384 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  11,  1899. 
Recent  Weather  in  London.— Again  we  have  to  record  sunny  days 
and  cold  nights  from  Saturday  until  Monday  evening.  There  have  been 
frosts  on  one  or  two  occasions.  On  Monday  night  a  little  rain  fell,  and 
Tuesday  was  very  dull  and  rather  cold  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when 
the  sun  shone  for  a  short  time.  Wednesday  opened  under  the  same 
conditions  as  the  previous  day. 
-  Weather  in  the  North. — No  great  improvement  has  taken 
place  in  the  weather  during  the  week  ending  8th  inst.  On  several  nights 
sharp  frosts  have  occurred  with  heavy  rime,  and  this,  followed  by  the 
bright  sunshine  of  most  days,  is  telling  adversely  on  vegetation.  Cold 
easterly  winds  have  prevailed  throughout  the  week,  with  Lilense  cold 
especially  on  a  few  evenings.— B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
- Royal  Horticultural  Society. —  Scientific  Com- 
mittee. — Present :  Dr.  M.  T,  Masters  (in  the  chair)  ;  Prof.  Church, 
Mr.  Sutton,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Rev.  G.  Henslow,  Hon.  Sec.  Cattleya 
malformed.— Dr.  Masters  exhibited  a  blossom  having  only  one  petal,  one 
sepal,  and  a  straight  column.  This  reduction  to  a  symmetry  of  “two” 
is  not  uncommon  in  Orchids.  Parasitic  funji. — Some  interesting  com¬ 
munications  with  specimens  of  Polyporus  ulmarius,  showing  how  it 
appears  to  decay  the  interior  of  the  tree  and  fructifies  in  the  hollow, 
were  sent  by  Dr.  Plowright ;  also  descriptions  of  parasitic  fungi  on 
Alders  and  Willows.  They  will  appear  in  the  “  Gardeners’  Chronicle.” 
A  vote  of  thanks  was  given  to  Dr.  Plowright  for  his  communication. 
-  Wood  Ashes. — In  Mr.  Cecil  H.  Hooper’s  article  on  manures, 
on  page  334,  he  observes  that  wood  ashes  contain  from  5  lo  7  per  cent,  of 
potash  and  2  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid.  I  am  ver/  pleased  to  sec  that 
phosphoric  acid  is  recognised  as  one  of  the  manorial  items  in  wood  ashes, 
as  I  do  not  remember  ever  seeing  it  mentioned  before  in  any  works  on 
manures  or  chemistry.  I  consider  wood  ashes  a  valuable  manure  for 
gardens,  both  outside  and  for  potting  purposes  inside,  more  especially  for 
light  soils,  as  it  helps  to  cement  the  sandy  portions  together,  which 
prevents  too  rapid  evaporation  ;  and  this,  of  course,  is  in  addition  to  its 
value  as  a  manure.  -  J.  L. 
-  An  Orchard  House. — A  few  days  since,  when  I  locked 
through  a  long  lean-to  house  in  two  divisions,  and  nearly  filled  with  Plum 
and  Cherry  trees  in  pots,  on  all  of  which  good  crops  were  set,  I  could 
but  realise  the  value  of  such  houses  during  a  season  like  the  present, 
when  even  such  well  protected  fruits  as  Peaches,  and  Apricots  on  warm 
walls  outside  were  almost  denuded  of  fruits,  and  sharp  frosts  and  scathing 
cold  winds  were  doing  so  much  harm  to  other  blooms.  Yet  this  house 
was  on  the  north  side  of  a  wall,  and  unheated.  Whatever  may  be  our 
fortune  in  relation  to  fruit  crops  outside,  it  is  evident  that,  to  be  certain  of 
securing  fruit,  there  is  nothing  like  having  orchard  houses  in  which  to 
grow  the  trees.  In  this  case  all  these  were  in  pots,  and  there  were 
numerous  others  plunged  in  leaves  outside,  intended  to  furnish  well 
spurred  trees  for  next  year. — D. 
■■  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine. — In  the  short  time  this 
plant  has  been  in  commerce  it  has  found  its  way  into  numberless 
places,  and  is  increasing  in  popularity  by  leaps  and  bounds.  And  no 
wonder,  for  it  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  winter-flowering  plants 
imaginable,  and  one  that  may  be  cultivated  in  any  greenhouse  whh 
proper  attention.  Those  who  have  not  rooted  their  young  plants  for 
next  winter  must  not  lose  any  more  time,  and  those  having  the  cuttings 
still  in  the  store  pots  should  have  them  potted  singly  without  delay. 
Once  starve  them  into  flowering  and  it  will  bo  diflicult  to  get  healthy 
growth  afterwards.  An  effective  way  of  growing  it  is  to  put  half  a 
dozen  cuttings  into  a  4-inch  pot,  and  when  rooted  well,  shift  three  or 
four  of  these  potfuls  entire  into  large  hanging  baskets.  These  will  be 
well  furnished  by  the  autumn,  and  the  effect  in  winter,  when  the  whole 
of  the  growth  is  covered  with  the  bright  rosy  blossoms,  is  very  fine.  Or, 
if  pots  are  preferred,  they  may  be  given  a  shift  into  fi-inch  or  7-inch 
before  they  get  really  root-bound,  this  being  a  capital  way  of  getting  fine 
plants  for  grouping.  Even  the  smallest  bit  flowers  freely  and  looks 
bright,  while  the  effect  of  a  large  number  of  plants  grown  and  flowered 
well,  and  tastefully  arranged  with  Eernsj  is  unequalled  by  any  .other 
winter-flowering  plant. — H.  R, 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society — The  next  Fruit  and  Floral 
meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday, 
jMay  16th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Westminster,  1  to  o  p.m.  A 
lecture  on  “  Some  of  the  Plants  Exhibited,”  will  be  given  by  the  Rev» 
Prof.  G.  Henslow,  M.A.,  at  three  o’clock. 
-  Berberis  stenophylla. — The  pretty  yellow  blossoms  have  m 
very  striking  effect  against  the  deep  shining  green  leaves  of  this  shrub, 
one  of  the  best  for  planting  in  any  collection  of  shrubs  and  flowering: 
trees.  The  habit  is  very  elegant,  and,  unlike  many  of  this  class  of 
plant,  it  is  not  in  the  least  fastidious  as  to  soil.  Planted  a  few  years 
since  on  soil  of  the  very  worst  description,  and  on  a  piece  of  ground 
where  even  grass  would  not  grow,  it  is  making  fine  bushes,  and  these  are 
now  wreathed  with  blossom.  But  it  is  worthy  of  far  better  things,  and 
should  be  freely  planted  towards  the  front  of  shrubbery  borders,  or  at 
the  back  of  herbaceous  beds  of  large  size.— B.  S.  E. 
-  Onion  Ne  Plus  Ultra.— This  monarch  among  Onions  has- 
on  several  occasions  been  referred  to  in  the  pages  of  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture.  In  our  report  of  the  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  held  on  April  18fh,  we  failed  to  observe  that  it  was  recommended 
by  the  Fruit  and  Vegetable  Committee  for  an  award  of  merit.  It  was- 
staged  by  Mr.  L.  J.  Dunbar,  seedsman.  Kernel  Hempstead,  and  is  stated 
(o  be  a  seedling  from  Ailsa  Craig  and  Carter’s  Record,  the  former  of 
which  it  much  resembles.  It,  however,  is  larger  than  that  variety,  and 
not  quite  so  globular  in  form.  It  will  be  remembered  by  many  readers- 
that  Mr.  W.  Fyfe,  gardener  to  Lord  Wantage,  V.C.,  staged  a  bulb  of 
Ne  Plus  Ultra  at  the  Royal  Aquarium  last  autumn,  which  weighed 
3  lbs.  12  ozs.  when  harvested. 
-  Melon  William  Tillery. —  I  saw  this  handsome,  free- 
cropping,  green  flesh  Melon  doing  finely  recently  in  a  house  at  Ruxley 
Lodge,  Esher.  It  is  some  thirty  years  since  this  fine  variety  was  raised^ 
and  it  shows  how  good  and  true  a  Melon  can  be  kept  for  so  long  a  period,, 
that  it  is  so  remarkably  good  now.  Mr,  Miller,  the  gardener,  raised  it 
when  at  Worksop  Manor  with  the  previous  Lord  Foley,  and  named  it  in 
honour  of  his  old  and  greatly  esteemed  friend  William  Tillery,  who  was 
then  at  Welbeck.  Mr.Tillery  much  appreciated  the  compliment,  and  a  good 
old  gardener  was  thus  complimented  by  becoming  sponsor  to  a  splendid  , 
Melon.  Were  this  variety  now  sent  out  as  a  seedling  with  a  new  name 
it  would  no  doubt  receive  a  high  award.  As  it  is,  it  is  one  of  the  very 
best  green  fleshed  Melons  in  cultivation,  and  Mr.  Miller  is  to  be  compli¬ 
mented  on  having  the  fruit  so  true. — A.  D. 
-  Polyanthus  John  Wilkinson— Crown  Imperials. — 
Mr.  Joseph  Oliver  writes: — “I  am  very  pleased  to  see  that  John 
Wilkinson  Polyanthus  has  given  such  satisfaction  to  Mr.  Arnott.  Upon 
one  of  our  plants  I  counted  the  other  day  twenty-four  fine  trusses.  We 
have  never  been  without  some  bloom  on  it  all  the  winter.  What  a  fine- 
plant  the  old  Crown  Imperial  Lily  is  when  well  grown.  We  have  some 
that  have  not  been  replanted  for  many  years,  and  no  one  would  take  any 
notice  of  them  ;  but  one  plant  in  front  of  our  window  is  simply  grand  ;  it 
only  wants  3  inches  to  make  it  5  feet  high.  Seven  large  flowering  stems, 
crowned  with  their  candelabra-looking  heads,  command  attention.  It  is 
the  result  of  one  good  bulb  planted  four  years  ago  among  good  stuff. 
Bees  and  flycatchers  patronise  it  amazingly.”  Mr.  Oliver  further 
observes  : — “We  are  having  very  cold  ungenial  weather — 4°,  5°,  6°,  and 
this  morning  (8th  insf)  7°  of  frost,  and  white  with  rime  everywhere.” 
-  Outdoor  Apricots— Successful  Fruiting. — I  consulted 
Mr.  Rivers  when  gettirg  a  couple  of  Apricots  for  a  sunny  south 
wall  in  my  garden  some  four  years  ago,  and  he  recommended  Early 
Moor  Park.  Since  then,  though  the  growth  has  been  healthy  and  the 
wood  well  ripened,  I  had  in  no  year  more  than  half  a  dozen  fruits,  or  less.. 
I  was  consoled  by  being  told  if  I  had  a  crop  once  in  seven  years  I  would 
be  lucky.  To-day  I  did  a  considerable  thinning  of  fruits,  many  half  an 
inch  in  diameter,  and  think  mure  than  one  hundred  still  remain  on  a 
single  tree,  covering  60  or  70  superficial  feet.  I  attribute  the  success, 
outside  the  ordinary  treatment,  to  two  causes,  which  it  may  interest  some- 
of  your  readers  to  note.  1,  I  protected  with  a  20  foot  board  in  February, 
12  inches  wide,  over  which  I  put  ordinary  fish  netting,  two  folds  of  which 
draped  down  in  front,  so  as  to  partially  protect  both  from  frost  and  sleet. 
More  than  two  folds  would  exclude  sun  and  light  from  the  foliage.. 
2,  Of  more  importance  perhaps,  was  a  partial  lifting  of  the  fibrous  roofs 
in  front — not  the  tree  itself — relaying  of  them  in  fresh  loam,  and  building 
a  heap  of  manure,  which  heated  slightly,  over  them,  and  about  a  yard 
from  the  base  of  the  tree.  I  should  have  said  the  protection  is  also  over 
a  Nectarine,  'which,  although  not  so  fruitful,  promises  a  fair  crop.— 
W.  J.  Murphy,  Clonmel. 
