54 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t January m, isss. 
back, which are to be filled with mirrors ; and as each of these 
artificial “rockeries” will occupy an alcove, and the five will be 
disposed in one line, the effect when they are fully furnished 
will be magnificent, and probably, in its kind, unrivalled. A 
large number of ornamental cork and terra cotta brackets and 
stands for Fern cases have also been prepared of various rustic 
designs and diverse sizes. Altogether, both the designs and the 
execution are the best we have seen in this mode of employing 
cork. 
- The annual dinner of the Horticultural Club took 
place on the 10th inst. at the new rooms of the Club, 13, Henrietta 
Street, Covent Garden, Mr. John Lee in the chair. There was 
a large attendance of members, and the new arrangements 
necessitated by the dissolution of the Temple Club were much 
approved; and it was hoped that, now that country members can 
obtain bedroom accommodation in the house at reasonable 
charges, the number of members would be increased. Mr. Lee, 
in proposing prosperity to the Club, remarked on these points. 
It was stated by the Secretary, that although the number of 
members was not so numerous as they might reasonably expect, 
yet the Committee had been enabled to increase their funded 
property and to have a good balance in hand at the close of 
the year. Mr. Thomson of Clovenfords contributed to the dessert 
some of his magnificent Grapes, and Mr. L. A. Killick dishes of 
some of the best Apples in cultivation. The following new 
members were admitted—Thomas B. Hall, Larchwood, Rockferry; 
E. R. Whitwell, Barton Hall, Darlington; William Mount, 
Canterbury; Frank Burnside, Farningham ; John S. Cousens, 
Snaresbrook ; and William S. Parker. White Lodge, Barnet. 
- We learn that Mr. Thomas Muir, who has been gardener 
for some time past to Lord Hill Trevor, Brynkinalt, has been ap¬ 
pointed gardener to Lady Mary C. Nesbit Hamilton, Beil, East 
Lothian.. Mr. Muir, we have good reason to believe, will main¬ 
tain the high character that attaches to her ladyship’s other gar¬ 
dens at Archerfield and Bloxholm. 
- Admirers of simple but graceful flowers would no doubt 
appreciate the samples of Cineraria cruenta, Agatii^ea 
ccelestis, and Chrysanthemum frutescens exhibited by 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons at Kensington last week. The com¬ 
bination of tints was most pleasing and very suggestive to 
bouquetists and all who desire simple beauty without gaudiness. 
The Cineraria, as doubtless many readers know, has narrow spread¬ 
ing florets of a bright purplish hue, the Agathaea has broader 
florets of a ight blue colour, and the Chrysanthemum is white. 
All arc wh» are termed single flowers with yellow florets in the 
centre. 
- Messrs. Nutting & Sons, London, send a coloured 
plate of their new Pea Walker’s Perpetual Bearer. It 
represents a variety of moderate height, robust growth, and ap¬ 
parently a good cropper. It may be remembered that the raiser, 
Mr. J. Walker of Thame, secured a first-class certificate for the 
variety at Kensington last year. 
- The last work of the late Mr. H. C. Watson on the distri¬ 
bution of British plants was his “Topographical Botany,” 
published in 1873-4, in which he traced the dispersion of each 
species through the 112 vice-counties of Britain which he adopted. 
Of this book only one hundred copies were printed for private 
circulation, and these were all given away by the author immedi¬ 
ately. Since its issue a large amount of new material has been 
accumulated, principally through the exertions of the members of 
the Botanical Record Club, and at the time of his death, last 
autumn, Mr. Watson was engaged in the preparation of a new 
edition. This he did not live to complete as regards its prefatory 
and explanatory portions, but he had kept an interleaved copy, in 
which he regularly entered up every record of any plant in a new 
district that was brought to his notice. At his own special request 
this was deposited with his herbarium at Kew. and from this it is 
now proposed to prepare a second edition of the book, which Mr. 
Quaritch has undertaken to publish, and Mr. J. G. Baker of the 
Royal Gardens, and the Rev. W. W. Newbould, to make ready for 
the press.— (Nature.') 
- Mr. R. Inglis, referring to the late discussion on Vines, 
states it was not his intention of returning to this subject; “ but 
as Mr. Bardney’s reference to a certain article of mine, which 
appeared in a contemporary some years ago, would lead those of 
your readers who have not read the article in question to believe 
that restriction with me was a necessity, I therefore think it 
advisable to state that the paper m question will be found at 
page 493 of ‘ The Gardener’ for 1878, by any who is sufficiently 
interested to look it up, and they will find your correspondent’s 
reference to it does not convey much idea of the object for which 
it was written.” 
■- The handsome and unique specimen of CARYOTA urens 
in the Palm house at Kew has at last been cut down and removed, 
for it had even exceeded the liberal space allowed it in the centre 
of that house, and had reached the top of the highest lantern. 
It had a fine straight stem a little more than 2 feet in diameter 
at the thickest portion, and decreasing very slightly to the summit, 
which bore a crown of fine fronds when in its best condition. 
Concerning the uses of this Palm the following note may be 
interesting— 
“The Wine Palm (Caryota urens) is a lofty tree, a native of India, 
and bears fruit the size of a Plum, the flesh of which is so acrid that 
it corrodes and burns the lips, and hence the specific name. In Ceylon 
the tree yields a sort of liquor, sweet, wholesome, and no stronger 
than water ; it is taken from the tree twice or thrice a day, and an 
ordinary tree will yield three or four gallons. This liquor is boiled, 
and forms a sort of sugary syrup, called jaggery, which is supplied 
by several others of the family. When the tree arrives at maturity 
a small bud appears at the top ; this bud is cut and prepared by 
putting salt, pepper, lemons, garlic, and leaves over it, which keep it 
from ripening ; a slice is cut off from the end every day, and the 
liquor drops into a vessel set to catch it. The buds, like those of 
the Betel and Cocoa, are excellent in taste, resembling Walnuts and 
Almonds. A sort of sago is obtained from the pith, which the natives 
make into bread, and boil into a thick gruel, forming a great part of 
the food of the people. The tree is called Evim-pannah in Malabar, 
Jeroogoo in Zelinga, and Kittul in Cingalese. The trunk is a foot in 
diameter, and the leaves are 20 feet long by 12 feet across. The fibre, 
called Kittul fibre, is of great strength, and used for cordage, brooms, 
brushes, baskets, and caps, and from its great strength is used for 
tying wild elephants. The leafstalk affords the natives an excellent 
fishing-rod by merely stripping off the leaflets, and is well adapted 
for this purpose, being light, tapering, and elastic. The woolly 
material found at the base of the leaves is sometimes used for caulk¬ 
ing ships.” 
-■ A correspondent writes as follows—“ At the last 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society a second class cer¬ 
tificate was awarded to Mr. Aldred of Bexley Heath for Pelar¬ 
gonium Surprise, a sport from Vesuvius. I should like to know 
why this second-rate honour was accorded for what in the opinion 
of several good judges is equally as distinct and meritorious as 
some forms in the same genus which have received a higher 
award. The flowers are of excellent form, the trusses dense, the 
habit compact, and the bright salmon colour very distinct and 
effective. In all the chief characters it resembles Vesuvius, dif¬ 
fering only in the colour. That it will be a useful plant I have 
no doubt, and I fail to understand the motive of the Floral Com¬ 
mittee in thus, as it were, officially condemning it.” 
- Referring to the Diamond Tuberose, of which we 
gave an illustration on page 583 last volume, the “ American Gay- 
dener’s Monthly ” for January has the following, which we re¬ 
commend to the attention of our readers—“After our letterpress 
was struck off for last month we received a brief note from Nanz 
and Neuner not to make any note of it. It was of course too late. 
