708 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 9, 1898. 
give increased incentive to the use of hybrid 
Teas for garden decoration. The Gold 
Medal for a new seedling Rose not distri¬ 
buted earlier than 1897 was granted to a 
variety named Purity and described as a new 
garden Rose. Without knowing its pedi¬ 
gree we suspect it to be a hybrid Tea, so 
that the race is bound to lay firm hold of 
cultivators everywhere in the near future. 
The flowers are white, and of beautiful 
form, with the outer petals revolute at the 
edges. It comes from Bath. The delicious 
fragrance of Sweetbrier’s that pervades 
collections of garden Roses is another and 
distinct recommendation for their use. We 
are surprised that the whole race has not 
been more generally used for floral decora¬ 
tions. The light and graceful character of 
many of them favour artistic arrangements 
to a far greater extent than the heavier and 
more formal blooms for the exhibition table 
proper. The National Chrysanthemum 
Society might encourage their advancement 
for this particular purpose, as Chrysanthe¬ 
mums have been by the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society. The dwarf or pot 
Roses from Chelsea demonstrated the 
limited compass within which well flowered 
plants may now be kept by an intelligent 
use of the knife and skilled cultivation. 
- m*— - 
Bamboo is the sole material of which the bridge of 
Shi Tsuen, China, is constructed. It spans a dis¬ 
tance of 300 ft. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
flower show of the Royal Horticultural Society will 
be held on Tuesday, July 12th, in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Westminster, : to 5 p.m. On this 
occasion special prizes will be offered for Roses, and 
at 3 o’clock a lecture on "Edible Peas" will be 
given by Mr. N. N. Sherwood, V.M.H. 
Mr. Thcmas Humphreys, the assistant superin¬ 
tendent, Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick, who 
met with an unfortunate accident a little over a fort¬ 
night ago, is now, we are pleased to learn, in a fair 
way to recovery ; and we hope to see him at his 
accustomed duties again very shortly. At the time 
of the accident he was so badly hurt on the head as 
to be unconscious for some hours; and all who know 
him will be pleased to hear of his progressive 
recovery. 
National Carnation and Picotee Society (Southern 
Section). — In consequence of the backwardness of the 
season, the date of the annual show to be held at the 
Crystal Palace, Sydenham, by the southern section 
of the National Carnation and Picotee Society has 
been postponed from Wednesday, July 20th to 
Wednesday, July 27th. Intending exhibitors would 
do well to note this, and that entries must be sent in 
at least four clear days before the day of the show, 
to the Superintendent of the Crystal Palace. The 
tickets of admission that have been issued for the 
20th inst. will hold good for the 27th. We note that 
two classes have been added to the schedule, one each 
for six dressed blooms of any self Carnation, and six 
dressed blooms of any fancy variety. 
Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society.—At the 
Floral Committee meeting of June 8th, 1898, the 
committee awarded First-class Certificates to Messrs. 
E. H. Krelage & Son, of Haarlem, for Acalypha 
Sanderi; to Messrs. J. H. Kersten & Co , of Heem- 
stede, for Anemone coronaria fl. pi. White Lady ; to 
Mr. J. H. Schober, of Putten, for Epidendrum pur- 
pureum , and to Mr. J. C. de Lange, of Rotterdam, 
for Lilium rubellum. Certificates of Merit were 
awarded to Messrs. E. H. Krelage & Son, of Haar¬ 
lem, for Brodiaea Howelli lilacina; and to Mr. H. D. 
Willink van Collen, of Breukelen, for Lupinus nut- 
kaensis. Botanical Certificates were awarded to 
Messrs. E. H. Krelage & Son, of Haarlem, for 
Calochortus maweanus major, Iris nigricans, 
Kniphofia Tucki and Tulipa Sprengeri; and to Mr. 
W. C. Baron van Boetzelaer, of Maartensdijk, for 
Masdevallia rosea and M. Ephippium. An honorable 
mentioning was accorded Mr. Baron van Boetzelaer, 
of Maartensdijk, for Odontoglossum crispum in three 
varieties. 
The Banana is reputed to be the most prolific of all 
plants grown for human food, being 44 times 
more productive than the Potato, and 123 times more 
than Wheat. 
A Trade Alteration.—The firm trading under the 
name of Messrs. W. L. Lewis & Co., Southgate, N., 
was dissolved by mutual consent on the 31st of May 
last; and since then the business has been carried 
on by Messrs. Stanley-Mobbs & Ashton, who will 
receive all debts owing to and discharge all 
contracted by the late firm. Messrs. Stanley-Mobbs 
& Ashton continue to erjoy all the exceptional 
facilities for the direct importation of Orchids 
possessed by their predecessors, and will give 
unremitting attention to business. 
Feeding Chrysanthemums. — There is a great 
tendency on the part of “ 'Mum ” growers to overdo 
the thing in the way of feeding their plants, un¬ 
doubtedly fostered by the consistent pushing of the 
various vendors of the chemical manures, whose 
name, by the way, is legion. The mistake of over¬ 
feeding seems to have been carried to its extreme 
'ast year by a grower in the “ States,” who com¬ 
menced to feed his plants with liquid manure in 
May. It is stated, in The Florists' Review for May 12th, 
that the " results did not make any great stir in the 
horticultural world," and the writer also sarcastically 
observes that this year that grower " will use more 
judgment and less manure.” 
Germinating Peas, Cress and Barley.—At a meeting 
of the Linnean Society of London, on June 16th, 
Professor J. B. Farmer, F.L.S , and Mr. W. G. 
Freeman, F.L.S., demonstrated the action of germi¬ 
nating Peas, Cress and Barley in causing the de¬ 
oxidation of a watery solution of methyline blue to 
a colourless liquid on shaking up the latter with 
air, while on adding a drop of hydrogen peroxide the 
blue colour was restored. Green plants placed in 
the solution were found to act in a manner precisely 
simdar to the seedlings, though the action may be 
modified by assimilation in sufficient light. A num¬ 
ber of experiments were shown. A discussion 
followed, in which Mr. Bennett, Prof. Howes, and 
Mr. Thomas Christy took part. 
Leeds Flower Show.—The flower show held at 
Leeds last week, although a good one from a horti¬ 
culturist’s point of view, and despite the fact that it 
was favoured by fine weather, has been, we are 
sorry to learn, a financial failure. It leaves the 
committee with a deficit of about /150 in addition 
to last year's deficit of £40. Only £15 was taken at 
the gates before 6 p.m. on the first day, when the 
entrance fee was 2s. 6d. The attendance was more 
satisfactory on the second day, but on the third 
day, when the entrance fee was oniy sixpence, not 
more than 1,200 passed the turnstiles. In face of 
this great lack of local support the committee has a 
disheartening hill to climb. It is proposed to make 
an appeal for help to the principal residents of the 
town and neighbourhood, and if another show is 
projected steps will no doubt be taken to offer 
extraneous attractions, since it is evident that a 
flower show alone is not sufficient to draw the 
people of Leeds in any number. 
Popular and Pretty Pot Plants.—Amongst the various 
subjects which have been given extensive trials in 
America as to their suitability for standing in dwelling 
rooms, the number of plants that have turned out 
satisfactorily is not large. Latania borbonica was 
condemned because the edges of the fronds turned 
brown so quickly. Livistona rotundifolia has been 
an equally qualified success, but the apparently more 
delicate Cocos weddeliana has done better. Areca 
Bauerii has not done well, but both Pandanus utilis 
and P. Veitchii have reaped golden opinions. 
Phoenix canariensis stands fairly well; but a com¬ 
plaint has been raised as to its stiff appearance. 
Phoenix rupicola is more elegant and stands equally 
well. Cycas siamensis has not been tested so much 
as the others but has been received well so far. Of 
Ferns the favourite appears to be Nephrolepis 
exaltata bostoniensis, but Polypodium aureum is in 
considerable demand. Cyrtomium falcatum is 
recommended in some quarters as being the best 
Fern for dwelling rooms inasmuch as it is always 
the last to succumb to adverse conditions. It will 
stand dry heat better than any other Fern. 
Orange Juice is said to make an excellent dressing 
for black boots and shoes. The leather is rubbed 
with a slice of an Orange, and afterwards, when dry, 
brushed with a soft brush till it shines. 
A Plague of Green Fly.—According to all accounts 
we have been enjoying a precious pest of red, brown 
and black, green fly. We cught to be terribly thank¬ 
ful for small mercies and this is not the least of them. 
The fly is altogether too deep for tears.— Snaggs. 
Paper Flower Pots are a novelty that is being 
pushed by the trade on the other side of the water. 
They are made of stout waterproof cardboard, are 
square in shape, and are stitched with wire. They 
are said to possess the advantages of economizing 
space. They can be shipped flat, so that they do 
not take up much space, and they are also very light 
and handy. They can be had in all sizes. Truly 
this is a paper age. 
Rose Show at Southampton.—The Rose show held 
on the 28th and 29th ult., at Southampton Pier, under 
management of the Southampton Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society is the first since that at Westwood 
Park some fifteen years ago. Roses were, of course, 
the predominating feature of the show, but it was 
not exclusively confined to the national flower. 
Moreover there were splendid displays of fruit and 
vegetables. The exhibits of Mr. Geo. Prince and 
Messrs. Prior and Cant were really superb, as were 
the Orchids shown by Mr. W. A. Gillett (gardener, 
Mr. Carr). In the first section Lady Ashburton 
secured no less than four prizes. The only seed 
merchants exhibiting were Messrs. Toogood & Sons, 
of Southampton, who were for the occasion repre¬ 
senting the Ichthemic Guano Co., in addition to 
their own exhibit. The attendance during the after¬ 
noon was large, the interior of the pier pavilion pre¬ 
senting a very charming appearance. Music was 
supplied by the Police Band. 
Floral Decorations at Chiselhurst.—H.R.H. The 
Duchess of Albany opened a charity at Camden 
House, Chisleburst, on the 27th ult., on behalf of the 
poor of Deptford. Messrs. John Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill, S.E., arranged to decorate the large 
tent 70ft. in length by 40ft. in width. An enormous 
quantity of material was used, Messrs. Laing & Sons 
sending something like nine van loads of plants for 
making groups, &c. Along the centre of the tent 
were three trophies, large Palms being elevated on 
pedestals so as to afford room for lounges beneath 
and for promenading about as if the tent were a 
winter garden. The floral lounges were decorated 
with Begonias, Orchids, Carnations, Caladiums, and 
various rare and choice plants. There were three 
groups of herbaceous plants. The water tower at 
Camden House was also decorated with garlands of 
flowers and foliage, and Palms were placed round 
the buttresses, &c. A great concourse of important 
personages and the elite of the neighbourhood were 
gathered together. After the opening ceremony the 
Duchess was presented with two bouquets of choice 
Orchids by the daughters of Alderman Truscott and 
A. Lyne, Esq. 
Norwich Rose Show.—The picturesque Bracondale 
Woods were, on June 30th, open to the people of 
Norwich on the occasion of the Norfolk and Norwich 
Horticultural Society’s Rose Show. Unfortunately 
for the complete success of this function, rosarians 
have had to deplore a rather unfavourable season, 
the result being that the exhibits were not up to the 
standard usually seen at this show. Mr. B. R. 
Cant, of Colchester, was first for the forty-eight, 
although, even here, the blooms were not so good 
as usual. Messrs. F. Cant & Co., of Colchester, 
were second. Miss Penrice, of Witton, was the only 
exhibitor of thirty-six blooms, and the second prize 
was awarded her. Mr. T. C. Blofield led for the 
twenty-four; the second prize going to Col. Rous. 
For eighteen blooms the Rev. A. L. Fellowes carried 
off premier honours, his stand being largely com¬ 
posed of Tea varieties. Mr. E. E. Bourchier staged 
the best twelve. Miscellaneous cut flowers were a 
great feature, and in this section Mrs. Petre received 
a first prize for Antirrhinums. Mr. E. B. Fletcher 
secured a first priz3 for a bridal bouquet, with Col. 
Rous as second. Messrs. Burrell & Co., Howe 
House Nurseries, Cambridge, staged the winning lot 
of cut hardy herbaceous flowers. Mrs. Petre was 
second, and Mr. Charles Jacobi of Ipswich, third. 
