November 9, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
419 
and where wild Roses and Honeysuckle grow most luxuriantly, the 
latter climbiag up the trees to a height of 20 feet, 
I am much obliged to Mr. Grahame for the additional information 
he gives me regarding the Hybrid Briar Roses of Lord Penzance. It 
is interesting to learn that the names of those Roses have been taken for 
the most part, as Mr. Grahame indicates, from the immortal romances 
of the “ Wizard of the North.” I recently had the pleasure of meeting 
with a venerable daughter of his much-loved amanuensis, Mrs. Laidlaw, 
and talking to her in Edinburgh on horticultural subjects, in which she 
is much interested. She had come all the way from Inverness to the 
Scottish capital in order to be present (at the age of eighty-four) at the 
Patti concert. My kind hostess on that occasion was a daughter of the 
late Rev. Dr, Nathaniel Paterson, of Glasgow, author of “The Manse 
Garden,” an interesting and instructive work of the last age, written by 
an intimate friend and associate of Sir Walter Scott. 
The names which Lord Penzance has selected for his Roses are com¬ 
plimentary to Scotland, and indicate his reverence for the genius of our 
greatest novelist, who was, like all men of poetic tendency and artistic 
nature, a great lover of flowers.— David R. Williamson. 
PLANTS IN SEASON. 
Salvia Gk^hami. 
Among the many beautiful varieties of Salvias that flower at this 
period of the year, I think none are more worthy of recognition than 
S. Grahami. Though not so showy as the brilliant scarlet of S. splendens, 
or the soft rose of S. Bethelli, it is nevertheless one of the most useful 
of the whole genus. Being very dwarf and compact in habit, it is 
admirably adapted for arranging amongst various other greenhouse 
plants. It has an extraordinarily free-flowering character, producing its 
long racemes of flowers all through the autumn and winter. Abundance 
of manure water should be supplied whilst it is flowering. 
Ruellia macrantha. 
Although one of the best and most beautiful winter flowering plants 
in cultivation, this Ruellia has unfortunately been so very much neg¬ 
lected as to be scarcely ever met with. In habit and character it is 
very similar to Thrysacanthus rutilans and Centropogon Lucyanus. 
The beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers, which are produced in great 
profusion from the axils of the leaf, are of a rosy purple colour, and last 
a long time in perfection. Propagation may be effected by cuttings, which 
should be inserted in sandy soil, and placed under a hand-glass. When 
well rooted they should be placed in small pots, using a mixture of 
good turfy loam and leaf soil in equal proportions, with a small amount 
of fibry peat and sharp sand. The plants ought then be grown in a 
stove, and potted as occasion requires. I trust these few timely remarks 
may be the means of reinstating this most useful and showy Ruellia 
into every establishment where winter flowering plants are in demand, 
as no collection can be considered complete without it. 
Begonia John Heal. 
This charming plant possesses sufficient attractions to warrant its 
admission into every garden. For arranging with the various occu¬ 
pants of the intermediate house at this season I know of nothing to 
compete with it, owing to its dwarf habit and floriferous character. To 
grow these plants successfully the tubers should not be started too 
early. This is a very important point to bear in mind. The best plan 
is to let them grow gradually and without much forcing. After they 
are fairly started the plants should be placed into small pots and put in 
an intermediate temperature. Apply water judiciously till after 
the roots have taken full possession of the soil, when it may be supplied 
with greater freedom. 
Good peaty loam, leaf soil, and sharp sand will form an excellent 
compost for the plants. Green fly and mealy bug are particularly 
troublesome, more especially the latter, consequently a sharp watch 
should be kept, and immediately the least signs of it are detected means 
must be taken to exterminate it, for if it is once allowed to become 
fairly established it is useless to expect satisfactory results. The best 
method of destroying mealy bug is to pick it off with a fine pointed 
stick, as the plants are very impatient of any insecticide being used on 
them. I feel sure where once this Begonia has a fair trial it will not fail 
to give satisfaction,—G, Paerant, AsKly Lodge Gardens, Ruglij. 
PARTICULARS ABOUT PEARS, 
Would Mr. Molyneux, Mr. Luckhurst, or others of your corre¬ 
spondents, kindly state their experience of the following Pears— 
Doyenn^ du Comice, Fondante d’Automne, Beurr6 Superfin, Madame 
Treyve, Durondeau—as regards the particulars given below, the 
locality of cultivation being fairly favourable for their growth 1 
1, Are they of good hardy constitution ? 
2, Are they good, fertile, and tolerably reliable as bearers ? 
3, Do they succeed well in the “ bush ” form 1 
As regards flavour and high quality I do not think either of them 
has been surpassed. For richness of flavour and honied juiciness I 
have always regarded the Gratiola Pear as being unequalled ; but this, 
of course, is a matter of individual taste.—W. M. B. 
Events of the Week. —As mentioned below, the Committees of 
the Royal Horticultural Society will meet at the Drill Hall, West¬ 
minster, on Tuesday, November llth. Numerous Chrysanthemum 
Shows will also be held during the ensuing week, and a list of some of 
these will be found on another page. 
- The Weather in London. —The weather in the metropolis 
continues cold but dry. Frosts have occurred on several nights recently, 
although not very severe. At the time of going to press it is rather 
cold, the wind being in a north-easterly direction. 
- Hailstorms, but of short duration, were prevalent on Tues¬ 
day in the South of England, and we hear of considerable damage 
being done at Dover. 
- The Weather in the North. — The weather during the 
past week has been very changeable, dry and wet days alternating 
Friday was very especially wet and cold throughout. Frosts of from 
2° to 8° have been recorded every morning, and there seem indications 
of a spell of cold weather.—B. D., N. Perthshire, 
- Testimonial to Me. Manning. —After consulting Mr. 
Manning’s wishes it has been decided that the presentation shall take 
the form of an illuminated address and a dining-room suite with clock 
and ornaments to match. The presentation waits Mr. Manning’s con¬ 
venience for a few weeks, he being at present away from London. 
- Royal Horticultural Society. —The next meeting of the 
Committees will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria Street, 
Westminster, on Tuesday, November llth, when special prizes for 
Chrysanthemums will be offered. At three o’clock Mr. R. Parker, 
F.R.H.S., will deliver a lecture on Chrysanthemums. 
- Prizes at the Gardening and Forestry Exhibition.— 
Many gardeners will be glad if, through your medium, a request may be 
made that the prizes won by the successful exhibitors be paid without 
delay. Many gardeners were put to a considerable expense in getting 
fruit and flowers to London to help to make up the Exhibition. In the 
schedule it states “ that all prize money will be paid within a month 
of the exhibitions,” and now that the officials have had their banquets I 
think it time that the prizewinners were paid what is due to them.— 
Exhibitor. 
_Gardening Appointments. — Mr. S. Clarke, for the last 
three years head gardener at Airfield, Dundrum, Co. Dublin, has been 
appointed head gardener to T. R. Bolitho, Esq., Trengwainton, Penzance, 
Cornwall. We understand Mr. Arthur Pope succeeds Mr. G. Bartle as 
head gardener at Allington Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire, the seat 
of J. E. Welby, Esq. 
- Browallia macrantha.— Mr. Elsey, gardener to Mrs. 
Carlisle, showed in a group of plants at Ewell last week several specimens 
of this Browallia. They were from 15 to 16 inches in height, well 
foliaged and flowered. The blooms are large, open, five-lobed, and very 
much the colour of the bracts of Bougainvillea spectabile. It is easily 
raised from cuttings put in during the spring, and makes an excellent 
autumn and winter house plant.—A. 
- Primula Chelsea Rose.— Mr. Buss, gardener to A. W. 
Aston, Esq., also showed at E well a dozen plants of a four-leaf single 
and lovely flesh pink Primula under the above name. The plants were 
well done, the flowers large and well fringed, the foliage of the pale 
green colour, and in all presents a very beautiful variety. A. 
_ The Scilly Isles Daffodils. —A Western contemporary 
says that the exceptionally dry and fine weather at the Isles of Scilly 
threatens to seriously disarrange the coming flower season. ihe 
weather is still so fine and mild that the crops in t e open are 
coming on rapidly, and unless cold weather sets in to check t em e 
flowers will be in the market considerably before those from the 
foreing houses are usually ready. The first small consignment of 
yellow Narcissus (Soleil d’Or) from the open field was forwarded last 
week, while very few of the bulbs intended for forcing are yet put in 
the houses. 
