Jaao 8, 1875. 1 



JODBNAL OP HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 



455 



were arranged some fine collections of Pelargoniums of the 

 various classes from Mr. Rylance : the show and f *ncy groups 

 were especidUy well dons. In front of these were some grand 

 pot Roses from Messrs. Paul & Son of Cheshunt ; then cime a 

 grand group of Rhododendrons, with a Norfolk Island Pine in 

 the centre. The oval bed on the right was occupied with Azileas 

 and Pelargoniums, with another Araucaria rearing its head 

 above them; the second was occupied with Pelargoniums and 

 Palms; the third with specimens of greenhouse Ferns; the 

 fourth with greenhouse plants, Palms, &o. ; while the corner bed 

 was occupied with hardy Bhooodendrons. On the left hand there 

 was a group of greenhouse Azaleas ; the second bed contained 

 groups of zonal Pelargoniums backed with Ferns ; the third a 

 magnificent collection of Ferns from Mr. Shuttle worth of Preston, 

 than which nothing finer has ever been exhibited ; and the last 

 bed was occupied with a group of twenty Azaleas. The extreme 

 end of the tent was occupied with a grand collection of Rhodo- 

 dendrons bordered by two fine collections of hardy herbaceous 

 plants in pots ; while placed up and down in the tent were fine 

 Tree Ferns, Palms, &c., the walks at the side being bordered 

 with collections of hardy Ferns, Ericas, &c. 



The conservatory contained some fine collections of stove and 

 greenhouse plants arranged on the ground or nearly so, so that 

 a much better view of the plants was to be had than when placed 

 up high ; while Orchids, for which Manchester is so famous, 

 were largely shown, although not perhaps quite so much so as 

 last year, owing to Mr. Wrigley having sent his fine collection 

 to the Metropolitan Show at the Aquarium; but Dr. Ainsworth, 

 Mr. Broome, and others sent some grand specimens. I have 

 already alluded to the Ferns of Mr. Shuttleworth, and I very 

 much question whether such specimens of Gleicheniashave ever 

 been shown as those in this collection. The back plants of the 

 collection were Cyathea medullaris, Cibotium princeps, and 

 Dicksonia antarctica, while in front were these three splendid 

 Gleichenias — flabellata, Mendelii, and semi-vestita. These 

 were perfect plants and fine examples of successful culture. 

 The same gentleman's collection of stove and greenhouse plants 

 was also well worthy of the place it occupied. Amongst them 

 were fine plants of Croton nndulatum, Dendrobium nobile, 

 Aphelandra macrantha rosea (Chilman's variety), and Cocos 

 Weddelliana. Amongst Messrs. Pauls' Roses the most conspicu- 

 ous was perhaps the finest plant of Alfred Colomb ever exhibited, 

 adding another to the triumphs he has attained in overcoming 

 the difficulties presented by the more delicate-growing varieties. 

 Some of the collections of zonals were remarkably well grown, 

 the plants being moderate in size, fall of bloom, and the flowers 

 of good quality. Messrs. Ashton's collection especially was very 

 good, the varieties being Rose Bradwardine, Reine Blanche, 

 Mrs. Wm. Paul, Dr. Hook, Master Christine, and Acme. 



There is one point in which Manchester comes out very strong 

 — ^viz, in the collections for cut flowers of stove and greenhouse 

 plants, and a more beautiful display than those exhibited by the 

 Messrs. Cole in the nurserymen's, and Mr. Shuttleworth in the 

 amateurs' class, it would be impossible to set up. Grand bunches 

 of such Orchids as Vanda tricolor and Aijrides odoratum ; of Ixoras 

 such as Colei and coccinea; of Ericas such as ampuUacea and 

 the varieties of ventricosa, with fine blooms of Strelitzia ovata, 

 Allamanda nobilis, &c., all arranged with taste and care, presented 

 a walk of beauty. Our London exhibitors came out strongly in 

 the various classes ; Messrs. Williams, Rolliason, Lane, Standish, 

 and Laing contributed largely to the sucoesa of the Exhibition. 

 The Messrs. Turner and Mr. Cypher of Cheltenham were as 

 nsual conspicuous in the bouquets, which are always so well 

 done at Manchester, and in which they might give a lesson to 

 some of our southern decorators. 



The well-known courtesy and administrative talents of Mr. 

 Bruce Pindlay combined to make the Show a success ; and it 

 was a great pleasure to hear at the dinner that the debt of the 

 Society had been reduced from i;6000 to i£1500, and that there 

 was every prospect of its being wiped off before another year. — 

 D., Deal. 



NOTES ON VILLA, and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



Now that bedding plants arc planted-out in their summer 

 quarters, and may be considered for a time out of hand, it will 

 be well to see what can be done with the structures, such as 

 hand-glasses, frames, pits, &o., in which the plants have been 

 reared. There are many desirable plants which can be grown 

 in frames, &c., for the decoration of the little greenhouse or 

 conservatory, and for room and window use. These might con- 

 sist principally of Fachsias, Balsams, Coleuses, Begonias, Ferns, 

 and Grasses, while others may be devoted to the growth of 

 Primulas, Cinerarias, and several kinds of annuals ; and the 

 hand-glasses should be at once used for the advancement of out- 

 door Cucumbers on ridges ; or in order to have choice I would 

 advise that a single-light frame be put on a moderate hotbed for 

 the growing of Celosias and the old-fashioned but useful crimson 

 Cockscomb. These latter require considerable care, as they 

 want moderate bottom heat for the roots, and at all times must 

 be kept close to the glass. 



My plan of culture is to sow the seed in a pot or pan of fine 

 soil, and place it in the Cucumber or Melon frame. The plants 

 are not long in coming up if kept moist, and as soon as lar(.'e 

 enough to handle they must then be pricked out into pots of well- 

 drained soil, composed of loam, sand, and leaf mould. Uere they 

 soon grow large enough for each plant to occupy a small tJOsized 

 pot, and if kept at not less than 00° night and day, allowing 

 another 10' for sun heat, they soon fill the pots with roots, and 

 if not potted-on for a time they will show their miniature combs, 

 so that we are able to tell their shape, whether good or bad. 

 Pick the best of them, or as many as are wanted, and they may 

 be treated in two ways. Some of them have the soil washed from 

 their roots, the plants being then potted in 5-inch pots, as low in 

 the pot as is reasonable for the well-doing of the plants ; while 

 others may be shifted as they are into G-inch pots. In each ease 

 the soil may be coarser, and about three half-gallons of old dried 

 cow dung, or in the absence of that frame manure to one bushel 

 of soil previously mentioned, and fine charcoal, or if not that two 

 or three handfuls of soot ; of course the soil ought to be mixed 

 well with the hand, and the plants potted moderately firm. In 

 the frame they must be kept plunged up to the rim of the pot 

 and the plants not more than (J inches from the glass, or they 

 quickly run up in height, and when in flower their appearance 

 is then spoiled. They must have good waterings when neces- 

 sary (not by dribblets), and when the pots are filled with roots 

 manure waterings must be given twice a-week. Possibly the 

 roots will show themselves on the surface of the pots ; then is 

 the time to apply a surface-dressing of rich soil. As to tempe- 

 rature, they must be treated very similar to Melons — that is, 

 the frames must bo closed early in the afternoon, and the foliage 

 and frame weU sprinkled. This ought to be frequently done, 

 as the plants are subject to red spider. Under such treatment 

 the combs enlarge very quickly, and if reversed when they appear 

 to draw too much one way they become upright and more 

 regular in outline than they would otherwise be. When the 

 combs are full grown more air should be admitted, so as to 

 harden them off before they go to the conservatory. They last 

 a long time in flower, and are among the best of decorative 

 plants. I ought to say that care must be taken that no water 

 lodges in the combs for any length of time, as it is liable to rot 

 them, especially when in a cool place. 



"IThe other plants mentioned above may be divided into two 

 classes ; for instance. Ferns, Coleuses, Balsams, Begonias, &c., 

 require an intermediate heat, such as the season affords now if 

 the frames are closed early, the plants being sprinkled, stopped, 

 and shifted-on when necessary. 



Primulas and Cinerarias may be treated in a cooler place, but 

 potted-on with great care, as they soon snffer from being over- 

 potted, which has several times been pointed out in the Journal; 

 they must, however, be kept nearly close to the glass, and in 

 most cases partly shaded from the sun. The Primnlas when 

 fairly growing in pots by themselves like plenty of air front and 

 back, so as to have a current circulating well among the plants. 

 When they are strong this may be allowed both by night and 

 day, and the same may be said of Cinerarias ; in fact, when 

 the plants become well established they do well on an ash 

 bottom under a shady wall. Here they do not mind the morn- 

 ing sun, and will make very good plants by the middle or end of 

 September, when they may be taken under cover. — T. Record. 



DOINGS OP THE LAST AND WORK FOR 

 THE PRESENT WEEK. 



KITCHEN OAEDEN. 



The recent showers and present genial weather has given an 

 impetus to all crops, including weeds. We have been running 

 the Dutch hoe through the ground between the rows of vege- 

 tables. When the surface of the soil is nearly dry after rain is 

 a good time to do this kind of work. It was necessary first to 

 look down the rows of Peas, Carrots, Parsnips, and similar crops, 

 and to puU out any weeds by hand. Many persons do not take 

 this troable, and some will cut at a weed between the plants 

 with a hoe when it is almost impossible to kill the weed without 

 also destroying the plants, and so making a blank space in the 

 row. There are also carek 88 hoers in another way. They make 

 too long strokes with the hoe, and mies many weeds by burying 

 them just under the surface of the ground. Whether a Dutch 

 or draw hoe is used (if the latter the swan-necked sort is the 

 best), all the ground should be hoed over; weeds may not be 

 seen on all the ground, but it is not possible to make good work 

 unless it is all done. 



We grow our Tomatoes in pots, and the plants are placed 

 under glass, generally against the back wall of the house, where 

 they are not too much shaded. The Tomato does not object to 

 a Uttle shade, but it does not succeed well under Vines when 

 they are closely trained on the trellis overhead. Those who 

 plant the Tomato outside, if they have not done so, should lose 

 no time, as the usual fault with it is that the frnit, in the more 

 northern districts at least, does not ripen sufficiently early to be 

 of good quality, a considerable portion of it remaining green 



