294 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 4 , 1883. 
Empress of India since it came out, and many others alongside it 
including nine varieties, this summer. It is a model for a long Cucumber, 
and I cannot find any to excel it for exhibition work and flavour. The 
other two best for general use are Pettigrew’s Cardiff Castle and Gar- 
raway’s Clifton Perfection. Those three ought to be grown by everyone 
who has not tried them.” 
- Paet 7 of the Transactions of the Essex Field Club has 
been forwarded to us, and proves by its completeness how thoroughly this 
Society is doing its work. The Club was instituted four years ago, and 
has been so well conducted that it is now in a most flourishing condition 
with over 400 members, and additions are being continually made. It 
has become of more than local importance, and the members now include 
a large number of distinguished naturalists in many other districts. The 
Transactions are edited by Mr. W. Cole, the Honorary Secretary, and the 
part now referred to contains “ The Ancient Fauna of Essex,” by Dr. H. 
Woodward; “ The Macro-Lepidoptera around Maldon,” by G. H. Ray¬ 
nor, M.A.; “On Deneholes,” by T. V. Holmes, F.G.S.; the Address of 
the ex-President, Raphael Meldola, F.R A.S.; “ Primeval Man in the 
Valley of the Lea,’' by W. G. Smith, and several other smaller papers on 
various interesting subjects. Some of the above are illustrated with 
woodcuts. Lists of the officers and members are also given, with the 
rules and objects of the Club. It is under the patronage of the Duke of 
Connaught, Ranger of Epping Forest, and the President is Professor 
G. S. Boulger, F.L.S. 
•- Messrs. Cassell & Co. send us copies of the following monthlies. 
Part 56 “ Familiar Garden Flowers,” containing coloured plates of Gera¬ 
nium sanguineum and Potentilla alpestiis, the latter with descriptive 
matter, also including references to the principal allied species. Part 79 
of “Familiar Wild Flowers” gives plates of the Woodruff (Asperula 
odorata), and the Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), both well-known 
plants. Part 38 of “ Paxton’s Flower Garden ” has fine plates of 
Amaryllis blanda and Grammatophyllum speciosum, together with illus¬ 
trated gleanings and memoranda concerning several rare or interesting 
plants, 
- We have received the schedule of the Liverpool Chrysan¬ 
themum and Fruit Show, which is announced to be held in St. 
George’s Hall on November 27th and 28th. A grand collection of blooms 
may be confidently anticipated, and good fruit and winter-flowering 
plants are sure to be staged. The prize of the widest import is a silver 
cup, value 10 guineas, given by Messrs. J. Williams & Co., manure 
dealers, for eighteen cut blooms of Incurved, and eighteen of Japanese 
varieties of Chrysanthemums distinct, the competition open to all 
England. The cup is now on view at the silversmiths’, Messrs. Thomas 
Blundell & Sons, Great George Street, Liverpool. The conditions are 
stated in the schedule, which may be had from the Secretary, Mr. Joseph 
Gore, 34, Ullett Road, Liverpool. 
- We are informed that at the International Exhibition to 
be held at Nice from the 1st of December, 18S3, to 1st of June, 1884, 
the two following grand special prizes will be offered in the horticultural 
section. First, the medal of the Minister of Agriculture and a thousand 
francs for the exhibitor who has contributed most to the splendour 
of the Exhibition by a continuous display of plants, and, secondly, the 
medal of the City of Nice with five hundred francs for the exhibitor 
who has contributed to the success of the Exhibition by maintaining 
the best supply of cut flowers ; and similar prizes are offered by the 
Principality of Monaco for the best collections of fruits and vegetables, 
and by the administration of the Exhibition for the best display of 
garden structures and accessories to horticulture. Owing to numerous 
applications for space the time for entries has been extended until the 
29th of October. 
- Messrs. J. J. Thomas & Co., 362, Edgware Road, have 
recently had on view some extremely beautiful Rose Temples and 
Ornamental Wirework, intended for the Calcutta International 
Exhibition in December next, and they will undoubtedly constitute 
an important feature there, for we have never seen better samples 
of such work. Eight temples will be sent, six of these being of 
the ordinary type, which have been frequently shown at London and 
provincial exhibitions, but two are much larger and more elaborate 
in construction. One, designated a pavilion, is 21 feet high, the 
roof being dome-shaped, of handsome proportions, the open wirework 
being of a delicate mauve tint, the uprights and main framework 
coloured chocolate and gold. The other is 18 feet high, with an 
octagonal centre and four elegant porches; this is coloured in two 
shades of greeD, light and dark. The most remarkable piece of work 
is, however, a magnificent aviary for small birds, which is valued at 
100 guineas, and is probably the finest example of the kind ever 
produced. It is 6 or 7 feet high, somewhat in the style of an 
oriental palace with three domes, the centre one circular and the 
others long, and the whole of it is constructed of polished brass. 
In addition to these a variety of flower stands, bird cages, mosquito 
helmets, and numerous other useful or ornamental articles will be 
sent to represent the general work of the firm. 
- Gardening Appointment.— Mr. George Miles, foreman to 
Mr. W. J. Clarke, Spring Grove, Bewdley, has been engaged as gardener 
to W. H. Anderson, Esq., The Firs, Kidderminster. 
- Part 6 of Hardy Perennials and Old-fashioned Flowers 
(170, Strand) gives a continuation of descriptive and cultural particulars 
of various plants of more or less interest, from Ourisia coccinea to 
Saxifraga ceratophylla, several illustrations accompanying the letter- 
press, some being fairly good, and others, as of Phlox frondosa, 
being very indifferent. Capital initial letters are still employed for the 
specific names in the cross-headings, but in the body small letters are 
mostly used, even where by established custom capitals are the rule. 
The latter, however, are employed for the names of places, such as 
Primula Carniolica, P. Tirolensis, where small letters are now used, and 
in two places “ Primula Cashmirianum ” occurs. 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 
“ A Country Gardener’s ” letter on page 277 says what I desired to- 
say, but did not, and he says that very much better and clearer than I 
could hope to do. I can quite understand that the tone of my letter 
would sound so greedy and selfish to the Secretary of the Gardeners’ 1 
Royal Benevolent Institution that he would consider it a waste of time to 
argue the matter with so grasping a person. It was very far from my 
feelings was this avariciousness of spirit. What I desired to know is 
just what “ Country Gardener” very fairly and clearly asks, and that is. 
What guarantee has a subscriber of ten guineas or a subscriber for ten 
years, that he will be elected when his life trials come upon him ? If it. 
depends, as it appears to do now, on the accident of his possessing 
sufficient patronage to recommend him for a pension, that does not 
appear to be a very desirable or encouraging state of things, and cer¬ 
tainly one not full of stimulation to anyone to contribute. This is 
what we country gardeners desire to know before we can be expected to 
either give special donations or subscribe to the Institution either annu¬ 
ally or with a life membership.—P. 
I WAS very pleased to observe in the Journal of last week (page 277),. 
that “ Country Gardener ” has called attention to this Institution. I have 
been looking for an answer to the first letter on page 175, and I trust 
now there is a second that the Secretary will answer both fully. I 
entirely agree with your correspondent that a benefit society is really 
necessary for gardeners. I for one would be pleased to join it. I, like 
your correspondent, would contribute to the “ Royal ” if I knew the 
benefits to be received by doing so. I trust some of our leading men 
will take the question up, and not let it drop until something is settled.— 
Another Country Gardener, Hants . 
BROAD BEANS. 
These are favourites with many, and they are easily grown and 
useful. The varieties are now very numerous, but really good ones are 
not plentiful. The best of all is the Aquadulce. The first season I had 
this variety, now some years ago, the pods were long and handsome, but it 
was not so prolific as could be desired ; but by selecting seed year after 
year I have now a strain which is wonderfully prolific. This year these 
commenced podding when 9 inches high, and some of them which were 
stopped when 18 inches high matured eight, ten, and twelve pods from 
9 to 15 inches in length. The lower pods were resting on the ground, 
and they were much admired. I have seen nothing in the way of Broad 
Beans to equal the crop, and shall take care to perpetuate the stock. 
Some of the pods were 16 inches in length, and the average length was 
a foot. 
Biddle’s Monstrous Longpod was spoken highly of, but with us the 
pods though numerous were too short, the longest not exceeding 6 inches ; 
and considering its recommendation I was disappointed with it. Nettle- 
ship’s Trize Bean, which I had from a seedsman in the west of Scotland 
as being the most extraordinary variety ever seen, failed altogether to 
equal what was said of it. It is short-podded, and has been placed far 
down our list. 
Seville Longpod would be found very much superior to the majority 
of Broad Beans we find specially recommended. Leviathan is a fine one 
to produce long pods, but it lacks in prolificness. The Windsors, although 
having a pedigree, are far behind several sorts. Mackie’s Monarch LoDg- 
