April 39, 3888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
321 
the almost immediate attendance of the agent when deemed of 
importance to exhibitors or inspectoi's of samples. A suitable staff of 
trained business assistants, proficient in foreign languages, will be 
attached, and a commercial library and other sources of imformation 
will enable them to supply buyers as well as exhibitors with useful and 
prompt information. A visitor’s book will be kept for the benefit of 
fi^rms displaying samples, and proper steps be taken to secure an 
inspection of the rooms by all buyers visiting Hamburg. Samples, 
which can be renewed at will, as well as price lists, descriptions, and 
circulars, will, when desired, be distributed to visitors without further 
charge to exhibitors.” 
- AVe regret to leam that Mr. AW Stacey, of the Nurseries 
Dunmow, Essex, died last week, after a painful illness of three 
weeks. Mr. Stacey was much respected in the district, and was also 
widely famed for the numerous beautiful Verbenas he raised, no less than 
eleven of which have received first-class certificates from the Koyal 
Horticultural Society. The following were the names of those so 
honoured and the years, they were shown :—Coiintess of Eosslyn and 
Lady of Lorme in 1873 ; com pacta, delicata. Fantastic and Mabel in 
1883 ; Lord Brooke and striata in 1884 ; Distinction and Fairy Queen in 
188.1, and Lady C. Beresford in 1886. Many others have also been 
raised that have become popular both for bedding and culture in pots. 
- The usual monthly dinner and conversazione of the Horticul¬ 
tural Club was recently held at the “ Hotel AVindsor,” Victoria Street, 
AVestminster, which is likely to be the future quarters of the Club, and 
was attended by a large number of members, amongst whom were the 
Eev. AA’'m. AVilks, Rev. F. H. Gall; Messrs. Crowley, H. J. Veitch, H. J. 
Pearson, C. E. Pearson, Geo. Paul, and James AValker. The arrangements 
were considered by all to be in every respect an improvement. In the 
evening an admirable paper was I’ead by Mr. James AA'alker on Daffodils 
and a discussion was entered upon afterwards, in which Mr. AA’ilks and 
•thers took part. 
- Fruit-growing in Hampshire.—A meeting of those inter¬ 
ested in the fruit-growing industries of South and AA’'est Hampshire was 
held, under the presidency of the Mayor, at AA'^inchester last week. Lord 
AVolmer, M.P., was amongst those present. The object of the meeting 
was to consider the sale of fruit, and more particularly Strawberries, at 
Covent Garden. Mr. H. E. Lamport, who has been stud 3 dng the dis¬ 
trict, pointed out that 860 tons of Strawberries left the neighbourhood 
in one season, which averaged £39 per ton in value. The railway 
charges were about 7J, and the commission in London 12| to 15 and 20 
per cent. One London firm turned over in one week 2000 tons, and the 
object of the meeting was to do the work of that firm, which must have 
realised a very large profit. It was decided, after a lengthy discussion^ 
to form an association of growers to consider what steps should be 
adopted to obtain a better price for their produce. Lord AA''olmer subse¬ 
quently spoke on the subject of railway rates. 
-A MONTHLY. me(ding of the Notts Horticultural and 
Botanical Society was held last week at the Nottingham Mechanics’ 
Institute for the'purpose of hearing a number of papers read on “ The 
Duty of the Gardener to his Employer,” for which three money prizes 
had been offered by Mr. S. Thacker. Mr. J. Booth presided, and among 
others present were Messrs. S. Thacker, J. S. Baldwin, F. Granger, J. AA’'. 
AUoodwai’d, J. D. Pearson, J. Dixon, C. J. Mee, J. H. AA^alkei-, J. Bennett, 
H. Ralphs, J. Baker, J. Simpson, J. B. Hallam, N. H. Pownall, &c. 
Some fine Orchids were shown from Lord Newark’s gardens at Holme 
Pierrepont (gardener, Mr. A. Parr) ; a basket of splendid JIushrooms was 
also sent from beds which had been in bearing all the winter. Mr. S. 
Thacker having made some remarks with reference to the exhibits, Mr. 
AA^oodward read the essays under their respective The 
prizes were awarded by ballot, the result being ;—1st prize, 20s., “ Ex¬ 
celsior,” Mr. N. H. Pownall (gardener to Mr. F. AVright, Lenton Hall) ; 
2nd, Mr. J. H. AA^alker (gardener to Mr. J. AV. Lewis, Hardwicke House 
The Park, Nottingham) ; 3rd, Mr. S. T. AAhight (Glewston Court 
Gardens, Hereford). Votes of thanks to the donor of the prizes and 
to Mr. AA'^oodward for reading the pajiers concluded the meeting. 
- '• AA'. K. AV.” writes : “ The large plant of Rhododendron 
A’^eitchianum growing at Oakholme, Sheffield, the residence of Thos. 
AA'ilson, Esq., which has for some years past had more than a local repu¬ 
tation, and of which some notice has appeared in this Journal in previous 
years, is now in full beauty. It is carrying a total of 480 flower?, about 
three-fourths of which are fully expanded. The flowers are each nearly 
4 inches in diameter, stout and waxy in textui-e, handsomely fringed, 
agreeably perfumed, and pure white. The plant is trained over a stone 
wall, forming the back wall of a ridge-and-furrow-roofe 1 lean-to green¬ 
house facing south, but is partly screened fi’om direct sun heat by tall 
Camellias planted out in a bed occupying the whole centre of the house 
The roots of the plant are confined to a very narrow border (less than a 
foot in width) running along the base of the wall and bounded by the 
flagged pathway. It receives a light top-dressing annually of lumpy 
peat and sani, and makes very luxuriant and strong growths. Many 
fine plants of the newer varieties of greenhouse Rhododendrons are now 
flowering finely at Oakholme and are all in robust health, but none can, 
I think, vie with E. Veitchianum. Mr. Hannah, the head gardener, has 
grown this plant from a cutting to its present size, and is justly proud of 
his work.” 
- Cinerarias and Calceolarias at Reading. —“ J. B. C.” 
writes:—“Cinerarias just now make a bright and effective show 
in Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ nursery. In Sutton’s Superb Mixed every 
care has been exercised in selecting the very best plants from 
which to save seed, the flowers being symmetrical in form, fine in size, 
of the richest and most varied colours, habit of growth robust. A 
strain having somewhat smaller flowers than the preceding, pro¬ 
duces a large per-centage of flowers true to the colours from which they 
are saved, comprising light blue, blue tipped, crimson, crimson tipped, 
purple, light rose, and white, the whites especially good and pure. A 
novelty was observed in a beautifully striped flower, the ‘ stripes ’ run¬ 
ning longitudinally. Double-flowered Cinerarias were noteworthy, and 
producing abundantly their ‘ rosettes ’ of flowers so useful for button¬ 
holes, bouquets, and similar work. Of Calceolarias we noted grand 
plants, a few flowers ‘peeping’ here and there from the wonderfully 
healthy head of foliage. Auriculas, of which a particularly healthy 
and varied stock is grown in frames, were like'wise showing flowers. 
Cyclamens and Primulas were just fading, but even at this late time 
enough was seen to show what an imposing floral spectacle they must 
have presented when in full flower.” 
PLANTING HARDY PERENNIALS. 
Annually with the advent of April intending planters of choice 
hardy plants usually set about their work in earnest. If they have not 
made up their minds as to what they shall have no time should be lost 
in doing so, for by losing a showeiy April month for any such planting 
operations we are sacrificing time of the greatest v’alue. To have the 
plants ■well established in the borders or beds before the dry weather sets 
in is no mean advantage to all concerned, for it avoids the uncertainty 
attending summer planting. It is very likely that during April and 
May more hardy plants are placed out than at any other period of the 
jmai’. This is only natural, as many are just then commencing growth, 
the result being tl3at they start readily and without any apparent check. 
It may therefore be worth while calling attention to some of the most 
show}' and desirable, .and in doing so I particular!}^ desire to draw 
attention to one important particular—viz., the size and quality of 
plants most likely to succeed. Too often hardy plants are supplied in 
small pots, in which they have stood probably for a couple of years or 
more, with the result that they are miserably weak and stunted, with the 
ball of earth and roots as hard as stone ; and should these come into 
the hands of the inexperienced and be planted with the hard ball 
undisturbed, the chances are very much in favour of partial or tot,al 
failure. 1 am not entirely opposed to planting such as are established 
in pots, indeed some are very much benefited by this treatment, and 
make quicker headway in consequence, provided they are planted out 
as soon as the pots are fairly filled with roots. The majority can, how¬ 
ever, be transplanted much better when good-sized pieces are secured, 
taken from the open ground. It would be very much to the advantage 
of purchasers of hardy plants to pay a proportionately higher price and 
insist on Inaving strong plants from the ground. I will now briefly name 
some of the most important species and varieties, any or all of which 
may be planted when weather permits. 
Achillea Ptarmica plena, 2^ fc«t high, flowers double, pure white, very- 
abundant, excellent for cutting, and upon an equal footing m.ay be 
placed A. serrata fl.-pl. Achillea millefolium rosea, 2.j feet high, rose 
coloured heads of flower, very free and useful for cutting. 
Aconitum autumnale, dark blue, very attractive, 2 feet high, a valu¬ 
able plant. 
Alstroemcria aurea, 2 feet high, beautiful orange red, gr.and for cutting, 
suited to a warm sunny spot, impatient of being disturbed. 
Anchusa italica, 3 feet, a very attractive free-flowering perennial, 
with intense blue flowers, not suited for cutting purposes. 
Anemone japonica .and varieties, all extremely useful and free-flower¬ 
ing autumn perennials, 3 feet high. 
Anthericum liliastrum and the majus variety .are very useful ; flower.s 
pure white :ind bell shaped, on erect spikes 1 .j foot high. 
