November 15, 1383. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
419 
Son, Florists, Musselburgh. It bears some resemblance to Mrs. Crawley 
in colours, and is of large size, very fine form and substance, and is a 
grand flower to be sent out in the spring.” 
In an account of a tour by Governor Weld in Selangor, 
■Camphor Trees in the Malay Peninsula are thus noticed : — 
At Kanching, about fifteen miles north of Kuala Lumpor, His 
Excellency passed through a large forest of Camphor trees, many of 
which were over 200 feet high. As this forest must become of 
■enormous value, the Governor gave directions that it should be 
reserved to the State and preserved, single trees only being permitted 
to be sold when required.”— (Ceylon Observer .) 
‘ -^ T the ordinary meeting of the Royal Meteorological 
Society, to be held by kind permission of the Council of the Institution 
of Civil Engineers at 25, Great George Street, Westminster, on Wed¬ 
nesday, the 21st instant, at 7 P.M., the following papers will be read :— 
Report on Temperatures in different patterns of Stevenson Screens,” by 
Edward Mawley, F.R.Met.Soc., F.R.H.S. “ On the Storm which crossed 
the British Islands between September 1st and 3rd, 1883, and its track 
over the North Atlantic,” by Charles Harding, F.R.Met.Soc. “ On the 
Influence of the Moon on the height of the Barometer within the 
Tropics,” by Robert Lawson, Inspector General of Hospitals. “The 
Ice Storm of July 3rd, 1883, in North Lincolnshire,” by John 
Cordeaux. 
Mr. J. Lansdell writes :—“ The plan of cutting down 
Chrysanthemums, recommended in your Journal of June 28th, has 
proved a failure in this neighbourhood as regards exhibition blooms. 
Those that have bloomed are inferior to those not cut down, and most of 
"them are too late for any of the shows. The plants are much 
dwarfer, and are more useful for decorative purposes ; but I think now 
as I thought then, that it was a little too late at least for this district 
(Leicestershire). The first week in June would be a more suitable time for 
the late-flowering kinds here.” 
“ W. L.” writes :—“I have been informed that large numbers 
of toads are now being ‘ raised ’ in Australia for exportation to England, 
where they are sold at £3 to £4 per hundred to farmers and gardeners. 
Can any of your correspondents corroborate this statement, and give 
.any particulars as to where the toads are obtainable ? ” 
- Just on the eve of going to press we learn that the prizewinners 
in the chief classes at the Brighton Chrysanthemum Show were as 
follows—For plants, Mr. Miles, West Brighton ; Mr. Spottiswoode, gar¬ 
dener to G. Duddell, Esq.; Mr. J. Bunney; Mr. Hyde, gardener to R. 
Bacon, Esq., and Mr. E. Meachen, gardener to C. Armstrong, Esq., Woods- 
lee, Withdeane. For incurved blooms, Mr. C. Gibson, gardener to J. 
Wormald, Esq., Mitcham ; Mr. J. Ridout, gardener to J. B. Haywood, Esq., 
Woodhatch, Reigate ; Mr. Elphinstone, gardener to J. Chalton, Esq., The 
Orchard, Reigate. For Japanese blooms, Messrs. Gibson, Ridout, Dixon 
and Co., Hackney, and W. Jupp, gardener to G. Boulton, Esq., East¬ 
bourne. The best Anemones were from Mr. Duncan, gardener to 
J. Lucas, Esq., Warnham Court, Horsham. Groups of miscellaneous 
plants and fruit were also well shown, Mr. Balchin having a fine group 
wot for competition. 
- “ A. M.” writes :—“ On calling at Hopewood Hall in Lancashire 
few days ago I was much struck with a young Gros Colman Vine, 
planted in February, 1882, bearing six bunches, averaging 3 tt> 3 . each, 
with splendid berries, some of which measured within a tenth of 4 inches 
in circumference. They were beautifully finished with one exception— 
the undermost bunch being scarcely up ; but I thought considering the 
season and that they are grown in the neighbourhood of Manchester 
they reflected very great credit on Mr. Strickland, who grows other 
things in the gardens so well that I may trouble you with a few more 
notes about them by-and-by.” 
- Mr. J. Nunns writes:—“In the Orchid house at Penllergare 
VANDA ccerulea is most beautifully in flower. The plant is bearing 
four spikes of flower—two spikes with seventeen flowers each, and two 
-smaller spikes with fifteen blooms each. The largest spike measures 
‘2 feet long. Most of the flowers are 3£ inches in diameter.” 
- The Medical Record furnishes the following particulars, setting 
forth the medicinal properties op culinary vegetables. Asparagus 
is a strong diuretic, and forms part of the cure for rheumatic patients at 
such health resorts as Aix-les-Bains. Sorrel is cooling, and forms the 
staple of that soupe aux herbs which a Fiench lady will order for herself 
after a long and tiring journey. Carrots, as containing a quantity of 
sugar, are avoided by some people, while others complain of them as 
indigestible ; it may be remarked, in passing, that it is the yellow core 
of the Carrot that is difficult of digestion, the outer, a red layer, is tender 
enough ; in Savoy the peasants have recourse to an infusion of Carrots as 
a specific for jaundice. The large sweet Onion is very rich in those 
alkaline elements which counteract the poison of rheumatic gout; if 
slowly stewed in weak broth, and eaten with a little Nepal pepper, it will 
be found to be an admirable article of diet for patients of studious and 
sedentary habits. The stalks of Cauliflower have the same sort of value, 
only too often the stalk of a Cauliflower is so ill boiled and unpalatable 
that few persons would thank you for proposing to them to make part of 
their meal consist of so uninviting an article. Turnips, in the same way, 
are often thought to be indigestible, and better suited for cows and 
sheep than for delicate people. But here the fault lies with the cook 
quite as much as with the root; the cook boils the Turnip badly, and 
then pours butter over it, and the eater of such dish is sure to be the 
worse for it. Try a better way. 
- An exceedingly rare and useful plant is Gilia Brandegli, 
which adds much to the effect of rockwork at this dull season. It is 
found growing along the face of perpendicular rocks in south-west of 
Colorado. The flower stalk, which is nearly a foot high, produces from 
fifteen to twenty long Primrose-looking tubular flowers, upwards of an 
inch across, and half as broad. The leaves are small, produced nearly 
always in a whorl, brittle, and not unlike the common Galium erectum, 
quite hairy, and glandular all over. It is now flowering for the second 
time this season on the new rockery at Kew, and although many culti¬ 
vators have quite failed to grow it in the open, it has, we believe, stood 
there without protection for two years. The failures may be due to the 
sudden change when planted in a too exposed situation, and might 
be considerably lessened by selecting a dry and rather sheltered 
position. 
NEW CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT PUTNEY. 
At two establishments in Putney Chrysanthemums are very largely 
grown, not only the most approved exhibition and decorative varieties, 
but also a selection of the newest as they are obtained each year from 
the Continent. Seedlings, too, are occasionally raised, and though 
necessarily many are found to be inferior to the older varieties, it gives 
an opportunity of sometimes selecting a striking or useful departure from 
the ordinary types. The two nurseries in question are both well known 
in the Chrysanthemum-growing world—namely, Messrs. Mahood & Sons, 
and Mr. J. Stevens, the former in the Lower and the latter in the Upper 
Richmond Roads, and both firms have gained considerable fame at the 
local and other shows, but especially at the Royal Aquarium, for the 
handsome groups of plants they invariably exhibit. It will, therefore, be 
interesting to many to learn what are the chief specialities at each 
place. 
MESSRS. MAHOOD & SONS. 
The space being somewhat limited in their present nursery, the 
principal object pursued by this firm has been to secure a collection of 
only the best and most reliable varieties in the different sections. 
Numbers of varieties that were found to be insufficiently distinct or 
comparatively worthless have been expelled, and the collection now 
comprises about 200 of the leading forms, incurved, Japanese, Pompons, 
reflexed, and Anemones. The incurved and Japanese are remarkably 
well grown. The blooms in the former case being notable for their neatness 
and substance, while the others are mostly very full and rich in colours. 
Amongst the incurved the following well-known varieties are especially 
good—Jardin des Plantes, Prince Alfred, Barbara, Empress Eugenie, 
Alfred Salter, Queen of England, Mrs. Shipman, and Cherub. No 
novelty of special merit, however, demands notice in this group. 
The Japanese are a strong feature, and amongst them we have some 
new additions of sterling merit. The best are the following :— 
Joseph Mahood .—A seedling raised at Putney, and recently certificated 
at a meeting of the Hackney Society. The bloom is full, with narrow 
florets, yellow, curiously dotted and striped with a reddish hue. Very 
distinct, and sometimes highly coloured. 
Mrs. Townsend .—This is also a Putney seedling. Very full handsome 
bloom, of a rich claret-crimson colour, yellow on the under side of the 
flat florets. 
M. Marovch. — Very handsome, substantial flower, deep warm crimsoD, 
flat florets, golden on the under surface. An effective variety. 
Thomas Todman .—This is likely to make a fine exhibition variety 
the blooms being of great substance and distinct in colouring, yellowish 
with red streaks, florets rather flat. 
Iriomphe de Chatelet .—A handsome variety, salmon-red, with large 
