70 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



I January 23, 1888. 



at the December meeting, but the Committee deferred coming to any 

 determination respecting them for the present 



Mr. R. Weatherill, norservman, Finchley, sent two new varieties of 

 Solannm, the results of a cross between S. hybridnm antl^S. psendo- 

 capsicnm, and named respectively S. psendo-capsicum Weatherilli, and 

 S. paeudo-capsicum ri^dum. To each of these, on acconnt of the 

 size, abundance, and ornamental character of the fruit, a first-class 

 certificate was awarded. The variety called rifiidum is very compact 

 and erect in habit. A special certificate was also awarded Mr. Wea- 

 therill for a collection of Solanums finely fruited. 



Messrs. Backhouse also contributed several specimens of Beet with 

 ornamental foliage, similar in colours to those shown by Mr. Salter 

 at previous meetings. 



Fruit Committee. — G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.E.S., in the chair. Mr. 

 Higgs, gardener to Mrs. Barchard, Putney Heath, sent a seedling 

 Apple of more than average size, ovate shape, and of a fine golden 

 yellow colour, prominently ribbed on the sides and round the eye. 

 The Committee considered it a good kitchen Apple. Mr. Carter, gar- 

 dener to W. Brookes, Esq., Mistley, Essex, sent an Apple he found 

 there, and which was raised by one Adam Scott. It is of good size, 

 roundish or cylindrical in shape, and with a brownish tinge on the 

 side next the sun. The flesh is yellowish, tender, and with a flavour 

 resembling that of the Blenheim Pippin. It was considered a good 

 dessert Apple, but not superior to other varieties now in use. Mr. B. 

 Fenn, of the Rectory, Woodstock, exhibited a dish of Cox's Orange 

 ^ Pippin in fine condition and of excellent colour ; the desh was tender 

 and of good flavour. Mr. Stewart, of the gardens, Nnneham, sent 

 fruit of Ribston Pippin, also in tine condition. These two dishes ext 

 hibited great skill in the preservation of the fruit. Mr. Fenn also sen- 

 a dish of Knight's Monarch, which were beautiful samples of that 

 variety. Mr. Tillery, of Welbeck, sent a fine dish of Winter Nelis, 

 the fruit being vei-y large, and so well kept they were still not quite 

 ripe. 



Mr. Fairbairn, of the gardens, Sion House, Isleworlh. exhibited two 

 specimens of Cocoa Nut grown in the gardens of the Duke of North- 

 nmberland there. They were perfectly ripened, and one was full of 

 milk. The Committee awarded them a special certificate, and recom- 

 mended the exhibition to the Council as a proper object on which to 

 bestow any medal they may have at their disposal. The Council de- 

 termined to award Mr. Fairbairn a gold Banksiau medal. 



Mr. Stevens, of Trentham, sent a dish of Black Hamburgh and one 

 of Lady Downe's Grapes, both bf which were fine specimens of their 

 varieties. Mr. Tillery, of Welbeck, sent dishes of West's St. Peter's, 

 Trebbiano, and Alicante ; and Mr. Standish sent small bunches of 

 Royal Ascot. The bunches of Mr. Stevens were unusually fine at this 

 season of the year ; and Lady Downe's was considered superior in 

 flavour to the Black Hamburgh, and a special certificate was awarded 

 them. The Royal Ascot, being fresh Grapes, were not put in compe- 

 tition in regard of flavour, but the fiavour was much fresher, and by 

 many who were present they were considered superior to the others. 



Alarge collection of fruits from Canada, consisting principally of 

 Apples and Nuts, was exhibited by Mr. W. T. Goldsmith, Mildmay 

 Road, Stoke Newington. BlackGilliflowerisalougdarkfruit, with tender 

 flesh, and good flavour. King of Tomkins County, a large handsome 

 Apple, was also of superior fiavonr, and with a fine firm flesh. Rhode 

 Island Greening was firm in flesh, and had fine flavour. Baldwin had 

 tender flesh, of good flavour, but rather musty from being in contact with 

 straw. Green Pippin was tender in the flesh, but past. Yellow Bel- 

 lefienr is a very nice Apple, with a fine delicate flavour — a delicious 

 Apple. W^ageuer is a fine Apple of excellent flavour, and with a 

 peculiar aroma. jEsopus Spitzenberg was also fine. OfPommed'Api 

 the fruit was small, and not remarkable for flavour. Grantham Sweet 

 was not remarkable for flavour. Twenty-Ounce was tender-fleshed, 

 but not of mnch flavour, being already passed. Norton's Melon is a 

 good firm-fleshed Apple, but with not a gieat deal of flavour. North- 

 em Spy was so musty from being in contact with straw as to be dis- 

 agreeable. The Nuts consisted of Black Walnut, Hickory Pig Nuts or 

 Large Hickoi-y, and Chestnuts. The Coaimittee awarded a special 

 certificate. Mr. Goldsmith also exhibited tins of preserved Peaches 

 and preserved Tomatoes, and a bottle of Tomato jam. The Tomatoes 

 and Peaches were very fresh and excellent, and the Tomato jam was 

 most delicious. A special certificate was also awarded to the jam. 

 Mr. Pottle, of Little Bealings, exhibited his patent Cucumber box, 

 which the Committee considered was useless. A box of very tine fruit 

 of the Guava was received from Mr. Taplin, of Chatsworth ; but it 

 came too late for the meeting. 



(SENi;R.i.L Meetikg.— G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. 

 The meeting was purely of a formal character. Eight new Fellows 

 were elected, and the proceedings closed with the Chairman's announc- 

 ing that the Annual General Meeting would be held February 11th, at 

 3 P.M. 



SOLANUM CAPSICA STRUM. 

 This is one of the most useful plants for conseiTatory 

 decoration during the winter season, especially plants of it the 

 Becond or third year from seed. I planted-out some one-year- 

 old plants last May ; they flowered and set fruit freely. I took 

 them up in Octobf r, potted them, kept them in a close pit till 

 they commenced rooting freely, and they are about 8 inches 



high, with about a hundred berries 'well coloured, making them 

 perfect gems for table decoration. 



■VisitiDg Mr. Weatherill's nursery a few days ago, my atten- 

 tion was drawn to a Solanum, a cross between hybridnm and 

 capsicastrum, in habit a little like hybridtun, but much snpe 

 rior, being darker in the foliage ; consequently the contrast 

 between the berries and the leaves is much more distinct. 

 The berries, too, are much larger than those of hybridum, and 

 much higher-coloured. — T. N. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



■We are informed that the following changes in the Council 

 of the Royal Horticultural Society will be submitted to the 

 General Meeting of Fellows on the 11th of February: — Lord 

 Sandon, Mr. W. W. Duller, and the Eev. .Joshua Dix retire, 

 and their places are to be filled by Mr. J. Russell Reeves, Mr. 

 ■W. Marshall, and Mr. John Clutton. That these gentlemen 

 wUl be generally acceptable to the Fellows there can hardly 

 be a doubt ; the names of Mr. Reeves, and of his father the 

 late r^Ir. John Reeves, have been so early and so intimately 

 associated with the Horticultural Society and with horticulture, 

 that no more fitting person could occupy a place on the Council. 

 Holding a high position of influence in the East, to one or other 

 of them our gardens are indebted for some of the earliest and 

 best introductions from China. Among these are the 'Wistaria 

 sinensis, the Chinese Primrose, and numerous kinds of Ca- 

 mellias, Tree Pseonies, Chinese Azaleas, Chrysanthemums, &c. ; 

 and all these were procured at a time when the country was 

 sealed against Europeans. As a successful cultivator of Orchide, 

 and a liberal patron of gardening, Mr. Marshall comes with a 

 fitting qualification ; and Mr. Glutton's well-known business 

 habits and shrewd counsel, qualify him to reoccupy the position 

 he a few years ago resigned. 



Many of our readers will be pleased to hear that Mr, 



Rose, who, we announced, had been appointed to succeed Mr. 

 Ingram at the Royal Gardens Frogmore and Windsor, is Mr. 

 Hector Rose, gardener to his Grace the Duke of Roxburgh, at 

 Floors Castle, N.B. Mr. Rose was previously under Mr. 'William 

 Thomson, at Dalkeith Park, where he so distinguished himself 

 in the position of foreman, as to justify Mr. Thomson in re- 

 commending him to Floors. That this recommendation was 

 merited is now fully proved by the appointment which has 

 recently been made. 



CHARCO.VL FOR HAYSS STOVE. 

 Like many of your correspondents, I have been disappointed 

 in not being able" to procure peat charcoal, and so last spring 

 I was induced to try common charcoal, and was much gratified 

 to find that it answered even better than peat charcoal, gi'ving 

 out more heat. Its price is, I believe, a little above that of the 

 peat. I have, however, recently purchased some from a char- 

 coal burner living at Datchworth, near 'Welwyn, Herts; his 

 price is from 1-s. to Is. 'id. per bushel, according to the quantity 

 ordered. I regret I cannot give his name, but I should suppose 

 there are not many professors of the grimy occupation in the 

 small village I have named, and so perhaps this addresB- 

 " The Charcoal Burner, Datchworth, near Welwyn, Herts," "><> 

 find him.— T. R. 



'may 



OTIORHYNCHUS VASTATOR. 



Cur.Tis, in his work on the insects injurious to the farm, says 

 this beetle cannot fly. It seems so contrary to what we might 

 expect, to find a beetle with elytra fully formed without the 

 power of flight, that I felt quite unable to accept the fact with- 

 out investigation. Having nothing but dried specimens to 

 examine, it appears to me that the elytra are joined together, 

 and that there are no true wings under them. Would the 

 Professor who so kindly answers our inquiries be good enough 

 to let us know what we ought to find when we know how to 

 look ' There are so many persons who have suffered from the 

 attacks of the larvaj of this and its allied beetle, the Otiorhyn- 

 chus sulcatus, which are known to gardeners by the name oJ 

 ringers that any information wUl be welcome. 



Jlany persons who have had young Vines, Rhododendrons, 

 Azaleas Yews, Camellias, &c., destroyed by these grubs, which 

 remove the bark from the stem just below the ground, do not 

 know of what insects they are the larvie ; others who .haye 



