242 
joura^al of horticulture and cottage gardener. 
[ March M, ISM. 
ago there was considerable misgiving on this subject, it being appre¬ 
hended that the fine old tree, the name of which is a household word 
in this metropolis, might be badly beaten by the ‘ enemy.’ The 
weather, indeed, is extremely favourable to the development of leaves 
and buds, and already the Marronnier has not a few competitors which 
are running it rather close. A mild temperature with bright sunshine 
or light showers has worked wonders during the past few days.” 
- A LECTURE on “Apples ; their Culture and Uses,” was 
given by \V. Roupell, Esq., at the British Workmen’s Club, Upper Tulse 
Hill, to a large and appreciative audience on Friday, the 1-lth instant, 
for the benefit of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. The Chairman, Buxcon 
Morrish, Esq., after giving an account of the origin of the Fund, made a 
powerful appeal to those present to support so admirable an institution. 
Mr. Eoupell then proceeded with his lecture, giving some practical 
details for the management of the trees, such as planting, pruning, 
cleansing, and renovating old worn-out trees, &c. ; also the different 
uses to which Apples had and might be put. The lecturer, who had in 
front of him a collection of well preserved fruits, gave a list of suitable 
varieties to cultivate. During the lecture Mr. Roupell referred to the 
good that was likely to result from the establishment of the British 
Fruit Growers’ Association, and spoke of the appeals already made to 
that body for help in isolated districts. The frequent and hearty 
applause testified to the esteem in which Mr. Roupell is held in his own 
neighbourhood.—E. B. 
- The fortnightly meeting of the Reading Gardeners’ 
Mutual Improvement Association was held on Monday evening 
last. There was, as usual, a large attendance of members. R. D. Catch- 
pool, Esq , occupied the chair. Mr. Richard Dean of Ealing read an 
interesting paper, entitled “ The Wonderful in Horticulture.” Some 
magnificent Orchids were exhibited by Mr. Pound, gardener to G. May, 
Esq., of Caversham, and were remarkable for their fine health and 
vigour. The most noticeable.were Phalmnopsis Schilleriana, carrying 
upwards of thirty fully developed flowers ; P. Stuartiana, equally well 
flowered ; a fine specimen of Dendrobium nobile, Goodyera discolor, 
and Odontoglossum pulchellum, all profusely flowered specimens. A 
fine plant of Dendrobium Wardianum was exhibited by Mr. Woolford, 
gardener to A. Palmer, Esq. The Secretary announced that he had 
received from Mr. B. S. Williams some valuable books as a donation to 
the library. 
- Important to Nurserymen. — The following report has 
been sent to us for publication :—An action was heard at the West¬ 
minster County Court on the 12th inst., which was brought by 
M. August Van Geert of Ghent against Messrs. James Carter & Co. of 
High Holbom to recover the price of some Camellias supplied in the 
autumn of last year, and which reached Messrs. Carter & Co. in an 
unsaleable condition, the leaves and buds having fallen from the plants ; 
and as M. Van Geert would neither make any allowance nor replace 
the plants, Messrs. Carter & Co. were compelled on principle to defend 
the action. The defence involved the important question as to who 
was responsible for the damage, as the plants were sent to the agents of 
M. Van Geert in the city, and the defendants had no knowledge of the 
carriers or the route by which they were sent from Ghent, although 
they appear to have paid the freight to the carriers in a lump sum with 
the charge for bringing the plants from M. Van Geert’s agent to Messrs. 
Carter’s warehouse in High Hoi born, and upon this fact coupled with 
the statement in a printed catalogue of M. Van Geert.’s that “ all plants 
travel at expense and risk of purchasers,” it was decided by His Honour 
J udge Bay ley that the defendants were liable. In the case of another con¬ 
signment which Messrs. Carter received from M. Van Houtte about 
the same time in a damaged condition it was unnecessary to bring the 
matter into a County Court, as M. Van. Houtte very promptly and 
liberally met Messrs. Carter in the matter by sending other plants to 
replace those which had been injured. 
- Hanging Baskets for Greenhouses.—I n places where 
large and lofty structures are used for the flowering of greenhouse plants, 
the beauty of the display is greatly enhanced by baskets suspended from 
the roof. The baskets may be made either of wood or wire, the former, 
I think, from their more rustic appearance, looking better. They are 
usually made square. The pieqes of wood which form them must be made 
equal length, and holes drilled through them about an inch from the 
ends. Four lengths of copf)er wire are required, one for each corner. 
The wire should be put through each piece of wood and brought up to 
form a handle for suspending from the roofing. A great many plants 
are well adapted to basket culture, and if the colours are tastefully 
blended the efitct is very pleasing. Tuberous Begonias, either single or 
double, are excellent for this work, a good plant being placed in the centre 
with an edging of any drooping plant, such as Musk, seedling Lobelia 
(white or blue), Sibthorpia, Panicum,&c. Small specimen Fuchsias do 
well with similar edging, while baskets of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, 
Tradescantia, Fittonia, or Achimenes are also very beautiful. Some of 
the greenhouse Ferns thrive well in baskets, particularly those with creep¬ 
ing rhizomes like the genus Davallia, which grow over and in time com¬ 
pletely hide the basket if left undisturbed. If they are well attended 
to with water during the growing season it w'ill be found that a great 
number of plants do as well in this position as in any other, and when 
any of the flowering plants fade they can easily be replaced with 
fresh ones. It would be well when hanging them to notice that the 
superfluous water will fall on the floor, and not on plants growing 
beneath, which might be injured in consequence.—0. C. 
- Popular Roses in America. —At the February meeting of 
the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, held in Philadelphia, an attempt 
was made to test the relative popularity of the Hybrid Perpetual Roses 
Madame Gabriel Luizet and Mrs. John Laing ; the choice wms made by 
ballot, and resulted in a majority of twenty-seven votes in favour of 
Madame Gabriel Luizet in a total vote of about ninety. A similar con¬ 
test between La France and the Duchess of Albany resulted in a 
majority for the first-named. It would seem that these two varieties 
(Madame Gabriel Luizet and La France) are securely fixed in the 
affections of the Philadelphia horticulturists, and may not easily be 
displaced by the newer varieties, even though these are Roses of the very 
first rank. 
- Orange Culture at Jaffa, according to Consul Gilman, 
has become an industry of great value. Of the 9000 acres of culti¬ 
vated land pertaining to the community, 3000 acres are covered by 
Orange groves and gardens ; and these are all under irrigation. 
Among the other fruits produced are the Lemon, Lime, Citron, Date, 
Peach, Apricot, Grape, Fig, Pomegranate, Plum, and Melon, as well 
as the Olive. All the ordinary garden vegetables are also grown here 
of good quality and in abundance. Of late, the \ ine especially is 
receiving increased attention and care ; extensive vineyards are being 
planted ; and as here the Vine is free from the diseases and insect 
pests of other countries, and the soil and climate are peculiarly adapted 
to it, this should be one of the most flourishing wine-producing countries 
in the world. The Olive does best in the hill country, and generously 
responds with abundant crops to the slightest care .—(^American Oarden.') 
DESTKOYING CATERPILLARS. 
In your issue of March 5th I find a report of a conference of fruit 
growers held at Evesham to consider the best means to destroy the 
green caterpillar on fruit bushes and trees. As they seem to be flrnte 
at a loss how to proceed to the destruction of them I beg to say that 1 
have for several years made a mixture which entirely destroys them, 
and as a proof of it I enclose copies of two certificates which I received 
some years ago, and which I think will prove more than I can say about it 
Further than that, it is non-poisonous, as any fruit naay be taken from 
the tree and used at once. This was the only difficulty to contend 
with. The growth of the tree is much improved by the use of it, and 
being dissolved in water only requires the use of a syringe. 
By inserting this in your next issue I shall feel obliged.—E dwd. 
Crummock. 
[The testimonials received are satisfactory, and if the preparation is 
made for sale it should be kept before the public in the usual business 
way—advertising. ] 
CULTURE OF THE EGG PLANT. 
Although the Egg Plant is not of such general use in English 
kitchens as it is in that of the southern countries, still it may interest 
some of your readers to know how we grow it under the climate of 
Paris. The Early Long Purple is almost the only sort which we can 
grow here. Most of the other varieties, being much later, are not suited 
for Paris or for England. The Early Dwarf Purple, which is a month 
earlier than ■ the other kinds known in France, may be grown too, 
particularly in hothouses, on account of its compact habit, but the 
fruits are rather small and do not exceed the size of a medium Pear. 
We sow the seed in March on a hotbed, prick out the seedlings into 
another hotbed, with a temperature of from 70° to 75° Fahr., and when 
the plants are strong enough towards May take them to their permanent 
quarters. We usually plant two rows of Egg Plants in a Melon frame 
measuring about 4 feet 4 inches each side, so that when the Melons are 
lifted the Egg Plants take their places, and stand about 18 inches apart 
in the rows, the latter being 24 inches apart ; they thus have plenty of 
room and air, and yield fine fruits. 
They can also be grown on a gentle hotbed under glass towards the 
