296 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. c September as, ms. 
and indeed unusually fine for this time of year. He states that he 
has had flowers of the same plants since the 20th of August. The 
blooms arrived in excellent condition, as they were most carefully 
packed — a rare circumstance ; and though cotton wool was 
employed the blooms were separated from it by layers of paper 
both above and below. 
- In answer to inquiries respecting the White Clove 
Carnation “ Virgo,” Mr. G. Rudd writes that “ it was raised by 
the late Mr. John Fletcher of North Bierley, near Bradford, from 
a sowing of seed made by him in the spring of 1878, the plants 
from which flowered in August 1879. He partially distributed it 
in the autumn of that year to a few friends, and in the autumn of 
1880 he sold the surplus plants of it along with other varieties 
to Messrs. James Dickson & Son of Chester, who have been ex¬ 
hibiting it this season under the name of Duchess of West¬ 
minster, at least I take it to be that sort from the description 
given. The original plant is still in existence, as I saw it in the 
same place a few weeks ago. The flowers are beautifully shaped, 
not too full, perfectly smooth, and of the purest white ; a strong 
grower, very floriferous, and given to throw up autumn spindles, 
which frequently prolongs the blooming season of it until Christ¬ 
mas or past. In addition the pods never burst, and the fragrance 
excels in sweetness any variety of Carnation I know. Mr. Fletcher 
raised many varieties of Carnations and Picotees which have 
made themselves a name, some of which he has left behind, which 
I have no doubt will be heard of in coming years.” 
- “ W. J. M., Clonmel ,” writes as follows respecting one of the 
BEST EARLY OR SECOND EARLY POTATOES “ I wish to endorse 
all Mr. Laxton has said on page 271 concerning Beauty of 
Hebron Potato. I had twelve early varieties, three only intro¬ 
duced last year, all treated alike, and this comes first for use, and 
also both as to quantity and quality. Early maturity and size are 
very desirable, but to my mind quality stands first. Here I should 
like to ask if the cooking test was applied by the Judges at the 
National Potato Show, and if not, how was quality ascertained 
by them ?” 
- As will be seen in our advertising columns, Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris announce that they will sell by auction at 
the Mart, Tokenhouse Yard, E.C., on October 5th, at 2 p.m., the 
freehold estates known as Messrs. Osborn & Sons’ Nurseries, 
situated at Sunbury, Fulham, and Hampton. On October the 17th 
also a sale of plants will be held at the Sunbury Nursery. 
- PARTS 22, 23, 24, and 25 of Messrs. Cassell & Co.’s re-issue 
of “ Paxton’s Flower Garden ” are now to hand, and contain 
coloured plates of the followingRhododendron Rollissoni, a 
rich red-flowered species in the way of R. arboreum, from Ceylon. 
Oncidium sessile, a Peruvian Orchid with bright yellow flowers, 
related to 0. excavatum. Laslia autumnalis var. atrorubens, one 
of the additional plates representing a handsome variety, but 
scarcely doing justice to the rich tint which distinguishes it. Bry- 
anthus erectus, a pretty Ericaceous shrub with pink Kalmia-like 
flowers. Dendrobium transparens, a delicate pink-tinted species, 
with narrow petals and sepals. Allium acuminatum, a Californian 
bulbous plant with rather showy flowers, the upper portion of 
the perianth divisions being rich rose, the lower white. Epiden- 
drum longipetalum, a distinct species ; sepals and petals narrow, 
claret purple ; the lip white, margined with yellow and streaked 
with red. Poinciana Gilliesii, a beautiful figure of a handsome 
plant that is rarely seen, the bright yellow flowers, long red 
stamens, and elegant bipinnate leaves being very attractive. The 
“ Gleanings and Original Memoranda ” are continued in each 
number, several notable plants of recent introduction being 
described. 
-A Kentish newspaper records the following :—“ Migra¬ 
tions of Ladybirds. —On Sunday, September 10th, myriads of 
ladybirds visited Bexley and its vicinity shortly before noon. 
Their stay was a brief one, but for a few minutes they completely 
covered the fronts of houses, and entered rooms where the 
windows or doors happened to be open. Such a visitation has 
not been experienced for years.” Concerning this “ J. R. S. C. 
writes:—“The ladybirds (Coccinellm) have certainly been un¬ 
usually abundant in 1882, a natural consequence of the excessive 
swarms of their special food—the aphides or plant lice. The 
latter insects are well known to perform migrations every season, 
probably in May and September, but the spring migrations have 
been more particularly noticed. The exact time of these depends 
upon atmospheric and other causes not yet positively ascertained^ 
Ladybirds do not, I think, so periodically migrate, although 
various instances of the kind have been noted both on the coast 
and inland. From personal observation I can state that there 
was a migration of ladybirds across North Kent on August 31st, 
the day being tolerably calm. The east side of Ifield Church, 
near Gravesend, was thickly studded with these insects about 
n. nn frnrri wViPTlPP. tVlP.V 
vicinity they abounded on hedges and walls, many were also 
moving along. Just one week later, on September 7th, to the 
north and west of Gravesend ladybirds were so numerous upon 
the hedges, also in the gardens and fields, as to suggest that there 
had been an arrival during the night and early morning. This 
was another calm day. Upon the Hawthorn I examined a 
number of the insects, and they appeared to be all busily engaged 
in depositing eggs. Is it the case that those ladybirds which 
thus migrate are principally females ? ” 
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Although many good horticultural exhibitions have been held at 
Northampton, and usually in connection with the annual Show of 
the County Agricultural Society, which is one of the most popular 
and. flourishing of the county societies, and at intervals visits the 
county town, no regular horticultural society has hitherto been 
established. Advantage was, however, taken last spring of the 
intended visit of the Agricultural Society by several influential 
horticulturists, under the able direction of Mr. John Perkins, to call 
into existence the new Society, which held its first Exhibition on the 
racecourse at Northampton conjointly with the agricultural meeting 
on Thursday and Friday last, and the results of their efforts must 
undoubtedly be not only gratifying but encouraging to the pro¬ 
moters, as the Show was a large as well as a very successful one. 
Fortunately a favourable change in the weather on Thursday con¬ 
duced to the comfort of the visitors, as the site of the Show, although 
a convenient one in other respects, would in case of much wet pro¬ 
bably have been an unsatisfactory one. Preparations were being 
made for lighting up the tents in the evening by electricity, but this 
afterwards proved a failure, much to the disappointment of the 
visitors. Six large tents were filled with the various exhibits for 
competition, the local nurserymen, Messrs. John Perkins & Son and 
Messrs. Ball & Son, each also having tents for their own use. _ _ 
In the competition for twelve stove and greenhouse plants, six in 
and six out of bloom, Mr. James Cypher, Cheltenham, was first with 
a very fine collection, consisting of Cycas revoluta, Kentia Fosteriana, 
Thrinax elegans, Cordyline indivisa, Corypha australis. Crotons 
Johannis and majesticus, large ; Ericas Irbyana, Marnockiana, and 
verticillata, Anthurium Schertzerianum, and well-flowered specimens 
of Stephanotis floribunda and Clerodendron Balfourianum. Mr. J. 
Day, gardener to A. Seymour, Esq., Norton Hall,_Daventry, was second 
with very fine and healthy plants, his collection containing a fine 
golden variegated seedling Gymnogramma. Mr. James Parker, 
Rugby, was third, his plants not being up to the usual exhibition form 
in which he has frequently appeared this season. For the group of 
miscellaneous plants Mr. Parker made a very handsome and effective 
display, and was placed first. For six exotic Ferns Mr. Parker was 
again first, his collection containing good specimens of Adiantum tra- 
peziforme, Neottopteris australasica, and Lomaria intermedia. For six 
ornamental-foliage plants Mr. Cypher was first with a, very fine Cycas 
revoluta. Thrinax elegans, Cordyline indivisa, Dasylirion acrotnchum, 
and Crotons Disraeli and majesticus. Second honours deservedly 
fell to Mr. Farr, gardener to Sir R. Knightly, Bart., Fawsley Park, 
Daventry, who had very fine specimens, most promising amongst 
them being Alocasia macrorhiza variegata. 
In the gentlemen’s gardeners’ class for ten stove or greenhouse 
plants, five in and five out of bloom, Mr. Day was first; Mr. Holland, 
gardener to W. Jeffery, Esq., Northampton, second ; and Mr. Farr 
third, all the collections being highly meritorious and the competition 
