Jons 25, 1874. 1 



JOUBNAL OP HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



509 



Peru leaves Bprawling over the table ; and indeed, as was 

 observed, it would be mucb better if the stands did not quite 

 rest on the table, and so allow the Fern leaves to droop instead 

 of being flat. I cannot but thiuk, too, that simplicity iu too 

 many cases degenerated into poverty, and that as most dinners 

 take place by gas or caudle light, it should have been remembered 

 that very many of these tables would look excessively poor, 

 when the mauves, lilacs, and blues would be so completely 

 altered. On the whole, however, we have evidently progressed, 

 and the continual insisting upon certain rules has had its eii'ect. 

 We have, too, I hope, seen the last of the barbarism of having 

 plants inserted into the table. The Manager of the Crystal 

 Palace made this a positive disqualification, aud the result has 

 been that it has been found out that Palms can be used without 

 this. They are taken out of the pots, and the roots spread out 

 into moss and fastened, aud in this way can be utilised without 

 the loss of the plants.- — D., Deal. 



KOYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



The last Exhibition for the season took place yesterday, and 

 both plants and fruit were fairly represented ; the former, how- 

 ever, not in such numbers as at the May show, of which we re- 

 marked it was the best the Society had had for some years. We 

 have, however, to notice with regret that one drawback which 

 has been of long standing at these shows — the tardiness with 

 which the awards are affixed to the competing groups, still con- 

 tinues, and although the fruit Judges had given in their deci- 

 sions quite two hours, there was not a single prize card affixed 

 when we left. 



In the plant department Mr. B. S. Williams sent a fine group 

 of six stove aud greenhouse plants, taking the first prize in the 

 nurserymen's class. It included a splendid specimen of Anthu- 

 rium Scherzerianum, with Dracophyllum gracile and AUa- 

 manda Hendersoni in fine bloom. The same exhibitor had 

 also a group arranged for effect, which took the first place 

 in its class, a group of Pitcher-plants of rare merit, aud others 

 of iiue-foliaged plants. In the amateurs' class for stove and 

 greenhouse plants Mr. Ward, gardener to F. G. Wilkins, Esq., 

 Leytou, carried off the first honours. In Cycads Mr. Bull, of 

 Chelsea, was first with a selection from his large store of ihese. 

 He also exhibited a numerous group of new plants, as did 

 Messrs. Veitch. A fine group of pot Roses from Messrs. Paul, 

 ■of Cheshunt, was a conspicuous object in the tent; but the 

 star of the Exhibition was a grand plant of Spiraaa palmata 

 nearly 5 feet in diameter, such a plant as we have never seen 

 before exhibited, nor, size for size, have we ever seen one 

 of this species with such a profusion of its lovely rosy crimson 

 feathers. It was exhibited by Mr. S. Strathan, Waddon House, 

 Croydon. The principal cut flowers were Roses, which Mr. 

 Turner and Messrs. Paul & Son exhibited in their usual good 

 style, the former also sending fine Pinks and Verbenas. 



In Fruit there was a goodly array of Pines, among which were 

 Queens of 5 lbs. 10 ozs. from Mr. Miles, and of 4 lbs. 14 ozs. and 

 4 lbs. 10 ozs. from Mr. Bond; and a Providence of 9 lbs. from 

 Mr. Miles. Of Black Hamburgh Grapes excellent bunches came 

 from Mr. Douglas, Loxford HflU ; Mr. Bones, gardener to D. 

 Mcintosh, Esq., Romford ; Mr. Bannerman, and others. Mus- 

 cats were generally not ripe euoUKh ; the best in this respect, 

 however, apparently being those of Mr. Douglas, who also sent 

 good bunches of Buckland Sweetwater, as did Mr. Johnson, 

 gardener to the Marquis of Ailesbury. Peaches, Nectarines, and 

 Cherries were each represented by a few good dishes. 



BEAD'S SCAELET-FLESHED MELON. 

 I HAVE to thank Mr. J. Allan for his remarks on this Melon. 

 We have both given our experience of it. In our Melon 

 houses it sets badly. Planted with him in frames it is one of 

 the best setters. If this is found to be invariably the case, it 

 will certainly be by far the best Scarlet-fleshed Melon for 

 ■frames in existence. A somewhat similar result was arrived 

 at with the new Melon Little Heath last year. Forced in 

 heat it was quite uneatable ; grown in frames it was very pro- 

 lific and of good flavour. — J. Douglas. 



EDGINGS. 



Edgings for walks may be exceedingly various : but there 

 are very few indeed that will give lasting satisfaction. Grass 

 J6 almost the only one that can be altogether commended for 

 pleasure gardens ; and it is one which, it carefully laid and 

 diligently kept, wUl be sure to please, for it has a good colour, 

 smoothness, regularity, durableuess when not under trees, and 

 harmony with both the architectural and the vegetable con- 

 stituents of ft garden. It furnishes, likewise, the best ground- 

 tint for setting-off the colours of flowers, n.s in a flower garden. 

 As an edging, it should invariably be flat, aud at an equal 



height (not more than half an inch), above the surface of the 

 walk at its margin, with about an inch or even two in depth 

 along the inner line, next the bed or border, to allow for the 

 washing-down of the soil towards it. It must not be too 

 narrow, or it will be difficult to keep out, and the sides will be 

 likely to crumble away. 



Box-edgings are troublesome, liable to great irregularities, 

 apt to harbour insects, and suitable merely for quaint figures 

 and old-fashioned geometrical designs. They are the proper 

 accompaniments of parterres and small flower gardens that 

 are laid-out with numerous narrow gravel walks ; though near 

 the house, in a truly architectural garden, neatly-dressed stone 

 edgings will be still better. Rougher stone, bricks, thick 

 slates, and tiles, may make strong aud durable edgings for 

 kitchen gardens. Thrift edgings, in connection with cottages, 

 are very pretty when perfect. They want replanting, however, 

 every three years, and parts of them frequently perish, leaving 

 the ugliest gap.i, where they have been long grown in the same 

 spot, though the plants should be ever so punctually divided 

 and re-set. The dwarf Gentian ((ientiana acaulie), if planted 

 in double rows, sometimes, in soils that suit it, makes a neat 

 edging. Heaths, also, particularly the common Ling (Calluna 

 vulgaris), mav, when properly trimmed, produce an excellent 

 edging for a Heath garden, or a bed of American plants. The 

 smaller Periwinkle, kept in duo limits, is useful as an edging 

 under trees; as is the common Ivy. Arctostaphylos Uvaursi 

 will be appropriate in the same position as Heaths, and many 

 varieties of Rock aud Sun Rose, though a little too straggling, 

 wUl supply a novel and consistent edging to a border in which 

 masses of stone and rock plants are freely mingled. The 

 Cotoneaster miorophylla is likewise suitable, whether on level 

 ground or among rocks, and will bear a great deal of trimming. 



The most valuable requisites in an edging are evenness, 

 diminutiveness or capability of being regularly trimmed, quiet- 

 ness of appearance or harmony with whatever is behind it, and 

 permanence. In each of these respects, grass will, in nearly 

 all circumstances, except in the kitchen garden, have the 

 advantage. Where it is least iu character is immediately 

 alongside of any rocky surface. There the common Heath, 

 undressed, would be most expressive and characteristic. 



Of late years it has become the fashion, iu many cases, to 

 put edgings to beds, whether these be filled with dwarf shrubs 

 or with flowers. In respect of beds arranged formally, and 

 occupied with dwarf shrubs, as in regular winter gardens or 

 in peculiar positions on lawns, edgings of some dwarfer shrub 

 than the one employed iu the centre of each, may help to 

 define the beds more clearly, to impart an additional air of 

 neatness, and to secure greater contrast and variety. 



For flower beds, again, the same practice, where a plant of a 

 dwarfer and compaoter habit is used as the edging, may be 

 equally suitable ; and if a decided change of colour be thus in- 

 troduced, the effect may become even brilhant. But the 

 system requires to be pursued with judgment and caution, and 

 in reference more to indifidual beds or small groups than to a 

 regular flower garden. 



A degree of quaiatness, and an appearance of antiquity, are 

 sometimes attained by surrounding large flower beds on lawns 

 with an edging of some shrub or tree, and keeping this duly 

 clipped. I have seen the common Oak and the Turkey Oak 

 thus applied, and kept at the height of about 9 inches, pre- 

 senting a dense mass of leaves in the summer season. With 

 the ordinary materials for a hedge — Box, Yew, ifcc. — or with 

 Ivy, the larger variety of variegated Periwinkle, Cotoneaster, 

 Ling, itc, the formation of an edging of this sort would be by 

 no means difficult ; though its value appears to me to be at 

 least doubtful. 



Ornamental wire edgings of various forms, but generally 

 with the rim curved outwards, are occasionally serviceable in 

 the case of large flower beds, as they may be made the vehicle 

 for displaying several pretty summer climbers that could not 

 iu any other way be conveniently placed upon a lawn. The 

 varieties of Maurandya, Lophospermum, Tropffiolum, and twin- 

 ing Convolvulus, may be instanced as examples of this class. 



And it may not be out of place to mention here, that an 

 edging to flower beds composed- of rough blocks of Larch or 

 Oak, not denuded of the bark, will, if sparingly adapted, 

 answer a most important purpose, by lifting-up certain of the 

 beds, and thus giving greater elevation and distinctness to the 

 plants in them, besides divesting a parterre or a group of 

 everything in the shape of flatness and sameness. Such beds 

 may be raised 1, 2, or even 3 feet above the others, according 

 to the precise circumstances of each case, and the blocks sur- 



