August 18, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
147 
- Monarda DIDYMA.— This hardy plant is at Rede Hall truly 
beautiful. It grows in big clumps about the borders, flowering profusely, 
end giving large masses of bloom of a rich crimson scarlet hue. This 
is an indispensable adjunct to hardy plant borders, and seems to like 
stiff soil. It is sometimes known as the Oswego Tea plant.—A. D. 
- Children Poisoned by Laburnum Seeds. —We have more 
than once pointed out the danger of Laburnum seeds to children and 
animals. It is reported that while a number of pauper children were 
proceeding from school to the Sunderland workhouse they commenced 
to pick seeds from Laburnum trees, and a quantity were eaten. Several 
children became ill, four of the girls being in a state of complete 
collapse, and twenty others had to undergo medical treatment. We 
believe the whole of them are recovering. 
-A Lay Sermon on Flowers. — A morning paper notes a 
somewhat new departure at Ipswich. Dr. Taylor, the well-known 
editor of “ Hardwicke’s Science Gossip,” a layman, preached a sermon in 
•one of the churches. It is true he did not venture into the pulpit, but 
be put on a surplice and discoursed on flowers. To the average man it 
must appear a very sensible arrangement to choose for the preacher of 
what is known as a flower sermon one who is remarkably well 
acquainted with the subject he is dealing with. 
- Fine Canon Hall Muscat Grapes.— Grand examples of 
this most excellent Grape may be seen at Shipley Hall, Derbyshire. 
Since these unique gardens have been under the management of Mr. 
Elphinstone the public has been treated to many examples of high- 
class Grape culture, and I am glad to learn that Mr. Elphinstone 
intends sending some of the above rare specimens to the forthcoming 
International Fruit Show, to be held at Earl’s Court on the 26th and 
27th inat., where they will not improbably be one of the chief attrac¬ 
tions.—J. L. 
- Denby Flower Show.— The annual Exhibition of the Denby 
Floral and Horticultural Society was held on the Cricket Ground, 
Denby, on Saturday. The day was fine, and the attendance of visitors 
large. The exhibits were divided into two principal classes—viz., those 
residing within the parish, and those who were practical gardeners 
residing within four miles of Denby. These was also a farmers’ class, 
and one for Day and Sunday School children. The special prize list 
included industrial work, which is a feature peculiar to this Show. 
Although we cannot find space for particulars, we are pleased to record 
the success of the Show. 
- Olearia Haasti. —Introduced by Messrs. Veitch of Exeter 
in 1858, this hardy New Zealand shrub deserves to be kept under notice. 
It forms bushy specimens ; the leaves are deep dark green and shiny, each 
about three-quarters of an inch long. Though at first sight it would not 
appear so, this shrub belongs to the large natural order Composite, 
sub-order Asteroidere. The flower heads are numerous and corymbose, 
the heads have two to five ray flowers, the ligules being a quarter of an 
inch long, and white. 0. Haasti is found in the province of Canterbury, 
N.Z., growing at an elevation of 4000 to 5000 feet, and varies slightly 
in habit according to the situation it grows in, being dwarfer and darker 
in colder than in sheltered positions.—C, K. 
- The Great Fruit Show at Earl’s Court.—T here is 
every promise of a very fine show of fruit at Earl’s Court on August 
26th and 27th. Intending exhibitors who have not sent in their entries 
should do so at once. The prizes are excellent. In the first of the 
forty-six classes prizes of £12, £9, £6, and £4 are offered for a 
collection of fruit not less than twenty dishes. In this collection 
four varieties of Grapes (two white, two black—two bunches of each 
variety), two Pines, two Melons, two dishes of Peaches, two of 
Nectarines, and two of Plums are required ; the remainder to be 
distinct. In the second, £8, £6, £4, and £3 are offered for twelve 
dishes, and prizes of equal value are offered for ten varieties of Grapes, 
two bunches of each. There are eleven classes for Grapes altogether, 
two for Pine Apples, two for Figs, six for Peaches and Nectarines 
(grown and ripened out of doors), five for Plums, nine for Apples (the 
first five for outdoor fruit), four for Pears (two for outdoor fruit), and 
four for Tomatoes, In connection with the Show a social gathering of 
the gardeners of the United Kingdom will be held on the afternoon of 
the 26th, followed by a dinner in the exhibition building, which, with 
liquid refreshments included, will be provided at 4s. a head. As only a 
limited number can be accommodated, the tickets will be issued according 
to priority of application. Dinner at 5 p.m. 
- Beckenham Flower Show. —Favoured with genial sun¬ 
shine and the most temperate of breezes, the annual Show of the 
Beckenham gardeners and amateur horticulturists was recently held in 
the Croydon Recreation Ground. The extensive ground in which the 
Show marquees were placed enhanced to a great degree the eclat of the 
day, and the musical attractions went far to make the affair a highly 
enjoyable garden party and ffite. The judging was finished about two 
o’clock, at which hour the hon. member for the Sevenoaks Division 
declared the Show open. The exhibits were disposed in three com¬ 
modious marquees. 
- Chilham Flower Show. —The fourteenth annual Show of the 
Chilham Gardeners’ Society was held in Chilham Castle grounds, kindly 
lent by C. S. Hardy, Esq., on Thursday week in beautiful weather. 
There was a large number present, and the band of the 3rd and 4th 
battalions of the Buffs was in attendance. The show of fruit, flowers, 
and vegetables was an excellent one throughout. A large number of 
Palms, Ferns, Cockscombs, Begonias, Caladiums, Pandanus, and several 
other foliage plants were sent by Mr. W. Douglas, gardener to 
C. S. Hardy, Esq., and these occupied half of one side. Mr. P. H. 
Pierce, of St. Dunstan’s, Canterbury, also sent a good number of plants. 
- Leigh Flower Show. —The annual Flower Show held at 
Leigh, near Uttoxeter, took place on Thursday, and was well attended 
by visitors. The exhibits showed considerable improvement upon 
previous years, and there was an excellent competition for the special 
awards for butter. The piizes were distributed on the lawn in front of 
Leigh Rectory, the residence of the Ven. Archdeacon of Stoke, by Mrs. 
Morton Philips. At the same time Mr. J. W. Philips, on behalf of the 
parishioners, presented Mr. Marlowe, late station master at Le : gh, with 
a cheque for twenty guineas. Very opportunely, a lecture was given 
by Mr. Robert Cock, the County Council Instructor, in cottage 
gardening. 
- The Weather Last Month.—J uly was very changeable and 
showery up to the 20th but finer afterwards. We had only seven bright 
days, one of which was partly clear. The wind was in a northerly 
direction nineteen days. The temperature varied very much, and we 
had gales on the 7th and 19th. The barometer was highest on the 24t.h at 
9 a.m. = 30-40, lowest 29'50 at 10 p.m. on the 19th. Total rainfall2 30ins., 
which fell on twelve days, the greatest daily fall being 0'87 inch on the 
16th. Highest shade temperature 84° on the 3rd, lowest 42° on the 
1st, 18th, 19th, and 21st ; lowest on grass 40° on the 1st, 19th, and 21st. 
Mean of daily maximum 66 29°, mean of daily minimum 48-87°, mean 
temperature of the month 57 38°. The garden spring ran 20 gallons per 
minute on the 31st.—W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens, Stamford. 
- Sharpe’s Queen Pea. — This very fine, straight green- 
podded Pea bids fair to oust the Duke of Albany from its high place as the 
leading show Pea. I do not think that any judge at a flower show on 
comparing the two varieties would hesitate for one moment in making 
an award in favour of the former if the samples were good. The pods 
of the Queen are flatfish, never puffed or hollow, they open very freely 
and are found to contain ten or eleven good sized, very green peas ( 
sweet and of good flavour. Very large peas are as objectionable as are 
puffy pods. I have seen several dishes of this new Pea during the 
season, and find no difficulty in giving to it the highest awards. I was 
pleased to see that the best of the very fine Peas which Messrs. Sutton 
and Sons sent to the Drill Hall last week, New Marrowfat and Per¬ 
fection, were of the Queen type, and in that respect should make first- 
rate market as well as exhibition sorts.—A. D. 
- Floral Fete at Crewe —Mrs. Cotton-Jodrell, wife of 
Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, M.P., opened the annual floral fete and musical 
festival in the Borough Recreation Grounds, Crewe, on Saturday. The 
weather was fine, and there was an enormous attendance from all parts of 
Cheshire. The exhibition was one of the best ever held, and Mrs. Cotton- 
Jodrell, who was accompanied by a party of friends, warmly praised the 
collections. Lord Crewe sent a magnificent lot of plants not for com¬ 
petition. Among the leading prizetakers in the gentlemen’s classes 
were the Duke of Sutherland, Mr. Bromley-Davonport, M.P., Mrs, 
Bennett (Shrewbridge Hall), Mr. W. H. Verdin (Darnhall Hall), Mr. 
Worthington, and others. A special feature of the Show was the exhi¬ 
bition of plants grown in the cabins of signalmen up and down the 
L. and N.W. Railway. Some of these were magnificent specimens, and 
covered with flowers. The show was the most successful yet held. 
During the afternoon the Blue Hungarian Band gave selections of 
