168 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER .. 
[ Augrut 25, 1622. 
- Honey and Flowers.—O n the road from Khandala to the 
famous Cave of Karli, in India, says Miss North, in her recently pub¬ 
lished “ Recollections of a Happy Life.” she came upon “ a 6plendid 
tree of Jonesia Asoka full of orange flowers and delicate leaves. The 
priest of the temple found me one fine flower growing through a 
honeycomb full of honey which had been built round its stem. This 
was a very curious thing.” She adds : “ Did the buds push their way 
through the honey and wax, or was the thing built quickly round 
them ? I never satisfied myself which was the first perfected.” 
- The Great Vine at Maneesa House, Roehampton.—I 
read with special pleasure the note of “ A Countryman ” on this 
recently, and it has been my farther privilege since doing so to see the 
famous Vine. It is not my intention to describe it, except to say that 
the Grapes, some 840 bunches, were ripe when I called, and a fine pomo- 
logical picture they presented—a piece of successful gardening practice 
that deserves, as it has had, the highest possible praise. The hint thrown 
out by your correspondent that such a triumph of cultural skill may be 
thought worthy of a Veitch Memorial medal is well worth acting upon. 
It would be a fitting recognition of Mr. Davis’s skill, - J. B. 
- Prize Carnations in a Cottaoe Garden.—A bout a w'eek 
ago I received a circular from Mr. Joe Edwards, 44, Herbert Street, 
Blackley, Manchester, intimating that his Carnations and Picotees would 
be in perfection from the 10th to the 24th. On Sunday afternoon I 
availed myself of the invitation, and was wonderfully struck to observe 
that such grand flowers could be obtained within two and a half mile3 
of Manchester on the east (the worst) side. The day previous he had 
won several prizes amongst some of the best growers in England, both 
at Birmingham and Manchester, and all out of a cottage garden. His 
collection contains a selection of the best varieties in each class of both 
Carnations and Picotees, but the seifs are mostly of his own raising, and 
are far ahead of anything I have seen in the way of Clove Carnations. 
They embrace almost every shade of colour that can be produced in the 
Carnation.— James Percival. 
- Barnard Castle. —The forty-ninth annual Show, promoted 
by the Barnard Castle Floral and Industrial Society, was held in the 
CaBtle grounds. The weather in the morning was of the most wretched 
description. During the afternoon, however, the day brightened, and 
became very fine. The entries were equal to last year’s Show, and con¬ 
sidering the late season of a very high order. The stove and greenhouse 
plants were a capital show, and brought several fresh exhibitors. In 
the open classes the following were the principal prizewinners :—Mr 
Jas. Tullet, Itaby ; Mr. Wm. Boulger, Rokeby ; Mr. Wm. Coulthard, 
Barnard Castle; Mr. George Finlay, East Layton; Mr. W. Mason 
Startforth ; Mr. George Danby, Yaim ; Mr. J. F. Grainger, Fence 
Houses ; Mr. Robert Moore, Fence Houses ; Mr. J. Marshall, Startforth ; 
Mr. John Howe, Mr. R. J. Knaggs, and Mr. Jos. Howe. 
- Phenomena or Plant Life.—A n interesting paper on this 
subject was recently given by Mr. John Haigh before the members of 
the Walkley (Sheffield) Amateur Floral and Horticultural Society. In 
the course of his remarks he referred to the marvellous work performed 
by vegetation ; the usefulness of forests ; the distribution of plant life 
on the globe, from the red snow plant existing in the arctic regions 
to the mighty natives of the tropics. He touched on the benefits 
derived from growing plants in rooms ; gave examples of plants yielding 
a considerable quantity of ozone ; mentioned Alpine plants ; and con¬ 
trasted the vegetation of temperate and tropical zones. He then went 
on to describe in a graphic manner the seed and its functions, the 
work of the leaves, as well as the chemical changes which take place 
in the cells; how the various shapes of the cells of plants were 
caused, and the different kinds of wood produced; also the green 
colouring of plants. Consideration was given to roots and their 
functions, and how they absorbed food. The amount of water in the 
constitution of plants was referred to, a few examples of the various 
quantities in different plants being given. Mr. Haigh then called 
attention to the nature of plant cells, and the function of the stomata 
of leaves ; also to the evaporation taking place from plants, the various 
kinds of inflorescence, and the types, shapes, and colour of flowers. 
In describing the production of seed, he explained why in most cases 
it was so abundantly given ; pointed out its infinite variety of size, 
and its numerous benefits to mankind. The colours of fruits, the 
outside structure of seeds, nuts, &c., claimed some reference, and he 
concluded with touching upon microscopic, epiphytal, and parasitic 
plants. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Haigh for the 
instruction and interest he had compressed into his paper.—E. D. S. 
- Trade Exhibits at Shows.—M ay I be permitted to suggest 
that it would be a great convenience to visitors at horticultural shows 
and increase the business of the trade exhibitors, if those in charge of 
such exhibits were to wear a badge bearing the names of their respective 
firms ? I have often myself found difficulty in identifying trade repre¬ 
sentatives when I have been wishing to give orders, in fact have 
sometimes been unable to do so, and what has affected me must also 
have affected others. It not unfrequently happens that those in charge 
of exhibits are not near their stands, indeed may be in another part of 
the Show altogether, and in such instances especially it would save 
w 7 ould-be customers considerable trouble if they could “ spot their 
man” wherever they met him. Such a badge as I suggest might be a 
neat circular leather one such as officials of shows wear, and no one, 
either principals or representatives, need think it derogatory to wear 
it. — Hon. Sec. [The suggestion of our correspondent, who i» 
an ardent amateur and admirable official, appears worthy of con¬ 
sideration.] 
- The Herb Sweet Mace.—A correspondent, whose name we 
forget, sent us in the spring a small offset of the herb that is known a.s 
Sweet Mace, with a request for its botanical name. The offset was 
planted, and now that flowers are produced the plant is identified as 
Achillea serrata. We are informed that it is grown as a culinary herb 
in gardens in the North of England, and that a “ few sprigs of Mace” 
are often asked for by cooks. The mace of commerce, we may add, is 
the seed-coat or aril of the Nutmeg, and is in the form of a lacerated 
membrane. When fresh it is of a blood red colour, but becomes brown on 
drying. This is the most aromatic part of the fruit and contains essential 
oils. It softens in the mouth, but does not melt; its taate is warm, 
aromatic, fragrant, and similar to a mixture of Cinnamon and Cloves, 
but more intense. We cannot detect any resemblance to the flavour of 
the true Mace in the so-called “ Sweet Mace ” of gardens. If our 
correspondent sees these lines he will perhaps be good enough to inform 
us for what special purpose the herb is used. 
- Mr. Owen’s Nursery at Maidenhead. —While at Maiden¬ 
head recently a Journal representative walked up to Castle Hill and 
called at Mr. Owen’s nursery there. He found the head of the 
establishment, who is evidently a believer in the old adage that if you 
want a thing done well you must do it yourself, at work amongst his 
Chrysanthemums, and his skill was evidenced in the splendid condition 
of the whole collection. About 4000 plants are grown, and it is very 
difficult to imagine better pictures of robust, vigorous health. There are 
several hundred seedlings, amongst which are many varieties of great 
promise. All are remarkable for sturdy growth and splendid foliage. 
With flowers of corresponding quality there will be something to be 
proud of. Such encouraging results have attended Mr. Owen’s previous 
experiments in seedling-raising that the large scale of his present 
operations in this direction can hardly be wondered at. There is also a 
fine collection of Begonias, very noteworthy for their compact, self- 
supporting habit; and, amongst many other features of interest, a 
beautiful display of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums. Mr. Owen has achieved 
fame in the improvement of this valuable class, and the two magnificent 
varieties, Souvenir de Charles Turner and Beauty of Castle Hill, speak 
eloquently of his skill and judgment. All through the nursery the 
stock is in fine condition, and may be inspected by anyone with pleasure 
and profit. 
- Flowers for Perfume. —Once more the musical cry of the 
Lavender girl is heard in the London streets, says “ The Morning,” and 
the fields of Mitcham, Carshalton, and Beddington are yielding their 
fragrant harvest. The Lavender farms of Mitcham constitute one of 
the oldest industries of that part of the country, and in the middle ages 
the parish was heavily tithed in consideration of the profits derived 
from it. Although the Lavender is in reality a Mediterranean herb, it 
is nowhere more profitably grown than in England, the quality of the 
attar extracted from the plants in Surrey, parts of Hertfordshire, and in 
East Kent being far superior to that produced in any other part of the 
world. The most delightful form of agriculture might be considerably 
extended, as we are compelled to import annually foreign essential 
oils, which might just as well be produced in the country. Nor is 
there, so far as we can see, any reason why the Surrey farmers should 
not add to their plantations of Lavender, Thyme, and Mint, Rose 
gardens, with the object of producing the attar for which we annually 
pay large sums to the growers of Bulgaria, Persia, and India. The 
industry is a most lucrative one, and in do country does the Pvose attain 
greater perfection than it does in our own. 
