406 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 24,1894. 
- The Larch Disease.—W e are informed that Mr. James 
Watt, of Little & Ballantine, nurserymen, Carlisle, has gone on a 
visit to Berlin, for the purpose of examining the State and other 
forests in Germany, with a view to inquiring into the Larch disease, 
which is so injurious in this country. 
- Bute National Kose and Horticultural Society.— 
Please note for next issue, the present Secretaries of above Society. 
The Bute Horticultural and Apiarian Society is defunct. —R. Smith, 
Secretary F. B. [We print this notification exactly as received, but 
are not quite certain whether the Society or its Secretaries are defunct.] 
- Death of Mr. Thomas Lobb.—T he death of this veteran 
collector occurred at Devoran in Cornwall on April 30th. Mr. Lobb 
was a native of Cornwall, and entered the service of Mr. Veitch, sen., 
at Exeter, by whom he was engaged as a collector in 1840, and accord¬ 
ingly proceeded to India. During the twenty years or upwards he 
travelled for Messrs. Veitch & Sons he visited the Khasia Hills, Assam, and 
other parts of North-east India, and subsequently Moulmein and parts 
of Lower Burmah, sending home from those districts many choice plants. 
- CUPRESSUS MACROCARPA. —Mr. H. Prosser, The Knoll Gardens, 
Wimborne, sends us a photograph of a very fine specimen of Cupressus 
macrocarpa. It is pyramidal in form, well furnished to the base, has 
been planted thirty years, and is growing in a gravelly subsoil. The 
height of the specimen is 80 feet, the circumference around the branches 
70 feet, and the trunk near the base girths 12 feet. Our readers can 
compare these dimensions with those of other fine specimens of which 
they are cognisant. 
- Newcastle and District Horticultural Mutual 
Improvement Society. —At the last monthly meeting of this Society, 
held recently in the Wood Memorial Hall, Newcastle, Mr. W. E. Brand- 
ford read a very able paper on “ Grasses and Sedges.” In the course 
of his remarks he mentioned the important part Grasses and Sedges 
played in the world’s economy, the former in being essential to man 
and the animals he domesticates, and the latter in furnishing material 
for the manufacture of paper and brushes. 
- Kerria japonica.—T hough the double variety of this plant is 
one of the commonest shrubs in cultivation, the typical form is rarely 
met with. The habit of the single kind is quite distinct from that of 
the double, and the flowering season is more prolonged. The flowers 
are produced with great freedom during April on graceful drooping 
branches; they are bright yellow in colour, and three-quarters of an 
inch in diameter. For a bed this will be found a most desirable shrub, 
its free light growth fitting it admirably for massing. A form of this 
Kerria having single flowers and white variegated foliage is in cultiva¬ 
tion ; it is weaker in growth than the other two kinds, and to be grown 
well requires shelter.—D. 
- Flowering Plants at Barford Hill, Warwick. —I was 
particularly interested in the grand display of these when looking 
through the houses on the 5th inst. I do not remember having 
previously seen such fine plants of Lilium Harris!. The glossy stems 
were of wonderful thickness, and the pure waxy white flowers of 
corresponding size and substance. Several dozens of plants made an 
imposing display in themselves. Marguerites and Zonal Pelargoniums 
were represented by hundreds of well flowered plants of various sizes. 
Spirteas, too, were in excellent form ; astilboides and aruncus, as grown 
here, are delightful plants for house decoration. Specimens arranged 
singly in vases have a light elegant appearance which few plants can 
equal.— Bellis. 
- “ The Fruit Supply.” —Mr. F. J. Fletcher writes :—“ The 
opinion given by ‘ E. M.’ on page 356 of the Journal of Horticulture 
emphasises a very great evil when he says, ‘ no greater mistake in fruit 
culture can be made than that of purchasing a number of cheap trees for 
no other reason than that of being inexpensive.’ Yet how often is this 
done ! I have long been of ‘ E. M.’s ’ opinion, and as last autumn I was 
entrusted by a capitalist to take over about 70 acres of land, and 
establish and conduct upon it a fruit farm, care was exercised in the 
selection of varieties, for in spite of the vast amount of fruit passing 
through our markets at unremunerative prices, there is yet a growing 
demand and good prices for really first class produce. Under this firm 
conviction we have not hesitated to expend up to now over £2000 in 
this venture, confident that with energy, care, and skill a great future 
awaits the fruit growing industry in this country. During November, the 
ground being prepared in September and October, I planted 20 acres 
with fruit trees, including 14 acres of Apples, 5 of Plums, and 1 of Pears, 
with Currants and Gooseberries between.the rows.” 
- Strawberry Royal Sovereign. —Mr. E. Molynenx, Swan- 
more Park, writes:—“ For the first time I have this year grown this 
Strawberry in pots, and am so much impressed with the result that I 
purpose increasing the stock for next season’s supply. Considering all 
points, I regard Royal Sovereign Strawberry as one of the finest 
introductions of late years. The fruit is freely produced, and grows to 
an immense size, while the colour is especially pleasing. There is also 
a certain crispness about the flavour of the fruit that renders it 
particularly pleasing to the palate.” 
- Rubus spectabilis. —The early flowering period of this 
North American shrub warrants it a place in our shrubberies. In habit 
it much resembles the Raspberry, but the flowers are quite distinct from 
any other Rubus ; they are produeed singly on long drooping peduncles^ 
and are bright red in colour, but are not borne with such freedom as one 
could wish. The flowering period extends from the second week in 
April until the middle of June. It produces suckers freely and makes a 
compact bush from 5 to 7 feet in height. 
- Ceanothus rigidus. —To succeed with this shrub it should be 
given a place on a south wall, as, like most of the other members of the 
genus, it is a little tender. The flowers are borne thickly along the whole 
of the previous season’s growth, and are bright blue in colour. It com¬ 
mences to expand its blooms early in April, and lasts about three weeks 
in good condition. A good rich loam is the best soil in which to grow 
this shrub. To ensure a good supply of flowers the lateral branches 
should be cut hard back at the end of the flowering season, as as ta 
obtain good strong growths for the ensuing year. Propagation is effected 
by means of cuttings of half-ripened wood.—A. 
- Double Primroses and Polyanthuses. —I fear my note 
on these in a former issue was too late to be of service to Mr. Dean for 
what must have been a most interesting lecture at Beckenham. The 
three doubles mentioned in my note as being named “ Brilliant,”' 
“ Original,” and “ Harlequin,” are catalogued as distinct from the Crimson 
Purple, Croussei, and platypetala plena. They are offered by a firm 
of the highest repute, and I believe they wiU be found to be different 
from these sorts. The double Polyanthuses are, of course, more curiosi¬ 
ties than anything else, with the exception of “ Decncleughi,” which 
is of better habit than some, and has bright gold and crimson flowers. 
What I have as “ Golden Ball ” does not seem appropriately named,, 
the flowers being flaked crimson and yellow, but much duller in colour 
than those of “ Derncleughi.” Since writing my former note I have 
had the pleasure of receiving the old “ Tortoiseshell,” which is rather 
like Rex Theodore but lighter in colour. I have been informed that 
“Sharpe’s Double No. 2 ” is the same as “Rex Theodore.” I am much 
interested in some of the old forms, such as “ Galligaskins,” “ Jack in 
the Green,” and “ Jackanapes on Horseback.” The latter seems scarce 
or unknown by name, as inquiries in several likely quarters have proved 
fruitless.—S. Arnott. 
- Wakefield Paxton Society. —At the meeting of this Society 
held last week. Dr. Clarke, of the Yorkshire College, Leeds, delivered a 
long, very able, and most interesting lecture, which was listened to 
with the closest attention. His subject was “Wild Tulips,” and he 
treated it in a masterly manner, and clearly showed that he had 
given very considerable attention to the matter, and had also made 
careful observations both at home and abroad, and also in experimenting 
upon bulbs by cutting, pricking, and feeding. Dr. Clarie illustrated 
his remarks by a number of chalk sketches on a blackboard. At the 
close of the lecture, Mr. Calvert, rope and twine manufacturer of 
Wrenthorpe, at which place Dr. Clarke recently delivered a series of 
lectures, asked how many varieties of wild Tulip there are, and 
the latter said he believed there are about forty-two different species. 
In reply to another question by Mr. Calvert, as to when wild Tulips 
bloom, the lecturer said the period varies very much indeed, some 
blooming as early as February, others in May, and some not until June. 
Dr. Clark, at the request of Mr. Calvert, gave some details with reference 
to diseases in florists’ Tulips. Dr. Clarke’s observation showed that it 
is not very easy to combat with such diseases. Mr. Swire, head master 
of the School of Art, asked where wild Tulips may be found growing in 
England, and Dr. Clarke replied that one variety had been found in 
the East Riding of Yorkshire, and they also grow extensively in 
Bedfordshire, Wiltshire, and Devonshire. Mr. George Gill, who has 
been an extensive grower of florists’ Tulips for more than half a century, 
and has very nearly 400 varieties, made some interesting observations 
on florists’ Tulips, and expressed his pleasure at having had the privilege 
of listening to Dr. Clarke’s able lecture. ' . ' 
