536 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  17,  18U7. 
them  to  “  our  Journal  ”  in  order  that  the  many  readers  might  have  the 
pleasure  of  reading  a  letter  from  the  then  facetious  editor,  which  was 
the  sequel  to  that  visit  of  “  Wiltshire  Rector’s.” 
That  letter  I  treasured,  and  have  kept  ever  since,  and  with  a  few 
remarks  it  was  forwarded  for  the  inspection  of  the  present  wearer  of  the 
editorial  mantle  to  see  and  to  print,  En  passant ,  I  may  recall  my  own 
despair  at  the  appearance,  not  the  flavour,  of  the  Malay  chicken,  which 
did  not  look  as  well  as  I  hoped,  or  as  that  breed  generally  does  on  the 
table  ;  in  fact,  it  was  to  me  a  case  of  the  Irishman’s  pig  which,  when 
killed,  did  not  weigh  as  much  as  he  expected— and  he  never  thought  it 
would  ! 
The  old  Editor’s  letter,  printed  after  the  appearance  of  “  Wiltshire 
Rector’s  ”  pleasantries,  runs  thus  : — 
171,  Fleet  Street, 
February  4th,  1865. 
Salaam  Do, — May  your  shadow  never  be  less,  0  Tbaz  !  When  you 
next  sacrifice  a  Malay  or  a  Bramin  to  propitiate  a  Priest  of  the  West  may 
we  be  there  to  partake  of  the  savoury  offering. 
We  beg  permission  to  place  before  your  footstool  a  chit  from  another 
son  of  the  West — be  gracious  to  him,  and  reply  by  the  public  burkaru 
(vulgar,  post). 
Wishing  you  nothing  but  sunshine — and  no  end  to  your  blessings  to 
and  from  “  our  Journal.”  I  bend  lowly  as — One  of  the  Faithful. 
After  all  this,  it  is  perhaps  but  fair  to  enlighten  any  who  care  to 
know  why  I  adopted  “  Y.  B.  A.  Z.”  as  my  signature.  ■  In  days  long  since 
gone  by  I  was  battling  with  myself  whether  I  would,  or  could,  write 
anything  that  would  be  either  useful  or  interesting  to  “  our  ”  readers. 
On  the  point  of  giving  up,  the  thought  came,  "Why  be  a  zero?”  1 
dashed  off  my  thoughts,  and  not  liking  the  aspect  of  “  Y.  B,  A.  0.,”  I 
took  the  first  letter  of  zero  as  the  final,  and  now  the  murder  is  out. 
After  all,  “  What’s  in  a  name  ?  A  Rose  by  any  other  name  would  smell 
as  sweet.”  It  might,  possibly  ;  but  I  fancy  were  it  changed  the  plant 
would  be  more  thorny  still,  and  some  of  them  are  thorny  enough  already. 
But  who,  in  this  Diamond  Jubilee  year,  when  it  is  suggested  that  every¬ 
one  should  wear  a  Rose  on  the  commemoration  day,  would  think  of 
changing  the  name  ? 
Just  a  word  of  thanks  to  friend  “  W.”  Evidently  he' feels  certain 
that  milder  doses  of  fumigation  wili  destroy  the  eggs  of  aphides.  I 
have  been  groping  in  the  dark  over  this,  bat  had  nearly  arrived  at  this 
conclusion,  except  as  to  the  mildness  of  the  dose,  but  now,  as  far  as 
inside  the  house  goes,  I  do  not  mean  to  have  an  aphis  visible.  It  is, 
however,  no  wonder  if  we  amateurs  do  make  mistakes  as  to  watering, 
air,  and  routine.  It  is  practice  that  makes  perfection,  and  here,  of 
course,  the  practised  gardener  beats  us  ;  still,  once  every  now  and  then 
solace  comes  to  us,  and  I,  in  common  I  expect  with  most  amateurs, 
enjoy  it  when  it  occurs,  I  mean  the  pleasure  of  beating  the  practical 
gardener  in  open  competition,  a  pleasure  which  has,  though  very  rarely, 
been  the  lot  of  him  who  still  is  the  learner. — Y.  B.  A.  Z. 
[It  is  quite  true  that  the  characteristic  letter  of  “  One  of  the 
Faithful  ”  (the  late  genial  Mr.  G  W.  Johnson)  was  received  by  us  last 
week,  as  also  was  that  of  Mr.  W.  Taylor  ;  but  both  these  letters  arrived 
after  our  pages  were  filled,  with  “  W.’s  ”  narrative  and  “discovery  ”  in 
them.  It  seems  that  the  minds  of  three  persons  were  directed  (practi¬ 
cally  at  the  same  time)  to  the  same  circumstance,  which  occurred  more 
than  thirty  years  ago.  This  would  not  be  singular  in  the  case  of  those 
who  remembered  the  episode,  but  it  was  somewhat  remarkable  that  the 
third,  who  had  no  knowledge  of  it,  should,  when  searching  for  some¬ 
thing  else,  take  a  volume  out  of  a  long  series  (nearly  100)  and  open  it 
on  the  very  page  containing  an  article  headed  “  Y.  B.  A.  Z.,”  probably 
the  only  article  so  headed  in  the  50,000  pages  bound  in  the  series,  and 
this  just  at  the  time  when  be  was  interested  in  the  cognomen,  and  seems 
to  have  been  trying  to  solve  the  problem  involved  in  it.  Let  us  hope 
he  will  be  happy  now.  As  these  are  commemorative  days,  we  should 
not  be  surprised  to  hear  of  “  Y.  B.  A.  Z.”-ero,  who  has  a  heart  even 
many  degrees  abo^e  freezing,  considering  the  sacrifice  of  another  Malay 
(if  he  have  one  left),  in  order  that  the  telepathic  trio  may  have  a  cele¬ 
bration  of  their  own.  We  feel  certain  they  would  be  “  friends  at  once,” 
and  then  might  again  be  proclaimed  by  the  host  the  ancient  formula, 
“  There  is  the  bond  !  ”  pointing  to  “  our  Journal.”  He  would  not  be 
pronounced  a  Zero  by  the 'guests,  who,  we  may  expect,  would  at  once 
propose  and  pass  an  amendment,  “  That  ‘  Z  ’  be  struck  out,  and  ‘  H  ’ 
take  the  lead  in  its  stead.”] 
New  Codlin  Moth  Spray,  —  Professor  R.  C.  Kedzie  of  the 
Michigan  Agricultural  College  claims  for  the  following  spraying  mixture 
that  it  is  more  reliable  than  Paris  green,  that  it  does  not  burn  the 
foliage,  of  trees,  and  that  it  costs  considerably  less.  It  is  not  patented, 
and  here  are  his  directions  for  making  it.  Boil  2  lbs.  of  white  arsenic 
and  4  lbs.  of  sal  soda  for  fifteen  minutes  in  2  gallons  of  water.  Put 
into  a  jug,  label  poison,  and  1  >ck  up.  When  ready  to  spray,  slake  2  lbs. 
of  lime  and  stir  it  into  40  gallons  of  water,  adding  a  pint  of  the  mixture 
from  the  jug.  The  mixture  in  the  jug  will  be  enough  for  800  gallons. 
These  800  gallons  will  require  40  lbs.  of  lime.  Its  advantages  over 
Paris  green  are  as  follow:  It  is  cheaper,  and  the  ingredients  can  be 
readily  procured  ;  it  is  easily  prepared  and  kept  ready  ;  it  will  keep 
for  any  length  of  time  ;  it  is  uniform  in  strength  ;  it  does  not  injure 
the  leaves  of  trees  or  plants  ;  it  colours  the  leaves  white,  showing  how 
evenly  it  is  distributed.  This  spray  mixture  comes  well  endorsed,  and 
is  worthy  of  a  f  rir  trial.  Personally  we  know  but  little  of  its  action 
or  efficiency,  and  we  would  be  pleased  to  learn  the  results  from  those 
who  experimented  with  it. — (“California  FiUit  Grower.”) 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Drill  Hall,  June  15th. 
For  the  first  time  since  the  great  Temple  Show  the  Committees  met  at 
the  Drill  Hall.  The  corresponding  meeting  of  previous  years  has  been 
small ;  but  this  was  by  no  means  so,  for  the  hall  was  nearly  full.  Orchids 
were  not  numerous,  neither  were  fruit  nor  vegetables. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present :  T.  Francis  Rivers,  Esq.  (in  the  chair) ;  with 
Rev.  W.  Wilks,  and  Messrs.  J.  Cheal,  J.  H.  Yeitch,  G.  W.  Cummins,  A.  F. 
Barron,  Peter  Veitch,  J.  Smith,  T.  Fife,  H.  Balderson,  G.  Wythes,  G.  Sage, 
T.  G.  Miles,  A.  Dean,  F.  Q.  Lane,  and  J.  Wright. 
Several  Melons  were  sent,  but  none  reached  the  standard  of  quality  entitling 
to  a  certificate.  One  from  the  Isle  of  Wight  was  quite  rotten  ;  a  promising 
variety  from  Mr.  Wythes  not  quite  ripe;  one  from  Dropmore  decidedly  over¬ 
ripe;  several  from  Mr.  Bishop,  Westley  Hall,  very  handsome,  and  one  of 
them,  Westley  Defiance,  a  large,  oval,  well  netted  green-flesh,  of  beautiful 
appearance,  not  quite  ripe  ;  desired  to  be  seen  again. 
Mr.  Miller,  gardener  to  Lord  Foley,  Ruxlev  Lodge,  sent  a  small  collection 
of  fruits  comprising  Grapes,  Cherries,  and  very  handsome  Royal  Sovereign 
Strawberries ;  a  bronze  medal  was  granted.  Mr.  W.  Palmer,  Andover,  sent 
good  dishes  of  Peas  of  Sutton’s  A1  and  Laxton’s  Gradus. 
Several  Cabbages  were  sent  from  Chiswick,  and  for  two  of  them,  Veitch’s 
Earliest  of  »A11  from  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Exeter,  and  Sutton’s  Earliest , 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sous,  Reading,  awards  of  merit  were  granted.  These  were 
much  earlier  than  any  others,  both  ready  May  15th.  The  first-named  very 
dwarf  and  compact;  the  second  mentioned  somewhat  larger,  a  beautiful  conical 
or  pyramidal  variety  with  tender-looking  hearts. 
Floral  Committee. — Present:  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair);  and 
Messrs.  J.  Fraser,  A.  Deah,  J.  Hudson,  G.  Nicholson,  G.  Gordon,  J.  Jennings, 
C.  J.  Salter,  C.  Jeffries,  J.  D.  Pawle,  C.  E.  Pearson,  C.  E.  Shea,  H.  J.  Jones> 
J.  Walker,  E.  Beckitt,  H.  J.  Cutbush,  C.  Blick,  H.  Turner,  G.  Paul,  R.  M. 
Hogg,  and  E.  Mawley. 
The  Cannas  sent  by  Messrs.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  made  a  bright 
display  and  included  the  majority  of  the  leading  varieties  in  cultivation.  The 
same  firm  also  sent  Gloxinias  Amiable  and  Sherlock  Holmes.  Messrs.  W. 
Paui  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  staged  a  few  plants  of  the  beautiful  Rose 
Enchantress.  Very  interesting  were  the  foliage  and  flowering  plants  sent 
by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Limited,  from  their  Coombe  Wood  nurseries. 
There  were  Viburnum  Mariesi,  Olearia  stellulata,  Azalea  Mikado,  Veronica 
prostrata,  Nympbseas  in  variety,  and  several  others.  The  exhibit  from 
Messrs.  Kelway  &  Son,  Langport,  of  single  and  double  Paeonies  and 
Delphiniums  was  very  imposing  and  of  great  interest. 
Hardy  herbaceous  plants  from  Mr.  M.  Pritchard,  Christchurch,  were 
varied  and  beautiful.  There  were  amongst  others  Paeonies,  Centaureas, 
Irises,  Spiraeas,  Aquilegias,  Heucheras,  and  Achilleas.  Messrs.  R.  Wallace 
and  Co.,  Colchester,  staged  a  collection  of  Spanish  Irises,  Liliums,  Brodiaeas, 
and  Calochortus,  all  of  the  best  quality;  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay, 
N.B.,  exhibited  Pyrethrums  in  considerable  numbers,  as  well  as  Pelar¬ 
goniums  with  Dahlias  of  good  quality.  Very  charming  was  the  exhibit  of 
garden  Roses  sent  by  Messrs.  G.  Cooling  &  Sons,  Bath.  The  diversity  and 
excellent  quality  made  the  exhibit  exceedingly  interesting. 
Strikingly  beautiful  were  the  Preonies  from  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons. 
There  were  dozens  of  distinct  varieties,  ranging  from  pure  white  to  the 
deepest  crimson.  The  whole  of  the  varieties  were  double.  Veitch’s  hybrid 
Aquilegias  were  very  fine.  Mr.  C.  Dymott,  Millbrook  Road,  Freemantle, 
sent  plants  of  Pelargonium  Harry  Dymott,  a  seedling  of  promise.  Delphinium 
Belladonna,  Potentillas,  and  Pseony  albiflora  carnea  came  from  Mr.  Gifford, 
Tottenham,  and  hardy  flowers  in  variety  from  Messrs.  A.  W.  Young  &  Co., 
Stevenage. 
Messrs.  Paul  &  Son,  Old  Nurseries,  exhibited  Preonies  and  garden  Roses 
in  fair  numbers  and  of  splendid  quality.  The  same  firm  also  staged  a  small 
but  very  interesting  collection  of  plants  suitable  for  the  rockery.  Messrs. 
J.  Peed  &  Sons,  Norwood  Road,  S.E.,  sent  a  group  of  Carnations,  comprising 
Miss  Measures,  Cole’s  Improved,  and  Mr.  R,  H.  Measures.  Messrs.  F.  Cant 
and  Co.,  Colchester,  staged  garden  Roses  in  their  well  known  excellent 
style.  There  were  Paul’s  Carmine  Pillar,  Austrian  Copper,  Mignonette, 
Janet’s  Pride,  Lord  Penzance,  Moss,  Austrian  Yellow,  and  others. 
Messrs.  Barr  &  Son,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  were  represented, 
as  they  usually  are,  by  a  collection  of  hardy  plants,  including  irises, 
both  German  and  Spanish,  Delphiniums,  Pseonies,and  others.  Mr.  B.  Lad- 
hams,  Shirley,  Southampton,  sent  Pinks  of  fine  quality,  with  a  few 
beautiful  Campanulas.  Violas  in  variety,  Pyrethrums,  Irises,  Papavers, 
Lychnis,  and  Geums  were  included  in  the  stand  arranged  by  Messrs.  J. 
Cheal  &  Sons  of  Crawley. 
Quality  was  conspicuous  in  the  Carnations  sent  by  Mr.  C.  Blick,  gardener 
to  Martin  R.  Smith,  Esq.,  The  Warren,  Hayes.  The  varieties  included 
Queen  of  Sheba,  Barras,  Cecilia,  Quentin  Durward,  Wanderer,  Helmsman, 
Perseus,  Comedy,  Cygnet,  Amazon,  Mrs.  Tremayne,  and  Sappho.  Mr.  Chas. 
Turner,  Slough,  also  sent  fine  Carnations,  beautiful  amongst  which  were  Mrs. 
S.  Bouverie,  The  Gift,  Goldmine,  May  Queen,  and  Knight  Errant. 
Orchid  Committee. — Present:  H.  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair);  with 
Messrs.  J.  O’Brien,  De  B.  Crawshay,  H.  Ballantine,  F.  Sander,  H.  Williams, 
