166 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  20,  1902. 
Crocus  marathonisius. 
Througli  one  of  the  typographical  errors  Avhicli  happen  but 
seldom  in  the  Journal,  I  find  that  the  name  of  this  Crocus, 
referred  to  by  me  in  the  issue  of  last  week,  appeared  as 
marathoni.scuj’.  I  wrote  marathoniseus,  the  spelling  adopted  by 
Mr.  George  Maw,  but  I  find  that  the  spelling  given  by  the 
Index  Kewensis  ”  is  marathonisius.  One  of  my  correspondents, 
Avho  is  recognised  as  an  authority  upon  these  matters,  kindly 
informs  me  that  the  proper  specific  name  for  this  Crocus  should 
be  “  marathonius,”  from  Marathon,  in  Greece,  though,  of  course, 
it  is  difficult  to  alter  a  name  once  given  by  a  botanist  in  this 
respect.  Probably  Heldreich’s  spelling  of  “  marathonisius  ”  will 
thus  have  to  stand. — S.  Arnott. 
Vegetable  Drying  in  Worcestershire. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Kiddermin.ster  Horticultural  Society  on 
Wednesday,  February  12,  Mr.  Arthur  Goodwin  produced 
specimens  of  vegetables  which  had  been  dried  by  a  new  process 
at  Northington,  and  which  he  .said  had  been  submitted  to 
Government  authorities  for  inspection,  and  had  been  regarded 
as  entirely  .satisfactory.  He  mentioned  that  the  W^ar  Office  had 
to  place  verv  large  contracts  with  foreigners  for  dried  vegetables 
for  the  soldiers,  and  he  regarded  it  as  a  matter  of  very  great 
importance  to  fruit  and  vegetable  groA^'ing  districts  .such  as  those 
of  Worcestershire  that  there  should  be  some  method  of  drying, 
and  it  AA’as  now  claimed  that  the  drying  of  fmit  and  vegetables 
could  be  combined  Avith  an  improved  method  of  Hop  drying.  The 
specimens  Avere  examined  Avith  much  interest  by  the  large 
number  of  horticulturists  present. 
Birmingham  Gardeners’  Association. 
“The  Palm,  and  its  Uses  Commercially,”  Avas  the  subject 
given  by  Mr.  G.  SidAvell,  Sutton  Coldfield,  on  the  10th  inst. 
Mr.  W.  B.  Latham  occupied  the  chair.  Included  in  the  .several 
kinds  of  Palms  noted  for  their  economic  properties,  the  Oil 
Palm  (Elaeis  guineensis),  and  samples  manufactured  products 
in  bottles,  also  .stearic  candles  and  palm  oil  soap  served  as 
illustrations  of  products  to  Avhich  this  Palm  is  amenable,  Avhilst 
the  Cocoa-nut  Palm  (Cocos  nucifera)  AA’as  similarly  represented 
in  the  shape  of  a  fruit  (drupe),  Avith  the  nut  enclosed,  and  such 
as  coir,  cordage,  &c.,  with  also  a  description  of  the  multifarious 
uses  afforded  by  the  Cocoa-nut.  The  edible  Cabbage  Palm 
(Areca  oleracea),  of  the  West  Indies,  Avas  also  particularly  men¬ 
tioned.  In  the  discussion  that  folloAved,  reference  AA'as  made 
for  the  present  comparative  scarcity  of  cocoa-nut  fibre  suitable 
for  horticAiltural  purposes,  but  for  Avhat  reason  no  particular 
cause  AA'as  assigned.  A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  aa'RS  accorded  the 
lecturer. — W.  G. 
Prizes  for  an  Essay. 
Mr.  P.  Murray  Thomson,  S.S.C.,  secretary  of  the  Royal  Cale¬ 
donian  Horticultural  Society,  draws  our  attention  to  a  prominent 
class,  with  attractive  monetary  prizes  attached,  of  which  par¬ 
ticulars  are  furnished  on  page  38  of  the  schedule.  The  first 
award  carries  £5 ;  the  second  £3 ;  and  the  third  £2  (open  to  all). 
In  the  event  of  the  first  prize  essay  proving  of  particular  merit, 
the  prize  will  be  increased  to  £7.  Thus ;  “  For  the  best  essay  on 
the  lasting  qualities,  the  preservation  and  arrangement  of  dif¬ 
ferent  flowers,  foliage,  and  plants  in  a  cut  state  in  water,  in 
either  town  or  country,  and  in  the  town  distinct  from  the 
country ;  including  a  statement  of  the  conditions  of  age,  growth, 
weather,  &c.,  for,  and  the  methods  of  cutting  such  flowers,  foliage, 
and  plants,  and  their  treatment  afterwards,  so  as  to  last  well ;  a 
description  of  the  injurious  effects  of  some  on  others  when  placed 
together  in  water;  and  suggestions  as  to  their  arrangement  so 
as  to  show  them  to  the  best  advantage,  having  regard  both  to 
economy  and  beauty.”  The  prizegivers  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J. 
Martin  White,  Balruddery,  Dundee,  both  of  whom  are  famous  in 
the  North  for  their  love  of  gardening  and  flowers.  In  his  letter 
Mr.  Thomson  adds :  “  If  there  is  good  results  from  this  competi¬ 
tion,  I  am  sure  Mr.  Martin  White  will  go  on  to  prove  a  good 
friend  to  horticulture.”  He  has,  indeed,  signified  his  intention 
to  offer  considerably  increased  prizes  next  year,  in  the  event  of 
the  competition  this  year  being  well  taken  up  and  proving  useful. 
Each  essay  must  bear  a  motto,  and  be  accompanied  by  a  sealed 
envelope  bearing  the  same  motto,  and  enclosing  the  competitor’s 
name  and  address.  All  essays  for  this  competition  must  be  in 
the  hands  of  the  secretary  not  later  than  August  1,  1902.  The 
prizewinning  essays  are  to  be  the  property  of  the  Society.  The 
secretary’s  address  is  5,  York  Place,  Edinburgh. 
Midland  Carnation  and  Picotee  Society, 
The  eleventh  annual  report  of  the  above  is  published,  show¬ 
ing  a  balance  in  hand  of  £18  8s.  6d.  The  exhibition  for  1902  will 
be  held  at  the  Botanical  Gardens,  Edgbaston,  Birmingham,  on 
July  30  and  31.  Unfortunately  Mr.  Cartwright  finds  he  is 
unable  to  continue  the  management  of  the  society,  and  Mr. 
Sydenham,  Tenby  Street,  Birmingham,  has  at  the  special  request 
of  the  committee,  again  kindly  undertaken  this  task  for  1902, 
but  only  upon  the  consideration  that  Mr.  W.  Parton,  jun.,  of 
King’s  Heath,  has  promised  to  take  up  the  Avork  in  1903. 
Auricula  and  Primula  Society. 
The  annual  report  for  1901  (southern  section)  has  come  to  us  , 
from  Mr.  T.  E.  Henwood,  Auricula  Villa,  16,  Hamilton  Road, 
Reading.  Tliis  shoAvs  a  balance  in  hand  of  £21  13s.  6d.,  as 
against  £19  17s.  6d.  last  year.  Eleven  new  members  joined 
during  last  year.  To  ensure  the  continued  prosperity  of  the 
society,  it  noAv  remains  for  the  members  to  bring  in  neAv  recruits 
to  fill  the  vacancies  that  must  inevitably  occur  eAmry  season. 
It  is  not  considered  necessary  to  hold  an  election  of  the  best 
variety  of  Auriculas  and  Primulas,  noAV'  that  a  list  of  the  Avinning 
floAvers  is  published  in  the  annual  report,  this  being  considered 
the  best  and  most  reliable  guide  to  refer  to. 
Our  Farm  Page. 
The  Editor  invites  the  attention  of  nurserymen  and  horticul¬ 
turists  AA'ho  produce  crops  for  market  to  the  citations  furnished 
this  week  in  our  Home  Farm  Page  in  the  article  entitled  “  Exces¬ 
sive  Raihvay  Rates.”  The  grievance  is  no  neAv  one.  What  is 
surprising  is  that  a  remedy  should  not  have  been  attempted  (or 
shall  we  say  extended?)  long  ago.  We  agree  that  AA'ater  transit 
is  not  nearly  so  costly  as  by  rail,  and  that  some  of  the  raihvay 
companies  show  a  desire  to  assist  producers ;  yet,  AA'ith  cheapened 
rates,  hoAV  greatly  could  rural  industries  be  stimulated !  The 
companies  Avould  lose  nothing  (rather  the  opposite  eventually), 
and  both  producer  and  consumer  would  benefit. 
Who  can  Sketch  a  Garden  Plan  ? 
The  question  is  addressed  to  under  gardeners  only.  Sir  John 
Gilmour,  Bart.,  of  Montrave,  N.B.,  through  the  Royal  Caledonian 
Horticultural  Society,  is  offering  two  prizes — a  first  of  £3  and 
second  of  £2,  the  society  providing  a  third  of  £1 — for  a  sketch- 
plan  of  a  garden.  Money  prizes  are  generally  more  satisfactory 
than  medals,  yet  we  remember  hoAV  keen  w’ere  the  competitions 
for  the  medals  a  number  of  years  ago,  when  the  inducements 
were  furnished  by  the  Scottish  Horticultural  Association.  We 
hear  that  a  number  of  under  gardeners  are  busy  preparing  plans 
for  the  present  competition.  The  experience  gained  we  know 
will,  during  life,  be  reflected  upon  with  feelings  of  the  deepest 
satisfaction.  Vide  pages  22  and  23  of  the  R.C.H.S.  schedule. 
Glasgow  Botanic  Gardens. 
On  the  15th  inst.,  at  a  Corporation  Saturday  Evening  Lecture, 
Professor  F.  O.  BoAver,  of  Glasgow  University,  gave  a  very 
interesting  and  instructive  paper  on  the  Glasgow  Botanic 
Gardens.  Before  proceeding  with  his  subject  proper,  he  re¬ 
marked,  first,  that  an  exhaustive  collection  of  plants  and  shrubs 
placed  together,  as  far  as  practice  would  allow,  in  their  different 
natural  orders,  and,  second,  that  all  should  be  correctly 
named,  was  his  definition  of  what  a  botanic  garden  ought 
to  be.  A  library,  laboratory,  and  museum  were  required  to  sus-  • 
tain  it  from  a  scientific  point  of  view,  but  these  were  not  in 
GlasgoAV,  and  he  had  not  very  bright  expectations  of  them  being 
added,  either.  He  gave  a  short  but  clear  description  of  the 
Gardens  from  their  beginning  in  1818  till  1841,  during  which 
time  they  were  “  second  to  none  ”  in  Britain  or  even  in  Europe. 
Sir  William  Hooker  was  then  responsible,  and  that,  he  said, 
explained  the  reason  of  their  prosperity.  From  the  year  1841, 
when  Sir  William  left  for  Kew,  till  1881,  the  Gardens  gradually 
fell  back,  when  the  Corporation  stepped  in  and  relieved  the 
company  from  their  difficulties.  He  thought  that  too  many 
duplicates  of  plants  were  grown  in  the  Gardens  at  the  present 
time,  mentioning  at  the  same  time  that,  in  his  opinion,  he  did 
not  think  it  a  proper  place  for  an  annual  display  of  Chrys- 
nathemums,  as  has  been  held  of  late  years.  He  hoped  and 
expected  that  more  attention  would  be  given  to  the  botanical 
side,  rather  than  to  the  growing  of  plants  and  flowers  for  orna¬ 
mentation,  under  Mr.  Whitten’s  charge.  Throughout  the 
lecture,  limelight  views  were  shoAvn  of  a  tropical  botanic  garden 
in  Java,  an  American  botanic  garden,  Kew  Gardens,  and  Edin¬ 
burgh  and  GlasgoAv  Botanic  Gardens. — A.  B. 
