July 25, 1878. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
69 
Amongst miscellaneous exhibits we observed boxes of Roses and 
cut spikes of Lilinms, Delphiniums, &c., from Messrs. Stuart and 
Mein, Kelso; weeping Wellingtonias from Messrs. Little and 
Ballantyne, Carlisle ; fine Agaves from Mr, Alexander, jun., Hex- 
ham ; a heating apparatus at work from Messrs, Dinning & Cook, 
Newcastle, the boiler being entirely above ground and the circula- 
tion excellent ; and useful and economical garden structures from 
Mr. John Bowman. 
After the judging was completed an excellent luncheon was 
provided. The Mayor of Newcastle occupied the chair, and was 
supported by the High Sheriff of Northumberland, the Sheriff of 
Newcastle, the Mayor of Yarrow, the Vicar of Newcastle, the 
ex-Lord Mayor of York, and other gentlemen who take an interest 
in the Society’s welfare. Col. Joicey, the President, was unable 
to attend, but he sent excellent fruit for the dessert. The speeches 
were refreshingly horticultural in tone, and the Show was in all 
respects a great success. The second day was declared a holiday 
by the Mayor, the principal tradesmen obeying his mandate by 
closing their shops. The weather was brilliant, and vast crowds 
filled the tents to overflowing. By the exertions of Messrs. Taylor 
and French, the Hon. Secretaries, a hard-working Executive Com- 
mittee, and an industrious Acting Secretary, Mr. Gillespie, the 
arrangements were rendered complete, and all who aided at the 
Show had extended to them the utmost courtesy. 
NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
THE Council of the Royal Horticultural Society have fixed 
the MEETINGS OF THE SocIeEty for 1879 as follow :—January 
14th, February 11th, March 11th and 25th, April Sth and 22nd, 
May 13th and 27th, June 10th and 24th, July 8th and 22nd, 
August 12th and 26th, September 16th, October 14th, Novem- 
ber 18th, December 16th. The Great Summer Show will be 
held on the 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th of May. The Rose 
Show and the Show of the Pelargonium Society on June 24th. 
—— A GARDENER who has recently visited Glamis Castle 
informs us that some of the finest bunches of the DUKE OF 
BUCCLEUCH GRAPE that have ever been produced are fast 
advancing to maturity in the vineries there. They are large, 
handsome, full, well-shouldered bunches that even Mr. John- 
ston may be proud of. This Grape does not spot to any 
extent at Glamis, but it gives some trouble by the berries 
cracking. 
—— THE weather in the north of England has for some 
time past been extremely hot and dry, and rain is much more 
urgently needed than in the metropolitan district. When 
visiting the gardens at Lambton Castle, Durham, on the 19th 
inst. we found the ground cracking extensively and the crops 
languishing. No rain had fallen since the flower-garden plants 
were bedded out. The thermometer in the shade was 84°. In 
Lincolnshire we found it still hotter and drier. The crops 
there are shrivelling up, and Apples are falling from the trees 
until they cover the ground. On several days the thermometer 
in the shade has exceeded 90°; and on the 2Istinst. a corrected 
thermometer in the Hon. A. Leslie Melville’s garden at Brans- 
ton registered the extraordinary heat of 94° in the shade and 
120° in the sun. Nota drop of rain has fallen since June 17th, 
and then only a slight shower. 
—— THE ORCHARD HOUSES AT SAWBRIDGEWORTH are 
now well worthy of a visit, and those interested in the culture 
of fruit under glass will derive both pleasure and profitable in- 
struction by a visit to this renowned establishment. The forced 
Peaches and Nectarines are now nearly past, and those under 
cool treatment are beginning to ripen. The Cherry house isin 
perfection, and is of itself a study to those who care to make 
aa acquainted with the finest varieties of this delicious 
it. 
— THE Vegetable Marrows and Tomatoes in the Fulham 
amarket grounds, which were threatened by the continuation of 
Tain in June, are now recoyering, and hopes are entertained of 
a good crop; but French Beans are an utter failure in many 
instances, the rain caused the seed to decay, and what few 
plants struggled to the surface the slugs destroyed. Onions 
are a failure in many places also. 
' -— THE beds of ANNUALS on Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ seed 
grounds at Reading, seen from the Great Western Railway, 
dJook remarkably bright and attractive. The strains of Asters, 
Stocks, Marigolds, &c., appear to be yery good, and there are 
some beds of Nasturtiums which look wonderfully bright. 
The latter being very dwarf and compact ought to be an 
excellent substitute for Geraniums where scarce, and are also 
very useful where variety of bedding plants is required. 
‘They succeed remarkably well on a poor soil, and remain in 
loom a considerable period, very hot and dry weather evi- 
dently suiting them. They belong to the Tom Thumb sectio 
and can be had of the following colours: salmon and maroc n, 
Crystal Palace Gem ; scarlet, King of Tom Thumbs; crims n, 
black, King Theodore ; creamy-white, Pearl ; spotted, rose, and 
bluish-rose, Czerulea rosea. 
THE Royal Water Lily, VICTORIA REGIA, in the aquatic 
house in the Royal Botanic Society's Garden, Regent's Park,.is 
this year unusually luxuriant. From a small seed sown in 
January a plant is produced of gigantic proportions, the six 
grand leaves almost covering the surface of the large tank. 
In a short time this fine plant will produce flowers, and will 
be an object of considerable attraction. Other aquatics in the 
same house are in a most satisfactory condition. 
—— Mr. Noenys of the Victoria Nursery, Beckenham, who 
contributed a very effective group of Palms, Crotons, Ficuses, 
Ferns, and other decorative plants at the Beckenham Ex- 
hibition on Saturday, a year or two since held the charge of 
the extensive gardens of Beckenham Place, where the recent 
show was held. Since Mr. Nunns’ removal from these gardens 
he has built himself several substantial light and useful glass 
houses 60 feet long, in which he grows almost every requisite 
for decorative display. In the first house we visited the roof 
was covered with Stephanotis floribunda, which was blooming 
profusely at Easter and on which at the present time area 
quantity of its waxy white trusses. Underneath are plants 
of Eucharis amazonica plentifully in flower. -A second house 
was well filled with Petunias, Fuchsias, double and single 
Geraniums, Carnations, and other flowering plants. In a 
third we observed an extensive batch of the double Ivy- 
leaf Geranium Konig Albert, which Mr. Nunns considers one 
of the best Iyy-leaves for yases and baskets. Another house 
was partially devoted to Cucumbers, the fruit of which was 
hanging in plenty. We also observed large batches of healthy 
Epiphyllums, young Fuchsias, especially the distinct and 
decorative variety Earl of Beaconsfield, and immense quantities 
of Adiantums Capillus-Veneris, cuneatum, and gracillimum. 
—— THE OAKS in many parts of the country, and notably 
so in Shropshire, present a rather unusual appearance from 
the fact that they are making a second growth. This is very 
noticeable in low-lying moist situations. The young growth 
has completely changed the appearance of the trees, the colour 
now being a mixture of light and the usual dark green. The 
EwMs and other trees are also making a second growth, but 
not in such a marked degree as with the Oaks. It will be 
interesting to note the tinges assumed by the old and young 
growth when changing in the autumn. : 
—— AMERICAN cultivators appear to be using PARIS GREEN, 
which they found a specific against the Potato beetle, for the 
destruction of other insects on plants and trees. In applying 
the insecticide some prefer to mix the green with water, others 
with flour or plaster. Hither is quite effectual. In the one 
case a watering-pot that will hold a pail of water, in the other 
a sieve of some kind is needed. Any tin vessel with holes 
punched in the bottom will serve. A flour-sieve with a cover- 
ing of muslin or paper tied about it answers well enough. To 
twenty parts of cheap flour or plaster add one part of green 
and mix thoroughly. Sift this upon-the leaves before sunrise 
while they are filmed with dew. It is labour and material lost 
to wait until the dew has been in part or wholly evaporated, 
since there is nothing to hold the dry powder and the first 
breeze blows it away. Or-a-heaping tablespoonful of Paris 
gTeen may be stirred into a pailful.of water and applied with 
a syringe or brush, stirring it the while, as the green is not 
soluble in water. . 
—— THROUGHOUT France GARDENING IS PRACTICALLY 
TAUGHT in the primary and elementary schools. There are at 
present 28,000 of these schools, each of which has a garden 
attached to it, and is under the care of a master capable of 
imparting a knowledge of the first principles of horticulture. 
—— As an illustration of GERMAN FRUIT CULTURE as a 
profitable industry, and also as furnishing an illustration of 
the beneficial results that arise from small proprietorships, the 
little village of Werder, near Potsdam in Germany, celebrated 
for the quality of its fruit, is, says the American Cultivator, a 
striking example. The population of this parish is only about 
3000, and its area is 2300 acres, whereof 975 acres are devoted 
to fruit culture. The natural soil in most places is very poor, 
and has only been brought to its present fertile condition by 
the indomitable thrift and perseverance-of its owners. These 
975 acres are distributed among some 550 owners, so that each 
cultivator has, on an average, about 1$ acre of land. The 
