16 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



January i, 1898. 



Why rot a National Orchid Society ?— E. S., Regent's Park, asks : 



" How is it that there is not a National Orchid Society ? We have our chrysanthe- 

 mum, rose, dahlia, pansy and viola, carnation, cactus, and other special national 

 horticultural societies, besides general horticultural associations and the Royal 

 Horticultural Society, and it seems hard to be understood why no one has hitherto 

 started a special national society f}r orchids. There is quite as much interest 

 taken in orchids, and quite as many cultivate them both for pleasure or profit as in 

 the case of other special subjects which now have a society to themselves. A 

 National Orchid Society, if set going, would, I feel sure, meet with support from 

 all quarters." The reason why there is no such body as a National Orchid Society 

 is, we believe, largely due to the fact that since orchids became at all popular the 

 Royal Horticultural Society has devoted special attention to them, so that they 

 receive at least as much recognition as any national society could hope to give. 

 The Orchid Committee of the R.H.S. consists of experts frjm all parts of the 

 country, amateur, professional, and trade growers, and they make awards with 

 great liberality. An orchid lover joining the R.H.S. obtains all the privileges he 

 could expect from a national society and many additional ones ; his exhibits will 

 be judged if new or rare varieties, species, or hybrids, and groups be awarded 

 medals according to their excellence ; he has free admission to the fortnightly 

 orchid displays at the Drill Hall, and to the finest orchid show in the world, viz., 

 that at the Temple Gardens each May. In addition to the R.H.S. there is a 

 special orchid society at Manchester instituted last year for the convenience of 

 northerners. 



Mildew and Rust on Carnations.— F. C, Appleby: Mr. G. Wythes 

 writes : When advising sulphur liquid for plants infested with mildew and rust, 

 I was thinking of Bentley's Mildew Specific ; this is a convenient preparation 

 ready for use, and a sure remedy for fungoid growths. For a small quantity of 

 plants, and cases where the above is not at command, it will be well to ado pt the 

 older remedy of sulphur liquid dressings, which we prepare by mixing half a 

 pound of flowers of sulphur with a gallon of tepid water, well mix the whole and dip 

 the plants in the mixture, the latter allowed to remain on the leaves for a time. 

 With the sulphur I have used a small quantity of soluble petroleum at the rate 

 of a wine-glass to the gallon, and have found it a great check to rust if applied 

 before the disease had spread far. I am aware that with plants badly affected 

 the best preparations will fail, and it may be necessary to cut away diseased leaves 

 and dress those partially infested. A dry dressing of sulphur and wood ashes is 

 more used as a surface dressing to prevent the disease ; we sprinkle it freely over 

 the standing ground or on stages, the mixture consisting of dry sulphur and newly- 

 burned wood ashes. It is also an excellent plan to dust the plants, when dry, on 

 fine days ; or what is better, frequently alter the positions of the pots, but not 

 necessarily moving them from frame to frame. We also hold each plant upside 

 down and cover the under sides of the leaves with the mixture advised. Most 

 growers are aware that is the part of the plant most attacked, and dusting overhead 

 is not greatly beneficial. Not only is arresting the disease essential, but pre- 

 venting it if possible is far better. In our moist atmosphere we find it necessary 

 to ventilate freely on all favourable occasions ; and to allow a free current of air 

 through the frames, we raise the sashes both top and bottom. 



The Gyrsy Moth.— J. II., Tunbridge Wells : The moth you have received 

 from Germany and submitted to us is the Gypsy Moth \Portheiria dispar)^ a very 

 troublesome pest in countries favourable to its multiplication. Fortunately the 

 conditions that obtain in the United Kingdom are not favourable ; but in some 

 Kuropean countries it multiplies at a rapid rate, and the caterpillars do an immense 

 amount of damage to both timber and fruit trees by stripping them of their leaves. 

 It is abundant in some parts of the United States, and in Massachusetts it is so 

 abundant as to have necessitated repressive measures on a large scale under the 

 direction of the State authorities. According to a report published by the Board 

 of Agriculture of the State giving particulars of the work that had been 

 accomplished in checking the ravages of the pest 4he Gypsy Moth was not known 

 in America until 1868, when it was introduced by a French naturalist, who im- 

 ported it in the course of his experiments with silkworms, and upon some of the 

 moths escaping he announced the fact publicly. This took place at Medford, 

 Massachusetts, and within twelve years from the time of its introduction the moth 

 had become a serious nuisance. Within twenty years it had spread into thirty 

 townships, and gained a foothold in each without attracting public attention. In 

 184S9 and 1890 the Gypsy Moth caterpillars were so plentiful in various districts as 

 to eat off the leaves from all trees in gardens, orchards, shrubberies, and woods. The 

 caterpillars were, indeed, so thick on the trees that it is averred they could be 

 heard eating. They climbed over the fences until they made them quite black. 

 They entered the houses, and were even, it is said, found in 11 beds when the 

 blankets were turned down." It is considered that if the State had taken no action 



in this matter the caterpillars would have increased to such an extent that they 



waging war a^air 



the course of U 



destroyed. 



tir 



r» "" «»l »" ttW, M« piciuic ui uL-vaMuuon, ana promising m a snort time to kill 

 every tree and shrub and all vegt t ition in any region visited by the creatures." In 

 1 89 1 an Act was passed by the Massachusetts Legislature making provisions for 



moth in a systematic manner, and it is estimated that in 



t six weeks of the year nearly jjO< > , 000 , ooo t/gw were 



As the moth hibernates in the egg form, the destruction of this enor- 

 mous nurnt>er must have greatly checked the pests. Grease banding and spray- 

 ing with arsenate of lead were found to give good results, but winter dressing* 

 for the purpose of destroying the eggs were the most effectual. Insectivorous 

 birds of many kinds eat the caterpillars, but in Massahusetts they do not appear to 

 have been sufficiently numerous to hold the moth in check. 



Names of Plants — T. P., Walton ! Ccrlogyne fimbriate 

 \\ . \\ ., \\ at ford : Petasites fragrans, also known as Tussilago fragrans. 



plant has become naturalised in some parts of the country, b 



it is of great u c for conservatory decon 



2, Callistemon 



speciosus ; 3, rot 

 Pol) podium subauricula- 



r, 



r in 



This 



ut, though common, 



• , • _-tion during winter, especially by reason o( 



Us heliotrope odour. 



K. Ii, Henley: I, Cestrum elegans ; 

 recognised, roses are out of character at this season : 4. 

 turn ; C f Pelargonium echinatum ; send when in flower 

 F. S. t Bletchley: 1, Adiantum cuneatum deflexun 

 Dichorisandra musaica ; 4, Cissus discolor. 



N. P. If*, Sheffield : w # , f _ f wmwmmmmmw _ 



Rossi aspersum ; 4. M udevallia to^arensi, \ U is the "wc^on & 

 auce but one Mower or a scape, two or three is the rule. 



< )ram^ me k S in°/ °" m<Amm : U Adams' Pearroain ; 2, Blenheim 



t >rangr ; King or the rtppms* 



S. M. T. f Chester : 1 ~ 



1, Erica hycmali* ; 2, Viburn 



In 



I 



OJontonlossum 



»,lO 



ran ; 4, Hetty Gee 

 I>. II. B. , Sunderland: I, Norf 

 Pippin ; 4, Lamb Abbey Pearmam, 



wcr of Glamis 



Minchull 



Golden Harvey ; 3, Ribston 



S. N , Bath: I, Ilambledon Deufc Ans ; 2, Hanwell Souring; 3, Beurre 

 d'Aremberg ; 4, Winter Nelis ; 5, Glou Morceau. 



Communications Received.— G.W.— J. S — T. S.— H. C. P.— J. c. T 

 _ A . D.— R. P.— II. N. — R. N — PI. C— W. W.— J. M. S.— J. P.-F. E.~ 

 R . e.-G. E.-F. F.-D. T. F. — C. G.— J. J. — H. N.— K. B.-F. K. 

 W. E. W.-J. P.— F. S.— N. P. M.— M. G. -S. M. T.— D. H. B.— S. N. 

 L . C.— H. II. T.— C. P.— J. V. and S.— H. and S.— A. W.— R. D. 



F. and K.— J. C. S.— L. and B.— S. and M. 

 S.— D. and Co.— C. T. and Co. 



C. L.— S. D. and S.— F. S. and 



Markets. 



Covent Garden. 



Trade is rather quieter after the holidays, ahheugh supplies are fairly large andgjod. 

 Fruits and nuts are most in request, and cut flowers are greatly ii demand at moderate 

 prices. 



Fruit.— English apples, 4s. to 9s. per bushel ; American and Nova Scotian, 

 14s. to 35s. per barrel; French pears, 5s. to 85. per crate; 4s. to 9s. per box; 

 English grapes, is. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per lb.; Almeria, 103. to 20s. per barrel; bananas, 

 5s. to 10s. per bunch; pineapples, is. 6d. to 4s. each; lemons, 8s. to 15s.; 

 oranges, 8s. to 18s. ; pomegranates, 7s. to 8s. 6d. per case ; tangerines, 8d. to is. 6d. 

 per box ; Canary tomatos, iod. to is. 6d. per tray ; 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. per case; dates, 

 10s. to 12s. per cwt ; French chestnuts, 6s. to 9s. ; Italian, 12s. to 14s. per bag. 



Flowers. — Arums, 4s, to 6s. ; carnations, is. to 3s. ; chrysanthemums, 6d. to 

 2s. 6d. ; gardenias, 3s. to 5s. ; eucharis, 4s. to 6s. ; Lillium Harrisi, 4s. to 6s. ; tea 

 roses, 6d. to is. ; pink roses, is. to 3s. ; cattleyas, 6s. to 103. ; Odontoglossum 

 crispum, 2s. to 4s. ; and tuberoses, 3d. to 4d. per dozen blooms ; Adiantum 

 cuneatum, 4s. to 8s. ; chrysanthemums, 3s. to 93. ; marguerites, 2s. to 4s. ; migno- 

 nette, 2s. to 4s.; pelargoniums (scarlet), 5s. to 6s.; and violets, is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. 

 per dozen bunches ; azaleas, 9d. to is. 6d. ; stephanotis, 4s. to 6s. ; white narciss, gd. 

 to 2s. ; Roman hyacinths, 6d. to is. ; lily of the valley, is. to 2s. ; and pelar- 

 goniums, 5d. to 9d. per dozen sprays ; bouvardias, 6d. to 8d. ; white lilac, 3s. to 4s. 

 per bunch. 



Vegetables.— English onions, 5s. to 5s. 6d. per cwt.; Valencia, 5s. 6d. to 6s. 

 per case ; horseradish, 12s. to 16s. ; sprue, 5s. to 7s. ; celery, 9s. to 183. per dozen 

 rolls ; sprouts, is. 6d. to 2s. per half-sieve ; seakale, 12s. to 18s. per dozen punnets ; 

 French lettuce, is. 3d. to is. 6d. ; endive, is. 6d. to is. iod. ; artichokes, 2s. to 

 2s. 6d. ; cauliflowers, is. 6d. to 2s. per dozen ; beetroots, 2s. to 3s. ; cabbages, 4s. to 

 6s. per tally; turnips, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. ; carrots, 2s. to 3s. ; parsley, is. 6d. to 2s. per 

 dozen bunches ; eschallots, 2s. to 2s. 6d. per 12 lb. ; potatos, 55s. to 100s. per ton. 



Borough Potato Market- 

 There is a moderate trad3 passing at prices recently quoted. Stocks good and 



supplies light. 



Dunbars, 115s. to 125s.; Hebron, 85s. to 105s.; Snowdrops, 85s. to 95s.; Bruce, 

 Maincrops, and Sutton's Regents, 75s. to 85s. ; Reading Giants, 75s. ; Saxons, 75s. 

 to 80s. per ton ; Belgians, 3s. 3d. to 3s. 9d, ; Germans, 3s. gd. to 4s. per bag. 



THE WEATHER 



W 



Stations. 



Temperature of the Air. 



Highest. Lowest. 



Fahrenheit, 



Mean. 



Fahren 

 heit. 



Centi- 

 grade. 



Rainfall. 



In Centi 

 metres. 



London 



Croydon ....... 



Brighton 



Bristol 



Wolverhampton 

 Norwich 



Nottingham .. 



Liverpool 



H udder s field .. 



Bradford 



Hull 



44'9 



46*0 



47-0 



45'o 



46- 0 



46*0 



449 

 45o 



53*o 



47- 0 



23'3 



30-8 

 24*0 

 24*0 



21*2 

 20*0 



19*5 



2J'0 

 24*0 



35'8 



34"9 

 39*6 



34^ 

 34'6 

 35'4 



/ 



34*8 

 37'4 

 34*7 



2'II 



0*02 



0*05 



V6l 



0*02 



! 005 



4*22 



o'oo 



o'oo 



1*44 



o'oo 



0*00 



i'44 



0*00 



0 00 



1 '89 



0*02 



005 



2"o5 



o'oo 



0 00 



156 



o'oo 



o'oo 



* 3 "00 



o'oi 



0*03 



1 50 



o'oo 



0 00 



The mean reading of the Barometer during the week at Greenwich was 30*28 inches, and that 

 of the Thermometer 35°*8, the latter being 2°"o below the week's average in the 50 years 

 1811-90. The d' * - ' ' ' ' • • ■ ■ ■ - * ! - 



35 per cent, below tne week's average in the 16 years iaoo— 75, 



sunshine in the week was 12'g hours. Th^ measured rainfall amounted to o" 02 of an inch. 



lct 33 o t iuc lauer Deing 2" 9 dciow me wccr & average in iuc 3 - 



irection of the wind was easterly, the horizontal movement of the air being 

 the week's average in the 16 years 1860—75, The duration of registered bright 



CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



C. Platz and Son, Erfurt, Germany.— Trade Seed List. 



B. S. Williams and Son, Upper Holloway, London, N. — Seeds and Sundries. 



J. Peed and bONs, Roupell Park Nurseries, Norwood, S.E.— Seeds. 



J. Veitch and Sons, King's Road, Chelsea.— Seeds and Sundries. 



H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley and Eynsford. — Home-grown Seeds, 



Harrison and Sons, Leicester.— Leicester Seeds. 



Alp ft ED Woodroffe, Auckland, N.Z. — Fruit Trees and Novelties. 



A. \V. P. Pike, Windsor Place, Cardiff.— Carna ions, &c. 



R. Owen, Castle Hili , Maidenhead. — Chrysanthemums, Begonias, &c. 



Fotheringham and King, Dumfries. — Ornamental Tree*, &c. 



J. C. Schmidt, Erfurt.— Novelties for 1898. 



Little and Hallantyne, Carlisle.— Garden Seeds. 



STUART and Mein, Kelso, Scotland— Gardening Guide. 



ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. 



AUCTIONS. 



Wednesday, January 5.— Rose and Fruit Trees, Border Plants, Bulbs, &c, at J. C. Stevens's 



Rooms. 



Thursday, January 6.— Great Sale of Border Plant-, at J. C. Stevens's Rooms. 

 Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, January 5, 6, and 7.— Azaleas, Lilies, Roses, Orchids, 



&c, at Protheroe and Morris's Room . 



• • • 



■ . 



... 



Answers to Correspondent* 



( 'atalo^ues Received 

 Chrysanthemums for 1898 

 Coxa Orange Pippin Apple 

 I >essert Apple James Grieve ... 

 Engagements lor the Ensuing Week 

 Exhibitions and Meetings 



Gonversazione of the Scottish Horti- 

 cultural Association 



R'ading Gardeners Mutual Improvement 

 Association 

 Hardy Yuccas 

 l ily of the Valley Forcing 

 I .ime and Liming 

 Note s of the Week : 

 The New Year 

 Vitality of Seeds 

 Worms... ... 



Pruning Ornamental Trees 

 A New Year's Greeting 



CONTE 



P.\GE 1 



... 15 

 ... 16 



... 6 



... xo 



... 8 

 16 



. * • 



. • 1 



■ • • 



• • • 



• • • 



• • • 



» • • 



• • • 



* • • 



■ • * 



■ « • 



■ • • 



• - t 



• ■ • 



t • • 



i • • 



■ *• 



• • t 



• • • 



* ■ • 



• • ♦ 



• • • 



• • • 



HI 



• • • 



• • t 



• • • 



• • • 



« • ■ 



* t • 



• •t 



••• 



Ml 



• • • 



• •I 



• •• 



• ft t 



• ft * 



• • • 



13 



13 

 8 



it 



10 



x 

 z 



X 

 2 



4 



Markets ... 



Nep'irolepis 

 Obituary ... 

 Plucking Live Geese 



Peaches Indoors and Out 

 Some Good White Roses 

 St. Clare Castle, Ryde, Isle of Wight 

 The Influence of Horticulture 

 The National Horticultural School of Ver- 

 sailles 

 The Weather 



The Weather Plant 

 Varietal Development in British Ferns 

 Vegetables for Exhibition 

 Work for the Week 



PAG< 



I } 



m • n 



» • t 



• ft • 



• • • 



ft ft • 



ft ft • 



• • ft 



• ft ft 



• I t 



• ft ft 



• ■ 



• * • 



■ • • 



ft • 



• •• 



t ft f 



• •• 



ft ■ « 



ft ft ft 



/ 



7 



6 



5 



1 1 



12 



5 

 14 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Dessert Apple James Grieve 



A Beautiful Bank of Hardy Yuccas 

 Royal Garden*, Kew 



• •• 



