January 29, 1891. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
85 
original tree), or another Stone’s Pippin, a very old sort, to which the 
Scotch Gogar is the nearest relation that I can recall. My own opinion 
is that Wellington was one of the parents. 
The precocity of bearing noted in Auckland has been fully borne out 
here, as we had dozens of fruit upon the maiden trees on Paradise 
stocks. Some of this fruit was up to 12 ozs. in weight, and figured in 
our collection at the Crystal Palace. 
The foliage of this Apple does not indicata Alexander or Stone’s the 
parents. It rather inclines to the wavy outline and hoary nature that 
obtains in Small’s Admirable or the Ilawthornden race. Another, and 
not a good Apple season, has fully confirmed my (1889) opinion that it 
is a most valuable addition to the fertile set of Apples of handsome 
appearance.— Geo. Bunyaed, Maidstone. 
RESULTS OF THE FROST. 
The sudden rise in the temperature last week, accompanied as it was 
by a heavy rain washing the snow away, has revealed a poor state of 
things among the green crops in the kitchen garden and fields. What¬ 
ever damage may have been done to shrubs and Roses will be better 
known as the season advances, but the prolonged severe weather has 
played havoc with the crops of Broccoli, mine here being all dead ex¬ 
cepting Sprouting Broccoli; even that is much damaged, and even the 
most forward planting of Brussels Sprouts is past use, but the later 
planted with their small heads are not hurt, showing that successive 
plantings of this important vegetable is advisable. 
A large bed of Cabbages planted for spring use have mostly decayed 
at the hearts. The hardiest green vegetable so far proves to be the 
Curled Kale as well as Buda Kale. Fields of green vegetables in this 
locality are destroyed and give off a most disagreeable odour, showing 
too plainly the work of damage by frost. The lowest reading of our 
thermometer has been at 8°, or 2-1° of frost, on three different nights, 
but it has frequently been down to 14°, or 18° of frost. I have no 
recollection of so long a frost, and so persistently severe all through, 
though I have knowledge of one more severe in 1860-61, when the glass 
went below zero. That was when living at Bury St. Edmunds in 
Suffolk, but that frost was of shorter duration.— Thomas Recoed, 
Crayford, Kent. 
AMORPHOPHALLUS CAMPANULATUS. 
Numeeous applications have been received for information concern¬ 
ing the true Amorphophallus campanulatus, which is totally distinct 
from the remarkable Amorphophallus Titanum that flowered in the 
Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1889, and was illustrated in the Journal of 
Horticulture, July 4th of that year (page 7, vol. xix,new series). Under 
the name of Arum campanulatum the plant, of which the name forms 
the title of this notice, has been known for many years, and was fully 
described by Dr. William Jackson Hooker in the “ Botanical Magazine,” 
in 1828 (T. 2812), a large double page coloured plate accompanying it. 
The greater part of this description is here quoted for the information 
of inquirers. 
“ Root a large, rounded, compressed tuber, marked with concentric 
lines and numerous scars ; and producing a few small fibres. From the 
centre of this, generally, a single large leaf is produced H to 2 feet 
high. Its peduncle is cylindrical, greenish brown, with pale spots, and 
hispid, or rather echinated, expanding above into three principal 
divisions or pinnrn ; each is again bifid, and the segments are pinna- 
tifid, being cut almost to the midrib into ovato-lanceolate lacinim or 
leaflets, with many parallel veins. The flower appears at a different 
season from the leaf, and is very large and showy. From the top of 
the tuber arises a short, green, spotted stem, or peduncle, having numer¬ 
ous succulent radicles thrown out from its very base, and two unequal 
lanceolate membranaceous sheaths or bracteas. This short stem bears a 
very large subcampanulate purplish spathe, of a somewhat coriaceous 
texture, much waved at the margin, greyish, spotted with white on the 
outside, within whitish towards the middle, and reddish purple at the 
very base. Spadix 10 inches to 1 foot high ; its lower half (that part 
covered with pistils) cylindrical, above, where the stamens are placed, 
much dilated, and at the top expanding into a large, waved, deep purple 
granulated head. 
“ The first I knew of this extraordinary plant was through the 
medium of my friend Dr. Strang, who obligingly brought me from 
M. Spanoghe from Java a noble specimen of it in spirits. About the 
same time a living plant was sent from Madagascar by Mr. Telfair to 
Robert Barclay, Esq , at Bury Hill, in whose superb collection, and 
under the skilful management of his gardener, it soon produced its 
flowers ; and from a drawing kindly sent to me by that gentleman, 
aided by my specimens preserved in spirits, the accompanying figures 
were taken. 
“ Although the plant has been long represented and described by 
Rumphius, Rheede, and Commelin, yet no systematic botanist seems to 
have noticed it until Dr. Roxburgh introduced it into the ‘ Hortus 
Benghalensis’ under the name which I have here retained. We are 
there told that its Sanskrit name is Kunda, and its Hindoostani Muncha- 
kunda; that it is not uncommon on the Continent of India, as well as 
in the Archipelago ; and that in the Northern Circars it is cultivated 
and valued as the Potato is with us, and as the Yams in the West 
Indies. The roots often weigh from 4 to 8 or more lbs. each. Com¬ 
melin received it from Ceylon, and cultivated it at Amsterdam, but 
never saw it produce its flower. Rumphius seemed to consider the 
flower of this to belong to his real Tacca, v. 5, t. 173, f. I. Both he and 
Rheede speak of the root being employed medicinally by the natives.” 
Visitors to the late Miss North’s gallery of plant pictures at Kew 
may have noticed, amongst the illustrations of Javan flora, a picture 
showing a leaf and inflorescence of Amorphophallus campanulatus, 
which Mr. Ilemsley tells us was taken “ previous to the bursting of 
the spathe containing the spadix, which takes place suddenly about 
sunset. There is an accumulation of heat, and it exhales an offensive 
odour that is quite overpowering, and so much resemb'es that of carrion, 
that flies cover the club of the spadix with their eggs.” 
The culture of most of these tropical Aroids is very similar. They 
require a high stove temperature, a moist atmosphere, and abundant 
supplies of water during growth, then a period of rest when the leaves 
die down to the tuber, and the soil can be kept nearly dry. The large 
divided leaves are the most attractive portion of the plants, and A. 
Rivieri is particularly valued for its foliage. The floral portion is 
remarkable, but the odour of nearly all the species is so objectionable 
that they are not welcome occupants of houses. 
A full historical and botanical description of Amorphophallus 
Titanum appears in the “ Botanical Magazine ” for the present month,, 
three plates being devoted to illustrating its peculiar characters. 
Events of the Week.— To-day (Thursday) at 4.30 p.m. the Royal 
Society will meet, and at 7 p M. the National Chrysanthemum Society’s 
annual meeting will be held at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street. The 
Society of Arts will meet on Wednesday, February 4th at 8 p.m. 
- The Weathee in the Meteopolitan Disteict has been 
open, bright, and comparatively mild during the past week. Slight 
frosts have occurred on several mornings, and some rain has fallen.. 
The effects of the long continued frost are not fully apparent at present, 
but many shrubs have suffered seriously. 
- Gaedenees’ Royal Benevolent Institution, —Mr. E. R. 
Cutler writes to us :—“ You will see from the enclosed letter that your 
account of our proceedings last Thursday week has been productive 
of very great good to us. Will you kindly make mention of it in your 
next issue ?” The following is the letter referred to, from Sir W. H. 
Salt to Mr. Harry J. Veitch :—“ I have much pleasure in forwarding 
you a donation of £50 to the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institu¬ 
tion. I trouble you with this, as I see by the Journal of Horticulture 
you have just been re-elected Treasurer.” We are gratified by this 
intelligence. Sir William Salt’s kind action is a great compliment to 
Mr. Veitch. 
- Fungi in Relation to Plant Diseases.—W e are informed 
that Professor C. B, Plowright, M.R.C.S., will deliver three lectures on 
the above subject at the Royal College of Surgeons, Lincoln’s Inn 
Fields, London, on Monday, Wednesday and F'riday, February 16thj 
18th, and 20th. The lectures will be at 5 p.m. on each day. 
- Can you or any of your readers recommend me a Paesley 
Suitable foe a Sandy Soil? As a rule I never succeed with 
Parsley, the plants begin to rust off before the summer is half over, I 
have often thought that a list of flower and vegetable seeds suitable to a 
sandy soil would be very acceptable to an amateur like—E. T. H. 
- At a recent meeting of the Beixton, Clapham and Steeat- 
HAM Cheysanthemum SOCIETY Mr. William Roupell was elected 
Hon. Secretary, and he will no doubt do his best as the successor of 
the late Mr. Hall and of Mr. Salter to maintain the credit of this noted 
suburban Society. 
_ The Biemingham Gaedenees’ Association held its annual 
meeting in their room at the Birmingham Midland Institute on 
January 19th for passing the accounts and balance sheet, and the 
election of officers and Committee for the present year. Mr, W. B, 
Latham was unanimously re-elected Chairman, and the officers of the 
previous year were also re-elected. The income of the Association for 
1890 was £53 133. lOd., including subscribing members ; and the 
expenditure £36 14s., so that a substantial balance remains in hand. 
There were 318 subscribing members for the past year. In addition to 
the money balance in hand, the Society’s library, bookcases, 6ec., are of 
the value of at least £120. 
