OCTOBLR. 239 



Fanny Keynes (Keynes), pale yellow, tipped with rosy-purple, large, 

 and of fine form. Rachel Rawlinga (Keynes), peach-lilac of a very 

 delicate shade, and exquisite in form; Ringleader (Holmes), a deep 

 ruhy rose of the finest symmetry; Slough Beauty (Bragg), blush- 

 white, strongly tipped with crimson ; full size, good outline, but 

 centre a little confused. There were several good fancy seedlings 

 which also had certificates : Admiration (Green), white-edged with 

 scarlet, is very attractive, colour well distributed, flower of full size. 

 Leader (Keynes), a heavy striped flower, full, of good size and shape; 

 Topsy (Keynes), white and purple, and an improvement on Elegan- 

 tissima; Marvel (Pope), orange, striped, and mottled with red, novel. 

 There were some other promising flowers, but which were not in con- 

 dition on the day. We shall describe the Dahlias more fully on a fu- 

 ture occasion. Fair Rosamond and Incomparable Verbenas were fair 

 flowers ; as were also Forget-me-not, Angelina, Triumph, Electra, and 

 Nobilissima, from Mr. Smith of Hornsey. Hollyhocks were confined 

 to a stand of seedlings from Messrs. Paul, who had beautiful exam- 

 ples of the following, viz. Conspicua improved, Zenobia, Laura, Flam- 

 beau, Pink Model, Sir R. Peel, Lizzie, Professor Dick, White Globe, 

 and one or two others. Why this beautiful flower was not better 

 represented we do not understand, as the Hollyhock was very generally 

 in bloom. 12 spikes are too many; 8 are ample, and 6 for amateurs, 

 with a class for cut blooms: this would insure a good competition. 



VALUE OF GOOD DRAINAGE. 



In directing attention to the subject of drainage, which is one of the 

 most important a gardener has to deal with, it may be observed, that 

 its advantages are not generally appreciated, nor the manner in 

 which it acts generally understood. True, people know that, if it is 

 efficient, it will remove all superfluous water; but all do not recollect 

 that by the water being removed the earth is rendered permeable to 

 air. But air performs an active part in the decomposition of whatever 

 fertilising matters may be in the soil, and forms in itself an impor- 

 tant element in the food of plants ; hence, even if drainage had no 

 other advantages than this, its importance could not possibly be over- 

 rated. But in addition to the removal of superfluous water by its 

 means, the earth acquires a higher temperature, which is very im- 

 portant, more especially with plants from more genial climes than 

 our own, giving them a better chance of getting their wood well 

 ripened, and consequently rendering them better able to withstand 

 the severity of our winters ; and lastly, if drainage is not attended to 

 where required, all attempts at successful cultivation must necessarily 

 fail. The rootlets of plants have but little power to regulate the quan- 

 tity of water they take up; and therefore in wet places they often im- 

 bibe more than their leaves can elaborate and assimilate, nor can the 

 leaves part with it quick enough by evaporation; hence it remains 

 in the system, producing disease, and often death. Omega. 



