120 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 



[ Angust 17, 1S71. 



and it would be rather a diffioult matter to thrust one's hand 

 far into either of the heaps. — Edward Luckhuest. 



I HAVE lost many Cucumbers this year in the manner de- 

 scribed by "D., Deal,'''' and attribute the cause to woodlice 

 eating the blossom and a little way into the end of the young 

 fruit, and so making the latter decay at the end. I have 

 since placed toads in my frames ; they have diminished the 

 numbers of these insects, and in the same proportion the num- 

 ber of spoiled fruit. In other respects my Cucumbers have 

 done well, and I have cut more than the usual number of very 

 fine fruit. — H. J. 



[We are glad that you have found out the cause of failure 

 in your case; but such failures as those referred to by "D., 

 Deal.," and others are not so easily cured, as they are more 

 the result of a too vigorous or a too languid root-action, and 

 without seeing the plants it is not easy to say which. This is 

 supposing that the dread disease is not present. Of its cause 

 and cure everybody is quite ignorant, at least every one feels so 

 when his plants are attacked. In such a case, the young fruit 

 will go off and nothing will make them swell. — E. F.] 



crimson ; Joseph Heine, fine spike, salmon rose ; Madame Billy, large 

 flowers, lilac rose, crimson eye ; Monsieur C. Turner, splendid spike, 

 rose, crimson eye. Messrs. Paul & Son were the only other exhibitors ; 

 Madame Domage, white, purple eye ; Princess Ghita, rosy purple; and 

 Sultan, white crimson eye, were very fine. 



Of miscellaneous subjects, Messrs. Lee, of Hammersmith, had 

 specimens of about 150 sorts of hardy ornamental trees and shrubs. 

 To do these justice they would require a special report, so numerous, 

 so varied, and so good were they. We can only here signalise as a 

 few of the most noteworthy. Ahius cordata, A. glutinosa laeiniata, 

 handsome leaves ; Catalpa syringaefolia aurea ; Cercis Sihquastrum 

 variegatum ; Comus sanguinea elegantissima and sibirica variegata ; 

 Frasinus aucubjefoha, F. nigra ; Negundo fraxinifohum variegatum ; 

 Eobinia hispida, with beautiful rose-coloured flowers ; a pretty 

 Golden Elm, and TJhnus viminalis superba. These would be a great 

 ornament in any garden. Messrs. Carter & Co. exhibited some very 

 fine examples of French Marigolds. The only other object worthy of 

 notice was Mr. Shenton's Flower of Eden Pink, which has been several 

 times exhibited before, and on this occasion did not show off to much 

 advantage. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



August 16th. 



The Show on this occasion was not large in any department. The 

 Gladiolns and Hollyhock, however, which were the flowers to which 

 the Show was mainly devoted, were good, though not numerous. In 

 other seasons we have seen better spikes of Gladiolus, but never a 

 better lot of seedlings. 



In class 1, for the best twenty-four cut spikes of Gladiolus, three 

 prizes were offered by the Dnke of Buccleuch. the President of the 

 Society. The first of these went to Messrs. Eelway, of Langport, 

 Somerset, for excellent spikes, of which we noted Robert Fortune, Cla- j 

 rissa, Lacepcde Araximenes {first-class certificate), Orphee, Legouve, 

 Virginia. Astrea (first-class certificate), orange scarlet, violet purple 1 

 centre ; Yellow Eing, cream ground, purple feather and flame, yellow- { 

 tinged throat {first-class certificate), Phidias (first-class certificate), 

 fine violet pnrple cream throat, and white line up each of the upper petals, ; 

 Ophir, yellow, marked with purple ; Lord Bridport (first-class cer- 

 tificate), pale hlac, pnrple feather ; Madame Vilmoi-in, lilac rose, white 

 centre, carmine markings ; Eival, Miletus ; Archelaus (first-class cer- 

 tificate), splfndid white purple feather, and Adolphe Brongniart. Mr. 

 Douglas, gardener to F. "Whitbourn Esq., Loxford Hall, was second 

 with one of the finest lots of seedlings we have ever seen, together 

 with excellent spikes of established varieties. Mr. "\Mieeler, "War- 

 minster, took the third place with a good stand, and theBev. H. H. 

 Dombrain, WestweU Vicarage, Ashford, had also very good spikes, 

 taking an extra prize. 



In the next class, for twelve spikes, Mr. Douglas took a decided 

 lead, exhibiting besides several well-known kinds, the following seed- 

 lings, all of which received first-class certificates — viz., Francis "Whit- 

 bourn, rosy purple and white ; William Earley, cream veined with 

 rose ; Mrs. Francis "Whitbourn, large and very fine, white feathered 

 with purple; and Talisman, magenta purple. Mr. "Welch, gardener 

 to J. Marshall, Esq., Belmont Park, Taunton, was second with good 

 spikes ; and Mr. Dombrain third. 



For six, Mr. Douglas was again first with splendid spikes of Madame 

 Desportes and several seedlings, Mr. Dombrain being second, Mr. 

 "Warren, Wellesley Bead, Croydon, third ; and Mr. "Welch equal third. 

 Messrs. Carter, Dunnett, & Beale exhibited a fine collection not for 

 competition. 



For six cut spikes of Hollyhocks, Mr. Chater, Saffron "Walden, was 

 first with excellent spikes of Fair Ellen, rose ; Hercules, yellow, tinged 

 with blush ; Majestic, crimson ; Peri, very fine, delicate pale yellow ; 

 Fascination, lilac ; and Bullion, buff, tinted yellow. From the same 

 exhibitor came Cygnet, a fine white ; Queen of Yellows, one of the 

 finest of that colour ; and Othello, fine dark maroon. 



Mr. "W. Chater, of Saffron Walden, was first, for twenty-four blooms, 

 with Nonpareil, Invincible, Incomparable, "Walden Primrose, Cams 

 Chater, Fred Chater, Majestic, Enchantress, cream, beautifully tipped 

 with purple, Competitor, Splendidam, Eclipse, Hercules, Alfred 

 Chater, Marvellous, Champion, rich ruby, Bnllion, Conquest, Con- 

 stance, "Wilham Brand, Joy, Leviathan, Prince Albert, Marion, and 

 Mochanna. Messrs. Paul & Son and Mr. Wheeler, "^^arminster, were 

 respectively second and third. The latter set up his blooms with 

 laced paper, which was certainly a disadvantage as compared with a 

 plain white card guard. Of twelve, Mr. Porter, gardener to Mrs. 

 Benham, Sion Lodge, Isleworth, was the only exhibitor, and was first 

 with fair blooms, but not remarkable. 



Phloxes were not numerously shown. The best twelve cut spikes 

 came from Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing, of Stanstead Park Nur- 

 Beries, Forest Hill. It is to be regretted that the Phloxes were not 

 required to be shown in pots, as cut spikes in this warm weather so 

 soon fade. Among the best varieties we noticed Madame Pepin, rich 

 rosy crimson ; Amabilis, salmon ; M. H. Low, splendid spike, magenta 



Feutt Co3J3nTTEE. — G. F. "Wilson, Esq., F.E.S., in the chair. 

 After reading the minutes it was reported that the Peach called Markly 

 Admirable, which received a first-class certificate at last meeting as a 

 superior early Peach, had been exhibited under a misapprehension as 

 to the season of its ripening. The house in which it had been grown 

 was not in reality a cool house in the true acceptation of the term, and 

 the crop when ripened would not in a cool honse be ripe till the middle 

 or end of .September. Mr. Pearson, of Chilwell, reported that the 

 seedling Grape Chilwell "White, which he exhibited last year, and to 

 which a first-class certificate was awarded, had disappointed his expec- 

 tations this year, and that, notwithstanding the great expense to which 

 he had gone in cultivating it, he felt it was his duty to the pubUc to 

 withdraw it from sale and to destroy the stock. He therefore begged 

 to be allowed to return to the Committee the certificate awarded to the 

 Grape last year. The Committee thereupon passed a. vote of thanks 

 to Mr. Pearson for the highly honourable course he had taken. Mr. 

 Thomas Thornton, Heatherside Nursery, Bagshot, sent a box of 

 Heatherside Cucumber, a handsome variety, which the Committee 

 desired to have in January, as it was of opinion that it would be valu- 

 able if in use at that season. Mr. J. Meakes, gardener to K. Fowler, 

 Esq., Petersham. Surrey, sent a brace of large Cucumbers grown in a 

 two-light box. The Kev. M. J. Berkeley exhibited the" Early "White 

 Naples Onion and Giant "White Tripoli, to show that they are distinct 

 varieties, an opinion which was confirmed by the Committee. Messrs. 

 Carter & Co. exhibited specimens of TnfoUum csemleum, a new 

 forage plant. 



Mr. Thomas, gardener to S, Chamberlayne, Esq., Cranbury Park, 

 "Winchester, exhibited a pair of very handsome Queen Pines, which 

 received a special certificate. Mi-. "W. P. Eoberts, gardener to Lady 

 Derby, Holwood Park, Beckenham, sent bunches of Frankenthal 

 Grape from Vines a hundred years old. Mr. "WiUiam Earley, gar- 

 dener at Valentines, sent bunches of a seedling black Grape, the 

 berries of which are small, and have a slight Frontignan flavour. 

 Mr. Pearson, of Chilwell, brought bunches of Ferdinand de Lesseps 

 Grape, to which a first-class certificate was awarded last year. The 

 Committee remarked that the flavour was much like that of fresh 

 honey, and that the bunches were improved in size since last year. 

 Mr. Pearson also exhibited a large bunch from a Vine raised from 

 Duchess of Buccleuch, which has a distinct Frontignan flavour, but 

 it was not quite ripe. Another seedling from Duchess of Buccleuch 

 very much resembled Foster's "White SeedUng, with a thin dehcate 

 skin, and a sweet flavour and thin juice. He exhibited a seedling 

 evidently raised from Black Morocco, not ripe, but very promising. It 

 was requested that Mr. Pearson should exMbit it later in the season. 

 A variety raised from Mrs. Pince, also unripe, promises to be a Grape 

 of great excellence. The berries are large and oval, the flesh firm, 

 and with a slight Frontignan flavour. A variety, also a seedHng, 

 with a large oval berry and a very thick blue bloom, was much ad- 

 mired. Its flavour is that of the Black Hamburgh. Mr. Donovan, 

 gardener to J. Eettlewell, Esq., Upper Norwood, sent a dish of 

 Morello Cherries. Mr. Foote, gardener to Sir A. H. Elton, Bart., 

 Clevedon, Bristol, sent two dishes of Morello Cherries. Mr. Crad- 

 dock, Compton Verney, sent fruit of a Bed Cnrrant, which appeared 

 to be the variety called Raby Castle. Mr. Gardiner, gardener to 

 E. P. Shirley, Esq., Lower Eatington Park, Stratford-on-Avon, sent 

 a very meritorious dish of Peach Apricots. Mr. Tillery, of "Welbeck, 

 sent fruit of St. Ambroise Apricot, also a splendid dish of Barrington 

 Peach, to which a special certificate was awarded, and a fine dish of 

 Violette Hative Nectarine. Mr. J. Douglas, of Loxford Hall gardens, 

 Ilford, exhibited fine dishes of Eoyal George and Grosse Mignonne 

 Peaches and "Washington Plum from trees ,c^*own in pots, to which a 

 special certificate was awarded. A dish of Shanghai Peaches was sent 

 under the name of Noblesse by Mr. Donovan, gardener to J. Kettie- 

 well, Esq., Beaumont, "Upper Norwood. 



Prizes were offered for the best dishes of Apricots ; the best came 

 from Mr. Craddock, gardener to Lord "Willonghby de Broke, Compton 

 Verney ; the second best from Mr. Smith, gardener to the Earl of 

 Gainsboronfjh, Exton Park. Both were Moorpark. Prizes were also 

 offered by Blessrs. Carter & Co., for the best collection of vegetables, 



