July 1, 1880. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
9 
finest are Delphiniums Brunonianum and Belladonna. They 
both have large and well-formed flowers, the former being of a 
rich bright clear blue, and the latter of an exquisite light blue 
tint that can scarcely be rivalled. 
- A daily contemporary states that Dr. C. W. Siemens has 
found an economic use for the Electric Light in the cultiva¬ 
tion of fruits and flowers, and he is now about to put down a 
steam engine at his country residence, which will at once supply 
the hot water to warm them, and the light to bring them to a 
speedy maturity. The engine will, at the same time, be employed 
to cut wood and chaff, to mince food for the cattle, and to do 
much of the other work of the farm, and then, by charging the 
engine with the remainder of the expense for furnishing light at 
night, Dr. Siemens expects to be able to prove that electricity may 
be used with advantage in growing fruit, flowers, and vegetables. 
-A correspondent referring to the flowers in Victoria 
Park observes, that “ Gay as is the long herbaceous border there at 
the present time, yet where it had one admirer last Sunday night 
the carpet beds so artistically designed and tastefully planted 
had at the least a hundred ; it were therefore equally reasonable 
for any ‘ one-idea ’ man to denounce this form of garden decora¬ 
tion as for an Irishman to quarrel with his English neighbours 
for considering there is other food fit to eat besides Potatoes.” 
- We have received from Messrs. W. E. Brown & Sons, the 
Nurseries, Wells, Somerset, a Double Seedling Petunia which 
they have raised this season. It is of unusual size, measuring 
8 inches over. It is rich purple in colour, the central petals being 
contorted, forming a loose ball. It is a remarkable flower, but 
more curious than beautiful. 
- A particularly beautiful border plant at this time of 
year is Lychnis Flos-Jovis, and when thriving, as it will in 
al most any ordinary garden soil, it bears large, very bright rosy 
pink flowers in great profusion. The plant is moderately compact 
in habit, with woolly leaves, and forms a remarkable contrast 
to the brilliant Lychnis chalcedonica. 
- M. Ernst of Caracas has recently published some in¬ 
teresting observations upon the fertilisation of CoBiEA penduli- 
flora, which confirm the opinion expressed by Sir Joseph Hooker 
in the description accompanying the figure of the plant in the 
“Botanic Magazine” ten or twelve years ago—namely, that the 
flowers seemed structurally adapted to ensure cross-fertilisation. 
The corollas have narrow greenish petals 4 or 5 inches in length, 
the stamens having similarly long filaments, which are at first 
curiously twisted, but are ultimately bent outwards from the 
centre of the flower, thus removing the anthers to a considerable 
distance from the stigma. The anthers have been found by M. 
Ernst to burst and liberate the pollen early in the evening, after 
which nectar is copiously secreted around the base of the ovary. 
The fertilisation is effected by several species of nocturnal moths, 
which visit the flowers and convey the pollen on their wings. 
There appears to be an inherent unfitness for self-fertilisation, as 
the experiments made by M. Ernst to accomplish this proved in¬ 
effectual. Living plants of Cobma penduliflora were sent to Kew 
by this gentleman, and one flowered in the Palm house in 1868. 
HELLEBORE POWDER versus CATERPILLARS. 
Having noticed in the Journal, on pages 317 and 454 of the 
last volume, directions for destroying the Gooseberry caterpillar, 
and being much troubled with the pest, which appears to be 
almost divesting our bushes of their foliage, I resolved to give the 
directions a trial. As I have a large number of bushes, also trees 
trained to walls 9 feet high, and not being possessed with great 
patience, I adopted a somewhat different mode of applying the 
hellebore powder. In the one case I employed a garden syringe 
in place of a whitewash brush, and in the other a cheesecloth 
(straining) instead of muslin. I have much pleasure in stating 
the result of the first dressing is most satisfactory—thousands of 
caterpillars lie dead under the bushes. 
Allow me to ask if the fruit will be injured by the hellebore. I 
saw a thief busy to-day, and although I should be glad to know 
she was punished, I should be sorry to see her under the bushes 
with the caterpillars.—R. R. Godfrey, Grantham . 
P.S.—I have bees in my garden, and they are often upon the 
Gooseberry bushes ; will hellebore have the same effect upon 
them as upon the caterpillars ? 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 29th. 
The Rose Show of the Society and the Exhibition of the Pelar¬ 
gonium Society were as last year held in conjunction, and fortunately 
under the most favourable conditions as regards the weather. The 
exhibits, too, were numerous for the miscellaneous collections. Roses, 
Pelargoniums, and vegetables entirely filled a tent 500 feet in length. 
A few plants were staged ,in the Council-room, but one of the most 
pleasing and artistic features of the Show were the groups from Mr. 
H. Cannell of Swanley, which were arranged in the vestibule. The 
plants were arranged on two long parallel tables leading from the 
entrance to the Council-room, the back row being formed of dark 
blue Delphiniums, the centre of Tuberous Begonias, and the front 
margin of Herniaria glabra, in which were dotted plants of the varie¬ 
gated Polemonium cmruleum and Lobelias alternately. Baskets of 
Pansies, Sweet Williams, and extremely fine Yerbenas were also 
arranged at the ends, the general effect being most satisfactory. A 
gold medal was deservedly awarded for these artistic groups. 
ROSE SHOW. 
A large number of collections were staged in the eleven classes 
devoted to cut Roses, and the majority were distinguished by more 
than usual excellence. A charming freshness was generally evident 
in the blooms, the colours bright and clear, and many exceptionally 
handsome blooms were included in some of the collections. In the 
nurserymen's class for forty-eight single trusses there were five 
entries, the chief prize going to the Cranston Nursery and Seed 
Company, King’s Acre, Hereford, for a collection of extremely fresh 
and even blooms. The most noticeable were General Jacqueminot, 
grand; John Stuart Mill, fine; La France, good ; and Marie Bau¬ 
mann, fine. Messrs. Curtis, Sanford & Co., Torquay, were second 
with a good collection, but not quite so neat. Mr. F. Cant, Col¬ 
chester, was a good third with twenty-four triplets. Messrs. Cranston 
were again first, staging a very handsome collection. The following 
were the varieties :—Etienne Levet, Madame La Baronne de Roth¬ 
schild, Exposition de Brie, La France, Le Havre, Madame Lacharme, 
La Rosiere, Uons. Noman, Hippolyte Jamain, Mons. E. Y. Teas, 
Marquise de Castellane, Fisher Holmes, Madame Chas. Wood, Margue¬ 
rite de St. Amand, Mdlle. Marie Cointet, Prince Camille de Rohan, 
Mons. G. Tournier, Madame Noman, General Jacqueminot, Madame 
Marie Finger, Miss Hassard, Princess Beatrice, and Maurice Bernar- 
din. Messrs. Curtis, Sanford & Co. were second, and Messrs. 
Keynes & Co., Salisbury, third, both exhibiting collections nearly 
equal in merit. Messrs. Cranston, Curtis, and Kinmont & Kidd, 
Canterbury, were first, second, and third respectively with twenty- 
four single trusses, all fresh and bright. Messrs. Cranston had a 
very fine premier collection of twelve single trusses, Messrs. Kinmont 
and Kidd and Keynes & Co. following with fair blooms, but rather 
weak in one or two points. 
The amateurs showed remarkably well. In the principal class for 
twenty-four trusses there were five entries. R. N. G. Baker, Esq., 
Heavitree, Devon, obtained the chief honours with a handsome col¬ 
lection, including grand examples of Auguste Rigotard, La France, 
Duchesse de Caylus, Mdlle. Marie Rady, and Mons. E. Y. Teas. 
T. Jowitt, Esq., Old Weir, Hereford, was an excellent second, his 
Alfred Colomb being admirable. A. J. Waterlow, Esq., Great Doods, 
Reigate (gardener, Mr. Browne), followed with neat specimens. Out 
of seven exhibitors of twelve triplets Mr. Baker staged the finest and 
freshest blooms ; Marie Baumann was very handsome, Auguste Rigo¬ 
tard neat, Charles Lefebvre fine, Docteur Andrd fine, and Mons. 
Etienne Levet in excellent form. T. Jowitt, Esq., was second, Expo¬ 
sition de Brie, Mons. E. Y. Teas, and Mdlle. Marie Cointet being well 
represented. G. P. Hawtry, Esq., Aldin House, Slough, was third 
with creditable blooms, j. B. Haywood, Esq., Reigate (gardener, 
J. Ridout), Mr. Jowitt, and the Rev. E. J. Fellowes, Wimpole Rectory, 
Royston, were first, second, and third with twelve single trusses, and 
extra prizes were awarded to J. H. Pemberton, Esq., The Round 
House, Havering-atte-Bower, and Mr. Baker. In the class for twelve 
Tea or Noisette Roses Mr. Fellowes obtained the chief prize with a 
neat collection; C. Davies, Esq., The Grammar School, Banbury, 
and Messrs. Cranston being second and third, Mr. Hawtry securing 
an extra prize. The six exhibitors in this class all staged fair 
examples of some of the best varieties in cultivation. The principal 
prizetakers in the classes for six Hybrid Perpetuals and six Teas or 
