434 
[ June 9, 1892. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Events of the Week. —To-day (the 9th) the Midland Pansy 
Society’s Show takes place at Birmingham, and a meeting of the 
Brighton and Sussex New Horticultural Society is to be held. A 
meeting of the Koyal Botanic Society will take place on the 11th, and 
on the 14th and 15th the Sussex Agricultural and Horticultural Society 
will be held at Harlow. The Yorkshire Gala takes place at York 
on the 15th, 16th, and 17th. There will be sales of Orchids at Messrs 
Protheroe & Morris’s rooms on the 10th and 14th, and a sale of Palm 
seeds on the 15th. 
- The Weather in London.—T he weather has been on the 
whole warm and dry during the past week, but heavy showers fell at 
frequent intervals on the 5th with beneficial results to vegetation. On 
the 6th and 7th the barometer had risen, and the weather was warm, 
dry, and bright. At the time of going to press the same conditions 
prevail, and the barometer is high and firm. 
- Whitsun Amongst the Flowers.—T he fine weather on 
AVhit-Monday attracted thousands of pleasure-seekers into the parks and 
gardens. Most of the former were thronged with visitors. The number 
who entered Kew Gardens was stated to be 79,000 in the daily papers. 
43,646 visited the International Horticultural Exhibition. 
- A Flower Sermon. —The Eev. Dr. Whittemore preached his 
fortieth flower sermon at the Church of St. Katherine Cree on the 
evening of the 7th inst., and referred with pleasure to the fact that 
since this annual sermon on a floral subject was adopted as the outcome 
of a suggestion made to him thirty-nine years ago, many others have 
been preached in different parts of the country. At the close of the 
service the bouquets taken by the congregation were collected for dis¬ 
tribution at the hospitals. 
- Ehododendrons at Earl’s Court. —The Ehododendrons in 
the grounds of the International Horticultural Exhibition are now full 
of bloom and make a gorgeous display, which is much admired by the 
visitors. Two large groups were planted by Messrs. H. Lane & Son and 
W. Paul & Son respectively. The large trusses and judiciously blended 
colours are highly effective. Messrs. Lane’s group is in the Central, and 
Messrs. Paul’s in the Western Gardens. 
- Insectivorous Plants on Show.—I t was intimated in our 
report of the International Horticultural Exhibition that a handsome 
structure had been erected by Messrs. Crompton & Fawkes, and was to be 
furnished with insectivorous plants. It has since been filled by Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, and as the allotted occupants of the structure 
are strengthened by a charming display of Orchids it is both interesting 
and attractive. The Venus’s Fly Trap, Sundews, Sarracenias, and 
other plants receive close attention from the visitors. 
- Veitch’s Extra Early Cauliflower. — The above has 
again proved worthy of the place accorded it as the earliest of our 
Cauliflowers, as we have to-day, June 4th, cut compact little heads 
of snowy whiteness from seed sown the first week in February. The 
plants were put out the last week in March, and protected by flower 
pots. We thus avoid any gap after the Broccoli, as we still have 
a few of the Late Queen to cut, that and Model having best withstood 
the long severe winter. I find those from the late sowing the last week 
in May to stand severe weather best.—J. H. 
- A Fine Collection of Peaches. —Mr. Dunn has good 
reason to be proud of the Peaches and Nectarines under his charge at 
Oakleigh, East Grinstead, for a healthier and better managed collection 
is rarely met with. They were not in the best order when he first took 
them in hand, as I had opportunities of noting, but a great change has 
been brought about by attention and good culture. The selection of 
varieties comprises Alexandra, Barrington, Eojal George, Sea Eagle, 
Noblesse, Grosse Mignonne, Walburton Admirable, Violette Hative, 
Bellegarde, Prince of Wales, Stirling Castle, and Dr. Hogg Peaches ; 
Eivers’ Orange, Lord Napier, Elruge, Hardwicke, Albert Victor, 
Humboldt, and Prince of Wales Nectarines. The crop is good, the 
trees healthy, and the growth free.— Wanderer. 
_ Ehododendrons at Landport. —The Ehododendrons in the 
Victoria Park, Landport, near Portsmouth, are now in full bloom, and 
will well repay a visit from anyone in the neighbourhood. 
_ York Florists’ Society.—A t the last monthly meeting of 
this Society Mr. Eiddell, The Gardens, Castle Howard, read a paper on 
soils, treating the subject in an able and interesting manner. 
- Gardening Appointment. —Mr. James Foster, for the last 
three years foreman at Elvetham Park, Winchfield, Hants, has been 
appointed head gardener to Captain Gassiot, Hampton Lodge, Tongham, 
near Farnham, Surrey. 
- Gloxinia Lord Salisbury. —This Gloxinia, for which 
Messrs. Laing & Son received a first-class certificate from the Eoyal 
Botanic Society, is a very attractive one. It is deep purple shaded 
with crimson maroon, the throat spotted with purple. 
- The Horticultural Club — Sir John D. Llewelyn’s 
Paper.—A digest of the interesting paper on Egyptian Mural 
Industries read by Sir J. D. T. Llewelyn, Bart., on May 25th, did not 
reach us from the office of a contemporary till a week after the event 
and consequently too late for insertion. 
- Old English Tulips.—A Kelso paper says that Messrs 
Stuart & Mein’s extensive collection of Old English Tulips is now in 
bloom, and thinks there is not such another sight to be seen in Scotland 
as they present. This is extremely probable, and anyone who has an 
opportunity of giving Messrs. Stuart & Mein a call should do so. 
- Late Broccoli. —I note on page 371 Mr. John Chinnery con¬ 
tributes an article on late Broccoli, and enumerates a list of varieties 
which he has found good for spring use. If he has not tried Sutton s 
Late Queen I advise him to do so, and I am sure he will be pleased 
with it.—E. M. 
_ Queen Wasps. —Mr. W. E. Eaillem’s experience, recorded on 
page 414, does not tally with mine. We have killed over twenty queen 
wasps here this spring. I do not know how many have escaped. Pro¬ 
bably they do not inhabit some parts of the globe so much as others. 
They were not so plentiful with us last year as in 1890, but still we had 
enough to destroy a good deal of fruit.—E. M., Monmouthshire. 
- The Eainfall in May. —The total rainfall for May at Cuck- 
field, Sussex, was 1'02 inch, being 093 inch below the average; the 
heaviest fall was 0 66 inch, on 25th. Eain fell on three days. The 
maximum temperature was 83°, on the 31st; the minimum 32°, on 7th. 
Mean maximum 65 2°, mean minimum 45°, mean temperature 55‘1 . 
Partial shade readings 3° above the average. The thunder showers of 
the 25th and 26th did much good, but still more rain is wanted in this 
district. June came in dull and cool.—E. I. 
- Bedding Violas. —On page 416 in the Journal of last week 
a correspondent (“ L. J.”) asks for the names of the three best Violas of 
white, yellow, and blue colours, and you have given the names of three 
of the best all-round varieties known, for we have no blue so blue and 
so excellent as True Blue, and no white to beat Countess of Hopetoun ; 
but I would suggest another deep yellow (Bullion), as, in my opinion, the 
best of all our yellows. It is very early and continuous in blooming, of 
good habit, and of a rich deep yellow colour. Ardwell Gem is a light 
primrose yellow. All four are close growers and immense bloomers. 
—W. D. 
- Staphylea COLCHICA. —This has proved very acceptable, and 
a most useful forcing plant by the freedom with which its sweet-scented 
flowers are produced, but it is seldom met with planted out in the open. 
With me it has proved quite hardy in the shrubbery borders, several 
plants at the present time being covered with flowers, although some 
Laurustinus close by have been quite cut back by the severe frost of the 
past winter.—J. H., Benham. Newbury. 
- Dahlias at Crawley.—A utumn is, of course, the best time 
to visit Crawley for the purpose of inspecting Messrs. Cheal’s Dahlias, 
but there is something of interest about them now that thousands of 
healthy young plants are being packed up and sent away. They go 
to almost all parts of the world, for the reputation of the firm has 
extended beyond the confines of the United Kingdom. It is astonishing 
to note the enormous number of plants that are grown for meeting the 
demand. There were long ranges of pits and frames full of them 
recently. The Tom Thumb section are growing in popularity, and 
some of them are now in bloom. 
