494 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  15,  1899. 
lind  the  via  media  in  the  matter.  At  times  the  master  expects  too 
much  from  the  man.  Then  the  man,  who  has  the  greater  technical 
knowledge  of  the  art,  but  whose  acquaintance  with  plants  and  gardens 
may  be  less — one  says  it  advisedly — than  that  of  his  master,  may  be 
so  rooted  to  old  ways  that  he  cannot  carry  out  the  wishes  of  his 
employer.  He  is  a  wise  man  who  tries  to  enter  as  far  as  he  can  into 
his  master’s  plans.  By  his  willing  acquiescence  he  has  a  better 
opportunity  of  bringing  to  bear  upon  the  plans  of  work  that  practical 
and  technical  skill  he  has  acquired.  But  some  gardeners  appear  to 
think  the  garden  is  theirs  and  not  that  of  their  master.  Employers, 
to'^,  sometimes  misunderstand  their  men,  and  thiuk  that  what  is  really 
a  love  for  their  plants  is  a  dislike  to  interference.  We  knew  a  gardener 
whose  employer  was  actually  afraid  to  cut  flowers  in  the  garden  while 
he  was  in  it.  But  the  master  w'ould  have  forgiven  it  had  he  seen  and 
he.ard  the  pitiful  way  in  which  the  gardener  produced  a  pot  in  which 
he  had  grown  a  Coleus.  The  employer  had  come  in  and  cut  the  plant 
off  close  by  the  surface  of  the  .soil.  The  old  gardener  was  moved 
almost  tc  tears  as  he  showed  me  ihe  remains  of  his  cherished  plant. 
The  good  employer  is,  like  the  good  gardener,  “  horn  not  made.” 
A  notice  of  “  Wood  find  Garden”  cannot  conclude  without  saying 
that  the  book  is  admirably  printed  on  good  paper  and  is  well  bound. 
It  is  fully  illustrated  with  excellent  photographs  by  the  authoress. 
One  of  these  is  here  reproduced  by  the  courtesy  of  the  publishers. 
The  Dean  of  Rochester,  on  pam  234  of  his  charming  book  referred  to 
last  w'eek,  says  :  “Miss  Jekvll  has  given  to  horticultural  literature 
the  most  perfect  example  of  practical  wisdom  in  combination  with 
l-wetical  thought” — a  happy  summary,  and  the  work  will  be 
certain  to  find  its  way  into  many  garden  libraries. 
DEATH  OF  MID  FETER  DRUMMOND. 
Within  a  fortnight  of  his  having  attended  the  funeral  of  his  late 
employer  Mr.  James  Kelway,  the  founder  of  the  Langport  Nurseries. 
IMr.  Drummond,  who  had  been  foreman  at  the  nurseries  for  twenty-six 
years,  very  suddenly  passed  away  on  Monday  evening,  June  5ih,  while 
engaged  in  his  business.  It  appears  that  about  7.30  ho  sold  a  customer 
some  plants,  and  after  packing  them  some  little  time  later,  he  carried 
the  box  to  the  entrance  and  put  it  into  a  trap.  While  doing  this  he 
anpeared  well,  and  was  obsei  ved  to  be  as  chatty  as  ever,  but  the  moment 
he  had  deposited  the  bov  in  the  trap  he  dropped  upon  one  knee,  and 
instantaneously  expired.  His  elder  son,  Mr.  II.  D.  Drummond,  happened 
to  be  on  the  premises  at  the  time,  and  was  at  once  summoned,  but  found 
his  father  quite  dead,  although  ho  had  seen  him  alive  and  well  a  few 
minutes  previously. 
^Ir.  Drummond,  who  attained  his  sixty-sixth  year  last  August,  has 
been  a  nursery  foreman  ever  since  he  reached  manhood,  excepting  only 
thst^  for  a  time  prior  to  his  coming  to  Langport  he  rented  a  nursery 
at  Yeovil.  He  was  a  remaikahle  man  in  his  business — to  use  a  homely 
phrase,  he  was  “good  all  round.”  It  was  his  especial  delight  to  have  an 
appointment  with  anyone  who  took  an  interest  in  any  of  the  branches  of 
floriculture,  and  walk  round  the  extensive  span  of  glass  houses  at  the 
nurseries,  displaying  and  expatiating  upon  the  specialities  he  had  under 
bis  own  personal  care.  How  proud  he  was  when  he  could  show  an 
especially  fine  Cineraria  or  Begonia,  and  he  would  draw  one's  attention 
to  the  peculiar  markings  of  a  Petunia  and  Gladiolus,  and  gloat  over  the 
big  Paconies,  with  their  varied  shades,  and  the  houses  hanging  thickly 
with  well-shaped  Cucumbers  as  long  as  a  man’s  arm.  How  tenderly  he 
bandied  all  his  nurselings,  just  as  a  loving  mother  would  handle  her 
babe  ;  and.  meanwhile,  he  would  vary  his  descriptions  of  flowers  and 
plants  by  the  interpolation  of  some  shrewd  observation  on  current  topics. 
If  ever  a  man  loveH^  his  occupation  Mr.  Drummond  was  that  raaii. 
His  whole  mind  was  full  of  his  work,  nnd  he  seldom,  if  ever,  forgot  the 
simplest  detail,  even— a  fact  that  showed  the  vitality  within  him— tip  to 
within  a  short  period  of  his  death,  getting  up  in  the  night  to  see  that 
the  heating  apparatus  in  the  exotic  and  propagating  houses  were  going  on 
all  right ;  in  fact  it  may  truly  be  said,  in  every  branch  of  his  deliohtful 
occupation,  he  emulated  Ids  late  employer  in  enthusiasm.  Mr.  Drum'mond 
leaves  a  widow,  to  whom  his  unexpected  death  has  been  a  severe  shock  ; 
two  sons,  whom  he  has  trained  to  follow  his  own  business,  and  three 
ilaughters.  In  him  the  widow  and  children  have  lost  a  loving  husband 
and  parent,  the  firm  a  painstaking  and  trustworthy  foreman,  and  the 
workmen  under  his  charge  a  kind  and  considerate  overseer.  It  may  be 
added  that  by  the  latter,  however  humble  their  position,  he  was  esteemed 
as  a  “  goo  1  friend,  ’  and  whenever  he  found  young  men  w  ith  inquiring 
minds  and  anxious  for  information  regarding  their  business,  he  was  never 
backward  in  imparting  it.  It  is  supposed  death  was  the  result. of  apoplex-y 
induced  by  the  remarkable  heat.  There  being  no  doubt” but' that  death 
arose  f^m  Datura,  causes,  an  inquest  was  not  deemed  nccessarv'. — 
(  ‘  The  Western  Gazette.”) 
To  this  Messrs.  Kelway  &  Son  add  :  “  We  need  hardly  say  that 
respected  and  warmly  appreciated  as  he  was  bv  us,  and  associated  so 
closely  as  he  has  been  since  1873  with  the  improvement  of  plants  of  which 
ne  was  so  fond,  and  over  which  he  was  ever  most  remarkably  enthusiastic, 
Mr.  Drummond’s  death  has  been  a  severely  felt  loss  to  us.  We  mourn 
man  of  forceful  intellect  and  inventive  mind,  a  most  clever  cultivator 
a  charming  personality  a  devoud  friend,  and  most  faithful  servant,” 
Kose  Show  Fi.xtuees  in  1899. 
June  21 -t  (Wednesd.ay). — Isle  of  Wight  (Shanklin). 
„  24th  (Saturday). — Windsor. 
„  27th  (Tuesday)  — Westminster  (R.II.S.)  and  Southampton'*-. 
„  28th  (Wedne.sday). — Bath,  Croydon,  Maidstone,  Eichmond, 
and  Kyde. 
„  29th  (Thursday). — Canterbury,  Eltham,  and  Sutton. 
July  1st  (Satuiday). — Crystal  Palace  (N.E.S.), 
„  4th  (Tne.sday). — Gloucester  and  Harrow. 
„  5th  (Wednt'sday). — Brockham,  Ealing,  Hanley®,  Hitchin, 
Eeigate  (Rrdhill),  and  Tunbridge  Wells. 
„  6th  (Thursday). —Colchester  (N.R.S.)  and  Farningham. 
„  7th  (Friday). — Hereford. 
„  8th  (Saturday). — IManchester. 
„  11th  (Tuesday). — Reading  and  Wolverhampton. f 
„  13th  (Thursday).— Bedale,  Brentwood,  Helensburgh,  Norwich, 
and  Woodbridge. 
„  14th  (Friday). — Elverston. 
„  15th  (Saturday). — New  Brighton. 
„  19th  (Wednes'iay). — Cardiff.® 
„  20th  (Thursday). — Salterhebble  and  Sidettp. 
„  22nd  (Saturday). — Newton  Mearns. 
,,  25th  (Tuesday). — Tibshelf. 
®  Shows  lasting  two  days.  f  Shows  lasting  three  days. 
— Edward  Mawley,  Rosebank,  Berkhamsted,  Herts. 
Hereford  Rose  Society 
The  exhibition  that  is  annually  held  in  the  Sliire  Hall,  Hereford, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Plereford  and  West  of  England  Rose  Society, 
has  been  fixed  for  Friday,  July  7th,  when  it  is  hoped  there  will  be  an 
excellent  display.  The  schedule  that  has  been  forwarded  to  us  by  the 
Hon.  Assistant  Secretary,  Mr.  Thomas  Carver,  High  Town,  Herefor<l, 
comprises  twenty-six  classes,  amongst  which  are  someopen  to  nursery  men, 
others  to  amateurs,  and  still  more  to  Here'ordshire  growers  only.  T'he 
chief  nurserymen’s  class  is  for  seventy-two  varieties,  with  three  prizes 
of  a  total  value  of  £12,  widle  for  any  amateurs  there  is  a  class  for 
twenty-four  varieties  with  £4,  £2,  and  £1  as  the  pnze.s.  In  the  Herr- 
fordshire  section  a  gold  medal  and  £lare  offered  for  eighteen  varieties, 
with  £2  and  £1  as  the  second  and  third  awards.  There  are  also  classes 
for  herbaceous  flowers  and  decorative  exhibits.  All  particulars  may¬ 
be  had  from  Mr.  Carver,  at  the  address  given  above. 
IVY  AS  A  TIMBER  SPOILER. 
Thebe  is  no  doubt  that  a  venerable  old  forest  tree  clothed  with  Ivy 
is  a  fascinating  sight,  and  one  of  those  pictures  which  some  people  grow 
excited  over.  The  old  tree  has  lost  its  youthful  vigour,  many  of  its 
branches  are  dead,  and  the  few  that  remain  have  a  si  Uly  appearance. 
The  Ivy  alone  looks  vigorous,  and  by  its  tenacity  holds  the  tree  in  a 
perpendicular  position.  And  so  it  ought  to  do,  considering  that  it  is 
the  parasite  which  has  robbed  the  tree  of  its  life  blooa,  and  by  its  clinging 
propensities  has  brought  about  its  decay.  It  is  really  surprising  how 
many  hundreds  of  fine  forest  trees  are  now  undergoing  the  process  of 
being  done  to  death  by  the  Ivy  which  clings  to  their  trunks,  and  yet  no 
effort  is  being  made  to  rescue  them.  There  is  a  spice  of  sentiment  about 
it.  of  course,  and  there  is  something  pretty  about  a  self-planted  Ivy 
fixing  itself  at  the  foot  of  a  forest  giant,  and  sending  out  its  tiuy 
tendrils,  which  grip  with  infant  grasp  the  stem  of  the  tree. 
It  may  not  be  noticed  at  first,  or  no  regard  is  taken  of  it,  but  little  by 
little,  year  by  year,  the  Ivy  ascends  higher  and  higher,  till  at  length  it, 
entirely  encircles  the  bole,  wreaths  itself  among  the  branches  and  the 
tree  becomes  like  a  swimmer  in  the  clutches  of  an  octopus. 
Why  is  Ivy  allowed  to  ramble  over  and  entirely  ruin  so  many  fire- 
timber  trees  2  Carelessness  is  one  reason,  and  another  is  because  Ivy  is 
pretty,  no  matter  where  it  grows,  and  for  the  sake  of  appearances  people 
are  loth  to  cut  it  away.  The  idea  is  obviously  wrong.  We  have  none 
too  many  forest  trees  in  garden  and  woodland  that  we  can  afford  to 
sacrifice  them  to  the  worship  of  Ivy,  and  though  the  latter  is  charming 
on  wall  or  ground,  I  would  allow  it  no  quarter  on  trees.  Surtly  a 
specimen  forest  tree  is  handsome  enough  in  itself  without  further  adorn¬ 
ment,  particularly  if  the  adorning  material  is  to  be  the  mei  ns  of  bringing 
about  its  decay.  The  moral  is  obvious,  and  for  the  sake  of  timber  treea 
keep  the  Ivy  in  its  proper  place.  Put  sentiment  entirely  aside,  take 
hatchet  and  saw  and  boldly  cut  through  the  Ivy  stems  as  close  to  the 
ground  ns  possible.  There  will  doubtless  be  an  unsightly  look  about  the 
tree  for  a  time,  and  the  withering  of  the  green  will  be  followed  by  the 
rustle  of  dead  brown  leaves  ;  but  it  will  be  only  for  a  time. — V.  T.  W. 
