266 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ March 30, 1893. 
- Cultivation of Plums.—I n connection with the series of 
lactures on “ Hardy Fruits,” under the auspices of the Scottish Horti¬ 
cultural Association, Mr. Dunn, Dalkeith, recently delivered a lecture 
on “ Plums.” Mr. Dunn remarked that even the Apple, from a 
commercial point of view, was very little more important than the 
Plum. For private purposes the Plum was most valuable, as it could 
easily be preserved. The merits and qualities of the different varieties, 
both in Scotland and England, were touched on, and the means of 
raising new varieties discussed. 
- Fruit and Potato Traders’ Benevolent Society.— 
Many members of the wholesale fruit and Potato trades and growers 
met at the Holborn Restaurant on the 22nd inst., to inaugurate the 
first festival dinner of a new charity called the London Wholesale Fruit 
and Potato Trades and Growers’ Benevolent Society. The Lord Mayor 
presided, and there was a large attendance. The objeet of the Society 
is to provide pensions and homes for the necessitous salesmen and 
growers. The annual subscription is one guinea, entitling a subscriber 
to one vote ; five guineas covers a life governorship and two votes. The 
age for pensions has been fixed at fifty-five years, and will not exceed 
ISs. per week to men, and lOs. to widows. A sum of £600 was received 
in connection with the dinner. 
- Grapes at Floors. —Mr. J. H. Goodacre writes :—“ Mr. 
Barnes (page 239) will not expect all to smile on the plan he adopts 
in calling his own mistakes other people’s errors. It may be news to 
Mr. Barnes to hear that I know too much of Floors to suppose the 
Vines that produced the Grapes figured on page 31 of this Journal to 
be forty years old. As the variety has not been raised quite forty 
years yet I should not be guilty of committing this ‘ error.’ Mr. 
Barnes takes pains to describe much of the important work done at 
Floors during his few years’ service there, but does not appear so 
anxious to give credit to the present managers.” Another correspon¬ 
dent sends us extracts from his diary having reference to the lifting 
of Vines and the renewal of the border there, but it is scarcely necessary 
to prolong the discussion on those points. The condition of the Vines 
sufficiently indicate that the work was done well, and the Grapes we 
have seen were highly creditable to the cultural skill of both the 
present gardener at Floors and his predecessor. 
- March Weather in Hampshire.—W hat a contrast is the 
weather experienced throughout the present month as compared with 
that of the same month for the past two years. The temperature 
registered to-day (25th) here was 71° in the shade, yesterday 70°. 
On nine days previously during the month 60° and over were registered. 
Throughout the whole of the corresponding month of last year the 
thermometer rose but four times past 60°, 64° being the highest point 
gained. During the year 1891 but twice did we register 60°, and that on 
the 1st and 2nd of the month, 58° being the highest point attained 
besides. In the matter of moisture this month compares favourably so 
far with the last. The first three days rain fell to the extent of 
0 35 inch, since that date we have not had to record a single drop. If 
there is any truth in the saying that March dust is worth a guinea an 
ounce we ought to be favoured this year in point of weather, as here¬ 
abouts there is plenty. Many of the nights have really been warm, on 
several occasions the minimum register not being lower than 45°.— 
E. Molyneux, Swanmore Fark. 
- Instruction in Horticulture. — During the past three 
weeks, Mr. James Hiam, Astwood Bank, has carried out, in connection 
with the Worcestershire County Council, most successfully eighteen 
meetings in classes in practical work, such as pruning, grafting, budding, 
grease-banding illustrated, insecticides, and their distribution. At 
twelve meetings three powerful microscopes have been busily employed 
in making the classes and public practically acquainted with insect 
pests to fruit growers, such as red spider in the egg and at maturity, 
the effects of their destructiveness on Gooseberry bushes ; the winter 
moths, their eggs as found on trees and hatched out, and the citerpillars 
crawling by hundreds ; the Black Currant mites and the infested buds ; 
Plum aphis as found in winter, and the young produced by the vivi¬ 
parous females ; Apple aphis in the egg state and hatched out; Psylla 
mali in the eggs and hatched now on the trees ; mussel scale ; brown 
scale, and others well known by sight but not by name. These subjects 
have been explained as each came under observation, and the best 
known remedies to counteract them. The series of lectures will 
eonclude with birds and horticulture ; innocent useful insectivorous 
birds; partially so ; and destructive birds, and how best to deal with 
them. 
- Death of Dr. G. Vasey. —We learn from “ Nature ” of the 
death, on the 7tb instant, of Dr, G. Vasey, the chief of the botanical 
section of the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington. 
He was a native of Yorkshire, we believe, and emigrated to America 
many years ago. The Grasses of North America were his special 
study, and he published several important works on this family. The 
“Grasses of the Pacific Slope” and the “Grasses of the South-West,” 
fully illustrated, are his latest works ; but the former is not yet com¬ 
pleted. Dr. Vasey wrote also on the agricultural value of the Grasses 
of the United States. Last year he visited England, and made many 
friends through his amiable disposition. 
- The National Auricula Show. —Those interested in the 
cultivation of this favourite plant will have an opportunity on April 
25th, at the Drill Hall, Westminster, of seeing a display, principally by 
amateur growers, of Auriculas and other spring flowers. Of late years 
many new and beautiful varieties of the former old fiorists’ flower have 
been obtained by judicious crossing and careful cultivation, while 
some of the older kinds of Auriculas, which were grown by our fore¬ 
fathers, are still to be found in many collections. Being an amateur 
grower in a small way of this floral pet, the Auricula, I wish to bring 
under the notice of those who have not yet cultivated it what little 
space and small outlay is required, a cold frame only being necessary to 
protect the plants in severe weather. At this forthcoming show a liberal 
prize list will be offered for competition. The show promises to be a 
very good one owing to the favourable season, and some of the leading 
northern growers are likely to exhibit. Prizes are also offered for seed¬ 
lings, and many good ones may be expected. I have always found 
growers of the Auricula at these annual gatherings ready to impart infor¬ 
mation and give useful hints to less experienced cultivators.—W. Smith 
The Linhs, Bishop's Stortford. 
- Sowbread and Swine’s Snout.— On page 230 I observe that 
a correspondent objects to these undignified and inelegant names as 
applied to the Cyclamen and the Sisyrinchium respectively. As for the 
first it is founded upon fact, and I believe originated in the Italian 
language, as it is said that in Italy, and especially in Sicily, wild swine 
feed largely on the roots of the Cyclamen which abounds there. The 
name passed on to us through France, where the bulb is known as Fain 
de Pourceau. But the name Swine’s Snout, besides being objectionable in 
itself, originated in an utter misconception of the meaning of the Greek 
name Sisyrinchium. I am not going to discuss the hopeless subject of the 
identity of the plant which Theophrastus calls Sisyrinchium. It was a 
white bulb, classed by that writer amongst wool-bearing (eriophorous) 
bulbs, of which the soft fibrous substance of the tunics was utilised, 
and even supplied material for worsted stockings. There is some doubt 
amongst editors about the right spelling of the name, both in Greek and 
Latin ; but the Greek word sisyra and its diminutive sisyriniuni bear 
the sense of a woolly or shaggy cloak. It is probable that these words 
are connected with the name of the wool-bearing bulb. No Greek 
author could have made such a clumsy compound of the two words 
suos -p rhynchos (Swine’s Snout). The similarity of sound is quite 
accidental.—C. WOLLEY Dod, Bdye Hall, Malyjas. 
-WiDCOMBE Horticultural Club,—A meeting of this Club 
was held on Tuesday night in Widcombe Parish Room, Mr, B. J. Baker 
presiding over a numerous attendance of members. Mr. F. Nash’s paper 
on “ Bulb Culture ” was read by Mr. R. A. Moger, the Honorary 
Secretary, and proved to be of much practical value. Mr, Nash had 
previously given a lecture on the same subject, and now he dealt with 
the various forms of Lily and Iris. Lilies, he explained, were matchless 
for providing cut flowers, giving a supply from May until autumnal 
frosts set in. Borders of Rhododendrons and Azaleas were most suitable 
for Lilies, and they also flourished among herbaceous plants and in the 
shelter of trees, while rockeries and artificial mounds suited some 
varieties, or they could be grown in any ordinary border where leaf 
mould could be obtained in quantity. Speaking of different kinds, 
Mr. Nash alluded particularly to Lilium auratum, and, referring to 
L. giganteum, said the only specimen he knew of in the neighbourhood 
was in the Royal Victoria Park. The Iris is evidently a great favourite 
with Mr. Nash, who said it was invaluable as a cut flower, competing 
in richness and variety of colouring with the most beautiful Orehids. 
There were upwards of 200 varieties, and when the whole eolleetion was 
put together it formed a group unparalleled in beauty, for on one bloom 
might be found from twelve to tvventy different shades all harmonising. 
They would thrive anywhere where they could get sufficient moisture. 
A eordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr, Nash for his paper.— {Bath 
Journal.') 
