248 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
and  describes  one  on  Campanula  medium,  which  he  considered 
unique  in  the  genus. 
Silver-leaf  disease  in  Apples  and  Phims.— Mr.  Gaut  brought 
specimens  from  an  orchard  of  seven  acres  in  Yorkshire.  The  soil 
is  warp-land,  varying  in  depth  from  1ft  to  3ft  within  short  dis¬ 
tances,  and  overlying  clay.  The  drainage  is  good,  with  drain¬ 
pipes.  Shelter  is  afforded  by  the  fruit  trees  in  the  orchard. 
The  altitude  is  nearly  sea-level.  The  general  culture  has  been 
to  give  a  good  dressing  of-farmyard  manure  every  four  years  and 
lime  every  few  years.  The  trees  had  been  planted  ten  years. 
I .  d-  .3. 
Scilla  campanulata  rosea. 
and  silver-leaf  appeared  three  years  ago  and  gets  worse  every 
year,  and  the  trees  affected  in  summer  die  the  following  year. 
The  varieties  affected  are  A^ictoria  Plums,  of  which  there  are 
about  500  trees ;  and  Lord  Grosvenor  Apple  grafted  on  Keswick 
Codlin  stock. 
Mr.  Gaut  remarked  that  the  matter  was  creating  considerable 
interest  in  Yorkshire,  arid  the  soil  had  been  analysed  with  the 
following  result :  — 
The  Air-dried  Soil  Contains  in  100  Parts:— 
Water  . 3 10  per  cent. 
Loss  on  ignition  (organic  matter,  combined  water,  Ac.)  5'09  ,, 
Mineral  matter . .  . 91-81  ,, 
luO  00 
Containing  nitrogen . O' >51  per  cent. 
Equal  to  ammonia  . 0-183  ,, 
The  soil  was  free  from  root-fibres,  or  any  risible  organic  material. 
It  had  been  said  by  some  experts  that  silver-leaf  was  due  to 
a  lack  of  nitrogen  in  the  soil,  but  the  analysis  .seemed  to  show 
this  could  hardly  be  the  case.  Dr.  Cooke  said  that  the  disease 
was  so  my.sterious  because  he  could  find  no  spores  or  mycelium 
of  fungus  and  no  bacteria.  He  knew  of  no  remedy,  but  advised 
cutting  out  the  parts  affected  the  moment  the  disease  was  seen 
and  burning  them.  See  also  “  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s 
Journal,”  vol.  xxvii.,  pages  713,  cxliii.,  and  cxlix. 
liose  leaves  Diseased. — Mr.  J.  AV.  Scott  sent  three  bundles  of 
Rose  leaves  diselased.  “No.  1.  The  plants  are  in  good  health, 
and  at  present  there  is  but  very  little  of  the  disease  on  them. 
No.  2  is  taken  from  small  pot  stuff  spring  grafted,  and  seems  to 
develop  those  spots  when  grown  in  a  high  moist  temperature. 
No.  3  appears  to  be  like  the  last  attacking  plants  that  are  in  a 
soft  growth,  and  we  have  it  in  several  houses,  in  some  cases 
stripping  every  leaf  off  the  stem,  but  on  taking  the  lights  or  glass 
off,  the  plants  recover  to  a  great  extent.” 
Dr.  Cooke  pronounced  the  disease  in  each  case  to  be  Actino- 
nema  rosse,  called  by  growers  the  Black  Mildew.  It  is  a  fungus 
disea.se  very  common  all  over  Europe,  and  though  it  may  be 
checked  by  Bordeaux  mixture,  no  actual  remedy  is  known.  It 
was  considered  to  be  greatly  stimulated  and  encouraged  by 
AiS  D  COTTAGE  GARDEA ER,  scj  tcmbcr  lo,  1903. 
growing  the  plants  too  closely  together  without  sufficient  air 
and  light,  or  in  too  humid  an  atmosphere.  It  is  advised  to  dry 
the  plants  off  and  let  all  the  leaves  fall  (which  should  be  collected 
and  burnt),  and  then  induce  them  to  make  altogether  fresh 
growth. 
Scottish  Horticultural. 
The  September  meeting  was  held  in  Dowell’s  Rooms,  George 
Street,  Edinburgh,  on  Tuesday,  the  8th  inst.  There  was  a  very 
large  attendance  of  members,  many  from  the  country,  the  meet¬ 
ing  being  held  on  the  eve  of  the  Edinburgh  Autumn  Exhibition. 
There  were  a  large  number  of  new  members  elected  and  proposed. 
The  paper  of  the  evening  was  “The  Cultivation  of  A’egetables,” 
by  Mr.  Gibson,  Danesfield,  Great  Marlow.  Mr.  Gibson’s  great 
fame  as  a  grower  and  exhibitor  of  vegetables  rendered  his  paper 
more  than  usually  interesting,  and  the  audience  were  certainly 
not  disappointed. 
Starting  with  very  pointed  instructions  as  to  the  general  cul¬ 
ture  and  the  preparation  of  the  soil,  Mr.  Gibson  proce'eded  to 
give  details  as  to  his  method  of  cultivating  the  leading  sorts,  both 
for  culinary  use  and  for  exhibition,  treating  very  shortly  on  the 
growing  of  Potatoes,  Onions,  Celery,  Pea.s,  Cauliflower,  Beet, 
Carrots,  Parsnips,  Sprouts,  Tomatoes,  Leeks,  and  one  or  two 
other  minor  kind.s.  After  the  paper  was  read  a  number  of 
limelight  illustrations  were  given  of  some  of  the  choice.st 
varieties  usually  e<xhibited  by  Mr.  Gibson,  and  of  a  number  of 
collections  which  Mr.  Gibson  has  recently  exhibited  with  success. 
An  interesting  discussion  took  place  on  the  paper,  among.st  the 
speakers  being  Mr.  A.  Mackenzie,  Mr.  Grieve,  Mr.  Sutton,  of 
Reading,  &c.  A  very  warm  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to 
Mr.  Gibson. 
There  were  a  large  number  of  most  attractive  exhibits,  which 
evoked  great  interest  from  those  present.  Mes.srs.  Methven  and 
Sons  had  a  beautiful  collection  of  early  flowering  Chrys¬ 
anthemums,  prominent  being  Golden  Gem,  Market  AVhite, 
Horace  Martin,  Mytchett  White,  &c.  A  cultural  certificate  was 
awarded.  Mr.  John  Downie  exhibited  handsome  seedling  Car¬ 
nations.  Messrs.  Todd  and  Co.,  Shandwick  Place,  had  very 
beautiful  vases  of  handsome  new  varieties  of  Montbretias,  fine 
Comet  A.sters,  grown  where -sown  in  the  open  air;  Lady  Fitz- 
wygram  Chrysanthemum,  with  long  stems.  A  cultural  certifi¬ 
cate  was  awarded. 
Mr.  Todd  also  exhibited  a  handsome  specimen  of  Carrie  early 
yellow  Chrysanthemum,  raised  by  Messrs.  AVells.  A  first  classi 
certificate  was  awarded.  Mr.  Smale,  Blackford  House,  exhibited 
a  nice  lot  of  Streptocarpus,  which  were  much  admired.  A 
number  of  handsome  new  varieties  of  Lobelia  cardinalis  were 
sent  by  Mr.  McHattie  from  the  public  gardens  ;  also  a  gigantic 
Hydrangea,  nearly  5ft  high,  with  a  single  stem  and  a  head  of 
bloom  5ft  in  circumference.  A  cultural  certificate  was  awarded. 
Mr.  Johnstone,  Hay  Lodge,  showed  a  vase  of  handsome  Fuchsias. 
Messrs.  Methven  and  Sons  were  awarded  a  certificate  of  merit 
for  their  improved  strain  of  Large  York  Cabbage,  of  which  very 
handsome  specimens  were  shown.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
awarded  to  the  exhibitors.  A  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  AIcHattie, 
president,  brought  the  meeting  to  a  close. 
SciLLA  CAMPANULATA  ROSEA. — The  wild  English  Bluebell  (Scilla 
nutan.s)  is  one  of  the  loveliest  flowers  of  spring,  and  one  we  would 
sacrifice  a  great  deal  for,  rather  than  lose.  Acres  and  acres, 
through  vshady  copses  and  woods,  are  seen  in  May  and  June,  and 
its  alhino  variety  is  a  much-prized  gem  in  gardens  of  every  sort. 
Nor  are  the  varieties  of  S.  campanulata  (or  S.  hispanica  of  the 
botanists)  less  appreciated.  AVe  are  able  to  figure  the  handsome 
S.  campanulata  rosea,  and  there  are  also  white  and  blue  varieties 
of  this  easily  grown  bulb.  Edging  lines  to-  shrubbery  borders  or 
to  formal  paths  in  ru.stic  flower  gardens,  are  suitable  places  for 
these  Scillas,  and  the  blues  and  whites,  or  pink  and  whites,  go 
well  together. 
IxiA  AND  Sparaxis. — A\^e  do  not  know  of  any  very  successful 
culture  of  these  graceful  and  showy  flowers  as  open-air  subjects. 
Like  the  Free.sia  they  are  somewhat  too  tender  to  be  sati.sfactory 
even  in  the  warmest  of  our  English  gardens.  True  it  is  that  a 
great  many  people  grow  them  out  of  doors  in  sunny  borders, 
especially  when  the  soil  is  of  a  sandy  nature,  but  they  lack  a 
bottom  effect— they  have  no  setting,  no  foil,  and  that  is  fatal. 
Ixias,  however,  well  deserve  good  pot  culture,  and  they  refresh 
the  conservatory  wherever  they  are.  Their  culture  is  simple, 
though  care  is  required  at  the  start.  They  can  be  potted 
shortly.  Messrs.  Sutton’s  illustration  shows  a  strong  spray 
of  Ixias.  Sparaxis  are  very  closely  allied,  and  demand  the  same 
culture.  Possibly  their  colours  follow  the  richer  tones  more 
than  do  the  Ixias.  Messrs.  AV'ebb’s  block  on  page  249  depicts 
a  showy  potful  of  the  bulbs  in  flower.  For  vases  and  glasses 
these  fl.owers  are  almost  indispensable.  Ixia  viridiflora  has  been 
suggested  as  a  suitable  floral  emblem  for  the  new  Transvaal 
colony. 
