August 13, 3.904. 
the gardening world. 
655 
tion, so that wo were too early to see them in then' full beauty, 
only the first-named having commenced to bloom. Amongst 
the Stocks, Admiration has flowers of delicate flesh colour, 
forming a, fine central spike, with a large percentage of double 
flowers. On the other hand, another novelty named Vulcan 
has bright crimson flowers. Sweet Peas are dwarfer than 
usual, though some of them reach a height of 3 ft. and 1 ft. 
The collection is an extensive one. Altogether, there are 152 
trials of annuals in these grounds, and to enumerate them, all 
would occupy too much of our space. 
Vegetables. 
Amongst, the trials) ■ of vegetables were several Lettuces, 
notable for their great size. This would apply to Cos Lettuce 
Exhibition, which forms a firm heart of enormous size. Co® 
Lettuce Ideal is also a very robust growing variety, which is 
valuable for not requiring to be tied up. The leaves are self 
folding and form a heart of veiy large sizec A tempting-looking 
Cabbage Lettuce was that having light green curled leaves, 
tinted with pink on the edges, and attaining a, large size. 
Another choice and hardy Cabbage Lettuce is that named 
Delicacy, having light bronzy leaves. Several sowings of Kohl 
Kabi have been made, showing that the later-sown and quickly- 
grown kinds are veiy suitable for table use, on account, of their 
small size and quick growth. Green Vienna and Purple Vienna 
are the varieties grown, and the latter has. a beautiful bloom 
on the skin. 
Four new varieties of Peas are under trial, and readers may 
have some idea of the trouble incurred in sending out new 
kinds when we state that they may be grown for a period 
varying from five to ten years, and then possibly liave to be 
discarded after all that trouble, because they may have been 
superseded by more constant and better varieties. A useful 
table variety of Beet is that named Satisfaction. Besides its 
use for the root, the rich shining purple-black leaves are very 
suitable for decorative purposes. 
Amongst the Potato's isi an interesting trial of a cross be¬ 
tween. Sutton’s Satisfaction and Windscf Castle, a, pebble- 
shaped, white-skinned Potato', but as it is only under trial and 
no name has been, given to it, we shall wait further develop- 
meimfs. A large area is' planted with Northern Star from 
different sources, with the object of proving their correctness 
to name and their cropping qualities. A Potato of great pro¬ 
mise is the Guardian, a kidney-shaped, mid-season, white- 
skinned variety, which has hitherto proved wonderfully free 
from disease. A new early kidney and a new main crop round 
variety are also under trial, and we shall hear more of them 
in the future. 
The only Cabbage grown at Kinver is Webb's Emperor, a 
veiy early variety of superior flavour 1 and dwarf habit, with 
a firm heart and few outside leaves. It is never sent away 
to be grown elsewhere, but, is kept under the eye at home and 
rigidly selected to maintain, its high quality. 
The chemical works of the firm are at Salt.ney, Chester, 
and occupy 7 acres of ground. Here Messrs. Webb manufac¬ 
ture artificial manures for farm and garden on a veiy extensive 
scale. 
A Rival to Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. —For many, years 
pasi readers will be familiar with the name, if not the plant, of 
Begonia Gloire de Sceaux. In Germany the idea is prevalent 
that it is a serious rival to Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, which 
is considered more difficult of propagation. While the latter 
fact may be true in the experience of a good many growers, 
nevertheless it remains almost universally popular at the present 
day in this country. The plant is less bulky than its supposed 
rival, and the number of flowers it produces is greater. Gloire 
d' ; Sceaux was a hybrid produced by crossing Begonia socotrana 
with B. subpeltata, by Messrs. Tbibaut, and Ketteler. at Sceaux, 
France. The rich dark brown foliage of B. Gloire de Sceaux 
is certainly very handsome, but the neutral green of the foliage 
of B. Gloire de Lorraine enables it to be used effectively in a 
great many different styles of decoration. 
SOCIETIES. 
HARPFORD AND VENN OTTERY. 
Again I have the pleasure of chronicling a few words respect¬ 
ing the recent show of vegetables and flowers staged at the 
\ icarage through the kindness of the Rev. F. Molineux, who 
takes more than a kindly interest in the affairs of the combined 
parishes, both of which are under his spiritual care. The 
weather on Wednesday, the 3rd inst., proved delightful, and the 
entries were far in excess of previous years, to the gratification 
of the vicar, who works so assiduously to make the clay enjoy¬ 
able and pleasant to all concerned. Classes are provided for 
market growers who cultivate five acres and under, residents in 
the parish, also an open class and classes for working—that is, 
labouring—men, the latter being well contested and the produce 
veiy meritorious. Among Rotates a few had speculated in the 
newer varieties, King Edward VII. being staged as a white 
skin variety, the exhibitor thinking it must be the soil that 
caused the change, and I fear among these new sorts, unless 
procured from a reliable source, many will find that they have 
been duped. Runner Beans, Onions, Peas, Potatos, Carrots, 
and Broad Beans were well shown. Cut flowers, as well as wild 
flowers, added a bit of brightness to the otherwise heavy tables 
of vegetables. The wi'd flowers, had mostly gone over, or greatly 
damaged with the late heavy rains, so were not as numerous as 
last year. There were also prizes given for the best cultivated 
garden in two distinct classes,, and the contest was keen. The 
vicarage grounds, as usual, were in good keeping. A bed of 
extra large Zinnias was most effective. Others contained 
Begonias, Nemesias, Asters, and mixed beds of Cannas, scarlet 
Lobelias, Salvias, etc. Two frames of Melons were a credit to 
the man in charge, and the conservatory looked particularly 
gay with well-flowered Pelargoniums (zonals), Begonias, and 
a good assortment of Ferns in the darker, corner. Fruit was 
fairly plentiful—Apples, Pears, and Plums—many of the former 
being grafted by the vicar himself, who is an ardent gardener, 
hence his deep interest in the well-being of the cottagers’ show 
named above. James Maine. 
Bicton. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. 
August 9th. 
i The second show in the Royal Horticultural Hall, Vincent 
Square, was staged on six tables arranged in three rows, with 
■some groups on the, floor. The most noticeable exhibits consisted 
of Orchids, Lilies, Ferns, hardy herbaceous plants generally, with 
fine groups of Gladioli, and Phloxes. Several small exhibits of 
fruit were present, and a fine display of vegetables from Reading 
occupied all one side of a table. The attendance of visitors was 
rather scanty. 
Orchid Committee. 
Messrs. Hugh Low and Co., Bush Hill Park, Enfield, staged a 
small group of Orchids, including a fine piece of Cypripedium 
grande. Interesting also were Cattleya aurea, C. Loddigesii, and 
C. guttata in variety. 
Messrs. Jas. Veitcli and Sons, Ltd., King’s Road, Chelsea, 
exhibited a small but well-flowered group of Laeliocattleyas, in¬ 
cluding Lc. Clonia, Lc. callistoglossia, Lc. Reinula, Lc. Epieaste, 
Cattleya Niohe, and C. Atalanta, the last named being derived 
from C. guttata, Leopoldii x C. Warscewiczii. (Silver Banksiau 
Medal.) 
Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., Bradford, had a mixed display 
of Orchids, which were very bright at this season of the year. A 
large and handsome hybrid was Brassocattleya gigas-digbyana, 
with rose flowers and a yellow blotch on the fringed lip. Bright 
also were Vanda caerulea, Oneidium incurvum, Brassia law- 
renceana, Laeliocattleya callistoglossa, Cattleya Iris, etc. 
Miltonia schroderiana and M. Regnelli crashleyana were un¬ 
common types. (Silver Flora Medal.) 
Messrs. F. Sander and Sons, St. Albans, had a fine, group of 
Orchids, well elevated on pots. The centre was occupied bv a 
large piece of Vanda Lowii, carrying four long spikes of its 
beautiful and strange looking flowers. The two or three at the 
base of the spike are: spotted with crimson on a yellow ground, 
while all the rest are crimson, netted with yellow. They also had 
fine plants of Cypripedium A. de Lairesse, C. Andronicus, C. 
Transvaal, and numerous Cattleyas and hybrids. C. Patrocini- 
aurea had beautiful rose flowers with an orange blotch on the lip. 
Angraecum eichlerianum was also noticeable. (Silver Flora 
Medal.) 
