JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  29,  1897. 
364 
Birmingham  Amateur  Gardeners’  association.  —  The 
fourth  annual  report  of  this  Society  Bhows  a  satisfactory  state  of 
affairs.  Several  exhibitions  have  been  held  during  the  past  year,  which 
have  proved  very  successful,  sufficiently  so  to  warrant  the  Committee  in 
giving  equally  as  many  in  1S97.  The  balance-sheet  shows  a  creditable 
sum  on  the  right,  which  it  is  hoped  will  be  increased  in  the  future. 
The  Elon.  Secretary  is  Mr.  W.  B.  Griffin,  Wychbury,  Alcester  Road, 
Moseley,  who  will  give  all  needful  information. 
-  Treatment  of  Apple  Scab. — The  series  of  experiments 
made  at  the  Delaware  Agricultural  Station  last  season  shows  that 
with  three  applications  of  Bordeaux  mixture  the  yield  of  first  grade 
fruit  was  increased,  says  an  American  contemporary,  fivefold  over  that 
of  trees  not  sprayed.  Two  varieties  of  Apples  were  sprayed  for  the 
second  season  with  Bordeaux  mixture.  The  results  show  (1)  that 
three  applications  made  before  blooming,  after  the  bloom  had  dropped 
and  when  the  fruit  was  the  size  of  peas,  gave  as  good  results  as  when  an 
additional  spraying  was  made  two  weeks  later  ;  (2)  that  spraying 
increased  the  yield  from  three  to  thirteen  baskets  per  tree  ;  (3  that  the 
amount  of  first-claBS  perfectly  smooth  fruit  was  increased  from  18  to  89 
per  cent. 
- Berberis  stenophylla. — Of  the  many  species  and  varieties 
of  Berberis  known  to  cultivators  this  is  certainly  one  of  the  best.  It 
possesses  a  habit  peculiarly  its  own,  and  when  mature  it  is  often  from 
8  to  10  feet  in  height  by  the  same  or  more  in  diameter.  The  branches 
are  thin,  pendent,  and  covered  with  narrow  dark  green  leaves  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  in  length.  The  flowers  are  orange  in  colour,  about  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  across,  and  thickly  produced  along  the  whole  length 
of  the  previous  year’s  growth,  and  on  short  spurs  of  the  old  wood.  The 
leaves  being  evergreen  make  it  a  welcome  addition  during  winter  to  the 
shrubbery.  Cuttings  can  be  rooted  readily  if  put  into  a  cold  frame  in 
autumn  in  sandy  soil  and  kept  close  for  the  remainder  of  the  year. 
Plants  2^  to  3  feet  high  can  be  grown  in  two  years  from  cuttings,  and 
in  this  stage  are  useful  for  beds.  A9  a  specimen  plant  for  the  lawn  this 
shrub  has  few  equals,  as  in  addition  to  its  free  flowering  qualities  it  is 
sweetly  scented,  and  the  habit  of  the  plant  is  all  that  can  be  desired  — 
W.  D. 
-  Guebnsey  Growers’  Association.— The  Year  Book  of  this 
amalgamation  of  Channel  Island  Growers,  which  has  for  its  object 
“Mutual  help  and  protection,”  reaches  us  from  the  Hon.  Secretary, 
Mr.  Andrew  Marshall.  It  is  a  comparatively  large  publication,  having 
128  pages  enclosed  in  paper  covers.  The  bulk  is  taken  up  by  the 
advertisements,  of  which  the  Guernseyites  appear  to  know  the  value  ; 
but  there  are  besides  several  adm'rably  written  articles  from  practical 
men.  For  example,  Mr.  A.  Collenette  discourses  on  “  Manures,”  while 
hardy  spring  flowers,  modern  dairy  farming,  grading  and  packing 
Guernsey  produce  are  ably  dealt  with.  Tables  are  also  given  of  freight 
charges  by  the  Great  Western  and  South-Western  Railway  Companies 
to  London,  and  several  of  the  provincial  markets.  There  is  in  addition 
a  table  of  the  exports  of  packages  of  fruits,  flowers,  and  vegetables, 
which  have  increased  from  138,508  in  1883  to  1,403,945  in  1896,  or  an 
increase  of  over  1|  million  packages  in  fourteen  years.  This  looks  like 
real  business.  The  price  of  the  Year  Book  is  Is  ,  and  it  may  be  pro¬ 
cured  from  Mr.  A.  Marshall,  St.  Julian’s. 
-  Forsythias. — If  a  list  of  the  six  best  early  flowering  hardy 
shrubs  were  asked  for,  the  Forsythias  would  find  a  place.  Of  easy 
culture  and  suitable  for  growing  in  almost  any  soil  or  position,  they  are 
deservedly  popular.  Although  several  specific  names  are  found  in  some 
catalogues  all  can  be  sunk  into  two  species  and  one  variety.  These  are 
F.  suspensa  and  F.  viridissima,  Chinese  species,  and  a  hybrid  between 
the  two  known  as  F.  intermedia.  For  variety  of  purposes  and  elegance 
of  habit  F.  suspensa  is  certainly  the  best.  Whether  grown  as  a  trailing 
plant  to  cover  fences  or  arbours,  as  an  odd  plant  in  a  mixed  collection, 
or  as  a  mass  on  the  open  lawn,  it  is  equally  effective.  If  the  plant  can 
be  allowed  to  ramble  over  a  Holly  or  other  evergreen,  the  bright  yellow 
flowers  produce  a  most  pleasing  effect.  After  flowering  it  is  a  good  plan 
when  grown  in  beds,  to  cat  all  the  growth  back  to  a  few  eyes,  long 
strong  flowering  wood  is  then  produced.  The  flowers  of  this  usually 
begin  to  open  about  the  end  of  February.  F.  viridissima  forms  a  bush 
usually  4  or  5  feet  high,  it  flowers  very  freely,  and  is  about  a  fortnight 
later  than  F.  suspensa  ;  the  habit  is  stiffer.  The  name  of  F.  intermedia 
exactly  describes  the  last- of  the  three  plants,  as  in  habit  it  is  inter¬ 
mediate  between  its  parents.  It  is  not  so  well  known  as  the  other  two, 
but  is  well  worth  growing  largely.  Like  the  others  this  has  yellow 
flowers. — K.  R.  K. 
-  Wakefield  Paxton  Society. — From  time  to  time  we  have 
published  brief  paragraphs  relative  to  the  doings  of  this  admirable 
Society.  From  these  ieferences  readers  will  have  gathered  how  broad  is 
the  range  covered  by  the  essays  read  at  the  weekly  meetings,  though  the 
subjects  never  go  entirely  beyond  the  kingdom  of  gardening.  We  have 
now  before  us  the  twentieth  annual  report,  from  which  ample  testimony 
of  the  utility  and  prosperity  of  the  Society  may  readily  be  gathered. 
Membership  reaches  the  handsome  total  of  285,  and  fifty-one  meetings 
have  been  held  during  the  past  year,  at  which  there  was  an  average 
attendance  of  fifty-four.  The  library,  consisting  of  almost  500  volumes, 
is  very  greatly  appreciated  by  the  members. 
-  Shortening  Back  or  Pruning  Hardy  Fruit.— About 
this  time  last  year  I  cut  back  some  of  the  leading  top  shoots  of  Marie 
Louise,  Beurr4  d’Amanlis,  and  Doyenn^  du  Comice  Pears  against  a 
wall  in  my  garden.  I  did  so  with  the  intention  of  diverting  the  sap 
from  this  top  growth  to  the  fruit  buds  underneath.  Whether  my  action 
had  anything  to  do  with  it  or  not — I  am  anxious  to  learn — most  of 
the  fruit  buds  fell  off.  Would  some  of  your  experienced  readers  say 
whether  spring  pruning  just  now  would  be  likely  to  have  such  a  result 
generally  on  outdoor  fruit,  Nectarines  and  Apricots  included  ? — 
W.  J.  Murphy,  Clonmel. 
-  Pontederia  crassipes. — This  plant,  known  also  as  the  Water 
Hyacinth,  has  been  naturalised  in  some  of  the  rivers  of  the  Gulf  States 
of  America,  and  has  increased  so  rapidly  that  it  covers  the  surface  of 
the  water  for  great  distances.  In  the  St.  John’s  River,  Florida,  and  in 
some  of  the  canals  about  New  Orleans  it  is  difficult  for  steamers  to 
work  their  way  through  this  raft  of  vegetation,  and  when  they  do  the 
plants  close  in  behind  the  boat  and  occupy  the  surface  completely  as 
before.  The  obstruction  to  navigation  has  become  so  serious  that  an 
appropriation  of  10,000  dollars  has  been  made  by  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  to  enable  the  Secretary  of  War  to  study  means  of  freeing 
water  courses  from  the  plant. — (“  Garden  and  Forest.”) 
-  “  Familiar  Wild  Flowers ’’—Many  of  our  readers  will  know 
and  appreciate  the  excellent  work  published  some  time  ago  by  Messrs* 
Cassell  &  Co.  The  present  edition,  by  the  same  competent  author, 
F.  E.  Hulme,  F.L.S.,  is  different  from  its  predecessor  inasmuch  as  the 
price  is  only  6d.  per  part,  of  which  the  work  will  be  complete  in  twenty- 
one.  It  will  comprise  200  full  page  coloured  plates,  from  which  it  will  be 
a  comparatively  simple  matter  to  name  several  of  the  many  wild  flowers 
that  beaut'fy  our  hedgerows,  brighten  our  woods,  and  adorn  our  fields. 
The  text  accompanying  the  illustrations  is  written  in  that  pleasant 
style  which  makes  technical  matter  readab  e,  and  even  attractive. 
Everyone  interested  in  wild  flowers  should  procure  this  book,  of  which 
the  first  part  was  published  at  the  end  of  February. 
-  Chester  Show. — On  July  28th  and  29th  the  City  of  Chester 
will  be  en  fete  for  the  second  annual  exhibition.  There  are  in  the 
schedule  now  before  us  upwards  of  150  classes,  divided  in  the  following 
sections : — Open  to  all  ;  nurserymen  only  ;  amateurs  and  cottagers.  The 
value  of  the  prizes  varies  very  largely  both  in  the  divisions  and  the 
classes,  but  an  excellent  display  is  practically  a  certainty.  The  sum 
of  £55  is  offered  in  the  open  class  for  a  group  of  plants  in  or  out 
of  bloom,  arranged  for  effect  in  a  space  of  not  more  than  300  square 
feet,  and  this  should  bring  strong  competition.  For  a  decorative  display 
of  ripe  fruit  40  guineas  are  divided  between  first,  second,  third,  and 
fourth,  while  for  vegetables  the  three  prizewinners  have  to  be  content 
with  £10  in  the  proportions  of  £5,  £3,  and  £2.  The  Secretary,  from 
whom  all  necessary  information  and  schedules  may  be  obtained,  is  Major 
Walker-Jones,  6,  Grosvenor  Chambers,  Chester. 
-  American  Botanical  Laboratory.  —  Professor  D.  T. 
MacDougal  writes  to  “  Science  ”  that  the  project  for  establishing  a 
botanical  laboratory  in  the  American  tropics  has  made  such  progress 
that  a  commission  has  been  organised  for  the  selection  of  a  site  for  the 
proposed  laboratory  and  for  ascertaining  how  far  the  co-operation  of 
American  and  British  botanists  can  be  enlisted  in  the  scheme.  The 
commission  will  select  a  location  conveniently  placed  with  reference  to 
towns  or  settlements  and  in  easy  connection  with  a  marine  sub-station, 
and  yet  near  the  presence  of  a  body  of  undisturbed  tropical  vegetation. 
The  American  members  of  the  commission  are  Professor  Douglas 
Campbell,  of  Stanford  University  ;  Professor  J.  M.  Coulter,  University 
of  Chicago;  Professor  W.  G.  Farlow,  Harvard  University;  Professor 
D.  T.  MacDougal,  University  of  Minnesota.  The  Committee  will  be 
ready  to  make  an  informal  report  to  the  American  Association  at 
Detroit,  and  the  British  Association  at  Toronto,  at  their  meetings  in 
August. — (“  Garden  and  Forest.”) 
