March 20, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
461 
when growth'has become active ; where the foliage is 
becoming developed, a sprinkling of [guano over the 
surface of the inside borders twice a week during the 
evening will be found beneficial. Let the Potato 
frames be well attended to, ventilate freely or they 
will become drawn ; the soil will be better if sprinkled 
with water through the rose before shutting up in the 
afternoon. _ 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Operations in this department have been of the most 
limited description, the frost having taken such a sharp 
hold of the soil. Where the burnt refuse was applied 
it is workable, and we have sown Lettuce, Cauliflower, 
dwarf Savoys, autumn Broccoli, Leeks, Brussels Sprouts, 
and such like, of course, taking the necessary pre¬ 
caution of covering with wire netting against birds, and 
also we cover with mats at night, to prevent the frost 
injuring the seeds, more particularly the Lettuce, which 
are easily destroyed when germinating. 
We have to day prepared the ground and drawn the 
drills ready for sowing the main crop of Onions, which 
we hope to sow to morrow, and we have also put in to-day 
(the 15th) a good sized square of Myatt’s Kidney Potato, 
and the ground works well, having been dug early last 
autumn. We have also sowm on a very warm border 
a good batch of Horn Carrots, making capital work. 
Cauliflowers and Brussels Sprouts which were sown 
inside, must be pricked out this week, and also a good 
batch of the early Celery ; the latter will be nursed for 
some time to come. We have to-day lifted and planted in 
boxes in leaf-soil, a good batch of the roots of the spring 
sown Parsley, our supply of which has been abundant 
so far, but is now running short on account of prolonged 
frosty weather. The boxes we shall place in the 
Muscat Vinery at once, and water well with -warm 
water to encourage growth. Outside Radishes have 
failed, so we have made another sowing in the Potato 
pit. — Walter Child, Croome Court. 
-- 
FLORICULTURE. 
The Carnation and Picotee Union.— This new 
organisation was started last year, and the first exhi¬ 
bition was held in Mr. Dodwell’s garden in the Stanley 
Road, Oxford. It will be remembered, from the reports 
which appeared, that both as an exhibition of flowers 
and a social gathering of Carnation and Picotee fanciers, 
it was a splendid success. Corresponding secretaries 
have been appointed for several districts, such as 
Clapham, Ealing, Reading, Birmingham, Leicester, 
Burtou-on-Trent, Derby, Chesterfield, Sneinton, Shef¬ 
field, Halifax, Eccles, Todmorden, Yeovil, Basingstoke, 
Luton, and Lincoln. There is, therefore, every prospect 
of a very successful meeting in the coming summer. 
The qualification for membership of the Union is a con¬ 
tribution of not less than five shillings. 
Mr. E. S. Dodwell has put forth the following:— 
“Five reasons why I am a subscriber to the Carnation 
and Picotee Union : (1) because I thereby add strength 
to an organisation formed for the further development 
of one of the oldest flowers known to cultivation, and 
one of the most charming in the diadem of Flora ; (2) 
because it is suitable alike for all classes and widely 
differing localities ; it gives grace and beauty to the 
garden of the prince, and is within the reach and 
rejoices the heart of hundreds of hard-working artisans ; 
(3) because I thereby have access to the “Feast of 
Carnations” provided in its annual meeting —the great 
display of the year—the limited space of the place of 
exhibition, Mr. Dodwell’s garden, of necessity restricting 
visitors to members and their friends ; (4) because my 
subscription enables me to participate to the full extent 
thereof in the annual distribution of Mr. Dodwell’s 
surplus growth of new or older varieties, as I may elect ; 
(5) because at this annual meeting I may not only see 
flowers in marvellous beauty and highest development, 
but may realise in fullest measure in the sympathy and 
communion of the friends then gathered together, how 
‘one touch of Nature makes the whole world kin.’ ’’ 
Auriculas in Extremis. — This exactly describi 
the condition of my own collection, frost-bound as the 
are in a north house. During the past six weeks the 
uo not appear to have made the slightest ad vane 
How can they? The soil in the pots is frozen hare 
and it will remain so so long as this frosty weathi 
lasts. Here I am, within a month of the annual shov 
and scarcely a truss showing in the hearts of the plant: 
Mr. Harry Turner told me a few days ago that he hope 
to show Auriculas in flower at the Crystal Palace on tl 
26th, but they will be forced into bloom in artifici, 
heat. Last year at this time I had Prince of Green; 
Hetty Dean (a very early sort, but without the trace < 
a truss on strong plants at the present time), Williai 
Linton, C. J. Perry, Mr. Campbell, Lancashire Her< 
Head s Brilliant, and. several others in flower in th 
same house in the first week in April. Now I ai 
wondering if they’will be in flower by the first week in 
May, unless a great change "comes quickly. All I can 
do is to wait. Primroses and'Polyanthuses in the open 
ground'have not been so late'for years. — It. D. 
-- 
HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
Ma nchester Botanical and Horticultural. 
—March lfith and 17 th .—The first of the two annual 
spring flower shows promoted by this society was held 
on the above dates in the large room of the Town Hall, 
Albert Square, and considering the severity of the 
weather, was a better show than could have been anti¬ 
cipated. The principal groups were contributed by 
Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, the Liverpool 
Horticultural Co., and Mr. John Hooley, Edgeley. In 
Messrs. Cutbush & Son’s collection were a fine lot of 
Hyacinths, Cyclamens in abundance, and if possible 
even better, Azaleas, Daffodils, pretty little bushes of 
the Otaheite Orange loaded with fruit, well-selected 
Palms, Araucaria excelsa, and forced specimens of 
Staphylea colchica, a white-flowered shrub of great use¬ 
fulness. The table below the organ was occupied 
entirely by plants from the Liverpool Horticultural Com¬ 
pany—a splendid lot, comprising Azaleas, Genistas, 
and other greenhouse favourites of the season ; and a 
striking group of Orchids, chief among which were 
Cattleyas of the types most generally esteemed, in¬ 
cluding C. Percivaliana, C. citrina, C. amethystoglossa, 
and Odontoglossum bietoniense, &c. Mr. John Hooley, 
of Edgeley, exhibited a fine variety of Odontoglossum 
gloriosum, good specimens of Cattleya Triame, several 
Cj'pripediums, and several nice examples of Odonto¬ 
glossum crispum, together with pretty yellow Primulas, 
with flowers like Oxlips but leaves like those of 
Auriculas ; Acacias, the violet-purple Hardenbergia, so 
valuable for cutting, &c. Mr. James Marson, Hill 
Cliff, Warrington, sent a very beautiful lot of seedling 
varieties of the Chinese Primula, including a charming 
novelty as to colour, a delicate pale rosy lilac. Messrs. 
W. G. Caldwell & Sons, Knutsford, contributed a good 
collection of miscellaneous plants ; and Messrs. Dickson, 
Brown, k Tait, of Corporation Street, had a nice display 
of Hyacinths. The greatest botanical curiosity in the 
show was a cut spray, exhibited by Mr. Joseph Broome, 
of the flowers of Odontoglossum coronarium, and which 
has been produced at the end of a spike a yard away 
from the root. 
Bristol Horticultural. —March 17?A—The six¬ 
teenth exhibition of this society was held in the Colston 
Hall, and considering the very unfavourable season, it 
was remarkable for the abundance of Hyacinths, Tulips, 
and early forced flowers produced, the large hall and 
the smaller one adjoining being well filled. The silver 
cup for the best bank of flowers arranged on a space 12 
ft. by 7 ft., was awarded to Mr. F. Perry, gardener to 
H. Cruger Miles, Esq., for a bright and showy bank 
consisting of Azaleas, Deutzias, Lyeaste Skinneri, 
Pimelias, Dendrobium nobile, and Odontoglossum 
crispum, which were very effective. Mr. Perry was 
closely followed for second honours by Mr. W. Rye, 
gardener to James Derham, Esq., and Cymbidium 
eburneum, Pliajus, Azaleas, Camellias, &c., were very 
telling in this arrangement. For six foliage plants, 
Mr. W. Rye won easily with good specimens of Croton 
pictus, still one of the best when seen as it was exhibited 
here ; Croton Weismanii, Latania Borboniea., and 
others. The three first prizes for Azaleas all went to 
Mr. C. Taggart, Souvenir de Prince Albert, Stella, 
Model, Iveryana, and Mrs. Turner, being the most 
notable varieties staged. The first prize in the class for 
six table plants was well won by Mr. R, Morse, gardener 
to S. Budget, Esq., whose plants were evenly matched, 
not too large, and very bright. For six Cinerarias, 
Mr. F. Edwards, gardener to J. Lysaglit, Esq., easily 
came in first, his plants being dwarf, with fine heads of 
large flowers, and extra fine foliage ; these were a mag¬ 
nificent half dozen. For six pots of Lily of the Valley, 
the first prize went to Mr. Mark Hookings, and the 
second to Mr. G. W. Shelton, gardener to Mr. W. K. 
Waite. For the best specimen Orchid, Mr. Nichols, 
gardener to Mrs. Miller, was first with a marvellous 
plant of Phalienopsis amabilis, with seven fine leaves 
and a branching spike quite 4 ft. in length, with forty 
open flowers. The same plant also won the first prize 
last November at the autumn exhibition. The secoud 
prize went to a fine plant of Coelogyne cristata. For 
three pots of Violets, Mr. F. Taggart was first; the 
second prize going to Mr. E. C. Cole, gardener to W. 
Pethick, Esq. For the best stove or greenhouse plants 
in flower, Mr. W. Rye was first with a fine plant of 
Imantophyllum miniatum, well coloured. 
The special prize for eighteen Hyacinths and twelve 
pots of Tulips, given by the treasurer, W. Derham, 
Esq., M.A., was well won by Mr. G. Marsh, gardener 
to Mr. M. Dunlop. The plants of both Hyacinths and 
Tulips were very good, the most noticeable of the 
former being King of the Blues, Haydn, Fabiola, and 
Pieneman. Mr. \V. Linterne, gardener to W. Butler, 
Esq., was second, and Mr. S. Perry, gardener to 
H. Cruger Miles, Esq., a good third. For the best 
arranged vase of flowers for the dinner-table, the first 
prize and bronze Knightian medal of the R.H.S. was 
awarded to Mr. W. Pethick, for a light arrangement, 
Mr. E. Hill being second, and Mr. J. Stapleton, gardener 
to H. Mardon, Esq., third ; the latter being, in the 
opinion of many, superior to the first prize. The 
highest award for twelve bunches of cut flowers was 
easily won by Mr. F. Perry—Cypripedium Sedenii, 
Saccolabium giganteum, Vanda tricolor, and a fine 
form of Odontoglossum crispum being the most notice¬ 
able. For the best hand bouquet, Orchids excluded 
(prize given by Mr. E. J. Burgess), Mr. C. Winston was 
awarded the first prize for a charming bouquet of Marie 
Louise Violets, Mareehal Niel Rose, and Lily of the 
Valley ; the second going to Mr. H. Hawkins for a 
beautiful bouquet very little inferior to the first prize 
one. 
The best stand of twelve cut Roses came from Mr. 
E. S. Cole ; Mr. G. Miller being second. Of fruit 
there v'as only a limited display. The best bunch of 
Lady Downes Grapes was exhibited by Mr. F. Nichol, 
gardener to Mrs. Miller. Of Pears, only baking sorts 
exhibited, but the Apples included a fine dish of 
Ribston Pippin. Mr. J. H. Vallance, gardener to 
J. C. Wall, Esq., was first for a fine brace of Cucumbers. 
For the best eight varieties of vegetables, arranged in a 
basket not exceeding 3 ft., Mr. H. W. Bannister, 
gardener to H. Ames, Esq., was first, his Leeks, Mush¬ 
rooms, and Snow’s Winter White Broccoli being quite 
first-rate. Mr. J. Aplin, gardener to W. M. Baker, 
Esq., was second. Mr. Vallance, gardener to T. A. S. 
Dorrien Smith, Esq., of Tresco Abbey, Scilly Isles, sent 
one hundred varieties of Daffodils and Narcissus grown 
in the open air, and which -were stated, in a note accom¬ 
panying them, to be at least a month later in flowering 
this year, than last. 
Liverpool Horticultural Association.— 
There was a very large gathering of the members of this 
association at the meeting held on Saturday evening 
last at the Free Public Library, William Brown Street. 
Mr. R. G. Waterman occupied the chair, and a prac¬ 
tical paper on the “Cultivation of the Melon” was 
read by Mr. William Bardney, who, in a comprehensive 
manner, commented on the most desirable form of 
structure for growing Melons in, and such important 
points in connection with their cultivation, as soils, 
watering, feeding, training, heating, and the general 
details of management necessary to observe in order to 
obtain this favoured fruit in quantity and of the best 
quality. “ Progress in Gardening ” was the subject of 
a paper read by Mr. Thomas White, that contained a 
considerable amount of dry humour, that at frequent 
intervals greatly amused the audience. The subjects 
commented upon by Mr. White, included the various 
branches of science connected with gardening, the 
structure and constituents of plants, and the important 
part that the microscope has jilayed in the pursuit of 
plant knowledge. Herbaceous plants were also brought 
under review, and comments made on the valuable 
subjects which collectors had sent home from time to 
time. The Cape of Good Hope was designated as the 
botanic garden of the world ; and alluding to Aucuba 
japonica, Mr. White pointed out how the female plant 
had for many years played the part of a “ grass widow,” 
whose charms were not fully realised until a mate was 
sent home. A hearty word of praise was accorded to 
the noble army of collectors, who at the risk of their 
lives and a great sacrifice of personal comforts had en¬ 
abled us to say that we have .the richest collections of 
plants in the world. Plants that produced flowers 
that appeared difficult of impregnation by insects were 
next alluded to, and to Thomas Andrew Knight was 
accorded high honour for his researches in hybridisation. 
The Gloxinia being typical, was instanced as a subject 
which illustrated how little these matters were 
understood. For some twenty years we had no hybrids, 
although several species w r ere in cultivation. The im¬ 
provements in many plants, fruits, and vegetables which 
had been brought about by cross-fertilisation, was 
undoubtedly of the utmost importance to mankind. 
The horticultural press was designated as “ a mighty 
engine,” for the dissemination of knowledge, and one 
of the greatest of modern incentives to progress ; and 
the good services rendered by horticultural societies 
and exhibitions, and by nurserymen and seedsmen who 
introduced rarities and novelties were not forgotten. 
-- 
QUESTION'S AND ANSWERS. 
The Amateur Question.— R. IV. IV. B. : “A ” is decidedly a 
Gardener and Florist, and therefore is not entitled to compete in 
classes 13 to 20. In the absence of any definition of an amateur 
in your Schedule, we rule that “ B " and “ C ” are both Amateurs 
in the general acceptation of the term, and entitled, as the 
Schedule stands, to compete in classes 13 to 20, although under 
the circumstances, it hardly seems fair to allow them to compete 
with Cottagers. In a constituency like yours it would be better 
to define an Amateur as one who does not regularly employ a 
gardener, and to keep “ Cottagers ” and “Amateurs” separate. 
Orchids, ^f. R., Junr. : Tour plan of watering is perfectly 
correct, as also those things you mark as keeping moist. With 
the Odontoglossums may be classed the Sophr^nites grandiflora 
which should be suspended near the roof. Cypripediums, Ly- 
castes, Zygopetalums, and Caelogynes, do not require actual drying 
off although a very limited supply of water suffices when not 
growing. Carefully water the plants when in flower, as the 
blooms draw on them, but do not over do it. When the growing 
time is known to have arrived, the re-potting should be done, 
