MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 253 



[On receiving the above communication we were in company with Mr. Groom. 

 of Walworth, who has raised numerous valuable seedlings : that gentleman most 

 obligingly gave us his mode of raising seedlings. — Mr. Groom observed, that if 

 the seed be sown early in autumn, the foliage becomes so far advanced before 

 winter as generally to damp off; he therefore does not sow before the end of 

 November, and he finds that the foliage then pushing forth continues to grow 

 without any check till summer, and thus the bulbs attain a good size the first 

 season. The seed is sown in a pot of rich sandy loam and peat, and is placed in 

 a cool frame, taking care to keep the soil just moist. When the plants have 

 completed their growth, he transplants them very carefully at a suitable distance 

 apart. At the second time of planting out they are planted in the open bed, as 

 done to established kinds. The period before blooming depends usually upon 

 the treatment given; sometimes they bloom the fourth year, and break at the 

 sixth or seventh. — We refer our correspondent to excellent articles on the Tulip 

 in several numbers of the Cabinet during the present year, viz., March, July, 

 &c. — Conductor.] 



On a Defective Dahlia Bloom. — In Dahlia shows, whether preference is 

 given to a flower that is beginning to decay at the back, though good in every 

 other respect, or one that is fresh, but has what is termed a hard eye. There 

 seems to be some dispute down in the North relative to it : sometimes the parties 

 judging decide one way, and sometimes the other. 



Keswick. A North Countryman. 



[Certainly the preference should he given to the first-mentioned flower : it 

 appears to have possessed every desirable property, only past its meridian; whilst 

 the latter had a very glaring defect. — We have drawn up in part some regula- 

 tions for Dahlia judging, which we shall finish soon, and give in an early num- 

 ber. The mode of procedure, we are persuaded, will, wherever attended to, lead 

 to a proper decision as to the best flower, or stand of flowers ; and thus, we 

 trust, prevent disputings. — Conductor.] 



On Enulisu Irises.— I see a fine collection of English Irises, colours given, 

 ftc., are adveitised in the October Cabinet by Messrs. Lockhart, of Cheapside, 

 London. I have never seen any of the kinds, and should be glad if the Con- 

 ductor of the Cabinet would give me his opinion of them, as to their merits. 



Whitehaven, October 15. 1840. G. B. Watson. 



[We have seen the collection grown in an open bed, and they were highly 

 beautiful. We can strongly recommend them to our conespondent, as well 

 deserving a place in every flower garden, their variety and beauty being very 

 attractive. They grow about two feet high. — Conductor.] 



On Hyacinths, &c— In the last month's Cabinet I observe the excellent 

 catalogue of bulbs offered by Messrs. Lockhart. I am desirous of having a 

 quantity to grow in the open bed, as well as two dozen for glasses. There are 

 so many beautiful sorts described that I scarcely know which to select. So I 

 may have real good double flowers in each class of colour. I am informed that 

 Messrs. Lockhart grow them by acres near London, and far superior to any 

 other collection in England : they have an opportunity of making a better selec- 

 tion in proportion. I should be much obliged if they would give me the names 

 of twenty-four best for glasses, and fifty of the best for open bed culture. If 

 nut too much trouble to them, I should be glad if the list extended to one hun- 

 dred kinds. I don't care about newest sorts, if not of superior quality. I wish 

 to have the best propertied flowers. I will thank them to give it me for the next 

 month's Ei.oricultural Cabinet, to afford me the opportunity of planting, &c. 

 early in November. Clericus. 



Near Lincoln, Oct. 20th, 1840. 



We have great pleasure in replying to the query of ' Clericus," and at the 



