April  21,  1898. 
•WURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
345 
Weather  in  London. — Brilliant  weather  has  prevailed  in  London 
during  the  past  seven  days.  It  has  been  warm  on  almost  every  day 
in  the  sun,  but  the  wind  was  sharp  on  one  or  two  occasions  in  shady 
places.  The  nights  continue  to  be  rather  chilly,  but  have  not  been 
sufficiently  cold  to  do  harm  to  vegetation. 
-  Weather  in  the  North.— With  the  exception  of  the  l3th, 
which  was  very  wet,  with  a  high  wind  from  the  south,  the  week  ending 
the  morning  of  Tuesday  has  been  very  pleasant,  cloud  and  sunshine 
alternating,  and  showers  falling  occasionally.  The  temperature  has  been 
generally  high,  although  it  fell  considerably  on  one  or  two  evenings.  That 
of  Tuesday  morning  was  48°. —B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  — The  next  Fruit  and 
Floral  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  be  held  on 
Tuesday,  April  26th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Victoria  Street, 
Westminster,  1  to  5  P.M.,  when,  in  addition  to  the  Society’s  ordinary  Show, 
the  National  Auricula  and  Primula  Society  will  hold  its  annual  show. 
At  three  o’clock  a  lecture  will  be  given  on  “  Sweet-scented  Leaves  versus 
Fragrant  Flowers,”  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Burbidge,  M.A.,  V.M.H. 
Horticultural  Club.  —  The  usual  monthly  dinner  and 
conversazione  took  place  on  Tuesday  evening,  April  12th.  Notwithstand¬ 
ing  the  holidays  and  the  Ghent  Exhibition,  which  drew  off  several  of  the 
members,  there  was  a  good  attendance.  The  chair  was  occupied  by  Mr 
George  Paul,  V.M.H.  The  Rev.  George  Engleheart  was  the  guest  of  the 
evening,  and  gave  a  very  valuable  address  on  Seedling  Narcissi,  in  raising 
which,  as  is  well  known,  he  has  been  so  successful.  He  exhibited  some  of 
his  latest  productions,  which  were  greatly  admired,  and  had  previously 
obtained  awards  of  merit  at  the  Drill  Hall.  An  interesting  discussion 
followed,  in  which  many  of  those  present  joined. 
-  Memorial  to  Mons.  Jean  Linden. — We  have  received  a 
circular  from  Belgium  from  which  we  learn  that  there  is  a  project  on 
foot  in  that  country  to  found  a  memorial  of  Mons.  Jean  Linden,  the 
distinguished  botanist  and  horticulturist,  whose  demise  we  chronicled 
some  time  back.  A  committee  of  influential  gentlemen  has  been  formed, 
with  Comte  0.  de  Kerchove  de  Denterghen  as  President,  and  Mons.  L. 
Lubbers,  Brussels,  as  Secretary.  The  Treasurer  is  Mons.  L.  Kegelj^n, 
Namur.  The  appeal  is  made  to  every  one  interested  in  horticulture, 
and  those  who  would  like  particulars  should  write  for  them  to  the 
Secretary. 
-  An  Ideal  Tennis  Ground.— When  looking  at  the  illustration 
given  last  week  of  a  tennis  ground,  I  could  but  be  thankful  I  had  not 
been  trained  in  the  school  of  the  landscape  gardener.  For  destroying 
the  natural  and  charming  contour  of  the  ground  I  could  not  imagine  a 
better  example.  The  excavated  court  is  to  me  an  eyesore.  A  tennis 
court  should  be  comparatively  near  the  mansion,  and  not  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  away,  as  shown  in  the  picture.  To  enjoy  lawn  tennis  thoroughly 
the  turf,  whilst  dense,  should  be  soft  and  S|)ringy.  Then  play  upon  it  is 
delightful.  A  very  hard  unresponsive  ground  is  not  pleasing,  and  it  is 
tiring.  Then  near  courts  for  summer  use  there  should  always  bo  trees  to 
give  shade.  Winter  courts,  asphalted,  should  be  enclosed  with  Cupresses 
or  Holly  hedgf  s,  and  may  ))e  more  remote  from  the  mansion. — A.  D, 
-  Magnolia  conspicua, — In  several  gardens  about  London  this 
beautiful  species  is  flowering  grandly.  At  Kew,  a  large  healthy  specimen 
growing  in  the  Azalea  garden  is  now  (April  15th)  at  its  best,  every  twig 
being  loaded  with  large,  sweetly  scented,  pure  white  blossoms.  Every 
garden  where  hardy  trees  and  shrubs  are  grown  to  any  extent — especially 
in  the  southern  counties — should  possess  one  or  more  specimens  of  this, 
for,  if  given  a  position  sheltered  from  cold  winds,  and  planted  well  at  the 
commencement  in  a  mixture  of  peat  and  loam,  it  will  give  little  or  no 
trouble  afterwards,  and  will,  every  spring,  be  literally  smo'hered  with 
flowers.  There  are  numerous  hybrids  in  cultivation,  the  result  of  crosses 
between  this  species  and  others.  Of  the  hybrids  several  may  be  seen  at 
Kew,  the  largest  plant  being  a  magnificent  specimen  of  M.  Soulangeana 
growing  near  the  plant  of  conspicua.  It  is  a  much  larger  plant  than  the 
parent,  measuring  about  14  feet  each  way,  and  is  completely  covered  with 
l)uri)le  and  white  flowers. — K.  R. 
-  Gardening  Appointments.  —  Mr,  Thomas  Winksill,  late 
head  gardener  to  A.  R.  Sladen,  Esq.,  Cleeve  House,  Windermere,  has 
been  appointed  head  gardener  to  J.  Charlton  Parr,  Esq.,  Staunton  Park, 
Staunton-on-Arrow,  Herefordshire.  Mr.  G.  A.  Bishop,  late  head 
gardener  at  Wightwick  Manor,  Wolverhampton,  has  been  appointed  by 
the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  superintendent  of  the  Botanic 
Station,  Bermuda,  and  expects  to  enter  on  his  important  charge  during 
the  ensuing  month.  Mr,  Bishop  has  been  chosen  strictly  by  varied 
qualifications  for  the  position  which  all  who  know  him  will  not  doubt  his 
ability  to  fill  creditably  and  well. 
-  Wistaria  sinensis.  —  As  a  quick-growing,  free-flowering, 
hardy  climber  this  has  no  equal,  and  judging  from  the  numbers  that  are 
found  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  it  enjoys  well-deserved  popularity.  It 
is  not,  however,  as  a  climbing  plant  for  outside  that  I  wish  to  bring  it  to 
notice  now,  but  as  a  pot  plant  for  the  greenhouse  in  spring.  In  the 
conservatory  at  Kew  a  small  group  of  plants,  which  have  been  slightly 
forced,  are  to  be  seen,  and  they  are  there  flowering,  if  anything,  more 
frecdy  than  they  do  outside.  When  required  for  forcing,  strong  young 
shoots  should  be  layered.  When  rooted  they  should  be  potted  in  rich 
fairly  heavy  loam,  and  grown  on  in  pots,  flowers  being  produced  the 
second  year  after  potting.  After  flowering  they  should  not  be  planted 
out,  but  be  fed  and  grown  on  in  pots.  Anyone  who  gives  this  plant  a 
fair  trial  for  this  work  cannot  fail  to  be  pleased  with  the  results, 
— Kewite. 
-  Topping  Raspberry  and  Blackberry  Plants. — In  com¬ 
mercial  fruit  growing  it  is  almost  a  universal  practice  to  top  the  canes  of 
Raspberries  and  Blackberries  when  growing  in  order  to  make  them 
stocky  and  self-supporting,  as  this  is  a  great  saving  of  time  and  expense 
The  canes  have  their  tops  pinched  off  when  about  2  feet  high.  The  side 
shoots,  which  come  then,  add  another  foot  or  two  of  length  before  the 
season  is  over.  This  process  gives  stout  bushes,  which  sustain  themselves 
without  any  staking  or  support.  When  the  winter  is  over  the  side 
shoots  are  clipped  back  a  little,  and  nothing  else  is  required.  These 
stocky,  self-supporting  canes,  though  bearing  more  berries  than  those  not 
treated  as  these  were,  do  not,  says  a  writer  in  an  American  journal,  bear 
more  weight  of  fruit.  The  largest  berries  come  from  plants  let  grow  as 
they  will  for  the  season,  and  cut  back  to  3  or  4  feet  in  early  spring. 
Growers  must  decide  between  large  berries  and  self-supporting  plants. 
In  England  there  are  plenty  of  Raspberry  canes  that  support  themselves 
without  being  topped  in  summer. 
-  The  Edible  Passion  Flower. — For  draping  pillars  and 
arches  in  the  stove,  Passiflora  edulis  ranks  as  one  of  the  most  magnifi¬ 
cent  climbers  we  have,  for  when  planted  in  a  restricted  border  it  grows 
luxuriantly,  often  making  shoots  of  12  feet  or  more  in  one  season.  The 
flowers  of  this  species  are  very  beautiful,  and  are  succeeded  by  hand¬ 
some  purple  fruits,  which  are  much  appreciated  by  many  persons.  The 
leaves  are  of  a  deep  glos.sy  green  colour,  and  form  a  fine  contrast  to  the 
purple  fruits,  and  for  this  reason  they  are  admirably  adapted  for  dishes 
of  choice  dessert  fruits,  such  as  Bananas,  Figs,  and  Peaches.  P.  edulis 
may  be  readily  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings  or  layers,  and  during 
the  growing  season  abundance  of  root  moisture  with  occasional  appli¬ 
cations  of  liquid  manure  |jshould  be  given  the  plants,  accompanied  with 
frequent  syringings  to  keep  down  red  spider.  I  have  seen  this  plant 
growing  welt  in  a  cool  house,  but  much  better  results  are  obtained  by 
giving  it  a  position  in  the  stove,  provided  that  a  porlion  of  the  roof  near 
the  ventilators  can  be  devoted  to  it,  a  stagnant  atmosphere  being  pre¬ 
judicial  to  the  setting  of  the  flowers. — H.  T.  M.,  Stoneleijh, 
-  National  Amateur  G  ardeners’  Association  (Liverpool 
Branch).— On  Thursday  evening  the  third  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  in  the  Common  Hall,  Hackins  Hey,  Liverpool,  the  President 
(J.  H.  Drake,  Esq.)  occupying  the  chair.  There  was  an  excellent 
attendance  of  members,  and  the  exhibits  were  much  above  the  average, 
making  altogether  a  pretty  display.  Mr.  Lunt  won  with  a  handsome 
Azalea' indica,  Mr.  Cangley  following.  The  cut  Roses  staged  by  Mr. 
Hoskyn  were  of  superb  form  and  quality,  the  prize  for  Fern  and  miscel¬ 
laneous  cut  flowers  being  taken  by  Messrs.  Lunt  and  Cangley,  these 
gentlemen  also  dividing  the  monthly  special  prize.  The  flowers  and  plants 
staged  for  points  were  exceptionally  good.  Mr.  J.  Cliffe,  gardener  to 
J.  Lawson,  Esq.,  Waterloo,  gave  an  admirable  lecture  on  “  Stopping  and 
Trimming  Chrysanthemums,”  which  was  listened  to  with  the  greatest 
attention,  his  advice  being  eminently  practical  ;  a  vote  of  thanks  was 
deservedly  accorded.  Messrs.  Smyth,  Cooper,  and  Cangley  carried  out 
the  duties  in  connection  with  the  meeting  most  satisfactorily.  Mr. 
R.  Pinnington,  Roby,  had  a  fine  exhibit  of  cut  flowers,  which  was  much 
appreciated. 
