152 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  13,  1903. 
Birniingham  Botanic  Garden, 
Amongst  the  gardtm.s  sustained  by  private  subscriptions  and 
devoted  to  the  practical  aiiplication  and  exposition  of  botany, 
the  one  at  Edgbaston,  Birmingliam  enjovs  considerable  esteem. 
In  so  large  a  city  as  the  one  just  named,  a  “  teaching  ”  garden 
that  provides  representative  material  for  the  botanist,  and 
furnishes  lessons  and  leads  the  way  in  horticulture,  is  of  the 
highest  utility  and  much  importance,  so  that  for  many  years 
to  come  we  may  look  to  Birmingham  Botanic  Garden  as"  one  in 
the  forefrorrt. 
We  figure  this  week  two  views  from  the  garden.  The  rock 
garden  scene  hardly  could  be  expected  to  do  ju.stice  to  this  fine 
feature  of  the  fairly  exterrsive  grounds.  It  covers  about  an  acre 
in  all,  and  was  artificially  constructed  bj-  the  late  Mr.  James 
Backhouse,  of  York.  The  work  does  that  great  gardener  infinite 
credit,  and  a  meed  of  praise  was  written  several  years  ago  in 
these  same  pages.  The  heavy  and  massive  bouidei's  are  of 
sandstone,  placed  in  position  after  Nature’s  model,  and  these 
are  now  clothed  or  partly  screened  with  suitable  shrubs  and 
plants.  In  the  centre  of  the  scene,  at  the  base  of  the  main 
bank  of  roekery,  and  flanked  by  the  lesser  rock  formations  on 
either  side,  is  a  water  pool  having  its  complement  of  plants. 
Engraven  on  a  brass  plate  which  is  fixed  upon  a  stone  at  one 
side  of  the  rock  garden,  the  visitor  reads  : 
To  commemorate  the  invaluable  services  to  the  society, 
first  as  honorary  seeretaiy,  and  later  as  chairman  of  com¬ 
mittee.  tilts  purchase  of  ground,  laid  out  for  the  reception 
of  rock  and  bog  plants,'is  named  the  Hugh  Nettleford  Alpine 
(iarden.  May  29th,  1895. 
This  is  not  the  place  to  enlarge  on  the  construction  of 
rockeries,  large  or  small ;  but  it  may  serve  a  useful  purpose  if 
the  names  of  the  more  prominent  .subjects  are  given.  They  in¬ 
clude  Menzie.sia  empetriformis,  double  flowering  Gorse,  various 
Rhododendrons  (also  Azaleas).  Spiraea  palmata.  Yuccas,  ^a  collec¬ 
tion  of  hardy  Bamboos  (Phyllostachys  viride-glaucesens,  Arun- 
denaria  nitida,  A.  Hindsi,  A.  pumila,  Bambusa  Metake,  etc.), 
Ailantus,  Smilax  rotundifoha,  Cotonea.ster  horizontalis, 
A'eronicas,  notably  V.  cupressoides,  and  other  .shrubs.  Amongst 
plants  there  are  Galax  aphylla.  Primula  japonica,  Iris  pseudo- 
Acorus,  Caltlia  palustris,  Menyanthes  trifoliata,  Scirpuses,  and 
other  bog  subjects;  while  in  the  period  of  the  Daffodils  this 
year  we  were  further  able  to  note  in  the  general  rockerj'  Iberises, 
Thymes,  Sempervivums,  Geraniums,  Dianthuses,  Gistuses’ 
Muscari  (and  many  other  bulbous  flowers),  Orchises,  and  Hiera- 
ciums.  At  the  present  ,sea.son  of  the  year  there  will  certainly  be 
a  varied  and  mo.st  interesting  di.splay.  '  ' 
The  second  view  depicts  a  view  of  a  border  near  the  range  of 
glass  hotises.  The  keeping  of  these  gardens  will  be  in  the  best 
of  hands,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Humphreys,  the 
new  curator,  who  goes  there  in  October. 
Societies. 
R.H.S.,  Scientific  Committee,  Angnst  4tli. 
Present:  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters.  F.R.S.,  in  the  chair;  Messrs.  Hooper, 
Saunders,  and  Bowles;  Dr.  M.  C.  Cooke,  Revs.  W.  AVilks  and 
G.  Henslow,  Hon.  See. 
Late -flowering  Phans,  dc. — Mr.  Hooper  had  noticed  that  various 
modifications  occurred  in  flowers  of  fruit  trees  at  the  present  time. 
Petaloid  sepals  and  semi-doubling  of  petals  wdth  two  carpels,  forming 
twin  Plums,  were  not  uncommon.  It  was  observed  that  in  the 
common  cultivated  double  Cherry  there  are  always  two  foliaeeous 
carpels  present.  Pear  trees,  &e.,  have  also  produced  a  second  crop 
of  flowei’s,  which  are  borne  on  the  ends  of  the  young  shoots  instead 
of  on  spurs. 
New  Crocus. — Mr.  Bowles  exhibited  dried  specimens  and  drawings 
of  C.  caspius  from  Russian  Talyeh,  S.AV.  Caspian,  with  a  white  flower 
tinted  Avith  rose.  He  also  showed  the  autumn -florvering  C.  Scharojani 
from  the  Caucasus.  It  is  of  an  orange  colour,  and  carries  the  leaves 
of  the  last  season  simultaneously. 
Papaver  paionimim. — Air.  Wilks  shoAved  a  plant  from  Central 
Asia  (see  “  Garten  Flora,”  1882,  page  296,  Taf.  1095)  remarkable  for 
a  crescent-shaped  black  band  near  the  base  of  each  petal. 
Cucumber  diseased. ~Plx.  Davis,  of  Bitton,  Bristol,  sent  roots  of 
Cucumbers  Avhieh  failed.  Air.  Saunders  reports  as  folloAvs  upon  them  : 
“  I  found  that  the  extreme  base  of  the  stems  Avere  attacked  by  small 
Avorms  belonging  to  the  family  Enchytracidee,  Avhich  are  nearly  related 
to  the  eartliAvorms,  and  are  Avell-knoAvn  pests  at  the  roots  of  plants ; 
they  Avere  xmdoubtedly  the  cause  of  the  unhealthiness  of  the  plants. 
Lime  Avater  aauII  kill  them  in  a  feAv  minutes  if  it  can  be  made  to  reach 
them ;  thoroughly  drenching  the  soil  Avith  this  fluid  might  be  of  use, 
though  I  do  not  know  Avhat  effect  it  might  haA'e  on  the  plants.  They, 
hoAvever  are  so  injured,  that  I  should  imagine  the  best  thing  to  do 
Avould  be  to  pull  them  up  and  burn  them,  and  burn  or  bury  deeplv  the 
soil  in  Avhich  they  grcAV.” 
Cucumbers  diseased. — Dr.  Cooke  reported  upon  some  fruit  badly 
attacked  received  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Bristol.  It  appears  to 
he  due  to  a  fungus  neAV  to  science,  Avhieh  he  has  named  Cladosporium 
scabies.  A  full  description  Avill  be  recorded  in  the  “  Journal ’’ of  the 
R.H.S.  He  strongly  recommends  “that  all  diseased  fruits  be  removed 
and  destroyed  at  once,  and  those  remaining  should  be  sprayed  to 
preserve  them  from  attack.  Condy’s  fluid,  diluted,  should  be  tried  as 
less  likely  to  injure  the  fruits  than  copper  solutions.  No  effort  should 
be  spared  at  once  to  stamp  out  the  pest.” 
Frome,  August  M. 
The  tAventieth  annual  exhibition  of  the  Frome  Horticultural 
Society  Avas  favoured  Avith  a  record  attendance,  due  to  the  popu¬ 
larity  of  the  shoAv.  the  Bank  Holiday,  and  fine  Aveather.  Not 
only  Avas  there  this  increased  attendance,  but  an  appreciable 
extension  of  entries  and  certainlj’  a  higher  state  of  all-round 
quality. 
Groups,  for  which  there  Avere  four  entrants,  Avere  never  better, 
indeed,  probably  not  equalled  before,  and  Alessrs.  Cray  and 
Sons,  Avho  made  their  maiden  entry  in  summer  grouping,  cer¬ 
tainly  eclipsed  all  former  efforts.  Liliums,  Campanulas, 
Cattleyas,  Odontoglossums,  Oncidiums.  brightly  coloured 
Codiaeums,  and  a  pair  of  very  fine  Cocos  AA'eddelliana.  formed  a 
combination  both  effective  and  choice.  Air.  Pope,'  gardener  to 
Charles  Baily,  Esq.,  Avas  a  very  good  second;  Alessrs.  E.  S.  Cole 
and  Son,  Bath,  and  Air.  Cutter,  gardener  to  Airs.  Le  Gros,  Avere 
given  equal  thirds.  Specimen  Fuchsias  made  a  A'ery  good  show, 
Messrs.  H.  Pocock,  Hilperton,  and  AY.  Cookei  staging  in  six 
varieties.  Alessrs.  Strugnell  (gardener  to  Col.  Ralph  Vivian)  and 
Cutter  Avon  with  specimen  foliage  plants.  Alessrs.  Stokes  and 
Son  staged  the  best  tAvelve  Ferns  or  Alosses,  Alsophila  excelsa, 
Asplenium  nidus,  Adiantum  fragrantissimum,  A.  decorum,  and 
Pteris  Alariesi  being  their  finest  plants.  Air.  Pope  was  a  good 
second.  Air.  Geo. ■  Tucker  excelled  with  six  specimen  flowering 
plants,  and  also  a  single  specimen.  Groups  of  Tuberous  Begonias 
Avere  A-ery  fine  in  floAver  and  effect,  Alessrs.  Stokes,  Fry,  and 
Pope  staging  excellently. 
Non-comi3etitiA'e  groups  from  the  Alarquis  of  Bath  (gardener 
Air.  A.  Gandy)  and  the  Earl  of  Cork  (gardener.  Air.  Pearce)  were 
a  striking  feature  in  the  plant  tent.  In  the  first  named  a  margin 
of  vigorous  little  specimen  Caladium  argyrites  Avere  much  ad¬ 
mired,  as  Avere  also  Eulalias,  Codiceums,  and  Palms.  The  Alars- 
ton  collection  predominates  in  brightly  coloured  Codiaeums,  and 
ahvays  commands  Avell  deserved  praise  from  Ausitors. 
Cut  flowers  occupy  a  deal  of  space,  and  despite  the  ungenial 
summer  Avere  as  fine  and  numerous  as  ever.  Roses  made  a  good 
shoAV,  as  also  did  annuals,  Carnations,  herbaceous,  and  stove 
floAvers.  Dahlias,  too,  and  Asters,  for  so  early  a  date,  gave  a 
bright  touch  of  summer  colour.  With  Dahlias  in  four  classes 
Messrs.  Cray  and  Sons,  as  usual,  Avon  easily. 
Table  decorations  of  wild  and  garden  floAvers  creates  a  large 
interest  among  lady  competitors,  the  spacious  market  hall  for 
the  time  being  transformed  into  a  floral  instead  of  a  merchants’ 
emporium.  There  Avere  no  less  than  seA’enteen  entries  in  these 
classes.  Prizes  are  offered  to  children  Avho  have  made  80  per 
cent,  of  attendances  at  any  Frome  School,  and  the  interest  may 
be  fairly  gauged  by  the  large  entry,  forty-four  in  numbers.  Not 
more  than  three  vases  are  alloAved. 
Despite  the  general  shortness  of  fruit  crops,  the  classes  here 
were  A^ery  well  filled,  and  Apples,  of  which  there  were  tAventy- 
two  entries,  were  particularly  good.  For  a  collection  of  six 
dishes  of  fruit  Air.  Strugnell  Avas  first,  shoAving  as  his  best  Pine¬ 
apple  Nectarines,  Triumph  Alelon,  and  Dymond  Peaches.  A.  G. 
Hayman,  Esq.  (F.  Ackland,  gardener),  Avas  second,  and  J.  H. 
Shore,  Esep  (H.  Parfitt,  gardener),  third.  AAhth  black  Grapes 
Air.  A.  Taylor,  gardener  to  A.  R.  Baily,  Esq.,  staged  some  re¬ 
markably  fine  Black  Hamburghs,  and  the  same  exhibitor  won 
with  Aluscat  of  Alexandria  in  the  corresponding  class  for  white. 
The  Fruit  and  FloAver  Co.  won  Avith  fine  Sea  Eagle  Peaches,  and 
Air.  Strugnell  Avith  good  StaiiAvick  Elruge  Nectarines.  Air. 
Fisher,  Batheaston,  took  the  lead  Avith  dessert  Apples,  and  Air. 
Keevil,  AA'ells,  scored  with  culinary.  Alessrs.  Strugnell  and 
Fisher  staged  the  best  collections  of  hardy  fruit,  and  the  first- 
named  Avon  with  a  Melon.  Air.  Hall,  Bath,  with  Grimwood’s 
AIatchle.ss,  won  Avith  Plums,  really  a  good  early  kind  of  the 
Oi'leans  type. 
A'egetables  Avere  plentiful  and  uncommonly  good.  Peas, 
Potatoes,  Tomatoes,  and  Cucumbers  especially  so. 
Sheffield  Horticultural,  August  3rd, 
The  annual  show  of  the  Sheffield  Society  was  held  under 
favourable  conditions  as ‘regards  weather  and  exhibits;  but 
owing  to  colossal  counter  attractions  proved  a  heavy  financial 
loss,  AA’hich  is  much  to  be  regretted,  after  the  efforts  that  have 
been  put  forth  to  secure  a  show  Avorthy  to  rank  amongst  the 
best.  The  society  is  certainly  to  be  commiserated  with  on  its 
bad  luck,  bixt  must  be  congratulated  on  the  patronage  it  has 
secured,  i.e..  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  who,  with  his 
