490 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jute 1G, 1€87. 
Peel, bright rose, richly spotted. Those are a few out of many that 
commanded attention, and are distinct and good. As one of the best 
patr-ms of horticulture and a helper in all good works it is particularly 
gratifying to state, as it will be to many to learn, that Mr. McIntosh is 
recovering from a protracted and serious illness, and that he can begin 
to enjoy his garden once again. 
- The gardens at Knotts Green, Leyton, the residence of 
J. G. Barclay, Esq., are invariably very attractive at the time when the 
South Essex Horticultural Society’s Exhibition is held, and this season, 
though the trees, shrubs, and plants are much later than usual, there are 
sufficient to impart a bright appearance. One vista across a small lake 
bounded on each side by high shrubberies, in which scarlet and white 
Thorns, Laburnums, Rhododendrons, and Lilacs are freely employed, and 
which are now flowering abundantly, is charming, a small rustic bridge 
near the end of the lake adding to the effect. The extensive lawns are 
well kept, and the large plants in the conservatory and most interesting 
K natural ” fernery are in excellent condition. On the rocks in the 
fernery Begonia Rex varieties and Ncphrolepis tuberosa are extremely 
luxuriant. The condition of the garden is most creditable to Mr. 
Donald’s management. 
- Mr. J. Udale, Elford Hall Gardens, writes :—It is pleasing 
to occasionally find attention given to old-fashioned flowers, no 
•matter where, or in what way. Numbers of beautiful and interesting 
plants keep dropping out of sight, and it appears as though Fuchsias, 
Pelargoniums, Crotons, Dracaenas, Or Dicffenbachias were to be the 
principal greenhouse and stove plants. Orchids we leave out of the 
category of stove and greenhouse plants. At Broom Leasoe, Whit¬ 
tington, Lichfield, we occasionally find something in flower that is only 
to be found in botanic gardens, and rarely in private gardens. For 
some time past the old-fashioned Hemirneris has been producing its 
panicles of scarlet red flowers, giving a brilliancy not to be found in 
any Polygala, and only equalled by the equally old-fashioned Lesche- 
naultia formosa. The curious and more beautiful Schizanthus retusus, 
S. papilionaceus, and S. oculatus are coming into flower, and will give a 
profusion of their Orchid-like inflorescence during the summer months. 
Hoya carnosa is producing a number of clusters of its beautiful wax¬ 
like flowers. Many people, in gathering these flowers, make the 
mistake of cutting the flower stem away with them, whereas, if they 
were to leave the stem, it would produce flowers year after year. At 
Broom Leasoe Mr. and Mrs. Inge have found that out, and act accord¬ 
ingly. Phylloeactus creuatus, P. Jenkinsoni, and P. multiflorus are 
flowering freely in the same garden, and though the flowers individually 
are not very durable, yet their number and gorgeousness amply 
compensate.” 
- At a'recent ordinary meeting of the members of the Wake¬ 
field Paxton Society, held at Councillor Lupton’s, the Saw Hotel, 
Mr. Henry Oxley of Bond Street, one of the Vice-Presidents, was in the 
chair, and Mr. G. Bott of Walton acted as Vice-Chairman. There was 
an average attendance of members. Mr. R. Walker, head gardener to 
Mr. Edmund Calverley, J.P., of Oulton Hall, read a brief but thoroughly 
practical and most interesting essay on “ The Cyclamen.” Mr. Walker 
is a well known and successful gardener, and he was a warm friend of 
the late Mr. J. Wainwright, the first President of the Society. Mr. 
Walker has recently been devoting special attention to the cultivation 
of the Cyclamen, and in his essay he fully explained his mode of treat¬ 
ment from the sowing of the seed to the flowering period, and he exhi¬ 
bited one of his fine plants and also a quantity of bloom. A number of 
questions were put to the essayist by Messrs. G. Bott, T. Garnett, E. 
Fenner, J. G. Brown, and others, and at the close of a long and interest¬ 
ing discussion a hearty vote of thanks was a)corded to the essayist on the 
motion of Mr. Cordon, seconded by Mr. J. W. Simpson, and supported by 
Mr. T. Garnett and Mr. Oxley. 
-—— Wakefield Paxton Society. —The following is the pro. 
gramme of meetings for the second quarter of session 1887-8, to be held 
at the Saw Hotel, Westgate, each Saturday evening, at 8 o’clock. June 
18th, Half-day excursion to Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey, for 
which tickets must be taken by the 11th inst. June 25th, Discussion on 
the Pink, Pansy, and early summer flowers, with specimens. July 2nd ; 
The Pea, with specimens. July 9th, The Pelargonium ; Mr. T. Marsden 
Sheffield. July 16th, The Rose. Discussion and exhibition. July 23rd. 
The Cucumber ; Mr. J. A. Mann. July 30th, Window garden show, 
August 1st, Annual meeting of Yorkshire Association of Horticultural 
Societies at Barnsley. August 6tli, Clay, its civilising effects on the 
human family at home and abroad, with specimens ; Mr. C. J. Willis. 
August 13th, The Carnati.on and Picotee. August 20tli, The Tomato* 
Mr. J. P. Carter. August 27th, Fertilisation ; Anonymous. 
- Insects on Box. —Several samples have been sent us of Box 
growths infested with a flat greenish insect, and we have also seen 
abundant examples of the same pest in widely separated districts this 
season. The insect attacks the young shoots, and as far as we have seen 
is confined to the Box. An experienced entomologist sends the following 
note on the subject :—“ The insects I have also noticed some seasons, 
but not so numerous, I think I have also found them on Myrtle. I take 
it to be one of the Homopterous group, allied to the familiar froghopper 
Cercopis spumaria, this species being Ptyelus aromaticus. It does not 
surround itself with a fluid like the froghopper, but throws off a gummy 
substance it extracts from the plants in which it occurs. Hence 
syringing, unless this be done with hot water, has little effect upon it. 
So far as I have observed, it does no particular injury to the shrubs, 
except that it disfigures them. It may lessen their vitality, though it 
seldom occurs in large numbers on either Box or Myrtle.” 
- “ X.,” sends the following :—“ The Society of Arts Journal 
claims that the largest Vine in the world is one growing at Oys 
(Portugal), which has been in bearing since 1802. Its maximum yield 
was in 1864, in which year it produced a sufficient quantity of Grapes 
to make 750 litres (165 gallons) of wine ; in 1874, 665 litres (1464 gal¬ 
lons) ; and in 1884, only 360 litres (79J gallons). It covers an area of 
494 square metres (5315 square feet), and the stem at the base measures 
2 metres in circumference.” 
- A Californian Floral Fete. —California must indeed be a 
land of flowers, says Meehan’s “ Gardeners’ Monthly,” judging by the 
festival that, extending over two weeks, has excited the famous old town 
of Los Angeles. Hundreds of contributors of cut flowers poured them 
in from all parts of the country. Designs, as they are called, of cut 
flowers furnished fresh novelties every day. The “ unveiling of a floral 
ship ” was the great work of the first day. On the second day a great 
attraction was the American flag, the red being of Zonal Pelargoniums, 
the white of Pyrethrum, and the blue of Heliotrope. A grand cross 
which had been used the day before in Episcopal services was exhibited, 
the golden colours made of yellow Marigolds. A huge shield made of 
Marigolds, Roses, Geraniums, and. Stock Gillies, was sent by Mrs. Crocker 
as a contribution from the Citrus Valley. A huge fan, the rays 15 feet 
long, was a “ design ” highly applauded. A huge snow shoe made of 
white Pyrethrum and Geraniums divided the applause with it, bringing 
cooling memories into a warm day. The floral ship was 13 feet long, and 
bore a cargo of Oranges. The grand design, however, was the famous 
shoe of Mother Goose, in which her huge family of children were all 
represented as large as life. Geraniums made the shoe, except Marigolds 
were at the heel, and a binding of Smilax fringed the orifice. Roses 
seem to be the favourite flower, as well as elsewhere. A branch of tne 
Washington Noisette had thirteen flowers full blown, and fifty-seven 
unexpanded buds. Mrs. Heaver exhibited 100 named varieties in cut 
flowers. Mrs. Fox sent a flower of Paul Neyron that measured 18 inches 
round. The “ shoe design ” was 6 feet long, and 3 feet high. The 
public school children sent a huge painter’s easel, with geometrical 
Ferns arranged in flowers. The triangle was made of Lilies. The door 
money taken in during the first four days was 3053 dols. 80 cents. The 
proceeds all go to charitable purposes. 
O - “ C. B. ” writes :—“An excellent border plant, affording a very 
distinct shade of colour, is Polemonium Richardsoni, and it thrives so 
vigorously when once established that no one need experience any diffi¬ 
culty in its cultivation. We have it as a central plant in a small 
circular bed that has been margined with Primroses, and as these lost 
their flowers the Polemonium came into flower, and has continued up 
to the present time to afford a succession of its bluish-mauve round blooms. 
It lasts well cut and placed in water, but after two or three days the 
flowers lose their colour and become nearly white.” 
THE AURICULA. 
As I take great interest in all notes on the Auricula I was pleased to 
read in the Journal on pages 458 and 459, such instructive and interest¬ 
ing lines by “ D., Deal," Rev. F. D. Horner, and Mr. T. Pipe. I feel sure 
