.January 21, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
all destroyed they returned to us in greater numbers than 
ever. Last summer they nearly denuded many of our street 
trees of their foliage. I have heard of several methods of 
disposing of them, but not many of them are very effective. 
I am now trying a new cure for them. I have at present a 
lar-e <ran.r of men cleaning of and destroying cocoons from 
the^trees.° 1 think, by this method, 1 will destroy millions. 
What do you think of the plan? ,, , „ . , , 
I a '>ree with Mr. Wirth regarding the old bulbs for bedding 
purposes. I had last spring a very fine show in my shrub¬ 
beries all from old bulbs, the single Narcissus being par¬ 
ticularly fine. I have this year planted about'50,000 Tulips 
of very fine varieties, quite a large quantity of Hyacinths, and 
about 5,000 single Narcissus of the trumpet varieties. 
Wish in"' each and every one of you the compliments of the 
t „ ‘ John Chambers. 
season. 
Jamaica Plain, Mass., January fitli, 1004. 
I cannot say anything more effective than what has already 
been said in this Bulletin about the use of spring flowering 
bulbs for natural planting, for bordering shrubberies, and for 
planting in woodlands ; yet I should like to emphasise the 
mild kick Brother Cameron makes against using bulbs in 
formal beds : it is garish and in bad taste. 
J. A. Pettigrew. 
(To be continued.) 
Tomaos Sutton’s Abundance and Golden 
Nugget. 
These are two Tomatos that have found much favour here. 
Abundance is a red Tomato of medium size, of first quality 
and unfailing as a cropper. Where only a small number of 
plants are grown, I would recommend it, and by making two 
sowings, no matter how small the number of plants grown, 
one early in January and one some time in April, according 
as the district is early or late. A supply of Tomatos would 
thus be had for a long season, as the first fruits come m early 
and the plants fruit freely higher up the stems than many of 
the larger kinds. Where a number of varieties are grown, 
it will hold its own as an all-round variety at any season. 
Golden Nugget is a yellow variety with small fruits about 
the size of a medium Gooseberry, but the plant is of a very 
vigorous and prolific habit, the smallness of the fiuit being 
compensated for by the quantity produced. The fruit is also 
first-class quality, with a real Tomato flavour, and has been 
preferred here to the red varieties for the 1 table, and is ex 
cellent for pulling and eating in the garden. Many visitors 
here have also preferred it to the red varieties, but it is best in 
summer and early autumn ; later it acquires rather a strong 
flavour, but in summer and early autumn, where variety is in. 
request, I would advise a few plants. Tomato culture is now 
so generally well understood that I do not think I need say 
anything on the subject at present. John Craigie. 
Auchentoshan. 
The Camellia-Leaved Holly. 
Without the Common Holly and its numerous varieties we 
should be badly off in gardens, during winter, for the Holly 
is a more accommodating plant than many of the Conifers, and 
will thrive and look well in places where they absolutely refuse 
to grow. Of the seventy or eighty distinct varieties of Ilex 
Aquifolium in cultivation, I. A. var. camelliaefolia, which is 
the correct name for the above, is one of the best and most 
ornamental. When planted in good soil, it is of rapid growth, 
and makes a rather close-growing pyramid. The leaves are 
ovately oblong, and narrowed at the apex to a spine. They 
average 5 in. in length, and 2 in. in width, and are very dark 
green, and glossy. Spines are very few in number, some 
leaves having but the one at the apex, while others have a few 
on the margins, rarely, however, more than eight. The berries 
are larger than those of the type and darker in colour ; it is 
not, though, a very free fruiter. As it is of quick growth and 
good appearance it is one worth looking after by planters. 
W. D. 
Obituary 
Mr. John R. Stirling. 
We regret to learn of the death of Mr. John R. Stirling; who 
was gardener to the late Queen Victoria for so many years at 
Buckingham Palace. Owing to th changes at the various Royal 
Palaces on the accession of King Edward VIF. .Mr. Stirlin" re¬ 
tired to Ryme, Dorset, where his death took place on December 
17th last. 
Mr. Stirling commenced his gardening career at Petworth 
House, Petworth, Sussex, in the gardens of Lord Leconfield. 
1* rom there he went to Rosebank House, the Hampshire iv-i 
donee of Earl Poulett. His next move was to Leigh Park, 
Havant, the residence of General Sir F. Fitzwilliam, Havant. 
I he next change lie made took him to Enfield Hall, Stourbridge, 
the seat of Earl Stamford. From thence he was appointed hea P" 
gardener to H. H. Vivian, Esq., who was created baronet when 
the King, then Prince of Wales, opened the new docks all 
Swansea; later on he was made baron, with the title of Lord 
Swansea. Mr Stirling stayed here for eight years. 
After this he had charge of the big vine at Hampton Court 
Mr. John R. Stirling. 
for two years, when he was appointed head gardener at Buck¬ 
ingham Palace to the late Queen Victoria, saw a considerable 
amount of life and had much to do in the matter of decoration 
while superintending the spacious grounds round the Palace. 
Altogether, he had been close on twenty years at Buckingham 
Palace, where lie came in contact with a considerable number 
of gardeners and others, though seldom seen at exhibitions, 
as he was not an exhibitor. He retired on a pension after the 
changes brought about by the death of Queen Victoria. He 
had no family, but leaves a widow. The accompanying portrait 
represents Air. Stirling as he was in the Diamond Jubilee year, 
1897. 
—o- 
Mr. Arthur W. Wade. 
Past Kewites and other friends will learn with regret of the 
death of Mr. Wade, who left Kew in 1891. He met his death 
under unexpected circumstances while riding home on his 
bicycle on the 2nd inst. Air. Wade, after leaving Kew, had 
served as foreman in the herbaceous department of Alessrs. 
Clibran and Sons and Alessrs. AYallace and Co., of Colchester. 
He was also for some time acting in the capacity of a nursery¬ 
man at Colchester, and was very active in working up his 
speciality while there. In 1901 he was the first to bring Arctotis 
stoechadifolia before the committees of the R.H.S. on the 
occasion of the Lily Conference at Chiswick, when he was 
accorded an award of merit for it. At the time of his death 
he was in the service of Alessrs. Caldwell and Sons, The Nur¬ 
series, Knutsford, Cheshire. He was only thirty-six years of 
age, and leaves a widow with a young family. 
