14 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 1, 1838. 
petitions Gros Colruar beat Alicante, and Buckland’s 
Sweetwater was of superior merit to Foster’s Seedling, 
but the Muscats were generally deficient in colour. 
There were a few good dishes of Peaches and Nec¬ 
tarines, and a good sample of Apricots, but Apples and 
Pears were very poor—small and deficient in colour. 
The Melons were good, Blenheim Orange taking the 
lead. 
In the cut-flower department there were some fine 
Dahlias from Hack wood Park, but the Poses were poor 
generally — the high-coloured ones being the best- 
Herbaceous stuff generally came out well, but the 
display of wild flowers was much inferior to what is 
seen at some local shows. Stove and greenhouse plants 
are usually well shown here, but they were better than 
ever on this occasion, and the competition more keen, 
as Mr. Mould, of Pewsey, put in an appearance. 
Though making a specialty of this class of plants, he 
was beaten by Mr. Bowerman, who, besides being a 
high-class fruit and vegetable grower, can hold his own 
in the plant department. Zonal Pelargoniums were 
well shown, and the Begonias were large, but some of 
the chief attractions were the Fuchsias exhibited by 
Mr. Russell, gardener to — Bradshaw, Esq., Audley 
Wood. Some of them were grown 7 ft. to 8 ft. high, 
5 ft. in diameter, and covered with blossoms. I have 
never seen anything like them away from the West of 
England. The groups of plants, too, were a very good 
feature—indeed, I have never seen better at the London 
shows. The first prize was again taken by Mr. 
Weaver, gardener at Oakley Hall, near Basingstoke, 
who excelled his previous efforts in this direction ; 
and a very good second was Mr. Dauncey, of Buck- 
field. Single specimen plants also claim a word for 
their good quality, the leading specimen being one of 
Eucharis amazonica in a No. 3 size pot, with over 200 
flowers and buds. 
The amateurs’ tent was most satisfactorily filled with 
flowers and vegetables of all kinds, and in the mis¬ 
cellaneous class Messrs. Sutton & Sons contributed a 
large and most tastefully arranged group of cut flowers, 
also a strain of netted Gloxinias, crimson and purple 
grounds, veined with white, to which the judges 
awarded a Certificate of Merit. Some beautiful 
Carnations and Roses were also shown by Mr. Munday. 
— Con. 
--*3&s-- 
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Special attention is paid in the columns of The 
Gardening World to the answering of questions on 
all subjects connected with practical horticulture, and 
the naming of Plants (other than Florists’ Flowers) and 
Fruits, in which department the Editor is assisted by 
gardeners and specialists of great experience. 
It is particularly requested that correspondents 
will favour us with their communications as early in 
the week as possible, and that they address them only 
to “The Editor.” 
When sending Flowers or Fruits for identification it 
is requested that not more than six be sent at one time, 
that the specimens be good ones, and all legibly’’ 
numbered. 
To save time, as far as possible, correspondents are 
specially requested to write only on one side of the 
paper ; to write their questions in as few words as 
possible consistent with clearness ; and where two or 
more questions are asked on widely different subjects, 
to be good enough to put them on separate pieces of 
paper. 
-- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Books. — Dianthus: The best is “The Carnation and Picotee, 
their History, Properties, and Management,” by Mr. Dodwell, 
Stanley Boad, Oxford. Price, 2s. 6d. 
Drying Flowers. — Pansy: There is no royal road or simple 
directions that may be given, and which will apply to all kinds 
of flowers alike, as the individual properties of different kinds 
are so diverse ; furthermore, you must gain by experience what 
you can never accomplish from mere instruction. As a rule 
yellow, red, scarlet, crimson and blue flowers dry readily, and 
preserve their natural colours, with less brilliancy, however, as 
might be expected. White is apt to become discoloured, and 
blue as well, especially if they are at all fleshy, because such 
flowers part very slowly with their moisture, and, therefore, lose 
colour during the long drying process. We should advise you to 
commence with some of the common flowers and press them 
between layers of soft, bibulous paper that will readily absorb 
moisture from them. Change the paper once a day, or even 
oftener, and dry that which has been moistened by the flowers. 
Avoid sweating them if possible, which will occur when heavy 
pressure is used and the papers have been neglected for more 
than twenty-four hours. Keep them in a dry, airy place, or even 
use artificial heat to expel the moisture as soon as possible, as 
much depends upon the quickness of the operation as to whether 
the colours are retained or not. 
Garnishino Vegetables.— Brun: We have never heard any 
objection raised to the practice of garnishing vegetables with 
Parsley for exhibition. On the contrary, it has been practised 
for years by many of the leading exhibitors, and should be 
encouraged by show managers, with a view to making the 
vegetables look more attractive. 
Gooseberries.— C. H.: We are sorry we cannot oblige’you 
with the names. The only means we have of identifying such 
things is by comparing them with the sorts grown in good 
nursery collections. All the fruits have been gathered in the 
south. 
Packing Flowers.— A. Paley : There is nothing better than 
tin boxes for small quantities to he sent through the post, first 
because they are not liable to he smashed in transit, and 
secondly because they retain the moisture and prevent 
withering. Card-boxes are good enough for the latter purpose, 
but should be furnished with a flap at one end, to which the 
postage stamps should he attached so that the box may not he 
smashed by the post office offlcials in the stamping process. 
Never cut flowers during the heat of the day, hut in the morning 
and evening, preferably the former. Place the stalks for some 
hours in water previous to placing them in the box ; by so doing 
the tissues become filled with moisture, so that the flowers will 
remain quite fresh for some days, more or less, of course, 
according to the kind. Use no larger boxes than the flowers 
themselves will occupy, hut should the space not be full lay on 
some clean damp moss, sufficiently firm to retain the flowers in 
their places without shifting. This is the object to be attained 
in all cases, as nothing is more damaging to flowers than allowing 
them to roll about in the box. Finish off with a sheet of tissue 
paper next the lid. It is a favourite plan with many to use 
cotton wool for packing, hut it is a great absorbent of moisture, 
and should always he wet when used at the bottom of a box. 
Pap aver Danebrog.— T. Henderson: The Danebrog Poppy is 
merely a variety or race of the Opium Poppy (Papaver somni- 
ferum), with a large white blotch on the base of each of the four 
petals. Many of the varieties and races or types have been 
extremely common in the gardens of this country from a remote 
period, and are, therefore, perfectly hardy. The treatment 
suitable in the one case is also suitable for the other, that is, they 
may be sown in April in the places where they are intended to 
flower. 
Seedling Carnation.— T. B.: Your Carnation belongs to a 
type of yellow-ground flowers that are rapidly growing into 
popularity, and it should be grown on for further trial. The batch 
of Kilmurrey Seedlings in Mr. Dodwell’s garden includes many 
finer varieties of a similar character, hut better cultivation 
should he given yours before it is discarded. 
Soil Round Oak Stems.— Omega: Three feet of soil, if merely 
heaped round the base of the trunk would not be likely to injure 
Oak trees; but should the same depth be spread over the 
ground, covering the roots to that extent, it would no doubt tell 
badly against them in a few years, by excluding the roots from 
air and the warmth-giving power of the sun. This would show 
itself in the more feeble growth of the branches made from year 
to year, and at no distant date might even kill the trees. If you 
value the trees at all, you should avoid placing the roots at a 
disadvantage by burying them at an unnatural depth. 
System of Botany. — Omega : The founder of the present system 
of botany was Jussieu. The Linmean system was long ago 
discarded, because, although it was easy and served its day 
when the structure and natural classification of plants was less 
known, it is of no use at the present day, because almost entirely 
artificial, and in its study gives no clue to the natural affinities 
of plants. By the Linnaean system, such things as Grasses, 
Salvias, Veronicas, Monardas, Calceolarias and other subjects 
belonging to the most diverse orders were classed under one and 
the same group or class, while the rules for diagnosing the 
natural orders were equally ridiculous. To return to the 
Linnsean system now would he to make a retrograde movement 
in the science. 
Names of Plants. — J. W. A.: Aloysia eitriodora, commonly 
called the Lemon-scented Verbena. C. T. G. F. : Calamintha 
Nepeta, The Lesser Calamint. H W.: Veratrum nigrum. 
Omega: 1, Antennaria margaritacea, Pearl Cat’s-ear; 2, Galega 
officinalis. Goat’s Rue. IF. Martin: 7, Gasteria verrucosa 
(fruit next week). L. G. Herne: 1, Origanum vulgare ; 2, Chry¬ 
santhemum earinatum; 3, Aconitum Lycoctonum ; 4, Abronia 
arenaria ; 5, Verbena venosa ; 6, Veronica spicata. 
Communications Received.—D. C. — W. M. H. _ G. T. M._ 
J. C. — J. L. & S. — W. G. —W. S. — J. R. P. & S. (many thanks) —• 
M. M. (next week)—Historicus.—W. N.- Caledonian.—IV W_ 
T. S. W.—S. B.—D. & L. 
-- 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
E. Webb & Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge.—Bulb Catalogue for 
188S. 
James Carter & Co., 237, 23S, High Holborn, W.C.—Choice 
Dutch and other Bulbous Roots, &c. 
W. Baylor Hartland, 24, Patrick Street, Cork.— 11 Original” 
Little Book of Daffodils, Cowslips, Oxlips, Hellebores and 
Primroses. 
Thomas Frost & Son, Borough and Ling Nurseries, Maid¬ 
stone.—Selected Dutch and other Flower Roots. 
Jarman & Co., Chard, Somerset.—Bulbs and Seeds, Roses, 
Plants, Trees, &c. 
- ->330 - 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
August 29 tli. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, London, report a brisk trade 
for Trifolium inearnatum at unchanged rates. New 
Winter Tares and Bye meet a moderate inquiry. 
Osviug to unfavourable reports as to the crops of Red 
Clover in Germany, this article has advanced in value 
considerably. White Alsyke and Trefoil are firmly 
held. Bird Seeds unchanged. 
THE WEATHER. 
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean reading 
of the barometer during the week ending Aug. 21th was 
29'67 in. ; the highest reading was 30 TO in. at the 
beginning of the week, and the lowest was 29'13 in. on 
Friday evening. The mean temperature of the air 
was 60'0°, and 1’3° below the average in the corre¬ 
sponding weeks of the twenty years ending 1868. The 
mean showed was below the average during the first 
five, and showed an excess on each of last two days of 
the week. The general direction of the wind was 
S. W., and the horizontal movement of the air averaged 
9T miles per hour, which was 0'4 miles below the 
average in the corresponding weeks of sixteen years. 
Rain fell on five days of the week, to the aggregate 
amount of 0'81 in. The duration of registered bright 
sunshine in the week was '29'2 hours, against 37'6 
hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. 
-'-'> 3 £ 0 --- 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
August 30 th. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. | Pine-apples, St. s.d. s.d. 
Apples, J-sieve. 2 0 4 6! Michaels, each_ 2 0 5 0 
Filberts, per 100 lbs. 75 0 1 Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 2 0 3 0 
Grapes .per lb. 1 0 2 6 Plums, i-sieve . 3 6 5 0 
Melons. 1 0 3 01 Peaches"..perdoz. 2 0 SO 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Artichokes, Globe,doz. 3 0 6 0 
Beans, French, per lb. 0 6 
Beet, per dozen. 2 0 3 0 
Cabbages_per doz. 1 6 
Carrots, New,perbun. 0 6 
Cauliflowers, English, 
per dozen . 30 40 
Celery, per bundle ..20 
Cucumbers, each_ 0 6 0 9 
Endive, French, doz. 2 6 3 6 
Herbs, per bunch.... 0 ’2 04 
s.d. s.d. 
Horse Radish, bundle 3 0 5 0 
Lettuces .. per dozen 2 0 3 0 
Mushrooms, p. basket 0 9 13 
Onions, per bushel .. 7 0 9 0 
Parsley, per hunch ..06 
Radishes, per dozen. . 1 6 
Small salading,punnet 0 4 
Spinach, per strike ..20 
Tomatos, per lb.0 9 
Turnips, per bun.0 6 
Potatos.- Kent Regents, 80s. to 100s. per ton; Kent Kidneys. 
80s. to 100s. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Aralia Sieholdi, doz.. 6 0 18 o 
Asters .per doz. 3 0 6 0 
Balsams _perdoz. 2 0 4 0 
Calceolaria ..perdoz. 3 0 6 0 
Chrysanthemums, 
per dozen . 40 90 
Cockscomb, per dozen 2 6 4 0 
Coleus.perdoz. 2 0 4 0 
Crassula_perdoz. 9 0 12 0 
Cyperns, ..per dozen 4 0 12 0 
Dracaena term., doz. 30 0 60 0 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0 24 0 
Evergreens, in var., 
per dozen . 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, in var., do. .. 4 0 18 0 
Foliage Plants, vari- s.d. s.d. 
ons, each. 2 0 10 0 
Ficus elastica each.. 16 7 0 
Fuchsia, per doz. 3 0 6 0 
Heliotrope ..perdoz. 3 0 6 0 
Hydrangea, per doz.. 9 0 IS 0 
LUiums, var., doz. 18 0 30 0 
Marguerites perdoz. 6 0 12 0 
Mignonette . .per doz. 3 0 6 0 
Palms in variety, each 2 6 21 0 
Pelargoniums,scarlet, 
per dozen . 30 60 
Pelargoniums, dozen 6 0 12 0 
Rhodanthe.. per doz. 4 0 6 0 
Scented Verbena doz. 4 0 6 0 
Solanums_perdoz. 9 0 15 0 
Out Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Asters, doz. hunches 2 0 6 0 
— (French), 1 hunch 10 16 
Bouvardias, per bun. 0 6 10 
Carnations, 12 blooms 10 2 0 
Carnations, 12 bun. ..4 0 6 0 
Chrysanthemums 
annual, 12 hunches 10 3 0 
Chrysanthemums, 
12 blooms 0 6 3 0 
—12 bunches . 2 0 6 0 
Cornflower, 12 hunch. 16 3 0 
Eucharis. per dozen.. 3 0 6 0 
Forget-me-not,12 bun. 2 0 4 0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms. 16 4 0 
Gladiolus, 12 sprays .06 16 
Heliotropes, 12 sprays 0 6 10 
Lavender, 12 bunches 3 0 4 6 
Lilium longiflorum, 
12 blooms 3 0 5 0 
Lilium speciosum, 
12 blooms 10 3 0 
s.d. s.d. 
Marguerites, 12 bun. 3 0 6 0 
Mignonette, 12 bun. 10 2 0 
Pansies, doz. hunch. 10 2 0 
Pelargoniums,12spys. 0 6 10 
— scarlet, 12sprays.. 0 2 0 4 
Pinks, 12 bunches .. 3 0 6 0 
Poppies, 12 hunches 4 0 6 0 
Primula, double, bun. 0 9 10 
Pyretlirums, 12 bun.. 2 0 4 0 
Rhodanthe, 12 bunch. 4 0 6 0 
Roses (colrd.) 12 bun. 2 0 4 0 
— Tea _per dozen 0 6 16 
— Red.perdoz. 0 0 10 
— Saffrano .. per doz. 0 6 0 9 
Stephanotis,12 sprays 2 0 4 0 
Sweet Peas, 
12 hunches 2 0 4 0 
Sweet Sultan, 
12 bunches 2 0 4 0 
Tuberoses, per dozen. 0 4 0 9 
CONTENTS. 
PACE 
Adiantum Farleyense .... 11 
Adiantum versaillense .... 11 
Amateurs’ Garden, the_ 10 
Bean crop, our . 4 
Begonias, new. 11 
Cannas as decorative plants 11 
Carnation, Robert Houlgrave S 
Cattleya crispa, freak of .. 12 
Cattleya Dowiana aurea .. 12 
Chiswick trials . 11 
Dahlias, new .. S 
Delphinium Homs. 11 
Perns from spores. 11 
Fruit Conferences, the_ 3 
Fruits, notes on. 5 
Gaillardias as Bedding 
Plants . 11 
Gardening Books, shilling. 4 
Gar-i eners’ party at the Dell 5 
Gardeners’ Calendar. 12 
PAGE 
Gladioli, new . S 
Horticultural Societies.... 13 
Irish gardening notes .... 6 
Lobelias from seed . 10 
Odontoglossuin crispum .. 12 
Orchids, certificated. 12 
Pelargoniums, zonal _ 10 
Pinks, laced . S 
Plants, hardy . 9 
Potato disease, the . 4 
Sale or Consumpton. 4 
Scottish notes . 7 
Spade Culture, Mr. Glad¬ 
stone on . 3 
Stove Plants, climbing.... 6 
Tomatos . 10 
Vegetable garden, the _ 10 
Victoria Park . 7 
Warren, the. S 
To Noblemen and Gentlemen requiring Land 
Agents, Stewards, Bailiffs, or Gardeners. 
TAMES CARTER & Co. have at all times 
fJ upon their Register reliable and competent MEN, several 
of whom are personally well known to Messrs. Carter. En¬ 
quiries should be made to 237 and 23S, High Holborn, W.C. 
QCOTCH GARDENER 
John Downie (of the late firm of Downie. & Laird), Seeds¬ 
man, 144, Princes Street, Edinburgh, has at present on his List 
a number of SCOTCH GARDENERS waiting re-engagements. 
He will be pleased to supply full particulars to any Lady, 
Nobleman, or Gentleman requiring a trustworthy and competent 
Gardener. 
^\rANTED, by a respectable steady young 
T T man, age 19, a Situation as Improver in the garden. 
Address, FRANK DABORN, Brooklands Lane, Weybridge, 
Surrey, 
