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JOURNAL OP HORTIOULTtiaB AND COTTAGE GAKDENEB. 



[ Jane 29, 187fi. 



wait another twelvemonths before we had another Bose Show at 

 Exeter. — John B. M. Camm. 



THE SPALDING HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S 

 SHOW.— June '2161 and 2:2nd. 



Amongst those places where horticnltnre may be said to 

 floarish, this metropolis of the " parts of Holland in Lincoln- 

 shire " may well take a place. The fact that bulbous roots form 

 an important part of its commerce, and the natural capabilities 

 of the soil, may have led into that direction, and the presence 

 of some very ardent lovers of flowers has still further increased 

 the taste, so that a flourishing Society now exists whose meet- 

 ings are looked forward to with considerable interest, and form 

 the most notable days in the town's calendar; while the well- 

 known hospitality and kindly feeliogs of all who have to do 

 with the Society give it a charm which in many more preten- 

 tions shows is wanting. A few notes on the Exhibition held 

 there on the 2lBt and 22ud of the present month miy therefore, 

 perhaps, not be unacceptable to lovers of that which far more 

 than angling deserves the name of the " gentle art." 



The Exhibition was held as usual in the picturesque grounds of 

 Ayaconghfee Hall, now tenanted by the estimable President of 

 the Society, C. F. Bower, Esq., and the principal productions 

 were arranged in a tent 180 feet long and about 40 wide. Owing 

 to the backwardness of the season, and the Show being a week 

 earlier than usnal, the number of exhibits was not so large as 

 usual. This was notably the case with Roses, which were few 

 and indifferent; but in nearly every other class the quality of 

 the flowers was remarkably good. Cottagers, indeed, were un- 

 mistakeably behindhand, but this was not to be wondered at 

 when one considers the cold and ungenial weather that we have 

 had, and that they are unable to use any appliances to counter- 

 act the influence of cold and cutting winds. 



The chief exhibitors were Mr. J. Cypher of Cheltenham and 

 Mr. S. House of Peterborough amongst nurserymen, and amongst 

 amateurs Mr. G. F. Burrell, Mr. Bounor, Dr. Stiles, Mr. Garfit, 

 Mr. J. S. H. Wilkinson, and the Rev. B. Beridge. Amongst 

 the plants were as fine specimens of stove and greenhouse 

 plants and Ferns as one would desire to see ; while the method 

 of arranging them on the grass, even though it was a flat surface, 

 was preferable to staging, as the plants were below the level of 

 the eye, and thus were seen to greater advantage. 



As herbaceous plants always form, both as pot plants and cut 

 blooms, a great feature of this Show, one is always sure to find 

 amongst the collections exhibited some of great interest, those 

 shown by Dr. Stiles being models of good cultivation and care. 

 Amongst them were Campanula puUa, a lovely dark violet 

 flower, to which the long green segments of the calyx give a 

 unique appearance; Campanula Hostii, C. caudata, and C. Van 

 Houttei ; Aquilegia chrjsantha, Spirfoa filipendula, Lilium Hum- 

 boldtii. Lychnis Haageana, Delphinium belladonna, and Equi- 

 Betum sylvaticam grown as I have never seen it anywhere else. 

 I had the opportunity afterwards of visiting the little garden 

 where these are grown, and one cannot but feel surprised at the 

 manner in which they are done. I noticed here Morina longi- 

 flora, Catananche cierulea, Eugenia glauca, Centrauthna alba, 

 Campanula grandiflora, Auchusa italics. Campanula urticifolia 

 fl.-pl., Hesperis matronalis (double purple), Habenarianivea, and 

 a vigorous small bed of Cypripedium epeotabile, the American 

 Lady's-slipper. Dr. Stiles's stand of thirty-six varieties of cut 

 flowers of hardy plants was exceedingly tasteful in arrangement. 

 Mr. Ingram of Belvoir Castle also exhibited a fine collection of 

 cat blooms of herbaceous plants, amongst which were the Edel- 

 weiss, Erodium manescavi, Lathyrus Siblhorpii, Onosma tanri- 

 cum, Lupinns arboreus, and many of those already named. A 

 very pretty collection of bedding plants was exhibited by Mr. 

 Wilkinson, and another by Mr. House, the former being neatly 

 arranged in pans and with considerable effect. 



The contest for Table Decorations was very good, and when I 

 say that Mr. Cypher, who is so well known for his taste in these 

 matters, took second, it may be readily conceived that there 

 was considerable taste displayed, and it was so. The cetitro 

 piece exhibited by Mrs. S. F. Burrell was exqnisitely arranged. 

 It was not so much the quality of the flowers as the gracefulness 

 and elegance of the manner in which they were grouped together 

 that made it so charming. The glaring fault of making the top 

 piece heavy had been judiciously avoided, and the introductiou 

 of Grasses and Ferns gave it a very light appearance. It is 

 evident that a better taste in thcFe matters is being developed, 

 and great credit is due to Mrs. Burrell who has set so good au 

 example. Miss Bonner's bouquet for the table was also exceed- 

 ingly pretty. Of the arrangements of the wild fl.iwers so much 

 cannot be said, and there is here great room for improvement. 



The good folks of Spalding have found out that to make 

 flower shows pay something else must be added, and hence a 

 horse show took place at the same time. Of this I cannot be 

 expected to say anything, and I have only to add that delightful 

 weather tended to make everything agreeable, and I hope en- 



abled the Society to score a successful innings. Nothing could 

 be better than the arrangement by which the membwrs of the 

 Committee were told off fur various duties, nor the heartiness with 

 which they carried out those duties. A plan of the tent was also 

 drawn with the position of the different exhibits, so that there 

 was no difiiculty in seeing where the Judges had to go to, and 

 to those who have lately had the pleasure (?) of judging at some 

 shows this will be appreciated. Altogether Spalding sets an 

 example which it would be well if many other places were to 

 follow. — D., Deal. 



NOTES AND GLEANINaS. 

 We remind our readers that the thirty-third anniversary 

 dinner of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution takes 

 place to-morrow at the Albion Hotel, Alderagate Street, under 

 the presidency of Dr. Hogg. The claims of this institution 

 for the support of horticulturists are so generally admitted 

 that it is needless to reiterate them. We trust that the approach- 

 ing gathering will be more than usually suoceseful, and that a 

 substantive accretion to the funds of the institution will restilt 

 from the efforts which are being made for a purpose in all 

 respects so laudable and eo deserving of support. 



At the Crystal Palace Rose Show, which opens to- 

 morrow, the 30th inst., a good display i» anticipated, the sunny 

 weather of the last few days and the preceding showers afford- 

 ing hope that the blooms will have advanced to exhibition 

 form. Last year the Show was four days earlier than this 

 year, but vegetation last year was at least seven days earlier 

 than it is this year. Still rosariana are expecting goad compe- 

 tition and a enccessfnl gathering. 



" 0. A. B., Sandhurst," writes for the enconragement 



of amateurs, that he has gathered thirteen quarts of British 

 Queen Strawberries from about six dozen pots forced in his 

 orchard house. Several of the fruit weighed above IJ oz., and 

 many above 1 oz. From thirty to thirty-six hemes quite 

 filled the quart pot. The plants were potted in G-inch pots 

 early last summer ; placed first under a north, subsequently 

 under a south wall ; transferred to the house in November, 

 and placed on shelves immediately under the glass in Febrnary. 

 Watered regularly once a-week with liquid manure. 



We have received from Messrs. James Carter & Co. a 



basket of Porter's Excelsior Potatoes as the produce of one 

 root. The weight is 3J lbs., and many of the tubers are of 

 exhibition quality. They are perfectly ripe, having had the 

 protection of glasa to shelter them from the inclement weather, 

 but no artificial heat has been afforded them. 



Hardy Palms Flowebinq at Glasnevin. — There are 



two fine specimens of Chamferops in the grounds at Glasnevin. 

 One of these in rather a sheltered position has repeatedly 

 flowered ; the other in a more exposed situation not natil this 

 year. The interesting feature of the matter is that the flowers 

 turn out to be of a different sex from those of the other, so 

 that we may expect shortly to chronicle for the first time the 

 fruiting of a Palm in the open ground in this country. — (Irish 

 Farmers' Gazette.) 



SNAILS DESTROYING WALL FRUIT. 

 The case of " P. M." is a difficult one to reply to satisfac- 

 torily ; and while doubtless many will be willing to give advice, 

 few, it is feared, will be able to advance an acceptable remedy. 

 I was once troubled with squirrels coming over a wall and 

 eating the fruit, and I baffled them by adopting the same plan 

 that is often adopted to keep boys and other marauders on 

 the right side of a wall. I placed along the top of the wall a 

 coping of common mortar, sticking it full uf broken glass. 

 Tlie mortar quickly dried and the glass became firm, and I 

 am not aware that a squirrel ever afterwards came over the 

 wall, but I have many times seen them at the top as if " feeling 

 their way." The wall being high the coping of mortar and 

 glass waa not so much seen as to be objectionable. The same 

 plan — the glass being put in perhaps a little more closely — 

 would, I think, stop snails. I offer this for the consideration 

 of " P. M." Sticking in the glass is a little tedious, but when 

 once done the barrier lasts for many years, especially if the 

 mortar is good. — W. B. J. 



I KNOW what will stop snails from crossing a wall — at any 

 rate, it prevents them from orawliug up one from the bottom, 

 and that is coal tar. The difficulty is, that although it does 

 not dry quickly, still it does become dry, and more needs to be 



