August 3, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
103 
Events of the Week —The events of horticultural interest to 
take place during the ensuing week include the Southampton show on 
August 4th and 6th. The exhibition of the Liverpool Horticultural 
Association will be held on the same days ; and on Monday, 6th inst., a 
conference on gardening will be held in Carshalton Park (Surrey), in 
connection with the annual show of the Beddington, Carshalton, and 
Wallington Horticultural Society. On that day, too, an exhibition of 
garden produce will take place at Northampton. 
- The Weather in London, —The temperature has been 
rather above the average in the metropolis during the past week. 
Showers have occurred and rain fell heavily on Sunday night. Monday 
was rather dull but fine, whilst Tuesday proved bright and warm. 
Wednesday opened cloudy, and rain fell in the morning, 
- National Carnation and Picotee Society. — The 
■exhibition of the northern section of the National Carnation and 
Picotee Society will be held on August 11th in the Botanical Gardens, 
Old Trafford, Manchester. 
- Royal Scottish Arboricultdral Society. —We understand 
that the annual meeting of this Society will be held at 20, George Street, 
Edinburgh, on Monday, August 6th. The annual excursion will extend 
from the 7th to the 10th of August, and will be devoted to a visit to 
several famous estates in Strathspey, Moray, and Banff. 
- Lincoln’s Inn Gardens. — We are informed that these 
gardens will be open to the general public every evening until 
August 11th from half-past six till dusk. After that date the hour of 
opening will be 5 p.m., so that the children in the neighbourhood may 
avail themselves of the playground thus thrown open to them. This 
boon has been granted by the Benchers of Lincoln’s Inn, who for some 
years past have opened their gardens at this period of the year. 
- Roses at Trentham —In our report of the Trentham show 
(page 88) Mr. C, Chandos Pole was given as the winner of the 12-guinea 
prize for an arrangement of Roses. It should have been H. Chandos Pole 
Gell, Esq., Hopton Hall, Mr. G, Bolas, gardener. There does not appear 
to be time for giving the full addresses of exhibitors on the prize cards 
at Trentham and some other shows. 
-The Royal Horticultural Society's Examination.— 
1 have been looking over the list of successful candidates published 
in the columns of a contemporary with much interest, because I had 
previously read your mention respecting the great cost incurred and 
the small results that followed, as there were but ninety-three successful 
in the examination which, in its scope, included the whole kingdom. 
Of this limited number eight are females, and there are in all seventeen 
students from the Swanley Horticultural College. Out of the total 
number fifty-three only are returned as bona fide gardeners. Now I 
have no doubt the Swanley College authorities will be somewhat 
cock-a-hoop over the assumed successes of their pupils ; but when it is 
seen how comparatively elementary are most of the questions, and how 
few relatively also had to be answered, and also that only three out of the 
Swanley College students reached to over 200 marks out of a possible 
300, it is very obvious that there is very little to be elated about. To 
put the matter mildly, it is exceedingly humiliating; first, to find that so 
few relatively entered into the examination; and second, to find that of 
those who passed only eleven obtained 200 marks, whilst no less than 
forty-five were below 150. What miserable results must some of these 
papers presented to have been pointed so low ! Really, after this 
product can anyone say that the game is worth the candle ? That such 
an examination can have any real beneficial influence on horticulture it 
is impossible to believe. Even the young or aged gardeners who could 
not reach higher than 200 marks must admit that they have nothing 
to boast of ; indeed, the product does them no credit. Educated 
gardeners who have also good practical knowledge, should have reached 
almost the maximum with ease, yet there are only four whose marks 
range from 200 to 215. After all, does the fault lie with the candidates 
or with the examination ? To me the whole thing is a conundrum. 
— Kent. [Our Kentish correspondent does not say whether he was one 
of the candidates or not who were beaten by young ladies.] 
- A New Aspidistra. —According to the French papers a new 
species of Aspidistra has been discovered at the Museum of Natural 
History of Paris. The plant is described as being of Tonkin origin and 
as ornamental as A. elatior. The lamina of the leaves is unsymmetrical. 
The very numerous flowers have short and thick peduncles, their colour 
becoming wholly of a dull and vinous red. The sepals and petals 
deviate from one another very well, but are not reflected like those of 
A. elatior. 
-A New Open Space at Lewisham. —The London County 
Council is now engaged in laying out Hilly Fields, Lewisham, as an 
open space for the public. At a meeting held recently the Parks and 
Open Spaces Committee reported that it haf had under consideration 
what works were necessary to be done at Hilly Fields to fit the place 
for the purposes of a recreation ground, and they asked to be authorised 
to expend £4985 for that purpose. The recommendation of the Com¬ 
mittee was approved on the distinct understanding that the original 
estimate of £5500 for laying out should not be exceeded. 
- The Glasnevin Botanic Gardens. — In the House of 
Commons last week the hours of opening these gardens were referred to, 
and Mr. Acland stated that they are open on week days from 10 A.M, 
to 6 P.M. between April 1st and September 30th, and from 10 A.M. to 
4 30 P.M., or to sunset, between October Ist and March 31st. The glass 
houses are opened an hour later and closed an hour earlier than the 
gardens. On Sundays both gardens and conservatories are open from 
2 P.M. till the stated time for closing the gardens. He said that he 
would see whether arrangements can be made for keeping the gardens 
and houses open somewhat later in the summer. 
- Apple Hambledon Deux Ans. —This Apple originated in 
the village of Hambledon, but eight miles from Swanmore, where there 
are still many old trees. Hereabouts the cottagers think highly of it, 
purely on account of its keeping qualities. There must be two varieties, 
because I would defy anyone to boil soft some that I have had given me 
in March last. The market is generally the best test of the quality of a 
well-known Apple. Last summer many bushels of picked fruit were 
sold in this neighbourhood at fifteen pence the bushel. I find the 
greatest difficulty imaginable to persuade a cottager to cut down the 
Deux Ans trees and replace them with others.—E. M., Swanmore Park. 
-Wakefield Paxton Society.—T he showery state of the 
weather somewhat affected the attendance at the meeting of the members 
of the above Society on the 21st ult., when a discussion on “ The Carnation 
and Picotee ” was to have been introduced by Mr. George Gill, of Eastmoor, 
one of the vice-presidents of the Society. Owing to the unseasonable 
weather which has prevailed for some time the Carnations and Picotees 
in the district had not commenced to open their bloom, and it was con¬ 
sequently found necessary to delay the exhibition of these beautiful and 
sweet flowers, and also the essay upon them. To fill up the gap thus created 
Mr. George Parkin, photographer, York Street, one of the oldest 
members of the Society and a well-known botanist, gave a lecture on 
insects which infect and destroy Currant trees. The lecture occupied 
upwards of an hour in delivery and was exceedingly interesting. 
Mr. Parkin showed himself thoroughly at home with his subject, and his 
remarks were rendered all the more interesting and clear from the fact 
that the lecture was freely illustrated with neatly preserved specimens, 
and chalk drawings on a blackboard. 
-Torquay District Gardeners’ Association.—T he above 
Society held their second annual summer outing on Monday, July 30th. 
The weather was perfect, and the party (numbering over 100) left the 
Promenade Pier, Plymouth, per special steamer at ten o’clock and 
proceeded up the Tamar to Calstock, a trip of twenty miles. Here 
luncheon was partaken of in a marquee, Mr. W. A. Masterman being 
in the chair, and Mr. W. B. Smale in the vice-chair. Pentillie Castle, 
the residence of Mr. W. Coryton, J.P., was next visited, and under the 
genial leadership of the head gardener, Mr. C. W. Cove, the par^y passed 
a delightful hour in exploring the beauties of the grounds. A grand 
specimen of Bougainvllle^ glabra in full bloom entirely covering the 
interior of the conservatory roof, was an attractive object of great 
admiration, while the numerous Indian and Ghent Azaleas, Lapagerias, 
Magnolias, and Tree Ferns growing luxuriantly in the open were 
interestedly observed. H.M. ship “ Defiance,” torpedo training ship, 
was also visited, by the kind permission of Capt. J. E. Meryon, and an 
impromptu lecture given and experiments were performed for the 
benefit of the party. Torquay was reached soon after ten o’clock, a 
most enjoyable day having been spent. Mr. F, C. Smale is the 
Honorary Secretary, who, with the Committee, made all arrangementc. 
