August 11, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
123 
- Devon and Exeter Horticultural Society. — The 
autumn Show of this Society has been fixed for November 11th, and is 
to be held at Exeter. 
- Mr. W. R. Williams, the able gardener at Seymour Court, 
Maidenhead, has been appointed gardener to John F. Hall, Esq., 
Sharcombe, Wells, Somerset, where he will have scope for the exercise 
of his taste and skill. 
- Conference of Gardeners’ Associations at Tunbridge 
Wells.—A full report of the proceedings at the Conference of Gardeners’ 
Associations held at Tunbridge Wells on July 6th has been issued, price 
3d., and those interested may procure copies from the Secretary, 
Mr. D. G. Cornwell, “ Courier” Office, Tunbridge Wells. 
- Cercis siliquastrum.— May I state that I am anxious to 
obtain a few pods of the Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum), of which I do 
not know any specimens accessible hereabout. Perhaps some readers of 
■the Journal may be able and obliging enough to let me have an example 
of these.— John R. S. Clifford, Gravesend. [We shall be glad if 
our correspondent and esteemed coadjutor succeeds in obtaining the 
pods in question.] 
- Cassia corymbosa. —Introduced from the West Indies by a 
Lambeth nurseryman as long ago as 1796, this plant at the present time 
is seldom seen in any other than a botanic garden. Where grown in 
pots it flowers sparingly. This note is written with the object of 
bringing this plant under notice, as in large gardens, where variety is 
wanted, a bed of it would be a novelty and a pleasant surprise. It is no 
trouble to propagate either from seeds or cuttings, and is not particular 
as to soil. At the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens at Chiswick a 
circular bed is planted early every summer, and the plants kept dwarf. 
They quickly form a mass of pretty green pinnate leaves, from the 
axils of which, towards the end of July, the corymbs of bright golden 
yellow flowers are produced in abundance. Many large establishments 
might produce fine beds of this Senna, provided it is planted in a 
sheltered position.—C. K. 
- Wild Flowers.—I was interested in the description and 
figure of Linaria Peloria (page 85). It grew wild hereabout at one 
time, and has grown for thirty years in a neglected state at the root of 
a Pear tree. I enclose a flower spike, and would like to know if it is 
the same as the one referred to. There is another wild flower with 
foliage not unlike the above, its flowers being like miniature Antirrhi¬ 
nums, yellowish in colour and pretty ; but it is a noxious weed. Can 
you name it 1 I also send a prettily formed blue flower, attractive to 
bees. It resembles the Prince of Wales’ Feathers. Please name it too. 
I have a continuous flowering Ox-eye Daisy or Marguerite, the blooms 
being 3 inches across. It makes a pretty border plant, each flower 
lasting a month. I also have Veronica repens with three faint streaks 
of blue on the petals, different from the one cultivated. Mine grows 
wild near here.—W. T., Blantyre. [The Linaria Peloria spike is the 
same as the one figured on page 85. The miniature Antirrhinum-like 
plant is Linaria vulgaris, a native and progenitor of the variety Peloria. 
The blue flower is Phacelia tanacetifolia, a Californian annual.] 
- The National Amateur Gardeners’ Association. — A 
party numbering nearly fifty members of this Association had their 
usual half-day’s outing in Kent this season. They visited Messrs. H. 
Cannell Sc Sons’ nurseries at Swanley and Eynsford. At the Home of 
Flowers, the 150 feet house filled with Carnations and Cannas was the 
chief attraction ; but the most remarkable object was a fine bloom of 
Stapelia grandiflora. This remarkable Cactus-like plant produces 
flowers resembling the Starfish, measuring 7 inches across, and covered 
with soft downy hair half an inch long; its colour is somewhat like 
the dull rosy cheek Apple. Its odour is exactly opposite to the Rose 
and Carnation, and somewhat resembles tainted meat, attracting 
numerous blow flies. They deposit eggs in the centre of the flower, and 
in a few hours live maggots are distinctly seen crawling about, evidently 
after something agreeable, which the flower does not supply. All, 
particularly the ladies, were astonished, so much so that it was said it 
looked uncommonly like a mistake in Nature. It was evident the flies 
had make a mistake. After tea at the Lullingstone Castle Hotel Mr. 
Cannell conducted the party over his extensive grounds at Eynsford 
Here the acres of Violas and Double Stocks seemed to astonish them, 
and after loading themselves with flowers they continued their journey 
among the annuals, vegetables, and ripening fields of coin ; returning 
to the station at eight o’clock for home, apparently delighted with their 
outing in Kent. 
- Roses at the Mansion House.—I t will be remembered 
that reference was recently made in the Journal to a Rose Show and 
fete held at the Mansion House in aid of the Royal Hospital for Women 
and Children, Waterloo Bridge Road, London. We are now able to 
announce that as a result the Lady Mayoress has been able to hand over 
to Mr. Edwin Lawrence, Chairman, and Mr. R. G. Kestin, Secretary, a 
cheque for £1028 9s. 9d., the net profits. This is the noblest feature of 
the past Rose season. 
- Filmy Ferns at Kew. —A new house for Filmy Ferns has 
just been erected on the north side of the large Fernery (No. 2), aud 
the plants removed from the old house (No. 3), which is to tie replaced 
by one more suitably adapted for the cultivation of temperate Fern?. 
The Filmy Fern house is 50 feet by 14 feet, with a central path and 
two cases running the full length of the house. The Cooper-Forster 
collection is now incorporated with the Kew plants, the whole forming 
an exceptionally rich collection of these delicate little Ferns. 
- A Beautiful Lantana. —A short time ago I observed a 
Lantana employed as an edging to a flower bed in Messrs. Veitch and 
Sons’ Nursery at Chelsea that struck me as being particularly beautiful 
and useful.. It only grows 4 to 6 inches high, and is covered with 
brilliant yellow flower heads. It comes into bloom very early, and 
flowers continuously until October. Its name is Drap d’Or. A plant 
like this would be most valuable in bedding arrangements, and I was 
not surprised to hear that many who see it order it at once.—P. 
- The Gamma and Small Ermine Moths.—N ot long ago I 
noted the abundance of the Gamma moth this season. As yet, however, 
the caterpillars have not been abundant, but rather the other way— i.e., 
scarcer than usual. I shall be curious to note if they are reported as 
numerous elsewhere. It may have been that many perished when young 
from some cause, or possibly the eggs have remained unhatehed as 
yet. One of our familiar pests is very unpleasantly common this year 
in our district (Gravesend), the Small Ermine (Yponomenta padella).— 
J. R. S. C. 
- Summary of Meteorological Observations at Hodsock 
Priory, Worksop, Notts, in July. —Mean temperature of the mouth, 
56 0°. Maximum on the 3rd, 810°; minimum on the 25t.h, 38 7°. 
Maximum in the sun on the 3rd, 1363° ; minimum on the gras3 on the 
21st, 32 - 0°. Mean temperature of the air at 9 A.M., 58T°. Mean tempera¬ 
ture of the soil 1 foot deep, 57'9°. Total duration of sunshine in the 
month 112 hours, or 22 per cent, of possible durat.on ; six sunless days. 
Total rainfall, 2T4 inches ; rain fell on eleven days. Average velocity 
of wind, 8'0 miles per hour; the velocity exceeded 400 miles on three 
days, and fell short of 100 miles on seven days. Approximate average 
for July :—Mean temperature, 60 - 7° ; sunshine 160 hours ; rainfall, 
2 42 inches. The coldest July for at least seventeen years, and the 
dullest but one (1888) of the last eleven years. A temperature 
of 70° was only reached twice. Sunshine is very much wanted.— 
J. Mallender. 
- Changes in the Kew Staff. —The “Kew Bulletin” for 
July and August contains a very complete article, with plate, on Sugar¬ 
cane borers in the West Indies. An announcement is also made of 
several changes in the staff. Mr. William Truelove retired from the 
service of the Royal Gardens on April 30th last, after serving twenty-six 
years as foreman of the arboretum, a position which he filled with great 
credit to himse'f and satisfaction to his superior officers. Before coming 
to Kew Mr. Truelove had charge of the then famous Bicton arboretum, 
and his selection to fill the post from which he has retired has been 
justified in every way. From small beginnings—the number of ligneous 
plants cultivated in the open air at Kew was comparately very small 
twenty-six years ago—the Kew arboretum has developed to a consider¬ 
able extent; at the present moment it contains about 3000 species and 
named varieties—excluding garden varieties of such plants as Roses, 
Rhododendrons, Hibiscus, See. The Superannuation Act of 1887 having 
practically abolished the peusions to which men in Mr. Truelove s 
position were formerly able to look forward, he was on retirement only 
entitled strictly to the gratuity of £47 103. which the Treasury awarded 
him. But in consideration of his exceptional services the First Com¬ 
missioner was pleased to make a special application on Mr. Truelove’s 
behalf to the First Lord of the Treasury. This obtained for him a 
further grant, though it was expressly stipulated that this was not to 
be regarded as a precedent for the future. The Board recorded the 
award in the following minute :—“ In dispensing with his services the 
