * 
£5,000 for a Remedy. —A reward of £5,000 is offered by the 
Queensland Government to the inventor who can devise a sure 
means of completely eradicating the vigorous weed known as 
Prickly Pear. Prickly Pear is a species of Opuntia, which was 
naturalised in Queensland from America. It is a rather attrac¬ 
tive-looking plant, but the sharp- hairs with which its stems are 
covered pierce the hands of anyone rash -enough to touch it. 
* ' * * 
A Tall American Story. —A New York nurseryman claims to 
have produced an Apple which is seedless, without -core, and 
grows on a tree that produces no blossom. That would be worth 
having, but it seems to us to savour of the miraculous. There 
are several plants cultivated as food which have no seeds as a 
rule, but they all continue to bear flowers as a necessary prelimi¬ 
nary to the production of fruit. A fruit that was not the result 
of a development from the pistil, as one of the essential organs 
of a flower, would be no fruit at all in botanical terminology. 
* * * 
Replanting Phcenix Park. —We- understand that £3,155 has 
been set apart for the planting of Phoenix Park, Dublin, which 
was devastated by a hurricane in February, 1903. This work 
will be superintended by the Board of Works, the work itself 
being carried out by professional gardeners or nurserymen. Help 
will also be given by amateurs, which probably -means that they 
will give donations of trees. Suitable trees and shrubs will be 
selected, regardless of expense. 
* * * 
Salads oe Flowers. —Covent Garden is preparing to meet the 
demand for novelties in salads. Dandelions are already recog¬ 
nised, and regular supplies will be kept up. Primrose salads 
may yet be placed on the menu card. Wild Sorrel, Hop tops, 
Wild Parsley, Daisy leaves, Primrose and Cowslip blossoms, and 
Violets are stated to be receiving attention. Nasturtium is also 
mentioned. This we take to mean Indian Cress, -and not the 
plant botanically known as Nasturtium officinale, or Water¬ 
cress, which has long been extensively used. 
* * * 
The New Weather Plant.—A white-hot discussion is raging 
in the columns of “ The Times ” on the weather plant. It fore¬ 
F urged Strawberries Losing in Favour. —Forced Straw¬ 
berries have been deposed from the position which they have 
long held in London as the nearest fruit of the early seasoi 1 . 
Fresh Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, and Pears from the Cape and 
-green Figs from Guernsey -have -ousted them from popular favour. 
Formerly Strawberries in'March readily commanded high prices; 
now they -are selling at from 3s. toi 12s. a pound, and all but 
the choicest berries are a drug in the market. If the depres¬ 
sion continues Strawberries may be selling, as low as eighteen- 
pence a pound. 
* * * 
Xanthoceras sorbifolia.— Mr. Joseph Meehan, in “ The 
Florists’ Exchange,” has been complaining that “ The Phila¬ 
delphia Public Ledger ” states that the only plant of the above 
in the country, that is in the United -States, stands in the pro¬ 
pagating garden of Washington. He advises his Washington 
friends to wake up, as there are lots of the plant in the country, , 
and says that a large bush stands close to- Horticultural Hall, 
Philadelphia. All the leading nurserymen also have it, or did. 
Many specimens have been sold within the last twenty years. 
The lay Press, we may state, is only too ready to make sweep¬ 
ing assertions without taking the trouble to enquire into the 
matter. The plant is also well established in Britain, and has 
white flowers with a- crimson centre and leaves like those of 
a Mountain Ash. 
Obituary. 
MR. HERM ANN HERBST. 
We regret to announce the death of this well-known gentle- 
man, which occurred somewhat unexpectedly on Friday, the' 
18th hist., at the age of seventy-four, at his residence, Stanmore, 
Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey. As may be remembered, Mr. 
Herbst had a paralytic shock some years ago, from which he 
partly recovered, but was never afterwards very strong. 
After coming to England, lie worked for some time in the 
employment of Mr Noble, Bagsliot, after which he established 
a nursery j.ust off Kew Road, Richmond, early in the sixties, 
and carried it on successfully for many years before selling the 
stock and goodwill to Mr G. Drost, who still carries it on. This ! 
was largely devoted to Palms. For many years lie was a frequent 
attendant at the meetings of the- R.H.S. at the Drill Hall, and 
previously at South Kensington. He wa-s- a member of the 
Floral Committee for a great number of year's, and was a regular 
attendant until his health finally broke down. 
Mr. TIei'bst was one of the original recipients of v.M.H- 
when it was established at the Diamond Jubilee of the late 
Queen Victoria. He was also- a very valuable helper and 
patron of the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, being one of the 
first and all subsequent committees till unable to- attend. He 
was a life subscriber many times over, having given m all - 
£112 lbs. 4cl., besides giving an annual subscription of £5 10s. ) 
No do-ubt some of the present generation of gardeners will 
have now forgotten Mr. Herbst, as he has been living in quie 
retirement ever since he was incapacitated from going up to 
the London exhibitions. Cremation took place at the Necro¬ 
polis, Woking, last Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Herbst pre¬ 
deceased her husband some years ago. 
