70 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AXD COTTAGE GARDEXER. 
[ Jannarj- 23, 1890'. 
containing table plants, winter flowering plants, such as Poinsettias, 
and planted out in centre bed are some capital Gardenias. 
Outside the kitchen garden is another block of houses, No. 1 range 
being newly built, consisting of a Camellia house and stove—a fine lofty 
structure 75 feet long and 20 feet wide, well adapted for large speci¬ 
mens. Camellias are planted out in the centre bed, slate stages on the 
sides for Azaleas. A fine specimen of Todea superbais looking its best in 
this house, and in the adjoining compartment are some fine specimens 
of Crotons, Palms, Eucharis, and Nepenthes. There are also Water 
Lilies and a few Orchids. The paths in this range are of cement, pos¬ 
sessing the merits of being comfortable, durable and clean. Cucumber 
and Melon houses we pass on our way to the Pine stoves. Here we find 
this family represented by Queen, Prince Alfred, Smooth Cayenne, and 
a few Charlotte Kothschild. Pine culture being one of Mr. Bennett’s 
foremost acquirements, it isneedless to say that they are in splendid con¬ 
dition. Ranges of heated and unheated and dung frames all doing 
good service, as testified by the appearance of their several occupants, 
complete this block, but facing it on the kitchen garden wall is a new 
lean-to house for the cultivation of Pears, Plums, and late Peaches, all 
to be planted out, protection to these trees being necessary, the climate 
not being quite what a gardener would desire. Under such conditions 
it is all the more credit to produce in all departments, in and out, such 
favourable results as are here obtained. Nor are the results, like the 
proverbial light, hidden under the bushel. Encouraged by the enthu¬ 
siastic patrons of horticulture, the Plon. Mr. and Mrs. Wynn, Mr. Ben¬ 
nett annually succeeds in giving account of himself with his Pine 
Apples, Grapes, and collections at such fixtures as Shrewsbury, Liverpool, 
summer and autumn. “May his hand not soon forget its cunning.”— 
Bkadwen. 
EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Januaey 14th. 
Scientific Committee. —Present: D. Morris, Esq., in the chair, 
and Professors A. H. Church, H. Marshall Ward, Drs. Hugo Midler, 
M. T. Masters, Messrs. G. F. Wilson, W. H. Blandford, E. McLachlan, 
F. Pascoe, Albert Michael. 
Sealiale Roots. —Professor Ward reported that the specimens sub¬ 
mitted to him at the last meeting were affected with the slime-fungus 
(Plasmodiophora), a fungus which does great damage to the roots of 
Cruciferous plants. 
Canher in Apple Trees. —The same gentleman reported on the speci¬ 
mens referred to him at the last meeting, but which presented no 
unusual features. 
Acari of Siigar-cane.~TA.T. Michael reported on mites affecting 
Sugar-canes in Barbados. Contrary to anticipation, the acaroids belong 
to the family Oribatidfe, and either to the genus Notaspis or to Dammus, 
having the appearance of the former, while the internal anatomy is more 
like that of the latter genus. The species is allied to the English N. 
lucorum, but is probably undescribed. The creatures in question are 
strictly vegetable feeders, but have not hitherto been con.sidered as 
inflicting any material damage to living flowering plants, being found 
more particularly on moss lichens. Mr. Michael recommended that 
specimens of the infected cane slightly moistened, with the living 
Notaspis on them, should be put into a tin box, sealed down to prevent 
drying, and thus forwarded in a suitable condition for further examina¬ 
tion ; other Acari, of the genus Tarsonymus, and of extremely minute 
size, are known to be injurious to Sugar-cane. The species of Damseus 
are found under the bark of trees. Judging from analogy only, the 
mites in question would not seem likely to do much injury to living 
canes. 
Dactylophts (fSlealy Rug'). —Referring to a communication made to 
the Committee on December 10th, Mr. Morris now read a letter from 
Professor Riley on the use of rosin washes for bark lice. “ If,” says 
Mr. E'ley, “ the insect is a Dactylopius, the Alexandrians cannot do 
better than use one of the rosin washes with which we are spraying 
Icerya so successfully in California.” The following extract from 
“ Insect Life ” contains a good formula for the purpose :— 
“ Rosin Wash/or Red Scale. —In accordance with instructions, Mr. 
Coquillet has been making experiments with this wash against red scale 
(Aspidiotus auranti), and after twenty different tests made with various 
preparations, from July 17th to August 8th, the one which gave the 
best results was found to be composed of rosin, 20 lbs. ; caustic soda 
(70 per cent, strength), G lbs. ; fish oil, .8 lbs. ; and water to make 100 
gallons. In preparing this wash the necessary materials were placed in 
a boiler and covered with water, and then boiled until dissolved, and 
stirred occasionally during the boiling. After dissolving, the preparation 
was boiled briskly for about an hour, a small quantity of cold water being 
added whenever there was danger of boiling over. The boiler was then 
filled up with cold water, which mixed perfectly well when added slowly 
and frequently stirred. It was then transferred to a strong tank, and 
diluted with water to 100 gallons. Neither the leaves nor the fruit was 
injured, while a large proportion of the scales were destroyed. Those 
which escaped were either on the fruit or the under side of the leaves. 
The cost of the wash is 80 cents, per 100 gallons, or four-fifths of a cent, 
per gallon. An Orange tree 10 feet tall by 14 feet in diameter was 
given 14 gallons. This, however, seems to us to be an unnecessarily 
large amount, but upon this basis the cost of spraying per tree is 11-2 
cents.”— (^From “Insect Zi/ef Oct, 1S89, jj. 93, U.S. D partment of 
Agriculture.) 
The 'Winter Moth. —Mr. Wilson called attention to a communication 
in the Hereford Times of November 9th, 1889, as to the efficacy of 
greased bands as a check to the insect, and wherein Mr. Cranston says : 
—“ I consider that the greasing process which is being adopted is 
injurious to the bark of the trees, especially to young trees. To the 
older trees it may possibly not do much harm, but I believe the old plan 
of painting the trunks of the trees with a solution of quicklime is the 
best. Some use soot with the lime, but I don’t know that the soot is 
of much consequence except to dull the white glare of the lime. The 
painting should be done in the autumn.” 
Mr. McLachlan pointed out that the proposed trap to be affixed to- 
the lamp-post, in the case of suburban fruit plantations, would be 
practically useless, as only the male insects would be thus captured,, 
the females being nearly destitute of wings, and incapable of flight. 
All attempts at stamping out the winter moth should be directed to the 
destruction of the females, which are capable of depositing eggs for 
many generations in succession without the intervention of the male. 
The capture of myriads of males would not have the slightest appre* 
ciable effect on the fertility ot the untrapped females. 
Monstrous Cypripediums. —Dr. Masters showed drawings of two 
Cypripedia, in one of which the three sepals were separate, as in most 
Orchids, whilst in the others there was .an adhesion between the median; 
sepal, the lateral petal on the left side, .and the lateral sep.al on the same 
side, the adhesion of these parts being accompanied by correspording- 
adhesion of the labellum to the right lateral petal. The median stigma,. 
G, 1, of the Darwini.an notation, was also petaloid. 
Keteleeria Ravidiana. —Dr. Masters showed a cone sent by Dr. Henry 
to Kew, from Ychang, and which has special interest as being inter¬ 
mediate in character between the Spruces (Picea) and the Silver Firs- 
(Abies). It is congeneric with Keteleeria Fortunei, a tree introduced 
to this country from China, but which is too tender for general 
cultivation. 
It was announced that the next meeting will be held on Feb. 11th, 
after the annual meeting, and therefore possibly a little later than th& 
usual hour, 4 p.m. 
HALL FOR HORTICULTURE. 
We are very pleased to see you are giving publicity to suggestions 
as regards a hall for horticulture. After reading the various comments 
respecting it many must have been surprised at the wide difference 
of opinion as to the best method of attaining the object in view. 
Dr. Masters, in reviewing our circular, which proposes to solicit dona¬ 
tions from the wealthy who have horticulture at heart, remarks :— 
“ Like our friends we too hope to see the day when we shall have 
‘ a hall worthy of our great nation,’ and one which shall be available 
not only for the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, but 
of all the special societies, of the library, of the Horticultural Club, 
and of the charitable societies connected with horticulture. This has 
been a dream for many a long year, but when we see the proposal 
being sent broadcast we begin to hope the dream may be fulfilled.”' 
Our friend, Mr. Hibberd, says if our suggestions are carried out it 
will be a mockery, delusion, and a snare, and almost commands his 
friends not to have a hand in such an awful and dangerous work, yet 
the very same means we suggest are adopted to build nearly all our 
churches, chapels, and many other public buildings; and how your 
readers will understand and reconcile the statements coming from two 
such distinguished men is beyond our comprehension. However, we 
are delighted to think that we have been the means of publicly un¬ 
covering the light whicli that gentleman (Mr. Hibberd) has so long kept 
under a bushel, be it a rush-light or a star of the first magnitude yet 
remains to be proved. If he alludes to us as the friends who heard of 
his scheme, a sort of a pseudo-joint stock market, co-operative store 
company, or some such kindred title, our friend was never more mis¬ 
taken in his life. He should be sure and certainly show some evidence 
before putting forth such statements. Mr. Hibberd also speaks of 
a resolution he put to the meeting in 1888 and lost. A year 
before that in the side room at the Altert Hall we asked the Council 
not to finally engage the Drill Hall until the Fellows had time to con¬ 
sider its advisability ; and again .at the same meeting Mr. Hibberd 
mentions we proposed that we should ask the Crystal Palace Company, 
This was also lost; consequently here is far more ground for consider¬ 
ing that his ideas were borrowed from us. He was present on both 
occasions, and probably heard us converse with many about procuring 
a site on the Thames Embankment. We think we are safe in saying 
very few projects can be pointed out that have h.ad a happy time where 
capital had to be borrowed for horticultural purposes. Many have had, 
we know, a disastrous ending ; no one knows the extent of such better 
than our friend, yet he almost makes it appear as if the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society is not doing as much good work and as deserving of 
sympathy as any of the Polytechnic institutions whose eleemosynary 
donations are to the extent of £50,000 a year in London. 
Our friend is so definite and determined on this point we are afraid if 
some well-wisher was to bequeath us for this hall a thousand or so in the- 
same way as Mr. Davies, Mr. Hibberd would by his teachings be for 
immediately returning such donation, and s.aying it would lower the 
dignity and injure the very foundation of our Society. Every farthing 
to build this hall must be obtained by its own commercial pursuits, and 
of course be called “The Royal Horticultural Hall Trading Company 
Unlimited.” The very thing, in our opinion, to destroy its charter^ 
character, independence, and all purposes for which the Society is in. 
tended. However, judging from the several inquiries as to the sort of 
