804 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
August 15, 1896. 
Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, beating Mr. J. H. 
Goodacre in the latter case. Mr. A. McCullockhad 
the best black Grapes, not Hamburghs ; and Mr. J. 
H. Goodacre had the best white, not Muscats. 
Peaches, Nectarines, Melons, Figs, Cherries, Straw 
berries, Gooseberries, Apples, Plums, Red, White, 
and Black Currants, and Tomatos were also shown, 
bringing fair competition, and presenting high 
quality. 
Mr. A. McVinish had the best collection of vege¬ 
tables and took several other prizes. Mr. T. E. 
Poxon, Derby, took several prizes including a first 
for a dish of Potatos and another for autumn-sown 
Onions. Mr. C. H. Snowdon had the best Peas; 
Mr. A. McVinish, the best Broad and Long Pod 
Beans, and was equal first with Mr. J. Knight for 
French Beans. Mr. R. Shaw showed the best 
spring-sown Onions. 
In the open division for amateurs and gentlemen's 
gardeners, H. V. Machin, Esq., Worksop, had the 
best eighteen Roses. The Rev. J. H. Pemberton, 
Havering-atte-Bower, exhibited the best twenty-four 
Roses and six Roses of one variety, and was equal 
first with H. V. Machin, Esq., for twelve Roses. 
Prizes were also offered in a large number of classes 
for plants, fruits, flowers, and vegetables shown by 
amateurs and cottagers, and there was good compe¬ 
tition. Special prizes were offered by Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading, for a collection of vege¬ 
tables. Mr. A. McVinish, Mr. R. Shaw, and Mr. R. 
Hoe, took the prizes in the order named. Messrs. 
Harrison & Sons, Leicester, Mr. Chas. Warner, 
Messrs. Yarde & Co., and several others also offered 
prizes for vegetables. Mr. Wm. Colchester, Ipswich, 
as usual had a tastefully got up stand showing the 
merits of Ichthemic Guano. 
CACTI. 
These were the subject of an admirable lecture by 
Mr. E. H. Chapman, of Frome, Somerset, at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society held on 
July 28th, at which Dr. Masters occupied the chair. 
In his opening remarks the lecturer said that he 
wished to speak for the benefit of those who were as 
yet novices in the art of Cactus culture, and he 
trusted that his experience might be of service to 
them. Until quite recently Cacti were surrounded 
by a great deal of mystery. All that people seemed 
to know of them was that they were shipped over 
from America. There was also a dearth of literature 
dealing with this curious class of plants, until the 
book written by Mr. Watson of Kew supplied a long 
felt want. Mr. Chapman was of opinion that this 
was by far the best work upon the subject. 
Reference was then made to the wondrous vitality 
of which cactaceous plants were possessed. They 
might be dried for a score of years, half roasted or 
boiled, and yet they would grow at the end of such 
an experience as if nothing unusual had happened. 
Mr. Chapman mentioned a case of a Cereus which 
had been brought over from Valparaiso, had 
lain in a portmanteau for upwards of thirty years 
and grew when put into the soil. They will stand 
an enormous range of temperature with impunity, 
say from 40° to 140? Fahr., their tough skins pro¬ 
tecting them against such vicissitudes of climates— 
90° Fahr., however, would be found a happy 
medium. Cacti enjoyed a large geographical 
distribution, being spread over at least 90° of 
latitude. 
With regard to the requirements of the Cacti they 
must have plenty of light ; and a house that would 
best supply this necessity would be the best and most 
suitable. Mr. Chapman was of opinion that the 
wire-tension house in the society’s gardens at 
Chiswick,, was an ideal Cactus house, as when he 
had occasion to take shelter from a heavy downpour 
of rain in a similarly constructed house in another 
part of the country he had been agreeably surprised 
to find that it was really rain proof. A dry heat was 
also essential to success in Cactus culture. A due 
application of moisture was required, but as evapora¬ 
tion goes on but slowly, water must be very carefully 
given. The application of manure was fatal. The 
plants did not like it at all, and hence it should never 
be given to them 
As to soil the essayist recommended a compost 
having for its basis good fibrous loam, with the 
addition of plenty of sharp sand, and pounded brick 
rubbish. 
Propagation might be easily conducted, by the 
insertion of off-sets, which will root readily enough 
if they are sufficiently matured. All offsets to be of 
any use should be at least twelve months old ; 
younger than this they were of little use. 
Mr. Chapman next proceeded to deal with insect 
pests. Most of the imported pieces were infested 
with mealy bug, which possibly was generated 
during the voyage. The best way to deal with 
mealy bug was to hunt it out of the crevices with a 
stocking needle, and afterwards to brush the affected 
parts with a weak solution of petroleum. The 
plants were also very subject to a kind of blight, 
which attacked them close to the collars, and caused 
them to rot away. The best way to treat plants 
thus attacked was to cut them off above the affected 
part and root them afresh in dry sand. 
In recommending cactaceous plants to the favour¬ 
able notice of the amateur, Mr. Chapman dwelt 
upon the fact that a great many plants might be 
packed away in a very small space. The chief 
source of supply is America, and the industry was at 
one time a very paying one in Texas, when we had no 
monetary arrangement with Mexico. 
In conclusion, the essayist remarked on the vast 
improvement in the health and appearance of the 
plants which were exhibited in the hall that day 
over those that had been shown in previous years 
A more than usually brisk discussion followed in 
which several prominent members of the Cactus 
society took part. Mr. Pritchard expressed his 
agreement with the ideas expressed by the essayist. 
He had found out that Cacti revelled in sunshine, 
and the more of it they got, the bettter they liked it. 
They also wanted a good deal of water during the 
growing season, but this must be stopped before the 
winter sets in, or the plants will go off with rot. 
Mr. Cannell, of Swanley, said that he had found 
XI All a most effective specific for clearing out mealy 
bug, and its use was far easier than the laborious 
method of hunting the pests out with a stocking 
needle advocated by the lecturer. He strongly 
advised all intending Cactus growers to run pipes 
round the eaves of their houses. He had given this 
system a good trial at Swanley, and was able to 
speak from experience of the success attending this 
departure. A house heated in this way would be 
found to be much drier and warmer in winter than 
one heated on the old plan. 
Mr. Cummings differed from Mr. Chapman with 
regard to the wire tension house, the glass of which 
was anything but securely held, for whole panes 
would be blown out in stormy weather. 
In rising to propose a vote of thanks to the 
essayist for his interesting paper, Dr. Masters spoke 
of the excellent specimens of cactaceous plants 
which might occasionally be seen in cottage windows. 
He had met with some in the East-end of London, 
particularly in the neighbourhood of Limehouse. 
Mr. Chapman had given them some sound advice - , 
but he had forgotten one thing, and that was to tell 
them to put their gloves on when handling such 
prickly subjects as many Cacti were, especially 
Opuntias. 
—-- 
GRIMSBY FLOWER SHOW. 
The Grimsby flower show was opened in the 
Vicarage grounds on the 6th inst., under very favour¬ 
able aspects as to weather, and continued the next 
day. It was a great success as far as the exhibits 
were concerned, and much above the standard of 
last year. The groups of plants arranged for effect 
were a leading feature of one tent; scarcely less 
important were the stove and greenhouse plants. 
The leading award for a group of plants was taken 
by Mr. Johnson, gardener to G. Marshall, Esq , thus 
securing the Silver Cup offered by Councillor H. J. 
Curry. This group had the representation of a tree 
rising from a fountain in which were Water Lilies in 
bloom. Orchids were attached to the tree as if in a 
state of nature ; and stove and greenhouse plants 
nestled amongst imitation rocks representing Derby¬ 
shire tufa, covered in part with green moss. Mr. 
Geo. Needham took the second place with a group in 
which Lilium Harrisi and Eulalia japonica variegata 
on a groundwork of blue and white Campanulas 
played a prominent part. Mr. Joseph Robinson took 
the third position with a very fine group. Mrs. 
Long, of Laceby, took the leading honour for stove 
and greenhouse plants, including Crotons, Alla- 
mandas, and Asparagus plumosus. W. R. Marshall, 
Esq , was second with fine specimens of Stephanotis 
and Plumbago. G. Marshall, Esq., took the lead for 
Coleus which were remarkably well coloured, form¬ 
a feature of the exhibition. He had grand specimens 
of a variety named Claremont House. W. R. Marshall, 
Esq., was second in order of merit. H. Fiske, Esq , 
took the lead for Pelargoniums, which were remark¬ 
able for vigour and the size of their trusses ; S. Ellis, 
Esq, was second. Mrs. Sharp had the best 
Fuchsias, but the class was hardly equal to that of 
last year. The hanging baskets were a conspicuous 
feature of one tent, the first and second prize lots 
being shown by G. Marshall and W. R. Marshall, 
respectively. T. Campbell, Esq., had the best six 
Ferns. 
The fruit was not up to the standard of former 
years, in the open classes being rather small, and 
the entries less numerous. H. H. Haagensen, Esq., 
had the best White Grapes ; and Miss Bennett had 
the best Black Grapes. In the local classes, fruit, 
vegetables, cut flowers, including Dahlias, Roses, 
Carnations, China Asters, &c., were well represented 
and formed beautiful bits of colour. Table decora¬ 
tions were a novel feature at this show, and the lead¬ 
ing award was taken by Mr. John Clark. Messrs. 
Pennell & Son, of Lincoln, were first for bouquets 
made of Orchids, Pancratiums’ &c.; for hardy her¬ 
baceous cut flowers ; for gentlemen’s bouquets and 
ladies’ sprays. Mr. G. R. Cook had the best arranged 
epergne, which was highly effective. Mrs. Sharpe 
took the first place for six stove and greenhouse 
plants. Mr. Wm. Colchester, Ipswich, had a stand 
of flowers grown with Ichthemic Guano. 
Besides the flower show proper there were 
numerous side entertainments, including a floral 
parade, which created a great amount of interest, 
drawing a great crowd of spectators to the show 
grounds. 
— t *- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
Ob 'So 
STATICE SUWOROWI. 
A nice batch of this vastly pretty but comparatively 
little-known Statice has lately been a conspicuous 
occupant of one of the frames at Chiswick. The 
plants in question are only in 60-size pots, having been 
raised from seed sown in March of the current 
year. The spikes are long, branching, erect, and 
densely furnished with delicate lilac coloured flowers- 
The leaves are radical, oblong lanceolate, and either 
entire or roughly runcinate. This pretty plant, 
which was introduced from Turkestan in 1836, is 
easy enough of culture, and should be known and 
grown by everybody. 
DERIVATION OF '-SCUTELLARIA.” 
I do not know from what "edition of •• Riddle's Latin 
Dictionary " your correspondent *’ C. B. G.,” quotes; 
but in the last edition, the 7th, published in 1880, 
when he had the co-operation of White, the same 
meaning is given to " scutella,” as I stated Dr- 
Wm. Smith gave to it; and not "a small flat 
dish and somewhat square.” Nicholson, in his 
" Encyclopaedia of Gardening,” seems to have 
fallen into the same error as " C. B. G.” He, no 
doubt, will correct it when a new edition is published. 
I find that " Craig's Universal Dictionary ” was last 
published in 1864. I think it can have no weight 
as an authority on the meaning of a Latin word.— J. 
C. St ogdon. 
LOBELIA PUMILA INGRAMI. 
This is one of those compact habited forms that 
come in very useful for edgings for beds in which 
the plants must not be given to trespassing on their 
neighbour’s grounds. As the plants are now grow¬ 
ing in Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ establishment at 
Chelsea they are almost conical in shape and very 
floriferous. The flowers are of extra large size, and 
a delicate lilac-white in hue. In every way this 
Lobelia is a desirable variety. 
LANTANA DRAP D'OR. 
As a rule Lantanas are not very much used for bed¬ 
ding purposes, certainly not nearly so much as they 
might be. The plant under notice is in every way 
suitable for the filling of beds in the flower garden, 
and in conjunction with other subjects might assist 
in making many effective combinations. It is little 
more than 4 in. in height, and a most continuous 
bloomer, flowering away with surpassing freedom all 
the summer, and until frost puts its veto upon it in 
the autumn. The flowers are bright yellow in 
