September  14,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
bOLD 
Finest  Selected  QUalit/ 
BARR’S  SELECTED  BULBS 
For  EARLY  FORCING. 
HYACINTHS,  Dwarf.  White  Homan,  per  100, 
11/6  and  14/6  ;  per  dozen,  1/9  and  2/-. 
POLYANTHUS  NARCISSUS,  Paper  White, 
Early  Snowflake,  per  100,  7/6  ;  per  dozen,  1/3. 
POLYANTHUS  NARCISSUS,  Double  Roman 
per  100,  6/6  ;  per  dozen,  1/3. 
PRINCEPS. — Perianth  sulphur  white,  trumpet 
yellow,  per  1000,  30/- ;  per  100,  3/6. 
COLDEN  SPUR.— Large  full  yellow  perianth  and 
trumpet,  per  100,  21/- ;  per  dozen,  3/-. 
HORSFlEIiDX.  —  White  perianth,  large  yellow 
trumpet,  per  100,  17/6  ;  per  dozen,  2/6. 
BARR'S  BULB  CATALOGUE  contains  a  List  of  all 
the  best  Bulbs  for  Forcing  and  Outdoor  Planting.  Free 
on  application. 
BARR’S  DAFFODIL  CATALOGUE,  illustrated  with 
original  photographs  taken  at  the  Long  Ditton  Nurseries, 
and  containing  a  Descriptive  List  of  all  the  finest 
Daffodils  in  cultivation,  and  the  latest  Novelties  for 
1899.  Free  on  application. 
DICKSONS  QX 
AtRLrs:st  bulbs 
Hyacinths,  Tulips,  Crocuses, 
Daffodils,  Irises,  &c., 
For  Indoor  &  Outdoor  Culture. 
Illustrated  Descriptive  Catalogue  No.  506 
POST  FREE  ON  APPLICATION. 
Dicksons 
Bulb  Growers  &  Importers, 
CHESTER. 
By  Special 
Appointment 
to  H.R.IL  the 
Prince  of  Wales. 
ORCHIDS.— ORCHIDS. 
QUANTITY  IMMENSE. 
Inspection  of  our  New  Range  of  Houses 
IS  CORDIALLY  INVITED  BY 
UIIPU  I  nui  ft  on  BUSH  hill  park 
nUUn  LUVV  a  UUij  MIDDLESEX. 
Mr.  WEGUELIN  desires  to  give  notice  that  his  CAR¬ 
NATIONS  are  now  ready  for  immediate  delivery.  All  the 
Newest  and  Best  Varieties  for  the  Border  or  Con¬ 
servatory  will  be  found  in  his  CATALOGUE  for  1899, 
with  “  Hints  on  Carnation  Culture,”  post  free  3  stamps. 
NEW  SEED  ready  shortly.  Own  saving  from  the  best 
Exhibition  varieties,  2/6  100,  or  250  5/-,  post  free,  with 
cultural  notes. 
H.  W.  WEGUELIN,  f.r.h.s.,  DAWLISH,  DEVON 
BARR  &  SONS, 
12  &  13,  King  St.,  Covent  Garden,  London,  W.C. 
A 
* 
DUTCH 
HYACINTHS, 
TULIPS, 
CK00US, 
NARCISSUS, 
BULBS 
LILIUM, 
GLADIOLUS, 
PHONIES, 
IRIS,  &c. 
And  all  other  Bulbous  Roots  and  Plants,  also 
AZALEAS,  FERNS,  RH3D0S,  PALMS,  ROSES,  & c., 
For  Garden,  Greenhouse,  and  Stove. 
For  Earliest  Forcing : 
ROMAN  HYACINTHS. 
NARCISSUS  DOUBLE  ROMAN. 
NARCISSUS  DUBIUS  (Paper  White). 
Bulb  orders  of  £5  Carriage  Free  to  destina¬ 
tion  ;  smaller  orders  Free  on  rail  in  various 
seaports  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 
No  Packing  Charges. 
Complete  Collections  for  IN  or  OUTDOOR  at 
4/6,  8/-,  14/-,  20/-,  40/-,  60/-,  and  100/-. 
In  ordering  please  state  for  which  purpose  required. 
Our  outdoor  20/-  Box  contains  over  1000  Bulbs. 
Illustrated  Catalogues  Gratis  and  Post  Free,  in  Fngliih, 
French,  or  German,  from  the  Growers, 
VAN  MEERBEEK  &  CO., 
“H”  Department, 
Hillegom,  Holland. 
ESTABLISHED  1852. 
No.  1003.— Vol.  XXXIX.,  Third  Series. 
WEST’S  PATENT 
GARDEN  SPECIALITIES. 
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WEST’S  EXTRACT  OF  NICOTINE.— Not  being  a 
chemical  compound,  but  pure  nicotine,  it  is  impossible 
for  anything  to  be  better.  7d.  per  1000  cubic  feet. 
For  particulars  of  West’s  Patent  Ivorine  Labels  of  every 
description;  Plant  Pot  Crocks,  to  prevent  snails,  &c., 
damaging  plants,  forms  a  perfect  drainage  ;  Soft  Metal  Tree 
Fasteners  ;  S.M.  Plant  Clips  ;  Plant  Grip  Stakes  ;  Flower 
Grip  Holders  ;  Waterproof  Ink  for  labels  ;  Gardener’s  Foun¬ 
tain  Pens  ;  Glazing  Staples  ;  Plant  Swivels,  &c.  See  New 
Illustrated  Catalogue  post  free.  Samples  free,  postage  extra. 
Gratis,  “  Orchid  Culture,”  2nd  Edition,  postage  2d. 
A  Treatise  on  the  Cultivation  of  Orchids,  giving  all  par¬ 
ticulars  of  their  requirements  ;  also  Catalogue,  &c. 
THE  LEEDS  ORCHID  COMPANY,  R0UNDHAY,  LEEDS. 
ALL  WHO  WISH  GRAND  RESULTS  should 
use  THOMSON’S  IMPROVED  VINE,  PLANT  and 
VEGETABLE  MANURE.  This  valuable  Manure  is  yearly 
growing  in  public  favour.  Can  be  had  of  all  Nursery  and 
Seedsmen,  or  direct  from  the  makers,  WM.  THOMSON  and 
SONS,  Ltd.,  Tweed  Vineyard,  Clovenfords,  Galashiels, 
N.B.  Price  Lists  and  Testimonials  on  Application.  1  cwt. 
and  upwards  Carriage  Paid  to  all  stations  in  Britain  and 
Ireland.  London  Agent— Mr.  J.  George,  14,  Redgrave 
Road.  Putney.  Agent  for  Channel  Islands— Mr.  J.  H. 
Parsons,  Market  Place,  Guernsey.  Also  THOMSON’S 
SPECIAL  CHRYSANTHEMUM  MANURE.  J  cwt. 
Carriage  Paid  to  all  Stations  in  Britain  and  Ireland 
Greenhouses  from  £3  5 /-;  vineries, 
Conservatories,  Frames,  Summer  Houses,  Ac. 
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,  SEPTEMBER  14,  1899. 
THE  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  can  be  obtained 
from  the  Office,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers ,  Fleet  St,7 
London,  post  free  for  a  Quarter ,  3/9.  Editor ieil 
communications  must  be  addressed  to  3,  Rose 
Hill  Rd.,  Wandsworth,  S.W. 
THE  MELON  SEASON. 
THE  weather  of  the  past  summer  has  not  been-' 
of  an  ideal  nature  for  any  garden  crop,.  indoor-- 
or  out ;  it  certainly  has  not  favoured  Melons. 
Reports  of  indifference  in  flavour  were  numerous 
at  the  summer  exhibitions  this  year,  at  any  rate 
in  the  west  and  south  of  England.  True  some 
Melons  have  gained  favourable  mention,  but,  so  far 
as  my  observations  extend,  these  have  been 
decidedly  rare.  To  the  grower  of  Melons  for 
exhibition  there  are  many  disappointments  as 
well  as  surprises  in  store.  It  often  happens  that  a 
small,  unappetising,  and  insignificant  fruit  defeats 
handsome  and  apparently  well-ripened  specimens. 
This  makes  Melon  showing  one  of  the  most 
uncertain  that  the  fruit  grower  can  undertake. 
In  connection  with  this  flavour  test,  I  cannot 
help  noting  what  a  contrast  there  is  between  the 
report  from  the  dining-rocm  and  the  fiuit  tent? 
bearing  on  the  quality  of  Melons.  One  often  gets 
a  commendatory  mention  of  the  Melon  sent  daily 
to  the  table,  and  occasionally  special  praise  is  givens, 
when  a  fruit  possessing  more  than  average  quality 
is  handed  round;  yet  equally  good  specimens  of  the- 
same  variety  when  sent  to  a  show  find  no  favour 
by  the  judges. 
I  have  often  heard  it  remarked  by  expert  growers 
and  judges  that  the  system  of  juoging  Melons  as 
shows  requires  modifications,  and  I  certainly  agree 
with  them.  Societies  which  solicit  exhibits  from 
their  patrons  and  expect  them  to  submit  to  the 
flavour  test  often  have  a  poor  display,  not  neces¬ 
sarily  in  quantity,  hut  in  appeal ance,  because 
growers,  having  good  fruits,  naturally  hesitate  to 
take  them  to  a  show  where  they  are  cut,  ami  are 
consequently  of  no  further  value.  To  my  mind  a 
distinct  loss  results  from  the  practice  of  following 
the  old  custom  of  judging  by  fla\our.  I  have  a 
firm  conviction  that  its  discontinuance  would  raise 
the  status  of  Melon  classes  considerably.  Fo  r- 
confinnation  of  this  compare  the  fruits  in  competi¬ 
tion  for  flavour  with  those  in  a  collection  of  dessert 
fruit.  In  the  latter  the  very  best  fiuit  the  grower 
can  produce  is  not  often  good  enough  to  satisly  h  i> 
ambitions  ;  while  for  cutting  he  will  say  a  sm$s- 
one  will  do  as  well  as  a  larger. 
No.  2659.— Vol.  CL,  Old  .ckr:iv 
