December 7, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
611 
- Changes in the London Pabks.—A fter many years’ 
service in the London Parks Mr. Gibson retires through failing health 
from the position as Superintendent of Victoria Park, and his friends 
hope he will enjoy his pension for many years. Mr. J. W. Moorman 
(Dulwich Park) succeeds Mr. Gibson at Victoria Park, Mr. Bailey 
goes from Southwark to Dulwich, Mr. Curie from Waterlow to South¬ 
wark, Mr. Pallett from Myatt’s Fields to Waterlow, while the propagator 
at Victoria Park goes as Superintendent to Myatt’s Fields. Mr. Moor¬ 
man’s advancement, from the smallest garden (Myatt’s Fields) to the 
largest park under the London County Council, within a period of 
five years, affords high testimony to his energy and ability, and the 
other superintendents have won their promotion by the excellence of 
their work. The London parks were never better cared for by the 
authorities than at the present time. 
-National Amateub Gabdenebs’ Association.—A t the 
monthly meeting of the members of this Association, held at the 
Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, E.C., on Tuesday evening last. 
Dr. A. B. Griffiths gave a lecture on artificial manures. Mr. T. W. 
Sanders presided, and there was a good attendance. The lecturer dealt 
at length with the physiology of plants, and described the manner in 
which the roots absorbed the necessary nourishment from the soil. 
Formulae of special manures for various plants and soils were also 
-detailed and apparently appreciated by the audience. An interesting 
discussion followed, during which numerous questions were put to the 
lecturer. In addition to the customary vote of thanks, it was 
unanimously resolved to award Dr. Griffiths a bronze medal for his able 
Tecture. 
- Death of Mb. H. G. Qtjilteb,—M any of our older readers 
will learn with regret of the death of Mr, H. G. Quilter, which took 
place on November 23rd, at Felixstowe. Mr. Quilter was seventy years 
of age, and was at one time a very prominent figure in horticultural 
matters. Some years ago he organised a most successful exhibition 
under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society at the Aston 
Lower Grounds, Birmingham. 
- White Eabwigs. —I regret that I missed the query made by 
■“ Lanarkshire Bee-keeper ” at page 458, and may now endorse Mr. 
Hiam’s explanation. After the final ecdysis, or cast of skin, which 
brings the earwig to its perfect condition, the insect is white or pale in 
colour for a time, as is also the familiar cockroach of our kitchens. It 
has been found by experiment that a cockroach, after this moult, is 
white for several days, even if exposed to the light, and an earwig may 
take as long to acquire its usual colour, only it is probable that it 
remains usually in hiding, from prudential motives, till it has both 
■darkened and hardened. If any friend has undeniable testimonials in 
favour of the earwig I should be glad to see them ; at present, it must 
be owned, the insect has anything but a creditable character. One 
thing that much surprised myself and other observers of earwigs this 
summer was the plump and well-to-do condition of most of the 
Individuals; evidently, somehow or other, the long drought had not 
hurt them.—J. R. S. Clifpobd. 
— “A Lanabkshibe Bee-keepeb ” writes;—“ While I am obliged 
to Mr. J. Hiam (page 491) for his explanation of the above, I must 
say, without any contradictory spirit, I am not satisfied with it. We 
ought, however, at all times to give due deference to others’ opinions 
and observations, as well as never to put a misconstruction upon what 
is said. It was gardeners’ friends, and not ‘ bee-keepers’,’ I said on 
page 458. I have watched over and over again the carnivorous habits 
•of earwigs amongst the larvae and pupae of ‘ gardeners’ enemies,’ just as 
many of the spiders are." 
- CuBious Spelling of Names.—I fancy " S. H.” (49C) has 
not had much experience of the duties appertaining to the post of 
Secretary to an autumn Exhibition, or he would not suggest the ex¬ 
amination of the names by this official to correct those mis-spelt. I 
often pity the Secretary when perhaps half a dozen exhibitors are 
asking him questions as to the position of their exhibits, inquiries for 
class cards, and making appeals for admission tickets. Where from 
1000 to 2000 cut blooms are staged I imagine those officials would 
not thank “ S. H.” for the suggestion of examining the names. I am 
aware that the manner in which some names are mangled in spelling is 
deplorable, but I fear the remedy lies only in the hands of exhibitors 
themselves. It is not always that catalogues agree either in the proper 
spelling of the names. Where this occurs of doctors differing, who 
shaU decide 1 —E. M 
- Mb. H. Cannell.—W e learn from a Kentish paper that Mr. 
Henry Cannell, head of the firm of Messrs. Cannell & Sons, seedsmen 
and horticulturists, of Swanley and Eynsford, has been awarded by 
the Council of the Academy (Industrial) of Science and Arts, Brussels, 
with the diploma of that Institution, and the free membership of the 
same, the honour having been conferred for useful invention, commerce, 
and for the common good. 
-We have much pleasure in mentioning that we have received 
from M. Martinet of Paris a copy of his new weekly paper " Le Petit 
Jardin Illustr^.’’ It is published at the price of 10 centimes (one penny), 
and consists of sixteen octavo pages. It is worth remarking that this 
is the first weekly publication in France upon, the subject of Horticulture, 
and if there is anything like the same demand for it that there is in 
England for papers of this character, a prosperous career awaits it. 
-A New Wateb Lily.—P rom Nymphaa dentata, fertilised 
by the pollen of N. Sturtevanti, Mr. William Tricker has secured a 
new hybrid night-flowering Water Lily, which is distinct and produces 
flowers of great beauty. In the specimen of Nymphsaa Trickeri which 
I have seen, says Mr. J, N. Gerard in the “ Garden and Forest,” the 
leaves are 18 inches in diameter, finely toothed and a glistening 
emerald green above. The under surface is dark brown and boldly 
ribbed with numerous prominent veins. The flowers are semi-doublC; 
with three rows of petals, and in form quite identical with N. Sturte¬ 
vanti, having even the tendency to plication of the edges of the petals. 
It differs, however, not only in colouring of the leaves, as noted above, 
but also in the distinct colouring of the flowers, which may be described 
either as a light rose pink, shading irregularly to white, or as white, 
irregularly suffused with pink, the general effect being a light pink 
flower with white markings. Under artificial light it is the most 
brilliant of all Lilies. The white markings are then not distinguish¬ 
able, and it appears as a most charming glow of light rose pink of 
very pure tone. 
- Mb. Gebabd also observes :—There are no nobler Nymphseas 
than N. rubra, N. Devoniensis and N. Sturtevanti, and N. Trickeri, the 
lightest in colour of the quartette, is apparently an important 
addition to the series. The night-blooming Nymphaeas are precious 
flowers, which should meet with wider appreciation. Though they 
open in the evening they remain open during the early morning, and 
in a later stage still longer. Their flowers are charming under artificial 
light, and exquisite effects in decoration are possible by their aid. They 
will be probably always somewhat rare and uncommon, for, while the 
plants offer no difficulties in cultivation, to be well grown they require 
considerable space, and this will prevent their being grown for com? 
mercial purposes. It will be readily seen that an arrangement of 
Nymphmas in a suitable receptacle is one which is delightful in itself, 
and sure to excite attention and give pleasure. Such arrangements 
are frequent with ordinary day-flowering Nymphseas, but these, 
unfortunately, close in the evening, so that plants like N. dentata, 
N. rubra and its hybrids, which are open when they can be generally 
most enjoyed, are especially valuable. 
- Pbices of Gbapes.—S uch dolorous reports occasionally 
appear with respect to the miserable returns that are obtained for 
Grapes—returns that seem utterly absurd assuming that the fruit be at 
all good—that I venture, as some antidote to these statements, to 
publish what is written in a letter lying before me, received a few days 
since from one who is both a first-class grower and one in a large way, 
for his annual output is measured by tons. Perhaps the fact that a 
grower can be depended upon to keep up a supply of first-class samples 
in great bulk over some nine months of the year helps to the 
securing of better prices. The writer says, and he specially refers to 
what has been written in the Journal of Horticulture, “I still keep 
cutting Grapes. To-morrow the price will be 3d. more, the lowest 
being 2s. per lb. It may be of interest to you to know that on Monday 
I sent seven baskets of Alicante to -, really the worst I had ; the 
return. Is, 7d. to Is. lOd. per lb,, very satisfactory, and am asked to 
send more. One shop alone at-has taken seventeen baskets this 
week, and other good quantities have gone to other towns. In three 
weeks we have turned over £100—not bad for our little place.” Here 
is no complaining, but perfect satisfaction. When we read such dis¬ 
tressing complaints as to prices it would be much more instructive 
could we see the samples. In the case quoted very little is done through 
markets, but chiefly with the shopkeepers direct. This fact serves to show 
that it is the middleman who gets the growers’ profits. Why do not 
growers form a syndicate, and be their own salesmen, retail as well as 
wholesale ?—D. 
