July  0,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTIGULTDRB  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
During  winter  little  water  will  be  necesiary,  but  it  must  not  be 
entirely  withheld,  In  spring  they  can  be  aBsiated  with  a  gentle  heat  i! 
convenient.  Bat  even  this  is  not  absolutely  necessary.  My  plants 
are  only  subject  to  a  greenhouse  temperature  all  the  year,  and  flower 
profusely  about  July.  When  the  pots  are  full  of  roots  and  the  plants 
are  growing  stimulants  may  be  given  with  advantage,  as  well  as  liberal 
applications  of  water. 
The  soil  most  suitable  is  good  fibry  loam  and  peat  in  equal  propor¬ 
tions,  with  a  few  pieces  of  broken  charcoal  and  plenty  of  coarse  sand. 
I  am  confident  if  amateurs  will  only  give  these  plants  a  trial  they  will 
not  be  disappointed  with  the  results. 
Blandfordia  nobilis  has  rich  orange  coloured  flowers  shading  to 
yellow  ar.  the  edge.  B.  aurea  has  golden  yellow  flowers,  and  B.  Cun- 
ninghami,  which  is  a  very  beautiful  variety,  has  flowers  of  rich  coppery 
red,  while  the  upper  portion  is  yellowish  green. — Growek. 
Events  of  the  Week. — There  still  remain  several  Bose  shows  to 
be  held,  and  a  list  of  those  coming  during  the  ensuing  week  will  be 
found  on  page  38,  It  is  to  be  feared  that  at  the  Eoyal  Horticultural 
Society  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  Roses  will  not  be  very 
numerous,  and  the  same  state  of  things  is  likely  to  occur  at  other 
exhibitions. 
— —  Weather  in  London.— The  weather  in  London  has  been 
almost  tropical,  especially  on  Saturday,  Sunday,  and  Monday,  when  the 
heat  was  intense.  On  these  days  the  sun  shone  from  an  absolutely 
cloudless  sky,  and  there  was  scarcely  any  breeze  to  create  a  coolness  of 
the  atmosphere.  On  Tuesday  morning  the  sky  was  dull,  and  the  air 
heavy  as  if  with  the  presence  of  thunder,  but  nothing  more  than  a  few 
drops  of  rain  fell  during  the  day.  On  Wednesday  the  sky  was  again 
clear,  and  the  sun  shone  brilliantly. 
-  Royal  Hokticultheal  Society.  —  The  next  Fruit  and 
Floral  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  be  held  on 
Tuesday,  July  14th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster,  1  to  5  p.m.  Special 
prizes  will  be  oilered  for  Roses.  At  three  o’clock  a  lecture  will  be  given 
by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton  on  “  New  Roses.” 
-  Violas  prom  Hawick. — Mr.  John  Forbes,  the  well-known 
Viola  and  Pansy  grower  of  Hawick,  N.B.,  has  forwarded  to  ns  a  box 
containing  a  charming  collection  of  these  flowers.  The  range  of  colour 
w’as  very  wide,  some  of  the  variations  being  exceedingly  beautiful.  The 
elegant  form  of  the  flowers  and  their  delicate  fragrance  were  peculiarly 
pleasing.  A  few  good  ones  were  Mrs;  Palmer,  Cherry  Park,  Mrs.  Haig, 
Lady  Salisbury,  Ophir  (miniature).  Clown,  Lady  Hay,  Lord  Salisbury, 
Gnome,  Wrayment,  and  George  Muirhead.  The  box  also  contained  a 
floriferous  rich  crimson  Mule  Pink  named  Napoleon  III. 
-  Cerastium  tomentosdm.— Though  of  very  easy  culture,  this 
is  one  of  the  best  plants  that  can  be  employed  as  an  edging  for  beds  or 
borders  in  the  flower  garden,  especially  in  situations  where  Coniferm 
abound,  which  render  bright  beds  and  edgings  a  necessity  to  impart 
warmth  of  colouring  to  the  s  lenes.  When  in  flower  the  starry-like 
blossoms  are  extremely  effective.  After  flowering,  if  trimmed  into  shape 
and  beaten  down  with  the  back  of  a  spade,  it  is  easily  kept  smooth  and 
even  throughout  the  summer,  the  silvery  grey  colour  of  its  foliage  is  then 
very  pretty.  The  present  is  a  capital  time  to  increase  the  stock  of  this 
Cerastium.  Our  plants  have  only  just  finished  flowering,  and  after  the 
flower  stems  have  been  cut  away  the  whole  of  the  trusses  will  be 
inserted  as  cuttings.  Should  these  prove  insufficient,  others  will  be 
removed  here  and  there  from  the  edgings.  We  insert  the  cuttings  in  a 
shady  position  in  the  open  air,  first  preparing  the  ground  by  digging, 
treading  firmly,  raking,  and  placing  a  layer  of  sand  upon  the  surface. 
The  cuttings  are  placed  an  inch  apart,  and  kept  well  watered  till  estab¬ 
lished  ;  they  are  then  transplanted  to  an  open  position  in  the  reserve 
garden.  Strong  plants  are  thus  produced  for  planting  in  permanent 
positions  the  following  autumn  or  spring.  Edgings  are  sometimes  formed 
by  inserting  the  cuttings  closely  in  their  permanent  positions,  but  I 
prefer  the  plan  above  detailed,  as  it  is  essential  to  produce  a  good  effect 
at  once  in  flower  gardens.  Silene  pendula  or  compacta  with  an  edging 
of  Cerastium  makes  one  of  the  brightest  and  prettiest  beds  imaginable 
during  the  month  of  May. — H. 
-  Woburn  Experimental  Fruit  Farm. — We  are  asked  to 
state  that  Mr.  Spencer  Pickering  will  be  very  pleased  to  meet  any 
horticulturists  at  the  Woburn  Experimental  Fruit  Farm,  Ridgmont 
(L.N.W.  Ry.),  on  either  the  20th  or  the  24th  of  this  month.  Visitors 
are  requested  to  send  notice  of  their  intentions  to  Mr.  Pickering, 
Harpenden,  Herts,  not  later  than  three  days  before  their  proposed  visit. 
- Floral  Desions  for  the  Queen.— Mr.  F.  J.  Thorne,  The 
Gardens,  Sunningdale  Park,  writes  ”  Mr.  W.  H.  Titt,  Florist,  Windsor, 
staged  at  the  recent  Windsor  show  some  beautiful  floral  designs,  one 
of  which  was  in  the  form  of  a  wheelbarrow  of  choice  Orchids— viz,, 
Miltonias  and  CMtleyas.  This  was  sent  by  request  to  Her  Majesty  for 
the  breakfast  table,  and  Mr.  Titt  received  a  letter  of  thanks  from  Lord 
Pelham  Clinton. 
_  Mount  Felix.— This  fine  Italian  mansion  on  the  Thames, 
close  to  Walton  Bridge,  has  just  been  sold  to  Mr.  J.  M,  Cook,  head  of 
the  firm  of  Thomas  Cook  &  Sons.  The  mansion  was  built  by  the  Earl 
of  Tankerville,  and  was  for  many  years  occupied  by  the  late  Mr.  Ingram, 
the  proprietor  of  the  “Illustrated  London  News.”  According  to  a 
contemporary  the  extensive  grounds  contain  some  of  the  grandest 
specimens  of  forest  trees  to  be  found  in  the  county. 
_  Wolverhampton. — This  exhibition,  which  opened  on  Tuesday, 
was  very  extensive,  especially  in  the  specimen  plant  classes  ;  but  several 
entrants  of  cut  flowers,  fruit,  and  vegetables  failed  to  occupy  their 
space.  Mr.  Cypher  showed  splendidly,  and  took  many  prizes,  Roses 
were  good  for  the  season.  Messrs.  Harkness  &  Son  won  first  hoMurs 
in  the  seventy-two  and  thirty-six  class ;  Messrs.  Dicksons,  ^  ew 
townards,  in  the  twenty-four,  as  well  as  with  new  Roses,  also  m  the 
light  and  dark  variety  classes.  Among  other  exhibits  a  handsome 
challenge  cup  was  won  by  Dicksons  (Ltd,),  Chester,  with  hardy  flowers. 
Mr.  Jones,  Lewisham,  secured  a  gold  medal  for  Begonias,  as  did  Mi. 
Brownhill  for  annual  Chrysanthemums,  Mr.  Birkenhead  for  Ferns,  and 
Mr.  Eckford  for  Sweet  Peas.  A  fuller  report  will  appear  next  week. 
_  Crotons  at  Riddings  House.— Biddings  House,  the  seat  of 
T.  H.  Oakes,  Esq.,  has  long  been  famous  for  its  garden  produce,  and 
Mr.  Joseph  Ward,  the  able  gardener  of  this  establishment,  has  deservedly 
held  a  prominent  position  as  one  of  the  most  successful  exhibitors  of 
fruit,  vegetables,  plant#,  and  groups  in  the  Midlands,  On  a  recent  visit 
to  Biddings  I  was  particularly  struck  on  entering  the  Croton  house  with 
the  marvellous  glare  of  colour  and  beauty  which  meets  the  eye— a  sight 
not  soon  to  be  forgotten,  and  one  more  easily  understood  than  described, 
especially  by  those  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them.  Here 
are  many  specimens  with  single  stems  measuring  3  to  4  feet  in  heightj 
feathered  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  without  the  loss  of  a  single  leaf  ; 
but  the  most  striking  features  are  the  marvellous  vigour  and  colour 
which  they  possess,  giving  evident  proof  of  the  cultivator  s  skill.  The 
collection  consists  of  nearly  forty  varieties,  many  of  which  are  but 
rarely  seen  Some  of  the  best  include  caudatus,  with  foliage  measuring 
upwards  of  24  inches  in  length  ;  Warreni,  Thomsoni,  Hanburyana, 
Massangeans,  Reedi,  annentimensis,  Jubilee,  Queen  Victoria,  monte- 
fontanensis,  Nestor,  Duke  of  Albany,  and  Mrs.  Dorman.— W.  Innes. 
-  National  Chrysanthemum  Society’s  Annual  Outing. 
—Mr,  R.  Dean,  Ranelagh  Road,  Baling,  writes  “  I  have  the  pleasure 
to  inform  you  that  the  annual  pic-nic  and  outing  will  take  place  on 
Monday,  July  20th.  The  members  will  travel  to  Elstree  station  by 
the  Midland  Railway  to  visit  the  garden#  and  grounds  of  Aldenham 
House,  Elstree,  by  the  kind  permission  of  Lord  Aldenham.  The  gardens, 
which  are  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Beckett,  are  most  attractive.  or 
Aldenham  has  granted  permission  for  the  members  to  fish  in  the  lake  ; 
also,  provided  the  family  are  not  in  residence,  permission  to  play  lawn 
tennis,  but  those  desirous  of  playing  must  take  their  racquets.  There 
will  also  be  ample  provision  for  cricket.  Dinner  and  tea  will  be 
provided  in  a  spacious  marquee  on  the  lawn  by  a  thoroughly  relia  e 
contractor.  Ladies  are,  as  usual,  specially  invited.  The  charge  for  the 
day,  including  return  fare  from  Mansion  House  and  St.  Pancras  to 
Elstree  and  back,  conveyance  from  the  station  to  the  lodge  .gates  and 
back  Dinner  and  tea  will  be  8i.  to  members,  and  93.  to  non-members. 
Members  not  using  railway  tickets,  but  using  the  conveyances^  to  an 
from  the  railway  station  and  lodge  gates,  will  be  charged  fis.  fid.,  non¬ 
members  78.  fid.  As  this  is  certain  to  be  a  highly  popular  trip,  early 
application  must  be  made  for  tickets  so  that  necessary  arrangements 
may  be  made,  more  especially  in  reference  to  ample  accommodation  by 
rail,  and  for  dinner  and  tea.  Members  must  state  whether  they  require 
tickets  from  Mansion  House  or  St.  Pancras,  so  that  ample  accommoda* 
tion  can  be  provided  at  each.” 
