JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
January  13,  1898. 
34 
-  Death  op  Mrs.  G.  Springthorpe. — A  wide  circle  of  friends 
of  the  esteemed  gardener  at  Coombe  Court,  Kingston-on-Thames,  will 
feel  for  him  profound  sympathy  on  learning  of  the  sudden  death  of  his 
wife,  which  took  place  early  on  the  morning  of  December  30th.  [Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Springthorpe  had  led  a  very  happy  wedded  life  of  seventeen  years. 
Five  children  are  left,  four  of  which  are  quite  young.  The  calamity  has 
brought  deep  sorrow  into  what  was  so  recently  a  very  happy  home. 
-  Camphor  in  Australia.  —  The  Camphor  flora,  it  is  'well 
known,  grows  very  freely  in  these  colonies.  The  increasing  demand  for 
camphor  for  use  in  explosives  and  in  the  manufacture  of  celluloid  gives 
greater  importance  than  ever  to  this  commodity.  The  Japanese  com¬ 
menced  to  prepare  it  by  distilling  the  leaves  and  branches  of  the  trees 
instead  of  destroying  only  full-grown  trees  for  the  purpose.  It  seems  to 
be  worth  while  to  ascertain  if  the  shrub  growing  in  the  warmer  climates 
will  bear  cutting  sufficiently  well  to  yield  an  adequate  return  of  camphor 
when  distilled. — (“  Chemist  and  Druggist.’’) 
-  The  Canna  Disease. — In  a  recent  bulletin  of  the  Trinidad 
Botanic  Gardens  it  is  stated  that  one  of  the  new  strains  of  Canna 
imported  for  the  Gardens  has  been  badly  attacked  by  a  yellow  rust 
called  Uredo  Cannae,  described  as  a  parasite  on  Cannas  from  Brazil. 
Bordeaux  mixture  seems  to  have  had  no  effect  upon  the  fungus,  and  the 
infested  plants  soon  die.  This  disease  has  not  hitherto  been  heard  much 
of,  but  if  its  virulence  and  deadly  character  are  not  exaggerated  it  soon 
will  be.  Meanwhile,  we  have  no  doubt  that  stringent  measures  are  being 
taken  to  limit  as  far  as  possible  the  sphere  of  its  operations,  otherwise 
the  queenly  Canna  will  be  in  some  danger  at  what  is  practically  the 
beginning  of  its  horticultural  career. — (“  Gardening  World.”) 
-  Cissus  Berries. —  The  berries  of  Cissus  Ampelopsis  of  the 
Middle  and  Southern  States  are  most  remarkable  as  well  as  beautiful  in 
colour,  clear  pink,  purple,  rich  blue,  and  an  almost  emerald  green 
occurring  in  the  same  cluster.  The  botanists  describe  them  as  bluish, 
bluish  or  greenish.  They  much  resemble  those  of  the  Chinese  species, 
often  cultivated  in  this  country  for  its  beautifully  coloured  fruit,  and  are 
not  less  beautiful ;  but  while  in  the  latter  the  prevailing  colour  is  a  rich 
Nile  blue  verging  to  emerald  green,  purple,  and  pink  shades,  especially 
the  latter  being  exceptional,  the  reverse  is  true  with  the  American 
species,  in  which  a  delicate  lilac-pink  is  the  predominating  hue.  Like 
the  blue  berries  of  Cornus  circinata,  the  berries  of  this  climber,  which  in 
the  forest  completely  covers  large  trees  with  a  luxuriant  drapery  of 
foliage,  are  a  favourite  fruit  of  many  kinds  of  birds,  particularly  the 
catbird,  brown  thrasher,  wood  thrush  and  flicker,  and  on  this  account, 
if  no  other,  should  be  grown  by  all  lovers  of  birds.  The  fruit  of  Cissus 
Stans,  another  southern  species,  is  also  very  distinct  in  its  colouring,  the 
extremely  glossy  berries,  the  size  of  peas,  ranging  from  light  pink, 
through  garnet,  red  and  dark  crimson  to  jet  black.  The  elegant  pinnate 
foliage  of  this  vine  is  unique  in  its  peculiar  dark  bluish-green  colour, 
the  upper  .surface  of  the  leaves  having  a  semi-metallic  lustre. —  (“Garden 
and  Forest.”) 
-  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Calcutta. — The  magnificent 
Gardens  across  the  Hooghly  River  have  been  ruled  over  by  a  long  line  of 
illustrious  botanists- — botanists  whose  reputations  have  been  world  wide. 
Wallich,  Roxburgh,  Griffith  are  names  which  recall  the  early  struggles 
of  a  science  to  establish  its  roots  in  the  East  and  spread  its  branches. 
Dr.  Gef.rge  King,  the  retiring  Superintendent,  has,  perhaps,  done  more 
to  popularise  and  extend  the  usefulness  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens, 
Calcutta  (or  Seebpore,  to  be  more  exact),  than  any  of  his  illustrious 
predecessors,  lie  has  ruled  over  its  destinies  for  many  years.  The  early 
struggles  of  the  writer  of  these  lines  in  endeavouring  to  master  the 
subtle  intricacies  of  Findley’s  classification  of  certain  “  alliances  ’’ 
of  “  perigynous  exogeus,”  of  De  Candolle’s  natural  classification, 
and  the  complicated  artificial  classification  of  Linnmus,  are  all 
associated  in  his  mind  with  the  name  of  Dr.  George  King,  to 
whom  he  is  indebted  for  much  of  his  botanical  education.  Dr.  King  will 
)>e  succeeded  by  Dr.  David  Brain,  who  has  for  several  years  held  the  post 
of  Curator  of  the  Herbarium  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Seebpore, 
where  he  has  done  excellent  work.  No  better  selection  could  have  been 
made,  and  we  congratulate  Dr.  Brain  on  his  appointment  and  the  Govern¬ 
ment  of  India  on  their  sagacity  in  putting  the  square  man  into  the 
square  hole  for  once.  Dr.  Brain  is  an  erudite  scholar  and  a  high  authority 
as  a  botanist.  He  is  the  author  of  severafl  learned  botanical  monographsi 
and  we  have  every  confidence  that  under  his  rule  the  Botanic  Gardens 
wilt  continue  to  extend  their  usefulness  in  the  future  as  they  have  in  the 
past  under  the  guidance  of  the  genial  and  learned  gentleman  whom  Dr. 
Brain  succeeds. — (“  Indian  Gardening.”) 
-  A  Gigantic  Fossilised  Oak. — An  influential  deputation  of 
geologists  waited  upon  the  Sewage  Outfall  Committee  of  the  Stockport 
Corporation,  and  presented  a  petition,  asking  that  Ihe  gigantic  fossilised 
Oak  tree  found  at  Cheadle  Heath  might  be  preserved.  Brofessor  Boyd 
Dawkins  has  estimated  that  the  tree  is  between  ten  and  fifteen  thousand 
years  old.  It  is  desired  to  preserve  the  40-ton  fossil  in  bulk,  or  turn  it 
into  furniture  for  public  buildings. 
-  The  Queen  and  Kew  Gardens. — The  Queen  has  decided 
that  the  old  Balace  at  Kew  shall  be  opened,  during  her  [Majesty's 
pleasure,  as  a  public  museum,  under  the  same  management  as  Kew 
Gardens  ;  and  by  her  wish  the  grounds  belonging  to  what  is  known  as 
the  “  Queen’s  Cottage”  will  also  be  utilised  in  connection  with  the  Royal 
Gardens,  a  very  attractive  addition  being  thus  made  to  the  Gardens,  the 
amenities  of  which  are  enjoyed  by  the  public. 
-  Royal  [Meteorological  Society. —  The  annual  general 
meeting  of  the  Society  will  be  held,  by  kind  permission  of  the  Council, 
at  the  Institution  of  Civil  Engineers,  Great  George  Street,  Westminster, 
on  Wednesday,  the  19th  inst.,  at  7.45  P.M.,  when  the  report  of  the  Council 
will  be  read,  the  election  of  officers  and  Council  for  the  ensuing  year  will 
take  place,  and  the  Bresident  (Mr.  E.  Mawley,  F.R.H.S.)  will  deliver  an 
address  on  “  Weather  Influences  on  Farm  and  Garden  Crops,”  which 
will  be  illustrated  by  lantern  slides.  The  above  meeting  will  be  jueceded 
by  an  ordinary  meeting,  which  will  commence  at  7.30  P.M. 
-  December  Weather  in  South  Wales  —  Heavy  Rain¬ 
fall. — Mr.  W.  Mabbott,  The  Gardens,  Gwernllwyn  House,  Dowlais, 
Glamorgan,  writes  : — “The  weather  here  during  the  past  month  has  been 
worthy  of  this  record-breaking  age.  Total  rainfall  13‘34  inches,  a 
monthly  record.  Maximum  fall,  3’30  inches  on  the  29th,  a  record  for 
any  twenty-four  hours  ;  previous  record  3'18  inches  in  November,  1895- 
There  were  six  daily  falls  of  over  an  inch  during  the  month,  which  is 
another  record.  Rain  fell  every  day  from  the  5th  to  the  16th  inclusive, 
and  from  the  26th  to  the  31st.  Rain  fell  on  nineteen  days.  Total  for  the 
year,  63‘42  inches.  Mean  maximum  temperature  for  the  month,  42'9°  ; 
highest  reading  53°  on  the  17th  ;  mean  maximum,  SOAL  Lowest 
reading  13°  on  the  1st ;  below  freezing  point  on  fifteen  days.  Very 
strong  cold  winds  the  beginning  of  the  month,  but  towards  the  end  of  the 
month  much  milder.  Ten  sunless  days  during  the  month,  106  during 
the  year.” 
-  Iris  reticulata. — This  is  a  hard}'  plant,  but  requires,  to  grow 
it  well,  a  warm  corner  and  a  bed  of  pure  light  sandy  loam  ;  in  the  ordi¬ 
nary  soil  of  an  old  flower  garden  the  bulbs  are  apt  to  rot.  This  and 
many  other  small  hardy  bulbs  will  generally  break  up  into  offsets  and 
dwindle  under  pot  cultivation.  The  commonest  Crocus  or  Tulip  will  do 
the  same.  Grow  the  Iris  as  I  have  described  ;  take  up  and  store  in  dry 
earth  or  sand  w'hen  the  foliage  dies  down,  and  select  the  best  bulbs  to 
flower  in  the  greenhouse  ;  in  the  autumn  restore  the  bulbs  to  their  old 
quarters.  They  will  come  round  again  after  one  season  s  growth.  The 
Beacock  Iris  should  be  grown  in  the  same  way,  but  absolutely  requires  a 
glass  frame  over  the  bed.  Bot  culture  is,  however,  possible  for  such 
plants,  and  I  recommend  the  following  treatment ;  Use  rather  largo  pots 
— say  8  inches  across  ;  soil,  very  sandy  pure  loam  ;  drainage,  one  or  two 
large  crocks  with  a  good  large  handful  of  moss  over  them.  But  in 
plenty  of  bulbs — say  2  inches  apart,  grow  them  in  a  good  cold  frame 
through  the  winter,  and  bring  them  into  the  greenhouse  in  the  spring  to 
flower. — R.  C. 
-  Loughborough  and  District  Gardeners’  Mutual 
Improvement  Association. — The  opening  winter  session  of  the 
above  Association  took  place  on  January  4th,  Mr.  J.  Lansdell  of  The 
Gardens,  Barkby  Hall,  Leicester,  giving  an  interesting  and  instructive 
lecture  on  “Soils.”  The  lecturer,  speaking  of  the  formation  of  soils, 
referred  to  the  constant  action  of  the  atmosphere  and  rain,  which  caused 
something  like  1  foot  of  soil  to  be  washed  from  the  hills  towards  sea 
in  the  course  of  a  thousand  years.  In  proof  of  this,  statement  Mr. 
Lansdell  handed  around  some  samples  of  Mountsorrel  stone  (the  hardest 
kind  of  stone  in  this  county)  which  had  become  quite  pulverised  and 
amenable  to  cultivation.  Clay  soil  was  referred  to  as  being  the  outcome 
of  felspar  rock — the  best  garden  soils  should  contain  about  fifty  per  cent, 
of  clay.  The  lecturer  dealt  with  the  different  colour  of  soils,  their 
analysis,  and  the  mechanical  operations  necessary  to  add  to  their  fertility ; 
(juoting  statistics  as  to  the  beneficial  effect  of  draining  to  promote 
vegetation,  by  creating  a  higher  temperature  in  the  land,  thereby  making 
it  admissible  to  nitrogen,  the  principal  agent  in  the  cultivation  of 
vegetable  life.  [Mr.  A.  Hamshere  presided  over  the  meeting.  A  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  the  lecturer  and  chairman. 
