60 



THE PLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



Some pretty collections of spring plants in flower (not forced) came from Messrs. Yeitch 

 and Son, Messrs. J. & J. Fraser, and Messrs. A. Henderson & Co. The prizes were awarded 

 in the order of the names. They comprised Rhododendrons, Epacrises, Acacias, Eriostemons, 

 Camellias, &c. 



In the class for forced plants, Messrs. Fraser were first with Azaleas, Rhododendrons, 

 Gueldres Roses, Persian Lilacs, Dielytras, Geraniums, &c. The plants in these two classes 

 formed very effective backgrounds to the Hyacinths, Tulips, and other smaller collections. 



A goodly number of miscellaneous plants were produced. Foremost were two large 

 collections of Hyacinths from Messrs. Cutbush and "W. Paul, the best of which were dupli- 

 cates of those already mentioned ; some cut Roses from Messrs. "W. Paid and Paul & Son ; 

 a collection of stove plants from Messrs. F. & A. Smith, of Dulwich ; and also a batch of 

 pretty seedling Cinerarias. Among them was Mrs. Moore, a heavy crimson-edged variety ; 

 Cadet, a brilliant crimson self ; Prince of Hesse, a very large purplish-blue-edged variety ; 

 Prince Alfred, a bright crimson self; and True Blue, a blue- edged kind. Mr. R. Parker 

 had Rhododendron Countess of Haddington, a handsome light-flowered species ; and a hand- 

 some Cypripedium. From Messrs. Veitch & Son came a collection of rare plants. The 

 most noticeable wero Rhododendron Princess Alice, a hybrid between Edgworthi and 

 Ciliatum — colour, very delicate blush ; R. Sesteiranum, a fine hybrid between Edgworthi 

 and Globosa ; Acacia eriocarpa, covered with large golden ball-like flowers ; Camellia 

 Comtesse Lavinia Maggi, a very striking rose-flaked kind, &c. Some choice ornamental 

 plants were sent by Mr. "W. Bull, of Chelsea. Foremost was a well-grown specimen of 

 Cyperus alternifolius variegatus, a beautiful ornamental-:! oliaged plant ; Cordyline indivisa, 

 Coleus Verschaffeltii, some pretty variegated plants from Japan, &c. Mr. C. Turner, of Slough, 

 sent two pretty seedling Cinerarias — viz., George Eyles, a bright lilac purple self ; and Mrs. 

 Harvey, a heavily-tipped bright purple, very much the style of Scottish Chieftain, but greatly 

 in advance of it. A perennial Cyclamen, from Mr. Holland, gardener to R. W. Peake, Esq., 

 Hounslow, attracted some considerable attention — it was said to have been in continuous 

 bloom for two years past. 



Messrs. Carter & Co., of Holborn, exhibited some plants of a double-flowered Fuchsia, 

 Meteor, for its peculiar foliage — a bright green, shaded with dark bronze. It will certainly 

 be very novel if growth and a colder atmosphere do not change its character. Mr. John 

 Salter,' of Hammersmith ; Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing, of Edinburgh ; and others also 

 furnished miscellaneous plants. 



There was one great drawback : The Council-chamber in which the Exhibition was 

 held was far too small to afford the company opportunity to inspect the plants. "Were it 

 not that the conservatory was arranged with admirable nicety and effect, and formed in 

 itself no inconsiderable exhibition of spring-flowering plants, it would have afforded much 

 more scope both for the productions and the company, for both were inconveniently crowded 

 together ; but we would rather that the conservatory were left as it was, and some other 

 provision were made for these "little goes" in the arcades or any other convenient place. 



Quo. 



CELERY BLIGHT, THE CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 



Having seen this excellent and most valuable vegetable so dreadfully blighted the past 

 summer, and in some places completely destroyed, and to prevent such another recurrence, it 

 induced me to offer a few remarks on the cause and prevention. First, I will state the cause, 

 which may not be known to some of your readers. It is caused by a little black fly, similar 

 to a house fly ; the name of which is Tephritis onopordinis. It lays its eggs in the leaves 

 and the larvse feed upon the tissue, causing large blisters. The larvse feed in those blisters, 

 which keep getting larger, and by the time the larvas are about a month old the blisters 

 decay and the larvas fall to the ground and change to chrysalis, and remain till the spring, 

 when again they take to their wings. They commence laying their eggs in June, and 

 continue till the autumn. Now for the prevention. It is to keep the fly off your Celery 

 by making it unpleasant for them, and this may be done by the following mixture : — A 

 pailful of soapsuds ; put in it one handful of lime, the same of flowers of sulphur, and one 

 of soot. Nathan Cole, Gardener to Mrs. Silver, St. John's FFbod. 



Standard Ftgs. — We hear that at Hickleton, in Yorkshire, the seat of Sir Charles 

 "Wood, Figs are grown largely in pots, and with great success under peculiar treatment. 

 The trees are low standards, with stems from 2 to 3 feet in height, and are treated as 

 pollards, the heads at pruning time being cut close in, leaving the crop to be furnished by 

 the annual shoots thrown cut from the stump. Ve hear the crop (which ripens in 

 September, the trees not being forced), is both abundant and very fine in quality.^ Can any 

 of our readers state anything in addition to the above very interesting feature in Figcrilture? 



