.Tulv 16, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
587 
Scotch Strawberries are now coming forward freely to the 
Glasgow market. On the 8th inst. they brought, wholesale, 
trom°2d. to 3gd. per lb. and 2s. 9d. to 4s. per dozen punnets. 
N R S Silver Medal at Maidstone. —-At Maidstone Rose 
Show on the 4th inst., the National Rose Society’s Silver Medal 
for the best Tea, Noisette, or hybrid Tea Rose in the show was 
won by Mr. C. O'. Williamson, of Canterbury, with a beautifully _ 
turned flower. * * * 
New Potatos from Ireland. —A consignment of new Potatos 
from Ireland found a ready sale when placed upon Shudehill 
Market Manchester, the other week. The Potatos were recog¬ 
nised to be of excellent quality, and orders were repeated after 
the consignment was exhausted: They fetched 2s. per cwt. 
above that of Jersey prices, and Is. above the Cornish Potatos. 
* * * 
Kn v at the St. Louis Exposition. —Amongst the exhibits 
representing Great Britain at tlie St. Louis (U.S.A.) Exposition 
are numerous photographs of different views of the Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Kew. Inside and outside views of the Herbarium and 
Jodrell Laboratory are shown. Of the gardens themselves there 
are views of the temperate house, Fem houses, Palm house, 
succulent house, the lake, rockery, Rhododendron dell, and 
some views of the Conifers grown in the collections in the pleasure 
grounds. 
* * * 
Mr. William James Penton. —For the past twelve months Mr. 
W. .7. Penton has been head gardener and assistant instructor 
at Studley Castle, Warwick, the training college of Lady 
Warwick, but we understand that a head gardener will no longer 
be employed. Mr. Penton is therefore open for a fresh engage¬ 
ment, and, having a wide experience in practical gardening, 
should be able to find something suitable for his abilities. He 
is a successful cultivator of Violets and Carnations, and has 
a practical knowledge of all things connected with the profession, 
gained in the gardens of Rendlesham Hall, Rooksnest, and 
Fawley. He was also six years head gai'clener and Orchid 
grower at Bowden Hill, Chippenham. The horticultural in¬ 
structor at the college, Mr. W. Iggulden, under whom Mr. 
Penton serves, could answer'any inquiries as to his capabilities, 
experience, and knowledge of the profession. 
* * * 
St. John’s Gardens, Liverpool.— This charming addition to 
the open spaces of Liverpool was opened to the public on the 
29th ult. by Alderman Jos. Ball, J.P., chairman of the Parks 
and Gardens Committee. The Lord Mayor (Alderman R. A. 
Hampson), accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, presided, and, 
in his opening remarks, briefly related the circumstances that 
led up to the formation of the gardens. The scheme has been 
carried out by the City Surveyor, assisted by Mr. Frampton, 
i R.A. The total expenditure has been £31,850, of which the 
gardens absorbed £24,000. The situation is on the site of St. 
John’s Church, adjoining St. George’s Hall, which has been 
opened out by the alterations. The gardening proper has been 
successfully carried out by Mr. W. Rowlands, Childwall Nur- 
I series, Liverpool, under the supervision of Mr. H. Herbert-, chief 
; superintendent of the parks and gardens: The lawns are raised 
: banks adjoining the paths, with sunk centres as a protection 
against the strong winds that prevail in the locality, and to 
| some extent to minimise the appearance of the broad poatlis, 
which are from 14 ft. and upwards in width, paved with terra¬ 
cotta small bricks, which was found necessary, owing to the 
steep slope of the ground. The space, as stated by the Lord 
Mayor, is dedicated to provide a rest for the weary and as a 
resting place for the statues which in time to come would be 
placed there in memory of the sons of Liverpool who were deemed 
worthy O'f that honour; sites have been already allotted for a 
number of distinguished citizens, and the base is prepared for 
the memorial of the soldiers of the King’s Liverpool Regiment 
; who died in the South African -and other wars. The Lord Mayor 
presented Alderman Hall with a golden key on behalf of the 
joint committee of the Finance and Park Committees, for the 
puipose of opening the gates to the public. The lawns are 
embellished freely with beds planted with the usual summer 
owers, whilst round the statue of Gladstone a pleasing com¬ 
bination of carpet bedding lias been introduced. After the 
public opening the crowds of spectators thronged the paths 
to view the latest addition to their many lovely gardens. 
* * * 
Opossum in Banana Crate.— While a consignment of Bananas 
from Jamaica was being unloaded at Bradford Market on the 
6th inst. an opossum jumped out from one of the crates. The 
lively little animal was captured after a chase. 
* * * 
J'iie Colorado Beetle in Hereford.— The dreaded Potato 
beetle lias turned up again in this country, this time in Hereford, 
and from its inland situation the fear is expressed thait the insect 
may have become widely distributed in its journey from the 
coast. On previous occasions the Board of Agriculture has 
proved itself able to extirpate the scourge, and the energetic 
measures now being taken will, it is hoped, again result satis¬ 
factorily. Drastic means have to be applied, and the burning 
of the Potato haulm seems to be the inevitable preliminary. 
* * * 
Preserving Flowers in Sand.— Many flowers, even of large 
size, can be dried in fine, dry, clean sand, so as to retain their 
natural colour and form as nearly as possible when the sap 
has been dried out of them. Flowers that are not thick and 
fleshy should first be taken in hand by the beginner, and the 
more difficult undertaken when a little experience has been 
gained. The flowers must be carefully surrounded 'by perfectly 
dry, fine sand, in such a manner that they will hold their form, 
the pressure of the sand upon all surfaces- being alike. Any 
fine, clean sand will answer ; it should be sifted to remove all 
course particles, then washed uni successive water until dust and 
all earthy and clayey matters are washed away, and the last 
waters when poured off are perfectly clear. The sand is then 
dried and placed over a fire in a proper vessel until quite hot 
—hotter than the hand can bear—and when cool it will be fit 
for use. After heating it should be used at once before it can 
absorb moisture from the air. Place some sand in a vessel, 
then arrange the flowers upon it, and fill in the sand so as to 
cover all parts of the flowers equally. Then stand the vessel 
in a dry place for a day or two, the length of time required being 
proportionate to the texture of the- flowers. 
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. 
Size of Dahlia Boards. 
Will you jhease state in The Gardening World the size of 
board, with best and cheapest cups and tubes, required to show 
24 blooms of Cactus Dahlias? (W. Taylor.) 
Most of the Cactus Dahlias at the National Dahlia Society 
and other -exhibitions are shown in bunches. In the former case 
many are also- shown on boxes of the ordinary pattern, such as 
is used for show -and fancy Dahlias. The size for 12 blooms of 
these is 24in. long, 18in. wide, the height at the back 9in., and in 
front 3-iu. You could make -a box to- hold 24 blooms or get it 
made for you, but it would be cumbersome on account of its size. 
You can -always use two' boxes for 12 blooms each, -and if all 
yo-ur boxes are- made to- this pattern they would be convenient for 
12, 24, or 36, la® the case might he. The ordinary zinc cups and 
t-uibes are 6s. per dozen, a-ncl you should be able to get these from 
your seedsman or snndriesman. Possibly, however, you may be 
able to-get them from Messrs. Barr and Sons-, King Street, Covent 
Garden, who keep a great variety of sundriesi, or from Mr. W. 
Weils, Earlswood, Redhill, Surrey, who mentions them in his 
catalogue. For one tilling and another there is a great variety 
of tubes in uise, but when writing for them to -anyone you should 
state what flowers you want’them for. 
Mildew on Rambler Roses. 
M. B. thanks the editor of The Gardening World for his 
previous note regarding the Sawfly on Roses, and woul-d esteem 
it a- favour if he would kindly say -if it is the ordinary mildew 
the Rambler Roses are suffering from in the case of the enclosed 
