&.pril 4, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
293 
- Cleeodendron Flowers Falling. —In reply to “Amateur,” 
page 273, it is impossible to state the exact reason why the flowers 
should fall from his Clerodendrons without knowing how the plants are 
treated. The only reason I can assign for it is that they must have 
received a check either at the roots or in the top growths. If the plants 
have been growing in a stove temperature till the flowering period, and 
then placed direct into a greenhouse or conservatory temperature, they 
•will receive a severe check, and the flowers will fall. To avoid this the 
plants should be placed in the intermediate house for a week or fort¬ 
night, after which they may be removed to the greenhouse with 
impunity, but at no time should they be given cooler treatment than 55°. 
Another cause of flower dropping may be traced to the application of 
stimulants to the roots. — Geo. Parrant, Ashhy Lodge Gardens, 
Hughy. 
- Fisher, Son, & Sibray, Limited. —This Company was 
.registered on the 21st ult., with a capital of £50,000, to take over the 
old-established business of nurserymen, seedsmen, and florists, carried 
on by the partners in Messrs. Fisher, Son, & Sibray, at Handsworth 
Nurseries, near Sheffield ; Fitzalan Square, Sheffield ; Church Street, 
Rotherham ; and elsewhere. An agreement for the sale of the business 
•by Messrs. Charles Fisher, Ernest Edward Sibray, Walter Earl, and 
■others, the late partners in the firm, to Mr. Thomas George Shuttle- 
worth, of Messrs. T. G. Shuttleworth & Son, Church Street, Sheffield, 
Accountants, on behalf of the Company, is adopted by the Articles of 
Association. The qualification for Directors is that of holding at least 
£1500 in the Company, and the first Directors are Messrs. Charles 
Fisher, Ernest Edward Sibray, Joseph Walker, Walter Earl, and 
William Atkinson. By the Articles of Association Messrs. Alderson, 
^OB, & Dust, of 40, Bank Street, Sheffield, and Eckington, and Messrs. 
.‘Sanderson & Co., London, are appointed solicitors to the Company ; 
Messrs. T. G. Shuttleworth & Son are appointed Auditors; and Mr. 
•William Atkinson the Managing Director, 
-A Recollection op the Late Me. Joseph Lakin. — In 
April, 1873, I was changing my residence from the north to the south of 
England, and I ■stay'od at Chipping Norton a fortnight on a visit to my 
wife’s relatives ; and as I was passing the Police Station I noticed that 
'the class of flowers growing in the garden and climbing Roses must all 
have been selected with care, and tended by a skilful florist. I asked my 
■iriends who was the gardener at the Police Station, and they said that 
•is the superintendent. I said, “Please introduce me to him.” Knowing 
(florists’ flowers pretty well he made me as welcome as an old friend, 
and I spent a very pleasant hour looking over Mr. Lakin’s choice floral 
treasures. The season was an early one, and choice Roses as Mar^chal 
Niel were blooming freely on the walls of his residence. As we were 
walking round his house we came into a court-yard where it seems he 
had a couple of cells for temporary detention of prisoners. Two rough 
men were blacking the super’s boots ; they touched their caps. Mr. 
Lakin said, “ What, you here again ? ” “ Yes, Sir. We are too fond of 
’em. We can’t keep away from you.” I inquired who they were, and 
learnt they are a brace of poachers often there, whom the police had 
caught during the night,—R. M., Neiohury. 
- Double White Violets.—I have just refifeived ffdhi a friend 
some beautiful double Violets, amongst which are flowers of Lady 
Hume Campbell, which are very fine, pure white, and double. But it 
seems so difficult to disconnect this form from several others, so that 
one seems driven to ask how many really distinctive double white 
Violets there are in commerce. The Old White, sometimes called Odora- 
tissima, Fragrantissima, and Queen of Whites, is very well known. 
Then we have the one just referred to. Lady H. Campbell, Comte 
Brassa’s White, Swanley White, these two apparently identical, ani 
Belle de Chantenay. Are there any more under name, and if so, how 
much do they differ 1 Is there any one of the whole that stands out 
beyond others in the same way that a good stock of Marie Louise does 
amongst coloured varieties? There seems to be an intimate connection 
in Violets between perfume and colour, as whilst the whites have the 
weakesc scent, the darkest coloured ones are the richest. Then apart 
from these considerations, popular tastes run most after depth of 
colour in Violets, whether single or double. I do not know where the 
great numbers of bunched deep blue singles we see in the streets come 
from just now, as I fear in the metropolitan district the plants have 
been nearly killed by the frost. Twenty years ago the Violet trade about 
London wac a remarkable one, but we have rarely had good seasons 
for the flowers since, and whilst the [foreign competition has been 
extraordinary, the adverse seasons certainly’ have not been due to 
competition. But bunched Violets may be'gathered fresh and run into 
London from remote places in a few hours, hence it may be that our 
present abundant supply of sweet perfumed lich singles of the true 
Russian are home grown. I trust they may be so.—A. D. 
- When to Plant Potatoes.—I am not surprised to hear in 
all directions there is great hesitancy this year shown with respect to 
the planting of main crop Potatoes. All sorts of growers shake their 
heads knowingly, and declare they are not going to be caught as last 
year. They are very wise to be so cautious. We shall not be well out 
of the wood of the present winter until nearly the end of May, and to 
plant Potatoes early, even though the ground is just now in such 
splendid condition for the work, is to court fresh disaster. There can 
be no doubt but that the bulk of the later division will be planted after 
Easter. That may result in entirely escaping harm from the latest 
spring frosts. Even if there be no such frosts to avoid, growth is always 
stronger and more rapid from later planting. We must not forget 
that the Potato is still a tender exotic, and even where it escapes 
frosts often suffers great check because of the prevalence of low 
temperatures. Except where special protection to the tops can be 
given, very early planting leads to no gain, and njajr to ponfiderablf 
loss.—D. 
-Wakefield Paxton Society.—M r. H. S. Goodyear presided 
at a meeting of this Society held on March 23rd, when the essayist was 
Mr. G. Bott, master of Miss Pilkington’s School at Walton, who has in 
previous years delivered a large number of exceed ngly interesting 
lectures, and on Saturday last he added another to the long and excellent 
series. His subject was “ Migration of Plants,” and he dealt with it in 
a thorough and most interesting manner, and imparted much valuable 
information to his large and very attentive audience. The lecturer 
showed the various ways and means by which Nature covers the surface 
of the globe with vegetation, and explained some of the most ingenious 
contrivances by which seeds and plants of many kinds are transferred 
from one part of the world to another and germinate and flourish. This, 
he explained, was caused by the wind, by anim.als, birds, and insects. 
After showing how seeds are conveyed from land to land in the air, in 
the crops and beaks of birds, the stomachs of animals, the wool of sheep, 
Mr. Bott concluded by saying that the more they searched and inquired 
into these matters the more they were struck with the great power of 
the Creator. A very hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Bott closed the 
meeting. 
- Emigrants’ Information Office, 31, Broadway, West¬ 
minster, S.W.—The April circulars of the Emigrants’ Information 
Office and the new annual editions of the handbooks show the present 
prospects of emigration. A new edition of the handbook to the South 
African Republic is now ready, and a revised and enlarged edition of 
the West Indian handbook will shortly be issued. Emigrants to Canada 
should start now ; the only demand is for domestic servants, for expe¬ 
rienced farm labourers, and for men able to take up land. In New 
South Wales there is no demand for more labour, except for domestic 
servants. In Victoria trade and work are very bad, and further reduc¬ 
tions are being made in the salaries and number of civil servants to 
meet the inadequate revenue of the Colony. As many inquiries are 
being made about the Mildura irrigation Colony it is necessary to point 
out that it is suitable for those emigrants only who have a capital of at 
least £400 to £500. The Irrigation Colony undoubtedly possesses great 
possibilities of future success for those who can afford to wait ; but at 
present it is only partially developed, and irrigated fruit land may be 
bought in other parts of Victoria at less cost, and nearer to railways and 
markets. In South Australia an Irrigation Settlement has been autho¬ 
rised at Lake Bonney, near the River Murray. The land is to be cut up 
into blocks of 10 acres each, and to be sold at not more than £22 an acre. 
Provision is made for a limited number of settlers without capital by 
engaging them at regular wages of 323. 6d. a week, out of which £1 a 
week is retained towards the purchase money for their blocks. In 
Queensland the demand for ordinary labour seems fully met. For a few* 
experienced farm hands however, and especially for men able to take up 
free grants or other land, there are considerable openings. In Tasmania 
the supply of labour is quite sufficient. In New Zealand many trades 
have been doing well, and country labour for the most part has been 
fully employed. With regard to Cape Colony a large number of official 
reports for 1894 were received last quarter. They show with few 
exceptions that all kinds of labour were plentifully supplied both in the 
towns and the country. Natal is well supplied with labour. Intending 
emigrants to Matabeleland and Mashonaland must bear in mind that 
no one should go to those territories who is not in possession of some 
small means. 
