424 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGH GARDENER. 
[ May a4, 1888. 
Phlox with nc-itly formed pale mauve flowers a vote of thanks was 
accorded. The Siberian Edelweiss, Leontopodium sibericum, differs from 
the oi’dinary form in its smaller greenish white heads. The “ Fairy 
Borago,” Eritrichium nanum, light blue, very small ; Pulmonaria panicu- 
lata, bright blue or pink bells ; Cortusa Mathioli grandiflora, and Geum 
miniatum, Polemonium himalayense (vote of thanks) were well shown. 
The Bo.ses comprised the new Lady Alice, bunches of Mardchal Kiel, 
and pl.ants of the new Fairy China Bose, Bed Pet. Mr. Gordon, The 
Kurseries, Twickenham, had a large group of Japanese Maples and 
Paionies (silver medal), and B. II. Alexander, Esq., Gifford House, Boe- 
hampton (gardener, Mr. Springthorpe), ha<l a group of Calceolarias. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, showed forty plants of Cal¬ 
ceolarias. compact healthy plants, very den.se and healthy, the flowers 
large, \vell formed and of rich varied blooms. (Silver medal). 
IMcssrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, Somerset, exhibited nine boxes of 
single and double Tree Paconies, very tine blooms, varying from the 
palest to the deepest colours. (Silver medal). 
Mr. John Forbes, Hawick, N.B., exhibited a large collection of Pansies, 
representing many very handsome varieties. (Bronze medal). 
Mr. Duffield and Mr. J. Hall, Cambridge, exhibited Carnation 
flowers {vote of thanks), and Mr. W. H. Scott, Nunfield, sent a plant of 
a good variety of O<lontoglossum Andersonianum. (Vote of thanks). 
CEBTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Dixti racnnpxn (Boyal Gardens, Kew).—This Orchid is also known as 
Disa secunda. It is a South African species, with tall spikes of large 
bright rosy flowers, the upper petal hollowed and partly surrounding 
the lip. 
Acr'ulcst Firldhifji alha (Bai'on Schroder). — A fine pure white 
variety of a well-known Orchid. 
l‘ri»it(nithera lasiantlios (C. Boss).— An old plant that is very seldom 
seen, though it was well grown at one time. The slender branches are 
furnished with narrow lanceolate leaves, and clusters of white woolly 
flowers spotted with purple in the throat, like a small edition of a 
Catalpa. 
Alaine verna jAeMinstima (Froebel). — Diminutive white double 
flowers on a little grass-like tuft. 
Rose Sa 2 );)lio (U^m. Paul &. Son).—-A hardy Te.a Bose which we have 
previously noted. 
Angvlon intermedia (Veitch & Sons).—A hybrid between A. Clowesi 
and A. Buckeri, the flower of moderate size, creamy and blush, with 
numerous pink spots. 
Rpidendrum James O'Rrien (Veitch & Sons).—A hybrid between E. 
erectum, purple, and E. rhizophorum, brilliant scarlet, the resulting 
colour being a kind of rosycrimson, quite intermediate in tint, and much 
like rhizophorum in size and shape. 
Ciijiripediuin hellaiulum- (H. Low & Co.).—A grand Cypripedium of 
the C. Godefroyi type, but much superior to any variety yet seen. The 
flowers on an imported plant were 21 inches across, white or creamy, 
heavily spotted with crimson maroon, the petals broad and finely 
shaped. Dried flowers are said to have been obtained 44 inehes in 
diameter. 
Ahvtihm ritifidium (Kelw.ay k Son). —Shown as a half-hardy shrub, 
the leaves evenly triangular in outline, the flowers pure white, 2 inches 
in diameter. 
Tree Ikemuj Prince Albert (W. Gordon).—A large-flowered single 
variety, bright crimson, very showy. 
Arnehia ecliioides (VavA k Son).—A fine pan of this beautiful and, 
well known plant was shown, the flowers large, bright yellow spotted 
with maroon between the lobes when first expanding, afterwards 
fading. 
Caladium Comte do Gcrminy (.J. Laing k Sons).—A dwarf compact 
variety, leaves bright red with a few silvery spots. 
Begonia Princess Aland (,J. Laing k Son.s).—A double Tuberous 
Begonia with beautifully formed flowers, jjure white. 
Begonia Bammrss Rothschild (J. Laing k Sons).—A single Tuberous 
Begonia with well shapcil flowers, white centre, edged deep crimson. 
Ilaberlea rhodopensis (Boyal Gardens, Kew).—A dwarf plant from 
Macedonia, like a Bamondia in habit, but with tubular Streptocarpus- 
like flowers, about 1 inch long, the tube purple, the limb of five lobes, 
pale nearly white. They are borne in small trusses of three or four 
flowers each. 
MELONS AND CUCUMBERS AT CARDIFF CASTLE. 
“ AToumst” when describing the noted gardens at and surrounding 
Cardiff Castle, incidentally alluded to my visit at about the same time 
as ho was there, and although forestalled by him to a certain extent, it 
was yet left for me to describe our friend Mr. Pettigrew’s most success¬ 
ful method of growing Melons and Cucumbers. 
Melon.s, Cucumbers, and Pines are all grown in one large span- 
roofed house designed and erected by Mr. Pettigrew. This most ser¬ 
viceable structure is (10 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 13 feet high in the 
centre, is lightly jet strongly constructed, supported by iron pillars, and 
very effectively ventilated. A central pit, probably about 10 feet wide 
and well heated, is devoted to fruiting Pines, and a grand lot there 
were ripening off in October—Queens, including Mr. Pettigrew’s 
favourite Bipley selection and Moscow Queens, plenty of them weighing 
<3 lbs., and Smooth Cayennes still heavier. Between the walks and front 
walls other narrow well-heated pits are formed, and it is in these that 
the Melons and Cucumbers are grown. Nowhere <lsc probably are less 
pains taken with the compost for Melons, and nowhere' else are better 
crops grown. In the narrow pits just mentioned a depth of about 
18 inches of the best loam available (and that as far as 1 could learn is 
poor and void of fibre) is firmly packed. Sometimes much of the old 
soil is used, a little fresh being added to enliven it up .somewhat. As a 
matter of fact very little importance is attached to the compost, the 
aim always being to encourage a constant and brisk root action, no dry¬ 
ing off being ever thought of. Strong plants are put out 4 feet apart, 
and the stems at once enclosed with an earthenware collar about 
8 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep, the bottoms being rather wider 
than the top. Two squares of glass arc cut so as to fit over these and 
neatly up to the stem, and with the aid of this capital invention Mr. 
Pettigrew can safely defy the much-dreaded canker. Most practical 
gardeners are aware that Alelons are very liable to canker at the collar 
or portion of stem just above the ground, too much moisture being the 
principal, or it would appear the only cause of this. Nothing is more 
annoying to a cultivator than the loss of a plant, or it may be a whole 
row of plants, just when a fine crop of fruit is swelling off. Our remedy 
for this is high planting and careful watering, a little mound of soil 
about the stems being kept as dry as possible. At Cardiff Castle, how¬ 
ever, it is almost impossible to wet the soil alxuit the stems ; at any rate, 
if ordinary care is exercised. These collars or rims are, I believe, made 
specially for Mr. Pettigrew, but it is a pity so excellent an idea cannot 
become general property. 
Each plant is taken up with a clear disbudded stem up to the trellis, 
and they are then trained unstoppe<l up the roof, the laterals being laid in 
right and left and stopped at the second or third joint b- yond the fruit. 
Afterwards they are only stopped occasionally beyond fruit, or where 
necessary to avoid crowding, and are allowed to extend about 9 feet up 
the roof. One or more fiaiit are set on them as soon as possible, others 
at intervals, or according as the plants are capable of swelling them off. 
In this manner a succession of fruit are obtained on each plant. Any 
time during the Jlelon season fully grown or nearly ripe fruit, and 
more in various sizes, down to those newly set, may be seen at Cardiff 
Castle on the same plants, this being more like Cucumber than Melon 
culture. Water is given freely as well as liquid manure whenever the 
borders are at ali dry, and I noticed a mass of fibrous roots on the 
surface. The fruit are early and simply supported and cut before they 
crack badly, their full fiavour being developed on a warm, dry shelf. I 
do not remember which are Mr. Pettigrew’s favourite Melons, nor is this 
very material, as all varieties are amenable to the same treatment. 
Cardiff Castle, raised by Mr. Pettigrew, is the only variety of 
Cucumber grown in the garden, and anything better for private places 
it would be difficult to find. It possesses a good constitution, is very 
prolific at all times, and the quality of the fruit is of the best. As a 
rule the fruit scarcely average 12 inches in length, and if only they 
could be generally grown as long as the Telegraph it would also become 
a favourite with market growers. With 'this again very little trouble 
is taken, the plants keeping'in good health and very productive when 
rooting for many months in the comparatively small amount of loamy 
soil just alluded to. A high temperature is naturally maintained if 
only for the Pines, and plenty of head room coupled with the good 
attention the house receives at the hands of the Messrs. Pettigrew and 
Son does the rest. Altogether this mixed fruit house is much above the 
ordinary level of similar structures, and worth a long journey to see.— 
W. iGGUXiDEN. 
- The Weatiieb. —“B. D.,” writing from Perthshire, says ;—• 
“ The weather h 9 ,s been warmer during the past week, with a good deal 
of rain. On the 18th and 19th a severe thunderstorm visiteii many 
parts of the country, bright warm weather following.” To this we 
may add that after the steady downpour on Thursday last in London 
two or three very warm or rather hot days were experienced, since which 
the weather has been somewhat dull and cold, with frost on one or two 
mornings. 
- The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—I t has been decided that 
the Promenade Fete in the Covent Garden Flower Market on behalf of 
this Fund will be held between the hours of nine and twelve on Wed¬ 
nesday evening, June Gth, and that Alcssrs. Deal, Dickson, Assbee and 
Richards be appointed to carry out the necessary arrangements. 
- The death is announced of Mu. Francis Rauch, Inspector 
of the Imperial Gardens, Laxenburg, in Lower Austria, which occurred 
on the 13th inst. ’IVhen a young man he and his brother were both 
engaged by the late Air. Loudon, and both being excellent artists as 
well as good botanists, they contributed very materially in the pro¬ 
duction of the works upon which Air. Loudon was at the time engaged, 
especially the “Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum.” 
