MAY. 
99 
Of the other varieties of Stocks he produces so finely, I am most wedded 
to the Pyramidal section, especially the two colours—violet and scarlet. The 
former is indeed violet, not the washy lilac shade one often sees; his colour 
is a deep violet purple, with a distinct shade of bright blue. Any pale-coloured 
plants are withdrawn, and consigned to the refuse heap as soon as they betray 
their presence. They are grown in a moderately rich, but good, holding soil, 
and sometimes are treated to a little manure water. In dry weather they are 
copiously watered, and as this is invariably an inevitable necessity, they are 
planted in slightly sunken drills in order that the water may not be wasted. 
I have called attention to this old-fashioned, yet thoroughly good and 
domestic flower, because it has receded into oblivion as far as the horticultural 
press is concerned. New things, that too often mean worthless things, crowd 
them out, or else eccentric lucubrations which move one to pity most heartily 
both writer and readers. I both wish and try to move with the times, but I 
cannot keep pace with a great deal that passes current as modern horticulture. 
I must, therefore, lag behind; but I press closely to my heart many of the 
old-fashioned flowers that had a charm for me in my youth, and have not 
robbed me of it in my age, and foremost among these stands that thoroughly 
English and popular flower that heads this paper. 
Adam. 
DACTYLIS GLOMERATA YARIEGATA. 
I anticipate that this elegant liliputian Grass will be extensively em¬ 
ployed for edging-purposes when more plentiful. Whether in beds or ribbon- 
borders it cannot fail to be admired, being graceful in the extreme ; moreover, 
it is of easy culture, and will succeed out of doors without protection in ordinary 
seasons. The least portion of the roots Will grow readily at any season. I 
pot separately in pots of the smallest size, using ordinary soil, and the pieces 
strike at once, soon filling the pots with roots. I then divide again until I 
secure a sufficient stock. 
This Grass, I believe, will be at home in the moist districts of Ireland and 
Scotland, where it will luxuriate in a far greater degree than we are in the 
habit of seeing it in the south. 
Wrotham Park , Barnet . * John Eddington, 
INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION AND 
BOTANICAL CONGRESS. 
Those of our London friends who have occasion to visit South Kensington 
will have observed how rapidly is being raised the building, or rather tent, in / 
which the Exhibition is to be held. A “ monster tent,” indeed, it is to be ; it 
must be so, when it is remembered that space is computed for the circulation 
of 15,000 visitors, independent of mounds, and banks, and borders of plants, 
&c., that will be arranged within the tent. All other flower shows that have 
preceded it in Great Britain dwindle into insignificance when compared with 
the huge proportions of this one. The Executive have their hands pretty well 
full by this time, and as the time for holding the Exhibition draws closer, the 
tax on their time and energies will be considerably increased. 
The engagements of the week may be briefly summed up thus :—Tuesday, 
the 22nd, Opening Day of the Exhibition and grand Banquet at the Guild¬ 
hall, at which the Right Hon. The Lord Mayor of London will preside, and 
which will be served to a very distinguished company on a scale of great magnifi- 
