874 
[ October 27, 1892. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
consists of the Master of the Company, G. J. Brocklesby, Esq. ; the 
Upper Warden, Henry Martin, Esq. ; Renter Warden, the Chevalier 
Sperati; Past Masters, Sir James Whitehead, Bart., M.P., and H. R. 
Williams, Esq., with the following Liverymen—Messrs. G. Bunyard, 
J. Cheal, A. H. Smee, J. Wright, and Mr. John Eagleton, Clerk of 
the Company. At a meeting held in the Guildhall on Monday last 
the general design of the trophy was decided upon, and the offer of 
Messrs. Bunyard and Cheal to supply fruit was accepted. The fruit 
car is to be prepared at Maidstone, and the details of furnishing carried 
out by Mr. Bunyard, Mr. Cheal giving his willing co-operation. This 
representation will bring fruit before the million in a way in which 
it has never been brought before, as no crowds equal in number 
those of the Lord Mayor’s Show, for the densely packed sight-seers 
extend for miles. 
- Chiswick Gardens. —The Michaelmas Daisies, which for a 
long time past has been one of the chief floral features in the Gardens 
of the Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick, have now practically 
finished flowering for this year. Their place, however, has been filled 
by the large collection of Chrysanthemums, which have been moved 
into the large conservatory. The plants are in a fine healthy condition, 
and will soon be a mass of flower worth seeing during the winter 
months. 
- A New Canna.—A n American contemporary states that a 
gardener in the United States has raised a Canna which is said to be an 
improvement on Madame Crozy. It is reported to have a golden band a 
quarter of an inch wide around the petals instead of the narrow yellow 
margin, as in the above named variety. 
- A Double-flowered Musk. —Last year, says an exchange, 
one or two well-known firms obtained a supply of a new double-flowered 
Musk. It came as a novelty from Germany, and is found to do admir¬ 
ably in pots. The small, double, sulphur-coloured flowers are produced 
from every joint, and the pronounced Musk-like odour from the leaves 
and flowers is very powerful, a single plant being sufficient to scent a 
whole room. 
- Presentation to Mr. J. Rose. — In giving up the charge 
of the gardens at Lockinge House, Wantage, recently, Mr. J. Rose was 
presented with a handsome silver biscuit box by Lord and Lady 
Wantage. The under gardeners also gave him a marble clock ; the 
upper servants at Lockinge a dozen silver teaspoons and a pair of sugar- 
tongs ; and the members of the cricket club a cruet stand. Mr. Rose 
has now gone as head gardener at Wokefield Park, Reading. 
- Helenium autumnale. — This North American hardy 
perennial plant should be grown in every garden in which herbaceous 
plants find a place. The branching stems spring from a compact tufted 
rootstock with great regularity, attaining to a height of from 3£ to 
feet, and crowned with pure yellow flowers 4 inches in diameter in 
August, September, and the early part of October. The plant is a good 
grower, free flowering, and it is not particular as regards soil and 
climate. It is not only a very showy border plant, but also a very 
serviceable one for providing cut flowers.—H. W. 
- Apricots at Maidstone. —Apricots are excellently grown 
in the nurseries of Messrs. G. Bunyard & Co. at Maidstone, where a 
house has been erected specially for them. The sides, as well as the 
roof, are of glass, resting on three courses of bricks, and the central 
squares are removeable, so that abundant supplies of air, which are as 
necessary to Apricots as to Chrysanthemums, can be admitted. Copious 
supplies of water are given in summer, a little only in autumn, and 
none in winter. Mr. Bunyard attributes his success largely to the 
ventilation and watering. He also considers it best to plant out 
maidens, and not older trees.—W. P. W. 
- Lao Tea. —The “ Kew Bulletin ” gives some interesting infor¬ 
mation as to Lao tea. Some time ago a singular method of using the leaves 
of what has since been proved to be the Assam Tea plant of commerce 
(Camellia theifera) was brought before the Society of Arts by Mr. 
Ernest Mason Satow. Amongst the Laos, a people inhabiting the dis¬ 
trict of Siam, in the neighbourhood of ChieDgimai, the Tea leaves are not 
used for making an infusion, as in other countries, but are prepared 
wholly for the purpose of chewing. The leaves are first steamed and 
then tied up in bundles and buried in the ground, for a period of about 
fifteen days. Leaves thus prepared, called locally “ mieng,” are said to 
keep for two years or more. The habit of chewing “ mieng” is almost 
universal among the Laos, and to men engaged in hard work, such as 
poling or rowing, it is said to be almost indispensable. 
- Gardening Appointment. —We understand that Mr. S.*J. 
Brown has been appointed head gardener to Lady Gust, Leasowe Castle,. 
Birkenhead, Cheshire. 
- Primula japonica.— This plant seems quite at home here, 
growing in the grass by the side of shaded walks. Perhaps other readers 
have not grown it thus.—S. SCOTT, Buckingham , Co. Roscommon. 
- Californian Peaches. — A large number of Californian 
Peaches have been on sale in the metropolitan markets during the past 
week, but they do not maintain the reputation acquired at the com¬ 
mencement of the season. 
-National Auricula and Carnation and Picotee 
Societies. —The annual general meeting of the Southern Section of 
these Societies is announced to be held to-night (Thursday), Oct. 27tli r 
at the Hotel Windsor, Victoria Street, S.W. 
- Bougainvillea glabra.—As stated on page 339, this plant 
is quite safe in a temperature of 45° and much lower. I have known a 
large specimen stand a few degrees of frost several times during the 
winter without doing any injury, having flowered freely the following 
summer.—S. Scott. 
_ The Carnation and Picotee Union.—M r. George Chaundy 
writes under date October 18th, 1892 : “Mr. Dodwell is very seriously 
indisposed, and his physician, Dr. Rivers Wilson, insists upon his com¬ 
plete repose. The forbearance of correspondents whose letters may not 
have instant response is respectfully entreated.” All the friends of the 
veteran will be pleased to hear of his speedy recovery. 
_ Weather at Liverpool. —On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday 
evenings in last week we experienced rather severe frosts, the record 
being 6°, 9°, and 4°. Since then the weather has been of a most 
unsatisfactory nature, rain in torrents and severe hailstorms being very 
prevalent. It is a gloomy outlook for the farmers, and bad enough for 
those contemplating a large amount of planting.—R. P. R. 
_ New Potato, Brinkworth’s Heavy Weight.— This fine 
Potato will, I think, be much grown in the future when its good 
qualities become well known. It is an enormous cropper, and is also 
of splendid quality when cooked. The tubers turn out like balls of 
flour, and so far as appearance and flavour go will, I think, suit 
everybody if we except those few individuals who prefer waxy to 
floury Potatoes. The tubers are large, handsome, and pebble-shaped, 
and should prove valuable for exhibition purposes. One slight drawback 
to this variety is that it makes a large amount of top growth; this 
may, however, be obviated to a great extent on some soils and during 
more sunny seasons.—H. Dunkin. 
_ Two Pretty New Ferns.— The new Ferns 1 am about to 
notice are quite distinct, and are two of the finest introductions of late 
years. The “ True Maidenhair,” Adiantum capillus-Veneris, is one of the 
hardiest of Ferns, but add to this what I may term a miniature A. far- 
leyense. then you have the true character of Adiantum capillus-Veneris 
imbricatum, the latest acquisition of the Chester firm of Dicksons. It 
is likely to prove itself a splendid Fern for decoration. A. farleyense in 
this respect is too tender, it quickly feeling the wear and tear of such 
work, but the Fern under notice worthily fills this void. The other, 
Pteris Victoriae, is not any the less remarkable, its slender, erect and 
narrow fronds being of a pleasing green margined with white, and will 
prove itself to be an elegant plant for table decoration. I am growing 
it in an intermediate temperature, but upon further acquaintance it 
will no doubt conform to cooler treatment.—A. Y. 
_ Marechal Niel Rose in Pots.— I saw recently in one of 
the houses at Longford Castle gardens a quantity of very fine rods of 
Marshal Niel Rose, which Mr. Ward had obtained by striking cuttings 
in warmth in February, and growing them on in pots. When I saw 
them they were some 15 to 20 feet in length, good hard wood tied up 
to the back of a house to mature. Such plants as these, literally like 
pot Vines, but longer, will next spring carry a grand lot of blooms, 
and then when the bloom is over can be cut hard back, induced to start 
afresh from the base of the stems, and then shifted into pots a size 
larger, will again carry grand growths for the following season. 
Myriads of pot plants of Mardchal Niel have been spoiled for good by 
the growers neglecting to cut them hard back as soon as the bloom is 
over. Then they have found only bare stems and a few thin pipey 
shoots to follow. As to the course adopted with such success by Mr. 
Ward it is only to say that he follows it up annually, and thus always 
' has a fine lot of plants in pots to flower.—A. D. 
