May 12, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



335 



I am now crossing the colours with the view of raising some 

 fresh kinds, as I have an idea I should like to grow a thousand 

 about my rocks ; and then, what with the Primroses, the Poly- 

 anthuses, the Sedums, Saxifrages, dwarf Phloxes, &o., I think 

 my neighbours will have a treat in the floral way when they 

 eome to see me early in the spring. 



I trust that my brother amateurs will excuse my drawing 

 their attention to the Alpine Auricula as a rockwork decorative 

 plant, and one far superior, to my thinking, to most of those 

 now employed for the purpose. I hope I have not written too 

 much in its favour, but it is such a pleasing subject to me that 

 I wish to make converts, not only to grow it, but to show their 

 friends what lovely flowers may be produced with scarcely any 

 trouble to themselves. 



While writing about rockeries I think I may mention as one 

 of the things not generally known, that Echeveria secunda is 

 hardy ; it stood well here on my rocks 20° of frost, becom- 

 ing a beautiful scarlet colour, and is now growing vigorously. 

 I notice this, as I generally see it put away into cold pits for 

 the winter. Opuntia Rafinesquiana has not stood well, though 

 alive, but I shall turn out some more plants and try it, as it is 

 so distinct from any other hardy plant, and perhaps the soil did 

 not quite suit it. By the way, will anyone tell me where to get 

 the old double clear yellow Auricula ? I have been searching 

 for it for years. I remember the flowers were large and bright, 

 and the foliage was nearly white farina-like. Now-a-days the 

 catalogues would describe it, I suppose, as " Auricula flore- 

 pleno aureo, folio farinoso," splendid for rookwork. — Harrison 

 Weir, Wetoieigh, Kent. 



DETERMINING THE SIZE OF FLOWER POTS. 



I have some thoughts of being an exhibitor at a provincial 

 flower show, in certain classes, in which the schedule states 

 that the size of the pots must not exceed 10 and 14 inohes re- 

 spectively. I have lately had an opportunity of discussing with 

 several regular exhibitors what was the proper way of measur- 

 ing, but we could come to no definite conclusion on the subjeot, 

 gome asserting that the proper way was to measure from out- 

 side to inside at the top of the rim, and others that it was to 

 measure inside only, at the top of the rim. I am told by no 

 less an authority than Mr. W. Paul, that the rule observed at the 

 London shows, is to measure inside, 1 inch below the top of 

 the rim. Now, this appears to me to be the most correct method, 

 as it gives nearer than any other the dimensions of the soil the 

 plant has to grow in. As this is a subject of very great im- 

 portance both to exhibitors and judges, and as all, I am sure, 

 are desirous to avoid contention in the matter, will the Editors 

 give us their views, and lay down a rule for our guidance ? Of 

 course, none would be so narrow-minded as to dispute in a 

 matter of half an inch, as it is impossible in any given cast (or 

 dozen, as the potters in this neighbourhood call it), to get the 

 pots of exactly one measurement. — Robt. Featherstone, The 

 Garden, St. Ann's Villa, Barley, Leeds. 



[We quite coincide with Mr. W. Paul. The intention of 

 limiting the sizes of the pots for plants exhibited, is to insure 

 as nearly as may be, that they shall not be grown in soil above 

 a certain quantity, and this can only be done by measuring at 

 an assigned poiat inside, or iu the clear, as it is technically 

 termed. No better point of measurement could be fixed upon 

 than at one inch below the extreme edge. — Eds.] 



FRUIT PROSPECTS. 



Although the weather has for some time been very cold, the 

 atmosphere has been tolerably free from moisture, and most 

 kinds of stone fruit have set abundantly. Apples and Pears 

 are flowering profusely, especially the latter, and setting their 

 fruit very thickly ; but in the case of root-pruned trees some 

 good showers are wanted, otherwise the principal portion of the 

 fruit will drop off, and the same with Cherries. 



We have lately had several hoar frosts, especially on Wed- 

 nesday morning (May 4th), when the thermometer registered 

 25° Fahr. or 7° of frost, which I see by the Journal was not so 

 severe by 5° as at Chiswick ; nevertheless, much of the fruit 

 blossom is injured, also some of the small fruit is discoloured. 

 The foliage of Peach, Nectarine, Apricot, and other trees has 

 turned brown, and is curling in consequence. Mildew is also 

 making its appearance on the injured foliage, but the weather 

 is so favourable for the application of powdered sulphur that I 

 hope to check its progress. As regards Filberts, early in the 



season I think I never saw the trees more promising for a crop, 

 there being such an abundance of both male and female blooms ; 

 but the sharp frosts and cutting north-east winds that prevailed 

 from the 10th to the 15th of February destroyed most of the 

 former before the latter were fertilised. On looking over my 

 trees to-day (May 6th), I find there is a good crop Bet on some 

 of the trees, and most of them have set some fruit, but the 

 maggot, so destructive to this crop, is already on the trees in 

 quantities. I find as many as three and four in different stages 

 of development at the extremities of many of the shoots ; and 

 I conclude that now is the time to go over the trees and kill 

 the insects before they can secure a lodging in the embryo nut. 

 Potatoes in many gardens are killed to the ground.— Thomas 

 Record, Lillesden. 



Everything in this district (Redruth, Cornwall), is very back- 

 ward owing to the absence of rain, but there is every probability 

 of a fine crop of wall frnit, especially Plums and Peaches. The 

 Gooseberries and Strawberries are looking very well, and I have 

 some of the former fit to pick. — Alpha. 



FLOWERS AND FLOWER SHOWS. 



Absence from home has prevented my Beeing Mr. W. Panl'a 

 remarks (page 220) on " Flowers and Flower Shows " until this 

 week. Alter reading the article in question, and seeing " W. 

 Paul, H'altham Cross," attached to it, I oould scarcely believe 

 that the author of the " Rose Garden " (which work I was an 

 original subscriber to, and at that Itime a great admirer of), 

 could by any possibility so have changed his views as to have 

 penned such notions. I consider the article is an insult to all 

 honest exhibitors, and calls forth an indiguaut reply from all. 

 I am pleased that some leading members of the trade have 

 freely spoken, and trust other amateurs besides myself will not 

 ba backward. 



Mr. W. Paul says, " The Dahlia is made up of two or more 

 flowers, and dressed with all the skill of an accomplished 

 milliner." Now, having been a successful grower and exhibitor 

 of this flower for the last twenty-five years, and having of late 

 years occupied the highest post at the Crystal Palace and other 

 great shows, I positively deny that any bloom exhibited by me 

 has either been made up or dressed, for the flowers have 

 been shown just as they were cut from the plants. In my 

 experience I never saw one Dahlia made up of two or three, 

 nor do I think it possible to be done. 



Again, Mr. William Paul says, "Dressing is now carried 

 further than ever." This I do not believe, and my experience 

 as judge at nearly all the principal shows in the kingdom during 

 the last ten years confirms me in this belief. Florists' flowers 

 are so much more perfect now than formerly, and the culture 

 of them so much better understood, that there is no need of 

 artificial treatment. Who could desire a flower more perfect 

 than a well-grown Dahlia or Rose ? yet Mr. W. Paul talks of 

 dressing the Rose. Last year four silver cups and thirteen 

 first prizes for cut Ro3es fell to my lot, but no bloom among 

 them was ever touched by dresser ; nor in any of the collections 

 that came under my notice as judge at all the great shows of the 

 year did I discover one made-up or dressed flower. 



I am in no way surprised that Mr. W. Paul finds out that 

 exhibiting does not bring the trade that it formerly did. Any 

 nurseryman who falls from his usual position as an exhibitor, 

 I fancy, will not be long to discover that fact. I have known 

 Mr. W. Paul show Hollyhocks well. Were the plants from 

 which they were cut ever disbudded or thinned to cause them 

 to produce fine blooms? Are Peach, Pear, and Plum trees 

 deprived of a portion of their fruit to increase the size of those 

 remaining? Are Grapes left unthinned, and small bunches 

 with puny berries ^referred to large bunches with luscious 

 berries the size of Plums ? If Mr. W. Paul's reasoning is cor- 

 rect, such will soon be the case. Does Mr. W. Paul suppose 

 that country gentlemen are so devoid of common sense as to 

 think that a Rose, Pelargonium, or any other plant placed in a 

 garden and neglected, will produce flowers equal to those brought 

 to flower shows, which have been produced by the highest culti- 

 vation ? or does he imagine, or wish others to do so, that horse3, 

 sheep, or cattle, turned out to take care of themselves, would 

 be as handsome and sleek as those prepared for exhibition ? 

 Visitors go to agricultural and horticultural meetings to see the 

 perfection certain flowers, fruits, See., can be brought to ; not to 

 see everyday market stuff, but to learn what cultivation will do. 

 Mr. W. Paul may depend upon it "ouitivation" is the grand 



