April 27, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
885 
diatinct varietiea, Mr. Douglas was first with grand plants, and Mr. 
R. Dean second. 
The Guildford Hardy Plant Nursery, Mill Mead, Guildford, was 
awarded the first prize in this class for twelve Primulas, showing amongst 
others P. intermedia, P. rosea var, grandiflora, P. ciliata, and japonica 
alba and P. formosa. 
In the class for seedlings of the Show section Mr. Sanders was 
awarded the first prize for a grand variety named Engineer, a very dark 
self of rich velvety colour with a white paste. This variety will be an 
acquisition. In the class for Alpine seedlings with white centre, Mr. 
Chas. Turner was first with Winifred, Mr. Walker being second for an 
Alpine seedling with a gold centre. Mr. Turner was again first for a 
plant with a white centre, showing Fred Knighton. 
The premier Auricula in the Show was a plant of Shirley Hibberd 
(green edge), exhibited by the Rev. F. D. Horner. It had a grand truss 
of eleven flowers. 
Mr. Douglas was awarded the first prize for a charming group of 
Primulas and Auriculas, some very fine plants of each comprising the 
exhibit. Mr. R. Dean staged a number of hardy Primroses in pots, and 
Mr. Douglas two baispers of Primroses. 
The Weather in London. — The past week has again been 
characterised by bright sunny weather. During the day the heat has 
been abnormal, whilst the nights were quite warm. At the time of 
going to press there is no appearance of a change. Crops are greatly 
in need of rain. 
- Weather in the North. —The rain on the afternoon and 
evening of the 18th was followed by three exceptionally fine days, 
during which vegetation made great progress. A cold N.E. wind has 
generally prevailed for the last three days, causing the evenings to be 
chilly, although the days have been bright and fine throughout.— 
B. D., (S'. Perthshire. 
- Early Roses. — Mr. G. Fulford, The Gardens, Trafalgar, 
Salisbury, sends us Roses gathered in the open air—namely, Marechal 
Niel, Lady M. Fitzwilliam, Alba Rosea, Niphetos, Catherine Mermet^ 
and Madame Willermoz. They are very good. 
- Royal National Tulip Society.—W e are informed that 
the next Exhibition of the Royal National Tulip Society will be held at 
the Botanical Gardens, Manchester, on May 23rd. Entries may be 
made up to May 15th. 
- The Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—T he annual dinner 
of the supporters of the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund was held last 
night (Wednesday) at St. James’ Hall, Regent Street, W. Baron 
Ferdinand de Rothschild, M.P., occupied the chair, and he was sup¬ 
ported by a large and influential company. The chief speakers besides 
the Chairman were Sir John Llewelyn, Bart., Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., N. N. Sherwood and Arnold-Forster, Bsqs. As these pages were 
passing through the Press at the time the dinner was taking place a 
full report must be deferred till our next issue. 
- Pear Prospects.—W e hear from various sources that though 
Apple blossom is setting well, that of Pears is leaving little or no fruit 
behind it. The flowers expanded freely, but sharp frosts occurring at 
the time destroyed the essential organs, and as a consequence there will 
be many fruitless trees, from which good crops of Pears were expected. 
At the same time we hear of full sets of Pears on wall trees, protected 
by glass coping or other form of shelter. We hope, however, that the 
failure of the Pear crop will not be general on unprotected trees. 
Perhaps correspondents will favour with observations on the subject of 
the promise of fruit. 
- Miss Ormerod's First Home.—A slight error occurred in 
the citation on page 311 last week. The birthplace of this lady was 
not Chepstow Park, Sudbury, but Sedbury Park, Chepstow. Her father’s 
property extended about a mile along the Wye and a mile along the 
Severn, the land between forming an unique hunting ground for the 
ardent naturalist. 
- Cumberland Magistracy. —We observe in the list of new 
County Magistrates for Cumberland the name of Mr. James Watt (Little 
and Ballantine), nurseryman, Carlisle, who has for several years been 
a Justice of the Peace for the city of Carlisle. 
- Mr. Dodwell writes from Stanley Road, Oxford :—“ Will 
you kindly allow me in your column for personalia, on behalf of 
my wife and myself, to return our most grateful thanks to our many 
friends for their congratulations and gracious sympathy on the occasion 
of our golden wedding ? Very devoutly we thank them and thank God 
for this pleasant sunlight of our evening days, and we hope we shall 
be permitted to have the joy of personally tendering our thanks to a 
large company on August 1st (will they kindly note the date ?) the 
day appointed for our annual Carnation feast.” 
- A Fine Adiantum Farleyense. —A grand specimen of this 
Fern is at the present time growing in the garden of C. H. Gatty, Esq., 
the owner of Felbridge Place, East Grinstead. This plant, under the 
care of the gardener, Mr. Jupp, has developed during the past three 
years into one of the finest and healthiest to be found in England. It 
is fully 8 feet in diameter, faultless in colour and symmetry of form, 
the fronds overlapping each other in that graceful and enchanting style 
so well known in this variety. There are many noteworthy specimens 
at Felbridge Place, especially Conifers. I hops to see these fully 
described in the Journal shortly.—F. D. 
- Christmas Roses and Liquid Manure. —Those who are 
not in the habit of drenching thoroughly several times during the grow¬ 
ing season of these plants with liquid manure I would advise them to 
lose no time, but to try its effect on Hellebores. I make a practice of 
supplying a fair quantity to the roots, out of doors, at a time when the 
crops of new leaves are being made, but this year 1 have given more 
owing to the weather being especially hot and dry for the last month. 
The extra luxuriant growth as compared to former years is a sufficient 
proof that the treatment is correct, as I have found out the crop of 
blossoms is regulated very much by the amount of growth made.— 
E. M. 
- Lilium Harrisii. —“W. S.” observes:—“Some of the best 
plants of this popular Lily came under my notice recently that I ever 
remember witnessing in small pots before in the gardens at Heywood, 
Lord Justice Lopes’ residence near Westbury, Wilts. At the time of my 
visit they stood about 5 feet in height, the stems exceedingly massive 
and the foliage large and healthy, although only occupying 7-iach pots. 
From seven to ten bloom buds were showing in the crown of each, 
which in flower will be very striking and useful conservatory plants. 
They are growing in a turfy mixture of soil, and obtain assistance from 
Thomson’s Vine manure, which Mr. Robinson, the gardener, holds in 
very high favour as a plant food. That their cultural attention has 
been of the best is reflected in the condition of the plants in every 
detail, and not only does this apply to the plants under notice but in 
everything cultivated under glass.” 
- Strawberries, among other things, remarks the same cor¬ 
respondent, call for especial mention, and this will be more perfectly 
understood when it is said that the majority of the fruits of President— 
a favourite midseason sort at Heywood—weighs an ounce and upwards 
each. The fruits when set are reduced to nine on each pot, choosing of 
course those best placed and perfectly set. Sufficient plants are grown 
to maintain a constant supply from early in March till they are ready 
for gathering outdoors. 
- A New Industry in Perth. — On Monday we had the 
opportunity of inspecting a new and quite a novel industry in the 
neighbourhood of Perth, already being conducted on a large scale, and 
which promises further development. It owes its origin to the enter¬ 
prise of Mr. A. L. Rupe, Sunnybank, who, in November last, leased the 
market garden at Pitheavlis Orchard, Cherrybank. In addition to the 
ordinary market gardening business, he conceived the idea, owing to the 
large demand for Mushrooms, of cultivating this esculent fungus upon a 
large scale. Although Mr. Rupe only took possession in November last, 
he has already about 700 yards of Mushroom beds laid down, half of 
which is now in full bearing. For a short time early on Monday 
morning we watched the operation of picking, and were astonished to 
find that 1J cwt. was speedily ready to be packed for Manchester alone, 
in time to catch the midday train, the most of them being fine, fleshy 
specimens. Mr. Rupe is under contract to maintain a regular supply all 
the year io\xnA, —{Perthshire Constitutional.') 
