i,  me. 
JOCrkNAL  OP  hORTlGilLTtinE  APD  COTTAGE  GARDEN PE. 
5^1 
horticultural  exhibition.  In  the  first  place,  if  this  were  not  of 
E  distinctly  national  character  it  would  be  inadequate  for  celebrating 
an  essentially  national  event ;  and  next,  if  it  were  not  an  unquali¬ 
fied  success  in  London  it  would  be  something  more  than  an 
ordinary  failure,  and  far  more  humiliating  than  a  practically 
guaranteed  success  would  be  in  the  provinces.  Our  view  of  the 
matter  is  that  if  a  celebratory  exhibition  is  to  be  held  nothing  but 
the  greatest  and  most  widely  representative  display  that  the  nation 
can  produce  can  be  worthy  of  the  occcasion  ;  and  if  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  can  contribute  to  that  result  by  the  weight 
of  its  infiuence  and  active  recognition  of,  and  co-operation  in,  luch 
an  object  for  such  a  purpose,  it  could  do  nothing  more  worthy  of 
its  traditions  and  nothing  more  in  accordance  with  its  primary 
object  as  set  forth  in  its  charter — “The  improvement  of  horti¬ 
culture  in  all  its  branches,  useful  aa  well  as  ornamental,”  over  the 
widest  posaible  area. 
We  cannot  see  that  the  friendly  association  of  the  “Great 
Horticultural  Society  of  England  ”  with  the  greatest  provincial 
society  in  England  could  do  otherwise  than  add  to  the  magnitude, 
richness,  and  diversity  of  a  display  of  horticultural  products,  which 
would  in  all  probability,  having  regard  to  all  departments  of  the 
art  and  all  sections  of  cultivators,  be  greater,  in  a  broadly  repre¬ 
sentative  sense,  than  any  which  has  been  seen  in  the  kingdom 
since  Her  Majesty's  accession  to  the  throne  sixty  years  ago. 
Whatever  the  Society  can  and  may  do  in  London  it  would,  we 
cannot  help  thinking,  be  a  mistake  to  withhold  its  patronage  and 
hold  aloof  from  such  a  triumph  as  that  foreshadowed,  wherever  it 
might  be.  As  to  the  “shades  of  Paxton  and  other  giants  in 
horticulture  ”  of  past  days,  we  should  fear  no  disturbance  from 
them  in  the  assurance  that  as  practical  and  broad-minded  men 
in  their  generations,  they  would  if  still  with  us  give  their  strong 
approval  to  any  movement  having  for  its  object  the  best 
representation  of  national  horticulture  that  could  possibly  be  pro¬ 
duced  in  honour  of  an  event  unique  in  the  annals  of  history. 
CRATiEGUS  PYRACANTIIA. 
Berries  this  season  are  very  nuifaerous,  and  if  there  is  any 
truth  in  the  adage  that  their  presence  is  a  sure  sign  of  a  severe 
winter,  then  we  may  expect  something  quite  arctic  before  the 
spring.  Hollies  generally  are  well  clothed  with  berries,  and  even 
the  hedges  are  beautiful  in  their  covering  of  scarlet  “  hips,”  but 
the  palm  must  be  given  to  the  subject  of  this  note — the  Evergreen 
Thorn.  As  a  climber  for  furnishing  walls  and  bare  places  this 
Cratoegus  has  no  superior,  its  hardy  nature  rendering  it  suitable  for 
almost  all  soils  and  aspects.  It  never  looks  shabby  or  untidy,  and 
at  this  time  of  the  year,  when  generally  speaking  the  garden 
presents  a  somewhat  dreary  aspect,  its  rich  mantle  of  scarlet 
berries  forms  a  subject  of  general  admiration. 
Recently  I  passed  a  small  villa,  situated  by  the  roadside,  the 
front  of  which  was  entirely  covered  with  Cratasgus  pyraaantha. 
It  was  bearing  a  prolific  crop  of  berries,  and  the  effect,  assisted  by 
rays  of  November  sunshine,  was  particularly  bright  and  pleasing. 
The  whole  front  of  the  house  appeared  to  be  a  mass  of  scarlet, 
which  will  continue  for  some  time,  provided  the  birds  do  not  see 
fit  to  claim  the  fruit  as  an  article  of  food. 
For  covering  the  walls  of  mansions  the  Evergreen  Thorn  is 
well  adapted,  and  in  paying  a  visit  to  Ingestre  Hall,  the  seat  of 
the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury  and  Talbot,  a  few  years  ago,  this  was  one 
of  the  features  that  attracted  me  most.  Mr.  Gilman,  the  head 
^rdener,  had  taken  the  precaution  to  protect  the  berries  by  cover¬ 
ing  them  with  nets,  and  to  prevent  the  depredations  of  the  feathered 
tribe  this  is  a  good  plan,  though  at  the  same  time  it  hardly  seems 
fair  to  deprive  the  poor  birds  of  their  legitimate  food  in  the 
winter.  At  Ingestre  the  Pyracanthus  is  quite  at  home,  having 
grown  so  freely  that  a  large  portion  of  the  mansion  is  clothed  with 
it,  and  when  thickly  covered  with  berries  it  is  not  difficult  to 
imagine  the  effect.  Several  other  buildings,  including  the  gardener’s 
cottage,  are  similarly  clothed,  and  help  considerably  in  making  the 
garden  attractive  at  a  dull  time  of  year. 
One  is  rather  surprised  that  this  charming  and  accommodating 
tree  is  not  more  largely  grown.  It  may  be  that  sufficient  thought 
is  not  generally  given  to  the  berry-bearing  shrubs,  and  few  attempts 
are  ma  te  to  provide  for  beauty  in  November.  Why  should  it  be 
so  ?  Surely  we  have  beauty  sufficient  in  the  garden  in  sammer, 
and  when  the  flowers  are  gone  why  not  keep  up  the  brightness 
with  berries  ?  For  this  purpose  there  is  a  large  family  to  choose 
from,  and,  amongst  others,  none  more  adapted  than  the  Evergreen 
Thorn,  which  though  common  is  absent  from  many  positions  that 
it  would  beautify. — H. 
[Our  correspondent  makes  no  mention  of  the  Crataagus  pyracantha 
as  a  lawn  shrub.  In  sandy  soils  and  sunny  positions  in  the  South 
of  England,  where  the  growth  is  not  too  luxuriant,  and  consequently 
matures  the  better,  free  bushes  or  pyramids  may  be  expected  to 
become  objects  of  great  brilliancy  at  this  period  of  the  year.  In  the 
small  front  garden  of  a  gardener’s  cottage  at  Surbiton,  a  Pyracanthus 
in  the  form  of  a  free  pyramid  about  10  feet  in  height  and  half 
that  in  diameter  at  the  base,  occupies  the  centre  of  the  grass  plot. 
It  is  laden  with  splendid  clusters  from  base  to  summit  of  orange 
scarlet  fruits,  and  has  a  brilliant  effect  on  a  bright  November  day.] 
ELORAL  FACTS  AND  PANCIBS.--23. 
Not  uncommon  as  garden  weeds,  and  often  to  be  seen  on  a 
ramble  in  the  country  wherever  we  may  go,  the  Euphorbias  or 
Spurges  are  plants  we  can  hardly  help  knowing,  t^ugh  few 
species  are  of  tall  growth.  One  observable  peculiarity  is  their 
gresn  flowers,  and  another  ia  the  milky  juice.  Did  this  originate 
the  name  of  Euphorbia  ?  for  its  Greek  meaning  is  “  good  for  food.” 
If  it  did,  it  was  on  the  lucus  a  non  lucendo  principle,  for  this  seem¬ 
ing  milk  is  not  wholesome,  but  the  reverse.  Hence,  according  to 
some,  theae  are  emblems  of  “  deceit  ”  or  perhaps  of  “  danger,”  for 
though  a  few  kinds  may  have  medicinal  powers  they  must  be  most 
cautiously  applied.  Others  have  said  they  were  called  after 
Euphorbus,  a  physician,  who  gave  preparations  of  them  to  his 
patients  ;  the  name  Spurge  was  no  doubt  “  Purge  ”  at  first. 
Florists  still  offer  E.  cyparissias,  a  dark-leaved  species  with 
yellow  flowers,  and  formerly  it  was  now  and  then  planted  aa  a 
border  edging.  Along  the  Rhine  travellers  may  notice  masses  of 
its  sea-green  foliage.  No  British  Spurge  is  more  poisonous,  and 
I  advise  the  exclusion  of  this  and  all  its  kin  from  gardens,  even  at 
I  object  to  the  Aconite  tribe,  handsome  though  they  are.  The 
author  of  a  book  on  flowers  remarks  that  one  Spurge  was  cultivated 
because  its  fruits  made  a  substitute  for  Capers.  It  is  doubtful 
whether  this  is  a  fact,  but  if  not  grown  with  that  purpose  in  view 
the  fruits  have  been  occasionally  eaten,  raw  or  pickled,  the  results 
being  sometimes  serious.  Old  Gerard  wrote  long  ago,  “  These 
herbs  should  not  be  received  into  the  body,  considering  that  there 
be  many  good  and  wholesome  potions  to  be  made  with  other 
herbs.” 
The  Caper  Spurge,  however  (E.  Lathyris),  frequently  conies  up 
about  gardens,  its  long  narrow  leaves  having  a  white  vein  in  the 
middle  ;  the  seeds  are  within  capsules,  which  are  like  the  fruits  of 
the  Nasturtium.  By  rubbing  these  upon  the  skin  “just  for  fun  ” 
children  have  induced  a  sort  of  blood  poisoning.  In  some  parts  of 
France  the  peasantry  avoid  this  Spurge,  believing  that  to  step  upon 
it  may  do  them  harm.  The  Sun  Spurge  (E  helioscopia)  is  prolific 
in  names,  since  it  was  also  called  Milkweed,  Wolf’s  Milk,  Wart- 
wort,  and  Spurge  Thyme ;  one  of  these  indicates  its  use  as  an  extir¬ 
pator  of  warts.  This  short  many-branched  plant  hat  leaves  and 
flowers  of  golden  green,  and  apparently  the  name  connecting  it  with 
the  sun  was  suggested  by  the  circumstance  that  when  growing  in  a 
cluster  it  gives  us  the  idea  of  a  patch  of  sunlight  upon  the  ground. 
This  is,  however,  still  more  observable  with  the  Wood  species, 
E.  amygaloides,  which  covers  acres  in  some  counties.  It  has  the 
stem  tinged  with  purplish  red,  but  not  so  markedly  as  another 
species  found  upon  the  seashore. 
Abundant,  too,  is  the  Petty  Spurge  (E.  peplus)  which  the 
children  in  some  districts  call  “  Fat-hen,”  one  knows  not  why,  and 
the  Irish  Spurge  (E.  hiberna)  has  also  the  name  of  Makinboy.  It 
has  purplish  flowers,  and  has  been  used  to  stupefy  fish  in  streams. 
Botanists  have  detected  Kentish  specimens.  Allied  to  the  Spurges 
are  the  Mercuries,  which  have  been  troublesome  weeds  this  year , 
especially  the  Annual  Mercury,  of  which  a  fresh  crop  sprung  up 
rapidly  after  the  September  rain.  It  is  a  plant  reminding  as  of 
“  speed,”  since  Mercury  was  the  messenger  of  the  gods,  and  its 
growth  is  speedy,  too  much  so.  The  perennial  species  has  been  called 
the  Dog’s  Mercury,  but  dogs  don’t  touch  it.  An  expression  of 
contempt  it  probably  is.  The  annual  species  seems  to  have  been 
more  esteemed,  being  used  medicinally  in  France.  It  is  stated 
these  plants  serve  one  good  purpose  at  least — the  seeds  are  food  for 
some  small  birds. 
There  ia  a  general  belief  that  the  Yew  was  regarded  by  our 
ancestors  as  a  symbol  of  immortality,  because  of  its  evergreen 
nature,  and  the  vast  age  to  which  it  can  attain.  It  may  have  been 
planted  in  churchyards  for  that  reason,  but  there  were  others.  One 
legend  makes  the  tree  a  representative  of  sorrow,  since  under  it  the 
