132 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ Anguet 18, 1863. 



EOYAL HOliTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



AnGUST 11th. 

 Floral Committee. — A meeting of this Committee was 

 held in the Society's gardens at Chiswick. A large number 

 of the members attended to inspect the various bedding-out 

 .plants which, by the courtesy of several mu'serymen, were 

 .sent for probation. A iirst-cUiss certificate was unanbnously 

 awarded to a seedling scarlet Pelargonium brought by Mr. 

 <i. Smith, Hornsey Road. This is one of the finest varieties 

 yet raised, producing large massive trusses with bright 

 scarlet salmon-shaded flowers, over which a soft jjurplish tint 

 is occasionally visible. It will make a fii'st-rate pot plant. 



Certificates are not awarded by the Committee to plants 

 grown in the gardens ; but their merits are recognised by 

 marks, one denoting commendation ; two marks, second- 

 •elass certificate ; three marks, fu'st-class certificate. Soai-let 

 Pelargonium Koi d'ltahe, presented by Messrs. Low, a light 

 rosy scai'let, received three marks ; Pelargonium Cheshii'e 

 Hero, orange scai-let, two marks ; Pelargonium Vvdcan, a 

 darker shade of the same colour fi-om Mr. Wills, two mai-ks. 

 The class of Nosegays, so useful for bedding purposes, and 

 producing great effect ii'om mass of colouring, were cai-efuUy 

 examined. Stella, the brightest scarlet, so well known 

 for its large compact trusses, had three marks ; Lord Pal- 

 merston, the same as Dwarf Crimson Nosegay, one mark ; 

 MeiTimac, dwarf habit, bright cerise, two marks. 



Lobelia Paxtoni (Downie, Lail-d, & Laing), a very distinct 

 nad beautiful variety, white ground, margined with light 

 !)lue, received three marks ; Lobelia speciosa alba (Carter), 

 a maai'ly white variety, two marks ; Tropesolum dwarf. King 

 of Tom Thumbs, a very bright scarlet (Carter), one mark. 



"Verbena General Jackson, two marks; Verbena Rugby 

 (i\Ii'. WiUs), two mai'ks ; Verbenas Comte Bernard Lechi, 

 one mark ; Glolre de Cure, two marks ; Madame Montigny, 

 two marks. There were many other promising varieties not 

 iu condition to be noticed. 



Among the annuals Athanasia annua, not a new plant, 

 noticed lor its bright tufts of yellow flowers, with narrow 

 foliage resembling the Seneeios, three marks ; a very useful 

 annual continuing iu flower till very late in the season. 

 Helianthus argyropliyUus, a single-flowering jSunflower, with 

 white hoary foliage which makes the plant very conspicuous 

 at a distance, especially when waving in the wind ; a very 

 •X'namental shrubbery plant, one mark. A collection of 

 mixed dwarf Leptosiplions fi'om Messrs. Carter were much 

 admired ; also Helipterum Saudfordii, a plant producing 

 everlasting flowei's, which was awarded a first-class certifi- 

 cate at the July meeting. 



The Antirrhinums, and Pentstemons, and Pliloxes were 

 received so late in the season that they were not in condition 

 for examination. The Hollyhocks were scarcely sufficiently 

 in flower, and wUl be visited again. 



The following among the collection were noticed and 

 juarked : — Mrs. Oakes, 1 ; Alice, 1 ; Beaiity of Dysart, 1 ; 

 Violette, 1 ; Miss Nightingale, 1 ; Flora Macdonald, 2 ; 

 Lady Dacre, 1 ; Vesper Bell, 1 ; Dluminator, 2 ; Gem of 

 Yellows, 2 ; W. F. Edgar, 1 ; St. Clair, I ; Purple Prince, 2 ; 

 Mr. B. Cochrane, 2 ; Golden Fleece, 1 ; Dulcis, 2. 



The Committee were pleased to find that varieties among 

 the various classes of scarlet and variegated Pelargoniums 

 which they had on previous occasions examined still main- 

 tained their character, and there appeared no reason why 

 any former decisions shoidd be reversed. 



Among the Scarlet section and its vai'ious shades of colour, 

 Fiancjois Chardin, Little Major, Herald of Spring, Adonis, 

 Lady Eokeby, Lord John Russell, Paul I'Abbe, Prince of 

 Hesse, Spitiu-e, Vivid, Monsieur Martin. Attraction, Sheen 

 Rival were specially noticed ; among the Variegated section, 

 Flower of Spring, Fau'y, Biu'ning Bush, Fontainbleau, 

 Mrs. Lennox, Koh-i-noor, Mary EUen, Meteor, Jane, Annie, 

 Venus, Variegated Nosegay, Pictiu'atum, Argus, were much 

 admired : and in the Golden Variety section Mrs. Pollock, 

 •Sunset, Golden Chain, and Golden Harkaway. 



There was a unanimous feeling of regret expressed by the 

 Committee present that nothing has been clone to induce 

 the Fellows of the Royal Horticultm'al Society to visit the 

 gardens at Chiswiok. Much more information might be 

 ocquu-ed by seeing the plants gTOwing and bedded-out than 

 Sby any description of their merits. Plants specially useful 



for certain purposes and for effect could be selected, and the 

 amateur could choose for himself among the endless varie- 

 ties such as would be suitable for his own purpose and taste. 

 The pyi'amidfd Pear trees alone are woi-th the journey to 

 the gai'dens. Most of them are well covered with fruit, and 

 are most admirably trained. The large vinery is a model 

 of good cidtivation, the Grapes are fast colouring, and the 

 crops very abundant. It woiUd be difficult to find another 

 building in England containing so many varieties of Vines 

 in such excellent condition. Those amateur's who complain 

 that they cannot grow fruit in pots woidd do well to visit 

 the orchard-houses in these gai'dens. They will find speci- 

 mens of Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, Plums, Apricots, Apples, 

 Mulberries, and Cherries, all iu fuU beai-ing, the plants in 

 robust health. 



Alas ! that the poor Chisivick Gardens should be so de- 

 spised and forsaken when they still manifest such evident 

 proofs of usefidness, and considering the limited number of 

 hands employed, great merit is due to Mr. Eyles and his 

 assistants that so much is done. Oh ! that there might b« 

 one small ray of hope left for the Fellow.s of the Horticul- 

 tural Society, in the true acceptance of the term, that th« 

 ruinous, costly, and most unsatisfactory gardens at South 

 Kensington should be resigned into the hands of Govern- 

 ment, or Commissioners, or whoever would kindly take 

 them, and the true legitimate purposes of the Horticultui-al 

 Society be again resuscitated and brought into full and 

 vigorous action in the old time-honoured gardens, so ad- 

 mu'ably adapted for carrying out its interesting work. 



P.S. — I find in the last Floral Committee's report, th» 

 awards made to Clematis Jaekmanii and Clematis rubro- 

 violacea were omitted. First-class certificates were awarded 

 to both varieties. 



WOEK FOR THE WEEE:. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The destruction of weeds should iilways bo considered an 

 obligation due to the crops as well as the sod, the efficient 

 performance of which is weakened by delay. Basil, to be cut, 

 and also Marjoram, and dried just as it is coming into flower. 

 Cari-ots, make a sowing for eai'ly spring use on a light, dry- 

 lying piece of ground that is only moderately rich. Cauli- 

 jloioers, if seed was not sown last week, it shoidd now b« 

 done, and another sowing should also be made in about a 

 week. In favoiu'able situations the latter will be early 

 enough, no advantage being gained by having the plants 

 very forward before winter. Celery, if it has been well sup- 

 plied with liquid manure, which has been very necessary 

 during such a season of di'ought as the past, some of tho 

 early crops wUl now be sufficiently advanced for earthing-up. 

 This should be performed on a di'y day. Remove all suckers 

 and useless leaves, and tie each plant separately with apiece 

 of matting to prevent the earth fi-om getting into the hearts 

 of the plants. The earthing-up may then be proceeded 

 with in the usual way, taking care to loosen the soil well 

 about the roots of the plants. If they have a good soaking 

 of liquid manure the day previous it wiU be of gi'eat ad- 

 vantage. These remarks wiU, of coiu-se, apply to each crop 

 as it becomes ready for earthing, which should only be done 

 in the case of early and main crops about thi'ee weeks before 

 they are required for use. Dwarf Kidney Beans, these and 

 Scarlet Runners should be kept well gathered, as, if they 

 are allowed to perfect seed, most of the later blossoms -sriU 

 prove abortive. Unless a good supply of rain come shortly 

 watering and surface-stirring must bo followed up amongst 

 aU the growing crops. Endive, make a last sowing for spring 

 use. Continue to transplant from former sowings when 

 the weather is favourable. Letiv.ee, if a sowing of th» 

 various sorts to stand the winter was made during the past 

 week, another good solving should be made in the end of 

 the present one. The former will do for transplanting in 

 the autumn, and the latter may remain in the seed-bed t» 

 be transplanted in the spring. Mushrooms, collect and dry 

 horse-droppings for making a bed. Keep the droppings 

 spread thinly in a di'y airy shed, and turn them frequently, 

 for unless they are woU di'ied it is diflicidt at this season t» 

 prevent the bed heating excessively ; and this should be 

 guarded against, as it exhausts the manure, and then there 



