260 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 22, 1888. 
National Dahlia Show. 
The annual meeting of the supporters of this exhibition 
took place at the Horticultural Club, Hotel Windsor, 
Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., on the 14th inst. 
Mr. Harry Turner in the chair ; present also Messrs. 
W. T. Girdlestone, E. Mawley, W. H. Williams, 
G. Harris, A. Rawlings, J. T. West, J. Burrell, 
R. Dean, H. Glasscock (hon. sec.), &c. The balance 
sheet showed subscriptions £59 10s. 6<?. with £50 from 
the Crystal Palace Company ; and the payments, in- 
cluding£10310s. paidin prizes, amountedto£11410s. 6 d. 
It had been found necessary to make a pro rata 
deduction from the prize money awarded to professional 
growers, in order to strike a balance. The accounts 
were passed. Some conversation took place as to the 
necessity for forming a Dahlia Society. At present the 
effort seems only for one year, and it was thought that 
greater success would attend the annual show if a 
society were formed with a code of rules and regulations. 
The honorary secretary reported that he had heard 
through Mr. W. G. Head that the directors of the 
Crystal Palace Company were willing to give the same 
amount as last year towards a schedule of prizes, and 
also supply cards and take the entries as heretofore. 
This offer was accepted with thanks to the Crystal 
Palace Company, and the first Friday and Saturday in 
September were the days suggested for the show in 
1889. It was resolved that for the future the judges 
should be selected from the exhibitors, the amateurs to 
judge the trade growers and vice vcrsd. The schedule 
of prizes of last year was passed as the schedule of the 
coming year. The honorary secretary stated that he 
had been in communication with the trustees of the 
Turner Memorial Fund, with a view of obtaining a 
vote for the schedule of prizes for next year, but he was 
informed that any contribution from that fund would 
be given to encourage the cultivation of Tulips. Mr. 
H. Glasscock intimated that owing to age and in¬ 
creasing infirmities he should have to give up the post 
of honorary secretary, and he suggested that Mr. W. 
T. Girdlestone should be asked to accept the post of 
honorary secretary and treasurer. This was cordially 
approved by the meeting, and Mr. Girdlestone kindly 
consented to act. Some alterations were made in the 
committee carrying out the show, and the proceedings 
closed with a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman. 
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CHRISTMAS FLOWERS & FRUITS 
IN COVENT GARDEN. 
There can be no question as to the popularity of white 
flowers—not only at Christmas, but at almost any time 
of the year. They seem, however, to preponderate in 
winter, owing, no doubt, to the fact that they pay 
better for production. Coloured flowers are, however, 
tolerably plentiful; but it is evident, from the treat¬ 
ment they receive, that they are only considered of 
second-rate value. 
Prominent amongst white kinds are Camellias, 
Eucharis, Gardenias, Richardia africana or Trumpet 
Lily, and Chrysanthemums, both incurved and Japanese, 
the latter being abundant during the early and latter 
part of the season, when incurved sorts are anything 
but plentiful. Over and above these, however, are a 
large number of subjects which appear in quantity at 
times, but are more or less intermittent, each according 
to its particular season. Paper “White Narcissus, Roman 
Hyacinths, double white Chinese Primulas, and Bou- 
vardias may, however, be had in considerable quantity 
at present, and the supply will continue for many 
weeks. The same might be said of white Azaleas and 
Lily of the Valley. Strangely enough, Christmas 
Roses are not so plentiful as one would be led to expect, 
especially after a long spell of unusually mild weather 
for November and December. Roses are nearly always 
plentiful, but the greater bulk of them at present 
consist of blush-coloured, pink, pale rose, or salmony 
yellow Tea-scented kinds. White varieties are not 
particularly numerous. Lilium longifolium, or its 
variety, L. 1. Harrisii, is even already to the front, and 
may be had nearly at any season. 
For ordinary bouquet work a great variety of the 
commoner differently coloured flowers are used, such 
as Chrysanthemums (Japanese and Pompon), yellow 
Roses, Christmas Roses, scarlet Pelargoniums, blue, 
yellow and purple Pansies, recalling the recent mild 
weather, Polyanthus Narcissus, and similar subjects. 
The burst fruits of Iris foetidissima, exposing the 
globular scarlet seeds, are very ornamental, and the 
plant might be more frequently grown in shrubberies 
and woodlands for this purpose than is at present the 
case. Unlike the common yellow Iris, it prefers a dry 
and chalky soil, although the latter condition is not 
absolutely essential. The flowers used for button-hole 
bouquets are Roses of various colours in the bud stage, 
Carnations, Gardenias, Eucharis, Lilium speciosum 
album, double blue Violets, and Primroses of the 
common yellow wild type. 
Orchids are not particularly plentiful, but there is a 
tolerably good sprinkling of Odontoglossum crispum, 
Oncidium crispum, 0. Papilio, used for button-holes, 
for which it seems wonderfully well adapted ; Cypri- 
pedium insigne, Calanthe Veitchii super ba, Dendrobium 
nobile, and Zygopetalum Mackayi. Amongst these 
the Cypripediums are, perhaps, the most plentiful, 
while the Calanthes are also pretty numerous and 
also tolerably well coloured. 
Pot plants are by no means so plentiful as we have 
seen them, but Conifers, Aucubas and Erica hyemalis, 
together with Cyperus alternifolius and Ferns, may 
easily be had. Due van Thol Tulips in various colours 
are also commencing to put in an appearance. 
Everlastings and Grasses. 
There is an abundance of Everlastings—the Immortelles 
of the French, as certain of the Composites are called— 
which from the dry and imperishable nature of the 
bracts surrounding the flower heads, are specially 
adapted for preservation in the dried state. Compared 
with the number of different kinds, however, that 
exist, there is an evident paucity in the market. 
Helichrysum bracteatum and Rhodanthe maculata are 
almost entirely absent ; and unless on account of their 
lumpiness it is not evident why they should be thus 
ignored. Antennaria margaritacea is exposed for sale in 
heaps, and in fact, with the exception of Acroclinium 
roseum, there are few other Composites used for the 
purpose. They are dyed in blue, red, orange, yellow, 
and other shades which are certainly bright and 
conspicuous, but not particularly natural. They on 
the other hand serve their purpose if the customers are 
pleased. 
Dried Grasses are by far the most numerous, varied 
and graceful. The Quaking Grasses, Briza maxima 
and B. minor, together with the allied Bromus brizre- 
formis, are particularly abundant, as is the Spike Grass 
or Sea-side Oat (Uniola latifolia). The two latter are 
dyed in various colours, and the Sea-side Oat is a very 
conspicuous Grass, even if somewhat rigid. Maned 
Barley with its great brushes of fulvous red awns is 
certainly handsome. Melica ciliata is also distinct, and 
Agrostis nebulosa is slender and exceedingly graceful. 
Amongst the larger Grasses, Arundo conspicua, with its 
delicate plume-like panicles, dyed in various hues, will 
possibly always rank amongst the most ornamental. 
All these are perfectly hardy, and may be grown to 
great perfection in this country. A larger Grass than 
either—namely, Gynerium argenteum, is not hardy in 
this country, but its huge panicles of several feet in 
length have been in the market for some months. 
Palm leaves, as usual, in the dried and curled state are 
well represented. 
It may also be seasonable to refer to the van-loads of 
young Spruce trees now in the market, and popularly 
spoken of as Christmas trees. Mistleto is also 
abundant, but we have seen it more so. Holly 
branches and berries are also very attractive, and other 
evergreens are furnished by Cherry Laurels, Box, 
Aucubas, Laurestine, &c. 
Fruits. 
Hardy fruits, although few in kinds, are best repre¬ 
sented by Apples—chiefly American, but most at¬ 
tractive and tempting. Foremost may be mentioned 
King of Tomkins County and Newtown Pippin, the 
former from 4c?. per pound upwards, and the latter 
from 3c?. per lb. to Is. 6 d. a basket containing six 
fruits, and 6c?. each. Good Ribstons may be had for 
4c?. per pound, Russets 2c?. or 3c?., and Baldwins 2d. to 
4c?. per pound. Amongst Pears, Easter Beurre and 
Glou Morceau may be noticed, the latter fetching 3s. 
per basket of six fruits. Other kinds fetch from Is. to 
Is. 6c?. a basket. Medlars are tolerably plentiful at 4c?. 
a pound, or from 6c?. to 9c?. a punnet. American Cran¬ 
berries at 6c?. per pint may also be included amongst 
hardy fruits. The length of time they keep fresh and 
are exposed in the market is truly astonishing. 
Good Grapes range from 2s. to 3s. or upwards per 
pound, the latter being Gros Colmar, grown, of course, 
under glass. Pine Apples range from 4s. to 6s. each, 
fine samples. Tomatos fetch from Is. 3c?. to Is. 9c?. a 
pound, while the best fruits are by no means large. 
Less common are Custard Apples from Madeira at 
Is. 6c?. each, while Mangoes range from 2c?. to 4c?. each 
or more. Prickly Pears (Opuntia vulgaris) are of good 
size and sell for 2d. each ; Bananas are always plentiful 
and cheap. Good Brazil Oranges maybe had at four for 
6c?., the little Tangerine variety two for lc?., and St. 
Michael Oranges are cheaper compared with their size. 
Nuts of most kinds are plentiful, the scarcest and 
dearest being, perhaps, Sapucaia Nuts and Batter or 
Souari Nuts, the latter at Is. a pound. The Leechee, 
or Litchi (Nephelium Litchi), although not exactly a 
Nut, may be included here, and fetches 2s. a pound. 
Brazil Nuts are abundant at 4c?. per pint, Almonds 4c?., 
Hazel Nuts -3c?., “Walnuts 6c?. a pound, Spanish Chest¬ 
nuts the same or 2s. per 100, and selected Kentish 
Cobs Is. 6c?. a pound. The quantities of the commoner 
kinds are truly surprising, and give evidence of a large 
business and many customers. 
-- 
CHRISTMAS ROSES FROM SEED. 
In reading up old gardening literature and the recom¬ 
mendations mentioned relative to the sowing of 
Christmas Roses, I notice that it is always stated that 
the seeds should be sown immediately after it has 
ripened—say, in July or August—and that the plants 
so raised, with care, will bloom in about five or six 
years. Such statements as these made me give up the 
idea of raising a stock of plants by means of seeds, 
until a season or two since, when I read in The Garden 
of the success attending a batch raised near Howth, 
and how such a number of beauties were in store for 
us. I think it was mentioned that the plants bloomed 
after two years ; indeed, by this they should be very 
strong, and probably all flowering. With such ex¬ 
perience, how erroneous are the statements and 
writings of the old masters, and how non-applicable 
they are to our time ! 
A century or two ago, what botanist or even florist 
would bother himself about raising Christmas Roses 
from seed, when their cultivation was limited to 
botanical collections, and when the plants only pro¬ 
duced a few miserable flowers in mid-winter, which were 
no sooner blown than they were splashed with rain or 
snow-water, or else eaten by slugs. Doubtless the 
convivial and fashionable eight o’clock dinner was 
prevalent then as now in London, but this was 
anterior to the use of gas, paraffin, or the electric light, 
and there is no doubt but that such means of 
illuminating our dwellings has in various ways spread 
much light, and intensified horticulture—if I may 
use the expression—to an enormous extent, so much 
so, that the Blaek Hellebore, or Christmas Flower of 
Parkinson, has been exalted to the highest rank as a 
decorative flower for the festive season. Intensified 
horticulture has also been the means of tens of thou¬ 
sands of the plants being brought to England from the 
Austrian mountains and deservedly so, as I doubt if in 
the whole range of hardy winter-blooming plants we 
have anything more appropriate at this season or more 
chaste. In no way are the Christmas Roses seen to 
such advantage as when grown in tubs out of doors 
for ten out of twelve months of the year. “Within 
doors here at present the blooms form a mass of the 
purest white. We have had them in hundreds since 
November, and conspicuous above all others the 
Riverston variety, with its immense erect habit of 
growth. 
I have sown some seed, encouraged no doubt by the 
success attending the Howth batch, and to my surprise 
a number are now in flower out of doors, just exactly 
fifteen months from the date of sowing, viz., August, 
1887. The blooms are rather small to report on, but the 
seed was saved from all the sorts in cultivation here. So 
that what the old school of writers mention as to the 
flowers not appearing for five or six years is entirely 
erroneous, and we cannot blame them, as their experi¬ 
ence in an age of restricted means of travelling must 
naturally have been limited, and the capabilities of 
southern and more congenial climates outside London 
unknown to them. The writers of that age always 
hailed from the capital. — IV. B. Hartland , Cork. 
- —>x<—- 
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS AT 
SWANLEY. 
At no season of the year, perhaps, are the houses at 
Swanley more interesting than in mid-winter, when 
flowers generally are scarce, with the exception of those 
that are brought forward by artificial heat and much 
horticultural skill. Here, as elsewhere, however, many 
hardy flowers, including great beds of Pansies, a fine 
mass of Chinese Pinks, and even Pelargoniums were 
flowering freely out of doors until quite recently. The 
chief features in the hothouses at present are Zonal 
Pelargoniums, Chrysanthemums, Cyclamens, and 
