346 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  2!,  1898. 
-  Shieley  Gaedeneeb’  Association.— The  monthly  meeting 
of  the  above  Society  was  held  at  the  Parish  Eoom,  Shirley,  Southampton, 
on  the  18th  inst.,  Mr.  B.  Ladhams  presiding  over  a  fair  attendance  of 
members,  Mr.  Jesse  Jones,  The  Gardens,  Terrace  House,  Polygon, 
Southampton,  gave  a  very  interesting  and  useful  paper  on  “  Table  Plants 
and  Plants  for  House  Decoration.” 
-  Teee  Peens. — Alsophila  australis  and  A.  excelsa  are  both 
rapid-growing  Tree  Perns,  the  last  named  especially  soon  attaining  to  the 
arborescent  state.  The  habit  of  growth  of  these  two  varieties  differs 
somewhat.  The  fronds  of  A.  australis  have  a  horizontal  or  spreading 
growth,  while  those  of  A.  excelsa  are  more  upright,  especially  at  the 
base,  whence  they  curve  in  a  graceful  arching  manner. — S. 
-  Peunus  sriNOSA  PLOEE-PLENO. — The  double  flowered  form 
of  the  Blackthorn  ranks  high  among  the  dwarf  Prunus,  both  from  the 
beauty  of  its  pure  white  flowers  and  the  freedom  with  which  they  are 
produced.  It  does  not  grow  nearly  so  tall  as  the  type,  but  makes  a  dense 
bush  with  stiff  spur-like  branches,  upon  the  whole  of  which  large  numbers 
of  flowers  are  borne.  It  is  at  present  by  no  means  common,  but  deserves 
being  taken  in  hand  and  increased  largely,  for  besides  being  useful  for 
the  shrubbery  it  could  be  used  with  advantage  where  cover  is  needed  for 
game.  It  can  be  increased  by  grafting  on  stocks  of  the  type. — W.  D. 
-  Magnolia  stellata. — Now  that  good  plants  of  this  species 
can  be  imported  cheaply  and  in  good  condition  from  Japan,  it  is  fast 
becoming  one  of  the  most  popular  flowering  shrubs,  both  for  outside  work 
and  forcing.  At  Kew  several  beds  are  to  be  seen,  which  during  the 
Easter  holidays  were — and  for  several  weeks  to  come  will  be -perfect 
pictures,  the  bushes  being  completely  smothered  with  sweetly  scented, 
glistening  white,  star-shaped  blossoms.  An  idea  of  its  free-flowering 
qualities  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  some  of  the  plants,  3  feet 
high  by  3  feet  wide,  are  carrying  150  open  flowers  and  buds.  When 
planting  it  is  advisable  to  prepare  beds  of  half  peat  and  half  loam,  for 
although  it  will  grow  in  loam  alone,  it  thrives  much  better  in  the  mixture. 
Por  forcing  the  plants  should  be  grown  in  an  open  border  during  summer, 
and  lifted  in  October,  potted,  and  plunged  outside  until  required.  Strong 
heat  should  be  avoided  when  forcing,  the  flowers  opening  and  lasting 
better  when  gentle  heat  only  is  used.— D.,  Kew. 
-  Reading  Gaedenees’  Society. — One  of  the  most  interesting 
and  successful  meetings  of  the  Association  was  that  held  on  Monday 
last,  when  the  prizes  offered  by  Mr.  Leonard  Sutton  at  the  commence¬ 
ment  of  the  season,  1898,  for  the  best  essays  on  “  How  to  Keep  the 
Greenhouse  Gay  from  October  Ist  to  March  31st,”  and  “How  to  Crop 
the  Vegetable  Garden  to  Insure  the  Best  Varieties  of  Vegetables  from 
October  1st  to  March  31st,”  were  awarded  to  the  successful  competitors. 
The  interest  taken  in  the  competition  was  greater  than  anticipated, 
thirteen  members  sending  in  papers,  and  a  good  gathering  of  members 
assembled  to  learn  the  result  and  to  hear  the  prizewinning  papers  read 
by  the  writers.  After  the  formal  business  had  been  transacted  Mr. 
C.  B.  Stevens  announced  the  awards  as  follows  : — “  How  to  Keep  a  Green¬ 
house  Gay  ”  :  Eirst,  Mr.  A.  W.  Blake,  foreman,  The  Gardens,  East 
Thorpe,  Reading  ;  second,  Mr.  G.  Stanton,  The  Gardens,  Park  Place, 
Henley-on-Thames  ;  and  third,  Mr.  John  Botley,  foreman,  The  Gardens, 
Warfield  Hall,  Bracknell  (a  contributor  to  the  “Young  Gardeners’ 
Domain  ”).  “  Howto  Crop  the  Vegetable  Garden”:  First,  Mr.  E.  Trollope, 
The  Gardens,  Coombe  Lodge,  Whitchurch  ;  second,  Mr.  H.  Wilson,  The 
Gardens,  Lower  Redlands,  Reading ;  and  third,  Mr.  G.  Hinton,  The 
Gardens,  Sherwood  Lodge,  Reading.  Mr.  L.  Sutton,  in  presenting  the 
prizes,  said  that  he  considered  the  subject  of  essay  writing  was  one  of  the 
most  useful  and  beneficial  to  the  members  that  the  Society  could  take  up, 
for  it  encouraged  the  putting  of  one’s  ideas  on  paper,  and  at  the  present 
time  it  was  those  gardeners  who  could  go  to  their  employers  with  well 
thought  out  ideas  who  would  prove  successful ;  it  would  also  be  of  the 
utmost  value  to  the  young  gardeners  who  entered  these  competitions,  for 
they  would  reap  the  benefit  of  their  study  and  research  in  after  life.  The 
President  then  called  upon  the  various  winners  to  read  their  papers,  and 
they  created  great  interest.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr.  L. 
Sutton  for  his  kindness  in  giving  the  prizes.  Owing  to  the  success  of  the 
venture  the  Association  has  decided  to  take  up  this  interesting  subject  as 
a  part  of  its  programme  for  season  1898-99,  and  a  vote  was  passed  that 
a  sum  not  exceeding  £8  should  be  devoted  for  the  purpose,  but  that  the 
competition  should  be  divided  into  various  grades,  thus  giving  all  members 
an  equal  chance  to  compete.  Cut  flowers  were  staged  by  Mr.  Woolford, 
The  Gardens,  East  Thorpe  ;  Prunus  sinensis  flore-pleno  by  Mr.  Swans- 
borough,  Warfield  Hall  Gardens  ;  and  vegetables  l^y  Mr,  Stone  and  Mr. 
Hinton. 
-  Febnch  and  FAfeican  Maeigolds. — It  is  better  to  have 
dwarf  and  stocky  young  plants  of  these  by  sowing  now  thinly  in  boxes, 
than  to  use  tall  overgrown  plants,  which  invariably  result  when  the 
seed  is  sown  too  early.  Plants  from  early  raising  need  transplanting, 
but  when  sown  thinly  and  at  a  comparatively  late  period  this  is  not 
necessary. — S. 
-  Peopagating  Echeveeia  metallica. — When  plants  oi 
Echeveria  metallica  become  tall,  and  a  greater  part  of  the  stem  bare  of 
leaves,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  cut  off  the  tops  just  below  the  healthy  leaves, 
and  make  of  them  dwarf  plants.  Two  inches  of  stem  may  be  left,  and  if 
the  heads  are  placed  in  empty  pots,  with  the  lower  leaves  resting  on 
the  rims,  the  stems  will  emit  roots.  Let  the  pots  stand  on  the  stage 
among  others  in  an  ordinary  greenhouse  until  abundance  of  fine  roots 
have  developed,  then  the  heads  may  be  potted  in  sandy  soil  in  the 
ordinary  way. — E.  D.  S. 
-  Meteopolitan  Public  Gaedens  Association.  —  At  the 
monthly  meeting  of  the  Metropolitan  Public  Gardens  Association,  83, 
Lancaster  Gate,  W.,  Sir  William  Vincent,  Bart.,  Vice-Chairman,  presiding, 
it  was  announced  that  the  Inner  Temple  Buildings  Bill,  in  which  powers 
were  sought  to  build  on  the  frontage  adjoining  the  Thames  Embankment, 
had  been  rejected  by  the  Select  Committee  of  the  House  of  Lords.  It  was 
agreed,  if  its  maintenance  were  secured,  and  if  funds  were  forthcoming,  to 
lay  out  the  churchyard  of  St.  Mary,  Plaistow,  E.,  at  a  cost  of  £300.  It 
was  also  reported  that  progress  had  been  made  in  the  laying  out  of 
several  grounds,  and  it  was  stated  that  Charles  Square,  Hoxton,  had 
been  commenced,  and  that  trees  had  been  planted  in  the  new  riverside 
ground  at  Putney.  Ham  Common,  and  Lammas  Lands,  Bridgewater 
Square,  the  “Postmen’s  Park,”  Pymme’s  Park,  Edmonton,  and  some 
vacant  land  at  New  Cross,  also  received  attention. 
-  Caee  op  Teees. — It  is  gratifying  to  note,  says  a  transatlantic 
contemporary,  the  rapidly  growing  sentiment  in  regard  to  the  care  of 
trees.  The  following  from  the  Taunton,  Mass.,  “  Gazette  ”  has  the  true 
ring  : — “  The  practice  in  vogue  during  the  past  ten  years  of  ruthlessly 
hacking  down  any  tree,  no  matter  of  how  magnificent  proportions,  in 
order  to  make  room  for  an  unarchitectural  building  of  some  kind  is 
being  frowned  upon  owing  to  the  increased  appreciativeness  of  shade  and 
scenery.  It  takes  a  tree  a  long  while  to  grow.  After  it  is  full-grown  it 
is  a  valuable  piece  of  property.  It  cools  the  earth  in  its  vicinity,  it  aids 
in  keeping  the  atmosphere  pure,  it  attracts  the  birds  and  throws  a  faint 
suspicion  of  country  joys  about  the  bit  of  noisy  city  in  which  it  is  located. 
Leave  a  street  which  is  bare  of  trees  and  come  to  one  which  has  one  or 
two  stately  Elms  upon  it  and  note  how  sensible  is  the  change.  It  speaks 
well  for  the  general  advance  in  culture  among  the  people  that  this  move¬ 
ment  is  being  made,  and  it  should  increase  not  only  so  far  as  it  relates  to 
preserving  the  trees  already  planted,  but  in  urging  the  pluntina  of  more 
that  they  may  grow  and  add  their  benefits  to  the  next  generation.  It  is 
well  to  remind  our  young  people  that  shade  trees  should  have  greater 
respect  paid  to  them.” 
-  Peeventing  the  Goosebeeey  Mildew.— Mr.  C.  P.  Close 
says  : — For  ten  years  the  New  York  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 
has  advocated  potassium  sulphide  as  the  best  remedy  for  Gooseberry 
mildew.  In  the  season  of  1897,  potassium  sulphide,  Bordeaux  mixture, 
lysol,  and  formalin  were  tested  side  by  side.  The  plantation  was  divided 
into  six  sections.  In  two  of  these  the  spraying  was  begun  very  early,  just 
as  buds  were  breaking ;  in  two  others  eleven  days  later  ;  and  in  the 
remaining  two  sections  twelve  days  after  the  preceding  two  sections.  The 
first  mildew  appeared  May  26th.  By  June  7th  portions  of  the  plantation 
were  badly  mildewed.  At  this  date  the  lysol  and  formalin  seemed  to  have 
done  no  good.  Bordeaux  mixture  was  more  effective,  but  not  so  good  as 
potassium  sulphide  where  the  treatments  were  begun  very  early  and 
medium  early.  All  of  the  fruit  was  picked  July  6th  and  7th,  so  as  to 
market  it  green.  Bushes  sprayed  very  early  with  potassium  sulphide  at 
the  rate  of  1  oz.  to  3  gallons  of  water  gave  only  5  per  cent,  of  mildewed 
fruit  ;  those  sprayed  very  early  with  it  &t  the  rate  of  1  oz.  to  2  gallons  of 
water  gave  6‘6  per  cent.  Bushes  sprayed  very  early  with  lysol,  1  oz.  to 
1  gallon  of  water,  gave  24’5  per  cent.,  and  those  sprayed  very  early  with 
Bordeaux  mixture  gave  37'4  per  cent,  of  mildewed  fruit,  while  the 
untreated  bushes  gave  57-7  per  cent,  to  78'7  per  cent.  The  foliage  was 
not  injured  by  any  of  the  fungicides.  At  18  cents  per  pound  for  potassium 
sulphide,  the  cost  of  the  solution  which  gave  the  best  results  is  about 
one-fifth  of  one  cent  per  bush  for  the  seven  sprayings.  The  station 
recommends  potassium  sulphide,  1  oz.  to  3  gallons,  or  1  oz.  to  2  gallons  of 
water,  as  the  most  effective  fungicide  for  Gooseberry  mildew.  As  a  rule, 
only  the  English  varieties  and  their  seedlings  are  attached  by  mildew 
although  the  American  varieties  are  not  always  exempt. 
