June  17,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
537 
IV.  H.  White,  E.  Hill,  J.  T.  Gabriel,  A.  H.  Smee,  W.  H.  Young,  H.  J. 
Chapman,  S.  Courtauld,  J.  Douglas,  and  T.  B.  Haywood. 
The  only  exhibit  of  Orchids  of  any  size  was  that  from  Messrs.  J.  Veitch 
and  Sons,  Ltd.  Not  only  was  this  admirably  arranged,  but  it  contained 
nothing  but  plants  of  the  best  quality.  Amongst  the  Cypripediums  were 
Curtisi,  Lawrenceanum,  selligerum  majus,  and  superbiens.  Lselias  were  also 
splendid,  while  Odontoglossums,  Dendrobiums,  Sobralias,  and  Masdevallias 
lent  pleasing  variety  (silver  Flora  medal).  Mr.  W.  H.  White,  gardener  to 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  sent  a  few  Orchids,  including  Yanda  Agnes 
Joachim,  Phalsenopsis  grandiflora.  and  g.  odorum  Augusti. 
Mr.  W.  H.  Young,  Orchid  grower  to  Sir  Frederick  Wigan,  Clare 
Lawn,  East  Sheen,  sent  a  few  Orchids,  of  which  Laelio-Cattleya  Orphanum, 
Cattleya  Mossiae,  Mrs.  Egerton  Grey,  and  Miltoniae  vexillaria  Candida  were 
conspicuous.  Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  sent  three  plants  only — 
namely,  Laelio-Cattleya  Empress  of  India,  L.-C.  Our  Queen,  and  Cattleya 
Mossiae  Empress  of  India. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Calochortus  Gunisoni  (R.  Wallace  &  Co.). — A  beautiful  pure  white  form 
of  high  quality  (award  of  merit). 
Carnation  Barr  as  (C.  Blick). — The  petals  of  this  variety  are  superb.  The 
colour  is  scarlet  crimson,  and  the  flower  is  sweetly  scented  (award  of  merit). 
Carnation  Cecilia  (C.  Blick). — A  magnificent  flower,  unfortunately  lacking 
fragrance.  The  colour  is  yellow  (award  of  merit). 
Carnation  Helmsman  (C.  Blick). — A  pure  white,  of  perfect  form  and  large 
size.  The  flower  is  Clove-scented,  and  the  calyx  shows  no  tendency  to  3plit 
(award  of  merit). 
Cattleya  Mossice  In  Memoriam  Richard  Curnow  (H.  Low  &  Co.). — A 
magnificent  Mossiae.  All  the  organs  are  very  large  and  substantial  (award  of 
merit). 
Cattleya  Mossiee  Empress  of  India  (F.  Sander  &  Co.). — A  superb  form. 
The  colour  is  purplish  rose  in  the  sepals  and  petals,  and  the  lip  crimson 
purple  (award  of  merit). 
Cedrus  atlantiea  aurea  (J.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.). — This  golden-tip  variety 
■of  atlantiea  is  very  charming  (first-class  certificate). 
Celmisia  Monroi  (J.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.). — A  hardy  plant  with  Pine¬ 
like  leaves  and  large  white  Marguerite-like  flowers  (first-class  certificate). 
Delphinium  Clara  Stubbs  (Kelway  &  Son). — Very  bright  blue  is  the 
colour  of  this  variety  (award  of  merit). 
Delphinium  Sir  John  Forrest  (Kelway  and  Sons). — The  flowers  of  this 
are  rich  blue  purple  and  very  large  (award  of  merit). 
Doryopteris  nobilis  Duvalli  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.). — A  very  handsome¬ 
leaved  Fern  with  deep  green  foliage  (award  of  merit). 
Escallonia  langleyensis  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.). — Very  free  flowering  is 
this  hybrid.  The  blooms  are  bright  rose  in  colour  (award  of  merit). 
Iris  germanica  maxima  (T.  S.  Ware). — A  fin3  variety,  of  which  the 
standards  are  light  and  the  falls  dark  blue  (award  of  merit). 
Lcelio-Cattleya  Our  Queen  (F.  Sander  &  Co.). — This  is  a  lovely  bi¬ 
generic  hybrid,  of  which  the  parentage  is  not  known.  The  sepals  and 
petals  are  white,  with  the  most  delicate  blush  suffusion.  The  lip  has  a 
white  margin  round  the  large  patch  of  crimson.  The  throat  is  yellow 
(award  of  merit). 
Lcelio-Cattleya  Empress  of  India  (F.  Sander  &  Co.). — The  parents  of 
this  were  Lselia  purpurata  Brysiana  and  C.  Dowiana.  It  is  of  great  beauty. 
The  sepals  and  petals  are  deep  purplish  rose,  and  the  lip  velvety  crimson 
maroon  (award  of  merit). 
Odontoglossum  crispum  Crawshayanum  (De  B.  Crawshay). — The  rather 
narrow  sepals  and  petals  of  this  variety  have  fine  chocolate  blotches  on  the 
white  ground  (award  of  merit). 
Fink  Albina  (F.  Gifford). — A  white  variety  with  Clove-scented  blooms. 
The  calyx  seems  inclined  to  split  (award  of  merit). 
Ro'e  macrophylla  (Paul  &  Son). — A  charming  flower  of  soft  rose  shade 
(award  of  merit). 
Vanda  Agnes  Joachim  (W.  H.  White). — A  lovely  hybrid,  resulting  from 
a  cross  between  V.  teres  and  Hookeriana.  The  petals  and  upper  sepals  are 
delicate  rose,  and  the  lower  sepals  white.  The  lip  is  purplish  rose  (first-class 
certificate).  _ 
List  of  Awards. — Floral  Committee. — Silver  Flora  medals  to  Messrs. 
J.  Peed  &  Son,  J.  Veitch  &  Son,  Ltd.,  R.  Wallace  &  Co.,  Kelway  &  Son, 
M.  Pritchard,  and  H.  Cannell  &  Sons.  Silver  Banksian  to  Messrs.  Paul 
and  Son,  S.  Cooling  &  Sons,  Dobbie  &  Co.,  F.  Cant  &  Co.,  B.  Ladhams, 
and  J.  Cheal  &  Sons.  Bronze  Banksian  to  Messrs.  A.  W.  Young  &  Co. 
A  Big  Vineyard  —  A  recent  issue  of  the  New  York  “  Fruit  Trade 
Journal  ”  gives  an  account  of  a  newly  planted  Grape  fruit  grove  in 
Florida,  said  to  be  the  largest  in  the  world.  The  soil  is  virgin  hum¬ 
mock  land,  which,  within  a  year,  was  cleared  of  massive  Oak  and  graceful 
Palmetto  trees,  and  comprises  above  200  acres.  The  tract  extends  half  a 
mile  along  the  Manatee  River,  and  is  more  than  that  distance  in  depth. 
The  land  was  thoroughly  prepared  by  experienced  cultivators  of  Grape 
fruit,  and  20,000  budded  trees  of  the  best  varieties  have  been  planted. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Summer  Bedding. 
I  HAVE  often  noticed  in  my  experience  how  many  gardeners  have  the 
same  designs  in  the  flower  garden  year  after  year,  without  any  per¬ 
ceptible  change.  Let  us  try  and  alter  this  everlasting  Bameness,  and  by 
tasteful  arrangement  have  something  fresh  every  season,  and  always 
better  than  the  last.  I  remember  well  the  first  situation  I  had ;  the 
flower  garden  was  a  model  of  neatness  and  cleanliness  that  I  have  not 
seen  equalled  since ;  its  only  fault  was  in  being  always  the  same. 
Year  after  year  the  same  plants  and  designs  appeared,  as  though  the 
gardener  had  reached  a  certain  point  in  horticultare  and  dare  not  move 
another  step. 
During  a  visit  to  my  old  friend  last  summer,  after  an  absence  of  some 
years,  we  went  to  view  the  flower  garden  ;  it  seemed  to  me  but  yesterday 
that  I  had  been  there.  Yes,  there  it  was,  the  same  well-kept  garden 
with  the  beds  of  Calceolaria  Golden  Gem  edged  with  dark-leaved  Beet ; 
Vesuvius  Pelargoniums  with  an  edging  of  the  Lobelia  ;  beds  of  Ageratum 
Little  Cupid  with  a  golden  edge  of  Pyrethrum  aureum.  And  how  well 
I  remember  that  design  in  the  Maltese  cross  beneath  the  drawing-room 
window  :  there  is  the  large  Agave  americana  in  the  centre,  surrounded 
by  Mre.  Pollock  Pelargonium,  two  of  the  sides  filled  with  Tropajolums, 
the  other  two  with  Verbenas.  It  was  a  splendid  display  fora  stranger  to 
see,  but  how  tiring  to  the  eyes  of  those  who  have  seen  it  for  so  long.  It 
will  be  changed  this  season,  as  my  dear  old  friend,  the  kindest  master  I 
ever  had,  has  gone  to  join  the  great  majority. 
There  is  a  plan  I  have  always  followed,  and  I  advise  all  young 
gardeners  in  the  domain  and  out  of  it  to  do  the  same,  and  if  they  derive  as 
much  pleasure  from  it  as  I  have  done  my  note  will  not  have  been  in 
vain.  I  always  make  it  a  rale  to  draw  a  plan  of  the  flower  garden  every 
season,  no  matter  where  I  am  stationed,  and  note  down  how  every  bed 
and  border  is  arranged.  Then  in  the  long  nights  of  winter  I  bring  out 
these  plans,  draw  the  outlines  of  another,  and  fill  in  the  beds  from 
imagination  with  what  is  thought  will  have  a  good  effect ;  then  compare 
it  with  the  real  plan  and  see  if  I  have  made  any  improvement. 
For  instance,  here  in  the  rough  sketch  before  me  is  a  large  diamond¬ 
shaped  bed  ;  at  the  time  of  drawing,  the  bed  was  filled  entirely  with 
yellow  Calceolarias,  and  after  a  spell  of  wet  weather  they  looked  any¬ 
thing  but  ornamental.  How  would  it  look  arranged  in  this  manner  ? 
In  the  centre  one  Ricinus  Gibsoni  with  four  more  arranged  diamond 
shape  a  good  distance  from  it ;  intersperse  some  Hyacinthus  candicans 
and  Lobelia  cardinalis ;  round  these  run  a  belt  of  Salvia  patens, 
followed  by  another  of  Begonias,  and  then  finish  with  an  edging  of 
Dactylis  glomerata  aurea.  I  coaid  suggest  more  methods,  but  space 
forbids. 
Before  1  finish  let  me  advise  that  in  the  summer  garden  foliage  and 
flowering  plants  be  intermixed,  so  that  one  may  support  the  other  in 
wet  weather  and  in  dry.  Dig  well,  manure  well,  put  out  plants  few 
and  good  rather  than  numerous,  drawn,  and  weakly.  Note  the  defects 
of  this  year’s  arrangements  for  correcting  another  season.  Keep  your 
ears  open  when  visitors  come,  and  your  eyes  when  you  go  visiting,  and 
so  obtain  and  lay  up  a  store  of  knowledge  for  use  hereafter. — J.  C., 
Lancashire. 
[Very  good  advice,  and  worthy  of  being  kept  in  remembrance.] 
Growing  Melons  in  Frames, 
Though  now  superseded  by  the  modern  and  more  excellent  method 
of  caltivation  in  hothouses,  Melon  growing  in  frames  is  still  carried  on 
on  a  very  large  scale  during  the  favourable  months  of  the  year — viz*, 
May  to  September.  Mention  is  made  of  these  months  because  in  most 
gardens  the  frames  intended  for  Melons  are  occupied  until  the  end  of 
May  by  bedding  plants,  early  Potatoes,  or  other  requisites,  and  also 
because  Melons  remaining  in  frames  after  the  end  of  September  are 
mostly  deficient  in  flavour.  As  soon,  however,  as  the  frames  are  clear 
they  should  be  made  ready  for  the  reception  of  the  Melons  without 
delay. 
Make  a  bed  of  fermenting  material  such  as  horse  stable  refuse  and 
tree  leaves,  large  enough  to  project  2  feet  beyond  the  frame  on  all  sides, 
and  3  to  4  feet  high  ;  place  the  frame  thereon,  and  build  up  the  2-feet 
walls  or  linings  to  the  top  of  the  lights  to  allow  for  sinking.  In  the 
case  of  walled  pits  material  will,  of  course,  only  need  to  be  placed 
inside. 
Place  in  each  light  one  or  two  mounds  of  about  a  barrowload  each  of 
the  following  compost  Good  retentive  loam  eight  parts  ;  brick  rubble, 
broken  small,  one  part ;  soot  and  bonemeal  one  part,  the  top  of  the 
mounds,  after  sinking,  being  about  15  inches  from  the  glass.  Leave  the 
whole  until  the  heat  declines  to  about  80°,  when  the  plants  may  be  put 
out.  Seed  sown  singly  in  2-inch  pots  the  last  week  in  April  and  the  first 
week  in  May  in  the  Melon  or  Cucumber  house,  the  plants  being  gradually 
hardened,  will  produce  sturdy  plants  with  four  or  five  leaves  by  planting 
time. 
In  planting  Melons  always  raise  the  collar  of  the  plants  well  above 
the  soil  in  order  that  water  may  easily  drain  away  from  the  stems,  other¬ 
wise  canker  may  occur,  to  which  fungoid  disease  Melons  fall  an  easy 
prey.  It  may  be  prevented  by  placing  around  the  stem  at  planting  time 
a  few  pieces  of  charcoal,  which  absorb  superfluous  moisture,  also  at  the 
same  time  place  a  ring  of  lime  around  the  plants,  9  inches  from  them,  as 
a  guard  against  slugs.  Should  canker  show  itself,  promptly  rub  the 
affected  parts  with  freshly  slaked  lime.  Given  a  good  watering  at 
planting  time  the  syringe  will  suffice  for  the  next  fortnight. 
