460 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 24, 1892. 
to visit the Mustard fields in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, where he soon 
made acquaintance with vast armies of the foe busily attacking both 
brown and white Mustard. He was impressed with the fact that not only 
does the larvae or grub of the species devour the Mustard just as the beetle 
itself does, both were at work together; the plants were blue with 
the elytra of thousands of beetles, and besides them were hosts of young 
larvae, rapidly reducing the leaves to skeletons! Having an ordinary 
bag-net with him, Mr. Enoch began to beat the drills for about fifteen 
minutes, boxing the captives he had made that he might count them 
afterwards. On examination he found that in this short time he had 
beaten out upwards of fifteen thousand! The eggs were not difficult to 
detect, being on the under side of the leaf, but the parent ingeniously 
scrapes a slight hollow in the cuticle, and by this means each egg is 
protected from harm should the plants be blown about. On a single 
leaf he counted as many as 700 odd eggs, and a plant he examined had 
no less than 9234 ! In company with these beetles were also many 
caterpillars of the diamond-back moth (Plutella cruciferarum), making 
it all the worse for the unfortunate plants. Mr. Enoch is not prepared 
to suggest any special remedy for this insect, but he believes the number 
of beetles might be greatly reduced by use of a sweeping net at the 
right time, as they fall into it readily, being most sluggish.— 
Entomologist. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
November 15th. 
Scientific Committee.— Present: Mr. McLachlan (in the chair), 
Mr. Morris, Dr. Miller, Dr. Russell, Rev. W. Wilks, Prof.Green, Prof. Oliver, 
Dr. Bonavia, Mr. Wilson, Prof. Church, Rev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 
Injury to Plants by Fog. —In accordance with the proposal of the 
Scientific Committee made at the last meeting, the Council of the Royal 
Horticultural Society have passed the following resolutions in reference 
to the investigation of the nature and injuries to plants by fogs. 
1, That the Royal Horticultural Society, through its Scientific Com¬ 
mittee, having devoted considerable attention to the effects of London 
fogs on cultivated plants, is of opinion that the increasing prevalence 
of these fogs is causing great inconvenience and loss to horticultural 
interests within the metropolitan area ; and as these interests are asso¬ 
ciated with one of the largest and most important enterprises of plant 
cultivation under glass carried on in any part of the world, it is a 
matter of the greatest importance that the circumstances connected 
with the chemical compositions of these fogs, their origin and extent, 
the amount of sulphurous acid contained in them, as well as the 
diminution of light caused by them, should be carefully and exhaustively 
investigated. 
2, This Society, being also of opinion that London fogs are detri¬ 
mental to public health, and are calculated to render London an 
undesirable place of residence for many months of the year, as they 
interfere with trade and public business, and cause serious loss to the 
community generally, invites the co-operation and support of kindred 
societies and all organisations interested in the subject, in a representation 
to the London County Council to institute an inquiry into the causes 
and circumstances of these fogs, with the view of reducing their injurious 
character, or if possible removing altogether the causes which have led 
up to them. 
On the suggestion of the Scientific Committee the Council agreed to 
set apart one of the propagating pits at the Chiswick Gardens, for the 
purpose of carrying out experiments during the current winter to 
mitigate the effects of fogs on cultivated plants. It was also agreed to 
inform the Chiswick Board of this arrangement, and to request the 
Superintendent to give what assistance he could in carrying out the 
suggestions of the officers placed in charge of the experiments. 
Dr. Russell stated that he thought it would be of great importance 
with regard to the fog question if a comparative and simultaneous 
series of determinations of the amount of light could be carried out at 
once, both in the City and outside London, in order to thus obtain a 
more exact idea of the enormous loss of light experienced in the City 
during the winter months. With the object of familiarising himself 
with the method adopted by the Manchester Committee, he was experi¬ 
menting with their process. 
Garden Labels. —Mr. Morris remarked on the difficulty of finding 
any material suitable for labels. They had tried a great variety at Kew, 
but the best in being most durable was a strip of lead with the name 
stamped upon it. He exhibited a sample from the garden of 
A. Cushney, Esq., Pains Hill Park, Cobham, dated 1774, on which the 
name “White Magdalen Peach” appeared to be as sharply indented as 
at first. It is said, however, that the lead of the present day, in conse¬ 
quence of its being purer through desilverisation, would probably not 
last so long. 
Lilium auratum. —Mr. Wilson mentioned that a single bulb of this 
plant in his garden had thrown up eight flowering stems. When dug up 
it was found to have developed seven good well-formed and large bulbs. 
It grew in a good vegetable and loamy soil. 
Wellingtonia Infested with Fungi.— Specimens of fallen leaves and 
shoots of this tree were sent from the gardens, Orton Hall, Peter¬ 
borough, with numerous small white agarics growing upon them. It 
proved to be Mycena hyemalis, Osbech. 
Alder Leaf Perforated. —Mr. Wilks showed a dead leaf of Alder very 
symmetrically perforated with two series of holes. It was most pro¬ 
bably due to a sudden chill on the expansion of the buds in spring. A 
similar occurrence is not infrequent in Horse Chestnut and other leaves 
from such a cause. 
Some of the Newer Roses. 
I have been very pleased with the notes on Roses by W. R. Raillem, 
which he has given in the Journal of Horticulture at different times. 
His description of varieties are so good that anyone wanting Roses- 
should have no difficulty in selecting good reliable sorts from 
his list. 
In his recent notes on newer Roses (page 394) he did not mention 
Madame Hoste. This and Ernest Metz I consider among the best that 
have been sent out lately. Madame Hoste is a fine exhibition Rose, 
and is equally good for all other purposes, giving an abundance of first- 
class blooms. We had Ethel Brownlow three years before it produced 
a bloom fit to cut, but this year it has done well, giving several first- 
class flowers ; but it has never grown strongly with us. It is an excellent 
exhibition Rose when it comes good, but it is not free enough to 
recommend for general purposes. Souvenir de S. A. Prince is one of 
the newer Roses. It is a good grower, free bloomer, with an agreeable 
fragrance, pure white, and opens well in all weathers.—J. L. B. 
Early MarSchal Niel Roses. 
On the resplendent beauty of this Rose there is little need to dwell, 
as for years past it has been an object respecting which rosarians of 
widely diverging opinions have united in expressing unqualified admira¬ 
tion. Unrivalled for brilliancy of colour, faultless in shape and form,, 
combined with fragrance that leaves nothing to be desired, it is unsur¬ 
passed by any other Rose of its class. Its robust constitution, too, is 
quite in keeping with its other good features. Its growth is strong and 
vigorous, its flowering qualities are of the freest, and its general stamina 
is excellent. For these reasons its position among the limited number 
of Roses suitable for flowering at Christmas may be considered 
impregnable. Nothing w li serve to show the popularity of this variety 
in a better light than a glance down the list of market prices towards- 
the end of the year. The superior price which the flower-loving public 
is willing to pay f >r Marshal Niel Roses is a tribute to its value that 
speaks more elo \u ntty than words. 
Whatever may be the failings of this Rose when cultivated in the 
open air (and in this respect I am aware it is not without detractions) 
there is nothing uncertain in its habits when treated generously under 
glass. It is there, no doubt, that we see it at its best. Certainly it only 
gives one crop of flowers each season, but it must be admitted that it 
produces an immense quantity, and by judicious management it is 
possible to prolong its period of blooming for a considerable time. 
For early flowering there can be no question as to the decided 
advantage which plants in pots possess over those planted out. When 
in borders they are liable to various complications from which the 
potted plants are entirely free. These are so obvious that they can be 
seen at a glance. The plants are under entire control, thus enabling the 
cultivator to keep them in any required state of moisture, and the roots 
are prevented from penetrating into unsuitable soil when in pots. This 
is a great check to canker as a rule. Moreover, Roses in borders are 
more or less fixtures in the house, while plants in pots can be removed 
to different atmospheres and temperatures as the occasion may require. 
As a means of securing well-ripened wood, what is equal to a removal 
outdoors after growth is completed? This becomes an easy matter 
when the Marshal Niel is cultivated in pots. 
Unless the growths are thoroughly matured and ripened the best 
directed efforts can only end in disappointment. The eyes, instead of 
producing plump buds, reward us for our pains with nothing but blind 
growths. Large plants in borders sometimes act in this manner, but 
there is no reason whatever why plants in pots should suffer from this 
cause. As the new growths begin to push the old leaves remaining 
gradually turn yellow and fall off. 
Seasonable Notes. 
At this time of year, perhaps the greatest hindrance to success is 
want of light. The loDg nights and short gloomy periods of daylight 
are evils incidental to the season, and therefore unavoidable. The mists 
and fogs that abound all tend to intensify troubles of this nature and to 
make matters worse. But much may be accomplished to minimise the 
damage done. In this district (Enfield) we are badly afflicted with fogs, 
which arise from the marshes that bound us on the east. This has 
induced some good growers to defer their efforts in Rose culture to a 
later and brighter season of the year. Fogs bring in their train a host 
of evils, among which I may mention mildew, utter cessation of growth, 
crippling of the foliage, and decay and deformity in the flowering buds. 
The treatment just now should all point towards counteracting these 
after effects. The nasty deposit left on the glass, and which places the 
occupants of the structure in a sort of twilight, must be washed off as 
often as it appears. 
Vexatious as this process undeniably is made by frequent repetition, 
nothing less will serve to keep matters straight inside just now. A little 
top ventilation when the opportunity occurs should be given to admit 
fresh air and to allow the -tagnant atmosphere to escape. Root-watering 
