September  21,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
257 
sented  itself  in  quite  another  aspecc  to  the  mind  of  one  whom  I  had 
reason  to  regard  as  a  fairly  sound  practical  gardener.  His  view  of  the 
matter  was  that  the  extra  work  involved  in  the  cultivation  of  such  fine 
Onions  was  extravagant,  because  really  useful  Onions  could  be  had 
without  it.  This  appears  to  me  about  as  sensible  as  to  call  in  question 
the  use  o(  Pea  sticks  and  Bean  sticks  because  good  crops  of  both  these 
vegetables  are  obtained  in  field  culture  without  sticks  being  used.  Let 
us  see  what  goes  to  the  production  of  such  large  Onions. 
Briefly,  and  avoiding  detail,  it  amounts  to  this  :  Sowing  under  glass 
early  in  January,  pricking  out  in  shallow  boxes  in  rich  soil,  carefully 
hardening  before  planting  out.  I  have  seen  Onions  altogether  above  the 
size  of  an  ordinary  crop  from  seed  sown  in  pots  in  a  cottage  window.  To 
be  quite  fair,  one  must  admit  that  some  extra  care  and  labour  is  involved 
when  they  are  raised  in  gentle  heat,  placed  in  more  lively  heat  to  set 
them  going  when  pricked  out,  and  the  subsequent  transference  from  house 
to  house,  to  pits  or  frames,  to  watering,  and  hardening  before  planting  out. 
Extra  work  in  soil  tillage  consists  of  digging  two  spits  deep,  working 
a  heavy  dressing  of  manure  into  the  bottom  spit,  and  a  moderate  dressing 
into  the  top  spit ;  say  about  double  the  quantity  of  manure  and  labour  of 
the  ordinary,  and  dare  I  say  old  smd  out-of-date  Onion  grower?  Add  to 
this  a  few  surface  dressings  of  stimulating  nitrogenous  manure  during  the 
summer  ;  and  I  may  say  — Gentlemen,  there  is  my  case. 
Does  the  end  justify  the  means  ?  Assuredly  it  does.  Is  it  not  claimed 
for  such  early  sown  Onions  that  they  escape,  or  are  safe  from  attacks  of  the 
Onion  fly  ?  And  then  as  to  size,  this  is  about  the  only  vegetable  to  which 
abnormal  largeness  does  not  impart  coarseness.  Large  Onions  well 
cooked  are  one  of  the  most  delicious  and  wholesome  vegetables  we  have, 
and  are  so  mild  in  flavour  as  not  to  offend  even  the  most  fastidious  palate. 
There  need  be  no  fear  that  smaller  Onions  will  not  always  be  plentiful 
enough,  or  that  large  Onions  generally  will  prove  too  large.  To  those 
who  bave  the  privilege  of  attending  the  meetings  of  the  Royal  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  such  a  collection  of  Onions  may  not  be  an  uncommon 
sight  ;  to  those  who  have  not  this  privilege  it  is.  Regarded  from  an 
educational  point  of  view  its  especial  value  was  in  affording  tangible  proof 
that  all  sorts  of  Onions  are  capable  of  improvement  under  high  cultivation. 
To  ordinary  intelligence  the  sight  of  a  dozen  3-ponnders  of  Ailsa  Craig 
conveys  an  impression  of  amazement  mingled  with  an  idea  that  the 
fortunate  grower  of  them  has  got  hold  of  a  specially  select  strain — some¬ 
thing  altogether  out  of  the  common.  It  may  be  so,  he  is  not  sure  ;  at 
any  rate  some  such  thought  has  induced  many  a  man  to  have  a  go  with 
early  sown  Onions,  in  soil  better  tilled,  better  fed  than  usual,  with  the 
gratifying  result  of  a  finer  crop  than  he  has  had  before,  and  freedom 
from  attacks  of  Onion  maggot. — Edward  Luckhurst. 
WESTMINSTER.— September  19th  and  20th. 
The  National  Dahlia  Society  held  its  second  exhibition  at  the  Royal 
Aquarium,  and  the  numerous  exhibits  displayed  certainly  justified  the 
fixture.  The  miscellaneous  exhibits  proved  a  great  feature,  nearly  all 
the  leading  Dahlia  specialists  being  represented.  The  amateur  section 
was  not  so  well  filled  as  could  be  wished. 
There  were  eight  competitors  in  the  class  for  twenty-four  Show  and 
Fancy  varieties  distinct,  but  Mr.  J.  Walker  came  out  the  victor  with 
a  good  strong  exhibit.  The  varieties  were  Dr.  Keynes,  Harry  Keith, 
John  Hickhng,  Champion  Rollo,  Mrs.  D.  Saunders,  Mr.  Glasscock,  Miss 
Cannell,  Duke  of  Fife,  Buffalo  Bill,  Miss  Barber,  Dorothy,  .T.  T.  West, 
Imperial,  Florence  Tranter,  Eclipse,  Goldsmith,  Queen  ot  the  Belgians, 
Plutarch,  John  Walker,  Rev.  J.  Gooday,  Mabel  Stanton,  Victor,  Frank 
Pearce,  and  Kathleen.  Mr.  Chas.  Turner,  Slough,  was  a  close  second,  and 
Mr.  G.  Humphries,  Chippenham,  third. 
For  twelve  bunches  of  Cactus,  distinct,  there  were  seven  entries,  and 
Mr.  Jas.  Stredwick,  St.  Leonards-on-Sea,  repeated  his  Palace  success 
with  a  capital  display  in  true  form.  The  varieties  were  Mayor  Tuppenny, 
Mrs.  Sanders,  William  Jowett,  Uncle  Tom,  Viscountess  Sherbrooke, 
Britannia,  Magnificent,  Eclipse,  Major  Weston,  Maurice  J.  Walsh,  Chas. 
Woodbridge,  and  Mary  Service.  Messrs.  Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.,  Salis¬ 
bury,  followed,  and  Messrs.  J.  Burrell  &  Co.  third. 
There  were  five  exhibits  of  twelve  bunches  of  Pompons,  but  Mr. 
M.  V.  Seale,  Sevenoaks,  proved  the  winner  with  a  display  of  neat  blooms. 
The  varieties  were  Sunny  Daybreak,  Douglas,  Ganymede,  Spitfire, 
Phoebe,  Snowflake,  Demon,  Emily  Hopper,  Nellie  Broomhead,  Ernest 
Harper,  Hypatia,  and  Nerissa,  while  Mr.  Chas.  Turner  was  a  good  second 
with  Claribel,  Captain  Boyton,  Mars,  Douglas,  and  Bacchus,  and  Mr.  G, 
Humphries  third.  The  single  varieties  appear  to  be  under  a  cloud,  for 
there  was  only  one  entry  for  twelve  bunches,  distinct.  These  were  staged 
by  Mr.  M.  V.  Seale.  The  sprays  were  very  attractive,  and  embraced 
good  bunches  of  Beauty’s  Eye,  Phyllis,  Yellow  Perfection,  Miss  Glasscock, 
and  Folly. 
In  the  amateur  section  for  twelve  blooms  Show  and  Fancy  varieties, 
Mr.  T.  Hobbs,  Bristol,  proved  the  victor  with  a  nice  even  stand.  The 
varieties  were  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Duchess  of  York,  Harrison  Weir,  Eldorado, 
Jas.  Cocker,  Florence  TraDter,  Warrior,  Muriel  Hobbs,  T.  J.  Saltmarsb, 
Victor,  The  Reverend,  and  Prince  of  Denmark.  Mr.  F.  W.  Fellowes, 
Luton,  was  second,  and  Mr.  R.  Burgin,  St.  Neois,  third.  Six 
competitors  faced  the  Judges  for  six  sprays  of  Pompons,  Mr.  J.  F. 
Hudson,  Gunnersbury  House,  Acton,  taking  first  prize  with  neat  sprays  of 
Eve,  E.  F.  Junker,  Douglas,  Phoebe,  Nerissa,  and  Orpheus,  followed  by 
Mr.  W.  C.  Pagram,  Weybridge  ;  and  Mr.  R.  Burgin  brought  up  the.  rear. 
The  amateurs  made  a  good  display  of  Cactus  varieties,  and  the  class 
for  nine  sprays  of  three  blooms  each,  Mr.  R.  Keeble,  gardener  to  F.  W. 
Sharpj  Esq.,  Twyf'ord,  Berks,  was  awarded  the  first  prize  with  a  beautiful 
exhibit,  showing  Starfish,  Harry  Stredwick,  Britannia,  Mary  Service, 
Stella,  C.  Woodbridge,  Viscountess  Sherbrook,  Keynes’  White,  and  J.  F. 
Hudson.  Mr.  F.  W.  Fellowes  followed,  and  Mr.  W.  E.  Reeve,  Woking, 
was  third.  The  single  varieties  made  a  much  better  display.  Mr.  J.  I. 
Hudson  was  awarded  first  position  with  a  charming  exhibit;  the  varieties 
were  Donna  Casilda,  Gulielma,  Jack  Sheppard,  Phillis,  Jeanette,  and 
Naomi  Tighe.  Mr.  E.  Mawley,  Berkhampsted  was  a  good  second  ;  and 
Mr.  W.  Mist.  Ightham,  third. 
Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  Tottenham,  staged  an  extensive  table  of 
Cactus  and  Pompon  varieties,  which  were  bright  and  fresh.  The  Cactus 
varieties  that  were  most  striking  were  Capstan,  Beatrice,  Cycle,  Fusilier* 
Magnificent,  Mrs.  Turner,  Falka,  Arachne,  Mary  Service,  Starfish,, 
Empress  of  Austria,  Chas.  Woodbridge,  and  Earl  of  Pembroke.  The 
Pompons  were  good,  particularly  Salamander,  A  hisper,  hairy  Tales* 
Winnie  Richards,  Mabel,  Flora,  and  Revenge.  The  Rothesay  firm  ot 
Dobbie  &  Co.  brought  a  fine  display  of  Cactus  and  Pompon  varieties,, 
which  travelled  the  long  journey  well.  The  huge  sprays  of  both  sections 
were  somewhat  novel  here,  many  containing  seventeen  blooms.  Those 
most  notable  were  Countess  of  Lonsdale,  Arachne,  Magnificent,  Ethel, 
Ensign,  Capstan,  Keynes’  White,  Ruby,  Standard  Bearer,  and  Island 
Queen.  The  best  sprays  of  Pompons  were  Nerissa,  Bacchus,  Phoebe, 
Admiration,  Dagmar,  Elegant,  Lilian,  and  Geo.  Brinckman  ;  while  the 
front  ot  the  exhibit  was  composed  of  boards  containing  specimen  Cactus 
blooms. 
Messrs.  J.  Peed  &  Sons,  Norwood,  contributed  a  large  table  of  hardy 
flowers.  Mr.  John  Green,  Norfolk  Nurseries,  Dereham,  again  displayed 
a  capital  collection  of  Cactus  Dahlias,  flanked  on  either  side  with  sprays 
of  Pompons,  The  new  varieties,  ZephyrrRed  Rover,  and  Golden  Plover, 
were  staged  on  mounds,  while  good  bunches  of  Eclair,  Erasmus,  Britannia, 
Green  White,  Dr.  Nansen,  and  Dryden  helped  to  make  the  display  fresh 
and  bright. 
Messrs.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  occupied  a  large  table,  which 
was  arranged  as  a  bank  on  each  side.  The  Cactus  varieties  were  staged 
in  good  condition,  and  embraced  all  the  best  varieties,  such  as  Mrs. 
E.  Cannell,  King  of  Siam,  Mary  Service,  Arachne,  Britannia,  Leonora, 
Oaklands,  Exquisite,  Fantasy,  Magnificent,  Laverstock  Beaut}',  Ranji, 
Starfish,  and  Mrs.  Dickson. '  A  group  of  Cannas  was  also  a  pleasing 
feature.  The  London  firm  of  Messrs.  Carter,  Page  &  Co.,  London  Wall* 
arranged  an  extensive  collection  of  Dahlias,  which  embraced  the  best 
varieties  in  each  section.  Mr.  J.  T.  West,  Brentwood,  also  staged  a 
table  of  Dahlias. 
Messrs.  J.  Laing&  Sons,  Forest  Hill,  decorated  one  of  the  fountains 
with  a  collection  of  Ivies,  variegated  shrubs.  Ericas,  Chrysanthemums, 
Palms,  and  other  flowering  plauts  ;  the  whole  was  tastefully  arranged. 
Mr.  M.  V.  Seale,  Sevenoaks,  staged  a  collection  of  single  Dahlias  in  boxes* 
embracing  all  the  newer  Cactus  varieties,  and  a  general  collection  of  Show 
and  Fancy  varieties.  The  Devon  Chrysanthemum  Nursery,  Teignmouth* 
also  contributed  a  display  of  Cactus  blooms,  arranged  on  boards.  Messrs. 
J.  Burrell  &  Co.,  Cambridge,  staged  one  cf  their  well  known  exhibits  of 
Gladioli.  The  spikes  were  beautifully  fresh  and  well  developed, 
embracing  a  great  range  of  colours. 
ARALIA  SPINOSA. 
There  is  a  great  similarity  between  the  floras  of  some  parts  of 
North  America  and  of  China  and  Japan,  a  fact  first  noticed  by  Asa 
Gray,  and  since  verified  by  other  observers,  notably  Professor  Sargent 
of  the  Arnold  Arboretum.  This  likeness  is  strikingly  shown  by  the 
subject  of  this  note,  a  native  of  the  Eastern  United  States,  and  Aralia 
chinensis  (svn.  A.  manschurica,  Dimorphanthus  mandschuricus),  a  native 
of  China,  which  have  a  great  resemblance  to  each  other,  so  much  so  that, 
for  general  purposes,  to  bave  one  is  to  have  both. 
Aralia  spinosa  in  some  parts  of  the  United  States  forms  a  small  tree 
40  feet  or  more  high,  but  up  to  the  present  it  has  not  attained  a  height 
of  more  than  12  or  15  feet  in  this  country,  usually  making  a  single 
stout  spiny  stem,  with  few  branches.  It  is  fairly  hardy,  seldom  being 
killed  outright  by  frost,  but  liable  to  be  cut  rather  severely  in  a  hard 
winter,  especially  after  a  wet  autumn.  It  should  have  a  position  sheltered 
from  high  winds,  as  this  plant  is  very  liable  to  be  broken  by  a.  sudden 
gale,  more  especially  when  in  full  leaf,  the  surface  of  the  large  leaves 
offering  a  great  resistance  to  the  wind.  A  deep,  well-drained  soil  suits 
it  best,  and  plenty  of  room  should  be  allowed  for  its  proper  development. 
The  leaves  are  bipinnate,  and  under  favourable  conditions  will  attain 
a  length  of  3  or  4  feet,  and  have  numerous  serrulate  leaflets,  which  are 
glabrous  and  shining  above,  and  glaucous  beneath.  The  stem  of  the 
plant  and  the  petioles  of  the  leaves  are  spiny,  and  a  few  spines  can 
sometimes  be  found  on  the  leaves  as  well.  The  pure  white  flowers 
open  in  August  and  September,  and  are  in  terminal,  branched  umbels, 
2  feet  or  more  across,  are  individually  very  small,  but  produced  in 
great  numbers,  followed  in  favourable  seasons  by  clusters  of  small, 
black  fruits.  It  is  propagated  by  seeds,  suckers,  and  root-cuttings,  and 
is  commonly  known  in  America  as  the  Angelica  Tree  or  Hercules 
Club.— C. 
Runner  Bean  Ne  Plus  Ultra.— There  is  no  better  or  more 
generally  useful  Runner  Bean  than  this,  and  though  its  large  size  may 
go  against  it  with  some,  its  excellent  quality  will  in  most  cases  insure  it 
a  place.  Like  other  varieties  it  pays  for  good  culture,  liking  good  land 
and  thin  sowing.  Plants  a  few  inches  apart,  as  sometimes  seen,  can 
never  come  to  perfection  or  produce  good  pods  ;  18  inches  apart  is  quite 
close  enough,  and  the  rows  should  be  12  feet  asunder  at  least.  If  the  old 
pods  are  kept  well  picked  off  there  will  be  a  good  succession  all  through 
the  season. — C.  II. 
