April 18,1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
335 
-Scottish Horticultural Association.—A meeting of the 
Scottish Horticultural Association was held on Tuesday, April 2nd, at 
Edinburgh, Mr. R. W. B. Murray, President, in the chair. An interest¬ 
ing and instructive paper on “Eucharis and Pancratiums ” was read 
by Mr. D. L. McIntosh, Kingsmeadows, Peebles. 
- “The American Florist.” —We have recently received a copy 
of the special spring number of this excellent American publication. It 
■contains articles on the arrangement of flowers and other practical and 
useful subjects, almost all of which are admirably illustrated. The 
printing and the paper leave little to be desired, while the outer page of 
the cover representing a floral arrangement is a real work of art. 
- Nephrolepis davallioides furcans. —This is one of the 
most beautiful of all Ferns when used as a pot or vase plant, having 
broad, furcated, glossy leaves, and a massive, full, arching head. When 
cut the fronds last well, look handsome, and are much appreciated for 
table and vase decoration when large fronds are required ; for small 
vases, hand bouquets, and the like, of course they are far too large. 
When cut they may be immersed in a tub or tank of water for two or 
ihree hours before using. 
- Metropolitan Public Gardens Association.—A t a recent 
meeting of this Association it was decided to open to the public, towards 
tlie end of May, the disused burial grounds of St. Peter’s, Walworth, 
and St. Mary’s, Woolwich, lately laid out by the Association. Attention 
■was drawn to ctses of building operations on disused burial grounds in 
apparent contravention of the Disused Burial Grounds Act, 1884, and it 
was decided to take steps to insure a full inquiry into each case. It was 
decided to prepare plans for the laying-out of Bromley Churchyard and 
"St. Stephen’s school ground. Bow. 
- The Hessle Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society. 
—The annual dinner of the above Society was held on Tuesday, April 9th, 
when the President of the Society (W. J. Wharwick, Esq.) took the 
chair, about sixty members and friends being present. After the 
-dinner Mr. Wharwick gave a short address, expressing the pleasure it 
was to him to be amongst the Hessle gardeners, where, he said, he 
always felt thoroughly at home. The usual toasts were proposed, and 
•duly responded to. An excellent programme of songs, provided 
by “The Kingston Quartett Party,” contributed largely to the evening’s 
•enjoyment.—F. L. T, 
- American Apples.— The exports to date of Apples during 
±he season of 1894-95 aggregate 1,443,592 barrels, against only 168,706 
barrels during the previous season of 1893-94. The record season in 
-the export Apple tiade was that of 1891-92, when, as was the case this 
season, the English Apple crop also failed. In that season 1,450,336 
barrels of Apples were shipped abroad as follows :—From New York, 
537,247 ; Boston, 339,964 ; Montreal, 320,427 ; Portland, 163,145 ; 
Halifax, 87,379 ; Philadelphia, 550 ; Baltimore, 72; Newport News, 
1337 ; Norfolk, 215. The export season usually begins about August 15th 
And ends about April 15th. The total quantity of Apples shipped in 
the season of 1891-92 is now only 3738 barrels more than have been 
shipped thus far this season. When all the returns are in for this season 
it will probably beat all previous records. 
- The Sleep of Plants. —The sleep of plants is so conspicuous 
a phenomenon that it excited discussion and speculation as early as 
the time of Pliny, and many explanations were given, which science 
ias since disproved. The drooping of the leaves was attributed by some 
botanists to an aversion to moisture, a theory which had to be aban- 
<loned when such movements were made on cloudy days and dewless 
nights. The Clover tribe, which always close their leaves at night, 
level in rain, and Nasturtiums will go through a day of tempestuous 
weather without showing any inclination to change their position. 
Linnaeus was the first to give to the subject special study and scientific 
research. While watching the progress of some plants of Lotus, he 
began that series of observations on which his great work “ Sleep of 
Plants ” is based. He found that nocturnal changes are determined by 
temperature and the daily alternations of light and darkness. Move¬ 
ment is not actually caused by darkness, but by the difference in the 
amount of light the plant receives during the night and day. Many 
plants, notably the Nasturtium, unless brilliantly illumined in the 
day, will not sleep at night. If two plants, says the “Rural World,” 
were brought into the centre of a room, one from the open air and 
the other from a dark corner, the neutral light which would cause the 
former to droop its leaves would act as a stimulant on the latter. 
- Death of Mrs. M. I. Watson. —It is with deep regret that 
we learn the death of the wife of the well-known Assistant Curator, 
Royal Gardens, Kew, which took place April 6th, at the age of thirty-six 
years. 
- “The Natural History of Plants.”—W e have received 
from Messrs. Blackie & Son the twelfth number of this highly in¬ 
teresting publication. The question of fertilisation has now given place 
to the discussion of the fruit, and the infinite variety of aspect assumed 
by the fruits of various plants is presented realistically in a large number 
of illustrations. The volume has prefixed to it, as usual, a coloured 
plate, the subject in this case being a group of West Indian Orchids. 
- A Botanical Garden for New York.—I t begins now to 
look, says a transatlantic contemporary, as if the great city of New 
York is at last to have a botanical garden—it only remains to raise 
45,000 dols. more, when the work will actually begin. Bronx Park has 
been wisely selected as the place for its location. Too much cannot be 
said in favour of this addition to the attractions of New York. Its 
educational value would be inestimable, and it would constantly become 
more and more interesting and valuable as the years go by. 
- Clianthus Dampieri. —As a greenhouse climber no one can 
speak too highly of this plant. The flowers are not only curious in 
shape (resembling that of a lobster’s claw) but are exceedingly attractive 
when the growths are allowed to hang down from the pillars or the roof 
to which it is trained. When planted in a cool shady corner it is 
astonishing what an amount of growth this plant will make in a season. 
It is even easier to cultivate than the Lapageria, but where the two can 
be grown the roof of a conservatory may be kept ablaze all the winter 
months, and when once established the plants are little trouble. They 
require abundance of water in the growing season, and also syringing 
twice a day. If the north side cannot be devoted to them it is advisable 
to shade them rather heavily in the summer, or red spider is sure to 
attack them. We have a huge plant of Clianthus here now in full 
flower, and it would be useless to attempt to count the clusters.— 
Geo. Burrows, Wanoich School. 
- Cyclamens, Primulas, and Cinerarias at Altrincham. 
—It may perhaps not be generally known that something like 5000 
Cyclamens are grown and flowered annually in the establishment of the 
enterprising firm of Messrs. Clibran & Sons. The strain is excellent, the 
result of careful hybridising. The plants are very dwarf, and furnished 
with handsome foliage and flowers in great diversity of colour. The 
Pare’ White is a giant flowered variety, very free and a great acquisition. 
Primulas are equally imposing in two very large houses. Amongst the 
singles Clibran’s Red, Crimson, White, Rose, and Ruby Red, have flowers 
of the first size and quality, some measuring over 2^ inches across. King 
of Crimsons, raised by the firm, is not yet in commerce, but has a glowing 
future before it. Oldfield Blue, Rose Beauty, Princess of Wales, and 
Avalanche are also grand varieties. In the doubles. Firefly, deep crimson ; 
Mrs. Clibran, rosy peach ; and Snowflake, the largest pure white in the 
collection, are all superior. Other well tried sorts, such as Candidissima, 
Alba grandiflora, Earl of Beaconsfield, Marchioness of Exeter, Stewarti, 
and Princess of Wales are largely grown, their value for affording flowers 
being well known by many cultivators for cutting. Cinerarias are just 
coming into flower, the growth is sturdy and dwarf, with flowers of 
superb form and colour.—A Visitor. 
-The Flowering of Bulbs.— In spite of the many predictions 
that such bulbous plants as Snowdrops, Crocus, and Narcissi would not 
give such a full crop of blossom this year, I find the results are in con¬ 
tradiction to this theory. The excessively wet and cold summer and 
autumn perhaps justified the prophecy, but these prophets appear to 
have forgotten that the weather during April, May, and June—just the 
season when the embryo flowering state of the bulbs is prepared for 
next season’s display—was quite favourable to a full flower crop. 
During the three months named we had an average rainfall of a little 
over 2'00 inches, which certainly could not be unfavourable to the 
harvesting of the bulbs. Throughout the period named high tempera¬ 
tures were recorded. These are circumstances, I take it, favourable to 
the flowering of bulbs the following season, irrespective of what the 
late summer or autumn may be. I do not think I ever remember 
seeing the ordinary Snowdrop in its wild state in the woods and hedge¬ 
rows blossoming so strongly as at the present time. In the poultry 
yard here some thousands are growing, and wonderfully fine are the 
flowers and leaves. Crocuses, too, growing in many thousands on a grasay 
plot, in spite of the thick covering of moss, are wonderfully fine this 
year.—E. MOLYNEUX, Swanmore Park, 
