232 BRIEF REMARKS. 



Destroying Weeds upon Walks. — Among the objects of horti- 

 cultural interest at the Industrial Exhibition (Class IX., No. 253) is 

 a machine for destroying weeds, moss, lichens, &c, on gravel-walks, 

 court-yards, &c, invented by Mr. Fleming, of Trentham. This 

 machine may be described as a large wrought-iron boiler, fitted upon 

 wheels, with a fire-place in the centre for the purpose of heating the 

 water to a boiling temperature. Connected with the boiler is a spring 

 valve and delivery pipe, similar to those used upon common watering- 

 carts, through which boiling salt-water is delivered in a continuous and 

 gentle shower, the salt being mixed in the proportion of two pounds to 

 each gallon of water. This, at Trentham, is found to be very effectual, 

 and the expense of the application a mere fraction, compared with the 

 expense of hand- weeding. The contrivance is ingenious ; but if the 

 liquid be applied very hot and strong, where there is grass, box, thrift, 

 or similar edging, some care will be required to prevent its being 

 injured. A small ridge of sand, or any similar article, formed all 

 along the side of the edging, will prevent the water coming into direct 

 contact with the plants. A small ridge is easily made by having a 

 simple machine, similar to what is used by the farmer to sow one row 

 at a time of turnip seed, or scatter bone-dust in the row, &c. A good- 

 sized box of sand or other material thus run along would serve for a 

 considerable distance, and be very readily done. — T. It. 



Rules for Exhibitors and Judges at Horticultural Meet- 

 ings. — During the spring of 1851 I entered to my first situation as 

 gardener in Yorkshire. A very respectable Horticultural Society's 

 exhibition recently took place in the neighbourhood of the place I 

 reside at. Having but lately come, and not taking any articles to 

 exhibit, I was supposed to be so far disinterested; and one of the three 

 previously selected judges not being at liberty to fulfil his engagement, 

 I was solicited to supply the vacancy thus occasioned. In the course 

 of our inspection we had under consideration eighteen collections of 

 Pelargoniums, which included the General Class as well as the Fancy 

 Class. Here a difficulty arose to myself relative to the proper decision 

 to be given upon some collections shown. The following are the 

 particulars : — 



Prizes were offered for the best twelve Pelargoniums (of the large 

 flowering class) and for the best eight of the Fancy Class. Of the 

 former there were two collections of rather old varieties ; but they 

 were admirably grown and in excellent bloom, and large specimens. 

 There were two other collections, much smaller plants, tolerably well 

 bloomed, and the varieties shown were of much better form than those 

 of the older kinds. The difficulty was as follows : The pots in which 

 the plants were grown were of the same size. The collections of older 

 varieties were one year older than the new kinds, and the plants were 

 in consequence larger and better bloomed. But, as before observed, 

 the varieties of new kinds had much superior-formed flowers. The 

 wording of the schedule stating only the best twelve and the best 

 eight brought me into this dilemma — Did the " best " apply to the 

 management of the plants, as being the best plants and best bloomed ? 

 or did it refer to good managed plants (but inferior to the larger ones 



