July 6, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
9 
- Agricultural Science.—A ccording to a daily contemporary 
Cambridge is about to institute an examination in agricultural science. 
The subjects of examination—each subject of course treated with 
special reference to agriculture—are botany, chemistry, physiology and 
hygiene, entomology, geology, mechanics and engineering, book-keeping, 
and agriculture. The last, however, with surveying, veterinary science, 
and economics in relation to agriculture, will, or may, form part of a 
further examination to be taken after the others. The candidate who 
has passed both will be entitled to a diploma, and the candidate who has 
passed one to a certificate. It is also recommended that the managing 
syndicate shall entertain applications for the appointment of persons 
to inspect schools of agriculture or horticulture that receive grants of 
public money, and give regular instruction in these subjects. 
- Gas Lime. —I note “ A. 1).” (page 500) advises the use of gas 
lime on land in the occupation of allotment holders for the purpose of 
preventing the Onion maggot injuring the crop. While admitting its 
efficacy, I would caution those persons to use the lime very sparingly, as 
•only last year I saw a garden where it had been used too freely during 
the previous winter, and the crops of all kinds were in a most deplorable 
condition, seeds of Onions, Carrots, and Beet failing to germinate. In 
some cases at least three sowings were required, and transplanting from 
other gardens was necessary to obtain a crop. In looking over the same 
garden a week or two back, I remarked how well the crops looked. The 
Potatoes were in marvellous health considering the extreme drought 
experienced, the haulm was high, erect, and the foliage deep green. 
Far better use the lime sparingly and often, rather than to dress 
heavily.—E. M. 
- Kingston Gardeners’ Association. — The usual monthly 
meeting of this body was held at the Edenholme school-room on Tuesday 
evening, on 27th ult. There was a large attendance. Mr. Cushon 
occupied the chair. Some good examples of Thorpe’s Queen and 
Sutton’s Matchless Marrow Peas, both very fine varieties, and some 
sports from the former were exhibited by a member. Mr. Yeabsley, 
gardener to Mrs. Bryant, Surbiton, read a very practical paper on the 
Indian Azalea, from which much useful discussion arose, and a cordial 
vote of thanks to the reader was accorded. Mr. Dean read a letter from 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Beading, respecting the visit of the Gardeners’ 
Cricket Club to their firm next Wednesday, giving a cordial invitation 
to members to see over their nursery trial grounds, also from Mr. Greig, 
station agent S.W.R., announcing a large reduction of the ordinary fare 
to and from Beading to members of the Association. 
- Sussex Rainfall. —The total rainfall at Abbots Leigh, Hay¬ 
wards Heath, Sussex, for June was 2-44: inches, being 0'64 above the 
average. The heaviest fall was 1’31 inch on the 19th. Rain fell on 
nine days. The total fall for the six months was 9 inches, which is 
3T7 inches below the average. The highest temperature in shade was 
90° on the 19th, the minimum 37° on the 1st. Mean maximum, 69 22° ; 
mean minimum, 48 26°; mean temperature, 58 74°—1° above the average. 
The drought in the above-mentioned district lasted for fifteen weeks. 
During the four months (100 days) rain fell on only twenty-two days. 
From March 2nd to June 19th only ITO inch rain fell, and with the 
exception of a few days (from the 15th to the 20th May, when it was 
dull and showery, with a thunderstorm), the sun was all the time 
remarkably hot, and the wind hard and parching, and an almost entire 
absence of dew at nights. Crops have suffered much ; watering seemed 
to have little effect. Early Potatoes have so far matured that they will 
have to be lifted as speedily as possible to prevent them growing again. 
The intense heat of the middle of June ended in a severe thunderstorm, 
during which 1'31 inch of rain fell in an hour, doing some damage ; it 
was followed by a few dull days and more showers, that have done 
much good. The first two days of July has been quite hot, and every 
appearance of its continuing.—R. I. 
BEGONIAS AT SWANLEY. 
It is always a pleasure to visit the Home of Flowers, as Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons’ nursery at Swanley is named. There are flowers 
in abundance to be seen whenever one may go, and my visit was 
chosen when I thought the Begonias, for which the Swanley firm is 
justly celebrated, were at the zenith of their beauty, and amply was 
1 repaid for my journey. Several large structures are devoted to 
these beautiful plants. Begonias are, however, to be seen everywhere 
—in the houses, and in the open air. Innumerable varieties are grown, 
as many readers of the Journal who have seen them will know. 
Apart from the named kinds there are many thousands of seedlings 
which have not yet flowered, and from these it is anticipated many new 
and excellent sorts will be selected. I will give a list of some of the 
best that were in flower at the time of my visit, commencing with the 
double varieties, amongst which Cannell’s Rosebud stands pre-eminent. 
It combines all the good points essential in a first-rate Begonia. The 
blooms are the shape of a good Camellia flower, but are larger, the 
petals overlapping each other in precisely the same manner as is so 
much admired in that popular flower; the colour is a delicate pink of the 
most pleasing shade of colour. There were many flowers showing blooms 
of what would by many be considered perfect, so excellent were they, 
but not like Rosebud. General Owen Williams is one of the most 
floriferous, its large crimson blooms full of substance standing out 
boldlyi above a dwarf compactly habited plant. A distinct and pleasing 
flower is found in Thos. Whitelaw. The flowers are of a soft fawn 
charmingly shaded buff, and have a very clearly defined edging of rosy 
red. The various colours blend with the most perfect harmony, and 
form a combination which cannot fail to please the most fastidious. 
Miss Nora Hastings bears a flower somewhat after the same style, the 
ground colour being soft fawn with the back of the petals rosy salmon, 
with the blooms large and substantial. For a beautiful clear yellow 
Miss Falconer would be difficult to equal. The habit of the plant is 
fine, and the flowers, which are of good size, are borne in profusion. 
Amongst the deep salmon shades Sir J. D. Hooker is perhaps one 
of the finrst. The blooms are of great size and extraordinary sub¬ 
stance, and show above the foliage in an admirable manner. Lord 
Llangattock, which received an award of merit at the Temple Show, is 
one of the richest crimsons, with flowers of excellent shape and immense 
size. For a Begonia suitable for culture in a basket I can conceive 
nothing better than Miss E. Wynne, the flowers of which are pure 
white, and droop in an exceedingly graceful and fascinating manner. 
One of the prettiest is Mrs. Cornwallis West, the colour of which is 
most uncommon, and can only be described as a soft yellow shaded with 
apricot, the centre petals being of a delicate cream shade edged with 
pink. Octavia is a beautiful variety with pure white flowers borne with 
astonishing freedom. Though the blooms are small in comparison with 
many others, this is a variety which should be included in every 
collection. Madame la Baronne de St. Didier has a very large flowers 
of a soft yellow colour, and is one of the most striking varieties in the 
collection. Flamingo, as is implied by the name, is a brilliant scarlet 
coloured variety. The flowers are plentiful, of good shape, and the 
habit of the plant is perfect. CannelTs Gem is the freest flowering 
variety in the whole collection, and will be most popular when it 
becomes known. The habit is good, and the bright scarlet flowers very 
erect. Throughout the collection it is noticeable what a preponderance 
of varieties there are which carry their blooms perfectly erect instead 
of hanging over, as was the case with almost all but a very short 
while ago. 
From amongst the singles it is even more difficult to make a selec¬ 
tion, the flowers on the m.ajority of the plants being large, substantial, 
and of good shape. Mrs. John Thorpe was, however, one of the very 
finest and most effective, the ground colour being white, and having an 
edging of what can only be termed a reddish lake. The plant is most 
floriferous and the habit excellent, the flowers standing boldly above 
the healthy leafage. Miss Agnes Stewart is a variety with immense 
flowers, colour being soft yellow clearly edged with pink. One of the 
most prominent is Mrs. W. H. Forster, the brilliant red flowers of which 
have a pure white centre. The massive shapely flowers of Colonel Kidd, 
of a deep red shade, are very attractive; as also is Mr. Packe, which 
has soft rosy red flowers, flushed and shaded light rose. It is one of the 
most distinct colours I have yet seen, either amongst Tuberous Begonias 
or any other flowers. The orange-buff flowers of W. Marshall are 
singularly beautiful. This is a colour which should be increased, as it 
will most assuredly be most popular. One of the brightest flowers 
is Earl Grosvenor, orange-scarlet, with blooms of great size and sub¬ 
stance. There were many other varieties equally well worthy of 
mention, but time, the inexorable, would not allow me to take notes 
of more, much as I should have liked to do so.— NOMAD. 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S FOUR 
DAYS’ SHOW. 
The remarks of “A Fruit Grower and Exhibitor” anent this 
subject, on page 480 of the Journal of Horticulture for June 15th, seem 
to me to be both forcible and opportune. Judging from my experience 
of exhibiting I am convinced that many would-be exhibitors will 
be prevented competing at the Show in question if the produce 
staged in the fruit classes has to remain four days before removal. 
Many employers who grow fruit largely would strongly object to having 
their finest specimens encased in the thick coating of dust which would 
result from so lengthy a sojourn in a crowded room or tent ; and, more¬ 
over, such a practice is calculated to bring shows into disrepute, for 
some of the finest dishes frequently look the reverse of inviting at the 
end of a two-days show. This seems to be the opinion of some of the 
leading judges at the metropolitan shows, who look with extreme dis¬ 
favour upon any produce exhibited which is not perfectly fresh, and I 
have frequently seen them leave unplaced dishes of fruit only 
because they had been staged at another show a day or two previously, 
although they were superior in other points to the winning dishes. 
Granting this is the right course to pursue, does it not conclusively 
prove that a four-days show is a step in the wrong direction ? 
Another point to'be considered is the expense attending so long an 
absence from home. In the case of those at a considerable distance from 
