October 4, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
317 
Midsummer eve to gather a flower. This was carefully kept till 
Christmas, when the future spouse was expected to appear and 
claim it. Various, and occasionally odd, have been the meanings 
assigned to different Roses, some of them trivial or foolish, but, 
speaking generally, they associate the flower with love or beauty. 
Tea Roses are significant of “floral loveliness,” the Burgundy 
Rose is of “ unconscious beauty,” the China Rose of “ grace,” 
the Sweetbriar of “sympathy,” the Maiden’s Blush “love will be 
found out,” the Cabbage is an “ ambassador of love.” A Rose 
of deep red tells of shame or bashfulness, one that is yellow of 
jealousy, the white of maiden purity. There is a legend which 
makes the Moss Rose superior to all the others, for it states that 
when Venus asked her son how her favourite flower could be 
improved, he threw over it some moss.—J. R. S. C. 
Events op the Week. —As mentioned in another paragraph, the 
Committees of the Royal Horticultural Society will meet at the Drill 
Hall, James Street, Westminster, on Tuesday, the 9th inst. On the 
evening of the same day the annual dinner of the United Horticultural 
Benefit and Provident Society will be held at the Cannon Street Hotel, 
London, Arnold Moss, Esq., in the chair. An exhibition of Chrys¬ 
anthemums will open under the auspices of the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, on the 
10th inst., continuing the two following days. 
- The Weather in London. —Since publishing our last issue 
fine dry weather has prevailed in the metropolis, the wind being rather 
cold on some days. Slight frosts, too, have been experienced, but they 
do not appear to have affected vegetation. Hardy flowers are abundant 
in many gardens, and make a charming display where extensively 
grown. 
- Royal Horticultural Society.—T he next meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, 
Victoria Street, Westminster, on Tuesday, October 9th, when a large 
display of fruits and flowers is anticipated. At three o’clock Mr. E. H. 
Woodall, F.R.H.S., of Scarborough, will deliver a lecture on “ How to 
Popularise Orchid Growing.” 
- The New Lord Mayor.—A n amusing message relating 
to the election of Lord Mayor in the London Guildhall, on Tuesday last, 
may be worth recording. It was received by me from a person 
interested, in these terms—“Be sure to vote for Sir Joshua Reynolds.” 
As the famous Sir Joshua has been dead about a hundred years, I voted 
for Sir Joseph Renals, who is very much alive and headed the poll. He 
belongs to the Fruiterer’s Company.— A Liveryman. 
- National Amateur Gardeners’ Association.—A t a 
meeting of this Association, held on Tuesday last at the Memorial Hall, 
Farringdon Street, E.C., Mr. H. Shoesmith read an excellent paper on 
“ Hyacinths, Tulips, and other Spring Flowers.” Mr. T. W. Sanders 
presided, and there was a large attendance of members, many of whom 
brought cut flowers, plants, fruit, or vegetables for exhibiting. The 
produce, on the whole, was of excellent quality, and made a fine display, 
the collections of hardy flowers and vegetables being particularly good, 
Mr. D. B. Crane, 4, Woodview Terrace, Archway Road, Highgate, is the 
Honorary Secretary. 
- Frogmore Selected Tomato. — If Mr. Owen Thomas 
furnished a surprise early in the summer when he sent up from 
Frogmore such a selection of this Tomato, showing that it was a 
very early variety, certainly the collection of fruits sent to the last 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society was not less so. I do not 
think anyone else could have shown such a fine selection of well- 
ripened fruits from an open wall—not single fruits, but great clusters. 
I asked Mr. Thomas when these plants—for there were plants as well 
as fruits shown—were put out, and he said, “ Fortunately just after the 
May frosts. My foreman purposed doing so earlier, but I advised delay, 
and thus saved the plants from probable destruction.” When put out 
they were about 14 inches in height. Well, it is of very little use to 
put small plants outdoors. As to plants trained to stakes, I fear this 
season they will be a general failure.—A. D. 
- In the Damson Country. —A correction is needed in my 
notes on page 28S last week. Instead of 60 tons of Damsons being sent 
from Cheddington in a season, that weight of fruit is not infrequently 
sent in a week.—W. I. 
- Making a Screen of Ferns. —I have for several years been 
collecting and preserving fronds of choice exotic Ferns. I have a wish 
to make a screen of them, and am at a loss to know what material to use 
for placing the fronds. Will some reader of the Journal kindly inform 
me, and also state if common gum should be used, or paste? Some 
gardeners have attractive screens in their homes.—H, T. M. 
- Hydrangea hortensis in the Shrubbery.—A t the present 
time this Hydrangea is a conspicuous object in the front of the shrub¬ 
bery, where it is in full blossom, its rosy pink flower trusses rendering that 
part of the garden especially attractive. When the plants become too large 
to be grown in pots we transfer them to the shrubbery, where they are 
allowed to grow away at will, and if a sunny spot is chosen a full crop 
of flower heads are produced annually. It matters not what kind of 
soil is employed, but that which is strong and retentive of moisture 
seems to suit this Hydrangea best.—E. M. 
- Distribution op Plants.—T he Commissioners of Her 
Majesty’s Works and Public Buildings intend to distribute among the 
working classes and the poor inhabitants of London the surplus bedding 
out plants in Hyde and the Regent’s Park and in the pleasure gardens, 
Hampton Court. If the clergy, school committees, and others interested 
will make application to the Superintendent of the Park nearest to 
their respective parishes, or to the Superintendent of Hampton Court 
Gardens, they will receive early intimation of the number of plants 
that can be allotted to each applicant, and of the time and manner of 
their distribution. Any costs of carriage must be borne by the 
recipients. 
- Potato Diseases. —Whilst we may well charge on a cold, 
wet summer the infliction of various diseases upon the Potato, a native 
of a warm, indeed almost hot, climate, we may not forget that it is 
likely more of liability to disease attacks has resulted from the effects 
of the May frosts, so disastrous to breadths everywhere, than even to the 
cold summer weather. No doubt generally Potato growth was not only 
exceedingly weakened, but was fully a month late, because of the 
severe cutting down experienced in May last. I should not be at all 
surprised to learn that of the few sorts of seedling Potatoes which 
recently gave such wonderful crops at Chiswick were such late growers 
that they escaped the frosts. Certainly the robust nature of their tops 
justified that conclusion. Another season it will be universally well to 
plant some two or three weeks later than was the case this year.—A. D. 
- Washingtonia pilifera. —Readers of the “ Garden and 
Forest ” are informed that this plant appears to be well established 
on the Riviera, where it is as abundantly represented as any other 
Palm. In one garden—namely, that of Monsieur de Falbe—in Cannes 
there are no less than seventy-six large specimens of it, some of them 
having trunks 18 feet high and over 3 feet in diameter. In another 
garden in Cannes a specimen of this Palm flowered last year. Seeing 
that it was not introduced into Europe until 1875, its abundance and 
the large size of many of the specimens on the Riviera are remarkable. 
In countries where the Washingtonia requires the protection of a glass 
house it is almost equally happy. At any rate, in a greenhouse at 
Herrenhausen, near Hanover, Herr Wendland has several grand 
examples, and there are also some healthy fast-growing specimens of it 
planted out in the temperate house at Kew. 
- Plants for Growing under Trees.—W e stand greatly 
in need of variety in plants and shrubs capable of being grown under 
the shade and drip of some of our larger trees. Trailing Ivies, Peri¬ 
winkles, Aucubas, Privet, and a few other plants are amongst the best 
known for such purposes, but one of the very best is the green tree Ivy, 
which when once established seems to bear ill usage with impunity. 
Having to plant a border in the midst of which stood a large Horse 
Chestnut tree, the branches of which cast their shadows over it, I was 
somewhat puzzled as to the most suitable shrubs to put in. The tree 
Ivy was recommended for trial. The plants were lifted in May of last 
year, planted in the border, where for the greater part of the season 
they were kept alive by the aid of the hose pipe. They stood the winter 
well, a slight pinching into shape the last week in April of this year being 
all their requirements. Now they look healthy and vigorous, forming 
as they do handsome bushes some 2 feet high. For planting in smoky 
’or shady positions I should think—from inquiries made from several 
l^friends—that it would almost stand unrivalltd.—R. P. R. 
