May 31, 1994. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
433 
done wherever they are growing in sheltered positions, and as we are 
continually receiving sharp lessons as to the fickleness of our climate it 
is a risky proceeding to attempt to produce early crops largely in the 
open quarters, unless, as previously pointed out, some means of affording 
protection is kept in readiness. 
Early Strawberry plants, on which much of the fruit was set, have 
not been seriously injured ; but later ones, which were in full flower 
when the frost came, are in a bad way. Even Peas in some situations 
are severely crippled. The amount of injury done to plants and crops 
generally has been regulated to a great extent by the exact condition 
of their growth ; where this was in a very young state the re-ult has 
been disastrous. In some places we have shrubberies and beds edged 
with Ivy ; there the young shoots have been killed outright, whereas 
that growing on walls, which had made its growth earlier and was there 
more solidified, shows no sign of injury, even where the aspect is an 
eastern one. Apples have suffered seriously, as although the fruit was 
set, it was in so young a state as to be unable to resist the intense cold. 
Plums, as far as I am able to judge at present, have not been greatly 
injured, neither have Peaches or Nectarines. 
Turning to Koses, I find that those pruned at the latest date have 
suffered the most, on account of the tender state of the growths. Our 
earliest pruned Tea Koses, which are growing in front of a wall only 
3 feet in height, are now affording beautiful blooms daily, and I have 
not been able to discover a single leaf or bud to which injury has been 
done by frost; this is doubtless due to the fact that the growth being 
made during the bright warm weather experienced early in the season, 
is sturdy and firm, and I think proves the unwisdom of keeping to hard 
and fast rules as to the exact dates for pruning Roses. The weather 
experienced each season, and the probability of its continuance for a 
few weeks from the time of pruning, are matters upon which sound 
judgment may prove of immense service. I have frequently noticed 
that it is by no means a general rule for the earliest pruned plants to 
suffer the most, but those whose growths happen to be in a very young 
state when frosts prevail, which they generally do during May. Provided 
therefore that we have favourable weather during March, I think our 
aim should be to prune early enough to have the growths as firm as 
possible by the treacherous month of May. 
In the flower garden, too, many a sharp lesson has been taught to 
those who are unduly anxious to place bedding plants in their summer 
quarters. Owners of small gardens are, as a rule, the most venturesome 
in this respect. Their experience this year has been dearly bought, for 
it is indeed sad to see the blighted aspect of many a wayside villa 
garden. Even when the plants have not been killed outright the check 
and disfigurement received will cause them to be very late in making a 
good display. In this respect they will be far outstripped by plants 
which have yet to be planted. It seems a pity that these things should 
happen, but it is no new lesson which we are learning, only an old one 
pressed upon us again with striking force, and to my mind, as far as 
bedding plants are concerned, no one ought to have been misled into 
early planting this year, seeing how persistently the wind kept to the 
north and north-east during the greater part of May. It is only during 
exceptional seasons like that of 1893 that we are justified to bedding 
out such tender plants as Pelargoniums before the last week in May or 
the first in June, unless the beds are protected during uncertain 
weather. 
Disasters have their beneficial tendencies as well as successes, and 
the temporary reverses experienced in many quarters this year will 
doubtless have the effect of stimulating in us those great qualities of 
cool judgment and persistent perseverance which have won fame and 
honour to the British race throughout her vast empire.—H. Dunkin. 
SYRINGING MALMAISON CARNATIONS. 
I HAVE been reading with much interest the letters that have 
appeared lately in your columns on this subject, and I hope to see the 
matter well discussed, for, as Mr. Dunkin (page 382) truly says, by that 
means we shall gain the best information as to the treatment of this 
favourite plant. It is not so much those growers who have houses 
specially constructed for and containing nothing else but Carnations, 
but those who have only a few specimens and have to grow them in 
houses with many other different plants find them difficult to cultivate 
and are glad to have the matter fully discussed. 
Doubtless, as Mr. Hamilton (page 367) says, there are many persons 
who have grown them well without syringing, but I consider his state¬ 
ment rather too sweeping when he remarks that all those who syringe 
will quickly lose their plants, and will be taking them to the stokehole. 
I read Mr. Dunkin’s first letter on the matter. I have not it by me now, 
but if I remember rightly he advised the syringing principally between 
the pots and on the stages where dry, and on the foliage on fine days, 
with less water at the roots than was usually given, keeping the plants 
well up to the glass with free ventilation; I took particular notice 
of it at the time, for my plants were not doing as I wished, and were 
badly attacked with the fungus, so much so that I did not expect we 
should have a hloom, and I was thinking of throwing them all away. 
My employer is particularly fond of these Carnations, especially after 
seeing the fine collection of a large grower for the trade. Previously I 
had been timid of syringing, but since reading Mr. Dunkin’s letter 1 
have done so on all favourable occasions, and no one would believe mat 
the plants are the same ; they are now looking the picture of health, 
with six or eight bloom spikes on each plant. 
They are all last year’s layers, and I am in hopes now of being able 
to keep down the dreaded fungus. Still, my case might not be the same 
as many others, and 1 hope to see the matter now that it has started 
well threshed out, and all information possible gathered.—R. C. W. 
Crosswood, Aberystioith . _ 
Staying in the neighbourhood of Burton I thought I would have a 
look at the “ Malmaiion ” Carnations I had heard so much about lately 
at Byrkley and Rangemore. I must confess they are very good indeed, 
those at Rangemore being magnificent, especially the plants layered 
last August twelve months. I counted as many as ten blooms on 
a plant, from those fully expanded 6 inches across to buds as large 
as bantam eggs. The plants were clothed with dark green foliage to 
the rim of the pot. Two more houses were filled with younger plants, 
layered last July. These were showing buds as large as Filberts, and in 
some instances were flowering from the side growths. Mr. Bennett, the 
gardener, was unfortunately ill, so I missed any little information I 
might have gained from seeing him.—R. D. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
May 30th. 
A MORE beautiful show has never perhaps been held under the 
auspices of the Royal Botanic Society than that which took place 
yesterday (Wednesday) in the gardens at Regent’s Park. The exhibits 
were not quite so numerous as we have seen them on such occasions, but 
so far as quality was concerned no one could be disappointed. The 
same remark applies to the arrangement of the plants. Here we find a 
departure from the stereotyped methods. Long, formal rows of tabling 
crowded with plants and flowers are conspicuous by their absence, the 
exhibits being arranged in artistic semicircular, or rather irregular, 
groups on plots and banks of turf divided by winding gravel walks. 
It would be well were this system more generally adopted by managers 
of flower shows. Unfortunately, a heavy thunder shower early in the 
afternoon somewhat marred the proceedings, and doubtless prevented 
many persons visiting what must be termed one of the best metropolitan 
floral exhibitions of the year. 
As we have said, the plants shown were of excellent quality. Roses 
were particularly fine, the same applying to Azaleas and trained plants 
generally. For twelve stove and greenhouse plants Mr. J. F. Mould, 
Pewsey, Wilts, was placed first, the specimens being very fine. They 
comprised a well grown Anthurium Scherzianum, Hedaroma tulipifera 
(finely flowered). Erica Cavendishi, and Azalea Jean Vervaene. Mr. A. 
Offer, gardener to John Warren, Esq., Handcross Park, Crawley, was 
second with much smaller but profusely flowered plants. The best of 
these included a beautiful Ixora Colei, Clerodendron Balfourianum, 
and Statice Gilbert!. Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, West Norwood, 
was awarded the third prize. 
Messrs. W. Heath & Son, Royal Exotic Nursery, Cheltenham, secured 
the leading prize for six stove and greenhouse plants in flower. Among 
these were a good specimen of Ixora Williamsi and an excellent 
plant of Erica eximea. Mr. J. F. Mould was second with neat plants 
of Erica Cavendishi, Ixora Williamsi, Azalea Heinrich Heine, and 
Aphelexis macrantha rosea. In the class for six flowering specimen 
plants, open to amateurs, Mr. Offer was again first, showing Anthurium 
Scherzeranium, Boronia elatior, Hedaroma tulipifera, and Erica Caven¬ 
dishi. Mr. H. Eason, gardener to B. Noakes, Esq., Hope Cottage, 
Highgate, was second with less bulky plants. These, however, were 
profusely flowered, especially Azalea Reine des Blanc and Clerodendron 
Balfourianum. 
The ornamental foliage plants were well represented, some fine 
specimens coming from various exhibitors. Mr. Offer staged the best 
half a dozen plants, these including Dieffenbachia magnifies. Crotons 
Queen Victoria and angustifolius.Cy cas revoluta,and a magnificent Phoenix 
reclinata. In the nurserymen’s class for fine-foliage plants, Mr. H. 
James, West Norwood, was first with smaller plants than those shown 
by Mr. Offer. Mr. J. F. Mould was a close second. Variegated leaved 
plants were unusually fine, the best half dozen in the open class coming 
from Mr. Offer. There were Nephthytis picturata, Maranta Makoyana, 
Crotons Wiesmanni, and Sunset, Dieffenbachia magnifica, and Alocasia 
macroriza variegata. Mr. H. James was adjudged a second place, his 
contribution including a well grown Pandanus Veitchi. Mr. H. Eason 
was third with much smaller plants. 
There were three competitors in the class for six Cape Heaths, the 
first being Mr. H. James. The plants shown by this exhibitor were 
very finely flowered, especially Erica Cavendishi and E. ventricosa 
coccinea. Mr. Mould was second with neatly trained plants, Mr. Offer 
coming in third. In both the latter cases the specimens shown we];e 
remarkable for the large number of flowers they carried. 
Azaleas were exhibited in splendid condition. Mr. H. Eason was 
placed first in the open class for twelve specimens, showing profusely 
bloomed plants. Amongst others were Azalea Flag of Truce, Duchesse 
Adelaide de Nassau, and Reine des Fleurs. Mr. C. Turner, Royal 
Nurseries, Slough, was awarded the second prize for smaller but well 
trained and fine flowered plants. Particularly good amongst these were 
Reine des Pays Bas, Dr. D. Weigel, and Madame Van Houtte. Mr. R. 
Scott, gardener to Miss Foster, The Holmes, Regent’s Park, was awarded 
the first prize for six greenhouse Azaleas, showing well bloomed plants. 
