192 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ March 10, 1881. 
L. floribunda may be obtained in the same way ; they retain 
their foliage through the flowering season, but are not so showy 
as L. penrhosiensis.—S tiffokd. 
At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
held last Tuesday, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., in the chair, 
the following candidates were duly elected Fellows—viz., Kichard 
A. Boissier, J. C. Burns, T. H. S. Escott, M.A., James Green, 
W. A. Hall, T. J. H. Hawkins, Mrs. Lacy, Dr. .Alfred Meadows, 
Robert W. Melvil, Mrs. Osborne, Saul Samuel, C. M. G. Francis, 
R. Saunders, Mrs. H. W. Trevelyan, Mrs. Wake, Peter S. Yapp, 
A. E. Young. William Brown and Mrs. Stringer were elected 
guinea members. 
-- We are informed that the Committee and members of the 
Brixton Hill, Streatbam, and Clapham Horticultural Society have 
recently presented a testimonial to Mr. Thomas Todman, 
gardener to J. Connell, Esq., Bushydown, Tooting, to mark their 
unanimous appreciation of services rendered by him in the 
capacity of Judge at their exhibitions from the commencement 
of the Society in 1859. Mr. Todman has long been known as a 
most successful exhibitor and skilful gardener, and an eminent 
hybridiser of florists’ flowers, particularly with Azaleas, Pelar¬ 
goniums, Fuchsias, Verbenas, and Primulas. 
- A correspondent writes—“ I am glad ‘ P. R., Wigan' 
has brought the single-flowering Pelargonium Charles Smith 
under the notice of the readers of this Journal. There are many 
fine single Zonals sent out by Mr. Pearson of Chilwell, Notts, 
and among the best for all purposes is this variety. It is most 
effective for flowering in winter. The trusses are immense and 
the colour superb. It is superior to Charles Schwind, although 
that is a very good one and resembles the one under notice in 
brilliancy of colour, but is not so free-flowering and the trusses 
are smaller. All admirers of Zonal Pelargoniums ought to have 
Louisa Smith and Charles Smith, both raised by Mr. Pearson.” 
- Mr. R. P. Brotherston, writing under date of March 
the 4 th, sends the following upon the Weather and Vegetables 
in Scotland :—“ We are again having severe weather. To-day 
is the roughest we have experienced this winter. Snow has been 
falling all day, and a cold easterly wind blowing. Last Saturday 
morning outdoor work was stopped by snow, and we have been 
able to do nothing since. On the morning of March 1st we had 
15° of frost, the next morning 20°. The only vegetables which 
passed through the last frost were Broccoli and Celery ; even 
German Greens decayed at the points, Drumhead Cabbages and 
Savoys all decayed, and Brussels Sprouts were entirely eaten by 
pheasants. I did not lose a single Broccoli, having taken the 
old-tried precaution of lifting the plants and laying them in with 
heads to the north. A neighbouring gardener, who merely pressed 
the plants back with a spade without lifting, has had great loss. 
Cottagers, too, who lifted their Drumhead Cabbages and buried 
the heads in the ground have saved them. It is impossible to say 
as yet the extent of damage to shrubs, &c. Laurustinus are all 
killed, however, and I expect Roses also. Last winter we had 
34° below zero ; this winter 2° above zero was our lowest, yet the 
damage is greater.” 
-As will be seen in our advertising columns, FIVE hundred 
Orchids in [bloom are to be sold at Stevens’ rooms on Friday 
next. The plants will be on view after two o’clock this day 
(Thursday), and on the morning of the sale. 
- A writer in “The Gardener” remarks as follows upon 
the decorative usefulness of Pteris umbrosa : —“ Considering 
the great demand for ornamental plants for all sorts of decorative 
purposes, it is matter for surprise that this most useful and orna¬ 
mental Australian Fern is not cultivated to a greater extent. It 
can be grown into large plants in comparatively small pots, and 
is, consequently, a most suitable Fern for furnishing vases and 
baskets. It grows, when shifted on into 10 or 12-inch pots, 3 feet 
high. Its fronds are pinnate, and the lower pinnae also become 
pinnate. Its colour is of the most vivid glossy green. A great 
recommendation to it is that it can be grown in a cool house ; 
and it is singularly free from the attacks of insects, such as thrips, 
which are so troublesome in the case of many Ferns. It is also 
a Fern of the easiest possible growth, thriving well in a mixture 
of loam, leaf mould, and a little sand.” 
- Fruits of Sechium edule may now be seen in Covent 
Garden Market. It is the Cho-Cho of the West Indian Islands, 
where it is cultivated, both the fruits and large fleshy roots serving 
as food. It is included in the Cucumber family, and does not 
possess any very distinctive character, being of climbing habit, with 
yellow unisexual unattractive flowers, and cylindrical fruits taper¬ 
ing from the middle to each end, 4 to 6 inches long and of fleshy 
substance. They are considered a very wholesome food in the West 
Indies. The plant has been introduced to Madeira, and fruits are 
frequently sent thence to Europe. During the past summer a 
plant at Kew ripened its fruit in the succulent house. 
- On several occasions last year we referred to the new 
Azalea Mrs. Gerard Leigh, and we have again to note it as 
flowering in Mr. B. S. Williams’ nursery, Upper Holloway. It is 
unquestionably one of the best of the numerous handsome amoena 
type Azaleas, and it well deserves the attention of cultivators. 
The bright rosy crimson flowers are of neat form, about 1^ inch 
in diameter, and produced with the characteristic freedom of the 
race. The plant naturally flowers early, and with a little forcing 
can be obtained in excellent condition at the dullest time of the 
year. 
- At the ordinary meeting of the Meteorological So¬ 
ciety, to be held at 25, Great George Street, Westminster, on 
Wednesday, the 10th instant, at 7 P.M., there will be an exhi¬ 
bition of instruments, consisting of various kinds of hygrometers 
and of such new instruments as have been brought out since 
January 1st, 1880. During the evening the President will give 
an historical sketch of the different classes of hygrometers, and 
will also describe such forms as are exhibited. 
- Mr. W. H. Shrubsole, F.G.S., has written from Sheer¬ 
ness as follows relative to Gishurstine :—“ As an amateur 
naturalist I do a good bit of shore wading, I was never able to 
keep the sea water from penetrating my boots till I used Gis¬ 
hurstine. Now I can always keep my feet dry. The article is so 
good that it deserves a better name.” 
- The following are among some recent garden appoint¬ 
ments —Mr. James Read, Arley Hall, ‘Northwich, has been ap¬ 
pointed gardener to Mrs. Cox, Moat Mount, Mill Hill, succeeding 
Mr. Beattie ; Mr. Alexander Yule, Seaforde House, Co. Down, has 
been appointed gardener to Mrs. Huth, Wykehurst, Cuckfield ; 
Mr. Daniel Elkins, late foreman at Rendcombe Park, Cirencester, 
becomes gardener to A. Cator, Esq., Trewsbury House, Ciren¬ 
cester ; Mr. Alfred King, Ditton Hill, Surrey, has been appointed 
gardener to Admiral Thompson, Brynallt, Hertford ; and Mr. D. 
Clements, Westbrook, Sheffield, succeeds Mr. Brake as gardener 
to C. G. Hill, Esq., Arnot Hill, Notts. 
- We have to record the death of one of the few remaining 
officers who served in the Peninsular war. Lieut. Wm, Andrews 
Nesfield died at his residence, 3, fcYork Terrace, Regent’s 
