March  31,  1898.  JOUniTAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
273 
LAXTON’S 
STRAWBERRIES 
FOE  PRESENT  PLANTING. 
To  effect  a  Speeiy  Clearance  we  are  offering  at 
MUCH  REDUCED  PRICES,  as  follows— 
THE  GRAHS  STEW  MOHARCH,  finest  main 
crop  ;  strong  open  ground  runners,  10/-  100  ; 
in  pots,  15/-  100. 
Also  the  following,  all  in  pots,  to  fruit  the  coming 
season,  so  long  as  unsold— 
VICOMTESSE  II.  DE 
•  THURY, 
ELEANOR, 
JAS.  VEITCH, 
LATEST  OP  ALL, 
SCARLET  QUE;EN, 
BRITISH  QUESn, 
COMPETITOR, 
NAPIER, 
McMahon, 
COMMANDER, 
LA  T^'RANCE,  . 
No.  1, 
KEEN’S  SEEDLING, 
LA  GROSSE  SUCREE, 
PRESIDENT, 
KING  OP  EARLIES, 
ELTON  PINE, 
DR.  HOGG, 
SOUVR.  DE  BOSSUET, 
J.  RUSKIN, 
ED.  LEPORT, 
AND 
ROYAL  SOVEREIGN. 
P  i  with  the  pots  at  10/- 100,  or  turned  out  of  pots  and 
pacKert  with  halls  to  roots,  8/6  100.  Packing  1/4  per  100 
extra.  OPEN  GROUND  RUNNERS  of  most  of  the  above, 
at  2/6  100.  ’ 
FV1.I.  CATAX.OGVS  GRATIS. 
LAXTON  BROTHERS,  BEDFORD 
LONDON  FERN  NURSERIES, 
Loughborough  Junction, 'London,  S.W.— Perns,  large 
and  small,  in  variety  ;  Aralias,  Grevilleas,  Cyperus,  Picus, 
Ericas,  Palms,  Dracienas,  Aspidistras,  Hydrangeas,  Pelar¬ 
goniums,  Fuchsias,  Marguerites,  Crotons,  &c.  Trade, 
send  for  Wholesale  List.  Special  List  for  Amateurs,  send 
for  one.— J,  E.  SMITH. 
LARGE  EVERGREENS 
FOR  PRESENT  PLANTING. 
Wm.  PAUL  &  SON 
Beg  to  offer  the  following,  of 
Best  (Jnality  and  Regularly  Transplanted, 
At  the  annexed  very  Moderate  Prices — 
AUCUBAS,  Green  and  Variegated,  4  to  5J  feet,  5/-  to  10/6 
each  ;  54/-  to  108/-  per  dozen. 
ARAUCARIA  IMBRICATA,  5  to  7  feet,  10/6  to  15/-  each. 
ARBORVITHil,  AMERICAN,  9  to  10  feet.  48/-  to  60/-  dozen 
,,  WAREANA,  5  to  6  feet,  30/-  to  42/-  dozen. 
BOX,  GREEN,  5  to  6  feet,  30/-  to  36/-  per  dozen. 
M  ,1  HANDSWORTH,  5  to  7  feet,  30/- to  72/- doz. 
,,  t  ARIEGATED,  5  to  6  teet,  30/-  to  42/-  per  dozen, 
CEDRUS  ATLANTICA,  10  to  12  feet,  15/-  each. 
DEODARA,  10  to  12  feet,  15/-  to  21/-  each. 
CUPf:  PSSUS  LAIVSONIANA,  8  to  10  feet,  60/-  to  84/-  doz. 
ERECTA  VIRIDIS,  5  to  6  feet,  60/-  to  72/-  doz. 
HOU  I ES,  GREEN,  named  varieties,  6  to  8  feet,  72/-  to  96/- 
per  dozen. 
JUNIPERUS  CHINENSIS,  8  to  10  feet,  72/-  per  dozen. 
LAUREL,  5  to  7  feet,  extra  bushy,  30/-  to  42/-  per  dozen. 
,,  PORTUGAL,  4  to  5  feet,  24/-  to  36/-  per  dozen. 
LAURUSTINUS,  3  to  3^  feet,  36/-  per  dozen. 
OSMANTHUS  ILICIFOLIUS,  4  to  6  feet,  36/-  to  72/-  dozen 
PICEA  PINSAPO,  10  to  12  feet,  15/-  to  21/-  each. 
RETINOSPORA  PLUMOSA  AUREA,  6  to  7  feet,  60/-  to 
72/-  per  dozen. 
YEW,  ELEGANTISSIMA,  3  to  5  feet,  36/-  to  108/-  dozen. 
,,  GOLDEN,  3  to  6  feet,  36/.  to  96/-  per  dozen. 
,,  GOLD  IRISH,  3  to  6  feet,  30/.  to  72/-  per  dozen. 
RHODODENDRONS,  finest  named  kinds,  handsome  and 
well  set  with  bioom  buds,  4  to  5  feet,  8/6  to  15/- 
each  ;  96/-  to  150/-  per  dozen. 
PAULS’  KOYAL  NURSERIES, 
WALTHAM  CROSS,  HERTS 
No.  927.— VoL.  XXXVI.,  Third  Series. 
NEW  SUPREME  ANTIRRHINUM, 
A  Charming  Novelty,  1/-  per  Packet,  post  free. 
WEBBS’,  WoRDSLEY,  STOURBRIDGE 
Azaleas  and  camellias. —.Grandly 
budded  stuff  to  name,  24/-  and  30/-  per  dozen.  Illus¬ 
trated  Catalogues  of  Stove  and  Greenhouse,  including  many 
new  and  rare  plants,  free  on  application. — A.  J.  A.  BRUCE, 
The  Nurseries,  Chorlton-cnm-H.ardy,  near  Manchester. 
Asparagus. — This  delicious  vegetable  does  not 
require  half  the  expense  usually  incurred.  For 
simple  instructions  see  SEED  LIST,  free  on  application. 
Strong  roots  from  2/0  per  100. — RICHARD  SMITH  &  CO., 
Nurserymen  and  Seed  Merchants,  Worcester. 
IMPORTANT  TO  MUSHROOM  GROWERS.— 
CUTHBERT’S  SPECIALITE  MUSHROOM  SPAWN. 
Always  alike  ;  most  productive.  Hundreds  of  Testimonials. 
Per  Bushel,  5/-.— R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT,  Seed,  Bulb,  and 
Plant  Merchants,  Southgate,  N.  Established  1797. 
BEGONIA  TUBERS.— Large,  erect 
_  _  _  _  _  flowering.  Single,  12  for  2/3 ;  100,  16/-. 
Double, ’12’  for  2/6;  100,  17/-.  Send  for  List,  free.— 
JOHN  WELLS,  Begonia  Nursery,  Ryarsh,  Mailing,  Kent. 
Heating  apparatus.  —  Medals  1875  and 
1881.  Catalogue  of  Boilers,  Pipes,  and  Fittings  free. 
W.  Jones’  Treatise,  “Heating  by  Hot  Water,”  second 
edition,  216  pages,  2/6 ;  post  free,  2/10. — JONES  and 
ATTWOOD,  Stourbridge. _ _ _ 
PURE  WOOD  charcoal,  Specially  Prepared 
for  Horticultural  use.  Extract  from  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture :  ‘  ‘  Charcoal  is  invaluable  as  a  manurial  agent ; 
each  little  piece  is  a  pantry  full  of  the  good  things  of  this 
life.  There  is  no  cultivated  plant  which  is  not  benefited  by 
having  Charcoal  applied  to  the  soil  in  which  it  is  rooted.” 
Apply  for  Pamphlet  and  Prices  to  the  Manufacturers — 
HIRST,  BROOKE  <fe  HIRST,  Ltd.,  Leeds. 
PROTECT  YOUR  GARDENS -Garden  Netting, 
oiled  and  dressed  ;  will  not  rot  if  left  out  in  ful 
■weathers.  100  >  ards  by  1  yard,  3/- ;  100  yards  by  2  yards, 
6/- :  100  yards  by  3  yards,  9/-  Or  so  on  to  any  width. 
Carriage  paid  on  all  orders  over  5/-  I  do  not  require  payment 
till  you  have  rece  ved  and  approved  of  the  netting  from  — 
HY.  J.  GASSON,  Garden  Net  Works,  Rye.  _ _ 
All  who  wish  grand  results  should 
use  THOMSON’S  IMPROVED  VINE,  PLANT  and 
VEGETABLE  MANURE.  This  Valuable  Manure  is  yearly 
growing  in  public  favour.  Can  be  had  of  all  Nursery  and 
Seedsmen,  or  direct  from  the  makers,  WM.  THOMSON  and 
SONS,  Ltd.,  Tweed  Vineyard,  Clovenfords,  Galashiels, 
N.B.  Price  Lists  and  Testimonials  on  Application.  1  cwt. 
and  upwards  Carriage  Paid  to  all  stations  in  Britain  and 
Ireland.  London  Agent— Mr.  J.  George,  14,  Redgrave 
Road,  Putney.  Agent  for  Channel  Islands— Mr.  J.  H. 
PAR.SON.S,  Market  Place,  Guernsey.  Also  THOMSON’S 
SPECIAL  CHRYSANTHEMUM  MANURE.  i  cwt. 
Carriage  Paid  to  all  stations  in  Britain  and  Ireland. 
THURSDAY,  MARCH  31,  1898. 
THE  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  can  he  obtained 
from  the  Office,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  St., 
London,  post  free  for  a  Quarter,  3/9.  Editorial 
communications  mnst  be  addressed  to  8,  Rose 
Hill  Rd.,  Wandsworth,  S.W. 
WINTER  AT  LAST. 
Prospective  Fruit  Crops. 
Many  have  been  the  rejoicings  over  the 
remarkable,  if  not  unexampled,  continuance  of 
balmy  days  throughout  the  period  which,  accord¬ 
ing  to  custom,  ought  to  have  been  winter.  On 
another  page  of  the  present  issue  of  the  Journal 
of  Horticulture  a  meteorological  correspondent  tells 
us  that  at  his  salubrious  station  on  the  south-west 
coast — Torquay — the  temperature  of  the  past  five 
months — October  to  February  inclusive — has  been 
upwards  of  14°  above  the  mean  average  of  twenty- 
two  years’  observations.  This  may  be  taken  as 
fairly  representative  of  the  “winter”  throughout 
the  country  generally,  for  the  abnormal  mildness 
seems  to  have  prevailed  in  Scotland  about  equally 
with  the  South  of  England. 
The  effect  of  it  was  to  bring  records,  in  shoals, 
from  practically  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  including 
the  Emerald  Isle,  of  the  wealth  of  flowers  in  gardens 
and  fields.  Sunny  banks  appear  to  have  yielded 
Violets  and  Primroses  all  the  time,  and  summer 
Roses  did  not  cease  blooming  in  favourable  positions 
until  the  real  v/inter  came,  in  what  the  calendar 
tells  us  ought  to  have  been  spring.  It  was  felt  and 
believed  by  thousands  of  people,  more  particularly 
those  with  minds  still  young,  that  spring — the 
real  “  spring  of  gladness  and  hope  ” — had  come 
before  its  time,  and  come  to  stay. 
Even  some,  and  perhaps  not  a  few,  persons  who 
have  passed  the  meridian  of  life  may  have  been 
half  beguiled  into  the  hopeful  belief  that  winter 
had  done  its  best,  or  worst,  to  gain  pre-eminence. 
Yet  there  were  lurking  misgivings.  He  wa.".  not  a 
youth  who  wrote  about  a  month  ago,  “  With  all 
the  charms  incident  to  the  season,  spring  some¬ 
times  has  an  unkind  welcome.  Winter  yields  not 
the  sceptre  without  a  struggle,  and  many  are  the 
combats  between  the  two.  There  are  adva  ices  and 
retreats  on  both  sides ;  days  of  sun  and  soft  rains, 
days  of  gloom  and  snow  showers  ;  nights  of 
mildness  of  calm  and  nights  of  frost  and  storm. 
Still,  inch  by  inch  winter  has  to  yield.”  Nothing 
could  be  more  truly  descriptive  of  the  fitfulness  of 
March  weather  than  that,  and  no  prognostic  more 
No.  2683.— VOL.  XCVin.,  Old  Series. 
