516 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  20,  1901. 
their  exclusion  save  one.  Melons  are  not  apparently  subject  so  much 
to  cross  fertilisation  from  insect  interference  as  some  other  fruits,  or 
it  would  not  be  possible  to  maintain  the  many  well  known  stocks 
pure  after  the  lapse  of  so  many  years.  Unless  some  care  is  exercised 
there  is  a  tendency  at  flowering  time  to.  employ  male  blooms  other 
than  those  of  individual  plants  for  pollenising  the  fertile  blossoms 
when  there  is,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  a  dearth  to  draw  upon  for 
the  purpose. — W.  S. 
Cycle  Gleanings. 
“  Call  me  early.”  He  was  called.  .Sometimes  he  wants  calling 
twice,  but  not  so  this  glorious  May  morning,  for  the  “  wheels,”  all 
pumped  and  polished,  are  ready  for  the  road,  and  old  scenes  to  be 
revisited  are  new  ones  to  the  young  fellow.  “  Up,”  and  away  down 
the  Donnybrook  road,  where  the  young  one  by  looks  and  actions 
shows  a  desire  to  scorch,  which,  in  view  of  the  long  run  into  Kildare, 
is  not  encouraged.  Lilacs  and  Laburnums  fringing  the  wayside 
pitifully  bespeak  a  cleansing  shower  to  remove  their  dustcoats.  May 
has  been  dry  in  Dublin,  but  the  dryness  approaches  a  drought  in 
Kildare,  which  we  have  yet  to  reach.  “  Dear,  dirty  Dublin  ”  is 
drowsy  to  boot  as  we  pedal  clear  of  the  few  pedestrians  in  evidence, 
the  young  one  clearing  the  way  with  a  horrible  “  hooter,”  a  kind  of 
mouth-organ,  the  latest  thing  out.  However,  it  acts  as  a  safety- 
valve  for  superfluous  wind,  and  discounts  scorching  propensities  as  we 
take  the  southern  quays,  passing  great  Guinness  and  all  his  works, 
“  the  greatest  thing  on  earth  ”  in  the  way  of  breweries,  and  enter  the 
Phoenix  Park.  Here  is  a  lovely  three-mile  spin  on  sm  oth  side 
tracks,  which  again  puts  the  young  traveller  on  his  mettle  and  both 
of  us  fairly  on  the  journey. 
Spring  glories  in  the  “  People’s  Gardens  ”  have  waxed  and  waned, 
but  there  are  delightful  vistas  among  the  flourishing  plantations  of 
young  Coniferse,  planted  by  the  late  superintendent,  Mr.  Dick,  which 
help  to  break  the  flat  expanse,  and  meek-eyed  deer  peer  through  as 
we  pass.  Exit  by  the  old  wooden  gates  sandwiched  between  Lord 
Iveagh’s  demesne  and  Weeks’  Lodge.  Weeks’  big  break  of  Royal 
Sovereign  Strawberries  look  promising,  as  Strawberries  do  generally 
this  season,  but  the  weak  spot  is  weeds,  which  the  veteran  grower  does 
not  keep  in  check  as  of  yore  when  competition  was  lees  keen.  Suppose 
it  doesn’t  pay  ?  Feel  inclined  to  ask  him  if  weeds  pay  ?  But  don’t ; 
might  be  called  “  sarcy  ”  cyclists. 
No  spare  wind  for  the  “  hooter  ”  now ;  up  hill  and  a  lumpy  road. 
Mr.  Morton,  my  lord’s  steward  and  gardener,  has  cut  down  the  high 
hedge  hiding  one  of  the  Farmleigh  ranges,  and  some  lovely  bits  of 
high  coloured  Crotons  seen  through  the  glass  make  the  young  fellow’s 
mouth  water,  for  he  is  nothing  if  not  a  gardener,  unless  it  be  a 
cyclist,  two  things  which  he  thinks  go  very  well  together,  an  opinion 
which,  for  the  nonce,  finds  no  dissent.  Half  a  promise  and  half  a 
hiDt  is  given  that  he  shall  make  a  nearer  acquaintance  with  Farmleigh 
in  the  future;  sufficient  for  the  day  is  the  programme  thereof. 
Beeches  abound,  and  their  spring  dress  of  soft  green  bedecks  the 
landscape,  whilst  an  occasional  purple  or  copper  variety  relieves  the 
monotony,  if  ever  there  could  be  monotony  in  spring  greenery. 
Exquisite  colouring  is  presented  by  a  big  Larch  plantation  rising 
from  a  ravine — a  near  cut  to  the  far  famed  “  Strawberry  Beds,”  now, 
alas !  but  little  more  than  a  name.  Travelling  improves ;  no 
grumbling,  and  nothing  to  hoot  at,  for  the  road  is  lonesome.  Lone¬ 
some  too,  perhaps,  looks  Luttrellstown,  which  is  entered  by  the 
Rugged  Lodge,  the  ruggedest  lodge,  surely,  that  ever  wore  a 
thick  mantle  of  Ivy  on  its  shoulders.  The  lake  lies  placid  under 
a  cloudless  sky,  and  the  tall  turrets  of  the  ancient  castle 
come  into  view  amongst  the  trees.  A  picture  of  repose — the 
apotheosis  of  peace.  Mr.  Dent,  gardener  to  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Barton, 
cicerones  us  around.  Peaches  in  the  two  long  ranges  promise  well, 
bearing  an  evenly  disposed  crop,  amidst  clean  deep-coloured  foliage. 
Amongst  Orchids  in  flower  are  Cypripedium  Dominiana,  Cattleyas 
Skinneri  and  Mossiae,  and  Vanda  teres  in  high  condition.  Around  the 
large  conservatory,  rock  work  has  replaced  the  Box  edging,  and  many 
interesting  Alpines  nestle  in  it.  The  vivid  orange  of  Cheiranthus 
sibiricus  and  intense  blue  of  Gentiana  verna  being  the  brightest,  if 
not  the  best  of  things  in  bloom,  which  are  well  backed  up  by  clumps 
of  Darwin  Tulips.  One  plant  inside  the  conservatory  has  especial 
claims  to  notice;  it  is  Calceolaria  amplexicaulis  Burbidgei,  bearing 
the  amplexicaul  flowers  and  foliage  on  climbing  woody  stems, 
showing  equal  hereditary  influences!  We  take  it  to  be  the  offspring 
of  C.  amplexicaulis  and  a  shrubby  perennial  species  growing  in 
Trinity  College  Botanic  Gardens,  Dublin,  from  which  the  eminent 
Curator  has  produced  a  most  useful  and  continuous  winter-flowering 
plant,  well  worthy  of  the  name  it  bears.  The  young  one  begins  to 
fidget — natural,  probably,  after  two  hours’  chat  between  two  old 
heads,  so  with  farewell  handgrip-:  we  skirt  the  demesne  via  the 
American  gardm  ;  pedal  up  jart  of  the  picturesque  glen,  and  coast 
back  to  the  Grand  Lodge  om,to  the  Lower  Road,  en  route  for  Lucan. 
Inches  thick  with  dust  lays  our  road  by  the  Liffey,  and  there  are 
dogs — bites  noir  of  cyclists — galore.  What  a  splendid  opportunity  for 
our  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  to  swell  his  budget  by  raising  the 
tax  from  2s.  6d.,  which  it  is  here,  to  7s.  6d.,  as  in  England.  Two 
cyclists  at  least  will  be  with  him  when  he  feels  so  disposed.  My 
young  friend’s  startling  “Faugh  a  ballagh”  on  the  hooter,  with  much 
skilful  steering,  at  last  lands  us  in  Lucan,  wh^re  “convenient”  to  tho 
writing  on  the  wall,  “  Entertainment  for  cyclists,”  the  friendly  face  of 
Brian  McEvoy  .beams  a  kindly  welcome  from  under  his  tall  hat  to 
endorse  it.  Enter  the  dusty  ones;  and  a  right  royal  entertainment  it 
proves,  seasoned  with  mine  host’s  genuine  Irish  wit  and  humour. 
But  out,  and  on — on  till  the  little  white  tower  “forninst”  Leixlip 
denotes  Kildare,  where  it  always  rains  except  when  it’s  wanted,  and 
it’s  wantedf  badly  now;  at  least,  not  exactly  to-day — say  to-morrow. 
Carton  was  entered  by  the  Kellystown  gate,  where  neither  dogs  nor 
dust  are  admitted,  order  and  high  keeping  show  with  what  care  and 
solicitude  the  youthful  duke’s  stately  home  is  being  nursed  during  his 
minority.  Again  our  front  wheeler  has  to  exercise  patience,  already 
sniffing,  as  he  is,  at  the  distant  glories  of  the  gardens  of  which  ear 
hath  oft  heard  but  eye  hath  not  seen.  They  are  yet  afar  off.  We 
have  here  a  thousand  acres  of  gardening  in  its  broad  sense,  of  rocks- 
and  ravines ;  plantations  and  plantings  of  wildlings ;  broad  sweeps  of 
landscape  and  noble  trees,  through  which  the  river  winds  its  course 
seawards.  He  is  wanted  to  grasp  the  spirit  of  freedom  and  beauty 
which  reigns  here  pre-eminent  ;  to  see  that  true  gardening  is  not 
confined  to  rectangular  walls,  beds,  borders,  teak  baskets,  and  flower 
pots ;  and  this  is  his  opportunity.  At  last  he  is  revelling  among 
tho  e  things  which  his  soul  loveth  most  as  yet;  the  goal  is  reached, 
the  gardens  are  gained. 
Carton  gardens  !  year  by  year  they  add  to  their  wealth  of  interest 
and  beauty.  The  pergola  has  gained  character  with  age;  now  one  is 
inclined  to  think  it  is  the  finest  thing  of  its  kind  extant,  and  it 
probably  is  on  this  side  the  Channel,  where  amateurs  are  prone  to  rear 
tottering  fabrics  of  clothes-props  and  cross  sticks,  and  dignify  them 
with  the  title  they  do  not  deserve.  Inside  and  out,  fruit  houses, 
plant  houses,  beds,  and  borders,  all  bear  witness  to  loving  care  of 
the  ministering  hand.  There  are  additions  in  all  departments  since 
notes  were  last  taken,  and  all  seems  carried  on  in  a  princely  style  of 
quality  and  quantity  befitting  the  noble  Geraldines.  The  youngster 
goes  into  ecstacies  over  the  giant  pouch-like  blooms  of  Aristolochia 
gigas,  and  won’t  be  happv  till  he  gets  it — a  rooted  cutting  with  which 
Mr.  Black  sympathetically  soothes  his  feelings.  Early,  indeed,  does 
the  begging  propensity  of  genuine  gardeners  disclose  itself.  By  their 
covetousness  shall  ye  know  them.  Nepenthes,  as  represented  by 
Burkei,  mixta,  and  Hookeriana,  are  very  fine.  There  is  much  that  is 
handsome  in  the  houses,  and  some  things  which  are  curious  and  rare, 
including  a  quaint  Ceropegia,  bearing  blooms  and  bulbils.  A  little 
collection  of  miniature  Cacti  is  very  attractive,  the  “  Old  Man’s 
Beard  ”  being  here  honoured  (?)  with  the  name  of  Kruger  ;  and  - - 
But  with  a  possible  puncture  in  view  from  the  editorial  pen  enough 
has  occupied  space.  Miss  Black  thoughtfully  provides  a  substantial 
closing  “  entertainment  for  cyclists,”  and  Mr.  Black  further  gratifies 
the  young  fellow  with  a  bundle  of  cuttings — literal  cycle  gleanings — 
which  he  is  to  carry  home,  which  he  does,  as  well  as  pleasant  memories 
for  the  years  ahead,  when  Time  has  deflated  the  life’s  wheel  of — 
An  Old  Cyclist. 
- - - 
Olives  and  Insect  Pests. — A  most  important  discovery  has  been 
made  by  Marquis  Cnrzio  Origo,  a  wealthy  Olive  owner  of  Massafra, 
which  bids  fair  to  deliver  the  Olive  grower  out  of  all  his  troubles,  so  far 
as  they  are  caused  by  the  punteruolo,  or  weevil,  and  Musca  olearia. 
He  at  once  set  to  work  experimenting  with  a  quantity  of  mixtures,  all 
containing  lithanthrax,  apd  by  a  process  of  distillation  he  succeeded  in 
producing  a  gas  which  is  a  powerful  insecticide,  without  being  in  the 
least  injurious  to  vegetation.  The  next  step  was  to  invent  a  portable 
machine,  capable  of  producing  easily  and  inexpensively  the  insecticide 
fumes.  Then,  having  selected  that  one  out  of  all  his  Olive  groves 
whioh  was  reputed  to  be  the  worst,  owing  to  its  proximity  to  untilled 
land,  he  numbered  the  trees,  so  that  none  should  be  overlooked, 
assigned  a  certain  number  to  eaoh  machine,  and  started  operations  in 
April.  “  The  whole  grove/’  he  says,  “  was  impregnated  three  times 
over.  While  the '  machines  were 1  working  under  the  trees  the  lads 
came  running  to  show  me  the  weevils  (much  harder  to  destroy  than 
Musca  olearia)  which  had  fallen  dead  from  the  trees.  Several  days 
afterwards  I  caused  a  careful  inspection  to  be  made  of  the  trees,  and 
the  branches  to  be  well  shaken,  and  not  a  single  insect  of  any  kind  was 
to  be  found  on  the  350  big  trees  of  my  grove.”  ,L 
