604 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 22 , 1897. 
The establishment of a “ Rose Day ” for all times, 
we consider the stronger and more original of the 
two ideas. 
•-- 
Hardening ||iscellany. 
AGAPETES BUXIFOUA. 
The claims of this beautiful member of the 
Vaccinium family do not seem to be recognised out¬ 
side of botanic gardens even by those who make a 
speciality of hard-wcoded subjects. It is of dwarf 
and bushy, branching habit, and if of relatively slow 
growth it should for that reason be acceptable to 
those who have but small accommodation under 
glass. The leaves are small, leathery, evergreen, and 
about the size of those of the tree Box. The droop¬ 
ing flowers are tubular, scarlet, and very freely pro¬ 
duced. They also last a long time in perfect condi¬ 
tion during spring and furnish a bright bit of colour 
at a time when variety is very much wanted by way 
of contrast to Dutch bulbs, Cinerarias, and other 
spring-flowering subjects. A fine batch of plants 
under 18 in. in height flowered recently in the green¬ 
house at Kew, where they had been very attractive 
for some weeks past. For many years it might have 
been seen in the temperate house, but is now con¬ 
sidered worthy of being grown in quantity with 
the more popular flowers. 
KERRIA JAPONICA FLORE PLENO. 
It may not be out of place at this time of the year 
to call attention to the value of the double Kerria. 
At the time of writing there are several cottages not 
far from me the walls of which are a perfect blaze of 
bright orange yellow—gaudy perhaps, but still effec¬ 
tive. The plant seems to grow in almost any situa¬ 
tion, and flowers each year with surpassing freedom. 
All that is necessary is to drive in a few nails each 
year to keep the long twiggy growths in something 
like order.— Viator. 
THE DISEASES OF PLANTS. 
The lantern lectures are evidently a very popular 
feature of the Royal Horticultural Society's meet- 
inngs One was held on the occasion of the last 
Drill Hall meeting on May nth, when Mr. Massee, of 
Kew, dealt with " The diseases of plants, especially 
those of Orchids." Mr. Massee's fame as a mycolo¬ 
gist is great, and he not only posseses immense stores 
of knowledge of his special class of plants, but he has 
also the power of imparting his knowledge in a lucid 
and agreeable manner. 
In his opening remarks the lecturer spoke of the 
way in which our plants are crowded together in 
gardens and greenhouses, these conditions being very 
favourable to the spread of any disease. A disease 
has, moreover, to become very widespread and 
attack vast numbers of plants before the gardener 
recognises it as a disease, and it is then too late to 
cure. 
Fungi differ very greatly from other plants in their 
general bearing. When the mushroom appears the 
fungus has done its work, for the mushroom is 
simply the fruit. The way in which fungi reproduce 
themselves is also very different to the methods 
adopted by other plants. In order, therefore, to be 
able to deal with fungoid diseases, the gardener 
ought to know the early symptoms, so that the 
remedy may be applied in time. 
Mr. Massee then briefly described the most common 
types of fungi that attack plants, dealing with their 
life history, and the way in which they might be 
recognised. 
The white mould (Sphaerotheca) that is so 
frequently to be found on Roses is a type of 
hundreds. In this case the mycelium or vegetative 
portion of the fungus is superficial, although the 
epidermis of the leaf is penetrated by minute strands 
of the mycelium. The mildew is reproduced during 
the summer by spores, which are spread by the wind 
and by syringing. They alight on a damp leaf and 
germinate in about four days if the weather is warm. 
Towards the end of the summer the white mycelium 
becomes studded with minute yellow points which 
are the winter form of fruit. These fruits are 
divided into several cells, each of which contains 
eight spores. These remain passive during the 
winter but germinate in the spring. They are thus 
produced by the fungus to tide itself over the cold 
weather. This mildew or mould is common to 
many rosaceous plants and must be looked for and 
guarded against. 
Often enough when a gardener is shown the 
resting spore stage of the fungus on a leaf and is told 
that the spores will germinate next spring unless 
destroyed, he crumples up the leaf in his hand, 
throws it away and thinks he has done for the fungus, 
when in reality he has only helped to distribute it. 
Syringing with clear water is worse than useless. 
The best method of combating the mildew is to spray 
with half an ounce of sulphide of potassium dissolved 
in a gallon of water. This is a most effectual 
remedy, and is no more harmful to the host plants 
than clear water would be. 
The coral red (xcrescences (Nectria) that are so 
commonly found on dead twigs and branches were 
next discussed. Th's fungus also had summer and 
winter spores, the latter remaining passive through¬ 
out the cold weather. 
The black spot on Orchids (Glaeosporium nigro- 
cinctum) was described by Mr. Massee at some 
length. It made its appearance on the thick leaves 
in the form of a dead white patch surrounded by a 
black ring, or else as a black spot merely. From the 
centre of the black ring a long tendril-like body ex¬ 
trudes,bearing spores which are spread about. It only 
takes a mature spore a day to alight upon its host, and 
penetrate the epidermis, whilst in a week it will have 
produced a mass of mycelium. The fungus is injurious 
to the host plants in two ways. First of all it is a 
true parasite and draws its sustenance from its host 
after the manner of parasites ; secondly it breaks the 
epidermis of the leaf in a number of places and thus 
transpiration of water goes on at a much greater rate 
than is good for the plant. Orchids are so built that 
they do not readily lose the moisture from their leaves 
under normal conditions, so this fungus upsets the 
balance of life. That the transpiration of water does 
take place through the ruptures in the epidermal 
tissue may be proved by covering these broken areas 
with pieces of “ cobaited paper.” These turn pink 
if allowed to come in contact with moisture, and the 
pink spots will be very evident in this case. The 
best cure for this fuagus is also spraying with the 
sulphide of potassium. 
The dreaded white rot that attacks forest trees was 
the next on the list. This disease alone, the lecturer 
computed, destroyed millions of pounds worth of trees 
a year in Europe alone. It was the work of Agaricus 
melius, which might be easily recognised when in 
fruit by the fact that it was the only densely tufted 
mushroom with light gills that we have. The strands 
of mycelium are as thick as fine cord, and any tree 
that they attack is hopelessly lost. The mycelium is 
thrown out along the ground for a radius of io or 12 
yards from the base of the affected tree, and when it 
reaches a suitable host climbs up it between the 
bark and the wood. A good plan is to isolate affected 
trees by cutting around them pits 9 in. deep and 6 in. 
in diameter, throwing the soil inwards. 
Alluding to the Tomato disease Mr. Massee, after 
describing the way it goes to work, declared that we 
are far too conservative in our methods, and that in 
any other country than our own £1 or £2 would be 
spent to save £100 worth of Tomatos. 
The Peronospora on Vines, and Ustilago arvense, 
the well known smut on Oats, were also described. 
The cluster cups on Pears and Junipers were cited 
as a good instance of a case where the fungus re¬ 
quired two separate host plaLts at different stages of 
its growth. In order to keep the Pears free all the 
Junipers should be cut down that were anywhere 
near. The fungus was perennial on the Juniper, and 
one such tree was sufficient to infect a host of Pears. 
Firiger and Toe (Plasmodiophora) attacks many 
cruciferous plants. Quicklime would certainly check 
if not kill this fungus, and the lecturer advocated its 
use. 
Mr. Massee then spoke of a very interesting class 
of Fungi, viz. those that attack insects. In France 
said he they sell spores of a certain fungus that preys 
upon Cockchafers for diffusion where these insects 
are numerous. 
In conclusion he said that the last thing a fungus 
thinks of is to die out. After becoming weakened by 
appearing in one state for a loog time, it will gain 
new life and energy by showing up in another place 
in a different state, in which it will live for a time and 
then change back again. 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL NATIONAL TULIP. —May 12th and 13/A. 
The fourth annual exhibition of this society was held 
in the long corridor in the Royal Botanic Society’s 
Gardens at Regent’s Park on the above dates. A 
fair amount of material was forthcoming. In the 
afternoon of May 12th a Conference was held in the 
museum. 
In the classes according to schedule Mr. Charles 
W. Needham, Royton, Oldham, was first for twelve 
dissimilar rectified Tulips to include two feathered 
and two flamed of each class. Samuel Barlow, 
Chancellor, Julia Farnese, Sir Joseph Paxton, Annie 
McGregor, Masterpiece, Trip to Stockport, Mabel, 
Henry Lowe, Adonis, Mrs. Lea, and Talisman were 
his varieties. Trip to Stockport was also awarded 
the premier prize fofthe best feathered bloom. The 
colour is white, feathered maroon. Mr. James W. 
Bentley, Stakehill, Middleton, Manchester, was 
second ; and Mr. A. Chater, Cambridge, third. 
In the smaller class for six rectified Tulips, dis¬ 
similar, Mr. J. Bentley was second ; and Mr. Alfred 
Chater, third. 
For six dissimilar Tulips, to include two in each, 
either feathered or flamed, open only to smaller 
growers, Mr. A. D. Hall, Wye, Kent, was first with 
good samples of Sir Joseph Paxton, Mabel, Adonis, 
William Annibal, and Madame St. Arnaud. Mr. H. 
E. Grey, Cambridge, was second. 
Three feathered forms were best shown by Mr. J. 
W. Bentley; Mrs. Lea, William Annibal, and E. 
Pegg were the varieties. Mr. Chas. W. Needham 
was second, and Mr. A. D. Hall, third. 
Mr. A. D. Hall, Wye, Kent, sent the premier three 
flamed Tulips, one of each class. They were William 
Bentley (bybloemen), Annie McGregor (rose), Dr. 
Hardy (bizarre). Mr. James W. Bentley was second ; 
and Mr. Chas. W. Needham, third. 
The " Samuel Barlow " first prize for the best 
pair of rectified Tulips, one feathered and one flamed, 
was carried off by Mr. A. D. Hall with Sir Joseph 
Paxton and William Wilson. Mr. Jas. W. Bentley 
was second; and Mr. Chas. W. Needham, third. 
Mr. J. W. Bentley had the premier flamed Tulip in 
Sir Joseph Paxton. 
The best six breeder forms, distinct, came from 
Mr. Chas. W. Needham, who had Camp’s Seedling, 
Mabel, Orleans, Annie McGregor, Storer's Seedling, 
and Richard Yates. Mr. Jas. W. Bentley was 
second. 
Mr. Chas. W. Needham was also successful in 
winning the first award for three dissimilar breeders' 
showing Annie McGregor, Adonis, and Sulphur. 
Mr. H. E. Grey was second, and Mr. J. W. Bentley, 
third. 
The premier breeder form was declared to be 
Mabel, belonging to the rose section, shown by Mr. 
H. E. Grey. 
Mr. J. W. Bentley had the first award, a Silver 
Daffodil Cup, presented by Messrs. Barr & Sons, 
for a collection of 90 blooms of English florists' 
forms, in 30 named, distinct varieties; all classes, 
rectified and breeder, to be represented, and not 
more than five blooms of any one kind to be staged. 
This was a magnificent exhibit, and 131 blooms were 
shown instead of 90. Modesty, Goldfinder, Annie 
McGregor, Adonis, Masterpiece, Lord Stanley, 
Queen of England, Nulli Secundus, and Bessie were 
a few of the most noteworthy forms. 
Mr. Needham contributed the best collection of 
florists' Tulips grouped for effect, the prize being a 
Silver Medal presented by Messrs. Barr & Sons. 
In the class for a collection of Tulips, species and 
varieties (other than the feathered, flamed, or 
breeder florists’ Tulips) and open to all nurserymen, 
Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, were first. 
The prize was a Silver Medal presented by W. 
Robinson, Esq. T. gesneriana, T. florentina, T. 
Didieri, Golden Eagle, American Lac, and T. 
vitellina were some of the best forms included. Of 
the pretty Parrot varieties, Lutea major, Constanti¬ 
nople, and Cramoisie Brilliant were very meri¬ 
torious. 
The miscellaneous exhibits, although few, con¬ 
stituted the brightest part of the show from a scenic 
point of view. 
Messrs John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S E., set 
up a most attractive group of mixed flowering and 
foliage plants, the exhibit occupying over a hundred 
square feet. In the background amongst other 
