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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  1,  1898. 
which  says  that  it  intends  to  organise  Chrysanthemum  shows,  to 
award  medals  and  subsidies,  to  grant  certificates  of  merit  to  the  best 
novelties,  to  arrange  conferences,  to  give  advice  to  other  horticultural 
societies  desirous  of  holding  shows  of  the  same  flower,  to  supply 
information  on  various  points  to  its  members,  and  to  assist  amateurs 
in  making  appropriate  selections  of  varieties  to  grow.  In  January  or 
I  ebruary  a  journal  will  be  issued  containing  the  annual  report  and 
balance-sheet,  a  catalogue  of  the  best  varieties  exhibited,  and  various 
interesting  matter  relating  to  questions  of  culture. — C.  H.  Paynj?. 
REGAL  PELARGONIUMS. 
In  the  list  of  showy  greenhouse  plants  there  are  few  to  equal  the 
Show  and  Regal  Pelargoniums,  a  popular  market  plant,  and  a  favourite 
in  most  private  places.  Not  the  least  of  their  merit  is  the  time  the 
flowers  last  in  water,  for  there  never  was  a  greater  mistake  than  the 
idea  that  these  are  short-lived  when  cut.  The  length  of  time  they 
keep  up  a  display  in  the  houses  is  remarkable,  and  it  is  no  uncommon 
thing  to  have  them  in  bloom  for  four  months  on  end.  They  are 
equally  showy  as  the  tuberous  Begonia,  and  a$  easily  grown,  their 
one  fault  being  the  liability  of  green  fly  attacks. 
But  these  since  the  advent  of  the  improved  methods  of  fumigation 
now  in  vogue  need  not  be  feared  in  the  least,  either  of  the  better  known 
makes  of  fumigating  material  being  perfectly  safe  to  use,  and  equally 
satisfactory  as  regards  the  insect.  The  present  being  the  propagiting 
season,  seems  a  good  time  to  briefly  refer  to  their  culture.  The  old 
plants  ere  this  will  have  been  placed  outside  in  the  full  sun,  and 
though  not  an  advocate  for  severe  drying  off,  the  plants  must  have  a 
greatly  lessened  supply  of  moisture  after  they  steady  down  in  growth, 
so  to  speak. 
If  placed  out  by  the  end  of  July  the  growth  will  by  now  have 
hardentd  considerably,  and  the  plants  are  fit  for  cutting  down.  Use  a 
keen  knife,  and  cut  back  to  where  the  growth  is  sound  and  ripe; 
no  greater  error  can  be  made  than  to  take  only  the  green  points  of 
the  shoots.  W  eak  shoots  this  season  will  push  weakly  again,  and  no 
amount  of  care  will  make  them  satisfactory.  Amateur  growers  have 
sometimes  the  idea  that  by  taking  only  the  extreme  points  larger 
plants  the  next  season  are  formed.  This  is  wrong.  They  may  cut 
back  the  recently  formed  growth  with  as  little  compunction  as  they 
would  that  of  a  Vine,  and  plenty  of  good  shoots  will  be  formed;  in 
fact  in  all  probability  they  will  require  somewhat  severe  thinning. 
The  wood  taken  from  healthy  plants  consists  of  semi-ripened 
shoots,  with  the  old  flower  spike  in  the  c<  ntre,  and  this  being  removed 
the  cutting  is  ready  for  insertion.  Place  three  or  four  cuttings, 
according  to  size,  in  a  4-inch  pot,  give  sandy  light  compost,  and  place 
them  in  the  full  sun  out  of  doors.  The  pots  should  be  stood  on  a  bed 
of  coal  ashes,  over  which  a  little  soot  and  hme  has  been  scattered,  and 
kept  moist  until  roots  are  foimed. 
The  old  plants  meanwhile  nust  be  kept 'perfectly  dry,  or  at  least 
not  watered  from  the  can.  If  very  heavy  rains  occur  after  cutting 
back  the  plants  should  be  placed  in  a  frame  for  protection,  but  light 
showers  are  beneficial.  In  thinning  the  shoots  have  regard  to  the 
shape  of  the  plant,  and  leave  as  many  as  possible  without  any  fear  of 
crowding.  Keep  in  mied,  tco,  that  some  of  the  stronger  ones  may 
require  stopping,  and  this,  of  course,  leads  to  the  production  of  three 
or  more  shoots  instead  of  one.  The  variety,  too,  must  be  considered  ; 
some  of  the  stronger  growers  naturally  push  less  shoots  than  the 
weaker  ones,  such,  for  instance,  as  Dorothy,  Madame  Thibaut,  and  its 
beautiful  white  sport  Princess  Alexandra  making  few  shoots,  but 
these  very  strong;  while  the  weaker  growers,  as  Dr.  Masters,  Prince 
of  leek,  and  others  of  this  habit  make  a  lot  of  young  shoots,  that 
individually  take  up  little  room.  A  few  there  a'e  which  make 
superbly  shaped  plants,  almost  naturally  being  of  a  medium  branching 
habit,  two  that  occur  to  mind  being  Princess  May,  a  lovely  salmon 
pink,  and  the  deeper  coloured  H.  M.  Stanley.  A  little  judgment  then 
at  this  stage  is  well  repaid  by  the  improved  appearance  of  the  plants 
later. 
By  the  time  the  cuttings  are  rooted  the  old  plants  will  be  ready 
for  repotting.  The  former  will  be  placed  singly  in  3-inch  pots,  while 
the  old  plants  must  be  shaken  clear  of  the  compost,  a  few  of  the 
stronger  roots  cut  back,  and  repotted  in  the  same  size  as  before,  or  a 
size  smaller.  In  both  cases  use  the  potting  stick  freely,  as  a  firm  soil 
means  hard  and  slow  growth  at  first,  and  this  is  much  more  satis 
factory  than  having  it  soft  and  sappy.  If  the  weather  prove  fine 
after  repotting,  the  plants  may  remain  outside  in  the  full  sun ;  but  a 
light  frame  with  a  south  aspect  is  usually  better  for  them,  removing 
the  lights  during  fine  weather,  and  covering  only  from  heavy  rains. 
atering  at  the  root  needs  care  now,  very  little  being  required  until 
the  roots  are  getting  well  out  into  the  new  compost. 
A.  light,  airy,  and  comparatively  dry  house  suits  the  plants  best 
during  the  winter,  the  heads  being  kept  within  a  few  inches  of  the 
roof  glass.  Any  growths  taking  an  undue  lead  may  be  pinched  to 
make  a  shapely  well-balanced  plant.  Fumigation  must  he  allowed  as 
soon  as  there  is  the  least  sign  of  green  fly,  and  any  decaying  foliage 
carefully  removed,  maintaining  a  sweet  atmosphere  in  the  house 
by  free  ventilation  on  every  possible  occasion.  In  early  spring  the 
plants  will  have  their  final  shift,  allowing  sufficient  room,  as  it  is  not 
wise  to  feed  the  plants  too  liberally.  Good  loam,  leaf  mould,  and 
dried  cow  manure  broken  in  lumps,  is  a  good  compost,  and  if  this  is 
firmly  placed  little  feeding  will  be  necessary  until  the  buds  are 
showing,  when  frequent  weak  doses  of  guano  and  soot  water  alternately 
will  insure  a  beautiful  and  long-continued  display. — H.  R.  Richards. 
NOTES  FROM  IRELAND. 
Past  blessings  are  apt  to  fade  into  the  dim  perspective,  hence, 
perhaps,  memory  is  somewhat  faulty  in  presenting  to  one’s  mind 
among  the  years  that  have  fled  a  more  bountiful  season  than  the 
present.  This,  it  must  be  added,  is  more  from  a  farming  than  a 
gardening  point  of  view,  but  conjointly  it  applies  to  the  Couuty  of 
Dublin,  and  happily  the  observation  of  others  confirms  that  opinion, 
as  well  as  deriving  it  from  a  considerably  extended  area.  From  the 
West  alone  comes  a  tale  of  woe,  and  that  anent  the  Potato,  which 
plays,  alas  !  a  far  more  prominent  part  in  that  impoverished  district. 
Fruit  crops  however,  if  of  less  general  importance,  claim  prior 
attention,  but  local  circumstances  so  considerably  alter  cases,  that 
mere  casual  observation  scarcely  warrants  a  decided  assumption  ;  yet 
I  venture  to  think  that  this  part  of  the  programme,  if  not  overflowing, 
is  fairly  well  filled,  justifying  the  conclusion  of  an  all-round  average. 
A  late  spring  retarded  blossom,  and  although  night  temperatures 
descended  to  danger  "point,  it  was  not  until  a  luxuriant  leafage  was 
put  forth  that  frosty  nights  came,  and  these  in  what  was  practically 
early  summer.  Bad  effects  followed  inland,  but  these  were  partial, 
and  only  in  some  isolated  instances  were  the  tender  tops  of  the  Potato 
cut  to  the  ground.  Our  growers  for  market  rejoiced  in  a  bountiful 
Strawberry  crop,  prices  for  selected  fruit  being  never  less  than  fid. 
per  pound.  Royal  Sovereign  is  now  coming  largely  to  the  fiont ;  for 
all-round  purposes  it  is  unexcelled,  and  as  a  forcing  variety  it  leads 
the  way. 
Apples  and  Pears  are  more  conspicuous  by  quantity  than  quality  ; 
but  outside  of  private  gardens  little  attention  is  paid  to  them. 
There  never  appears  sufficient  of  those  fruits  placed  upon  the  Dublin 
markets  to  create  a  demand  by  the  working  classes,  although  a  certain 
amount  of  “  rubbish  ”  is  hawked  about  the  streets  for  a  limited 
season.  Seldom  are  good  sound  cooking  Apples  to  be  had  for  less  than 
Is.  per  dozen,  so  the  Apple  dumpling  is  missing  from  the  humbler 
menu.  As  elsewhere,  Tomatoes  are  esteemed  and  regarded  as  a  paying 
crop;  with  these  and  with  Cucumbers  the  eelworm  has  given  much 
trouble  to  growers  this  season. 
The  Royal  Dublin  Society’s  unique  horse  show,  taking  place  as 
these  notes  are  penned,  annually  makes  the  city  en  fete ;  that  and 
the  social  functions  contingent  upon  it  create  a  demand  for  choice 
fruit.  Peaches  in  the  market  have  returned  14s.  per  dozen,  and 
Nectarines  only  a  few  pence  less.  Grapes  at  any  time  seldom  give 
satisfactory  returns.  In  the  matter  of  Peach  growing,  rather 
extensively  practised  at  some  few  private  places  in  the  vicinity, 
those  who  cater  for  the  market  have  little  to  fear  from  external 
competition.  Now  and  again  imported  consignments  are  to  hand,  but 
it  is  easy  to  detect  the  “  travellers,”  which,  if  they  do  not  suffer  by 
road  and  rail,  are,  like  other  travellers,  handicapped  by  the  sea  trip. 
Plums  on  the  walls,  and  even  the  precarious  Apricots,  are  bearing 
well;  Green  Gages  and  Victorias  being  particularly  abundant.  The 
latter  is  most  reliable,  and  worthy  of  being  more  extensively  grown 
than  obtains  here. 
A  copious  rainfall  until  July  came  in  filled  the  country  with  hay, 
and  owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  season  few  meadows  were  cut  till 
then.  But  it  was  worth  waiting  for;  July  being  simply  glorious — a 
dry  month  without  drought — and  the  heavy  grass  crops  were  converted 
into  the  sweetest  of  fodder  at  a  minimum  of  expense  and  labour. 
The  last  extension  of  the  electric  tram  service  in  Dublin  having  done 
away  with  a  considerable  amount  of  horse  power,  good  prices  for  hay 
are  a  vanishing  quantity.  Would  that  the  powers  that  be  knew  what 
blessings  they  might  receive  and  confer  by  quartering  a  few  cavalry 
regiments  in  the  Irish  metropolis.  With  August  came  broken  weather, 
and  much  anxiety  prevails  re-pecting  the  abundant  harvest  ready  for 
the  reaper.  Heavy  crops  of  Wheat,  Oats,  and  Barley  have  been,  in 
the  more  exposed  situations,  laid  flat.  Some  very  fine  breadths  of 
Wheat  have,  however,  in  sheltered  places,  been  “stocked”  in  the 
primest  condition. 
Topical  talk  from  rural  districts  tends  to  show  how  import mt  the 
Potato  crop  is  to  Ireland,  far  more  anxiety  app  aring  to  pertain  to  that 
than  to  the  harvest.  Up  to  the  present  this  crop  around  Dublin  could 
scarcely  be  more  promising — a  promise,  one  may  say,  all  but  fulfilled. 
However,  the  critical  time  is  now  with  us  owing  to  spells  of  dull, 
humid  weather  lately  prevailing.  Yet  it  is  gratifying  to  note  that 
early  in  July  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  growers  avail  themselves  of 
