534 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
.Tune 25, 1904. 
Book on “ Table Decoration.” 
Is there any book on “Table Decoration” published that you 
can recommend, and, if so, where can I get it, and what cost. 
I shall look through the correspondence column for my answer. 
Trusting I am causing you no inconvenience, and than King you 
in anticipation. (T. M. R.) , _ , 
We should have been only too happy to inform you where <a 
book on “ Table Decoration ” is to be had, but as far as we are 
aware there is not one in print. There was a book published by 
Miss Hassard many years ago, but it lias long been out of print 
and the only chance of getting it is from the ;seco|d:-hand book 
shops Table decoration is a thing that is constantly chan 0 in , 
and a book might be useful-in furnishing hints that you could 
follow, either in imitating or improving upon the instructions 
criven, but at present those who have to do table decoration seem 
to depend for their knowledge on keeping m touch with exhibi¬ 
tions and also keeping in hand with the requirements of the 
place. This is one means certainly of getting fresh hints i 
you can give the time to visit exhibitions where table decoration 
is well catered for. 
Red Currants Failing (C. C.) 
After twenty years of fruiting, it is more than possible that the 
bushes, but more particularly the soil, is rather worn out 
soil of course, might be impoverished, especially as you say that. 
It has had nomature for some years. We have, however, see,, 
Gooseberries fruiting fairly well when nearly twice the age you 
sav, but a number of these had died out- altogether. The soil 
in'the instance we mention was of a very substantial charact , 
and calculated to give a crop for a, ong period. We shou 
advise tlie gradual renovation of the wood by cutting out 
branches where they can well he spared, and training in young 
ones to take their place. If there is vigour in the roots and the 
soil is ameliorated by manuring, it is possible to restore them n 
this way. If, however, you consider that a long process, it mi D ht 
he welUo start a fresh plantation on a new site, which has been 
well prepared by trenching and manuring if necessaiy. he 
old hushes can be kept on until the young ones reach such a size 
as to supply the necessary quantity of fruit The wood of the 
specimen you send was clean but very hard, and evidently ot 
stunted growth. The berries in many instances gave usthe im¬ 
pression that they had been imperfectly fertilised This of 
course, might have been the result of an accident at the time 
the hushes were in bloom. To be sure about that however ri 
would have been necessary to be on the spot. At the san 
time, we, while retaining the old bushes for a time, would make 
preparations for a fresh plantation. 
Raffia for Tying. 
Some discussion has arisen here as to the plant from which 
Raffia is obtained, some arguing that it is prepared from the 
leaves of a grass. Can you tell us if this is correct ? (A. G. B.) 
The article used for tying purposes is prepared from the leaves 
of a Palm known as Raphia raffia, and therefore not a grass, 
although the appearance of the dry and prepared material would 
readily give rise to such a supposition. This must not he con¬ 
founded with the bast of which Russian mats are made, as that 
is altogether a coarser material, and not well suited for tying 
purposes, where neatness and strength are required. 
Names of Plants. 
(R. W.) 1, Campanula glomerata dahurica; 2, Saxifraga 
Geum ; 3, Geum chilense fl. pi. ; 4, Potentilla hirta ; 5, Thymus 
Serpyllam coocineus.—<C. T.) 1, Sedum reflexum ; 2, Saxifraga 
trifurcata ceratophylla ; 3, Hieracium villosum ; 4, Thymus Ser- 
pyllum lanuginosis.—(A. M. D.) 1, Viburnum . tomentosum 
pHcatum ; 2, Lilium pyrenaicum ; 3, Lilium pomponium ; 3, 
Veronica gentianoides variegata ; 4, Santolina Chamaecyparis- 
sus ; 5, Ononis rotundifolia ; 6, Hemerocallis fulva.—(J. S.) 1, 
Oncidium flexuosum ; 2, Oncidium divaricatum ; 3, Thalictrum 
tuberosum, Erigeron mucronatus; 4, Campanula pulla; 5, 
Geranium ibericum ; 6, Geranium phaeum.—(F. H.) 1, a variety 
of Rhododendron which we cannot undertake to name ; 2, Rubus 
spectabilis ; 3, Rubus deliciosus ; 4, Pvrus japonica ; 5, Rosa 
rubiginosa ; 6, Symphoricarpus racemosus.—(E. M. R.) 1, Pent- 
stemon confertus ; 2, Iris sibirica ; 3, Inula glandulosa ; 4, a 
garden variety of Pyrethrum ; 5, Lychnis alpina ; 6, Silene 
maritima ; 7, Saxifraga hypnoides ; 8, Meconopsis cambrica.— 
(A. J. C.) 1, Oxalis Ortgicsii ; 2, ITibbertia dentata ; 3, Folygala 
myrtifolia grandifloTa; 4, Eugenia myriophylla.—(C. B. G.) 
Salix fragilis. 
Communications Received. 
C. S. Fuidge.— Charles Foster.— Henry Rocher.—W. F.— 
J. R. Jackson.— D. D.—A. T. R.—R. W.—C. S.—W. R — 
F. A. B.—A. E. S.—F. W.—R. F.—E. J. W.—F. Ward.—C. 
Dixon.—P. W.—M. J. S. 
CONTENTS OF THIS WEEK. 
PAGE 
Annual, a useful half hardy 520 
Anthurium scherzerianum... 523 
Azalea indiea. 528 
Birds, our song. -527 
Carrots, the cultivation of ... 525 
Climbers, three useful green¬ 
house . 520 
Conservatory, a handsome ... 526 
Ditton Hill, hardy plants at 521 
Flower garden, the . 519 
Fruit, hardy . 518 
Hainault, re-afforesting . 517 
Herbaceous border, hardy ... 519 
Hull, another park for. 528 
Iris Thunderbolt, Spanish ... 527 
Lilium monadelphum szovit- 
zianum. 522 
New® of the week. 533 
Orchids, among the. 518 
Orchids and Bog Bean, 
British .. 528 
Orchids for a cool house, in¬ 
teresting . 519 
Parkinson’s Paradisus ter- 
restris . 525 
Plants, colour adaptation in. 517 
Plants recently certificated . 522 
Roses in America, wild . 517 
Slugs. 524 
Societies : 
Grand Yorkshire Gala. 529 
Royal Agricultural . 530 
Society and association notes 532 
Staking, a new method of ... 524 
Strawberry as a cosmetic, 
the . 517 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
Conservatory, a handsome 
(see Supplement). 
Iris Xiphium Thunderbolt... 527 
Lilium monadelphum szovit- 
zianum.... 522 
Stake, Long’s patent .« . 524 
SITUATIONS WANTED. 
J OURNEYMAN, Inside and Out; age 
20 • 54 years’ experience; good reference ; bothy pre¬ 
ferred -J. TILLSON, Witherley, near Atherstone, War¬ 
wickshire ( ’ 
22, seeks 
F LORISTS.—Young Man, age 
Situation in Shop or small Nursery \ good maker-up, 
etc. ; good reference 
Finchley, N. 
-B. K., 13, Bedford 
Road, East 
(217) 
G ARDENER, Single-handed or with 
help or good Second where five or mere are kept; age 
30, married, no family ; life experience in frjyts. f mvers 
vegetables; 5 years’ good character.-H. CONINGSBY 
Orsett, Essex. _ 
P AINTER, Glazier, used to Greenhouses, 
would be glad to hear of Job ; own tools ; used to 
state work ; references to head gardeners, stewards an 1 
rade.- GREEN, 19, Stayton Road, Sutton. (218) 
SITUATIONS WANTED 
W ANTED, Man experienced in Jobbing 
Work ; wages 20s.—Apply, HENRY WHITE, Lans- 
downe Nursery, Eastbourne. (219) 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
N URSERY GARDEN (9 acres) for 
Sale ; excellent soil and in good condition ; half-mile 
from Harlington Station (Main Line M.R.); to Let on long 
lease at low rental ; freehold can be purchased if desired ; 
land on gentle slope facing S.E. ; good water supply ; storage 
tanks; 201ft. of cold frames, timber-built office, tool shed, 
packing and potting sheds, tools, etc. ; good trade connec¬ 
tion. Inc usive price £600, or good offer.—Ap, )y, WALKER, 
Auctioneer, Bedford. 
W ITH’S UNIVERSAL MANURE.— 
Best for all Flowers, Fruit, Vegetables. Prevents 
disease. Drives insects from the soil. Nothing to equal it. 
Cheap Safe. Reliable. 56 lbs , 5s. ; per cwt., 10s., carriage 
paid. Sample tins, Is. Interesting Gardening Pamphlet, 
post free.—WII’H’S MANURE CO. Hereford. 
D EFY THE BIRDS.—Rotless, tanned 
Netting, as supplied by us to the Royal Gardens, 
105 yds. by 1 yd. wide, is. ; any length and width supplied.— 
E. B. HAWTHORN & CO., London Works, Reading. 
S LUGICIDE ” (Registered). — Certain 
Death to Slugs and Snails. Perfectly harmless to 
the most delicate plants. Non-poisonous. Splendid fer¬ 
tiliser to soil. Is. 6d. per box, carriage paid.—THE SLUGI- 
CIDE CO.. Mnryleport Street. Bristol. And all seedsmen. 
S MALL-MESH GARDEN NETTING 
(no rubbish).—50yds. by 2yds„ 25 by 4, 4s. each ; 100 
by 2, 50 by 4, 7s. 6d. each. Any length.—THE SUPPLY CO., 
1, Wellington Road, Stoke Newington, London. 
V IOLAS FOR EVERYBODY, and, 
induce everyone to grow them, I will send 1 dc 
choice named varieties, Is. 3d., and 1 dozen to include sc 
of the newest sorts, £s. ; 2 dozen without names, Is. 6d. ; 
plants (10 varieties), 6s., post free.—GEO. STUART, V 
Specialist, Rothesay. 
An admirable Food of the 
EPPS’S 
Finest quality and flavour. 
COCOA 
Nutritious and Economical. 
JUST THE VERY THING! 
HARVEY’S UNIVERSAL FERTILIZER 
RELIABLE! CHEAP!! 
A. SMETHAM, Esq., F.C.I., says“ It contains all 
necessary constituents of plant food in available forn: 
AN AGENT writesWhere I have got it tried tl 
order again.” 
41bs., 1/4 ; 14lbs., 2/9 ; 28:bs., 4/6 ; 561b'., 8 /- ; cwt. 1 ! 
carriage paid. Sample Packet free by pest. 
J. P. HARVEY & Co., Kidderminste 
