708 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 6, 1895. 
these hardy subjects in beds, clumps and 
combinations of harmonious colours in both 
shady, sunny, and secluded portions of the 
pleasure grounds where they would form a 
series of surprises, pleasing alike to the 
owners, the cultivators and visitors. 
Nothing more effectually breaks the 
monotony of flat beds than herbaceous 
plants with their various heights and out¬ 
line. Just now the spiry masses of the 
Delphiniums in all shades of blue and 
purple-blue are amongst the most conspic¬ 
uous and ornamental occupants of the 
borders. Something with white flowers 
planted alternately with them would form 
a beautiful contrast and harmonise with the 
perennial Larkspurs. Good white varieties 
are yet scarce, but single white Hollyhocks, 
Lilium candidum, and L. Martagon album 
with L. longiflorum in front might well be 
employed for this purpose. In what class 
of plants do we find a better instance of 
colour harmony than amongst the numerous 
double forms of Paeonia albiflora, now very 
frequently spoken of as Chinese Paeonies? 
The white, pink, rose and purple in various 
shades of intensity harmonise with one 
another and with the dark green and red of 
the foliage. A large mixed bed or clump 
of them constitutes a pictuie in itself of 
colour harmony. Their season may be 
prolonged by planting in cool as well as 
warm positions and mulching the ground 
over the roots. Hollyhocks, single and 
double, also offer another series of inter¬ 
blending tints and hues of pleasing colours. 
Some prefer the single kinds and the 
varieties of Althea rosea and A. ficifolia 
might well be employed for beds of bold 
outline. Earlier in the season, Oriental 
Poppies in brilliant scarlet, orange and 
pink, furnish the means of making another 
attractive group with colour enough and to 
spare for the most fastidious. Less aggres¬ 
sive colours may now be found in the 
snowy masses of Spiraea Aruncus and 
other species not forgetting the dwarf and 
double Dropwort with flowers as pretty 
and useful as those of the double Sneeze- 
wort without its odour of Camomile. The 
various species of Everlasting Peas furnish 
another group with rose, pink, white, 
crimson and brick-red flowers. What shall 
we say of the summer and autumn-flowering 
Phloxes of all conceivable shades of colour 
except yellow and orange ? The Heleniums, 
Rudbeckias, annual and perennial Sun¬ 
flowers of various heights and time of 
flower, supply entirely different colours for 
another picturesque and effective combina¬ 
tion for suitable positions. Various border 
Chrysanthemums supply showy and attrac¬ 
tive masses of white. All these and hun¬ 
dreds more which we need not enumerate 
may be employed in the decoration of the 
garden and grounds as well as for a limit¬ 
less supply of cut flowers for indoor decora¬ 
tion. Dwarf species find their uses in the 
rock garden. 
• I *—— 
Frost at Th u rso.—The spell of cold weather that has 
prevailed for the past fortnight has seemingly passed 
away, but not before leaving the impress of several 
nights of heavy frost, which has in some places 
blackened the Potatos. 
The Newcastle-on-Tyne Summer Show will be held 
in the Recreation Ground, North Road, on Wednes¬ 
day, Thursday and Friday, 24th, 25th and 26th inst. 
This year additional prizes are offered for groups, 
dinner-table and fireplace decorations, and also for 
vegetables. The Council are also prepared to give 
increased facilities to attractive trade exhibits. 
The African Lily.—Water Agapanthus umbellatus 
freely. If the flower spikes show give weak liquid 
manure twice a week. 
Mr. W. H. Godden has been appointed head gar¬ 
dener to F. W. Buxton, Esq., Pishiobury, Harlow. 
The Month for Roses.—In this country the first 
fortnight of July is the principal time for Rose shows, 
but in America, June is the month for Roses. 
Strawberries from Kent.—One grower alone sent 
away from Swanley Junction on the 24th June, no 
less than 6,000 peck baskets of Strawberries. 
Early Strawberries.—Rev. Spence Ross, Avoch, 
had a dish of Strawberries in the second week of 
June, which were grown outside in his own garden. 
Mr. Fraser, Railway Station, Fortrose, N.B., has 
been cutting well-hearted Cabbages for more than a 
week past. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—At a meeting of 
the Executive Committee held on the 27th ult., Mr. 
W. Marshall presiding, the Hon. Secretary, Mr. 
Barron, announced that since the previous meeting 
he had received from the English Committee of the 
William Thompson Memorial Fund, per Mr. Harry 
J. Veitch, £65 13s. 2d., and the following special 
donations:—R. I. Measures, Esq., £i zos., result of 
sale of his list of hybrid Cypripediums; Mr. James 
T. Anderson, £1 8s.; and Messrs. John Laing & 
Sons, £1 is. 
Tree Planting in New Zealand.—To cultivators in 
Britain it sounds rather odd to hear of the approach 
of the planting season for orchard trees during the 
first week of April. This was one the principal 
items of gardening in the Auckland Weekly News of 
April 6th. The other was that Dahlias were not 
flowering well, owing to the protracted drought. 
Our friends at the Antipodes felt the bad effects of 
drought in their autumn, just as we now feel it in 
our summer. 
Prolific Cucumbers —Mr. Alexander Higgins, Lap- 
water Hall, Leigh, Essex, calls attention to a 
remarkable growth of Cucumbers. He says : “ I 
put three plants into an ordinary two-light frame on 
April 17th last. The first Cucumber I cut on May 
22nd, and in twenty-three days from that date, viz., 
to June 15th, I cut thirty-three, the average length 
being 16 in., or a total length of 528 in." 
Seasonable hints on Tomatos.—Avoid over¬ 
watering Tomatos until they begin to bear fruit, and 
certainly do not apply manures of any kind until 
then. Well ventilate greenhouses in which they are 
growing during the middle of fine days, in order to 
dry the pollen, and enable it to be distributed over 
the female organs by smartly tapping the stem of 
each plant with a padded stick at noon. 
Battle of Flowers at Alfreton.—On the 19th ult. a 
battle of flowers was held in Alfreton Park, Derby, 
and attracted by the novelty of the event there was 
a large attendance of people. The immediate 
object of the fete was to assist the funds of the 
Alfreton Church Band, which was formed some 
months ago. The park was generously lent for the 
occasion by Mr. Palmer-Moor-Wood, J.P., who con¬ 
tributed handsomely to the expenses. The affair was 
a great success, and as the hour of three approached 
the scene was most animated. Heralds on horseback, 
tastefully garlanded with flowers, galloped up and 
down the walks, while one of them was conspicuously 
picturesque. The entries were so numerous that the 
classes had to be divided. 
Roses for Towns.—There are hardy Roses that 
will do well even in London—not in the City or even 
in Oxford-street, but up St. John’s Wood way and 
corresponding districts. Now, anyone can test this 
matter for himself without going to much expense. 
Have a small spot large enough to hold half a dozen 
Roses thoroughly prepared, for it is throwing money 
away completely both in town and country to plant 
Roses in hard, unworked, and unmanured land. 
Deepen the land by adding new soil, if need be, and 
manure liberally. Roses should have a thoroughly 
broken soil at least 2 ft. deep. Amongst those that 
do well in towns are Jules Margottin, John Hopper, 
General Jacqueminot, Mrs. John Laing, Dr. Andry, 
Maurice Bernardin, Alfred Colomb, Centifolia 
rosea, John Stuart Mill, Pierre Notting, Mons. Paul 
Neron, Countess of Oxford, and others. 
Severe Thunderstorms in the North and South.— 
On the 26th ult. a severe thunderstorm passed over 
Dundee and the surrounding district. Drenching 
showers of rain flooded the streets and some of the 
warehouses. Many other districts of Forfar and 
Perth were also visited in the same way, and damage 
done by lightning. Tyneside, Wakefield, Hull, 
Leeds, Crewe, Chester, Lincolnshire, and other 
places as far south as Middlesex and Hampshire 
received visitations of a more or less severe character. 
Two men were killed at Darlington while standing 
under a tree. Rain and severe hailstorms accom¬ 
panied the thunder, except in the southern and 
London districts which were left as dry as ever. The 
crops in the north must, however, derive much 
benefit, independently of any damage which may have 
been done. 
Battle of Roses.—The arrangements for the im¬ 
pending Battle of Roses at Eastbourne are pro¬ 
ceeding apace. To suit the convenience of the Duke 
and Duchess of Devonshire, the dates originally 
decided on will now be adhered to, with the excep¬ 
tion that the Battle of Roses proper will take place 
on Friday, July 26th, instead of Wednesday, July 
24th; and the Battle of Confetti on the Saturday, 
instead of the Thursday. The judging will take place 
outside the Town Hall, where the procession will 
start, and no tribunes are to be erected on the front. 
The Town Clerk (Mr. H. W. Fovargue) has accepted 
the position of Hon. Secretary, the duties of which 
post will be rendered less onerous by the co-opera¬ 
tion of Mr. R. M. Perring and Mr. E. Burnaby, who 
played such a prominent part in the work of organ¬ 
ising the recent Battle of Flowers. 
Ayrshire Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associa¬ 
tion.—The monthly meeting of this Association was 
held in the Carrick Street Hall, on June 6th, a good 
attendance of members being present, presided over 
by Mr. M'Connachie, Doonside Gardens. A very 
interesting and practical paper on “ The Carnation ” 
was read by Mr. J. Boyd, Stewart Lea Gardens, who 
is admitted to be one of the successful growers of 
this favourite flower in the locality. He was 
accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his 
vuluable paper. Mr. Maxwell, The Knowe, exhibited 
a new seedling Pelargonium of his own raising, of 
which more will no doubt be heard. Mr. D. 
Halliday showed a beautiful specimen of Anthurium 
Scherzerianum, and last, but not least, Mr. Melville, 
Rosemount Gardens, Monkton, brought forward a 
basket of fine Strawberries (variety, John Ruskin), 
which he pronounces to be the best early variety 
grown. It was intimated that the next meeting 
would be an “ Open Night,” and would take place 
on 4th July. A vote of thanks to the Chairman 
brought the meeting to a close. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. —A meeting 
of the council of the Royal Horticultural Society of 
Ireland was held on Monday, 24th ult., at the offices 
of the society, 61, Dawson Street, Dublin. Present: 
F. W. Moore, Esq., M.R.I.A., in the chair; also 
Messrs. J. Hume Dudgecn, H. Smallman, J. Cum- 
ming, J. Dick, Hamilton Drummond, J.P., and G. 
M. Ross, M.A., secretary. Final arrangements were 
made for the special Rose Show to be held in Dublin 
on Thursday, the 4th inst. The place selected was 
Lord Iveagh’s garden at the rear of Harcourt Street, 
and a more charming spot could not have been 
chosen. The splendid band of the 1st Oxfordshire 
Light Infantry performed during the afternoon. In 
order to meet the wishes of a large number of the 
public who could not attend earlier, the council 
arranged to keep the gates open until 7 o’clock. 
They also decided to reduce the price of admission 
to is., and it is hoped that these concessions to 
popular feelings may have been more than justified 
by a largely increased attendance. The season being 
so favourable, the show promised to be the best that 
has been held for some years by the Royal 
Horticultural Society. 
The Colchester Flower Show.—The revived Col¬ 
chester Rose and Horticultural Society made a good 
beginning on the 20th ult. with a splendid Show. 
The Society has really developed from the com¬ 
mittee that carried out the excellent horticultural 
display in Lexden Park last year, on the occasion of 
the visit of the Essex Agricultural Society. Mr. 
Councillor J. W. Potter and Mr. F. W. Friend were, 
it will be remembered, the hon. secs, of that under¬ 
taking, and it must be gratifying to them that the 
movement they assisted to begin has at length 
resulted in the formation of so promising and so 
useful a society. The Mayor and the Deputy- 
Mayor must also feel highly gratified at the success 
of the gathering. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr. Henry 
Goody) gave an immense impetus to Rose culture 
during his year of office by the presentation of silver 
medals for competition. That excellent example 
has been followed by his successor, the present 
Chief Magistrate of the borough, who, in addition to 
this generous gift, placed his grounds at the disposal 
