July 31, 18C6. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



83 



very irregular in form, is ripe, and from the side grows a 

 flower-stalk an inch long, calyx, and stamens, but no petals or 

 pistils. On dissection, it was evident that the flower-stalk was 

 emitted from the .skin of the berry. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 July 24tii. 



Floiui, Committee. — Tho Floral Committed visited the Society's 

 gardens at Chiswick to inspect and report upon the trial plant-; of tip- 

 present season. The Committee met in largo numbers, ami proceeded 

 to examine tho Zonalo Pelargoniums which had received awards on 

 former occasions. Those persons acquainted with the extensivo col- 

 lection of these plants cultivated in the gardens will know what nume- 

 rous varieties are there to bo seen. Upon tho principle of reducing 

 the numbers, avoiding similarity of varieties, and selecting only tho 

 very best and most distinct in each class, tho Committeo set to tho 

 work, and decided to remove from the collection several kinds which 

 had previously received awards, but winch arc now surpassed by 

 better kinds. Some fifty-eight or sixty sorts were struck off the 

 list, not for bad qualities, but on account of their inferiority to the new 

 varieties of the past and present year. First-class certificates were 

 awarded to tho following varieties which had received 6econd-class 

 certificates — viz., Harry Hieover, Rod Riding Hood, and Rev. J. Dix. 

 The laBt-named, which is a seedling from tho Society's garden, was 

 much admired for tho profusion and brilliancy of its deep scarlet 

 flowers and its compact habit. 



First-class certificates were awarded for the following new varietios 

 of 18tiG: — Orange Nosegay, ^"altham Seedling, Marie Mrzard, Bril- 

 lant Snperbe, Variegated Stella Nom ;iy .Smith, Hornsey Road), 

 Madame Bane, Miss Parfait, Madeline ; second-class for Violet Hill 

 Nosegay. 



hi : class certificates were awarded to the following Fuchsias: — 

 Roderick Dim, Knoch Arden, Father Ignatius, Lady Heytesbury, 

 and Conspicua, all very heantiful binds. Firat-clafla certificates were 

 also awarded to striped Verbenas : — Mr. Wood, Madame Hermann 

 Stenger, Oireglia, and Ada ; and a second-class certificate for At- 

 traction. 



Very many of this year's novelties were not in a condition for ex- 

 amination, the Committee will consequently soon meet again to report 

 npon them. The collection of Zonale Pelargoniums in pots, exhibited 

 in the old Rose-house, was much commended and admired. Much 

 credit is due to the gardener who has the care of them, for they were 

 well grown, and afforded good examples of those varieties which will 

 not endure exposure to the sun and wind. The improved aspect of 

 the gardens was generally approved of, especially the walk from the 

 entrance leading to the vinery. The circular beds of fine-foliaged 

 plants, continued on each side of the gravel walk from the Zonale 

 Pelargoniums, were highly commended, and will doubtless prove very 

 attractive and useful to such of the Fellows as have not much know- 

 ledge of plants. They can here at one view see and select what plants 

 are most suitable for decorative purposes oat of doors, when in- 

 termingled with the gay and vivid colours of tho usual bedding-out 

 plants. The Hollyhocks were very fine, and will soon be in per- 

 fection. The whole appearance of the lloral department of the garden 

 was most satisfactory. 



A large party of the Fruit and Floral Committees, after the business 

 of the day, dined together under the old iron tent, with its innumerable 

 iron ribs, and thus finished a very pleasant and satisfactory day. The 

 services of Mr. Barron, the present Superintendent of the gardens, 

 were duly acknowledged, and the Committee dispersed. 



PLANTS INJURED BY FUMES OF GAS TAR. 



I built a small span-roofed house, for a succession-house, 

 40 feet long and 10 wide, with a walk through the centre, and 

 a tank on each side, using on the outside of the tanks and on 

 the sides of the house a coating of gas tar. I commenced fill- 

 ing the house with Hoses, Spiraas, Grape Vines, &c. — plants 

 to get stock from. The plants being dormant, of course I 

 could not see at first if the gas was hurting them or not, for as 

 soon as the heat began to rise the gas began to make its 

 appearance very plainly. On the plants commencing to grow, 

 it killed the young shoots as fast as they grew, and in fact, 

 killed a great many large plants, both root and branch. The 

 Rose and Grapo Vine leaves would turn black, become contracted, 

 and then fall off. 



It being apparent that I must either shut up the house or 

 control the gas, I went to work and boarded up the tanks, at 

 the same time washing the ends of the house with thick water- 

 lime, and I have at last, after a great deal of trouble and 

 fcy, succeeded in being able to grow plants tolerably well. 



Some few years since, the President of the Rochester Gas 

 Company being informed by a friend that - ta .-■ a good 

 thing to keep off the bugs from the Squash and Cucumber 



plants, resolved to try some. A few days afterwards, on being 

 questioned as to the result, he said that it was the best thing that 

 ho had over seen, for it had killed tho bugs, but at tho same 

 time it had killed tho plants likewise. — J. Ciiaiclton [American 

 Gardener's Monthly.) 



THE CINERARIA. 



Tnis is ono of tho most useful plants wo have for conserva- 

 tory decoration, both in winter and spring ; in fact, it seems to 

 be almost indispensable for that purpose, for there are very 

 few places to bo met with where it is not grown — from the 

 humblest amateurs who possess but a small greenhouse, to the 

 castle or palace gardens ; and where cut flowers are required 

 in abundance, it is invaluable. 



It is very probable that what I have to advance upon tho sub- 

 ject is but an old tale to some of your more experienced readers ; 

 but there are numerous instances to be met with which evince 

 that the proper treatment is not universally understood, and 

 this, I think, will bo sufficient apology for my intruding with 

 an old subject. 



Although the Cineraria can be had in flower from December 

 up till May, yet the latter period seems to bo its natural season 

 for flowering ; at no time is it to be seen in such perfection as 

 then. The usual method of propagating is from seed, or by 

 cuttings, or suckers that come up from the roots of tho old 

 plants. Most people use the former method when tho aim is 

 simply for conservatory decoration or for cut flowers ; it is the 

 most expeditious way, and perhaps answers tho purpose equally 

 as well ; but care must be taken that the seed is saved from 

 good varieties, as the tendency in nine cases out of ten is to 

 degenerate. The expense of a packet of seed from some party 

 who is well known to keep a good strain is trifling compared 

 with the advantage gained thereby ; and where it is not practi- 

 cable to obtain seed from good named varieties, this is the 

 safest resource for having good flowers. In order to have them 

 in flower about April or May, the seed should be sown the first 

 or second week in August in pans, using a compost of equal 

 parts loam, leaf mould, and sand. The following method I have 

 used with never-failing success : — I use seed-pans, but ordinary 

 pots will do equally as well ; but if pots are used, they should 

 be filled with crocks to within 3 or 4 inches of the top, then a 

 layer of sphagnum, then fill up to the rim with the compost, 

 spreading the surface evenly but loosely ; sow the seed on this ; 

 then with a round flat board, or the bottom of a flower-pot, 

 press the soil gently down, and water with a fine rose — no cover- 

 ing is necessary ; then place them under a north wall and put 

 a hand-glass over them, and in about a week or ten days the 

 seeds will germinate. As soon as the plants are large enough to 

 handle, prick them off into boxes or shallow pans, about lj inch 

 between each plant : the soil used should be rather light, leal 

 mould and sand forming a predominant proportion. They 

 should then be placed in a cold frame, and kept close and 

 shaded for about a week ; after that plenty of air should be given, 

 but the shading should be retained during hot sunshine in the 

 middle of the day. When they have well filled the boxes, put 

 them into 60-sized pots ; compost for this and succeeding shifts, 

 two parts nice February loam, one part leaf mould, one part 

 well-decomposed cowdung, and one part clean river sand. One 

 of the principal points that must be attended to, to have good 

 plants, is never to allow them to get too pot-bound until such 

 time as they are in their flowering pots — eight or nine-inch pots 

 are generally large enough for this. If they are allowed to get 

 too pot-bound in small pots, it causes them to throw up their 

 flowering shoots before the plant has had sufficient nourishment 

 to attain to a good strong crown ; the consequence is a weak head 

 of bloom. I always like to see a good strong crown, with plenty 

 of large leaves at the bottom, before they begin to throw up their 

 flowering shoots ; if this is obtained, a good head of bloom is, 

 with proper attention, sure to follow. They should be allowed 

 to remain in the cold frames or pits as long as there is no danger 

 from the approach of frost, be kept close to the glass, but not to 

 touch it, and a free circulation of air allowed to pass through 

 them night and day. They should likewise have plenty of space 

 to stand in, but so as not to touch one another — better grow 

 half the quantity than have them too crowded. The fame rules 

 should be attended to when tho plants are hoimed in the winter 

 time. Plenty of air should be given on all favourable i locations, 

 but avoiding cold cutting winds. The atmosphere of tho house 

 should be kept as dry and sweet as possible ; and when it is 

 necessary to use fire heat to exclude damps, it should be applied 



