124 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  11,  19C4. 
The  stems  are  more  or  less  woody,  erect,  and  terminate  in  eymose 
panicles  of  white  flowers.  It  is  far  superior  to  E.  viparium.  A.M 
Tulipa  Katiffinanniana  aurea,  (Cutbush  and  Son). — A  briglit  form 
of  this  fine  Tulip.  The  segments  are  oblong  lanceolate,  with  rich 
yellow  ground,  and  a  broad  crimson  band  from  the  base  to  the  tip  of 
the  segments  on  the  outer  side.  A.M. 
Hou.se,  Master’s  Prolific,  and  Lockie’s  Perfection.  Messrs.  Jone.s, 
Jarvis,  Wiggins,  Harris,  Woodward,  Dodds,  Basham,  Sharratt, 
Daniels,  Bishop,  Powell,  Duff,  and  Bale  took  part  in  a  good  dis- 
cu.ssion  that  followed.  A  very  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded 
to  Mr.  Waller  for  his  able  paper.  Mr.  J.  Duff  presided  over  a 
good  attendance. 
London  Dahlia  Union. 
Caryota  excelsa. 
In  their  native  habitats,  the  Caryotas  have  economic  virtues, 
providing  a  nutritious  sago  (C.  uren.s)  for  the  natives,  as  well  as 
a  plentiful  supply  of  Palm  wine.  Under  natural  conditions  they 
frequently  grow  to  a  height  of  80ft. 
“  The  Treasury  of  Botany  ”  saj’.s  Carjmta  is  a  genus  of  very 
elegant  lofty  Palms  (Palmacese)  with  graceful  twice-pinnate 
leaves,  the  leaflets  of  which  differ  very  much  from  tho.'-e  of  other 
plants  of  this  order.  In  general  the  leaflets  of  pinnate-leaved 
Palms  are  long,  narrow,  and  tapering  upwards  to  a  point ;  but 
those  of  Caryota,  on  the  contrary,  are  comparatively  short, 
tapering  to  the  base,  very  broad  at  their  top  end,  where  they 
are  jagged  as  though  gnawed  by  an  animal.  iNbne  species  of  this 
genus  are  known,  all  of  them  natives  of  India  and  Indian  Islands. 
They  have  flowers  of  separate  sexes,  borne  upon  the  same  spike, 
or  sometimes  on  distinct  spikes.  The  calyx  is  of  three 
distinct  sepals,  and  the  corolla  is  three-parted;  the  male 
flowers  have  numerous  stamens  connected  together  at 
the  base  and  forming  a  cup  ;  and  the  females  a  one  or  two-celled 
ovary,  with  as  many  stigmas,  and  three  barren  stamens.  The 
fruits#  are  nearly  round,  somewhat  fleshy,  and  generally  of  a 
purplish  colour,  containing  one  or  two  seeds. 
Quantitie.s  are  raised  in  this  country  from  .seeds,  and  the 
plants  are  cultivated  in  plant-stove,  the  soil  they  delight  in  being 
a  rich  loam.  C.  excelsa  is  an  attractive  plant,  and  originated, 
we  believe,  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  H.  Wildenow. 
Societies. 
Ipswich :  Annual  Meeting. 
The  fourth  annual  meeting  of  the  Ipswich  Mutual  Improve¬ 
ment  Society  was  held  in  the  saloon  of  the  Public  Hall  on  the 
28th  ult.,  the  president,  Mr.  R.  C.  Notcutt,  occupying  the  chair. 
The  report  and  balance-sheet  for  the  year  were  read  by  the  secre¬ 
tary,  and,  after  some  discussion,  unanimously  adopted.  The 
membership  shows  a  net  increase  of  twenty-five.  Receipts  for 
the  year  (including  balance  of  £12  16s.  2^d.  brought  forward  from 
1902)  total  up  to  £34  8s.  2^d.  The  expenditure  was  £22  3s.  3|d., 
leaving  a  balance  in  hand  of  £12  4s.  lid.  The  .slightly  reduced 
balance  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the  society  has 
engaged  several  specialists  to  lecture  during  the  year.  Mr.  R.  C. 
Notcutt  was  re-elected  president,  and  Mr.  J.'  H.  Murgatroyd 
secretary  and  treasurer.  After  the  business  was  concluded  a 
musical  programme  was  indulged  in  for  the  remainder  of  the 
evening. — E.  G. 
Newport,  Mon. :  Cucumber  Culture. 
The  u.sual  meeting  of  the  Newport  (Mon.)  Gardeners’  Mutual 
Improvement  Association  was  held  on  Wednesday,  January  13, 
when  Mr.  Waller,  repre.sentative  of  the  Cardiff  Gardeners’  Asso¬ 
ciation,  gave  a  very  interesting  and  instructive  lecture  on  “  The 
Culture  of  the  Cucumber.”  Mr.  Waller,  who  spoke  mostly  from 
a  market  grower’s  point  of  view,  first  of  all  compared  tlie  prices 
obtained  a  few  years  ago  Avith  the  prices  obtainable  at  the  present 
time,  the  margin  of  profit  being  much  less  now  than  it  Avas,  say, 
ten  or  tAveh-e  years  ago.  He  then  Avent  on  to  say  that  for  Avinter 
culture  especially  proper  structures  Avere  required  and  bottom 
heat  necessary.  Seeds  must  be  soAvn  in  September  in  boxe.s, 
the  seedlings  to  be  potted  carefully  before  they  made  the  rough 
leaf,  then  planted  out  3ft  apart  in  beds  composed  of  turfy  loam 
and  about  one-fourth  Avell  decayed  manure.  Stop  them  Avhen 
they  are  grown  about  half  Avay  up  the  roof  of  the  house ;  also  stop 
the  laterals.  Water  carefully  Avith  Avater  at  the  temperature  of 
the  house  (Avhich  should  not  be  le.ss  than  60deg),  and  not  over¬ 
crop.  Winter  Cucumbers  will  not  do  Avell  Avhen  groAvn  near  large 
toAvns. 
For  summer  crops  ,soav  .seeds  in  March  in  boxe.s.  as  already 
hinted;  pot  and  plant  out  in  beds  2’ft  apart.  Soil:  loam,  de¬ 
cayed  inanure,  a  little  soot  and  bonemeal.  Keep  plenty  of  heat 
and  moi,sture;  stop  as  above;  give  liquid  manure  AA'hen  in  full 
growth,  and  top-dress  as  the  roots  come  through  the  soil.  Air 
carefully;  gum  plenty  of  Avater ;  .shade  but  a  little,  and  clo.se 
early.  Mr.  Waller  then  spoke  of  the  diseases,  mildeAv  trouble, 
and  insects  to  Avhich  the  Cucumber  is  liable  ;  also  their  preAmntion 
and  cure.  Fruits  15in  to  18in  in  length  are  the  best.  The 
varieties  recommended  Avere  Cardiff  Castle  (one  of  the  very  be.st 
for  winter  Avork),  Rockford’s  Market,  Rollisson’s  Telegraph,  Sion 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  .subscribers  to  the  Union 
Avas  held  at  the  Hotel  Windsor  on  the  26th  ult.,  at  2.30  p.m., 
Mr.  John  Green  (chairman  of  the  committee)  presiding,  there 
being  a  good  attendance.  The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  having 
been  read,  the  .secretary  (Mp.  R.  Dean)  pre.sented  a  duly  audited 
balance-sheet  shoAving  receipts  £58  83.  6d.,  in  addition  to  unpaid 
.subscriptions  of  £2  7s.  6d.  Avhich  had  been  received  .since  the 
audit  of  the  accounts,  and  the  expenditure  of  £58  6s.  Id.,  leaving 
a  balance  in  hand  of  £2  10s.  Od. 
The  .secretary  read  a  long  list  of  names  promising  support  to 
the  Union  in  the  present  year,  and  said  there  Avas  eA'erj’  prospect 
of  a  fine  exhibition  and  a  financial  success.  In  moving  the  adop¬ 
tion  of  the  financial  statement  the  chairman  congratulated  the 
.subscribers  upon  the  verj^  fine  di.splay  made  at  Earl’s  Court  in 
September  last,  the  shoAv  being  admirably  arranged  and  both  a 
great  surprise  and  a  great  delight  to  the  exhibitors  and  visitors. 
It  afforded  an  opportunity  for  the  neAv  Cactu.s  A'arieties  to  bo 
seen  in  their  best  character,  and  it  Avould  be  a  di.stinct  loss  to 
London,  and  also  to  the  Dahlia  interest,  if  the  show  were  dis¬ 
continued. 
They  had  already  approached  the  London  Exhibitions,  Ltd., 
at  Earl’s  Court,  and  had  been  most  faAmurablj"  received.  There 
Avas  every  promise  that  an  exhibition  Avould  be  held  there  in 
September.  The  chairman  concluded  by  stating  that  they  had 
every  reason  to  belioAm  they  had  secured  a  gentleman  of  position 
in  the  horticultural  Avorld  as  president,  whose  name  they  hoped 
shortly  to  announce.  Several  special  prizes  Avere  announced. 
Mr.  John  Green  Avas  re-elected  chairman,  and  Mr.  R.  Dean 
treasurer  and  secretary;  the  arrangements  for  the  show  in  the 
present  year.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  Avas  passed  to  the  chair¬ 
man  and  secretary. 
Cardiff:  OrcMds. 
A  meeting  of  the  Cardiff  Gardeners’  Association  took  place 
at  the  Grand  Hotel  on  Tuesday,  January  26,  Mr.  H.  R.  Farmer 
presiding.  Mr.  E.  4V.  Davy  delivered  a  lecture  entitled 
“  Orchids,”  dealing  largely  Avith  the  hi.story  and  adA'entures  of 
collectors  in  A^arious  parts  of  the  Avorld,  also  definirig  in  general 
the  natural  habitat  of  the  various  genera.  He  recommended 
strongly  to  adopt  the  mode  of  cultivation  as  near  to  that  as 
possible  AA'hich  they  inA’ariably  enjoy  in  their  natWe  climes. 
So  much  Ava.s  the  lecture  appreciated  that  Mr.  Davy  Avas  asked 
to  repeat  the  .same  at  another  date,  to  be  arranged  for  that  pur¬ 
pose.  The  lecturer  had  brought  Avith  him  fifty  hand-painted 
sheets  representing  v'arious  types  of  orchids  by  Avay  of  illustrating 
his  discourse.  The  be.st  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  accorded 
Mr.  Davy.-J.  J- 
Cardiff  and  County  Horticultural. 
The  fifteenth  annual  meeting  of  this  society  Avas  held  on 
Tuesday,  Februai'y  2,  at  the  Grand  Hotel,  Cardiff.  Dr.  De 
\^ere  Hunt  presided,  and  there  was  a  good  attendance.  The 
chairman  read  the  committee’s  report,  which  expre.ssed  regret 
that  the  Avorking  for  the  last  year,  owing  to  the  bad  sea.son, 
resulted  in  a  lo.ss  of  £85  8s.  lid.  The  balance  from  1902  had 
been  lost,  and  there  Avas  a  deficit  for  the  year  of  £21  12s.  3d., 
which,  should  the  out.stauding  subscriptions  of  £10  12s.  6d.  be 
recovered,  Avould  reduce  the  debit  to  £11.  The  gate  receipts 
fell  off  £75,  but  the  subscriptions  showed  a  slight  increase.  The 
expenditure  had  been  someAvhat  increased  by  the  prize  money, 
the  bands,  tents,  etc.,  and  the  reception  of  the  council  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  London,  Avho  came  as  a  deputa¬ 
tion  to  A'isit  the  shoAv.  They  AA’ere  high  in  their  prai.Sfe  of  the 
exhibits  staged,  and  aAvarded  twenty-four  medals  in  all,  besides 
nine  special  commendation  cards.  NotAA  itlrstanding  the  adveiAse 
season  the  total  entries  exceeded  those  of  the  previous  year  by 
nearly  100. 
The  date  of  the  next  shoAv  Avas,  subject  to  the  Marquis  of 
Bute’s  consent,  fixed  for  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  July  27 
and  28.  Upon  the  proposition  of  Mr.  SheAvring,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Julian,  the  report  Ava.s  adopted.  Mr.  Treseder  proposed 
the  election  of  IMajor-General  Lee  as  president,  and  the  motion 
Avas  carried  AAuth  much  cordiality.  Vice-presidents  and  a  general 
committee  Avere  afterAvards  elected.  Mr.  A.  W.  Morris  Avas 
unanimously  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  for  the 
ensuing  year.  IMr.  H.  Gillett  was  re-elected  .secretary,  the  pro¬ 
poser  and  seconder  speaking  in  the  most  complimentary  terms 
of  his  past  services,  and  expressing  the  hope  that  he  Avould  long 
continue  in  office.  An  executive  committee  Avas  aftei-Avards 
elected,  and  Mr.  A.  Maurice  Bailey  Avas  appointed  auditor. 
Upon  the  motion  of  Mr.  Crouch,  the  Marquis  of  Bute  Avas 
heartily  thanked  for  the  use  of  the  grounds  for  the  shoAV.  The 
proceedings  terminated  with  a  A'cte  of  thanks  to  the  chairman. 
