172 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 24, 18&3. 
- American Horticultural Journalism. —Oar excellent trans¬ 
atlantic contemporary, The American Florist, keeps in the front rank of 
horticultural journalism “ on the other side.” Special issues are the order 
of the day, the “ Convention and Columbian Souvenir ” number being the 
latest achievement in this direction. This number is replete with illus¬ 
trations, for besides some charming views of the horticultural exhibits 
at the Chicago Exhibition, no less than 41G portraits of horticulturists 
are given. 
- “Iggulden’s Antirrhinum.” —For a mass of pure white 
flowers for bedding I know of nothing to equal Iggulden’s Antirrhinum, 
It has been in bloom the whole of the season, and appears likely to 
continue all the summer. It is important to keep the spikes of 
seed-pods cut off, not minding the sacrifice of two or three flowers and 
buds at the top ; indeed, the plants are more even and compact after 
this operation, as a number of shorter spikes are ready to open their 
numerous flowers. I believe the variety is fairly well “ fixed,” so a 
stock may be raised from seed. I prefer, however, to insert cuttings in 
the autumn, wintering them in a cold frame, or, in other words, treat 
them like Calceolarias.—T. S. 
- Allamanda Williamsi.—A s an exhibition plant, this recent 
introduction of Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son must shortly take a high 
position. Darker in foliage and stem than most varieties at present 
in cultivation, a grand habit, and flowers stout in texture of a pleasing 
medium shade of ochre, it is particularly acceptable, not only for exhi¬ 
bition, but to supply cut blooms for decorative work. The plant is of 
upright growth, and in some instances stakes are not even required for 
support. Strong shoots taken with a heel early in the season, and grown 
in 4-inch pots, make pretty little plants for grouping. As showing its 
fioriferousness, I saw, a few days ago, a plant, 9 inches in height, grown 
to a single stem, and only in a 3-inch pot, which had a perfect head of 
growth bearing nine fully developed flowers.—R. P, R. 
- Hardy Flowers at Eynsford. —Those who are interested 
in hardy flowers would find that a day spent on Messrs. H. Cannell 
and Sons’ seed farms at Eynsford highly enjoyable. Visitors are 
received and treated with the utmost courtesy, and a sight will be 
shown that is not, at any rate by Londoners like myself, to be seen 
every day. Here will be found large beds of the fragrant Alyssum 
maritimum, the gaudy Antirrhinum, and the more lowly, though not 
by any means less beautiful, Viola. Thousands of Asters are throwing 
up good sized flowers which present a very charming appearance, the 
colours being massed in a tasteful style. The soil on which these plants 
are growing is of a very light chalky nature, nevert’neless they are doing 
admirably, and this after a dry season, is proof of the skill and 
unremitting attention to which Mr. Robert Cannell subjects them.—H. 
- Blandford Horticultural Society. —In brilliant weather 
the above Society held its first annual Show on Thursday, the 17th inst., 
in the beautiful grounds of Bryanstone Park, the seat of the Right Hon. 
Viscount Portman, K.G-., and the Society is to be congratulated on the 
success it attained. Mr. Allsopp secured the premier award with a very 
fine group tastefully arranged. Mr. Perkins, Milton Abbey, also ex¬ 
hibited a grand group of plants. Sir W. Marriott (gardener, Mr. Denny) 
sent a splendid group of stove and greenhouse plants, including some 
Orchids, amongst which was the chaste Catasetum Bungerothi (not for 
competition). Fruit was well shown in all classes, the principal prize- 
takers being Messrs. Martin, Allsopp, Perkins, Elsworth. Vegetables 
were well shown, Mr. Allsopp again winning the first prize. Amateurs 
and cottagers came out remarkably well, their exhibits being very fine. 
Mr. Pritchard of Christchurch showed a collection of herbaceous plants 
in flower, which added greatly to the beauty of the Show.— Visitor. 
- The Wakefield Paxton Society. —At the recent meeting 
of this Society, Mr. H. Gill of Leeds, son of Mr. Gill, one of the Vice- 
Presidents, read an extremely interesting and practical paper on “ The 
Tulip.” The author this year carried off first prize in the Maiden 
Growers’ class at the Manchester Show of the Royal National Tulip 
Society, and also came in second for the silver medal in the open class. 
In his paper, Mr. H. Gill observed that as it was not the season for 
Tulips he could not illustrate his remarks by specimens, still as this 
was the time for those who intended to begin the cultivation of this 
beautiful flower, perhaps he could give them a few hints which would 
be valuable. He then dealt with the raising of seedlings, the prepara¬ 
tion of the becjs, and traced the steps necessary to secure success in 
the development of the bulbs, noticing the practice followed by the 
principal growers, and the points he had found of special importance 
i n his own experience. 
-The Introduction of Foreign Plants.—“ Garden and 
Forest ” sums up a column of comments and quotations on and from some 
recent articles in “ Garden Flora ” as follows : —It would be difficult to 
compute with accuracy the total number of foreign plants now grown 
in northern Europe, every year adding, of course, largely to the 
enormous total. But to give some idea of what this total now may be 
we may quote Professor Rraus’s statement that, v,rhile some 1500 
flowering plants are believed to be natives of England, Sweet’s “ Hortus 
Britannicus” names as growing there in 1830 some 32,000 species. 
This means that even sixty-three years ago, before the prolific labours 
of the last two generations of explorers and importers, more than twenty- 
two plants had been introduced by man into England for one with 
which Nature had there supplied him. 
- Montbretia crocosm^flora flore-pleno. —The above 
named new plant, figured in your last issue, was raised and sent out by 
the well-known Freneh hybridist. Monsieur Victor Lemoine of Nancy, 
from whom I received it towards end of last year. The first two 
flowers which opened on my plant were quite single, but those which 
expanded afterwards had all a double row of petals, so that the flowers 
can only be considered as semi-double, an additional proof of which is 
that several of them are now setting seed, which a fully double flower 
would hardly do. The flowers are very short-lived, each of them 
remaining open not more than a day and a half, so that those at the 
bottom of the spray usually closed before those at the top commenced 
to expand. This plant is interesting more as the first of a new race 
with double flowers than from its own individual merits, and considering 
what really fine and beautiful things Mens. Lemoine has already given 
us in this family, he may reasonably be expected to produce in the 
near future much better and more fully double flowers than those of the 
plant now under notice.—W. E. Gumbleton. 
- Grapes and Tomatoes at Swanley. —It would doubtless 
astonish many people, as it did me, to see the Vines growing at Mr. 
Ladds’ nurseries, from which Grapes are sent to the yarious markets 
for ten months in the year. House after house had been cleared of 
Black Hamburgh, and at the time of my visit Mr. Ladds was about to 
commence cutting Black Alicantes, than which I have never seen a 
finer crop. The bunches were of good size, and the finish of the berries 
left little to be desired. In one house, 600 feet long by about 18 feet 
wide, it was estimated that between 4 and 5 tons of Grapes were 
hanging. There were six houses of this size, all stocked v^ith the same 
variety, and coming in in succession. No bunches are removed from 
the Vines, they been made to carry all they produce, and, despite the 
tax this must put upon their energies, good health meets the eye in 
every direction. One span-roofed structure, 700 feet long, is planted 
with Gros Colman, and the weight of Grapes must be enormous. The 
berries and bunches are of good size and finish, and the canes are 
cropped from within 18 inches or 2 feet of the border, right up to the 
ridge. This house alone is worth a visit to see, but it would not be all 
that Mr. Ladds, jun., could show. Tomatoes may be seen by the 
thousand, planted out in the borders of long low span-roofed structures. 
Roses, too, are cut here by the thousand every week, and this during 
the whole of the year.— Nomad. 
- Knighton Horticultural Show.— The second annual Show 
was held in the grounds of R. Toller, Esq., Clarendon Park, August 17th, 
and as regards the exhibits must be considered a success. Vegetables 
in the amateurs’ and cottagers’ classes were excellent, and plants and 
cut flowers were also very creditable. There were a number of special 
prizes, which were very keenly contested, given by tradesmen. But 
perhaps the special prizes given by some of the members of the 
Committee are most worthy of emulation. They were confined to the 
children of the schools in the neighbourhood for bouquets and baskets of 
wild flowers to be arranged in the presence of the Committee, also for 
window plants grown by themselves, Mr. Wm. Bell, the Hon. Secretary 
of the Leicester Chrysanthemum Society, has taken great interest in 
thsse classes. He visited the schools at intervals during the summer 
and instructed the children in plant growing, and has thus instilled in 
the minds of the children a love for gardening, which we hope may 
be a pleasure and profit to them in after years. All these classes 
were very keenly contested by the children, and some of the exhibits 
were meritorious. Five groups (not for competition) were tastefully 
arranged down the centre of one large tent. Each group differed in 
character from the others, but none were crowded. Mr. G. Lawson, 
gardener to Mrs. G. H. Ellis, Knighton Hayes, brought his specimen 
Ferns, which were very much admired. The children in the special 
classes mentioned above brought 160 exhibits. 
