162 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
February 21,1895. 
- The annual show of the London Pansy and Violet Society 
will be held at the Crystal Palace on Saturday, July 6th. 
- Between January and September, 1894, Apples for which 
2,500,000 dollars was paid were sent from America, and our cousins “ on 
the other side” have concluded we are great Apple eaters. 
- An American Tomato.—M r. T. E. Haines, Abbott, Nebraska, 
claims to be the raiser of the largest Tomato—3 lbs. SJ ozs., and 
inches in diameter. The grower is no doubt proud of his feat, but 
such monstrosities are not popular in the “ old country.” 
- Distribution of Seeds —According to an American con¬ 
temporary Secretary Morton is doing good service by discouraging the 
free distribution of garden seeds by the Government. The best of all 
reasons is that there is no more reason why seeds should be sent away 
by the thousands of dollars worth, than that it should give away pen¬ 
knives or scrubbing brushes; Indeed, it would be more sensible to send 
these useful things, for not one package of seeds in a hundred is ever 
sown. 
- Bournemouth- Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Asso¬ 
ciation. —The annual meeting of the above Society was held recently, 
Mr. H. Elliott, Christchurch, presiding. The report and balance-sheet 
for the year was submitted and approved. The report showed the 
Society to be in a satisfactory condition, although there had been no 
increase in the number of members, some former members having left 
the neighbourhood, and others being unable to attend. Hearty votes of 
thanks were accorded to the President and officers of the Association 
for their past services. Dr. PI. K. Hitchcock was again elected President, 
and the names of Mr. T. G. Eooper, Mr. C. A. D. George, and Mr. 
C. H, Mate were added to the list of Vice-Presidents. 
- A Substitute for Seakale. —The question of keeping up 
a continual supply of forced vegetables during the early spring is one 
of some concern to many gardeners, and as “ Necessity is the mother of 
Invention,” this problem has been the means of several substitutes being 
tried to take the place of Seakale, Perhaps the most suitable for this 
purpose are the tender forced growths of the ordinary Swede Turnips, 
which, if properly treated, form a very palatable dish. The best mode 
of procedure is to plant the Turnips in a warm dark position, as in the 
case of Seakale. The quicker they grow the better, as if the tempera¬ 
ture be cool, and the growth made slowly, they will become tough and 
of a strong flavour, thus rendering them unfit for table. Care should 
be taken not to cover the crowns of the Turnips with soil, or this will 
probably cause the young growths to decay. After planting they 
require well soaking with lukewarm water, and the light totally 
excluded. In a few days the growths will be sufficiently long to cut, 
when, if cooked and served up in the same way as Seakale, they form 
an excellent substitute. The used roots may then be replaced by a fresh 
supply.—G. 
- The Botanical Magazine. —The current monthly number 
of this work comprises the following subjects :—Richardia Pentlandi 
(Aroidete)—Of eight known species of Richardia this is one. It is a 
native of Basutoland in South Africa, The tubers were given to the 
Kew Gardens by Mr. Galpin of Barberton, South Africa, in 1892, The 
colour of the spathe is canary yellow without and bright gamboge 
within, while at the base below the spadix there is a dark purple ring. 
Aphaerema spicata (Samydacete).—This is a slender, smooth, shrub-like 
plant, coming from the South of Brazil. The leaves are not unlike 
those of the Fuchsia, the midrib having a deep red colour. The yellow 
flowers are arranged in dense spicate racemes. Aloe brachystachys 
(Liliaceae).—This was sent from Zanzibar by Sir John Kirk to Kew, 
where it flowered in 1894. The leaves have the usual character of the 
Aloes. The raceme consists of flowers having a pale pink perianth 
tipped with green, and arranged rather densely, so as to resemble an 
obtruncated Tritoma in outline. At the base of the pedicels are green 
bracts striped with brown. Cephalanthus natalensis (Rubiacese).—This 
plant, though discovered in the borders of Natal some forty years ago, 
has only recently been raised at Kew, from seed received in 1886. The 
flowers are arranged in dense globose heads, almost like those of a 
composite plant, and owing to the tube of the corollas being rose red, 
their lobes green, and the anthers yellow, present a curious admixture 
of colours. Musa Hilli (Scitamineje).—This is one of four species of 
Plantain indigenous to Australia, and comes from Queensland. The 
seeds from which the present plant was raised arrived at Kew six years 
ago. The male flowers are exposed, and arranged in circles below the 
conical envelope which encloses the female flowers. 
- Mrs. Parker returns her most grateful thanks to all sub¬ 
scribers to the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund who contributed by their 
votes towards the election of her son. 
- American Fruit Crops. —The Nova Scotia fruit crop is the 
best on record, and is valued at 10,000 dollars. Two hundred thousand 
barrels of Apples were exported to London. The total number of men 
employed in fruit culture amounts to 9000. 
- The Natural History of Plants —The tenth number 
of this work has appeared. In it the subject of fertilisation is con¬ 
tinued, being illustrated by many interesting diagrams. The question 
of the Linnsean system of claisification is discussed, and prefixed to 
the text is an excellent coloured illustration of Victoria Regia. 
- The Hessle Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society. 
—At a meeting of the above Society on February 12th a paper was 
read on “The Potato: its History, Cultivation, and Disease.” After 
giving the history of the Potato from its first introduction to this 
country, Mr. Riley passed on to the cultivation. Potatoes, he said, may 
be grown in a wide range of soil and climates. The lighter class of soil 
produces the best qualities, especially for early use, the stronger and 
warp lands the heavier crops. Good crops are grown on peat and bog 
lands, notably in Ireland. Fair sized tubers of about 3^ ozs. uncut give 
the best results. For arresting disease a dressing of sulphate of copper 
and quicklime was recommended.—F. L. T. 
_ New York Florists,—J ust now the stores of the retail 
florists are bright with an unusual number of cut flowers of different 
kinds, which show a wide variety of colour. Single red Tulips sell for 
1 dol. a dozen, the more popular pink and yellow sorts commanding as 
much as 1 dol. 25 cents, while the double yellows cost 1 dol. 50 cents a 
dozen, which is also the price asked for the few double pink Tulips that 
have appeared. Other flowers of bulbous plants are single Hyacinths 
at 75 cents a dozen, the limited supply of double Hyacinths bringing 
35 cents a stalk. Poet’s Narcissus are occasionally seen, and these sell 
for 1 dol. a dozen. Paper-white Narcissus, yellow Jonquils, and Freesias 
are seen in many collections. Well grown Lilacs, with luxuriant 
foliage, cost 1 dol. 50 cents to 2 dols. for a bunch of ten to twelve single 
sprays for the purple flowers, and the white Lilacs bring 2 dols. to 3 dols. 
The best Carnations, and a fair grade of Mignonette, cost 1 dol. 50 cents 
a dozen. A bunch of two dozen sprays of Forget-me-nots maybe had 
for 1 dol., and half this quantity of Lily of the Valley costs 75 cents, 
Roses are in great abundance, and vary in price, according to the quality, 
a great many of them being of more than average excellence. Good 
flowers of Madame Cusin bring 2 dols. a dozen, while the same grade of 
Bride and Catherine Mermet sells for 2 dols. 50 cents to 3 dols., and the 
better grades of any of these Roses command 5 dols. and 6 dols. a dozen, 
and even more. Cattleyas sell for 9 dols. a dozen and upward, and 
white varieties bring twice as much. Cypripediums are scarce, and 
cost 4 dols. to 5 dols. a dozen.—(“ Garden and Forest.”) 
_ Wakefield Paxton Society.—T here was a good muster of 
members at their rooms on Saturday, the 9th. Mr. H. S. Goodyear 
presided, and Mr. H. Chapman was vice-chairman, 'A function unique 
in the annals of the Society was performed in the election of Dr. Clark, 
M.A,, Pb.D,, Yorkshire College, as an honorary member. In proposing 
a resolution to this effect Mr. G. W. Fallas stated that it was the 
unanimous desire of the Committee that something should be done to 
give expression to their gratitude and high appreciation of the many 
services Dr. Clark had rendered to the Society. He spoke in the highest 
terms of the Doctor’s abilities as a horticulturist and agriculturist and 
as an eloquent exponent and teacher of these sciences. In electing 
Dr. Clark to this position the Society would be honouring itself and in 
some slight degree be showing its sense of the many favours it had 
received at the Doctor’s hands. The lecture for the evening was on 
“ The Art and Method of Grafting,” Mr. T. Wilson reading an excellent 
and practical paper on the subject. In the course of his paper he 
showed the great importance of the process in the duplication of new 
varieties, and in the invigorating or restraining influence it exercises 
on various plants, Interesting reference was made to the peculiar 
affinities which various plants manifest when subjected to the opera¬ 
tion, and to the eafe with which plants could be multiplied which would 
otherwise be expensive and scarce, owing to the difficulty of increasing 
them in other ways. Mr. Wilson enumerated and fully explained all 
the principal modes of grafting, and illustrated his remarks by showing 
well-prepared specimens of each mode. A number of questions were 
answered, after which the essayist was thanked for his paper. 
