190 
JOVRNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  26,  1903. 
they  are  often  found  flying  about  in  large  numbers  on  or  about 
Ht.  Mark’s  day  (April  25).  They  are  in  a  perfectly  harmless  condition 
now,  but  as  grubs  they  feed  on  the  roots  of  plants,  and  are  the  cause 
of  much  injury  to  them.  There  were  two  specimens  of  the  ‘  galley- 
worm,’  Polydesmus  eomplanatus,  one  of  the  Myriapods  nearly  allied 
to  the  Julidm,  and  are  most  destructive  creatures.  Insecticides  have 
little  or  no  effect  on  them,  but  tiiey  may  joe  trapped  by  burying  small 
slices  of  Tm-nips,  Mangolds,  or  Carrots  just  below  the  surface  of  the 
soil  near  the  plants  they  are  attacking.  A  small  wooden  skewer  should 
be  stuck  into  each,  so  as  to  show  where  they  are  buried  ;  these  traps 
should  be  examined  every  morning.” 
Saxifrapa  Burscriana  diseased. — Mr.  C.  Wolley  Dod  sentsome  plants 
with  the  following  observations  :  “  I  send  some  badly  diseased  plants 
of  Saxifraga  b.  X  var.  Boydi.  This  disease  has  neaidy  extinguished 
my  stock  of  this  variety,  and  I  have  not  found  any  effectual  remedy. 
It  has  been  progressing  for  three  or  four  years.  Some  other  kinds  of 
S.  B.  type  are  attacked  by  it,  but  less  generally.”  Dr.  Cooke  undertook 
to  examine  and  report  upon  it. 
Bulbs  with  dying  roots. — Dr.  Voelcker  inquired  on  behalf  of  a  lady 
who  found  that  bulbs  of  Koman  Hyacinths,  Freesias,  and  Daffodils, 
after  l)eing  potted  and  placed  in  a  greenhouse,  were  apparently 
growing  well,  but  of  which  the  roots  had  decayed.  Mr.  Wilks 
observed  that  this  was  due  to  the  bulbs  not  having  been  allowed  to- 
make  I’oots  in  ashes  for  a  month  previously  ;  so  that  the  shoots  were 
living  at  the  expense  of  the  bulb  only,  not  having  sufficient  roots  for  a 
supply,  the  latter  were  starved, 
Gattleya,  rapid  flowering. — Mr.  Odell  called  attention  to  the  very 
short  time  in  which  a  plant  exhibited  at  the  show  had  taken  to  flower, 
for  it  was  sown  only  eleven  months  ago. 
^Calanthes,  hybrid. — Dr.  Masters  showed  pui’ple  and  white  flowers  i 
received  from  Mr.  Chapman,  who  wrote  as  follows ;  '•  The  hybrid  ' 
Calanthes,  C.  Sibyl  (pure  white)  and  C.  Oakwood  Ruby  (the  deepest 
coloured  variety  in  cultivation),  were  both  obtained  from  tlie  same  pod 
of  seed,  the  original  cross  being  C.  Veitchi  and  C.  rubro-oeulata. 
Prom  selections  of  the  best  varieties  derived  from  this  batch  of 
seedlings  and  intercrossing  amongst  themselves,  and  continuing  the 
inbreeding  tor  four  or  five  generations  at  Oakwood,  these  remarkable 
results  are  obtained.  This  is  interesting  at  the  present  moment,  seeing 
tliat  ‘  Mendel’s  Laws  of  Inheritance  ’  have  been  placed  so  prominently 
before  the  members  of  the  Scientific  Committee  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society.  It  certainly  goes  far  enough  to  prove  that, 
instead  of  reversion  to  the  original  crossing  bj^  the  process  of  in- 
breeding,  the  result  has  produced  and  placed  before  us  the  widest 
possible  variations  from  the  original  cross  and  from  each  other ; 
sliowing  that  ‘  Mendel’s  Laws  ’  cannot  be  applied  in  the  way  some  of 
our  prominent  specialists  have  indicated.  It  may  be  interesting  also 
to  state  what  effect  inbreeding  has  had  upon  the  constitution  of  these 
plants.  It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  diminished  size  of  the  bulbs 
while  the  general  constitution  of  both  varieties  are  exceedingly 
delicate.  C.  Oakwood  Ruby  I  consider  the  most  difficult  subject  to 
cultivate  among  the  whole  genus  of  Calanthes  ;  I  regard  it  as  one  of 
the  most  difficult  Orchids  I  have  ever  had  to  deal  with.  I  hope,  before 
the  season  is  over,  to  place  before  the  committee  other  results  of  in- 
breeding  of  Orchids,  which,  I  think,  will  go  far  to  prove  the 
inapplicability  of  ‘  Mendel’s  Laws  ’  to  Orchids,” 
Chinese  Primrose,  Ivy-leaved. — Dr.  Masters  showed  drawings  of 
this  variety  taken  in  1887,  the  flowers  being  remai-kable  for  having 
only  four  petals  and  abortive  organs.  It  appears  to  be  precisely  the 
same  now,  not  having  advanced  at  all. 
Cypripedium  synanthic. — He  also  showed  drawings  of  the  flower 
of  a  plant  having  six  stamens  and  sepals  multiplied.  They  will  appear 
with  full  description  in  the  “  Gardeners’  Chronicle.” 
Ealing  Korticultural 
Tlie  annual  meeting  of  thi.s 
Society,  whicli  has  now  reached 
the  38th  year  of  its  existence,  was 
held  on  the  I2th  inst.,  there  being 
a  small  attendance  of  supporters. 
The  report  of  the  committee 
showed  a  very  serious  deficit  in 
respect  of  the  funds,  owing  to  the 
fact  that  on  the  occasion  of  hold¬ 
ing  the  annual  show  in  Gunners- 
bury  Park  in  July  last,  the  day 
was  very  wet,  and  the  attendance 
limited.  In  consequence  of  the 
loss  so  incurred  the  autumn  show 
of  Chrysanthemums  had  to  te 
abandoned.  The  exhibition  fcr 
the  present  year  will  be  held  on 
July  8th,  in  the  Walpole  Corpora¬ 
tion  Park,  which  is  in  the  centre 
of  the  town,  and  therefore  ea.sy  of 
access :  but  the  attractions  of  the 
grounds  of  Gunnersbui-y  Park  and 
Gunnersbury  House  will  be  lack¬ 
ing.  At  the  latter  places  nothing 
in  the  way  of  additional  attrac¬ 
tions  were  required,  but  this  year 
it  is  anticipated  the  committee 
will  have  to  spend  a  considerable 
.sum  in  providing  other  attrac¬ 
tions.  Notwithstanding  the  enor¬ 
mous  growth  of  Ealing,  the 
Society  has  a  reduced  subscription 
list,  and  this  unpleasant  result  is 
attributed  to  the  dying  out  of  the 
old  Ealing  families  who  made  a 
point  of  supporting  the  Society  in 
the  past.  The  urban  character  of  the  locality  has  changed  to 
that  of  the  town,  this  has  led  to  the  breaking  uf)  of  small_ estates, 
and  the  tiu-ning  of  the  land  for  building  purposes,  consequently 
there  are  fewer  large  gardens  and  less  i-^pecimen  plants  grown  for 
exhibition.  All  these  thing, s  operate  to  the  disadvantage  of  the 
Society,  and  it  has  now  to  depend  much  more  upon  the  takings 
at  the  gates  than  formerly  ;  while  it  has  to  follow  the  wake  of 
provincial  societies,  and  find  something  in  the  way  of  side  shows. 
It  is  anticipated  the  Autumn  Chrysanthemum  Show  will  be  held 
in  November  as  u.sual. 
Royal  Meteorological. 
The  monthly  meeting  ivas  held  on  Wednesday  evening,  the 
18th  instant,  at  the  society’s  rooms,  70,  Victoria  Street,  West¬ 
minster,  Capt,  D.  Wilson-Barker,  F.R.S.E., president  in  the  chair. 
Reference  was  made  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Janies  Glaisher,  F.R.S., 
who  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  society  in  1850.  Mr.  E. 
Mawley  presented  his  “  Report  on  the  Phenological  Observations 
for  1902.”  In  all  parLi.  of  the  British  Isles  the  phenological  year 
Pear,  Josephine  de  Malines  (see  page  186), 
ending  November  30,  1902,  was,  for  the  most  part,  cold  and  sun¬ 
less.  Rain  fell  at,  unusually  frequent  intervals,- so  that  although 
the  total  quantity  proved  deficient,  there  at  no  time  occurred  any 
period  of  drought.  Wild  plants  were  everywhere  behind  their 
mean  dates  in  coming  into  flower,  but  the  departures  from  the 
average  were,  as  a  rule,  slight  until  about  the  middle  of  May. 
After  that  time  until  the  end  of  the  flowering  season  the  dates 
of  blossoming  were  later  than  in  any  other  year  .since  the  present 
series  of  records  was  instituted  in  1891.  The  swallow,  cuckoo, 
and  nightingale  were  a  few  days  earlier  than  usual  in  making 
their  appearance.  The  most  remarkable  feature  as  regards  the 
weather  and  its  effect  on  vegetation  was  the  way  in  which  it 
favoured  the  growth  of  all  the  farm  crops  except  Potatoes  and 
Hops.  For  it  is  seldom  in  the  same  year  that  the  yield  of 
Wheat,  Barley,  Oats,  Beans,  Peas,  Turnips,  Mangolds,  and 
grass  are  alike  abundant,  even  in  a  single  district,  mucli  less  in 
all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  as  was  the  case  in  1902.  On  the  other 
hand,  all  the  fruit  crops  were  more  or  less  deficient  with  the 
exception  of  Strawberries,  which  yielded  well,  but  were,  like  most 
other  fruits,  lacking  in  flavour. 
