12 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
J  i.l v  7.  1X9*. 
the  great  Colony — “Advance  Australia.”  They  are  in  advance  of  the 
Old  Country  in  one  respect— namely,  in  their  “  season  of  1898  ”  being 
over  while  ours  has  still  to  come.] 
FLOWER  BEDS  IN  SUMMER. 
Afteb  flower  beds  and  borders  are  filled  with  plants,  such  as  half- 
hardy  annuals,  Pe'argoniums,  Begonias,  Lobelias,  and  other  things,  some 
attention  is  needed  to  induce  free  growth.  It  is  essential  that  the  soil  be 
maintained  moist  without  daily  deluging  with  water.  Give  one  thorough 
soaking,  and  when  partially  dry  stir  the  surface  of  the  soil.  This  will 
form  a  light,  dry  mulch,  which  will  effectually  prevent  evaporation  from 
the  moistened  soil  below,  and  render  watering  unnecessary  tor  several 
days. 
Exception  may  be  given  in  the  case  of  very  small  plants  which  may 
not  have  established  their  root  system,  but  these  will  not  require  heavy 
waterings.  They  will  be  best  helped  by  frequent  sprinklings  and 
occasional  stirring  of  the  surface  soil.  An  effectual  moistening  of  the 
soil  ought  in  all  cases  to  be  given  before  plants  are  inserted. 
The  practice  adopted  by  over  particular  people  of  raking  flower 
beds  and  borders  very  fine,  and  removing  every  stone,  is  not  com¬ 
mendable.  Better  spend  the  time  in  keeping  the  surface  loose,  which  will 
induce  growth  until  the  plants  cover  the  soil  by  their  extension  of 
growth. 
Pick  off  dead  leaves  and  flowers.  Pinch  back  rambling  growths 
where  found  to  be  necessary.  The  growths  of  some  plants  may  be  pegged 
down  near  the  soil  ;  such  as  Verbenas,  Petunias,  Phlox  Drummondi. 
Carnations  will  require  supporting  with  thin  stakes  or  light  branches  of 
Birch  or  Hazel. 
Clear  away  dead  Holly  and  Aucuba  leaves,  which  at  this  season  are 
shed  from  the  bushes.  Shoots  of  any  shrubs  or  trees  encroaching  on  or 
shading  plants  or  borders  ought  to  be  carefully  pruned  back,  avoiding, 
however,  treating  them  on  the  hedge-cutting  system.  The  general 
appearance  of  flower  beds  and  borders  is  much  enhanced  by  neatly 
clipping  the  turf  edges  and  mowing  the  grass  weekly. 
The  hardy  herbaceous  perennial  border  requires  to  be  frequently 
attended  to.  Many  plants  need  regulating  and  supporting,  while  those 
passing  out  of  flower  soon  look  shabby  if  dead  blooms  are  not  removed. 
Where  it  appears  essential  to  water  give  a  good  soaking,  and  mulch  the 
soil  over  the  roots  with  leaf  soil  or  short  manure. — G. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
June  26th. 
Scientific  Committee. — Present:  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the  chair) ; 
Mr.  Bennett-Poe,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Dr.  Muller,  Mr.  Veitch,  and  Rev.  G. 
Henslow,  Hon.  Sec. 
Pyrethmm  Flowers  Arrested. — Mr.  E.  Ballard  sent  some  flowers,  “  taken 
from  healthy  roots,  full  of  bloom,  but  on  which  some  of  the  flowers  fade, 
owing  to  the  shrivelling  of  the  stalk  some  2  or  3  inches  below  the  flower. 
Last  year  whole  roots  were  affected.”  It  is  difficult  to  pronounce  without 
seeing  the  early  stages,  but  the  general  opinion  was  that  frost  had  checked 
the  buds,  and  a  fungus,  possibly  a  myxomycete,  followed.  Buds  of 
Pyrethrum,  arrested  in  an  early  stage,  appeared  to  be  spoilt  by  frost  and 
wet  having  got  into  them. 
Beeches,  Dying. — Mrs.  A.  C.  Campbell  Swinton  of  Berrywell,  Dunse, 
Berwickshire,  sent  some  bark,  &c.,  showing  much  decay,  taken  from  a 
very  fine  old  Beech  at  Kimmerghame.  It  was  described  as  having  a 
cavity  at  a  fork  in  which  ram  water  lodged,  but  since  the  tree  is  only 
19  yards  from  the  bed  of  the  river  the  suggestion  that  the  roots  have  got 
into  the  cold  river  soil  is  with  very  little  doubt  correct.  Beeches  preferring 
dry  soil  by  nature,  the  above  would  be  a  sufficiently  probable  cause.  Mr. 
Wilks  described  a  case  where  in  a  space  of  150  by  20  yards  every  shrub 
and  tree  dies  after  a  time.  The  destruction  began  with  a  hedge,  then 
Scotch  Pirs,  Oaks,  Ashes,  and  lastly  Beeches  of  about  forty-five  years  of 
age  perished.  The  cause  appeared  to  be  a  bed  of  white  sand  into  which 
the  roots  penetrated,  thus  starving  the  trees. 
Black  Currant  Shoots  Falling. — Mr.  E.  Ballard  sent  specimens  from  a 
large  plantation,  which  break  off  at  a  slight  touch  or  by  the  wind.  Dr. 
W.  G.  Smith,  who  has  examined  them,  reports  upon  them  as  follows  : — 
u  The  Currant  leaves  bore  a  mildew,  but  other  fungi  were  also  present 
when  I  examined  the  material.  The  characteristic  mode  of  attack  pointed 
to  a  Peronospora  species.  I  have  raised  good  crops  of  one  on  fresh 
portions  of  the  leaves,  and  am  following  up  the  clue.  If  it  be  really  a 
species  of  this  family  it  is  new  to  Britain,  although  one  (Plasmopora 
ribicola,  Schrceter)  has  been  reported  from  U.S.  America.  I  have  observed 
the  emission  of  motile  swarm  spores  from  the  sporangia  (so-called  spores) 
of  fresh  material,  and  otherwise  feel  sure  of  the  Peronosporete  nature  of 
this  fungus.  As  to  remedy,  I  should  recommend  a  spraying  of  Bordeaux 
mixture  or  allied  copper  mixture.  To  a  Black  Currant  plantation  this 
could  be  done  by  a  knapsack  sprayer.  Probably  one  can  be  had  from  the 
Strawsen  Company.” 
Cherry  Leaves  Diseased. — Specimens  of  the  foliage  was  received  from 
Mr.  B.  G.  Berry,  F.R.H.S.,  Scarbutts  Manor,  Broughton,  Faversham,  and 
submitted  to  Dr.  W.  G.  Smith,  who  reports  as  follows  : — “  I  cannot  make 
up  my  mind  whether  the  fungus  on  Cherry  leaves  you  sent  last  week  is 
Cylindrosporium  padi,  Karst ,  or  Claderosporium  amygdalearum,  Pass. 
Both  are  given  as  causing  spots  on  foliage  similar  to  that  sent.  The 
spores  are  different,  but  I  get  both  forms  (or  something  very  like  them' 
present.  In  any  case  the  fungus  is  the  cause  of  trouble.  The  disease  is 
common  in  the  United  States,  though  I  have  no  definite  record  of  its 
occurrence  here.  It  is  not  considered  serious,  and  yields  easily  to  spraying 
remedies.  I  am  afraid  at  present  the  crop  is  too  far  advanced  to  allow  of 
immediate  treatment,  but  as  soon  as  it  is  plucked  Bordeaux  mixture 
should  be  sprayed  on  the  foliage.  Next  year  the  spraying  should  be 
continued  as  soon  as  the  foliage  is  strong  enough  to  allow  it.  The 
preparation  of  Bordeaux  mixture  and  allied  fungicides  I  have  already 
described  in  the  “  Gardeners’  Chronicle  ”  last  August.  It  should  not  be 
used  towards  the  season  of  ripe  fruit,  as  it  stains  the  Cherries,  but  applied 
before  and  after  is  reliable.” 
Black  Currant  x  Gooseberry. — Mr.  W.  Culverwell  of  Thorpe  Perrow, 
Bedale,  sent  a  fruiting  spray  of  this  curious  hybrid,  showing  well  the 
resemblance  to  the  manner  of  fruiting  in  the  Currant,  though  it  was 
entirely  without  its  scent.  The  fruit  resembled  small  Gooseberries,  but 
the  leaves  had  no  spines. 
4-Merous  Odontoglossum. — Mr.  McBean  sent  a  spray  of  O.  crispum, 
in  which  all  the  four  blossoms  upon  it  had  the  two  anterior  petals 
adherent  to  the  sepal  between  them,  three  points  indicating  the  fusion. 
In  addition  to  the  above,  the  sepals  fused  with  the  petals  were  petaloid 
and  the  ovaries  were  aborted.  In  two  flowers  it  was  Sr  and  in  the 
other  two  S  3  that  was  petaloid. 
Tuberous  Growth  on  Vine. — Dr.  Masters  exhibited  a  specimen  ;  similar 
ones  are  sometimes  associated  with  a  multiplication  of  buds.  It  is 
probably  caused  by  a  puncture  of  some  insect,  which  sets  up  a  subsequent 
growth  by  hypertrophy.  It  is  occasionally  seen  on  Mardchal  Niel  Roses. 
ISLE  OF  WIGHT  HORTICULTURAL 
ASSOCIATION. 
The  above  Association  arranged  a  very  pleasant  outing  on  June  30th, 
the  place  of  venue  being  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading.  A  party  of 
over  fifty  members,  ■accompanied  by  Dr.  Groves,  the  Chairman  of  the 
Association,  and  Mr.  S.  Heaton,  F.R.H.S.,  the  Hon.  Sec.,  assembled  at  an 
early  hour  at  Newport  station,  where  a  special  train  had  been  chartered  to 
convey  them  to  Cowes  in  time  to  catch  the  seven  o’clock  boat  to 
Southampton. 
After  a  pleasant  journey  by  boat  and  rail  they  arrived  at  Reading 
station  at  10.45,  where  they  were  met  by  a  representative  of  the  firm,  and 
conducted  to  the  establishment  at  the  Market  Place  entrance.  Here  they 
were  received  by  Mr.  Martin  Hope  Sutton,  Mr.  Leonard  Sutton,  and 
Mr.  Hubert  Sutton.  The  whole  of  the  visitors  were  then  conducted  over 
the  extensive  seed  stores  and  offices,  and  were  much  interested  and 
enlightened  by  the  explanation  of  the  methods  employed  in  cleaning,  sort¬ 
ing,  testing,  and  packing  the  vegetable,  flower,  and  farm  seeds,  for  which 
the  firm  is  noted.  Especially  interesting  was  the  testing  room,  wherein 
was  a  series  of  heated  closets  or  cupboards,  resembling  incubators, 
wherein  the  germinating  power  of  every  sample  of  seed  is  determined. 
Another  feature  noticed  was  the  way  in  which  the  seeds  were  carefully 
dried,  and  hermetically  sealed  in  tin  boxes  before  being  despatched  to 
foreign  climes.  Men  were  then  busy  with  a  large  order  that  was  about 
to  be  despatched  to  India,  the  names  of  the  contents  being  printed 
outside  in  Hindustani. 
The  members  of  the  association  were  very  much  gratified  by  seeing 
the  founder  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Martin  J.  Sutton,  who,  notwithstanding  his 
great  age,  had  travelled  a  long  way,  and  looked  in  during  luncheon  to 
speak  a  word  of  welcome  to  them. 
Brakes  were  subsequently  chartered  and  the  party  conveyed  to  the 
seed  trial  grounds,  which  were  inspected  closely.  The  next  move 
was  to  the  houses  and  grounds  in  another  part  of  the  town,  where 
Gloxinias  and  the  double  and  single  tuberous  Begonias  were  making  a 
splendid  display,  and  especially  fine  amongst  the  Gloxinias  were  Her 
Majesty,  Azure  Blue,  Duchess  of  York,  and  Duke  of  York.  These  are 
of  fine  form  and  substance.  The  Begonias  showed  great  improvement. 
After  a  walk  through  the  Abbey  ruins  and  tea  at  the  Abbey  Hall  the 
party  left  Reading  impressed  and  delighted  with  what  they  had  seen  and 
the  way  they  were  treated  both  by  the  heads  of  the  firm  and  the  managers 
of  the  various  departments. — C.  Orchard,  Bembridge. 
The  monthly  meeting  was  held  at  Sandown  on  Saturday,  July  2nd. 
In  the  absence  of  Dr.  Groves  the  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  T.  Gibbs,  C.C. 
A  large  number  of  exhibits  had  been  got  together,  including  Canterbury 
Bells,  Foxgloves,  Pentstemons,  and  Stocks,  from  Mr.  A.  Flumbley, 
Aspenleigh,  Sandown  ;  Roses  and  Pompon  Dahlias  from  Mr.  J.  Nicholas, 
Kintore,  Sandown  :  a  large  basket  of  Comet  Tomatoes  from  Mr.  W. 
Gibson,  Sandown  ;  a  dish  of  Polegate  Tomatoes  from  Mr.  W.  Downer, 
Shanklin  ;  a  miscellaneous  group  of  flowering  and  foliage  plants  from 
Mr.  A.  Cole,  Broadlands,  Sandown  ;  and  stove  flowering  and  foliage  plants 
and  a  stand  of  Roses  from  Mr.  J.  H.  Perkin,  Los  Altos,  Sandown.  The 
above  groups  well  merited  the  certificates  awarded. 
In  the  evening  Air.  W.  C.  Moseley  read  a  paper  on  “  Meteorology  in 
Relation  to  Gardening,”  which  contained  many  useful  hints  on  the  struc¬ 
ture,  uses,  and  management  of  meteorological  instruments,  several  of 
which  were  exhibited.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  the  lecturer  and 
the  exhibitors,  on  the  motion  of  the  Secretary  (Mr.  S.  Heaton),  seconded 
by  the  Rev.  J.  Bamford.  Several  new  members  were  elected  at  the  close, 
bringing  the  total  number  to  270. 
