Decemlier 18, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
549 
pri^ei ore large and pixteen smaller flowers, the latter on a level with 
and quite encircling the large central bloom.] 
A GRAND International Flower Show is to take place in 
Paris in May 1885, under the auspices of the French National Horti. 
cultural Society of France, of which M. Leon Say, senateur, late Minister 
of the Exchequer, has just been elected President. Further particulars 
will be published shortly. 
- The following is a fourth list of subscriptions collected for the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution Augmentation of 
Pension Fund by Mr. Owen Thomas, Chatsworth Gardens. Per Mr. G 
Scrimshaw, Chatsworth Gardens, £2 2^. Qd.\ Mrs. Wayte, Bornhilb 
Tamworth, £1 ; Mrs. Jones, Chatsworth, 10.?.; Mr. Clements, Bram- 
bling House Gardens, 5^. ; ditto Life Member, £10 10s. ; total’ 
£11 Is. U. 
- The schedule of the Royal Botanic Society of London 
for the two spring shows of 1885—namely March 25th and April 22nd, 
is now issued, and from it we learn that the usual prizes will be offered 
in the ordinary classes, but that in addition eight special prizes are 
offered for Amaryllises. These are contributed by “ an amateur anxious 
to encourage the cultivaPon of this flue race of plants,” and all the 
classes are open. Two prizes of £2 and £1 are offered for the best 
seedling. Similar prizes are offered for the best six Amaryllises, £1 and 
10 *’. being offered for the two best dark and light varieties in this 
class. 
- The members and friends of the Kingston Chrysanthemum 
Society had their first annual dinner together at the Sun Inn, Kingston- 
on-Thames, on Thursday night last. There was quite a crowded meeting, 
Mr. Drewitt, the Editor of the SurMton and Kingston News, ably pre¬ 
siding, supported by his brother, the Treasurer of the Society. It is not 
many floral societies which enjoy the support of gentlemen so able and 
earnest as these, and their effectual services are, as they ought to be 
warmly appreciated by the members. The Society is also managed by a 
Committee thoroughly practical, and the Secretary, Mr. J. Jackson, is 
admittedly the right man in the right place. With such a directorate and 
the good support accorded, the Kingston Society will maintain its high 
position in the Chrysanthemum world. As an example of the progress 
made during the la^t eight years, and also as evidence of the increasing 
popularity of the favourite autumn flower, it may be stated that while 
the amount taken at the doors at the first Kingston Show was only £13^ 
the sum taken at the last Show was £132, £30 of this being paid in 
sixpences in one hour during the evening. The gathering was in every 
way a gratifying success. 
- The fifty-fourth ordinary meeting of the Essex Field Clubi 
will be held in the Great Hall of the Loughton Public Hall, Loughton, 
Essex, on Saturday, December 20th, 1884, at 7 p.m. The following paper^ 
as well as shorter notes, will be read:—“The ‘Salting-Mounds’ of 
Essex,” by Henry S’opes, F.G.S. In accordance with Rule iv., the 
Council and officers for 1885 will be nominated, preparatory to the fifth 
annual general meeting to be held on January Slst, 1885. The Hall will 
be open at 6.30 p.m. for the convenience of exhibitors. As stated in 
former circulars, every facility will be afforded to those bringing micro¬ 
scopes and specimens, &3. The Hall is only a few minutes’ walk from 
the Loughton railway station, and the usual reduction on return tickets 
may be claimed at Liverpool Street, Stratford, and Woodford stations. 
The library remains at the headquarters, 3, St. John’s Terrace, Buckhurst 
Hill, and is open every Thursday evening during the winter session from 
7 to 9 p.m. 
- The prospectus of the Royal Agricultural College^ 
Cirencester, issued during the past month, gives full particulars con¬ 
cerning the course of instruction provided in technical and scientific 
subjects, which appears to be ample for the requirements of the agricul¬ 
tural students. External examiners are appointed for the final examination 
of students for the diploma, and there is a Beard of Studies, in which are 
several professors otherwise unconnected with the College. The number 
of students is steadily increasing, and among them are several Indian 
scholars sent by the Governments of Bengal and the North-West Provinces. 
The Governments of the Indian Presidencies also encourage some of their 
civil servants to pass through the College course when on leave of absence 
in this country. 
- The second annual report of the Metropolitan Public 
Ground and Playground Association is just to hand, and from it we 
judge that much good work is being performed. That the objects of the 
Asssociation are appreciated by the public is also proved by the fact that 
from January 1st to June 2l8t of the present year the subscriptions 
amounted to £586, and at the closing of the accounts for the half year 
this left a balance of £140 at the hankers. A large number of open 
spaces in the most crowded portions of the metropolis have already been 
secured for the use of the people, and numbers of others are under con¬ 
sideration. In several cases where permission has been granted by vestries 
or other bodies to open certain spaces to the public, the Association has 
undertaken the charge of the grounds, providing seats, &c. In an appendix 
we notice that a rather unsatisfactory list of trees and shrubs that “ will live 
in London” is given, and we should think that the Honorary Landscape 
Gardener of the Association, Mr. J. Forsyth Johnson, has not revised it, 
or he would never have passed it in its present state. For example, 
amongst “Evergreen Shrubs” are included Pampas Grass, Iberis, “Hes" 
perus,” Vincas, London Pride, Dianthus, Arabia albida, and “ French 
Willow Herb,” while several of the trees, such as Salisburia adiantifolia, 
IMagnolias, and others, are quite unsuited for the purpose named. 
- In a recent is.sue of the Bulletin du Cercle Horticole 
DU Nord there is a description of carpet and other bedding which 
contains some names of plants familiar to English cultivators, but 
which have undergone a strange transformation in their passage from 
England to the Continent. One of the most amusing of these is 
“ Pyrethrum Golden Pheather,” which is rather suggestive of one of 
the American humourists’ style of orthography. In “ Ageratum Thum- 
Thum ” we recognise the variety Tom Thumb without much difficulty, 
but it was only by a sudden inspiration that “ Geranium Hopitoug ” was 
determined to be the well-known “ Happy Thought.” 
- A CORRESPONDENT Writes“ I visited Osberton Manor, 
NEAR Worksop, recently, and there saw a fine batch of Calanthe 
Veitchii nearly in full flower. The plants were arranged the full length 
of the stove, forming a complete border. There were upwards of eighty 
spikes expanded. The effect was very pleasing, and a striking illustration 
of what may be done by massing certain colours instead of mixing other 
flowers with them and producing incongruity. On a Vine of Gros 
Guillaume in one of the vineries at the same place, and hanging on 
opposite sides of the main stem, and nearly exactly opposite each other, 
were two of the handsomest bunches of Grapes I have ever seen. They 
might have been twin bunches ; they were about equal in weight (not 
less than 10 lbs. each) in the general contour of bunch, size of berry, and 
equally excellently finished. The quality of the general crop of Grapes 
speaks volumes for Mr. Woods as a Grape-grower.” 
- “ J. L. B.” writes on Peas And Celery as follows :—“I am 
growing Buttons’ new Gem Dwarf Celery this year rather largely. An 
illustration of it in their catalogue induced me to try it, and 1 find the 
description a very faithful one. Although very dwarf, it is a good size. 
There seems quite as much in a head of this as in the taller varieties, 
which require much more room to grow. One great advantage is that 
it can be earthed-up to within 3 inches of the top of the leaves, so that 
frost and snow cannot easily injure it. This seems to me an improve¬ 
ment on Sandringham Dsvarf White. Can anyone recommend a good 
dwarf red similar to the above, or the best red for general purposes ? 
Can anyone recommend a better Pea for earliness and productiveness 
than Buttons’ Ringleader or Ne plus Ultra for quantity and quality for 
a main crop ? or than Veitch’s Perfection for the latest 1 ” 
- A Winchester correspondent sends us a number of pods and 
scarlet seeds of Iris fcetidissima, and remarks, “ The flower is insig¬ 
nificant, but the open pods filled with brightly coloured berries look very 
showy, and at this dull season are exceedingly effective amongst the 
green foliage. We have several large clumps here which yearly produce 
abundance of pods, which are valued for cutting, and when associated 
with foliage of shrubs, &c., in a vase have a most pleasing effect, and 
they last a considerable time.” 
