816 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 20, 1893. 
- Instruction in Ornithology. —A daily contemporary 
observes :—A Government entomologist in one of the colonies suggests 
a scheme for the instruction of the farmer in ornithology and its 
relation to agriculture. He proposes farmers should be assisted to form 
collections of insectivorous birds, labelled with specimens of their nests 
and eggs, so that they might distinguish between the birds which do 
service to the agriculturist and those which do harm. The sooner such a 
system as this is introduced into this country the better ; for farmers and 
those who have the care of orchards and gardens sadly need guidance in 
the use of the gun. Many friends of farmer and gardener are destroyed 
on mistaken suspicion. 
- Primula rosea. —Mr. W. U. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens, 
Stamford, observes :—“ Although this is undoubtedly hardy as far as 
the plant itself is concerned, the recent severe frosts have injured the 
flowers very much here, and they have presented a miserable appear¬ 
ance, quite different to what I anticipated. The abnormal amount of 
sunshine and dry weather we have had lately have possibly had a little 
connection with this failure, as none of the Primula family have suc¬ 
ceeded so well this spring as usual. If we could only accommodate 
them with a cool house during the flowering season we might induce 
the trusses to develope to the utmost perfection.” 
- Horticultural Club. — The usual monthly dinner and 
conversazione took place at their rooms, in the Hotel Windsor, on 
Tuesday evening, April 11th. The chair was occupied by Sir J. D. T. 
Llewellyn, Bart,, the Chairman of the Club. There was a good attend¬ 
ance of members, including the Rev. W. Wilks, Rev. T. Handley, Messrs, 
Geo. Bunyard, E. Cockett, G. Paul, Harrison Weir, H. Selfe Leonard, 
and Dr. Soper. The discussion was upon “ Hunting for Alpine Plants,” 
and was opened with a very interesting paper by Mr. H. Selfe Leonard, 
in which, after describing the necessary outfit for anyone engaged in 
this pursuit, he gave a graphic description of his wanderings in 
the Dolomite region of the Southern Tyrol and in the Engadine, which 
he regarded as two of the richest fields of the Alpine flora in Europe, 
presenting, as they did, that of the granitic and calcareous formation. 
He showed how in the Dolomite region, especially where the two 
formations ran side by side, how completely distinct were the plants 
found on each. With regard to cultivation, he explained some of the 
difficulties attending it, owing not only to the various requirements of 
the plants, but also to the varying character of our winters, warm and 
sunny days being often succeeded by severe frosts and snow, while in 
the alpine districts the plants were covered with snow throughout the 
winter, which kept them warm and dry until the frost broke up in the 
spring. An interesting discussion took place, in which most of the 
members joined. A cordial vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Leonard, 
on the proposition of the Chairman. The Secretary announced that a 
special dinner would take place on the 25th inst., to do honour to 
M. Henri Correvon, of Geneva. 
- Spraying Fruit Trees.—O n Saturday, the 15th inst., the 
Stott Co. were invited to give an exhibition of their appliances for 
the prevention and destruction of insect and other pests by some 
members of the Evesham Fruit Growers’ Association. The time fixed 
was 10 A.M., in the orchard of Joseph Martin, Esq., ex-Mayor of 
Evesham. Numerous fruit growers were present from Toddington, 
Evesham, and Pershore, including Messrs. Martin, Wise, Chichester, 
Field, Hooper, Brodie, Bullough, Gregory, Pollard, King, Clarke, and 
Gunnal. All the varied appliances and insecticides of the Company 
were experimented with. Mr. Stott, for the first time, brought out a 
30-gailon engine. This engine is filled with a patent quadruple acting 
wing pump. Two patent insecticide distributors were fixed on the 
handles of the pump, and from each distributor a length of hose pipe 
being attached, and the new adjustable spray being used. The distri¬ 
butors being charged with killmright, various bushes and trees were 
sprayed with the solution given off. The result was everything that 
could be desired, caterpillars, aphis, and red spider being quickly de¬ 
stroyed. The working arrangements of the pump were fully explained, 
and it was shown that it is almost impossible to become choked with 
sand or other sediment. The patent syringe was next charged and 
used on black fly, the result instant death. This being an informal 
meeting of the fruit growers of the district, the results were so 
satisfactory that it was decided to invite the members to meet at 
11.30 on Saturday next at Lord Sudeley’s, Toddington. Mr. Stott 
expressed his thanks, and remarked he should only be too pleased 
to give a further demonstration. 
- Allotments in Islington. —A short time since we an¬ 
nounced that an effort was being made to ensure allotments for working 
men in Islington, and we now learn that “ the West Islington Allotment 
Gardens Association ” held a meeting recently at the Drovers’ Hall, 
Metropolitan Cattle Market. The chair was taken by Mr. T. Lough, M.P. 
It was proposed that the Association should consist of the Trustees and 
other officers, the allottees, and such honorary members as might be 
elected by the Committee. The charge for allotments will be from 
5s. to lOs. a year. 
- Viola Management. —I grow a goodly number of Violas for 
summer bedding. Where many persons make a mistake in their culture 
is in selecting the wrong cuttings. Those springing direct from the 
base are the best ; these taken off from 1 to 2 inches long the first 
week in October, dibbled thickly into boxes of sandy soil, and wintered 
in cold frames, root readily. The second week in March a temporary 
frame is made up with turf, and the plants put out in rather light 
sandy soil with a base of Mushroom-bed refuse 2 inches thick. The 
roots run freely into this, and the plants are removed to the open 
ground without receiving any check to free growth.—E. M. 
- Vines and Vine Stocks.—A part from the influence that 
one particular stock has over another variety in the growth and finish 
of the fruit, grafting affords opportunities for introducing other 
kinds into an established vinery. It is generally acknowledged that 
it is a bad plan to plant young canes in an old border. Even if 
such Vines succeeded, they need more time to carry an equal crop of 
fruit than canes that are the result of grafting. Striking instances 
have occurred showing the effect of grafting upon certain varieties. 
I remember seeing two Vines of Madresfield Court that were grafted 
on Black Hamburgh stocks ; the berries in both cases cracked very 
badly, while another Vine of the same variety growing on its own 
roots in the same border was never known to have a split berry. 
—E. M. 
- The Young Gardeners of Falkirk.—I was very much 
interested with the remarks of “ A. G.” (page 292) concerning the young 
gardeners of Falkirk and district in petitioning their employers for a 
holiday on Saturday afternoon. It is most gratifying that some of the 
gentlemen conceded to their wish. All the men employed on this estate 
cease work at 1 p.m. on Saturdays. They have enjoyed this privilege for 
about two years now ; it was the wish of my employer. I can assure 
“A. G.,” or the head gardener mentioned, the arrangement works well, 
and I find I have quite as much work done now as I did when the men 
worked all day on Saturday. My young men do not leave me to do the 
work on Saturday afternoons ; they each take their turn the same as on 
Sundays. I am very pleased to see the young men have proposed to 
form a gardeners’ mutual improvement society.— Fred. J. Thorne, 
Sunning dale ParTt. 
- Green Vegetables. —There can be no doubt but that the 
long spell of dry weather has seriously checked the development of 
autumn-planted Cabbage*, and whilst many plants have been induced 
to bolt off to flower, others have remained almost stationary. We may 
expect to find all forms of green stuffs, and Cabbages especially, some¬ 
what scarce and dear shortly. But the exceeding value of some of the 
coarser Kales has been well demonstrated recently, and those who had 
Datch Curled, Cottagers’, and Hundred-headed Kales, also tall Sprout¬ 
ing Broccoli, have derived great benefit from them. Whilst so many 
of the White Broccolis were killed by the hard weather early in the 
winter. Sprouting Broccoli has stood very well, and when gathered in a 
young state it is a very delicious vegetable. Turnip tops are now 
pretty well over, and even these have been far from plentiful. A late 
sowing, made specially to produce tops, proved to be of much greater 
use than did earlier ones that produced good bulbs, as these suffered 
severely in the winter. If it were generally the practice to raise a few 
hundreds of hard small Swede Turnips, store them during midwinter, 
and plant them up thickly early in March they would give a most valu¬ 
able addition to our commonly scant green vegetables at this time of 
the year. The discovery that Round Flanders Spinach sown in the 
autumn is far hardier, and gives far better results in leafage, than 
the Prickly-seeded variety during the winter should help to make 
Spinach culture for the winter much more popular. Those who 
have of Cabbages either Ellam’s Early, Matchless, or some other 
of the early small-headed varieties have much to be grateful for, 
as these precocious sorts are of the greatest value for this time of 
the year.—A. D. 
