October  1H,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Recent  Weather  in  London. — A  suspicion  of  autumn  is  now 
with  us,  and  is  shown  in  cold  nights  and  raw  foggy  mornings.  Autumn 
tints  are  now  becoming  singularly  beautiful.  Occasional  frosts  have  come, 
but  have  not  yet  been  very  severe.  No  rain  has  fallen  in  the  Metropolis 
during  the  past  few  days. 
-  Crystal  Palace  Pruit  Show.— This  year  being  the  first 
in  which  I  have  been  able  to  visit  the  Crystal  Palace  Fruit  Show,  I 
was  immensely  pleased  with  the  grand  display  there,  and  proud  to 
point  out  to  a  foreign  friend  who  accompanied  me,  the  excellence  of 
the  produce  of  England.  It  struck  me,  however,  that  it  would  be  a 
marked  improvement,  and  one  not  difficult  to  carry  out,  if  the  tables  at 
the  sides  on  which  the  classes  of  small  exhibits  were  placed  were  covered 
with  white  paper  or  cloths,  as  that  would  show  up  the  plates  of  fruit 
more  effectually  than  the  present  somewhat  inartistic  ground  of  scratched 
and  not  overclean  grey  paint. — C.  S.  II. 
-  Grades  at  Shrewsbury. — In  reference  to  the  great  Grape 
class  at  Shrewsbury,  I  have  much  pleusuro  in  replying  to  the  remarks  of 
Mr.  Crump,  page  2(57.  Taking  his  last  paragraph  first,  I  cannot  now 
adhere  to  the  statement,  “  nor  were  they  admissible  according  to  the 
schedule.”  I  also  would  have  acted  in  exactly  the  same  manner  as  Mr. 
Crump  and  his  colleagues  did  in  the  matter  of  disqualification.  The 
courso  they  adopted  gave  general  satisfaction.  No  doubt  the  compiler  of 
the  olause  referred  to  intended  to  insert  the  familiar  words  “  Muscat  of 
Alexandria.”  I  am  convinced  that  Judges  aro  standing  on  safe  ground 
when  they  carry  out  the  schedule  as  there  stated,  although  many  times 
thoy  come  across  errors  in  wording.  A  disqualification  in  the  present 
instance  could  only  mean  a  rightful  protest  on  the  part  of  the  exhibitor 
so  treated.  However,  this  friendly  controversy  will  have  done  much 
good,  as  no  doubt  the  Shrewsbury  Committee  will  remodel  the  clause, 
and  insert  the  “missing  link.” — E.  MOLYNEUX. 
-  Death  of  Dr.  Alexander  Wallace. — We  learn  from  the 
“Times”  that  Ur.  Alexander  Wallace,  M.A.  Oxon.,  M.I).,  and  M.lt.C.l*., 
who  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  study  of  botany  and  entomology, 
died  on  Sunday,  Oct.  1st,  at  his  residence  in  St.  John's  Terrace,  Colchester, 
aged  seventy,  lie  received  his  professional  training  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital  and  at  Oxford,  when  ho  took  the  M.B,  and  A.M.  degree  in  1858, 
having  been  elected  a  member  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians,  London, 
the  preceding  year,  and  in  18(51  proceeded  to  the  M.I).  degree.  Ho  was 
for  a  time  physician  to  the  Metropolitan  Ereo  Hospital  and  the  St.  Pancras 
and  Northern  Dispensary,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Entomological 
Society  of  London,  acting  physician  to  the  Essex  and  Colchester  Hospital, 
and  a  member  of  some  of  the  learned  societies.  In  addition  to  many  con¬ 
tributions  on  professional  subjects  to  the  St.  Bartholomew  Hospital 
Reports  and  to  the  professional  journals,  Dr.  Wullueo  was  author  of 
“  Notes  on  Lilies  and  their  Culturo,”  which  has  passed  through  two 
editions;  “  Ailanthiculture,  or  tho  Prospect  of  a  Now  English  Industry,” 
and  of  “  On  the  Oak-feeding  Silkworm  from  Japan,”  prize  essays  of  tho 
Entomological  Society  of  London  in  1865-15. 
- Birmingham  Gardeners’  Association. — The  initial  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  autumn  session  was  recently  held  at  the  Athletic  Institute 
with  a  goodly  attendance  of  tho  members,  in  the  expectation  of  listening 
to  a  lecture  on  the  Rose  by  tho  Rev.  J.  A.  Williams  of  Bedford,  but 
woro  doomed  to  disappointment,  owing  to  his  inability  to  attend.  The 
gap,  howevor,  was  admirably  filled  by  the  exhibition  of  othor  plants, 
such  as  Dahlias,  Michaelmas  Daisies,  and  tender  and  hardy  cut  Mowers 
by  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham  (the  Chairman)  from  tho  Botanical  Gardens, 
Edgbaston,  including  also  a  vuriety  of  hardy  poisonons-bei  ried  examples. 
Interesting,  also,  was  a  spadix  of  tho  Gunnera  scalira,  its  singular 
elongated  spiked  inflorescence  being  laden  with  almost  innumerable  small 
coral-like  fruits,  somewhat  resembling  those  of  tho  Nortora  dopresBa, 
brought  by  Mr.  C.  R.  Bull,  gardener  to  Walter  Chamberlain,  Esq., 
Ilarborne  Hall,  Hurborne.  Messrs.  John  Dope  &  Sons  exhibited  a  fine 
stand  of  tho  leading  Cactus  Dahlias,  for  which  a  certificate  of  merit 
was  unanimously  accorded.  Brizes  were  offered  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Child, 
F.R.H.S.,  Acoolts  Green,  for  collections  of  Michaelmas  Daisies,  and  Mr. 
W.  Hirons  ol  Moseley  was  awarded  tho  first  prize  for  twelve  varieties  in 
bunches,  being  the  only  exhibit  staged. 
an 
-  Gardening  Appointments. — Mr.  Deter  Harper,  lato  head 
gardener  to  Lady  McAndrew,  Aisthorpe,  Inverness,  and  previously  at 
Westerlie,  St.  Andrews,  has  been  appointed  to  a  similar  position  to 
Malcolm  Ingli9,  Esq.,  Montrose,  Donnybrook,  co.  Dublin,  as  the  successor 
of  Mr.  Robert  Milne,  who  takes  charge  of  the  gardens  of  Sir  John  Dillon, 
Bart.,  Lismullen,  Navar,  co.  Meath. 
-  Heavy  Vegetable  Marrows.— A  correspondent,  on  page  291, 
October  5th,  asks  for  information  respecting  the  weight  of  tho  heaviest 
Vegetable  Marrow.  1  onelose  the  following  extract  from  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture ,  October  14th,  1897  Three  large  well  ripened  Marrows 
were  last  week  cut  from  one  plant,  weighing  respectively  41  lbs.,  28  lbs., 
und  16  lbs.,  or  an  nggregato  weight  of  85  lbs.,  besidos  several  younger  and 
edible  fruits  being  supported  from  the  same  source.  The  variety  was 
Long  Green,  and  grown  by  Mr.  Geo.  Maxey,  gardener  at  Tho  Toft, 
Sharnbrook,  Beds.”— Nil  DESPERANDUM. 
-  SOPHORA  JAPONICA. — This  is  a  noble  hardy  (loworing  tree 
that  blooms  profusely  in  large  clusters  of  small  white  flowers  in  Sep¬ 
tember.  I  saw  a  very  old  and  huge  stommod  treo  of  it  recently  at 
Ilighclero  Castle,  whero,  amidst  other  fine  trees,  and  rising  from  out  of 
dense  Rhododendrons,  it  was  a  very  conspicuous  object.  Thon  so  recently 
as  the  19th  ult.  I  was  taken  to  see  a  noble  place,  ono  of  tho  finest  of 
its  kind  in  South  Hants,  though  now  in  a  semi-ruinous  condition,  North 
Stoneham  House  and  park,  and  thore  on  tho  edgo  of  the  lawn  (routing 
the  mansion  was  another  splendid  troe,  literally  a  mass  of  bloom.  When 
flowering  trees  are  planted,  and  wo  see  them  far  too  thinly  omployod, 
this  beautiful  Sophora  should  bo  employed,  as  it  blooms  so  late,  and  is, 
therefore,  specially  attractive. — A.  KINGSTON. 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’ Society. — A  mooting  of  tho  above  Society 
was  held  on  October  3rd,  Mr.  Mason  of  Hessle  presiding  over  a  good 
attendance  of  members,  Mr.  Donogliue  of  Trtuiby  Croft  Gardens  read  a 
paper  on  winter-flowering  plants,  Begonia  Gloire  do  Lorraine,  Bouvardias, 
und  Euphorbia  jacquinirofiora.  The  paper  proved  most  interesting  and 
instructive.  The  essayist,  after  referring  to  the  decorative  merits  of  tho 
plants,  spoko  highly  of  tho  Begonia,  and  gave  details  of  culture  under 
which  it  has  boon  grown  so  successfully  at  Trunby.  After  dealing 
with  the  culture  of  Bouvardia  and  Euphorbia,  a  few  remarks  were  added 
on  potting  and  watering.  Where  good  plant  culturo  is  desired,  suid  tho 
essayist,  it  is  essential  that  not  even  the  smallest  detail  of  culturo 
should  ho  neglected,  or  good  results  cannot  be  expected.  A  discussion 
followed,  after  which  cordial  votes  of  thanks  were  accorded  the  essayist 
und  chairman. — J.  F.  D.,  Yorks. 
_ !_  Cucumber  Royal  Osborne. — When  recently  visiting  the 
Royal  Gardens  at  Osborne,  Mr.  Geo.  Nobbs,  the  head  gardener,  called  my 
attention  to  a  splendid  crop  of  his  now  seedling  Cucumber  Royal  Osborne, 
which  was  sent  out  this  season  by  Messrs.  J.  Carter  &  Co.  of  High  Holborn. 
It  was  a  sight  worth  travelling  miles  to  see.  The  plants  occupied  it  span 
houao  40  feet  by  15  feet,  planted  on  shallow  ridges  of  soil,  and  were 
carrying  a  wonderful  crop  of  handsomo  fruits  in  all  stages.  I  here  wore 
about  120  fine  specimens  for  seed,  and  what  surprised  mo  was  that 
notwithstanding  tho  large  fruits  containing  seed,  there  were  dozens  quite 
up  to  exhibition  quality,  and  the  plants  were  furnished  with  largo  deep 
green  foliage  throughout.  This  variety  appears  to  have  a  good  constitu¬ 
tion,  and  sets  its  fruit  with  remarkable  freedom.  Tho  largest  fruits 
averaged  22  inches  without  any  neck,  and  woro  well  proportioned,  of  a 
deop  olive  green,  und  of  tho  finest  flavour.  Having  grown  this  variety 
myself  this  season,  1  am  well  satisfied  that  wherever  tried  it  will  give 
satisfaction  as  a  good  all-round  Cucumber,  and  will  prove  itself  worthy 
of  tho  name  it  bears. — J.  B. 
_  ClSSUS  discolor. — This  is  a  usefiiEand  beautiful  old, climbing 
plant,  very  effective  in  certain  positions.  In  tho  leading  group  of  plants 
ut  Shrewsbury  it  was  used  with  good  effect  in  tho  centro  font  like 
arrangement,  and  it  is  also  very  much  used  for  table  and  house  dtoora- 
tion.  To  grow  it  well  C.  discolor  likes  a  fairly  light  position  in  a  warm 
moist  house,  not  too  much  root  room,  and  feeding  with  chemical  manure 
after  tho  compost  is  full  of  roots  rather  than  making  the  compost  rich  ut. 
the  time  the  plunt  is  potted.  C.  discolor  is  too  well  known  to  need 
describing,  and  as  far  as  tho  colours  of  the  loavos  are  concerned,  this  would 
bo  rather  a  difficult  matter.  In  largo  old  houses  tho  branches  cut  and 
drooping  about  in  various  [floral  arrangements  aro  excellent,  while  tho 
young  fresh  points  aro  very  fino  for  filling  vases  or  laying  on  tho  cloth. 
There  aro  many  ways  of  propagating  it,  one  of  the  bust  being  to  take  oil 
young  points  when  tho  plant  is  beginning  to  grow  in  spring,  or  in  winter 
tho  older — sometimes  leafless — shoots  may  be  readily  rooted  over  bottom 
heat,  potted  singly,  and  planted  in  their  permanent  position  when  wol 
rooted, — G.  II. 
