42 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 11, 1S72. 



severe drought. Besides surface-stirrings after effectual drench- 

 ings of water, we would strongly advise mulchings to the 

 depth of a couple of inches with half-decayed stable litter or 

 leaves or short grass, as circumstances may direct. Such sur- 

 face-coverings save much water-carrying, and keep the ground 

 longer moist after watering than any other means. 



Li the case of sowing seeds in drills the same principle 

 applies. After the drills are opened, give a good soaking in 

 the bottom of the drills before the seeds are sown, and repeat 

 the dose after they are covered in. Mere sprinklings to ger- 

 minating seeds often destroy them altogether, and are worse 

 than no watering at all. 



It is usual in dry weather, in planting out flower-garden 

 plants out of pots, to water them immediately after they are 

 planted. So far well. But there are conditions which may 

 prevent the water from doing the individual plant as much 

 good as it would otherwise effect, even when a quite sufficient 

 quantity of water has been applied. Take, for instance, plants 

 that are what may be termed pot-bound in small pots. Let 

 these be planted when in a dry and hardened condition with 

 the ball full of air instead of water. It is turned into the bed 

 or border without the ball being broken or the roots disen- 

 tangled. The water applied passes into the general body of 

 the soil, and leaves the dry ball nearly as dry as ever it was. 

 It may, indeed, absorb moisture indirectly from the surrounding 

 soil, but it sustains a check, and half the season passes before 

 it makes a kindly start. Ear better it is to thoroughly soak 

 the balls before planting, and to partially disentangle the roots, 

 and to press the soil firmly about it in planting. Then the 

 water applied after planting penetrates the ball and the bed 

 alike, and effects the purpose for which it has been applied. 



We do not, however, wish to convey anything condemnatory 

 of regularly sprinkling plants and the surface of the soil every 

 evening. What we want to inculcate is, that the soil should be 

 at the same time thoroughly wetted with less frequent soakings 

 sufficient to reach the feeders, and the surface of the ground 

 stirred or mulched to prevent evaporation. Surface-sprinklings 

 are, for reasons already assigned, worse than useless. When 

 both top and root are moistened, then the case is very dif- 

 ferent. It is not because we "pin our faith" to the weather- 

 wise that we throw out these hints, but because they may 

 le considered more or less applicable to the general run of 

 seasons. — (The Gardener.) 



SMOKING AT THE IPSWICH FLOWEB SHOW. 



Can any other of your readers have witnessed at other flower 

 shows a barbarism which I have seen, or rather smelt to-day 

 — namely, a strong odour of tobacco pervading and poisoning 

 the air of the pretty grounds in which our horticultural fete 

 was being held ? It really should be prevented. Why can so 

 few men be at peace with the world apart from then' pipe? I 

 think your Journal might make a protest at the request of an 

 aggrieved — Mignonette. 



[At the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at South Ken- 

 sington notices in various languages are placed announcing, 

 " Smoking is strictly forbidden." No gentleman ever acts in 

 defiance of this notice. When we see a man smoking in a 

 railway carriage or in other places contrary to known rules, we 

 always remember the question put to one so offending, "Will 

 not your master allow you time to smoke ?"] 



WILD FLOWERS IN BLOOM AT SANDHURST, 

 HAWKHURST. 



April 17. Polygala vulgaris, Common Milkwort. 



Orobus tuberosus, Common Bitter Vetch. 



Veronica officinalis, Medicinal Sea Speedwell. 



Melica unifiora, Sylvan Melic Grass. 

 ,, 22. Dentaria bulbifera, Coral Root. 



Barbarea vulgaris, Common Yellow Rocket. 



Anthoxanthum odoratum, Sweet-scented Vernal Grass. 



Ranunculus bulbosus, Turnip-rooted Buttercup. 



Ranunculus acris, Common Meadow Buttercup. 



Orchis Morio, Green- veined Helmet Orchis. 



Stellaria uliginosa, Bog Chickweed. 

 „ 24. Carex pra-cox, glauca, pendula. 



Brassica compestris, Wild Turnip. 



Equisetum orvense, Field Horsetail (barren stems). 



Alchemilla arvensis, Parsley Piert. 



Quercus pedunculata, Common Oak. 

 ,, 27. Lysiiuachia neniorum, Yellow Pimpernel. 



Sanicula europiea, Sanicle. 



Neottia nidus-avis, Bird's-nest Orchis. 



Ilex Acjuifoliiim, Holly. 

 „ 29. Sherardia arvensis, Field Madder. 



April 29. Acer campestre, Common Maple. 



Coronopus Ruellii, Common Wart-Cress. 



Allium ursinum, Ramsoms. 



Myosotis arvensis, Field Forget-me-not. 



Viola tricolor, Wild Heartsease. 



Medicago lupuiina, Common Field Medick. 



Dactylis glomerata, Rough Cock's-foot Grass. 



Equisetum sylvaticum, Sylvan Horsetail (barren stems). 



Valerianella olitoria, Lamb's Lettuce. 



Euphorbia amygdaloides, Great Sylvan Spurge 



Parietaria officinalis, Pellitory. 

 May 1, Trifoliurn prateuse, Purple Clover. 



Valeriana dioica, Small Rose Valerian. 



Equisetum Telmateia, Great White-stemmed Horsetail.^ 



Corex strigosa. 

 3. Galium aporine, Cleavers. 



Alopecurus agrestis, Cornfield Foxtail Grass. 



Lohum perenne, Rye Grass. 



Acer Pseudo-Platonus, Common Sycamore. 



Ranunculus repens, Creeping Buttercup. 



Galium cruciatum, Crosswort. 



Fumaria officinalis, Common Fumitory. 



Sagina procumbens, Common Pearlwort. 



Lepidium campestre, Common Pepper Cress. 



Stellaria graminea, Minor Stitchwort. 



Poa pratensis, Smooth Meadow Grass. 



Poa trivialis, Roughish Meadow Grass. 

 „ 8. Trifoliuni incai-natum, Carnation Clover. 



Lychnis vespertina, White Campion. 



Tormentilla officinalis, Common Tormentil. 



Ervum hirsuturn, Common Tare. 



Chelidoniuni majus, Major Celandine. 



Vicia angustifolia, Narrow-leaved Crimson Vetch. 

 „ 10. Myosotis collina, Least Forget-me-not. 



Apium graveolens, Wild Cherry. 



Veronica Beccahunga, Brooklime. 



Potentilla reptans, Common Cinquefoil. 



Lotus corniculatus, Bird's-foot Trefoil. 



Bromus mollis, Common Meadow Brome Grass. 



Holcus lanatus, Meadow Soft Grass. 



Spergula arvensis, Com Spurrey. 



Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Ox-eye Daisy. 



Trifoliurn minus, Little Yellow Trefoil. 



Ranunculus arvensis, Cornfield Crowfoot 

 „ 13. Serophularia nodosa, Common Figwort. 



Rumex Acetosella, Sheep's Son-el. 



Pyrus Aucuparia, Mountain Ash. 



Pyrethrum inodoi-um, Mayweed. 

 „ 15. Scirpus palustris, Common Spike Rush. 



Urtiea dioica, Common Nettle. 



Pinus sylvestris, Scotch Fir. 



Potentilla anserina, Silver-weed. 



Bromus sterilis, Hedge Drooping Brome Grass. 



Symphytum officinale, Common Comfrey. 

 „ 20. Biiniuni rlexuosum, Common Earth Nut. 



Cha^rophyllum tumulentum ,Rough Chervil. 



Geranium dissectum, Cut-leaved Cranesbill. 



Juncus bufonius, Toad's Rush. 



Ervurn tetraspermum, Smooth-podded Tare. 



Glyceria tluitans, Floating Manna Grass. 



Ranunculus aquatilis, Water Snow-cups. 



Tamus communis, Black Bryony. 



Briza media, Common Quaking Grass. 



Anagallis arvensis, Scarlet Pimpernel. 

 „ 22. Melampyrum pratense, Common Cow Wheat. 



Lychnis Flos-cuculi, Ragged Robin. " 



Juncus commxmis, Soft Rush. 



Sonchus oleraceus, Common Sowthistle. 



Sisymbrium officinale, Common Hedge Mustard. 



Thrincia hirta, Hairy Hawkbit. 



Hieraeium Pilosella, Mouse-ear Hawkweed. 



Orchis maculata, Spotted Orchis. 



Orchis latifolia. Marsh Orchis. 

 „ 25. Listera ovata, Common Twayblade. 



Rhinanthus Crista-galli, Yellow Rattle. 



Rosa canina, Dog Rose'. 



Malva sylvestris, Common Mallow. 

 ., 29. Vicia sativa, Fodder Vetch. 



Lathyrus sylvestris, Yellow Vetchling. 



Alopecurus pratensis, Meadow Foxtail Grass. 



Arundo Phragnrites, Common Reed. 



Festuca ovina, Sheep's Fescue Grass. 



— Fraulein, Botanist. 



GAKDEN STKUCTUKES AND IMPLEMENTS 



AT THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S BIRMINGHAM EXHIBITION. 



One of the greatest sources of interest at the late Show at 

 Birmingham, next to the plants and flowers, was the great assort- 

 ment of implements, wirework, and mechanical contrivances 

 which have direct reference to horticulture. It is our intention 

 in the next week's number of The Journal of Horticulture 

 to give an illustrated report of some of the principal exhibits in 

 the shape of boilers and horticultural structures ; at present we 

 shall confine our attention to some of the stands of implements, 

 &c, in the first enclosure. We will go through the stands in 

 order. 



Stand No. 1 contained ftivett's ground vinery or plant pro- 

 tector, a very useful and cheap form, of which more next week. 



Stand No. 2. — Mr. Sawney exhibited what may be called 

 garden accessories in the shape of garden seats, and croquet 

 chairs, and swings ; but some of the things he showed, ;;s barrel 



