Oc'ober 11, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
335 
scalding, though it has as much practical bearing on the subject as his 
own remark at page 260—viz., “ Such action may be tolerated when the 
cost of production and the value of the crops are not placed side by 
side. It is the reverse of economy to leave the house open and main¬ 
tain the desired temperature by the aid of fire heat. Expenses of this 
nature are not warranted at the present price of Grapes.” I can quite 
understand his making such statements. Fire heat is used very 
judiciously by me. In the same article, a little further on, we read on 
syringing Vines : “ I do not believe in such a practice, because it is 
liable to injure the bloom.” If these Grapes were so good (and I do not 
dispute the fact) through this heavy syringing night and morning, why 
should Mr. Bardney qualify his statement in such a manner? If these 
Vines are really syringed in the manner as stated, what of the bloom ? 
The condensation as referred to by me is very different to that which is 
deposited by Nature in the open air. If Mr. Bardney has a house of 
black Grapes, let him keep the ventilators closed until the sun has shone 
a short time on the house, and he will soon notice a mist on the Grapes. 
The above is practically what happens to Grapes when they scald, 
through the house being too close and cold, or even if shut up too early. 
—a. Young. 
I AM very pleased to read the interesting communications which 
appeared in your last issue. According to Mr. Bardney’s communication 
on page 319, he is of opinion that I think the scalding of Lady Downe's 
Grape constitutional. 1 fail to conceive where he could draw such conclu¬ 
sions. What I said was this—that Lady Downe’s would scald some¬ 
times under the best of management, and I contend that it will, and 
especially in dull wet seasons. Nevertheless, I do not. say that it cannot 
be grown without scalding, and if Mr. Bardney has grown it without 
being so affected, or any other correspondent, I should be pleased to 
read the cultural instructions. I wish to draw attention to a house of 
Grapes that was under my management some time ago. The house in 
question was a late one, and a lean-to due south, with the necessary 
appliances with respect to artificial heat, but nevertheless we did not 
think it necessary to use it to encourage the commencement of growth, 
but, on the other hand, allowed the Vines to start naturally. The 
varieties consisted of Black Hamburgh, Black Alicante, Lady Downe’s, 
and Mrs. Pince. Growth commenced in March, the first named taking 
the lead by about ten days or so. When they had all broken well into 
growth we thought it necessary to turn a little fire heat on, and 
gradually increasing it as growth advanced. Let it be understood that 
the object of these remarks is to draw particular attention to the 
stoning period. Black Hamburgh led the way, and the others followed 
in the order they are given, and, notwithstanding the attention they 
received with respect to air-giving and an increased artificial tempera¬ 
ture, together with a dry atmosphere, Lady Downe’s was the only one 
affected, and to quote the words Mr. Bardney uses, scald into “ bits of 
bunches.” This seems a singular thing to me. Was this “ fancy ” or gross 
carelessness ? It cannot be attributed to over-forcing, as I have shown, 
so perhaps some of your correspondents will take the matter up and 
give their opinion. 1 leave the question open as to whether the scalding 
of Lady Downe’s is constitutional or not. - R. Kirby. 
PLANTING FLOWER BEDS FOR SPRING. 
Flower beds when cleared of their summeroccupantsmay be levelled 
with the rake, and again be filled with such spring-flowering plants as 
Golden Gem Viola, Daffodils, the common Primrose, and Alyssum saxatile 
compactum, four distinct shades of yellow. Myosotis dissitiflora, Imperial 
Blue Viola, Nemnphila insignis, and Aubrietia deltoides afford a like 
number of shades of colour, ranging from light blue to purplish lilac. In 
white, Daisies. Arabis albida, and Dean’s Viola White Bedder will be found 
three white free-flowering plants ; and in red Daisies, Blood Red Wall¬ 
flower, and Silene pendula ruberrima we have materials for supplying 
masses of red ard pink. In addition to Snowdrops, Crocuses, Hyacinths, 
Tulips, and other bulbous plants, there are many hardy perennials 
besides those enumerated above which are suitable for embellishing the 
spring garden ; but those already mentioned, if the colours are 
judiciously arranged in masses, will be found sufficiently floriferous, 
effective, and varied in colour to render the garden in spring as 
charmingly beautiful as it can be made in summer. 
The beds in which it is intended to plant the double Daisies may 
have a sprinkling of fresh soot mixed with the surface soil as a 
preventive of the attacks of the grubs of the daddy-longlegs, which 
are frequently very destructive to these old-fashioned spring-flowering 
plants. In every case take up the plants with soil attached to the 
roots, and plant the same depth in the ground as they were before, 
making the soil moderately firm about the roots.— H. W. Ward. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
October 9th. 
A SMALL gathering of exhibits greeted the members of the Com¬ 
mittee and the few visitors who assembled in the Drill Hall, James 
Street, Westminster, on Tuesday last, but the group of Ferns from Tot¬ 
tenham was one of exceptional merit. 
Fruit Committee.— Present—Dr. Robert Ilogg (in the chair), and 
Messrs. H. J. Veitch, J. Lee, S. Ford, A. H. Pearson, J. Burnett, 1L D. 
Blackmore, W. Warren, J. Cheal, G. T. Miles. 
W. Roupell, Esq.. Roupell Park, was awarded a cultural commenda¬ 
tion for excellent samples of Canon Hall Muscat Grape, grown in an 
11-inch pot; also Gros Colman and Black Hamburgh grown in an un* 
heated house for over fifty years. Mr. C. Ross, Wei ford Park Gardens; 
Newbury, sent specimen of a seedling white Grape ; and Mr. J. Brad¬ 
shaw, Downshire Gardens, Hillsborough Castle, Co. Down, sent a speci¬ 
men of a seedling white Grape named Lady Downshire, but no award 
was made for either. Mr. G. Bolas, Hopton Hall Gardens, Wirksworth, 
showed specimens of Cherry Late Duke (vote of thanks). Messrs. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited twenty-seven dishes of Plums, repre¬ 
senting that number of distinct varieties (silver medal). From the 
Society’s garden, Chiswick, was also sent a collection of seventeen 
dishes of Plums. Messrs. Carter & Co., 237, High Holborn, sent neat 
even specimens of their New Model Onion, described as a cross between 
Rousham Park Hero and Magnum Bonum. Mr. R. Dean, Bedfont, sent 
two plants of Laxton’s outdoor Tomatoes. From the Society’s gardens 
came samples of the Dracnena-lcaved Beet (Veitch), and Endive Queen 
of the Winter. Messrs. Lloyd, Lawrence & Co., 21, Worship Street, 
London, E.C., sent several samples of farm and garden tools, comprising 
seed drills and doul le wheel hoes. 
Floral Committee. —Present— G. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair, 
and Messrs. W. Wilks, J. Laing, II. Herbst, W. Goldring, J. Walker, 
B. Wynne, W. Wildsmith, W. Holmes, R. Dean, C. Noble, C. Pilcher, 
J. Djminy, H. Ballantine, H. M. Pollett, J. O'Brien, E. Ilill, Shirley 
Hibberd, G. Duffield, and T. Baines. 
Mr. Walton, Burnley, exhibited a collection of Ferns, amongst them 
being eight plants of Adiantum farleyense, which were said to have 
been raised from spores sown on February 23rd, 1887. They were taken 
from a large plant in the possession of E. Ecroyd, E°q., Edgcnd House, 
Burnley, Lancashire. In a note accompanying the plants it was stated 
that “ the spores were only found after much searching, being in the 
overlapping pinnules of the frond. The first frond from the prothallus 
appeared some six months after sowing, the whole of the plants 
germinating being reared. The batch of plants should prove conclu¬ 
sively that Adiantum farleyense may be raised true from spores, when 
the spores can be obtained true from extra strong plants that have been 
isolated from any other Adiantum having any affinity to it.” A vote of 
thanks was accorded for the plants, which were evidently the true 
A. farleyense, but the Committee expressed no opinion on the point to 
which attention was specially called in the letter. It has been claimed 
before that this Fern has been raised from spores, and the accuracy has 
been as frequently questioned by other Fern growers. 
Mr. S. Ford, Leonardslee Gardens, Horsham, sent flower trusses of 
Nerine coruscans highly coloured. Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham 
Cross, showed flowers of an PI.P. Rose named Denmark, in the way of La 
France, of similar colour and fragrance ; to be seen again. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited plants of Amasonia 
calycina, Bouvardia President Cleveland, Amaryllis Autumn Beauty, 
Canna Ulrich Brunner, and Begonia John Heal (vote of thanks). All 
these are well proved plants of great merit, and they have been several 
times noted. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, exhibited a collection 
of handsome single and double Tuberous Begonia 0 , two of the latter 
being certificated, and votes of thanks were also awarded. 
Mr. H. B. May, Upper Edmonton, contributed an extensive and 
handsome group of Ferns, representing about 200 species and varieties. 
All the plants were in excellent health (silver-gilt Banksian medal). 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Lrelia porpliyrites (Baron Schroder).—A supposed natural hybrid, a 
dwarf neat Orchid with medium size flowers, the sepals and petals 
tinged purple, the lip of an intensely rich crimson, and light in the 
throat. 
Nepenthes Ticltsnniana (J. Veitch & Sons).—A hybrid between N. 
Veitchi and N. Rafliesiana, named after the late Professor Dickson of 
Edinburgh. Pitchers large, long, green, beautifully mottled with 
crimson. A very handsome free variety. 
Tuberous Begonia General Chichester (H. Cannell & Sons).—A 
double variety with large full deep rose coloured flowers of good 
shape. 
Tuberous Begonia Mrs. Stark (H. Cannell & Sons).—A fine double 
yellow variety, blooms full and handsome. 
Chrysanthemum Elsie (G. Stevens).—A beautiful creamy yellow 
variety, Japanese reflexed type, florets fluted and recurving. 
Adiantum Waltoni diffusum (H. Walton, Brierfield, near Burnley). 
— A freely growing diffuse but graceful variety ; a seedling from 
A. Waltoni, a so-called hybrid sent out in June, 1888. 
Canna Ulrich Brunner (J. Veitch & Sons).—A very large flowered 
variety, deep rich scarlet, particularly showy and handsome. 
NATIONAL APPLE AND PEAR CONFERENCE. 
This Conference, which opens next week in the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Gardens at Chiswick, promises to be of great interest to fruit 
growers and of wide general importance. At a meeting of the Executive 
Committee held on Tuesday last, present : Dr. R. Hogg in the chair, 
and Messrs. A. H. Pearson, J. Walker, W. Wilks, PI. J. Veitch, Wm. 
Paul, Shirley Hibberd. J. Douglas, W. Warren, J. Cheal, F. J. Lane, A. 
Dean, W. Wildsmith, J. Hudson, A. Turner, and J. Wright, the follow¬ 
ing arrangements were made :—The fruit, which will comprise selections 
from various districts, is to be staged early on Tuesday next, and the 
Conference will be opened by the Council of the Society at 3.p.m. On 
Wednesday papers will be read by Mr. G. Bunyard on the ‘‘Growth 
of Apples for Profitby Mr. William Paul on the “ Growth of Pears 
for Profitby Mr. T. Francis Rivers on “ Stocks for Apples and 
