931 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 9, 1905. 
of flowers in the depth of winter, and being of 
free habit and robust constitution, it is worthy 
of every consideration by amateurs. There is 
no plant that thrives better than M. tovarensis 
when grown altogether in a fernery, with the 
same treatment as regards temperature and 
atmospheric moisture as that usually afforded 
in the successful culture of Ferns. The 
temperature of about 50 degrees is generally 
considered ample for the cultivation of Masde- 
vallias. I have found considerable advantage 
derived by removing M. tovarensis to slightly 
warmer conditions when the dower buds are 
distinctly seen, considerably finer dowers, with 
greater substance are thus produced. As soon 
as the dowers are expanded they may be re¬ 
turned to cooler conditions, where they last a 
long time in perfection. The dowers of this 
species are susceptible to injury from fumiga¬ 
tion or vapourising. Plants should therefore 
be removed during operations of this descrip¬ 
tion if it is desirable to retain the dowers in 
good condition. 
H. J. Chapman. 
Mr. J. Fraser Smith. 
Our correspondent, Mr. Smith, gardener to 
the Countess Dowager of Seafield, Cullen, has 
now left gardening to take up farming at 
Auchnagatt, in Aberdeenshire, after having 
completed forty years at gardening. He began 
life as a gardener at Crathes Castle in 1865, 
where the late Mr. Barron, Chiswick, Mr. 
Smith, of Mentmore, and Mr. Boss, late of 
The Gardens, Pendell Court, Bletcliingley, 
and many more began life. He was three 
years with Colonel Lumsdaine, Where lie re¬ 
modelled the whole of the place and built the 
glass. He was also eleven years with the Earl 
of Crawford, at Dunecht, and during his time 
there much was done to the beautifying of 
the place. 
Altogether he has spent seventeen years 
with the Countess Dowager of Seafield, and 
carried out her wishes in horticulture, of 
which she is very fond, especially the culture 
of Orchids, Chrysanthemums, and dowers of 
all descriptions. She also took a lively 
interest in fruit culture, both inside and out, 
as well as hardy fruits on walls, which Mr. 
Smith succeeded in growing to a remarkable 
degree. Splendid crops of all sorts could be 
grown on these walls, even Figs on the open 
wall. 
Cullen House is situated in Banffshire, 
close to the beach of the Moray Firth, and 
to this circumstance, no doubt, is due his 
remarkable success, both with fruits and 
flowers. The influence of the Gulf Stream 
is felt along the Eastern coast of Caithness, 
Sutherland, and Boss, and it would seem that 
its influence extends along the northern 
coasts of such counties as Naim, Moray, and 
Banffshire, judging by the fine quality of fruit 
they are able to grow and the plants that can 
be grown in the open air. Some little time 
ago Mr. Smith sent us flowering specimens 
of Bougainvillea glabra, which bad been 
bloomed on a wall in the open air. He also 
occasionally sent us Orchids. Mr. Smith is 
w T ell known over the greater part of Scotland, 
and his friends will be pleased to know that 
he is making this change entirely of his own 
accord. We also wish him success in his new 
undertaking. Many of our readers will re¬ 
member that we published a portrait of Mr. 
Smith a few years ago, with a full history of 
his career. 
,— »-—■ 
A New Bose.— A feature of the flower show 
held in the Coliseum, Chicago, on Novem¬ 
ber 7th. was a new Bose, originated by Aider- 
man Beinberg, which he has named “Mrs. 
Marshall Field.” 
OUR . . . 
Northern Gardens. 
Flower Garden and 
Pleasure Ground. 
Bedding Plants. —Autumn-struck cuttings 
of such things as Petunias, Salvias and 
Antirrhinums showing a tendency to grow 
should be pinched, or straggling, weakly plants 
will be the result. 
Box Edgings. —When these require re¬ 
laying, the work can now be proceeded 
with provided the weather is favourable. Break 
up the walk, with the aid of a pick, a spade’s 
breadth in front of the edging, lift the Box and 
lay it in heaps, dig the ground along the line 
of the edging, level the soil and beat it w T ell 
with the back of the spade, making it quite 
firm and level. Next stretch the line along the 
line of edging and beat it slightly all along the 
line with the back of the spade. Now com¬ 
mence at the side of the line next the walk, 
and with the spade take out a notch for several 
yards to within about two inches of the line. 
Return to the end, and this time take out the 
notch close into the line, wdien you have every¬ 
thing ready for laying the Box. An assistant 
should be employed “teasing” the Box and 
trimming the pieces level on top. In laying, 
keep the plants in position with the left hand 
and with the right hand draw in a little soil up 
to the level of the line. When filling in the 
rest of the soil and the materials forming the 
walk, see that the whole is well packed with 
the feet, and neatly finished off. When both 
sides of a walk have been finished give a good 
roll close up to the edging. 
Conservatory and Greenhouse. 
Mums. —The bulk of the cuttings should 
now 7 be got in, if the cuttings are in condition, 
for although many varieties can be successfully 
cultivated by later propagation, it is a mistake 
to allow the cuttings to get drawn up before 
taking them. For method of propagation see 
my remarks a fortnight ago. The large flowered 
varieties are too numerous to be dealt with 
here, but the following are still good for 
decorative purposes :—Yellow: Soleild’Octobre, 
Golden la Triomphante, Golden Queen of the 
Earlies, Phoebus, Bronze Phoebus, Source d’Or 
(bronze), Chevalier Homage. Pink : La Triom¬ 
phante, Margot, Yiviand Morel, Aug. M. Nonin, 
Mr. W. F. McNeice, and Prince of Pinks. 
White: Elsie, Gladys Roult, Mrs. Ritson, 
Nivens, Souvenir de Petite Amie, Nivette, 
Western King. Crimson : Wm. Holmes, 
Market Red, Black Prince, Henry Weeks and 
Violet Lady Beaumont. I will name some 
desirable singles next week. C.C. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Tomato s.—The plants raised from seed, 
sown as advised here some time ago, must 
receive constant care and attention. A too high 
temperature must be carefully guarded against, 
as strong heat during the dull season causes 
soft, long-jointed growth, that cannot possibly 
carry a satisfactory crop. The point to be 
aimed at is to give only enough heat to main¬ 
tain the plants in health until the days begin 
to lengthen again. A night temperature very 
little over 50 deg. should, along with very care¬ 
ful watering, attain this desirable object. A 
rise of 10 deg. or rather less can be allowed 
during the day. Keep the plants as near the 
glass as possible, and admit a little air whenever 
convenient, but cold currents of air must never 
be allowed to strike the plants. The atmosphere 
of the house must also be kept free of moisture, 
and all watering done in the morning. 
Celery. —In many districts it is a most diffi¬ 
cult matter to keep this valuable vegetable in 
good condition during the winter. After even 
slight frosts decay sets in, and in a short time 
renders the stalks almost unfit for use. Many 
devices have been tried to prevent this, and I 
now describe one that I have seen adopted with 
fairly satisfactory results. Begin by making a 
bed of soil about 9 in. high, raised a little in 
the centre. The bed should be about 4 ft. 
broad. Now dig out the Celery and, without 
taking off the roots, lay them on the prepared 
bed, with roots in the middle and the tops 
towards the outside. Such a bed will hold two 
rows, root to root. Next cover over with about 
4 in. of soil, and proceed with a layer of celery 
and a layer of soil alternately until the bed is 
of a suitable height. The top layer of soil 
should be 9 in. thick and be rounded over and 
beaten smooth so as to shed rain. Of course, 
the reason for having the bed high in the centre 
is to prevent moisture from running into the 
hearts of the plants. I do not claim this as a 
new idea, but where the Celery is easily affected 
with frosts, or where from some other cause it 
is found liable to rot off, I can strongly advise 
a trial being given to this simple plan. 
The Wet Weather. —The continued spell of 
wet weather, with occasional sharp frosts, is 
sadly hindering kitchen-garden work, and com¬ 
plaint is rife of the backwardness of the early 
winter digging. 
Rather than work the ground when in a 
sodden state I prefer to let it stand over, and 
stick in to the making of pea-stakes and any 
other occupations that may keep us off the 
garden ground, and yet be materially helping- 
forward the work. 
Preston, Linlithgow. C. Blair. 
THOSE POTATOS— 
Where Are They? 
Some twelve months ago it was reported 
that the French Academy of Science solemnly 
“ received ” a new kind of Potato from 
Uruguay, which was said to be an abnormal 
“ cropper ” and absolutely disease-proof. 
A little later on, Berlin was declared to 
be rejoicing over the advent of a. black Potato 
from South Africa, the stalks and skins being 
jet black, the flesh of a dark reddish-brown, 
and the flavour of the very best. 
Following close in the wake of these marvels 
came a hew tuber from French West Africa, 
which was extravagantly extolled by the 
Colonial Institute of Bordeaux. It was a 
variety of the sweet Potato, and from one 
plant reared at Bordeaux over 201bs. of 
Potatos were obtained. Further, we are 
given to understand that the leaves, when 
cooked, provided a delicious vegetable re¬ 
sembling Spinach in flavour. More remark- 
