JULY. 
159 
salmon, blotched on three petals with bright 
violet; Eclipse, pink and white; and Incom- 
parabilis, cream and violet crimson. 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institu¬ 
tion. —The 23rd anniversary meeting was 
held at the London Tavern on Wednesday, 
June 27th, Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 
Bart., M.P., presiding. The company, we 
regretted to see, was not so numerous as 
usual. Among those present were Professor 
Bentley, the Rev. Joshua Dix, Dr. Hogg, 
Messrs. T. Brandreth Gibbs, R. Wrench, G. 
Child, Bull, Edmonds, Gibson, J. & C. Lee, 
W. Paul, Turner, Yeitch, Williams, Cutbush, 
&c. The Chairman, after the usual loyal 
toasts, in proposing “ Success to the Institu¬ 
tion,” announced amidst loud cheers the mu¬ 
nificent donation of £1000 made to the funds 
of the charity out of the surplus proceeds of 
the International Horticultural Exhibition; 
and, besides, upwards of £260 was collected at 
the dinner. Among other toasts were “ The 
Chairman,” “The Treasurer,” “The Royal 
Horticultural and Botanic Societies, and the 
Executive Committee of the International 
Horticultural Exhibition,” coupled with the 
names of Dr. Hogg, the Rev. Joshua Dix, 
and Professor Bentley, who severally returned 
thanks ; and “ The Nursery and Seed-trade,” 
coupled with the names of Mr. James Yeitch 
and Mr. G. Child. Sir C. Wentworth Dilke 
announced that Sir Robert Peel would take 
the chair at the next anniversary. 
Fertilisation of Cobjea scandens. —This 
plant, sown on a hotbed in March and planted 
out in May against a wall with a south, east, 
or other warm aspect, only begins to flower 
in the end of June, a period at which the 
highest temperatures commence to occur. 
Notwithstanding these conditions, fertilisa¬ 
tion rarely takes place at that period, and 
this circumstance is to be regretted, because 
if the first flowers produced seeds these 
would be under favourable conditions for 
ripening. It is, however, only about Septem¬ 
ber, when the temperature is comparatively 
low, lliat many flowers set and yield seed, and 
then the season is too far advanced for ripen¬ 
ing. From observations which I have con¬ 
tinued for three years—viz., from 1862 to 
1864, I find that with a temperature of from 
77° to 90° the anthers burst and are dried up 
long before the stigma is ready for the pollen, 
whilst in September, when the temperature 
only ranges from 60° to (?8°, the organs act 
in harmony with each other. As fertilisation 
cannot take place naturally while the temper¬ 
ature is high, as in July and August, and as 
ou the other hand it is desirable to gather the 
seeds early in the season, artificial fertilisation 
must be resorted to. As fresh flowers open 
every day, and the pollen is fit to perform its 
office in a few hours afterwards, this should 
be applied to the stigma of flowers which 
have expanded the preceding day, and in this 
way the perfect ripening of the seeds is al¬ 
most a certainty.—( Horticulieur Francais .) 
Aralia Sieboldi. — We learn from the 
“ Revue Horticole ” that this plant has 
fruited in the open air at Cherbourg, produc¬ 
ing five hundred fruits, each containing 
four perfectly ripe seeds. 
CALENDAR 01 
GREENHOUSE. 
Mixed Greenhouse. —A host of things may 
be grown here for the next two or three 
months. Fuchsias, Japan Lilies, Kalosanths, 
will take the place of Pelargoniums and Cal¬ 
ceolarias ; in addition, some showy annuals 
should be grown for the purpose. Balsams, 
Cockscombs, Thunbergias, &c., will all help 
to make a gay appearance. Camellias and 
Azaleas. —If the proper treatment has been 
followed, Camellias will have their bloom- 
buds for next year discernible; when such is 
the case, gradually allow more air, to inure 
them by degrees to out-door treatment. In 
placing them out, select a shady well-sheltered 
spot; worms must be prevented from getting 
into the pots, and secure them from being 
blown over. Water as occasion may require. 
Greenhouse Azaleas will require similar man¬ 
agement, but are longer in forming their buds, 
and will bear exposure to the sun. Keep 
down thrips. Cinerarias. —Seed should now 
be sown. The cuttings on the first-cut-down 
plants will now be long enough to take from 
OPERATIONS. 
the old stools. These should be struck in fine 
sand, in cool frames facing the north, potting 
them off singly in very small pots as soon as 
struck. If mildew appear sulphur the plants 
affected without loss of time. Pelargoniums .— 
The general cutting-down is now at hand; 
cuttings strike freely in an old hotbed, first 
putting in sufficient soil to raise them up 
near the glass. 
CONSERVATORY AND SHOW-HOUSE. 
As most greenhouse plants will now be out 
of doors or in frames, their place in these 
houses may be filled with some kinds of hardy 
stove plants, Orchids in bloom, Fuchsias, 
Kalosanths, and Neriums. Do not fail to 
keep up a supply of Mignonette; keep the in¬ 
ternal borders damp, where vigorous roots 
exist; and attend to the requisite cleanliness 
required by both house and plants. 
FORCING. 
Make fires in dull damp weather in the 
case of late Grapes in bloom, and such as are 
colouring ; give air at every opportunity. As 
the crops of forced Peaches are gathered, well 
