February  2,  15:99, 
JQUR^^AL  OF 
HORTlGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
8.3 
—  French  Be^A-N  Emperor  —  Having  tried,  the 
above  Bean  for  the  first  ,  time  last  season,  I  can  confidently  say  that  we 
have  in  it  a  valuable  addition  to  our  list  of  French  Beans,  and  one  perfectly 
distinct  in  every  way.  It  belongs  to  tho  white  seeded  varieties^  the 
somewhat  irregular  pods  being  conspicuous.  The  cron  was  immense,  and 
was  ready  for  use  earlier  than  other  varieties  sown  at' the  ^amd'^ime.  Tho 
flavour  was  of  the  best,  but  the  chief  features  seem  to  bd  its  chiitinuance 
in  cropping,  not  quick  to  become  stringy,  and  its  admirable  forcing 
properties.  It  is  well  worth  a  trial  in  every  gkrden.— K.  P.  IE 
— —  SciADOPiTYS  VERTiciLLATA. — In  the  interesting  description 
of  Hafodunos  and  its  collection  of  Conifers  (pnge  46),  I  note  that  special 
,  mention  is  made  of  the  unusual  cone-producing  proclivity  of  this 
unique  Japanese  species,  and  I  thought  it  would  be  additionally 
instructive  to  learn  if  there  are  other  specimens  in  the  United 
Kingdom  exceeding  it  both  in  size  and  fruition.  Probably,  however, 
a  specimen,  which  I  believe  is  growing  at  Castlewellan,  co.  Down, 
Ireland,  may  have  by  this  time  attained  to  similar  dimensions,  as  some 
five  or  six  years  ago  it  was  recorded  as  then  being  about  10  feet  high. 
— W.  G. 
;  Murram  Grass.  —  A  very  successful  experiment  has  been 
made  by  the  South  Australian  Government  in  the  planting  of  Murram 
Grass  on  the  sand  hills  at  Normanville,  which  is  the  seaport  of  the 
large  and  fruitful  district  of  Yankalilla.  The  Murram  Grass,  which 
was  brought  into  requisition  for  the  purpose  of  binding  and  consoli¬ 
dating  the  sand,  is  described  as  serving  its  purpose  admirably.  We 
notice,  says  “  Indian  Gardening,”  that  an  attempt  was  made  last  year 
to  grow  this  Grass  on  the  Government  estate  at  Pooree,  in  Orissa, 
from  roots  received  from  Australia,  but  the  roots  were  dry  on  receipt, 
and  the  experiment  failed.  Further  action,  we  are  told,  is  now  being 
taken  to  try  and  grow  tbis  Grass  from  seed.  ' 
Coleus  thyrsoideus. — This  is  a  new  plant  from  British 
Central  Africa,  and  from  the  way  it  has  behaved,  so  far,  it  is  likely  to 
become  a  popular  winter-flowering  greenhouse  plant  in  the  near  future. 
It  differs  from  the  garden  Coleus  by  being  of  no  service  as  a  foliage 
plant.  The  leaves  are  more  or  less  cordate,  green,  and  deeply  serrated. 
The  flowers  are  bright  blue,  and  produced  in  upright,  terminal  panicles 
from  each  branch.  It  should  be  grown  cool  all  the  summer,  the  same 
cultivation  as  that  given  to  Salvias  being  suitable.  Cuttings  rooted  in 
March  make  fine  plants  2^  feet  across  in  8-inch  pots  for  the  following 
winter.  The  temperature  of  a  warm  greenhouse  is  necessary  for  flower¬ 
ing.  It  can  be  seen  in  flower  in  the  Begonia  house  and  Mexican  house 
at  Kew. — D. 
Renew  ing-  Old  Seed. — \  erv  interesting  experiments  are 
being  conducted  at  the  Amherst  (Mass.)  experiment  station  in  bringing  to 
more  active  life  seeds  which  are  too  old  to  sprout  well.  Nothing  has  been 
published  on  the  matter  as  yet,  but  the  “  American  Agriculturist  ”  has 
ascertained  that  old  seeds  have  been  treated  with  a  2  per  cent,  solution 
of  asparagin,  a  vegetable  extract  obtained  from  German  chemists,  and 
the  result  has  been  to  increase  the  germinating  power  greatly.  Setd 
which  before  treatment  showed  only  50  per  cent,  of  germination  wdth 
one-half  worthless,  after  treatment  showed  98  per  cent,  of  germination 
and  only  2  per  cent,  which  failed  to  sprout.  ■  Since  asparagin  at  present 
costs  1  dol.  50c.  per  ounce,  the  method  is  not  profitable  for  ordinary 
seeds.  But  seeds  of  new  varieties  and  certain  flower  seeds  which  are 
actually  quoted  at  more  than  their  weight  in  gold  might  be  treated  in 
this  way  with  profit.  Experimenters  are  in  hopes  of  finding  a  cheaper 
substance  or  a  cheaper  way  of  making  this  article  for  treating  the 
seeds. 
"  Begonia  Haageana. — Among  the  shrubby  species  of  Begonia 
this^is  certainly  one  of  the  best.  It  combines  the  merits  of  being  decidedly 
ornamental,  whether  taken  from  a  foliage  or  flowering  point  of  view,  has 
a  first-rate  constitution,  and  is  easily  managed.  It  was  introduced  from 
Brazil  about  a  dozen  years  ago,  and  distributed  by  Messrs.  Haage  and 
Schmidt  of  Erfurt.  If  allowed  freedom  of  growth  it  makes  a  dense  bush  4  or 
5  feet  high,  and  3  or  more  feet  in  diameter.  The  leaves  vary  from  6  to 
12  inches  in  length.  They  are  dark  green  above,  reddish  underneath,  and 
thickly  covered  with  hairs  on  both  surfaces.  The  flowers  are  white  with 
numerous  red  hairs  about  the  lower  half  of  the  petals,  and  about  2  inches 
across.  They  >re  produced  in  large,  drooping,  cymose  beads,  often  a 
foot  across,  and  last  in  good  condition  for  several  weeks.  It  is  rarely  a 
large  plant  is  without  flowers,  but  probably  it  is  at  its  best  in  midwinter. 
It  succeeds  well  either  as  a  pot  plant  or  planted  in  a  border  ;  in  either 
case  it  will  continue  to  grow  and  flower  for  several  years  without  becom¬ 
ing  lanky,  a  thing  which  many  of  the  other  species  will  not  do,  A  house 
with  a  minimum  temperature  of  from  48°  to  50°  is  suitable  for  it. _ W.  D. 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’  Society.— At  a  meeting  of  the  above 
Society,  held  in  the  Parish  Schoolroom  on  .January  the  24  th,  [Mr.  F. 
Mason  presiding,  ^Ir.  ,T,  Stow,  Hessle,  read  a  paper  entitled  “Fruits 
and  their  Flavours  The  essayist  dealt  with  the  different  fruits  which 
are  used  for  essence  making,  describing  the  manner  and  the  way  the 
different  essential  oil  and  flavours  are  abstracted.  The  essay,  which 
proved  to  be  most  instructive  and  interesting,  was  much  enjoyed  by 
the  numerous  members  present,  and  there  was  a  capital  discussion. 
The  usual  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  essayist  and  the  Chairman. — 
J.,  T.  B.,  Hessle, 
■ -  Mey'ENIAS,: — What  a  pleasure  it  was  to  me  to  see  that  short' but 
admirable  note  in  your  issue  of  last  week  on  the  beautiful  though  some¬ 
what  neglected  Meyenias,  and  tho  capital  illustration  of  what  I  consider 
one  of  the  best  varieties.  I  well  remember  it,  as  I  think  it  was  quite  the 
first  plant  that  I  saw  in  flower  when  starting  my  gardening  career,  and  I 
have  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  impression  the  handsome  shades  pf  purple 
and  j'ellow  of  the  flower  made  upon  me,  and  how  choice  they  looked 
dotted  amongst  other  stove  plants.  Would  that  it  was  oftener  seen  now. 
The  cultural  details  are  so  good  as  to  make  comment  unnecessary.  The 
dictionary  says  that  it  was  introduced  from  West  Africa  in  1857.— R.P.Il. 
-  Early  Cauliflowers. — Tender  heads  of  Cauliflowers  are 
always  acceptable,  and  a  sowing  of  a  good  early  variety,  such  as  Eaily 
Snowball,  made  in  moderate  heat  in  January  or  February,  will  give  good 
results  later  on.  The  seeds  must  be  dispersed  thiaty,and  when  the  young 
plants  commence  to  show  themselves,  remove  the  box  to  a  light  position 
close  to  the  glass.  When  the  young  plants  are  lafgoenough  for  removal, 
they  should  be  pricked  off  into  boxes  of  old  potting  soil,  with  which 
has  been  incorporated  a  little  Mushroom  bed  refuse.  By  the  use  of  the 
manure  the  plants  will  lift  with  good  balls,  and  after  slowly  hardening, 
they  will  be  in  good  condition  for  removal  to  a  warm  border  at  the  end 
of  April  or  early  in  May. — V.  T. 
-  Lichens  and  Fungi. — I  had  the  pleasure  of  enjoying  the 
hospitality  and  a  couple  of  hours’  conversation  a  few  days  since,  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Dean,  a  namesake  only,  who  is  the  Congregational  minister  at 
Gomshall,  near  Dorking,  and  resides  at'Abinger,  where  he  acts  as  tl.e 
local  manager  of  the  Technical  Education  Lectures,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Parish  Council,  he  is  also  a  F.R.H.S.  He  further,  having  strong 
gardening  instincts,  superintends  a  number  of  small  gardens  worked  by 
both  boys  and  girls,  receiving  for  this  purpose  the  liberal  support  of  Lord 
and  Lady  Farrer.  Mr.  Dean  was  in  his  young  days  a  gardener,  but  pre¬ 
ferred  to  enter  tho  ministry.  Living  in  a  district  pecitli  irly  rich  in  na‘ive 
flora,  he  is  a  pretty  good  botanist,  and  has  a  v  ide  knowledge  of  wild 
flowers.  He  was  enabled  to  interest  me  immensely  when  at  his  house,  by 
showing,  with  the  aid  of  a  powerful  microscope,  minute  portions  of  mo-s, 
lichen,  fungi,  and  other  of  Nature’s  small  productions  of  the  most  wonder¬ 
ful  and  beautiful  kind.  Concerning  these  things,  the  gardeners’ 
minister  possesses  very  wide  and  interesting^knowledge. — A.  Dean. 
THE  ORPHAN  FUND  SECRETARYSHIP- 
It  will  bo  a  sad  misfortune  for  the  orphans  of  gardeners  should  the 
coming  election,  on  February  17th,  lead  to  any  such  contest  between 
gardeners  and  tfce  trade  as  that  indicated  as  possible  in  the  Jownal  of 
Horticulture  by  “  A.  D.,”  page  72.  It  is  hoped  that  the  good  sense  and 
brotherly  spirit  of  the  Committee  and  all  concerned,  as  well  as  the 
numerous  and  united  support  of  true  gardeners,  will  prevent  this  most 
useful  Fund  from  suffering  loss  through  rival  interests  or  high-handed 
modes  of  electing  a  successor  to  Mr.  Barron,  who  has  managed  the 
Orphan  Fund  so  smoothly  and  successfully  since  its  establishment. 
The  loss  of  the  services  of  the  present  Secretary  through  ill  healtb, 
it  they  must  be  lost,  will  create  a  crisis  in  the  history  of  this  useful 
Society,  and  it  will  be  unworthy  of  the  wisdom,  gentleness,  and  courtesy 
of  gardeners  should  this  mode  and  form  of  election  be  allowed  to  create 
others.  All  of  these  difficulties  might  have  been  steered  clear  of  for  the 
present  had  my  suggestion  made  in  several  of  the  gardening  papers  been 
adopted.  These  Were  in  brief,  that  Mr.  Barron’s  resignation  be  refused, 
and  a  holiday  and  assistance  offered  to  enable  him  to  resume  and  continue 
his  distinguished  and  splendid  services  for  our  orphans,  which  all  true 
gardeners,  whether  in  the  trade  or  not,  have  so  highly  appreciated. 
It  is  a  long  cry  from  Edinburgh  to  London,  and  I  fear  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  be  there  on  February  17th;  but  could  I  be  present  I  should 
exhaust  the  forms  of  procedure  in  endeavouring  to  keep  our  present 
Secretary,  after  a  rest  and  with  help  if  needful,  before  electing  a  new 
one.  But  should  this,  which  seems  far  the  best  for  our  orphans  and  all 
concerned,  prove  impossible,  then  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  common  sense 
and  sound  judgment  of  the  subscribers  present  will  proceed  to  elect  the 
best  man  for  the  office  without  regard  to  sectional  or  personal  interests. — 
D.  T.  Fish,  12,  Fettes  How,  Edinburgh. 
