July 27, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
75 
five or six months. From seed sown in January some plants a foot in 
height and loaded with flowers are to be observed here, but to ensure 
spring and early summer blooming a sowing may be made in August, 
and the seedlings grown steadily during the winter. A selection of 
these is being made, and the result is of a most satisfactory nature. 
Crimson Gem is one of the best, and quite an acquisition, the flowers 
being of a bright crimson shade. For bedding purposes as well as pot 
culture these Begonias are exceedingly useful, and in the open air the 
foliage assumes a bronzy metallic hue, which enhances their appearance. 
At the Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society last year these 
Begonias were bedded out, and certificates awarded for several varieties ; 
whilst at Reading this year they are most effective in the open air. 
Duchess of York is a new variety with rosy pink flowers, as also is 
Floral Gem. Snowflake is a charming white, and Duchess of Edinburgh 
is a beautiful form, with large white blossoms suffused with pink. It 
may be noted with advantage that these Begonias are robust, yet dwarf 
and well proportioned in habit, and will bloom long after the tuberous 
varieties are over ; indeed if properly managed they will flower nearly 
all the year. The individual flowers, too, are twice as large as those of 
•the ordinary semperflorens type, and are produced in great abundance. 
There is undoubtedly a future in store for these beautiful plants. 
Achimenes also form a special feature at Reading, and several houses 
are devoted to their culture. For years experiments have been made 
and improvements effected by careful and patient fertilisation, and now 
the plants are perfect in habit, robust, and profuse in flowering. A 
great diversity of colours hag also been obtained. Sutton’s Blue is a 
good representative of one type, the flowers being of an intense shade. 
Rosy Queen is a splendid variety, especially attractive under artificial 
light. Splendens is a magnificent scarlet, a decided improvement on 
Dazzler. Harry Williams is a distinct variety and rather late in flower¬ 
ing, which renders it all the more valuable ; and in Admiration we have 
a beautiful rosy purple flower. The whites are also specially good, the 
same applying to other varieties. Gloxinias raised from seed sown a 
few months ago are making a grand show, the plants being vigorous, 
■carrying splendid foliage and flowers of great size and substance. The 
spotted kinds are charmingly coloured, and by a series of crosses an 
improvement in the habit of the plants has been effected, the foliage 
being more robust than was formerly the case. Of named varieties 
such as Her Majesty, Duke of York, Sutton’s Scarlet and Purple are too 
well known to need a lengthy reference here, these having been ex¬ 
hibited at many leading exhibitions recently. A yellow Torenia deserves 
apecial mention, and the sight of a number of plants of Cyperus alterni- 
folius raised from seed would interest many horticulturists. 
Regarding the flowers in the open air the Asters first claim atten¬ 
tion. Here we find a strain of the finest quality, and comprising 
flowers of the most charming colours. Many of the plants, however, 
will be at their best in about three weeks, but those who require an early 
flowering variety should grow Harbinger. This is a splendid Aster, grow¬ 
ing 18 inches in height, and producing an enormous number of pure white 
flowers about a month before any other. The blooms of the variety 
Comet in various shades much resemble Japanese Chrysanthemums, 
and are general favourites for cutting, whilst for garden decoration 
Sutton’s Bedding, Snowball, and Fire King are deserving of mention. 
The new dwarf Gannas raised from seeds sown this spring are blooming 
profusely in the open air, and for producing a grand effect in the flower 
garden these plants are indispensable. They should be grown in every 
garden. Carnations are particularly good, although, generally speak¬ 
ing, the season has been extraordinarily short, and it is satisfactory to 
observe that whilst layers and established plants have, owing to the 
prolonged drought, failed, the seedlings are flowering abundantly. The 
plants are vigorous in growth, forming dense tufts, and bear hundreds of 
richly coloured double flowers. The same may be said of the Picotees, 
which make a charming show. Stocks are everything that could be 
desired, showing a remarkable per-centage of double flowers, as also 
do the Petunias, which are wonderfully fine. A large breadth of 
seedling Hollyhocks afford ample evidence that considerable attention 
has been paid to the selection of Sutton’s prize strain. The plants 
are dwarfer than is usual, being about 4 feet in height, doubtless owing 
to the dry weather, but the flowers are as double and as fine as those 
of the best named varieties. It is surprising how beautiful these Holly¬ 
hocks are when treated as annuals. Bedding Lobelias from seed are 
compact in habit and profuse in flowering, a vast improvement on the 
straggling seedlings of bygone days. The blue, white, and pink varieties 
are equally good, forming a strain which should be found in every 
garden. A specialty is also made of the trailing Lobelias in various 
colours, these being eminently adapted for vases and hanging baskets. 
lAt the trial grounds the huge beds of annuals produce a brilliant 
display of colour. It is impossible to enumerate all the plants worthy 
of notice, but special mention may be made of a few exceptionally fine 
varieties. In this category we may place Crimson King Virginian Stock, 
a decided improvement on the type, and an excellent edging plant or for 
growing in beds. The double white Clarkias are extremely useful, and 
among Nasturtiums Aurora deserves special notice. This is a most 
beautiful flower of a primrose shade suffused with pink and carmine. 
Cloth of Gold, a yellow-leaved variety, is effective in a mass, and would 
make an excellent bedding plant. Of Calendulas Orange King is a 
grand double variety, and the French Marigold Miniature Spotted is 
very showy. Godetias in variety form pleasing masses of colour. Lady¬ 
bird being a very dwarf form with white flowers spotted crimson. 
Apple Blossom is an exceedingly pretty Godetia with dense heads of 
white and pink flowers, and a dwarf form of Ladv Albemarle is esne- 
cially good. The last named variety is well adapted for bedding, the 
same remark applying to a selection of Duchess of Albany which has 
large pure white flowers. The Lupins appear to be flowering well this 
year, the various colours, comprising different shade of blue, lilac, white 
and yellow being most effective. Portulacas also form a pleasing feature, 
as likewise do the Poppies of numerous kinds. Great care is taken to 
keep the popular Shirley Poppy rich and varied in colouring, all 
“rogues” being promptly removed. Numerous other annuals, in¬ 
cluding the beautiful Nemesia Strumosa Siittoni, also receive attention; 
every possible effort to produce seed of the very best quality being 
made, and thus the reputation of the firm for excellence is fully 
maintained.—C. 
The Weather ih London. —During the past week the weather 
has been changeable in the metropolis. Sunday opened fine but gusty, 
and rain fell heavily during the evening. Monday was showery and 
Tuesday proved fine, but it rained slightly on Wednesday morning. AC 
the time of going to press it is fine. 
- Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens. — In the 
Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick a very large 
collection of herbaceous Phloxes is now in full flower, and contains 
many beautiful varieties. Tuberous and hybrid Begonias grown in 
beds in the open are now coming into bloom. Violas, of which there is 
a very large collection, have done remarkably well, and are still laden 
with flowers, A house devoted to Fuchsias now presents a charming 
appearance. Cannas grown under glass form an interesting feature, and 
are doing well and very attractive. The Grapes in the conservatory 
and other houses are bearing, as usual, heavy crops of good fruit. 
Tomatoes are grown extensively, and commencing to ripen outdoors. 
All the best varieties are grown, and afford a good opportunity for 
observation to those interested in their culture, 
- Dr. Cooke. —According to the “ Kew Bulletin ” Dr. Cooke, 
the well-known authority in mycology, has retired at the age of sixty- 
five from the public service. Dr. Cooke came to Kew when tlu 
collections, of which he has charge, were transferred from the Indian 
Museum to that establishment in 1880. It is gratifying to note that in 
recognition of his services the Secretary of State for India has made 
a small addition to Dr. Cooke’s pension. Dr. Cooke has been succeeded 
at the Kew Herbarium by Mr. G. Massee, whose work on “ British Fungi 
Flora ” was reviewed in our last issue. 
- Floral Designs at Shrewsbury. —In consequence of the 
very early season for Carnations, and the certainty that there could be 
but little competition at Shrewsbury Show, August 23rd and 24th, the 
Committee have determined to withdraw the liberal prizes offered 
for collections, and instead to give £5 and a gold medal for the best 
display of floral arrangements in a space 10 feet by 4 feet, with 
second and third prizes added. The various objects to be exhibited 
in this class are left to the discretion of the exhibitor. 
- An Exhibition op Narcissi in Birmingham. —The 
Council of the Birmingham Botanical Society has decided to hold an 
Exhibition of Narcissi in their Gardens at Edgbaston on Wednesday 
and Thursday, April 18th and 19th, 1894. An Exhibition was arranged 
to be held in April last, but the early season caused the Narcissi generally 
to be out of flower before the date fixed for the Exhibition, so that 
a good representative Exhibition did not take place; but it gave the 
Council every encouragement to hold another Exhibition next April. 
- A Fine Gloxinia.—“A. J. N.” writes—“At the monthly 
meeting of the Chichester and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society, June 2Gth, an extraordinary Gloxinia of Messrs. Sutton'.s 
strain was exhibited by Mr. W. Aylward, gardener to G. Woodbridge, 
Esq., Chichester. A first-class cultural certificate was awarded for the 
same. The plant was raised from seed two years ago, and carried fifty - 
four fully expanded flowers, which were of a good average size, aul 
there were several buds to open. It was grown in a 7-inch pot, and was 
32 inches in diameter. The leaves were from 9 to 14 inches long, and 
averaged 7 inches wide, and were of a bright and healthy colour. I 
saw in the conservatory of the gardens managed by Mr. W. Aylwa i 
several Gloxinias similar to the one mentioned,” 
