JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
9-, 9 
September  10,  189S. 
Events  oe  the  Week. — The  only  event  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
London  during  the  coming  week  is  the  Bunyard  Centenary  Show  to  be 
held  in  the  Corn  Exchange,  Maidstone,  on  Tuesday  next.  Doabtless 
there  are  several  other  fixtures  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 
-  Weather  in  London. — A  considerable  quantity  of  rain  has 
fallen  in  the  metropolis  during  the  past  week  ;  indeed ,  with  the  exception 
of  last  Thursday,  we  have  not  had  one  dry  day.  Heavy  showers  have 
fallen  on  each  day,  and  the  intervals  have  been  very  cloudy.  On 
Tuesday  there  was  little  rain  until  the  evening,  when  it  fell  in  torrents 
for  a  short  time.  After  a  thunderstorm  on  Tuesday  night  Wednesday 
opened  bright,  fresh,  and  warm,  but  rain  fell  heavily  in  the  afternoon, 
-  Gardeners’  Eoyal  Benevolent  Institution.— We  are 
glad  to  learn  that  the  kindness  of  Sir  Greville  Smyth,  Bart.,  and 
Mr.  Francis  Tagart,  who  threw  open  to  the  public  their  respective 
gardens  and  grounds  at  Ashton  Court  and  Old  Sneed  Park  a  few  days 
ago,  has  resulted  in  the  substantial  addition  of  £20  to  the  funds  of  the 
Bristol  and  Bath  Auxiliary  of  the  Gardeners’  Koyal  Benevolent  Institu¬ 
tion.  The  Institution,  which  was  founded  as  long  ago  as  1838,  is 
intended  to  relieve  aged  and  infirm  gardeners  and  their  widows.  It 
grants  substantial  pensions  to  such  persons.  The  local  auxiliary  was 
formed  as  recently  as  1803  in  order  to  promote  a  knowledge  of  the 
Institution’s  work  in  this  district,  and  depends  largely  upon  cjllections 
and  subscriptions  for  funds.  The  collections  at  the  various  flower  shows 
this  year  have  been  fairly  successful,  but  the  number  of  pensions  granted 
by  the  Institution  is  such  that  the  coffers  are  never  very  full,  or  even  as 
full  as  might  be  wished. 
-  A  Poisonous  Orchid. — A  comparatively  common  Orchid,  the 
Cypripedium  spectabile,  one  of  the  oldest  of  cultivated  species,  has  been 
discovered  by  Mr.  D.  E.  MacDougal,  according  to  the  “  Revue  Scien- 
tifique,”  to  possess  decided  poisonous  properties.  “  These  properties,” 
says  the  ”  Revue,”  ”  are  localised  in  the  leaves  and  stems  ;  they  manifest 
themselves  by  a  special  cutaneous  irritation  in  those  who  are  so 
imprudent  as  to  handle  the  Orchid  in  question.  This  irritation  recalls 
that  which  appears  in  persons  who  have  handled  Rhus  (Poison  Ivy) 
The  substance  that  causes  the  effects  consists  of  an  oily  matter  secreted 
by  the  glandular  hairs.  This  matter  is  found,  as  in  the  Chinese  Primrose, 
deposited  between  the  cellular  wall  and  the  caticleof  the  terminal  cellule 
of  the  hair  ;  it  is  set  free  by  the  rupture  of  the  cuticle.  This  poisonous 
substance  seems  to  perform  the  function  of  protecting  the  reproductive 
portion  of  the  plant,  for  the  virulence  of  the  poison  and  the  quantity 
secreted  increase  as  the  plant  develops,  and  attains  a  maximum  during 
the  formation  of  the  seeds.” 
-  SociicTE  Francaise  d’Horticultuke  de  Londres.— After 
* 
the  ordinary  monthly  meeting  of  this  Society  on  Saturday  last  a  special 
meeting  of  the  members  present  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  offering  to 
the  President,  Mr.  George  Schneider,  a  testimonial  for  his  valuable 
services  to  the  Society,  and  as  a  mark  of  approval  on  the  occasion  of  his 
nomination  as  Chevalier  of  the  Mdrite  Agricole.  Mr.  C.  Harman  Payne 
was  in  the  chair,  and  supported  by  a  large  attendance  of  members.  In 
the  course  of  his  remarks  the  Chairman  said  he  had  no  need  to  remind 
the  company  present  of  the  very  flattering  reception  that  had  been 
accorded  to  their  devoted  President  on  the  occasion  of  his  recent  visit 
to  Paris.  The  members  of  the  Society  resident  in  this  country  were 
also  desirous  of  showing  their  appreciation  of  Mr.  Schneider’s  interest 
in  their  welfare,  and  of  recording  their  high  sense  of  the  able  way  in 
which  he  had  conducted  the  Society  since  its  foundation  in  1889  up 
to  the  present  time.  He  felt  he  could  not  on  that  occasion  do  full 
justice  to  all  of  Mr.  Schneider’s  excellent  qualities,  and  expressed  his 
pleasure  that  the  Committee  had  chosen  him  to  make  the  presentation. 
After  some  few  more  remarks  the  Chairman  handed  to  Mr.  Schneider 
for  Lis  acceptance  a  finely  painted  china  dessert  service,  each  piece  of 
which  bore  an  inscription  to  the  effect  that  it  was  presented  by  the 
Society  to  its  President.  Mr.  Schneider,  to  whom  the  proceedings  came 
as  a  sur'prise,  expressed  hia  grateful  thanks  for  the  kindness  of  his  young 
friends  who  had  organised  such  an  unexpected  pleasure  for  him.  The 
remainder  of  the  evening  was  passed  in  a  convivial  manner,  songs  and 
recitations  being  freely  and  excellently  rendered. 
-  Twenty-one  Years’  Service.  — Mrs.  Picton-Turberville  of 
Hendrefoilan,  near  Swansea,  and  late  of  Ewenny  Priory,  has  presented 
her  head  gardener,  Mr,  George  Hawkins,  with  a  valuable  gold  watch  in 
recognition  of  the  completion  of  twenty-one  years’  service. 
-  Sussex  Weather. — The  total  rainfall  at  Abbots  Leigh, 
Haywards  Heath,  Sussex,  for  August  was  1'53  inch,  being  0  77  below 
the  average.  The  heaviest  fall  was  0'45  inch  on  the  21st.  Rain  fell  on 
thirteen  days.  The  maximum  temperature  was  76°  on  the  12th,  the 
minimum  43°  on  the  16th  and  27th.  Mean  maximum,  69  23°;  mean 
minimum,  49’07°.  Minimum  temperature  59  15°,  which  is  0’95°  below 
the  average. — R.  I. 
- August  Weather  at  Driffield.  —  Mean  temperature  at 
9  A.M.  (corrected)  59  5°.  Wet  bulb  54  8°.  Mean  maximum  64  96°,  mean 
minimum  48  20°;  highest  72  0°  on  the  12th,  lowest  39  1°  on  the  17th. 
Mean  of  maxima  and  minima,  56  58°.  Mean  radiation  temperature  on 
grass,  4211°;  lowest,  31‘8°,  Rainfall,  1T2  inch;  number  of  rainy 
days,  fifteen  ;  greatest  amount  on  one  day,  0  25  inch  on  the  23rd. — 
W.  E.  Lovel,  Ol^erver,  York  Road,  Rri^eld, 
-  Marriage  of  Mr.  Jas.  Kblway. — The  marriage  of  Mr.  Jae.. 
Kelway,  aon  of  Mr.  William  Kelway  of  the  firm  of  Kelway  &  Son,  to 
Miss  Ella  Christine  Stubbs,  only  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Stubbs, 
Vicar  of  Huish  Episcopi,  Somerset,  was  solemnised  at  St.  Mary’s  Church, 
Huish,  on  the  3rd  inst.  The  ofliciating  clergyman  was  the  Rev.  F.  E. 
Brightman,  M.A.,  of  the  Pusey  House,  Oxford,  assisted  by  the  Rev.  E.  Mt 
Lance,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Pill,  Somerset.  The  service  was  fully  choral,  and 
the  aisle. was  lined  by  a  guard  of  honour  of  the  H  Company,  2nd  V.B., 
in  which  the  bridegroom  is  a  lieutenant.  After  the  ceremony  the 
guests  to  the  number  of  nearly  a  hundred  were  entertained  at  a 
reception  held  at  the  Vicarage.  At  3.30  the  happy  pair  left  for  London, 
en  route  for  Scotland,  where  the  first  part  of  the  honeymoon  will  be 
spent.  On  the  10th  of  September  they  will  start  from  Southampton  for 
a  tour  round  the  world.  The  whole  village  was  en  ffite,  triumphal  arches 
being  erected  at  points  of  advantage  along  the  route  taken  by  the  bride 
and  bridegroom. 
-  Wakefield  Paxton  Society. — Programme  of  meetings  for 
the  third  quarter — Session  1896. — September  12bh,  the  Dahlia  exhibi¬ 
tion.  Essay  by  Mr.  G.  Hudson,  Woolley.  September  19tb,  exhibition  of 
autumn  leaves  and  fruits.  September  26th,  “  A  Cruise  to  the  North 
Cape,”  the  Mayor  of  Wakefield  (Mr.  W.  H.  Milnes),  illustrated  by 
lantern  slides.  October  3rd,  “  The  Eucharis,”  Mr.  T.  Pitts.  October  10th,. 
”  The  Peach,”  Mr.  C.  Russell,  Clayton  West.  October  17th,  “A  Week  in 
Paris,”  illustrated  by  lantern  slides,  Mr.  H.  S.  Goodyear.  October  24th, 
”  The  Apple,”  Mr.  W.  Hudson,  October  31  st.  Exhibition  of  Potatoes. 
Essay  by  Mr.  L.  Dobinson.  November  7th  (Subject  to  be  announced), 
Mr.  J.  Clark,  M.A.,  Ph.D.,  Yorkshire  College.  November  14th,  the 
Chrysanthemum  exhibition.  November  2l8t,  “  Along  the  Roman  Wall,” 
illustrated  by  lantern  slides,  Mr.  W.  Webster.  November  28th,  “Ever¬ 
green  Shrubs  Suitable  for  Town  Cultivation,”  Mr.  E.  Skinner,  Silcotes* 
— G.  W.  Fallas,  T.  H.  Mountain,  Bon.  Secs. 
-  Pretty  Group  Plants. —  Very  recently  I  was  asked  to  men¬ 
tion  any  plants  easily  raised  from  seed  that  were  specially  suitable  for 
plant  group  decoration.  I  observed  the  other  day  in  Messrs.  Sutton  and 
Sons’  nursery  at  Reading  Amaianthus  salicifolius,  a  very  perfect  and  most 
beautiful  strain  of  plants  about  24  inches  in  height,  foliage  long,  narrow, 
elegantly  drooping,  and  of  rich  though  varied  colours.  This  should 
make  a  singularly  beautiful  pot  plant  or  foi  putting  out  into  flower  beds 
or  dense  carpets.  Then  biilliantly  coloured  orange  and  red  was  Amaran- 
thus  tricolor  spiendens.  This  has  long  but  broader  leafage,  that  is  most 
richly  marked,  and  forms  a  singularly  elegant  plant.  One  other,  and 
here  full  of  grace  and  beauty  in  plants  20  inches  in  height,  having  single 
stout  stems,  was  Cosmos  bipinnata.  This  has  beautifully  and  very  finely 
cut  drooping  leafage.  Each  plant  is,  as  seen  at  Reading,  as  perfect  in 
form  as  could  well  be  conceived,  and  could  hardly  be  excelled  for  light-- 
ness  and  elegance.  The  foliage  is  green.  All  these  things  were  raised 
from  seed,  sown  under  glass  early  in  the  spring,  and  they  were  planted 
out  into  the  open  ground  in  June.  That  fact  shows  their  adaptability  for 
bedding.  The  stock  here  seems  to  be  sturdier  than  is  that  of  the  common 
Cosmos.  Double  Balsams,  too,  often  grown  in  pots  like  scraggy  scare¬ 
crows,  are  here  planted  out ;  superb  bushes,  and  if  placed  more  thinly  on 
carpets,  would  during  the  summer  have  a  fine  effect.  The  strain,  which 
includes  many  colours  and  grand  double  flowers,  the  plants  dense  and 
blooming  profusely,  is  indeed  a  fine  one.  Why  cannot  as  good  plants  be 
seen  in  pots  and  under  glass  as  are  here  growing  so  finely  outdoors  f 
—A.  D. 
