October 27, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
875 
A. Correction. —In the list of certificates and awards given 
by the Royat Horticultural Society it was inadvertently printed in our 
last issue, “ Mr. Seward, gardener to J. Shrimpton, Esq.,” whereas it 
should have been Mr. Shrimpton, gardener to W. Seward, Esq. 
Croton Aucubas. —This is the term that has been applied 
to the hybrid Aucubas of which Mr. George Paul is getting together 
a collection at Cheshunt, and it is a very appropriate one, for there 
are many Croton-like variations in the beaatifully marked leaves. 
Some are blotched, others spotted, and still others striped with broad 
flakes. They will add much effectiveness to these useful plants. 
Fruit Growing in Ireland. — Mr. John Howard Parnell, 
who has taken possession of Avondale House, County Wicklow, has 
begun to experiment with some new industries in Ireland. He will 
embark in fruit growing, and it is said has already erected machinery 
for producing what is known as “ wood-wool,” a substance used for many 
purposes, amongst them the stuffing of mattresses and packing of fruit, 
- The Influence of Electric Light on Vegetation._ 
The researches of M. Bonnier on the growth of plants and trees 
under the influence of the electric light have led him to conclude 
that the electric light is decidedly less effective in promoting vegeta¬ 
tion than solar light; but as he does not state the intensity of his 
artificial light as compared with that of solar light his conclusion is 
open to dispute. 
Fruit Culture in Cornwall. —It is stated in reference 
to the fruit-growing industry in Cornwall that, “ the latest idea is to 
start model fruit farms in various parts, and by the aid of the land- 
owners to plant trees of all kinds and to utilise the best known skill for 
bringing on early fruit. It is calculated that in about two years and a 
half these farms will be not only self-paying, but will yield a good profit 
for the original outlay.” 
Cypripedium insigne Chantini. —The pick of a choice 
collection of Cypripeiium insigne varieties in the Old Nurseries, 
Cheshunt, is Chantini, a most beautiful Orchid, differing widely from 
the type in its markings. The broad margin of white to the dorsal 
sepal lends a charm and delicacy to the flower that cannot fail to please. 
C. i. alba marginata is also delightful. A collection of insignes is full 
of interest to Orchid lovers. 
- Trees in Paris.— According to the Revue de VHorticulture 
Beige, Paris contains the greater number of trees than any other city in 
the world. In the parks and Parisian gardens no less than 299.294 
shrubs and 22,038 trees may be counted. The number of trees planted 
out in lines is about 100,000. Of all the quarters of Paris the best 
division is Passy. Then come the Champs-Elys^es, Grenelle, Montpar¬ 
nasse, the Ternes, and Maison-Blanche. It is in the second district that 
the fewest trees are found. 
- The Weather in the North. — The past week has been 
throughout cold, but the days generally clear and bright. Frosts of 
from 2° to 8° have occurred nightly, and this morning 15° are registered, 
with hoar frost as white as snow. For some days the surrounding hills 
have been coated for a considerable way down, and heavier falls of 
snow are reported from both north and south. Saturday last was 
piercingly cold. There is no appearance whatever of a change._B. D.. 
S. Perthshire. From Dumfries Mr. Arnott writes “ Weather"very cold! 
Snow on the hills this morning (Oct. 24th), but in sheltered situations 
in my gardens Dahlias and Tropoeolums are still untouched by frost.” 
- Tomatoes : Yellow v. Red.— “ D.” on page 308, says : “The 
theory that yellow Tomatoes invariably have a higher flavour than red 
ones will not bear examination.” Permit me to say that my crop of 
Tomatoes for the past year exceeds 2000 lbs., and that I am weak enough 
to grow a great number of sorts, simply to test their cropping and 
other qualities. I also consider I have consumed enough Tomatoes to 
be a judge of flavour. No variety I have yet grown is equal to Sun. 
lise, an American introduction, but I find it has already been renamed 
by many seedsmen. Not alone is it superior in flavour, but the flesh is 
more solid than any red I know. There is certainly a prejudice against 
yell' ’W Tomatoes, and they are not anything like the croppers that red 
ones are. I consider Tomatoes vary as much in qualify as Plums, 
Peaches, and other fruits. Some of the sorts are little better than a 
mass of seeds and water. None of the oblong or Plum-shaped varieties 
are worth growing for flavour ; even the Old Red and most of the 
corrugated fruits are only second rate compared with such varieties as 
Perfection with its many synonyms, Lorillard, and Red King.—W. J. C. 
- A Wire-bound Apple Tree. —In a garden at Mayfields, 
Farnham, a Blenheim Orange Apple tree, says a contemporary, has a 
wire fence attached to a limb, the wire having been completely embedded 
in the bark, in tire-fashion. This year the particular branch is loaded 
with fruit, while other parts of the tree are nearly barren. 
- A Heavy Rainfall —It was stated recently by a correspon¬ 
dent that the fall of rain (2 65 inches), on the 4th inst., at Cross-in- 
Hand, Sussex, was such that “the oldest inhabitants of this district 
cannot remember anything like this rainfall.” We (“ Meteorological 
Magazine ”) think that the memory of these good persons must be 
failing rapidly, for as recently as July 31st, 1888, over an area of quite 
100 square miles, and within about ten miles of Cross-in-Hand, if 
indeed it did not reach there, the fall was between 3 and 3^ inches. 
- Frost in the Isle of Wight.—T his morning (24th inst.) 
all our tender plants, such as Tropseolums, Dahlias, &c., were cut down 
by frost. We have had 5° with rather a keen north-easterly 
wind. The frost about a fortnight ago was very partial. At Newport, 
in the centre of the island, the Dahlias were killed to the ground, being 
a great loss to the several florists, as cut flowers were in great demand. 
It is the earliest frost that has been known here for a generation. In 
the valley, on the reclaimed land, the plants were only partly touched 
Dahlias, Beans, and Vegetable Marrows having the top foliage killed ; 
but in the villages here all the summer occupants have been gay until 
this morning.—C. ORCHARD, Bembridge. 
- Rudbeckia laciniata.—T his is a fine late-flowering hardy 
perennial plant, producing its large handsome golden flowers borne on 
branching stems 5 feet high in August, September, and October. The 
individual flowers measure about 5 inches in diameter, the embossed 
chocolate coloured discs contrasting effectively with the beautifully 
golden florets. The Rudbeckia will flourish in any light well drained 
soil of average fertility, and preferably warm situation. R. maxima is 
a large form of the above, attaining to a height of 6 feet. R. Newmanni 
(syn. speciosa), and growing from to feet, according as the soil is 
poor or rich, is one of our best hardy plants in cultivation ; yet we do 
not very often meet with it in gardens. All the Rudbeckias are very 
suitable for cutting from for garnishing large vases intermixed with 
Michaelmas Daisies.—H. 
- Bouvardias. —During the months of September and October 
there are few plants which tend to brighten the greenhouse more 
than Bouvardias. The treatment I give these free-flowering plants is 
to make a slight hotbed with leaves and stable manure about 1 foot 
high, and on this place 9 inches of loam and leaf soil in equal propor¬ 
tions. The plants are put out about the first week in June, and require 
but little attention except watering. They are kept well pinched back 
so as to form good bushy plants by the first week in September. At 
that period they are lifted and potted, the balls of the plants being 
reduced, so as to get them into pots or pans, which I find to answer much 
the best. After potting the plants are put into a warm house, and being 
kept close and shaded for a few days they are soon ready for the show 
house without losing any of the blooms.—A Gardener. 
- Fungi Diseases on Fruit Trees.— An excellent paper on 
fungous diseases and their remedies was read lately by Prof. J. E. 
Humphrey before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and has now 
been printed. One of the principles on which he insists is that the treat¬ 
ment of these diseases, to be efficient, must be preventive rather than 
remedial. He points out that it is not enough to take care that plants 
shall have abundant nourishment. No practice, he says, is more 
common among American fruit growers than to leave in the vinery and 
the orchard, lying on the ground or hanging from the branches, the 
dead fruits of the season, which have been rendered worthless by fungi. 
Nothing could produce more unhealthful conditions, for these dead 
fruits commonly furnish to the fungi which attack them precisely the 
most favourable soil for further and complete development. In the 
next spring the air is full of the spores of these fungi, which find lodg¬ 
ment on the new leaves and fruits of the very plants on which they 
grew last year ; and so the story goes, year after year. “ In a word,” 
says Prof. Humphrey, “ keep your orchards and gardens and green¬ 
houses clean. Allow no rubbish to be about on which fungi can breed. 
Remove and destroy all diseased fruits or plants as scrupulously as you 
preserve saleable ones, and you will have more saleable ones to preserve. 
It is surprising how far generous culture and clean culture will go 
toward preventing fungous disease, without special treatment,”— 
(Nature.) 
