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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  January  22,  1903. 
Societies. 
SciEDtiflc  Committes,  Jan.  13. 
Present  :  Dr.  ^I.  '1’.  iNFastevs  (in  the  chair)  ;  Messrs.  Baker,  Oclel), 
.Saunders,  Worsdell,  Bowles,  and  Holmes,  Drs.  Keiidle  and  Cooke, 
Uevs.  W.  Wilks  and  ti.  Henslow  (hon^see.) 
Mczercon  dying. — Mr.  Holmes  showed  specimens,  and  remarked 
upon  the  suddenness  with  which  they  died  off.  Dr.  Cooke  undertook 
to  examine  and  report  upon  them. 
Llamincnlus  arvensis. — He  also  referred  to  this  plant  as  said  by 
.Sowerhy  to  be  poisonous  to  sheep.  Though  the  genus  is  generally 
more  or  less  poisonous,  this  species  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
specially  noticed  by  other  writers. 
Cedrus  Deodara.  -  Mr.  Bowles  exhibited  a  male  catkin  of  this  tree, 
which  had  become  proliferous,  bearing  several  branches,  all  being 
staminiferous. 
I’inns  Bungeanci,  bark.^Dv.  Masters  showed  a  specimen  of  the 
hark  of  this  tree  from  China,  which  was  silvery  white  and  sealing  off'. 
Though  cultivated  in  England,  it  had  not  as  yet  produced  a  white 
hark.  He  mentioned  that  Abies  Arizonica  had  a  similar  hark,  both 
resembling  that  of  the  common  Birch. 
Mnize  a  ndrogipious. — Dr.  Masters  a  so  showed  specimens,  received 
from  Mr.  F.  M.  Bailey,  of  Brisbane,  i^lueensland,  of  which  the  follow¬ 
ing  were  typical  examples  :—(l)  This  had  one  small  cob  of  grains 
arising  from  the  base  of  nine  male  spikes ;  single  female  flowers  were 
scattered  at  intervals  on  the  latter,  both  near  the  bases  and  summits. 
(2)  F’ifteen  male  spikes  had  one  terminated  with  a  small  cob  ;  isolated 
female  flowers  were  scattered  throughout  among  the  male  flowers. 
(3)  This  had  about  twelve  male  spikes,  all  being  female  below  and 
terminated  by  male  flowers  above  ;  the  whole  formed  a  dense  mass  of 
small  cobs,  giving  the  appearance  of  a  proliferous  cob  with  male 
flowers  above. 
Bractical  Polliiia  ion. — Mr.  Davidson,  of  Fanners.  'Wickham 
Bishops,  Essex,  described  an  ingenious  method  of  artificial  fertilisation 
of  flowers,  as  follows I  have  adopted  a  method  of  economising 
pollen,  the  oixlinary  eamers-hair  brush  being  very  wasteful.  If  a  stick 
of  sealing-wax  be  rubbed  briskly  on  the  coat  sleeve  as  for  electrical 
experiment,  and  then  presented  to  the  flower,  the  i)ollen  flies  to  it  and 
adheres.  Every  particle  can  thus  be  utilised  far  more  easily  than 
with  a  brush."’ 
Climbing  Plants.  -Av.  Davidson  also  forwarded  the  observations  he 
had  made  on  Hoyas,  Aa. ; — •  1  have  had  a  number  of  Hoya  earnosa 
plants  under  observation  for  a  considerable  time,  and  though  they 
twist  resolutely  enough  in  one  direction  during  the  day.  the  hours  of 
darkness  usually  appear  to.have  been  a  period  of  indecision,  the  work 
of  the  day  being  sometimes  more  or  less  undone  during  the  night. 
While  they  are  decided  enough  in  twdsting  their  wniy  up  living  plants, 
they  show  no  such  decision  in  climbing  up  dead  supports.  For 
instance,  if  1  slightly  untwist  a  Hoya  from  a  growing  plant,  it  coils 
round  again  in  a  very  short  time,\vhereas  if  a  stick  is  substituted 
for  a  plant  the  Hoya  almost  never  regains  its  old  position  without 
assistance.’"  It  was  thought  by  the  Committee  that  this  difference 
was  more  due  to  the  smooth  or  rough  nature  of  the  surface  than  the 
fact  of  the  support  being  either  alive  or  dead. 
Yucca  reenrva. — 3Ir.  ^Vorsley  sent  some  leaves,  upon  which  ]3r. 
Cooke  reported  as  follow’s  : — '‘The  leaves  of  the  Yucca  recurva  exhibit 
long  dark  streaks,  which  1  have  observed  before,  Imt  could  never 
attribute  to  any  specific  form  of  fungus.  In  the  present  instance  1 
have  tailed  to  discover  any  hyplne  or  spores,  but  probably  if  watched 
there  might  be  some  future  development.  At  present  there  is  no 
evidence  of  fungus  parasitism,  and  1  do  not  remember  that  any  has 
been  recorded  as  affecting  the  leaves  of  Yucca.” 
Hoganbernj  roots.— Av.  F.  Sharpe,  of  Westbury,  Wilts,  sent  some 
roots  bearing  nodules,  upon  which  Dr.  Cooke  reports  as  follows: 
••  The  nodules  on  roots  of  this  plant  resemble  most  of  the  root  nodules 
which  1  have  examined  in  giving  no  definite  clue  to  any  parasitism. 
There  is  no  evidence  of  the  presence  of  bacteria  as  far  as  1  can  detect 
(350  diams) ;  and  nothing  has  resulted  from  preserving  them  for  twelve 
days  in  a  damp  atmosphere.” 
Celcriac.—  \')r.  Cooke  reports  as  follows  upon  the  spc'cimens  sent  to 
the  last  meeting: — "Roots  marked  wnth  discoloured  blotches  or  stains 
internally,  and  sometimes  in  circles  or  segments,  at  a  short  distance 
from  the  periplun-y.  Tlu'  discoloured  tissue  did  not  exhibit  any  trace, 
of  hyplne  or  anything  further  than  the  discolouration  of  the  cell 
{•ontents.  1  can  see  no  indication  or  suspicion  of  fungus  jnirasitism.” 
The  thanks  of  the  Committee  were  given  to  Dr.  Cooke  for  his  repoils. 
Peas  attacked  by  grubs. — 3Ir.  Baker  Inmught  a  sample  of  wrinkled 
Peas  badly  attacked  by  grubs,  upon  w  hich  iMr.  Sutton  has  reported  as 
tollow'S  There  is  notliing  whatcvei'  in  the  condition  of  the  Peas  to 
indicate  aiiy  injury  beyond  that  produced  by  the  maggot  which  is 
common  in  Cireen  I’eas.  It  is  always  the  case  in  shelling  endinary 
Peas  that  a  certain  proportion  are  maggoty.  The  condition  of  the 
sample  is  entirely  due,  in  my  opinion,  to  the  fact  that  the  wet  and  cold 
summer  greatly  increased  the  proportion  of  inaggotv  seeds.  Not  one 
of  the  seeds  appears  to  be  attacked  by  the  Pea  weevil,  and  wminkled 
IVas  grown  in  England  are  very  seldom  weevilled.  'J’he  onlv  sorts  of 
English  growth  iisually  attacked  arc  the  early  round 'seeded  kinds, 
and  then  only  in  hot  dry  summers,  and  when  grown  on  light  drv  soil. 
I  doubt  whether  any  sample  of  English  Peas  of  last  yea.'’s  harvest  was 
at  all  seriously  attacked  )jy  the  weevil  owing  to  the  absence  of  sun 
and  heat.” 
Kewpon  (Mon.)  Gardeners’ :  Culture  of  Seakale. 
The  usual  meeting  of  the  above  Association  was  held  on 
Wednesday  last,  wlien  Mr.  G.  Sharratt  read  a  very'  practical 
paper  on  "  Growiiig  and  Forcing  Seakale.”  Mr.  Sharratt  gave 
directions  as  to  the  preparation  of  the  soil,  pointing  out  that 
Seakale,  being  a.  plant  naturally  growing  on  the  seacoast,  did 
best  in  a  sand.v  soil,  and  that  sea  sand  when  procurable,  was 
very  suitable  tor  incorporating  with  a  clay  soil.  Ho  then  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  give  directions  for  propagating  Seakale  from  seed, 
and  also  by  the  long  thong-like  roots,  the  latter  being  the  best, 
good  crowns  being  i^roduced  in  one  season  from  them.  The 
crowns  should  be  dug  up  in  the  autumn  (the  long  roots  to  be 
cut  off,  and  used  for  the  next  season’s  supply  of  crowns),  and 
placed  in  pots  or  boxes  in  some  light  soil,  the  jjots  or  boxes 
to  be  placed  as  recpiired  in  a  heat  of  about  bOdee.  covering  them 
with  other  pots  or  boxes,  and  carefull.y  excluding  the  light.  A 
good  discussion  followed,  in  which  the  chairman,  Mes,srs.  Ken- 
ward,  Brooks,  Duff,  "Woodward,  Preece,  Wiggins,  Reece,  and 
others  took  part.  Mr.  Sharratt  was  accorded  a  very  hearty' 
vote  of  thanks  for  his  able  paper.  Mr.  F.  S-.  Daniels  presided 
over  a  fair  attendance.— J.  Pegleu. 
Liverpool  Horticultural  Association’s  Annual  Dinner. 
There  was  an  excellent  gathering  of  members  and  friends,  to 
the  number  of  125,  at  the  famed  Bear’s  Paw'  Restaurant,  Lord 
Street,  Liverpool,  on  Saturday  evening  last,  the  occasion  being 
the  sixteenth  annual  dinner.  Amongst  those  present  w'ere  Mr. 
George  Gordon,  V.M.H.,  of  London,  who  presided,  being  sup¬ 
ported  by  Messrs.  R.  W.  Ker,  T.  Foster  (C'hairman  of  the 
Association),  H.  Herbert  (Superintendent  of  the  Liverpool 
Parks  and  Gardens),  and  Harold  Sadler,  the  courteous  secre¬ 
tary;  also  Me.ssrs.  Mercer  (vice-chairman),  A.  Vi.  Ker,  B.  Vi. 
Ker,  F.  Ker,  H.  Ranger,  W.  King,  J.  Baker,  Charles  Young, 
Vi.  Webster.  W.  Wilson,  Rowlands  Bros.,  J.  Guttridge  (Curator 
AVavertree  Botanical  Gardens),  B.  Ashton,  J.  Hathaway  (Super¬ 
intendent  Southport.  Parks),  H.  Middlehurst,  J.  Finnigan.  and 
others  well  known  in  horticultural  circles,  the  gardening  Press 
being  represented  by  Messrs.  R.  G.  Waterman  and  R.  Pinning- 
ton.  After  dinner  the  u.sual  loyal  toasts  were  proposed,  and  a 
capital  programme  of  music  carried  on  the  evening  right 
merrily'.  IMe.ssrs.  Ker  added  much  to  the  evening’s  entertain¬ 
ment  by  the  gift  of  cigars,  &c.  The  speeches,  which  used  to 
be  interspersed  so  admirably'  with  the  programme  items,  w'ere 
again  omitted,  and  what  many  members  cohsider  a  capital 
opportunit,y  of  inculcating  the  benefits  and  the  good  work  of 
the  Association  amongst  members’  friends  wa.s  allowed  to  pass. 
The  usual  votes  of  thanks  were  passed,  ev'eryone  leaving  for 
home  thoroughly'  satisfied  with  the  treat  afforded. — R.  P.  R. 
Natioual  Fruit  Growers’  Federation. 
The  Executive  Committee  held  a  meeting  at  the  West¬ 
minster  Palace  Hotel,  on  Monday,  the  12th  inst.  There  was  a 
lai'ge  attendance,  and  Col.  C.  W.  Long,  M.P.  (President  of  the 
Federation),  occupied  the  chair.  A  large  number  of  new 
members  were  elected.  About  seventy  have  recently  joined, 
including  many  practical  growers  in  Hampshire,  Kent,  Cam¬ 
bridgeshire,  "VVorccstershire,  and  Herefordsliire.  Amongst 
these  may  be  mentioned  Messrs.  Smith,  Aloles,  and  John 
Chivers  (Cambridgeshire);  Messrs.  R.  and  B.  Bomford,  J.  Cock, 
H.  Masters,  W.  A.  Fisher,  H.  B.  Pollard,  G.  Marshall,  and  H. 
Field  (AVoroestershire) ;  Messrs.  B.  C.  Champion,  W.  G. 
Chandler,  E.  Taylor,  P.  Manwaring,  H.  T.  Manwaring,  J.  D. 
Large,  K.  and  A.  AVhite,  D.  Langlands,  AA^.  Chambers,  Jno. 
AA'ood,  and  H.  Chapman  (Kent).  The  Rt.  Hon.  Earl  of  Romney, 
Rt.  Hon.  Jessei  Colling.s,  M.P.,  Mr.  F.  S.  AY.  Cornwallis,  and 
Mr.  H.  K.  M.  Porter  have  become  honorary'  subscribing 
members.  The  most  important  business  at  this  meeting  was  the 
consideration  of  the  best  type  of  ventilated  van  for  the  con- 
vey'anco  of  fruit,  as  to  the  building  of  which  certain  railway' 
companies  are  consulting  with  the  advisory'  committee,  and  the 
official  repl.v  to  the  letter  of  the  Board  of  General  Managers  in 
answer  to  the  deputation  of  November  4.  This  repl.y  was  care¬ 
fully  drawn  up  and  directed  tO'  be  despatched.  At  the  con¬ 
ference  at  the  Clearing  House,  it  was  proposed  that  a  special 
advisory  committee  of  the  Federation  should  be  appointed  to 
confer  with  tlie  railway  officials  on  the  details  of  the  proposed 
reforms,  and  it  is  understood  that  this  arrangement  is  already 
being  carried  out,  and  working  very  successfully'.  This  gives 
the  Federation  a  standing  ground  never  before  even  thought 
of  by  a  Growers’  Society',  and  .justifies  the  eximctation  of  great 
results.  Meanwhile  the  organisation  is  .spreading  through  the 
countrv,  and  its  list  of  members  growing  steadily  from  week  to 
week. 
[A  number  of  reports  of  meetings  liavc  had  to  be  held  over. 
—  Ed.] 
