JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
420 
as the primary object of cultivation should be to reserve all 
available energy for the blooming period, which of course the 
growth of runners would draw upon. As the warm weather 
approaches the surface of the soil should be well mulched with 
manure or leaf soil, as it will greatly assist to keep the surface cool 
and moist. Previous to mulching, however, a good hoeing should 
be effected, so as to lessen the probability of having to do it after¬ 
ward, also to assist in keeping the ground moist, which hoeing 
naturally does, because the soil is closer and less evaporation 
takes place. 
Violets are, especially during hot dry weather, fiercely attacked 
by red spider, particularly if the position in which they are 
planted be dry and sunny. These should never appear if proper 
attention be paid to mulching and watering. The pest may also 
be checked by dusting the foliage with soot after showery weather 
or early in the morning when the dew is upon the foliage, as the 
soot will then readily stick upon the leaves and considerably 
baffle the enemy, or by watering the plants with soot water. 
Constant attention to watering is perhaps the best means to 
adopt to prevent their depredations, for if the plants suffer through 
drought they are sure to be infested with them. Towards the 
end of the season liquid manure may with advantage be sub¬ 
stituted for clear water ; it will assist growth and ensure finer 
flowers than would be likely to be produced without it. By the 
middle or end of September the plants should be carefully lifted 
and potted in loam, cow manure, leaf soil, and sand. The potting 
should be well done, arranging the soil well about the roots, and 
the pots should be placed in a shady position in a pit until the 
plants are again established, when they may be placed in their 
permanent winter quarters. If they are to be bloomed in a cold 
pit, the latter should be in a well-sheltered position with ample 
means for covering during very severe weather. A pit with a 
flow and return of 2-inch hot-water piping is much to be pre¬ 
ferred, as the plants will flower better, and a large amount of 
labour would be saved during the winter months. The plants 
should be arranged near the glass. Pots would also be placed 
upon shelves in the conservatory for the sake of the perfume, and 
in cool greenhouses, and supplies could be expeditiously obtained 
by placing some plants in a warmer house. Instead of potting 
the plants they may be shifted with a ball of soil and planted in 
a prepared bed in a pit with the soil raised to within 9 inches or 
a foot of the glass, when they flower equally well. Free ventila¬ 
tion should be effected during all favourable weather to prevent 
damp accumulating too much about the foliage. The most useful 
kinds for winter blooming are Neapolitan, Marie Louise, double 
and single Russian. Belle de Chatenay is also a good variety 
with large double white flowers marbled with purple ; Victoria 
Regina has double flowers of a very deep blue colour. The two 
latter are very desirable on account of the distinct colour of the 
flowers.—N. 
CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW. 
May 20th. 
The first Sydenham Exhibition of the present year was not dis¬ 
tinguished either by extent or remarkable beauty. The competition 
was not very keen in any class, and though several collections of 
good specimen plants were staged, the majority did not possess any 
special degree of excellence. In justice to Mr. Head it must, how¬ 
ever, be noted that the materials were arranged as well as the formal 
system usually adopted there will admit. 
Stove and greenhouse plants constituted one of the chief features, 
and most of the plants staged in the two classes devoted to them 
were satisfactory, some being really handsome. The best nursery¬ 
men’s nine were from Messrs. Peed & Son, Norbury Nurseries, 
Streatham, all large, even, well flowered, and neatly trained speci¬ 
mens, amongst which Gfenetyllis tulipifera, Aphelexis rosea, A. 
macrantha purpurea, and Statice profusa were particularly good. 
Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, Lower Norwood, was adjudged the 
second prize for well-grown plants, but it was the opinion of many 
that the collection should have been disqualified, as it contained two 
examples of Anthurium Schertzerianum, though the class was for 
nine distinct stove or greenhouse plants. It was claimed in support 
of the Judges’ decision that they were distinct varieties, but the chief 
perceptible difference was the fact that one plant was in its best 
condition with forty or more fine spathes. and the other a smaller 
example that was past its prime, several of the spathes showing 
signs of withering. 
In the corresponding class for amateurs there were three com¬ 
petitors, Mr. B. Peed, gardener to Mrs. Tredwell, St. John’s Lodge, 
South Norwood, securing the leading position with admirable speci¬ 
mens, fresh, even, and well flowered ; Erica ventricosa coccinea major, 
E. ventricosa magnifies, E. Cavendishiana, and Statice profusa were 
the most noteworthy plants. Mr. W. Chapman, gardener to J. Spode, 
Esq.. Hawkesyard Park, Rugeley, was a close second with highly 
meritorious plants ; and Mr. Rann, gardener to J. Warren, Esq., 
Handcross Park, Crawley, was a good third. 
[ May 25, 1882. 
Azaleas are always well provided for at the Palace Spring Shows, 
and they usually produce a brilliant display. On this occasion it was 
noticeable, however, that, except in a few of the leading collections, 
most of the plants were poorly flowered, and some were quite unfit 
for exhibition. The chief prizewinners amongst the amateurs were 
Mr. J. Child, gardener to Mrs. Torr, Garbrand Hall, Ewell, who had 
some of the finest specimens ; Mr. Ratty, gardener to R. Thornton, 
Esq., The Hoo, Sydenham, and Mr. B. Peed. In the nurserymen’s 
classes the leading exhibitors were Mr. C. Turner, Slough, who had 
a beautiful collection of eighteen plants in pots 9 inches in diameter ; 
Mr. H. James, and Messrs. Peed & Son. For nine Ericas the last- 
named firm gained the chief award with beautiful little fresh healthy 
plants about 2 feet high and flowering profusely ; Mr. H. James 
followed with rougher examples ; and Mr. B. Peed, who was the only 
exhibitor in the amateurs’ class, received first honours for small fairly 
good plants. 
Mr. C. Turner had the only collection of eighteen Roses, which 
■well merited the first prize awarded for them. They were charming 
little plants in 8-inch pots, and were flowering profusely, also possess¬ 
ing extremely vigorous foliage. One example of Marie Baumann 
had twelve fine blooms, Duke of Edinburgh twenty blooms and buds, 
Souvenir d’un Ami fourteen blooms, Charles Darwin seventeen 
blooms, and others were similarly good. For nine Show Pelar¬ 
goniums Mr. Turner also secured the chief prize with well-flowered 
specimens of moderate size, Illuminator, Quadroon, Lady Isabel, and 
Digby Grand being the best. Mr. W. Griffin, gardener to J. Will- 
cocks, Esq., Eliot Bank, Forest Hill, followed with plants a little 
smaller than the preceding, but healthy and well flowered, Mr. H. 
James taking the third position. Messrs. Turner and Griffin were 
again the prizetakers in the same order for Fancy Pelargoniums ; 
Henry Bailey, Miss E. Little, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Clementine 
being the best varieties in the first, and Cloth of Silver in the second. 
Calceolarias were not largely shown, Mr. Griffin having the best— 
dwarf compact plants with numerous well-formed richly coloured 
flowers. Mr. W. Satchell, gardener to H. Gover, Esq., Lyncombe, 
Sydenham Hill, was second with smaller plants and fewer flowers, 
but the latter were of good colour. 
Orchids were represented by only two collections, one in each class 
for amateurs and nurserymen. In the former Mr. Salter, The Gardens, 
Selborne, Streatham, gained the first prize with vigorous examples of 
Oncidium Marshallianum, Masdevallia Lindeni and variety pallida, 
Cypripedium barbatum, Oncidium concolor, and Cattleya Mossise. 
Mr. H. James secured the same position in the other class with 
similar plants, Cypripedium niveum and Masdevallia Yeitchii being 
the most noteworthy. 
Clematises were also shown by two exhibitors—Messrs. Jackman 
and Son, Woking, and R. Smith & Co., Worcester, both of the collec¬ 
tions including admirable examples of beautiful varieties and were 
close in merit; but the precedency accorded to the Woking plants was 
chiefly due to the rather larger flowers borne by those specimens. 
The best varieties were the following—in the first collection, Excelsior, 
Madame Van Houtte, Henryi, Blue Gem, and Sensation ; in the second 
Gloire de St. Julien were especially good. 
Fine-foliage plants, with Crotons, Dracaenas, and Ferns, constituted 
a large portion of the display, and the plants were all distinguished 
by considerable vigour, some being also well coloured. In the class 
for nine fine-foliage plants Messrs. Rann, Penfold, gardener to the 
Rev. Canon Bridges, Beddington House, Beddington, and H. James 
were the prizetakers in that order, the first collection including a fine 
Croton interruptus G feet in diameter. With nine Crotons Mr. J. R. 
Bird, gardener to J. A. Causton, Esq., Lodgemore, Alleyn Park, 
Dulwich, took the lead, having very well coloured specimens. Messrs. 
Rann and Penfold followed closelj'. For nine Dracaenas Messrs. 
Bird, James, and Rann carried off the prizes. In the two latter 
classes some of the plants had the appearance of having been rather 
too plentifully oiled, a practice that should be discouraged by judges 
where it can be detected. Mr. Penfold secured the chief award for 
nine Ferns with a very choice collection of healthy plants, Mr. H. 
James taking the second position with smaller examples. 
Amongst the miscellaneous exhibits were several noteworthy 
groups. Messrs. G. Jackman & Son had a choice collection of 
Clematises; Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, a group of 
Pansies and alpine plants ; Messrs. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, a group 
of new and choice stove and greenhouse plants ; Messrs. Hooper and 
Co., Covent Garden, boxes of Pteonies, Ixias, and Anemones ; Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, blooms of Ivy Pelargoniums ; Messrs. 
Kelway & Son, Langport, Somerset, single and double Pyrethrums ; 
and Mr. Hooper of Bath, collections of Pansies. 
TWO GOOD BROCCOLIS. 
Suttons’ Late Queen. —Many Broccolis are named in the 
papers about this time annually as being the best for use in April 
and May, but in my opinion this possesses every good quality 
which a Broccoli should. It grows compactly, is extremely 
hardy, the heads are of a fine size and never fail to come at the 
proper time. It has been in with us since early in April, and 
it will do good service until May is over. Besides this being 
the time of cutting its choice heads it is also the time to sow the 
