April £2, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
311 
Marguerite and Miss Taplin, Mr. R. Dean second with Tenniel, and Mr. 
J. Douglas fourth and fifth with Lady Howden de Walden. 
POLYANTHUSES AND MISCELLANEOUS. 
The Polyanthuses were not so numerous or good as usual, that fine 
variety Cheshire Favourite standing out prominently amongst them. There 
were two entries of sis gold-laced Polyanthuses, but one of these was dis¬ 
qualified because some of the flowers were pin-eyed; the other was from 
Mr. J. Douglas, who was adjudged the first prize, his varieties being 
Saunderson’s Henry I., Barlow’s John Bright, Saunderson’s William IV., 
Cos’s Prince Regent, Buck’s George IV., and Lancashire Hero. For three 
varieties Mr. Walkden was first, showing Exile, Cheshire Favourite, and a 
seedling, Mr. J. Douglas and Mr. J. T. D. Llewelyn following. Mr. Walkden 
was also first in single specimen class with Cheshire Favourite, Mr. R. Dean 
third, fourth, and fifth with George IV., Prince Regent, and Lancer ; Mr. 
J. Douglas being sixth with Formosa. 
Fancy Auriculas were well shown by Messrs. Douglas and Bolton, who 
won the first and second prizes. Mr. R. Dean and Messrs. Paul & Son were 
the prizetakers for twelve Fancy Polyanthuses, both exhibiting brightly 
coloured varieties, and the same exhibitors were placed in like order for 
twelve double ana single Primroses of similar merit to the foregoing. Mr. 
J. T. D. Llewelyn had an admirable premier collection of Primulas in the 
class for twelve not less than six distinct species, Mr. J. Douglas taking the 
second place with smaller plants. 
SPRING-FLOWERING HEATHS. 
Though large numbers of such Ericas as hyemalis and gracilis are 
now grown, many very beautiful species are much neglected. It is easy 
to have a number in flower at this time of year which would be welcome 
in greenhouses and conservatories to relieve the monotony of ordinary 
forced bulbs and other plants. The following is a selection of half a 
dozen easily grown Heaths that should be in every collection :— 
E. colorans superb a .—A shrubby erect-growing softwooded kind, 
having linear obtuse downy light green leaves arranged in fours. Flowers 
produced in clusters towards the ends of the branches, and forming 
dense racemes of tubular bell-shaped pendulous blooms, which are pure 
white in a young state, but change with age to rose colour (fig. 51). 
E. regerminans .—A twiggy, compact, softwooded plant of free 
growth. Leaves arranged in fours, linear, obtuse, and dark green. 
Flowers small, bell-shaped, produced in clusters at the ends of all the 
branches, pale purple in colour, and sweet-scented, 
E. Linneeana superb a .—A robust-growing variety of great beauty. 
Leaves arranged in threes, linear, obtuse, and villous. Flowers large, 
tubular, hirsute, terminal on the small branches, forming long dense 
racemes lower portion of tube rosy purple, mouth white. 
E. canaliculata .—Leaves in threes, linear, obtuse, plain above, 
channelled below, and deep green; the footstalks leng and coloured. 
Flowers nodding, bell-shaped, in threes at the ends of the small branches 
pale purple in colour. 
E. campawulata .—An elegant slender-growing plant. Leaves sub- 
ulate, smooth, and arranged in fours, light green. Flowers pendant, 
usually solitary, bell-shaped, and clear yellow (fig. 55.) 
E. persoluta .—Leaves linear, obtuse, light green. Flowers small, 
bell-shaped, produced in great profusion upon all the small branches, 
and forming long and dense racemes of a deep blush colour. There are 
two varieties of this plant—viz., alba and rubra, the former producing 
pure white, and the latter deep red flowers.—G. W. H. 
AMMONIA IN VINERIES. 
A gentleman who has of late years devoted many of his leisure 
hours to the pleasurable occupation of gardening, and who is particu¬ 
larly interested in Grape culture, has arrived at the conclusion that 
an artificially-created ammonia-charged atmosphere must be beneficial 
to the contents of the vinery. As far as he was concerned the idea 
was original enough, but as many readers of this Journal are aware 
it is far from being novel, though I believe very few modern 
gardeners now think of affording the Vines any food through their 
leaves, and not a few would argue against the possibility or advisa¬ 
bility of so doing. In any case I have promised to give my own 
views on the subject, and am open to contradiction or correction if 
they are found to be incompatible with the theories or practices of 
men qualified to express an opinion on the matter. 
According to chemical authorities the atmosphere consists princi¬ 
pally of two gases—nitrogen and oxygen, with small portions each 
of aqueous vapour and carbonic acid gas. In addition it also contains 
a small portion of ammonia, and in places near the sea muriatic acid. 
The quantity of aqueous vapour varies exceedingly with the tempera¬ 
ture and the locality, but the proportions of nitrogen, oxygen, and 
carbonic acid gas are nearly constant at all temperatures and in all 
situations. It thus appears that we may easily dissipate the aqueous 
vapour and ammonia, and which we most frequently do in our dry 
overheated houses. By occasionally damping the floor, walls, and 
stages of our houses we maintain the requisite moisture in the atmo¬ 
sphere ; but how often do we think of replacing the ammonia driven 
