Jannary i, 1881. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
9 
fieldfares, thrushes of all kinds, blackbirds, and a specimen of the rare 
ring ousel, which will not be shot.—W. I. 
-- The Journal of the Koyal Horticultural Society. 
—We have received for review a copy of part iii,, vol. xii. of the above 
Journal, and have much pleasure in expressing our appreciation of its 
general excellence. It is devoted mainly to the consideration of 
Pmonies, Carnations, Ferns, and Gladioli from various aspects, 
scientific and practical; and also contains articles on spring flowering 
trees and shrubs, hardy flowers, and fruit drying, with a record of 
shows and meetings. As a rule the matter differs somewhat from 
that which is so plentifully distributed through the gardening journals, 
as we think it ought ; for, useful and interesting as this may be, the 
public undoubtedly expect that the official Journal of the foremost 
Horticultural Society in the kingdom should possess distinct features. 
Though the issue is not devoid of what may be reasonably termed 
commonplace matter, this certainly does not predominate, and the 
majority of the contributors have acquitted themselves well. We are 
also pleased to note that the work has been carefully edited, and only 
the hypercritical can find fault with it in that respect. It is a decided 
improvement on some previous issues, and both Mr. Morris and Mr. 
Wilks are to be congratulated on its production. We may possibly, if 
space permits, refer to the part again, and can only in the meantime 
say that it contains upwards of 130 pages of letterpress, and that its 
price to non-Fellows of the Society is 5s.; to Fellows it is free. Sequel, 
]oin the old Society, and make it young again, for the stronger it is the 
better for the ancient craft of which it is the chief exponent in this 
country. 
- The Jardin des Plantes has, says a gentleman recently 
returned from Paris, greatly improved during the last few years under 
the direction of Professor Maxime Cornu. It is well worth a visit. The 
most interesting thing that he saw in the I'rench capital was a magni¬ 
ficent Pampas Grass, of which specimens have been introduced by 
M. Edouard Andre from the outlying districts of Uruguay. It is 
in the way of Gynerium jubatum, but with stems 10 feet high, the 
inflorescence drooping gracefully down, fountain like, on each side. It 
has not at present been decided whether the new Pampas is a Gynerium 
or an Arundo.—P. 
- The American Mother Apple.— On page 53G mention is 
made of this fine dessert Apple, and advising a south wall for it if room 
can be spared. In the midlands and north no doubt a wall would be 
necessary to get the fruit good, but in the west and south of England it 
will do very well in the open as a dwarf tree. We have here a number 
of trees in a very exposed position, and which produce very fine highly 
coloured fruit. So far as I know it is the sweetest Apple grown, and a 
very pleasing smell, and will always carry weight in a collection of 
dessert Apples on the exhibition table. Our soil and climate suit this 
variety ; this, in connection with liberal manuring, will no doubt 
account for its answering so well here, but many varieties of Apples 
are considered failures which would be considered quite the reverse if 
they had sufficient manure to supply them with the food requisite for 
their well being.— S. T. Wright. 
- The Ancient Society op York Florists, the oldest in 
the kingdom, having had an unbroken existence of over 100 years, 
held their annual festive gathering recently, at which Lord Mayor 
Mathews intended presiding, but an important meeting elsewhere kept 
him engaged until a late period of the evening, when his appearance 
was heartily welcomed. Meantime Mr. Councillor Milward, the Sheriff 
of York, occupied the chair. Both gentlemen are active members of the 
great York Floral Galas, and are as much esteemed by horticulturists 
attending the annual galas as they are by their fellow citizens. The 
Society is well off now, having about £1G0 in hand, and numbers some 
400 members. Mr. John Lazenby is the active and courteous Secretary, 
and is hacked up by a good strong Committee. Under all these circum¬ 
stances the Committee and friends could but feast right merrily—truly 
“ the feast of reason and the flow of soul.” 
- The preparation of the Kombe Poison is one of the impor¬ 
tant industries of Central Africa. The poison is contained in the seeds 
of Strophanthus Kombe, a strong, climbing plant which is always 
found in the vicinity of high trees, on which it supports itself. 
The native method of preparing the poison is very simple. The 
seeds are first cleaned of their hairy appendages, and then pounded in a 
mortar until they are reduced to a pulp ; a little water is then added, 
and a gummy substance obtained from the bark of a tree which helps to 
keep the poison on the arrow. Game wounded by arrows thus poisoned 
die quickly. The flesh is said to be eaten without any injurious effects. 
The seeds form an article of export.—S. 
- Presentation to Mr. David Lindsay.—O n Christmas 
Eve a presentation was made at Otterspool to Mr. David Lindsay, 
gardener to Sir J. Edwards-Moss, Bart. It consisted of an elegant arm 
chair, which had been subscribed for by the men under Mr. Lindsay 
and a few neighbours and friends as a token of their esteem. Mr. 
White, Chairman of the Liverpool Horticultural Association, in present¬ 
ing the chair dwelt on the length of time Mr. Lindsay had been in the 
neighbourhood, both at Roby Hall and at Otterspool, and of the many 
friends he had made, and hoped Mr. Lindsay would be long spared to 
enjoy the use of it. Mr. Blomily, Mr. Jellicoe, and Mr. Dutton added 
their testimony to that of the previous speaker, and Mr. Lindsay in a 
few suitable remarks thanked them for the presentation. A vote of 
thanks to Mr. White brought a very pleasant evening to a close. 
- The weather during December has been unusually severe. 
On the 14th the mercury of the thermometer fell to 10°, or 22° of frost, 
and on the 22nd to 7°, or 27° of frost ; but fortunately the ground was 
covered with snow to the depth of about 6 inches, which would be a 
great protection to vegetation. Snow fell again on the 27th, bringing 
up the total depth to about 10 inches. This will be very beneficial to 
the land, as the springs were very low, and water in some parts of the 
country very scarce. The rainfall for the year is under the average. 
Up to this date (23th) only 17-86 inches has fallen. July was the 
wettest and September the dryest month of the year. Gardening 
operations are practically at a standstill.—G. R. Allis, Old Warden 
Park, Bigglesnade. 
- The Weather in Ireland. —The severe frost we are this 
winter experiencing is most unusual for the south of Ireland. Daring 
the past four winters wm have not experienced more than 12° 
of frost, and that but once. On Dceember 17th we registered 18° of frost, 
while from 2° to 16° have been registered every night since the 2ad of 
last month. The days generally have been bright, consequently the 
temperature by day has ranged from 32° to 46° at midday. The 
thermometer is behind a wall facing north, and is 5 feet from the 
ground. Christmas Roses are very late this year ; there is not one 
flower open yet; there are thousands of buds which will make a grand 
display later on. Up to this date (December 20th) we have had no 
snow, but the clouds look threatening.— Handy Andy. 
- Gardening Appointment. —Mr. S. Summers, who has acted 
as foreman at the R.H.S. Gardens, Chiswick, for some years, was on 
Tuesday last in the Council room there presented with a handsome 
writing case accompanied by an address on his removal shortly to 
another sphere of labour. The presentation was made by Mr. J. Barry 
on behalf of the men, who showed their appreciation of the recipient’s 
services in this agreeable manner. 
- The Shirley Poppies. —These are very useful and beautiful 
when grown in pots or in the herbaceous borders, and last a long time 
when cut for filling vases, especially so when they are associated with 
any of the common variegated Ribbon Grasses, or Eulalia japonica, 
making a very chaste and beautiful effect. We are sowing these 
Poppies now in pots for decorations, and in pans for cut flowers to 
be brought on in cold frames, and sow early in March outdoors for the 
summer, and again in June for a late supply. A very pleasing effect 
was produced here late this autumn by using the common red field 
Poppy freely interspersed with Oats, showing what fine effects may be 
produced with these wild flowers. 
- Telekia SPECIOSISSIMA. — This rare fine old herbaceous 
perennial, growing from 6 to 8 feet high, bearing large spreading 
heads of beautiful bright Marguerite-like flowers, is well worthy of 
being more extensively cultivated. It is a very stately growing plant, 
suitable for the rockery, garden, banks, or back lines in the herbaceous 
border, where it has a telling effect. It is also very useful when cut 
for filling large trumpet vases, lasting well in water, and makes a 
pleasing effect when mixed with the great Ox-eyed Daisy (Chrysanthe¬ 
mum uliginosum). It is propagated by divisions, and thrives luxuriantly 
in a moist situation. 
- Market Lettuces.—I n reply to “J. B., Xotthijkam," (see 
page 490), I can recommend him Horniman’s Cabbage Lettuce, which 
is, I believe, exclusively confined to Devonshire, where it originated, and it 
