June 27, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
519 
a photo from the middle of an orchard. The remedies advocated are so 
contradictory, and results so confusing, that it prevented me taking to 
greasing which was recommended last autumn. I have relied too much 
on the help of birds, because we have not sufficient of the right sorts, 
and have made up my mind on an original idea, or remedy I believe. It 
may be scouted like my canker theory, but if it cures what does it 
matter ? Plums are very scarce, except on walls where trees were 
attended to early. Black Currants are very scarce, nearly all fell off. 
Bed Currants are the heaviest crop ever remembered. Strawberries, 
Raspberries, and Gooseberries are very good crops. No Apricots worth 
mentioning.— James Hiam, Astwood Bank, Worcestershire. 
- According- to the Atherueum a curious discovery has been 
made in the Botanic Garden, Oxford. It is stated that in a corner were 
found bundles containing a collection of Italian Plants well pre¬ 
served, collected in 1603 by one Gregorious a Reggio, of whom nothing 
is known, and no trace has yet been found of the person who brought 
the collection to Oxford. Another bundle contains the Mosses brought 
by Sir John Franklin. This announcement may occasion surprise to 
many, and to some it might appear incredible. Knowing the extent 
and value of the contents of the library and herbaria for educational 
purposes in the Botanic Gardens, Oxford, we may be justified in ex¬ 
pressing the opinion that it was in this department that the collections 
referred to must have been lighted on, after, it may be, a period of a 
few years of their having escaped a periodical examination. Further 
particulars may be forthcoming. They are doubtless awaited by many 
with interest.—J. 
-- We congratulate our old friend and correspondent, Mr. E. W. 
Badger of Birmingham, on the brilliant success his son has attained in 
his educational career. We read in the Birmingham Baity Mail, “ The 
class lists issued by the University of Oxford on Saturday afternoon 
show that Mr. A. Bernard Badger, B.A., of New College, Oxford, 
Burdett Coutts (University) Scholar, and youngest son of Mr. Edward 
W. Badger of this city, has for the second time been placed in the 
First Class of the Final School of Natural Science at Oxford. The 
examination just passed was in geology ; last year he gained a First 
Class in the same Final School after an examination in Morphology 
(Comparative Anatomy). It will thus be seen that Mr. Badger has 
gained the distinction of being a Double First Classman and a Uni¬ 
versity Scholar. He was educated at King Edward’s School, under the 
head mastership of the Rev. A. R. Yardy, M.A., and was awarded an 
Exhibition on leaving school. The following year he won an Open 
Science Exhibition at New College, Oxford. Between leaving school 
and matriculating at Oxford he was a student at Sir Josiah Mason’s 
Science College, where he gained several prizes, and was elected an 
Honorary Scholar of that College.” 
-The Royal Botanic Society’s Evening Fete at Regent’s 
Park will be held on Wednesday, July 3rd next. The schedule pro¬ 
vides the following classes, with substantial prizes in each :—Division 1. 
—Natural flowers, fruit, &c.—Floral decorations arranged for a dinner 
table 10 by 5 ; ditto, dressed ready for dessert; foliage and flowers, 
suitable for a sideboard ; ditto, hardy plants only ; small group of 
growing plants, suitable for table ; group of plants, arranged for 
the decoration of a recess in a room, for an alcove, or a fireplace; 
standing basket, vase, furnished with plants suitable for growing in 
a living room ; hanging basket, of any material, with growing plants ; 
window box of growing plants for summer ; ditto, hardy plants for 
winter ; bridal bouquet ; ballroom bouquet ; group of flowers, &c., 
stalks in water, and neither tied nor wired; flowers (either cut or 
on the plant) which expand only at night; arrangements of flowers, 
leaves, for personal adornment, such as wreaths, chaplets, and the like, 
and also for use in dress trimming and ornament; arrangements of 
flowers and foliage for the decoration of ballrooms ; miscellaneous— 
objects for purposes similar to the above, but not coming strictly into 
any class. Division 2. —Works of art.—Paintings, drawings, sculptures 
of flowers, plants, or trees. All exhibits in division 2 must be at the 
gardens a clear week before the day of the Fete for acceptance, and if 
accepted remain on exhibition during a clear week after the day of the 
Fete. 
- The same Society will hold a Floral Parade and Feast of 
Roses on Monday, July loth, at 2 to 7 p.m. The idea of a floral parade 
is to encourage the use of floral decorations as in the south of Europe, 
in public and family rejoicings, such as public festivals, weddings, 
majorities, and processions. Memorial, funereal, or political indications 
or suggestions will not be allowed. It is to be distinctly understood 
that all decorations and dresses are for out-of-door use. Carriages can 
be dressed before entering, or in the gardens. The parade will pass the 
Royal da'is, then down the west side of the centre walk to the Ivy 
screen, returning along the east side of the walk. The awards will be 
presdnted at the Royal da'is by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. Prizes 
are offered for flower-dressed carriages (inside or out), horses, pony carts 
and' cars, riding horses, children’s donkeys, triumphal canopies^ 
banners, flags, wreaths, garlands, triumphal arches, and other designs. 
The Rose being the floral badge of England as well as of the Society, 
it is proposed to make a special display or exhibition of the national 
flower. Prizes are offered for Rose gardens designed in freshly cut 
flowers, for collections of the best blooms, climbers, varieties in 
colour, &c. It is suggested that visitors should specially decorate their 
dresses with Roses. 
- We have received from Tashkent an interesting Russian work, 
by A. Wilkins, on the culture of the American Cotton Tree in Russian 
Turkestan. It appears that, though the first attempts at cultivating 
Gossypium hirsutum in Central Asia proved unsuccessful, a new 
attempt, made since 1881, under the leadership of the Tashkent model 
farm, and with seeds taken from the continental States of America, has 
proved to be a real success. In 1887 there were no less than 38,700 acre9 
under that crop in Turkestan, and in the following year the area was 
trebled. The crop of 1887 was estimated at 68,000 cwts. of raw cotton. 
Besides giving practical advice for the culture of the American Cotton 
Tree, M. Wilkins’ book contains valuable information about the climate 
of Turkestan, analyses of the soil and so on, from which it appears that, 
although the American species can be cultivated about Tashkent, where 
from 211 to 237 days every year are without frost, its real domain will 
be on the banks of the Zerafshan and the lower Amu-Daria, and in the 
Transcaspian region. It is also worthy of note that a new interesting 
variety of Gossypium hirsutum, differentiated by the fact that its flowers 
grow in groups of two, three, and four on a common stalk, has been 
obtained at the Tashkent model farm.—( Nature .) 
SOME EXHIBITS AT WINDSOR. 
To give anything like a full report of the great Show of the Royal 
Agricultural Society now being held at Windsor would fill this Journal. 
Upwards of 120 acres are said to be occupied with exhibits, but only 
some of those possessing horticultural interest can be briefly referred to 
here. 
The Queen's Pavilion. —From whatever point of view regarded this 
has the first claim to notice. It is a commodious and substantial-looking 
structure erected for the accommodation of Royalty, and occupies a 
central position. In exterior it is ornamental without an approach to 
garishness, and is superbly furnished. Rooms are set apart for Her 
Majesty, also for the Prince and Princess of Wales, and there is in 
addition a large dining oi luncheon room. There is nothing in the 
interior suggestive of a temporary structure, but all the surroundings 
remind of an established home. Palms and flowers are taste¬ 
fully arranged, the latter consisting chiefly of Tuberous Begonias 
and Gloxinias, which bear the stamp of superiority, both as 
regards varieties and culture. The exterior is draped in part with 
Virginian Creeper, the plants being in pots, but these completely 
hidden by the parapet, and the long growths hang gracefully over the 
white balustrades. Round the pillars flanking the entrance are en¬ 
twined Vines bearing ripe fruit ; attractively furnishing hanging baskets 
are also suspended at intervals round the verandah. The flower garden 
in the enclosure is extremely beautiful, beds, borders, shrubs, lawns, 
flowers all being represented in the best form imaginable. The V.R. 
in blue Lobelia on the lawn is striking and appropriate, bat the flower 
beds and borders present the greatest charm. They are occupied 
mainly with groups of Liliums, Hydrangea?, Marguerites, Rhodanthes, and 
Spiraeas, associated with Grevilleas and Japanese Maples, relieved by 
tall Palms, variegated Maples, Retinosporas,and other choice Conifers. 
There is no glare nor crowding, but a tasteful assortment of quiet 
colours and elegant leafage. The credit of laying out and furnishing 
this delightful garden belongs to Messrs. Sutton & Sons of Reading, to 
whom the work was entrusted, and it merits the encomiums bestowed 
on it by Royal and general visitors. 
Kurscrymcn and Seedsmen's Exhibits. —The stands of the great firms 
whose names are familiar to all who areengaged in gardening, constitute 
an important factor in the Exhibition, alike by their magnitude, orna¬ 
mental character, and the valuable and interesting nature of their con¬ 
tents. They are arranged near the entrance, and are undoubtedly 
worthy of the position they occupy. Briefly they may be referred to in 
the order in which they are arranged in the catalogue. 
Messrs. Little $ Ballantync, Carlisle.— The exhibits of this firm are 
classed in four groups—namely, agricultural Grasses of varieties suitable 
for various kinds of pastures ; roots of different kinds, representing their 
specialties ; seeds of all sorts for agricultural purposes, and excellent 
specimens of choice Conifers. 
Agricultural and Horticultural Association, Deptford. —Collections 
of farm and garden seeds, artificial manures, and other commodities. 
