47G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 23, 1892. 
- Winter in Summer. — Mr. R. Saunders, The Gardens, 
Rendcomb Park, Cirencester, writes : I was astonished this morning 
(15th inst.) at finding quite a severe frost. There were 3° at 6 A.M. I 
could not say how much more previously, as the thermometer was not 
set. Potatoes are badly cut, and Scarlet Runners in some instances 
killed outright. Dwarf Beans seem to have stood it without injury. 
Dahlias are blackened badly, and Begonias have suffered; Heliotropes 
and Iresine are slightly injured. Luckily everything was dry or the 
consequences must have been most disastrous. We are situated right on 
the Cotswold Hills, so if we have come off badly I am afraid our 
neighbours in the valleys have fared worse. Such a frost on the 15th of 
June has, I should think, seldom been known.” It is announced that 
hundreds of acres of Potatoes in the Fens of Ijincolnshire and Cambridge¬ 
shire have been cut down by the frost. Mr. B. Molyneux states that 
serious injury was done to Potatoes and Kidney Beans in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Winchester. 
- Another Vine Enemt. —Well would it be for the French 
Vine growers if the phylloxera were the claret drinker’s only enemy. 
Unluckily, says a daily contemporary, the tiny cochylis is almost as 
great a scourge. The damage done by it last year to the Vines in the 
Gironde Department is estimated by some at no less than a million 
sterling, and it is thought that the damage caused by this noxious worm 
last year throughout France must have reached several millions. The 
efforts made during the last two years to stamp out its existence appear 
to have been unsuccessful, and the re-appearance of the “ cochylis ” 
during the present year seems only too probable. The “ cochylis ” worm 
passes the winter, as a rule, underneath the bark of the Vine or of the 
Vine props, moving in spring gradually into the Grapes, which, instead 
of attaining their maturity, thereupon dry up. Neither cold nor damp 
seems to have any effect in arresting or retarding its progress. The 
winter of 1890-91, which was one of the coldest experienced in that part 
of France, seems to have had quite a fine bracing effect on the cochylis’s 
constitution. 
- Show in Nottingham. —In connection with the Nottingham¬ 
shire Horticultural and Botanical Society an exhibition of flowers and 
plants took place in the Arboretum Rooms, Arboretum Street, 
Nottingham. The Show was the most successful, both in quality 
and quantity, ever held under the auspices of the Society. There was 
a large variety of flowers staged. The exhibits reflected considerable 
credit on the exhibitors, being all of them splendid specimens. Mr 
C. J. Mee of Wollaton exhibited a splendid collection of cut flowers 
also a collection of Tomatoes, Apples, and Melons. Mr. T. B. Hallam’s 
exhibit of flowers suitable for table decoration was very fine, A centre¬ 
piece for a table by Mr. G. Taylor was much admired, and elicited much 
well-merited praise. Mr. Hallam of Basford had a fine show of 
Cucumbers, Lettuce, and Rhubarb ; a collection of outdoor vegetables 
and plants, including Stocks, Strawberries, and Cabbage, was very 
creditable to Mr. Baker of Old Basford, by whom they were exhibited. 
The awards were :—For twenty plants in pots not 0 inches in diameter 
Mr. J. Meadows, Basford, 1 ; Mr. C, J. Mee, 2 ; Mr. S. Thacker, 3 ; Mr.’ 
T. Hallam, 4, For six plants in pots, not exceeding 10 inches in 
diameter, Mr. C. J. Mee, 1 ; Mr. S. Thacker, 2 ; Mr. J, Meadows, 3. 
- Effect of Electric Light on Flowers.— Electricity is to 
have a new employment in horticulture, says Electricity. It has been 
shown that Lettuce is particularly susceptible to the influence of the 
electric light, by means of which it can be grown for market in two- 
thirds the usual length of time. Other vegetables respond likewise in 
varying degrees. But everything depends upon the proper regulating of 
the light, and how to do that can be learned only by the careful study 
of the results produced under all conditions. The effect of the light 
being to hasten maturity, too much of it causes Lettuce to run to seed 
before the edible leaves are formed. The light is not employed as a 
substitute for sunlight. It is used merely in a supplementary manner. 
The greenhouse that has the sun in the daytime is illuminated at night 
by arc lamps, towards which the plants incline their leaves and flowers. 
It was supposed that vegetables required intervals of darkness for their 
health and development, just as animals need sleep, but it has been 
shown that, supplied with the rays of electric light, they will go on 
growing thriftily between sunset and daybreak. Opal globes diminish 
the intensity of the light. Under the full influence of the light the 
plants grow pale, run up quickly in sickly stalks, and soon die. It re¬ 
mains to be discovered exactly how much light is beneficial, and during 
wnat period of the development of the vegetables it ought to be applied. 
The influence of the electric light on the colour and productiveness of 
flowers has been shown to be extraordinary. Tulips exposed to the light 
have deeper and richer tints, flowering more freely and developing 
longer stems and bigger leaves. Fuchsias bloom earlier under like con 
ditions. Petunias bloom earlier also and more profusely, growing taller 
and more slender. In fact, there is every reason for believing that the 
electric light will be used very profitably in the future as an adjunct to- 
forcing establishments for flowers and garden vegetables. One market 
gardener is employing it with a success which he reports as marvellous. 
- London Flower Girls, — The Duke and Duchess of 
Westminster and two of their daughters—Lady Margaret and Lady 
Helen Francis Grosvenor—recently visited Clerkenwell to open a floral 
bazaar in aid of the London Flower Girl Mission Guild, which was- 
founded by Lord Shaftesbury some twenty-five years ago. Mr. J. A. 
Groom, Hon. Superintendent of the Institution, explained the objects 
of the work, remarking on the great increase in the number of London, 
flower girls during the past thirty years. The present number was 
stated at 3000, while it is mentioned in one of the publications of the 
Mission that over £5000 is spent in London every day on cut flowers 
alone. The Mission includes a shelter for flower girls at Covent Garden, 
where a cheap breakfast is to be had, a brigade of girls who are trained 
in the art of artificial flower making, and an orphanage at Clacton. At 
the bazaar, artificial flowers were largely used in the decoration of the 
stalls, the central kiosk forming a kind of Maypole, with streamers o-f 
artificial flowers suspended from the ceiling. Each stall took its name 
from a particular flower, which was worn by the stallholders. 
- Eel-worms and Ferns. —Professor Halsted writes that he 
has observed during the past winter that eel-worms (nematoids) have- 
been very destructive among young Ferns. The first leaves of Ferns 
are very small and delicate, and two or three worms are sufficient to 
destroy a plant, from which they pass on to the next victim. In one 
bed of young Ferns noticed the dead plants were separated from the 
living by a line as distinct as that between the burned and unburned 
portion of a meadow in early spring. These pests usually attack 
plants from the root, and probably at the outset have made their 
entrance into the Ferns from the soil, but they can also spread from 
leaf to leaf throughout all the plants in the bed. The soil on which the 
Fern spores are to be sown should be subjected to a high heat some 
time before that operation. This will destroy all nematoids in the soil, 
and after that lime water, sulphur, and other applications known to be 
injurious to the worms, but harmless to tender vegetation, should be 
used .—(^Garden and Fared.) 
EANUNCULUS LYALLI. 
The first specimen of this very remarkable plant, which may 
be described as the monarch of the genus, was found in Milford 
Sound on the west coast of the southern island of New Zealand 
by Dr. Lyall, when accompanying H.M.S. “Acheron” in the survey 
of 1847-9. It was again discovered in 1861 by Drs. Sinclair and 
Haast in the mountains of middle island, always in marshy places, 
and at elevations of 3000 to 4000 feet above sea level. In the 
Lake Ohon district it is found as high as 5000 to 6000 feet. There 
appear to be only two other species with peltate leaves, R. Cooperi 
and R. Bauri, the former of which is now, I believe, in cultivation, 
and though not equal to the giant Rockwood Lily here shown 
(fig. 81), it will be found both beautiful and interesting. R. Lyalli, 
introduced to cultivation several years ago, first flowered in the 
Royal Gardens at Kew, at Mr. Bartholomew’s garden. Park House, 
Reading, and again in the open air at Kew, from which plant the 
drawing was made. I am told that the Kew plant has weathered 
the past two severe winters in the open air, from which it may be 
concluded that whatever may be its other dislikes, cold is not one 
of them. It will be clear to fortunate possessors of the Rockwood 
Lily that it is peifectly hardy; indeed it will be easier managed 
out of doors than in pots. It loves a free, moist, but not stagnant 
soil, where the drainage is free, and where it can send its strong 
succulent roots out of harm’s way. 
New Zealand growers advise planting R. Lyalli behind a north 
wall and this will no doubt answer well in the south. At Kew, 
however, the plants that have just flowered have a western 
exposure, catching the morning sun about ten o’clock, and losing it 
again a little after mid-day. It is a plant that loves moisture, and 
during the growing season should be watered copiously once or 
twice a day. In winter a covering of bracken or other loose dry 
material will be found beneficial. In its native home it gets covered 
with snow completely during the winter season, and in spring and 
early summer where the perpetual snow above its habitat is melting 
the ground is kept continually moist, and at the same time, as the 
