September 12, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
19 
SHOW. 
T he grand national potato 
EXHIBITION will be held at the CRYSTAL PALACE, 
Sydenham, London, S.E., on October 7th, 8th, and 9th, 1885. 
For Schedules and particular s apply to P. McKinlay, Headley 
Lodge, Croydon Road, Anerley, S.E. 
Entries close on September 30th. 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Abbey Park, Leicester .... 24 
Amateurs’ Garden, the .... 23 
Anemones, Japanese . 26 
Aictotis aureola . 23 
Armeria csespitosa . 27 
Bedding Plants . 27 
Boiler, Loughborough (ilhis- 
trated) . 21 
Burton Constable. 27 
Candytuft, Evergreen. 22 
Catasetums, Notes on. 2S 
Crystal Palace Show . 29 
Dahlia Show for the North.. 19 
Dahlias. Single and Pompon 2S 
Eecles Gardens, round .... 20 
Elder, the Golden . 20 
Escallonia macrantha. 27 
Floriculture . 28 
Fruit Crop at Trant Court.. 26 
Fruit Culture in Germany.. 19 
Fruits, Flowers and Vege¬ 
tables . 26 
Gardening Miscellany. 19 
Gardeners’ Calendar'. 27 
Gladiolus Colvilli alba _ 20 
Grape-packing Competition 19 
Grape Show, The... 20 
PAGE 
Gunton Park Gardens. 25 
Henchera sanguinea . 22 
Horticultural Exhibitions.. 22 
Horticultural Societies _ 29 
Kitchen Garden, The . 27 
Ladia amanda . 2S 
Liberality, Noble. 19 
Lilium auratum. Gigantic .. 27 
Mignonette, for Spring 
flowering . 26 
Mutisia decurrens . 21 
Odontoglossuin Krameri .. 2S 
Perennials, select. 21 
Plant Houses, the . 27 
Potatos, Notes on . 26 
Primula auricula. 27 
Ranunculus Segnieri . 27 
Scottish Gardening. 22 
Strawberry. Barnes’ Prolific 26 
Suburban Gardens, plans for 
(illustrated) . 24 
Sulphate of Ammonia. 20 
Sunflowers. 19 
Turner Memorial, the. 19 
Veronica satureoides . 27 
Violas, propagating. 26 
'Wall Peach Culture. 24 
NOW P.EADY, YOL. I. OF 
"THE GARDENING WORLD" 
HANDSOMELY BOUND, PRICE 6s. 6tf. 
To BE OBTAINED THROUGH ALL NEWSAGENTS AND 
Booksellers. 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1885. 
A Grand National Dahlia Show for the 
North.— 'Why not 1 ? we may ask at the outset. 
There has just been held at the Crystal Palace 
a highly successful exhibition of this popular 
flower, in which all classes of the Dahlia were 
represented. To it came with their flowers 
nearly all the leading cultivators in the south; 
and meeting them, in friendly rivalry, were 
representative floral brethren from the north, 
led by that doughty florist, William Boston, of 
Bedale. The old enthusiasm still survives in 
both halves of the kingdom ; there is an abun¬ 
dance of growers, and it may encourage young 
aspirants to floricultural honours to know that 
in the opinion of an experienced cultivator like 
William Boston, Dahlias are by no means so 
difficult to “ get,” as the florists say, as they 
were a few years ago, so much have the newer 
varieties improved in habit, character, and con¬ 
stancy. If the National Auricula Society can 
hold exhibitions in London and Manchester, 
and if to the National Carnation and Picotee 
Society s shows in the above places can now be 
added a third that of the Oxford Union in 
that city why cannot a second grand exhibition 
of Dahlias take place annually in the north 1 
TV e know that some of the leading cultivators 
and exhibitors favour the idea. This fact was 
made clearly apparent at the exhibition at the 
Crystal Palace a few days since. Such a project, 
conceived and carried out on abroad and liberal 
scale, would command a large amount of support 
in the north, and it would also serve the useful 
purpose of bringing to the ranks of the growers 
and exhibitors recruits desirous of distinguishing 
themselves in the floral arena. 
When ought such a northern show to he held! 
We think the last week in August would be the 
best time, and one most favourable to northern 
and southern growers alike. This is the im¬ 
pression derived from talking over the matter 
with the northern men. Then, as a central 
meeting-point, York would he very suitable. It 
is mid-way between London and Scotland, and 
it is convenient of access by main lines of 
railway. If it is desirable to hold such a show 
in the open air, that, we think, could be done 
at York ■without difficulty. If within doors, 
York is pregnant with suitable and capacious 
buildings. 
But ivho is to take the initiative, and work 
out the proposal 1 Could Mr. John Wilson, the 
secretary of the York Ploral Fete, be induced to 
act in this capacity in connexion with the sug¬ 
gested Dahlia show; his co-operation would 
command universal confidence. As an admini¬ 
strator he is unrivalled; for a quarter of a 
century he has conducted the York Floral Fete, 
and the success which has never deserted him 
would, we think, be his in connexion with a 
Dahlia exhibition. Then there is another body 
at York that, we think, could render substantial 
aid, that is, the Ancient Society of York 
Florists,- of which Mr. John Lazenby is the 
secretary. Their co-operation would be as 
natural, and we think, certain. 
But it is a matter mainly for the northern 
growers. If they will take up the project, and 
give it their support, it will undoubtedly go on. 
We think there are indubitable signs of a revival 
in favour of florists’ flowers, and we may say 
that the tide of popular favour appears to be 
rising in many parts of the country. Only let 
the tide be taken at its flow, and as it moves 
onward it will gain in body and compass, and 
float into the haven of success the venture we 
are endeavouring to launch. A Dahlia show 
for the north is our rallying cry. Let us hope 
the answer given back from that part of the 
kingdom will bear this message : “ It shall he ; 
the burden is ours, and it shall be borne loyally 
and with certainty of success.” 
-- 
GARDENING MISCELLANY. 
Trade Sales. —Next week, tlie Great Horticultural 
Trade Sales of -winter flowering Heaths, will be con¬ 
ducted by Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, on Tuesday, 
at Messrs. Mailer and Sons, Lee ; on Wednesday at 
Mr. John Fraser’s, Lea Bridge ; on Thursday, at Mr. 
John Mailer’s, of Tottenham ; and on Friday, at 
Messrs. Gregory and Evan’s, Sidcup. 
Gardeners’ Koyal Benevolent Institution.— 
We are pleased to hear that the late J. S. Law, Esq., 
of South Lodge, Enfield, has left a legacy of £100, free 
of duty, to this Institution. 
The Turner Memorial. —At a meeting of the 
General Committee, held on Tuesday last, at South 
Kensington, it was announced that the Secretary had 
received notifications of subscriptions amounting to 
about F-IOO. A circular calling attention to the move¬ 
ment was submitted to the meeting aud approved, and 
it was also resolved unanimously that an Executive 
Committee, to include the Chairman, Treasurer, and 
Secretary, he appointed to carry out the details of the 
scheme, and the following gentlemen were selected : 
Dr. Masters, Mr. Harry J. Yeitch, Mr. G. Paul, Mr. 
John Fraser, Mr. H. Glasscock, Mr. J. James, Mr. H. 
Cannell, and Mr. G. T. Miles. 
The Grape Packing Competition which took place 
at South Kensington on Tuesday, for the prizes offered 
by Messrs. Webber & Co., brought out eight lots of fruit 
for examination. The object of the Messrs. Webber in 
giving these prizes, is to encourage the general adoption 
of those methods of packing, which insure the arrival 
of the Grapes in the market in the best possible con¬ 
dition, and, with these conditions in view, the judges 
had no hesitation in awarding the first and second 
prizes to samples packed in ordinary baskets with 
handles, which experience shows to be the best system 
yet followed. The baskets being wider at the top than 
at the bottom, conform to the shape of the bunches, 
which, when tied to the rim of thebasket, hang naturally 
and compactly together, and very little rubbing takes 
place. The baskets are, of course, lined with soft hay 
or moss, and soft white paper, and over the top stout 
twigs are placed to prevent the top covering from 
coming into contact with the berries. The prizes were 
awarded to Mr. S. Castle, West Lynn, Mr. Goodacre, 
Elvaston, and Mr. Turton, gardener, Maiden, Erleigh. 
Mi. Castle also submitted a good sample of Muscats 
laid in a shallow basket, and sent in a box to fit, and 
this method was regarded as the best of all, if railway 
porters would not turn the boxes upside down. 
Noble Liberality. —During the past week, and in 
accordance with a pleasing custom which has prevailed 
for several years, the beautiful gardens of Heekfield 
Place, the residence of Viscount Eversley, once so well 
known as the Speaker of the House of Commons, have 
been thrown open to the public and visited by many 
hundreds of persons. Acts of this kindly sort are 
specially pleasing, because they exhibit nothing that is 
selfish—on the contrary, something that we have too 
little of. We have myriads of beautiful parks and 
gardens dotted here and there all over the kingdom, 
from which the public generally, and even the near 
residents, seem to be perpetually excluded. No one 
contends that grounds of this kind should he made per¬ 
manently public, as that would be absurd ; but we 
may well ask why these places may not be, as is 
Heekfield Place, Gunton Hall, and some few others 
that could be named, thrown open to public view 
for at least a few days every year, especially at this 
season, when such place or places may be the most 
attractive. Much has just of late been heard of some 
burlesque mummeries got up in one of those noble 
domains for the purpose of dazzling the eyes and stifling 
the rising sensibilities of the adjacent democracy. Such 
gee-gaw shows disgrace nature, and turn gardens into 
mimic stages. At Heekfield and similar places, the 
eyes of the visitors are invited to feed upon pure garden 
beauty, and the result is, of course, ennobling and ele¬ 
vating. There may be seen nature pure and simple, 
and especially to town dwellers, in very delightful form ; 
there may be seen nature, assisted by the gardener’s 
art, developing beauties not otherwise evident; and, 
finally, there is art pure and simple, for gardening 
means the absolute subjugation of nature to the art and 
knowledge of man. Heekfield Gardens and pleasure 
grounds are always beautiful; they are specially so just 
now. There are charms and beauties about the place 
that induce large numbers of people to travel miles 
during the open weeks to see them, and those who have 
seen them many times only seem to long to see and 
enjoy them yet once more. No greater praise can be 
given. 
Fruit Culture in Germany.— As an illustration of 
German fruit culture as a profitable industry, and also as 
furnishing an illustration of the beneficial results that 
arise from small proprietorships, the little village of 
Werder, near Potsdam, celebrated for the quality of its 
fruit, is, says the American Cultivator, a striking ex¬ 
ample. The population of this parish is only about 3,000, 
and its area is 2,300 acres, whereof 975 acres are devoted 
to fruit culture. The natural soil in most places is very 
poor, and has been brought to its present fertile con¬ 
dition only by the indomitable thrift and perseverance 
of its owners. These 975 acres are distributed among 
some 550 owners, so that each cultivator has, on a 
average, about 1J acre of land. The total value of the 
fruit crops of Werder varies according to the season. 
Sunflowers. —The big Gooseberry, once the hero 
of many sensational paragraphs, and now the bugbear 
of journalists, seems about to be squelched out of 
knowledge by the introduction of a larger and much 
more attractive competitor for fame. We have just 
been reading of an exhibition held in the progressive 
town of Beading, at which the sole exhibits were big 
Sunflowers. Not only did size enter into the merits of 
the floral competitors, but weight was the chief element, 
and the scales had to decide the prizes. Hence we find 
the first prize was awarded to a big floral full moon, 
weighing 4 lbs., hut there was great falling oft' in the 
second prize, one which balanced 2 lbs. ^ oz. only. 
The exceeding drought was blamed for the average 
want of weight and size seen, we should therefore like 
to know what is esteemed to be the average winning 
weight of a first class flower in a good season. There 
is much that is amusing in this curious floral competition, 
and much that is harmless. It would be difficult to 
