1024 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
December 17, 1904. 
too great for their welfare. As a set-off against this, there were 
models of Lemons, Limes, Plantains, purple skin Bananas, 
Custard Apples, Naval and Mandarine Oranges, Mangos, Pa- 
paws, Bread Fruit, Pomeloes, etc. 
The finest and most imposing exhibit of Apples came from 
British Columbia, and was put up in one of the Annexes. This 
splendid exhibit was staged by Mr. J. H. Turner, Agent- 
General for British Columbia, Salisbury House, Finsbury 
Circus, London, E.C. In this instance, most of the Apples 
were different from those of our list, and would mean that 
they had been raised in some part of America as seedlings 
from our varieties rather than originals. Some of them, if 
not all of them, are identical with varieties grown in the 
United States, and this in turn would mean that they are varie¬ 
ties most suited to the climate of America in general. Splen¬ 
did red varieties were Northern Spy, Baldwin, King of Tomp¬ 
kins County, Jonathan, Ben Davis, Gano, Aiken Red, Blue 
Pearmain, Spit-zenberg, Rome Beauty, Nonsuch, Bailey Sweet, 
Salome, Rarnbo, and, Lavaler. The last named was an Apple 
of very moderate size, although all of the others were very 
handsome fruits of sufficient size for commercial purposes. 
Northern Spy was particularly attractive. Amongst the less 
highly coloured varieties were Greening, Newtown Pippin, 
York Imperial, Longfield, and Stark. Some of the latter, but 
particularly Newtown Pippin, will appeal to people of this 
country quite independently of colour. The fruits were of 
handsome size, and clean, showing that we can (be independent 
of California for supplies of this superior variety. 
In the body of the hall was another exhibit of Apples from 
the Dominion of Canada. The same varieties to a certain 
extent occur as in the previous exhibit, but there were a 
number of varieties identical with our own, including Bis¬ 
marck, Blenheim (very handsome fruits indeed), Northern Spy, 
and some of the russets. Amongst fresh names we note McIn¬ 
tosh Red, Wagner, Fallawater, Canada Red (small fruit), Mann, 
Holland Pippin, President, Tolman Sweet, and others. 
The West Indian Section, including all of the British 
possessions lying off the coast of America, offered a greater 
amount of novelty, on account of the tropical character both 
of its fruits and vegetables. These exhibits had been organised 
by the West Indian Committee, at 15, Seething Lane, London, 
E.C., but there were several companies or firms represented. 
Messrs. James Phillip and Co., 4, Fenchurch Buildings, E.C., 
had a display of West Indian fruits, preserves, and pickles. 
From the Barbados the firm sent a fine heap of the Dagger 
Brand of Bananas, with long, curved, and finger-like fruits. 
Sweet Potatos were also in this exhibit. From the West- 
Indies proper were white, purple, brown, and black, Sweet 
Potatos. and Yams, representing various species of varieties. 
The Sweet Potato, correctly named Ipomoea Batatas, was at 
one time proposed for cultivation in this country, and even 
tried, but the deep penetrating character of the roots made it 
difficult to lift them with our methods of pursuing agriculture. 
The identity of the Yams was not indicated botanically, but 
we know that they represent several species and varieties of 
Dioscorea ; for instance, D. sativa, D. alata, D. aculeata, are 
all natives of tropical parts of south-eastern Asia, including 
various islands. They are also grown in the West Indies, where 
they were introduced. To determine their botanical identity 
would require the plants themselves as well as the roots. The 
latter differ greatly in size, colour and shape, though some of 
these distinctions would (be that of mere colour variations, as 
in the case of the Potato. The flesh in some instances is 
coloured, while in other cases the colour is confined to the skin. 
Some of the Yams shown from the West Indies were 12 in. to 
18 in. long, and 2 in. to 4 in. thick. Other products from the 
same quarter were Oranges, Ginger, Coffee Beans, Pineapples, 
and fruits of Theobroma Cacao, from which the cocoa of 
commerce is produced. Another part of the exhibit put 
up by this same firm included Sugar Canes, Sugar in 
various stages of preparation, Cocoanuts and their husks, 
Cassava cakes, made from starch in the roots of Maniliot 
utilissima, flours made from the Banana, and Arrowroot and 
Shaddocks (Citrus decumana), the giant of the Orange tribe, 
the fruits being 6 in. or 8 in. long, and oval in shape. 
From British Guiana come other fruits similar to those of 
the West Indies proper. These included Sweet Oranges, 
Shaddocks, Mexican Melons, so named, consisting of long, 
green, and also red fruits, resembling our Vegetable Marrows. 
Mangosteens were also shown. 
Messrs. L. Rose and Co., Limited, had an interesting exhibit 
of their Limejuice, essential oil and Limes, Lime oil and raw 
Lime juice, together with Lime fruits, Lime juice cordial, and 
Limetta Ginger cordial, with which we have been familiar at 
previous exhibitions of the society. 
In another part of the hall was a very interesting exhibit of 
tropical fruits by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., the pioneer 
line to the West Indies, having offices at 18, Moorgate Street, 
London, E.C. Of commercial importance was the exhibit of 
Barbados Bananas having large fruits of fine flavour resemb¬ 
ling that of the Canary Banana. The Jamaica Banana along¬ 
side of it was stated to be of coarser flavour. An interesting 
and uncommon exhibit was a huge infrutescence of a Palm 
named Attalea Cohune, carrying full-sized fruit. Interesting 
and uncommon also was the exhibit of a bunch of green Cocoa- 
nuts, while a seed of this tree was germinating in a pot. 
Tropical fruits were the Sapodilla, Pomeloes, the Ripley Pine¬ 
apple, sometimes named Ripley Queen, as well as smooth 
Cayenne, Avocado Pear, a green fruit 51 in. long, and resemb¬ 
ling a Pear; Bread Nuts and Chrystophines from Trinidad. 
The last-named has a great variety of names, reaching our 
shores under the name of Chow Chow, and is the fruit of 
Sechium edule. An enormous Shaddock measured over 3 ft. in 
circumference. Yams were represented by white, red and 
brown varieties. 
An interesting contrast to all these exotic fruits was an ex¬ 
hibit of Bananas grown in this country consisting of three 
plants, two of which were in full fruit. These were shown by 
Sir William Pearson, Bart, (gardener, Mr. Wadds), Paddock- 
hurst, Sussex. Other exhibits we deal with in another column. 
Chrysanthemum Princess Mafalda. 
(See Supplement^) 
The Japanese variety represented in our supplementary 
illustration this week is a. very handsome one, being pure 
white with lengthy drooping and veiy much twisted curled 
and interlaced florets. The latter are of medium width, and 
when seen during November characterise the bloom as a very 
refined one. Owing to the drooping habit of the florets the 
bloom is only about 6 in. wide!, or a little over, and about- 7 in. 
or 8 in. deep 1 . Our illustration was prepared from a bloom 
exhibited by Mr. Norman Davis, Framfield, Uc-kfield, Sussex, 
on the occasion of the National Chrysanthemum Society’s 
great exhibition in November last. The bloom, which we had 
was only of moderate size, so that good growers will be able 
to develop it to larger size if necessary for exhibition purposes-. 
Pear Alexandre Lambre as a Bush. 
All kinds of Pears are not to be recommended to grow in this 
way, but the one here named makes a fine tree in this form in 
our garden. We have it on the Quince stock, was planted 
twelve years ago, and now is about 9 ft. by 9 ft., in the most 
healthy and fruiting condition. It is growing about 5 ft. from 
the walk. The border is surface-cropped with such t hin gs as 
Violets, Pansies, etc., with vegetable ground beyond, and this 
is not dug near the roots of the trees, and only surface-cropped. 
Although in an exposed position it seldom misses a crop. 
These are good flavoured, and very russety; in fact, covered 
all over with russet. It fruits in bunches of from three to 
six and seven. When thinned they are of good size. With 
me this season it was in use during the last half of November 
and is not prone to core-rot like so many kinds. It has an 
abundance of juice, and is most tender. Growing by its side 
is Emile d’Heyst. This is nothing so good in flavour. I 
have found Alex. Lambre good in two other gardens in divers 
parts of the country. Con. 
