November 2, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
399 
the sockets and arranged with flowers. A dressed stand in the centre 
with a Cocos Weddelliana on each side, will render the whole light and 
quite imposing. 
Very pretty plated glass ornaments set in silver are now made in the 
form of baskets. Some of these have glass pendants, and glass chains 
to connect one basket with another. Some of the most beautiful dinner 
tables I have ever seen have been made so by using these baskets. A 
table to seat about fifteen is a suitable size to secure good balance. The 
largest basket dressed with flowers should be placed in the centre, having 
a few long pieces of Smilax (Myrsiphyllnm asparagoides) trailing over 
the sides and along the table. Next will come two candelabra, then 
two smaller baskets filled with flowers ; eight still smaller ones are then 
placed around the sides of the table, the four corner ones being 
arranged with small Ferns of various sorts knocked out of 60-sized pots ; 
the other four having a small Cocos Weddelliana in the centre, viith 
flowers and Fern fronds arranged at their base. 
Various other methods of arrangement might be given, but I think 
enough has been adduced to serve as a foundation, upon which an 
infinite variety of combinations may be worked out by those of an 
ingenious turn of mind. I will therefore conclude by giving the outline 
of a design which is especially adapted for use during the Chrysan¬ 
themum season. In this case no stands, glasses, or epergnes of any 
description will be required. First cover the centre of the table with 
thick brown paper, then cut the outer edges of it into a series of serpen¬ 
tine sweeps, so as to avoid formality in outline. In the centre, on an 
inverted pot, place a plant of Pandanus Veitchi or one of Phoenix 
rupicola. Next will come two candelabra, these to be followed by two 
graceful plants of Cocos Weddelliana, and two smaller plants of 
Pandanus will be suitable for the two ends. Now cover the whole of 
the brown paper with fresh green moss, and raised mounds of it to 
cover the pots used. If the table is a rather wide one very small 
Palms of more graceful kind may be dotted about here and there in 
each case, making a tiny mound to cover each pot. Next trace round 
the outer edge of the moss with some kind of coloured foliage, and the 
most troublesome part of the work is completed. The remainder 
consists in dotting Chrysanthemums, both large and small, at irregular 
intervals all over the moss, of course avoiding anything approaching 
crowding. Some of the Japanese kinds which have drooping petals 
should stand well above the moss, so as to display their fantastic beauty 
to the best advantage ; this can easily be done if the stems are sharpened 
and thrust into the moss, an extra depth of which may be given at such 
points. Fronds of Maidenhair and Pteris Ferns and a few small 
whorls of Cyperus alternifolius inserted here and there give a finishing 
touch to the whole. Anyone who has the opportunity to carry out this 
arrangement will, I am sure, be delighted with it, and the guests when 
seated round the table will find their eyes resting upon a scene which, 
for a moment, might take them in flights of fancy to the realms of 
fairyland. 
FLORAL NOMENCLATURE. 
OBSERViNa a remark on page 381, about the much-discussed pro¬ 
nunciation of the word Gladiolus, may I briefly sum up all that ever 
has been or can be said about it ? It is a general law of pronunciation 
that you cannot speak a word in which three short syllables occur 
together without accenting one of them. Hence a word of six short 
syllables must have two of them accented, as Mesopotamia ; but a word 
of five short syllables only requires one to be accented, provided it is in 
the middle, as Macedonia. In words of four short syllables such a 
pronunciation is, as “ W. R. Raillem ” (page 381) says, practically 
impossible. A classical scholar from Oxford or Cambridge would 
naturally say Gladiolus, modiolus, following the ordinary habit of 
pronouncing the words in Latin. There has been, however, an attempt 
in English to turn these words into trisyllabic words, by pronouncing 
“i” as “j,” and saying Gladjolus and moijolus ; this, however, is a 
modern conceit, which I hope will not prevail.—C. Wolley Dod, 
Hall, Half as. 
P.S.—The suggested compromise between “ i ” and “ j ” leaves us a 
host of words, like medeola, medicia, and polygala, which cannot be 
dealt with in the same way. 
Curious Spelling of the Names op Fruits and Flowers at 
Shows. 
The note by “ East Anglia” (page 373) reminds me that I too have 
some memoranda on the above-named subject, and now that the autumn 
shows are coming on perhaps a few friendly remarks will not be out of 
place, and may help towards an improvement in the spelling of the 
names of fruits, plants, and flowers. That it does not receive the 
attention it deserves is only too evident, as anyone may easily learn if 
he will take the trouble to look along the tables at a flower show. I 
have often been surprised that some exhibitors are so careless on this 
point. It seems to me a pity that a meritorious exhibit should be marred 
by a mis-spelt name. “Ahl” says someone, “I hav’n’t had much 
schooling, and my memory isn’t good either.” Well I do not blame him 
on these accounts, but what I do blame him for is that he did not obtain 
and consult a reliable catalogue, and so insure the correct spelling of 
names. A good catalogue may usually be begged or borrowed, or, if not, 
can be bought for a trifle any day ; therefore there is no excuse. 
Here are a few specimens copied at one of the principal shows in the 
West of England. 1 have more, but these are enough to show that there 
is room for improvement. “lAdmiral Warburton” and “ Wall burton 
Admirial” for Walburton Admirable Peach; “Fontail” for Fonthill 
Plum; “ Merella ” for Morello Cherry; “Adiantium capilis,” “ Gaa- 
cllium,’ and “ Gresseliam” for gracillimum ; “ Nephrelepsis’’for Nephro- 
lepis ; “ Elligants ” for elegans. 
I would ask those whom it may concern if it is not worth while to 
give the matter a little more attention ? It is not pleasant to stand by 
and hear young ladies and schoolboys making fun of gardeners’ 
spelling. Nor is there any reason why they should have the opportunity. 
—West Anglia. 
[A reform in the direction indicated is urgently needed at many if 
not most exhibitions.] 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
October I24th. 
Scientific Committee. —Present : Dr. Russell (in the chair), 
Mr. Blandford, Rev, W. Wilks, Prof. Farmer, and Rev. G. Henslow, 
Hon. Sec. 
Galls on With reference to the galls exhibited at the last 
meeting and recognised as those of Cynips calycis, Mr. Blandford observed 
that they are used for tannic acid on the continent, as well as the more 
common form, on Quercus infectoria, which contain 50 per cent. 
Daffodils and Mice. —Rev. W. Wilks exhibited several bulbs which 
had been attacked by Merodon ; but subsequently mice had eaten into 
the bulbs, apparently in order to extract the grub, as no perfect bulb was 
ever touched. Mr. Wilks intends, and suggests as a means of selection, 
to spread out bulbs supposed to be affected where mice can have access 
to them, as the sound bulbs will be left untouched. 
Daffodil Decaying.—He also showed a bulb which had decayed up 
the middle, while the base of the stem was detached together with the 
roots. It was referred to Kew for examination. 
Onions Diseased. —Some large flattish Onions were exhibited, which 
had become completely rotten in the middle at the base of the stem. 
Two-thirds of a crop were said to have been lost. They were also 
referred to Kew. 
Dijured Timber, Photograph. —Prof. Farmer showed photographs of 
sections of an ancient Elm, lately cut down at Oxford. They showed a 
separation, for three parts of a circle, deeply seated within the stem. 
As the subsequent annual rings were at first discontinuous over the 
middle point, but gradually closed over it, the interpretation seemed to 
be that the tree had been partially decorticated, the wound being 
subsequently completely concealed. 
Proliferous Fern. — Mr. Veitch forwarded a plant of Adiantum 
(which appeared among A. Capillus-Veneris, but had broader pinnules), 
having minute fronds starting from the situation of the sori, apparently 
being aposporous, and developing new fronds in the place of sporangia. 
Mr. Veitch remarks that this is the first time that he had seen this 
occurrence on an Adiantum. 
Diseased Pears.—With reference to the Pears sent to the last meet¬ 
ing, Mr. Massee reports that “ the fungus is Gloeosporium fructigerum, 
Berh. There is no possibility of arresting the disease in the mature 
state of the fruit, but this can be done by using the proper remedy 
during the development of the fruit.” The remedy suggested for the 
same fungus in Peaches was ” two or three sprayings of potassic sulphide 
(one-half ounce to a gallon of water).” 
OCTOBER RASPBERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES. 
I HAVE picked several small dishes of Raspberries this month, finer 
and quite as good fiavoured as they were in the summer and very 
highly coloured. I also gathered some on October 27th. — JAS. 
Wicketts, Whitcroft, Pershore, Worcestershire. 
On the 18th ult. I gathered a good dish of ripe Raspberries, left others 
some just colouring, but whether they will ripen is a question. The 
fruit is from the summer fruiting varieties, but the crop was a very 
light one, the hot dry season having a great effect upon this particular 
fruit.— G. R. Hemmings, Ilollingbourne House, near Maidstone. 
Messrs. S. Chivers & Sons, Cambridge, writing under date 
October 24th to the daily press, say :—“ As an illustration of the very 
exceptional character of the season we have taken the liberty to forward 
you some fresh gathered Strawberries, being now busy picking and 
preserving our second crop this year. We have already, during October, 
gathered 1 ton 5 cwt., and as the plants have still a large quantity of 
blossom anl green fruit we expect to be able to pick double the weight 
if this mild weather continues.” 
Referring to Mr. G. Freeman’s note (page 35.3) regarding ripe 
Strawberries, I may mention during the last week in September and up 
to the present time I have gathered about four and half dozen of ripe 
Strawberries from plants grown outdoors. I have only notice two 
sorts fruiting—viz.. Black Prince and Vicomtesse Hhricart de Thury, 
although one plant of Latest of All bore two or three fruit. Some of 
the fruit were quite equal in flavour and size to those of the summer. 
To-day (October 25th) I find there are about one and half dozen of good 
sized fruits, but many have decayed during the wet weather.—G. WALLIS, 
The Gardens, Brockley Hall, Brochley. 
