654 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 10, 1899. 
potted up in autumn and brought forward in a pit 
or house so as to be in bloom during March or April. 
The plant may either be reproduced by seeds or 
cuttings taken from firm shoots struck in beat. 
- —»»- 
SOCIETIES. 
THE BATH AND WEST, AND SOUTHERN 
COUNTIES.—ll/fly 24th. 
This was opened under very unpropitious weather 
on Wednesday of the above date, and continued 
until Monday, the 29th; but notwithstanding, a very 
large gate was returned. An unusual percentage of 
cowboys and cowmen were strongly in evidence, 
intermixed with the most keen of lady and gentle¬ 
men horticulturists, who faced the deluge and 
saturated quagmire of one of the most beautiful of 
meadows. On entering the huge horticultural 
pavilion one could not but notice the beautiful 
display of flowers and foliage plants, arranged 
on tier stages with grand effect. 
Conspicuous among the trade exhibits were 
Messrs. Bair & Sons, of London, who, with their 
usual courtesy, contributed a large display of Darwin 
and other Tulips of the Darwin type. The Sultan, 
almost black, created much sensation, as also did 
May Queen, on account of its beautiful, delicate, 
pink shade. A new variety named Orange Beauty, 
was truly in accordance with its name, and carried 
large flowers of good form. Another very beautiful 
one was Phyllis, with pink flowers, having a deeper 
shade at the edge of the petals. In the varieties 
called “Cottage Tulips ” Flava was in bold masses, 
having a delicate primrose shade. Others of merit 
were Bridesmaid, Zomershoon and a large pure 
white variety named Royal White. 
The same firm made a border of some interesting 
rock plants, such as Primula farinosa, Saxifragas, 
Sedums, Trientalis europaeus, Adonis pyrenaica, 
etc. ; and a beautiful strain of Lily of the Valley 
named “ Fortin’s," with very large snow-white bells, 
and deliciously scented; also single and double 
Paeonies, various Irises, and hardy Orchis in 
variety. 
Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, Exeter, had a beautifully 
arranged rockery with a natural waterfall and grass 
banks planted with Dodecatheons, Lily of the Valley, 
and many of Marliac’s Water Lilies, such as Nym- 
phaea gloriosa, very large flowers of a glowing crim¬ 
son ; N. sanguinea, as the name implies, a dark 
blood-red; N. lucida, crimson with a touch of lilac ; 
N. Seignouretti, bright carmine with orange stamens, 
and outer petals a straw colour, very pretty, and 
many others. The background was artistically 
arranged with various Bamboos, Rhododendrons, 
Magnolias, and many flowering trees and shrubs. 
Some very fine tree Paeonies came from Messrs. 
Kelway & Son, Langport, Somerset, among which 
Ella C. Stubbs was a very large and handsome snow- 
white variety; James Kelway, a large flower of a 
deep salmon shade. Hippeastrums were shown in 
Rose boxes, making a rather undesirable exhibition 
for such beautiful flowers. Messrs. Kelway had in 
all a large and interesting group. 
From Highgate, London, Messrs. Wm. Cutbush 
& Son, came Malmaison Carnations, Azaleas, 
Richardia elliottiana, Roses, etc , backed with 
Crimson Rambler Roses and Bamboos, fringed with 
Maidenhair Fern, making a very tastefully arranged 
group. 
Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Exmouth, sent a mixed group 
of zonal Pelargoniums, Lilacs, seedling Cannas, of 
which there were some very striking colours, with a 
border of Asparagus Sprengeri. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, staged Roses, 
Lilacs, Cannas, and greenhouse Amaryllis (Hippeas¬ 
trums). 
From Messrs. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, came 
some very fine Begonias, with such plants as 
Crotons, Caladiums, Dieffenbachia Bausei, and 
Asparagus Sprengeri, intermixed, bordered with 
Isolepis gracilis. 
Messrs. Brown & Sons, Exeter, had a mixed group 
consisting of Pelargoniums, Paris Daisy, Epacris, 
and Genistas, and the pretty Lotus peliorhynchus, 
with coral-red flowers. 
From Messrs. Geo. Cooling & Sons, Bath, came 
some fine samples of Spanish Irises, Fortin's Lily of 
the Valley, Lilacs, and Clematis in pots. Messrs. 
Hooper, Bath, sent Pansies. Groups of plants 
came also from B. H. Hill, Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. 
Lock), Crediton, and W. Brock, Esq. (gardener, 
W. Rowlands), Exeter, which were very creditable. 
— W. McDouall. 
Questions add ausibgrs- 
• • Will our friends who send us newspapers be so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see. 
We shall be greatly obliged bv their so doing. 
[ Correspondents, please note that we cannot undertake to 
name florists' flowers such as Carnations, Pelargonium.t. 
Chrysanthemums, Roses, nor such as are mere garden 
varieties, differing only in the colour of the flower. 
Florists' flowers, as a rule, can only be named by those who 
grow collections of them.] 
Sheep on Cricket and Recreation Ground.—A. 
Y.Z. : It depends very much upon the nature of the 
ground and the condition of the grass as to whether 
the latter would be injured by sheep being grazed 
upon the same. It the ground has been properly 
prepared and well rolled after the sowing of the 
grass seed, and since the latter has germinated, it 
should be sufficiently firm to allow of sheep being 
turned upon the same. If the newly made ground is 
naturally moist or has been made so by recent heavy 
rains it would be liable to injury owing to the feet of 
the sheep sinking into the same. On the contrary 
we take it for granted that the ground has been 
properly prepared for the purpose you mention, so 
that we should have little hesitation in turning sheep 
upon the grass for the purpose of keeping it short. 
The ground should, however, be well rolled, and 
watered, if necessary, during dry weather; and an 
eye should be kept on the sheep that they do not 
pick the grass too bare, especially during dry weather 
till it has become thoroughly established. If the 
sheep are too hard upon it you must put them 
into some other field for a time till the grass 
recovers. 
Cucumber Leaves and Fruits Spotted.— J.L.,P. 
We have examined the specimens of leaves and fruits 
you sent us, and find no vermin upon the same. 
The fungus upon the spots consists chiefly if not 
wholly of the common mould which lives upon the 
decaying matter rather than being the cause of the 
same. The condition of the foliage indicates the 
cause of the malady. The leaves are of enormous 
size, but they are practically as thin and limp as soft 
paper. We have had very little sunshine lately, but 
plenty of cold and damp weather, so that herein 
lies the crux of the matter. Drops of moisture 
condense and fall upon the leaves; hence in a short 
time spots appear and grow larger as a matter of 
course by decay. Before the advent of good weather 
you must not attempt to hurry or force Cucumbers, 
but give more air even if it is necessary to keep up the 
temperature by the use of a greater amount of fire 
heat to keep the foliage sufficiently dry to prevent 
injury from condensation. You are not the only 
cultivator that has had a similar experience lately. 
Book on Wild Flowers. — W. Irish : There is a 
book entitled “ Rambles in Search of Wild Flowers," 
and how to distinguish them, by M. Plues, third 
edition, price 7s. 6d. It contains 96 coloured 
figures and numerous cuts, and is sold by Messrs. 
George Bell & Sons, York Street, Covent Garden, 
London. The same firm issues a small book, of 
suitab’e size for the pocket, and entitled the 
"Botanist's Pocket Book" containing tabulated 
descriptions of British plants. The descriptions are 
very simple, but there are no illustrations in it. 
The sixth edition is priced at 4s. 6d. “ Familiar 
Wild Flowers,” by F. E. Hulme, F.L.S., F.S A., is 
a book just now being issued in 25 weekly parts, at 
6 d. each, by Messrs. Cassell & Company, Ltd., 
London. Most of the numbers contain 10 coloured 
plates each, besides some woodcuts and descrip¬ 
tions. This is no doubt the easiest book for you to 
study. “ The Young Collector's Handy Book of 
Botany,” by the Rev. H. P. Dunster, M.A , has 66 
wood engravings. Price 3s. 6d. It is published by 
Messrs. L. Reeve & Co., 5, Henrietta Street, Covent 
Garden, London. 
Improving an Asparagus Bed — Veld : From 
what you say it would appear that your garden soil 
is good and well drained : but you do not state the 
depth at which you put in the crowns. It all 
depends upon the mechanical character of the soil 
as to the depth at which it would be safe or advis¬ 
able to plant. Should the soil be rather heavy and 
inclined to settle down firmly it would be a mistake 
to plant deeply, because it takes a much longer time 
for the heat ot the sun to penetrate to the roots and 
urge them into growth. The soil should be rich and 
of good heart but very friable and loose like the 
sandy material to be found on sea shores, where 
Asparagus grows wild. The sun would warm it up 
early and growth would be more free. We think it 
would be advisable to plant another bed rather than 
disturb the present. If the soil is heavy you could 
remove some inches of it next February or March 
and add a heavy dressing of road scrapings or other 
gritty material, which could be carefully forked into 
the top spit along with some well-rotted and short 
manure. The alleys should also be dug out so as to 
leave the surface of the bed high, which would allow 
the sun to warm up the ground. The recent cold 
weather had the effect of retarding Asparagus, so 
that you are no worse off than other people. A heavy 
watering now and again would help the plants a 
good deal at present. Stop cutting by the middle 
of this month and encourage all the growth possible 
so as to increase the size of the crowns for next year. 
Give water and a light dressing of salt at intervals 
during growth. 
Sowing Coleworts — Omega: Seed should be sown 
about the end of this mobth, and when the seedlings 
are large enough they should be planted out on a 
border or other piece of ground, well sheltered from 
north and east winds, but fully exposed to light and 
not so near trees as to be influenced by their roots. 
If the weather continues dry it will be necessary to 
water the beds to make the seed germinate freely ; 
and again when planted out to induce vigorous 
growth. 
Soot Water and the Flavour of Grapes — 
Omega : We do not believe that the watering of the 
borders of a vinery with soot water would in any 
way affect the flavour of Grapes any more than 
liquid or stable manure would. The soot water 
would supply a small quantity of ammonia, contain¬ 
ing, of course, nitrogen; but that should be present 
in greater quantity in ordinary liquid manure. 
Ivy on Trees in Cobham Park, Kent.— Sigma : 
The chief danger to trees from the presence of Ivy 
is the obstruction of light and air to the foliage of 
the trees. You may say that both have an equal 
chance to grow during summer, but you must re¬ 
member that Ivy gains an advantage owing to the 
breadth and density of its leaves. The latter being 
evergreen gain an advantage in the following spring 
by excluding light and air, more or less, from the 
buds and young leaves of the trees, which cannot 
then reach their full development, but must languish 
and deteriorate year by year till the Ivy gains the 
full mastery of the situation. The restriction to the 
growth of the trunks of the trees is a secondary 
matter, but not to be ignored if the branches or 
stems of the Ivy are much interlaced on young 
trees. 
Artificial Manure for Potatos.— Omega : Nitrate 
of soda and sulphate of ammonia are the only 
manures you can apply that would be of any service 
to Potatos at this late period of the year. Other 
valuable ingredients are potash and superphosphate, 
but they have no time to act now. You would re¬ 
quire to give but a light sprinkling of nitrate of 
soda per square yard, say about half an ounce. 
Give it at the rate of one pound per pole or perch 
(30! square yards) before earthing up the Potatos, 
but if the weather is showery towards the end of 
this month or the beginning ot next you could repeat 
the same dose. Sulphate of ammonia is stronger, 
and should be used in smaller quantity. 
How the stem of a Clematis vitalba had been 
supported.— Sigma : Although the stem of the 
Clematis is 6 ft. from the trunk of the tree support¬ 
ing it, the possibility is that the tree had branches at 
one time much nearer the ground than now, which 
could have been removed without interfering with 
the Clematis. Moreover, other trees or shrubs 
might have at one time been growing there, and 
have since been removed, so that the early stages of 
the Clematis might have thus been supported. 
Then the question arises whether the Clematis had 
not been helped to its present position intentionally 
by man. 
Small Insects in Box. — H. N. : You might let us 
know what plants are infested with the flies you 
sent. The name of the plants being injured should 
be furnished. 
Names of Plants— Abbot: 1, Dracaena australis; 
2, Lygodium japonicum (climbing Fern) ; 3, Lycaste 
aromatica (the Orchid ).—General Reader : 1, Valeri- 
anella olitoria; 2, Arum maculatum — Sigma : Sedum 
reflexum ; the everlasting you mention is most likely 
Rhodanthe Manglesii.— E.C.H.D.: 1, Conopodium 
denudatum; 2, Oxalis Acetosella; 3, Lysimachia 
nemorum ; 4, Carex binervis ; 5 > Stellaria media , 6, 
Myosotis versicolor.— J.S.P.’. 1, Dendrobium fimbri- 
atum oculatum ; 2, Maxillaria tenuifolia ; 3, Cypri- 
pedium barbatum.— Student : 1, Bromus mollis; 2, 
Valerianella auricula ; 3, Luzula spicata ; 4, Ranun¬ 
culus bulbosus ; 5, Sonchus oleraceus ; 6, Geranium 
molle.— B.H. : 1, Corydalis lutea; 2, Iberis semper- 
virens ; 3, Anemone sylvestris; 4, Ononis rotundi- 
folia; 5, Crataegus Oxyacantha flore pleno punicea.— 
L. M'Gregor : 1, Pyrus Maulei; 2. Pulmonaria 
officinalis ; 3, Quercus Ilex latifolia . — General Reader 
(Cornwall): 1, Climbing Fumitory, Fumaria capreo- 
lata; 2, Thrift. Armeria vulgaris (often called A. 
maritima).— D.P.F. : 1, Negundo aceroides , 2, 
Euonymus radicans variegatus ; 3, Tsuga merten- 
siana, otherwise known as Tusga Albertii. 
Communications Received. —I- Etherington.—A. 
S Q a. P. — J. C., C.—Ear. — S. C. — M. T., 
Carron.—Sigma.—Francis Nicoll.—Veld.—J. Cam¬ 
eron.—R. A. Bennett. 
TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 
John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, Nor¬ 
wood Road, London, S.E.—Peed's Caladiums. 
