318 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 7, 1886. 
lately, though cold at night, has made that popular bedding plant 
Pelargonium Vesuvius show its colour and free blooming to perfection. 
In the early part of the year a large round bed did not seem quite satis¬ 
factory ; it was rather high, so I top-dressed it with a little dry night soil 
mixed with a little potting soil, and it has well repaid me. In another 
bed the centre is occupied with Michaelmas Daisy. Then follows a good 
row of Pelargonium Lady Middleton, then a double row of Distinction, 
next a double row of Pelargonium Italia Unita, which grows well with 
me, the colours coming out strong. Distinction no doubt is the leading 
band, and the bed generally is very effective.” 
- The same correspondent observes that “ How late Williams’ 
Bon Chretien Peae is in ripening may be learnt from the fact that we 
have only just gathered the crop from trees on a wall facing west. I 
weighed one dozen of the best, they turn the scales at 6 lbs. I always 
find this Pear off the wall keeps well, does not go ‘ sleepy ’ so soon after 
gathering as from a standard tree. I always admire this as a wall fruit, 
the colour being so good if placed in a cool vinery for a few days.” 
- It would seem that exhibitions are becoming a favourite form of 
investment, for amongst several others it has been proposed to erect a 
Horticultural Palace and Colonial Fruit Exhibition at 
Willesden. A freehold site of sixteen acres adjoining Willesden Junction 
has been suggested, upon which to erect a horticultural palace of glass 
and iron, in which will be a permanent exhibition, British and Colonial 
of flowers and fruits and horticultural accessories. 
- Disteibution of Bedding Plants.—T he Commissioners of 
Her Majesty’s Works and Public Buildings intend to distribute this 
autumn, as usual, among the working classes and the poor inhabitants 
of London, the surplus bedding-out plants in Battersea, Hyde, the Regent’s, 
and Victoria Parks, and in the Royal Gardens, Kew, and the Pleasure 
Gardens, Hampton Court. If the clergy, school committees, and ethers 
interested will make application to the superintendent of the park nearest 
to their respective parishes, or to the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, 
or to the Superintendent of Hampton Court Gardens, in the cases of 
persons residing in those neighbourhoods, they will receive early intima¬ 
tion of the number of plants that can be allotted to each applicant, and of 
the time and manner of their distribution, 
- At a recent meeting of the Wakefield Paxton Society, 
Mr. B. Whiteley presided, and Mr. G. Gill in the vice chair. The subject 
—the Culture of the Plum—was introduced by Mr. J. Campbell, gardener 
to Mrs. Micklethwaite, of Painthorp House. Mr. Campbell has devoted 
special attention to fruit-growing, and a few weeks ago, when he read a 
capital essay on small or bush fruits, he was requested to prepare and 
read a paper on “ The Plum.” Mr. Campbell acceded to the request, on 
the understanding that the members would exhibit specimens of Plums 
grown by them, and a long table was well filled with dishes of remarkably 
fine Plums of nearly all the best varieties grown in this neighbourhood. 
An excellent and thoroughly practical paper was read, containing much 
valuable advice and interesting information. A lengthy discussion 
ensued on the paper, and a number of questions were put and satisfac¬ 
torily replied (o. Amongst those who took part in the discussion were 
Messrs. Brown, Gill, Preston, Fenner, and Calvert. During the discus¬ 
sion reference was made to the extraordinarily heavy crop of Plums this 
year, the yield having been the largest which some growers remember for 
the last half century. It was said that in Kent large quantities of Plums 
had not been gathered, as the prices at which Plums have sold this season 
were not sufficient to defray the cost of railway carriage to market. Mr. 
Campbell strongly recommended that Plums should be thinned like 
Grapes, in order that finer and larger fruit may be obtained. Mr. Fenner 
mentioned, in order to encourage thinning, that green Plums are very 
useful for culinary purposes. Asked whether in his opinion fruit-growing 
could be carried on in this country and made remunerative to the grower, 
Mr. Campbell said that he was satisfied it could. 
- After referring to the introduction of Fuchsia coccinea, Mr. 
Meehan, in the course of a lecture before the Germantown Horticultural 
Society, thus noticed one of The Eaeliest Fuchsias raised in the 
United States:—“Another Fuchsia from Brazil came to England. It 
was known as Etfulgence. One of the plants came into the possession 
of my father, who was a gardener and florist. I was then only a boy. 
I had heard of the hybridisation of Peas, and I thought I would try the 
hybridisation of Fuchsias. Another gentleman and myself tried the 
experiment, which was very successful. We named the first hybrid 
Fuchsia St. Clare, after the cottage where we lived. I was offered a new 
frock-tail coat for my plant, which I gladly accepted.” 
-- A geneeal meeting of the members of the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society will be held on Monday evening, October 11th, at 
the “ Old Four Swans,” 81, Bishopsgate Street, City, for the election of 
new members and transaction of such other business as may arise. Chair 
to be taken by E. Sanderson, E^q., the President, at 7 o’clock precisely. 
The Floral Committee will meet at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, at 
1.30 P.M. on Wednesdays, October 13th and 27th, November 10th and 
21th, and December 8th. All persons, whether members of the Society or 
not, are invited to exhibit at these meetings. 
- A correspondent, lately visiting Heckfield Gardens, noted a 
novel and withal a capital way of growing Tomatoes out of doors. 
At the southern end of any of the glass structures, whether lean-to or 
span-roof in shape, narrow brick borders had been built 1 foot deep and 
16 inches in width. In this the plants were placed trained up to the glass 
with a single stem to some, and in other cases three. The plants produced 
fruit in profusion and promised to ripen off satisfactorily, as in such a 
position they get the full benefit of the sun’s rays and were quite orna¬ 
mental as well as being useful. The varieties grown were Earliest of All 
and Hackwood Park. 
- “ B.” says, “ Michaelmas Daisies are now our most 
attractive plants, and as a dwarf early-flowering one none surpasses 
Aster Amellus bessarabicus, which is of even growth, about 2 feet high, 
and bluish purple in colour. Aster Amellus roseus is also good, and 
there are several other forms differing slightly in their colour. A. ericoides, 
though very small almost minute flowers, is pleasing for its elegant habit. 
A. ltevis has large flowers, bluish lilac, very free, a capital form. A. 
novac-angliae and A. novae-anglise rubra, varying from rose to deep red, 
while A. novi-belgii, with purplish blue flowers, is a good companion 
for the above. These constitute a good series, showing the distinct types 
well.” 
-In discussing the modification of plants by climate, 
Mr. Crozier, of Michigan University, has recently remarked “ that as 
plants move from the locality of their largest development towards their 
northern limit of growth, they become dwarfed in habit, are rendered 
more fruitful, and all parts become more highly coloured. Their com¬ 
parative leaf surface is often increased, their form modified, and their 
composition changed. Their period of growth is also shortened, and they 
are enabled to develope at a lower temperature.” 
_Me. Iggulden writes :—“ I have attended several good 
shows this summer, at some of which I assisted to judge a considerable 
quantity of cottagers’ and others’ garden produce, and have been much 
struck with the number of exhibitors who have been enterprising enough 
to invest in Potato Sutton’s Seedling. For once in a way they 
have made no mistake, for I have not yet seen a good dish of Sutton’s 
Seedling beaten. In one instance a cottager had to be disqualified, as he 
had unfortunately entered in the class for rounds, but being of opinion it 
was the best dish of Potatoes in the show we recommended that it 
receive an extra prize. I should never think of recommending a Potato 
solely on the grounds that it is of very handsome appearance, but the 
one in question is a heavy cropper, and the tubers are of excellent table 
quality. I have seen several good crops this season, but the best was 
grown by Mr. B. Hopkins, gardener to John Baily, Esq., Fairlawn 
Frome. From 5 lbs. of seed cut up into sets and planted at once exactly 
100 lbs. of sound produce was lifted, and this, considering the weather 
experienced, I hold to be a very good crop indeed. The soil in Mr. 
Baily’s garden is rather light and shallow, but under good cultivation it 
usually does Potatoes well, but much more rain was wanted this year 
than actually fell.” 
_As a late-flowering plant for the rockery there are few can equal 
the old Plumbago Larpentas, the bright blue flowers of which and 
red-tipped leaves have a very pleasing appearance on the Chiswick 
rockery just now. Blue is never too well represented in gardens, and in 
the autumn we have such a preponderance of the yellow-flowered Com¬ 
posite that it is quite a relief to obtain a few shades of a distinct 
character. The Michaelmas Daisies, it is true, give us some pretty tints 
of mauve and lavender blue, but the Plumbago is a brilliant pure blue 
surpassing all them. It is an easily grown plant provided it is not placed 
in a very shaiy or damp position, and can be readily increased by 
division. 
