SEPTEMBER. 
215 
change ? I can answer this, I think, to 
everybody’s conviction, in a few words: A 
private establishment will very often sell in 
the early season 1 lb. of Grapes, or a dozen 
Peaches, regardless of cost, at a price which 
it would ruin a market gardener to attempt. 
This price will content a private gentleman 
who does not know the cost of growing 
them, but competition at these prices would 
ruin any market gardener, who is nearly 
deterred from growing them at all; and, 
therefore, the regulation of the supply of the 
market is left in the hands of these limited 
private establishments. If the market gar¬ 
deners were not met there, they would try to 
excel each other in the cheapness and good¬ 
ness of the fruit, as they do in all other 
things, and in a short time the market would 
have a regular supply at half the present cost 
of spring fruits, which is not attempted now 
on a scale large enough to compete with the 
great number of private establishments which 
send the best of their things, and pocket their 
losses, and the public have in consequence a 
very limited supply. I daresay it answers 
the purpose of the fruiterers very well, but 
it is very detrimental to the public. 
“ 9. And now, sir, before 1 close my letter, 
allow me to say a word or two about what is 
done in the sale way by the Royal Horticul- 
cultural Society. It is quite legitimate and 
right to propagate and distribute any new 
plants (which it has brought into the country) 
to Fellows, but I object in toto to buying new 
plants, cultivating them, and balloting for 
them; this is, allow me to say, an infringe¬ 
ment of the legitimate business of the nur¬ 
serymen, who can do it much better and 
cheaper than the Society can.—I am, sir, 
yours very truly, Joseph Paxton.” 
The Dahlia Show which was to have been 
held on "Wednesday the 7th of September, the. 
first day of the Crystal Palace Autumn Show, 
is now announced to take place on Tuesday 
the 6th, and a Fruit and Vegetable Show is 
to be held at South Kensington on the 19th 
of October. Several minor shows are also 
announced to take place in the course of the 
autumn, for which a variety of dates are 
assigned. 
New Grape. —La Belgique Horticole of 
July contains a coloured plate of a new 
Grape, called the Great Mogul, raised by 
Mr. Fintelmanp, at Potsdam, and which is 
to be sent out by Mr. F. C. Ileinemann of 
Erfurt. The variety is said to be vigorous and 
productive. The bunches are 14 inches long 
and 6 inches across; berries oval, greenish 
yellow, three-quarters of an inch in diameter ; 
thin-skinned, ripening in the end of Sep¬ 
tember. 
Horticultural Lectures. —These were 
established by the Belgian Government in 
1860, and have proved very successful. In 
1863, 269 lectures on the culture of fruit trees 
were given in 29 different localities, and at¬ 
tended by 4609 persons; and 132 on that and 
other horticultural subjects, attended by 2112 
persons. Including agriculture, 547 lectures 
were given in 98 places, to which 17,623 in¬ 
dividuals were admitted gratuitously, at a cost 
to the Government of no more than <£440. 
Japan Lilies. —M. Duchartre found at 
Meudon near Paris, that Lilium auratum 
while in a growing state withstood uninjured 
about 6° of frost (26° Fahr.) in a frame which 
had been left uncovered, and in which during 
the night the temperature had probably been 
as low as 22° or 23° Fahr., the soil in the 
pots being frozen hard. Lilium speciosum, 
venustum, Thunbergianum, fulgens, and their 
varieties likewise escaped injury. The species 
from northern India—viz., L. "Wallichianum, 
Thomsonianum, and neilgherricum were killed. 
OBITUARY. 
Mr. George Dods, formerly gardener to 
Sir John Cathcart, Bart., at Coopers’ Hill, 
Englefield Green, and for the last few years 
nurseryman at Epsom, died there in the end 
of July at the early age of 38. He was well 
known as an exhibitor of stove and green¬ 
house plants, and much esteemed by those 
who knew him for his intelligence and 
quiet unassuming manners. 
CALENDAR OF 
STOVE. 
How seldom do we see Gloriosa superba 
grown as it ought to be. Ours are now in all 
their beauty. It only requires a good bottom 
and top heat, and it will grow as free as a 
Willow. AVhat a grand thing a fine specimen 
of Allamanda cathartica is at this season ! 
Persevere in all endeavours to keep down 
insects; water when necessary, and ventilate 
freely. 
GREENHOUSE. 
Hardwooded Plants .—Prepare to get the 
plants housed towards the end of the month; 
OPERATIONS. 
we must not calculate too much on the con¬ 
tinuance of fine weather, of which we have 
already had a great deal. Ventilate freely 
night and day : pay great attention to water¬ 
ing. Plants out of doors should be protected 
from heavy rains. Softwooded Plants .—The 
propagation of these by cuttings must be at¬ 
tended to; they should be potted off as soon 
as they are struck. Azaleas. —• After the 
middle of the month these should be taken 
into the houses, but before doing so, they 
should be carefully examined for thrips —they 
should be placed in an airy situation. Keep 
