52 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jannary SO, 198T. 
handsome foliage, growing about 3 feet high, and bearing a profusion of 
very bright crimson flowers about 2 inches across. I think this will prove 
very useful. 
The following are early, but some of them are not, and some are old 
with new names. A. Yillatte des Pruges and Madame Hoste, not early ; 
W. E. Boyce, not so good as Isidore Feral, but much the same colour ; 
G. Wrigley, Mons. Hoste, and Wm. Bealby, not early. Annita came out 
as old Madame Duf >y, the Jardin des Plantes of Parker, Reine Blanch 
is old La Vail6?, Yellow Perfection is Flora, Madame Lebois is St. Mary 
(Souvenir d’un Ami), Chilou Chilard is a poor tall straggler and shy 
bloomer ; Comtesse de Morney (there are others of this name), is late Com¬ 
mandant Rives, is a poor weak plant ; Dame Blanch, not early, but a good 
white large flower ; Gremillette is poor ; General Duret is the same as 
Mons. Dufoy sent over last season with the new name Petit Mignon. 
“We have this season had reports of two sports of Madame Desgrange, 
The first from Brighton called Mrs Burrell. I have seen flowers of this 
exhibited at the Crystal Palace and the Aquarium, Westminster, and a 
fine one sent direct to me, and I think that it is not a sport. We must 
bear in mind that the air of Brighton when not passed over the town, is 
charged with ozone from the sea. This would naturally bleach flowers 
and make them lighter as this is, and if at the same time we consider 
that these fine flowers are finished under glass it will wholly account for 
the primrose shade of this, and that if this should be grown inland and 
in the open air it will probably show no difference from the original. I will 
not pronounce for certain till next season, when I will try to grow it 
beside the parent. The second claimed to be darker, and came from 
Putney, but I can see no difference in it.—W. PlERCY, 89, West Boad, 
Forest Hill, London , S.E. 
We are desired to Btate that until another Secretary is appointed 
to the United Horticultural Provident and Benefit Society 
all communications affecting the Society may be sent to the Treasurer, 
Mr. J. Hudson, The Gardens, Gunnersbury House, Acton, W. The 
annual meeting will be held on February 14th, at the Caledonian 
Hotel. 
- The appreciation of Mr. L. Castle’s popular work on Orchids 
is testified by the demand for a third edition. This excels all previous 
issues, twenty pages of fresh matter being added, including chapters on 
Orchid groups and specimens ; Orchids for bouquets and floral decora¬ 
tions ; pruning Orchids ; Orchid sales ; references given to works in 
which nearly 800 Orchids are figured ; a directory of Orchid growers; 
and an interesting chapter on collecting Orchids by Mr. F. W. Burbidge. 
The price remains the same as before. The work combines excellence 
with cheapness, and is in every respect a creditable production, for which 
a ready sale may be anticipated. It is published at the office of this 
Journal. 
- We are desired to state that at the meeting of the Chiswick 
Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society on Friday evening, 
February 18th, Mr. Alexander Dean will give a lecture on “ Character in 
Gardeners.” 
-A correspondent writes :— 11 On all sides we hear of great 
destruction to choice trees, Conifers, and shrubs, this being 
principally caused by the exceptionally heavy weight of snow that lodged 
on them on the night of December 27th. Rain fell first, then came a 
rapid fall of snow in large flakes, and these became frosted to the trees t 
rendering it impossible to shake it off with long poles. Where we tried 
the experiment more harm than good resulted, and many a good tree was 
disfigured in consequence cf being weighted down with snow and ice. 
My object in writing, however, is to suggest that all limbs of trees badly 
damaged should be neatly sawn off near to the trunk, have the edges of 
the bark neatly rounded with a knife, and the wound then coated with 
cart-grease. This excludes air and water, renders the wound less 
tmsightly, and greatly facilitates the healing.” 
- At the meeting of the Horticultural Club held last week at 
the rooms, 1, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, the subject of conversation 
was as to how the Club could best assist the Royal Horticultural Society 
in the present crisis of its affairs, the crisis alluded to being the uncer¬ 
tainty of the tenure of the premises at South Kensington. There were 
present the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen, Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain, 
Rev. F. H. Gall, Dr. Masters, Dr. Hogg, Messrs. Harry J. Veitch, 
T. Francis Rivers, George Paul, George Deal, H. Herbst, George Prince, 
H. J. Pearson, Arnold Moss, A. H. Pearson, C. T. Druery, &c., See. The 
opinion of the meeting was clearly that something ought to be done, and 
no definite proposal being made a committee was appointed to consider 
the matter, consisting of Mr. H. J. Veitch, Chairman ; Mr. H. J. Pearson, 
Vice-Chairman ; Dr. Masters, Messrs. Deal, Moss, A. H. Pearson, Rivers, 
Herbst, and Bull, with power to add to their number. We are informed 
that it has been arranged for the Committee to meet Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
the President of the Society on February 1st, some days prior to the annual 
meeting of the Society. 
- A correspondent states that “ Twickenham has lost an old 
and respected inhabitant by the Death of Mr. R. Laing, florist, of 
Richmond Road. The deceased tradesman had been a resident of the 
town for many years, and was a member of the T wickenham Local Board 
for a considerable period. He resigned his seat upon the Board about 
eighteen months ago in consequence of failing health. He was a promi¬ 
nent committeeman of the Twickenham and Richmond Horticultural 
Societies, and was also a warm supporter of the Gardeners’ Benevolent 
Institution. Mr. Laing was in his seventy-seventh year.” 
- Messrs. James Carter & Co., High Holborn, had a very 
pleasing display of Primulas at the Westminster Aquarium last 
week. They comprised a number of varieties, some of great merit, distinct 
in colour and of good form. Very notable were the following:—New 
Holborn Fern-leaf, with rich rosy flowers. In this variety, as in many of 
the Holborn strain, Messrs. Carter are getting back to old fringed and 
scalloped shaped flowers so much admired. Holborn Pearl is a delicately 
tinted variety, and received a first-class certificate. It is a cross between 
Holborn Blue and Holborn White, which in the first instance originated 
that lovely ivory white variety known as Elaine, and the second season 
the plants of Elaine threw the form designated in 1883 as Holborn Pearl. 
The chief amongst the other varieties were Holborn Vermilion, with ver¬ 
milion red flowers of great beauty ; Holborn White, elegantly fimbriated 
and pure white; Holborn Magenta, deep magenta red, a lovely colour; 
Holborn Venus, prettily striped crimson and scarlet; Holborn Purple, 
Holborn Salmon, Holborn Rose, a very delicate shade. 
- Messrs. H. Cannell & Son have sent us from Swanley a 
representative collection of Primulas. The varieties are not named, but 
are as good as if they were. The white and neutral-tinted flowers are 
2 J inches in diameter, and the darks, which are rich in colour, average 
2 inches across. All of them, moreover, possess great substance, indicative 
of superior cultivation. 
- Gardening Appointment.— Mr. James Ullook, for the last 
nine years general foreman in the gardens at Trafford Park, Patricrofti 
Manchester, has been appointed head gardener to Sir Richard Bulkeley, 
Bart, Baron Hill, Beaumaris, Anglesey. 
-A Northern Amateur writes as follows on the Weather in 
South and West Perthshire : —“ During the past week the frost, 
ranging from 4° to 12®, has not been so intense as was previously regis¬ 
tered. Brief partial thaws have occurred, and some of the lower grounds 
have been nearly cleared of snow. The roads in some districts have been 
for the last fortnight literally one thick sheet of ice. Trees and shrubs 
have been stripped of berries, and in many gardens Greens and other 
vegetables have been devoured by wood pigeons and pheasants. Deer 
have left the high grounds and are being fed by hand in the neighbour¬ 
hood of the village of Callander. A bitterly cold wind from the east, with 
threatening snow, was blowing on the morning of 17th January.” 
- The annual dinner of the Sheffield and West Riding 
Chrysanthemum Society was held on Monday evening, January 10th, 
at the Clarence Hotel, High Street, Sheffield, the number present being 
about sixty. Mark Firth, Esq. (President of the Society), occupied the 
chair, and the vice-chair wrs filled by C. E. Jeffcock, Esq. (one of the 
Vice-Presidents). At the annual meeting and election of officers, held 
prior to the dinner, it was unanimously decided that the Society’s next 
Show be held in the Sheffield Corn Exchange, on Friday and Saturday, 
November 18th and 19th. The proceedings at the dinner were through¬ 
out of a most enthusiastic and enjoyable character, some excellent songs 
and music alternating with the speeches and toasts. The report and 
balance sheet for the past year was read by the Hon. Sec. (Mr. W. K. 
Woodcock), and the general tenour of the speeches referring to the Society 
