404 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 0,1896. 
- Pink Ernest Ladhams.—N ot only as a free-flowering variety 
in the open, but for growing in pots to give blooms during March and 
April, this is valuable. In Mr. Ladhams’ nursery at Shirley I lately 
saw several hundred plants that had been flowering under glass, and 
will continue for some time to come; The best of plants are obtained 
by inserting pipings directly the first plants have flowered in the 
open in an almost spent hotbed. They should be planted in well- 
worked not too rich soil in an open position. Here they will grow 
stocky, and can either be lifted for pots early in the autumn, or be left 
to flower where growing.—E. 
-Derbyshire Agricultural and Horticultural Society, 
—The schedule of the Horticultural section of the show of this Society, 
to be held on November 11th and 12th, has just reached us. There are 
open classes, and also a number restricted to amateurs, the prizes in 
all being very encouraging. The principal class is for a group of plants 
to be arranged in a space of 200 superficial feet, for which five prizes of 
£20, £15, £10, £5, and £4 are oflFered, Three prizes of £10, £8, and £6 
are offered in another class for twelve stove and greenhouse plants. 
S^uch offers should bring very strong competition, and insure a splendid 
show. Schedules and full particulars may be had from Mr. Sidney 
Burton, Canal OflSce, Derby. 
-Cuttings, Striking or Booting. — Since I had placed 
before me the other day a copy of the list of questions set for the recent 
horticultural examinations of the Boyal Horticultural Society I have 
been gravely cogitating the point which is the proper expression to use 
in the case of root development in cuUings. Do they “strike” or do 
they “root?” I do not wish to refine over trifles, for to all gardeners 
the expression or term “ striking ” means rooting. But in the case of an 
examination paper set for students of all classes of the community there 
is a possibility that the word “ striking ” as applied to root production 
by a cutting may be misunderstood. The term “ striking ” is not an apt 
or really a correct one. It seems to have originated from the use of the 
term in another way—cuttings strike root. In the case in question it 
does seem as if it would have been more proper on the part of high 
authorities, and certainly in a horticultural as well as botanical sense 
fitting, to have asked how the process of “ rooting ” in a cutting was 
developed, rather than the process of striking.— Student. 
- Anemone Pulsatilla.—T his native species of Anemone is at 
present very attractive in gardens, its finely cut, silky looking leaves 
and pretty purple flowers being considerably admired. It varies in 
shade of colour in a wild state, and in cultivation this variation is 
becoming more marked, a pure white variety being now offered by some 
nurserymen under the name of “White Swan.” In another direction a 
change in the colour is also desired, this being to obtain red flowers. I 
was much pleased to receive for inspection some which were kindly sent 
me by Mr. Mallender of Hodsock Priory Gardens, one of the Journal 
contributors. These were very fine, and Mr. Mallender is to be con¬ 
gratulated on his success. Some were of a beautiful mahogany colour, 
and looked very handsome. I have a number of seedlings coming into 
flower from seeds gathered from a bright red variety by a friend, but 
regret to see very little difference from the ordinary colour among them. 
The Hodsock Priory strain seems, however, to be not only a good 
but a progressive one, and one can only hope that Mr. Mallender 
will persevere and eventually succeed in improving still further.—S. A. 
- Bees Fertilising Beans. — Eeplying both to “English 
Bee-keeper ” and “ Observer,” I beg to say that the only possible 
aid to fertilisation which bees can give when sucking honey through 
the puncture at the base of the flowers must be caused by their shaking 
the blooms. In no other way can they assist fertilisation, as they do not 
come in contact with either anthers or stigma. Miiller is our best 
authority, and he says in the case of the Bean that “It is visited by 
Apis mellifica, sometimes collecting pollen, sometimes sucking through 
the holes bitten by Bombus terrestris, and ‘when collecting pollen’ 
effects cross-fertilisation, as well as those bees which suck in the 
normal manner.”—(“ Muller’s Fertilisation of Flowers,” pages 206 and 
207.) Darwin also speaks of this habit of some of the bees sucking 
through the holes bitten in the calyx of Bean flowers at page 405 of 
*’ Cross and Self Fertilisation of Plants.” He also proceeds to discuss 
the motive which impels bees to gnaw holes through the calyx and corolla 
of flowers. I have often wondered if in time the Bean and other plants 
will develop a calyx sufficiently strong, or evolve some other means to 
defeat the ends of these pirates. The Bean is supposed to be a native 
of Eastern Europe or Northern Africa. I wonder if anyone can tell us 
if the flowers are punctured and operated on in a similar fashion in 
these parts of the world,— William Cuthbertson, Rothesay. 
- An Old Pear Tree.— Passengers to Lawrence via theiEssex 
branch of the eastern division of the Boston and Maine railroad may 
see, says the “ Auckland Weekly News,” in passing the high bridge 
approaching Davenport, a wonderful instance of the vitality of the 
Pear tree by glancing down into the little hollow on the left. It was 
planted by Governor Endicott, the first head of the Massachusetts Bay 
Colony, in 1630, and stands on the once famous colonial Orchard Farm. 
The old tree, a mere shell, with apparently all its inner integuments 
gone, nothing but the outer bark remaining, and the substance of that 
split in twain, still stands, and renews again its vernal beauty in a 
wonderful display of blossoms. 
- Boronia heterophylla. — Beautiful and useful as is this 
plant when grown in bush form for the embellishment of greenhouses 
at this time of the year, it is perhaps even more so when grown as a 
standard. A few days since when walking thromgh the houses at 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons’ nurseries 1 noticed a few specimens so grown 
which were exceptionally ornamental. Considering the ease with which 
it may be formed into such a shape it is somewhat surprising that it is 
not much more frequently seen in private establishments. Naturally it 
comes in useful for the back of an arrangement, and saves the necessity 
of using pots or blocks for mounting, which are very likely to prove 
an eyesore unless carefully covered.—H. 
- Wakefield Paxton Society.—A t the meeting of this 
Society, held on the 27th ult., Mr. B. Whiteley presided, and Mr. 
W, Hudson of Sandal Grange was in the vice-chair. Mr. J. G. Brown, 
Curator of Outwood Cemetery, and for many years gardener at Hatfield 
Hall, read an excellent and practical paper on “ The Cultivation of 
Bulbs for Spring Flowers.” The essayist referred to most of the varieties 
of bulbs for spring flowering, and, speaking from long and successful 
practice, described the best mode of planting and growing them both in 
pots and in the open garden. A long and interesting discussion ensued 
on the paper, and at the close a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to 
Mr. Brown, who said it was always a pleasure to him to do anythieg he 
could on behalf of the Paxton Society. 
- Green Apple Aphis.—A report has been circulated to the 
effect that a green insect, abundant in numbers, threatens to do much 
damage to the fruit buds in New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and 
Illinois. Through our correspondents we find, says an American con¬ 
temporary, that the cause of this report is the green Apple aphis, and 
that it is restricted to only a few localities. Of it Professor Forbes says 
through the Illinois Agricultural Board :—“ These insects, which have 
recently hatched from small shining black eggs laid on and about the 
bud of the Apple, rarely do any permanent mischief in the Apple 
orchard. The buds commonly unfold so rapidly that their development 
is not checked, and the insect itself begins to disappear in about three 
weeks from the time of hatching. It can be destroyed when thought 
necessary by a thorough spraying with a 5 per cent, kerosine emulsion. 
In most cases, however, i^s destruction by this means would be a waste 
of labour and money, since it is not likely to be undertaken until near 
the period of the normal disappearance of the aphis.” 
- The Wood for Brooms.—T here is but a small amount of 
wood in a broom, but so many millions of these implements are used 
every year that the consumption of wood for broom handles is a 
considerable item. “ The Southern Lumberman ” states that while it 
would have been almost impossible to sell a broom-handle made of 
heavy hardwood a few years ago, at present the reverse is true. The 
manufacturer prefers hardwood because it does not require so large a 
bolt, can be turned down smaller and yet retain sufficient strength, and 
can be ornamented more cheaply and artistically. Brooms with hard¬ 
wood handles sell more readily and do not deteriorate in appearance 
like the soft wood handles. Any kind of inexpensive hardwood, such 
as Beech, Birch, Maple, or Ash, makes acceptable handles, while springy 
woods like the Elms are not saleable, because one essential feature of a 
good broom is a straight handle. The manufacture of broom handles 
can only be made profitable when the timber runs largely clear. In the 
Eastern States the timber waste in making broom handles exceeds 
50 per cent., while in the south-west it is usually less than 25 per cent. 
There are four factories in Amsterdam, New York, one of which has a 
cajiacity of 1200 finished brooms a day. They use hardwood handles 
from the south and west, and get them for less than the bolts ready for 
the lathe can be furnished from native hardwood. The handles are 
turned green and diied afterward. The large end on which the biush 
is wired must be thoroughly dry or the broom will work loose. The 
drying of the upper part of the handle is of less consequence, except in 
the saving of freight. 
