262 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ November, 
line good. A very promising flower was shown by the Eev. C. Eowe, of 
Bury St. Edmunds, and one that is likely to take a good position next 
season, but as hut one bloom was shown, the Committee could not take 
cognizance of it; it was named Suffolk Gem; the ground colour is reddish 
salmon, edged with violet, and slightly tipped with yellow. 
A first-class certificate was awarded to a very pretty Silver Variegated 
Zonal Pelargonium, Mrs. Col. Wilkinson, exhibited by Mr. Coomber, gar¬ 
dener to Lieut.-Col. Wilkinson, of Highgate. The leaves are well formed, 
stout, with a finely marked bright rosy zone, and the habit is thoroughly 
good. Lobelia Erinus speciosa alba, from Mr. Chambers, of Beddington, was 
a nice-looking plant enough, but the flowers were tinged with blue, as 
if they were not really self white. The plant was not in a good condi¬ 
tion, but should the flowers prove to be pure white, and the habit good 
for bedding purposes, it will prove a great acquisition. Mr. W. Groom, of 
Ipswich, who has raised some capital Zonal Pelargoniums, had at this meet¬ 
ing the following new kinds : —John Hopper, rich deep salmon rose, a very 
pleasing hue of colour, habit good; Climax, carmine salmon, with white 
centre, the flowers of good shape ; and Mrs. Sack, a remarkably promising 
white, the flowers slightly tinged with pink—all good flowers, wdiich will, 
perhaps, be seen again next season in better condition. E. D. 
HEATING VINE BORDERS. 
« HE question of bottom-heating Vine borders has been opened by a cor¬ 
respondent at p. 198. Let all those who have been successful, join in 
? giving the results of their practice, and then we may arrive at some¬ 
thing like a satisfactory decision. If there is nothing in the system, 
whatever method of applying it may be adopted, it is adding a great 
deal of unnecessary expense to the more simple practice in general use. 
Hence it is not to be supposed that anyone would recommend it without 
being thoroughly convinced of its merits. My own practice has led me to 
discard it years ago, and the more I hear and see, the more I am convinced 
that it is wrong in principle. There are no doubt many places with a cold 
wet subsoil, which are sorely puzzling to the early forcer, and have brought 
about the use of concrete, rubble, and air drains; we know now what these will 
do with tropical plants, and we can add to these careful top-covering, but 
this is altogether different to attempting to heat a mass of soil, with pipes 
laid in cement or other drains, with abundance of ventilation. By such 
means we secure simply the latter, for no heat will penetrate soil, if it can 
escape by means of ventilators, unless, indeed, it is applied in excess. 
To understand this more clearly, let anyone take a portion of a small 
pit, having a good command of bottom heat, and make a division of wood, 
so that the process can be watched; then after covering the pipes with 
