18 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jn’y II, 1889, 
season of the year. Poinsettias that were rooted in May, and are 
now in G-inch pots, will be much better in cold frames than in 
heated pits. Any plants that have not taken freely to the new 
soil may be left to come forward with the next supply Betore 
placing them in cold frames it is important that they be carefully 
prepared for the change by exposing them to more air and a lower 
night temperature. The frames should be closed early in the 
afternoon while the sun is upon them, which will assist in main¬ 
taining a suitable night temperature. When the plants show 
signs of vigorous growth the lights may be thrown off during the 
day, but for some time ventilation will not be necessary at night. 
Discontinue shading as early as possible, and then the plants 
will grow strongly and possess the solidity that is essential to 
the production of good heads. Cuttings may still be rooted in 
thumbs and then transferred into 4-inch pots, which will be large 
enough for all propagated during the next two or three weeks. Pot 
these plants moderately firm in good loam, sand, and one-seventh of 
manure, which assists in promoting firm growth. Leaf mould may 
be used in the cutting pots, but if employed in the compost after¬ 
wards it promotes a too rapid growth, resulting in the plants 
becoming tall and soft, consequently only producing small bracts. 
STEPHANOTI3 FLORIBUNDA. 
Early plants that have produced a profusion of bloom will be 
better without artificial heat. In addition, the structure in which 
the plants are grown may be ventilated during the hottest part of 
the day as freely as a greenhouse. This will insure firm sturdy 
growth and well-ripened wood, that will be certain to yield abun¬ 
dance of bloom another year. Those who think that a close moist 
atmosphere is essential to keep this plant growing in order to obtain 
blooms will find that this end can be accomplished by the method 
of culture advised. Perhaps the flower trusses will not be pro¬ 
duced quite so quickly, but it is certain that the plants are being 
prepared for flowering profusely another year. 
If mealy bug infests the plant it invariably makes headway 
after the flower trusses appear, and cannot well be dislodged by a 
free use of the syringe. Under these conditions every attempt 
should be made to exterminate it out now. If the plants are 
grown in pots and their shoots trained to strings they may be 
taken down and the plants thoroughly washed with a solution of 
1 oz. of petroleum to a gallon of water. If the plants cannot be 
removed the same application may be applied to them where they 
are, and repeated again in about three weeks. Some care is needed 
after syringing to protect the plants from the sun until the whole 
of the oil has evaporated. This will take three or four days. Do 
not overshade them, or it will prove as injurious to the plants as 
if they were left exposed while the oil is upon the foliage. It must 
be kept in mind that the Stephanotis requires no shade from the 
sun except when applications of this nature are applied. 
BEGONIAS. 
Yery frequently these are grown in a too high temperature, and 
consequently the beauty they would display in a suitable medium 
is destroyed by the plants running up tall. They are more suited 
for an intermediate structure than a warm stove, although they 
are useful in the latter during the winter and early spring months. 
Two of the most useful Begonias for the conservatory from 
January to the end of April are B. manicataand B. hydrocotylifolia. 
The latter is the better of the two, on account of its lasting pro¬ 
perties. Its pink flowers and flower stems are very effective stand¬ 
ing above other dwarf flowering plants. B. manicata is the earlier, 
and on this account is v ilunble. These are looked upon as stove 
Begonias, and are frequently grown for the embellishment of that 
structure. This is a mistake, for the flowers are soon over—in 
fact, they are scarcely worth growing for the stove alone. 
Plants frr next year are now in 3-inch pots in which they 
were inserted. The growing end of the plant roots so freely that 
all old plants are thrown away as soon as the requisite number of 
cuttings have been inserted. We invariably stand them in a late 
vinery. They are well rooted now, and growing freely. They 
should be placed in 5 and 6-iuch pots in a compost of loam, sand, 
one-seventh of manure, and about one-third of leaf mould. They 
will be at home in cold frames until damp compels their removal to 
a drier position. They are safe until they come into flower in a 
temperature of 50°. A portion of the f lints can be introduced into 
a temperature 10° higher to bring them into flower, but they need 
careful hardening afterwards, or their flowers tall when removed to 
a house where the temperature only ranges about 45° to 50°. 
Such Begonias as Ingrami, Knowsleyana, semperflorens rosea, 
carminea, and others should now be transferred to 5-inch pots, and 
grown in cold frames. They need shading from the bright rays 
of the sun, and abundance of air during the day, after they display 
signs of rooting freely in the fresh compost. 
Cuttings of all except Knowsleyana may still be inserted, as well 
as good supplies of nitida and its variety rosea. Sow seed of the 
old semperflorens. Cuttings of Carrieri may be inserted in quantity,, 
even if they are only flowering shoots, which will lengthen, and 
be useful for furnishing purposes. If the cuttings of this have no 
eye at the base they must not be pinched after they are rooted, for 
they will fail to break again into growth. This is one of the most 
useful Begonias that can be grown, as it can be flowered either m 
summer or winter in the smallest pots, or can be grown into a good 
sized bush. Its habit of growth for this purpose is all that can b& 
desired. — W. Bardney. 
NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. 
Annual Exhibition at the Cbystal Palace. 
Roses and Royalty are potent factors in awakening the enthusiasm' 
of the general public, hence it need hardly be said that the Crystal. 
Palace was largely attended on Saturday last, and were the crush of a 
holiday crowd the end and aim of the Society devoted to the interests- 
o£ the Rose, then must their exhibition in this year of grace be classed 
as the most successful that they have ever held. Many species of the- 
Rose being Persian plants, it was in accordance with the fitness of 
things that our visitor, the Shah, should be taken by his English hosts- 
to see the rarest and most radiant of flowers, the brightest jewel in 
Flora’s richly gemmed crown, as we grow it here in England. Possibly 
the gardeners of Teheran do not grow Roses as we grow them, for 
nowhere are they more cared for or more dearly cherished than in this 
country, but there may be some love for the queen of flowers in the 
Oriental breast for all that; therefore, let us hope that the dusky 
potentate enjoyed his visit, and gained instruction from it too. 
Rarely, if ever, has a finer show been held than that of the National! 
Society this year. Considering the trying weather, for hardly a drop* 
of rain had fallen for several weeks, the exhibits as a whole were excel¬ 
lent, and prizewinners, who have triumphed over no ordinary difficulties, 
have ample reason for self-congratulation. To southern growers these 
remarks especially apply ; many of them must, after the long spell of 
drjq hot weather, have awaited the show day -with impatience. A 
magnificent stand was that of the famous Yorkshire exhibitors, Messrs. 
Harkness, in the chief class. In the amateurs’ division the great 
features were the stands of Messrs. Grant and Lindsell. As to varieties,. 
Ulrich Brunner, Mrs. J. Laing, Her Majesty, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, 
Marie Baumann, Marquise de Castellane, Charles Darwin, and Madame 
Susanne Rodocanachi were in excellent condition amongst the H.P.’s, 
while such fine varieties as Madame Gabriel Luizet, Merveille de Lyon, 
Charles Lefebvre, Heinrich Schultheis, Boieldieu, and Violette Bouyer 
were less noteworthy. The queen of the Teas was undoubtedly Com- 
tesse de Nadaillac ; and Caroline Kuster, Souvenir de Paul Neyron, 
Niphetos, Francisca Kruger, Madame Cusin, and Souvenir d’Elise 
Yardon were also well represented. 
As the public were admitted to the Show long before the work of 
reporting was half over, and quickly packed the tent to excess, a more 
difficult and unpleasant task than that of taking notes could not well 
be imagined. If a few errors have crept into the following report it 
is hoped that they will, under the circumstances, be pardoned. So- 
fine a show was worth more attention than could possibly be given, 
to it. 
nurserymen’s classes. 
Following the order of the schedule we first find five importantn 
classes devoted to nurserymen, divided into two divisions, exhibitors in 
the one not being allowed to compete in the other. 
Class 1, seventy-two distinct , single trusses. —The six stands in this 
one class formed a display of great beauty and interest. There was not 
one in which some good blooms were not observable, and the leading 
boxes were, if anything, above the average. The first prize consisted of 
a valuab'e challenge trophy and £G, and it was won by Messrs. Harkness 
and Son, Bedale, Yorks, who have made rapid strides towards the front 
during the last few years, and on the present occasion exhibited a 
magnificent collection of flowers, fitted to compare with the best stands 
of former days. Their northern position placed them at an advantage- 
with their southern rivals, as the hot, dry weather in the south has 
hurried on the blooms too rapidly, but this should detract little from the 
credit due to them. They showed large, substantial, well built up 
flowers, admirably finished, true, bright, and clear in colour, in fact in 
the perfection of show condition. The boxes were arranged in threes,, 
with one as an'apex and two as a base, and the varieties were :—Upper 
box, back row : Ulrich Brunner (a superb bloom), Mrs. J. Laing, Mrs. 
Jowitt (these were a splendid trio), Duchesse de Vallombrosa. Horace 
Yernet, Hippolyte Jamain (weak), Madame A. LavallGe, and Her 
Majesty (superb). Middle : Violette Bouyer, Lord Macaulay, Souvenir 
d’Elise (very beautiful), Rosieriste Jacobs, Amazone, Duke of Connaught.. 
Marie Rady, and Louis Van Houtte. Front: La Duchesse de Morny 
