THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 281 



size to use. Watering and shading must of necessity be attended 

 to, but guard against overdoing either. Plants of the above- 

 mentioned subjects are best kept in a cool, dry, airy house through 

 the winter, with just sufficient heat to keep out the frost and dry up 

 all superfluous moisture in damp weather. Dust the foliage with 

 sulphur immediately mildew makes its appearance, and fumigate 

 with tobacco paper if greenfly or thrips show any signs of infesting 

 the plants. Lobelia speciosa can be raised pretty true from seed, 

 and with careful selection the plants will come so true that it woi-ild 

 require a sharp eye to know whether they had been raised from seed 

 or cuttings. To save seed, pick out about half a dozen plants that 

 combine all the qualities of a good Lobelia, and the produce is always 

 good. The varieties of Speciosa and also of Pumila must be raised 

 from cuttings. If cuttings are scarce, cut a few plants down ; they 

 will soon commence to make new growth and furnish an abundance 

 of cuttings. To avoid interfering with the arrangements in the 

 flower garden, a few plants of each kind should be planted in a shady 

 corner, and then there will be no difficulty in the matter. A close 

 observance of the few rules here laid down, in combination with an 

 ordinary amount of common sense, will not fail to produce the most 

 satisfactory result, and it will be entirely the cultivator's own fault if 

 he fails to realize his highest anticipations. 



HORTICULTURAL NOTES. 



|g " ' gS' n S?^M HE intense heat with which the early part of the August 

 Si& Rifl was characterized has had a most beneficial effect upon 

 js|ta W&jk the crops of the farm and the garden with but few 

 BilJIsyl exce ptions, and lias been most favourable to the in- 

 mm gathering of the harvest. 



At page 184, after a wide range of observation, extending over 

 almost all parts of the country, I expressed an opinion to the effect 

 that there would be fair crops of almost all kinds of fruit, and I am 

 glad to find that my anticipations have been fully realized. Some 

 crops in certain districts have failed altogether, and the same crops 

 in others have been altogether as good. 



Since my last notes no exhibitions of importance have been held 

 in the metropolis, excepting the supplementary Rose Show, which 

 was in every way a grand success. Several important exhibitions 

 have been held in the provinces, notably those at Glastonbury and 

 Taunton, two important districts in the west of England, and it is 

 impossible to give an adequate idea of the enthusiasm which per- 

 vaded all classes in the districts on the show-days ; and the display 

 of horticultural produce was grand in the extreme. Particulars of 

 either of these exhibitions would be out of place here, but it may be 

 said with justice that each and all of the exhibitors acquitted them- 

 selves well. In the list of prize-takers the name of a respected and 

 valuable contributor to the Floral World, Mr. J. "W. Silver, head 

 gardener to J. B. Saunders, Esq., of Taunton, was conspicuous by 

 reason of its appearing against the first prize in so many classes 



