August 3, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
101 
- Lady Gardenees.— Mr. J. Riddell, The Gardens, Castle 
Howard, York, writes :—“ Among the weekly papers a report has been 
going the round that Lady Carlisle contemplated the substitution of 
women gardeners for the staff at present employed in the gardens here. 
As the Journal of Hortic^dture quoted the statement (page 76), and 
having been asked to contradict the , report when occasion for doing 
so occurred, there not being a shadow of truth in it, I hope you will be 
able to find space for this note in your next issue,” 
- The Festival op Flowers.— The sixth National Co-operative 
Festival will be held at the Crystal Palace on Saturday, August 19th. 
The flower show will probably be as large as ever, notwithstanding the 
adverse season. The co-partnership exhibition of goods from workshops 
in which the workers share profits and management will be much ex¬ 
tended, as several new and interesting societies will take part. Mr. 
Wm. Broomhall, General Secretary, 49, Bedford Street, Strand, offers to 
send information to all interested in the co-operative movement. 
- Stapelias.—T he collection of Stapelias formed by the late 
Mr. Thomas Westcorabe of Worcester has recently been presented to 
Kew by his sister. Miss Westcombe, along with numerous notes, descrip¬ 
tions, and a collection of beautifully executed coloured drawings, 
prepared by Miss Westcombe from the plants (of Stapelia and allied 
genera) flowered by her brother. Stapelias, remarks the “ Kew Bulletin,” 
are exceedingly difficult plants to cultivate,'and many of the species 
can only be kept through an English winter with the utmost care and 
attention. Mr. Westcombe’s success as a cultivator of these plants was 
quite exceptional. Since his death some of the plants have somewhat 
suffered, but most of them will probably recover in their new quarters 
at Kew. 
- A Fine Carnation. —Mr. Bernard Cowan, The Lodge, Harton 
Cemetery, South Shields, sends us a photograph of a plant of Carnation 
Souvenir de la Malmaison that bore 105 blooms, open and unopened. 
The plant was in a 10-inch pot, and has been grown by Mr. Alex, 
Turvis, South View, South Shields, who is an amateur grower, and is 
Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of the South Shields and 
Northern Counties Chrysanthemum Society. Mr. Turvis takes an active 
interest in the Exhibition, and his well-known popularity is of consider¬ 
able advantage to the Society. He is also a grower of Roses and Chrys¬ 
anthemums, and when his commercial transactions are over the rest of 
the evening is spent attending to the cares and wants of his favourite 
flowers. 
- Kingston Gardeners’ Association. — At the monthly 
meeting of this Society, held on the 26th ult., a short but very useful 
paper on “ The Gloxinia ” was read by Mr. Hawkes of Lismaine 
Gardens. Daring the discussion which followed questions were asked 
as to the insect termed the creeping or jumping thrips, which proved 
to be so difficult to deal with, so fond of the Gloxinia, and was impervious 
to fumigation. From Messrs. Sutton & Sons came a collection of cut 
flowers of their beautiful strain, and Mr. Peed, a local gardener, also 
brought some brilliant flowers of the same strain. Mr. Hawkes 
showed some very fine Cockscombs, and Mr, T. Cushon exhibited a 
good Melon Imperial Green-Flesh, grown in a frame without bottom 
heat after Potatoes had been taken out. Mr. A. Dean will give an 
address on “ Hardy Border Flowers ” to the members at the meeting on 
August 29 th. 
- Flora op Mount Kini Balu. — The collection of dried 
plants from the above locality in N.E. Borneo, referred to in the “ Kew 
Bulletin,” 1892, p. 249, has been worked out by Dr. 0. Stapf, the 
Assistant for India at the Herbarium, who read a paper on the subject 
before the Linnean Society on the 15th June last, which will pro¬ 
bably appear in one of the Society’s publications. In addition to the 
plants collected by the Drs. Haviland, Dr. Stapf has also taken up a 
small collection from the same mountain, made by Sir Hugh Low some 
forty years ago, together with a few plants collected more recently by 
Mr. F. W. Burbidge. Altogether they number about 400 species, 320 of 
which are phanerogams. There are two new genera and upwards of 
150 new species, for the greater part shrubs. Melastomaceae and 
Rubiacese largely predominate in the lower elevations, and the last 
family is somewhat numerously associated with increasing numbers of 
Ericaceae, Vacciniaceae, Orchids, and Ferns at higher levels. Noteworthy 
among the novelties are eleven very distinct new species of the 
Kricaceous genus Diplycosia, and two new species of the Australian 
Irideous genus Patersonia. Many other new facts have been brought to 
light by the combined collections, and Dr. Stapf’s paper promises to be 
of more than ordinar interest.—(“ Kew Bulletin.”) 
- A Novel Contest. —In connection with the Show of the 
Beddington, Carshalton, and Wallington Horticultural Society, to be 
held in Carshalton Park on the August Bank Holiday, a class instituted 
by Mr. A. H. Smee is creating a good deal of interest. It is thus set 
forth—“For the best dinner to be produced at a cost not exceeding 2s. 
The dinner must consist of meat and at least two distinct kinds of 
vegetables, and be sufficient for a man, his wife, and three children. 
The value of each article must be clearly stated. First prize, £2; 
second do., £1 10s.; third do., £1; fourth do., 10s.” We are informed 
there are thirty entries. Also in connection with the same Show a 
conference on gardening is announced under the presidency of E. J. 
Halsey, Esq., Chairman of the Surrey County Council. Superior and 
inferior garden produce will be exhibited, and a short address thereon 
given by Mr. J. Wright for the instruction of amateurs, cottagers, and 
allotment holders. 
- Dwarf Convolvuluses. — Amongst the numerous hardy 
annuals which were recently blooming so profusely in the seed 
grounds of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, were three forms of 
dwarf Convolvuluses, which were so wonderfully true to character 
that 10,000 flowers seemed to be exactly alike. It was quite remarkable 
to find how well these annuals were doing in the drought, and still more 
how effective and lovely in their respective masses they were. Very 
charming indeed is subcaernleus, the flowers of a pleasing sky blue 
colour. This is at once a novelty and a beauty. Quite different 
because so dark is Crimson Violet, the flowers of a heavy but rich hue, 
as its name implies ; and most effective is the brilliant Dark Blue. To 
these may be added the White, but the others are delightful.—D. 
-Autumn-sown Onions.—T his is a good time to make a 
sowing of Onions for producing bulbs next May and two following 
months to succeed those raised from seed sown during last spring. 
If the ground is in fairly good condition as regards fertility it need 
only be dug, trodden, surface-dressed with soot, and raked level ; then 
draw drills from 12 to 15 inches asunder and about 1 inch deep, running 
north and south, for the reception of the seed. Early White Naples and 
White Elephant are good varieties to sow for standing the winter. Sow 
the seed sufficiently thick, the drills to admit of some of the young 
plants being drawn for salading, where used for that purpose, and to 
make good any blanks that might occur in the ranks through any cause 
during the next five or six months. Close the soil over the seed in 
the drills with the feet, tread, and afterwards rake level in the same 
direction as the drills. Transplantings can be made from the thin¬ 
nings in the spring if it should be deemed necessary to extend the 
crop, allowing a space of from 6 to 12 inches between the plants in 
the rows, the ground being prepared in the manner advised for seed.— 
H. W. Ward. 
- The West African Palm Oil Trade.—I n his report to 
the Colonial Office on the botany of Sierra Leone, Mr. Scott Elliot says 
that the export of Palm oil and kernels forms by far the largest part of 
the West African export trade. In 1890 the value of the Palm oil 
exported from Sierra Leone was £13,599 and of the Palm kernels 
£107,827. The tree is more abundant further down the West African 
coast, and appears to prefer alluvial, often marshy, ground near the sea. 
It p>articularly seems to thrive on the rich soil of the Mangrove accumu¬ 
lations. There are large numbers of Palm trees in the Mahela district, 
where a factory once existed, and there are also a considerable number 
up the Searcies River and in the lower part of the Limba district. It 
grows also on low sandstone or gneissose hills, but probably does not 
produce so much in such places as on the low-lying, rich alluvials. The 
Palm is propagated from the offshoots that appear at its base, and these 
are said to begin in the second or fifth year, and are in full bearing 
about the tenth to fifteenth year. They continue produc’ing for sixty 
years. A single tree yields from 1 to 3 gallons of Palm oil, or, according 
to Semler, 16 litres annually, and this amount of oil will give from one- 
sixth to half a hundredweight of kernels. This would be a profit of 
from 2s. to 6s. a tree per annum, as about 300 gallons of Palm oil give a 
ton of oil and about 2^ tons of kernels. Hence plantations of these 
trees should be profitable in time. It is, however, exceedingly difficult 
to get any trustworthy information, and the above, Mr. Elliot says, must 
be regarded as very approximate. The Palms require no care, and are 
not, apparently, attacked by any injurious insects. The preparation is 
of a very rough and makeshift character ; the fruits are thrown into a 
tank and left till decomposition begins. They are then boiled and 
afterwards pounded in a mortar. Probably 25 per cent, of the oil is lost 
in preparation. 
