March 5, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
187 
- Forcing Lilacs. —The fragrant flowers of Lilacs are always 
prized when they are obtained early. After being potted they should 
always be kept for a few weeks in the open air, with the pots plunged 
in ashes or cocoa-nut fibre, as the plants respond more quickly to 
the influence of heat and moisture when taken into the forcing 
houses than do those which are lifted and placed under glass at once, 
even if they are brought on slowly. It also frequently happens that 
both Lilacs and Guelder Koses flag badly in bright weather about the 
time the flowers begin to show colour. This may be partially pre¬ 
vented by plunging the pots in the open air after lifting, and then 
bringing the plants on gradually in vineries from the time the Vines 
are started.—H. D. 
- Peach Growing at Bexley Heath.—L ast year the 
remarkable crops of Peaches grown for market by Mr. T. Burton were 
fully described in this Journal. The trees are now in full blossom, or at 
least the naturally grown standards are, the trained trees setting their 
fruit. A span house of these, 220 feet long, and every part of the trellis 
practically within reach, presented a remarkable sight last week, as 
most of the varieties grown in it have large blossoms. Mr. Burton does 
not remove any of the flower buds, crowded as they may be, but from 
one tree, and not a very large one, 3000 fruits were removed last year in 
thinning the crop, and this, when ripe, would average five or six fruits 
to the square inch. The crops on the standard trees would drag the 
branches to the ground if they were not supported with strong cords to 
the roof. 
- Scarcity of Parsley. —The most suitable places I have 
found for growing it to stand the winter has been odd corners under 
trees or hedge bottoms. Last season, having lost nearly all that was 
not in boxes and covered, more from damp than frost, I was obliged 
with a supply by a cottager, who had a fine lot growing under a Yew 
tree. Having cut about 6 feet of rough Yew hedge, planted on mound 
of very rough material, and full of roots, I grubbed the surface, and 
gave it some potting-shed refuse, then sowed half with Parsley, and 
planted other half. It did not grow very much and had to struggle 
amongst the weeds. The Parsley has, however, stood the winter all 
right, and there is a nice lot of small leaves now, and with a change to 
genial weather there will soon be plenty for gathering. In many 
gardens there are corners where Parsley might by grown, even if out of 
place. The cook will not mind where it comes from.—J. M. 
■-The Weather in Scotland.—U p to the 27th of February 
we have had but one stormy day, and although I do not believe in 
“ frets,” 1860 and 1861 February’s were both very fine here throughout, 
and were the best months of both years. Nor do I believe a fine summer 
follows a severe winter, for experience has proved the reverse ; but^ 
again, where have we taken our data from 1 The winter has evidently 
been severe in the south of us, while here it has been a moderate winter, 
but frosty. Now, at which of these places are the forecasts to be 
taken 1 The day temperature of February 23rd for between five and 
six hours was 60°, sinking to 30° during the following night, falling 
gradually every night and day, but maintaining the same alternations. 
Whatever the day temperature might be the night temperature was 
30° lower; and on the morning of February 27th the thermometer 
stood at 20°, while the day was the most foggy we have had. The clear 
sky, with bright sunshine on the previous days, favoured evaporation, 
consequently there was much hoar frost, giving the landscape a wintry 
looking aspect in the mornings.— Lanarkshire. 
- Imported Tomatoes. —In recent years much attention has been 
paid in the Azores and Canary Islands to fruit production for the European 
markets, and especially for England. It is well known that enormous 
quantities of Vines are now imported from these Islands, but Tomatoes 
for early supply are now being cultivated extensively, and a considerable 
consignment reached London a few days ago. It was said that several 
ships laden with Tomatoes, having been delayed by the fogs, had 
arrived together, and Covent Garden Market was in consequence 
flooded with boxes of this fruit; nearly every salesman seemed literally 
to have his “ hands full,” and the quantity sold by auction necessarily 
reduced the prices much below what would have otherwise been 
obtained at this season. The fruits were packed in neat, shallow 
boxes, each containing a single layer of fruits and a probable weight of 
3 lbs. or 4 lbs.; they were sold at Is. to Is. 6d. each, finer fruits 
bringing rather more and damaged samples less. The fruits were 
generally in fair condition, as they were carefully packed, but some had 
suSerred in transit, the injured fruits much reducing the value of the 
others, as can be imagined. The majority were said to have been 
received from Teneriffe, 
- The most recent issue of the Keia Bulletin constitutes an 
appendix, giving a list of Seeds of Hardy Herbaceous Plants and of 
Trees and Shrubs saved during the past year, and “ available for 
exchange with Colonial, Indian, and Foreign Botanic Gardens, as 
well as with the regular correspondents of Kew.” The list comprises 
thirty-one pages of names printed in double columns, and about 
2500 species or varieties are enumerated. The authorities are given 
for the names, the native countries, and the principal synonyms. It is 
added that the seeds are only available in small quantities, and “ are 
not sold to the general public.” 
- Bullfinches and Bird Pests.— In your notes of February 
26th, “ C., KentT laments the attacks made on bullfinches. I am 
inclined to think if “C.”had to get his living by growing fruit he 
would very soon change his opinion, “ and wish all the bullfinches in 
Covent Garden learning to sing.” At the present time I could show 
him the ground covered with fruit buds of Gooseberries in spite of all 
we can do to keep the birds down. It is astonishing what a pair will 
do in a few hours if left alone. This year, so far, they have confined 
their attentions to Gooseberries and Mulberries, while last year 
Gooseberries, Currants, Mulberries, Pears, Plums, and especially 
Damsons, were almost completely cleared of buds, while to finish up 
with starlings and blackbirds ate the Apple blossoms as they were 
opening. Birds became so numerous here they were a perfect pest. 
The severe winter has thinned them considerably, especially the 
thrushes ; blackbirds became as cheeky as sparrows. The latter do not 
seem to have suffered much. One of the farmers has shot over 3000, 
and still they come. It is calculated they destroy a quarter of Wheat 
per acre that is grown in this district.—J. M., Camerton Court, Bath, 
-National Auricula and National Carnation and 
PicoTEE Societies (Southern Section).— We are pleased to see 
in the fourteenth annual report of these Societies that both of them 
are in a healthy financial state, the income of the former last year 
having exceeded the expenditure by a little over £11, the balance in 
favour of the latter being a pound or two less. The Committees regret 
the loss of two excellent supporters of the Societies—the late Mr. James 
McIntosh and Mr. Shirley Hibberd. Information that will be of great 
service to florists is embodied in the reports in the form of select 
classified lists of varieties of Auriculas and Primulas, also Carnations 
and Picotees, as compiled from the aggregate number of votes accorded to 
different varieties by leading gi’owers who sent in selections. In the list 
of green-edged Auriculas, Kev. F. D. Horner and Colonel Taylor are placed 
equal first with 12 votes each ; grey-edged, G. Lightbody stands first 
with 14 votes; white-edged. Conservative, with 11 votes ; seifs. Heroine 
with 13 votes. Rosea grandiflora heads the Primula list. The premier 
Carnations are as follows :—Scarlet bizarres — Robert Lord (15). 
Crimson bizarres—Rifleman (14). Pink and purple bizarres-Sarah 
Payne (15). Purple flakes—James Douglas (14). Scarlet flakes — 
Sportsman (15). Rose flakes—Thalia and Sybil (14 each) ; and seifs, 
Germania (9 votes). Picotees :—Heavy red-edged—Dr. Epps (13). 
Light red-Mrs. Gorton, Violet Douglas, and Thos. Williams (15 each). 
Heavy purples—Mrs. Chancellor (14). Light purple—Clara Penson (14). 
Heavy rose^^Mrs. Payne (14). Light rose or scarlet—Favourite (15) , 
and yellow ground—Agnes Douglas, 13 votes. Some others follow those 
named very closely, and the selections may be taken as representing the 
standard of merit at the present time. The number of subscribers to 
these Societies are not suflSciently numerous. Mr. James Douglas, 
Barking Side, Ilford, is the Secretary of both Societies. 
THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
CHARTER AND BY-LAWS. 
As you say it will “ interest ” you to hear from me again touching 
by-laws 66 and 81,1 feel that it would really be cruel on my part to 
deny you such pleasure. You will, I hope, forgive me for reminding 
you and your readers that in your first attack upon our action you 
based your arguments on the by-laws, and when I had answered you 
there, your next article said in effect, “ Well, you may be right on the 
by-laws; but if so, both they and you are wrong by the Charter. 
In my last letter I endeavoured to answer you by the Charter, and most 
people think I succeeded. Now you return to the charge and base your 
position again on the by-laws. Well, as it “ interests ” you, I Fave no 
objection to hark back again, but it compels me to repeat that the 
Council have acted in plain and distinct accordance with by-laws 
67, 68, and 76, which read as follows ;—67 : “ If any member of the 
Council dies, or becomes incapacitated, between two annual meetings, 
the Council may fill up the vacancy; and any Fellow so appointed 
shall, for all purposes, be deemed to occupy the position of the person 
to whose seat he has been appointed.” 68 : “A member of Council 
