166 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 1,18^4. 
- The Castle Stbeet Nheseeies, Salisbuey. —A corre¬ 
spondent informs us that these old established nurseries have been pur¬ 
chased by Mr. John Wyatt and his son, Mr, Charles S. Wyatt, the transfer 
of the business dating from the 1st of January last. The business will be 
carried on as heretofore under the name of Keynes, Williams & Co,, and 
practically under the same management, as Mr, John Wyatt has been con¬ 
nected with the firm during the last forty-three years, and Mr. Charles 
S. Wyatt for a period of twenty years, both in managerial capacities. 
- Wilts Hoeticultueal Society.—T he annual meeting of 
the Wilts Horticultural Society was held in the Council House, Salis¬ 
bury, on Monday afternoon, the Mayor (Charles Haskins, Esq.) 
presiding. The Hon. Secretary (Mr, H, Nicholson) read a letter 
received from the widow of the late Mr. Walter Henry Williams, 
acknowledging the letter of condolence which the Committee caused to 
be sent on the occasion of her husband’s death. Subsequently the 
Mayor referred to the great loss which the Society had sustained in 
the death of Mr. W. H, Williams. Oving to the continued illness of 
Mrs. Wordsworth, the Committee decided not to ask the Lord Bishop 
of the diocese for permission to hold the annual summer Show in the 
grounds surrounding the episcopal palace, but request the Earl 
of Pembroke to allow the Society to hold its Exhibition at Wilton. 
The date of the Show was fixed for Wednesday, August the 15th. Mr. 
Charles S. Wyatt (of the firm of Keynes, Will'ams & Co.) was 
elected as Honorary Secretary, and Mr, H. Nicholson as Assistant 
Hon. Secretary. 
- Speaying Fetjits. — The practice of spraying fruits with 
certain mineral compounds, such as salts of copper and arsenic, to 
destroy insects and fungi, has called out discussion in regard to the 
ripened fruit after such spraying, and its fitness for food. The first 
condition for intelligent discussion of any subject is to know the facts 
in the case, so experiments have been made on the matter at the State 
Agriculture College, Michigan, and “ Bulletin ” No, 101 contains the 
results. In these experiments, extending over two years, the minerals 
used in spraying the fruits were found in appreciable quantities in 
every instance, thoagh the amount was small in all cases except when 
the spraying had been purposely excessive. The question naturally 
arises whether the sprayed salts merely adhere to the surface or 
penetrate the substance of the fruit. Experiments made to test this 
showed that while most of the copper salts, in the case of a solution 
containing copper sulphate, adhered to the surface of Pears sprayed 
with the solution, a portion found its way into the body of the fruit. 
Dr. R. C. Kedzie, who has made the analyses, remarks that the use of 
poisons in horticulture is largely in excess of the amount required 
for a fungicide. One-half or even one-third of the amount usually 
employed would probably give as good results. To be on the safe 
side no fruits should be sprayed with solutions of mineral salts during 
the period of ripening, for though the amount found in a single pound 
of fruit may be very small, repeated doses of the poison might produce 
slow poisoning. 
- Mulching Vine Boedees. —I had not in my mind Vines to 
produce ripe fruit early in May when I penned my lines on this subject 
(page 85). I know perfectly well that a man is compelled to do the 
best he can when ripe Grapes are expected at that period of the year 
with the roots in a cold outside border. The roots of Vines for affording 
early Grapes should not be in such positions. I fear, with all my 
friend Mr. Dunn’s care (page 153), the roots are not very active in an 
outside border until the season has well advanced. I have little faith in 
trying to drive heat downwards, but a mulching of some kind or other 
is necessary under such conditions. I should certainly try with very 
early forcing to keep the border from becoming frozen hard after the 
Vines were started. Very often two or three weeks’ delay in starting 
is more than compensated for if early Vines and Peaches also can first 
taste frost before they are started. We can, it is true, only wait a 
certain length of time, and if we have no early frosts to assist us we are 
compelled to made a start without.— Wm. Baedney. 
-Violets in Ieeland—What is the Size of a Shilling 
Apiece? (page 126, February 15th, 1894.) 
The siae of a shilling apiece is the size. 
To go very near without teliing lies, 
Of a lump— 
Say of chalk, or of clay, or of coke. 
Or the string that you tie up the pig in the poke ; 
With the depth and the breadth of a practical joke. 
Or a stump 
Speech that is made by a parliament man. 
Or the size of a hole in an old water can. 
The riddle is solved, so do not be troublin’; 
I’ve put it all right, says PAbDV, from Dublin. 
- Rates foe the Caeeiage of Feuit in Victohia.—T he 
revised rates for the carriage of fruit on the railways in the colony 
of Victoria are such as we could do with in England. They are, says 
a contemporary, 3J. per ton per mile for Strawberries, Currants, and 
Raspberries; 2J, for Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots; and 1^. for 
all other kinds. 
- Tecoma JASMINOIDES.— I was pleased to see the reference on 
page 153 to the above plant. I have only seen it in one garden. The 
flowers, as you assert, are very pretty, and under certain circumstances 
borne freely ; but if allowed too free a root run the possibilities are that 
it will not flower at all. The plant I saw grew freely, and flourished 
for some years without giving a single flower, large quantities having 
to be cut off the roof annually, and it was not until we dug round it, 
cutting its roots, and then had it confined to a given space, that we got 
any flowers. However, when the roots were confined in a somewhat 
limited space blooms were borne in the most gratifying profusion. 
—W. S. E. 
- Wheee Gishuest is Made. —In the issue of “Commerce” 
for January Slst appears an exhaustive, instructive, and interesting 
account of Price’s Patent Candle Co, Limited, Battersea and Brom- 
borough Pool. Admirable engravings appear of different machines and 
departments at the two establishments. Curiously enough two of the 
most important products relating to gardeners, Gishurst and Gishurstine, 
both of which emanated from this factory, do not appear to be men¬ 
tioned. Prominent in the front of the article are fine portraits of Mr. 
G. F. Wilson, F.R.S., his brother, and his father, the founder of the 
business, now a gigantic one, of which Mr. Wilson, the well-known 
amateur horticulturist, is a director. 
- The Wakefield Paxton Society.—O n February 2l8t, at 
the weekly meeting of this Society, Mr. J. Thomas, gardener to the 
Bishop of Wakefield, read a well-prepared paper on “ The Cineraria.” 
This bright and useful greenhouse plant, he said, was introduced into 
England from South America about 1776, although it did not come 
into general cultivation until about twenty years ago. Some very 
practical information was given by the essayist as to the best methods 
of growing the plant. Several members took part in the discussion 
which followed the reading of the paper. Mr. George Gill presided, 
and Mr. Goodyear was Vice-Chairman. Notwithstanding the inclement 
weather there was a large muster of members. 
- A Strange Omission. —Being desirous of getting all possible 
information concerning the proposed horticultural examination to be 
conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society in May next, and which, I 
observe is open to anyone, I have been referred to the information 
furnished in the R.H.S. schedule which has been sent me for the 
purpose. I am there enabled to see the syllabus of the subjects of the 
proposed examination, and which cover very wide ground. But when I 
turn to the list of text books advised for reference, I find that scientific 
rather than practical knowledge seems mostly to be in the minds of the 
framers of this book list, and so far it may be helpful for students in 
that section of subjects found under the heading “Elementary Prin¬ 
ciples ; ” but which are chiefly of a botanical or scientific order. When 
I turn to the second section, that which relates to “ Operations and 
Practice,” there I look in vain for text books in the list that are at all 
helpful. Where is there furnished any practical information on fruit 
culture, on vegetables, on landscape gardening, or garden plans, on trees 
and shrubs, and on many other things all of vital importance to 
horticulture? Where can help of the nature desired be found? Who 
will recommend books suitable and so oddly omitted in the published 
list? Surely the Riyal Horticultural Society will supply the deficiency. 
If it does not, then I must appeal to you for advice in selecting proper 
text books on practical gardening, which many proposed candidates have 
so much need of. One would also like to know the probable cost of a 
well selected list.— Novice. 
- Royal Meteorological Society.—T he monthly meeting of 
this Society was held on Wednesday evening, February 2l8t, Mr. 
R. Inwards, F.R.A.S, President, in the chair. Mr. R. M. Barrington, 
M.A., LL.B., Mr. C. G. L Cator, and Mr. H. Owen were elected Fellows 
of the Society. The following papers were read — 1, “ Tempera¬ 
ture, Rainfall, and Sunshine at Las Palmas, Grand Canary,” by Dr. 
J. Cleasby Taylor. 2, “ Report on the Phenological Observations for 
1893,” by Mr. E. Mawley, F.R.Met.Soc. This is a discussion of the 
observations made on the flowering of plants, appearance of insects, and 
the song and nesting of birds. The year 1893 was in complete contrast 
to its predecessor, being very forward throughout the United Kingdom. 
The February and March plants were later than usual in blossoming. 
