85G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 4, 1893. 
- Cabnation Pbide of Great Britain. —Mr. T. S. Ware 
sends us from Tottenham a bloom of this yellow Carnation, which he 
describes as unquestionably the best yellow Carnation ever raised. It 
is a border variety, and a very robust grower. The bloom is one of the 
largest we have seen, equalling in that respect Souvenir de la Malmaison^ 
and pure, soft, yet bright yellow in colour. 
- Apple Buds and Sparrows.—I t is nothing fresh to me to 
hear of these pests stripping “ W. B. Kaillem’s ” (page 311) trees of the 
bloom buds. I look upon the sparrows as far more destructive in 
the fruit garden than the bullfinch ; they favour the bloom buds of 
Pear trees more than the Apples. Nothing but a persistent war both 
winter and summer will lessen the damage annually done by this bird. 
In the same way I persistently kill all squirrels that enter the garden, 
or the woods for the matter of that.—E. M, 
- Bedding in Battersea Park. — The bedding which is 
always such a noticeable feature in this charming park, has this year 
been started at an unusually early date. Already Lobelias, Zonal 
Pelargoniums, and Gazanias are being planted, and it is to be hoped 
that no frosts will now come, which will have a bad effect on them. 
However, I learn that Mr. Coppin, the Superintendent, is very wisely 
keeping plants in reserve, so that he is quite prepared to replace what 
may be killed or seriously injured.—H. J. W. 
- Cycas revoluta Flowering.—M r. A. Parrott of Cymlyn i 
Burrows, Swansea, writes:—“I have a female plant of Cycas revoluta j 
flowering here, which thirteen years ago had only five leaves, which 
I think rather unusual in one so young. Will any of your 
correspondents kindly give their experience if that is the case ? And 
if anyone who has a male plant in flower will send cone, if seed result 
I will equally divide the same.” [Cycas is dioecious, that is, the male 
and female organs are on different plants; so that “suckers or side 
shoots” from a female plant will not produce male plants.] 
- Chislehurst and District Gardeners’ Mutual Im¬ 
provement Association. —The above Society brought to a close a 
most successful winter session by an annual dinner on the 26th ult., when 
between sixty and seventy members and friends were present. The 
President, Mr. Lyne, gardener at Foxbury, along with the Hon. Sec. 
and other officers, have reason to be pleased with the present condition 
of the Society. During the past session many interesting papers were 
read. A circulating library of books of horticultural interest has 
been instituted in connection with the Society. 
- The Drought and Fire Engines.—T he urgent need for 
water in many country districts for the purposes of irrigating the land 
has led Mr. J. C. Merry weather, head of the well-known firm of fire- 
engine manufacturers, to send us particulars respecting the use of fire 
engines for watering crops and shrubs. We know how adapted a fire [ 
engine is for pumping water through long lines of light, portable, and 
flexible hose piping, by means of which, with suitable nozzles, cither i 
a heavy shower or a fine spray can be used on any part of an estate in 
a very short space of time. Messrs. Merry weather inform us that they 
are ready to advise farmers and landowners on the subject, and will 
undertake to lend the necessary machines at a few hours’ notice. 
Many estates now maintain excellent fire engines both of the “ Brigade” 
and “Squire’s” pattern, and these might also be brought into service 
for irrigating purposes. We have seen them so used with excellent 
results. 
- Dry Weather in France,—I t would seem that the spell 
of dry weather has been experienced on the Continent as well as in 
some parts of this country. A daily contemporary observes :—“ The 
long-continued dry weather, which has now lasted in France for about 
seven weeks, is beginning to cause grave anxiety among agriculturists. 
Cereal crops are almost everywhere suffering greatly. The Clover and 
Lucerne crops are seriously endanged all over the country. Wheat, 
especially in the Beauce district, which is known as the granary of 
Paris, is generally withering and dying. In the north the drought 
threatens to be equally detrimental to the Beetroot crop. Beet sown 
after the beginning of the previous month is in a bad condition, as 
there has not been the moisture in the soil which is necessary for the 
proper development of the seed. Vines, on the other hand, which 
have so far given excellent promise, have not yet experienced any ill 
effect from the dry weather, and have only received a slight check from 
a few very cold nights recently, especially in Lower Burgundy, Aude, 
and the Orl^annais. In the Beaujolais and Bordelais districts, and in 
Champagne, however, the appearance of the vineyards is splendid.” 
- Lilacs in Battersea Park.—I t is now many years sine? 
I have seen the Lilacs in Battersea Park so fine as they have been this 
season. The quantities of bloom have been extraordinary. Unfortu¬ 
nately, owing to the hot dry weather, the flowers have very rapidly 
faded, and much of their beauty has, in a measure, been lost to the 
surrounding inhabitants, who so highly appreciate this delightful resort. 
—E. H. W. 
- Botanist to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.— 
We learn from the “Garden and Forest ” that Mr. Frederick Vernorb 
Coville, one of the staff of the botanical section of the Department of 
Agriculture of the United States, and recently associated with Mr. 
E. Hart Merriam’s Death Valley Expedition, has been appointed chief 
of the botanical division of the department, in place of the late Dr. 
George Vasey. 
- Pampas Grass Plumes. —In the April number of the “Over¬ 
land Monthly ” it is stated that Pampas Grass was first introduced into 
the United States in 1848 from South America, where the area covered 
by this Grass amounts to 1,500,000 square miles. The plumes have beert 
grown for market in California only since 1872. From one tract of 
28 acres in that State, 260,000 plumes were sold in 1890. In California 
the Grass grows to a height of 20 feet, and a single stool attains an 
equal diameter. The principal market for the plumes is in London and 
Hamburg. 
- The Hortus Lodge of Freemasons. —Kecently a consider¬ 
able number of hortieultural members of the Masonic fraternity from 
various parts of the country assembled at Freemasons’ Hall, Great 
Queen Street, W.C., to take part in the consecration of the Hortus 
Lodge, for the establishment of which H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, 
M.W. Grand Master, has been pleased to grant a Warrant of Consti- 
; tution to a small but influential body of metropolitan horticulturists. 
1 We understand that membership of the new lodge is to be restricted as- 
! closely as possible to members of the horticultural community. 
- A “ Kewite-S ” Dinner. — We are informed that the Kew- 
gardeners gave a complimentary dinner on the 26th ult. to Mr. G. H. 
Krumbeigel and Mr. Willie, who are departing from Kew, the former 
i to Baroda and the latter to the botanic stations on the Gold Coast. 
Some forty-seven persons, including several old Eewites, sat down tO’ 
dinner. The gathering included representatives of England, Ireland, 
^ Scotland, Wales, Germany, Belgium, France, and Switzerland. 
! - Midland Counties Pansy Show at Tamworth.—P ansy 
^ cultivators are reminded that this great gathering of growers and 
I flowers will take place at Tamworth, which is about half way betwixt 
I Birmingham and Derby, on the main Midland line, on the 24th of this- 
month, and the date will evidently just suit the Pansy, as the season is 
to very early. Violas will also be exhibited extensively at the same 
Exhibition. Schedules can be had from Mr. W. Dean, Dolphin Boad, 
Sparkhill, Birmingham, the Hon. Secretary. 
- Presentation to Mr. M’Hattie. — A presentation was- 
made recently to Mr. M’Hattie, gardener to the Marquis of Lothian, at 
Newbattle, on his departure to assume the charge of the gardens of the 
Duke of Wellington at Strathfieldsaye. There was a large attendance 
of members of the Scottish Horticultural Association and other friends, 
including several ladies. Mr. Malcolm Dunn made the presentation- 
which consisted of a gold watch with appendages, and a purse of 
sovereigns, while at the same time Mrs. M’Hattie was presented with a 
ring. 
- Early Blossom. —Mr. W. K. Woodcock writes from Taunton:— 
“ I see a correspondent from Bridport (page 338) sends you some 
Hawthorn ‘ nearly out in bloom.’ I think hereabout it must be 
still earlier, for more than a week since I noticed Hawthorn fully in 
blossom in the lanes, and at the present date (April 28th) the double 
flowering scarlet and pink varieties are making a fine display in many 
gardens in this neighbourhood. On the walls of the dwelling houses 
Honeysuckle, Clematis indivisa, climbing Boses, especially Gloire de 
Dijon and a small yellow Bose flowering in clusters (probably Fortune’s 
Yellow), and Wistaria sinensis (the latter past its best) are everywhere 
making a grand display. Chestnut trees around here are very numerous, 
many of them exceptionally large and fine specimens, and all are now 
in their greatest beauty, being very full of blossom. Lilacs and Berberis 
have been very full of blossom, but are now past their best. Nightin¬ 
gales are numerous here. In the course of a short drive a few nights 
since I heard five birds in full song. They come so close to the town 
that I hear them singing from my bedroom,” 
