340 
JOrrnXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDEXER. 
[ April 26. 1888. 
surface only covered with a soft brownish glaze, th.at has a much 
more agreeable appearance than the ordinary red e.arthenware pots. 
Tlie base of the pot is also slightly raised above the outside rim. so that 
there is no danger of the drainage being impeded. We have seen many 
excellent results obtained by cultivating plants in glazed jiots. and Mr. 
David Thomson of Drumlanrig uses them almost exclusively now. The 
prices of the Cumnock pots can be ascertained from an advei’tisement 
on another piage, and we have no hesitation in commending these 
productions to the notice of amateurs and gardeners. 
- “ K., liisltojiston," writes—“ I saw an article in the Journal some 
time since recommending ceossing Yallota puepure.a with 
Euchaeis amazoxica, making the former the seed-bearing parent. 
I have done this and have some seedlings, but the only difference I can 
see at present is that some are much paler in the bulb and leaf than 
others, but as they become stronger they all have the characteristics of 
the Vallotas. Whether when they flower they will prove distinct 
remains to be seen. The first seed was sown in February, 1887.” 
- A Died Scaeee.—“ F. J.” wishes to know if .any of our 
readers have tried Clive’s Bird of Prey,” advertised in this 
•Journal, and, if so, would they state the results ? 
- “ G. W. C.” sends the two following notes “ The ornamental 
Fern house at Highbury, near Birmingham, is an interesting house, with 
Ferns, Palms, and Mosses growing well on and among the rock work. In 
one corner is the new Anthurium Chamberlaini, with its roots 
clinging to the stones. It is one of the most handsome in the genus, 
bearing large loaves on stalks about 4 feet long, and the spathes arc 
boat-shape, 8 or It inches long, 4 inches in width, and of the deepest 
crimson colour. This plant .appeared with an importation of Cattleya 
Gaskelliana.” 
- “ In the conservatory attached to the mansion at Highbury is 
a specimen of the Aby-ssinian Banana, Musa Ensete, the stem of 
which measures G feet 2 inches in circumference at 6 inches from the 
ground; it is fully 30 feet high, and the leaves 18 feet long. A large 
Chamaerops Fortune!, Phoenix reclinata, and Camellias planted out fill 
the centre of the house. On the front stage well grown spring flower¬ 
ing plants are arranged, including most of the choice named Clivias or 
Imantophyllums. Mr. Chamberlain likes to see large masses of colour 
arranged separately, and there are large banks of Tulips here and groups 
of Cinerarias in another part of the house.” 
- Under the title of The Art of Preparing Vegetables 
foe Table, Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, have produced a useful 
little book of sixty-eight pages, which has just been published by 
Hamilton & Aiams, Paternoster Row. Fifty-two vegetables are referred 
to briefly, and concise instructions are given on the be.st modes of cooking 
and preparing them for table. 
- Mr. J. E. Jefferies, Oxford, sends us a photograph of a 
Potato Monstrosity, the tuber represented having a peculiar palmate 
or five-lobed form. He also states that he has another with a link of 
an iron chain apparently passing through the tuber. 
- Lifting and Replanting of Vines.—“ 4V. K. W.” writes 
—“ As an example of how little they are injured by this process if care¬ 
fully and judiciously carried out we were a day or two since shown a 
house of Black Hamburghs which were lifted in September last and 
replanted in fresh compost, and which Vines arc now in much more 
vigorous health and condition th.an they were previous to being 
lifted. They are also carrying a heavy crop of large bunches of Grapesi 
which are now (April l!)th) just being thinned, showing that the Vines 
were not allowed a lengthened period of rest but were started early.. 
The foliage also is plentiful and fine, the larger leaves being nearly 12 
inches in diameter, almost a black green in colour, very stout and leathery 
This house of Grapes is at Mount View, Sheffield, the residence of 
D. Ward, Esq., J.P., gardener Mr. Page.” 
- Messes. James Dickson & Sons, Chester, send us a box of 
blooms of Narcissus Sir Watkin, a variety which, they say. is very 
grand with them this season. The flowers are very fine indeed. 
- The usual fortnightly meeting of tire Walkley (Sheffield) 
Amateur Floral and Horticultural Society was held on Friday 
evening last at the .Society’s rooms (the Howard Hotel, Walkley). when 
an excellent paper was read by Mr. R. H. Laughton, Vice-President, 
entitled “ A Night with Canon Hole,” and consisting of well-chosen 
extracts from that popular ro.sarian’s “ Book about Roses,” interspersed 
with useful remarks and pleasing witticisms by the essayist, who on this 
occasion appeared to great advantage both as a writer and as a re.ader, 
and received much well-merited applause. A useful discussion followed, 
after which the usual thanks to the essayist was carried with acclama¬ 
tion. There was a large attendance of members, and the tables were 
well filled by a very fine display of flowering plants. Ferns, and cut 
flowers, comprising a very good specimen Azalea (Princess Louise) and 
cut Roses from Mr. F. Barnes, good Azaleas and a fine large specimen 
Calla from Mr. Cuckson, beautiful stands of Tea Roses and Pelargonium 
fiowers from Duncan Gilmour, jun., Esq., and a fine collection of Cine¬ 
rarias from Mr. Woodcock. 
- Statice Holfoedi. —“ This blue-flowered greenhouse peren¬ 
nial,” says “ H. W. W.,” “ is of easy culture. Cuttings of the young 
growths are taken from the base of the plant and inserted in 3-inch 
pots filled with a mixture of three parts loam and one of leaf mould, 
with a surfacing of silver sand. The pots are plunged in a gentle 
bottom heat, water to settle the soil about the base of the cutting, and 
keep them close until rooted. After this they should be grown in a 
more airy atmosphere near the glass, and be shifted into larger pots as 
they require more room for root-action, supplying the plants with 
moisture at the roots, and damp the foliage on bright afternoons to keep 
them free from the attacks of aphides and red spider.” 
-A CORRESPONDENT who desires information on Preserving 
Turf writes :—“ I am compelled to remove .about a quarter of an acre 
of turf which has been cut over three months. I wish to preserve it till 
November next, before I can lay the ground out owing to an extensive 
drainage scheme being carried out. Would any of your numerous 
readers give me their experience of how it would be best to keep it till 
then ? If so, they would greatly oblige.” 
- The Irish Exhibition in Lonson.—W e are requested to 
publish the following :—“ In .addition to the already remarkable list of 
persons prominent in politics, religion, law, literature, and society, who 
have given their active support to this peaceful effort to benefit the 
sister kingdom, are the following—The Earl of Leitrim, who has joined 
the Executive Council, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Lord Maj'or of Dublin, 
the Earl of Dufferin, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and Sir Algernon 
Borthwick, Bart., M.P. Many of the corporations in Ireland, including 
Dublin, Belfast, and Waterford, have offici.ally taken up the subject 
and have strongly urged upon the trading community in their respec¬ 
tive districts their conviction that Irish industries are likely to be 
substantially benefited by a comprehensive display in London of what 
Ireland’s markets and manufactories can produce. A most significant 
fact, tending to show that one of the primary objects of the pro¬ 
moters is likely to be fully realised, occurrel at the Mansion House in 
Dublin, at a meeting over which the Lord Mayor, Mr. Sexton, M.P., 
presided. Mr. Sexton said ‘ he believed the Exhibition would be a great 
success, and would promote what he was happy to call the daily im¬ 
provement in the relations of the Irish people and their neighbours 
bcimnd the sea,’ and he proposed the formation of a Committee to further 
the objects of the Exhibition. Several prominent men have offered 
considerable contributions towards the scheme, in the belief that no 
better means could be devised for adviincing the best interests of 
Ireland. The date fixed for the opening at Olympia, Kensington, is the 
4th of June, and the Exhibition, which covers 12 acres of ground, will 
remain open till the 27th of October.” Lord Arthur Hill, M.P., is the 
Honorary Secretary. 
- We are informed that the Baeton-on-Humber and District 
Chrysanthemum Society’s Show will be held on November 14th 
this year. Schedules may be had from the Hon. Sec., Mr. C. J. H 
Crowder, Barton-on-Humber. 
- “ Small plants of the half-hardy perennial shrub, Veronica 
Andersoni vaeiegata,” writes a correspondent, “ arc very useful, 
either as an edging to large beds of herbaceous or other plants, or as 
grown in 3-inch and 4.^-inch pots for standing on the side stages of 
greenhouses and conservatories. It is readily propagated from cuttings 
of the young wood being placed in 4J-inch pots filled with sandy soil, 
watered, and placed in heat, afterwards potting them off singly in small 
pots and attending to them in the w.ay of stopping and giving water at 
the roots when needful.” 
