514 
THE QARDEN/NQ WORLD 
•Tune 18, 1904. 
accounted a good deal for his appearance her© so hale and 
hearty after passing the allotted span. He hoped that he 
mio-ht. yet enjoy many yearswaging war successfully m ins 
orchard in the Carso of Cowrie. The doctor suitably replied, 
thanking the members for their patient hearing and hearty 
thanks.— James Bethel, Secretary. 
Death of Mr. Isaac Betts.— The death occurred on Friday 
morning of Mr. Isaac Betts, who had been gardener to Mi 1 led 
Smoothy, C.A., at Bradford House, Braintree, for forty-two 
T ears - * * * 
Rose Fete at Ash Vale, Aldeeshot.— General Sir Redvers 
Bui lev has promised to open the Rose fete which is about to take 
nlace at Ash Vale, on the 21st and 22nd mst m aid of St. 
Mary’s Mission Church. In the event of lus being unable to 
attend, Lord Bingham has promised to act as his deputy. 
* * * 
Cherries and Strawberries in Kent.— Reports on the 
Kentish fruit crop from a variety of sources show that Cherries, 
will be a much smaller crop than had been- anticipated, Imvin 
been seriously damaged by frost and biting east- wmds. 
Currants will be almost a failure m many districts, but Red 
Currants will be a good crop. Plums have run off very bac y, 
but the late sorts promise a fair crop. Gooseberries have 
suffered a great deal, but there is every prospect of a large crop. 
Strawberries are doing exceedingly well, and will be abundant. 
There is also every indication of a heavy crop of Apples, and 
Pears promise well. 
Opening of Public Gardens. —On the 1st inst. Mr. H. J. 
Sansom, chairman of the Urban District Council, Portland, 
opened some public gardens on the island. Portland is noted 
chiefly for its stone, and the absence of trees is particularly 
noticeable, so that anything in the shape of vegetation is more 
then welcomed. A common near the railway station has been 
converted into quite a miniature paradise. A bandstand has 
been erected and chairs placed in the grounds, so that the latest 
creation will form a pleasing rendezvous for the sturdy islanders. 
The contractors for the work, which cost between £2.000 and 
£3,000, and was supervised by Mr. R. S. Henshaw (the sur¬ 
veyor), were Messrs. Jesty and Baker and Mr. Steward. After 
the public opening a luncheon took place in the Masonic Hall. 
Good Asparagus from Evesham. —The Evesham markets have 
been heavily stocked of late, and great quantities of Asparagus 
of fine quality have been sold ait good prices. Asparagus has 
sold well all through. Perhaps the one day when it was cheapest 
was on Monday last week, and then fine quality stuff could not 
be purchased at less than Is. 3d. We are informed, that very 
nearly a million of Asparagus was sold in the Smithfield Market 
last week, and that the average price there up to date would 
work out at Is. 6d. per 100, and we can quite believe it. At 
the Central also large quantities have been disposed of. 
* * * 
Committee on Railway Rates.— The- Committee appointed by 
the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to 
inquire and report whether there is any evidence to show that 
preferential treatment is- given by the railway companies in, 
Great Britain to foreign and colonial agricultural produce: as 
compared with the treatment of home produce (according to 
The Times) are about to issue a circular letter to chambers of 
agriculture and agricultural clubs and societies asking whether 
it° is, the wish of the associations to nominate a member who 
would be prepared to give evidence: on the subject. The letter 
is also to be sent to the honorary agricultural correspondents 
appointed by the Board of Agriculture: and Fisheries. The 
Committee wish it to he as widely known as possible that 
evidence will he accepted, not only from such associations, but 
from all persons who consider that they have grounds for com¬ 
plaint. Particulars of proposed evidence should, in the first 
place' be submitted on a form to he obtained from the secretary , 
Mr E C Stoneham, 7, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W. 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
The Editor invites enquiries for reply in this column. Thesi 
nquiries may cover any branch of gardening. Questions should 6, 
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 benefi 
of their experience by sending supplementary replies. 
Replies cannot be sent by post, even if a stamped, addressee 
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 anc 
38, Shoe Lane, London, E.C. 
Cancer oi Vine Stems. 
I have been for some time a subscriber to yonir paper, which 1 
jiass on to my gardener, and we both find it useful and interesting. 
I should be: glad if you would kindly answer two questions whuff 
have been puzzling us. (1) Cancer-like, rough, light-brown wants 
on stem of Vines. The vinery is good sized, well ventilated, and 
not much forced, as Grapes are not wanted till the beginning of 
September. Of Black Hamburgh and Sweetwater only the former 
is attacked. They bear well. Roots in outside border, remade 
two seasons ago,. Deficient drainage is suspected. (F. D.) 
It would be difficult to say for certainty what is on the stem 
without seeing some, samples. Since you say that the Vines 
would be likely to bleed if these warts were cut off, we presume 
that they are aerial roots. If our surmise is correct they will dc 
no particular harm if left on till the leaves of the Vine drop off, 
after which they may be cut off. You are probably' correct in 
supposing that the drainage is defective, as that is one of the 
fertile causes of roots proceeding from the stems. It would be 
well to examine the border and see in what state it is, and clear 
the cutlets for superfluous water if that is necessary. If properly 
made about two years ago it should not be in a bad condition as 
yet, but it will be well to make certain about the matter. The 
border could be taken up to 1 see the state of the roots: in the 
autumn if the drainage is really deficient. 
Rose wi'h Green Leaves. 
Some of my plants of Souvenir de la, Malmaison, including a 
standard, and free bloomers, have tufts of green in the middle ol 
the blossom. Nearly every blossom has come with green in the 
centre. The blooms will probably be all right, as last year the 
same thing occurred to a, slight extent . One grows in a corner 
near the greenhouse, and the cither in the open border. (F. D.) 
We suspect that it is a case of over luxuriance. The plants may 
he grown in too rich or too deep a, soil, causing an over-luxuriant 
growth, and nearly changing the petals of the flowers into green 
leaves. We have seen this occur in Mareoba-1 Niel and William 
Allan Richardson, but' it does not follow that they will come green 
next- year. It may be merely a case off too much rain acting in 
conjunction with a, low temperature and a, rich soil. If the Roses 
happen to be mulched, we should remove the mulching in order 
that the soil might become warmed up by the heat of the sun, 
You might also- avoid giving any manure next autumn, hut blooms 
will, we think, come right, again. 
Peach Leaves Blistered. 
My Peach trees are covered with blistered leaves. Is it cold 
winds that cause it, or what' am I to do ? They are in good health 
after they get' over losing their leaves. (G. H.) 
The Peach blister is due to-a fungus named Exoascus deformans. 
It is a popular 1 notion that the blisters are caused by cold winds, 
but beyond the low temperature and the moisture being favour¬ 
able to the fungus there 1 is no 1 other connection between the cause 
and effect. The only thing you can do is to remove all the 
blistered leave®, or a® many of them as you conveniently can 
without denuding the trees and burn them. The trees may look 
healthy when the leaves are off, but the fungus really lives in the 
tissues of the young branches and appears again in spring. It 
may be well to remove some of the worst affected branches and 
burn them. If the trees are badly affected and bear no fruit, the 
best thing to do would be to grub up the trees and plant, young 
ones on a fresh site. 
Brown Spots on Chrysanthemums. 
Some of my Chrysanthemums have a brown spot on the leaves, 
and I think it is rust.. What is the best, cure for it P (G. H.) 
Without seeing specimens, which you ought to have sent, we 
presume your Chrysanthemums are .affected by the ruist caused bv 
a fungus named Uredo Clirysanthemi. As (lie fungus lives inside 
the tissue, there is no. real cure for it. You might try a weak 
solution of Bordeaux Mixture, which will kill those portions 1 of 
