396 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENED. 



[ June 2, 1863. 



gredients to lie had in most places, I would place Band as one of 

 the most useful, especially such as is free of all noxious mineral 

 matters, not, for instance, the green sand of West Devon and 

 Cornwall, which is of so poisonous a nature as to till vegetation. 

 I think it contains copperas ; hut as all mineral poisons are bad, 

 the sands in which these exist must be avoided. Generally river 

 sand is good — not, of course, such as iB within reach of the tide, 

 hut plain washed sand. 



Of the situation for Rhododendrons it is hardly necessary to 

 speak, as they are found doing well in full sunshine and in shade, 

 on the highest hill and deepest valley, and on hill sides of all 

 aspects, the hardest frost rarely injuring them ; but a hot sum- 

 mer will affect them much if the soil he not one exactly adapted to 

 their wants. They will, nevertheless, struggle for an existence 

 amongst the rankest herbage, and contend against the roots of 

 most trees that may claim a common share of the ground. In 

 general, however, Elm-tree roots are the mcst hurtful to them ; 

 but it is more beneficial to have some slight covering to the 

 ground than to let it be quite naked. When the latter is to 

 be the case, to shade the ground from the sun, some artificial 

 substance, such as leafy matter or short grass, moss, or litter 

 of any kind may be used ; for the small fibrous roots ramifying 

 near the surface do not like to be scorched up with every blink 

 of sunshine. Shading is better than watering, although the 

 latter may be clone also if it appears absolutely necessary. 



To those about planting Phododendrons in places not na- 

 turally adapted to them, and who do not intend treating them 

 to waggonloads of their favourite peat, I would say, Obtain your 

 plants from some nursery not possessing the soil best adapted 

 to their vigorous growth; for by removing strong, luxuriant- 

 growing plants from a situation of the very best kind to one of 

 a medium or indifferent kind a check is given, and not un- 

 frequently sickness follows. It is better, therefore, where other 

 thiDgs favour doing so, to transfer plants from a poor place to a 

 better one. Such as have been frequently moved and are, in 

 a certain senEe, naturalised to the Eecond-class character of the 

 soil they are to occupy, are more likely to do well there than 

 those which are all at once transported from the best position 

 to an inferior one. 



On the many accompaniments to the Rhododendron-bed, it 

 is needless to enter. Some growers advocate the vacant ground 

 to be covered with Ivy, but this plant speedily outgrows and 

 overpowers its legitimate neighbour. The variegated Tinea is 

 better, and, perhaps, some summer annuals are better than 

 either, as the Vinca gets Etrong. Whatever may be used, on no 

 account allow the young growths of the Rhododendron to be 

 meddled with, but rather confine the occupation of the ground 

 to litter, moss, or short grass ; and if the small birds do delight 

 in scratching amongst such things and carrying part away, still 

 there is plenty left to serve the purpose of a screen. On no 

 account allow any digging or disturbing of the ground amongst 

 old-established plants. If a little fresh surface be wanted, add 

 some fresh material, for Rhododendrons will straggle better 

 against the wildest herbage than against the cruel amputations 

 of the spade. These matters and others of a like kind have, 

 however, been frequently alluded to before in the columns of 

 this paper.— J. R. 



EOYAL HOKTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 

 May 27. 



Flobal Committee. — On Wednesday the 27th, at the first 

 great Exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society, held at the 

 Gardens, South Kensington, a Sub-Committee was appointed 

 to report on such new plants and florists' flowers which were 

 sent for examination. With the exception of the seedling Pelar- 

 goniums from Mr. Turner, Slough, and two new and beautiful 

 Orchids from Messrs. Veitch, Chelsea, and Messrs. Low, Clap- 

 ton, there were but few remarkable flowers, and, consequently, 

 the certificates awarded were limited. 



Among the plants, Mr. Standish Bent anew and delicate white 

 Weigela, which received a label of commendation ; Acer sp., 

 from Japan, with broad-lohed foliage, variegated with white spots 

 and blotches — third-clasB certificate. 



MessrB. Yeitch exhibited Dracophyllum sp. — second-class cer- 

 tificate ; Eranthemum sp., a dwarf trailing plant with handsome 

 red-veined foliage, exhibited under a glass shade — second-class 

 certificate ; Abies firma, a handsome species of this tribe — first- 

 class certificate ; Phalsenopsis Lobbii, a white flower with purplish 



lip, but not equal to other varieties — second-class certificate; 

 Spirsea sp., of dwarf habit with small rosy flowers, a very com- 

 pact-growing plant — second-class certificate. 



Messrs. Low, Clapton, exhibited Dendrobium Parishii, a small 

 but very beautiful and interesting Orchid with purplish flowers, 

 which was much admired — first-class certificate. 



Mr. Williams, Holloway, sent an interesting variety of Lastrea 

 oreopteris, with tasselled fronds — label of commendation. 



Mr. Pull, Chelsea, exhibited Areca dealbata, a handsome 

 plant with palm-like foliage — second-class certificate ; Caladium 

 Lowii — first-class certificate ; Pandanus elegantissimus — second- 

 class certificate ; Euonymus ovatus variegatus — label of com- 

 mendation; Petunia Vernon, one of the dark- veined varieties, 

 very Bhowy — label of commendation. 



Mr. lvery sent another of his numerous varieties of Athyrium 

 named Applebyanum — label of commendation. Mr. Young, 

 Pandanus elegantissimus — second-class certificate. M. ^ erschaf- 

 felt, Dieffenbachia Yerschaffeltii, which received a label of com- 

 mendation. 



Mr. Turner, Slough, sent several seedling Pelargoniums. 

 Diadem (Mr. Hoyle), a remarkably showy variety, perfect in 

 form and new in colour, the back petals deep maroon margined 

 with bright purplish-rose, pure white throat, lower petals 

 banded with bright purplish-rose. This was decidedly the 

 flower of the day, and waa awarded a first-class certificate. 

 Pelargonium Artist (Mr. Hoyle), a flower of the Bame good 

 character as Diadem — back petals deep maroon margined with 

 light rose, pure white throat, lower petals with a broad band of 

 light rose ; a striking variety, and remarkable for its softness 

 and delicacy of colouring — first-class certificate. Pelargonium- 

 Prince (Mr. Hoyle), dark maroon upper petals, pure white 

 throat, lower petals vivid, shaded scarlet — label of commenda- 

 tion. Pelargonium Penelope (Mr. Hoyle), a conspicuous flower, 

 with dark back petals, clear white centre, lower petals shaded 

 with rose, deeply blotched — label of commendation. Pelargonium 

 Prince of Wales (Mr. Beck), upper petals deeply shaded with 

 light rose margin, clear white centre, lower petals rosy carmine ; 

 a very pleasing variety- — label of commendation. Mr. Turner 

 exhibited many other seedlings of considerable merit, but too 

 closely resembling other named varieties to receive special 

 notice. Many other specimens were exhibited. 



Mr. Standish again exhibited his Japan Clematises. The large 

 double-flowering one now named Fortunei had eight or ten fine 

 blossoms expanded. The purple single variety, Standishii, still 

 maintains its character. 



Mr. Bull sent a showy collection of Pelargonium Zonale; 

 also a collection of Petunias, single and double. These plants 

 were arranged in large baskets, and produced a pleasing effect. 

 Mr. Bull exhibited other varieties of his hybrid Mimulus, which 

 we have previously noticed. Seedling hybrids of the same Mi- 

 mulus were also sent by Messrs. Henderson, Wellington Road ; 

 also a dwarf variegated Pelargonium of the scented-leafed 

 family suitable for edgings. From Mr. Turner came a seedling 

 Verbena ; and from Mr. Laing, seedling Pansies. Many other 

 specimens were sent of considerable interest, but too numerous 

 to be noticed in this report. 



Collections of newly-introduced plants that have received 

 Bpecial recognition from the Floral Committee, I860, 1861, 

 1862, were Bent, and received certificates, thus proving the 

 utility of this Committee. It was remarked by an old exhibitor, 

 that out of the numerous plants and flowers placed before the 

 Floral Committee, not one in twenty had failed in maintaining 

 the character and merit assigned to it at these meetings, which 

 is a stroDg guarantee for the public that the decision arrived 

 at is generally correct, however inclined some persons may be to 

 find fault. 



FEriT Committee. — In the department that pertains more 

 particularly to the Fruit Committee, there were several exhibi- 

 tions, the exhibitors evidently mistaking the work which is under- 

 taken by the Committee on these occasions. It should be under- 

 stood, that on the great shows and special general meetings, the 

 only subjects that are expected to be submitted for the opinion 

 of the Committee are only seedling or other new varieties of 

 fruits and vegetables, and not such as come under no class in 

 the Exhibition. Thus one sent a collection of six dishes of 

 Apples, and labelled them "exhibited for the prize," when no 

 prize was offered. Another sent a collection of vegetables which 

 in early spring would have been reckoned meritorious, but which 

 in the end of May did not possess any attractions. 



The only two subjects that properly came under the notice of 



