530 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 20, 1893. 
is announced as one of the novelties of an American firm who have 
previously sent out the now well-known Bouvardias Alfred Neuner 
and President Garfield. It is said to be the result of a cross between 
B. A. Neuner and Ciantha ; the latter, we suppose, being that known in 
England as leiantha. The flowers are described as very double and of 
a brilliant red colour. If this prove as good as the white variety it will 
be a great acquisition. 
- “ G. T. G.” writes “I regard Chou de Burghley as a very 
useful vegetable at this time of the year, as most other kinds are rather 
scarce. With us, as yet, it is only like an ordinary Cabbage, but much 
superior in flavour. Mr. Gilbert, however, says we must wait till March 
to see it in its true character, when I hope it will turn out what it is 
represented to be. If it does, it will be one of the most serviceable 
vegetables we have.” 
- The pretty and useful Kose, William Francis Bennett, is 
attracting much attention in the United States. It may be remembered 
that Mr. Bennett of Shepperton sold this Rose to Mr. Evans of 
Philadelphia for something like £780, on the understanding that no 
plants or cuttings were to be sold for four years. There now seems to 
be some little difficulty about cutting buds with long stems, as it is 
feared the lower eyes may be propagated. Several methods of 
preventing this have been recommended ; one being touching the 
leaf buds with acids and another cutting them out, but neither ar e 
quite satisfactory, and it is likely that the variety will soon appear in 
other establishments. 
- As a sample of late White Chrysanthemums, Mr. Cannell 
has sent us beautiful blooms and a profusion of buds in various stages 
of development of Mrs. Charles Carey and Yirginale. The former, as 
several of our readers are aware, is a Japanese variety, very pure, with 
flat incurving florets, the bloom resembling a white form of Peter the 
Great. The large dark foliage contrasts effectively with the flowers, and 
the variety would appear to be very useful, and is certainly highly effective 
for decorative purposes at this period of the year onwards. Yirginale is 
a medium-sized Anemone flower, with long clear white guard florets, 
and a creamy white full symmetrical centre. The blooms before us are 
fresh and charming, and it is not a matter of surprise that this variety 
has already become popular in the Christmas flower market. 
-A correspondent writes respecting Strawberries and 
Grapes at Longford Castle as follows :—“ In passing through the 
forcing houses at the above establishment the other day we noticed a 
very fine batch of early Strawberry plants which looked very promising, 
some in flower and many with the fruit set and swelling ; these will 
probably be ripe next month. The plants, which are growing in 6 -inch 
pots, are from this year’s runners, and are about six months old. Grapes 
in the new range of houses are now at their best. The crop is certainly a 
marvellous one, the heaviest we have ever seen on young Yines, and 
which are not yet three years old ; this being the second season of their 
fruiting. In the end or west house, which is 32 feet long and 17 feet 
wide, are fifteen Yines bearing collectively eighty-six bunches. Many of 
them we estimate will weigh from 4 lbs. to 5 lbs., and two or three of the 
largest will probably turn the scales at 8 or 10 lbs. Although tbe latter 
are a little wanting in colour, the crop, taking it altogether, does very 
great credit to their grower, Mr. Ward.” 
- On Monday, the 14th, at the George IV. hotel, a dinner was held 
in connection with the Croydon Horticultural Society. The Com¬ 
mittee invited some of the exhibitors at their recent shows to dine with 
them. Mr. Alderman Coldwells and Mr. Reed, two esteemed supporters 
of the Society, and Mr. Orchard, one of the Judges at the late Chrysan¬ 
themum Show, were also present. In the course of the evening Mr. Cold- 
wells pointed out the fact that when the Society a few years ago was 
conducted by gentlemen and tradesmen in the neighbourhood, it was 
almost a failure, but when it came into the hands of practical men the 
results were far more satisfactory. Mr. A. C. Roffey, the indefatigable 
Secretary, read the balance-sheet for the last two seasons, which showed 
that in 1882 the total income was £336 65 . 11^7. ; paid in prizes, 
£155 Is. 3d. ; balance at bank, £45. In 1883 the total income was 
£412 ; paid in prizes, £156 17s. 9 d. ; balance at bank, £100 17s. 1(R 
The health of the Mayor, J. S. Balfour, Esq., M.P., was received with 
much enthusiasm. This gentleman not only lent the ground for the last 
summer show, but also generously provided a grand display of fireworks, 
and allowed the Society to take the proceeds of gate money, which is 
estimated at £70, from visitors to the fireworks alone. It is considered 
by some members that if the Society were to provide fireworks to- 
the amount of £25 at future shows the result would be £50 at least ia 
return for admission to see them. 
- “ A. O. W.” writes—“For autumn and winter flowering I find! 
Heliotrope White Lady invaluable. Cuttings are struck in spring 
and grown in a cold frame during the early part of the summer, and 
potted as occasion requires in 32 or 24-sized pots. The shoots are well 
pinched to make bushy well-balanced heads. After the plants are 
established in the large pots they are placed out of doors until the 
autumn. The plants so treated are now covered with pure white and 
highly fragrant flowers, which are much sought after for bouquets and 
buttonholes. An intermediate house and a position near the glass seems 
to suit them well. I observe that this variety when grown out of doors 
in borders, also in a cold house in the autumD, has its flowers much less 
fragrant than those grown in a little heat.” 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr. George Piller, late foreman 
at Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, succeeds Mr. Hunt as gardener to 
General Benson, Fairy Hill, Swansea, South Wales. 
- “ W. O.” desires to know if washing Peach trees with 
Gishurst compound, prepared at the rate of six ounces to a gallon 
of water, would cause the buds to fall. Perhaps some of our cor¬ 
respondents who have tried the mixture at the strength indicated 
will answer the question, and state also what they consider the safest 
and best wash or dressing for Peach trees. 
- “A Constant Reader” sends the following :—“Thinking that 
it might interest the readers of the Journal to know that the love for the 
cultivation of the Chrysanthemum is spreading and has now secured a 
firm footing in Scotland, it affords me great pleasure to inform them that 
the second annual Exhibition of the Dunfermline Chrysanthemum 
Society was held in St. Margaret’s Hall, St. Margaret’s Street, on 
Saturday, the 15th inst., when there was a large display of both plants 
and cut blooms, the majority of which were of excellent quality ; Mr. 
J. Graham, gardener to Messrs. McLaren, Comely Park, winning the 
prem prize with six well-flowered plants ; Mr. E. Johnstone, gardener? 
Balmule, and Mr. J. Mackay, Pittencrieff Gardens, being first and second 
respectively for eighteen blooms ; Mr. A. Buchanan, Woodhead Street 
securing the special prize for the best bloom in the Show with a grand 
specimen of Empress of India.” 
-Number 3 Museum at Kew has been closed during a 
considerable time for repairs and re-arrangement, but is now re-opened. 
The interior has been entirely renovated, and instead of the polished 
woods being piled as hitherto, they are classed and placed singly against 
the back and front walls. Along the back two small platforms or 
gangways running the whole length of the building have been placed 
one above the other at suitable intervals from the floor, leading to which 
are circular iron staircases at each end for the use of specialists or those 
wishing to examine the woods more closely than the general public 
usually do. An iron fence has also been placed round the building 
2 or 3 feet from the walls, for the better protection of the woods ; the 
centre being taken up with stands of all the more recent views of foreign- 
botanic gardens, together with portraits of the more noted botanists. 
Great taste has been displayed throughout in the re-arrangement, special 
attention having been given to make the museum as light as possible. 
- Mr. A. R. Cox, Wavertree, sends the following note —“ It may 
not be generally known that one of the most useful and interesting objects 
of the Liverpool Horticultural Association is the holding of meetings- 
during the winter months to hear essays read and lectures delivered, after 
which their contents are discussed by the members. The second meeting 
of the fifth annual session was held on the 15th inst. in the Free Library,. 
Liverpool, when papers were read by Mr. Ranger on ‘ The Cultivation of 
the Croton,’ and Mr. Powell on ‘ Vegetable Curiosities.’ Mr. Ranger is 
the much-respected manager to Messrs. R. P. Ker & Sons, Aigburth, and 
whose success as a grower of Crotons and other choice plants is well known 
by those who visit the Manchester Whitsuntide shows. He treated the 
subject in a very able manner, and received a hearty vote of thanks from 
the meeting. If Mr. Ranger would consent to his paper being published 
in the Journal I am sure your valuable space would not be wasted. 
Mr. Powell’s paper was also very interesting, treating chiefly on Orchids, 
Nepenthes, and Sarracenias. The usual vote of thanks was accorded. 
The meeting was well attended, and good discussions followed.” 
