April 4, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
291 
the gardening circles are limited to two in the neighbourhood of 
London. On Friday night the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund will 
hold, at the Hotel Metropole, its seventh annual dinner, when 
Mr. Harry J. Veitch will preside, while on Tuesday next the Com¬ 
mittees of the Royal Horticultural Society will meet at the Drill 
Hall, James Street, Westminster. 
— The Weather in London. —The weather has during the past 
week been very much colder, with occasional heavy showers and bright 
gleams of warm sunshine. The wind has been, as a rule, somewhat high, 
and on most days unpleasantly cold, despite which the growth of trees 
and shrubs is very rapidly advancing. 
- The Weather in the North.—F or a week the weather 
has been continuously dull, with rain on some part of nearly every day. 
There were a few watery gleams of sunshine on the 1st inst., and 
Tuesday morning was dull and cold, with wind from the N.—B. D., 
S, Perthshire. 
- The next meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, April 9th, in the Drill Hall, James Street, 
Victoria Street, Westminster, at three o’clock. A paper on Campanulas, 
by Mr. J. Wood of Kirkstall, willi be read. 
- Barr’s Daffodil Prizes.—W e are requested to remind our 
readers that Barr’s Daffodil cup, specially designed by Mr. H. G. Moon, 
is open for competition at the Royal Horticultural Society’s meetings in 
April and May. The cup is to be judged by points, and each competitor 
to choose his own time and varieties, but must not exhibit for the cup 
more than at one meeting, notice in writing to be sent to the Secretary 
of the R.H.S. in advance of the day of exhibition (which is a Tuesday), 
stating space needed for the cut Daffodils to compete for “ Barr’s Silver 
cup.” On the morning of the show the collection should be ofScially 
entered, and a card received indicating competition for Barr’s Daffodil 
silver cup. Several silver and bronze medals are also offered at the 
same meetings for Daffodils, as well as a silver-gilt medal for the best 
seedling not in commerce, raised in the United Kingdom. 
-London Pansy and Violet Society.—W e have received 
the schedule of prizes which are to be competed for at the Crystal Palace 
on July 6th. We note that twenty-six classes are provided, also that 
one gold, six silver, and a bronze medal are offered, in addition to money 
prizes and certificates. The Committee desires to draw the special 
attention of amateur and professional growers of the Pansy and Viola to 
the exceptional opportunity which this year’s exhibition will afford of 
spreading the taste for their favourite flower through a much wider 
circle of the public than has been possible at other shows held by this 
Society hitherto, inasmuch as that of this year is to be held in the same 
place and at the same time as the Great Metropolitan show of the 
National Rose Society, at which it is well known there is always an 
enormous crowd of spectators and ardent florists from all parts of the 
kingdom. Therefore the Committee urgently appeals to all who can to 
make as good a display as possible this year, and we hope there will be 
a satisfactory response. 
- Ivy.—I am rather sceptical as to the assertion made on 
page 273, that the dingers or tentacles put forth by climbing Ivy are 
really roots. To me they have never presented other aspects than 
being grippers or holders, having remarkable power to attach them¬ 
selves to objects, whether trees or buildings, and in that way enable 
the plant to climb all over these objects. We see precisely the same 
sort of thing on many ordinary climbers, especially on Ampelopsis 
Veitchi ; but beyond being dingers, and perhaps to some extent 
absorbers of moisture, though that is not proved, I never found 
they played the part of roots. There never was a case in my experience 
where, the main stems of Ivy being severed, these tentacles served to 
keep the climbers alive. The killing action on growing trees is less due 
to the tentacles than to the absolute strangulation of the stems by the 
fierce embrace of the strong growth of the Ivy. Then, also, where Ivy 
forms a dense leaf covering little or no external moisture can penetrate, 
hence the ordinary condition of dryness.—A. 
-Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society.— 
We are requested to inform our readers that the Daffodil show, to be 
held in the Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, has, owing to the lateness cf 
the season, been postponed from April 9th and 10th to April 24th and 
25th. Schedules and full particulars can be had from Mr. W. B. Latham, 
Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham. 
-“ The Natural History of Plants.”—T his publication of 
Messrs. Blackie & Son is fast approaching completion, only five of the 
sixteen numbers having yet to come. The eleventh number, which has just 
reached us, continues to deal with the question of fertilisation in a most 
exhaustive manner. Prefixed to the volume is a coloured illustration of 
some of the Alpine flora, and forms a most attractive picture. 
- Caterpillars Infesting Lime Trees.— Probably the cater¬ 
pillar inquired about by “ A. T.” (page 263) as infesting the Lime is that 
of Bistor hirtaria, the “ brindled beauty,” which I have noticed almost 
defoliates that tree in June some seasons. The moth emerges in April 
to oviposit upon the trunks, or else it is the geometer (Hybernie defoliaria), 
sometimes an abundant feeder on Lime; its eggs are laid about 
November.—J. R. S. 0. 
- The Effects of the Frost.—T he effects of the late severe 
frost are now painfully evident. Portugal and common Laurels will 
lose a great part of their leaves and young growths. Berberries, 
Junipers, Rhododendrons, Yews, and Cedrus deodara, have all suffered 
very much where they have been exposed to the wind. Roses on walla 
are quite safe, and the same may be said of H.P. in the open, but Teas 
in the open beds have suffered more or less.—R. I., Sussex, 
- The Aldborough Anemone. —At one of the Drill Hall 
meetings in the spring of last year I remember seeing a mass of this 
Anemone exhibited. Mr. Allan then spoke of its wonderful manner of 
production ; what a number of brilliant blossoms are produced from a 
small space, and for such a long period. Examining the blooms closely 
I thought them superior to Anemone fulgens. Undoubtedly the growth 
is more robust. This Anemone is in time destined to take a foremost 
place in early out-of-door plants.—E. M. 
- Winter Bedding.— " E. M.’s ” note on this subject (page 274) 
comes at a time when I am sure 99 per cent, of gardeners will agree to 
the views expressed as to the great value of small shrubs for filling beds 
in the autumn. Where this plan is followed all concerned may rest 
absolutely assured that a good effect will be produced, no matter what 
the weather may be. Of course they cannot vie in brightness with 
many of the best spring flowering plants during favourable seasons, but 
the great point is they can always be depended on to steer clear of 
becoming eyesores. A few beds planted with these shrubs at various 
points in a formal flower garden also helps to break up an otherwise 
flat surface. In short, they have so much to recommend them that I 
think we should all act on “E. M.’s ” timely hint.—H. D. 
- Battle of Flowers at Nice. —Her Majesty viewed the 
recent battle of flowers from a space on the Rue du Congr^s, placed at 
her disposal by the municipality. The Queen was received by Comte 
de Malaussena, the Mayor of Nice, and presented on behalf of the Felis 
Committee with a pink satin banner and a splendid basket of Violets. 
Her Majesty remained in her carriage during the proceedings, and the 
Royal equipage was soon filled with small bouquets thrown from the 
passing vehicles. The Queen appeared to much enjoy the display, and 
from time to time returned the bunches of flowers, especially favouring 
the French officers of the garrison. Both on arriving and when leaving 
Nice Her Majesty was saluted with the British National Anthem. Miss 
Van Buren of New York, won the first prize for the best decorated 
carriage, her Victoria resembling a cornucopia overflowing with flowers; 
-The Effect of Green Glass on Plants.—A ccording to 
the “ Kew Bulletin” recent investigations have shown that the green 
glass used at Kew intercepts about one-half of the effective influence 
of ordinary sunlight on the processes of plant life. Of late years 
the increasing haziness of the sky, due to the smoke produced by the 
rapid extension of London to the south-west, has produced the same 
effect at Kew as the use of green glass; and it has become obvious 
that in the future the plant houses must be so constructed as to 
exclude as little of the available sunlight as possible. Since 1836 the 
use of green glass has, therefore, been discontinued in all the houses 
except the Fern houses and the Palm house; and, it having been 
proved by experiment that even Filmy Ferns thrive better under white 
than under green light, if direct exposure to the sun is excluded, the 
use of green glass will now be altogether abandoned at Kew. 
