192 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 8, 1868. 
that it was originally brought from Holland, wh^re it is largely used for 
fixing the sand, but that it was a native of Italy and introduced by 
a local farmer whose interest lay in the extensive sheep runs across the 
marshes from Eye and Camber to Lydd and Romney. Its generic name 
I was at that time unable to ascertain. Neither can I find now in the 
“ Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary” the name given by Mr. Muir, so that 
I am unable to fix it as the same Rush-like Grass used by him. 
Whatever the plant may be that is so plentifully growing near Eye, it 
is of inestimable benefit in collecting and preventing acres of land being 
buried and rendered useless in stormy periods. Perhaps some of your 
numerous readers can throw more light on the subject.—J. W. 
Mooeman. 
Events op the Week. —The Royal Society has a meeting at 
4.30 P.M. on Thursday, the 8th inst., the jQuekett Microscopical Club at 
.8 P.M. on Friday, the 9th, and the Royal Botanic Society on Saturday, 
the 10th inst., at 3.45 P.M. The Fruit and Floral Committees of the 
Royal Horticultural Society will meet on Tuesday, March 13th, in the 
Conservatory at South Kensington. 
- Royal Hoeticultueal Society.—A meeting of the Council 
was held on Tuesday, the 28th ult., at which power was given to the 
President, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., to sign the agreement for 
the occupation of the Society’s new premises, at 111,Victoria Street, S.W., 
for offices, &c.; and the Drill Hall of the London Scottish E.V., in 
James Street, Westminster, for exhibitions and shows ; the Society to 
enter into possession on March 25th. Both premises are conveniently 
situated midway between Victoria and St. James’s Park Stations on the 
Underground Railway. The Council also drew up and adopted a scheme 
for the admission of Fellows paying £1 Is. subscription, and determined 
to admit as Associates hmia fide gardeners or employes at any nursery, 
market garden, or seed establishment, at a subscription of 10s. Cd. a 
year. The following Committees were appointed :— Finance: Baron 
Schroder, Messrs. T. B. Haywood, E. G. Loder, H. J. Veitch, with the 
President, Secretary (Rev. W. Wilks), and Treasurer (Mr. D. Morris). 
Chisioich Gardens: Colonel Beddome, Dr. Hogg, Mr. George Paul, Mr. 
Woodbridge, with the President, Secretary, and Treasurer. For Revising 
the Bxje Laws : Messrs. T. B. Haywood, A. H. Smee, G. F. Wilson, with 
the President. Secretary, and Treasurer, coupled with a request that 
Messrs. Deal, Pearson, and Marshall, members of the Fellows' Committee, 
would be kind enough to confer with them. The Trustees of the Lindley 
Library had an interview with the Council, and it was determined to 
remove their library to the Society’s new rooms, at 111, Victoria Street, 
Westminster. 
- The above ought to have appeared in our last week’s issue, but 
was not received till after we had gone to press. 
- A meeting of the Council was held at South Kensington on 
Tuesday, March 6th, when the agreement as to the lease of the premises, 
111, Victoria Street, Westminster,wasfinally settled, and a Sub-Committee 
was requested to see the details of furnishing, &c., promptly carried out, 
as the Exhibition on March 13th will be the last held at South Kensing¬ 
ton. Reports were received and adopted from the Finance and the 
Chiswick Committees, whereby it is hoped that both increased economy 
and increased efficiency may be introduced into the Society’s work. It 
was resolved to ask the advice of the Fellows’ Committee on the following 
subjects—viz., 1, The appointmen; of Local Secretaries; 2, The best 
mode of affiliation between local Societies and the Royal Horticultural 
Society ; 3, The advisability of petitioning the Government to include 
horticulture with agriculture under the new Government Board. The 
next meeting of the Council was fixed for March 13th. 
- The Weathee. —Writing from Brading, Isle of Wight, Mr. 
C. Orchard says—“ What bitter weather we have been having ! Here in 
this favoured place the winds and frosts combined are playing sad 
havoc with the Myrtles, Euonymus, Laurustinus, &c., that grow to a 
large size, and which are only injured in exceptional seasons. The con¬ 
dition of the spring flowers and shrubs, are in striking contrast to what 
they were a month ago. This is the coldest February here since 1854,. 
just thirty-four years ago, but no doubt it will make it all the better 
for the fruit and other crops in the end.” 
-“ B. D.,” writes from Scotland :—“ The week ending 5th March 
has been similar to the preceding one, a cold N.E. wind prevailing' 
throughout, except on two afternoons, when the wind changed to the- 
W. for a few hours. The nights, with two exceptions, have been frosty, 
ranging from 2° to 9° on the night of the 1st inst., and 11° last night. 
The days have been sunshiny throughout. Farmers are getting far 
forward in the'sowing of the Bean crop in Carse lands.” 
- In the southern counties, but especially in the metropolitan 
district, a very agreeable change has been experienced within the past, 
few days. The temperature has risen considerably, with bright sunny 
days, that are most welcome after the long continuance of severe 
weather. 
- Me. R. Gilbeet sends us from Burghley Samples of Mush- 
EOOMS, such as he has been gathering from outdoor beds during the 
late unusually cold weather, also from an inside bed. The former 
were much the finer, and remarkable for their substanee and freshness. 
One of these was 9 inches in diameter, upwards of an inch thick, and 
weighed f lb., and when cooked was tender, juicy, and delicious. We 
award to the grower this, our vote of thanks and cultural commenda¬ 
tion. 
- Cement foe a Gaeden Vase.—“A. P.” would be glad to- 
know if anyone can recommend him a strong cement suitable for 
mending a garden vase. 
- Gaedening Appointments.—M r. Wm. Jordan, who for the 
past seven and half years has held the post of head gardener to- 
J. H. Nix, Esq., Tilgate, Crawley, Sussex, has been appointed steward' 
over the Tilgate estates, and Mr. D. Jones, his foreman, succeeds him as 
head gardener. 
- Amaeyllises— “ W. J.” writes : —“ Can any of your readers 
say what is the largest number of flower spikes an Amaryllis bulb will 
produce ? I have a variety named Amazon showing nine spikes, and 
many more with three spikes. The largest bulb is 15 inches in circum-- 
ference. Is this unusual ? ” 
- Rotheeham Gaedenees’ Mutual Impeovement Society 
—The usual monthly meeting of this Society was held in the Society’s 
rooms, St. George’s Hall, Rotherham, on Thursday evening, March 1st, 
Mr. W. Eskholme, Vice-President, occupied the chair, and about thirty 
members were present. A paper was read by Mr. W. K.'Woodcock ot 
Sheffield upon the history and cultivation of the Lapageria, after which- 
many questions were asked upon cultural points by members, and 
replied to by the essayist. A vote of thanks to Mr. Woodcock was pro¬ 
posed by Mr. Butterill, seconded by Mr. Oswald, supported by Mr- 
Cooke, and carried unanimously. Several very pretty exhibits of 
miscellaneous cut flowers were upon the tables. 
- The second issue of Mr. Lewis Castle’s “ Cheysanthemum 
Annual ” is before us, and we suspect no long time will elapse before- 
it is possessed by most growers of the autumn favourite to which its- 
fifty-three pages are devoted. The work opens with a concise chapter 
on Chrysanthemum topics by the Editor, in which among other things 
he estimates the number of Chrysanthemum growers in this country as- 
exceeding 100,000. Mr. J. Wright follows with an essay on showing 
and judging, but whether he attaches too much importance to his- 
shillings and pence system of recording the merits of blooms is for- 
others to determine. He shows that a stand of twenty-four blooms 
exhibited by Mr. E. Coombs was worth 96s. 3d., and its competitor, Mr. M. 
Sullivan, 90s.\Mr. George Gordon discourses on challenge trophies, as 
he is entitled, having, as he points out, assisted in awarding more prizes 
to them than anyone else has, and £7000 in money (not all his own). Mr,. 
C. Orchard contributes an excellent account of new Chrysanthemums 
of 1887 ; Mr. N. Davis gives a select list of exhibition Japanese varieties, 
indicating the heights of the plants and time for taking the buds of 
each, in columns—an innovation that many persons will be glad to see. 
Mr. E. Molyneux follows on “ Taking the Buds,” and does his best to 
make the subject plain. Mr. C. Gibson writes on “ Preparing for 
Shows,” and tells his readers that exhibitors do not like being bothered 
with visitors the day before the event. Then follows a history of the 
