94 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  1,  IfcOO. 
Recent  'Weatber  In  Iiondon. — At  last  we  have  had  one  touch 
of  real  winter.  This  was  on  Sunday  morning,  when  we  awoke  to  find 
everything  enveloped  in  a  mantle  of  snow.  It  did  not  remain  long, 
however,  but  was  succeeded  in  the  afternoon  and  evening  bv  cold 
driving  rain.  Monday  was  dry  until  evening,  when  there  was  a  slight 
drizzle,  but  the  wind  continued  very  cold,  and  the  same  conditions 
pre\  ailed  on  Tuesday.  A  slight  drizzle  fell  on  Wednesday  morning. 
Weather  In  the  Uorth. — For  a  week  we  have  had  rain  almost 
every  day  or  night,  with  frequent  high  winds  from  the  west.  The 
23rd  was  fine  for  good  part  of  the  day,  and  there  were  a  few  glimpses 
of  sunshine  on  the  25th.  On  Saturday  morning  heavy  showers  of 
sleet  and  snow  were  followed  by  a  fairly  good  day.  Sunday  morning 
brought  fully  an  inch  of  snow,  and  8°  of  frost  were  registered  during 
the  night.  All  the  surrounding  hills  have  been  thickly  covered  with 
snow  during  the  week,  and  on  Monday  the  low  grounds  still  were  white 
and  the  day  good. — B.  D.,  8.  Perthshire. 
Coleus  thyrsoldeus. — In  several  of  the  houses  at  Kew  groups  of 
this  charming  plant  are  to  be  seen,  and  in  each  place  it  appears  to 
attract  more  attention  than  any  of  its  neighbours.  Seeds  of  it  were 
received  from  British  Central  Africa  a  few  years  ago,  and  this  is  the 
third  time  it  has  flowered  at  Kew.  Judging  from  its  behaviour  up  to 
the  present  time,  it  is  likely  to  prove  one  of  the  best  winter-flowering 
additions  of  recent  years  to  the  warm  greenhouse.  The  leaves  are 
very  similar  in  size  and  shape  to  those  of  the  ordinary  garden  Coleus, 
but  are  not  variegated.  The  flowers  are  borne  in  terminal  inflor¬ 
escences,  often  6  inches  long,  a  very  large  number  of  flowers  going  to 
form  each  head.  They  are  bright  blue  in  colour,  and  make  a  most 
effective  display,  especially  if  shown  against  a  dark  background  of 
foliage.  The  cultivation  is  as  simple  as  that  of  the  ordinary  garden 
forms.  Cuttings  inserted  in  spring  and  stopped  frequently  make  large 
plants  in  7  or  8-inch  pots  by  autumn.  A  cool  house  or  frame  is  all 
that  is  necessary  during  summer,  or  the  plants  may  even  be  plunged 
outside.  After  they  are  housed  for  winter  a  minimum  temperature  of 
45°  should  be  given,  raising  it  5°  when  the  flower  spikes  begin  to  show 
It  may  be  had  in  flower  from  Christmas  onwards  for  a  month  or  six 
weeks. — W.  D. 
Warranty  of  Seeds. — There  seemed  to  me  in  the  decision 
given  by  Mr.  Justice  Channell  in  the  case  reported  on  page  49  last 
week  to  be  more  that  was  legal  than  was  moral.  Until  I  read  the 
report  of  the  case  I  could  not  conceive  that  any  honourable  firm 
would  shelter  themselves  behind  such  a  defence  as  was  made,  that 
the  vendors  gave  no  warranty  and  would  be  responsible  for  none. 
Surely  it  is  but  fair  to  the  purchaser  that  he  should  have  an  express 
guarantee  that  the  seeds  ordered  by  him  are  sent  in  strict  accordance 
with  his  order,  and  it  would  be  only  just  on  the  part  of  the  vendor 
to  give  such  warranty,  and  be  responsible  for  it.  In  the  face  of  such 
a  decision  a  grower  may  order  Melon  seed  and  get  Cucumber,  or 
Tomato  and  get  bolanum  capsicastrum,  or  Cauliflower  and  get  Turnip 
or  Ailsa  Craig  Onion  and  get  James’  Keeping.  Indeed,  the  changes 
might  be  rung  on  all  sorts  of  things  with  the  same  result,  according  to 
Mr.  Justice  Channell’s  decision,  that  so  long  as  the  vendor  declares  he 
gives  no  warranty  then  he  is  safe  from  claims  for  damages.  One 
naturally  wonders  whether  this  form  of  morality,  or  lack  of  it, 
characterises  the  whole  seed  trade.  The  case  was  in  one  of  its  phases 
rendered  absurd  by  the  defendant  setting  up  a  counter  claim  for  £60 
as  the  product  of  the  loss  of  3s.  worth  of  seed.  That  was  of  course 
ridiculous.  But  there  may  have  been  material  injury  done  through 
the  stupid  blunder  of  the  plaintiffs  to  the  defendant,  if  he  was,  as 
seemed  to  be  the  case,  in  the  habit  of  raising  thousands  of  Celery  plants 
of,  as  the  name  of  the  variety  shows,  one  of  the  finest  and  most  widely 
grown  of  Celeries  in  the  north,  and  he  may  have  been  expected  to 
compensate  his  numerous  customers  for  the  losses  they  had  sustained 
in  not  having  their  favourite  Celery  to  c-mpete  with  at  their  local 
shows,  also  in  loss  of  reputation  because  of  the  trouble  thus  created 
with  his  clients. — A.  D.  [Cannot  the  purchaser  be  said  to  have 
expressly  waived  his  right  to  implied  warranty  by  ordering  from  the 
seedsman’s  form  P — Ed.] 
Gardening  Appointment. — Mr.  James  Mitchell,  head  gardener 
at  Glenstal  Castle,  Murroe,  co.  Limerick,  and  many  years  general  fore¬ 
man  at  Castleborough,  Enniscorthy,  has  been  appointed  head  gardener 
to  C.  M.  Doyne,  Esq.,  Wells,  Gorey,  co.  Wexford,  in  succession  to  Mr.. 
Dennett. 
Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society. — We  have  just  received 
a  copy  of  the  complete  schedule  of  the  exhibitions  to  be  held  under  the 
auspices  of  this  Society  during  the  year.  There  are  about  twenty-four 
shows  distributed  throughout  the  twelve  months,  so  that  it  is  practically 
impossible  for  any  crop  to  miss  having  a  place  at  the  period  when  it  is 
in  the  best  condition.  Amongst  the  total  of  800  classes  the  sum  of 
8150  dollars  is  distributed.  Such  a  strong  society  should  be  a  power 
for  good  over  the  radius  that  its  members  extend.  The  Secretary  is 
Mr.  Robert  Manning. 
Honouring  the  Famous. — Every  year  the  practice  of  naming 
new  varieties  of  flowers  after  persons  who  happen  to  be  men  of  the 
hour  is  becoming  more  common.  The  latest  additions  are  Cypripedium 
Sir  Redvers  Buller,  and  Generals  Roberts  and  French  in  the  way  o^ 
Primulas,  and  as  famous  soldiers  seem  to  be  the  order  standing  first  at 
present,  raisers  of  fresh  varieties  should  have  no  difficulty  about 
naming  their  prizes  if  they  take  South  Africa  as  a  field  from  which  to 
get  the  titles.  Lord  Kitchener  was,  I  think,  honoured  in  this  way  at 
the  end  of  the  Soudan  campaign,  but  there  is  plenty  of  material  at 
hand  just  now,  when  we  think  of  Methuen,  Gatacre,  White,  Baden- 
Powell,  and  a  host  of  other  heroes.  Raisers  are  surely  not  at  a  loss 
now  for  names  for  fresh  introductions,  and  perhaps  the  latest  in 
Chrysanthemums  will  be  “  The  Absent-Minded  Beggar.” — V.  T. 
Cardiff  Societies. — The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  Cardiff 
and  County  Horticultural  Society  was  held  at  the  Town  Hall  on 
Thursday  last,  when  a  large  number  of  the  Committee  and  sub¬ 
scribers  attended.  The  report  and  balance  sheet  for  the  past  year 
were  passed,  and  the  accounts  are  considered  very  satisfactory.  The 
following  officers  were  appointed  : — President,  the  Worshipful  the. 
Mayor  (Councillor  S.  A.  Brain)  ;  Chairman  of  Committee,  Mr.  S. 
Medhurst  ;  Vice-Chairman,  Mr.  John  Grimes  ;  and  Secretary,  Mr.  H. 
Glllett.  The  dates  of  the  annual  show  were  fixed  for  July  18th  and 
19th,  and  the  schedule  was  arranged  and  will  be  issued  forthwith. 
The  Cardiff  and  District  Chrysanthemum  Society  has  fixed  November 
7th  and  8th  for  the  next  annual  show,  and  at  the  general  meeting 
on  Friday  last  the  following  officers  were  appointed  : — Mr.  John  Howe, 
Chairman  of  Committee  ;  Mr.  George  Shewring,  Vice-Chairman ;  and 
Mr.  H.  Gillett,  Secretary.  Regret  was  expressed  that  the  late  Chair¬ 
man,  Mr.  F.  G.  Treseder,  had  to  resign  through  pressure  of  business,, 
and  a  hearty  v'ote  of  thanks  was  passed  by  the  Society  for  the  able 
manner  in  which  he  had  filled  the  office  of  Chairman  for  the  past  three 
years. 
Birmingham  Gardeners’  Association. — The  annual  business 
meeting  was  held  on  the  22nd  inst.,  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham  presiding  in 
the  unavoidable  absence  of  the  President  of  the  Society,  Professor 
W.  Hillhouse,  Mason’s  College.  The  report  shows  that  favourable 
work  was  done,  and  that  excellent  lectures  and  papers  were  given 
by  experts;  also  an  increase  in  the  membership  by  horticulturists, 
and  likewise  a  very  pronounced  increase  of  readers  of  the  numerous- 
and  valuable  books  of  the  library.  Office-bearers  were  re-elected, 
and  resulted  as  follows  :  —  President,  Professor  Hillhouse;  Vice- 
President,  Mr.  J.  W.  Oliver,  science  teacher.  Technical  School, 
Birmingham  ;  Chairman,  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham  ;  Vice-Chairman,  Mr. 
Walter  Jones  ;  Librarian,  Mr.  W.  Gardiner  ;  Treasurer,  Mr.  W.  Spinks  ; 
Secretary,  Mr.  W.  L.  Deedman ;  Auditors,  Messrs.  Redfern  and 
W.  Dodd ;  Committee,  Messrs.  John  Pope,  C.  H.  Herbert,  C.  R.  Bick, 
W.  B.  Childs,  W.  Hirons,  T.  Mumford,  Alfred  Cryer,  G.  Pressly, 
G.  Stacey,  H.  A.  Burberry,  and  E.  J.  Mustin.  At  the  same  meet¬ 
ing,  in  response  to  the  prizes  offered  by  the  Committee  for  three 
Cyclamens  in  pots,  Mr.  A.  Cryer,  gardener  to  J.  A.  Kenrick,  Esq.^ 
Borrow  Court,  Edgbaston,  was  awarded  the  first  prize  for  very  fine 
examples  ;  the  second  prize  falling  to  Mr.  Dedicott,  gardener  to 
Alfred  Wiggin,  Esq.,  Northfield ;  the  third  to  Mr.  E.  J.  Musten, 
Moseley;  and  an  extra  prize  to  Mr.  J.  Maldrem,  Northfield,  all  with 
worthy  exhibits.  Mr.  Mustin  also  brought  a  few  cut  flowers  of  late 
Chrysanthemums;  and  Mr.  G.  Stacey  an  excellent  dish  of  Seakale,. 
well-kept  Apples,  and  a  fine  dish  of  Industry  Potatoes.  The  meeting 
closed  with  the  decision  to  hold  the  annual  tea  reunion  of  the  members 
and  lady  friends  either  on  the  14th  or  21st  of  February,  subject  to 
1  arrangement. 
