June 23, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
475 
- KouaH AKD Keady Frames. —During the cold winds of the 
past spring Mr. Moorman has had recourse to a simple plan of increasing i 
the amount of frame room at his disposal in Dulwich Park. He has 
procured some stout planks, such as are used in building operations, and i 
fixed them on edge one above the other to the required depth, and thus 
provided spacious shelters, which have proved of great benefit to the 
plants. 
- Seedling Violas. —I have received from Dr. Stuart, Chirnside, 
a box of flowers of his lovely seedlings from Violetta, amongst which are 
«everal to be sent out in the autumn. They are of great beauty, and 
will be most welcome acquisitions. None of them was named, but I 
hope very shortly to be able, through the Journal, to give descriptions 
and names. This strain of Viola is remarkably fragrant, as sweet as 
any Violet, and preserves the true habit of the Viola.—W. Dean. 
- Double Ivy^leayed Pelargoniums.—E xception has been 
taken to a remark I made to the effect that double Ivy-leaved 
Pelargoniums do not carry well. That is my experience, and, curiously 
■enough, the very day the Journal was published, in which their utility 
as “ travellers ” is contended for, 1 had an empty returned which had been 
sent away on the Monday packed with flowers of a given colour, and 
among which some double Ivy-leafs were included, and many petals of 
which came back with the empty.—B. 
-- Green fly has been very troublesome amongst Carnations’ 
Roses, and Mrs. Sinkins Pinks this year. The latter has been so bad 
that I was afraid I should not have any flowers worth cutting, as the 
fly had got into the flowers, but at last I tried Calvert’s carbolic soft- 
soap, using it at the rate of 6 ozs. to a 3 gallon can of water, and well 
syringing the plants. The effect was that the plants were all cleared 
of fly. I may add that I syringed the plants on two successive evenings. 
I have also found carbolic softsoap good for mildew on Roses and other 
plants.—G. F., Olendaragh Gardens, leignmouth, 
- Presentation of a Fountain.—M r. Steven, of Messrs. 
Steven Bros. & Co., 4, Upper Thames Street, London, E.C., manufacturers 
of hot-water apparatus and general ironfounders, has presented a 
handsome fountain, made at his ironworks in Glasgow, to the town of 
Ayr. It is of very handsome construction, with a large basin some 28 feet 
in diameter, and three cups, surmounted by a cone-shaped top, from 
which an additional spray is thrown. The water was recently turned 
on by Mr. Steven in the presence of the Provost, magistrates, and 
Council. 
- Narcissus poeticus. —Two years ago I wrote to you con¬ 
cerning the doubling of single Narcissi. Since then these and kindred 
flowers have become very popular. I have taken greater interest in 
them, especially in the many changes they are liable to. At one time I 
had a large surplus of single N. poeticus, now I have very few. Several 
clumps that were last year all single are this year in all stages of 
doubling, which with me has been the result of lifting and replanting 
about the time of flowering. I have one case of reversion this year 
from the double form to the single ; it was originally single. The 
curiosity consists in the flower being larger, the petals more waxy in 
appearance, and the flower stalk being 2 feet 3 inches long.—W. T. 
- Protecting Peach Buds.—E xperiments for protecting the 
fruit buds of Peach trees from injury by cold during the winter have 
been made for several years at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, 
and for four years past in the early winter the roots of several of the 
trees have been loosened on the north and south sides and the trees 
laid over on the ground. In this way, if the roots are cut off during 
early summer, the growth will be forced into the roots on the east 
and west sides, and these will be simply twisted a little in the process 
of bending over. The trees are bent toward the south to avoid the 
direct rays of the sun on the trunk and main branches. In the first 
experiment the buds were injured by heat because the trees were 
covered too closely ; after that they were covered with mats and other 
light material, and a large percentage of the buds were saved. This 
spring, while about 52 per cent, of the fruit buds were destroyed on 
unprotected trees, those which were protected show only 10 per cent, 
destroyed. Many of the trees treated in this way are more than ten 
years old, and they are easily set up in the spring, grow well and 
mature a crop. No covering should be put on the ground under the 
tree, as the moisture seems necessary to keep the buds in good con¬ 
dition, and if the land is in sod the trees should be sprayed with the 
Bordeaux mixture and with skim-milk and Paris green to protect them 
from field mice, which are very fond of them .—(^Garden and Forest.'} 
- Birds and Fruit. —“ Gartenflora ” recommends the winter 
feeding of birds by fruit cultivators as a means of decreasing the 
ravages of insects on their trees. In many parts of Austria, it says, 
at the approach of winter, a circle of evergreen branches is formed 
by sticking their butts firmly in the earth. The ground within the 
circle is covered by boards, and then other branches are laid across, 
so as to form a light roof for the enclosure. Seeds, bread crumbs, &c., 
are scattered on the boards, and the birds, quickly finding their way 
to the food through the interstices of the evergreens, are protected 
against wind, snow, and the attacks of animals, and in the spring 
are ready to pay their debt by vigorous assaults upon the insects of 
the orchard. 
- Seedling Herbaceous Plants at York.—A small group 
of cut blooms of seedling Irises and an Hemerocallis, raised and sent 
by the Rev. G. Yeld, Clifton Cottage, York, were of peculiar interest 
to lovers of herbaceous plants, A seedling Iris named Sincerity was 
awarded a certificate for the greatly improved form of the flower as 
well as for its pleasing colour. It is a seedling from pallida and 
Queen of May. Another seedling, Selina, from pallida and racemosa, 
crossed with spectabilis, is of a rich violet purple colour. Other 
seedlings were also included, A beautiful Hemerocallis named Apricot 
is a seedling from flava, crossed with fulva probably, or Middendorfia 
possibly. It is deeper in colour than flava, with much broader sepals 
of good substance and fine form of the character of Middendorfia. It 
is a fine thing, and a certificate was awarded to it. 
- Free Gardeners’ Conference. —The National United Order 
of Free Gardeners recently held their annual meeting at Wednesbury, 
under the presidency of Grand Master Wilson, of Boldon. A procession 
and gala in celebration of the event was held in the town, and there 
were thousands of visitors. The Grand Master’s address showed that 
during the year there had been 6353 members initiated, but 656 had 
died and 4592 had seceded from various causes. Including the juveniles 
and honorary members, there were now 57,676 members in the Order, 
and the funds were £147,000, an increase of £5000. He expressed the 
opinion that compulsory insurance was not yet sufficiently understood to 
be satisfactorily dealt with, but the friendly societies would not tolerate 
any State system which did not desire their co-operation and help. 
There was a generally expressed hope that during the year convalescent 
homes would be established for members of the Order. 
_ Zauschneria californica.— la . i’he Journal of Horticulture 
for February 4th, 1892, I see an article by “ D., Deal," in which he 
speaks of our native plant, Zauschneria californica, as useless, because 
it will not bloom or spread under his care. Had he studied its habits 
more closely he would not have been disappointed. There is no better 
rock plant, and few are more beautiful. It grows in crevices of rocks 
with a very slight roothold. On the face of the rocks on the south side 
of the American River, in Placer County, California, the plant thrives. 
The bank is a perfect blaze of bloom in summer. The flowers are 
Fuchsia-like. Many of the lower plants are often covered with water, 
but this does not seem to hurt them. Do not make an outcast of this 
beautiful plant. With proper care it can be easily cultivated. It tas 
bloomed with me in 3-inch pots. These remarks are from the pen of 
Mr. J. W. Dunlop, and appear in “ Meehan’s Monthly,” the Editors of 
which endorse them cordially. 
- Sale of the Yellow Calla, High Prices. — It will b" 
remembered that exceptional interest was excited by the yello 
flowered Arum exhibited under the name of Calla Elliottiana on its 
first appearance, the clear yellow flowers and marbled leaves being 
most distinct and attractive. Negotiations were conducted with several 
prominent nurserymen with a view to the purchase of the plant, but 
report says that the price asked was so high that no buyer could be 
found. Be that as it may, the yellow Calla remained in private until 
Friday the 17th inst., when the stock was offered for sale at Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris’s rooms. Although the amount realised by the 
original plant was absurdly low as compared with the price that 
rumour had put upon it when first offered, the returns realised were 
excellent. The plant alluded to brought 17 guineas, a second 16 guineas, 
a third 10 guineas, a fourth 9 guineas, a fifth 8 guineas, and others 
I 6 guineas, 5r guineas, 5 guineas, 4 guineas, and 3i guineas. Reckoning 
roughly, the amount realised by the total sale must have been about 
! £400. How this result compares with the anticipations of the owner 
i cannot be said, but for a batch of Callas it is extr.aordinary. Doubtless 
we shall not have long to wait before the plant is fairly plentiful. 
