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OUR SUPPLEMENTARY ILLUSTRATION represents a view in the Palm House at Kew, and shows some of the centre, slate-enclosed beds that are furnished with a variety of tropical plants, chiefly of ornamental-leaved species. The photograph was taken near the middle of the glasshouse, above which point the glass roof is 66 feet distant, enabling tall Palms to show their full beauty. The staircase seen in the background of the picture leads to a gallery extending around the centre portion of the structure, and from this platform be obtained an excellent view of the tops of tall Palms, Bamboos, Dracænas, Pandanus, and similar plants, intermingled with climbers, so that the scene suggests the looking down upon some tropical forest. The gratings cover a part of the hot-water system, and they form a considerable part of the floor all over the house. These gratings-and the remaining parts of the walks are flooded several times each day, the water running down amongst the pipes, to be evaporated again, thus producing a sufficiency of atmospheric moisture. The Palm House is really a huge stove, and it requires the services of two men as stokers continually, the boilers being situated beneath the structure. The expanse of glass is so considerable that on cold days the temperature on the windward side of the building is often several degrees lower than on the opposite side. Nearly four miles of 4inch piping are carried over the entire ground area of the building. Originally the architect arranged a series of underground flues communicating with a smoke-tower, an Ivy-covered structure that appears like a water-tower, situated at about 500 feet distant from the Palm House. This arrangement has been superseded by flues from the furnaces carried through the building and above the roof.

FLOWERS IN SEASON.-From Mr. JOHN CROOK, Forde Abbey Gardens, Chard, we have received a box of a very fine strain of Polyanthus in bright and varied colours. Mr. CROOK writes: "I have been working for the improvement of this strain of Polyanthus for many years. I displayed a large non-competitive exhibit of these flowers at the National Auricula Society's Show on April 30, when they were much admired. I am leaving Forde Abbey in the autumn, after which I intend to grow these plants, and sell the seeds of same, &c."

THE ROYAL GARDENERS' ORPHAN FUND: ANNUAL FESTIVAL DINNER. We desire to remind our readers that the annual festival dinner of this fund will take place on Thursday next, the 23rd inst., at De Keyser's Royal Hotel. The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Sir WILLIAM P. TRELOAR), will preside. Subscriptions or donations will be gladly received by the following gentlemen, who have kindly consented to act as stewards on this occasion:W. Alderson, Hersham Road, Walton-on-Thames; James T. Anderson, 135, Commercial Street, E.; John Assbee, Market Office, Covent Garden, W C.; W. Y. Baker, Thames Bank Iron Co., Upper Ground Street, S. E.; George H. Barr, 11, 12, 13, King Street, W.C.; W. Bates, Cross Deep, Twickenham; Harry Bird, C.C., The Drive, Chingford; William Bull, 536, King's Road, Chelsea, S. W.; G. Bunyard, V.M.H., The Royal Nurseries, Maidstone; G. Caselton, Garden Superintendent, Crystal Palace, S.E.; W. H. Cooke, Kingston Hall Gardens, Derby; Geo. H. Cuthbert, The Nurseries, Southgate, N.; W. H. Cutbush, The Nurseries, Barnet, Herts; C. Dixon, Holland House Gardens, Kensington, W.; W. A. Garaway, Durdham Down Nurseries, Clifton, Bristol; W. Howe, Park Hill Gardens, Streatham Common, S W.; D. Ingamells, 27, Catherine Street, Covent Garden, W.C.; James L. Kinnell, 65A, Southwark Street, S.E.; John Lyne, Fox

bury Gardens, Chislehurst; H. B. May, Dyson's Lane Nursery, Upper Edmonton; J. F. McLeod, Dover House Gardens, Roehampton, S.W.; J. W. Moorman, Superintendent, Victoria Park, E.; T. A. Morris, 67-68, Cheapside, E.C.; Whitpaine Nutting, 106, Southwark Street, S.E.; R. Hooper Pearson, Gardeners' Chronicle office and 40, Brocklebank Road, Wandsworth, S. W.; W. Poupart, Marsh Farm, Twickenham; W. Roupell, Harvey Lodge, Roupell Park, S. W.; G. Reynolds, Gunnersbury Park Gardens, Acton, W.; T. W. Sanders, 124, Embleton Road, Lewisham, S.E.; Edward Sherwood, 152, Houndsditch, E.; David W. Thomson, 113, George Street, Edinburgh; W. P. Thomson, 25, Bollo Lane, Chiswick, W.; Harry J. Veitch, V.M.H., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, S. W.; P. C. M. Veitch, J. P., High Street, Exeter; J. H. Witty, St. James's Villa, Swain's Lane, Highgate, N.; and the secretary, Mr. Brian Wynne, 30, Wellington Street, W.C. Of all appeals that are made to the benevolence of gardeners and others interested in horticulture, none should be more effective than this one which has for its object the care and sustenance of necessitous children whose fathers were gardeners, and who, through early decease or other reasonable causes, have left no provision for their children.

KEW GUILD DINNER.-We are requested to remind our readers who are Old Kewites that the annual dinner will take place at the Holborn Restaurant on the 27th inst., at 7.30 p.m., and that the secretary, Mr. W. N. WINN, would be glad to hear before the 20th from all who intend to be present. Mr. GEORGE MASSEE will preside, and amongst colonial and Indian members expected to be present are Messrs. J. ANDERSON (Gold Coast), S. ARDEN (Singapore), K. G. BURBRIDGE (Gold Coast), J. BURTT-DAVY (Pretoria), J. M. PURVES (British Central Africa), T. R. SIM (Natal), and J. STOCKS (Portuguese East Africa).

UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT AND PROVIDENT SOCIETY.-The monthly committee meeting was held at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Vincent Square, Westminster, on Monday evening last, Mr. CHARLES H. CURTIS presiding. Nine new members were elected and one nominated. The amount paid for sickness since the last meeting was £52. A grant of £5 from the Benevolent Fund was made to the widow of a late member, who died after a long illness.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.-The Departmental Committee, of which Lord REAY is chairman, held meetings on the 7th, 8th, and 9th inst. Mr. A. D. HALL, Director of the Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Sir C. T. D. ACLAND, Bart. (nominated by the Bath and West and Southern Counties Society), and representatives of the Midland Agricultural and Dairy College, Kingston, Derby, the Agricultural and Horticultural College, Uckfield, the British Dairy Institute, Reading and Leeds University, attended and gave evidence.

THE LORD MAYOR'S CRIPPLES' FUND.A publication called Crutches to Help Cripple Children is to be issued on June 5th, on behalf of the Lord Mayor's Cripples' Fund. Sir DOUGLAS STRAIGHT is acting as Hon. Editor for the Literary Section, and Sir JAMES D. LINTON, R.I., H.R.M.S., is responsible for the Art Section. We are informed by Sir WILLIAM P. TRELOAR that a large number of well-known authors and artists have kindly given their services, and the result will be a literary and art production in every way unique. The entire profits on this book are to be devoted to the fund he is raising for the provision of homes to treat the tuberculous cripples of the poor, and for which £60,000 is required. The publishers are Messrs. BEMROSE & SONS, LTD.

DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS AND PESTS BILL.This Bill, which has been already referred to in these columns, and which will give increased powers to the Board of Agriculture in the matter of preventing the spread of insect pests and fungus diseases, was read for the third time in the House of Lords on Monday last, May 13.

THE SEASON OF LILAC.-The Lilacs are now at their best, and in most districts the bushes From are blooming with unusual freedom. several quarters we are informed that there was never a better display than at the present time.

MAGNEY OR SISAL HEMP.-The cultivation of Magney in the Philippine Islands is, as we learn from the Tropical Agriculturist, at the present time attracting widespread attention. In those provinces from which Magney has been exported for a number of years, larger areas are now being planted. In other sections where this plant has been either unknown or unnoticed, it is now being introduced. In order to supply the many requests for information in regard to the essential details asked for in reference to its cultivation, the Philippine Bureau of Agriculture supply, in as brief and simple form as possible, a circular printed in English, Spanish, and other languages. It takes the form of 16 questions and answers.

HOLLY LODGE, HIGHGATE.-In the issue of The Times, published on the 11th inst., a correspondent of that paper announced that: "It has been decided to dispose of the Holly Lodge estate at Highgate, which was for many years the summer home of the late Lady BurdettCOUTTS. The estate, which extends to over 50 acres, is to come into the market during the coming season."

LANDSCAPE GARDENING.-Mr. B. T. BATSFORD will publish in a few days a new and enlarged edition of Mr. THOMAS H. MAWSON'S The Art and Craft of Garden Making, the last edition of which was issued in 1901. It is announced that the present edition will contain numerous fresh illustrations and schemes of gardens.

MAY-FLOWERING TULIPS.-An excellent display of May-flowering Tulips is now in bloom at our Surbiton nurseries, write Messrs. BARR & SONS. The collection covers some acres of ground, and we have rarely, if ever, had such a grand show.

COCOANUT PLANTING.-This is a remunerative and safe investment in the tropics, better even, perhaps, than that in rubber, there being an enormous demand for cocoanut oil, copra, and desiccated cocoanut in Europe and America, which cannot be met. The literaure on the subject is not extensive; but there is one book, the Cocoanut Planters' Manual, by JOHN FERGUSON, price 4 rupees, published at the office of the Tropical Agriculturist, Colombo, Ceylon, which affords all that the planter requires to know about cultural and cognate matters.

THE IMPERIAL BIOLOGICAL INSTITUTE AT DAHLEM.-Professor Dr. WORTMANN, Director of the Royal College for Fruit Culture and General Horticulture, Geisenheim, has been appointed director of the Biological department at Dahlem in the place of the late Privy Councillor ADERHOLD.

THE OLD BOTANICAL GARDEN, BERLIN.— This area of 58,000 quadrate metres has been acquired by the city authorities for the sum of 2,000,000 marks, and was taken over on April 1 last.

SMOKE AND FROST-PROOF CONIFERS.-In the various Berlin parks, a number of species of Conifers have been under the observation of Hrn. FINTELMANN, Royal Horticultural Director for a number of years. Of those planted in 1871, many have been destroyed by the products of combustion in the factories erected since that date, and in the locomotives of the Stettin railway, or they have been so reduced in vigour as to have been killed in hard winters. Those which have, best withstood these unfavourable conditions are Abies numidica, A. balsamea, and it is particularly worthy of notice that a plant of Araucaria imbricata, left out of doors during the severe winter of the present year, was quite unharmed. More observations, by several of the landscape gardeners present at a meeting of the Society of German Landscapists on April 15 last, will be communicated at future meetings of the society.

DRESDEN. The International Horticultural Exhibition at Dresden, writes a correspondent, "was an exhibition showing all the art the horticulturist can put into his work. The various competitions, as, for instance, decorated church altars, decorated ladies' boudoirs, gave plenty of opportunity for the genuine artist to display his talents. An idealistic imitation of a forest with tropical plants and Orchids as growing in their natural habitat was even better than one would expect in a country where things are done so thoroughly as in Germany. This forest occupied a space of about 3,000 square feet, and was made to look larger by the addition of a large and specially painted picture to form a perspective in the distance. The exhibition ground was exactly suited for its purpose. A large proportion of the plant exhibits were representative of Dresden's specialities-Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Camellias, &c.-but excepting these plants one saw no superiority over those of our own cultivation. There were only two English firms represented, Messrs. HUGH LOW & Co., who were awarded a special prize for an exhibit of perpetual-flowering Carnations, amongst which such new varieties as White Perfection (undoubtedly the best of all whites), Britannia (the Gold Medal scarlet), and Mrs. Burnett (salmonpink) figured prominently. Messrs. CHARLESWORTH & Co., of Bradford, Yorkshire, put up an excellent group of Orchids. The exhibition was opened on Saturday, May 4, by the King of Saxony, but the attendance on the first day was far behind that at a similar show in this country, although of course the crowd on the Sunday was considerable."

BORING PESTS ON FRUIT TREES.-In many parts of the country fruit-trees may be noted in which here and there branches have died without apparent cause. A close examination would show small holes in these dead or dying stems and branches, which form the entrances of those treacherous pests, the various species of the genus Scolytus and Bostrichus. If the rind of the injured branches, &c., be removed, numerous galleries or borings will be found just beneath the rind and in the sapwood, and a number of white grubs in them; and, should the search be made in the months of May, June, and July, fully developed insects. From the entrance hole in the rind of the youngest sapwood a simple gallery is formed by most of the species of Scolytus and from this on both sides the so-called larva-borings extend. The female lays her eggs at the sides of the borings to the number of 20, and the feetless larvæ increase the width of the borings, and appear in the following year between April and July as perfect insects on the surface in search of a place in which to settle, where the circle of development begins anew. The insects attack healthy as also unhealthy trees. The following three species are common at times, viz., Scolytus

pruni, which chiefly infests the sapwood of Plums, Apples, Pears, and Cherries, is black, the feelers and legs brownish red, and the wing cases brown. The hinder part is raised slanting-wise, and appears as if shortened. The length of the creature is about 3-5mm. S. rugulosus is åbout half as large, and is less shining; the colour in general is black, the points of the wing cases being of a lighter tint. It is found on all kinds of fruit-trees.-Bostrichus dispar: The size of the sexes differs, the female being 3.5 mm., and the male 2 mm. long; colour, pitch-brown and covered with fine hairs. The males are always the fewer in number. Contrary to the beforementioned species, it is the female which perforates the stem, and the progeny which are raised from the eggs that she lays in the hole that carry on the borings lengthwise of the stem. The first thing to do for a successful fight with these insects is to remove the whole of the infested and sickly trees and branches, and remains

MacDougal, Director.-Hybridisation of Wild Plants by D. T. MacDougal.-U.S. Department of Agr culture. Leguminous Crops for Green Manuring, by C. V. Piper.-University of California. Agricul tural Experiment Station. Report of the Plant Patho logist, to July 1, 1906. By Ralph E. Smith. A chronicle of much useful work.-The House Beautiful. A Chicago magazine with many hints upon house decoration, and a section devoted to gardening.Redia. Vol. IV. Fascicolo I. of an entomological magazine published in Florence.-The Botanical Magazine, Tokyo, February, among other interesting articles contains a paper on Taiwania and its affinity to other genera.-Agricultural News (Barbados), April 6. Full of useful notes on tropical and other crops.-Bulletin of the American Association of Park Superintendents. The experiences of this association are worth notice by similar officials in other districts.-London Botanic Gardens. By Pierre Perrédès. This contains illustrated accounts of the history of Kew, the R.H.S. Gardens, the Botanic Society's Gardens, and the Chelsea Physic Gardens.

FRUIT CROPS AND FROST. So serious have been the losses sustained by fruit-growers in the Vale of Evesham in some

of trees, as it is precisely these that offer points from which healthy trees can be attacked. It further helps matters if the soil be afforded a dressing of suitable manure, more particularly phosphoric acid, lime, and potash, for the purpose of imparting vigour to the trees, as neglected trees are usually the first to be attacked. On the appearance of Scolytus pruni in the spring manure water should be applied, so as to a certain extent smother the larvæ in the abounding sap. Trees that are greatly infested should in early spring be felled, cut up into small pieces, and burned, so as to prevent any further increase in the woodstack or depôt. Further, all slightly attacked trees should be dressed with freshlyslaked lime-wash, and this dressing should be repeated if traces of the insects be visible. It is only by a timely carrying-out of the above means that the fruit cultivator can avert great injury to his trees.

Publications Received.-Annual Report of the Agricultural Experiment Stations of the Louisiana State University. By W. R. Dodson, Director.From the U.S. Department of Agriculture.-Method of Eradicating Johnson Grass, by J. S. Cates and W. J. Spillman.-Report of the Department of Botanical Research, Washington, by D. T.

past seasons by reason of the destruction of crops by the late spring frosts, that attempts are now being made to accomplish the appa rently impossible task of abolishing the frosts in the plantations. Smother fires of rubbish or other material have been tried, but without much success, and experiments have also been made with preparations known as foyers, as used in the grape-growing districts of France, but these proved to be too expensive for com mercial use. A large measure of success has however, been achieved with oil-pots, or smudgepots, as they are sometimes called. These are tin cans, 9in. high, tapering upwards, with two rows of holes near the top; each pot holds a gallon of creosote, to which some naphthalene salts and a little water are added. The pots containing the creosote, with a whisp of hay: the mouth to aid ignition, are placed about the plantations at the rate of 40 to the acre: stakes or some other indicators are fixed at the ends of the rows of pots, so that they may be easily located in the dark. Electric alarm ther mometers are fixed up in the plantations, which ring bells in the foremen's houses when the mercury falls to 32° Fahr. The pots are afterwards lighted by means of a torch, and

they will burn without recharging for about three hours, which is long enough in the case of ordinary spring frosts. It is usually found necessary to light them about half-past two or three o'clock in the morning. They have a two-fold effect. Not only do they raise the temperature very considerably, but they create a pall of dense smoke, which hangs like a heavy blanket some 8 or 12 feet from the ground, and envelops the trees. The principal object of the smoke is to prevent the damaging of the embryo fruits by the frost, rather than to keep the sun's rays from completing any damage already effected. Experiments were tried last year on a somewhat large scale by Mr. Martin, at Toddington, and by Mr. Geoffrey Hooper, of the Croft Fruit Farm, Pershore; and the results were very satisfactory. Allowing five shillings per acre for labour, the cost should not exceed 20s. per acre per night. The illustration is from a photograph taken by Mr. Hooper's kind permission in his plantations at Pershore. W.

exterior of the mansion are some fine specimens of Magnolia grandiflora. These are crowded with flower-buds.

In front of the windows are several large flower-beds, which at the time of our visit early in the present month were filled with bulbous flowers. Some very fine pyramidal Yews are planted at corners where the paths intersect, and a number of choice statues in marble are scattered about these flower-beds. There are also several handsome vases which are furnished throughout the year was seasonable subjects. Tulips, Hyacinths, Anemones, with edgings of various Ericas adorned these beds. One was filled with red, white, and blue-coloured Hyacinths, and intermingled are later-flowering Tulips, that were just showing their flower-buds. Another was gay with the yellow Tulip Chrysolora, around which were scarlet Anemones, edged with Golden Yews trained very dwarf, and an outer band of Erica mediterranea. Bulbs have been planted in great numbers, and many are natural

is an object of great beauty! In summer the waters are bright with Water-Lilies, including the beautiful Nymphæa atro-purpurea which Lord Hillingdon showed in such fine condition at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on July 31, 1906, and a flower of which formed the subject of our supplementary illustration in the issue for February 16, 1907. The whole of this water-garden is surrounded with a dwarf wall, surmounted by an appropriate design in stone work, and facing the pool is a luxurious summer-house with a facade of copper ornamented in bas-relief with the Hillingdon arms and appropriate scroll work. A large stone figure of Neptune reclining occupies the middle of the lake. Leaving the water-garden on the left, a new part of the garden is entered, and this is carpeted with fine turf, in which are cut several large beds. These are newly planted, and all the occupants are in vigorous growth. One has an assortment of arborescent Ivies, amongst which are planted Spanish Iris; another is filled

HILLINGDON COURT,

MIDDLESEX.

THERE are many beautiful spots in the county of Middlesex, especially around the vicinity of Harrow, and between this town and the important borough of Uxbridge is situated Hillingdon Court, the country seat of Lord Hillingdon. :

It is best reached from town by the Metropolitan Railway to Uxbridge, and across a public path through a picturesque park. Hillingdon Court is a comparatively modern edifice; it was built by the grandfather of the present owner, but the beautiful gardens and grounds as they now exist have been formed by the grandson, whose gardener, Mr. A. R. Allan, has carried out the work with admirable skill. The gardens are surrounded by park land that stretches almost as far as Harrow, and each year some new feature is added to the gardens and grounds, the necessary land being readily available. Indeed, the place may be said to be a garden in the making, and will undoubtedly rank in the future with the finest in the county. The residence is a square-built structure with a wing of considerable size attached, and to this latter part a big conservatory. Trained up the

ised in the grass and beneath trees. Looking in the direction of Harrow is seen a broad terrace with fountains and a water-garden (fig. 134). One first encounters a broad expanse of grass, in which has been cut a large tri-foliate shaped bed, with the apex towards the mansion. This has an edging of box, and the base of the leaf is planted with golden tree Ivies. The whole is designed on a bold scale, and was filled with Tulips, in the centre Chysolora, and the outer bays with Cottage Maid and the red Prince of Austria. A little beyond is a large waterbasin with a fountain in its centre, and around are a number of smaller flower-beds. The whole of this grass, with its enclosed beds and fountain, is edged with a stone kerb, and against the relief of the admirably-kept gravel walks the design stands prominent.

Still further in the direction of Harrow, which is seen through a vista of trees in the distance, a flight of large circular stone steps leads to another broad expanse, which encloses a watergarden (fig. 134). The basin measures about 100 feet in its broadest part, and is about half this distance in width. The front from the steps is not broken, but on the other three sides half-circular bays are included, and with fountains in the centre and at either wing, the whole

with the golden Cupressus macrocarpa, and against a background of Scots Fir is one filled with Azaleas, and edged with Ericas. Hereabouts in the turf are innumerable Daffodils, Tulips, and other spring flowers, appearing in their natural setting more beautiful even than those in the symmetrical flower-beds. A weeping Elm, Narcissus Horsfieldii about its base, is deserving of mention.

Walks have been formed in the grass by close mowing, and some lead past shrubberies, which are filled with the choicest subjects. The shrubs at Hillingdon Court are a fine show, and many thousands of all kinds have been planted by Mr. Allan during his term of office, and he has made the most of the opportunities afforded by the natural features of the place. Wherever a band of trees exist, the shrubberies and walks have been so designed that the trees serve either as a background, to break the continuity and formality, or terminate the planting. A newlyplanted shrubbery was gay with Cytisus præcox, Pyrus Malus floribunda, Lilacs, Rosemary, Exocorda grandiflora, Andromeda floribunda, Cerasus pseudo-cerasus, Ericas, Phillyreas, double-flowered Gorse, and many other subjects in flower. At the back of this