5$4 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



September i 0 , I g 9 8. 



mentioned in our recent reference to the cactus varieties, the exhibitors 



_ _ — ■ ■ * /" « » m m • — 



of dahlias have, by staging blooms of several sections with a portion of the consequent spread of the disease. In many districts the crop of notT 8 



- " ' • • be comparatively light in consequence of the growth being checked t»th ? 



weather ; but in the midland and northern counties of England and in S In? 

 where the rainfall has been more abundant, there is promise of a heavy ylddi 



we would assure them that the more tastefully the flowers are presented ? otatos oi ^ q^hty. Considering the great deficiency in the potato croo 



• -* ■ '■» L ' • last y ear 11 15 hl S hl y gratifying to know that there is full justification for the eroL 



anticipating this season a liberal return for their expenditure of time and mone • I 

 cannot be too generally known that potatos lifted when the skin has become set 

 will keep satisfactorily for as long a period as will those remaining undug until the 

 haulm has died down, and that in consequence the crop may be lifted on indica 

 tions of an attack of disease. This, however, must be done carefully, and, if the 



Ui UdillidO nave, uy otdgmg ^w.**^ w- -~ . uuv-uwiu win* cv pui uwu v/m 



the stem, effected a considerable improvement in dahlia displays, but 

 something more artistic than these triangular arrangements is required. 

 In commending this matter to those specially interested in these flowers 

 we would assure them that the more tastefully the flowers are presented 

 to public notice the greater will be the popularity enjoyed by their 

 favourities. 



' Naming Fruits. — "the immensely increased circulation of the Gardeners' 

 Magazine has brought with it a proportionate increase in the number of fruits 



submitted for naming with the result that this part of our work has become very weather is showery, with as little exposure of the tubers as possible for if' 1 



heavy during the autumn and winter. We therefore ask our readers to carefully dug tubers are allowed to lay on the surface for any length of time whe^tte 



observe the few conditions imposed upon those sending specimens, and this we do as atmosphere is loaded with spores of the fungus a considerable proportion will b! 



much in their interest as in ours. In the first place we wish it to be distinctly destroyed by the disease, as they readily germinate on the surface of the tuber 



understood that we are pleased to name fruits for our readers, and in return for the mycelium quickly penetrates its tissues. 



services freely rendered without charge we would suggest that they send specimens 

 that will admit of the identification of the varieties without special difficulty. It 

 should be obvious that the specimens sent should be typical as to size, shape, and 



High Propagation of Potatos. 



Fcrbes 



writes 



raised 



colour, and yet we annually receive hundreds of specimens that are either mis- single eyes> takeQ from a couple of dg of tuberg {twdve ™ 

 shapen tmperfect, or m an advanced state of decay. A considerable number of the spri Each was ^ QUt ere k e(J ^ Jg a 



the senders of Ifruit consider that fruits unfit for use are suitable for naming, ------- r J J ^ 



tion of flesh attached. There were seventy -six eyes in all. These were planted 



thereby adding materially to our work of identifying: them, or, in extreme case?, :„ „ ^„ T rt r r *. i *.u \. " , , , . 



-*JZ rtJ. , n A t C ~t t . ontm ; C c;„ n <uL! a. L,. wu ITu 10 * row , o{ nmet y feet Ien S th « near a greenhouse. The ground was dug deeply, 



and moderately manured, then a shallow drill was dug, and the sets planted being 



carefully covered up. Every one grew well, as I saw when looking along the 



rows. I have since heard from Mr. Forbes that my estimate of three bushels 



. was materially exceeded by there being just two hundred and twenty pounds from 



. r . _ , . . £ " " also lm P° rtant to P lacc *c the two pounds of seed, a very good result indeed. Of course, in this case there 



name and address of the sender in the package for if these are sent ID a letter there was none of that anifidal tion that character i S ed Mr. Forties's practice in 



is, when a dozen or so packages reach us by the same post, considerable difficulty the famous R com p e tition. 



wasting their time and the cost of transmission through the post. What we wish 

 to impress upon those who send apples and pears for naming is that they be of 

 average size, with eye and stalk uninjured, and that both these fruits 

 be sent when they are 'approaching 'maturity, as at this stage the skin will 

 be of the colour characteristic of the variety. 



in determining the senders of packages. We are also desirous it should be under- 

 stood that although we deal as promptly as possible with specimens we cannot 

 undertake to give the names in the issue of the same week as they are received. 

 Therefore it is necessary sende rs should remember their nom de plume or initials 

 and when they do not find the names in the current week's issue [look for them in 

 subsequent issues, inste ad of writing long letters, as is sometimes done, pointing 

 out that the fruits they sent have not been named. We shall not for the present 

 make any reduction in the number of specimens that may be sent at one time, 

 and as we are desirous of assisting our readers to the fullest possible extent we 

 hope they will carefully act upon the suggestions made, and thus render it 

 unnecessary to make any change in the number. 



Dr. D. Morris, C.M.G., lately assistant director of the Royal Gardens at 

 Kew, has taken up as from the ist inst. the position of Commissioner of Agri- 

 culture for the West Indies, to which he was appointed some time ago. He will 

 preside over the new botanical department which has been constituted as a charge 

 on the Imperial fund in accordance with the recommendation of the West Indian 

 Royal Commission and the recent vote of the House of Commons. He leaves for 

 Barbados on the 2ist inst. 



St Petersburg International Horticultural Exhibition.— The 



Imperial Horticultural Society of Russia will celebrate its fortieth anniversary by 

 holding an International Horticultural Exhibition at St. Petersburg in May next, 

 and the programme has been issued. The schedule contains two hundred and 



Sobralia Cattleya, an orchid that has for long defied the persuasiveness 

 of orchid growers, has just flowered in the Burford Lodge collection belonging 

 to Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., and managed by Mr. W. H. White. One 

 bloom appeared a few days ago, and was produced by a side growth and nut 

 at the apex of the tall reedy stems. It was a small flower, not so large as 

 an example of S. virginalis ; the colour was palest rose. So far as one can at 

 present judge, Sobralia Cattleya is a poor plant, and has proved disappointing 

 after so many years of patient waiting. In addition to the Burford Lodge plant 

 there is a large specimen of this species at Kew, where it shows no inclination to 

 flower as yet. 



Approaching Marriage of Mr. James H. Veitch.— Considering how 



cordial are the relations existing between Messrs. James Veitch and Sons and 

 their employes, it is in no way surprising the firm should have entertained the 

 members of their large statf, in view of the approaching marriage of Mr. James 

 H. Veitch, and thus have given them an opportunity of participating in the fest 

 vities associated with this interesting event. The other evening the staff was 

 entertained at dinner at the Criterion Restaurant, and the guests, who included a 

 few horticulturists, personal friends of members of the firm, numbered nearly ooc 

 hundred. Mr. Hany J. Veitch presided, and it ii hardly necessary to say that tht 

 wishes expressed by Mr. N. N. Sherwood that the forthcoming marriage would be 

 a happy and prosperous one, were very heartily endorsed by the company, n 

 acknowledging the toast of " Success to the firm of Veitch and Sons," Mr. J. 



* ■ — — " , " uvu ' * uv ovii wwiv whwmn w 11U " U,V,W "* ,v * .^Miuwii;u«;u]g me toast 01 " bUCCeSS LO me mm ui % »w** • - 



ten classes, and these are arranged in seven groups, namely, new plants, with Veitch gave expression to his gratitude for the gift of the silver tea and code 



eleven classes* ^ompntni -.I ~~ . ~ • . • . ° - * r% t>_:*.«:« ««rl Tr#»UntL and DJ 



with thirteen classes ; familes of plants, genera and species, to which one hundred 



on/1 t MP., n «.. C — 1 * ■ . i • « 



service, presented to him by the gardeners of Great Britain and Ireland, ana mi 

 appreciation of the handsome silver service he had received from the cmploj" 

 the firm. 



— , ~. r .«uwo, s^ iav -*^ **nv* w " ~— - «^^i^iattuu ui uic nanasome silver service nc iv*~~*~~ • . 



and twenty-five classes are devoted; bouquets and floral arrangements, which the firm. Mr. A. Weeks, in proposing the health of the Chairman, s r okC "j 

 have only three classes set apart for them 5 fruits and vegetables, with twenty-four warm terms of his personal Qualities, and Mr. Veitch, in reply, said that he tad 



classes, to be grown by the exhibitors ; and technical objects, for which there are 

 r#.^ i Tlie prizes offered in the several sections comprise objects of art, 



every reason to be exceedingly proud of the firm's record. ^^^'Jj'JJ 



fifteen classes. The prizes offered in the several sections comprise objects of art, had always existed between the firm, the staff, and the men ; and in proof ot « 

 diplomas of honour, gold, silver, and bronze medals, and letters of thanks. assertion he stated that one good servant had been in their employ forty U** 

 Arrangements have been made by the Imperial Horticultural Society with the years ; ten had served periods between thirty and forty years ; and sutee 



Russian railway and steamboat companies for the conveyance of objects to and between twenty and thirty years, mi. *wv- - 



from the exhibition at reduced rates. Mr. James II. Veitch has been appointed and this was acknowledged by Messrs Sedan, Ileal, and Archer. 

 COmmiuionei for Great Britain, and schedules and information generally may be Art| Groun . nf h ^ tjL ^ fl the course of a lec 



. ... — , own.tiu»v.o u.,.^.. & 



obtained from him on application at the Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea 



Prospects of the Potato Crop. — Potato disease has made its appearance 

 >n the United Kingdom, but in few instances only has any material damage been 

 done. This attack is in no way surprising, for the heavy rains that fell at 

 intervals during August accompanied by much electrical disturbance of the atmos- 

 phere and an excessively high temperature have been favourable to the develop- 

 ment of the fungus (Phjriophthora infestans) by which the disease is caused. 

 According to the reports received from mir rnrr^snondents the disease has been 



Artistic Grouping of Daffodils.-In the coarse of a lecture given^ £ 

 the National Amateur Gardeners' Association, Mr. W. J. Barr . ga * e ff |j e 

 cellent advice on planting daffodils with a view to produce an justice • 

 suggested that in planting narcissi in the borders or Mt «™"£*J^l55 

 &c , that straight lines and circular or symmetrical clumps snouw ^ fc 



the tines t effect being always obtained by imitating Nature and . 

 irregular groups, and the arrangement of the stars in the heavens, nc ^ ^ 



plest 



neither of these counties does the loss inflicted appear to be heavy. Other 

 counties in which evidence of the attack of the disease has been found include 

 Beds, Berks, Caml>s, Chester, Cuml«rland, Essex, Gloucester, Hants, Hereford, 

 Herts, Hunts, Lancaster, Leicester, Notts, Oxford, Somerset, Suffolk, Warwick, 

 Westmorland, Worcester, and York. The attack has been very slight in Scotland, 

 and the only counties from which we have received intimation of the presence of 

 KuV^T T. A , betd f een » Ar «y». Ayr, Dumbarton, Forfar, Haddington, Lanark. 

 vlzl » Rc ° feW ' Koss ' Sutherland. In Wales the crops in Angi 



well give us an object lesson of how to mass daffodils. _ ^ ^ 

 when massing to keep the various sections separate, and not rw 

 narcissi or short cupped sections with the giant trumpeters. * w ^ _ 

 most effectual method of planting in grass is to use a stout wooue fl| ^ 



tread, make the hole in the ground about six or seven men lwo4hil Ji 

 with a good mixture of prepared soil, consisting of old pottttg ^ ^, 

 loam and one-third old 



strong 



Hrec-m C^,A. ^ » oumerlal . _ 



-.-h. ut ,nv „ nn '- ,"r MV00 * Denbi 8h.«nd Merioneth have been attacked, but 

 Ut a0y T! ^_ d . ama f e ^ been done. It will thus be seen that the 



grave 



easterly wind 



panied by an 



„ w l ea f soj^ an d then press th success u — 



hole with some compost ; this will give the bulbs a fair start, an ^ ^ 



to follow. In planting under large trees avoid places where /° " , he «ui.» 

 leaves, etc , is greatest, also where the main roots come . C '°*L sivC »ios, b« 

 Never plant when the ground is close and saturated witn ex ^ 

 wait until it is in a good friable condition ; belter far to pl*u \^ u in a »«• 

 which is in a proper condition than to plant earlier in groun I » ^ ^ 1<4t{ 

 condition. After freshly digging or trenching ground it snoui rf ^ 



week or ten days to subside before att-.mpting to plant, or " > 



oil the bulbs will be carried below their proper depth, and failure 



