100 
JOURNAL OF H0R7ICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 81, 1884. 
€ver exhibited in London. All the best of the innumerable superb varieties 
raised by the firm were included, and amongst them the new type of edged 
varieties were particularly noteworthy, as it is quite a distinct break from 
the ordinary self-coloured forms. The flower shown in fig. 18 is one of 
ffiie best of these, and is named Distinction, but our artist has not drawn 
the margin quite clearly enough, nor is the flower quite the full size. The 
•clear white ground affords a beautiful contrast with the delicate rose- 
tinted margin, and the general fine proportion of the flower is another 
recommendation.] 
THE HERBACEOUS BORDER. 
From the middle of June to the middle of July the weather was very 
dry, and many plants suffered in consequence, but the following have 
been fine. 
Echinops .—These curious plants, strong-growing, and 4 to G feet in 
height, with Thistle-like foliage and abundance of large globular heads 
of bloom. E. Ritro has deep purplish-blue flowers ; and E. s})inosus, 
white flowers. The tall growth renders them available for back rows, 
where they have a singularly fine effect. 
Achillea Ptarmica Jl.-pl .—One of the most useful of flowers for 
cutting from the middle of July onwards, and one of the most effective 
of border plants. Its numerous erect stems of 2^ to 5 feet in height 
terminate with large heads of pure white double flowers, are very 
effective, and last a long time. A. serrata fl.-pl. is very similar to the 
preceding, the flowers being larger, less double, and of a pure white. 
They do well in any light soil, and a^ readily increased by division in 
early spring. 
Latkyrus grand)floras .—This is the fiuest of the Everlasting Peas. 
Lathyrus latifolius, and its white variety alba, are very fine for cutting, 
and should be in every garden where flowers for cutting are in request. 
Potcntilla forniosa .—This blooms splendidly and is very showy, its 
bright cherry-red flowers being produced in the greatest profusion, the 
plant being spreading and attaining a height of 2 feet. 
Lychnis chalcedonioa fl.-pl .—This produces large heads of bright 
scarlet double flowers, which are fine for cutting, the plant attaining a 
height of 3 feet. It is one of the finest and showiest of border plants. 
It is increased by division in spring when beginning to grow, and likes 
a generous soil. 
Coreopsis lanceolata .—The large bright golden-yellow flower heads, 
with a brownish disc, are about the middle of July produced in the 
greatest profusion and over a considerable time. It is very showy and 
extremely useful for cutting. It attains to a height of 3 to 4 feet, doing 
well in most any soil, and is increased by division in spring or from seed. 
C. tenuifolia is of smaller growth, having finely divided foliage, the 
flowers being bright yellow and very freely produced on stems about 
2 feet high. It is a very desirable plant. 
Gcntiana gelida ,—This grows freely, having stems about 12 inches 
high, terminated with six or more bright blue flowers. It likes a cool 
situation, but not shaded, and will thrive in an ordinary border. 
S. Andrewsi grows to a height of 2 feet, producing numerous flowers in 
terminal clusters, which never pass the bud state, and are of a bright 
purplish blue. It likes a cool but not shaded position, and good 
loamy soil. 
Campannlas. —C. Henderson! commenced flowering early in July, 
and lasts longer than any other Campanula, flowering through the 
summer. It grows about 18 inches, and has a numerous array of flowers 
of a mauve or purplish blue colour, the plant forming a neat, compact, 
pyramidal outline, and is one of the showiest. C. grandis and C. grandis 
alba, though old-fashioned, are very fine, forming a bush about 3 feet 
high of numerous spikes of bloom thickly set with blue and white 
(respectively) salver-shaped flowers. C. grandiflora, or the one I have 
under that name, is the finest of the genus. The stems rise about 18 to 
24 inches, are slender, and bear numerous large salver-shaped flowers, 
somewhat drooping, of a bright purple-blue, and is distinct in habit and 
bloom from all other Campanulas. There is a white variety, C. grandi¬ 
flora alba, which is also fine. It flowers at the same time or at the middle 
of July. C. nitida fl.-pl. grows about 1 foot high, and has numerous 
axillary flowers, very double, and bright blue. C. macrantha, from its 
erect pyramidal habit and numerous stems rising to a height of about 
4 feet, producing numbers of large purplish blue flowers, has a fine effect, 
especially for back rows in borders. C. Van Houttei, with its erect 
stems bearing dark blue flowers, is very showy, attaining a height of 
2 feet. C. Van Houttei pallida has pale lavender flowers, and is very 
singular-looking. C. persicifolia alba plena has long spikes 3 feet high, 
thickly set with pure white double flowers, and is one of the best. 
C. pyramidalis and var. alba are fine in back rows. The stems, crowded 
with large salver-shaped flowers, rise to a height of 6 feet or more in 
good soil, and are very effective. These are best treated as biennials; 
indeed, most of the Campanulas are readily raised from seed, and are 
even finer than those from cuttings or division. C. pulla is doing well, 
reaching a height of G inches, much higher than usual, and may be due 
to the rich soil, that of an ordinary border of light loam over gravel. 
Its drooping deep purple bells have a charming appearance. 
Hcllenmni gmmilum .—Unlike others of the genus, this does not 
exceed 2 feet in height, and produces numerous bright yellow flowers 
some 2 inches across, and continues for a long time in bloom, the flowers 
being useful for cutting. It is readily increased by divisions or offsets 
in spring. 
Bvpthahnvrn salieifolium. — This forms a neat symmetrical bush 
about 3 feet high, and bears numerous golden-yellow flowers, which are 
very effective. It does well in ordinary soil, and is useful for cutting. 
Alstrtonerias. —A. aurea has bloomed and keeps on splendidly, its 
bright orange flowers rendering it very showy. This is perhaps the 
hardiest. A. peruviana has not done so well; although it has a warm 
border, yet it has given fair heads of bloom of rosy-crimson, and splashed 
with other shades of colour. A. pulchella is white striped with red ; 
A. psittacina is crimson, splashed green and brown ; and A. tricolor, 
white, cream, and yellow. All are doing fairly, but they are on a south 
border in light soil over gravel. A. chilensis is dwarfer than the pre¬ 
ceding, and so are A. peregrina and its var. alba ; the latter is very 
dwarf. All are useful for cutting, the flowers being very durable. They 
increase rapidly, and although a warm situation is advisable they give 
the best results from a rather strong loam, and if in light soil must have 
generous treatment during growth. 
Gaillardia grandiflora .—This commences flowering in June, and 
continues up to autumn. The flowers are pure yellow, 3 inches across, 
and are very different from G. picta, which has crimson, yellow, and 
orange flowers, much finer than the species from a decorative point of 
view, but the species is a more interesting perennial, and flowers over a 
lengthened period. 
GiUenia trifoliata. — This bloomed well in the dry weather, its 
panicles of white flowers being very fine. It grows to a height of about 
3 feet, and does well in light soil, and is a fine border plant and useful 
for cutting. 
Galega officinalis alba .—This gave its profusion of white Pea-shaped 
flowers, growing fully 5 feet high, and is fine for cutting. It is usefu 
for shrubbery borders or back rows, 
Papaver camlrioum .—Unquestionably this is far ahead of all the 
yellovv Poppies, and does grandly in any light soil. We have a plant 
that gives white flowers as well as deep yellow. I attribute this change 
to the bees ; and whilst noting this circumstance may mention that 
P. nudicaule has changed to its while form, or P. nudicaule album 
These have done well, and besides being highly decorative are not to be 
despised for cutting. Other Papavers have done badly except P. orientate 
which I bloomed well. P. nepalense and P. pilosum have not flowered. 
Anchusa italica .—This Borage-like plant grows strongly, attaining 
to a height of 6 feet, its sky-blue flowers being very acceptalale, and it 
continues through the summer, being readily increased by seed. 
Delphinium cashmerianum .—This flowered freely. Its deep blue or 
purple flowers, quite 2 inches across, being borne in a lax corymb about 
2 feet high, give, in connection with the dark green palmate foliage 
forming a tuft, a very pleasing effect. D. nudicaule did not exceed 
12 inches in height, and the flowers were numerous, of an orange-red 
colour. These are readily increased from seed. 
Gypsopkila paniculata .—In elegance this is one of the finest border 
plants. It forms a symmetrical bush a yard high, and is covered with 
white flowers or minute buds resembling Agrostis nebulosa ; in fact, it 
has the elegance of the finest grasses studded with minute white stars. 
For cutting it is the most elegant of all plants, imparting a lightness 
which is charmingly effective. It will grow in any light soil, and is 
readily raised from seed.—G. A, 
SHEFFIELD BOTANICAL AND HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY.—JULY 24th, 25th, and 26th. 
The success of this the first Exhibition of plants, flowers, and fruits 
which has been held in the Society’s beautiful, grounds for a considerable 
number of years, was unfortunately marred by the very unfavourable 
■weather, as a heavy fall of rain commenced almost immediately the Show 
was opened, and continued with little intermission during the greater part of 
the time until its close. It was intended to have been a two-days show only, 
but at the close of the second day, as the Committee had up to then been so 
unlucky in the weather and consequently the takings at the gates, the exhi¬ 
bitors unanimously consented that it should remain open for a third day. 
The ill luck ot the Committee, however, still continued to follow them, as 
rain fell heavily nearly the whole of the third day, so that the takings at the 
gates for that day would not meet the small necessary expenses incurred in 
keeping the Show open. The Committee, however deserve every praise for 
the spirited way in which they had unitedly worked to endeavour to bring 
together, in this the best of all places for doing so, a show worthy of such a 
centre of horticulture as Sheffield, and it is to be hoped that the unavoidable 
flnancial failure they have this time experienced will not deter them from 
endeavouring to achieve success next year, and to profit by the experience 
they have this year gained. The Show, considered as such, was eminently 
satisfactory as a first attempt; and here I would like to suggest for the con¬ 
sideration of the Committee that at an early date they invite representatives 
from the various other horticultural societies in the town and neighbourhood 
to confer with them as to the means to be adopted for a grand unittd effort 
to be made in 1885, which should have the effect of bringing together a show 
such as those held annually in Manchester and in Liverpool, and of making 
the Botanical Gardens, as they should be, the centre of horticulture for 
Sheffield and district. 
A comprehensive schedule had been prepared, and prizes amounting to 
over £250 offered in sums ranging from 2s. 6d. to £6. 
Groups Arranged for Effect .—Two classes were devoted to groups of plants, 
one being for nurserymen and the other for amateurs or gentlemen’s gardeners, 
the size of the group, conditions, and prizes offered being the same in each 
class—viz., 100 square feet of space, first prize £6, second prize £4. In the 
nurserymen’s class the first prize was taken by Mr. Hiram fehaw, Richmond, 
Second, Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray. These were two very fine groups, the 
first-prize one being most tastefully and effectively arranged. The group 
from the Handsworth Nurseries contained the best and most valuable plants, 
but was much too solid and heavy in arrangemenc. The first prize in the 
gardeners’ class was taken by Mr. W. Hannah, gardener to Thomas Wilson, 
Esq., Oakholme, with a beautiful group, in -w'hich the quality of the plants 
and the arrangement were equally meritorious, The foliage plants consisted 
