September 15, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
237 
Events of the Week. —There is a break in the long run of 
■shows, and the ensuing week will be a very quiet one, affording oppor¬ 
tunities to attend the various auction sales now announced. A meeting 
of the Brighton and Hove Chrysanthemum Society will be held to-day 
(Thursday, September 15th), and the usual Committee meetings of the 
Royal Horticultural Society will take place on Tuesday, September 20th, 
at the Drill Hall. There will be bulb sales at Mr. J. C. Stevens’ rooms, 
King Street, Covent Garden, on Thursday, Monday, and Wednesday. 
On Friday, September 16th, there will be a sale of Orchids at Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris’s rooms, 67 and 68, Cheapside; sales of bulbs will 
be conducted every day ; and there will be sales of plants on September 
19.li and 22nd. 
- The Weather in London. —Showery and cold weather 
prevailed when our last issue was published, but towards the end of the 
week it became brighter and much warmer. Still higher temperatures 
were registered on the 11th, though the early partof the day was cloudy, 
and the 12th was close and hot. The barometer fell considerably 
towards night, but the 13th remained bright, warm, and fine. At the 
time of going to press the barometer shows a considerable rise, the wind 
is westerly and light, and the weather fine, though slightly cooler. On 
the whole it has been a favourable week for harvesting and fruit gather¬ 
ing, while there is a promise of similar conditions prevailing for some 
little time. The reports as to the state of the Potato crop are satisfac¬ 
tory on the whole, and the weather has been against the spread of the 
disease. 
- Variation of Hardy Plants.—T he variation of hardy 
plants under cultivation has proved a source of interested observation 
to many growers, and it has been chosen by the Rev. C. Wolley Dod 
for the subject of a lecture at the next meeting of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society. As an experienced cultivator and close observer he 
may be trusted to treat it in a manner that will earn the thanks of all 
flower lovers. 
- The International Horticultural Exhibition.—T he 
last weeks are announced of this popular Exhibition, which has done so 
much to enliven what otherwise promised to be the dullest season on 
record. Buffalo Bill and his Wild West will take their leave on 
October 12th, sailing for their native shores three days later by the 
83. “Mohawk” of the Atlantic Transportation Company, a vessel of 
8000 tons, which has been specially chartered for the occasion. As this 
will be the very last that Europe is likely to see of Colonel Cody and 
his great show as an organisation it behoves those who want to pay a 
farewell visit to the Wild West to avail themselves of the opportunity 
that is still offered of their doiDg so. The Exhibition altogether, with 
the combined attractions of its grand floral display, its splendid music, 
and the spirited performances in the Wild West arena, forms a pleasure 
resort that London will be sorry to lose, and which will be gratefully 
remembered for many a year to come. 
- Potatoes at Chiswick.— The Potatoes on trial in the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s Gardens were examined on Tuesday last. Out of 
upwards of eighty varieties twenty were chosen, in consequence of their 
good and disease-free crops, to be further tested by cooking. We can 
only say at present that out of these three marks of merit were awarded 
to Laxton’s Short Top, the earliest variety and productive ; Boston 22 
(Johnson) a fine white round ; The Canon (Dean), also sent by Messrs. 
Carter & Co., an excellent white kidney ; Reading Giant (Fidler), a 
large productive white kidney ; Mary Anderson, similar to it ; and King 
of the Earlies, a variety of the Ashleaf type. The table quality of some 
other varieties was not sufficiently developed through the tubers not 
being quite ripe, and many tubers of several varieties were tainted with 
the disease. The members of the Committee present were Philip 
Crowley, Esq., Chairman ; Dr. Hogg, and Messrs. H. Balderson, J. 
Hudson, G. Taber, G. Reynolds, J. Smith, W. Warren, J. H. Laing, 
G. Reynolds, A. Dean, G. Clyffe, G. W. Cummins, G. Sage, and J. 
Wright. 
- Fire Protection and Water Suppli'.—A pamphlet on 
the subject of the fire protection of towns and buildings, with remarks 
on water supply, has just been published. The author is Mr. J. Compton 
Merry weather, M.I.M.E., who is well qualified to deal with the subject 
treated. 
- Ficus elastica and Asparagus Fruiting.—T here is here 
(Tyninghame) an old plant of Ficus elastica kept for propagating 
purposes, which, in most seasons, brings a crop of fruit to maturity. 
Asparagus plumosus also fruits, and A. tenuissimus carries large crops 
of berries.—B. 
-- Cactus Dahlia Matchless.—T his new variety obtained a 
first-class certificate at the Reading Show recently. It was exhibited 
by Messrs. Perkins & Son of Coventry. The variety has good red 
flowers of the rich dark hue of Empress of India, but is of true Cactus 
form, and should later be found in the best collections. 
- Deverill’s Pedigree Onions. — The annual display of 
Deverill’s Pedigree Onions, grown in different parts of the United 
Kingdom, will be on view at the Royal Oxfordshire Seed Establishment, 
Cornhill, Banbury, on Thursday and Friday, September 15th and 16th, 
when valuable prizes will be awarded. They will be worth inspecting 
by any grower of this useful vegetable wh® may have an opportunity 
of calling. The entries number ninety, the specimens 1264. The 
heaviest dozen bulbs are Ailsa Craig, which weigh 26 lbs. 
- Melon Suttons’ Al. — If I were to say that this Melon is 
destined to occupy as prominent a position amongst the scarlet-fleshed 
varieties as Hero of Lockinge does amongst the green-fleshed, I should not 
be very wide of the mark. Having tried it last year, and again this 
year, I have proved it to be equally as good for frame as for house 
cultivation. It is a good grower, a free setter, and beautifully netted. 
The fruit is of great depth, and the flavour is, as the name implies, Al. 
It is a real gain, and therefore worth acknowledging.—R. P. R. 
- Show at Ghent in 1893. —We have received a schedule of 
the great Show that is to be held by the Royal Agricultural and 
Botanical Society of Ghent from the 16th to the 23rd of April, 1893, and 
of which previous announcements have been made in the columns of the 
Journal. As 660 classes are provided it will be clear that the Show will 
be of a comprehensive character, admitting a great variety of exhibits. 
Readers may be reminded that Comte O. de Kerchove de Denterghem 
is the President of the Administrative Council, and M. A. L. Rosseel 
the Secretary. 
- Messrs. Protheroe & Morris. — These well-known 
auctioneers have acquired so large a connection by enterprise and 
sound business methods that it is no surprise to find that they have 
been compelled to considerably extend their City premises. A large and 
well-lighted room has been secured immediately at the rear of their 
present large sale-room at 67 and 68, Cheapside, and can be entered 
from the latter or from 3, 4, and 5, Queen Street. It will be illuminated 
by means of the electric light, and will add so materially to the facilities 
at the firm’s command that a considerable extension to their already 
large scale of operations can be effected. 
- Cyclamen neapolitanum.—A t this time of the year few 
prettier effects are produced than a good flowering clump of this hardy 
Cyclamen, especially when planted in a nook on a rockery. The 
flowers stand about 6 inches above the soil, and are produced plentifully 
from the large, flat tubers. The leaves are cordate, about 2 inches long 
and the same broad ; they commence to unfold when the plants are 
flowering. The flowers are white or pink and red with a purple base, 
the corolla segments about three-quarters of an inch long. Though 
introduced from South and Central Europe C. neapolitanum is quite 
hardy, and has become naturalised in many parts of Britain.—C. K. 
- The Herb Mace —I have been a constant reader and sub¬ 
scriber to your valuable Journal from the year 1852, and the whole of 
that time this herb has been grown. It is commonly used by cooks 
with other herbs for making force meat for fowls, &c. I have taken it 
into the kitchen when a boy, and have sent it in ever since. Some 
months back I was asked its botanical name, and could not give it. 1 
have been taught that Achillea serrata has a yellow flower; the example 
I sent to you has a white flower.— John Cope. [Achillea serrata has 
white flowers. Our correspondent omits his addres3. We shall be glad 
to have a few rooted offsets of the herb, which we know is grown and 
used in the North of Eng’and.] 
