June 30, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
691 
Bedding Plants 
Established, and so sure to give satisfaction. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. — The very choicest 
sorts, in good plants. 
DAHLIAS .—An unsurpassed collection. 
DESCRIPTIVE LIST FREE. 
RICHARD SMITH & Co., 
Nurserymen and Seed Merchants, 
WORCESTER. 
SPECIAL CULTURE OF 
FRUIT TREES AND R OSES. 
A Large and Select Stock is now offered for Sale. 
The Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue of Fruits 
Post Free. 
The Desei iptive Catalogue of Roses Post Free. 
THOMAS RIYERS & SON, 
NURSERIES, SAWBRIDGEWORTH, HERTS. 
R oyal horticultural society. 
Patron : Her Majesty, The Queen. 
President: Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. 
Offices : 111, Victoria Street, S.W. 
"VrOTICE! The next meeting of the Fruit 
1\ and Floral Committees will be held in the Drill Hall of 
the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers, James Street, S.W., on 
Tuesday, July 10th, when the special subjects invited for exhibi¬ 
tion will be Roses, Lilies, and Strawberries, &c. 
Open to Fellows at 12 o’clock, and to the public at 1 p.m. 
For particulars respecting the election of Fellows apply to the 
Secretary, 111, Victoria Street, S.W. 
National Co-operative Flower Show, Crystal 
Palace, August 18th, 1888. 
ppt AA AN T) MEDALS in Prizes for 
/U Flowers, Fruit, Vegetables, and Honey, open 
to members of Co-operative Societies throughout the Kingdom ; 
also for Skill of Workmen in all Trades for Amateur Work 
and Entomological and other specimens. 
Schedules of Prizes on application to 
WM. BROOMHALL, Secretary. 
1, Norfolk St., Strand, W.C. 
Crystal Palace. 
T he national rose society’s 
GRAND EXHIBITION OF ROSES, Saturday, July 7th, 
1888- Admission—Half-a-Crown. 
Schedule of Prizes and Forms of Entry on application to the 
Hon. Secretaries, National Rose Society, Crystal Palace. 
Entries close Tuesday next, July 3rd. 
NEW PELARGONIUM, 
«* DUCHESS OF TFCK,” 
Awarded a First Class Certificate at the Manchester Royal 
Botanical and Horticultural Society’s Summer Exhibition of 1887. 
It is a white Regal decorative variety, semi-double, immense 
trusses. The flowers are erect, petals undulated, distinguishing 
it from the ordinary Pelargoniums. It is novel and conspicuous, 
has a strong compact habit, and is one of the best Pelargoniums 
in cultivation. 
It is invaluable for cut flowers where white is in demand. 
3s. 6 d. each, 30s. for 12 plants, 50s. for 25 plants. Cut 
flowers sent on application. 
Sent out by 
FISHER, SON, & SX3RAY, 
HANDSWORTH NURSERIES, SHEFFIELD. 
For Present Sowing. 
ANIELS’ DEFIANCE CABBAGE 
(Giant Early Marrow). 
The earliest, largest, and best Cabbage for all purposes. 
Post free. Per pkt., 6 d .; per oz., Is. f d. 
D ANIELS’ LITTLE QUEEN CABBAGE. 
Very early, dwarf and compact. Post free. Per pkt., 6d.; 
per oz., Is. 6d. 
DANIELS BROS., Seed Growers, Norwich. 
D ANIELS’ GIANT ROCCA ONION. 
Large globular bulbs of mild flavour, 2 lbs. to 3 lbs. 
weight. Seed post free, per oz., Is. 
D ANIELS’ AYHITE ELEPHANT TRI¬ 
POLI ONION.—Seed post free, per pkt., 6cZ.; per oz., 
Is. 6 d. The largest and best white Onion. 
DANIELS BROS., Seed Growers, Norwich. 
FERNS A SPECIALITY. 
The largest, most complete and profusely ILLUSTRATED 
CATALOGUE OF FERNS ever published, containing over 
120 Illustrations and much valuable practical information on 
the cultivation of Ferns, &c. 
One Shilling and Sixpence, post free. 
Smaller Catalogue of over 1,300 species and varieties free on 
application. 
W. & J. BIRKENHEAD, 
FERN NURSERY, 
SALE, MANCHESTER. 
Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society. 
A ROSE SHOW will be held in the Gardens, 
Edgbaston, on Thursday and Friday, the 12th and 13th of 
July, 1888. Entries close on July 7th. 
For Schedules apply to 
W. B. LATHAM, Curator. 
H EBDEN BRIDGE FLORAL AND 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—This Society will hold 
its Annual Show on Saturday, August 4th. For Schedules of 
Prizes apply to the Secretary, JAMES CRABTREE, Balmoral 
Street, Hebden Bridge. 
Next Week’s Engagements. 
Monday, July 2nd.—Kettering Horticultural Society’s Show. 
Tuesday, July 3rd.—Flower Shows at Diss, Bagshot, Canter¬ 
bury and Hereford. Sale of Brazilian Orchids at Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris’s Rooms. 
Wednesday, July 4tli.—Forty-fifth Anniversary Festival of the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. Flower Shows at 
Richmond, Croydon, Hitchin, Dursley, Farnham and Wim¬ 
bledon. Royal Botanic Society’s Evening Fete. 
Thursday, July 5th.—Bath Floral Fete. Rose Shows at 
Farningham and Norwich. Braintree Horticultural Society's 
Show. Sale of Imported and Established Orchids at 
Stevens’ Rooms. 
Friday, July 6th.—Sutton Rose Show. Sale of Orchids at 
Messrs Protheroe & Morris’s Rooms. 
Saturday, July 7th.—National Rose Show a Crystal Palace. 
FOR INDEX TO CONTENTS, SEE P. 703. 
1 ‘ Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.”— Bacon. 
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1888. 
Popular GARDENING BOOKS, 
By far the most widely read on the subject, full of soundest 
and best information. Mr. Ryder's writings have been praised 
by every gardening paper. The books are practical, interest¬ 
ing, reliable, and please all readers. 
HOW TO GROW ROSES in the garden and in pots under 
glass. Chapters on Budding, Grafting, &c. Post free, 7 d. 
HOW TO GROW TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. Chapters on 
Raising Seed and every other part of culture. A new and 
thoroughly revised edition. Post free, 7 d. 
Every Amateur and every Gardener as well should read 
these books. Only to be obtained from 
RYDER & SON, Seed Merchants, Sale, Manchester. 
ROSES in POTS. 
All the best New and Old English and Foreign sorts, 
from 18s. to 36s. per dozen. 
Descriptive List free on application. 
RICHARD SMITH & Co., 
Nurserymen and Seed Merchants, 
WORCESTER. 
The Herbaceous Rlony. —Many who saw 
the glorious hank of flowers at the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s meeting on Tuesday, 
must have -wondered whether it was possible 
to over-sing the praises of the herbaceous 
Pseony, or, as our Scotch friends call it, the 
Pseony Rose, which at this time gives such 
a wealth of colours to our mixed borders. 
It would be difficult in any part of the 
country, and especially perhaps in the south 
and west, to find a village that does not 
contain some gardens, squire’s and cottagers’ 
alike, all aglow with these brilliant-coloured 
flowers. We have been through a number of 
country villages of late, and in many cottage 
gardens in particular have had the pleasure 
of seeing many large clumps of Pseonies that 
had the appearance of having been grown 
there for a generation or two, and yet which 
seemed to he inexhaustible in their capacity 
to produce strong foliage and showy flowers. 
But little cultivation is given to them— 
nothing, perhaps, beyond digging the soil 
about them occasionally—anything in the way 
of top-dressing seems to be rarely afforded 
them, and yet, with a willingness that never 
tires, the plants year by year unfold leaves 
and flowers, and light rip gardens with a 
joyful blaze of colour. Well might Emmerson 
sing :— 
‘ ‘ Spring is strong and virtuous, 
Broad sowing, cheerful, plenteous, 
Quickening underneath the mould 
Grains beyond the price of gold. 
So deep and large her bounties are, 
That our broad long-lived summer day, 
Shall to the planets ever pay, 
The ravage of a year of war.” 
It may interest some of our amateur 
readers to know that the common red Pseony 
of our gardens is Pseonia officinalis, and 
an old European plant that has been 
cultivated in England for at least 250 
years, but it is rarely in small gardens that 
we see other than the crimson form, 
though there are plenty of fine double 
flowers of many colours, and still more 
grand double varieties of Pseonia albiflora, 
as we saw in the collection at Westminster 
before alluded to. There must, however, be 
a good demand for them, as the nurserymen 
who sell Pseonies grow them largely, and 
the Messrs. Kelway, of Langport, who are 
constantly raising new varieties, have, we 
understand, as much as three acres of land 
planted wdth them. What a sight it must 
be to see all this extent of Pseonies in 
flower ! 
The Pseony is a very accommodating plant, 
for it will groiv in any ordinarily good 
garden soil, and if left alone for a time, 
soon attains to a great size, and flowers 
superbly. When the clumps get too large, 
they may be dug up and divided soon after 
they have done flowering, or in the autumn, 
when any piece having an eye will grow. 
The roots of the Pseony have a strong and 
nauseous smell, which they lose when dried. 
Our forefathers, who tvere great believers in 
the medicinal value of many plants, held 
the roots of the Pseony in high repute as a 
remedy for many afflictions, but in these days 
the root is totally disregarded for any healing 
properties it may be supposed to possess. The 
Pseony must be a very old plant, for allusions 
are made to it in the Grecian mythology, and 
various curious and mythical accounts are 
given of its origin. It is quite certain that 
the ancient Greeks held it in high repute, 
believing its origin to have been divine. Let 
no one, therefore, despise so serviceable a plant, 
for it has an illustrious ancestry. 
-- 
Ipswich Horticultural Society. — The date for 
holding this show has been altered from July 10th to 
the 11th. 
Gardening Engagement.—Mr. W. Swan, formerly 
of Fallowfield and Preston, as gardener to G. C. Raphael, 
Esq., Castle Hill, Englefield Green, Staines. 
His Majesty The King of the Belgians has paid a 
visit this week to Mr. William Bull’s Orchid Exhibition, 
at 536, King’s Road, Chelsea, and left his autograph in 
the Register containing the signatures of sovereigns, 
members of royal families, and the nobility of Europe, 
who have visited the Orchid Exhibition. 
The Royal Botanic Society's Queen's Jubilee 
Prize, a Gold Medal and purse of fifty guineas, for 
the best essay upon the plants and vegetable products 
introduced into the United Kingdom for use in the arts, 
manufactures, and for food during Her Majesty’s 
reign, has been awarded to Mr. Ellis, L.R.C.P., of 
Liverpool. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, of Reading, and 5, West¬ 
minster Chambers, S.W., announce—as briefly noted 
in our last—the retirement by effluxion of time on May 
31st last, of Messrs. Martin Hope Sutton and Alfred 
Sutton, who have been members of the firm for more 
than fifty years. The firm of Sutton & Sons will be 
continued in future under the same style and title 
by the sole proprietors, Messrs. Martin John Sutton, 
Herbert Sutton, Arthur Warwick Sutton, and Leonard 
Goodhart- Sutton, who have for several years'past been 
the acting partners. 
