Ju 7 14, 1887. ] 
journal of horticulture and cottage gardener. 
27 
argyrites. Small corner arid other glasses each contained a few bright 
effective flowers and a little elegant foliage. Mrs. Chard, Brunswick 
Nursery, Stoke Newington, was a capital second with a charming 
arrangement, simple in design, but effective and tasteful. In the two 
central stands white and pink Rhodanthes, with Aquilegia chrysantha 
and Brizas, furnished the upper part, the base containing Cattleya 
Mossiae flowers, Lilium longiflorum, and Gladiolus Colvilli albus, with 
sprays of Lygodium scandens round the stems. The side stands were 
filled with Roses and yellow Carnations, the ten small glasses contain¬ 
ing a single flower each of a pink Rose. Mr. W. Gardiner, 127, 
Queen s Road, Bayswater, was third with a very elaborate arrange¬ 
ment of white Water Lilies, mauve English Irises, and yellow Sweet 
Sultans, with Grasses and Typhas, on a large central mirror, but it 
had too heavy an appearance to please many persons. A certificate 
•of merit was awarded to Miss Paget, 31, High Street, Clapham, for a 
peculiar contribution, consisting of two huge cushions 2 feet in diameter 
and 1 foot high, composed of white Pinks, with three dark crimson 
Roses at the top, and a central crown also of white Pinks, Miss Jolliffe 
Carnations, dark crimson Roses, and Myosotis. This exhibitor evidently 
possesses considerable floral taste as displayed in another class, but much 
time was wasted in the production of the exhibit in question, and we 
consider, in common with many others who saw it, that the Judges 
passed several far more meritorious exhibits in according this an official 
recognition. The table decorated with seaweed by Mrs. Smout of 
Hastings was exquisitely delicate. Mr. Arthur Parmley, 19, Park Side, 
Albert Gate, had an effective and simple design, consisting of wreaths 
of La I'rance Roses with foliage, the only fault in which was that 
rather too much material was employed, an evil which could have 
been easily l'ectified. Mr. J. E. Anderson, Belsize and Eton Road, 
Hampstead, had some graceful baskets of double pink Pelargoniums 
• with Perns and Japanese Maples, the centre of Lilium spcciosum 
rubrum, and several others could be named both original and pretty. 
In Class 2 the prizes were offered for table decorations under the 
same conditions as the other, but dressed ready for use. There were 
•eight exhibitors, Messrs. Hooper A Co., Pineapple Nursery, Maida Yale, 
w inning the chief honours for a handsome and novel arrangement. In 
the centre of the table was a large cut-glass bowl supported on a gilt 
stand, filled with Cattleya Mossiae, Odontoglossum crispum, and Ferns, 
ten other glasses of various sizes much smaller than the central one being 
? Prizes, Agrostis, and other graceful Grasses, and a few Miss 
-JoJliffe Carnations. Messrs. Cullum & Sharpus, 13, Piccadilly, were 
second with a varied and tasteful display in central trumpet stands and 
. ?lde dishes, the third prize being awarded to Dick Radclyffe & Co., High 
Holborn, for an arrangement in green and variegated foliage, which had 
a rather heavy, dull appearance at night. A certificate of merit was 
awarded to Miss Paget, this time amply deserved, for a graceful com- 
bmation of flowers and foliage. 
Class 3 was for three groups of floral decorations for a dinner table, 
•only one kind of flori'er to be used in each group, a condition with which 
several of the exhibitors failed to comply. Messrs. G. & J. Lane were 
first, their central stand comprising white Water Lilies, Carex, Purple 
Leech, and Ferns, the side stands containing crimson and yellow Roses, 
with arches of Asparagus. Mr. A. F. Youens, Leigham Court, Streatham, 
was adjudged the second prize for a neat central basket of crimson 
Roses, and side dishes of pink and common Roses, with a few light 
sprays of Polyant ha Roses. This was very pleasing for its simple, 
•graceful, yet effective appearance. Mr. E. Sperling, 140, Southampton 
Row, was third, yellow and purple Irises and white Water Lilies being 
•the chief features. 
Only two prizes were awarded in the class for an arrangement of 
foliage and flowers suitable for a side-board, Mr. C. Handley, The Elms, 
Moke Newington, having the best contribution, consisting of an arch of 
Lonicera aurea reticulata with two dishes of yellow Sultans and light- 
coloured English Irises, very pretty and distinct ; Mrs. Bengafiekl, 
M andsworth Road, followed, having Lilium speciosum and Gladiolus 
'Colvilli albus with foliage. In several other classes for groups of plants 
for tables or recesses, Mr. Walter Wood, Mr. J. Prewett, Mrs. Sperling, 
and Messrs. Dick Radclyffe & Co. were the prizetakers, but their efforts 
-do not call for special notice. Mr. A. Parmley was awarded chief 
•honours for a standing basket, in hich foliage plants were gracefully 
arranged ; while for a hanging baset Mr. Chard was an easy first, fol¬ 
lowed by Mr. J. Anderson and Mr. C. Handley. In the bouquet classes, 
Mrs. White, 403, Strand, won the chief prizes for both bridal and ball¬ 
room bouquets, but we considered Messrs. Perkins & Son’s second prize 
bouquet in the latter class superior to the first. 
Miscellaneous exhibits comprised two extensive and handsome groups 
of Roses from Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross (large silver- 
•gilt medal) ; a magnificent group of flowering and foliage plants from 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway (large silver medal) ; and an ex¬ 
cellent collection of annuals in pots from Messrs. J. Carter & Co. (silver 
■•medal). 
JLOXFORD HALL SEEDLING AND OTHER 
STRAWBERRIES. 
T have this year grown Loxford Hall Seedling for the first time, 
and am very much disappointed in it. With me it has produced a heavy 
crop of large fruit, handsome but hollow, and as tasteless as James 
Veitch. I doubt whether it would do for a market Strawberry, as no 
one would try it a second time. Dr. Hogg and Filbert Pine are—though 
carrying a light crop-as usual first rate; I know none to equal them 
as mid-season and late varieties. I wish I knew of an early one fit to 
plant with them. Keen’s Seedling is too small, and Marguerite is as 
tasteless as Loxford Hall. I do not know Sir Harry or Reeve’s Eclipse, 
are they good ? Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury bears so freely that the 
berries come very small. Pioneer is no good in dry weather, and gene¬ 
rally fails its second season,—J. E. 
DOUBLE IVY-LEAF PELARGONIUMS. 
Mr. Ward’s list of these does not include one of the most lovely and 
perfect of these attractive flowers. I refer to Fiirsten Josephine von 
Hohenzollern, a pip of which I enclose. As this variety is certain to be¬ 
come a standard sort, I would venture to suggest that its name, however 
sweet to German ears, might be contracted and anglicised to Princess 
Josephine. M. Lemoine, of Nancy, has this year distributed a series of 
novelties. Of these I have flowered Galilee, Laplace, and Gay Lussac. 
The colours are distinct, habit of plants good, and pips generally very 
large—some of them over 2J inches across. 
We have some handsome plants of Congo, Mons. Thibaut, &c.,grow- 
in 8-inch pots, which measure 3 feet or more across, and full of bloom. 
These have been kept pinched. Unfortunately cut trusses of these 
carry badly, but in time, and no doubt shortly, this fault will be 
remedied. 
It is only fair to say that most of the sorts in cultivation have 
originated on the Continent.—B. 
[The blooms sent are extremely fine, nearly 2 inches in diameter, and 
symmetrical in form, with imbricated petals. The variety is evidently 
meritorious.] 
SUMMER TREATMENT OF VINE BORDERS. 
It is frequently asserted that it is almost impossible to give Grape 
Vines too much water or too much liquid manure at the roots, and 
under certain conditions this maybe correct It is. however, mis¬ 
leading, as I shall endeavour to prove. When the Vines have been 
several years in undisturbed possession of the borders they will have 
exhausted whatever fertilising property it originally contained, and 
stand in great need of external assistance. More often than not, 
however, old borders are poisoned wtih manure, and rendered uncon¬ 
genial to the roots, these finding their way to better feeding ground. 
When this happens all or nearly all that is expended on the border 
in the shape of rich mulchings, of solid manure, dressings of bone and 
artificial manures, and frequent drenchings of water are thrown 
away, and only serve to render the soil still more sour and inert. 
Where this state of affairs prevails no amount of lime or other 
remedies are of much avail, and nothing short of breaking-up the 
greater portion of the old border and relaying the roots in a fresh and 
more wholesome compost will restore the Vines to a healthy profit¬ 
able state. The more these comparatively useless borders are fed 
and watered the greater the certainty of the crops ripening imper¬ 
fectly, shanking wholesale, and keeping badly It' plenty of roots 
cannot be found near the surface of outside borders the chances are 
no water is needed, the roots running deeply, having few or no 
fibres, and having mure moisture than is guod for them within reach. 
All that can be done in such a case at present is to crop lightly and 
to avoid sharp forcing. Let the crops lipen slowly, and reserve the 
fire heat for the autumn, when its ripening influence will greatly 
benefit the wood. 
If there are no roots on or near the surface of an inside border, in 
all probability they have struck downwards in search of food that 
should have been at their disposal on the surface. Inside borders of 
long standing are not often poisoned with manure ; on the contrary, 
they usually fare badly, hence the rush of the roots for the outside 
borders that are frequently connected with those inside. Cultivators 
with a fairly good water supply, and who are fully aware that it must 
be judiciously applied to the borders, may well h ive their Vines root¬ 
ing wholly or partially inside the house ; but those who have a poor 
water supply, or who are either careless in the matter or who imagine 
two or three soakings in the year are ample, ought to plant in outside 
borders only. It i3 true in the latter case, a greater difficulty is 
experienced in keeping (he Grapes after they are ripe owing to there 
being too much water in the border, but a little extra fire heat and a 
good circulation of air will go a long way towards dissipating this 
surplus moisture taken up by the Vines thereby, and checking a rapid 
decay of the benits. 
Newly formed borders, or those which have been partiallyrenewed 
with fresh compost, are the most liable to be injured by either too 
much water or too much liquid manure. To treat these similarly to 
old well-cccupied borders, or in accordance wi.h the theory that it is 
impossible to give them too much moisture or manure, is, to say the 
least, a most reckless proceeding. It is a very little food that the 
Vine roots are capable of assimilating, and that little almost any kind 
of turfy loam contains. To add a quantity of rich solid manure, ora 
heavy addition of any kind of special manure, only serves to render 
it more unsuitable as a rooting medium. Unlimited supplies of 
strong liquid manure serve to make matters worse. It'poisons the 
