August  21,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
171 
Death  of  Mr.  James  Parr 
The  death  took  place  at  Rose  Cottage,  Barton,  August  15, 
of  Mr.  James  Parr,  who  has  for  several  years  been  secretary  of 
the  Patricroft  Linnsean  Society,  and  who  as  a  botanist  was  well 
known  throughout  the  district.  He  was  a  large  grower  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums. 
A  Visit  to  Swanley. 
Sir  J.  Leige  Hulett,  Speaker  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of 
Natal,  and  Lady  Hulett,  paid  a  lengthy  visit  to  Messrs.  Canned 
and  Sons,  Swanley  Nurseries,  recently.  They  were  intensely 
interested  with  what  they  saw,  and  left  an  order  to  be  despatched 
at  once.  They  propose  having  a  visit  to  the  firm’s  Eynsford 
Nursery  later  on,  and  making  an  exhaustive  examination  before 
leaving  for  South  Africa. 
Arnica  montana. 
The  deep  orange-yellow  flowers  of  the  midsummer  flowering 
border  perennial  are  always  a  source  of  attraction,  and,  judging 
from  the  specimens  sent  in  to  us,  it  is  considerably  grown,  but 
not  generally  identified.  The  height  of  the  plants  does  not 
exceed  2ft,  and  the  growths  terminate  in  solitary  composite 
flowers.  Its  culture  is  of  the  simplest,  and  one  established  in 
any  friable  soil.  We  have  not  experienced  any  lack  in  its  vigour 
or  alteration  in  its  general  freedom  of  habit.  An  illustration  is 
afforded  on  another  page. 
Carnations  from  Swindon. 
Messrs.  Davis  and  Son,  nurserymen,  &c.,  Bath  Road,  Swindon, 
have  forwarded  to  us  a  boxful  of  Carnation  and  Picotee  flowers. 
We  will  not  trust  ourselves  to  apply  names  to  these  Florists’ 
Flowers,  but  we  can,  at  all  events,  admire  and  commend  the 
quality  of  most  of  the  blooms  before  us.  In  nearly  all  cases  they 
are  firm,  fragrant,  deeply  coloured,  full  and  evenly  built,  and 
of  good  size.  The  lighCedged  Picotees  are  specially  tasteful. 
The  collection  otherwise  includes  seifs,  yellow-ground  Fancies, 
flakes,  and  fringe-edged  seifs. 
Cardiff  Gardeners’  Outing. 
The  members  of  the  Cardiff  Gardeners’  Association  held  their 
annual  outing  to  Highbury,  Birmingham,  the  seat  of  the  Right 
Hon.  Joseph  Chamberlain,  M.P.,  on  Monday,  August  11.  The 
party,  numbering  sixty,  left  Cardiff  in  saloon  carriages  at 
6.25  a.m.,  reaching  Ye  Old  Royal  Hotel  at  12.30,  where  an 
excellent  dinner  was  in  readiness,  and  was  thoroughly  enjoyed. 
The  toast  list  was  a  brief  one,  the  loyal  toasts  being  given  by 
Mr.  F.  G.  Treseder,  who  presided.  The  next  toast  was  that  of 
the  Right  Hon.  Joseph  Chamberlain,  M.P.,  submitted  by  John 
Julian,  hon.  secretary,  who  said  how  deeply  indebted  they  all 
felt  to  that  gentleman  for  his  courteous  consent  to  their  visiting 
his  beautiful  place.  The  “  Cardiff  Gardeners’  Association  ”  was 
submitted  by  Mr.  Bishop,  and  responded  to  by  Mr.  C.  E.  Collier, 
chairman ;  Mr.  Thos.  Malpass,  hon.  treasurer ;  and  Mr.  John 
Julian,  hon.  sec.;  and  that  of  the  “Visitors,”  “Chairman,”  and 
“  Host  ”  followed.  A  move  was  then  made  to  Station  Street, 
where  a  special  steam  tram  was  in  waiting  to  convey  the  party 
to  near  Highbury.  Messrs.  Deacon  and  Mackay  were  in  waiting 
at  the  entrance  to  escort  the  members  round.  The  contents  of 
the  numerous  Orchid  and  other  plants  and  fruit  houses  were 
greatly  admired,  as  was  also  the  beautiful  pleasure  grounds, 
such  a  spot  as  one  may.  well  imagine  that  Mr.  Chamberlain  so 
much  enjoys  in  quietude  when  not  so  greatly  occupied  with 
State  affairs.  Mr.  Deacon  referred  to  the  lateness  of  the  season, 
and  certainly  various  subjects  showed  that  they  had  not  been 
favoured  any  more  in  regard  to  sunshine  than  we  had  been  in 
our  own  neighbourhood.  On  completing  the  tour  round  the 
gardens,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  Messrs.  Deacon  and 
Mackay  for  their  courtesy.  The  party  then  made  a  move  to 
visit  their  friends  in  town,  leaving  Birmingham  at  11.30,  and 
reaching  Cardiff  at  4.30  a.m.  Tuesday,  having  enjoyed  one  cf 
the  most  successful  outings  the  Association  has  ever  had.  - 
J.  Julian,  Hon.  Sec.  ) 
Peaches  from  Byfleet. 
A  contribution  of  Peaches,  which  has  become  an  annual  offer¬ 
ing,  reached  us  during  the  week  from  Mr.  G.  Carpenter,  The 
Gardens,  West  Hall,  Byfleet,  Surrey.  The  fruits  were  nicely 
flavoured,  and  betokened  careful  culture. 
The  Victoria  Regia. 
A  specimen  of  this  at  the  Botanical  Gardens,  Old  Trafford, 
Manchester,  is  at  present  showing  leaves  7ft  in  diameter,  and 
the  curator  hasi  been  creating  a  local  sensation  by  taking  his 
position  upon  one  of  them,  seated  in  a  chair.  Of  this  the 
“  Daily  Dispatch  ”  publishes  an  amusing  illustration. 
A  Mysterious  Insect. 
In  the  Canton  of  Tessein,  known  as  the  fruit  garden  of 
Switzerland,  thousands  of  fruit  trees  have  been  destroyed  by 
a  plague  of  parasites.  The  orchards  at  present  look  like  withered 
forests,  as  all  the  fruit  trees  have  been  eaten  up  by  this  unknown 
insect,  which  first  introduces  itself  into  the  leaves  and  appears 
to  live  on  the  sap  of  the  tree.  All  remedies  have  proved  unsuc¬ 
cessful  in  destroying  the  insects,  and  once  attacked  the  tree 
is  doomed.  Many  fruit  growers  have  been  ruined  this  year, 
and  the  plague  seems  to  be  spreading  to  the  neighbouring  cantons. 
The  local  authorities  have  invited  experts  to  make  a  report  as 
to  the  nature  of  the  insect,  and  to  find  a  remedy  if  possible. 
A  Brazilian  Botanist. 
Professor  Barbosa  Rodrigues,  director  of  the  Botanical  Garden 
of  Rio  de  Janeiro,  has  arrived  in  England.  The  Brazilian  Con¬ 
gress  has  voted  a  considerable  sum  for  the  printing  of  his  work, 
“  Sertum  Palmarum,”  in  which  he  describes  160  species  of  Palm 
trees,  entirely  new,  and  discovered  by  himself  in  his  journeys 
in  the  interior  of  Brazil  for  more  than  thirty  years,  the  letter- 
press  to  be  accompanied  by  large  coloured  plates  drawn  in  the 
places  where  each  species  grows  spontaneously.  Senhor  Barbosa 
Rodrigues  has  been  received  by  the  authorities  at  Kew  Gardens, 
and  has  been  asked  to  look  over  the  classification  of  the  living 
Palms  in  the  hothouses  as  well  as  that  of  the  exsiceata.  In  the 
course  of  his  examination  he  discovered  a  hitherto  unclassified 
species,  brought  from  Goyaz  in  1892,  which  he  named  Astro- 
caryum  Kewensis. 
The  Leeds  Parks. 
The  Leeds  Corporation  have  just  completed  an  interesting 
competition  amongst  the  park  gardeners,  which,  so  far  as  is 
known,  is  entirely  novel.  The  idea  will  serve  to  direct  greater 
attention  to  the  magnificent  displays  to  be  found  in  so  many 
of  our  public  parks,  and  the  occasion  may  also  act  as  a  reminder 
of  the  enviable  position  which  Leeds  occupies  in  the  matter  of 
park  equipment,  a  ^position  which  may  almost  be  regarded  as 
unique.  In  the  city  there  are  no  fewer  than  twenty-two  parks 
and  recreation  grounds,  averaging  about  three  to  every  ward. 
In  the  aggregate,  the  land  acquired  in  this  manner  extends  over 
an  area  of  over  1,200  acres — more  than  a  twentieth  part  of  the  area 
of  the  entire  city — though  about  350  acres'  are  utilised  in  other 
ways.  Including  the  £10,900  given  by  Colonel  North  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  acquisition  of  Kirkstall  Abbey  and  grounds, 
the  actual  cost,  of  this  immense  area,  from  the  purchase  of  Wood- 
house  Moor,  so  long  ago  as  in  1857,  to  the  opening  of  the  parks 
at  Pottemewton  and  Harehills  last  year,  is,  in  round  figures, 
nearly  £500,000. 
The  Yorkshire  College. 
The  authorities  of  the  Yorkshire  College,  Leeds,  have  issued 
a  nicely  got-up  and  beautifully  illustrated  brochure  on  agricul¬ 
tural  education  in  Yorkshire.  Judging  from  the  letterpress 
and  illustrations  in  this  booklet,  the  agricultural  department  of 
the  Yorkshire  College  is  excellently  equipped  with  buildings  and 
stock.  The  course  of  instruction  given  at  this  centre  has  been 
well  designed,  and  is  of  an  eminently  practical  character.  The 
County  Councils  of  Yorkshire  have  made  liberal  provision  for 
supporting  agricultural  education  in  Yorkshire  by  means  of 
scholarships  for  selected  students  at  this  college.  The  course 
of  dairy  instruction  at  the  college  is  also  well  looked  after,  and, 
as  now  arranged,  any  Yorkshire  students  who  desire  instruction 
beyond  that' given  in  butter-making  at  Garfirth  may  attend  the 
classes  at  the  Midland  Dairy  Institute,  while,  conversely,  any 
students  from  the  Midland  Dairy  Institute  who  want  short 
courses  in  agriculture  can  come  to  the  Yorkshire  College.  The 
Yorkshire  College  undoubtedly  possesses  great  advantages  as  a 
centre  of  agricultural  education. 
