July 30, 189$. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
heavy scarlet margin. Wanderer has a rosy red. 
well defined margin, and Badminton a deep red mar¬ 
gin of medium width. All three are varieties of 
great merit, and may be regarded as the best of those 
grouped in this section. 
Amongst recent introductions we noticed a fine bed 
of Bendigo, the plants being particularly healthy and 
floriferous. The distinct shade of bluish-purple or. 
heliotrope exhibited by this variety is still the nearest 
approach to the much longed-for but still unattained 
blue. As a bedding plant this is exceedingly showy, 
although the price is perhaps rather high to admit of 
its being employed in quantity. That lovely pair 
Seagull and Her Grace have also done very well. 
The only difference between the two is that Seagull 
is a deeper shade of blush, which difference can 
readily be seen on comparison of the two flowers. 
Little JohD, a large, scarlet self, of excellent form 
should not be overlooked. It belongs to one of the 
best types of border Carnations. 
The comparatively new yellow ground Picotees 
likewise include several forms that have not yet been 
surpassed. Mr. Nigel forms one of th^ most notable 
examples. The ground colour is deep yellow, and 
the edge a heavy crimson one. Golden Eagle, El 
Dorado, Voltaire and Xerxes are other fine flowers, 
but we were particularly struck with May Queen as 
it has turned out this season. The margin is narrow 
and light rose in colour, the ground work being a 
very bright yellow. The size is above the average 
and the form of the flower excellent. 
Old standard varieties are still grown in quantity 
and it is interesting to see how some of these old 
stagers hold their own against the newcomers, even 
although the latter may be more refined, and repre¬ 
sent the florist’s ideal more correctly. As bedding 
varieties Mrs. Fred Watts, white, and Joe Willet, 
searlet, are a fine pair, for they are the counterparts 
of each other with regard to height and habit. Both 
are dwarf, vigorous, and free flowering, Miss 
Audrey Campbell is grand a yellow, and Mrs. Eric 
Hambro a grand white. Such fancy forms as 
Alice Ayres, George Cruickshanks, Chameleon, 
Cardinal Wolsey and The Dey are still to the fore, 
and we cannot yet do without them. The same may 
be said of such Picotees as Norma Carr, Stadrath 
Bail, Mrs. Henwood, J. B. Bryant, Mrs. Gorton and 
Little Phil, all of which, together with many others 
have won many, and will probably win many more, 
prizes upon the show boards. 
Besides the collection of plants growing in the 
open ground there is a considerable quantity flower¬ 
ing under glass in pots in a house hard by. These 
plants, too, are doing splendidly, the flowers being 
abundant as well as brilliant in hue, and symmetrical 
in form. They are all replicas of those growing in 
the open, and there is little to choose between them 
save that, the under-glass flowers having been shaded 
exhibit rather better colour development, for they 
have not been bleached by the sun. 
--t-- 
THE SWANLEY HORTICULTURAL 
COLLEGE. 
The Annual distribution of prizes to the various 
students of the unique horticultural training estab¬ 
lishment at Swanley brought together a more than 
usually enthusiastic gathering on Wednesday, the 
20th inst. The weather was beautifully fine, and 
this, no doubt, added to the high spirits of the 
students. Their bright faces literally glowed wiih 
happiness, and this apart from the natural exultation 
of the prize-winners; indeed, we never remember to 
have seen a better example of healthful, physical and 
mental training than these young disciples of Adam 
evidenced. 
The prizes were given away in the lecture hall by 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., the president of the Roj al 
Horticultural Society. The Hon. Dudley Fortescue 
occupied the chair. The resident principal, F. 
Graham Powell, Esq., first of all presented his 
report upon the year's working of the college. He 
was pleased, he said, to be able to give such a 
satisfactory account, for both students and teachers 
had done their very best, and had worked well 
together. He drew attention to the fact that the 
college was the only purely horticultural college in 
Britain. They claimed to be able to teach a man or 
woman a large percentage of practical and 
theoretical gardening at the college in the course of 
two years, two thirds of practical, and one third of 
theory being the prescription. That this system 
was a good one was proved by the successes obtained 
by students, for the college had for the third time 
in the last four years, twice with a woman and 
once with a man, won the first place in the 
examinations in horticulture held by the Royal 
Horticultural Society. Ot the twenty-nine students 
who entered for this examination twenty-four were 
placed in the first and only four in the second 
class. Miss Olive Harrison took the first place, 
Miss Lutley and Mr. Wilson were bracketed second, 
and the two Misses Graves third. Messrs. Goodlet and 
Flower bad won the diploma of the college, one with 
907, and the other with 864 marks out of a possible 
1,too. Thirteen students had obtained 3rd class 
bee-keeping certificates from the Berks Bee Keepers' 
Association, whilst the only lady bee expert in 
existence was an old pupil of the college. In pre¬ 
senting the prizes to their respective recipients Sir 
Trevor Lawrence spoke a few kindly words of 
encouragement and congratulation to each student 
as he or she advanced in turn to the platform. 
The following is the list of prize-winners in their 
respective sections : — 
College Diplomas—Messrs. Goodlet and Flower ; 
Silver Gilt Medal of the Royal Horticultural 
Society—Miss Olive Harrison ; Principles of Hor¬ 
ticulture,advanced—Mr. Goodlet; Elementary—Mr. 
Benians; Practical Horticulture, advanced—Miss O. 
Harrison; elementary, Miss Lutley ; Botany, 
advanced—Miss Deane; elementary, Mr. Wilson ; 
Physics—Miss Young; Geology, advanced, Mr. 
Pickford ; Elementary—Miss Deane ; Microscopic 
Botany, advanced —Mr. Flower; elementary—Miss 
Young ; Chemistry—Mr. Benians ; Physiological 
Botany, advanced—Mr. Goodlet; elementary—Miss 
Luiley ; Best Kept Lady’s Diary—Miss Harrison ; 
Man’s Diary— Mr. Goodlet; Practical Work, 1st 
year, ladies—Miss Malins ; 2nd year—Miss Petty; 
1st year, men—Mr. Mitchell; 2nd year, Mr. 
Jeffrey. 
Sir Trevor also gave away the R. H. S. Certifi¬ 
cates, and the certificates from the Berks Bee 
Keepers’ Association. In a subsequent speech, he 
said, that in looking round the grounds of the college 
he bad found a marked improvement manifest. He 
would not pretend that there was not room for 
further improvement, but Jhe fact remained that the 
college was doing useful work in the direction of 
horticultural education. In this direction he deplored 
the lack of the State aid which was given in other 
countries. The problem of how far a woman was 
suited for the occupation of gardening had been solved 
by Mr.Dyer, at Kew, where the women gardeners em¬ 
ployed had given every satisfaction. The ' costume ' 
difficulty had, among other things, been easily got 
over. He thought Kew was in many respects a model 
garden, and not simply a botanical institution. Sir 
Trevor impressed upon his audience the need there 
was for increased facilities for education if the 
Britisher was to keep up sides with the foreigner. 
He instance I the thoroughness of the system adopted 
by other countries by the action of a German firm 
who supply large quantities of agricultural seeds, 
particularly sugar B»et. Before planting the roots 
selected for seed bearing a small piece was cut out 
of each, and subjected to analysis in the laboratory in 
order to see if it contained the proper quantity of 
sugar. He did not know whether women would 
ever beat the men as gardeners; for his own part he 
should back the men. He assured his audience that 
he had done and would continue to do all that 
lay in his power to forward such institutions as the 
Swanley College. 
A vote of thanks to Sir Trevor was proposed by 
Miss Cons, seconded by Dr. Beverley, and very 
heartily received by the company. The vote of 
thanks to the chairman was moved by Mr. Shea, 
and supported by Miss Goodrich-Freer. As hon. 
secretary of both the men's and women’s branches, 
Miss Goodrich-Freer gave some interesting details 
of the work of the college, and spoke of the way she 
had approached the various county councils with 
regard to the scholarships which were really going 
begging. Miss Harrison, of whom they were all 
proud, was a county council scholar. 
A competition for wild flowers, wreaths, floral de¬ 
corations, etc., had been devised, and the prizes 
were allotted as follows:—A collection of wild 
flowers, Mr. Pickford ; a collection of dried wild 
plants, Mr. Collard, who had 324 specimens; bou¬ 
quets and sprays, Miss Cassidy ; wreaths, Miss 
Rands ; wreath of wild flowers, first, Mrs. Lowther ; 
second. Miss Lutley ; table decorations, Miss Wor- 
land (in this case the judging seemed to us entirely 
wrong, for this exhibit was inferior to at least three 
others); picking competition, Mr. Hales; extracted 
honey, Mr. O’Hara; and honey in sections, Miss 
Ault. The gathering then resolved itself into a sort 
of garden pariy with an al fresco tea. 
We inspected the gardens and glasshouses 
attached to the college, and were pleased to find a 
marked improvement all round. Mr. Budworth, the 
gardener, has some excellent results to show for the 
work performed by his mixed staff of men and 
women. Tomatos and Cucumbers are exceedingly 
good, and remarkably heavy crops, Tomato Up-to- 
Date being the favourite one. Tbe Vines have all 
been lifted and replanted in fresh material, and 
insect pests have been carefully kept down. The 
apiary is another noticeable feature, and we noticed 
that a very bandy bar framed hive of rather large 
size is employed. 
The lawns and flower gardens are all clean and 
well kept, and the whole establishment has smartened 
up wonderfully since last we had the pleasure of 
visiting it. Congratulations to Mr. Powell and his 
able assistants. 
--- 
tub Dicnifl Brower’s calendar. 
Cattleya House.— I notice that the beautiful and 
free-flowering Cattleya Mendelii is breaking away 
unusually strong again after carrying a good crop of 
flowers; and as we believe in the prin iple of afford¬ 
ing fresh material for them to root into each season, 
we shall run through them at once. Our experience 
teaches us that if done carefully and well—as it 
should be—when the roots are most active there is 
no fear of any check whatever. This can hardly be 
said of plants that are allowed to remain in the same 
pot two or three seasons until the compost has be¬ 
come sour and the plants weakened through the 
want of tbe little nourishment supplied in the sweet 
new compost. 
Again, where there is a great number of species it 
is impossible to get through them all during the 
spring months, as is generally advised. Neither is 
it wise to do so. Some plants root after flowering; 
others there are which make up their growths and 
take a slight rest prior to pushing up their flower 
spikes. It is, therefore, patent to those that closely 
observe the habits of the various species that what is 
sauce for the goose, &c., does not apply to all 
Orchids. There are other advantages in putting 
plants during the summer months, and that is you 
avoid the drying influences of the hot-water pipes. 
The compost we use for Cattleyas is of the best 
possible description. The peat, which is termed No. 
1, is very fibrous, and the sphagnum moss fresh and 
green. The pots and crocks too are clean and dry. 
Plants that have done well, when turned out of their 
pots, will be found plentifully provided with white 
roots, so much so that it is with difficulty ycu can 
get away much of the old compost ; neither is it 
necessary if in good condition, for by affording a pot 
one size larger you can afford them just that little 
fillip they require to keep them in good condition. 
After potting very little water will be wanted, the 
moisture in the air by the frequent syringing amongst 
the pots which is practised at this season of the year 
keeps the compost, moist until the growths are well 
up and the roots have fairly got hold of the new 
material. More Cattleyas are killed by over-water¬ 
ing than by any other cause : remember that. 
Cool House.— Odontoglossum Rossii majus has 
growth, about half made up with us, and is pushing 
new roots from the base. We like to ca'ch them in 
this state when affording new rooting material. This 
pretty, dwarf-growing, Odontoglot detests anything 
stagnant about its roots. It quickly shows this by 
the foliage going off at the tips. A stuffy house, too, 
will do it. 
Oncidium tigrinum. —Look out for plants that 
are strong enough to flower, and protect the spikes, 
as they push up, from the ravages of slugs. W« 
hang ours up, besides placing some cotton wool, 
rough side outwards around the spikes, and then we 
have to keep a sharp look out or a whole season is 
lost.—-C. 
