466 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  21,  1901. 
Gooseberry  Whinham’s  Industry. 
The  variety,  Whinham’s  Industry,  is  known  and  grown,  both 
in  the  North,  South,  and  in  the  Midlands.  As  a  market  Goose¬ 
berry  it  is  largely  cultivated,  and  bears  heavy  crops  with  great 
persistence.  The  fruits  are  large  and  roundish-oval  in  shape, 
dark  red  and  showy,  as  typified  in  the  illustration  on  page  467. 
The  habit  of  growth  is  erect,  and  finely  spreading  bushes  are 
easily  produced.  Both  for  cooking  purposes  in  a  green  state,  or 
for  dessert,  Whinham’s  Industry  stands  in  high  excellence. 
Societies. 
Royal  Horticultural — S cientilic  Committee,  Nov.  12th. 
Present :  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the  chair)  ;  Messrs.  Odell, 
Chapman.  Saunders,  Bowles,  and  Michael ;  Drs.  Bundle  and  Cooke; 
Bevs.  W.  Wilks,  and  G.  Henslow,  Hon.  Sec. 
Stellate  Coecicl. — With  reference  to  the  specimens  brought  by 
Mr.  Odell  to  the  last  meeting.  Mr.  Bobt.  Newstead  reports  as 
follows: — “The  Coccid  on  Cypripedium  is  the  Vinsonia  stellifera, 
Westwood,  ‘  The  Star  Seale.’  It  is  known  from  both  hemispheres,  but 
has  been  found  most  abundantly  in  the  West  Indies.  The  specimen 
sent  was  a  male  puparia,  and  one  contains  an  imago  ready  to  emerge. 
They  are  both  new  to  science.”  Mr.  Odell  added  that  the  species  of 
Orchid  was  C.  Godfrey®  var.  leucochrilum.  It  wras  imported  some 
six  months  ago,  but  the  exact  locality  was  not  known.  Dr.  Masters 
suggested  Cochin  China  as  being  the  native  country  of  that  species  of 
Orchid. 
Worms  in  soil. — Mr.  Saunders  reported  as  follows  upon  specimens 
sent  to  the  last  meeting  by  Mr.  Baker,  of  Henbury,  Bristol : — “  As 
regards  the  worms  sent  by  Mr.  Baker,  of  Henbury,  I  hear  from  Mr. 
F.  E.  Beddard,  our  best  authority  on  these  animals,  that  they  are  not 
young  earthworms.  He  says  the  worms  you  sent  me  are  members  of 
the  family  Enchytrseidae,  not  earthworms  in  the  strict  sense.  I  think 
that  they  do  injure  living  plants— at  least,  some  of  the  many  species 
of  the  family  do.  I  am  not  certain  what  particular  species  it  is  that 
you  have  sent  me.  To  identify  them  is  rather  a  troublesome  job, 
because  of  the  numbers  that  are  known,  and  the  slightness  of  the 
characters  that  sometimes  distinguish  species.  When  I  sent  them  to 
Mr.  Beddard  I  told  him  not  to  trouble  about  the  specific  name  if  it 
would  give  him  much  trouble  to  do  so.  I  have  written  to  Mr.  Baker, 
and  told  him  what  the  worms  are ;  and  recommended  him  to  water 
thoroughly  with  lime  water,  or  a  solution  of  1  oz.  of  corrosive  sublimate 
and  40  gallons  of  water,  to  turn  up  the  soil  well  so  that  the  birds 
might  get  at  them,  and  to  turn  poultry  in  if  practicable.” 
Fern  fronds. — Dr.  M.  C.  Cooke  reported  upon  specimens  sent  to 
the  last  meeting: — “The  two  Fern  fronds  were  examined,  and  the 
spots,  like  those  caused  by  rain  drips,  showed  no  sign  of  fungus  or 
mycelium,  and  I  am  convinced  that  the  cause  must  be  sought  in  the 
surroundings.” 
Vine  leaf. — Dr.  Cooke  also  reports  as  follows: — “Two  objects  on 
the  leaf  attracted  my  attention.  The  one  was  small  black  superficial 
spots,  which  were  something  like  grains  of  gunpowder  in  appearance. 
They  had  no  adhesion  to  the  leaf,  were  quite  amorphous  under  the 
microscope,  and  probably  were  only  insect  ‘  f'rass.’  The  other  object 
was  small  discoloured  spots  about  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  of  a 
dingy  olive.  On  attempting  to  remove  a  portion  on  the  point  of  a 
penknife  it  flaked  off  in  pieces,  and  left  the  leaf  beneath  quite  green 
and  uninjured.  It  could  all  be  xviped  from  the  leaf,  as  there  was  no 
attachment.  The  object  proved  to  be  a  network  of  brown  mycelium, 
with  the  slender  threads  and  spores  of  a  species  of  delicate  Clado- 
sporium.  As  it  was  Avholly  superficial  I  did  not  attempt  its  specific 
determination,  since  it  could  not  inflict  injury  on  the  Vine,  and  could 
be  readily  wiped  away.”  The  thanks  of  the  committee  were  given  to 
Dr.  Cooke  for  these  investigations. 
Club-root  fungicide.  —  Bev.  W.  Wilks  inquired,  on  behalf  of  a 
correspondent,  whether  lime  cures  this  disease,  as  some  farmers 
consider  its  prevalence  to  a  Avant  of  lime  in  the  soil.  Mr.  Odell  said 
that  gas  lime  was  effective,  as  it  is  also  for  wifeworm,  but  doubted  the 
v'alue  of  lime  itself.  Dr.  Masters  observed  that  Wallflowers  Avhich 
groAV  on  chalk  are  very  liable  to  the  disease,  and  attributed  the 
destruction  of  the  fungus  to  the  sulphur  in  the  gas  lime,  and  not  to 
the  lime  itself. 
Effects  of  London  Fog  upon  Orchids.  —  Mr.  Chapman  brought 
specimens  of  the  flowers  of  Cypripedium  insigne,  a  more  hardy 
mountain  species,  Avhich  Avas  quite  uninjured ;  similarly  of  Odonto- 
glossums,  he  scarcely  lost  a  plant  in  bud,  Avhereas  warmer  sorts  of 
Cypripediums  had  their  floAvers  limp,  and  collapsed. 
Galls. — Dr.  M.  C.  Cooke  exhibited  specimens  of  tAvo  kinds  of  galls  ; 
one  from  Oaks,  and  a  second  off  certain  members  of  the  Anacardiacese. 
Carnations  Diseased. — Mr.  Douglas  sent  some  plants,  Avhich  were 
referred  to  Dr.  Cooke  for  examination  and  report. 
Narcissus  bulbs  decaying. — Some  bulbs  were  received,  apparently 
attacked  by  some  grub  at  the  apex.  Mr.  Saunders  undertook  to 
examine  them. 
Maple  branches  coherent. — Dr.  Masters  exhibited  a  forking  Maple 
branch,  which  another  had  apparently  pierced.  It  Avas  suggested 
that  the  latter  had  been  caught  in  the  fork,  and  by  groAvth  had  split 
the  main  stem  beloAv  it,  then  this  had  healed  up  all  over  the  shoot. 
The  position  of  the  inserted  bough  Avas  rather  beloAv  that  of  the  other 
tAvo,  Avhich  formed  the  angle  between  them.  Bev.  W.  Wilks  said  that 
he  knew  of  a  very  similar  occurrence  in  an  Oak  tree,  but  the  bough 
AA*as  a  A'ery  large  one  in  that  case. 
Apple  spotted. — Dr.  Masters  exhibited  an  Apple  covered  with  black 
spots.  Dr.  Cooke  observed  that  they  Avere  the  early  stage  of  a 
fungus,  Labrella  pomi. 
Skimmia  Fortunei. — Dr.  Masters  showed  a  fruiting  spray  of  this 
plant,  and  observed  that  although  it  had  been  shown  that  the  names 
S.  japonica  and  S.  oblata  were  erroneous,  gardeners  still  persisted  in 
calling  it  by  this  latter  name. 
Beech  leaves  with  galls. — Mr.  Odell  shoAved  leaves  with  galls  of  a 
small  gnat-like  fly,  Hormomyia  piligera,  one  of  the  Cecidomyidre. 
A  peculiarity  in  the  autumnal  colouring  of  the  leaves  was,  that  Avhile 
all  the  rest  of  the  blade. was  orange  coloured,  the  portion  near  the 
galls,  or  the  upper  half  of  the  leaf  beyond  them,  Avas  still  bright  green. 
This  retention  of  the  chlorophyll  was  apparently  due  to  the  stimulus 
produced  by  the  local  irritation  set  up  by  the  presence  of  the  galls. 
Plants  from  Botanical  Gardens ,  Cambridge. — Mr.  B.  Irwin  Lynch 
sent  the  following  for  exhibition  : — Gerbera,  a  neAV  var.  “  Sir  Michael  ” 
(“  Gai-d.  Chron.,”  September  21,  1901,  p.  223).  It  belongs  to  the 
tribe  Mutisiacese,  three-fourths  of  the  species  being  African,  the  rest 
(of  tAventy)  occur  in  Asia  and  E.  T.  The  disk  florets  are  peculiar 
in  having  two  thread-like  petals  on  one  side,  and  three  longer  ones 
on  the  other.  It  may  be  noticed  that  tins  condition  sometimes  occurs 
in  the  transitional  state  of  disk  florets  in  semi-double  Daisies,  &e. 
Plectranthus  saccatus.  a  neAV  introduction  to  Cambridge,  the  flower 
being  exceptionally  large  for  the  genus.  It  aauis  received  from  the 
Cape.  Lotus  glaucus,  Ait.  (referred  to  “  Journal  of  Botany,”  1897, 
p.  382).  Pancratium  canariense.  Lindenbergia  gran  diflora,  intro¬ 
duced  to  Cambridge  1900  (“  Bot.  Mag.,”  1900,  t.  7738).  Nat.  Ord., 
Serophularinese.  The  genus  embraces  eight  species — E.  Africa,  Arabia, 
India,  and  Malay  Arch.  The  present  species  has  yelloAV  floAvers. 
resembling  those  of  Mimulus,  but  is  devoid  of  the  two  sensitive 
stigmatic  lobes,  the  stigma  being  globular. 
Plants  from  Botanical  Gardens ,  Dublin. — Mr.  F.  W.  Burbidge  sent 
the  following  for  exhibition: — Colletia  Benthamiana,  a  plant  of 
dwarfer  and  finer  groAvth  than  C.  ferox.  It  bore  three  leaves  upon 
the  spines.  Bubus  australis,  in  three  forms — viz.,  var.  foliosa,  with 
large  leaflets  ;  var.  intermedia,  with  very  small  ones  ;  and  the  ordinary 
form  with  none  at  all.  Natives  of  Australia.  Apera  arundinaria, 
Hook.,  the  “ Pheasant’s-tail ”  Grass  of  the  island  NeAV  Zealand;  the 
autumn  tints  of  red  and  brown  are  very  pronounced  (“  Gard.  Chron.,” 
Arol.  xxii.,  October  23,  1897,  p.  283,  fig.  84).  Hypoxis  hemerocallidea 
(=  H.  elata,  “  Bot.  Mag.”).  A  point  to  be  observed  is  the  circum- 
scissile  dehiscence  of  the  ovary.  It  has  been  groAvn  in  the  open  at 
Dublin  for  seven  years.  Narcissus  Tazetta,  a  variety  always  blossoming 
in  November  and  December  in  the  open  air,  but  near  a  warm  plant 
house.  It  is  rema.rka.ble  for  the  great  length  of  stem  and  foliage. 
Laurelia  aromatica,  the  “  Chilian  Sweet  Bay.”  The  leaves  are  highly 
aromatic  if  bruised.  It  makes  an  open  air  shrub  at  WickloAv  25  feet 
high,  and  is  useful  as  a  pot  or  tub  plant  in  a  consex’vatory.  The 
genus  has  only  tAvo  species — one  in  Chili,  the  other  in  New  Zealand, 
indicating  (with  Fuchsia)  a  former  connection  betAveen  these  places. 
It  belongs  to  the  Order  Monimiacese.  Azolla  filiculoides  has  lived  for 
years  in  muddy  tanks.  If  introduced  in  a  pond  it  is  difficult  to 
eradicate,  from  its  hardy  nature  and  great  multiplication.  Acacia 
melanoxylon  (?),  shoAving  compound  blades  upon  several  of  the 
phyllodes,  an  unusual  feature  in  Australian  species.  Parochtetus 
communis,  “  Indian  Shamrock,”  remarkable  for  the  perfectly  straight 
peduncles,  which  become  strongly  bent  in  fruit,  as  if  to  bury  the 
legumes  like  Arachis. 
Barnsley  Chrysanthemum,  November  5th  and  6th. 
Signal  success  attended  the  fifteenth  annual  exhibition  of 
Chrysanthemums  of  the  Barnsley  Society  on  Thursday  and 
Friday  in  last  Aveek.  There  was  a  record  entry  of  280,  as  against 
179  last  year,  and  the  general  verdict  was  that  the  quality  of 
exhibits  was  a  decided  improvement.  The  committee  had  also 
arranged  for  a  good  social  programme,  with  the  result  that  the 
receipts,  too,  were  a  record,  and  more  valuable  prizes  are  at 
once  assured  for  next  year’s  shoxv.  Messrs.  J.  P.  Leadbeater, 
Tranby  Croft,  and  W.  Tunnington,  Calderstone,  Liverpool,  were 
the  judges,  and  the  former  gave  an  interesting  essay  on  “  The 
Manipulation  of  the  Chrysanthemum,”  to  a  large  audience.  Mr. 
W.  B.  Armitage,  the  genial  secretary,  spared  no  effort  to  make 
the  show  the  success  it  achieved.  The  principal  prizetakers 
were  Mr.  A.  Alderman,  gardener  to  Mr.  J.  D.  Ellis,  of  Worksop 
(who  took  seven  firsts,  and  his  incurved  varieties  were  indeed 
beautiful  specimens  both  in  form  and  colour) ;  Messrs.  T.  Ketchell 
(Mr.  C.  H.  Simpson,  Ackworth) ;  A.  Brookes  (Countess  of  Rosse, 
Womersley  Park) ;  A.  E.  Wilson  (Mrs.  Guy  Senior,  Beevor  Hall) ; 
E.  Hill  (Mrs.  Norris,  Beechfield,  Doncaster) ;  W.  H.  Smith  (Mr. 
T.  B.  Lawrance,  Longcar  Park) ;  E.  Foster  (Mr.  R.  Bury,  Manor 
House,  Au-desley) ;  J.  Findley  (Mr.  R.  Heyxvood-Jones,  Bades- 
worth,  Pontefract):  W.  Michael  (Mr.  A.  P.  Woodruff,  Barnes- 
l«y);  and  Mr.  R.  K.  Micklethwait,  Ardsley  House. — W.  N. 
