288 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  5,  1899 
falling,  recovered,  so  that  Strawberries  from  cool  houses  made  mo  e 
money  than  the  liter  portion  of  the  crop  in  heated  houses. 
“  The  earliest  Strawberries  seen  in  Belvedere  on  the  occasion  of  my 
first  visit  were  grown  by  Mr.  Budd  in  his  nursery  of  an  acre  and  a 
half,  containing  1400  feet  of  glass  houses  12  feet  wide.  There  were 
three  heated  houses  last  year,  from  which  60  lbs.  of  Strawberries  had 
been  picked  by  April  Cth,  and  a  good  quantity  of  fine  fruit  was  still 
coming  on. 
“This  grower  presented  a  very  gloomv  view  of  his  industry.  He 
said  that,  fourteen  years  ago,  at  the  period  of  the  season  then  current, 
forced  Strawberries  sold  at  14s.  per  lb.,  whereas  a  Covent  Gardeu  sales¬ 
man  had  informed  me  that  6s.  per  lb.  was  the  highest  price  on  the  day 
preceding  my  visit  to  Belvedere.  Mr.  Budd  admitted  that  Strawberries 
had  made  32s.  per  lb.  last  year  ;  but  they  were  only  an  extremely 
small  quantity,  forced  very  early.” 
The  author  concludes  his  valuable  and  voluminous  report  as 
follows  : — 
“The  principal  object  of  the  inquiry  entrusted  to  me  was  to  obtain 
information  as  to  the  recent  development  of  flower  and  fruit  farming 
in  this  country,  the  circumstances  under  which  those  industries  are 
carried  on,  and  their  prospects  for  the  future.  In  the  second  division 
of  this  report,  when  summing  up  my  account  of  flower  farming,  I 
have  remarked  upon  the  great  increase  of  that  industry,  both  in  the 
open  and  under  glass  ;  in  the  third  division  the  statistics  of  hardy  fruit 
have  been  given,  with  numerous  other  details;  and  in  this  last  article 
estimates  of  the  expanse  of  commercial  glass  houses  and  the  production 
of  fruit  in  them  are  presented,  with  some  comparisons  of  past  and 
present  prices.  ' 
“The  general  conclusions  arrived  at  are  that  supplies  of  flowers 
and  fruit  as  a  wholo  are  increasing  at  least  as  rapidly  as  the  dem  md, 
while  the  production  of  bulbous  flowers  and  hothouse  fruit  appears  to 
be  expanding  excessively,  with  the  system  of  distribution  as  it  exists 
at  pnsent.  But  it  is  to  be  observed  that  there  is  a  very  wide  margin 
between  tho  prices  paid  by  consumers  of  flowers  and  fruit  and 
those  received  by  producers,  partly  owing  to  a  cumbrous  and  extrava¬ 
gant  system  of  distribution,  and  that  it  is  probable  that  a  very  great 
increase  in  the  consumption  of  these  producs  might  be  developed  by 
mere  economical  methods  of  supply.  Some  improvement  in  this 
respect  has  taken  place  in  recent  years,  with  the  assistance  of  the  rail¬ 
way  companies,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  progress  in  this  direction 
will  bo  continuous.” 
NURSERYMEN  AND  MOSQUITOES. 
A  correspondent  of  the  “  Daily  Chronicle,”  referring  to  the  pre¬ 
valence  of  mosquiioes  (real  or  supposed)  in  several  London  districts 
during  the  hot  weather,  remarks  that  since  various  attempts  to  localise  the 
insect  seemed  to  be  a  failure,  he  would  give  his  experience.  Twelve  years 
observations  had  convinced  him  “  that  the  home  of  the  ‘skeeters’  is  the 
greenhouse  of  the  nurserymen  who  import  exoti.s.”  We  have  heard 
something  like  this  before,  and  in  spite  of  our  friend's  long  period  of 
observation,  cannot  but  think  he  is  quite  mistaken,  and  that  his  theory 
has  no  foundation  of  fact. 
Some  years  ago  a  paragraph  appeared  in  several  newspapers  to  the 
effect  that  a  number  ot  men  employed  in  one  cf  our  principal  London 
nurseries  had  been  severely  stung  by  mosquitoes.  On  inquiry  at  the 
establishment  I  found  there  was  no  truth  in  the  report.  There  are 
persons  who  are  hard  to  convince,  and  of  course  the  remark  was  made  to 
me  that  probably  it  was  true,  but  the  nurserymen  denied  it,  lest  if  it  were 
believed,  people  should  avoid  visiting  their  bouses,  or  be  unwilling  to  pur¬ 
chase  plants  which  might  convey  such  pests. 
As  to  the  recent  so-called  plague  of  these  flies,  tho  first  point  of 
importance  is,  that  in  the  case  of  most  of  the  sufferers  the  name  of  the 
insect  that  has  attacked  them  is  not  positively  ascertained.  Very  few  can 
distinguish  a  mosquito  from  a  gnat.  The  resemblance  is  considerable, 
while  both  insects  are  possessors  of  the  power  of  stinging  and  biting. 
During  very  hot  weather,  and  at  other  times,  on  certain  constitutions  the 
common  English  gnat  can  cause  much  pain  by  its  sting,  also  large 
swellings,  even  irritation  sufficing  to  affect  seriously  the  general  health  tf 
the  persi  n  attacked.  And  besides  the  too  familiar  Culex  pipiens,  others  of 
the  tribe,  natives  of  England,  are  occasionally  guilty  of  puncturing  the 
human  skin.  Then  I  have  proved  that  some  swellings,  thought  to  be 
gnat  bites,  were  caused  by  an  acarus  or  mite,  which  had  burrowed  under 
the  skin,  as  is  the  habit  cf  the  harvest  and  sugar  mite. 
I  would  not  for  a  moment  deny  that  some  mosquitoes  are  brought  to  our 
islands,  more  perhaps  than  usual  last  year,  but  there  cannot  be  many,  and 
nurserymen  can  hardly  be  held  specially  responsible  for  their  presence. 
The  habit  of  such  flies  renders  it  exceedingly  improbable  that  any  number 
of  them  should  travel  far  from  the  shallow  ponds  and  streamlets  where  they 
are  bred,  for  the  life  of  the  larva  or  grub  is  aquatic,  nor  do  they  continue 
very  long  in  their  winged  condition.  While  winged  they  would  not  attach 
themselves  to  plants,  nor  is  the  chrysalis  fastened  to  herbage,  it  floats 
upon  the  surface  of  the  water  i ill  its  day  of  emergence  arrives. 
— Entomologist. 
*  It  may  be  found  in  extenso  in  vol.  ix.,  part  ii.  and  iii.,  1898;  vol.  x., 
parts  i.  and  ii.,  1899,  of  the  Journal  above  mentioned.  John  Murray, 
Albemarle  Street.  The  price  of  each  part  is  3s.  GJ. 
PEACHES  IN  THE  ISLE  OF  WIGHT. 
There  having  been  so  much  written  respecting  the  culture  of  tho 
Peach  in  the  gardening  papers  I  should  like  to  aid  a  small  share  in 
referring  to  my  visit  to  Sir  Charles  Seeley's,  Bart.,  Brook  House,  Die  of 
Wight.  These  gardens  are  noted  for  Peach  and  Vine  culture,  and  tin 
crurteoui  gardener,  Mr.  William  Tribbick,  showed  mo  tho  very  fine 
orchard  house  (150  feet  by  30  feet),  wh:ch  contains  some  of  the  grandest 
specimens  of  Peach  trees  to  be  found  in  the  kingdom.  These  have  been 
planted  twenty-four  years,  but  are  still  in  the  best  of  heal  h.  They  cover 
a  space  of  3000  superficial  feet,  and  were,  at  the  time  of  my  vist  in  July 
last,  carrying  3000  fruits,  which  wire  all  of  the  finest  quality,  many 
weighing  from  12  to  16oz>„  and  beautifully’  coloured.  What  surprised  me 
was  the  splendid  growth,  and  the  broad  dark  green  foliage  with  such 
heavy  crops.  There  is  no  sign  of  spider,  scib,  or  fly,  and  the  trees,  in  the 
rudest  health,  form  a  grand  object  lesson  for  any  Peach  grower. 
There  is  also  a  lean-to  vinerj',  facing  due  south,  48  feet  in  length, 
which  contains  some  superb  Muscat  of  Aleianlria.  The  A  ines  have 
been  planted  twenty-two  years,  and  for  the  past  twenty  years  have 
produced  remarkable  crops  annually.  This  season  many  of  the  bunches 
weigh  4  and  5  lbs.  per  bunch,  and  are  splendid  in  berry,  and  at  the  time 
of  my  visit  were  just  taking  on  the  much  sought  amber  tint.  Black 
Hamburgh  is  represented  by  heavy  crops  ot  large  clusters,  perfect  in  berry 
and  colojr.  I  have  no  doubt  it  would  well  repay  s'me  of  our  noted  fruit 
growers  to  pay  a  visit  to  Brook  Gardens  during  the  fruit  season. 
I  might  also  add  that  everything  appertaining  to  gardening  is  done  to 
tho  best  advantage,  and  reflects  great  credit  on  the  able  gardener,  Mr.  W. 
Tribbick,  F.R  H.S.  The  plant  houses  and  large  kitchen  gardens  and 
pleasure  grounds  are  all  in  keeping  with  a  first- class  establishment. 
—Visitor. 
NOTES  FROM  BRISTOL. 
In  the  suburbs  of  thi3  flourishing  city  there  are  many  well-kept 
gardens,  their  owners  being  either  merchants  ot  the  past  or  present  who 
find  gardening  in  some  of  its  many  aspects  a  healthful  recreation. 
Visitors  to  the  Chrysanthemum  and  limit  Shows  held  in  Bristol  have 
ample  eviden  e  of  the  skill  of  tho  gardening  cralt,  and  the  support  they 
get  from  employers  ia  the  great  variety  and  extent  of  the  display 
produced  from  local  sources.  Needless  to  say  there  are  in  the  cut  bloom 
classes  competitors  from  all  parts,  though  local  growers  take  a  share  of 
the  honours.  In  other  sections  of  the  Shows — plants  in  particular —there 
is  a  great  keenness  among  the  Bristol  men.  Having  recently  had  an 
opportunity  of  calling  on  a  few  residents  in  the  western  suburbs  of  the 
city,  I  append  a  few  impressions  of  what  I  found  interesting. 
Old  Sneed  Park. 
Th:s,  for  many  years  the  residence  of  Francis  Tagart,  Esq.,  has  long 
being  famous  for  its  stove  plants,  Ferns,  carpet  and  other  bedding,  the 
latter  being  well  and  extensively  carried  out.  One  bed  having  a  circum¬ 
ference  of  37  yards,  situated  near  the  principal  entrance  to  the  mansion, 
has  b:en  justly  admired  by  many,  Mr.  Tagart  generously  allowing  his 
gardens  to  be  thrown  open  to  the  public  at  a  small  charge,  the  receipts 
being  given  to  tho  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund.  Such  a  bed  displays  the 
skill  of  the  planter  in  a  marked  manner,  and  the  credit  which  has  been 
so  freely  given  to  Mr.  Binfield,  tho  gardener  in  charge,  has  been  well 
deserved.  It  is,  indeed,  a  masterpiece  of  colour  blending  and  perfection 
of  design.  Some  20,000  plants  are  employed  in  about  thirteen  varieties. 
At  the  time  of  my  visit  beds  and  borders  everywhere  were  a  blaze  of 
colour,  affording  a  pleasing  contrast  to  the  sombre  tints  of  near  and 
distant  landscape.  The  house  stands  on  an  elevated  site,  and  commands 
a  fine  view  of  the  beautifully  undulating  park  and  distant  woods. 
There  are  extensive  ranges  of  glass  structures  for  the  supply  of  flowers, 
fruits,  and  plants,  the  more  mo.lern  portion  being  erected  a  few  years 
since  by  the  well  known  Chelsea  firm,  Messrs.  Weeks  &  Co.  In  the  stove, 
which  is  a  lofty  and  commodious  build. ng,  are  large  specimen  and  smaller 
decorative  plants.  There  is  a  monster  Croton  Queen  Victoria,  and  also 
one  of  the  finest  of  the  giant  Anthurium  Veitchi  to  be  seen  anywhere.  I 
also  noted  other  large  Crotons,  Warreni  and  Countess,  Kentias 
Belmoreana  and  Eosteriana,  Latanias  and  Seaforthias,  Tree  Ferns,  and 
Cycads.  There  were  also  healttiy  specimens  of  Davallias  Mooreana, 
canariensis  and  bullata,  Microlepia  hirta  cristata,  Adiantums  in  variety, 
and  Gymnogrammas. 
On  light  chains  strained  to  the  rafters  were  suspended  some  healthy 
Orchids,  such  as  Cattleyas  Dowiana,  Ilex,  Triana?,  aurea,  labiata  and 
Mossiae,  Phalasnopsis  Schilleriana  and  grandiflora.  Dendrobiums  in 
variety,  Vandas,  Laelias,  and  some  fine  pieces  of  Oncidium  varicosum 
Eogersi.  A  small  but  very  pretty  conservatory  forms  the  garden  entrance 
to  the  house,  and  in  this  I  noticed  a  couple  of  very  fine  pots  of  Crinum 
Moorei  in  flow’or.  There  were  many  other  plants  and  points  of  interest, 
hut  space  forbids  even  brief  mention. 
Peaches  and  Grapes  are  largely  grown,  the  first  named  being  finished, 
but  there  remained  a  good  crop  ot  late  Grapes  in  three  or  four  varieties 
for  the  autumn  and  winter.  Figs  are  well  grown  on  an  open  wall,  and 
Apples  and  Pears  showed  that  the  trees  had  been  well  cared  for  in  the 
kitchen  garden.  Mr.  Tagart  takes  a  deep  interest  in  his  garden,  and  in 
Mr.  Binfield  he  has  a  gardener  worthy  of  tho  confidence  reposed  in  him. 
Stoke  House. 
Grapes  and  Chrysanthemums  are  perhaps  the  leading  specialities  here, 
and  in  both  Mr.  Wilkinson,  the  gardener,  has  proved  himself  an  expert. 
In  his  previous  situations,  at  Wilts  and  Torquay,  his  name  became 
