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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 31, 1892. 
- We regret to announce the death of the distinguished 
ophthalmic surgeon Sir William Bowmax, Bart., which took place on 
the morning of the 29th inst., at Joldwyns, his residence near Dorking. 
His familiar presence will he missed from the meetings of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, to which he was a frequent yisitor; and the 
orchidists will lose a devoted coadjutor in their favourite flowers. 
Sir W. Bowman died of pneumonia, at the age of seventy-six. 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr. W. Jarman, late of Chapel 
Hill House, Margate, has been appointed head gardener to Mrs. H. A. 
Brassey, Preston Hall, Aylesford, Kent. Mr. G. Clinging, for the last 
thirteen years head gardener at Marden Park, Caterham Valley, has 
been appointed gardener and bailiff to J. Brand, Esq., of Sanderstead 
Court, near Croydon. 
- Adiantum Capillxjs-Veneeis imbbicatum. —Messrs. Dick¬ 
sons, Limited, Chester, send us a frond of this Fern, and it justifies 
their comparison of it with Adiantum Farleyense, but this is pro¬ 
verbially tender, while the new variety in question is practically hardy, 
though best when grown under glass, and is worthy of good cultural 
care. 
-Young versus Old Vine Rods.—I quite agree with what 
Mr. Iggulden says on this subject. I am at present removing old rods 
in a vinery planted only fifteen years ago. The young canes should 
be taken as near the base of the old Vines as possible, and not from an 
old spur, but if possible from a formerly dormant bud coming straight 
from the stem. We train the young rods, as your correspondent does, 
above the old ones, and cut the old spurs back as the young rods 
take their place. Generally the third year the old rods may be cut 
back, and this we do as soon as the fruit is cut.—R. L. 
- Weather at Liverpool. —On several days during the past 
week we have had a good share of sunshine, which has brought fruit 
trees and other various plants in the garden on at a rapid pace. The 
evenings have been cool, with frost on many occasions. Friday was 
dull, and the greater portion of Saturday and Sunday brought us again 
a return of wintry weather. Snow and sleet, accompanied by a bitter 
N.E. wind, which lasted until evening, the night temperature being 20°' 
To-day (Monday) the wind has been intensely cold, but we have had a 
cheering sun throughout the day. 
-Facts about Gravel Walks.—I hope that in these advancing 
times few will be found ready to carry out the “ time-honoured practice ” 
recommended by your correspondent Mr. Dunkin (page 224). Any¬ 
one who would apply a dressing of weed-killer to “ walks that have been 
well made in the first instance ” and then in a w’eek after dig over to 
the depth of 3 inches, can scarcely be said to be working on economic 
principles. To say nothing of the labour wasted in breaking up a well set 
crust, and in rolling it down again, the process will be likely to bring 
a fresh crop of weeds to the surface to require another dressing of weed¬ 
killer.—R. L. 
- Fbeesias.—R eferring to the article on page 219 in your last 
issue respecting the culture of this very desirable Cape bulb, I quite 
agree with your correspondent respecting the potting and compost, but 
I differ with him as regards the temperature at the flowering period. 
Your correspondent recommends a temperature of from 4.5° to 50°, as he 
flnds the flower spikes are much finer than when the plants are grown 
in a higher temperature. My experience proves quite the contrary, as I 
have now a splendid lot growing in a temperature of from 55° to 60°, 
averaging eighteen to twenty-three flowers on a spike, whereas according 
to Mr. Jordan’s statement he only had eleven flowers on a spike. I 
have enclosed a spike for your inspection to prove my statement to be 
correct. I potted my bulbs the first week in October.— G. Parrant. 
-A recent bulletin from the Mississippi Experiment Station 
gives an account of the Southern Tomato Blight, which was 
studied there a year ago by Dr. Halstead, and which had become so 
destructive as to cause alarm among the growers of that region. The 
blight is due to a bacterial germ. Plants first wilt, then lose their 
colour and die. This blight seems to be identical with a bacterial 
disease of the Potato, and it can be communicated from one kind of 
plant to the other. The same seems to be true of a blight of Melons 
and other cucurbitaceous plants which prevails in the same region. If 
this is true, it is plain that the soil may become contaminated with 
bacteria from any one of these three crops, so as to make it unfit for 
either of the other two. The blight can be more readily disseminated 
by the Potato, since it is propagated by tubers, which may carry the 
germs. 
- Potting Soils. —With reference to the note on the above 
subject by “ L. J.,” on page 227, I wish to reply to his question as to 
“ why it is a rule to mix peat with loam ?” The practice of mixing 
peat and other ingredients with loam is governed by the nature and 
quality of the loam in use. If good fibrous sandy loam is procurable 
there is little necessity for mixing peat or leaf soil with it, as the 
majority of stove and greenhouse plants in a healthy condition would 
not require such additions ; but when suitable loam is not at hand, but 
one quality only, and that of a fibreless and retentive nature, there is 
occasion to exercise discretion as to what ingredients would be most 
suitable to mix for certain plants. To my mind there is nothing better 
to make a close retentive loam more suitable for potting purposes, and 
for keeping the soil sweet, than a mixture of lumpy peat and charcoal, 
with an addition of good leaf soil, more or less, as the case may be, to 
encourage the growth of roots.—J. Clarke. 
- A Good Show. —A call on Mr. G. Clements at Haseley Manor,. 
Warwick, revealed the fact that he is making good use of the range of 
houses recently erected. I was particularly struck with the fine display 
of flowering plants in the conservatory, where bright and varied colours 
met the eye on all sides, and the air was redolent with the perfume of 
Mignonette, Hyacinths, Roses, Jonquils, Narcissus, and Heliotropes. 
Among several varieties of Tulips Gloria Solis was conspicuous by reason 
of its large, full, and brightly coloured flowers. Canary Bird is an 
attractive single yellow, which Mr. Clements speaks highly of as a 
forcer. Among Primulas Ruby King and Purity were represented by 
well grown plants carrying abundance of flowers thoroughly character¬ 
istic of their respective types. Cinerarias, though not large, were in 
excellent condition, good heads of bloom being produced in compara¬ 
tively small pots. Imantophyllum miniatum, Deutzias, Spiraea japonica, 
and showy Pelargoniums all contributed to the general effect, which 
was the more enhanced by the scrupulous cleanliness of both conserva¬ 
tory and its occupants.—H. D. 
- Begonia Baumanni. —This new species, for the introduction 
of which we are indebted to Messrs. Lemoine of Nancy, was one of the 
notable new plants of last year. Occasionally a slight fragrance has 
been observed among some of the Tuberous Begonias, notably in 
B. Maritiani, but it is usually only a suspicion. B. Baumanni, on the 
contrary, has a distinct pronounced Tea Rose-like odour, which will not 
only make the species valuable to the growers, but offers possibilities of 
crosses with the large-flowered hybrids, which will enhance their value, 
especially for conservatory decoration. Messrs. Lemoine recommend 
that this species should be grown in the open in full sunlight, in which 
position they are said to grow more sturdily. Messrs. Lemoine, this 
season, offer a new fragrant species, B. fulgens, which was discovered in 
the same locality as B. Baumanni, in the mountainous regions of Bolivia- 
near the Peruvian border. The flowers of this species are said to have 
a Tea Rose fragrance, and to be of a deep Strawberry red .—(^American 
Garden and Forest,') 
A GARDENING TOUR IN IRELAND. 
Notes descriptive of my gardening tour in the north of Ireland were 
contributed at intervals to this Journal some time ago, but as then 
intimated the journey was extended far beyond the northern counties, 
and I am now desired (before retiring from 171, Fleet Street), to devote 
a chapter to a brief review of what was seen in the remaining portion 
of the expedition. It can only be regarded as a hurried jotting down 
of impressions and ideas formed on the way, for a detailed account of 
the places visited would occupy more space than could be devoted to 
this matter, especially if the larger subject of possible fruit culture 
extension were entered upon, as an investigation of this, it may be 
remtmbired, was one of the chief objects of the visit. A glance at the 
principal matters of horticultural interest must therefore sufifice. 
Hillsborough Ca.stle. 
Crumlin was the point of departure from Antrim, and after a 
pleasant call by the way at Lisburn, where one essentially town garden 
was visited, abounding in well-grown fruit trees, Hillsborough in 
Co. Down was reached, a few miles south-west of Belfast. There a long 
stay could have been enjoyed had time permitted, but the arrangements 
made would not allow this, so that when we succeeded in finding Mr. 
T. Bradshaw, the courteous chief in charge of the gardens at Hills¬ 
borough Castle (the residence of the Marquis of Downshire), we ha d but 
little time to spend in examining the attractions of a most interesting 
garden. The estate is situated on the upper portion and slopes of a 
considerable bill, the garden occupying the lower levels, and in some 
dells and sheltered nooks on the way down Conifers flourish grandly. 
Very seldom indeed are such vigorous, well developed, and finely 
proportioned trees seen in England, where too often the choicer Conifers 
have either a stunted or a drawn appearance, just as the position is 
too much exposed or unduly sheltered. Soil, climate, and situation 
