Ap.-U 11, 1372. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTIGULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



307 



<lnoe(l to Tisit the locality and inspect the soils from whence 

 they came ; and finding some land of precisely similar character 

 in the immediate neighbourhood, he purchased it, and estab- 

 lished the above-named vineyard. It occupies nearly 4 acres, and 

 is covered with 50,000 feet of glass, has mUes of hot-wattr piping 

 and other necessary appliances, and is calculated to produce 

 tons of Grapes, hundred^ of Pine Apples, and thousands of pot 

 Vines annually. When selected this land was devoted to com- 

 mon farming purposes ; but it has ah-eady produced Grapes 

 which have competed successfully in London and Paris; thus 

 showing that the soil itself contains some inherent qualities 

 which no art can rival. Ajyropos to Grape-growing, I have seen 

 man}' evidences that a water-bearing substratum within reach of 

 the Vine roots is a soui-ce of constant fertility, providing the 

 water belongs to a running stream, and is not stagnant. The 

 productiveness of the great Black Hamburgh at Hampton Coirrt 

 Js no doubt due to the Thames. On the banis of the Slour, in 

 Kent, I have seen the same results ; and perhaps Mr. Thomson's 

 success may also, in some measure, be due to his proximity to 

 the Tweed. The geology of gardening is thus shown to be 

 worthy of study, especially in the formation of new grounds. In 

 a few cases indigenous plants may be some indication as to what 

 species to grow ; but experience is the only sure guide. 



From experience we leam that fruit may be grown on some 

 soils if grafted on to an indigenous tree, quite different to what 

 it would have grown on its own stem, and the prodiice of trees 

 on some soils is quite different to what it is on others. In the 

 cider countries quite different cider is made from Apples of the 

 same kind grown on different parts of the same farm, showing 

 the predominating infiueuce of soil. Even the market-garden 

 grounds around London, although apparently so similar, have 

 all their specialities. Fulham and Isleworth are famed for the 

 finest fruit — Asparagus and Rhubarb, interspersed with count- 

 less Moss Roses and flowering plants. Bermondsey andDeptford 

 fire noted for Sea-kale and Celery ; Barking for Rhubarb, early 

 Cabbages, Onions, and Potatoes ; and all other districts through- 

 -out the country have some specific natural properties which no 

 -art can impart. 



(To be eontinueLl.) 



EOYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S SPEING SHOW. 



Apbil 10th. 

 The second spring Show of this Society, held in the same place 

 -as the previous one, without presenting anything remarkable for 

 excellence of culture or striking for novelty, was, nevertheless, 

 a. fair display, and it had the advantage of being held on a bright 

 sunshiny day, when people are disposed to look over little short- 

 comings which in weather less genial would force themselves on 

 attention. For twelve miscellaneous plants in liower, Mr. Ward, 

 ■gardener to F. G. Wilkins, Esq., Leyton, was first with very good 

 specimens of Loirise Margottin white Azalea, 4 feet higli, and 

 fuUy 3 feet in diameter, a fine mass of blossom; Genethylli.5 

 Hookeriana, excellent in size and bloom ; Dendi-obium Parishii, on 

 a block, quite a massof flowers ; good examples of Acrophyllum 

 venosum, Odontoglossum Hallii, Pescatorei, and hystrix, and 

 the showy yellow Azalea sinensis very well gro^m. Mr. G. 

 Wheeler, gardener to Sir F. H. Goldsmid, Bart., Regent's Park, 

 andMessrs. Lane, of Berkhampstead, took the other two prizes. 



Messrs. Lane and Mr. Wheeler also exhibited groups of six 

 forced hardy shrubs and six Deutzias, the former taking first 

 prizes, and a similar award was made to them for Chinese 

 Azaleas, Mi'. Wheeler being second with plants not yet in such 

 fuU bloom. Messrs. Lane also contributed a capital group of 

 twelve Rhododendrons, and Mr. Ware, of Tottenham, one of 

 hardy herbaceous plants, both receiving first prizes ; and for 

 the latter Mr. Wheeler was second. Groups of nine Cinerarias 

 <;ame from Mr. James, gardener to W. F. Watson, Esq., Isle- 

 worth ; Mr. Marcham, gardener to E. Oates, Esq., Iver; and 

 Messrs. Dobson, Isleworth. These were nearly the same as 

 those shown at Kensington in the previous week, as also the 

 Cyclamens ; Mr. Goddard, gardener to H. Little, Esq., Twick- 

 enham, and Mr. Clarke of the same place, being respectively 

 first and second. Excellent collections likewise came from the 

 same exhibitors. The only group of Amaryllis was shown by 

 Mr. Baxter, gardener to C. Kieser, Esq., Broxbourue, the varie 

 ties in that and the collection from the same exhibitor were 

 those shown at Kensington. 



Of miscellaneous subjects, Mr. Ware sent a collection of 

 spring-flowering plants, a stand of Cloth of Gold Pansy, one of 

 forcing Pinks, and a collection of seedling Alpine Auriculas ; 

 Messrs. RoUisson, Mignonette and seedling Alpine Auriculas ; 

 Messrs. Lane, Rhododendrons in fine bloom ; Mr. Baxter, a 

 collection of Roses and Azaleas ; Mr. William Paul, a splendid 

 group of Roses in pots, including Princess Beatrice, which re- 

 ceived a floral certificate, and well it desei-ved it, being very 

 large, full, and beautiful in colour' ; Mr. James, a stand of 

 Pansies and a collection of Auriculas ; and Mr. Needle, gardener 

 to the Comte de Paris, York House, 'Twickenham, his collection 

 of Ophi-ys and Orchis. 



M. Louis Van Houtte, Ghent, sent a fine group of seedling 

 Azaleas, of which the following had certificates — viz., Madame 

 I. Lefebvre, semi-double, deep salmon red ; President de Ghel- 

 linck de Walle, large deep i)ink, with cinnamon bro^N'n blotches 

 in the upx^er petals ; Dr. D. Moore, large, Ught rosy crimson, 

 with a purplish shade ; Alice, large, very double, free-flowering, 

 deep rose with crimson blotches ; Comtesse de Beaufoi't, single, 

 deep rose, largely blotched in the upper petals ; John Gould 

 Veitch, single, pale lilac rose bordered with white, the upper 

 petals much spotted with crimson ; and Marquis of Lome, semi- 

 double, orange red, with \'iolet purple blotches. Messrs. Rol- 

 lisson, of Tooting, had a certificate for Erica Neitneriana, with 

 rose and red tubes, and a white mouth, the flowers mostly 

 borne in fours, but sometimes seven or eight on the same pe- 

 duncle, a very pleasing and effective variety. 



KOYAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S 

 BIRMINGHAM SHOW. 

 We have received the schedule of prizes offered at this exhi- 

 bition, which is to be held from the 25th to the 29th of June, 

 and are gratified by finding that it has evidently been prepared 

 with care and consideration, and that many of the prizes are 

 extremely liberal. The sum offered by the Society is iiGGl 18s., 

 by the Local Committee for plants, &c., £801 18s., and for imple- 

 ments, &c., i'105 5s., being a total of ,±'1659 Is. It will thus be 

 seen that the Local Committee have done their duty, and done 

 it well in raising such an amount. We notice that Messrs. 

 Carter, "WTieeler & Son, of Gloucester, Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 

 Mr. Turner, of Slough, and others in the trade offer prizes, but 

 we do not enter into particulars, as the schedule may now be 

 had on application to James Richards, Esq., Royal Horticultural 

 Society, South Kensington, W. ; the Local Honorary Secretary, 

 E. W. Badger, Esq., Midland Counties Herald olfice, Birming- 

 ham ; or the Local Secretary, Mr. Alexander Forrest, 10, Chen-y 

 Street, Birmingham. 



WILD FLOWERS AT ASHWELL, HEETS. 



It was quite refreshing to see, in a recent number of this 

 Journal, a long list of wild flowers which this forward season 

 had enabled " Fbauleim '' to gather in that charming district, 

 Hawkhurst. A more lovely spot does not exist under the face of 

 heaven, nor one where botanical rambles are more enjoyable. 

 " Full many a path I've trod since then. 

 Through pleasure's flow'ry maze, 

 But ne'er could find the bliss again 

 I felt in those sweet days." 



In this more northern countj', Herts, most flowers are at 

 least three weeks later than they are in that more favoured 

 locality of Hawkhm'st. Besides many of those mentioned by 

 your gifted correspondent, I have noticed here the follo-n-iug : — • 

 Marsh Marigold (Galtha palustris) , the Pasque-flower (Anemone 

 Pulsatilla), Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger). Lords and 

 Ladies (Arum maculatum). Wood Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), 

 Sloe or Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Primrose (Primula 

 aeaulis), the Abele tree (Populus alba), the Aspen (Populus 

 tremula), common Box (Buxus sempervirens). 



In giving precedence to the common names of these flowers, 

 I fear I shall be anathematised by more accomplished botanists. 

 But I think it would be well if they were more made use of in 

 a journal intended for general readers, where not one in five 

 hundred fully understands the precise meaniug of scientific 

 names. Indeed, much as I have been accustomed formerly 

 to use the latter, it was not till I had rubbed my eyes and 

 roused my memoiy, that I could recognise my old friend Chick- 

 weed under the elaborate, stifl', and starched Roman toga, 

 SteUaria media, or call up the humble playmate of my child- 

 hood, the Dandelion (with whose hollow stems I have often 

 made many a f ragUe chain) , under that grandiloquent Grecian 

 mantle, Leontodon Taraxacum. 



In giving expression to this opinion, I am well aware that 

 there are many who will think me guilty of the most atrocious 

 act of vandalism in thus wishing to strip their darUng science 

 of halt its regal dignity ; but I take it, the beauty of every 

 study consists in its simplicity, and is, "when unadorned, 

 adorned the most." Many a "pilot who saUs in the ship of 

 icience forgets that he needed a boat to take him on board, 

 and botanists are apt to forget that they had many a rocky 

 path to climb before they reached the temple of their fame. 

 How many a youthful yet intelligent disciple, " pregnant with 

 celestial fire,'"' and aspiring to acquire a knowledge of this 

 fasekiatiiig study, has been confounded and dumbfoundered at 

 the very threshold of his or her inquiries by the perplexing 

 mask and mystic mantle with which the Greek and Latiu 



