April 20, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
311 
pests. How that is to be done, if they live on so many different hosts, is 
not made so clear as is desirable. The only safeguard we know is to 
expose the soil in which the plants are to be grown to a heat of not less 
than 212° so as to destroy the eelworms. In using trap plants care 
must be to remove all the roots on which the little knobs appear, and 
that means removing the uninfected as well as the attacked, for nodules 
are natural to some plants and never absent from them, in fact it is 
doubtful if they could exist without them. Growers, therefore, must 
learn the history of the microscopic objects so as to be able to dis¬ 
tinguish infested soil from that free from parasitic germs, for the 
remedies are worse than the disease, as guidance by galled roots would 
mean the destruction of healthy as well as unhealthy plants. Trapping, 
also, is more likely to spread than limit the disease by supplying food 
upon which the enemy thrives, for who can pull up a Lettuce plant 
and not leave the major part of the little knobs on the roots behind ? 
Gas lime is the best cure for eelworm, but it can only be applied to bare 
soil, and some time must elapse before the ground can be sown or planted 
again. Still it is an excellent disinfectant of soil from which plants 
have been removed that were infested with eelworm. So, also, is 
sulphate of iron, indeed all sulphates, but there is nothing so effective 
as a change of soil and crop. Tomato growers should not use the 
same soil year after year, but bring in fresh, free from eelworm 
infection, and this is what many of them do. 
Black Currant gall mite appears to have found its master in Paris 
green, but how this can reach the insects in the galls is unexplained. 
Facts, however, are preferable to theory ; yet it would be interesting to 
know for certain when the mites are likely to be killed by caustic lime 
—that is, when the mites are on the ground, and what they do there. 
These being seen in such hosts as we sometimes have represented as 
being present at the base of the bushes and on the scales of the buds 
passes our understanding, for though microscopic objects may be visible 
to the naked eye in the aggregate or in heaps as mildew appears like 
white dust or meal, it requires a straining of the imagination to see 
them individually with the best of pocket lens. Of course, the arsenic 
or the copper of Paris green may be absorbed by the plants in such 
quantity that their juices may kill the mites (which is doubtful), for it is 
certain it cannot otherwise affect them through the gall. 
The bearing of these reports is not only to collate facts respecting 
the diseases of crops, but to interest all cultivators in matters essential 
to the most profitable cultures, leading them from the uncertainties and 
disadvantages of foul land to the known and substantial beneficence of 
clean crops. No less than thirty-six attacks of injurious insects, eel- 
worms, and fungi are treated historically and scientifically, in a popular 
and exhaustive manner, with illustrations of infestations and the 
insects in the perfect or larval state causing them, besides the four 
beautiful full page photogravures of fhe slime fungus infesting 
Turnips and Cabbages, and Tomato plant attacked by eelworm, the 
whole embodying a record of diseases prevalent throughout this country 
in 1892, with methods for their preventic® and remedy. It may be 
said that the sixteenth report surpasses in excellence of elucidation and 
information previous reports, which is saying a great deal, but not too 
much, for they get larger and better each year, and place all cultivators 
of farms, forests, and gardens under great obligations to the gifted 
author. We cordially recommend the sixteenth report as deserving of 
the careful perusal of all interested (and who is not ?) in the cultivation 
of crops.—G. Abbey. 
THE WAKEFIELD PAXTON SOCIETY. 
The annual dinner of the members of this Association was held in 
the Society’s large room on the 12th inst., and was in all respects highly 
successful. The room was crowded, and the adjoining library had to be 
utilised as a means of affording food for the body as well as the mind. 
The esteemed President of the Society, Major Taylor, J.P,, presided, and 
was supported by the Mayor of the city (C. J. S. Booth, Esq.), Mr. 
Alderman Milnes, and other public ofiicials. The repast provided by 
Mr. Oakes of the Saw Hotel was an excellent one, the speeches delivered 
were much appreciated, and the beautiful singing of members of the 
choral union was greatly enjoyed. 
The Wakefield Paxton Society has been established sixteen years, 
and consists of amateurs and gardeners, the former predominating. 
It is admirably managed, and its position as an active and useful 
educational organisation is generally recognised. If it continues increas¬ 
ing it will soon have 300 members. Forty-six meetings were held 
during the past year, all of an educational character, and the whole 
expenses were met by an outlay of a little over d630. An excellent 
library has been formed, and includes, as all such libraries should, 
valuable works of reference on gardening, national history, and scientific 
subjects. This is better than frittering money away on cheap manuals 
that members of such institutions can obtain for themselves. An extract 
from the annual report will indicate the character of the excellent 
Society and its work. 
The Committee, in presenting this the sixteenth annual report, are 
pleased at being able to congratulate the members on the highly satisfac¬ 
tory position of the Society at the present time. The work of the past 
year has been of a distinctly progressive and beneficial character. 
Taking in order of importance the weekly meetings, these have been 
well attended, the average attendance at each meeting being forty-one. 
The subjects treated of have been of a varied character, gardening and 
horticultural topics taking the lead, ectures on various scientific subjects, 
travels and other questions of general knowledge agreeably relieving the 
programme of essa} s issued from time to time. Forty-six meetings have 
been held during the past year, and at forty of these a lecture or essay has 
been delivered. 
We are pleased to note that an arrangement was made at the commence¬ 
ment of the winter session for the delivery of a series of lecture.s on •' The 
Elementary Principles of Botany,” by some of the memiers, who take a 
deep interest in the pursuit of this science. We are glad to report that 
these lectures have been highly appreciated by both classes of members— 
amateurs and professional gardeners—being recognised by them as a means 
of conveying and explaining the most important facts relating to the 
structure and functions of plants, which knowledge enables anyone to better 
perform and understand the practical operations of gardening. The dis¬ 
cussions at all the meetings have invariably been of a highly interesting 
and intelligent character, and have been the medium for eliciting valuable 
information. The Committee desire to express their best thanks to 
members of societies in other towns for their assistance in the delivery 
of essays. 
The main object of the Society being the promotion and diffusion of know¬ 
ledge on horticultural and cognate subjects, the Committee feel that their 
efforts in this direction have been amply rewarded bv the results named, and 
BO long as this most important branch of the Society’s work is carried on in 
the same vigorous manner which has been the case during the past year, 
the members need not fear for the stability and welfare of the Society, which 
has been built up on this basis being maintained. 
The members’ roll now stands at 286, being a net increase for the year of 
eighteen; twenty-nine new members have been made and eleven struck off 
the list, seven by reason of death and four by removal from the city. 
In last year’s report the offer of the Journal of Horticulture was referred 
to, and it was then announced that the competition for an essay on “ Educa¬ 
tion on Gardening,” would be open to all the Yorkshire societies. This has 
taken place and we are pleased to note that a silver medal was awarded to 
Mr. Thomas Garnett for his e-^s-ay on the subject named. A second medal 
was also awarded to Mr. Smith of Sheffield, both essays being considered by 
the judges as excellent. We congratulate both gentlemen on their success, 
and trust the essays, which have been published, have proved a benefit to 
the gardening profession. 
The medals referred to were presented in appropriate terms by the 
President, and the recipients in acknowledging them were much 
applauded. Mr. J. Wright proposed the toast of the Paxton Society. 
The chief speakers during the evening were the President, the Mayor, 
and Messrs. J. Haigh (Sheffield), C. D. Watson, G. W. Fallas (Hon. 
Sec.), Herbert Chapman and Alderman Milnes. The proceedings were 
most enjoyable throughout, and the Paxtonians are looking hopefully 
forward to the future. 
THE CONIFERS AT DROPMORE. 
[A paper by Mr. A. CECIL Babtlett, Foreman at Dropmore Gardens, read before the 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association on Ajwil 6th.] 
The planting of the Conifers at Dropmore was commenced early in 
the present century by Lord Grenville, but the first Conifer planted by 
him was a Cedrus Eibani in 1792, and is now a splendid specimen 
104 feet high, with a girth of 12 feet 9 inches at 3 feet from the ground. 
Contrary to general expectation the soil in which the trees are planted 
is not very good. It is chiefly light and gravelly, the substratum 
gravel and sand, into which the trees root freely. And unlike many 
pinetums where the trees are grouped mostly in a confined area, here 
they are scattered about, some having the protection of forest trees, and 
planted without any formality or design. Some of the best trees have 
been periodically assisted by top-dressings of clayey loam, old potting 
soil, and any refuse likely to decay. 
Araucaria imbricata (the Chili Pine) has been planted largely. The 
finest specimen is over 70 feet in height—a noble tree, with branches 
sweeping the ground on all sides ; it has a spread of branches 38 feet in 
diameter, and in shape is a perfect cone. It is a male tree, producing 
numbers of pollen-bearing catkins every year. This tree has an ideal 
position—sheltered, yet not crowded, planted on a knoll about 60 feet 
from the edge of a lake. The spot on which the tree is planted was 
once a gravel pit, which was filled up when the lake close by was made ; 
therefore it has the benefit of a good depth of soil and perfect drainage. 
The tree was bought at a sale in the Chiswick Gardens in 1829 and 
planted in 1830. Amongst the Araucarias planted at Dropmore the 
majority of those bearing pollen catkins grow more vigorously than 
those producing fertile cones. In a group planted 1842 the largest is a 
male tree over 50 feet in height, fully 12 feet taller than the female 
trees, one of which bore thirty fertile cones in 1891, 
Noteworthy at Dropmore is the Cedar avenue, composed of 140 trees 
of Cedrus Libani, planted some eighty years ago, and now averaging 
over 85 feet in height and 1\ feet in girth, and, although planted 50 feet 
apart, and 40 feet in the lines, the effect would have been greater now 
if the trees had been allowed 20 feet more room each way. Viewed 
from the carriage drive from the Taplow entrance the effect is granil 
and imposing. Cedrus deodara, the Himalayan Cedar, thrives wonder¬ 
fully well. In fifty-three vears one specimen has attained a height of 
72 feet, with a girth of 9 feet 9 inches. The largest C. deodara was 
destroyed by lightning in 1881, and was then considered the finest 
specimen of its kind in the kingdom. The trunk near the ground 
measured 12 feet 3 inches in circumference, and good boards 38 inches 
in width were cut from it. Cedrus Libani argentea makes a beautiful 
tree ; when the sun is shining upon it it bears a strong resemblance to 
C. atlantica, so much so that it is difficult to distinguish any great 
difference between the two species, except that the points of the 
branches of C. L. argentea are not so erect as those of C. atlantica. 
