August 11, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
798 
the possibility of growing tobacco in Great Britain, 
such as in quality relatively to price can compete with 
that of other countries.’ In the first instance it was 
required that tobacco grown in the United Kingdom 
should be sent for inspection on or before the 1st of 
March, 1888, but in order to meet the wishes of many 
of the growers, the time was subsequently extended to 
the 1st May. This change, and the arrangements 
made for receiving the tobacco for greater convenience 
at the Fenchurch Street warehouse of the East and 
West India Dock Company, were the only modifications 
of the original conditions. 
“ The various entries of tobacco, numbering eleven 
in all, were duly inspected by the whole of the judges 
on the 14th May, 1888, at the Fenchurch Street 
warehouse. It was found that only four exhibitors 
had complied with the conditions of the competition, 
so far as quantity was concerned, but in view of the 
interest which is being manifested in regard to tobacco 
growing in the United Kingdon, we consider it 
desirable to present a supplementary report on the 
remainder of- the specimens, though not properly 
coming within the scope of our adjudication. 
“We place the four ex¬ 
hibits submitted to us in the 
following order of merit:— 
1st, Messrs. James Carter k 
Co. ; 2nd, Mr. W. L. 
Wigan ; 3rd, Sir Edward 
Birkbeck, Bart., M.P. ; 4th, 
Mr. John Graves. We 
therefore recommend to the 
section that the prize of 
fifty guineas should be 
awarded to Messrs. James 
Carter & Co.” 
Particulars respecting the 
various exhibits and remarks 
of the judges then follow, 
the Report concluding with 
these general observations: — 
“Speaking generally, not 
one of the four samples 
eligible for the prize was 
in any respect valuable for 
trade purposes, or even mer¬ 
chantable, presuming that 
no duty was chargeable 
upon the article. Still it was 
evident that well-grown 
tobacco leaf can be produced 
upon English sod, though, 
of course, this admission 
in no way takes account of 
the cost of production. 
‘ ‘ Several growers had 
employed three or four 
different kinds of seed, but 
in every case the type of 
leaf produced was always 
more or less alike in each 
separate locality, whatever 
seed was sown, thus in¬ 
dicating how powerful and 
controlling an influence is 
exerted by the soil on 
which the tobacco is raised. 
“None of the samples submitted to us were suffi¬ 
ciently good to compete with foreign growths of similar 
grades in their then state, and most of them gave no 
promise of attaining it under any conditions. The 
exceptions to this general statement were the parcels 
sent by Sir Spencer Maryon Wilson and Mr. John 
Cairns, which, in the absence of the excessive moisture 
contained in them might realise in the trade something 
like the prices of inferior kinds of American tobacco. 
“ The whole of the exhibits were apparently grown 
last year, and for the most part were fresh, moist, and 
partly unripe when submitted to us. It was evident 
that the leaf had been cut in most cases before it had 
fully ripened, so that, even with sufficient fermentation, 
it would not be likely to materially improve either in 
flavour or ‘ burning ’ qualities. Even where the crop 
had matured before being gathered the tobacco was not 
marketable, owing to the process of fermentation or 
* curing ’ and ‘ sweating ’ being either incomplete or 
wholly unattempted. This process is necessary as 
regards many varieties, in order to obtain the proper 
colour and flavour, as well as to make the tobacco burn 
well, and it also deprives the leaf of many narcotic 
objections. In other words, it is an important factor in 
making tobacco a marketable article. The quantity 
grown by various exhibitors was not sufficient in most 
cases to allow of the process being properly carried out, 
but English growers will do well in future to pay more 
attention to a matter which foreign planters regard as 
being of first importance. 
“With regard to the prospects of tobacco growing 
on a remunerative basis in England, we share the 
opinion that, even under the most favourable conditions 
possible, such a crop cannot be made to pay, and 
that in most seasons it must be an absolute failure and 
heavy loss. 
“The climate of this country, to begin with, is less 
favourable than that of Kentucky or Virginia, and the 
cost of production will be found far greater here than 
in the United States. 
“ Until the curing of tobacco is perfectly well under¬ 
stood in the United Kingdom, the finest leaf that can 
be grown will be absolutely wasted and useless. In 
fact, in curing tobacco the ‘ expert ’ is as essential to 
the planter or grower as the scientific brewer is to all 
great breweries. Even supposing tobacco could be grown 
here as cheaply as in America—a point regarding which 
we have great doubt—the prejudice of the manufacturer 
and the long usage of the trade will have to be over¬ 
Hoya BELLA. 
come before the English product can enter very largely 
into successful competition or consumption on a com¬ 
mercial scale.” 
-~ >X< -- 
NEW YORK FLORAL FASHIONS. 
Orchids take the lead in all choice ornamentations 
with flowers. This would not be the case to so great 
an extent were not the Rose supply so very short, and 
Roses so totally demoralised. The hot spell in June 
and several showers following so injured the varieties 
depended upon, that there are really no choice Roses. 
Jacqueminots from Newport can be had in limited 
quantity, but red flowers are out of style, pink, yellow 
and white being the desirable colours. Moss Roses are 
fair in quality. Ferns are used extensively for dinner 
arrangements. For the dinner given to the Duke 
and Duchess of Marlborough the centre piece was 
a circle of selected Ferns, which extended nearly to the 
covers. The edge included Moss Rose-buds in its 
fringing and there was a wide band of open Moss Roses 
(pink and blush) above the fringing. In the middle of 
the piece was a bed of superb Cattleyas. Clusters of 
Rose-buds were to be made for ladies’ favours, but these 
could not be obtained. 
Lilies of rhe Valley are used in profusion for fashion¬ 
able Newport dinners. These are arranged in glass and 
silver dishes. Water Lilies floating in glass bowls and 
shown on plate-glass plaques are also in vogue there for 
centre embellishments. Dress bonnets composed 
entirely of natural blossoms are worn at the watering 
places. Lace frames are re-covered daily by the maids, 
many of whom are becoming skilful in applying flowers 
to fabrics. Pea blossoms, field Daisies, Clovers and 
Ferns make lovely little bonnets. Some of them are 
composed of Ivies, Geranium leaves and Moss Rose¬ 
buds. Large Leghorn sun hats have a cluster of wild 
blossoms and grasses attached daily. These are much 
worn at the Monmouth Park races, and are a charming 
finish to a jaunty costume. Large corsage bunches to 
match the flowers of the hat or bonnet arc fastened at 
the belt. Boutonierres continue small ; a single Rose 
Geranium, Ivy leaf, or Pea blossom is the style.— 
American Florist. 
-- 
IMPATIENS SULTANI. 
Amongst comparatively recent introductions no stove 
plant has been propagated and disseminated with such 
rapidity perhaps as the sub¬ 
ject of this note, now to be 
found throughout the length 
and breadth of this country. 
The reason of this is, of 
course, not far to seek, in 
view of the rapidity with 
which it may be propagated 
and the intrinsic merits of 
a well - grown specimen. 
The best examples are 
usually obtained from seeds, 
which the plant ripens in 
considerable quantity even 
without artificial aid, al¬ 
though it may be propa¬ 
gated from cuttings with 
great ease, and is practically 
most frequently increased in 
this way. 
Having a free-branching 
habit naturally, little cul¬ 
tural skill is necessary to 
grow it; but there is a vast 
difference between plants 
which have received no 
special care and those that 
have been liberally treated 
in the matter of soil, pot 
room, heat, and moisture. 
When starved or stunted 
the leaves soon assume a 
yellowish green and sickly 
hue, which more than de¬ 
tracts from the natural beauty 
of the plant, and would soon 
render it unpopular, as well 
as unfit for conservatory 
decoration. It is surprising 
what an effect a little 
feeding lias upon the plant, 
as experiments have shown, 
by treating some of them 
with an artificial manure, 
while the others were supplied with ordinary filtered 
water only. 
The constitution of this Balsam is also robust yet 
pliable, so that it can surmount a great deal of bad 
usage, as we have had sufficient evidence of on several 
occasions. Recently there was a case in point at 
Devonhurst, Chiswick, where a specimen had been 
overlooked till it was overrun with insects, and almost 
destroyed. Little sympathy was felt with the plant, 
which was subjected to severe curative treatment by 
being syringed with a strong mixture of paraffin and 
water. As might be expected, the plant lost not only 
all its flowers, but also most of its leaves. Being 
thoroughly freed, however, from its insect enemies it 
rapidly recovered, and commenced growing vigorously 
after being re-potted into a larger size. At the present 
time the plant is a picture of health, and measures a 
yard in height, and about 4 ft. in diameter. It was 
potted up last autumn as a seedling, and would, there¬ 
fore, be about twelve months old. If it had been 
carefully tended during the period that has elapsed 
since that time, instead of being allowed to exjst in a 
haphazard way, what might we have expected from it 
by this time, when such excellent results have been 
obtained under the circumstances mentioned 1 The 
foliage of the plant in question has a dark green, 
healthy appearance, and the flowers, richly coloured, 
are produced in great profusion. 
