August 22, 1878. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
151 
‘Tadcaster, exhibited a plant of Blechnum interruptum, more 
curious than beautiful, and a botanical certificate was awarded. 
Some fine Dahlias were exhibited by Mr. Turner, Royal Nursery, 
Slough, to two of which, Helen Macgregor and Lord Beaconsfield, 
first-class certificates were awarded. The former is a flower of 
great refinement and symmetry ; the colour is rosy purple, deepen- 
ing at the tips of the petals, which are cupped, and in the centre 
of the flower are nearly white ; very chaste and unique. The latter 
is a very large and massive flower ; colour very rich maroon. 
John Ashby, brilliant scarlet, was very fine; also Amy Robsart, 
purplish lilac. A creamy white Pompon Dahlia, Lady Blanche, is 
remirkable by its much-cupped almost quilled petals ; it is very 
distinct. Messrs. John Laing & Co., Stanstead Nursery, Forest 
Hal, exhibited Begonia Mrs. J. H. Elwes. Itis of the B. Pearcei 
type, and bears some resemblance to B. Moonlight ; free and 
attractive. Mr. H. Cannell sent a splendid collection of thirty-six 
varieties of Verbenas ; both trusses and pips were extremely fine, 
ani almost every shade of colour except yellow was represented. 
A vote of thanks was deservedly awarded. Mr. Cannell also sent 
some well-marked French Marigolds. 
Mr. G. F. Wilson, F.R.S., sent cut blooms of Lilium Leeshmanni 
haying a slender stem, narrow leaves, and a richly spotted flower ; 
glso the true and beautiful L. lancitolium rubrum, which is one 
of the best Lilies in cultivation. It was greatly admired, and the 
thanks of the Committee were voted to Mr. Wilson. Mr. Green, 
gardener to Sir G. Macleay, Bart., Pendell Court, Bletchingley, 
‘sent some very fine flowers of Begonias grown in the open border ; 
also a hybrid Nymphza, Regina; Gladiolus dracocephalus, and a 
species of Carica having pure white Bonvardia-like flowers in 
umbels and immense palmate leaves, one of them being 2 feet in 
diameter. A vote of thanks was awarded. A similar award was 
granted to Mr. Yates, Sale, Cheshire, who sent a fasciated spike of 
Lilium auratum containing about fifty flowers. Similar examples 
haye frequently been produced in Mr. McIntosh’s fine collection 
at Duneeven. 
From the Society’s garden at Chiswick came a collection of 
Abutilons and cut blooms of Phlox Drummondi, Dianthus Hedde- 
wigii, Zinnias, and Asters. The most distinct and useful of the 
Abutilons are Lemoinei, yellow; Boule de Neige, white; Rosz- 
florum, rose; Beranger, striped ; Vexillarium, crimson, foliage 
variegated, and branches drooping ; and Darwini tesselatum, foli- 
age finely marked and flowers good. 
GENTIANS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
INQUIRIES haying reached us relative to Gentians and their 
culture, we extract the following from Sutherland’s “ Hardy 
Alpine and Herbaceous Flowers,” an excellent work published 
by Messrs. Blackwood & Sons, which treats fully and soundly 
on the subject to which it is devoted :— 
“Gentiana (Gentian)—An extensive genus, comprising some 
of the loveliest of hardy herbs. The species are mostly inhabitants 
of alpine homes ; some of them, indeed, flourish well only at the 
atmost limits of vegetation on the great alpine ranges of the 
world and the arctic regions, and such are difficult to cultivate 
“for any length of time, however closely the circumstances of 
their wild homes may be imitated ; but they are not a numerous 
‘class, though they certainly are in a few cases amongst the most 
brilliant of the genus. 
“ Another group, more numerous and less difficult to manage in 
cultivation, are found in nature to prefer high mountain pastures, 
‘dry or moist, in gravelly soil in which vegetation is scanty, and in 
deep rich alluyial earth or peat where plants become comparatively 
‘Tuxuriant and more numerous. These are the most useful species, 
because the least fickle and coy under the restraints of cultivation ; 
-and amongst them the brilliancy of the finest of the high alpine 
gems is closely approached. 
“ All that may be cultivated in beds or borders flourish well in 
light, rich, sandy loam; well drained it should always be, but 
during the growing season at least it should be also moist. The 
high alpine species, requiring rockwork or pots, flourish in the 
same soil if the addition of a little peat and a good deal of gritty 
matter is made to it; but the more special requirements of these 
will be alluded to hereafter more particularly. They are propa- 
. gated by division and by seed. The former is a simple method 
“swith such species as verna and acaulis, which form turf-like 
masses not easily destroyed when cut up into even very small 
pits ; but with such as lutea more care is necessary. It and some 
of its allies form deep descending roots and thick rootstocks or 
-crowns, composed of enly a few centres of vitality in even long- 
established plants, and they should not therefore be reduced 
minutely. Division should be done in early spring as soon as 
growth commences actively. Propagation by seed is a very 
tedious business, requiring some facilities in the shape of cold 
frames or handlights, and involving some considerable exercise 
of care and patience ; but when large increase of those sorts that 
are difficult to divide is determined upon, seed must be resorted 
to as the only means whereby it can be obtained. 
“The seed of most of the Gentians is slow to vegetate, especially 
if it may have lain some time in papers or in store; but if it can 
be sown immediately it is ripe some saving of time will be gained. 
The possibility of doing this will depend on whether the seed has 
been sayed at home or purchased from the seedsman ; if the latter, 
then it will be at least a year before the majority of the seeds 
germinate. But many of the cultivated species seed freely, and 
advantage should be taken of this circumstance by sowing them 
as soon as they are ripe, when the greatest bulk of them will 
vegetate the following spring or early summer. The compost 
already spoken of is the best to sow in, using perhaps a more 
liberal allowance of sand, and the whole may be passed through 
a coarse sieve. Small-sized pots are the best—say 4 or 5 inches— 
because the most handy to move ; and what is of more importance 
the smaller mass of soil is less liable to become sodden than that 
which is larger. The pots being well drained must be filled with 
the compost, pressing it firm and level in the process. Sow the 
seed thin and cover lightly ; fix the labels and water gently, and 
plunge the pots to the rim in coal ashes in acold frame. The 
only attention they will require for the remainder of the season, 
supposing the sowing to be done in summer or autumn, will be 
that of shading so long as the day is long and the sun strong, 
admitting air sufficient to keep the frame cool, and watering as 
it appears necessary, and that will be necessary always when the 
surtace of the pots appears somewhat dry. On winter setting in, 
the frame will require to be protected during severe weather, but 
on all favourable days air may be admitted freely. On the 
approach of spring the pots should be examined, any mossy 
growth that may have made its appearance removed, and a slight 
sprinkling of fresh soil given along with a gentle watering to 
finish, when they may be returned to their quarters again. The 
admission of air so as to keep up a nice temperature in the frame 
and yet prevent excessive heating, a slight shading as the day 
lengthens and the sun’s rays increase in power, and careful 
watering as required, are the only points essential to be observed 
till the plants begin to appear, but the shading should not be 
used except on bright days, and then only for an hour or two 
during the hottest part. When the plants appear in reasonable 
quantity it will be necessary to gradually inure them to more 
light and air; and while they are yet small and tender they must 
be carefully handled as regards watering : one rude dash of chilly 
water may cost the lives of hundreds of tiny plants. When they 
are fit to handle they must be pricked off into pots or boxes, or, 
what is better if at hand, they may be turned into a nursing bed 
or shallow frame in suitable compost, pricking them out an inch 
or two apart each way. 
“The majority of perennial Gentians make but little bulk the 
first season from seed, and to turn them out of doors in per- 
manent quarters the first winter would be to court disaster; their 
enemies, in the shape of slugs and other vermin, would soon make 
short work of their small development of leaf and stem, and the 
action of frost mechanically on their tiny root-hold would be too 
trying an ordeal for them to pass through successfully. It is 
necessary, therefore, to winter them compactly together where 
they may be protected when required, and where vermin when 
they appear may be easily given good account of. If frames or 
handglasses cannot be spared for them a bed of coal ashes kept 
together by an edging of bricks or boards in some sheltered spot 
will do very well to winter in, the pots being plunged as much 
over the rims as is consistent with the safety of the plant, anda 
few hoops arched over the bed will furnish a suitable framework 
to support the protecting materials. The plants may be turned 
out into their permanent places the following spring.” 
(To be continued.) 
TAUNTON DEANE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
AvGuUST 15TH. 
WHENEVER I want to express my ideas as to how a society 
ought to be worked and how the public ought to encourage it, it 
is my custom ever to refer to Taunton as one of the very best 
examples I know of ; and this year not only was no exception to 
the rule, but it seemed to me to be in advance of those I have 
previously seen, and I think this is the sixth. The whole town 
was as usual en féte. Large Spruce trees had been cut and planted 
in the market-place and other localities ; there was a large dis- 
play of bunting ; stalls containing such a yariéty and quality of 
comestibles as makes one more and more admire the digestion of 
the Somersetshire yokels, who seemed to go in indiscriminately 
for whelks and peppermints, pigs’ feet and green Plums. Then) 
the gentry of the neighbourhood, instead of holding coldly aloof, 
not only encourage it by their subscriptions but attend in great 
force during the day, so that it is no easy matter to get to one’s 
carriage when the gates are closed. Contrast this with our miser- 
able east-country proceedings. There is Canterbury without a 
society worthy of the name, while other towns have associations 
which are fully supported and patronised. 
The Exhibition was both excellent in quality and large in ex- 
tent, and I think the supporters of the Society have great reason 
to congratulate themselves. I haye seldom seen a show at which 
fewer things of bad or indifferent quality were exhibited. The 
