286 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April ?, 1891. 
ties and monstrosities of p’ant life, dried flowers, Ferns, skeleton leaves, 
horticultural appliances, models of greenhouses, plans, designs, eleva¬ 
tions of gardens and garden structions, collection of hardy fruits, 
vcgc'ables, and autumn flowers, insects beneficial and injurious to plant 
life, apiarian exhibits with sections. Lectures with limelight and other 
illustrations are included. The opening will take place early in 
October. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings. 
With regard to this Society it is pleasing to note how harmoniously the 
members work together, and it would be difficult to find a Society of 
the same strength doing a greater amount of work during the season. 
- The Wakefield Paxton Society. —There was a very large 
meeting of the members of this Society recently to hear Mr. G. W. 
Parkin, an old and esteemed member of the Society, on a topic of the 
utmost importance to gardeners and agriculturists generally. For 
several years past Mr. Parkin has conferred great benefits upon his 
fellow Paxtonians by his investigations in regard to the life of the 
very numerous insect pests which infest vegetable products, and the 
operations of which frequently come under review in the cultural 
papers read at the meetings of the Society. Mr. Parkin’s address on 
“ Plants Injured by Insects,” was rendered doubly valuable and 
instructive from the fact that it was illustrated by a very large 
number of photographic lantern slides prepared from actual specimens. 
Amongst the many pests referred to were aphides, leaf miners, pith 
moths, wood borers, gall makers, and the white woolly Currant insect, 
Pulvinaria ribesise, a gardener’s enemy discovered by Mr. Parkin during 
the season 1889, and fully described in Miss Omerod’s report for 1890. 
In concluding a graphic description of the habits and characters of a 
number of these troublesome creatures, it was pointed out how helpful 
the knowledge of the life history of an insect was in attempting to 
check its ravages. After an interesting discussion, a hearty vote of 
thanks was accorded to the lecturer, and to his son, Mr. Harold Parkin, 
for manipulating the lantern, on the motion of the President (Major 
Taylor, J.P.), seconded by the Vice-Chairman (Mr. Goodyear). Alderman 
Mdnes performed the duties of Chairman. 
-Liverpool Horticultural Association. —Last Saturday 
evening the concluding meeting of the season was held in one of the 
Committee rooms of the Free Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool. 
There was a fair attendance of members, and the paper provided was a 
prize essay on the cultivation of Calceolarias, Cinerarias, and Primulas. 
The prize was offered to young gardeners, and the successful essayist was 
Mr. A. Kime, of Woolton. Previous to the reading of the paper, the 
Chairman of the Association, Mr. T. White, expressed his regret that so 
few of the young gardeners bad availed themselves of the opportunity of 
competing for the prizes. He counselled in eloquent terms the reading 
of some of the be.st books on all good subjects, and trusted that in the 
future they w'ould see many more competing for the prizes and certifi¬ 
cates offered. Mr. Kime then proceeded to read his paper, wdiich con¬ 
tained much sound advice, dealing with the subject in a very able 
manner, treating on seed sowing, after cultivation and diseases. Previous 
to the discussion the Chairman presented Mr. Kime with the certificate 
of the Association and a copy of Mr. A. H. Bright’s book, “ A Year in a 
Lancashire Garden,” which he said had given him much pleasure, and it 
would doubtless give Mr. Kime pleasure also. Mr. A. R. Cox, in opening 
the discussion, said that the best Calceolarias he had ever grown was 
where leaf mould largel}’' predominated in the compost, and said the 
compost he would recommend avas two parts leaf mould, one part good 
loam, dried cowdung, and silver sand. This compost was rather 
Pghter than that recommended by Mr. Kime. Mr. Agnew spoke of the 
beneficial results from syringing Cinerarias late in the afternoon as a 
means of keeping them free from insects. Mr. Barker spoke on the germi¬ 
nation of Primula seeds. Mr. Stoney paid a tribute to Mr. Kime’s 
ability as a wniter, and stated that only a week previous he bad been 
successful in gaining a prize at Woolton. The question of fumigating 
was next touched upon, and several of those present were unanimous as 
to the superiority of Campbell’s fum’gating in'octicide over tobacco 
paper. Mr. Bridge, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Thomson also spoke. Mr. Pinning- 
toa proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and expressed a hope to 
sec him as vigorous and able to preside at many future meetings. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
March 21th. 
Scientific Committee.— Present : Mr. Lyer, in the chair ; Mr. 
McLachian, Dr. Bonavia, Dr. Oliver, Rev. Mr. Wilks, Professor Church, 
Mr. Blandford, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Pascoe, Dr. Sjott, and Rev. G. 
Henalow (Hon, Sec.). 
E- 'dmlendromt, .fr., Killed .—With reference to the opinion expressed 
at the last meeting that R. Falconeri and other plants described by 
Mr. T. Bateman of Worthing had been killed by frost, he writes to say 
that he thinks it was more probably heat, and not frost, which was the 
primary cause, though frost proved to be “ an accessory after the fact.” 
The exceptionally high temperature in November had apparently 
stimulated them into growth, and so rendered them more susceptible to 
the subsequent extreme cold, Mr. Bateman also mentions that he has 
been compelled to abandon the out of door culture of Himalayan 
Rhododendrons, not because of the winter’s cold, but because they 
pushed their buds too readily in March, only to be cut back by late 
frosts. He adds that while other species were severely injured, 
R. fulgens, R. Thomsoni, R. Campbelli, R. lanatum, R. campylocarpum, 
R. Roydii, and R. album did not suffer in the slightest degree. Lastly, 
he refers to Olearia Haasti, described as killed, but having had one 
branch layered, this remained perfectly unaffected. Mr. Wilks observed 
that this could readily be accounted for by its having probably been 
covered with snow. 
Observations were made by Mr. Dyer upon the fact that shrubs at 
Kew— e.g , species of Cistus, though apparently having withstood the 
frost, and were perfectly healthy, and pushed forth buds, yet suddenly 
died. Mr. Wilks said he had no doubt that the stems would be found 
to have been killed at the base, as the cold was always more intense for 
a short distance above the surface of the ground than higher up. The 
shrubs, therefore, had sufficient vitality above to push their buds, but 
of course soon perished. He remarked that Holly bushes are often 
denuded of leaves to a height of 2 or more feet from the ground. 
Fog Report. —Dr. Oliver presented a “ Preliminary Report on the 
Effects of Urban Fog upon Cultivated Plants.” It was decided by the 
Committee to forward copies to the gardening and leading daily papers 
with the hope that readeis may be inclined to communicate their expe¬ 
riences, so that as much information as possible may be acquired. The 
following are the chief lines of inquiry :—1, Urban fog and country 
mist. 2, Extent of the London fog area. 3, The fogs of the winter, 1890- 
91. 4, Constitution of fogs. 5, Physiological and microscopic work. (5, 
Possible remedial measures. With reference to the statement that 
“An increase of temperature, other things being equal, aggravates the 
poisonous action of the sulphurous acid in the air, a difference of a few 
degrees of temperature being apparent,” Dr. Muller observed that one 
cau.se of this would be probably due to the fact that sulphuroirs acid is 
converted into su’phur’c by an elevation of temperature. With reference 
to temperatures, Mr. Dj er remarked on the importance of keeping the 
temperature of houses as low as possible at night compatible with the 
limits of resistance peculiar to the plants themselves, allowing for some 
kinds which are peculiarly sens'ti ve ; as a rule, gardeners are apt to keep 
the temperature higher than is desiiable, for it tended to render the air 
too humid and possibly injuiious, whereas a cooler temperature rendered 
the air diyer, and the plants were less susceptible to cold. Mr. Henslow 
observed that the late Dr. Lindley rvas continually advocating the same 
procedure. The thanks of the Committee were tendered to Dr. Oliver for 
the trouble he has undertaken in preparing the report. 
GREEN FLY ON PEACH TREES—SETTING AND 
STONING OF FRUIT. 
In answer to your corre.spondent, Mr. H. Dunkin, on the above sub¬ 
ject (page 230), I cannot see how the means he suggests will prevent 
the appearance of aphides on Peach trees, for, as eveiy gardener knows, 
this troublesome insect does most certainly make its appearance about 
the flowering period or short!}" afterwards. How this comes about is 
not easily explainel, for we often notice it after the house has under¬ 
gone the most scrupulous cleansir.g, and with the best of management. 
I think for most trees beginning new growth green fly seems to have a 
particular liking, for it nearly always appears both under glass and out¬ 
side at this period. No doubt this pest is induced by the conditions 
pointed out by your correspondent; but the best method is to pursue 
the middle course, keeping the structure neither too dry on the one 
hand nor too moist on the other, using common sense in ventilating 
according to the atmospherical conditions, and then, 1 presume, with 
due precautii n, green fly will make but little headway. In my own 
practice I make it a rule to always fumigate a Peach house once or 
twice immediately befoie the flowers expand whether I observe fly" or 
not, and by keeping a sharp look-out after the trees arc in active growth 
for the first appearance of the pest, and fumigating slightly" at once, we 
seldom have much injuiy- done by these invaders, only do not wait 
until a colony is established. 
With regard to preventing the appearance of aphides by syringing 
the trees when in flower, I must certainly say I fail to see the point. I 
cm understand that by" keeping? up congenial conditions by" damping and 
8y"ringing dry corners and surfaces green fly is more likely to be kept 
down; but syiinging Peach trees in fuU bloom I do not approve of, 
especially on dull days, which may possibly continue during the whole 
period of flowering. That good crons of Peaches have been obtained 
by this method 1 am well aware ; but I maintain it is a system that 
cannot be appilied indi criminately, for much depends upon a variety of 
conditions. Of course, it matters little by what means the pollen is 
conveyed from the anthers to the stigma ; the principal thing is to 
get it there, only it always seems to me the best method of conveying 
the fine grains of pollen is by a genial, buoy-ant atmosphere than by 
p.artly converting the pollen into a pasty matter by wetting it with a 
syringe. No doubt, sound healthy trees of the Royal George and Belle- 
girde type among Peaches, and Violette Hative and Elruge Necta- 
