2SG 



HORTICULTURAL AFFAIRS. 



Lilium aubatum is only just beginning to show its true capabilities. Messrs. 

 Standish and Co., of Ascot, have had a plant in bloom during the past month, with 

 a single stem measuring thirteen feet in height, and bearing upwards of a hundred 

 flowers. At the committee meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, on the 

 17th alt,, Mr. Goode, gardener to the Dowager Lady Ashburnam, Melchet Court, 

 Romney, Hants, exhibited a grand specimen, with ten main stems nine feet high, 

 measuring an inch in diameter at a foot from the surface of the soil, besides several 

 smaller stems, bearing altogether 152 flowers— a wonderful example of cultural 

 skill. 



The Seed Adultebation Bill received the royal assent on the 11th ult., and 

 will come into operation in May, 1870. The promoters are forming an association 

 to carry out its provisions in an effectual manner. 



The Hamburgh International Hobticultueal Exhibition has assumed 

 such colossal proportions as to require an enlargement of the limits assigned to it. 

 The Senate have placed at the disposal of the Exhibition Committee an adjoining 

 meadow, in which a splendid pavilion is erected. The applications for space for 

 stove and greenhouse plants amount to 25,000 square feet, and for coniferous trees 

 GO, 000 square feet. Everything is promised to be in readiness for opening on the 

 2nd inst. 



Victobia Regia. — There is a fine plant of this beautiful lily growing in the 

 Botanic Garden, Ghent. Experiments have been made with a view to ascertain 

 ■what weight a leaf of the plant would support. The leaves were made to bear a 

 weight of 226 kilogrammes, equal to about 500 lb. avoirdupois. This, so far as 

 known, is the greatest trial to which the leaf has been subjected. 



Testimonial to Mr. Barnes, late of Bicton. — We are pleased to announce 

 that it is in contemplation to present this veteran with a testimonial in appreciation 

 of his labours in the advancement of horticultural science. The subscriptions need 

 not be large, and we trust that all who have profited by his example and writings 

 will cheerfully contiibute. The editor of the " Devon Weekly Times," Exeter, has 

 kindly consented to receive subscriptions. 



Vines and Bottom-heat. — Mr. Thomson, of Dalkeith, exhibited, at the 

 Royal Horticultural Society's Exhibition at Manchester, a collection of grapes, to 

 illustrate the effects of bottom-heat to the vines, consisting of examples of White 

 Frontignan, Black Alicante, Royal Muscadine, Muscat of Alexandria, Grizzly 

 Frontio-nan, Chasselas Napoleon, rieeve's Muscadine, and Rivers' Muscadine. All 

 were grown in the same house, from vines planted in May, 1868, and all had been 

 subjected to a bottom-heat varying from 90° to 100 D , except in the case of the 

 Royal Muscadine, which had no bottom-heat. This variety, under equal circum- 

 stances, would have attained maturity two months earlier than the Muscat ; but 

 under the above-mentioned conditions they were not so far advanced as the Muscat 

 grown with the aid of bottom-heat. 



The Royal Hobticultueal Society's Exhibition of Gladioli and Holly- 

 hocks. — Although the prizes were rather small, there was a goodly collection of 

 these beautiful autumn flowers. Grand stands of Gladioli were staged by Messrs. 

 Kelway and Sons, Langport, who took first for tweh'e and twenty-four, with 

 magnificent spikes. Messrs. Bunyard, Ashford, Kent, also put up good stands in 

 the Nurserymen's classes. Mr. Douglas, Lford, Mr. Sladden, Ash, and the Rev. 

 H. Dombrain, were the principal exhibitors in the Amateur classes. The best 

 varieties staged were Marie Dumatorie, S mspareil, Prince of Wales, Picciola, 

 Thomas Moore, Piince Imperial, Meyerbeer, Gipsy Queen, Filicien David, Senator, 

 Thomas Methven, Moliere, Rossini, Apollou, Madame Victor Verdier, Madame 

 Furtado, and Madame Dombrain. Hollyhocks were shown in splendid condition 

 by Mr. W. Chater, Saffion Walden, and Mr. J. J. Chater, Cambridge; the best 

 vaiieties being Acme, Robert Fish, Leah, Triumph, Loid Napier, Perfection, Com- 

 petitor, Carus Chater, Peri, Ariadne, King, Enchantress, Goldfinder, Hercules, Rosa 

 Mundi, and Nonpareil. 



