September 14, 1882.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 243 
upwards over every inch of surface : masonry, woodwork, or iron, 
all is covered, and it is carious to see how every projecting beam 
and gable is clothed by the neat growth. The large foliage upon 
the old branches is already changing from its summer green to 
the purple and crimson of autumn. As growth ceases the smaller 
leaves of this year’s shoots will gradually assume many varied 
tints of crimson, scarlet, purple, and carmine till they are all 
glowing with a brilliancy that is quite unique. Would that it 
were more durable ! But while it lasts we will enjoy it to the 
utmost, and turn the lovely slender branches to account for all 
sorts of decorative purposes, for they are so abundant that plenty 
may be taken off without disfigurement or harm. 
Ampelopsis sempervirens. —This is an evergreen climber with 
abundant pretty lobed deep green leaves, admirably suitable 
for clothing bare walls or the sides of buildings with perennial 
greenery, and for mingling with the growth of deciduous climbers. 
I have planted it at the side of a lofty building over which 
A. Veitchii is fast spreading, and its growth this season is long 
and strong enough ; but it has not the Ivy-like habit of clinging 
to walls which renders A. Veitchii so valuable, its tendrils having 
only the property of twining like A. hederacea. 
Linaria Gymbalaria .—Better known, perhaps, as the Ivy-leaved 
Linaria. This is frequently met with growing wild, trailing over 
old ruins, among the stones of which it establishes itself, and also 
among our choicest rockery plants, but always as a trailer; and 
certainly its long slender growth is very ornamental thus. But 
this summer it has taken a useful place among what may be 
termed dwarf climbers, for a plant of it growing at the bottom of 
a wall and near the stem of a Grape Vine has pushed its growth 
upwards among the Vine branches fully 6 feet high, clothing every 
part of the wall left uncovered by the Vine, and imparting an 
aspect to it as novel as it is pleasing. I have frequently advised 
the planting of evergreen climbers for clothing the lower part of 
buildings that are so often left bare by tall-growing climbers, and 
gladly add this old favourite to the list. 
Chenopodium atriplicis. —An old favourite of the flower garden, 
which I last recommended to notice some fourteen or fifteen years 
ago. I am glad still to see its name in the catalogues of some of 
the principal seedsmen, for it is a plant of much beauty suitable 
either for subtropical groups or for a mixed border. It is an 
annual of most easy culture. Sow the seed in March under a 
handglass upon a warm border, harden the plants by gradual 
exposure to the open air, then plant them in their summer quarters 
just as you would a Cabbage plant; and once established there, 
all they require is sufficient space todevelope fully their attractive 
pyramidal growth some 3 feet high, with dark red stems, purplish 
green and red leaves, and every branch crowned with a curious 
red inflorescence. 
Commelina ccelestis. —One may go into a dozen gardens with¬ 
out seeing this lovely hardy perennial; and yet we have few 
plants more attractive than are its deep blue flowers so charm¬ 
ingly disposed upon its light loose branching growth about 2 feet 
high. It produces seed so freely that a packet of it only cost 3d. 
The tuberous roots used to be taken up and stored in sand during 
winter, but they have now been left undisturbed in the soil, and 
are always in full beauty at this season of the year. 
Blue Hydrangeas .—These are just now so attractive that I am 
constrained to draw attention to them once more. All of them 
were nearly killed to the ground by the late two severe winters ; 
but they have wonderfully recovered, most of them being now 
7 or 8 feet in diameter, with a handsome globular outline, and 
with huge trusses of blue flowers clustering by the hundred among 
the fresh green foliage. It is the Chinese variety, H. hortensis ; 
and the presence of oxide of iron in the soil in such abundance 
as to impart a dark red hue to it is the well-known cause why the 
flowers come blue instead of pink. The soil I have used contains 
a natural ochreous deposit from a powerful chalybeate spring ; but 
anyone may produce the change of colour in the flowers by mixing 
red ochre plentifully with the soil.— Edward Luckhtjrst. 
TOMATOES AND CUCUMBERS. 
To mattes are becoming more generally grown. Those who did 
not even know the name of a Tomato a few years ago now know 
how to cultivate them, and use them too. Last year we had some 
thirty-six varieties on trial, but three-fourths of them were very 
inferior. This year we have not more than half a dozen, and these 
will be reduced further, as we shall not grow President Garfield 
again, it being too rough and unproductive. Crossling’s Gla¬ 
morgan is coming well to the fore. Here, and every place I have 
seen it, it is giving satisfaction. It has a splendid constitution, 
doing well in the open air as well as under glass, and no other is 
so prolific, while the fruits are large, well formed, slightly ribbed, 
and highly flavoured. If I were limited to one sort this would 
be relied on. 
Cucumbers in house, frame, and on ridges have done well with 
us. Amongst market salesmen the complaint is that the supply 
has been greater than the demand. Tender and True is a large 
showy Cucumber, better suited to grow for exhibition than for the 
table. For the latter purpose Telegraph is a good one, but with 
many Pettigrew’s Cardiff Castle is taking its place. In doing 
this nothing will be lost, as this variety is really a first-rate one. 
It is a sure and robust grower, and the fruit are produced most 
freely. They are from 12 to 15 inches in length, and even from 
end to end. One plant of it will produce twelve fruit for every 
one on Tender and True, or any other of the show varieties. 
Lately we have planted a dozen winter Cucumber plants, and 
they are all of Cardiff Castle. We would give the same advice 
about this as the Glamorgan Tomato—namely, wheie only one 
variety is wanted this should be selected.—M. 
NATIONAL DAHLIA SHOW. 
When it was announced that a committee was formed with the 
object of having what was described as a National Exhibition of 
Dahlias at the Crystal Palace, and when the support of the leading 
cultivators was assured, it was a foregone conclusion that the Exhi¬ 
bition would be a success. And so the event has proved. The Show 
was held on Friday and Saturday last, and the display of double and 
single Dahlias was brilliant and imposing. In magnitude it excelled 
all other shows of the kind of recent years, but it is impossible to 
say the same as regards the general quality of the blooms. While 
not a few were magnificent, and the prizewinning stands generally 
excellent, yet there were hundreds of rough examples—some over¬ 
grown, some undergrown, others worn, and some undeveloped. This, 
however, was only to be expected, and the result has shown that 
many cultivators have much to learn in bringing this noble autumn 
flower to perfection. It has shown also that many blooms of the pre¬ 
sent day are no better, if as good, as those of twenty years ago ; and 
this fact, for such we believe it to be, affords the best evidence for 
the necessity of increased efforts being made for extending the cul¬ 
ture of a flower that has proved itself so singularly tractable and 
capable of improvement in the hands of skilled cultivators. But 
while the double varieties have not made any appreciable advance of 
late, the single forms have increased as it were by magic, and come 
on the world like a shower of floral meteors. Hundreds of varieties 
were represented in the Show, and almost every conceivable colour 
which double Dahlias possess was embodied in these new comers. 
There is just a fear that they may come too fast and bewilder, but 
they will not be “ common ” for a year or two; and the Judges 
acted wisely in their decision not to grant certificates except to 
varieties of commanding excellence. But we must refer to the 
classes. Upwards of £100 was offered in prizes, and in most of 
the classes there was good competition, a few only being sparsely 
filled. The plants in pots were not so good as we expected to see 
them, and the best of them fell far short of a collection so grown at 
Chiswick last year. 
In Class A, open to nurserymen, for forty-eight distinct Show varie¬ 
ties, there were nine competitors, the premier award falling to Messrs. 
Keynes & Co., Salisbury, for the following collection :—James Cocker, 
Lady Gladys Herbert, Prince Arthur, sport from Gaiety ; Mrs. P. 
Wyndham, Flora Wyatt, George Rawlings, George Edwards. Arbi¬ 
trator, Joseph B. Service, Henry Bond, Frederick Smith, Herbert 
Turner (champion bloom), James Stevens, Duke of Connaught, Joseph 
Ashby, Mrs. Harris, William P. Laird, William Rawlings, Goldfinder, 
George Dickson, Henry Walton, Rosy Morn, Enchantress, Mr. Spof- 
forth. Admiration, Annie Gibbon, Champion Rollo, Mrs. Stancombe, 
W. N. Williams, Thos. Goodwin, Rifleman, Prince Bismarck, Canary, 
Clara, John Bennett, Michael Saunders, Prince of Denmark, Flag of 
Truce, James Yick, Miss Cannell, Lord Chelmsford, Triumphant, and 
four seedlings, all of them fine flowers. The second prize was awarded 
to Mr. Charles Turner, the Royal Nurseries, Slough, for a collection 
almost of equal beauty, these being only three or four points behind 
the Salisbury collection ; Henry Walton, Lady Gladys Herbert, James 
Yick, Herbert Turner, Fred Smith, JobnWyatt, Chris. Ridley, Modesty, 
John Green, and Flag of Truce being especially fine. Mr. William 
Boston, Manor Farm Nursery, Carthorpe, Bedale, Yorkshire, was 
adjudged third honours. Annie Neville, Criterion, Yice-President, 
Henry Walton, and Acme of Perfection were amongst his best 
flowers ; Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons being placed fourth for a good col¬ 
lection. W. H. Williams, Sunbeam, Charles Wyatt, E. Edwards, 
Aurora, and Lady G. Herbert were conspicuous for colour, purity, 
and form. The real contest in this class rested between the Salisbury 
and Slough collections, and Mr. Turner’s blooms were undoubtedly 
the finest, several of Messrs. Keynes’ being undeveloped, and possibly 
on this account their freshness and brightness placed them in the 
premier position. It appeared to be a question of colour versus form, 
and the greatest importance was attached to the former by the 
Judges, who spent much time and took great pains in arriving at a 
decision. 
In the class for twenty-four distinct Show varieties there were 
twelve competitors. Mr. Charles Turner was awarded first honours 
