52 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
January 18,1894. 
months, because in that way comparative immunity from frost or too 
precocious development would be ensured. Now there is no telling 
what may happen, and no human agency can check the precocious 
tendencies of a warm winter. We may hope that things may come 
right in the end, but know that greater than hope in effect would be a 
good spell further of low temperature.—A, D. 
- Insect Attacks on Crops and Trees. —Miss E. A. Ormerod 
contributed to the “ Times ” recently some observations on insect attacks 
upon crops and trees in this country during last year. It is pointed out 
that the attacks of the year were much influenced by the exceptional 
deficiency of rainfall in the early half of 1893, from March onwards, and 
by other weather peculiarities. With regard to the imported locust 
appearances, the specimens which reached her alive proved to be of a 
South European species, which is not gregarious, and in its own country, 
though of large size, is known to do no appreciable damage. From the 
climatic requirements of locusts, therefore, and also from recorded 
experience, there does not appear to be any reason to fear even a 
possibility of locusts effecting a settlement in this country. It is men¬ 
tioned by Miss Ormerod, however, that the presence of locusts in great 
quantities in fodder might be detrimental to the health of animals fed 
upon it. 
-Effingham Gardeners’ Improvement Society. — On 
Thursday last a general meeting of gardeners was convened for the 
purpose of forming the Effingham and District Gardeners’ Mutual Im¬ 
provement Society, for the discussion of various subjects in connection 
with garden work. Mr. Douglas presided, and there was a good attend¬ 
ance. The following officers were elected :—President, F. Muir, Esq. 
Vice-Presidents, Kev. P. P. Edwards, M.A., Kev. E. F. Bay ley, M.A., 
Messrs. Douglas, Alderman, and Bristol. Committee, Messrs. Bellwood, 
H. Goff, Hamlin, Jones, Phillips, Muckley, King, Franks, and Ottaway. 
Treasurer, Rev. P. P. Edwards, M.A. Secretary, W. R. Goff. The 
meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to F. Muir, Esq., for his 
kindness in granting the room for the meetings, and also to Mr. Douglas 
for presiding and assisting with his valuable advice. The establishment 
of this Society is the outcome of lectures given under the auspices of the 
Surrey County County, and which were highly appreciated. 
- Influence of Artificial Rain on Plants. — Professor 
J. Wiesner, who has recently been studying the influence of artificial 
rain upon European and exotic plants, gave an account of his results at 
a recent meeting of the Vienna Academy. Some of the plants, called 
by Professor Wiesner “ ombrophobe,” can only for a short time stand 
continuous rain, and soon shed their leaves and decay. Others, called 
“ ombrophil,” can stand it for months together. Plants growing in dry 
places are, says “ Nature, ” as a rule, ombrophobe, but the reverse 
cannot be said of plants growing under wet surroundings. Leaves 
appear to gain in power of resisting rain as they develop, and to reach 
a climax in this respect at the period of their greatest vital activity, 
after which they lose much of that power. Leaves which can be wetted 
by water are usually ombrophil, those which cannot are usually ombro¬ 
phobe, but in cases where leaves are both ombrophobe and easily wetted, 
they are extremely sensitive to rain. Professor Wiesner thinks that 
ombrophobe leaves are enabled to resist the putrefactive action of 
water, especially at high temperatures, by certain antiseptic substances 
which they contain. The same may be said of hydrophil roots and 
submerged parts of aquatic plants. 
- Lectures at the Drill Hall. —The lectures arranged to be 
given at the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society during the 
current year are as follows :—March 13th, “ The Deciduous Trees and 
Shrubs of Japan,” by Mr. J. H. Veitch ; March 27th, “ Rare Trees and 
Shrubs in the Arnold Arboretum, U.S.A.,” by Mens. Maurice de 
Vilmorin ; April 10th, “Hybrid Narcissi,” by the Rev. G. Engleheart, 
M.A.; April 24th, “Botanical Exploration in Borneo,” by Mr. F. W. 
Burbidge, M.A.; May 8th, “Orchids,” by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 
President R.H.S.; June 12th, “Flowering Trees and Shrubs,” by Mr. G. 
Nicholson; June 26th, “The Fertilization of Pansies,” by Mr. J. D. 
Stuart ; July 10th, “ On Cactaceae,” by Mr. John W. Singer ; July 24th, 
“ Filmy Ferns,” by Mr. J. Backhouse ; August 14th, “ Fruit Culture in 
France,” by Mons. Chas. Baltet; August 28th, “ Relations between 
Gardeners and their Employers,” by Mr. Malcolm Dunn; Septem¬ 
ber 11th, “Lord Bute’s Vineyards,” by Mr. A. Pettigrew ; October 9th, 
“ How to Popularise Orchid Growing,” by Mr. E. H. Woodhall; 
October 23rd, “ Origin of Common Vegetables and Their Value as Food,” 
by Professor G. Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., Ac.; November 13th, “Chrys¬ 
anthemums,” by Mr. C. E. Shea; November 27th, “Principles of 
Judging at Flower Shows,” by Mr. Jas. Douglas. 
- POLYPODIUM VULGARE. —Whilst reading Mr. Druery’s inter¬ 
esting notes on the Polypodium family (page 6), I was reminded of how 
this Fern may become a decided novelty and ornament at the same 
time, as well as showing how little are its wants in the way of soil or 
moisture to enable it to make luxuriant growth, In the woods forming 
part of the Rooksbury Park estate there are several Oak trees on which 
for 30 feet up the stem and on large branches this Fern has taken a firm 
hold. There it is growing in all luxuriance in spite of the abnormally 
dry summer of last year. The roots appear to derive all the necessary 
support from the bark of the Oak.—E. M. 
-Forcing Lily of the Valley. —Where this popular flower 
is extensively cultivated but little difficulty is experienced in forcing 
the plants, because a bed in a house well supplied with bottom heat >&• 
devoted to the purpose. In many instances, however, it is necessary 
to start a few potfuls at frequent intervals, in order to keep up a con¬ 
tinuous supply. Under such circumstances the plants very often do 
not receive the treatment they require, with the result that failures 
are by no means unusual. The following plan I have found to be 
invariably successful. Plunge the pots filled with roots, as they are 
wanted for forcing, up to the rims in cocoa-nut fibre or moss, then cover 
the crowns with an inch of moss, and stand the box upon the hot-water 
pipes in a forcing house or low pit. Give one thorough watering with 
warm water, and afterwards syringe the moss daily. If the hot-water 
pipes are kept constantly warm, and a top temperature ranging between 
65° and 75° is maintained, no difficulty will be found in securing well 
developed flowers.—H. W. 
DEATH OF MR. WALTER HENRY WILLIAMS. 
Mr. Walter Henry Williams (head of the firm of Keynes, 
Williams & Co.) died early on Sunday morning, 14th inst., at Parkhurst, 
Salisbury, after a short illness, from pneumonia. The regret with 
which we make this announcement we are sure will be shared by a wide 
circle of rosarians, dahlia growers, and horticulturists generally; and, 
indeed, by everyone who has had the pleasure of being personally 
acquainted with the deceased gentleman, whose courteous, genial, and 
gentlemanly manner and bearing endeared him to everybody with whom 
he came in contact. 
In Mr. Walter Henry Williams’ demise the Wilts Horticultural 
Society has sustained a severe loss, he having been Hon. Sec. of the 
Society since it was resuscitated out of the ashes of the “ old” Wiltshire 
Horticultural and Arboricultural Society, some twelve or thirteen years 
ago, up to the time of his much deplored early death. In this capacity 
he performed his onerous duties with great tact, and to the entire satis¬ 
faction of the Committee and exhibitors, the details of the individual 
shows having on every occasion been carried out in the smoothest and 
most efficient manner possible. 
The late Mr. Walter Henry Williams was the youngest but one of 
four sons of the late Charles Williams, Esq., J.P. for the City of 
Salisbury, in which City he carried on a large malting business, since 
carried on by the eldest son, Mr. Ernest Williams. It is fifteen years 
since the late Mr. W. H. Williams became connected with the well- 
known firm of Keynes, Williams & Co. of the Castle Street, Nurseries, 
Salisbury. In recent years the deceased took a great interest in the 
raising of new Dahlias of the single and Cactus types, and also in the 
showing of their blooms to the best advantage, making a new 
departure from the beaten track of exhibiting these popular flowers, 
his most successful attempt in this direction being the arrangement of 
a collection of cut blooms set out on a table 15 feet by 6 feet, at 
Shrewsbury last August, and reproduced at the Royal Agricultural 
Hall, London, a few days later, 
Mr. Walter Henry Williams was a Fellow of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society and a member of the Floral Committee of that Society, 
and the probability is that had he been alive and well he would have 
attended the first meeting of the Society this year, which, singularly 
enough, was held on the day on which his funeral took place. 
The remains of the deceased were removed from Parkhurst, Salisbury, 
at 11.30 A M. on Tuesday, and conveyed by the express (12.30 p.m ) 
South-Western train to Woking for cremation in that place. The 
mournful procession was attended by the leading tradesmen of Salisbury, 
including the Mayor (Mr. Charles Hoskins) and many members of the 
Corporation, who attended, not in their official capacity, but as members 
of the Wilts Horticultural Society, and as an individual mark of private 
citizenship respect for the late Mr. Walter Williams, for whose memory 
it is pleasant to record, everyone who had known him has a good word. 
The coffin was covered with beautiful wreaths, including one, “ In kind 
remembrance and deep sympathy from H. W. Ward,” and one from the 
Castle Street Nurseries. Among horticulturists attending the funeral 
were Messrs. John and Charles S. Wyatt (Castle Street Nursery), H. W, 
Ward (Longford Castle), Charles Warden (Clarendon Park), Messrs. 
Hinksman and Chalk (Salisbury), and Mr. H. Nicholson (Assistant 
Secretary to the Wilts Horticultural Society'). The deceased was married 
about four years ago, and leaves a widow and one child (a boy two 
years old) to mourn his loss. The deceased gentleman was only 
thirty-one years of age. 
