708 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 7, 1888. 
petals are soon bruised and disfigured by any 
rough handling. The erect-flowering varieties 
are exceedingly useful in making up choice 
bouquets, and in specimen glasses, button¬ 
holes, &c., while the drooping kinds come in 
admirably in filling 4pergnes, and other 
methods of table decoration. 
The propagation of the Begonia, either 
by means of cuttings or from seed, is a 
delicate and tedious or uncertain operation, 
compared with the ease with which Pelar¬ 
gonium cuttings may be rooted in quantity 
by the merest tyro. On the other hand, 
Pelargoniums must be wintered in a pro¬ 
perly constructed and efficiently heated 
glasshouse, must receive .daily attention, and 
occupy a large amount of space; whereas, 
in the case of Begonias, all such care and 
expense is entirely unnecessary, and a 
hundred—nay, a thousand Begonia roots may 
be stored in the space occupied by a dozen 
Pelargoniums; and more than this, any out- 
of-the-way place or odd corner, such as 
under a greenhouse stage, or in a shed, or 
kitchen cupboard even—provided frost is 
thoroughly excluded—will afford all the 
accommodation they need. Throughout the 
whole winter all the attention they require 
is to be looked over two or three times, 
picking out any decayed tubers, and seeing 
that they are neither in danger of rotting 
from damp, or of shrivelling from excessive 
dryness. In warm and sheltered localities, 
or on light, dry soils, the roots may even 
be allowed to remain in the ground all the 
winter with perfect safety, if well estab¬ 
lished. Even severe frost will not injure 
them under such conditions, if not too near 
the surface, though in any case it is ad¬ 
visable to cover each plant or row with a 
few inches depth of ashes, or coco-nut 
fibre refuse. 
-- 
The Finchley Chrysanthemum Society’s third 
annual exhibition is announced to take place on 
November 21st and 22nd at Woodside Hall, North 
Finchley. 
A Lucky Gardener.—The Chester Chronicle states 
that a working gardener of Wavertree, Liverpool, has 
come into possession of a windfall, which will raise him 
from a state of indigence to comparative opulence. 
Mr. John Potts, this lucky person, received an inti¬ 
mation from his aged uncle residing at Delamere Forest, 
Cheshire, that as the result of an exhaustive inquiry 
into an old Chancery suit, he would be the recipient of 
upwards of £2,000, which sum represented accumulated 
nterest. 
Kentish Fruit Sales.—At the annual sales of fruit in 
the Kentish orchards, some very remarkable prices have 
been made, especially for Cherries, which are not a pro¬ 
lific crop. Several of the principal orchards realised 
nearly double the prices of last year, the competition 
being very keen. The sum of £2,000 was realised as 
the proceeds of one sale alone in East Kent, and in one 
case we read that six acres of Cherries fetched £180. 
Fruit Growing in the Vale of Evesham.—The 
Midland Counties Herald is glad to learn that the 
fruit crops in this district are not in such a deplorable 
condition as the alarming reports recently received 
would tend to show. The caterpillar blight has cer¬ 
tainly played havoc among the trees in certain places ; 
but there is an extensive area unaffected by the pest, 
which will sufficiently ensure about half the average 
yield. 
Curative Property of the Leaves of the Zonal 
Pelargonium.—The current number of the Revue de 
VHorticulture Beige says the leaves of the Zonal Pelar¬ 
gonium (commonly called Geranium) possess the 
property of quickly and completely curing cuts, ex¬ 
coriations, and other similar sore places. One or two 
leaves should be taken and bruised, placed upon a piece 
of linen, and applied to the wound. They readily 
adhere to the skin, assist in drawing it close, and 
heal the injured part in a short space of time. One 
leaf is often sufficient to bring about a cure. 
St. Neot’s Horticultural Society.—The schedule of 
prizes for the exhibition to take place as usual on 
Bank Holiday, August 6th, has just been issued. 
Among the classes open to all England is one for 
twenty-four trusses of Eoses, various, the first prize 
for which is a Silver Cup, value £5, given by the pre¬ 
sident, A. J. Thornhill, Esq., of Diddington. The 
schedule is a very comprehensive one, and includes 
many subjects particularly interesting to country 
people. The assistant secretary is Mr. W. Eatchelous, 
and it is to his untiring and successful exertions so 
much of the success of the society is due. 
Ealing, Acton, and Hanwell Horticultural Society. 
—The annual exhibition of this society will take place 
on Wednesday, 11th inst., and H.R. H. Princess Mary 
Adelaide, Duchess of Teck, has graciously promised to 
visit the show and present the prizes to the successful 
cottagers. The society offers handsome special prizes, 
open to all comers, and it is reasonable to suppose a 
fine display of the queen of flowers may be forthcoming. 
The exhibition takes place in the grounds of the Eoyal 
India Asylum, Ealing Common. The hon. secretaries 
are Mr. Eichard Dean and Mr. W. A. Cotchin. 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—At the usual monthly 
meeting of the Executive Committee, held on 29th 
ult., the honorary secretary stated that he had received 
returns from seventy of the local secretaries, whose 
total collections amounted to the sum of £380 13s. 8 d. 
The first annual meeting of subscribers and election of 
candidates will be held at the Cannon Street Hotel on 
Friday next at 2 p. m., and it is hoped that as many of 
the subscribers as possible will make a point of attend¬ 
ing, and stay for the dinner at 5 p. m., at which the 
president, Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., will 
preside. Mr. Barron will be glad of an early intimation 
from those who require dinner tickets. 
The Early Scotch Potato Crops.—On the 28th 
ult. about 100 acres of Potatos were put up for sale at 
the Morriston Farm, near Girvan, and every lot was 
sold. The prices realised were most satisfactory, 
ranging from £19 17s. 6d. to £35 per imperial acre, the 
average price over the whole being £28 10s. per acre. 
In the Maybole district over 80 acres were sold on the 
same day, and prices ruled as high as last year. The 
best lot went off at £35 per acre, while the lowest was 
£19 10s. ; average price, £25. Several lots were sold 
previously, and one choice lot, it is said, realised 
£37 10s. per acre. 
The Plague of Caterpillars.—At the last meeting 
of the Scientific Committee Mr. McLachlan called 
attention to the notion that cold winters are injurious 
to insects—a notion he stated to be erroneous, although, 
no doubt, severe alternations of cold, heat, drought, or 
moisture were prejudicial to insect life. During the 
present season it was noticed generally that great de¬ 
struction occurred from caterpillars, which destroyed 
the succulent portions of the leaf and tied the framework 
and fragments together by a net-work of fine threads 
comparable with spider’s webs. The caterpillars were 
different in various cases. In the Oak they were a 
species of Tortrix ; in the Apple the winter moth was 
destructive ; while in the other cases the larva of the 
Ermine moth was exceedingly hurtful to leaves. 
International Fruit Show at Vienna.—By direction 
of the Marquis of Salisbury, Sir James Ferguson, Bart., 
M.P., has written to inform the Eoyal Horticultural 
Society that his lordship has heard from the Austro- 
Hungarian Ambassador that the Austrian Society of 
Pomologists is arranging a national exhibition of fruit, 
to be held at Vienna, under the patronage of H.I.H. 
the Archduke Charles Louis, from the 29th of 
September to the 7th of October. Two sections of this 
exhibition will have an International character — 
namely, the section for fruit-drying apparatus, and 
that for machines and instruments used in cultivating 
and harvesting of fruit. Applications for space must 
be sent in on or before July 15th, addressed to K. K. 
Oesterreichischer, Pomologen-Verien, Leschwald, Graz. 
The Eoyal Horticultural Society daily expect to receive 
the programme of the exhibition. 
Tlie Potato Crops.—Our impression from what we 
have hitherto seen has been that the Potato crops 
throughout the country are looking remarkably well, 
and that the growth is regular and even, with but few 
traces of failure ; but that well-known and successful 
cultivator, Mr. J. Hughes, of Eydon Hall Gardens, 
By field, remarks in a letter just to hand that in his 
part of the country the growth is not so regular as is 
desirable. Mr. Hughes says : 11 My Potatos are again 
looking very well, although there are many complaints 
of their having come up very irregular all about this 
district. The cause of this is, I think, owing to the 
tubers being so thoroughly ripened last year. I have 
found that tubers which are not ripe when lifted 
always start into growth earlier, more regular, and 
stronger than when thoroughly ripened.” This com¬ 
munication opens up a matter worthy of discussion, 
and we shall be glad to get the opinion of Potato 
growers about the country. 
Dicksons, Limited, Chester.—"We understand that 
the articles of association of the amalgamated firm of 
“Dicksons, Limited” were registered last week under 
the Companies Act, so that the two firms of Messrs. 
James Dickson & Sons, of Newton Nurseries, and 108, 
Eastgate Street, and Messrs. Francis and Arthur 
Dickson, of Upton Nurseries, and 106, Eastgate Street, 
are now combined in one firm, 'with the simple, but 
striking title of “Dicksons.” The amalgamation has 
assumed the form of a private family company, thus 
securing for the future management of the combined 
business the close supervision and assistance of the 
partners previously interested in the separate businesses; 
as well as the services of the most efficient of the 
trained staff of assistants, selected from each of the 
previously separate firms. Mr. George Dickson is a 
managing director and chairman, and the two other 
managing directors are Messrs. W. Alfred Dickson, and 
E. J. Baillie, the latter being deputy chairman. The 
other two directors are Mr. James Dickson and Mr. 
John Sawers Dickson. The amalgamation is in 
reality a re-uniting, inasmuch as although the two 
firms have been trading separately for the last thirty-four 
years or thereabouts, they were formerly united under 
the name of Francis and James Dickson. The exten¬ 
sive business of both firms at home and abroad will 
form an undertaking of a very important character, 
ranking amongst the foremost in the kingdom, and we 
heartily hope that every success will follow the re¬ 
union so happily brought about. 
-- 
NOTES ON DELPHINIUMS. 
Thebe is a wealth of floral beauty among the Del¬ 
phiniums which is well known in certain limited circles, 
but which the great outside floral world appears to be, 
comparatively speaking, ignorant of. Whenever exhi¬ 
bited, either as specimen plants in pots or as cut spikes, 
they invariably excite the admiration of all, and well 
they may, for there is a chaste and simple beauty about 
them which is peculiarly their own, and whether seen 
in the conservatory or flower garden, or used as cut 
flowers for home decoration, too high an estimate 
cannot be put upon them. The colours vary through 
every conceivable shade of blue and purple, with tints 
of red ; the centres are mostly either white or black, 
and many varieties are either semi- or perfectly double. 
These are well adapted .for town planting, and the 
elegantly cut foliage, mostly of a lively green colour, 
and majestic spikes of flowers render them pre-eminently 
one of the finest types of hardy flowering herbaceous 
plants we have. 
There has, from time to time, been many varieties 
named and catalogued, some proving comparatively 
easy to propagate, while others are difficult to increase, 
it being a work of years to get up a stock of them, so 
that a comparatively high price has had to be charged 
for named varieties, with the exception of some that 
come pretty true from seed ; some fine forms prove shy 
seed bearers, but most of them seed abundantly. A 
packet of mixed seed will give a good variety, but 
those who wish to secure finely contrasted sorts should 
procure a dozen or so from some reliable source. The 
plants vary in height from 3 ft. to 8 ft. I remember 
one, known under the name of Le Mastodon, which 
was a veritable giant, both as regards height and the 
size of the flowers. Most of them throw out lateral 
spikes from the principal ones, and through this habit 
the season of flowering is considerably prolonged ; from 
two to three months may be safely reckoned upon. 
Some years ago D. formosum and its varieties were 
largely used for bedding, and as soon as the first spikes 
had done flowering they were cut back, when a second 
growth came up, giving another good crop of blooms. 
No doubt some other varieties would prove amenable 
to the same treatment. We will instance one, Madame 
H. Jacotot, a fine porcelain-blue, and one of the most 
beautiful varieties ever named. There is very little to 
say with regard to cultivation, for Delphiniums are the 
most accommodating of plants ; any good garden soil 
will suit them, and they pass through our severe winters 
with little or no injury, though it is a good plan to 
mulch them over at the beginning of the cold season 
with half-decayed leaves or manure, which serves as a 
protection and helps to fertilise the soil. They will 
well repay any extra attention in the way of watering 
during excessively dry seasons. Seeds sown during 
July will, under favourable circumstances, produce 
plants for flowering the following year, but to have them 
in perfection from two to three years’ growth is needed. 
