THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, July 28, 1857. 269 
i and kept in a cold frame during the winter, will assist to 
enliven the greenhouse in early spring. To succeed with 
Hyacinths the sooner they are procured and potted the 
better. We are told that in Holland the first crop of forcing 
Hyacinths is potted about the first week in August. The 
excitement of the foliage is prevented until the pots are full 
of roots by a thick covering of sand, tan, or lqaf mould. In 
about six weeks the pots are full of roots, when they are 
removed to cold frames and kept close to the glass, with 
I plenty of air. The natural warmth of the end of September 
and the whole of October will excite the foliage and flower- 
buds very gradually, when, as compared with our practice, 
the bulbs can hardly be said to be forced at all. The practice 
of taking advantage of the natural warmth of the autumn 
j may be extended to many other plants intended, by gentle 
forcing, to produce winter flowers.— William Keane. 
STAMFORD FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
(From a correspondent ,.) 
The first open air Exhibition of this Society was held on 
Wednesday, the 15tli of July, in the grounds of 0. Ed¬ 
monds, Esq., opposite Rutland Terrace, Stamford. This 
Society, which was established in 1835, has this year been 
endeavouring to regain its former position, and at the same 
time to make its Exhibitions both popular and useful; and 
the attempt must be admitted, by all who were present on 
Wednesday, to have succeeded far beyond the calculation of its 
most sanguine supporters, and strongly illustrates what can 
be accomplished when energy is timely and usefully directed. 
Since the formation of the new Committee, who are not 
all practical horticulturists, the number of subscribers has 
been tripled, and the Committee have, of course, had the 
means of holding out greater attractions than formerly both 
to exhibitors and visitors. The consequence was that on 
Wednesday a highly successful Exhibition was the result. 
The principal prize offered was a Silver Cup, value T5, for the 
best twelve cut Roses, three blooms of each, which fell to the 
lot of Messrs. A. Paul and Son, whose stand contained some 
first-rate blooms, and, considering the season, we should say 
they could not bejsurpassed, one specimen of Louis Peronnay 
being the largest Rose we ever beheld. The stands of 
other competitors in this class were little less conspicuous 
for size, colour, and quality. The Amateurs’ Medal for 
twelve single cut blooms was awarded to Captain Mannsell, 
of Thorpe Malsoi;, near Kettering, for a stand of very high- 
! class blooms. The collections of stove and greenhouse plants 
from Messrs. Wood and Ingram, of Huntingdon, and Messrs. 
Walters and Daniel, of Oakham, were good, as were also f 
those in the Amateurs’ Class from the gardens at Burghley. 1 
The cut flowers from Mr. Draycott, of Humbestone, 
Leicester, the Carnations and Picotees of Messrs. Wood 
and Ingram, and the Hollyhocks of Messrs. Paul were 
deservedly admired. The objects, however, which seemed 
most to attract the attention of the public, and which 
certainly contributed much to the effect of the Show, were : 
two devices; one a magnificent design, about fifteen feet 
high, representing the temple of Minerva, from Mr. Osborne, j 
gardener to Captain Grantham, of Ketton. The other, 
which obtained the second prize, was not strictly a device 
j in flowers, but a model of a garden, with flower-beds, 
, fountains, rockwork, and growing Ferns, exhibited by 
Messrs. Walters and Daniel, and showing that a vast deal of 
time, skill, and patience had been absorbed in its execution. 
The fruit was exceedingly fine aud rich, and the Grapes 
from Burghley, and those from Mr. Baker, of Leicester, and 
the Earl of Gainsborough, could scarcely be excelled. 
The prize offered by the Marchioness of Exeter for the 
best drawing-room bouquet was well contested for, and was 
awarded to Miss Willis, of Shillingthorp. Judging from 
the anxiety amongst the fair sex to ascertain the result of 
this award, we shall expect to see this prize, if given next 
year, add much both to the interest of the Exhibition and 
the number of its fair attendants. 
The arrangements and classification of the plants, under 
the superintendence of Mr. Kidd, gardener to T. Tryon, 
I Esq., of Bulwick, and Mr. Ewart, gardener to the Earl of 
Westmoreland, were well carried out. The Committee and 
Censors, however, experienced some little difficulty in 
consequence of the marquees being placed at a considerable 
distance from each other; but this inconvenience was more 
than compensated for by the crowds of visitors being divided, 
and each one being enabled to get a view. 
Out of the 5000 visitors who attended we did not hear one 
expression of dissatisfaction. The neighbourhood of Stam¬ 
ford is an affluent one, and we feel sure is well suited for a 
first-rate horticultural exhibition; and we do not hesitate to 
say, if the Committee continue to exert themselves as they 
have done this year, that the Stamford Horticultural Society 
will become one of the best and most useful in the midland 
counties. 
NEW BOOK. 
The Household Encyclopaedia.* —Beyond all comparison 
this is the most useful work that was ever offered to the 
manager of a household, and the more useful because its 
alphabetical arrangement renders reference to its contents 
so easy. Its information evidently is derived from the most 
reliable sources, and there is no more science mixed with 
its details than is requisite to render the practical portions 
thoroughly understood. It embraces information relative to 
“all domestic requirements, whether it be for cooking a 
potato, binding up a cut finger, baking a loaf, brewing a 
barrel of beer, curing a smoking chimney, mending a broken 
glass, removing an ink stain, cutting out a shirt, dyeing a 
gown, managing servants, or providing for parties.” The 
first page is a fair specimen, so we extract it:— 
“ ABERFRAU, or Berfeo Cakes. Half a pound of fresh 
butter beaten to a cream; mix with it \ lb. of finely-powdered 
loaf sugar; add slowly £ lb. of best flour. Rolled thin, cut 
into shapes, and baked in a quick oven for a short time. 
Met with chiefly in Anglesea. 
“ ABSCESS is a collection of matter arising from previous 
inflammation. This may be in any part of the body, and 
what are commonly called boils, whitlows, imposthumes, &c., 
are all abscesses. When the inflammation first appears 
treatment ought to be adopted to allay and remove it, but 
when this cannot be effected then suppuration, or ‘ coming 
to a head,’ should be promoted, the matter discharged by 
opening the head, and the wound dressed. 
“To allay inflammation leeches may be applied, a pur¬ 
gative of Epsom salts be taken, and slight doses of James’s 
powder, only sufficient to produce slight perspiration and 
depression. Cold lotions formed of half a pint of vinegar, 
mixed with two parts water, should be applied to the in¬ 
flamed part. To an inflammation of the eye the lotion 
should be applied warm. The diet should he light and 
diluting, such as broth, gruel, and vegetables. Meats and 
stimulants of all kinds must be avoided. If, notwithstanding 
this treatment, the heat of the part increases, the tumour 
enlarges, attended by more pain and pulsation, then promote 
its suppuration by applying bread-and-milk poultices, warm 
and large, and its activity is promoted by putting an onion, 
raw and chopped fine, and sprinkled over the poultice before 
applying it. The poultice should be renewed twice daily at 
the least. When the thinness of the skin on the most pro¬ 
minent part of the abscess and the appearance of matter 
show that it is ripe, open it with a lancet, or with a very 
sharp-pointed pair of scissors ; make the opening large. 
Press out the matter, and continue the poultice until, from 
being thick, the discharge becomes thin and watery. Then 
discontinue the poultice, and put on a plaster spread with 
yellow basilicum or calamine ointment. The last is com¬ 
monly called Turner's cerate. 
“ABSTINENCE FROM FOOD. From whatever cause 
this may have arisen, if the abstinence has been for a 
* The Household Encyclopedia, or Family Dictionary of everything 
connected with Housekeeping. Embracing Cookery, Confectionery, 
Preserving, Pickling, Baking, Brewing, Wine Making, Clothing, the 
Cellar, the Dairy, the Larder, the Laundry, Perfumery , Dyeing, and 
Domestic Medicine. With the Treatment of Children ; Management of 
the Sick Room; the Sanitary Improvements of the Dwelling ; the Duties 
of Servants ; and full Information relative to all other Subjects connected 
with Personal and Domestic Comfort. By an Association of Heads of 
Families and Men of Science. London: W. Kent and Co., 51 and 52, 
Paternoster Row. Winchester : Hugh Barclay, High Street. 
