430 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
[Apri 6, 1895, 
that would materially reduce se cost of producing 
for a pro ilisi 
Phormium fibres were of the following yearly value: 
1, £281,514 ; 1892, E214. 542; 1893, £219,733, 
very depressed state of all white-ro oo s at 
present was very ö for its . deve: 
ew ning could be found 
tional quality. One of the most interesting p Palm- 
leaf productions was rafia, obtained from the epi- 
dermis of the leaves of a Madagascan . 8 
88 as ae aphia ruffia. As met with in this 
country, rafia 8 of wog 3 mens of 
a pale straw . very pliab ong. 
They were largely used by gardeners f for Sine see 
Locally they were woven into ornamental and durable 
mats. They have lately been eue plaited 
that island, it is probable that rafia will be shipped 
i at this, the price 
The lecturer 
P 
Several species 
of Raphia grew there in great abundance. Sir ALFRED 
oLoney, speaking of the Bamboo Palms (Raphia 
vinifera) in the Colony of Lagos, said that over an 
area of about 5000 square miles they formed a con- 
indig 
siderable proportion of the 
afia of good length and 
e strips hitherto received from 
possibly, a further source of rafia from West Africa 
in the Black Run fag (known in Ceylon and India 
s the Palmyra Palm), Borasaus flabellifer. Excel- 
lent epidermal sib from this Palm, closely res 
e exhibited by the lecturer nearl 
was mentioned that a curious use 
was made of the single fibres of Manilla and Sisal- 
hemps, They were laid side by side, and united by 
means of gelatine, under heavy pressure, into a tape- 
like form, producing a thin flattened straw, with a 
ad-quartera of this singular 
— was at Wohlen, in Switzerland. 
Hor RTICULTURAL CLUB.—The next conver- 
ke 
. Cooke, 
considerable interest. In order 
divided into two sections, one including all exhibitors, 
some of whom, living on the confines of the Victoria 
and those living in the latter or congested districts, 
such as Mile Ead, Limehouse, ney, &c. 
These divisions were found to work well. The exhi- 
bitors were, in all cases, working people, and several 
entries were made in all of the classes. 
WILLIAM THOMBON MEMORIAL FUND. — A 
Fund is being raised to commemorate the services 
to horticulture of the late oe Tomson, of 
pairs ords, the sum collected to be given to the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent vn a and the 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. Should a sufficient 
at enough to 
The 
A 
to place the ex 
on a footing of equality, the schedule of = izes Was 
sum be obtained, it is proposed to keep a pen sioner 
in perpetuity on the funds of each institution. To 
enable this to be done, a sum of £1250 is necessary; 
a perpetual 8 to the G. R. B. I. requiring £750, 
3 that ety he R. G. O. F. re the power of electing 
hes s bein ands of the Royal 
8 a Sai, Edinburgh. Should 
a sufficient sum not be obtained for this purpose, it 
is proposed to divide the amount raised between the 
two institutions proportionately. It is hoped that 
a very peii ae e will be received, not only on 
account of t em in which Mr. Tomson was 
held, but Miso < on pert: of the object to which the 
Fand is to be devoted. A Jarge and influential com- 
mittee has been formed to ie subscriptions in 
all pat of Great go in and Ireland. Mr. J. 
G. Vurrox, 544, King’s Road, Cheslea, is the Hon. 
Secrets for En ait 
HELIOTROPISM.— H. Rupp, residing near 
the Lachlan River, were as Baron von MUELLER 
f the leaves of Hibiscus 
morning the surface turned east, at noon they stood 
nearly horizontal, and at evening they face due 
west, 
AL 5 COLLEGE, CIREN 
DORE Groom, late Scholar of 
St. Sonne: N abe has been appointed 
the Professorship of Natural History in this 
institution. 
THE ORE GARDENERS’ pore shi —On Tuesday, 
March 19, the second bi- -mon 
Q 
Ore village school. -There were about forty entries 
for competition, = various loan exhibits. The 
committee of the y has decided to apply to the 
Sussex County Council for a grant towards a 
series of lectures on horticulture. 
JAPANESE GARDENS. — At the fortnightly 
WALTER WILKIN of Hand 
celain vase, and stated to be at least a hundred years 
old. Oar informant (The Birmingham Daily Post) 
describes the plant as being about 1 foot high, and, 
apparently a dwarfed specimen of Retinospora obtusa. 
Another exhibit was of a fish formed by fine fibrous 
roots intermingled with the stems of a Fern in full 
rowth. Evergreens and Conifers native to Japan 
Mr. Bick, gardener to 
e Hall, Harborne, 
as 32 of the hardiness ek 2 plants in our 
own climate 
“OLD AND YOUNG.” —This paper which, as its 
name implies, contains stories and articles interest- 
ing to readers of all ages, includes in the issue for 
ung chapt 
$ 4 re. 
entitled The Flower of Gala 
Water; a short Dr. C. 3 on “ The 
> article by 
Lore of Trees a,” and various other item 
MARCH MEETING OF THE ORCHIDÉENNE, — 
The second meeting in March was notable for the 
Va 
om the same exhibitor, Epidendrum 
Stamfordianum Mere Odontoglossum Rossi- 
. Cervantesi, O. Andersonianum. M. G. 
3 showed Eulophiella Elisabetbæ, the chief 
novelty of the last Ghent Quinquennial; M. Mite teau, 
Odontoglossum Laure Miteau, an unus y dark 
Rackeri, the purplish-lilac sepals were very distine- 
tire; Odontoglossum crispum, a fine truss of flowers; 
racemes of delicately-acented Cattleya chocoensis ; 
C. Trianei Veitchi came from M. Knight, ee 
of the Royal Gardens. A 1 O 
Ruckeri was received from MM, — Dr. 
Capart, Van Wambeke, and VHorticulture Inter 
.. ³˙·¹ 
nationale, all varieties of brilliant ouring 
Odontoglossum crispum bellinum, O. — 
pureum, with very large, well- coloured Aa 0. 
sceptrum Lindeni, very beautiful in colour and bm; 
O. excellens Tressenderianum, a natural hybrid; 0, 
Pescatorei X luteo-purpureum, with the lower half 
of the petals white, the lip white, with 1 
colo ured .. all * above were from 
M. Miteau sent some fine Cypripediume, piee 0. 
Boxalli, with an a nee black sepal; also a b 
C. Boxalli Chan Mu 
which bore fine clusters of large, closely- set flowers 
of good form ; in one specimen, of clear lilac colour, 
very distinct and elegant in tint; in the other 
blooms were of N ee of rose—both 
i M. Rolin sent a good Cattleya 
æ alba, and an — vee of Cypri- 
_ that M. Van 
2 
Cauwelaert, a fine 
has done well in reintroducing this Orchid, which is 
sure to be appreciated. Ch, De B. 
BARON SIR FERDINAND VON MUELLER, 
this year. MUELLE 
pension equal to about two-thirds of his salary, 
and the saving that would be effected by his retire- 
be so small that there is not 
slightest likelihood of his being asked to relinquish 
is work, which is a labour of love to him.“ 
a DICTIONNAIRE PRATIQUE D HORTICULTURE.” 
—The thirty-fifth part of this were has been 
issued by Ocrave Dorm, Place de 1’Odéon, Paris, 
We have so often recorded its merits, that it is only 
necessary now to aay that the pe issue brings 
the work down to the word Ligularia 
DiE NATURLICHEN PFLANZENFAMILIEN. — 
blication 
Dietrich Bran and Dr. Guz, togethe 
similar e in PVärioai orders of relatively minor 
importance. The — and Verbenaces 
form the subject of another par 
hl sg hice ET G 
taries are Mr. Gro. MoL 
Chingford, Essex; and Mr. 
Crescent, South Wocdford, Bees 
TLE OF FLO 
hy 
ry 
E 
ngements include & i 
petitions for the moat tastefully-decorated 
with silk banners for prizes), and the n 
