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JOUBNAL OF HOBTIOOLTUBK AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



I March 8, 1877. 



when the papers now ready for isBue are oironlated. The Hor- 

 ticaltnral Clnb has placed its room at their disposal, and all 

 oommanications may ba addressed to the Hon. Secretary, 

 3, Adelphi Terrace, W.C. All lovers of the Rose ought to 

 patronise so laudable an effort as this to still further popularise 

 the Eose. — D., Deal. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



The Exhibition of aktificial flowers and fruit now 

 being held in the central transept of the Crystal Palace, 

 while containing several admirable examples of artistic skill, 

 is the reverse of being imposing. The exhibits are arranged 

 on half a dozen narrow tables, each about 20 feet in length, 

 and a few dozens of plants in pots are placed on shelves at the 

 Iront of the theatre. Artificial plant-making is evidently in 

 its infancy, and we must candidly affirm that we were not pre- 

 pared for such unnatural results. Nurserymen need not 

 tremble in their shoes in this generation for fear of being 

 superseded by the " artists." The wax plants are disappoint- 

 ing, and the fruit is far from being satisfying, even to look at. 

 The Plums are decidedly the most natural in appearance, and 

 Bome of the Pears, Peaches, and Nectarines are fairly well 

 executed, but the Grapes are " dead failures." The greatest 

 success is found amongst the flowers, some of which are truth- 

 fully, and it must be added dexterously, executed. Especially 

 noteworthy is a group of Allamandas, Eucharises, Stephanotis, 

 and Orchids from Mr. Charles Moggridge, 43, Charlotte Street, 

 Bedford Square. A large and skilfully executed collection is 

 also arranged by Mrs. Austin, Arnold Koad, Tooting. Bouquets, 

 especially those containing Base buds, Camellias, and Bou- 

 yardias are attractive, but those containing Verbenas, Gera- 

 niums, and Pausies are less natural. Boses in several varieties, 

 especially Marechal Niel, are very true to life. Camellias are 

 also good, the flowers being better than the foliage. A group of 

 Water Lilies is very fine. A gigantic bouquet of mixed flowers 

 commands attention by the richness of the colours and skilful 

 execution. No flowers ever grew at all like them, but (perhaps 

 in the artist's estimation) so much the worse for the flowers. 

 Flowers in "gold and silver" are represented; also in wool, 

 the latter being skilfully "worked;" but the most satisfactory 

 display of the Exhibition is that of the skeletonised leaves, the 

 delicate beauty of which commands much attention. Messrs. 

 Dick Eadclyffe & Co. contribute an attractive display of Grasses 

 and Everlastings. The Exhibition remains open until the 17th. 

 It is the first public display of its kind, and an inspection will 

 afford pleasure to many fair admirers, especially if they do not 

 go with " great expectations." 



One of the finest double Primulas that hag come 



under our notice is now flowering in the nursery of Messrs. 

 E. G. Henderson & Sons, Pine Apple Place, Maida Vale. The 

 flowers, which are nearly 2 inches in diameter, are produced 

 in large whorls. Id colour they are rosy carmine, and the 

 petals are slightly serrated. This Primula, which is not yet 

 in commerce, is named Eva Fish. It is not more remarkable 

 for the size of the flowers than for the vigour of the plant, 

 and must be regarded as a variety of the highest order of 

 merit. Excellent varieties of these valuable plants also 

 flowering in the same uurtery are (filicifolia) Emperor, dark; 

 (filioifolia) Empress, white; and Magenta Queen. 



We learn that the EnssUN Society of Gardening has 



appointed a special committee to prepare a scheme for the best 

 mode of representing Russian gardening at the Paris Exhibi- 

 tion of 1878. 



TnE fourteenth annual exhibition of the Leeds Hoe- 



TicuLTUKAL Society is announced to be held on June 27ih, 

 28th, and 29tb. The schedule numbers sixty-eight classes, 

 and liberal prizes are offered for plants, cut flowers, and fruit. 

 The principal amounts are .C24 for twelve stove and greenhouse 

 plants, £20 for collections of plants grouped for effect, and 

 £2.5 for show Pelargoniums. The railway companies will re- 

 turn plants, A'C, from the Show free of charge provided they 

 remuio the property of the exhibitor. We have no doubt the 

 Show will fully equal the excellent displays of past years. 



We have received the report of the Ealing Chbysan- 



THEMUiM Society and the schedule of the next show, to be 

 held on November 10th. We are glad to notice that the Society 

 is we I supported, and the early issue of the schedule suggests 

 also that It is wisely managed. The Ilight Hon. S. H. Walpole 

 is the Prei-ideut, and Mr. Thomas Simpson, Audley Lodge, 

 Florence Koad, Ealing, the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer of 

 the Society. 



We are pleased to learn that the Maidstone Gae- 



DENERs' Improvement Association is in a flourishing con- 

 dition, new members, both honorary and ordinary, being 

 enrolled at almost every meeting. A spring show is to be 

 held on April 17th. No prizes are given ; the members exhibit 

 for the " love of the craft," and thus advance horticulture 

 and honour themselves. The Association devotes a portion 

 of its funds towards assisting deserving members during sick- 

 ness or other causes of adversity. Such a Society deserves to 

 prosper, and we cordially wish it success. 



A correspondent writing to us from the North Biding 



of Yorkshire on the late severe weather and its effects on 

 VEGETATION, statcs that after all hope of filling the ice-honse 

 was past, the weather suddenly changed on the 26th ult., and 

 frost set in with a fall of snow 2 inches deep, and on the three 

 following nights, 15', 16", and 18° of frost were registered, 

 giving ice 2 inches thick. Apricot blossoms are just showing 

 colour, and Pears on the Qainoe are dangerously forward, those 

 upon the Pear stock being later. There is a great promise of 

 blossom of all kinds, and Boses had produced shoots 2 or 

 3 inches long which were quite killed ; but the buds at the 

 base of the shoots will, after being pruned in early April, the 

 best time for pruning in a cold situation, grow strongly and 

 afford good blooms. 



A CORRESPONDENT who Hves near the Bristol Channel 



writes : — " In reference to Laurnstinuses being late in bloom- 

 ing, it is true to a certain extent here this winter. We have 

 many bushes; one of them was in flower in November, and it 

 has been in bloom ever since. At that time others looked as if 

 they would open their buds in a few days, and they are still 

 no further advanced than they were three months ago. The 

 weather has been very mild all the time. Should frost come 

 in March (as I hope it will not) I intend watching to see if the 

 cold will cause the flowers to open, and I may let yon know 

 the result. Would you say how many varieties of the white 

 winter-flowering Laurustinus there are ? There is a bush here 

 which produces trusses and individual flowers three times the 

 size of the sort commonly seen in gardens. As may be readily 

 imagined it ia vastly superior to it ; in fact, the two will bear 

 no comparison. Those who grow the Laurustinus for green- 

 house decoration should obtain this fine variety." [There are 

 half a dozen hardy evergreen Laurustinuses, the best being the 

 one referred to by our correspondent — Viburnum Tinus Inoi- 

 dum. It is valuable for garden and conservatory decoration, 

 and is deserving of extended cultivation.] 



Mr. Hawkins, gardener, Ewenny Abbey, Bridgend, 



Glamorganshire, tells us that he grew last year in pots Pit- 

 mastou Duchesee Pears weighing 27 ozs., Durandeau 21 ozs., 

 and DoyennC du Comice 17 and 18 ozs., that fruit being of 

 excellent flavour. He wishes to know if other gardeners have 

 obtained fruits as fine or finer. 



It is not generally known how valuable are the varie- 

 ties of Tree P.eonies (P. moutan) for conservatory decoration 

 during the early months of the year. At the Pine Apple 

 Nursery these plants are grown and forced with great success. 

 They flower quite freely in 5 and 6-inoh pots, and their massive , 

 blooms in many hues produce a sirikiug effect. The principal 

 point to be attended to in forcing is to permit the flower buds 

 to form in a cool temperature, and not until they are fairly 

 prominent must the plants be placed in brisk heat. The 

 named varieties of these Pceonies are very beautiful, and their 

 colours are never so clear and pure as when the flowers expand 

 under glass. For general decorative purposes few plants can 

 be more effective than those referred to, and of which more 

 will probably be heard as their merits become better known. 



The Leek Eose Sbciety's Snow is announced to be 



held on July 17th. The schedule is a modest one. There are 

 five classes for Roses, also classes for stove and greenhouse 

 plants, and special prizes are offered for Fansies and table 

 decorations. 



We are informed that the business of horticultural 



engineer and maunfactarer of hot-water apparatus carried on 

 so successfully by the late Mr. Objison, ,at Stanley Bridge, 

 Chelsea, will be carried on as heretofore under the same name. 



• In the three winter months ending February the mean 



TEMPEBATOiiE at thp Royal Observatory, Greenwich, was 43 4°, 

 and exceeded by 5.4" the average for the corresponding period 

 in one hundred years. 



The Succulent house at Kew, which is at all times 



worthy of a visit, is perhaps specially so at the present time. 



