March  10,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
203 
FINEST  SELECTED  STRAINS 
TESTED  GROWTHS 
BARR’S  CHOICE  FLOWER  SEEOS. 
A  FEW  SPECIALITIES. 
ANTIRRHINUM,  Barr’s  Queen  of  the  North,  snowy 
white,  tine  habit.  Per  packet,  Gd.  and  1/-. 
AQUILKGIA,  Bark’s  LoNg-Spurreo,  extra  selected. 
Per  packet,  2/G. 
ASTER,  “P.EONA'  Perfection,”  carefully  selected;  a 
beautiful  mixture.  Per  packet,  1/-  and  2/6. 
BALSAM,  Barr’s  Criterion  mixed.  Per  pkt.,  1/6  &  2/6 
OKLOSIA  PLUMOSA,  MIXED,  a  beautiful  strain  of  this 
graceful  annual.  Per  packet,  6d.  and  1/-. 
CINERARIA,  Barr’S  Prize.  Per  packet,  2/6  and  3/6. 
COCKSCOMB  Barr’s  Exhihition.  Per  pkt,,  1/- &  1/6. 
COREOPSIS  OR ANDIFLORA,  Barr’s  Selected  Strain. 
Per  packet,  1/- 
HELPHINIUM,  Barr’s  Magnificent  “Long  Ditton” 
Strain.  Per  packet,  1/6  and  2/6. 
TREE  LUPINS,  BARR’S  Fine  Strain.  Per  packet,  1/-. 
PETUNIA,  Barr’s  Superb  Giant.  Per  pkt.,  2/6  &  3/6. 
POLYANTHUS,  Barr’S  Highla'  Coloured.  Perpkt.,2/6. 
PRIMROSE,  Barr’s  Highly  Coloured.  Per  packet,  2/6 
PRIMULA,  Barr’s  “Covent  Garden”  Choicest 
Strain.  Per  packet,  1/6  and  2/6. 
STOCKS,  Barr’s  Ten-Week  Choice  Dwarf  Strain, 
in  mixture.  Per  packet,  1/-  and  2/6. 
SWEET  PEAS,  Barr’S  Choice  IMixture  of  Newest  and 
Finest  Sorts.  Per  packet,  1/-  and  1/6. 
BARR’S  SEED  GUIDE  (free),  contains  a  Descriptive 
List  of  the  best  Vegetables  and  most  beautiful  Flowers. 
BARR  St,  SONS, 
12  &  13  KIKG  ST.,  COYENT  GARDEN,  LONDON 
Price  1/-;  Post  Free,  1/1 J, 
By  W.  IGGULDEN,  F.R.H.S. 
Office :  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  E.C. 
World-renowned  Strains  of  Choice 
FLOWER  SEEDS. 
POST  FREE 
Begonia  Hybrida,  Mixed 
Balsam,  YVilliams’  Superb 
Cockscomb,  Williams’  Prize 
Celosia  Plumosa,  Crimson 
,,  ,,  Aurea 
Calceolaria,  Williams’  Superb 
Cineraria,  Williams’  Superb 
Cyclamen  Giganteum  Album. 
,,  Rose  Queen  .. 
,,  Roseum.. 
,,  Rubru.m 
,,  Finest  Mixed 
Gloxinia,  Superb  Scarlet 
,,  ,,  Erect,  Mixed 
, ,  , ,  Spotted 
,,  Gouville  Strain 
Primula,  Magnum  Bonum 
,,  Snowball 
,,  Avalanche 
,,  Alba  Magnifica 
,,  Chiswick  Red 
,,  Meteor.. 
,,  Superb  Blue.. 
,,  -  White 
,,  ,,  Red  .. 
,,  ,,  Mixed 
Illustrated  Catalogue  Gratis  and 
Per  Packet. 
1/6,  2/6 
1/6,  2/6 
..  2/6 
..  1/- 
..  1/- 
1/6,  2/6,  3/6,  51- 
1/6,  2/6,  3/6,  51- 
2/6,  3/6,  51- 
2/6,  51- 
2/6,  5/- 
2/6,  3/6,  51- 
2/6,  5,1- 
..  2/6 
..  2/6 
..  2/6 
..  2/6 
3/6,  51- 
3/6,  51- 
2/6,  51- 
1/6,  2/6,  3/6,  51- 
1/6,  2/6,  3/6,  51- 
2/6,  3/6,  51- 
. .  2/6,  51- 
1/6,  2/6,  3/6,  51- 
1/6,  2/6,  3/6,  6/- 
1/6,  2/6,  3/6,  51- 
Post  Free. 
"Victoria  and  Paradise  Nurseries, 
UPPER  HOLLOWAY,  LONDON,  N. 
No.  924.— VoL.  XXXVI.,  Third  Series. 
LARGE-FLOWERING  GANNAS. 
Egandale,  purple  foliage,  11.  bright  cherry  ..  4/-perdoz. 
Florence  Vaughan,  green  foliage,  fl.  lemon, 
spotted  bright  red . 4/-  ^ 
F.  R.  Pierson,  green  foliage,  11.  deep  .scarlet,  ” 
yellow  centre  . 5/- 
Prest.  Carnot,  dark  purple  foliage,  fl.  rich  ” 
amara-ntli . 4/-  ,, 
Queen  Charlotte,  a  great  improvement  on 
M.adame  Crozy  .  ..  ..4/-  ,, 
12  Cannas,  in  12  best  varieties . 4/-  ,, 
100  ,,  in  13  ,,  . 26/-  per  inn 
BEGONIAS(First  -ciass  Strain). 
Best  .selected  varieties . 4/-  per  doz 
Separate  Ckdours,  for  bedding  out . .  . .  14/-,  16/-  per  100 
Mixed,  all  colours,  very  choice  . 14/-  ,, 
TRUE  CACTUS  DAHLIAS. 
12  Pot  Roots  in  12  vars.,  5/- ;  .50  Pot  Roots  in  25  vars.,  20/-. 
DECORATIVE  DAHLIAS. 
12  Pot  Roots  in  12  vars.,  3/- ;  .50  Pot  Roots  in  25  vars.,  11/-. 
GLADIOLUS  LEMOINEI. 
Best  Mixed  Seedlings,  6/-  per  100. 
VEGETABLE  AND  FLOWER  SEEDS. 
Best  v.arieties  in  stock. 
DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE,  containing  full  details  of 
the  above,  and  other  Bulbs  and  Plants  for  Spring 
Planting,  will  be  sent  post  free  on  application  to  their 
Offices  at  OVERVEEN,  near  HAARLEM,  HOLLAND, 
or  to  their  General  Agents— 
Messrs.  MERTENS  &  CO., 
G,  CROSS  LANE,  LONDON,  E.C. 
■fAflAAA  BEGONIA  TUBERS.— Large,  erect 
J.UU»UUU  flowering.  Single,  12  for  2/3;  100,  16/-. 
Double,  12  for  2/6;  100,  17/-.  Send  for  List,  free.— 
•lOIIN  WELl.S,  Begonia  Nursery,  Ryarsh,  Mailing,  Kent. 
Alpines,  rock  plants  &  shrubs,  and 
HERBACEOUS  PERENNIALS,  2000  to  3000  species 
and  varieties.  —  Catalogue,  130  pages,  descriptive  and 
illustrated,  free  on  aiiplication,  by  postcard,  to  MANAGER, 
Guildford  llardy  Plant  Nursery,  Guildford.  Prices  largely 
reduced  for  dozens  and  hundreds. 
Heating  apparatus.  —  Medals  1875  and 
1881.  Catalogue  of  Boilers,  Pipes,  and  Fittings  free. 
W.  Jones’  Treatise,  “Heating  by  Hot  Water,”  second 
edition,  216  pages,  2/6;  post  free,  2/10. — JONES  and 
ATTWOOD,  Stourbridge. 
PURE  WOOD  CHARCOAL,  Specially  Prepared 
for  Horticultural  use.  Extract  from  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture :  “  Charcoal  is  invaluable  as  a  manurial  agent  ;• 
e.ach  little  piece  is  a  pantry  full  of  the  good  things  of  this 
life.  There  is  no  cultivated  plant  which  is  not  benefited  by 
having  Charcoal  applied  to  the  soil  in  which  it  is  rooted.  ” 
Apply  for  Pamphlet  and  Prices  to  the  Manufacturers — 
HIRST,  BROOKE  &  HIRST,  Ltd.,  Leeds. 
All  who  wish  grand  results  should 
use  THOMSON’S  IMPROVED  VINE,  PLANT  and 
VEGETABLE  MANURE.  This  Valuable  Manure  is  yearly 
growing  in  public  favour.  Can  be  had  of  all  Nursery  and 
Seedsmen,  or  direct  from  the  makers,  WM.  THOMSON  and 
SONS,  Ltd.,  Tweed  Vineyard,  Clovenfords,  Galashiels, 
N.B.  Price  Lists  and  Testimonials  on  Application.  1  cwt. 
and  upwards  Carriage  Paid  to  all  stations  in  Britain  and 
Ireland.  London  Agent — Mr.  J.  George,  14,  Redgrave 
Road,  Putney.  Agent  for  Channel  Islands— Mr.  J.  H. 
Par.son.S,  Market  Place,  Guernsey.  Also  THOMSON’S 
SPECIAL  CHRYSANTHEMUM  MANURE.  4  cwt. 
Carriage  Paid  to  all  stations  in  Britain  and  Ireland. 
PROFITABLE  FRUIT  GROWING  FOR 
COTTAGERS  and  SMALL  HOLDERS  of  LAND. 
The  Gold  Medal  Prize  Essay.  By  .1.  Wright.  Written 
for  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Fruiterers.  Demy  8vo, 
price  1/- ;  free  by  post,  1/3.— Journal  of  Horticulture 
Office,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  E.C. 
Greenhouses  from  £2  8/-,  vineries, 
CONSERVATORIES,  weU-made  FRAMES,  painted 
or  glazed,  from  21/-.  Illustrated  Price  Lists  free.  Maker 
to  H.M.  the  Queen  and  H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales. 
POTTER,  HAWTHORN  &  CO.,  Manufacturers, 
London  Works,  Reading.  (Name  Paper.)J 
THURSDAY,  MARCH  10,  1898. 
THE  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  can  be  obtained 
from  the  Office,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  St.. 
London,  post  free  for  a  Quarter,  3/9.  Editorial 
communications  must  be  addressed  to  8,  Rose 
Hill  Rd.,  "Wandsworth,  S.W. 
S  PRING. 
WITH  all  the  charms  incident  to  the  season 
Spring  sometimes  has  an  unkind  welcome. 
Winter  yields  not  the  sceptre  without  a  struggle, 
and  many  are  the  combats  between  the  two. 
There  are  advances  and  retreats  on  both  sides; 
days  of  sun  and  soft  rains,  days  of  gloom  or  snow- 
showers  ;  nights  of  mildness  and  calm,  and  nights 
of  frost  or  storm.  Still,  inch  by  inch  Winter  has 
to  yield,  and  all  tlie  time  the  signs  of  the  victory 
of  the  younger  season  are  evident,  for 
“Through  wood  and  stream,  and  field  and  hill  and  ocean, 
A  quickening  life  from  the  earth’s  heart  has  burst.” 
The  very  name  of  Spring  brings  us  a.  message 
of  gladness  and  of  hope.  No  other  season  has 
this  power  in  so  great  a  degree.  In  siimm.r 
we  know  that  the  year  is  speeding  fast  and  that 
the  shorter  days  are  not  far  off.  In  autumn, 
though  we  are  reaping  the  harvest  of  the  toil  of 
the  past,  we  know  that  winter  is  at  hand  to 
despoil  us  of  our  store;  but  in  spring  we  are  in 
our  youthful  days  again,  and  the  garden’s  year  is 
before  us  to  enjoy. 
The  earth  is  throbbing  with  life,  soon  to  assert 
its  power  in  spite  of  icy  winds.  These  tiny  seeds, 
the  germs  in  some  of  which  one  can  scarce  discover, 
must  soon  feel  its  impulses,  and  die '  only  to  live 
anew  in  a  higher  creation.  Think  of  all  that  Spring 
means — of  its  work,  its  beauty,  and  its  signifi¬ 
cance — and  then  perhaps  you  will  have  to  confess 
the  pen  too  feeble  to  adequately  pourtray  them. 
Wherever  we  go  we  see  the  beauties  of  the  time. 
In  the  woods  the  trees  bud  forth  into  delicately 
tinted  leaves,  and  the  ground  below  sparkles  with 
Nature’s  floral  gems.  The  fields  and  meadows 
assume  their  most  verdant  garb,  and  by  the 
streams  plants  push  up  their  succulent  stems  and 
leaves  of  many  forms  and  shades.  Chaucer’s  Daisy, 
Wordsworth’s  Celandine,  Herrick’s  Primrose,  with 
many  other  flowers,  are  astir  and  welcome  us  by 
the  wayside  or  the  dell.  The  world  beyond  our 
gardens  is,  in  truth,  very  beautiful,  and  he  who 
could  tell  its  charms  would  be  gifted  indeed. 
But  our  tale  is  more  of  the  garden  than  of  the 
fields,  and  woods,  and  dells.  It  ought  to  be,  as  it 
No.  2680.— VoL.  XCVIII.,  Old  Series, 
