January 29, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
93 
the Midland growers to meet on their own ground, and give the Black 
Country people an opportunity of seeing a great gathering of the finest 
flowers and new varieties. An Exhibition of the Carnation and Picotee 
on a large scale is arranged for July next, to follow immediately after 
the Oxford Show. 
The Pink, which has long been a greatly neglected flower, is slowly 
and surely coming to the front again, and a gathering of Pink growers 
and an Exhibition of Pinks is arranged for at the Great Wolverhampton 
Summer Show in July next, and will do much to give an impetus to the 
further cultivation of this fine old florists’ flower and border plant. I 
do not know if the Committee are arranging a class for bunches of the 
border decorative sorts ; but 1 hope it may be done, as we have many 
beautiful kinds which are outside the florists’ circle of varieties, and are 
yet so richly deserving encouragement, and of having an opportunity of 
being seen by the public.—W. D. 
THE CHERRY PLUM AS A FENCING PLANT. 
Some weeks ago we referred in our Farm article to the usefulness 
of the Myrobella or Cherry Plum t^Prunus domestica myrobalana) for 
fencing purposes, and as several inquiries have been received for 
further information we are enabled, by the courtesy of Messrs. Daniels 
Bros., Norwich, to give illustrations of the plant CAgs- and 18). The 
following particulars are also furnished in their catalogue :— 
“ This was introduced for fencing purposes by the late Mr. Ewing of 
the Eaton Nurseries, and has undoubtedly proved itself to be the very 
best fencing plant ever grown. For rapidity of growth it is unrivalled, 
and under fair conditions will make a capital fence in three or four 
years from planting. It also grows vigorously in the poorest soils, and 
is first-class for planting in exposed situations or by the sea coast. It 
is quite hardy, and will stand the severest frosts without injury. The 
Myrobella does not often fruit in this country save in the south or 
west of England and in sheltered positions in the eastern or midland 
counties, and then only when allowed to grow into trees or large bushes. 
It, however, forms a capital stock for Plums, and if strong single stems are 
allowed to grow from the fence at intervals of about 12 feet, they may 
be budded or grafted with choice varieties of this popular fruit, and in 
a few years will form a most profitable and ornamental hedgerow. 
“ The best time for planting is in November or early spring, or it 
may be done in open weather at any time during the winter months, 
but in fairly moist weather successful plantings may be made as late 
as the middle or end of April. In planting plant firmly, placing the 
sets from 6 to 9 inches apart, according to size. After planting, about 
the time that growth commences, they should be cut down to 8 or 10 
inches in height. It will bear almost any extent of clipping, and 
should be cut at least twice a year—about the end of July and in 
winter or spring whilst in a dormant state, and should be fairly trimmed 
FIG. 17.—BLOSSOM AND FRUIT. 
the first year or two after planting to ensure a good bottom for a strong 
and thick fence; but it may be clipped in to form a fence no thicker 
than an ordinary garden wall, which will be found quite impenetrable. 
As the plants advance in age the branches become armed with long. 
sharp spines, which make the fence impenetrable to cattle, &c. Myro¬ 
bella will, therefore, be found sjrlendid for making new or improving 
old fences, and much superior to Whitethorn or any other fencing plant.” 
REVIEW OF BOOK. 
Webster's International Dictionary of the English Language, revisec? 
and enlarged under the direction of Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D.,. 
of Yale University. George Bell & Sons, 4, York Street, Covent 
Garden. 1890. 
It has been said that dictionaries are not compiled until a language 
has commenced to decline, or at least until it has reached its fullest 
development. Certainly until the invention of printing little appears- 
to have been done in the direction of such compilations, and though a 
few lexicons date back to before the Christian era, they are relatively in¬ 
small proportion to the wealth of the languages of antiquity. The 
dictionary form of conveying knowledge of a language has, however,, 
had an enormous development in modern times, that if the numbers of 
such works were really an indication of decline, as stated above, the 
English language would be in a serious condition. As a matter of fact,, 
however, it appears to increase at a very rapid rate, and dictionaries 
that a few years ago were amply sufficient for purposes of reference are 
now quite inadequate. New words are being constantly introduced, 
scientific expressions and technicalities appear frequently in news¬ 
papers and general literature, and new editions o( dictionaries ard 
called for nearly every year to keep pace with the advance. A com¬ 
plete dictionary of the English language of the present time is an 
encyclopaidia in a condensed form, and indispensable alike to readers 
and writers. 
Webster’s Dictionary has for many years had a considerable reputa¬ 
tion on both sides of the Atlantic, and fresh editions have been issued 
from time to time containing additional features of interest. In the 
one under notice, however, we have to record an advance of great 
importance, which renders it one of the most valuable works of reference 
of the present time. It forms a large quarto volume of 2118 pages, 
and after a close examination, more especially directed to testing the 
botanical and horticultural definitions, we can testify to the remarkable 
accuracy which distinguishes it, and the evident care exercised in its 
supervision. 
The enumeration of the chief sections of the work will give an idea 
of its scope and utility. First there is a memoir of Noah Webster, by 
Dr. Chauncey H. Goodrich ; then we have a list of authors quoted, 
which occupies ten pages closely printed, three columns to a page. 
The “History of the English Language” is fully treated upon, a list 
is furnished of “ Indo-Germanic Roots,” followed by chapters on pro¬ 
nunciation and orthography. These constitute the introductory matter. 
Coming to the Dictionary itself we find that 1G81 pages of three 
columns each are devoted to word explanation, giving accentuation,, 
pronunciation, definition, with quotation examples in the case of critical 
words, and illustrations of those that do not readily admit of brief 
verbal explanation. In the appendices we have also much important 
information. “ An explanatory and pronouncing dictionary of the 
