November 2, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
401 
- The Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —What was most 
fitly termed a grand concert was given at the Surbiton Assembly Rooms 
on Wednesday evening of last week. The programme furnished by 
Mr. W. Furze of Teddington, was a first-class one, the company large 
and fashionable, and the entire programme, every item of which was 
capitally rendered, gave the highest satisfaction. We learn that H.R.H. 
the Duchess of Albany kindly sent a donation of 20s. to the Concert 
Fund through Mr. A. Dean, the Secretary. Also through him Messrs. 
J. Laing & Sons, the well-known Begonia growers of Forest Hill, sent a 
very handsome bouquet for presentation to the Mayoress of Kingston, 
in recognition of the Mayor and Mayoress’s patronage. The Committee 
met on Saturday evening last to oalance accounts, everything being 
conducted with great economy, Mr. Furze and Mr. Dean even finding 
all refreshments for the artistes. The result is a balance of 21 guineas, 
which will be duly forwarded to Mr. A. F. Barron. 
- .iEchmea Mari^ Regina. — A writer in the “American 
Florist ” thinks that this plant is the handsomest Bromeliad ever intro¬ 
duced. It is strong in habit, having large leaves 12 to 18 inches in 
length, armed at the edges with sharp spines. The flower scape is erect 
and covered about half its length with large boat-shaped bracts of a rich 
magenta shaded with rose, which remains a long time in perfection ; the 
upper portion is thickly covered with flowers, which are tipped dark 
blue, changing with age to rose. It blooms during June and July. It 
is one of the most gorgeous and striking plants in cultivation, and 
never fails to attract attention. 
- Caryopteris Mastacanthus. —Regarding this plant a writer 
in the “ Garden and Forest ” says : “Although long since it was first 
introduced into cultivation this is rarely found in gardens. It is a 
smooth, branchy little shrub, having much the habit of a Ceanothus or 
Callicarpa, to which latter family it is allied. C. Mastacanthus does not 
appear to be truly hardy in some parts of America, although it has not 
been fairly tested out of doors with a proper winter covering. But it 
blossoms so late and so profusely, and is altogether so attractive, that it 
is well worth the trouble to lift it in autumn and place it in a pit or cold 
frame and to replant it again in the spring. There are dry, sunny, 
sheltered spots even about Boston where it might possibly live and 
thrive without removal in winter. The flowers, which are individually 
small, are borne in close corymb or umbel-like clusters in the axils of 
the opposite leaves and on all the branches. Blossoming begins in 
September, and as the twigs continue to grow new flower buds are 
produced with each new pair of leaves until further growth is checked 
by cold weather and frosts. The blooms are of a rich violet or lavender- 
blue colour, and have a slight aromatic fragrance. The foliage, green 
above, is soft, downy and hoary white beneath, and when bruised it 
gives out a very powerful, pungent, aromatic odour strongly suggestive 
of some plants of the Mint family, although this plant is generally 
classed in the Verbena family. It may be readily propagated by 
cuttings.” 
- Surrey Apples. — Talking the other day about Apples 
and Pears at Cranleigh, I was greatly pleased to And a couple of 
local growers (Mr. Knight, an old Chiswick man, and gardener to 
Mr. Cassilla, Cranleigh ; and Mr. Donkin, who has embarked in fruit 
culture in a small way for market) could bring and exhibit such 
excellent samples of fruit, especially the former. His Apples were 
gathered from young standard trees in an orchard, and were most clean 
and handsome. His Quinces were some of the finest fruits I ever saw. 
Blenheim Pippins large and richly coloured ; Hereford Queening, a fine 
late variety ; King of the Pippins and Wyken Pippin, all perfect 
samples. Mr. Knight stated that on the sand in that district Blenheim 
trees began to fruit much earlier than is the case on stiff soils. The 
exhibit showed what could be done with hardy fruit in that part of 
the county of Surrey, and indeed it is a grand fruit-growing district, 
with few exceptions unhappily devoid of fruit. When it is known that 
for its area, its superb aspects, varied soils, and many suitable surround¬ 
ings Surrey is credited in the returns of the Board of Agriculture with 
having only 3000 acres under market fruit culture, such evidence as 
was afforded at Cranleigh of the capacity of the district to produce fine 
hardy fruits should have good effect. Mr. Knight had exhibited his 
samples at the local agricultural show there the previous day, and it is 
hoped that all classes, especially landowners and farmers, took note of 
them. It is so very obvious that what can be done by Mr. Casilla, 
who has planted largely, could be done by many others, and it is hoped 
that very soon the reproach to Surrey of being such a poor fruit-growing 
county may be removed,—A, D. 
- Birmingham amateur Gardeners’ Association. — Mr. 
Arthur Roe read an interesting and instructive paper on “ Our Her¬ 
baceous Border” before the members of the Amateur Gardeners’ 
Association, at the Temperance Institute, last week. He contended 
that herbaceous piants were rightly taking a foremost place among the 
popular plants of the day. Beds of Pelargoniums, Lobelia, Asters, and 
Stocks produced an admirable display of colour, but there was always 
a certain sameness about such plants. A well-selected collection of 
herbaceous plants could be grown easily in a town garden, and would 
provide us with flowers from the early dawn of spring till the closing 
days of autumn. Amateurs, he said, had overlooked the beauty and 
variety of these plants in the past, and had neglected their cultiva¬ 
tion. 
- Winter Radishes. —I have a vivid recollection of the ancient 
black Spanish Radish, at one time commonly grown in gardens for 
winter salading. It was sometimes round and oval and long, but always 
had a nearly rough black coat, the flesh white, rather hard and exceed¬ 
ingly hot. We have better winter Ra Jishes now, and very mild pleasant 
ones too in flavour, like the fleshy young fresh Turnip Radishes. I saw 
a couple of these winter varieties in the seed farm at Reading the other 
day, one a long white, large, but very soft pleasant flesh, exceedingly 
agreeable, from Japan, and a pretty long tapering-rooted variety called 
Chinese Rose. These Radishes if pulled just when at their best and 
preserved as other tap roots are for the winter, then when used are 
washed, peeled and sliced, are most valuable additions to mixed salads 
during the winter.—A. 
- The Great Yorkshire Gala, York. — The balance-sheet 
for the current year has just been issued, and is a most satisfactory 
statement, with a reserve fund of £2000, and other assets amounting to 
£256. During this year £250 was given to the York charities, £614 12?. 
in prizes and judges’ fees, £115 12s. for music, £340 for tents and other 
fittings, and over £300 in other amusements incidental to the annual 
Gala. The receipts at the gates on the three days amounted to £1850, 
and from other sources to £524 10s. Whilst offering our congratulations 
to the energetic Committee and Secretary, we venture to suggest that in 
the coming year the claims of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution and the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund may have favourable 
consideration, for both urgently need help, and horticultural societies 
may do so much—if they will—in helping both institutions. 
-National Carnation and Picotee Society (Southern 
Section). —The annual general meeting of the above Society was held 
at the Hotel Windsor, in the rooms of the Horticultural Club, by kind 
permission of the members, on Saturday, October 28 ih. Martin R. Smith, 
Esq., President of che Society, presided over the meeting. The President, 
Vice-Presidents, Committee, and oflSce bearer.s were re-elected. It was 
decided to hold the Exhibition for 1894 under the auspices of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on July 24th. The following alterations were 
made in the schedule :—Two new classes were added of twelve blooms 
and six blooms respectively, with a growth of the plant to each bloom, 
and without dressing. It was also proposed and unanimously adopted 
that the class for yellow ground Picotees be judged on the same 
principle as the white ground varieties—that is, a pure yellow with a 
margin the same as the white ground class ; fancies not to be admitted. 
A distribution of seed has been made to the members, saved from choice 
fertilised flowers, grown in the garden, of the best seedlings raised from 
the seed so distributed on a previous occasion. The statement by the 
Treasurer showed that the Society was very prosperous as regards 
finance. The subscriptions, as per list, amounted to £154 9s. 6d. ; 
amount for special prizes, £18 17s, 6d.; prize money distributed, 
£99 15s. 6d, The balance from last year was £65 lOs. 5d., and the 
balance in hand is £118 53. 4d.—J. DOUGLAS, Hon, See. 
- The Annual Meeting of the Auricula and Primula 
Society was held at the same time and place. Mr. Henry Cannell of 
Swanley presided. The President, Vice-Presidents, Committee, and office 
bearers were re-elected, the name of Mr. J. T. Bennett-Poe being 
added to list of Vice-Presidents. The Exhibition for 1894 is to be held 
under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society as usual, and it 
was decided to offer the same prizes as last year. The subscriptions as 
per list amounted to £63, prizes paid £60 16s., other expenses brought 
the expenditure up to £74 Is. 6d., leaving a deficit on this and last year’s 
working of £8 16s. 6d. due to the Treasurer. If all the members would 
pay up their subscriptions, this amount would be materially reduced, 
and with a very little effort on the part of the members the deficiency 
might be made a handsome surplus. 
