May  14, 1896.  JOURNAL  OE  HORTICULTURE  AM)  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
435 
NEW  CATALOGUE  for  1896 
(No.  139). 
120  Pages,  with  Cultural  Bin's,  Descriptions,  and  Prices  of  all 
the  best  Plants  for  INDOOR  GARDENING'  and  the  Finest 
HERBACEOUS  PLANTS,  and  CLIMBERS,  TEA  ROSES, 
REDDING  PLANTS,  fee..  Post  Free  Three  Stamps. 
TjOVELY  FUCHSIAS,  8s.  and  6s.  doz. 
GERANIUMS,  the  finest  kinds  of  all  classes,  from  4s.  doz. 
PELARGONIUMS,  large  flowered  varieties,  9s.  doz. 
PETUNIAS,  distinct  kinds,  5s.  doz. 
BOUVARDIAS,  best  sorts,  6s.  doz. 
COLEUS,  ABUTILONS,  LANTANAS,  SALVIAS,  and  HELIO¬ 
TROPES,  in  the  finest  varieties.  See  Catalogue. 
BEGONIAS,  TUBEROUS.  A  Speciality  for  some  years.  From 
Single  Seedlings  at  8s.  doz.  to  finest  named  varieties  of 
Doubles  and  Singles  at  prices  as  per  Catalogue. 
TREE  CARNATIONS,  picked  varieties,  9s.  doz. 
FERNS,  4s.,  6s.,  and  9s.  doz. 
OALADIUMS,  128.  and  ISs.  doz.,  and  our  own  splendid  novelties 
as  per  Catalogue. 
STOVE  aDd  GREENHOUSE  PLANTS  in  immense  variety, 
clean  healthy  plants  of  various  sizes  for  stocking  new 
houses  and  adding  to  existing  collections.  See  Catalogue. 
CARNATIONS,  for  borders  and  exhibition,  in  immense  variety 
and  the  best  sorts,  6s.  doz. 
VIOLAS,  for  borders,  in  distinct  colours,  named,  2s.  and  2s.  6d. 
doz.;  10s.,  12s.,  and  15s.  100.  Good  Plants. 
HERBACEOUS  PLANTS  in  immense  variety,  to  bloom  this 
summer,  4s.  doz. 
CLIMBING  PLANTS,  all  the  choicest  kinds  known  are  grown 
at  these  Nurseries.  See  Catalogue. 
DAHLTAS,  Show,  Fancy,  Pompon,  Bedding  Cactus,  Decorative, 
and  Singles,  the  finest  varieties  in  cultivation  ;  12  sorts, 
any  section,  or  mixed,  4s.  doz.  Novelties  as  per  Catalogue. 
CXiIBRAN’S,  ALTRINCHAM, 
10  &  12,  MARKET  STREET,  MANCHESTER ; 
Also  at  Llandudno  Junction  and  Bangor,  North  Wales. 
STRONG  PLANTS  in 
Pots  of  all  the  BEST 
VARIETIES  now  ready 
for  sending  out. 
List  Free  on  application. 
J.  R.  PEARSON  &  SONS, 
Chilwell  Nurseries,  NOTTS. 
DAHLIAS!  DAHLIAS! 
One  each  the  following  six  beautiful  large  doubles— 
Mrs.  Gladstone,  Mrs.  Langtry,  Mont  Blanc,  Peacock,  John  Bennett* 
Duke  of  Edinbro’,  for  P.O.  2s. ;  12  var.,  3s.  6d. ;  or  six  splendid 
named  show  Cactus,  Is.  9d. ;  six  choice  named  Pompones,  Is.  9d. ; 
six  choice  named  singles.  Is.  9d.,  all  post  free;  or  two  dozen 
splendid,  my  selection  of  all  the  best  sorts  named,  7s.,  car.  paid. 
All  strong  plants  from  single  pots.  Satisfaction  guaranteed. 
Catalogue  Free  of  207  Best  Sorts. 
WILLIAM  WELCH,  RUSH  GREEN,  ROMFORD,  ESSEX 
ORCHIDS. 
CLEAN  HEALTHY  PLANTS  AT  LOW  PRICES. 
Always  worth  a  visit  of  inspection.  Kindly  send  for  Catalogue. 
JAMES  CYPHER, 
Exotic  Nurseries,  CHELTENHAM. 
DAHLIAS— A  Speciality 
12  Grand  new  CACTUS  DAHLIAS,  9s.  6d. ;  six,  5s. 
12  Older  CACTUS,  4s.  6d. ;  six,  2s.  3d. 
12  SHOW  and  FANCY,  4s.  6d. ;  six,  2s.  3d. 
12  POMPONE  DAHLIAS,  3s.  6d. ;  six,  2s. 
12  SINGLE  DAHLIAS,  3s.  Catalogue  on  application. 
HUMPHRIES,  F.R.H.S.,  NURSERYMAN,  CHIPPENHAM 
BEGONIAS 
Of  the  newest  and  most  superb  type,  including  many  rare 
varieties,  Double  and  Single,  for  Conservatory  or  Bedding. 
See  B.  R.  Davis’s  Descriptive  Catalogue,  free.  A  Hand¬ 
some  COLOURED  PLATE  of  Six  Double  Varieties,  with  a  Copy 
of  Treatise  on  Cultivation,  free  for  Is. 
B.  R,  DAYIS,  NURSERIES,  YEOYIL,  SOMERSET. 
FREE! 
Sample  Bag  of  Normanby  Patent  Slag  Manure 
On  application  to  anyone  mentioning  this  Paper. 
Apply,  NORMANBY  IRONWORKS  CO.,  Ltd.,  Middlesbrough 
Hardy  border  and  herbaceous 
PLANTS,  Ac.,  Arc. — FORBES’  NEW  ILLUSTRATED 
DESCRIPTIVE  PRICED  CATALOGUE  FOR  1896,  146  Pages 
gives  all  particulars.  Including  COLOUR,  HEIGHT,  SEASON 
OF  FLOWERING,  &c  ,  <5rc,  of  THOUSANDS  of  these  marvel¬ 
lously  varied  and  highly  popular  Flowers.  Free  ou  application. 
-JOHN  FORBES,  Hawick,  Scotland. 
mm. 
Wm.  PAUL  &  SON  S 
NEW  ROSES  for  1896. 
ENCHANTRESS  (Tea)  ,  Creamy  White,  tinted  with  Buff  in 
the  centre;  large,  full,  and  globular;  of  vigorous  growth, 
and  great  freedom  and  continuity  in  blooming.  Silver 
Banksian  Medal  and  Award  of  Merit  from  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society.  10/6  each. 
QUEEN  MAB  (China),  Rosy  Apricot,  shaded  with  Orange, 
outside  tinted  with  Rose  and  Video;  sturdy  habit  of 
growth ;  great  substance  of  petals.  Certificate  of  Merit 
and  Award  of  Merit  from  the  Royal  Botanic  and  Royal 
Horticultural  Societies.  10/6  each. 
THURSDAY,  MAY  14,  1896. 
NEW  ROSES  of  1895. 
SYLPH  (Tea)  . 3/6  to  7/6  each 
ZEPHYR  (Tea) . 3/6  to  7/6  each 
CLIO,  DUKE  OF  YORK,  LORNA  DOONE, 
2/-  to  5/-  each 
CRIMSON  RAMBLER  ..  ••  ..  1/-  to  3  6  each 
LORD  PENZANCE’S  HYBRID  SWEET  BRIARS  2/-  to  8/6  each 
THE  NEW  CONTINENTAL  ROSES  for  1896. 
A  selection  of  the  best  varieties,  3/6  each  ;  36/-  dozen. 
A  LARGE  GENERAL  COLLECTION  OF  ROSES  in  Pots  for 
out-door  planting  or  for  pot  culture,  12/-  to  30/-  per  dozen  ; 
75/-  to  £10  per  10U.  Larger  Plants  42/-  dozen  and  upwards 
HARDY  CLIMBING  &.  WALL  PLANTS. 
Strong,  in  Pots,  9/-  to  24/-  dozen. 
Full  Descriptive  Catalogue  Post  Free  on  application. 
PAULS’  NURSERIES, 
WALTHAM  CROSS,  HERTS 
HAVE  YOU  SEEN,  if  not  secure  at  once. 
HOLBORN  CLORY  SWEET  WILLIAM  (New) 
Each  flower  pip  size  of  pennypiece.  Strong  plants,  5s.  doz. 
AURICULAS. 
All  Hardy  Plants  supplied. 
YOUNG  «&C.  DOBINSON, 
Holmesdale  Nurseries,  STEVENAGE,  HERTS. 
Also  at  IIIGHFIELD  NURSERIES. 
FERNS 
SPECIALITY. 
We  have  an  immense  stock  of  all  kinds  of  Ferns,  Stove,  Green¬ 
house,  Filmy,  Hardy  Exotic,  and  British,  including  many  very 
beautiful  varieties  rarely  seen,  but  which  ought  to  be  more 
generally  grown.  Catalogue  free  on  application. 
W.  &.  J.  BIRKENHEAD.  F.R.H.S., 
FERN  NURSERIES,  SALE,  near  MANCHESTER. 
MECCITT’S  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. ;  71b.  Bags,  2s.  6d.;  28  lb.  Bags,  7s.  6d. ; 
501b.  Bags,  10s.;  and  1  cwt.  Bags,  15s., Carriage  Paid. 
SAML.  MEGGITT  &  SONS,  Lcd.,SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD,  NOTTS 
GARDEN  NETTING. — Is  oiled  and  dressed  ; 
will  not  rot  if  left  out  in  all  weathers.  PROTECT  YOUR 
GARDENS  FROM  THE  RAVAGES  OF  BIRDS.  Sent  any 
width  or  length,  35  square  yards  for  Is.  Price  List  sent 
on  application.  —  HENRY  ROBINSON,  Garden  Net  Works, 
Rye,  Sussex. 
TMPORTANT  to  MUSHROOM  GROWERS. 
_L  — CUTHBERT’S  SPECIALITE  MUSHROOM  SPAWN. 
Always  alike;  nmst  productive.  Hundreds  of  Testimonials. 
Per  Bushel,  6s. — R.  <fe  G.  CUTHBERT,  Seed,  Bulb,  and  Plant 
Merchants, Southgate,  N.  Established  1797. 
PROTECT  YOUR  GARDENS  from  Ravages 
of  Birds.— TANNED  NETTING,  35  square  yards  for  Is. 
Will  not  rot  if  left  out  in  all  weathers.  Sent  any  width ;  carriage 
paid  on  all  orders  over  5s.  As  supplied  to  the  Royal  Gardens. 
Sent  on  approval.— H.  J.  UASSON,  Garden  Net  Works,  Rye. 
MULCHING  AND  TOP-DRESSING. 
PROFESSIONAL  gardeners  understand  mulch¬ 
ing  to  be  a  distinct  operation  from  top- 
dressing,  but  amateurs  are  apt  to  consider  them 
analogous.  We  mulch  with  a  view  to  prevent 
the  too  rapid  loss  of  moisture  from  the  soil  by 
evaporation,  and  sometimes  also  to  prevent  the 
loss  of  heat  during  cold  weather  ;  but  we  top- 
dress  with  the  aim  of,  to  a  certain  extent,  con¬ 
serving  moisture,  but  primarily  with  the  idea  of 
providing  an  additional  and  tempting  root-run, 
or  of  keeping  the  roots  active  near  the  surface. 
Excellent  results  attend  both  operations,  always 
provided  they  are  intelligently  carried  out. 
All  things  considered  partially  decayed  strawy 
litter  from  horse  stables  is  the  best  kind  of 
mulching  material  that  can  be  used.  This  serves 
to  keep  in  the  moisture  without  unduly  excluding 
warmth  and  air.  In  a  half  decayed  state  cow 
manure  is  recommended  for  particularly  hot  and 
dry  positions,  or  for  light  non-retentive  soils* 
Spent  tanners’  bark  is  an  excellent  substitute 
for  strawy  litter  as  a  mulch  for  Strawberries. 
Where  it  is  used  slug*  are  never  troublesome  and 
millipedes  do  not  abound,  nor  have  I  ever  found 
that  it  affected  the  flavour  of  the  fruit  resting 
on  it  during  the  time  it  was  ripening. 
Leaves  when  well  advanced  in  decay  are 
tempting  to  roots,  *o  that  they  answer  the  double 
purpose  of  conserving  moisture  and  fostering 
surface  root  action,  or  more  so  than  in  the  case 
of  the  other  materials  named.  Spent  hops  only 
answer  well  with  a  little  soil  laid  on  them. 
When  none  of  the»e  mulching  materials  has 
been  available  in  sufficiently  large  quantities, 
I  have  repeatedly  followed  a  soaking  rain  or 
heavy  watering  with  a  surface  hoeing,  and  then 
mulched  with  fine  dry  soil,  good  results  accruing. 
This  form  of  mulching  is  most  to  be  recom¬ 
mended  for  Onion,  Carrot,  Turnip,  and  other 
root  crops.  It  is  easily  applied,  and  while  it 
remains  in  a  dry  state  decidedly  non-conductive. 
Where  soils  are  given  to  cracking  during  dry 
hot  weather  a  timely  free  use  of  dry  soil  as  a 
mulch  serves  to  prevent  this,  and  will  make  all 
the  difference  between  a  heavy  and  compara¬ 
tively  light  crop.  Mulchings  are  needed  for 
fruit  tree  borders,  both  under  glass  and  in  the 
open,  far  more  than,  judging  from  appearances* 
No.  2485.— VOL.  XOIV.,  OLD  SERIES. 
No.  829.— Vol.  XXXII.,  Third  Series. 
