574 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. f December si, isss. 
name (Astrocaryum) refers to a character of the fruits in some of 
the species, which, when mature, split into six narrow portions, 
which spread out in a star-like manner and permit the inner por¬ 
tion of the fruit to fall out. Like many other Palms, these are not 
devoid of uses. For instance, A. Murumuru produces an edible 
fruit upon which cattle feed in its native country, and the fibre of 
A. vulgare leaves is employed in weaving hammocks and various 
other purposes. 
The fruits of many species of Palms are invaluable in some 
tropical countries, the Date and Cocoa nut being remarkable ex¬ 
amples of those useful in this respect; the Areca nut, too, is 
another noted production, while the Ivory nut is also the fruit 
of a Palm. One extraordinary character of Palms is the astonish¬ 
ing number of flowers produced by single plants. For instance, 
twelve thousand staminate flowers have been counted in one 
spathe of the Date Palm; but this number is far surpassed by 
Alfonsia amygdalina, as in one spathe as many as 207,000 
flowers have been produced, and it is estimated that one plant 
has borne about six hundred thousand flowers. Several other 
similar examples have been observed, and the large specimen of 
Arenga saccharifera in the Palm house at Kew a few years since, 
which used annually to produce enormous quantities of flowers, 
has often attracted attention on this account. 
At Endcliffe a grand specimen of Seaforthia elegans has been 
fruiting for a long time, the seeds falling and germinating in 
hundreds on the rockery at the base of the specimen, and these 
Mr. Stevens transfers to pots as they become large enough for 
removal. 
GROWING- CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Ix reply to your correspondent “ J. L.” (page 556) in reference 
to growing Chrysanthemums for exhibition, I should refer him to 
the Journal of Horticulture of December 29th, 1881—Mr. J. W. 
Moorman’s excellent article on Chrysanthemum culture. By fol¬ 
lowing the directions given there and selecting the right buds you 
cannot fail to have fine flowers and plants. But now that the 
subject is opened I think it would be interesting if some of our 
successful northern growers would give their experience in regard 
to crown and terminal buds—the varieties they have found to work 
best on these two buds, say the best twenty-four incurved and 
twenty-four Japanese. The selection of buds is but indifferently 
understood, and undoubtedly the secret of success lies not so much 
in stimulants as disbudding. I might state that Prince of Wales 
and its sport Mr. Corbay have done but indifferently on the crown 
bud about Liverpool this season.—C. Waking, 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S COMMITTEES. 
The reconstruction of the Committees of the Eoyal Horticul¬ 
tural Society for 1883 by the Council is as follows :— 
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 
CHAIRMAN. 
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, K.C.S.I., M.D., C.B., F.R.S., V.P.L.S., Royal Gardens, 
Kew. 
FRUIT COMMITTEE. 
CHAIRMAN. 
Henry Webb, Redstone Manor House, Redbill. 
VICE-CHAIRMEN. 
John Lee, 78, Warwick Gardens, W. 
Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., Hildenley, Malton. 
H. J. Yeitch, F.L.S., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, S.W. 
SECRETARY. 
Archibald F. Barron, Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick, W. 
Blackmore, R. D„ Teddington. 
Bnnyard, George, The Nurseries, Maid¬ 
stone. 
Burnett, J., The Gardens, Deepdene, 
Dorking. 
Crowley, Philip, Waddon House, 
Croydon. 
Denning, W„ The Gardens, Londes- 
borough Lodge, Norbiton, Surrey. 
Ford, Sidney, Leonardslee, Horsham. 
Goldsmith, G„ Hollanden Park, Tun¬ 
bridge. 
Hogg, Robert, LL.D., F.L.S., 99, St. 
George’s Road, S.W. 
Howcrof t, Mr., 14, Tavistock Row, W.C. 
Killick, Lewis A., Mount Pleasant, 
Maidstone. 
Lane, John E., Berkhampstead. 
Laxton, Thos., Bedford. 
Lyon, S., The Gardens, Sundridge Park, 
Bromley, 
Mason, Major F., The Firs, Warwick. 
Paul, George, Cheshunt, Herts. 
Paul, William, Waltham Cross, N. 
Rivers, T. Francis, Sawbridgeworth. 
Roberts, J., Gunnersbury Park, Acton. 
Rutland, F., Goodwood, Chichester. 
Silverlock, Charles, 412, Strand, 
W.C. 
Smith, J., The Gardens, Mentmore, 
Leighton Buzzard. 
Stevens, Zadok, The Gardens, Tren- 
tham Hall, Stoke-on-Trent. 
Sutton, Arthur W. (Sutton & Sons) 
Reading. 
Weir, Harrison, Weirleigh, Brenchley, 
Staplehurst. 
Willard, Jesse, Holly Lodge Gardens, 
Highgate, N. 
Woodbridge, John, The Gardens, Syon 
House, Brentford, W. 
FLORAL COMMITTEE. 
CHAIRMAN. 
Rev. H. Harpur Crewe, Drayton Beauchamp Rectory, Tring. 
VICE-CHAIRMEN. 
B. S. Williams, Victoria Nursery, Upper Holloway, N. 
Geo. F. Wilson, F.R.S., Heatherbank, Weybridge Heath. 
Shirley Hibberd, 15, Brownswood Park, Stoke Newington, N. 
SECRETARY. 
Archibald F. Barron, Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick, W, 
Ballantyne, H., The Dell Gardens, 
Egham. 
Baker, George, Coombe Cottage, King¬ 
ston-on-Thames. 
Bealby, William, The Laurels, Alton 
Road, Roehampton. 
Bennett, H., Shepperton, Middlesex. 
Cannell, Henry, Swanle}'. 
Cutbush, James, Highgate, N. 
Dominy, John, 11, Tadema Road, 
Chelsea. 
Douglas, J., The Gardens, Great Gea¬ 
ries, Ilford, E. 
Duffield, G., The Gardens, Bamford 
Lodge, Winchmore Hill, N. 
Ebbage, H., The Hall, Middlesex. 
Eckford, Henry, The Gardens, Sandy- 
well Park, Cheltenham. 
Fraser, John, Lea Bridge Road Nur¬ 
sery, Leyton. 
Green, Charles, The Gardens, Pendell 
Court, Bletchingley, Surrey. 
Hudson, James, The Gardens, Gun¬ 
nersbury House, Acton. 
James, J. 
Kellock, W. B„ F.L.S., Stamford Hill, N. 
Kinghorn, F. R., Sheen Nursery, Rich¬ 
mond, Surrey. 
Laing, John, Stanstead Park, Forest 
Hill, S.E. 
Lee, William, Hammersmith. 
Llewelyn, J. T. D., F.L.S., Penllergare, 
Swansea. 
Masters, Maxwell T., M.D., F.R.S., 
Mount Avenue, Ealing, W. 
McIntosh, James, Duneevan, Wey¬ 
bridge. 
Moore, Thos., F.L.S., Botanic Gardens, 
Chelsea, S.W. 
Ridley, Henry N„ B.A., Natural History 
Museum, South Kensington. 
Turner, Harry, Royal Nursery, Slough. 
Wills, John, Onslow Crescent, Onslow 
Square, S.W. 
VICE-CHAIRMEN. 
Geo. F. Wilson, F.R.S., Heatherbank, Weybridge Heath. 
Col. R. Trevor Clarke, Welton Place, Daventry. 
Rev. M. J. Berkeley, F.R.S., Sibbertoft, Market Harborough. 
SECRETARY. 
Rev. G. Henslow, F.L.S., Drayton House, Ealing. 
Balfour, Professor I. Bayley, Hillhead, 
Glasgow. 
Bauer, F. 0., Normal School of Mines, 
South Kensington. 
Bennett, Alfred W„ M.A., B.Sc., F.L.S., 
6, Park Village East, N.W. 
Boscawen, Hon. and Rev. J. Towns- 
hend, Lamorran, Probus, Cornwall. 
Boulger, G. S., 144, Kensington Park 
Road, Notting Hill, W. [Kew. 
Church, A. H., F.C.S., Royston House, 
Cooke, Dr. M. C., Herbarium, Kew. 
Crewe, Rev. H. Harpur, Drayton Beau¬ 
champ Rectory, Tring. 
Elwes, H. J., F.L.S., F.Z.S., Preston, 
Cirencester. 
Foster, Dr. Michael, F.R.S.,Cambridge. 
Gilbert, J. H., Ph.D., F.R.S., Harpeu- 
den, St. Albans. 
Glaisher, Jas., Dartmouth Place, Black- 
heath. 
Grote, Arthur, F.L.S., 20, Cork Street, 
Burlington Gardens, W. 
Hogg, Robert, LL.D., F.L.S., 99, St. 
George’s Road, S.W. 
Loder, E. Giles, Floore, Weedon, North¬ 
amptonshire. 
Lowe, Dr, Wimbledon. 
Lynch, R. Irwin, A.L.S., Botanic Gar¬ 
dens, Cambridge. 
Masters, Maxwell T., M.D., F.R.S., 
Mount Avenue, Ealing, W. 
McLachlau, R., F.L.S., Lime Grove, 
Lewisham. 
Mangles, J. H., Valewood, Haslemere. 
Moore, Thos., F.L.S., Botanic Gardens, 
Chelsea, S.W. 
Murray, G., Botanical Department, 
British Museum. 
Pascoe, F. P., F.L.S., 1, Burlington 
Road, Westbourne Park, W. 
Smith, Worthington G., F.L.S., 125, 
Grosvenor Road, Canonbury, N. 
Strickland, Sir C. W., Bart., Hildenley, 
Malton. 
AUCHENDRANE. 
Abchendrane, which is beautifully situated on the classic banks 
of Doon in South Ayrshire, is the seat of Sir Peter Coats, a gentleman 
well known for his large-hearted benevolence and for the lasting 
benefits he has conferred on his native town of Paisley. Few of the 
wealthy of any country have been so generous in considering the 
wants of the people and ministering to them. Sir Peter a few years 
ago presented the town of Paisley with a building for a free library 
and museum at a cost of about £20,000, and recently provided addi¬ 
tions to the buildings at a further cost of £12,000. This is only one 
(though it is the most conspicuous) of his public acts of generosity ; 
but few will ever know of the many private acts of charity bestowed 
by him on the poor and needy. 
When visiting the International Flower Show at Edinburgh in Sep¬ 
tember last I took the opportunity of spending a day with my much- 
esteemed friend Mr. Currie, the head gardener, and through the kind¬ 
ness of Sir Peter of having a day’s salmon-fishing in the Doon. 
The principal entrance to Auchendrane has been well chosen at a 
point on the Ayr and Maybole turnpike road, distant from Ayr about 
five miles and close to a bridge that crosses the Doon. The approach 
on each side is tastefully planted with large clumps of Rhododen¬ 
drons and other flowering shrubs, which grow luxuriantly here, and 
flower freely during the season. The mansion is pleasantly situated 
on the right bank of the Doon, and secluded from the public road by 
plantations. It is a modern building, standing on an eminence high 
above the rapid-flowing river. The house commands a fine view of a 
richly wooded valley. The mansion and grounds have been greatly 
