AprU 10, 1S74. J 



JOUKNAij Of HOiiTICUiiXUiiB AND COXTAaE UAi^IiIl^lfiii;, 



309 



first prize was awarded to them. Mr. J. James, gardener to 

 "W. F. Watson, Esq., Redlees, Isleworth, was second with some 

 -good flowers, bat the trusses were small. 



In the next class, that for twelve Show Aariculas (open), Mr. 

 Turner was again first with Green-edges, Alderman Wisbey and 

 Dickson's Duke of Welliugtou ; Grey-edges, Col. Champneys 

 (Turner), Spleudour (Headly), Competitor (Turner); White- 

 edges, John Waterson (Cunningham), Glory (Taylor), Arabella 

 (Headly) ; and Selfs, Chas. J. Perry, Sylph (Headly), and Crown 

 Prince (Turner). Mr. James was a good second. 



In the amateurs' class for six the contest was between Rev. 

 H. H. Dombrain, of Westwell, Ashford, and Mr. James. Mr. 

 Dombrain was a good first with Imperator (Litton), a very pretty 

 green-edged flower ; Col. Champneys and George Lightbody, 

 grey-edged ; Popplewell's Conqueror, White ; and Campbell's 

 Pizarro, a very fine Self. 



In Alpines Mr. C. Turner was first with a very good twelve. 

 ■Chieftain, Beatrice, Nimrod, Selina, Mercury, Ovid, and Brilliant 

 were fine. Mr. James was second, and Messrs. J. Dobson and 

 Son third. 



For twenty-four Pansies Mr. Catley, Claverton Buildings, 

 Bath, and Mr. James, Isleworth, took the prizes in the amateurs' 

 •class ; and in that for nurserymen Mr. Hooper, Widcombe HUl, 

 Bath, was first. 



Of miscellaneous subjects in the plant department there was 

 ■very fine display, and many extra prizes were awarded, which 

 will be found in another column. Messrs. Veitoh sent a splendid 

 «roup of Roses in pots, in which Charles Lawson and Madame 

 de St. Joseph were especially remarkable ; likewise a group of 

 Japanese Maples with beautifully and variously cut and coloured 

 leaves. These were grown in a cold house, and are nearly if 

 not quite hardy, but form fine subjects for conservatory deoora- 

 iion. Acer polymorphum palmatifidum and dissectum are very 

 striking, and so is A. atropurpurenm, which has also the merit 

 of superior hardiness. From the same firm came also a group 

 ■in which was a noble specimen of Epidendrum onemidophorum, 

 and fine examples of Trichopilias and other Orchids ; Rhodo- 

 dendrons Princess Alice, white, and Countess of Haddington, 

 blush, both of the greenhouse class ; a beautiful pan of Primula 

 nivalis ; a large specimen of Anthurium Scherzerianum, and 

 <!Ut spikes of Ceanothus rigidus, a fine blue. 



Messrs. Jackman & Son, of Woking, contributed a grand col- 

 lection of Clematises admirably bloomed, in which The Queen, 

 pale lilac, and Vesta, white, were specially noteworthy, though 

 the plants were not so large as those of the older varieties. 



Mr. W. Paul, of Waltham Cross, had a splendid group of 

 Closes in which Teas Marie Van Houtte, Souvenir de Paul 

 Neron, and Catherine Mermet were finely developed and at the 

 same time delicately beautiful, and may be marked as of the 

 first class. Along with these were numerous fine Hybrid Per- 

 petuals. Mr. Walker, nurseryman, Thame, sent a box of Marc- 

 ohal Niel, but not of the rich golden hue we are accustomed to, 

 and one of Glore de Dijon, fine, and other Tea Roses. 



From Mr. B. S. WiUiams, HoUoway, came a rich group of 

 Orchids, Palms, and other plants ; from Mr. Bull, Chelsea, a 

 collection of Encephalartos and Macrozamias, in which were 

 many noble specimens ; and from Messrs. Staudish, of Ascot, a 

 group of Cinerarias, Acers, and other plants, one of which, 

 Azalea linearis, had singularly-formed rose-coloured flowers, of 

 which the petals, from their position, more resembled coloured 

 leaves than anything else. The plant is stated to be hardy. 

 Messrs. Cutbush, of Highgate, contributed a collection of Cine- 

 rarias ; Mr. James, of Isleworth, one of Cyclamens ; and Mr. 

 Turner, of Slough, beautiful blooms of Tree Carnations. 



Mr. Denning, gardener to Lord Londesborough, besides the 

 fine group of Orchids which he exhibited in the class for these, 

 •sent one in which we noticed very fine examples of Odouto- 

 glossum roseum, O. Pescatorei, Oncidium leuoochilum, Cattleya 

 citrina, and MasdevaUia Harryana and Lindeni. 



Prizes were also offered for fruit and vegetables, and caused a 

 fair but not large competition. 



For two bunches of black Grapes Mr. W. Wildsmith, gardener 

 to Viscount Eversley, Heckfield Place, Winchfield, was first 

 with well-kept Lady Downe's. Mr. H. Harris, gardener to G. A. 

 Ashby, Esq., Naseby WooUeys, Rugby, showed very fair Black 

 Hamburgh, for which he had a second prize. In the class for 

 white Grapes the same exhibitor was first with excellent 

 examples of Foster's White Seedling. 



For fifty Strawberries Mr. G. Sage, of the Gardens, Ash- 

 ridge, was first with very fine highly-coloured Keens' Seedling; 

 Mr. D. Pizzey, gardener, Fulmer, Slough, second with the 

 same variety. 



Mr. J. Douglas, gardener, Loxford Hall, Ilford, and Mr. D. 

 Pizzey exhibited Cucumbers, and received equal first prizes. 

 A bundle of very small Asparagus was sent by Mr. E. Clarke, 

 gardener to J. K. HaU, Esq., Sutton, Surrey ; it was awarded a 

 fiecoud prize. 



There was a spirited competition for Broccoli. Mr. E. Clarke 

 was first with Walcheren ; Mr. J. W. Moorman, gardener to the 

 Misses Christy, Coombe Bauk,;JKingstou-oa-Thameo, wa^ se- 



cond ; and Mr. C. Osman, gardener to The South Metropolitan 

 District Schools, Sutton, Surrey, third. There were other ex- 

 amples staged, of which the best was Watta's Excelsior. This 

 was sent with a dish of Dwarf Kidney Bean Canadian Wonder 

 and a basket of Mushrooms, by Mr. Gilbert, gardener to the 

 Marquis of Exeter, Burghley, Stamford, and all three were 

 highly meritorious productions. 



Mr. Jones, Her Majesty's gardener at Frogmore, sent a col- 

 lection of thirty-seven varieties of Apples, three sorts of Pears, 

 and two splendid Smooth-leaved Cayenne Pine Apples. 



A collection of twenty-seven varieties of Apples came from 

 Mr. W. Gardiner, gardener to E. P. Shirley, Esq., Lower Eating- 

 ton Park, Stratford-on-Avon. 



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

 Mr. D. Pizzey, gardener to Sir E. Perry, Fulmer, Slough, sent 

 a box of Cucumbers which was considered like Blue Gown. Mr. 

 Parsons, of Danesbury, sent a dish of Morelles, to which a letter 

 of thanks was awarded. Mr. H. Harris, gardener to Captain 

 Ashby, of Naseby Woolleys, sent a dish of Early Beatrice Peach 

 in splendid condition. The fruit was perfectly ripe, highly 

 coloured, and of excellent flavour. These were considered 

 highly meritorious, and a cultural commendation was awarded. 

 This remarkably early Peach was started into growth on the 

 1st December, and the fruit was ripe on the 31st of March. Mr. 

 Harris says, " Other sorts, such as Early York, Royal George, 

 and others, with the same treatment are only now (April 1.5th), 

 just finished stoning. All trees are planted out and fan-trained." 

 Mr. Hudson, the Gardens, Champion HUl, sent a basket of Lady 

 Downe's Seedling Grapes, which had been preserved in admir- 

 able condition, and to whic^ a letter of thanks was awarded. 

 Mr. Bennet, the Gardens, Hatfield, sent a dish of handsome 

 Strawberries, to which a cultural commendation was awarded. 



Floral Committee. — Dr. Denny in the chair. The subjects 

 submitted to the Committee on this occasion were few, but in 

 proportion to their number the certificates were numerous. 

 Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea, had first-class certificates for Ficus 

 Paroelii, with the leaves finely variegated with white, Oncidium 

 fuscatum, and Cattleya gigas. Crcton ovalifolium with hand- 

 somely marked leaves, Eranthemum reticulatum, and some 

 other plants also came from the same firm. Messrs. Jackman 

 and Son, Woking, sent several Clematises, of which Countess 

 of Lovelace, a remarkably fine semi-double lilac blue, and Mar- 

 quis of Salisbury, single, deep violet purple, had first-class cer- 

 tificates. Lord Giflord, plum-coloured, from Mr. C. Noble, of 

 Bagshot, had also a first-class certificate. A like award was 

 made to Ceterach aureum, a very distinct Fern, shown by Mr. 

 B. S. Williams. 



Mr. William Paul sent a group of new Roses. Diana, bright 

 rose, was very promising ; and Peach Blossom, pale peach, we 

 expect will prove a first-rate globular flower. Messrs. Paul and 

 Son exhibited Cheshunt Hybrid and Madame Lacharme, both 

 of which have been noticed in previous reports. Messrs. Back- 

 house, of York, sent a pan of a charming little Pink called 

 Dianthus glacialis. 



INFLUENCE OF FORESTS. 



Eeeriiayek gives, in his recent work on the influence of the 

 forests, a table of observations showing the temperature of the 

 earth covered by snow during the very cold weather of Decem- 

 ber, 1871, in Bavaria. The fact has been generally known that 

 snow is the best possible protection against the penetration of 

 frost into the earth, and that it is the natural protection of 

 seeds, young plants, and other vegetation against frost. It is, 

 however, satisfactory to be able to refer to the exact observa- 

 tions made on this subject by Ebermayer; and, as an indication 

 of the extent to which snow does protect the earth, it may be 

 stated, for instance, that on the 8th and 12th of December the 

 temperature of the air at Vieima fell to — 26-8° Fahrenheit, 

 while the temperature of the earth beneath the snow was no 

 lower than -f SS-S", and 4 feet below it was 42-8'. So long 

 as the snow lies the variations of temperature under the earth's 

 surface are very slight. — [English Mechanic.) 



THE APEICOT CROP. 



I HAVE here 700 feet of south wall devoted to this esteemed 

 fruit, all covered with three thicknesses of old netting. The 

 three sharp frosts which we had some three weeks back turned 

 the flowers black, and my face a good deal blacker. However, 

 I am no alarmist, and kept still until I could see its real effect, 

 and I am happy to say we shall have a good half crop. The 

 young wood is now coming out strong, appearing to thank the 

 frost for taking o£f a part of their load, and the fruit swelling 

 fast. 



Peaches are not injured at present, and a fine crop is set on 



