January 13, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
305 
Forestry in Great Britain.—On Saturday, Colonel 
Bailey delivered a lecture on " Forestry in Great 
Britain,” before the Literary and Philosophical 
Society, St. Andrews. He observed that Scotland 
had always taken the lead in this question. He 
showed that the continuance of our present supplies 
of timber could not be relied on, and urged that we 
should look to our home resources and plant up a 
portion of the land which is unsuited for agriculture. 
He alluded to the recent revision by the Board of 
Agriculture of the orders relating to the use of home¬ 
grown timber in the erection of buildings under the 
Land Improvement Act, and to the facilities now 
afforded for the planting of the trees under the pro¬ 
visions of that Act. He spoke of the recent storm, 
and explained how the effect of such storms might 
to some extent be modified. He concluded with 
some remarks on the effects of growing timber in 
open woods. 
The Devon and ExeterGardeners’Association.—The 
annual supper of this Association took place at the 
Castle Hotel, Exeter, on the 5th inst,, when a large 
number of members sat down, under the presidency 
of Mr. W. Mackay, and a very pleasant evening was 
spent. A number of toasts were given and responded 
to, including that of ” The Devon and Exeter Gar¬ 
deners’ Association," to which Mr. Weeks and Mr. 
Stoneman replied, the former remarking that he 
would like to see the Association more thoroughly 
supported in the outlying districts, and obtain such 
a membership and support that they would be able 
to follo w the example of other Associations he knew 
of—say, for instance, the Licensed Victuallers—and 
be able to erect a monument to its activity. It 
would be a matter worthy of consideration, if the 
Association assumed large enough proportions, 
whether they could not erect buildings in which 
old and poor gardeners should be able to live in 
comfort. 
Mp. David R. Bone, at present gardener at Kirkland 
Park, Darvel, N.B., has been engaged as foreman to 
Mr. Thomas Bryden, of the Dennistoun Nurseries, 
Ayr. 
Manna.—This name has been applied to various 
substances possessed of different properties ; but in 
all cases the product is a natural one. One kind of 
manna is the product of Eucalyptus mannifera, E. 
tereticornis and probably other species growing in 
Australia. A sample from the last named tree has 
been sent us from New South Wales by Mr. G. H. 
Kerslake, resident in Strathfield in that part of the 
country. A dark brownish-red gum is exuded from 
the stem and larger branches of most species of 
Eucalyptus, but the Grey Gum (E. tereticornis) just 
mentioned, also produces a totally different sub¬ 
stance, which children collect and eat, under the 
name of manna. It consists of small particles of 
white matter aggregated together in larger, but 
irregular lumps, resembling Sago in the raw state, 
previous to its being manufactured or dressed into 
the commercial article. It is quite soluble in the 
mouth and has a sweet taste. This substance drops 
from the leaves, thus coming within reach of the 
young collectors above mentioned. Whether it is 
excreted by the leaves, or is the product of insects 
feeding upon the leaves our correspondent does not 
say. 
The Grand Yorkshire Gala. —The Annual Meeting 
of the guarantors of the great Annual Exhibition 
and Gala was held in York on the 5th inst. Mr. 
Alderman Milward presiding, in the absence of Sir 
Joseph Terry. The Lord Mayor of York (Mr. 
Alderman Clacton) was unanimously elected 
President for the year ; and the following officers 
were also unanimously re elected, viz. :—Sir Joseph 
Terry, Chairman of Council; Mr. E. Rooke, Vice- 
Chairman ; Mr. Joseph Wilkinson, Treasurer ; and 
Mr. C. W. Simmons, Secretary. Grants were made 
for the various departments of the Gala, as follows : 
—Floral Committee, £600 ■, music, £120', fireworks, 
£100 ; balloons, £'j^ ; amusements, £150. The 
Secretary announced that he had secured several 
special prizes, including one of £5 from Mr. Aider- 
man Close, and another of £5 5s. from Messrs 
Backhouse & Sons. 
The Birmingham Amateur Gardeners’ Association. 
—This Society was formed about a year since for 
the purpose of bringing together the amateurs of 
the district for reading papers, exhibiting specimens, 
discussions, etc. Professional gardeners are not 
eligible for membership, and there are already 152 
members. Three excursions of members took place 
during the year, the first to Stoneleigh Abbey, near 
Kenilworth in June; another to Canwell Hall 
Gardens, near Tamworth, in July; and the third to 
Impney Gardens, Droitwich, The report for the. 
past year has just been issued, and we see that in 
the programme for the winter session two important 
subjects, " Hardy Fruits for Suburban Gardens, and 
their Culture,” and ” The Carnation, Picotee, and 
Pink suitable for Town Gardens,” both papers being 
from well-known local horticulturists. Much of the 
success of this Association is due to the energy of 
Mr. W. B. Griffin, the honorary secretary, and such 
societies give great encouragement to amateurs in 
gardening, and very animated discussions often 
result. 
Dundee Horticultural Association.—The following 
is the syllabus of this Association's meetings for the 
current year'. — February 2nd, “Propagation by 
Budding and Grafting,” Mr. Jas. W. Laird, The 
Nurseries Monifieth. March 2nd, “ Horticultural 
Language : what it teaches, and how to know it,” Mr. 
Robert Clarke, Scotscraig Gardens, Tayport. April 
6th, " The Amaryllis,” Mr. Arthur W. Wade, Castle 
Street, Broughty Ferry. May 4th, " The Honey Bee, ’ 
Mr. John Stewart, Letham Mill, Arbroath. June 
ist, “Notes on Variegated Trees and Shrubs,” Mr, 
Hugh Fraser, Leith Walk Nurseries, Edinburgh. 
July 6th, “Decorative Palms,” Mr. Colin M'Kenzie, 
Warriston Nurseries, Edinburgh. August 3rd, 
“Herbaceous Plants,” Mr. Thomas Blackley, 
Seggieden Gardens, Perth. September 14th, 
“Horticultural Questions,’ subjects to be after¬ 
wards announced. October 5th, " Manures,” Mr. 
Jno. Baxter, Pine Grove Gardens, Dundee. Nov. 
2nd, “ Summer and Winter Pruning,” Mr. Richard 
Cairns, Balruddery Gardens, Dundee. December 
7th, Annual General Meeting. The meetings will 
be held in the Young Men’s Christian Association 
Rooms, 10 Constitution Road, at 7.30 p.m., on the 
dates named. 
Siphocampylos macropodus.—The general aspect 
of this plant reminds one of Centropogon Lucyanus, 
although not so stiff in habit. The plant grows 2 ft. 
to 3 ft. high, and the branches in the upper portion 
assume a spreading habit, showing off the flowers to 
advantage. The latter have longish, slender stalks 
which allow the flowers to hang down beneath the 
branches. The curved tube is red, and the three 
segments into which the lamina is divided are red. 
The leaves are not unlike those of the Centropogon 
above mentioned. The species is a native of Minas 
Geraes, and requires stove temperature, although 
not particularly high. It is not a plant that would 
take the eye of everybody, but the flowers are pretty 
and possess some novelty because comparatively 
seldom seen. Those, however, who take delight in 
a large variety of flowering plants in the stove 
would find in this something to engage his attention 
and gratify his curiosity. 
A Scented Fern.—There are many Ferns which 
give off an odour of something, although in many 
cases the odour is very uniform and of that character 
which we should attribute to Ferns generally, just 
as all Chrysanthemums have an odour of their own 
peculiar kind. Notwithstanding the name, we could 
never detect any special odour or fragrance in 
Adiantum fragrantissimum, whatever may be 
said to the contrary. Pteris straminea gives 
off a peculiar odour, which is not howev’er par¬ 
ticularly agreeable. The Hay-scented Fern has an 
agreeable though by no means powerful perfume. 
On the contrary Nepbrodium fragrans, to which we 
particularly refer in this instance, has a distinct 
odour reminding one of the sweetness of the Violet. 
The plant itself is by no means very handsome or 
conspicuous, although it may be described as pretty 
when well grown. It is a native of the Caucasus, 
Arctic America, and other places, and is hardy in 
this country, yet we seldom meet with it in collec¬ 
tions. No doubt it would be most appreciated in a 
cool fernery, or a conservatory into which the 
dwelling house opened on the north aspect. It 
would then be under the eye, and the cultivator 
could enjoy its fragrance by contact when lightly 
drawn through the hand. The fronds are only 6 in. 
to 9 in. long, when a good growth has been made, 
so that it needs only a small pot for its accommoda¬ 
tion. 
INSECTICIDES. 
The number of insecticides in the market is legion, 
and to recommend one in preference to another would 
seem to be unjust; yet most gardeners have some 
particular favourite which they think the best. Not¬ 
withstanding this, there are few Orchid growers who 
have not expressed a wish for a better and more 
effectual system, at the same time one reasonable in 
cost for fumigating than that generally practised. 
Tobacco smoke from Tobacco paper or cloth is un¬ 
certain in its action, and few growers care to use 
either the paper or the rag in the Odontoglossum 
houses. Carbon cones are good but too expensive 
for general use ; and some of the other compounds 
offered for this purpose are also uncertain in their 
action; and it would be interesting to growers to 
know if the vendors of such insecticides are liable 
for damage done when they are used according to 
their own directions, as if this is so, I could show 
good cause in support of a claim for damages. 
But I am running away from my object, which is 
to draw attention to the vapour from Tobacco 
juice as an insecticide, and one that can be relied upon 
without fear of evil results. Tobocco vapour has 
been in use now for a number of years, and applied 
'.vith the thanatophore; but the expense of this 
machine has kept it from coming into general use. 
A simple and effective way of filling the house re¬ 
quired to be fumigated with vapour, will be found 
by putting the Tobacco juice in a zinc pail, the exact 
quantity is immaterial, as any not evaporated can be 
used again. Heat a large piece of iron red hot and 
put it into the pail with the juice. The effect is 
rapid, the bouse being filled in a few minutes ; the 
number of pails required will depend upon the size 
of the house, but a little practice will soon show the 
number required. 
It is necessary that the operator should leave the 
house as soon as he drops the hot iron into the pail. 
Where thrips are numerous, if the house is steamed 
once a week for a month, and afterwards once a 
month, it will rid the plants of this destructive insect. 
Not only is the vapour an effectual insecticide, but 
the plants seem to derive a certain amount of 
benefit from its use, which will be seen by the foliage 
rapidly assuming a healthy dark green colour. 
Although this system of steaming is not new, having 
been recommended in your columns a few years ago, 
it is not generally known that such an easy means of 
getting rid of insects is within our reach.— A.IV. 
-- 
MODERN GARDENING. 
(Continued from p. 291) 
Good packing is also essential, and this is an art 
which only few study and fewer acquire, yet to do so 
it only requires a little thought, a little tact, and a 
little patience. In packing, care should first be 
taken to use a material which will not impart a bad 
flavour to the fruit, and one which will at once pro¬ 
tect it and not bruise it, and the next thing is to pack 
as much as possible into a given space without 
crushing, and to insure that whilst every individual 
fruit has sufficient space to travel in safety and com¬ 
fort, it has not sufficient to allow it to annoy its 
neighbour by jostling about during the journey, and 
thus become a nuisance to all its surroundings. 
The art of packing is one which should be acquired 
by every young gardener, for he never knows when 
he may be called upon to use it, and if he be an 
adept, nothing will tend to bring him into more 
favour with his distant employer or friends, than his 
well packed hampers, safely to hand without bruise 
or blemish to their contents. The greater quantity 
of one kind of fruit to be packel, the less skill is 
required in the packing. It requires more patience 
and ingenuity to comfortably stow away, and at the 
same time insure a safe transit, where one has for 
instance a bunch of Grapes, a Melon, twelve Plums, 
six Peaches, and a miscellaneous collection of cut 
flowers to send in one package, and that to a most 
particular lady at the other end who, should there 
be the least chance, will not fail to find fault. It is 
in such an instance that the art of packing is tested 
to the utmost. I should like to see a prize awarded 
at our Horticultural Exhibitions, for such a hamper 
or box packed and posted or sent by rail from a 
distance which when unpacked was found to be in 
the best possible condition. 
The Zonal Pelargonium. 
The Pelargonium is so easy of cultivation that none 
need fail. Cuttings will bear the roughest possible 
