October 3, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
67 
CONTENTS 
PAGE 
Amateurs’ Garden, The_71 
Bouvardia Humboldtii 
eorymbiflora. 72 
Calauthes . 76 
Carnations, New . 77 
Chicory for Winter Salads.. 74 
Chou de Burghiy.76 
Crittenden Damson ( illus¬ 
trated ) . 73 
Croxby House Gardens .... 69 
Dahlia Show, The proposed 67 
Darlingtonia californica.... 75 
Ealing Horticultural Society 77 
Floriculture . 76 
Frost, An early. 67 
Fruit Gathering . 70 
Fruit Judging . 75 
Fruit, Flow'ers, & Vegetables 74 
Gardeners’ Calendar, The .. 76 
Grapes, Bottling . 75 
Hereford Fungus Foray .... 67 
Hollyhock Disease, The.... 67 
Hyacinth culture in Glasses 74 
PAGE 
Mignonette, notes on. 74 
Orchid notes. 76 
“ Palmette Verrier " . 6S 
Peach trees, lifting. 69 
Pear Beurre Capiaumont .. 74 
Pelargonium, the zonal .... 67 
Perennials, select hardy-68 
Pergularia odoratissima.... 6S 
Pieotee,Liddington’s Favou¬ 
rite . 77 
Potato, Sunday’s Seedling.. 75 
Potatos in Germany . 67 
Powerscourt. 72 
Rose, the . 72 
St: Stephen’s Green, Dub¬ 
lin . 73 
Scottish Gardening. 70 
Shading and Heating. 76 
Sunflowers. 74 
Strawberries, planting .... 74 
Turner Memorial, the. 74 
Vanda Sanderiana . 76 
Vicar’s Garden, the. G9 
“ Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.” —Bacox. 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1885. 
The Zonal Pelargonium to the Fore Again. 
—The dry weather which prevailed during a 
large portion of the last summer had a deterio¬ 
rating effect on not a few bedding plants. 
Such things as Alternantlieras, for instance, 
that require 'hot sun overhead and moisture at 
the roots, were wanting in much of their accus¬ 
tomed brilliancy ; while the subjects employed 
in embroidered beds—for this style of summer 
flower gardening is much followed yet—lacked 
a good deal of their accustomed brilliancy, and 
where they were at all effective, it was mainly 
because the beds had been well watered during 
the summer. In fact, persistent watering ivas 
a main condition of anything like successful 
flower gardening during the past summer, and 
this—especially in the case of large gardens — 
entailed a great deal of extra labour at a time 
when the -watering-can had to be going for the 
greater part of the day. 
On the other hand, go where we would, the 
flower gardens in which the various sections 
of bedding Pelargoniums were employed looked 
singularly bright and effective. The plain¬ 
leaved varieties made generally a moderate 
growth, but compensated for it by a marvellous 
freedom of bloom; while all the variegated types 
were bright in their leaf-markings and singularly 
effective, and we heard many an one say, “ We 
shall go back to the Zonal Pelargoniums again, 
for they are the most reliable subjects after all.” 
Some of the gold and bronze varieties were par¬ 
ticularly good; one of the oldest, Beauty of 
Calderclale, was in its very best form in some 
parts of the country, and we think we can say 
of this variety, that it is one of the best hot- 
weather zonals grown. 
Some years ago it was difficult to select a 
group of dwarf compact-growing Zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums adapted for bedding purposes, and at 
the same time affording a pleasing variety of 
colours. This difficulty scarcely exists in these 
days. Mr. Pearson and others—but especially 
the former—has raised and sent out varieties 
having the close, compact, free-branching habit 
of growth and profuseness of bloom that make 
up perfect bedding types ; and the development 
in the colour of the flowers has been so great 
that there is no lack of pleasing shades, from 
the purest white to the deepest purple and 
maroon-crimson. 
With not a few gardeners and many amateurs 
expense is a matter of some moment; and 
especially so in these days when, from various 
causes, incomes have become lessened in amount. 
If a flower gardener makes his leading subjects 
to consist mainly of the various types of bedding 
Pelargoniums, he can fill up with such inex¬ 
pensive things as Violas, Verbenas, Lobelias, 
&c., with Stocks, Asters, Marigolds, and other 
annuals which he can raise from seeds. 
The variegated Zonal Pelargoniums are de¬ 
serving of a much more extended notice than 
they are receiving just now, and that not only 
for their undoubted service in the flower garden, 
but also as exhibition plants. How seldom one 
sees good specimens of these at flower shows 
now ; and yet, when they are well grown, when 
freely developed and finely coloured—for a free 
development is not at all inconsistent with rich 
colouring—these plants are very effective indeed 
as specimens. 
Our conclusion is, that another period of 
popularity is in store for the Zonal Pelargonium. 
We have endeavoured to set forth a few of the 
reasons that justify our belief. 
-- 
GARDENING MISCELLANY. 
Exhibitions for Next Week. —On Wednesday, Thurs¬ 
day, and Friday next the Grand National Potato Ex¬ 
hibition will be held at the Crystal Palace ; and in 
conjunction therewith, on the first two days, there will 
be an Exhibition of Hardy Fruits, organised by the 
Crystal Palace Company. The combined attractions 
should bring a good gathering of growers together at 
this popular place. 
The Proposed Dahlia Show at York, —Having given 
prominence in our columns to a suggestion thrown out 
on the occasion of the Dahlia Show at the Crystal 
Palace, that an exhibition of Dahlias should also take 
place in York about the end of August, we are happy 
in being able to announce that consequent upon the ap¬ 
pearance of our remarks, negotiations were at once set 
on foot by Mr. Boston, with Mr. John Wilson, 
Secretary of the York Floral Fete, the result being 
that Mr. Wilson, acting on behalf of the Committee, 
has agreed to take the matter up, provided certain 
conditions are observed, which conditions, we under¬ 
stand, have been assented to by Mr. W. Boston on 
behalf of the promoters. The conditions are that a 
sum of about £250 shall be offered in prizes ; that the 
schedule shall contain classes for other cut flowers in 
season besides Dahlias ; that a prize subscription list 
shall be started, and with that a guarantee fund 
amounting to say £400. Provided this last be forth¬ 
coming, the committee of the York Floral Fete are pre¬ 
pared to go on with the show, and in the hands of Mr. 
YJilson it is certain be carried to a successful issue. 
On the 8th inst. the annual dinner of the York Floral 
Fete will take place in that city. There is no doubt 
that advantage will be taken of this important meeting 
to advance the interests of the Dahlia Exhibition. The 
proposal to hold a fruit show in connection with it is 
one of a highly commendable character, and will serve 
the purpose of enlisting in support of the exhibition a 
large number of fruit cultivators. Hollyhock, Gladioli, 
and Aster cultivators, as well as those of other flowers, 
will find a new battle ground, and so a sympathetic 
interest in the proposal will be largely extended. 
In order to avoid any apparent hostility between the 
Dahlia Show at the Crystal Palace and the one to take 
place at York, Mr. Wilson has adopted a suggestion 
thrown out by Mr. Thomas Moore, that it shall be 
known as the National Dahlia Show, Northern Section. 
The result will be to increase the prestige and import¬ 
ance of the southern show, and like the National 
Carnation and Picotee Society and others, it now 
becomes an active organisation with two distinct and 
willing branches. May it long continue so is our earnest 
wish. 
The Hereford Fungus Foray. —The members of the 
Wooltborp Naturalists’ Field Club will meet atHereford 
next Thursday for their annual foray among the fun¬ 
guses, which will take place on Risbury Camp and the 
park and lawns of Hampton Court, Leominster. In the 
evening Dr. Bull will introduce p a subject for dis¬ 
cussion “The Effect of Fungus Growth in Destroying 
tree Life. ” Dr. Lull Will also give the solution of a 
New Zealand botanical mystery, and Mr. William 
Phillips, of Shrewsbury, will contribute “Some Notes 
on British Puffballs.” 
Mr, James Ford has been engaged through Messrs. 
John Laing & Co. as gardener to Captain Elliot, Farn- 
borough Park, Hants. 
The Hollyhock Disease, —With reference to Mr. 
Steven’s remarks on this subject, at p. 58, Mr. Worth¬ 
ington G. Smith writes : — “ I do not think it is probable 
that anyone saw the Hollyhock Puccinia in Britain 
twenty years ago, and for two reasons. 1. It was well 
known for many years in Australia and the Southern 
Hemisphere, and was expected and looked for in the 
north every year. It travelled over Southern Europe 
to France, and was reported there before we saw it here. 
When it reached France it was looked out for here, and 
was detected a month after the Paris report appeared. 
2. The fungus is so destructive and fatal, that had it 
appeared so long ago as twenty years, it would not only 
have attracted general notice, hut the Hollyhocks would 
have been swept off by it sooner than they were. ” 
The National Chrysanthemum Society’s Medals. —By 
the courtesy of Mr. William Holmes, the indefatigable 
secretary of this popular society, we have been favoured 
with an inspection of the new silver and bronze medals 
which the society offers for competition at the exhi¬ 
bitions of those societies which are affiliated with it, 
and which, as we remarked in a recent issue, are greatly- 
coveted honours. The same die is used in both cases, 
and a most artistic design it is. Encircling one side are 
the words “National Chrysanthemum Society” in 
relief, with space in the centre for engraving the 
winner’s name and any other particulars it may he 
thought desirable to record ; and on the reverse is a 
group of Chrysanthemum flowers in bold relief, an ex¬ 
quisite representation of all the types of these flowers 
that are grown. Design and execution alike are a 
credit to the society and its medallist, Mr. John Pinches. 
Potatos in Germany. —An interesting paper was 
lately read at a meeting of the Saxon Economical 
Society in Dresden, giving an account of the introduc¬ 
tion of the Potato into Germany and the gradual spread 
of its cultivation. In 1585 it was first brought into 
Germany from Italy. The first seed Potatos in Saxony 
were a present in 1591 from the Landgi-ave of Hesse to 
the Elector of Saxony. In 1647 they were grown as 
exotics in gardens at Leipzig. Swedish soldiers brought 
them into Western Germany about the conclusion of 
the Thirty Years’ War. In 1717 they were re-intro¬ 
duced into Saxony from Brabant, and within twenty- 
five years they began to be regularly cultivated, their 
use being much developed in the famine period of 
1770-71. In the year 1882 over 9,000,000 acres were 
given up to the cultivation of Potatos in Germany, the 
produce amounting to 23,000,000 tons. 
An Early Frost. —A very untoward garden season has 
been materially shortened by a series of white frosts, 
the effect of which on Sunday and Monday mornings 
last, in many places, made a clean sweep of all growth 
on Potatos, Runner, and Dwarf Beans, Marrows, and 
similar exposed vegetable crops, and also killed 
completely tender garden flowers, especially Dahlias, 
Balsams, Marigolds, Tropseolums, and many other 
things, which, as a rule, help to make our gardens gay 
up to the end of October. To many Potato growers 
this early frost comes as a grave disappointment, be¬ 
cause late planted kinds, and those which had made 
second growth from small tubers, were in process of 
creating a fair crop of marketable tubers, could the 
growth have remained intact for some three weeks 
longer ; that hope is now absolutely destroyed, and the 
crops, such as they are, will get no larger. Marrows, especi¬ 
ally in a season when all kinds of green crops are scarce, 
would have proved yet later a source of considerable 
profit. Those are now quite destroyed, and the Beans 
will neither permit to the growers more profit, more 
labour to the numerous women employed in gathering 
them, or good to the myriads of our town population 
who consume them. All these things present losses 
of no mean order, and all arise from a reduced tem¬ 
perature a month earlier than usual. How shoit a 
season we enjoy in this country is evidenced when it is 
found that spring months, so late as April and May, 
are full of dangers from sudden falls in the temper¬ 
ature, the parting curses of a dying winter ; the which 
seem but to hatch others that quicken into life early 
to create death so early in the autumn as September 
27th. Some'few years since a very late ffost on May 
