JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
264 
[ March SO, 1882. 
Scillas, Muscaris, Chionodoxas, and Anemones being also freely 
employed. From the Society’s garden a group of well-grown Cine¬ 
rarias was contributed, the flowers large, and the colours parti¬ 
cularly rich. The plants were mostly compact and dwarf, the 
foliage being healthy. A group of Azaleas and Begonia manicata 
was also highly attractive. Mr. J. Aldous, South Kensington, ex¬ 
hibited a fine bouquet of Daffodils with a stand of the same flowers 
arranged with Ferns. These were highly commended. Mr. ft. 
Clarke, Twickenham, was awarded a silver-gilt Flora medal for a 
fine group of Cyclamens, comprising one hundred of a pure white 
variety, and about two hundred of crimson and tipped varieties. 
The flowers were of remarkable size and the colours excellent. 
Mr. T.Ford, gardener to W. E. Hubbard, Esq., Leonardslee, Horsham, 
bad eighty dishes of Apples in excellent condition. Some of the 
varieties were remarkably well represented, such as Alfriston, Wel¬ 
lington, Norfolk Beefing, Blenheim Pippin, and Dr. Hogg. Messrs. 
H. Lane & Son, Great Berkhampstead, were awarded a silver Flora 
medal for a large group of Azaleas and Rhododendrons remark¬ 
ably well flowered. Messrs. H. Williams & Son, Fortis Green, 
Finchley, was awarded a silver Flora medal for a fine group of 
Hyacinths, Tulips, Primroses, and Lilies of the Valley. 
Capt. A. L. Patton was awarded a silver Banksian medal for a 
pretty group of Hyacinths, Tulips, and Dielytras, the latter flowering 
well, but much smaller than those contributed in previous years. 
Some of the Hyacinth spikes were fine, and numerous varieties were 
represented, the Tulips being similarly good. The same exhibitor 
also had a pretty little group of fine plants, Tulips, Primulas, and 
Narcissuses being notable. The white Primula nivalis was very 
pretty, with Grape Hyacinths and Scillas. 
Special Prizes. —Although several liberal prizes were offered for 
bulbs and Amaryllises, only one exhibitor appeared in each class, but 
each of these staged very good plants. In the Amaryllis class 
for the best seedling variety, Henry Little, Esq., Hillingdon Place, 
Uxbridge, was awarded the first prize for a variety named Hercules, 
the flower being of neat form and rich scarlet with white centre. 
Mr. Little was the only exhibitor in all the classes. The six named 
varieties were Drapeau, Royal Hereward, Orpheus, Stella, Leah, and 
Queen Victoria. The best light variety was Orpheus, and Hereward 
the best dark variety, the first prize being awarded to each. In the 
class for nine pots of Hyacinths, distinct varieties, and the same 
number of Tulips of three varieties, Mr. J. Douglas, gardener to F. 
Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, Ilford, was the only exhibitor, and 
was awarded the first prize for well-grown plants. The Hyacinths 
were Fabiola, large spike ; Blondin, very fine ; Von Schiller, King 
of the Blues, handsome ; Grandeur Merveille, compact; Vuurbaak, 
bright; La Grandesse, Baron Von Tuyll, fine ; and Mont Blanc. 
The Tulips were Vermilion Brillant, White Joost Van Vondel, 
Fabiola, Proserpine, Joost Van Vondel, Keizers Kroon, and White 
Pottebakker. The Hyacinths were of fine quality, and the Tulips 
also. 
NOTES ON CARNATIONS. 
It is upwards of thirty years since I first commenced grow¬ 
ing Carnations and Picotees, and during all that time I never 
experienced a winter like the present. Plants here are grow¬ 
ing fast, Auriculas are coming into bloom, Roses are in bud, 
and Carnations spindling ; in fact, the latter appear to be grow¬ 
ing rather too fast, as the flowering stems appear to weaken the 
plants so much that unless a remedy is employed many of the 
plants will be exhausted. The flowers, which in some cases are 
already in bud, will also be small and deformed. My plan is to 
cut the stems off which have come prematurely. This strengthens 
the plants and causes them to throw up one or more blooming 
stems, which are sure to produce good flowers. Do not let any 
cut-back plants bear more than two blooming stems. Pinch the 
points off all the rest which run for bloom. By doing this early a 
layer will form where the spindles are pinched. Layers of this 
kind, in some cases, are superior to the ordinary run. John 
Keet, r.f., is a variety which gives a better layer for obtaining 
fine blooms when grown thus. 
Potting should be proceeded with quickly. In unfavourable 
weather they will require protecting, placing the pots in frames, 
or covering with netting supported by iron hoops or a wooden 
frame, which is easily removed. As the plants are always better 
for a top-dressing in June, it is a good plan to leave the soil a 
couple of inches below the top of the pot, which allows sufficient 
room to top-dress without injuring the roots by removing the soil. 
The plants in small pots will require examining frequently, and 
must not on any account be allowed to suffer from insufficient 
supplies of water, or the roots will perish. 
Green fly must be destroyed as soon as noticed. The plan I 
adopt is (after the plants have been watered) to syringe them 
with a solution of Gishurst compound, 2 ozs. to the gallon of 
water. When the flower stems are growing, aphides particularly 
infest them, in which case I have a small can and run some of 
the diluted Gishurst compound down the stem so as to wet it 
thoroughly. Another pest which is troublesome at this time is 
the wireworm, which is frequently found when new soil is used. 
I thoroughly examine the soil three or four times during the 
winter months, removing all noticed, also placing in the soil 
potatoes or carrots, which act as a trap. 
It is now time that all varieties wanted should be procured 
where possible. Below I give a list of the best six in each 
/■»] a cc 
CARNATIONS. 
Scarlet Bizarres. 
Admiral Curzon 
Dreadnought (Easom) 
Fred (Dodwell) 
George (Dodwell) 
Mercury (Hextall) 
Sir J. Paxton (Ely) 
Purple Flakes. 
Dr. Foster (Foster) 
James Douglas (Simonite) 
Mayor of Nottingham (Taylor) 
Juno (Baildou) 
Squire Meynell (Brabbins) 
Squire Trow (Jackson) 
Scarlet Flakes. 
Annihilator (Jackson) 
Clipper (Fletcher) 
Dan Godfrey (Holmes) 
John Bailey (Dodwell) 
Mr. Battersby (Sibbons) 
Sportsman (Hedderly) 
Crimson Bizarres. 
John Harland (Adams) 
J. D. Hextall (Simonite) 
John Simonite (Simonite) 
Harrison Weir (Dodwell) 
Lord Milton (Ely) 
Rifleman (Wood) 
Pink and Purple Bizarres. 
Falconbridge (May) 
James Taylor (Gibbons) 
Sarah Payne (Ward) 
Squire Llewelyn (Dodwell) 
Purity (Wood) 
William Murray (Adams) 
Rose Flakes. 
James Merryweather (Wood) 
John Keet (Whitehead) 
James Carter (Adams) 
Rose of Stapleford (Headley) 
Sibyl (Gill) 
Mrs. Dodwell (Lord) 
PICOTEES, n. Heavy; l. Light. 
Red-edged. 
John Smith, H. (Bower) 
J. B. Bryant, H. (Ingram) 
Morn a, H. (Fellows) 
Elsie Grace, L. (Dodwell) 
Thomas William, L. (Flowdy) 
Violet Douglas L. (Simonite) 
Purple-edged. 
Alliance, H. (Fellows) 
Mrs. A. Chancellor, H. 
Lizzie Tomes, H. (Dodwell) 
Ann Lord, L. (Lord) 
Her Majesty, L. (Addis) 
Mary, L. (Simonite) 
Rose-edged. 
Edith D’Ombrain, H. (Turner) Ethel, L. (Fellows) 
Miss Horner, H. (Lord) Mrs. Allcroft, L. (Turner) 
Mrs. Payne, n. (Fellows) Miss Gorton, L. (Dodwell) 
During the last three years many novelties have been intro¬ 
duced, and I have no doubt that many of the older varieties will 
be supplanted by newer sorts. Amongst growers who have pro¬ 
duced some fine varieties lately are Mr. Dodwell and Mr. Hewitt, 
whose Master Fred, C.B., will, or I am much mistaken, take a 
leading place in that fine class. Mr. Dodwell’s varieties are very 
numerous, and their excellence can only be ascribed to careful 
hybridising. 
Carnation seed may be sown now and for the next six weeks in 
boxes. A compost I find the following answer well is two parts 
turfy loam, one part leaf soil, with one part decayed manure, 
silver sand and char burnt refuse in equal proportion. Cover the 
seed very thinly, and place the boxes in heat, keeping them in the 
dark until the seed begins germinating. Afterwards expose them 
to the light, ventilating as much as possible. When the plants have 
their second leaves they can be pricked out about 3 inches apart, 
where they can remain until the autumn, when they may be 
planted either in beds in the open, or in pots or boxes, if intended 
to be wintered in frames. I always winter mine in frames, as I 
find it impossible to keep them alive in the open in this district. 
George Rudd. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
These are indispensable where large quantities of flowers are 
required in November and December, and now is the time to 
prepare for next winter’s display, from the middle to the end of 
March being quite soon enough to insert the cuttings if they are 
only wanted for producing flowers for cutting or for conservatory 
decoration. I am aware many people insert their cuttings as soon 
as obtainable in November, which may be necessary if they are 
wanted for exhibition purposes or for growing into specimen 
plants, but for ordinary use I have grown quite as useful plants 
from cuttings struck in March, and they are not more than half 
the trouble, as the early cuttings are very liable to damp off and 
require constant attention. The strongest cuttings should be 
selected, and if taken from plants in the open air they will be all 
the better. Insert them singly in 60-size pots in ordinary pro¬ 
pagating soil. Plunged in a gentle hotbed and kept close for a 
few days they will soon form roots, and should then be gradually 
exposed to the air, and afterwards removed to a cool position near 
■the glass where there can have a temperature not below 45°. As 
soon as well rooted they should be stopped, and when well started 
again they may be shifted into 4S-size pots, employing this time 
and for subsequent pottings a compost of turfy loam, a little well- 
