June  17,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
519 
RIVERS’ 
FRUIT  TRUSS, 
Roses,  Vines, 
FIGS,  ORANGES, 
AND 
Orchard-House  Trees. 
A  LARGE  AND  SELECT  STOCK 
ALWAYS  ON  VIEW. 
ILLUSTRATED  AND  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE, 
Post  Free,  3d. 
THOMAS  RIVERS  &  SON, 
SAWBRIDGEWORTH,  HERTS. 
HARLOW  STATION,  G.E.R. 
ORCHIDS. 
CLEAN  HEALTHY  PLANTS  AT  LOW  PRICES. 
Always  worth  a  visit  oj  inspection.  Kindly  lend  for  Catalogue. 
Exotic  Nurseries,  CHELTENHAM. 
STRAWBERRIES 
George  Bunyard  &  Co. 
Are  now  Booking  Orders  for  the  BEST  STRAWBERRIES  for 
Crop,  1«98,  or  Early  Forcing. 
The  Best  Stock  and  the  Best  Plants  in  the  Trade. 
DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUES  NOW  READY. 
The  ROYAL  NURSERIES,  MAIDSTONE,  KENT 
London  Fern  Nurseries, 
LOUGHBOROUGH  JUNOTION,  LONDON,  9. W.— Ferns,  large 
and  small,  in  variety ;  Aralias,  Grevillea9,  Oyperus.  Ficus,  Ericas, 
Palms,  Dracaenas,  Aspidistras,  Hydrangeas,  Pelargoniums, 
Fuchiias,  Marguerites,  Urotons,  &c.  Trade,  Bend  for  Wholesale 
List.  Special  List  for  Amateurs,  send  for  one. — J.  E  SMITH. 
BEGONIAS. 
Double  and  Single,  Gold  Medal  Collection,  for  Conservatory  and 
Exhibition,  the  largest  and  best  in  the  trade.  See  Catalogue. 
BEGONIAS  FOR  BEDDING,  superb  quality,  Double,  6s.  and 
9s.  per  dozen ;  Single,  to  colour,  5s.  per  dozen,  35s.  per  100  ; 
10  colours  mixed,  4s.  and  28s. ;  fine  mixed,  3s.  and  2 is. 
B.  R.  DAVIS,  NT^aERIE?,  YEOVIL,  SOMERSET. 
PHIMULAS!  PRIMULAS!  PRIMULAS! 
Williams’  and  other  superb  strains,  also  Primula  Obconica. 
CINERARIAS  and  BEGONIAS,  1/6  per  dozen,  10/-  100. 
Double  White  Primulas,  6d.  each.  All  the  above  fit  for  3  and 
4-in.  pots,  and  carriage  free  for  cash  with  otder. 
JOHN  STEVENS,  The  Nurseries,  COVENTRY. 
THURSDAY,  JUNE  17,  1897. 
EXPERIMENTAL  WORK  IN  HORTI¬ 
CULTURE, 
Hf'  LAXTON’S  WW 
Ifr  STRAWBERRIES  tip 
New  Leader  and  Monarch, 
'■Sy  two' grand  varieties  to  follow  TjliV” 
ir.  Royal  Sovereign.  PleaSe  write 
for  prices  and  full  particulars. 
Royal  Sovereign,  strong  runners. 
5s.  101 ;  in  pots  15s.  1U0,  and  all  best  v 
sorts  in  pots  for  forcing  purposes. 
laxton  brothers  J 
Strawberry  Specialists, 
BEDFORD. 
THE  importance  and  usefulness  of  well  devised, 
carefully  conducted  experiments  cannot  be 
too  highly  estimated  ;  yet  with  all  the  good  work 
embodied  in  British  horticulture  which  has  gained 
for  our  cultivators  world- wide  fame,  anything 
like  exhaustive  experimental  research  has  been 
rarely  attempted.  This  is  not  because  there  is 
a  lack  of  subjects  requiring  investigation,  for 
every  department  teems  with  them  ;  but  the 
reason  may  be  generally  found  in  the  length  of 
time  and  expense  needed  to  secure  satisfactory 
results.  Perhaps  this  neglect  may  be  partially 
traceable  to  the  old-time  notion  that  the  intro¬ 
duction  of  scientific  methods  is  opposed  to  good 
practice.  Happily  this  remnant  of  the  past  is 
steadily  disappearing,  and  the  more  advanced  of 
the  present  generation  of  horticulturists  of  all 
classes  are  ready  to  acknowledge  that  “  Practice 
NICOTINE  SOAP 
Insecticide  for  Washing,  Dipping,  or 
Syringing  Plants. 
(Introduced  1870). 
Manufactured  in  Bond,  free  of  duty. 
Nothing  can  equal  it  for  the  eradicated 
of  all'inseot  pests  that  affect  plants,  and  it 
is  a  boon  to  fruit  growers.  It  thoroughly 
oleanses  without  the  slightest  injury  to 
foliage  or  young  fruit. 
In  bottles,  Is.,  2s.  8d.,  5s.  In  drums.  121b. 
13s.  6d. ;  231b.,  25s. ;  561b.,  60s. 
. «  Of  To  be  had  from  the  Seed  and  Nursery 
I*'*  •  Trade  generally. 
Manufacturers,  CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd.,  LONDON. 
By  Appointment  to  H.R  H.  the  Prince  of  Wales. 
Picturesoue  Rock  Formation 
As  executed  in  our  immitable  naturalistic  style,  at  hundreds 
of  plades  about  the  kingdom,  including  Sandringham,  and 
Battorsea  and  St.  James’s  Parks. 
PULHAM  &Z,  SON, 
50,  Finsbury  Square,  LONDON ;  and  Broxbourne. 
Photo  illustrated  book  of  works  executed  sent  tor  inspection  for 
twelve  stamps 
ARE  YOU  ROOFING 
RICHARD  PANNETT,  Florist,  Chailej,  Sussex 
Begs  to  offer  DAHLIAS,  8s.  per  doz. ;  NEW  FUCHSIAS,  9d. 
each;  ditto  of  1896,  4s.  per  doz. ;  CARNATIONS,  6s.  per  doz. ; 
NEW  ZONALS,  7s.  per  doz.;  ditto  of  1 896,  4s.  per  doz.; 
all  in  first-class  varieties.  Postage  6d.  per  doz.  extra.  Finest 
EXHIBITION  DAHLIAS,  Show,  Fancy,  PompoD,  and  Cactus, 
my  selection  2s.  6d.  and  ?e.  per  doz.  * 
20  ACRES 
Of  FRUIT  TREES 
In  all  the  best  sorts  and 
_  forms  for  the  Villa  Garden 
or  the  Orchard.  Free  from  blight  and  disease,  clean, 
healthy  stems,  and  branches  carefully  pruned  in  good  form. 
Roots  a  mass  of  fibre.  Sizes  from  maidens  to  trees  six  to 
eight  years  old  of  many  kinds,  and  all  TRUE  TO  NAME. 
NEW  CATALOGUE,  icith  descriptions  and  Prices , 
Post  Free. 
CX.IBRAN  St,  HON, 
MANCHESTER,  Bangor,  Llandudno  Junction, 
and  Oldfield  Nursery.  ALTRINCHAM. 
’’  WEED  KILLER, 
For  Destroying  Weeds, 
Moss,  &c.. 
On  Carriage  Drives,  Garden  Walks ,  Roads,  tfc.  Saves  more  than 
twice  its  cost  in  labour.  No  smell.  One  application  will  keep 
the  walks  and  drives  clear  of  weeds  for  at  least  18  months. 
If  so,  you  should  use  RED  HAN  O  Roofing 
Felts.  Every  yard  printed  with  the  trade 
mark,  a  RED  HAND.  Easiest  to  use; 
best  in  wear ;  cheapest  in  the  end. 
Your  dealer  keeps  them  or  wilt  obtain 
them  for  you. 
THIS 
SPRING  ? 
THE  “ 
ACME”  POWDER 
WEED  KILLER. 
DISSOLVES  QUICKLY  IN 
COLD  WATER. 
90 
Sufficient  to  make 
ca 
When  ordering  a  single 
Eh 
No.  1. 
..  25  gallons  .. 
1/9  « 
Tin,  No.  1  size,  4£d. 
„  2. 
..  50 
3  3  £ 
for  postage  must  be  re¬ 
o' 
„  3. 
..100 
6 /-  x 
mitted  ;  No.  2  size,  7Jd. 
„  ■». 
..  160 
8/6  z 
Carriage  paid  on  No.  3 
„  5. 
..250 
13/-  H 
size  and  upwards. 
LIQUID  WEED  KILLERS. 
Strength,  1  in  25  and  1  in  50.  Prioes  on  application.  Carriage 
paid  on  5  gallons  and  upwards 
THE  “ACME”  CHEMICAL  CO.,  Ltd., 
TONBIjDGE,  KENT;  *  CARLTON  STREET,  BOLTOH  LANCS. 
No.  886.— Vol.  XXXIV.,  Third  Series. 
with  Science  ”  must  give  the  best  results  in  every 
way. 
Probably  no  part  of  the  horticultural  com¬ 
munity  would  more  directly  derive  pecuniary 
benefit  from  the  results  of  experimental  work 
than  nurserymen.  Though  few  have  devoted 
themselves  consistently  and  continuously  to  any 
one  subject,  those  who  have  done  so  have,  in  most 
cases,  reaped  an  ample  reward  ultimately.  This 
applies  more  particularly  to  hybridising  and 
crossing,  which  have,  in  some  instances,  yielded 
returns  in  a  few  years  ;  while  in  others  a  long 
period  of  waiting  has  been  requisite.  The  excel¬ 
lent  work  performed  by  Messrs.  John  Laing  and 
Sons  in  the  development  of  the  Tuberous  Begonias, 
by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons  in  raising  hybrid 
Orchids,  by  Messrs.  T.  Rivers  &  Son  in  improving 
hardy  fruits,  and  by  the  chief  seed  firms  in 
securing  fine  types  of  vegetables,  may  be  taken  as 
examples  of  what  can  be  effected  by  systematic 
and  continuous  efforts  in  cross-breeding  and 
selection. 
But  that  is  only  one  section  of  work  ;  there  are 
others  which  demand  equally  careful  attention, 
and  would  probably  give  similarly  notable  results 
if  followed  up.  For  instance,  the  application 
and  comparison  of  artificial  manures  for  all  garden 
cr^p  offers  an  immense  field  of  research,  and,  in 
some  cases,  might  yield  results  that  would  bring 
substantial  mgney  returns  if  properly  applied  and 
No.  2542. — VOL  XCVI.,  Odd  Series. 
