April  7,  1898. 
JOURKAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
295 
CARNATIONS 
NEW  TREE  or  PERPETDAL  BLOOMING, 
LADY  GERTRUDE  ROLLE. — Rich  rose  pink, 
Good  sturdy  healthy  gTower,  free  flowering.  Will 
become  popular  for  market  work.  6/-. 
LADY  DOREEN  LONG. — Clear  yellow,  slightly 
pencilled  carmine  pink.  The  largest  and  most 
handsome  of  this  class.  5/-. 
ETTIE  MITCHELL. — Clear  soft  salmon  pink.  A 
perfect,  large,  and  smooth  flower.  Has  only  to  be 
seen  to  be  admired.  5/-. 
MRS.  RICHARD  LEY. — Of  the  same  colour  as 
Mdlle.  Therese  Franco,  but  the  blooms  are 
larger  and  of  better  form,  whilst  the  plant  is  of 
superior  growth.  7/6. 
NELLIE  STEVENS. — Pale  rose,  shaded  salmon. 
Equal  to  the  show  seifs  in  form,  strongiy  perfumed, 
and  will  prove  a  great  advance.  7/6. 
MRS.  HUNTER  LITTLE. — Soft  salmon  pink. 
A  distinct  and  lovely  variety,  good  in  every  respect ; 
a  channing  acquisition.  5/-. 
For  full  descriptions  of  these  and  other  Sterling  Novelties  in 
Winter-Blooming  Carnations,  see  Special  List,  post  free. 
W.  J.  GODFREY, 
EXMOUTH,  DEVON. 
“FINEST  APPLE  ON  EARTH.” 
Do  you  want  the  Finest  Marketing  and 
Culinary  Apple  in  Cultivation  ? 
TRY  MERRYWEATHER, 
And  write  for  his  “Remarks  on  Profitable  Fruit  Growing,” 
containing  account  of  the  “Finest  Apple  on  Earth,” 
“BR  AM  LEY’S  SEEDLING,” 
Which  has  Rivals,  but  no  Equal.  Same  price  a§  inferior 
kinds,  bearing  no  comparison  for  weight  of  fruit  or  quality. 
SEND  FOR  MY  FULL  DESCRIPTIVE  LIST. 
Also  of  Herbaceous  Plants,  Rose  Trees,  Fruit  Trees, 
Shrubs,  &c.,  forwarded  free  on  application  to 
HENRY  MERRYWEATHER, 
The  ITurserles,  SOVTHWEIiXi,  xrOTTS. 
WILLIAMS’ 
SHADING  MATERIALS. 
THE  MOST  SUITABLE  FOR  y  ^ 
SHADING  ORCHIDS,  FERNS, 
PALMS,  and  STOVE  and 
PALMS,  and  STOVE  and 
GREENHOUSE  PLANTS 
It  is  a  strong  durable  Cotton 
Netting,  woven  in  squares  so 
close  as  to  exclude  the  direct 
rays  of  the  sun,  but  admit¬ 
ting  the  greatest  amonut 
of  light  attainable 
through  shading.  ^ 
25^ 
It 
Blinds  made  up 
and  Fixed 
Complete. 
withstands 
the  weather 
better  than 
any  other  class 
of  Shading,  and 
may  be  beneficially 
used  on  account  of  the 
thickness  of  its  texture, 
during  cold  weather,  to 
keep  the  frost  out.  The  lead¬ 
ing  Orchid  and  Plant  Growers 
in  the  country  have  used  this 
material  for  some  yeais,  and  speak 
very  highly  of  it,  pronouncing  it  to 
be  the  very  best  material  for  plants  they 
have  ever  used. 
Sold  in  pieces  30  yds.  long  by  li  yd.  wide, 
price  4Qs.  each.  Samples  sulmitted  gratis. 
This  new  Shading  is  in  the  form  of  a  white  powder, 
and  13  prepared  for  use  by  applying  boiling  water 
to  the  compound,  and  allowing  it  to  cool, 
when  it  can  be  applied  by  means  of  a  brush, 
It  dries  instantaneously,  and  can  be 
rubbed  off  easily  when  moist.  This 
Shading  may  be  used  for  GREEN- 
HOUSES,  SKYLIGHTS, 
WINDOWS,  &c. 
Sold  in  1-lb.  packets, 
with  directions  for 
use,  price  Is.  each 
1  lb.  free  by 
parcel  post 
for 
Is. 
lbs.  free 
by  parcel 
post  for  2s.  4d. 
Each  packet  will  make 
half  a  gallon  of  shading 
material  when  mixed.  It  is 
g/reat  improvement  on  any¬ 
thing  hitherto  offered,  and  lasts 
the  whole  season. 
B.  S.  WILLIAMS  &  SON, 
Victoria  &  Paradise  Nurseries, 
HOLLOWAY,  LONDON,  N 
1898-FORBES’  CATALOCUE-1898 
(Over  150  Pages,  nearly  150  Illustrations) 
Of  Florists’  Flowers  and  Hardy  Border  Plants,  is 
got  up  regardless  of  trouble  or  expense,  with  the 
result  that  it  is  by  unanimous  consent  pronounced  the 
most  comprehensive,  most  accurate,  most  reliable, 
most  complete,  and  best  extant. 
It  gives  full  and  accurate  descriptions  of  everything  in 
the  way  of  Florists’  Flowers,  also  colour,  height, 
time  of  flowering,  and  price  of  all  the  best  Hardy 
Border  Plants,  together  with  their  English  or  common 
names,  and  a  mass  of  other  valuable  Information  that 
cannot  be  had  elsewhere. 
It  is,  in  fact,  a  veritable  reference  hook,  invaluable  to  all 
growers  of  these  pi  mts,  and  should  be  in  the  hands  of  all 
intending  puribasers.  FbEe  ON  Application. 
JOHN  FORBES,  Nurseryman,  Hawick,  Scotland 
ESTABLISHED.  1870. 
CANNELL’S  BEST  OE  ALL  SEEDS 
Truth,  and  Nothing  but  the  Truth. 
‘  ‘  March  4,  1898. 
“R.  Webster,  Esq.,  Honing  Common,  Norwich  : — Sirs, 
I  received  the  .seeds,  and  they  are  splendid.  I  have  com¬ 
pared  them  with  lots  of  others,  and  all  yours  are  larger  and 
more  perfect  than  any  of  tliem.” 
Send  for  a  Catalogue. 
H.  CANNELL  &  SONS,  Swanley,  KENT. 
Azaleas  and  camellias.  —  Grandly 
budded  stuff  to  name,  24/-  and  30/-  per  dozen.  Illus¬ 
trated  Catalogues  of  Stove  and  Greenhouse,  including  many 
new  and  rare  plants,  free  on  application. —A.  J.  A.  BRUCE, 
The  Nurseries,  Chorlton-cum-IIardy,  near  Manchester. 
Giving  up  showing.— a  collection 
of  magnificent  AZALEAS  to  dispose  of.  Have  won 
at  all  the  principal  shows.— Address,  Mr.  R.  SMITH,  The 
Gardens,  Howick  House,  near  Preston,  Lancashire. 
Asparagus. — This  delicious  vegetable  does  not 
require  half  the  expense  usually  incurred.  For 
simple  instructions  see  SEED  LIST,  free  on  application. 
Strong  roots  from  2/6  per  100.— RICHARD  SMITH  &  CO., 
Nurserymen  and  Seed  Merchants,  Worcester. 
IMPORTANT  TO  MUSHROOM  GROWERS.— 
CUTHBERT’S  SPECIALITE  MUSHROOM  SPAWN. 
Always  alike  ;  most  productive.  Hundreds  of  Testimonials. 
Per  Bushel,  5/-.— R.  <fe  G.  CUTHBERT,  Seed,  Bulb,  and 
Plant  Merchants,  Southgate,  N.  Established  1797. 
1  AA  AAA  BEGONIA  TUBERS. — Large,  erect 
_LUUA*UU  flowering.  Single,  12  for  2/3;  100,  16/-. 
Double,  12  for  2/6 ;  100,  17/-.  Send  for  List,  free.— 
JOHN  WELLS,  Begonia  Nursery,  Ryarsh,  Mailing,  Kent. 
JO.  STEVENS’  HORTICULTURAL, 
•  SCIENTIFIC,  and  NATURAL  HISTORY  SALE 
ROOMS,  38,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London. 
Established  1769.  Sales  by  Auction  nearly  every  day. 
Catalogues  on  application  or  post  free. 
Heating  apparatus.  —  Medals  ISTS  and 
1881.  Cacalogue  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 ; 
each  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. 
Greenhouse  sale.— Half  Price,  off  Season. 
7  by  6,  28/6,  38/6 ;  10  by  6,  42/-,  60/-;  14  by  6,  62/6, 
65/- ;  10  by  8,  62/6,  58/6  ;  14  by  10,  76/-,  88/6  ;  20  by  10,  87/6, 
&5 15/-.  Frames,  8/9,  14/6,  22/6.  Fowl  Houses,  8/9,  10/9, 
14/6.  Approval.— HYPOLITE,  DEPTFORD. 
IROTECT  YOUR  GARDENS— Garden  Netting, 
oiled  and  dressed  ;  will  not  rot  if  left  out  in  all 
weathers.  100  >  ards  by  1  yard,  3/- ;  100  yards  by  2  yards, 
6/- ;  100  yards  by  3  yards,  9/-  Or  so  on  to  any  widtli. 
Carriage  paid  on  all  orders  over  5/-  I  do  not  require  payment 
till  you  have  rece  ved  and  approved  of  the  netting  from  — 
HY.  J.  GASSON,  Garden  Net  Works,  Rye. 
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 
eedsmen,  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. 
Parsons,  Market  Place,  Guernsey.  Also  THOMSON’S 
SPECIAL  CHRYSANTHEMUM  MANURE.  i  cwt. 
Carriage  Paid  to  all  stations  in  Britain  and  Ireland. 
THURSDAY,  APRIL  7,  1898. 
THE  JOURNAL  OF  HOR’nCULTURE  ca»  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. 
THE  CHINESE  BANANA. 
Apropos  of  a  query  on  page  268,  respecting  the 
culture  of  this,  one  of  the  most  interesting 
and  handsome  of  our  economic  plants,  I  venture 
to  give  details  of  treatment  which  afforded  highly 
satisfactory  results.  In  direct  reply  to  the  question 
concerning  the  particular  case,  judging  from  the 
description  of  the  two  plants  in  tubs,  there  is  no 
need  of  despair  of  the  fruit  ripening,  hut  to  assist 
them  in  doing  so  the  bunch  should,  if  not  already 
done,  be  shortened  back  as  far  as  those  “  fingers  ’ 
which  have  attained  to  nearly  an  average  length* 
If  it  is  possible  to  give  the  plants  some  bottom 
heat,  cither  by  standing  the  tubs  upon  the  hot- 
water  pipes  and  jiacking  some  conducting  material 
about  them,  or  by  any  other  means  suggesting 
themselves  under  the  circumstances,  it  will  probably 
facilitate  matters  considerably.  As  for  cutting  the 
“fingers”  in  a  green  state — No;  only  in  particular 
cases,  to  be  subsequently  mentioned,  is  it  advisable 
to  do  so,  for  the  superiority  of  *fhe  English-grown 
Banana  is  dependant  solely  upon  allowing  it  to  ripen 
naturally. 
Musa  Cavendishi,  probably  the  only  Banana  worth 
cultivating  for  its  fruit  (introduced  from  China  in 
1829,  and  apparently  disseminated  through  nearly 
all  tropical  parts  of  the  globe),  is  accredited  with 
producing  a  larger  quantity  of  food  from  a  given 
area  than  any  other  economic  plant.  Whether, 
owing  to  the  cost  of  production  by  artificial  heat, 
home-grown  fruit  could  favourably  compete  with 
imported  produce,  is  at  least  doubtful,  but  the 
relative  position  of  the  two,  so  far  as  quality  is  con¬ 
cerned,  is,  I  think,  pretty  much  that  which  obtains 
with  the  Almerian  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria 
Grapes.  Its  culture  for  appearance  as  a  noble 
tropical  plant,  which  is  of  the  simplest  kind, 
appears  to  be  wholly  apart  from  the  methods 
necessary  to  insure  its  success  as  a  fruit  producer, 
hence  luxuriant  plants  are  apt  to  disappoint  expecta¬ 
tion  so  far  as  that  is  concerned.  I  must  confess 
that  my  ten  years’  experience  of  Banana  culture  for 
fruit  commenced  experimentally,  and  for  a  part  of 
that  time  was  but  a  partial  success.  The  home¬ 
grown  fruit,  however,  was  held  in  such  high  esteem 
No.  2684. -VOL.  xcvm..  OLD  SERIES. 
No.  928.— VoL.  XXXVI.,  Third  Series. 
