December 28, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
575 - 
- Luculia aRATisSIMA.—Half a dozen plants of this Luculia 
were planted eighteen months ago in a border composed of loam three 
parts, the remainder leaf mould and peat in equal portions, with a little 
sand and charcoal added. They are trained against the wall of a large 
conservatory, and are now in flower, emitting a very sweet perfume. 
The flowers fade quickly after cutting if the stems only are placed in 
water, but if picked in rather small pieces and allowed to float in a bowl 
of water they keep fresh for a much longer period, and are a welcome 
addition at this time of year.—W. S. 
- Crystal Palace Fruit Show. —I should like to add a few 
words in support of the suggestion of “ H. W. W.” (page 508), which 
has been so fully endorsed by “An Old Exhibitor ” (page 531). No 
matter what shows are held in that grand monument to Sir J. Paxton’s 
memory, whether they be of Rose, Fruit, or Chrysanthemums, exhibitors 
and public alike speak in high terms of the effectiveness of the 
arrangements there. It is therefore much to be regretted that the 
great annual Fruit Show should have been discontinued during the 
last two years, and I join with other exhibitors in expressing the 
hope that the Crystal Palace Directors may be induced to resuscitate 
their September Exhibition. An excellent and practical method of 
approaching the Directors is suggested by “ D.” (page 531), and I 
entertain a firm belief that if “H. W. W.” and the Editor will under¬ 
take the task their appeal on behalf of British fruit growers will not be 
made in vain.—A Midland Counties Fruit Grower. 
- Sunlight Soap Competitions.—G ardeners who make a 
practice of exhibiting usually regard competitions as a stimulus to the 
routine of everyday life, and as a deviation from these the “ Sunlight 
Soap Competitions,” inaugurated by Messrs. Lever Brothers, are worthy 
of notice. Particulars of these competitions are given in our adver¬ 
tisement pages. The enterprise of the proprietors of this domestic 
necessity has developed a world-wide trade. 
- Ripening Green Tomatoes. —Compared with the customary 
methods in this country, some ideas of our transatlantic cousins appear 
strange, as witness the following :—“ Among various plans for ripening 
green Tomatoes which are usually found on the plants when frost kills 
them, the ‘Florists’ Exchange’ gives the advice to spade up a piece 
of ground which is protected on the north side, then pull up the 
plants with the fruits, spread them over the newly spaded ground and 
cover them with straw, leaves, corn stalks, or anything which is most 
convenient to keep them warm at night. The heat of the earth will 
ripen the fruits perfectly. The fruit does not wilt, and the flavour will 
be as good as if it ripened in the sun.” Has any British Tomato grower 
tried this method ?—A; B. C. 
- Room Plants. —There are few plants of any description 
grown in pots that are of greater value at this time of the year than are 
those evergreens that will do well in fairly cool rooms, yet from which 
frost is excluded. By evergreens I do not mean shrubs, but Palms^ 
Ferns, Aspidistras, Dracaenas, Indiarubber, and Asparagus, all of great 
beauty now because decorative plants in cool rooms are scarce. I have 
in a room looking west a Kentia Fosteriana that was given me last 
spring. It is some SO inches in height, and is in perfect condition. 
Other smaller ones are growing and do ng well, Dracaena indivisa 
2 feet high, is excellent, so also are variegated Aspidistras, which I 
obtained six months ago, and are as good as ever, perhaps better. The 
Adder’s-tongue Fern does so well because its fronds clean so admirably. 
This, however, may be said of many others. I have a plant, dug up 
from a ditch in the New Forest some three years since, that does 
capitally in a room, and a more recent addition is a well-seasoned 
clump of Asparagus plumosus nanus, so fragile looking, so graceful, and 
yet so admirable for room culture, indeed one of the best. I think 
a cool room, in which fire and gas are used but once a week, is much 
better than is a room more frequently heated. It is true we have not 
had much frost so far, and the winter has been very favourable, still 
should the weather prove hard a little artificial warmth can easily be 
furnished. That there are many of these good green or variegated 
plants in cultivation, of which little as to their domestic usefulness is 
known, there can be no doubt, I am not referring to plants that are 
kept in rooms for a week, then out again; I write of those that will 
nearly always, but especially for several months, keep fresh and growing. 
What an interesting thing would be a competition at the Drill Hall of 
three, four, or six plants grown in pots in living rooms for a period of 
six months previously, having windows only to furnish light and air. 
That would, be something novel in the way of plant exhibits.— D. 
- Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. —The flower 
shows of this Society will be held in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, 
on Wednesday and Thursday, 4th and 5th April ; Wednesday and 
Thursday, 11th and 12th July; Wednesday and Thursday, 12th and 
13th September, 1894, 
- Parona pAniculata. —An American contemporary eulogises 
this Parona, and says it is an annual fast-growing, twining, high 
climbing, downy plant, with ample much-branched panicles of small, 
somewhat tubular, white flowers. The leaves are cordate, 2^ to 
3J inches long, smooth above but downy underneath, and rather 
suggestive of those of some of the small-leaved Aristolochias. 
- London Gardens. — A correspondent writes :— Apropos of 
the interesting articles by “ J. R. S. 0.” (pages 52G and 550) the follow¬ 
ing clipping from a recent number of the “ Nineteenth Century,” may 
be worth reproducing :—“ London alone has, since the formation of the 
Metropolitan Public Gardens Association in 1882, increased her open 
spaces by 157, containing 4998 acres, while the entire number of public 
parks and gardens within easy reach of the inhabitants of the metro-, 
polis is 271, containing 17,876 acres, which include 6380 acres acquired . 
and maintained by the Corporation of the City of London. We may 
roughly say that the cities and towns of the United Kingdom, including 
the metropolis, possess some 500 open spaces over 40,000 acres ia 
extent,” 
- Death op Mr. George Thorpe. —We regret to learn from 
the American papers of the death of Mr. George Thorpe, the youngest son 
of Mr. John Thorpe, which occurred on the morning of November 23rd. 
For three weeks previous Mr. Thorpe had been confined to his room with 
typhoid pneumonia. He was twenty-one years cf age, and was identified 
with his father in the latter’s position as Chief of Floriculture at the 
World’s Fair. The illness that caused his death was induced by exposure 
while attending to his duties at the Fair. He was in the habit of reaching 
the grounds every morning at four o’clock, and he often remained there 
until late at night. Mr. Thorpe was a promising young man, of a genial 
disposition, and made many warm friends. The funeral services were 
attended by numerous friends and societies, who followed his remains 
to Oakwoods Cemetery. The Chicago Florists’ Club, of which he was a 
member, attended in a body. ^ ^ 
- Shropshire Horticultural Society. —The annual meeting 
of this Society was held on Monday, the 18th inst., when there was a 
good attendance of members. His Worship the Mayor (W. L. Browne^ 
Esq.), was voted to the chair. Mr. W. W. Naunton (one of the HoOr 
Secs.), read the annual report of the Committee, which included the 
following ;—“ The continued success which attended the exhibitions of 
the Society during the present year is a matter for congratulation, but- 
there is nothing which calls for any special remarks. The accounts will 
be found very satisfactory, showing a profit for the year of about £850. 
Arrangements for 1894 are in progress, and there is every reason to hope 
that with the usual kind co-operation of the railway companies and thn 
corporation, the previous successes of the Society will be fully main¬ 
tained.” Mr. W. Phillips (one of the Hon. Treasurers) then read the 
statement of accounts. In the statement for 1893 the receipts included 
Interest on invested capital £110 9s.; subscriptions received, £404 ISs.; 
cash taken at Spring Show, £15 ISs. 9J.; received for rents, £57 19s. Gd.; 
cash for refreshment contracts, Summer Show, £354 18s. 9d.; takings at 
gate, first day, £504 15s. 8 d.; second day, £1459 6 s. 2d.; cheap tickets 
sold by Messrs. Adnitt & Naunton, £496 16s. lOJ. Total receipts^for 
the year, £3631 128. 5d, The disbursements included :—Spring Show 
expenses, £85 11s. lOd.; prize money. Summer Show, £845 lls. 6 d,,' 
sports and fireworks, £455 53 .; horse leaping, £101 53 . 3d,; baBda;. 
£286 188, 9d.; hire of tents, gas, enclosing ground, &c., '£321 193. Sd;;' 
printing, £143 lls, 7d.; advertising, £156 IGs. 91. The balance carried; 
forward is £694 3s, 8 d. The statement showing the actual position of 
the Society was read as follows :—To balance as per last balance sheet, 
viz., at banker’s on current account, £761 43 . 9J.; on deposit, £500—» 
£1261 48. 9d.; balance in hand on 1893 accounts £604 3s. 8 d.; amount 
transferred from deposit account to current account, £1750 ;'amo«nt 
invested on Kingsland Bridge Debentures, £1000 ; investment on Police’ 
Station, £500. Total, £5205 89 . 5d. By amount paid for fields and 
gardens purchased from J. L. Burton Esq , £3150 ; paid for valnationj 
£10 17s. 6 d.; solicitor’s charges (half legal fees) £33 I 63 .; deposit'on! 
Circus Fields and other property £230 ; balance in banker’s handsi 
£280 153. lid,; Kingsland Bridge Debentures, £1000; Police Station’ 
investment, £500. Total, £5,205 83 . 5d. It was subsequently remarked 
that since its inauguration the Society has contributed £5OO0 towards 
the charitable institutions of Shrewsbury. v. i 
