646 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 8, 1889. 
The Amateurs 1 Garden. 
-- 
Clematis Jackmanni. 
Those who grow this favourite variety, and did not cut 
down the stems in winter, will have an opportunity of 
observing its behaviour when so treated. Last year’s 
stems push into growth and flower early, but the 
blooms will be smaller than if the plant had been cut 
down. It is somewhat tender in its nature, or, in other 
words, is inclined to die down to the ground in winter, 
especially in cold and northern districts. Excellent 
results are, however, obtained when the stems die or 
are cut to the ground in autumn, and mulched over 
with stable manure. The roots are fed as well as pro¬ 
tected, and in spring they throw up strong stems that 
come into bloom towards the end of summer or in 
autumn, according to the earliness or lateness of the 
locality. At present these strong shoots will be running 
up with amazing rapidity, and should receive attention 
in the matter of training every week, otherwise they 
get so interlaced and twisted together that it is impos¬ 
sible to separate them. This applies equally to plants 
grown on walls, on trellis-work, or on specially-con¬ 
structed framework. 
Chrysanthemums. 
If not already done, these should now be put into their 
flowering pots, and stood on clean coal ashes or on some 
hard surface, such as concrete or clean gravel walk, to 
prevent worms from getting into the pots. Another 
method is to stand the pots on boards in a sunny place 
alongside of a walk. On the whole an ash bottom is 
best, as the pots are therefore kept cooler, and there is 
less evaporation. Watering is always a serious item, 
and one that must not get neglected, especially in 
warm weather. If the plants are allowed to flag (and 
this they are very liable to do in warm breezy weather), 
the chances are that they lose their bottom leaves, and 
never look so well afterwards. Plants intended for 
exhibition, and are grown to a single stem, should be 
disbudded, that is, have all the lateral buds removed 
except the three next to the first flower-bud that makes 
its appearance. These three buds will then take the 
lead, and constitute what are termed “terminals,” 
which will afford as many blooms of large size, if the 
side ones attending them are removed in time. 
Dahlias. 
There will be little danger from late frosts after this 
date, and all plants that have been well hardened off 
may be planted out. Before commencing the operation 
it is well to mark off the ground and drive stakes suffi¬ 
ciently strong to support them even when at their best. 
This prevents any damage to the roots that might 
happen if the stakes are driven in afterwards. Then 
take out holes in front of each, and unless the ground 
has previously been well manured, a quantity of well- 
rotted material should be put in the bottom of each 
hole, and covered over with soil before inserting the 
plants. Make the soil firm, and tie the stems to the 
stakes immediately if they are of any appreciable 
length. Give a good watering to settle the soil. A 
small basin should be left around each plant to receive 
any future waterings that may be given. 
Auriculas. 
Re-potting is done at various seasons by different 
growers, but a safe time is to do it just when flowering 
is over and growth is being made. A mixture of good 
fibrous and holding loam, with a quantity of well- 
decayed farmyard manure, and some silver-sand to 
keep the soil open will constitute an excellent compost. 
Divide those plants having more than one crown, 
putting the small ones in pots according to their size. 
Overpotting should be avoided. In southern districts 
the plants will make finer growth if placed in north- 
aspect frames, where they may be shaded from the 
mid-day sun during warm dry weather. The frames 
may be kept moderately close and shaded for a few 
days after potting till the roots become established in 
the new soil, when they should receive all the air 
possible, taking the sashes entirely off at night. 
Cucumbers. 
During the early stages of growth the frames should be 
kept moderately close, according to the amount of sun¬ 
shine, and well covered up with mats at night, in 
order to encourage a rapid growth of the stems. 
Regulate the shoots as they grow, so as to fill the 
whole frame as soon as possible, after which they will 
commence bearing. Attention must be given to 
regulate the growth and prevent crowding. When in 
bearing they will be greatly assisted by applications of 
liquid manure, seeing that there is difficulty in in¬ 
troducing fresh soil after the shoots have covered it. 
THE MEDLARS. 
Only two species of Mespilus are in cultivation, and 
these are more frequently met with in old-fashioned 
gardens than otherwise. The common or German 
Medlar (M. german ica) is the only one grown for the 
sake of its fruit, while M. Smithii is merely grown as 
an ornamental tree. 
According to the classification of Bentham and 
Hooker the species of Mespilus are now included in the 
genus Pyrus, although the bony inner part of the 
fruit might have been reckoned a sufficient distinction 
to keep them separate. The open apex of the pome 
exposing the carpels, popularly termed seeds, is another 
curious feature of this genus, by which it is readily 
recognised even by the country people, and has fami¬ 
liar names given it. The trees are now in full bloom in 
many parts of the country, and are very ornamental 
on account of the showy character of their large white 
blossoms, which are most abundant on M. Smithii. 
The German Medlar may readily be recognised 
by its large, lanceolate, deep green, somewhat waxy 
leaves, and by the large leafy lobes of the calyx, which 
are much more conspicuous even than those of the 
common Quince—Pyrus (Cydonia) vulgaris—also now 
flowering. Some thirty to fifty years ago the Medlar 
was much more largely grown than it is at present for 
the sake of its fruit, which is very agreeable to the 
palate of some people. The fruits are of no value till 
they become bletted—that is, till in a state of incipient 
decay. They annually make their appearance in Covent 
Garden Market during the months of November and 
December, or even later, and fetch a fair price. As 
Du Hamel states, the Medlar is only a fruit of the 
fancy, and not having a tempting appearance, it would 
seldom be purchased except by connoisseurs, who alone 
know its value. 
Many years ago, when deciduous trees of all kinds 
were more enthusiastically cultivated than they are 
at present, a number of improved and named kinds 
were grown, such as Blake’s large-fruited Medlar, the 
stoneless Medlar, the Dutch and Nottingham Medlars. 
The Dutch variety was the largest, but in quality was 
inferior to the Nottingham, one which alone was con¬ 
sidered worthy of cultivation for the sake of its fruit in 
this country. It was of medium size, while the stone¬ 
less variety was small and of no merit, reminding one 
of Alnwick Seedling Grapes that have not been or very 
imperfectly fertilised. It is more than probable that 
the bulk, if not all the fruit, appearing in the market 
has been grown on the Continent. 
Whether the German Medlar is a true native would 
be difficult to determine, but it perpetuates itself like 
a true wilding in Sussex, and also occurs in several 
other southern counties—such as Kent and Surrey—in 
old woods and bushy places. It was cultivated as early 
as 1596, and its wild appearance may simply be due to 
its having escaped from cultivation, and finding the 
climate of the southern counties congenial to its well¬ 
being, perpetuated itself in a truly natural way. Con¬ 
tinental Europe and western Asia is the true home of 
the species. 
Smith’s Medlar (M. Smithii) is of more recent intro¬ 
duction, and apparently was not cultivated in Britain 
prior to 1800 ; but the native country not having been 
recorded, its origin was for a long time unknown, 
although it is now ascertained as being a native of the 
Caucasus, whence many other members of the same 
family come. The fruit is about the size of that of a 
large-fruiting Crattegus, to which it bears a striking 
resemblance. When ripe it is of a reddish brown. The 
flowers are produced in great profusion, and are now at 
their best in the southern counties. The tree grows from 
15 ft. to 25 ft. high, with a broad, spreading head. The 
leaves and stipules on the sterile branches of the 
current year’s growth are more deeply divided than 
those on the fertile branches, and may, therefore, be 
described as dimorphic. For this reason it has been 
named M. lobata by some authors, while M. grandiflora 
is also synonymous.— F. 
- -■*>$<=«- 
THE LINDLEY MEDAL. 
“F.R.H.S.,” having alluded in a recent issue to the 
award of this medal on two or three occasions by the 
Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, by whom it 
was 'established for award only at the Society’s bi¬ 
monthly meetings, “in honour of one who had done so 
much for the society,” it may not be inopportune to put 
on record a complete list of the few recipients of this 
distinguished reward of merit, and it may be all the 
more desirable to do so as the prospect seems very 
remote of the list being extended. We give the list in 
the order of priority of award. 
1. —Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons, for a group of 
Orchids—19th December, 1865. 
2. —Mr. William Bull, for a collection of plants— 
23rd January, 1866. 
3. —The Duke of Devonshire, for a specimen plant of 
Ccelogyne cristata—3rd March, 1868. 
4. —Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons, for a collection of 
Cattleya Skinneri—3rd March, 1868. 
5. —Mr. Good, gardener to Lady Ashburton, for a 
specimen plant of Lilium auratum—17th August, 1869. 
6 . —Mr. May, gardener to Lady Ashburton, for a 
specimen of Phalasnopsis Schilleriana— loth March, 
1871. 
7. —Mr. Needle, gardener to the Comte de Paris, for 
a collection of Orchis and Ophrys—19th April, 1871. 
8 . —Mr. W. Denning, gardener to Lord Londes- 
borough,for a specimen of Yanda teres—17th May, 1871. 
9. —Mr. T. Baines, gardener to H. L. Nichols, Esq., 
for a specimen of Nepenthes Rafflesiana, with forty-five 
pitchers—21st August, 1872. 
10. —Lord Londesborough, for a specimen of Utricu- 
laria montana—21st May, 1873. 
11. —Mr. Francis Dancer, for a collection of Apples 
and Pears—1st October, 1874. 
12. —Mr. C. Turner, for a group of Roses in pots— 
28th May, 1878. 
-~>-X<-- 
Gardening ITiscellany. 
Severe Thunderstorm in the North. 
There was rather a singular commentary on your 
leading note of June 1st anent the late unusual heat 
in this district yesterday (2nd ult.). The heat referred 
to was most exceptional for the month of May, the 
maximum here from the 19th to the 26th ranging from 
78° to 82°, one day, the 21 st, having a range from 
maximum to minimum of 40°. Thunder was heard to 
the south-west from early morning, continuing without 
intermission until it reached the climax a little before 
noon, when a dense black cloud was observed overhead, 
which almost necessitated the lighting of candles and 
lamps indoors. After one terrific peal there followed 
almost instantly a perfect deluge of rain and hail, which 
reminded us of one of those sudden outbursts of nature 
which sometimes occur in tropical regions, and which 
few in this district at least will have had the lot to 
witness. The hailstones were indeed something to 
remember; one of them picked up was found to be close 
upon 6 ins. in circumference, and the weights we found 
to be equally remarkable, four weighed together turned 
the scale easily at J lb., and twelve picked up at 
random where they fell were over 18 ozs. in weight. 
The holes made in the soil, which I measured after they 
had melted, were from 1 | ins. to 2 ins. in depth. The 
greater number were beautifully ringed and marbled, 
distinctly showing from four to six layers of different 
transparency, doubtless showing the effects of the 
several varying degrees of temperature in the air through 
which they had passed. The duration of the storm was 
somewhat less than twenty minutes, and the amount of 
rainfall during that time was 0'62. The hail seems to 
have been merely local, although rain fell over a very 
considerable area, still a good deal of damage must have 
been done, as the Apple blossom was severely thinned, 
as well as leaves and shoots cut off, the latter in some 
instances ^ in. in diameter, and clean cut as with a 
knife. Glass also suffered severely, and roads and 
walks were very much cut up, which will entail a vast 
amount of extra labour at a busy time.— F. Stevens, 
Poston, Norlhumlerland. 
Transplanting' Carnations. 
Exhibition growers will at this time be thinking of 
thinning out the buds and unnecessary shoots, so as to 
concentrate all the energy of the plants in two or three 
blooms wanted for show purposes. There are, however, 
a large number who like to plant their Carnations fully 
in the sun in the flower garden, in specially prepared 
beds, and who show a preference for quantity rather 
than quality. I like both myself, and not growing for 
exhibition, always expect to see from fifty to one 
hundred blooms from established seedlings. At 
Kilkenny Castle Gardens I have seen 500 blooms 
on one stool, where Carnations a few years since were 
a specialty of the Marchioness, and specially grown by 
Mr. Carleton for the purpose. Such plants, like 
Marechal Niel Roses, exhaust themselves in thus 
producing a maximum of blooms, and should not be 
used a second year. I, however, like much every year 
to raise a few pans of seedlings, and this season have 
been singularly successful with what has been sent out 
