April  28,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
361 
DOBBIE&GM 
ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
DAHLIA  PLANTS. 
WE  ARE  NOW  BUSY  SENDING  THESE 
out  to  all  parts  of  Britain,  and  to  many  continental 
countries.  Those  who  have  not  already  ordered,  and  who 
are  desirou.s  of  having  Bahlias  early  in  bloom,  should  send 
in  their  orders  at  once.  When  received  (in  Neponset  paper 
fiower-pots  if  desired  with  balls  of  soil  whole),  they  should 
be  potted  into  4-inch  pots  in  nice,  rich,  open  compost,  and 
grown  on  for  tw'o  or  three  weeks  in  a  warm  house  or 
frame,  afterwards  gradually  hardened  off ,  and  planted  out 
1st  June.  This  is  the  way  to  obtain  plants  which  will 
begin  blooming  in  July. 
We  grow  the  best,  and  only  the  best,  varieties  in  all  the 
different  sections — 
Sbow  and  Fancy,  True  Cactus,  Decorative, 
Pompone,  Single,  and  Single  Cactus, 
and  offer  our  Selection  at  the  uniform  price  of 
5/-  per  dozen  (in  Nepon.set  pots,  5/6),  Carriage  Paid. 
35/-  per  100  (in  Neponset  pots,  38/-),  Carriage  Paid. 
(In  not  less  than  50  varieties). 
SPECIAL  OFFER  of  the  FOLLOWING  SPLENDID 
NEW  CACTDS  VARIETIES  of  1897. 
Bridesjiait),  Cedric,  Cinderella,  Cycle,  Fantasy, 
Starfish,  Flossie,  Ensicn,  Je.ssie,  H.  Stredwick, 
Iona,  Mrs.  Kingsley  Foster. 
The  12  for  15/6,  post  free.  Any  6  for  8/6,  post  free.  In 
Neponset  pots.  Single  plants,  1  '6  each  ;  post  free,  1/9. 
Buyers  wishing  to  make  their  own  Selections  can  have 
Catalogues  on  apylication. 
THE  DAHLIA :  Its  History  and  Cultivation. 
A  HANDBOOK  FOR  ALL  GROWERS. 
The  Leeds  AXe' curj/ says  : — “With  the  aid  of  this  pretty 
illustrated  volume  the  cultivation  of  this  superb  flower 
should  present  no  difficulties  to  anyone.” 
Price,  in  stiff  paper  covers,  1/-  ;  in  cloth  boards,  1/6  ; 
post  free. 
FUCHSIAS. 
The  Finest  Named  Single  and  Double  Varieties.  Good 
Plants  from  single  pots. 
6  Single  and  6  Double  .  3/6  post  free. 
3  ,,  3  ,,  . 2/- 
PELARGONIUMS. 
Fins  Plants.  Splendid  Value. 
12  Grand  Single  Varieties,  post  free  for  4/6,  6  for  2/6. 
12  Grand  Double  Varieties,  post  free  for  4/6,  6  for  2/6. 
12  Splendid  Regal  and  Show  Varieties,  post  free  for 
6/6,  6  for  3/6. 
12  Scented  Geraniums,  lovely  cut  foliage  and  delicious 
perfume,  post  free  for  4/6,  6  for  2/6. 
Cuttings  of  all  the  above  Half-price. 
VIOLAS. 
“Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.  stand  first  in  Viola  culture.” — 
Birmingham  Daily  Gazette. 
For  Exhibition  or  for  Cut  Flowers.— We  offer'one 
dozen  of  the  Very  Finest  Violas,  our  selection,  including 
several  recently  introduced  varieties,  for  2/6,  post  free. 
50  in  25  of  the  very  Finest  Varieties,  10/-.,  carriage  paid. 
100  in  50  of  the  very  Finest  Varieties,  20/-  carriage  paid. 
This  last  lot  -will  put  any  one  at  once  into  the  possession 
of  a  really  superior  and  complete  collection  of  Violas. 
For  Bedding. — 100  in  12  varieties  for  12/6,  carriage  paid. 
FERTILIZING  COMPOUND 
A  High-class  Artificial  Manure  for 
all  Horticultural  Purposes. 
SAMPLE  TIN  BOX,  POST  FREE,  SIXPENCE. 
DOBBIE  &  CO., 
ROYAL  FLORISTS, 
CARTERS’  HOLBORN  PRIMULA.— Our  Prize 
.Strain  of  the  beautiful  winter-flowering  conservatory 
plant  is  the  finest  in  cultivation.  We  were  the  origi¬ 
nators  of  the  blue  variety  now'  so  popular.  Fresh 
seeds,  in  all  colours,  mixed,  including  white,  scarlet, 
blue,  and  pink.  In  Sealed  Packets,  price  2/6,  3/6, 
and  5/-  each,  post  free. 
ARTERS’  BRILLIANT  CINERARIA.— The 
very  finest  strain  ever  submitted  to  public  notice. 
Awarded  Highest  Prize,  Medal  Royal  Bouanic  Society, 
1897,  Royal  Horticultural  Society,'  1898.  A  customer 
recently  sent  us  blooms  measuring  3i  inches  across. 
Fresh  seeds,  all  colours,  mixed.  In  Sealed  Packets, 
price  2/6,  3/6,  and  5/-  each,  post  free. 
ARTERS’  VICTORIA  CALCEOLARIA.-  Our 
grand  strain  is  the  very  perfection  of  scientific  culture, 
being  compact  in  habit,  and  brilliant  in  colour  and 
size  of  blossoms.  A  customer  writes:  “The  plants 
were  a  perfect  picture,  many  w'ith  600  blooms  ;  we 
took  first  prize.”  Fresh  seeds,  all  colours,  mixed.  In 
Sealed  Packets,  price  2/6,  3/6,  and  5/-  each,  post  free. 
ARTERS’  INVINCIBLE  GLOXINIA.  — We 
have  brought  this  fine  summer  decorative  plant  to 
the  highest  excellence.  H.R.H.  the  Princess  of  Wales 
greatly  admired  our  exhibit  at  the  Temple  Exhibition 
.  last  summer,  and  was  graciously  pleased  to  pronounce 
it  an  '‘exquisite  display.”  Fresh  seeds,  all  colours, 
mixed.  In  Sealed  Packets,  price  2/6  and  5/-  each, 
post  free. 
CARTERS’,  THE  QUEEN’S  SEEDSMEN, 
237,  238,  and  97,  HIGH  HOLBORN,  LONDON. 
For  sale.  — a  surplus  stock  of 
YOUNG  CROTONS  and  STOVE  PLANTS,  and 
a  few'  ORCHIDS  and  ECHEVERIAS.  Particulars  on 
application. — I.  MOODY,  The  Gardens,  Sutton  House, 
Sutton-on-Hnll. 
Cactus  dahlias.— Annie  .Tones,  Fusilier, 
.1.  E.  Frewer,  Mrs.  W.  Noble,  Mrs.  L.  Seymour, 
Lady  Penzance,  Matchless,  Gloriosa,  Ulrs.  Boi'iie,  and  three 
others  for  4/-.  List  free. 
W.  BAXTER,  The  Nurseries,  WOKING. 
(NLEARAN 'E  SALE.— 100,000  BEGONIA 
TUBERS,  large  eiect  flowering.  Singles,  12,  2/-; 
25,3/6;  50,6/-;  100,  11/-.  Doubles,  same  price.  Smaller, 
12,  1/6  ;  25,  2/6  ;  100,  8/-,  for  cash. — JOHN  WELLS,  Begonia 
Nursery,  Ryarsh,  Mailing,  Kent. 
Defy  the  birds  by  Buying  our  Noted 
ROTLESS  TANNED  NETTING,  as  supplied  to  tlie 
Principal  Gardeners  in  the  Kingdom.  Orders  over  5/-  value 
are  sent  Carriage  Paid.  100  yds.  by  1  yd. ,  3/- ;  '200  yds.  by 
1  \d.,  6/-;  300  vds.  by  1  yd.,  9/-.  Can  supply  any  Imgdh  and 
width.  —  UNIVERSAL  SUPPLY  ASSOCIATION,  East 
Street  Works,  Reading.  (Name  Paper.) 
Heating  apparatus.  —  Medals  1375  and 
1881.  Cacalogueof  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  o/ 
Horticalturr :  “  Charcoal  is  invaluable  as  a  mannrial  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. 
All  WHO  WISH  grand  results  should 
use  THOMSON’S  IMPROVED  VINE,  PLANT  and 
VEGETABLE  MANURE.  This  Valuable  Manure  is  yearly 
rowing  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. 
HARDY  BORDER  PLANTS 
OF  THE  BEST  TYPES  ONLY. 
Many  Herbaceous  Plants  are  grow'u  from  seed,  but  it  is 
not  generally  know'ii  that  although  some  come  true  in 
this  way,  many  others  vary  greatly  in  habit,  shade  of 
colour,  or  freedom  of  bloom.  To  secure  the  best  display 
it  is  wiser  to  pay  a  little  more  for  stock  propagated  from 
tlie  l)e.st  types  by  cuttings  or  division,  than  to  buy  at  a 
little  low'er  price  stocx  raised  at  random  from  seed.  At 
the  Oldfield  Nurseries,  the  Herbaceous  Plants  number 
some  hundreds  of  thousands,  and  all  through  the  season 
tlie  department  is  worth  in.spection  by  all  lovers  of  this 
class  of  plant.s.  A  Catalogue,  giving  a  large  mass  of 
useful  information  on  them,  may  be  had  Post  Free. 
AXiTRlirCHAM  AND  MANCHESTER. 
THE  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  can  be  obtained 
from  the  Office.  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  St. 
London,  post  free  for  a  Quarter,  3/9.  Edltorl&l 
communications  must  be  addressed  to  8,  Rose 
Hill  Rd.,  Wandsworth,  S  W. 
FRUIT  BLOSSOM. 
IF  the  hardy  fruit  cro|)  in  the  summer  and  autumn 
could  he  measured  by  the  bloseom  of  trees  and 
buslies  now,  the  yield  tvould  be  prodigious.  But 
there  can  be  no  such  reliance.  An  extraordinary 
profusion  of  blossom  is  not  by  any  means  synonymous 
with  a  corresponding  abundance  of  fruit.  If  it 
were  thousands  of  trees  would  be  borne  down  with 
their  load,  and  this  of  little  value  because  of  the 
clustered  branches,  and  consequently  trashy  pro¬ 
ducts,  while  the  resources  of  the  soil  would  be 
wasted  and  the  trees  enfeebled  by  the  strain  of 
their  crushing  burden.  Overwhelming  crops,  how¬ 
ever,  need  not  be  anticipated.  They  may  follow, 
or  they  may  not.  No  cne  knows ;  but  one  thing  is 
certain — if  one  tenth  of  the  blossoms  with  which 
trees  innumerable  are  now  densely  covered  were  to 
set,  and  the  fruit  allowed  to  swell,  the  crops  would 
not  possess  half  the  value  that  the  yield  would  if 
the  fruits  were  half  the  number,  and  consequently 
twice  the  size.  Cold  winds,  frosty  nights,  and  dry 
soil  are  not  favourable  to  the  setting  and  swelling 
of  fruits. 
The  extensive  fruit  plantations  in  the  Thames 
Valley  and  elsewhere  are  now  veritable  pictures  of 
chaste  beauty.  Plums  and  Cherries  are  simply 
heaped  with  myriads  of  silvery  blossoms,  and  Pears 
are  like  mountains  of  snow.  Apples,  as  a  rule^ 
seem  equally  laden,  or  overladen.  This  applies  to 
young  trees  and  to  old  that  are  in  hearing  condition. 
Many  free  growing  trees  are  not  allowed  to  be 
productive  because  of  the  senseless  way  in  which 
the  branches  are  cut  back  each  year,  resulting  in  a 
forest  of  crowded  growths — to  be  cut  back  again. 
That  is  the  way  in  which  stupid  people  make  and 
manage  “  pyramids,”  and  not  a  few  of  these  people, 
it  is  painlul  to  say,  pass  through  the  world  as 
gardeners.  Their  work  of  mutilation  and  fruit 
prevention  is  apparent  here  and  there  all  over  the 
country.  A  few  of  these  tree  trimmers,  it  is  satis¬ 
factory  to  observe,  are  learning  better.  They  are 
beginning  to  shorten  the  roots  of  exuberant  trees 
to  arrest  growth,  and  thin  out  the  branches  to 
promote  fruitfulness,  instead  of  hacking  them  back 
yearly;  but  unfortunately  some  men  are  too  wise 
in  their  own  ignorance  to  be  taught  the  better 
No.  2687. -VOL.  XCVin..  Old  Series. 
No.  931.— VoL.  XXXVI.,  Third  Skrie.s. 
