December 2, lb99. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
213 
The Mushroom possesses nourishing properties 
similar to that of meat, the chemical ingredients 
being much the same in both. 
Weather in London.—The most that can be said on 
this subject is that the conditions of the temperature 
for this season of the year are very mild, and not at 
all seasonable. Our bodies and our general health¬ 
fulness would be much the better for having to 
resist cold weather. It is very foggy as we go to 
press on Wednesday. 
Bouquet Competition at Belfast.—In our report of 
the Belfast show, which was held on November 14th 
and 15th, we have placed Messrs. Alexander Dick¬ 
son & Son, of the Royal Nurseries, Newtownards, in 
the second place for a bridesmaid's bouquet (nur¬ 
serymen’s section). This is incorrect. They were 
first, and we are pleased to put the matter in its 
proper form. 
A Season's Charlock Spraying.—Charlock (Sinapis 
arvensis), is a cruciferous weed of the Mustard 
family which springs up in the wheat fields to the 
detriment of this latter crop. One of the most 
effectual ways of combating it for its suppression or 
extermination is by the practice of spraying. To 
find out how far the benefit from spraying goes, 
Messrs. Strawson, of Queen Victoria Street, London, 
recently issued a phamphlet asking farmers to send 
them any records which they had from experiments 
in using the spray. The percentages of the spray¬ 
ings during April, May, and June were given in this 
order :—5, 47, and 48 per cent, respectively. The 
most successful sprajing was found to be with young 
plants 2 in. to 6 in. in height. Much of the Charlock 
sprayed in June was too old. Windy weather leads 
to uneven spraying, while wet weather following 
upon the operation decreases the effect of the spray¬ 
ing. Copper sulphate gives better results than the 
use of iron sulphate does, and the former was used 
at the rate of a 2 per cent, solution sprayed at the 
rate of 50 gallons per acre. Impure sulphate must 
not be used. The statistical value of the experiments 
are given as:—successful, 68%; partially successful, 
26% and 6% as unsuccessful. Cultivators who pro¬ 
pose to spray against the pest next season are ad¬ 
vised to have everything in readiness, and to spray 
before the weed reaches a stage at which the effect 
would be lost. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners' Association — “ Cut 
Flowers and their Arrangement ” was the subject 
under discussion by the members of the 
above at their meeting in the Guildhall, Exeter, 
on the i6;h inst. The exponent was Mr. W. 
Mackay, of the Royal Nurseries. The lecturer very 
aptly suggested (from the lack of skill and taste which 
even experienced florists at times showed) that floral 
artists, like poets, were born, not made. A summary 
of Mr. Mackay’s hints might be rendered thus :— 
Short stalks were not a merit, nor was the persis¬ 
tent habit of cramming the flowers a quality. Vases 
and receptacles had to be considered quite as much 
as the flowers with which they were to be filled. 
Harmony of colour and form, or else direct contrast 
was a strong point for consideration. Wherever 
possible the bloom and the foliage which relieved it 
should be from the same plant. Ladies’ dress 
sprays were subjects demanding careful manipula¬ 
tion, light, graceful sprays being mostly in request, 
and for the making of such it required elegant and 
suitable blooms. Bouquets ought to appear as 
though studied care had no part in their make up, 
that is, the negligence of form ought to leave this 
impression, and yet the grace and sweetness of a 
bouquet should gratify every artistic taste. In 
room decorations the simplest of flowers alone 
should be chosen, and these, as in all arrangements, 
must be considered with regard to the furniture. 
Two colours of the same flower, such as a Pink and 
a darker variety of Rose, went well together. Heavy 
flowers, too, such as Roses, as a whole, are to be 
well classed, else their charm may be quite destroyed. 
A collection or arrangement of Sweet Peas, for in¬ 
stance, indicated the ideal of beauty in nearly all 
respects. For church decorations flowers should be 
bold and showy. Mr. J. Merritt, of Madford 
House, occupied the chair. Hearty discussion 
followed the reading of the paper, and hearty thanks 
were accorded to Mr. Mackay both for the paper 
and for the skillful examples of decorations with 
which ha illustrated what he verbally advocated. 
The Tea Rose, Mdme. Falcon, of which the new 
Tea Sunrise is a slightly improved edition, may be 
seen selling in the hands of dozens of the London 
flower-girls. 
Imperishable Palms, &c —The process of manu¬ 
facturing Palms, like the process of artificial flower 
making, has reached a high standard of perfection. 
Messrs Osman & Co., of T32, 134, Com¬ 
mercial Street, London, E., Pave for some years 
devoted themselves largely to the preservation of 
specimens which have been naturally grown, and 
also to the making of artificial semblances. Cycas, 
Cocos, all species of Palms, and many of the more 
ornamental window plants have come under their 
skill for modelling, and with a success which rivals 
the pattern they copy, which is Nature. Nursery¬ 
men and market gardeners may not be in favour of 
such " impositions ” as they would say, but those 
buyers who had formerly to toll out a high price for 
a Palm nearly every quarter, know which sort they 
prefer—the living or the lifeless. Messrs. Osman's 
catalogue is one series of pretty blocks, illustrative 
of their samples of vases, baskets, stands, aquariums, 
bowls, and a thousand and one other articles 
included under horticultural sundries and which are 
used in floral decorations, &c., for dwellings. 
The " Hurst & Son ” Musical Saciety.— The first 
entertainment for the present season,given by this pro¬ 
gressive society, only iQ its second year of existence, 
took the form of a Ladies’ Concert, and was held in 
Pillar Hall, Corn Exchange Restaurant, Mark Lane, 
E.C., on Tuesday evening, November 28th. The 
venture was an unqualified success, viewed either 
from the point of number and quality of the audience 
(about 150), or the rendering of the items of the 
programme. N. N. Sherwood, Esq , the head of the 
firm of" Hurst & Son," occupied the chair. The con¬ 
ductor of the orchestra was Mr. Edward Sherwood, 
eldest son of the father, and his management 
of the latter was worthy of one longer experi- 
enced. The overture was a selection entitled 
" Naval and Military," arranged by the young 
honorary conductor of the society. The piece 
is one capable of producing patriotic and stirring 
sentiments, so that on another occasion we again 
hope to hear it. Then followed a song by Mr. 
Dixon, " The Windmill,” one not greatly popular, 
but as here sung with a weight of rich volume, it was 
most pleasing. Mods. Cognet gave on the flute, the 
stirring piece, "William Tell," in a way which put 
the audience in the best of spirits. " Be Mine the 
Blame," by Mrs. Dandridge, herself playing the ac¬ 
companiment, was very soft and sweet. The clear¬ 
ness with which she topped even the very highest 
chords was most pleasant to listen to. The humor¬ 
ous element was introduced by Mr. R. C. Tucker, 
whose recitation of Mark Twain's " European 
Guides ” was a very fine picture of what the actual 
scenes and encounters would be. Then Weber's 
fantasie, “ Der Freischutz ’’ by the orchestra, ter¬ 
minated the first part successfully. Mr. Arthur 
Wood, an old friend of Mr. N. Sherwood’s, during 
the interval recited Rudyard Kipling’s poem, "The 
Absent-Minded Beggar," after which the tambourine 
was passed around, and the handsome sum of 
£6 4s. 6d. was realised for the benefit of our Soldiers’ 
Widows and Orphan Fund. Part II opened with an 
orchestral selection, being pieces from Henry VIII. 
The audience were so well pleased with this that 
Mr. E. Sherwood had to repeat it. Mr. Harmer 
now came before the meeting, and his own jovial ap¬ 
pearance and his hearty, manly voice were too good 
only to see and hear in one song; he was encored. 
Miss M. Elphick, a little lady of eleven or twelve 
years, surprised the company by her clever render¬ 
ing of a rather intricate piano solo, " Grand Valse 
de Concert." She played very beautifully, and the 
burst of applause when she finished proved that all 
were of one mind. " Bid me to Love," by Mr. 
Cummings, rung the rafters by its richness and clear 
expression. Then to crown all, and put a happy 
finish to the evening, Mr. E. Sherwood conducted 
the softly rolling strains of the March " Cornelius " 
in so able a manner, and with so much apparent ease, 
that every one would have liked to hear the piece 
repeated. There was a full orchestra, most of the 
artistes being in the employment of Hurst & Son. 
The meeting which was a credit in every respect, 
and thoroughly enjoyable, concluded just after 
10 o’clock by the company joining in " God Save the 
Queen.” 
Locust found in a Banana bunch. — A fine sample of 
a locust was recently found in a bunch of Bananas 
which came to Hampstead, London. The insect 
since being taken to the Zoo, has laid eggs, and 
there is now on view in the Insect House a hatching 
of tiny locusts. In South Africa locusts are fearful 
pests. 
COELOGYNE CRISTATA. 
It very often happens that this useful Orchid is 
allowed to get into a bad condition, but anyone 
having anything like suitable convenience need have 
no difficulty in growing them successfully, at least the 
variety cristata. On more than one occasion I have 
had to take to plants in an unhealthy state and in 
each case in less than two years' time they have re¬ 
gained their full vigour and flowered grandly. 
It is not good practice to repot every year, as 
some check must result from the operation ; but it 
is also a mistake to let them go on year after year 
without some addition in the way of topdressing 
being made. Here we have a number of plants of 
various sizes which have not been repotted for many 
years but have been going back for some time owing 
no doubt to the want of sustenance. The bulbs 
had become smaller and smaller each year until few 
flower spikes were made. Taking charge of them 
last autumn they were rested until growth began, 
when weak liquid manure, made from sheep 
droppings chiefly, was given them regularly, the 
strength increasing as the plants became stronger, 
until now the plants are healthy and strong, many of 
the pseudobulbs measuring from 3 in. to 3^ in. in 
length and the most of the bulbs showing a strong, 
healthy flower spike. 
We hope to repot them as soon as flowering is 
completed, and just before growth for next season 
begins. A temperature of from 65° to 70° while growth 
is being made suits them well, giving plenty of at¬ 
mospheric moisture as well as from the syringe, in 
bright weather keeping them well shaded from the 
sun. I think it is much to be preferred to repot 
when the plants are healthy and strong than to wait 
until a state of starvation exists when there is no 
strength left to successfully recover the repotting. 
Pans are preferable to pots, and a compost of one 
part fibrous loam, one part peat, and(one of charcoal, 
with an addition of chopped Sphagnum and a 
medium quantity of crushed bones to sustain the 
growth will grow them well for three or four years, 
using plenty of drainage, which is very important. 
An annual topdressing is beneficial just before growth 
begins, and chopped Sphagnum with a little bone 
meal and leaf mould will be all that is necessary. 
Plenty of water during the growing season is neces¬ 
sary, after which give sufficient only to keep the 
bulbs from shrivelling, when the temperature should 
also be decreased to 55 0 or thereby. 
To enable the expanded flowers to last as long as 
possible a position with the ordinary greenhouse 
flowering plants will prolong their freshness, the 
atmosphere being drier. Avoid the use of the 
syringe and overhead waterings at this period. 
Possibly this will afford some hints to G.C C., on 
p 166, and help him out of the difficulty there 
mentioned .—James Dinning. 
-—-- 
CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN. 
This interesting, ancient and historic institution has 
lately been discussed in the public press with a view 
to the necessary steps being taken to keep it from 
falling into the hands of the builder, as well as to 
draft some permanent and satisfactory scheme 
whereby its long history of usefulness might still be 
secured and continued. 
Sir Hans Sloane gifted the land for this Physic 
Garden to the Company of Apothecaries in the year 
1722. His aim is expressed in his (Sir Hans’) own 
writing, “ That the said garden may be upheld for 
the encouraging and enabling the said society to 
support the charge thereof for the manifestation of 
the power, wisdom and glory of God in the works of 
the creation, and their apprentices and others may 
better distinguish good and useful plants from those 
that bear resemblance to them and yet are hurtful 
and other like good purposes." 
The expenses entailed in the proper upkeep of 
this garden have, however, long been like a mill¬ 
stone on the neck of the Apothecaries' Society. 
Times and again they have tried to get some help or 
even entire dissolution from the trusteeship. In 
