October  18,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
355 
The  Sherwood  Cup  Competition. 
With  reference  to  this  most  interesting  competition,  which  is  to 
take  place  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  November  6th,  I  learn  from  Mr.  George 
Bunyard,  who  would  of  course  have  been  a  strong  antagonist,  that  he 
will  not  enter  as  a  competitor,  as  it  is  his  special  desire  that  gardeners 
and  amateurs  should  have  a  chance  to  win  this  fine  trophy  which  Mr. 
Sherwood  so  kindly  offers.  As  two  other  good  prizes  are  added,  and 
the  exhibits  will  all  be  of  firm  fruit  which  can  be  packed  in  moderate 
compass,  it  is  believed  that  there  may  be  several  exhibits  entered.  Of 
course  fifty-four  first-class  dishes  ne^d  some  getting,  but  the  conditions 
which  require  so  many  varieties  of  diverse  sections  to  be  staged  put  all 
competitors  on  a  fooling  of  equality.  Something  besides  size  alone  is 
needed  to  enable  anyone  to  win.  I  learn,  also,  that  a  special  effort  will 
be  made  to  dress  tbe  tables  set  apart  for  the  collections  with  suitable 
plants.  If  so  that  will  be  great  gain.  It  would  be  an  admirable 
occasion  to  help  make  up  a  specially  fine  fruit  display,  Chrysanthemums 
chiefly  being  the  floral  features. — Wanderer. 
Flowers  at  tlje  Royal  Aquarium. 
I  DO  not  suppose  it  would  be  of  the  least  use  to  appeal  to  the 
authorities  of  the  Royal  Aquarium,  first  to  cut  down  their  flower  shows 
to  two  days  only,  or  to  so  far  improve  the  ventilation  of  that  building 
as  to  enable  cut  flowers  to  retain  something  of  their  first  day’s  freshness 
for  the  rest  of  the  time  they  are  on  view.  Those  who  saw  the  recent 
show  on  the  second  day  fc  nnd,  early  in  the  afternoon,  a  distressing  collapse 
with  all  flowers  set  up  in  bunches — with  Dahlias,  Begonias,  and  many 
other  things.  What  the  out  flowers  must  have  been  like  on  the  third 
day  I  can  better  imagine  than  describe.  Is  it,  therefore,  right  or  honest 
to  advertise  these  shows  as  grand  floral  displays,  much  to  the 
disappointment  of  the  public  who  pay  for  admission  specially  to  see  the 
flowers  ?  Perhaps  the  executive  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society  may  have  some  regard  for  reputation,  and  will,  in  the  future, 
see  that  the  name  of  the  society  is  not  identified  with  a  condition  of 
things  such  as  is  never  found  to  exist  in  connection  with  any  other  show 
in  the  kingdom.  That  is  a  matter  that  should  rank  above  mere 
pecuniary  interests. — Visitor. 
- 4*0** - 
He  Best  Cactus  Balillas. 
There  is  not  much  fault  to  find  with  the  remarks  of  “  F.  C.  C.”  on 
page  328,  as  we  have  grown  the  whole  of  the  sorts  named  as  being  the 
beat.  I  am  not,  however,  so  much  in  favour  of  the  variety  Viscountess 
Sherbrooke.  This  with  us  is  not  free-flowering,  as  it  is  somewhat  late. 
Avery  satisfactory  variety  is  Radiance;  it  is  so  bright  in  colour — a  warm 
salmon  scarlet,  and  very  dwarf  and  free.  Emperor,  too,  has  pleased  us. 
This  is  a  light  purple  flower  with  yellow  at  the  base  of  the  florets ;  very 
taking,  and  the  blooms  are  excellent  in  shape.  This  last,  Mrs.  J.  J. 
Crowe,  Uncle  Tom,  Mrs.  Carter  Page,  and  Mayor  Tuppenny  are  among 
those  grown  for  the  first  time  this  season,  and  are  probably  the  cream 
among  the  many  which  gained  first-class  certificates  last  year.  It 
appears  to  us  that  too  many  of  these  awards  are  given,  and  not  a  few  of 
those  purchased  because  of  such  recognition  are  absolute  failures  when 
we  attempt  to  grow  them. 
Next  year  cultivators  of  this  improved  flower  will  be  inundated 
with  new  varieties  having  tempting  descriptions,  and  behind  these  the 
P.C.C.  More  than  a  score  of  them  have  obtained  what  is  a  coveted 
but  misleading  award.  What  would  be  interesting  to  know  is  how 
many  gained  the  certificate  of  first  class  by  an  unanimous  vote,  and 
what  number  obtained  it  by  what  may  be  termed  the  “  skin  of  their 
teeth  ”  F  This  would  be  of  some  importance  to  the  purchaser  who 
wants  to  keep  up  to  date,  yet  feels  7s.  6d.  each  is  a  big  price  for  so 
many.  We  ourselves  noted  all  but  one  or  two  of  the  new  ones,  but 
real  improvements  did  not  seem  so  numerous.  Then  there  is  the 
uncertainty  of  growth.  Many  may  have  little  ways  that  none  but  the 
raiser  has  learned ;  and  others,  again,  good  this  year  may  be  bad 
the  next.  For  instance,  a  variety  was  introduced  this  season  which 
required  “  to  be  shaded  ”  if  the  grower  desired  blooms  with  quilled 
petals.  Fancy  all  these  little  items  of  shades  and  umbrellas  for  Cactus 
Dahlias  !  It  is  bad  enough  when  they  refuse,  as  some  sorts  do,  to  come 
up  to  the  light,  and  prefer  to  hide  their  beauty  among  the  leaves. 
The  new  kinds  that  appeared  the  more  promising  were  J.  W. 
Wilkinson,  bright  rosy  carmine,  light  and  elegant  in  formation  as  a 
Japanese  Chrysanthemum  ;  Rosine,  bright  rosy  pink  ;  Dinorah,  amber ; 
Baden  Powell,  a  very  striking  crimson  shade;  Lyric,  shaded  red  ;  Vesta, 
salmon  pink  ;  Purity  and  Lord  Roberts,  both  white.  A  really  good 
white  is  wanted.  The  yellow  of  Jealousy  is  striking,  but  the  form  of 
flower  is  inferior  to  that  of  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe. 
Referring  again  to  the  older  varieties,  Ethel  is  one  that  should  be 
more  extensively  grown.  It  is  yellow,  fading  to  a  light  buff  shade,  and 
the  form  is  capital.  It  also  throws  the  blooms  well  out  of  the  foliage 
on  stiff  stems.  Purely  from  a  garden  point  of  view  Starfish  is  not  so 
satisfactory  as  a  scarlet  as  is  Standard  Bearer.  The  latter  is  dwarf  and 
more  effective.  Magnificent  is  one  that  requires  but  little  thinning.  If 
restricted  to  a  limited  number  of  blooms  they  are  apt  to  come  bad  in 
the  centre.  Loyalty  is  excellent.  It  is  in  the  way  of  Fantasy,  so 
distinct  in  form,  but  better;  colour,  coral  red.  This  will  be  popular 
when  better  known.  Elsie,  again,  is  charming,  the  shading  of  yellow 
and  pink  being  distinct  and  pleasing.  Exquisite,  an  amber  tint,  was 
capital  early  in  the  season,  but  latterly  the  blooms  have  not  all  come 
perfect.  Among  fancy  flowers  Innovation  is  good.  Half  of  each  petal 
is  crimson,  the  other  part  white,  and  it  is  very  constant. — H.  S. 
Preserving  Fruit— Price  of  Fruit  iq  Londou. 
Will  “  W.  H.”  kindly  tell  us  to  what  kind  of  fruit  his  process  is 
applicable  ? 
Last  week  in  one  of  the  largest  stores  in  London  Apples  and  Pears, 
such  as  are  being  given  to  the  pigs  in  Lincolnshire,  were  charged 
2d.  and  4d.  per  pound  respectively,  and  Victoria  Plums,  selling  retail 
in  Lincoln  for  l^d.,  were  3d.  Yet  we  hear  that  it  does  not  pay  (in 
spite  of  the  special  rates)  to  send  Apples  to  London,  and  that  boxes 
of  Green  Gages  and  bunches  of  Bananas  are  virtually  given  away  in 
Covent  Garden.  It  certainly  is  worse  than  a  pity  that  London’s 
millions  do  not  appear  to  benefit  by  this  year’s  glut  of  fruit.  Where 
is  the  remedy  ? — C.  C.  E. 
Carbonic  Acid  as  a  Fertiliser. 
There  is  a  printer’s  error  in  this  article ;  carbonic  acid  gas  plus 
ammonia  do  not  make  ammonic  carbonate,  but  ammonic  carbamate. 
Thus  :  Ammonic  carbonate  (NH4)2C03  ;  ammonic  carbamate 
(NH3)2C02.  You  will  observe  that  the  latter  is  the  former  minus 
water  (HgO).  When  the  latter  is  heated  it  splits  up  thus  ; — 
2(NH3).2C02  =  (NH4)2003  +  (NH2)2C0 
ammonic  urea 
carbonate 
As  regards  the  absorption  of  carbonic  acid  by  the  roots  of  plants,  of 
course  we  know  that  the  acid  is  soluble  in  water,  and  may  be  absorbed 
in  that  way.  I  feel  quite  sure  that  the  roots  absorb  it  somehow.  How 
a  plant  gets  nitrogen  out  of  nitrate  of  soda  is  a  great  mystery  to  me. 
But  plants  after  all  are  very  mysterious  things.  How  does  the  water, 
for  example,  get  up  the  inside  of  a  tree  ?  Water  first  runs  down  the 
outside  of  a  tree,  and  then  runs  up  its  inside,  which  is  very  funny,  to 
say  the  least. — W.  Mills. 
- - 4*0** - 
Tlie  R.H.S.  Gardeqs  at  Cliiswick. 
I  WAS  amused  on  reading  in  your  last  issue  (page  333)  the  resolution 
agreed  to  by  the  Brixton,  Streatham,  and  Clapham  Horticultural  Society 
in  relation  to  the  proposed  removal  of  the  R.H.S.  Society  from  Chiswick 
as  a  practical  garden  to  one  in  a  more  favourable  position.  It  needs  no 
discernmeut  to  find  in  that  resolution  the  fine  florid  hand  and  language 
of  the  secretary  to  that  suburban  society  which  thus  ventures  to  indicate 
to  the  council  of  the  R.H.S.  how  much  wiser  is  it  than  is  that 
distinguished  body  which  governs  Chiswick.  It  is  quite  a  new  reason 
for  keeping  in  existence  as  a  “  garden  of  national  horticulture,”  for 
unless  Chiswick  garden  can  be  made  such  it  is  unworthy  of  existence 
as  the  garden  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  that  it,  if  allowed  to 
be  closed,  would  discourage  persons  from  embarking  in  suburban 
gardening.  The  suggestion  is  in  reality  puerile.  There  is  a  vast 
difference  between  what  may  be  done  in  a  villa  garden  at  Streatham 
or  even  at  Chiswick,  and  what  is  needed  to  constitute  a  great  practical 
garden  for  the  exemplification  of  the  best  horticulture. 
Then  again  there  is  little  analogy  between  the  gardens  of  the 
suburbs  of  Streatham,  Brixton  and  Clapham,  and  the  lugubrious 
surroundings  of  Chiswick  Gardens,  and  especially  of  what  are  about  to 
be  created.  The  large  area  on  the  east  side,  hitherto  open  as  a  private 
garden,  is  about  to  bo  built  over,  and  right  up  to  the  boundary  wall 
with  lofty  flats.  Very  nice  surroundings  that  for  a  national  horticultural 
garden.  But,  then,  what  did  the  members  of  this  suburban  society 
know  of  these  conditions  ?  What,  indeed,  do  they  know  of  the  needs 
and  requirements  of  a  national  garden  ?  Realising  that  even  with  a 
twenty  years’  lease  to  run,  every  year  was  rendering  the  gardens  less 
fitted  for  the  great  objects  for  which  it  is  presumably  maintained,  the 
council  of  the  R.H.S.  has  shown  great  wisdom  in  proposing  to  find 
elsewhere  a  better  site,  where  there  can  be  established  a  great  garden, 
worthy  of  the  society  and  the  nation. — Observer. 
