of the future. Canna Madame Crozy, from M. Pfitzer, of Stuttgart, gained the prize for a seedling; the flowers were of a deep reddish-crimson, with a golden border-a most handsome novelty. For twelve new plants recently introduced into commerce, MM. Jacob Makoy showed Adiantum schizophyllum, Asparagus levigatus, Aphelandra chrysops, Canistrum leopardinum, Dracaena Desmetiana, Dieffenbachia Fournieri, D. Lorenzi, Inga ferruginea argentea, Nephthytis picturata, Nidularium Makoyanum, Vriesia Closoni. Three really meritorious new plants were Anthurium Président Lamarche, Vriesia psittacina striata, Dracaena Kegeljaniana. An elegant Palm is Corypha decora. The Pandanus from the same exhibitors were unusually well grown-De Smetianus, Kerchovianus, Glaziouana, Mauricianus, and Veitchi. The Bromeliads from the Liège Botanic Garden were splendid, especially Achmea crocophylla (with red leaves), Vriesia Wioti (with three floral trusses), V. leodinensis, Nidularium Maréchali, Vriesia fenestralis, Hohenbergia erythrostachys, Pitcairnea fulgens, and Caratas Binoti, a fine example in bud. Ch. D. B.

EGYPT.

The Tombs of Beni Hasan, Abu Kerkas, Upper Egypt.-I have been so very busy copying the paintings and inscriptions in the tombs here, that I have not had time to botanise or to write articles for the Chronicle. I start work usually at sunrise, and work on till 9 at night, for all the photographs taken in the tombs here have to be taken after dark by exploding magnesium-powder. After my work for the day is done, I am too tired for writing.

You ask me whether there is any Juniperus where I am? I have only seen a very few in this country at all, and all that I have seen have been planted; they are certainly not indigenous. There may, of course, be a species indigenous to the Delta or the Fayum, but I have not explored either region yet. If I should find any, I will remember you, and press specimens. Among the plant remains which Flinders Petrie found a couple of years ago at Hawara in the Fayum, I discovered several berries and twigs of Juniperus phoenicia. These I have described in my chapter on the plant remains published in his Hawara. These were of Græco-Roman date. Last year Mr. Petrie discovered a number of berries of a species of Juniperus among the ruins of the XII. dynasty (2600 -2400 B.C.) town at Kahun (also in the Fayum province). These I have in my possession in England, and I will let you have specimens when I return if you would like to have them. I will also let you have specimens of the twigs from the Hawara 'find." With regard to the letter on the flora and culture of plants here, I fear I must defer it. I am living high up in the hills of the desert, and no plants are to be seen for several miles, so I have no chance of studying the botany of Egypt yet. However, next year I hope to work at some ruins quite close to the Nile, and I shall then have the opportunity of collecting. I am writing under difficulties-Arab guards snoring at the entrance to my tent, jackals barking outside, bats flying about inside, and a very rickety table; therefore I hope you will excuse my bad writing and any incoherences. N.

FLORISTS' FLOWERS.

THE PINK.

PINKS, where well-established, suffered little or not at all from the severe winter, and the Pinks may be taken as the representative of a good hardy border flower. I would now allude to the Pinks which are forced into early bloom. The earliest of these will now, in the south, be in full flower, and if the plants are placed in a cool greenhouse, the flowers will still last some long time. If the plants have made good growth, there will be plenty of cuttings on them, and the present time is good for propagating them for next year; the cuttings should be placed in

pots of fine sandy soil, in a hot-bed or a forcinghouse. When they are rooted, plant them in boxes about 3 inches apart, and inure them gradually to the open air; they may be planted a foot apart in an open part of the garden. If well managed, these cuttings form large tufts, which will flower freely if forced next season. They should be potted up about the last week in September or early in October, singly, in 32's, placing them for a fortnight in a rather close frame, when they will be well-established, and the lights may be drawn off the frame. The Pink thrives in light airy places, and even when forced, the lightest and airiest place should be chosen for them.

The interest in the white-ground laced Pinks has been stirred a little by the promotion of special exhibitions for them. A Pink Society may be as satisfying to the lover of this simple border flower as that of any other special society. A drawback to the popularity of the Pink is the sameness of the flowers in form and colour, unless border varieties are brought in, and these have but little quality in the flowers wherewith to furnish an exhibition. As an addition to a Rose show or other exhibition in June, the Pink would be a source of attraction to many visitors, because of their sweetness and beauty, but perhaps more for association with oldfashioned and partly-forgotten plants.

The house sparrow is a great ravager of Pink beds, and these birds must be kept at a distance. I find a few white threads strained horizontally above the plants will deter them. The beds should be lightly stirred up with a hand-fork, and all weeds removed. Heavy soils which crack in dry weather should be stirred more than once during the season. During the present month a dressing of rich manure should be spread on the surface, and in the absence of timely rains, a good watering should be afforded; dressings of this kind give richness of colour and size to the flowers. The flower-buds may be thinned if the finest flowers are desired, and a bit of soft matting tied round the calyx, to prevent its bursting. J. Douglas.

THE CARNATION CALYX-BURsters.

I stated at p. 363, that in the time of Parkinson the Carnation had been cultivated to such a degree of fullness of petals that they burst open the calyx which contained them. "Pod-bursters" is not only a very inelegant expression, but it is misleading. The seed-pod is within the petals, and cannot be burst open by them. The calyx is outside, and it is that part of the flower that is burst open by the expansion of the petals. During the last few years a great many misleading paragraphs have been published concerning the Carnation, and the National Carnation Society has been attacked, because it encourages the flowers that have a tendency to burst open the calyx. I was told by one gentleman, who is supposed to be a great authority on Carnations, that such flowers ought not to be grown at all; now, I freely admit that it would be much better if we could get flowers, the petals of which would always be confined within the bounds of the calyx tube; but this is impossible. The most popular Carnation at present, and one of which more plants are grown than any other, is Souvenir de la Malmaison, and the flowers of this variety are never confined within the compass of the calyx; but the growers who produce flowers to be sold in the florists' shops, manage to keep the large flowers in proper form by tying round the calyx with a strip of matting. When flowers with this characteristic are grown for exhibition, the cultivator can sometimes prevent the disaster by slitting the calyx down a little on the opposite side to that where the petals have begun to slit it open, and at the same time it may be tied round lightly with a thin strip of matting. It is verging on the ludicrous to stigmatize this simple process as misleading the public. The public continue to purchase Souvenir de la Malmaison and other calyx-splitting varieties in thousands; and yet this variety has never been, that I am aware of, exhibited at any of the national shows. Another cause of complaint is the way in which the flowers are tied to the sticks.

Paper collars on pot-plants were I think rightly objected to, and the Society put a stop to the practice. It is absolutely necessary that Carnations should be supported with sticks, and it is left to the discretion of the exhibitor as to the way the flowers should be fastened to them. Pins are used with a loop at one end, and these being inserted into the sticks, the flowers hang loosely in the loop, and can be placed very readily in the position likely to make the most effective display.

Experienced cultivators find that this is the best way to train the Carnation when in bloom, but the critics say this also is deceiving the public. In time, the cultivators of any class of plants for exhibition or otherwise find out the best way to grow and show them off to the greatest advantage. When I first exhibited Hyacinths, I read in some of the horticultural papers, that the sticks intended to support the flower-spikes should be thrust through the bulbs, so that the spikes might be quite upright; but we soon found a better way, viz., bending stout wire into such a form, that the part of it in the soil passed clear of the bulbs, and the upright wire fitting closely to the stems, is not seen at all when the plants are placed upon the stage for exhibition. In some instances, the critics know so little about what they write, that one wonders that editors find room for it. "A man must serve his time to every trade save censure critics-all are ready-made." As a rule, such writers for the press know nothing about the cultivation of the plants they so freely criticise They will inform a man who has been a lover of Carnations for a life-time, and has spent years in learning the art of culture, how he ought to do this, and why he ought not to do the other thing; but when you ask to see how they have done it, you Their find they never grew a plant themselves. trade is censure, not gardening. J. Douglas.

ALPINE AURICULAS AT SLOUGH. Anyone interested in these charming flowers will do well to pay a visit to the Royal Nursery, Slough, whe e may be seen a collection of nearly, or quite, 2000 plants in full bloom, and in the best condition. Many represent the leading named varieties; others are seedlings of the past two or three years. Some of them are named, and in course of being increased, for sending out in due course; others are plants that bloomed last year for the first time, and of these there are some white-centred flowers of great promise. Of gold-centred flowers there are many fine ones. White-centred flowers number but few eminently good, the common faults being either that they open of a cream colour and then turn to white, a change that in course of transition gives perplexing contrasts in a flower; or else they open white, and then change to a pallid hue in the centre, which appears to die before the marginal colour shows sign of decay.

Some new varieties may be noticed, especially among the young plants blooming for the first time this season, that have centres that are snow-white, almost with shaded crimson margins, thus affording a remarkable contrast. The occurrence of two shades in combination is not a new development, but until within the last year or two, the white centres have been weak, opening of one shade, and passing into another.

The new varieties of alpine Auriculas raised at Slough unfortunately get into commerce very slowly indeed. A variety cannot be distributed until it is in sufficient quantity to justify the act of sending it out.

Among the new white centres which, when obtainable, will be found to materially strengthen collections, are-Phoebe, Countess, Mrs. Harry Turner, Peter Flower, and Queen of Spring, all of which have been shown in fine condition this season. Of golden centres, Harry Turner, Alarm, Eustace, H. M. Pollett, Fred Knighton, Prince George, and John Bright, all particularly fine, with good-sized flat smooth pips, forming bold and imposing trusses. R. D.

SCOTLAND.

to

MR. A. SINCLAIR AND MR. A. ROSS. THE Peruvian Corporation (Limited), of which Sir Alfred Dent, K.C.M.G., of Messrs. Dent, Brothers & Co., merchants and commission agents, Old Broad Street, London, is chairman, have just arranged with Mr. Arthur Sinclair, Meadowbank, Cults, Aberdeen, with whom is associated Mr. Alexander Ross, of Stonehaven, near Aberdeen, to undertake a piece of very important survey work for them in Peru. To the general reader it may be necessary to explain that, in consequence of grave financial difficulties into which it had got, the Peruvian Government ceased to pay interest on its public debts (amounting to about £56,000,000), several years ago, and after protracted negotiations, a powerful British-Peruvian Corporation came the rescue, headed by Sir Alfred Dent, who had done excellent work in connection with the British North Borneo Company, of which he is still a director. Amongst the many concessions made to this company by the Peruvian Government, one was the right to select and utilise some 10,000,000 acres of land in the valley of the majestic Amazon river. The commission that has now been entrusted to Messrs. Sinclair & Ross, on very handsome terms as to remuneration and otherwise, is to fix generally the locality for this very large selection, with a view specially to the adaptation of the land to tropical agriculture. For this purpose the situation, climate, and general capabilities of the prevailing soils, will all have to be carefully noted and reported upon to the directorate of the Peruvian Corporation; and the work, including the passage to and fro, is expected to occupy not less than five months. No one who knows the career of either will doubt the wisdom of the choice made by Sir Alfred Dent and his co-directors. Both have had ample experience of tropical agriculture as planters in Ceylon. In the case of Mr. Sinclair, the fact of his having been bred to the occupation of gardener, with a good knowledge of practical botany, enabled him at once to take to the work in which he was engaged for a score of years or thereabouts, in the " spicy isle," with the greatest advantage; and for a good many years he acted as general superintendent of a large number of Coffee plantations with the highest efficiency, his duties in that way giving him an acquaintance with the conditions of tropical agriculture generally, as well with a large part of the area of Ceylon, such as few men have had opportunity of acquiring. And in addition to this, Mr. Sinclair spent over a couple of years in Australasia, chiefly in Tasmania, where he had further opportunities of observing sub-tropical vegetation. Of Mr. Ross, it can also be said he has had a lengthened experience as a successful planter in Ceylon.

LECTURES ON GARDENS AT Dundee.

This course of evening lectures was begun on April 30 at University College by Professor Patrick Geddes. After some discussion of the different provinces of botany and gardening, the mutual indebtedness of each to each was evidenced by such facts as that Linnæus, the founder of the artificial system of classification, and De Jussieu, the founder of the present natural system, were both gardeners. The lecturer then proceeded briefly to outline the various subjects which it is proposed to deal with during the course. These were an account of the history and origin of cultivated plants, and an outline of their relation to the history of civilisation, the extraordinary fixity of Chinese institutions being shown to depend essentially upon the culture of Rice by the patriarchal family. This was followed by some account of the problems of geographical botany. Next were outlined the rational explanations of the processes of horticulture, such as manuring, watering, pruning, grafting, and so on, which it is proposed to deal with more fully in detail. The lecture concluded with a brief summary of the changes in landscape garden

ing during the past three centuries, viewed in relation to general history, political and social, industrial and artistic. Dundee Advertiser.

THE SCOTTISH HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION AND
PRINCES' STREET GARDEns.

At a meeting held on Tuesday evening last, Mr. Grieve, Vice-president, in the chair, Mr. Carmichael, late gardener to the Prince of Wales at Sandringham, read a paper on "The Cultivation of the Strawberry." Amongst the exhibits on the table were a collection of flowers from the Isle of Raasay, Strome Ferry, sent by Mr. Minty, as well as contributions from Mr. Mattison, Currie Hill; Mr. Mackinnon, Melville Castle; and Mr. M'Lennan, Restalrig House. Mr. M. Todd, Edinburgh, reported that the Council had unanimously decided to contribute £20 towards the expenses incurred by the market gardeners in opposing the proposal to give possession of the Waverley Market to the North British Railway Company. Mr. M'Kenzie, Warriston Nurseries, subsequently moved a resolution protesting against any encroachment on Princes' Street Gardens, and urging the Town Council to continue their opposition in the matter. If the Railway Company got what they wanted, he said the beauty of the gardens would be gone for ever. Mr. Dunn, Dalkeith Palace, seconded the motion, and asked where all the engineering skill of the country was that it could not get the Railway Company out of the difficulty in another way. The resolution was adopted, and it was further resolved to send copies of it to members of Parliament for the city and county of Edinburgh, asking them to do their utmost to prevent the bill coming into force.

257 feet long, and is divided into three parts. As far as I could get Mr. Divers-who is a most successful exhibitor, as well as grower of Peaches-to express a positive opinion, I should say that if he could grow only one Peach, and one Nectarine, he would choose Crimson Galande and Dryden. The trees themselves were evidently very well managed, and were pictures of health, vigour, and cleanliness. In one house the Peaches were trained on a trellis under a roof covered with Maréchal Niel Roses, and I was assured, without much apparent loss of colour or flavour to the former. Another feature in the houses is the splendid show of Fair Maid of Guernsey Chrysanthemum in Flower. They were even more floriferous than when flowering at the usual season. I should say that they had been cut down after flowering, given rich, fresh soil, and put into heat again. Whether this was the case or not, your readers may know that it is possible to have white Chrysanthemums in any quantity in April. C. A. M. Carmichael.

THE PAST WINTER IN CHESHIRE.- What Mr. Thiselton Dyer said to the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society about the shrubs in the gardens at Kew is confirmed by my observations here that many tender shrubs which survived January were killed in March. I made frequent examinations of the stems of Cistus, Veronica, Hypericums, and other shrubs, which I in grow large numbers. A large proportion of these were alive at the base, and in the principal branches at the end of January, and during February they seemed to improve. They endured the still frosts which were continuous for seven weeks, but when the blasting north and east winds of March were added to a less degree of cold than they had already borne, they were killed. I have always found similar results in March. Ten or twelve degrees of frost combined with a piercing east wind, kills more things than 25° of still frost. Perhaps I may say a few words on the result of the winter, which is now pretty evident. Frost was nearly continuous here from the beginning of December to January 24, with a minimum of 7° on December 21; 12° on January 7; and 12° on January 18. From March 9 to the end, there was frost nearly every night with north or east winds, and minima of 18° and 20°. We had very little snow. Herbaceous plants have hardly suffered at all; but those which retain their foliage and stalks in winter have, in many cases, been killed. All the Himalayan Meconopsids are entirely withered up. Heuchera sanguinea has hardly a live leaf, the consequence of east wind rather than of cold. Anemone fulgens which last year filled the garden with scarlet in February, had its leaves killed, and has hardly attempted to flower. The Natal Anemone Fannini, to my surprise. seems everywhere unhurt; [killed with us. ED.] so do Tritoma caulescens and Macowani, and several others of this genus. Veronica parviflora, of which I have probably fifty shrubs, appear quite dead everywhere, but when the stem is examined, the sap is green, and seems to be running. The dwarf Veronicas, such as V. carnosula, pinguifolia, epacridea, are very little hurt; Chathamica is killed. Of the St. John's Worts, Hypericum oblongifolium, seven feet high, is breaking to the very tips of the shoots, but patulum is killed quite to the ground, and though it will break from the base, like Fuchsias, it will not flower from the young growths like those shrubs. H. reptans is also quite killed. Of Cistuses, C. cyprius and C. laurifolius are uninjured; all others entirely or nearly killed. Helianthemums are very much crippled; H. formosum and H. algarvense have stood better than many of the hybrids and varieties of H. vulgare. Lilium giganteum has not been injured in any part of the garden, though the front of the bulb is level with the surface. The flowers which have surprised me most have been the tall Hellebores of the orientalis and colchicus type. I have at least a hundred large plants of these, mostly close to north walls, or near Fir trees. They began to flower early in February, and are still, at the end of April, in full flower, without having suffered the least injury. If planted in an open place, they are easily damaged by wind and frost. The Irish Heath (Menziesia polifolia), and Cornish Heath, Erica vagans), seem nearly all killed. Wallflowers all dead. C. Wolley Dod, Edge Hall, Malpas.

KAURI PINE.-In reply to Mr. Rust's remarks, I once tried this tree. It was planted two years ago in a choice situation. It was a poor specimen, but. it was the only one procurable, and last winter settled it, as it did many a much hardier thing. If what Mr. Rust saw was really a Kauri Pine, and

really grown in this country, it would be interesting to know its history and where it grew. With much deference, I venture to submit with reference to your editorial note, that the "Kauri" (as it is called by the natives), is the "Dammara australis," and not the Podocarpus Totara. I have long tried, but, without success, to get a specimen of the latter. James Laurie. [Our correspondent is quite correct as to the name. ED.]

RANUNCULUSES.-At a late autumnal meeting of the Birmingham Gardeners' Association last year, some bunches of late-planted Ranunculus were shown, and some surprise was expressed at such good blooms being obtainable at so late a period of the year. It turned out that, from causes I need not enter into here, the roots were not planted out until June, and then in ordinary garden soil, and 14 inch deep. As the Ranunculus is of such easy cultivation, and the flowers are so comely, and in a cut state keep for so long a period, I am surprised it is not more generally cultivated. D.

ALLEGED HYBRID BETWEEN AN AURICULA AND A COMMON PRIMROSE.-When visiting, a few days since, a gardener who is frequently engaged in cross fertilising and endeavouring to hybridise plants, he called my attention to an Auricula which had thrown up from around the base of the truss-stem a number of flowers produced Primrose-fashion on each, on a long stem, and he claimed these as evidence of a cross between the Primrose and the Auricula. But growers of Auriculas know this to be of occasional occurrence, and in the nature of the plant to manifest itself in this way. One of the most singular freaks I have ever seen in the case of an Auricula was shown by two plants of a very fine new greenedged variety, in Mr. T. E. Henwood's collection at Reading. Each plant had thrown up a truss of bloom, but every flower was fully double. R. D.

FOREIGN BEES-I was very much surprised on readingExpert's" condemnation of foreign bees in the Gardeners' Chronicle, April 4, p. 431. Will "Expert" please state the experience he has had with the foreign bees he condemns, especially the Punic race, which they and some of the former in the hands of experts have proved so valuable? C. Russell.

PROLIFIC APPLE TREES.-At a farm in this neighbourhood (Maidstone), there are some Apple trees of fine proportions which are, at the least, a hundred years old. Although the quality is only that of second-rate mid-season kitchen fruit, they bear generally very well, and in seasons when Apples are scarce, the fruits come in very useful. There are three trees of one kind, but the name of variety is not known. A few years since, the trees each carried about 50 bushels, and that summer the wind blew down half the crop, and the foreman told me that 30 bushels of half-grown fruits were picked up under one of the trees. In 1889 the crop was a slight one; in 1890 the Three trees together produced about 30 bushels. It is a mixed orchard of Plums, Damsons, Bullaces, and Apples, on turf, and the soil a sharp, poor loam, resting on the Kentish rag. I have known these trees for many years past. W. Divers, The Gardens, Wierton House. [Our correspondent kindly sent a photograph of the biggest tree, and some of the fruit. ED.]

THE ROOT-GALL ON CATTLEYA.-I notice in the Gardeners' Chronicle for November 1, 1890, vol. viii, p. 585, a short note on the "Root-gall of Orchids," in which the statement is made, in substance, that it is still a matter of doubt among entomologists whether the Isosoma orchidearum of Westwood is the author of the injury to the Cattleyas, or whether this mischief is caused by a midge (Cecidomyia), which latter is the host of the Isosoma, as held by Mr. McLachlan. That the latter supposition is an error, and that Westwood is undoubtedly correct, I have shown in a note published in Insect Life, vol. i., p. 121. As stated in this note, the phytophagic nature of this Isosoma was proved beyond a peradventure by a study of specimens submitted to me by Dr. Felix Henneguy while I was in Paris in October, 1887, which afforded an opportunity to study the larvae in all stages and to rear both sexes. I repeatedly saw the larvæ feeding on the Orchid substance, and the cavity made was, in the early larval stage, only just large enough to contain the larva and its vegetal frass. C. V. Riley, Washington, U.S.

MARECHAL NIEL ROSE.-We have a plant of this variety in a 12-inch pot with 1000 blooms on it;

last summer made a shoot 22 feet long, and 3 inches in circumference. An amateur told me that he cuts his plant, Maréchal Niel, down close to the ground after flowering, and did it every year. I do not know if this is done generally by other gardeners. I have no experience of this mode of treating Roses, and should be glad to hear what others think of it. J. Maeers, Chymorvah, Marazion, Cornwall.

CŒLOGYNE CRISTATA.-On page 500 of the Gardeners' Chronicle, J. F. Morgan writes about his plants of Coelogyne cristata flowering in batches, which must make the plants increasingly useful. But he doubts what "W. H. W.," on p. 333, writes about the Coelogynes at Clarendon Park flowering twice in a short period. I may say that I have seen this species of Orchid in flower in the gardens at the Glen Innerleithen, N.B., about the end of March, and again in September of the same year. The only difference being that the flower spikes came from the base of the bulbs in the spring, and in September from the points of the bulbs between the two leaves. Mr. M. MacIntyre, the gardener at the Glen, showed the plant at the Royal Caledonian Society's Show in September, 1888, it being in full flower. He grows nearly all the Coelogynes in baskets, and some of them are more than 3 feet wide. John Dingwall.

HARTLAND'S APRIL QUEEN BROCCOLI.--To illustrate the mildness of our climate in the south of Ireland, this Broccoli has been produced this season in the Cork district from 14 lb. to 24 lb., as large as one's head in size, and white as snow, and the flavour, when cooked, is that of a Cauliflower. H.

Fig. 119.-GENERAL BERKELEY'S ORCHID POTS (see p. 396).

SOCIETIES.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.

APRIL 29.-A meeting of gardeners and others interested in horticulture was held here, to consider the advisability of establishing a Horticultural Mutual Improvement Society. There was a fair attendance. Mr. R. H. Irvine, having been voted to the chair, addressed the meeting at some length, urging upon gardeners to combine and form some such society as it would be proposed to establish that night. Mr. John Hood, jun., then proposed the following resolution : "That this meeting is of opinion that a Horticultural Mutual Improvement Society would be beneficial to the district; and further, that it decides to form one, and that a committee be appointed to draft rules, solicit subscriptions, and report to another general meeting." In supporting the resolution, he spoke of the entire absence of any society in the district which had for its object the mutual improvement and general welfare of gardeners, and of the numerous advantages which would be derived by gardeners and amateurs (the younger ones

especially) by meeting occasionally and hearing a paper read on some gardening subject, and by taking part in the discussion which would follow the reading of the paper. He then read several extracts from the Gardeners' Chronicle and other papers, and letters from secretaries of other societies, to show how they were managed, and with what success their efforts were attended-Ware, Woolton, and Chiswick being mentioned, as well as the recentlyformed society at Sunderland. Mr. M. ADAMSON seconded, and Mr. A. HEDLOP supported, and wished more especially to commend the Society to young gardeners as a means by which they could meet and converse with older and more experienced men, and get an opportunity of gaining a little knowledge of botany, and the meaning of various technical terms used in gardening. Eventually the resolution was carried, and a committee appointed, Mr. J. HOOD, jun., being elected secretary pro tem.

TRADE NOTICE.

MESSRS. MESSENGER & Co., Horticultural Builders, &c., of Loughborough, inform us that they have opened an Office in London, at 163, Palmerston Buildings, Old Broad Street, E.C.

Obituary.

MR. JOHN WILSON.-We regret to announce the death of Mr. John Wilson, who retired from the secretaryship of the Great York Gala and Floral Fête about three years since, at his residence at Maida Vale on the 1st inst. Mr. Wilson was well known, having been one of the promoters of the Society and first guarantors, and Secretary for a period of nearly thirty years.

ENQUIRY.

"He that questioneth much shall learn much."-BACON. BARRON'S "BRITISH WINTER GARDEN."-Will any reader who may possess a copy of this work, which he may be willing to dispose of, by exchange or otherwise, communicate with X., care of Editor.

BIARRITZ.-Everything is very late here this season, and, judging by the way in which Bay trees have been punished during the winter, it must have been comparatively as severe here as with us. Gardening here is not to be compared with that on the Riviera. There are plenty of nurseries, but, as a rule, more weeds seem to be cultivated in them than anything else, and there is an utter want of energy and "go" about their management. The Lilacs are now beauifully in bloom, and Pears and Apple trees; the Cherries being over. Amongst wild flowers, the Daphne Cneorum and Lithospermum fructicosum are beautiful just now, whilst any quantity of Anemone fulgens and Daffodils come from the neighbouring mountains. Viator.

MARKETS.

COVENT GARDEN, May 7.

Market well supplied, and steady business doing. with prices rather easier. James Webber, Wholesale Apple Market.

...

VEGETABLES.-AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES. s. d. s. d. 8. d. s. d. Artichokes, Globe, Lettuces, per dozen... 3 0each 4-06 Mushrooms, punnet 2 0Beans, French, lb. ... 1 6- 2 0 Mustard and Cress, Beet, red, per dozen 2 0- 30 punnet 04-... Brussels Sprouts, lb. 0 6-... Parsley, per bunch... 0 4-... Carrots, per bunch... 0 6-... Seakale, per basket. 1 6- 20 Cauliflowers, each 06- Shallots, per lb. 06Celery, per bundle 26-36 Spinach,per bushel... 7 0Cucumbers, each 09-10 Tomatos, per lb. 26-36 Endive, per dozen 40- Turnips, per bunch 06Herbs, per bunch ... 0 4-...

s. d. s. d. Lemons, per case ...15 0-25 0 Pine-app'es, St. Michael, each 20-80 Strawberries, p. lb.... 3 6-8 0

Narcissus

s. d. s. d.

(yellow).

20-40

12 bun. Poeticus (Pheasant Eye) 12 bun 1 6-2 6 Pelargoniums, scarlet, 12 spr. Primroses, double.

04-06

p. 12 bunches 1 0-2 0 per 12 bunches 0 4-0 6 Primulas, double, 12

sprays... ... 06-10 Ranunculus (Fren.), 10-20 Roses, Tea, per doz. 1 0-30 coloured, dozen 20-40

12 bun.

CUT FLOWERS. —Average WHOLESALE PRICES. s.d.s.d. Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 2 0 4 0 Azalea, 12 sprays 06-08 Bouvardias, per bun. 1 0-16 Calla æthiopica,12tl. 2 0-4 0 Camellias, white, 12 blooms 20-30 colrd., 12 blms. 0 9-10 Carnations, 12 blms. 1 0-2 0 Cineraria, 12 bchs.... 60-90 Cyclamens, per doz. 0 3 0 6 Daffodils, various, 12 blooms 16-50 (Foreign). 12 bun. 2 0-6 0 Eucharis, per dozen 3 0-60 Gardenias, per doz. 16-30 Heliotropes, 12 spr. 0 6-10 Hyacinth, various, in boxes, Dutch Lilac, best, p. bunch 4 0-6 0 16-20 p. bunch Lilium Harrisii, doz. 3 0 4 0 Lily of the Valley, 12 sprays Maiden Hair Fern, 12 bunches 40-90 Marguerites, 12 bun. 3 0- 60 Mignonette, Fr., bu. 1 6- 2 0 Myosotis, 12 bun. 20-40

"

- yellow (Maré

chals), perdoz. 30-60 red, per dozen... 30-60 do.,Frenchp.doz, 1 0 3 0 Spiræa, per bunch... 0 4-0 6 Tuberoses, 12 blms.... 1 0- 16 Tulips, various, per doz. bunches 30-60 Violets, 12 bun. 06-09 Parma, Fr., bun. 3 0- 36 dark, Fr., bun 10-16 Wallflower, 12 bun. 4 0-60

...

ORCHID-BLOOM in variety.
PLANTS IN POTS.-AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES.
s.d.s.d.

Aralia Sieboldi, doz. 6 0-18 0
Aspidistra, doz. ...18 0-42 0
-speci. plants, each 7 6-10 6
Azalea, per dozen ...18 0-36 0
Bedding plants, va-

riety, per doz. 10-20
Bouvardias, p. doz. 9 0-18 0
Calceolaria, p. doz.... 6 0-10 0
Cineraria, per dozen 4 0 8 0
Cyclamens, dozen... 9 0-18 0
Cyperu, per dozen ... 4 0-12 0
Dielytra, per dozen 8 0-12 0
Dracena terminalis,
per dozen
...30 0-60 0
viridis, per doz.12 0 24 0
Euonymus, in var.,
per dozen ... 6 0-18 0
Ericas, various, doz. 8 0-24 0
Evergreens, in var.,
per dozen...

"The temperature has again been below the mean in Scotland and Ireland, but about the mean value over the greater part of England. The highest of the maxima, which were recorded either on the 28th or 30th, ranged from 67° in England, E.' and 'S.,' and 66° in Ireland, S.,' to 57° in Scotland, N.,' and 56° in Scotland, W.' The lowest of the minima, which occurred during the earlier days of the period, varied between 24° and 28° in Scotland,' 29 and 30° in Ireland,' and 25° and 32° over 'England.' In the Channel Islands,' however, the lowest reading was 41°.

"The rainfall again shows a deficit over the northeastern, eastern, and southern parts of England,' as well as in the south of Ireland,' and the Channel Islands.' In all other parts of the Kingdom there has been an excess.

"The bright sunshine has been much less prevalent than of late, and, except in Scotland, E.,' the weekly values are below the mean for the time of year. The percentage of the possible duration ranged from 19 in Scotland, N.,' and 21 in England, N.W.,' to 33 in England, S.W.,' and to 39 in the 'Channel

Gardening, How to Lay Out a Garden, E. Kemp (Bradbury, Agnew, & Co., Bouverie Street, London, E.C.), and Milner's Landscape Gardening. Market Gardening, The London Market Gardens, C. W. Shaw (37, Southampton Street, Strand, W.C.).; The Inquiry into the State of Agriculture, Duke of Richmond's Commission (Eyre & Spottiswood), 10s. 6d.-G. H. P. C. We do not know the book on the Vine you mention. Williams' Stove and Greenhouse Plants and Ferns may be had from the Victoria Nurseries, Holloway, London. D. Thomson on Fruit Culture under Glass may be had from Blackwood & Sons, of Edinburgh, or any bookseller.

ENTRY AT KEW: Herbarium. See our Answers to Correspondents' Column, May 2.

GOOSEBERRIES AND RED SPIDER: W. H. M. If the attack is not very serious, well syringe the bushes from all sides with clear water from the gardenengine night and early morning for a week. A bag of soot soaked in the water previous to using it makes it more effective. In a bad attack mix

lb. of flowers-of-sulphur with each gallon of water before using it. The sulphur must be mixed first as a thick paint, and then diluted, the soot being also made use of. Quassia-water and Gishurst compound soap are also useful remedies, but not where there are berries on the bushes. Dress the land in autumn with gas lime. GRAPE VINES PLANTED IN MARCH: T. C. The vinery must be maintained in a genial condition of warmth and moisture, so as to induce good growth, the canes having been cut to a length that will carry them into the vinery about 1 to 2 feet, or they may, if strong, be carried in almost at full length, merely the weak top being removed, train loosely in position on the wires; syringe at 3 to 3:30 P.M. and in the early morning, keep the house moist during the day, ventilate when the thermometer indicates 75° to 80, and shut up at 3 or 3:30P.M.; keep close till 6 or 7 P.M., when a little top ventilation may be afforded. When the Vines have run up half the length of the roof, pinch out the leading point of each, and then the next shoot, which grows at this point; by so doing, compelling the dormant bud to break and become the leader. This check to growth will strengthen all the laterals down the canes. Let the laterals grow to the length of 1 to 2 feet, removing all sub-laterals which grow from these. Purchase a manual on the Vine.

GRASS CUTTINGS: J. X. Z. The cuttings of Grass from lawns if used green as a mulch for crops, would not become like hay, as it would be saturated by rains and rotted by damp. INSECTS: A. C., Tetbury. The very minute and shrivelled-up insects sent by you appear to us (so far as we can decide from their condition) to be the common red-spider (or rather red-mite) of the greenhouse. I. O. W. MILDEW ON STRAWBERRIES: W. G. None of the ordinary remedies can be applied whilst the Strawberry plants are in flower or fruit. That being so, the conditions of culture which are favourable to the growth of the mildew on the fruits and leaves must be altered. Instead of a close, damp, rather cool air, a brisk, warm, buoyant state of the air in the house should be maintained by day and night, and broad shallow pans containing water in which sulphur has been dissolved put about where the sun can reach them all day long. These pans will give off fumes unfavourable to the development of the mould. Smearing the hot-water pipes with whitewash and sulphur will have a similar effect, and might supplement the first-named. Be careful about admitting air at the bottom of the house, unless it be warmed by sunshine. The best

time to ventilate by means of the front lights or clappers is from 11 AM. to 2 P.M. There is a useful little book on Strawberries All the Year Round, by W. Hinds.

NAMES OF FRUIT: P. O. M. Warner's King. It is not fair to us to send a fruit in a half-rotted condition.-E. R. W. The larger fruit, Alfriston; the smaller, not recognised. Send again in its proper season.

NAMES OF PLANTS: T. M. Ribes alpinum.-W. H. T. 1 and 2, Cephalotaxus drupacea; 3, C. Fortunei.T. R. O. P. Lathrea squamaria.- W. P., Epping. It is Peziza Sumneriana; it often comes up under Cedars.-F. L. S. Rubus spectabile, an old inhabitant of our gardens.-C. W. D. Probably a

form of Draba alpina, but fruit required to decide. -A. C. 1, Amaryllis reticulata; 2, Aloe Socotrana; 3, Kleinia ficoides.-M. W. O. 1, Dendrobium Dalhousieanum; 2, D. Pierardi; 3, D. fimbriatum oculatum.-J. H. 1, Sparmannia africana; 2, Pteris longifolia; 3, Blechnum occidentale; 4, Acalypha Macafeeana.-J. A. 1, Rhododendron Gibsoni.-J. W. 1, Odontoglossum odoratum var.-K. G. H. A very fine form of RhodenOdontoglossum Harryanum.-W. F.

dron Falconeri var, perhaps a cross between R. grande and Falconeri. J. A. Rhododendron Gibsoni.-A. Millar. Fungus Marasmius oreadis, The Champignon.

A

PINE-APPLE: R. W. If suckers appear on the plants of the Queen Pine-apple, all should be removed early, excepting one, or at the most two, and this is best done by seizing the leaves of the sucker in a bunch, and sharply twisting it round, it then comes away without doing any injury to the parent plant. It is not usual for suckers to show on a plant until the fruit is well advanced, unless the plants have been treated in a slow manner. Under modern management, Queens may be cut in a ripe state in 18 months, or less time, from the start. PINE BLISTER: E. M. What you send are fine specimens of the too well-known and very injurious fungus known as Peridermium pini. similar species occurs on the leaves of Picea morinda, of which we give an illustration (fig. 120), showing the blisters on the leaves, and the spores-one of which is germinating. The most curious circumstance connected with this plant is the fact that the same fungus growing on Groundsel or Rag-wort (Senecio Jacobæa), assumes quite a different appearance, so that it was long considered to be a distinct plant, and named Coleosporium senecionis; but now it has been repeatedly proved experimentally that spores from the Pine blister sown on the leaves of the Senecio produce the Coleosporium. The matter was gone into in Dr. Plowright's articles on Heterocism in our columns, and that gentleman has successfully repeated the experiments originally made in Germany. See also Professor Plowright's lecture at p. 564 of our present volume. Moral: Uproot and burn all Groundsel near your plantations. PITCHER PLANTS: H. G., Devon. The writer of the paragraph apparently knew but little of what he was writing. He has, seemingly, mixed up the tropical Nepenthes with the temperate Sarracenia, which latter-we speak from experience of S. purpurea can be grown on a window-sill. PLANTS FOR A GARDEN POND: J. M., Cornwall, Native Water Lilies, white and rose; Alisma natans, Aponogeton distachyon, Calla palustris, Pontederia cordata, Hydrocharis morsus ranæ, Nuphar advena, Trapa natans, Nymphæa flava, Vallisneria spiralis, Villarsia lacunosa, Acorus calamus, and others. If you do not plant too thickly, the fish will not fail to thrive. See that you do not get your water-supply from any but wholesome sources.

VINES J. Hamilton. It seems to be a case of scalding or burning, which often happens in modern houses, with their close-fitting panes of glass; and the wider the span, the greater the risk of it occurring about the middle of the slope of the roof. A film of water on the leaves directly exposed to a bright sun, helps the action of the latter. The foliage is very vigorous, but vigour could be lessened by some amount of heavy cropping, and by cutting off the supplies of food in distant parts of the border, by casting out a trench about the termination of the major portion of the roots.-4. S. The flowers are formed, but they do not grow properly. What causes the check we cannot say.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.-E. J. D.-A. H. B.-D. S.G. H.-J. R.-W. R.-W. H. T.-T. H. P.-J. R-C. B. C. -W. H.-E. H.-Mre. R.-W. F., Isle of Man.-W. T. T. D. -D. S.-X. Y. Z.-M. C. S.-A. H. B.-H. R., Plymouth.W. S.-H. E.-W. C. L.-H. J. S.-E. M.-A. E.-J. Rust. H. B.-R. D.-A. P.-E. J.-Captain Oliver.-Chas. De

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476 450

5 15 0

776

CARRIAGE PAID.

£5 0 0 10 ft. by 7 ft. 28 10 0 20 ft. by 7 ft.

...

£6 0 0 ...210 0 0

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