February 22,1894, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
147 
- We regret to have to announce the death of Mbs. Maetin 
Hope Scttton’ at Cintra Lodge, Leading, after a few days’ illness, on 
the 16th inst., aged seventy-two. Mrs. Sutton was wife of the head of 
the firm of Messrs, Sutton & Sons, the well known seedsmen. 
- The Sphincter Hose Co. —We are requested to announce 
that Messrs. F. Reddaway & Co., Limited, of Pendleton, Manchester, have 
purchased the business and undertakings of this company, whose head 
offices and show rooms are at 9, Moorfields, London, and the same will 
be carried on by them. 
- Testimonial to Me. George Dickson. — We hear that 
Mr. George Dickson, J.P., was presented with a valuable testimonial 
-at a recent meeting of the Chester Committee, appointed to carry out 
the arrangements for the holding the Royal Agricultural Society’s 
Show in the City last year, in recognition of his services as Honorary 
■Secretary. 
- African Plants. —We learn from the “ Botanical Gazette ” 
that Mr. 0. F. Cook sailed on October 25th for Western Africa to make 
further observations and collections of the plants of that region, espe¬ 
cially of Cryptogams. He will be gone a year or more. His former 
voyage resulted in securing a large amount of botanical material, and 
the present visit is expected to yield even greater results. 
-Winter Flowering Carnations.—M r. W. J. Godfrey, 
Exmouth, sends us blooms of Mary Godfrey and Reginald Godfrey 
Carnations, and says that they were cut from plants which have been 
flowering all the winter. The first mentioned is a grand white variety 
and the other a salmon pink, both Clove-scented. These useful Carna¬ 
tions were adjudged awards of merit by the Royal Horticultural 
Society, and a first-class certificate at the Crystal Palace last autumn. 
- WoOLTON Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
On Thursday evening in last week, Mr. W. Disley read his prize essay at 
the Mechanics Institute before a good attendance of members. The 
chair was occupied by Mr. T. Davies, of the Wavertree Nursery, who 
also very kindly gave the prize. The subject of the essay was “ Plants 
for House Decoration,” with cultural notes. There was a discussion 
afterwards, A vote of thanks to the donor of the prize closed the pro¬ 
ceedings. 
- Professor Oliver. — The “Kew Bulletin” for February 
states that an excellent portrait of Professor Oliver, F.R.S,, the late 
keeper of the Herbarium and Library of the Royal Gardens, Kew, has 
been painted by Mr. J. Wilson Foster, who also painted the portrait of 
the present keeper, Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., exhibited at the Royal 
Academy in 1893. Professor Oliver’s portrait was commissioned by a 
number of his scientific and other friends, who have presented it to the 
Herbarium of the Royal Gardens—the scene of his labours from 1858 
to 1890. 
- The Growth of Trees.—A statistical summary with regard 
to the rate of growth of different species of trees, as observed in the 
pinetum at Schovenhorst, in Holland, has recently been published. The 
measurements were made in the years 1878, 1886, and 1892, and deal 
with 200 specimens. The tree which showed the most rapid increase 
of size was Abies grandis. At 3 feet 4 inches above the ground it was 
22 inches in circumference in 1878, 44 inches in 1886, and 69 inches 
in 1892, while its height was noted as 21 feet 4 inches in 1878, 
35 feet 3 inches in 1886, and 50 feet in 1892. 
-A Forest of Cedar Trees.—I t is probably not known by 
everybody that there exists in Germany a forest of Cedar trees of such 
magnificence that they cannot be matched anywhere. Here and there in 
other parts of the empire, especially along the Rhine, says the 
“ Western Morning News,” we come across individual Cedar trees which 
have fiourished for many years as ornamental trees in parks and other 
places of resort; but the Cedar forest belonging to Freiherr von Faber 
at Schloss Stein, near Niirnberg, covering 12 or 13 acres of ground, is 
unique of its kind in Europe, and, it is perhaps safe to say, in the whole 
world, for even in Florida and Alabama the Cedar tree only appears 
sporadically in the virgin forests, and never in such numbers together as 
to make a forest of themselves. Herr von Faber, who stands at the 
head of the pencil industry of Germany, has for many years past main¬ 
tained nurseries and plantations of Cedar trees on his land in Bavaria, 
for which he imports the seed from Florida. The wood of the Cedar 
tree, as is well known, is very valuable, and indispensable for the manu¬ 
facture of pencils. Herr von Faber’s Cedar forest is in a most flourish¬ 
ing condition, and gives promise of a splendid future. 
- A daily contemporary asserts that at the last census enume¬ 
rated about 5000 women who are professional gardeners in this country, 
and six who are employed in superintending the drainage of towns. 
- Flowers from Scilly. —It is reported that on one day last 
week about fifteen tons of flowers were despatched to the London 
markets. Mr. Watts sent no fewer than 6000 bunches, or 72,000 single 
blooms, of the Tenby Daffodil, which is supposed to be the largest 
consignment of any one kind at one time known from a single grower. 
-Australian Flowers for the Queen. — A short time 
since the Queen received a graceful present from one of her Australian 
subjects in the shape of some flowers, which were sent over by the 
steamer “ Paramatta.” They were so carefully packed and frozen that 
they were perfectly fresh when they arrived in England. The Queen’s 
kindly acknowledgment of the gift has greatly delighted the good folks 
of New South Wales. 
- Rain in the West of Scotland. — Mr. W. D. Anderson, 
Ardsheal, Ballachulish, Argyleahire, writes to the “ Meteorological 
Magazine ” :—” The rainfall at this station between October 1st, 
1893, and January 31st, 1894, is perhaps worthy of a special record, 
I append a summary of it :—1893, October, 10 63 inches; 1893, 
November, 13‘25 inches ; 1893, December, 7'65 inches ; 1894, January, 
11‘38 inches. Total in four months, 42-91 inches. Average monthly 
fall 10-73 inches.” 
- Sunflower Primrose Dame.—H aving tried this Sunflower 
for the first time last year, it is one that I can recommend for 
growing at the back of a large border, and if placed alternately with 
the common variety a pleasing combination is the result. Although 
dwarfer than the old variety, the effect is not lessened by their being 
grown together. The foliage is also lighter, and the flowers are of a 
beautiful shade of primrose with a deep velvety disc.— R. P. R. 
- Thatch on Garden Walls. —Whilst travelling last autumn 
through portions of Dorsetshire and Wiltshire I noticed many walls 
of kitchen gardens having a coping as it were of thatch, with eaves 
projecting about 18 inches on each side. I thought it would be 
interesting to know if this were an advantage or otherwise, and I 
made some inquiries, but could not get any very satisfactory informa¬ 
tion respecting it. Perhaps some of your numerous readers may be able 
to throw some light upon it 1 —X. 
- Cansellaeys. —The name “Pattakees,” the old gardener’s 
name for Hepaticas, given in the pleasing article on “Old-fashioned 
Flowers” by “E.K., Dublin," on page 122, reminds me of an under¬ 
gardener’s name for Calceolarias. This was “ Cansellarys.” I heard 
this some years ago, and was so amused that I noted it in my common¬ 
place book immediately on my return home. I fear the young man’s 
prospects of advancement in his calling were not too brilliant.— 
S. Aenott. 
- Granite Scrapings. —Mr. J. Biles, Ellenboro’ House, Roe- 
hampton, writes :—“This material is a good substitute for gravel. I 
have lately been using it for the walks in the kitchen garden. It has 
a good appearance, and if laid on properly will bind like cement. 
Living in a locality where gravel is very expensive I could not get it, 
so tried the scrapings of granite, with which the roads are covered about 
here. If it is very wet when obtained let the scrapings remain in a 
heap a day or two to drain. When it can be loaded with a prong is 
the best time to lay it thinly on the walks. If the weather is fine it 
will be ready for the roller in the course of a few days. Do not roll it 
too much at first; put in order, and leave it for a few days to dry a 
little more, and then give it a good rolling.” 
- Shropshire Horticultural Society.—W e have received 
a copy of the schedule of prizes offered for competition at the spring 
and summer shows of this Society. The spring exhibition will be held 
on April 5th, and the summer one on August 22nd and 23rd. A new 
class for hardy bulbous flowers, open to nurserymen, has been included 
in the schedule for the summer show, the prizes in this being 
£5, £4, and £3. For a collection of fruit, instead of £10, £6, £3 as 
formerly, the prizes are to be £10, £7 10s., £5, £2 10s., same as for six 
bunches Grapes. This has been done to make the prizes more equal. 
For a group of miscellaneous plants the prizes are £20, £16, £14, and 
£12, and in the class for twenty stove and greenhouse plants two awards 
are offered, these being £25 and £20. Nearly £720 are offered in prizes 
altogether. 
