August 2?, 1904 THE GARDENING WORLD . 
695 
Meeting of Crysanthemum Growers.— For some years past 
Mr. Win. Sydenham, Tamworth, Staffordshire, has organised 
a Crysanthemum sliow in favour of the early-flowering varieties, 
and this he has again renewed. The forthcoming exhibition 
will be held at his establishment on September 24th next. The 
tirst class is intended for an essay on the “ Cultivation of the 
Early-flowering Chrysanthemum,” not to exceed 2,000 words. A 
valuable prize is offered for the winning essay. Five of the 
classes are devoted to early-flowering Chrysanthemums, two 
for early-flowering Pompons, three for floral decorations, and 
one for the best novelty of early-flowering Chrysanthemum not 
in commerce. For a bunch of bloom of the last named a Gold. 
Medal and a Silver Medal are offered for the first and second 
prizes respectively. 
* * * 
Vegetable Products of West Ii dies.— At the meeting of 
the R.H.S. Scientific CorSmibtee, on the 28tlx June, Sir D. Morris 
gave an interesting acciunt of the cultivation and introduction 
into the English markets of new fruits now being raised. Thus, 
the Litchi has been brought fresh from Trinidad; its cultiva¬ 
tion requires alternations of bright sunshine and water, so that 
its success depends upon artificial irrigation in the dry season. 
Mangoes can now be also imported fresh, as well as much im¬ 
proved Pineapples of the type of St. Michael’s, the average price 
being 4s. Bananas, usually imported from Jamaica and Costa 
Rica" are now received from Barbadoes. The fruit is of the 
dwarf species, Musa Cavendishi. They rea'iise 4s. in England, the 
price at home of a bunch being Is. They are packed in paper 
and cotton wool, with the soft part of the leaves. The ship’s' hold 
being well ventilated, the moisture evaporates, and the fruit 
is thus kept cool and fresh. Immense quantities of large Onions 
are also grown ; £84,000 worth were sent in a few weeks to New 
York. Cotton is also again being cultivated, the Barbadoes 
realising the highest prices. 
* * * 
Pears Attacked by Midges.— At the R.H.S. Scientific Com¬ 
mittee meeting on the 28th June, Mr. Saunders reported, as 
follows upon samples received from Newtown :—“ The Pears are 
attacked by the ‘ Pear midge ’ (Diplosis pyrivora), or, rather, 
by its grubs. The parent insect, which is a small two-winged 
fly, lays its eggs in the blossoms as soon as they are sufficiently 
open for it to be able to do so ; the grubs are soon hatched, and 
at once make their way into the centre of the embryo fruit, which 
they very soon destroy. There does not appear to be any way 
of effectually dealing with the fly, or preventing them laying 
their eggs in the blossoms. Trees which are in a position and 
of a size that the fruit can be easily examined should be care¬ 
fully looked over, and any that are found to be becoming dis¬ 
torted, or showing signs of the cha.racteristic black markings, 
should be gathered and burnt; any Pears that fall prematurely 
should also be collected and destroyed. In the course of this 
month the ground under the infested trees should be given a 
good dressing of kainit (not less than half a ton to the acre) ; 
this will have the effect of killing the grubs which have left the 
Pears and have buried themselves in the soil beneath the trees. 
Perhaps a more certain method of obtaining the same end is, 
during the winter, when there is not much work to be done, to 
remove the soil to the depth of 2 in., and burn, bury, or scatter 
it, so that the birds can pick out the little chrysalides formed 
by the grubs ; fresh earth should be used to replace that which 
was taken away.” 
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 
of 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. 
Selaginellas as Ferns. 
The schedule for our local show had a class for exotic Ferns, 
and as I had a large plant of Selaginella caesia arborea in fine 
condition, I thought it could safely do duty for a Fern, beinj' 
very similar in many ways. Tire judges disqualified the exhibit 
Your opinion would be considered a great favour. (Selaginella.) 
Usually there are separate! classes for these two families of 
plants in the schedules of societies and in that case it would 
clearly be a mistake to mix two kinds in one class. At the 
same time it would be entirely wrong to use a Selaginella in a 
class for Ferns, as they belong to a perfectly distinct order of 
plants. For instance, we might give you a similar case in which 
Palms might be aisked for. Now, many things are called Palms 
which are not Paknisi in any sense of the term. There is a 
plant that is very similar to a Palm, and named Carludovica 
palmiata, yet it would be quite wrong to put this plant in a 
class when Palms were asked for. Aspidistra lurida is known 
as the Parlour Palm, and though it may be used as a substitute 
for Palms in a dwelling room, it would clearly be wrong to 
exhibit it at a flower show as a Palm. In some districts the term 
Lycopodium is used in the schedule when Selaginellas are 
wanted. The reason for this is that yeans ago the term was 
applied to Selaginellas generally, and is merely a survival of 
those times, as Lycopodiums &Te really little grown in gardens, 
and, so far as we know, have never been exhibited for competi¬ 
tion at flower shows. 
Onions not Thriving. 
Last spring our Onions came up better than they usually do, 
and made fine growth for a time, but later on appeared stunted, 
and have made little progress since. 1 send some samples' to 
see if you can say what is the matter. The treatment was the 
same as in former years. (T. C. M.) 
The Onions have been affected by a fungus generally termed 
Onion mildew (Peronolspo-ra sehleideniana). As. this fungus 
penetrates the interior of the Onion leaves, it would be im¬ 
possible to apply any remedy that would be effective without 
killing the Onions at the same time. As in the case of many 
other fungi, either a damp atmosphere or very damp soil is 
liable to bring about the destruction of the Onions by means of 
this fungus. In such a catee it would be well to select ground 
that is not constantly damp. At the same time you should 
avoid all places that are very much sheltered by walls or shaded 
and sheltered by trees, as these are always very inimical to the 
best interests of the Onions, and are at the same time favourable 
to the growth and rapid spread of the fungus. The only thing 
you can do now is to destroy those Onions which are badly 
attacked and .stunted. If you had observed this earlier in the 
season at the outbreak of the malady you might have been able 
to prevent the damage by carefully digging up all affected plants 
and bn rui ng them before their spores got scattered, about in the 
atmosphere, thereby affecting other plants. You will thus see 
that prevention is better than any attempt- at remedy in this 
case by selecting the ground and situation. 
Potatos on the Stem. 
Several varieties of Potatos here have behaved in a very 
peculiar way this season. Many of them have produced small 
green tubers, at the base of the leaves, and are, of course, use¬ 
less. Any explanation of this behaviour would be gratefully 
received. (W. W. D.) 
It may be that the sets were too shallowly planted, or that 
you did not earth them up to a sufficient depth. Not knowing 
the circumstances of the case, this, of course, is only a surmise. 
There are, however, other explanations, and a very frequent 
cause of such behaviour in Potatos is due to isome injury or 
other to the stems below ground. They may have been injured 
by the wire worm or other insect at an early stage of their 
growth, thus causing a check to the free descent of sap and 
manufactured food which should go to. -the nourishment of the 
tubers below ground. Under tire circumstances it will rest with 
you as to which of these is likely to he the true explanation, and 
when you have arrived at the proper conclusion you can then 
endeavour to avoid a similar occurrence next year. 
White Insect on Beech. 
1 lie trunk of a fine Beech on the lawn here is covered with a 
Vi-Cocoa Makes Men Cheerful. 
The work of Mr. H. Hockley, of 5, Lorrimore Road, Wal¬ 
worth, London, compelled him to be out in all wind® and 
weathers, and until six weeks ago he used to get- very depressed 
a'nd always seemed tired and weary. Do you ever have such 
feelings? If so, follow Mr. Hockley’s advice. He says: “A 
friend of mine advised me to try Yu Cocoa. I did so, and since 
using it regularly I can safely say I feel quite another man, and 
am always, cheerful.” 
Merit alone is what is claimed for Dr. Tibbies’ Vi-Cocoa, and 
the Proprietors are prepared to send to any reader who names 
this Journal, a dainty sample tin of Dr. Tibbies’ Vi-Cocoa, 
free, and post paid, upon receipt of a post card to the Head 
Office, 60, Bunhill Row, London. E.C. ; or you can purchase a 
6d. ^packet, -or 9d., or Is. 6d. tin from any grocer cr stores 
Vi-Cocoa is the cheapest and best food beverage in the world 
