456 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  26,  1904, 
of  a  light  dressing  of  dnng,  with  from  4cM't  to  6cwt  of  super¬ 
phosphate,  Icwt  of  sulphate  of  potash  (or  4cwt  of  kainit),  and 
not  less  than  2c\vt  of  nitrate  of  soda  per  acre.  In  some  seasons 
a  further  2cwt  of  nitrate  of  soda  per  acre  (4cwt  per  acre  in  all) 
wid  prove  economical. 
Societies. 
R.H.S.,  Scientific  Committee,  May  17tli. 
AsPAK.4GUS. 
Excellent  results  may  be  obtained  by  the  use  of  a  light 
annual  dressing  of  town  dung  (say  121  tons  per  acre),  4cwt  to 
Ocwt  of  superphospha";e,  4cwt  of  kainit,  and  from  2cwt  to  4cwt  of 
nitrate  of  soda  per  acre.  Asparagus  thus  grown  has  been 
found  to  develop  more  rapidly  than  when  heavy  quantities  of 
dung  are  used  without  concentrated  fertilisers,  and  the  produce 
has  been  more  tender  and  succulent,  and  of  better  flavour,  on 
the  “  combination  ”  plots  than  where  dung  alone  was  used. 
Dwabf  Feench  Beans. 
These  may  be  grown  with  a  light  dressing  of  dung,  from 
4cwt  to  6cwt  of  superphosphate  and  Icwt  of  sulphate  of  potash 
(or  4cwt  of  kainit)  per  acre.  The  use  of  2cwt  of  nitrate  of  soda 
per  acre  has  in  three  .seasons  given  a  very  substantial  advan¬ 
tage,  increasing  the  average  weight  of  Beans  gathered  from 
less  than  85  tons  per  acre  to  over  4J  tons,  an  advantage  of 
nearly  50  per  cent. 
(To  be  continued.) 
Echeveria  retusa.  (See  page  452.) 
Present  .-  Mr.  Michael  (in  the  chair) ;  Messrs.  Gordon,  Baker, 
Worsdell,  Saundei’s,  Massee  and  Worsley ;  Dr.  M.  C.  Cooke  (Hon. 
Sec.  pro  tern.). 
Buttercup  fasciated. — Dr.  Cooke  exhibited  a  specimen  of  this 
peculiarity. 
Nerine  proliferous.- — Mr.  Worsdell  reported  on  some  specimens 
sent  by  Mr.  Jackson,  as  follows  : — “  It  is  a  case  of  germination  of 
bulbiferous  seeds,  as  has  been  described  in  other  Amaryllises.  The 
seed  becomes  so  swollen  and  fleshy,  that  a  differentiation  into 
endosperm  and  integuments  can  scarcely,  if  at  all,  be  made ;  while 
the  ovary  falls  away  from  around  the  seeds,  leaving  them  exposed. 
Imbedded  in  the  seed  is  a  cotyledonary  sucker,  while  at  the  other 
end  the  cotyledonary  sheath  forms  a  bulbil  from  which  a  new  plant 
is  developed.” 
Fasciated  stem  with  a  “multifold”  flower  of  Narcissus.— ^Ir.  A.M. 
Hawkins  sent  a  specimen,  the  stem  showing  a  flower  with  seven 
times  the  usual  number  of  parts. 
Double  Cherry  with  caterpillar. — Mr.  Saunders  reported  as  follows 
upon  specimens  received  from  Miss  Verner,  Bournemouth : — “The 
caterpillars  infesting  the  buds  of  the  double  Cherry  are 
those  of  a  small  moth,  one  of  the  Tortrices,  I  believe 
Penthina  cynosbatella,  but  without  rearing  the  moth  I 
cannot  be  quite  sure,  as  these  little  caterpillars  are  often 
so  much  alike  that  it  is  impossible  to  be  certain  as  to 
which  species  they  belong.  Spraying  the  tree  with  a 
solution  of  paraffin  emulsion,  ‘Abol,’  ‘Paranaph,’  or 
.any  insectic.de  which  contains  paraffin  and  softsoap, 
is  the  best  remedy ;  even  plain  water  with  a  little  soft- 
soap  in  it  would  be  useful.” 
Tulips  diseased. — Mr.  Massee  reported  on  plants 
brought  by  Mr.  Holmes,  as  follows : — “  The  Tulip 
bulbs  are  attacked  by  Botrytis  vulgaris.  Numerous 
sclerotia  are  present,  imbedded  in  the  bulb-scales, 
hence  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  again  plant  those 
from  the  same  patch  of  ground  that  even  appear  to  be 
sound.” 
Pears  diseased. — Dr.  Cooke  reported  upon  some 
fruit  sent  by  Mr.  Rogers,  Hexworthy,  Launceston.  He 
says :  —  “I  have  no  doubt  that  the  disease  is  the 
‘Black  Spot.’  Fusicladium  (see  Journal  R.H.S.,  xxviii., 
1903,  p.  14).  It  is  in  an  undeveloped  state  as  yet,  no 
hyphge  or  sporules  being  present.  It  is  very  common 
on  Pears  this  year.  In  early  spring  it  is  recommended 
to  sjDray  wdth  a  solution  of  suliffiate  of  iron,  and  later 
on  with  Bordeaux  mixture,  of  a  strength  not  to  kill 
the  Pears.  It  is  a  common  error  to  use  the  solutions 
of  the  sulphates  upon  the  young  and  tender  foliage  of 
too  great  a  strength.” 
Manchester  Whit  Show,  May  21st,  23rd, 24th,  25th. 
Mr.  Weathers  and  his  admirable  executive  com¬ 
mittee  deserve' praise  for  the  superb  exhibition  at  the 
Manchester  Botanic  Garden,  brought  from  various 
parts  of  the  United  Kingdom,  and  which,  more  espe¬ 
cially  on  Whit  Monday,  secured  the  best  attendance 
for  many  j  ears.  The  years  this  great  show  has  been 
doing  its  good  work  is  almost  beyond  count,  but  many 
have  gone  who  were  the  pioneers ;  yet  it  is  pleasing  to 
state  that  there  are  many  who  try  to  follow  on  in  the 
good  work.  We  missed  some  notable  stands  this  year, 
but  Messrs.  Cripps,  and  R.  Smith  and  Co.,  of  Worcester, 
more  than  compensated  for  the  lack  of  orchids,  and 
gave  us  a  treat  in  Japanese  Maples  and  Clematises 
instead. 
Gold  medals  went  to  Messrs.  R.  Smith  and  Co., 
'Worcester’,  for  a  magnificent  group  of  Clematis, 
Lilacs,  Genistas,  Guelder  Roses,  Spirtea  confusa, 
Acers,  Ac. 
To  Messrs.  T.  Cripps  and  Son  for  a  handsome  col¬ 
lection  of  Japanese  Maples  and  shrubs ;  to  Messrs.  J. 
Waterer  and  Sons,  Limited,  who  had  a  grand  collec¬ 
tion  of  Rhododendrons;  Pink  Pearl,  Gomer  Waterer, 
Cynthia,  and  Francis  B.  Hayes,  ckc. 
Messrs.  J.  Cowan  and  Co.,  Limited,  Gateacre,  had  a 
lovely  display  of  orchids,  and  gained  an  award  of  merit 
for  an  unnamed  Odontoglossum  crispum  (deep  crimson 
spotted),  undoubtedly  the  finest  in  the  show. 
Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons,  Limited,  New- 
townards,  Co.  Down,  Ireland,  had  one  of  the  most 
gorgeous  displays  of  May-flowering  Tulips  We  have 
ever  seen. 
Mr.  A.  J.  A.  Bruce,  Chorlton-cum-Hardy,  had  a 
