June 20th, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
659 
STEVENS & CO.’S 
AMORT! SE R 
(NOX-POISOXOUS). 
Is., 2s., and 3s. per Bottle. 
Observe the Company’s Signature round the Cork, 
without which none are genuine. 
BEWARE OF SPURIOUS IMITATIONS. 
THE AMORTISER we particularly recommend for 
Greenhouses, it being so pleasant for use and for its 
perfume. Its properties for destroying insect pests, 
&c., is equal to our Carbon Paste. We guarantee, if 
used as per directions, it will not injure the most deli¬ 
cate foliage or blooms any more than water. 
P.S.—We highly recommend “ Beat’s ” Spray for light 
work; it is a cork spray and will fit any bottle. It sends a 
very fine spray about I feet, and if the rose is removed will 
send it 12 feet with the greatest ease. This is the most useful 
spray we have ever seen, and may be used for many purposes; 
it requires no strength, and a child can use it. 
STEVENS & CO.’S 
CARBON PASTE 
(NON-POISONOUS). 
Four Gallons for One Shilling. 
Will destroy in a few moments the Larvre of the 
Aphides, Hop-Flea, Green and Black Fly, Mealy 
Bug, Thrip, Bed and White Spider, Brown and White 
Scale, American Blight, Woolly Aphis, Ants, Mildew, 
Ear-Wigs, Caterpillars, and all insect pests. 
1-lb. Tins, Is.; 3-lb., 2s. 6d.; 7-lb., 5s. 6d. 
TO HOP AND FRUIT GROWERS, FLORISTS, 
FARMERS, Ac. IT IS INVALUABLE. 
STEVENS & Co.’s CARBON PASTE is a most 
wonderful and economical preparation, and is 
certain destruction to every kina of Insects that 
infests Trees and Plants, and we guarantee, if 
used as per directions, it will not injure the most 
delicate foliage or bloom any more than water. 
Manufactured only by 
STEVENS & CO,, 
CHEMISTS, 
67, HIGH ST., BOROUGH, LONDON. 
Retail or all Chemists a>'d Seedsmen. 
Special Quotations for large quantities. Sample sent 
for Is. 6 d. 
.Rose Prospects.— There is much consensus 
of opinion with reference to Rose prospects, and 
it is of the most favourable kind, whilst not a few 
who grow Roses are rejoicing in the wealth of 
bloom on all kinds which now enriches their 
gardens, and will continue to do so for a few 
weeks; many others are equally pleased with 
the prospect in relation to the show-table, and 
are already calculating their chances in the thou- 
sand-and-one scrambles for cups and cash which 
will he offered them during the present Rose 
season. But with various and contending 
emotions thus displayed, all agree in the estimate 
that the present season should prove a grand one 
for Roses, and that the bloom shows everywhere 
should be exceedingly fine. So far that is satis¬ 
factory, and the fact will preclude, we trust, the 
expression later of many lame excuses on the 
part of exhibitors when beaten, that they have 
been singularly affected by some natural cause 
or the other, and of course for the worst; and 
similar notes of apology. 
Universally Rose growth is good, the buds 
large, and the foliage clean. The heavy rains 
which recently fell were not local, hut general, 
and besides well cleansing the plants, gave the 
roots such stay, that with liberal mulchings 
they can hold on now against a long spell of 
drought. Then, though the spring was late, 
growth has been quicker, and, being so, has been 
robust. Nothing can be more disastrous to Rose 
prospects than to have young growth checked 
and stunted by a spell of dry, cold, harsh winds 
and frost. No such ills have marred it this year, 
and not figuratively, but literally, all is coleur de 
rose. 
Anticipating, therefore, some grand displays 
in cut-Rose blooms presently, we may well hope 
to see with those shows some features in setting 
up that shall assist in getting rid of that flat, 
monotonous arrangement which displays to the 
spectator just a series of long, ugly boxes, and 
nothing more. Probably there are no exhibitions 
into which the elements of taste and art enter less 
than into Rose shows. Whatsoever is beautiful 
is found in the flowers alone, but they are gems 
in a very ugly setting. However beautiful is the 
Rose itself, there can be no doubt but that in 
bulk its beauty is much enhanced by effective 
arrangement. 
The Potato Conference. —It seems probable 
that after all this proposed Conference, which it 
was intended should take place in association 
with the Exhibition of Potatos at South Ken¬ 
sington at the end of October next, will fall 
through. This result will not be from lack of 
interest in the Potato, or because of coldness on 
the part of those who make Potato-culture a 
speciality, but will be chiefly due to the fact that 
a grand Pear crop being in certain prospect, and 
such result being so very unusual, it is thought 
best that such interest as may be taken this 
autumn in conference work should he given to 
Pears and not to Potatos. These latter we have 
always with us in abundance, whilst curiously 
enough with exceeding abundance we find less 
interest in their culture and production excited. 
It is when a season of disease and disaster to the 
crop comes that excitement is rife, and gemune 
interest in Potato work of all kinds becomes 
almost a furore. 
Pears can hardly be discussed in relation to 
diseases. As a rule, the crop of these fruits is 
healthy when the crop is obtained. What is 
most important to discuss is, how to secure con¬ 
stant crops instead of such intermittent ones as 
we now find. That subject no doubt comes in 
the form of a poser, but it is a very interesting 
subject to discuss at any time. The present 
season, however, lends additional interest to a 
Pear Conference, because, as in the case of 
Apples a year or two since, a specially favourable 
opportunity will be offered to compare kinds 
grown under diverse conditions and in diverse 
places. It will afford an especially useful oppor¬ 
tunity to arrive at some common basis of nomen¬ 
clature, and in many ways very useful work may 
be done that would not be possible except in such 
of those few and far between years when, in 
the matter of Pear production, nature is favour¬ 
able. 
The chief show of these fruits will be held at 
South Kensington on October 13th and 14th, and 
no doubt some kind of discussion might then he 
invited upon the general subject of Pears. Still, 
we think that the noise, turmoil, and crowds at 
South Kensington, which will be so great just 
then, will militate largely against any proper and 
legitimate discussion, and that the object sought 
for in a conference would not be obtained there. 
No doubt the wiser course would he, as was the 
case with the Apple Conference, to hold the 
gathering in the quiet seclusion of Chiswick 
Garden, where there is ample space and every 
convenience for the carrying out of the work which 
any duly authorized body would undertake. 
Should this suggestion he acted upon, there can 
he little doubt but that the third week of October 
would prove a very favourable time for the Pear 
Show and Conference, which should not in the 
case of these fruits exceed four days. 
The extensive collection of Pear trees at Chis¬ 
wick may prove very useful just now for reference, 
hut their fluctuating cropping properties rather 
leads to the conviction that the space now occupied 
may henceforth be more fitly utilized, especially 
when we find the gardens materially cramped for 
space in the conduct of important trials of flowers 
and vegetables, and possibly of some other fruits 
which are more constant bearers, we may well 
hope that a Pear Conference may prove such in 
reality and not a mere Pear Show. We want to 
see work done at the Conference which shall leave 
its mark upon Pear-culture in the future. 
Flowering of the Holly.— Rarely within 
the memory of living man has there been seen 
on Holly universally such a wealthy bloom as is 
the case this year. Without doubt the drought 
of last season, allied to a fine autumn, assisted in 
the maturing of wood and the creation of those 
flowering buds which have now so generally 
expanded into bloom. It is, of course, yet early 
to determine whether a good crop of the ever 
welcome and truly decorative winter fruit will 
follow, but it may well be expected. In many 
cases trees and hushes now laden with bloom 
will he barren of results, simply because they are 
of the male gender and produce no progeny. 
There is still an abundance of berry-hearing 
trees, and, barring accidents, the crop of coral-red 
Holly fruit next winter should be one of the most 
plentiful on record. As a result we may expect 
to hear dolorous predictions from pessimist 
weather prophets of an inevitable severe winter, 
because Nature has, in the foresight which always 
