March  26,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
271 
i  VETO'S 
ASTERS  and  STOCKS 
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Per  Pkt. 
..2  6 
YEITOH’S  R03E-FL0WEBED  ASTER. 
Mixed,  per  Packet,  6d. ;  in  12  distinct  colours. . 
YEITOH’S  Improved  Victoria,  Mixed . 10 
„  Dwarf  Ohrysantliemum-Flowered,  Mixed  1  0 
„  Improved  Preony  Perfection,  Mixed  ..  1  0 
„  Improved  Quilled.  Mixed . 0  6 
„  Dwarf  German,  Mixed  . 0  6 
Or  each  of  the  above  in  12  distinct  colours,  separate,  2/6  &  3/6 
YEITOH’S  Ten-week  or  Summer  Flowering  Stocks, 
Mixed  . .  . 
„  Large  Flowering  Pyramidal,  Mixed 
„  Giant  Perfection,  Ten-week,  Mixed 
„  Dwarf  German,  Ten-week,  Mixed.. 
Or  each  in  Twelve  Varieties,  separate  .. 
Beautifully  Illustrated  Descriptive  Catalogue  on  request. 
JAMES  VEITCH  &  SONS, 
ESTABLISHM  ENT,  CHELSEA,  LONDON,  S.W. 
THE 
MOST  BEAUTIFUL  FLOWERS 
Can  be  Ensured  by  Sowing 
SUTTON’S 
Collections  of 
FLOWER  SEEDS 
C 
SUTTON’S  10/6  COLLECTION 
Consists  of  Aster,  Mignonette,  Nasturtium,  Sweet  Pea, 
Ten-week  Stock,  and  other  beautiful  varieties. 
SUTTON’S  15/-  COLLECTION 
Consists  of  Aster,  Balsam,  Phlox,  Portulaca,  Zinnia,  and 
other  beautiful  varieties. 
SUTTON’S  21/-  COLLECTION 
Consists  of  Aster,  Calceolaria,  Cineraria,  Petunia,  Phlox, 
Portulaca,  Primula,  and  other  beautiful  varieties. 
OTHER  COLLECTIONS  from  2/6. 
Z-J-Uy Flower  Seeds  sent  Post  Free .1  ,,;.T 
*.»  ASA.  V  ^&t££T. 
SUTTON  S  SEEDS 
GENUINE  ONLY  FROM  SUTTON  X  SONS, READING. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS! 
SPECIAL  OFFER  FOR  ONE  WEEK  ONLY. 
Ant  12  OF  THE  FOLLOWING  WILL  BE  SENT  IN  GOOD  PLANTS 
POST  FREE  FOR  7/6  ;  not  less  than  this  number  will  be  supplied 
or  more  than  One  Plant  of  each  variety  in  the  dozen — 
Mutual  Friend,  Beauty  of  Teignmouth,  Duchess  of  York) 
Graphic,  Mdlle.  de  Galbert,  Miss  Goschen,  Nyanza,  President 
Carnot,  Pallatize,  Reine  d’Angleterre,  Mrs.  Trafford,  Gold  Dust, 
The  Egyptian,  M.  J.  Ailemand,  Globe  d’Or,  Owen’s  Crimson, 
Deuil  de  Jules  Perry,  Souvenir  de  Petite  Amie,  O.  Blusset,  Mrs. 
W.  J.  Godfrey,  Mrs.  Geo.  West,  Niveus,  Cecil  Wray,  Mrs.  H.  T. 
Drewitt,  Duchess  of  Wellington,  Lady  Randolph,  Miss  R. 
Schroeter,  Hons.  Gruyer,  John  Machar,  Noces  d’Or,  Lily  Love, 
Mrs.  Higinbotham,  and  Mdme.  M.  Ricond. 
Offered  for  One  Week  only ,  and  only  so  long  as  stock  holds  out. 
W.  J .  GODFREY,  EXMOUTH,  DEV  3U, 
SEED  CATALOGUE 
MEGGITTS  HORTICULTURAL  MANURES 
Garden  Manure. 
Lawn  Manure. 
Floral  Fertilizer. 
For  Vegetables  and  Fruit. 
Invaluable  for  fine  Green  Swards. 
Unrivalled  for  Production  of  Bloom. 
Packed  in  Tins,  Is.  3d. ;  7  lb.  Bags,  2s.  6d. ;  28  lb.  Bags,  7s.  6d. ; 
50  lb.  Bags,  10s. ;  and  1  cwt.  Bags,  15s., Carriage  Paid. 
SAML.  MEGGITT  &  SONS,  Ltd., SUTTON-IN-ASH Fi ELD,  NOTTS 
250,000  PANSIES  &  VIOLAS. 
One  dozen  Very  Fine  Named  Varieties  of  each— 26  plants  in 
ail,  free  by  Parcel  Post  for  6s.  One  dozen  Violas,  including 
several  recently  Introduced  varieties  of  great  merit,  post  iree  for 
2s.  6d.  100  in  50  distinct  varieties, 20s.— DOBBIE  &  CO..  Florists 
to  the  Queen,  Rothesay. 
100  ACRES  OF  DAHLIAS. 
The  Dahlias  we  send  out  in  cne  season  are  sufficient  to  plant  100 
acres.  Our  price  ior  all  sections,  our  selection, is  5s.  per  dozen.  In 
every  dozen|Double  Cactus  varieties  we  shall  include  either  "Lady 
Penzance  ”  or  “  Matchless,”  and  deal  as  liberally  with  selections 
from  other  classes.  DAHLIA  CUTTINGS.— We  are  still  supply¬ 
ing  the  best  varieties  of  all  sections,  our  selection,  at  Is.  lu  i.  per 
doz.,  3s,  4d.  for  25,  5s.  iOd.  for  50,  10s.  6(1.,  per  100,  post  free.— 
DOBBIE  dt  CO.,  Florists  to  the  Queen,  Rothesay. 
Containing  an  unusual  amount  of  information 
as  under  : 
Medicinal  Qualities  of  certain  Vegetables. 
Very  Practical  Instructions  for  Forcing, 
Storing,  and  Preparing  for  the  Table 
various  Vegetables. 
The  Best  Sorts  of  Vegetables  and  Flowers. 
These  are  very  clearly  indicated,  and  coarse  Vegetables 
deprecated. 
CATALOGUE  containing  SS  pages,  with  numerous 
Illustrations  and  Order  Sheet  Free,  on  application. 
RICHARD  SMITH  &  CO., 
Seed  Merchants  and  Nurserymen, 
WOR  CESTE  R. 
No.  822.— Vol.  XXXII.,  Third  Series. 
ASPARAGUS. — This  delicious  vegetable  does 
not  require  half  the  expense  usually  incurred.  For  simple 
instructions  see  SEED  LIST,  free  on  application.  Strong  roots 
from  2s.  6d.  per  100.— RICHARD  SMITH  &  CO.,  Nurserymen 
and  Seed  Merchants,  Worcester.  t-c 
35s. 
WALTHAM  LEVER  WATCHES.  35s. 
Hall-marked  Silver  Ca=es.  As  good  for  practical  use 
as  any  more  expensive  Watch.  Five  years’  guarantee.  Free  by 
registered  post.— THE  MIDLAND  WATCH  CO.,  30,  Old  Square, 
Warwick.  Mention  paper. 
DOYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY’S 
jLL  EXAMINATION,  MAY  6th,  189i>.  Coaching  by  corre¬ 
spondence  arranged  for  intending  Candidates  unaccustomed  to 
write  papers.  Fees  moderate.— C.  BROWNE,  F.R.H.3.,  Hextable, 
Kent. 
pHRYSANTHEMUMS.  —  Strong  Plants  to 
\J  clear,  12  varieties,  including  Commandant  Blusset,  Duchess 
of  York,  Thereee  Rey,  later  Ocean,  Charles  Davis,  H.  T.  Drewett, 
Is.  6d.— W.  BAXTER,  Nurseryman,  Woking. 
p  EORGE  HUMPHRIES  begs  to  say  that  bis 
CATALOGUE  of  New  and  Choice  DAHLIAS  has  been 
posted  to  ail  his  Customers;  should  anyone  not  have  received 
same,  please  apply  to  THE  N  URSERIES,  Kington  Langley, 
Chippenham. 
Joiti[tral  ufl  Hm’ticultmtt 
THURSDAY,  MARCH  26,  1896. 
THE  ACTION  OF  FROST. 
THERE  is  much  in  this  subject  which  must 
still  be  classed  amongst  unexplained  natural 
phenomena.  In  its  bearing  upon  horticulture 
it  is,  at  least,  interesting,  and  worthy  of  closer 
attention  than  appears  to  have  yet  obtained,  not¬ 
withstanding  that  effects  directly  traceable  to  the 
action  of  frost  so  often  present  themselves  to 
our  notice.  At  most  anything  advanced  in  this 
brief  article  can  be  but  the  expression  of  a  desire 
to  unravel  secrets  which  are,  so  far  as  the  writer 
is  aware,  as  yet  unrevealed  ;  hence,  it  will  be 
understood  that  any  discussion  evoked  will  be 
as  interesting,  perhaps  profitable,  to  the  writer, 
as  it  would  probably  be  to  the  bulk  of  our 
readers. 
We  have,  in  the  first  instance,  but  to  note 
the  delicate  tracery  on  the  windowpane,  or  the 
marvellous  configuration  of  snow  crystals  as 
revealed  by  the  microscope,  to  feel  that  there 
are  here  natural  laws  working  out  these  ends 
which  scientific  pens  have  yet  to  inscribe  on  our 
statute  book.  This  perfection  of  pattern  and 
faultlessness  of  design  must,  I  think,  be  sought 
for  in  extraneous  causes — viz.,  air  currents,  waves 
of  light,  or  even  of  sound.  In  our  more  imme¬ 
diate  field  of  labour  and  research  frost  frequently 
affords  various  perplexing  problems  in  the  par¬ 
tiality  of  its  effects.  This  cannot  wholly  be 
attributed  to  the  susceptibility  of  the  subject 
influenced  by  it,  but  it  may  for  present  purposes, 
or  indeed  for  all,  be  termed  the  action  of  frost. 
The  first  question  advanced  for  consideration 
is  the  effects  of  frost  upon  our  so-called  hardy 
plants,  trees,  and  shrubs.  Given  frost  sufficient 
to  penetrate  absolutely  the  substance  of  root, 
stem,  and  branch,  can  increased  intensity  do  more 
— augment  the  injurious  effects  ?  Yes,  the  con¬ 
clusion  will  be  arrived  at,  in  recalling  some 
example  of  arctic  severity,  with  its  consequent 
effects  upon  animal  as  well  as  vegetable  life. 
Yet  reflection  may  admit  this  to  be,  to  some 
extent,  a  false  conclusion  drawn  from  personal 
feelings,  or  animal  experience,  if  it  may  be  so 
termed,  in  contradistinction  to  subjects  in  which 
under  the  action  of  frost,  all  vital  functions 
are  for  the  time  being  suspended.  Can  frost 
do  more  with  water  than  convert  it  into  a 
solid  block  of  ice  ?  Knowing  the  principles  of 
No.  2478.— Vol.  XCIV.,  Old  Series. 
