April 30, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
37:1 
the bride with, a Damascus vase stand, and tender their hearty 
thanks to all who have in any way assisted them in honouring 
Mr, Hutcheson. 
* * * 
Apples at Monongla Creek. —During a visit to his elec¬ 
torate, Mr. Waddel remained for a time at Monongla Creek, 
New South Wales, and on one farm stated that he saw the 
finest crop of Apples that he had come across for many years. 
He was convinced that no better Apples could be grown, not 
even in Tasmania, which is considered to be the home of the 
Apple. He was certain that a paying business could be made 
of Apples at Monongla Creek. 
* * * 
Spanish Fruit and Newcastle. —There! can be little doubt 
that Newcastle would derive advantage by having its fruit con¬ 
veyed directly to its own port than that it should be shipped to 
London and then conveyed by rail. The authorities, however, 
will have to be more up to date than at present if they are to 
derive full advantage by having fruit conveyed from Spain to 
their own quay. It is said that a boat which would be dis¬ 
charged in seven or eight hours at London, Glasgow, or Hull 
takes three days at Newcastle. The! Corporation, we believe, 
are making an endeavour to remedy this state of matters. 
* * * 
Something Like a Gardener. —A gentleman in Cornwall 
employed a man, who said he was a practical gardener, to plant 
his kitchen garden. The first day he tilled Onions, and the next 
day Potatos. In the evening the employer visited the garden to 
see how the “ practical gardener” was getting on with his work, 
when, to his surprise and indignation, lie found that the Potatos 
had been put into the same piece of ground as the Onions, and 
which he had dug over again. On being asked to explain his 
reason for so doing, the man said that that was the best way, 
for now the Onions and Potatos would come up together, and 
that another crop could be planted in the ground intended for the 
Potatos. The “practical gardener” did not complete the tillage 
of the garden, and is now seeking for another job. 
* * * 
The Royal Gardens, Frogmore. —The Palm houses, green¬ 
houses, stoves, and vineries at the Royal Gardens, Frogmore, 
Windsor, are being greatly remodelled and expanded, so as to 
place them on one complete and harmonious plan for the better 
working of the whole range. They are all being either rebuilt or 
improved by being fitted with modern and improved appliances, 
according to their several and separate needs. A fine bothy 
range for the gardeners has also been built, of which we published 
the plans nearly a year ago. This includes a library or reading 
room, furnished with papers, magazines, and books. The grounds 
in various places are also being rearranged, so that the Royal 
Gardens, as a whole, are being put on a splendid foot in o' by the 
King. 
* * * 
Tree Planting in Ireland.— About the middle of last cen¬ 
tury a Royal Commission was appointed to consider the ques¬ 
tion of tree planting in Ireland. After some considerable time 
a report was printed, but little more came of the inquiry. 
Lord Powerscourt, was a notable exception, for he enclosed and 
planted 310 acres of mountain slopes with Larch and Scotch 
Firs. Tliis was in 1861 and 1862, when he was a young man. 
aow he is selling Larch 40 ft. high, and making a fair profit. 
The rate of growth has thus averaged 1 ft. a year. Lord Powers¬ 
court had the pleasure of watching his trees grow and of 
leaping a harvest in his lifetime. In 1869 he commenced a 
plantation of 700 acres, and continued at it annually for nine 
years. He reckons to have about 4,000,000 trees altogether. 
He raised them from seeds, and planted them out when three 
years old and about 9 in. to 15 in. high. 
* * ■* 
Fruit Culture in Ireland. —In former issues we have men¬ 
tioned large areas devoted to early Potatos at Clonakilty, in the 
south of Ireland. That district is not entirely given over to 
otatos, for the Department of Agriculture has been encouraging 
rui culture, or, rather, initiating a scheme for the same, which 
intends to test the financial value of the undertaking. The De- 
fan/focn 1 1 supplied, free of cost, to various occupiers of the 
E£rjr (0 A PP\ e 50 Pears, 40 Plum, 1,000 Raspberries, 3,000 
W £S7 500 Goober™*, id 500 Currants. tS 
risina ^Department Is to continue super- 
the necessarv Wto the owners to supply all 
ment has to to 1 ur ‘ , Mu McKTllop, fruit expert to the Depart- 
the district «-C* 
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 g ve their fellow gardeners the benefit 
of their experience by sending supplementary rep’ies. 
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. 
Scarlet Runners as a Screen. 
For some years past we have been growing Scarlet Runners 
on tall stakes for making a screen between the flower garden and 
a part, of the vegetable grounds. Last year they did not do so 
well. Can. they be grown for any length of time on the same 
ground? (J. Miller.) 
It is just possible that the cold wet weather affected the plant s 
more than usual. Oil the other hand you might have neglected 
to renew or restore the fertility of the soil by means of deep 
digging, trenching, and manuring. If you manure them fairly 
liberally every year Scarlet Runners may be grown successfully 
for many years in succession on precisely the same ground as 
they were previously. They certainly grow with vigour even 
when not manured, but they would also' fruit well if manure 
is put well down in the soil. It sometimes happens in fertile 
soil especially in wet seasons that slugs play havoc with the 
young plants when they appear above the ground. Dustings of 
lime and soot placed round the plants and renewed after wet 
weather would serve to keep the enemy at bay. 
Tuberous Begonias for Bedding. 
Would there be. any advantage in starting tuberous Begonias 
before planting them out ? The tubers were seedlings last year, 
and in many cases the tubers are small. (L. M. G.) 
It would certainly be an advantage to start tuberous Begonias 
in gentle heat, before bedding them out, as it enables them to 
make a considerable amount of growth and come into bloom 
earlier when once the weather becomes genial. It is late now 
to commence bringin^ tlum on, but a start in growth, will be 
better than dry tubers, certainly. You could keep them fairly 
warm and moist for a month, but before planting them out they 
ought to be well hardened off in a frame before* exposing them 
to sunshine and air. Tubers, although, small, are capable of 
making good growth and flowering well the second year. 
Planting Vines. 
We have some Vines in pots intended for fruiting, but as thev 
hardly seem strong enough to carry a good crop, we want to 
plant, them out. in a border. They have started into growth, and 
I should be pleased to know if planting can be clone before 
autumn or winter. (R.M.) 
You can safely plant them out even if they have started into 
growth. You should take the present opportunity, however to 
prepare a border for them, making use of the usual compost ’for 
young A ines. About 4ft. wide will be sufficient for this year, 
and in succeeding years you may add a couple of feet or so 
until tire whole of the border has been clone. In planting them 
out the roots may be spread out. properly so as to let them have 
the full benefit of the border. You must be prepared, however, 
to keep the house rather* close, moist, and shaded for a week or 
so until the roots have taken to the fresh soil. Seeing that 
they are in an active state of growth, it will not take them loim 
to recover from the operation, but you must be careful in shading 
the house and keeping the atmosphere, moist until it is seen that 
the "Vines have recovered themselves and will stand more lrtht 
without flagging. 
Tropaeolnm polyphyllum. 
Some roots of a plant under this name have been given me by 
my employer without instructions. Can you say what treatment 
should be given them? (J. N.) 
This species was at one time treated as a greenhouse plant 
but is now found to be hardy. You should select a rather 
dry position for it on the rockery or on some slightly elevated 
border where there will be no danger of stagnant, moisture 
during the winter months. In some cases the roots are planted 
near bold projecting pieces of rock, and this has the effect of 
keeping them dry during winter. The same purpose mtolit be 
effected, however, by placing a, piece of slate over the ground 
