552 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  28,  1900. 
Having  grown  these  plants  on  a  small  scale  now  for  several  years 
past  with  very  gratifying  results,  I  was  therefore  pleased  to  see 
“  A.  D.  K.’s”  favourable  notice  of  these  plants  in  last  week’s  Journal. 
I  feel  sure  they  will  be  more  used  in  future  bedding  arrangements  than 
they  are  at  the  present  time.  A  good  strain  of  seedlings  has  all  the 
charm  and  beauty  of  the  named  varieties  of  years  gone  by,  with  added 
vigour  and  apparently  free  from  that  dreaded  pest,  mildew.  I  well 
remember  the  named  varieties  that  used  to  be  grown,  also  the  trouble 
and  anxiety  in  getting  together  a  sufficient  stock  for  the  required  pur¬ 
poses.  Then  self-coloured  ones,  such  as  Purple  King,  Mrs.  Holford, 
Crimson  King,  Lord  Eaglan  and  Defiance  came  to  the  front  for  distinct 
colouring,  and  for  a  time  these  held  their  own,  but  gradually  had  to 
give  way  to  fashion.  Then  this  useful  plant  eventually  fell  into 
■disrepute,  but,  thanks  to  the  perseverance  of  some  of  our  seedsmen, 
who  probably  saw  a  future  before  it,  and  who  took  it  in  hand,  we 
are  now  able,  from  a  packet  of  seed  sown  in  February,  to  have  strong 
plants  ready  for  planting  at  the  usual  bedding-out  time,  with  the 
certainty  of  a  profusion  of  bloom  all  thrcyigh  the  summer  season,  many 
equalling  and  some  even  surpassing  in  beauty  the  original  named 
varieties.— J.  Easter,  Nostell  Priory  Gardens. 
A  Dearth  of  Peaches. 
When  I  penned  my  previous  notes  on  this  subject  I  was  quite 
prepared  to  find  it  might  seem  strange  reading  to  many  gardeners, 
especially  those  who  have  at  times  surplus  fruit  to  dispose  of,  as  I 
know  there  is  often  a  difficulty  in  disposing  of  them  at  good  prices, 
simply  because  in  districts  where  Peaches  are  largely  grown  the  local 
fruiterers  are  sometimes  overstocked.  On  the  other  hand,  I  have  found 
that  in  cold  localities  near  large  towns  Peaches  are  but  little  grown 
in  the  open  air,  and  not  very  largely  under  glass.  Shopkeepers  have 
therefore  to  depend  to  a  great  extent  upon  the  London  salesmen  for 
their  supplies  ;  and  although  the  prices  paid  are  good  the  grower  does 
not  reap  the  benefit,  neither  are  the  fruits  so  fresh  as  desirable  by  the 
time  they  reach  the  consumer.  For  these  reasons  I  think  that  those 
who  grow  Peaches  on  a  large  scale  should  be  in  direct  communication 
with  shopkeepers  in  several  large  towns,  and  when  once  a  connection 
of  that  description  was  formed  they  would  have  a  regular  outlet  for 
some  of  their  produce.  Gardeners  who  have  surplus  fruit  to  dispose  of 
could  also  adopt  the  same  course,  even  though  their  supply  was  not  a 
regular  one.  In  such  instances  a  “connecting  link”  seems  to  be 
required  to  put  the  parties  in  touch  with  each  other.  If  any  gardeners 
who  have  Peaches  to  dispose  of  will  communicate  with  me  I  will  put 
them  in  touch  with  a  reliable  fruiterer  who  can  at  all  times  take  good 
fruit. — H.  D.,  Victoria  Nurseries,  West  Humher stone,  Leicester. 
PreventiDg  tl|e  Onion  Mag’got. 
*  The  suggested  use  of  kerosene  or  paraffin  oil,  mixed  with  sand  and 
strewn  about  amongst  Onion  plants  to  prevent  attacks  of  the  Onion  fly 
on  the  young  plants  of  spring  sowings,  is  not  new  here,  but  all  the  same 
little  is  known  as  to  its  employment  and  effects.  Practically,  the  maggot 
seems  to  have  largely  worked  its  own  cure  in  dying  out,  for  I  find 
almost  everywhere  fine  healthy  beds  of  Onion  plants  where  a  few  years 
since  it  was  difficult  to  keep  a  plant  alive.  What  is  now  the  case  with 
Onions  is  not  less  the  case  with  Carrots,  for  only  a  year  or  two  since 
these  roots  were  destroyed  wholesale  in  many  directions.  This  year 
the  breadths  seem  to  be  remarkably  good  and  healthy.  It  does  not 
follow  therefore  that  when  maggot  is  in  evidence  nothing  to  help 
destroy  it  should  be  done,  but  at  least  it  is  evident  that  there  is  less 
cause  for  worry  over  the  appearance  of  these  insect  pests  for  a  year  or 
two  than  is  usually  believed. 
The  Celery  and  Parsnip  leaf  mining  maggot  sometimes  is  found 
everywhere  doing  great  harm  to  these  plants,  at  other  times  it  is  seldom 
seen,  and  where  found  easily  kept  in  check.  Even  the  caterpillars 
that  infest  Apple  trees  and  Gooseberry  bushes  give  trouble  seldom,  and 
may  soon  be  dealt  with,  but  there  have  been  seasons  when  they  have 
done  enormous  damage  to  these  fruits.  In  all  cases  this  year  it  seems 
probable  that  whilst  somewhat  abundant  moisture  will  greatly  assist 
root  action  and  plant  growth,  it  will  also  check  the  production  of  insect 
pests.  So  far  as  it  is  now  possible  to  judge  Onions  and  Carrots  look 
remarkably  well,  and  should  exhibit  very  fine  crops  later.  What  is 
advised  in  America  as  to  the  employment  of  artificial  manure  dressings 
by  first  drawing  the  soil  away  from  the  rows  of  Onion  plants  before 
applying  the  manures  could  hardly  be  adopted  in  this  country.  Perhaps 
out  there  they  allow  very  wide  spaces  between  the  rows,  we  seldom 
allow  more  room  than  12  inches. — Observer. 
He  Oak  and  the  Asl|. 
Old  saws  do  indeed  die  hard  ;  many  a  time  have  I  heard  the  old 
rhyme  about  the  Oak  and  the  Ash.  For  thirty  years  I  have  watched 
these  trees  putting  forth  their  leaves,  with  a  view  to  proving  the  truth  or 
otherwise  of  the  saying.  During  the  whole  of  the  thirty  years  I  do 
not  remember  one  single  season  when  the  Oak  was  not  out  first.  I  need 
scarcely  say  that  with  trees  raised  from  seed  and  in  all  sorts  of  soils 
and  situations  the  date  of  the  leaf  expansion  varies  much,  and  it 
would  be  possible  in  most  years  to  find  an  Ash  in  leaf  and  an  Oak 
somewhere  still  naked,  but  taking  the  general  run  of  trees  I  have 
always  found  the  Oak  first  in  the  field.  However,  there  is,  I  believe,  a 
scientific  body,  which  undertakes  the  recording  of  the  blooming  and 
leafing  time  of  trees,  and  the  secretary  would  doubtless  be  able  to 
speak  with  authority  upon  this  question. — A.  H.  Pearson. 
- - 
The  Weatljer, 
I  TRUST  that  “  S.”  has  ere  now  had  a  share  of  the  rain  which  seema 
to  have  fallen  so  generally  all  over  the  kingdom.  He  may  well  rejoice 
that  none  of  those  fierce  thunderstorms  which  did  so  much  harm  in 
portions  of  Berks  did  visit  Rood  Ashton.  I  hear  of  one  garden 
in  which  the  huge  hailstones  destroyed  every  pane  of  glass  in  houses 
and  frames,  and  in  another  in  which  a  terrible  swill  washed  50  loads 
of  gravel  from  out  of  a  broad  walk  on  to  the  grass.  But  the  rains  of 
last  week  were  genial  and  general.  Still,  the  product  whilst  promoting 
growth  has  been  a  great  fall  in  temperaiure  and  a  deficiency  of 
sunshine,  which  is  just  now  so  much  needed  for  the  Strawberries, 
Peas,  and  hay.  As  a  rule  gardeners  get  their  share  of  meteorological 
troubles,  but  I  think  the  greatest  of  theirs  can  hardly  excel  that  which 
befalls  the  farmer  when  he  has  a  wet  hay  or  corn  harvest.  Let  us  hop© 
that  we  are  not  in  for  a  wet  summer,  a  grave  misfortune  to  all. — A.  D; 
- - 
Poll  or  Proxy  Voting. 
In  speaking  of  the  recently  published  proposed  bye-laws  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  little  seems  to  have  impressed  itself  upon 
Fellows  so  much  as  the  suggestion  to  resuscitate  proxy  voting.  The 
remarks  respecting  this  are  almost  wholly  condemnatory  of  the  system 
as  regards  the  R.H.S.  and  similarly  constituted  bodies.  However,  the 
matter  will  come  on  for  decision  in  the  course  of  the  special  general 
meeting  to  be  held  on  Tuesday,  July  3rd,  in  the  Drill  Hall.  Though 
proxy  voting  with  its  many  pitfalls  may  not  meet  with  the  favour  of 
the  Fellows,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  present  form  of  open 
voting  is  not  entirely  satisfactory.  I  would  therefore  like  to  bring 
forward  the  suggestion  of  a  friend  that  under  certain  circumstances 
poll  voting  be  adopted.  As  the  present  open  voting  stands,  a  majority 
of  only  one  out  of  say  a  score  present  at  a  meeting  may  carry  through 
the  most  important  measures,  and  it  is  to  avoid  the  dangers  which  may 
arise  from  this  that  poll  voting  is  brought  forward.  I  think  it  would  be 
far  more  advantageous  and  favourable  to  the  best  interests  of  the  society 
if  the  bye-laws  empowered  the  Fellows  to  demand  a  poll  where  the 
majority  voting  in  favour  of  a  measure  did  not  amount  to  two-thirds  or 
more  than  that  proportion  of  the  total  present  at  the  meeting.  This 
practice  is  adopted  by  many  societies,  and  it  is  so  reasonable  and  so 
obviously  fair  for  all  parties  that  it  is  worthy  of  the  consideration  as 
well  of  the  Council  as  the  Fellows  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
— F.  R. 
Frencli  Strawberries. 
Prom  what  I  have  observed  sold  in  the  Birmingham  market  this 
season  the  supply  of  French  imported  Strawberries  have,  on  the  whole, 
proved  superior  to  that  of  former  years,  more  especially  so  far,  at  least, 
as  appearance  goes — a  longstanding  variety  of  a  very  pale  and 
unattractive  colour,  as  well  as  of  inferior  flavour,  and  which  generally 
are  packed  in  oblong  boat- shaped  boxes  in  pairs  ;  and  though  English 
grown  fruit  has  begun  to  come  in  plentifully  recently — “  Southamptons,” 
to  wit— the  French  supply  continues  unabated,  and  finds  a  ready  sale. 
My  principal  object,  however,  in  sending  these  notes  is  to  ascertain  the 
name  of  the  variety  in  question.  Earlier  in  the  season  there  was  also 
another  French  variety  similarly  packed,  the  berries  being  much 
smaller,  suggestive  of  second  crop  fruit,  but  bright  red  in  colour,  and  of' 
fair  flavour.  The  name  of  this  variety,  too,  would  be  equally 
interesting  to  know.  The  varieties  in  question  are  the  only  ones  I  am 
cognisant  of  which  come  from  France  into  the  English  market,  and  I 
have  often  wondered  why  far  better  varieties  have  not  been  so  produced, 
and  they  would  be  certain  of  being  appreciated  accordingly  here,  and 
prove  more  profitable  to  the  growers. 
Regarding  English  produce  a  fair  supply  of  Royal  Sovereign  from, 
the  Evesham  district  came  into  the  market  last  week,  the  berries  being 
very  fine,  but  owing  probably  to  the  comparatively  sunless  weather, 
they  were  unusually  acid  in  flavour,  a  remark  which  also  applied  to  the- 
Sir  Joseph  Paxton  supply  from  Southampton,  June  25th. — W.  G. 
