October 5 , 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
67 
WEBBS’ 
FREE BY 
POST 
OR RAIL. 
BULBS. 
FOR GREENHOUSE DECORATION. 
Collection A, containing 461 Bulbs 
„ B, „ 262 „ 
„ C, „ 207 „ 
„ D, „ 134 „ 
tt B, „ 96 „ 
„ F, „ 60 „ 
s. d. 
Price 42 0 
„ 21 
„ 15 
„ 10 
„ 7 
,, 5 
FOR GARDEN BEDS, BORDERS, k 
Collection M, containing 2,923 Bulbs.. .. Price 105 0 
N, 
1.909 „ .. 
„ 63 
0 
O, 
1,286 „ .. 
.. „ 42 
0 
P, 
11 
680 ,, .. 
.. „ 21 
0 
Q, 
11 
424 .. 
.. „ 15 
0 
R, 
1} 
315 „ .. 
.. „ 10 
6 
s, 
203 „ .. 
•• „ 7 
6 
T, 
11 
114 „ .. 
.. „ 5 
0 
5 per cent. Discount for Cash. 
Webbs’ Bulb Catalogue 
Beautifully Illustrated, and containing complete Cultural 
Instructions. Now ready, Gratis and Post Free. 
Seedsmen by Royal Warrants to H.M. 
the Queen and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, 
WORDSLEY, STOURBRIDGE. 
DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 
Roses, Fiuit. Trees, Rhododendrons, Conifers, Deciduous and 
Evergreen Trees and Shrubs, Forest Trees, Ivies, Clematis, 
&e., on application. 150 Acres devoted to Nursery Stock. 
II. LANI^ & SON, 
The Nurseries l BERKHAMSTED, HERTS. 
WANTED. 
L ARGE PALMS and other DECORATIVE 
PLANTS in Exchange. 
To offer, 3,000 coloured DRACAENAS, in thumbs, well rooted. 
,, 2.000 coloured DRACAENAS, in 3^-in. pots. 
All the Leading Varieties at Greatly Reduced Prices for Cash. 
Packages Free. 
THYNE’S, Nurserymen, GLASGOW. 
Immense Stock of remark¬ 
ably well-grown Trees. In¬ 
spection invited. 
New Descriptive CATALOGUE 
on application. 
DICKSONS THE NURSERIES, 
(Looted) CHE ST E R . 
BULBS, BULBS, BULBS, 
FERNS, PALMS, ETC. 
All of FIRST-CLASS QUALITY, and sure to give satisfaction. 
Ask for our Catalogues , which will he sent free on application to 
HAINSWORTH & Co., 
Nurserymen & Bulb Importers, I L K L E Y. 
KEL WAY & S OU. 
PARIS “EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE” 
PREMIES AWARDS 
FOR 
KELWAY’S P/EONIES. 
KELWAY’S DELPHINIUMS. 
KELWAY’S PYRETHRUMS. 
KELWAY’S GAILLARDIAS. 
KELWAY’S HERBACEOUS PLANTS 
KELWAY’S IRIS. 
NOW IS THE TIME TO PLANT. 
CATALOGUES GRATIS. 
Lakgport, Somerset. 
FRUIT 
TREES. 
BULBS 
EIVEB YT BUM WARjCA IfXEB. 
ROBERT SYDENHAM, 
NEW TENBY ST, BIRMINGHAM, 
The celebrated importer of Bulbs, will send bis revised 
Pamphlet, “How I Came to Grow Bulbs,” and the 
cheapest Price List for reliable Bulbs ever issued, 
free on application. 
I can guarantee my best Bulbs to be the finest that come from 
Holland, and will undertake to replace, at half price next year, 
any which, with fair treatment, do not flower satisfactorily ; 
or any bulbs that are not perfectly satisfactory when received 
may be returned and the money refunded, as my great aim is to 
send out nothing but the best at moderate prices. 
White Roman Hyacinths, 2s. doz., 15s. IOO; or 
a very grand sample, 2s. 6d. doz., 19s. 100. 
Freesia refracta alba, the coming Flower of the Day, 
planted now, will bloom at Christmas, Is. doz., 7s. 6d. 100; 
extra selected Bulbs, Is. 6d. doz , 11s 100. 
I MAKE A SPECIALITY OF HYACINTHS. 
One dozen, first size and named, for pots or glasses, 4s. 
A splendid dozen, unnamed, for pots, 3s., for water, 3s. 6d. 
Capital second-size Hyacinths, quite equal to what are often 
sold as first size, 2s. 3d. dcz., or 16s. 100. 
A choice collection of all the best Hyacinths for Exhibition 
purposes from 3d. to 8d. each. 
Splendid Bedding Hyacinths, Blue, 9s. ; Red, 13s. ; White, 
16s. ; or mixed, all colours, 11s. per 100. 
Tulips will be dearer and scarcer this year, owing to the 
great increased demand, but having made very advantageous 
purchases, my prices will be but little above those of last year. 
I shall have a very select collection of Narcissi at reduced 
prices, and I shall have a grand lot of Scilla sibirica, Chionodoxa 
Luciliae, Snowdrops, Crocuses, Winter Aconites, Ixias, English 
and Spanish Iris, Ranunculus, Lilium Harrisi, &c., &c. 
A full list now ready, and sent post free on application. 
(Pi.ease Mention this Paper.) 
Letter Orders have same care as for my own planting. 
ROBERT SYDENHAM, 
NEW TENBY STREET, BIRMINGHAM. 
Next Week’s Engagements. 
Monday, October 7th.—Sale of Nurs.ry Stock at Horsell, near 
Woking. Sales of Dutch Bulbs at Protheroe & Morris’s 
Rooms. 
Tuesday, October Sth.—Royal Horticultural Society : Meeting 
of Fruit and Floral Committees at 11 a.m. Sale of Plants at 
the Southbourne Winter Garden, and at Sander's Lane 
Nursery, Woking. 
Wednesday, Oct 9th.—National Chrysanthemum Society: 
Meeting of Floral Committee at the Aquarium. Sale of 
Nursery Stock at Elvaston Nurseries, Borrowash (2 days). 
Sales of Dutch Bulbs, &c., at Protheroe & Morris’s, and 
Stevens' Rooms. 
Thursday, October 10th.—Autumn Fruit Show at the Crystal 
Palace (3 days). 
Friday, October 11th.—Sale of Orchids at Protheroe & Morris’s 
Rooms. 
Saturday, October 12th.—Sales of Bulbs at Protheroe & 
Morris’s, and Stevens’ Rooms. 
For Index to Contents & Advertisements, see p. 78. 
“ Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.”— Bacon. 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1889. 
CURRENT TOPICS. 
Vegetable Conference.— The neces¬ 
sity of going early to press prevented 
our referring more fully last week to this 
gathering, which, favoured by delightful if 
cool weather on Wednesday and Thursday, 
yet proved to he so very enjoyable. The 
most marked feature socially was found in 
the thorough spirit of good feeling evinced 
amongst all who, whether seedsmen or 
gardeners, stuck with close application to the 
exhibition from first to last. Many new 
friendships must have been made, many old 
ones renewed, and although there were no 
rewards of a pecuniary kind, yet all seemed 
to be amply repaid for their costly and 
valuable labours in furnishing exhibits if 
they secured some of the Awards of Merits. 
One gardener proudly mentioned that he had 
secured fourteen, and as all were given for 
good samples, conclusive, proof was given that 
the exhibitor in question was a good grower. 
The problem as to how far it might he 
possible to secure a big show without the 
aid of prizes was fully solved in the most 
satisfactory way. It is true that it may 
not be desirable to test the kindness of 
gardeners too often, hut so far, in any case, 
the experiment was admirably successful. It 
was odd, but a fact, that those who came to 
assist in the work of examining the exhibits, 
or simply to see them, found interest to in¬ 
crease with greater knowledge, thus showing 
that apart from their undoubted exhibitional 
attractions vegetables possess an interest which 
grows with acquaintanceship. If in some 
future year we can but hold another vegetable 
conference, but on materially altered methods, 
it is most probable that interest will then bo 
excited far in excess of what was evinced at 
Chiswick last week. Those who came learned 
much, those who stopped away lost much. 
The world will not stand still, depend upon 
it, because some choose to be indifferent. 
^"he Papers. —That the literary portion of 
the Conference proved to be so successful 
is due to the fact that the subjects of the papers 
covered a fairly wide ground, and did not 
repeat themselves. The presence of Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, M.P., on the second day of the 
Conference, in his capacity of president of tire 
Rojrnl Horticultural Society, added some dignity 
to the proceedings, and most happily Sir Trevor, 
on this occasion, made a speech which chimed 
in with the objects in hand most admirably. 
Mr. H. J. Veitch, who presided, gave, in his 
written address, an admirable resume of the 
gradual development of vegetable varieties, as 
now found so plentifully in cultivation ; and 
Mr. Henri Vilmorin’s most interesting observa¬ 
tions, both in relation to the production of new 
varieties from careful selection, as also his 
description of the methods of cultivating As¬ 
paragus at Argenteuil, were listened to with 
keen interest and appreciation. Mr. Shirley 
Hibberd’s paper on Asparagus audits culture, and 
Mr. Norman’s all too brief discourse on salads, 
closed the second day’s proceedings. 
On Thursday—Mr. Hibberd presiding—the 
papers were of wider area, four being read. Mr. 
J. Wright gave one of a highly technical nature 
on the food of plants, although it embraced 
very much that related to cultivation also. Mr. 
Laxton’s sketch of the improvements effected 
in Peas during the past twenty five years 
covered a much longer period, and comprised, 
further, much detail as to the methods of cross¬ 
breeding and production. A low delivery 
rather marred the reading, whilst Mr. Dean’s 
paper on a similar review of the Potato was well 
heard, and had the merit of being lively and 
brief. Mr. J. Smith, of Mentmore, followed 
with an admirable compendium of the times 
for sowing and providing for a supply of vege¬ 
tables to a family all the year round. It was 
one of those compilations of a perfect multum 
in parvo type, which would prove a veritable 
godsend to a young gardener who needed 
proper reminders in relation to what is one of 
the greatest difficulties a gardener has. 
‘lpUBLiCATioN.— In proposing a hearty vote of 
thanks to the chairman on Thursday 
(Mr. Shirley Hibberd), that very eminent 
Scottish gardener, Mr. Malcolm Dunn, ex¬ 
pressed a strong desire that both the papers 
read at the Conference and the reports of 
the various committees of selection should be 
placed in the hands of the public as early 
as possible. It was intimated by Mr. 
Hibberd that the publication of the pro¬ 
ceedings would be in the society’s journal 
at the commencement of the coming year, 
some three and a half to four months hence. 
This statement called forth a strong and 
indignant protest against valuable information 
and admirable papers, prepared with great 
labour by the readers, being immured in 
pigeon-holes at Victoria Street before pub¬ 
lication until all interest in the Conference 
