September 18, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
24 9 
-Peach Dr. Hogg.—W e find this an excellent variety for 
growing on an outside wall. It is now ripening, and the flavour 
is first-rate. Last season the foliage had a decided yellow cast, hut 
by relifting the trees this has changed to a dark and healthy colour. 
Rea Veitch’s Prodigy. —This is the best main crop Pea we 
have had this season. It has been most productive, both the pods and 
Peas being of large size and first-rate quality. It also keeps in use a 
long time.—Y. 
■- I have not hitherto had an opportunity to remark how 
thoroughly I agree with all Mr. Abbey said in his recent article on 
Canker. Much has been written about this matter, and very varied 
have been the opinions or suggestions offered, but Mr. Abbey seems 
to have finally cleared up all doubts and difficulties by giving us a full 
explanation based on indisputable facts.—J. R. S. C. 
• -- Chrysanthemum Belle Paule.—I have often heard it said 
that there is a secret in taking the buds of Belle Paule. May I ask 
Will some of your able correspondents be kind enough to give their 
experience with this variety as to taking the buds ? I find that some of 
the buds on the strongest shoots are liable to go blind, while those on 
the weaker shoots set as freely as any of the old varieties. Advice on 
the subject will be gladly jeceived.—G. P. 
- Mr. D. B. Crane, Archway Road, Highgate, is taking a place 
amongst the earnest Amateur Exhibitors, and the application of 
his characteristic energy to the culture of Chrysanthemums is certain 
to bring good results. At the Aquarium last week he secured two first 
prizes for twelve Pompons and twelve bunches of flowers unrestricted 
as to section, besides some minor prizes in other classes. Mr. Cox of 
Brickendon Gardens, Herts, had six wonderfully fine blooms of Edwin 
Molyneux, proving how well this variety comes early in the season ; 
in size and colour they were equal to the best we have seen. 
• - Early Frosts, —It would appear superfluous to speak of frost 
so early as the first day of September perhaps to dwellers in the south of 
England, but here, in North Somerset, such actually happened on the 
date quoted, as well as two or three succeeding mornings, and although 
not sufficiently severe to do much injury, many tender plants were 
drooping from its effects. I note a record of two or three degrees of 
frost has been registered in Shropshire, which would be much the same 
experienced in open places here. The fields were quite white with the 
hoar frost, and distinctly crisp to the feet, but in enclosed gardens less 
severe cold was felt.—W. S. 
- The Weather Last Month.—A ugust was changeable and 
showery, but without a great quantity of rain, the total amount being 
P76 inch, which fell on twenty days, the greatest daily fall being 0 31, 
on the 2Sth. We had thunder on 16th and 26th, and a gale on the 15th.. 
Wind was in a westerly direction twenty-two days. It was bad weather 
for getting in the harvest, and Potato disease spread fast in the tops. 
Highest shade temperature was 81° on the 5th, lowest 37° on the 24th 
30th, and 31st ; lowest on grass 32° on 24th. Mean temperature of the 
month 58 - 44°. Barometer, highest 3030 inches on 31st, at 9 p.m. ; 
lowest 28 38 inches, at 9 p.m. on the 26th ; average height 29 91. The 
garden spring was running eighteen gallons per minute on the 31st. 
— W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall , Stamford. 
- Blatta germanica. — “ Entomologist’s ” inference relative to 
the harmlessness of the above does not correspond with my experience 
of them. They have infested our hothouses and propagating cases for 
years, and their ravages amongst cuttings are both impartial and 
annoying. They are particularly fond of Acalyplia musaica, and will 
soon devour the leaves from the cuttings unless special precautions are 
taken to prevent their doing so. We frequently find cuttings of Ficus 
elastica with the bark eaten off all round close to the soil, and this evil 
we can only trace to Blatta germanica, of which we have hundreds in 
all stages of growth. We have also a quantity of crickets, which are 
very destructive at times, especially amongst newly started Vines in 
spring, the leaves of which they will eat out in shreds.—J. H. W. 
-Two Fine Hydrangeas. —Unusual examples of good culti¬ 
vation are sometimes found in unexpected quarters. An instance of 
this may be seen in the garden of the Crown and Sceptre Hotel, 
Streatham Hill, where two very fine specimens of the old-fashioned 
Hydrangea have been flowering for some weeks past. These plants 
have quite a little history of their own. About twenty-two years ago, 
Mr. Cribb, a former proprietor, rescued them from a rubbish heap 
and cared for them during many years. Later on, the present proprietor, 
Mr. Cauldwell, took them under his care, and now each plant occupies 
a tub 3 feet in diameter, is 7 feet through, with a height of 5 feet 
from the ground, and each plant has borne upwards of 150 flower 
trusses this season, many of them being 7 inches across. *The plants 
are the picture of health, and during this long period have never 
had the protection of a greenhouse, the only covering being some- 
mats during severe weather. Mr. Cauldwell is proud of his plants,, 
and delights in showing them to his friends.—E. B. 
- Presentation to Mr. Lyne of Wimbledon. —A concert 
was held in the Dog and Fox Hotel one evening last week, on the 
occasion of a presentation to Mr. J. Lyne, one of the joint Hon. 
Secretaries of the Wimbledon and District Royal Horticultural and’ 
Cottage Garden Society, on his leaving to take charge of a garden at 
Chislehurst. Mr. M. Clarke presided, and there was a good attendance 
of members The Chairman said they were all cognisant of the services 
Mr. Lyne had rendered to the Horticultural Society and to other local 
institutions during his many years’ residence in the town. He had 
made a great many friends, and they all hoped he would be as highly 
esteemed in Chislehurst as he was at Wimbledon. He then handed Mr,. 
Lyne a handsome anti-magnetic keyless half-hunter silver watch,, 
engraved with the following inscription :—“ Presented to Mr. J. Lyne 
by a few old friends on his leaving Wimbledon, September 13th, 
1890.” He hoped that when Mr. Lyne looked at the watch it would 
remind him of the pleasant time he had spent in this locality. He 
then presented Mr. Lyne with a timepiece, in oak, as a gift to Mr,, 
and Mrs. Lyne jointly. 
ANNUALS FOR CUTTING. 
Tiie demand for cut flowers is increasing every year, and the* 
gardener’s energies are often sorely taxed, hence hardy annuals- 
which are easily grown and often far more suitable for cutting 
than choicer flowers should be largely employed through the summer 
months. Some of our modern flower stands are of great size, and 
to dress them effectively must have long-stemmed flowers, indeed 
whole plants or large branches are often required, and this neces¬ 
sitates cutting many unexpanded flowers, which, of course, is a- 
waste. If a choice plant is operated upon that is only grown 
with difficulty, it will not be surprising if the gardener becomes a 
little disturbed. Annuals are so easily grown and take so little 
time that one can freely cut or even pull up the whole plant if 
necessary without the least compunction. 
Poppies have had much attention in late years, with the result 
that all sections of them have been greatly improved, so that now 
we have colours and shades from pure white to deep scarlet, and in 
the Pseony-flowered section we have huge double flowers, white,, 
pink, scarlet, and glossy black. The Shirley Poppies are useful for 
dressing stands, but they entail much labour, as like all Poppies 
their petals soon fall, and the stands have to be attended to every* 
day. For early summer use sow in autumn, and for summer and 
autumn sow at different times in spring. Poppies are of easy 
culture, doing well in ordinary garden soil, and although they may 
be transplanted, yet the best results are from those sown where- 
they are to flower. They should be thinned from 1 foot ta- 
18 inches apart. Iceland Poppies are not, strictly speaking,, 
annuals, but hardy perennials, still they may be treated as such,, 
and flowers better adapted for dressing small stands can scarcely 
be imagined. Their colours are white, yellow, and rich orange 
scarlet, and they are entirely devoid of the objectionable Poppy 
odour ; indeed, they emit a very pleasant scent. They are perfectly 
hardy, and should find a place in all choice herbaceous borders. 
Lavatera trimestris (rose and white) is extremely useful for 
cutting purposes. It is surprising this useful annual is not more 
generally grown, it is so effective both for garden decoration- 
and in a cut state. Seeds may be sown in March in ordinary* 
garden soil where they are to remain, or they may be transplanted 
successfully during dull weather if well eared for. Those who 
wish for a stately easily grown plant, either for the back of borders- 
or for cutting, will not be disappointed with Lavatera trimestris. 
They grow from 3 feet to 5 feet high and branch freely, hence they 
should have plenty of room to do them justice. 
Chrysanthemum tricolor and its varieties aro very useful for- 
cutting, but being rather stiff plenty of foliage should be arranged 
with them. Improved varieties have late years appeared, so that 
now we have a considerable range of colour, all of which may be 
had in a mixed packet of seed. For a long succession of bloom 
sow in autumn and again in spring, and thin to 15 inches apart. 
Centaurea 9 yanus is one of the few British weeds that is con¬ 
sidered worth cultivating, at least for decorative purposes. This 
old Corn Bluebottle is, however, one of the most useful that can 
