April 18th, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
525 
HORTICULTURAL 80CITIEES. 
Royal Horticultural, April 14 tli .—The Daffodil 
growers had a gala-day in the large conservatory on 
Tuesday, and after inspecting the wonderful collec¬ 
tions staged, taking stock of the vast number of 
varieties, or the vast number of names applied to 
them, whichever may be the most correct way of 
putting it, and admiring the exquisitely beautiful 
form of the flowers, and the glowing banks of colour 
they provided, one could hardly wonder at the amount 
of enthusiasm displayed by the Daffodil specialists 
present. As a representative exhibition of this now 
popular flower, the display on this occasion was 
greatly superior to that of last year, though we regret 
to say it was not patronized by so many visitors. The 
prettiest group, but not the largest, was contributed by 
Miss Jekyll, Munstead House, Godaiming—a mossy 
bank “with Daffodils bedight,” which to many must 
have afforded a valuable lesson in showing how 
Daffodils should be planted to realize the most 
natural effect. For extent and quality combined, 
nothing could surpass the splendid collections of cut 
blooms staged by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Mr. 
T. S. Ware, and Messrs. Ban- & Sons, to each of whom 
a Silver-Gilt Banksian Medal was awarded for their 
valuable contributions. Mr. Walker, of Whitton, an 
extensive grower of Narcissus blooms for market, 
staged a very complete assortment of the best varie¬ 
ties, for which he received a Silver Banksian Medal. 
Messrs. Collins Brothers & Gabriel, 39, Waterloo Boad, 
also showed an extensive group, conspicuous in which 
were some three dozen bunches of Telemonius plenus ; 
and a similar award was made to them. 
A few of the Daffodils were brought immediately 
under the notice of the Floral Committee, and one 
shown by Messrs. Krelage under the name of General 
Gordon, but subsequently altered to Narcissus spurius 
coronatus, was awarded a First-Class Certificate. It 
is a fine showy flower of a clear, rich, canary-yellow 
colour. The other new plants certificated were Azalea 
indica, Elise Lieber, from Mr. Turner, a very fine 
variety noticed in another column; Amaryllis Lady 
Howard de Walden, a medium-sized white flower of 
pleasing shape, distinct and good, shown by Messrs. 
Veitch & Sons; the interesting Epiphyllum Bussel- 
lianum Gaertneri, noticed in another column, and 
exhibited by Mons. Heinrich, Altona, Hamburgh; 
Tree Carnations, T. W. Girdlestone, yellow ground, 
flaked with scarlet, and A. H. Kennedy, a crimson- 
scarlet self, both of which are of good size and per¬ 
fect shape. Mr. Turner was the exhibitor. Mr. J. 
Douglas had also a First-Class Certificate for a seed¬ 
ling show Auricula named Mrs. Moore, a grey-edged 
flower of large size, somewhat angular, but otherwise 
perfect in all its parts. Mr. B. Clarke, of Twickenham, 
again staged a superb group of Cyclamens, a selected 
lot of plants, which, for the compactness of their 
growth, the neatness of their flowers, and the vivid 
brightness of their colours, it would be very difficult 
to match. In the collection also was a curiosity 
which attracted much notice—a pure white flower of 
beautiful form, with a crest on the front of all the 
petals, as shown in the accompanying illustration 
That all the flowers should have this peculiarity is 
singular enough, but strange to say, nearly every 
leaf on the plant was crested in the same way. 
Double-flowered Cyclamens we cannot admire, but 
a strain of crested flowers like this would, we 
think, be welcomed as a novelty. It remains to 
be seen, however, whether the seeds will repro¬ 
duce the montrosity. Messrs. Paul & Son, The 
Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, and Mr. Turner, both 
showed flowering plants of what was sent out with 
such a flourish as a new H.P. yellow Bose, Gloire 
Lyonnaise, but which only by a stretch of imagination 
can be called yellow, while the foliage is that of the 
Tea section. The Messrs. Paul also sent a pretty 
group of herbaceous and Alpine plants, and some 
flowering plants of a white - flowered variety of 
Impatiens Sultani. Besides the certificated Amaryllis 
above-named, the Messrs. Veitch sent several others, 
most noteworthy among them being Serapis, a large 
white ground flower veined with rose; Duchess of 
Edinburgh, also a large white ground flower, heavily 
veined and shaded with rosy-crimson ; and Mrs. 
Whitbourn, a nice flower of the Leopoldii type, 
greenish-white, heavily banded with crimson. Mr. 
B. S. Williams also showed a nice group of new 
plants, including several new Amaryllis, of which 
we noted Magnoeflora, a fine scarlet; Dr. Master’s 
Improved, very deep crimson, and perfect in form ; 
Guiding Star, a novelty in colour, an uncommon 
shade of crimson barred with white; and Joseph 
Broome, a large bloom, crimson in colour. Mr. 
Williams also had good examples of such fine 
Imantophyllums as Madame Van Houtte and Marie 
Beimers; and numerous specimens of a Beet named 
Unique, with very dark bronze-purple leaves. 
Messrs. William Cutbush & Son again sent some fine 
plants of Laurustinus lucida and some new Indian 
Azaleas, including Emperatrice des Indies, a semi¬ 
double, flesh pink, with crimson spots. 
Walkley Amateur Floral and Horticultural, 
Sheffield.— This Society held its first Spring Show 
on Easter Tuesday, April 7th, in the Walkley National 
Schoolroom, which was lent for the occasion by the 
Vicar of the parish. The exhibits were both numerous 
and excellent (considering that the members are all 
amateurs who do not employ gardeners), consisting of 
plants in pots and cut flowers, which produced a very 
pleasing effect. In Class 1, for Azalea Indica, two 
plants, some nicely grown and well-flowered specimens 
were shown by five competitors ; and some nice plants 
of Azalea Mollis were also staged. Two good plants 
A NOVEL CYCLAMEN. 
of Bhododendrons were shown (well flowered) by Mr. 
W. H. Barns and Mr. Hague (the President of the 
Society). Of Dielytra spectabilis many fine plants 
were brought out; also of Spirasa japoniea, Cinerarias 
by Mr. Stocks and Mr. Eaps; Cyclamens by Mr. 
Stocks and Mr. Hartley. Foliage plants and Ferns, 
both greenhouse and hardy, were well represented by 
the President, Mr. Taylor, and others. Of Hyacinths 
there was a large tableful of pots with large well- 
grown spikes of flowers, shown by Mr. Stocks, Mr. 
Hague, Mr. Jarvis, and others. Narcissi were also 
shown by the same exhibitors ; Camellias by Mr. 
Marston and Mr. Taylor ; and Cytissus by Mr. Marston 
and Mr. F. Barns. Mr. Hague had several well- 
flowered plants of Dendrobium nobile, D. Wardianum, 
D. Devonianum, and D. crassinode. Fine stands of mixed 
cut flowers came from Mr. Stocks and Mr. Hague. 
The above and many other plants not mentioned were 
tastefully arranged down the centre of the rooms by 
the members of the Committee, under the direction 
of the Curator, Mr. Ash. No prizes are given, but 
each specimen is judged by gardeners, and marks 
given to each exhibitor in numbers, according to 
its growth and condition, six marks being the 
maximum number. The above Society meets every 
alternate Friday, when a number of exhibits are 
always forthcoming, and when a paper is read or 
a discussion takes place on some subject connected 
with gardening. I have visited this Society’s 
meetings since its formation, which took place about 
four years ago, and it is surprising to see what a 
change has taken place in the produce exhibited by 
its members in that time. Great credit is due to 
Mr. T. B. Hague, who has been the President since 
its formation, and who is always to be found at his 
post,— J. IF., S. 
— - - -J — 
ON DESTROYING INSECTS. 
As spring and summer advances, insects make 
their appearance, and as the weather gets warmer, 
the faster they increase if strong measures are not 
taken on their first appearance to eradicate them. 
Green-fly is by far the most common, especially with 
amateurs, and it is also the easiest to destroy. 
Fumigating with tobacco is by far the commonest, 
and, so far as my experience goes, still the best method 
of ridding plants of that troublesome pest, but it is 
only practicable where a structure can be kept close, 
or where the affected plants can be put into a close 
case. Many people fear the use of tobacco being 
burned in a house lest it should scorch the plants, but, 
so far as I am concerned, I never apprehend any 
danger on that score, if a few simple rules are adhered 
to. Generally speaking, we make a wood fire in the 
old iron pot or fumigator, and light up some charcoal, 
and when a nice clear fire is made, it is removed to 
the entrance of the house or pit, and the tobacco- 
paper or rag, which has previously been torn or cut 
up, is placed on the fire, and over that a layer of damp 
moss. 
We always like to remain in the house during the 
time the fumigator is burning, and generally assist it 
by puffs from a pair of bellows kept for that purpose. 
As soon as there is the slightest sign of a blaze or of 
the fire coming through the sides or top of the fumi¬ 
gator, more damp moss is placed over it to keep it 
down. Fumigating with tobacco is seldom thoroughly 
effectual unless the house, pit, or case is fairly well 
filled with smoke, so that by using the bellows to 
facilitate the rapid filling it may soon be brought 
about, but it is not advisable to overdo it, a far safer 
and more effectual plan being to give two or even 
three doses on alternate nights if the weather is 
favourable. In pits and frames where one cannot get 
inside to watch and assist, the fumigator should be 
placed at one of the lowest positions in the frame, so 
that the smoke will rise and pass among the insect- 
infested occupants, but it is not advisable to place it 
immediately under them, for should the fire burn 
through in the least, it would be sure to affect the 
plants immediately over it. 
In houses which are not tolerably air-tight and 
out-of-doors, where fumigating is impracticable, there 
is nothing that I am acquainted with that will surpass 
a solution made by steeping tobacco-paper or rag in 
water, and syringing the liquid over the affected 
plants late in the evening, so that it may remain 
on for some hours, after which it should be syringed 
off with clear water. Much can be done by disturbing 
the insects with the thumb and finger before applying 
the antidote, for when they are clustered thickly 
together, unless the decoction actually plays directly 
upon them, it does not have so good an effect. A 
suitable mixture is made by putting one gallon of 
water on 1 lb. of strong tobacco-paper, or more if the 
quality is low, and allowing it to steep for twenty-four 
hours, or if wanted for immediate use, add one gallon 
of hot water to the tobacco and stir it well, strain it 
through a cloth into another can, add two more 
gallons of water, and it will then be in a fit state 
for syringing plants affected with green-fly. For 
destroying black-fly, such as often affects Cherry 
trees, and sometimes Peach and Nectarine trees, the 
mixture would need to be two or three times as strong. 
In either case, if the mixture remains on for a len°th 
of time without becoming dry, it is far more effectual 
than if put on and again syringed off or dried up in 
an hour or so from sun or fire heat, and for that reason 
I generally use the liquid late in the evening, and 
remove it again early in the morning 
Tobacco-powder is by no means to be despised, 
especially for dusting the young shoots and leaves 
of Peach and Nectarine trees in the open ah', which 
often get infested while the weather is too cold for it 
to be safe to wet them. In such cases a little tobacco- 
powder dredged on the affected leaves works wonders, 
and effectually keeps the pest in check until the 
weather becomes more favourable for washing the 
trees. It is also useful for applying to solitary 
plants, when it is not desirable to apply a liquid or 
to fumigate. 
