November  11,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
453 
Events  of  the  Week. — For  yet  another  seven  days  the  rush  of 
Chrysanthemum  shows  will  continue.  Southwards  there  are  indications 
of  the  coming  peace,  but  in  the  North  the  meetings  continue  with  unabated 
vigour.  A  list  of  several  of  the  shows  will  be  found  on  page  455, 
-  Weatheb  in  London.— During  the  closing  days  of  last 
week  and  on  the  opening  one  of  this  the  weather  showed  practically 
no  variation.  The  nights  and  mornings  were  fresh  and  the  days  warm. 
Monday  morning,  however,  brought  a  change  in  the  form  of  rain,  which 
fell  for  several  hours.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  most  uncomfortable 
drizzle.  On  Tuesday  it  was  foggy  and  damp,  while  at  the  time  of  going 
to  press  on  Wednesday  it  was  bright  and  fine. 
-  A  !Mild  Autumn.  —  At  the  Chrysanthemum  Show,  held  at 
Exmouth  on  the  28th  and  29th  ult.,  several  collections  of  vegetables, 
containing  good  and  fresh  samples  of  Green  Peas,  Scarlet  Runner  Beans, 
and  Tomatoes,  all  grown  in  the  open,  without  the  least  protection.  In 
Mr.  W.  ,T.  Godfrey  s  miscellaneous  exhibit  of  cut  flowers  a  good  collection 
of  single  and  Cactus  Dahlias  and  Sweet  Peas  were  noticed  ;  ahd  at  the 
Exeter  Show,  held  on  the  4th  and  5th  inst.,  Mr.  Godfrey  again  made  an 
extensive  show  of  these  flowers,  all  grown  in  the  open,  with  no  protection. 
-  Wolmer  Forest. — We  learn  that  the  Guildford  Natural 
History  Society  has  decided  to  present  a  petition  to  the  Commissioners  of 
Woods  and  Forests  praying  that  Wolmer  Forest  may  be  reserved  as  a 
sanctuary  for  wild  birds,  in  which  they,  their  nests,  and  eggs  may  remain 
unmolested  throughout  the  year  ;  that  it  may  not  be  let  at  any  time  for 
game  preserving,  or  for  any  purpose  inimical  to  bird  life  ;  and  that  it  may 
remain  in  perpetuity  as  a  national  memorial  to  the  greatest  naturalist 
England  has  produced— Gilbert  White,  of  Selborne.  Such  a  recognition, 
the  Society  urges,  would  show  that  the  admiration  of  Gill)ert  White  was 
not  verbiage  merely,  but  that  it  took  so  practical  a  shape  as  to  be  of  value 
to  the  naturalist  and  the  English-speaking  race  for  all  succeeding  time. 
The  Society  does  not  desire  to  interfere  with  the  use  of  the  Forest  for 
military  manoeuvres. 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Society. — 
A  meeting  of  the  above  Society  was  held  on  November  2nd.  Mr.  Geo. 
Wilson,  Swanland  Manor,  occupied  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Geo.  Picker,  gar¬ 
dener  to  F.  R.  Pease,  Fisq.,  read  a  practical  and  inteiesting  paper  on 
“  Salad  Plants  and  their  Culture.”  The  essayist  gave  a  descriptive  list 
of  the  different  plants  used  for  salads,  with  a  short  cultural  account  of 
each,  and  also  the  manner  of  dressing  them.  The  hearty  and  humourous 
discussion  which  took  place  at  the  conclusion  of  the  essay,  together  with 
the  large  attendance,  showed  to  what  an  extent  the  subject  was  appre¬ 
ciated.  The  Secretary,  Mr,  J.  Barker,  Prestongate,  Hessle,  showed  finely 
flowered  plants  of  Dendrobium  Phalasnopsis  Schroderianum,  Cattleya 
labiata,  Cattleya  gigas  minima,  and  C.  aurea,  arranged  on  the  table  with 
Cocos  Weddelliana  and  Ferns.  Mr.  Blakey  exhibited  a  fine  variety  of 
Cattleya  labiata,  and  Mr.  Coults  Chrysanthemum  General  Rock,  a  new 
variety,  and  one  that  has  evidently  come  to  stay.  Votes  of  thanks  to  the 
essayist  and  Chairman  terminated  the  meeting. — G.  W.  G. 
-  Potato  Growing  Experiments  in  Cumberland. — At  the 
County  Council  Dairy  School  and  Experimental  Farm  at  Newton  Rigg, 
Penrith,  Mr.  W.  T.  Lawrence  (the  Principal)  has  just  concluded  some 
interesting  experiments  in  Potato  culture.  Six  plots  of  one-twelfth  of 
an  acre  each  were  under  trial.  Dung  alone  (on  plot  6)  produced  the 
best  results,  though  half-dung,  with  half  artificial  manure  (plot  5)  followed 
closely  with  both  Bruce  and  Abundance,  and  beat  dung  alone  with  the 
Up-to-Date  variety.  The  artificial  mixture  used  on  plot  3 — Ij  cwt. 
nitrate,  2  cwt.  kainit,  5  cwt.  superphosphate,  costing  23s. — was  used  as  a 
standard  Potato  manure  for  the  soil  at  Newton  Rigg — a  firm  loam  (more 
kainit  would  have  been  included  in  a  lighter  soil),  and  the  yield  of  this 
plot  was  not  much  less  than  that  of  the  dunged  plots.  Evidently  the 
extra  2  cwt.  of  kainit  given  to  plot  2  was  unnecessary,  but  the  omission 
of  a  potash  manure  altogether,  as  was  tried  on  plot  4,  was  disastrous,  the 
yield  being  no  more  than  on  the  unmanured  plot.  Up-to-Date  was  far  and 
away  the  heaviest  cropper,  and  the  tubers  were  clean  and  of  excellent 
quality.  Abundance  yielded  rather  better  than  Bruce  ;  but  the  latter 
had  far  less  disease  than  either  of  the  other  varieties. 
- Sutton’s  Peerless  Marrowfat  Pea.— This  Pea  was  shown 
in  splendid  condition  at  Sevenoaks  Show,  November  2nd.  Although 
classed  as  a  main  crop,  for  late  work  it  can  be  thoroughly  recommended. 
These  alluded  to  were  grand  dark  bright  green  pods  containing  from  eight 
to  eleven  peas  of  remarkable  size  and  splendid  flavour  ;  in  fact,  I  have 
not  tasted  a  better  Pea  this  season.  It  grows  about  3  feet  high,  and  is  of 
a  robust  habit  and  most  productive.  Another  recommendation  is,  it  never 
is  attacked  by  mildew.— Rusticus. 
-  The  Late  Mr.  E,  J.  Baillie.  I  was  grieved  to  see  the 
accc  ;r.t  A  the  death  of  Mr.  E.  J,  Baillie.  It  has  been  my  pleasure  to 
have  known  him  upwards  of  twenty  years.  I  have  had  several  appoint- 
liients  to  meet  him  to  take  part  in  public  meetings,  and  my  experience 
was  the  more  you  knew  of  him  the  better  you  liked  him.  He  was  not 
frightened  of  work,  and  if  we  were  all  to  take  pattern  from  his  perse¬ 
verance,  many  of  us  would  be  better  gardeners  than  we  are.  I  felt  I 
could  not  let  this  opportunity  pass  without  saying  a  word  of  respect  for 
one  who  has  given  sound  advice  to  many  a  young  gardener,  owing  to 
which  they  have  become  a  credit  to  the  profession. — F.  Couldrey. 
-  Philadelphia  Botanic  Garden.  —  At  the  meeting  of 
Councils’  Committee  on  city  property  Dr.  William  Pepper,  on  behalf  of 
the  Philadelphia  Commercial  Museums,  made  a  request  that  40  acres  of 
ground  along  the  west  bank  of  the  Schuylkill  be  transferred  to  the 
Institution,  to  be  used  as  a  botanical  garden.  This  plot  of  ground  was 
dedicated  for  park  purposes  by  an  ordinance  of  Councils  on  July  6th, 
1883,  but  has  lain  useless.  Dr.  Pepper  said  that  a  museum  of  science 
and  arts  is  to  be  erected  near  here  at  a  cost  of  2,500,000  dols.,  ground 
having  been  broken  for  one  wing  of  the  building,  and  it  is  desired  to  make 
the  Botanic  Garden  an  adjunct  to  the  museum.  The  matter  was  referred 
to  a  sub-committee. 
-  Melon  the  Monarch. — There  is  no  scarcity  of  good  flavoured 
Melons,  but  the  best  I  have  tasted  is  Monarch.  It  is  an  oval  shaped  green 
fleshed  variety,  with  very  thick  melting  flesh,  good  specimens  weighing 
from  4  to  G  lbs.  It  is  later  in  ripening  than  most  varieties,  but  this  is  an 
advantage  where  a  house  is  devoted  to  them,  as  if  planted  with  others  it 
prolongs  the  ripening  season,  and  being  such  a  good  keeper  it  is  excellent 
for  autumn  use.  Everyone  has  his  favourite  variety  of  Melon.  Some 
prefer  a  large  and  others  a  small  variety.  Flavour  is  the  one  important 
thing  to  be  considered,  and  whatever  else  any  variety  has  to  recommend 
it,  if  lacking  in  quality  it  should  not  be  grown  again.  Others  we  grow, 
and  excellent  in  every  way,  are  Earl’s  Favourite,  The  Countess,  and  Al, 
— J.  F.  G. 
-  The  Dahlia  Season. — There  seems  to  be  no  end  to  the 
Dahlias  in  the  South  this  season.  I  understand  in  some  parts  of  the 
country  the  frost  has  cut  them  to  the  ground,  and  the  tubers  are  ripe 
and  stored  away.  But  we  could  cut  a  cartload  of  magnificent  blooms. 
Varieties  of  the  Cactus,  such  as  Cycle,  Starfish,  J.  E.  Frewer, 
Beatrice,  Ensign,  Bertha  Mawley,  Princess  Ena,  Bridesmaid,  Matchless, 
and  others,  are  nearly  equal  to  any  we  have  exhibited  this  season.  We 
could  make  up  stands  of  the  Show  and  Pompons  quite  equal  in 
neatness,  if  not  in  size,  to  any  I  have  seen  this  year.  They  present 
such  a  charming  appearance  that  one  has  to  pause  to  realise  if  it  really 
is  the  month  of  November.  There  has  not  been  frost  enough  to  hurt 
a  single  plant,  and  to  look  at  our  bed  of  about  400  plants  in  one  mass 
of  bloom  it  appears  more  like  September  than  only  eight  weeks  prior 
to  Christmas.  I  should  be  greatly  interested  to  know  how  our  brethren 
have  fared  right  and  left  of  us. — J.  WiGGiNS,  Fair  Oak,  Bassaleg,  Nexvport, 
Mon. 
-  Preserving  Green  in  Plants. — Mr.  Albert  F.  Woods  of 
the  Division  of  Vegetable  Physiology  and  Pathology,  United  States 
Department  of  Agriculture,  describes  in  the  “  Botanical  Gazette  ”  a 
novel  method  of  preserving  the  green  colour  of  plants  for  exhibition 
purposes.  The  principle  involved  is  to  bring  about  a  combination  of  the 
chlorophyll  in  the  cells  of  the  plant  with  copper.  The  resulting  compound, 
copper  phyllocyanate,  is  practically  insoluble  in  any  of  the  ordinary  pre¬ 
serving  media  except  strong  alcohol,  and  is  not  destroyed  by  light.  The 
resulting  green  can  scarcely  be  distinguished  from  the  normal  chlorophyll 
green.  The  process  described  is  a  somewhat  complicated  one.  After 
removing  the  air  as  completely  as  possible  from  the  surface  and  from  the 
intercellular  spaces  by  immersion  in  90-95  per  cent,  alcohol,  or  by  means 
of  the  air-pump,  the  tissues  are  placed  in  a  5  per  cent,  solution  of  glycerol 
containing  enough  dissolved  copper  sulphate  or  copper  acetate  to  give  it 
a  bluish  tint.  The  uncombined  copper  is  dissolved  out  by  a  dilute  glycerin- 
formalin  solution,  and  the  object  may  be  preserved  in  this  solution  or  in 
any  of  the  usual  media  except  strong  alcohol.— (Nature.) 
