212 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[September, 
coal as drainage material, because it is not so liable to get out of order, and is 
mucli lighter, and thus the pots will be more easily removed from place to place 
as circumstances may require. During the growing season it should be liberally 
supplied with water, both from the watering-can and the syringe, and although 
less will be necessary after growth is complete, especially from the syringe, yet at 
no season should its roots be suffered to feel the want of water. Thrips and 
scale will sometimes attack this plant, but a strict surveillance must be kept up, 
in order to destroy them immediately they make their appearance, either by 
fumigation or by hand-washing with soap and water.— B-. S. Williams, Victoria 
Nurserij, Upper Ilollowaij. 
NOVELTIES, Etc., AT FLOWER SHOWS. 
|NE of the most interesting features at the meeting of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society, on the 29th June, was a group of pyramidal-trained 
Lobelias, averaging about 2 ft. in height, and densely covered with flowers. 
They were all seedlings, and had been raised and grown by Mr. Moon, gar¬ 
dener to F. Stanton, Esq., Lewisham. A Special Oertiflcate was awarded for their 
good cultivation ; and the mode in which the plants were grown taught what a 
nice feature they might be made at flower shows. Show Pelargonium Pollie (Foster) 
received a First-Class Oertiflcate ; it is a deep-coloured flower of a rich crimson 
hue, shaded with dark, has rich dark top petals, is dwarf in habit, and very free- 
blooming. 
As is usual at the large provincial exhibitions of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, there was held a meeting of the Floral Committee at Oxford, to pass in 
review the new plants staged on that occasion. A First-Class Certificate was 
awarded to Picotee Ne Plus Ultra^ a heavy pale-rose edged flower, with stout and 
finely rounded petals, and good substance; this came from Mr. J. Payne, Wor¬ 
cester Cottage, Oxford. Both the leading Verbena raisers, Mr. Eckford and Mr. 
0. J. Perry, staged collections of new Verbenas on this occasion. Of Mr. Eckford’s 
raising, the following flowers received First-Class Certificates : Mr. Dodds, pale 
pink, with rosy-violet centre, very fine pip and truss ; Grande Monarque., orange- 
red, with a dark shaded centre, fine hue of colour, and good pip and truss ; and 
George Peabodij, bright reddish plum-colour, with large primrose eye, a fine and 
showy variety. Of Mr. Perry’s flowers, the following received the same award : 
John Laing, pale rosy-carmine, with reddish crimson centre, very fine pip and truss ; 
Perfection, soft lilac-pink, fine rounded pip and truss ; Mrs. George Prince., pale 
pink, with orange-red centre, pip and truss of fine quality ; and the Rev. C, P. 
Peach, magenta-crimson, fine pip and truss. 
On this occasion some things were provided for in the schedule that are very 
seldom found at flower shows. There was, for instance, a class for six Delphiniums 
in pots, the best of which came from Mr. Turner, of Slough. They contrasted 
in a marked manner with the old and indifferently grown plants that came from 
