280 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 30, 1893. 
placed against D. Tyermanni, but particularly so 
when grown in baskets. The rhizomes do creep 
considerably, but by hanging over the sides of the 
baskets their beauty is increased rather than other¬ 
wise. They are densely covered with pale gray or 
dirty white scales that give them a shaggy appear¬ 
ance. The fronds are comparatively small, lanceo¬ 
late or narrowly triangular, leathery, and of a dark 
green hue at all times of the year. Some are 
deciduous, particularly if the temperature of the 
house is kept low; but the plant under notice 
presents almost the same appearance throughout 
the year provided it is fairly well treated. It comes 
from the West Coast of Africa, and should have a 
temperature of about 50’’ at least in winter. It may 
be seen in the nursery of Messrs. J. Laing & Son, 
Forest Hill. 
-- ; 
Ijaftleper^’ ipipfoVepieiit jlppociatiopp. 
Ealing District.—The first half of a very success¬ 
ful session was brought to a close on the igth inst., 
at the Municipal Buildings, Ealing, when a paper 
was read by Mr. C. B. Green for Mr. Ernest 
Ladhams, of the Shirley Nurseries, Southampton, 
on “ Hardy Herbaceous Plants.” Mr. W. J. 
Simpson presided over a good attendance of 
members. The subject created a large amount of 
interest, as herbaceous plants are undoubtedly 
forcing their way rapidly to the front rank as 
valuable adjuncts to other phases of floral garden¬ 
ing. Having dealt with the formation of the border, 
which was recommended to be deeply trenched and 
well manured, Mr. Ladhams went on to enumerate 
the various plants suitable for the different positions 
which he would assign them. In planting he urged 
that four rules should be borne in mind, viz., (a) 
general effect; {b) variety in colouring ; (c) time of 
flowering; and (d) the different heights attained by 
the different species. 
Further, he advocated the planting in rows, and 
gave a copious list of suitable subjects proportionate 
to the heights required, the whole to be set off by a 
back ground of flowering shrubs, such as Laures- 
tinus, Rhuscotinus, Deutzia crenata, &c., with here 
and there a standard tree to break the uniformity. 
Some details were given as to propagation, manage¬ 
ment of different species, and other interesting 
information. 
The paper was well received, and in the course of 
discussion one member remarked that the plants 
named were so numerous, but withal so meritorious, 
that a border four feet wide, and reaching from 
London to Southampton, would hardly be able to 
accommodate them! 
A vote of thanks to Mr. Ladhams was unani¬ 
mously accorded. The Chairman then announced 
the programme for the ensuing second half of the 
sixth session, which contained the names of several 
well-known men in the scientific and gardening 
worlds. 
--t-- 
WHAT TO DOJKJHE GARDEN. 
Azaleas.—Great stress is laid upon the fact of 
having a good supply of flowers for cutting and other 
purposes at Christmas, but when the week between 
that and the New Year is over, there is too frequently 
a dearth of flowers. The provident gardener will 
foresee this and make preparations for it. In some 
cases flowers may not be wanted just after Christ¬ 
mas, but the love and desire begins to grow for them 
again. The numerous varieties of Azalias render 
this an easy task, for the earlier and more easily 
forced of them may be taken in hand when wanted. 
Amongst these are A. amoena, Deutsche Perle, 
Flag of Truce, Pauline, Fielder’s White, and others. 
If there are any plants of A. indica alba and Narcissi- 
flora not yet bloomed they will prove very service¬ 
able, and all may be put in heat at once, or as many 
as may be required. 
Shnubs I'op Forcing. —Where accommodation is 
scarce, such things as Deutzias, Snowball Tree, 
Diervillas (Weigela), Lilacs and Spiraeas may be 
induced to swell up their buds by plunging them in a 
bed of fermenting leaves in some close, warm shed. 
The plants may afterwards be transferred to the 
forcing house, where they will come more quickly 
into bloom than if they had been placed there at first. 
In point of time then a saving of space for the time 
being is effected. The absence of light in the shed 
will be a matter of no consequence. 
Epacris.—If forced too hard by subjecting them 
to great heat the varieties of Epacris produce small 
and flimsy flowers of little duration. When any¬ 
thing like forcing is attempted, the plants should 
occasionally be syringed with water at the same 
temperature as the house in order to maintain a 
moist atmosphere, and counteract the effects of a 
dry one. In selecting plants to place in heat, choose 
those which were started into growth early last year, 
and consequently matured their wood early. Their 
buds will be more plump or larger, and consequently 
will more readily respond to the increased tempera¬ 
ture. 
Begonias. —In order to get seedlings in bloom at 
an early date for pot work, some seed may be sown 
now. Stove heat may fee accorded them for a time, 
and germination will be accelerated thereby. Of 
course when the plants are beginning to make some 
leaves, they should be placed in cooler and more 
airy quarters, and the ventilation may be increased 
as time goes on and the weather gets milder. Keep 
them well exposed to light as soon as fairly through 
the soil. 
Grevilea robusta.—A stock of this plant may 
soon be got up by means of seeds which may be 
sown at once in moderately strong heat. The seed¬ 
lings may be potted off singly as soon as they have 
made a few leaves. As the outside temperature 
rises they may be transferred to a cooler house to 
prevent the plants from being drawn up in a spindly 
fashion. 
Eupatopiums.—E. riparium is now advancing to 
bloom, and as it is a gross feeder, and requires large 
supplies of water, it should not be neglected in that 
matter. The same applies to E. Weinmannianum 
in a greater degree, for it is a taller growing plant 
and comes into bloom in spring. Late struck cut¬ 
tings are generally grown in small pots, but whether 
the plants are large or small, they require a plentiful 
supply of water, and now that the pots are filled with 
roots, a dose of weak liquid manure twice a week 
will help them greatly. 
Vines.—The flower bunches will now be showing 
themselves in the early house, and when that is the 
case the cultivator must be very cautious, especially 
in dull, moist weather, in the amount of atmospheric 
moisture used, or the bunches may in many cases 
run away to tendrils. Overhead syringing should be 
discontinued, and less damping down given. But 
provided the weather should'be open and favourable 
the night temperature may be kept up to 65° with a 
rise to 75'’ by day ; but air should be given to prevent 
it rising much above this, and the house should be 
closed early in the afternoon to economise fuel. It 
will also be more agreeable to the vines than arti¬ 
ficial heat. After a bright afternoon, the syringe 
should be used freely, but not overhead. Grapes 
intended to be kept to the end of May should be cut, 
bottled, and taken to the Grape room at an early 
date, after the room has been prepared for their 
reception. 
Cucumbers. —When growing freely. Cucumbers 
in bearing will derive great advantage from occa¬ 
sional supplies of liquid manure. Their require¬ 
ments in the way of water will depend very much 
upon the nature of the weather for the time being, 
and whether they are making good growth. When 
ventilation becomes necessary, be careful to close 
early in the afternoon so as to economise sun heat. 
Damp down all pathways and other clear spaces. 
On the mornings of bright days spray the plants 
lightly to keep red spider in check. 
Pruning Currants. —Bushes of this nature 
should be pruned at the earliest opportunity, so that 
the ground may be in readiness for the wheeling of 
manure whenever frost occurs. The ground can then 
be dug over at any time when the weather is open. 
Red Currants should have all the lateral shoots cut 
back within half an inch of the base and the leaders 
shortened according to the size of the bushes. On 
young and growing bushes 6 in. may be left, but 
those which occupy the whole of the space may be 
cut close back to prevent crowding. The object is to 
get the branches thickly set with spurs. Black 
Currants should be properly thinned out, cutting 
away old wood to make room for the new when it 
can be done. The young shoots left should only be 
slightly shortened. 
©bituar^. 
Another of the older school of florists has recently 
passed away in the person of Mr. W. C. Drummond, 
of the Bath and Park Lane Nurseries, at the age of 
seventy-seven years. While a prominent figure in 
horticultural circles in Bath, he had almost ceased 
to be known in London, except by such as used to 
meet him at the Bath and other flower shows in the 
west of England. Up to within the last year or two 
he made a point of being present at the annual 
exhibition of the Trowbridge Horticultural Society, 
which gave opportunity to talk of the old days when 
he was a prominent cultivator and exhibitor of 
Dahlias in the West of England. I am unable to say 
when he commenced to send out new varieties, but 
in 1845, or thereabouts. Beeswing appeared, a flower I 
remember well, and which was much grown for 
exhibition purposes. Other flowers which appeared 
at this time, and during the few years following, were 
Felix, Meion, Sarah, Mian, Duke of Wellington, and 
others; all of which were put into commerce by 
Mr. Drummond, and which bore his name, though 
there is reason to believe they were not raised by 
him. One of the best remembered flowers in the 
present day that Mr. Drummond distributed was 
Bob, a deep bright scarlet self of excellent shape, 
which became a very favourite exhibition variety ; 
this appeared about 1850-51. In 1852 others ap¬ 
peared, among them Sir Richard Whittington, ruby- 
crimson, and Alice, pink, with a burezy tip ; both 
of these were figured in the Florist {or March, 1852, 
then conducted by the late Mr. Gharles Turner. In 
1853, Mr. Drummond sent out British Queen, Roberto 
Bruce, Queen of Whites, and others; and in 1854 
the following flowers bore his name:—Dhawali 
Giri, Miss Susan Sainsbury, Miss Mary Sainsbury, 
and Pericles. He also distributed Statice Drum- 
mondii about this time. Up to within the last four 
or five years he e.xhibited stove and greenhouse and 
foliage plants at some of the West of England 
shows. He was one of the early supporters of the 
National Floricultural Society, which was estab¬ 
lished in 1857. The old generation of florists appear 
to be'rapidly passing away—a few yet remain as a 
link between the past and present.—!?. D. 
John Roy, LL.D.—Readers of this journal will 
regret to learn of the death of this accomplished 
botanist, which took place at his residence, Belvidere 
Street, Aberdeen, on Monday night, the i8th inst. 
Born in Perthshire sixty-five years ago, Mr. Roy was 
trained to the profession of schoolmaster in the 
Church of Scotland Normal College, Edinburgh. 
After teaching for some time in Kincardineshire, 
and at Bridge of Don (near Aberdeen), he was 
appointed first head master of Dr. Brown’s School, 
Aberdeen, in 1862. In this position he remained 
until last year, when, owing to the state of his health, 
he retired. Highly esteemed as a teacher. Dr. Roy’s 
great forte was natural history, astronomy, and 
botany. To the last-named science he gave much 
attention ; and had a very full and exact knowledge 
of flora of the north-east of Scotland, and more par¬ 
ticularly the mountainous parts of it, his collections, 
the result of personal explorations and hill-climb¬ 
ings, being extensive and valuable. First as secre¬ 
tary, and latterly as president of the Aberdeen 
Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Dr. Roy’s 
contributions in the shape of botanical and other 
papers—the summaries of many of which have 
appeared in our columns—were numerous and inte¬ 
resting. But in addition to what might be termed the 
more popular side of botanical science. Dr. Roy, in 
conjunction with other scientists, carried out sys¬ 
tematic microscopic investigations into the character 
of those very low forms of organisation known 
as Desmids, which seem to connect the animal 
and vegetable kingdoms at their lowest starting 
point. These Desmids are commonly found attached 
to the algae in stagnant or slowly-running water; 
and several years ago Dr. Roy, amongst his other 
scientific labours, accompanied Prof. Nordstedt, of 
Lundt Universit)', Sweden, on an excursion 
amongst the shallower inland lochs of Sutherland- 
shire for the purpose of examining the algae found 
in these. Dr. Roy wrote on the results of his in¬ 
vestigations in the Scottish Naturalist ; published the 
" Desmids of Japan ” in connection with Mr. Bisset, 
of Wynnduu, Banchory (near Aberdeen), who was 
for several years resident in that country, and 
examined the Desmids of Leicestershire for the 
” Flora ” of that county. The labours thus under- 
