234 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . t March 23 , im. 
Indeed, it may be concluded that the Whitethorn is subject to con¬ 
siderable variations. I have gathered samples from a hedge at Alfrick 
in full leaf on Christmas day, and I have seen that in rows of Thorns 
some one or two will be in early flower when the rest have remained 
weeks behind.—J. Buckman (in Science Gossij)). 
After a season of almost unexampled mildness and several 
brilliant summer-like days, the first day of the spring quarter, 
Tuesday the 21st inst., brought a sudden change in the 
weather In London the wind was piercingly cold, and at 
night in some localities snow fell to the depth of an inch, but 
vanished before the next morning. We have received several 
letters from various districts just on the eve of going to press 
which denote that frost and snow are generally prevalent, and 
fears are expressed for the safety of the fruit blossom. This, 
however, probably owing to the marked absence of showers, is 
not so early as might have been expected after the unusually 
warm weather that has been experienced in the south, early- 
flowering Plums, such as Jefferson’s and the Diamond, being the 
only trees'in ull flower in the open. 
- On Tuesday next, the 28th inst., the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society’s first Promenade Show of the year will be 
held at Kensington, and owing to the remarkably fine weather we 
have experienced during the past week plants have made such 
progress that an extensive and beautiful display is confidently ex¬ 
pected. On this occasion the special prizes offered for Hyacinths, 
Tulips, and Amaryllises will be competed for. Prizes of £4, £2, 
and £1 are offered for nine pots of Hyacinths, single spikes, dis¬ 
tinct varieties, and the same number of Tulips, not less than three 
varieties. The Amaryllis prizes are for the best seedling ; for the 
best six plants, three dark and three light varieties ; and for the 
best variety selected from amongst the latter. Following the 
above—namely on Wednesday, the 29th inst., the Royal Botanic 
Society’s first spring show of the year will be held in the conser¬ 
vatory and corridor, Regent’s Park. The usual liberal provision 
is made for bulbs, which will undoubtedly be staged in consider¬ 
able numbers. Stove and greenhouse plants, Azaleas, Primulas, 
Roses, Deutzias, Cyclamens, and hardy plants, all have classes 
devoted to them, the prizes ranging from £3 to 15s. 
- In some of the London parks this season the spring¬ 
flowering plants placed in clumps in the grass under trees 
and near shrubbery borders have been very pretty. Crocuses 
have been particularly gay, and in Hyde Park they have been 
planted in large numbers in this informal manner. Snowdrops 
and Daffodils have been similarly employed with excellent effect, 
and Tulips are now advancing. This kind of “ wild gardening,” 
as it is rather strangely termed, is much admired, and is unques¬ 
tionably more pleasing than formal beds, especially for plants 
which are soon past their best. 
- Miss M. Davenport, Camp Hill, Maer, Newcastle-under- 
Lyme, Staffordshire, states'she will be glad to receive orders for 
the small hampers and baskets (referred to by our correspondent 
“D.”) for sending flowers by post, Is. each, made by a blind man 
in her parish. This is clearly an advertisement, which, under the 
circumstances, we readily insert gratuitously ; but further an¬ 
nouncements of articles for sale with prices specified can only 
appear in our advertising columns. 
-- A correspondent recommends the use of tan for hot¬ 
beds. He habitually mixes it freely with manure, then turning 
the heap is seldom necessary, and the bark makes the heat steady’ 
while it lasts Jmuch longer than in a bed made wholly of manure. 
For such purposes it is found even better than leaves. Failing 
either he finds that a portion of old manure mixed with the new 
makes repeated turnings unnecessary, and the results all that 
could be wished. 
- Mr. R. P. Brotherston sends us flowers of the true 
Jackanapes Polyanthus, which has a large foliaceous calyx 
green, white, and crimson in colour, the corolla rising a little 
above it, and of a rich deep maroon hue. Though so peculiarly 
varied it is handsome, the rich tints both of corolla and calyx 
being very striking. It is now rarely seen in gardens. 
- Mr. G. W. Cummins writes as follows respecting Co- 
prosma Baueriana variegata ana Abutilon vexillarium 
variegatum —“ In the gardens of C. C. Sibthorp, Esq., at Sud- 
brooke Holme, I have lately seen some fine specimens of the 
above, grown by Mr. Gray, the former 7 feet high by 3^ feet, the 
latter 6 feet high by 2 J feet in diameter, grown in pyramidal form. 
These are fine ornamental plants for the greenhouse or conser¬ 
vatory, especially when grown to the size indicated. At Canwick 
Hall, another seat belonging to the same gentleman, Anthurium 
Schertzerianum, Statice Holfordi, and S. profusa are grown re¬ 
markably well. Of the former Mr. Harris possesses a large and 
free-flowering variety.]* They are continually increased by divi¬ 
sion. The Statices are grown by the score, and require but little 
attention except keeping them clean and free from thrips.” 
- The same correspondent observes that “Arthur Garfit 
Esq., who resides at Scothern, a few miles from Lincoln, has some 
interesting plants, many of which were sent to him by Mr. C. 
Warner from Trinidad about seven years ago, including Orchids, 
Ferns, among which the beautiful ASPARAGUS SARMENTOSUS is 
noteworthy. It is very useful as a pillar plant in the stove or 
Fern house, where the different hues may be seen to advantage, 
young growth having almost a golden colour, while the older 
foliage is dark green. It is also useful for cutting as a substitute 
for Ferns with cut flowers for the vase or bouquets.” 
- There is now abundance of hardy plants in flower 
at Mr. T. S. Ware’s Nursery, Tottenham, the progress made 
within the last week being very surprising. Blue, white, and red 
Hepaticas render some portions of the nursery sheets of flowers ; 
and the beautiful Narcissi, of which so many handsome varieties 
are grown, are fast advancing, several of the earlier forms being 
extremely attractive. The dwarf bright yellow N. nanus minor, 
scarcely exceeding 6 inches in height, is one of the best of the 
small early forms. Erythroniums are numerous, E. Dens-Canis 
purpureum and album being excellent companions, the large white 
flowers of the latter affording a pleasing contrast with the rosy 
crimson blooms of the former. The bright blue Chionodoxa Lu- 
ciliac with several Scillas, especially S. bifolia, both the blue and 
white forms, are flowering abundantly in and near the rockery. 
Puschkinia libanotica is producing its short racemes of white 
Squill-like flowers abundantly, the brilliant Anemone fulgens 
forming glowing masses of colour. Primula rosea on the rockery, 
where it has been slightly protected, has several trusses of its rich 
rose flowers, the colour of which is especially fine before they have 
fully expanded. Primula cashmiriana is also fine now with dense 
umbels of purplish lilac flowers. Anemone ranunculoides is a 
neat and distinct species of very dwarf habit, having finely cut 
leaves, and it bears its bright yellow. Buttercup-like flowers in 
profusion. Many other plants of considerable interest and beauty 
are also now flowering or fast advancing. 
-The annual Whitsuntide Exhibition at Manchester 
will be held at the Royal Botanical and Horticultural Society’s 
Gardens, Old Trafford, from May the 26th to June 2nd, when 
