January 6, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
289 
obtained in Bute, the firm are studying the propriety 
of establishing a branch elsewhere with the view of 
ultimately withdrawing from Bute. Addresses were 
also delivered by Messrs. Cuthbertson and Burnie, 
and the Revs. J. K. Hewison andD. Guthrie. Songs, 
readings, and instrumental selections were also given, 
concluding with the farce, entitled “ Black Justice. ” 
A dance afterwards took place, and was kept up till 
an early hour. 
Death of Mr. Richard Spruce.— The death took 
place on Thursday, December 28th, at Castle 
Howard, Malton, of Mr. Richard Spruce, F.B.S., 
the well-known botanist and traveller, aged 66 
years. Mr. Spruce was the son of a schoolmaster on 
Earl Carlisle’s estate. His early botanical 
researches led Sir William Hooker, Humboldt, and 
other leading scientists of the day to take an interest 
in him. In 1849 he was sent to South America in 
the interest of the Royal Gardens at Kew. Previous 
to this he had visited the Pyrenees, and his work, 
"The Muscology of the Pyrenees,'' has drawn much 
attention. His mission for the Kew authorities 
developed into an important scientific and commer¬ 
cial investigation extending over fifteen years. Mr. 
Spruce thoroughly explored the River Amazon, 
and crossed the continent from the Atlantic to t ie 
Pacific, penetrating regions not before visited by 
man. He was one of the pioneers who introduced 
the quinine-yielding tree into India and the cultiva¬ 
tion of Peruvian bark to our Eastern possessions. 
Other results of his long course of travel were the 
collection and description of 7,000 species of plants, 
ferns, and -trees, many of them new, and some of 
which have since proved of great commercial value. 
On his return to England the Government gave him 
a pension for the valuable services he had rendered 
to botanical science. Since then, owing to failing 
health, he had lived a retired life in his native place. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.— At the monthly 
meeting of the Executive Committee held on the 
29th ult., the honorary secretary announced the 
receipt of the following contributibns during the 
month of December Proceeds of a concert given 
by the Altrincham Gardeners' Mutual Improvement 
Society, per Mr. W. Plant, ;^35 15s.; Reigate Chry¬ 
santhemum Show Committee, £20 ; Rugby Chrysan¬ 
themum Society, per Mr. Bryant, £6 17s. 8d. ; 
Bristol Chrysanthemum Society, per Mr. 'Vallance, 
£6 IIS. 4d. ; Leighton Chrysanthemum Show, per 
Mr. J. Smith, £6 iis.; Mr. R. Greenfield, Leaming¬ 
ton, I2S. id. ; Mr. W. Robinson, The Garden, 
£xo los. ; Mr. F. W. Burbidge, Dublin, los.; Mr. 
T, Wilkins, Henstridge, ^^3 ; Mr. G. Lemmon, 
Chichester, 13s.; Mr. G. Harvey, Bakewell, los. ; 
Mr. G. Mason, Malvern, los. ; Mr. R. Scott, Brad¬ 
ford, 15s. ; Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham, £'] 4s. 5d.; 
Mr. Newbould, Rawdon, Leeds, ^£2; Mr. H. 
Herbst, Stanmore, £ji los. 9d.; Mr. G. Fry, Lewis¬ 
ham, £t. 14s. 6d. ; Mr. C. Gibson, Marden Park, 
15s. 6d. ; Mr. J. Crawford, Coddington, Newark, 
los. ; Mr. F. Dodds, Herringswell, 7s. ; Mr. A. 
Reid, Grittleton, 7s. 6d. ; Mr. F. Miller, Margate, 
8 s. 3d. ; and Miss Barron, 8s. It was arranged that 
the annual dinner shall take place at the Hotel 
Metropole on Thursday, the loth of May, when the 
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of London will preside. 
Osiers and Rushes for Fruit Baskets. —Some 
months ago (writes a correspondent of The Mark 
Lane Express) a paragraph went the rounds of the 
papers suggesting that those farmers who had got 
patches of swampy or semi-waste land should grow 
a crop of Osiers, for which there is a constantly 
increasing demand for the manufacture of fruit 
baskets, and pointing out that so great is this de¬ 
mand that many shiploads of Osiers are imported 
from abroad every year. I wish you would kindly 
call attention again to this matter. I am sure that 
there are many spaces now unproductive which are 
suitable for growing Osiers. For instance, in our 
valley, between Ashford and Sandwich, in East 
Kent, also in Romney Marsh. At the same time 
allow me to suggest to farmers and fruit-growers 
that they should make their own baskets and 
hampers. The work of making these baskets could 
be done on wet days and in odd spare hours, when 
the men’s and boys’ time would otherwise be partly 
wasted. This industry is specially suitable for 
villages or small hamlets, as the baskets can be 
stored.in any barn or oast or waggon lodge, and no 
great amount of capital is required. Any trade 
which fills up a "journeyman farmer’s’’ or farm 
labourer’s waste time raises the labourer’s average 
wages without increasing the tenant farmer’s outlay 
for labour. In this way may good men be retained 
in the village, to the mutual benefit of employer and 
labourers. 
Farm Pupils in Canada.—The High Commissioner 
for Canada asks us to give publicity to the following 
extract from the Official Handbook to Canada, as, 
notwithstanding the various warnings that have been 
issued, the premium system is still apparently in 
operation, and instances of its abuse are frequently 
being brought to his notice:—" The question is often 
asked if it is essential for young men wishing to 
take up farms in Canada, but desiring before doing 
so to acquire a knowledge of agriculture, to pay 
premiums, either to persons in this country or in the 
Dominion, for that purpose. It may, therefore, be 
plainly stated that no premiums are necessary, and 
it is advised that none be paid. Strong and healthy 
young men, from eighteen to twenty-one years'of 
age, have no difficulty in getting employment in the 
spring, and the agents of the Government in Canada 
will assist them as far as possible in doing so with¬ 
out charge, although of course they do not accept 
any direct responsibility. If without experience, 
such young men will not get much wages at the com¬ 
mencement of their employment, but as they acquire 
skill, they will be able to command remuneration in 
proportion to the value of their work. Great care 
should be exercised in deciding whether they are 
suited to the life that is proposed, and the advice of 
one of the Government agents should be obtained 
before they are sent out. There is the alternative of 
a course of instruction at the Ontario Agricultural 
College (address the President of the College, Guelph, 
Ontario); or at the School of Agriculture at Truro, 
Nova Scotia (address Professor H. W. Smith, 
Provincial School of Agriculture, Nova Scotia).’’ 
Eucharis Stevensii.—This is a garden hybrid, and 
taking into account its general appearance, it would 
seem to be a cross between E. Sanderi and E. grandi- 
flora. The flowers are much smaller than those of the 
latter, and more resemble those of E. Candida as far 
as size is concerned. The segments are broad ovate- 
imbricated and pure white. The crown is primrose 
passing into white at the tips of the teeth. The 
cordate and deep green ribbed leaves recall those of 
E. Sanderi, which might have been the seed parent. 
It was sent to Kew from the Continent last year, 
and if of vigorous constitution may be more 
acceptable for cut flowers amongst those who 
complain of the great size of E. grandiflora. 
Francis Parkman.—In the loss of this eminent 
historian perhaps it may not be generally known 
how largely horticulture also has been indebted to 
his enthusiastic, persevering, and intelligent investi¬ 
gations, which have left a marked impress on its 
progressive advancement. His attention was first 
drawn to such pursuits by the hope of benefiting 
his health, and his active mind was not content to 
tread the beaten paths ; he early began the extensive 
cultivation of herbaceous plants, mostly from seeds, 
and his success with Delphiniums and Phlox was 
very marked, especially with the first named, of 
which his collection of seedlings was perhaps the 
finest in this country. Early in his work a friend 
placed in his charge a collection of Evergreens, 
Lilies, etc., sent over by Dr. Hall from Japan, and 
this was probably the foundation of his fine collec¬ 
tion of Lilies, in the hybridization of which he 
achieved such fine results. " Lilium Parkmanii ’’ is 
a notable example and was afterwards sold by Mr. 
Parkman to Mr. Anthony Waterer of Woking. His 
assortment of rare ornamental shrubs was unsur¬ 
passed ; Roses were also one of his special studies 
his collection being one of the most noted in the 
vicinity of Boston. He published a treatise on the 
Rose which was for many years the best American 
work on the subject. In 1862 he connected himself 
in commercial horticulture and for many years his 
collection of shrubs and plants were in active 
demand by growers; in July, 1862, he made the first 
public exhibition of Lilium auratum before the 
Massachusetts Horticultural Society ; Messrs. 'Veitch 
& Sons had made a similar exhibit in England only 
a week earlier. Mr. Parkman was President of the 
Massachusetts Horticultural Society from 1875 to 
1877, and during many years was one of the most 
prominent exhibitors at its weekly shows .—American 
Florist. 
A POLISH PRIMROSE. 
A FEW days since I received an application to know 
if I could give a name to a light mauve-coloured 
single Primrose known as the "Polish Primrose." 
I could but reply that I presumed the reference 
must be to Primula altaica, which I think the late 
Mr. Charles Turner must have distributed from 
Slough some thirty years ago. I am afraid the true 
form of it is now well nigh lost, for though it is still 
offered in catalogues, a small lilac-coloured single 
Primrose is invariably sent for it, but not the form as 
I remember it as it came into my hands originally. 
It proved very useful indeed for fertilization, and 
when crossed with the pollen of that fine variety of 
single Primrose, P. vulgaris auriculaeflora, gave the 
fine-coloured forms of the single Primrose seen in 
the present day. I wonder if it is still to be met 
with in its original character. 
By the way, I hear that Mr. F. Sander, of St. 
Albans, has secured from the Continent a large 
quantity of a single blue Primrose. One will look 
for the advent of this stranger with some interest. 
Has one of Mr. G. F. Wilson’s raising found its way to 
the Continent and been successfully increased ? Or 
has Mr. Max Leichtlin, who is quite an enthusiast 
over Primroses, obtained a good blue which is to be 
distributed. That may be the case. I hear that 
Mr. Sander had the offer of about sixty plants or so 
of the type, and a great number of seedlings. Purple 
appears to be a tint that is frequent among coloured 
Primroses, but a good steadfast blue has scarcely 
been obtained. Seedlings from my Blue Gem appear 
to revert to poor forms so far as my own experience 
goes. Some say that a true blue Primrose is a 
•floral impossibility, though Mr. G, F. Wilson would 
probably dissent from that now. That Mr. Wilson 
has reached the nearest to the production of a true 
blue Primrose there can be no doubt.— R. D. 
-- 
PEACH BUDS DROPPING. 
This is an often-discussed subject, some growers 
attributing it to one cause and some to another. I 
believe the principal, or even the sole, cause to be a 
deficiency of water at the roots. The cultivator 
cannot be too particular on this point, for it 
too often happens that when the annual washing 
of the houses, pruning and training, is com¬ 
pleted, the soil will seem to be in a satisfactory 
condition as regards moisture, whereas if a 
searching examination were made a state of dryness 
would be found which would possibly astonish the 
grower. Where this dryness exists its accompany¬ 
ing evil will follow,namely the dropping of the buds. 
The amount of water it will sometimes take to tho¬ 
roughly soak an inside border when once it gets into 
too dry a condition is astounding to many. This 
condition of things is generally brought about after 
the fruit has been gathered and the houses are left 
with plenty of air on. The foliage in fine weather 
quickly evaporates the moisture left in the borders, 
and the syringing which the trees get after the fruit 
is gathered will frequently give the border the 
appearance of being well watered while at the same 
time the trees are gradually getting dryer at the 
roots. The best preventive is to give a thorough 
soaking several times between the gathering of the 
fruit and the fall of the leaf. Why either Peaches 
or Vines should be kept dry when in a dormant state 
is one of those things we never could understand, for 
nature teaches us quite the contrary, the soil of out¬ 
side borders being as a rule wetter during the winter 
months than during the period of growth.— W.B.G. 
-> 1 ..- 
MANETTIA BICOLOR. 
Of the thirty species of Manettia known to science, 
that under notice is the best known and appreciated. 
Although belonging to the same family and closely 
allied to the Bouvardias, they are very different in 
general appearance, because of climbing habit, and 
in the case of M. bicolor at least, bear their flowers 
singly in the axils of the leaves. The bright green 
lanceolate leaves are opposite and thickly clothe the 
slender climbing stems. When the latter are trained 
over some framework of wire, the lively coloured 
flowers produced singly all along the stems are very 
effective. They are tubular, bright scarlet in the 
lower portion and bright yellow upwards, as hinted 
at by the specific name. The framework on which 
the stems are trained may be of various shapes 
according to fancy, and of a size proportionate to 
