858 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 23, 1890, 
- Horticultural Club. —The first dinner and conversazione 
for the present season took place on Tuesday evening Oct. 14th, when, not¬ 
withstanding the miserably foggy weather, there was a good attendance 
of members. The chair was occupied by Mr. John Lee, and there were 
present, amongst others, the Eev. W. Wilks, Messrs. Harry J. Yeitch, 
Cousens, H. J. Pearson, Lindsell, Burrell, and Walker. The subject for 
discussion was the Gladiolus (hybrids of gandavensis), which was 
opened by the Rev. H. Id. D'Ombrain, who, in opposition to some recent 
statements, showed specimens of bulbs to illustrate the correctness of 
his views, while Mr. E. B. Lindsell kindly contributed some beautiful 
spikes of flowers to illustrate the statements made. An animated 
discussion followed, which was joined in by nearly all present, and an 
interesting and profitable evening was spent. 
-The Fruit Exhibition at the Guildhall. —As mentioned 
last week, at the close of the Fruit Exhibition in the City, the Master 
of the Fruiterers’ Company (Sir James Whitehead) forwarded to Her 
Majesty at Balmoral two cases of English grown Apples and Pears, 
selected from the exhibits at Guildhall, with the view of illustrating 
what could with intelligent cultivation be produced in different parts 
of England, and showing the capacity of this country for the growth 
of much of the hardy fruit which is now imported. He also forwarded 
to the Queen a copy of an essay, “ Profitable Fruit Growing,' 1 by Mr. 
John Wright, for which work the gold medal of the Fruiterers’ Com¬ 
pany together with a prize of twenty-five guineas was awarded last 
year. Major Sir Fleetwood Edwards, K.C.B., in acknowledging the safe 
arrival of the fruit, stated that some of it had already been served at 
Her Majesty’s table, and he was commanded to convey to the Fruiterers’ 
Company the Queen’s thanks for having been kind enough to forward 
the fruit, with the beauty of which the Queen had been struck. Her 
Majesty was also obliged for the copy of Mr. Wright’s essay. 
- In the 103rd annual report of the Royal Botanic Garden, 
Calcutta, Dr. King says that the attention of the staff during the past 
year was devoted chiefly to the maintenance, in as high a state of 
efficiency as possible, of the various departments of the garden. Special 
attention was given to the herbarium, and a considerable number of 
new species were described. The sum of 1000 rupees having been 
granted in order that specimens might be obtained in Burmah and 
Assam, Dr. King was enabled to do more than usual in these provinces. 
Under a recent order of the Government of India this exploration will 
be extended. An official document relating to Dr. King’s report, and 
issued by the order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, contains the 
following passage :—“ The control of Indian botanical operations has 
been centralised in the Calcutta Gardens, and the Superintendent has 
been appointed Director of the Botanical Survey of India. The grants 
promised by the Administrations of Burmah and Assam will enable 
the collections to be made on a larger scale and more continuously. As 
this work will constitute a separate department, it has been ordered 
that in future years a separate report should be submitted on the 
subject.” 
1 he twenty-eighth annual report of the Government Cinchona 
plantation and factory in British Sikkim, by Dr. King, has been 
issued. At the end of the financial year 1889-90 the plantation con¬ 
sisted of 4,082,401 trees of various ages, and of a nursery stock amount¬ 
ing to 2l>4,000 seedlings. The crop collected during the year amounted 
to 304,(05 lbs. The product of the factory were 1833^- lbs. of sulphate 
of quinine, and 0578 lbs. of febrifuge. The whole of the quinine and 
the greater part of the febrifuge were manufactured by the new fusel- 
oil process, and as the arrangements for working this process were quite 
completed during the year, the old acid and alkali method of manufac¬ 
ture has now been definitely abandoned. An additional year’s experi¬ 
ence of the fusel oil process confirms Dr. King’s previously expressed 
opinion of its complete success. The quinine turned out by it is of 
excellent appearance and great purity, in the latter respect comparing 
favourably with most of the brands of the drugs of European manu- 
f icture.—( Nature .) 
- Knowsley Cottage, the residence of Thomas Pilkington, 
Esq., is within easy distance of Liverpool, and is approached from 
the main road by a short drive banked on each side by fine specimen 
Rhododendrons. The house, as well as the grounds, cannot claim 
much pretension to elaborate effect, but from the windows the banks 
of Rhododendrons skirting the lawn are grand in the spring time. 
The houses, eleven in number, are of various designs, the first entered 
being an intermediate house containing good plants of Asparagus 
plumosus nanus, Bouvardias, Cyperus, Begonias, Poinsettias, Epi- 
phyllums, Stephanotis, Bougainvillea, and good batches of those useful 
Ferns Adiantum cuneatum and Pteris serrulata cristata, all for deco¬ 
rative purposes. A general plant house filled with plants incidental 
to such structures was next visited, and then a propagating house con¬ 
taining fine young Crotons, Pandanus, Eucharis, and Gardenias, all in 
small pots for house decoration. The Cucumber house was just planted 
with its winter occupants, plants clean and robust of the old Telegraph. 
The Peach house contains four good trees on the back wall—viz., Hale’s 
Early, Grosse Mignonne, Barrington, and Elruge Nectarine. They are 
the pictures of health, Mr. Simpson having worked out most of the old 
wood and taken up young shoots in their place, and with good treatment 
at the roots has practically renewed them. In the Muscat house the 
Grapes were cut, but the wood was all one could wish for. The second 
vinery, although occupied with old Vines, contained fine bunches of 
Muscats, Madresfield Court, Mrs. Pince, and Alicante. The Alicante 
house is 80 feet long, containing seventeen Vines, and has an east 
aspect. Each Vine carried ten splendid bunches, large in the berry, 
well coloured, of the largest size, and not a faulty bunch among them, 
in fact all fit for exhibition. We may rest assured that when Mr. 
Simpson gives his opinions on the cultivation of Grapes he is well able 
to do it, as evidenced by the Vines under his charge. The Camellia 
house is 75 feet long, and contains fine plants of the best varieties 
planted out and well set with buds. There is also a large roomy stove 
containing some very choice Crotons, Palms, Dracaenas, Pandanus, 
Cycads, Eucharis, and Pancratiums, the rafters of the roof being 
occupied with Cissus, Stephanotis, Bougainvilleas, and Allamandas. 
The conservatory is attached to the house, and was very gay at the 
time of my visit. The flower garden was effectively bedded out, 
particularly striking being two beds of Henry Jacoby Pelargonium, 
which does remarkably well in this part of Lancashire.—R. P. R. 
SARRACENIAS. 
It has often seemed strange to me that Sarracenias are not more popular 
Perhaps some may say that they are difficult to manage, others again 
may say that they are not sufficiently showy, but to these excuses I 
answer that they are both showy and easily cultivated. Some of the 
species have been introduced to our gardens upwards of a hundred 
years, and yet how se’dom do we meet with them, except in botanic 
gardens and a few establishments where large collections of plants are 
grown. A few years ago there were only about half a dozen species in 
cultivation, but now in addition some fine hybrids have been obtained by 
Messrs. Veitch & Sons of Chelsea. The great outcry at the present day 
is for new plants and Orchids ; but if some of the new plants that are 
sent out annually were nearly as attractive as some of the Sarracenias we 
should not have room to complain. I have been a close observer at the 
great metropolitan exhibitions for this last few years, and have come to 
the conclusion that few new plants of really sterling merit have been 
sent out. If Sarracenias were an introduction of the present times in¬ 
stead of the past I am sure they would find favour with many plant- 
cultivators, for when well grown they are really ornamental. 
Perhaps a few words on their cultivation will not be out of place to 
some of the readers of your Journal who may wish to give them a trial. 
1 find that Sarracenias are very accommodating, not at all particular as 
to the house in which they grow. I grow mine through the summer in 
a light airy greenhouse well ventilated top and bottom, and in winter I 
place them in the coolest end of the stove. This is merely for my own 
convenience, for it is not absolutely necessary that they should be in 
heat in winter, as I have known some growers allow their plants to be 
exposed to frost for a considerable time. I have tried two or three com¬ 
posts for them, but what they like best is good fibry peat, chopped 
sphagnum, broken charcoal or potsherds, and plenty of silver sand. 
Some prefer potting their plants in autumn, others in spring. I prefer 
potting in spring before they make their spring pitchers. The pots 
should be washed and be filled about a quarter full with good drainage, 
or if large a little more drainage will be all the better ; over this place 
a thin layer < f moss, and then the potting proceeds. The crown or 
rhizome should be slightly elevated above the level of the pot, the plants 
being potted rather firmly, leaving sufficient space at the top for a good 
top-dressing of green sphagnum. After the plants have become 
sufficiently large pans are the most suitable to grow them in. In their 
native habitat Sarracenias are found growing in boggy or marshy 
ground, consequently they require a good amount of water bjth in 
summer and winter ; in fact, they should never be allowed to become 
dry. The plants when growing should occupy a position near the glass 
and be fully exposed to the sun, for if shaded the colouring of the 
pitchers is not nearly so bright. It is very necessary to guard against 
the flies, for these intruders are very fond of the secretion produced by 
the pitchers when in a young state. If the flies are allowed to become 
entrapped in the pitchers in any quantity decomposition soon takes 
place, and causes the base of the pitcher to decay. I find that placing 
a small piece of cotton wool in the top of each pitcher, sufficiently far 
down to be unobserved, answers the purpose admirably. 
The following are amongst the most useful and showy forms :— 
S. Drummondi ,—This is one of the best species grown. The pitchers 
