568 
THE QARDENINQ WORLD . 
July 9, 1904. 
Castle, Bonnyrigg, 18 varieties herbaceous Paeonies; from 
Mi*. R. P. Brotherston, The Gardens, Tyningliam, Preston- 
kirk, blooms of Rosa sulpliurea, a very little-known Rose, but 
mentioned by Parkinson, 1627, sprays of Arundinaria Simoni 
in flower ; from Mr. M. Todd, Stoneybank, Musselburgh, vases 
of the following Roses: Ma Tulip, Gustav Regis, Caroline 
Testout, and Liberty, and a vase of Spanish and English Irises ; 
from Messrs. Dobbie and Co, Rothesay, spikes of hybrid Ver- 
bascum olympicum x V. phoeniceum named Caledonia, A. M. 
Bumie, and Ivanhoe, and a collection of named seedling Violas ; 
from Mr. Robertson, Pilrig House, Edinburgh, spikes of Bud- 
dleia globosa; from Messrs. Grieve and Sons, Redbraes Nur¬ 
series, Edinburgh, a collection of border Pinks and other hardy 
flowers; from the glasshouses, Edinburgh Public Gardens, 
three spikes of Lilium giganteum in full flower. 
Mb. Arthur Dye, who has been engaged in the Tring Park 
Gardens for a number of years, has been promoted to the posi¬ 
tion of head gardener. 
* * * 
The King’s Gold Medal, presented by His Majesty for com¬ 
petition at the Isle of Wight Rose Show, has been won by Lady 
Campbell, of Bembridge. 
* * * 
The Pear Midge.— The gardeners in Cumberland are com¬ 
plaining of the serious destruction to their Pear trees this 
summer, caused by the ravages of the Pear Midge. 
* * * 
Imports of Bananas the other week surpassed all previous 
records, about 120,000 bunches of the fruit being received from 
five sources of supply. The most important feature of the trade 
is the reappearance of the Jamaica Banana. 
* * * 
Mr. H. Harris, for the past three years assistant in the gar¬ 
dens at Aswarby Park, Aswarby, Grantham, has been appointed 
head gardener to G. F. Barrell, Esq., J.P., Mercia Lodge, 
Spalding. 
* * * 
Record Strawberry Harvest. —Never did Hampshire Straw¬ 
berries meet a larger circle of buyers at Covent Garden than this 
season, and the supply is plentiful. It is expected that the total 
output of the Hampshire fields will be quite 1,500,000 baskets. 
* * * 
Killed by a Strawberry. —A woman has just died in London 
after eating a Strawberry. The post-mortem examination 
showed that the larynx was intensely swollen, and between the 
vocal chords was a piece of Strawberry firmly impacted. Death 
was due to suffocation. 
* * * 
Strawberries from Kent. — One hundred and twenty thousand 
pounds weight were sent to London on the first day that the 
Kentish fields were picked, and the amount has more than 
doubled since. In many districts the largest crop per acre ever 
known is now in sight, but a great deal might be done in the 
way of Strawberry-growing for local consumption even in rural 
districts. 
* * * 
All-England Cabbage Show.— Last week there was an All- 
England Cabbage show at the Royal Forest Inn, the house of 
Mr. H. Slack, when there were eleven exhibitors. The 
first prize was 15s., won by Jos. Bean (Sutton), 13 lbs. 13 ozs. ; 
second, 10s., secured by F. Bowler (Sutton), 8 lbs. 12 ozs. ; 
whilst the third, 5s., was also won by Jos. Bean, 8 lbs. 8 ozs. 
Bilberries a Substitute for the Black Currant.— Red 
Currants, Bilberries, and Cherries from Holland are now being 
put on the English markets. The crop of Dutch Currants and 
Bilberries is immense, and record shipments will be made to 
England all through the season. Bilberries have largely taken 
the place of the Black Currant. They are much cheaper, re¬ 
semble it very closely, and when cooked yield a large amount 
of juice. The bulk of these imported berry fruits always goes 
to the Midlands. 
Laeliocattleya Williamsoni was so named in compliment 
to the Rev. David R. Williamson, F.N.C.M., minister of Kirk- 
maiden. The parentage of this hybrid was Laelia purpurata x 
Cattleya maxima. 
* * * 
Polluted Watercress. —An expenditure not exceeding £120 
was sanctioned by the London County Council for the purposes 
of an inquiry as to the condition of the beds from which Water¬ 
cress is supplied to London. 
* * * 
Facilitating Fruit Transit. —For the benefit of Evesham, the 
Great Western Railway Company last week put on a new goods 
train for Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Wakefield, Don¬ 
caster, Hull, and Scotland. It is worked in connection with 
the Great Central Railway. Produce leaving Evesham at 8.30 
p.m. will be delivered at the above places at six o’clock next 
morning. 
* * * 
The Champion Cottage Gardener. —We understand that Mr. 
Chas. Bridgewater, of Witley, Surrey, has just been presented 
with the Silver Knightian Medal of the Royal Horticultural 
Society for the best kept cottage garden in the county. Some 
time ago we announced his success, and now that he has been 
made the unique recipient of the medal he should be a proud 
man. He works in his garden in the intervals of his employ¬ 
ment as a carter. 
* * * 
Strawberries Preserved Whole. —Make a syrup with one 
pint of water td 1 lb. of sugar. Boil it until it is thoroughly 
clear. Pick 11, lb. of fine unbruised Strawberries, and set them 
in an earthen jug or enamelled pan. Pour the syrup over them 
while they are boiling, and cover them closely for 24 hours. 
Next day strain off the syrup, taking care not to bruise the 
fruit, and reboil them again, pouring the syrup over the fruit. 
Repeat the process for the third time; pour the result into 
jars, and cover them while their contents are still hot. The 
fruit should be quite whole, and of a delicate red colour, 
* * * 
Bad News from Kent. —The English climate may have its 
merits, but from the point of view of the fruit-grower they must 
be hard to perceive. After what seemed the certain promise of 
a bumper fruit year which was to more than compensate for 
the disappointments of last season, the bitter winds of the last 
fortnight have been sweeping the Kentish orchards and gardens 
with results that are simply deplorable. Cherries are reported 
to be in a bad way, and Plums and “ bush fruit ” as well, while 
the Apple crop has been well-nigh spoilt. The one gleam of 
brightness in the midst of this desolation is that Strawberries 
are plentiful. It is really very hard on the patient and enter¬ 
prising fruit-grower. 
* * * . 
Ripe Fruit and Bacteria. —A hue and cry is now going on 
that bacteria constitute the larger proportion of the air we 
breathe and the water we drink. For that reason all fruits 
that are eaten raw should first be washed to get rid of the 
bacteria, even including Strawberries. To wash the latter 
would destroy their flavour. Leaving this out of the question, 
we fail to see the force of the argument, because if we breathe 
in bacteria with every breath and drink them to the extent it 
is said we do, the mere washing of fruit would be a futile 
operation, besides a waste of time and the spoiling of the fruit. 
Some of our readers will remember that the famous M. Pasteur 
washed his Cherries in a tumbler of water, and then in a 
moment of forgetfulness drank the water. He continued to live 
all the same. 
* * * 
The Uses of Fungi. —Mr. George Massee, F.R.S., begins in 
“ Knowledge and Illustrated Scientific News ” a series of articles 
on the influence of fungi on other forms of life. “ At the pre¬ 
sent time,” remarks Mr. Massee, “the knowledge that certain 
fungi attack and destroy insects has been turned to practical 
account. Fungi attacking insects injurious to crops, as locusts, 
cockchafers, etc., are cultivated on a large scale for the purpose 
of securing quantities of spores. These spores are preserved 
in small sealed glass tubes until required. When an army of 
locusts appears, the contents of one or more tubes are mixed 
with water and placed on bread or some other substance eaten 
by the locusts. The spores thus eaten germinate quickly in 
the bodies of the insects, and death soon follows. Now, as i 
is the custom among locusts to eat their dead friends, the in¬ 
fection spreads at a great rate. By such means large areas have 
been cleared of destructive locusts in South Africa and e se- 
where.” 
