September  23,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
291 
-  Sweet  Peas. — Citn  any  of  the  Journal  readers  give  an 
opinion  regarding  the  Sweet  Peas  raised  by  a  well-known  American 
firm  and  sold  in  sealed  packets  last  spring  by  British  seedsmen  ? 
I  have  had  no  experience  except  from  the  packets  of  mixed  varieties, 
but  have  been  disappointed  with  the  flowers  produced.  They  are  no 
advance  upon  Eckford’s  or  Laxton’s  well  proved  strains.  It  may  be, 
however,  that  the  wet  season  we  have  had  in  my  district  has  lieen 
more  unfavourable  to  the  American  varieties  than  to  the  others.  I 
should  be  grateful  for  the  result  of  the  experience  of  others.  — 
A.  Hardiman. 
-  'Wakefield  Paxton  Society.— Programme  of  meetings  for 
the  third  quarter,  session  1897.  Meetings  are  held  at  eight  o’clock 
prompt.  September  25th  :  From  Westgate  to  Kirkgate,  via  Chicago, 
illustrated  by  lantern  slides  ;  Mr.  F.  H.  Wigham.  October  2nd  :  Exhi¬ 
bition  of  Autumn  Leaves  and  Fruits  ;  essay  by  iNIr.  A.  E.  Benney, 
Bradford.  October  9th  :  The  Apple  and  Pear  ;  Mr.  A.  H.  Pearson* 
Chilwell  Nurseries.  October  16th  :  The  Natural  History  of  a  Country 
Lane,  illustrated  by  lantern  slides  ;  Mr.  H.  Crowther,  F.R.M.S.,  Leeds. 
October  23rd  :  The  Potato  ;  exhibition  of  specimens,  and  discussion. 
October  30th  :  The  Planting  of  Fruit  Grounds  ;  Mr.  H.  J.  Monson,  York¬ 
shire  College.  November  6th  :  Root  Crops  in  the  Kitchen  Garden  ;  Mr. 
-1.  G.  Brown.  November  13th  :  The  Chrysanthemum  E.xhibition. 
November  20th  :  A  '\Yeek  in  Hamburg,  illustrated  by  lantern  slides  ; 
Mr.  H.  S.  Goodyear.  November  27th  :  Some  Useful  Wild  Plants;  Mr. 
G.  Bott. 
-  Carnation  Disease. — Some  investigations  by  Mr.  A.  F. 
Woods  of  the  Division  of  Vegetable  Pathology  in  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  seem  to  indicate  that  the  so-called  “  bacteriosis  ”  of  Carna¬ 
tions,  first  described  by  Dr.  Arthur  in  1889,  is  not  due  to  bacteria,  but 
is  a  direct  result  of  injuries  to  the  plant  by  thrips  or  aphides.  In  a  paper 
read  at  the  recent  meeting  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advance¬ 
ment  of  Science,  Mr.  IVoods  brought  out  the  fact  that  neither  fungi  nor 
bacteria  are  present  in  the  earlier  stages  of  the  disease,  and  that  their 
presence  is  not  constant  as  the  disease  advances.  A  disease  with  all 
the  characteristics  of  this  bacteriosis,  excepting  the  presence  of  bacteria, 
can  be  produced  by  aphides,  and  since  the  injuries  in  their  earlier  stages 
are  not  accompanied  by  bacteria  |  the  aphides  cannot  be  charged  with 
carrying  any  infectious  germ.  The  Carnation  is  readily  influenced  by 
extraneous  conditions,  and  the  reaction  to  the  injuries  of  aphides  and 
thrips  vary  largely,  and  plants  carelessly  grown  suffer  more  seriously 
from  punctures  by  the  aphis  than  vigorous  plants  do.  The  sum  of  the 
matter  is,  that  the  greatest  care  should  be  used  in  selecting  and  propa¬ 
gating  stock,  in  furnishing  conditions  for  vigorous  growth,  and  in  keeping 
down  aphides  and  thrips.  It  is  these  insects,  and  not  bacteria,  with 
which  the  practical  grower  must  contend.  Of  course,  good  stock  and 
good  conditions  of  growth  can  never  be  neglected,  and  Mr.  Woods’  inves¬ 
tigations  give  emphasis  to  what  growers  already  know— that  the  disease 
is  often  the  result  of  neglect,  and  that  the  way  to  have  healthy  plants  is 
to  give  the  closest  attention  to  every  detail  of  culture.  — (“  Garden  and 
Forest.”) 
-  The  Fruit  and  Tomato  Crops  op  Guernsey.  — One  can 
now  speak  with  a  little  more  certainty  of  what  our  season  has  been  like- 
I  believe  the  quantity  of  Tomatoes  exported  has  been  very  large,  but  as 
the  area  of  glass  has  also  much  increased  since  this  time  last  year,  there 
is  no  proof  that  the  crop  has  been  any  better  than  that  of  last  year — in 
fact,  many  establishments  report  the  contrary.  The  long  dull,  damp, 
spell  of  weather  we  had  from  February  to  the  end  of  May  was  much 
against  a  good  “set”  of  fruit  in  the  early  houses,  and  not  a  few  crops 
w'ere  spoiled  by  black  stripe  and  other  diseases.  From  some  cause  or 
other  the  later  crops,  taken  generally,  are  not  coming  up  to  expectation. 
Fine  robust  plants  may  be  seen  without  a  flower  “set”  upon  them. 
These  are  being  ])ulled  up  in  disgust,  and  the  houses  filled  with  Chrys¬ 
anthemums,  of  which  there  are  a  large  quantity  being  grown,  greatly  in 
excess  of  any  ])revious  year.  The  cultivation  of  Lilium  auratum  is  also 
much  increasing,  so  that  we  are  looking  forward  to  a  busy  autumn  and 
winter,  flower  e.xport  trade  lieing  done.  Grapes  have  been  of  very  mixed 
(juality,  many  Hamburghs  in  the  unheated  houses  refusing  to  colour, 
others  shanking  badly.  But  with  the  little  knowledge  most  of  our 
Guernsey  growers  possess  of  growing  Grapes  on  scientific  principles, 
failures  are  not  to  be  wondered  at,  and  but  for  a  good  natured  climate 
they  would  come  off  much  worse  than  they  do.  "With  regard  to  outdoor 
fruit.  Apples  are  a  fair  crop,  but  as  these  are  chiefly  of  the  cider  kinds 
scarcely  any  are  exported.  Dears  are  scantily  grown,  and  are  a  moderate 
crop  ihis  year.  Briefly,  our  own  market,  through  the  winter  months,  is 
chiefly  dependent  on  supplies  of  fruit  we  get  from  Jersey  and  our  neigh¬ 
bours  the  French,— X. 
-  Gardening  Appointments.— Mr.  T.  H.  Davis  has  been 
ai)pointed  gardener  to  G.  S.  Eastcourt,  Esq.,  Eastcourt  Dark,  Tetbury. 
Mr.  W.  J.  Meer  has  been  appointed  gardener  to  jMajor  C.  D.  Shenton, 
Evercreech  House,  Bath. 
-  Lysimachia  clethroides.— This  Loosestrife  is  rather  an 
uncommon  plant  in  the  herbaceous  border,  thongh  not  very  rare.  The 
peculiar  manner  in  which  the  extreme  point  of  its  flower  droops  while 
expanding  renders  it  exceedingly  interesting.  As  expansion  takes  place 
the  flower  spike  assumes  an  erect  habit.  The  flower  is  of  the  same  form 
as  a  Clethra,  hence  its  name,  and  the  plant  blooms  during  August.  The 
height  altogether  is  a  yard  under  good  cultivation.  IVe  have  it  growing 
at  the  back  of  the  rockery,  the  heavy  soil  suiting  it  well.  It  is  of  a 
creeping  habit  under  the  surface,  where  its  roots  run  freely,  therefore  no 
trouble  to  propagate  it  is  experienced  ;  in  fact,  it  is  liable  to  spread  a 
little  too  rapidly.  -  E. 
-  Shirley  Gardeners’  Association. — The  monthly  meeting 
of  the  above  Society  was  held  at  the  Darish  Rooms,  Shirley,  South¬ 
ampton,  on  Monday,  the  20th  inst.,  Mr.  B.  Ladhams  presiding  over  a 
good  attendance  of  the  memliers.  There  was  an  exhibition  of  vegetables 
for  prizes  in  the  form  of  one  silver  and  three  bronze  medals,  presented 
by  Messrs.  Toogood  &  Sons,  Southampton,  for  which  there  were  seven 
entries.  The  silver  medal  and  certificate  was  awarded  to  G.  W.  Fleming, 
Esq.,  Chilworth  jManor  (gardener,  IMr.  W.  Mitchell)  ;  bronze  medal  to 
W,  F.  G.  Spranger,  Esq.,  Springhill,  Southampton  (gardener,  Mr.  Harry 
Curtis)  ;  bronze  medal  C.  G.  Stuart  IMenteth,  Esq.,  J.D.,  Rownham’s 
IMount  (gardener,  Mr.  lY.  Risbridger).  These  were  for  six  sorts  of 
vegetables  open  to  all  members.  There  was  a  useful  and  interesting 
discussion  on  the  exhibits. 
LOCKE  PARK,  BARNSLEY. 
Able  and  painstaking  are  the  two  adjectives  that  occur  to  one’s 
mind  as  most  fitted  to  apply  to  the  gentleman  in  charge  of  this  park, 
after  a  visit  has  been  paid  to  it.  A  huge  mound  of  Ivy  trst  arrests  the 
eye  with  no  relief  for  at  all  events  the  first  few  minutes,  but  soon  a  long 
vista  of  horticultural  splendour  is  unveiled,  an  altogether  unsuspected 
panorama  of  artistic  bedding,  relieved  and  enhanced  by  the  high  banks 
studded  with  Hedera,  Hex,  Retinosporas,  Aucubas,  and  other  shrubs. 
Alternately  convex  and  concave,  as  it  were,  like  the  sides  of  natural 
rocks,  are  the  beds  arranged,  the  effect  at  every  few  steps  being  con¬ 
stantly  changing.  Lobelia  pumila  magnifica,  the  golden  Calceolarias, 
white  Milkmaid  Violas,  Dell’s  Beet,  Cineraria  maritima,  Bijou  and  Flower 
of  Spring  Zonals,  Dyrethrum  selaginoides.  East  Lothian  Stocks,  ever  and 
ever  higher,  until  the  most  effective  background  that  could  be  wished 
is  furnished  by  Helianthus,  Nicotiana  affinis,  and  Dahlias  in  variety, 
surmounted  as  aforesaid  by  the  healthy  shrubs  and  ornamental  trees  in 
great  variety.  About  200  yards  of  this  “  feast  for  the  horticultural 
mind,”  accompanied  by  the  courteous,  and,  at  times,  jocular  gardener  in 
charge,  :Mr.  Henshall,  is  at  the  time  most  enjoyable,  and  an  experience 
on  which  the  memory  loves  to  dwell. 
Passing  cool  graceful  masses  of  such  Ferns  as  Lastreas,  Aspleniums, 
Scolopendriums,  Athyriums  and  Blechnums  in  friendly  rivalry,  we  emerge 
into  a  well  asphalted  walk,  that  I  understand  the  public  of  Barnsley 
has  the  right  of  traversing  by  night  and  day. 
About  forty  acres  comprise  this  beautiful  park,  given  by  two  generous 
donors  for  the  public  of  Barnsley  for  ever.  A  few  acres  were  added  not 
many  years  ago,  the  gift  of  J.  T.  Wentworth,  Esq.,  of  Stainborough  Hall, 
a  sight  of  which  I  had  from  the  centre  of  the  park- an  imposing  Norman 
edifice  of  considerable  historic  interest.  I  or  a  study  in  landscape  work 
we  have  only  to  ascend  the  Locke  Tower  that  was  presented  in  1877. 
The  view  from  the  summit  is  delightful.  There  may  perhaps  be  fully 
too  many  Lombardy  Poplars,  erect  as  Sir  Oracle.  The  blending  of  the 
trees  and  shrubs,  which  for  the  most  part  are  luxuriant,  is  admirable. 
Very  noticeable  are  the  fine  specimen  Hollies,  and  the  judicious  planting 
of  the  ornamental  Prunus,  Golden  Elder,  Acers,  and  ^lountain  Ash. 
True,  there  are  occasional  corners  in  the  belts  and  exposed  borders  that 
pourtray  the  eff  ects  of  the  wind's  ravages,  but  on  the  whole  the  wise 
pruning  and  annual  thinning  is  carried  out  carefully  and  well. 
The  glass  structures  must  not  be  omitted.  They  are  conveniently 
situated  near  Mr.  Henshall’s  house,  and  are  necessary  for  the  propagation 
of  plants  for  the  beds  and  borders  ;  but  by  no  means  all  the  glass  is 
devoted  to  such  work.  Many  plants  are  grown  for  the  enjoyment  of 
visitors.  Noticeable  were  richly  coloured  Crotons,  Gannas  (Madame 
Crozy  and  Australie  being  splendid).  Coleus,  some  fine  Dracsnas  Lindeni, 
Baptist!,  Shepherdi,  Youngi,  and  amabilis  ;  rich  Caladiums,  Cocos 
flexuosa  and  Weddelliana  ;  Aralia  A^eitchi,  Anthurium  Scherzerianum, 
Allamanda  Williamsi  (well  flowered).  Nepenthes  Mastersiana,  with 
Gdontoglossums  and  Cypripediums  in  great  variety. 
In  another  compartment  were  to  be  seen  large  Fuchsias  and  Zonal 
Pelargoniums,  profusely  flowered  Begonias,  Heliotropes,  Salvias,  I\  y- 
leaved  Pelargoniums,  and  healthy  red  and  white  Lapagerias.  About 
450  plants  of  Chrysanthemums  are  well  grown,  and  include  the  best  and 
most  up-to-date  varieties.  A  light  repast  and  insi)ection  of  Mr.  HenshalTs 
not  inconsiderable  library  concluded  a  most  enjoyable  and  memorable 
visit  to  this  beautiful  Dark.- Albert  Ubstone. 
