February 18, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
149 
A Crimean Man as Gardener.— During the first week of 
February Mr. Charles Baines, an. old Crimean veteran, died 
at Walberton, Sussex, at the age of eighty years. He was 
present at the fall of Sebastopol, and wore the Turkish and 
Crimean medals. Until quite recently he followed the occupa¬ 
tion of a gardener. 
* * * 
Gooseberries at Hobart, Tasmania.— It seems that the 
cool climate of the capital of Tasmania possesses something in 
! common with that of the Midlands and North of England and 
Scotland for the successful production of Gooseberries. In any 
case, the peoplo have been able to grow thousands of bushels 
more than they can eat or sell, and, like the people in the 
I Mother Country, have made no preparations for the preserva¬ 
tion of the surplus. 
* * * 
War ley Woods.— For some time past great efforts have been 
made to raise funds for the preservation of Wariey Woods, on 
the outskirts of Birmingham. About £8,000 have been asked 
for the ground, but possibly the owner, when he returns to 
England, may be induced to take something less than the value 
of the land for building purposes. If the woods were secured 
it would not only prevent the ground being built upon after 
the destruction of the trees, but it would become a very de¬ 
sirable open space for Birmingham in the near future. 
* * * 
First Garden City. —The shareholders of the Garden City 
had their annual general meeting just after having been estab¬ 
lished for eighteen months. It was stated that live firms and 
manufacturers had agreed to take land, and applications had 
been received from various others. The provision of further 
educational facilities was under consideration including the 
erection of a- public hall. An exhibition of cheap cottages 
would be held on the estate from July to September. In com¬ 
pliance with the wishes—or, in other words, with the votes— 
of the shareholders, the First Garden City is henceforth to be 
called Letchworth. 
-* * •* 
Flower Culture in the Scllly Isles. —These isles, being 
small and practically situated in mid-ocean, have most to fear 
from rough winds rather than cold in the cultivation of plants. 
The climate is practically mild and equable at all seasons of 
the year. Anyone visiting the isles in order to see how the 
flowers are grown will find the land cut up into small allot¬ 
ments, and that again into smaller portions, protected from 
prevailing winds by means of tall hedges. Other features are 
tall Cacti, Gum trees, and Palms, which attain a much finer 
condition and larger size than in any part of the mainland 
of the British Isles. 
* * * 
Hurricane at Inverness. —On the 30th ult. a severe hurri¬ 
cane prevailed over Inverness and the district, continuing over 
two days. The wind blew from the north-west, and did much 
damage in the Highland capital to house property. A large Elm 
tree in front of Queen Mary’s House was split in two. Interest¬ 
ing old trees were also blown down near the High Public School. 
Numerous trees were also levelled at Dunain and Dochfour. 
A large tree was blown across the Highland Railway north of 
Novar Station; another was blown across the line between 
Lairg and Inversliin. At Beauly most damage was done to 
trees, many large ones having been destroyed. Trees fell 
across the road between Munlochy and Tore, the traffic being 
suspended. The same tiling happened in other places in the 
neighbourhood. At Strathglass the mail was delayed owing 
to the roads being inundated, the wind having blown the water 
of the lochs into the bums and rivers and across the road¬ 
ways. Considerable damage was also done to trees at Dingwall. 
* * * 
I he A eitch Memorial Trust. —At a meeting of the trustees, 
held on the 9th inst.. it was resolved that the sum of £50 be 
presented to the trustees of the Lindley Library for the general 
purposes of the trust. A Bronze Medal and £5 are offered for 
competition at the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society on 
>-'eptember 13th to 15th next for six dishes of fruit, flavour and 
quality to be the primary' consideration. A similar prize and 
Medal is to be awarded for the three most distinct kinds in any 
one of the exhibits of vegetables, the object being to reward 
superior cultivation. Silver Medals are also .offered for improved 
methods of packing and transmitting garden and orchard pro¬ 
duce and for improved methods of affording shelter and pro- 
tection to outdoor plants, as well as of heating, ventilating, and 
shading glass structures. 
Potato Planting.— In the neighbourhood of Plymouth in.u 
ket gardeners have been taking advantage of the unusually iiri 
weather to plant large tracts of eariy Potatos. 
* * * 
Oranges Unfit for Food.- On the 3rd inst. the stipendiary 
magistrate for Hull was askei to make an order for the d< 
struotion of 714 cases of Oranges, containing abo 
fruits. They were discovered on board a steamer ready for 
discharge. The Oranges had boon frozen, and extensively 
damaged thereby. An order was therefore made out for tie ir 
destruction. 
* * * 
Garden Books and Garden Pictures. Mrs. Caldwell Crof 
ton, better known as Helen Milman, has devoted many years 
of her life to the writing of garden books. Lately, however, 
she has laid down her pen and taken to the brush instead. At 
the present time she has 55 water-colours in the exhibition at 
the Fine Art Gallery, 148, New Bond Street, chiefly relating 
to gardens. Some of her pictures show Bluebells in the wood, 
golden Gorse shining in the sun, also Larkspurs, and various 
gardens, such as those at Syon, AVilton, and Bearwood. 
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 
enve’ope 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. 
Climbing Red Currant. 
Some months ago there appeared an article in your paper 
speaking favourably of a Climbing Red Currant with few seeds, 
and at the same time recommending a AA hite almost as large 
as a Cherry. I have watched your paper for more notes or 
advertisements on the same, but, so far, have seen nothing. 
Can. you tell me through your paper where I can procure cut¬ 
tings or young plants of these ? (F. G.) 
The accounts of the Currant you name occurred in our pre¬ 
vious volume, for July 2nd, 1904, page 538. The account was 
given by one of our correspondents, who said that the Climbing 
Currant was a red and seedless variety recently put into com¬ 
merce in the United States. So far as we have learned, the 
variety has not yet been inti-ocluced to this country. The 
other variety named by our correspondent, having fruits almost 
as large as a Cherry, was named Purity. This variety he was 
liimself growing, with what results during the past season we 
have not yet learned. The variety has not, as far as we know, 
been put into commerce in this country. Possibly our corre¬ 
spondent will say what his experience was of the variety during 
the past season.' If you desire to be put into communication 
with him w r e can forward any letter you may care to send. 
Sparrows and Currant Buds. 
We have been accustomed to having the buds of Gooseberry 
hushes destroyed by sparrows, but this year they have taken to 
the Currant bushes, picking out the buds. Can anything be done 
to stop them? (E. F. D.) 
We have found black cotton to be serviceable in keeping 
sparrows away from almost anything. When flying or hopping 
about they do not see the black cotton until they get tripped up, 
and that frightens them very much. You might at the same 
time make a careful preparation of petroleum emulsion, making 
sure that all the oil is fixed by the soap. A weak solution of this 
would give the buds a disagreeable flavour and smell which would 
help further to beep the marauders off. Some gardeners have 
used birdlime with which to paint some stakes, these latter being 
placed amongst the hushes. When sparrows alight upon them 
they get fixed and are held there much to the alarm of other 
birds. 
Improving Tuberous Begonias. 
Our tuberous Begonias usually flower well, ut I should like 
to improve the size. Please say how this can be done. (F. CA 
If you attempt the improvement with the small-flowered 
varieties which you have, the process of improvement will be a 
slow one. There is no need to confine yourself to this round¬ 
about method of improving your Begonias, seeing that so many 
fine varieties are now offered by the leading growers. By getting 
