May 28, 18 L J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
435 
Mr. Hiam said he had been advocating killing bullfinches for some 
years, and he produced some small Ihum branches from which the 
blossom had been picked by these mischievous birds. It was stated that 
the sparrow also did harm in this way. 
Mr. Swift invited the Committee to meet him at his plantation at 
Charlton, and it was arranged that the next meeting should be held 
there on June 3rd. 
EXHIBITION CELERY. 
Good and useful specimens of early Celery are often grown in trenches, 
and also blanched in the ordinary manner, that is to say by moulding 
up ; but to have it extra good, or equal to winning the first prize in good 
company, a very different method of culture should be adopted. In 
order to have fully grown well blanched Celery early in August, plants 
of Wright’s Giant White, or some other approved variety, ought now 
to be ready for their final quarters. To keep them longer in a root- 
bound state singly in 6-inch or larger pots, or in boxes or frames, where 
to leave them any longer would greatly weaken them, would be a great 
mistake. In most instances from twenty to forty plants would be 
ample for the summer shows, and these should be grown on raised well- 
prepared beds rather than in colder trenches. At one end of a sunny 
open plot of ground mark out a space sufficient to hold the number of 
plants prepared disposed 15 inches apart each way. Next drive in stout 
stakes and enclose with wide stout boards. Throw out the best of the 
surface soil, and after mixing with it liberal quantities of the bfst loam 
available, good decomposed manure and charred garden rubbish in 
about equal quantities, return on to the inside of the boards. The 
Celery plants being carefully and firmly planted in this, lightly shel¬ 
tered from either cold winds, frosts, and fierce sunshine, being also kept 
moist at the roots, will soon commence active growth, and continue to 
grow far more rapidly and strongly than they usually do in trenches. 
Liberal supplies of liquid manure, and carefully and heavily bandaging 
up the stems with brown paper, instead of blanching with the aid of 
soil, will do the rest, the Celery being both of great size and extra 
clean by the time wanted.—I. 
CARPET BEDS. 
We have just two other designs prepared by Mr. Graham, and 
methods which he suggests for planting them effectively, though they 
might be planted in half a dozen different ways, according to the 
provision of plants and individual preferences. 
The round bed (fig. 80) may be furnished as follows :—1, Raised and 
planted with Sempervivum montanum and a succulent of any kind as a 
centre p’ant, or it may be all planted with succulents ; 2, groundwork 
Herniaria glabra, Mentha, or Veronica incana ; 3, Alternantheras of any 
kind ; 4, Alternantheras of a different kind to the above or Leucophyton 
Browni; 5, the bed raised about 4 inches above the grass, and edge 
mentioning that I fully expected from what I had seen and heard from 
him we might expect some good results from the pans of seedlings 
which I then saw, and which were the result of most careful hybridising. 
I was not far wrong; he raised, but alas ! did not live to distribute 
FIG 80. 
For Beferences see Text. 
four varieties—Black Bess, Mrs. Dodwell, George Rudd and Rachel. He 
has passed away. His excellent sister continues not far from their 
old home to grow the collection he formed, and it is a great pleasure to 
her to see the position these seedlings have taken, and to all who knew 
him to find that his anticipations were correct, and to make all Auricula 
lovers mourn his early death. 
The Committee of the National Auricula and Primula Society 
decided last year to invite some of the best Auricula growers to give 
their opinion as to the best varieties of each class. As this list was 
FIG. 81. 
Befeuencks fob Plaktixg. —1, Cerastium tomentosiim ; 2, Altemanthera amoena; 3, Eclieveria secmida glauca and Sedum glaucum, mixed; 4, Pyretlirutn 
laciniatum; 6, Alternantliera magnifica; 6, Meutlia Pulegium gibraltarica dotted over with Echeverias or small Aloes; 7, Silver-leaved Pelargoniums 
and blue Lobelia, mixed; x, Succulents. 
planted with two rows of Echeveria secunda glauca, and some Sedum 
glaucum interspersed. 
The design (fig. 81) is suitable for a bank or level ground, and the 
circular ends can be represented in sunken panels by those who may 
desire it as indicated. 
MR. WOODHEAD’S (THE LATE) AURICULAS. 
Several years ago I paid a visit to Shibden Head, near Halifax, 
whore on the top of what we in Kent should probably call a mountain, but 
in Yorkshire is only a hill, I saw one of the choicest and best cultivated 
collections of Auriculas I had ever seen cultivated by the late Mr. 
Thomas Woodhead. I recorded my impressions of it, and remember 
for the guidance of purchasers, it was a mistake, I think, to include 
in it flow'ers which are not yet in commerce. I find that there were 
sixteen voters, but the highest number of votes reco.ded for anyone 
variety was fourteen, and as I think that variety (George Lightbody), 
would be, I imagine, in everybody’s list, I cannot quite understand it. 
Now in these lists I found amongst grey edges George Rudd taking 
fifth place, and Rachel the seventh. When one considers that this is 
the most numerous class of all amongst Auiiculas, and that the flowers 
that are before them are Lightbody, Lancashire Hero, Mabel, and 
Silvia, it is a strong testimony to their excellence. In white edged, 
Mrs. Dodwell, which I regard as the best of the four, comes fifth ; 
but, in fact, may be said to be third, as it obtains an equal number of 
votes with Smiling Beauty and John Simonite, while Black Bets 
