March 5, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
191 
large enough to handle thin them to 4 or 5 inches apart, accord¬ 
ing to the strength of the plants, and water as required. 
Didiscus cceruleus and D. albiflorus. —These are New 
South Wales plants, bearing coerulean blue Mowers and white 
Mowers, as their specific names imply. They were introduced 
into this country in 1820 and 1827 respectively, and belong to 
the large natural order Umbelliferse, being frequently classed 
under the generic name Trachymene, a genus comprised chiefly 
of dwarf shrubs, natives of the same part of the globe, and 
belonging to the same natural order. The Didiscus are hardy 
annuals, but do better when cultivated in pots under glass, 
and if sown at the end of March or beginning of April, pricked 
off, and potted as required—pots 6 inches m diameter being 
large enough—they will produce their charming umbels of blue 
and white throughout the summer, and will be very effective 
amongst other plants. Ordinary details of cultivation will 
produce successful results. 
Browallias. —In the genus Browallia we have several very 
pretty and useful greenhouse annuals of an erect and shapely 
habit, and very floriferous in character. The different species 
produce flowers of various colours, from pale yellow to purple, 
but those more worthy of general culture are B. elata (blue), 
introduced from Peru in 1768, B. elata alba (white), B. elata 
grandiMora (blue), and B. speciosa (purple) from Quindiu in 
1816. The genus is named in honour of the late John Browal- 
lius, Bishop of Abo, in Finland. Seed should be sown during 
the spring months, the earlier the better, in light and moderately 
rich soil, and placed in a frame on a gentle hotbed, or in the 
warmest part of the greenhouse; cover the seed very slightly 
with soil, and keep it moist by means of the paper and water 
until germination takes place, when the seedlings must be 
gradually inured to more light, and the paper removed. As 
soon as large enough prick off the seedling 2 inches apart into 
pans or boxes, or singly into small pots, 60’s will be large 
enough. Keep them growing sturdily by giving them a position 
near to the glass and a warm and humid atmosphere. In 
three or four weeks they will be ready for placing into the pots 
in which it is intended to flower them; these need not be larger 
than 4|, 5, or at the most 6 inches in diameter. At this potting 
use a compost of loam, leaf mould, manure, and sand in equal 
proportions, and see that the pots are well drained ; place them 
again in the most suitable position to insure a free and sturdy 
growth, and as they come into flower remove to a cooler and 
more airy position.—J. U. S. 
ESPECIALLY TEAS. 
It would have been decidedly interesting if “ D., Deal,” had kindly 
given us, as I think he probably could have done, the number of entries 
in the various classes for Teas at the National Rose Society’s exhibitions. 
If the entries during the last five years have steadily increased in numbers 
it would be a distinct argument for extra encouragement to Teas. It is 
not of much moment to tell us that the prizes for six suburban-grown 
Teas have never enlisted a single competitor, or do I mistake, “have 
never been awarded,” because unworthy ? If this latter be the expla¬ 
nation, I should not be surprised, for seeing how completely ruined a 
bloom of Tea may be by a “ black ” alighting on it, and that “ suburban 
districts” have an unlimited allowance of the same, no one could marvel. 
There is also another reason, I think, that the smoke has a greater 
injurious effect on the smooth Tea foliage, thus preventing vigorous 
growth, otherwise the neighbourhood of the metropolis, being decidedly a 
better climate than this portion of the country, should be more favourable 
to the growth of the more tender (Tea ?) varieties. 
The point to get at is, Are Rose-growers, who formerly contented 
themselves with a few Teas, growing them to a greater extent ? If so, 
and if at the same time the number of Tea exhibitors have increased— 
and our good friend “D., Deal,” is better qualified than most men to 
judge of this matter—then augment the encouragement; at least, a strong 
case is made out for the same. Thanks to Mr. G. Prince, whom all Rose 
lovers will rejoice to hear is getting about again, and the stock which he 
has made famous; and thanks, too, to Mr. G. Paul’s idea of the raised 
beds, I believe there are more Tea Roses grown, and if so, there will 
soon be brisker competition, and doubtless schedule framers will offer 
accordingly. 
With the latter portion of “ D., Deal's ” communication I have much 
sympathy, but the subject is a very difficult topic to handle satisfac¬ 
torily. An enthusiastic amateur of the strictest integrity may be anything 
but a pot-hunter, and yet he may feel, as I confess I do, that I ought to 
make my hobby pay. Now, if I do not exhibit, my hobby pays me fairly ; 
first, in the great pleasure of watching growth and criticising their varied 
merits ; secondly, in the still greater pleasure of giving away, and I may 
thus consider that I ought to be sa isfied. But if I exhibit, especially at 
a distance, I am immediately launched into a series of expenses, incidental, 
not to the growth but to the exhibition of my pets. I think I am fairly 
justified, without being considered a pot-hunter, in endeavouring by all 
honest means to make the results of exhibition pay expenses at tho least. 
The gilding to the honour of winning is like a suitable frame to a good 
picture—it sets it off, and I can see no harm in cutting my coat according 
to my cloth, or, in other words, exhibiting to my best advantage. 
“ D., Deal,” has, however, unintentionally overlooked another reason 
for entering in several classes, and possibly only exhibiting in one, that 
in small collections of from 600 to 1500 plants—three or four days possibly 
intervening between date of entry and exhibition—an exhibitor cutting 
well on Tuesday may be unable to cut a dozen exhibition blooms on 
Friday. I think it not improbable that the National Society’s rule, which 
compels entering instead of exhibiting, deters some exhibitors from 
entering in the larger classes from the fear that with their small collec¬ 
tions they may not be able to cut accordingly. 
Where a Rose Show is held as a commercial speculation it is, I had 
almost written, every way an evil. I, too, have known a Mushroom ex¬ 
hibition with its £20 prize. It has long been a thing of the past. In 
small societies it is, I think, a very good plan to let each member only 
take one of a certain number of prizes ; he may be awarded the honour 
of a “ double first,” or more even, but he can take only one prize, whilst 
the others are passed on to other members, and these—at least, some of 
them—go away the happier, or their gardeners may. I have always, in 
every kind of competition, advised a number of prizes rather than one 
grand premium. In this respect the National, with four prizes in several 
classes, sets an example that deserves to be followed as well as to be 
successful. 
In our local Rose Society we have certain prizes for four or five classes 
of any variety. In these each member can only take one prize ; then we 
have some extra classes, the prizes in which may also be taken by the 
exhibitors who are successful in the other classes. Amongst these we 
have for some years had a class for a few Teas and Noisettes. I must 
add that the competition in this class has very decidedly increased, and 
there are signs this planting season of future increase. Anyway, I think 
all the Committee are agreed that class must be kept on the schedule.— 
Y. B. A. Z. 
The schedule of prizes and arrangements of the Royal Horticultural 
Society for the present year is now to hand, and the programme it 
announces is most satisfactory and varied. In addition to promenade 
shows at the fortnightly meetings in March and April, a series of 
special exhibitions ha9 been arranged from May to October, which will 
provide a continuous succession of floral attractions throughout the 
season. On April 21st the National Auricula Society’s Show will be 
held, and this will be followed on May 12th and 13th by the Orchid Con¬ 
ference. Roses in pots and Azaleas will be the features on May 26th; 
Orchids, June 9th ; Pelargoniums, June 23rd ; the National Rose Society’s 
Show, July 7th ; Flowers and Fruits, July 14th ; Begonias and National 
Carnation and Picotee Society’s Show, July 28th ; Plants and Flowers, 
August 11th; Cottagers’ Show, August 25th; Grapes and Dahlias, 
September 8th and 9th; Apples and Pears, October 13th and 14th; 
Chrysanthemums, Vegetables, and a Potato Conference, October 27th 
and 28th. At these special shows prizes varying from £15 to 5s. are 
offered, and after such a successful series of fruit shows last year 
similarly satisfactory displays of plants may be confidently expected. 
- Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, send us samples of 
about two dozen varieties of Primulas, the majority of which are 
distinguished by their good form and substance and their bright varied 
colours. There is now an excellent display of these plants in Messrs. 
Carter’s Perry Hill Nursery. 
- The Great Cattleya House in the nurseries of Messrs. James 
Veitch & Sons at Chelsea is now magnificent. This is undoubtedly 
one of the finest Orchid houses in the world, and the plants both by their 
health and beauty are worthy of the structure. The Orchids at Chelsea 
merit further notice, but in the meantime persons who wish to see some¬ 
thing worth seeing should lose no time in inspecting the house in 
question, as many fine plants are being purchased daily, and several of 
the flowers of those remaining will soon lose their freshness. Thirteen 
hundred Cattleyas were in full beauty when we admired the collection 
a few days ago. 
-- Among the New Orchids that happened to flower in the same 
nursery at the time of our visit were the following :—Laelia bella, a seed¬ 
ling from L. purpurata x Cattleya labiata. The colour is intensely 
rich, the lip purple maroon, shading to the edge, sepals pale mauve, yel- 
. lowish-veined throat. The flower is highly fragrant, and the plant vigor- 
