290 
JOURNiL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 9, 1892. 
tatrix, that infests other crops, arresting growth, and causing peculiar 
malformations. On examination of the nematodes in the Kentish 
plant, the Professor discovered that they belonged to the genus 
Aphelenchus, but distinct in species, and therefore he bestowed on it 
the name it bears. 
The “ Cauliflower disease ” of the Strawberry is familiar to many 
gardeners, and Mr. Thomas May, a Kentish Strawbery grower, states in 
the Report that it ruined nearly half the plants in a id-acre field. The 
cause of the disease now being discovered, perhaps in due time methods 
for preventing the attack may be discovered also, as in the case of the 
allied enemy attacking Oats and Beans, mixtures of sulphate of 
potash, sulphate of ammonia, and steamed bonemeal having proved 
serviceable. 
Eslworms, highly magniflsd, as taken from Onion, Wheat, and 
Hyacinth plants, are admirably represented in the frontispiece to the 
Report, which is worthy of careful examination with the reference 
matter on page 48 of the work. The life size of the nematodes is a little 
more than the twenty-fifth part of an inch in length. 
The work on South African insects consists of 11.5 pages, and is 
freely illustrated. It will be of service to colonists, and of interest to 
all students of insect life. 
Miss Ormerod has evidently spared neither pains, labour, nor 
research in the preparation of her works, which hear the stamp of per¬ 
severing industry, and they may be said to be as useful as they are 
attiactively produced. 
MarAchal Kiel Rose Under Glass. 
The Mar(5chal Niel Rose in my greenhouse covers a space of about 
11 feet by 15. It has on it about 600 shoots, and every single one has 
a bud or truss of bads at the end. I send you a specimen or two. They 
are not so fine as usua’, but with such a crop one could hardly expect it. 
It is, I think, only by the system of pruning described in the Journal 
(cutting all away down to the horizontal branches at the base as soon 
as flowering is over) that such a crop can be obtained year after year.— 
W. R. Raillem. 
[And then only by good management, w'hich, judging by the speci¬ 
mens, has in th's case undoubtedly been afforded.] 
A Monster Marechal Niel. 
At the present time a wonderful Marbchal Niel is flowering in the 
Vicarage Street Nursery, Warminster. It was planted April 16ih, 
1888, and made the first year afrer planting four 8hoo‘8 25 feet long, 
giving over 200 Roses before being planted twelve months. Next 
year it produced shoots 30 feet long, giving over 2000 Roses for the 
year 1890. Now it is covering a roof space of 450 fee*', and carrying 
over 3000 buds and blooms, and can be seen flowering within the next 
fortnight.— Visitor. 
Rose Shows in 1891. 
June 23rd (Tuesday).—Westminster (N.R.S.). 
„ 24th (Wednesday).—Richmond (Surrey) and Royal Aquarium. 
„ 27th (Saturday).—Eltham and Reigate. 
„ 30th (Tuesday).—Canterbury, Diss, and Winchester. 
July 1st (Wednesday).— Bagshot, *Brighton, Brockham, Croydon, 
and *Lee. 
„ 2nd (Thursday).—Farningham and Norwich. 
„ 4th (Saturday).—Crystal Palace (N.R.S.). 
,, 7th (Tuesday).—Gloucester. 
„ 8th (Wednesday).—Dursley, Hitchm, Sutton, and Tunbridge 
Wells. 
„ 9th (Thursday).—Bath and Woodbridge. 
„ 11th (Saturday).—New Brighton. 
„ 14th (Tuesday).—fWolverhampton. 
„ 15th (Wednesday).—Ealing. 
„ 16th (Thursday).—Hereford (N.R.S.), Helensburgh,and Trentham. 
„ 18th (Saturday).—Manchester. 
„ 21st (Tuesday).—Tibshelf. 
„ 23rd (Thursday).—Worksop. 
Aug. 1st (Saturday).—Ripley (Derby). 
* Shows lasting two days. j- A three-days Show. 
The next list of Rose Show fixtures will appear early in May.— 
Edward Mawley, RosebanJt, Berkhamsted, Herts. 
BEGONIA VERNON SYN. B. SEMPERFLORENS 
ATRO-PURPUREA. 
Everyone knows how welcome was the Begonia semperflorens rosea 
•wdien it appeared some ten years ago as a chance seedling found in a 
patch of the white fljwering type, not to speak of the distinct co’ourel 
hybrids which, in various countries, have been obtained with it. From 
this race has originated a new and brilliant variety, for which horti- 
cu’tnre is indebted to one of the good French practitioners, M. Vernon. 
The Begonia semperflorens atro-purpurea, or B. Vernon, is—we may 
state it without fear of exaggeration—one of the finest acquisitions of 
recent years. The Berne Ilurtieole (1890, page 482) has given a descrip¬ 
tion of it and shown its great decorative value. Of erect branching 
habit, the new variety resembles the parents, but has deep red flower's, 
and the leaves are bronzed and tinge! with purple. 
No doubt some of your readers visiting Paris last year and taking a- 
walk through the fine Luxembourg Park will have noticed a bed of this 
brilliant variety which attracted much attention. The plants were 
raised by the skilful head gardener, M. Jolibois, who had been lucky 
enough to procure some seeds the first season. The plant excited so 
much admiration that M. Jolibois intends to grow several thousands 
of the variety in a bed near the Palais du Senat in the Luxembourg 
Park this ymar. 
Of exceedingly easy culture. Begonia Vernon requires no more care 
and atteation than its congeners with white and rosy flowers. The seed 
should be sown either in the autumn, in September, or in the spring, 
from February to May. The first method is usually resorted to only 
when it is de ired to obtain strong plants capable of flowering veiy^ 
early in the year, but the plants require more attention than those raised 
at the spring sowing. They ought to be raised in a heated frame or 
house in pans or boxes. The soil should be light and sandy, and the 
seed-i, which are exceedingly small, covered very lightly, or, still 
better, simply laid upon the soil, which is to be kept moist and shaded. 
It is a good plan to mix them with sand or charcoal dust before sowing. 
The seedlings are pricked out in pans or pots and placed in moderate 
heat, air being admitted in increasing volume with their growth, and 
the plants are prepared for planting out towards the end of May, or 
when the weather is favourable. 
On the approach of the first autumn frost, if it is desired to enjoy 
the flowers for some time longer, the plants may' be taken up and pot ed, 
standing them in a conservatory', where they w’ill continue in beauty 
during several months. 
In the above notes we only point out a few of the merits of th's 
welcome novelty, which may easily be had in flower from the beginning 
to the end of the year. Messrs. Viimorin-Andrieux & Co. are distributing 
the seed.— Georges Legros, Paris. 
[A visitor to Paris during the past summer admired the bed referre? 
to, and spoke in terms of high approval of this Begonia ; a coloured plate- 
in the Berne Ilorticolc also well displays its purple tinted leaves and 
rich red flow-ers. In habit and floriferousness the plant exactly resembhs 
B. semperflorens rosea, and gives promise of being a distinct acquisition.} 
HORTICULTURE IN AMERICA. 
[A paper by Mr. James H. Laixg, F.R.H.S., read at the Birmingham Gardeners” 
Association, March 9tli, 1891.] 
( Continued from page 271. ) 
Passing on to the pleasure part of the Convention, we went on the- 
second day by special train, in accordance with an invitation given by 
Mrs. Francis B. Hayes (recently deceased) to visit her estate in historic 
Lexington. Mr. Jas. Comeley, the head gardener, deserves credit for the 
peifection in which he keeps the beautiful grounds, and some magnifi¬ 
cent specimen Conifers and timber were seen in the park, many of th^mL 
of Japanese origin, which do not stand the English climate through thi 
insufficiency of the sun to ripen them. The Araucari-as and many of our 
best Conifers have to be protected against the severe American winter ; 
in fact, are generally grown in tubs and wintered indoors. The next 
day we wei'e guests of H. H. Hunnewell, Esq., at his beautiful seat in 
Wellesley, is considered to be the finest in the States. The glass houses 
were well stocked with Orchids, Begonias, and Fuchsias. Fruit houses 
were in good order—Vines, Peaches, Plum®, and Figs, reminding us of 
a well-kept English establishment. The Italian garden, occupying a 
steep, high embankment, sloping sharp down from the pinetum to the 
Waban Lake, is well planted and arranged. The clipped shrubs, 
included are the Hemlock and Norway Spruce, White Pine, Retinospora,. 
Junipers, and Irish Yews. The trees include Larch, American Beeches,. 
Limes, and Norway Maples. The colleetion of Coniferas, planted 
from the entrance gate to the mansion, were specially fine, and the 
Ab'es, Piceas, Arbor Vitae, &c., in excellent condition. Japanese Maplts 
■were very fine, and Mr. Hunnewell’s Rhododendrons must be w-ell worth 
seeing during their flowering season. Many of these have, however, to 
be lifted before the hard wintry weather comes on, and are stowed away 
in cellars for the purpose 111 the following April, when they are planted 
out again. Mr. Fred. Harris, the head gardener, manages the estate 
well. The next day we numbered nearly 1000 persons as the guests of 
the Gardeners’ and Florists’ Club, and enjoyed a delightful sail in 
Boston Harbour and along the Massachu-e'.ts coast in the steamer 
“ New York,” followed by a banquet in the large skating rink at 
Nantucket Beach, and much speech-making. This closed the memorable 
Convention, and with my heartfelt thanks to the Boston Gardeners’ ar.d, 
F orists’ Club, and the many friends w'ho showed me such kindnesses, 
I journeyed onwards. 
Before I finish -with Boston I should refer to the Arnold Arboretum, 
which covers about 164 acres. Here the Harvard College maintains 
a collection of all the trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that will 
thrive in the open air in this latitude. This comes under the depart¬ 
ment of Profesior Charles S. Sargent, one of the highest authorities on 
arboriculture, and one of its best friends. The grounds are under the. 
immediate charge of Mr. Jackson Dawson, who tills the position most 
creditably, and is fast making the Arboretum more i-enowned. Th& 
