358 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 25, 1896. 
- We are informed that the Reigate Rose Show, in connection 
with the Cottage Garden Show, is fixed for July 10th. 
- Gaedening Appointment.— Mr, H. R. Richards, lately head 
gardener to Colonel H. Trafford Rawson at Roche Court, Salisbury, has 
been appointed head gardener to the same gentleman at Coldton Hall, 
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. 
- Waterlow Park. —Under the direction of Mr. J. Pallett, 
the Superintendent, many improvements have recently been carried 
out in Waterlow Park, Higbgate, All the paths have been remade, and 
large patches of the lawns returfed. The flower borders are stocked 
with Hyacinths, Daffodils, and Polyanthus, and there is every prospect 
that the herbaceous plants, which made such a splendid show last year, 
will again be a credit to the place. 
- Primroses at Covent Garden. —On Primrose Day Covent 
Garden Market presented an unusually busy appearance by reason of the 
enormous quantities of Primroses which had been imported into the 
metropolis. The majority of these were in root form and not obtained 
before the previous day in order that their beauty might be longer 
retained. It is stated that the plants were not so numerous as last 
year, and that buyers had some difficulty in procuring large supplies, 
- Gold-laced Polyanthuses.— I saw a number of seedlings 
raised from the late Barlow strain growing the other, day at Farnham 
Royal, and assisted in the selection and marking of many of the best. 
Mr. W. James, who inherits his father’s excellent judgment, is taking 
great pains to preserve the strain pure. All who grow this section of 
Polyanthuses know how readily they retrograde if other than the best 
forms are retained. Now is the time to sow Polyanthus seeds to secure 
good plants to bloom next year, and if some of special excellence result 
then it may be with a few wisest to lift carefully and establish in pots, 
standing them in a frame or cool greenhouse for seeding, or to keep for 
division, and thus increase those worthy of that course.—A. D. 
- Wakefield Paxton Society. —At the meeting of this 
Society on April 13th Mr. George Parkin gave a valuable and interesting 
lecture on “ The Rearing and Preservation of Insects.” After describing 
the most prominent order of insects, and the special varieties which 
make themselves manifest either injuriously or beneficially on crops, 
garden or agricultural, Mr. Parkin pointed out that in order to meet 
the attacks of the one and to encourage the visits of the other a correct 
knowledge of their life history was an essential preliminary. He urged 
that this was best obtained by rearing and watching specimens of the 
various kinds through their several stages, and a great part of the 
lecture was devoted to describing how this could be done, and the 
apparatus required. The lecturer illustrated his observations by 
showing a choice and beautifully mounted collection of lepidopterous 
and coleopterous insects, drawings, and materials. A number of ques¬ 
tions were answered, and in conclusion Mr, Parkin was most heartily 
thanked for his lecture, and for the very valuable services as an ento¬ 
mologist which he has for a long period rendered to the Society. Mr. 
J. S, Brown presided, and Mr. H. S. Goodyear occupied the vice chair. 
- Camellia reticulata. —Relative to Mr. A. Kemp’s remarks 
(page 337) regarding this, the grandest species of Camellias, it may be 
additionally interesting to note that (somewhere 1 have read) some 
twenty-five years ago there was a fine specimen at Bank Grove, 
Kingston-on-Thames, the residence of Mr. Byam Martin, and stated to 
be 20 feet high by 50 feet in circumference. In one year it produced 
4000 flowers ! There is also a large specimen of it growing in a pot at 
the Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham, and which annually 
blossoms profusely, forming as it does a most attractive object in the 
large conservatory there. As a good companion to the former plant a 
remarkable specimen of the old Double White was recorded thirty-three 
years ago at growing at Sundridge Park, Kent, whilst at the present 
time there is also a fine and healthy plant of the same variety growing 
in an immense rectangular wooden tub, and the plant itself similar in 
size to the Bank Grove specimen. It was presented to the Society by a 
gentleman in the neighbourhood about two years since. I have a vivid 
recollection of having intimate relations with, upwards of forty years 
ago, a large tree of Camellia reticulata planted out in the unique ridge- 
and-furrow roofed conservatory at Trentham Hall Gardens, and which 
specimen, I believe, is still in existence there, consequently must now 
have attained to a gigantic size. In comparison with other species of 
the genus C. reticulata possesses one fault—if fault it be—and that is 
an inherent tendency to sparseness of foliage and leggy branches, unless 
attention is paid to frequent stopping of the young shoots during the 
plant’s early youth.— William Gardiner, Birmingham. 
- Cape Fruit. —Fairly large consignments of fruit recently 
arrived by the “ Norman.” These, the bulk of which were Grapes, 
were offered for sale at Covent Garden Market. This importation 
showed a marked improvement on those previously received, the use 
of wood wool being largely responsible for the improvement. 
- Cytisus elegans.— This is a shrub resembling C. racemosns, 
but superior in every way, the flowers of a deeper yellow colour, being 
larger, and borne more profusely. After flowering the plants should be 
cut back, and stood outside all the summer. It will be found necessary 
to trim the plants to keep them in good shape. The plant in question 
is hardier than C. racemosus, and is one of the very best for greenhouse 
decoration.—J. T. 
-New' York Fruit Stands.—F or a week or two past the 
sidewalk fruit stands have been decorated with branches cf Kalmia 
latifolia, its glossy green leaves being very effective in setting off the 
colours of Oranges, Bananas, and Apples. Leafy twigs of Wild Cherry 
are largely used during the summer for the same purpose, but these 
Laurel leaves have only lately come into such general use, The supply 
comes from the coast counties of New Jersey. 
- Rhododendron Forsteeianum. — This was raised by Mr. 
Otto Forster in Austria, and is a hybrid between R. Veitchi and 
R. Edgeworthi. It bas large white flowers, tinged with lemon on the 
uppermost side of the corolla tube. The corolla is divided into five 
spreading lobes, being crisped or wivy at the edges, measuring 5 inches 
across. The flowers are borne three to four in a head, and are very 
fragrant. This plant is now in flower in the temperate house, Kew. 
—J. T, 
- Violets. —I am sending you a few flowers of Lady Hume 
Campbell and Comte de Brazza White Neapolitan Violets. During the 
very severe weather in January and February last the plants were 
closely covered up for fifty-eight consecutive days, having neither light 
nor air all that time. When opened out they were as fresh and healthy 
as if they had only been shut up for a few hours. Lady Hume Camp¬ 
bell is not nearly so well known as its merits deserve.— North- 
Northumbeian. [The Violets are very fine indeed, some of them 
exceeding 1^ inch in diameter, and the leaves are extremely robust.] 
- Anecdote of the Missel Thrush.—D uring the severe 
weather of February, one of these birds suddenly made its appearance in 
the shrubbery attached to a Gravesend residence, the species not being 
often noticed in that district of Kent. His relations with the other birds 
that haunted the shrubbery (the owner being one of those kindly folks 
who dispensed crumbs and meat to “ hard-up ” birds at that iime), were 
anything but of a friendly character. He chased them about at every 
opportunity, so they raised warning cries whenever he approached, but 
possibly he had been offended at the reception he received on his arrival. 
This bird fed voraciously on the berries of the Privet, and at last was 
found dead one morning, showing evident signs that these had disagreed 
with him. Whether it was excess after abstinence which caused this I do 
not know, or whether they were unsuitable food. Many birds that eat 
berries in the winter will not touch those of the Privet.—J. R. S. C, 
- Royal Meteorological Society.—A t the meeting of this 
Society on the 17th inst., which was held at the Surveyors’ Institution, 
Westminster, Messrs. F. C. Bayard and W. Marriott communicated a 
paper on “ The Frost of January and February, 1895, over the British 
Isles.” The cold period, which commenced on December 30th and 
terminated on March 5th, was broken by a week’s mild weather, from 
January 14th to 2l8t, otherwise there would have been continuous frost 
for sixty-six days. Temperatures below 10° Fahrenheit, and in some 
cases below zero, were recorded in parts of England and Scotland 
between January 8th and 13th, while from the 26th to the 31st, and 
from February 5th to 20th, temperatures below 10° occurred on every 
day in some parts of the British Isles. The coldest days were 
February 8th to the 10th. The lowest temperatures recorded were 
17° at Braemar, and 11° at Buxton and Drumlanrig. The mean 
temperature of the British Isles for January was about 7°, and for 
February from 11° to 14° below the average, while the mean temperature 
for the period from January 26th to February 19th was from 14° to 20° 
below the average. The distribution of atmospheric pressure was 
almost entirely the reverse of the normal, the barometer being highest 
in the north and lowest in the south, the result being a continuance of 
strong northerly and easterly winds. From a comparison of previous 
records the authors are of opinion that the recent frost was more severe 
than any since 1814. 
