May 3, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
345 
each year by myself. From this it appears that since the Battle of 
Waterloo the Ash has been out before the Oak only twelve times, and 
that 1859, or thirty-five years ago, was the last occasion. As I can con¬ 
fidently assert the Oak has had priority ever since I kept a record, I am 
almost rash enough to question even the twelve years referred to, and 
extensive drainage and culture of the last sixty years have had some 
effect in retarding the Ash or advancing the Oak? As the Oak ha& 
undoubtedly been out first for at least thirty-five years, and we have 
had seasons of “soak,” as well as of “splash” only, I contend the old 
adage is now valueless.” 
HARRISI 
Fig. 56.—THUNBERGIA 
^or this reason. Some days ago I saw my first Ash in leaf. In the same 
hedgerow were two Oaks not yet out, and I have not the slightest doubt 
a casual observer of these would confidently assert ‘ in 1894 the Ash was 
out before the Oak,’ whereas the fact is the Oak was out ten days 
previously, as on April 14th I wore in my hat a sprig with leaves fully 
expanded, taken by myself from a full grown Oak. This is the earliest 
year for the Oak, and the earliest but one for the Ash in my record. We 
forget there are early and late Oaks and Ashes, as there are early and 
late Potatoes ; and though it is possible occasionally, but very seldom, to 
find an early Ash out before a late Oak, I contend in that same year 
there has been an early Oak out before the earliest Ash. If, however, 
in our forefathers’ time it was not uncommon to see the Ash out before 
the Oak (and the old adage seems to assure us of this), may not the 
THUNBERGIA HARRISI. 
Flowers of this beautiful climbing plant were exhibited by Mr. 
Wilkins, gardener to Lady Theodore Guest, Inwood House, Henstridge, 
near Blandford, at the meeting of Royal Horticultural Society on the 
24th ult,, and they were much admired. Thunbergia Harrisi is by no 
means a new species, having been introducel nearly forty years ago, but 
it is not generally cultivated. The blooms are large and showy, being 
purplish blue with a pale yellow suffusion in the throat. They are 
freely produced in racemes, which should be sufficient to warrant at 
least one plant of this species a place in every stove. A first-class 
certificate was awarded for the specimens staged at the above-mentioned 
meeting, and from these the engraving (fig. 56) has been prepared. 
