April 15, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
319 
The Sloe and BrLLAOE are now in full bloom on the heaths 
and in the hedges of the southern counties, and make beautiful 
sheets of white, which will be replaced later on by the larger 
flowers of the May or Hawthorn. 
* * * 
Youthful Cultivators. —Mr. John Boscawen decided to dis¬ 
tribute Daffodil bulbs amongst the children of the parish of 
Feock, Cornwall. At the show held on the 1st inst. a con¬ 
siderable number of entries of Daffodils were shown, aiid gave 
evidence of better cultivation than they did the previous year. 
The varietv grown was Emperor. 
' * * * 
Mit. Fowler, gardener at Mertoun House, Duns, has served 
there for the long period of forty-four years, and is now retiring 
so that he may spend the rest of his days in peace. He retires 
with the best wishes of the Polwarth family and his friends of 
the neighbourhood. Mr. Fowler was well known, both as a 
judge and an exhibitor, at shows. His successor is Mr. Beach, 
till lately gardener at Luscar House, Dunfermline. 
* * * 
Poisoned Peas. —In a case which was heard at Londonderry 
on the 3rd inst., it was stated that a bottle of Peas sent for 
analysis contained 2f grains of sulphate of copper per pound 
of the Peas. The sulphate of copper is added for the purpose 
of preserving the green colour of the Peas, and notwithstanding 
the. plea that there was no legislation against the use of this 
preservative, the defendant was fined. 
- * * * 
Flower Beds for Trafalgar Square.— At a meeting of the 
County Council on the 4th inst., a proposition was brought up 
by Sir Melvill Beachcroft. This was for the transformation of 
Trafalgar Square into a tiower garden, with beds, fountains, 
cascades, grass plots, winding paths, etc. We may say that 
this is by no means the first time such a project has been mooted, 
as it dates back at least to the time of riotous meetings in 
Trafalgar Square about twenty vears ago. 
Roses at a Royal AYedding.— We understand that the 
German Crown Prince’s wedding is to be held on June 6th, and 
that various arrangements in connection with that event have 
been prepared. One of these decisions is that Roses of all 
colours shall be conspicuous in the decorations arranged by 
the City Council of Berlin. The procession will start from 
Bellevue Castle, and proceed through the Tiergarten and along 
Enter den Linden to the Imperial Palace, the route being be¬ 
tween two and three miles lon<r. 
* * * 
Raspberries at Blairgowrie. —There can be ho question 
that the people of Blairgowrie now recognise the fact that that 
district is suitable for the cultivation of the Raspberry for com¬ 
mercial purposes. Some years ago we advocated the plan of 
growing certain fruits in the districts most suitable to them, 
so that the weight of crop-would make it worth the cultivator’s 
attention to make such a distinction instead of struggling 
against soil and climate in districts that are decidedly unsuit¬ 
able to certain classes of fruits. 
* * * 
Railway Rates for Home and Foreign Produce.— As we in¬ 
timated some time ago, the Board of Agriculture appointed a 
committee to ascertain whether any preferential treatment 
was accorded foreign producers by comparison with home 
growers. At a meeting some evidence was given that would 
indicate preferential rates for foreign farmers. Evidence was 
also given with regard to the carrying of various kinds of agri¬ 
cultural produce by a representative of the. Yorkshire Union 
of Agricultural Clubs. It was also intimated that the North 
Eastern Railway- would give rebutting evidence. 
* * * 
Register of Nurseries, etc.— A copy of the “Register of 
Nurseries, Market Gardens, Florist and Seed Businesses, etc.” 
for April, issued by Messrs. Protheroe and Morris, 67 and 68, 
Uieapside, London, E.C., is now on our table. As usual, this 
legister contains a large number of nurseries, gardens, and other 
businesses for sale, and all are arranged in alphabetical order 
under the names of the counties in which the said businesses 
are situated. Those interested or in need of any such estab- 
Irbment can procure a copy of the register from the above firm. 
- understand that more detailed particulars and orders to 
iew an\ of the properties mentioned may also be obtained from 
- c-^as Protheroe and Morris, if the information required is 
precisely stated. 1 
—We are all familiar with the plunder 
h£?!; f i ? evonshl ^ lanes of ^eir Ferns, Primroses, and othe: 
autiful flowers. The marauders who belong to this class an 
not satisfied with the wildings whether in open spaces or fenc. I 
It is stali’il that they even penetrate tin- pleasure-grounds of 
people who have made an effort to beautify their grounds by 
planting bulbs of various kinds. We learn that two young 
women liave plundered the pleasure grounds of Mrs. Rowley 
Conway, of Bodrhyddan, Rhyl, Flintshire. It is the belief of 
the people in that neighbourhood that the plunderers dig up 
roots and all, potting them up and thus obtaining a good price 
for them. 
* * * 
The Wood Anemone. —In various parts of the country, 
whether on the sand or chalk formations, the Wood Anemone 
(A. nemorosa) has been abundant for ten days or more, and 
will continue for some time until the later flowers in high situa¬ 
tions have passed their best. Copses, where the wood is of one 
to three years’ growth, give shelter to thousands of these 
Anemones, which, when at their best, give the undergrowth the 
appearance as if a covering of snow had fallen. In many places, 
however, the ordinary white one is mixed with rose or red 
varieties that are not merely valuable for contrast, but are in 
themselves really beautiful. At present the Wood Anemone 
is very abundant in suitable situations in Kent, Surrey, Berk¬ 
shire, and other counties. 
-*■ * * 
The Henry Eckford Testimonial. —The subscriptions re¬ 
ceived towards this fund up to Saturday night, April 8th, are : — 
Previously acknowledged, £7 19s. 9d. ; Mr. E. Bewley, Is. ; 
Mr. A. F. Blades, 5s. ; Mr. R. Bolton, 5s. ; Air. T. Challis, 5s. ; 
Mr. Neville Clegg, 5s. ; Messrs. Edmondson Bros., Is. ; Emerson 
Park Horticultural Society, 13s. 6d. ; Dr. D. L. Freeland, 
2s. 6d. ; Air. T. F. Goadsby, Is. ; Mr. S. F. Higgins, Is. ; 
Messrs. I. House and Son, 10s. 6d. ; Mr. S. F. Jackson, 5s. ; 
Air. W. Jones, Is. ; Mr. L. J. AIcRae, Is. ; Air. A. Nash, 2s. ; 
Air. S. C. Norman, Is. ; Mr. C. Osman, 2s. ; Air. R. H. Pearson, 
5s. ; Aliss H. C. Philbrick, 10s. 6d. ; Air. A. Roney, Is. ; Air. 
G. Ross, Is. ; Mrs. Smith, Is. ; Mrs. Arnold Steer, 5s. ; Air. T. 
Sevenson, 2s. 6d. ; Mr. G. Townsend, Is. ; Air. T. A. AYeston, Is. 
* ■* * 
Glynde School for Lady Gardeners. —In the prospectus of 
the Glynde School for lady gardeners, established by- the Hon. 
Frances Wolseley, we learn that the demand for lady gardeners 
still exceeds the supply. We understand also that they find 
occupation in private gardens, day schools, and asylums for 
women, where gardening exercises a great curative value in 
restoring nerve and will power. The students at this estab¬ 
lishment are to be instructed in hardy fruit growing, the forcing 
of flowers, general routine work, and bee-keeping. The students 
pay an entrance fee of £10. The school is under the patronage 
of some well-known horticulturists, including Air. AY. Robin¬ 
son, Aliss Gertrude Jekyll, and Airs, C. AY." Earle, all noted 
authors of garden literature. 
* * * 
Insectivorous Birds in Britain. —Something like 250 species 
of wild birds are either resident in Britain or regularly migrate 
to this country during certain seasons, but particularly in 
summer. About 80 of them practically have their home on the 
land in rural districts. Of the total number more than 30 
species feed entirely upon insects, and it would be well to dis¬ 
tinguish between these and grain-eating birds. It must be well 
known to many that certain birds feed largely upon the seeds 
of plants which are wild, and therefore of no importance to the 
cultivator, but may even be injurious amongst cultivated crops. 
Even sparrow clubs should learn to do better than slaughter 
birds indiscriminately which may attack cultivated crops during 
periods when the country being under snow or hard frost makes 
it difficult for these wild creatures to maintain themselves alive. 
The good that they do at other times must more than compensate 
for the depredations they make in winter. 
' * * * 
Is Rhubarb Poisonous?— Some alarm and comment have 
lately been caused by the death of a young lady at Kingston- 
on-Thames. She had seen in a newspaper a recipe for the cook¬ 
ing of Rhubarb leaves in the same manner as Spinach, and 
tried the experiment. The leaves were cooked, and both she 
and her brothers ate some, and on the following day she was 
seized with violent pains, with inflammation of the" stomach, 
to which she succumbed. Her brothers experienced similar 
symptoms, though the pain was not so acute. AAlien the case 
has been inquired into, the other accessories to the process of 
cooking should be ascertained. If the stalks are not noxious, 
but considered wholesome, we scarcely see why the leaves them¬ 
selves should be poisonous. Irritant poisons are usually 
destroyed or dissipated in the process of cooking, boiling, or 
baking plants which are well known to be poisonous in the 
fresh state. 
