September 29, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
283 
-- Eucomis PUNCTATA.—The usefulness of Eucomis punctata 
for greenhouse decoration is well exemplified at Forest Hill just now, 
where Messrs. Laing & Sons have a number of well grown plants 
interspersed with other occupants of a flowering house. They give a 
very distinct and handsome effect, the tall spikes rising well above the 
majority of their associates. E. Regia is also grown and is a noteworthy 
object. 
- Peeston and Fulwood Horticultukal Society. —The 
forty-eighth monthly meeting of the members and subscribers will be 
held in the large room of the Legs of Man Hotel on Saturday evening, 
October 1st, 1892, when Mr. W. P. Roberts of The Gardens. Cuerden 
Hall, will read a paper on “ the Cultivation of the Fuchsia.” The chair 
will be taken by the President (J. Humber, Esq.) at 7.30. Prizes are 
offered by Alderman Galloway, J.P., for six dishes of outdoor fruit, 
•distinct; and by the Secretary for two bunches of Grapes, any variety. 
-Newcastle and District Mutual Improvement Society. 
—We are glad to record satisfactory progress on the part of this young 
body of horticulturists, and to note, in the first annual report just 
issued, that the financial statement shows a substantial balance on the 
right side. The membership is rapidly approaching 100. Many excellent 
papers were readjduring ihe Society’s first season. Its meetings are held 
in the hall of the Literary and Scientific Institute, Westgate Road, on 
the second Wednesday of each month, at 7.30 p.m. 
- Aster Amellus bessarabicus. —This variety is now making 
a brilliant display in the herbaceous border, reminding one of the near 
approach of autumn. It is undoubtedly the finest of all the Michael¬ 
mas Daisies. The height which it attains to renders it suitable for so 
many purposes that the wonder is it is not more often seen in private 
gardens. As an edging to a mass of Chrysanthemum Madame C. 
Desgranges it is very suitable, as both plants flower at the same time. 
In the herbaceous border, now that the August dazzle is past, this Aster 
supplies a want. Its deep purple flower heads are very showy, and its 
habit is compact, growing not more than 2 eet 6 inches high at the most. 
Like the bulk of the family propagation is a simple matter—by dividing 
a good sized root numbers of plants can be obtained.—E. M. 
- Tritoma GLAUCESCENS.—This is decidedly the best of the 
Flame Flowers, as it produces its torch-like blossoms much more freely 
than any other, and much earlier than the type uvaria. While the 
latter shows no signs of flowering the former is at this date (Sep¬ 
tember 8th) in full blossom. The colour of the flower is inclined to 
golden orange on the lower part, not being so red as uvaria. Tritomas 
are not suitable plants for the ordinary herbaceous border; they need 
all round space to show off to the greatest advantage. We have them 
growing at the present time in just the place which suits them—on the 
grass in a part of the garden which is not mown with the machine but 
cut over occasionally with the scythe, the plot being mainly occupied 
with bulbs. In this particular spot, where the foliage has free space for 
development, the Tritomas grow well and look their be t. Another 
place is by tne water side. In an artificially built pocket 9 inches 
square, close to the water, one plant has twenty fully developed spikes, 
and as the background is mainly composed of Rhododendrons the effect 
is enhanced considerably.—E. M. 
Asters. —This year Asters have been finer than I have hitherto 
seen them, although the cultural treatment was the same as that 
bestowed upon them before, so that the marked improvement in tbe 
size, form, and colour of our Asters this year must be attributed to the 
particular strain (Webb’s) grown this season for the first time, and 
not to any special treatment. The flowers of the several varieties con¬ 
tained in the “ Wordsley collection ” are unusually large, deep, full, and 
of fine and well-defined colours, ranging from pure white to rich crimson. 
They have been and are still greatly admired by all visitors to these 
gardens. The seed was sown in a cold frame in light fine soil placed 
within a few inches of the glass and covered lightly with some mould of 
the same description, which was then patted down with the back of a 
spade to compress seed and soil. Afterwards they were watered through 
a fine rose and the frame kept close and shaded until the seedlings came 
up, when a little fresh air was admitted to them, the quantity being 
gradually increased until the seedlings were transferred to the borders 
where they are flowering. The plants were 1 foot apart, and the dwarf 
growing ones were placed nearest the walls, a showery day being chosen 
for the operation, and the plants afterwards watered (in the absence of 
rain) every afternoon until the roots had taken well to the soil, when 
water was afforded less frequently. The only other attention they got or 
required was to keep them free from weeds and give them needful 
support in the way of sticks and ties.—H. W. Ward, Longfo-d C title. 
- The Migration of Aphides.—T he usual autumnal migration 
of aphides has been taking place across this district during the last few 
days, beiDg somewhat later than usual. According to the popular belief 
it has happened in that cloudy, comparatively calm weather when 
people say there is a “ blight.” The motion of the majority of them 
seemed to be in a westerly direction, and they are probably journeying 
from the districts where many Hop grounds are situate to deposit next 
season’s eggs on fruit trees and shrubs. It appears to be the general 
opinion about here that a hides of all kinds have been less in number 
than the average during this season. The fact is notable, because 
experience rather tends to indicate that a dry spring, such as we had, is 
favourable for their increase, and therefore an opposite result might 
have been expected.—J. R. S. C., Gravesend. 
- Charles’ Economic Pest Syringe.—A useful sprayer has 
been invented and patented by Mr. W. F. Charles of Loughborough. 
It consists of a can holding about a quart fitted with a brass screw cap, 
an air chamber having a network covering, a connection with an india- 
rubber ball, and a long brass tube fitted with slit and rose nozzles. The 
can is charged by unscrewing the cip, and on the latter being replaced 
and the air-ball squeezed until the ne'-protected chamber is distended, a 
thin stream or spray is given off according as the slit or rose-nozzle is 
used. The spray is carried to a distance of several feet, and falls in a 
dew-like state, while owing to the nozzles being adjustable, it can be 
directed either < n the lower or upper side of the foliage. It affords a 
ready means of distributing a liquid insecticide on plants in greenhouses 
or windows, and amateurs in particular would find it very useful; more¬ 
over it is cheap. Messrs. Messenger & Co. of Loughborough, the well- 
known bot-water engineers, are introducing it. 
- North of Scotland Horticultural Association.—T he 
annual meeting of this Association was held on September 21st, Mi. 
C. S. France, President, in the chair. The Secretary’s and Treasurer’s 
reports were read and adopted. From the accounts it appeared that 
there was a balance to the credit of the Society of £17 16s lOJd. 
The following office-bearers were then appointed :—President, Mr. C. S. 
France ; Vice-President, Mr. G. Ross, Cranford ; joiut Secretaries, Mr. 
William Reid and Mr. J. Minty ; Treasurer, Mr. Wyllie. The name of 
the Association was altered to the “ North of Scotland Horticultural 
and Arboricultural Association.” To Rule 3 the following addendum 
w<is made :—“Amongst means for extending the objects of the Society 
we are to grant awards for essays on and for collections of native 
herbaria and woods.” Rule 5 was alterei to admit apprentices at a 
subscription of Is. per annum. Three silver medals were offered as 
awards for the subjects mentioned above—a maximum sum of £3 3s. 
being voted for the purpose. The usual votes of thanks concluded the 
meeting. 
- Giant Onions. —The report of the Banbury Onion Show 
rather leads to the inference that the chief object in raising new sorts 
of 0 ions is to get the biggest imaginable. Why should we set up a 
standard of that kind for Onions ? It is not tolerated in any other 
vegeta le. What, for instance, would be said of giving prizes to 
Potatoes or Turnips that weighed over 2 lbs. each? What earthly 
benefit to gardening is going to result from that sort of thing ? I am 
very certain that no gardener would care to have for his main crop of 
Onions nulbs weighing 2 lbs., and it is also morally certain that any 
good average crop of 6 oz. to 8 oz. bulbs will give greater weight per 
r >d of ground than the heaviest exhibition bulbs ever seen. All who 
are famil ar with the method of culture ad pted to produce these 
enoimous bulbs know that each bulb occupies on the ground fully four 
to six times the area alloted to ordinary main crop Onions, also that 
they get fully double the amount of manure, feeding, and attention 
that ordinary crops receive. Further, when got they seldom keep into 
th- winter, and finally they never would be grown as they are without 
the prospect of winning prizes. Moreover, the method of culture adopted, 
by generating a corpulent and weakened consti ution, deteriorates 
the seed stocks of these big varieties, which for that purpose should be 
grown as ordinary crops for common use. Just recently I saw growing 
s'ocks under what may be called good ordinary culture, th.t is, had 
ample room and no special feeding, the Sutton’s Globe and Sutton’s Al, 
the former one of the most perfect globe or egg-shaped forms I have 
s en, as firm as bullets, and with skins as sleek and ulossy as could well 
be conceived. These buibs ranged from 7 to 9 ozs. each, and wou’d 
keep well till next May. The other is a flatter Onion, but with a deep 
round base, and is also a fine stock, giving very even, clean, hard bulbs 
of g md size. These stocks were just the kind that gardeners or growers 
for market would delight to possess. I should like to be taught the 
domestic value of Giant Onion*.—A. D. 
