May 28, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
429 
- Caterpillars and Fruit Trees. —A Gravesend correspon¬ 
dent writes ;—“ So far as my observations go, we have only a small 
number of caterpillars on the fruit trees hereabout. The commonest this 
season as yet appear to be the little Ermine (Hyponomeuta padellus), the 
unpleasant webs of which are beginning to be conspicuous in some 
places.” 
- The double white Hyacinth La Tour d’Auvergne is one 
of the best of its class for outdoor growth. When fully expanded the 
spikes are 8 inches long from the bottom bells, which are very double 
to the tip. The colour—pure white—renders this sort very useful if 
required for making into bouquets if the bcl's are taken off singly and 
wired. Doable Hyacinths are as a rule not general favourites, but this 
stands out as one of the best of its class.—S. 
- The very dwarf growing perennial Draba GIGAS is useful for 
the sunny part of the rockery. The deep green of its thick, close growing 
leaves hang over the stones most effectively; the pure white flowers, too, 
are showy even at a distance. Although it grows freely it does not 
flower profusely for a year or two until it is thoroughly established in 
a good position. The severe winter does not appear to have affected 
it in the least, but rather the reverse, judging from its healthy 
appearanee.—M, 
- Midland Counties Pansy Society. —The Committee have 
found it necessary to postpone their Exhibition from June 10th to 
Wednesday, June 24th, in consequence of numerous intending exhibitors 
stating that owing to the lateness of the season their plants will not 
be in bloom by June 10th. Will intending exhibitors and visitors 
please note change of date, and that the Exhibition will be held in 
the Central Hall, Corporation Street, close to the railway station ? 
Schedules can be had from Mr. W. Dean, Dolphin Road, Sparkhill, 
Birmingham. 
- Daffodil Trumpet maximus from Spain. —I have no 
intention of entering into a paper correspondence with the Rev. George 
H. Englehart. See Journal of Horticulture, May 21st, page 407. The 
fact is that the collector of the bulbs, instead of selling them as Trumpet 
maximus, offered them (cobnut in size) as a “ mixed lot ” in 1888, since 
which period they have, under judicious care and management, grown 
to enormous proportions, some of the offspring appearing amongst them 
same in size but paler in colour, that I would not take a sovereign each 
for. Surely this is palpable evidence of consanguinity with the largest 
of wild Pallidus prmcox during the flowering period. If the collector 
sold the lot as Tnimpet maximus anyone might be suspicious of 
imposition. For my part, I am quite certain there was none ; indeed, 
the size of the bulbs in 1888 was totally against that theory ; they 
have turned out the finest type of Trumpet maximus in cultivation, 
giving the Trinity College type only second place, and the Dutch 
specimen a subordinate position.—W. Baylor Hartland. 
- The American Florist records that Henry Nanz, the pioneer 
florist of Louisville, Ky., died on May 1st last, and proceeds thus :—“ Mr, 
Nanz was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1819, and learned his trade in 
the famous nurseries and gardens of that place. He came to this country 
in 1847, landing at New Orleans. He first tried his fortunes in Texas, 
but sickness compelled him to find a better climate. He came north 
with the United States soldiers who were returning from service in 
Mexico. When he landed in Jeffersonville in 1848 he was penniless. 
He first found employment at the famous Spring Garden, and after the 
collapse of that concern became gardener to the celebrated Ward family. 
Their conservatory soon showed the effects of his skill. He was in 
charge of it at the time when a mob endeavoured to destroy the Ward 
property in 1853, and valiantly, but vainly, endeavoured to save his 
floral treasures. By diligent economy and persevering activity he was 
enabled to lay the foundation for his now famous business, and bought 
an acre of land on Third Street, between Breckinridge and Kentucky, 
then considered away out of town. The rapidly growing city and the 
ever-increasing demand for his goods compelled Mr. Nanz to look about 
for more extended quarters, and he finally settled at St. Matthew’s 
Station (Gilman’s Point as it was formerly known), and there he pur¬ 
chased 30 acres of land, which he proceeded to lay out, and which is 
now the nursery of the firm. The distinguishing characteristics of 
Mr. Nanz’s life were unvarying honesty and integrity in all his trans¬ 
actions, and his untiring activity, which seemed to have no limit, though 
when he had attained his seventieth year he retired from the active 
conduct of his business and transferred his interest to his son, Harry 
Niaz, and his son-in-law, Carl Neuner,” 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr, Henry Dankin, having 
filled the position of foreman to Mr, H. W. Ward at Longford Castle 
Gardens, Salisbury, most satisfactorily during the last seven year.-^, has 
been appointed head gardener to the Right Hon. the Earl of Warwick, 
Warwick Castle, Warwick. Mr. Dunkin, whose name is not unknown 
to readers of the Journal of Horticulture, began his duties at Warwick 
Castle on the 27th inst., and we wish him every success in his new 
appointment. Mr. Wm. Wright, for the last three years gardener to 
G. T. Clark, Esq., Tallygarn, IJantrissant, has recently been 
entrirsted with the duties of bailiff on that gentleman’s estate. We 
understand, that Mr. William Plester, Elsenham Hall Gardens, near 
Bishop’s Stortford, has resigned his charge through ill health after 
thirty-eight jmars’ service, twenty-four years with the late Mrs. Rush, 
and fourteen years with Walter Gilbey, Esq., the present occupier 
of Elsenham PTall, and his son, Mr. William Plester, has succeeded 
him. 
- The Botanical Magazine for May contains figures of the 
following plants :—Yucca rupicola (t. 7172), a distinct type ; the leaves 
“ margined with minute horny teeth,” the flowers large and creamy 
white. The two following plates have been transposed by the binder, 
and if the numbers on the plate were not observed they might c.\use 
some curious blunders. It is strange how frequently the plates are 
misplaced in this magazine. Wahlenbergia irndulata (t. 7174) is a 
beautiful Campanulaceous plant from South Africa, with narrow hairy 
leaves and large purplish flowers. Hermannia cristata (t. 7173) is also 
a South African plant related to the Sterculias, bearing lanceolate 
leaves and reddish flowers, said to be rich crimson in their native 
districts. Pitcairnia Roezli (t. 7175) is an ornamental species, with long 
bright red flowers in a loose racemose head. Coelogyne Rossiana 
(t. 7176), a Burmese species of little beauty, the sepals and petals 
narrow and white, the lip also narrow, orange, with crimson streaks. 
- A Richly Endowed Agricultural College. — The 
Governor of Victoria, the Earl of Hopetoun, early in last month laid 
the foundation stone of a new College of Agriculture at Mildura, on the 
river Murray, one of the two Australian Irrigation Colonies, founded 
three or four years ago by the well-known firm of Chaffey Bros., under 
special acts of the colonial legislatures. A full report of the ceremony 
appears in the Melbourne Argus of April 6th. Mr. Geo. Chaffey, in 
presenting the trowel to his Lordship, stated that the value of the 
college lands exceeded that of any similarly endowed educational 
institution in Australia. These lands comprised 16,666 acres with water 
easements, valued (at the initial price of £20 per acre) at £333,320. 
A large portion of the property had, however, doubled in value, and it 
was quite within the bounds of probability that the endowment would 
be worth more than a million sterling before twenty years. Lord Hope¬ 
toun (in laying the stone) remarked that he had no doubt irrigation 
would play a most important part In the future of Victoria, and the 
Chaffey College, in affording facilities for imparting the necessary 
instruction in irrigation and its dependent indu.stries, would be of 
immense advantage to the whole of Australia. 
_ The Kelso Cabbage Competition. — Messrs. Stuart and 
Mein’s third annual Cabbage competition took place on Saturday, May 
16th, for a prize of £5. Formerly the Cabbages intended for competition 
had to be sent to Kelso to be judged, thus entailing much expense in the 
way of carriage on distant competitors, bat this year s competition was 
held on novel and ingenious lines, which completely did away wdth this 
obstacle to many coming forward. Seed of Mein’s No. 1 Cabbage was 
supplied last July to 8568 competitors, who received a certificate bearing 
a registered number, and which had to be filled up. The certificate was 
as follows “ These are to certify that on Saturday, 16Lh May, 1891, 
a specimen of Mein’s No. 1 Cabbage grown by Mr.-at- 
weighed — lb. — oz.” This certificate had to be signed by the compeGtor, 
and two witnesses to the weighing. Notwithstanding the severe winter 
the weights of the Cabbages now to hand are extraordinary in the 
records of big spring Cabbages. The prize Cabbage was grown by Miss 
Hildegarde A. Somerville of Drishane, Skibbereen, County Cork, and 
was certified by Colonel Somerville, J.P., D.L., of Drishane, and Egerton 
B. Coghiil, Esq., of Castletownshend to weigh 9 lbs. 4 ozs. This speaks 
much for the mildness of the climate of County Cork, as the Cabbage 
was grown in the open air. The next best weights were from Great 
Malvern (Worcestershire), Shankill (County Dublin), St. l.awrence and 
Bifrons (Jersey), Dover (Kent), I.esbury (Northumberland) Camborne 
Polkerris and St. Blazey (Cornwall), Maldon (Essex), Old Montrose 
(Forfarshire), Paignton (Devon).—(AV/.?c Chronicle.') 
