February 10, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
373 
A. Dingwall Fordyce, Esq., of Brucklay Castle, 
Aberdeenshire, has presented three large Palms for 
the new winter garden in the Duthie Park, Aber¬ 
deen. 
Cyclamert repandum is said to be the most fragrant 
and one of the most superior of the Cyclamen fit 
for growth out of doors. So says one who has 
grown thousands and hybridised with a great many 
of our hardy Cyclamen. The flowers are rose-red, 
and the species hails from certain parts of South 
Europe. 
Big Ben and the Snowstorm.—The snowstorm 
of the 2nd and 3rd inst. is the heaviest with which 
we have been visited since 1895. On Saturday 
morning, at 1.30, Big Ben, the clock on the tower at 
the Houses of Parliament, was unable to continue 
marking time owing to the heavy fall of wet snow 
which clogged the hands. The machinery was put 
in motion again soon after 10 a.m. 
Odontoglossum duviYierianum.—This is a sup¬ 
posed natural hybrid between O.nebulosum and O.ma- 
culatum. In the eyes of Orchid collectors, the hybrid 
is a more desirable possession than either of the 
parents, or both taken together The rarity of the 
hybrid, no doubt, accounts for the desire to possess 
it. Messrs. Stanley-Mobbs & Ashton, Southgate, N., 
brought up one to the Sale Rooms of Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris, Cheapside, on the 2nd inst., 
when it was sold for 14 gs. It was only a small 
piece of six pseudo-bulbs, with one lead. 
Richmond Horticultural Society.—At a meeting 
duly held on Thursday, the 1st of February, 1900, 
Thomas Skewes-Cox, Esq , M.P. (chairman), in the 
chair, the following resolution was proposed by him, 
seconded by Sir Edward Hertslet, K.C.B., and 
unanimously adopted :—•• That the Richmond Horti¬ 
cultural Society hereby places on record its deep 
regret at the loss which has befallen horticulture by 
the death of His Highness the Duke of Teck, G.C.B., 
G.C.V.O , a prince who, for no less than twenty-six 
years past, had been the president and valued friend 
and supporter of this society, and begs to tender 
sincere and respectful sympathy to their Royal 
Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, and the 
other members of the late president's family in their 
heavy bereavement.” 
Bitter Rot in Apples.— The Canadian Horticulturist 
complains of tbe growing multiplicity of difficulties 
which beset the devoted fruit growers in Canada. 
*' As if it were not enough to spray for Codlin Moth, 
Apple scab, and Grape mildew, we are now having 
added a most destructive fungus, the bitter rot of the 
Apple.” We in England have the fungus to fight 
against. It originates from spores which float about 
in the air, settle themselves down upon the skin of 
tbe fruits, and send in penetrating mycelium within 
the ” flesh ” of the Apples. The effect of this is to 
cause numerous brown spots, which may extend 
broadly to the core. So bad do they become as to 
render the fruits unfit for any purpose whatsoever. 
Three sprayings of Bordeaux mixture are recom¬ 
mended No. 1. After the buds swell; No. 2. After 
the fruits have set; and No. 3. when nearly full 
grown. 
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.—The 
prize lists and rules for the shows to be held during 
1900 by the above society are to hand. "As indi¬ 
cated in the report submitted last year, the council 
have considered the possibility of holding extra 
meetings during the year, and, as an experiment, 
have arranged for two such meetings, the first to be 
held at the beginning of May, and the second about 
middle of July. Particulars of these meetings will 
be found on page 19 of the schedule.” Another 
feature worthy of special reference is the offer made 
by Dr. MacDougall, 25, India Street, Edinburgh, 
who takes in hand to name and advise upon all in¬ 
jurious insects, grubs, and larvae of gardens, free of 
charge, to members who care to send infested sam¬ 
ples to him. He will make an exhibit of insects 
helpful and harmful at the April show. A strong 
feature at the autumn show will be the entry in 
Class I. for a decorated table of dessert fruit, 10 ft. 
X ft., for which the prizes are £7, £5, and £3, 
presented by the Corporation of the City of Edin¬ 
burgh. The funds of the society for the year ending 
November, 1899, though showing a decrease of 
£gt 18s. yd., are still good, to wit, £758 19s. ud. 
Mr. Harcourt Webb and Mr. Frank Webb, 
sons o Colonel William G. Webb, ol Wordsley, 
Stourbridge, who, after holding commissions in the 
1st South Staffordshire Volunteer Battalion, recently 
joined the Imperial Yeomanry, embarked for South 
Africa on Saturday, the 3rd inst. Their many friends 
in the Stourbridge district abound in good wishes 
for them, and in the hope for their safe and early 
return. 
Lady Gardeners Appointed.—Apropos of what 
we wrote in a recent number on the employment of 
" Eve ” as head-gardener, we learn that another in¬ 
stance is to be recorded. Two lady gardeners 
(cannot we adopt a shorter appellation, as, for in¬ 
stance, the French word jardiniere ?) lately, at the 
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, have gone seem¬ 
ingly as cc-head-gardeners to take charge of a garden 
in Wales. The Marchioness of Bute was sued by 
the jardinieres referred to for breach of contract, she 
having engaged them and then cancelled the agree¬ 
ment. They received each £25 damages. The re¬ 
muneration in their present situation is very satis¬ 
factory as gardeners' wages go. We wish them 
success. 
Newton Stewart and Minnigaff Horticultural 
Society.—It is with satisfaction at the past year’s re¬ 
sults that the committee of the above society present 
their annual prize schedule for 1900. Last year’s 
exhibition was the best in many ways which the 
society has held for many years, and to those who 
come forward to exhibit, and also to the many kind 
friends who are donors of special prizes, the com¬ 
mittee tender their appreciation. Special arrange¬ 
ments will be made for greater attractions at this 
year’s show. Mr. Kidd, Mochrurn Park, Kirkcowan, 
was the winner last year of - The Gardening 
World volume offered for two ornamental foliaged 
Pelargoniums. The same prize is repeated this year 
for six bunches of Sweet Peas, to be arranged in 
vases. 
Woolton Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Society.—The usual meeting of the above was held 
at the Mechanics' Institute on Thursday of last 
week, Mr. R. Pinnington presiding over a good 
attendance of members. The secretary reported 
that he had received an offer from the president of 
the society, Holbrook Gaskell, Esq., J.P., of a num¬ 
ber of bound volumes of The Gardeners' Chronicle and 
The Garden as an addition to the library. The offer 
was gratefully accepted, and the secretary was 
requested to convey the thanks of the society to Mr. 
Gaskell for his generous gift. A Certificate of 
Merit was granted to Mr. R. Todd, gardener to Hol¬ 
brook Gaskell, Esq , for a plant of Cypripedium 
leeanum carrying twenty-four flowers. The plant 
was raised at Woolton Wood, the seed sown in 1882, 
and flowered in 18S8 tor the first time Mr. Ducket 
Cowan was then introduced by the chairman, who 
gave some interesting “ Reminiscences of his travels, 
collecting Orchids in South America.” AmoDgst 
the many places visited by the traveller were Port 
of Spain, Barbadoes, Trinidad, Caracas, Columbia, 
Bogota, &c. Bogota was described as the home of 
Cattleya gigas, some 9,000 ft. above the sea, contain¬ 
ing 100,000 inhabitants. A special feature of the 
climate was the dense moisture from 630 to 9.30 
a m. Some few plants of the white Sobralia were 
also found here. Pacha was noted for Odonto¬ 
glossum crispum, whilst from other parts Cattleya 
Trianaei, C. Sohroderae and a small number of C. 
surperba splendens (white variety) were obtained. 
The lecture included the means of travelling, the 
manners and customs of the inhabitants, and the 
system pursued in obtaining the plants. Specimens 
of birds, butterflies and reptiles were exhibited and 
explained, whilst the costume worn by the traveller 
during his expedition caused considerable amuse¬ 
ment when he appeared fully arrayed. The mem¬ 
bers throughout followed the lecturer closely in his 
unassuming manner, but with the details naturally 
and clearly expressed. Further details were asked 
for by many of the members, which were gladly 
replied to. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to 
Mr. Cowan for his most enjoyable and interesting 
evening. Mr. H. Corlett contributed to the evening’s 
instruction by showing under the microscope speci¬ 
mens of the Black Currant mite. A vote of thanks 
to the chairman concluded the successful evening's 
work. 
A Rare Moss.—At a meeting of the Linnean 
Society of London, on the 21st December last, Dr. 
R. Braithwaite, F.L.S , exhibited specimens of 
Hypnum Hochstetteri, Scbimp, collected by him on 
the Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides, the only known 
locality for it in Europe, though found in the Azores 
and Canary Islands. It would be interesting, if it 
could be determined, to know how the moss in ques¬ 
tion has come to be established in such isolated and 
remote localities. The reasoning is that there were, 
at one time, land connections ; or sea birds, the wind 
or ocean waves carried the spores. 
R.H.S. of Ireland.—The schedule of prizes to be 
awarded at the society’s shows during the year is 
now published. The money prizes amount to £420, 
besides which there are numerous challenge cups and 
special awards. It is to be hoped that these amounts 
will draw forth an effort from likely competitors. 
Among cups, &c., offered are the following :—The 
president, the Right Hon. Lord Ardilaun, offers three 
challenge cups,value £10 each, also a £5 cup. Messrs. 
Alex. Dickson & Sons, Newtownards Nurseries, pre¬ 
sent a £25 cup for Roses; and for a like competition 
Messrs. West & Sons, College Green, offer a £10 
cup. Two £\o cups are presented by anonymous 
donors. Major Domville, J.P., offers a five guinea 
cup for hardy herbaceous plants. For Carnations, 
that the donors are specialists in the culture of, 
Messrs. Wm. Watson & Sons, the Clontarf Nurser¬ 
ies, offer a £5 cup; for a similar competition, Col. 
Jervis White, Wexford, presents a £5 cup. The 
gardeners of Ireland offer a £10 cup for Chrysanthe¬ 
mums. The Pure Ichthemic Guano Company, 
Ipswich, present a very handsome piece of plate, 
value £3 3s., for incurved Chrysanthemums; and 
Messrs. Waterhouse & Sons, 25, Dame Street, with 
their usual liberality, have for the third time off red 
a £10 cup for Chrysanthemums, cut blooms in vases. 
There are also to be competed for six silver-gilt, 
twelve silver, and ten bronze medals. 
GRADUS PEA. 
The controversy re Gradus Pea h3s now reached a 
very interesting point. Originally commencing in a 
statement emanating from Mr. Carmichael so utterly 
unfair, untrue, and so divergent in opinion to practi¬ 
cal Pea growers, it has now culminated in a grand 
notice for a grand Pea, which, in my mind, is the 
greatest improvement in early Peas ever effected up 
to the present. The point raised as to the many 
renamiDgs of this Pea is very good. Mr. Harrison 
drove the nail in, and Mr. James Smith has clenched 
it. To put the matter briefly it was decidedly un¬ 
fair for Mr. Carmichael to put such a severe con¬ 
demnation on a novelty which he admits in bis letter 
was procured from a firm who had nothing to do 
either with the hybridisation or original distribution. 
I read, with disgust, not only in your valued 
journal, but in others, in ” Gardening notes for the 
month, ” or whatever title it may be under, the 
persistent recommendation that ” so and so's Jubilee 
has been vastly superior to any other,” " so and so's 
Perfection should be sown now in preference to any 
other.” It might be, if it were of any interest to me, 
I might get a friend to write in ■'notes ” of this 
character that ” Gould's Eureka " (were there such a 
thing) eclipsed all Peas on earth. I do not find fault 
with parties recommending such a thing as being 
very good, this is beneficial in bringing to the 
grower's notice novelties which might otherwise es¬ 
cape his notice. It is the twenty-four carat principle 
in the one particular item, and Brummagem ware in 
all others that I object to.— Jno. Gould, Leicester, 
February yd, 1900. 
Having seen Mr. Carmichael’s opinion of the Pea 
Gradus in The Gardening World, to which I have 
been a subscriber since 1886, I endorse Mr. 
Harrison's and others’ opinion who have tried the 
Pea and have been more than satisfied with it. I 
am of the opinion that it is the best of all Peas for 
any purpose. I sowed Gradus when first it was sent 
out, paying 2s. 6d. tor a half-pint of it. I also re¬ 
commended it to a man for market last year and he 
was more than satisfied with it; so much so that he 
has ordered one gallon to be sown in 1900. That I 
think gives it a very good record and brings mine, 
Mr. Harrison's and other gentlemen's opinions to the 
front. I may also state that I have sown Gradus, 
William the First and American Wonder, side by 
side on a south border on March 1st, and gathered 
from all od June 5th. I also sowed some of the Peas 
