*  October  14,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
363 
-  Nature. — On  and  after  Tuesday,  October  12th,  the  editorial 
and  publishing  0*11063  of  “Nature”  will  he  removed  to  St.  Martin’s 
Street,  London,  W.C.,  to  which  address  all  communications  should  be  sent. 
-  Crystal  Palace  Show. — In  our  report  of  the  miscellaneous 
exhibits  at  this  show  we  omitted  the  mention  of  the  stand  of  Messrs. 
Wood  &  Son,  Wood  Green.  This  comprised  the  many  horticultural 
sundries  for  which  the  firm  is  so  widely  known. 
-  Lathyrus  platyphyllus  albus.— L.  latifolia  alba  of  some 
gardens.  This  plant  makes  a  fine  specimen  for  the  herbaceous  border  or 
for  dotting  singly  on  lawns,  after  it  gets  established  ;  and  shows  to  the 
best  advantage  when  so  treated  and  staked  with  ordinary  Pea  sticks. 
A  specimen  here,  which  flowered  a  short  time  since,  measured  7  feet  in 
height  by  5^  feet  in  width,  and  was  much  admired  when  covered  with  its 
trusses  of  pure  white  flowers  ;  it  is  about  six  years  old.  This  and  the 
other  varieties  of  L.  platyphyllus  are  sometimes  found  rambling^  over  low 
fences,  or  trained  against  a  wall ;  but  the  individual  beauty  of  the  plant 
is  not  seen  to  the  best  advantage  in  such  positions,  as  it  falls  about  so 
easily,  and  the  tendrils  and  growing  points  do  not  show  themselves.  It  is 
readily  grown  from  seed,  but  only  a  small  percentage  com^s  true  ;  the 
others  revert  to  the  type,  which  is  not  so  desirable  as  to  colour.  The 
plant  flowers  the  second  year  from  seed,  and  should  be  tested  in  nursery 
beds  before  planting  in  a  permanent  position,  as  it  is  a  deep  rooting 
subject,  and  not  easily  removed  after  it  gets  three  or  four  years  old. — 
W.  H.  Divers,  Belvoir  Castle  Gardens,  Grantham. 
-  EiiPsos’s  Exhibition  Carrot. — I  send  you  a  sample  root  of 
this  remarkably  fine  selection  of  the  intermediate  type  of  Carrot.  It  is 
a  fair  representative  of  Vhat  resulted  from  a  small  sowing  made  last 
spring  in  conjunction  with  various  others,  both  English  and  French. 
The  trial  was  on  very  poor  sandy  soil  at  Englefield  Green,  and  was 
purposed  not  only  to  test  varieties,  but  also  the  capacity  of  such  soil  to 
produce  Carrots.  The  result  in  all  cases  was  very  satisfactory,  whether 
of  Early  Gem  or  French  Blunt-rooted  ;  Flarly  Nantes,  Scarlet  Model,  or 
French  Half-Long  ;  James’  Intermediate  or  Ked  Chantenay;  New  Inter¬ 
mediate,  Matchless,  or  French  St.  Valery ;  Long  Surrey,  and  some 
others.  Seed  of  the  Exhibition  Carrot  was  given  me  for  trial  by  Mr. 
Empson,  with  a  result  quite  surpassing  any  other  stocks,  the  produce 
being  wonderfully  fine  and  good,  very  clean,  and  good  colour.  Evidently 
it  is  a  very  superior  selection.  The  san.ple  root  sent  has  14  inches  of 
edible  flesh,  and  2  inches  of  root  points.  It  is  lOj  inches  in  circum¬ 
ference,  about  inch  from  the  crown,  and  tapers  to  the  point  perfectly. 
Finally,  it  weighs  1  lb.  13  ozs.  It  must  specially  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  soil  was  very  poor  sand,  but  deeply  dug.  With  such  a  Carrot 
stock  what  remarkable  possibilities  are  there  in  making  much  of  the 
poor  sands  of  the  kingdom  immensely  productive.  Even  taking  the 
average  roots  at  1^  lb.  on  such  soils,  and  allowing  one  root  per  square 
foot,  that  would  equal  some  260  per  rod,  or  a  weight  of  390  lbs.,  that  is 
3^  cwt. ;  that  at  per  acre  would  give  a  bulk  of  over  27  tons.  Surely  that 
would  be  remunerative. — A.  Dean. 
-  United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident 
Institution. — The  annual  meeting  of  this  popular  gardening  charity 
was  held  on  Tuesday  evening  at  the  Ilolborn  Restaurant,  under  the 
presidency  of  Mr.  H.  B.  May  of  Edmonton.  The  gathering  may  be 
termed  a  distinct  success,  as  there  were  upwards  of  100  members 
present.  After  the  repast  and  the  health  of  her  Majesty  having  been 
drunk,  the  Chairman  proposed  the  toast  of  the  evening — “  The  Society.” 
In  the  course  of  his  remarks  he  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
Society  had  been  started  by  gardeneis,  and  had  always  been  under  the 
control  of  gardeners.  He  called  the  Society  a  Democratic  one,  and  spoke 
at  length  upon  its  growth,  both  in  membership  and  in  the  funds,  and 
was  thus  enabled  to  extend  its  field  of  labour  and  become  of  more  and 
more  benefit  to  gardeners  throughout  the  country.  Attention  was 
called  to  the  various  funds  of  this  admirable  Institution,  with  special 
reference  to  the  Convalescent  Fund,  to  which  the  speaker  announced 
Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood  had  sent  a  donation  of  5  guineas.  Needless  to 
say  that  the  toast  when  put  was  received  with  acclamation,  and  with  it 
was  coupled  the  name  of  Mr.  .1.  Hudson.  Than  he  no  one  knows 
better  how  the  Society  stands  financially,  for  he  has  been  one  of  the 
most  industrious  of  treasurers.  His  remarks,  were  brief,  but  teemed 
with  interesting  facts  relative  to  the  Society,  and  concluded  with  an 
aiipeal  to  the  gardeners  present  who  were  not  members  to  become  so 
then  and  there.  The  remainder  of  the  toasts  were  received  with  the 
most  unanimous  enthusiasm.  Amongst  the  speakers,  besides  those 
named,  were  Messrs.  Nathan  Cole,  George  Bunyard,  G.  J.  Ingram,  Peter 
Kay,  J.  H.  Veitch,  and  C.  H.  Curtis. 
-  Photographs. — By  an  inadvertence  we  did  not  name  the 
photographers  who  took  the  negatives  from  which  our  reproductions 
of  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  and  G.  Woodward  were  taken.  That  of  the 
former  was  from  a  photo  by  Mr.  Sawyer  of  Maidstone,  and  that  of  the 
latter  from  one  by  Messrs.  Clarke  &  Co.  of  the  same  town. 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’  Improvement  Society.— The  opening 
meeting  of  the  session  was  held  on  Tuesday,  October  5th,  Mr.  Geo.  Picker 
(Hesslewood)  in  the  chair.  A  paper  was  read  by  Mr.  Akester,  gardener 
to  E.  Goddard,  Esq.,  North  Ferriby  Hall,  the  subject  being  “  Weather 
and  its  InHuence  on  Gardening.”  The  essayist  pointed  out  to  what  an 
extent  gardening  was  influenced  by  winds,  frost,  sun,  and  rains  ;  also  the 
manner  of  forecasting.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  paper  questions  were 
invited,  and  the  masterly  manner  in  which  the  essayist  answered  them 
showed  that  he  had  the  subject  fully  under  control.  The  syllabus  of  this 
session  is  one  of  the  best  the  Society  has  had,  and  contains  essays  by 
many  prominent  members  of  the  horticultural  fraternity.  Several  new 
members  were  enrolled,  and  altogether  this  session  bids  fair  to  be  as 
successful,  both  fnancially  and  otherwise,  as  any  previous  one.  A  vote 
of  thanks  to  the  essayist  and  the  chairman  terminated  the  meeting. 
-G.  W.  G. 
-  Rudbeckia  Golden  Glow. — We  have  been  much  pleased 
with  this  novelty  this  season,  and  consider  it  altogether  the  finest 
herbaceous  plant  for  border  use  sent  out  in  recent  years.  It  is  quite  dis¬ 
tinct  from  Helianthus  multiflorus  in  that  it  flowers  fully  a  month  earlier 
and  is  past  when  the  latter  begins.  The  long-stalked  flowers  are  useful 
for  cutting,  and  are  smooth-stemmed  and  not  so  unpleasant  to  handle  as 
those  of  the  Helianthus.  It  is  also  perfectly  hardy,  a  strong  point  in 
its  favour,  as  the  Helianthus  multiflorus  cannot  be  relied  upon  every  year 
and  often  winter  kills,  so  that  it  needs  protection  to  make  sure  of  it.  The 
variety  Golden  Glow  appears  to  be  a  form  of  Rudbeckia  laciniata,  a  rather 
weedy  plant  and  suitable  only  for  semi-wild  situations.  This  double  form 
is  free  from  the  objectionable  weediness,  and  its  only  fault  is  in  the  weak¬ 
ness  of  its  stems,  which  it  is  necessary  to  stake  when  the  flower  buds  begin 
to  form.  Otherwise  it  is  an  ideal  plant  for  the  border. — E.  0.  Orpet  (in 
“  Garden  and  Forest  ”). 
-  Loughborough  Gardeners’  Improvement  Association.- 
-  The  first  annual  report  and  balance  sheet  of  the  Loughborough  and 
District  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association,  which  were 
recently  placed  before  the  members,  have  been  sent  to  us  by  Mr. 
D.  Roberts,  the  Hon.  Secretary.  It  is  apparent  from  the  Committee’s 
report  that  an  excellent  start  has  been  made,  and  the  papers  that  have 
been  read  by  competent  men  at  the  monthly  meetings  must  have  been  of 
material  benefit  to  all  who  have  listened  to  them.  The  balance  sheet  is 
equally  satisfactory,  there  being  a  substantial  sum  on  the  right  side.  We 
congratulate  the  Society,  and  trust  that  the  success  it  has  achieved  in  its 
first  year  will  be  more  than  maintained  in  the  future.  Mr.  D.  Roberts, 
Prostwold  Gardens,  Loughborough,  will  be  glad  to  furnish  particulars  to 
prospective  members.  In  connection  with  the  meeting  herewith  alluded 
to  an  exhibition  of  fruit  was  held,  and  this  appears  to  have  been  a  most 
creditable  affair.  Mr.  A.  H.  Pearson,  of  Chilwell,  gave  an  able  lecture 
on  “Fruit  Culture.” 
-  Hassocks  Nursery.— An  interesting  ceremony  took  place 
on  October  6th,  at  Messrs.  Balchin  &  Sons’  Nurseries,  Hassocks. 
Mr.  Richardson,  the  much-respected  manager,  was  presented  with  a 
handsome  inscribed  timepiece  by  the  employes  as  a  wedding  present,  also 
a  case  of  silver  spoons,  which  came  as  an  agreeable  surprise  to  the 
recipient.  We  wish  him  long  life  and  happiness  also.  Coprosma 
Baueriana  variegata  as  a  decorative  plant  grown  at  Hassocks  is  most 
valuable.  Pyramids  2  feet  high  and  as  much  through  are  very  striking, 
with  their  bright  golden  and  glossy  green  foliage.  Amongst  the  many 
novelties  in  the  nursery  borders  of  hardy  trees  and  shrubs  which 
attracted  my  attention  were  bushy  plants  about  2  and  3  feet  high  and  as 
much  through  of  Coryopteris  mastacanthus  blooming  most  profusely. 
The  flowers  are  a  bright  azure  blue  in  colour,  and  are  borne  in  axillary 
globose  heads.  It  is  well  worthy  the  attention  of  planters.  Leschenaultia 
biloba  major  grows  luxuriantly,  as  also  doBoronias  serrulata,  megastigma, 
elatior,  and  heterophylla.  These  will  doubtless  be  seen  at  the  Temple  Show 
in  quantities  in  combination  with  some  of  the  old  favourite  Ericas. — 
A.  OuTRAM,  FMv.H.S.,  7,  Moore  Park  Road,  Fulham. 
EDITORIAL  NOTICE. — It  is  particularly  desired  that  all  communi¬ 
cations,  parcels,  catalogues,  and  newspapers  intended  for  the  Editor, 
be  sent  direct  to  8,  Rose  Hill  Road,  Wandsworth.  S.W. 
