898 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 18, 189-3, 
- Winter Cos Lettuces. —Theve seems even still to be some 
doubt as to the relative value of white and black-seeded Bath Cos 
Lettuces for winter work. Really both these varieties are suitable only 
for planting at the base of south or west walls in the autumn to stand 
the winter, as if some are to be wintered in frames any good white Cos 
is best. The white-:eeded Bath Cos is perhaps the hardier, but is a 
spreading form that needs much tying. The black-seeded has darker 
leafage, and grows erect, hearting-in naturally. Probably a good stock 
of hardy Green Cos is as good as either of these for exposed winter 
growth.—D. 
- Royal Botanic Society. — The second of the series of 
annual lectures given at the gardens of the Society took place May 12th, 
when Professor Groves, F.L.S., dealt in a popular manner with the 
“ Life History of Ferns.” Tracing the formation of Fern spores from 
the first slight swelling upon the under side of the mature frond, to the 
production of the perfect sori or case, with its countless dust-like spores, 
the lecturer briefly sketched their further development, first as small 
green leaf-like bodies lying flat upon the soil, through the subsequent 
formation and fertilisation of other spores arising from them, to the 
second and final birth of the infant Fern. This “ alternation of genera¬ 
tion,” as it is called, is that which divides Ferns from flowering plants, 
for while true seeds when planted grow at once into the likeness of 
their parents. Fern spores have to pass an intermediate existence before 
they reach the same stage. 
- The Wakefield Paxton Society. —At a recent meeting of 
this Society Mr. Bott gave a very interesting paper on “ Nature’s Notes.” 
At great length and with much lucidity he described the marvellous 
contrivances by which Nature effects the elaboration and protection of 
buds of various trees, and then expounded in detail the functions of 
leaves and flowers in the economy of plant life. Taking his audience 
on an imaginary rural ramble, Mr. Bott noted the wonderful wealth 
of vegetation that a grass field or a plantation possesses for the investiga¬ 
tion of an observant eye, and remarked that our English woodlands and 
dales were not to be excelled or equalled in this respect even by tropical 
climes. All Mr. Bott’s descriptions were clothed in graphic and poetic 
language, and evinced how keen an appreciation he has for the riches 
of our botanical surroundings, of which so many people are utterly 
oblivious. 
- Double Pyrethrums. — Few plants requiring such simple 
culture are more useful and showy than these. Like the whole genus 
they will grow fairly well in almost any soil, but still they repay liberal 
treatment under such conditions. Their showy flowers come much finer, 
and the footstalks which support them are of greater length, while the 
Fern-like foliage is improved by growing stronger, and thus breaking 
away from the cushion-like form of weaker clumps. They look 
exceedingly well when planted either in beds, borders, or lines, and may 
be termed almost continuous summer bloomers, for if the flowers are cut 
for use as soon as they have expanded, or, when not required for that 
purpose, removed as soon as their beauty is over, others are quickly 
produced. When it is desirable to increase the stock the clumps should 
be lifted every alternate year in October or February, divided into 
pieces having two or three crowns and replanted. The following are 
excellent varieties :—Album plenum, white ; Captain Nares, bright 
crimson ; Dr. Livingstone, flesh colour ; Duchess of Edinburgh, mauve; 
Marquis of Bute, reddish crimson ; Mont Blanc, the best white; J. R. 
Tweedy, brilliant red ; and Nancy, blush white, yellow centre.—H. D. 
- Tulips at Kew. — Walking through Kew Gardens last 
week I noticed some brilliant beds of Tulips near the lake, and 
seeing that they were all named I began to take notes of the best, 
beginning with a couple of beds of mixed varieties, whieh, though 
getting over, were very beautiful. Then I stepped on to the grass to note 
Tulipa micropelia, rich purple scarlet ; T. fulgcns, having long broadly 
expanded pointed petals of a reddish crimson ; and T. spathulata, not 
unlike Gesneriana, but larger, when I was hailed by a man wearing a 
uniform, and rudely told to get off the grass. 1 mildly remonstrated that as 
the Tulips were labelled for the information of the public I was but 
getting a few names. But no, off I had to come, although no notice was 
posted, so far as I saw, that I was interdicted from going on to the grass, 
I regarded the method of hailing me as most offensive, and would ask 
the Kew authorities to instruct their keepers to be rather more courteous, 
especially when they see anyone taking notes. A courteous remark that 
getting on to the grass there (it is not forbidden elsewhere in the 
gardens) was contrary to regulation would have been as courteously 
regarded.—A. D. 
- Flowers in London. —Even in our smoke-begrimed city, and 
in quarters where one would least expect to see any such oases, one’s 
eyes are gladdened every now and again by the sight of many a pleasant 
little garden plot that is nurtured by its owner with all the loving care 
that a resident in the suburbs bestows upon his little “estate-” 
Only the other day, in a retired nook leading out of Bartholomew Close, 
says a correspondent in the City Press, I was shown quite a little picture 
in the way of cultivation. The plot in point is about 2 yards square,, 
and is hemmed in on all sides with factories, and yet, thanks to the care- 
the owner bestows upon it, the passer-by is given the sight of a thick 
clump of Lilies of the Valley, each plant being crowded with blooms. 
The cottages around are also gay with Pelargoniums and other plants 
that flourish under adverse circumstances, 
- The Weather during April at Ripley, Yorks. —April 
was a very bright dry month. There were twenty-two bright days ;; 
on four days the sun shone at intervals, and four dull days. The total 
rainfall amounted to 0 69 of an inch, which fell upon six days, the 
greatest daily fall being 0 26 on the 16th, Mean reading of barometer 
30-26. Mean maximum temperature 59 6^ Mean minimum tempera¬ 
ture 33'2°, Mean temperature of month 46 4°. Highest maximum 
temperature 75° on 24th, lowest minimum temperature 22° on 12th and 
14th. As 1 write (May 11th) there is still no sign of the much-needed 
rain, and shallow-rooting subjects are quite at a standstill, though the 
deeper rooting occupants of plots and borders do not show any signs 
of suffering at present. Aphides are on Plums and Cherries, also cater¬ 
pillars on Apricots and Pears are very abundant, entailing a deal of 
hand-picking and syringing with soapy water, else from their numbers 
they would have worked considerable mischief. — J. Tunnington, 
Rqiley Castle Gardens. 
- Grimwood V. Weeks. —An action was brought in the Chancery 
Division on the 13th inst. by the executors of a deceased partner 
(Mr. George Deal) against the surviving partners, composing the firm of 
Messrs, J. Weeks & Co,, Horticultural Builders, Chelsea, asking that 
the partnership affairs should be wound up. The object of the action 
was to ascertain what were the rights of the parties according to the true- 
construction of a somewhat loosely drawn indenture deed. To this end 
several points were raised. The first was w’hether or not the defendants 
were entitled to take over the share of the deceased partner at a valua¬ 
tion. His Lordship said the matter seemed a somewhat complicated one. 
As the parties were agreed as to the amount of the share, why should 
they not settle by arbitration the amount payable, with interest at 5 per 
cent, on the first portion to run from the death of Mrs, Weeks in 1891 7 
Mr. Chadwyck Healey stated the defendants would like to pay down the 
whole sum due. It was eventually agreed that an account should be 
taken of the deferred portion of the assets, with interest at 5 per cent- 
from the date of the death of Mrs. Weeks, to be paid within one month 
after the amount was ascertained, together with the sum due on the 
account to March 31st, 1885, with interest from the death of Mr. Deal, 
defendants to have liberty to pay not less than £2000 at any time ; and 
no costs to be allowed on either side. 
Orchids at Mark’s Tey. 
Messrs. Fred. Horsman & Co.’s Orchid nursery is situated 
near the station at Mark’s Tey, a few miles from Colchester. The 
firm is specially celebrated for a fine strain of Odontoglossum 
crispum, collected under the supervision of Mr. John Carder, and 
as another consignment is to hand from him it is not surprising to 
find thousands of that species lying about the houses and packing 
sheds. Many of the masses are of an enormous size. Other 
imported Orchids in large numbers are O. citrosmum, Lselia albida, 
Epidendrum vitellinum majus, Schomburgkia rosea and Chysis. 
The established plants are in a healthy condition. They are 
mostly in long, low, span-roofed houses, arranged on stages covered 
with coal ashes. The ventilation and shading appears to be perfect. 
Openings are provided in the walls for the air to enter beneath the 
stages both above and below the hot-water pipes. The shading is 
home-made, of lath, similar to the Parisian blinds. These are what 
