244 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 27,1884. 
of Lemon Verbena.” And he further makes a statement, more important 
than all the rest, if true—that is, that if this decoction be used, one need 
“ never suffer from flatulence, never be made nervous or old-maidish, 
never have cholera, diarrhoea or loss of appetite.” 
- The ‘Wolveehampton Horticultural Society will hold 
their annual Show in Col. Thorneycroft’s grounds at Tettenhall, Wolver¬ 
hampton, on July 14th, 15th, and 16th of the present year. Classes are 
provided on the schedule just issued for plants, flowers, fruit, and 
vegetables, many being open to any exhibitors. 
- Mr. B. S. Baxter writes:—“The following Nymph^eas Are 
NOW flowering in the Oxford Botanic Garden N. Daubenyana> 
the most useful variety for early and late flowering. It is of an azure blue 
colour suffused with lavender, and is very fragrant. It produces young 
plants from the centre of the leaves, and these if allowed to remain on the 
plant also produce a number of small flowers about the size of Daisies) 
which have a pretty appearance floating on the water. N. cyanea.—This 
also is a very free-flowering species, producing a great number of blue 
flowers. N. scutifolia differs from the above, being of a darker blue 
than the two former, and the petals being broader : it is also very fra¬ 
grant. We have also the Lymnocharis Humboldti and the Eichornia 
azurea in flower, showing the advantage of keeping aquatics in water 
all the year round, and reducing the temperature in winter to 60° or 
62°. The tubers should be planted in tubs in some heavy loam, and a 
little manure placed in half the depth.” 
- - The usual monthly meeting of the Horticultural Club was 
held last Tuesday ; Professor Michael Foster, F.E.S., and Mr. F. E. Stumfel 
were elected members. 
- As has been previously announced, valuable prizes are offered 
for fruit and vegetables by the Eoyal Horticultural Society 
at South Kensington during the ensuing season. The schedule of 
prizes is now being issued, and it appeals temptingly to cultivators 
far and near, as good prizes are offered for single dishes of the 
different kinds of fruit, which can be so easily transmitted, also for 
dishes of vegetables. When we find prizes of 15s., 10s., and 7s. Gd 4 
for six bunches of Eadishes, it can no longer be said that vegetables 
are ignored. Excellent prizes are also offered for collections of fruit 
and vegetables throughout the series of shows which are to be held 
in May, June, July, August, September, and October. At the Cottagers’ 
Show in August we find a distinct and most commendable innovation 
in the form of a series of prizes ranging in value from £5 to 10s. Gd- 
provided for competition amongst the various local Horticultural Cottage 
Garden Societies and allotment holders in the country, the Secretary of 
each Society, or other authorised person, collecting the produce for 
exhibition. The schedule, which should be widely distributed, is a very 
practical and excellent production, and undoubtedly creditable to the 
compilers. 
- Messrs. Carter & Co. have sent us examples of Purple 
Sprouting Broccoli, numbered 1 and 2. The latter is a good ex¬ 
ample of the ordinary type, the former having much greater density of 
inflorescence, and with comparatively few leaves, resembling somewhat 
a rather loose, tall, pyramidal-shaped Cauliflower. The two examples 
before us are very dissimilar. 
- We learn from the schedule of the Northamptonshire 
Horticultural Society’ that at their annual show, to be held in 
Delapre Park, August 4th and 6th, a prize of a very novel character 
will be offered by Mr. John Edward Perkins, Billing Eoad Nurseries, 
Northampton. This is the first prize in Class 9, for a group of mis¬ 
cellaneous plants for conservatory decoration, arranged for effect in 
a space of 26 by 12 feet, and consists [of a life membership of the 
Gardeners’ Eoyal Benevolent Institution, value ten guineas. Such a 
handsome and useful prize may be expected to bring a number of 
competitors, and so excellent an example might be advantageously 
followed by other donors of special prizes. Very liberal provision is 
made in the numerous other classes at this Show, the prizes ranging 
from £12 to Is. for plants, flowers, fruit, and vegetables. The third 
Seedling Potato Exhibition will be held in the Town Exchange, 
Northampton, on September 24th and 25th, when four classes will be 
provided, four prizes in each, value £1 10s. to 5s. 
- Gardening Appointments. —Messrs. John Laing & Co., Forest 
Hill, inform us that the following appointments have been recently 
made through them. Mr. Wm. Crump, lately at Beaurepaire Park, 
Basingstoke, Hants, as head gardener to J. P. Currie, Esq., Sandown 
House, Esher ; Mr. McDonald as head gardener to E. Johnstone, Esq., 
Boulogne-sur-Mer, France; and Mr. Jas. Taylor, lately gardener at 
Storrington Eectory, Sussex, as gardener to J. Patrick, Esq., Hunstanton, 
Norfolk. 
- We have received Part 2 of Messrs. Cassell’s “ Encyclopedic? 
Dictionary,” which carries the workup to the word “Alder” in this 
excellent work. 
- The monthly general meeting of the members of the Notting¬ 
hamshire Horticultural and Botanical Society was held at the 
Mechanics’ Institute on the 20th inst., when Mr. C. E. Pearson of the 
Chilwell Nurseries delivered a very interesting lecture upon garden 
insects. The chair was taken by Alfred Page, Esq., and there was a 
large attendance of gardeners and others interested in horticulture. Mr- 
Pearson, who takes a great interest in the Society, and who is very 
popular amongst the members, said ho would divide his lecture, into two- 
parts, and would first deal with those insects which were inimical, and 
secondly with those which were friendly to the horticulturist. He 
spoke of the aphis as a very destructive insect, and its remarkable powers 
of reproduction. He next referred to the formation and habits of the 
caterpillar species, and said it was much to be regretted that gardeners 
did not sufficiently study entomology, but destroyed indiscriminately 
both friends and foes. He next dealt with the great order of beetles, and 
pointed out their destructive powers. The earwig, the ant, the cricket, 
slugs, snails, woodlice, red spider, mealy bug were next very ably dealt 
with by the lecturer, who at the conclusion of his lecture was very 
warmly applauded and accorded a very hearty vote of thanks. There 
were in the room many excellent specimens of flowers and plants which 
were sent by the members of the Society, amongst them being a variety 
of Dendrobiums and other cut’Orchid blooms, sent by the Yice-President 
of the Society, S. Thacker, Esq. ; fine pots of Strawberries, sent by Mr. 
Gennan, gardener to T. B. Cults, Esq., Malvern House ; a splendid 
basket of Boses from Mr. Walker, gardener to J. W. Lewis, E ; q., Hard¬ 
wick House. Col. Seeley, M.P., Sherwood Lodge, sent a fine plant of 
Cyclamen Eosy Morn, which was much admired. Mr. Edington, Wood- 
thorpe Grange, had some remarkably fine cut blooms of Gardenias. 
LIVERPOOL HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
March 19Tn. 
The Exhibition held in St. George’s Hall on Wednesday last is the second 
under the auspices of the above Society, and proved a great success as far as 
the exhibits and the weather were concerned. It is a question if the hall 
ever presented at this season of the year such a gay appearance, for it was 
crowded with Hyacinths and other spring-flowering plants. Many pro¬ 
nounced the Exhibition the finest ever held in Liverpool. The local nursery¬ 
men—Messrs. E. P. Ker & Sons, the Horticultural Company, Garston, and 
Messrs. T. Davies & Co., Wavertree—have by their large and_ varied exhibits 
from time to time done much towards rendering the exhibitions of this 
Society successful, and their contributions to the Exhibition just held were 
large, varied, and attractive. 
Hyacinths in Pots. —These throughout were well represented, and the 
prizes offered were well contested for. Some fine blooms were staged, but, 
taking them as a whole, they were not quite equal in quality to those of last 
year. In the class for eighteen distinct varieties five collections were staged. 
Mr. W. Mease, gardener to C. W. Newmann, Esq., Wyncote, Allerton, was 
well to the front with well-grown examples. The plants were even, the 
spikes good, and the foliage remarkably dwarf. His best were—whites r 
Baroness Van Tuyll, good ; Grandeur & Merveille, Mont Blanc, fine. Beds : 
Von Schiller, Koh-i-Noor, very good ; Emmeline, grand bells ; Lord Welling¬ 
ton, double. Dark blues : Baron Von Tuyll, Marie, Sir Charles Napier, King 
of the Blues. Light blues : Charles Dickens, Czar Peter, and a fine spike of 
Ido, yellow. Mr. J. Kelley, gardener to E. Singlehurst, Esq., Endfield House, 
Aigburth, was second with fine spikes, but slightly drawn, Mr. J. Phythian, 
gardener to D. Walker, Esq., Forest Lawn, West Derby, securing the remaining- 
prize with good examples. In the class for twelve varieties seven collec¬ 
tions were staged. Mr. Kelley took the lead with handsome plants, the flowers 
being very fine, but slightly drawn as in his second-prize collection ; they, 
however, included a wonderful specimen of King of the Blues. Mr. J. Wilson, 
gardener to J. E. Eeynolds, Esq., Sandsfield Park, West Derby, was a good 
second. Mr. E. Cropple, gardener to T. S. Eogerson, Esq., The Priory, 
St. Michaels, followed with very creditable plants. For six Hyacinths Mr. 
G. Bennett, gardener to L. S. Abbott, Esq., Dosoris, St. Michaels, was 
deservedly placed first, followed by Mr. A. E. Cox, gardener to W. H. Watts, 
Esq., and Mr. E. Green, gardener to J. WooLvright, Esq., Mossley Hill, six 
or seven collections being staged in this class. 
Narcissus. —The schedule] only contained one class for these, but seven 
collections were staged for the three prizes offered for six pots, not less than 
three varieties. They were all in good condition, especially those shown by- 
Mr. W. Mease, who was awarded the premier position for good, dwarf, well- 
flowered specimens of Bazelman Major, Mont Blanc, Soliel d’Or, Grand 
Primo, and La Parfaite. Mr. J. Jellico, gardener to F. Gossage, Esq., Camp 
Hill, Woolton, was second, having good Gloriosa, Mont Blanc, and Belle 
Aurora; Mr. E. Green being placed third. 
