May 19, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
376 
- A Show for Working Men. —It is proposed to hold a 
horticultural and industrial exhibition at Beverley on July 20th and 
2l8t, for working men and their children. A preliminary schedule has 
been issued. 
- Flower Show at Harlow. — A Show of plants, flowers, 
and fruit will be held in connection with the Essex Agricultural Show 
at Harlow on June 14th and 15th, and the schedule has just been 
issued. We note that Mr. T. Francis Kivers has promised to fill a tent 
with a collection of fruit trees in bearing. 
- A Daffodil Sport. —I have what appears to be either a 
seedling or sport from a Butter and Egg Daffodil. It is much later than 
its parent, and of a light lemon colour. Its outer or guard petals are 
alternately in pairs. Its cups are two ; the petals rising between the 
outer and inner one form a curious double Daffodil. Its fiower stalk is 
oval shaped, and in no way plicated like its parent’s.—W. T. 
- Wasps. —Queen wasps are very numerous this year, which 
some regard as indicating a warm summer, but I have no faith in the 
idea. The fact is the great numbers of them are due to the warm days 
we had in September, 1891, which I mentioned at that time. It is easier 
to diminish their number now by trapping with bottles of buttermilk 
than attempting to lessen the plague by trapping their unfertile 
daughters. —W. T. 
- Magnolia fuscata. — A good specimen of this deliciously 
fragrant evergreen greenhouse shrub is now flowering and growing 
freely in the great conservatory at Stoneleigh Abbey, planted on the 
north side in the shade of some large Camellias. It seems to luxuriate 
there, and throws off a perfume which is felt on nearing the plants. 
Like Luculia gratissima it wants a cool situation, not too much exposed 
to sunshine, and under such circumstances is of easy culture, i 
- An Inveterate Garden Thief. —At the Enfield Petty 
Sessions Thomas Partridge, sixty-four, described as a gardener, was 
charged with stealing a quantity of Thyme. The prisoner pleaded 
guilty. Detective Caleb Skeates, stationed at Southgate, in reply to 
the Bench, said that the prisoner had been sent to prison for garden 
robbing a great many times, in fact he spent his time either in the 
workhouse or prison. The Thyme stealer now does time to the extent 
of six months, with hard labour thrown in. 
- Sweet Peas in May. —Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, 
have now several varieties of Eckford’s New Sweet Peas in full bloom 
from seed sown in heat in February. The plants are now in 6-inch 
pots in a cool house, fiowering gloriously. The result of this experi¬ 
ment will be seen at the Temple Show, when they will exhibit some¬ 
where about twenty bunches to show what can be done with the 
Sweet Pea for early work —W. D. [Mr. J. T. Ebbutt generally sends us a 
bunch of Sweet Peas in the spring, and we believe he usually has a 
good supply from before Christmas onwards throughout the season.] 
- Royal Commission for the Chicago Exhibition. —We 
have received a copy of the Handbook of Regulations and General 
Information respecting the Chicago Exhibition in 1893. The Royal 
Commission announce that applications for space in the British Section 
can only be received up to Saturday, 2l8t May. Any applications 
received after that date will be filed in case of any space becoming here¬ 
after available, but will not be included in the first allotment. The 
offices of the Royal Commission are at the Society of Arts, John Street, 
Adel phi, London, W.C., and all communications should be addressed to 
the Secretary. 
- Summary of Meteorological Observations at Hodsock 
Priory, Worksop, Notts, for April, 56 feet above the mean sea 
level.—Mean temperature of month, 44 0°. Maximum on the 4th, 70'7° ; 
minimum on the 19ch, 20’7°. Maximum in the sun on the 2nd, 121°; 
minimum on the grass on the 16th, 11‘2°. Mean temperature of the air 
at 9 A.M., 45-3 °; mean temperature of the soil 1 foot deep, 44*3°. 
Nights below 32°, in shade seventeen, on grass twenty-five. Total 
duration of sunshine, 160 hours, or 39 per cent, of possible duration. 
We had one sunless day. Total rainfall, 0'72 inch. Bain fell on twelve 
days. Average velocity of wind, 8'6 miles per hour. Velocity exceeded 
400 miles on one day, and fell short of 100 miles on six days. Approxi¬ 
mate averages for April.—Mean temperature, 45’4° ; sunshine, 123 hours ; 
rainfall, 1'65 inch. A dry month, with fine and bright days, but very 
cold frosty nights. The nights were colder than in any of the last six¬ 
teen years, while the days have only twice been warmer in the same 
period. Vegetation very late, and rain wanted.—J. Mallender. 
- Mr. j. H. Walker, for many years gardener to the late 
Mr. J. Wesley Lewis, of Hardwick House, The Park, Nottingham, has 
been appointed by the Leicestershire County Council horticultural 
lecturer and instructor in husbandry for the county of Leicester. The 
applications were very numerous, and the appointment was made by 
examination. 
-Gardening Appointments. —Mr. A. Long has been appointed 
head gardener to Herman Hodges, Esq., M.P., Wyfold Court, Reading. 
He had been seven years head gardener to his previous employer, 
J. Spiller, Esq.; two at Compton House, Stockbridge, Hants ; and five 
at Westwood Park, Worce.ster. Mr. R. Whitehurst, formerly gardener to 
the late Canon Fielden of Honingham, has been appointed head 
gardener to Mrs. Lewis Loyd, Monk’s Orchard, West Wickham, Becken¬ 
ham, Kent. Mr. F. Harris has taken charge of the gardens of Mr. 
Mannsell Thorpe, Malsor Hall, Kettering. 
- Importations of Fresh American Fruit.—B esides the 
Apples that come to us in thousands of cases from America we are now 
to have other fruits. A consignment consisting of 147 crates of Straw¬ 
berries, thirteen cases of Tomatoes, and twenty barrels of Pine Apples 
were offered by auction in Liverpool on May 6 th and fetched good 
prices. Both Strawberries and Tomatoes on being opened were found to 
be exceptionally good and fine. Altogether the experiment was 
pronounced a success. The White Star steamers have been specially 
fitted up with refrigerating rooms. 
-The Florist’s Tulip. —Mr. R. Dean read a very comprehen¬ 
sive and instructive paper last Thursday night at a meeting of the 
Brighton New Horticultural and Mutual Improvement Society on the 
“Florist’s Tulip.” Mr. Dean briefly reviewed the history of the Tulip, 
then proceeded to illustrate by means of diagrams the process of bulb 
raising from the time of sowing the seed until the time of flowering in 
from five to seven years. He then gave a brief outline of the cultiva¬ 
tion of the bulb, and concluded by giving a few instances of the 
enthusiasm manifested many years ago by amateurs in Lancashire and 
Yorkshire in the cultivation of the flower. A vote of thanks, proposed 
by Mr. J. Cheal, was heartily accorded to the lecturer. 
- Scarcity of Lettuces. — Quite recently only moderately 
good Lettuces were sold at 6 d. each, and I heard of instances where 
as much as 8 d. was paid for them. At that time we were .cutting 
excellent samples of the Early Paris Market Cabbage Lettuce from a 
pit, and could have sold the lot, had I wished to do so, at the rate 
of 53 . per dozen. This experience, however, was not needed to 
convince me that it pays well to force this quick-growing variety, 
and I have frequently suggested to friends that they ought to grow it 
extensively for the markets. The seed this season was not sown till 
near the end of January; the seedlings were simply dibbled out on a 
bed of forced Asparagus, and we commenced cutting early in April, 
—M. H. 
- The Japan Society. —The members of this Society held their 
second meeting of the first session in the hall of the Society of Arts, 
John Street, Adelphi, London, W.C., on Thursday evening, May 12th. 
There was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen, and Mr. F. T. 
Pygott occupied the chair. An interesting paper on the “ Uses of 
Bamboo in Japan” was read by Mr. Charles Holme, F.L.S., and was 
illustrated by an excellent collection of articles made of Bamboo. In 
opening his subject Mr. Holme remarked that no plant was put to so 
maoy uses as the Bamboo. There are many species and varieties, vary¬ 
ing considerably in size and manner of growth, but all are more or less 
useful. Bamboo stems, he said, are not so extensively used for building 
purposes in Japan as in China and India ; but in the former country 
they played an important part in agriculture and horticulture. The 
Japanese farmer made threshing and winnowing machines of Bamboo 
canes, and constructed an ingenious bird scare of them. A specimen of 
the latter shown by Mr. Holme caused some amusement. In the Tea 
gardens and for gathering Mulberry leaves baskets or sieves made of 
Bamboo were utilised in preference to any other. As food, too, the 
poorer classes used the young stems, and these when boiled had a sweet 
nutty flavour. Referring to the uses made of Bamboo in horticulture in 
Japan, Mr. Holme said that the quaint and artistic flower and fruit 
baskets afforded abundant material for study. They were most beauti¬ 
fully made, and when filled with flowers and fruit presented a charming 
appearance. The vendors of garden produce displayed their goods in 
the cities of Japan in such a manner as would cause a sensation in the 
streets of London or Paris if similarly shown. In domestic gardening 
various kinds of Bamboo vases and baskets were extensively used, while 
the window boxes, similarly constructed, were most attractive. 
