824 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 24, 1884. 
with Lavandula spica, is extremely pretty, as also are several of the land¬ 
scapes. We have much pleasure in announcing this new addition to one 
of the principal features to this far-famed establishment. 
- Among the Rhododendrons in flower in the temperate house 
at Kew, the most noticeable is a fine specimen of that superb Hima¬ 
layan species, Rhododendron Attcklandii. The trusses, which are 
borne on the summit of the branches, are very fine, and number about a 
dozen. Before opening they are a fine rose blush, but as they expand 
changing to pure ivory white. The individual flowers are very large and 
conspicuous. In the neighbourhood of Glasgow it is said to grow and 
flower freely in the open. 
-At the Cottagers’ and Artisans’ Fruit and Vegetable 
Show, to be held by the Royal Horticultural Society on August 12th of 
the present year, unusually liberal prizes are to be offered, such indeed 
as have probably never been surpassed at any cottagers’ show. Thirty- 
six classes are provided for all kinds of vegetables and small fruits, the 
principal class being that for a general collection of garden produce, not 
less than six kinds of fruits and twelve kinds of vegetables, for which six 
prizes are offered—namely, £5, £4, £3, £2, £1, and 10.?. Gd. These 
prizes are for competition amongst the various local horticultural and 
cottage garden societies and allotment holders in the country. The 
exhibits will be confined to Iona fide cottagers and artisans, but the 
classes are open to competitors in all parts of the kingdom. In the other 
classes the prizes range from £3 to 5 s. For two Vegetable Marrows 15s. 
is the first prize—a remarkably liberal one, but it is not stated whether 
large or small fruits will be required. In the class for Lettuces 15s. is 
also offered, but the number of heads to be shown is not stated, 
apparently an oversight. In the majority of classes the first prize is 15s.; 
thus that sum is offered for three Cabbages, six Turnips, six Carrots, 
three Beets, three Cauliflowers, one Cucumber, six Tomatoes, one dish of 
Strawberries, one dish of Raspberries, nine Plums, and six Apricots. 
For Potatoes the first prizes are £1 for three varieties, nine tubers each, 
and 15.?. for one variety of the same number of tubers. 
- It is asserted that in Paris no fewer than 30,000 women earn 
their living by the manufacture of artificial flowers. The Rose is 
the test of proficiency which the workshops demand, whoever can 
counterfeit a Rose being supposed equal to the imitation of any flower 
whatever. In this, as in other branches of industry, there is usually a 
division of labour ; the bud, the foliage, and the mounting being done 
by different persons. At present many flower-makers are out of work, 
owing in part to the competition of other countries, and in part to the fact 
that artificial flowers are not universally in fashion. 
- The Committee of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution have had under their consideration for some years past 
the question of augmenting the pensions by the sum of £4 each, but 
before this desirable object can be carried out they consider it necessary 
that the reserve fund should be raised to £20,000. For the last three 
years they have caused collecting cards to be issued among gardeners, 
nurserymen, and others interested in horticultural pursuits, and the 
result has been that the sum of £2400, including the “ Arthur Veitch 
Memorial ” fund has been subscribed. A further sum of £2250 is 
required before the Committee can recommend the proposed increase 
of the pensions. A gentleman, who for the present wishes his name 
withheld, has promised that if the sum of £1750 be raised before the 
end of the year he will give the munificent sum of £500 to complete the 
amount required. With a legacy of £500 and the sum of £150 at the 
bankers, only £1100 remains to be secured. Under these special cir¬ 
cumstances the Committee take this opportunity of bringing the matter 
prominently before the subscribers, feeling assured that those who take 
an interest in the Institution will second, to the best of their ability, 
the exertions that are being made to alleviate the distress and minister 
to the comforts of old and deserving horticulturists. To the affluent and 
generous lovers of horticulture an appeal is made with confidence that 
it will be responded to, and gardeners are also appealed to in the hope 
that they will assist their poorer brethren. The Secretary will gratefully 
and thankfully acknowledge any contribution, no matter the amount, 
that may be sent to him at 14, Tavistock Row, London, W.C. He will 
also readily send forms to all who may apply for them with the object 
of aiding in this excellent work, which we commend earnestly to the 
attention of our readers. The sum of £1750 was distributed by the 
Institution in pensions last year. 
- A correspondent of “Vick’s American Magazine” has the 
following on Kalmia latifolia :—" Not only is this a most gorgeous 
affair when in bloom, but to witness a hillside dotted full of the trees 
when the ground is covered with snow and the sun shines brightly on 
part of the hill, and the rest is in the shadow,'is something equally grand, 
I remember once standing on a knoll admiring such a scene, when the- 
mercury was about zero, until my ears were about froze. It is, perhaps,, 
the hardest wood we had in Pennsylvania, and I often wondered why it 
is not used for knife handles, &c.” 
- The usual monthly meeting of the Royal Meteorological. 
Society was held on Wednesday evening, the 16th inst., at the 
Institution of Civil Engineers, 25, Great George Street, Mr. J. K. 
Laughton, M.A., F.R.A.S., Vice-President, in the chair. J. Y. Davidson 
and T. Wright were elected Fellows of the Society. The following- 
papers were read :—1, “ On the Origin and Course of the Squall which 
Capsized H.M.S. ‘ Eurydice ’ March 24th, 1878,” by the Hon. Ralph 
Abercromby, F.R.Met.Soc. 2, “Waterspouts and their Formation,” by 
Capt. J. W. C. Martyr. 3, “ The Weather Forecasts for October^ 
November, and December, 1883,” by C. E. Peek, M.A., F.R.Met.Soc. 
This is a comparison of the weather indicated in the forecasts of the 
Meteorological Office with that actually experienced at Rousdon in 
Dorset. 4, “ On Certain Effects which may have been Produced in the 
Atmosphere by Floating Particles of Volcanic Matter from the Eruptions o£ 
Krakatoa and Mount St. Augustin,” by W. F. Stanley, F.R.Met.Soc. 
The author having obtained specimens of volcanic dust from Krakatoa, 
which was collected on board some vessels in the neighbourhood of the 
eruption, and having examined them under the microscope, is of opinion 
that such dust suspended in the atmosphere was quite capable of 
producing the recent remarkable sunrises and sunsets and other effects. 
-The first part of the “ Illustrated Dictionary of Garden¬ 
ing ” (170, Strand) is now to hand, and if it is a fair sample of the general 
character the work will be both a full and useful one when completed* 
The genera are arranged as in Paxton’s and Johnson’s Dictionaries, but 
brief descriptions are given with all the species named ; and in the case 
of popular plants like Achimenes the best varieties are also described* 
Under each genus an outline of the culture and propagation is given, and 
many illustrations accompany the text. There is one remarkable 
defect, which in a popular dictionary is inexcusable—namely, neither 
the genera nor specific names are accentuated. Another misleading 
defact is that with the majority of the specific names the translation is 
given but in a few instances, apparently following “Johnson’s Gardeners’’ 
Dictionary,” some other character is given after the specific names, as in 
Abroma angusta (smooth-stalked) and A. fastuosa (prickly-stalked)* 
Many synonyms are given, but the authorities are omitted. With these 
few exceptions the work appears to have been very carefully edited, the 
names and descriptions being accurate. The work is clearly printed, 
the names in bold type, the paper and engravings being also of good 
quality. 
VIOLETS. 
I have read with interest the account “Viola ” gives in your issue of 
Thursday, April 10th, on the successful frame culture of that winter 
favourite, the sweet-scented, ever-welcome Violet; but I should be still- 
more pleased to be put in the way of a successful open-air treatment, or 
to be corroborated in an opinion to which I am reluctantly giving way, 
that the climate of North Lancashire is too rugged and cold to allow 
them to bloom in any profusion. Frames with me are not available, and 
having tried them in a lean-to orchard house in a 2-feet border against 
the wall, but totally without success, two seasons ago, I removed some of 
the crowns and placed them outside in a sheltered situation under a wall, 
open only to the south and west. They were planted in good leaf mould, 
and during the summer the exuberant runners were pulled off. When 
blossoming time came I looked in vain for satisfactory results, but even 
with the protection of bellglasses there were no blooms worth the 
gathering, and last season, although extremely mild, there was none. 
The garden is situated on a gentle slope to the south, is well drained, 
and grows good kitchen produce and flowers. Should it be the cold 
damp of the climate, why should they not have flourished in the orchard 
house, the temperature ranging from 45° to 55° after Christmas 1 If any 
of your many correspondents can enlighten me I should be much, 
obliged.—E. P. 
NOTES ON ORCHIDS. 
Pruning Dendrobium nobile. —I am afraid some of your 
correspondents will think me rather discourteous in not replying 
to their questions before now, but I have been prevented seeing 
the Journal for a week or two. Some of your correspondents 
doubt my remarks about the young growths starting from the 
