474 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ June 23, 189t. 
tricolors, as many plants which with special culture under glass have 
displayed beautiful coloration have burnt and utterly failed outdoors. 
That was early found to be the case with the silver tricolor section, the 
leaves of which, such as Italia Unita, Lucy Grieve, &c., always displayed 
in any weather outdoors too much delicacy of constitution to enable 
them to withstand exposure. All these highly coloured and refined 
foliaged varieties look pretty enough as pot or pan plants, grown in 
frames or cool greenhouses; but they are hardly worth the trouble 
which must be taken with them, especially when it is possible to get so 
much beauty from other and more easily grown plants under similar 
conditions. 
It is rather odd to find that a variety so old as Mrs. Pollock, raised 
in 1857, should still be one of the most widely grown for bedding. It 
gives very good colour, but not an excess of gold tint, hence the foliage 
is firmer and more enduring than is that of some richer coloured and 
later raised varieties. Sophia Dumaresque also has been a very useful 
varietJ^ Probably there is now more grown of Flower of Spring, silver 
bicolor; Crystal Palace Gem, golden bicolor ; Mrs. Pollock, golden 
tricolor ; and Marshal McMahon, bronze and zonal, all now quite old 
sorts as bedders, than any other varieties. Perhaps those who on behalf 
of the Journal of Horticulture may from time to time during the 
present summer send notes of the best bedding displays in the country 
will not fail to note the revival of the variegated Pelargonium, and 
what particular sorts seem now to be most favoured, as it is pretty 
certain that after so many years’ experience only the fittest have 
survived. Mr. Grieve, in the earlier pages of his book, mentions specially 
the use which he made of some of Mr. Kinghorn’s earlier varieties. It 
is well we should sometimes be reminded of those who were the pioneers 
in this section of horticulture, and amongst others I would remember the 
late Mr. Kingsbury of Southampton.—A. D. 
Events of the Week.— To-day (Thursday, June 23rd) Ryde Rose 
Show is held. On Saturday, the 25th, there will be a meeting of the 
Royal Botanic Society. On Tuesday, the 28th, Maidstone Rose Show 
takes place. On Wednesday, the 29th, Rose Shows will be held at 
Fainingham, Richmond (Surrey), Boston, and King’s Lynn. On 
Thursday, the 30th, there will be Rose Shows at Canterbury, Eltham, 
and Winchester. There will be Orchid sales at Protheroe & Morris’s 
rooms on June 24th and June 28th, and on June 30th Mr. G. R. 
Portal’s plants will be sold at Deanfield, Henley-on-Thames. 
- The Weather in London.—D uring the past week the 
weather has been somewhat unsettled and cool, but very low tempera¬ 
tures have not been registered. Rain fell heavily on the 19th inst., and 
there were occasional showers on the 20th. The 21st was fine on the 
whole, but a heavy shower fell in the evening. At the time of going to 
press the barometer is firm and the weather decidedly warmer, but rain 
threatens. 
- Frost in June. —The morning of the 14th inst. brought 
several degrees of frost in some districts, and much Rose foliage was 
browned in the London suburbs. Further out Begonias, just planted 
out, and Potatoes were badly cut. After what we went through earlier 
in the season this final stroke falls rather heavily. 
- The Weather in the West.—Late Frost.—T he cold wave 
reached this part on Tuesday night, the 14th, and will long be 
remembered for the destruction wrought, especially in cottage and 
allotment gardens in low-lying parts. The damage was caused more by 
cutting wind than frost, only 2° being registered. In some parts 
Potatoes a foot high are cut to the ground, in others only a short 
distance oS the tops are only slightly blackened. Even in the same 
plot one part is damaged and the other scarcely touched. It is the 
same with Runner Beans, one row killed and the next only slightly 
damaged. The effect on the fruit crop is not apparent yet. It was 
thinned by earlier frosts.— J. Milne, Camerton Court, Somerset. 
- The Weather and Garden Crops in Bedfordshire.— 
On the 14th inst. the mercury of the thermometer fell to 33°, and 
on the 15Lh to 30°. The ground was quite white with frost. Happily 
little or no damage is noticeable here, but in the neighbourhood of 
Sandy and Bedford the market gardeners have suffered a good-deal. 
In many cases Potatoes, Cucumbers, Vegetable Marrows, French and 
Runner Beans have been blackened and cut down. It is noticeable 
in Potatoes that some varieties have suffered more than others. Beauty 
of Hebron has suffered most and Magnum Bonum the least.—G. R. 
Allis, Old Warden. 
-International Horticultural Exhibition.—W e are 
requested to state that Messrs. Kelway & Son's exhibit of Delphiniums 
and other flowers at the Royal Botanic Society’s Fete will, with 
fresh specimens, be arranged at Earl’s Court this day (Thursday). 
- Gamma Moths. —I notice just now a profusion of gamma 
moths, in gardens and fields about Gravesend, which means a number 
of caterpillars by-and-by I expect.—J, R. S. C. 
- Enfield Horticultural Society.—T he Summer Show of 
this Society takes place on July 6th, and the Chrysanthemum Exhibition 
on November 8th and 9th. Schedules are now being issued. 
-Thunderstorms and Vegetation, — From reports in 
Symons’ “ Monthly Meteorological Magazine ” considerable damage 
appears to have been done to vegetation by thunderstorms on May 31st 
and June Ist. 
- Slugs. —I observed Mr. Murphy’s remarks respecting the 
scarcity of these pests. I attribute it to the continued dry weather 
here, and expect when wet weather arrives to see the slugs appear in 
fine form.—A. L., Reading. 
- Gold Medal Carnations. —In recognition of the meritorious- 
exhibit of Souvenir de Malmaison Carnation at the International 
Horticultural Exhibition on the 27th ult., by Mr. T. H. Crasp, gardener 
to Lord Wimborne, Canford Manor, a gold medal has been awarded to 
Mr. Crasp by the Executive Committee. 
- Coleus Stanstead Beauty. —Messrs. Laing & Son have a 
most distinct, and as many will consider attractive, Coleus under this 
name. It has crinkled foliage, pale yellow with green blotches, veined 
and edged with carmine, and margined with purple. Some may prefer 
the smooth-foliaged varieties, but this crinkled-leaved sort is a welcome 
change. 
- Black Flowers. —No encouragement ought to be given to 
such funereal-looking flowers as the black Delphinium, D. triste, and 
black Pansies. With constant difficulty being experienced to find room 
for all the bright and beautiful flowers that press their claims forward 
SO powerfully, no space ought to be wasted on such gloomy things a» 
these.—P. 
- Saxifraga sarmentosa tricolor superba. —A Journal 
representative noticed this beautiful variety of the well-known Mother 
of Thousands in Messrs. Laing & Son’s nursery recently. The rich rosy 
magenta colouring is particularly marked in the young leaves, and 
runners rooted in small pots like Strawberries are delightful little 
objects. It is well worth growing in quantity. 
- Warwick.—D uring the stay of the Prince of Wales and the 
Duke of York at Warwick Castle extensive decorations have been 
carried out, and will be continued throughout the week, as a large and 
distinguished company arrived yesterday (Wednesday). Pseonies, 
Marguerites, Poppies, Pyrethrums, and large numbers of Roses have all 
been used with marked effect for dinner-table decoration. On one 
occasion a special feature was the extensive use of Pansies and Vidas, 
many of which proved to be exceedingly pretty when used for tracing 
and arranged in various other ways. In spite of several heavy showers 
on the opening day the number of visitors at the Royal Show exceeded 
all previous records, and the attendance through the week promises 
to be unusually large, which is, doubtless, in a great measure owing to 
the magnificent site, which is universally acknowledged to be the finest 
ever obtained for this great Show. 
- Laing’s Begonias at the World's Fair. — An American 
journal speaks about Mr. Laing and his Begonias as follows :—“ Glad to 
know they are coming. Laing has got the stuff—there is no better. 
But he will have to exert himself most vigorously if he expects to have 
a walk over. We are not now dependent on Europe for A1 tuberous-rooted 
Begonias, and Mr. Laing knows it. His son opened his eyes in amaze¬ 
ment on a Long Island farm last autumn, when he stood in the midst 
of a field of 20,000 Begonias, of as good a strain as one might expect to 
find at Forest Hill. But send your best Begonias, Mr. Laing, for, as yet, 
they lead the world. And more than all, come yourself, John Laing. 
Come—see this broad land of liberty, whence shekels freely flow to thee. 
Come where old friends shall meet thee, and thousands new shall 
greet thee.—W. F.” 
