10 
July  4,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
j 
-  Kentish  Steawbereies. — The  Kentish  Strawberry  country 
is  in  the  full  tide  of  business  just  now.  The  undulating  wolds  about 
Swanley  and  Hextable  are  dotted  with  picturesque  groups  of  pickers, 
and  the  crimson  berries  peeping  from  under  their  sheltering  bowers 
of  green  leaves  fill  the  air  with  their  fragrance.  The  dry  weather 
has  not  been  unpropitious  to  Strawberries,  although  growers  say  that  a 
little  gentle  rain  would  have  made  them  still  more  prolific.  One 
grower  alone  sent  away  from  Swanley  a  few  days  ago  no  fewer  than 
6000  peck  baskets.  There  is  no  reason  this  year  why  everybody  should 
not  enjoy  the  coolest,  most  grateful,  and  most  innocent  of  our  English 
fruits. 
-  Rainfall  in  Sussex. — The  total  rainfall  at  Abbots  Leigh, 
Haywards  Heath,  Sussex,  for  June  was  0  38  inch,  being  1-40  inch  below 
the  average.  The  heaviest  fall  was  O’ 09  inch  on  the  14th.  Rain  fell  on 
eight  days.  The  maximum  temperature  in  the  shade  was  83°  on  the 
9th  and  23rd;  minimum,  36°  on  the  16th;  mean  maximum,  74  06°; 
mean  minimum,  47  27°  ;  mean  temperature,  60’66°,  which  is  1’35°  above 
the  average.  Lawns  and  pastures  are  quite  brown,  and  lawn-mowing 
has  been  at  a  standstill  for  several  weeks.  Roses  that  have  been  well 
watered  have  been  very  good.  There  is  a  very  fine  crop  of  small  fruits, 
especially  Strawberries,  and  Apples  are  a  full  crop,  but  need  rain. 
Vegetable  crops  show  the  good  effect  of  deep  cultivation. — R.  I. 
'  -  Weather  in  South  Wales. — The  following  is  a  summary 
of  the  weather  here  for  the  past  month  ; — Sunshine,  204f  hours ; 
no  sunless  days.  Rainfall,  1’32  inch  ;  maximum  0  49  on  the  11th, 
minimum  0  01  on  the  3rd.  Rain  fell  on  seven  days.  The  wind  was  in 
the  N.  and  N.W.  on  fifteen  days,  and  in  the  E.  and  N.E,  on  ten  days, 
very  strong  in  the  beginning  of  the  month,  with  very  bright  sun. 
Vegetation  has  suffered  greatly  by  want  of  rain.  A  most  welcome 
change  took  place  on  the  28th  ult.,  and  we  have  had  showers  every  day 
since  then.  Total  amount  of  sunshine  for  the  half  year,  808  hours 
25  minutes;  for  the  same  period,  1894,  602  hours  5  minutes.  Total 
rainfall,  17’46  inches  ;  same  period,  1894,  27’83  inches. — W.  Mabbott, 
The  Gar  dens  ^  Gwernllwyn  House,  Boiolais,  Glamorgan. 
-  The  Lacquer  Tree, — This  tree,  which  supplies  the  famous 
juice  and  wax,  is  indigenous  to  Japan.  It  has  a  nearly  bright  stem, 
crowned  with  spreading  branches,  and  the  flowers,  of  a  yellow  colour, 
appear  in  June.  The  leaflets  measure  from  2  to  4  inches  in  length,  and 
IJ  inch  to  2  inches  in  breadth,  and  become  beautifully  red  in  autumn. 
When  the  tree  is  seven  or  eight  years  old,  says  a  contemporary,  it 
begins  to  bear  fruit  and  yield  juice  ;  after  the  lapse  of  fifteen  years  the 
yield  greatly  increases,  and  up  to  thirty  years  of  age  the  tree  is  con¬ 
sidered  to  be  in  the  highest  state  of  activity.  Two  kinds  of  juice  can 
be  extracted  from  the  tree  by  different  processes.  The  better  of  the 
two  processes  is  collected  from  the  middle  of  summer  to  the  middle 
of  November  in  the  following  manner  ; — Shallow  cuts  are  made  on 
one  side  at  the  bottom  of  the  stem,  about  an  inch  apart.  The  sap,  which 
exudes  in  drops  from  between  the  outer  and  inner  barks,  is  collected  by 
a  well  oiled  hooked  spatula  into  a  bamboo  tube.  Another  series  of 
incisions  is  made  on  the  other  side  of  the  stem  about  2  feet  higher  up 
than  the  former  ones,  and  this  process  of  wounding  the  tree  on  alternate 
sides  is  continued  as  long  as  there  is  room.  In  the  north  of  Japan  the 
tree  is  much  used  for  making  cabinets  and  other  small  articles. 
-  Spongioles,  What  are  They?— “E.  D.  S.”  will,  I  trust, 
not  mind  being  told  that  talk  of  “  demolishing  ”  a  critic,  especially  so 
gentle  a  one  as  I  am,  is  bad  form,  and  does  not  savour  of  the  true 
humility  which  should  always  characterise  the  student.  Now  I  refer 
to  his  use  of  the  term  spongioles,  which  he  somewhat  freely  employs,  to 
ask  what  is  a  spongiole  ?  li  it  not  after  all  a  somewhat  empirical 
appellation,  and  not  a  scientific  one  ?  I  regard  the  term  as  having  been 
so  used  because  of  the  earlier  belief  that  the  root  caps,  which  are  the 
spongioles  of  ordinary  writers,  were  really  absorbers.  Sponge-like  are 
the  actual  appropriators  of  plant  food.  That  is  of  course  quite  wrong. 
“  E.  D.  S.’s  ”  illustration  of  the  harm  done  to  plants  by  the  eating  or 
otherwise  injuring  these  root  caps  by  insects  shows  that  it  is  not  possible 
to  injure  one  portion  of  roots  without  all  the  parts  suffering,  but  it  does 
not  show  that  root  caps  are  food  absorbers.  Sir  J,  D.  Hooker,  in 
describing  root  caps  or  literally  soil  borers,  does  not  call  them  spongioles, 
but  root  caps,  that  are  so  hard  literally  they  force  their  way  through 
substances  that  seem  quite  impervious,  always  as  it  were  seeking  for 
area  in  which  plant  food  is  to  be  found,  which  may  be  absorbed  or 
taken  up  by  the  root  hairs.  Not  always  intuitively  wise  are  such  roots, 
however,  as  we  know  to  our  cost  in  the  case  of  Vines  and  fruit  trees 
when  they  get  into  sour  subsoils  or  clay,  and  fail  entirely  to  find  food  at 
all,  but  simply  an  excess  of  water.  However,  the  point  for  consideration 
is.  Should  the  term  spongiole  be  properly  applied  to  root’itips  or  caps  ? 
My  view  is  that  such  term  being  derived  from  a  sponge  or  absorber  is 
not  correct,  also  that  it  is  misleading,  as  it  leads  to  the  inference  that 
these  root  caps  are  what  apparently  they  are  not. — Reader, 
SOUTHERN  HORTICULTURISTS. 
I  RECENTLY  had  the  privilege  of  visiting  some  southern  horticul¬ 
turists,  including  Mr.  Benjamin  R.  Cant  and  Dr.  Wallace  of  Colchester, 
Mr.  William  Paul  of  Waltham,  Mr.  T,  F.  Rivers  of  Sawbridgeworth, 
Messrs,  Sander  of  St.  Albans,  and  Mr.  C.  Turner  of  Slough.  I  also 
intended  to  have  visited  Mr.  George  Paul  of  Cheshunt,  who  showed  me 
much  kindness  on  a  former  occasion,  but  failed  owing  to  circumstances. 
However,  I  hope  to  see  both  himself  and  his  famous  nurseries  when  next 
I  visit  the  modern  Babylon. 
St.  Albans,  where  Mr.  F.  Sander’s  Orchid  houses  are  situated,  is  one 
of  the  most  picturesque  places  in  Hertfordshire.  Very  beautiful  are  the 
stately  environing  woods,  while  the  houses  are  in  many  instances 
covered  with  climbing  Roses,  among  which  predominate  Gloire  de  Dijon, 
William  Allen  Richardson,  and  Belle  Lyonnaise.  On  the  day  on  which 
I  visited  St,  Albans  Mr.  F.  Sander  was  unfortunately  absent,  but  his 
foreman  showed  me  his  vast  collection  of  Orchids.  It  took  me  fully 
three  hours  to  inspect  them,  and  I  saw  them  in  every  stage  of  their 
development.  In  the  presence  of  such  floral  affluence  it  is  hard  to 
specialise,  but  I  remember  that  the  Cattleyas,  Cypripediums,  Oncidiums, 
Dendrobiums,  and  Odontoglossums  impressed  me  most.  Cattleya 
Mossim,  C.  Mendeli,  and  C.  Lawrenceana  ;  Odontoglossum  vexillarium 
and  0.  crispum,  and  Laslia  purpurata  were  especially  fine.  Many  of 
Mr.  Sander’s  own  recent  creations  were  extremely  fascinating,  Mr. 
Sander  has  made  Orchids  his  predominating  speciality,  but  I  think  it  is 
very  desirable  to  say  that  tropical  plants  of  every  possible  description  are 
cultivated  at  St.  Albans  with  perfect  success. 
At  Colchester  I  had  the  pleasure  of  making  the  acquaintance  of 
Dr.  Wallace,  the  perusal  of  whose  book  on  “  Oriental  Lilies”  first  made 
me  a  cultivator  of  those  flowers.  There  also  I  met,  for  the  first  time,  with 
that  veteran  rosarian,  Mr.  Benjamin  R.  Cant,  and  his  sons,  who  inherit 
j  their  father’s  capabilities  for  the  cultivation  and  exhibition  of  the  “regal 
)  Rose.”  His  nurseries,  which  are  consecrated  entirely  to  the  culture  of  the 
queen  of  flowers,  are  both  extensive  and  impressive.  In  one  place  I  saw 
j  150,000  of  the  grandest  standard  Roses  I  have  ever  beheld.  Though  so 
early  in  the  season,  many  of  the  Teas,  Noisettes,  and  Bourbons — sueb, 
for  example,  as  Maiechal  Niel,  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac,  Hon.  Edith 
Gifford,  Marie  Van  Houtte,  and  Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison — were 
already  in  splendid  bloom.  I  do  not  marvel  greatly  at  Mr.  Cant’s 
suceess,  for  his  Roses  receive  every  possible  attention. 
At  the  nurseries  of  Messrs.  R.  Wallace  &  Co.,  which  I  visited  the 
same  day,  I  was  charmed  with  the  Calochorti,  which  I  saw  then  for  the 
first  time  ;  also  with  the  Irises  and  Eastern  Lilies,  which  luxuriate 
i  there,  Messrs.  Wallace  &  Co.  have  the  finest  collection  of  plants  of 
i  Lilium  Henryi  I  have  ever  seen.  They  told  me  they  had  no  difficulty 
with  the  culture  of  the  Calochorti  (or  “  Mariposa  Lilies  ”),  which  are 
certainly  well  worthy  of  extended  cultivation.  Among  the  most  graceful 
and  interesting  of  those  Californian  flowers  are  the  following  varieties : — 
Amcenus,  coeruleus  elegans,  Howelli,  Plummerse,  macrocarpus,  Palmeri, 
pulchellus,  splendens,  and  venustus  oculatus,  roseus,  and  citrinus,  all  of 
which  are  delicately  beautiful.  Among  the  Irises,  the  one  which  chiefly 
riveted  my  attention  was  pallida  dalmatica,  of  exquisite  azure  hue. 
I  have  already  given,  in  a  previous  contribution  to  this  Journal,  a 
description  of  the  nurseries  of  Mr.  William  Paul  at  Waltham  Cross.  On 
the  occasion  of  my  recent  visit  I  was  chiefly  impressed  by  the  Camellias, 
Azaleas,  Rhododendrons,  and  flowering  trees ;  also  by  the  Tea  and 
Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses  in  flower  under  glass.  Among  the  latter  were 
two  recently  originated  Roses  of  remarkable  beauty,  named  Enchantress 
and  Empress  Alexander  of  Russia.  They  possess  all  the  qualifications 
requisite  for  exhibition,  and  will  undoubtedly  prove  invaluable  for 
garden  decoration. 
At  Sawbridgeworth  1  found  my  friend  Mr.  Rivers  in  high  spirits. 
How  could  it  be  otherwise,  after  gaining  two  gold  medals  in  one  short 
week  at  the  Manchester  and  Royal  Horticultural  shows  ?  The  Nectarines 
which  had  been  so  highly  honoured  I  found  very  appreciable  and  enjoy¬ 
able  in  more  senses  than  one.  The  Early  Rivers  variety,  whether  for 
size,  flavour,  or  complexion,  could  not  easily  be  surpassed.  Cardinal, 
Mr.  Rivers’  latest  Nectarine,  is,  I  understand,  of  a  more  delicate  con¬ 
stitution,  and  therefore  not  so  well  adapted  for  general  cultivation. 
Grapes  and  Peaches  in  the  glass  houses  had  a  very  promising  aspect ; 
and  the  Early  Rivers  Cherries,  though  not  quite  ripe,  were  tempting  to 
behold. 
A  few  days  before  my  departure  from  London  1  revisited  the  Royal 
Nurseries  at  Slough,  I  found  the  Pelargoniums,  Carnations,  and  Roses 
as  good  as  previously.  I  regretted,  however,  that  I  was  both  too  late 
and  too  early  for  the  Crimson  Rambler,  which  had  faded  in  the  conser¬ 
vatories  and  was  only  visible  in  the  nurseries  in  the  form  of  buds. 
Having  learned  incidentally  in  the  course  of  conversation  that  I  had  a 
strong  desire  to  visit  the  scene  of  Gray’s  immortal  Elegy,  which  is  only 
two  miles  distant  from  Slough,  Mr.  Harry  Turner  sent  me  to  the  church¬ 
yard  of  Stoke  Pogis.  Along  the  central  walk  was  a  line  of  the  finest 
standard  Roses,  including  Grace  Darling.  After  inspecting  the  church, 
which  is  of  quite  unique  artistic  and  architectural  interest,  I  repaired 
with  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  head  gardener  of  Stoke  House,  who 
showed  me  all  its  romantic  environments,  of  which  Mr.  Bryant  of 
match-making  fame  is  the  present  proprietor. — David  R.  Williamson. 
