July 16, 1874. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICCLTURE AND COTTA.GE GAEDENETt. 



53 



to Mrs. Bunaeroi^n, "Wyaston Leyg, M')nraouth, wm third with 

 very well-fiiiialied bimohes of Black Hunbar^-h. An ex'raprizo 

 to Mr. R, Flemiuo;, Rardeaer to R. H >uglitiiii, E^q, Waterloo, 

 Liverpool, was well ileaerved. Ho hdd liue buuches, thougli the 

 berries were not sufficiently thiuned-out. 



Mr. J. Loudoa exhibited two graud bunches of Golden 

 Champion, and an equally fine Ma.^cat of Alexandria, aud 

 gained the first prize in the class for white Grapes. Mr. W. 

 ■Colemau was second with Muscat of Alexandria, very fine; and 

 Mr. Woodbiidse, of Sioa House Gardens, Isleworth, third with 

 the same variety. 



Six Nectarines, one variety. Mr. J. Gill, Spring Place, Brad- 

 ford, was first with very fine Violette Hative; Mr. W. Kemp, 

 Albury Park Gardens, was second ; aud Mr. W. Coleman third 

 with the same variety. 



There were no less than twenty-two dishes of Peaches. The 

 first prize was given to mai^uiflcent fruit of Royal George from 

 Mr. J. Hcamen, Eaton Hall, Gongleton. Mr. J. Richards, 

 gardener to Baron Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park, Acton, was 

 second with very fine well-ripened fruit of Bellegarde ; Mr. G. 

 Sage, Ashridge Park Gardens, Great Berkbampstead, third wiih 

 Hoyal George, also highly-coloured. Extra prizes were given to 

 Mr. T. Pitt, Buvy Hill, Dorking; aud to Mr. W. Coleman. 



Mr. D. Wilson, pardener to Earl Fortescue, Cattle Hill, South 

 Molton, was awarded an extra prize fur ten fine Melons. 



Fhuit Committee. — Alfred Smee, Esq . F.R.S., in the chair. 

 Messrs. Barr & Sugden exhibited fruit of D miels' Duke of Edin- 

 burgh Cucumber, grown from seed obtained from Messrs. Daniels, 

 of Norwich, which proved to be Marquis of Lome. They also 

 ■exhibited Dyer's Champion and Telegraph, which proved to be 

 synonymous. Mr. .Johnson, The Garden, Glamis Castle, N B., 

 sent specimens in the haulm of Allan's Champion Pea, which 

 appeared to be a desirable varie'y,aud which wa.s recommended 

 to be tried at, Chiswick. Mr. R. Dean, of Bedfont, sent a Let- 

 tuce called Murray's Champion Cos, which was passed. Messrs. 

 James Carter & Co. exhibited a collection of forty-five varieties 

 of Lettuce in pots, to which the Committee recommended that 

 the Council should award a bronze medal. Messrs. Carter also 

 exhibited a very interesting collection of Peas, the plants, with 

 pods and blooms, being dried and preserved as for an herbarium, 

 and very neatly mounted in frames. This was a most interest- 

 ing exhibition, and Messrs. Carter intimated their intention of 

 presenting the collection to the Society. 



Mr. Harris, The Gardens, Singleton, near Swansea, sent four 

 very handsome Queen Pines, which were intended for competi- 

 tion for Messrs. Veitcb's prize, but having arrived too late were 

 exhibited before the Committee, and a bronze medal was pro- 

 posed to be awarded to them. Mr. Perkins, Stanmore Priory 

 'Gardens, sent a handsome specimen of Enville Pine, weighing 

 ■8 lbs. 10oz3., grown from rootless suckers planted August 17th, 

 1873. It was awarded a cultural commendation. Mr. Wood- 

 bridge, The Gardens, Slon House, Isleworth, exhibited fruit of 

 a variety of Mnsa, which was remarkably rich in flavour, and to 

 which a first-class certificate was awarded, subject to the deter- 

 mination of the name, ir. being grown at Sion under the name 

 of Champa. Mr. Jack, The Gardens, Battle Abbey, sent fruit of 

 a seedling Raspberry, but which did not appear to be superior 

 to other varieties in cultivation. Rev. W. Kendall, Lulworth 

 "Vicarage, Wareham, sent fruit of a seedling white Raspberry, 

 which was not equal to the old White Antwerp. Mr. David Smith, 

 'Glamis House, Forfar, sent fruit of a seedling Strawberry, which 

 was considered not to be equal to other VMrieties. Mr. Bennet, 

 The Gardens, Hatfield House, sent a M^^lon called Hatfield 

 Hybrid, a cream-coloured, smooth-skinned, oval variety, very 

 slightly netted, and with red flesh. Its flavour was inferior. 

 Mr. Ddwsbury, gardener to Lord Darnley, Cobham Hall, sent a 

 handsome fruit of Read's Scarlet-fl.;sh Melon, a handsome, oval, 

 very thickly-netted variety, of a dingy cream colour ; but it was 

 not sufficiently ripe. Mr. Johnson, Glamis Castle, N.B., sent a 

 large hand.some fruit of Hijks' Scarlet-flesh Meloo. It is thickly 

 netted, aud of a clear orauge-vellow colour. The flavour was 

 inferior. Mr. Johnson also ^ent a fruit of Doke of Edinburgh, a 

 very large, oval, smooth, and ribbed fruit, of cream colour; but 

 the flavour was inferior. Mr. Thomas Speed, The Gardens, 

 Chatsworth, sent four Melons, grown with their roots in water, 

 accomplished by renewing water three times a day. None of 

 the fruit possessed sufficient flavour to warrant its obtaining a 

 reward. 



Flor.il Committee. — B. B. Postans, Esq., in the chair. Mr. 

 T. Pestridge, of Brentford, sent Tricolor Pelargonium Mr. H. 

 Little, aud Bronze Pelargonium The Czar. Mr. R Dean, of 

 Baling, sent Lobelias aud cut blooms of Carnations. These last 

 were not of the flori-t's type, but were good border flowers. Mr. 

 Lipping, of Richmond, sent seedling Pelargoniums Golden 

 Shower and Templar, the first a golden leaved sort very similar 

 to Golden Chain. Mr. Turner, of Slough, sent boxes of seedling 

 Closes. Royal Standard, a fine rose-coloured globular flower, 

 received a first-class certificate ; Miss Hansard is a nice peach- 

 -coloured flower in the way of La France ; R^v. J. B. Camm, and 

 John Stuart Mill. Mr. J. Eraser, of Lea Bridge, sent Francois 



Coartin, a nice crimson Ro^e. Messrs, E. G. Hen lersou aud 

 Son, Wellington Road, St. John's Wood, sent two very beauti- 

 ful Sonerilas, Hendersouii and Henderdouii argentea, which 

 had first-class certificates awarded. The same firm sent 'Tricolor 

 Pelargonium Sparkler; a white-flowered white-leaved sort Bridal 

 Bouquet, and a ba-*ket of a very neat green-leaved Zonal named 

 Distinction, with two plants of the double-flowered Cineraria, 

 the flower deep blue and very double. 



Mr. Jack, of Battle Abbey Gardens, sent flowers of Mandevilla 

 suaveolens, produced there out of doors on the walls, where also 

 are growing many other greenhouse plants, favoured by the 

 warm climate of Sussex aud the slightest amouut of protection. 

 G. F. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge, contributed a flue group of cut 

 Lilies. Mr. Radolph Barr sent a large collection in competition 

 for Messrs. Barr A- Sugden's prizes. Mr. W. Paul had a first- 

 class certificate for his Purple Birch, several times noticed 

 before ; also for double Pelargonium Alogiatere. A like award 

 was made to Mr. George, Putney Heath, for Sir Garnet Wolseley 

 scarlet Pelargonium, which was also well shown in his prize 

 collections. It has large flowers and a fine truss. A first- 

 class certificate was also given to Mr. J. Eraser for Ixora Fraseri, 

 one of the same batch of seedling? as I. Williatnsii, and, as 

 shown, superior to it, good as tlie other is. Campanula Smithii, 

 a pretty little gem, had also a first-class certificate. 



THE BEAUTIFUL AND USEFUL INSECTS OF 

 OUR GARDENS.— No. 21. 



Talking of the Handel Festival at Sydenham suggests the 

 thought that the season has been quite a fe tival one with 

 many sp'joies of insects not at all favourites m our gardens ; 

 these have been holding, not a three-days felebration, but 

 high revels for a month or so past. Recent rains hava some- 

 what spoilt the sport of some; and others, having run their 

 round of existence, have now passed away, after providing us 

 with a future brood which we will hope may not be quite so 

 numerous. Probably they will not trouble us next year as 

 they have this, for there is an action and a re-action always 

 going on. Early in the spring I ventured to predict (though 

 aware of the usual fate that befals prophets) that we were 

 likely to have a run of dry weather and a host of insect pests 

 in consequence thereof, and thus it has happened. Easterly 

 winds and the lack of rain conjointly favour aphis-develop- 

 ment in a remarkable manner, and these insects have been, 

 perhaps, more troublesome to the horticulturist as yet than 

 any others one could name. 



By a recent book from the pen of Mr. Shirley Hibberd I per- 

 ceive that he gives-in his adhesion to the theory that aphides, 

 and also numerous species of insects that we usually regard 

 as our enemies, are decidedly of utility, with few exceptions, 

 because they act as scavengers. Applying this theory to the 

 peculiarities of the present season, it would be argued that, by 

 unfavourable atmospheric phenomena, the juices of many 

 plants and trees became vitiated, and eo furnished an appro- 

 priate pabulum to insects which would not otherwise have 

 shown themselves. Still, I cannot admit that when we see a 

 twig or a leaf swarming with aphides, for instance, it is 

 thereby demonstrated that the plant is in a sickly condition, 

 nor even that it is most probably the case. If we see this in 

 a garden it may bo proof of neglect on the part of the horti- 

 culturist. It should be added, since 1 wish to do full justice 

 to the views of those I differ from, that the circumstance is 

 certainly remarkable how tardily the various foes of the aphis 

 appear ; whereas if they showed themselves in full activity 

 early in the summer they would soon make a great reduction 

 in those soft-bodied insects which fall bo easy a prey to their 

 devourers and parasites. 



The Syrphi and CoccinelliE have already been considered, 

 and they are pretty good workers in their way ; in fact, the 

 common aphis of the Plane (A. platanoides) seems hardly 

 to have any enemy except a species of Syrphus, the larva of 

 which appears to be out a good while, and leads one to sup- 

 pose that there must be more than one brood annually of 

 these flies. 'Tis strange what a variety of insects frequent 

 the places where other aphides are congregated, not always for 

 the purpose of attacking them, but, as in the familiar instance 

 of the ants, seeking them out that they may glut themselves 

 with the houeydew depobited by the aphides. Species of the 

 order Lepidoptera settle upon it, guided thither by some 

 delicate odour it emits, 1 presume; and I was last summer 

 rather surprised to notice a swarm of cockchafers (Melolontha 

 vulgaris) buzzing about a tree that was thick with aphides and 

 hcUMydew, and as I could scarcely think they intended to feed 

 upon the insects, the houeydew must have been the attraction. 



