54 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 1#. 1885. 
However, this is quite another thing from keeping the same plants 
flowering for six months ; and it must not be expected that any of these 
Chrysanthemums will flower between July and their usual period of 
blooming.—R. P. B. 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CAMBRIDGE BOTANIC 
GARDEN SYNDICATE. 
The Botanic Garden Syndicate report to the Senate of the Cambridge 
University that the general condition of the garden is very satisfactory, 
and amongst other items occur the following : — Various valuable 
alterations have been made in the arrangement of the contents of the 
plant houses. A few flowering shrubs have been planted in the long 
Fern house, thereby improving its general appearance ; and some of the 
finer Ferns have been selected for better— i.e., more careful cultivation 
than is possible when all are mixed together. The collection of Orchids 
has received special attention, so as to promote the health of the plants 
and at the same time reduce the amount of labour necessarily bestowed 
upon them. Endeavours have been made by the formation of brick 
enclosures to improve the cultivation and thereby the general appearance 
of various kinds of plants. Insectivorous plants have received much 
attention with the view of obtaining as perfect a collection of them as 
possible, and providing the principal species in sufficient quantity for 
scientific investigation. The same object has been kept in view in the 
cases of other plants of special interest. 
Much time and labour have, as usual, been expended on the correct 
labelling of the specimen plants. Nearly 2300 large labels have been 
renewed during the past year, and between 4000 and 5000 of smaller size 
have required to be re-written. These labels are now nearly all made of 
zinc, which combines the advantages of permanence and cheapness. The 
bog garden is considerably improved by a re-arrangement of the water 
supply and by the formation of a drier portion adjoining the boggy part. 
Labour provided for by the special grant has been applied to the 
extensive thinning of the belt. This has long been much needed in order 
to allow the trees to develope their true character. The ground under 
the trees has been extensively sown with grass, thereby rendering them 
more easily accessible, removing the mass of weeds which grew there, 
and reducing the amount of labour necessary in this part of the garden. 
Among the principal plants of scientific interest that have flowered in 
the garden are Allium karataviense, n. sp. ; Antigonon leptopus, which 
has flowered very rarely in this country ; Arctotis Leichtliniana, n. sp. ; 
Cochliostema Jaeobianum, possessing remarkable structure ; Gazania 
longiscapa, a figure of which will be published in the “ Botanical Maga¬ 
zine Impatiens episcopi, a new and valuable plant; I. Hookeriana, a 
fine species rarely flowered ; Iris Bartoni, drawn for the “ Botanical 
Magazine;” I. Bloudowi, new and rare ; I. hexagona, “ Botanical Maga¬ 
zine,” t. 6787 ; Jasminum angulare, a new introduction received from 
Mrs. Birks; Narcissus rachyholbus, drawn for “Botanical Magazine;” 
Nelumbium luteum, diffi:ult to grow and rarely flowered ; Nympbcea 
flava; Passiflora foetida (pectinifera) ; Salvia paniculata, “ Botanical 
Magazine,” t. 6790; and S. Greggii, Botanical Magazine, t. 6812. 
Among the species that have been of special interest as producing 
their fruit are Pandanus furcatus, Thladiantha dubia, and Yitis ptero- 
phora (V. gongylodes), flowered before, but now fruited for the first time. 
A speciality has been made of the genus Salvia, and four species derived 
from this garden have now been figured in the “ Botanical Magazine.” 
About 1055 plants and 678 packets of seeds have been received. The 
number of plants is less than usual. As it has been considered necessary 
to limit exchanges on account of the large amount of labour it entails, 
and because the great increase in the number of plants with but the same 
insufficient staff has been found to make limitation necessary. Important 
plants, however, have been sought with no less diligence, and of those 
probably as many as usual have been received from the Botanic Gardens 
of Kew, Edinburgh, Glasnevin, Trinity College, Dublin ; Jardin des 
PlanteB, Paris; Liege, Palermo, Jardin des Plantes, Montpellier ; St. 
Petersburg, Saharunpore, and Melbourne, and a return has been made to 
the majority of them. 
The valuable colllections of plants from Kew require special mention, 
as also a fine collection of Ivies, Clematis, and new plan's from Messrs. 
Jas. Veitch & Sons, Rosa (species and varieties) from Messrs. Paul & Son, 
new Irises from Prof. Foster, Croei from Col. T. Clarke, new and choice 
plants from Herr Max Leichtlin, collection of plants from St. Petersburg, 
new plants from Mr. Wm. Bull, and collection of Gesneriaceas from 
Messrs. Ant. Roozen & Son. As new plants of value introduced to the 
Cambridge Botanic Garden, Porana paniculata, a fine E. Indian Con¬ 
volvulus, and Impatiens episcopi may be mentioned. 
The condition of the roads and fences in the “Field” has been con¬ 
siderably improved. During the winter 352 yards of road were remade, 
and will last in good order with little attention for some years. The 
Thom hedges have been made good where necessary, and about 
110 yards of new hedge has been planted. A pair of swans was last 
year presented by St. John’s College, and have been placed in the pond, 
where they have entirely prevented the appearance this season of the 
woist of the water weeds, Potamogeton lucens, which before grew thickly 
in every part. 
Relative Value of Manures. — I think your correspondent 
“Another Thinker” has hit the right nail this time, and deserves 
corroboration, for although the manure I use (Standen’s) appears high- 
priced, I obtaia good results from spoonful doses, hence it goes much 
farther than apparently cheaper articles. Your correspondent, Mr. \V. 
Taylor, bears me out. for he recommends half a pound of Standen’a 
10 square yards.—J. L. B. 
HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 
The following list of Shows, with the dates, may possibly be useful for 
reference. 
July 16.—Chiswick. Helensburgh (Roses). Winchester. 
„ 18.—Birkenhead (Roses). 
„ 21.—Newcastle, Staffs. 
„ 22.—Newcastle on-Tyne. 
„ 25 .—Darlington (Roses). 
„ 28.—Royal Horticultural Society (Carnations, Begonias, Ac.). Buckingham. 
„ 29.—Aberdeen. 
„ 30.—Oxford. 
August I.—Liverpool (two days). Southampton (two days). 
„ 2.—Antwerp Exhibition of Plants (five days). 
„ S.—Northampton. 
„ 11.—Royal Horticultural Society (plants and flowers). 
„ 18.—Basingstoke. 
„ ID.—Shrewsbury (two days). 
„ 20.—Salisbury. 
„ 21.—Exeter. 
„ 25.—Royal Horticultural Society (Cottagers’ show). 
„ 27.—Ludlow. Reading. 
WORK.fo^ the WEEK.. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Again has dry weather put our arrangements for the garden water 
supply to a severe test, and glad should we be to know that all gardens 
could have as plentiful a supply as ours has, and yet we had Bimply to 
make a pond to catch the waste water of a reservoir to insure an ample 
supply always. In addition we have the hiuse sewage thrown up to the 
fruit garden by a force pump and underground pipe, and the supply of 
this fertiliser is always in excess of the demand. With such facilities it 
is an easy matter to keep fruit swelling without a check, and the sewage 
is of especial value among bush fruit, not only while the fruit is swelling, 
but subsequently to promote strong word growth and the development of 
plump buds for next year’s crop. Black Currants can hardly be overdone 
with sewage now. We like to see them throw up plenty of suckers as big 
as one’s finger, and to have such shoots grow into sturdy branches fully 
6 feet high ; then, and only then, do we consider the bushes as fully 
grown and as capable of yielding as large of crop of fruit as they ought to 
do. Raspberries, too, require much water—preferably sewage now, and 
if the soil is left undug between the rows and a mulching of half-decayed 
manure applied as we have so frequently advised the roots are so close to 
the surface as to absorb moisture quickly, and the mulching checks exces¬ 
sive evaporation. Glean water is used among Strawberries to assist the 
growth and ripening of the late fruit. Without watering, the season of 
ripe Strawberries from the open beds is apt to be much curtailed by hot 
dry weather. Peaches and Nectarines now derive much benefit from 
frequent waterings applied to the border. The foliage must also be kept 
clean and free from red spider, or it is liable to be shed prematurely to the 
serious drainage of both fruit and wood growth. In using a syringe see 
that the water is forced well upon the under side of the leaves, for that is 
precisely where the spider so often does harm. See to the training of 
young trees, and remove or loosen all fastenings likely to prove hurtful to 
the swelling growth. Where nails and shreds are used for wall trees, nails 
against which fruit is pressing must be carefully removed. The crop of 
Figs, especially of Brown Turkey, is so abundant that the fruit has been 
thinned. This is never done till fruit-shedding is over, a certain propor¬ 
tion of the fruit often growing for a time and then falling off prematurely. 
As Gooseberries ripen much pains must be taken with the netting, or the 
blackbirds will find a way in to the fruit. A couple of garden mats put 
round each bush with a piece of netting across the top is better than all 
netting, as the birds always try to find a passage in at the bottom. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —In private establishments where it is 
necessary to maintain a steady supply of fruit throughout the season, 
houses that will contain three or four trees each are better than larger 
bouses in which early, midseasoD, and late varieties must be planted so as 
to afford the needful succession. The difference is really a matter of 
arrangement, a division making all the difference, and then planting with 
varieties that will succeed each other in the order of ripening. For the 
earliest house—Peaches: Alexander, Hale’s Early, and Stirling Castle. 
Nectarines: Lord Napier, Hunt’s Tawny, and Elruge. Second early house 
—Peaches : A Bee, Grosse Mignonne, and Royal George. Nectarines : 
Violette Hative, Stanwick Elruge, and Pitmaston Oranee. Midseason 
houses—Peaches: Dr. Hogg or Belle Beauce, Noblesse, Violette Ha'ive. 
Nectarines : Hardwicke Seedling, Large Elruge, and Pine Apple. Late 
houses—Peaches : Bellegarde, Barrington, and Late Admirable. Nectarines : 
Pine Apple, Albert Victor, and Victoria. Latest houses—Peaches : 
Walburton Admirable, Prince of Wales, Lord Palmerston, and Salwey. 
Nectarines same as preceding. We have only mentioned varieties of 
