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November 17, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 451 
- The meetings of the Linnean Society to be held during 
the present season, are fixed for the following dates—November 
17th, December 1st and 15th. 1882, January 19th, February 2nd 
and 16th, March 2nd and 16th, April 6th and 20th, May 4th and 
24th, June 1st and 15th. The chair will be taken at 8 P.M. at 
each meeting, except the anniversary on May 24th, when it will 
be taken at 3 P.M. 
- Very handsome at the present time is a specimen of 
Oestrum aurantiacum in the greenhouse at Kew. The plant is 
trained up one of the pillars, and is completely covered with dense 
clusters of orange-yellow flowers, which in form closely resemble 
the well-known Habrothamnus fascicularis. The value of this 
plant cannot be over-estimated, and it is surprising that nursery¬ 
men do not bring it prominently before the public, as it is by no 
means common in gardens. The fact of flowering so profusely 
at this time of year is quite sufficient to recommend it to notice, 
and the specimen above referred to also flowered earlier in the 
season, thus giving two lengthened supplies of its peculiar tinted 
blooms. 
- The Lessees of the Alexandra Palace announce that 
in 1882 a series of special Horticultural Exhibitions will be 
held through the whole of the year under the superintendence of 
the Horticultural Director, Mr. Forsyth Johnson, from whom 
particulars can be obtained. A permanent exhibition of horti¬ 
cultural appliances is contemplated, in addition to the monthly 
displays of fruit and flowers, some of which this year have proved 
very attractive. 
- The new and]'distinct Begonia socotranA, for which 
Messrs. J. Veitch& Sons, Chelsea, obtained a certificate at the last 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, is not only a hand¬ 
some and valuable addition to the genus, but it may be expected 
to prove the parent of a distinct race of Begonias, intermediate in 
general characters between the tuberous and the ordinary types. 
The bold peltate leaves impart quite a unique appearance to the 
plant. The bright rosy flowers also are neatly rounded in form, 
the petals differing comparatively little in size—an additional 
recommendation in a florist’s point of view. As we under¬ 
stand that the plant is easily and quickly increased it will, no 
doubt, soon become popular. 
- A continental periodical states that “ the once famous 
Cedar Forest of Lebanon, formerly so extensive, has dwindled 
down to the dimensions of a mere thicket, numbering about four 
hundred trees. To save it from complete destruction and preserve 
it at least in its present extent, the Governor General of the 
Lebanon has issued a special ordinance containing a series of 
stringent regulations calculated to check if not quite put a stop to 
the vandalism and carelessness of most travellers. It is expressly 
forbidden to put up tents or other kinds of shelter within the 
district of the trees, or to light fires, or to cook any provisions in 
their vicinity. No one is allowed to break off a bough or even a 
twig from the trees. It is forbidden to bring any beasts of 
burden, be they horses, mules, asses, or any other kind of animal, 
within the district. Should oxen, sheep, goats, or other pasturage 
cattle be found within the prescribed limits they will be con¬ 
fiscated.” 
- Among the tropical fruits in Covent Garden 
Market during the last week or two some fine specimens of 
Custard Apples have been noticeable. These, no doubt many of 
our readers know, are the produce of species of Anona, the one in 
question bearing the popular name of the Sweet Sop (Anona 
squamosa), to distinguish it from the Sour Sop (Anona muricata). 
The specific name of the former refers to the appearance of the 
fruits, which are broadly ovoid in shape, the surface seeming to 
be covered with flat scales. Large specimens of the Avocado 
Pear (Persea gratissima) have also been observable, and this fruit 
is not nearly so frequently seen in the market as those first 
mentioned. They closely resemble a Pear in shape, being about 
6 inches or more in length, broad at the apex, and tapering to 
the base. They are reddish-brown in colour when mature, and 
are greatly esteemed in the West Indies. Persea is a Lauraceous 
genus allied to the Cinnamon. Though a native of our own 
country and other temperate regions, the fruit of the Arbutus 
Unedo is not frequently seen in the market. A week or two 
ago, however, several large boxes of the brightly coloured, 
tempting, Strawberry-like fruit were noticeable in the central 
avenue. The fruits were larger and more richly coloured than 
they are usually seen, and would make a handsome dish for the 
table, but would be of no other use, as, notwithstanding its 
attractive exterior, the fruit possesses no qualities to recommend 
it for eating. 
- Our correspondent “W. J. M.” sends us the following 
note on Fruit at the Clonmel Show— The display was an 
excellent one from local growers. Upwards of thirty varieties of 
Apples, nearly as many Pears, well-grown Grapes, Medlars, Nuts, 
and many other fruits common to this season were staged ; and 
in addition fine specimens of green and scarlet-fleshed Melons 
(Eastnor Castle and Munro’s Little Heath), Telegraph Cucumbers, 
and Garibaldi Strawberries. These came from Mrs. Bianconi, 
Cashel (gardener, Mr. Palmer) ; Shanbally Castle, the residence 
of Lord Lismore (gardener, Mr. Wilsher) ; and from Knocklofty, 
the residence of Lord Donoughmore (gardener, Mr. Ryan), re¬ 
spectively. The Apples and Pears sent by Mrs. Crean, Glenview, 
contained some remarkably fine specimens. The competition 
was very close, and the following varieties had first prizes in their 
several sections. Dessert Apples—Cox’s Orange Pippin and King 
of the Pippins, also a new seedling Apple which was raised by 
Mr. Clibborn, Anner Mills House, larger than Cox’s] Orange 
Pippin and of the flavour of the Ribston Pippin, but larger than 
either, remarkably handsome in colour. Alfriston, Emperor 
Alexander, and Beauty of Kent were the leading varieties in the 
baking or kitchen section, and deservedly. Some splendid]Pears 
were also shown. Several connoisseurs thought they had never 
seen finer examples of Beurrd Clairgeau and Duchesse d’Angou- 
leme ; wffiile Beurr6 Amanlis and Glou Morgeau, as well as the 
immensely large Catillac and Vicar of Wakefield, were prizetakers. 
Equal first prizes in the class for collections of eighteen distinct 
varieties of fruit went to Lord Lismore and Mrs. Bianconi, and 
second to Lord Donoughmore. There were three splendid col¬ 
lections of vegetables, each containing at least thirty distinct 
varieties. The first prize went to Captain Moore of Barne 
(gardener, Mr. Saville).” 
THEORIES IN GRAPE CULTURE. 
I AM glad Mr. Bardney has criticised my remarks under ihis 
heading on page 383, and in a right spirit too. Personalities 
engender personalities, and should be avoided in public contro¬ 
versy as much as possible. A person may be altogether wrong in 
his ideas and practices, but if he ventures to publish these, and 
thereby provokes an instructive discussion, he is deserving of 
credit for his share in the good work ; at all events there is no 
necessity to point out his lack of ordinary intelligence as an 
argument against him. 
It seems I have advanced too much or not enough to satisfy 
Mr. Bardney ; but it is difficult to be brief yet explicit. My 
argument is against extremes, and it is simply this — it is a 
mistake to rob Vine borders of much of their fertility to meet 
the supposed requirements of the young Vines, and that the 
results would be nearly or quite as satisfactory in the first 
instance, and decidedly more lasting, if the practice of regu¬ 
lating the top growth were more in accordance with that I 
endeavoured to describe. According to my experience, the dis¬ 
advantageous result of so much unrestrictive growth is the 
creation of many more roots than are really needed, and a 
