448 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  1,  1899. 
Khcknt  Wkatiieu  in  London. — At  last  a  welcome  change  has 
come  and  we  are  not  being  nipped  by  bitterly  cold  winds  and  sharp 
morning  frosts.  On  Sunday  it  turned  inatorially  warmer,  though  the 
wind  remained  in  the  same  ([uarter.  On  Monday  it  was  quite  mild  as 
compared  with  the  conditions  of  the  preceding  week.  'I'ucsday  was  quite 
tummer-like,  and  encouraging  to  Orchid  exhibitors  when  preparing  for 
the  Temple  Show.  Wednesday  was  bright  and  fine. 
-  Wea'I'iier  in  the  North. — A  pleasant  change  took  place  on 
Saturday  on  the  continuously  cold  and  wet  weather  that  has  prevailed  so 
long.  With  a  change  of  wind  to  the  S.W.  two  delightfully  bright  and 
warm  days  followed,  although  there  was  a  distinct  touch  of  frost  on  the 
morning  of  eacli.  Monday  morning  scarcely  so  bright,  still  promised  a 
fine  day. — B.  1),,  Perthihire. 
-  Keoal  PEiiARGONiUM  WHITE  Gem. — This  I  noted  recently, 
and  T  think  it  is  going  to  be  a  really  good  thing.  Those  of  us  who  have 
been  trying  to  grow  such  kinds  as  fimbriatum  album,  or  the  pure  white 
varieties,  and  perhaps  given  up  their  culture  for  such  second-rate  white  as 
I’rincess  Alexandra,  will  be  pleased  to  know  of  a  good  grower  with 
flowers  absolutely  ])urc  white,  and  this  I  feel  positive  we  shall  have  in 
White  Gem.  J..ittlo  bits  rooted  quite  late  in  autumn  are  now  nice  plants, 
bushy  and  strong,  and  flowering  freeh'. — H.  E. 
- Nottinghamshire  lIoRTicuLTURAii  .Society.— On  July  12th 
and  13th  the  grounds  of  Nottingham  Arboretum  will  be  gay  with  the 
annual  Show  and  Garden  Party  of  the  above  Association — that  is  if,  as  is 
hoped,  the  weather  prove  propitious.  I'here  are  about  fifty  classes  in  all, 
of  which  the  principal  is  fir  a  200  feet  group  of  miscellaneous  plants. 
'Fho  first  prize,  offered  by  Lord  Henry  Beniinck,  M.P.,  is  £10  and  a  silver 
cup,  the  remaining  awards  being  £12,  £8,  and  £.3  respectively,  with  £  1 
for  unsuccessful  exhibitors.  Some  of  the  classes  are  open  to  all,  whde 
others  have  certain  limitations  placed  on  them.  The  lion.  Sec.,  from  whom 
all  particulars  may  be  had.  is  Mr.  C.  .1.  Mee,  29,  Long  Row,  Nottingham. 
-  Massachusetts  IIorticuetural  Society. — A  report  of 
(he  proceedings  of  this  Society  is  embodied  in  a  book  of  186  pages,  this 
dealing  only  with  the  meetings  held  during  the  first  quarter  of  1898. 
In  addition  to  routine  business  with  some  particulars  relative  to  prize 
money  at  shows,  tliere  are  exhaustive  pa'iers  on  “  The  Business  Side  of 
Fruit  Culture,”  by  Mr.  .1.  Hale  ;  “Horticulture  in  Holland,  Decoration  in 
Public  Places,  Bulb  Growing,  Nursery  Stock  at  Boskoop,”  by  Mr. 
J.  K.  M.  L.  Farquhar ;  “  Originating  New  Vegetables.’’  by  the  Hun. 
Aaron  Low;  “Nuts  and  Nut  Culture,”  by  Mr.  F.  il.  Bartram  ;  “Some 
New  Notions  about  Some  Old  Insects,”  by  Mr.  M.  V.  Slingerland  ; 
“Rambling  Notes  on  Trees  in  Streets  and  Elsewhere,”  by  Mr.  W.  R. 
Smith  ;  “The  National  Flower  Movement,”  by  Mr.  F.  L.  Sargent  ;  “  The 
Relation  of  Public  Schools  to  Rural  Life,”  by  Mr.  G.  T.  Powell  ;  “  The 
Resistance  of  Plants  to  Farasitic  Fungi,”  by  Mr.  E.  D.  Burt ;  “Some 
Native  Ferns  of  New  England,”  by  Mr.  H.  L.  Clapp;  and  “Wild 
Flowers  of  the  Canadian  Rockie.s”  by  Mr.  C.  Van  Brunt.  Discussions 
followed  the  major  portion  of  the  papers,  these  also  being  printed. 
-  “John, son's  (Jardener'.s  Dictionary.”— Once  again  has 
t’nis  excellent  dictionary  liad  to  be  revised  and  enlarged  for  publication,  and 
the  facilities  for  the  purchase  of  the  complete  woi  R  are  on  this  occasion 
easier  than  ever — in  fact,  the  conditions  bring  it  within  the  roach  of  all. 
It  was  first  published  nearly  fifty  years  ago,  and  that  it  maintains  its 
popularity'  is  proof  that  i:  contains  valuable  information.  Of  what  value 
it  has  been  to  present  day  gardeners  it  is  impossible  to  estimate,  but  it 
must  have  been  of  immense  service.  A.s  it  was  and  is  valuable  to  many 
persons  now,  so  it  must  be  to  the  rising  generation,  not  alone  becauso  of 
the  carefully  compiled  lists  of  plants,  but  abso  by  reason  of  the  thoroughly 
sound  cultural  details  that  are  given  of  the  most  jiopular  fruits,  plants^ 
and  vegetables.  It  is  now  being  brought  out  in  weekly  paits  of  which 
thirty-three  will  complete  the  work,  and  the  price  is  3d.  per  part,  or 
3^d.  post  free.  'I’he  main  object  of  its  publication  at  this  price  is  to  bring 
it  within  the  reacli  of  young  gardeners,  to  whom  it  is  one  of  fust 
books  on  gardening  lliat  wo  recoin iiiend.  It  may  be  procured  from  the 
publisher,  Journal  of  Horticu'tiire,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Elect 
Street,  E.C.  It  is  taken  for  granted  that  the  matter  will  he  carefully 
evised.  A  few  reference  notes  in  the  last  edition  require  attention. 
-  Bristol  Gardeners’  Association. — A  large  number  of 
members  attended  the  opening  meeting  of  the  summer  session  to  hear  a 
paper  on  Tomato  Culture  by  Mr.  C.  Lock,  the  Chairman  of  the  Society. 
Mr.  W.  A.  Garaway  presided.  Mr.  Lock  dealt  with  the  mode  of  culture 
for  early,  midseason,  and  late  crops.  He  made  the  daring  statement 
that  though  a  large  number  of  people  grew  Tomato  plants  not  more 
than  10  per  cent,  succeeded  in  growing  them  as  successfully  as  they  ought  to 
do.  The  essayist  gave  practical  advice  on  all  details  of  cultivation,  also 
dealing  with  the  diseases  Tomatoes  are  subject  to.  The  paper  was  much 
appreciated,  and  a  vote  of  thanks  was  given  Mr.  Lcck.  Frizes  fora  brace 
of  Cucumbers  were  awarded  Messrs.  Marshall  and  Erampson,  and  the 
Society’s  certificate  of  merit  was  awarded  Mr.  Shaddick  for  a  fine  specimen 
of  Cypripedium  barbatum. 
-  Crystal  Pal.ACE. — The  programme  of  the  general  arrange¬ 
ments  that  have  been  made  by  the  directors  of  this  pleasant  resort,  is 
exceptionally  diversified  and  complete.  Every  day  and  almost  every  hour 
has  its  distinct  attraclion.s,  in  addition  to  which  there  are  numerous 
special  features  that  cannot  fail  to  receive  tangible  appreciation.  Sa 
far  as  the  horticultural  world  is  concerned,  visitors  have,  on  ordinary 
clays,  the  beautiful  grounds  ;■  the  National  Rose  Society’s  Metro¬ 
politan  Show  on  July  1st;  the  National  Carnation  Society’s  Exhibition 
on  July  24th  ;  the  Co-operative  Flower  Show  and  Festival  on  August 
19th  ;  the  National  Dahlia  Socio.y’s  Show  on  September  1st  and  2ad  ; 
and  the  Royal  Horticultural  Soc.eD’s  Show  of  British-grown  Fruit  on 
Septeraber  28th,  29th,  and  30th.  Several  additional  rules  have  been 
framed  for  the  advantage  of  season  ticket  holders — indeed,  everything 
sterns  to  have  been  done  to  enhance  the  pleasure  of  a  visit  to  Sydenham. 
It  is  stated  in  the  programme  that  there  have  been  91,293,474  visitors 
from  June  10th,  1854,  to  April  30th,  1S99,  or  an  average  of  upwards 
of  two  millions  per  annum. 
Oj- 
-  Dornden. — Situated  on  “  the  rocky  road  to  Dublin,”  this  is, 
for  Its  size,  one  of  the  most  charming  homes  of  gardening  on  the  sea¬ 
side  of  the  Milesian  metropolis.  In  the  keep  of  the  place,  in  the  variety 
of  plants  to  be  found  in  it,  and  high-class  culture  displa^-ed  in  them,  as 
well  as  the  vegetable  (quarters,  it  is  lo-day  a  speaking  witness  of  that 
indefatigable  zeal  with  which  Mr.  Carroll,  the  ga  dener,  has  wrought 
for  the  past  ten  years.  Unfortunately,  Mrs,  Burrawes,  its  octogenarian 
mistress,  is  debarred  to  some  extent  through  the  winter  from  the  pleasure 
it  yields  even  at  that  season.  A  feature  of  Dornden  is  the  Iris  borders, 
bisected  by  a  grass  walk,  consisting  of  an  extensive  collection  of  the 
Germanica  section,  respecting  which  a  note  may  be  sent  later  on.  Fine 
plants  of  the  Fowcrscourt  variety  of  Fhormiura  tenax  are  very  attractive. 
This  is  distinguished  from  the  type  by  its  erect  habit  and  bolder  character  ; 
it  is,  I  am  told,  also  hardier.  In  his  lovo  of  hardy  plants  Mr,  Carroll 
displays  what  would  be  expected  of  one  who  spent  some  time  in  the 
College  Gardens,  Dublin,  and  no  better  testimonial  of  his  taste  and 
energy  could  be  given  than  what  is  exemplified  in  Dornden. — K. 
- -  Notes  from  Long  Ditton. — When  the  late  Tulips  are  in 
glorious  bloom,  how  delightful  is  it  to  walk  through  the  Long  Ditton 
grounds,  for  besides  these  rich-coloured  flowers,  how  many  other  of  less 
gorgeous,  though  hardly  less  interesting,  are  in  flower.  The  great  breadth 
of  the  Darwin,  Dideiri  species,  and  other  late  Tulips,  present  altogether 
such  surpriciiig  beauty  and  coloration  as  compared  w'lth  w’hat  is  presented 
bv  a  few  flowers  when  set  up  in  vases.  Tulips  want  to  be  seen  under  a 
bright  light  out  in  the  open.  It  need  not  necessarily  be  bright  sunshine, 
although  that  does  light  up  the  rich  reds  and  roses  as  with  fire.  But 
even  under  the  dullest  skies,  they  furnish  colour  that  is  as  brilliant  as  it  is 
beautiful.  How  beautiful  too,  in  masses  on  the  mounds  and  stones,  are 
the  varied  Aubrietias,  Hendersoni,  blue;  Leichtlini,  red ;  Fire  King, 
deep  red  ;  and  others.  It  is  not  until  these  are  seen,  hke  cataracts  of 
colour  falling  over  the  rockwork,  that  their  beauties  are  fully  realised. 
What  a  pretty  lavender  blue  flowered  plant  is  Folemonium  reptans.  It 
reactes,  when  in  bloom,  a  height  of  9  inches,  and  makes  a  charming 
mass.  This  associates  capitally  with  the  double  white  Saxifraga  granu- 
lata.  Gentiana  vcnia,  in  clumps  on  a  carpet  of  Sedum  Lydium,  is  also 
a  truly  lovely  plant.  Its  blue  colour  is  exquisite.  A  rich  orange  yellow 
body  of  colour  is  furnished  by  the  creeping  Caltha  parnassifolia,  which 
would  make  a  striking  carpet  for  purple  Stocks.  The  variegated  Ground 
Ivy,  Nepeta  hederacea  aariegata,  is  a  very  striking  and  free-growing 
rock  plant.  One  of  the  prettiest  Buttercups  is  Ranunculus  graminifolius, 
flowers  soft  yellow,  single,  like  those  of  small  Iceland  Poppies,  borne 
on  stems  14  inches  in  height.  How  light  and  graceful  are  the  feathery 
like  seed  heads  of  Anemone  pulsatilla,  so  charming  for  vase  decoration 
Singularly  brilliant  are  the  rich  yellow  heads  ot  Euphorbia  pilosa  major, 
10  iuches  in  height. —  D. 
