532 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 19, 1839. 
- Horticultural Club. —The usual monthly dinner and con¬ 
versazione was held at the rooms, Hotel Windsor, on Tuesday evening, 
the 10th inst., Mr. John Lee in the chair. There were present also 
Messrs. J. H. Veitch, Philip Crowley, H. J. Pearson, C. E. Pearson> 
A. J. Pearson, H. Veitch, W. Herbert Fowkes, James Walker, George 
P>unyard, J. H. Stott. The subject for discuss’on was insecticides and 
the best method of applying them. It was opened by Mr. C. E. Pearson, 
who gave a very interesting account of experiments tried with various 
insecticides, and afterwards Mr. J. H. Stott exhibited in operation his 
very ingenious invention for the distribution of insecticides, which was 
considered by those present as likely to be extremely useful. Mr' 
Bunyard stated that bitter aloes had been found much stronger and 
more efficacious for the destruction of aphides than quassia, and that the 
Cape aloes was much stronger than any other ; the black fly on Cherries 
was considered the most difficult of all to deal with, and requires a stronger 
solution. It was stated by Mr. A. J. Pearson that great care must be 
exercised in the use of quassia and aloes in a vinery, as they once had 
a house of Grapes so tainted with the bitter flavour that they were 
useless. It was generally admitted that Stephanotis was also the worst 
plant for mealy bug, and that the best, if not the only way of getting 
rid of it was to wash the plant with methylated spirits used with a small 
camel’s hair brush. A very interesting discussion took place, and Mr. 
Lee proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. C. rearson for his valuable and 
interesting paper. 
- Tufted Pansies.— This is a new name someone has given to 
our old friends the Violas, and I fail to see why. I have been a grower 
of the Viola for a number of years, certainly since Viola cornuta 
and Blue Bell were introduced, and I have been the raiser of True Blue, 
Mr. C. Turner, Queen of Lilacs, and other established varieties, and 
grow Violas by the thousand, and yet I fail to see why my old friends 
are called Tufted Pansies. Of Violas, as spring and summer decorative 
plants, it is impossible to write too favourably, and they are continuous 
bloomers from March until September and even October. The treat¬ 
ment is simple. Plant in favourable districts in October or November 
firmly and deeply. In less favoured districts plant in March or April, 
not later if it can be helped, in good soil, always firmly and rather deep. 
Such varieties as True Blue (Dean's), Countess of Hopetown, white ; 
Bullion and Golden Prince Improved, both deep yellow; Ardwell Gem, 
pale yellow; Queen of Violets, purple ; Countess of Kintore, The 
Mearns, a grand bedding blotched variety ; Duchess of Albany, lilac 
and mauve ; Elegans, lavender ; Queen of Lilacs, blue and lilac, are 
only a few of very first-rate bedding varieties.— \V. Dean, Florist, 
Sparlth ill , Birmingham. 
- Railway Bates for Potatoes.—A n adjourned meeting of 
Scottish Potato merchants was recently held in St. John’s Hotel, Perth, 
to consider as to further procedure in reference to the lowering of rail¬ 
way rates for Potatoes consigned to England. Bailie Whyte presided 
and reported that the memorial agreed to at the last meeting had been 
sent to the goods managers of twenty-nine English and Scottish railway 
companies, but that very few of the latter had replied. The Midland 
Kailway Company had answered that they would consider the matter 
favourably along with other companies. It was reported that the 
Secretary of the English and Scottish Traffic Bates Conference had 
announced that he could not arrange to receive a deputation, but that 
he would place the letter and memorial sent him before the meeting on 
13th December. Mr. Thompson, general manager of the Caledonian 
Bailway, stated that he had conferred with the general goods manager, 
and had asked him to assist the Potato merchants in the object in view. 
The goods manager of the Highland Company said the Scottish railways 
would be glad to have the assistance of the traders in seeking to get the 
rates reduced. Mr. A. Hutchison, farmer, said the carriage of Potatoes 
just now was equal to the value of the article itself, and that so long as 
that state of things existed very few could be sent by rail. Ultimately 
it was agreed that the railway companies should be further memorialised 
on the subject, and informed that the traders would be quite wi ling 
that the rales, if lowered, should be rearranged on prices rising to £3 
per ton. 
- The Trees of California.—T he coast range of mountains 
running through California, and fringing the western shore of the 
continent, is a great natural arboretum—a paradise of forest trees and 
flowering shrubs. North of Sbasta the forests awe with their grandeur ; 
south, the scenery is park-like and sylvan, and the shrubs are at home. 
Here can be found the extremes of tree growth. The hardy species of 
the north are not only neighbourly, but familiar, and even intimate, 
with the delicate representatives of the south. The resinous breath of 
the Pine and Hemlock, Juniper and Fir, mingles on the same hillside 
with the spicy fragrance of the Bay tree and the perfume of the Balm. 
The evergreen Kedwood rises, straight as an arrow, to a height of from 
200 to 300 feet. There are whole tribes of the Conifer®, dozens of 
species of Cypress and Cedar, a variety and relationship of the Oaks 
that drives the botanist wild, ravines filled with the flowering Dogwood, 
sweeps of glistening Manzanita, spattered patches of the red-berried 
Buckthorn, rifts of the pink-petalled Bhododendron, sanguinary patches 
where stands the Judas Tree. In this favoured country also bloom and 
bear the Pomegranate, Fig, Olive, Almond, Apricot, Lemon, Orange, and 
the Nectarine. The Camellia is a tree, the Heliotrope a stout shrub ; 
Geraniums are used for scarlet hedges ; the Cala Lily is a weed. And 
to round out this riot of luxuriance—this saturnalia of foliage, fruit, 
and flower—Nature sows every spring, in and through it all, a crop of 
wild Oats such as was never even dreamed of by the original prodigal 
son .—(Ila rpcr's Magavine). 
- The third annual dinner of the Liverpool Horticultural 
Association was held on the evening of the 14th inst. at the Bear’s 
Paw Kestaurant, Lord Street. There was an excellent attendance of 
members, upwards of 170 being present. The whole proceedings were 
marked with an enthusiasm and goodwill which speak well for the 
unity and welfare of the Association. The Chairman of the evening 
was Fletcher Rogers. Esq., the excellent and popular Hon. Treasurer. 
After the loyal toasts had been duly honoured, and the National Anthem 
sung with such vigour as gardeners only can sing it, the Chairman pro- 
prosed the “ Liverpool Horticultural Association,” remarking that he 
claimed for the Society that it was a special benefit to the neighbour¬ 
hood in which it existed. He at times viewed with regret the want of 
appreciation it met with, notably in the summer Show of the present 
year ; but he rejoiced to know that the Society consisted of members 
who never knew defeat, and who, although there might be temporary 
discouragements, were determined to go on until success was achieved. 
Mr. White, Chairman of the Executive Committee, responded, and said 
tbe Committee had passed through a very depressing and anxious year. 
Although the summer Show was removed from Sefton Park to Fairfield, 
where it was thought it would be more accessible to the masses of the 
people, it had resulted in a considerable loss. He was happy, however, 
to be able to state that the public had recognised the excellence of the 
autumn Show, and had attended it in larger numbers than had been the 
case for several years. The subscribers still numbered about the same, 
and, encouraged by the success of the autumn Show, the Committee had 
arranged for a spring show for the ensuing year. He trusted there were 
brighter days in store for the Association, and that with the new year 
a more prosperous career would be entered upon. Other toasts followed, 
and a pleasant evening was spent.—A. E. C. 
TRENTHAM. 
Occasionally we read or hear something about Trentham, either in 
the way of a new variety of Orchid or of fruit ; and this year Trentham 
is to the fore in the Chrysanthemum world. All branches of gardening 
have, for many years, been well represented there. Old gardeners 
remember Trentham in the time of Fleming; middle-aged gardeners 
have a recollection of it under the superintendence of Zadok Stevens ; 
the rising generation will know it bette> - under the management of Mr. 
Blair. Changes of various kinds have occurred, but gardening, it may 
be in different forms, is yet predominant. In spring, summer or 
autumn the gardens are always beautiful, interesting, and instructive, 
though some people will think they are more so in July than in 
November. “ The old order giveth place to the new ” at Trentham as 
elsewhere ; old hothouses are rebuilt and modern improvements added 
where practicable ; useless structures replaced by new ones on a better 
site, and “ onward and upward” appears to be the watchword in more 
senses than one. 
Improvements, in the strict sense of the word, are effected in the 
pleasure grounds and American garden as time permits and good taste 
and careful consideration suggest, not as some men do, by reversing and 
upsetting and altering everything done by their predecessors, but by 
thoroughly grasping the ideas and objects of the designing master mind 
and carryi g them out now, years after, by reducing within proper 
limits the overgrowth permitted in previous years by uncontrollable 
circumstances ; the lopping of a bough here and there, the removal of a 
tree grown too large and obstructing a desirable view, and by 
additional planting to complete, perfect, and, if required, to extend the 
original design; these are true improvements, and Mr. Blair exemplifies 
the correctness of his own artistic skill by recognising and conforming to 
the lines laid down by others. 
The flower gardens are tastefully planted every summer, and the 
general keeping of the same is all that could be desired. Thousands of 
the Potteries people and from other towns avail themselves of the 
opportunity given by the annual flower show held in or near the 
