30 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
HORTICULTURAL AFFAIRS. 
m\OYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—The meeting of the Fruit and 
Floral Committee, on the Ist of December, was a very small affair, for 
there were but few novelties, and, owing to the severity of the weather, 
the ustal number of miscellaneous contributions from the nuzserymen 
in the neighbourhood of the metropolis were not forthcoming. One of 
the most important contributions was samples of the collection of onions grown at 
the Society’s gardens at Chiswick last year, and which are described in Mr. Barron’s 
report on another page of the present issue of the Froran Wortp. On the 9th of 
December a special general meeting of the fellows was held at South Kensington, 
Lord Aberdare in the chair, to discuss the proposal of the Council to make several 
alterations in the privileges of the fellows, and, after a long discussion, a reso~ 
lution was passed requesting the Council to re-consider their proposal. 
Tue “GARDEN ORACLE,” which has now reached its eighteenth year of publi- 
cation, has, for its special feature, an essay on the Water Garden. In addition, 
it contains papers on a new system of pruning fruit trees, and on other matters of 
importance to the amateur and professional horticulturist. The lists of new plants 
and garden flowors are as full and complete as usual, and the selections of fruits, 
flowers, and vegetables, which have long been one of the most valuable features, have 
been carefully revised, and will be found of the utmost value to purchasers who 
have but few opportunities for determining the merits of new introductions. 
A New Inszcricipr,—At a recent meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
the Hon, and Rey. J. T. Boscawen called attention to his insecticide, which con- 
sists of camphor dissolved in methylated spirits to saturation, and mixed with soft 
soap to the consistence of cream. When diluted so as to be fit for use witha 
syringe, this had been found a most efficacious substitute for fumigatiog in the case 
of mealy-bug, scale, red spider, etc. 
New CHRYSANTHEMUMs have appeared in numbers far too few and at intervals 
much too long during the last few years. The best of this season is without doubt 
an intermediate variety named Miss Wheeler, lately exhibited in Jondon by Mr. 
H. Cannell. The flower is in form a replica of Mr. Murray, the colour being a 
peculiar kind of pucy carmine, with a hint of gold in the centre. For specimen 
culture it will no doubt prove acceptable, and it will certainly be useful for decora- 
tive purposes, for under gaslight it is very distinct and telling. Another novelty 
in Mr. Cannell’s possession is Lilac Gem,a small pompone of the Duruflet class, 
the colour clear pale lilac with yellowish centre; the plant is as free as could be 
wished, and very cheerful and pleasing. Golden George Glenny, a bright yellow, 
incurved flower, is also most valuable because of its fine habit and the excellency of 
its flowers. It is precisely the same as Mrs. George Rundle, excepting in colour. 
A VariEGATED Patm.—At the exhibition of the Ealing District Chrysanthemum 
Society, Messrs. H. L. Smith and Co., of the Ealing Dean Nurseries, staged an 
example of Lavinia Borbonica, some of the leaves of which were distinctly flaked 
with creamy white, and the appearance of the young foliage Jed to the assumption 
that the variegation would become general over the surface of the leaves. 1t is 
quite a young plant and had a robust habit. 
**Wuirr’s SELBORNE ” will appear intwo forms. Messrs. Macmillan announce 
as ready the long-promised edition edited by Lord Selborne and Frank Buckland. 
The book ranges with ‘‘ Holland House.” Mr. J. Var Voorst announces an edition 
by Professor Bell, assisted by Lord Selborne and Mr. Curtis, of Alton. This con- 
tains one of White’s sermons, a specimen of his garden calendar, and a correspon- 
dence of his brother with Linnzus. 
Tue WesrMinstER AQuaniumM ComPANY are making arrangements for a 
series of flower shows next summer, and for a fruit show in the autumn. 
INFLUENCE OF Stock ON Scion.—M. J. Van Driessche, of Ghent, has, as we 
learn from the Revue de l Horticulture Belge; grafted Abutilon Darwinii on to 
the variegated A. Thompsoni, with the result that the leaves produced on the scion 
became variegated also, as in the form called A. tessellatum. This is by nO means 
unusual, for other species grafted on 4, Zhompsoni have been influenced in a similar 
manner, 
Cuivia GaRDENs, a plent closely related to Imantophyl!um, has flowered in the 
