August 15, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
701 
and depend on their numerous stamens, which have white fila¬ 
ments and creamy anthers for their beauty. The sepalsi are 
also- creamy-white, but they are of small size and fall away a® 
the flowers open. In this respect the flowers might be com¬ 
pared to those of Thalictrum. 
Ruphthalmum speciosum. 
A large clump of this plant has a bold and handsome effect 
if planted so that its large' heart-shaped leaves are not hidden, by 
other subjects. The flowers themselves are arranged in corymbs 
just surmounting the foliage, each head having long narrow 
golden-yellow rays, with a large, nearly flat orange disc. The 
flowers of this character are not easily injured by the wind, 
but to' retain the foliage in its beauty a sheltered position 
should be looked for for tire plant in gar-dens that are naturally 
much exposed and windy. As a, rule, however, there is no 
difficulty with this plant, provided the soil is fairly rich and 
sufficient room accorded the plant to develop its large and 
vigorous leaves. J. M’L 
READERS’ COMPETITION. 
Plants and Stimulants. 
With so many artificial manures at our disposal to choose 
from now, it is not a very difficult matter to get strong feeding 
plants and vegetables to rush up, in a sense, at motor or express 
speed. However, these concentrated manirres require to be 
dealt with in a very cautious manner. I believe in applying 
them chiefly in the liquid state. Some of the varieties of the 
Chrysanthemums, Pelargoniums, and others, although natu¬ 
rally strong feeders, seem to have weaker stomachs, so to speak, 
as i have noticed, in giving a batch of ’Mums an occasional 
drink of a special blend of liquid manure, while the majority 
of them in a few days moved away with great progress, a few 
of the varieties seemed rather to droop for a time. Had I 
continued watering these delicate feeders with the same strength 
of liquid, I am convinced that growth would have ceased 
altogether in a short time. However, by returning to pure 
water, and by-and-bye a weaker solution of the liquid, they, 
too, went on flourishing. Two points on which we gardeners 
require to be clear regarding these manures are the exact degree 
of strength which will benefit tlie different families of plants, 
and also the quantity which would permanently injure them. 
Personally, I find it always safer to use it weaker than the 
vendors recommend. Speaking in a general manner, all inside 
and outside annuals thrive gloriously when fed pretty freely 
with these chemical manures. 
Cinerarias, Mignonette, Nemesias, Asters, etc.,grow amazingly 
if the ground around them gets an occasional sprinkling of 
weak ammonia water. Beet, Onions, Leeks, etc., are also 
very partial to it. With the latter class I give the ground 
betwixt tlie rows (before rain, if possible) a whitening with 
ammonia, like a slight shower of snow, several times during 
the summer. I find this to be extremely beneficial to the growth 
of these roots, and the result repays the trouble'. 
If one is growing for competition, and is determined to be 
at the front, this feeding with forcing manures is really a 
necessity. I am convinced, however, that artificial manures 
must be used in a very judicious manner also with tlie most 
of winter flowering bulbs, such as Hyacinths, Polyanthus Nar¬ 
cissus, etc. I never mix it in the soil along with them, but 
only give it very weak, after the pots are filled with roots. I 
may say, however, the best Hyacinth spikes I ever saw were 
grown without any liquid manure feeding. The roots were very 
good when bought in, being large and firm and well ripened, 
and they were simply potted in a mixture of good loam, leaf 
mould, and sand. 
The plan I adopt before using these stimulating agents on 
Peaches, Figs, Tomatos, Boses, Dahlias, and also the lead¬ 
ing annuals, etc., is to put a few shovelfuls of sheep and hen 
manure into a fairly large barrel, and add twice a week 2 lbs. 
or so of ammonia. After it has been stirred and has settled, 
take off a panful of the liquid, and to every three gallons of 
water add a pint or so of manure water. Plants watered with 
this mixture are vastly assisted in growth. In the case of 
annuals they grow at a rapid rate, and it is an interesting pro¬ 
ceeding to watch the quick action of these stimulants on the 
different fruits, flowers, and vegetables. John C. Dick. 
Champfleurie, Linlithgow.. 
*** The prize last week in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to Mr. C. Blair for his article on “How Opinions 
Differ,” page 683 . 
SOCIETIES. 
HARPFORD AND VEN OTTERY. 
August 5th, 
It would be well did more rural clergymen follow the excel¬ 
lent example set by the Rev. F. Molineux, of Harpford Vicarage, 
in working up an exhibition of vegetables and cut flowers 
among his parishioners, which is now an annual affair, and 
looked forward to with much interest by young and old alike. 
Added to this, there are sports for the juveniles, and dancing 
from 6 to 10 p.m. on the tennis ground, a band from Ottery 
St. Mary supplying the music, the charge for admission being 
but 6d. This small fee includes an excellent tea, and is usually 
attended by 250 to 300 persons. 
As regards the cut flowers, marked improvement was noted 
to that of previous years, the arrangement of wild flowers by 
children being very much in evidence ; and quite a new de¬ 
parture was made respecting these, considerably over 150 varie¬ 
ties being got together within a radius of three miles. These 
had to be pinned on cardboard and correctly named, and it is 
to be hoped the new code respecting “ Nature study ” will 
take up such an interesting subject in all elementary schools, 
especially in rural districts, where such a wide field presents 
itself. 
The vegetable products were not up to their usual excellence, 
owing, no cloubt, to such a precarious spring and early summer. 
The Vicarage grounds were in good keep. Phlox, Alstroemeria, 
Pla'-ycGclous. Tigridia,, Coreopsis, Carnations, Dahlias, Gypso- 
phila, etc., were well represented in the borders, while the 
beds in front of the house were aglow with Begonias, Zinnias, 
Ivy-leaf Geraniums, Nemesias, Verbenas, and such like summer 
bedders. 
Mr. Molineux does tuberous Begonias and zonal Pelargo¬ 
niums a treat. His small conservatory adjoining his house 
was one mass of flower, and what brighter subjects have we than 
those two for summer decoration ? Abundance of Gooseberries 
and Currants were observed under wire netting and out of the 
way of birds much too numerous at the present day. Apples, 
Plums, and Pears were few and far between, as in the majority 
of gardens this year. Mrs. Macallister, of Bampton, an old 
exhibitor, and a prize taker too, an authority on wild flowers, 
solved the cut flower competition, while the head gardener 
at Bicton detected the best vegetables. Devonian. 
ABBEY PARK FLOWER SHOW. 
August 4th. 
The 18th Abbey Park Flower Show was again held under the 
sympathy and encouragement of the Corporation of Leicester on 
the above date, and, as formerly, it proved an unqualified success. 
Even the Mayor of the borough lends it his countenance and 
support. The Parks Committee are most directly concerned with 
the management of the show, however, and their- aim is of a two¬ 
fold character, namely, to provide music for the parks, and to 
educate the poorer section of the community in the cultivation of 
fruits, flowers, and vegetables. 
There is always a strong competition for the valuable prizes 
offered. Evidence of good cultivation prevailed everywhere, not¬ 
withstanding the unfavourable character of the season. The 
exhibitors numbered 173, being an advance of thirty over previous 
years, while the exhibits totalled 1,300. Some rain fell in the 
early part of the day, but a breeze sprang up about noon, after 
which bright sunshine prevailed. In addition to the natural 
attractions of the park, the committee had provided aquatic 
sports on the Soar, ambulance, gymnastic, and fire brigade 
displays, independently of the music provided by three different 
bands. The success of the show was also assured by the active 
co-operation of Mr. John Burn, the Superintendent of Parks. 
The judges were as follow:—Fruit: Mr. Owen Thomas, late 
Royal Gardens, Windsor, and Mr. William Elphinstone, Ilkley. 
Open Class Vegetables : Mr. John Harrison, Leicester, and Mr. 
W. S. Divers, Belvoir Castle Gardens, Grantham. Groups: Mr. 
Wm. Burton, London; Mr. Wm. Coomber, Nottingham ; and 
Mr. J. Edmonds, Bestwood Gardens, Arnold, Notts. Plants, 
Bouquets, Baskets, etc. : Mr. Wm. Burton, London; Mr. W. 
Coomber, Nottingham; Mr. J. Edmonds, Bestwood Gardens, 
Arnold, Notts. Roses : Mr. W. J. Grant, Newport, Mon. ; Mr. 
John Cranston, Hereford ; and Rev. J. H. Pemberton, Havering. 
Hardy Perennials and Florist Flowers : Mr. Richard Dean, 
Ealing, and Mr. G. E. Faire, Leicester. Cottagers’ Class : Mr. 
H. Hick-ling, Loughborough, and Mr. B. Bentley, Leicester. 
At the opening ceremony the chair was taken by Councillor 
Hawkes, supported by the Mayor and Mayoress and several other 
councillors, the show being declared open by the Mayor. The 
