ctober 2?, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
363 
to plant, choosing a fine dry day when the ground is in condition. 
Clean healthy plants should, of course, only be planted. An excel¬ 
lent plan to secure young growth for propagation is to follow the 
course recommended by Mr. George Finlay some two or three 
years ago in the Journal—viz., to bury the old stools in clean soil 
in the autumn, when in spring the growths will be found coming 
through the soil as clean as Seakale. With cuttings or grafts such 
as these there is little fear of success. My esteemed friend, Mr. 
Oliver of Eslington Park, with whom this idea was, I believe, first 
introduced, sent me samples thus treated last year. These plants 
had no special treatment whatever ; they were merely potted and 
kept in a clean frame by themselves until planted out at the usual 
time. Not a spot of fungus has been seen on these plants during 
the season. 
Cleanliness is another important consideration. At this time of 
the year, when plants are being cut down, every leaf and stem 
ought to be carefully collected and burned. Whether fungus has 
been prevalent or not the greatest care ought to be exercised. We 
cannot always see where the germs are lurking about. Frames, 
too, where plants have been propagated and wintered, ought to be 
thoroughly washed and painted immediately the plants are cleared 
out. I generally add a little paraffin oil in mixing the paint. It 
is in frames and such places that fungi are often hidden for a time, 
and makes its appearance when least expected. 
In a letter to hand this morning, when writing these notes, Mr. 
Mein, of the firm of Messrs. Stuart & Mein, Kelso, informs me 
that they have been very successful with Condy’s fluid as a preven- 
tiv *of the Hollyhock fungus. I have not, however, tried this 
remedy myself, but as I understand this firm has been trying various 
experiments during the season, let us hope Mr. Mein will let us 
have the benefit of his experience through the Journal. I believe, 
also, one of their people gave a lecture on the Hollyhock recently. 
As I have not seen any report of it in any gardening papers, I hope 
this hint will be sufficient, and during the winter months others 
will, perhaps, take up the question. I may here state that I am 
preparing a list of the best exhibition Hollyhocks in cultivation at 
the present time, and I hope growers will, as soon as convenient, 
send me their lists of what they consider good exhibition sorts, 
taking them in their order of merit, with description of colour 
and raiser’s name where possible. Now that the Hollyhock is 
receiving so much attention, it is really necessary to have a revised 
list of the best sorts true to name. It is very perplexing, after 
paying such long prices for plants, to find after growing them one 
variety under different names. Many of the sorts, too, are not 
admissible. I grow, perhaps, one of the largest collection in 
existence at the present time. Out of these not more than fifty 
varieties are admissible for exhibition. Ido not, however, condemn 
many of the others, for as decorative plants they ought, perhaps, 
to find a place when true to name ; but at present we shall only 
deal with exhibition sorts. 
Will those growers to whom I have not written, and whose 
address I am not acquainted with, please accept this notice, and 
send their lists to the address as under?— George Steel, Heathers- 
law, Cornhill-on Tweed. 
the district are affected by a similar freedom. Gardeners having any 
open sheds or similar buildings to that here mentioned would do well 
to make an occasional search now, this being a more ecconomical 
mode of exterminating wasps than anything applied in summer for their 
prevention or destruction.—W. Strugnell. 
QUEEN WASPS. 
These troublesome fruit pests have been more than usually abun¬ 
dant in some localities this year, while in others but little inconvenience 
has been caused by them. The possible nests of next year can to a 
very large degree be reduced in numbers by thoroughly destroying the 
queens at this season, when they are searching for cosy corners wherein 
to pass the winter. Last year a correspondent writing on this subject 
advised readers having the opportunity to search among stacks of 
timber, which were found to be favourite winter resorts. It is an easy 
matter to catch and kill them now, as they will, if they have already 
found a place to their liking, be most likely in a stupid or sleepy con¬ 
dition, but quarters suitable to them may not be found in every garden. 
Last autumn I secured and destroyed about three dozen, and within the 
past month I have already killed twice that number, and still they 
come. In my case I have not far to seek, for the necessary daily visit 
to the fruit room at once reveals their whereabouts. This building was 
not erected for but adapted as a fruit store, and, unlike fruit rooms 
generally, has an unsealed stone roof, which evidently proves an attrac¬ 
tion for these unwelcome creatures. Once admission is effected they 
are attracted by the window. Some conceal themselves between the 
frame and wall where slight spaces occur, others less concerned sleep 
quietly in dark corners, or suspend themselves to the rustic curtain 
employed for excluding light and frost. 
The fact of so many queens being destroyed thus may account in 
some degree for our freedom from these pests among garden fruits in 
summer, for although no means are taken in excluding them from the 
vineries, not a single wasp has attempted to partake of this favourite 
dessert. Plums and Pears are the only outdoor fruits that have received 
any attention from them, and not to anything like a serious extent 
even among these, and it is more than probable that other gardens in 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
October 14th. 
Scientific Committee. —Present : Mr. W. T. Thiselton Dyer in 
the chair, Mr. McLachlan, Mr. Morris, Dr. Oliver, Mr. Veitch, Dr. Scott, 
Dr. Muller, and the Rev. G. Henslow (Hon. Sec). 
Plantain, Fru>t. —Mr. Morris exhibited two large fruits of Musa 
sapientum var. paradisiaca, or the common Plantain, grown at Sion 
House. It is generally used before it is quite ripe as a vegetable in the 
tropics. It practically takes the place of the Potato, and is a very 
valuable food, especially in tropical America. 
Merulius lachrymans (?).—Dr. Oliver exhibited an interesting 
specimen of the mycelium of some fungus which had grown between 
two sheets of canvas. It had spread in a radiating manner, covering 
a space of about 8 inches square. 
Antirrhinum majus, Monstrous. —Mr. Henslow showed a flower of 
the yellow Snapdragon, with narrow ribbon-like yellow and white out¬ 
growths from the calyx. Such enations are not uncommon from the 
outer surface of corollas, as in the fringed Cyclamen, Polyanthus, 
Gloxinia, &c, ; but in the present instance they were detached from the 
inner surface of the calyx— i.e., by tangential chorisis. 
The Fog Report. —Dr. Oliver read a report as to the scheme pro¬ 
posed at the preliminary meeting. A discussion followed as to the 
methods to be adopted, and it was suggested (1) that the Meteorological 
Society should be asked to lend a pump already used for the purpose 
of collecting fog ; (2) to consult with Dr. Russell as to the construction 
of an absorbent apparatus ; and (3) that a duplicate chamber with 
filters should be prepared for use at Kew. It is also proposed to re-issue 
circulars with an additional request as to the opacity of the fogs 
experienced. 
VIOLAS. 
Some weeks ago I received from Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, a- 
box of Viola blooms, and amongst them were several which some of 
your readers will probably be glad to know something about, so I give a 
short description of each. Mrs. II. Bellamy is a rich violet purple with- 
lilac-clouded top petals, and of fine form. Evelyn is an improved Duchess 
of Albany, brighter in colour and of fine form. Ariel has pale blue 
lilac top petals, the side and lower petals are white clouded with blue, 
a distinct variety. Glow is of a rosy-lilac ground colour, striped and 
marked with deep maroon, and distinct. Ada Adair, of a pinkish lilac 
colour with dark blotch, good. Queen of Scots, marked like the 
Countess of Kintore, but brighter in colour, and a beautiful variety. 
Rosebud, a pretty variety, closely resembling Ethel Baxter in colour and 
marking, the latter especially, a beautiful and distinct variety. Ardwell 
Gem, pale primrose, and a very free blooming and effective bedder. 
Delicata, white flushed with lilac, with darker markings. Joy, blush 
white tinted with lavender, with a purple belting on top petals. Acme, 
very much like Cliveden Purple, and no improvement on that variety. 
Topsy, rich dark violet purple. Ebor, rosy purple, of good form-. 
Champion, a well-known old white variety. Lady Macdonald, white 
with dark markings in the centre of the flower. Bullion, deep yellow, a 
first-class variety. Daldowie Yellow, same shade of colour as Bullion,. 
Lucy Ashton, bearing a close resemblance to Columbine, an old variety - r 
white, with a broad margin of bright rosy lilac, very pretty. Royalty, 
yellow, with large dark markings. Sovereign, gold, with large dark 
markings. Lord Elcbo, golden yellow, with dark markings. The Bride, 
white, with blue markings. Rosetta, an improved Mrs. Baxter, rich 
violet purple, with lighter coloured top petals. Mina Baxter, similar in¬ 
colour and marking to The Mearns; the latter variety one of our best 
and most beautiful varieties, rosy purple, with lighter top petals. 
Crimson King, rosy purple colour, and of good form. Magpie, an old, 
wll-known variety. Neptune, rich purple, with lighter top petals, style 
of Lady Amory, and not so fine a variety. Souvenir, pale blue, and 
worthless compared with others. 
Many of these varieties I have grown, and it is scarcely possible to 
say too much in favour of these lovely hardy decorative plants, so- 
rapidly rising in favour. As spring and summer decorative plants 
they stand boldly out amongst all others, and we now possess such 
excellent kinds in the Countess of Ilopetoun. white without any mark¬ 
ings whatever, and of dwarf sturdy habit; True Blue, by far the best 
blue Viola known Ardwell Gem, primrose yellow ; Bessie Clarke, pale 
mauve ; Bullion, deep yellow ; Countess of Kintore, greyish purple, 
with large white blotch in each petal, everybody’s favourite ; Duchess 
of Albany, beautiful shaded mauve and lilac ; Lady Amory and The 
Mearns, already alluded to, two very beautiful varieties ; Marchioness L 
Tweedale, pure white ; Sir Joseph Terry, very dwarf, rich black purr.G. ; 
Skylark, also Blue Cloud, both white, with a margin of azure blue ; ar.ri 
Mrs. Gray, white, often flushed with lilac, a very fine blooming and 
fragrant variety for large masses. These are a few leading varieties, but 
there are many others of considerable beauty. I have not mentioned 
my collection, which comprises over sixty of the best selected varieties 
in cultivation, and amongst them are some very beautiful new varieties. 
