June  26,  1902. 
JOURXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GABDEXER. 
561 
tains  of  Calabria.  The  segments  were  smaller,  narrower,  and  less 
recurved  than  in  the  ordinary  cultivated  form. 
Fruit  of  the  Tea  Vlant. — Dr.  iNIasters  exhibited  from  Mr. 
Guttridge,  the  Botanic  Garden,  Liverpool,  a  .specimen  of  Thea 
Bohea  bearing  a  ripe  capsule.  Similar  but  larger  fruits  are  not 
uncommon  in  Camellias,  but  are  not  so  often  met  with.  Mr.  Odell 
remarked  that  he  had  frequently  seen  specimens. 
JUseaml  Vines. — Mr.  Close  sent  specimens  in  which  the  roots 
were  dying  or  dead.  On  examination,  it  was  considered  that  the 
mischief  was  due  to  an  over-rich  soil,  or  to  having  been  kept  too 
long  in  a  pot. 
Newport  (Mon.)  Gardeners’  Association. 
The  members  of  the  above  association  held  their  usual  meeting 
on  Wednesday,  June  11,  when  Mr.  J.  H.  Reece  read  a  paper  on 
“The  Life  and  Growth  of  a  Plant.”  After  some  remarks  on  the 
study  of  botany,  Mr.  Reece  described  in  &  very  interesting,  con¬ 
cise,  and  lucid  manner  the  growth  of  a  plant,  commencing  with  a 
description  of  the  varioms  parts  of  a  seed,  the  manner  of  its 
germination,  the  roots  and  their  uses,  Ac.  The  paper  was 
illustrated  by  diagrams,  and  was  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  the 
members.  A  good  discussion  followed,  which  was  taken  part  in 
by  the  chairman,  vice-chairman,  Messrs.  Kenward,  Duff,  Powell, 
Jones,  and  others,  and  many  (juestions  were  asked.  A  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  was  unanimously  accorded  Mr.  Reece  for  his  very 
able  paper,  also  to  Mr.  Jones  for  two  well  flowered  .specimens  of 
fibrous-rooted  Begonias. — J.  Peglbr,  Hon.  Secretary. 
Bristol  Gardecers’  Asscciation. 
The  members  of  this  association  met  on  Thursday  evening 
last  at  St.  John’s  Rooms,  Redland,  Mr.  Binfield  occupying  the 
chair,  and  there  was  a  good  attendance.  The  lecture  for  the 
evening  was  provided  by  Mr.  Day,  Sneyd  Park,  his  .subject 
being  “  Summer  Bedding,”  which  at  this  season  of  the  year  claims 
mo.st  of  the  gardener’s 'attention. 
At  the  outset  Mr.  Day  empliasised  the  fact  that  every 
gardener  should  take  into  con.sideration  the  .soil,  aspect,  and 
conditions,  which  he  said  were  e.ssential  factors  to  obtain  a 
good  display.  The  various  modes  for  the  adornment  of  our 
gardens  during  the  summer  months  the  lecturer  carefully  and 
practically  described,  including  carpet,  tropical,  and  the  ordinary 
mixed  bedding,  advising  double  bedding,  so  as  to  have  a  con¬ 
tinual  display,  which  was  one  of  the  chief  points  in  the  i3leasur6 
garden.  Herbaceous  plants  were  always  an  acquisition  in  the 
garden,  and  .should  be  planted  largely,  and  if  judiciously  mixed 
with  other  plants,  always  made  a  pleasing  effect.  He  gave  a 
good  selection  of  suitable  bedding  plants’  including  the  Begonia, 
Heliotrope,  Pentstemon,  Violas,  and  many  othei’s.  The 
Begonia  especially  being  one  of  the  best,  providing  the  .soil  and 
aspect  was  suitable.  His  able  lecture  was  much  appreciated, 
and  brought  forward  a  good  discussion,  at  the  close  of  which 
Mr.  Day  was  unanimously  accorded  the  hearty  thanks  of  the 
meeting  for  his  effort.  A  prize  for  two  Gloxinias  kindly  given 
by  Mr.  W.  A.  Garaway,  was  awarded  to  Mr.  A.  Baker  (gardener, 
Mr.  Orchard).  Certificates  of  merit  went  to  Mr.  N.  C.  Dobson 
(gardener,  Mr.  Thoday),  for  a  Streptocarpus ;  Colonel  Goss 
(gardener.  Mr.  Shaddick)  obtaining  one  for  Lselia  pprpurata, 
Mr.  Garnish  also  gaining  one  for  a  dish  of  Tomatoes.  A  special 
certificate  of  merit  was  recommended  for  Lad.y  Cave  (gardener, 
Mr.  Poole)  for  a  collection  of  plants  and  fruit,  including  a  fine 
Pitcher  plant  and  .some  beautiful  Carmine  Pillar  Roses,  these' 
sort  of  exhibits  adding  much  to  the  evening’s  enjoyment. — H.  K. 
.  •  t - 
Sundials. 
One  of  the  best  known  and  most  often  consulted  of  dials 
in  London  is  that  to  be  found  in  the  Temple,  where  it  adorns 
the  warm  red  brick  wall  of  one  of  the  old  houses  facing  the 
Hall  of  the  Middle  Temple,  wdierein  Queen  Elizabeth  was 
often  present  at  the  plays  of  William  Shakespeare.  The 
garden  wherein  this  dial  is  to  be  found  is  also  sacred  as  being 
the  trysting  place  of  poor  Tom  Pinch  and  Ruth,  and  though 
the  sun-dial  bears  now  a  bright  new  face,  with  the  date  of  its 
last  emblazonment,  1897,  boldly  gilt  thereon,  it  is  a  very  old 
friend.  It  bears  the  initials  J.  P.  M.  and  T.,  which  last 
stands  for  Treasurer,  and  the  motto,  ‘‘  Discite  Justitiam 
Moniti  ”  in  old  lettering.  In  the  almost  adjoining  gardens 
of  the  Inner  Temple  is  a  somewhat  pleasing  dial,  with  a 
gracefully  pierced  gnomon,  standing  on  a  fluted  and  floral 
base,  which  adds  a  decided  element  of  beauty  and  utility  to 
the  expanse  of  green  lawn  facing  the  River  Thames.  A  third 
dial  is  in  Pump  Court,  near  by.  Before  Clement’s  Inn  was 
transformed  into  blocks  of  ugly  “  flats,”  there  used  to  be  in 
the  garden  there  a  very  handsome  dial  in  the  form  of  a 
kneeling  black  boy  supporting  the  dial  on  his  back  and 
shoulders.  The  boy  was  of  black  rnarble  or  lead,  I  am  un¬ 
certain  which  now,  and  was  credited  with  having  been 
brought  from  the  East  Indies. 
15  WOKK^foltheWEEK.O 
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Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
STRAWBERRIES. — The  copious  rains,  succeeded  by  warmth, 
have  had  a  good  effect  in  moi.stening  tlie  .soil  to  a  good  depth 
and  rendering  an  abundance  of  soluble  food  available  for  the 
roots.  This  will  he  seen  in  the  increased  vigour  of  the  flower 
stem.s  and  individual  blooms.  With  plenty  of  light  and  heat 
there  should  follow  a  good  set  of  bloom,  and  eventually  a 
liberal  crop  of  fine  fruit.  The  latter  may  be  ensured  by  thinning 
out  the  weakly  specimens,  and  during  the  actual  swelling  of 
the  fruit  affording  more  or  less  copious  supplies  of  licpiid 
manure.  The  inoi.st  condition  of  the  soil  ensures  that  the  liquid 
food  will  be  easily  retained  and  appropriated.  It  must  be  borne 
in  mind  that  only  bearing  plants  will  need  special  as.sistance, 
giving  extra  food  to  young  or  fruitless  plants  Imparting  undue 
luxuriance  to  them.  Before  the  berries  commence  to  colour  a 
clean,  dry  mulching,  consisting  of  fresh  long  or  short  straw, 
must  be  laid  down  to  keep  the  fruit  clean,  unless  the  mulching 
previously  applied  is  sufficient  for  the  purpose.  Even  then,  in 
the  event  of  wet  weather,  it  is  de.sirable  to  raise  choice  bunches 
of  fruit  from  the  ground  so  that  they  may  more  quickly  ripen 
and  be  better  flavoured.  Circular  wire  supports  or  forked  .sticks 
are  good  for  this  juirpose.  The  fruit  will  also  ripen  very  well 
on  pieces  of  glass,  slate,  or  tiles. 
LAYERING  STRAWBERRY  RENNERS.— To  obtain  well- 
rooted  runners  for  early  planting  some  of  the  mo.st  forAvard 
plantlets  just  emitting  roots  may  be  selected.  The  best  for 
this  purpose  may  be  found  on  the  outside  roAvs,  Avhere  there 
is  not  a  dense  mass  of  groAA’th,  ahA-ays  selecting  those  Avhich 
issue  from  fruitful  plants.  Probably  the  be.st  method  of 
rooting  them  is  to  adopt  the  pot  .sy.stem.  Fill  small  Sin  pots 
Avith  good  soil  and  partly  plunge  them  in  the  ground.  Secure 
the  runner  on  the  surface  Avitli  a  hooked  peg  or  stone,  and 
frequently  AA’ater  until  the  pots  are  becoming  filled  Avith  roots, 
AA’hen  the  runner  Avire  may  be  detached  and  the  pots  removed 
to  a*  hard  base,  Avhere  they  may  remain  for  the  final  planting. 
THINNING  FRUIT. — The  main  objects  sought  in  reducing 
the  number  of  fruits  on  a  tree  is  to  increase  the  size  and 
improve  the  quality.  Another  important  point  is  the  relief 
given  to  tlie  trees,  for  it  folloAA’s  that  if  all  the  energies  of  the 
trees  have  to  be  expended  on  the  perfecting  of  the  crop  of  fruit 
a  check  Avill  be  giAmn  to  the  AA’ood  groAA'th  and  the  building  up 
of  the  essential  fruit  buds  for  the  succeeding  season.  It  there¬ 
fore  folloAvs  that  if  AAall  and  restricted  fruit  trees  generally  are 
to  be  kept  in  a  continuous  bearing  condition  they  mu.st  not  be 
overcropped.  Great  assistance  is  rendered  by  feeding,  but 
limiting  the  crop  in  the  first  place  is  very  essential.  The  trees 
themselves  effect  a  preliminary  thinning  by  casting  off  a 
quantity  of  improperly  fertilised  small  and  defective  fruit  in 
the  early  stages.  The  cultiA-ator  steps  in  afterAA'ards  and  thins 
out  the  clusters,  leaving,  if  he  AA'ishes  for  large  and  fine  fruit, 
one  only  to  each  spur.  In  Avell-supported  and  vigorous  trees 
concentration  of  energy  brings  out  the  special  characteristics 
of  the  varieties,  and  adds  greatly  to  their  value  and  interest. 
Plums  may  remain  in  reasonable  clusters,  but  Apples,  Pears, 
Peaches,  and  Nectarines  are  better  growing  singly.  The  largest 
and  heaviest  Gooseberries  are  produced  on  trees  AA  hen  the  fruits 
are  limited  in  number.  Cun-ants,  though  not  usually  systemati¬ 
cally  thinned,  may  yet  haA'G  some  of  the  AA’eakest  bunches 
clipped  out  AA-ith  advantage,  especially  if  required  for  exhibition. 
SYRINGING  AND  WATERING  WALL  TREES.— In  con¬ 
junction  AA-ith  the  due  laying  in  and  regulation  of  growth  the 
ftdl  maintenance  of  vigour  and  health  demands  a  considerable 
amount  of  labour  in  syringing  and  AA’atering.  The  judicious  use 
of  the  .syringe  or  garden  engine  during  the  iieriod  AA’hen  the  fruit 
is  sAvelling  contributes  to  the  suppression  of  insects,  or  destroys 
them  if  present.  The  sooner  colonies  of  blue  or  black  aphis  can 
be  extirpated  the  better,  employing  insecticides  for  the  purpose 
AA-here  clear  AAater  is  not  sufficient  to  destroy  them.  Every 
effort  must  be  made  to  prevent  red  spider  gaining  a  foothold  on 
the  foliage.  The  frequent  syringing  Avill  effect  this  almost  better 
tlian  anything,  though  if  root  dryness  is  permitted  there  is  a 
AA'cakness  apparent  Avhich  almost  certainly  induces  a  condition 
favourable  to  the  spread  of  red  spider.  Activ'e  roots  and 
healthy  foliage  Avill  repel  insects. 
ASSISTING  FRIHT  TREKS.— The  condition  of  tin*  trees 
must  be  a  guide  as  to  any  extra  help  to  be  afforded  them  in 
the  matter  of  fertilisers.  It  is  seldom  that  all  the  essential 
j  elements  of  plant  food  are  present  in  the  soil  in  sufficient 
j  quantity  for  the  requirements  of  fruit  trees.  If  the  foliage  is  of 
