July 12, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND OOTIAGE GARDENER. 



33 



open in the Geranium house the ice Bhower out quite through 

 the foliage of the plants in the house, and of course destroyed 

 the flowers. No glass was broken. Mr. Cannell is steadily 

 improving this new nursery, and acre after acre is being 

 devoted to the cultivation of flowers. The Geranium house will 

 shortly be a beautiful sight. The collection of these plants is 

 both extensive and choice. A few of the more striking varieties 

 will be notioed in a future issue. 



To Pbesebve Fence Posts. — The American Chemist 



says that a western farmer discovered many years ago that 

 wood could be made to last longer than iron in the ground. 

 Time and weather, he says, seem to have no effect on it. The 

 posts oan be prepared for less than two cents a piece. This is 

 the recipe : Take boiled linseed oil and stir it in pulverised 

 charcoal to the consistency of paint. Put a coat of this over 

 the timber, and he adds there is not a man who will live to 

 see it rot. 



" T. M." in the " Gardener " says Symphytum offici- 

 nale vabieoatuji, a variegatad variety of the well-known Com- 

 frey, is strikingly beautiful. Its large lanceolate leaves are 

 broadly and distinctly margined with creamy white. It is a 

 very effective plant for planting in mixed borders, and is no 

 less so in lines in ribbon borders ; indeed, it is one of our very 

 best plants for this purpose, far surpassing the variegated 

 Coltsfoot that was recommended so strongly some years since. 



A transatlantic observer remarks that the value of 



bones imported annually into England to be used in fertilising 

 the land are computed to be worth ten million dollars. They 

 are obtained from Russia, Germany, South Amerioa, and the 

 United States. Throughout Great Britain bones are collected 

 from every possible source of supply. So valuable are bones 

 considered in Germany that a proverb there reads, " One ton 

 of bone dust saves the importation of tea tons of German 

 corn." 



Mr. Stephen P. Shaeples, State Assayer of Massa- 

 chusetts, writing to the American Cultivator on the subject of 

 the danger of using Paeis geeen for destroying the Potato 

 beetle, says that the question of poison is a question of quan- 

 tities. One pound of poison on a thousand tons of soil is not 

 an alarming quantity when we reflect that the antidote, the 

 hydrated peroxide of iron, is present also. After quoting from 

 Prof. Riley, State Entomologist of Missouri, that Paris green 

 is sure death to the Potato beetle, Mr. Sharpies asserts that 

 if he had a field of Potatoes he should neither plough them 

 under nor let them be destroyed, but would protect them with 

 Paris green. Mr. Henry S. Field says, " To get rid of the pests 

 easily take Paris green and plaster of gypsum and mix together 

 in the proportion of 1 lb. of the former to SO of the latter, 

 and apply the mixture by shaking it over the Vines when the 

 dew is on them." As evidence is forthcoming that the dreaded 

 beetle is now in Europe the American mode of extirpating it is 

 worthy of being recognised. 



WEST KENT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



BICKLEY, JULY 7th. 

 By the kind permission of G. Wythes, Esq., the Exhibition of 

 the Society was held in Bickley Park, and a site more suitable 

 for such an event it woald be difficult to find. The Park is 

 contiguous to the railway station, and is ornamental by the 

 many fine trees it contains, notably Elms and Cedar*, and has 

 also a sufficient expanse of open pasturage. The Exhibition 

 was held in three marquees : one, about 150 yards in length, 

 contained the collections of plants ; another, somewhat smaller, 

 fruit, vegetables, and cut Roses; and a third table decorations. 

 The day was fine with the exception of a passing shower, and a 

 considerable number of visitors, the gentry and inhabitants of 

 the neighbourhood, attended the Show during the afternoon. 



Although the Exhibition was of considerable magnitude, a 

 glance was only needed to show how much the Society was 

 indebted to the chief nurserymen for furnishing the tents bo 

 attractively. When such firms as Messrs. Veitch, Williams, 

 Wills, Rollisson, Carter & Co., and Laing unite their forces under 

 canvas there is always sufficient for the public to see. All those 

 firms were well represented at Bickley ; many gardens in the 

 neighbourhood also staged creditable collections, in a few cases 

 excellent; and Messrs. Cant, G. Paul & Sons, and others pro- 

 vided a feast of Roses. 



Messrs. James Veitch & Sons occupied the stage at one end of 

 the chief tent, and Mr. B. S. Williams the other. Prominent 

 in the Chelsea collection were the bright and massive Croton 

 Macafeeanus and the equally bright and not less distinct C. 

 McArthuri. Caladium Madame Alfred Bleu attracted by its 

 clear sharp colours, and the golden-foliaged Princess of 'feck 



was in excellent colour. Nepenthes were also included, and a 

 choice collection of insectivorous plants, consisting of Dionaaas, 

 Darlingtonias, Sarracenias, and Droseras. The new white Hy- 

 drangea Thomas Hogg proved its lasting qualities, and colour 

 was imparted to the group by some of the best of the tuberous 

 Begonias. Very bright and also very remarkable was the new 

 scarlet Clove Tom Thumb, the flowers being large and perfect, 

 yet borne on stems only a few inches in height. Orchids were 

 represented by Oncidium papilio Krameri; Cattleya Mendelii, 

 very fine ; LaBlia purpurata ; Masdevallias, including the bright 

 yellow M. Davisi, and several Cypripediums, amongst which 

 were such new and beautiful varieties as C. selligerum and 

 C. superciliare. C. Veitchii was also in splendid condition. 

 Amongst the Ferns Pteris serrulata maxima cristata was very 

 noticeable by its stateliness and general elegance. Messrs. 

 Veitch further arranged a semicircular group of Japanese Acers, 

 surrounded with small well-grown Roses in pots, and margined 

 with Eurya latifolia variegata — very effective ; also Spiraaa pal- 

 mata and an extensive collection of cut Roses. 



The Holloway collection was also choice, varied, and attrac- 

 tive. Amongst the Orchids Lrelia majalis was very charming, 

 and not less bo was Cypripedium superbiens; Odontoglossum 

 citrosmum was also in excellent condition. la this group Ixora 

 floribunda nana was conspicuous, the plant being very dwarf, 

 with handsome heads of flowers. Dennstaedtia davallioides 

 Youngii, the fine Australian Fern, was exhibited in a small 

 state, and in that state it is very elegant. Maranta Massangeana, 

 Bertolonias, Panax laciniatus, Dipladenia Brearleyana, Dionaea 

 muscipula, Nepenthes, CrotonVictoria, and other choice plants 

 were included in this excellent group. 



Mr. Wills's plants occupied a large spaoe of staging, and occu- 

 pied it well. Pitcher Plants were in capital condition, as of 

 course were such Dractenas as Willsi, Elizabethan. Leopoldi, 

 and Voluta; Golden Caladiums Queen, Prince of Wales, and 

 Princess Royal; Croton Earl of Derby ; Phyllotasniuni Lindeni, 

 Maranta Massangeana, Cephalotus follicularis, Platycerium 

 grande, Yucca filamentosa variegata, and very choice Palms 

 were noticeable in this good group. Messrs. Rollisson's collec- 

 tion was similar in character, and included some Orchids, 

 notably Odontoglossum voxillarium and the distinot Cattleya 

 granulata. The group of Messrs. J. Laing & Co. was brightened 

 by some well-grown plants of the beBt varieties of Bicolor Gera- 

 niums. Richard Thornton is extremely fine ; as also is the 

 very dark Czar, C. H. Pollard, and Mrs. H. Weir. Double 

 Petunias were also included, one of them, La Fleur de Janeur, 

 being of wonderful size and finely mottled; also cut RoBea, 

 Louia Van Houtte being extremely fine. MeBsrs. Carter's was 

 also a large group of general decorative plantB— too extensive, 

 indeed, to particularise. 



The above collections are first mentioned because of their 

 pre-eminent merit, and we now briefly notice a few of the com- 

 peting collections. The first class in the schedule was open to 

 all, yet only one exhibitor staged twelve plants in flower — Mr. 

 Mumford, gardener to J. Scott, Esq., and who was worthily 

 awarded the first prize. The classes for fine-foliaged plants call 

 for no comment, nor do the show and fancy Pelargoniums^ al- 

 though good prizes were offered ; the season, however, is fully 

 too late for Pelargoniums. Zonal Geraniums were very good ; 

 Mr. Neighbour, gardener to G. Wythes, Esq., Mr. Coppin, and 

 Mr. Talmage securing the prizes. Mr. Neighbour's plants were 

 4 feet in diameter and not more than a foot high, and were good 

 in foliage and flowers. The others were rather too formal — too 

 closely tied. Tricolor Geraniums were excellent, the best we 

 have seen this year. The plants were 3 to i feet in diameter 

 and in good health and colour, the successful exhibitors being 

 Messrs. Coppin, Lover, and Neighbour. Double Geraniums 

 were also very good, especially those staged by Mr. Cole, gar- 

 dener to A. Mitchell, Esq. 



In division 2, for members of the Society, six very good stove 

 and greenhouse plants were exhibited by Mr. Crane, gardener 

 to Mrs. Green, who secured the first prize, also a Bimilar award 

 for Bix fine-foliaged plants, which were really excellent. Croton 

 angustifolium was in superb colour, and Dsemonorops fissus and 

 Areca lutescens were very good. Rose3 in pots were poor, 

 Fuchsias very good, Mr. Neighbour again winning, followed by 

 Mr. Cole and Mr. Pepper. Gloxinias were very good, Messrs. 

 Jeffreys and Osborne being placed eqnal first. Mr. Neighbour 

 won first honours for Begonias in flower, and Mr. Talmage, 

 gardener to A. B. Pearce, Esq., first for " foliage " Begonias. 

 The exhibition of these was rather extensive. There was a good 

 show of Achimenes. Mr. Neighbour was an easy winner, 

 followed by Mr. Monckton, gardener to J. B. Alston, Esq. ; and 

 Mr. Jeffrey, gardener to J. T. Smith, Esq. Exotic Ferns were 

 good and British Ferns excellent, Mr. Neighbour winning in 

 both classes for six plants, followed by Mr. Clifford, gardener to 

 J. Batten, Esq., and Mr. Gammon. For single specimens Mr. 

 Osborne won with a grand example of Davallia Mooreana; Mr. 

 Field, gardener to W. Palmer, Esq., being second with Lygo- 

 dium scandens; and Mr. Neighbour third with Adiantum 

 pedatum. Mr. Mumford Btaged good Dracaanas and secured 



