162 



THE GARDENERS 



CHRONICLE. 



[March 9, 1912 



part— Miss E. X. Thomas, Mr. T. G. Hill, Dr. 

 Ethel de Frame, Mr. A. G. Tansley, the Presi 

 lent, Di Otto Staof, Sec.L.S., and Mr. Ernest 

 Lee/the author replying. 



Mr. C. E. Salmon exhibited an abnormal 

 Orchil with enlarged drawings of the flowers, 

 with the following note: 



On April 23, 1911, Mr. P. H. Mitchmer gath- 

 ered this remarkable specimen on the chalk downs 

 above Reigate, and brought it to me for deter- 

 mination. At a first glance, Habenana viridis or 



Herminium Monorchia might be suggested as a 



name, for the stem was about 4 in. high, with a 

 spike of small, greenish-yellow flowers. 



A close examination soon dispelled such an idea, 

 and I saw at once that the specimen was unlike 

 anv British wild Orchid. Knowing that Mr. 

 W* 1$. Hemsley had studied various species of 

 this order very closely, I at once packed up the 

 specimen and " despatched it to him. I cannot 

 do better than read the careful report he made 

 upon it, onlv regretting that he is unable to be 

 present to-night to explain personally the various 



points. He writes : — 



/'The suggestion of Dr. Focke (whose letter 

 lay upon the table) is not very helpful, as the 

 plant to which he refers Droved to be a three- 

 lipped and three-spurred Orchis Mono. 



44 The plants associated with this abnormal 

 Orchis on the Reigate Downs include Orchis mas- 

 cula, O. Morio (sparingly), O. ustulata (spar- 

 inglv), Aceras, and, not far away, Habenana bi- 

 folia; but of all these, O. mascula would be the 

 only species in flower on such an early date as 



April 23. m , 



44 I should be very glad to hear any suggestions 



as to the origin of the plant. " 



I mav mention that Mr. Hemsley showed the 

 drawing at a meeting of the Scientific Committee 

 of the Royal Horticultural Society on August 29, 

 1911, but* no conclusion was arrived at. 



DURHAM, NORTHUMBERLAND, AND 



NEWCASTLE INCORPORATED 

 BOTANICAL AND HORTICULTURAL. 



Kkbruary 29.— The report of the council of 

 this society for 1911, presented at the annual 

 meeting held on this date, roveals an unfortunate 

 financial state of affairs. Owing to a continuous 

 rainfall on the second day of the summer show, 

 which was held in Newcastle last July, a loss of 

 £258 6s. lid. had to be recorded, and this in 

 Fpite of the fact that a saving of £100 was effected 

 in the expenses of the show. 



The bucietv is faced with a cash deficit of 

 £314 lis. 4d.\ after crediting the .sum of £90 5s. 

 received by donations to the deficiency fund, as 

 a result of* the appeal recently issued. With the 

 hopes of raising funds to enable the society to 

 again hold the usual summer show, it had been 

 arranged to hold a cafe chantant on April 13, 

 when several well-known local amateurs had pro- 

 mised to give an entertainment. 



The principal creditors were allowing the 

 society to defer part payment of their accounts 

 until 'sufficient funds were raised. With the ex- 

 pected proceeds of the cafe chantant and the pro- 

 mised co-operation of the principal creditors, the 

 record of the society, it was hoped, would be 



maintained and the usual summer show held. 



The council su^jested that the next summer 

 show should be held on July 3, 4, and 5. 



some little movement for the encouragement of 

 horticulture in the way of exhibitions. Their 

 liabilities in the gross were only £4,737, and 

 competent valuers had said that the land at 

 Old Trafford was worth £50,000. If that sum 

 were realised and invested in a fund for the 

 encouragement of horticulture a very important 

 movement might be started in Manchester. 

 Allusion was made in the report to the fact 

 that some scheme had been suggested and 

 would be put before that meeting, but the 

 scheme had not been approved or adopted by 

 the council. It was a scheme suggested by 

 their secretary, Mr. P. Weathers. Mr. 

 William Stones said the scheme referred to was 

 not a subject for discussion at the annual meet- 

 ing It must be dealt with at a special meeting 

 convened for the purpose. He suggested, 

 therefore, that the paragraph referring to put- 

 tin^ forward the scheme at that meeting should 

 be "deleted. Mr. C. E. Estcourt supported the 

 bu "creation, which was accepted by the meeting. 

 The report was then adopted. The officers for 

 the year were elected. 



MANCHESTER BOTANICAL. 



February 21.— A general meeting of the 

 members of the Royal Botanical and Horticul- 

 tural Society of Manchester and the Northern 

 Counties was held on this date in the Lord 

 Mayor's Parlour. The Lord Mayor (Mr. Coun- 

 cillor Royse) presided, and moved the adoption 

 of the leport of the Council and the financial 

 statement" He said it was satisfactory to find 

 the society had £840 more in hand than it had 

 twelve months ago. It was also satisfactory to 

 find that the net liability had been reduced to 

 £4,737. Against that liability the society had 

 the value cf the land at Old Trafford. The 

 society was getting into smooth waters, and 

 was quite justified in again considering the ques- 

 tion of holding of shows. It was, however, a 

 matter that must be carefully considered. Mr. 

 J. B. M'Kerrow seconded the motion. He said 

 that the idea had been propounded in the last few 

 weeks that the society's financial position was 

 so safe and strong that it was time to make 



©bttuari) 



Herbert J. Adams.- We regret to an- 

 nounce the death of Mr. Herbert J. Adams, of 

 Roseneath, Enfield. Mr. Adams was a vice- 

 president of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent 

 Institution for very many years, a life Fellow of 

 the Royal Horticultural Society, a prominent 

 entomologist, and a well-known amateur culti- 

 vator of Orchids and other plants. 



DEBATING SOCIETIES. 



CHELMSFORD &. DISTRICT GARDENERS'.— 



A meeting of this association was held on the 16th ult., 

 when about 100 members were present; Mr. W. Seabrook 

 presided. Mr. F. J. Chittenden, director of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society's laboratories at Wisley, gave a lecture 

 on "The Pollination of Orchards " Mr. Chittenden referred 

 to experiments he carried out at the Essex County Council 

 gardens at Chelmsford in 1902 ; the results were ; that 18 out 

 of 20 varieties of Apples did not set their fruits when the 

 blossoms were protected from insects: there was also a 

 similar percentage in the case of Pears. These experiments 

 showed that an isolated fruit tree may not be productive, and 

 that in orchards where large areas are planted with one 

 variety, trees in the centre of the orchard were liable to ue 

 non-fertile. 



READING GARDENERS'.-The fortnightly meet- 

 ing of this society was held in the Abbey Hall, on the 

 19th ult. ; Mr. F. G. Drew presided. The lecturer for the 

 evening was Mr. F. Barnes, of the University College Gar- 

 dens, Heading, his subject being « The Production of Early 

 Vegetables and Salads." Mr. Barnes described the cul- 

 tural details necessary to secure early and continuous crops 

 of vegetables amenable to forcing, such as Potatos, Carrots, 

 Turnips, Beetroot, Radishes, Cauliflowers, Rhubarb, As- 

 paragus, Sea Kale, Peas and Beans. In dealing with early 

 14 Saladings," lucid instructions were given as to the best 

 methods of producing a supply of Cucumbers, Tomatos, 

 Radishes, Lettuces, Dandelion and Chicory. 



BATH GARDENERS'.-The fortnightly ireti-g 

 of this society was held on the 26th u t. ; the i resi- 

 dent, Mr. C. T. Fcr croft, oc^uped the chair. A paper 

 was read by Mr. HilLer on •• Thoughts on Cottage Gar- 

 dining/' 



KILMARNOCK HORTICULTURAL.-The third 

 annual social gathering of the members of the above asso- 

 ciation was held on Friday, the 23rd ult.; over 160 persons 

 sat down to supper. Following the supper, a short address 

 on the work of the association was given by the president, 

 Mr. R. K. Sillars. 



CLEVEDON & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL. 

 —A meeting of this newly-formed delating society was held 

 on Monday the 4th inst., the Rev. Sandford presiding. 

 A paper was read by the Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. G. 

 Edwards, on "The Cultivation of Onions for Exhibition/ 

 The lecturer gave details of the preparation of the soil 

 for Onions by digging, trenching, and manuring. He also 

 described the best way of raising Onions under glass, and 

 of hardening the plants previous to planting them out-of- 

 doors. At the next meeting Mr. H. Beazes will give a 

 paper on M Liliums." 



Apple Lane's Prince Albert: J. R. M. This 

 variety is regarded as a culinary Apple, and 

 you may expect to be disqualified if you exhibit 

 it in classes for dessert fruits. 



Book : F. B., South Norwood. The editor of the 

 British Fern Gazette is Mr. C. T. Druery, 

 11, Shaa Road, Acton. 



Correction.— Owing to a printer's error, Cydonia 

 was printed " Cyclonia " in our last issue, 

 p. 138, column two. 



Gardening Employment in America: J. D. M. 

 The opportunities for English gardeners in 

 America are greater in nurseries and trade 

 concerns than in private establishments. A 

 list of addresses of the principal nurserymen 

 and seedsmen in New York will be found in 

 the horticultural directories. But it is con- 

 trary to the law of that country to obtain an 

 appointment before arriving in the United 

 States, therefore it would be useless for you to 

 advertise in the American horticultural 



journals. 



Grubs: Ireland. The grubs are those of the 

 common cockshafer, Melolontha vulgaris.— 

 J. E. The millepedes contained in the glass 

 tube are : (1) The small, pale species is Poly- 

 desmus complanatus ; (2) the large, dark species 

 is Julus terrestris, and the long, thin, pink- 

 spotted species is Julus pulchellus. 



Lobelia cardinalis : Fergus. Your plants are 

 affected with a disease caused by Phoma 

 devastatrix. Clear away all the diseased 

 plants as they will never bloom, and spray the 

 remainder with a fungicide two or three times 

 at intervals of a week. 



Names of Fruits : E. Beck. Annie Elizabeth. 

 —B. G. A. Cullen.— S. P. A. Catillac.— 



F. Z. 1. Belle Dubois; 2, Greenup's Pippin; 

 3, Scarlet Pearmain. 



Names of Plants : A. S. <k Co. 1, Comus Mas ; 

 2, Populus sp., probably P. canescens ; 3, 

 Ligustrum lucidum ; 4, Helleborus foetidus.— 



G. H. B. 1, Symphoricarpus orbiculatus ; 2, 

 Hippophae rhamnoides (male form) ; 3, Veronica 

 Traversii ; 4, Pteris floribunda ; 5, Osmanthus 

 ilicifolius; 6, Prunus Davidiana.— J. C. B-, 

 Queenstown. 1, Cypripedium Boxalin; ^ 

 Forsythia viridissima ; 3, Pelargonium mig- 

 rans; 4, Eupatorium Weinmanmanum.— Lien. 

 1, Begonia sub-peltata argentea ; 2, Chlorophy- 

 tum elatum variegatum.— F. H. 1, Xylobjum 

 squalens ; 2, Coelogyne iiaccida ; 3, Stehs ophio- 

 glossoides : 4, Pteris gerannf olia —J . O . 

 Genista hispanica.-#. H. A. 1, Chionodoxa 

 Lucili®; 2, C.-L. var. sardensis ; 3, bciua 

 sibirica. . . 



Peach Trees Diseased: E. A. C The injur} 

 is caused by the fungus Eutvpella prunastn. 

 Remove the badlv diseased branches, and pains 

 the remainder with a mixture of lime and son 

 soap. 



Primula obconica Causing Skin Poisoning . 

 A. J. K. The articles on Primula obconica to 

 which you refer appeared in vol. xxv ot tn 

 Gardeners' Chronicle (see especially April u* 

 1899. p. 253, where a remedy is given). * 

 general article on Skin Poisoning by Plants^ 

 published in the issue for August «, !**>» 

 110. Carbolic ointment was recommenaea 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Acacia dealbata : Botanist. If you can place 

 your Acacia in a warm greenhouse you 

 may safely prune the plant as you suggest; 

 otherwise it would not be wise to prune below 

 the lateral shoots. After the plant has been 

 pruned it is essential to guard against excess 

 of moisture at the root. Spraying the stem 

 several times a day on dry days will help it to 

 break into growth. Should your plant require 

 re-potting the best time to do this is when it 

 has made half-an-inch or so of new growth. 



A 



as a cure for this complaint in Garchnei* 

 Chronicle, September 14, 1907, p. 205. 



Spir^a japonica Diseased: Polegate. in 

 disease is caused by Botrytis cinerea. i _ 

 plants should be sprayed at into rvate of iou 

 days with a solution of liver of sulphur ana 

 afforded abundant ventilation. 



Vine Leaves Withering : II. <?- There is ^no 

 disease present on the leaves.' The *1™f*™ 

 suggest eelworm at the root. 1* «noib 

 detected on the rootlets eelworm is almosx 

 tainly present, in which case quick-lime snou 

 be worked into the soil. -mAE? 



Wire Netting as a Support for CL ' LI \; ire 



Peas: Enquirer. Though °rdinaiy 

 netting is sometimes used for ™pporu»a 

 it is not to be recommended. If a sue » fca 

 for sticks has to be used, employ fW 

 of galvanised iron specially made tor in ^ 

 pose, procurable in lengths, 6 feet 

 5 feet in height, at about 5s. each. 



^ - ^ w T T T.Fi.B—J-'V 

 Communications Received.— vy. o. *— j e . u 



__I,ich._W. H. A._J. E. B A. S. A.-J. ^ » Gr0W er- 



J. J— A. M. S.-H. B._C. A.B., coiniim.ux^-- _j 

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2s. 2Jd. for R. <*• u * 





S. A. - 



G. W. Schr jeder (Thanks for 



