July  7,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER , 
1 
"W-  EBBS’ 
EMPEROR  CABBAGE 
THE  EARLIEST  AND  BEST. 
6(1.  and  1/-  per  Packet  ;  1/6  per  Ounce. 
From  JAMES  MATTHEWSON,  Esq.,  East  Moneylaws. 
“The  packet  of  Emperor  Cabbage  seed  1  had  from  you 
last  season  produced  the  best  and  truest  Cabbage  I  have 
seen  for  years  ;  they  also  came  early.”  , 
WEBBS’,  WORD S LE  Y^ST  OU  R BRIDCE. 
RIVERS’ 
FRUIT  TREES, 
Roses,  Vines, 
FIGS,  ORANGES, 
AND 
Orchard-House  Trees. 
A  LARGE  AND  SELECT  STOCK 
ALWAYS  ON  VIEW. 
ILLUSTRATED  AND  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE, 
Post  Free,  3d. 
THOMAS  RIVERS  &  SON, 
SAWBRIDGEWORTH,  HERTS. 
HARLOW  STATION.  G.E.R. 
PRIMULAS!  PRIMULAS!  PRIMULAS! 
'Williams’  and  other  superb  strains,  also  Primula  Obconica. 
CINERARIAS  and  BEGONIAS,  1/6  per  dozen,  10/- 100. 
Double  White  Primulas,  6d.  each.  All  the  above  fit  for 
3  and  4-in.  pots,  and  carriage  free  for  cash  with  order. 
JOHN  STEVENS,  The  Nurseries,  COVENTRY. 
CLEAN  HEALTHY  PLANTS  AT  LOW  PRICES. 
Always  worth  a  visit  of  inspection.  Kindly  send  for  Catalogue. 
JAMES  CYPHER, 
Exotic  Nurseries,  CHELTENHAM. 
BEGONIAS. 
B.  R.  DAVIS’  Gold  Medal  Strain. 
The  LARGEST  and  MOST  SUPERB  COLLECTION 
in  the  World,  of  DOUBLE  and  SINGLE  TUBEROUS- 
ROOTED.  See  Catalogue  and  Guide  Book  Free. 
B.  R.  DAVIS,  Begonia  Specialist,  &c., 
Yeovil  Nurseries,  SOMERSET. 
CARNATIONS. 
CHOICE  SEEDLINGS,  raised  from  the  seed  of  the  most 
noted  Specialists  only. 
NOW  READY  for  immediate  planting,  3/6  doz.,  25/- 100. 
NEW  CATALOGUE,  comprising  the  newest  and  best 
exhibition  varieties  in  cultivation,  free  on  application. 
H.  W.  WEGUELIN,  F.R  H.S., 
ST.  MARY  CHURCH,  TORQUAY. 
The  Royal  Hnrseries,  Maidstone,  Kent. 
GEORGE  BUNYARD  &  CO. 
Are  now  BOOKING  ORDERS  for  early  delivery 
of  the  very  best 
NEW  &  OLD  STRAWBERRIES 
For  Crop,  1899,  or  for  Forcing. 
They  offer  the  Largest  Stock  and  the  Best  Plants  in  the 
Trade.  CHANGE  OF  STOCK  PAYS. 
Catalogues  of  Strawberries  and  Summer  Fruits  Now  Ready 
LONDON  FERN  NURSERIES, 
Loughborough  Junction,  London,  S.W.— Ferns,  large 
and  small,  in  variety  ;  Aralias,  Grevilleas,  Cyperus,  Ficus, 
Ericas,  Palms,  Dracaenas,  Aspidistras,  Hydrangeas,  Pelar¬ 
goniums,  Fuchsias,  Marguerites,  Crotons,  &c.  Trade, 
send  for  Wholesale  List.  Special  List  for  Amateurs,  send 
for  one.— J.  E.  SMITH. 
IMPORTANT  TO  MUSHROOM  GROWERS  — 
CUTHBERT’S  SPECIALITE  MUSHROOM  SPAWN. 
Always  alike  ;  most  productive.  Hundreds  of  Testimonials. 
Per  Bushel,  5/-.— R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT,  Seed,  Bulb,  and 
Plant  Merchants,  Southgate,  N.  Established  1797. 
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. 
"VTOTICE. — Don’t  stake  your  Carnations  till  you 
have  seen  the  Patent  Improved  Coil  Stake.  No 
tying  required ;  stakes  last  a  lifetime.  The  greacest  boon 
ever  offered  to  growers.  Only  wants  seeing.  7/6  per  100; 
sample  dozen,  1/-,  carriage  paid.  Cash  with  order. — 
A.  PORTER,  Stone  House,  Maidstone. 
JC.  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. 
FIVE  ROSE -SHOW  BOXES,  with  Foster’s 
Holders ;  good  condition  ;  two  holding  24,  two  12, 
and  a  6.  Price  30/-.— Rev.  W.  LANGLEY,  Narborough 
Rectory,  Leicester. 
DEFY  THE  BIRDS  by  Buying  our  Noted 
ROTLESS  TANNED  NETTING,  as  supplied  to  the 
Principal  Gardeners  in  the  Kingdom.  Orders  over  5/-  value 
are  sent  Carriage  Paid.  100  yds.  by  1  yd. ,  3/- ;  200  yds.  by 
1  yd.,  6/--r  300  vcls.  by  1  yd.,  9/-.  Can  supply  any  length  and 
width.  —  UNIVERSAL  SUPPLY  ASSOCIATION,  East 
Street  Works,  Reading.  (Name  Paper.) 
COTTAGE  GARDENING  ;  being  an  Essay  to 
which  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  awarded  Mr. 
W.  Egebton  Hubbard’s  Prize,  February  16th,  1870.  By 
E.  W.  Badger.  Third  Edition.  Price  3d. ;  post  free,  3id. — 
Journal  of  Horticulture  Office,  12,  Mitre  Court 
Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  E.C. 
PURE  WOOD  CHARCOAL,  Specially  Prepared 
for  Horticultural  use.  Extract  from  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture :  1 1  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. 
GARDEN  NETTING,  small  mesh,  keep  out  the 
smallest  birds,  oiled  and  dressed  ;  will  not  rot  if  left 
out  in  all  weathers.  106  yds.  by  1  yd.  wide,  3/- ;  by  2  yds. 
wide,  6/- ;  105  by  3  yds.  wide,  9/-,  and  so  on  uo  any  width  ; 
carriage  paid  on  all  orders  over  5/.,  As  supplied  to  the 
Royal  Gardens.  Commoner  netting,  50  square  yds.  for  1/-. 
I  do  not  require  Payment  until  y':u  have  receive  and  approved 
of  the  Netting. — From  H.  J.  GASSON,  Garden  Netting 
Works,  Rye. 
Greenhouses  from  £3  5/-;  vineries. 
Conservatories,  Frames,  Summer  Houses,  &c. 
Illustrated  List  Free.  Makers  to  H.M.  the  Queen  and 
H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales. 
POTTER,  HAWTHORN  &  CO.,  London  Works, 
READING.  (Name  Paper.) 
THURSDAY,  JULY  7,  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. 
ORNAMENTAL  ASPARAGUS. 
THE  introduction  of  Asparagus  plumosus  came 
as  a  great  boon  to  the  flower-loving  public, 
because  in  nearly  all  floral  arrangements  in  which 
Maidenhair  Fern  was  used  the  beauty  of  the  whole 
was  quickly  marred  by  the  withering  of  the  Fern 
fronds.  It  is  quite  a  matter  of  taste  as  to  whether 
Asparagus  or  Fern  supplies  the  more  beautiful 
form  "of  greenery  for  associating  with  flowers. 
Personally  I  consider  nothing  looks  better  for  the 
purpose  than  pale  yellow,  hard  fronds  of  Adiantum 
cuneatum;  but  in  the  matter  of  lasting  qualities 
there  is  no  comparison  between  the  two.  Asparagus 
when  placed  in  water  will  last  in  hot  rooms  four, 
five,  or  even  eight  days ;  and  when  made  up  in 
sprays  or  bouquets  it  keeps  perfectly  fresh  for  a 
couple  of  days.  This  saves  an  immense  amount 
of  labour  in  establishments  where  floral  decorations 
are  -carried  out  on  a  large  scale,  and  in  regard  to 
the  various  floral  devices  worn  for  personal  adorn¬ 
ment  the  employment  of  Asparagus  is  a  source  of 
satisfaction  to  all  concerned. 
Taking  these  facts  into  consideration  it  is,  1 
think,  no  matter  for  surprise  to  find  the  culture  of 
South  African  Asparagus  has  rapidly  extended 
during  recent  years.  The  introduction  of  plumosus 
was  soon  followed  by  another  addition  in  the  form 
of  tenuissimus.  Both  are  exceedingly  chaste,  and 
each  has  some  point  of  superiority  over  the  other. 
Later  additions  are  deflexus,  rctrofractus  arboreus, 
and  stipulaceus ;  and  by  the  aid  of  these  florists 
and  gardeners  have  opportunities  for  forming  the 
light,  graceful,  flowing  arrangements  which  are 
so  much  appreciated  at  the  present  time. 
Although  Asparagus  is  largely  in  demand  at 
remunerative  prices,  the  plant  is  of  extremely 
easy  culture,  and  is  subject  to  the  attacks  of  few 
insects,  scale  perhaps  being  the  most  troublesome, 
and  it  is  not  difficult  to  keep  this  under  if  remedial 
measures  are  taken  early.  Owing  to  the  demand 
both  plants  and  seeds  are  ratner  expensive,  but 
when  once  a  stock  is  obtained  there  is  money  in 
ornamental  Asparagus  growing. 
A  good  method  to  pursue  in  order  to  work  up 
a  stock  is  to  purchase  plants  in  small  pots,  and 
repot  as  they  require  it ;  but  generally  it  will  he 
No.  2697.— VOL.  XCIX.,  OLD  SERIES. 
No.  941.— Vol.  XXXVII.,  Third  Series. 
