November 10, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
403 
amateurs, and cottagers. The prizes range from £2 10s. to Is., Chrys¬ 
anthemums, miscellaneous plants, fruit and vegetables being) included. 
The Hon. Sec. is Mr. C. R. Humbert, Watford. 
- Though possessing no claim to be regarded as a novelty, the 
Golden-edged Privet is a handsome and neglected shrub, for it is 
seldom seen in gardens. Messrs. Laing & Sons have some excellent 
F amples of it planted out and in pots, and the golden margin to the neat 
leaves, which are not quite so large as those of ovalifolium, is very rich 
and striking. The plant retains its leaves well, and at this time of year 
its colour is particularly bright, perhaps due in some degree to the dry 
hot summer just past. 
- In Mr. B. S. Williams’ nursery at Upper Holloway we recently 
had the good fortune to see an extremely fine variety of LiELiA 
PRASIATA which Mr. Fitch was sketching in his customary admirable 
manner. The plant is a very strong one, with branching stems and four 
flowering growths, each bearing a raceme of large highly coloured flowers, 
Iwo having six each, one with seven, and one with four. The sepals and 
petals are purple tinted, but the chief beauty of the flower rests in con¬ 
trast between the pure white tube of the lip and the broad rich crimson 
limb with unfolded side lobes tipped with crimson. The effect produced 
by twenty-two such fine flowers can be readily imagined, and we under¬ 
stand that the plant has been procured for one of the largest collections 
of Orchids in the south of London. 
■- There are many other noteworthy Orchids and general flower¬ 
ing plants in Mr. Williams’ large collections, but just now we can only 
accord a special paragraph to Plumbago capensis alba, which is 
destined to become a companion for the familiar blue form in some 
hundreds of gardens. Some little doubt has been expressed by those 
who have not seen this variety in flower as to whether it would prove 
pure white, as so many so-called white varieties of blue flowers come 
with a faint tinge of colour. The plants of the Plumbago that have 
been flowering for some time past at Holloway effectually dispel all such 
uncertainty, as the flowers are a pure opaque white and without the 
faintest tinge of colour. The plant is of free flowering and vigorous 
habit, and is well adapted for culture in pots or training to the roofs or 
pillars of conservatories. 
-The supplies both of flowersand fruit in CoventGarden Market 
are abundant, and amongst the former Bouvardias and Chrysanthemums 
are conspicuous. The red and white varieties of Bouvardias are in much 
demand, as they can be used in the most choice arrangements of flowers, 
and they possess a fine wax-like substance that fits them for association 
with any of the usual bouquet or wreath flowers. White Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, either Pompons, Japanese, or incurved,are largely used; a few of 
the more delicate shades of yellow or bronze also being favourites, while 
the scarlet Roi des Precoces has already made its appearance in some of 
the florists’ shops. Plants of Alexandre Dufour in small pots prove how 
well adapted this variety is cultivated in this style, as in a dwarf state 
the flowers are produced very freely, and the colour is a pleasing one. 
Apples and Pears are the most abundant of the fruits, good and cheap 
samples of both being numerous under a variety of erroneous names. 
The Apple and Pear Congresses may have assisted in corr cting the 
nomenclature of fruits grown in private gardens, but they do not seem 
to have done much for those sent to market. 
-- “S.” sends the following note on Pansy cuttings— “ This 
may appear a late period for inserting cuttings of Pansies and Violas, 
but I have found that late in October and early in November, so long 
as the frost is not severe, is a suitable time for the work. The soil is 
well dug, a little old manure is incorporated with it, but if the soil is 
naturally rich this is not necessary, and the chief point is to provide 
thorough drainage. If the soil is finely pulverised the cuttings root 
readily when inserted firmly in lines, and beyond seeing that they are 
not forced out of the ground by frost little attention is needed until 
they are transplanted in spring.” 
- Referring to the award of Certificates to Old Plants, 
An Old Florist ” writes—“ Is there any rule to regulate these awards 
at the Kensington Floral Committee meetings ? It seems not, for some¬ 
times an old plant is certificated, and at others an equally meritorious 
old plant is disregarded. Does it depend upon the partiality of in¬ 
fluential members of the Committee for particular classes of plants ? 
I have noted some very peculiar instances of both the above cases, and 
being unable to discover any rule for them I thought, perhaps, some of 
your readers could enlighten me. There are numerous excellent plants 
that have never been certificated, and some that are as scarce as intro¬ 
ductions of the current year, but rarity cannot be a sufficient recom¬ 
mendation for such awards.” 
- Alexandra Palace Rose Show. —Mr. Jno. Bateman, 72, 
Twisden Road, N.W., writes—“Can you spare me a little of your 
valuable space in which to ask whether the exhibitors at the above 
Show, held last July, have received any of the prizes then awarded? 
Not having received mine, or any word about them, I wrote twice to 
Mr. J. S. Cooke, the Secretary, but failed even to get a reply.” 
■- The autumn Exhibition of the Twickenham Horticultural 
Society will be held on November 15th and 16th, in the Town Hall 
of that town. The schedule enumerates thirty-five classes, in the 
majority of which three prizes are offered, Chrysanthemums, plants, and 
cut blooms constituting the chief features. Miscellaneous plants, vege¬ 
tables, and fruits are also well provided for, and these usually form an 
important attraction at the show. Many of the prizes are liberally 
offered by friends of the Society in the district. The Hon. Sec. is 
J. J. G. Pugh, Esq., 2, Heath Road, Twickenham.' 
- At South Kensington recently, Mr. J. Crook, Farnborough 
Grange Gardens, Hants, exhibited several well-grown plants of Trichi- 
nium Manglesi, which is seldom seen in first-rate condition, although 
it has been grown very successfully at Kew. With them were some 
pretty Celosias, Salvias, and the useful Primula obconica. 
- We are informed that the Committee of the Hull Chrysan¬ 
themum Society have erected a building 100 feet long adjoining the 
Artillery Barracks, for large as this building is it is inadequate for the 
accommodation of the products staged and the crowd of persons who 
attend the Show. The Exhibition is expected to be a very fine one, and 
much as the legal decision is regretted that affects Mr. Mease, and which 
the Committee are bound to obey, it at least affords a wider opportunity 
for other competitors winning a position in the coming contest. 
- A northern amateur says : “ The reduction in the price of 
Gladioli of late has been so great that a dozen first-rate sorts may now 
be had for the cost of one five or six years ago. This makes loss of the. 
carrns a comparatively trifling matter, and the grand flower should now 
be grown everywhere. In some catalogues, such, for instance, as that o^ 
Mr. Campbell of Gourock, the order in time of flowering of the French 
varieties is carefully indicated in four classes. In our north rn climate 
the latest sorts can be got to bloom only in favoured spots, and even 
there in exceptional seasons. Purchasers not acquainted with the 
Gladiolus should confine themselves mainly to the two earlier sections; 
the third is at best uncertain. The classification in the catalogue affords 
broadly a reliable guide, but remarkable deviations in the matter of time 
occur in all the classes and in different plants oE the same variety.” 
- We are requested to state that the address of Mr. William 
Dean, florist (late of Walsall), is now Mill Lane Nursery, Solihull, 
Birmingham. 
- A correspondent sends us a report of the autumn Show at 
the Great Western Nurseries, Glasgow ; but our pages were 
filled to overflowing on its receipt. The different structures are described 
as being attractively furnished, and were admired by nearly six thousand 
visitors. 
- Mr. H. Alderman, gardener to G. Hatfield, Esq., Morden Hall, 
Mitcham, has harvested a grand crop of Apples, mostly from old orchard 
trees. A very useful variety, and one which ought to be more exten¬ 
sively grown, is “Lewis’s Incomparable.” The fruit is large and very 
even, and more than 10 bushels have been gathered this year from one 
or two trees. 
- Mr. G. W. Cummins writes—“ Mr. Thomas Creed, gardener at 
Hill Top, Bramley, Leeds, is a successful grower of Poinsettias. The 
method he has adopted for some years is to cut down the plants (after 
they have rested a time) to within 3 or I inches of the pot, and when, 
they commence growing, about three shoots are allowed to remain. 
These are encouraged to grow strongly, and with his treatment they each 
attain the height of 9 or 10 feet, with bracts 20 inches in diameter. 
Some of his plants are several years old, but he is of opinion that they 
are at their best when three years of age.” 
- Mr. Charles Benham, Middleton Hall Gardens, Leeds, hassome 
Strawberries in Pots bearing a fair crop of fruit.. The plants were 
