October  24,'1896k, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
399 
Young  AppU  Fruit. — Mr,  T.  Eyre  of  Thorpe  Lea,  Egham,  forwarded 
a  sample  of  a  second  crop  of  Apples,  due  to  the  prolonged  high 
temperature.  Raspberries  and  other  fruits,  as  well  as  Laburnum,  in 
blossom,  as  the  Secretary  observed,  have  been  recorded  in  Ealing  and 
elsewhere  this  season. 
Cattleya  Mosnice  loith  Double  Growth. — Mr.  W.  C.  Walker  forwarded 
a  photograph  of  an  abnormal  specimen  with  the  following  remarks  : — 
“I  enclose  a  photograph  of  Cattleya  Mossise  that  has  developed  an 
unusual  double  growth.  When  it  started  after  flowering  it  appeared 
little  different  from  ordinary  growth,  but  as  it  grew  it  formed  the  two 
distinct  growths  included  in  one  green  sheath  at  the  base.” 
Aphides  on  Lettuces. — With  regard  to  the  aphides  in  the  soil  about 
the  roots  of  Lettuces  sent  to  the  last  meeting,  Mr.  G.  B.  Buckton  of 
Weycombe,  Haslemere,  reports  as  follows  : — “  As  the  earth  was  loose  the 
shaking  during  transit  and  the  comparative  drought  killed  the  insects  ; 
but  I  secured  fifty  or  more  specimens.  They  were  all  pupse  of  aphides, 
and  I  am  satisfied  that  they  are  Pemphigus  laetucce  (Paaserini). — This 
species  is  subterranean  in  its  larval  condition,  and  it  attacks  also 
Sonchus  and  Melilotus.  On  opening  the  box  two  winged  flies  escaped, 
one  of  which  I  secured,  and  it  turned  out  to  be  a  true  Pemphigus.  The 
pupae  are  without  nectaries,  and  almost  if  not  quite  blind.  The  winged 
female  has  moderate  eyes,  and  black.  A  diagnosis  of  the  insect  will  be 
found  in  ‘  Aphididae  Italic®,  Passerini,’  page  77,  1885.” 
Monstrous  Anemone  japonica. — Rev.  C.  Wolley  Dod  sent  specimens 
of  the  foliage  with  the  following  remark  : — “  Six  years  ago  I  noticed  a 
shoot  with  crimped  leaves  and  separated  it ;  next  year,  with  ordinary 
soil  and  cultivation,  it  assumed  this  monstrous  form.  It  has  entirely 
lost  the  usual  running  habit,  and  does  not  increase.”  The  leaves  were 
enormous  in  size,  evidently  at  the  expense  of  the  increase  of  the  plant. 
Sugjposed  Spontaneous  Hybrid  Asters.  —  Mr.  Dod  also  sent  a 
flowering  plant  of  a  supposed  hybrid  between  A.  Thomson!,  Clarhe, 
and  A.  amellus,  Linn.,  remarking,  “  This  came  from  seed  collected  in 
my  own  garden.  It  has  now  flowered  for  five  years.  It  begins  to  flower 
early  in  July  and  continues  in  flower  till  hard  frost.  It  has  never 
produced  fertile  seed.  Tne  other  hybrid  was  between  A.  Thomson!  and 
A.  pyrenmus,  D.C.  A.  Thomson!  produces  good  seed  very  sparingly, 
but  one  plant  growing  between  two  plants  of  A.  pyrenmus  produces  good 
seed  plentifully.  Some  of  these  seeds  produce  typical  A.  Thomson!  and 
often  the  nondescript  plant  sent.  This  is  entirely  sterile,  I  have 
raised  many,  two  or  three  years  in  succession.  They  always  have  a 
white  pappus  to  the  achene,  which  A.  Thomson!  never  has.” 
Some  Historic  Cedars. — Rev.  G.  Henslow  described  two  large  Cedars 
^Cedrus  Libani)  in  the  garden  of  the  Rectory  at  Bishops  Waltham, 
which,  since  their  age  is  known,  are  perhaps  worth  recording.  They 
were  planted  to  commemorate  the  Battle  of  Waterloo.  Both  have  lost 
some  large  boughs.  One,  indeed  (No.  1),  has  so  greatly  suffered  in  a 
storm  that  nearly  half  the  tree  has  gone.  This  one  must  also  have  lost 
its  leader  at  a  comparatively  early  date,  as  the  main  trunk  now  suddenly 
branches  into  five  large  erect  minor  tranks.  It  is  42  feet  in  height. 
The  other  (No,  2)  has  retained  its  leader,  and  is  about  60  feet  high. 
Three  of  its  larger  boughs  have  gone. 
No.  1, — The  girth  of  the  trunk  at  the  parting  of  the  roots  is  17  feet. 
The  girth  at  a  height  of  5  feet  from  the  ground  and  just  below  the 
lowest  bough  is  15  feet.  The  girth  of  the  lowest  bough  is  6  feet.  This 
bough  arises  at  a  height  of  5  feet  from  the  ground. 
No.  2, — The  girth  of  the  trunk  at  the  parting  of  the  roots  is  17  feet. 
The  girth  of  the  trunk  at  a  height  of  5  feet  from  the  ground  is  14  feet. 
The  girth  of  the  base  of  the  lowest  bough  is  5  feet  2  inches.  This 
bough  arises  at  a  height  of  1  foot  3  inches  from  the  ground.  A  bough 
at  a  height  of  4  feet  4  inches  from  the  ground  has  been  sawn  off,  reveal¬ 
ing  fifty-seven  rings  of  growth.  In  all  the  boughs  removed  the 
excentricity  is  remarkable  ;  in  one  instance  the  centre  is  4  inches  from 
the  upper  surface,  and  15  inches  from  the  lower.  The  situation  is  high 
and  the  soil  clay.  Both  trees  are  bearing  cones. 
Pear  Diseased. — Mr.  Veitch  of  Exeter  forwarded  a  Pear  attacked  by 
a  fungus.  The  latter  had  assumed  a  remarkable  spiral  growth  round 
the  fruit.  It  was  sent  to  Kew  for  investigation. 
Parsnip  Diseased. — Mr.  Reid  of  Ealing  forwarded  a  portion  of  a 
Turnip-rooted  Parsnip,  with  purple  interior,  apparently  due  to  some 
fungus.  It  was  also  forwarded  to  Kew. 
PRUNINGS. 
Summer  Thorn  Pears  (page  221).  When  a  boy  and  interested  in 
gleaning  stray  scraps  of  erudition,  especially  pertaining  to  fruit  (not  a 
rare  trait  with  boys),  an  old  time  gardener  was  wont  to  describe  the 
Thorn  Pears  which  flourished  when  he  was  a  boy.  They  were,  needless 
to  say,  superior  to  anything  of  my  degenerate  days ;  but  these  Thorn 
Pears  were  produced  by  grafting  a  Pear  (any  variety,  I  believe)  on  a 
common  Thorn.  To  demonstrate  his  theory  two  Thorns  were  selected 
in  a  quickset  hedge,  which  were  duly  grafted  and  flourished  amazingly. 
Results,  unfortunately,  I  cannot  give,  for  the  boy  went  forth  into  the 
world  and  the  good  old  gardener  went  out  of  it  ere  fruit  was  obtained. 
Of  another  Pear,  known  to  us  boys  as  Pig  Pears,  some  huge  trees 
flourished  in  a  neighbour’s  garden.  These  were  brilliant  in  their  summer 
ripeness  of  red  and  yellow,  and  accounted  for  many  of  our  pennies  during 
the  short  time  they  were  in  season. 
In  your  reply  to  a  correspondent  (page  238)  re  the  Japanese  Wine- 
berry,  I  note  this  plant  “  .  .  .  .  nas  not  found  its  way  into  many 
gardens,’’  but  that  it  is  destined  to  do  so  I  firmly  believe,  for  it  deserves 
attention  from  its  novel  and  distinct  character,  its  ornamental  appear¬ 
ance,  and  for  its  fruit.  The  somewhat  small,  clear  shining  red  “  Wine- 
berries  ”  are  borne  freely  in  terminal  clusters,  and  have  an  agreeable 
vinous  flavour.  It  is  a  plant  which  should  readily  adapt  itself  to  semi¬ 
wild  culture  in  a  demesne,  railway  banks,  or  many  a  stray  bit  of  No 
Man’s  Land,”  for  which  its  habit  appears  to  me  more  suited  than  for 
the  garden  proper.  My  plants  were  raised  from  seeds  obtained  in  1893. 
“  Lessons  by  the  Way  :  Wye”  (page  243),  and  “  Why  Should  England 
Lag  Behind  ?  ”  Why  ?  There  can  be  no  earthly  reason,  Mr.  “  Inspector,” 
why  she  should  lag  behind,  nor  will  she  with  men  of  your  calibre 
pounding  away  with  your  practical  “  Lessons  by  the  Way.”  By  the  way, 
is  there  not  something  in  this  foreign  competition — some  magnetic  force 
in  English  gold — attracting  the  cream  of  foreign  produce  to  our  shores? 
If  so,  is  there  not  consolation  in  the  fact,  thus  viewed,  that  exporters 
are  like  that  baker  of  doggerel  rhyme  who  “  sold  the  best  and  eat  the 
wust.”  Home  growers  are,  doubtless,  becoming  more  and  more  impressed 
that  they  have,  at  home,  the  finest  market  in  the  world  for  “  the  best,” 
and  the  worst  in  the  world  for  “  the  wust.”  Do  you  not  think  so,  Mr. 
“Inspector?”  _ 
Apropos  of  “Vegetable  Judging  at  Shrewsbury”  and  the  critical 
notes  thereon,  capable  opinions  have  been  so  freely  given  that  mine 
would  be  superfluous,  yet  I  venture  to  offer  a  remark  on  a  phase  of 
the  subject  which  is  capable  of  wider  application.  Are  we  not, 
reporters,  contribators  ;  in  fact,  all  who  wield  the  pen  to  pourtray 
descriptive  notes,  rather  too  prone  in  pandering  to  the  weakness  of 
human  nature  by  paying  compliments  ?  “  Praise  to  the  face  is  open 
disgrace.”  If  this  be  true,  then  the  system  of  paying  compliments  is 
false.  I  fear  the  custom  of  doing  so  has  become  so  time-honoured  that 
the  omission  of  it  is  now  regarded  as  a  breach  of  etiquette. 
The  effect  of  nicotine  on  Grapes.  Independent  of  this  side  of  the 
question,  it  would,  I  think,  be  well  if  the  note  on  page  273  elicited  the 
experience  of  those  who  have  used  this  new  vaporiser  in  plant  houses.. 
Presumably  its  virtues  as  an  insecticide  are  dependent  on  its  staying 
powers — that  is,  a  minute  deposit  of  nicotine  is  for  some  time  left  on 
the  occupants  of  a  plant  house,  on  foliage  and  bloom.  Granted  this, 
does  not  this  detract,  in  a  private  garden,  from  the  enjoyment  of  those 
who  most  appreciate  a  walk  through  the  houses,  or  require  cut  blooms 
with  the  natural  odour  unadulterated  by  tobacco  scent  in  any  form  ? 
Fumigating,  necessary  evil  as  it  is,  can  only  be  performed  in  some  place 
under  conditions  of  toleration  ;  and  whilst  on  the  one  hand  the  new 
fumigator  appears  to  claim  its  super-excellent  properties  from  its  lasting 
powers,  on  the  other  hand  does  not  this  militate  against  its  free  use  ? 
“  Outdoor  Tomatoes  ”  (page  290).  This  article  is  of  so  much  interest, 
and,  one  may  also  say,  of  public  importance,  that  it  may  be  hoped  the 
gist  of  the  matter  will  reach  many  a  cottage  home  where  the  Tomato 
would  be  appreciated  if  success  in  culture  could  by  this  method  be 
insured  in  a  normal  season.  That  the  exhaustive  trials  carried  out  by 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  will  eventually  result  in  a  selection  of  the  fittest 
for  the  purpose,  goes  without  saying.  As  it  is,  “  Scrutator’s  ”  report 
presents,  to  my  mind,  rather  an  embarras  des  riches,  and  amongst  so 
many  that  are  good  it  is  difficult  to  select  the  best  from  his  list  for  the 
purpose.  Laxton’s  Open-air  Tomato  marked  such  a  distinct  advance 
some  years  since  that  I  wonder  at  its  absence  from  the  list.  Probably 
I  am  a  little  out  of  date  on  the  question,  yet  I  am  ready  and  willing  to 
learn  if  such  is  the  case. 
In  noting  “Jacinthe’s  ”  practical  article  on  “  Hyacinths  in  Beds  ”  I 
would  like  to  move  an  amendment,  or  rather  improvement,  to  his  dibble. 
Having  had  rather  extensive  experience  of  this  subject  I  have  found 
the  use  of  a  much  larger  dibble  than  he  recommends — large  enough  in 
fact  to  plant  early  Potatoes  with  on  a  light  border — to  give  most  satis¬ 
faction  ;  and,  like  that  tool,  blunt  rather  than  sharp  pointed.  This 
leaves  no  hollow  under  the  bulb.  By  boring  through  the  dibble  at  the 
height  required  for  the  depth  of  the  planting  and  inserting  a  cross 
stick,  not  only  gives  a  uniform  depth,  but  also  acts  as  a  pedal  for  the 
foot  to  drive  home  the  instrument.  For  formal  bedding  I  think  the  use 
of  distinct  named  varieties  is  indispensable  ;  otherwise  the  use  of 
mixtures,  unless  very  careiully  selected,  results  in  a  gappy  appearance 
by  flowering  at  intervals.  _ 
Covent  Garden  Market  reports  are  statistics  more  or  less  of  interest 
to  all  readers.  Apart  from  their  intrinsic  value  they  have  additional 
value  as  thermometrical  indicators  when  on  the  verge  of  winter  ;  least- 
ways,  in  the  vegetable  department.  For  instance,  in  the  week  ending 
October  3rd,  Beans  at  Is.  per  bushel  clearly  show  that  Jack  Frost  is  not 
yet  stalking  through  our  fields  and  gardens. — Saynok, 
GARDENERS’  CHARITABLE  AND  PROVIDENT 
INSTITUTIONS. 
The  Gaedetsters’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. — Secretary, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram,  60,  Parliament  Street,  London,  W.C. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — 
Secretary,  Mr.  W.  Collins,  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balham,  London,  S.W. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — Secretary,  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron, 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens,  Chiswick,  Loudon,  W. 
