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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Janaary ~ 
-National Rose Societt.—A meeting of the Committee of 
the National Rose Society was held in the rooms of the Horticultural 
Club, Hotel Windsor, Westminster, on Tuesday, the 19th inst., Dr. 
Robert Hogg in the chair. The schedules of the Crystal Palace and of 
the Chester Shows were approved and adopted- All fourth prizes were 
abolished in both schedules. 
- Insects in Herbaria. —In the new number of Insect Life 
Dr. C. V. Riley directs attention to what he calls a new herbarium pest. 
In September, 1890, a number of small Geometrid larvae were found by 
the botanists of the C..S. Department of Agriculture infesting certain 
dried plants in the Department herbarium, and especially those which 
had been received from Mexico and Lower California. The fact that 
the insect has appeared on dry plants from the comparatively arid 
western regions may, Dr. Riley thinks, furnish a clue to its original 
habit. It would seem possible, if not probable, that it normally feeds on 
the dead or dry plants of Mexico and adjacent arid regions, and that it 
has simply adapted itselMo the somewhat similar conditions prevailing 
in herbaria. It is a new species, and for the present may be placed in 
the Aeidalinfe.— (.Vatia-e.) 
- Mr. W. T. Robertson gives in the October number of the j 
Agricultural Gazette of Xeio South Wales a clear and interesting j 
account of the cultivation and manufacture of Tea. The object of the 
paper is to supply the farmers of New South Wales with information 
which they may be able to turn to practical advantage. Mr. Robertson 
does not think that the colony can ever manufacture sufficiently large 
quantities of Tea to put it in a position to compete with China, India, 
and Ceylon. He sees no reason, however, why the industry should 
not be conducted on a modest scale. A farmer with children could 
utilise their labour in the plucking and the light work in manufacture, 
while the heavier he could undertake himself. If the owner had, say, 
an acre under cultivation, it would probably bring him in 300 lbs. of 
made Tea jrer annum—enough for his own consumption, with a surplus 
which he could dispose of at a good profit.— (^Xature.) 
- The Travels of Weeds. —In many parts in eastern United 
States a small Mexican weed belonging to the order of Compositae, 
called Galinsoga parviflora, is now extremely plentiful. It is also 
making headway in the Old World. The foliage has a resemblance to 
the Ageratum, well known in gardens. The flowers are very small, the 
disc being yellow, and have five small ray petals. It is strange to find a 
tropical plant thriving well so far north. It is destroyed by the first 
white frost, but as the seeds are not injured by the extremest cold the 
plant is able to maintain its existence wherever it is able to mature its 
seed in summer time. It is for this reason that so many other tropical 
weeds, such as the -Jamestown weed, or Stramonium, is able to extend 
itself. This is another tropical weed. The Balsam, Impatiens fulva, 
although spread over the whole North American Continent, even p>ene- 
trating the Arctic circle, was no doubt originally a tropical plant 
extending in the same manner as those we have referred to. D^troyed 
as they are very easily by frost, the seeds yet enable them to travel far 
into northern regions.— {Meehan's Monthly.) 
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- The Ancient .Society of York FLORiSTa—The annual 
meeting of the members of this Society was held on the 14th inst. 
at the \ ictoria Hall, Mr. W. C. Milbum occupying the chair. There 
was a large attendance. The Secretary, Mr. J. Lazenby, read the 
report for the year, seating that the Committee deeply regretted the 
death of one of the Vice-Presidents, the late Mr. Alderman Matthews, 
Lord Mayor of koik, who was a consistent supporter of the Societv 
for over twenty years. The balance-sheet, already issued, shows that ! 
the tide of prosperity was flowing. The gross income reached £620. 
The expenditure, although necessarily larger than hitherto—viz., £44-5, 
con.sequent upon the growing character of the Society’s tramsactions, 
left a balance to the Society’s credit of £175. There had been a nett 
increase of thirty new meuabers during the year. The Summer Shows 
in the Guildhall continued to be much appreciated by the public, and 
the exhibitors increased in number. The Chrysanthemum Show was 
perhaps the most successful the Society had held. It was visited by 
.about 10,000 person^, and the receipts exceeded those of the previous 
year by about £30. Competitors were again numerous, and some of 
the best cultivators in the kingdom entered the list.s. Mr. G. F. 
Fillmore congratulated the Committee on the very favourable report 
they had been able to present, and he moved its adoption. Carried. 
Tne following officers were chosen to serve for the year President. 
Alderman Sir Joseph Terry ; Vice-Presidents, the Lord Mayor (Alderman 
Cose), the City Sheriff (Councillor Foster), and Mr. McIntosh ; Junior 
Steward, Mr. W. R. Robinson; Secretary, Mr. John Lazenby; Treasurer, 
Mr. Fielden ; and a Committee of eighteen members. The officials were 
heartily thanked for their services and support, especial reference being 
made to the generosity and goodwill of Sir Joseph Terry towards the 
Society. Votes of thanks were also passed to the donors of special 
prizes, and the following grants were made :—For the minor shows of 
the year, .£50 ; for the Chrysanthemum Show, £130. The 16th, 17thy 
and 18th of November were the days fixed for the latter. 
TUBEROUS ROOTED BEGONIAS. 
Much has been written on this charming summer and autumn 
flowering plant, but I am yet of opinion that there are many who 
have not quite mastered the art of raising and flowering the 
Tuberous Begonia in one year. I will try and describe how I have 
found them succeed best ; for hints in connection with the system 
adopted I am indebted to one of the best private growers in the 
West of England—namely, Mr. Smith of Henbury Hill Gardens, 
We»tbury-on Trym. 
.Sowing the .Seed.— The seed should he sown in January or 
February, iu clean shallow pans or boxes. If the former see that 
the rim is quite level : if not it can be easily accomplished by 
rubbing it for a few seconds on a wet flat stene, this being done 
so that a sheet of glass can be put on the pan or box to fit 
quite close, to exclude all air and prevent evaporation. Having 
done this drain the pans or boxes carefully, by placing one good 
crock over each hole, then half filling with smaller crocks or clean 
cinders, place a little rough material over this to prevent the finer 
soil trickling amongst the drainage. Now for soiL Take three 
parts leaf soil and one part fibrous loam, rubbing the whole 
through a half-inch sieve, and thoroughly mix it, but on no account 
add sand. Before using this mixture make it quite hot without 
actually burning it, this being done to kill any insects there may 
be in it. Fill the box or pan to within three-quarters of an inch 
of the top, then give a good soaking with hot water through a fine 
rose, and as soon as the water has passed through sow the seed on 
the surface, care being taken not to sow it too thickly, then cover 
with a sheet of glass as before mentioned, and place in a temperature 
of 65'. The seed will germinate in about eight or nine days ; the 
growth must then be watched very closely, giving all the light possible, 
but shade from bright sunshine, and avoid a dry atmosphere, which 
is very detrimental to the well-being of the Begonia throughout. 
Admit a little air gradually by tilting the glass from one side of tie 
pan or box, increasing it as the seedlings strengthen, and in about 
ten or twelve days the glass may be removed at night. I prefer 
putting it on by day until the seedlings have made their first rough 
leaf, as by so doing it keeps a suitably moist atmosphere about 
the plants which they much enjoy. I would next advise that the 
seedlings should be moistened with a fine spray from the syringe at 
least once every day. 
When the first leaf other than the seed leaves are about the 
size of a threepenny piece they should be carefully pricked off 
about 2 inches apart each way in shallow boxes, using similar soil to 
that advised for sowing, with the addition of a little coarse sand ; 
fill to within half an inch of the top. After transplanting keep 
them close for a few days by again placing the sheets of glass over 
them, and the young plants will then soon take root in the fresh 
soil, after which keep them 5' cooler, and dispose them close to the 
glas.s to prevent drawing ; according as the seedliugs grow keep 
them cooler, and by the first week in April they will be strong 
sturdy pjlants. 
I advise those who want good flowering plants the first season to 
plant them out in frame?, affording about 1 foot of fermenting 
material to give a little warmth to start the plants biiskly. They 
should be planted in soil consisting of equal parts of loam and 
flaky leaf soil, and at a distance of 8 inches apart each way. Keep 
them close until started, and spray with the syringe twice a day in 
fine weather, shading from bright sunshine, slightly damping the 
plants about three o’clock iu the afternoon, and close the frame. 
No sun will hurt them after this time if the frame be closed. Air 
must be increased as the weather becomes warmer until the lights 
can be left off all night. If this be carefully carried out good 
plants will be ready for planting out in the flower beds in June, or 
they may be left in the frames for lifting in August for autumn 
flowering in pots. I have raised and grown from seed plants that 
have filled 8-inch pots in one season —Geo. West, Marston 
Gardens. 
' IXORA DUFFI. 
At the Edinburgh International Exhibition, in September last, 
Mr. W. Finch, gardener to J. Marriott, Etq., Queen’s Road, Coventry, 
exhibited a wonderfully fine specimen of Ixora Dnffi, to which was 
awarded the Veitch Memorial prize and medal, offered for the best stove 
