December 10, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
497 
imagination to speculate upon the form and markings of others yet 
unopened. b J 
The Cypripediums in themselves made quite a show of quaint beauty. 
U callosum was carrying several fine flowers ; the beautiful C. Schlimi 
was also flowering freely ; C. barbatum superbum and the well-known 
and useful C. insigne were numerous and good ; C. Fairrieanum was 
also m good condition and producing flowers freely. Many good and 
widely different types of Oncidium crispum were in flower; the peculiar 
bronzy marking of these Oncidiums make them especial favourites 
during the autumn months. The diminutive flowers of 0. ornitho- 
rhynchum were graceful and effective when arranged among those of 
bolder type. O. incurvum was producing many long flower stems which 
£ 1V ® P rom . ise a quantity of miniature flowers later on. Among 
Cattleyas in flower, Bowringiana and guttata were the most conspicuous, 
several good varieties of the ever popular Odontoglossum Alexandra 
were m full beauty in one of the cool houses. 
The effect produced by this well-managed collection was greatly 
enhanced by the admirable manner in which the stages and plants 
were arranged. Instead of the usual straight stages a curving walk was 
formed through the centre of the house, and the stages fitted to follow 
the windings of the walk, the edges of them being faced with virgin 
cork, over which Fittonias, Isolepis gracilis, and Panicum variegatum 
were growing in careless profusion, thus forming a pleasing finish to the 
green leaves and bright colours behind them.—D. 
Royal Botanic Society. — The arrangements for 1892 are as 
follows Floral Exhibitions—Wednesdays, March 23rd, April 27th; 
May 18th. Special Floral Fete, Wednesday, June 22nd. Evening Fete, 
Wednesday, July 6th, 8 to 12 p.m. Rhododendrons, during June. 
Musical promenades.—On the Wednesdays in May, June, and July, 
exhibition and fete days excepted. Lectures.—Fridays in May and 
June at 4 o’clock. General meetings, for election of new Fellows, 
scientific discussions, &c., Saturdays at 3.45 P.M.—January 9th, 23rd ; 
February 13th, 27th ; March 12th, 26th ; April 9th, 23rd ; May 14th, 
28th; June 11th, 25th; July 9th, 23rd; November 12th, 26th; 
December 10th. Anniversary, Wednesday, August 10th, at 1 p.m. 
- Death op M. Auguste Francois Hardy.—M any readers 
will learn with much regret that M. Hardy of Versailles died on the 
24th ult. As the able director of the National School of Horticulture in 
that town M. Hardy was principally known to British horticulturists ; 
but he was also a prominent member of the French National Horticul¬ 
tural Society, and he assisted materially in the promotion of all objects 
bearing upon horticulture. 
-Accident to Mr. W. J. Grant.—I t is with deep regret, a 
regret which I think will be shared by many of the readers of the 
Journal, that I have to record a sad piece of news which has just 
reached me. Mr. W. J. Grant, so well known to most rosarians, in 
crossing the railway near Monmouth was struck down by an engine 
and received most severe injuries, including a fracture of the base of 
the skull. Little hope is entertained of his recovery.—D., Deal. 
- Gardening Appointments. —We learn that Mr. George Hem¬ 
ming, late head gardener at Beechfields, Doncaster, has been appointed 
superintendent of the various public parks in Sheffield belonging to 
the Sheffield Corporation. Mr. Hemming is well known in Leeds, 
Doncaster and Sheffield, as an able and experienced gardener, and will 
doubtless by his works justify his selection for so responsible a post. 
Mr. R. C. Townsend, Mytton Hall, Shrewsbury, Salop, has been 
appointed head gardener to Colonel Lloyd, Aston Hall, Oswestry, 
Salop. Mr. H. Prosser, late gardener to the Right Hon. Lord Heytes- 
bury, has been appointed head gardener to H. J. Miles, Esq., The 
Knoll, Wimborne, Dorset. 
- Royal Meteorological Society.— At the ordinary meeting 
of the Society, to be held at 25, Great George Street, Westminster, on 
Wednesday, the 16th inst., at 7 p.m., the following papers will be read : 
—“Report on the Thunderstorms of 1888 and 1889,” by William 
Marriott, F.R.Met.Soc. This paper will be illustrated by a number of 
lantern slides. “ On the Prevalence of Fog in London During the 
Twenty Years, 1871-1890,” by Frederick J. Brodie, F.R.Met.Soc. 
- Christmas Roses. —A Totnes correspondent sends us some of 
the finest samples of Christmas Roses we have seen, most of them 
exceeding 4^ inches in diameter, and bearing two blooms on a stem. 
They are, moreover, very pure, and therefore valuable for decorative 
purposes. 
- National Chrysanthemum Society held its annual 
dinner at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, last week, when Mr. R, 
Ballantine presided, and about 120 members and friends were present. 
The evening was a very pleasant one, and proved highly satisfactory to 
all who attended. 
- Fine Cyclamens. —Mr. William Mowbray, gardener to the 
Hon. H. C. Legge, Fulmer, Slough, sends us some Cyclamen flowers and 
leaves for inspection. The plants are now in 24-size pots. The plants 
were raised from seed sown in October, 1890. They are from 15 to 
18 inches through the foliage. Last year eight dozen blooms were 
gathered from one plant at one gathering, and the same good results are 
expected this year. The leaves are remarkable for their substance, and 
the flowers for their size, brilliance, and purity. We have seen few 
samples to equal and none to surpass the specimens before us. The 
able grower of them would do good service to many by sending details of 
his methods of culture for publication. 
- Lycium Afrum.—A t th& latter end of November I was at 
Armatage, near Rugeley, Staffordshire. Between the station and Anna- 
tage is a most conspicuous shrub in full berry. The berries are of an 
oblong shape, and bright scarlet. The shrub is trained over a cottage 
door. I never saw this shrub in fruit before, and I beg to ask, Does 
this shrub flower in many parts of England ? A gentleman writes me 
from Armatage to say the name is Lycium Afrum or Box Thorn, an 
African tea tree, and a native of Good Hope.—R. H. D. [The Lycium 
is frequently seen in some parts of England, more especially in the 
south.] 
- Ivy Injurious to Walls.—A t page 447 “E. D. S.” say?,. 
“ Some assert that Ivy causes dampness to buildings against which it is 
grown, but I have no hesitation in saying it is a false idea.” I quite 
agree with “ E. D. 8.” when he says that Ivy “ throws off the rain that 
falls upon them.” But it does more ; it prevents evaporation, which 
appears to be an essential to Ivy, and walls clothed with Ivy are in a 
constant and chronic state of dampness (if the latter word can be- 
allowed}, and such constant dampness is more injurious to health than, 
if water ran in a constant stream down the walls. Lime and stone also 
crumble and decay more quickly under Ivy than when exposed, which 
I have learnt from experience.—W. T. 
- The Weather Last Month.— November was very foggy r 
with much showery weather also, and remarkable for the very low 
reading of the barometer (28’32) on the 11th at noon. We had ten 
bright days. Wind was in an easterly direction the first half of the 
month, and mostly westward during the remainder. Barometer was. 
highest—30'65—at 9 A.M. on the 5th ; lowest, 28 32 at noon on the 11th. 
Highest shade temperature 57° on the 18th; lowest, 24° on the 8th j 
lowest on grass, 20° on the 8th and 28th. Mean of daily maximum 
temperatures, 48 40°; mean of daily minimum ditto, 35 - 40°. Mean 
temperature of the month, 41 90°. Total rainfall, 3T4 inches, which fell 
on twenty days. The greatest daily fall being 0'81 on the 15th. The- 
garden spring ran 30 gallons per minute on the 30th.—W. H. Divers* 
Ketton Hall Gardens, Stamford. 
- The Chinese Artichoke (Stachys tuberifera). —As 
this delicious vegetable seems to be so little known in this neighbourhood 
I have been induced to send an account of my experience in its culti¬ 
vation to your valuable paper, trusting it may be interesting to some of 
your readers. I think that when it becomes better known it will be 
largely grown, as it comes in for use at a time when choice vegetables 
are very limited. I selected full-sized tubers, and planted them on the 
24th of April last on a piece of rich ground well pulverised. Six rows 
30 feet long were planted 18 inches between the rows, and about 9 inches- 
apart in the row, covered about 3 inches with soil. The hoe was run 
through two or three times at intervals in the early part of the season ; 
but the plants soon covered the ground, forming neat bushes about. 
15 inches high, branching freely, and they kept down all weeds. We 
commenced lifting them for use on the 7th November. The tubers range 
from 1 to 2£ inches in length, and about three-quarters of an inch in 
diameter at the thickest end, and are produced in immense numbers. 
When cooked by boiling or steaming, and served with melted butter in 
the same manner as Jerusalem Artichokes, they make an acceptable* 
