52 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
-  George  Washington’s  Cycas.— At  a  recent  sale  in  New 
York,  says  a  contemporary,  a  plant  of  Cycas  revoluta,  said  to  have 
belonged  to  George  Washington,  was  sold  for  340  dols. 
-  French  Horticulture. — The  great  show  of  the  National 
Horticultural  Society  of  France  will  be  held  in  Paris,  in  the  garden  of 
the  Tuileries,  from  May  20th  to  May  25th.  As  the  show  opens  one  day 
later  than  the  opening  of  the  Temple  show,  it  will  be  possible  to  visit 
both  exhibitions  in  the  same  week. 
-  European  Chestnuts  in  America.  —  An  American  con¬ 
temporary  says,  “  Several  varieties  of  the  European  Chestnut  have 
come  into  cultivation  in  this  country  during  the  past  few  years,  among 
them  the  Numbo,  which  is  sometimes  said  to  be  an  offspring  of  our 
native  Chestnut  and  sometimes  of  the  Japanese  species,  but  it  is  really 
European.  The  burs  are  usually  single,  and  this  is,  perhaps,  one  reason 
why  the  Nuts  are  so  large,  The  Numbo  will  weigh  two  or  three  times 
as  much  as  the  so-called  Spanish  Chestnuts,  and  it  is,  therefore,  more 
popular.  The  Paragon  will  average  about  twice  as  large  as  our  ordinary 
wild  Chestnut,  and  it  is  a  most  promising  variety.” 
- Asparagus  in  Berry. — The  exceeding  scarcity  of  Holly 
berries  this  year  has  drawn  keen  attention  to  the  provision  of  substitutes. 
Till  within  the  past  few  days  I  had  no  conception  of  the  very  useful 
part  that  berried  growths  of  Asparagus  could  play  at  Christmas.  When 
the  vegetable  exhibition  was  held  at  Chiswick  on  September  10th,  one 
exhibitor  employed  a  quantity  of  berried  Asparagus  growths  to  decorate 
his  collection.  A  good  handful  was  given  to  a  friend  living  close  by 
who  set  these  growths  up  in  vases  just  as  they  were  without  water.  So 
recently  as  Boxing  Day  I  saw  these  growths  that  had  been  from  that  time, 
fully  three  and  a  half  months,  kept  in  an  occasionally  used  living  room, 
and  they  were  singularly  fresh,  not  a  berry  having  fallen  or  shrivelled,  and 
the  foliage  only  partially  fallen,  but  what  was  left  was  still  green. 
These  sprays  of  berries,  intermixed  with  a  few  evergreen  sprays  and 
white  Chrysanthemums,  were  really  charming.  I  was  much  surprised 
to  find  how  remarkably  well  the  Asparagus  had  kept.  No  doubt  it  was 
largely  due  to  having  been  gathered  when  just;  mature,  and  also  to  so 
far  having  been  kept  in  a  fairly  cool  room,  and  without  water.  It  is 
a  fair  question  to  ask  whether  anyone  has  tested  the  keeping  powers 
of  Asparagus  in  this  way  generally  for  both  private  use  and  market 
sale.  If  so  generally  satisfactory,  would  it  not  pay  to  cut  the  growths 
that  are  in  berry  just  at  the  right  time,  and  store  them  in  a  cool  place 
for  use  at  Christmas  ?  When  set  up  in  rooms  it  is  but  needful  to  give 
the  growths  a  gentle  shake  once  a  week  to  keep  them  clean. — A.  D. 
-  Societe  Franqaise  d’Horticulture  de  Londres.— The 
seventh  anniversary  of  this  Society  was  celebrated  on  Saturday  last 
by  the  annual  dinner,  at  which  Mr.  Harman  Payne  presided,  being 
supported  by  several  English  horticulturists.  After  the  dinner  was  over 
Mr.  George  Schneider  introduced  the  Chairman  to  the  company  present, 
gracefully  pointing  out  the  services  he  had  rendered  to  French  horti¬ 
culture  by  reason  of  his  position  as  Foreign  Secretary  to  the  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society  and  in  other  ways.  In  reply  the  Chairman 
acknowledged  the  remarks  which  Mr.  Schneider  had  made,  and  pointed 
out  that  the  French  Horticultural  Society  was  making  great  progress 
both  numerically  and  financially.  In  1890  there  were  only  eighty-nine 
members,  while  this  year  they  could  count  as  many  as  222,  all  of  whom 
were  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  Society.  There  was  also 
cause  for  congratulation  in  the  state  of  their  finances.  Mr.  Payne  then 
made  a  few  remarks  on  the  subject  of  the  Chrysanthemum,  and  the 
manner  in  which  the  flower  had  been  dealt  with  by  the  French  raisers 
the  competition  they  had  had  to  sustain,  and  the  way  in  which  they  had 
proved  themselves  to  be  capable  of  maintaining  their  reputation. 
Allusion  was  also  made  to  the  founding  of  the  new  French  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society,  and  the  hope  was  expressed  that  it  might  do 
useful  work.  A  tribute  was  paid  to  Mr.  G.  Schneider  for  the  persever¬ 
ance  and  energy  with  which  he  has  continued  to  labour  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Society.  The  Secretary  also  testified  to  the  valuable  services  as 
President  which  Mr.  Schneider  had  rendered,  and  that  gentleman 
suitably  replied.  Mr.  Cutbush  replied  on  behalf  of  the  visitors,  and  the 
gathering,  which  was  an  unusually  bright  and  cheerful  one,  was 
enlivened  with  songs  by  the  members.  It  might  be  useful  to  mention 
that  the  Society  seeks  to  find  situations  in  England  and  France  for 
young  gardeners  of  either  nationality,  and  is  thus  doing  a  good  work  in 
promoting  good  feeling  between  all  persons  engaged  in  horticulture. 
Membership  is  confined  to  those  whose  mother  tongue  is  French,  such 
as  Belgians  and  Swiss,  The  Society  also  possesses  an  excellent  horti¬ 
cultural  library  for  the  use  of  its  members. 
January  16,  1896. 
-  Imports  of  Oranges. — Seville  Oranges  are  being  imported  in 
large  quantities  into  Manchester,  and  a  brisk  demand  for  these  fruits 
for  preserving  is  expected.  During  the  present  and  following  months 
many  shiploads  of  bitter  Oranges  will  leave  Seville  for  Manchester  ; 
even  at  the  present  time  these  Oranges  are  cheaper  at  Manchester  than 
on  any  previous  occasion. 
-  Meyenia  erecta  alba. — This  species  forms  dwarf,  bushy 
specimens,  and  bears  almost  continually  flowers  of  a  deep  violet-blue. 
The  variety  alba  is  as  yet  a  rare  plant,  with  almost  pure  white  flowers, 
but  they  have  a  faint  tint  of  purple  in  the  tube,  and  the  throat  is  a  rich 
orange.  In  size  and  shape  they  do  not  differ  from  those  of  the  species. 
On  account  of  the  colour  this  beautiful  variety  is  even  more  valuable 
and  effective  than  the  parent  form,  and  will  prove  an  interesting  addi¬ 
tion  to  the  list  of  plants  for  conservatory  and  house  culture.  The 
Meyenia  begins  flowering  while  quite  small,  almost  as  soon  as  the 
cuttings  are  well  rooted  and  established  in  pots.  —  (“  Garden  and 
Forest.”) 
-  Summary  of  Weather  Observations  for  the  Year  1895. 
— The  year  was  chiefly  remarkable  for  the  very  severe  frost  in  February 
and  the  dry  periods  in  May  and  September.  No  frost  occurred  while 
fruit  trees  were  in  flower,  and  the  crops  of  all  kinds  were  abundant. 
Tender  flowers  and  vegetables  were  killed  by  frost  on  October  the  17th. 
The  prevailing  direction  of  the  wind  was  W.  on  104  days.  Total 
rainfall,  23  08  inches,  which  fell  on  213  days,  the  greatest  daily  fall 
being  0  99  inch  on  January  the  20th,  Barometer,  highest  reading, 
30*380  at  1  P.M.  on  May  the  2nd  ;  lowest,  28*462  at  1  P.M.  on  March 
the  28th.  Thermometers,  highest  in  the  shade,  84°  on  May  the  30th 
and  June  the  26th  ;  lowest,  — 3°  on  February  the  8th.  Mean  of  daily 
maxima,  55*41°;  mean  of  daily  minima,  39*43°.  Mean  temperature  of 
the  year,  47*42°.  Lowest  on  the  grass,  — 8°  on  February  the  8th  ; 
highest  in  the  sun,  147°  on  June  the  22nd.  Mean  temperature  of  the 
earth  at  3  feet,  48*36°.  Total  sunshine,  1609  hours  45  minutes.  There 
were  sixty-four  sunless  days. — W.  H.  Divers,  Belvoir  Castle  Gardens , 
Grantham. 
-  Liverpool  Horticultural  Association.— On  Saturday 
evening  about  130  members  of  the  above  Association  met  under  the 
presidency  of  W.  Fletcher  Rogers,  Esq.,  at  the  Adelphi  Hotel,  Liverpool, 
to  celebrate  the  ninth  annual  dinner  and  social  evening.  The  tables 
looked  especially  pleasing  by  the  admirable  arrangement  of  flowering 
plants  and  cut  flowers  sent  for  the  occasion  by  friends.  After  the  repast 
Mr.  Rogers  gave  the  only  toast  on  the  programme — viz.,  “The  Queen 
and  Royal  Family,”  and  which  was  received  with  more  than  usual 
fervour.  Afterwards  the  company  enjoyed  a  capital  two  hours  musical 
programme,  Messrs.  Ker  &  Sons  with  their  usual  generosity  providing  in 
other  ways  for  the  comfort  of  all  present.  In  omitting  toasts,  which 
had  in  former  years  occupied  a  place  on  the  programme,  the  Committee 
thought  that  they  might  be  appropriately  brought  forward  at  the 
annual  meeting,  which  will  be  held  in  the  Free  Library  at  the  end  of 
January.  A3  a  member  of  the  Association  who  for  the  past  five  years 
has  tried  to  keep  all  matters  fully  up  to  date  in  the  Journal,  I  appeal 
to  all  members  having  the  welfare  of  the  Association  at  heart  to  be 
present,  for  there  are  certain  to  be  important  resolutions  brought 
forward  requiring  calm  and  careful  consideration. — R.  P.  R. 
-  Torquay  Gardeners’  Association. — At  the  annual  dinner 
of  this  Association,  on  the  8th  inst.,  Dr.  Hamilton  Ramsay  presided  over 
a  company  numbering  between  seventy  and  eighty.  The  vice-chair  was 
occupied  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Smale.  In  giving  the  toast  of  “  The  Association,” 
Mr.  Masterman  said  it  had  been  successfully  carried  on  for  four  years.  One 
proof  of  its  vitality  was  that  it  had  undertaken  the  organisation  of  public 
shows,  the  first  held  under  its  auspices  having  been  extremely  successful. 
Mr.  G.  Bedford,  Hon.  Sec.  to  the  local  Technical  Education  Com¬ 
mittee,  acknowledged  the  kindness  of  the  Association  in  permitting  the 
pupils  to  exhibit  at  its  show.  The  class  had  twenty-four  members 
between  whom  an  acre  and  a  quarter  of  land  was  divided,  the  idea 
being  to  teach  them  the  practical  management  of  a  working  man’s 
garden  or  allotment.  During  the  summer,  instruction  wa9  given  on  the 
ground,  and  in  the  winter  lectures  were  delivered  at  the  School  of  Art. 
Responding,  Mr.  F.  C.  Smale  read  a  letter  from  Major  Grahame,  a 
late  member  of  the  Association,  who  prophesied  that  in  a 
short  time — after  Scotland— Torquay  would  have  the  honour  of  pro¬ 
ducing  the  best  gardeners  in  the  world.  Mr.  Smale  went  on  to  say 
that  the  membership  had  been  fully  maintained,  and  the  Association 
compared  favourably  with  any  similar  organisation  in  the  county  or  in 
England. 
