86 • -- THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



A group of Weatherill's hybrid Solanums came from both Mr 

 Weatherill of Hornsey and Mr B. S. Williams of Holloway. They 

 are such marked improvements on the old forms of S, pseudo-capsicum 

 and S. capsicastrum, that they will be certain to be much sought after 

 for winter decoration of houses. In style of growth, as well as in 

 shape of berry, they also vary ; so there is not such a sameness about 

 them as might be supposed. It will be remembered that last year 

 some first-class certificates were awarded to three or four distinct 

 types. A first-class certificate was awarded to Mr Weatherill for one 

 of the finest forms of a pale-coloured single Primula sinensis fimbriata 

 ever seen, and named Wonderful. The flowers were white, distinctly 

 edged, and suffused with rose, and had a showy yellow centre ; the 

 pips were astonishingly large, measuring nearly 2h inches in diameter, 

 and the texture unusually stout. It will form a fine strain if it can 

 be perpetuated by seed. R. D. 



GARDEN REQUISITES. 



standen's gardener's and amateur's friend, and fowler's 



insecticide. 



In the columns of a garden periodical, that, like the * Gardener,' circu- 

 lates so extensively among the amateur element of horticulture, there 

 is a necessity for information in regard to the merits or demerits of 

 many of those things that, comprehended under the general term 

 "garden requisites," are pressed upon the notice of the amateur horti- 

 culturists by those whose business it is to vend them. At the head of 

 this paper I have placed two of these things, the wliich I have tried for 

 some time past, and to the excellence of both of which I can speak in 

 terms of unqualified approval. The first named is a patent manure, 

 manufactured by Mr B. Standen of East Greenwich, and sold in can- 

 isters in a pulverised form. It is so issued as that it can be adapted 

 both to the requirements of hard-wooded and soft-wooded plants in 

 pots ; while it is so easy of application as to admit of its being done with, 

 the greatest facility. My use of it has been confined to soft-wooded 

 plants, and succulent things, like Hyacinths, I^arcissi, &c., in pots, and 

 to many things in the open ground, and especially Roses. In apply- 

 ing it to plants in pots, it is simply necessary to lay a little of the 

 powder on the surface of the soil, allowing it to be washed into it 

 when water is applied in the ordinary form. It should not touch the 

 foliage, as it would appear to be capable of doing it injury. Hya- 

 cinths and other bulbs, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Calceolarias, have 

 become wonderfully invigorated under its influence — affecting foliage 



