584 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 16, 1891. 
Postmaster-General, in reply, remarked that 
the main question was not at all a new one 
as far as he was concerned. Three years ago 
he brought the matter under the consideration 
of the Treasury, the main point then being the 
extension of the weights allowed to be carried. 
To that there was an objection taken which had 
some force, viz., that it was not desirable for 
the Post Office to extend its operations upon a 
field where it would be in competition with 
other agencies. He gathered that the proposal 
brought forward by the deputation was with 
reference to the cheapening of the carriage of a 
particular class of article. He had had the 
opportunity of seeing Miss Currie, and she 
urged her case with great force. She was 
extremely anxious for the development of the 
flower industry in the southern counties of 
Ireland, and she pointed out that they could 
not now reach the London market under two 
days. Her case could best be met by insti¬ 
tuting a new express service via Waterford, 
and the matter was now under the consideration 
of the department. The deputation, however, 
urged that a great development of the industry 
would result if the charges on perishable articles 
were reduced, and he thought that there was a 
very strong case indeed for the Post Office 
taking upon itself the special charge of these 
perishables, where really speed of conveyance 
was everything. He was happy to tell them 
that a great deal had been done, and he was 
quite ready to hear from the deputation that 
much more would be done if the charges were 
in some measure reduced. He thought that 
with regard to things which were most perish¬ 
able the deputation had made out a case very 
well worthy the consideration of the Govern¬ 
ment, and he should be very glad to go again 
to the Treasury and see whether anything could 
be done generally in the direction of the 
proposals that had been made. 
ybrid Rhododendrons. —The Rev. Professor 
Henslow’s lecture on this subject at the 
Drill Hall last Tuesday contained some excellent 
hints for the guidance of those who intend to 
undertake the cross-breeding and hybridisation 
of Rhododendrons. Many of the facts he 
brought forward would hardly be comprehended 
by the general public in the course of a lecture, 
but the statistics cannot fail to be of value to 
those who like to study them when they appear 
in printed form in the Journal of the Royal 
Horticultural Society. 
Seedlings raised from species fertilised with 
their own pollen would only reproduce the 
species. In order to obtain a series of different 
colours it was necessary to first obtain a white 
one, and by repeated crossing a large number 
of varieties differing in colour could be 
evolved. 
Self-fertilisation must be resorted to in order 
to perpetuate any particular or desirable hue. 
He then related the interesting case of the self¬ 
fertilisation of a certain flower that showed 
some of its stamens in an anomalous or semi- 
petaloid condition. The result was fifteen 
seedlings, all of which bore double or semi¬ 
double flowers, the best-of which are now well 
known in cultivation and highly prized. Two 
flowers of different hues, producing a third 
colour when crossed with one another, he 
described as a case of atavism, or reversion to 
an ancestral type The best results with regard 
to size were always obtained by crossing large- 
flowered kinds with one another, and unless 
any particular colour was desired it was useless 
to cross a large with a small one, as the progeny 
was therefore greatly reduced in size, or even 
rendered worthless. 
The sum and substance of the demonstrator’s 
teaching, which he illustrated by diagrams and 
dried flowers, was that the operator should 
have some definite object in view, and nothing 
should be attempted in a haphazard way, 
because, after great care in manipulating the 
flowers, in order to ensure the efficacy of a 
cross, and after years of waiting, the hybridist 
might be doomed to disappointment. The pre¬ 
potency of the pollen of one kind over another 
was also to be taken into consideration. A 
veritable pigmy (which he exhibited), seven 
years old, about 3 ins. high, and a hybrid 
between the so-called Indian Azalea and a 
Javan Rhododendron, should demonstrate the 
fact that all species of this genus, as now 
regarded, will not hybridise so freely with one 
another as the Rev. Dean Herbert and some of 
the older botanists would lead us to suppose. 
loral “Onions.” —Our Continental friends 
occasionally play odd pranks with the 
Queen’s English, and now and then we get 
humorous evidences of this failing in trade 
circulars. One to hand recently gravely 
informs us that the advertiser has taken in 
hand the production of Floral “ Onions.” 
What could thus be meant naturally provoked 
curiosity, and at first an explanation seemed 
to be found in the fact that elsewhere 
these said productions were referred to as 
“ Oignons.” The inference was obvious that 
some French translator or compositor had 
taken liberties with the text and converted 
“ Oignons ” into “ Onions.” But what have 
“Oignons” to do with crosses, wreaths, &c., 
for funeral purposes, made from dried ever¬ 
lasting flowers, for such are the productions 
referred to 1 Is there, after all, room for just 
a shade of suspicion that a grim joke lies 
hidden beneath the assumed error, and that 
the object of these said Floral “ Oignons,” 
alias “Onions,” is to provoke tears at command 
on needful occasions 1 
- »i< -- 
The Season in Switzerland.—We learn from a 
Geneva correspondent that fine growing weather has 
recently proved a boon to vegetation in that part, and 
the fruit crops are looking most promising all round. 
Messrs. Messenger & Co., the well-known horticul¬ 
tural builders of Loughborough, Leicestershire, have 
established a London office at 163, Palmerston 
Buildings, Old Broad Street, E.C. 
The Ludlow Flower Show, at which special prizes 
are offered for Roses, will be held on Wednesday, July 
22nd. 
Mr. J. R. Petcli.—We understand that Mr. J. R. 
Petch, who for the last eighteen years has been 
connected with the firm of Messrs. Richard Smith & Co., 
of Worcester, as traveller, is seeking another engage¬ 
ment either in the same capacity or as gardener to any 
gentleman requiring the services of a first-rate man. 
Iq the palmy days of Manley Hall, Mr. Petch proved 
himself to be one of the very best gardeners in the 
country, and he should not now be long in finding a 
position worthy of the wide range of horticultural 
knowledge which he possesses and his proved skill as 
a cultivator of plants. 
The Pansy.—We are glad to see that Mr. James 
Simkins, of King’s Norton, near Birmingham, has just 
issued a second and cheaper edition (Is. 6d.) of his 
admirable little work on The Pansy, and How to Grow 
and Show It. To the humblest class of growers the 
first edition was prohibitive in price, but we hope that 
the present one will be the means of extending the 
culture of these showy and easily-grown flowers. The 
London publishers are Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall & Co. 
Potato Growing at Dunbar.— The North British 
Agriculturist states that Potato planting is now 
(May 6th) almost completed in the Dunbar district of 
East Lothian. The acreage is fully up to last year. 
The largest grower in the district is Mr. James Hope, 
East Barns, who has usually about 300 acres under 
this crop. 
Gardening Appointments.—Mr. J. Cann, formerly 
gardener at Cranbury Park, Hants, as gardener to the 
Dowager Countess of Aylesford,.The Bury, Leamington. 
Mr. J. Pallett, from Battersea Park, S.W., as gardener 
at Camberwell Park, under the London County Council. 
Mr. Mark Dell, lately foreman at Warren House, 
Stanmore, as gardener to J. W. Hobbs, Esq., Norbury 
Hall, Streatham, S.W. 
Royal Botanic Society.—At a meeting of this 
society, held on Saturday, Lord Willoughby de Eresby 
in the chair, the plants in flower from the society’s 
conservatories shown at the meeting included an 
Amorphophallus, a plant allied to the Arum, remarkable 
for the very offensive carrion-like odour given out by 
the flower when it has reached the fertilising stage, 
with the evident design of attracting insects to assist it. 
Another characteristic peculiar to the family is the 
greatly increased temperature at that period, a rise of 
9° over the surrounding air being shown by a thermo¬ 
meter being suspended in the flower. 
Ilalf-liolidays in Edinburgh Nurseries.—For some 
few months past an agitation has been going on among 
the employes in the Edinburgh nurseries, with a view 
to securing a half-holiday on Saturdays, and on the 
4th inst. a meeting of the men was held in the Albion 
Halls, Stoekbridge, to hear the report of a deputation 
which had been appointed to wait upon the Edinburgh 
nurserymen. The chairman stated that they had got 
assurances from two nurserymen that they would 
grant a half-holiday after two o’clock on Saturdays 
during the months of May, June, July, August, and 
September provided the other nurserymen in the city 
granted it also. Following on that promise, the com¬ 
mittee had written to all the other nurserymen in the 
city, and in the letter expressed their regret that the 
meeting of the trade, convened by Mr. John Methven, 
had fallen through in consequence of an accident to 
him, but still hoped the other nurserymen would see 
their way to agreeing to the request preferred. No 
answer had been received from any of the employers, 
and thus far the movement had failed. 
The Export Trade in Potatos to America.—At a 
recent Agricultural Dinner in Dundee, Mr. J. Galloway 
referred in responding to the toast of “The Potato 
Trade ” to the growth of the export trade in Potatos to 
America. They now knew precisely what the 
Americans wanted, as the American climate was not 
suited for the production of a good mealy potato. The 
Americans wanted Magnums and Bruces, and they 
wanted them sent in the best condition. As showing 
the growth of the trade with America, Mr. Galloway 
stated that, notwithstanding the high price of Potatos 
on this side of the Atlantic, and the high tariff of £2 
per ton imposed on all Potatos imported into the 
States, the Potatos exported to America during the 
past winter had bulked up to the large total of 20,907 
tons, of which no less than two-thirds were exported 
from Dundee. 
The Weather in the North of Scotland_The trite 
saying that “Winter lingering chills the lap of Spring” 
has been well verified in the north this season. The 
cold, ungenial weather which prevailed during March 
and April kept vegetation in complete check, and at 
the present time the growth is much later this year 
than last year. Before the rain came the appearance 
of the country was extremely bleak for the period of 
the season at which we have arrived ; but a vast 
change has already overspread the face of nature. The 
grass has simply made marvellous progress, and the 
fields are clothed with a vivid green. The abnormally 
low temperature, however, we are now experiencin 0, 
will undoubtedly give it a check. Gardeners say that 
flowers are just three weeks behind, and, certainly, 
looking at the Primrose beds, there is no doubt that is 
correct. Agriculturists, too, are in a sorry plight. 
The braird on the earlier-sown fields is showing above 
ground, but, like the grass, it is making very slow 
progress. Unless in very favoured situations, there is 
scarcely a bite on the grass fields, and as Turnips are 
now almost exhausted, farmers are looking very glum 
at this aspect of affairs. 
Flower Show in Jamaica.—The fourteenth annual 
exhibition of the Kingston Horticultural Society, 
Jamaica, was held at the Exhibition on the 8th, 9th 
and 10th of April last. Prizes were offered for flowers, 
fruits and vegetables ; and Grapes, Mangoes, Cashew 
Nut, Cocoa Nut, Guava, Forbidden Fruit, Papaw, 
Shaddocks, and Star Apples were amongst the fruits 
exhibited. Some of the miscellaneous exhibits elicited 
a great amount of attention, including a group of 150 
Ferns in pots, shown by Mr. Cradwick, superintendent 
of some of the Government Cinchona plantations there. 
He also showed some well-grown Bermuda Lilies 
(Lilium longiflorum eximium or Harrisi), which are 
considered very difficult to grow in the island. Pecu¬ 
liar interest, however, attaches to his exhibits of 
Cinerarias and Cyclamens, which were shown for the 
first time in Jamaica. The Cyclamen is described by 
the local reporter as “a peculiar plant termed 
Cyclamen persicum, which bears a flower somewhat 
similar to the common Sweet Pea, and shows the 
flower on the reflex side. This plant has only just 
been intro iuced into Jamaica, and shown for the first 
