November 22, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
471 
- Catalpas. — Which variety does your correspondent, 
W. Strugnell, allude to on page 367 1 Is it C. syringsefolia or the golden 
form aurea of this variety ? There is also a variety known as C. Bangei. 
Am I right in concluding it is the former, with its large light green 
leaves ? The golden form is a very handsome tree. We form this 
opinion of trees in a small state.—W. Baedney. 
- Geafting the Tomato on the Potato. —Seeing in your last 
issue (page 446) a paragraph relating to grafting the Tomato on the 
Potato, quoted from “ Meehan’s Monthly,” it may be of interest to 
know that some years ago I received from Mr. John E. Jefferies a 
flourishing example of this. It was grafted late in the season, and 
although tubers were formed on the Potato it bore no Tomatoes, but it 
would probably have done so had the grafting been performed earlier in 
the season, as the haulm was about 2 feet high and bushy when the 
plant died.— Jno. Mattock. 
- Seed Potatoes. —The mild open weather is likely to prove 
very trying to seed Potatoes, and may promote an all too early growth. 
There is no remedy in such cases but to keep the tubers dry and fully 
exposed to light and air. There has been of late so much of humidity 
that even such atmospheric moisture has sufficed to generate roots. 
Where a drier atmosphere can be obtained only by artiflcial heat, then 
the remedy may be worse than the disease, for warmth beyond what is 
natural only serves to force growth, and this it is so desirable to repress. 
Yet to rub out these premature growths in the hope of checking the 
tubers is an evil again. To spread oat the tubers very thinly on shelves 
in a cool airy shed, and where it is light, or to have them set close 
together in single layers in shallow boxes are the best, indeed almost 
only ways of keeping sets in check and in condition of entire firmness. 
It is work that needs immediate attention.—A. D. 
- Double Peimulas. — The splendid plants of these useful 
Primulas, shown recently at Kingston by Messrs. Mease and Mileham, two 
Leatherhead gardeners, serve to indicate how finely these may be grown 
for winter decoration if but fully understood ; yet another Leatherhead 
gardener, Mr, Peters, sometimes shows them wonderfully well at 
Kingston. Mr. Mileham’s plants were large, very profusely bloomed, 
but still rather past their best, as the heads had become loose, Mr. 
Mease’s plants were, perhaps, hardly at their best, yet had fine heads of 
bloom, very beautiful, and they were finely foliaged. The sorts were 
White Lady and Marchioness of Exeter, and both splendid for 
furnishing pure white flowers for cutting ; far before the best of any old 
double white. I hear that Mr. Mease purposes showing a collection of 
his plants at the Drill Hall on the 27th, when many persons will have an 
opportunity of seeing how finely those beautiful Primroses can be grown 
for winter blooming by those who understand them,—A. D. 
- Walton, Weybeidge, and Disteict Society. — The 
twentieth annual show of this Society was held on November 15th 
in the Public Hall, Walton, and taken all round it was a very good 
display of plants, flowers, and fruit. Mr. Swan, gardener to Murray 
Smith, Esq., took first prize for six trained plants, also for two trained 
Pompons, all grand specimens, Mr, Felgate was first for three trained 
plants. In the open class for forty-eight cut blooms Mr. G. Carpenter 
was a good first, Mr. Quarterman second, and Mr. Ridge third. In the 
class for eighteen Japanese and eighteen incurved blooms Mr. Quarterman 
was a splendid first, Mr. Hopkins second, and Mr. Carger third. The 
classes for reflexed Anemones, Pompons, and singles were well contested. 
There was also a good display of bouquets, floral ornaments, and table 
plants. Some of the most successful exhibitors were Messrs. Felgate, 
Cook, Hopkins, Swan, Ridge, Carger, Gardener, Pegram, and Cheeseman. 
—J. T. 
- Noethampton Show. —A report of the show held in the 
Corn Exchange, Northampton, on the 7th and 8th inst., reached us too 
late for insertion. Mr, C. Orchard writes that on the whole it was a 
fine exhibition, the groups of Chrysanthemums having a very imposing 
appearance. Mr. J, Reeve, Cliftonville, was awarded the first prize for 
a group, and Mr. Guillam, Billing Road, had the best six trained plants ; 
Mr. Manning also winning in another class. Cut blooms were good, and 
Mr. W. Pearce, gardener to S. Loder, Esq., Wetdon, was first for 
eighteen incurved flow’ers, and also for the number of Japanese 
varieties. Table plants and Primulas made a good display, also did 
Grapes, Apples, Pears, and vegetables. The amateurs’ productions were 
quite equal to the gardeners in many instances Much praise is due to 
the Hon. Sec. (Mr. E. Draper) and his valuable assistants (Messrs. 
Fowkes, Stephens, and Gulliver) for the methodical arrangement of the 
exhibition. 
- WOOLTON GAEDENEES’ MUTUAL IMPEOVEMENT SOCIETY.— 
The usual fortnightly meeting was held in the Mechanics’ Institute, 
Woolton, on Thursday in last week, Mr. G. H. Webster gave a most 
instructive paper on the cultivation of the Potato, and advocated the 
use of chemical manures, such as kainit and sulphate of ammonia. A 
vote of thanks to Mr. Webster closed the proceedings.—R. P. R. 
- Peunus Pissaedi. — This is perhaps the best dark-leaved 
hardy plant grown. It retains its foliage long after the leaves of Purple 
Beech have fallen. It is also useful for planting where the Purple Beech 
would be out of place. It is a plant that contrasts admirably with Acer 
Negundo variegata either as bushes or standards. Both trees look well 
rising above evergreens of a dwarf nature. This Prunus can be kept in 
due bounds by cutting with a knife, which can be practised every spring, 
and must be done if it is planted to match the Acer, which does not 
make such luxuriant growth. The Prunus makes cleaner and freer 
growth when well pruned, and bolder foliage. It is well worth the 
attention of planters.—B. 
- Shieley and Disteicts Gaedenees’ Association. —The 
monthly meeting of this Association was held at Shirley, Southampton, 
on Monday, the 19th inst., the President, Mr. W. F. G. Spran^er, 
presiding over a fair attendance of the members. Mr, C. W. Herbert 
Greaves, F.R.H.S., gave an interesting discourse on “Some Insect Pests 
and Fungi.” The remedies recommended for the Potato disease were 
spraying with sulphate of copper, burning all haulm and weeds from 
infected plots, some weeds being liable to attack, the rotation of crops, 
and the selection of disease-resisting varieties for planting. Clubbing 
was also illustrated by diagrams, the use of gas-lime being said to be a 
good remedy on some soi s, and also the planting of crops liable to club 
once only in five or six years on the same ground. A paper on the 
“ Cultivation of theEucharis” will be given next month by Mr. Jesse 
Jones, The Gardens, Terrace House, Southampton. 
- The Wintee Moth. —I believe Mr. Hiam (page 425) and I 
have had some correspondence through the Journal of Horticulture 
about the above flying in pairs over grease bands. I have caught a 
number flying in this manner at different times, as a rule not far from 
the ground. Some years ago we had a strong proof that they were 
acting as stated amongst our dwarf fruit trees, all of which were grease- 
banded, and a man was employed doing nothing else but regreasing for 
weeks. No moths could pass over these bands without getting caught, 
yet eggs were deposited by millions in the trees, and the following 
spring we had the worst attack of caterpillars we ever had, either before 
or since. I spent hours night after night, when most people were in 
bed, watching to see how the moths got over the grease bands. All 
those which attempted that feat were settled, but great numbers got 
into the lowest branches by flying in pairs, and laid their eggs without 
hindrance. Since that year we have not grease-banded our dwarf 
trees, as it proved labour in vain. We have immense quantities of male 
moths now about the trees and hedgerows, but so far not many females 
have been seen, nor any great number of eggs ; but if this mild weather 
continues we may expect more than enough of both. I saw the first 
male on October 8th, but until the last week comparatively few were 
about.—S. T. Weight, Glewston Court Gardens, Ross. 
- Bullfinches. —Many persons are under the erroneous impres¬ 
sion that it is insects bullfinches seek and not fruit buds. From some 
years’ experience I can testify that where bullfinches abound fruit, 
especially Damsons and Gooseberries, are scarcer in proportion. To 
substantiate my testimony I may relate the following :—Upon entering 
a situation as gardener a few years ago one of the first things my atten¬ 
tion was drawn to by my employer (a lady) was the Damson trees. They 
w’ere young, and appeared to be in good condition ; but up to that time, 
from some unaccountable cause, they never bore fruit. Having satisfied 
myself as to the condition of their roots, which were satisfactory, I con¬ 
cluded that either the locality was subject to late frosts or that bullfinches 
were the cause of failure. However, when March set in my second 
supposition proved correct, for the bullfinches were thicker in the 
Damson trees than the fruit had been the previous September, I 
acquainted my employer of the discovery, and mentioned the only 
remedy—viz., caging or destroying. She was astonished, and could 
scarcely believe even when she saw them picking the buds, as she had 
never heard of fruit buds being destroyed by bullfinches. Being satisfied 
as to the cause of Damson failures, the choice then rested with my 
employer which should be sacrificed in future—the birds or the fruit ; 
but on account of the pretty plumage of the former the balance for a 
time was in equilibrio, but, I need scarcely add, eventually turned in 
favour of the latter.—P. W. Cheshiee. 
