033 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  18,  1903. 
Sco'tish  Notes. 
Thoun;li  tliP  .snnshiii:>  of  all  that  has  passed  of  this  month,  on 
the  whole  must  ho  considered  hot.  yet  that  genial  warmth  so 
often  a  feature  of  the  month  of  June,  has  been  very  specially 
ah.sent  after  sundown,  we  had  on  two  or  three  nights  very  decided 
touche.-;  of  frost.  *  *  On  Saturday  (ith,  the  Gardening  and 
Forestry  Association  visited  the  gardens  and  grounds  of  Dalziel, 
where  a  large  company  were  shown  over  the  establishment  hy 
Mr.  Angus.  The  party  was  entertained  to  a  sumptuous  tea,  and 
a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Lord  Hamilton  and  Mr. 
Angus  for  their  kind  reception.  *  *  Messrs.  Alexander  Cross 
and  Sons,  Seedsmen.  Glasgow,  were  found  guilty  of  contravening 
the  Pharmacy  Acts  by  selling  a  bottle  of  ant  destroyer,  before 
vSheriff  I'liomson,  and  a  penalty  of  £5,  with  £3  expenses,  was 
imposed.  *  *  Mr.  McHattie  has  constructed  a  floral  clock  in 
Princes  Street  Gardens,  Edinburgh.  The  face  is  made  of  flowers, 
and  the  “  liand  ”  is  practically  a  flower  box.  Motion  is  given  to 
the  "  hand  ”  by  machinery  inside  a  hou.se  near  where  the  clock  is 
placed.  The  novelty  is  keeping  good  time,  as  well  as  causing  con¬ 
siderable  curio'-'ity. — D.  C.,  Hamilton. 
The  Insect  Pests  Bill. 
Mr.  W.  Horne  and  Mr.  T.  May,  Kent  ;  Air.  A.  Grant,  Cambridge' 
shire,  and  Mr.  C.  D.  Wise,  Glouce.stershire,  have  been  appointed 
delegates  to  represent  the  National  Fruit  Growers’  Federation  in 
di.scussing  and  moulding  with  Sir  John  Rankin,  M.P.,  and  the 
Board  of  Agriculture, the  Insect  Pe.sts  Bill  now  before  Parliament. 
In  connection  with  this  announcement  we  draw  attention  to 
the  report  of  the  Scientific  Committee’s  (R.H.S.)  sub-committee 
appointed  in  Alarch  last,  which  included  the  following  sugges¬ 
tions: — (1):  That  the  Herefordshire  County  Council  (with  Avhom 
the  movement  initiated)  had  failed  to  make  out  a  sufficient  case 
for  legislation;  (2)  Forethought,  vigilance,  and  good  cultivation 
would  be  more  effectual  than  an  Act  of  Parliament ;  (3)  There 
should  be  concerted  action  among  growers  in  checking  diseases, 
etc.,  e.g.,  the  Gooseberry  .sawfly,  which  might  be  done  if  every 
cultivator  in  any  district  would  dust  or  .spray  his  bushes  when 
attacked,  and  in  the  winter  would  remove  a  few  inches  of  soil  and 
burn  or  bury  it  deeply;  (4)  The  Board  of  Agriculture  has  power 
to  take  immediate  action  in  special  cases ;  (5)  Self-interest  on  the 
part  of  the  nurseryman  would  be  more  effective  than  occasional 
visits  of  an  inspector ;  (G)  The  proposal  to  appoint  a  Government 
entomologist  and  mycologist  is  already  to  some  extent  acted  upon 
by  the  Board  of  Agriculture — this  should  be  more  widely  known  ; 
(7)  It  may  be  suggested  that  the  Board  of  Agriculture  might  co- 
opei’ate  with  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  in  establishing  a 
permanent  scientific  research  and  experimental  station  in  its 
garden,  to  deal  with  plant  diseases,  Ac. 
The  Minister's  Man. 
To  a  query  as  to  the  duties  of  “  The  Alinister’s  Alan,”  the  editor 
of  the  “  N.B.  Agi'iculturist  ”  archly  answers  that  :  “  The  above, 
query  is  on  rather  original  lines  for  an  agricultural  journal,  and 
suggests  a  line  of  thought  which  we  had  not  hitherto  pursued. 
But  since  receiving  ‘Inquirer’s’  letter  we  have  been  thinking 
over  the  matter,  and  what  the  duties  of  a  minister’s  man  woxdd 
be  like.  In  the  old  parochial  days  the  minister’s  man  was  one 
of  the  most  important  personages  in  the  parish,  from  his  own 
point  of  view,  at  any  rate.  It  was  his  duty  to  keep  the  minister 
well  posted  up  in  all  the  current  gossip  of  the  parish.  It  was  also 
the  duty  of  the  ministei’’s  man  to  keep  his  master’s  reputation 
right  before  the  world.  A  minister’s  man,  according  to  some 
authorities,  has  even  been  known  to  question  the^  theological 
views  of  his  ministerial  superior.  It  was  one  of  the  genus  who 
once,  in  discu.ssing  the  frivolousness  of  the  age,  hazarded  the 
opinion  that  there  were  only  two  people  in  the  whole  parish  who 
would  be  chosen — himself  and  the  minister,  and  he  had 
sometimes  his  doubts  about  the  minister.  But  capacity  of 
that  kind  argued  a  profundity  of  thought  and  belief  which  we 
are  afraid  few  modern  ministers’  men  wmdd  come  up  to.  So  far 
as  we  know,  the  duties  of  a  modern  minisfer’s  man  would  consist  , 
of  making  himself  generally  useful  about  thei  manse.  AVhere  a 
pony  and  trap  is  kept,  he  would,  no  doubt,  be  required  to  do  a 
little  driving  for  the  minister.  He  would  also,  no  doubt,  be 
expected  to  do  a  little  gardening,  and  generally  look  after  the 
glel>e,  where  there  was  one.  In  some  ca.ses  he  is  also  required  to 
do  the  bell-ringing  on  Sunday;  but,  as  a  rule,  that  would  be  a 
matter  of  private  arrangement.” 
Banana  Fruiting  Eight  Months  from  Pottirg. 
In  the  Royal  Botanic  Society’s  Victoria  Regia  house  at 
Regent’s  Park,  a  young  Banana  plant,  the  first  growths  of  which 
were  evident  as  a  sucker  eight  months  ago,  is  now  fully  in  fruit. 
This  is  exceptionally  quick  growth  to  fruitfulness, 
Panama  Hats. 
These  are  made  from  the  leaves  of  a  Carludovica,  usually  C.  pal- 
mata,  and  not  from  any  fan-leaved  Palm.  Last  j'ear,  says  “  W.  \V..” 
in  the  “  Gardener’s  Chronicle,”  a  quantity  of  young  plants  of  this, 
the  “  Ippi-appa,”  were  received  at  Kew  from  Jamaica,  and  most  of 
them  have  .since  been  distributed  to  other  parts  of  the  empire, 
where  there  is  a  chance  of  the  “  Panama  hat  ”  industry  catching 
on. 
Cattleya  x  White!  magnifica. 
This  magnificent  hybrid  Orchid — from  Cattleya  Schilleriana 
and  C.  Wagneri — was  immensely  popular  among.st  lovers  of  these 
plants  at  the  Temple  Show.  It  was  .staged  by  Sir  Frederick 
Wigan,  Bart,  (grower.  Air.  W.  H.  Young),  of  Clare  Lawn,  East 
Sheen,  Surrey,  and  a  First  Class' Certificate  was  awarded  for  it. 
The  influence  of  C.  Schilleriana  is  very  noticeable  in  the  shape  and 
pose  of  the  flower,  and  the  colour  has  been  modified  by  C. 
AVagneri.  Air.  Geo.  Shayler’s  drawing  gives  a  correct  impres¬ 
sion  of  the  flower  in  these  respects.  In  colour  the  stout  sepaks 
and  petals  are  deep,  shining  rose-purple,  and  the  fringed  lip 
is  much  more  intense,  with  jmllow  veining.  (See  opposite  page.) 
Photographing  at  the  Shows  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
The  horticultural  Press  having  unanimously  protested  against 
the  Alinute  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Council,  Dr. 
Alasters  has  received  the  subjoined  communication  relating  to 
this  subject,  a  copy  of  which  he  .sends  to  us: — 
“  At  the  meeting  of  the  Council  ye.sterday,  the  President  men¬ 
tioned  that  you  had  remonstrated  with  him  as  to  the  Alinute  of 
Council  of  April  21,  relating  to  photography  at  the  Society’s 
meetings  and  shows.  After  discus.sion,  I  was  directed  to  write  to 
you  and  explain  that  the  Council  had  no  intention  whatever  to 
lay  any  stress,  much  less  an  offensive  one,  on  the  word  “  must  ”  in 
paragraph  iii.  of  the  Alinute.  All  they  intended  by  the  whole 
Minute  Avas  to  indicate  the  conditions  under  which  permission  to 
photograph  Avas  given.  The  Council  consider  that  if  the  Society 
brings  the  plants,  Ac.,  together,  and  it  there  and  then  suits  the 
purpose  of  anyone  .to  photograph  them  at  the  shoAV,  and  the 
Societ.y  grants  permission  to  do  so — it  is  not  too  much  to  ask  for  a 
duplicate  block  (if  block  be  made  from  the  photo  so  taken)  to  be 
presented  for  use  in  the  Society’s  publications  (Avith  acknoAvledge- 
ment)  in  return  for  the  facilities  thus  created  and  afforded.  The 
reason  for  the  matter  being  considered  on  April  21,  was  that  neAV 
applications  for  permission  to  iDhotograph  came  before  the 
C’ouncil,  and  they  felt  that  the  number  of  applicants  for  photo¬ 
graphic  facilities  Avas  becoming  so  numerous  that  Avell  defined 
rules  should  noAv  be  laid  doAvn,  instead  of  the  haphazard  course 
pursued  hitherto  as  to  granting  permissions.  xVs  a  personal 
matter,  I  regret  that  in  transcribing  the  Minute  of  April  21  from 
notes  taken  at  the  Council  meeting,  I  omitted  to  insert  after  the 
Avord  “  undertake,”  in  par.  iii.,  the  AA'ords  [‘if  requested’]  in 
brackets,  AA'hich  should  have  been  there. — I  am,  faithfully  yours, 
W.  Wilks,  Secretary.  By  order  of  the  Council.” 
Bolton  Gardeners'  Benefit  Societ.y. 
I  think  your  remarks  (page  513)  on  the  above  named  societ.y  ' 
are  very  Avell-timed  and  to  the  point.  A  Avell-knoAvn  humorist 
(Artenius  Ward)  has  said  it  is  never  Avise  to  prophesy  unless  you 
really  knoAv.  All  the  same,  I  Avill  A^enture  upon  this,  that  in  the 
years  to  come  some  of  those  aaTio  are  members  may  find  out  the.v 
are  Avrong.  It  is  no  secret  that  a  Avell-knoAvn  similar  society  in  a 
large  provincial  city  has  had  troublous  times  to  face  of  late 
.years.  This  is  not  OAving  to  any  Avrong-doing  of  its  managers,  but 
simply  because  it  offered  too  man.y  advantages  for  the  amount  of 
subscription  that  Avas  paid.  Ea'cii  some  of  the  old-established 
benefit  societies,  based  upon  Avhat  Avas  thought  sound  principles, 
are  having  to  consider  some  re-arrangement  of  their  payments,  as 
Avill  have  been  noticed  by  others  during  the  late  annual  meetings. 
I  also  think  your  advice  to  the  members  of  the  Bolton  Society  as  to 
merits  of  the  Enited  Horticultural  Benefit  Society  is  of  the  best. 
I  can  say  this  the  more  freely  as  I  am  in  no  Ava.y  interested  therein. 
Some  years  ago  I  took  some  trouble  to  ascertain  the  true  facts  of 
the  societj’  Avith  a  vieAv  to  adAUsing  one  or  more  of  my  family  to 
