1880.] RHODODENDRON BOOLE DE NEIGE.-NATIONAL CARNATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY. 137 
the sun until roots are formed, which, on the 
average, is in about six weeks from the time of 
putting in the cuttings. When treated in this 
way, nine out of every ten cuttings put in may 
be expected to grow. When the young plants 
get well rooted, they must be potted on into 
larger pots. The compost best suited for them 
at this stage is sandy loam, with some rotten 
manure added, and also a liberal proportion of 
small nodules of charcoal. To keep the plants 
in vigour, no flowers should be allowed to be 
produced after the last week in March. If the 
remaining flowers are removed at that time, 
and the plants are treated to a rich surface¬ 
dressing, they will each produce a good many 
cuttings by May, when they should be taken 
off and treated in the manner briefly sketched 
above.—T. M. 
RHODODENDRON BOULE DE NEIGE. 
[Plate 522.] 
« HIS variety, which is said to be a cross 
between Rhododendron Catesbcei and 
Azalea liliijlora , attracted much notice 
at the Paris Exhibition of 1878, where it was 
represented — so we read — by 500 plants, 
covered with flowers. M. Carriere describes 
it in the Revue Horticole as “ a dwarf and 
early-flowering variety, with large trusses of 
fine white flowers, that fully justify the name 
1 Boule de Neige,’ which has been given to 
it.” Besides being very floriferous, it is said 
to be a small shrub, compact in habit, and 
therefore suitable for being employed for 
forcing. Being perfectly hardy, it may be used 
in the open ground, to surround groups of 
varieties with coloured flowers. M. Carriere, 
however, adds that its habit of flowering at the 
beginning of May exposes its blossoms to injury 
from spring frosts, in situations where these 
have to be dreaded. 
It is further stated of this variety, which was 
raised by M. Oudin, of Lisieux, that flower-buds 
are formed by it with such facility that grafts 
of one year old frequently produce them ; and 
that in the rainy seasons, when buds are 
formed with difficulty on other varieties, this 
is always abundantly provided with them. 
M. Oudin adds that the rough winter of 1879- 
80 has fully tested its hardiness, since it has 
borne the excessive cold in the north and the 
east of France ; and in the environs of Paris, in 
Belgium and in Germany has .preserved the 
freshness of its foliage.—M. 
NATIONAL CARNATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY. 
SOUTHERN SECTION. 
blooming season of the Carnation 
. Picotee—those sweetest and for 
n gardens most accommodating 
of summer flowers — has come and. gone. 
How different from the Southern Show 
of last year! Then, even with the aid 
of extra heat, it was only possible to hold 
the Show on August 12th ; now, with all the 
available means of retarding them, they were 
at their best by July 20th, just a week before 
the Show. The consequence was that the 
display was not so good as it might have been, 
for the difference of date was not enough to let 
in the northern growers ; and, taking it on the 
whole, it was not so good as that of last year, 
as the growers can always show better on a 
rising than a fading bloom. Nevertheless, 
there were many good flowers exhibited, and 
few bad ones. Our esteemed and veteran 
friend, Mr. Dodwell, found his flowers much 
past their best, and had to cut nearly all side- 
blooms. The southern champion trade grower, 
Mr. Turner,too,notwithstanding that he showed 
some magnificent Picotees, had not hit the day 
with his Carnations, which were past their best, 
although he exhibited some superior well- 
flowered plants in pots. Mr. Douglas, another 
of the principal southern exhibitors, was rather 
better than last year, though most of his 
flowers were side-blooms. The class awards 
were as follows :— 
Carnations. 
Class A. 24 blooms, 12 dissimilar.—1st, E. S. 
Dodwell, Esq., 11 Chatham Terrace, Larkhall Rise, 
Clapham, with Ben Simonite, s.f. ; Rifleman, c.B. 
(two blooms) ; Thomas Moore, c.B. ; John Ball, 
s.f. (two blooms); Robert Lord, s.b. ; William 
Murray, c.B. (two blooms); John Keet, r.f. ; R. 
Holiday, c.B. (two blooms); J. D. Hextall, C.B. ; 
A. Medhurst, s.b. ; Seedling, c.B. ; Admiral 
Curzon, s.b. (two blooms) ; Florence Nightin¬ 
gale, p.f. ; Seeding, s.f. ; a scarlet-flake sport 
from Admiral Curzon; Squire Meynell, p.f. ; 
Dr. Masters, p.p.b. ; George Rudd, s.b. ; and Un¬ 
expected, p.p.b. 2nd, Mr. James Douglas, gr. to 
F. Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, Ilford, with 
Isaac Wilkinson, C.B. ; Earl of Stamford, p.f. (two 
blooms) ; Campanini, s.b. ; John Keet, r.f. ; Falcon- 
bridge, p.p.b. ; Dreadnought, s.b. ; Lord Lewisham, 
s.b. ; Juno, p.f. ; Admiral Cutzod, s.b.; Sibyl, R.f. 
