September 20, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
251 
ginellas, graceful Palms in pots being employed to add to the effect. 
It is perhaps doubtful if the Ferns around the sides will endure the 
constant and rather heavy fall of water from the jets, but in any case 
the fountain must be considered a decidedly attractive feature. 
- “ D.” sends the following note respecting Primula flori- 
BUNDA— “ This little-known plant is a native of the Himalayas, and 
is found as low as 2500 feet. It belongs to the small section with the 
leaves folded down the middle on the upper face. Leaves spreading* 
-ovate, or obovate crenated, about a foot high, thickly studded with 
golden-yellow flowers having a long tube. It requires rather a sheltered 
place on the rockery, otherwise it will prove rather troublesome to get 
-established. It flowers all through the summer. A figure is given in the 
~ Botanical Magazine,’ t. 6712.” 
- The plants in the Palm House AT Kew are being very care¬ 
fully rearranged, and, judging by what has been already effected, a most 
valuable improvement in the appearance of the house will result from 
th^ alterations. There are numbers of grand specimen Palms and other 
•plants, the beauty of which has been hitherto in a great measure con¬ 
cealed, but efforts are now being made to place these in more con¬ 
spicuous positions, and in several cases this ha3 been most satisfactorily 
■accomplished. The rods for climbers from the path to the roof have been 
removed, as it was found they interfered too much with the view of 
fhe central beds, while the climbers on the roof itself have been also 
"thinned with advantage to the plants on the shelves. This magnificent 
house well merits the attention it is receiving at the hands of the officials. 
- In the succulent house of the above establishment the Stapelias 
are now in excellent condition, a very large and complete collection 
having been formed. Several are flowering, but the most striking of 
all is Stapelia De Smktiana, which has flowers 6 inches in diameter, 
-of a peculiar purplish hue, and thickly covered with hairs. The pretty 
and well-known striped S. bufonia is also flowering, and with others 
similarly foetid proves very alluring to numbers of insects. 
- “ G. N.” writes—“ It is a matter of surprise to me that con¬ 
tributions of novelties or rarities at the Royal Gardens, Kew, are not 
occasionally sent to the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society at 
Kensington, as small collections of very great interest both to horticul¬ 
turists and botanists might frequently be exhibited with very little trouble 
or expense. The Kew collections shown at the Linnaean Society’s rooms 
on various occasions prove what a store of valuable, beautiful, and 
curious plants they have to draw from.” 
- The acquisition of the extensive grounds of the Alexandra 
Palace by the London Corporation as a public park is at present under 
■consideration, and is said to be favourably regarded—Lord Shaftesbury 
and other influential persons having urged the expediency of the purchase 
in the interest of the public at large, and especially in that of the great 
■suburban district of the north of London, now being covered with houses 
at so rapid a rate. Some demur has arisen in regard to the Palace itself, 
for which it was apprehended no remunerative use could be found, as it 
has failed as a place of amusement in successive hands. Mr. Bourne, 
■C.E., the Principal of the new College of Practical Engineering at Mus- 
■well Hill, suggests that a portion of the Palace building should be con¬ 
verted into a great sanitorium, the residue being devoted to popular 
amusement and instruction as heretofore ; and he considers that by the 
introduction of this new feature the total receipts will be so much 
increased that the scale will be turned in the right direction. 
- A correspondent writes as follows concerning robberies at 
Floral Exhibitions: — 11 We read of such robberies as occurred at the 
•■Sandy Flower Show with much displeasure ; but from an occurrence that 
was brought under my notice at the Show lately held in Edinburgh it 
seems as if the operators have gone northwards. A gentleman being 
■suspicious of the movements of a gaudily dressed pair resolved to watch 
them. Passing to the table where Mr. Ware’s single Dahlias had attracted 
a crush of ladies, he was not long in having his suspicions confirmed by 
seeing an attempt made on a lady’s purse. At once the police were 
informed, but the pair had beat a retreat. This is merely mentioned so 
that members of committees may be on their guard and ready to act as 
amateur detectives if need be, for if once flower shows become ‘ happy 
hunting grounds ’ for thieves much damage will result to the societies.” 
- The fourth annual Cryptogamic Meeting of the Essex 
Field Club will be held in Epping Forest on Saturday, September 29th. 
A large number of botanists have promised to attend and act as referees. 
In the evening a meeting will be held in the assembly rooms at the 
“ Roebuck ” Inn, Buckhurst Hill, for the exhibition of botanical speci¬ 
mens, when also the following papers will be read :—“ Recent Additions 
to the Fungus Flora of Epping Forest,” by Dr. M. C. Cooke, M.A., F.L.S. ; 
“ The ‘ Lower Orders ’ of Fungi,” by Mr. Worthington G. Smith, F.L.S. ; 
“Fungi as Poisons.” by Dr. Wharton, M.A., F.L.S. Botanists wishing 
to attend or willing to aid in the exhibition of specimens, &c., should 
communicate with the Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Cole, Buckhurst Hill, 
Essex. The members of the party are requested to assemble at half-past 
three o’clock by High Beach Church. Good maps of the forest may be 
had at the railway stations, price 2d. and 6d. Tea will be taken at the 
“ Roebuck ” Inn about six o’clock. Tickets may be obtained of Mr. 
B. G. Cole, Laurel Cottage, Buckhurst Hill, up to Thursday, Sept. 27th, 
price 3 s. (for “ high tea ” and incidental expenses). Early notification 
of intention to be present at the meeting is urgently requested in order 
that proper arrangements may be made. Members are informed that 
the ordinary meeting announced on the card for September 22nd will 
not be held, the above meeting taking its place. 
- “ A Northerner ” writes respecting the crops and weather 
in Scotland :—“ Better autumn weather could not be experienced in 
Scotland than we are now enjoying. There is seldom a cloud seen in 
the sky, and light breezes dry the corn and fan the reapers, for in 
addition to being dry the weather is hot for September. In one week 
more it will be only in late places where a sheaf will remain in the 
fields. It is quite true that lately there have been rains; otherwise, 
what a moaning there would have been about the pasture and Turnips ! 
The crops are really very good—where they had a chance. Where they 
are not, other than meteorological causes have been at fault. The land 
is full of Potatoes—larger crops of better produce than has been seen 
for years. Of course they will be cheap. Farmers may—will grumble 
at this, but the community will have reason to rejoice. Apples are 
exceedingly plentiful, and those who live near orchards have no difficulty 
in filling their shelves and jars at Id. per pound. Already Americans 
are in the market, and are, perhaps, the best for eating ; but for 
thrifty housewives there is nothing the matter with the less handsome 
but very much cheaper home-grown fruit.” 
- The Journal des Boses for September gives a coloured plate 
of the old Rose Comtesse de Barbantanne, which is of globular form, 
and a delicate blush white in colour. It is one of the Bourbon type, 
and was raised by M. Guillot at Lyons, and sent out in 185S. It is not, 
however, very well known in England. 
- Dr. R. Schomburgk’s report of the progress and condition 
of the Botanic Garden and Government Plantations in South 
Australia during the year 1882 is just to hand. It contains particulars 
concerning plants and crops that have succeeded or failed in the colony, 
a general review of the year’s work and improvements in the Adelaide 
Botanic Garden, with lists of the plants added to the collection, all the 
Orchidese and Aroidem in the gardens, of which the collections are large, 
some interesting facts about plants introduced into Australia, and 
several photographic views of the gardens. 
- Referring to the Fruits grown in South Australia, the 
above report has the following:—“Of intertropical fruits only a few 
kinds prosper with us—viz., the Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica, Lindl.), 
Guavas (Psidiura pyriferum, Linn., and pomiferum), and Bananas par¬ 
tially. Even the Pine Apple must be grown under glass. Most of the 
fruits from other parts of the globe thrive luxuriantly in South Australia, 
and come to such perfection in size, and frequently in flavour, as is hardly 
known in other countries, and many fruits are found to improve mate¬ 
rially by the change, the climatic conditions being manifestly favourable 
to them. On the plains grow Apples, Pears, Apricots, Peaches, Necta¬ 
rines, Medlars, Oranges, Citrons, Lemons, Plums, Cherries, Figs, Quinces, 
Mulberries, Almonds, Olives, and Grapes ; while in the hills and gullies 
are also grown Strawberries, Gooseberries, Currants, Raspberries, 
Walnuts, Chestnuts, and Filberts to great perfection. The Apples grow 
to a great size, but do not always possess the same fine flavour as at 
home, and contain more acidity. The Apple trees suffer much from the 
attack of the American blight, for which no radical remedy is at present 
known. The trees which grow in the hills or in very rich soil suffer 
most, and at last succumb to this scourge. The Pears grow to perfection 
and maintain the same flavour as in the old country. The fruits of the 
Peaches, Apricots, and Plums reach to a large size, and possess a good 
