May 13, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
589 
careful investigation was made with respect to the 
diseases of plants, and the results thereof published, 
and from that time knowledge has greatly increased 
in this particular branch. 
True, many of the diseases, as, for instance, the 
'Mum disease, becomes new to us, but they have 
long existed in other parts of the world; so, as I 
have already said, it is simply a matter of importa¬ 
tion which brings before us now and then these 
strange phenomena of garden pests. Therefore, with 
all these things confronting us, if we are going to be 
successful in our walk in life, the treatment of plant 
disease will have to form a part of our equipment 
in the gardening profession; and the treatment 
against disease will have to be carried out with as 
much regularity as the greatest detail in plant 
culture. 
Wherefore, against the depredation of these para¬ 
sites all our energies should be directed. Now the 
gardener was never better equipped to do battle wiih 
his enemies than tc-day, both with respect to a 
knowledge of fungicides, and the best of inventions 
in implements for their application. Then advance 
steadily and courageously, with a determination to 
overcome, and there is not a doubt but that we shall 
be conquerors, for we are promised that “ Man 
shall have the dominion over every living thing."— 
R. W. Hodder. 
JUDGING AT FLOWER SHOWS. 
Judging at flower shows as we all know, is, in many 
instances, an extremely delicate and highly 
responsible business. When classes for fruit, 
flowers, vegetables, or anything else, in competitive 
entries are so nearly balanced that only a few points 
decide the adjudication, one may forgive what to 
them may seem a wrong award ; but in cases where 
the judging is indisputably at fault, one’s sense of 
fair play is wounded and for justice, or a reason, one 
protests or asks the opinions of experts in the 
particular class he has been wronged. The judging 
of the large class for thirty-six varieties of 
Daffodils (three blooms of each) at the recent 
Norwich Show was a case in point. Of two meri¬ 
torious. exhibits staged one contained first-class 
blooms of the rarest and best varieties found among 
the mighty tribe of Daffodils, yet they only came 
second to an exhibit in these respects clearly the 
inferior. But to those who would like to judge the 
lists themselves, here they are :— 
First Prize. 
Narcissus Emperor. 
„ J. B. M. Camm. 
„ Maximus. 
„ P. R. Barr. 
,, Victoria. 
„ Distinction. 
„ Mdme. Plemp. 
„ Katherine Spurrell. 
,, Glory of Leiden. 
„ Santa Maria. 
,, Michael Foster. 
,, William Goldring. 
,, J. A. D. Smith. 
,, Capt. Nelson. 
„ Cernuus pulcher. 
,, Mrs. Camm. 
„ Mrs. Elwes. 
,, bicolor Empress. 
,, John NelsoD. 
,, Duchess of Westminster. 
„ Maurice Vilmorin. 
,, Golden Prince. 
,, Leedsii Gem. 
,, Nelsoni Aurantius. 
,, Beauty 
„ Mdme. de Graaff. 
,, Sir Watkin. 
„ Barrii Sensation. 
,, C. J. Backhouse. 
,, Albicans. 
„ Hudibras. 
„ Beatrice. 
,, Mary Anderson. 
,, Sir Wm. Harcourt. 
,, Princess Mary. 
,, Frank Miles. 
Second Prize. 
Narcissus bicolor Mdme. Plemp. 
n „ Conqueror. 
,, Apricot. 
,, Beauty. 
„ Gloria Mundi. 
,, Lord Aberdeen. 
„ Shakespeare. 
,, Ladas. 
,, Capt. Nelson. 
,, Dorothy E. Wemyss. 
Narcissus Grace Darling. 
,, Nelsoni Aurantius. 
,, Leedsii M. M. de Graaff. 
,, Mdme. de Graaff. 
,, Carrie Plemp. 
,, Princess Mary. 
„ Monarch. 
,, Rival. 
,, Venus. 
,, Glory of Leiden. 
,, C. W. Cowan. 
,, C. J. Backhouse. 
,, Mrs. Camm. 
,, Flora Wilson. 
,, Mabel Cowan. 
,, Mrs. C. Bowley. 
,, M. J. Berkeley. 
,, Victoria. 
,, J. B. M. Camm. 
,, Golden Nugget. 
„ Burbidgei Falstaff. 
,, Leedsii Gem. 
,, Queen Sophia. 
,, Cecelia de Graaff. 
,, Leedsii Duchess of Westminster. 
,, Aurantius plenus. 
And now let us conclude with a clause from the 
show schedule :—" Bunches of flowers will be judged 
primarily according to the merit of the blooms, but in 
the case of hardy perennials, rarity will also be taken 
in consideration ; and no bunch shall consist of less 
than three blooms, except in each case where other¬ 
wise stated."— Visitor. 
- « 1 » 
ARDENING 
ISCELLAMY. 
SPINACH IN PANS OR POTS. 
To those who are pressed for something fresh and 
succulent in early spring among vegetables Spinach 
becomes a strong staff. I do not know whether or 
not it would be more profitable to grow Peas in pots, 
forced, or to grow Spinach, also in pots or deep 
pans; but the hint is thrown out and any who 
would obtain Spinach early with large and fat 
leaves can do so by early sowing in the above-named 
articles.— D. 
PRIMULA SIKKIMENSIS. 
We have seen this plant largely used around the 
margin of a pond, and its effect, either at a distance 
or at hand, was very gratifying. It attains to about 
2 ft. in height in suitable soils and in open quarters. 
The flowers are a nice soft shade of yellow, large 
and very freely borne. The bed for its growth, if it 
be used around a pond, should be well drained and 
as warm as requirement demands. 
CYPERUS ALTERNIFOLIUS. 
Everyone who has an inch or two to spare for an 
easily grown decorative stove plant, might do worse 
than add a few plants of the above to their stages. But 
pot culture is not necessary, indeed, they thrive 
better in moist borders ; but finer, that is, not so 
large stemmed plants, are produced from pot culture. 
Get hold of a few heads or points of the flowering 
stems, with their stalks attached, and after pruning 
the leaves a little, place them up to the lower whorl 
of leaves in the moist sand of a pan, and place it in 
a heated case. Pot them after they strike in a 
medium of loam, peat, and sand. 
GENTIANA ACAULIS. 
To those who admire flowers of an intense blue, the 
above plant yields flowers of the deepest blue almost 
of any plant in the world. The array and awful 
brightness of a bed of Gentiana acaulis when the sun 
lightens up the flowers are grand. It likes a 
moderately heavily soil, very firm, and just a little 
shade. A sheltered position is all the better. It 
needs plenty of moisture in dry weather. It is pro¬ 
pagated by seeds or divisions, and makes a good 
edging plant. 
LILIUMS IN BEDS. 
Scarcely anyone but has some regard for Liliums 
or “ Lilies ” of all descriptions, such as Callas, 
Lilies-of-the-Valley, Daffodils, Alstroemerias, and all 
such plants, for one and all are popularly known as 
types of Lilies. But we wish to point out the effects 
of Liliums massed in beds out-doors. In Edinburgh 
Botanic Gardens Liliums out-of-doors are carefully 
attended to in the beds, and rich displays of L. 
Harrisi, L. auratum, and others are there. 
PRIMROSES. 
Without attempting any grand flourish or any vaunt¬ 
ing praise of the qualities of the Primrose, for spring 
bedding in assarted colours,or for mixed borders in the 
flower and kitchen gardens, or their use on grass 
banks and woodlands, also in pots in the poor man s 
windows, we can yet say a word in our love for these 
handy little hardy spring flowers. Given a fairly 
rich bed and an open site, good plants and nice pure 
blooms will come. P. Miss Massey is a deep rich 
and shiniDg claret-hued variety, and yields a splendid 
profusion of blooms. Of specific and finer types, P. 
denticulata and its forms, and P. viscosa and P. 
frondosa are mostly suitable for border culture. 
THE USE OF EGG PLANTS. 
We do not know whether or not our readers are in 
the habit of using the fruits of Egg plants (Solanum 
Mslongena, syn., S. esculentum), but if not then 
here is a way of employing the fruits, at least at 
New York. Purple is the variety mostly grown for 
this purpose. Cut the fruits into quarters and fry 
them in a rich brown gravy; or the young fruits 
may also be cooked whole in the same way. The 
method of cooking is extremely simple. The 
only thing awanting is the knowledge of what 
joint they should accompany. On the Continent 
they are used in soups. The plants of the Auber¬ 
gine—another name for Egg plant—fruit very freely, 
and though they require a start and careful attention 
in a warm house, they may, when larger and the 
weather warm, be planted out in a sunny sheltered 
border. The black and white fruited decorative 
varieties require much care to secure well-shaped 
" eggs ” or fruits. 
SCILLA NUTANS. 
At this season, when our woods are gay with the 
English Bluebell, it may be that some wish to have 
a stock reared on some property of theirs not already 
planted. It may be put out on the outer edges of 
shrubberies or on rising ground, grass covered. The 
seeds of the Bluebell sometimes will germinate on 
the banks if sown broadcast, but it is safer and 
better to sow in borders broadcast over the surface 
during August or September. When large enough 
they should be lifted and planted in their permanent 
quarters. Once they become established they find 
a yearly " mulch " or nourishing dressing in the de¬ 
cay of fallen leaves. Shade and a cool, damp 
bottom seem to be their delight. 
PLANTS FOR LAKE MARGINS. 
The New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) and 
Typha latifolia are quite the plants we need for lake 
scenes. Bamboos of the hardier kinds and Spiraeas 
and the Hemerocallis or Day Lilies come in handy. 
Polygonatum multiflorum, called Solomon’s Seal, is 
another member we might use. Gunnera manicata 
and G. scabra are also among the best plants we 
have for the purpose. Crown Imperials are suitable 
if kept back from the margin and given light, well- 
drained soil. Richardia africana is hardy, and, of 
course, surpassingly beautiful. For safety it should 
—at least in northern parts—be planted a foot in 
water. Scirpus lacustris, the Bullrush, also the 
common Rush (Juncus effusus), Epilobium angusti- 
folium, a plant about 3 ft. high, bearing a dense 
show of rosy flowers; Trillium grandiflorum and 
Tussilago Farfara, the common Coltsfoot, are very 
suitable for water margins, but the latter is prone to 
become a troublesome weed If planted in batches 
by themselves their effect is much finer, and 
by such a plan suitable soil and other peculiarities 
can be given to any special p'ant — J • D. 
HIBBERTIA DENTATA. 
Greenhouse and cool conservatory climbers that 
flower in the winter are none too plentiful, and thus 
the claims of this beautiful Hibbertia to the notice 
of the gardener are pressing enough. Yet very 
curiously the plant is not often seen outside the 
bounds of our botanical establishments. As a rafter 
or pillar plant it has, however, few equals, and at 
this time of the year the dark, glossy green leaves 
and the showy yellow flowers, which to some extent 
recall those of the St. John's Wort, are at once 
striking and ornamental. 
ANEMONE FULGENS. 
It is our mission to propagate a love for the beautiful 
and for this reason we bring the name of this little 
