November 12, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
915 
The main sowings of long Beet are often made too early in the 
season. The month of May is quite early enough, and two 
sowings should' be made during that month. The smaller 
varieties, such as Dell’s Crimson and Middleton Park, which in 
my opinion are certainly two of the best for any purpose, 
should be put in first ; and the larger sorts, which will include 
Barr’s Covent Garden, Pragnell’s Exhibition and Veitch’s Black, 
should not be sown before the middle of the month. Chelten¬ 
ham Green Top', a very distinct variety and also of excellent 
quality, may be included in this sowing. 
To ensure perfect specimens it will be necessary on almost 
every kind of land to bore holes a good depth and fill in with 
finely sifted soil. Plenty of line road sand should be used with 
this mixture. Place about four seeds in the centre of tire hole 
and cover to the depth of 11 in. to 2 in. Where sparrows 
abound it will be necessary to protect them with netting, as 
these have a particular liking for the young seedlings. Fre¬ 
quent dustings of soot should be given during the growing 
season, thinning out' the young plants to one at a station when 
large enough, and ply the Dutch hoc often to keep the surface 
soil well moved. 
During dry seasons the crop will be much benefited if a 
Beetroot for Exhibition. 
ure are 
Though this vegetable does not rank so highly as 
many others for exhibition purposes, it nevertheless 
often proves to be a valuable dish, especially at our 
early summer, autumn and winter shows, and must 
in nearly all cases be included in a collection when 
twelve dishes or more are stipulated. Unquestion¬ 
ably, this vegetable is far too often shown •too coarse 
and larger, and this not only happens among cottagers 
and amateurs, but also invariably with professional 
gardeners. Large, ungainly roots, are practically 
useless for culinary purposes, and no vegetable should 
her encouraged large unless it is suitable for table use. 
The chief items to aim at in high-class Beetroot cult 
specimens of medium sizer, not too long, and the varieties 
should be 1 of the very best. The Globe or Turnip-rooted 
Beet, as it is generally called, is indeed a great gain tor the 
consulmer of vegetables and the cultivator, and by reselecting 
during the last few years some beautiful types have been 
acquired, and by sowing fairly early in the spring in frames 
on a very mild hotbed suitable roots may be had by the end 
of May and onwards both for exhibition and home consuuq> 
tion, and the quality of these is far superior tor the older 
roots which have been kept through the winter. A fairly 
light compost should be used for the purpose, the young plants 
thinned sufficiently hard to allow them to develop' properly. 
Asi soon as large enough, air freely and keep the surface soil 
well stirred to 1 promote a. quick, free growth. 
As soon as these are of sufficient size carefully lift them and 
store in a cool, shady place in finely sifted sand, leaving the 
greater portion of the foliage on them. Damp ovor the tops 
occasionally, when these will keep’ in a fresh condition suitable 
for exhibition purposes, for six or eight weeks. Three sowings 
at intervals of a fortnight should be made on a. well-tilled piece 
of ground in the open during the months of April and May and 
lifted and stored as before advised when of a suitable size. 
Incurved Chrysanthemum Buttercup. 
(See p. 909.) 
Size oi in. to 6 in. diameter. 
mulching of finely sifted old Mushroom-bed manure is given. 
Never allow the roots to become too large, as; these may be 
safely lifted and stored at any time as recommended for the 
Globe kinds. Extreme care should always be exercised not to 
damage them or break the tap root, and when preparing for the 
show table thoroughly wash them, using a very soft brush or a 
piece of sponge for the purpose, and carefully trim off the small 
fibrous roots with a sharp knife. A few of the young fresh 
leaves should always he left on, as this gives them a, pleasing 
appearance. The roots 1 should be as near alike as possible, and 
damp over with clean water at the last moment before leaving 
them for the inspection, of the judges. E. Beckett. 
Aldenbam House Gardens', Elstree, Herts. 
Tree upon a Tree. —Strange objects are occasionally to be met 
with in the, forest world. A party of surveyors, tramping amid 
the Cascade Mountains recently, came across a large tree that was 
literally growing out from the trunk of a still larger one. The 
younger tree measured nearly 3ft. in diameter at the lower end, 
while the old, prostrate trunk was more than 4ft. across. One 
end of the old trunk had been burned away by a forest fire; how 
many years ago, no one can estimate. The end was black and 
charred. The younger tree is a Maple, and shot aloft more than 
100ft. It was a very thrifty young giant. 
Pears; cannot be 'obtained in, cold midland and northern dis¬ 
tricts unless trees are grown upon walls;. Some good Pears 
were shown, on this occasion, but they were not numerous nor 
did they call for any special comment. The season ha® not been 
altogether in their favour, judging by results. The finest and 
most matured specimens had undoobtedly been grown under 
o M 
Chrysanthemum Mrs. D. Willis James. 
(See Supplement.) 
The above is 1 one of the new incurved Japanese 1 varieties for 
this year, and is' fairly early, judging from the fact, that fine 
blooms of it made their appearance; at, the Horticultural Hall, 
when it wasi accorded an Award of Merit by the R.H.S. on 
October 18th. There is a great amount of material in the 
bloom, and even though closely built up, of broad interlacing 
florets;, it, makes a, bloom about, 7-1- in. in diameter either way. 
Our supplementary illustration shows a bloom somewhat re¬ 
duced in; size. The inner face of the florets is; variously de¬ 
scribed as reddish-crimson or chestnut-terra-cotta, with bright 
yellow reverse. The plant itself is of dwarf, bushy 
habit, stay about 4 ft. high, and the foliage comes 
almost close up to the bloom. The best blooms 
come; from the natural first crown. 
The variety blooms very freely and may be grown 
as. a bush plant slightly disbudded so as to get, blooms 
c-f a fair useful size'. Given that form of treatment 
the colour is much brighter, being described as scar¬ 
let. The variety belongs to the, Wells-Pockett strain, 
and was exhibited by Messrs. W. Wells and Co., Earls- 
wood Nurseries, Redlrill, Surrey. Our illustration 
represents; one; cf the blooms which was shown on 
the above; date. 
