March 15, 188S. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
213 
I will now venture to review a few instances where it is reported 
that lime has been employed extensively, and should like to hear 
whether anyone else can see any improvement in the produce from 
these establishments, because I cannot. Admitting the excellence 
of the Longleat Grapes, which are too well known to some of us to 
dispute, yet I am curious to learn if equally fine Grapes could not 
be produced even at Longleat without the use of lime the same as 
other places, as we are told fair Grapes were grown at Longleat 
years ago without lime, and whit has been the cause of this state of 
thing ? Taking the case of Mr. Stephen Castle, I beg to inform 
him that I saw his exhibits in Scotland some years ago. I saw 
them again at the Aquarium last November. I presume his Scotch 
exhibits were grown without lime and his Aquarium exhibits with 
lime. However this may be, I saw no improvement in them, and if 
lime produces no better results than is seen in his case I strongly 
advise my friend to abstain from its use altogether.—J. H. 
Goodacre. 
Events of the Week. —9a Thursday, the 15th inst., the Pioyal 
Society meets at 4.30 P.M., and the Lmnean Society at 8 p.m. on the 
same day. The first spring Show of the season will by held by the 
Eoyal Botanic Society at Regent’s Park, on Wednesday, the 21st inst., and 
the Liverpool Spring Show takes place on the same day, followed by the ' 
Shrewsbury Show on the 22nd, and the Crystal Palace on the 24th. 
- The Weather in London.—A fter a few days of mild 
weather, Monday and Tuesday in this week were bitterly cold, snow 
falling freely on Tuesday night. Yesterday (Wednesday) opened mild 
and bright, but the changing wind is not favourable to a continuation of 
genial weather. 
-At the Royal Botanic Society's Spring- Show, to be held 
at Regent's Park on Wednesday next, eighteen classes are provide 1 for 
Azaleas, Primulas, hardy plants, Roses, Deutzias, Cyclamens, Hj^acinths, 
Lilies of the Valley, Tulips, Narcissi, Crocuses, and Amaryliises, one 
•class also being added for twelve pots of bulbous plants, distinct from 
any of those already named. 
- The Weather in Scotland. —“ B. D.” writes: “ With the 
■exception of last night (11th) there has been no frost during the past 
week. Heavy rain for two or three days brought down the streams in 
the south of the country in very heavy flood, and a good deal of snow is 
reported in the north. Saturday was a beautiful day, and several spring 
•flowers hounded into bloom. In the evening the wdnd returned to the 
north-east, and it is again very cold.” 
- Amorphophallus Rivieri. —This remarkable plant has again 
flowered in the Oxford Botanic Garden, where the cultural treatment of 
it has been attended with a continuity of success that few establishmc.nts 
■can boast of. When seen a short time since its solitary spadix had ex¬ 
ceeded 18 inches in height, and gave promise of as fine an example of its 
-.singular attractiveness as any that have preceded it. 
- Adiantum scutum.— “ S.” writes—“ Anyone requiring a good 
Adiantum for house decoration during the autumn and winter months 
would do well to take this one in hand. It m.akes a free growth 
^during the spring and summer months when treated to a warm moist 
temperature, as, for instance, a vinery at work suits it w-ell. Capital 
plants can be grown in Ij-inch and 6-inch pots. A compost of two 
parts good fibrous loam to one of peat, adding some old lime, mortar, 
and sharp sand suits it well. Abundance of water at the roots during 
the summer should be given. This variety of Adiantum has a graceful 
habit, yet the fronds are stout enough not to require support at any 
time. In a cut state the fronds last a long time in good condition.” 
- Foe producing a quantity of pure white flowers during Decem¬ 
ber and January the following two varieties of White-flowered 
Pelargoniums, Madame Ernest Ernoul and Niphetos, are excellent. 
They are both of free growth without being too robust, and flower 
abundantly if their preparation has been w'ell carried out duriag-the 
eummer and spring m'onths. Strike t’a.' cuttings in the early part of 
February singly in small pots, transferring them eventually to .5^-inch 
pots, using a compost of two parts loam, one of leaf mould, a slight 
dash of bone dust, and some sand. Grow the plants near the glass to 
procure a stocky habit, placing them out of doors as soon as possible’ 
choosing a sunny spot, standing the plants thinly on the ground that 
they get abundance of light and air. Remove the plants to a cool house 
before the approach of autumn frosts. During the winter months give 
them a temperature of not less than 45° by nijlit, with a corresponding 
rise by day. Supply the plants freely with liquid manure. 
- B.tRE spaces on the back walls of greenhouses can be renuered 
bright and useful by planting Ivy-leaf Pelargoniums. Such plants 
being naturally short-jointed, retaining their leaves a long time both 
during the winter and summer, alike renders them suitable as evergreen 
plants for the purpose named. Most sorts flo'wer freely, lasting a long 
time in good condition either on the plants or in a cut state. 1' or the 
latter purpose flowers from Ivv-leaf Pelargoniums are much prized for 
vase decoration, either by themselves or with other flowers. By removing 
a small portion of the soil from the present border and adding some 
fresh compost not too rich in character the plants will have a better 
start. Vigour can easily be maintained by applications of liquid 
manure when the plants are growing freely. 
-LONICERA SEMPERVIRENS. —“ For Supplying cut flowers nine 
months during the year,” writes “E. M.,” “this I.onicera is very 
valuable. It grows well and flowers freely in an ordinary greenhouse 
w'here frost is excluded and its shoots can be trained close to the glass. 
The flowers last a long time in a cut state, and are very showy when 
associated either with its own foliage or that of other plants. The 
fliwers are a bright red outside and yellow inside. M hen the roots are 
confined to pots copious supplies of water are needed at the roots 
alternated with liquid manure, as it roots freely. Provide a substantial 
soil for the roots, composed mainly of loam, when there Is a likelihood 
of its occupying the same pot more than one year, and top-dress 
occasionally with bone dust, which is a good stimulant as well as a 
surface root producer. Vigorously sj^ringe the foliage in the e'sening 
during summer. From early in March to November flowers are freely 
produied if attention be paid to the supply of water to the roots, 
smoking occasionally to keep down green fly, and training the shoots 
thinly.” 
_ » J. L.” remarks :—“ I was much interested in Mr. Muir’s article 
on Planting Sandy Wastes by the Sea. The plant he means I 
did not know, but thought it must be another name for our native 
Grass, Elymus arenarius, which does the same good service in many 
sandy districts by the sea. I hunted up some of my botanical books, 
but did not find it mentioned in any of them excepting ‘ Hooker s 
British Flora.’ Elymus arenarius is there described as follows 
‘ Root much creipin'in loose soil, hence it is of great v.due, like the 
Ammophila arenaria fir preserving a considerable extent of our own 
coasts and those of Holland from the encroachments of th-i sea. The 
seeds are said to be made into bread in Iceland.’” Me have other 
letters on this subject. 
_ We learn from the schedule just to hand that the Bhre'VIS- 
BURY Floral Fete for the present year will be held on August 22nd 
and 23rd, when the usual liberal prizes will be offered. For instance, 
there is a class for twenty stove and greenhouse plants with three prizes 
of £25, £20, and £15, besides several others in smaller open classes, 
ranging from £10 to £1. Fruit is well provided for, no less than £66 
being offered for Grapes alone, and for a collection of fruit comprising 
twelve dishes the prizes are £10, £6, and £3. For vegetables £50 are 
contributed in numerous classes, the Veitch Memorial medal,and £5 being 
one of the attractions. Special prizes are also offered by several 
firms of seedsmen. A spring Show will be held on March 22nd, when 
provision will be made for all the principal forced plants. This Society 
is in a most flourishing condition, the balance in the banker's hand from 
last vear’s shows being £534. the interest on invested capital amounting 
to £72. Messrs. Adnitt and Naunton are the Hon. Secs., The Square 
Shrewsbury, from whom schedules can be procured. 
_Ealing, Acton, AND Hanm'ell Horticultural Society.— 
The annual meeting of this Society has recently been held, and the 
Treasurer’s balance sheet showed a sum of £37 10s. carried forward to 
the current year. Two exhibitions will be held in 1SS8. The summer 
S'.nw in the groun'ls of the Royal India Asylu n at E.ili'.ig on July 11th, 
