262 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  17,  1903. 
Wasp  and  Bes  Stings. 
The  .sting  of  either  a  wasp  or  a  bee  is  instantly  cured  by 
touching  the  .spot  affected  with  tincture  of  iodine.  Fond  mothers 
are  occasionally  in  the  habit  of  applying  the  “  blue-bag,”  in  which 
of  course  iodine  forms  an  element.  Dry  earth  has  also  been 
recommended. 
National  Dahlia  Society. 
By  permission  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  an  inspec¬ 
tion  by  our  committee  of  the  Cactus  Dahlias  grown  for  trial  at 
Chiswnck  Avill  be  held  at  Chiswick  Gardens  on  September  17,  at 
2  p.m.  A  prize  of  10s.  6d.,  the  gift  of  Mr.  A.  Dean,  will  be 
awarded  to  the  raiser  of  the  best  variety  for  garden  decoration. — 
P.  W.  Tulloch,  Hon.  Secretary. 
Colours  of  Cactus  Dahlias. 
Dahlias  are  now  at  their  very  be.st.  The  Cactus  varieties  have 
all  sprung  from  the  Mexican  species  (D.  Juarezi),  introduced  to 
this  country  in  1878.  It  appears  inconceivable  that  a  crimson 
flower  should,  in  the  hands  of  the  florists,  have  come  to  develop 
a  large  range  of  colours,  ranging  from  pure  white  to  almost  black, 
and  also  combinations  of  colours.  Some  are  weird,  some 
fascinating,  some  approach  the  grotesque ;  but  all  are  attractive 
in  their  way. 
Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  council  of  this  society,  held  on  Saturday, 
12th  inst.,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to  at  once  set  about  pre¬ 
parations  for  the  holding  of  an  International  Fruit  and  Flower 
Show  in  Edinburgh  under  the  auspices  of  this  society  in  Sep¬ 
tember,  1905.  The  last  international  show  held  by  this  society 
was  in  1891,  and  proved  a  great  success.  Looking  to  the  strides 
which  horticulture  has  taken  in  recent  years,  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  the  council  anticipate  a  greater  success,  and  they  are 
desirous  to  offer  premiums  even  better  than  in  1891,  tlie  total 
sum  then  offered  being  £1,300.  The  secretary  is  P.  Murray 
Thomson,  S.S.C.,  5,  York  Place,  Edinburgh. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  Floral  Committee  of  the  above  society 
will  be  held  on  Mondajq  the  21st  inst.,  at  3  p.m.  in  Es.sex  Hall, 
Essex  Street,  Strand.  This  is  the  first  of  three  meetings 
arranged  to  be  held  in  Essex  Hall,  the  succeeding  two  being  on 
October  26  and  November  23,  both  at  3  p.m.  The  remainder  of 
the  meetings  of  the  Floral  Committee  will  take  place  at  the 
Cry.stal  Palace  on  the  dates  fixed  for  the  three  usual  exhibitions, 
viz.,  October  6,  November  10,  and  December  8.  On  these  three 
occasions  the  meetings  Avill  take  place  at  1  p.m.  The  first  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  society  will  be  held  at 
7  p.m.  on  the  21st  inst.,  at  the  old  business  quarters  of  the 
society,  Carr’s  Restaurant,  265,  Strand. 
Essay  Prize  of  £10. 
The  President  and  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
offer  a  prize  of  £10  for  the  best  es.say  on  “  Cottage  and  Allot¬ 
ment  Gardening.”  The  e.ssay  must  not  exceed  5,000  words,  and 
all  unnecessary  technical  expressions  should  be  avoided.  Notice 
must  be  taken  of  vegetable,  fruit,  and  flower  cultivation.  The 
essay  mnst  have  as  an  appendix  (not  included  in  the  5,000 
words)  a  list  of  reliable  but  inexpensive  books  on  the  subject 
which  could  be  recommended  to  a  cottager.  The  prize  essay  is 
to  become  the  sole  and  absolute  property  of  the  Society.  The 
essays  must  reach  the  Secretary  of  the  Society,  117,  Victoria 
Street,  Westminster,  S.W.,  before  January  1,  1904.  Each  essay 
must  be  signed  with  a  motto,  and  a  sealed  envelope  must  be 
enclosed,  bearing  the  same  motto  on  the  outside  and  the  writer’s 
name  and  address  inside.  These  envelopes  will  not  be  opened 
until  the  judges  .shall  have  decided  on  the  motto  winning  the  prize. 
If  any  illustrations  are  added  they  should  be  of  the  simplest  and 
plainest  out’ine  de.scription.— W.  "Wilks,  Secretary,  September 
10,  1903. 
Mr.  T.  Humphreys. 
On  a  recent  date,  Mr.  T.  Humphreys,  a.ssistant  superinten¬ 
dent  of  the  R.H.S.  Gardens  at  Chiswick,  was  presented  by  the 
students  and  his  fellow  workers  there,  with  a  gold  watch  chain, 
as  a  token  of  their  esteem,  and  in  proof  of  their  good  wishes  for 
his  succe.ss  as  curator  of  the  Birmingham  Botanic  Gardens,  which 
post  he  shortly  assumes. 
Sheffield  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  monthly  general  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  on 
Wednesday  evening  at  the  Westminster  Hotel.  Mr.  J.  G.  New- 
.shani  was  in  the  chair.  Reference  was  made  to  the  death  of  the 
late  secretary,  Mr.  W.  Housley,  and  a  number  of  letters  read 
from  kindred  societies  and  friends  expressing  their  sorrow.  A 
vote  of  sympathy  and  condolence  with  the  widow  and  family  was 
passed  by  the  members  present.  Mr.  H.  Willford,  96,  Greenhow 
Street,  was  elected  .secretary  provisionally  for  the  remainder  of 
the  year. 
United  Horticuitural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. 
The  monthly  committee  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  at 
the  Caledonian  Hotel,  Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  on  Monday 
evening  last.  Mr.  Charles  H.  Curtis  was  in  the  chair.  Four  new 
members  were  elected,  and  four  members  were  reported  on  the 
.sick  fund.  The  annual  dinner  will  be  held  at  the  Holborn  Res¬ 
taurant,  on  Tuesday,  October  27th  next,  at  6.30  p.m.  Peter 
Barr,  Esq.,  V.M.H.,  has  kindly  consented  to  preside  on  this 
occasion.  The  committee  hope  that  all  members  and  friends 
who  can  possibly  attend  will  endeavour  to  do  so. 
Presentation  to  Mr.  J.  Doe. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  King’s  visit  to  Lord  and  Lady  Savile, 
Rufford  Abbey,  Notts,  His  Majesty  presented  Mr.  J.  Doe,  the 
head  gardener,  with  a  valuable  diamond  scarf  pin,  in  the  shape 
of  the  Royal  monogram.  At  the  same  time  Plis  Majesty  ex¬ 
pressed  to  Mr.  Doe  the  extreme  pleasure  he  had  derived  from 
the  gardens  during  his  visit,  and  congratulated  him  on  their 
condition.  Mr.  Doe  has  had  charge  of  the  Rufford  Gardens  for 
upwards  of  nine  years,  and  has  effected  several  improvements, 
and  it  must  be  very  gratifying  to  be  the  recipient  of  so  great  an 
honour. 
Tritoma  uvaria. 
Tritoma  uvaria,  alias  Kniphofia  aloides  (see  page  263),  Torch 
Lily,  otherwi.se  Red-hot  Poker,  is  happily  not  a  stranger.  Beds 
of  the  Tritomas  (to  use  the  garden  name)  at  this  season  furnish  one 
of  the  finest  features  in  ornamental  gardening.  They  do  well  to 
eke  out  a  thin  bed  of  Gladioli,  or  even  if  the  Gladioli  are  robust 
and  plentiful,  the  Torch  Lilies  do  not  “  cla.sh,”  but  are,  in  any 
case,  a  grand  addition.  But  the  very  best  combination  the  flower 
gardener  can  employ  is  Tritomas  and  Galtonia  (or  Hyacinthus) 
candicans — a  priceless  gem  when  properly  associated.  If  you  have 
not  set  aside  a  bed  of  these  plants,  please  do  so  :  you  will  admit  the 
handsome  effect  and  the  excellent  contrast.  (In  passing,  one  may 
allude  to  another  fine  contrast  in  “  bedding,”  and  that  is  : 
Anemone  japonica,  over  bright  blue  Violas).  The  Torch  Lilies 
like  generou.s  treatment,  a  deep,  moist  loam,  and  .sometimes 
require  a  dressing  or  protection  of  half-decayed  leaves  over  the 
crowns  in  winter.  Do  not  cut  away  their  own  foliage :  this  assi.sts 
the  crown. 
The  Gale  at  Cardiff. 
The  gale  on  Thursday  last  played  havoc  with  the  Chry.s- 
anthemums  in  several  gardens  in  this  district.  In  one  garden, 
that  of  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Drake,  the  well-known  grower,  dozens  of 
plants  were  laid  low  and  snapped  off,  whilst  innumerable  plants 
w'ere  quite  stripped  of  their  leaves,  just  as  if  a  knife  had  been 
drawn  over  them.  At  one  time  during  the  late  evening  the  force 
of  the  gale  was  so  strong  that  the  pots  were  actually  blown  off 
the  boards  on  which  they  stood,  and  Mr.  Drake  was  obliged  to 
cut  the  ties  of  every  one  and  place  the  pots  flat  on  the  ground. 
The  damage  and  loss  to  this  grower  is  very  considerable.  His 
plants,  which  numbered  about  600  (Japs  and  Incurveds)  looked 
remarkably  well  before  the  storm,  and  it  is  questionable  whether 
they  will  recover  to  be  of  any  use.  On  the  whole,  the  plants  in 
the  neighbourhood,  where  they  escaped  the  gale,  are  doing  well, 
and  the  number  of  growers,  e.specially  cottagers,  this  year  is 
more  than  doubled,  and  keen  competition  is  expected  at  the 
November  show. — G. 
