360 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 1, 1890. 
of the varieties required, or any of the seedlings that can be spared, and 
grow them on in heated frames, as after they are established the heat 
may be dispensed with. Give them plenty of light, and admit air night 
and day on all favourable occasions. Ferns so grown will last much 
longer when cut, and the plants will stand the dry atmosphere of rooms 
and the effects of gas much better, giving pleasure and credit to all 
concerned. 
Blocks of Cokk, Bakk, and \Yood. —Ferns planted on cork, 
bark, or pieces of wood are both useful and interesting for hanging in 
the stove, fernery, or greenhouse. Some of the Davallias may be used 
for this purpose, and likewise Stenochlena scandens, but I do not think 
anything can surpass the Platyceriums for placing on blocks, as they 
display their peculiar fronds to much greater advantage on blocks than 
in pots. Platycerium alcicorne is the most free-growing variety, while 
P. Willincki and P. grande are, perhaps, the most beautiful and 
interesting. I do not advocate the planting of Ferns on blocks in moss 
alone, but prefer to use some rough peat; on this place the Ferns, 
keeping them secure by carefully passing some copper wire behind the 
sterile fronds. The Ferns will soon root into the peat and grow much 
better than they would in moss alone. They must be soaked in water 
when they require it, as it is impossible to water them properly with a 
can. My objection to the use of moss is that with the continual dipping 
the moss decays, and likewise the roots of the Ferns. 
HANaiNG Baskets. —These make beautiful ornaments, and many 
Ferns do well in them and show their beauty. They should be suspended, 
or their long, drooping, and graceful fronds are not seen to advantage. 
The baskets must be lined with moss or sphagnum to prevent the soil 
from washing out. The compost should be the same as previously 
mentioned. If possible when planting use those Ferns that are rather 
root-bound or with plenty of roots, and if planted firmly they will soon 
cornmence to grow, and at once become effective. We have numerous 
varieties of Ferns suitable for this purpose that will grow either in stove 
or greenhouse. I shall in this case also select those I have found to 
do well :—Platycerium alcicorne (greenhouse), Adiantum ciliatum (g), 
A. cuneatum grandiceps (g), A. assimile (g), A. Capillus-Veneris (g), 
Davallia bullata (g), D. hemiptera (g), Pteris scaberula, impatient of 
heat (g), Asplenium alatum (stove), Adiantum dolabriforme (s), 
Davallia Tyermani (s). D. pentaphylla, Nephrolepis davallioides (s), 
N. davallioides furcans (s), N. Duffi (s), Gymnogramma schizophylla 
gloriosa (s), a handsome Fern. 
These will require careful attention in the matter of watering. 
Never allow them to get thoroughly dry during the growing season, for 
if so neglected they are often spoiled beyond recovery. The best plan 
is to take them down when dry and soak them in water, so as to ensure 
thorough saturation of both the soil and the moss, and allow them to 
drain before re-hanging, especially if there are any plants of a delicate 
character placed underneath them. 
(To be continued.) 
Events op the Week —The meetings of the week include the 
following — Koyal Society to-day (Thursday) at 4.30 P.M., also the 
Linnean Society at 8 P.M. The Society of Arts meet on Wednesday, 
May 7th, at 8 P.M. The usual sales at King Street, Covent Garden, and 
Gheapside will take place. 
The Weather in the South has been generally spring¬ 
like, though still rather unsettled. Considerable rain has fallen, and 
the effects are seen in a rapid growth of outdoor vegetation. Slight 
frosts have occurred in some districts, but no serious damage to fruit 
tree flowers seems to have resulted so far. We hear from one grower 
who has between eighty and ninety acres of Plums, that the prospects of 
a satisfactory crop are encouraging. On Saturday in the metropolis a 
remarkable darkness following a very bright early morning lasted until 
past midday with heavy and continuous rain. Tuesday was very bright. 
- The Weather in the North.— April 21st-28th. The week 
has been cold throughout; dull and showery for the first few days, 
brighter and with cold N.E. winds latterly. Some heavy hail showers 
.occurred on the 25th j the hailstones in the north of Perthshire are re¬ 
ported to have been of unusual size. Heavy rain fell on the evening 
of the same day for several hours. This has done much good : of 
frost registered last night.—B.D., S. Perthshire, 
- Weather and Flowers at Sheffield. —Mr. B. Simonite 
writes laconically ;—“ The weather is most vile here, cold and dark. 
The flowers cannot open. Ten minutes’ sun in a fortnight,” 
- We are informed that Mr. Stuart H. Low, the principal 
member of the firm of Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., nurserymen. Upper 
Clapton, died on April 22nd, aged sixty-three, after a short illness. The 
deceased gentleman has long been widely known in the horticultural 
world, and assisted greatly in the development of a large business. 
- The British Fruit Growers’ Association. —The Duke of 
Bedford has contributed ;K25 to the British Fruit Growers’ Association 
to open a fund for the purpose of preparing and publishing an official 
report upon the present condition and prospects of fruit culture in 
Great Britain and Ireland. 
- Noble Strawberry. —This Strawberry is simply not to be 
surpassed as a forcing variety to ripen now (April 21st). I have a shelf 
which would be hard to beat for crop and size of fruit, and another year 
1 shall rely principally upon it. Sir J. Paxton put into the same house 
a month earlier is ripening at the same time a much lighter crop. I 
have not tried Noble for early work.—H. S. Easty. 
- The Sparrow Pest. —I am made to say under the above 
(page 327), heading, “ Of course it is always necessary to net small 
birds.” It should have been “ to net small seeds ” as a protection 
against sparrows and the finch tribe, for the reason that some persons 
complain of the ravages of birds, and at the same time take no trouble 
to prevent them, as apart from the damage done to .seed beds most of the 
finches destroy large quantities of caterpillars, as well as innumerable 
weed seeds, such as Charlock, Thistles, Docks, Dandelion, &c.— 
E. Maher, Tattendon Court. 
- Grand Yorkshire Gala. —Th^ thirty-second Exhibition 
takes place in York, June 18th, 19th, and 20th, when about £600 in 
prizes are again offered ; £42 are devoted to sixteen stove and green¬ 
house plants, nearly £50 to groups, £48 to Orchids, £100 to Pelar¬ 
goniums in various classes, £44 to Eoses in pots, £55 for cut Eoses, £60 
for fruits, and many other objects are invited. The York Show is 
always a grand display, and brings together an enormous number of 
midland and northern horticulturists. 
- The Edinburgh Exhibition. —In connection with the 
opening of the above Exhibition the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh 
left King’s Cross on Wednesday morning in the new Koyal Saloon for 
the north. The suite in attendance was Lady Emma Osborne, Colonel 
the Hon. W. J. Colville, Captain the Hon. D. J. Monson, and Colonel 
Walker. Sir George Chubb, Chairman of the London Committee of the 
Edinburgh Exhibition, together with Sir Saul Samuel, Sir John Pender, 
Mr. Thomas Archer, C.M.G., Mr. E. N. C. Braddon, Professor Forbes, 
Dr. Kobert Hogg of the Journal of Horticulture, and other members of 
the London Committee travelled by the same train. 
- Kenovating Old Fruit Trees. —In a recent article I 
advised planting young trees rather than attempt renovating old ones 
by grafting. My reason for doing so was that many trees on thirty 
acres of ground were regrafted, but in less than twenty years nearly 
every tree was dead. The opinion of some was that where the branches 
had been cut to receive the grafts, the rain entered and caused decay. 
My opinion is that when a branch is cut the ascending sap is not 
assimilated, and fermentation takes place, which causes decay. Whether 
any of us are right or wrong, the trees operated on died, while in a 
young plantation made later the trees are in a healthy and profitable 
state, as are some resuscitated by deluging the ground with sewage in 
winter.—W. T. 
- Horticultural Club.—A complimentary dinner of welcome 
was given by the Club on Tuesday evening, 22ad ult., at the rooms. 
Hotel Windsor, to Messrs. David Thomson of Drunlanrig and Bruce 
Findlay of Manchester on the occasion of their receiving the Veitch 
Memorial medal. In the absence of Mr. John Lee the chair was taken 
by Dr. Hogg, and there were present besides, the Kev. W. Wilks, 
Messrs. D. Morris, Bunyard, H. J. Veitch, J. H. Veitch, Cheal, Dismoor, 
Walker, Druery, Hore, Bull, G. Paul, Crowley, A. F. Barron, H. J. 
Pearson, A. H. Pearson, Turner, &c. Amongst the guests were also 
Mr. F. W. Burbidge and Mr. S. Barlow. The toast of the evening was 
proposed by the Chairman, and responded to by Messrs. D. Thomson and 
B. Findlay. During the evening a selection of vocal and instrumental 
music was given, under the kind superintendence of Mr. Bunyard. 
The health of the other visitors was proposed by the Secretary and 
responded to by Mr. F. W. Burbidge, whom the Secretary claimed as 
a fellow graduate of the same University. Mr. Morris replied on 
behalf of the Koyal Horticultural Society. Mr. Shirley Hibberd in 
kindly terms proposed the health of the Chairman, and the meeting 
