April  13,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
305 
largely  increased,  and  the  outlay  involved  nii^ht  be  abundantly 
recouped  in  the  course  of  a  very  few  seasons.  Nev/  York  is  the  chief 
market  for  Bermuda,  can  be  reached  in  forty-eight  hours,  and  the 
most  delicate  produce  delivered  in  perfect  condition. 
“  The  cultivation  of  the  Bermuda  Lily,  itself  an  entirely  modern 
industry,  might  probably  be  imitated  and  developed  in  many  cognate 
directions.  ‘  Freesias  do  well  here,’  says  Mr.  Bishop  in  some  notes 
with  which  he  has  kindlyisupplied  me,  ‘  and  as  much  as £100  worth  have 
been  harvested  from  25  rods  of  ground.  No  disease  has  as  yet  attacked 
the  plant,  though  the  Eucharis  mite  takes  possession  of  any  injured 
bulbs.’  This  suggests  a  wide  variety  of  horticultural  possibilities 
entirely  undeveloped  as  yet,  and  seems  to  imply  that  if  Bermuda  were 
cultivated  like  the  Channel  Islands  it  might  become  a  nursery  of 
greenhouse  bulbs  for  the  whole  of  northern  Europe  and  the  northern 
regions  of  America.  Finally,  I  quote  the  following  suggestive  passage 
from  IVIr.  Bishop’s  notes : — ‘  There  are  about  400  acres  of  waste  marsh 
land  which  I  think  would  grow  the  Hevea  brasiliensis,  or  Para  rubber. 
This  would  in  the  course  of  six  years  bring  in  the  colony  from 
£20,000  to  £40,000  per  year,  besides  greatly  improving  the  land. 
This  waste  land  is  at  present  occupied  by  Mangrove  swamps, 
unsavoury,  if  not  positively  insanitary,  in  their  present  condition  and 
of  no  economical  importance.  _ 
“I  have  so  far  said  little  of  the  attractions  of  Bermuda  as  a  winter 
resort.  It  combines  the  climate  of  northern  Morocco  with  something 
like  the  scenery  of  Denmark,  though  with  a  greater  variety  and 
intensitj'"  of  colouring.  The  winds  are  often  violent,  but  never  keen, 
the  rains  are  frequent  and  heavy,  but  rarely  of  more  than  a  few  hours’ 
duration.  English  visitors  in  search  of  sunshine  must  cross  the 
Atlantic  to  reach  Bermuda.  But  to  the  people  of  New  York  and  New 
England  it  is  a  veritable  paradise  set  in  the  balmiest  and  brightest  of 
seas.  You  may  leave  New  Y'ork  with  the  temperature  at  zero  and 
before  midnight  the  water  of  the  Gulf  Stream  will  be  logged  at  over 
70^.  The  first  night  you  sleep  under  blankets  and  wear  furs  on  deck, 
on  the  second  a  sheet  may  be  too  warm  unless  the  ports  can  be  open. 
On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  you  rise  in  an  atmosphere  of  eternal 
summer,  and  when  you  land  in  the  middle  of  the  day  you  find  that 
the  lightest  of  summer  clothing  is  all  and  almost  more  than  you  need. 
Thenceforth  you  live  in  a  climate  of  surpassing  softness  and  amid 
scenery  of  unique  and  varied  charm.  The  sea  is  of  a  delicate  opales¬ 
cent  green,  shot  with  soft  browns  where  the  reefs  approach  the 
surface,  and  deepening  to  the  hue  of  the  sapphire  beyond  the  outer¬ 
most  reefs.  The  beaches  are  of  the  whitest  of  sand,  and  the  inner 
sounds  are  studded  with  innumerable  islands.  With  such  a  climate 
and  such  scenery  Bermuda  might  almost  flourish  on  its  tourist  season 
even  if  Lilies  failed  and  Onions  decayed.” 
LIVERPOOL  AMATEUR  GARDENERS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
There  was  a  gratifying  attendance  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  at  the 
meeting  held  on  Thursday  evening,  Mr.  Histed  presiding.  Despite  the 
fact  that  rain  came  down  in  torrents,  the  exhibition  table  presented  a  gay 
appearance,  quite  unusual  at  this  time  of  y'ear,  by  reason  of  the  fine 
exhibits  so  superior  from  former  meetings. 
Mr.  R.  Pinnington  gave  a  short  paper  on  “  Orchids  for  Amateurs,” 
dealing  with  the  treatment  of  newly  imported  plants,  potting,  watering, 
shading,  resting,  and  the  popularity  of  Orchids  in  general  ;  also  giving  a 
useful  list  of  reasonable qiriced  and  easily  cultivated  varieties. 
An  interesting  discussion  ensued,  Mr.  Ardran  being  somewhat  surprised 
that  the  subject  of  Orchid  growing  amongst  amateurs  should  be  recom¬ 
mended  on  account  of  its  costliness  and  the  Latin  names  attached  to  many 
of  them,  and  which  no  amateur  could  thoroughly  grasp.  He  wanted  to 
know  why  English  names  could  not  be  substituted.  Ear  better  would  it 
be  for  them  to  keep  to  such  plants  as  Chrysanthemums  and  Roses,  and 
leave  Orchids  alone. 
"7!!  Mr.  Pinnington,  in  reply,  stated  that  his  subject  had  been  chosen  for 
him.  In  contrasting  Orchids  and  Chrysanthemums  he  said  that  pretty 
varieties  of  the  former  could  be  purchased  almost  at  the  rate  of  bedding 
plants.  Regarding  the  labour  attending  their  culture  he  ventured  to  say 
that  with  Orchids  it  was  not  nearly  so  exacting  or  more  costly  than  with 
Chrysanthemums.  Once  potted.  Orchids  would  stand  for  several  years 
with  only  slight  top-dressing,  whereas  the  Chrysanthemum  was  all 
labour.  As  an  illustration  he  pointed  to  a  small  plant  of  Dendrobium 
Wardianum  in  a  4|-inch  pot,  carrying  forty  dowers  and  exhibited  by  Mr. 
Drake.  He  would  like  Mr.  Ardran  to  get  him  a  Chrysanthemum  to  give 
the  same  return.  Regarding  all  English  names,  he  regarded  the  idea  as 
somewhat  premature.  To  undo  the  works  of  Li;;nasus,  Reichenbach,  and 
others  would  be  a  labour  of  generations,  and  then  would  not  appeal  to 
the  world  as  at  present.  He  could  understand  some  great  move  in  the 
direction  if  the  English  language  became  universal. 
Mr.  Smyth  supported  Mr.  Pinnington’s  remarks,  and  moved  a  vote  of 
thanks,  this  being  seconded  by  Mr.  Langley  and  supported  by  Mr. 
Ardran,  who  expressed  his  pleasure  with  the  explanation  given  by 
the  lecturer. 
Mr.  Pinnington,  who  is  a  great  lover  of  the  Chrysanthemum  as  well 
as  ot  all  other  beauties  of  nature,  advised  them  to  go  in  lor  both  plants. — 
J.  M.  S. 
HARDY  PLANTS  AT  EDINBURGH  SHOW. 
At  the  spring  show  of  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Show  on 
5th  and  6th  April  hardy  plants  contributed  largely  to  the  display, 
although  they  were  principally  from  under  glass.  Forced  hardy  shrubs 
were  very  conspicuous  ;  Azaleas  were  brilliant  and  beautiful  ;  Deutzias 
were  full  of  flower  and  very  attractive  ;  Japanese  Maples  were  used  with 
much  effect  in  the  beautifully  arranged  tables  sent  by  the  Edinburgh 
nurserymen  for  exhibition  ;  Lilacs  were  fine ;  hardy  Rhododendrons, 
Hollies,  New  Zealand  Veronicas,  and  Heaths,  with  Aucubas,  were  shown 
in  Cunningham  and  Fraser’s  exhibit ;  while  a  good  plant  of  Magnolia 
Soulangeana  made  an  excellent  effect.  Other  Magnolias  were  exhibited 
in  other  tables. 
The  show  was  too  early  for  Daffodils  in  the  district,  with  the  excep¬ 
tion  of  those  grown  under  glass.  These  were  well  done.  Messrs.  Barr 
and  Sons’  Daffodil  cup,  value  £7  7a.,  was  not  competed  for,  as  forty 
distinct  varieties  were  required,  and  I  understand  that  none  of  the  growers 
in  the  Edinburgh  district  could  produce  these  at  the  time.  Messrs.  Barr 
and  Sons  had  a  fine  exhibit  of  their  own.  They  secured  a  first-class 
certificate  for  their  new  bicolor  Daffodil  Duke  of  Bedford,  and  were 
highly  commended  for  their  novelty  Apricot.  Madarue  de  Graaf,  Wear- 
dale  Perfection,  Gloria  Mundi,  and  Glory  of  Leiden  were  among  the 
flowers  in  the  stand.  Saxifraga  Burseriana  major  was  also  shown,  and 
cut  blooms  of  Anemone  pulsatilla.  Messrs.  Gordon  4c  Son,  Edinburgh, 
had  a  rockery  with  Datfouils,  Primulas,  Saxilragas,  and  other  rock  plants. 
A  novelty  which  received  a  first-class  certificate  was  Primula  Cashmenana 
alba.  P.  frondosa  was  very  good,  and  a  variegated  leaved  Auricula  was 
new  to  me. 
There  was  not  much  competition  in  the  class  for  alpines  in  pots  or 
pans.  I  observed  good  pans  of  Morisia  hypoga:a,  Shortia  galacifolia, 
Gentiana  verna,  Primula  viscosa  nivalis,  and  Ramonclia  pyrenaica.  They 
had  evidently  been  grown  under  glass.  There  were  some  good  Primroses 
in  pots.  A  few  of  the  blue  Primroses  were  shown,  but  not  many  of  these 
were  of  good  colour.  Polyanthuses  in  pots  were  fairly  good,  nut  alpine 
and  stage  Auriculas  would  have  been  better  a  week  later.  Primula 
.Sieboldi  was  well  shown,  but  there  was  nothing  of  exceptional  merit 
among  the  plants.  Astilbe  (Spirasa  astilboides)  was  pleutnul,  and  some 
good  specimens  were  shown.  There  were  a  few  pots  of  Hepaticas,  with  a 
number  of  Tulips  and  a  few  Ctiionodoxas  and  Scillas.  The  prizes  for 
British  Ferns  did  not  bring  out  many  competitors,  and  some  surprise  was 
expressed  at  the  winning  exhibit  having  included  in  it  a  Fern  remarkably 
like  Adiantum  cuneatum  instead  of  A.  capillus- Veneris. 
There  was  thus,  it  will  be  seen,  little  of  special  novelty  or  variety,  but 
for  this  the  inclement  season  is  largely  responsible. — S.  Arnott. 
THE  AURICULA— ITS  LONGEVITY. 
I  HAVE  frequently  been  asked,  “  How  long  does  an  Auricula  live  ?  ” 
and  the  question  has  been  before  now  the  subject  of  contributions  to  the 
pages  of  the  Journal.  I  do  not  profess  to  be  able  to  give  a  definite  reply  to 
the  query,  but  would  merely  state  one  or  two  facts  bearing  upon  it.  I  can 
point  to  a  plant  of  Prince  of  Greens,  that  I  got  as  a  very  small  offset  from 
the  late  Mr.  Meiklejohn,  of  Raploch,  at  least  fourteen  years  ago.  I  have, 
too,  what  is  the  only  plant  I  remember  seeing  at  Raploch  of  Ashton’s 
Bonny  Lass.  It  is  still  the  neat  small-sized  specimen  of  that  variety  that 
it  was  in  Mr.  Meiklejohn’s  collection.  It  came  into  my  hands  after  his 
death,  and  is  retained  in  remembrance  of  the  old  friend,  to  whom  so  very 
many  pleasant  visits  were  made.  It  has  never  produced  an  offset,  and  is 
at  least  eighteen  years  old. 
But  these  are  youngsters  compared  to  an  Auricula  that  the  late  Mr. 
Charles  Jeffery,  of  Falkirk,  once  showed  me.  It  was  a  plant  of  Howard’s 
Eclipse,  for  which  he  had  paid  21s.  thirty-two  years  before.  In  all  that 
time  it  had  bloomed  only  twice,  and  had  produced  one  offset,  which  was 
lost.  The  plant  was  given  after  I  saw  it  to  Mr.  Meiklejohn,  with  whom 
it  died  a  year  later,  thus  making  out  at  least  its  thirty-third  year. 
In  fact,  it  would  seem  imjtossible  to  assign  any  limit  to  the  existence 
of  a  plant,  which  after  its  last  year’s  growth,  and  the  shortening  of 
its  stem  or  carrot,  is  virtually  a  new,  while  still  the  same  plant. — 
A  Northern  Amateur. 
Border  Auriculas. 
With  the  National  Auricula  Society’s  Southern  Show,  due  on  the 
18th  inst.,  it  is  a  good  time  to  draw  attention  to  those  charming  hardy 
plants,  border  Auriculas,  because  they  can  be  so  easily  raised  from  seed, 
and  once  raised  and  planted  out  into  the  open  ground  grow  so  freely,  and 
continue  to  do  so  and  to  bloom  for  many  years.  We  have  few  plants  so 
hardy  as  is  the  border  Auricula.  It  is  now  a  capital  time  to  sow  seed, 
and  it  can  be  purchased  cheaply  of  a  good  and  variously  coloured  strain. 
It  is  best  to  sow  in  shallow  jians  or  boxes,  and  in  sandy  soil,  standing 
them  under  glass,  where  there  is  a  little  warmth  to  assist  germination  ; 
also  keeping  the  soil  just  moist,  and  until  the  seedlings  are  up  lightly 
shaded.  The  seeds  being  hard-shelled  germinate  irregularly,  and  math 
patience  is  needful. — D. 
