JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. 



t Jnly 6, 1871. 



glass branches, were filled with blae-corolla'ed Fachsias, those in the two 

 end stands being fnmished with a kind having a white corolla. The 

 top glasses in each case contained Heaths. Mr. Chard was second 

 with March stauis, and Miss Hassard third with a gracefnl design. 

 An extra prize was awarded to Mi*. Soder, gardener to O- Hanharr, Esq. 



Miscellaneous coUectinus, though not so numerous as usual, formed 

 an efferitive part of the Exhibition. Mr. Turner. Slough, sent splendid 

 cut trasses of Verbenas ; Mr. Hooper, Bath, Carnations, Cloves, and 

 Piaks ; and Messrs. E. G. Henderson &: Son, a large collection of 

 Tricolor Pelargoniums. 



Fro:ii M. Dj.llieie, Ghent, came a number of Palms and other fine- 

 foliaged plants ; from Messrs. EoUisson, Tooting, a similar group ; 

 from Mr. Ball, Chelsea, a numerous group of Orchids, Palms, Lilinm 

 auratnoi, S:c. M. Dalliere sent a fine group of Marantas ; Messrs. 

 KoUisson a large mixed group containing several fine specimen Orchids. 

 From Mr. Turner, Slough, came a case with a plant of Tricolor Pelar- 

 gonium Eainbow, with large and magnificently-coloured foliage. 



Mr. Linden, of Brussels, sent Epidendrum Frederici-Gulielmi, a 

 very fine rosy purple kind, and several fine specimen Orchids ; also a 

 collection of Marantas, and other fine-faliaged plants, of which Dios- 

 corea meleagris, Eldorado, and chrysopbylla had leaves very beauti- 

 fully marked. Mr. Denning, gardener to Lord Londesborough. had a 

 collection of Orchids, of which Angnloa Clowesii was remarkable for 

 the size and number of its yellow Tulip-like flowers, being, in fact, the 

 finest specimen of this p'.aut we remember seeing. Mr. Turner, of 

 Sljugh. exhibited a brilliant group of new Show Pelargoniums. 



Feot Co:innTTEE. — G. F. "Wilson, Esq , in the chair. Mr. C. 

 Turner. Tbe Roval Nurseries, Slongb, sent three splendid bunches of 

 Black Hamburgh and Buokland S-veetwater Grapes, for which a special 

 certificate was awarded. Mr. J. Douglas, Loxford Hall, sent a bunch 

 of a seedling T^'hite Grape, a cross bet«-een Buckland S^veetwater and 

 "^"hite Froniignan, possessing a large share of the Frontignan flavour ; 

 a very promising variety, which Mr. Douglas was requested to submit 

 again when fully ripened. Mr. Cruickshank, gardener to Lord Belper, 

 Kingston Hall, Derby, sent a bnnch of Chasselas Masque, and another 

 of Muscat Muscadine, the latter quite ripe, but neither of high flavour. 

 The Committee were not exactly agreed as to their correct names. 



Mr. Douglas. Loxford Hall, Iliord, sent a ma,:;nificent dish of Lucas 

 Strawberries, but rather wanting in ilavour, like all Strawberries this 

 season. A special certificate was awarded. Mr. Paul, Waltham Cross, 

 sent a dish of Waltham Seedling Strawberry of good appearance, but 

 flavour wanting. Mr. Trotman, Spring Grove Nursery, Isleworth, 

 sent a dish of Royalty Strawberry, a new variety certificated last 

 season, possessing a slight Hantbois flavour. Messrs. Paul i!c Sons sent 

 a collection of Strawberries, as follows : — Premier. Melius, Princess 

 Alice Maude, British Queen. Abd-el-Kader. Fraui^ois Joseph II., large 

 and coarse ; President, Marguerite, Dr. Hogg, large and firm ; and 

 Sir Harry. None of the varieties were good in flavour. Mr. Tillery, 

 gardener, "Welbeck, sent a very fine dish of Galande Peaches and Vio- 

 lette Hative Nectarines. A special certificate was awarded. 



Mr. Douglas sent a seedling Melon with deep green flesh, and of good 

 rich flavour ; also a scarlet-fleshed variety named Gem, of fair quality. 

 Mr. Gilbert, gardener to the Marquis of Exeter, Burghley, sent a fruit 

 of his selected Meredith's Cashmere Melon, a large, yellow, fine-look- 

 ing sort. This was very juicy and sweet. A special certificate was 

 awarded. 



Mr. Perkins, gardener, "Warren House. Stanmore, sent a Ripley 

 Qaeen Pine, weighing 5i lbs., grown in twelve months from a sucker, 

 and one old Queen Pine, 5| lbs., proiinced in the same way. This 

 was considered a most meritorious exhibition of superior skill in Pine 

 culture, and received a special cerlificate. the Committee regretting 

 that they had not the power to bestow a higher award. 



Mr. Laxton, Stamford, sent examples of three new hybrid Peas. 

 Omega, a dwarf early variety in the way of Little Gem ; the Pea3 

 were very fijie, deep green, well filled, and very promising. Achieve- 

 ment, a very large pale green pod some 7 or S inches long. Super- 

 lative, deep green pod, S inches long and very handsome. The Com- 

 mittee, whilst considering them very fine productions, have decided 

 not to certificate any Peas until they have been tested in the Society's 

 grounds at Chiswick. Mr. Wraight, gardener to Capt. Lake, New- 

 lands, near Sittiugbourne, Kent, sent a dish of a new early white 

 wrinkled Marrow Pea of good quality. 



M*-. C. Turner, The Royal Nurseries, Slough, sent an example of a 

 seedling Cucumber named Wizard, a fine, clean, black-spined varitty. 

 The Rev, C. C. Ellison, Bracebridge Rectory, Lincoln, sent a seedling 

 Cucumber named Lick-'em-all, a good variety which has received 

 many prizes, but which in the example shown had no great merit. 



Mr. A. Colbonm, gardener to J. Blyth, Esq , Woolhampton, Bucks, 

 sent some verv large examples of Mushroom, which were considered 

 T-ry coarse. Mr. A. Parsons, Danesbnry, sent a good specimen of the 

 Giant Puff Ball. 



Mr. W, Taylor, 9, Southbrook Roaf!. Lee, sent examples of the old 

 Chenipndium Qainoa, recommended for agricultural purposes, &c. 



Mr. "NVrench, London Bridge, sent examples of Roiffea or Reed Grass, 

 dried and used as matting. It seemed a very excellent snbstitate, and 

 is coming much into use for tying plants, and a first-class certificate 

 was awarded. 



Messrs. Caiter & Co. offered prizes for tbe best sis dishes of Peas, 

 including Laxton's Supreme, Laxton's Qnality, and Carter's Hundred- 



fold. Mr. Cox, gardener to Earl Beauchamp, Madresfield Court, wa 

 first with fine examples of the above, Laxton's Alpha, Veitch's Per- 

 fection, and Laxton's Quantity. Mr. Frisby was second with, in ad- 

 dition to the named sorts, Dwarf Waterloo, Alpha, and Supreme. 

 Messrs. Chard, Miles, Lumsden, and Brown, also sent good dishes, but 

 for their size none of the pods were so full as could have been desired. 

 Flokal CoimTTTEE. — Dr. Denny in the chair. First-class certifi- 

 cates were given to Mr. Turner for Pinks Dr. Masters and Shirley 

 Hibberd ; both of them large and very finely laced, the former with 

 more of a crimson tinge. Mr. "Wiggins, gardener to Walter Beck, Esq., 

 Isleworth, sent a very fine collection of Show Pelargoniums, contain- 

 ing several very promising kind?. Ada with a maroon top shading off 

 to rose at the edge, with rose-coloured lower petals, received a first- 

 class certificate, as also did Enterprise. Messrs. E. G. Henderson 

 and Co. had a similar award for Petunia Coquette, semidouble, white, 

 purple centre and purple border. The same firm had a second-class 

 certificate for Enchantress Pelargonium, apparently of the Blanche- 

 fleur type, and likewise exhibited a hybrid Ivy-leaved Pelargonium of 

 very free leafy habit, a variegated Hydrangea japonica, Carnations and 

 Picotees, the results of crossing Dianthus mosehatus with various 

 members of the same family. Silver Tricolor Pelargonium Minnie 

 Warren was also shown in a basket as a good dwarf edging variety, 

 which it decidedly is. 



Messrs. Backhouse, of York, exhibited Lithospermum petrseum 

 with beautiful heads of cobalt-blue flowers ; also Linum salsoloides 

 with white flowers. Both of these had first-class certificates. Mr. 

 Bull had a first-class certificate for Asophila Shepherdii, a graceful 

 tree Fern on a dwarf stem, and one of the second class for Lobelia 

 Erinus Omen, purple and white, a pretty variety. He also sent 

 Musas and other plants with fine foliage. Mr. Croucher. gardener to 

 T. Peacock, Esq., Hammersmith, had a first-class certificate for a 

 variegated form of Agave Yerschaffeltii. Mr. Green, gardener to 

 W. W. Saunders, Esq., had a similaraward for HouUetia odoratissima 

 antioquensis, a singular Orchid with brown sepals and petals. Mr. 

 Hepper, gardener to P. Millard, Esq., The Elms, Acton, sent some 

 beautiful specimens of the flowers of Passiflora qnadrangularis, and 

 two grafted plants of Coleus, the one exhibiting three the other four 

 varieties. 



From Mr. George. Putney Heath, came several seedling bedding 

 Pelargoniums, of which Charming Rose, a Nosegay, appeared to be 

 very free-flowering. Mr. W'alker. nurseryman, Thame, sent a collec- 

 tion- of Auricula-eyed Sweet Williams ; Mr. Chater, Gonville Nur- 

 series, Cambridge, a variegated-leaved Horse Chestnut, together with 

 seedling Roses of no merit, and a hybrid Pelargonium, said to be 

 I sweet-scented, but with that quality not pronounced. G. F. Wilson, 

 i Esq., sent some of the Lilies he exhibited at Nottingham, and draw- 

 i ings of others, and Mr. Eraser, Lea Bridge Road, Ixora floribunda, 

 very dwarf and remarkably free-flowering, forming quite a bouquet. 

 Mr. Stevens, Ealing, had a fine collection of Balsams, for which he 

 received a first-class certificate. 



The exhibitions in connection with the permanent International Ex- 

 hibition since we last noticed them (and they have received less notice 

 than they deserve), have undergone several changes. The space at 

 the principal entrance in Exhibition Road has been cleared, and 

 devoted, as it should be, to plants. Here Messrs. St^ndish tt Co., of 

 Ascot, and Messrs. Lane, of Berkhampstead. exhibit fine collections 

 of Conifers, i'c. Messrs. Standish have at present a specimen of Be- 

 gonia Sedeni, the most splendid in colour we have yet seen, and 

 covered with flowers. Mr. W. Paul has a grand display of cut Roses, 

 besides a charming mixed collection. Mr. Wills maintains his room 

 decorations in as excellent order and taste as ever. 



THE LOQUAT— FRUIT CROPS— MIDSUMMER 

 FROST. 



Hating been travelling in Italy lately, in the vicinity of 

 Naples, I freqaently met with a fruit called there " Nespoli di 

 Japone," or Japan Apple. It is pear-shaped, flesh in colour 

 and somewhat in taste resembling an Apricot, eometimss eon- 

 tainiDg only one, and sometimes as many as four stones in 

 each fruit; the stones solid throughout — that is to say, not 

 having a shell and kernel like other stone fruit. I cannot find 

 it under the name of " Nespoli " anywhere. Can you give me 

 the proper name for it ? [Eriobotrya japonica, or Loquat. It 

 has fruited in this country.] 



Your correspondent, '* L. Roscorla," speaks of self-sown 

 Geraniums. Here (Oakham), notwithstanding the severity of 

 the past winter, not only seedling Geraniums, but also Aster?, 

 Nisturtiums, and Mignonette have sprung up abundantly 

 wherever those plants were grown last summer. 



In this district I think our fruit prospects are not over-good, 

 with the exception of Gooseberries, which are certainly above 

 an average crop. Currants are much blighted. Apricots tarn 

 yellow prematurely and fall off, in consequence of the harsh 

 easterly winds and the absence of sunshine. Strawberries are 

 a very variable crop — in some gardens abundant, in others 



