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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER > 
May  16,  1901. 
large  purple  flowers,  whioh  Mr.  Lynch  has  succeeded  in  establishing  on 
the  roots  of  Willows,  as  well  as  our  native  L.  squatnaria  on  Poplars; 
Hippea8trum  anlioam,  one  of  the  species  of  the  original  hybrids  of  the 
modern  so-called  “  Amaryllis,”  remarkable  for  the  great  obliquity  of 
the  perianth  leaves  ;  Cheiranthus  mutabilis,  the  true  plant,  and  not 
the  same  as  that  usually  grown  under  this  name,  it  is  not  quite 
hardy.  Prof.  Church  remarked  that  specimens  grown  at  Kew  show  a 
larger  range  of  oolours  than  those  of  the  Cambridge  plants,  and  that 
the  peculiar  nature  of  the  colouring  matters  is  due  to  changes  in  the 
neutrality,  alkalinity,  or  acidity  of  the  sap.  Acer  carpinifolia. — This  is 
one  of  the  several  Japanese  species,  having  leaves  without  lobes, 
the  blade  closely  resembling  that  of  the  Hornbeam.  Helwingia 
japonica.  —  The  foliage  is  remarkable  for  having  the  peduncles 
adherent  to  the  petiole  (as  is  that  of  the  Lime  to  the  bract),  so  that 
they  are  apparently  borne  by  the  leaf,  and  resemble  superficially 
Ruscu8  aculeatus.  Citrus  trifoliata,  a  very  spinescent  species, 
requires  only  a  very  slight  protection.  Dr.  Masters  observed  that  it 
was  used  in  Florida  as  the  stock  for  Oranges,  so  that  they  could 
withstand  frost.  Hymenanthera  crassifolia,  a  shrub  both  in  flower  and 
fruit,  of  the  family  Violaceae.  It  is  a  native  of  New  Zealand.  Hibbertia 
scandens,  perhaps  the  largest  flowering  species,  somewhat  resembling 
Hypericum  calycinum,  while  H.  Readi  bore  the  smallest  flowers  ; 
probably  natives  of  Australia.  Stigmaphyllon  ciliatum,  a  handsome, 
yellow  flowered  Malpighiad.  Macleania  insignis,  of  the  order  Vacciniacese, 
a  very  uncommon  plant,  figured  from  the  Cambridge  plant  in  “  Bot. 
Mag.,”  t.  7694  (1900).  An  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to 
Mr.  Lynch  for  the  above  exhibition. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  Southampton. 
A  splendid  Queen  Victoria  challenge  trophy,  value  £40,  will  be 
competed  for  at  the  autumn  show  of  this  Society.  A  very  handsome 
design  has  been  selected,  in  the  form  of  a  massive  silver  cup,  with  the 
ebonised  pedestal,  standing  nearly  2  feet  high.  On  the  cover  will  be  a 
full  length  portrait  figure  of  her  late  Majesty,  and  on  the  sides  will  be 
the  borough  arms,  a  representation  of  the  Bar  Gate,  and  appropriate 
Horal  devices.  For  particulars,  application  should  be  made  to 
C.  S.  Fuidge,  6,  College  Terrace,  London  Road,  Southampton. 
Bath  and  West  and  Southern  Counties’  Society. 
This  great  exhibition,  which  lasts  five  days,  will  be  held  at  Croydon 
on  May  22nd  to  27th  inclusive.  A  lofty  pavilion  has  been  specially 
constructed  for  horticultural  exhibits.  There  will  be  a  choice  display 
of  exotic  plants  and  flowers,  which  will  be  arranged  with  the  special 
view  of  illustrating  the  beautiful  effects  which  can  be  obtained  by 
skilful  groupings  and  combination  of  colour.  There  will  be  an 
exhibition  of  appliances  to  illustrate  the  drying  and  evaporation  of 
fruit  and  vegetables,  with  explanatory  lectures,  in  a  building  erected 
for  the  purpose.  This,  of  course,  will  form  but  one  section  of  a  varied 
exhibition. 
Sheffield  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  monthly  meeting  of  the  above  was  held  on  May  8th  at  the 
Westminster  Hotel.  Mr.  J.  G.  Newsham  occupied  the  chair.  A  grand 
display  of  cut  flowers  were  shown  by  amateurs — Roses,  Azaleas, 
Fuchsias,  Amaryllis,  &o.  Mr.  Simmonds  was  awarded  a  cultural 
certificate  for  a  fine  speoimen  of  Spiraea  astilboides.  Mr.  W.  Brooks, 
of  Grange  Hall,  read  an  interesting  and  instructive  essay  on  “  Weeds 
and  Their  Uses.”  He  mentioned  such  common  kinds  as  Chickweed, 
Groundsel,  Dock,  Thistle,  Mint,  Ragwort,  Wild  Carrot,  Thyme, 
Clover,  &c.,  giving  their  uses  as  food  for  butterflies,  their  botanical 
uses,  &c.  To  illustrate  the  essay  he  brought  a  case  of  numerous 
varieties  of  moths  and  butterflies,  the  larvae  of  which  feed  on  the 
various  weeds  mentioned. 
Bristol  Naturalists’  Society. 
This  Society  held  its  monthly  meeting  at  University  College,  the 
president  (Dr.  A.  B.  Prowse)  in  the  chair.  Mr.  George  Brebner  read 
a  paper  on  “  Plant  Hairs,  and  What  they  Do.”  The  lecturer  first  pointed 
out  that  the  term  “  hair  ”  or,  rather,  its  scientific  equivalent,  triohome, 
inclnded  a  good  deal  more  than  the  mere  hair-like  outgrowths  of 
plants.  For  instance,  such  structures  as  prickles — popularly  thorns — 
of  the  Rose  and  Bramble  were  inclnded  under  this  term  in  its  widest 
application.  The  lecturer  then  went  on  to  describe  the  simplest  form 
of  hair — viz.,  a  single  filamentous  outgrowth  from  a  superficial  or 
epidermal  cell.  The  hairs  found  just  behind  the  growing  points  of 
roots  were  good  examples  of  this  kind,  and  had  the  exceedingly 
important  function  of  absorbing  water,  and  certain  contained  food 
substances  from  the  soil.  Covering  hairs  of  plants  were  next  dealt 
with,  many  of  which  had  beautiful  and  interesting,  sometimes  complex 
structures,  their  function  being  mainly  to  prevent  too  great  loss  of 
water  by  evaporation.  Various  other  types  of  hairs  and  their  uses 
to  plants  were  described,  such  as  protective,  stinging,  and  other  sharp 
pointed  hairs,  protection  of  flowers  from  unbidden  guests,  capturing, 
and  digestion  of  insects,  aids  to  climbing,  dispersal  of  fruit  and  seed, 
&c.  The  lecture  was  illustrated  by  a  number  of  lantern  slides.  Mr. 
Brebner  also  exhibited  several  plants  of  the  Rose  of  Jericho  (Anastatica 
Hierochuntica),  which  a  member  of  the  Sooiety  had  raised  from  seed 
and  which  had  not  only  flowered,  but  fruited. 
Royal  National  Tulip  Society. 
A  Tulip  Conference  and  the  eighth  annual  Southern  Exhibition  of 
the  above  Sooiety  will  be  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Birmingham 
Botanioal  and  Horticultural  Society  on  Thursday,  May  23rd,  1901,  in 
the  Botanical  Gardens,  Edgbaston,  Birmingham.  Mr.  A.  D.  Hall,  The 
College,  Wye,  Kent,  is  hon.  secretary. 
North  Kildare  Horticultural  Society. 
The  annual  show  of  the  above  Society  has  been  fixed  for  Wednesday, 
31st  July.  By  kind  invitation  of  the  Earl  of  Mayo  it  will  be  held 
in  the  beautiful  and  picturesque  grounds  of  Palmerstown,  near  Naas. 
Prizes  are  offered  for  plants,  fruit,  cat  flowers,  vegetables,  honey,  and 
bread.  There  are  also  classes  for  cottages  and  gardens,  and  we  are 
pleased  to  note  cottagers  are  showing  a  commendable  interest  in  the 
Society.  The  hon.  secretary,  Mr.  George  Paterson,  Leixlip,  informs  us 
that  the  entries  for  cottages  and  gardens  are  very  large,  being  a  great 
increase  on  previous  years,  and  there  are  some  districts’  entries  yet  to 
come  in. 
East  Anglian  Horticultural  Club. 
“Diseases  and  Pests”  was  the  subject  of  an  essay  at  the  reoent 
meeting  of  the  above,  and  proved  to  be  very  interesting.  There  was  a 
sdendid  display  of  cut  flowers  in  the  class  for  the  silver  cup  com¬ 
petition,  Mr.  R.  Notley  and  Mr.  G.  James  securing  the  leading  points. 
In  the  class  for  Zonal  Pelargoniums  Mr.  D.  Howlett  and  Mr.  W.  Rush 
again  repeated  their  success  of  the  Norfolk  and  Norwich  Show  with 
well-grown  plants.  In  the  flowering  plant  class  Mrs.  E.  T.  Boardman 
exhibited  a  choice  apricot-coloured  Azalea  mollis,  quite  a  sheet  of  bloom, 
which  was  easily  first.  For  vegetables  Mr.  C.  Hines  again  led,  his 
Asparagus  being  very  good.  Mr.  G.  James  had  a  splendid  brace  of 
Cucumbers,  easily  first,  also  a  plate  of  good  Tomatoes  of  good  shape 
and  colour.  Mr.  Craddock  staged  the  best  Strawberries,  and  the  only 
entry  in  French  Beans.  In  the  non-oompetitive  classes,  Mr.  W.  Rush 
staged  a  box  of  blooms  of  six  of  the  newer  varieties  of  Z  mal  Pelar¬ 
goniums  with  massive  pips.  Mr.  D.  Howlett  had  a  box  of  Snow  Pansies, 
which  for  size  and  colour  were  superb,  and  richly  deserved  the  com¬ 
mendation  they  received.  Holmes’  Supreme  Tomato  was  exhibbed  by 
Mr.  W.  Joice  and  sampled  out.  The  duties  of  judging  was  undertaken 
by  Messrs.  J.  W.  Church,  J.  B.  Field,  and  Simpson. 
Young  Gardeners’  Domain. 
List  of  Books  in  Library,  Syon  Gardens. 
We  have  several  times  admired  the  splendid  garden  library  and 
reading-room  at  the  Duke  of  Northumberland’s  seat,  Syon  House, 
Brentford.  By  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  George  Wythes,  V.M.H.,  a  gardener 
well  known  throughout  the  horticultural  realm,  we  are  enabled  to 
furnish  an  entire  list  of  this  library,  and  we  devoutly  hope  it  may  be 
the  inspiring  cause  whereby  those  in  authoritative  positions  may  exert 
their  powers  towards  providing  something  on  the  same  lines  in  those 
gardens  at  present  not  thus  endowed.  Books  are  to  our  minds  what  salt 
is  to  our  bodies.  The  latter  gives  tone  and  strength  to  our  systems ;  books 
stimulate  the  brain,  keep  it  active,  and  prevent  it  from  “  rusting.” 
We  have  heard  young  gardeners  remark  that  it  was  inadvisable  on 
their  part  to  become  enlightened  in  case  they  beoame  discontented  with 
their  lot.  It  is  not  worth  while  to  consider  such  an  objection.  Just 
let  our  indolent,  easy  going  friends  alone,  and  that  will  suit  them.  It 
ought  to  be  evident  to  everyone,  that  power,  position,  and  respect  oome 
to  us  through  education,  and  so  long  as  any  trade  or  profession  has 
a  majority  of  sloths,  so  long  may  we  expect  that  trade  or  profession 
to  pay  the  penalty. 
“  The  gardener,  however  limited  the  sphere  of  his  operations,  is  more 
or  less  an  artist,  or  a  man  of  taste  in  designing  and  laying  out  of  walks, 
roads,  shrubberies,  and  plantations — these  in  different  degrees  of  extent 
and  importance,  from  the  making  of  a  flower  garden  to  a  park.” 
“  When,”  as  Loudon  sayB,  “  to  these  uses  are  added  the  knowledge  of 
fencing,  draining,  irrigation,  and  frequently  the  profitable  planting  of 
timber  trees,  besides  the  growing  of  ordinary  vegetables,  and  the  great 
arts  of  plant  forcing ;  of  propagation ;  of  the  systematic  culture  of  the 
multitudinous  plants  under  his  charge,  and  probably  hybridising  and 
floral  decorating,  it  will  surely  be  conceded  that  the  gardener,  more  than 
almost  any  of  his  neighbours  in  the  labour  world,  requires  the  aid  of  good 
and  numerous  books.”  But  at  the  rate  at  which  young  gardeners  are 
paid  they  can  never  obtain  sufficient  money  to  clothe  and  feed  them¬ 
selves,  and  buy  books  also.  This  demands  too  much  from  them. 
Either  the  young  men  must  have  emoluments  allowed  them,  so  that  they 
may  buy  their  own  books  (which  must  be  regarded  as  part  of  their 
“  tools  ”),  or  the  employer  might  take  this  task  on  him  or  herself,  for  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  no  really  efficient  gardeners  are  produced 
without  education  and  guidance  from  books.  These  latter  are  simply 
the  printed  experiences  of  men  who  have  preceded  them,  or  have  had 
greater  advantages  for  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  profession,  or  at 
