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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  20,  1897. 
Crib  him,  cabin  him,  confine  him,  Rive  him  a  tough  sole  6  inches 
below  the  surface,  throw  his  roots  up  to  the  heat  instead  of  down 
to  the  moisture,  and  he  exacts  the  cruel  revenge  of  barrenness. 
Amongst  the  comparative  novelties  there  are  Lachenalia 
Regeliana,  with  light  yellow  horizontal  flowers  ;  Lilium  Grayi, 
Owstrowskya  magnifica,  Physalis  Alkekengi  Francheti,  Sternbergia 
macrantha,  Triloma  hybrida  R.  C.  Affourtit,  and  several  Tulips. 
Bouton  d’Or  is  a  very  pretty  bright  yellow  species ;  Kaufmanniana 
is  a  fine  cream,  and  saxatilis  a  charming  rose  and  yellow.  The 
early  Dutch  varieties  are  indescribable,  both  as  to  numbers  and 
character.  I  can  only  say  that  Golden  King,  a  splendid  double 
yellow,  selected  from  Tournesol ;  Golden  Queen,  a  fine  single 
yellow  ;  Grace  Darling,  the  true  Scarlet  Pottebakker,  a  magnificent 
variety  ;  Jenny,  a  beautiful  rosy  red  ;  Pink  Beauty,  and  Queen  of 
the  Netherlands  struck  me  as  being  amongst  the  best  of  the  Tulip 
novelties.  _ 
They  have  taken  me  back  into  the  fields  again,  those  wonderful 
fields  of  light  and  colour,  of  all  things  gay,  of  Nature  in  one  of 
her  many  aspects  of  bewildering  beauty,  of  perfume,  of  sunshine, 
and  of  birds’  songs.  There  I  linger,  and  there  I  return  for  many 
a  morning,  and  afternoon,  and  evening  of  pure  enjoyment.  When 
at  length  I  leave  the  city  of  the  flowery  plain  and  its  surround¬ 
ings,  it  is  from  a  little  railway  station  bearing  a  name  that, 
translated,  means  “  the  song  of  the  birds,”  and  which  is  situated 
in  the  midst  of  a  great  lake  of  vernal  beauty.  And  of  the  cease¬ 
less  twittering  there,  the  wayside  fragrance,  the  exquisite  flowers, 
sweet  remembrance  will  come,  perchance  to  freshen  the  aridity  of 
the  years  that  are  to  be. — W.  Pea. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Scientific  Committee,  May  11th. — Present:  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters 
(in  the  chair)  ;  Mr.  Douglas,  Mr.  McLacblan,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Dr.  Mliller, 
Dr.  Bonavia.  Mr.  A  Sutton,  and  Rev.  G.  Henslow,  Hon.  8ec. 
Weevils  on  Fruit  Trees. — Mr.  Rbt.  Smith  of  Shrewsbury  forwarded 
some  living  specimens  received  by  him  from  Mr.  J.  Jones,  Chelmick 
Pools,  Church  Stretton.  They  were  described  as  attacking  Plum  and 
Apple  grafts,  Roses  and  Raspberry  buds.  They  proved  to  be  Orior- 
rhynchus  pisipes.  The  trees  and  bushes  might  be  sprayed,  though  a 
better  plan  is  to  shake  the  boughs  over  a  large  sheet  of  paper,  in  which 
they  can  be  caught  and  then  destroyed. 
Bircli  Branch  with  Phytoptus. — Dr.  Masters  showed  specimens 
illustrating  the  early  stage  of  the  attack  on  boughs  by  this  insect.  It 
is  not  often  the  commencement  of  the  so-called  “  Witch  Brooms  ’’  can  be 
detected  as  in  this  instance. 
Abies  bracteata. — He  also  exhibited  sprays  of  this  handsome  tree, 
remarkable  for  the  silvery  under  surface  of  the  leaves,  which  are  about 
3  inches  in  length.  It  bears  large  male  catkins,  and  elongated  pointed 
buds.  It  is  a  native  of  S.  California.  It  is  remarkable  that  it  fails  to 
flower  on  the  Atlantic  side  of  N.  America. 
A.  Mtnziesia. — He  also  showed  a  bough  of  this  splendid  timber  tree 
irom  Vancouver. 
Petalless  Apples  — Flowering  shoots  of  the  Kcklinville  (Seedling) 
Apple  were  received,  remarkable  for  having  no  petals.  They  were  sent 
lrom  the  Glewstone  Gardens,  Ross.  There  were  600  bushes  of  twelve 
years’  growth,  all  being  similarly  affected.  No  particular  cause  could  be 
suggested. 
Doioble  Narcissus. — Dr.  Masters  showed  a  single  and  double  flower  of 
a  N.  incomparabilis,  of  a  somewhat  novel  character.  The  perianth 
consisted  of  twelve  pieces  regularly  arranged  in  “  threes.”  The  short 
cup-shaped  corona  as  well  as  the  stamei  s  were  totally  absent ;  but  the 
styles  above  the  tube  were  free  and  petaloid,  suggesting  the  normal 
condition  in  an  Iris. 
Sclerotia  (7)  — Mr.  M.  Taylor,  of  The  Gardens,  Penbidw  Hall, 
Nannerch,  sent  some  remarkable  specimens  of  a  fungus  consisting  of 
large  branching  lumps,  which  appeared  in  a  Mushroom  bed.  They  were 
forwarded  to  Kew  for  inves'igation. 
Improved  Method  of  Grafting.  —  Mr.  Robt.  Smith,  of  Bradwell 
Villas,  Bishop  Street,  Shrewsbury,  sent  a  number  of  specimens  of  grafts, 
illustrating  a  new  method.  This  being,  that  in  preparing  the  scion, 
while  one  “  tongue  ”  is  inserted  as  usual,  the  opposite  half  of  the  scion 
is  carried  ever  the  flat  top  or  “  crown,”  and  inserted  on  the  opposite 
side,  or  two  grafts  may  be  thus  inserted  on  opposite  sides  of  the  stem, 
the  result  being,  as  shown  in  the  specimens  Bent,  that  the  summit  is 
completely  covered  in  with  new  growth.  This  was  seen  in  small 
specimens  of  whip-grafting,  but  none  were  sent  to  show  how  far  large 
crowns  would  become  covered  over.  Another  advantage  arose  from  the 
new  method  of  preventing  loss  of  grafts  by  wind  breakage,  for  it  thus 
gave  a  better  and  stronger  union.  It  was  thought  by  Mr.  Douglas  that 
it  was  a  decided  improvement  upon  the  old  method,  as  long  as  the  scion 
and  stock  were  of  the  same  size  ;  but  further  information  was  desirable 
as  to  the  success  when  the  surface  of  the  stock  much  exceeded  that  of 
the  scion. 
Double  White  Auricula. — Mr.  R.  Dean  sent  a  plant,  which  was  the 
result  of  fifteen  years’  selection  from  a  single  white  variety  ;  the  petals 
were  not  of  a  pure  white,  but  slightly  yellowish-green  tint. 
WINTER  IN  MAY. 
After  passing  through  a  mild  winter,  when  the  lowest  point 
reached  on  the  thermometer  was  14°,  or  18°  of  frost,  on  the  night  of 
the  10th  inst.  we  had  8°  frost  registered  by  the  thermometer  12  inches 
from  the  ground.  On  the  11  ih  a  heavy  shower  of  snow  fell  at  5  P.M.,  but 
the  morning  of  the  12th  will  long  be  remembered,  for  the  thermometer 
registered  12°  of  frost.  Of  course  Potatoes  are  blackened  ;  Gooseberries 
nearly  ready  for  tarts  ;  about  seven-eighths  of  the  crop  gone,  turned  to 
an  ashen-grey  colour,  and  just  on  the  point  of  falling  ;  Currants  in  a 
similar  plight.  Fortunately  the  Strawberries  were  not  sufficiently 
forward  to  be  damaged.  It  is  too  early  to  estimate  the  amount  of 
damage  done  to  orchard  fruit. — John  Campbell,  Mickleover  Manor 
Gardens ,  Derbyshire.  _ 
The  frost  on  the  night  and  morning  of  May  12th-13th  has  done  much 
damage  in  Worcestershire  to  Strawberry  blossom,  Peas,  Potatoes, 
Asparagus,  and  Plums.  Of  the  laOer  the  standard  “'Egg  Plum”  or 
“  Pershore,”  appears  to  have  suffered  the  least  injury.  The  injury 
appears  to  have  followed  the  grea  est  atmospheric  moisture,  because  in 
the  same  fields,  which  are  generally  level,  some  patches  of  Peas  are 
injured  and  others  are  unhurt ;  ihe  difference  in  elevation  being  only  a 
few  inches. — J.  Udale,  Droitwich. 
After  the  terrible  frost  of  last  week,  “No  fruiting  this  year”  was 
the  cry  of  village  folks.  I  thought,  be  ng  a  beautiful  morning,  I  would 
take  a  stroll  round  a  few  Strawberry  fields,  and  see  the  results.  Going 
through  some  of  Mr.  Hooper’s  fields  I  could  not  help  noticing  black  eyes 
by  the  dozen  on  each  root.  Plant  after  plant  was  ihe  same  ;  every  bloom 
was  destroyed,  and  hundreds  that  were  not  open  were  in  the  same  sad 
state.  What  the  effect  of  this  frost  on  Strawberries  will  end  in  is  hard 
to  describe.  Plums,  Damsons,  PeaTS,  Apples,  and  all  other  fruits  are  the 
same.  Peas  with  young  pods  have  perished  ;  Potatoes  all  cut  to  the 
ground.  It  was  a  terrible  sight. 
Tomatoes  indoors  are  dreadful  ;  flagging  is  the  enemy.  Day  after 
day  we  are  constantly  pulling  up  and  planting.  Such  Btrong  healthy 
plants  the  day  before  suddenly  fail  ;  it  seems  to  me  a  mystery  why 
they  should  go  so  quickly.  Blooms  do  not  set  well,  and  what  fruit 
there  is  does  not  swell.  One  large  market  nurseryman  has  had  500  to 
600  plants  go  off  in  that  manner  in  five  houses  of  100  feet  long.  I  have 
pulled  some  up  and  cut  the  plants  off  about  3  inches  from  root  and 
found  the  stem  under  the  rind  quite  hard,  so  that  no  sap  could  pass  and 
support  the  foliage.  What  is  the  cause,  Messrs.  Abbey  and  Dyke,  and 
what  can  be  done  in  the  dilemma  ? — H.  Pearl,  Swanley,  Kent. 
Very  poor  hopes  of  a  good  fruit  crop  for  the  present  year  are  already 
being  expressed  by  gardening  friends,  because  of  the  long  spell  of  bitterly 
cold  north-easterly  winds  that  have  prevailed,  and  the  numerous  Bharp 
frosts  experienced.  Most  distinctly  Pears.  Plums,  and  Cherries  first, 
then  Apples,  have  had  to  endure  during  their  flowering  worse  weather 
than  was  experienced  when  Peaches  and  Apricots  on  walls  were  in 
bloom.  An  old  rural  saying,  that  where  the  wind  is  on  March  21st, 
there  will  it  be  till  midsummer,  seems  likely  to  be  realised  this  year,  for 
it  does  stick  in  northerly  and  easterly  quarters  very  much.  Naturally 
we  shall  look  this  season  for  the  fruit  returns  that  will  be  made  later 
on  with  special  interest  How  useful  w  uld  it  be  could  we  learn  how 
‘ar  trees  sheltered  by  ferest  or  other  tall  trees  had  been  less  injured 
chan  were  trees  fully  exposed  to  the  winds;  Pears,  Cherries,  and  Apples 
have  produced  a  marvellous  display  of  bloom,  but  how  often  in  the 
experience  of  old  gardeners  has  it  been  found  that  such  floral  masses 
have  been  the  precursors  of  a  good  fruit  crop.  The  present  season, 
whether  due  to  that  or  to  low  temperature  and  wind,  seems  likely  to 
be  no  exception.  It  is,  indeed,  intensely  disappointing.  Here  is  one 
eminent  gardener’s  report  to  hand  : — “  Apple  bloom  is  looking  exceed¬ 
ingly  crippled  ;  Pears  are  dropping  badly  where  they  had  appeared  to 
be  well  Bet  ;  Plums  will  be  rather  thin  ;  Cherries  good  if  they  do  not 
fall;  Peaches  and  Nectarines  a  full  set,  but  leaves  much  blistered  with 
cold  ;  Apricots  thin.”  From  other  direc  ions  comes  information  that 
Currants  and  Gooseberries  are  falling,  and  frosts  have  done  harm  to  the 
early  Strawberry  bloom. — A.  D. 
This  district,  in  common  with  many  others,  was  visited  by  an 
unusually  sharp  froBt  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  inst.,  causing 
irreparable  damage  to  the  early  and  second  early  Potato  crops,  and  also 
Strawberries,  which  were  coming  into  bloom.  In  the  open  quarters 
every  plant  was  cut  down,  as  also  were  those  on  south  borders ;  but, 
strange  to  Bay,  on  an  east  aspect  much  has  damage  was  done.  In  the 
open  fields  the  density  of  the  boar  frost  in  the  early  morning  was 
extremely  winterly,  and  on  the  broad  foliage  of  Cabbage  and  Broccoli  in 
the  garden  it  had  much  the  appearance  of  snow  particles.  Broccoli  had 
the  appearance  of  being  spoilt,  but  being  a  dull  sunless  morning,  so 
unusual  after  such  frosts,  the  damage  done  was  very  slight.  French 
Beans  growing  at  the  foot  of  a  west  wall  did  not  suffer  much  loss,  and 
fortunately  there  were  no  Runner  Beans  sufficiently  forward  to  be 
affected.  Asparagus,  too,  escaped  what  I  fully  expected  to  be  the  loss 
of  a  morning’s  cutting.  The  early  Strawberries  suffered  badly,  the 
majority  of  tbe  expanded  flowers  now  showing  b  ack  ctntres.  Late  ones 
are  unhurt.  Rhododendrons  in  fl  wer  were  all  spoilt,  and  Ampelopsis 
growing  over  arches  lost  many  of  their  haves.  The  spring  has  been 
very  cold  and  backward,  or  the  sam  •  amount  of  frost  m  gbt  have  caused 
much  greater  injury.  Our  thermumtter  indicated  6°  of  frost,  but  outside 
