856 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 12, 1892. 
and the equally remark ible size and fine form of the flowers. By far 
the greater portion of the plants are from seed ; some, however, of the 
best forms are propagated yearly. In some large pots, into which three 
of a variety of these propagated plants were blocked, were some very 
fine specimens, broad, dwarf, sturdy, and carrying the finest of flowers. 
- The Weather in April. —The month was bright, line, and 
warm up to the 12th, but changeable after, with snowstorms and 
severe frosts. We had fourteen bright days, five of which were 
altogether clear. The wind was in a northerly direction twenty-one 
days. Snow fell early on the 25th. The total rainfall was 0 85 inch, 
which fell on twelve days; the greatest daily fall (of snow and run) 
being 0 32 on 27th. Barometer highest reading, 30T9 at 9 A.M. 
on 1st; lowest, 29-51 at 9 A.M. on 16th. Highest shade temperature, 
72° on 6th and 6th ; lowest, 25° on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 27th ; lowest 
on grass, 18° on Ist, 2nd, and 27th. Mean maximum temperature, 
58 06°; mean minimum, 32 26°. Mean temperature of the month, 
45-13°. The garden spring ran 30 gallons per minute on the 30th. 
Nightingale first heard on 26th, euckoo on 28th. Horse Chestnuts 
and Sycamore) expanding their leaves at the end of the month; 
everything very backward.—W. H. Divers. 
- Azaleas at Slough. —The Azaleas are particularly striking 
at the Royal Nurseries, not the large show plants so well known by 
exhibitors, which are not yet in flower, but some small plants of 
comparatively new varieties. Amongst them are to be seen Perfection 
de Gand, a single, with large deep rosy red flowers, very showy ; 
Vervaeneana, semi-double, bright pink, having a broad margin of pure 
white, and spots of deep carmine on some’ of the petals ; Theodore 
Reimers, very large and double magenta-purple flowers of great 
substance ; Madame Hermann Siedel, a charming semi-double white 
variety, many of the petals splashed with bright pink ; President 
Oswald de Kerchove, pure salmon, with a few spots, the edges of the 
petals being white, it is perfectly double, and almost faultless in shape ; 
Souvenir de Louis Van Houtte, rosy carmine, semi-double, floweis very 
large and borne in profusion, making the plant conspicuous imme¬ 
diately on entering the house ; Ami du Coeur, another particularly fine 
variety, with very double salmon-rel flowers ; Pharailde Mathilde, a 
handsome flower, double, white, with broad smooth petals splashed 
with cerise, and spotted slightly with green ; Dominique Vervaene, a 
dense orange-scarlet, very large single flowers, spotted with deep red ; 
Princess Louise, a lovely pure white, the flowers being perfectly double, 
and of good size ; and Madeleine, a semi-double pure white, excellent, 
the plant being a mass of large substantial floweis. The plants are in 
splendid condition, and show that Mr. Turner’s grower, Mr. John 
Wilder, is a master of his work. 
- Frost and Caterpillars. — Naturally readers would be 
somewhat puzzled at the seeming contradiction of Mr. J. Hiam’s notes 
and mine on the effects of frost on caterpillars. I am sure no one 
would doubt that Mr. Hiam had found them killed by the frost on the 
later unopened buds, as he is too careful an observer to make a mistake. 
At the same time what is an actual fact in his district is not so here ; 
and to indicate what a difference there is in a limit of about five miles 
I may state that on the morning of April 30th we registered 2° of frost> 
while at Ross, 2h miles away, they registered 9°, and at Perrystone 
Court, less than five miles away, 8° were registered. So that it is 
obvious that effects will vary considerably. On reading Mr. Hiam’s 
note on page 315 I went to examine an orchard near, belonging to a 
farmer who has let all insect pests have their fling. I question whether 
the trees will survive the allied attacks on them this year, as they are 
swarming with caterpillars, aphis, psylla, Apple blo.'som weevil, and in 
fact everything insect that the Apple seems heir to, and it is very evident 
that frost has done little or nothing towards the destruction of the 
latter. I only wish greater havoc had been wrought on our insect 
enemies, and less damage done to the fruit crops by the frost, though 
we have not much to complain of here. Unless we get more unfavour¬ 
able weather our prospects are good for a full crop of Plums, a fair crop 
of Pears—all the early blossoms were killed—and a good one of Apples. 
—S. T. Wright. 
INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION. 
A Great Gardening Display Opened by the Duke op Connaught. 
On Saturday. May 7tb, in the presence of a large and fashionable 
assembly, headed by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and under 
the most favourable conditions as regards weather, the International 
Horticultural Exhibition was started on vvliat promites to be a useful 
and successful career. It is many years since a great standing exhibi¬ 
tion composed principally of features of horticultural interest was held 
in this country. The last prolonged show was in 1866, but the present 
one is essentially different. Since the last ‘ International” great 
changes have taken place. The love for gardening in all its phases 
has enormously increased. Cultivators may be numbered by thousands 
now where they were counted in hundreds then, and in all ranks, from 
the highest to the lowest, there is a wider interest in plants and flowers 
than existed a quarter of a century ago. It would not be without 
interest, doubtless, to trace the development of gardening since that 
time up to the present, pointing to the number of exhibitions now held 
and to the attendances they command, to the increase in the number of 
parks and open spaces furnished with trees and flowers, to the multitude 
of cultivated gardens and glass houses that have sprung up in the two 
and a half decades, to the immense scale on which floral decorations are 
conducted, to the enlargement of markets, and last, but perhaps the 
most significant of all, to the great development, both in numbers and 
extent, of our plant nurseries. These are all signs and indications of an 
upward movement, showing, by the irrefutable evidence of facts, the 
work t.hat has been going on. But the times are too pressing to allow 
us to dwell at length upon the past, and so, with a passing comment on 
the growth of horticulture, and a tribute to the memory of all those who 
helped in the good cause before they were called away, we must turn 
to the present and note what lessons it has to teach us. 
The preparations for the present Exhibition have been in practical 
hands. The Earl’s Court Exhibitions syndicate wisely elected to gather 
together a General Committee of experienced horticulturists in order that 
the many details inseparable from an affair of such great scope should be 
grappled with by those best qualified to master them, and in the selection 
of Mr. H. E. Milner, F.L.S., C.E., as Chairman, they took a step the 
wisdom of which has been abundantly justified. From first to last he 
has displayed a grasp of business principles, a mastery of details, an 
energy and a tact that could not but bear good fruit, and whatever the 
financial result of the venture may be Mr. Milner has done his work 
artistically and well. He has made a reputation and won a popularity 
amongst horticulturists that are likely to live long after the present 
season and its Exhibition have passed away. The place chosen was, as 
is now well known, the large extent of ground lying between Earl’s 
Court, West Brompton, and West Kensington stations that was the 
scene of the American Exhibition in 1887, and has since been devoted to 
others of special continental interest. It comprises several acres, and is 
divided by the railway into two sections. An arrangement having been 
made for a second visit by Buffalo Bill and his troupe, illustrating life in 
the Far West, one section has been devoted to their arena and encamp¬ 
ment, while the other has been reserved for the gardens and horticultural 
exhibits. The principal entrance is in Lillie Road, quite close to West 
Brompton station on the District and West London extension railways, 
from which, via Victoria, Kensington (Addison Road), Clapham 
Junction, and the various underground stations all parts can be reached 
without difficulty. This admits to the horticultural side, while from 
Earl’s Court station the “Wild West” portion of the grounds are 
entered. As, apart from the train services, omnibuses run to the 
Exhibition by various routes, reaching it is a matter of ease, rapidity, 
and cheapness. 
A handsome medal has been struck in silver, gold and bronze, and 
will be awarded for meritorious exhibits throughout the season. It 
Ins been designed and executed by Mr. John Pinches, and affords a 
further proof, if any were needed, of his skill in this work. The 
engraving (fig. 63. page 359) shows the design and inscrip'ion on the 
obverse side, with the motto of the exhibition, “ Tibi suavis Dredala tellus 
summittit flores ” (to thee the creating earth hands up her sweet-smelling 
flowers). We have pleasure also in inserting a portrait of Mr. Milner 
(page 357) in recognition of his ability as a landscape gardener, and 
he is well known as a courteous and estimable man. 
The Display in the Side Hall. 
The opening ceremony on the 7th inst. was fixed for twelve o’clock, 
and shortly after that time the Duke and Duchess of Connaught arrived. 
Their Royal Highnesses were met by Mr. Milner, and amongst those 
present were the Bishop of London and Mrs. Temple, Lord Manvers, 
Baron de Worms, Lord Rowton, Lord Ashbourne, Sir G. Baden Powell, 
Mr. Henniker Heaton, the Persian and American Ministers, Lord Denman, 
Sir Cnarles Mills, Sir C. Tupper, Lord Cranbrook, Sir Gujer Hunter, M.P., 
Sir F. Milner, M.P., Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Admiral Sir J. Hay, 
Admiral Mayne, Colonel and Mis. North, Colonel Cody (Buffalo Bill), Mr. 
G A. Loveday, and many well-known horticulturists, including Baron 
Schroler, an 1 various prominent nurserymen. Before passing through 
the main building a beautiful display of plants and flowers in a side 
hall immediately to the left of the entrance was visited. This was an 
exhibition in itself, there being numero.'S groups, also many tabl s 
beautifully furnis’ned. The first group on the right consisted of shrubs 
..nd plants. Rhododendrons and Azaleas, with Liliums, Spiraeas, and 
others, from Messrs. C. Lee & Son. A case of insectivorous plants, com¬ 
prising Drosera dichotoma, D. capensis, Dionrea muscipula, and several 
Sarracenias came from Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son. Messrs. W. Paul 
and Son, Waltham Cross, contributed two beautiful groups of Roses, 
comprising standards and large bushes, also dwarf plants, and several 
boxes of cut blooms, interspersed with Ferns. Mr. T. S. Ware sent a 
delightful tableof hisspecialides, amongst which Irises,Liliums, Daffodils, 
Doronicums, Saxifraga pyramidahs, and Primula Sieboldi in great variety, 
were noticeable. Messrs. Cannell L S jns had a table of sncculent plants, 
