March 15, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



191 



garden hybrids, many of which are frequently regarded aa 

 epeoiea. The new Ericas sent out last year by this firm are 

 Effosa, Opulenta, Ornata, Shannoni glabra, and Tricolor 

 profnsa, all raised by cross-fertilisation. Other new varieties 

 are now being proved. Sach popular decorative kinds as hye- 

 malis, Willmoreana, Ac, are raised by the thousand. The stock 

 of the former at the commencement of the season numbered 

 sixty thousand. Many plants are grown in frames, and others 

 are placed under a skeleton framework and are simply covered 

 with mats in severe weather. Potting is now being proceeded 

 with, it being considered desirable to complete the shifting of 

 Ericas by the Ist of April. 



OrDamental-foliaged stove plants are extensively cultivated, 

 aeveral large houses being devoted to them. Nearly all the 

 new Crotons, Draofenas (including Wills's hybrids), Aralias, 

 (So., are being increased. Aralia Veitobii gra^illima appears 

 to retain its distinctly slender character, and a new green 

 variety of great elegance is highly promising ; it is not yet in 

 commerce. Noticeable in one of the stoves is a fine plant of 

 Spathiphyllum pictum in remarkably fine colour. This bold 

 plant was introduced by Mr. Bull, and appears to improve as 

 it grows older— a silent example for growers to follow. A fine 

 old dowering stove plant, Tabernsmontana coronaria fiore- 

 pleno, is being increased largely. So free is it that plants only 

 a few inches high are surmounted with a corona of flower 

 bade. Gesneraceous plants are also grown extensively, some 

 of the Tydosaa being now attractive with their richly-spotted 

 flowers. 



Three or four houses are filled with Palms, many of the 

 plants consisting of popular kinds for decorative purposes, 

 while kinds more new and rare are also represented. Cocos 

 Weddelliana is flowering, and the newest forms of Kentias, 

 Geonomas, Astrocaryums, &c., are being established. Palms 

 are becoming increasing popular, and deservedly so, for no 

 plants can so long retain their fresh ornamental character in 

 the dry air of rooms and corridors, and can better resist injury 

 from changes of temperature. 



Ferns are cultivated on an extensive scale, one house de- 

 voted to them having a novel appearance from the rafters 

 being heavily clothed with Ficus repeus, which is also at 

 intervals trained across the lights, forming as it were a series 

 of panels. It is thus grown for the purpose of affording shade 

 for the Ferns. In this house is a fine stock of Lomaria gibba 

 erispa, Adiantnm gracillimnm raised from spores, the plants 

 coming quite true to character ; but it is singular that in their 

 early stages the pinna; are large, resembling A. onneatum, the 

 fronds produced subsequently only coming of the peculiar 

 Blender character which suggested the popular name of " Gauze 

 Fern," which has been appropriately given to this Maidenhair. 

 The newer Adiantums, A. Semannii and A. speciosum, are also 

 represented, besides others " too numerous to mention." 



A series of large light span-roofed houses are devoted to 

 such plants as Hedaromas, Draoophyllums, Pimeleae, Correas, 

 Tetrathecas, Aphelexes, Gnidias, Azaleas, &o. Gnidia pinifolia 

 is especially worthy of notice from its free-growing character, 

 slender foliage, and small yet conspicuous white flowers ; it is 

 a plant worth growing in every greenhouse. Greviilea Priessii, 

 which was certificated last year, is seen in goodly numbers ; it 

 is both novel and attractive, and likely to become popular. 

 Azaleas (umbrella-shaped plants) are in superior condition. 

 Many of them had been planted out in the summer conti- 

 nental fashion, and potted in the autumn, and the treatment 

 has evidently suited them, for no plants could be in better 

 condition. Camellias are also numerous and good, home- 

 raised and homegrown plants. 



Orchids have a large share of attention bestowed on them, 

 two large houses being devoted to their culture. All the 

 popular kinds are represented, the plants being grown as cool 

 as possible consistent with safety, and they are clean and in 

 good condition. Amongst those now flowering are Dendro- 

 biams Wardiannm, pardalinum, Boxalli, nobile, lituiflorum, 

 Faalknerii, crassinode, and japonicum; Oncidiums Barcodes 

 and Cavendiehii ; Odontoglossums Cervanteaii, C. decora, and 

 Alexandra! ; Cattleyaa citrina and Warsoewiozii dehcata ; Vanda 

 tricolor, Miltonia cuneata, Sophronites grandiflora, Saooola- 

 biam Calceolaria, Phalienopsis grandiflora and Sohilleriana, 

 Dendrochilum glumaoenm, and several Cypripedinma. 



As may be expected at the period of the year, the propagating 

 booses are being fully taxed ; large stocks of Tea Roses are 

 being worked, also Clematises and Vines, many of the latter 

 being already established in C-inch pots. 



Hardy plants of all kinds receive special attention here; 



fifty thousand are kept in small pots plunged in ashes, and 

 there are also large plantations of Phloxes, Pyrethrums, 

 Piconies, Ac. The demand for these plants is great and is 

 yearly increasing. 



The nursery is now under the management of Mr. Gower, 

 whose name is a sufliaient guarantee that its reputation will 

 increase rather than diminish. To him, also to the proprietors, 

 I am indebted for much courtesy during my hasty " look 

 round." — YisiiOB. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 held on the 7th inst., the following candidates were elected 

 Fellows of the Society : — Mrs. Ghisholni Batten, J. Brun- 

 lees, C.E., Mrs. Chaplin, W. Jas. Epps, C. E. Hamilton, Mrs. 

 Mounsey Huysham, Major Horroeks, Mrs. Lloyd, Mrs. Mait- 

 land, W. H. Michael, Henry Micholls, Robert Mixer, Sir W. B. 

 Riddeil, Bart., Mrs. Russell Roberts, G. Morley Saunders, 

 Frederic Sewell, and Andrew Stephen, M.D. The following 

 were also elected guinea members : — G. Smith, Mrs. E. 

 Maberly, Miss F. C. Cattley, Miss Edmonds, G. W. Greenhill, 

 R. Elliott, Lady MaoArthur, Hon. Isabel Calthorpe, S. Sidley, 

 and Lady Dorothy Nevill. 



The Council of the Royal Horticultural Society propose 



instituting at the Chiswick Gardens this season, under the 

 direction of the Fruit and Floral Committees, comparative 

 trials of the following subjects. Of vegetables : Tomatoes, 

 Cabbages, Savoys, Turnips, new Peas, and new Potatoes. Of 

 flowers : Epacriees, Gloxinias, Begonias, Cannas, new Zonal 

 Pelargoniums, Stocks, Asters, and new annuals. Fellows of 

 the Society and those desiring to contribute subjects for this 

 purpose will please communicate with Dr. Hogg, Secretary to 

 the Society; or Mr. Barron, Garden Superintendent at the 

 Royal Horticultural Gardens, Chiswick. 



What is said to be an antidote to the Potato disease 



is SALUS — a compound of sulphur and potassium discovered 

 by Mr. Worthington G. Smith, the eminent fungologist, who 

 has so perfectly investigated the economy of the Peronospora 

 infestans, which is the mould that gives rise to the disease. 

 We observe that Messrs. J. C. Wheeler & Son of Gloucester 

 are the sole agents fot Great Britain ; and it would be well 

 worth the trouble for all who are interested in this important 

 question if they were to give the salus a trial this season. We 

 should be quite prepared to publish any reports on the experi- 

 ment as may be sent us. 



The Pelargonium Society holds its exhibition at the 



Royal Horticultural Society's garden, South Kensington, on 

 the 20th of June. Members only can compete. There are 

 twenty-four classes, in most of which three prizes are offered, 

 varying in amount from £.5 to £1. 



It will be remembered that a first-class certificate wag 



awarded last year by the Royal Horticultural Society to Mr. 

 Wm. Bull for a Double Epacris, and the honour was well 

 merited. Mr. Bull has since been fortunate in obtaining 

 another and distinct variety of this new type of Epacrises, and 

 the plant now flowering at Chelsea is worthy of inspection. The 

 flowers are pure white and perfectly double, the " pips " being 

 about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, and having tubes 

 much shorter than the ordinary single flowers. The flowering 

 shoots are closely set with the miniature rosette-like flowers, 

 and present a charming appearance. There can be little doubt 

 that the intrinsic merits of these new double Epacrises will 

 render them as popular in their way as double Pelargoniums. 

 Like the Pelargoniums, the pips of the double Epacrises do 

 not drop off but shrivel on the plants — an admitted advantage 

 when the flowers are employed in a cut state. The new Epacris 

 is named Onosmfeflora nivalis, and it is sure to be extensively 

 cultivated. Another noticeable plant now flowering in this 

 nursery is Imantophyllum miniatum princeps, the flowers 

 being three times the size of those of the species, and are also 

 better formed and more richly coloured — a great acquisition. 

 Several Orchids are also flowering, and the Cycada and Tree 

 Ferns always command attention. 



We learn that the subject of ELinnr or disease 



affecting the plants in the Tea plantations of India has 

 been brought prominently under the notice of the Agri- 

 Horticultural Society of India, a letter having been addressed 

 to the Society to the effect that the attacks of " bhght and red 

 spider having become of such a serious nature on many Tea 

 gardens both at Aaeam and Caohar, but especially in the latter 



