170 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 29, 1878. 
working men who call themselves amateur florists, and in most 
cases the only leisure time they have to devote to flower 
culture is in early morning or late at night. The exhibition 
days are the only days that remunerative labour is given up 
for the plants; and agreeable must be the change to those 
lovers of flowers when they pass from. the noisy dusty streets 
to tables and banks of choice and beautiful flowers. A Show 
provided under such circumstances proves what may be done 
by perseverance, and it affords encouragement to others to 
cultivate plants and beautify their homes with flowers. We 
are glad to learn that great success has attended the efforts of 
this useful Society, for the members are on the increase, and it 
has liberal support from the public of the district. The ex- 
hibitions improve every year, and that just held was a credit to 
all connected with it. Besides prizes offered and well com- 
peted for Fuchsias, Geraniums, Dahlias, Asters, &c., the Show 
was rendered additionally attractive by a valuable collection 
of plants from Victoria Park. 
CAPTAIN HANKEY informs us that there is to be seen 
in the garden of Mrs. Fuller, Rokefield, near Dorking, seven 
plants of LILIUM AURATUM of great size and beauty. No. 1 
is 8 feet 6 inches high, and has sixty-four blooms on one stem, 
eight others on two other stems. No. 2 is 8 feet high, about 
twenty-six blooms coming. No. 3 is 7 feet 2 inches high. 
No. 4 is 7 feet high, eighteen blooms all out. No.5 is 6 feet 
6 inches high. No. 6 is 5 feet high, eleven blooms out. No. 7 
is 5 feet high, eleven blooms coming. One bloom has petals 
7 inches long. 
THE finest flowers, and one of the most beautiful dis- 
plays of NYMPH#A DENTICULATA that have come under our 
notice, are in the aquatic house in Sir Henry W. Peek’s garden 
at Wimbledon. Seen towards the evening when dozens of large 
flowers are expanded the appearance of the tank is most 
attractive. Amongst other plants elevated above the water is 
perhaps the oldest plant in England of Tabernemontana coro- 
naria, the pot being quite ;hidden by a luxuriant mass of 
Panicum variegatum, which in this position, just above the 
water, has a charming effect. Overhead the profusion of golden 
blooms of Allamandas render this house additionally orna- 
mental ; but the Nympheeas have of late been the chief feature 
of the house. 
—— ADJOINING the aquatic house above referred to is a 
house devoted to BANANAS, and the growth the plants have 
made this year is altogether extraordinary. In the spring 
they were small plants about 2 feet high, and they now have 
stems nearer 3 feet than 2 in circumference. The foliage is 
majestic, and grand clusters of fruit are showing—clusters 
having ten or eleven whorls. The fruit will be ripe about 
Christmas, and if the plants do not receive any check we shall 
not be surprised if some of the clusters do not approach 100 tbs. 
in weight. As an instance of luxuriant tropical vegetation 
these sturdy and exuberant Bananas are worthy of mention 
and of inspection. 
— Mr. Henry Bootusy, Holme Cottage, Louth, writes 
to us as follows about the FRUIT CROPS in the Fen district of 
Lincolnshire :—‘‘ Apples generally are a complete failure, Nor- 
manton Wonder, White Quarrenden, and Stamford Pippin 
(Laxton’s), a fine kitchen Apple, and especially Golden Pippin, 
have been exceptions. Pears also are a greatly deficient crop, 
except some new varieties—notably the Hessle, which is bear- 
ing enormous crops. Several large-sized standards and bushes 
of Marie Louise and Louise Bonne of Jersey have been without 
asingle fruit. Red, White, and Black Currants have yielded 
well; but not so the Gooseberry, which has been very deficient. 
There have been a few exceptions, and I herewith send a 
small branch of one of my seedlings, bearing this year for the 
first time, as a specimen of overloading. The small tree is 
crowded in every part. The American Blackberries, such as 
Lawton, Picaninny, and some others, are bearing abundant 
crops of more than usually fine large fruit.” 
— FORMERLY the LAVENDER PLANTATIONS of Surrey 
were confined to the parish of Mitcham, but of late years, to 
keep pace with requirements of the manufacturers, it has been 
found necessary to considerably extend the area, and planta- 
tions of vast extent are now to be met with in Beddington, 
Wallington, Sutton, and Carshalston, and it is computed that 
in this district there are at least three hundred acres under 
Lavender, 
plantations were formed in Beddington, and from thence the 
culture has extended to the adjoining parishes. 
— Ir may be well to remind those who are proposing 
Le 
It is now about eighteen years since the first | 
to grow GLOXINIAS FROM SEED that fine flowering plants are 
produced much earlier by sowing the seed now than by the 
usual custom of sowing in the spring. If the seedlings are 
potted in small pots and placed on a shelf close to the glass in 
a stove they continue growing steadily throughout the winter, 
and yery early in spring are ready to be shifted into larger 
pots. By that mode of culture fine flowering plants in 5 and 
6-inch pots are produced early in June. Seed sown in spring 
affords plants which yield a valuable succession of flowers later 
in the season. 
CAPE HEATHS.—No. 8. 
AUGUST. 
ALL those having Ericas standing in the open should now 
endeavour to give them some protection from heavy aud con- 
tinual rains. More especially is this necessary where the plants 
are placed upon a wet or undrained bottom. Where shelter 
cannot be given in this temporary situation let them be removed 
to frames or to their winter quarters ; the former is preferable 
Fig. 25.—Erica infundibuiiformis. 
where the accommodation can be given. Here they should: 
haye a cool bottom to stand upon, for we have frequently seen 
Heaths, more especially the softer-growing kinds, go quite 
blind (that is, lose all the flower) through being suddenly 
removed from a cool standing place to an open greenhouse: 
stage. Wherever they are placed, however, all the air possible 
must be given. Look carefully to the watering ; see that none 
are only half watered, as this is a fertile source of mildew. 
Should this pest put in appearance dust the plants affected 
with sulphur ; use it carefully, because it does not improve the 
appearance of the plants, and the less waste the better. 
Erica Uhria pilosa.—An extremely showy plant. Leaves 
arranged in threes, linear, and densely clothed with ciliated 
hairs, dark green. Flowers produced upon the apex of the 
small branches, mostly in couples; these are tubular and 
clavate, furnished with short hairs ; colour deep reddish purple, 
green at the ends. Whole flower gummy. 
LE. nitida.—This is a perfect little gem, and should be more 
frequently found in amateurs’ collections. Leaves obtuse, 
linear, spreading, arranged in threes and dark green. Flowers 
terminal, on short footstalks, in small umbels of three to six, 
globose, with a recurved limb, clear snow white. 
E. metuleflora bicolor (fig. 24, see p.167).—A charming free- 
flowering variety, free from the pest mildew, which is such a 
plague to the old metulflora, Leayes arranged in fours, 
linear, smooth, and Iight green. Flowers in terminal umbels 
