Jnly  29,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
95 
named  Hero  of  Trowbridge.  Messrs.  J.  Carter  &  Co.,  High  Holborn, 
exhibited  a  collection  of  about  eighteen  varieties  of  Turnips,  including 
Cardinal,  Bed  Top  Stone,  Golden  Ball,  Early  Munich,  Jersey  Lily, 
White  Model,  and  others. 
Ploeal  Committee. — Present :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  W.  Atlee  Burpee,  H.  B.  May,  K.  Dean,  G.  Gordon, 
G.  Stevens,  T.  W.  Sanders,  J.  Hudson,  J.  F,  McLeod,  W.  Bain,  J.  Fraser, 
C.  B.  Shea,  J.  Walker,  C.  E.  Pearson,  H.  J.  Jones,  J.  D.  Pawle,  G.  Paul, 
D.  B.  Crane,  E.  Mawley,  J.  Fraser,  and  H.  S.  Leonard. 
Mr.  H.  J.  Jones.  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  Hither  Green,  Lewisham, 
arranged  down  the  centre  of  the  Hall  a  long  undulating  group,  which 
produced  a  unique  and  beautiful  effect.  This  is  the  first  time  we  have 
seen  plants  arranged  in  this  style  at  the  Drill  Hall,  but  it  will  be  a 
matter  for  regret  if,  when  space  permits,  the  plan  is  not  followed  up. 
Both  plants  and  arrangement  must  be  good,  or  the  effect  will  be  very 
bad  instead  of  very  good.  Mr.  Jones’  group  comprised  excellently 
grown  specimens  of  double  and  single  Begonias,  Lilium  speciosum,  with 
Caladiums,  Palms,  and  Ferns,  all  placed  in  an  artistic  manner  (gold 
medal). 
Mr.  W.  Bain,  gardener  to  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Burford  Lodge, 
sent  examples  of  Gladiolus  Lemoinei,  some  splendid  spikes  of  Pent- 
stemons,  Crinums  Powelli,  and  Powelli  alba,  with  three  varieties  of 
Phloxes.  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son,  Old  Nurseries,  Cheshunt,  staged  Roses, 
Coreopsis,  Phloxes,  Spir^a  kamtschatica,  and  other  hardy  fiowers 
■(silver  Banksian  medal).  From  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Covent  Garden, 
came  the  customary  display  of  such  hardy  fl.ower8  as  Pentstemons, 
Phloxes,  Delphiniums,  Campanulas,  and  Liliums  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Blooms  of  double  Begonias  were  exhibited  by  Mr.  Baylor  Hartland, 
Cork.  Several  varieties  of  good  quality  were  included  in  the  stand 
(silver  Flora  medal).  From  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Upper  Edmonson,  came  a 
splendid  collection  of  Pierises,  comprising  many  varieties  (silver-gilt 
Flora  medal).  Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co.  staged  Watsonia  Ardernei, 
Dipladenia  atro-purpurea,  Exacum  macranthum,  and  Lilium  philip- 
piense.  A  small  collection  of  Dahlias  was  arranged  by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal 
and  Sons,  Crawley,  including  single.  Pompon,  and  Cactus  varieties  in 
good  variety. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  staged  an  interesting  collection  of 
flowering  shrubs,  including  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia,  Hibiscus  Single 
Painted  Lady,  H.  coelestis,  H.  totus  albus,  Pavia  macrostachya.  Spiraea 
Anthony  Waterer.  The  same  firm  also  staged  a  box  of  Nymphaeas  of  the 
choicer  varieties,  with  flowers  of  the  Rhododendron  javanico-jasmini- 
florum  hybrids  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Roses  were  staged  by  Messrs. 
W.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  such  varieties  as  Empress  Alexandra  of 
Russia,  Sylph,  and  Enchantress  being  conspicuous.  A  few  herbaceous 
Phloxes,  also  came  from  this  source  (bronze  Banksian  medal). 
Messrs.  Kelway  &  Sons,  Langport,  staged  a  magnificent  collection 
of.  Gladiolus,  including  many  varieties  of  the  best  quality.  The  flowers 
were  large  and  the  colours  clear.  Gaillardias  also  came  from  Langport 
(silver  Flora  medal).  The  Surrey  Seed  Co.,  Red  Hill,  sent  Carnation 
Mrs.  Moore  Binns,  a  yellow  scentless  variety. 
Orchid  Committee — Present  :  H.  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  J,  O’Brien,  De  B,  Crawshay,  H.  M.  Pollett,  H.  Ballan- 
tine,  F.  W.  Moore,  F.  J.  Thorne,  W.  H.  Young,  H.  J.  Chapman, 
E.  Ashworth,  E.  Hill,  W.  Cobb,  and  S.  Courtauld. 
Some  beautiful  blooms  of  Cattleyas  were  staged  by  E.  Ashworth, 
Esq.,  Harefield  Hall.  There  were  several  distinct  forms,  and  a  silver 
Flora  medal  was  awarded.  Mr.  F.  J.  Thorne,  The  Gardens,  Sunning- 
dale  Park,  staged  splendidly  grown  plants  of  Odontoglossum  Schlieperi- 
anum,  0.  S.  aureum,  and  O.  aspidorhinum.  Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co. 
sent  a  few  Orchids,  as  did  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd. ;  but,  as  has 
been  noted.  Orchids  were  staged  in  very  small  numbers 
Certificates  and  Awards  op  Merit. 
Canna  Miss  Elsie  Parkins  (Paul  &  Son).  —  This  is  a  handsome 
yellow  coloured  variety  (award  of  merit). 
Croton  SlmttleioortM  (J.  Bugg). — This  is  a  very  handsome  seedling. 
The  long  pendent  leaves  are  narrow  and  slightly  twisted.  The  colour 
is  cream  and  green,  with  a  rose  midrib  (award  of  merit), 
Epilcelia  radico-jmrpurata  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.),  —  This  is  a 
charming  bigeneric  hybrid,  resulting  from  a  cross  between  Epidendrum 
radicans  and  Laslia  purpurata.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  rosy  buff.  The 
broad  flat  lip  has  a  yellow  centre,  surrounded  by  purplish  crimson, 
paling  to  the  colour  of  the  other  organs.  Needless  to  say  it  is  perfectly 
•  distinct  (first-class  certificate). 
“  Geranium  ”  Anna  Bateson  (J.  Davidson). — A  dwarf-growing  Zonal, 
with  compact  trusses  of  bright  rose-hued  flowers  (award  of  merit). 
Gladiolus  Carlton  (Kelway  &  Son). — A  rich  rose-purple  flower  of 
much  beauty  (award  of  merit) 
V  Gladiolus  J.  G.  Clarke  (Kelway  &  Son). — Soft  rosy  purple  is  the 
colour  of  this  variety  (award  of  merit). 
Gladiolus  White  Lady  (Paul  &  Son).— A  beautiful  pure  white 
variety  (award  of  merit) . 
Gladiolus  General  Duchesne  (W.  Bain). — A  magnificent  variety. 
The  colour  is  crimson  suffused  with  blue.  The  throat  is  cream  (award 
of  merit). 
Godetia  gloriosa  (Dobbie  &  Co.).— A  superb  rich  deep  crimson 
variety  that  is  extraordinarily  floriferous  (award  of  merit). 
Heliopsis  Pitcheriana  (Paul  &  Son). — A  beautiful  form.  The 
fiowers  are  very  rich  yellow  (award  of  merit). 
Hibiscus  coelestis  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — This  is  a  charming  plant. 
The  large  single  flowers  are  pale  porcelain  blue  (award  of  merit). 
Hibiscus  Single  Painted  Lady  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons)  — The  colour  of 
this  is  very  delicate  blush  with  a  crimson  centre  (award  of  merit). 
Nectarine  Precoee  de  Croneels  (J.  Veitch  &  Sous). — An  early  variety 
with  medium  sized  fruits.  The  flavour  is  rich  and  the  flesh  very  juicy 
(award  of  merit). 
Phlox  Lord  Raleigh  (Paul  &  Son). — A  fine  variety  with  bluish 
purple  flowers  (award  of  merit). 
Rosa  rugosa  atropurpurea  (Paul  &  Son). — A  very  rich  crimson 
variety  of  great  beauty  (award  of  merit). 
Rose  G,  Nabonnand  (W,  Paul  k  Son). — A  lovely  variety  with 
delicate  salmon  hued  flowers  (award  of  merit). 
Veronica  Le  Seduisante  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — A  handsome  Veronica. 
It  is  very  free  in  the  production  of  its  Royal  purple  spikes  of  flowers 
(award  of  merit). 
Cactaceous  Plants. 
The  silver  Flora  medal  awarded  for  the  best  collection  of  these  plants 
went  to  Mr.  W.  Bodkin,  West  Hill  Place,  Highgate,  whose  exhibit  was 
diversified  and  interesting.  Mrs.  Chilton,  Wealdstone,  Middlesex,  took 
the  bronze  Flora  medal,  and  Mrs.  A.  Blogg,  Croydon,  the  silver  Banksian 
medal. 
Mr.  Bodkin  was  also  successful  in  securing  the  premier  award  for 
twelve  plants,  followed  by  Mrs.  Chilton  and  Mr.  W.  F.  Gould,  Bath. 
For  six  plants  the  prizewinners  were  Mr.  W.  F.  Gould  and  Mrs.  Carter, 
Tooting. 
Messrs.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  arranged  a  fine  collection,  not 
for  competition.  The  plants  were  splendidly  grown  and  very  interesting 
(silver  Flora  medal). 
FUMIGATING  WITH  TOBACCO. 
In  no  particular  is  a  display  of  patience  and  tact  more  requisite  than 
in  doing  battle  with  the  various  pests  which  to  many  are  a  source  of 
trouble  and  anxiety,  but  which  the  man  who  possesses  tact  takes  as  a 
matter  of  course,  for  he  knows,  how,  when,  and  where  to  meet  them. 
The  appearance  of  green  fly,  thrips,  scale,  mealy  bug,  or  red  spider, 
on  his  plants,  if  they  do  appear,  gives  him  no  anxiety,  for  he  applies 
the  remedy  or  remedies,  and  it  is  done  with  ;  but  then  comes  the 
question.  What  are  the  remedies?  Gardeners  differ  in  performing  some 
of  the  most  simple  operations  for  destroying  green  fly,  and  with  amateurs 
mishaps  occur  through  misunderstanding  or  misapplying  the  remedies, 
which  are  set  down  as  ineffectual,  and  are,  with  those  who  recommend 
them  and  the  vendors,  mentally  consigned  to  the  rubbish  heap,  if  a 
more  unpleasant  situation  does  not  happen  to  be  before  the  mental 
vision  of  the  disappointed  experimentalist. 
In  the  process  of  fumigating  with  tobacco  or  tobacco  paper — for,  in 
my  opinion,  both  are  equally  safe  and  effective — I  could  never  perceive 
the  necessity  of  being  in  the  smoke  myself,  or  of  seeing  others  inside 
the  house  with  it,  for  apart  from  the  fact  of  the  operator  being  almost 
suffocated,  the  door  has  to  be  opened  as,  half-choked,  he  leaves  probably 
before  the  work  is  complete.  There  is  another  objection — the  smoke 
hangs  about  a  person’s  dress,  while  the  smell  does  not  improve  by  age, 
and  lasts  for  several  days  To  be  inside  the  house  during  the  operation 
is  by  no  means  necessary,  as  I  have  always  found. 
The  various  ways  and  means  of  fumigating  which  have  come  under 
my  own  immediate  observation  convince  me  that  more  depends  upon 
the  way  in  which  the  smoke  is  applied,  and  on  adapting  the  quantity  to 
the  space  to  be  fumigated,  than  on  the  material  itself.  I  have  used 
different  sorts  of  tobacco  and  also  tobacco  paper,  and  find  that  nothing 
better  could  be  wished  ;  yet  one  is  no  better  than  the  other.  If  I  have 
found  the  leaves  of  plants  marked  or  the  insects  not  killed,  I  blame  myself,, 
and  not  the  material,  for  that  is  entirely  blameless.  In  the  first  place  it 
is  always  best — at  least,  I  have  found  it  so — to  fumigate  towards  night, 
when  the  house  is  shut  up  and  there  is  no  fear  of  the  sun  shining  on  it, 
and  then,  as  it  has  been  often  recommended,  it  is  better  to  smoke  two 
nights  in  succession  than  to  depfind  on  one  fumigation,  especially  when 
it  is  for  thrips,  because  it  takes  a  strong  dose  to  kill  these  all  at  once, 
and  the  quantity  of  smoke  necessary  to  do  so  may  injure  the  plants  ;  but 
when  the  insects  have  had  a  weaker  doie  it  makes  them  sick,  and  before 
they  have  recovered  a  similar  dose  the  following  night  settles  them. 
It  is,  then,  worth  while  to  take  the  measure  of  the  enclosed  space, 
and  find  out,  if  possible,  the  exact  quantity  of  tobacco  or  paper  that 
will  give  the  required  quantity  of  smoke.  This  is  advisable,  both  on  the 
score  of  economy  and  to  save  time  and  trouble  in  doing  the  work 
effectually.  There  is  more  tobacco  wasted  through  doing  the  work  inef¬ 
fectually  than  many  would  believe.  I  have  been  surprised  myself  when 
told  that  7  or  8  lbs.  of  tobacco  had  been  used,  or  rather  misused,  for 
smoking  two  small  houses  within  three  weeks,  and  this  in  cases  where 
the  operators  were  supposed  to  understand  the  matter.  I  have  found 
half  a  pound  of  tobacco,  or  the  same  weight  of  paper,  quite  sufficient  for 
a  house  30  feet  long  by  16  wide  and  9  feet  in  height ;  and  this  made  into 
two  fumigations,  with,  perhaps,  a  trifle  the  most  at  the  last  per¬ 
formance.  A  pit  or  frame  will  require  much  less,  for  it  must  be  remem¬ 
bered  that  the  height  makes  a  great  difference  in  the  quantity  of 
material  requisite,  for  the  farther  the  plants  are  from  the  roof  the  denser 
the  smoke  should  be.  In  a  pit  the  plants  are  generally  within  a  few 
inches  of  the  glass,  and  it  is  in  such  structures  that  plants  are  generally 
injured  from  an  over-strong  application  of  smoke.  It  is,  therefore, 
advisable  to  use  but  a  very  small  quantity  of  tobacco  in  smoking  pits 
and  frames,  and  to  increase  the  quantity  if  the  dose  is  found  ineffectual. 
In  applying  the  smoke,  the  plan  I  generally  prefer  is  to  take  a  common 
flower  pot — a  6-inch  is  very  convenient — and  place  it  on  a  larger  one 
that  stands  on  the  ground  inverted,  so  that  the  apertures  of  both  are 
