October 2, 186G. 1 



JOUttNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



259 



remarkable duster of tho cones of Finns pinaster minor, presented to 

 him by H.R.H, tin- late Duko of Cambridge, and specimen! of other 

 rare and interesting species. 



Anions the plants exhibited there were several very good Fuchsias, 

 especially those from Mr. Gray, one of which, Oonsmona, would have 

 doJBB eredit to any gardener. Fine-folia^od plants und hardy Ferns, 

 as shown bj Messrs. Eickhoff, Long, and Trushell, were well worthy 

 of notice, and the Cacti, Mammillarias, &o., from Mr. Capping were 

 most creditable. Geraniums were fair, Dahlias good, and Asters 

 generally yery good. Messrs. Eiekhoft' and Long had als., well : rown 

 groups of Ferns, succulents, (fee, and near these were some flower- 

 garden designs neatly executed with sand and flowers. Mr. George, 

 gardener to Miss Nicholson, and Mr. Hester, Clapton, contributed 

 dinner t:ii!e decorations ; and two or three good bouquets were like- 

 vrise shown. Some fair out-door Grapes came from Mr. koldich, ot 

 Knight bridgo, Russell, of Hampstend, and other*. Mr. Pnig, Gfipve 

 Terrace, St. John's Wood, had designs for rockwork, and in another 

 part of the Hall were natural flowers, fruit, and loaves coated over by 

 the electrotype process, exhibited by Mr. Peters, of Middleton Street, 

 Clerkenweli. 



It is gratifying to havo to add, that the nttondanco of visitors was 

 very large. 



Subjoined is a list of tho principal prizes : — 



Fccusias. -Six : First, Mr. Grav, Copenhagen Street, Islington. Second' 

 Mr. Green, East Greenwich. Third, Mr. Hughes, Leyton. Three: First. 

 Mr. Gray. Second, Mr. Green. One: First, Mr. Gray. Second, Mr. Green. 



Geranhus. Throe: First, Mr. C. Matthews, Lea liridgo Society. 

 Second, Mr. Gray. One: Prize, Mr. Gray. 



Balsams.— Six, Three, and One : Prize-, Mr. Green. 



Liliuus. — Six : Second, Mr. Long. East Tower Hamlets Society. 

 Three: First, Mr. Fort. One: Prize. Mr. Freestone. 



Fine-foliaoeo Plants.— Six : First, Mr. Long. Second, Mr. Trushell, 

 Stoke Newington. Third. Mr. J. Bracoy, Lea Bridge Society. Three: 

 First, Mr. Eickhoff, East Tower Hamlet, Society. Second, Mr. Long. 



Hardy Ferns.— Six :: First, Mr. Eickhoff. Second. Mr. Long. Three; 

 First, Mr. Trushell. Second, Mr. Eickhoff. Third, Mr. Capping. One: 

 Prize. Mr. Eickhoff. 



Dahlia.. -Twelve: First, Mr. E. Matthews, LeaBridge Society. Second, 

 Mr. C.Bent. Third, Mr. J. Dracey. Six: First, Mr. C. Bent. Second, 

 Mr. E. Matthews. Third, Mr. Bishop. Six Fancy Kinds; First, Mr. Cant. 

 Second, Mr, Greenfield, Levtou. 



Asters.— Twelve : First, Mr. C. Matthews. Second, Mr. Rose. Third, 

 Mr. Greenfield. Six : First, Mr. Tyler. Socond, Mr. Greenfield. Third, 

 Mr. Bishop. 



GladioiiI. — Six : Third, Mr. Russell. 



Table Decorations.— First, Mr. George. Second, Mr. Hester. 



Bouqoets.— First, Mr. Russell. Second, Mr. C. Bent. Third, Mr. Gar- 

 diner. 



Designs for Gardens.— First, Mr. Powell. Second, Mr. Murray, 

 Leyton. Third, Mr. Sandford. 



Several extra prizes were also awarded. 



HORTICULTURE ON THE CONTINENT. 



One of the greatest benefits which horticulture confers on 

 ,the human race is undoubtedly its pacific tendency. Small 

 jealousies and short rivalries apart, there is nothing inherent 

 in the taste for gardening which should disturb the progress of 

 mankind towards its proper end, but there is also very much 

 that contributes towards universal brotherhood and inter- 

 change of good feeling between communities. With satisfac- 

 tion, then, do I extract such sentiments as the following from 

 a French horticultural journal : — " All our sympathies are due 

 to the approaching Exhibition of 18f>7. This work of peace, 

 this grand contest of labour and skill, was almost the only 

 thing which of late, when Europe was in flames, found favour 

 and a place amongst us. When France seemed called to 

 mingle in the fratricidal strife we saw all journals deplore the 

 delay of the epoch fixed to crown the efforts of honest labour." 

 On this side of the Channel these sentiments will find a ready 

 sympathy and a cordial welcome. Now that a prospect of quiet 

 seems assured we turn with renewed interest to further details 

 of the forthcoming Paris Exhibition, and, of course, to that por- 

 tion of it devoted to horticultural objects especially. 



These are stated as follows : — One-fourth of the park round 

 the central building is devoted to horticultural display. 

 M. Alphand and M. Barillet have the charge of organising 

 this portion, which will be artistically laid out. Two streams, 

 forming cascades and torrents, will traverse the park ; in their 

 waters will play the famous carp descended from the original 

 ones imported by Francis I. There will be aquatic plants, vast 

 grottoes, with aquaria, which are said to be on a gigantic scale, 

 and clumps of choice trees and shrubs, among which will rise 

 the eighteen glass structures destined to shelter the exotics. 

 Coquettish tents and rustic chalets will be at hand to secure 

 promenaders from sudden storms, and charming kiosques for 

 the weary. The jury will assemble in the " Crystal Palace " 

 or central building. In one of the angles will arise a novelty 

 worthy of all success, a botanical diorama. Further details are 

 promised in October. 



The extreme humidity of the season has had a disastrous 

 effect on gardens on tho Continent. Accounts from the Vine- 

 producing countries aro still more deplorable. Hail showers, 

 during this most important season, have done the Vines con- 

 siderable injury. At any rate, tho quality of the wine cannot 

 be good, or average. Meanwhile, tho plague of insects con- 

 tinues to suggest numerous remedies. The most reasonable of 

 these insist so strongly on tho necessity of clean foliago and 

 branches, that it proves how much these apparently simple 

 precautions are everywhere neglected. Minute directions are 

 given for the immediate removal of dead leaves, lichens, and 

 the destruction of insects as soon as they appear. Some dis- 

 cussion as to the cause of mildew also shows how differently 

 cultivators are apt to regard these matters. In the case of 

 some orchard-house trees here, mildew has certainly arisen 

 from cold draughts. Too much air has been given when the 

 atmosphere was charged with humidity, and tho glandless 

 Peaches can be distinguished at once by their whitened shoots. 

 Your correspondent would, therefore, take this opportunity of 

 warning others as to giving too much air suddenly. After a 

 house has been shut up for hours nothing is more common, and 

 few things more hurtful, than the practice of throwing open 

 every ventilator at once. As regards in-door culture draughts 

 are really as dangerous to plants as they are to invalids. In 

 either case it is only when tho temperature is so high that it 

 cannot be much lowered that it is prudent to admit unlimited 

 air. Of course our foreign friends are speaking of trees in the 

 open air, but the Editor seems to reject abrupt atmospheric 

 changes as the principal cause of mildew, and brings forward 

 the case of plants under glass as a proof. " Can we not main- 

 tain the temperature in these houses at almost a mathema- 

 tical uniformity? " When we hear of retarding the periods 

 of ripening, by admitting cold draughts of air, we naturally 

 anticipate an attack of mildew. 



An excellent institution has just been created at Paris, and 

 one worthy of being imitated and improved upon here. A 

 committee of competent men has been formed, whose object is 

 to examine working gardeners, and to grant them diplomas. 

 Almost everything in France is thus conducted, and very good 

 results follow. Did the working gardeners of England really 

 know their best interests we should hear of more desire for 

 such tests of merit. No country in the world produces such 

 well-informed men as the great gardeners of this country; but 

 it is the second and third-rate men whose standard requires 

 raising, or at least measuring by some rule. An employer 

 would be better able to obtain precisely the kind of superin- 

 tendence he needs, and, as a necessary consequence, the pos- 

 sessor of a diploma would obtain better pay. 



At the first sitting of the Committee no less than twenty- 

 three working gardeners presented themselves for examination. 

 They were examined in four classes, comprising all the require- 

 ments of horticulture, and including the principles of vegetable 

 physiology and the elements of botany. Thirteen " passed," 

 but ten were "plucked." This is quite refreshing to hear, the 

 more so as the names of the successful candidates are con- 

 spicuously published. How woidd some of us like to undergo 

 a similar test ? — T. C. Brehact. 



DETECTING POISONOUS MUSHROOMS. 



Could you favour me with a plain, easy test by which to know 

 an edible Mushroom from a poisonous one '? I have consulted 

 several florist friends, and all had to confess their ignorance of 

 the subject. In Scotland Mushrooms are plentiful, but are 

 quite neglected, owing to the uncertainty regarding them, and 

 I know it would be esteemed of general interest if such in- 

 formation could be conveyed. 



As a suggestion, Is there no chemical way of discovering the 

 poisonous varieties of Agarici '.' If the nature of the poison is 

 in all the same, then there might be a way by steeping or other- 

 wise in chemicals, by the change of colour, to know the whole- 

 some from the poisonous. This, at any rate, if practicable, 

 would be a simpler test than marks and colours. — Agaricus. 



[We know of no chemical test which would serve for a guide 

 to the wholesome species of Fungi. It is probable that amanetin, 

 their poisonous constituent, is present in almost every species, 

 and that it is only when it is contained above a certain amount 

 that it is Injurious. If this be so, then only a rigid analysis 

 could determine the safe and the unsafe species. In addition, 

 it has to be regretted that one species, Agaricus personatus, 

 which is safe in one state, ha; been found te be poisonous 



