March 31, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEIL 
245 
number of rainy days, and four or five times the number of bright ones 
which we can boast of, with cold winds and cold weather, without 
which it would lose its health-giving effect. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
March 22nd. 
Scientific Committee. —Present : W. Blandford, Esq., in the 
chair ; Rev. W. Wilks, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Michael, Rev. G. Bngleheart, 
Prof. F. Oliver, and Dr. Masters. 
Hybrid Narcissi. —Rev. G. Engleheart exhibited further specimens of 
his reciprocal crosses between N. Corbularia monophylla and N. triandrus, 
which showed that the same results accrued in whichever direction 
the cross was effected. A botanical certificate was awarded to 
Mr. Engleheart in recognition of the interest and success of his 
experiments. 
Swellings on Bihes. —Mr. Michael reported that he had discovered 
no Phytoptus on the specimens submitted to him. 
Basal Disease of Daffodils.—'Rev. W. Wilks exhibited specimens of 
this disease, which Mr. Michael considered as very likely to be the result 
of the attacks of a mite, Rhizoglyphus Rolini. Mixtures of sulphur 
and softsoap, or of carbolic acid, were recommended as likely to be 
beneficial. 
Sugarcane Attached hy Boring Insect. —Mr. Blandford showed 
specimens of Cane attacked by a boring beetle at the nodes. The 
direction of the perforation was from within outward. 
Birch Bark. —Mr. Burbidge sent specimens with the following 
letter :— 
“ I beg to send for the inspection and consideration of your Com¬ 
mittee some fragments just taken fresh from the trunks of Betula 
papyracea, reared here from seeds kindly sent from the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, some ten or twelve years ago. It can be written upon with ease 
with an ordinary pen and ink, as these examples will show. Its texture 
is very soft and fine, except here and there, where transverse corky 
lenticels occur. It would be interesting to know the part this 
exquisitely finely textured bark plays in the economy of the tree, as 
contrasted with other barks of a more^rough and corky texture, such as 
say Quercus suber or ‘ Cork Oak.’ Both are, no doubt, identical in their 
being practically impervious to water, either from within outwards or 
vice versa. As a contrast I send a small piece of stem of Arauja 
(Schubertia), or Physianthus grandiflorus, with netted, rugose, corky 
bark, arranged around a stem quite green, and doubtless rich in 
chlorophyll, 
“ Ginkgo Seeds. —I also enclose seedlings of the ‘ Maidenhair ’ or 
‘Ginkgo Tree’ of China and Japan (= Ginkgo biloba). Dr. E. P. 
Wright, M.D., F.L.S., Professor of Botany in the University of Dublin, 
saw the ripe fruits in one of the public gardens at Rome last autumn, a 
crop of golden Plum-like fruits amongst the Maidenhair-like leaves, and 
succeeded in obtaining a supply of the seeds through H.M. Ambassador, 
the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava. 
“ I am enabled by the courtesy of Dr. Wright to send a few of these 
fresh seeds for the inspection of the Committee, as well as seedlings 
raised from the same, sown on December 8th, 1891, in a mean tempera¬ 
ture of 60° Fahr. The fleshy covering of these seeds, analogous to that 
of our native Yewberry, is edible, and is used as dessert in China and 
Japan according to Siebold and other authors. It is well known that 
this tree rarely if ever fruits in Britain, a fact perhaps due to the 
dioecious character, 
“ These seeds also illustrate a very interesting physiological fact 
mentioned by Sachs (‘Text Book,’ p. 665). ‘ If the temperature is suffi¬ 
ciently high, the green colouring substance (chlorophyll) is found in the 
cotyledons of Conifers, and in the leaves of Ferns in complete darkness, 
as well as under the influence of light.’ 
“ I am by no means certain that Ferns and Conifer seeds alone 
possess this peculiarity, which is common to other seeds, and notably 
to those of Acer pseudo-platanus, the common Sycamore, the Sea- 
kale, Crambe maritima, and possibly others which I have not ex¬ 
amined. 
“ Doryantlies excelsa. —It may be of interest to state that the Spear 
Lily of New South Wales (=Doryanthes excelsa) is just now opening its 
flowers in this garden, the crimson Lily-like flowers being congested on 
a scape 10 feet high and 2 inches in diameter.” 
Other specimens sent by Mr. Burbidge comprised Candollea cunei- 
formis, Erythronium Hartwegi, Asparagus plumosus in flower, Masde- 
vallia chimsera var. Roezli, Arisaema ringens, Stapelia deflexa in fruit, 
Coccoloba platycladon, Acer macrophyllum (buds). Begonia corallina. 
LIVERPOOL HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
Last week the fifth meeting of the session was held in the lecture 
room of the Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool. Mr. T. White 
presided, and there was a good attendance. The paper was on “ The 
Phalaenopsis,” by Mr. A. Smith, gardener to D. de Yborronds, Esq., 
Prince’s Park, Liverpool. Mr. Smith is known as a most successful 
cultivator. He first dwelt upon the importation and the subsequent 
treatment to establish specimens. Potting and crocking was recom¬ 
mended, and a temperature of 65° to 70° for winter, and 85° to 90° for 
summer, with little or no shading, a liberal supply of water whilst 
making growth, also a judicious application of liquid manure, the 
troughs being filled with the same for evaporation, watering between 
9 and 10 A M., and again at 4 P.M. if required during the summer time. 
He also spoke in a lucid manner of the ill effects accruing from allowing 
the plants to seed. He remarked that two years ago he had a most 
healthy plant which he allowed to carry a seed pod, but whilst watching 
its development he noticed the plant getting weaker and weaker, until 
he was convinced that the only way to save his plant was to remove it, 
but it left the plant in a most feeble condition, from which it has never 
recovered. Mr. Glover, gardener to Sir A. B. Walker, Bart., whilst 
generally agreeing with Mr. Smith’s paper, could not quite coincide in 
the matter of shading. He thought a shading was beneficial to the 
well-being of the plant. Mr. A. R. Cox, gardener to W. H. Watts, Esq., 
Elm Hall, Wavertree, also agreed with Mr. Glover, and went on to 
remark on the great importance of house and situation. Mr. R. W. Ker, 
Aigburth Nursery, stated that some twenty years ago at \\ oolton he 
remembered some excellent plants being grown in rather a quaint 
structure, having a dark gable end. A new house was erected for them, 
and the plants never did so well afterwards. He dwelt for some time on 
the natural habitat of the Phalsenopsis, and the great benefit they 
derived from the decaying matter of the forest. This opened the 
question of liquid manure, Mr. Sargent stating that when at Wyncote 
under Mr. Mease they damped every portion of the paths and stages 
with liquid manure late in the evening. Votes of thanks to Mr. Smith 
for his admirable paper, and to the Chairman for presiding, brought the 
meeting to a clo.se.—R. P. R. 
CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW. 
The annual spring Show at Sydenham was held on Saturday last, 
March 26th, and proved in many respects similar to that held by the 
Royal Botanic Society on the preceding Wednesday in the same week. 
The exhibits were arranged in the centre transept, the only space that 
could be spared from the great electrical Exhibition. They were 
effectively disposed on tables, with the groups at the corners, and these, 
with the non-competing collections, formed the most conspicuous portion 
of the Show. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, won the premier honours for 
the most tastefully arranged group of plants. Crotons, Palrns, Ferns, and 
Caladiums constituting the foundation of the group, with numerous 
Orchids and other flowering plants. Mr. H. James and Mr. C. Nunn 
followed in the order named, both with effective groups. The best 
thirty-six Hyacinths came from Messrs. H. Williams & Son, Fortis 
Green, Finchley, the plants being similar to those which took the 
honours at Regent’s Park. Mr. Shoesmith, gardener to M. Hodgson, 
Esq., Shirley, was second, also with good specimens. Messrs. Williams 
were again first for twenty-four Narcissi ; but Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, had the best twelve Amaryllises of fine varieties. Azaleas 
were fairly well shown by Messrs. C. Nunn, R. Wells; Cyclamens by Mr. 
D. Phillips ; and in the amateurs’ classes for bulbs Mr. Shoesmith was 
the most successful with Hyacinths, Tulips, and Narcissi. Mr. J. Ford 
had some handsome Cinerarias, and gained two leading prizes. 
Amongst the non-competing exhibits Messrs. B. S. Williams and 
Son, Upper Holloway, had a magnificent group of Clivias, Azaleas, 
Amaryllises, and other plants ; Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, sent a group 
of spring flowers ; Messrs. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, showed a beautiful 
group of greenhouse plants ; Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, had collec¬ 
tions of Roses and Amaryllises ; Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, 
had Camellias and Roses in large numbers and choice varieties ; Messrs. 
J. Peed & Son, Roupell Park Nurseries, staged a tasteful group of 
flowering and fine-foliage plants ; and Cyclamens came from Mr. 
J. Odell and the St. George’s Nursery Company ; while handsome 
Lilies of the Valley formed an attractive group from Mr. J. Jannoch, 
Dersingham, Norfolk. 
WORK.foi(theWEEK. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Protecting Fruit Blossom. —The cold weather of the early part 
of March has had a beneficial effect on fruit trees generally in retarding 
the advance of blossom buds—a state of things which fruit growers 
contemplate with satisfaction. Now, however, under the influence of 
warm sunny mornings the blossoms of Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots 
are rapidly swelling. In all districts, therefore, where frosts or rough 
winds are expected recourse must be had to some means of protection 
in order to preserve the flowers from injury during the continuance of 
unfavourable weather. As a rule a slight dry frost will do no harm to 
hardy healthy organs of well-formed flowers, produced on properly 
ripened wood ; but when frost is accompanied with moisture or beating 
rains then the hardiest of flowers are apt to suffer, and the weaker to 
succumb before fertilisation is effected. Protection under such circum- 
I stances is imperative if the flowers have expanded. It is often found 
