376 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 10, 1894. 
out to have all the qualities and faults of the seed 
parent. Several seedlings have, however, been 
selected, named, and sent out, and which originated 
from Beurre Clairgeau. The variety under notice 
was first announced in 1890 by Messrs. Transon 
Bros., of Orleans, France. It is reported on all 
hands to be a great improvement upon the parent of 
which it is simply a seedling. The tree is of 
pyramidal habit and more robust than the parent, 
and is suitable for various forms of training. The 
fruit is elongated, greatly swollen or thickened, and 
suddenly narrowed towards the peduncle. The skin 
is yellow, closely marked all over with russety spots, 
washed with lively red at maturity, and wholly 
russety round the crown. The flesh is moderately 
delicate, juicy almost melting, perfumed, and of very 
good quality. The fruit is so handsome that it is 
sure to find admirers amongst the owners of private 
establishments, and on account of its great size, 
some of them measuring upwards of two pounds. A 
coloured plate of it is given in the Bulletin d'Arbori- 
cuUurt de Floricultuie, S'C., for January. 
CALLIPSYCHE AURANTIACA. 
The habit of this plant is very similar to that of 
Urceolina pendula, that is it flowers in winter and 
throws up its leaves in summer, and does not get fully 
developed till June. They are cordate-oblong, with 
the lamina about half a foot long and 4 in. broad. 
The flowers cannot be termed showy, but seeing 
that they come at a time when variety in flowers is 
a comparatively scarce commodity in the stove they 
are then more appreciated. The flower scape is 
about 18 in. long, and bears about four to eight 
flowers in an umbel. The segments are clear 
yellow, and ij in. to 2 in. long. The stamens con¬ 
stitute one of their most prominent features, as they 
project from 2J in. to 3 in. beyond the corolla, and 
are greenish-white. Similar treatment should be 
given it as to Urceolina. The plant is a native of 
the Andes of Ecuador at an elevation of 8,000 ft., 
and first flowered in this country in 1869. 
-- 
SOCIETIES. 
Manchester Botanical and Horticultural.—The pro¬ 
prietors of the Royal Botanical Society of Man¬ 
chester and the Northern Counties held their annual 
meeting in the Lord Mayor’s parlour at the Town 
Hall on Thursday, Mr. J. R. Hampson presiding. 
The Council in their annual report state that the 
amount of subscriptions received from proprietors 
and subscribers of ■£z 2S. was considerably less 
than was obtained the previous year, but although 
this was to be regretted it was scarcely a matter of 
surprise. The income from life compositions and 
exhibitions showed an increase over the year pre¬ 
ceding. Considerable extraordinary expenditure 
had been necessary during the past year in the 
restoration of the gardens and the purchase of 
materials bought from the company who rented the 
Gardens during the year 1892. This expenditure 
had been paid out of the year's income, but was of 
course chargeable to the account received for rental 
during the year preceding. This extra outlay upon 
restoration account was in the main responsible for 
the increased liabilities. A general opinion had 
been expressed that the new features introduced in 
consequence of the alterations were a great im¬ 
provement. Visitors who had been in the habit of 
attending the Gardens for many years had been 
unanimous in saying that from the floral and horti¬ 
cultural point of view they never saw the Gardens 
appear to better advantage, and strangers from a 
distance had in many instances expressed their 
admiration at the general appearance of the grounds, 
and the good health of the extensive collection of 
plants in the large range of temperate and tropical 
plant-houses. The Council had pleasure in stating 
that the buildings and works generally were in good 
condition. The Society’s collection of medicinal 
and economic plants also continued to be acknow¬ 
ledged as most complete and useful. The public 
value of this department was proved by the large 
number of students who visit the Gardens, and by 
the constant application for specimens and samples, 
and for information from medical, commercial, 
manufacturing, and other professions. The Council 
did not think it was generally known that the 
Society did not receive the smallest material assis¬ 
tance or public acknowledgment for this valuable 
special work. The effect of having the actual speci¬ 
mens for examination had proved most beneficial in 
all instances ; indeed it was only by pursuing the 
study in this way that it was at all possible to 
give that training to and development of the power 
of observation for which this subject was justly re¬ 
ported as possessing a high value. The floral and 
horticultural exhibitions held during the past year 
had been highly satisfactory. At the annual Whit¬ 
suntide Exhibition, held in the Gardens, the collec¬ 
tion of Orchids was considered the finest display of 
these magnificent plants ever seen in one place. 
The year 1894 would be a memorable one in the 
history of our city in consequence of the opening of 
the Ship Canal. The Council ventured to hope 
that it would be rendered a prosperous one in the 
history of a Society which had done so much in the 
past to improve an art held always in the highest 
estimation, had also furnished recreation of a health¬ 
ful and instructive nature, and had contributed 
largely to increase the amount of domestic comfort 
and enjoyment. On these grounds the Council 
earnestly appealed for an increase in the number of 
Fellows and subscribers. Without such aid many 
important objects which would add much to the 
pure enjoyment of the community could not be 
accomplished. During the past year a series of 
lectures had been given upon botany and horticulture, 
in the Gardens by Professor Weiss and Mr. Thomas 
Hick, B.A., of the Owens College, and Mr. A. 
Stansfield, of Kersal. These lectures were given 
under the auspices of the Technical Instruction 
Committee of the Lancashire County Council, who 
paid the expenses in connection with them. The 
main object of the lectures and demonstrations was 
to teach the rising generation of gardeners, farmers, 
and others interested in the subject. The meetings 
were well attended, and will be continued during the 
present year under the same conditions, and it had 
been suggested that, in the hope of rendering this 
teaching more definite and effective, periodical 
examinations be held in connection with the lectures. 
The arrangements for the present year include the 
holding of the National Horticultural Exhibitions at 
the Gardens at Whitsuntide. 
The report and accounts were adopted after some 
discussion, and the retiring Council thanked for 
their services. 
Mr. Nall moved, and Mr. W. S. Boddington 
seconded, the election of the following officers for 
the ensuing year :—President, the Earl of Derby ; 
vice-presidents, Messrs. Joseph Broome, William 
Tattersall, William Grimshaw, and J. R. Hampson ; 
council, Messrs. C. S. Agnew, John Galloway, jun., 
John Bowden, James Brown, David M'Clure, 
W. H. Milner, F. Robinson, T. S. Turnbull, R. 
Tait, John Wainwright, Thomas Statter, and James 
Oliver. The motion was adopted. 
Liverpool Horticultural Association.—The annual 
meeting of this Association was held on Saturday 
evening last, Mr. Thomas White presiding. The 
attendance of members was not large, but the pro¬ 
ceedings were of a somewhat lively character 
throughout, the officials especially coming in for 
some plain speaking. The report and statement of 
accounts were adopted, the latter showing a loss on 
the year’s working of /yg 14s. id. Owing to the 
weakened state of the finances, it was decided to 
abandon the spring show this year, and it was left 
to the committee to decide when and where the 
summer show shall be held. Mr. George Blackmire 
was re-elected treasurer, and Mr, E. Bridge, Huyton, 
was returned to his old post as secretary, Mr, R. G. 
Waterman being appointed auditor. On the motion 
of Mr. Waterman a donation of three guineas was 
voted to the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institu¬ 
tion, and the sum of two guineas to the Royal 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
Woolton Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Society.— 
The usual meeting of this Society was held on 
Thursday of last week, the Rev. G. H. Spooner 
presiding. The subject for consideration was the 
" Selection and culture of hardy fruits suitable for 
this locality,” being a prize essay by Mr. R, G. 
Waterman, in which he dealt with the total rainfall, 
the number of days during the year upon which rain 
fell, the percentage and duration of sunshine, and 
the mean temperature over a period of years, the 
statistics being given for different localities in 
England, which resulted in showing that the district 
was a trying one, and therefore that every means in 
selection and cultivation should be carefully taken to 
command success. Another detail of the paper, 
especially interesting to those present, was a de¬ 
scription of the surface and subsoils for the various 
townships within a radius of five to six miles. 
Practical details of draining, planting, pruning, and 
training, with a chapter on insect pests and diseases, 
and selections of the most approved kinds were 
given. Among Apples, it w’as considered that 
Suffield was the best kitchen variety, and Ribston 
Pippin the best for dessert, both doing remarkably 
well as bushes or as standards. The chairman 
stated he had successfully grown Quinces on a 
young tree, which was the only plant known in the 
locality. A discussion followed, in which Messrs. R. 
Todd, J. Stoney, B. Cromwell, T. Carling, and 
others took part. 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN, 
Achimenes.—Where the stock of this class of 
plants is limited, and there is a desire to increase it, 
take off the tops of plants that have been started 
some time ago when they attain 3 in. or 4 in. in 
length. The old plants may be repotted after they 
commence fresh growth. The tops may be dibbled 
into pots or pans of sandy soil and placed in a frame 
till they form roots. After this they may be potted 
oft and grown on in the usual way. 
Adiantum farleyense. —Where ten growers 
would succeed with this Fern as a large specimen, a 
hundred could manage it better in a small state. 
The foliage is very handsome for decorative purposes 
in cases where care is taken to preserve the fronds 
from injury. It is an easy matter to get up a stock 
of it by cutting up the rhizomes into small pieces, each 
possessing a crown or growing point. Pot them in 
a mixture of sandy loam and peat, and then plunge 
the pots in a frame in the stove or propagating pit 
till fresh growth commences. After this the young 
plants should be subjected to more light and ven¬ 
tilation. 
Lygodium scandens, etc.— Several of the more 
useful Ferns for decorative purposes may be propa¬ 
gated by division at the present time, including 
Lygodium scandens, so much utilised as sprays at 
the present day. The fronds may be .''urnished with 
the means of climbing upon strings or stakes 
according to fancy or requirements. Polypodium 
subauriculatum, souseful for baskets, may be divided 
if small plants are required. Most of the Adian- 
tums may be increased in the same way ; if the 
pieces are small, they should have the close atmos¬ 
phere of a frame till fresh roots are made. Daval- 
lias are readily propagated by the division of their 
rhizomes, with a growing point to each piece and a 
few roots if possible. 
Raising Ferns from Spores. —The custom of 
raising batches of Ferns for decorative and other 
purposes from spores is becoming a more common 
practice than it used to be. Get some small and 
shallow pans; drain them well and fill with a com¬ 
post of loam, a small quantity of peat with plenty 
of clean sand, or some burnt clay ground up finely. 
Half-an-inch at least of the top soil should be passed 
through a fine sieve to get rid of the lumps. Press 
the compost down firmly and evenly, scatter the 
spores over the top and cover with a piece of glass. 
In order to avoid watering, and the danger of wash¬ 
ing away the spores, stand the pans in shallow flats 
or saucers kept replenished with water from time to 
time till the prothalli make the surface green. On 
the other hand the pans may be plunged in coco¬ 
nut fibre in a frame and covered with glass. Spores 
should have been collected in autumn, or previously 
when ripe. 
Laburnums. —Small plants of the common 
Laburnum make very useful subjects for forcing, 
affording as they do a colour that is by no means 
common amongst decorative plants at this season, 
and long racemes of gracefully pendent flowers. 
Peaches. —Trees in houses that were closed early 
in December for forcing will now be in bloom. A 
dry atmosphere should be maintained by keeping the 
pipes a little warmer if necessary, and ventilating 
during the day. Go over the trees a little before 
noon, and again about one o’clock or thereby, to tap 
the stems and branches of the trees with the hand 
or a light cane. Some prefer a hare’s tail or a camel 
