December 15, 1888.] 



THE GA R HE NEB S' CHI? ONI CLE. 



701 



Bosley, of Devonshire, a Silver Medal ; and Bronze 

 ones were accorded to Mr. Watkins and Mr. Jones. 



BOOKS OF the SEASON, — Among the many 

 useful manuals issued at this season, two which 

 are greatly valued by gardeners, and which now lay 

 before us, are the Horticultural Directory and Year 

 Book, published at the office of the Journal of Horti- 

 culture, 171, Fleet Street ; and the Garden Annual and 

 Almanac, published at the 'office of the Garden, 

 37, Southampton Street, Strand, W.C. A handy 

 strong pocket-book and diary is issued by J. Weeks 

 & Co., the horticultural builders, of King's Eoad, 

 Chelsea. 



DlSA LACERA VAR. MULTIFIDA. — It having 

 been stated in Mr. Brown's note on this plant in 

 our last issue that the engraving was taken from a 

 plant grown by Mr. F. W. Bcrbidge, Trinity College 

 Gardens. Dublin, that gentleman writes to disclaim 

 the honour of having done so, stating that this is 

 due to Mr. Bedford, gardener at Straffan House, Co. 

 Kildare. 



Phylloxera Laws in Russia.— In order to 



protect Vines in Russia against the introduction of 

 the Phylloxera, the Minister of the Interior, in con- 

 junction with the Minister of Finance, has found it 

 necessary to modify as follows the law relative to the 

 importation, to Russia, of living plants, fruits, and 

 vegetables : — 



Article 1. — The importation, into Russia, of living 

 plants (except Vines) coming from Germany, Bel- 

 gium, Holland, Denmark, England, Sweden, and 

 Norway, is permitted at the following frontier stations 

 of Wiertzbolov (Wirballen), Alexaudrovo, and 

 Mlava ; at all the White Sea ports, and also three of 

 the Baltic, at Libau, Riga, and St, Petersburg ; and at 

 the Black Sea ports of Odessa and Batoum. 



Article 2. — Consignments of living plants should 

 be accompanied with certificates from the local 

 authorities of the countries from whence they come 

 testifying: a, that the packages do not contain Vine 

 plants;/', that the individual or business-firm sending 

 the plants is not engaged in Vine culture. 



Remark 1. — Consignments of living plants will be 

 delivered by the customs-house authorities to the 

 consignees, if these packages be proved by written 

 attestation not to contain Vine plants. 



Remark 2. — The Imperial Botanic Garden of St. 

 Petersburg and the Imperial Universities have the 

 right of importing living plants from all countries 

 without producing the aforementioned affirma- 

 tions. These importations must be authorised by 

 the Finance Minister for the Botanic Garden on the 

 requisition of the " Minister of Domains,'' and for 

 the universities by the mutual consent of the 

 Finance Minister and the Minister of Domains, pro- 

 vided that the universities fulfil the obligations 

 imposed by Article 1277 of the Custom-house rules. 



Article 3. — The introduction of foreign Grapes 

 of all descriptions, and mare of Grapes, is authorised 

 through all custom-houses through which living 

 plants can be imported, with the exception of the 

 port of Batoum. 



Remark 3. — Grapes sent from abroad must not be 

 packed in Vine leaves. 



Article 4. — The importation of fruits and vege- 

 tables of all species from foreign sources is autho- 

 rised at all the custom-houses with the exception of 

 those on the south-west frontier of the countiy, as 

 far as, and including the custom-house of, Volot- 

 chisk. 



Article 5. — The present law shall be in operation 

 two months after its publication ; that is to say, on 

 November 24 (December 6). 



Tulips at the Paris Exhibition, 1889— In 



the last week of November the firm of E. H. Krelahe 

 & Sox, Haarlem, Holland, planted in the Hor- 

 ticultural part of the Pai is Exhibition six beds, each 

 having an area of about 225 square feet, with late 

 Tulips selected (rom the.r new collection of breeders. 

 A large number of the l.ulbs are of the most diverse 



and splendid colours, and in more than 700 varieties. 

 Messrs. Krelaue are the first foreign exhibitors 

 whose exhibit is already installed. The Tulip beds 

 have received a place of honour in the large grass 

 plot which surrounds the fountain in front of the 

 Palace of the Trocadero. These bulbs, flowering 

 usually about the middle of May, may be expected 

 to be in bloom at about the time fixed for the 

 opening of the Exhibition. 



THE SEASON. — At one of the towns on the 

 Kentish coast this week we noticed as still in bloom 

 Roses of several kinds, Daisies, Pansies, Hollyhocks, 

 African Marigolds, French Marigolds, common 

 Marigolds, Marguerites, Godetias, Fuchsias, Clarkia, 

 Silene pendula, Saponaria ocymoides, Chrysanthe- 

 mums carinatum, in several forms, Convolvulus 

 minor, Iberis amara, Wallflower, Rockets. Vero- 

 nica Andersoni, and others ; Antirrhinums, Mig- 

 nonette, Centaurea Cyanus (Corn-flower(, Poppies 

 (P. somniferum), Larkspurs, Eschscholtzias, Core- 

 opsis, Collinsia bicolor, Nigella, blue Nemophila, 

 blue Passion - flowers, Pelargoniums, Tamarisk, 

 Ligustrum ovalifolium, Primroses, Auriculas, 

 Tritonias, Hydrangeas, and, of course, ordinary 

 Chrysanthemums — these latter vigorous, full of 

 bloom, and with a richness of colour which 

 is conferred by sea air only. From Corn- 

 wall, on the other side of the kingdom, Mr. Bos- 

 cawex sends us blooms of the Lemon-scented 

 Verbena (Aloysia), of Jackman's Clematis, Solanum 

 jasminoides, Rhyncospermum jasminoides, while a 

 turkey hatched a brood of nine beneath an Abies 

 Nordmanniana — certainly a very unusual occurrence 

 at this season. From Mr. 11. Hardy, Bures, Suffolk, 

 come flowers of many various kinds of plants gathered 

 in the open air, and which were mostly fresh and 

 quite unblemished. We remark in the collection before 

 us, Indian Pink, Rudbeckia, Sweet William, Holly- 

 hock, varieties of Calendula, Carnations, Pansy, 

 Stocks, and others more or less tender. 



COSMOS BIPINNATUS.— Although introduced in 

 1790, this pretty half-hardy annual is very seldom 

 grown in this country, and is but little known. The 

 seed may be sown in the open border in April, and 

 it will eventually grow to about 3 feet high, bearing 

 a quantity of claret-coloured flowers similar to single 

 Dahlias in form and size, the finely cut foliage add- 

 ing greatly to the distinct and pleasing character of 

 the plant. 



SMITHFIELD Club SHOW.— This annual event 

 opened on Monday, December 10, at the Agricul- 

 tural Hall, Islington, and the usual complement to 

 the show of live stock — which, by the way, was larger 

 than in the previous year — was made by the seed 

 trade which bad large displays of Mangtls, 

 Swedes, Kohl Rabi, grass seeds, seed corn, 

 Potatos, &c. We remarked in the galleries 

 stands of these farm products set up by Messrs. 

 Gibbs & Co., whose specimens of Robinson's Ox- 

 heart Cabbage were very fine ; and the various 

 fodder grass plants shown in the dried state. A 

 small stand of roots, seeds, &c, was exhibited by 

 Messrs. Oakshot & Millard, of Reading ; that of 

 Messrs. Webb & Sons, Kinver, Stourbridge, was 

 of great extent, and was arranged as a bank 

 rising from the floor to a height of 15 feet — 

 roots of various kinds were the most important items 

 on this stand ; although farm seeds were likewise 

 largely shown, including fine samples of Kinver 

 Chevalier Barley and Challenger Wheat. Messrs. 

 Raynbird, Caldecott, Bawtrey, Dowling & Co., 

 Basingstoke, showed an excellent lot of cereal and 

 other seeds, roots, &c. The exhibit of Messrs. 

 Carter & Co., Holborn, of roots and seeds was very 

 extensive, especially the sections of grass seeds and 

 Potatos. Carter's Imperial Globe Turnips were remark 

 able for size and fine form. A smaller stand was set up 

 by Mr. John King, Coggeshall, Essex, consisting of 

 Potatos, Kohl Rabi, and other field roots. Messrs. 

 Sutton & Sons, Reading, had their usual large 

 stand well filled with tine specimens of all 

 the kinds of roots grown on the farm; 



large quantities of seeds of all kinds, with special 

 grass mixtures for certain kinds of soil. Their 

 Intermediate Carrot is a very superior strain. 

 Messrs. Harrison & Son, Leicester, showed a stand 

 of farm seeds and roots, and a very fine strain of 

 Leek. Forest trees, grasses, and the new hedge 

 plant, the Cherry Plum— Myrobella is the trade 

 name — were exhibited by Dicksons (Limited), 

 Chester, and, lastly, the Agricultural and Horticul- 

 tural Association made an interesting exhibit of 

 roots of all kinds, seeds, manures, feeding stuffs. &c. 



The New Vegetable.— A name is wanted for 

 the tubers of Stachys tuberifera. The name used in 

 the Paris markets is Crosnes, from the locality 

 whence they were introduced into the market, and 

 which would be pronounced as if written Crones in 

 English. Old Crones is not a complimentary epithet 

 for a new vegetable of such merit. Messrs. Carter, we 

 see, adopt the name Chinese Artichoke, which would 

 be appropriate but for the fact that they are neither 

 of Chinese origin, nor are they Artichokes. Why n< t 

 call them Stachys ? — not a very difficult word to 

 pronounce. 



Lycium barbarum as a Seaside Plant.— 



For holding up slipping banks there are few plants 

 to surpass this. It forms a profusion of long, thin, 

 underground runners, which interlace, and from 

 which are sent up a profusion of leaf-buds, which 

 form new plants. This is another instance of a plant, 

 native of a warm temperate, or even subtropical 

 country, which is nevertheless hardy here, like the 

 blue Passion-flower of Brazil or the Tritomas of 

 South Africa. 



New Uses for Mexican Fibre.— It is stated 

 in the October number of the Brushmaker, that 

 Mexican fibre, or Ixtle (Agave heteracantha), which 

 has of late been so largely used for scrubbing and 

 nail-brushes, has, for many 'years past, been also 

 used in the manufacture of corsets, principally in 

 Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, especially in the very 

 large factory at Haverhill in Essex. It is also said 

 to be woven into cloth suitable for window-blinds, 

 screens, &c, and in hot climates, when it is used to 

 keep the doors and windows open at night, these 

 blinds would be very useful. Quite recently the 

 fibre has found favour in unexpected quarters, 

 as it is now being very largely used in the manufac- 

 ture of artificial flowers. Notwithstanding these 

 uses, and others which may yet be found for it, the 

 great demand for it is still for brushmaking — a 

 demand that is increasing both in this country and 

 in every part of Europe. 



The National Auricula and Carnation 

 and picotee Societies. — A largely attended 

 meeting of the committee of the London Societies 

 took place, by the permission of the Horticultural 

 Club, in their rooms at the Hotel Windsor, on 

 Tuesday, the 11th inst., the Rev. H. H. D'Omrr.un 

 in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting 

 having been read, it was resolved that the offer of 

 the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, to 

 give the sum of £10 to each of the Societies, be 

 accepted ; and it was arranged that the exhibition of 

 the National Auricula Society should take place in 

 the Drill Hall, Westminster, on Tuesday, April 23, 

 in connection with the meeting of the Royal Hor- 

 ticultural Society on that date ; and that of the 

 National Carnation and Picotee Society on Tuesday, 

 July -'■">, also in conjunction with a meeting of the 

 Society. The Council having expressed a desire 

 that something in the form of a conference should 

 take place at each of the shows, having reference to 

 the particular flowers exhibited, by way of im- 

 parting additional interest to the Society's 

 meetings, a sub-committee, consisting of the Rev, 

 H. H. D'Ombrain, H. Selfb Leonard, R. Dean, 

 and J. Douglas was appointed to make the neces- 

 sary arrangements, and report at a future meeting 

 of the committee. The schedule of prizes offered at 

 the exhibition of the National Auricula Society was 

 passed in the form in which it appeared at the last 



