308 
September  24,  18M< 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
ments  make  it  impossible  to  be  dull ;  but  in  my  case  this  was  not  all,  as 
I  knew  Douglas  was  on  the  way  to  Belfast,  and  that  Newtownards  is 
only  a  few  miles  away,  and  Newtownards  to  gardeners  of  course  means 
Dicksons,  so  famous  in  the  Rose  world.  When  1  arrived  there  on  the 
3rd  of  this  month  I  found,  to  my  great  surprise,  the  whole  place  in  a 
state  of  holiday  making,  as  a  flower  show  on  a  very  extensive  scale  was 
being  held  in  Messrs.  Dicksons’  grounds;  One  striking  feature  of  the 
^hibition  was  that  all  the  fruit  and  vegetables  were  locked  up  after  the 
judges  had  made  their  awards  with  a  very  neat  arrangement  of  frames 
covered  with  wire  netting.  Visitors  could  easily  see  the  objects,  but 
could  not  touch.  Plants,  hothouse  and  hardy  fruits,  Roses,  Gladioli,  and 
vegetables  were  shown  in  excellent  condition. 
I  was  too  late  to  see  the  object  of  my  visit,  the  Rose  nursery,  that 
evening,  so  after  an  early  breakfast,  and  through  the  kindness  of  Mr. 
Dickson,  with  the  assistance  of  a  good  horse  and  conveyance  together 
with  a  guide,  I  was  enabled  to  see  a  great  deal  in  a  short  time.  In  the 
Rose  fields  I  found  the  plants  trained  to  wires  fan-shape,  so  that  one  row 
did  not  grow  into  another,  and  that  the  varieties  are  also  kept  distinct. 
After  a  hearty  farewell  to  the  most  hospitable  of  hosts,  I  was  soon  back 
to  Belfast  to  take  the  train  for  Dublin.  The  line  runs  through  a  rather 
flat  country,  hut  the  pasture  fields  bear  a  spring  green  appearance,  so 
different  from  the  fields  I  left  at  home. 
I  reached  Dublin  about  midday,  and  after  lunch  made  my  way 
up  Sackville  Street  to  Phoenix  Park,  there  to  find  some  very  fine 
bedding,  showing  that  if  the  Irish  are  twenty-five  minutes  behind  us  in 
the  time  of  day  they  are  quite  apace  with  us  in  the  flower  garden, 
Affer  a  run  through  a  portion  of  the  Park  I  again  joined  the  steamboat 
“King  ’Arry,”  and  arrived  at  Douglas  by  11  PM,  where  I  stayed  for 
several  more  days,  and  eventually  returned  home  with  the  hope  that  my 
visit  to  "Mona”  and  the  Bmerald  Isle  will  some  day  be  repeated. 
— J.  Mallender. 
POTTING. 
This  is  an  opersticn  which  every  beginner  considers  himself  skilled 
in,  but  which  is,  nevertheless,  often  badly  performed  even  by  practical 
gardeners.  The  first  point  to  be  noticed  is  properly  draining  the  pots. 
When  a  suitable  outlet  for  the  superfluous  water  is  not  made  it  is  hope¬ 
less  to  expect  success,  for  no  plant  can  thrive  in  sour  soil.  In 
draining  the  smallest-sized  pots  one  crock  (piece  of  broken  pot)  over  the 
hole  in  the  bottom,  with  the  concave  side  downwards,  covered  with  the 
roughest  of  the  soil,  is  generally  enough.  Indeed,  a  little  rough  soil  in 
t  le  case  of  strong-growing  strong -rooting  plants  is  often  enough.  For 
plants  in  6-inch  pots  one  large  crock  covered  with  rough  lumpy  soil 
may  be  enough  for  Balsams,  or  even  Fuchsias,  when  growing  rapidly. 
For  Heaths  and  plants  of  a  similar  nature  small  crocks  carefully 
arranged  to  the  depth  of  fully  an  inch  should  cover  the  central  one,  and 
over  the  small  crocks  a  little  moss,  or  the  fibre  from  the  peat  or  loam,  is 
necessary  to  prevent  the  soil  stopping  the  drainage.  For  a  12-inch  pot 
from  3  to  4  inches  depth  of  drainage  will  be  necessary,  and  more 
according  to  size. 
Having  drained  the  pots  the  next  thing  is  placing  in  the  soil.  When 
the  smallest  pots  are  used  for  potting  cuttings  or  seedlings  enough  soil 
should  be  ,  laced  in  the  pots,  and  pressed  firmly  down,  that  when  the 
roots  cf  the  plant  to  be  potted  rest  lightly  on  it  the  part  of  the  stem 
which  was  at  the  surface  of  soil  before  may  be  fully  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
below  the  rim  of  the  pot.  Holding  the  plant  in  this  position,  in  the 
centre  of  the  pot,  with  the  left  band  soil  should  be  placed  into  the  pot 
with  the  right,  and  pressed  down  firmly  and  level,  the  surface  of  the  soil 
being  a  quarter  of  an  inch  below  the  rim  of  the  pot.  This  space  is  for 
holding  water.  When  the  plants  are  to  be  taken  oat  of  cutting  boxes 
each  should  be  lifted  out  carefully  with  a  good  ball  of  earth,  and  only  as 
much  being  carefully  removed  without  bruising  the  roots  as  will 
r3duce  the  ball  so  that  it  may  be  easily  introduced  into  the  pot  intended 
for  it. 
When  plants  are  to  be  shifted  the  same  rule  should  be  observed. 
Plants  do  not  need  shifting  unless  the  soil  in  the  pots  is  well  occupied 
with  roots,  and  it  is  considered  desirable  or  necessary  to  increase  the 
size  of  the  plants.  When  the  plants  are  turned  out  of  the  pots  the 
drainage  should  be  removed,  and  any  unoccupied  soil  carefully  picked 
oflE.  It  should  then  be  placed  on  the  soil  (which  has  been  put  in  the  pot 
and  well  firmed  down  previously),  and  fresh  soil  packed,  either  with  the 
fingers  or  a  blunt  piece  of  wood,  rather  firmly.  Loose  soil  holds  too 
much  water,  and  when  plants  which  are  potted  loosely  are  turned  out 
there  is  danger  of  the  ball  breaking,  and  so  destroying  the  roots.  When 
a  plant  is  potted  the  new  soil  should  always  be  put  in  as  firm  as  the  old 
ball  is,  or  when  the  water  is  applied  it  will  run  through  the  loose  soil 
and  leave  the  firmer  portion,  where  the  roots  are,  too  dry. 
In  potting  large  plants  soil  as  full  of  fibre  as  possible  should  be  chosen, 
and  rammed  into  the  pots  or  tubs  rather  firmly.  The  reason  for  choos¬ 
ing  turfy  material  for  soil  is  that  it  lasts  a  long  time  without  becoming 
sour.  When  large  quantities  of  soil,  in  which  there  is  neither  fibre  nor 
roots,  are  packed  into  large  pots  or  tubs,  to  remain  there  for  years  maybe, 
it  is  sure  to  become  sour,  soddened,  and  unhealthy,  in  which  state  no 
plant  can  grow  well  in  it. 
Repotting  generally  takes  place  in  spring,  when  plants  that  have 
rested  through  the  winter  have  been  pruned  and  started  into  growth 
require  partial  shaking  out  and  repotting  in  the  same  or  similar  pots. 
Fuchsias  should  be  thus  dealt  with  in  spring,  and  so  should  any  scarlet 
and  other  Pelargoniums  which  may  have  been  brought  over  the  winter, 
■  and  which  may  be  intended  for  growing  on.  Fancy  Pelargoniums 
require  this  treatment  in  autumn,  when  they  have  made  fresh  growth 
after  having  been  ripened  and  pruned.  Plants  which  have  thus  been 
treated  do  not  need  larger  pots  until  some  growth  has  been  made,  but 
the  partial  removal  of  the  impoverished  soil  and  supplying  fresh  soil 
is  always  accompanied  with  good  results.  In  such  cases  the  old  balls 
should  be  turned  out  of  the  pots  and  reduced  as  much  as  will  allow  of 
this  being  easily  placed  in  the  pots,  and  new  soil  along  with  them.  Any 
loose  roots  should  at  the  same  time  be  cut  back. 
“  Potting-off  ”  is  when  plants  in  a  small  state  are  placed  into  pots 
for  the  first  time.  "  Potting-on  ”  is  shifting  plants  into  larger  pots  than 
those  they  occupied ;  and  “  repotting  ”  is  turning  plants  out  of  their 
pots,  reducing  their  balls,  and  placing  them  in  the  same  or  similar  pots. 
When  plants  are  potted  enough  room  should  be  left  in  the  pots  as  will 
hold  as  much  water  as  will  thoroughly  saturate  the  soil  contained  in 
them.  A  quarter  of  an  inch  is  enough  to  leave  in  a  3-inch  pot,  half  an 
inch  in  a  4^-inch  pot,  1  inch  in  a  6-inch  pot,  and  2  inches  in  a  10-inch 
pot,  and  so  on. — N.  - 
THE  ISLE  OF  WIGHT  HORTICULTURAL  IMPROVE¬ 
MENT  ASSOCIATION. 
The  members  of  the  above  Association,  resolved  to  have  an  outing 
this  year,  and  by  the  gracious  permission  of  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  paid  a 
visit  to  the  grounds  of  Osborne  House  on  Wednesday  last.  The  weather 
being  fine  a  most  enjoyable  afternoon  was  spent. 
The  President,  Dr.  Groves,  J.P.,  with  the  Secretary,  Mr.  S.  Heaton, 
F.R.H.S.,  and  about  fifty  members,  which  included  most  of  the  leading 
and  well  known  horticulturists  in  the  island,  were  met  by  Mr.  Nobba,  the 
Queen’s  gardener,  and  conducted  around  the  grounds  and  through  the 
kitchen  garden,  and  greenhouses.  The  view  from  the  terrace,  with 
the  beautiful  undulating  lawns  sloping  down  to  the  Solent,  was  much 
admired.  The  many  rare  and  interesting  trees  brought  from  foreign 
climes  by  members  of  the  Royal  household  and  others  evoked  much 
admiration  and  discussion.  The  various  Myrtle  trees,  grown  from  sprigs 
from  the  Royal  wedding  bouquets  of  many  of  the  Royal  Family,  planted 
by  Her  Majesty,  the  events  and  dates  of  which  are  recorded  on  brass 
tablets,  and  likewise  the  various  ornamental  specimens  of  Conifers  and 
Oaks  planted  by  members  of  the  Royal  Family  at  different  periods  in 
their  lifetime,  form  a  chronological  chart,  written,  if  I  may  term  it  so,  in 
arboriculture,  of  the  domestic  life  and  history  of  our  esteemed  Sovereign 
and  her  Royal  children. 
The  various  houses  were  replete  with  decorative  and  other  plants, 
the  plants  suitable  for  the  table  being  very  bright  and  highly  coloured. 
Mr.  Nobbs  is  also  up  to  date  with  his  Chrysanthemums.  The  hard 
ripened  wood  and  promising  buds  predict  some  highly  finished  blooms. 
A  large  house  was  just  being  got  ready  for  their  reception.  A  very  fine 
batch  of  his  new  Violet,  Princess  Beatrice,  with  leaves  as  large  as  a 
small  Caladium,  and  which  bears  flowers  inch  across,  was  very  notice¬ 
able  amongst  other  varieties,  as  also  was  a  fine  batch  of  border 
Carnations,  of  which  variety  Raby  Castle  is  grown  by  the  hundreds. 
At  the  close  Dr.  Groves,  on  behalf  of  the  members,  thanked  Mr.  Nobbs 
for  his  courtesy  during  our  visit,  which  he  was  sure  would  bring  benefit 
to  the  Association  as  a  body,  as  it  has  given  pleasure  to  the  members 
individually. — C.  Orchard,  F.R.H.S.,  Bemiridge,  I,  fV. 
MINT  AND  LAVENDER. 
The  traveller,  as  he  journeys  along  a  short  branch  of  railway  in  the 
Surrey  district  of  Carshalton,  becomes  slowly  conscious  of  a  new  essence 
in  the  early  autumn  air  that  brings  to  him  the  sense  of  some  familiar 
odour.  It  is  lighter,  fresher,  and  of  more  delicacy  than  he  has  known  it 
heretofore,  and  if  the  fields  be  not  so  wet  as  to  bring  up  the  aroma  of 
vegetation  in  too  great  a  strength,  it  is  not  cloying,  but  rather  of 
refreshing  fragrance.  Indeed,  it  can  be  no  other  than  the  scent  of  that 
aromatic  herb  which,  under  the  disguise  of  Mentha  piperita,  yields  that 
curiously  pungent  essence  known  to  common  folk  as  “  peppermint,” 
Nor  if  he  have  been  brought  hither  early  enough  is  this  the  only  homage 
that  Nature  pays  to  his  olfactory  senses.  He  will  still  be  wondering 
why  from  childhood  the  merest  recollection  of  peppermint  has  ever  sent 
a  shudder  through  his  frame,  when  a  turn  of  his  carriage  will  bring  in 
at  the  window  another  and  a  sweeter  perfume,  this  time  unmistakeably 
delicious  in  its  aroma.  He  sniffs  it  greedily,  as  a  horse  at  new  dried 
hay  ;  he  knows  that  for  him  it  will  not  last  long.  And  he  now  realises 
that  though  h»  is  only  twelve  miles  from  the  heart  of  the  metropolis,  he 
is  passing  through  that  fragrant  valley  which  is  famed  all  the  world 
over  for  its  pure  Peppermint  oil  and  its  otto  of  the  Lavendula  spica, 
known  more  commonly  as  the  Mitcham  Lavender  plant. 
No  large  area  of  land  is  this  of  the  Mint  and  Lavender  ;  a  circle  of 
five  miles  across,  probably,  and  leaving  even  then  ample  room  for  the 
vegetable  and  nursery  gardens  which  abound  everywhere.  Yet  few  are 
the  English  homes  free  from  a  sweet  suspicion  of  Lavender,  and  not  all 
London  holds  the  benighted  adult  who  has  never  been  tempted  to  buy 
a  handful  of  those  scented  spikes  that  harbinger  the  close  of  the  summer 
days.  Of  true  Mitcham-grown  Lavender,  however,  the  quantity  has 
become  much  reduced  of  late  years,  and  the  name  may  bo  said  to  have 
taken  a  wider  sphere  of  usefulness,  since  it  is  now  applied  generally  to 
all  Lavender  raised  in  this  part  of  Surrey.  Within  a  small  area,  of 
which  Wallington  forms  at  once  the  centre  and  headquarters,  the  bulk 
of  the  industry  is  now  carried  on.  At  Wallington  are  to  be  found  the 
