50 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Ju’y 19,1894. 
was eas'lj won by Miss Dudley for a charming arrangement of pale pink 
and salmon Begonias. The bouquets, both bridal and ball-room, were 
very lovely, the first prizes in each class being gained by Mrs. Orpen, 
and this lady also carried off the premier awards in the classes for 
buttonholes, sprays for ladies’ dress, and posies. 
After the judging had been completed—and although a labour of 
love it was by no means a sinecure, which is evident when I mention 
the fact that my colleague (Mr. Burrell of Cambridge) and I had to go 
through forty-three classes of one sort or another, some requiring careful 
consideration, and that Mr. Barron of Chiswick and Mr. Wright had 
equally laborious tasks—Mr. Andrews, the local Secretary, entertained 
several exhibitors and judges in the most kind and hospitable way, and 
I would here wish to tender my acknowledgment of Mr. Andrews’ great 
courtesy and attention, as well as to warmly congratulate him on the 
success of his efforts to please everyone interested and ensure the 
welfare of the show. I have no doubt from the numbers present that 
this result was achieved. The fine band of the Suffolk Regiment played 
a good selection of music, which seemed much appreciated by the large 
attendance from the countryside. 
From Woodbridge we accompanied Mr. Foster-Melliar to his home 
at Sproughton, and had the pleasure of spending that afternoon and 
night in his rectory with its sweet surroundings. 
Everyone who is a rosarian of any standing knows the Roses of the 
Rector of Sproughton, but it is not everyone who has been privileged 
to see him at home amongst his flowers. I was delighted with my visit, 
and also with the Roses and other refining influences with which the 
Rector is happily surrounded. Long may he be spared to enjoy them ! 
—Charles J. Grahame. 
[Another correspondent who was at Woodbridge says, “ The show in 
all departments was the best ever seen there, fruit and vegetables being as 
meritorious as the Roses and table decorations, as were some of the plants, 
notably tuberous Begonias. The Society is well supported, and the 
shows widely appreciated. Mr. Andrews and his Committee work with 
zeal, and deserve the success they achieve.”] 
Events of the Week. —The events of horticultural interest to 
take place during the ensuing week include, as mentioned in our last 
issue, the Rose and Pink exhibitions at Manchester Botanical Gardens 
on Saturday, 21st inst. On Tuesday, 24:th inst., the Committees of the 
Royal Horticultural Society will meet at the Drill Hall, James Street, 
S.W., and a special general meeting of Fellows will be held on the same 
day at 117, Victoria Street, S.W. The National Carnation and Picotee 
Society will hold a southern exhibition in the Drill Hall on the 24th, in 
conjunction with the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society. A 
few Rose shows remain to be held, and a list of these appears on another 
page. 
- The Weather in London. —The past week has again been 
characterized by changeable weather, showers being of frequent 
occurrence. The temperature has been lower than the average. On 
Monday it rained more or less all the day, but Tuesday was compara¬ 
tively fine. Wednesday opened dull, but the sun shone as the day 
advanced. 
- Royal Horticultural Society.— The next meeting of the 
Society will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria Street, 
Westminster, on Tuesday, July 24th, when the National Carnation and 
Picotee Society will also hold its annual exhibition. At 2.30 a special 
general meeting of the Fellows will be held at the offices, 117, Victoria 
Street, to consider the adoption (or otherwise) of a new bye-law relating 
to life subscriptions. At 3 p.m. a paper on “Filmy Ferns” will be 
contributed by Mr. J. Backhouse of York. The Council would be 
grateful to growers of these beautiful Ferns for living specimens. 
- Allotment Flowers. —Rarely has a prettier official use of 
flowers grown on allotments been made than was seen on the occasion 
of the official opening and presentation of prizes at the first exhibition 
or the produce of the Richmond Corporation allotments, held on the 
ground on the 14th inst., when the Mayor of Richmond and Mayoress 
attended in the afternoon to open the show. A most charming bouquet’ 
collected from the allotment gardens by Mr. W. Brown, the Richmond 
florist, was presented to the Mayoress, and in the evening an equally 
charming one was presented to the wife of Mr. Alderman Pillans, who 
so very gracefully presented the prizes. Such handsome bouquets were 
quite unique, and were made up by Mr. Brown with exquisite taste. 
- The National Pink Society.—T he fifth annual exhibition 
of the northern section of this Society will be held in the Botanical 
Gardens, Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday, July 21st, in connec¬ 
tion with the annual exhibition of Roses. 
- The Gardens at Hampton Court.—A lthough at these 
popular public gardens warmth and sunshine is much needed, as is the 
, case generally, yet there is already a very beautiful display of bedding 
furnished, and every week this display increases in effect. Some regard 
to the prevailing taste for carpet beds is still shown, and the balloon 
pattern, which was so much admired last year, is now transferred to the 
extreme end bed, near the river. Mixed beds are well filled and very 
gay. Very pretty also are the combinations with silver and bronze¬ 
leaved Pelargoniums, and Violas. Fuchsias are largely used again, and 
Begonias, though later than usual, will be very attractive presently. 
The grass and trees are delightful. The gardens will certainly be a very 
popular resort this summer.—D. 
- Bedded-out Cockscombs. — Some seven years since Mr. 
Barron had sent to Chiswick a superbly coloured dwarf Cockscomb 
under the name of Glasgow Pride. It perhaps does not differ from other 
similar strains in commerce, but the fact illustrated is that seed saved 
from the strain from year to year has kept so true to character that the 
non-bedded out plants are as alike as if all cast in a mould. The combs 
are massive and of the richest blood crimson, the plants being from 9 to 
10 inches in height. In such a position they look much more pleasing 
than when standing in pots in a greenhouse, where the pretty pyramidal 
Celosias are always so charming. These dwarf crimson Cockscombs 
would be most effective set in a carpet of white Violas, if to them were 
added a few pink or rose Begonias. 
- Olearia stellulata. —In writing of this beautiful dwarf 
shrub under the name of 0. Gunniana, under which designation it is 
generally sold, I mentioned that it had proved quite hardy here. I am thus 
surprised to hear from Mr. W, E. Gumbleton that it had been destroyed 
in his garden at Belgrove, County Cork, by the frosts of last winter. It 
is unfortunate that this should have been the case, as it raises grave 
doubts in one’s mind of its capabilities for general gardening. The 
winter of 1892-3 was the most severe we have had here for years, and 
destroyed several plants which had stood for some years and had been 
considered hardy. The OJearia was, however, untouched, and this year 
also was uninjured. I am much obliged to Mr. Gumbleton for so kindly 
M'riting me.— S. Arnott, Dumfries, 
-Naturalising Flowers.—I n the Journal of Horticulture 
for June 21st there is an interesting article by “ E. K., Duilinf on 
naturalising flowers. I have often thought that much might be done in 
that way, and have tried it in a small way myself. The plant known 
as Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularis), often seen hanging from 
pots and boxes in London, does not grow wild here, though it flourishes 
most luxuriantly a few miles off. I have planted it on various banks, 
and am pleased to see that in some places it grows well and spreads, 
especially where the subsoil is clay. The Foxglove, again, which in 
some parts of England is so plentiful and ornamental, does not grow 
wild about here. I have sown the seeds in many places, and have been 
pleased to see the young plants grow up, but as soon as they come into 
flower some labourer sees them and digs them up to plant in his garden, 
so that I fear the naturalisation of this plant by me has not been a 
success.—E. C., Oakham. 
-Dundee Horticultural Association.—A t the monthly 
meeting of this Association, held recently, a paper was read by 
Mr. Colin MacKenzie, Warriston Nurseries, Edinburgh, on “ Decorative 
Palms.” He said that Palms comprised a selection of plants combining 
the highest possible utility with the utmost beauty. To dwellers in 
the tropics it supplied wine, oil, wax, sugar, food and clothing, and 
material with which to build their rude habitations. Little more than 
a quarter of a century ago the Palm was comparatively unknown in 
Britain, except in large public and botanic gardens, but at the present 
time among a wide range of decorative plants, few were more deserving 
of general cultivation. Alluding to their culture, Mr. Mackenzie 
remarked that vigorous-growing varieties when young liked ample 
pot room, but after reaching a large size the space had to be curtailed, 
and they could be kept in good condition for a number of years by 
removing a portion of surface soil and substituting fertile compost. 
The soil suitable for strong-growing varieties was a good sound loam 
and sharp river sand, and for the slow-growing, elegant forms, such as 
Cocos and Geonoma, some fibrous peat should be added. 
