October 1, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
2^7 
three varieties. Money prizes of £3 to 10s. are also offered for Apples, 
Pears, Grapes, and Tomatoes. 
' Thiselton-Dyer. —We learn that the Leopoldinisch- 
Ivarolinisch German Academy of Natural History has conferred the 
honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy upon Mr. Thiselton-Dyer, 
Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, in recognition of the services 
rendered by him to botany. 
‘ Gardening Appointment. — Mr. L. Williams has been 
appointed gardener to R. 0. Leycester, Esq., Toft Hall, Knutsford, 
Cheshire. 
The Preston and Fulwood Floral and Horticultural 
■Society. The fortieth monthly meeting of the members and sub¬ 
scribers of the above Society will be held in the large room of the Legs 
of Man Hotel, Fishergate, Preston, on Saturday evening next, October 
•3rd, 1891, when Mr. J. Hathaway, gardener to the Earl of Lathom, will 
read a paper on “ The Chrysanthemum.” Chair to be taken at 7.30. 
Bougainvillea glabra is generally classed as a stove 
}ilant, but it will also do well in the conservatory, and the flowers last 
much longer when cut out of a house with a low temperature. A good 
specimen is very effective, but is rather unsightly when it has shed its 
leaves, though when grown in pots the plants can be removed to other 
■quarters. We have a splendid specimen growing on the wall in the 
potting shed, which is at present in a mass of bloom. The shed is a 
glass-roofed lean-to with a northern aspect, and can be kept during the 
winter above freezing point.—S. S. 
- Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associa¬ 
tion. The annual general meeting for the election of officers and 
Committee for the ensuing year, and to receive report and statement 
of accounts for session 1890-91, will be held in the Council Chamber 
of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens on Friday evening next, 
October 2nd, at eight o’clock punctually. The Committee have decided 
to hold another concert in October in aid of that deserving chanty, 
The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, further particulars regarding which 
will be announced at the annual meeting. The opening address of 
the session, October 9th, will be contributed by Mr. H. Dunkin, 
gardener to the Earl of Warwick. Subject: “Flowering Trees and 
Hhrubs.” 
- Cupressus MACROCARP A. —Writing a few notes in the Journal 
last May respecting the hardiness of this Conifer, I then stated that I 
■had never seen a tree of it killed outright with the frost, and from the 
then appearance of the forty or so trees here it looked as if the recent 
■winter had only injured them. Since that time, however, I find that 
four out of them have died. In July they showed unmistakeable signs 
•of being killed, having turned a rusty brown all over. One of the 
number, I regret to say, was the tallest specimen growing here, being 
a little over 60 feet in height, and of the upright or fastigiate habit. The 
severe winters of 1879, 1880, and 1881 did not kill any Cupressus 
macrocarpa here, but the last prolonged winter proved too much for 
some of them; 28° of frost was the most recorded here.—H., North 
Hunts. 
- Tuberous Begonias are to be seen in all directions at Street, 
■Somerset, cottagers as well as amateurs and private gardeners growing 
them remarkably well both in pots and the open borders. As might be 
•expected, the best displays are to be seen in the leading gardens in 
the neighbourhood, and they are remarkably good as grown by Mr. 
F. Edwards, gardener to James Clarke, Esq. Several beds were 
wonderfully gay during the wet weather in August, Zonal Pelargoniums 
cutting but a sorry figure alongside the Begonias. Most of the varieties 
were unnamed seedlings, the preference for planting being given to 
imlbs of the previous season’s raising. There were, however, several 
beds planted with Phosphorescence, a remarkably free, though small 
•semi-double flowering variety of dense growth, raised, I believe, by 
Messrs. Laing & Sons. Begonias are also very effectively employed in 
the gardens of F. Clarke, Esq., several rustic vases being very gay with 
them.—I. 
- I have sent you a sample of the Evesham Early Tomato 
for inspection. It is a variety that is grown very much in this neigh¬ 
bourhood for open air culture, and I do not remember seeing any 
account of it in the Journal. I have it growing along with Laxton’s 
Open Air, Abundance, Stamfordian, and Large Red, and I find it a week 
earlier than Laxton’s, which is next earliest, all being from seed sown 
about middle of January last. It does not grow so large as some of the 
others, but I find it more solid and even in size than the more corru¬ 
gated varieties. It is a very good cropper. The samples are not the 
largest bunches I have had this season. Up to the present time I do 
not find it go bad as much as the other varieties which are growing 
beside it. Last year was considered a bad season, but I had a good 
crop. It is very dwarf, and I find it the best to select and save the 
seed myself. — F. Norman, Evesham. [The fruits sent were of a 
m dium but useful size, and the bunches of ten and twelve each show 
how prolific the variety is.] 
- East Anglian Horticultural Club.— The members of 
this progressive club betook themselves to Dereham on Friday last, 
having been invited by Mr. John Green of the Norfolk Nurseries. They 
left Thorpe Station by the 3 20 train (special arrangements having 
previously been made by the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Albert F. Upstone, 
with the railway company), and were cordially received at Dereham by 
Mr. Green, who accompanied them to his grounds close at hand. The 
party, which numbered about eighty, divided into sections and scoured 
the pretty environs of the town, eventually meeting in a large tent 
specially erected in the grounds. After tea the usual toasts were given, 
interspersed with various songs, and a vote of thanks to Mr. Green, 
the members dispersed, and left by the 9.15 p.m. train for Norwich. 
Mr. F. Morris of Witton (President) and Mr. George Daniels (Hon. 
Treasurer) headed the expedition, and aided much to the success of the 
affair. Many new members were enrolled, chiefly amateurs, and it is 
yet felt that hundreds in East Anglia might avail themselves of this 
society, particulars of which will be given by the Hon. Secretary, at 
Messrs. Daniels Bros., Exchange Street. 
-Australian Fruit Importations. —We have received the 
following from the Chief Commissioner of The Australian Irrigation 
Colonies, 35, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C. The probability of 
large shipments of fruits to this country being made from our Australian 
colonies in the early future, the practicability of which has been so 
recently demonstrated by the great quantities of excellent Tasmanian 
Apples with which our markets have this year been supplied, is now 
further exemplified by the arrival this week of a small consignment of 
raisins from the Australian Irrigation Colonies on the river Murray, 
being the first fruits received from these settlements, the establishment 
of which, some three or four years ago, has been attended with such 
remarkable success that their progress has been described by a colonial 
bishop who recently visited them (Dr. Thornton of Ballarat) as simply 
“ amazing.” A quantity of raisins are now on view at the London 
offices of the Australian Irrigation Colonies, 35, Queen Victoria 
Street, E.C. They are entirely sun-dried—the clear dry atmosphere of 
that part of Australia where the settlements are situated enabling the 
drying of all descriptions of fruit to be carried out in the most perfect 
manner and without risk of injury. They have been pronounced of 
excellent quality both in flavour and appearance, and are very attrac¬ 
tively put up in 2 lb., 6 lb., and 12 lb. boxes. The above consignment 
will, in due course, be followed by others of a no less interesting 
character, embracing the following valuable fruits of commerce :— 
Oranges, Lemons, Raisins, Currants, Apricots, Peaches, Figs, &c., 
together with wine, olive oil, and other products, for which a large 
demand is anticipated in this country in future years. The total area 
of land constituting the Australian Irrigation Colonies, and of which 
some 25,000 acres at each of the two settlements (Mildura andRenmark} 
are now being dealt with, will fall but little short of half a million 
acres ; and although the colonial demand will probably absorb the 
entire production for some years. 
GLADIOLI. 
I am indeed sorry for “D., Deal." On page 263 he tells us that he 
has not suffered such a disappointment for twenty years as to be pre¬ 
vented putting in an appearance at the Crystal Palace Show this year. 
I was not there ; but 1 hope “ D., Deal,' himself put in an appearance, 
as one of the oldest and most successful of Gladioli cultivators, although 
owing to the lateness of the season his “spikes” were not sufficiently 
forward for exhibition purposes. 
“ D., Deal," mentions Atlas, Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and Ondine as 
amongst the earliest bloomers with him. Ondine is to-day, September 
28tb, just showing co'our, and At’as just out with me in East Suffolk, 
while my two conns of Baroness Burdett-Coutts have gone wrong 
altogether. My earliest here is Shakespeare, followed by Mons. 
A. Brongniart (a splendid flower and spike), Horace Vernet, Matador, 
Crbpuscule (very fine). These are quite over. I have now some very 
fine spikes of Cameleon, Hesperide (lovely), Conquhrant, Amitib, 
Titania, and Carnation. Among those not quite showing colour on the 
eve of the festival of St. Michael of All Angels, though the spikes are 
fine, may be mentioned Mount Etna, Ovide, Phoebus, Pollux, Cervantes, 
Formosa, Africaine, and Enchantresse. In addition to Baroness Burdett- 
Coutts I have to number Grand Rouge, Cervantes, Phoebus, Mount 
Etna, and Rayon d’Or among the actual deaths. 
