434 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 1, 1893. 
Events op the Week. —Horticultural events of special interest 
are not particularly numerous in the metropolis during the ensuing week. 
As mentioned below, the Committees of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will meet at the Drill Hall, James Street, S.W., on Tuesday, June Gth, 
and the first exhibition of the London Pansy Society will also be held 
on that day and at the same place. 
- The Weather in London. —Bright sunny days have pre¬ 
vailed during the past week. On Monday afternoon, however, occasional 
showers occurred, and during the night a refreshing rain fell. Tuesday 
was fine, and the same may be said of Wednesday, the weather appear¬ 
ing settled as we are going to press. 
-Weather in the North.—T he weather has been cooler 
generally during the past week. Friday and Saturday last were two 
of the finest days we have had. Sunday was rather cold in the 
afternoon, and a good deal of rain fell during the night and on the 
forenoon of Monday. Tuesday morning was fine, rather cool, but 
aunny and pleasant. Lowest night temperature 43° during week.—B. D., 
S. Perthshire. 
- A Rose Show at Earl’s Court. — We are informed that 
arrangements have been made to hold a supplementary show of Roses 
at the Gardening and Forestry Exhibition, Earl’s Court, on June 14th 
and 15th. Liberal prizes are offered, which should bring forth a keen 
competition in the seventeen classes provided. 
- Royal Horticultural Society. —The next meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society will take place in the Drill Hall, James 
■Street, Victoria Street, Westminster, on Tuesday, June 6th. Besides 
the usual display of plants, flowers, fruits, &c., the members of the 
London Pansy and Violet Society will compete for prizes offered in the 
schedule. At three o’clock Sir John Llewelyn, Bart., will lecture on 
“ Hardy Rhododendrons and Azaleas.” 
- The Temple Show, —As our pages are being prepared for the 
machine we receive the following official statement :—“ There was no 
■doubt as to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Temple Show being a 
great success from an exhibition point of view, and it is an agreeable 
task to be able to record the fact that it was also a financial success. The 
receipts exceed those of any previous year, and this is remarkable, con¬ 
sidering the great number of people who were ‘out of town’ on their 
Whitsun holidays, and that the Show had to stand on its own merits, 
without having had the advantage of a royal duke to perform the 
opening ceremony.” 
- Can Plants See?—D arwin gave it as his opinion that some 
of them can, and according to the “Daily News” an Indian botanist 
relates some curious incidents which tend to verify the belief. 
Observing one morning that the tendrils of a Convolvulus on his 
verandah had decidedly leaned over towards his leg as he lay in an 
attitude of repose, he tried a series of experiments with a long pole, 
p'acing it in such a position that the leaves would have to turn away 
from the light in order to reach it. In every case he found that the 
tendrils set themselves visibly towards the pole, and in a few hours had 
twined themselves closely round it. 
- Electric Light and Plant Structure.—M r. G. Bonnier 
has conducted some interesting experiments to ascertain how the 
structure of herbaceous plants is influenced by exposure to the electric 
light. He finds, according to the “ Comptes Rendes,” that direct 
electric light is prejudicial to the normal development of the tissues on 
account of its ultra-violet rays. Generally, when considerable develop¬ 
ment, accompanied by intensification of the green colouration, is caused 
by continuous electric light, in plants growing under glass shades that 
intercept excess of ultra-violet radiation, at first high differentiation 
cccurs in the structure of the organs ; but an intense light, prolonged 
unchanged for months, causes remarkable modifications of structure 
in the various tissues of such new organs as are capable of adapting 
themselves to the illumination. Less differentiation then takes place 
in ihese organs, though they are always rich in chlorophyll. 
-Botanical Appointment. —We understand that Dr. N. Wills 
has been appointed ordinary Professor of Botany at the University and 
Director of the Botanic Gardens at Christiana. 
- The Japanese Garden is said to be a decided feature at 
the World’s Fair at Chicago. It is a complete miniature garden, with 
walks and bridges, and filled with the curiously trained plants for which 
Japan is noted. 
- “Johnson’s Gardeners’Dictionary.”—T he fourth part of 
the new edition of this well known dictionary has been issued. As in 
previous instalments the work is well done, and plants from Feronia to 
Indigofera are described. 
- Richmond Horticultural Society. — The nineteenth 
annual summer Exhibition of this Society will be held in the Old Deer 
Park, Richmond, on Wednesday, June 28th. A liberal schedule has 
been prepared, and a good Show no doubt will result. 
- Scottish Potatoes in America. —It is reported that large 
quantities of Scottish Potatoes are being shipped weekly from the 
Clyde to United States ports. Two steamers for New York recently 
took out 944 tons, which are valued at £3620. 
- Bristol and West of England Carnation Society.— 
Mr. F. W. Baker, the Honorary Secretary of the new Society, referred 
to on page 416 last week, informs us that arrangements have been made 
to hold the first Show in the Clifton Zoological Gardens on the 19th of 
July. The High Sheriff of Bristol is President this year. Schedules, 
we are informed, will be out in a few days. 
- A Children’s Floral F£te. —A Floral Fete for children 
will be held under the auspices of the Royal Botanic Society, at the 
Gardens, Regent’s Park, on Wednesday, June 21st. Prizes are offered 
for single and double mail carts, goat chaises, tricycles, ponies, and sedan 
chairs decorated with flowers. Special prizes will also be given for 
groups of plants and flowers. Ferns, hanging baskets, and window 
boxes. 
- Small Holdings near London.—U nder the auspices of the 
Small Holdings Committee of the London County Council, thirty-six 
plots have been let on the Millmeads, some low-lying land around 
the Abbey Mills Pumping Station, where forty-two further plots will 
shortly be ready for letting. Some land at Plumstead, Charlton, and 
Millwall will shortly be secured for the same purpose, and the Committee 
further propose to temporarily use portions of Hackney Marshes for 
allotments, at the same time raising the level of the marshes, which are 
at present subject to flooding. 
- Flowering Shrubs at Lamport Hall.—I was very much 
interested in reading the account in your last issue (page 418) of the 
flowering shrubs at Lamport Hall. I can fully endorse Mr. McKinlay's 
statement respecting the same. I was for five years foreman in the Hall 
gardens and had good opportunities of observing the beautiful trees and 
shrubs which adorn the plantations. Ceitainly they are worth going a 
long distance to see. Visitors to Lamport should also inspect the rockery, 
where they will find objects of interest to repay them for the journey.— 
G. Freeman, Aheley Wood House, Bmliingham. 
- Evolution in the Flower.—A t a recent meeting of the 
Ealing Microscopical and Natural History Society, the Rev. G. Henslow 
presiding, Mr. J. N. Green, Professor of Botany of the Pharmaceutieal 
Society, London, delivered a lecture on “Evolution in the Flower.” 
The lecturer, described the structure of a typical flower, and dealt in an 
interesting manner with the processes under which fertilisation or 
pollination of certain flowers is effected by means of pollen involun¬ 
tarily conveyed from one flower to another flower of the same species by 
insects (flies and bees) which visit the flowers for the purpose of 
extracting honey from them. 
- The Tree Lupin (Lupinus abboreus) is at present very 
fine ; a large plant of the yellow variety, over 6 feet high, having more 
than 100 spikes in bloom. The light yellow flowers are very pleasing at 
this period, and, as the plant continues in flower for a month or two, it 
is very acceptable from its distinct appearance. The lilac form is no 
less beautiful, but is less valuable where the varieties of L. polyphyllus, 
L. nootkatensis, or other blue kinds are grown. The yellow variety 
associates well also with the Delphiniums, which will be in flower before 
it is over. The Tree Lupins are short-lived generally, but grow readily 
from seed, and may be increased by cuttings in the summer.— 
S. Arnott. 
