216 



JOURNAL OF HOETIGULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 15, ia«3. 



Phytolacca decandra foliis variegatis, also from Messrs. Hen- 

 derson, received a label of commendation ; Centaurca argentea, 

 a very finely-cut foliaged plant of dwarf habit, suitable for the 

 edging of beds, and superior for the purpose to Centauiea 

 gymnocarpa and Contaurea candidissima, first-class certificate. 



Mr. Salter exhibited a collection of bedding plants, which 

 •were arranged to form a tlower-bed, the background consisting 

 of summer-flowering Pompone Chrysanthemums. The plants 

 used were Centaurea candidissima .and gymnocarpa, Veronica 

 incana, Oxalis rubra, Tisssilago farfara foliis variegatis, and 

 Amaranthus melancholicus. Mr. Salter sent also a plant of 

 Gazania splendens foliis variegatis, adding one more to his 

 extensive and interesting collection of variegated-foliaged plants. 



Mr. Saltmarsh, Chelmsford, sent scarlet Pelargonium Princess 

 Alexandria, deep rose, flowers in a large truss, but not of sufficient 

 quality. Pelargonium Luna, a promising ■\'aTiety, with golden 

 foliage and marked with dark reddish-brown zones. Plants 

 from cuttings will better decide its merits ; it too much resembles 

 Mrs. Jlilford. Pelargoniuni Little Treasure, small zonate foliage, 

 bright scarlet flowers — the specimen exhibited was too old to 

 enable any decision to be arrived at, some portion of the old 

 plant producing very small foliage, while the younger shoots 

 displayed a much more vigorous habit. It should be sent again, 

 and will probably form one of the family of Mr. Cowper and 

 Waltham Pet. 



Ml'. Banks, Sholden Lodge, sent a seedling Verbena Lady 

 Palmerston ; but no advance upon better varieties. 



Messrs. Smith, Dulwich, sent seedling Pelargoniums Ex- 

 cellent, a usefid kind for bedding purposes, a pale rosy salmon ; 

 Silver Chain, a fine white-bordered foliage variety ; Pelargoniimi 

 Favourite, white deep-bordered foliage variety — younger plants 

 of these two promising plants will more fully display their 

 merits ; Pelargonium Peacock, a variegated-foliaged plant. Ane- 

 mone japoniea Honorinc Jobert, a useful hardy border plant, 

 the flowers resembling A. vitifolia — commended. 



Messrs. Carter sent a collection of annuals, consisting of 

 Asters, Marigolds, in all sizes and colours, flelichrysums, and 

 some very fine double Zinnias. 



Messrs. Vcitch sent a beautiful collection of plants, among 

 them three seedling hybrid Orchids, raised by their persevering 

 foreman Mr. Dominy ; Cattleya exoniensis, a very beautiful late- 

 flowering variety with pale bluBh flowers, the lower lip being 

 marked with a deep rosy purple band, which terminates midway 

 on the surface of the lip in a straight line, producing a very 

 singvdar eS'ect— second-class certificate. The other hybrids, 

 picta and hybrida, have been described before. Among the 

 other plants was a fine specimen of Odontoglossum grande 

 •covered with its peculiarly-tinted flowers, two specimens of 

 Lilium auratum, Lilium neilgheriense, Alocasia zebrina, Scia- 

 dopitys verticillata, Bambusa variegata, Dracasna ferrea, &c. 



Mr. Bull, Chelsea, also sent a large collection of interesting 

 plants: — .\diantum cardiochlajna, not a new plant, first-class 

 certificate j Pteris pellucida, a very handsome Fern, first-class 

 •certificate ; three varieties of Caladium ; Schizocasia Portei, a 

 form of Alocasia with a widely jagged cut leaf, which when in 

 better condition will certainly prove a useful and ornamental 

 plant ; Gesnera velutina, with dark refulgent foliage ; Cupressus 

 Barkcri ; Adiantum (Cheilanthes r) radiatum ; Drosera dicho- 

 toma ; Areca species, a verj- handsome Palm -with deeply ribbed 

 foliage, and many others. Mr. BuU sent also six cut specimens 

 of Pentstemons. 



From Messrs. A. Henderson & Co., Pine Apple Place, came a 

 fine specimen of the Cotton-plant with its seed-vessels in all 

 their stages, and when expanded displaying the growth of the 

 valuable article of commerce. 



Mr. Dean, Shipley, sent a fine plant of Cionidium Moorii, a 

 very beautiful Fern — first-class certificate. 



Mr. Standish, Ascot, sent six seedling Gladiolus, four of 

 which received certificates ; Randle Jackson, bright carmine, 

 commended ; Charles Davis, a rosy-tinted scarlet, second-class 

 certificate ; Mrs. Dix, a beautifid white with pale pink blotches 

 on the upper petals, lower petals feathered with bright crimson 

 purple— this wiU prove a first-rate flower^coromended ; Etna, 

 very bright light scarlet, commended. These flowers were 

 exhibited in Mr. Standish's stand of twenty-four varieties. They 

 would have made a better appearance had they been shown 

 singly as seedliugs. We noticed one very fine seedling, Pros- 

 pero in Mr. Sladden's stand of twelve Gladiolus. The Gladioli 

 are not so fine as they were in 1861. Mr. Youell's fine collection 

 was inferior to what we have seen — the individual flowers had 

 not attained their usual size. 



There were no seedling Hollyhocks. The miserable appear- 



ance of stands of single flowers gave everybody the horrors. 

 Wliat is the beauty of the Hollyhock r Its magnificent and 

 graceful spikes of flowers. Wh}-, 'then, deprive this splendid 

 garden ornament of its honours by exhibiting single flowers, 

 which reminded us of the three pips of Auriculas at the Spring 

 Exhibition in the Botanic Gardens, Jlegent's Park, 1862, which 

 brought down such ridicule on the exhibitors r We trust the 

 Hollyhock will be shown in 1884 in all its primitive splendour 

 and grandeur. 



Fruit Committee. — Only a Sub-Committee met on this 

 occasion, consequently no certificates were awarded. The most 

 important object brought forward was a new Grape from Messrs. 

 Lucombe, Pince, & Co., of Exeter, called Mrs. Pince Blaok 

 Muscat GT,ape. The Committee were unanimous in considering 

 it a Grape of great promise ; but, failing in detecting a sufficient 

 muscat flavour, wished to see it again when it could be examined 

 in full Committee. 



From Mr. TElery. Welbeck, came a seedling White Grape 

 raised from the Trobbiano, and said to be earlier than the Blaftk 

 Hamburgh ; also a bunch of Welbeck Black Tripoli, which 

 always coloiu's and is of very fine flavour. It was considered to 

 be the true Black Hamburgh. 



Mr. Bust, gardener to the Right Hon. Lawrence SuUivan, 

 Fulham, had a seedling Peach raised from Late Admirable. 

 The fruit was large, yeUow tinged with orange, but had not 

 an'ived at perfection. 



Mr. Bailey, of Shardeloes, sent a seedling Nectarine called 

 the Shardeloes Nectarine. In shape it resembled the Violette 

 Hative, and in colour was darker than the Elruge. The Com- 

 mittee were of opinion that it was not better than the first- 

 named kind. 



A very good early White Grape of the Sweetwater breed came 

 from Mr. Brown, gardener to Sir C. Knightley, Fawsley Park ; 

 and Mr. Melville, Dahneny Park, sent a new Grape, which was 

 large-berried, grizzly or amber-coloured, very sugary, and rich, 

 but its colour was objected to. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITOHSN GAEDEN. 



The season has been very favourable for operations under 

 this head. Weeds could %vith half the usual trouble have 

 been quite eradicated. Potatoes and other crops are coming 

 ofi' early, so that the process of manuring and trenching 

 may be prosecuted at every favourable opportunity. As a 

 general rule, it is recommended to mark the trenches 4 feet 

 wide to throw up good-sized steep ridges. It is not advis- 

 able, if it can possibly be avoided, to dig the ground in- 

 tended for general cropping one spit deep, even if the soil 

 be shallow and the subsoil ungenial. It is much better to 

 remove the top and to weU break up the bottom of the 

 trenches ; depend upon it these operations pay for a little 

 extra trouble, and now is the time to commence them. 

 Artichokes (Globe), cut ofi' the stems as fast as the heads are 

 used. Broccoli, earth-up the plants as they advance, it 

 greatly promotes their growth ; also, eaith-up other plants 

 that requii-e it. Keep a watchful eye for the caterpillars. 

 As soon as they are observed have them g.athered ofi' by 

 hand, this being the only sure means of eradication. Re- 

 move all dead and decaying leaves from the Brassica tribe 

 in general, to some ground under the process of trenching. 

 Carrots, sow a few Eai-ly Horn in a sheltered place to stand 

 the winter. Celery, the fii'st earthing -up of the crop should 

 not take place until it has made consider-able progi'ess. By 

 commencing too early it is drawn up weakly, the earth to be 

 closed round the stalks -with the hand. Endive, tie-up for 

 blancliing when the plants are quite diy. Another plant- 

 ation may also be made. Onions, a few Welsh sown now 

 may come in useful where such things are in constant 

 request. Potatoes, when the haulm is ripe to be taken up, as 

 they are likely to grow again if showery weather continue, 

 which will greatly deteriorate theii' flavour. 



FLOWEE GARDEN. 



The favourable change in the weather will now enable 

 those to proceed vigorously in their operations who intend 

 making alterations or new arrangements in this depart- 

 ment. " As regards the formation of new plantations or the 

 removal of large specimens, see that the ground has been 

 prepared for the reception of the plants by trenching, and 

 draining if the soil be moist and damp ; for want of attention 



