JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 31, 1881. ] 
V) 
N0TMLEPNGS. 
Me. Peter Ferguson of Monkwearmouth writes respect¬ 
ing the six months’ winter —“ We had our first fall of snow 
in this district on the 20th September, 1880, and more or 
less we have had snow ever since. At the time of writing (25th 
March) we are having heavy showers of snow every day, with 
sharp frosts at night. Gardening operations are a long time in 
arrears, but with brisk drying winds the land will soon be in a 
good workable condition.” 
- A meeting of the Royal Botanic Society was held on 
Saturday the 26th inst., Mr. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., in the chair. 
Upon the table was exhibited a fine flowering specimen of Ery- 
throxylon Coca, the “ Coca ” of South America, grown in the 
Society’s greenhouse. Professor Bentley said that, although in 
this country little was known of it, in South America its con¬ 
sumption was calculated at 40,000,000 lbs. per annum, and by the 
natives considered as much a necessity of life as Tobacco in other 
countries. Marvellous tales are told of the power of Coca leaf in 
allaying hunger and stimulating and supporting the body in 
extraordinary exertions, more especially in that of climbing 
heights and travelling over mountainous districts. 
- Mr. W. Bowell informs us that a Loquat (Eriobotrya 
JAPONICA) in the gardens of Stawell House, Richmond, Surrey, 
has a fine crop of ripe fruit, comprising about a dozen bunches, 
each bunch composed of eight or ten beautiful fruits. The speci¬ 
men may be inspected between 2 and 5 p.m. on application to 
Mr. Bowell. 
- Writing to us at the close of last week on the weather 
in the Midlands “A Gardener” observes:—“Frost and 
snowstorms are the rule here, with a lowering barometer and cold 
east wind. Well, better now than later. We have scarcely any¬ 
thing green left in the garden ; no Broccoli, nor in fact anything 
except Brussels Sprouts.” 
- We have received the following publications from 
Messes. Cassell, Petter, & Galpin : — “ Paxton’s Flower 
Garden,” part 8,] with coloured plates of a very dark-coloured 
variety of Bollea coelestis and flowering sprays of the double 
white and red Peach. Several woodcuts are also given in the 
“ Gleanings.” The accompanying letterpress gives both descrip¬ 
tive and cultural particulars. “ Familiar Garden Flowers,” 
part 26, has coloured plates of the Day Lily (Hemerocallis flava) 
and the Rosy Yarrow (Achillea asplenifolia), the former with 
some general notes on the Hemerocallises, history and culture ; 
the principal Yarrows also receiving attention, as well as the one 
figured. “Familiar Wild Flowers,” part 49, contains coloured 
plates of Atropa Belladonna and Lysimachia vulgaris, each accom¬ 
panied by interesting historical notes. The third part of “ Illus¬ 
trated British Ballads ” contains “ The Beggar’s Daughter of Bed- 
nall Green,” “ The Battle of Blenheim,” “ The Battle of Both- 
well Bridge,” and several others appropriately illustrated. This 
is likely to prove a very beautiful work. 
•- The first annual Exhibition of spring flowers at 
Birmingham will be held in the Town Hall on Easter Monday 
and Tuesday, April the 18th and 19th. In the fifty-eight classes 
provision is made for the majority of spring-flowering plants, 
including Hyacinths, Tulips, and other bulbs, Roses in pots, 
Deutzias, Spiraeas, Dielytras, Azaleas, Epacrises, Cinerarias, 
Cyclamens, Primulas, Auriculas, miscellaneous stove and green¬ 
255 
house plants, and cut flowers. The prizes range in value from 
£1 5s. to 2s. Schedules and particulars may be obtained from 
Mr. C. Redfern, High Street, Birmingham. 
- There has for some time past been a very extensive 
display of Primulas at Messrs. Carters’ Nurseries at 
Perry Hill, but the flowers are fading now, fertilisation having 
been in great part effected and seed pods commenced forming. 
The plants are grown wholly for raising seed, hence .the object 
has been to have them small and late instead of large and early, 
the seed setting more readily during the bright days of spring 
than the dull days of winter; but if the plants are small the 
flowers are large, of excellent form, and distinct colours, the 
whites smooth and pure, and the coloured varieties rich. For 
the purpose of preserving and improving the strain every plant 
at all faulty is promptly removed, only those of the best quality 
being retained for seed. Amongst the stock the “ Blue Primula,” 
of which much ha3 been heard, is noticeable. The flowers, now 
fading, are purplish lilac, previously they were much deeper. 
This variety contains more of blue in its petals than any Primula 
in cultivation, and the flowers being good it is worthy of trial, 
as it may be the precursor of what many covet—a “ true blue.” 
When plants were exhibited the day was one of the most dismal 
and gloomy of the season—a great disadvantage to what many 
florists consider a decided novelty and a distinct “ break ” in 
the family to which it belongs. A deep purple form in the same 
house is also very telling. The plants referred to occupy a house 
upwards of 100 feet long and 14 feet wide, and as arranged 
in groups of the several colours the display has been highly 
imposing. 
- Mr. Wm. Thomson, of the Tweed Vineyard, recently 
communicated a letter to the Scotsman upon the weather in 
the north, in which he observes—“We are again, March 21st., 
in midwinter in this district. Yesterday, from noon till 6 P.M., 
we had a severe snowstorm. The snow melted as it fell for a 
time, but in the course of the afternoon the air became colder, 
and this morning we have 3 inches of snow on the ground, with 
8° of frost. Thus, with two short intervals, we have had five 
months of frost and snow. On the 3rd of November we had 18° 
of frost, on the 20th 26°, on the 23rd 3° below zero, increasing in 
intensity till we had 10° below zero on January 17th. The only 
winters within my recollection that will compare with the present 
for severity are those of 1837-8, which was as long but not quite 
so severe, and 1878-9. The winter of 1879-80 had a short period 
of as intense frost in this district of Scotland, but it was not 
general, as it has been this winter. It was, however, much more 
severe in France, Belgium, and many parts of the continent. I 
think it is evident that no frost has been so destructive to vege¬ 
table life for 150 years as that of this and last winter, for I find 
that there are many Holly, Yew, and other trees killed that must 
have stood nearly two hundred years. One matter worthy of 
remark is, that where I have seen nearly all sorts of Hollies, 
Yews, Laurels, and even Rhododendrons killed, I have not seen a 
single Japanese evergreen even injured.” 
- Messrs. Butler, McCulloch, & Co., of Covent Garden, 
have sent us a shilling box of flower seeds, containing twelve 
packets of seed of popular flowers. The box is very ingeniously 
constructed, and is admirably adapted for transmission through 
the post office. 
- A correspondent, “ G. K.,” sends us the following para¬ 
graph that he has cut from the Daily News on plants blooming 
without earth, and would like to have further particulars on 
the subject. So should we ; it savours of sensationalism at present. 
—“ M. Alfred Dumesnil, a son-in-law of Jules Michelet and the 
Editor of the first edition of Edgar Quinet’s works, claims to have 
