128 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 15,1394. 
- Souvenir de la Malmaison Carnation, —A correspondent, 
“ C. E.,” desires to know when this Carnation was introduced into this 
country, and how it derived its name, 
- Soluble Petroleum. —The articles in “ our Journal,” signed 
by “ Practice,” on Rose growing under glass are good reading, and 
justify his cognomen. Would he kindly state, in case I misapprehend 
his meaning, what is the “ Soluble Petroleum ” he names in last 
week, page 106, early in the second paragraph ?-S. S. 
- Presentation at Ketton Hall,—T he men employed at 
Ketton Hall presented Mr. and Mrs. Divers with a handsome chased 
silver teapot on the 9th inst., and wished them success at Belvoir 
Castle Gardens. The men were entertained at supper by Mr. and Mrs. 
Divers, and a very pleasant evening was spent. Mr. R. Gilbert of 
Burghley Gardens proved a most excellent chairman. 
- Garden Edgings. —I should like to add a word or two in 
praise of the Sea Pink (Armeria vulgaris) as an edging to herbaceous 
borders in the kitchen garden or flower garden, to those advo¬ 
cated by “ W. N., Badminton" (page 87). The plants flower more 
or less from April to September. They are easily increased by division, 
and I find they require to be parted and replanted every two years to 
keep them in good order. The Sea Pink grows wild on the rocks 
around here.—J. M., Bicton, 
- The Black Calla. —I saw this quaint Aroid in bloom the 
other day at Swanley, where very large numbers of the white variety 
are blooming also, chiefly to supply the large demand for funeral 
wreaths and crosses. Mr. Cannell informed me that the call for the 
dark-flowered form. Arum sanctum or palestinum, was now becoming so 
great for the same purpose that even with a large stock it was difficult 
to keep up the supply. Just one or two of these spathes introduced 
into a wreath with white ones had helped to create a great demand for 
them.—D. 
- Fruit and Flowers from the Channel Islands.—L arge 
consignments of fruit and flowers have been shipped from Jersey and 
Guernsey during the past twelve months. It is stated that close upon 
90,000 packages were consigned to one salesman in Covent Garden 
Market alone. No fewer than 31,000 baskets contained Grapes, 
22,000 baskets were filled with Tomatoes, upwards of 5000 baskets con¬ 
tained Figs and Melons, and flowers formed a large part of the 
remainder. It is estimated that between 200 and 300 tons of produce 
from these islands were disposed of at one establishment in the year. 
- Violets in Ireland —A Golden Vision (page 90).—I 
send the explanation, as printed in the publication in which the 
statement appeared, of Violets being ‘‘none less than a shilling 
a piece.” It is as follows :—“Violets.—In a recent issue we gave a 
few notes on Violet growing at Killadoon, Co. Kildare, and by a 
printer’s error were made to say that ‘ Violets were none less than a 
shilling a piece.’ Our attention has been called to the error by a 
writer in a contemporary describing it as a Golden Vision ; the idea 
of twenty Violets to the pound sterling ; but we hasten to dispel any 
thoughts he may have in taking such a short cut to fortune by 
growing them. We referred to the size of the Violets, not their value, 
and the correct reading is the Violets were ‘ none less in size than a 
shilling a piece.’ ” It was not “ blarney,” it seems, but the printer’s 
fault, brought out at last; so farewell to the Golden Vision ; but what 
is the size of “ a shilling a piece ” ? Oh, my counthry 1 — Paddy. 
- Early Bulbous Plants in Ireland.—M r. Herbert May, 
Markree Castle Gardens, Collooney, Co. Sligo, writes :—“ Amongst the 
most interesting of hardy plants in bloom on the rockery here is Crocus 
Sieberi. I have it planted in a mass, carpeted with Sedum glaucum, ' 
which heightens the effect of the flowers. It is a most desirable plant 
for early flowering ; if grown in a pot would be useful for indoor 
decoration. Crocus minimus I have growing in a pot ; it is a tiny 
flowering plant. I could not trust it planted out in this very wet 
climate, but prefer to cherish it because it is most interesting to watch 
its development in spring. Narcissus bulbocodium I wish to recommend 
for growing in pots. I have good strong-flowering bulbs of it, and it 
has proved useful for indoor decoration. Last year I had over thirty- 
five flowers growing in a G-inch pot, and this season they look equally 
as well. For outdoor work they last about two years, and then dwindle 
off. Well ripen the bulbs after flowering, and repot every year in a 
mixture of good sandy loam, keeping dry until new growth is well 
advanced are the secrets of success” 
-Gardening Appointment.—M r. A. Martin, for the past 
fourteen years gardener to the late C. J. Parke, Esq., of Henbury 
House, Wimborne, has been appointed head gardener to the Right 
Hon. Lord Stalbridge of Metcombe House, Shaftesbury, Dorsetshire. 
- WooLTON Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
On Thursday evening in last week Mr. R. G. Waterman read his prize 
essay on “ Selection and Cultivation of Hardy Fruits ” for the district. 
The Rev. G. H. Spooner, the donor of the prize, presided. The essay 
was one of considerable merit, and provoked a long discussion, Mr. 
B. Cromwell strongly advocated the wrapping of choice Apples in paper, 
and exhibited samples, also of those which had not been wrapped ; the 
former being quite firm while the latter were beginning to shrivel, A 
vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting,—R. P. R. 
- Experiences with Native Guano.— The Native Guano 
Company, 29, New Bridge Street, Blackfriaro, London, E.C., send ua. 
a record of the experiences of hundreds of persons in various parts of 
the kingdom who have grown almost all kinds of garden and farm 
crops with the aid of the manure above mentioned. Surely nothing 
can be added to give weight to the very precise testimonials as authenti¬ 
cated by the names and addresses of the writers, and as these cultivators 
are evidently highly satisfied with the results they have achieved, so 
ought the proprietors of the manure to be gratified by the record they 
are able to publish, and which is worthy of attentive perusal, 
- Kingston Gardeners’ Association. —The members of this 
body recently had an animated discussion on the subject “ How to Make 
Chrysanthemum Shows more Attractive.” Arising from that discussion, 
is the proposal to hold amongst the members a little experimental 
Chrysanthemum Show, with the hope that by allowing a somewhat free 
hand to exhibitors means may be found to give effect to the result of 
the discussion. The classes mainly are for flowers shown in bowls or 
vases, with their own and other foliage. The classes will be small, as it is 
not desired to make any serious demand on a grower’s resources. It 
is hoped that should any features be developed that are found to be 
specially satisfactory, it may then be possible to induce the local 
Chrysanthemum Society to adopt them into their schedule another 
year, 
- Royal Meteorological Society.—A t the next meeting of 
the Society, to be held at 25, Great George Street, Westminster, on 
Wednesday, the 21st inst., at 8 P.M., the following papers will be 
read:—“Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine at Las Palmas, Grand 
Canary,” by J. Cleasby Taylor, M.D. ; “Report on the Phenological 
Observations for 1893,” by Edward Mawley, F.R.Met.Soc.; “Compara¬ 
tive Observations with two Thermometer Screens at Ilfracombe, ” by 
William Marriott, F.R.Met.Soc. The Council have arranged to hold, 
from April 10th to 20th, an Exhibition of instruments, photographs, 
and drawings relating to the representation and measurement of clouds. 
The Committee will also be glad to show any new meteorological 
instruments or apparatus invented or first constructed since the 
Exhibition in 1892, as well as photographs and drawings possessing 
meteorological interest. 
- Manuring Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. — I can 
thoroughly recommend the plan suggested by “ D. W.” (page 66) of 
improving the growth of trees by the aid of digging trenches at con¬ 
venient distances from the stem and filling them with manure and fresh 
compost. Not only do the trees make better growth, but their whole 
colour is improved. This latter is a decided point in ornamental trees. 
Instead of a Lebanon Cedar, for instance, possessing the deep tint of 
colouring which is natural, it too often in poor soils assumes a pale hue. 
In many instances such trees were not planted as they should be. I have 
an example of a Cedar that was put in a hole with one wheelbarrowful of 
bog soil twenty-five years sincelby one of my men. The result has been 
anything but satisfactory. Six years since I treated this particular tree 
exactly in the way indicated by “ D. W.” with satisfactory results. As 
to (he nourishing properties of liquid from cesspools, I have a striking 
instance of this in the park. A large Beech is growing not far from 
one of these cesspools, which is emptied four times a year. The bulk of 
the liquid is pouied on the grass in the vicinity of the roots of this 
Beech. The advantage to the tree is apparent all the summer by the 
density in colour of the leaves and by the length of time that they 
remain green long after other trees in the same park have put on their 
autumn tints. Where trees are within reasonable distance of such cess¬ 
pools it is not waste of time to pour it in such a manner that the mots 
feel its influence.—E. M. 
