518 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 27, 1889, 
may be withheld. In the first place, nine varieties are too large a num¬ 
ber to ask for with the hope of obtaining strong competition, as few 
persons grow this section largely who do not make a specialty of them. 
Competition would have been much more likely to have been increased 
if fewer varieties had been asked for. Then, again, the great risk 
of there being six competitors might determine some people not to 
enter. It would, indeed, be hard on an exhibitor were he to stage 
superior blooms, and there be only half the number of entries stipulated 
for. In this case the judges would have power to either withhold the 
cup or award it. The wording of the class is vague, but I take it that 
the donor would be the sole judge whether the cup should be withheld. 
From past experience of northern exhibitions of Chrysanthemums, 
especially in the Anemone classes, it is not to be expected that six will 
compete in the class named. Cultivators in northern parts do not 
favour Anemone varieties nearly so much as growers in the south. 
Amateur cultivators are well provided for in classes specially set 
apart for them in cut blooms. Groups of Chrysanthemums interspersed 
with foliage plants receive encouragement to the extent of prizes value 
£15 10s., £4, £3, and £2, which is a handsome offer, this being a class 
which has produced a good effect. In the conditions ruling the plant 
classes occur some, to me, original remarks relating to the definition of 
trained and informal (commonly called bush) plants, it being the first 
time that I have noted the meaning of the conditions set forth so 
plainly, trained specimens being those which have their shoots depressed 
and bent down and trained into formal shapes. Bush-grown plants are 
defined to be those which are not depressed or bent down, but in which 
the shoots may be topped to form a bush by making an extra number 
of shoots. From the wording of these classes no argument need ever 
take place between the judges and the exhibitors on the score of what 
constitutes the training and non-training of plants for the two styles of 
growth. _ 
Competition by ladies in the arrangement of cut blooms is specially 
invited, and to encourage them there are some valuable prizes offered. 
These have been productive of keen competition in the past, making that 
part of the exhibition specially attractive, thus showing the wisdom of 
the venture. For a dessert table 8 feei by 4 feet, completely laid out for 
six persons, only Chrysanthemums with any kind of foliage to be used 
in its decoration, a piece of valuable challenge plate and 4 guineas 
are offered for the first prize ; 3, 2, and 1 guinea being given as the 
remaining prizes. Other classes are also provided for the. arrangement 
of cut blooms, such as bouquets, sprays, and opportunities to display 
taste in arrangements. In these classes ample means are presented 
to test the best kinds of blooms, colours, &c., in the setting up of 
the different exhibits. Here, then, is a splendid chance to display the 
single varieties, which are so well a lapted to this mode of arrangement, 
being so light in appearance and covering a wide range of colour. In 
all there are five silver cups given in the open classes for cut blooms, a 
fact unprecedented for value. These are in addition to the handsome 
prizes offered in the same classes, one only being a challenge cup; 
therefore on the score of value exhibitors have little cause to grumble. 
The entry fees are especially low when the amount of prizes are taken 
into consideration, some other societies requiring an entry fee of 1 guinea 
to compete for prizes less tempting. This is more evidence in favour 
of the Hull Chrysanthemum Society wishing to encourage competition of 
the highest order among the largest number. These remarks are lengthy, 
but the schedule displays such generosity that fewer comments would 
not treat the classes as adequately as they deserve.—E. M. 
A NEW FLOWER POT. 
I have received specimens of a new flower pot (Hancock’s Patent) 
for Chrysanthemums. It is a kind of double pot, one fitting inside the 
other, allowing sufficient space between the two to form an air cavity 
and prevent the sun shining directly on the pot which contains the roots, 
as it has been found many times that the roots on the side next to the 
sun have been damaged to such an extent that a serious check must 
take place to the growth of the plant. In the double pot plants which 
needed water at least twice daily in the ordinary pot will only require 
their roots supplying once, at the same time the soil in the inner pot 
will be kept cool. The chief objection to this new idea is the cost of 
production and the extra space needed for the plants to stand in. How¬ 
ever, these matters are for after consideration. The first step is to 
ascertain if there be any advantage to the welfare of the plants when 
grown in this double pot. I hope to give those I have received a 
thorough trial this summer, and will report the results for the benefit 
of others. We have placed in them varieties of the different sections, 
especially those sorts which need a larger quantity of water than the 
majority. Take for instance the Queen family among the incurved, and 
Avalanche and Edwin Molyneux of the Japanese, which need consider¬ 
ably more water at the roots than others, owing presumably to the large 
quantity of foliage these sorts carry. 
With a view to explaining more fully what the pots are like, I give 
a few measurements and descriptions. They are thin in the material, 
yet strong ; the inside measurement is 9 inches, and 10 inches deep, the 
outer pot being 8 inches in diameter at the bottom, with a space of 
1* inch from the bottom of the inner pot to the bottom of the outer 
one, which allows a free outlet for surplus water, and prevents the 
entrance of worms. The outer pot has an aperture 6 inches in diameter. 
The cavity between the inside pot and the outer one is 1J inch wide. 
The top of the inner pot is made with a wide flange, which fits on to 
the top of the outer pot.—E. Molyneux. 
Events of the Week. —There will be a sale of plants at Gunners- 
burv House, Acton, on Friday, June 27th. On Tuesday next, July 2nd, 
the National Rose Conference and Show will be held in the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, continuing the second day. 
The Twickenham Horticultural Society’s Summer Show will be held 
on Wednesday, July 3rd, in the grounds of Poulett Lodge; and the 
Royal Botanic Society’s Evening Fete will take place the same night 
in the gardens at Regent’s Park. On the same date Wright’s or 
Hanks’ nursery, Wakefield Road, Pontefract, will be sold by auction. 
- Royal Horticultoeal Society.— At a general meeting of 
this Society, held last Tuesday, Sir Chas. Strickland, Bart., in the 
chair, the following candidates were elected Fellows—viz., Frank Cant, 
Mrs. Portman Datton, Lord Penzance, and Charles Strachey. 
_ The Weather.— Warmer weather has prevailed in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of London, but the wind has been north-easterly, rendering it 
somewhat cool at night. But little rain has fallen in the metropolitan 
district. Writing from South Perthshire, “ B. D.” says “ Two days 
of duller and cooler weather are welcome after the strong sunshine and 
excessive heat of the last two or three weeks, with the thermometer at 
89° or over in the shade. Haymaking is being carried on earlier than 
usual.” 
_Potato Disease.—A t this early period the Potato disease has 
already made an appearance, but I have as yet only seen two instances 
where the plants have been attacked, and it is to be hoped it will not 
become general, or the crops will suffer very seriously, and be light and 
inferior in consequence. It would be interesting to know if others 
have found any trace of the dreaded disease, and whether within recent 
years it has been known to have made such an early appearance. The 
year so far has been fraught with disappointments in the way of insect 
pests, but this latest discovery will be received with greater dread than 
any previous invasion.—W. S., Frome. [Mr. Laxton also informs us 
that Potato disease has appeared in the neighbourhood of Bedford.] 
-Hastings Congress and Health Exhibition Awards.— 
Messrs. Merry weather & Sons inform us that besides their fire engines 
and fire pumps they had a special stand of garden and watering hose3 
at the above Congress of the different kinds which they advertise, and 
received a gold medal, the highest award at the disposal of the adjudi¬ 
cators—ample proof of the excellence of the products. 
- The Trentham and Harford Horticultural Society’s 
annual Show w r ill take place at Trentham Hall, the beautiful seat of 
the Duke of Sutherland, on July 26th. The full band of II.M. Scots 
Guards, forty performers, has been engaged for the occasion. 
- Larvae in Rain Tanks. —I presume the insect about which a 
correspondent inquires (page 499) is the larva of E ristalis tenax, one 
of our drone-flies, popularly called the rat-tailed maggot, from its tele¬ 
scopic appendage, by which it can draw in a supply of oxygen when 
buried in mud. The fly is not injurious, but goes along with a booming 
flight, hence is often taken for a wild bee.— Entomologist. 
- Sheffield Floral and Horticultural Society. —The 
following is the programme for the second half of this year July 3rd. 
— Short Papers : Mr. H. Tranter, “ Table Plants.” Mr. W. Collier, 
“ Gloxinias.” August 7th.—Discussion on “Insects Troublesome to the 
Rose.” Opened by Mr. E. Holland. September 4th.—“ Characters 
assumed by British Ferns ; ” Mr. J. Eadon. October 2nd.—“ Tuberous 
Begonias ; ” Mr. W. Herringshaw. November 6th.—Lecture : “ Weather 
Charts and Storm Warnings ; ” II. C. Sorby, Esq., LL.D., F.R.S. 
December 4th.—Discussion on the Chrysanthemum. 
- Fruit Prospects. —Apples and Pears, except on walls, are the 
worst ever remembered. Thousands of trees were noticed a week ago 
quite stripped of foliage by caterpillars, to say nothing of fruit. I send 
