102 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 4, 1892. 
merits have been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society, and the 
verdict will be confirmed by all who grow such crops as may now be 
seen in the open field, and not rich soil at Bromley. In rich garden soil 
the plants might attain a height of 18 inches, and the rows would well 
deserve a few short supporting stakes. 
- Epergne Decorations. —Not the least interesting features 
of many summer exhibitions are the epergne decorations, very often 
confined to ladies—not only with any kind of garden flowers, but wild 
flowers and grasses. Here is an opportunity for displaying much taste 
in the arrangement, and this is generally embraced. What I have noticed, 
however, and wish here to give effect to, is the encroachment some 
competitors make on the schedule regulations by extending the decora¬ 
tion beyond the epergne itself, laying flowers and foliage on the cloth for 
fully 6 inches around, making the epergne certainly much more massive 
in its appearance. At the same time (unknowingly perhaps) such com¬ 
petitors lay themselves open to disqualification, because this form of 
arrangement is not confined to the regulation epergne. It would be 
well for competitors in the future to pay attention to this point. It 
may save the judges an unpleasant duty and themselves some mortifica¬ 
tion, for it cannot be denied that it is easier to make a more imposing 
arrangement by the addition than without it.—E. Molyneux. 
- Nitrogen for Grass. —From some experiments with 
nitrogenous fertilisers on pasture fields made at the Storrs School 
Experiment Station in Connecticut, it appears that fertilisers containing 
potash or phosphoric acid alone are less effective for Grass than if they 
have some available nitrogen in addition. The Grasses, such as Timothy* 
Red Top, and the like, must be classed as “ nitrogen consumers,” while 
Clover and the legumes are now called “ nitrogen gatherers,” since it 
seems to be accepted that in some way they gather nitrogen from the 
air. It would seem desirable, therefore, that fertilisers for pastures, 
grass lands, and lawns should contain a considerable quantity of 
nitrogen in a readily available form. Such fertilisers not only increase 
the total yield of grass, but they also increase the percentage of protein 
in the crop. Since it is protein that makes blood, bone, muscle, and 
milk, and as this is the most important and costly ingredient in food, 
and apt also to be deficient in feeding stuffs, the increase of this sub¬ 
stance is a matter worthy of consideration, and a strong additional 
argument for the use of nitrogenous fertilisers. 
-- The Nonnen Moth. —The current number of the “ Kew 
Bulletin contains a note on the Nonnen moth, which for a long time 
past has been taxing the resources of the forest conservators in various 
parts of the Continent. For two centuries this insect (Liparis Monacha) 
has been known to attack forest trees in Bavaria, but in 1890 the 
damage was estimated to amount to nearly £40,000. As the Bavarian 
woods are important public and private properties strenuous efforts are 
being made to check the pest. Already close on £100,000 have been 
incurred in the campaign against it. In 1890, 60,000 caterpillars were 
counted on one tree stem alone, and once a Fir tree is stripped bare it 
never grows again. The principal means taken to combat the enemv is 
painting rings of lime on the trunks, for it is found that though the cater¬ 
pillars pass most of their time in the upper branches they either fall or 
crawl to the ground on warm days and return at night. The rings 
prevent the ascent, with the result that some 70 per cent, of them can 
be killed. In time, therefore, it is believed that the plague may be 
practically exterminated. 
Dwarf Bedding Lobelias. —By far the best pure white 
form of these pretty ornaments of our summer garden of the many tried 
by me is undoubtedly the one named Reine Blanche, which I had 
some two or three years ago from its raiser, whose name I unfortunately 
have quite forgotten. It is of most excellently compact habit of growth, 
and produces freely large well opened flowers of the purest shade of 
white. Some strong plants of it that I lifted from the open ground at 
the end of last bedding season not only bloomed during the whole winter 
and spring in the cool greenhouse, but are still covered with flowers, and 
are really quite a curiosity. A very beautiful and extremely useful 
deep blue flowered variety of an excellently compact and upright 
habit of growth is Die Schone Darmstadterin, raised by Herr W. Pfitzer, 
Stuttgard, from whom I received it direct. Some years ago a variety 
purporting to have red flowers was sent out under the name of Omen, 
but it was soon discarded. This year Messrs. Carter have sent out 
Formosa, which is a great improvement in depth and brilliancy of 
colour, but it does not come quite true from seed, one of my plants 
being pale and dull. Its habit of growth is unfortunately rather 
straggling. From Messrs. Ryder of Sale I have also received a variety 
named Novelty not yet bloomed.— Boscobel. 
- An Effective Group of Plants.— At the Winchester Show 
Mr. E. Hillier, nurseryman of that city, arranged a group of plants 
the whole width of the hall in front of the stage, which was so uniqsie 
that a special note of it will not be out of the way. As a rule groups of 
miscellaneous plants are so stereotyped in their disposal that any change 
is always welcome. The plants employed on this occasion were of the 
usual order, with a few exceptions; but instead of “ dotting ” them 
here and there each genus was kept by itself, forming masses of one 
kind of plant only. The hall is probably 80 feet wide, the width of 
the group being about 6 feet. Standing singly at the back, the whole 
length of the group, were well-grown Palms 6 feet high. A groundwork 
of Maidenhair Fern was made, from which were arranged groups of a 
dark-coloured Clematis in small pots ; next to them was another group 
of well-flowered plants of Lilium Harrisi ; then came a patch of 
Tuberous Begonias, Zonal Pelargoniums, small well-flowered Tea Roses 
in pots, &c. Not the least striking was a number of well-grown plants 
of Acer atro-purpurea, the dark foliage of which contrasted excellently 
with the bright surroundings of colour and the green base of Ferns. 
The group was edged with small plants, as Lobelias, Panicums, &c., and 
reflected credit on Mr. E. Hillier, jun., for the tasteful manner in which 
the arrangement was made.—E. M. 
- Exhibiting Vegetables at Shows.—F rom a purely 
picturesque aspect I think the common practice of showing collections 
of vegetables in deep unsightly round baskets to be very objectionable. 
No doubt it is a convenient method for exhibitors, because they can 
arrange their exhibits at home, and carry them in the baskets to the 
show with, so far, comparative ease. I observed the other day in a large 
tent at Highgate, devoted to cottagers’ produce, that nearly all the side 
tabling was occupied with baskets of this kind, some very large ones* 
and there were about forty in all, if not more. Now generally the 
vegetables were excellent, but the baskets were very unsightly ; still 
farther because placed in these baskets they were rather crowded, and 
would have presented a far more pleasing appearance if more fully 
displayed. Flat wooden trays are certainly more preferable, especially 
if for particular classes, made all of one size, as flower boxes are for 
exhibition purposes. These trays may be of about 3 inches inside 
depth and be painted green; for collections of four vegetables be 
20 inches by 24, and for six dishes rather larger. In the case of collec¬ 
tions of nine or twelve dishes the trays might be in pairs, so as to render 
the making of very large ones unnecessary. At Highgate practically 
one half the table area was unoccupied because the products were too 
crowded in the baskets, and as these were of the ordinary brown osier, 
and fully 10 inches deep, they were none too handsome. Proper flat 
trays would fill the tables entirely, and make a far more pleasing display. 
It is a pity that what are termed unlimited collections of garden pro¬ 
duce should be invited from cottagers, for gardens are unduly stripped 
to furnish the required bulk. Committees of exhibitions should not 
form classes of that kind, but all should be so far within due bounds 
that no encouragement is given to waste simply for the purpose of 
taking prizes.—A. D. 
HARDY FLOWERS FOR DECORATION. 
Hardy flowers, both in a cut state and growing also, are destined in 
the future to take a prominent position in the decoration of English 
homes. It is not in a cut state that I wish to draw attention to their 
value, however, but in a growing condition in pots as employed in the 
formation of groups. At the Southampton Show, held the first week in 
August, two or three years since, Mr. Ladhams competed in the class 
for a miscellaneous group of plants. His group was with but few excep¬ 
tions almost entirely composed of hardy herbaceous plants, which he 
grows so well, and although he did not obtain a higher position in the 
prize list than third (which was owing to the wording of the schedule 
favouring plants of more monetary value) his group was the centre of 
attraction by a flower-loving public. Such plants as Lobelia cardinalis, 
L. fulgens, Campanula persicifolia and its white form, also the double 
variety ; and the blue and white forms of C. pyramidalis can be most 
effectively employed. Hyacinthus candicans, various Lilies, Spiraeas, 
Delphiniums, Liatris, Lychnis, Doronicums, Carnations, Pinks, and 
Chrysanthemum maximum are similarly useful. In fact, these are but 
a few of the many plants which might be made use of for this purpose. 
The point to observe is not to grow them in too large clumps. Choose 
strong crowns of each kind and confine them to somewhat small pots as 
a matter of convenience in arranging them. In associating hardy 
with hothouse plants a thick base of Maidenhair Fern gives la 
better effect, as many carry but a small quantity of their own foliage. 
This addition to the green base is all in favour of judicious grouping. 
Wbat could be more effective in a group than well-grown examples of 
Francoa ramosa ? and this (commonly called Bridal Wreath) is a hardy 
plant. Take, again, Lilium auratum, always admired. Canterbury 
Bells of colours not too bright; for instance, soft rose or pale pink, 
