April 20, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
581 
Pansies & Violas. 
L AST season I was awarded the Gold 
Medals at the International Show and at London, and 
the Trade’s Medals at Glasgow and Shrewsbury for the best 
cnllections ol Pansies and Violas, thehiehest honours awarded 
My famous new Fancy Pansies Miss Stirling and B-rrard 
Doulton were awarded ri Special Prizes for the best Fancy 
Pansies and best nr w Pansies in the shows, and also led off 
14 Gold and Silver Medal Siands and 51 First Prize Stands at 
London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the International, Shrews¬ 
bury, and other leading shows. A record never equalled. 
The best judges have repeatedly declared these to be the best 
Pansies ever raised. The blooms are ot enormous size and 
perfect. The price should be 5s. each; but, having large 
stocks, I will send the pair for 3s. 6d. 
For 8s I will send this famous pair and ri best 1S94 vari¬ 
eties: Marmion, W. PI. Clarke. Mrs. Wm Watson, Miss 
Paterson, T. Wage. Mrs. J. D. Duncan, J. Ford, Col. Coats, 
W. B. Smellie, I. McFarlane. Mrs. J. Currie. 
For 40s. I will send the best 100 varieties in cultivation, to 
include the above lot and 5 more var. of 1895 and 36 of 1894. 
A superb Collection, containing the cream of the newest 
varieties. 
For 3s. I will send a splendid 13 var , including H. A. 
Stuai t (new), A. Paul, D. Young, andj. Black, 1894 var. 
For 21s. I will send a splendid 100 var., to include 2 var. of 
1895 and 18 of 1894, all good exhibition sorts. 
Show Pansies. 
For 6s. I will send Annie Muir and J. Woods (1895 var.), G. 
Patterson, Mrs. Wilson, J. Brand. T. Whyte, Penecuik, T. 
Bowling, D. Hope, Miss Fulton, Mrs. Brown, G. Black, and 
J. T. Howard (1894 var.). 
For 3s. I will send 5 var. of 1894 anf 8 splendid competition 
sorts. 
V iolas. 
The best Viola yet raised is Tara, an immense soft rosy- 
pink flower, which led off the First Prize Stand at Glasgow 
last year. I have secured the entire stock. Price, is. each; 
3 for 2S. 6d. The best 13 Violas are Tara, G. Lord, S. 
Masters. Milkmaid, Purple Empress (1895 var.), Border Witch, 
Flower of the Day, Mary Scotr, Vestal, Cecilia, Iona, 
Luteala (1894 var.), Mrs. C. F. Gordon. 1 plant of each, 5s.; 
3 of each, 12s.; 6 of each, 20s. 
A splendid 13 var., distinct colours, to include 4 of the 
above, for 2s. 6d.; 3 of each, 6s. 6d.; 6 of each, ns.; 12 of 
each, 20s. _ 
Rayless Yiolas. 
These are the sweetest and best of all Violas. The best 13 
are Tara, G. Lord, Border Witch, Flower of the Day, Mary 
Scott, Vestal, Mary Stewart. Christiana, Sweet Lavender, 
Cordelia, Primulina, Blush Qu°en, Blue Gown. 1 plant of 
each. 4s.; 3 of each, 10s.; 6 of each, 18s. 
13 Splen iid varieties, named, for 2s. 6d.; 3 of each, 6s. 6d.; 
6 of each, ns.: 12 of each, 20s. 
100 Splendid bedding Violas, in 10 distinct named varieties, 
for 10s. 
Sweet-Scented Violettas. 
12 Varieties, named, for 2s. 6d ; 3 of each, 6s. 6d.; 6 of 
each, ns. ; 12 of each, 20s. 
CATALOGUES FREE. 
S. PYE, Catterall, Garstang-, Lane. 
FERNS 
SPECIALITY, 
A MAGNIFICENT STOCK IN IMMENSE VARIETY. 
Catalogue (No. 40) Free on Application. 
W. & J. BIRKENHEAD, F.R.H.S., 
Fern Nurseries, Sale, near Manchester. 
CHEALSfe^ 
Vl&F\LD’WIOE f\EKCWN- STRING fi01/ELT!ES 
C^fjEW CATALOGUE POST FREEST 
DANIELS BROS. 
Town Close Nurseries, 
NTO^WICH. 
TUBEROUS ■ ROOTED BEGONIAS- 
(Carriage free.) 
We have much pleasure in offering fine Flowering Tubers 
from our grand strains, as below:— 
DOUBLE-FLOWERED Per doz.j 
Choice-named varieties, including some mag¬ 
nificent flowers.35s., 40s. & 50s. 
Extra choice varieties for Exhibition, carefully ; 
selected, a grand mixture ...24s. & 30s. 
For Pot Culture, splendid varieties of the most beau¬ 
tiful form and colours.12s. & 18s. 
Mixed Doubles for Bedding, acapital variety of good 
double flowers. Per 100, 40s. 6s. 
SINGLE- FLOWER ED 
Extra Choice Exhibition varieties, immense blooms ; 
of the most beautiful colours and perfect form 18s. 
For Greenhouse and Conservatory, a very choice 
mixture of carefullv selected flowers .9s. & 12s. 
For Pot culture, beautiful selected varieties. 
Per 100, 40s. 6s. 
Choice mix'-d Seedlings, all selected and approved 
flowers, splendid for bedding. Per 100, 25s. 3s. 6d. 
From Mr. R. G. MILNE, Gardener to the Eail of Minto. 
Aug. 2nd. 
“I am glad to say the BEGONIAS have done splen¬ 
didly; they are by far the best strain we have. They were 
greatly admired by all that saw them.” 
From SIR R. DICK CUNYNGHAM, Bart., Cheltenham. 
Oct. 6th. 
“ On my return home, after a long absence, I am much 
pleased to find the bed of nearly four Hundred BEGONIAS 
still full of flowers. The double ones in the house are a show 
for colour, size and beauty of shape.” 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS 
AND 
HARDY BORDER PLANTS. 
FORBES’ ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE 
for 1895 is now ready, and will be posted to all intending 
Purchasers. 
The new Catalogue for 1895 is enlarged to about 150 pstges 
and very materially improved, embracing everything new and 
old worth cultivating in the way of Florists* Flowers and 
Hardy Plants with accurate description and prices, copious 
notes as to their origin, how, and where best to grow, a full 
index of the common or popular names of Hardy Border 
Plants and a vast mass of other valuable information that 
cannot be had elsewhere, which renders this the best, most 
reliable, and complete catalogue ever issued on this popular 
class of plants. 
JOHN FORBES, Nurseryman, Hawick, Scotland. 
JACK FROST 
has caused many losses that can be made good in 
an easy and cheap manner by purchasing the follow¬ 
ing bulbs and plants which I can recommend as being 
first class. 
BEGONIAS, SINGLE. 
20,000 grand bulbs, mixed colours, finest ever offered 
at the price, 3s. per dozen. 
PELARGONIUMS, SHOW AND DECORATIVE. 
Fine plants in best kinds, 6s., 9s., and 12s. per dozen. 
ZONAL PELARGONIUMS. 
Best kinds only, 6 for 2s. 6d., 12 for 4s. 
IVY-LEAF PELARGONIUMS. 
A very choice lot, 6 for 2s. 6d., 12 for 4s. 
DOUBLE PETUNIAS. 
Extra fine new kinds, 6 for 3s. 6d., 12 for 6s. 
Send for Catalogue, Free. 
Ei. *J. JONES, 
Ryecroft Nursery, Hither Green, Lewisham. 
For Index to Contents see page £41. 
“ Gardening Is tbe purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.”—B acon. 
Edited by BRIAN WYNNE. 
SATURDAY , APRIL 7.0th, 1895. 
NEXT WEEK'S ENGAGEMENTS. 
Monday, April 22nd.—Sale of Plants, Bulbs, etc., at Protheroe 
& Morris’ Rooms. 
Tuesday, April 23rd.—Royal Horticultural Society, Meeting 
of Committees at 12 o’clock. 
National Auricula Society’s Show. 
Sale of Orchids at Protheroe & Morris’ Rooms. 
Wednesday, ADril 21th.—Royal Botanic Society’s SpringShow 
Cnesterfield Spring Show, 
Birmingham Daffodil Show (2 days). 
Newcastle on-Tyne Spring Show (2 days). 
Sale ot Palm Seeds, etc., at Protheroe & Morris’ Rooms. 
Sale of Orchids at Selwood, Rotherham, by Protheroe & 
Morris (3 days). 
Friday, April 26th.—Sale of Orchids at Protheroe & Morris’ 
Rooms. 
echnical Instruction inthe Counties. 
-—The spread of technical education 
throughout the length and breadth of the 
country, mainly through the agency of the 
County Councils, is a pleasing sign ot the 
times. The practical part of agriculture 
and horticulture is only one side of the 
question, and at best but a slow expedient, 
seeing that under ordinary circumstances 
so many years of plodding labour are 
necessary for a gardener or farmer, but 
particularly the former, to acquire any¬ 
thing like an efficient knowledge of the re¬ 
quirements of his profession. There are 
still many people of good intention who 
cannot see the value of technical or scien¬ 
tific instruction, and who overlook or fail 
to see what connection there is between 
science and practice. Those who go to 
the root of the matter, however, soon find 
it impossible to separate an accurate 
knowledge of plant life from a thorough 
training in the fundamental principles 
underlying all cultivation. This means a 
knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and 
affinities of plants, their likes, dislikes and 
capabilities, all of which belong to the 
domain of botany, whether treated from 
the gardener’s or agriculturist’s standpoint. 
A scientific knowledge of plant life enables 
the cultivator to hit upon many expedients 
which he would otherwise be unable to do; 
it sharpens his wit, trains the mind to 
habits of correct observation, enables him 
to reason from cause to effect, and to sur¬ 
mount many difficulties which, to a man 
with a merely practical knowledge of his 
profession, would seem insurmountable. 
He might be very successful in one district 
and yet be unable to carry his practice to 
a successful issue in another, owing it may 
be to lack of expedients under the changed 
circumstances. 
The establishment of agricultural and 
horticultural schools and colleges in various 
parts of the country is one good step 
towards a solution of the question of 
technical education ; but if the fees are to 
be prohibitive to the industrial classes 
generally, the advantages will be limited to 
the comparatively wealthy, and can hardly 
meet the requirements of any given district 
or county, so as to make their influence 
felt amongst the community at large. As 
far as we know, the County Council of 
Essex is unique in its liberality towaids 
the students and others who attend the 
various classes in the different towns and 
villages throughout the country, but par¬ 
ticularly in the case of students who are 
brought together at Chelmsford. Here 
there is a central laboratory at which 
lectures are given in agricultural botany, 
agricultural zoology and other subjects 
with demonstrations and practical work 
with the microscope. During the past 
session lectures in agricultural botany were 
given from n to 12 noon, after which the 
demonstrations and practical work were 
continued till 5 p.m. A few lectures on 
practical horticulture as applied science 
together with demonstrations in grafiing 
and other methods of propagation, potting, 
pruning and seed sowing, were added 
to the course, and this branch of instruc¬ 
tion is to be extended. The students 
at the central laboratory are drawn 
chiefly from those engaged in agricultural 
and horticultural pursuits, and not only is 
the instruction given free of charge but 
part of the railway fare is paid for those 
who come from a distance. The students 
of the county are therefore under excep¬ 
tional advantages, as compared with those 
of similar institutions coming under our 
notice. Lectures are also given to fisher¬ 
men in some of the towns or villages round 
the east coast to advance the cause of the 
marine industry. A mid-monthly bulletin, 
under the name of Biology Notes , is issued, 
free of cost, by the County Council to all 
who attend the biological classes, and to 
various others resident in the county. 
The Yorkshire College at Leeds had a 
new College Hall opened last October for 
the admission and instruction of students, 
but the fees rule very high and must be a 
bar to many of the industrial classes who 
would be most likely to benefit from the 
instruction. There are three schemes for 
courses in agricultural science, namely, a 
two year’s course, a one year’s course, and 
winter courses, the latter intended for 
those actually engaged in farming. A 
session would last from October to June, 
and is divided into three equal terms, the 
fees for each of which vary from £7$ to 
^29 10s. Amongst the subjects taught are 
chemistry, physics, mathematics, botany, 
geology and surveying, but not horticulture, 
which is to be regretted. The authorities, 
however, recognise the value of botanical 
