JULY. 221 



ments on existing varieties. Mr Dobson had a box of cut blooms : 

 Conqueror, Dido, and Silenus, all which were very rich in colour. 

 Gem of the West (Fuller), a free smooth white ; Laura (Beck), pretty, 

 lively rose, white eye, a very pleasing flower, but curls in the top 

 petals, and is deficient in spot ; Dido (Beck), a very striking flower in 

 colour, rosy orange, with dark top, white eye ; and Lydia (Beck), dark 

 maroon top, with mottled hght bottom petals. Mr. Stone, of Hull, 

 sent some very good-shaped herbaceous Calceolarias, the best of which 

 were Truth, Celestial, Teetotaller, Rising Sun, and Mary Ann. 

 Messrs. E. G. Henderson contributed a group of plants of a mis- 

 cellaneous description, consisting of shrubby Calceolarias, the best of 

 which were Aurora, bright crimson, and Crocea, a pale yellow ; bedding 

 Geraniums, Phlox General Radetzki and ]\Iayi. Mr. George Smith, 

 Hornsey exhibited a box of Verbenas : Islington Rival, Triumph, 

 and Cahban were good, and promise to become bedding varieties ; 

 there were also three blooms of a rich dark seedling Pans}^, Royal 

 Albert (Turner), resembling shot silk, very smooth and distinct. 



There was an excellent display of fruit, which was shown, in the 

 great conservatory. Pine-apples, both Queens and Providences, were 

 abundant ; the best of the former weighed 5 lbs. 1 oz. The Pro^d- 

 dences were not remarkable either for weight or shape. Grapes were 

 for the most part good, the best being from Mr. Frost, of Preston Hall ; 

 and of Peaches and Nectarines there was a great display. Cherries 

 and Strawberries were present in profusion, more especially the latter, 

 of which there were no fewer than 42 exhibitions. Melons were very 

 plentiful, and altogether this department gave, as did indeed the whole 

 exhibition, universal satisfaction. 



ON THE GROWTH OF WINTER CUCUMBERS. 



In order to cut Cucumbers from November to February, nothing 

 more is reriuired than a common pit of ordinary construction, with a 

 heating apparatus of some description. From a pit heated with a flue 

 of the simplest kind, I have had Cucumbers as plentiful and as fine 

 in January as in June. 



The chief difficulty which people experience in the growth of Cucum- 

 bers in winter arises, in my opinion, from one cause — and that is, they 

 generally sow the seed too late ; they rarely sow before August, and 

 oftentimes not till late in that month ; then if the weather in Septem- 

 ber and October be cold and cloudy, it is impossible for the plants to 

 acquire health, vigour, and strength to carry them through the winter. 



Were a person, who intended to exhibit Pelargoniums at any of the 

 shows in JNIay, to begin by cutting back his specimens in August, his 

 chances of success would be about equal to those of the Cucumber 

 grower who sows his seed in August, and expects to have plenty of 

 fruit at Christmas. 



I will briefly describe the method I adopt, and which has always 

 been attended with uniform success. I always sow the seed any time 



