228" 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



I September 9, 1875. 



correct mode of treatment, and unleBS an accident occurs or 

 a mistake is made something more v^iW bo heard of these fine 

 Vines. To a majority of gardeners they are as interesting as 

 the beds, and as well worthy a visit. Go and see them, and 

 produce others, hke.them. With that advice I leave the Vines 

 for a " bit of plant-growing." 



It is only fair to bear in mind that the iJouta here are only 

 two years old, and yet these young plants have already won first 

 prizes, not at mere local shows, but in such competition as is 

 met with at the Regent's Park and Crystal Palace. Mr. Legg 

 was also successlul in carrying away two of the silver cups 

 offered by Mr. Bull at the Show at South Kensington on May 

 12th. On inspecting these plants the visitor is struck with 

 their quick growth, perfect health, and absolute cleaulines.?. 

 They.are grown in a spacious, well-heated, span-roofed house, 

 supplemented by a brick pit, also well heated. Amongst the 

 most striking plants are the Crotons. Their size, health, and 

 colour, combined with age, are worthy of note. Croton Wies- 

 mannii within two yciTs from the cutting is upwards of 4 feet in 

 diameter at the base, and was until recently 7 feet 6 inches in 

 height, but is now shortened, and half-a-hundred cuttings are 

 struck. C. Youngii is of the same age and size, with foliage 

 18 inches in length ; 0. uudulatum and G. angustifolium are 

 4 f€et through and 5 feet G inches in height at seventeen 

 months from cuttings. Croton Johannis struck in December 

 last is -IJ feet hiyh, and fully 3 feet acroes, with leaves 1§ foot 

 long, and beautifully coloured. These are handsomely fur- 

 nished plants, with the foliage almost hiding the pots. C. ma- 

 jestioum, 0. volutuni, and C. spirale are also progressing with 

 equal vigour. The above are a few of the most distinct Cro- 

 tons, and fchould have a place in all collections of stove plants. 

 In the same house is Dipladeuia Brearleyana, unquestionably 

 the finest of the Dipladenias, which had lately thirty-five 

 blooms open at the same time ; last year this plant was in a 

 3-inch pot. Alocaeias, of the same age as the Crotons, are 4 feet 

 through. Diefftnbachia Bauseii has six fine stems 4 feet in 

 heigbt, and D. nobilis has a stem 3 inches in diameter with 

 noble folioge ; the top of this plant is being struck to form an 

 exhibition plant for next year. In the same vigorous way are 

 Dracasnas, AUamandas, Bougainvilleas, &a., cultivated. Ne- 

 penthes are also laden with splendid pitchers ; and the best of 

 the Palme, including Cocos Weddelliana, Diemonorops palem- 

 banicns, Ac, are in admirable condition. Orchids are in the 

 same ordtr of luxuriance, a growth of Dendrobiummoschatum, 

 for instance, being 8_feet in length. Mr. Legg is also trying 

 his hand at Heath culture with a healthy and promising 

 collection. 



The secret of Mr. Legg's success lies in unchecked supplies 

 of water to the roots of his plants, also in the atmosphere, and 

 a constant use of the sponge. He uses no insect- killers be- 

 yond soft soap, and this in the form of a preventive. It is 

 impossible to find plants more clean and healthy than are 

 these. Enough has been said to suggest that this small gar- 

 den is worlhy of a visit. It has been wholly remodelled within 

 the space of two years, and is a laudable example of %vhat can 

 be accomplished by hard work and indomitable perseverance 

 when combined with sound taste. In this little place Mr. Legg 

 has won great success as a gardener, aided, however, not a 

 little by the liberality of his employer, who erjoys his garden, 

 and is willing that others should enjoy it also. 



Owner and gardener are alike deserving thanks — the one for 

 his kindness and the other for his skill in making that kind- 

 ness a treat to the numerous visitors. — W. 



MIGNONETTE FOR SPRING DECORATION. 



Few plants are more charming in the early months of 

 spring than well-grown examples of this fragrant and popular 

 flower. It is enjoyable at all times and under every form of 

 culture, from the familiar bed in the summer garden to the 

 fine pyramids of pot-culture which are produced by skilled 

 adepts. But in no form is it more useful than when produc- 

 ing its dense healthy clusters in small pots as used by the 

 decorators of Covent Garden for the adornment of window 

 boxes and other modes of domestic ornamentation. Many 

 are the attempts to produce these healthy pots, and it must be 

 added many are the failures. These failures arise mainly 

 from two causes — viz., growing the plants too closely, whereby 

 they become drawn ; or watering them too freely in the winter, 

 when they become diseased and die off. Yet these pots of 

 fragrance are easily producible if the following points of 

 practice are strictly attended to. 



The present is the best time to sow the seed for spring 

 blooming, which should be in 48-pot3 well drained. The soil 

 should consist of equal parts of turfy loam and well-rotted 

 cow dung. Press the soil down rather firmly, and sow the 

 seeds thinly on the surface, and cover them slightly with fine 

 soil. Plunge the pots in a cold frame in ashes within 8 inches 

 of the glass, placing a piece of slate under each pot to prevent 

 the roots from penetrating through the pots. Water rather 

 sparingly till the seed germinates. When the seedlings are 

 large enough to handle thin them out to about twelve plants, 

 after which only allow six to remain, keeping the strongest, 

 after which tbey should have very little water. Give abun- 

 dance of air night and day, and leave the lights off altogether 

 on favourable occasions. Discontinue watering from the 

 latter end of November till the latter end of February. This 

 is where the secret of success consists, for if they are watered 

 through the winter they become drawn, and the result is 

 weakly plants and little bloom. Never mind the plants flagging 

 a little, which sometimes they will do when the sun is powerful 

 on them. In March they should be taken out of the plunging 

 material, but still be kept in the frame close to the glass. 

 They will now require liberal supplies of water, and must not 

 be allowed to become dry. As growth progresses place a thin 

 neat stick to each of the plants, which will admit the air 

 amongst them and allow the lateral shoots to become strong. 

 When in full growth give liberal supplies of liquid manure, 

 especially after they have set their bloom. 



The points to attend to are firm and rich soil, all the light 

 and air possible during the winter months, little or no water 

 for two months after the plants are fairly established, and 

 abundant supplies when spring growth has fairly commenced. 

 If the pots are plunged iu ashes only a little covering on the 

 glass is needful to preserve the plants from frost. By this 

 mode of procedure are the compact and sturdy Covent Garden 

 plants produced. — A. Y. 



DUNDEE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



Since the enlarged views and enterprising spirit of the Com- 

 mittee culminated in the magnificent encampment in the Baxter 

 Parkin 1867, Dundee has taken the lead in Scottish horticul- 

 tural shows. Superior displays of fruit may be seen at the 

 Edinburgh and Glasgow Shows, but in flowers and vegetables 

 Dundee stands ahead of these cities. Edinburgh offers -£800 in 

 prizes for its international show which comes oli shortly ; Dun- 

 dee, in keeping with its enterprise, offers i'lOOO iu prizes at its 

 international, fixed to come off next year. 



The Fete, extending over three days, came off in the High 

 School grounds, in the very centre of the town, and was held 

 partly in the High School itself and in three huge marquees. 

 The central one, devoted to flowers, was .SOO feet iu length by 

 40 in width, 35 feet high in the centre and 8 feet at the sides. 

 Ttie marquee allotted to fruit measured 100 feet iu length by 45 

 in width, and 35 feet high in the centre, while the marquee for 

 vegetables was of the same dimensions. The entries were as 

 follows— Pot plants, 245 ; cut flowers, 458 ; fruit, 450 ; vegetables, 

 484 ; dessert tables, 3. Total, 1640. 



A brilliant assemblage of the rank and fashion of the town 

 and neighbourhood were present on Thursday morning at the 

 opening ceremony. The Earl of Airlie made a thoughtful and 

 eloquent address, and formally declared the Exhibition opened. 

 At the dinner in the Royal Hotel, where James Teaman, Esq., 

 M.P., the President, presided, addresses were delivered by the 

 Earl of Airlie and Lord Kinnaird, Lord Lieutenant of Perthshire, 

 and others. The Fete was formally closed on Saturday evening 

 by Baillie Macdouald, one cf the Vice-Presidents, iu presence of 

 a large gathering of the visitors. 



Notwithstanding the very extensive and unhappy strike which 

 has prevailed for the last six weeks with 12,000 hands idle, and 

 from 30,(500 to 40,000 people directly affected, and thousands of 

 others materially affected, and those iu work as&isting iu sup- 

 porting those on strike, about 11,000 entered the gates, and the 

 total income was about L'550. 



Iu flowers the Show was uuexampled, and all the plants were in 

 excellent condition. Among the most commanding was a pot 

 of Lilium auratum grown l)y Mr. James Wilson, gardener to 

 George A. Cox, Esq,, Beechwood, consisting of four noble stems 

 from 10 to 11 feet high, carrying a dozen beautiful flowers each. 

 The challenge cup and £5 for best nine stove plants fell to Mr. 

 McMillan, gardener to Joseph Griraond, Esq., Cochet Castle. 

 Tlie local nurserymen— viz., Messrs. Laird & Sinclair and Messrs. 

 Jolm Stewart i-'Sons, vied with each other in advancing the 

 interests of the Show by sending collections of rare and beau- 

 tiful plants for exhibition, and competing in every department 

 for prizes with no small degree of success. Nurserymen from a 

 distance were conspicuous by the prizes they gained. Ampng 

 these'were Messrs. Dickson & Co., Waterloo Place, Edinburgh ; 



