232 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Saptember  22,  1898. 
Dahlia  Leslie  Seale  (M.  V.  Seale). — An  effective  single  variety.  The 
colour  is  velvety  crimson  in  the  centre,  shading  to  slaty  pink  at  the 
outer  portion  of  the  flower  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Antelope  (J.  Burrell  &  Co). — A  Cactus  of  good  type,  the  colour 
is  rich  crimson  scarlet  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Lucius  (J.  Burrell  &  Co.) — A  glowing  orange-scarlet  Cactus 
that  is  of  the  best  quality  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  The  Duke  (Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.). — A  Pompon  variety  deep 
crimson  in  colour  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Watchman  (Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.). — A  Fancy  variety  of  fine 
quality  ;  the  colour  is  crimson  and  yellow  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  William  Neate  (Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.). — A  finely  shaped 
Show  Dahlia  :  the  colour  is  orange-red  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Progenitor  (Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.). — A  grand  crimson  Cactus 
variety  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Countess  of  Lonsdale  (Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.). — A  charming 
variety  of  the  Cactus  section  ;  the  colour  is  orange-yellow  in  the  centre 
with  purplish  suffusions  at  the  tips  of  the  petals  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  The  Clown  (Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.). — A  very  distinct  Cactus 
variety  ;  the  colour  is  bright  brick-red  with  white  tips  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Viscountess  Sherbrooke  (Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.). — A  finely 
built  Cactus  of  bright  orange-red  colour  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Ms  (C.  Turner). — This  belongs  to  the  Pompon  section  ;  the 
colour  is  yellow  with  reddish  purple  tips  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Claribel  (C.  Turner)  — A  splendid  Pompon,  white  with  crimson 
tips  and  stripes  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  David  Johnson  (G.  Humphries). — A  finely  formed  Show  variety  ; 
the  colour  is  pale  buff  flushed  with  purple  at  the  tips  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Ranji  (G.  Humphries). — A  Cactus,  almost  black  in  colour 
(award  of  merit). 
Gynerium  argenteum  aureo-lineatis  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — A  graceful 
growing  plant,  of  which  the  varietal  name  clearly  expresses  the  colour. 
The  long  leaves  arch  over  beautifully  (award  of  merit). 
Lselia  splendens  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — The  parents  of  this  hybrid  were 
L.  crispa  and  L.  purpurata.  The  sepals  and  petals,  both  wavy  in  outline, 
are  delicate  blush.  The  lip  is  velvety  maroon,  with  a  pale  rose  margin 
and  lemon  hued  side  lobes.  The  throat  is  heavily  veined  crimson  purple 
(award  of  merit). 
Ligustrum  Walkeri  (Paul  &  Son). — This  is  a  handsome  plant  that  was 
much  admired.  The  much-branched  plant  is  about  2  feet  high,  the  bright 
green  leaflets  being  undulating,  and  about  1  inch  in  length  by  f  inch  in 
width  (first-class  certificate). 
Miltonia  Binoti  (W.  H.  White). — This  is  supposed  to  be  a  natural 
hybrid  between  M.  Candida  and  M.  Regnelli  purpurea.  The  lip  is  mauve, 
paling  towards  the  front.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  dull  straw  with  large 
brown  blotches  (award  of  merit). 
Miltonia  leucoglossa  (W.  H.  White). — A  charming  form  with  a  large 
pure  white  lip.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  greenish  white  with  purple 
spots  of  considerable  size  (award  of  merit). 
Pandanus  Sanderi  (F.  Sander  &  Co.). — One  of  the  handsomest  plants  in 
the  hall.  The  loDg  and  broad  strap-like  leaves  are  deep  green  and  gold, 
the  latter  being  most  abundant  when  the  leaves  are  young  (first-class 
certificate). 
Populus  Ontario  variegata  (J.  Carter). — A  golden  variegated  Poplar,  of 
which  some  of  the  leaves  are  9  inches  in  diameter.  It  is  one  of  the  finest 
Poplars  we  have  seen,  and  should  become  exceedingly  popular  (award  of 
merit). 
REMINDERS. 
I  APPEND  a  trio  of  these  in  season,  and  hope  to  contribute  from  time 
to  time  short  cultural  notes,  or  to  touch  briefly  on  any  topic  appertaining 
to  gardeners  or  gardening. 
Mignonette. 
The  present  is  a  suitable  time  to  sow  seeds  for  spring  flowering. 
The  soil  necessary  for  good  culture  is  sound  loam,  to  which  add  a 
sprinkling  of  sweet,  well-decayed  leaf  mould  or  spent  Mushroom-bed 
manure.  Add  a  shovelful  of  old  mortar  rubble,  and  if  the  loam  is  not 
sandy  some  sharp  sand  completes  the  compost.  Having  got  the  pots  well 
crocked,  to  insure  proper  drainage  commence  by,  using  a  little  of  the 
rougher  mixture  over  the  same,  filling  up  in  the  usual  manner,  and 
making  the  whole  quite  firm,  with  a  margin  of  an  inch  from  the  top  of 
the  pot.  If  the  seeds  are  good,  eight  or  ten  will  be  sufficient  for  each 
6-inch  pot.  Cover  lightly,  press  neatly  with  the  bottom  of  a  flower 
pot,  place  in  a  cold  frame,  and  sprinkle  if  at  all  dry,  continuing  until 
germination  takes  place,  and  of  course  onward,  as  Mignonette  is  extremely 
sensitive  to  drought  at  any  time.  I  will  deal  with  its  further  culture  in 
due  season.  Three  good  varieties  to  grow  are  Giant,  Machet,  and 
Miles’s  Spiral. 
Cinerarias. 
These  should  now  be  ready  for  their  flowering  pots — that  is,  in  a 
general  sense  ;  it  is  bad  policy  to  cramp  this  free-growing  plant  in 
small  60’s.  Prepare  then  two  barrowloads  and  a  half  of  turfy  loam  that 
has  laid  some  time,  and  pull  it  in  pieces  roughly  ;  one  barrowload  of  leaf 
soil,  run  through  a  three-quarter  inch  sieve,  the  better  to  clear  sticks  and 
husks  of  nuts  }  a  pailful  of  dry  cow  manure,  run  through  the  same  sized 
riddle  ;  and  a  6-inch  potful  of  crushed  bones.  I  do  not  use  sand  unless 
the  soil  is  very  retentive,  much  preferring  a  couple  of  shovelfuls  of  old 
mortar  refuse  or  plaster.  This  ought  to  prove  a  reliable  mixture.  It  is 
most  desirable  that  the  crown  of  the  plants  when  potting  should  be  kept 
well  clear  of  the  surface,  and  not  buried.  Pot  firmly,  as  loose  potting 
encourages  soft  flabby  growth,  and  replace  in  a  cold  frame  or  house  ; 
shade  from  bright  sunshine  and  dew  the  plants  over  for  the  first  week  or 
two  rather  than  the  usual  mode  of  watering.  As  the  pots  become  filled 
with  roots  syringing  lightly  with  some  clear  diluted  manure  water  from  the 
cowyard  is  excellent  practice,  as  it  not  only  assists  the  growth,  but  is 
obnoxious  to  green  fly,  which  pest  must  not  be  allowed  to  obtain  a  footing 
on  any  consideration.  Admit  abundance  of  air  on  every  opportunity, 
taking  into  exception,  of  course,  keen  cutting  winds,  which  are  most 
injurious  ;  the  Cinerarias  will  bear  any  cool  treatment  short  of  absolute 
frost,  which  should  be  guarded  against. 
Drought  versus  Deep  Cultivation. 
The  present  dry  time  affords  ample  evidence  of  the  necessity  of  deep 
cultivation,  especially  on  shallow  or  gravelly  soils,  where  vegetation  at 
this  juncture  presents  a  deplorable  appearance.  Owing  to  the  dry  spring 
months  one  naturally  would  expect  a  more  than  average  wet  summer. 
Such,  however,  has  been  the  contrary,  and  ns  one  week  followed  another, 
with  “still  no  rain,”  Peas,  Beans,  Cauliflowers,  and  other  crops  came  in 
and  were  gone  in  very  quick  time  ;  late  crops  failing  altogether.  The 
question  is,  Can  any  blame  be  attached  to  the  cultivators?  I  have  had  to 
deal  with  the  two  mediums  this  summer,  one  trenched  2  feet  and  well 
manured,  the  other  dug  in  the  ordinary  way  and  moderately  manured. 
Of  course  this  plainly  demonstrates  which  of  the  two  modes  is  the  better, 
and  I  claim  the  former  to  be  by  far  the  more  reliable,  and  it  is  adapted 
to  wot  as  well  as  dry  summers.  Where  the  land  is  deeply  cultivated' 
vegetables  and  flowers  have  not  suffered  to  anything  like  the  extent,  as 
the  crops  have  on  an  adjacent  plot  ordinarily  cultivated.  By  all  means  I 
would  advocate  trenching,  and  plenty  of  it.  In  the  case  of  Peas,  Beans 
(Runner  or  French),  Dahlias,  Callas,  Chrysanthemums,  or  Sweet  Peas, 
trenches  as  for  Celery  are  invaluable,  and  save  immense  labour  in 
watering.  There  are  many  more  plants  that  would  be  benefited,  but 
sufficient  has  been  said  to  justify  the  plea  of  deeper  cultivation  in  the 
future. — A  Midland  Gardener. 
MEMORIES  OF  JUDGES  AND  JUDGING, 
It  was  a  small  village  show.  There  were  three  of  them,  and  they 
had  just  decided  as  to  the  first  prize  in  the  collections  of  vegetables,  but 
had  come  to  a  pause  over  deciding  which  should  be  second  and  third. 
“Ah  reckon,”  said  Mr.  Longman,  gravely  pointing  to  a  clean  neat  basket 
of  produce,  “  that  little  lot  is  an  easy  second.”  “Well,”  says  Mr.  Dapper, 
“I  don’t  know;  you  see  the  Cabbages  in  the  next  e'hibit  are  better.” 
“Oh!  have  it  which  way  you  like,”  remarked  Mr.  Paunceby,  “it’s  a 
near  thing,  and  I  don’t  mind  what  you  do  with  ’em.”  After  some 
discussion  it  was  decided  to  resort  to  pointing,  when  they  managed  to- 
make  both  equal.  Then  was  there  a  great  referring  to  the  Committee 
and  the  Secretary,  after  which  Mr.  Dapper,  finding  no  more  prize  money 
was  forthcoming,  made  a  vicious  grab  at  the  exhibitor’s  ticket  on  the 
“little  lot,”  and,  stabbing  the  figure  2  upon  it,  allowed  me  to  “lead 
them  on.” 
As  showing  how  easy  it  is  for  a  young  man  to  be  misled  by  first 
glances,  I  will  relate  a  small  incident.  I  was  helping  with  an  old  tried 
hand  at  a  largo  provincial,  and  in  our  section  was  included  table  decora¬ 
tions.  As  we  approached  one  of  the  tables  I  allowed  the  remark  to 
escape,  “  It  looks  an  easy  first  here.”  “  I  fail  to  see  it,”  said  my 
coadjutor  ;  and  after  the  want  of  harmony,  caused  by  a  bright  cerise 
lamp  shade  “killing”  the  soft  colours  of  the  fine  blooms  of  Cattleya 
labiata  beneath,  had  been  pointed  cut,  and  I  had  seen  the  mass  of  Cypri- 
pedium  insigne  crushed  into  the  centre,  I  was  fain  to  admit  things  did  not 
seem  quite  so  clear.  In  the  end  the  victory  rested  with  an  arrangement 
of  leaves  and  berries— a  veritable  exposition  of  “autumn  tints.”  Later 
in  the  day  I  met  the  defeated  exhibitor  ;  never  shall  I  forget  his  manner. 
There  was  the  proverbial  “  lurid  glare”  in  his  eye,  and  one  could  almost 
see  it  in  his  language  ;  but  let  me  pass  softly  away  from  those  adjectives. 
I  could  tell  of  a  certain  show  where  a  journalist  was  so  struck  by  the 
grandeur  of  a  great  London  personage  that  he  almost  forgot  his  own 
duties  in  awe  of  that  Judge’s  manner,  and  of  how  his  fellows  gave  way 
to  him,  in  not  once  raising  their  voices  in  «>ppo8ition.  It  could  also  be 
told  how  in  a  certain  city  I  once  saw  the  Judges  almost  brushing  the 
bloom  from  the  berries  of  some  late  Grapes  with  their  nasal  appendages 
in  their  efforts  to  see,  while  an  attendant  shed  light  upi  n  their  combined 
wisdom  with  the  magnificent  luminosity  of  a  lighted  taper.  What  wonder 
if  mistakes  were  made. 
Upon  another  occasion  I  remarked  casually  to  an  exhibitor  who  had 
made  a  very  good  commencement  with  his  group,  “  Going  to  win  to¬ 
day  ?  ”  “  No,”  he  placidly  replied,  pointing  to  the  opposite  side  of  the 
hall,  “  they  always  allow  a  parson’s  man  ten  points  more  than  anybody 
else” — absurdly  suggesting  that  the  rev.  gentlemen  and  Judges  were 
simply  dealing  in  “  futures.”  On  looking  round  after  the  prizes  were 
awarded  I  found  Mr.  Placidity  well  beaten  by  a  far  greater  number  than 
ten  points. 
So  one  might  go  on,  but  as  I  write  there  comes  before  me  the  memory 
of  a  perfect  September  day  when  two  gardeners  started  from  home  one 
morning  early  to  judge  the  produce  at  the  small  show.  A  happy  pair 
they  were  bowling  along  behind  that  stout  grey  cob.  By  narrow  country 
roads,  by  the  tall  hillside,  on  whose  top  the  busy  women  and  children 
gathered  the  luscious  Whortleberry,  through  verdured  lanes  where  spring 
the  slender  spires  of  yellow  Agrimony,  with  the  gentle  Harebell  nodding 
in  the  breeze,  and  where  the  ribboned  Hart’s  Tongue  hung  down  the 
