April 8, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
273 
- Mb. J. Muib writes as follows cn the Preservation of the 
Bbitish Floea :—“ Many British plants may he scarce or extinct, but in 
my opinion few can have been exterminated, as suggested by Mr. Shirley 
Hibberd, p. 213, through prizes being offered for wild flowers at shows, 
and I am sorry to see any attempt being made to limit a very interesting 
department at many cottage and other horticultural shows. For several 
years past I have judged at many shows in Wales and England, beside 3 
being connected with the ofiering of wild flower prizes at Margam 
Show, and ninety-nine exhibits out of every hundred have simply been 
composed of cut flowers, Ferns, and Grasses, which could be secured 
without interfering with the roots. The extinction of plants must have 
been caused by another and perhaps a more learned class than the general 
exhibitors of wild flowers.” 
- The most attractive trees in pleasure grounds in the neighbour¬ 
hood of the metropolis at the present time are Almonds. They are 
densely covered with delicate blossoms, forming bouquets of silvery peach 
colour that are highly effective in contrast with the dark foliage of 
surrounding evergreens. They do not appear to have sustained any 
injury from the prolonged cold, but rather the reverse in retarding the 
blossoms, which have expanded under favourable conditions for their 
development. 
- It is questionable if the demand for Cabbage Plants was 
ever so great in the south of England as at the present time. Throughout 
the long period of extremely cold weather there was little snow to protect 
them; and if, as has occasionally happened in previous years, snow in 
northerly [districts has preserved them, good plants would find a ready 
sale if advertised, 
- Wbiting on Outdoob Mushroom Beds during the late 
severe weather, Mr. J. F. Barter observes, “ The winter recently closed 
has been the most difficult I have experienced ; and it has only been by 
the most careful attention that I have been able to gather regularly two 
and three times a week since the last week in October. Of course I did 
not expect such a crop as in ordinary winters, but the gatherings have 
averaged fully two-thirds of a full crop. I am afraid, however, that some 
amateurs and beginners in outdoor Mushroom culture have had a bad 
time, yet hope they will not be disheartened, but do as I have done many 
a time—try again till success is won.” 
- Relative to successful Mushroom culture and the importance of 
Steong Spawn the experience of Mr. K. Holmes, The Gardens, Sister’s 
House, Clapham Common, is worth recording. He forms a long bed 
4 feet wide and a foot deep down the centre of a cool span-roofed vinery 
adding to the length of the bed about 3 yards at intervals of three weeks. 
The last section but one was spawned six weeks ago with old spawn, and 
the crop is now just appearing ; while (he last addition in which strong 
new spawn was inserted three weeks afterwards is now covered with large 
fleshy Mushrooms. This example of rapid Mushroom production we have 
seen, and a mere striking example of the influence of strong spawn has 
never come to our notice. 
- We have received the schedule of the East Gloucestershire 
Rose Society. The Show is to be held at Moreton-in-the-Marsh on 
Tuesday, July 13th. Four classes are provided for nurserj'men, and twice 
that number for amateurs, the leading prizes being £5, £3, and £2 re¬ 
spectively for thirty-six and twenty-four varieties. All the classes are 
open. The Right Hon. the Earl of Redesdale is President of the Society • 
and the Revs. J. W. Clarke, Leamington House, Moreton-in-the-Marsh 
and F. R. Burnside, Ivy House, Chipping Carnpden, Honorary Secre¬ 
taries. 
— A cobbespondent, 11 W. M.,” desires to know if Due de 
Magenta Stkawberby is a fine variety worthy of general culture 
We have not grown it. Due de Malakofi produces very large fruit. 
Growers of Due de Magenta will oblige by communicating their expe¬ 
rience with reference to this variety. 
- Peach Blossoms and Pollen.—“ T. F. R.” remarks:— 
“ During a long experience I have never seen the blossoms of the Peach, 
Nectarine, and Apricot so destitute of pollen as they are this season ; the 
pollen cases have burst and are vo'd. Your readers who have Peaches in 
bloom should carefully watch and transfer the pollen where it is abundant 
to the flowers which have none. In maDy cases the pistil even is 
wanting. It is very certain that without pollen there will be no fruit. 
Ihe late frost in September may have ’’njuriously affected the trees.” 
- “ I AM disappointed in my Daffodils this season,” says 
“A. M. B.,” “and am glad to see the subject taken up in the 
Journal. Last year a small popular selection purchased from a 
distinguished firm did exceedingly well. This season the results will 
not be so good. Doubtless the strain upon the vitality of all vegetable 
life during the exceptionally severe and prolonged winter has proved 
damaging to many early spring garden favourites. Anemones have been 
sadly cut. Narcissi and Jonquils look weakly. In a week or so later 
I will, if permitted, chronicle more closely the few varieties of Daffodil 
I cultivate, with date of flowering this spring, and number and appear¬ 
ance of blooms.” 
- We have received a copy of an official publication, entitled 
“ A List of Seeds of Habdy Herbaceous, Annual, and Peren¬ 
nial Plants Grown in the Royal Gardens, Kew, 1885,” and 
which we understand constitute the surplus stock intended for distribu¬ 
tion to botanic and colonial gardens or in exchange. The list is a very 
full one, about 3000 species and varieties being enumerated and arranged 
in their Datural orders, sub-orders, or tribes, as adopted in Hooker and 
Bentham’s “Genera Plautarum,”the genera being arranged alphabetically. 
The authorities for the names are given, together with the principal 
synonyms of many of the plants, and the native country. It is also stated 
whether the plants are annuals, biennials, or perennials, and thus forms a 
really useful catalogue for reference, especially as it appears to have 
been carefully compiled and revised. It can be obtained at the Royal 
Gardens, price 6d. 
- Mr. B. R. Cant of Colchester has sent us a basket of fruit 
of the noted D’Abcy OB Essex Spice Apple in wonderfully fine 
condition at this late period of the Apple season. They are plump, tender, 
rich ih flavour, and everything that a dessert Apple of the first quality 
ought to be. Everybody ought to grow the Essex Spice. 
- Me. J. Douglas sends us the following note on the Primula 
CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL AURICULA SOCIETY (SOUTHERN SEC¬ 
TION) :—“ Now that the weather has changed the prospect of a satisfactory 
exhibition of Primulas has been very much improved, and amateurs as 
well as professional growers are anxious to make it a great success. 
Everyone cannot make an exhibition of scores of distinct species; but 
many persons could exhibit a few, and any interesting or curious forms of 
the common Primrose would be acceptable. Notice of intention to exhibit 
and also of the nature of the exhibit should be sent to Mr. Barron, Royal 
Horticultural Society, South Kensington, S.W., at least a week before the 
Exhibition. The dates are April 20th and 21st. The National Auricula 
Exhibition is to be held at the same time on the 20th only ; but the 
Primula Conference Committee would be glad if exhibitors would kindly 
leave their plants for the two days. The prizes offered for Auriculas are 
open to all competitors, except that there are classes for large and small 
growers. Entries must be sent to Mr. Barron as above. I shall be pleased 
to send schedules to intending exhibitors, and the Treasurer, Mr. H. A. 
Rolt, 170, Hartfield Road, New Wimbledon, informs me that the subscrip¬ 
tion list for this year is not yet complete. He will be greatly obliged if 
members will forward their subscriptions before the 20th inst.” 
- The British Benevolent Society, Los Angelos, California, has 
issued a Warning to Emigrants, from which it appears that there 
were so-called agents in London who received a bonus for every person they 
could induce to go out to “ Antelope Valley ” and adjacent places. They 
were told that they could purchase land there, and many parted with all 
they had, but upon arriving, found they had before them in “ Antelope 
Valley ” nothing but desert land. The Society had been called upon to 
help a large number of such unfortunate emigrants. There is also another 
system of fraud—namely, inducing youths to come over under the impres. 
sion that, for a bonus varying from £20 to £70, they would be taught 
‘‘ fruit-farming, have a comfortable place, and receive a monthly salary.’’ 
Advertisements appeared in London newspapers for this purpose, headed 
generally “ To Gentlemen’s Sons,” “ A Practical Farmer,” &o. If persons 
are desirous of emigrating they can do so without paying a bonus to any¬ 
one ; and, further, it should be known that it is useless for persons to go 
out unless they had at least £200 when they arrived. There was room 
for good domestic servants, but clerks, book-keepers, and such-like there 
was no room for ; and even mechanics were not in r<quesh The only 
thing of use really was capita 1 , and any having such would realise 10 per 
cent, per annum. The Society only desirel to expose tho false state¬ 
ments made by so-called agents. 
