October 26, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
877 
-Michaelmas Daisies.—A s with the border devoted entirely 
to these plants at Chiswick we planted one here with them last autumn, 
and undoubtedly this ii the correct manner to cultivate and appreciate 
them at the same time. Owing to the extremely dry weather 
experienced this summer some of the plants made but moderate 
progress, especially the larger flowered sorts ; these do not appear to 
be able to withstand drought so well as the small flowering kinds, of 
which Elegans is an example. Next year we hope for a good display. 
The roots will by then have become thoroughly established. In addition 
to those named by “ C.” (page 349) the following varieties of the 
A. novae-belgi type are worthy of a place in any collection—versicolor 
densus, lilac ; formosissimus, deep blue, free and good. Snowflake is 
especially worthy a place, the pure white blooms are useful in a cut 
state. Chapmani, pale blue, of loose growth, yet free flowering and 
good. Elegans, deep lilac, small flowers, wonderfully profuse in its 
blossoms. Ericoides is one of the best of the late-flowered kinds with 
pure white flowers, the foliage of this assumes quite a coppery hue, 
which enhances the beauty of the variety. The best of all, in my 
opinion, is A. ericoides elegans, pure white and wonderfully free, 
dwarf in growth. A. alpinus, 1 foot high, is a gem for the rockery. 
—E. M. 
- Plant Industries in the Caucasus. — The following 
interesting particulars respecting the wine industry carried on in the 
Caucasus are taken from the report of the Statistician of the United 
States Department of Agriculture for June, 1893 :—Of highest importance 
for the present and the future of the country is wine growing. The 
production does not only suffice for home consumption, but supplies to a 
large extent the wants of Russia, and besides, furnishes a considerable 
quantity for export. The efforts of Russia for the advancement of this 
branch of rural industry are praiseworthy. Under Ottoman rule viti¬ 
culture could not flourish, as its object was confined to the production 
of table Grapes, and thus it remained on a level with the culture of 
other fruits. A changed political situation, introduction of new customs, 
and the effectual assistance of the Russian Government, have shown the 
rural population a rich source of income in wine growing. Prince 
Michael Waronzow, the Governor of Caucasia, procured in the year 1848 
120,000 Vines from his own vineyards in the Crimea and from the most 
celebrated vineyards of Europe, in order to distribute them among the 
inhabitants of sections adapted to viticulture. Not all of them did well; 
the varieties have been crossed ; but a beginning had been made, an 
impulse given, and this profitable branch of rural industry has developed 
gradually to its present flourishing condition. There are still a few 
drawbacks, otherwise the results of this industry would have been 
enormous. There is, above all, the Phylloxera, which has made consider¬ 
able progress during the last few years. The war upon this plague is 
waged only on the large estates of rich landowners, while the majority 
of small vineyards is open to the disease. The damage is largest in the 
governments of Tiflis and Elizabethpol. In Erivan the winter frosts 
damage the Vines materially. The vineyards of the Caucasus cover an 
area of 86,000 desatines (232,174 acres), and their annual production is 
estimated at 13.000,000 vedros (42,237,000 gallons). The average price 
of Caucasian wine is generally about 25 cents per gallon, and goes up to 
30 cents only in years of crop failure. Notwithstanding the fact that a 
desatine of land adapted to viticulture costs 1000 roubles (182 dollars 
per acre), this industry proves to be highly profitable, as the net profit 
averages from 380 to 400 roubles per desatine (70 dollars to 75 dollars 
per acre). 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
October 24th. 
There was a very fine display at the Drill Hall on this occasion, 
the building being well filled. Orchids were exceptionally well repre¬ 
sented, as were Dahlias and Chrysanthemums. Fruit and vegetables 
were also exhibited in excellent condition. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: Philip Crowley, Esq. (in the chair), 
with Rev. W. Wilks, Dr. Hogg, and Messrs. H. F. Pearson, T. F. Rivers, 
Arthur W. Sutton, Harrison Weir, G. W, Cummins, J. Cheal, G. Bun- 
yard, G. Woodward, W. Warren, J. Hudson, G, Sage, J, Smith, 
G. Norman, H. Balderson, A. Dean, J. Wright, and others whose names 
were not obtained, 
Mr. J. Perkins, The Gardens, Thornham Hall, Eye, sent a seedling 
Melon Thornham Hero, apparently a scarlet-fleshed Hero of Lockinge. 
The season being too late for judging Melons satisfactorily, the Com¬ 
mittee desired that this promising variety be sent in the summer. Mr. 
Owen Thomas sent a seedling Melon Frogmore Late, white fleshed, 
sweet, and very juicy. The fruit had passed its best condition, though 
the rind was firm, and no award was made. Mr. A, G. White, Bow 
Hill, near Maidstone, sent a dish of his seedling Apple Bow Hill 
Pippin, fine fruits, resembling a Blenheim, but with a deep yellow 
ground, and a little of the character of King of the Pippins ; an Apple 
of promise, and an award of merit was adjudged. Mr. R. Weller, 
Glenstal Gardens, Murroe, Co. Limerick, sent a very good dish of 
Ribston Pippin Apples, and a vote of thanks was accorded. Mr. G. Paul 
sent a seedling Apple Captain Sandars, raised from Dumelow’s Seedling, 
fruits large but soft, incipient decay having set in with some of them. 
No award. Mr. W. Crump sent dishes of a local Herefordshire Apple of 
the Codlin character, with the red flush of Hollandbury, known as 
“ Captain Tom.” Though good, it was not considered better than exist¬ 
ing varieties. 
Mr. G. R. Allis, Old Warden Gardens, Biggleswade, sent small 
bunches of ripe Gros Colman Grapes, grown against an open wall 
without protection, also a dish of ripe Tomatoes from self-sown seed, 
as indicative of the tropical character of the summer (vote of thanks.) 
Mr. John Basham, Fair Oak Gardens, Bassaleg, Monmouth, sent 
specimens of large green curled Savoy and a dwarf early Ctbbage. 
Though good samples they were not considered sufficiently distinct to 
merit an award. Mr. Barron sent from Chiswick splendidly blanched 
samples of the white Batavian Endive, the true compact form; also 
samples of Vilmorin’s Queen of Winter, taller, but not better, and a 
cultural commendation was accorded. 
Extensive displays of produce, both fruit and vegetables, were 
arranged on the side tables. A considerable number of Apples were 
sent by the Government of Nova Scotia, and though some of the fruits 
were fine, and the whole bright and tender-looking, as if grown under 
glass, yet many were small and affected with fungus. The samples, as 
a whole, were not by any means equal to those exhibited by Mr. J. H. 
Goodacre as grown at Elvaston in Derbyshire—a feather in the good 
gardener’s cap, who has now defeated a government. His collection 
comprised about eighty dishes of Apples, some of them very fine indeed, 
and nearly all highly coloured, several appearing as if polished arti¬ 
ficially. There were also about sixty dishes of excellent Pears, and a 
silver-gilt Banksian medal was recommended. A similar honour was 
granted for a remarkably fine display of forty-eight bunches of Alicante 
and Gros Colman Grapes, and about sixty dishes of Apples and Pears, 
staged by Mr. S. Mortimer, Rowledge, Farnham, Messrs. T. Rivers and 
Son exhibited several dishes of magnificent Pears, and very fine Apples 
of leading varieties, and a silver Banksian medal was unanimously 
recommended. 
An extraordinary display of Onions was made by Mr. H. Deverill, 
Banbury, in all the leading exhibition varieties that are associated with 
the name of the exhibitor. There must have been about a ton of bulbs, 
several of them of gigantic proportions, and weighing 2 lbs. to 3 lbs. each. 
They afforded striking evidence of what can be accomplished by high 
culture and well selected stocks. A silver-gilt Knightian medal was 
recommended for this remarkable collection. 
Not less imposing, more varied, and altogether excellent was an 
exhibit of produce by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, which extended 
along one side of the Hall. The collection included an imposing pile of 
Sutton’s Early Gem Carrot, fine well coloured clean roots all of the 
same size; plants of the Arctic Green and the Arctic Purple Kale, 
dwarf, sturdy, and hardy looking, and we are told they are as hardy as 
they look ; wonderfully fine Sutton’s Autumn Giant Cauliflower, some 
of immense size, yet several as close and white as could be desired; 
superb heads of Sutton’s Magnum Bonum Cauliflower, not so large as 
the preceding but of the first quality ; thick fleshy green pods of the 
Prizewinner Runner Bean with slate-coloured dark mottled seeds to 
show the distinctness of the variety; a pile of Sutton’s Snowball 
Turnips, models of their kind ; also a highly meritorious collection of 
Onions of the varieties so clearly described on page 362 last week. Very 
large, clean symmetrical bulbs were shown as grown for exhibition ; 
also not less shapely samples produced under ordinary culture and 
selected for planting for seed production. For this extensive display 
a silver-gilt Knightian medal was unanimously recommended. 
Floral Committee. —Present: W. Marshall, Esq. (in the chairj; 
the Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain, Messrs. J. Laing, R. Owen, H. Herbst, 
R. Dean, H. B. May, G. Stevens, R. B. Lowe, C. F, Bause, J. Jennings, 
C. J. Salter, J. D. Pawle, \V. Bain, W. Furze, T. Baines, C. E. Pearson, 
W. H. Williams, J. Walker, J. T. Bennett Poe, H. Cannell, C. E. Shea 
and G. Paul. 
A grand collection of Chrysanthemums was arranged by Messrs, 
Jas. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, amongst the best of which were Col, W. B. 
Smith, Beauty of Exmouth, Mrs. Falconer Jameson, Bouquet des Dames, 
Viviand Morel, Louis Boehmer, and Miss Anna Hartzhorn (silver Flora 
medal). Mr. Jennings, gardener to L. de Rothschild, Esq., Ascot, sent a 
basket of grandly flowered plants of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine (first- 
class certificate). Mr. C. Holden, 61, Warwick Road, Ealing, showed a 
large plant of Chrysanthemum Soeur Mdlanie, upon which there were 
said to be 2000 buds and blooms (bronze Banksian medal). A fine col¬ 
lection of Crotons was exhibited by Messrs. B. S, Williams & Son, 
Upper Holloway, amongst which Warreni, Queen Victoria, Williamsi, 
mutabilis, and Princess of Wales were noticeable (silver Flora medal). 
Mr. Bain, gardener to Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, 
Dorking, showed blooms of Anthuriums, including Laingi, Leodense, 
Andreanum sanguineum, Lindeni flora carmine (flrst-claos certificate), 
Andreanum, and two white seedlings. Pentstemon antirrhoides was 
also staged by the same exhibitor. Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Lowfield 
