These segments are entire, about one-sixth of an inch broad, and beautifully variegated throughout, with close lanceolate white teeth, extending from the midrib nearly to the edge, forming a striking contrast to the dark green ground colour; the sterile fronds have broader and shorter segments. Of the Fern we can speak de visu, having been privileged to see it some months ago, so that we can confirm the statement that it is remarkable and beautiful. Moreover, the coloured plate issued in Mr. BULL'S catalogue can by no means be accused of exaggeration, but rather it fails to do the plant justice.

In the catalogue of the HORTICULTURE INTERNATIONALE We find offered for the first time the following Orchids-Aërides Augustianum, Cypripedium Bungerothi, Catasetum saccatum, C. Rodigasianum, Cattleya Buyssoniana, C. rex, C. Warocqueana, Cirrhopetalum Mastersianum, Cochlioda Noezliana, Coryanthes Bungerothi, Cypripedium insigne var. coloratum, C. præstans var. Kimballiana, Hamaria Otletæ, Houlletia odoratissima var. Lindeni, Lælia Schroderi var. delicata, Maxillaria longisepala, Mormodes Lawrenceanum, Oncidium Leopoldianum, Peristeria aspersa, Phalanopsis Esmeralda var. candidula, Restrepia striata, Zygopetalum Jorisianum, Z. Lindeniæ. Most of these have been described in the Lindenia, or in the Gardeners' Chronicle.

PHENOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.-In a paper in the Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society for May, 1891, Mr. EDWARD MAWLEY deals with the question of Phenology, a term indicative of the records of the first appearance of wild flowers, insects, &c. For statistical purposes, it is desirable to select a small number of specially suitable species, and to observe these carefully, and record them faithfully. The plants recommended by the Royal Meteorological Society are Hazel, Corylus Avellana; Coltsfoot, Tussilago Farfara; Wood Anemone, Anemone nemorosa; Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa; Garlic Hedge Mustard, Erysimum alliaria; Horse Chestnut, Esculus hippocastanum; Hawthorn, Crataegus oxyacantha, White Ox-eye, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum; Dog Rose, Rosa canina; Black Knapweed, Centaurea nigra; Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia; Greater Bindweed, Convolvulus Sepium; Ivy, Hedera helix. It is scarcely necessary to add that, so far as possible, the same individual plant should be observed each year, otherwise discrepancies may creep in from the great amount of variation in these respects in different individuals. We have not space to include the birds or insects, the appearance of which it is desirable to record. Forms and full instructions may be had from Mr. E. MAWLEY, Berkhamsted.

THE FLOWER TRADE IN PARIS.-The supplement to the Paris Figaro of the 16th inst., a large sheet of four pages, with six columns to a page, is devoted entirely to "La fleur à Paris," comprising an account of the principal flowers grown in the environs of Paris, the methods of culture, and other details. A map of Paris and its environs is given, with indications of the specialties cultivated in each suburb. Thus within the fortifications at Mont Rouge and other places, Roses are forced, the Roses being procured from the great Rose-growers of BrieComte Robert, Bourg-la-Reine, and Ivry; Picpus furnishes Wallflowers, Versailles the Azaleas. Forced Lilac comes from Vitry-sur-Seine; Montreuil furnishes Paris with Camellias, Gardenias, Narcissus Hyacinths, Hydrangeas, and Cyclamens; while later in the season everything must give way to the culture of the Peach, for which this suburb is famous. Bourg-la-Reine, Fontenay-sousBois, Clamart, and Verrières, devote themselves to the cultivation of Parma Violets, as does also Fontenay-aux-Roses. Forced Lilies of the Valley come from Neuilly; Chinese Primroses and Cinerarias come from Fontenay-sous-Bois. We have not space to enumerate the names of other suburbs, where the cultivation of other varieties is carried on. M. Henri de Vilmorin estimates the number of wholesale growers for the Paris market, at between four and five

hundred, of whom twenty produce forced Lilac at Vitry--in which commune alone no fewer than 260 hectares are devoted to this industry; fifteen cultivate Ferns, ten Orchids; and one only supplies Orange flowers, gathered from the tree, in Paris itself, at all times and all seasons. A description is then given of the methods of forcing generally adopted, whether for Lilacs, Roses, Lilies of the Valley, Cyclamens, Violets, bulbs, Mignonettes, Orchids, or wedding flowers. In the winter season from November, Paris is supplied with flowers from Provence and the French Riviera. Cut flowers of all descriptions arrive from the South by rail at the Halles Centrales, with the exception of flowers of superior quality, called "très beau midi," which pass directly into the hands of the principal florists. At the markets the flowers are received by the porters ("les forts"), who form a special corporation of commissioners, and who arrange the flowers for sale. The dealer arrives, takes the receipt from the members of the "fort," and proceeds to unpack his goods about 11 o'clock at night. After the railway vans, come the market-carts from the suburbs of Paris, which leave home, according to the distance, about 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning. The routes taken and the times of arrival are regulated by the police, with a view to prevent inconvenient crowding in the neighbourhood of Les Halles. The public sale begins at 3 o'clock in the morning (4 in winter), and terminates about 8 or 9, the goods being classified into ordinary, fine, and extra-fine, the various classes of goods being purchased by florists of corresponding grade, and after these have been supplied, it is the turn of the "ambulants (itinerant dealers). The remainder of the article is devoted to the various uses made of flowers for decorative and domestic purposes.

THE PROPOSED HALL FOR HORTICULTURE.We have pleasure in inserting the following notification to the Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society, by Rev. W. WILKS, the Secretary :-" An opportunity offers for at once beginning the new hall and premises. If every Fellow of the Society would lend the Trustees an average of £7, the thing would be done, and England no longer be behind France and America in the possession of a horticultural hall. A friend has offered £5000 on condition of the hall being promptly commenced. Will you not help to secure this?"

HOOKER'S "ICONES PLANTARUM."-The last issued part contains lithographic illustrations of various plants from China and other countries, and which have been lately determined in the herbarium at Kew. Davidia involucrata, t. 1961, a very remarkable tree, is, says Professor Oliver, "almost deserving a special mission to Western China, with a view to its introduction to European gardens." Dr. HENRY describes it as 30 feet in height; "the large white bracts, mingled with the green leaves of the tree, give it an extraordinary and beautiful appearance." It belongs to the Cornacea, Gentiana Herrediana, t. 1962. A species from the mountains of Peru is also worth looking after. It is described as "maxima speciosissima," with erect panicles of large stalked, bell-shaped purple flowers. Arundinaria kurilensis var., t. 1869, is the plant described in our columns, 1888, vol. v., p. 521, as A. Veitchii.

DR. WILHELM KARL VON NAEGELI, the late Keeper of the Botanical Museum and Garden in Munich, who died recently in his seventy-fourth He was for some year, was a Swiss by birth.

years Professor of Botany at the University of Zurich, but in 1857 was invited by King Maximilian II. to the post which he so long occupied. He was a many-sided man, a great mathematician and microscopist, as he showed in his Das Mikroscop (Leipzig, 1865, 1867, and 1877). His obituarist in the Allgemeine Zeitung contends that morphology owes, peculiarly to him, its present strong scientific foundation. His contributions to alpine botany are numerous. The new scientific movement called forth by DARWIN's great. work found an energetic opponent in NAEGELI. The Swiss papers give a long

list of his works. In 1885 and the following years he and Professor PETER, of Göttingen, brought out the Hieracien Mitteleuropas, in which he handled the problem of "mittelformen," without whose existence the transmutation of species would be impossible to explain. His study throughout life, as he said, was to understand "the very least of the very little." Athenæum, May 23, 1891.

APPLE SCAB, ETC.-Central Experimental Farm, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Canada; Bulletin, No. 10. "Treatment of Apple-Scab, Grape, and Gooseberry Mildew." Mr. CRAIG recommends the use for Apple-scab of an ammoniacal carbonate of copper, made as follows:-Carbonate of copper, 8 oz.; ammonia, 1 gallon; water 100 gallons. Or, carbonate of copper, 2 oz.; strong liquid ammonia, 1 quart; dissolve the copper in the ammonia, pour into a barrel, and add 25 gallons of water. The solution should be sprayed in June and July. As a combined fungicide and insecticide, Mr. CRAIG recommends a trial of-carbonate of copper, 1 oz.; ammonia, 1 pint; Paris Green, 1 oz.; water, 25 gallons.

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY OF LONDON.—Mr. W. CARRUTHERS, F.R.S., Head of the Botanical Department of the British Museum, gave, on Friday week, the concluding portion of his lecture on "The Story of Plant Life on the Globe," before a large number of Fellows and visitors to the Gardens. Tracing the evolution of plants through the Pine trees and Cycads of the lower rocks to the cretaceous series, where plants similar to those at present existing first appear, he showed how unbroken had been the continuity of vegetable life from the first dim traces of seaweeds in the earliest strata to the complex and highly differentiated floras at present upon the earth, yet all bearing in form or structure links connecting them with the remote past, as illustrated for us in the plant fragments which sank in the ooze and mud of prehistoric river and sea, to be found still unchanged in the rocks of to-day.

CARBONATE OF COPPER may be made by dissolving 1 lb. of copper sulphate in 2 gallons of water, and 14 lb. of soda carbonate in half a gallon of water; mix the two solutions; a brownish powder will be precipitated; the water should be poured off from the precipitate, which is the copper

carbonate.

INSECTICIDES, ETC.-Our growers, whose general apathy with regard to the employment of remedies, even for experimental purposes, is profound, and who appear to leave unread the evidence that is put before them, are, at any rate, not the only persons similarly affected. This is what is said by the Colonial Botanist at the Cape :-"I have urged several importers to speculate in a sample, and done everything except thump them over it. But they, one and all, seem to think the Cape fruit grower will not bother over his fruit trees, or put either money or elbow-grease into the protective measures which the Yankee fruitist finds to pay hand over hand. Let us hope they are mistaken."

THE FRAGRANT EARTH. In the Chemical News for April 17, there is an interesting note by Dr. T. L. PHIPSON on the cause of the odour emitted by the soil of a garden after a summer shower. After making a considerable number of experiments, it seems that Dr. PHIPSON arrived at the conclusion that the odour emitted by the soil after a heavy shower of rain during summer time was due to the presence of certain organic substances which are closely related to the essential oils of plants. He is of opinion that the porous surface of the soil absorbs the fragrance emitted by flowers and plants, and that when the rain penetrates into the pores, it displaces the various volatile substances imprisoned therein, which are only very slightly soluble in water. Dr. PHIPSON made his earliest observations upon the chalk soils of Picardy, but he found that not only chalk, but also marls, compact limestone, phosphatic rocks and some kinds of schists and amphibilites

an

are porous enough to absorb the fragrance of flowers, and to emit a decided odour when they are strongly breathed upon; he believes, moreover, that many other kinds of soil possess this absorbent property. The French researches referred to are those recently made by Professor BERTHELOT and M. ANDRÉ; these chemists have confined their attention to recentlyploughed land. Every one will be familiar with the peculiar and by no means disagreeable odour emitted by recently-turned soil, especially after a sharp summer shower. It is this odour or principle which Professor BERTHELOT and M. ANDRE have endeavoured to isolate and determine the nature of. Their experiments tend to establish that the essential principle of the odour of soil resides in a neutral organic substance belonging to the aromatic series of carbon compounds; this is capable of being carried away by the vapour of water, as is the case usually with bodies of this class, which possess a very feeble tension. When isolated, the odour of this substance is penetrating-almost piquant, and analogous to the Camphors. The odoriferous principle of soil illustrates the powerful effect of traces of matter under certain conditions. Everyone knows how marked is this odour after a summer shower, yet the substance in which it resides exists in such small quantity, that the proportion can only be regarded as a few millionths per cent. The new principle is neither acid nor an alkali, nor even, as might be surmised a normal aldehyde; its concentrated aqueous solution may be precipitated with carbonate of potash, leaving a resinous substance. When heated with potash an acrid odour is evolved, and it does not reduce ammoniacal nitrate of silver. With iodine and potash it gives an abundant yield of iodoform, a property which is common to a large class of substances. But these are by no means all the facts which have been elicited; the other information would scarcely be suited to the general reader, and any who wish to pry more deeply into the constitution and behaviour of this curious substance, are referred to the Comptes Rendus, tome cxii., No. 12, March 23, 1891, p. 598; when they will find in full the original paper by MM. BERTHELOT and ANDRÉ. Dr. PHIPSON found that the odoriferous substance could be arrested and retained by an aqueous solution of bromine, and is of opinion from the chemical and physical properties which he observed, that it is very similar to, if not identical with bromo-cedsen, a substance derived from essence of cedar; moreover, when highly concentrated the substance emits a strong odour of cedar-wood. The perfume manufacturers have laid nearly every family of flowers under contribution in the production of pleasing scents, and we have for a long while been familiar with the perfume which professes to be that of new-mown hay. We wonder whether ladies will now be afforded an opportunity of scenting their mouchoirs with "Odeur propre de la terre," Scent of Ploughed Fields," &c.

COPPER SULPHATE AS A FUNGICIDE.-" The various compounds of copper offer efficient protection to many cultivated crops against the exceedingly destructive ravages of fungous parasites. Without treatment, these rots, rusts, mildews, and blights, frequently destroy a large proportion of, or even the entire, products of fields and fruit plantations. The applications, in the shape of watery sprays, are made so readily, and with so little expense in money and labour, that everyone interested should at once undertake the work. The practical results already attained, constitute the greatest advance made in recent times in the application of science to horticulture. A little well-directed effort may be confidently expected to return a hundred, or a thousand times its cost. Still there is need for much vigilance and careful attention to every detail. Mistakes may be made even then, and sometimes failures may occur, for which existing knowledge may offer no explanation. But we should persevere, gain all possible information upon the subject, and watch well the effects in every test. In this way, every one may hope to conquer, practically, these insidious and, heretofore, invincible foes," Such are the conclu

sions, after numerous experiments, made by Dr. BURRILL of the Illinois Agricultural Station, and they are in conformity with general experience in America and in France. When will our people wake up?

BOTANICAL ENTERPRISE IN THE WEST INDIES. -The May number of the Kew Bulletin is devoted to a record of the steps that have been taken to organise botanical stations for the introduction, trial, and diffusion of plants of economic importance. This Bulletin also contains the text of Mr. MORRIS report on his recent visit to the West Indies, embodying the results of his visits to the several islands, and the lectures therein given. His mission occupied 106 days, and the distance covered was a little over 12,000 miles. As we shall have another opportunity of alluding to Mr. MORRIS' work, and of illustrating a new dwarf Palm discovered by him, we content ourselves for the present with this brief mention.

KINGSWOOD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.-The sometime proposed Horticultural Society at the above town has taken definite shape, and at a meeting held there recently, Mr. J. W. YOUNG was appointed chairman of committee; Mr. J. MARRIOTT, treasurer; and Messrs. J. STUBBS and P. JULION, hon. secretaries.

FLOWER SELLERS.-The London flower girl, says the Star, has to work hard, and have her wits about her; however, if all goes well, a fair sum may be made each day, and the initial capital wanted to start a "basket" is only 5s. Many start with far less. Three times a week a regular flower market is held in Covent Garden, and as early as four o'clock the whole place is alive with buyers and sellers; the Violets done up in bunches, thirteen to the dozen, are the popular blossoms. Boxes full of white, red, and yellow Roses recall the southern hanging gardens where they still climbed and clustered two days ago. Lilies of the Valley are getting delightfully cheap, but their subtle odour is overpowered by the overwhelming scent of cartloads of Hyacinths, white, pink, and blue, still redolent of clean, stiff Holland. From all this heap-to say nothing of the nodding Daffodils and pale Primroses, come up from Sussex and Kent by the vanload-the careful flower girl makes her choice accordingly as she sells in the East or West-end, Strand, or Oxford Street. The blossoms are all unmounted, innocent as yet of the hard wire or dirty white cotton with which they are afterwards to be allied. The Strand flower-seller invests in Roses, Lilies, and Parma Violets; the West-ender in Primroses and Daffodils. Till eight the girls are busily employed in making up the button-holes, Maiden-hair, Ivy leaves, Ferns, and sometimes, but rarely, the leaf belonging to the flower itself is used as an accompaniment. Some of the girls show more taste than others, and this makes, it seems, all the difference in the world to the receipts. This is so well known, that often flower. sellers will pay a few coppers to have their baskets got ready" by a comrade, whose taste they believe is superior to their own. Two to five shillings a day can be earned by the average flower-girl in a busy quarter of the town. Men buy more readily than ladies, and will often leave a sixpence for a pretty flower, not waiting for the fivepence change; but a woman never does that. In old days, the flowerseller annoyed the passer-by by thrusting her wares under his nose. There is now less of this objectionable practice carried on, and it does not look as though the flower-girl's trade had suffered in consequence.

STUART & MEIN'S CABBAGE COMPETITION.— The third annual Cabbage competition, says the Kelso Mail, May 20, took place on Saturday, the 16th inst., for a prize of £5. Formerly, the Cabbages intended for competition had to be sent to Kelso to be judged, thus entailing much expense in the way of carriage on distant competitors; but this year's competition was held on novel and ingenious lines, which completely did away with this obstacle to

Seed of Mein's No. 1 many coming forward. Cabbage was supplied last July to 8568 competitors, who each received a certificate bearing a registered number, and which had to be filled up. The certificate was as follows:-" These are to certify that on Saturday, May 16, 1891, a specimen of Mein's No. 1 at Cabbage, grown by Mr. weighed

lb.

oz." This certificate had to be signed

by the competitor, and two witnesses to the weighing. Notwithstanding the severe winter, the weights of the Cabbages now to hand are, we think, extraordinary in the records of big spring Cabbages. The prize Cabbage was grown by Miss HILDEGARde A, SOMERVILLE, of Drishane, Skibbereen, county Cork, and was certified by Colonel SOMERVILLE, J.P., D.L., of Drishane, and EGERTON B. COGHILL, Esq., of Castletownshend, to weigh 9 lb. 4 oz. This speaks much for the mildness of the climate of county Cork, as the Cabbage was grown in the open air. The next best weights were from Great Malvern (Worcestershire), Shankhill (co. Dublin), St. Lawrence and Bifrons (Jersey), Dover (Kent), Lesbury (Northumberland), Camborne, Polkerris, and St. Blazey (Cornwall), Maldon (Essex), Old Montrose (Forfarshire), Paignton (Devon), &c.

THE BOTANICAL MAGAZINE" (JAPANESE). -Dr. RYOKICHI YATABE describes in the April number, a new Japanese Acrostichum, under the name Acrostichum Yosinagai. It is a species with Darrow, lanceolate fronds, tapering at the base, with long scaly stalks, and is nearly allied to A. conforme.

M. BERTIN.-The French journal, Le Jardin, records the death of the doyen of French horticulture, in the person of M. PIERRE BERTIN, of Versailles, in his ninety-third year. M. BERTIN was formerly the proprietor of the establishment now owned by M. MOSER, and had secured the warm esteem of his colleagues.

MR. EDWARD LOW. We learn that this gentleman has brought with him from New York a plant of the rare Cypripedium Lawrenceanum Byeanum, discovered, says the American Florist, among a lot of the type in the collection of Mr. LONSDALE. Mr. Low suffered severely from influenza, and had to curtail his travels in consequence.

M. BORNET.-The Linnean Medal was awarded by the Linnean Society, at the anniversary meeting on Monday last, to M. BORNET. No better selection could have been made. The patient accuracy with which M. BORNET has conducted his researches, the beautiful manner in which he has illustrated them, his modesty and perfect loyalty, amply justify such an award. To horticulturists M. BORNET is known by his many experiments on the hybridisation of Cisti and other plants in the grounds of his late friend and fellow-worker, M. THURET, of Antibes.

ENFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. - The annual exhibition of this Society will take place on Wednesday, July 8, in the grounds of Chase Side House. Among the special prizes cffered for competition on this occasion, is a series of three for the best Short Essay on the structural or other peculiarities of any plant, illustrated by living specimens, which must be contained on two sides of a sheet of letter-paper; the size of the pot in which the plant is exhibited is limited to that known as No. 48. This is a novel step, and one likely to prove instructive to visitors and exhibitors alike. How and by whom the prizes will be awarded is not stated; probably it will fall to the lot of the judges who will be engaged to make the awards.

M. P. E. DE PUYDT.-From Brussels we learn of the death, at Mons, on May 20, of this well-known horticultural writer. M. DE PUYDT was born in 1810, and at an early age devoted himself to the study of stove plants, and especially of Orchids, of which plants he was one of the first cultivators in Belgium. He was Secretary of the Royal Horticul tural Society of Mons for sixty years, and in spite of his advanced age, still laboured in its interest; indeed, he may be said to have died in harness, since

only five days before his death an article from his pen appeared in the Journal des Orchidées. He was a prolific writer in the Belgian horticultural periodicals, and was also the author of separate treatises on the culture of greenhouse plants, of stove plants, and of Orchids-works which are constantly referred to by practitioners. Many other contributions to literary and economic subjects issued from his pen, and are mostly distinguished by elegance of style, accuracy, and clearness of thought. Personally, his modesty and willingness to assist his fellows endeared him to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

"KEW BULLETIN."-The second Appendix for 1891 comprises a list of all the plants introduced to our gardens in 1890. The list is most valuable, as comprising in a small compass the plants mentioned at intervals in the various horticultural journals. In future issues a uniform mode of spelling of personal names might advantageously be adopted. It is difficult to see why Cattleya ballantiniana should be so written, while Clematis Stanleyi has its specific name written with a capital. There are many such instances, which must prove embarrassing to the gardener.

COVENT GARDen Market.-Among the plants now to be found in quantity in the market worthy of note, are Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora and Saxifraga pyramidalis-it is a wonder why the latter does not become a more general favourite with gardeners, as it has a good many qualities to recommend it. There are plenty of hardy cut flowers, but very few choice kinds. The Orchids are represented by Cattleya labiata, Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, Oncidium flexuosum, and a few others. Among the Roses, William Allan Richardson is still a great favourite. There is a good show of Gladiolus The Bride, Tree Carnations, and others; also a few Spanish Iris. The bulk of the fruit is foreign. A few English Peaches have put in their appearance for the first time; a few Plums also may be seen. Strawberries, Cherries, Melons, and Apricots, seem to be getting plentiful. Among the vegetables there is nothing very special. The French Beans and Peas are coming in.

THE NARCISSUS FLY.—On reading a paragraph that has gone the round of the press relating to the discovery" of the mischief done by this insect in the Scilly Isles, what we are tempted to ask is, whether Queen ANNE is really dead? The creature-we mean the fly-has been so often described and figured in our columns from year to year, that we had supposed all Narcissus growers were familiar with the facts, but the people who really read seem to be relatively few even now.

VARIEGATED ROSE.-Messrs. HANNAFORD & Son, of Teignmouth, send us leaves of a Rose of the type of Charles Lefebvre, beautifully blotched with gold, and the younger ones flushed with bronze and crimson. Messrs. HANNAFORD say that the variegation has proved constant for the last four years, and that being the case, the Rose appears to us well worth propagating as a variation.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.- Les Cypripediums, par ANGIOLI PUCCI, Florence, published by L. NICCOLAI; apparently a valuable descriptive list, to which we shall refer on another occasion.

HOME CORRESPONDENCE.

THE FROSTS IN MID-KENT.-With the delightfully hot days of the 11th, 12th, and 13th of May, many gardeners in this locality had come to the conclusion that at last spring had arrived (and certainly it is not to be wondered at, when one saw the rapid strides vegetation made), and also that our troubles were over as regards frost; "but, oh, dear no," for during the night of the 16th, "he" comes by way of a parting grip with 6°. A great deal of the Apple bloom, especially upon trees from 2 to 6 feet high, was very much injured, others at a greater height appeared

not to be so much hurt; but as we had such a very large quantity of blossom, I trust there is more than sufficient left unhurt to produce a good crop. Amongst the many other things that have more or less suffered, are Asparagus, Peas, William the First, worse than any other; Strawberries-all the blooms that were expanded, also Gooseberries that were exposed, and Red and Black Curiants. Singular to say, the Horse Chestnuts upon the lawn showed no injury. At the present it is difficult to say what will be the effect upon Piums and Pears, but considering they were so well-clothed with foliage, I hope the injury will be slight. A Nectarine upon a west wall which had set its fruit, shows upon examination to have a large quantity of its fruit touched. We had ice upon our tanks as thick as a penny-piece. G. Woodward, Barham Court, Maidstone, May 19.

WEATHER NOTES.-It is rather strange that there should be such a wide difference in the readings of the thermometer on a certain day in two places not far distant from each other. I note it is said in the Gardeners' Chronicle, p. 646, that the temperature in the shade, during the early part of the third week of May, reached 78° at Southampton, while at this place, which is distant but 12 miles, in a straight line, we registered at the same time 86° in the shade, which is exceptionally warm for the time of year. What a change was that which took place in five days afterwards, when the thermometer went down to 25°, on Sunday morning, a difference in the temperature of 61° Nearly enough to check any kind of vegetation, one would think. We experienced exactly the same amount of frost as Mr. Rogers records as having occurred at Southampton. This garden is situated on a high and breezy hill, at a greater altitude than Red Lodge Nursery, I should say. In this neighbourhood, the frost was felt very severely, and all the crops, which others appear to have lost, are lost also in this neighbourhood. Perhaps the most striking result of the cold is seen in some plantations of Larch, the trees resembling in colour what one expects to find in October, when they have assumed their autumn tints. E. Molyneux, Hants.

POLYANTHUSES.-I read with pleasure that Polyanthuses are utilised materially this year for the decoration of the flower beds in the London parks. Better late than never, but I have often urged that could such masses of them be displayed in the London parks as we have here every season, thousands of lovers of flowers would be enraptured. Judging by what I saw of Polyanthuses in St. James's Park last year, I thought that, arising from soil or smoke, or some other cause, Londoners did not see these beautiful flowers in all that glory and richness which we see them in here. Perhaps they are better in Hyde Park; I hope so, for the sake of the flowers. Really, we have these spring flowers at their best this year just about a month later than usual. In some respects the plants have suffered from the long protracted cold, and the umbels do not come up with that same evenness and freedom seen when the season is more really spring-like. All the same, they are wondrously beautiful. Just at the moment the old plants are blooming their best, and are putting out in quantity seedling plants for next spring blooming. The seed being sown in heat in the open ground in August, the little plants have remained densely together in the seed-beds all the winter, and now having long penetrating roots, dibble out in the blooming-ground, with ease and safety. Such plants not only have a marked advantage

over spring-sown seedlings, but they will develop into extra fine plants, each carrying large heads of bloom, very early next season. To get really fine effects from the Polyanthus, it is best to have them, so far as is possible, grouped into colours. The gold - laced forms, and the old garden varieties, are not for a moment worth consideration for decorative purposes, when compared with the superb self and fancy forms, and I presume it is of such mention is made as being found in Hyde Park. It is very easy where seed is of no consequence, to go over the seedling plants as they show bloom, and lift and block them into at least a dozen diverse colours. Some of these colours come freely enough; thus, we may always rely upon plenty of whites, sulphurs, and yellows. These latter especially are both abundant, wondrously free, and robust indeed, seem to almost excel all others; reds, crimsons, and purples, are also fairly plentiful, but with alternating shades, so that it is not so easy to get them into clearly-defined blotches of colour,

except by plant propagation. Such colours as salmon, -a lovely hue indeed in a mass, especially on a hose-and-hose variety; buff and brown, although individually not so attractive, are very effective indeed when seen in large clumps. Some of these colours, not acceptable to the eye closely, are very striking when seen at remote distances. Lilac and manve tints are also effective, and merit special selection. I think it is possible to secure fixed colours in the Polyanthus from seed, but only where the colours were when in bloom, well assorted, and divided from each other by long distances. Where it is desirable to keep old plants alive from year to year for bedding or massing, it is needful to sacrifice all the bloom-stems. So soon as the flowers are over, lift the plants, divide them, and replant into fresh, rich holding soil, where they can have ample waterings in hot weather. Failing the waterings, the plants would probably generally fail. Also, where it is needful to rely upon seedling plants, then it is best to sow seed as I do, so that there may be a huge breadth of them to select colours from for filling the beds as needed. Really, the Polyanthus is one of the most glorious of spring bedding plants. A. D.

THE LATE REV. A. RAWSON.-The death of Mr. Rawson deprives me of an occasional correspondent upon matters connected with flowers, whose communications were always pleasant, and never without interest. Of late years he had devoted considerable attention to the Primrose and Polyanthus, had secured very fine strains of each, and had laboured hard for some time past to produce a really blue form of the Primrose. Every year he sent me flowers to mark the stages by which he was advancing towards the attainment of his ideal-this year he was silent. I imagine failing health kept him from his garden, and probably we shall never know what his blue Primroses of 1891 have proved to be. He took a great interest in abnormal forms of the Polyanthus, and every season sent me examples he had raised. He was also labouring to secure a striped Auricula, but had reached only an initial stage. Of late years he had taken a great interest in the Carnation, more especially the yellow-ground varieties, and in the spring of last year he sent me two of his own raising, viz., Lemon Drop and Falbarrow Yellow, the former a very promising flower, the latter failed to bloom. Unfortunately, both went down before the onslaught of the cruel winter of 1890-91. He also raised among other Carnations, Masterpiece, a very good crimson self; and Mary, a useful white self. Mr. Rawg son was a great lover of the Pelargonium, and amonthose he raised, the best are Maid of Kent, a lightfringed, petalled variety, with rose-coloured spots; Creole, a very dark purple; and Darkie, another dark flower, but rather small in size. For a considerable time he devoted his attention to the

raising of a striped variety, and eventually produced Striatum, the lower petals rose, with a dark blotch, the upper petals striped and flaked with crimson. This variety was placed in the hands of Mr. C. Turner, of Slough, for distribution, but proved somewhat inconstant. He also raised a large single white variety of Viola odorata, known as Rawson's white. R. Dean.

LILIES OF THE VALLEY.-Enclosed I send you a few Lilies of the Valley, gathered from my Lily grounds this morning, May 25. The blooms are very late this year, owing to the cold spring, otherwise the plants look stronger and healthier than ever. On the 19th inst. we had a sharp frost, but fortunately the bells were not open, and although the buds were covered with ice, it did not injure them much, as you will see by the flowers sent. T. Jannoch, Dersingham, Norfolk. [A very nice lot of bloom spikes, showing great vigour. ED.]

HARDY GREENS.-1 think it will be wise not to dogmatise too much in reference to the hardihood or otherwise of any particular variety of greens, as conditions of which we have little knowledge operate to preserve or destroy. I hear one gardener say that his Brussels Sprouts stood the test best of all his green stuff; another close by, and apparently growing under the self-same conditions, will say just the reverse. Within a few hundred yards of where I live was as promising a piece of Brussels Sprouts as I ever saw-in extent about 2 acres, and not a plant survived, though they were growing in a sheltered spot, and in a rather light and warm early gravelly soil; but I have seen a piece of Brussels Sprouts growing in a strong clay that passed through the ordeal much better than might have been supposed. As far as my own observation has gone, plots of winter greens

in some of our allotment gardens stood pretty well, though serious gaps were made in some of them; but in the much more highly-manured market gardens close by, not a plant survived. The late summer and autumn weather was favourable to a strong succulent growth, and the more generously manured the soil, the more succulent was the growth; and it is, perhaps, not to be wondered at that the market garden crops were the worst hit. A great breadth of spring Cabbages put out near here was much injured, and on inspection, I find the young and smaller plants, first pulled from the seed beds, and transplanted to the open, have sustained many losses; the older and scrubbier ones, with thick stems and a somewhat unpromising character, that were put out very much later, have certainly done the best, and I hear the same reliable testimony from other market gardeners. In conversation with our allotment holders, one will assert his Coleworts stood best, another his Kale, another his Savoys, and so on, and it is because of this varied testimony that I hesitate to dogmatise about the hardiness of one type over another. Depend upon it, conditions, the operation of which we do not perceive, and cannot accurately define, have much to do with the preservation or destruction of crops during frosts of unusual severity. So much has been said and written from time to time as to the hardihood of the Cottagers' Kale, that I thought this variety would stand the test of the winter best of all. Alas! in not a few allotment gardens, it is one of the most punished of our popular vegetables. The circumstances under which the seed crops were grown should be considered as bearing upon the constitutional vigour of the plants, or otherwise R. D.

- It can

ALYSSUM SAXATILE VARIEGATUM. scarcely be said that this Madwort shows a pleasing combination of colour, as all plants with a golden variation in the leaves appear to need flowers of a different colour. I have noticed the same in other plants, and do not consider that plants having these characteristics are deserving of much cultivation by gardeners. A.

DORONICUM AUSTRIACUM IN BEDS. - There are few hardy plants which can rival the above in freely producing flowers during the months of April and May, and for this reason it deserves some consideration where spring bedding is carried out, and old-fashioned plants are liked. Clumps planted out at the end of October, should give desirable results in the spring, if they are fairly strong. A thin mulching of sifted decayed leaves will prove of advantage to the plants, when their roots have absorbed much of the goodness from the soil of the bed. It does not take long to obtain a strong stock of this plant, the roots dividing easily and safely. A.

STRAWBERRIES.-The few fruits sent are a fair sample of our favourite, Sir C. Napier. Please picture a house, containing three hundred plants with a heavy crop of fruit, many of which are ripe, and others ripening, all with the berries set well up above the foliage, the latter bent back, and fastened with a hook peg. In my eye, no Orchid-house full of bloom ever had a more pleasing appearance. H. Markham. [Excellent in size and finish, and the flavour very good for the variety. ED.]

THE WEATHER.-The following particulars of the weather may be of interest to your readers :-After a long drought, with white frosts in the morning and continuous cold winds, a sudden change to heat occurred, the thermometer registering 72° in the shade on the 12th and 13th; on the 15th and 16th, thunder with hail, rain, and slight frost; on the 17th the thermometer fell to 26°, or 6° of frost, showers of hail, rain and snow-at night the thermometer fell to freezing point, remaining so all night. Potatos, well earthed, are much cut; Peas were podding; Broad Beans in full bloom; French Beans were breaking through the ground-also Scarlet Runners; all tender plants are cut; Gooseberries and Black Currants are all falling off with the slightest touch. The damage cannot at present be estimated, as the Apples, Pears, and some of the Plums were in full bloom, but I may be enabled to give more particulars later on. I may also state that we registered 6° of frost on three different times in April-on 1st, 13th, and 18th. We look due south, situated on a hill, on a dry, light loam, over Kentish Ragstone, and wellsheltered by forest trees; before the frost we had to water our early Peas and Strawberries on south borders. W. Divers, Wieston House, Maidstone.

ROYAL

SOCIETIES.

HORTICULTURAL.

Show in the Temple Gardens. MAY 29 AND 30.-Great expectations had been formed as to this show, and we are bound to say they have been amply realised. The weather was not quite so kind as it might have been, but, on the other hand, it might have been much worse; whilst as for the show it could hardly have been better under the circumstances, unless in the matter of arrangement. A very large attendance was present to greet H.R.H. the Princess Christian, who opened the Show at 3 P.M. Some general remarks on the Show are given in another column. The following details are as full as the time at our disposal permits:

Amateurs.

ORCHIDS, &C.-The groups exhibited in the amateurs' section were of the most meritorious description, well arranged and replete with the rarest and choicest species and varieties. The first in order on entering the large tent was from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Burford Lodge, Dorking (grower, Mr. White). It contained amongst rare plants, Cypripedium picturatum, a C. Spicerianum and C. barbatum hybrid; C. Stonei grande, with four grand flowers; C. caudatum Wallisii, the lovely light form; C. grande atratum, a dark-coloured variety of this garden hybrid; C. Fraseri, with a fine dark coloured slipper raised between C. barbatum and C. hirsutissimum; a lovely plant of Cattleya Mossia, Wagner's variety; Cattleya Schroderæ, with eighteen grand flowers.

Beside these were many fine forms of C. Mossiæ in large well-grouped specimens; Cattleya Mendeli, with a finely-frilled, violet-crimson lip; an immense spike of Cypripedium Rothschildianum, near to a handsome specimen of Cypripedium super

ciliare.

Lælia purpurata was present in beautiful varieties, ranging from the soft-toned variety Russelliana to the richly tinted Bryceana. The Masdevallias gave a richness of colour to the whole. There were the deep crimson Bull's-blood of collectors; M. sanguinea, and other fine varieties of M. Harryana, and amongst them the vivid red-flowered variety M. H. miniata, a very lovely thing; Miltonia vexillaria, Fairy Queen, almost pure white, is a very pretty variety of this favourite species; Maxillaria Sanderiana, with the darkest of maroon blotches; with other fine species and varieties too numerous to mention, made up the group.

The next group in order was that from Baron Schroder's garden, The Dell, Egham (gr., Mr. Ballantine), and a magnificent group it was, and well maintained the reputation of this famous collection. Passing down the group, the first object of interest was the Dell variety of Odontoglossum excellens, a clear primrose-yellow, richly blotched and spotted; O. Pescatorei Veitchianum, with two well-flowered spikes; this is remarkable, and by far the best of the spotted forms; then an O. Wilckeanum, with fortyseven large flowers on its branched spike. There were many fine varieties of O. crispum, the heavilyblotched Bonnyanum being conspicuous; the varieties of O. triumphans were also very fine. A charming spike of the beautiful white variety of Aerides Fieldingi made a very lovely addition to the group; Miltonia vexillaria in variety was found, from the white-tipped M. v. Cobbiana, to the deepest rose-coloured forms, all being conspicuously large and well-flowered specimens, the variety M. v. radiata being the most striking. The background of the group was furnished with magnificent specimens, including some of Cattleya Skinneri, with thirty-nine spikes, on which were 250 flowers; Lælia purpurata, with twenty-one flowers, another with twenty-seven; Cypripedium grande, with seven spikes; a Masdevallia Veitchiana, in a 7-inch pot, with twenty-seven flowers. The hybrid Cypripedium superciliare had eight fine flowers; C. Lawrenceanum, so rich in colour; the long-tailed C. caudatum, a nice example of C. porphyrochlamys, C. Dayanum, C. bellatulum, very fine; Cattleya Mendelii, Blunt's variety, with six lovely white flowers. Other richly coloured forms of Mendeli were conspicuous.

Of the green and black-flowered Coelogyne pandurata there was a spike with seven flowers; Vanda cærulescens Boxalli, a gem of the purest water, with two fine spikes.

From T. B. Haywood, Esq., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate (gr., Mr. C. J. Salter), came an elegant

group of considerable extent. It was composed principally of well grown examples of Odontoglossum crispum, richly coloured varieties of Masdevallia Harryana and M. Veitchii, Odontoglossum Pescatorei, with many branched spikes; Dendrobium chrysotoxum, rich yellow; numerous well grown plants of Miltonia vexillaria, Cypripediums, &c. The plants were well arranged over a base of Adiantum cuneatum. A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Car shalton (gr., Mr. G. W. Cummins), sent a very nice group, it was not of large extent, but the plants bore evidence of good cultivation. It was com posed principally of richly coloured varieties of Cattleya Mossiæ, the pale rose-tinted variety, the sepals and petals almost white, with just a suspicion of rose; the variety Studleyana, almost white, but not the best form. Mr. Smee's variety had eighteen large broad-petalled flowers of a charming rose tint, forming a grand specimen. C. Mendeli Hackbridgensis is unique in its richly coloured labellum, and broad purplish stripe on the petals. The variety Alfred Smee had four distinct flowers. The Hackbridge variety of Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, also shown, is the richest coloured variety yet seen. A few Odontoglossums and Masdevallias made an excellent finish to the group.

There was sent an extensive group from the gardens of his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim, Woodstock (gr., Mr. T. Whillans). The centre plant was a very handsome specimen of Cymbidium Lowianum, a fine variety, with grand spikes; large handsome specimens of Lælia purpurata in excellent variety; Cattleya Lawrenceana, C. Mendeli, and other fine Orchids well arranged, and the groups margined with plants of Adiantum cuneatum. A small but select group was sent by F. Wigan, Esq, Clare Lawn, East Sheen (gr., Mr. W. H. Young); in it were well grown Vanda teres, V. suavis with two spikes; Oncidium Marshallianum with a very handsome spike; Cypripedium Curtisii in two fine varieties, C. ciliolare, C. Stonei, and C. lævigatum, and Cattleya Mendeli a well grown example; the whole well arranged with Adiantum.

From Malcolm S. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill, Surrey, was sent a meritorious group, consisting of Cypripedium Druryrii, with four of its quaint flowers; C. Lowii, with two handsome spikes, and a good C. selligerum, Epidendrum vitellinum majus, with six handsome spikes; a nice pair of the pretty little Leptotes bicolor, Oncidium serratum and O. crispum, besides two fine Oncidiums, examples of good culture.

From Messrs. de Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park, Acton (gr., Mr. G. Reynolds), a group was sent, which consisted of entirely well-flowered examples of Vanda teres, arranged over a groundwork of pretty Palms and Ferns. Mrs. Arbuthnot, Bridgend

Place, Bexley (gr., Mr. J. Mitchell), sent a remarkably good group, in the centre of which was a conspicuous example of Sobralia macrantha, a handsome specimen of Anthurium Scherzerianum; the background was of Lælia purpurata and Cattleya Mendeli, in well grown plants of good varieties; Cypripedium caudatum; Miltonia vexillaria magnifica, and many other fine things, very creditable indeed to the cultivator.

General S. Berkeley, Bitterne (gr., Mr. James Godfrey), sent a choice little group of Phalanopsis of the speciosa and Luddemanniana group princi pally, with a few plants of the lovely white P. tetraspis. Mr. G. Burnett, 17, Paget Road, Stoke Newington, sent plants of Lælia purpurata in large well grown specimens.

Cut Orchids came from T. Statter, Esq, Stand Hall, Whitefield, and were very meretorious. They consisted of remarkably fine Cattleyas.

A group of foliage plants, Lælias, and Cattleyas came from Mr. F. Darnell, Esq., Stamford Hill (gr., Mr. G. Elliot). It was nicely arranged, and the plants were clean, and examples of good cultivation.

Nurserymen.

Orchids, &c.-The tent set apart for trade exhibitors of Orchids was filled to overflowing. Messrs. F. Sander & Co. arranged a remarkable group, the whole length of the tent, and occupied 100 feet run of tabling. The group was noteworthy, alike for the high quality of the exhibits, and its artistic arrangement. The background was formed of graceful Palms, and a large number of well-grown plants of Odontoglossum citrosmum in baskets, the spikes depending therefrom in a natural manner. At one end of the collection was a group of specimen plants of Cymbidium Lowianum, the spikes arching, and without any artificial support; the centre plant of this