46 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[Jill uary 18, U90 
- Gahdenijjg Appointment.— We are glad to learn that Mr. 
James Udale, lately of Elford Hall Gardens, Tamworth, has been 
appointed gardener to Lord de Ramsey, Haverland Hall, Norwich. 
- We are informed that Messes. Bake & Son have removed 
from Tooting to Long Ditton, and the nursery at Tooting has ceased to 
exist. Narcissi and other specialities of Mr. Barr will be cultivated on 
an extensive scale in the new establishment. 
- A COEEESPONDENT desires information on the manufacture of 
StJGAE FKOM Beet, also on the preparation of condensed milk, and 
will be obliged if any of our readers can recommend any published 
work on those subjects in English, French, or German. 
- The Dutch Hokticultukal Society.—T he dates for the 
meetings of Committees of the above Society in Amsterdam during 1890 
are as follows ;—12th February, 18th March, 15th April, 14th May, 
19th June, 17th July, 26th August, 25th September, and 12th 
November. 
■- A Melbouene correspondent informs us that they are having 
“ a very fine season, plenty of rain, heavy crops, and abundance of fruit. 
In all my thirty-six years’ experience I never saw better prospects for 
both agricultural and horticultural interests, and this applies to the 
w’hole of Australia.” 
-The annual dinner of the Wimbledon and Distkict Eoy'al 
Hoeticultueal Society will take place on Monday, January 20th, 
at 6.30 P.M., in the Dog and Fox Hotel, Wimbledon Hill. This Society 
is advancing rapidly in importance amongst those in the suburbs of 
London, and a large gathering is expected. Dr. Walker and Mr. G. Lyne 
are the Hon. Secretaries. 
-- The Biemingham Cheysanthemdm Society.—W e have to 
record a very successful financial result of the Society’s Exhibition in 
November last, the total income of the Society for the year being £500, 
and the expenditure £420, having a balance in hand on the year of 
£80, and a reserve fund of £277. It is very probable, we hear, that the 
large prizes will again be offered next November for forty-eight blooms. 
- The annual dinner to the heads of departments in the King’s 
Norton Nurseries, as well as the branches of the business of Messes. 
Pope & Sons, Biemingham, was given by Mr. John Pope, at his resi¬ 
dence, last week, when several gardening friends were invited, and a 
toast to the health of Mr. and Mrs. Pope, and Mr. Pope, senior, was 
given by Mr. Brown, of Elmdon Hall Gardens, and met with cordial 
reception. 
The Black Mazzaed Cheeky. —I was somewhat interested 
in the article on the Black Mazzard Cherry tree at page 16. We have 
here some wild Cherry trees, which were found in a wood. The fruit is 
small, light red, very sweet and fleshy, having a smaller stone in pro¬ 
portion to its size than the Mayduke, and it ripens about the same time 
as the Morello. It is a free grower and an abundant bearer, and I am 
of opinion would be a capital variety to bud or graft other varieties 
upon, while its free growth renders it ornamental as a deciduous tree. 
The Weathee is, and has been, mild for the season. Flowers 
have never been absent from the borders all winter, and one of our 
seedling Snowdrops was in full bloom on the 8th of January, being 
much earlier than any other variety.—W. T., Blantyre. 
The M eathek in Decembek. —The weather during Decem¬ 
ber was very variable, sharp frosts and spells of mild weather 
alternating in rapid succession. On the whole very dull, there being 
only seven bright days. Rain fell on seventeen days. Total fall for 
the month 1'66 inch, of which 0-50 fell on the 21st. Highest shade 
temperature 53° on the 17ih, 18th, and 22nd ; lowest 17° on the 29th ; 
lowest on grass 14° on the 29th. Number of days at or below 32°, in 
shade twenty-two, on grass twenty-five. Barometer variable, highest 
reading 30'80 at 9 P.M. on the 6th, lowest 29’32 at noon on the 10th. 
Garden spring running 18 gallons per minute on the 31st.—J. Tdnning- 
TON, Kvtton Hall Gardens, Stamford. 
- I AM herewith sending a brief report of the results that have 
been achieved by the Leeds Paxton Society Chkysanthemum 
Committee, which commenced operations only seven weeks before the 
Show was held, and without a penny to start with, but with the assur¬ 
ance that the other shows had “ always been a failure,” and the previous 
one resulted in a deficit of £40. The total receipts amount to £242 4s. 5d., 
and the expenditure has been £183 3s. IJd., thus leaving a balance of 
£59 Is. 3id. towards the next Show. The £141 5s. Od. was received in 
subscriptions, and £84 15s. for tickets of admission.—T hos. Bonsall, 
Secretary. 
- Good Vegetables. —In reply to “ W. F.,” I have grown 
Michaelmas White Broccoli, but do not think it so good as Veitch’s 
Autumn Giant, and it comes into use about the same time, and do not 
stand the frost as well. I have not tried Suttons’ Favourite or Autumn 
Mammoth Cauliflowers, but their First Crop and King of the Cauli¬ 
flowers are the best early Cauliflowers I have tried, but if the first two 
are better I shall certainly try them. Veitch’s Perfection Pea is very 
good in every way, but I consider Prince of Wales better, and about the 
same height. Duke of Albany is a very large podder, but very few of 
them with me ; the Duchess of Albany is much in the same way as the 
Duke. Both these and Satisfaction are inferior to Telegraph with me. 
There are so many sorts that are good, but if there is one sort which is 
better than others it is better to grow that one only, thanking “ W. F. 
for his selection all the same.—J. L. B. 
- Bullfinches and Feuit Buds.— 1 am astonished that 
people will continue to harp on the old string that the buds pecked out 
by birds each contain an insect. I could understand it if the birds 
given to this practice were insectivorous, but they are not; they are 
vegetarians, living, except in the breeding season, almost exclusively on 
vegetable food. Why, then, in the name of common sense should there 
require to be a grub in each bud ? Now, as I pointed out years ago in 
the Journal, the buds taken are blossom buds, and it is the stored up 
saccharine matter in the bud, the honey secretions of the future flower, 
w'hich the birds are fond of. I have no doubt the birds noticed by Mr. 
Murphy on his Chrysanthemums were either cole tits (Parus ater) or 
great tits (Parus major). Both are insectivorous. It is hardly likely 
they would be lesser spotted woodpeckers. These are too rare in Ireland, 
and besides they frequent tall trees and not shrubs.—F. B. 
-The annual meeting of the members of the Ancient Society' 
OF Yoek Floeists was held recently in the White Swan, Goodram- 
gate, Mr. G. Lamb presiding. There was a good attendance. Mr. 
Lazenby (Secretary) read the annual report, which stated that the 
Committee had again the gratification to announce very satisfactory 
results of the past year’s operations, there being a considerable increase 
in the number of members, the receipts from this source being aug¬ 
mented by about £22. Despite the increase of the expenditure, there 
remained a balance at the bankers of over £100. The minor shows had 
been well sustained and largely patronised by the public. The Chrys¬ 
anthemum Show was a distinct advance in the quality of specimen 
plants and cut flowers on any preceding show, more especially the 
plants. The financial statement showed that the balance from 1888 was 
£122 18s. Donations and subscriptions amounted to £136 17s. 6d., the 
receipts at the Chrysanthemum Show £175 7s. Id., and other receipts 
to £44 15s. 2d., giving a total of £479 15s. 9d. The chief items in the 
expenditure were £142 33. 9d. for the Chrysanthemum Show, £46 6?. 
for minor shovrs, £24 4s. to the Gas Company, £20 Ifis. 8d. to the York 
Herald, £28 10s. for bands, and salaries £20. A balanceof £111 14s. 5d. 
was left in hand. Mr. G. F. Pilmoor moved the adoption of the report, 
which was seconded by Mr. W. Robinson, and, after some discussion on 
details, the proposition was agreed to. 
BUTTONS’ BOUQUET BROCCOLI. 
At the end of last May Messrs. Sutton & Sons of Reading sent us a 
plant of this Broccoli, at once remarkable by its size and productive¬ 
ness. It completely filled a hamper upwards of 3 feet in eircumference. 
The plant was bearing a central head 9 inches in diameter, with a 
number of branches from the main stem just above the ground, with 
close white heads ranging from 4 to 6 inches across. There is not the 
slightest exaggeration in the character of the plant we inspected, in the 
illustration which we are permitted to use from the catalogue of the 
firm. It is a true branching Broccoli, and it will be interesting to hear 
that it retains its distinctiveness in various soils and districts. 
GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
Kindly give me a little space to record some generous and most 
successful efforts which have recently been made in aid of our garden¬ 
ing charities. The promoters and conductors of such undertakings 
deserve our warmest and most sincere thanks, not only for the time 
and trouble they have devoted to the work, but for the splendid example 
they have set others to go and do likewise. 
At Worksop last month the gardeners of that ducal district, headed 
by our good friends Mr. Henderson of Thoresby (Secretary), and Mr, 
Gleeson of Clumber, organised a concert, which, being patronised by the 
