June 20, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
671 
yellow on the inner margin. The variegation has 
the effect of making the plant much dwarfer than 
usual, but it flowers freely all the same. Award of 
Merit. The Guildford Hardy Plant Company, 
Millmead, Guildford. 
Carnation Ness. —Here we have a self-coloured 
Carnation of large size, with flowers of an intense 
red and very broad outer petals. Award of Merit. 
Mr. C. Turner, Slough. 
Carnation Delos. —This is similar in all respects 
to the last-named variety except that the flowers are 
of a soft crimson-red. Award of Merit. Mr. C. 
Turner. 
Carnation Virgo. —The large flowers in this case 
have wavy petals of a soft yellow, thickly striped 
with slender, bright rose lines from the margins in¬ 
ward. It is a pretty yellow ground variety. Award 
of Merit. Mr. C. Turner. 
Delphinium Albert Edward.— The large, semi¬ 
double flowers of this variety are produced in dense 
spikes about 18 in. in length. The outer sepals are 
dark blue, and the inner ones plum-purple. Award 
of Merit. Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, 
Somerset. 
Delphinium Geneve.— This in general features 
may be compared to the last-named variety ; but 
the outer sepals are sky blue and the inner ones 
lavender. Altogether it is very distinct. Award of 
Merit. Messrs. Kelway & Son. 
Fruit Committee. 
Melon Freston Tower.— The oblong fruits would 
weigh four or five pounds, and have a bright yellow, 
finely netted rind. The flesh is of great depth, 
white, juicy, and of a deliciously rich flavour. In 
recognition of its excellent qualities, it received a 
First-class Certificate. Mr. W. Messenger, Wolver- 
stone, Park Gardens. 
Melon Frogmore Orange. —The fruits in this 
case are small, globular, and have a yellow, netted 
rind. The white flesh is of great depth, juicy, and 
sweet, with an aromatic flavour. Award of Merit. 
Her Majesty the Queen (gardener, Mr. Owen 
Thomas), Frogmore, Windsor. 
Royal Botanic Society. 
The undermentioned subjects received Flori- 
cultural Certificates at the Summer Show of the 
Royal Botanic Society, held at Regents Park, on 
Wednesday, June ioth. 
Pelargonium Persimmon. —For description see 
above. Mr. T. Ladds. 
Carnation Lady Bi’ddulph. —This is a grand new 
variety of the Malmaison type with huge rosy-scarlet 
flowers. Mr. C. Turner, Slough. 
Delphinium Mr J. Stubbs. —The flowers here 
are produced in a long rather loose raceme. This is 
a charming shade of light blue. Messrs. Kelway & 
Son. 
Delphinium Albert Edward. —For description 
see above. Messrs. Kelway & Son. 
Paeony Marnovia.— This is a single rose coloured 
flower of medium size and great beauty. Messrs. 
Kelway & Son. 
Paeony Langport Queen. —This is a large 
double flower, of a delicate blush shade, the outer 
petals being more or less flushed with rose. Messrs. 
Kelway & Son. 
-- 
All danger from frost has now passed away, and 
protection from excessive heat and drought will be 
neccessary for some crops. A good kitchen gardener 
should always have a good heap of long manure, 
rough grass and leaves in reserve at this season, 
ready to apply as a mulch to any crop that needs 
protection from drought. Peas. Beans, and Cauli¬ 
flowers are much improved with a good mulching, 
following it up with a thorough watering. Small 
growing crops like Lettuce and Celery, top-dressed 
with mushroom dung or spent hops, will be invigor¬ 
ated by the steady retention of moisture at their 
roots. 
Asparagus.— No vegetable is more appreciated 
than this, and none turns into use at a more opportune 
time, so that no trouble should be spared to have it 
as good as possible. There is always a temptation 
to keep on cutting it too late in the season. It should 
not be cut after the middle of this month. A dress¬ 
ing of salt may now be given sufficiently strong to 
destroy all weeds on the beds ; and this should be 
followed a little later by a mulch of short dung and 
a good soaking of sewage or strong soot water, 
sufficient to get down to the roots. This should be 
repeated occasionally during the dry weather, while 
the plants are in active growth. 
Chicory.— Where there is a large demand for 
salads during winter, a good supply of Chicory roots 
will be useful, as it turns in so quickly when placed 
under the influence of slight warmth. The main 
crop should now be got in, sowing it in rows about 
16 in. apart. The soil should be moderately rich, 
and light, and the ground should be worked at least 
18 in. in depth for this root. 
Lettuces. —It is often difficult to keep up a regular 
supply of really good Lettuce during the hottest 
months ; and I would recommend that the sowing for 
another succession or two should be made where the 
plants are to remain, so as to avoid transplanting 
them. The ground should be very rich—if half 
manure all the better—and the drills should be 
watered before sowing, so as to insure quick germin¬ 
ation. Young crops coming on should be frequently 
hoed, and any inclined to run to seed may have a tie 
round the top to assist in blanching them quickly. 
Peas. —A last sowing of these should be made by 
the middle of the month. Ne Plus Ultra has a well- 
deserved reputation as a late pea. A few rows of an 
approved early kind may be sown at the end of the 
month, which may turn out very useful, should the 
autumn prove favourable. 
General Work.— The removal of remnants of 
early crops, and working the ground for succeeding 
ones, will need constant attention. Good breadths of 
all the Brassica tribe, useful during winter, should 
be got out as time permits, and ground falls vacant. 
Stake Tomatos and keep them free from useless 
growth, and expose the flowers to the influence of 
the sun. Regulate the growths on Vegetable 
Marrows, and give the plants a thick mulch, 2ft. or 
3ft. wide, round the p'ants, extending it as they 
advance in growth.— J.R. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Greenhouse and Cool Conservatory. 
Now that we are in the midst of summer this 
department should be looking gay and bright. 
Plenty of air, both by night and day, will be a sine 
qua non to sturdy growth and flowers of good sub¬ 
stance. During very hot days a damping down will 
be of great advantage, even in a flowering house, as 
it serves to keep the atmosphere cool, and also 
prevents the dust from rising. 
Pelargoniums. —These should now be in the 
heyday of their beauty, and if properly looked after 
will afford a show for some time to come. The great 
drawback is that they make such a deal of litter with 
the dropping petals. It will be necessary to pick 
them over frequently also, and take away yellow or 
dirty leaves, and old seed pods. Liquid cow-manure 
and soot mixed form excellent stimulants. 
Ferns. —There are many Ferns that will do well 
enough in an unheated house during the summer 
months. Adiantum cuneatum, A. concinnum, A. c. 
latum, and A. macrophyllum, Pteris cretica and its 
crested varieties, Asplenium bulbiferum, A. b. 
densum, and A. b. minus are a few of the most useful. 
The quiet greenery of their fronds, being so different 
in hue to the foliage of any other greenhouse plants, 
shows up to advantage against the more brilliant 
shades of the flowers. Scattered about the house in 
little groups or associated with flowering plants they 
look very pretty and effective. For instance, some 
well-bloomed tuberous Begonias standing out from a 
groundwork of Adiantums look much better than 
when they are staged by themselves. Other suitable 
combinations will also suggest themselves. 
Change and Variety. —In most places the con¬ 
servatory is expected to be not only kept well filled 
with ornamental plants, but also the effect is expscted 
to be continually changing. The eye is apt to get 
tired of seeing the same plants in precisely the same 
position for protracted periods, be those plants ever 
so beautiful. We do not now refer to the larger 
specimens of Palms, etc., which from their very size 
t is impossible of giving them an occasional 
change of position. Smaller plants, however, may 
be readily shifted about if desired, and it will be time 
well spent if the house is occasionally rearranged, 
although no fresh plants are brought in. 
Edging for the shelves. —It is often a somewhat 
difficult matter to obtain suitable edging material 
for the stages other than that usually seen. A very 
pretty edging may, however, be obtained where the 
beds of the shelves are of slate by scraping the 
gravel back for 3 or 4 in. and putting in a quantity 
of light sandy soil. In this Selaginella kraussiana 
may be planted, and this, after it once gets estab¬ 
lished, will look exceedingly pretty and effective. 
Large Azaleas. —Often enough there is no room 
for these in the smaller houses or pits, and hence 
after flowering is over they have to remain in the 
conservatory to make their growth. If any 
plants can be obtained to supply their places they 
will do far better out of doors now where they can 
have the syringe plied regularly and well amongst 
them. Thrips are usually more or less of a nuisance, 
and it will be strange indeed if a few have not found 
a lodgement upon these large plants. Should they 
be very numerous the plants should be laid on their 
sides and well syringed with Nicotine Soap which is 
a most efficacious insecticide. 
Fuchsias. —In order to keep these blooming con¬ 
tinuously it will be necessary to keep them well 
supplied with liquid manure. For the purpose 
nothing is better than cow manure, if the position of 
the conservatory allows of its being used. Keep a 
sharp look-out for Thrips, for these little pests are 
very partial to Fuchsias, and soon spoil the look of 
even the best plant if allowed to pursue their course 
unchecked. Sponging the leaves with Nicotine 
Soap or tobacco water will get rid of them, but the 
operation needs to be very carefully carried out, for 
the leaves are brittle and soon snap off. 
Pits and Frames. 
Ericas. —Those plants which are making growth 
freely may now be given plenty of air ; in fact during 
hot days k will be well to pull the lights off 
altogether. In no case should the sun be allowed to 
strike directly upon the pots. These should in all 
cases be plunged to the rims in ashes, which will not 
only prevent injury being done to the tender young 
roots, but will also lessen to some extent the labour 
of watering. Later on, if desired, the plants may be 
turned out of doors entirely, where they will ripen 
their growths much better than they would under 
glass, and besides, the room will be handy for other 
things. Even when stood out of doors, however, the 
pots must be plunged in ashes. 
Tree Carnations.— It will be necessary to afford 
these some security against gales of wind which bowl 
the plants over like ninepins and often do much 
injury. A very neat and effective way of securing 
them is to stand the plants in rows; a stout post 
should be driven in at either end of each row, and a 
strong wire strained along. To these wires the 
stakes supporting the plants may be attached, and 
then no matter how fiercely the wind may blow the 
plants will be safe. 
Newly potted Chrysanthemums. —As far as the 
water supply goes there is no more critical time in 
the life of the Chrysanthemum, than that represented 
by the two or three weeks subsequent to the final 
potting. The soil is rich and soon gets sour under 
the influence of too much water, hence the necessity 
for a large measure of caution. Keep the plants 
gently sprinkled over night and morning with the 
syringe. This little attention is of far more impor¬ 
tance than many people imagine. Meanwhile beds 
should be cleared of any frames that may have been 
standing upon them and put in readiness for use 
when required. 
Potting should be prosecuted as vigorously as 
possible, for the plants should be in their flowering 
quarters by the end of the present month at the 
latest. 
General Work. —With so many plants in pots 
standing out of doors, the watering-cans will of 
necessity be busily engaged. Overnight waterings 
are in all cases the most effective, and should there¬ 
fore be done thoroughly, but in the case of Azaleas, 
Acacias, Camellias, and other hardwooded plants 
this may not be sufficient, and it will be necessary 
therefore to look them over about the middle of the 
day. Shade Primulas and Cinerarias carefully, and 
keep a sharp look-out amoDg the latter for the 
appearance of slugs. Attend to the potting off of 
Cockscombs, Celosias, Coleuses, and Balsams as 
required. Pot off seedling Auriculas and gather the 
seed pods where they are observed to be ripe upon 
the older plants.— A. S. G. 
