July 19, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
59 
support of Mr. Findlay’s abilities, both being of the opinion that the 
Botanical Gardens of Manchester could compare with any in the 
country. The Judge, in summing up, said that the management and 
condition of the Botanical Gardens was, in his opinion, a matter of such 
concern to the citizens of Manchester as to warrant discussion in a local 
paper as a matter of public interest. If what was said was fair 
criticism, though it might even reflect on an individual, no action lay. 
But it must be criticism. If instead the occasion were used to malign an 
individual there would be cause for action. The questions for the jury 
were—(I) Did they think the words used were in their ordinary sense 
defamatory ; (2) did they apply to the plaintiff; and (3) if they did 
apply to the plaintiff, did they think the defendant had exceeded the 
bounds of fair criticism ? ” The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded 
him £25 damages. In the action of Findlay v. The “ Manchester City 
News ” Company, Limited, arising out of the publication of Mr. 
Armitage’s letter, judgment for the plaintiff was given by consent for 
408. and costs. 
- Pears Attacked by Cecidomyia (Diplosis) pyrivora.— 
The Eev. E. N. Bloomfield, Guestling Eectory, Hastings, writes in 
“ Science Gossip : ”—“ This pest has been very destructive in my garden 
this spring, having destroyed almost the whole produce of some of my 
Pear trees. The kinds which have been most attacked have been Marie 
Louise, Catillac, and Josephine de Malines, though other kinds have 
not been spared. The insect which causes the injury is a very small fly 
of the same family as some of our most destructive pests. The affected 
fruits may be detected very early ; the fly lays its eggs in the blossom, 
and the little Pears thus attacked swell more quickly than the sound 
fruit, and instead of being Pear-shaped aie spherical and bloated. On 
being cut open a number of small larvm will be found in the core. 
When they are mature they leave the Pears, and falling to the ground 
bury themselves and remain quiescent until the spring. The life history 
of this insect has been very carefully investigated by Professor Eiley in 
America. Although in all cases the infected Pears are misshapen and 
bloated, yet in some varieties they are small and inconspicuous, as, for 
instance, in the Josephine de Malines, while in others they are much 
larger, and in the Catillac especially they are very conspicuous. I 
believe this pest will be found to be common, but as the injured Pears 
soon fall off it is doubtless often overlooked. In gardens where the 
trees are dwarfs or espaliers it is easy to check or even get rid of this 
pest. The distorted Pears should be collected and burned, or effectually 
destroyed. This should be done not later than the middle of May, since 
soon after that time the larvae leave the Pears and bury themselves in 
the earth.” 
-An American’s Opinion of English Flower Shows.— 
A New York correspondent writing to the “ Garden and Forest ” gives 
his opinion of the recent Temple Show and the summer exhibition of 
the Eoyal Botanic Society, both of which he visited. After remarking 
that owing to the exhibits being arranged in five separate tents, and 
consequently the effect was not so magnificent as may be sometimes 
seen in Madison Square Garden, he says :—“ On the other hand, the 
Temple show was altogether superior to our American exhibitions, not 
only in the number of plants exhibited, but in their variety and in the 
general cultural skill they showed. The exhibition was specially strong 
in Orchids. Hardy plants, in pots and pans, as well as their cut flowers, 
were shown in such profusion as I had never seen before at an exhibi¬ 
tion, although there is no reason why these should not be a feature of 
equal prominence in our own shows. I have seen cut Eoses in our 
exhibitions which have equalled any in the Temple show, but never 
anything like the number and variety of Eoses in pots shown by the 
great growers. Every group showed admirable culture, and many of 
them were most tastefully arranged. But perhaps the best example of 
cultural skill in the whole show was a group of some thirty Clematis, 
trained to balloon frames, all in perfect form, in the best condition, and 
just at their best bloom, not smothered with flowers, but each one 
bearing a sufficient number to be seen to the best advantage against a 
background of healthy leaves. The only group of plants which equalled 
these in perfection of culture were some Fancy Pelargoniums, which I 
saw a few days later at the exhibition in Eegent’s Park. It seemed to 
me an evidence of the healthy condition of horticulture in London and 
its vicinity that so complete and satisfactory an exhibition as this could 
be held within a week after the three-days show at Temple Gardens 
and command so large an attendance, in spite of unfavourable weather. 
There was something like a crush of visitors at both exhibitions, and 
the attendance would have been still larger if the exhibitions had been 
more effectively advertised. Indeed, I afterwards met many Americans, 
not to speak of English men and women, who would have enjoyed the 
Temple show if they had known it was to take place. On the morning 
after the opening day the principal papers gave extended, and, as a 
rule, intelligent reports of the show, but this hardly made up for a lack 
of generous preliminary advertising.” It is interesting to know what 
those “ on the other side ” think of our flower shows. 
- Newcastle Horticultural Mutual Improvement 
Society. —The monthly meeting of the Newcastle and District Horti¬ 
cultural Mutual Improvement Society was held on Wednesday in last 
week in the Wood Memorial Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Mr. Bernard 
Cowan, F.E.H.S., in the chair. After the reading of the minutes, 
which contained a vote of sympathy with the Chairman in his recent 
accident, a most interesting agenda paper was placed before the 
members by the Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. Elliot, jun., Jesmond Dene, 
this including a paper by the popular Vice-President (Mr. Murray, of 
Oakwood Hall, Wylam), entitled “ Gardeners Past and Present, and 
Their Eelation to Other Tradesmen.” The essayist in ’nis paper gave 
a brief risume of gardening from the time of Adam down to the 
Elizabethan period. Modern gardening, more particularly carpet 
bedding, received from the northern orchidologist a severe degree 
of censure, as imparting too much of mechanism, without strictly 
adhering to the higher ideal of Nature. The paper was well received, 
and a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to the able essayist. The 
naming of plants then followed, which forms one of the most instructive 
features of the Society’s programme. Many curious herbaceous, stove, 
greenhouse, and other plants were named. 
THE GARDENS AT OLYMPIA. 
Among the many pleasure resorts of the metropolis, and with which 
horticulture is connected, Olympia at Kensington stands out pro¬ 
minently. The attractions here are of a varied and unique charac’er, 
a representation of Constantinople being the leading feature, but the 
gardens are most pleasing and enjoyable. These were designed and 
planted by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, the well-known nurserymen of 
Forest Hill, and whom the directors of Olympia invited a number of 
representatives of the gardening press to meet there on Monday last for 
the purpose of viewing their handiwork. 
Considering the space at disposal and the general surroundings, 
Messrs. Laing have certainly achieved a marvellous success, and are to 
be congratulated on the manner in which the grounds are embellished. 
It is obvious that no expense has been spared in the undertaking, and 
being in able hands, the result is a most beautiful and attractive 
promenade. This is about a quarter of a mile long, the walk being 
remarkably firm and well gravelled. Oa both sides serpentine beds 
have been constructed, these varying from 3 to 6 feet in width, and they 
are very effectively planted. On one side 400 Lombardy Poplars, 
averaging perhaps 20 feet or more in height, are established, these 
forming a magnificent background and screen. In front of these is a 
wealth of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, comprising 
Cupressus, Hollies, Ehododendrons, Copper-leaved Beech, and others, 
the margin being devoted to summer flowering plants. Among the 
latter are Zonal Pelargoniums, Heliotrope, Ageratum, Lobelia, and 
Pyrethrums, all planted to produce a mass of blossom. The correspond¬ 
ing side is devoted to similar plants, and the walls of the building are 
being rapidly covered with the Virginian Creeper, which adds a charm 
to the surroundings. All the trees and shrubs were planted during the 
past spring, but they are growing vigorously and present a clean, 
healthy appearance, and are as fresh and bright as if grown in the 
country. . 
In the centre of the promenade, over which a senes of crystal 
arcades, illuminated with gas, have been formed, is a carpet bed that 
will attract the attention of thousands of visitors. The bed is about 
14 feet in diameter, filled with Mesembryanthemum, Alternantheras, 
Lobelia, Echeverias, and similar plants. In the centre is a gigantic 
fii^ure of a peacock, cleverly designed and planted with blue Lobelia, 
Pyrethrum, and Alternantheras, the colours being brought out in an 
excellent manner. This style of bedding is common enough in 
America, but is seldom seen in England, and is therefore a novelty. 
Other beds are devoted to double and single Begonias, splendid 
varieties, flowering profusely. Here and there the walls of the building 
are covered with virgin cork, pockets being filled with flowering plants. 
The doors of the “emergency exits” are likewise covered, and so 
places what would otherwise be unsightly are made to appear 
beautiful. Well formed grottos, too, are noticeable, and on these rock 
plants are flourishing, whilst at the base of each may be seen 
aquatics in striking contrast. Suspended from the crystal arcades 
mentioned above are no less than 400 baskets of flowering plants, 
which naturally add beauty to the scene. Altogether the gardens at 
Olympia have been admirably planned, the u'most being made of a 
limited space, and Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, with the garden manager 
there, Mr. Bick, may well be proud of the work accomplished, 
