THE GARDENING WORLD . 
Though very nearly hardy about London, and 
cwn further north, they are liable to be killed 
in winter owing to the wet lodging in the 
-crown. The Cornish plants, or at least one 
of them, may be seen throwing up its flower 
steins, and both there and in the Channel 
Islands seeds are freely produced and other 
plants may be raised in hundreds. In mosj. 
parts of Britain, however, these plants may 
be used with fine effect in summer, provided 
they have been thoroughly hardened off so as 
to withstand the evil effects of sunshine and 
wind. In the autumn they may be removed 
indoors. 
Immediately in front of the Cordylines some 
masses of rock are planted with various dwarf 
flowering plants, and a little to the left of the 
Cordylines one of the American Aloes may be 
seen. That class of plants, as well as suc¬ 
culents, may be largely used in summer for 
producing sub-tropical effects, as they can 
be taken indoor in autumn. 
On tlie left of the picture is a fine mass of 
the New Zealand Flax (Phormium ten ax), 
which proves perfectly hardy in all the 
southern counties and along the western sea¬ 
board northwards, where the climate is 
affected by the warm atmosphere from the 
Atlantic. In the neighbourhood of London 
the plant will thrive and even flower and 
produce seeds in the open, provided the-cul¬ 
tivator takes the means of protecting the 
crowns in such a way as to throw 'off rain, 
snow, and wet in winter. 
By means of a small pond the owner of a 
garden may produce a great variety of effects 
by the employment of stones in the form of 
rockeries and the use of plants that will give 
a sub-tropical effect in summer ; while in the 
following year he may contrive some beauti¬ 
ful and interesting designs with hardy plants. 
Hardy and sub-tropical plants should not be 
employed for the- production of decisive effects 
during one and the same summer unless the 
lake or pond is a large one, so that one phase 
of gardening may be hidden from the other 
by means of trees and shrubbery. 
The Armenian Grape Hyacinth (Muscari 
armeniacnm). 
The central figure at the foot of the page 
shows a fine clump of the Armenian Grape 
Hyacinth. It is one of the least widely spread 
in private gardens, and though not one of 
the largest, it is certainly one of the prettiest 
m April. When the racemes have reached 
the height of 3in. to 6in. above ground the 
effect is simply charming. In the earlier 
stages the compact racemes are quite conical, 
and present a charming picture of neatness 
and brightness by comparison with the better- 
known M. botryoides and M. racemosum. 
In colour the tiny flowers are shining bright 
blue, and though they become a little paler by 
the time the flowers have reached the stage 
shown, they nevertheless retain their bright¬ 
ness to the last. Each raceme is 2in. to 3in. 
long, and contains a very large number of 
flowers, but these in the mass are charming, 
and^ even those who grow Heavenly Blue 
wouid fain find a place for this one if once 
they saw it in perfection. The Grape Hyacinth 
under notice is hardy and vigorous in con¬ 
stitution, so that no special skill is necessary 
in growing or flowering it. It will grow in 
soils of a varied description, but the best 
effects are obtainable in soils of a light and 
rich character. In other words, well-tilled 
and friable garden soil will meet its require¬ 
ments. If the soil is inclined to be heavy 
a large proportion of leaf soil and sand may 
he used, and for the mere purpose of growing 
a clump of some of the best the preparation 
of the soil would be an easy matter. 
A Beautiful Conservatory. 
(See Supplement.) 
Our supplementary illustration on this 
occasion shows a view of the interior of tho 
conservatory of J. M. Lancaster, Esq., The 
Rookery, St. Mary Cray, Kent. The photo¬ 
graph was sent in by Mr. George Duncan, the 
gardener, and took the first prize for a view 
in a conservatory in our photographic com¬ 
petition. 
As will be seen. Palms and Ferns are largely 
utilised in the decoration of this structure, 
while hanging baskets are suspended from the 
roof at intervals. The fountain is also play¬ 
ing, and the other plants used all go to show 
that this house is somewhat of the nature of 
a fernery rather than a conservatory for flower¬ 
ing plants. Most of the pillars and some of 
the beams of the roof are utilised to support 
•climbing plants. An ornamental tank also 
serves as a Lily pond. The photograph was 
taken by Mr. George Duncan, and in detail 
and finish secured the prize as the best photo¬ 
graph for the above-mentioned purpose. 
LETTERS ™ EDITOR. 
A National Conference of Horticultural 
Societies. 
To the Editor of Tiie Gardening World. 
During the last week or so those engaged 
in the growing, buying, and selling of fruit, 
flowers, and vegetables for profit have held 
conferences and meetings in Birmingham, 
Bristol, and London. The various sections 
represented by federations were fruit 
growers, wholesale buyers, and retail 
fruiterers, florists, and greengrocers. There 
are many isolated societies in our towns and 
villages working in the cause of horticulture 
for the love of it, although many men owe 
their success as market growers to having 
. first belonged to such societies as amateurs. 
A conference of officers and the workers of 
horticultural societies throughout the 
country held in London would probably bring 
horticultural workers in closer touch with 
each other, and lead to the further advance¬ 
ment of horticultural education. Some of the 
most painstaking and enthusiastic gardeners 
are t-o be found amongst the members of these 
societies, and although they are termed 
amateurs, they are far ahead of the profes¬ 
sional who is content to go on in the old rut. 
It is from the ranks of the former rather than 
the latter that we may expect a high per¬ 
centage of practical horticulturists. Ln- 
doubtedlv these conferences when taken in 
the spirit of “ If thou hast knowledge let- 
others light their candle at it,” should lead 
to a general advancement in horticulture for 
the good of the nation, and we hope to see 
one of the leading London societies arrange 
a conference of the above societies. 
W. D. Wiltshire, F.R.H.S. 
Our Bill for Foreign Fruits and Vege¬ 
tables. —Foreign fruit and vegetable pro¬ 
ducers annually present a bill to Mrs. 
Britannia for some £17,000,000, of which 
£9,500,000 represents fresh fruits and 
£3,500,000 dried or preserved. Oranges, 
nearly all from Spain, cost about £2,500.000 : 
£2,000.000 go for Apples, the United States 
taking £1,000,000 and Canada half that 
amount. Our Bananas cost £1,000,000, and 
we buy £500,000 each of Pears, Lemons, 
Grapes, Plums, and Almonds. A few other 
items in this enormous bill are Pot a tos, 
about £2,000,000 ; Onions, approximately 
£1.000.000 ; with Tomatos close on the heels 
of the Onion. 
Pars about People. 
Mr. Harry Vanlon, the golf champion, wa 
apprenticed as a gardener, and follow I that 
occupation for ten years. 
Gorgeously attired, Miss Ethel Dickin-on 
was crowned Rose Queen at Northwich, Lai 
Brunner performing the ceremony. 
Because I lie garden contains certain Rom- 
trees and shrubs planted by her late husband, 
a widow at Enfield lias for years rented a 
house which is far too large for her. 
Lady Cadogan, who was Lady Beatrix 
Craven, lives a quiet 'ife when in the country, 
but she is fond of dogs and horses, is an ac¬ 
complished rider, and a great lover of flowers 
and gardenitier. 
Mr. Herbert F. King, head of the well- 
known firm of seed growers, Messrs. John K. 
King and Sons, of Coggeshall and Reading, 
was last week the recipient of a most pleasing 
presentation on his approaching marriage. 
Many fashionable women, among them 
Lady Aileen V yndham-Quin and Lady Inchi- 
quin, rejoice in the possession of Violet 
gardens. At Sandringham there are huge 
glass houses devoted entirely to the culture of 
Violets. 
Truly the Japanese are a wonderful people. 
The other day at the Japanese Club, Baron 
Suyematsu demonstrated to a company of in¬ 
vited guests that the common Bracken of 
this country is an excellent food in the spring¬ 
ing season. 
The Tsaritsa is so fond of Violets that she 
has fresh supplies of them put into her rooms 
daily, and every morning her wardrobes are 
strewed with them, in order that she may 
always enjoy the sweet perfume of her 
favourite flower. 
With a view to encourage a spirit of emula¬ 
tion in the cultivation of allotments, Coun¬ 
cillor Zacharias Jessel, chairman of the Allot¬ 
ments Committee of the Oxford City Council, 
has offered a series of prizes for the best- 
cultivated allotments to each of the five allot¬ 
ment associations in the city numbering in 
all 1,146 allottees. 
Mr. V . Good, superintendent of the New¬ 
castle Labour Bureau, says there are 750.000 
men in this country looking for work, and 
there are 21,000,000 acres of land lying idle. 
If enough of this land were devoted to horti¬ 
culture we should not need to import tons of 
fruit, flowers, and vegetables every year. 
The beautiful gardens -of Hayes Place, 
where Lord Chatham spent what leisure he 
could afford, and where he died, are said to 
have been planned by him. There are two 
fine Cedars on the lawn, of Chatham’s plant¬ 
ing, as well as an Oak planted by Nelson 
and a Spanish Chestnut planted by Wel¬ 
lington. 
At the anniversary meeting of the Linnean 
Society Professor S. H. Vines, F.R.S., 
moved that the best- thanks of the Societv 
be given to Mr. Frank Crisp, the retiring 
treasurer, for his valued services during 
nearly a quarter of a century and his many 
munificent benefactions during his term of 
office, amongst which the gift of the cost 
of the Supplemental Charter is not the least. 
I he motion was. carried unanimously, the 
Fellows rising in their places. 
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