September 24, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
265 
was eventually arranged by the Company’s annual presentation of 
samples of fruit to the Lord Mayor for the time being. In return the 
Lord Mayor invites the Court of the Company .to a banquet at the 
Mansion House, which this year will take place on the same day as the 
presentation ceremony. 
- Gardening Appointments. — Mr. James Rogers, recently 
foreman at Nash Court, Faversham, has been appointed head gardener 
to P. C. Hardwick, Esq., The Grange, Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts. Mr. 
Buckland, late of Sefton Park, Slough, Bucks, has been appointed 
head gardener to Sir George Elliott, Bart., M.P., The Friars, Newport, 
Monmouthshire. 
- Weather at Liverpool. —We are experiencing another 
unwelcome change in the weather. Daring last week we had quite a 
variety. Saturday was a beautiful day, Sunday rainy and gloomy, 
whilst at night the rain came down in torrents, with a strong wind from 
the N.W. To-day (Monday) is the same, and much fruit is blown from 
the trees. The temperature is much lower.—R. P. R. 
- Bocconia cordata, commonly called the Plume Poppy, is 
a. plant not nearly so much grown as its merits deserve. Not only is 
it very showy when growing at the back of an herbaceous border, where 
it is so useful for supplying cut flowers in abundance, but for growing on 
the grass in isolated places, by the side of water, amongst dwarf 
Rhododendrons, Heaths, or Azaleas. It tends to brighten up and make 
attractive such positions at times when they would otherwise be dull. 
We have it growing in masses G feet across. A capital effect is produced 
in this way, especially as the background is one of evergreens. As to 
propagation that is a simple matter, eyery bit of root will throw up a 
growth, which in a year’s time will form a strong clump.—E. 
-Valuable as are all the Annual Chrysanthemums for 
tedding and cutting purposes, there is none more so than the Chrys¬ 
anthemum inodorum plenissimum. The seed may be sown in pans or 
boxes at the end of March or the beginning of April, and when large 
enough pricked out 3 or 4 inches apart in good soil, finally to be 
transferred to the beds or borders. The flowers are pure white and 
equal to any Pompon Chrysanthemum. For bouquets and other 
decorative work, where white flowers are in demand, this plant is 
most suitable. Outside at the present time the plants are covered 
■with bloom, and a pleasing sight they make. I write in its praise, 
after seeing a delightful bed of it at Roby Mount, where Mr. Eaton, 
the gardener, intends to grow it in greater abundance another season, 
•so useful does he find it. Mr. Osborne, the gardener at Aymestry Court, 
Woolton, uses it most extensively.—R. P. R. 
- The Vintage Prospects. — The fine weather that has 
prevailed during the present month has greatly modified the gloomy 
forebodings that were entertained in regard to the coming vintage. In 
France and Germany the temperature throughout the spring and 
summer months was so adverse that the Vines fell into an unusually 
backward condition, and fears were expressed that the vintage would 
be a complete failure. Fortunately, however, September has brought 
the necessary warmth, and the ripening of the Grapes is now rapidly 
proceeding. Even as it is, says the Wine Trade Review, the gathering 
•will be delayed considerably beyond the customary period, but, in 
France at all events, there is hope that the crop will prove to be 
fairly satisfactory. The champagne country appears to have suffered in 
a peculiar degree from the inclemency of the weather. At the close 
•of August and at the beginning of the present month there were heavy 
storms of rain and hail, which did great damage in certain districts, and, 
though there has been an improvement since, it is probable that the 
■crop will be lacking both in quality and quantity. The Charentes have 
recovered better, and a Cognac correspondent says that if the 
favourable conditions continue, there is likely to be a good yield of 
wine. With regard to the claret vintage, a Bordeaux correspondent 
states that irregularities are observed in the ripening of the Grapes, so 
that when some are cut others will have to be left to further mature ; 
but there is reason for believing that a fairly heavy crop will be 
obtained. In Burgundy, on the other hand, a diminished yield is 
expected. The outlook in Germany is discouraging in every sense, for 
there are indications that there will be a lack of quality as well as 
quantity. From Portugal it is stated that the vineyards show con¬ 
siderable inequalities, owing to more or less harm having been done in 
various districts by drought and mildew ; but it is probable that the 
yield as a whole will be heavier than last year’s. In Spain, also, there 
is a hopeful feeling prevalent. 
- We understand that the annual dinner of the United 
Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society will take place 
on October 18th next at the Cannon Street Hotel, Mr. George Dickson 
of Chester presiding. 
- Japanese Poppies.—T hose who have not yet given these 
delightful flowers a trial should make a point of growing a good number 
next year, as I feel sure they only require to be known to enable them 
to be extensively cultivated. I have always entertained a great liking 
for Shirley Poppies, but in my opinion that type will be rapidly 
superseded by the Japanese kinds, the petals of which are deeply 
laciniated, and have the appearance of tissue paper, with the edges 
clipped into narrow shreds. The flowers are white in the centre, each 
petal gradually shading to pink and rose from the centre to the outer 
edge. The Mikado is a double form, with the same shades of colour. 
The plants grow quickly and moderately strong, and are decided 
acquisitions for supplying beautiful cut flowers. 
- That beautiful Privet, Ligustrum lucidum, is a capital 
plant for mixed shrubberies, a9 it flowers at a time of the year when 
flowering trees and shrubs are not plentiful; and being only a moderately 
strong grower, it is well adapted for planting in the fore ground. Its 
white paniculated flowers (which are now fast opening) look exceedingly 
well as they rear their heads above the green shining foliage with 
which the bushes are plentifully clothed. The flowers are also useful 
for cutting.—H. D. 
- Daffodil Prizes for 1892.—Messrs. Barr & Son, 12 and 13, 
King Street, Covent Garden, London, have presented the following 
prizes to the Royal Horticultural Society for cut Daffodil flowers, to 
be competed for at the Society’s fortnightly meetings, to be held in 
the Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria S:reet, Westminster, London, 
during 1892. The number of classes and the dates of the meetings will 
be published in the Society’s prize schedule for 1892. February.— 
Collection of forced Daffodils, Polyanthus Narcissi excluded, open 
to all classes of exhibitors ; large silver medal. Best seedling Daffodil, 
not yet in commerce, raised in England, Scotland, or Ireland, and 
shown during the season, accompanied by the history of its origin, not 
a Polyanthus Narcissus, open; large silver-gilt medal. This prize may 
be competed for at any of the Daffodil meetings, and the award will 
be given to the best specimen which has been exhibited during the 
season. March.—Collection of forced Daffodils, Polyanthus Narcissi 
excluded, open ; large silver medal. Collection of Daffodils, Polyanthus 
Narcissi excluded, open ; first prize, large silver medal ; second prize, 
small silver medal ; third prize, large bronze medal ; fourth prize, small 
bronze medal. The same prizes will be offered in April and May. 
- Strawberries in Hampshire. —As showing to what extent 
the culture of Strawberries has developed in this neighbourhood and 
what a source of profit the fruit is to the railway companies alone, I 
may mention that from Swanwick Station, which is a very small one 
on the new Fareham and Netley line, no less a weight than 645 tons 
19 cwt. was sent in three weeks, the charge for carriage beiDg 
£1472 19s. 3d. The bulk of the Strawberries went to Covent Garden. 
The increase in value was £409 9s. 8d. over that of last year, and the 
weight showed an increase of 86 tons 12 cwt., or in the number of 
packages 16,309, the total number of those for the year being 61,222. 
The large number of packages is owing to the increase in sending so 
many Strawberries away in separate baskets, each containing one gallon. 
This shows what an increase in labour Strawberries make at one station 
only, but it does not by any means represent what the neighbourhood of 
in, say, an eight-miles area produces in Strawberries. In addition to 
the above, it is not an uncommon thing to send away 50 tons from 
Botley alone in one day, this being a station on the Portsmouth and 
Southampton line. —M. 
- Norwich Dahlia Show. — At the Norwich Dahlia Show 
held on the 10th inst. the awards in the classes for thirty-six, eighteen 
and twelve Show and Fancy, distinct, were in each case—first, Messrs. 
Rawlings of Romford; second, Rev. Charles Fellowes, Shottesham 
Rectory ; and third, Messrs. Daniels Bros.; whereas in the six classes for 
Cactus, Pompons and singles, Messrs. Daniels took five firsts and one 
second ; this firm also carried off all the first prizes for Pelargoniums. 
Asters and Marigolds would have been a disgrace to a village show of 
the third class. The Rev. Page Roberts had some good Roses ; for 
twelve bunches, distinct (six in each), he showel nothing but Teas, and 
was easily first again for twelve distinct singles. Ilis stand of six hardy 
cut flowers was beautifully set up, and in the opinion of many should 
