10G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 7, 1884. 
- One of the best of a fine genus is Aphelandra Eoezlii, and 
so useful that it deserves mention, though well known, probably, as one 
of the best of stove plants, There are few plants which flower so well as 
small specimens, and it can be cut back and flowered so readily upon 
short branches that it is of great value now that decorative plants of 
small size are in demand. At Gunnersbury we remember having seen 
some very fine specimens. It is easily raised from seeds, and is grown 
also from cuttings. Like the other species, it delights in rich soil with 
good heat and moisture. As may be remembered, this species is 
characterised by broad, silvery, deflexed leaves, above which stand erect 
the close spikes of brilliant orange-crimson flowers. 
- Cauliflowers imported in casks from Germany have been 
recently on sale in New York city. Cabbages have become a common 
import there, and are absolutely sold cheaper coming from Germany 
than from Long Island. Fresh Cauliflowers will be imported in May 
and sold at good profits. 
- It is announced that Professor Flower has been appointed 
to the post of Superintendent of the Natural History Department 
of the British Museum, rendered vacant by the resignation of Sir 
Eichard Owen recently noted. 
- Disastrous Effects of the Late Gales. —It is stated that 
not less than 20,000 trees have been blown down on the Countess of 
Stair’s estate, near Ayr ; 100,000 in the one case and 20,000 in the other 
on the Marquis of Ailsa’s estates at Mochrum Hill and Culzean Castle. 
We are also informed that 150,000 trees have been blown down in the 
Duke of Buccleuch’s forests on the Drumlanrig estate. 
- An American paper states that “A new Mignonette, Eeseda 
ODORATA mache, is hailed with pleasure by those who understand the 
usefulness of this flower and its standard popularity. It is entirely 
distinct from all other varieties known. Its foliage is bushy and very 
dark green. Its habit is dwarf; it is very vigorous, throwing up 
numerous flower stalks, terminated by massive spikes of deliciously 
scented red flowers.” 
- Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod has issued an interesting little 
work, entitled “A Guide to Methods of Insect Life” (Lon¬ 
don : Simpkin, Marshall & Co.). It comprises ten lectures, which were 
written at the request of the Institute of Agriculture as a compen¬ 
dium of information on the habits and means of destroying insects 
injurious to farm and garden crops. One hundred and sixty-seven pages 
are devoted to the subject, which is fully treated and abundantly illustrated 
with representations of all the principal pests, the several stages being 
also shown in most cases. A useful glossary of entomological terms and 
a good index render the work still more serviceable. 
- “ W. J. H.” writes in reference to pedigree Eoses : —“ In 
your number of January 24th, ‘ D., Beal' in his review of horticulture, 
speaking of the Eose, admits the success of Mr. Bennett’s hybridising, 
but objects to the term 1 pedigree ’ as applied to them. If he has not 
already given his reasons, may I ask why ? If Mr. Bennett carefully 
crosses his Eoses and keeps a correct memorandum of the same, why 
should he not so call them if he thinks fit ? In regard to Her Majesty, 
do I understand that he doubts the pedigree, or that he is not prepared 
to admit that it is any improvement on the older varieties ? If the 
former, why ? If the latter, I consider that according to the exhibition 
test of the National Eose Society it has proved itself a decided advance 
on any other Eose. At the Society’s Exhibition in London it was 
awarded their gold medal for the best seedling, and the first prize for 
the best twelve blooms in the Show both there and at their Sheffield 
meeting; and although the Eoses awarded the second prize were 
decidedly good, there was, according to the opinion of more than one 
present, room for several between them.” 
- The St. James's Gazette recently published an interesting 
article upon Narcissi Culture in the Scilly Islands, from which 
we extract the following :—“ Several years ago it occurred to the late 
Mr. Augustus Smith—whose intelligent interest in horticulture is well 
known, and has left a permanent monument of itself in the Abbey 
Gardens at Tresco—to test the capacity of the island soil for producing 
the Narcissus. The plant was introduced more or less widely—scarcely 
with much hope of profit at first. It is probably not more than six 
years ago when the first consignments of Narcissi from the Cassiterides 
found their way to Covent Garden. Now some of the large growers at 
Scilly have as many as 200,000 bulbs, each supporting on a long stem the 
beautiful flower so much valued for house and church decoration. What 
this may mean in the way of prosperity can be roughly estimated when 
we learn that the Narcissus has sold for Is. 6d. per bunch of a dozen in 
the closing days of December. Also, it is to be noted that the bulbs 
multiply rapidly ; they double, treble, and even at times quintuple in one 
year. As a climax to all this good fortune, there is no reason to suppose 
that Scilly need fear competition of a dangerous sort. The Narcissus 
farm at Eocky Hill is well worth a visit. The land devoted to the 
flower is fenced with deep, thick, dark green hedges of Escallonia, al 
trimly cut, which form also a pleasant contrast to the bright tender 
green of the Narcissus leaf. There the plant grows luxuriantly in long- 
rows of beds, and where the shelter is most complete the stalks are 
sometimes nearly a yard in length. Nothing is much pleasanter for 
those who care for flower-gathering than to spend an hour or two- 
plucking the fresh crisp stalks. They are set side by side in deep round 
gathering-baskets. Thus collected, they are conveyed to the farmhouse,, 
sorted and tied in bunches. A dozen stalks form a bunch, and some 
little experience is necessary to attain perfection in the art of tying 
them up satisfactorily. Fifty or sixty or seventy bunches make up each- 
basket, which is then ready for forwarding to Covent Garden. ” 
- Provincial correspondents writing from Devonshire and 
Cornwall in reference to the mildness of the winter, state that 
Strawberries have been picked both by hedgerow and in gardens, while- 
Blackberry bushes with both fruit and blossom thereon may be seen* 
The cottage gardens, many of them, are already bright with early spring 
flowers. The following wild plants have also been seen in bloom :— 
Primula vulgaris, Stellaria media, Eanunculus bulbosus, Eanunculus 
Ficaria, Eubus fruticosus, Fragaria vesca, Potentilla fragariastrum. 
Lychnis diurna, Beilis perennis, Lamium purpureum, and Vicia sepium. 
- The fifth annual general meeting of the Liverpool Horti¬ 
cultural Association was held in the Free Library recently, 
Mr. Thomas White, Vice-Chairman, presiding. The reading of the 
report of the work of the past year — the most successful of the 
Association — elicited from the members warm approval, and satis¬ 
faction was expressed with the Committee and officers for their 
services. The election of Patrons, Honorary President, and Vice- 
Presidents was then proceeded with. His Worship, the Mayor (Mr. 
Thomas Holder) was unanimously elected Honorary President, Mr* 
Fletcher Eogers being re-elected Honorary Treasurer. Mr. William; 
Minshull, Sub-Treasurer, and Mr. Joseph Gore, Secretary, were unani¬ 
mously re-elected. A vote of thanks was given to the retiring officers 
and Committee for their past services, their unremitting energy having 
placed the Association in its present favourable position. The rules 
of the Society, having been revised by a Sub-Committee composed 
of Messrs. A. E. Cox, E. G. Waterman, and E. Bridge, were passed 
with slight alterations, two Auditors having been appointed. Several 
members expressed a favourable opinion about the forming of a reserve 
fund, and it was agreed that the Committee take this matter into their 
consideration at an early meeting. A vote of thanks to Mr. T. White 
for presiding terminated the proceedings. 
- G. T. G WILLIAM, Esq., Fellow of the Eoyal Meteorological 
Society, refers in the Daily Nercs as follows to the MILD weather :— 
“ The mean temperature of the air here last month was 44°, being 5-G° 
above the average. It was the warmest January since 1834, and the 
only instances recorded of a higher temperature in this month were in 
January, 1796, mean temperature 45-3°; January, 1834, mean tempera¬ 
ture 44-4°. The continuous mild weather has been very remarkable. 
Since December 8th, 1883, the ‘ shade temperature ’ here has not once 
fallen below 32°. During the same period of 1879-80 it fell below 32° 
on forty nights.” 
-During the recent gale one of the most noted trees in 
Sherwood Forest fell a prey to the wind’s violence. It was known as 
the “Major Oak,” and was situated near Edwinstowe. The tree, a 
grand old Oak, had a girth of 29 feet, and “ the circumference of the 
outspread tree at the utmost extent of its branches was 240 feet.” Ifc 
was at one time called the Cockspen Tree, because its interior was used 
formerly as a hen-roost. Latterly many pic-nic parties have gathered 
in the hollowed-out trunk, and in a history of Worksop the following 
reference is made to the tree :—“ Seven persons at once have been 
known to partake a meal in it; while no doubt with a little contrivance 
it might have accommodated more.” Notwithstanding its internal 
