October 6, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
307 
- Peach Maggot.—P erhaps “ J. B.” would send, in a tin box 
to the Editor, specimens of the maggot complained of on page 282, as 
then one could better judge of the mode of treatment.— Entomologist^ 
- A Proposed New Park. —It is stated that a project is on 
foot for the acquirement of the ground occupied by the “ Wild West,” 
at Earl’s Court, as a public park. The space is about 6 acres in extent^ 
and it would be of considerable value for the purpose named. By 
adding the adjoining site of the International Horticultural Exhibition a 
park of some pretensions would be acquired. 
- Suburban Allotments. —According to the City Press, the 
Leathersellers’ Company have granted a seven-years lease of between 
five and six acres of their land at Catford, a south-eastern suburb of 
London, for the purpose of garden allotments for the poorer residents of 
that locality. Between thirty and forty applications have already been 
made for the land, and there will be room for ten or twenty others this 
autumn. 
- Presentation to a Notts Gardener. —Mr. J. H. Walker, 
who was for many years gardener to the late John Wesley Lewis, Esq. 
of Hardwick House, Nottingham, was presented on the 28th ult. by his 
friends at Radford with a very handsome watch and chain, in addition 
to a magnificent gold scarf pin, as a token of respect on his leaving 
Nottingham to fulfil his engagement as lecturer to the Leicestershire 
County Council. 
- Carter’s Holborn Prolific Potato.—I am very pleased 
to report favourably of this distinct, handsome, and really first-rate new 
Potato. It is a good cropper ; the tubers partake very much of the 
character of Woodstock Kidney in shape, colour, and quality ; in short, 
Holborn Prolific is everything that constitutes a excellent all-round Potato, 
the pebble-shaped tubers being of good appearance, having few, scarcely 
perceptible, eyes, and like balls of flower when cooked. Holborn Prolific 
is destined to occupy a prominent position at future exhibitions of the 
“ noble tuber.”—H. W. Ward. 
- A Flower Show at Hove. —The Committee of the Hove 
Industrial and Horticultural Society have once more to be congratulated 
upon the success of their annual Exhibition (the fifteenth of the series) 
held at the Hove Town Hall recently. The steady increase in the 
number of exhibitors and exhibits is evidence of the popularity of the 
shows. This year the exhibitors numbered 593 as compared with 554 
last year, their productions reaching a total of 1180, or 47 more 
than was the case last year. Messrs. Baldwin & Sons lent a large 
number of plants for decorative purposes. 
-A New Style of Roofing Greenhouses.—W hen I called 
last week at Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co.’s nursery, the latter 
member of the firm drew my attention to a somewhat novel method 
of roof making and closing of a large span greenhouse. The rafters 
were composed of iron in small furrow or V-shapes, being about 1’ inch 
deep, and 2 inches broad on the upper side. The panes of glass, 
14 inches by 16 inches, rested on a bed of putty one-third of an inch 
in width, laid on to the projecting ledge on each side. Thus, when the 
glazing was complete, the rain water falling on to the glass ran into 
the furrows of the rafters, and being in that way carried off, effectually 
prevented drip of any kind. The ironwork received a coating of rough 
varnish, and thus prevented rusting. To render the newly glazed roof 
secure, pieces of copper wire were placed at intervals under the rafters 
and the ends bent over, made just to press upon the glass the width of 
the putties, then beneath, with a pair of pincers, a turn or two was 
given to the wire and it was made absolutely tight. In that way the 
glass was made in the fiercest storms absolutely wind and watertight. 
- Rosa polyantha as a Stock.—M r. Williams also showed 
me, in a large collection of early spring grafted pot Roses, now standing 
outdoors, a plant of Niphetos worked on to this stock that had done 
wonderfully well even as compared with plants on the Manetti. He 
thinks it is a capital stock for many varieties for pot culture, but advises 
that it be not trusted for outdoor purposes, as he has found it to suffer 
severely in hard weather. It is well to be advised by so good an 
authority in such a matter.—D. 
- Frost and Dahlias.— “ We had,” said Mr. Williams, « one 
of the most promising lots of seedling Dahlias I ever saw on the 
17th of September, and I purposed making a fine show of them at the 
Drill Hall on the following Tuesday. The severe frost, about 6°, of the 
morning of the 18th, however, fully settled every plant, and caused a 
wreck that was piteous to behold. It was a case in which one had need 
of the profoundest philosophy.”—A. D. 
- Cassia corymbosa. —The finest specimen I have seen of this 
plant is growing in the conservatory at Rooksbury Park, near Fareham, 
in this county. It is a very old one judging from its appearance, but 
gives good crops of flowers annually. It reaches fully 20 feet high and 
is 10 feet in diameter. It is pruned every year, the young growth giving 
abundance of bright yellow flowers, which are charmingly set off by the 
dense green leaves for which the plant is noteworthy when in health.— 
E. M., Hants. 
-September Rainfall in Sussex—T he total rainfall at 
Cuckfield, Sussex, during the past month was 2 06 inches, being 
L07 inch below the average. The heaviest fall was 1 04 inch on the 
29th. Rain fell on twelve days. The rain for the nine months is 
15 41 inches, which is 4’86 inches below the average. The highest 
temperature was 70° on the 12th; lowest 39° on 18th. Mean maximum, 
63 2° ; mean minimum, 48° ; mean temperature, SSffi 0 .—R. I. 
- Dahlias at Cheltenham.—A mistake occurs in your report 
of the Cheltenham autumn Show. “ Dahlias were of extra quality. 
Messrs. Heath & Son secured premier honours for twenty-four distinct 
varieties.” So far quite right. The second prize was awarded to Mr. 
Thomas Hobbs, Easton, Bristol; Mr. Newman, Ivingswood, third ; Mr. 
G. Maylett, Worcester, fourth. Seven stands were staged, and con¬ 
sidering the severe frost on the morning of Sunday the 18th, the blooms 
were of extraordinary good quality. Mr. Garaway of Bath as reported 
did not exhibit Dahlias. Please note in your next issue.— Thomas 
Hobbs, F.R.H.S. 
- Report of the Weather at Hamels Park, Buntingford, 
Herts, during September, 1892.—While some correspondents of the 
Journal complain of a very light rainfall, I am glad to say we had 
sufficient. A very disastrous frost occurred on the morning of the 21st, 
when Dahlias, French Beans, &c., and even Chrysanthemums, was 
blackened by it. Rainfall on twelve days during the past month. 
Maximum in any twenty-four hours was 0'86 on the 21st; minimum, 
0 02 on the 25th. Total during the whole month, 2 62, against P18 of 
1891.—E. Wallis. 
- The Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association. —The annual business meeting for the election of 
President, Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurer, and Committee for 
1892-93, was held in the Council Chamber of the Guildhall on 
Wednesday evening, the 28th September. The following excellent 
autumn programme has been arranged for the session 1892-93. 
Wednesday, 5th October, Mr. J. McCormick, Wear House Gardens. 
Subject:—“Grape Vines and their Cultivation.” Wednesday, 19th 
October, Lieut. Percy Smith, Devonshire Regiment, Higher Barracks. 
Subject :—“Lilies and their Culture.” Wednesday, 2nd November, Mr. 
J. Stoneman, Teacher of Botany at Exeter Museum. Subject :—“How 
a Scientific Knowledge of Plant Life can help a Gardener.” Wednesday, 
16th November, Mr. G. B. Carlile, Topsham (late of Martin’s Lane). 
Subject :—“Fruit : its Selection and Handling—from a Fruit-salesman’s 
standpoint.” Wednesday, 30th November, Mr. J. Mayne, Bicton 
Gardens. Subject;—“The Cyclamen: its Culture and Value as a 
Decorative Plant.” Wednesday, 14th December, Discussion on papers 
read last Session, to be opened by Mr. W. Mackay. 
- Lachenalias in Baskets. —In no other form do these plants 
produce a better effect than when growing in baskets, especially the 
variety tricolor, its natural pendulous habit rendering it particularly 
suitable. The present is a good time to make new baskets or re-arrange 
the bulbs in the old receptacles, as growth is just beginning. Under 
good cultivation the bulbs increase fast, so that a selection in various 
sizes is easily obtained. For suspending in a conservatory or greenhouse 
a splendid effect can be secured by the aid of a few of these baskets, 
the rich green of the leaves contrasting well with the three-coloured 
flower spikes. A cool Peach house is a capital place to grow them in 
until flowering time ; the air required for the Peaches seems to suit the 
Lachenalias to a nicety. Abundance of water is needed when the plants 
are growing freely. When the flowers and foliage fade water is entirely 
withheld from them, and the baskets are hung up in a cool shed until 
growth commences afresh. Massive baskets, 18 inches in diameter and 
about 15 inches deep, make the finest display. I have seen many small 
baskets employed, but none look so well as those mentioned. Galvanised 
wire (No. 8 size) is more suitable than wood for making them, as it is 
easily bidden by the moss with which the inside of the basket is lined 
to retain the soil. The bulbs are put in in layers 3 inches apart for the 
strongest, and a trifle less for weaker ones. A compost of substantial 
materials, such as fibrous loam, cow manure, and leaf mould, three parts 
of the former to one of the latter, will grow good Lachenalias.— E. M. 
