290 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 1, 1885. 
•prefer to migrate on a day that is rather calm. Still, it may b 
true that the east wind, by its chilling influences, often produce 8 
an effect upon vegetation that sets the aphis hosts adrift. How 
far they travel in these migrations is a debateable point. The 
late Mr. Walker, and other observers, state the distances are 
usually short, but it seems probable, as 1 will show, that they 
may go a mile or more, ill-adapted as they seem for flight. In 
that case, it is likely they move along, not so much by any effort, 
as by yielding themselves to the force of the breeze. 
How far the aphis migration of July last extended over the 
British Islands I cannot say, doubtless it would be most marked 
in the counties that suffered greatly from drought. It was 
noticed by myself in the districts of Middlesex, Essex, Kent, and 
Surrey ; it has been reported from the Midlands, and I trust one 
result of this article will be the publication of further particulars 
in reference thereto. This migration was remarkable, not only 
for the month of its occurrence, but for the long time it lasted 
(a fortnight, or about that), and the aphides were, contrary to 
custom, on the wing while a strong wind was blowing upon 
several days. They came also to us in North Kent from all 
directions, frequently in such numbers as to be an annoyance to 
passengers along roads or across fields, sometimes entering the 
eyes, ears, and mouth. Having to be in London on one of the 
last days of July, I crossed from the eastern suburbs to the 
western, and in every street there were aphides wafting about. 
The most singular scene, however, was on the morning of 
August 1st, along the High Street, Gravesend, and some of the 
thoroughfares adjacent. Here every by-passer exhibited them 
upon his clothes by scores, and along the angles of doorsteps and 
similar places the insects laid in little green heaps, seemingly 
driven to the ground by exhaustion. 
With regard to these, and some observed near the Kentish 
shore on previous days, it is a fair conclusion that they must 
have crossed from Essex, a distance of at least three-fourths of 
a mile. And a part of those that had thus made their way 
across the Thames very possibly travelled a mile overland in 
Kent and Essex, if not more. As to the species, two were con¬ 
spicuous—a green aphis that I take to be A. Humuli, or its 
variety Malaheb, an insect occurring not only upon the Hop, but 
on fruit trees and various Rosaceous plants. The other was a 
small blackish aphis, in much less numbers. Of its identity 
I am uncertain, it resembled a species often abundant on aquatic 
plants. Of these aphis hosts I believe few survived. They 
either died en route, or in reaching new food-plants found them 
as sapless as those they had left.—J. R. S. C. 
TOMATOES. 
This valuable vegetable is rapidly growing in populari y, and an 
enormous trade is done throughout England in this article of consumption 
alone, to the extent of a great many tons annually. We have now such a 
host of varieties that it is an important question which pay the best, and 
if growers give their experience in various localities, your readers will be 
able to judge for themselves which they may prefer for their own 
growing. 
There is now an extensive trial of Tomatoes at Harefield Grove, near 
Bickmansworth, the residence of George Webster, Esq., where 5500 
plants are now fruiting, and have been in bearing for some time, all cul¬ 
tivated under glass, and with the exception of the two early houses no 
fire heat has been used. In one of the early houses Hathaway’s Excelsior, 
planted last September, and in bearing since March, will be discarded to 
make room for Harefield Grove Red, originally a selection made by Mr. 
Gough’s father many years since from the Old Red, and since carefully 
selected by Mr. Gough, the manager of the Harefield Grove Gardens, and 
a fixed character obtained. It is large and handsome, highly corrugated, 
and of a rich bright colour, of short, sturdy habit and short-jointed, and 
a prolific cropper, and regarded by Mr. Webster and Mr. Gough as the 
premier variety of the collection. A long span-roof house has recently 
been planted with this variety for the winter supply, and the plants are 
now 2i to 3 feet high, strong and vigorous and already fruiting, and all 
have been struck from cuttings. 
King Humbert. —This is extensively grown there, and is a favourite, 
but at present it is of a very sportive character and wants selecting. Mr. 
Gough intends using cuttings from the true variety, which is oval in 
shape, of medium size and deep red in colour, fruiting profusely in 
clusters, and is a handsome ornamental variety of medium height. In a 
range of fiames this variety is planted out and growing in the soil and 
fruiting abundantly. 
Chiswick Bed. —A good cropper both in pots and planted out, and is 
like King Humbert in form and habit, but the fruit is far less solid and 
heavy. In fact it is of a woolly substance, and Mr. Gough does not 
intend growing Chiswick Red again. 
Williams' Improved Orangefield. —A very fine prolific variety, not 
very smooth, but of good size and weighs heavily, of dwarfish habit, and 
is regarded by Mr. Gough as second best to Harefield Grove Red. 
Sutton’s Perfection. —A very large handsome and smooth fruit; a 
fine late variety and a good cropper, but not so heavily as the Harefield 
Red or Improved Orangefie’d, but a good exhibition variety. 
Sutton's Mainerop. —This shows some very large fruit, but is not a 
good bearer under glass. In form it closely resembles Harefield Red, but 
crops thinly, and has very distinct foliage which frequently bums under 
glass. Probably this variety will do much better out of doors. 
Vick’s Criterion. —Oval-shaped, but not so large or so good a cropper 
as Criterion Improved. 
Vicki's Criterion Improved. —This has a rounder and flatter fruit than 
its parent, not so rich in colour as many kinds, but is a good cropper 
early and late. 
Sutton's Conqueror. —A ribbed flat red, a fine variety, good cropper, 
not equal to Harefield Red, and not so early or so handsome. 
American Perfection. —Sent to Harefield by Mr. Bennett of Potters 
Bar, and 100 plants are now fruiting in potp, is a good grower, 
smooth, and showing fruit freely, and is evidently a large, handsome., 
promising variety, showing in clusters, but not yet coloured. 
Jackson’s Wonderful. —A tall-growing variety, very similar to if not 
identical with Hepper’s Goliath, and not worth growing compared with 
Sutton’s Perfection as a late variety. 
Phillips' Perfection.— One of the handsomest in cultivation, and a long 
way ahead of all the Hathaway’s Excelsior type, a capital cropper, and 
well worth growing. 
Hackwood Park. —A bad setter early, but an extraordinary cropper 
late, large in size and of smooth form, some slightly corrugated, bright 
colour, and a heavy, solid fruit. One of the best varieties grown. 
Harefield Golden Gem. —A seedling raised here and largely grown 
now, of medium height ; fruit of good size, handsome and slightly ribbed, 
and it frequently reaches C to 8 ozs. in weight. It is an excellent cropper, 
early, and a constant bearer. Colour, bright golden yellow, and is really 
a Ar.-t-class new variety. 
Other varieties are also under cultivation at Harefield, but those 
enumerated stand out prominently as the best.—S olanum. 
PREPARING FOR SPRING. 
The summer is now on the wane, and attention must b9 turned 
to those plants which produce such pleasing effects in early spring. 
Daisies are extensively employed, but how they have suffered ! killed in 
some instances, and in others a few straggling half-withered stems are 
but the remnants of those effective spring bedders. Some, I feel sure, 
will have difficulty in procuring sufficient supplies, and those who may 
be thus placed will do well to bear in mind that a very useful spring-flower¬ 
ing plant may be found in Limnanthes Douglasi, of which a stock may 
quickly and cheaply be raised. It is one of the best of annuals for 
autumn sowing, and when of sufficient size should be planted in the beds 
or borders in which it is intended to flower at about 4 or 6 inches apart. 
It forms spreading tufts of leaves, from which in spring issue in great pro¬ 
fusion its pleasing and effective white and yellow flowers. It is not too 
late even now to sow this, but which should be no longer delayed. It 
thrives in most soils made fairly rich. Then there are Primroses and 
Polyanthus, Forget-me-nots, Silene, Wallflowers in various colours, and 
many more which will need to be in fair sized plants now ; and then when 
sending off bulb orders do not forget when ordering Hyacinths, Tulips, 
Crocuses, and Snowdrops, the bright gems of spring such as Chionodoxa 
Lucilite, Iris reticulata, Scillas bifolia and siberica, Trillium grand.fiorum 
praecox, Muscari lingulatum, Anemones blanda, appenina, coronaria, 
and fulgens, Narcissus Bulbocodium, Triteleia uniflora, and the variety 
lilacina. These, and many more too numerous to mention, will all assist 
in making the display much more diversified and full of interest than even 
the most sanguine may anticipate.—E. 
SHOW AND FANCY DAHLIAS AT THE NATIONAL • 
DAHLIA SHOWS. 
There is one most striking and interesting feature which these 
analyses bring out more and more clearly every year, and that is the 
prominent positions that are being assumed and retained by varieties of 
recent introduction, thus indicating that a decided and somewhat rapid 
improvement is taking place in the character of this grand autumn flower. 
This is more particularly noticeable in the Show classes. On carefully 
comparing the following lists with those published in the Journal of 
Horticulture last year, it will be seen that the newer varieties have, as a 
rule, during the past twelvemonth kept their positions better than those 
which have been out, say, six or more years. Although the abnormally 
dry summer through which we have passed has evidently affected some 
varieties much more adversely than others ; yet as this would apply to 
both the newer and more established Dahlias alike, it can hardly have 
influenced the results to any appreciable extent. As regards the Show 
flowers there are six which have fallen three places since last year—viz., 
James Vick, Burgundy, James Service, Rev. J. Goodday, Ovid, and W. H. 
Williams; while John W. Lord aDd Criterion have both gone down four 
places : Alexander Cramond, John Wyatt, Modesty, and George Dickson 
five places : and Royal Queen (appare tly one of those least able, to resist 
a long drought) no less tfcan seven p ces. Pioneer, George Smith, Rosy 
Morn, ana Duke of Connaught do n t appear at all in this year’s list, 
although six additional names have betn added to it. On the other hand, 
George Rawlings, Mrs. Harris, and Thomas Goodwin have each gone up 
three places; while Chris Ridley, Champion Rollo, Joseph Green, John 
Standish, Sunbeam, Miss Cannell, James Stephen, Harrison Weir, Lady 
Gladys Herbert, and notably that chastely tinted and exquisitely formed 
