March  9,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
201 
KEW  IN  EARLY  SPRING. 
As  would  naturally  be  supposed  in  a  garden  which  possesses  such 
large  and  varied  collections  of  plants  as  Kew,  a  walkthrough  at  any 
time  of  the  year  is  interesting  and  instructive;  but  to  the  ardent 
lover  of  plants  probably  no  period  has  more  charms  than  the  early 
spring.  After  the  dull  days  of  the  last  three  months,  when  hardy 
plants  have  been  dressed  in  winter  garb,  it  is  particularly  pleasing 
to  note  each  flower  as  it  appears,  each  tree  or  shrub  as  its  buds 
begin  to  expand,  or  the  delicate  colouring  of  each  young  leaf. 
In  the  arboretum  during  this  rime  many  beautiful  sights  are  to  be 
seen.  Standing  out  con8picuou,sly.,in  exposed  places  are  numerous 
groups  of  coloured  stemmed  shrubs,  "which  on  fine  bright  days  are 
particularly  attractive.  Some  of  the  handsomest  are  the  red  and 
yellow  stemmed  Willows  about  the  lake,  the  red  stems  of  Cornus 
sanguinea  and  stolonifera  in  other  places ;  the  bright  brown  stems  of 
Philadelphus  and  Neillias,  or  the  white  stems  of  some  of  the  Eubus, 
E.  biflorus  being  the  most  conspicuous.  In  addition  to  these,  a 
number  of  shrubs  are  to  be  found  in  flower  as  early  as  the  end  of 
January,  while  towards  the  end  of  February  a  considerable  number 
may  be  seen.  O'  these  some  of  the  chief  ones  are  Erica  carnea  and  the 
variety  alba,  E.  hybrida.  Daphne  Uezereum,  Hamamelis,  Ehodo- 
dendron  dauricum  and  Nobleanum,  Primus  Davidiana,  an  early 
flowering  form  of  the  Almond,  Loniceras  fragrantissima  and 
Standishi,  Chimonanthus  fragrans,  Spiraea  Thunhergi,  and  in  sheltered 
nooks  and  corners  quantities  of  Ehododendron  praecox.  The  Bamboo 
garden  shows  how  useful  these  plants  are  if  planted  in  sheltered 
positions,  their  graceful  arching  stems  covered  with  bright  green 
leaves,  making  a.  charming  picture  among  the  surrounding  deciduous 
trees. 
In  March  the  number  of  flowering  trees  and  shrubs  shows  a 
considerable  increase.  Some  of  the  most  noticeaole  are  Pieris  japonica, 
with  its  beautiful  arching  racemes  of  white  flowers;  and  P.  floribunda, 
with  its  shorter  erect  racemes  ;  the  Forsythias,  with  their  wealth  of 
yellow  blossoms  r  Prunus  divaricata,  cerasifera,  pendula,  amygdalina, 
and  numerous  o' hers  ;  Eibes  sanguineum,  aureum,  and  others;  Cory- 
lopsis  spicata,  E-ica  med  terranea,  Dirca  palustris,  and  a  host  of  other 
jdants.  During  this  month,  if  the  weather  is  fine,  choice  Ehodo- 
dendrons  may  be  seen  in  flower  in  the  Ehododendron  valley,  some 
•of  the  most  striking  being  E.  fulgens  with  its  blood-red  flowers; 
E.  Luscombei,  and  several  good  garden  hybrids. 
The  rock  garden  is  always  a  source  of  interest.  At  each  turn  some 
fresh  feature  is  seen,  every  stone  shelters  some  choice  plant,  and  each 
day  shows  an  addition  to  the  number  of  plants  already  in  flower.  On 
February  22nd  thirty-six  species  and  varieties  were  noted  in  flower, 
some  of  which  were  Galantbus  Elwesi,  Ikarise,  nivalis  and  others, 
Saxifraga  ligulata,  Daphne  Blagayana,  Arabis  albida.  Narcissus  minor 
var.  minimus,  numerous  Hellebores,  Iris  reticulata,  and  the  common 
Primrose.  The  collection  of  Crocuses  is  very  pretty,  at  present  a 
large  number  being  in  full  flower.  In  the  herbaceous  ground  the 
small  house  devoted  to  Alpine  plants  is  an  attractive  feature  in  spring. 
A  select  collection  of  the  most  ornamental  things  are  grown  in  pots, 
and  put  into  this  house  as  they  flower,  a  display  of  the  very  choicest 
Alpine  plants  being  kept  up  for  several  months. 
During  recent  years  much  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  naturalising 
bulbs  and  other  plants  about  the  grounds  at  Kew,  and  by  this  means 
some  charming  pictures  are  made.  Near  the  Palm  house  a  mound  is 
devoted  entirely  to  wild  gardening.  In  the  arboretum  another  piece 
of  ground  is  given  up  to  the  same  purpose,  while  in  other  places  large 
patches  have  been  planted  with  bulbs  and  other  things,  all  of  which 
20  to  form  a  charming  picture  during  spring.  On  the  mound  near  the 
Palm  house  large  patches  of  Snowdrops,  Crocuses,  Daffodils,  and  Scillas 
may  be  seen  following  each  other  in  quick  succession.  In  other  places 
near  by  grassy  mounds  are  thickly  dotted  with  Crocuses ;  while  a 
collection  of  hardy  Ferns,  among  which  Primroses  and  Snowdrops 
have  been  planted,  look  charming,  the  contrast  between  the  old  brown 
Fern  fronds  and  the  flowers  being  fine.  In  the  arboretum  large  tracts 
under  trees  and  shrubs  are  planted  with  Snowdrops  and  Chionodoxas, 
which  are  now  sheets  of  white  and  blue.  Later  on  large  patches  of 
Daffodils  and  Bluebells  will  be  seen.  One  of  the  most  charming 
features  is  the  Ehododendron  dell,  the  sides  of  which  are  planted  with 
Daffodils  between  the  Ehododendrons,  the  dark  green  and  yellow  con¬ 
trasting  admirably.  For  lovers  of  spring  bedding  a  great  display  of 
Tulips,  Hyacinths,  and  Narcissi  is  made  in  the  beds  near  the  Palm 
house  and  broad  walk. 
Indoors,  to  the  majority  of  visitors  the  greenhouse  No.  4  has 
certainly  the  greatest  attractions.  In  this  structure  a  fine  display  of 
the  best  flowering  plants  is  always  to  be  seen.  At  the  present  time 
some  of  the  most  striking  are  Cyclamen,  Hippeastrums,  Primula 
stellata,  Peristropha  specio.sa.  Cineraria  kewense,  and  Camellias ; 
forced  plants  such  as  Pyrus  floribunda,  Viburnum  Tinus,  Ehododen- 
ffron  sinense,  Staphylea  colcbica,  bulbs  of  various  sorts,  and  many 
other  things.  In  the  T  range  Begonias,  Acanthads,  and  Orchids  make 
a  nice  disjday.  In  the  Palm  house  Browneas  are  the  most  striking  of 
the  flowering  plants,  while  in  the  temperate  house  Himalayan  Ehodo¬ 
dendrons,  large  Acacias,  and  Camellias  are  responsible  for  a  fine  show. 
In  addition  to  the  plants  mentioned  many  scores  of  others  could  be 
added  if  space  would  permit.  Those  enumerated,  however,  will  give 
some  idea,  if  a  pwor  one,  of  the  number  of  interesting  plants  to  be  seen 
in  flower  any  time  during  the  next  few  weeks. —  W.  Dallimore. 
APPLE  SANSPAREIL. 
New  Apples  of  more  than  average  merit  are  not  very  plentiful, 
consequently  when  one  does  come  its  exhibitor  may  count  upon 
some  considerable  congratulation.  Amongst  the  foremost  of  dessert 
Apples  in  the  future  must  be  placed  Sanspareil,  which  was  staged  by 
Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  &  Co.,  Maidstone,  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  14th  ult., 
when  it  received  from  the  Fruit  Committee  a  first-class  certificate. 
In  shape  it  is  conical,  hroad  at  the  base,  and  narrowing  towards  the 
crown;  it  is  obtusely  ribbed.  It  is  rather  above  medium  size,  being 
2f  inches  in  height,  by  3  inches  in  width.  The  half  open  or  closed 
eye  is  deeply  set  in  a  furrowed  basin,  and  has  erect  hlunt  segments. 
Fig.  52. — Apple  Sanspareil. 
The  thin  stalk  is  deeply  inserted  in  an  even  cavity,  which  is  rayed 
with  light  brown  russet.  The  colour  is  lemon-yellow  with  flushes  of 
crimson,  and  splashes  of  brighter  crimson  on  the  side  next  the  sun  ;  it 
is  strewn  all  over,  but  mostly  on  the  shaded  side,  with  brown  pinhead 
spots.  The  cream-tinted  flesh  is  tender,  sugary,  and  of  pleasant 
flavour.  It  is  difficult  to  speak  with  confidence  as  to  the  keeping 
properties  of  Apples  from  Mr.  Bunyard,  as  with  this  particular 
variety  were  staged  several  autumn  Apples  in  perfect  condition. 
Sanspareil  is  of  continental  origin. 
ROYAL  HORTIOULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Scientific  Committee. — Present :  Dr.  Muller  (in  the  chair)  ;  Rev. 
W.  Wilks,  Mr.  Michael,  Mr.  A.  Sutton,  Mr.  E.  F.  in  Thurm,  Rev.  G. 
Henslow,  Hon.  Sec. 
Celery,  St'c.,  attacked  hy  grubs. — This  was  sent  by  Mrs.  Barnet,  of 
Bilton  Hall,  Rugby,  and  proved  to  be  much  infested  by  millepores 
(vegetable  eaters)  and  centipedes  (insectivorous),  but  not  wireworm.  The 
best  remedy  for  these  troublesome  grubs  is  gas  lime,  or  ordinary  slaked 
lime  (builders’ second  qualit}’).  well  mixed  and  dug  in.  It  may  possibly 
injure  the  next  year’s  crop  to  some  extent. 
Sweet  Pea  seed. — Mr.  Sutton  described  specimens  of  the  seed  of  certain 
varieties  grown  at  Reading,  remarkable  for  the  skins  becoming  wrinkled 
like  a  Marrowfat  Pea  ;  while  in  one  or  two  cases  the  Peas  were  so  small 
that  customers  had  thought  they  must  be  defective  ;  whereas  the  smallest 
sorts  really  gave  rise  to  plants  bearing  the  largest  and  best  type  of  flowers. 
In  another  variety  the  skin  is  invariably  split.  With  none  of  these 
peculiarities,  however,  is  there  the  slightest  deterioration  in  the  quality  or 
character  of  the  blossoms. 
Shirley  Poppy  seed. — Mr.  Wilks  observed  that  the  seeds  of  these 
Poppies  are  becoming  of  a  pale  grey  colour,  instead  of  being  nearly  black, 
as  was  originally  the  case  with  the  old  type  of  the  cultivated  Papaver  Rboeas 
bearing  black  anthers. 
Apple  graft  variation. — Mr.  Wilks  showed  samples  of  the  Mannington’s 
Pearmain  Apple  sent  by  ]Mr.  Peter  Veitch,  and  taken  from  the  original 
tree  which  supplied  the  fruit  described  by  Dr.  Hogg  fifty  yeafs  ago.  It 
