198 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 11, 18S6. 
slightly broader, yellow, with a few spots at the base ; the lip is similar with 
two wings curving round the column of a reddish tinge,, and the pedicels 
are also reddish, but those and the main peduncles being subtended by 
lanceolate bracts, greenish, with reddish bars and streaks. 
Narcissus Bulbocodium citrinus (Ware).—A charming variety of the 
Hoop Petticoat Narcissus ; the cup 1J inch in diameter and 2£ inches long, 
of a delicate pale yellow tint. , 
Begonia qigantea rosea (H. Cannell & Sons).—One of the sempernorens 
type, with large leaves and dense panicles of bright coral red flowers very 
rich in the bud state. 
Scientific Committee. —F. Du Cane Godman, Esq., in the chair. 
Colletia horrida ( speciosa) on C. bictonensis.- —Dr. Lowe exhibited specie 
mens of a shrub of C. Bictonensis with dimorphic branches, the smaller kind 
growing on the larger, differed from C. horrida in having the branches 
flattened and not rounded, as in the latter. This was also the case of the 
specimen exhibited at the last meeting ; and Dr. Lowe raised the question 
whether the growth of this small form of C. bictoniensis had not been mis¬ 
taken for C. horrida. It is requested of persons cultivating this plant to 
examine them and report to the Secretary as to the frequency of the true 
C. horrida growing upon flattened C. bictonensis ; also, if C. bictonensis 
with broad flat branches is ever known to grow upon a shrub of C. horrida 
with round branches. Specimens will be very acceptable. He alluded to an 
ancient Italian painting of “ the Crown of Thorns ” having this sport depicted 
Melianthus major. —Dr. Lowe showed a plant completely killed by the 
late frost, but which was in blossom at the same period of the year 
of 1885. 
Nematoid Worms in Cucumbers. —Mr. Michael gave a very interesting 
communication upon the great injury occurring to Cucumber plants in 
Cornwall. In a collection grown largely for the London market plants 
were continually being struck down. A careful examination of the earth 
proved that the source of the mischief was entirely due to these worms. 
On examining the sound parts of the roots where the disease was just com¬ 
mencing, he discovered cysts of eggs deposited in those parts, the female 
having burrowed more deeply into such tissues to provide food for the 
young ones. Mr. Murray said that he had made similar observations in 
conjunction with Mr. Carruthers, and they had come to precisely the same 
conclusion. Other animals, such as acari (Serraton rostratus),.as well as 
Rhizobryphus, were present; but these were not the cause of injury, but 
only followed on the decayed condition induced by the nematoid worms. 
He suggested sulphur and lime should be applied round the roots, and that 
all affected plants should be burnt. 
Orchids , monstrous. —Mr. O’Brien showed a specimen of Odontoglossum 
crispum, and Mr. Smee brought a blossom of Ccelogyne cristata; the latter 
was a fusion of two flowers, but one was represented solely by a labellum 
and a bract. They were referred to Mr. Ridley for further examination. 
Camellias and Frost. —Mr. O’Brien, commenting on the leaves sent by 
Hon. and Rev. Mr. Boicawen to the last meeting, remarked that he had 
observed exactly the same result to accrue from scorching by the sun ; that 
the young mature leaves resist it much better than the old mature leaves, 
though if immature they suffer to a proportionately greater degree. 
Cineraria Dimorphic. —Mr. F. Braby of Bushey Lodge, Teddington, sent 
a plant having half the flowers crimson and the other half deep mauve ; it 
was a seedling. Mr. Lynch exhibited blossoms showing somewhat different 
character in the central and terminal flowers to the lateral ones, not only 
in being larger, but with a different disposition of the ray petals. 
Abutilon igneum. —Mr. Lvnch exhibited sprays of the South American 
species with dark purplish flowers. 
they are brought by their daily work, proceeded to show what are the 
chief subjects comprised in the study of botany. He pointed out that 
this may be made one of the most uninviting or one of the most fascinating 
of pursuits according to the manner in which it is approached, and as an 
illustration of one of its aspects which lift it into the region of poetry 
and romance, he chose the topic of “ The Mutual Relations of Flowers and 
Insects,” tbe object of the speaker being to prove how and why it is that 
but for the co-existence of insects and their services in the fertilisation of 
flowers the glory and the grace of the plant world would vanish from the 
face of the earth, and all the myriad forms of beauty which adorn the 
forests of the tropics and the moorlands, woods, and meadows of temperate 
regions would disappear, so that only a few tribes of plants, all bearing 
sombre and inconspicuous flowers, would survive, while all colours and scent 
and variety of form would cease to exist. In tracing this subject, Mr. 
Wills dealt first with the structure of a typical and perfect flower, and the 
functions of the parts concerned in reproduction, and then, after showing 
how the visits of insects are the chief agency for insuring fertilisation, pro¬ 
ceeded to show how Nature encourages cross-fertilisation and discourages 
self-fertilisation by a variety of general arrangements, as well as by special 
contrivances. These latter reaching their climax in the structure of 
Orchids. The address concluded by a brief reference to the connection of 
this subject with that of natural selection. It was illustrated by a large 
number of illuminated transparencies, mostly drawn from nature by the 
Lecturer. 
Mr. Latham, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Wills for his very 
able and interesting address, said he thought that he had dealt with a 
subject of the greatest importance to the gardening profession, more par¬ 
ticular to its younger members, whom he advised to try and acquire a 
thorough knowledge of the parts and functions of flowers. The resolution 
was carried unanimously, after which the Chairman drew the attention of 
those present to the subject of the next lecture, to be delivered by Professor 
Hillhouse, on Wednesday evening, March 17th—namely, “The Scientific 
Value of Gardeners’ Experience,” which he had no doubt would be very 
interesting, and he hoped to see a3 good an attendance of members as on 
the present occasion. The meeting then terminated. 
MUSHROOM-GROWING ON OUTSIDE BEDS. 
We are well into the ninth week of frost, more or less. On Monday 
we were visited by a very severe snowstorm, and I may say without 
exaggeration that at present frost and snow reign here supreme, but it is 
well known that cooks have little sympathy with us. At the present time 
I have seven of these worthies to supply, and of course they want Mush¬ 
rooms as often as they can get them. March 4th was the packing day, 
and we have been well supplied all through the winter from the Mushroom 
house, but to-day we could not get enough by 4 lbs. The sun being 
shining brightly, I determined to try the outside beds. The first and only 
bed we opened was a round one, and about the size of an ordinary hay¬ 
cock, and to my great delight we obtained the 4 lbs. of such Mushrooms, 
thick in the flesh and red in the gills, and doubtless superb in flavour. 
Does not this conclusively prove what Mr. Wright states in his book, that 
Mushrooms can be grown outside all the winter ? The great secret to 
success in growing Mushrooms is always to use fresh spawn—namely, that 
which you can break with your finger and thumb. If a hammer has to be 
used to break the spawn the vitality has departed. This I have proved 
often.— R. Gilbert, Burghley Gardens. 
GLASS COVERS FOR WALLS. 
Many country houses are fitted with double glass window frames for 
winter protection, and none situated in the north of England and Scotland 
ought to be without them. The past few days of storm (1st to 3rd March) 
give proof of this. The wind howD, and the snow-drifts are deep, but 
inside the double glass the sough of the wind in the trees is scarcely 
heard, and the fire does not run up the chimney. Your notice, with 
sketch, of the “ Darlington ” glass wall covers induces me to suggest the 
utilisation of these protective window house frames during summer in 
ripening Peaches, &c. Some years ago I put outside glass frames into 
the windows of my three public rooms—seven windows in all. The 
frames are entire (without break), and are caulked round with a soft 
packing so as to be tight. 
From March to November these are placed in a light permanent frame, 
in front of and within 3 feet of a wall of Peach trees, and this with com¬ 
plete success. The window frames being entire, as stated, ventilation is 
obtained at the bottom bar, which (a'mut 9 inches deep) admits of a slot 
with closing lid about 30 inches by 6 inches, which is sufficient for room 
ventilation in winter, and for the Peaches in summer with an additional 
arrangement below the bar upon which the glass frames are set. As these 
window frames require removal in summer at any rate, by this plan of 
stowing them away they yield me fine crops of Peaches of the early sorts. 
I find Early York will not do, but Small’s Mignon and the Sulbamstead 
are charming.— East Coast Scot. 
BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND COUNTIES GARDENERS’ 
MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. 
The first lecture in connection with this Association was delivered on 
Wednesday evening, March 3rd, at the Society’s rooms, Albert Chambers, 
Paradise Street, Birmingham, by A. W. Wills, Esq., F.C.S., one of the Vice- 
Presidents, the chair being occupied by Mr. W. B. Latham, Curator Botanical 
Gardens, Edgbaston. about 120 members being present. The Lecturer, 
who is an enthusiastic admirer of the various forms of Nature, after pointing 
out that the principal object of the Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society 
should be to stimulate its members by intercourse and study to acquire a 
better knowledge of the wonders of creation into contact with which 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Keeping Fruit. —Some complaints have been sent to us of the pre¬ 
mature decay of fruit in a fruit room in which fruit has been kept—and 
kept well for many years. Such complaints after so favourable a season 
as the last was for the perfect development and ripening of fruit caused 
some surprise, and a little inquiry showed that neither fruit nor bui.ding 
were in fault, the mischief being clearly traceable to ignorance and care¬ 
lessness on the part of the person in charge of the fruit. At this late 
period of the season the only advice that is likely to be useful, is to sutler 
no decaying fruit to remain among that which is sound, to avoid handling 
fruit more than is absolutely necessary for inspection, to keep out frost 
and dampness, and to have the place of storage sufficiently ventilated to 
prevent any internal accumulation of moisture. 
Experience and sound judgment are required to enable one to decide 
when fruit should be gathered from the trees. There can be no doubt that 
much fruit is spoilt by being gathered too soon. The falling ofl the tree 
of two or three, or a dozen Apples or Pears, is not to be regarded as a 
sure sign that all the fruit is ready for gathering. To stroll into a garden 
and pull a fruit may read well in a popular novel, but there must be no 
pulling by fruit-growers, or we may have a wholesale destruction of spurs 
and spoil both trees and fruit. The best test is to lift or turn tbe fruit 
gently upward, and if then the stalk parts readily from the branch the 
fruit Is ready for gathering. Carelessness in gathering and storing is too 
frequently the cause of premature decay. The fruit is thrown into baskets, 
out of which it is shot hastily into bins or upon shelves, much bruising is 
inevitable ; bruised fruit soon becomes rotten, and then we are told that 
“ fruit doe’s not keep well this season,” or that the fruit room is at fault. 
