244 THE FLOKAL VVOELD AND GAKDEN GUIDE, 



less subject, to the loss of money and time and tlie mibapproi^riation of the 

 land. We say again, buy your seeds of men who are known to he trust- 

 worthy, and be in no haste to catch at a bait, whether it be u fine name 

 or an apparent bargain. 



NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



PoMoroGiCAL SociETT, (Se^;/. 1. — Mr. Hogg in the chair. Various premiums wore 

 offered for special subjects, but they were not all competed for. Prizes were awarded 

 to Mr. Whiting, of the Deepdene, and Mr. Newton, of East Lodge, Enfield. Mr. 

 Whiting's collection comprised Trebbiana and Raisin de Calabre Grapes ; Bellegarde 

 and Noblesse Peaches; Tioktle Ilative and Elruge Nectarines; Belgian Purple, 

 Cooper's large Eed, and Imperial Diadem Plums. Mr. Newton's fronts were Black 

 Hamburg and Morocco Grapes; Grosse Mignonne Peaches ; Violette Hative Necta- 

 rines; AVilliams's Bon Chretien Pears; Kirke's and JeiTerson's Plums ; Bed Quar- 

 rendeu and Kerry Pippin Apples ; and Eed Dutch Currants. Mr. Elvers exhibited 

 some fruits of seedling Peaches, and Mr. Pye exhibited a seedling Peach raised by 

 the late Mr. Holbcrt, of Gloucester. 



On the subject of Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots, Mr. Pye desired to call 

 attention to an old but almost forgotten method, by which he had retarded and pro- 

 tected the blossoms of tlic trees on walls for several years past. About the middle 

 or end of January, he selected the longest of the untrimmed brushwood intended for 

 pea sticks, such as Hazel or Elm ; the tliick end thereof being sharpened the same as 

 if intended for peas ; he had them fixed in the ground in Iront of the trees, about 

 eighteen inches from the bottom of the wall, and leaning against it at top, affording a 

 partial shade to the trees, preventing the blossoms irom expanding too early in 

 spring, and remaining until the fruit begins to swell. Under such treatment the 

 blossom is about three weeks later than if uncovered, and during and after fiowering 

 a slight protection is afforded ; and by these means he had secured this year a fair 

 average crojD, while his neighboiu-s had lost all. When the sticks are taken from the 

 wall they are cut up for pea sticks, so that nothing is lost. This is, of course, a very 

 cheap method, and may be used with a chance of advantage in ordinary seasons ; but 

 it is not to be compared to glass, or a covering fixed on rollers of Hght sheeting, frigi 

 domo, or some similar material, as they not only furnish a more perfect shade or 

 shelter respectively as the case requires, but they admit of full exposure to cold when 

 retarding is desired, and to warm spring sunshine vhen it is beneficial. 



National Dahlia Show, Aston Hall, Biemingham, /S'ej^/. 20. — The following 

 is a correct list of the varieties exhibited in the leadmg winning stands, respecting 

 which we need only remark that the flowers generally were in admirable condition, 

 and the ari-angements in the best possible taste. The nurserymen's classes consisted 

 of 50 and 24 varieties, exhibitors in the former not being allowed to show in the 

 latter. In the fifties, the first prize was awarded to Mr. Turner, of Slough, for 

 Commander, Lady Mildmay, Mrs Huntley, Lord Bath, Sir E. Bruce, John Dorey, 

 Lord Palmerston, Pandora, Chan-man, Eosebud, Duchess of Eent, Sir Henry Have- 

 lock, Dr. Gully, Daughter of the Morning, Peerless, Disraeli, Goldfinder, Midnight, 

 Emperor, Flower of the Day, Sir J. Franklin, Sir Charles Napier, Mrs. Church, Mentor, 

 Conqueror, Lord Cardigan, Hon. Mrs. Trotter, Triomjlie de Peeq, Lord Eversley, 

 Miss Pressley, Pluto, Merveille, Eachael Eawlmgs, Eclipse, Lollipop, Touchstone, 

 Sidney Herbert, Beauty, Standard Bearer, Cherub, Pre-eminent, Miss Watts, Per- 

 fection, Lady Taunton, and six seedlings ; 2nd, Mr. Keynes, Salisbury. In 24 varie- 

 ties, the first prize was awarded to Mr. Walker, Thame, Oxon, for Empress, Colonel 

 Windham, Miss Pressley, King, Marmion, Triomphe de Peeq, Sidney Herbert, Chair- 

 man, Miss Chetwode, Sir J. Paxlon, Yeuus, Grand Sultan, Touchstone, Satirist, Mrs. 

 Wheeler, Fanny Keynes, Goldfinder, Admiral Dundas, Annie Eawlings, Hon. Mrs. 

 Trotter, Lollipop ; 2nd, Messrs. Wood and Ingram, Huntingdon. Fancy varieties, 

 24 blooms : IstjMr. Keynes, Mith Baron Alderson, Countess of Derby, Zebra, Charles 

 Perry, Cleopatra. Oliver T«ist, Leopard, Flirt, Triomphe de Eoubaix, Madame Alboni, 

 JFavourite, Marc Antony, Bayadere, Duchess of Kent, Lady Paxton, Conqueror, 

 Sporlsnian, Miss Frampton, Jessie, Pretty Pollj Eev. Joshua Dix; 2nd, Mr. Tui-ner. 



