May 30, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
621 
Barking Horticultural and Floral Society.—The 
committee recently appointed to consider the 
prospects for establishing a society under the above 
name held another meeting at the Public Offices, 
Barking, recently, and decided definitely to establish 
the same. For the purpose of inducing the allot¬ 
ment holders to take an interest in the society, Mr. 
Fred Merritt promised to present a silver cup to the 
exhibitor who should win the largest number of 
prizes. 
Erratum.—On p. 607, in the fifteenth and sixteenth 
lines from the bottom of the third column, an error 
has crept in where errors "daurna weel be seen.” 
In speaking of the Chrysanthemums introduced by 
Mr. Fortune, it is made to appear that the incurved 
or Chinese section originated from that collector’s 
introductions, whereas they did not. Mr. C. Harman 
Payne writes to point out the slip as follows :—Mr. 
Fortune introduced the parent of the Pompons and 
the first Japs. Incurves were known and grown 
before he went to China the first time. I do not 
think he ever even introduced an incurved Chrysan¬ 
themum of any sort. They were too well known to 
be a novelty. The Jersey growers of 1836-38 pro¬ 
duced the first incurves from varieties previously 
imported from China.” 
A Fatal Accident.—It is with much regret that we 
record the death of a promising young gardener on 
the night previous to the opening of the Temple 
Show. Mr. George Knight had been in the employ¬ 
ment of Mr. S. Mortimer, Rowledge, Farnham, 
Surrey, for eleven years, and during the latter 
four years he occupied the position of foreman He 
had been to the Temple Show with Mr. Mortimer’s 
exhibit and was returning by a late train in company 
with one of his fellow workmen, when both had 
dropped off to sleep. Mr. Knight, it is believed, had 
waked up to discover that the train had moved on 
past the station where he should have alighted, and 
in jumping off was killed by the train passing over 
him. His companion did not wake up till he 
reached the next station and had to walk six miles to 
get home. The accident must have happened about 
ir 30 p.m. 
Prize essays on kitchen gardening.—Some time 
ago the Sevenoaks Gardeners’ Society communi¬ 
cated with the Chiswick Gardeners' Mutual Im¬ 
provement Association, with the view of having 
the essays on “ Kitchen Gardening for April,” by 
the under-gardeners of the former society, read and 
the winning essays determined. The Chiswick 
gardeners appointed a sub-committee consisting of 
Mr. S. T. Wright, the superintendent of the Chis¬ 
wick Gardens, Mr. James Gibson, of Devonhurst, 
Chiswick, and the editor of The Gardening 
World, to judge the essays. This having been 
done, Mr. S. Cooke, the secretary of the Sevenoaks 
Society, writes to say that the first three papers 
were read at their meeting on Tuesday (19th inst.) 
when the judging was unanimously endorsed. The 
first-prizewinner is Mr. A. Reeve, Rosefield Gardens ; 
Mr. C. Buckland, Park Grange Gardens, is second ; 
and Mr. H. Wilson, Walthamstow Hall Gardens, 
is third. Mr. Cooke was also requested by the 
members of the Sevenoaks Gardeners’ Society to 
write thanking the judges most heartily for the 
time and trouble taken to arrive at a just decision 
respecting the essays. 
Shirley Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association. 
—At the monthly meeting held on the 18th inst., at 
the society’s rooms, Shirley, Southampton, there 
was a good attendance of the members to hear a 
lecture on the " Fertilisation of Flo vers,” given by 
Mr. W. Frank Perkins, M.R.A.C., F.S.I., &c. 
Vice-President G. T. Harper, Esq., J.P., presided, 
and the lecture, which was of a highly interesting 
and instructive character, was further enhanced in 
value by the fact that it was most profusely illus¬ 
trated by lime-light, with slides especially prepared 
for Mr. Perkins, by Mr. J. Hornell, Biological 
Laboratory, Jersey. The slides represented the 
various methods of fertilisation, and showed also a 
great number of flowers, from which could be seen 
the various devices adopted by nature for securing 
the desired object. The lecturer was much 
applauded at intervals, and at the close of his 
remarks a hearty vote of thanks was accorded him 
on the proposition of the chairman. There was an 
excellent display of cut blooms of American shrubs, 
&c., contributed by Mr. W. H. Rogers, J.P., Red 
Lodge Nursery (Certificate awarded) ; Orchids were 
shown by the chairman (Certificate) ; Grapes by 
Mr. W. Perkins, J P. (Certificate); Orchids and 
Pansies by Mr. C. G. Stewart Menteth, J.P., V.H.C.; 
Peas by Mr. J. K. Allen, F.R.H.S., V.H.C. ; and 
hardy flowers by Mr. B. Ladham, F.R.H.S. A vote 
of thanks to the chairman and the exhibitors closed 
the meeting. 
--*■- 
INSECT PESTS. 
Owing to the mild winter we have passed through, 
insect pests seem to be in great numbers everywhere, 
and are making their presence known by the havoc 
they are playing. Weevils are one of the most 
destructive pests the gardener has to contend against. 
Their ravages start as soon as darkness sets in, and 
if left to their own resources, they will soon make 
short work of the buds and foliage of any plant with 
which they come in contact. They are common in 
vine borders in early spring ; but here they are 
attacking the Roses outside in large numbers. 
Various remedies have been tried to keep these mid¬ 
night marauders down. Lime seems to have no 
effect on them ; they can work their way through it 
if laid round the stems. The safest plan is to look over 
any plants affected at night with a lamp. They drop 
to the ground when they are disturbed. Their 
larvae are white in colour, legless, with strong jaws. 
They are also very destructive to the roots of plants. 
—Castle Rovo, Ireland. 
--- 
THE DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. 
Whilst walking on the south side of the Surrey 
Downs on Saturday the 16th inst, along a portion of 
the Pilgrim’s Way, I came across what has now 
become a rare plant with us—Atropa Belladonna, the 
Deadly Nightshade. It was growing luxuriantly, 
throwing up several stems to a height of about 2^ ft. 
and in the axils of the leaves the flowers were com¬ 
mencing to form. 
This is the most poisonous of all our native 
plants, and from its leaves when dried, and its fruits, 
which are of a purplish-black colour, as well as from 
the root, an alkaloid is obtained which is used in 
medicine as a sedative, and by oculists for the 
purpose of dilating the pupil of the eye. 
It is said to have been used by the Italian ladies 
as a cosmetic ; hence its specific name. Though 
very poisonous to man—the tenth of a grain of the 
alkaloid when swallowed occasioning symptoms of 
poisoning—it is eaten by horses without ill 
effect; and an ass has been known to partake of 
a pound of the berries with impunity. Birds too, eat 
the seeds. I have been told that the plant is to be 
found in great profusion around Furness Abbey.— 
J. C. Stogdon. 
-- 
HARDY TREES AND SHRUBS. 
Those interested in, or desirous of planting 
these, would do well to pay a visit to some of our 
large establishments at the present time where they 
are well-grown, as they certainly would not fail to 
find something both interesting and instructive in 
their growth. We will take the genus Crataegus, in 
which will be found many beautiful plants well 
worthy of notice; and not the least amongst them is 
C. Oxyacantha coccinea plena, which, when grown 
to a large size, and allowed to extend its branches in 
every direction, makes a noble specimen either for 
park or lawn. Then we have many of the Magno¬ 
lias, Amelanchiers, Cerasus, of which a variety 
under the name of C. Mayi is the most beautiful 
that has come under my observation. The flowers 
are larger and more double than those of any other 
form that I have seen. Amygdalus davidiana and 
A. Persica, Calycanthus floridus, with its peculiar 
chocolate-coloured flowers, and Deutzias, particularly 
the D. crenata section, of which there are several 
very fine varieties, are all highly ornamental. 
One of the most interesting trees that has come 
under my notice is the Halesia tetraptera, which, at 
the present time, is a mass of Snowdrop-like flowers, 
thousands of which are produced along the slender 
branches. Koelreuteria paniculata is a most beauti¬ 
ful shrub ; its peculiarly cut leaves make it very 
attractive. The many showy forms of Laburnum, 
Prunus, and Pyrus, that greet us on every hand, 
should find favour with all lovers of hardy trees. In 
the latter there are so many beautiful varieties that 
it would be almost impossible to name them all. 
The species of Ribes, which are amongst the earliest 
to bloom, Spiraeas, whose tiny flowers are produced 
in such profusion from early spring till late in the 
summer, together with the Syringa, Viburnum, and 
Weigelia, all help to make a collection that will 
brighten the shrubbery borders from early spring till 
late in the autumn, when the various tints of their 
foliage will be as pleasing as their flowers— H. C. P, 
-- 4 —- 
LINARIA CYMBALARIA. 
The Ivy-leaved Toad-Flax, which rejoices (or other¬ 
wise) in the above high-sounding classical title, may 
now be seen in full beauty on the old wall at Kew, 
between the river and the gardens. It is also in 
good condition, in a similar position, at Hampton 
Court, although at the former place it assumes far 
greater luxuriance, for the simple reason that 
between it and the tow-path there is a broad band of 
water, which has the inevitable effect of securing it 
from would-be depredators. Whether, however, one 
looks down upon it from the gardens, or up to it 
from the hollow, it is equally attractive. Its 
curiously spotted, spurred, and pale-purple 
scrophulariaceous flowers, are produced in ample 
profusion on long, slender, pendulous stems, 
accompanied by bright, shining, five-lobed leaves, 
which, notwithstanding the droughty weather, are 
still a clear lively green. 
It is evident, then, that this pretty plant can 
thrive exceedingly 'well without much moisture. 
But, perhaps, this is due to some extent to the water 
at the foot of the wall, and which possibly rises and 
traverses the interstices of the brick-work by that 
mysterious process known as "capillary attraction.” 
Anyhow, the wall is rendered elegant by its presence, 
which without it would be bare indeed.— C.B.G , 
Acton, W. 
ORCHID MOTES’* GLEANINGS. 
By The Editor. 
Cattleya Mossiae Mondii, Nov. var .—This 
charming new variety of Cattleya has just turned 
up in the collection of Mr. Mond, Avenue Road, 
Regent’s Park. At first sight one would almost take 
it for a variety of C. Mendelii, so charming, pleasing 
and soft are the colours, yet different from those of 
that type. The sepals and large, ovate well- 
expanded petals are of a most delightful pink hue. 
The exterior of the tube of the lip is of the same 
colour. The long wavy and crisped lamina is white 
with the exception of a rich purple but narrow band 
along the centre. The base of the lamina, the throat, 
and the side lobes on both surfaces are occupied 
with a large orange blotch,-striped with narrow white 
lines. The base of the tube internally is purple, 
beautifully lined with white. Altogether it is a most 
charming variety of which any one might justly be 
proud. 
Cattleya Mossiae reineckeana.—A beautiful 
flower of this variety now in season was sent us the 
other day by John W. Potter, Esq , Sligachan, Park 
Hill Road, Croydon. The sepals and petals were 
pure white and of good substance. The white 
ground colour of the lip set off the various other hues 
upon it to the best advantage. The lamina was 
beautifully crisped and frizzled at the margin, which 
was white, the rest being suffused and heavily lined 
with purple. The throat had the usual yellow, 
Y-shaped blotch, and the interior of the tube was 
lined with purple and white in a charming way. 
Altogether the variety was a^very good one of its 
type, and Mr. Potter may well feel satisfied with it. 
AUSTRALIAN PARKS AND 
RECREATION RESERVES. 
Australians are keenly alive to the sanitary and 
social value of open air spaces in the vicinity of their 
cities and towns, and there is scarcely a township or 
village, however small, which has not its public 
reserve In New South Wales it has always been the 
policy of the State to provide the residents of incor¬ 
porated towns with parks and reserves for public 
recreation, and the city of Sydney contains within 
its boundaries an extent of parks, squares, and public 
gardens larger than exist in most of the great cities 
of the world without regard even to area. They 
cover altogether 748 acres, or 26 per cent, of the 
whole of the city proper. In addition to these 
reserves, the inhabitants of Sydney have the use of 
