March  19,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
255 
Weather  in  London. — While  the  weather  generally  has  been 
mild  during  the  past  week,  we  have,  at  times,  experienced  some 
very  cold  winds.  Rain  fell  at  intervals  until  Monday  morning,  when 
it  cleared,  and  the  weather  has  remained  mild  and  open  since.  On 
Wednesday,  however,  rain  again  fell  in  torrents. 
-  Weather  in  the  North. — The  11th  and  12th  inat.  were  two 
beautiful  days,  with  6°  frost  on  the  morning  of  each.  The  rest  of  the 
week  ending  the  17th  has  been  a  jumble  of  frost,  thaw,  snow,  sleet,  and 
rain,  with  high  westerly  winds  since  Sunday  afternoon,  which  was  fair 
but  cold.  Monday  and  Tuesday  were  both  windy  and  wet,  with  a  low 
barometer,  promising  little  improvement.— B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society.— The  next  fruit  and  floral 
meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday, 
March  24th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Westminster.  At  three 
o’clock  a  lecture  will  be  given  by  Mr.  W.  Iggulden  on  “  SaladiDgs.” 
-  The  National  Testimonial  to  Mr.  Barron. — We  are 
requested  to  state  that  the  General  Committee  which  was  formed  to 
promote  this  testimonial  will  meet  at  the  Hotel  Windsor,  Victoria 
Street,  S.W.,  on  Tuesday  next,  at  2.30  PM.,  to  make  arrangements  for 
the  presentation. 
-  Potatoes. —  Under  this  simple  but  comprehensive  title  Mr. 
Arthur  W.  Sutton,  F.L.S.,  has  published  in  manual  form  the  extremely 
interesting  lecture  that  he  gave  at  a  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  last  October.  The  work  is  beautifully  printed  and  instructively 
illustrated.  It  contains  an  admirable  record  of  facts  connected  with 
the  history  and  progress  of  the  invaluable  food  crop  to  which  Mr. 
Sutton  has  devoted  so  much  attention.  An  article  on  “  Potatoes, 
Ancient  and  Modern,”  that  appeared  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture , 
forms  a  preface  to  the  manual,  which  is  published  by  Messrs.  Simpkin, 
Marshall,  Hamilton,  Kent,  &  Co.  It  is  a  work  to  be  obtained  and 
preserved. 
-  Uriah  Pike  Carnations.— This  is  by  no  means  a  tree 
variety,  its  habit  being  that  of  the  border  type.  Last  spring  a  number 
of  plants  that  would  have  flowered  like  border  kinds  in  5  or  6-inch 
pots  had  the  spike  removed,  with  the  object  of  inducing  the  plants  to 
flower  in  the  autumn.  They  did  well,  being  kept  under  glass  the  whole 
of  the  season.  The  result  was  that  only  one  spike  was  produced.  The 
plants  are  growing  and  spindling  for  bloom  now.  They  are,  however, 
no  earlier  than  a  number  layered  early  outside,  establishel  in  3-inch 
pots,  and  then  placed  into  6-inch. — W.  Bardney. 
-  The  National  Viola  Society.  —  A  large  gathering  of 
enthusiasts  of  this  genus  of  charming  flowers  was  held  in  the  Guildhall 
Tavern,  B.C.,  on  Tuesday,  the  17th  inst.,  when  a  resolution,  passed  at  a 
recent  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  London  Pansy  and  Violet  Society, 
that  they  incorporate  themselves  under  the  broader  title  of  National 
Viola  Society,  was  unanimously  carried  into  effect.  The  officials  are  to 
be  : — Mr.  William  Robinson,  F.L.S  ,  President ;  Dr.  Shackleton,  Chair¬ 
man  of  the  Committee  ;  Mr.  H.  A.  Needs,  Hon.  Treasurer  ;  Mr.  Richard 
Dean,  Superintendent  of  Exhibitions  ;  Mr.  A.  J.  Rowberry,  Hon. 
Secretary  ;  and  a  strong  Committee  of  amateur  and  trade  growers. 
Under  the  title  of  Viola,  Tufted,  Show,  and  Fancy  Pansies,  as  well 
as  all  the  other  types  of  the  genus,  will  be  encouraged.  It  is 
proposed  to  hold  one  or  more  exhibitions,  with  a  Viola  Conference, 
during  the  forthcoming  summer  in  the  gardens  of  the  Royal  Botanic 
Society,  Regent’s  Park,  N.  W.,  the  Council  of  the  latter  Society  having 
kindly  offered  accommodation  for  the  same,  with  facilities  for  a  practical 
trial  of  plants  in  the  Society’s  gardens.  A  Floral  Committee  will  be 
appointed  to  sit  periodically  during  the  season  to  adjudicate  on  the 
merits  of  seedlings  or  sports  that  may  be  submitted  to  them,  with  a 
view  to  certificates  for  the  same  being  granted,  particulars  of  which, 
together  with  the  schedules  of  the  Society,  will  be  issued  at  an  early 
date.  The  Hon.  Secretary  (Mr.  A.  J.  Rowberry,  The  Crescent,  South 
Woodford)  will  receive  the  names  of  ladies  or  gentlemen  desirous  of 
joining  the  Society.  The  annual  subscription  is  5s.,  which  will  include 
all  entries  with  free  admission  to  the  exhibitions  and  conference. 
-  The  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — We  have  the 
pleasure  to  announce  that  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Bedford  has  kindly 
consented  to  take  the  chair  at  the  annual  festival  dinner  on  June  18th. 
-  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. — The  Right 
Hon.  the  Earl  cf  Lathom,  G.C.B.,  P.C.  (the  Lord  Chamberlain),  has 
kindly  consented  to  preside  at  the  fifty-seventh  anniversary  festival 
dinner  in  aid  of  the  funds  of  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institu¬ 
tion,  to  be  held  at  the  Hotel  Mfitropole  on  May  30th. 
-  Royal  Botanic  Society  of  London.— The  Secretary  of  this 
Society  writes  : — “  It  seems  not  to  be  generally  known  that  gardeners  of 
Fellows  of  the  Society  can  obtain  free  admission  to  any  of  the  Society’s 
shows  at  the  Gardens,  Regent’s  Park,  between  the  hours  of  six  and  ten 
in  the  morning,  before  the  judges  go  round,  by  an  application  from  the 
Fellow  or  Member  to  the  Secretary  at  the  Gardens,  when  passes  will  at 
once  be  forwarded.” 
-  Shirley  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association. 
— The  annual  general  meeting  was  held  at  the  Parish  Room,  Shirley, 
Southampton, on  the  16th  inst., the  President,  Mr.  W.  F.  G.  Spranger,  C.C., 
presiding  over  a  good  attendance.  The  report  showed  that  the  Society 
was  in  a  fair  position,  having  140  members  on  the  books  ;  and  that 
during  the  past  year  fifteen  lectures  had  been  given,  the  average 
attendance  being  flfty-two.  The  accounts  showed  a  balance  in  hand  of 
£1.  16s.,  but  there  was  still  a  few  subscriptions  owing,  which  might  be 
expected  to  increase  that  balance  somewhat.  The  election  of  officers 
resulted  in  the  re-election  of  the  retiring  members,  including  the 
President  and  Vice-Presidents. 
-  Apple  Ribston  Pippin  and  “  Canker.” — On  page  207  there 
is  a  reference  to  this  subject.  It  may  be  remembered  by  some  readers 
that  a  controversy  occurred  in  the  Journal  some  yearB  ago,  and  that 
I  made  some  experiments  with  this  Apple  on  my  insect  theory.  I  will 
only  say  that  to-day  my  tree,  which  I  grafted  and  afterwards  white¬ 
washed,  with  the  addition  of  soap  in  the  mixture,  is  as  free  from  canker 
and  as  healthy,  I  imagine,  as  any  tree  in  existence.  I  may  repeat  that  I 
completely  encased  both  stock  and  graft,  and  the  shoots  came  through 
the  whitewash.  As  this  is  the  season  for  grafting  some  may  be  induced 
to  try  the  experiments  and  report  results  at  some  distant  date.  My  tree 
has  stood  the  test  of  many  years. — J.  Hiam. 
-  Clematis  Davidiana. — I  imagine  this  dwarf  habited  species 
is  not  much  grown.  Certainly,  judging  from  the  number  of  people 
who  have  seen  it  flowering,  and  who,  one  and  all,  have  confessed  to 
knowing  nothing  about  it,  it  appears  to  be  quite  unknown.  This,  if  a 
general  fact,  ought  to  be  remedied.  The  plant  is  quite  hardy,  it 
possesses  foliage  of  much  beauty,  it  flowers  abundantly,  and  these  are 
so  distinct  and  sweet  that  while  it  attracted  everyone  nobody  has 
guessed  the  name  of  the  family  of  which  it  is  so  desirable  a  member. 
The  inflorescence  proceeds  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  The  flowers  are 
small,  somewhat  like  the  pips  of  the  Hyacinth  ;  in  colour  a  light  greyish 
blue,  very  sweetly  scented,  and  arranged  closely  together  in  small 
capitular  trusses.  The  plants  I  have  are  growing  on  a  rough  rockery, 
and  as  the  stems  droop  over  the  stones  this  position  appears  to  exactly 
suit  them.  After  the  foliage  falls  the  plants  are  pruned  to  strong  buds. 
Though  I  have  not  propagated  any  plants,  I  have  no  doubt  cuttings 
would  root  in  as  groat  a  proportion  as  in  the  case  of  C.  Jackmanni 
— Gardener. 
_  Horticultural  Club. — The  monthly  dinner  and  conversa¬ 
zione  took  place  on  Tuesday  evening  last  at  the  Hotel  Windsor.  The 
chair  was  occupied  by  Sir  J.  D.  T.  Llewelyn,  Bart.,  M.P.,  and  Thiselton 
Dyer,  Esq.,  was  the  special  guest  of  the  Club.  There  was  a  large 
attendance  of  members  and  friends,  including  Mr.  Alderman  Skewes- 
Cox,  M.P.,  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Messrs.  H.  J.  Veitch,  H.  Herbst,  James  II. 
Veitch,  E.  J.  Cockett,  H.  J.  Pearson,  C.  E.  Pearson,  A.  H.  Pearson.  George 
Paul,  George  Nicholson,  A.  F.  Barron,  George  Bunyard,  Harry  Turner, 
T.  F.  Rivers,  R.  Johnson,  and  the  Secretary.  The  health  of  Mr.  Dyer 
was  proposed  by  the  Chairman,  as  was  also  that  of  Mr.  Skewes-Cox  and 
the  other  visitors,  and  both  were  suitably  acknowledged.  Mr.  George 
Paul  then  read  an  able  and  interesting  paper  on  “  The  Resurrection  of 
the  Older  Sorts  of  Roses,”  which  gave  rise  to  a  lively  discussion  in 
which  many  interesting  facts  were  eliciled.  The  conversazione  was 
closed  by  a  few  remarks  from  the  Chairman,  who  thanked  Mr.  Harry 
Veitch  for  the  beautiful  flowers  with  which  the  table  was  decorated,  and 
Mr.  Rivers  for  sc  me  English-grown  Oranges.  The  dinner  altogether  was 
a  great  success.  We  hope  to  publish  Mr.  George  Paul  s  paper  in  a  future 
issue. 
