264 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 2, 1891. 
the smaller glasses. Rudbeckia Newmani is fairly well known, 
and is an indispensable autumn flower. 
Aquilegia gives the decorator a choice of beautiful forms. 
These are of easy culture, and most readily propagated from seed. 
A. chrysantha, A. coerulea, A. glandulosa, and A. californica are 
the best forms. The latter is especially useful. 
Alstoemerias are a useful family. The best outdoor sorts are 
A. aurea and A. psittacina. Though an old and cheap plant the 
latter is one of the best autumn plants for cut flowers. 
Montbretias are rapidly coming to the front, some beautiful 
shades of yellow and orange being found in the newer kinds, but 
these are still expensive. For general use M. crocosmEEfoIia is 
very good ; and few flowers are more charming than M. Gerbe 
d’Or, or, as it is sometimes called. Golden Sheaf. These succeed 
best in a rather heavy soil. 
Doronicum caucasicum is a spring-flowering species which is 
very useful at that period. D. Harpur Crewe is also very 
good.—B. 
Events of the 'Week. —The Linnean Society meets to-night 
(Thursday) at 8 P.M. ; the Quckett Club on Friday, April 3rd, at 8 P.M. ; 
and the Society cf Arts on Wednesday, April 8th, at 8 p.m. There is 
nothing of a specially horticultural character for the week, with the 
exception of the customary sales at the auction rooms. 
-The Weather in the South has, during the past week, 
been distinguished coll and boisterous winds, with occasional showers 
of snow, hail, and rain. Bright sunny intervals have, however, been 
also experienced, with slight frosts at night. Fruit tree flower buds arc 
showing in fair abundanoo,and are at present considered in safe condition. 
- The Weather in Scotland, March 23ed to 30th.—T he 
only frost of the week was that of last night, 5°. There has been a 
prevalence of cold northerly winds ; the days, at first dull and showery, 
have been brighter for three days, on the whole a seasonably disagreeable 
week.—B. D , S. Perthshire. 
-We are desired to state that Sir James Whitehead, Bart., hrs 
promised to preside at the Conference of the British Fruit Growers’ 
Association to be he’d in Beddington Park on August 3rd next, in 
conjunction with the Exhibition of the Beddington, Carshalton, and 
Wallington Horticultural Society’s Exhibition. 
-At the meeting of the Croydon Gardeners’ and Amateurs’ 
Mutual Improvement Society last week Mr. Hutchings Eves read 
a most interesting paper on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. There 
was a large attendance of members, who freely expressed their appre¬ 
ciation of the manner in which the subject had been treated. 
- Destroying- Mice.— “ E. T., Portvgal," at page 208, asked 
for information to trap these vermin. He might try sinking a few 
glazed pipes, level at the top with the surface of the ground and bait 
them. Plans similar to this proved effectual many years ago in trapping 
mice in some parts of England that were overrun with mice.—W. T. 
- The Winter Moth. —No time should be lost by fruit 
growers in spraying fruit trees, as the caterpillars are commencing to 
hatch out. I began spraying with Paris green on March 2oth, and 
found several small caterpillars on Apple trees the next day. There is 
only a short period between the disappearance of the winter moth and 
the appearance of their larvm. The last moth I saw was on the 21st 
March, and caterpillars were visible five days later.— S. T. Wright, 
- The schedule of the Kingston and Surbiton Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society is just to hand, and announces the dates of the 
next Show as Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10th and 11th, 
Classes of the usual character are provided, with substantial prizes for 
Chrysanthemum groups, specimen plants, and cut blooms ; other plants, 
flowers, and fruit also having numerous c’asses devoted to them. The 
sixth champion challenge vase, value twenty-flve guineas, is offered 
for forty-eight cut blooms, twenty-four incurved and twenty-four 
Japanese, distinct varieties. The Hon. Secretary is Mr. G. Woodgate, 
Warren House Gardens, Kingston Hill. 
- An Old Pupil of Mr. Pettigrew’s writes ;—“ I was 
pleased to hear of the success of his son. During my service at 
Cardiff Mr. Pettigrew held classes for instruction in drawing, and 
the knowledge I gained in attending those classes has been of great 
assistance to me, and 1 am extremely indebted to Mr. Pettigrew for 
his teaching.” 
- Anemone Hepatica. —This Anemone, wdiich is more often 
called Hepatica triloba, is flowering exceptionally well this yeai’. In no 
position do the various forms flower so freely or give a better effect than 
in a sunny spot on the rockery, as they seem more at home than in the 
herbaceous borders. The double red variety rubra is very showy, and 
the blooms last long in good condition. No matter where Hepaticas 
are planted, provided, of course, the position is suitable ; they should 
not be often disturbed, as success depends in a great measure upon their 
being well established.—E. M, 
- If I were asked to name four of the best early hardy flowering 
plants I should select the following, which are showy and easily grown. 
First is the Common Mezereon, Daphne Mezereum, not only for its 
cheerful colour and the freedom with which it flowers, but also for its 
delicious perfume. Scores of plants are to be seen in the cottage gardens, 
proving that the simplicity of culture which it requii’cs fits it for any 
garden large or small. Numerous seedlings spring up round about one 
which has stood in a certain place a few years. It appears to succeed 
almost as well in common garden soil as it does in a mixture of peat 
and leaves. The cruel way in which some of the cottagers hack this 
plant about and call it pruning, almost makes one wonder how the 
it struggles on. Growing in masses of three or five together a fine 
display is made in the front of the shrubbery, its bright coloured flowers 
being conspicuous a long way off. 
- Rhododendron dahuricum is the next on my list. The 
plants are arranged in the centre of a large bed, hardy Azaleas and 
Pernettya mucronata growing underneath the Rhododendrons. The 
position of the bed is one fully exposed to the south and south-westerly 
winds which sweep across that part of the garden furiously at times. 
The plants have been covered with its bright rose coloured blossoms. 
This Rhododendron should not be dotted about singly in the beds or 
borders, a much better effect is produced by massing the plants. Like 
all other American plants it is necessary to provide a peat soil for their 
growth ; any extra trouble taken in preparing the site is time well spent, 
the growth and freedom in flowering making up afterwards for the 
outlay. 
- Erica carnea is planted as an edging to Rhododendron* 
Azalea, and Kalmia beds, in which position it flourishes and quickly 
covers the soil, making a mass of greenery as well as producing abund¬ 
ance of flowers during the end of February and throughout March. 
The time to replant and increase this Heath is during April after the 
season is past, the smallest piece with a root attached, if planted during 
showery weather, and kept shaded for a time with Laurel branches 
should dry weather set in after planting. In clumps on the rockery 
this hardy Heath is showj^ and well deserving a place where out of door 
flowers are appreciated, 
- The fourth plant I wish to call attention to is Galanthus 
Elwesi (Elwes’s Snowdrop) which this year came into flower at the 
same time as G. nivalis (the common Snowdrop). The variety Elwesi 
so quickly forms a large clump and flowers so freely as to be deserving 
of extended cultivation in the herbaceous borders or on the rockery. 
Three bulbs planted in the last named position five years ago have now 
sixty-six blooms upon the clumps resulting from those three bulbs, which 
shows a quick rate of increase. When the foliage is fully developed it 
is also showy. The deep glaucous tint, combined with the robust habit 
of growth, renders this Snowdrop deserving of extended culture.—M. 
■- A SOUTHERNER who has recently returned from the neighbour¬ 
hood of Hull has been impressed with the condition of vegetation there- 
He called on Mr. G. Cottam of Cottingham, and nothing appeared to 
be hurt amongst the large collection of border flowers that he grows in 
his nursery. Sturdy Wallflowers were as fresh as if the winter had been 
mild, winter greens of various kinds have not been much hurt, and large 
breadths of Ellam’s Cabbage are nearly ready for cutting. Clumps of 
the finest of yellow foliaged hardy plants, Valeriana Phu aurea, had 
grown to the extent of about 4 inches, and shone like gold in the 
distance. They were brighter than any Golden Feather, and did not 
suffer in contrast with lines of yellow Crocuses. Mr. Cottam had a 
fine display of flowers in his houses, and his specimen Pelargoniums 
