166 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 21, 1584. 
these flowers in Mrs. Mason’s windows, but was told it vvas a new sort, and 
the bulbs were not on sale, and so I took no further notice. This year Mr. 
Pickstcne himself came over to sell his blooms, and so many were there that 
in a single week he delivered over 5000. He next began to talk about 
selling bulbs, and Mrs. Mason bought a lot for her own purposes, and she 
sold a good many more. This was before it was seen that any grot value 
■was in them. Mr. Pickstone slo'^vly realised the fact that he held a valuable 
and unique Daffodil, and before he did so Messrs. James Dickson k Sons of 
Che.ster had sent blooms up to the Horticultural Society of London, named 
James Dickson. Mr. Pickstone objected, and the plant was re-named by him 
Sir Watkin, at my suggestion. Messrs. Dickson afterwards bought the 
stock, and agreed that the name should be “Sir Watkin,” and there the 
matter now stands. 
“There is a great future before this Daffodil, but whether or not it will 
retain its size, which is its chief merit, remains to be seen. I sometimes fancy 
that it owes its size to the healthy surroundings of mountain and sea air and 
kindly soil, and that it will soon relapse under cultivation to the usual size of 
inch Narcissi.” 
•- A Good Potato.—W hen cut into the colour should be yellowish 
white; if it be a deep yellow it •will not cook well. There must be a 
considerable amount of moisture, though not enough to collect in drops 
and fall off, even with moderate pressure. Hub the pieces together, and if 
it is good a froth will appear around the edges and also upon the two 
surfaces after they are separated. This signifies the presence of a proper 
quantity of starch; the more froth the more starch, and consequently the 
better the Potato; while the less there is the poorer it will cook. The 
quantity of the starchy element may also be judged by the more or less 
ready adherence of the two parts. If the adherence be sufficient for one 
piece to hold the other up, that fact is evidence of a good article. 
These are the experiments usually made by experts when buying Potatoes, 
and are the best tests that can be given short of boiling ; but even they are 
by no means infallible .—(Irish Farmers' Gazette.) 
TROVEREN ERONTIGNAN GRAPE. 
Will you allow me to say that the Grape I was referring to on page 
114 was Muscat Hamburgh, not Mrs. Pince ? I have some good bunches 
of both. My experience of the Troveren Frontignan does not agree with 
that of your valuable correspondent “ Thinker,” for I find it quite as 
productive as the Muscat of Alexandria, but the berries are not nearly 
so large. I have cut the smallest bunch of Troveren Frontignan, 
weighing 1 lb. 5 ozs. I have some that will turn the scale at 3 lbs., and a 
good crop. 
I thank your correspondents for their information, also yourself for 
your courtesy in replying to my letter.—A. J. B. 
A COREEsrONDEKT writing from Toikshire observes :—“ With re- 
ierence to the Hen-and-Chickexs Marigold, of which mention has 
been made the last two w^ceks in your Journal, it may interest you to 
know that in our garden one plant in a bed of Marigolds has borne four 
beads of hen-and-chickens blossom. There are no Hen-and-Chickens 
Daisies in this garden.” 
•- A Hidden Luxury. —Not very many years since Tomatoes were 
known as Love Apple.s, and weie regarded as poisonous. Last year the 
canning establishments of the Hnited States put up 52,322,952 cans of 
Tomatoes. 
-- “ M. S.” writes “ The Bermuda Lily, or Easter Lily^ 
1he charming species, being sent out under the name of L. Harrisi, is 
certainly the most handsome of the L. longiflorum section, and of which 
it is supposed to be a varietju For cultivation in the open air this 
elegant Lily promises well, and from its sturdy habit, strong-textured 
leaves, and free-flowering habit is undoubtedly one of the greatest 
acquisitions to gardens of recent years. It grows much taller than the 
ordinary L. longiflorum, and having larger and longer flowers of an 
exquisite spotless white. The variety is found growing in the island of 
Bermuda, where it is said to produce from ten to twenty flowers in each 
head, and to all appearance this will be no difficult feat under cultiva¬ 
tion, as shown by the increased strength of the spikes since last year. 
We grow it in a peat bed well shaded from the midday and afternoon 
sun, giving no protection in winter.” 
- Mr. W. Jenkins, The Gardens, Aldin Grange, Durham, writes 
“ An error occurs in the report of the Bishop Auckland Show in 
the last issue of the Journal, where it is stated that ‘ Mr. Westcott was 
awarded the first prize for six bunches of Grapes, the same exhibitor 
being first with a Queen Pine, Peaches and Nectarines.’ I am not quite 
sure what prizes were awarded to Mr. Westcott, further than I know he 
was second with the six bunches of Grapes, but I was awarded the first 
prize for each of the following :—Collection of fruit, eight dishes, 
collection of six bunches of Grapes, two bunches Black Hamburgh, one 
Melon, one dish of Peaches, and one dish of Nectarines.” 
- “ A Gardener ” writes :—“ The Yello'w Ground Carna¬ 
tions raised and sent out by Mr. C. Turner of Slough are most useful 
for gardeners who have a supply of cut flowers to keep up through the 
month of August. This month is the season for layering to get a good 
supply for blooming next season. They are best grown in pots, and in an 
airy light greenhouse.” 
- Growth of Fungus.—A large fungus described as a Mushroom 
has grown on the hard floor of a Dublin kitchen ; it measures 8 inches in 
height, fully 20 inches round the brim of the cup, and having a stalk 
3 inches in circumference. The proprietor of the house states that last 
year a growth of nine “Mushrooms” appeared in his kitchen. He cut 
them down as being a nuisance, but this year sixteen much larger sprang 
up, of which the one described is the largest. 
- “ The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening, ” 170 Strand. 
Part 9 of this work contains the articles from Brussels Sprouts to 
Caleaua. It is freely illustrated, and in addition references are given 
with the description of many plants to figures in other works. The latter 
is a decided improvement, but in one case it would appear that the work 
is assuming too much of the character of a catalogue—namely, in the 
case of the Caladiums an enormous number of varieties are described, 
the majority of which will probably in a few years be obsolete, 
- Cucumber Royal Windsor.—M r. Lockie of Oakley Court 
Gardens, Windsor, has long been noted as a grower of fine Cucumbers, and 
several good varieties he has raised have taken a prominent position in 
general favour. One of his most recent additions is the Royal Windsor, which 
is a really handsome variety, and one that could scarcely be surpassed when 
shown as it was recently at the Maidenhead Show. Long, even, clean and 
handsome fruits were there staged by Mr. Lockie ; and in a class of nine 
competitors, all of whom had good fruits of such varieties as Carter’s 
Model and Telegraph, he was easily first. Blue Gown, a much older 
variety raised by Mr. Lockie, is still a favourite with many growers, and 
we recently saw an excellent crop of this variety in a market-growing 
establishment where it is prized for its prolificness. 
-“ Tourist Guide to the Continent ” (125, Fleet Street).—This 
useful little work, edited by Mr. Percy Lindley and issued by the Great 
Eastern Railway Company, is devoted to a review of the chief attractions 
furnished by tours through Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland. 
Historical sketches of the principal towns are given, together with sepia 
and pen-and-ink drawings of the scenery and most remarkable buildings^ 
As in the other works of similar character by Mr. Lindley, a great amount 
of valuable information for tourists is contained in the notes on the hotel 
accommodation and other matters at the various cities. 
- “Picturesque Wales” (59, Fleet Street).— A handbook of the 
scenery accessible from the Cambrian railways, by Godfrey Turner, has 
been issued officially, and contains a graphic and interesting description 
of the most picturesque and favourite resorts in the districts traversed by 
these lines. The book is liberally illustrated with excellent engravings, 
and several good maps are given, showing the connection with other linea 
of railway. 
- International Inventions Exhibition for 1885. — The 
prospectus of the above Exhibition, to be held next year, has now been 
issued, and gives full particulars as to the regulations and classification 
of the exhibits. There are thirty-four groups, the first of which is 
devoted to agriculture, horticulture, and arboriculture, to include all 
kinds of improvements in appliances, machinery, hothouses, heating 
apparatus, &c. The other groups are provided for almost every 
imaginable branch of trade in which machinery is employed, one divi¬ 
sion of three groups being appropriated to music. Her Majesty the 
Queen is Patron, and the Prince of Wales President. The Executive 
Council, appointed by the Royal President—having for Chairman Sir 
Frederick Bramwell, F.R S., Vice-President of the Institute of Civil 
Engineers, and for Vice-Chairman the Marquis of Hamilton-—-is composed 
of Sir Frederick Abel, C.B., Mr. I. Lowthian Bell, F.R.S., President of 
the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Mr. Birkbeck, M.P., (Honorary 
