May 1, 180a ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
861 
was altogether one of the most successful gatherings the Club has 
ever held. 
- The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. — The Executive Com¬ 
mittee of the above Fund met in the Caledonian Hotel on Friday 
last, April 25th, at 6 p.m., C. H. Sharman, Esq., in the chair. Mr. 
A. F. Barron stated that he had received a letter from their Chair¬ 
man, Mr. G. Deal, who was still too unwell to attend, but he was re¬ 
covering slowly. Much regret was expressed by the members, and the 
Secretary was instructed to convey to Mr. Deal the sympathy of the 
Committee, with a hearty wish for his speedy restoration to health. The 
principal business was to consider the nominations for the eleven 
vacancies at the next election. After careful examination of the 
respective cases, the Committee admitted eleven fresh nominations in 
addition to the six unsuccessful at the last election. The distribution of 
the voting papers was discussed, the Secretary remarking that many sub¬ 
scriptions were still unpaid, and it was resolved to send notices to all 
who are in arrears. Mr. Barron was instructed to make the necessary 
arrangements for the acceptance of the completed Wildsmith Memorial 
Fund, and the election of the child nominated by the local committee. 
At 8 P.M. a joint meeting of Covent Garden Market representatives and 
members of the Orphan Fund Committee was held, to consider the 
arrangements for the evening f6te to be held in the market on 
May 2l8t. 
-The Weather and Fruit Prospects in the North.— 
Since the thunderstorm on April 6th the weather has been variable 
and unsatisfactory. Severe frosts, high winds, accompanied with heavy 
rain and hail showers, have prevailed. Where the birds have not in¬ 
jured the blossoms the Plums are covered, but the hail on the ground is 
not cheering, and from the severity of the weather not a bee can reach 
the blossoms. Apples and Pears have a scarcity of blossom, and some 
are greatly under the average, but with finer weather an average crop 
might set, but it is too early to be able to form an opinion. Fine 
weather is much needed in the orchards of Clydeside.— Blantyre. 
- Successful Mushroom Beds. —At Thames Ditton House, 
Thames Ditton, the residence of W. F. Hume-Dick, Esq., we lately 
saw two beds of Mushrooms that are worthy of note. The top bed, 
9 feet by 2 feet, was spawned on January 24th ; first Mushrooms cut 
March 8th. Since that time the bed has averaged quite 8 lbs. per 
week, being at times covered with splendid Mushrooms of a good use¬ 
ful size, and often with from twenty to thirty in a cluster. The 
under bed was spawned on March 1st; Mushrooms cut April 18th. A 
grand lot of rather larger size than in the top bed, one example 
measuring 6 inches across. Temperature kept 58° to 60°. Mr. W. 
Palmer, the gardener, said he obtained the spa ivn from Beading, and 
he has certainly made good use of it.—J. B. 
- I have posted to you this evening a rather interesting speci¬ 
men of the white-flowered native Fritillary. Fasciation is 
frequent in this genus, notably in F. imperials, but in this particular 
case there is exhibited in a floral freak a singularly pretty arrangement 
of the four blossoms and foliage that terminates the stem. Monstrosi¬ 
ties are not usually of a pleasing form, but this one may be considered 
an exception, and has been gathered from a cultivated clump of them, 
the remainder producing normal flowers.— J. B. Jefferies. [If the 
variety prove constant it will be well worth increasing. There is a 
fasciated variety of F. imperialis, sold by Dutch growers under the name 
of Slagzwaard (Sword-stemmed) said to be quite constant.] 
- Staphylea colchica. —This plant, so useful for flowering 
during March and April, succeeds well on its own roots. Cuttings can 
be taken when the growths are half ripe, inserted in sandy soil and 
plunged in gentle bottom heat. In two years’ time capital little plants 
will be available if their treatment is liberal during growth, and when 
in flower they will be useful for filling small vases. Plants which are 
grafted upon some stock are often much too tall to look well. Those 
grown from cuttings and “ pinched ” occasionally, make compact bushes. 
Much root space is not needed; 7 and 8-inch pots are large enough 
for good sized plants for several years, provided they are assisted during 
growth with weak liquid manure. Its freedom from insects is a special 
mark in the favour of this plant. I have only seen red spider on the leaves 
caused by allowing the soil to become too dry.—E. M. 
-Ware and District Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society. —This Society continues to flourish and grow larger. 
Two meetings have been held during the past month, which were both 
well attended. On the 9th inst., E. Walters, Esq., in the chair, a 
capital paper was submitted to the meeting by Mr. W. Osborne on 
“ Potatoes.” The essayist dealt with his subject in a plain and practical 
manner. It was highly appreciated by the members present. A good 
collection of Potatoes were staged by Messrs. Fulford and Adams. The 
usual vote of thanks terminated the meeting. On the 22nd inst. Mrj 
G. Fulford occupied the chair. There was a very good muster of mem¬ 
bers and visitors present to hear a paper on “ The Greenhouse and its 
Occupants,” by Mr. W. King. A lengthy discussion arose, to which Mr. 
King replied. A group of Az.alea mollis and Spirma was staged by Mr. 
Biding. Some Pansies were also exhibited by Mr. Gull of immense size. 
The vote of thanks to the essayist, and a similar compliment to the 
Chairman, ended the meeting. 
- Tasmanian Apples. —Mr. James Webber, Central Avenue 
Covent Garden, has sent us samples of Eibston Pippin and King of the 
Pippin Apples. The former are of full size, fresh, firm, and of the first 
quality, reminding in tenderness and flavour of orchard house grown 
fruits. The King of the Pippins are of fair size for the variety, very clear, 
juicy, and sugary. We have to note, however, that this is not the variety 
usually grown under the name in this country, but is the true old King 
of the Pippins, or King Apple of Bea, now rarely seen ; and it is 
singular that it should come to ns from the antipodes. It is a Bmaller» 
earlier, and richer Apple than the Golden Winter Pearmain, which is 
the correct name of the free and useful variety generally grown as King 
of the Pippins. This is of continental origin, and was invested with 
the name which adheres to it, by a nurseryman, long since deceased, 
for trade purposes. Good Tasmanian Apples such as those referred will 
be acceptable to many persons at this season of the year. 
- Lathyrus Sibthorpi. —You will be interested in knowing 
that I have just lighted on a communication written in 1836 by 
William Baxter, in the “ Gardeners’ Magazine,” relating to Lathyrus 
Sibthorpi. It appears to have been cultivated in the Oxford Botanic 
Garden prior to 1795, singularly enough under the name of L. rotundi- 
folius, yet the plant introduced and cultivated under this name since 
1822 is alleged to be its parent. The “ Annals of Botany ” (Kbnig 
and Sims, vol. ii., page 451) contains an account of it, but I have not 
yet had an opportunity of referring to it. Bieberstein it is supposed 
introduced it, presumably during the time of the second Sibthorp, the 
author of the “ Flora Grfeca.” Vexation and sorrow flow with the ink 
here, for much of the voluminous correspondence of Dr. John Sibthorp 
was, after his death, disposed of by his “ friends ” as waste paper. The 
Bosa ferox now in the garden is that of Bieberstein, and is perhaps the 
only one in this country of the kind, and I think very probably were sent 
as seeds with the Fritillaria racemosa and the Lathyrus, from the coast 
of the Caspian by him to Dr. Jno. Sibthorp, but this is speculation.— 
Jno. E. Jefferies. [The “account” in the “Annals of Botany” is 
a mere fragtnentary allusion, and imparts no fresh information on the 
subject.] 
- “ Visitor’s ” note respecting Lachenalia pendula being 
so beautiful when growing in a basket at Childwall Hall Gardens leads 
me to say that L. tricolor, with smaller flowers, also forms a capital 
basket plant. The three colours in the flower—green, red, and yellow- 
are exceedingly distinct when a good base of its foliage is provided, 
which droops in a naturally graceful manner. When baskets of the 
size named by “Visitor” are used it is not necessary to disturb the 
bulbs every year if fairly good soil be used at first. They will succeed 
for the second season’s flowering with the assistance of some stimulant 
when growth is well on the way, especially when the flower spikes are 
forming. I do not know a better plan to show the blooms of Lache- 
nalias than growing the plants in baskets. From the time the foliage 
turns yellow after flowering is past no water should be given until the 
following August. If the baskets are hung in a cool shed, say one 
with a northern aspect, the mass of soil in baskets of the size named 
will retain sufiicient moisture to carry them through the resting 
period.—H. 
- Double Primroses. —These are very useful for producing an 
early display out of doors either in the beds by themselves or in the 
front of herbaceous or shrubbery borders. In the latter they are 
perhaps the more useful. They do not require replanting so often as 
when in beds, and they succeed much better when the roots are left un¬ 
disturbed for two or three years. When they are employed in the beds 
along with other spring flowering plants the fault of double Primroses 
is that they flower too soon. Much depends upon the natural soil of 
the beds or borders. A cold wet position does not suit them. A warm 
sandy soil made rich with manure produces robust growth and insures 
