104  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  August  H.  L98. 
^  .   '  t  -  .■ 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
DRILL  HALL.— August  9th. 
frequented  in  the  evening  or  in  wet  weather  by  those  keenly  sensitive 
to  odours.  It  has  a  peculiar  odour  at  such  times,  which  is  to  some 
unpleasing.  Its  flowers  are  so  distinct  that  its  odour  and  its  rambling 
habit  must,  with  this  precaution,  be  condoned. 
Geraniums. 
Some  of  the  dwarf  Geraniums  are  pretty  still  with  the  allied 
Erodiums.  None  of  the  former  pleases  better  than  G.  sanguineum  var. 
laneastriense.  The  white  variety  of  sanguineum,  considered  by  some  a 
hybrid,  is  quite  distinct  and  of  much  larger  growth.  Less  easily  grown 
is  G.  argenteum.  Of  the  Erodiums  none  is  prettier  than  the  dwarf 
E.  Richardi  which,  unfortunately,  sometimes  succumbs  to  a  wet  winter. 
Violas  and  Pinks. 
Very  pretty  in  the  rock  garden  are  the  miniature  Violas,  of  which 
Violetta  is  the  type,  and  is  still,  perhaps,  the  best  of  all.  They  come  in 
very  usefully  at  this  season,  and  can  be  used  to  brighten  Up  dull  spaces. 
The  Maiden  Pinks  are  also  charming  flowers  at  this  season.  Albeit 
somewhat  too  cheap  for  those  who  pride  themselves  upon  the  possession 
ot  rare  plants  alone,  these  varieties  of  Dianthus  deltoides  can  hardly  be 
dispensed  with  at  this  season.  Their  pink  flowers  are  pleasing  on  their 
grass-like  plants,  and  the  variety  albus  is  usually  much  admired,  with  its 
white  flowers  with  pink  centre. 
Platycodons. 
The  Platycodons  or  Balloon  Flowers  are  highly  thought  of  wherever 
seen.  The  best  for  ordinary  rockwork  are  those  known  as  P.  Mariesi 
and  P.  Mariesi  album.  Their  dwarfer  habit  makes  them  more  suitable 
than  the  taller  plants  bearing  the  name  of  P.  grandiflorum.  The  white 
P.  Mariesi  album  is  now  more  commonly  seen  than  a  year  or  two  ago, 
but  can  hardly  compete  in  beauty  with  the  typical  blue  form.  As  we 
look  on  the  rock  garden  we  see  many  other  flowers  ;  some  noteworthy 
because  of  their  blooms,  but  more  pleasing  on  account  of  their  foliage. 
The  season  is  nearly  over,  but  there  yet  remain  attractions  for  the  alpine 
lover,  who  grows  a  good  collection  of  these  miniature  plants. — Alpinus. 
(To  be  continued.) 
EXPERIENCE  WITH  STRAWBERRIES. 
Very  glad  am  I  to  see  this  discussion  in  our  Journal.  We  all  grow 
Strawberries — at  least,  we  all  want  to  grow  them,  and  try  to  grow  them, 
so  that  the  question  is  generally  interesting.  Some  succeed  and  some  do 
not ;  those  who  succeed  swagger,  and  those  who  don’t  “  cuss”  (no  irreve¬ 
rence  meant,  Mr.  Editor).  It  is  a  queer  subject ;  amusing,  too,  when 
you  come  to  think  of  it.  It  may  he  put  in  j>aradoxes,  opposites. 
(a)  Everybody  can  grow  Strawberies  ;  everybody  cannot  grow  Straw¬ 
berries.  (b)  All  sorts  do  well  on  all  land;  all  sorts  do  not  do  well  on 
all  land. 
I  deduce  these  paradoxes  from  what  I  hear  and  what  I  read  on 
Strawberry  growing.  As  a  rule,  though,  Strawberries  are  grown  on 
some  ground,  with  some  varieties,  of  some  quality,  with  an  average 
amount  of  satisfaction  we  must  all  confess,  and  do  confess,  and  it  is 
these  confessions  which  ate  so  interesting,  and  amusing,  and 
instructive. 
I  have  tried  most  of  the  leading  sorts,  and  this  year  I  specially 
name  Royal  Sovereign,  Scarlet  Queen,  President,  and  Newton  Seedling. 
As  economy  is  written  in  very  large  letters  all  over  my  garden  and 
garden  arrangements  I  have  to  go  very  carefully,  and  it  is  my  custom 
to  get  in  each  year  one  or  two  of  the  new  varieties  which  are  said  to 
be  good.  My  custom  is  (because  of  economy)  to  get  a  dozen  or  so 
of  runners  ot  these  new  sorts  and  plant  them  in  some  outside  border, 
watch  their  actions  the  next  season,  and  either  add  them  to  my 
collection  or  turn  them  out,  as  they  show  up  their  qualities. 
For  instance,  last  year  I  got  in  runners  of  Leader  and  Monarch, 
and  the  result  of  their  showing  this  year  is  ihat  I  shall  plant  every 
runner  of  Leader  I  can  get,  but  of  Monarch  only  a  very  few.  Why  '? 
Well,  Leader  shows,  on  my  ground,  that  it  will  bring  plenty  of  fruit, 
and  quantity  is  a  first  consideration;  whilst  Monarch  had  too  many 
“  blind”  to  warrant  a  very  extensive  planting. 
I  do  not  throw  Monarch  out  entirely,  for  the  reason  that  “  blind” 
plants,  even  on  many  prolific  varieties,  have  been  very  prevalent  this 
season,  John  Raskin,  for  instance,  and  I  think  it  is  only  fair  that  I 
try  it  again  ;  and  probably,  if  all  is  well,  I  may  be  able  next  year  to 
give  it  a  better  character.  If  I  were  reduced  to  two  varieties  I  should 
choose  Royal  Sovereign  and  President.  The  two  I  have  marked  to 
get  as  trial  sorts  this  season  are  Louis  Gauthier  and  Veitch’s  Prolific. 
I  should  like  to  say  a  good  word  for  Gunton  Park  and  Lord 
Suffield,  but  my  trial  does  not  justify  me  in  doing  so,  though  a  near 
neighbour  has  done  well  with  it  (Gunton  Park),  and  has  great  words 
of  praise  for  it,  but  not  so  well  with  Lord  Suffield. 
There  is  no  crop  so  odd  in  the  likes  and  dislikes  for  land  as 
Strawberries,  except  Potatoes.  What  will  do  in  one  garden  will  not 
do  in  another,  and  in  gardensjnot  so  far  apart  either,  and  we  all  have 
to  find  out  what  will  do,  andjwhat  will  not  do;  hence  the  great  value 
of  this  timely  discussion  oon|  Strawberries  in  our  Journal. — An  Old 
Provincial. 
The  exhibition  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday  was  one  of  the  smallest 
that  we  remember  seeing.  Orchids  are  always  scarce  during  August, 
but  herbaceous  flowers  are  generally  very  numerous.  On  this  occasion, 
however,  this  was  not  the  case,  and  empty  space  was  too  apparent.  Fruit 
was  well  staged,  especially  the  Gooseberries  and  Currants  from  Messrs. 
J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea.  The  collection  of  these  hardy  fruits 
was  a  representative  one,  and  was  the  source  of  much  interest. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present :  P.  Crowley.  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Rev.  W.  Wilks  and  Messrs.  T.  F.  Rivers,  J.  H.  Veitch,  G.  Bunyard, 
J.  Cheal,  R.  Parker,  A.  F.  Barron.  G.  Norman,  G.  Reynolds,  F.  Q.  Lane, 
H.  Balderson,  G.  Wythes,  W.  F.  Empson,  T.  Fife,  M.  Gleeson,  A.  Dean, 
and  J.  Wright. 
From  the  gardens  of  Sir  Weetman  Pearson,  Paddockhurst,  Crawley, 
came  a  large  oval-shaped  Melon,  sweet,  but  the  flesh  too  soft  to  merit 
approval.  Mr.  Crook  sent  a  good-looking  Melon  from  Furde  Abbey, 
but  was  also  passed  by  the  Committee. 
Mr.  W.  Carmichael  sent  a  dish  of  his  seedling  Strawberry  Britannia, 
remarkable  for  its  very  dark  colour  and  prominent  achenes.  Fruit  some¬ 
what  small,  flavour  good  (passed). 
Messrs.  Kelway  &  Sons  sent  fruits  and  plants  of  the  Strawberry 
Raspberry.  They  are  very  bright  and  somewhat  Strawberry  like,  but 
more  closely  resembling  tnose  of  the  Arbutus,  and  flavourless.  They 
are  all  the  same  ornamental,  and  a  desire  was  expressed  for  information 
as  to  the  origin  of  the  plant. 
Messrs.  James  Veitch  &  Sons  sent  fruiting  sprays  of  the  Raspberry 
Blackberry,  the  result  of  across  between  Belle  de  Fonter.ay  Raspberry 
and  an  ordinary  Bramble.  The  fruit  resemble  small  dark  Raspberries,  but 
with  a  small  amount  of  Raspberry  flavour. 
Mr.  W.  Roupellsent  from  Streatham  perfectly  ripe  fruits  of  Mr.  Glad¬ 
stone  Apple,  also  for  comparison  unripe  fruits  of  Irish  Peach  (vote  ol 
thanks). 
Early  Rivers  Cherries  and  Golden  Transparent  Plums  were  placed  on 
the  table  by  Mr.  Rivers,  and  were  admired  for  their  beautiful  appearance 
and  high  quality. 
A  splendid  collection  of  Gooseberries  was  exhibited  by  Messrs.  J. 
Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.  It  will  be  remembered  that  at  the  last  meeting  the 
firm  was  represented  by  Gooseberry  plants,  but  on  this  occasion  fruits 
w-ere  staged  with  the  addition  ot  only  a  few  cordons  in  fruit.  The  varie¬ 
ties  actually  numbered  106,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  very  few  known 
sorts  were  omitted.  There  were  numbers  and  there  was  quality,  each 
variety  being  shown  in  the  very  best  form.  Amongst  so  much  excellence 
it  is  somewhat  invidious  to  select,  but  we  fnay  specially  note  Langley 
Gage,  Langley  Beauty,  Mitre,  Railway,  Dan’s  Mistake,  Forester,  Industry, 
Lord  Derby,  Napoleon  le  Grand,  High  Sheriff,  Stockwell,  Fearless, 
Coiner,  Legerdemain,  King  of  Trumps,  Matchless,  Delvine,  Green  Laurel, 
Eagle,  Yellowsmith,  and  Early  Sulphur.  In  addition  to  the  Gooseberries 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  sent  twenty-five  varieties  of  Red,  White,  and  Black 
Currants,  of  which  the  finest  varieties  were  La  Versaillaise,  La  Constante, 
and  Warner’s  Grape.  Red  ;  White  Dutch,  Cut-leaved,  White  Transparent, 
and  White  Grape,  White  ;  and  Black  Naples,  Lee’s  Prolific,  and  Black 
Grape.  Cherries  comprised  Emperor  Francis,  G6ant  de  Heidelfinger, 
Bigarreau  Napoleon,  and  Florence.  The  same  firm  sent  Apples  Mr. 
Gladstone,  Red  Astraehan,  Irish  Peach,  Early  Julian,  Early  Harvest, 
and  Oslin  ;  while  of  Pears  there  were  Doyenne  d’Ete,  Jargonelle,  and 
Citron  des  Carmes.  Mr.  G.  Keif,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Abbott,  Regent’s 
Park,  exhibited  a  most  creditable  collection  of  fruit,  including  Plums  In 
pots,  Peaches  Royal  George  ;  Grapes  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Madresfield 
Court,  Black  Hamburgh,  and  Buckland  Sweetwater,  with  Melons  and 
Plums  in  dishes. 
Messrs.  Harrison  &  Sons,  Leicester,  sent  a  large  collection  of  Broad 
Beans  in  about  twenty  varieties.  Messrs  Kelway  &  Son,  Langport, 
exhibited  the  Strawberry  Raspberry.  Messrs.  T.  Rivers  &  Son.  Saw- 
bridgeworth,  sent  a  fine  basket  of  Early  Rivers  Nectarine,  Golden 
Transparent  Gage,  Grand  Duke  Plums,  and  a  choice  collection  of 
Cherries  of  enormous  size  and  exquisite  appearance,  the  varieties  Emperor 
Francis  and  Geant  de  Heidelfinger  being  especially  fine.  Mr.  J.  Miller, 
gardener  to  Lord  Foley,  Esher,  exhibited  a  collection  of  fr  jit,  comprising 
Melons,  Peaches,  Apricots,  Cherries,  Plums,  and  Gooseberries. 
Floral  Committee.—  Present  :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair) ; 
with  Messrs.  J.  Fraser,  O.  Thomas,  H.  B.  May,  C.  T.  Druery,  R.  Dean, 
G.  Stevens.  W.  Howe,  J.  F.  McLeod,  C.  J.  Salter,  C.  E.  Pearson,  J. 
Walker,  C.  E.  Shea,  H,  Turner,  and  J.  Fraser  (Ivew). 
Mr.  Owen  Thomas,  gardener  to  her  Majesty  the  Queen,  Windsor, 
exhibited  a  very  fine  collection  of  Nepenthes,  including  N.  mixta, 
N.  Mastersiana,  N.  Hooke/iana,  N.  Dicksoniana,  N.  intermedia,  and 
N.  Curtisi,  with  ornamental  foliage  and  a  groundwork  of  Maidenhair 
Fern  and  Asparagus  trails.  A  very  attractive  exhibit.  Messrs  Jas. 
Veitch  &  Sons,  Chelsea,  staged  baskets  of  Cornus  macrophylla ;  Eucry- 
phia  piunatifolia,  a  shrub  with  white  flowers  almost  identical  with  a 
Hypericum  ;  also  Coprosma  acerosa  and  Pavia  macrostachys,  a  very- 
beautiful  flowering  shrub.  The  same  firm  also  staged  six  vases  of 
Carnation  George  Maquay,  an  excellent  white  ;  the  flowers  were  weather¬ 
beaten,  but  it  is  certainly  very  floriferous  and  pure  in  colour. 
Mr.  S.  Mortimer,  Rowledge,  Farnham,  exhibited  a  very  good  display 
of  Dahlias,  consisting  of  the  Cactus  and  Show  types.  In  the  former 
section  Charles  Woodbridge,  Night,  Britannia,  Arachne,  Starfish,  and 
Miss  A.  Nightingale  were  well  shown,  while  in  the  latter  section  Colonist, 
Win.  Rawlings,  Mrs.  Morgan,  John  Hickling,  John  Walker,  Rebecca,  and 
