THE GARDENERS 



CHRONICLE 



M-f 



ith 



1^ ypikes of flowers ; baccolabium guttatum, and many 



A span-roofed Heath-house was v 11 filk 

 rifa plants of that interesting genus. Heaths are 

 canted with great skill here ; a fact suificientlv 



by the many prizes they have obtained at 

 Mt metropolitan flower shows, during the season. 

 fl* next thing that attracted particular attention was 

 a fine stock of the beautiful Rhododendron javanieum, 

 gf which there are here some hundreds of plants of 

 (Sfcrem sizes, from 6 inches to 2 feet high. The 

 Camellias in the Camellia-house are well covered with 

 liver-buds, and a fine bloom may be expected. 



IhMe were : he tailed Angrec Angracum , high, according to its diameter: the creator the 

 fine plant of Acndes qmnquevulnera, with diameter the greater should be the height The dZ! 



be lees than 2 \ inches, 

 from Ith to i t h of an 



JUT. O. Broadhaart. || r . Wm 



blandy, Esq.. Mr. Herman. T. 

 E*q., die. For Taluab'e n-.tveUia* 



F. J. 





nuii u^odu uie nan ; cue larger the ball tlie broader 

 should be the guard-petal. What we aim at is proper- 

 tion. The different parts of the flower should bear 

 such relation to muk other that the whole may be 

 uniform, and in nothing offend. 



« 3d. Substance : the petals should be thick and 

 smooth. 





FLORICULTURE. 



The Hollyhock. — Few autumn flowers are more 

 valuable, for the general purposes of decoration, than 

 the Hollvhoek ; and I am dad to see that, within the 

 |ut year or two, the tide of fashion has decidedly set in in 

 jtofaVottr. This fine flower has been long neglected, and 

 had much to complain of; but now its merits are 

 Wpnning to be fully recognised. It well deserves all the 

 attention that it is likely to receive; for, except the Dahlia, 

 utere shall we find its equal in point of i auty at the 

 n in which it blooms. It is hardier than the 



"4th. Spike: this should never exceed 7 feet The 

 longer the footstalks, in moderation, the better, as the 

 bulk of the spike is in proportion to their length, and 

 the greater the bulk the finer the object. 



"The following are 12 of the best flowers I have 

 seen 



|MMft<i«, it N. 



E*J *pb Hunt, 



of the day to Mr. Hum , SZ^JSAj? ^ * U J^** 



for a collection of *eedlin« S^L W,?^, ••»««" P * 



vi. _ _ •■»•«, o«ffet \\ ilium- fl -wrr-. murtlT 



hit own, and com M « 1 4«g the K r%% ^ t p tfTVariat* ITi 



bem Tne Hose, the Tulip, the V ^« „JJ "v!2LE a 



with t.ndn , ; bu these, Sd to £& *£* * £* 



gLdtobeabletoaoM a, w claimant, r,»., the s^et WlhJP 



Comet. 



Enchantress. 

 Magnum Konum. 

 Mr. C. Baron. 

 1 »bscura. 

 Queen (Baron's). 



Rosea alba, new. 

 Rosea granditlora. 

 Itoay Queen. 

 Sulphurea peifecta. 

 Walden item. 



Dahlia, and will produce a goodly display for a con- 

 tUer&ble time after the beauty of "Autumn's king" 

 hm been cut off by frost. It also looks well in situations 

 in which the Dahlia would be less suitable, as, for 

 balance, a-ainst walls ; and I have seen the lofty front 

 of in old-fashioned conservatory rendered exceedingly 

 fsj by placing a Hollyhock against the clumsy 

 a divisions of the sashes. Like most other 



Watfor i -urprfio. 



In analysing and comparing the foregoing defini- 

 tions, we find those of Mr. Chater and Mr. P* ns so 

 nearly agreeing as scarcely to require comment Mr. 

 Downie, however, although agming in regard to sub- 

 stance, &c., differs in the essential points of size and 

 form. This is the distinction : the Scotch florists attach 

 more importance to size ; tin y contend also fora higher 

 ball and a narrower guard-petal. After constructing 

 various models, examining numerous flowers, and duly 

 weighing these points, we venture to give the following 

 proportions : height of ball, 1 J inch ; diameter of 

 ball, 24 inches ; extension of guard-petal beyond ball 

 I inch. This is given as the smallest dimensions 

 admissible. We would not fix a limit to the increase ; 

 but whatever it may be, it should hold the 

 proportions." 



Mr. Paul gives a sketch in outline illustrative of his 

 idea of a good Hollyhock, but in this particular his 

 opinion and mine is somewhat at variance ; and I hope 

 to be able to point out soon what shape 1 consider a 

 good Hollyhock should p 9ft. In addition to the 

 points already named, Mr. Paul says— " I would state 

 that the colour, whatever it may* be, should be clear 

 , and decided. In Striped, veined, mottled, or shaded 

 az x.__ .*,%__ -__.,_. <. ,, , . . A , flowers, the ground and overlaying colour should be 



norets ot which it is composed should be thick, dense, s 0rr ,, ( i nnr „,„.> , 1 T ***„ . , ri ,' ! ?/' 



on th* othra* on/ fl nt; w .i r r r ■ ' serrated, nor curled. I should like, also, to see the 



on the edges, and entirely free from fringe or floweP8 ..fincrea* 1 substance, free from nneW «,] 3 



things, since more attention has been paid to this 

 Bower, it has greatly improved in shape, and some 

 of the finest varieties raised of late years may be 

 laid to be tolerably perfect in this respect. There is, 

 however, yet ample room left for amendment, and 

 is some of the less initiated in the science of flori- 

 culture may be anxious to know what constitutes a good 

 Hollyhock, I venture to furnish them with the following 

 ^formation on the point taken from Mr. Paul's excellent 

 Jestise* on the history, properties, and culture of this 

 bwer— a shilling's-worth which every lover of Holly- 

 socks should possess. 



same 



1 



tbole 

 Mature 



0( 



2. The principal or guard-petals should not extend 

 **e than from a quarter to half an inch beyond the 

 * of the centre : they should be thick and flat, 

 ■rnung a circle, and entirely free from notch or 



fcrraturc. 



Kt 3. Size is a distinct property : when equal in other 

 aspects, the larger the better.' 



"The above « characteristics * are supplied by Mr. 

 Downie, and to this definition he appends the following 

 «, which he considers 12 of the best Scotch flowers : 



U Captain Peat (Downie and { 7. 

 Laird's), light purplish 



1. General Bern (R. Veitch's), 

 virid scarlet. 



•. Illuminator (Downie and 9. 



Uird's), deep crimson 

 *. Lord Widoughby d'Eresby 10. 



(Downie and Laird'a), 

 . J* 1 *^ ruby red. 



T2?^ iier < Downie and I 11. 

 Latrd'a, nearly black. 



*\ Scotia (Gemmell'B), 

 dark maroon. 



« A« xl 



1 oiE Hobtichltcral, fi«jtf. 24.— Amoc: v^anta, tfaar* wta 

 nothing particularly striking, except some we 1 grown spaed, 

 mens of Fuchsias. M« -»r* Backhouse obtained the 1st prise 

 tor the best six dissimilar rerietii-x, with F*ir H .*anioud 

 C>mte de Beaulieu. Blisiberh, Sir John FaUtuff. \hm ( v^qbI* 

 and Scarktina Uedexa ; 2d, Mr. Edward, with Kotauth very 

 fine). Elegance, Sir J. PMlstarT, Inaccessible (esrra), Dr. Smith 

 and Prince Arthur; ;; 1. Mr. Edward, with Purity. Efttean, 

 lvossuth, Prin Arthur. OUibota Grandirtora, and SnMi's 

 Alpha. For the best three Fuchsias : 1st, J. Ho^er, » ^, with 

 Minerva Superba, Kossuth, and another ; 2d, Mrs. Supjlton, 

 W i , wapoloon. r .ralhna, and Elegans. And for the heat 

 jingle uiia: Ut. Mrs. Srapylton, with Peatl of England; 



2d. Mr*. Srapylton. with Dr. tnlth ; 8e, J. Roper, Bmj., with 

 Mnyles Purity (fi u »). There wns a tray of sis S.-diing 

 letuniat, with no name attarhed. one of wh»rh wa« a Tery 

 beautiful variety, nfftod subi'anoe and outline, and striking 

 in colour. Or Dahlias, there was a rery sttpeisor hhow, and 

 many of the blooms ware inexellent character. 1: is: 5>e 

 regretted that th • northern and unuthern growers of the I>«hli» 

 cannot be br«>u«ht to< tetogrtt.ir . this would create mora 



spirited competition, and, we do t aot, lead to tasproTeeaaot 

 in the culture oi thin •■ Kinjc of Autumn," by stteuUUni: botll 

 nurseryman and amateur to excel his compel it«»rx In >etr pro- 

 ductions. Why not ectaluVh one grand Dahlia « ittao f 

 itinerant in iti character, holding its meetings at Yo*k, lKrhv. 

 Manchekter, lJinnnigham, or at such other places as might 

 be agree 1 upon at the most coi it for the n rthern 

 and southern florists to meet and compete toge r ! The) 

 principle his been acted upon by the 1 <il p growers, and found 

 to work well, and why not with the Da a t This, we submit, 

 is worthy of con*i ration, and we shall be glad to sat Ilia 

 matter taken up l>y some of the principal of our southern and 

 northern florists. Mr. 0. Edward, of York, exhibited soma 

 fin» flowers in his stand of twenty-four dl'sirmUr blooms, 

 which comprised the following varieties : v|ueen of Lilacs. 

 Crocus, Princess Louisa, Nil Despirandum, Mrs. Bacon, Earl 

 of Clarendon, Champion. Elizabeth. Hero, Mrs. Hansard. Duko 

 of Wellington (ex'ra), D ..rado, Venus, Lord Mayor, Silver 

 Florin, tthylook. Queen of Dahlias, Kelson's (a promising 

 Mower), George Ohnny, Irnbricata, Admiral, K-vnes' Magni- 

 ficent, John Edward, Mr. Seldon, and Black Diamond. J. 

 Pease, Esq., Darlington, came second, And Messrs. Hack house. 

 Of York, third, with Ueneral Negrier, 8ir F. Bathurst, YeMow 

 Standard, Duke of Cambridge. Mrs. Bacon, C us, Knser, 



Triumph, 8byloolr f Beeswing, Queen of Lilacs, Purple Stan- 

 . dard, Privateer, Duke of Wellington, Lord Mayor, Kl l)«»rado, 

 ! Qooen of the Bast, Magnificent. John Msvard, Mr. Haldon, 



Nonpareil, Optimus, the Hero, Princes* Louisa, and Mrs. 



Seldon. For the best IS Blooms : 1st, Mr. Edward, with Mrs. 



Macon, Hero, Queen of Dahlias, Nil I)e«perandum, Q en of 

 Lilacs, MagulHceut (Kf>ne«.'), Dukeof Wellington, <ieo. Glenny # 

 Earl ot Clarenioo, Lord M«yor, Mr. Seldon, John Edward* 

 Mrs. Anderson, Princess Louisa, Silver Florin, Kdward'i 



awarier habit. We look for great improvement in this MagniBcent. California, and Bhjlock. Twelre blooms : 1st, J. 

 latter point, viewing the plant merely as an object of ^icnardsoo, Bsq.; fd, Mr. Mar ley, Darlington; 8d, Mr. J. 

 garden decoration, the height to which it grows is perhaps 



i 



12. 



Napoleon (Pow's), shaded 

 lilac. 



Professor Syme, or Jamie 

 Duff (Downie and Laird's), 

 deep rosy purple. 

 Bpeetabilis (Downie and 

 Laird'd). fine rosy peach. 

 Sir David Wedderburn 

 (Carrie's), dark choco- 

 late. 



Susinna (A. Veitch's), 

 shaded white. 



William (A. Veitch's), 

 purplish maroon. 





Mr 



no disadvantage, but often a recommendation. When 

 rising behind dwarfer plants, it indeed presents a noble 

 appearance, and may justly be styled the monarch of the 

 garden. But as a florist's flower, we hold this to be an 

 objection, and to the correction of this point the at ion 

 should be directed. It is probable that important results ] 

 would arise from hybridising with the dwarfer species, 

 or saving seed from the dwarfest varieties." 



I quite agree with Mr. Paul that, by means of 

 judicious hybridisation, the general appearance of this 

 flower may be considerably altered for the better ; and 

 I hope with him that this point will receive that atten- 

 tion which it demands, /. E. 



East FoarABsniRE Hoa-riccLTCRAL 8ocrETT, SepU 17.— An 

 excellent display of florist and oiher flowers was produced on 

 this occasion ; but we have only been furnished vita a list of 

 the awards, without the names of the subjects for which they 

 were given. 



National Floslccltpral, Oct. 9.— Mr. Staius in tba chair. 

 ITolly hocks were fumUbed by Mr. CJarke ; Dahlias by Messrs 

 ttragg, Pope, Rawling- 1 , and Drummond. Three nioa Fuchsias 

 came from Mr. Dobson, cf Woodlands Nursery, r«Iew>r»b, nnd 



Clarke, Green liaiurnn ton. hi* blooms: Ut, Mr. Anderson, 

 Whitby ;. 2d, Mr. Utter : 8d f II. Watson, q. Twcire f«ncy 

 blooms : 1st, Mr. Edw », with Mrs. Willis, Lola Montes, King 

 Fisher, One in the Ring, Mrs. Hansard, Belle de Peg:, Flying 

 Dutchman, I)r Horner, Miss Pope, Princess Charlotte, Appro* 



Messrs. Backhouse; 3 J, 

 ity Supreme. Mrs. Bacon 



WTltes* 'ThoJrfl *• c j '\"a r 7 "" • «"' uauie irora air. i/ooson. t 



• i ue definition Of a good flower, in my humble I some good Petunias from Mr. Gadd. A nrst-citsas Certincste 



•pinion, is as follows : ..... 



nftv 1 ! Il t* india P en saWy necessary that the petals be 

 oi'f * ubstance > the edges perfectly smooth and even. 

 '. lhe florets occupying the centre mast be com- 

 E5. ^.V f ^nged, rising in the middle so as to 

 ««e a naif globular form, with a stiff guard-leaf ex- 

 "•"ngabout half an inch, or rather more, from the 



norets. 



»• ine arrangement of the ftowers on the stem or 

 ■*« wgnt not to be too thick or too thin. I consider 



the following six varieties perfect flowers ; and 

 I *S*rds their general habits, excelled by none that I 



: Walden Gem, Enchantress, and Pul- 



■J re ever seen 



* miKiitiAita f i> f v 



grandirl 





Ofcito^Tjr en » arranged according to colour : 



***tlon ( , B^nM m0tUe f » Pur P ure » ^»^»ns, new (Cha- 

 ^•C R.r ron,, )> mottled. ter's), purple. 



, «*« and Irinkui,* "> ,%1 * Ro8ea alb ' 1 ' new (Obatert), 

 * Br -MUilt f ■ altno "- mixed colours. 



* 8n » n «i Pinkish .aimo n : 

 C^WI 0»»rcli.m'.) f red. 



aSJ» Bonuux (Baron's), 





mixed colours. 



Bicolor (Chater/s), mixed 

 colours. 



Sulphurea perfecta (Rivers'), 

 yellow. 



Wbite Perfection (Chafer's), 

 white. 



NdeAJIff* defin 't»on 'a from Mr. Parsons, of 



•fcaten,. ~ i • one of the oW est and most successful 

 T£V ul "vators of this flower. 



xh *il. Th'l "' M * sbould be something less than half 



: ^" rs not seen 



«Wo 



^ Or not h fc t~»**io duuuju ue lreeiroin inuen- 



The ball should be from 1 £ to 2J inches 



% 



was awarded to Mr. Drummond, <«f Bath, for a rery beautiful 

 Statice, apparently across between 8. imbrica'a andS. macro. 

 phylla. The same raiser also received a certificate for a bright 

 scarlet Dahlia cni'ed Bob Drummond. I: was well shaped ; but 

 in the flowers exhibited, the centre appeared to be scarcely 

 sufficiently elevated. Two new members were added to the 

 listi, and two more were proposed for election at the next 

 meeting. 



Sydenham FLORicni/rrjaAL, Sept 10.— The 1st prize for the 

 best 12 Dahlias was awarded to Mr. R. Chawner, gr. to 

 G. A. Perian, Esq., for Mrs. and Mr. Seldon, Champion, S.viph, 

 Duke of Wellington, Model, El Dorado, Sir F. Bathurst. John 

 Edwards, Queen of Lilacs. Princess Louisa, and Sir Charles 

 Napier; 2d, to Mr. G. Stukes, gr. to W. D Harling, Esq., for 

 Fearlesa, Beeswing, Optimus, Toison d'Or, El Dorado, 8ir F, 

 Bathurst, Duke of Wellington, Mr. Seldon, Standard of Per- 

 fection, Noopariel, Purp e and Yellow Standards ; 8d, to Mr, 

 R. Thompson, Florist, biackheath. Best 6 : 1st, Air. Jauncey, 

 with Mrs. eldon, Crocus, Ricnard Cobden, Queen of Lilacs, 

 Captain Warner, and Fearless ; 2d, Mr. Gundry. Best 6 

 Fancies : 1st, Mr. Chawner, with Miss Wayland, Jenny Lind, 

 Lidy Granville, Elizabeth, Lady Cuiluro, and Forget- M e- Not ; 

 2d, Mr. Mockett, with Gasparine, Madame Wachy, Flying 

 Dutchman, La Rosa, Lady Gianvilie, aud Dulcis. Fubsias: 

 1st, Mr. Mockett, with Psyche Kossuth, Pearl of England, 

 Don Giovanni, Dr. Grosse, and Sir F. Falftaff; 2d, Mr. Keid, 

 gr. to James Hunt, Esq., with Kossuth, La Carnation, Duchess 

 f Kent, Bianca, Triumph, and Triumphant. Scarlet Gera- 

 niuiiiH : 1st, Mr Stokes, wi'h Tom Thumb, Beckenham, Com- 

 pactum, and Shrublaud ; 2.1, Mr. Pullen, with Mrs. Mayler, 

 Duke of Yurk, Princess Alice, and Tom Thumb. Several 

 other prizes were awarded for Stove and Greenhouse plants, 

 Fruit, Jcc, and al ogether it was an intertsting show ; but we 

 are i»orry to add that it was badly attended. 



Wycombe, Sept. 18— The friends ot this Society will be glad 

 to learn that its funds are in a prosperous state— that several 

 new members were added at this meeting and that altogether 

 the day passed off the best on rec<»rd. Dahlias, in collections 

 of J4, were exhibited by, 1, Mr. Bragg; '~\ Mr. Ford; 3, Mr. 

 Walker. 12 Fancies : 1, Mr. Bragg; 2, Mr. Ford ; 3, A. Lane, 

 Esq. Private growers only : 1, Mr. Shrimpton ; 2, Mr. White ; 

 3. A. Lane, E*q ; 4, Mr. Bond. Greenhoue plants. Fuchsias, 

 Verbenas, hollyhocks, Cut Flowers, Marygolds, Zu.nias, Hoses, 

 Frui s and Vegetables were ail produced $y, and prizes 

 awarded to, Mr. Sangston, Mr. Bond, A. Lane, E>-q., Mr. S. 

 Treacher. Mr. White. Mr. Walker. J. Nash, Esq.. Mr. Green, 



Dorado, Madame Gobert, Sir F. Bathurst, Danerroft Hero, 

 Queen of Primroses Iml>ricata, Fame, and Champion. In class 

 showing, th >mpe<ition was very close, the winning rlowers 

 being chiefly the same varieties as those above-mentioned* 

 Mr. Appleby, of York, showed several Uays of Hollyhocks, 

 principally Chater's varieties. Pansies were g»od for the season ; 

 in fact, we have rarely se*n Mrs. Keck, Duchess of Rutland (a 

 useful flower in ihe. north), Dukeof Norfolk, and France CycoU, 

 in better character. Among the best flowers exhibited, we 

 noticed Duchess of Rutland. Hall's Rambow, Thompson's 

 Excellent, Helen, Trafalgar, Mrs. Harcourt, Lord Harding*. 

 Northern Star, White Seijeant, Lady Constable, Sir William 

 ilerschell, Conquering H« ro, Telegraph, Supreme, Wellington, 

 Addison, M trchioness of Lothian, Vultigeur, Lucy Neal, Cali- 

 fornia, MagnlHcent, lierryer, Duke of Norfolk, Caroline An- 

 drocles, France C> le, Mrs. Jieck, Duke of Norfolk, Helen, 

 Milton, Almanza, 4c. 



Cataloguis have been received, with thanks, from Mr. R. J. 

 Kave, Bury ; Mr. H. Groom, Clapham ; Me«srs. Schofteld 

 and > »n, Knowithorpe; Mr. William E. Rendle, Plymouth, 

 and Mr. John Holland, Middleton, near Manchester. J E. 



Dahlias: Lector. It would be impolitic to publish your letter, 

 well written though it be. In the m tin we agree with yon; 

 and when the flower is again under consideration, we shall 

 take an opportunity of noticing the matter../. E. 



Exhibitions. Want of space has alone prevented the insertion 

 of several reports of meetings, which otherwise would have 

 appeared ; during the past month they have been so nume- 

 rous that to have given all as they occurred would have occu- 

 pied one hall of our columns. Let not those who bava 

 furnished accounts of distant meetings think w« are ungrate- 

 ful for their several favours : tt is our desire to give all ; but 

 that can only be accomplished by patiently waiting until the 

 necessary ro >m tan be afforded for them. /A 



Panbies :IHB. Received with thanks J. E. 



I'ELAtGomvMs : W E R. The Transactions are in the hands of 

 the printer, and will be forwarded to you as soon as pub- 

 lished. They will afford you the information you require. 

 We had Beauty of Montpellier last autumn ; the new variety 

 at your convenience. J E. 



SEEDLING FLOWERS. 

 Fuchsia: JB It. A dark variety ot ife« ultra reflexed class; 

 corolla deep purp)", stout and smooth ; tube and sepals 

 bright crimson. You should not write on the paper in wnich 

 the box is packed. In the operation of opening the package, 

 the writing got so much disfigured and torn that we could 



scarcely make out your initials.* 

 Hollyhock : J Cftater and Son. A remarkably neat flower, of 

 good proportions, smooth in the outline, and in siie below 

 the average. 4 



fli 



iscellaneous 



in early life, gifted with a taste 

 for scientific pursuits, Botany and Horticulture became 

 his favourite* studies. He was one of those who ad- 

 vanced the knowledge of Scotch Botany, and who along 

 with Don and others added many important plants to 

 our alpine Flora. Throughout life he retained a lively 

 and deep interest in Scotch Botany, and his enchanting 

 garden at Canonmills bears testimony to the zeal and 

 success with which he cultivated the rare alpine species. 

 But while Dr. Neill was thus an enthusiastic practical 



