746 
THE GAKDENING WORLD. 
July 23, 1887. 
In preparing lime-water, put some lumps of unslaked 
lime in a watering pot or other vessel, according to the 
quantity required, and after leaving it for some time, 
part of it will become dissolved, when the clear water 
may be poured off into another vessel, diluted with 
more water, and used in watering pot plants where 
worms are suspected or known to exist. If the worms 
are lying near the mouths of their burrows, they will 
rush out instantly as if pursued by fire or an enemy. 
They are frequently killed, however, or die a lingering 
death near the bottom of the pot. When it is desired 
to destroy worms on a lawn, sweep up the castings so 
as to leave the burrows open, and then apply lime- 
water as to plants in pots. Acetic acid or vinegar is 
very deadly to worms, and it would be well worth 
trying in special cases. It is very powerful in killing 
them, even in a diluted state, so that caution may be 
exercised in the case of tender plants lest they should 
be injured, while still keeping the destruction of worms 
in view. __ 
THE BIRMINGHAM ROSE SHOW. 
A two days’ exhibition of Eoses in the Botanical 
Gardens was held on the 14th and loth inst., and 
although the number of exhibitors were of a restricted 
character, owing to some extent to the great Rose shows 
at the Crystal Palace, Edinburgh, and Bradford, a 
goodly display of blooms were brought together. 
Then the long spell of hot dry weather has had its 
influence, and the Midlands have felt it severely. In 
the open classes for nurserymen Messrs. Harkness & 
Sons, Bedale, again scored successes here, and it 
seems that this firm will stand at the top of the tree 
this year as the champion trade exhibitors. The 
question was put to Mr. Harkness here as to the 
reason of their brilliant success this year, and he at¬ 
tributes it greatly to the fact of their having 8,000 
cut-back plants to cut from, although their best blooms 
for their London, Trophy, and Edinburgh prizes were 
obtained from maiden plants. 
This firm scored first places for forty-eight singles, 
twenty-four doubles, twelve Teas or Noisettes, and 
second for twenty-four singles, first for twelve whites 
(Merveille de Lyon), and third for twelve crimsons of 
one sort. In their exhibits Antoine Ducher, Merveille 
de Lyon, Etienne Levet, Harrison Weir, a grand 
bloom of Reynolds Hole, Ulrich Brunner, and others, 
were very fine. 
Mr. Mereweather, Southwell Nurseries, Notts, was 
first for twenty-four singles, second for twenty-four 
trebles, second for twelve Teas, showing generally good 
blooms, including very fine trebles of Her Majesty, 
Captain Christy, Marechal Niel, Comtessede Nadaillac. 
Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry, were second for 
forty-eight singles, third for twenty-four trebles, third 
for twenty-four singles, and first for a handsome 
bouquet of Roses ; also two prizes for twelve white and 
twelve crimson Roses. 
In the amateur classes Mr. W. J. Grant, Hope End 
Farm, Ledbury, was the champion, winning the Veitch 
Memorial Medal and Prize of £5 as first prize for thirty- 
six Roses, single blooms ; also first, each for twenty- 
four singles, twelve trebles, twelve singles, and twelve 
Teas or Noisettes. In all these classes many fine 
blooms were to be seen. 
Mr. A. W. Griffiths, Edgbaston ; Mr. J. Rickards, 
Edgbaston; Mr. W. C. B. Cane, ILarborne Mr. 
W. Boyes, Milford, Derby; The Rev. Dr. Watson, 
Birkswell; J. E. Wilson, Esq., Edgbaston; and Mr. 
W. Whittle, Belgravia, Leicester, were the other 
successful exhibitors. In the class for Rose bouquets 
Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry, were first with a 
handsome well-made bouquet, and Mr. Charles, 
Showells Gardens, second. 
Messrs. John Laing & Co., The Nurseries, Forest 
Hill, contributed, not for competition, a fine lot of cut 
blooms of double and single tuberous Begonias, to 
which a First Class Certificate was awarded. Mr. 
Cooper, gardener to the Right Hon. Joseph Chamber- 
lain, M.P., sent cut blooms of tuberous Begonia 
W. Spinks, a very large, well-formed, light pink 
variety, as well as some fine seedlings. 
Mr. R. H. Yertegans, Chad Valley Nurseries, set 
up a large collection of cut flowers of herbaceous 
plauts, including two interesting and pretty seedling 
varieties of Campanula turbinata—viz., Chad Valley 
Gem, of a deeper hue than C. turbinata pallida, and 
Distinction, deep blue-lilac, to which a First Class 
Certificate was awarded. Mr. Vertegans also staged 
a nice collection of Alpine plants. Mr. Hans Neimand 
contributed a fine group of ornamental and flowering 
plants, arranged in his usual artistic style. 
Messrs. Williams Brothers & Co., Push on Street, 
Birmingham, obtained a Certificate for their Flower 
and Plant Support—an excellent contrivance, with a 
spring clasp, for supporting Carnations, Picotees, 
Pinks, Hyacinths, and other plants ; also for their 
“Meteor” Garden Syringe, in combination with 
flexible tubing and a water tank. The syringe is 
perfect in its action, and does not render the person 
using it liable to a drenching of back-water. 
The houses of plants reflect the greatest credit upon 
Mr. Latham, the curator, cultural excellence being a 
striking characteristic here. 
-- 
SOME GOOD ROSES ON THE 
BRIER STOCK. 
Readers of Mr. Wilkie Collins’ Moonstone will re¬ 
member that while Sergeant Cuff contended that the 
Damask Rose was a good stock for most of the tenderer 
sorts of Roses, the gardener, Begbie, as resolutely as¬ 
serted that “the de’il a bit ye’ll get the white Moss 
Rose to grow, unless ye bud him on the Dog-Rose 
first.” The Damask Rose being of moderate growth, 
has not been much employed as a stock, but the brier 
has come to play a most important part as a stock, and 
especially so as one for the white Moss. I saw it a few 
days ago at Mr. House’s nursery at Peterborough, 
large vigorous bushes, budded on the brier, growing in 
a heavy clayey loam, and bearing an immense number 
of lovely blossoms. Undoubtedly the brier is the stock 
for heavy soils ; but for light soils, the Manetti stock 
is the best. 
In all discussions as to the best stock, the fitness 
for certain soils must be considered, Mr. John 
House told me that a few years ago he planted on his 
stiff soil a large number of Roses, about one half on the 
Manetti, and the other half on the seedling brier, with 
the result that while all on the seedling brier have 
done well, the large majority of those on the Manetti 
have perished, owing to the unsuitability of the stock 
for a heavy soil. Therefore, it is necessary that 
amateur cultivators of Roses, in ordering plants, 
should state the nature of their soil, so that there may 
be as little disappointment as possible after. On the 
Manetti stock wonderful Roses can be had the first 
year on heavy soil, but after that, there is a diminution 
of vigour, and gradual decline. On a light soil the 
brier will fail ; the Manetti flourish. In planting 
Roses on the Manetti stock our rosarians recommend 
that they be so planted, as that the point of junction 
between the stock and scion be 1 in. below the surface 
of the soil ; but in the case of brier just above it. 
Anyone having a heavy soil—a clayey loam that 
runs together and cracks during a time of drought— 
should plant Roses on the seedling brier. The following, 
noted in Mr. House’s nursery, make excellent garden 
Roses on the brier planted in such a soil:—Cheshunt 
Hybrid, very fine indeed, both in the bud and fully 
expanded, and that in spite of the drought, for no rain 
has fallen here for some time ; but little had been done 
in the way of mulching, and no water had been given. 
Gloire de Dijon, very fine ; in a few cases the pale 
amber in the centre of the flowers had given place to a 
fleshy pink, making it look quite like a distinct variety. 
Duke of Edinburgh, very fine in colour. Madame 
Berard, which Mr. House regards as an excellent 
nurseryman’s Rose because so free ; in fact, he informed 
me that he depended more upon this Rose for cut 
blooms in the open than upon any other. Joseph 
Benaci, a creamy primrose Tea-scented variety, lovely in 
the bud state, and an excellent variety to cut from. 
Reine Marie Henriette, very fine and free, a perfect 
gem in the open, beautiful in the bud state. Magna 
Charta, one of Mr. William Paul’s introductions ; a 
very fine garden and exhibition Rose. Dupuy Jamain, 
another excellent garden and exhibition variety, that 
can be depended upon. Jules Finger, very fine, really 
a splendid Rose, and most desirable for garden culture. 
Captain Christy, very fine and free. Marie Van Iloutte, 
a delightful lady’s Rose, because so charming in colour 
and so well adapted for the decoration of a drawing¬ 
room. Reve d’Or, charming also, and a good exhibition 
variety. Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, very fine and free on 
the Manetti in the case of plants one year from the bud ; 
if this is grown on the Manetti, it especially should be 
planted on light soil. Merveille de Lyon and Violette 
Bruyere, both very fine ; and last, but not least, the 
white Moss. 
This is but a select list, because Roses are many; 
but it is large enough for a small garden wherein it is 
desired to plant a select few only. There are Roses of 
varied colour in it, and all of a most useful and 
charming character. Growers of Roses should endeavour 
to obtain such sorts as they may purchase of a nursery¬ 
man from a soil similar to their own. If this suggestion 
received more consideration, there would be fewer 
failures charged to the nurseryman who supplied the 
Roses in perfect good faith.— It. JO. 
--->X<~- 
GAILLARDIAS. 
It is curious to notice how the Gaillardia has come 
to the fore of late. Messrs. Kelway & Son, of Langport, 
and others have made a speciality of it, and raised 
many varieties from seeds—some of a very bold and 
showy character, and others more curious than beautiful, 
having singular quilled florets. I presume we owe 
most of the improved varieties to G. picta, which came 
from America about 1832. Years ago it was predicted 
of the Gaillardia that it might one day produce double 
flowers. It has certainly done this in the case of that 
remarkable variety of G. picta, known as Lorenziana, 
in which a perfect ball of quilled florets is formed ; 
but it lacks the striking character of the former. 
Recently there has appeared varieties of G. picta, with 
broad green florets, that show a tendency to produce 
more than the usual number of the same ; and a double 
form of this character may be seen in the course of 
time. I am not at all sure it will be an improve¬ 
ment, and, I think, that in a fine single form of 
G. picta grandiflora we get an approximately perfect 
Gaillardia. 
Some of the finest varieties I have seen this year are 
Vivian Grey, yellow ; Satellite, deep orange-red centre, 
and broad margin of deep gold ; Diana, dark centre, 
with edge of gold ; Merry Hampton, in the same wa}', 
but the golden margin is not so well defined ; Victory, 
red disc with slight band of orange-red, and broad 
margin of yellow ; Buffalo Bill, a curious form having 
two lines of quilled petals opening out into four 
segments 1 in. in length, and of a rich golden colour ; 
very distinct; Adonis, bright orange-red, margined 
with deep gold ; Bella Donna, orange-red with margin 
of gold ; Lselia, red and yellow disc, broad pale golden 
margin ; Astrea, red centre, deep gold margin, broad 
petals ; and Maxima, a very fine form of the Picta 
grandiflora type. 
Gaillardias are easily raised from seed, and choice 
varieties are increased by means of cuttings struck in 
spring. They make capital summer-bedding plants, 
and are very showy ; they can also be utilised as pot 
plants. But they need a'greenhouse or warm frame to 
preserve them during the winter.— R. D. 
-- 
GARDEN PLANTS ILLUSTRATED. 
Phcexix rupicola foliis argexteo-yariegatis. 
Those who have to furnish a great amount of table 
decorative material, will recognise the value of a varie¬ 
gated form of this already popular species. The 
ordinary form or type of the species is an exceedingly 
ornamental feather-leaved Palm, whose value and 
superiority to P. reclinata is admitted by all who have 
made its acquaintance. The variegated form here 
mentioned has broad longitudinal white bands or 
stripes on the juvenile undivided leaves, with one or 
two wholly white pinnre scattered at intervals along 
the pinnate leaves of older plants. — L’lUustration 
Horticole , 5 ser. 1., t. 3. 
Oncidium superbiens. 
An idea of the general appearance and habit of this 
plant may be obtained by comparing it with 0. macran- 
thum, which also belongs to the Microchila section. 
The leaves are evergreen, about 1 ft. in length, while 
the panicle, developing from the base of the young 
pseudo-bulbs, bearing from thirteen to fifteen flowers, 
attains a length of 2 ft. or 3 ft., and requires support. 
The lateral sepals are large, rounded and clawed, of a 
deep chocolate-brown colour, while the upper one is 
w r avy and yellow at the margin ; the petals are some¬ 
what triangular, wavy and deep yellow, with transverse 
brown bands on the lower half; the labellum is small 
and brown ; and it is an old but still rare plant.— 
Orchid Album , t. 276. 
