270 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 26, 1885. 
FLORICULTURE. 
Florist Flowers, the Past and the Present.— 
I have been greatly interested by the-historical notices 
of florist flowers which have appeared in The Gar¬ 
dening World from time to time, carrying me back 
in memory to boyhood’s days. I was particularly struck 
by the reference made by your correspondent, Mr. 
George Fry, of Lewisham, in last week’s issue, to one 
of my father’s old Dahlia catalogues of 1839. In the 
history of the Dahlia, given the week previous by 
another correspondent, although my father’s name was 
not mentioned, I find many of the kinds named as 
taking the lead between 1837 and 1840 were his intro¬ 
ductions. Mr. Fry seems somewhat astonished at 
£10 3s. being asked for a set of twenty-seven new 
seedlings, offered in the 1839 catalogue, and draws a 
contrast between the past and the present. It may 
interest him, and other of your readers, to know that 
taking a prominent position in the improvement of the 
Dahlia in those days, meant, as it does now in carrying 
out specialities, both perseverance, labour, and expense. 
At that time my father’s collection of seedling 
Dahlias, as grown at the North Trade Nurseries, Battle, 
in Sussex, covered about two acres of ground, planted 
thickly together, and by the end of the blooming 
season all but about three dozen would be found pulled 
up and destroyed, those left being reserved for future 
trials. Perhaps the .most remarkable variety in those 
early years which he succeeded in raising was Victory, 
an immense plum-purple, for which the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society awarded him their silver medal in 
1837. This variety was sent out in 1838, and as a 
“ toddler ” at the time, I well remember his taking me 
to some dung-beds in the frame-yard, and telling me to 
look inside, saying that every shoot I saw represented 
15s. I have heard him say that out of that one variety 
he made £700. With such an evidence, Mr. Fry’s 
observations as to the changes that have come over the 
floricultural horizon during the last fifty years may 
well be corroborated. 
Dung-beds then did the duty of hot water. The 
transmission of plants by post and penny postage was 
then unknown, railway facilities were anything but 
common, and the sending of plants to long distances 
was a work of danger and difficulty. If I mistake not, 
we had but one gardening paper, yet with modern 
facilities it is a question which pays the best—the old 
or the modern. 1 feel certain, however, that none of 
the modern Dahlia growers make the money jiow of 
these new introductions that were made by growers 
fort}' years ago.— -J. Knight, BilslOn. 
Concerning the Dahlia. —In Mr. Geo. Fry’s in¬ 
teresting remarks under the heading of Floriculture, he 
touched upon the prices paid for new Dahlias in times 
past. Beauty of Teffont was probably one of the first 
that commanded a high price ; this variety was raised 
by the Rev. S. B. Ward, of Teffont, in 1835, and was 
purchased by the Messrs. Brown, Florist, of Slough, for 
the sum of £60. Then followed Yellow Defiance, 
purchased by the same firm at the high price of £200. 
This was a yellow self Dahlia, and marked a prodigious 
advance in those days ; there is a good representation 
of it in the Floricultural Cabinet for 1840. It was 
raised by a Mr. Cox, and he sent it out in 1839-40. 
Essex Triumph, raised in 1841, was sold out for £60, and 
was sent out in 1843. I remember that flower well, it 
was a maroon coloured self raised by Mr. Turville. 
Marchionesss of Ormond realised one hundred guineas. 
Shylock, Beeswing, Alice, and Cleopatra, fetched £100 
each ; Lady Sale, £70 ; and Lucy Sale, Nonpariel, Sir 
J. Richardson, Duke of Wellington, Bob, Sir R. 
Whittington, and British Queen, fetched £50 each. 
Probably the last of the high priced Dahlias are 
Wheeler’s Queen Victoria, purchased by the late Mr. 
C. Turner for the sum of £105, but it greatly disap¬ 
pointed expectations, coming hard-eyed and being 
useless for exhibition purposes. 
In looking back upon the prices at which favourite 
Dahlias have been sold, it must not be supposed to 
follow, as a matter of course, that the higher the price 
the better the flower ; this was regulated in a great 
measure by what the flower had done when shown as a 
seedling, its popularity, novelty, and improved form. 
If a flower made a name through any intrinsic merits of 
its own, a large sale invariably followed ; the price 
being in accordance ■with such estimates. Then, on the 
other hand, some of the finest and most popular flowers 
in their day, were purchased for quite small sums. An 
excellent red self, named Sir C. Napier, and Mr. Hare 
Hansard, a pretty fancy variety, were sold for £5 each. 
The latter was purchased from the seed bed, on the 
strength of the novel and promising character it dis¬ 
played at that stage, and was, therefore, a mere 
speculation. Sir C. Napier and Shylock, were flowers 
of the same class, and, as will be seen, there was a great 
difference in the prices paid for them, but the latter 
proved the best commercial speculation because the 
former was so little known. 
There was one peculiarity about Essex Triumph that 
is deserving of mention, namely, that after it was sent 
out it produced blooms beautifully shaded with bright 
crimson, thereby enhancing its value and beauty, and 
causing it to be more esteemed than before. 
I was with Mr. Turner when Queen Victoria was 
sent out, and I am not surprised at the high value he 
set upon it, for it was very finely shown as a seedling ; 
it had a bright yellow ground tipped with crimson. It 
was regarded as the greatest novelty produced for many 
years past, for there had been no bright yellow ground 
Dahlia since the days of Cedo Nulli, a variety raised by 
Mr. Pothecary, Upway, near Dorchester, about 1833, 
and sent out by Mr. "Widnall, of Grantchester. These 
were buff ground flowers, but they were equally dull 
and heavy-looking. 
A great deal of lore has gathered about the Dahlia, 
very much of it of an interesting character. Probably, 
Mr. Fry has personal recollections, that if he could be 
prevailed upon to commit them to paper would prove 
of great interest to the readers of the Gardening 
Would. 
The volumes of the Floricultural Cabinet give excel¬ 
lent outlines of the development of the Dahlia by 
means of the illustrations they gave from time to time. 
I often turn back to these and look at the Dahlias of 
fifty years ago. What an onward movement there has 
been since then. Now, although fine new Dahlias are 
raised year after year, the actual improvement is very 
slow, but we may regard it as sure and definite, bringing 
with it solid gain, and attesting to the vitality of flori¬ 
cultural enterprise.— B. B. 
--—-- 
We regret to record the death on the 19th inst. at 
Leytonstone, of Mr. Alexander Protheroe, one of 
the founders of the well known firm of Protheroe & 
Morris, Auctioneers and Nurserymen. Mr. Protheroe 
was bom on October 6tli, 1804, and was brought up by 
his uncle, the late Sir. Thomas Jenkins of the Regents 
Park Nurseries, who in his day carried out many ex¬ 
tensive jdanting contracts. It was while with Sir. 
Jenkins that he acquired his early knowledge of the 
nursery trade, and desiring to be in business on his 
own account he left his uncle and joined the late Sir. 
Slorris at the Leytonstone Nurseries, where he 
subsequently commenced the profession of a horti¬ 
cultural Auctioneer and Valuer, and so laid the 
foundation of the very successful business now carried 
on by Sir. George Field Morris, and Sir. William Henry 
Protheroe. Sir. Alexander Protheroe conducted the 
auctioneering business for about forty years, and only 
relinquished this branch some sixteen years ago, in 
favour of his genial son and Sir. Slorris, who at the well 
known sale rooms at 67 & 68, Cheapside, have immensely 
increased the reputation of the firm. The deceased 
gentleman belonged to the good old fashioned school 
of nurserymen, of whom alas ! there are now but few' 
left about the metropolis. 
SVe have also to record the death, on the 20th inst., 
of Sir. Joseph Vander Sw'aelmen of the Lily Nursery, 
Gentbrugge, near Ghent, Belgium, aged 32 years. 
-->*<—- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWEES. 
Flower Bed.— J. H. : If you can get a few dwarf Rhododen¬ 
drons and Ghent Azaleas, a very effective hed may be made with 
the subjects you mention. We should plant the Rhododendrons 
and Azaleas alternately about 3 ft. or 4 ft. apart, and the 
Anemone japonica alba between them. The Crocuses we should 
set as an edging, and over them put some surface rooting plant, 
such as any of the hardy Sedums. Next to the edging we should 
plant the Tulip and Narcissus in clumps of five or seven bulbs, 
so that when the foliage dies down some quick-growing annuals 
may be sown over them. The Liliums should be planted near 
the Rhododendrens, where they will not be disturbed : and the 
Gladioli in groups of three. The Lobelias and any other avail¬ 
able subjects of an appropriate character may then be used as 
dot plants in the most effective positions not otherwise occupied. 
The Rhododendrons and Azaleas would give the bed a finished 
appearance in winter as well as in summer. 
Books. — Ignoramus: You cannot do better than get Thomp¬ 
son's Gardeners’ Assistant (Blackie & Co.), price 33s. ; and Mrs. 
London's Amateur Gardeners’ Calendar (F. Warne & Co.). 7s. 6 d. 
As an amateur you will find the latter of great service; but the 
first named is, of course, the standard u T ork on English 
gardening. 
Fern and Orchid.— D . B. K .: The Fern is Alsophila ferox, 
and it will do well potted in the usual Orchid compost, with the 
Zygopetalum, the moisture given to the Orchid being quite 
enough for it. You are lucky in getting a living piece. 
Christmas Roses. —On p. 251, “ R. D.” recommends lifting 
and re-potting yearly. Is it not a better plan to leave the plants 
in the pot? If so, what should be the treatment after blooming? 
— Somerset. [We like to leave the plants in the pots, only fresh 
potting them about every third year. After they have flowered, 
give them the protection of a coid frame for a time, then remove 
as much of the top soil in the pots as possible, top dress with 
some fresh compost, fill up the pot with well rotted manure and 
plunge them up to the rims in a shady border.— Ed.) 
Gladiolus. —Will you kindly tell me when I ought to plant 
Gladiolus bulbs, and" how I should treat them to have them 
in bloom as soon as possible without the aid of artificial heat, 
as I have only a cold frame.— Engstrom. [At the end of January 
pot some roots in a moderately rich, light compost, one root in 
a 4S-sized pot, or three roots in 7-inch pots and plunge them in 
cocoa-nut fibre refuse or coal ashes in the cold frame. Do not 
give much water until they commence to grow, and when the 
plants get too tall for the frames plunge them in a warm sheltered 
border out-of-doors. They should not be planted out in the 
open-air before the first week in March. —Ed.) 
Pear Congress.— Somerset: We have sent your note to Mr. 
BaiTon, see p. 267. 
Mushrooms and Woodlice. —Mr. Ward recommends the use 
of boiling water along the sides and ends of mushroom beds, for 
the purpose of killing Woodlice, would this plan injure the hed 
much?— Enquirer. [No. We have adopted this method of 
extermination many times, without any apparent injury to the 
beds.— Ed.) 
Lady Corisande’s Garden. —Can any reader of The Garden¬ 
ing World oblige me with Disraeli's description of Lady Cori¬ 
sande’s Garden ?—Uonghorth 
Carnations and Picotees. —I have more carnations ami 
picotees potted than I can find frame room for. Would they do 
plunged in a hed of ashes and sheltered at the sides with hurdles ? 
— C. P. (In a mild dry winter they would not take much harm 
in such a position, hut it- Is wet and not cold that should be 
most guarded against.— Ed.) 
Communications Received.— J. L. & Co. — J. D. — J. G. — 
R. C. F.—W. S—C. T.—S. P.—D. P. L—A. F B.—Thomas 
Loose.—B. L.—P. B. O K —C. D.—T. B.—G. B.—D. B. K.—Ch. 
Maron, St. Germains.—J. L. & Co. 
-- 
TEADE CATALOGUES EECEIYED. 
James Veitch & Sons, King's Road, Chelsea, S.W.—Catalogue 
of Garden and Flower Seeds for 1SS6.—Catalogue of Roses, 18S5-6. 
B. S. Williams, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Hol¬ 
loway, N.—Descriptive Catalogue of Flower, Vegetable and 
Agricultural Seeds. 
-- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
Becariber 23 rd, 1885. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, report a steady demand for 
the finest Red Clovers, and holders ask higher prices. 
The few samples of new English Cow Grass already 
marketed show poor quality, and are selling at a great 
advance on last year’s values ; Alsike sells readily; 
White and Trefoil are neglected ; no change in Rye 
Grasses ; Canary, Hemp, and Linseed sell slowly at 
rates current last week. 
COVENT CARDEN MARKET. 
Becember 23 rd. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Apples, i sieve. 10 3 0 
Grapes, per lb. 0 6 2 0 
Kent Cobs,per 100 lbs.22 6 25 0 
Melons, each. 
Peaches, per doz. 
s.d. s.d. 
Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 1 0 
Pine-apples, St. 
Michaels, each .... 2 6 SO 
Plums . 
Canadian Apples, brl.10 0 20 0 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s.d. 
Artichokes, Globe,doz. 2 0 
Beans, French, per lb. 1 0 
Beet, per dozen. 2 0 
Cabbages .... per doz. 1 6 
Carrots, per bunch ..06 
Cauliflowers, English, 
per dozen . 4 0 
Celery, per bundle ..16 
Cucumbers, each .... 09 
Endive, French, doz. 2 6 
Herbs, per bunch.... 02 
s.d. 
3 0 
3 0 
2 0 
s.d. s.d. 
Horse Radish, bundle 3 0 5 0 
Lettuces ..per dozen 1 C 
Mushrooms, p. basket 10 16 
Onions, per bushel .. 5 0 6 0 
Parsley, per bunch ..06 
Radishes, per dozen.. 1 6 
Small salading.punnet 0 4 
Sea Kale, per basket.. 2 0 3 0 
Spinach, per strike ..20 
Tomatos, per lb.10 
Turnips, per bunch ..06 
Potatos.- Kent Regents, SOs. to 100s. per ton ; Kent Kidneys, 
SOs. to 100s. per ton ; phampions, 70s. per ton. 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Abutilon, 12 bunches 2 0 4 0 
Acacia mimosa.French 
per bunch. 06 10 
Anemone, 12 hunches 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 6 0 9 0 
Asters, 12 bunches 
Azalea, 12 sprays .... 10 16 
Bouvardias, per bun. 0 6 10 
Camellias, 12 blooms. 3 0 6 0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 10 3 0 
Carnations, 12 bunch. 
Chrysanthemums, 12 
blooms. 2 0 4 0 
Chrysanthemums, 12 
bunches .12 0 24 0 
Cyclamen, 12 blooms. 0 6 OS 
Epiphyllums, 12blms. 0 6 10 
Eucharis, per dozen.. 5 0 9 0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms. 4 0 SO 
Heliotropes, 12 sprays 0 6 10 
Lapageria, white, 12 
blooms. 3 0 4 0 
Lapageria, red, 12blms. 10 2 0 
s.d. s.d. 
Lilium Longiflorum, 
12 blooms . 60 90 
Marguerites, 12 bun... 3 0 6 0 
Mignonette, 12 bun... 16 6 0 
Pelargoniums, per 12 
sprays. 10 16 
— scarlet, 12 sprays.. OS 10 
Poinsettia, doz. blms. 4 0 SO 
Primula, double, bun. 0 9 16 
Primulas,Chinese,bun. .. 0 6 
Roman Hyacinths, 12 
I sprays. 10 20 
Roses (coloured) .... 2 0 4 0 
Roses (indoors), doz. 10 3 0 
Roses, Tea, French,, 0 6 10 
Roses, red, per dozen 16 2 0 
Stephanotis, 12 sprays 
Tuberoses, per dozen. 10 16 
Tulips, 12 blooms.... 10 16 
Violet, 12 bunches ..10 16 
— Czar, French, per 
hunch. 19 20 
— Parme.. 4 0 60 
White Jasmine^-kita.. 0 6 0 9 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. . 
Aralia Sieboldi, doz.. 6 0 IS 0 
Arum Lilies, per doz.12 0 IS 0 
Asters, per doz. 
Begonias, per dozen.. 6 0 12 0 
Bouvardias, per dozen 9 0 IS 0 
Chrysanthemums, per 
dozen pots. 9 0 IS 0 
Cineraria, per dozen.. 10 0 12 0 
Cockscombs, per doz. 
Cyclamens, per dozenl2 0 24 0 
Cyperus, per dozen .. 4 0 12 0 
Dracaena term., doz. .80 0 60 0 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0 24 0 
Evergreens, in var., 
per dozen . 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, in var., doz. .. 4 0 IS 0 
Ficus elastica, each.. 16 7 0 
Fuchsias, per dozen.. 
s.d. s.d. 
Foliage Plants, vari¬ 
ous, each. 2 0 10 0 
Heaths or Erica, var., 
per dozen .10 0 24 0 
Hyacinths, per doz... 9 0 12 0 
Hyacinths, Roman, 
per dozen .12 0 15 0 
Hydrangea, per dozen 
Lilium iancifolium, 
per dozen . 
Marguerites, per doz. 9 0 12 0 
Mignonette, per doz. 
Palms in variety, each 2 6 21 0 
Pelargoniums, doz. .. 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, 
per dozen . 40 60 
Poinsettia, per dozenl2 0 IS 0 
Primula, single, doz.. 4 0 6 0 
Tulips, per dozen pots S 0 12 0 
