May 6, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
861 
Single plants, red grounds.—Mr. J. Hilton premium with George IV., 
third and sixth with Prince Regent and Sydney Smith ; William Brockbank, 
Esq., first and second with George IV. and Lord Derby (seedling); Mr. 
William Taylor fourth with Lancer. In black grounds Mr. Walkden, 
premier and first with Cheshire Favourite ; Mr. Hilton second with Exile ; 
William Brickbank, Esq., third and fourth with Beauty of England and 
Lancashire Hero ; Mr. R. Heys fifth with King. 
Fancy Auriculas. —There were two fine collections staged. First 
prize S. Barlow, Esq.; second, Mr. Councillor Bolton. In fancy Polyanthus 
only one collection was staged, for which a first prize was awarded to S. 
Barlow, Esq. Twelve Primroses, dissimilar.—First S. Barlow, Esq.; second 
Mr. Walkden, with fine plants. 
Joseph Broome, Esq., Didsbury, exhibited a large and beautiful collection 
of stove plants in flower, among which was Ataccia cristata with ten spikes. 
There was also a very large, varied, and admirably arranged group of Alpine 
plants and Primulas from the Royal Botanic Gardens selected by Mr. 
B. Findlay.—F. D. Horner, Burton-in-Lonsdale. 
HUGHES’S FIR-TREE OIL SPRAY PUMP. 
With the object of using the well-known insecticide, Fir-tree oil* 
more quickly and effeclively to Roses, fruit trees, and large plants gene¬ 
rally than could be effected by the hand-syriDge or spray-distributor, the 
pump represented] in fig. 67 has been 
introduced by the proprietor, Mr. G. 
G. Hughes. It is easy to work, the 
outflow from the nozzle not being 
intermittent with each movement of 
the handle, but continuous, either in 
a thin stream or fine spray at the will of 
the operator, the latter being the most 
economical method of distributing the 
insecticide. One person can work 
the pump and direct the solution with 
the greatest ease, indeed a lady could 
work it without fatigue. It is simply 
held in position by placing the foot 
on the base of the ring, and with the 
handle in one hand and the nozzle in 
the other trees or plants can be ex_ 
•peditiously dressed for the destruction of insects. Having tried th» s 
spray pump, we are in a position to testify that it answers its pur¬ 
pose well. 
THE HUNTINGDON NURSERIES. 
The old and quaint county town of Huntingdon is famous if for nothing 
less than being the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell ; yet in the environs is also 
to be found the nursery of Messrs. Wood & Ingram, devoted to the growth of 
popular classes of flowers, and in some score of bouses, such as nursery¬ 
men know how to construct economically and utilise so well, I found much 
that was noteworthy. 
Clematises are grown in a large house 84 feet by 20 feet, Bpan-roofed, 
10,000 plants being raised annually, some being grown to specimen size. Of 
the single-flowered varieties the best were Alba Magna, pure white, broad- 
sepalled flowers ; Mis3 Bateman, white, chocolate anthers ; Madame Van 
Houtie, white, mauve tinted ; Henryi, large creamy white, one of the best 
outdoors ; Lady Caroline Neville, French white, mauve bars, very beautiful; 
and the Jackmanni alba, which is destined to become as great a favourite as 
this type ; Gipsy Queen, dark velvety purple ; Louis Van Houtte, bluish 
purple, six broad petals, very showy and free ; Madame Grange, crimson- 
violet, red centre, beautiful; Purpurea elegans, violet purple, large, fine ; 
Ascotiensis, azure blue, large and fine ; Jackmanni, violet-purple, still one 
of the best, superba being an improvement upon it in size and colour ; Fairy 
Queen, flesh with pink bar, very la'g^ and fine : Symeana, lavender, deeper 
bars ; Mrs. Crawshay, pink, pale bronzy bar, beautiful. Of the doubles, 
Duchess of Edinburgh, white; Belle of Woking, silver-grey, very fine ; 
Countess of Lovelace, bluish lilac. There is a fine stock of that very fine 
conservatory winter-flowering climber—the very finest of all the Clematis 
under glass—viz , indivisa lobata, and which ought to have place in every 
greenhouse. The new hardy white Passion-flower Constance Elliott is 
grown in quantity; its ivory-white and sweet-scented flowers is sure to 
render it a general favourite. 
Pelargoniums are grown extensively. One house 84 feet by 13 feet con¬ 
tained well grown examples m 5-inch pots for decorative purposes, the 
foliage deep green, and abundant flowers or trusses showing. The trusses 
are large, and the flowers large without being coarse, and the colour of the 
flowers clear. Only the commonest loam is used or road sidings, with Amies, 
a little bone, and soot. Finer plants cannot possibly b; seen anywhere, and 
they show wnat a lot of trouble we give ourselves about soil when even the 
commonest may be utilised. Only the best decorative varieties are grown, 
amongst which are in Regal or Fringed, DucheBS of Bedford, white, carmine 
spot ; Duch 8s of Edinburgh, similar, but with a lake spot and heavier 
feather ; Digby Grand, blue, dark blotch on upper petals, heavily fringed ; 
Madame Thibaut, white and rosy carmine, maroon blotch, showy ; Dr. 
Masters, crim-on, black blotch, same colour on lower petals, and smaller 
blotch; Volontb Nationale, petals blotched rosy carmine, margined pure 
white ; Volomb Nationale Album, white, promises to be equally good as a 
white, and finely fringed. In show, French, and spotted varieties. Corsair, 
armine, crimson blotch, spots on lower petals, dwarf and fine ; Decorator, 
rich crimson, maroon blotch on top petals, very fine; Elward Perkins, 
scarlet, dark blotch, extra truss, very good; Fascination, carmine upp;r 
petals, rose lower petals, with white centre; Gold Mine, vermilion, maroon 
blotch on upper petals, white centre, large and good ; John Bright, scirlet, 
maroon blotch, white centre, very free and fine; Martial, crimson maroon 
top blotch, fiery elge, fine and free; Lizzie, rosy carmine, crimson 
blotch on upper petals, carmine on lower, white centre, very free blooming ; 
Mabel, maroon upper petals, lower petals rosy carmine, white centre, very 
beautiful; Mrs. Beckwith, lake, suffused white, maroon feather on upper 
petals, fine; Mermeris, red, maroon spots ; Mrs, Gladstone, blush, crimson 
blotch, extra fine; Robert Green, purplish crimson, maroon blotch, effec¬ 
tive ; Rosetta, purple, maroon spots, very free; Triomphe de St. Maude, 
light purplish crimson, black blotch, very free blooming; T. A. Dickson, 
rosy crimson, heavily spotted, very free ; Tommy Dodd, blush white, crim¬ 
son blotch, fine ; Venus, white, delicate carmine spots, very free and good; 
Madame Charles Konig, pure white, of good form and substance, one of the 
best whites. The only Fancy variety grown is Princess Teck, white, carmine 
spot, very attractive. There is a seedling of great promise, an advance 
upon Harry Buck. The flowers are large and of good form and substance, 
upper petals crimson, carmine shaded, and lighter on edge, deep maroon 
blotch, very clear, lower petals scarlet and clean (not marked as in Harry 
Buck), dense compact habit, and very free blooming. 
That the bedding-out system is not quite so devoid of life as some 
represent is evidenced by the many large houses devoted to bedding plants, 
especially Pelargoniums. OE Tricolors one house contains 11,000 plants. 
Perhaps the finest of the Golden Tricolors is Masterpiece, fine broad black 
zone. Mrs. Henry Cox is as free as Mrs. Pollock, its markings being bright 
and intense, well defined rich crimson zone, bright yellow margin. This is 
considered the finest of the class and an excellent bedder. Macbeth has a 
very heavy zone and clear yellow margin, and very effective for bedding. 
LadyCullum still holds its own as one of the best bedders, the colours being 
splendid; E. R. Benyon, maroon and red zone, well defined, capital bedder ; 
Peter Grieve is a vigorous grower, with high colours ; Prince of Wales must 
also be mentioned as intensely brilliant in its colours ; Acme, narrow red 
zone and clear yellow edge, is bolder in leaf than most Tricolors ; William 
Sandy is also very bright and a good grower, similar remarks applying to 
Victoria Regina, broad gold leaf margin and crimson zone. Florence, with 
its dark zone fringed crimson, is very effective. Sophia Dumaresque, Lady 
Cullum, and Mrs. Pollock still hold their own as constitutionally good, Mrs. 
Pollock being unapproached as an all-round bedder. Mrs. Strong has rich 
foliage and double scarlet flowers, very attractive. 
In Silver Tricolors, Lass o’ Gowrie is the best bedder, though Prince 
Silverwings is freer and less bright in its markings. Mrs. Laing also is 
good. Of Silver-edged, Chelsea Gem, bright silver edge, doubly rosy pink 
flowers, dwarf grower, capital edging kind, and one of the best general 
bedders. Avalanche has white flowers, which are produced freely. Flower 
of Spring may be named as one of the best bedders, also May Queen and 
Mrs. Vidler, fine silver edge and scarlet flowers. Viscountess Cranbrook is 
dwarf, clear white edge, and scarlet flowers ; whilst Mrs. J. C. Mappin has 
white flowers with a pink eye, very attractive. Of Gold-leaved varieties, 
Crystal Palace Gem is still unsurpassed. Verona, however, is a good addi¬ 
tion to this class, with plain gold leaf. Golden Superb is favoured with a 
zone and has crimson flowers, and considered the best of this section. 
Golden Brilliantissima has every leaf margined with yellow and white, the 
remainder pea green, a peculiar combination of variegation, small neat 
grower, and may prove useful for edging ; indeed, it is considered a gem 
for that purpose. 
Hollyhocks are numerous, there being thousands as strong and h=althy as 
could be wished in 4-inch pots, fit for planting out at once. It is pleasing 
to see this noble flower again rising in favour, there being none grander in 
their season. Seedlings alone are growu, and very properly, as the named 
varieties are much more susceptible to the disease or fungus that has made 
such havoc with the Hollyhock of late years. Verbenas are a feature, 
dwarf and bushy, some 15,000 in single pots without a trace of mildew, 
bedding varieties being chiefly grown. The best white is White Queen; 
best pink, Lady Brooke; best purple, Mrs. Langtry; and best scarlet. 
General Gordon. Other good bedders are Eclipse, crimson ; Blue King, 
bluish purple ; Peacemaker, pink; Miss Nevill, white; and Othello, 
crimson maroon, suffused purple. Fine varieties for pots are Purity, white ; 
Lady Brooke ; Hamlet, orange crimson ; Lord Brooke, scarlet, white eye ; 
Striata, striped pink and white, quartering regular ; The Fairy Queen, light 
ground, red centre; Compacti, white; Mabel, mauve; Fantastic, salmon 
pink, striped scarlet; Rev. Dawson Darner, scarlet; Victor Emanuel, 
mauve, tinted plum, light green eye ; and Lustrous, scarlet, white eye. 
Lobelias are in fine form ; the favourites are Brighton, Swanley Blue, 
True Blue of the pumila section, Blue King being good. L. pumila Ingrami 
originated here, and it still is far the best variety. Dahlias exist in quantity 
of all the hest Show, Fancy, Bouquet, Single, and Cactus sections. In a 
small house a seedling Carnation attracted attention, purple self, large, bold, 
smooth flower, of fine form and great substance, very sweet, and evidently 
of the tree type. Mango Pepper plants existing in quantity, but as this 
was the first season of growing it I could glean nothing respecting it. 
Pentstemons were looking healthy, and they are very useful for effect and 
cutting in late summer ; Bouvardias cut back were pushing fresh growth 
strongly. Alfred Neuner, Vreeiandi, Dazzler, Brilliant, and President Gar¬ 
field are the favourites. In passing through some of the structures I noted 
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium and its variegated form so suitable for hot 
window boxes, where too much care is not given in watering, and that very fine 
plant for window boxes or brackets, the “ Cape Ivy,” Senecio macroglossus. 
Of Heliotropes, President Garfield and White Lady were fine. Marguerites 
seem in request, and Salvia patens also, the latter being especially valuable, 
as we have so few bright blue flowers with stems long enough for cutting. 
Gynura aurantiaca, a Salvia-like plant with purple stems, leaf veins, and 
hairs on the leaves is telling as a table plant when of moderate size, and it 
may be grown in small pots. Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums are present in 
quantity, and fine they are for pots, vases, and baskets, wh-tber iu or out¬ 
door. Of those noticeable for their flowers are Masterpiece, magenta 
crimson, fine flowers and trusses, Bridal Wreath being the best white ; and 
for bedding, Holly Wreath, variegated, pink flowers; and L’Elegante, 
creamy white variegation, both good edging sorts. Of Doubles, Gloire 
Fig. 67. 
