456 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 8, 1893. 
shaking the eorms out of the soil in which the plants were grown. He 
considers many roots are broken, or so damaged by that practice, that 
the most fibrous are of little use to the plants. By shifting into larger 
pots without removing the old soil the roots are preserved intact. A 
plant flowering last season in a 48-size pot will this year be shifted into a 
T-icch one. The compost employed consists of two parts loam, one of 
decayed leaves, and one of peat, a quart of bonemeal and a handful of 
soot being added to every bushel of compost. Some of the largest plants 
were still in the pots in which they flowered last year. Their appearance 
demonstrates that Mr. Hunt has made no mistake in the method of 
culture he has adopted with such marked success.—E. Molyneux, 
Events of the Week. —As previously announced, a Rose Show 
will be held at the Gardening and Forestry Exhibition, Earl’s Court, on 
June 14th and 1.5th. On the 14th inst. also the grand Yorkshire Gala 
will open at York, continuing the two following days. 
- The Weather in London. —Bright and sunny weather has 
fs-r the most part again prevailed during the past week. Slight showers 
fell on Saturday evening, and on Tuesday night there was a refreshing 
rain. As we are preparing for press it is bright and warm. 
- The Royal Horticultural Society intends holding a 
Show at Chiswick Gardens on July 11th. Prizes to the amount of 
nearly £150 are offered, besides two silver cups. There will also be a 
great Show at the Agricultural Hall on August 29th, 30th, 31st, and 
September 1st, at which over £460 is offered in prizes, as well as medals 
and cups. Schedules of either Show can be obtained from the Secretary, 
B.H.S. Offices, 117, Victoria Street, S.W. 
- National Carnation Society (Southern Section).— 
At a Committee meeting held at the Hotel Windsor on June 3rd it was 
unanimously agreed that, owing to the exceptionally early season, the 
date of the Exhibition which was to have been held in the Drill Hall, 
James Street-, Westminster, on July 25th, under the auspices of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, should be altered to July 11th, and that 
the Exhibition be held in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society 
at Chiswick on that date.— Jas. Douglas, Hon. Sec. 
—- Nationa& Amateur Gardeners’ Association. —At the 
monthly meeting of this Association, held at the Memorial Hall, 
Farringdon Street, E.C., on Tuesday, June Gth, under the presidency 
of Mr. T. W. Sanders, an admirable lecture on “Fertilisation” was 
given by Mr. W. Cuthbertson. There was a very large audience, who 
appreciated the lecturer’s remarks. Mr. Cuthbertson dealt with his 
subject in an able manner, and by the aid of well-executed diagrams 
expressed himself clearly on many technicalities. A hearty vote of 
thanks was accorded the lecturer. Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, sent 
3 large collection of Violas and Pansies, and Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham, 
some charming Pelargoniums. 
- N.vtional Chrysanthemum Society.—T he annual outing 
of the members will take place on Monday, July 17th, Lord Carrington 
having given his permission for a visit being made to the grounds of 
Wycombe Abbey, High Wycombe. Among the arrangements for the 
day will be a match of cricket with the members of the Aylesbury 
Floral and Horticultural Society, who will be accompanied by a number 
of friends from that town. Arrangements will also be made for visiting 
Hughenden Manor, and for inspecting one of the large chair-making 
CBtablisliments in the town and other places of local interest. 
-Sutton's Ringleader Potato.— Mr. E. Molyneux, Swanmore 
Gardens, writes To further test this early Potato, of which I had 
previously formed a high opinion, on March Gth I planted several rows 
an a south border somewhat exposed to easterly winds. At the same 
time I planted an equal number of Sharpe’s Victor. The tubers of 
both sorts were well sprouted. The former was ready to dig May 20tb^ 
and the latter one week l^ter. In point of size and cooking qualities 
Ringleader in my opinion was in advance of the Victor. I may say 
that the soil here is not of the best kind for the growth of early 
Potatoes, being rather too heavy. Last year our first digging of 
Ringleader from the same site was June 3rd, planted April 4th. 
- Gardening Appointment. —Mr. Thos. Lowton, gardener for 
the past four years to the late Mrs. Carter, of Ospringe House, Faver- 
sham, has been re-engaged by the present owner, A. J. Gillott, Esq. 
- A Gold Medallist. —The gold medal of the Linnacan Society 
has this year been awarded to Professor Daniel Oliver of Kew, to whom 
it was presented at the anniversary meeting of the Society held at 
Burlington House on the 24th ult. 
- Strawberries in London. — English Strawberries from 
early localities are now selling freely in the streets of London at about 
4d. per lb. As a rule the fruit is much below the average in size, 
doubtless owing to the prolonged drought. 
- The Inner Temple Gardens. —It is stated that, by per¬ 
mission of the Treasurer and Benchers, the Inner Temple Gardens will 
be opened to the public from to-day (Thursday) until the end of 
August, between the hours of six and nine o’clock in the evening. 
- Frost in June. —A Wood Green correspondent writes :—“It 
may interest your readers to know that in this district a frost occurred 
early in the morning of June 1st. Vegetable Marrows, Scarlet Runner 
Beans, and Potatoes were much injured in some allotments in the 
neighbourhood.” 
- Early Cherries. —We are informed that Mr. Peter Cornwall 
of Bredgar, Kent, commenced gathering Cherries on the 26th ult. The 
variety was Adams’ Crown, which usually ripens early in July. It 
would be interesting to hear of other instances of “ record breaking ’ as 
regards the earliness of fruit-picking. 
_ Pea May Queen. —On March Gth I sowed seed of this new 
wrinkled Marrowfat Pea along with English Wonder on a south border, 
and gathered the first pods from the former May 22nd, and from the 
latter on the 27th. May Queen is, without doubt, an excellent early 
variety, growing 2J feet high, and bears an abundant crop of well- 
flavoured peas. It is much in advance of William I., or any of that 
type, in point of flavour.—E. Molyneux. 
_ Pansy Bella Duncan. —Mr. Michael Cuthbertson, Public 
Park Nursery, Rothesay, sends us blooms of his new Fancy Pansy Bella 
Duncan. It is a beautiful variety, the flowers being exceptionally large 
and of great substance. The blooms are characterised by large, rich 
purple blotches, the side and lower petals being evenly edged with 
white. The top petal is also similarly blotched with a deeper white 
margin. It is said to be very dwarf in habit, free flowering and robust, 
well suited for exhibition or bedding. 
_ Pollination of Tomatoes.—A “ Constant Reader,” on 
page 41G, gives the result of a microscopic examination of the stigmas 
of Tomato flowers after the ordinary and American methods of dis¬ 
tributing the pollen was resorted to, and finds no appreciable differ¬ 
ence in favour of either plan. He will confer a great favour by 
repeating the experiment next autumn or early in the winter, this 
being when a good set is less easily effected, and when the American 
method I described on page 350 should prove its superiority over merely 
tapping the stems.—W. Iggulden. 
- Packing Scions. —The question (page 393) relating to the 
packing of scions prompts me to say that I have had small stools of 
Chrysanthemums sent to me from New Zealand, arriving in good con¬ 
dition. As the Editor remarks, oiled silk is excellent material for the outer 
covering. In my case the roots were wrapped in damp moss and enclosed 
tightly in oiled silk. After travelling all that distance I was enabled to 
get the plants to grow without any trouble w'hatever. If this method 
is successful with roots of Chrysanthemums it surely would be with 
scions of fruit trees.—E. Molyneux. 
- Early Gem Carrot. —Captain F. Daubeny writes :—Mr. 
Dunkin mentions this variety on page 435. My own experience is that 
it is the earlier and the better in comparison with Early Nantes. This 
year I sowed Early Gem in a frame on February 8th. Owing to the 
season being so warm the lights were removed on March 8th, and never 
afterwards put on, night or day. All the crop has been pulled, and an 
excellent one in every respect. I grew Early Nantes by the side of Early 
Gem in frames in 1891. Since then I have grown only Early Gem for 
first supply of Carrots, and my experience has told me it is the best, as 
James’ Intermediate is for main crop. Another of Sutton’s early vege¬ 
tables deserves mentioning, it is Cauliflower Magnum Bonum. Sown 
this year on February 1st, I commenced cutting on June 2nd, and this 
is in some respects a bad season for Caulifloweis. 
