June 14,1894, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
469 
Plants generally cultivated appear to imbibe moisture by their 
leaves from the atmosphere, both in a gaseous form and when it is 
condensed upon the foliage. We see this frequently when leaves 
are wilted ; they become erect and heavier when the atmosphere 
is in a proper condition, although no water is applied to the roots. 
On the other hand, plants take up much water by the roots, which 
is apparent when we give them a “ drink ” before planting, the 
water is diminished, and the plants are heavier. For many years 
I have practised allowing plants to wilt, then put them in water 
till they are revived. This plan is better than saturating and 
cooling the soil, and are adapted to stand drought afterwards, and 
consequently thrive better. 
While plants take up water readily in the above and other 
formSj it must be admitted that the roots of plants feed readily 
upon evaporated moisture arrested in its escape from the earth by 
intervening matter likely to hold condensed moisture, as drinking 
troughs. We see rootlets clasping solids in the earth, I believe for 
no other purpose than for water condensed on them. 
On the above principle I have long been of the opinion that 
vinery and orchard house borders should be specially constructed 
so as to assist Nature ; with less heat above ground and more 
beneath, thus economising fuel, better results would accrue. My 
plan is to erect the vinery on a proper site, to allow a deep drain 
to take away all stagnant water. Above that, at intervals of 
3 feet, I place aerating pipes communicating with the air at both 
ends, then one or more steam pipes near the bottom running the 
whole length of the border, which, by the way, should be free from 
surface water flowing on to it. At the lower end there should be a 
cement tank, so placed as to collect all water which passes through 
the border, but nothing more, that water to be used for applying 
to the border, as it contains soluble ingredients necessary for plant 
life. A pigeon-holed wall built round the border underneath the 
soil will nearly complete my ideal Vine border.—W. T. 
IVY-LEAF PELARGONIUMS. 
A WONDERFUL improvement has been effected in these charming 
flowers during the last fdw years, and they have now become such 
general favourites that but little need be said in their praise. They 
continue to bloom freely throughout the whole of the spring and summer 
months, and the display produced by them in the greenhouse or con¬ 
servatory will amply repay for the necessary care and attention 
bestowed upon their cultivation. In addition to their good qualities 
before mentioned, I think this section of Pelargoniums owes its increasing 
popularity in a very large extent to the ready manner in which it 
adapts itself to the variety of positions in which it may be grown. For 
draping wall and pillars, training over balloon trellises, or cultivating 
in hanging baskets they are invaluable. They are also equally useful for 
planting in window boxes, terrace vases, or, indeed, any other position 
fancy may suggest. It is very essential that they should derive as much 
benefit from the sun as possible, for if placed in too shady a place it is 
next to impossible to obtain that firm short-jointed growth so necessary 
to induce the plants to flower freely, and in the absence of which it is, 
practically speaking, useless to expect satisfactory results. 
In this article, however, I wish more particularly to direct the 
attention of the readers of the Journal of Horticulture to the utility of 
Ivy-leaf Pelargoniums as wall plants. When well grown I have no 
hesitation in saying they will successfully vie with any other cool house 
climber in cultivation. I have a plant of Souvenir de Charles Turner 
growing on the wall of the greenhouse, and the display produced by it 
at the present time evokes the admiration of all beholders. It covers a 
space of 9 feet by 6 feet, and is carrying upwards of 250 trusses of 
bloom. Although these plants are not as a rule very fastidious as regards 
the treatment and nature of soil, I find it is much the best plan when 
planting them out to bestow a little more than ordinary care in pre¬ 
paring the border for their reception. My method of cultivation is as 
follows. Having selected the position where I intend to plant, I next 
remore all the old soil to a depth of about 18 inches and about 2 feet in 
width, after which some slates or boards are placed around the sides of 
the hole for the purpose of retaining the roots in the space allotted to 
them. Upon this item to a very large extent hangs the future success 
or failure of the undertaking. Where practicable I would strongly 
recommend slates to be used, for not only do they last a greater length 
of time, but they are not so likely to breed fungus as is the case when 
boards are employed. The next thing to claim attention is the drainage. 
This may easily be effected by placing a quantity of clinkers or old 
brick rubble in the bottom of the hole, covering them with a layer of 
long straw. 
After the foregoing instructions have been properly carried out, 
prepare the soil. This should consist of fibry loam two parts, leaf 
soil one part, one part burnt earth, with a good sprinkling of sharp sand, 
and a fair addition of charcoal, the latter being indispensable in 
keeping the mixture in an open and wholesome condition. Having well 
mixed the different ingredients together, the hole should be about 
three parts filled, leaving room to top-dress at a later period. The plant 
ought then to be planted, spreading the roots evenly and regularly over 
the soil, which make tolerably firm afterwards, giving a good watering 
to settle the compost well about the roots. 
Where the foregoing instructions are properly carried out, and the 
plants are attended to say once a week for the purpose of tying and 
regulating the growths, I am confident that the result will be one of 
great satisfaction.— Geo. Parrant. 
Rose Show Fixtures in 1894. 
June 20th (Wednesday).—Isle of Wight (Shanklin). 
„ 26th (Tuesday)—Westminster (R.H.S.). 
„ 27th (Wednesday).—Windsor (N R.S.) and Richmond (Surrey). 
„ 28th (Thursday).—Canterbury, Eltham, and Sutton. 
„ 30th (Saturday).—Sittingbourne and Brockham. 
July 3rd (Tuesday).—Farningham, Bagshot, and Diss. 
„ 4th (Wednesday).—Croydon, Reigate, Tunbridge Wells, Ealing, 
and Ipswich. 
„ 5th (Thursday).—Hereford and Norwich. 
„ 7th (Saturday).—Crystal Palace (N.R.S.). 
„ 10th (Tuesday).—Gloucester and WoWerhampton,* 
„ 11th (Wednesday).—Hitchin and King’s Lynn, 
,, 12th (Thursday).—Rath. TTarleston, Woodbridge, and Worksop. 
„ 14th (Saturday).—New Brighton. 
„ 17th (Tuesday).—Helensburgh. 
„ 19th (Thursday).—•Halifax (N.R S.)., Halesworth, and Trentham. 
„ 2l8t (Saturday).—Manchester. 
„ 24th (Tuesday).—Tibshelf. 
„ 26th (Thursday).—Southwell. 
„ 28th (Saturday).—Bedale. 
Aug. 1st (Wednesday).—Chesterfield. 
A Show lasting three days. 
Any date of Rose shows, or of other horticultural exhibitions where 
Roses form a leading feature, not named above, I shall be glad to receive 
as soon as fixed, for insertion in future lists. — Edward Mawley, 
Jtoseianli, BerUhamsted. Herts. 
National Rose Society. 
The Dean of Rochester, President of the National Rose Society, 
writes me as follows:—“I have heard from Sir John Cowell that the 
members of the National Rose Society will be permitted to see the 
Royal Gardens at Frogmore on the 27th inst. by command of the 
Queen.” The thanks of the members of our Society are due to the 
President for his influence in obtaining this Royal favour, which is 
unusual during Her Majesty’s residence at Windsor, 
Dates op Rose Shows, 
A few lines in reference to the avalanche of letters in last week’s 
Journal of Horticulture. “ X.” (page 454) thinks it a surprise that the 
Ryde Society have postponed their Show to the 14th inst. from the date 
of the 7th. The only remarkable part of the matter is their first fi.xing 
the earlier date, Mr, Frank Cant and I were both consulted six weeks 
or two months ago as to the best date for the meeting of the Isle of 
Wight Rose Society, and we suggested to their executive the 17th or 
24th June. The Ryde Show is not exclusively for Roses, whereas the 
Isle of Wight Society have nothing but Roses at their meeting. 
In reference to “ East Anglia’s ” letter (page 455), I suppose when he 
refers to a “ heated discussion ” he goes back to last year, as the recent 
letters in the Journal were harmonious. I cannot say I am “penitent,” 
my views are perfectly unchanged and unchangeable, as I am advocating, 
and will continue to advocate, the cause of the metropolitan members, 
who constitute the backbone of the National Rose Society in finance, 
who cannot be satisfied with any but a metropolitan meeting about the 
1st July, and who certainly would not have been pleased with the date 
proposed by the party to which I am opposed on the N.R.S. Committee. 
I may say, however, that although I am not penitent on the date 
question, yet I am much grieved at the destruction of the prospects of my 
friends’ Soses, and to know that men like Mr. Lindsell, Mr. Machin, Mr. 
Romaine, and Mr. Kitchin, amateurs in the truest sense of the word, 
who are devoted to the Rose garden and its work, and others like 
Messrs. Harkness, last year’s champions, and Messrs. Dickson of New- 
townards, our great hybridisers, have suffered so terribly by the frost of 
the 20th May and subsequent weather. If “East Anglia” thinks my 
views can be so easily altered on a question I have carefully considered, 
and discussed for two years, merely by the destruction wrought by one 
night’s frost to the most promising Rose harvest of the last twenty years, 
he must think me unstable. Have I shown myself so to be ? 
The one great drawback in anonymous writing, to which “East 
Anglia ” refers, is in the inability of the reader to fix the value of the 
writer’s opinion, and “ East Anglia ” will pardon me for saying that 
most of the leading amateur and professional rosarians now more 
usually sign their names to correspondence in the press, and it 
