September  28,  1ft  9. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  279 
the  packing  'department,  where  those  in  charge  were  busy  getting 
ready  hampers  of  Apples  for  despatch  by  waggon  to  Martock  station. 
Here  as  elsewhere  on  the  farm  things  are  well  done,  the  fruit  being 
graded  and  well  and  securely  packed. 
Quite  a  large  business  is  cirried  on  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hebditch  [in 
supplying  hampers  of  farm  house  produce.  Fruits,  both  for  dessert  and 
cooking,  as  well  as  jams  and  jellies  of  all  kinds,  table  poultry,  eggs, 
honey,  butter,  cheese,  cream,  and  whole  wheatmeal  are  packed  in  great 
quantities.  Nearly  all  the  Apples  are  disposed  of  in  this  way,  and  at  a 
good  price,  only  the  commonest  or  poorest  fruit  being  sold  in  bulk  for 
jam,  and  some  for  cider.  Ample  storage  room  is  afforded  in  the  cellars 
and  out-houses,  so  that  the  supply  is  extended  as  far  as  possible  into  the 
Winter. 
Anyone  interested  in  farming  would  enjoy  a  visit  to  New  Cross  quite 
as  much  or  more  than  I  did,  as  Mr.  Hebditch  is  as  up-to-date  with  his 
farming  as  his  fruit  growing.  The  soil  is  not  an  ideal  one,  being  a  yellow 
clay,  or  something  nearly  approaching  it,  bad  to  work  in  either  wet  or 
very  dry  weather.  Swedes  looked  bad,  but  Parsnips  as  a  field  crop  were 
looking  splendid,  their'  long  tap-rcots  finding  moisture  down  below. 
Some  Flax  is  also  grown. 
A  drive  in  the  cool  of  the  evening  took  me  back  to  my  station,  the 
driver  calling  on  the  way  to  feed  some  cattle  with  cake.  Owing  to  lack 
of  keep  feeding  had  to  be  done  almost  as  much  as  in  the  winter.  I  hope 
to  see  Mr.  Hebditch  with  a  collection  of  Apples  at  one  of  the  It.H.S. 
shows,  and  I  think  he  ought  to  become  a  F.R.H.S.— John  Ettle, 
Weston-super-Mare. 
ABOUT  ANNUALS. 
I  begin  with  a  query.  Do  we,  gardeners  generally,  but  more 
especially  gardeners  of  private  establishments,  use  annuals  sufficiently  to 
get  out  of  them  all  that  they  can  give  us,  to  break  up  the  too  commonly 
conventional  lines  of  our  flower  garden  decoration,  or  furnish  us  with 
flowers  useful  for  cutting  to  supply  the  present  day  demand  for  cut 
flowers?  I  answer  most  decidedly,  No  ! 
Very  well  then,  there  comes  that  blunt  monosyllabic  query,  Why  ? 
After  this  you  put  yourself  in  a  corner  and  demand  an  answer,  and  you 
put  on  your  puzzle-solving  cap,  or  you  spread  yourself  out,  put  the  pen 
down,  your  elbows  on  the  table,  your  fingers  in  your  hair  (if  you  have 
any  left),  and  you  think  it  out  ;  and  dear  me  !  what  a  v<ry  small  mouse 
comes  out  after  this  mountainous  labour,  in  the  shape  of  an  answer,  which 
nine  times  out  of  ten  resolves  itself  into  something  like  this,  Oh,  well, 
you  see,  there’s  plenty  of  other  things — and  ptrhaps  our  people  would 
not  care  for  them,  and  they  are  a  lot  of  trouble,  and  they  last  so  short  a 
time,  and  they  are  not  popular,  nobody  grows  them  much,  you  know,”  &c. 
We  all  know  the  poverty  of  the  reasons  why  they  are  not  grown,  because 
we  are  most  of  us  sinners  in  the  matter.  I  confess  to  being  one  of  the 
greatest. 
This  was  brought  home  to  me  with  force,  and  was  a  powerful  eye 
opener  w  hen  I  was  at  Wem.  As  I  said  in  my  visiting  note  to  Mr. 
.Eckford’s  nurseries  (page  234),  the  heads  of  the  firm  were  going 
through  their  lines  of  annuals,  correcting  names,  noting  reliabilities  and 
.peculiarities,  and  originalities,  and  whilst  we  waited  I  got  my  note  book 
and  put  down  the  names  of  a  few  that  struck  me,  either  for  some  excel¬ 
lence  in  form  or  colour,  or  other  adaptability  or  singularity.  I  can  easily 
fancy  a  smile  of  superiority  coming  over  the  face  of  some  of  my  readers 
when  they  get  to  the  names,  and  a  “Well,  of  all  things,  why  these 
are  as  old  as  the  hills  1  ”  So  they  are,  my  friend,  so  they  are  ;  but, 
pointedly,  do  you  grow  them?  “Oh!  I  sow  a  few  sometimes  in  the 
kitchen  garden,  but  I  don’t  take  much  notice  of  them.”  Quite  so,  that 
settles  it. 
Well,  these  ware  a  few  of  those  which  I  noted  in  the  middle  of  August 
last ;  some  were  over,  of  course,  but  these  were  well  in  bloom,  and  looked 
like  lasting  for  some  time.  Linaria  reticulata  aurea,  Eschscholtzia 
Mandarin,  orange  and  scarlet  ;  Arnebia  cornuta,  yellow  and  black ; 
[Zinnia  Haageana,  Venidium  calenduloides,  Agrostemma  coeli-rosa, 
Aster  Shakespeare,  very  dwarf,  most  interesting  ;  Brachycome  iberidi- 
folia,  blue  ;  Cuphea  miniata,  and  Bartonia  aurea. 
Just  these  few  names  jotted  down  in  my  note-book  as  we  passed  along 
ihe  rows  and  rows  of  trial  and  experimental  annuals.  I  give  them  merely 
as  a  suggestive  inspiration  to  anyone  who  may  desiro  to  introduce  some¬ 
thing  more  into  their  flow  er  garden  in  summer  than  the  everlasting  Asters, 
Stocks,  Salpiglossis,  Scabious,  Dianthus  Heddewiggi,  Lavatera  trimestris, 
Convolvulus  minor,  Clarkias,  and  others,  to  supplement  the,  “As  it  was 
in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be,”  scarlet  “  Geraniums,”  yellow 
Pyrethrum  or  Golden  Feather,  Petunias,  and  all  the  other  summer 
decorators  of  the  flower  garden  which  Mrs.  Grundy,  at  many  places, 
only  allows  at  present  to  be  grown  there.  Everyone  admils  and  deplores 
(and  some  remedy  it)  the  depressing  monotony  of  this  style  of  gardening. 
In  the  more  superior  places  we  all  know  that  a  better  stare  of  things 
does  now  exist,  for  which  we  are  largely  indebted  to  the  improved  taste 
of  the  owners  and  their  gardeners,  stimulated  by  the  excellent  variety  of 
flowerbed  decoration  which  the  gardeners  of  the  London  parks  have 
annually  introduced  into  their  floral  arrangements,  and  which  are  an 
object  lesson  of  inestimable  value.  But  when  all  is  said  and  done  I  still 
think  that  we  might  get  an  additional  charm  into  our  flower  borders  by 
judicious  selections  of  some  of  the  best  hardy  and  half-hardy  annuals 
which  at  present  are  left  out  of  our  arrangements.  At  least,  I  mean  to 
do  something  in  that  way,  on  however  small  a  scale.  Verb.  sap. — 
N.  II.  P. 
NOTES  FROM  IRELAND. 
With  noiseless  steps  summer  has  left  us,  bequeathing  a  wealth  of 
verdure  and  flowers  to  the  not  too  welcome  autumn.  Rambling  around 
the  suburbs,  Dahlias,  both  Show  and  Cactus,  form  a  very  conspicuous 
item,  all  the  plants  bearing  many  blooms.  Of  the  two  types,  the  latter 
is  by  far  the  more  largely  grown  here.  Michaelmas  Daisies,  and  our 
ubiquitous  friend  the  Sunflower,  are  heavily  laden  with  blooms.  In  the 
houses  Cyclamen  and  Cinerarias,- whose  utility  is  needless  to  remark,  are 
in  a  forward  condition  ;  also  Bouvardias,  Carnations  for  winter  use. 
Chrysanthemums  are  advancing.  Everywhere  one  sees  fine  healthy 
plants,  which  give  their  admirers  unbounded  pleasure.  On  the  12th  inst. 
the  Council  members  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  held  their  usual 
monthly  meeting.  There  was  a  goodly  attendance  of  members  present  ; 
Surgeon- General  Beaumont  occupied  the  presidential  chair.  The  business 
before  them  could  not  be  deemed  heavjn  After  the  minutes  of  the  last 
meeting  were  read  and  duly  signed,  the  Secretary  (W.  H.  IIillyard,Esq.) 
submitted  a  report  of  the  autumn  Show,  which  was  adopted  without 
demur.  The  expenses  for  the  same  function  were  up  for  settlement  ; 
they  totalled,  including  prizes,  £405.  The  Council  authorised  cheques  to 
be  drawn.  Judges  for  the  forthcoming  winter  Show,  which  is  to  be  held 
in  the  grounds  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society,  Balls  Bridge,  were  nominated, 
and  referred  to  the  next  meeting  for  revision.  Several  new  members 
were  elected.  ... 
On  September  30th  the  members  and  friends  of  the  Naturalist  Club 
will  take  their  usual  monthly  outing.  This  time  their  steps  lead  to 
Dunran  demesne,  situated  in  Greystones,  where,  with  the  help  of  local 
cars,  the  party  will  indulge  their  botanical  as  well  as  entomological 
tastes  The  grounds  are  the  property  of  B.  T.  Patterson,  Esq.,  C.E. 
Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Henderson,  sen.,  I  availed  m)self  of  the 
opportunity  to  visit  his  well  known  nursery  at  Oakley  Park,  Blackrock, 
specially  to  note  his  superb  single  Begonias.  They  occupy  a  house,  which 
measures  about  75  feet  by  12  feet,  and  the  plants  are  one  mass  of  bloom. 
The  plants  are  sturdy,  with  an  erect  flowering  habit. —  A.  O’Neill. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Kalosanthes. 
My  article  on  Kalosanthes,  page  176,  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  for 
August  24th,  may  be  misunderstood  by  many  cultivators  of  this  plant. 
I  recommended  that  the  i  lants  should  be  exposed  to  all  the  eh  ments  excep  t 
rain  just  prior  to  their  coming  into  bloom,  and  I  omitted  to  give  the 
reasons  why  I  advocated  this  procedure.  It  is  because  when  fully 
exposed  to  sun  and  air  the  blooms  come  an  intensely  red  colour,  and  if 
they  are  grown  and  flowered  entirely  under  glass  they  are  generally 
streaked  with  wdiite,  and  ’have  a  somewhat  washed- o.t  appearance. — 
Foreman  X. 
Sweet  Peas. 
Few  flowers  are  prettier  than  Sweet  Peas  when  the  plants  are  well 
grown.  They  are  alwajs  useful  for  cut  bloom,  and  also  charming  for 
decorative  purposes.  The  earliest  sow  ing  can  be  made  about  the  la-  ter  end 
of  November,  and  prior  to  this  the  ground  should  be  deeply  dug,  and  when 
the  time  arrives  a  trench  must  be  taken  out  the  w  idth  of  a  spade,  and 
about  the  same  d<  p  h.  Place  a  good  supply  of  well  decayed  farmyard 
manure  in  it,  make  it  firm,  after  which  place  a  little  soil  on  the  top,  so 
that  when  ready  for  the  sowing  the  trench  will  be  about  2  inches  in 
depth.  Sow  the  seeds  thinly  and  as  evenly  as  possible,  covering  them 
the  depth  of  an  inch  with  fine  soil.  If  possible  place  some  wire  netting 
over  the  rows  to  prevent  birds  from  disturbing  the  seeds.  When  the 
plants  are  about  1^-  inch  in  height  they  should  have  a  little  soil  placed 
between  them,  which  will  be  helpful  for  their  support  and  favour  stronger 
growth.  They  will  also  require  staking,  for  which  sticks  about  4  feet  in 
height  are  very  suitable.  When  the  plants  require  water  it  should  bo 
given,  as  they  will  then  bloom  for  a  longer  period.  Sowings  may  be 
made  at  intervals  up  to  March,  and  treated  in  the  same  way  will  prove 
very  successful.  A  good  method  for  early  flowers  is  to  make  a  sowing  in 
small  48-pots,  about  nine  seeds  in  each  pot,  and  place  them  in  a  cool 
vinery  until  they  have  made  stout  little  plants,  alter  which  they  may  bo 
planted  out  in  ground  prepared  as  aboie  described. —  P.  R. 
The  Herbaceous  Calceolaria. 
For  conervatory  or  greenhouse  decoration  in  early  spring  the 
Calceolaria  can  hardly  be  excelled.  The  flowers  are  not  very  valuable 
for  cutting,  but  they  well  repay  in  other  respects  the  little  trouble 
experienced  in  growing  them. 
In  sowing  the  seed  it  is  essential  to  distribute  it  thinly,  otherwise  the 
young  plants  become  drawn  and  a  bad  start  is  made.  Should  thinning 
prove  necissary  it  must  be  done  with  care  and  judgment,  as  we  often  find 
the  small  and  more  deiicate-looking  seedlings  give  the  best  results,  both 
in  habit  and  the  colour  of  the  flowers.  The  compost  I  have  found  most 
suitable  is  one  of  yellow  loam  three  parts,  moderately  decayed  leaf  mould 
one  part,  and  a  sprinkling  of  silver  sand  ;  or,  in  pieferer.ee  to  the  latter, 
if  obtainable,  a  little  road  sweepings. 
The  seed-pans  should  bo  well  drained,  and  filled  to  within  an  inch  of 
the  top  with  the  finely  sifted  compost,  pressed  (airly  firm,  and  watered 
before  sowing.  Alter  the  seeds  have  been  sown  a  little  of  the  fine  soil 
must  be  sprinkled  over  them,  and  a  sheet  of  shaded  glass  put  over  the 
pan  to  prevent  rapid  evaporation.  A  cold  fiame,  where  the  receptacles 
can  be  shaded  from  the  sun,  will  suit  until  the  seeds  have  germinated. 
As  soon  as  the  seedlings  appear  the  cove  ring  glass  should  be  removed, 
and  the  pan  be  raised  as  near  the  light  as  poss.blc.  lun  (he  plants  are 
