November 5,1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
867 
- At a recent meeting of the Richmond Athenaeum the Rev. 
G. Henslow delivered a lecture on Insectivorous Plants of which 
the following is a synopsis : — Insectivorous plants are found in at 
least sis distinct families—Examples of methods of capture (picture 
form)—Sarracenia, Nepenthes, Cephalotus, Discidia (viscid glands)— 
Drosera, Pinguicula (traps)—Dionaea, Aldrovanda, Utricularia. The 
same methods are found in widely different families; hence it is an 
acquired property—Proofs of absorption and uses to the plant, as 
especially benefiting the reproductive system—Insectivorous plants 
compared with parasites—Specialities of each species, e.g., in movement, 
structure, methods of secretion, absorption and digestion—Identities 
between the animal and vegetable kingdom in irritability, of pro¬ 
toplasm, mobility, and electrical phenomena—Secretion of acid and 
digestive ferments—Effects of poisons and anaesthetics, &c.—Suggested 
origin of the secretion of ferments and the absorption of nitrogenous 
nutritive matters. 
- Notes at Roby Hall.—W hatever may be said in praise of the 
beautiful Lilium Harrisi is not in the least more than it deserves. 
Last April I had the pleasure of seeing some of the finest plants I ever 
remember growing at Roby Hall. Visiting Mr. Jones, the gardener at 
the Hall, recently, I was struck by the fine specimen of this Lilium, 
some expanding and many in bud. One plant in an 8-inch pot carrying 
forty fine flowers was very good. These were the same bulbs I had seen 
in April, and were flowering the second time. By keeping some cool he 
will be able to have some of them in flower at Christmas, when they will 
prove a great acquisition. 
- Myrsiphyllum asparagoides. — For decorative work this 
very pretty climber cannot be surpassed. Planted in a narrow border, 
■and trained to upright cords about 5 feet long and 2 inches between, 
and completely covering the back wall of the late vinery, was this plant 
in perfection. When wanted for decoration the cords are simply cut 
away, there being not the slightest entanglement when trained this 
way. The pleasing shade of green shows up remarkably well by 
gaslight. 
- Lygodium scandens. —Exactly in the same position in two 
other vineries, but allowed an extension over the pathway, is this fine 
old climbing Fern. The finely cut fronds present a very beautiful 
appearance, and the uses to which they may be put for table decoration 
are various. It is a very clean Fern, and for clothing back walls of 
vineries is at once ornamental and useful. A mixture of loam, peat, 
lime rubbish, and sand forms a good compost in which to plant the two 
latter, and with an annual top-dressing the plants can be kept in perfect 
order for a number of years. 
- Notes at Allerton Beeches. —Standing out like veritable 
giants are six fine Beech trees, from which the name of the house has 
Been taken. I question if finer could be found in any part of Lancashire. 
When calling on Mr. Edwards, the gardener to Henry Tate, jun., Esq., 
I found I had not arrived at the best time of the year to see the 
specialities grown here, but a few notes hurriedly taken were worthy of 
record. Orchids are undoubtedly the chief pursuit, and the houses they 
are occupying are as perfect as it is possible to find them. Made through¬ 
out of the best pitch pine they are stained a dark oak colour instead of 
paint, and are very pleasing. The supports to the stages are resting in 
zinc trays, which are always kept filled with water, thus making it an 
impossibility for insects to find a way up to the stage. Leaves under¬ 
neath the trellis in Orchid houses have been advocated and condemned. 
Mr. Edwards is a firm believer in their use. He has the trellis made in 
•sections, which can easily be lifted, to keep up a fresh supply of leaves. 
By this means a uniform moisture is secured, and the zinc trays keep at 
Bay the attack of slugs, &c., if there are any, contained in the leaves, 
and the plants throughout all the houses were in the very best of health. 
Some fine Odontoglossums, Laclia Dayana, and two very healthy plants 
of Vanda Sanderiana growing in teak cylinders, suspended from the 
roof, and carrying ten and twelve flowers respectively, were conspicuous. 
Mr. Edwards has six or seven batches of seedling Cattleyas and Cypri- 
<pediums, numbering scores of plants. The crosses are from some of the 
finest varieties, and many of them present scarcely any appearance to 
the parents. They are being carefully tended. I must leave the 
Orchids for a future note. 
- Lilium auratum planted outside was really fine, one bulb 
having forty flowers, and on another a spike with twenty-eight flowers. 
They are from English grown bulbs, the imported ones having been 
failures over and over again. Lemoine’s hybrid Gladiolus were in full 
flower. There is no doubt about their being acquisitions, as they had 
stood the last severe winter without protection, many of the flowers being 
as fine as any type of gandavensis ; and lastly, Pyracantha prrncox, 
glowing in all its beauty against the front of the house, and what a 
contrast to some Ivy growing in close proximity. It is a fine place, and 
may be dealt with more fully at a future date.—R. P. R. 
-The Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society.— 
At a meeting of this Society, held on October 10th, 1891, the Floral 
Committee awarded the following :—First-class certificates to Mr. J. T. 
Van Den Berg, jun., Jutfaas, for Dahlia variabilis Konig Karl and 
Adrien de Mortillet ; to Messrs. Groenewegen & Co., Amsterdam, for 
Dahlia (Cactus) Paul Sclielosky and Maid of Kent, and (single) Frau 
Dr. Sophie Rhoden ; to Messrs. E. H. Krelage & Son, Haarlem, for 
Dahlia variabilis Euphrosyne, and Gladiolus nanceianus le Grand 
Carnot; to Messrs. Anton Roozen & Son, Overveen, for Chrysanthemum 
Mrs. Hawkins, Crinum species, and Dahlia (single) Mr. H. L. A. Obreen ; 
to Messrs. Zocher & Co., Haarlem, for Dahlia (Cactus) Maid of Kent, 
Centennial, Edmund Weekly, John Bragge, Vosmaer, (single) Frau Dr. 
Sophie Rhoden, Gertrude, Miss Reamsbottan, and Purpurea; to Mr. 
N. De Zvvaan, Utrecht, for Begonia Baumannii. Second-class certificates 
were adjudged to Mr. J. T. Van Den Berg, jun., for Dahlia variabilis 
Albertine ; to Messrs. E. H. Krelage & Son for Dahlia variabilis Aglaia 
and Thaleia; to Messrs. Anton Roozen & Son for Chrysanthemum 
Duchess of Fife ; to Messrs. Zocher & Co. for Dahlia (Cactus) Amphion 
and Zulu. A botanical certificate was awarded to Messrs. De Graaff 
Brothers, Leiden, for Gladiolus Eckloni. Votes of thanks were accorded 
to Mr. J. T. Van Den Berg, jun., for a collection cut flowers of double 
tuberous Begonias ; to Messrs. Groenewegen & Co. for a collection of 
Dahlias in twenty varieties ; and to Messrs E. H. Krelage & Son for a 
collection of Gladiolus gandavensis in fifty varieties. 
- The Rainfall at Winchfield, Hants.—T he total amount 
of rainfall in these gardens (Elvetham Park) for October wa3 
7'1G inches. The total for the ten months, 26G5. The heaviest fall 
was L24, on the 7th. Rain fell upon twenty-two days. This is the 
largest quantity ever registered in one month, an account having 
been kept for the past eighteen years.— James Foster. 
- The Total Rainfall at Cuckfield, Sussex, for the past 
month was 7-83 inches, being 3'95 inches above the average. The 
heaviest fall was 1 inch on 22nd. Rain fell on twenty-two days. 
Highest temperature G4° on 9th ; lowest 30° on 31st. Mean maximum 
in shade, 56°; mean minimum, 42° ; mean temperature, 49°. Partial 
shade readings, 3° above the average. Last five days fine and dry, and 
land once more workable.—R. I. 
-Weather in the North.—O ctober closed with ten days of 
fine seasonable weather, the days bright and pleasant, with frosts of 
from 3° to 9° on the night of the 30th. The first decided frost was 
on the morning of the 18th, 3°. The grain crops in this quarter have 
been, with considerable trouble and anxiety, secured in satisfactory 
condition, and Potatoes are turning out well, with but little disease. 
Turnips are also being taken in hand, a fairly good crop generally. 
Many trees are already stripped of foliage, the sharp frosts shortening 
the autumn display.—B. D., 8. Perthshire. 
- The Weather during October at Ripley, Yorks. —The 
first three weeks were very wet, rain falling upon twenty-one out of the 
first twenty-four days. On the 25th a welcome change set in, and we 
were favoured with fine weather to the end of the month. Frost 
occurred upon seven days. Total rainfall for the month, 4 - 33 inches, 
which fell upon twenty-two days. The greatest daily fall occurred on the 
10th, when 065 of an inch was registered. During the last few days 
the barometer ranged very high ; at 9 A.m. on 31st it stood at 30'82, at 
which point it stands as I write (November 2nd). Mean reading of 
barometer for the month, 29 83. Mean maximum temperature, 55 - l° ; mean 
minimum temperature, 35'8°. Mean temperature of month, 45'5°. 
Highest maximum temperature, 63° on the 5th ; lowest minimum 
temperature, 27° on the 30th.— J. Tunnington, Ripley Castle Gardens. 
- Report of Weather from Observations taken at 
Hamels Park. —The past month has been of a very deluging character. 
There has been a continual drizzle with an occasional heavy downpour. 
We have also experienced some very heavy gales of south-westerly wind, 
such as I do not remember our having since October, 1881. The heavy 
rainfall during the past month has been very beneficial in many places, 
as the water supply was getting very short. There has been almost a 
total absence of sunshine, and the. same may be said of frost until the 
morning of the 31st, when 6° were registered, which completely 
