8 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  5,  lfe99. 
Weather  in  London. — Thursday  and  Friday  of  the  last  week  of 
189S  were  fine,  dry,  and  cold  ;  but  Saturday  was  wet  in  the  morning, 
drier  in  the  afternoon,  followed  by  a  soaking  evening.  Each  day  was 
somewhat  cold,  but  not  really  seasonable.  The  New  Year  was  ushered  in 
by  a  dense  white  fog,  which  clearing  was  succeded  in  the  evening  by 
heavy  rain.  On  Monday  morning  there  was  a  heavy  downpour  of  snow 
and  rain,  and  towards  evening  the  wind  became  almost  a  gale,  and  was 
accompanied  by  driving  rain.  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  were  dull  and 
warm. 
-  Trees  in  Eichmond  Park. — Much  adverse  comment  has 
been  created  by  the  action  of  the  Richmond  Park  authorities  in  marking 
for  destruction  an  immense  number  of  fine  trees  growing  in  the  woodlands 
skirting  the  walks  near  the  walls  towards  the  Kingston  end  of  the  Royal 
demesne.  The  opinion  is  strongly  entertained  that  the  removal  of  the 
many  hundreds  of  trees  selected  is  quite  unnecessary,  and  that  if  carried 
out  the  appearance  of  the  park  w  ill  be  considerably  marred.  H.R.H.  the 
Duke  of  Cambridge,  appealed  to  as  ranger  of  the  park,  has  replied  that 
only  such  trees  are  to  be  removed  as  are  necessary  to  insure  room  for 
the  proper  growth  of  the  remainder. 
-  The  Late  Mr.  Thomas  Shingles. — Many  gardeners  will 
hear  with  regret  of  the  death  on  the  27th  ult.,  after  an  attack  of 
apoplexy,  of  Mr.  Thomas  Shingles,  who  had  been  head  gardener  for  the 
past  twenty-three  years  at  Tortworih  (Lord  Ducie’s  beautiful  scat  in 
Gloucestershire).  As  is  well  known,  Tortworih  is  noted  for  its  splendid 
collection  of  hardy  trees  and  Conifers.  It  was  the  writer’s  privilege  to 
visit  him  occasional!}',  and  what  a  treat  it  was  to  ramble  through  the 
arboretum  with  such  a  guide.  He  was  a  quiet  unassuming  man,  but  f<  w 
men  were  better  versed  in  the  nomenclature  of  trees  and  shrubs.  One  who 
knew  h'm  well  says,  “  There  never  was  a  more  just  master,  a  kinder  or 
truer  friend,  or  one  more  ready  to  help  anyone  who  was  trying  to  do  his 
duty.” — S.,  3’or^s. 
-  Imperial  Penny  Postage. -iMany  of  our  readers  will  have 
relatives  and  friends  abroad,  and  they  will  probably  be  glad  to  know 
exactly  to  what  places  the  new  rate  will  apply.  The  postage  will  le 
Id.  per  ^  oz.,  instead  of  2^J.  as  before.  Aden,  Ascension,  Bahamas, 
Barbados,  Bermuda,  British  Central  Africa,  British  East  Africa,  British 
Guiana,  British  Honduras,  Canada,  Ceylon,  Cyprus,  Falkland  Islandsi 
Fiji  Islands,  Gambia,  Gibraltar,  Gold  Coast  Colon)',  Hong  Kong,  India' 
Johore,  Lagos,  Leeward  Islands,  viz  ,  Antigua,  St.  Kitts,  Nevis,  Dominica  ; 
Montserrat  and  the  Virgin  Islands,  Malay  States  (federated),  viz.,  Perak, 
Selangor,  Negri  Sembila,  and  Pahang  ;  Natal,  Newfoundland,  Niger  Coast 
Protectorate,  Niger  Territory,  St.  Helena,  Sarawak,  Seychelles,  Sierra 
Leone,  Siraits  Settlements,  Tobago,  Trinidad,  Turks  Islands,  Uganda, 
Windward  Islands,  viz.,  Grenada,  St.  Lucia,  and  St.  Vincent. 
-  Another  Onion. — Yet  another  addition  to  our  swollen  lists  of 
Onions  is  announced  ;  and  this  time  it  is  a  regular  “Aristocrat.”  Not,  I 
hope,  a  “bloated”  one,  but  one  of  slim,  genteel  figure,  depending  more 
upon  its  high  flavour  and  intrinsic  merit  of  flesh  than  upon  huge,  watery 
dimensions.  I  fear  all  the  same  wo  shall  see  our  Aristocrat  friend  dressed 
up  in  aldermanio  clothes  by-and-by,  having  been  fatted  up  to  fit  them 
by  large  doses  of  turtle  soup  manures  that  have  the  merit  of  producing 
bloated  carcases  in  Onions  in  particular,  and  in  most  things  in  general. 
But  I  am  always  puzzled  when  I  hear  of  a  now  Onion  to  understand 
where  the  distinction  comes  in  that  makes  it  differ  from  others  :  not  a 
few  so-called  established  varieties  will  give  several  forms  to  the  bulbs. 
We  saw  ample  evidence  of  that  in  the  groat  trial  conducted  last  autumn 
at  Chiswick,  and  the  variety  that  produces  every  bulb  absolutely  true  to 
character  does  not  exist.  I  should  like  to  sec  each  so-called  variety  very 
clearly  described,  and  its  true  features  distinctly  delineated,  so  that  each 
one  may  be  in  that  way  detected.  Now  there  is  practically  no  dist'nction 
in  the  plant  leafage.  This  is,  as  a  rule,  alike  in  nearly  all  cases.  It  is 
not  until  the  bulb  is  fully  formed  that  distinctions  are  evident,  and  then 
we  see  some  globe-shaped,  nearly  all  exactly  alike,  others  round,  others 
flat.  Some  have  white  skins,  one  or  two  red  ones,  but  the  majority  aro 
of  pale  or  yellowish  brown,  and  there  the  distinctions  end,  I  hope  the 
now  Aristocrat  is  an  unmistakcable  swell,  disdaining  to  have  any  connec¬ 
tion  in  appearance  or  character  with  the  ordinary  Craigs,  Exhibitions 
Excelsiors,  Wroxtons,  Main  Crop),  and  other  swollen  democrats. — A.  D. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  first  meeting  of  the 
Royal  Horticnltural  Society  in  1899  will  be  held,  as  usual,  in  the  Drill 
Hall,  James  Street,  Westminster,  1  to  4  P.M.,  on  Tuesday,  January  10th. 
-  Gardening  Appointment.— Mr.  H.  E.  Kennedy,  late  of 
Halton  Estate,  has  been  appointed  head  gardener  and  steward  to  Sir  Alfred 
West,  Bart.,  Kilcroney,  Bray,  near  Dublin. 
-  Presentation. — Mr.  George  Wall,  for  the  past  twelve  years 
head  gardener  to  W.  S.  Gilbert,  Esq.,  Grinis  Dyke,  Harrow  Weald,  was 
the  recipient  last  week  of  a  handsome  silver  inkstand,  presented  by  the 
garden  staff,  on  the  occasion  of  his  resigning  the  charge  of  the  gardens 
at  Griras  Dyke,  Mr.  Wall  carries  with  him  from  the  neighbourhood  the 
best  wishes  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
-  “Florilegium  Haarlemense.”— No,  8  of  this  interesting 
and  valuable  work  is  now  before  us,  and  for  excellence  of  production  is 
quite  equal  to  its  predecessors.  As  is  customary,  the  plates  are  three  in 
number,  and  comprise  Hyacinth  Mont  Blanc,  a  well  known  and  largely 
grown  single  white  variety  ;  Tulips  Joost  Van  Vondel  and  White  Van 
Vondel,  the  latter  of  which  is  particularly  praiseworthy  ;  and  Spanish 
Irises  Blanche  Superbe,  Chrysolora,  Sappho,  and  Coquette  des  Blanches. 
The  tones  of  colour  in  the  Iris  flowers  are  beautifully  reproduced.  As  we 
have  previously  stated,  the  publisher  is  De  Erveux  Loosjes,  Haarlemi 
Holland. 
-  Gesneras. — These  attractive  plants  appear  to  have  been  some- 
w’.iat  neglected  of  late  years,  although  few  make  such  a  show  during  the 
winter  months.  When  at  Theobalds,  Hawkhurst,  recently,  I  noticed  a 
gO)J  stock  in  an  intermediate  house,  where  the  plants  looked  handsome 
interspersed  w’th  Ferns  and  Palms,  the  flowers  being  produced  in  the 
greatest  profusion.  Mr.  Masters,  the  gardener,  always  grows  Gesneras 
well,  and  does  not  consider  them  difficult  to  manage  ;  in  fact,  he  treats 
them  very  much  the  same  as  Achimenes.  It  is  necessary  to  add,  however, 
that  they  must  be  carefully  watered  and  not  syringed.  Two  of  the  best 
varieties  arc  G.  zebrina  and  G.  exoniensis.— J.  G. 
-  Artificial  Manures  for  Potatoes — In  an  experiment 
carried  out  during  the  past  season  at  the  University  College,  Notting¬ 
ham,  the  best  result  ia  the  manuring  of  Potatoes  was  obtained  from  a 
dressing  of  6  cwt.  superphosphate  and  4  owt.  nitrate  of  soda.  This  mixture 
cost  £2  6).  6cl.,  and  it  gave  a  net  increase  of  £3  10s.  6d.  in  the  value  of 
the  tubers  grown  with  it,  as  compared  with  the  produce  of  the  plot  which 
had  no  artificials.  As  showing,  says  a  contemporary,  how  puzzlingly 
variable  the  results  obtained  with  different  combinations  of. the  same 
manures  on  the  same  land  sometimes  prove,  however,  it  is  worthy  of  note 
that  on  another  part  of  the  field  on  which  these  experiments  were  being 
conducted  6  cwt.  of  superphosphate  and  2  cwt.  nitrate  of  soda — at  a  cost 
of  £1  10s. —  gave,  not  a  gain,  but  a  loss  of  Os.  5d,  per  acre. 
-  Mr.  Barr  in  Canada. — Wo  take  the  following  “editorial” 
from  the  “Ottawa  Citizen”  of  December  22nd,  1898;  —  “Mr.  Peter 
Barr,  a  promino.it  horticulturist,  of  London,  England,  who  is  visiting 
Ottawa,  makes  a  suggestion  that  is  well  worth  the  attention  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment.  It  is  the  establishment  of  a  School  of  Forestry  for  the  instruction 
in  the  propagation  and  ernserving  of  the  forests.  Much  attention  is  being 
directed  to  this  branch  throughout  the  British  Empire,  especially  in 
India,  where  it  is  a  well-organised  departmental  work,  the  country  being 
divided  into  districts  under  foresters  and  rangers.  It  appears  there  is  no 
School  of  Forestry  in  the  British  dominions,  and  Mr.  Barr  thinks  that  the 
Imperial  authorities  would  make  a  grant  for  the  support  of  such  an 
institution  where  thorough  instruction  could  be  imparted  in  the  growth^ 
care,  and  preservation  of  timber,  and  that  Ottawa  is  just  the  place  for  its 
location.” 
-  Our  Journal. — I  think  the  contribution  by  “An  Old  Pro¬ 
vincial  ”  (page  490)  will  find  an  echo  in  the  minds  of  many  readers.  Those 
who  have  the  opportunity  ol  comparison  know  that  the  Journal  provides 
its  readers  with  pleasurable  entertainment,  as  well  ns  useful  information 
based  on  practical  experience.  I,  in  common  with  hosts  of  others,  feel 
grateful  for  the  literary  fare  supplied,  which  is  so  appetising  and 
invigorating.  It  is  beyond  many  good  essayists  to  impart  a  sense  of 
humour  in  the  practical  teaching,  and  certainly  it  is  not  necessary  olten, 
but  a  change  in  the  “fare,”  such  as  “An  Old  Provincial,”  or  a  Mr. 
“  W.  Pea”  can  furni  certainly  intensifies  the  interest  of  the  ever-we’eomed 
Thursday  reading.  Many  persons,  I  feel  sure,  will  agree  with  “An  Old 
Provincial”  in  admitting  that  “our  Journal”  has  done  an  immense 
service  to  the  cause  of  horticulture  by  these  genial,  instructive  discussions, 
that  have  largely  helped  to  make  it  the  undoubtedly  popular  paper  with 
gardeners  that  it  is  to-day. — Wilts. 
