Juiy  13,  1899. 
23 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTaGE  GARDENER. 
WEBBS’SEEDS 
W  EBBS’ 
EMPEROR  CABBAGE 
THE  EARLIEST  AND  BEST. 
6tl.  and  1  -  per  Packet  ;  1  6  per  Ounce. 
From  Mr.  . I  OH  V  WRIGHT,  Pi'estonpann.  June  30,  1899. 
“  Your  Emperor  is  the  liest  early  Cabbage  I  have  seen, 
and  1  sold  them  at  a  much  higher  price  in  Edinburgh  and 
Glasgow  markets  than  anything  I  have  yet  grown.” 
I  WEBBS’,  WORDSLEY,  STOURBRIDGE, 
LONDON  FERN  NURSERIES, 
Lough  no  rough  Junction,  London,  s.w.— Ferns,  large 
and  small,  in  variety;  Aralias,  Grevilleas,  Cyperus,  Ficus, 
Ericas,  Palms,  Dracaenas,  Aspidistras,  Hydrangeas,  Pelar¬ 
goniums,  Fuchsias,  Marguerites,  Crotons,  &e.  Trade, 
send  for  Wholesale  List.  Special  List  for  Amateurs,  send 
for  ona.-J.  E.  SMITH. 
ORCHIDS!  ORCHIDS! 
Den.  Benson, e  . 
,,  Orassino.le  .. 
,,  Nobile  (our  superior  type) 
Thunia  Benson® . 
, , '  Marshallianum  . . 
Lilium  Nepalensis. . 
,,  Wal.ishianum 
1/6 
2/6 
3/6 
1/6 
2/6 
3/6 
3 1- 
41- 
51- 
2/6 
each 
2/- 
2/6  ’ 
to 
51- 
2/6 
to 
5/- 
J.  W.  MOORE,  Ltd.,  Orchid  lmporte , 
i,  Rawdon,  nr.  Leeds. 
HARDY  FRUITS 
A  Practical  Treatise  on  the  Planting  and  Management 
of  Orchards,  Selection  of  Varieties,  Pruning  of  Trees, 
Marketing  of  Fruit,  Manuring,  <fcc.  Also  a  few  notes  on 
Insect  Pests  and  their  Remedies,  by 
A.  H.  PEARSON.  Chilwell  Nurseries,  NOTTS. 
Price  7d.,  post  free. 
RIVERS’ 
FRUIT  TREES, 
Roses,  Vines, 
FI^S,  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 
VINE  CULTURE  UNDER  GLASS.— 
By  .7.  R.  Pearson,  The  Nurseries,  Chilwell,  near 
Nottingham.  Price  1/- ;  post  free,  1/1.  Fifth  Edition. 
Office,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  E.C. 
GREENHOUSES  from  £3  5/-;  VINERIES, 
Conservatories,  Frames,  Summer  Houses,  &c. 
Illustrated  List  Free.  Makers  to  II. M.  THE  QuEen  and 
H.R.H.  tiie  Prince  of  Wales. 
POTTER,  HAWTHORN  &  CO.,  London  Works, 
READING.  (Name  Paper.) 
LAXTON’S 
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saw 
STRAWBERRIES  11 
Orders  Now  Booked  for  Early  Pot 
Plants  and  Runners. 
CATALOGUE  ON  A  P PLICA  tion 
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ORCHIDS,  ORCHIDS, 
Joui[tral  of  |)ortii[iittui[i'. 
THURSDAY,  JULY  13,  1899. 
i  THE  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  can  be  obtained 
from  the  Office ,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chamber t,  Fleet  St  , 
London ,  post  free  for  a  Quarter ,  3/9.  Editorial 
communications  must  be  addressed  to  8,  Rosa 
Hill  Rd.,  Wandsworth,  S.W. 
QUANTITY  IMMENSE. 
INSPECTION  of  OUR  NEW  RANGE  of  HOUSES, 
is  cordially  invited  by 
HUGH  LOW  &  CO.,  B  U  MI  DD LES  E  X 
CUTBUSHS 
MILLTRACK  MUSHROOM  SPAWN 
Everyone  can  readily  grow  Mush¬ 
rooms,  and  by  using  this  Spawn  will 
ensure  success.  All  growers  speak 
in  the  highest  possible  praise  of  the 
quality.  Numerous  Testimonials. 
None  genuine  unless  in  sealed  pack¬ 
ages,  and  printed  cultural  Directions 
enclosed  with  our  signature  attached. 
Price  6/-  per  Bushel  ;  or  1/*  per 
Cake,  free  per  parcels  post. 
WM.  CUTBUSH  &  SON, 
Nurserymen  &  Ee.d  Merchants, 
HIGHGATE  NURSERIES,  LONDON,  N.,  &  Barnet,  Herts 
CLEAN  HEALTHY  PLANTS  AT  LOW  PRICES. 
Always  worth  a  visit  of  inspection.  Kindly  send  for  Catalogue. 
Exotio  Nurseries,  CHELTENHAM 
NEW  PLANT  BREEDING. 
By  F.  W.  Burbidge,  M.A.,  V.M.II. 
PLANT  breeding  in  all  its  phases  is  a  holy  and 
beautiful  mystery,  the  marriage  of  the 
flowers  ;  the  results  gained  at  present  are 
marvellous,  and  the  potential  possibilities  of 
hybridism  and  of  cross-breeding  are  well  nigh 
incomprehensible. 
The  ancient  Hebrew  and  Egyptian  alike  observed 
that  cross-fertilisation  was  necessary  in  the  case  of 
ihe  Fig  and  the  Date  Palm  fully  2000  years  ago. 
In  England  Bradley  (1717)  and  Fairchild  (1722) 
observed  that  Tulips,  Pinks,  and  other  flowers  were 
bisexual,  and  to  Fairchild  is  credited  the  very 
earliest  garden  hybrid  reared  in  English  gardens — 
viz.,  Fairchild’s  Mule  Pink,”  which  he  raised  in 
his  garden  at  Hoxton  prior  to  1805  by  the  crossing 
of  a  Carnation  and  the  common  Sweetwilliam. 
On  the  Continent  Kolreuter  was  the  first  to  rear 
hybrids  between  different  species  of  Xicotiana, 
Hyoscyamus,  Mathioli,  Dianthus,  and  Verbascum. 
C.  K.  Sprengel  was  the  first  to  observe  the  fertilisa¬ 
tion  of  Orchid  flowers  by  insects  some  time  prior  to 
■WEST’S  PATENT 
GARDEN  SPECIALITIES. 
PLANT  POT  CROCKS. — When  one  is  placed  ovei  the 
drainage  hole  it  prevents  slugs,  worms,  &c..  from  damag¬ 
ing  the  plant,  and  forms  a  perfect  drainage,  keeping  the 
compost  from  going  sour.  Fits  ail  sizes  and  will  last  a 
lifetime.  4/- per  gross.  Samples  free. 
“  SUNPROOF  SHADING.”- 6d.  lb.  tins,  guaranteed  the 
cheapest  and  best  shading. 
S.M.  TREE  FASTENERS.— The  cheapest  and  best  method 
of  fastening  plants  and  trees  to  walls.  Being  made  of  pure 
soft  lead  and  not  fixed  to  the  nails  (like  parent  wall  nails, 
which  when  the  nails  get  broken  the  article  is  useless), 
they  may  be  used  with  ordinary  nails  for  a  lifetime. 
Under  2d.  per  dozen.  Samples  free. 
S.M.  CLIPS. — To  be  used  in  the  place  of  raffia,  &c.,  for 
tying  all  plants  to  stakes,  &c.  Fastens  instantly,  and  is 
everlasting,  so  saves  time,  trouble,  and  expense.  Id.  doz. 
FLOWER  GRIP  HOLDERS.  -The  only  self-making  but¬ 
tonhole,  watertight  flower-holder  ever  invented,  aud  the 
best  for  show  and  other  purposes.  Price  6d. ;  ladies’,  9d.  . 
IVORINE  PLANT  LABELS  of  every  Description,  gua- 1 
ranteed  the  cheapest  Imperishable  Labels,  and  the  wording  I 
legible  and  permanent.  Samples  free. 
WATERPROOF  INK,  for  writing  on  all  kinds  of 
Labels,  whether  wood  or  metal.  The  only  ink  to  stand 
the  outside  weather.  Price  7d.  Bottle. 
GARDENER’S  FOUNTAIN  PEN,  filled  wwi  the  water¬ 
proof  ink,  1/-. 
Please  send  Postage  for  Carriage  of  Eimnles  and  Goods.  Full 
Illustrated  Lists,  post  free.  All  goods  on  approbation. 
Gratis,  “  ORCHID  CULTURE." 
A  Treatise  on  the  Cultivation  of  Orchids,  giving  all  particu¬ 
lars  of  their  requirements,  along  with  our  Catalogue,  &e. 
THE  LEEDS  ORCHID  COMPANY,  ROUNDHAY,  LEEDS. 
1793. 
In  England  Miller,  T.  A.  Knight,  and  Dean 
Herbert  were  pioneers  in  the  new  movement,  and 
their  writings  and  example  drew  on  a  willing- 
army  of  practical  workers  in  what  was  then  a  new 
field. 
Nowadays  we  look  on  hybridising  species,  and 
even  genera,  as  a  mere  matter  of  course,  but  half  a 
century  ago  even  cross-breeding  was  a  process  to 
be  conducted  in  secret,  and  the  results  then  gained 
were  often  concealed  under  Latin  specific  names. 
This  was  especially  the  case  with  the  earliest 
hybrids  of  such  genera  as  Cineraria,  Calceolaria, 
Gloxinia,  Gladiolus,  Pelargonium,  and  Erica,  with 
the  result  that  the  parentage,  seldom  if  ever  then 
revealed,  is  now  quite  lost.  Although  from  the 
very  first  it  was  self-evident  that  man  could  only 
assist  the  functions  of  plant  life  in  Nature  ;  he 
can  only  do  in  the  garden  what  is  often  possible  to 
Nature  in  the  field  or  ihe  forest;  yet  the  act  of 
cross-breeding  the  plants  was  looked  on  as  almost 
impious  half  a  century  ago.  We  now  know  that 
No.  2650.— Vol.  CI.,  Old  Seb  s. 
No.  994.— VOL.  XXXIX,  THIRD  SF.ltlES. 
