December 9, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
515 
have flowem very bold in petal, but the pistils are very short, often twirl, 
and the stamens have “deaf” anthers—no pollen, and a very large perr 
centage of the buds fall. In the same house we have had Noblesse cast 
many buds and give the defective flowers year after year, whilst Royal 
George neither cast a bud nor had imperfect flowers.” 
The Laurustinus. —“Lankhills, Winchester," observes “ I 
am much interested in Mr. Abbey’s able account of lawn plants at page 
490 of your interesting Journal, but we find here that the Laurustinus 
thrives, flourishes, and flowers in the most exposed situations, planted 
entirely in chalk. I have a hedge planted in 1851, in an exposed place, 
on a rock of chalk ; it is at this minute in full flower, and has so floweret} 
yearly. I have several similar hedges in and near Winchester, all planteq 
in chalk banks and greatly exposed : nothing hurts them. Last autumn I 
planted a hedge round a tennis ground—all chalk—all stood last long 
winter and now flourishing. I have'the plants from Waterer, Knap Hill 
Nursery, near Woking, whose grounds will repay anyone a visit.” 
A meeting of the National Auricula, Carnation, and 
Picotee Societies was held in the East Crush room of the Royal Albert 
Hall on Tuesday last, Harry ,1. Veitch, Esq., in the chair, when some 
alterations were made in the schedules and the dates fixed for the shows 
next year namely, the 26th of April for the Auricula Show, and the 26th 
of July for the Carnation and Picotee Show. In the Auricula schedule 
the first prize for fifty plants has hitherto been £5, but in response to th 
wishes of several growers this has been reduced to £4, and there are now only 
four prizes in that class. There are three classes for alpines instead of two, 
and exhibitors can enter which two they prefer. Two classes are provided 
for single and double Primroses, also for six and welve species of Primula- 
Ru,e 10, which applies to both Societies, has been rescinded and the fol. 
lowing substituted. “ Seedlings, whether exhibited in collections or not, 
are eligible for certificates, due notice having been previously given in 
writing to the Secretary. Each plant must have the entry card correctly 
placed upon it. The officers were re-elected except Mr. Rolt, who re. 
signs the post of Treasurer, Mr. Shirley Hibberd taking his place. Mr. 
T. Fife, Reading, and Mr. C. Phillips were elected on the Committee of 
the Auricula Society ; and Mr. T. Henwood and Mr. Martin Rowan were 
placed on the Committee of the Carnation Society. 
A GREAT void will be felt in the ranks of the Auricula growers 
by the death of Mr. Edward Pohlman, Parkinson House, Parkinson 
Lane, Halifax, who died there on Nov. 27th, aged sixty-one years. He 
was an ardent cultivator, and was a constant exhibitor both at the 
northern and southern exhibitions," where he took many prizes. He was 
the owner of one of the largest collections in the north. 
We received from Mr. Piercy of Sydenham 'some time ago a 
charming spray of the single white Chrysanthemum Hartland’s 
Marguerite. It was quite a bouquet of white Michaelmas Daisy-like 
flowers, and can scarcely fail to become a favourite for vase and room 
decoration. Accompanying the spray in question were flowers of Mr. 
Thorpe’s American variety, Mrs. Le Moult, remarkable for the rich 
glowing crimson colour of th6 rather small blooms, which show to great 
advantage under artificial light. 
-- We have received the report of the Yorkshire Association 
of Horticultural Societies, and [are pleased to observe that the 
financial statement shows a balance in favour of the Association. We 
are surprised to see how much is accomplished at such a small outlay, 
which indicates that the Committee, which is almost wholly composed of 
gardeners, are excellent business men. The programme of the meetings 
of the Wakefield Paxton Society from December 4th to March 5th inclu¬ 
sive contains a varied list of subjects on which papers will be read and 
discussions follow at the weekly meetings during the period named. 
- At the usual weekly meeting of the members of the Wake¬ 
field Paxton Society, held at the “Saw Inn,” Councillor Milnes 
presided, and Mr. W. L. Skinner of Silcoates Nursery, filled the vice- 1 
chair. The subject for discussion was “The Apple,” and there was a' 
good exhibition of specimens of many of the best varieties of Apples,' 
and also remarkably fine Pears. The subject should have been intro¬ 
duced by Mr. J. G. Brown, gardener to Mr. John Barflf Charlesworth, 
J.P., of Hatfield Hall, but he was prevented by indisposition from 
being present. Mr. W. Hudson, gardener at Sandall Grange, read' 
an excellent paper on “ Pruning,” and it gave rise to a long and 
interesting discussion, in which Messrs. W. L. Skinner, J. Campbell 
(Painthorp) and W. Hudson were the ptincipal speakers. On the 
motion of Mr. Irving Whit worth, seconded by Mr. J. Campbell, a vote ot 
thanks was given to Mr. Hudson for reading the paper, and a similar 
compliment was paid to the exhibitors of specimens, on the motion of 
Mr. Thorpe, Assistant-Inspector of schools, Belle Vue, seconded by Mr. 
Sam. Gill of Stanley Hill. 
-- At the ordinary meeting of the Royal METEOROLOGICAL 
Society to be'held at 25, Great George Street, We stminster, on Wednes¬ 
day, the 15th inst., ati7 P.M., the following papers will be read :—“On 
the Proceedings of the International Congress of Hydrology and 
Climatology at Biarritz;” by G. J. Symons, F.R.S., F.R.Met.Soc. 
“Report on the Phenological Observations for 1886;” by the Rev. 
T. A. Preston, M.A., F.R.Met.Soc. “A Critici m of Certain Points of 
Prof. Langley’s Researches on Solar Heat;” by Prof. S. A. Hill, B.8c., 
F.R.Met.Soc. “Account of the Hurricane of March 3rd and 4th, 1886, 
over the Fiji Islands-;” by R. L. Holmes, F.R.Met.Soc. “Results of 
Meteorological Observations made at the Military Cemetery, Scutari, 
Constantinople, 1866-85;” by W. H. Lyne. As the draft list of officers 
and Council for the year 1887 will be prepared at the next Council 
Meeting, it is requested that those Fellows who wish to suggest names 
for the new Council will send them in before the 15 th inst. 
— i — A very convincing sample of the suitability c f Asparagus 
plumosus nanus AS A Wall Plant is presented iu a -.long lean-to 
house in the Cfailwell -Nurseries; The house faces the north-west, 
and the front stage ik occupied with Zonal Pelargoniums in the 
summer. Lapagerias , appear to have been planted for covering one 
part of the lofty back wall and the Asparagus the other portion, but 
this latter plant has given so much satisfaction by its luxuriant 
growth that it' is being extended, and will no doubt eyentually cover 
the entire surface. The dark elegant leafage is displayed in its fullest 
beauty, and great quantities might be cut for decorative purposes without 
impairing the effect. The wall only receives sun during the late after¬ 
noon in summer, and the temperature of the house is rendered suitable 
for the Pelargoniums. For covering the shaded wall of a stove or warm 
greenhouse it is notj easy to conceive any plant more suitable than this 
graceful Asparagus. It is planted at intervals of about 2 feet in a narrow 
border, and spreads and grows in a manner that shows it to be quite at 
home under the conditions indicated. 
- Visitors to some of the chief autumn shows cannot fail to 
have observed the marked excellence of the Elvaston Castle Grapes 
as grown and staged by Mr. J. H. Goodacre this season. Gros Colman 
has almost been phenomenal by the size of its berries, and other varieties 
were admirably represented. We have now before us samples of Mrs. 
Pince’s Muscat, a fine lull bunch and excellent berries, far above the 
average in colour, and of first-rate quality; Lady Downe’s, superior in 
every way, several of the berries measuring nearly 4 in. in circumference ; 
Golden Queen, large, clear, and spotless, more firm and “crackling ” than 
we have before observed ; and Mrs. Pearson, splendid berries, 3£ inches 
in diameter, speckless and of a deep golden hue, with a faint, suffusion of 
green. The flesh is soft, and a Muscat flavour is something more than a 
matter of fancy. Mr. Goodacre thinks this Grape should be renamed the 
Winter Muscat, but he must consider that it is not usual to see it in the 
high condition represented by the sample before us. We should like to 
know how long this Grape continues fresh at Elvaston. There is not the 
faintest sign of shrivelling now, but there is in the berries of Golden 
Queen. We regard the cultivator as too good a man to have any “ little 
secrets,” and he might perhaps not be afraid to state at some time the 
method he adopts in producing such very fine Grapes. 
II/! 40 . "rill I -• * 
-A steady but marked- change in the public taste for food is 
noticeable^ in London at least, and this in the direction of vegetari¬ 
anism. Vegetarian dining rooms are increasing in number, and vege¬ 
tarian dinnors are .provided at hotels and restaurants. The London 
Vegetarian Society, under the energetic superintendence of Mr. W. S. 
Mannering, loses no oppoitunity of pressing forward the claims of a 
vegetarian diet on the grounds of ^conomy a rjd. health. With this 
object what was called a fruit banquet, or special table d’hote dinner, was 
held at the Queen Victoria Restaurant, 303, Strand, London, on the 
3rd. inst., when the following menu was provided:—“Soups: Brown 
Haricot, Artichoke. Porridge : W hr at meal', 1 Semolina. Savouries : 
Lentil Pie and Apple Sauce, Tomato Farcie and Rice, Macaroni auGratiu, 
Vegetable Fritter. Vegetables: Mashed Potat.es, Bskcd Potatoes 
