JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  lO,  1898. 
Weather  in  London. — During  the  past  week  we  have  had  almost 
the  first  touch  of  winter,  as  characterised  by  a  light  fall  of  snow  on  the 
morning  of  Friday  last.  Neither  in  the  metropolis  nor  in  the  surrounding 
country  did  the  snow  remain  on  the  ground.  On  one  or  two  mornings 
We  have  had  moderately  sharp  frosts,  notably  on  Tuesday.  Saturday 
was  dry,  and  a  cold  wind  prevailed,  but  Sunday  was  very  showery,  with 
occasional  gleams  of  brilliant  sunshine.  Monday  was  cold,  as  was 
Tuesday  throughout  the  day,  rain  falling  in  the  afternoon.  At  the  time 
of  going  to  press  on  Wednesday  it  was  cold  and  foggy. 
-  Weather  in  the  North. — February  entered  with  wet  and 
tempestuous  weather.  Throughout  the  night  of  the  1st  a  gale  raged  from 
the  S.W.,  accompanied  by  very  heavy  showers.  The  weather  cleared  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  3rd,  and  took  a  decidedly  wintry  turn.  Since  then 
frosts  of  from  3°  to  5°  have  occurred,  and  the  higher  hills  are  densely 
covered  with  snow,  while  the  lower  grounds  were  on  Sunday  also  thickly 
coated.  Monday  was  a  clear  wintry-looking  day,  and  Tuesday  opened 
clear  and  keen  with  no  sign  of  change. — B.  D„  S.  Perthshire, 
-  Garrya  elliptica. — As  a  flowering  plant  the  male  form  only 
of  this  Californian  shrub  deserves  a  place  in  gardens,  the  flowers  of  the 
female  form  being  small  and  inconspicuous.  As  an  evergreen  shrub  both 
forms  have  considerable  merit.  The  flowers  of  the  male  plant  are 
greenish  yellow,  and  produced  in  pendulous  catkins  several  inches  in 
length  from  the  upper  nodes  and  apices  of  the  previous  year's  growth. 
The  time  the  flowers  are  produced  depends  on  the  mildness  or  severity  of 
the  winter.  In  mild  weather  the  flowers  commence  opening  about  the 
middle  of  January  ;  at  other  times  they  are  a  month  later.  About 
London  it  does  well  when  planted  in  the  open,  further  north  it  rei|uires 
the  protection  of  a  wall.  When  grown  against  a  wall  the  main  branches 
only  should  be  supported,  the  others  being  allowed  their  freedom.  Two 
large  plants  in  the  gardens  at  Wimbledon  House  are  growing  against  a 
wall  in  this  manner,  and  flower  with  exceptional  freedom. — W.  D. 
-  Isle  op  Wight. — The  Isle  of  Wight  Horticultural  Improve¬ 
ment  Association  held  its  monthly  meeting  at  Newport  on  Saturday 
last.  Mr.  J.  H.  Parkin  presided.  Mr.  J.  Hygate,  gardener,  The 
Briary,  Cowes,  gave  a  thoroughly  practical  address  on  “  The  Cultiva¬ 
tion  of  Grapes  in  a  Cool  House.”  The  Black  Hamburgh  was  the 
variety  he  strongly  recommended  for  the  purpose.  During  the  sub¬ 
sequent  discussion  the  question  of  Grape  growing  in  the  open  air  for 
wine  making  was  discussed,  as  there  are  positions  on  the  Underclifle 
believed  to  be  suitable  for  the  purpose.  The  exhibits  staged  were  of 
first-class  quality,  and  well  merited  in  each  case  the  Association  certificate 
for  cultural  merit  which  they  received.  Mr.  II.  Drover,  florist,  Ventnor, 
staged  a  collection  of  Cyclamen  and  Primulas  ;  Mr.  A.  J.  Cole,  Broad- 
lands,  Sandown,  showed  a  specimen  Cyclamen  from  seed  sown  in  August, 
1896,  which  had  eighty  blooms  upon  it,  and  the  plant  itself  was  over 
2  feet  through ;  Mr.  G.  Honeybourne,  gardener  to  Lady  Daly,  Kyde, 
staged  a  fine  healthy  plant  of  Dendrobium  Hilli  with  six  spikes.  At  the 
close  of  the  meeting  fourteen  new  members  were  elected.  The  first 
Saturday  in  March  Mr.  J.  H.  Parkin  will  give  a  piper  on  “  Asparagus.” 
- Early  Hardy  Flowers. — The  following  plants  were  flower¬ 
ing  in  the  open  ground  at  Hodsock  Priory,  Notts,  on  the  1st  of  February, 
showing  the  mildness  of  the  season  : — Single  and  double  Snowdrops, 
St.  Brigid  Anemone,  Triteleia  uniflora.  Winter  Aconites,  Pansies,  Prim¬ 
roses,  all  colours,  white,  yelloiv,  red,  rose,  and  blue  ;  Violets,  single  and 
double,  in  variety  ;  Honesty,  double  Daisies,  Christmas  Poses,  Lenten 
Poses,  in  all  shades  of  colour,  grand  objects  ;  Strawberry  Black  Prince, 
.(\rabis  albida,  English  Yew,  Crocus  Imperati,  Leucoium  vernum,  very 
fine  ;  Iris  reticulata,  Ilepatica,  common  blue  ;  Hepatica  angulosa.  Iris 
reticulata  Krelagei,  Iris  stylosa,  Jasminum  nudiflorum.  Polyanthus  Gold 
Laced,  Dutch  Crocus,  Muscari  azureum,  Scilla  bifolia,  Cardamine  rotundi- 
folia,  Scilla  sibirica,  Helleborus  foetidus.  Cyclamen  Coum,  the  brightest 
jewel  in  Flora  s  winter  crown  ;  Anemone  blanda,  Orobus  alpestris, 
Lonicera  fragrantissima,  common  Periwinkles,  Erica  carnea,  Berberis 
aquifolium,  Kerria  japonica.  Wallflowers,  Pyrus  japonica,  Polygala 
chajnaebuxus,  in  full  flower,  said  to  bloom  in  May  ;  and  Brompton  Stock. 
This  is  my  thirtieth  winter  here,  and  I  have  never  seen  so  much  bloom  so 
early  in  the  year  before. — -J.  M.^llender. 
-  Flued  Garden  Walls. — In  answer  to  Mr.  Geo.  Dyke,  on 
page  56  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture,  respecting  flued  garden  walls,  I 
may  inform  him  there  is  now  existing  at  The  Gardens,  Trafalgar, 
Salisbury,  Wilts,  the  old  flues  in  the  walls,  with  about  six  chambers, 
but  the  chimney  is  not  to  be  seen.  The  flues  run  about  100  feet 
long. — G.  Fulford. 
-  Artichokes  au  Gratin.— Well .  wash  and  peel  3  lbs.  of 
Artichokes,  trim  them  into  the  shape  of  small  Pears,  then  throw  them 
into  boiling  water  with  a  pinch  of  sugar  and  some  salt.  Let  them  boil 
about  twenty  minutes,  then  drain  off  the  water.  Add  4  ozs.  of  butter, 
one  small  Onion  chopped  very  fine,  some  pepper,  a  gill  of  milk,  and 
4  ozs.  of  grated  Parmesan  cheese.  Stir  gently  with  a  wooden  spoon, 
then  turn  into  a  baking  dish.  Sprinkle  the  top  wiih  bread  crumbs  ; 
place  in  a  very  hot  oven  to  gratinate. — A  Lady. 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Society.— 
A  meeting  of  the  above  Society  was  held  on  Tuesday,  February  1st. 
Mr.  Geo.  Picker,  Hesslewood  Gardens,  occupied  the  chair,  and  there  was 
a  very  large  attendance.  The  essayist  for  the  evening  was  Mr.  J.  P. 
Leadbetter,  Tranby  Croft  Gardens,  and  the  subject  “  The  Cultivation  of 
the  Malmaison  Carnation.”  The  essayist  described  all  the  requirements 
of  this  now  very  popular  flower.  A  good  discussion  followed  the  essay, 
and  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Leadbetter  answered  his  critics  tended  to 
show  how  well  he  was  acquainted  with  his  subject.  Mr.  J.  Barker, 
gardener  to  W.  P.  Birkenshaw,  Esq.,  showed  several  plants  of  Cypri- 
pediums  in  variety.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  essayist  and 
Chairman  terminated  one  of  the  best  meetings  the  Society  has  had. — 
G.  W.  G. 
-  Cheiranthus  MUTAbilis. — The  plant  under  notice  is  one 
which  might  with  advantage  be  made  use  of  as  a  winter-flowering  plant 
for  the  cool  greenhouse.  It  grows  readily  in  light  loamy  soil,  and  makes 
a  compact  little  bush,  with  long  narrow  leaves.  The  flowers  are  lilac,  or 
sometimes  almost  purple,  a  quarter  of  an  inch  across,  and  produced  in 
long  slender  racemes.  They  are  at  their  best  from  the  latter  end  of 
November  to  the  end  of  February,  though  on  a  large  plant  flowers  are  to 
be  found  at  almost  any  time.  Cuttings  inserted  in  sandy  soil  in  the 
spring  root  readily,  and  by  autumn  make  good-sized  plants.  As  it  is  a 
native  of  Madeira  the  protection  afforded  by  a  cold  frame  is  necessary 
during  severe  weather  ;  at  other  times  it  can  be  grown  well  outside.  A 
number  of  plants  in  flower  may  now  be  seen  in  the  winter  garden  at 
Kew. — D.  K. 
-  Death  op  Mr.  G.  T.  Clark.  —  We  regret  to  learn 
of  the  death  of  jthis  gentleman,  which  occurred  at  his  residence, 
Talygarn,  Glamorganshire,  on  the  31st  ult.,  in  his  eighty-eighth 
year.  Mr.  Clark  was  a  remarkable  man,  combining  extraordinary 
business  capacity  with  considerable  literary  ability,  and  was  endowed 
with  great  power  for  historical  research.  After  an  active  early  life  he 
became  trustee  under  the  will  of  the  late  Sir  John  Guest  of  the  now 
celebrated  Dowlais  Iron  Works,  which  seem  to  have  been  at  that  time  in 
such  an  unsatisfactory  state  that  he  was  advised  to  wind  up  the  estate  ; 
but  as  this  would  have  involved  the  dismissal  of  nearly  12,000  men  and 
the  ruin  of  their  homes  he  determined  with  the  co-operation,  as  trustee, 
of  the  late  Lord  Aberdare,  to  save  the  great  works  and  make  them 
prosperous.  He  succeeded  beyond  the  most  sanguine  expectations, 
became  known  as  the  “  Saviour  of  Dowlais,”  and  a  benefactor  to  South 
Wales.  Eventually,  as  may  be  remembered.  Lord  Aberdare  became 
President  of  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society,  on  the  overthrow  of  the 
South  Kensingtonian  dynasty,  and  called  Mr.  Clark  to  his  aid  on  the 
Council,  during  probably  the  most  difficult  period  of  the  Society’s 
existence,  and  then  was  laid  the  foundation  of  its  present  prosperity. 
Mr.  Clark  took  considerable  interest  in  gardening,  but  more  particularly 
in  forestry,  and  planted  with  pD)digality.  He  lived  to  see  a  dense 
forest  of  choice  Conifers  established  around  his  home,  and  draiv  each 
other  up  to  a  great  altitude  in  the  arboreal  jungle,  for  he  would  have 
none  destroyed.  Mr.  Clark  was  a  giant  in  stature  and  intellect. 
With  a  great  and  generous  heart  he  was  ever  ready  to  help  those  who 
were  in  need,  and  in  all  projects  that  were  established  for  the  public  good 
in  the  district,  in  which  he  will  be  long  and  gratefully  remembered. 
It  may  be  added  that  on  the  afternoon  of  his  death  Mr.  Clark  had  so  far 
recovered  from  an  attack  of  influenza  that  he  was  able  to  revise  some 
proofs  of  a  book  which  he  was  preparing  on  the  pedigrees  of  Glamorgan¬ 
shire  families.  This  work  he  carried  on  in  his  study,  which  he  also  made 
during  his  illness  his  bedroom  as  well.  Shortly  before  four  o’clock  he 
spoke  to  the  nurse,  and  said  he  would  like  to  lie  down.  She  assisted  him 
on  to  the  bed,  and  it  would  appear  that  he  died  almost  immediately  from 
syncope,  accelerated  by  the  attack  of  influenza. 
