252 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Karly  Irises. 
From  Messrs.  Kehvay  and  Sons,  Langport,  Somerset,  Ave 
received  a  delightful  bunch  of  Iris  reticulata  major  at  the  end 
of  last  week.  No  flowers  are  more  beautiful  at  tbis  early  season 
of  the  year.  When  once  established  in  suitable  soil  these  Irises 
grow  luxuriantly. 
Weather  in  the  North. 
From  the  10th  to  the  17th  inst.  has  been  a  week  of  very  fine 
weather  for  the  season.  Clear  and  dullish  days  have  alternated, 
and  on  three  mornings  frost  of  one,  tAvo,  or  three  degrees  Avas 
registered.  Occasionally  cold  N.W.  Avind  has  prevailed,  but 
generally  Avesterly  Avind  and  drizzly  shoAvers  have  pleasantly 
Amired  the  day,  Avith  noAv  and  then  heavier  rain  during  the  night. 
- — ^B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
Appointments. 
i\lr.  Frank  L.  FollAvell,  for  the  past  four  and  a  half  years  fore¬ 
man  in  the  gardens  at  Foxbury,  Chislehurst,  as  gardener  to 
Chas.  Morley,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Shockeinvick  House,  Bath,  entered 
upon  his  duties  February  10.  *  *  Mr.  A.  Shadbolt,  for  the 
last  three  and  a  half  years  general  foreman  at  Bessborough,  Co. 
Kilkenny,  and  formerlv  at  Hatfield  and  Mentmore,  as  head 
gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Selborne,  Blackmoor  House,  Petersfield, 
Hants. 
Swanley  Horticultural  College 
The  report  of  the  Horticultural  College  at  SAA^anley  shows  tha^ 
last  year  Avas  a  year  of  marked  improA'ement  in  its  general  opera¬ 
tions.  A  iieAV  range  of  substantially  built  glass  houses  Avas  com¬ 
pleted,  and  the  botanical  garden  and  students’  plots  Avere 
considerably  enlarged.  By  these  alterations  students  can  noAv 
continue  a  second  year  at  market  garden  Avork,  and  thus  more 
fully  complete  the  course.  When  funds  admit,  further  improve¬ 
ments  will  be  attempted,  especially  in  connection  with  the  library 
and  laboratory  accommodation. 
Very  Early  Potatoes, 
A  much-respected  con'espondent  sends  us  the  following  cutting 
from  a  recent  issue  of  the  “  Irish  Times  ”  :  “  The  6th  of  March 
is  usually  considered  an  early  date  for  planting  Potatoes  in  this 
part  of  Meath.  Sauntering  along  the  brow  of  a  hill,  I  descried 
in  the  adjoining  hollow  a  tenant  farmer  and  family  busily 
engaged  in  spade  laboui’.  Quickening  my  pace,  I  descended  to 
vieAv  the  good  Avork  and  compliment  the  itndustrious.  With 
visions  of  Potato  boxes  filled  with  sprouted  tubert,  I  realised 
the  great  benefit  of  the  leaflets  distributed  by  the  Department  of 
Agriculture.  Suddenly  I  stopped,  and  retraced  my  steps  to  think 
of  other  things.  My  congratulations  have  not  reached  the 
Avorkers.  They  Avere  digging  last  year’s  Potato  crop. — Obseeahek.” 
A  Unique  Collection  of  Butterflies. 
South  Kensington  Museum  Avill  shortly  be  enriched  by  the 
addition  to  its  treasures  of  the  finest  collelction  of  butterflies 
and  moths  in  the  AA’orld.  Lord  Walsingham,  aaAio  is  a  trustee  of 
the  British  Museum,  reports  the  “  Daily  Mail,”  has  made  over  to 
the  nation  his  magnificent  assortment  of  microlepidoptera,  Avhich 
for  more  than  thirty  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  acquiring  from 
every  country  under  the  sun.  At  present  the  collection,  which 
contains  more  than  200,000  specimens,  is  encased  at  Merton  Hall, 
Lord  Walsingham’s  Norfolk  seat,  but  as  soon  as  possible  it  AAdll 
be  placed  in  its  neAV  abode,  where  it  will  entirely  transform  tha 
appearance  of  the  insect  section,  to  which  butterflies  and  moths 
at  present  contribute  but  scantily.  The  Walsingham  collection  is 
not  only  the  largest,  but  also  the  most  important,  in  a  historical 
sense,  in  existence.  It  includes  amongst  others  the  famous 
Zeller  collection,  .and  also  those  formed  by  Hofmann  and 
Christoph,  so  that  the  magnitude  of  the  gift  can  hardly  be 
exaggerated.  The  specimens  embrace  many  of  the  originals 
selected  as  standard  types  by  A’arious  authorities  Avho  have  AA'ritten 
on  the  subject.  Lord  Walsingham  liimself  has  issued  numerous 
monographs  and  papers  on  this  his  favourite  study  and  pursuit. 
The  importance  of  the  gift  to  the  natural  history  student  is 
obvious.  He  Avill  be  able  to  folloAv  all  the  recognised  text-books 
on  lepidoptera  by  reference  to  the  actual  specimens,  in  many 
cases,  from  AA'hich  the  authorities  made  their  observations  and 
deductions,  AAhile  the  ordinary  visitor  aaTII  be  charmed  by  the 
almost  countless  varieties  of  beautiful  form  and  colour  Avhich  the 
collection  comprises.  It  has  not  yet  been  decided  Avhereat  in 
the  museum  the  collection  shall  be  placed.  The  room  in  AA’hich 
the  present  specimens  repose  is  quite  inadequate  for  the  reception 
of  such  a  large  addition. 
March  20,  1902. 
Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. 
The  sixt.y-third  anniversary  festival  of  the  aboAm  Avill  be  held 
at  the  Hotel  Metropole,  London,  on  May  28,  Avhen  his  Grace  the 
Duke  of  Marlborough  has  Lindly  consented  to  preside. 
Gardening  Scholarship. 
A  scholarship  at  the  County  School  of  Horticulture,  Pymmes 
Pai’k,  Edmonton,  of  the  A’alue  of  £25  for  one  year,  and  renewable 
for  a  second  year,  ha.s  been  aAA’arded  to  Leonard  M.  Young,  of 
51,  Leicester  Road,  East  Finchley,  N. 
Royal  Parks  and  Gardens. 
The  First  Commissioner  of  AVorks  has  promoted  Major  W’illiam 
Clive  Husse.y,  late  Royal  Engineers,  as.sistant  bailiff  of  the  Royal 
Parks  and  Gardens,  in  the  room  of  Colonel  Moreton  John 
Wheatley,  C.B.,  late  Royal  Engineers,  Avho  has  retired  on  attain¬ 
ing  the  age  limit. 
Solitaires  in  Landscape  Gardening. 
In  “  Meehans’  Monthly  ”  for  March  the  writer  of  an  article- 
on  a  feature  of  landscape  gardening  uses  a  neAA’  expression  to- 
describe  specimen  trees.  He  calls  them  “  solitaires.”  This  appli¬ 
cation  of  the  AA’ord  seems  so  appropriate  for  a  perfectly  formed 
solitary  tree  in  a  landscape  setting  that  it  might  well  receiA'e 
general  adoption. 
Examination  in  Horticulture. 
The  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  annual  examination  in  the 
Principles  and  Practice  of  Horticulture  Avill  be  held  on  Wed¬ 
nesday,  April  23.  Intending  candidates  are  requested  to  send  in 
their  names  to  the  Secretary,  R.H.S.,  117,  Victoria  Street, 
London,  S.W.,  as  early  as  possible.  A  stamped  and  directed  enve¬ 
lope  must  be  enclosed  Avith  all  communications  requiring  a  reply. 
Hardenbergia  Comptoniana. 
The  Hardenbergias  are  reputedly  free-groAving,  or  free- 
floAvering  climbers.  For  the  roof  of  a  greenhouse  or  conservatory, 
or  for  a  pillar  in  the  same,  they  are  frequently  in  demand.  The 
species  Ave  figure  on  page  253  is  a  very  handsome  member  and  a 
vigorous  groAver.  The  pendulous  racemes  are  brilliant  blue.  Any 
good  greenhouse  border  Avill  suit  this  plant,  the  culture  being 
similar  to  that  of  the  Kennedyas.  Care  should  be  exercised  to 
keep  the  foliage  clear  of  insects,  particularly  mealey  bug.  Little 
pruning  is  requisite  except  to  remove  the  old  bare  or  weakly 
shoots. 
Agricultural  Co-operation. 
It  is  proposed  to  hold  a  conference  at  WarAvick  Castle  on 
May  1  next  to  provide  an  opiDortunity :  (1)  For  those  directly 
engaged  in  any  other  lighter  branches  of  agriculture  or  rural 
industries  to  make  known  their  Avork ;  (2)  For  those  who  are  in¬ 
terested  in  the  things  pertaining  to  the  Avelfare  of  our  country 
districts  to  learn  what  is  being  done  to  stay  the  rural  depopula¬ 
tion ;  (3)  For  an  interchange  of  ideas  and  sympathetic  sugges¬ 
tions  betAveen  those  engaged  in  allied  industries ;  (4)  For  those 
Avho  need  teachers  or  trained  workers  to  meet  those  who  are  fully 
trained  and  capable  of  teaching  others ;  (5)  For  the  binding  of  all 
these  in  one  strong  organisation  for  co-operation  and  co-ordina¬ 
tion.  It  is  therefore  hoped  any  Avho  are  interested  in  the  objecta 
for  Avhich  the  conference  is  called,  and  aaTio  Avish  to  learn  fuller 
details  of  the  programme  of  the  discussion,  as  also  of  the  hospi¬ 
tality  to  be  offered  for  the  occasion,  Avill  AA-rite  for  particulars  to^ 
the  W'arden,  Lady  WarAvick  Hostel,  Reading,  or  to  Lady 
Warwick. 
Scilly  FloAwer  Trade  :  Record  Export. 
The  quantity  of  flowers  exported  from  Scilly  on  March  11 
eclipses  all  previous  records.  One  steamer  Avas  found  unable  to 
carrj’  them,  and  two  vessels  left  for  Penzance  laden  Avith  48  tons 
of  Narcissus  and  Daffodils.  This  is  7  tons  more  than  the  ship¬ 
ment  of  the  Aveek  before,  which  aaes  the  preA’ious  record  export 
from  the  islands.  All  Scilly  has  been  Avorking  at  high  pi-essure 
during  the  last  ten  days  of  fine  A\  eather  but  Avithout  success. 
The  floAvers  come  out  in  such  quantities  that  it  is  impossible  to 
cope  with  them.  The  schools  are  closed,  and  the  children  have 
been  “  commandeered  ”  for  the  Avork,  but  still  the  floAvers  cannot 
all  be  gathered.  One  large  groAver  sent  upAA’ards  of  1,000  boxes. 
Each  box  holds  about  500  market  bunches.  This  is  the  output 
since  Saturday  of  a  farm  not  much  larger  than  a  fair-sized  Englislx 
field.  If  the  Aveather  keeps  as  at  present  thousands  of  floAvers 
Avill  most  likely  be  left  to  rot  in  the  fields,  for  prices  are  bad  and 
men  cannot  keep  working  day  and  night.  We  may  observe  that 
these  Scilly  floAvers  do  not  last  long  when  brought  from  the- 
retailers. 
