November 24, 1892, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
459 
- Agapanthus UMBELLATUS albus.—A m I right in supposing 
there are two distinct plants under this name ? “ Rectory,” page 416, 
says he cannot get it to flower, and I must confess that I am equally 
unsuccessful, although I have grown two plants of it for several years. 
These were obtained from a highly respectable nurseryman. But on 
page 438 Mr. Edward Costate says he flowers it well by treating it 
the same as the blue variety. The plants I have would not answer 
to this treatment, as they naturally die off every autumn, while 
the blue variety retains the greater part of its foliage and flowers 
abundantly every year. — W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens, 
Stamford. 
- Proposed Winter Garden for Dundee.—A t the recent 
Dundee Chrysanthemum Show ex-Lord Dean of Guild M'Grady ex¬ 
pressed the hope that before long they might have a winter garden 
established in one of their public parks. People in Dundee, he said, 
were very well off now in the matter of public parks, and in the 
summer time no more health-giving resort could be had than these 
parks. While the community could either visit these or take a ramble 
into the country during the summer time, they found that in the 
winter season they were very much confined. He thought therefore 
nothing could be more attractive than the establishment of a winter 
garden in Dundee. 
- Stapelia gigantea. —According to the “ Kew Bulletin ” this 
"Stapelia is now represented at Kew by a specimen bearing six flowers 
and buds. It is a native of Zululand, where it was discovered by Mr. 
Plant thirty years ago and sent to Natal, from whence it was sent to 
England by Mr. Cooper, at that time collector for the late Mr. Wilson 
Saunders. Although in cultivation so long, there is no record of the 
plant flowering until October, 1888, when a specimen in the rich collec¬ 
tion formed by the late Sir George Macleay at Pendell Court flowered, 
and was figured in the “ Botanical Magazine,” t. 7068. The flowers 
vary in size from 8 inches to 14 inches in diameter ; they are coloured 
pale yellow mottled with red-brown, and are covered with fine whitish 
hairs. 
- Woolton Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
At the last meeting of this Society a very good idea was tested. A 
“ question box ” is provided, in which anyone can place a written 
question. The questions are taken out and answered if possible by the 
members present. The plan answered very well. Mr. J. Glover, gardener 
to Sir A. B. Walker, Bart., Gateacre Grange, then read a sound practical 
paper on the “ Cultivation of the Bouvardia,” and the following varieties 
—of which he had specimens on the table—were recommended :— 
President Garfield, double red; President Cleveland, Alfred Neuner, 
Hogarth, Priory Beauty, Yreelandi, Jasminoides, and Humboldti. The 
■double varieties he more especially recommended owing to their lasting 
properties.—R. P. R. 
- The Opening of Kew Gardens.—T he desirability of the 
earlier opening of the Royal Gardens, Kew, was discussed at the meet¬ 
ing of the Richmond Town Council on Wednesday, November 16th, and, 
as the result, the following resolution was unanimously passed :—“ That 
a deputation, consisting of six members of this Council, be appointed to 
wait upon the First Commissioner of Works on a day hereafter to be 
arranged to make a humble request that the Royal Botanic Gardens at 
Kew be opened daily for the admission of the public at 9 o’clock a.m. 
This Council is of opinion that the Government by granting this con¬ 
cession would be acting in the interest of botanical science, saving 
visitors from distant parts of the kingdom much disappointment and 
loss of time, while it would confer a much-coveted boon upon those 
living in the neighbourhood and in the metropolis.” 
- English Fruit in India. —The cultivation of English fruit 
in the neighbourhood of Simla is about to be tried on a very extensive 
scale. During the next seven years, says an Indian magazine, the 
Punjab Government is prepared to carry out a scheme for its careful 
cultivation, the annual cost being estimated at 2000 rupees. Large 
gardens are also being planted near Naini Tal, Almorah, Raniket, and 
many parts of the Himalayas. Kashmir has always been celebrated for 
its delicious fruits, its Apples, Pears, Grapes, Apricots, and Walnuts. 
On the Nilgiris also most of these fruits flourish. At Ootacamund, 
Coonoor, and Kotagiri, may be found examples of carefully kept 
gardens where, in that perfect climate surrounded by lovely masses of 
English flowers, English fruits flourish luxuriantly. Even the wild 
fruits of England, such as Blackberries and Raspberries, grow in 
quantities on the hillsides and amoDg the bracken ; and wild Straw¬ 
berries are also to be found there. 
- Nova Scotian Apples.— At the opening of the Dundee 
Chrysanthemum Show recently Mr. Low, in referring to a collection of 
Canadian and Nova Scotian Apples, said: “ Unfortunately we in this 
country could not produce anything equal to these either in quality or 
in variety, but we were closely connected with the colonies, and it was 
very pleasing to know that those on the other side of the ocean are able 
to place in the market such splendid fruit.” The above remarks may 
apply to Scotland, but they certainly do not to the British Isles gene¬ 
rally. At Earl’s Court and elsewhere this year I have seen some magni- 
cent collections of splendidly coloured Apples that could hold their own 
with any produced in the colonies. What say other Britishers ?—C. 
- Blue Titmice and Fruit Buds.—I notice our old friend, 
“ A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper,” falls foul of these little busybodies as 
“ scourgers of Currant and Gooseberry bushes and devourers of bec 3 .” 
As this is quite contrary to my observations in both respects, I most 
respectfully ask for the observations of other readers. I have watched 
them as a practical observer, in both respects, for forty years, but can 
safely say I never found them injure either. I have seen them tear 
open buds on Pear trees, and have driven them hastily away and climbed 
20 feet or more to examine the identical bud, and found it contained a 
“ worm i’ the bud” which “ Tommy ” was bent on fetching out. They are 
the best scale destroyers we have, either on fruit, Ash, or Sallow. They 
are also among our best friends for destroying caterpillars and aphides. 
The only birds which take my fruit buds are house sparrows and bull¬ 
finches. I have caught twenty-four of the latter in trap cages in my 
garden lately.— J. Hiam, Astwood Bank. 
- Liverpool Horticultural Association.—L ast Saturday 
evening the first meeting of the session was held in the Committee 
Room, Wm. Brown Street. W. Fletcher Rogers, Esq., the Hon. 
Treasurer, presided, and there was a good attendance. Mr. Thomas 
White, the Chairman of the Association, read a paper on “ Bulbous 
Plants,” dealing with the Hyacinth, Tulip, Crocus, Narcissus, Scillas, 
Ixias, and others, tracing their history and varieties. Messrs. Sargent, 
Ranger, and Ker took part in the discussion, the latter dealing especially 
with the early cultivation of the Tulip. Mr. Harrison, Knowsley Hall, 
followed, and gave some interesting details of bulbs grown outdoors at 
Knowsley, mentioning Yallota purpurea, Lilium giganteum, and others. 
A suggestion was made by Mr. Ker that more of the Liverpool gentlemen 
should be induced to attend the winter meetings, and it was hailed with 
evident satisfaction by all present. A vote of thanks to the lecturer 
and the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.—R. P. R. 
- Cyclamens at Reading.—W hile at Reading Show last week 
I seized the opportunity of visiting Messrs Sutton & Sons’ nurseries to 
see the Cyclamens of which I had heard so much praise. I was 
astonished and delighted by what I saw. The sturdy plants were 
carrying a profusion of beautiful flowers. Several houses are devoted 
to them, though the plants are not yet all in bloom, they being in 
various stages of development. Amongst the most noticeable in 
flower was a new variety named C. persicum Salmon Queen. This is 
one of the most charming in the whole family. The colour is a 
delicate salmon shale, and when sent out this variety will doubtless 
quickly become popular. Vulcan wa3 another exceedingly striking 
variety in bloom. The flowers of this are dark crimson, and perfect 
in shape. Butterfly is a charming white, and with Vulcan and Salmon 
Queen form a most beautiful trio. In the structure devoted to 
the giganteum section Giant White was decidedly the most pro¬ 
minent. It is a grand strain, the flowers being of the purest white, 
and absolutely faultless in shape, standing well above the foliage. 
The Giant Crimson and White is also very striking, the upper part of the 
flowers being pure white and the base bright crimson, forming a most 
pretty combination. Giant Rose was also in splendid condition. These 
plants, Mr. Martin, Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ skilful grower, told me had 
been taken to Cheltenham and Gloucester, the results of which were 
recorded in the Journal last week, and yet the foliage and flowers were 
remarkably fresh. I would advise any of your readers who happen 
to be in or near Reading, to call and lee these Cyclamen.—H. J. W. 
THE MUSTARD BEETLE. 
Mr. F. Enoch has contributed some interesting and valuable note# 
on this insect to a recent number of the “ Entomologist.” He believes 
that at present this pretty but destructive beetle is steadily on the 
increase in the Mustard-growing districts, where not unfrequently it 
ruins the entire crop. This species, Phaedon cochlearise, or betulae less 
correctly, was first found doing serious mischief near Ely in 1851, 
though there is a passing notice of it in Curtis’s 11 Farm Insects ” of 
1841. During June Mr. Enoch, from “ information received,” was led 
