JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  7,  1897. 
EDITORIAL  NOTICE. — It  is  particularly  desired  that  all  communi¬ 
cations,  parcels,  catalogues,  and  newspapers  intended  for  the  Editoe, 
be  sent  direct  to  8,  Rose  Hill  Road,  Wandswoeth,  S.W. 
Event's  of  the  Week.  —  London  horticulturists  ivill  have  a  busy 
day  on  Tuesday,  the  12th  inst.,  that  is  to  say  if  they  attend  each  of  the 
three  events  that  are  lixed  for  that  date.  The  Committees  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  will  meet  at  the  Drill  Hall,  .lames  Street,  West¬ 
minster.  The  second  show  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  will 
open  on  that  day  and  continue  over  Wednesday  and  Thursday  ;  while  in 
the  evening  of  Tuesday  the  United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident 
Society  will  hold  its  annual  dinner  at  the  Holborn  Restaurant  under 
the  presidency  of  Wr.  H.  B.  May. 
-  Weather  in  London. — On  the  evening  of  Wednesday,  the 
29th  ult.,  a  terrific  thunderstorm  passed  over  London,  being  more  severe 
in  the  northern  suburbs.  Much  damage  was  done,  and  the  rain  fell  in 
torrents.  Thursday,  Friday,  and  Saturday  were  fine,  but  heavy  rain  fell 
during  the  early  hours  of  Sunday  morning,  the  day,  however,  proving 
dry  though  dull.  Several  drizzling  showers  came  at  intervals  on  Monday, 
while  on  Tuesday  it  was  fine,  and  Wednesday  opened  foggy. 
-  Who  Spliced  the  Geapes  at  the  Ceystal  Palace  ?— 
I  am  quite  sure  that  all  readers  of  the  Journal  who  are  interested  in  the 
above  will  feel  indebted  to  “A.  D.’  (page  312)  for  the  explanation  given 
on  behalf  of  the  unfortunate  exhibitor  as  to  how  and  why  the  bunches 
of  Grapes  had  been  tampered  with.  What  a  rough  and  ready  young- 
assistant  1  for  in  a  previous  issue  of  the  Journal  (page  196)  I  notice 
“  On-looker  ”  states  that  each  bunch  had  been  spliced  to  the  tune  of  one, 
two,  and  three  pieces.  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  the  assistant,  though 
clumsy,  must  nevertheless  be  rather  smart  to  be  able  to  put  together 
broken  limbs  so  successfully.  Surely  he  would  do  well  in  another 
profession.— Obseevee. 
-  A  Pine  Onion  Bed. — One  of  the  finest  beds  of  Onions  I  have 
seen  this  season  was  in  the  gardens  of  Lockinge  Park.  Several  varieties, 
such  as  Ailsa  Craig,  Lord  Keeper,  and  others,  were  growing  side  by  side, 
and  a  more  even  bed  could  not  be  desired.  All  the  bulbs  of  Ailsa  Craig 
ranged  about  the  same  size,  as  did  those  of  the  other  variety  named.  It 
was  apparent  that  the  soil  had  been  excellently  prepared,  while  the  after 
attention  also  must  have  been  of  the  closest.  Over  the  bed  was,  spread  a 
light  mulching  of  half-decayed  horse  droppings,  and  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  the  bulbs  have  received  a  considerable  amount  of  benefit  therefrom. 
The  bulbs,  when  I  saw  them,  were  ripening  off  beautifully,  and  no  difficulty 
would  have  been  experienced  in  securing  three  or  four  dozen  bulbs  fit 
for  the  show  table  of  either  of  the  varieties.  This  bed,  like  the  rest  of 
the  vegetable  garden,  is  a  credit  to  Lord  Wantage's  diligent  gardener, 
Mr.  W.  Fyfe. — Yisitoe. 
-  Emigeants’  Information  Office.— The  October  Circulars 
of  the  Emigrants’  Information  Office  and  the  annual  penny  Handbooks 
show  the  present  prospects  of  emigration.  There  is  no  demand  for 
anyone  in  Canada  at  this  season  of  the  year.  There  is  no  demand  for 
more  labour  in  New  South  Wales.  The  drought  has  been  terribly 
severe  in  nearly  all  parts,  except  those  watered  by  the  coastal  rains ; 
the  Riverina  district  has  perhaps  sufiTered  worst  of  all.  Though  there 
has  been  a  more  general  fall  of  rain  recently,  the  heavy  losses  of  stock, 
and  the  consequent  decrease  in  the  output  of  wool,  must  seriously  affect 
for  some  time  the  demand  for  labour.  The  drought  in  Victoria  also 
has  been  exceptionally  severe,  and  there  is  no  demand  for  more  labour. 
The  carrying  on  of  the  Mildura  Irrigation  Colony  is  now  practically 
assured,  and  the  Government  will  bring  in  a  Bill  to  authorise  a 
guarantee  of  monej'  for  five  years.  In  all  the  farming  districts  of 
Queensland  a  good  demand  exists  for  competent  ploughmen  and  farm 
labourers.  In  Western  Australia  the  demand  for  mechanics,  farm  and 
general  labourers,  miners,  and  female  domestic  servants  continues.  In 
Tasmania  there  is  no  actual  demand  for  labour.  During  the  next  few 
months  there  will  be  a  demand  in  New  Zealand  for  good  men  accustomed 
to  all  kinds  of  farm  labour.  F urther  information  may  be  had  from  the 
Emigrants’  Information  Office,  31,  Broadway,  Westminster,  S.W. 
-  Gardening  Appointment. — Mr.  W.  Simmons,  gardener  for 
the  late  K,  R.  Murchison,  Esq.,  Brockhurst,  East  Grinstead,  Sussex,  has- 
been  appointed  gardener  to  C.  Page,  Esq.,  Woodside,  Burstow,  near 
Horley,  Surrey. 
-  Asters  at  Moetlake.— Travellers  on  the  South-Western 
Railway,  between  Mortlake  and  Richmond,  will  doubtless  have  noticed  the 
large  beds  of  Asters  on  the  nursery  ground  by  the  line  side.  This  was 
an  extensive  trial,  that  has  been  conducted  by  Messrs.  Jas.  Carter  &  Co., 
High  Holborn,  and  some_beautiful  colours  could  readily  be  perceived.  The 
recent  rain  storms  have,  however,  played  havoc  with  the  blooms,  whose 
beauty  has  now  departed. 
-  Poisonous  Properties  of  Davallias. — In  reply  to  your 
correspondent,  “  .lourneyman,”  page  313,  respecting  the  poisonous  pro¬ 
perties  of  Davallia  fijiensis,  I  may  mention  that  several  varieties  of  that 
beautiful  Fern  possess  the  peculiarity  of  which  he  speaks.  D.  Mooreana 
is  far  the  worst  variety  I  have  had  experience  with.  We  have  a  large- 
plant  in  our  collection  ;  each  time  we  have  occasion  to  move  we  experience 
an  unpleasant  sensation,  similar  to  that  described  by  “.lourneyman.” 
In  my  case  the  acute  smarting  is  accompanied  with  itching  and  sneezing. 
The  young  men  are  affected  in  much  the  same  way.  We  attribute  it  to 
the  spores,  which,  being  released  from  their  cases  through  the  shaking  of 
the  fronds,  settle  upon  the  skin  and  cause  the  irritation. — T.  L. 
-  Kei  Apple  as  a  Hedge  Plant. — I  was  pleased  to  read  the 
paragraph  referring  to  the  Kei  Apple  on  page  266.  There  are  certain 
good  points  which  make  one  wish  for  a  better  acquaintance  with  this 
evidently  useful  hedge  plant.  The  fact  that  it  is  an  evergreen  will 
recommend  it  to  many  ;  again,  its  6-inch  thorns  are  suggestive  of  its 
being  much  preferred  to  Thorns  for  field  hedges.  Have  any  of  your 
readers  any  experience  of  this  plant  in  Great  Britain  ?  I  should  much 
like  to  give  it  a  trial,  but  am  at  a  loss  to  know  where  to  look  for  a 
supply. — T.  D.  S.  [The  paragraph  was  taken  from  one  of  the  excellent 
Bulletins  that  are  issued  by  the  Kew  authorities.  Perhaps  if  you  wrote 
to  the  Director,  Royal  Gardens,  Kew,  he  would  be  able  to  assist  you  with- 
information.) 
-  Dahlias  at  Kingston. — Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  S.. 
jMortimer  of  Farnham,  who  is  undoubtedly  now  one  of  the  champion 
Dahlia  growers  and  exhibitors,  I  was  enabled  on  Saturday  evening  last, 
on  the  occasion  of  giving  the  first  of  our  fourteenth  session  of  Winter 
Saturday  Popular  Entertainments  in  Kingston,  to  show  the  people  a 
really  splendid  display  of  Dahlias,  such  as  had  never  before  been  seen 
in  the  town.  The  spectators  literally  opened  their  eyes  in  astonishment 
at  the  wonderful  size  and  form  of  the  Shows,  the  beauty  of  the  Pompons,, 
and  the  singularly  lovely  Cactuses.  The  group  was  30  feet  long,  and 
comprised  some  |170  Show  varieties,  and  about  30  of  Cactuses  and 
Pompons,  backing  the  boxes.  Whilst  the  Shows  incKded  every  good 
class  variety,  the  Cactuses  comprised  A.  Deal,  the  new  scarlet ;  Starfish,. 
Cycle,  Lady  Penzance,  Miss  A.  Nightingale,  .1.  A.  Frewer,  Harry 
Sti’edwick,  Harmony,  and  others  ;  and  the  Pompons  included  Winifred, 
E.  J.  Trucker,  Gipsy,  Vivid,  Arthur  West,  Lady  Blanche,  Tommy 
Keith,  and  Little  .lulia.  Announcement  of  the  Dahlia  display  helped  to 
cram  the  Great  Hall  of  St.  James  to  its  very  utmost,  scores  being  unable 
to  obtain  admission.  Kingston  district  has  no  summer  flower  show,  and 
many  beautiful  popular  flowers  are  here  in  consequence  seldom  seen.. 
—A.  D. 
-  Devon  and  Exeter  Gardeners’  Association.— Tho 
annual  meeting .  of  this  Association  was  held  last  week  in  the  Council- 
room  of  the  Guildhall,  Exeter,  under  the  chairmanship  of  the  President,. 
]Mr.  E.  A.  Sanders,  .T.P.  There  was  a  numerous  attendance,  including 
the  Right  Worshipful  the  Mayor  of  Exeter  (Mr.  Alderman  R.  Pople),. 
Mr.  P.  C.  ^1.  Yeitch,  .LP.,  and  others.  After  the  adoption  of  the  report 
Mr.  Sanders  was  re-elected  President,  IMr.  Andrew  Hope  Secretary,  and 
IMr.  W.  Mackay  Hon.  Treasurer.  The  following  Committee  of  Manage¬ 
ment  was  also  elected,  on  the  motion  of  ]\Ir.  R.  J.  Mills,  seconded  by 
Mr.  G.  Anning ; — IMessrs.  J.  Abrams,  IV.  Andrews,  .1.  Baker, 
IV.  R.  Baker,  W.  Charley,  G.  C.  Crabbe,  J.  Lacon,  J.  Luxton,  .1.  Rogers, 
W.  Howland,  S.  Radley,  and  J.  Weeks.  All  the  elections  were 
unanimous.  Mr.  P.  C.  M.  Yeitch  said  he  felt  sure  all  the  members 
present  would  like  to  thank  the  Mayor  for  the  encouragement  he  had’ 
given  the  Association  during  the  time  he  had  held  that  office,  and  for  his 
kindness  in  gi’anting  them  the  use  of  the  Guildhall  for  their  assembly. 
Ml'.  G.  B.  Carlile  seconded  the  vote  of  thanks,  which  was  carried 
unanimously.  The  Mayor  observed  that  it  gave  him  a  great  deal  ot 
pleasure  to  grant  the  loan  of  the  Guildhall,  and  he  had  taken  upom 
himself  to  grant  them  the  use  of  it  for  another  3'ear. 
