AUGUST. 
183 
in this variety. In three dishes of different 
varieties splendid bunches of Trentham Black, 
Black Hamburgh, and Black Prince came 
from the same exhibitor, and of Black Prince, 
Black Hamburgh, and Black Alicante, from 
Mr. Hill. The weight of his three bunches 
of Black Prince was 8 lbs. 2 ozs. Peaches, 
Nectarines, and Cherries, were likewise very 
good. 
Gardeners’ Koyal Benevolent Insti¬ 
tution. — The twenty-second anniversary 
meeting was held on the 7th, at the London 
Tavern. J. Jeffery, Esq., of Woolton Hall, 
Liverpool, the Chairman, in proposing the 
toast of the evening, “ Prosperity to the In¬ 
stitution,” stated that there were fifty-seven 
dependant on the funds, of whom thirty were 
women, averaging seventy-six years of age ; 
that the Institution had since it was estab¬ 
lished distributed £12,700, and that it now 
possessed £5,700 in the funds. The list of 
subscriptions collected at the dinner amounted 
to about £380, the largest amount, the Sec¬ 
retary stated, that had been put down at any 
anniversary of the Institution. 
Planting out Ferns in Summer. —M. Stel- 
zner of Ghent draws attention, in the “ Jour¬ 
nal of the Imperial and Central Horticultural 
Society of France,” to the suitability of some 
stove and greenhouse Ferns for planting out 
of doors in summer. He remarks that Ferns 
which will suffer from the direct rays of the 
sun, succeed admirably in a shaded place 
where but few plants grow well; and he re¬ 
commends leaf or heath mould and plenty of 
water to promote luxuriant growth. The 
number which he has tried in this way is 
limited, and the following are those which 
proved the best:—Litobrochia, or Pteris, au- 
rita: a young plant of this made fronds from 
1 to 2 feet long the first year, and in the fol¬ 
lowing one of from 3 to 4 feet. Pteris cretica 
albo-lineata succeeds well, and may be ad¬ 
vantageously employed for edgings. Its 
fronds out of doors become of a very deep 
green, but without losing the white striping. 
Lygodium mexicanum forms an elegant climb¬ 
er for covering the trunks of trees, &c.; and 
Allosorus crispus may be employed for the 
same purpose. Cheilanthes hirta, with finely 
cut fronds, having a woolly covering, stands 
sun well, and may be used for edgings; and 
the same may be said of Nothochlaena nivea 
and N. chrysophylla, charming species, with 
the under side of the fronds covered with a 
silvery powder in the former and golden in 
the latter. Pteris scaberula is very dwarf, 
and grows well out of doors. Lomaria punc¬ 
tata is very ornamental in the second and 
third year; and Todea australis forms fine 
tufts out of doors. “I. have not,” adds M. 
Stelzner, ‘‘mentioned the new Japanese Ferns, 
which may all be planted out in summer; 
and I am convinced that there are many 
others, particularly those from Australia and 
New Zealand—countries which produce such 
superb tree Ferns as Cyathea dealbata, Cyathea 
medullaris, and Alsophila—which may be 
planted out in summer.” To this it may be 
added that Alsophila australis is planted out 
in the sub-tropical department at Battersea 
Park, and is there thriving very well, the 
fronds extending 10 feet across. 
Soldiers’ Gardens. —According to a War 
Office return, there are now 109 acres of 
garden ground allotted to soldiers in Great 
Britain and Ireland, of which 61 acres are in 
the hands of non-commissioned officers. 
OBITUARY. 
Mr. Henry Lane, father of the well-known 
nurseryman of Great Berkhampstead, died 
there on the 15th of July in his 88th year. 
He retired from the business about twelve 
years ago. 
CALENDAR OF 
CONSERVATORY and show-house 
The conservatory may now be all but 
cleared of surplus plants, to allow the proper 
inmates a full share of light and air. Now, 
also, is a good time for repairing and painting, 
if required. A few Ferns, Palms, stove plants, 
and Achimenes may be introduced as wanted. 
greenhouse. 
Azaleas and Camellias will now occupy shel¬ 
tered places out of doors. Do not allow the 
sun to shine on the pots, as it quickly absorbs 
all the moisture from the ball, and frequently 
kil s the plants in a few hours. Attend well 
to keeping them supplied with water, washing 
the plants overhead occasionally on the even¬ 
ings of hot days. Pelargoniums .—As soon as 
the plants have broken sufficiently, they should 
be shaken out of the old soil, and, after having 
OPERATIONS. 
been disrooted, put into as small pots as they 
will conveniently go into. Drain carefully, 
and place some vegetable fibre over the drain¬ 
age, so as to prevent stoppage. After the 
plants are potted they should be placed in a 
frame or pit, and be kept close for a time, and 
be well shaded during the day. Watering is 
an operation at this time requiring very great 
care. The mould must be kept moist but not 
sodden; still it is necessary when the plants 
are watered that they have a quantity suffi¬ 
cient to go quite through the pots. When 
the plants have taken root give air, but use 
shading only in the middle of the day, or when 
the sun is very powerful, say for a week or so, 
when it may be kept off entirely, and air given 
more freely, 
FORCING. 
Cucumbers .—A crop for the autumn and 
