May 15, 1868,. ]' 



JOUHNATi OF SORTiCtTLTURlS AND'OCCrt^iWE GAEDJ^NBWOIi 



30^- 



la the same Numlier was an intorestins letter from New 

 Jersey ; but your readers should be cautioned that the Peaches 

 which succeed so well in America on sandy soil, are on their 

 own roots, and not on Plum stocks. I am surprised, however, 

 to hear that Melons attain such perfection on similar soil, as 

 all our cultivators here seem unanimous in recommondlng 

 atiffish loam. I have, however, heard of Melons succeeding in 

 mere leaf mould. — (J. S. ':.'•■(":. .; 



INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL 



EXHIBITION. 



It is quite evident that the vast space of nearly four acres 

 which the great International Exhibition is to occupy will be 

 barely sufficient to receive the collections of plants that are 

 entered ; and as the arrangement of such a quantity of plants 

 will occupy an unusually long time, and be attended with con- 

 siderable difficulty, we would suggest that inteniUng exhibitors 

 of hardy trees, shrubs, and such plants as will not suffer by 

 exposure, should send them in as early this week as possible, 

 so that as much of the work of aiTangeraent as can be done may 

 be got over before Monday, the 21st. Every preparation is now 

 made for the reception of the subjects entered, and the sooner 

 they are delivered the better. 



according to the directions sent with it, I have no doubt it will 

 bo found equally valuable for other plants ; but I only speak 

 of it as I have myself experienced its efficacy.:— B., Veal. 



FLOWERS OF THE LAST SEASON. 



rURYSANTHEMUMS. 

 The ever-increasing varieties of this favourite autumnal 

 flower would seem almost to defy improvement ; and yet those 

 who narrowly watch, as only connoisseurs do, the varieties 

 that are produced year after year, are able to see that this 

 improvement does take place, and that, while some of the older 

 flowers still maintain their position, by far the greater number 

 are jostled out of the way by the newer sorts ; and in size, 

 substance, shape, and colour, each year witnesses some ad- 

 vance. Mr. Salter still maintains the position he has for so 

 many years occupied as the introducer of novelties in this 

 class of flowers ; and the following varieties which I have both 

 bloomed myself and seen at Mr. Salter's, were exclusively sent 

 out by him ; and as an aid to purchasers I give the following 

 notes. 



Albert Hehjer. — A large rosy purplish flower, fully incurved. 

 A fine sort for cut blooms. 



Blandic of Cu.'^tile. — A beautiful clear white, thoroughly in- 

 curved, and with broad petals. 



Gohh'n I'.dll. — Bright rich orange, with golden orange back 

 and tips. Fine shape, and beautifully incurved. 



Golden Dr. Ihvclc. — Fine rich yellow. A sport of that fine 

 variety Dr. Brock, partaking of its good qualities, but of a 

 different colour. 



Hcrcuh-s. — Very large, reddish carmine. Incurred after the 

 style of Garibaldi, but far superior to it. 



Lady Cai-eij. — Large, rosy lilac, with silvery back to the 

 petals. Well incurved, and a fine show flower. 



3Iiss Marpiret. — Pure white Anemone flower, with fine centre. 



Mr. Bninlees. — A large flower of an Indian red, tipped with 

 yellow. A fine flower for cut blooms. 



3Ir. Wi/nncss. — Violet puce. A fine flower, of rich colour, 

 and well incurved. 



Mrs. Kaiiies. — A blush flower, blooming very late, and of 

 excellent quality. 



Pink Pearl. — Pink, with a silvery shade. Well incurved. 



Prince of Wales. — Dark violet, shaded. A well-shaped flower, 

 with large petals. 



Sam irf(if7-.— Indian red, tipped with yellow. WeU incurved 

 and good. 



Venus. — Large, lilac peach. A beautifully shaped full flower. 



Virgin Queen. — Pure snow white. A plant of good hnbit, 

 making a line specimen. 



■ - •.■,.;•.• -•: ' POMPON'ES. 



Golden.' Anrore. — Bright yellow. Sport of the old and well- 

 known Aurore Boruale. Of good habit. 



White Trevenua. — .A fine sport of Eose Trevenna, blooming 

 eirly, and very pretty. 



A good deal has been said as to artificial manures and their 

 effect on the growth of various flowers. Having used Standen's 

 manure during the last season, I can bear witness to its effi- 

 cacy as a most valuable stimulant. Applied to both Chrysan- 

 themums and Hvacinths, its effects were soon seen ; and used 



DESTROYING tub GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLAB^iJ 

 Much has been written, and many directions have beeifcai! 

 given, as to the destruction of the Gooseberry caterpillar throughifl 

 the columns of this .lournal, but I have never seen recom-jv-i 

 mended the moans tliat I have ado])ted with unfailing success j-j 

 for several years. This consists in dusting every bush with 

 powdered white hellebore as soon as a caterpillar makes its 

 appearance. I obtain it of a chemist at the trifling cost of.. 

 Is. 8J. per pound, which is suflicient for fifty bushes. It iftri.i 

 very rare that there is any need to repeat the dose, as the-n 

 caterpillars are found dead on or beueatii the bushes the next 

 day. The bushes should be dusted in dry weather, as the rain 

 is apt to wash much of the hellebore off the leaves. I apply it 

 by the means of a common sulphurator. Shoidd any one try 

 it, it will be found effectual. — J. S. S. 



[The use of fresh white hellebore powder has been frequently 

 recommended in our pages for destroying the Gooseberry cater- 

 pillar. It should bo washed off the berries before they are 

 eaten, as it is poisonous. — ^Eds.] 



THE LATE FROSTS. 

 The first week in May in this locality will not be soou for- 

 gotten for the disastrous effect on vegetation of the blighting 

 frost of April SOth and May 2nd. On the 27th ult. the ther-i 

 moraeter registered 05' at 7 o'clock p.m., with a gentle shower 

 of rain. The expansion of the leaf was surprisingly rapid, and 

 the atmosphere was sulfocatiug. On the 30th at half-past 

 o .\.ji. the thermometer registered 2.5' Fahr. ; but the night 

 previous being dry, this low temperature did not do so much 

 damage, and that was principally confined to the Potatoes, 

 Asparagus, and Cherries. On the 2nd inst. .v.m. it registered 

 2i°; snowing all day on the 1st everythini; was soaking, so 

 nothing escaped. Nectarines, Cherries, Apricots, and Fears 

 were fearfully cut up ; Peaches not so much. The Oak and 

 Beech foliage are frozen black. The Ash and other hardy trees 

 in bloom are completely scorched. The Brassica tribe received 

 a severe cheok.^P, Middletom, The (gardens, Wijnmtaij, North 

 Wales. , !!' i;:..;'j 



GARDENERS,! AND ' THE INTE RNATIONAL 

 HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION. 



The subject of my letter must be my only apology for tres- < 

 passing upon yom- valuable space. The great International 

 Horticultural Exhibition is now at hand. Scores of gardeners, 

 who have not the means wherewith to go, would like to be 

 there. As a class of men they are generally expected to be iip 

 with the age, and there are very few ladies or gentlemen who 

 like to see their gardeners behind their fast-going neighbours ; 

 but this is inevitable nnless they have an opportunity now and 

 then of brushing the nap and rubbing off the rust by commg 

 in contact with the most skilful of their order. When wa 

 call on neighbour .lohu across the way, who can boast of having 

 filled the same position for thirty or forty years, and has never 

 been awav from the place for a day during the whole time, 

 how we si'nile at his antiquated notions and his old-fashioned 

 stand-still place. His Camellias and Acacias are pot-bound, 

 and he knows it not ; his Geraniums, towering up on a single 

 stem, are 3 or 4 feet high, or thrusting their heads through 

 the roof of his house, and he considers this the way to grow 

 them. As a matter of course we set him down as one of the 

 " old school." There are hundreds of gardeners who wish to 

 go beyond our neighbour described above, and who would gladly 

 avail 'themselves of the opportunity of visiting the great Inter- 

 national Horticultiu-al Exhibition ; Init the fact is they cannot. 

 Their stipends compared with other artisans are low ; pro- 

 visions and wearing habiliments are dear, and the wants of 

 the family are numerous. What is to be done ? Let every 

 lady and gentleman who possesses an intelligent go-ahead gar- 

 dener who is desirous of taking the lead among his neighbours, 

 send him to tlie great Show and pay his expenses. I fancy 

 some of your readers saying, " Tliat is a capital idea! -And 

 so it is ; but it wiU be better still if it bo put in practice. 

 The description and ground plan which you gave us in No. '-bo 



