March 24, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
473 
supply of leaves till the March sowings are ready for 
use. 
One of the great secrets in growing good Spinach 
is to thin early to prevent the plants from becoming 
over-crowded. A north border should be reserved 
for this crop in the summer, or some other cool 
moist place where the ground was dug in the winter, 
so that it may have become settled down, thus 
retaining more moisture. In such situations thinning 
must be done as soon as the plants are large enough 
to handle, and if the ground can be flooded every 
other day so much the better, as that would help to 
keep it cool. Sowings should be made every fort¬ 
night in order to ensure a constant supply.— K.G. 
Salsify. 
This is one of those crops that does not do satis¬ 
factorily on all soils without much preparation, and 
where this is the case the ground must be thoroughly 
worked before the seed is sown, otherwise the roots 
will be but a poor sample. A sowing may be made 
the first week in April in drills about 15 in. apart, 
and if a late lot is required, another sowing should 
be made in May. No manure should be dug into 
the soil, as this would prevent the roots from making 
a nice clean growth. A deep, rich, sandy soil suits 
them best, but where this does not abound naturally 
the ground must be made for them if good roots are 
to be had. The plants should be thinned till they 
stand a foot apart in the row, the surface must be 
kept hoed to kill the weeds; and if the weather be 
very dry during summer the ground should have a 
good soaking with liquid manure about once a fort¬ 
night. Salsify is often called for during winter, being 
one of those vegetables that are used as a change 
from other roots.— K. G. 
Scopzonera. 
This is a choice vegetable, not much grown except 
in large gardens, or where a change is often called 
for, but when well grown and cooked it makes a very 
nice dish in winter. This is one of those vegetables 
that cannot be grown too large, provided the roots 
are straight, for the larger the roots the better 
satisfaction will they give in the kitchen. To have 
them of extra size and quality it is essential that 
they have liberal treatment during the time they are 
growing. Like Parsnips and Carrots they ought not 
to be grown on ground that has been recently 
manured, or the roots will be forked and useless. 
The soil should be well broken up and rendered as 
fine as possible to the depth of 15 in. or more, in 
order that there may be nothing in the way to pre¬ 
vent the roots from going down. The seed should 
be sown at the end of March or beginning of April 
in shallow drills about 15 in. apart. Thinning 
should be done early, so that the plants may not be¬ 
come drawn. To get good roots they should be left 
a foot or fifteen inches from each other in a row 
—K. G. 
Cabbage. 
As was expected, many of those that were planted 
early are bolting, owing no doubt to the rapid 
growth they made up till the new year, by which 
time they had got very forward. The severe check 
they received during the sharp weather we ex¬ 
perienced in January brought them to a stand still, 
and now that we have growing weather they are 
running up to flower. Those who did not take the 
precaution to make a second planting will find 
themselves getting short before the season is far 
advanced. Any plants that are still remaining 
in the seed bed from late sowings should at once be 
transplanted on a piece of well prepared ground. 
It will not be advisable to plant them too far apart, 
as in all probability they will be required for use 
while they are small. If allowed a distance of 
fifteen inches each way, the quick growing kinds 
will give a good succession to those planted in the 
autumn. A small sowing of seed may now be made 
for a later supply.— K. G. 
- ^ - 
SOCIETIES. 
Crystal Palace, March lyth.—The exhibition of 
spring flowers on Saturday last was superior to that 
of the previous year both in quality, quantity and 
arrangements. Instead of long, narrow tables, 
broader and square ones were used, so that visitors 
could perambulate all round them and inspect the 
plants, instead of having to walk down one side and 
up the other in a long file. The first award for thirty-six 
Hyacinths was accorded to Mr. J. Douglas, gardener 
to Mrs. Whitbourne, Great Gearies, Ilford, who 
had strong spikes of Electra, Lord Derby, Ida, 
Garibaldi, Princess Amelia, Sir H. Barkley, Czar 
Peter, Roi des Beiges, Koh-i-Noor, Princess Mary 
of Cambridge, King of the Blues, Moreno and 
others. Messrs. H. Williams & Sons, Fortis Green, 
East Finchley, took the second place with a fine 
exhibit including handsome spikes of Lord Derby, 
General Havelock, King of the Blacks, Queen of 
the Blues, and others. The same order was main¬ 
tained in the class for thirty-six Tulips, the blooms of 
which in many cases were of fine size. The third 
prize for Tulips was awarded to Mr. William 
Howe, gardener to H. Tate, Esq., Park Hill, 
Streatham Common, who had good flowers grown 
in 32-size pots. Polyanthus Narcissi were well 
grown and flowered. The same order of 
merit was maintained as in the class for Tulips. 
Mr. William Howe cams to the front for Daffodils, 
who had well grown bulbs of all the leading kinds. 
Messrs. H. Williams were second and Mr. 
James Gibson, gardener to E. H. Watts, 
Esq., Devonhurst, Chiswick, came in third. 
The St. George’s Nursery Co., Hanwell, had 
the best thirty-six Cyclamens. Mr. John Mow¬ 
bray, gardener to Major Hon. H. C. Legge. 
Falconer Gardens, Slough, was second, and Mr. 
John Odell, Goulds Green, Hillingdon, took 
the third place. Cyclamens were admirably repre¬ 
sented, and were a feature of the show. The first 
award for Amaryllis was taken by Messrs. Paul and 
Son, who were followed by Mr. J. Douglas and 
Mr. William Howe respectively. Mr. James Ford, 
gardener to Sir C. Piggot, Bart., Wexham Park, 
Slough, had by far the best Cinerarias, both as to 
the size of the plants and the quantity of bloom. 
Mr. J. Douglas was second. 
The Chinese Primulas shown by Mr. John Odell 
were grand pyramidal masses of bloom, easily 
securing the first prize. Mr. J. Ford was second. 
Mr. J. W. Kemp, Blandford Nursery, Teddington, 
had the best Mignonette grown in the usual market 
style. He was followed by Messrs. H. Williams & 
Sons. Mr. W. Leaky, gardener to J. M. Douglas. 
Esq., Kuparra, Cottage Road, Upper Norwood, had 
the best tree Mignonette, and Mr. J. Ford was second. 
Mr. Robert Wells, Longton Nursery, Wells Road, 
Sydenham, was the only exhibitor of twenty-four 
greenhouse Azaleas, which were well flowered conical 
bushes. The first prize for a group of mixed stove and 
greenhouse plants was taken by Messrs. J. Laing and 
Sons, Forest Hill. The leading features of the group 
were Palms, Dracaenas, Crotons, Anthuriums,Clivias, 
Acacias, Heaths, and Orchids, including fine pieces 
of Dendrobium Wardianum. The flowering plants 
made the group gay. Mr. H. James, West Norwood, 
was second. In the class for twelve Hyacinths, 
the first prize was taken by Mr. J. Schumacher, 
gardener to M. Jacoby, Esq., Lynwood, The Avenue, 
Gipsy Hill, S.E.; Mr. J. Gibson was second, and Mr. 
J. Lambert, gardener to H. W. Segelcke, Esq., 
Elfindale Lodge, Herne Hill, was third. Mr. J. 
Gibson had very dwarf plants of Tulips, and was 
accorded the first prize. He also look the leading 
prize for twelve Polyanthus Narcissi, which were 
dwarf and well flowered, and was followed by Mr. J. 
W. Kemp. Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham, had the best twelve Daffodils, and was 
followed by Mr. C. Lane, gardener to E. H. Coles, 
Esq. Burntwood, Caterham, Surrey. Mr. James 
Wyatt, gardener to J. Perry, Esq. Bradenhurst, 
Caterham, Valley, and Mr. C. Lane took the prizes 
for twelve Cyclamens. Mr. J. Slater, gardener to 
Mrs. Nothard, York House, Lower Sydenham, Mr. 
G. Spong, gardener to C. D. Lord, Esq., Duncairn, 
Sydenham Hill, and Mr. J. Lambert respectively, 
took the prizes for twelve Cinerarias. Mr. J. Bate¬ 
man, gardener to Mrs. King, Southwood, Sydenham 
Hill, Mr. C. Lane, and Mr. J. Slater took the prizes 
for twelve Chinese Primulas in the order named. 
Mr. J. Lambert had the best Lily of the Valley. In 
the class for a group of Cyclamen arranged for effect 
with Palms and Ferns, the same order was main¬ 
tained by the winners as in the class for thirty-six 
Cyclamens. 
Several miscellaneous groups added considerably 
to the general effect of the show by brightening up 
the spaces at the sides. Mr. T. S. Ware had an 
interesting group of spring flowers including Daffo¬ 
dils, Hepaticas, Saxifragas, Lenten Roses, Irises, 
Ophrys lutea and others. Messrs. B. S. Williams, 
Upper Holloway, had a large and handsome group 
of Clivias, Lilacs, Guelder Rose or Snowball tree, 
and varieties of Azalea mollis, all of which were well 
flowered. Messrs. Wm. Cutbush and Son, High- 
gate, staged an interesting group of Epacris, Heaths, 
Boronia elatior, and many Orchids, including fine 
pieces of Dendrobium Wardianum and D. thyrsi- 
florum. A group of Bertolonias, Clivias, Begonias, 
variegated Tobaccos, and other interesting things was 
staged by Messrs. J. Laing and Sons. Mr. J. James, 
Woodside, Parnham Royal, showed a group of 
Cinerarias of dwarf habit, varied in colour, having 
large blooms, and altogether a fine strain. Mr. 
Theodor Jannoch, Dersingham, had a table of Lily 
of the Valley, of very fine quality, and grown in 
conical mounds, according to his usual custom. The 
crowns were home grown and Ai. A very large 
group of stove and greenhouse plants, including 
Palms, Crotons, Azaleas, Heaths, Caladiums, 
Dracaenas and others, well brightened up with 
flowering plants, was shown by Messrs. J. Peed and 
Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, Norwood Road. 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural.— This Society 
held its annual spring flower show on the 14th and 
15th inst., in the Public Hall, Preston. The exhibi¬ 
tion was opened by the President, Mr. Councillor 
W. H. Wood, who subsequently entertained the 
leading gentlemen of the town, and the committee 
and judges, at a luncheon in one of the lower crush 
rooms. In consequence of the death of Miss 
ffarington, Worden Hall, there was a lack of large 
plants to fill up under the galleries, otherwise the 
show may be said to have been an improvement on 
the previous ones, and there was a keen competition 
in all the classes except for Orchids, but, as one 
cynic remarked, " there are not a score of plants in 
the district, now that the Howick House collection 
has been sold.” The groups staged for effect were 
not so crowded as in former years, and there is still 
room for improvement in this direction. In the open 
class for a group, Mr. Payne of Fulwood was 
awarded the first prize, as also in the bulb classes, 
there being no other competitor. In the amateur’s 
and gentlemen’s gardeners’ class, J. B. Dixon, Esq., 
Ashton-on-Ribhle, was first, and Mr. Williams, 
gardener to J. Whithead, Esq., Penwortham, a 
good second. Mr. Dixon, who is his own gardener, 
was also first for twenty-four Hyacinths, C. E. 
Terry, Esq., Liverpool, coming in second, and Mrs. J. 
Aiken, Liverpool, third, all showing well. There 
was a little flutter when the Liverpool men turned 
up on the Tuesday evening with their plants, 
for fear the first prize should go away from 
Preston, but when the three lots were staged 
there vsas a smile of satisfaction on the faces 
of those capable of judging that the prize was quite 
safe. Mr. Dixon took in all thirty-seven first prizes, 
five seconds, and four thirds for stove and greenhouse 
plants, exotic Ferns, foliage plants, Deutzias, 
Azaleas, Orchids, vegetables, and the bulb classes, 
including the collection of 26-in pots of bulbs, 
corms, tubers, or rhizomes (Hyacinths, Tulips, and 
Narcissus excluded). 
Mr. Williams carried off six firsts, twenty-eight 
seconds and six thirds, showing in the bulb classes, 
foliage plants, miscellaneous, Roses, Deutzias, 
epergnes of cut flowers and vegetables. Mr. C. 
Lamb, gardener to R. Smith, Esq., Longridge, 
received three firsts, twelve seconds, and twenty-two 
thirds for table plants, Roses, miscellaneous plants, 
Wallflowers, bulbs, and vegetables. Mr. P. Rigby, 
gardener to R. Smith, Esq., Goosnargh, exhibited 
vegetables. Mignonette, Primroses, Roses, Apples, 
Pears, and vegetables, taking in all nine firsts, one 
second, and four thirds. Mr, W'm. Gillet, gardener 
to M. B. Copland, Esq,, Leyland, was first for 
Cinerarias, Cyclamens, bouquets, sprays, &c., 
securing seven first prizes, one second, and three 
thirds. Mr. Eastham, Goosnargh, showed Prim¬ 
roses, vegetables (unforced). Wallflowers, Apples, and 
Pears, securing six first prizes, six seconds, and two 
thirds. Mr. Parkinson, gardener to J. Whitaker, 
Esq., Leyland, received the first prize for six Cycla¬ 
mens, which were very good, and first for tree Ferns, 
also four seconds in other classes. Amongst other 
minor but new exhibitors were Mr. Clark, gardener 
to R. Fish, Esq., Darwen, and Mr. C. Walker 
(amateur), Leyland. One of the chief attractions of 
the show was a group of Amaryllis, Indian Azaleas 
&c., from Messrs. R. P. Ker and Sons, Liverpool, 
and the like of the Amaryllis had certainly never 
been seen in Preston before; and it may be said of 
them as of the Orchids that there is not a score of 
them in the district if we except A. pardinum, and 
