334 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 18, 18f5. 
much less time, and will give much more satisfaction than a number of 
thin, small leaves. 
For many years now I have only grown the round-seeded, and have 
never been without Spinach either in the autumn and early spring. 
The prickly-seeded is no doubt as hardy, but I prefer the former, as I 
have generally found it to produce larger and broader leaves.— 
A. Hardikg. 
Events of the Week. —Two meetings will claim the attention 
of London horticulturists during the coming week. At the Drill Hall, 
Westminster, on Tuesday, the Committees of the Royal Horticultural 
Society will meet, and a good show is expected ; while on the Wednesday 
the Royal Botanic Society holds its second spring show. In the 
provinces there are at least three shows of interest, each opening on 
the Wednesday—namely, the Birmingham Daffodil and Horticultural 
Society’s Daffodil Show, in the BJgbaston Botanic Gardens; the 
Newcastle-on-Tjine Spring Show, in Olympia, Northumberland Street; 
and the Chesterfield Spring Show, at Tapton Grove. 
- The Weather in London. — Fine weather, with bright 
sunshine, has prevailed in the metropolis during the past week. 
Thursday and Friday last were warm and genial, but a cold easterly 
wind which afterwards set in has marred to some extent the pleasure of 
holiday makers, also checking the growth of vegetation which former 
favourable conditions had encouraged. 
- Weather in the North.— Since Wednesday, the lOlh inst., 
which was cold, gusty, and showery, there has been a great improve¬ 
ment in the weather. Although the wind has generally been easterly 
and sharp, there has been abundant sunshine. On a few mornings 
frosts of 4° and 6° have occurred. Farm and garden work is being 
vigorously pushed on.—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- Royal Horticultural Society.—T he next meeting of this 
Society will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster, on 
Tuesday, April 23id. In addition to the Society’s ordinary show the 
National Auricula and Primula Society will hold its annual show. At 
2 30 P M. a Conference on Primulas and Auriculas will be held in the 
Hall. Prof. Michael Foster, F.R.S., has promised to preside, and the 
following papers will be read :—“ New Primulas,” by Mr. J. G. Baker, 
F.R.S. ; “ Culture and Classification of Primulas,” by Mr. Selfe-Leonard ; 
and “ The Auricula,” by Mr. J. Douglas. By way of illustrating the 
Conference the Council will be glad of exhibits of as many different 
natural species of Primula as possible. 
- Prize Essay on Hardy Fruit Growing.-W e are requested 
to publish the following announcement:—"The Council of the Royal 
Horticultural Society of Great Britain offer a prize of £10 for the best 
essay on ‘ The Commercial Aspect of Hardy Fruit Growing in the 
United Kingdom.’ The essay is not to exceed 10,000 words, to be sent 
dnder seal to the Secretary of the Society, 117, Victoria Street, West¬ 
minster, on or before August 1st, 1895, each essay to be signed with 
a motto, and the writer’s real name and address enclosed in a sealed 
envelope bearing the same motto outside, the prize essay to become the 
sole property of the Council of the Society to deal with in any way 
they may think fit. Unsuccessful essays will be returned after 
October 1st, 1895, on application, enclosing the necessary postage, and 
the motto of the writer.” 
—— Beautiful Violets. —When we think of the beauty, the 
fragrance, and hardiness of the Violet, the wonder is that it is not grown 
far more abundantly. I am sending a few blooms, for your inspection, 
of a variety that has recently originated in my garden. One shoot 
came on a plant of Comte Brazza’s White Neapolitan, although the 
foliage on the plants from whence the flowers were gathered was very 
much scorched with the severe frosts in January and February. Stilb 
you will be able to see from the size and colour of the blooms what a 
fine variety it is. It seems to be the very counterpart of the old Neapoli¬ 
tan, but a much stronger grower and larger flower.— North Northum¬ 
brian. [The variety is excellent, the flowers being large, of good 
substance, and deliciously fragrant.] 
-Rodmersham Amateur and Cottage Gardeners’ 
Association. —We are favoured with a schedule of this Society, giving 
details of classes and prizes offered at the eighth annual show. The 
exhibition will be held in the grounds of Rodmersham House on August 
28th and 29;h. Schtdules and further particulars may be had from the 
Secretary, Mr. T. H. Busbridge, Rodmersham, Sittingbourne. 
- London’s Latest Lung. —Telegraph Hill, the new open space 
which has been laid out by the Parks Committee of the London County 
Council, was recently dedicated to the public. Mr. Arthur Arnold, 
Chairman of the Council, said it was his privilege to plant the 
standard of public possession and public freedom—and on behalf of the 
Council of the County of London, he declared these gardens to be open 
for ever for the health and recreation of the people. 
- Almond Trees.—T he geniality of the weather we experienced 
some days since is shown on the several Almond trees now flowering 
so profusely in many parts of the metropolis, and form a pleasant 
spectacle. It is a tree that might well be planted far more extensively 
in the gardens of many new houses that are being erected round London, 
as it cannot be denied that they tend, perhaps more than any other 
tree, to brighten our murky town in the spring— Londoner. 
- The William Thomson Memorial Fund, —We are 
informed that it has been proposed to close this Fund on May 1st, and 
therefore all intending subscribers, which we trust will be many, 
should forthwith send their contributions to any of the following 
members of the English Executive Committee, of which Mr. H. J. 
Veitch is Chairman :—Messrs. A. F. Barron, Chiswick ; Bruce Findlay, 
Manchester; J. George, Putney; P. E. Kay, Finchley; G. Monro, 
Covent Garden ; G. Norman, Hatfield ; F. Sander, St. Albans ; J. Smith, 
Mentmore; R. Tait, Manchester ; 0. Thomas, Frogmore ; H. Williams, 
Hollow’ay ; G. Wythes, Syon House ; or J. G. Veitch, Honorary Secretary, 
Royal Exotic Nursery, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W. We may remind our 
readers that the object of the Fund is to honour the memory of one of 
the most accomplished of gardeners and best and most respected of men, 
and at the same time aid afflicted gardeners and orphan children 
through the agency of the Gardeners’ Benevolent Institution and the 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, in which charities the amount sub¬ 
scribed will be invested. 
- Fumigating—The Latest. — Soon the worry and anxiety 
that insects have hitherto caused us in our plant houses will be a thing 
of the past. The XL All vapourising fumigator is certainly far in 
advance of anything I have used. Two dressings of the highly con¬ 
centrated nicotine that is thrown off as vapour will kill mealy bug. I do 
not say two fumigations are ample to clear a house of bug altogether, 
but it will destroy all the active insect.= . I consider this a distinct 
step onwards. Those who have mealy bug in their vineries have now 
within easy reach material by which it can be eradicated. I have 
hopes that while it will destroy mealy bug it will also exterminate the 
small scale that infests Palms. The time spent in removing this pest 
from Palms has always been a source of trouble to me, day after day 
being used in sponging, and to little or no purpose. If nicotine 
vapourised in our houses will accomplish this we need not hope for 
greater progress in this direction. I may add that tender young fronds 
of Adiantum cuneatum in the house were not injured by the applica¬ 
tions which killed the mealy bug.— Wm. Bardney, Osmaston Manor. 
- Viola Conference.—A s the "master hand” who planned and 
guided the Viola Conference at Birmingham last August has been called 
away by death the duty devolves on me of arranging what is to be done 
this year. I am afraid that the loss of Mr. Dean is one which is almost 
irreparable. Who will be so willing, so capable, so enthusiastic, and so 
disinterested ? I know not. Mr. William Sydenham has written to 
me urging the arrangement of a Conference for Tamworth or Birming¬ 
ham. Mr. Rowberry thinks that Mr. Dean’s death will mean the 
removal of the Conference meeting to London, and I know this opinion 
is shared by several others. On the other hand, I think Professor 
Hillhouse, from what passed last year, will be expecting the Conference 
to assemble at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on the occasion of 
the Pansy and Viola show there. I know this was also Mr. Dean’s 
expectation. My object in writing to the Journal now is to ask those 
who are interested in the matter to write me briefly, expressing their 
views as to where this year’s Conference should be held and when. An 
effort will then be made to arrange it to suit the majority of those 
interested. If sufificient interest is not manifested it may become a 
question if there should be a meeting at all.— William Cuthberton, 
SjprmgJield, Rothesay. 
