JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  2,  1897. 
5U 
journal  giving  a  clear  and  detailed  account  of  our  exhibition,  which  I 
venture  to  enclose.— H.  Briscoe-Ironside. 
[We  are  very  much  obliged  by  this  excellent  description  of  the  show 
written  by  our  correspondent,  which  will  be  perused  with  interest  by 
many  Chrysanthemumists.  We  append  a  sample  of  the  “clear  account’ 
of  the  show  from  the  local  journal  II  Toce,  and  hope  our  gardening  friends 
will  enjoy  it  as  a  change  from  our  orthodox  methods  of  reporting: — 
“Fuori  Concorso  (not  for  competition).  Gran  Diploma  Medaglia 
d’Argento  dorata.  dono  del  signor  Marchese  Felice  D’ Albertas,  Fresidente 
Onorario  della  Societa  orticola  verbanese,  al  signor  Henry  Briscoe- 
Ironside  per  la  splendida  e  farzosa  esposizione  di  Chrysanthemi  in  fiori 
recisi  ed  in  piante,  di  uno  straordinario  e  perfetto  sviluppo  e  par  la  elegante 
confezione  e  disposizione  dell’  insieme  dei  diversi  suoi  lotti,  i  quali 
destarono  la  generale  ammirazione.”  We  cannot  equal  the  smooth 
charm  of  the  Italian  language,  but  can,  in  our  rugged,  stereotyped  way, 
congratulate  our  respected  compatriot  on  his  success.] 
THE  PENTSTEMON. 
A  BED  of  well  grown  seedling  Fentstemons  has  a  charming  appearance 
in  the  garden.  To  insure  the  best  results  the  soil  must  be  prepared  by 
trenching  in  the  autumn  or  early  winter  months,  working  in  at  the  time 
a  good  dressing  of  decayed  manure,  while  if  the  soil  be  naturally  heavy  a 
(quantity  of  leaf  soil  should  be  added. 
Presuming  that  the  seed  was  sown  in  July  in  pans  of  light  soil,  and 
the  seedlings  pricked  off  into  a  cold  frame  and  kept  hardy  throughout  the 
winter,  they  will  he  dwarf  sturdy  plants  by  the  following  spring.  In 
March  they  may  be  lifted  carefully  and  planted  into  the  prepared  bed  at 
a  distance  of  18  inches  between  the  rows,  and  15  inches  from  plant  to 
plant,  which  distances  will  allow  for  perfect  development.  Pentstemons 
may  also  be  raised  from  cuttings,  which  if  inserted  in  pots  or  in  a  prepared 
bed  in  a  cold  frame  in  August  or  September,  will  make  nice  plants  for 
removal  to  summer  quarters  by  the  spring.  When  the  cuttings  are 
rooted  they  may  be  pinched  to  induce  a  liranching  habit.  These  plants 
are  susceptible  to  damping  in  the  winter  months,  therefore  great  care 
should  be  exercised  to  maintain  a  dry  and  buoyant  atmosphere,  admitting 
abundance  of  air  on  all  favourable  occasions. 
Due  regard-must  be  paid  when  planting  to  the  various  heights  and 
colours  of  the  varieties,  and  the  effect  produced  will  amply  repay  any 
extra  trouble  and  preparation  the  cultivator  may  bestow  upon  them. 
Provided  the  flower  spikes  are  removed  as  soon  as  possible  after  the 
full  beauty  is  past,  the  plants  will  throw  up  a  second  crop  of  flowers, 
which  will  be  much  appreciated  in  the  dull  season  of  the  year.  It  will  be 
found  advisable  to  either  lift  the  old  stools  in  the  winter,  or  in  mild 
localities  to  cover  with  coal  ashes  or  other  protecting  material.  A  little 
attention  given  to  crossing  any  good  varieties  where  it  is  intended  to  save 
seed  will  be  amply  repaid. — H.  T.  M. 
IN  THE  VALE  OF  NEATH. 
The  present  autumn  has  been  a  remarkable  one  in  many  ways.  Never 
do  I  remember  seeing  such  a  wealth  of  fresh  bright  flowers  to  mingle 
with  the  varied  and  rich  colour  of  the  autumn  leaves.  Our  terrace 
walls,  clothed  as  they  are  with  the  old  China  Blush  Roses  (Rosa  indica), 
carry  one’s  thoughts  back  to  early  June  rather  than  November  ;  while  an 
old  chimney  is  an  object  of  great  beauty,  covered,  as  it  is,  with  the 
crimson  variety  of  R.  indica.  Even  the  Hybrid  Ferpetuals  are  loth  to 
depart,  and  fine  buds  of  General  Jacqueminot,  John  Hopper,  Ulrich 
Brunner,  and  that  lovely  Bourbon  Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison,  and  others 
are  still  fragrant. 
Dahlias  are  to  be  had  in  galore.  At  the  recent  Cardiff  Show  Mr. 
IVra.  Treseder  had  a  grand  exhibit  -  not  merely  one  or  two.  but  hundreds 
of  charming  blooms  in  almost  endless  variety,  excellently  set  up,  and 
judging  by  the  crowd  of  visitors  around  it,  the  exhibit  was  being  accorded 
the  praises  it  fully  deserved.  Chrysanthemums  in  the  open  have  enjoyed 
the  dry  sunny  weather,  and  never  do  we  remember  seeing  them  so  clear 
in  colour.  Even  the  annual  kinds  are  still  flowerir.g  in  profusion,  while 
such  tender  annuals  as  Nasturtiums  are  still  holding  up  their  heads,  and 
long  lines  of  Calliopsis  Drummondi  and  grandiflora— exquisite  flowers  for 
table  decoration  — are  wonderfully  bright. 
We  were  fortunate  in  having  a  good  bed  of  Marguerite  Carnations,  and 
since  July  hundreds  of  fragrant  flowers  have  been  gathered.  With  the 
protection  of  some  old  lights  the  flowers  still  continue  to  open,  and  should 
the  present  weather  continue  we  shall  have  plenty  at  Christmas  without 
the  trouble  of  lifting  into  pots.  This  class  of  Carnation  is  invaluable  foi’ 
buttonholes,  sprays,  and  decoration  of  any  kind;  being  deliciously  scented 
and  charmingly  fimbriated,  it  has  a  grace  and  beauty  about  it  quite  its 
own. — Exile. 
CABBAGES. 
The  present  autumn  has  l^een  one  of  the  most  favourable  experienced 
for  some  years  for  growing  crojis,  and  although  the  rainfall  has  not  been 
so  heavy  as  to  make  the  Brassica  family  unduly  succulent,  many 
of  the  spring  Cabbages  have  attained  a  size  approaching  what  we 
should  often  be  glad  to  see  in  early  April  rather  than  November. 
Should  severe  frost  occur  without  snow,  which  affords  such  good  protec¬ 
tion,  I  fear  many  of  the  plants  will  be  crippled  ;  therefore  another 
plantation  made  at  the  present  time  might  save  much  inconvenience  and 
annoyance  in  the  spring,  for  with  a  good  breadth  of  Cabbages  to  cut  from 
when  other  vegetables  are  at  their  lowest  ebb  a  blank  is  prevented. 
We  usually  make  two  good  plantations  of  Cabbage— the  earlier  one  on  a 
south  border,  and  a  larger  one,  not  many  days  later,  at  the  bottom  or 
north  end  of  the  garden.  Not  infrequently  following  severe  winters  the 
northern  ones,  from  not  being  subject  to  the  full  rays  of  the  sun  after  a 
severe  frost,  are  the  best. 
Varieties,  as  with  other  vegetables,  are  numerous  enough  to  suit  all 
classes,  but  for  the  mainstay  of  the  establishment  we  rely  on  that  well- 
proved  variety  Ellam’s  Early,  and  taking  everything  into  consideration 
it  would  indeed  be  hard  to  beat.  Another  good  and  popular  variety  in 
the  West  is  Wheeler’s  Imperial,  while  those  who  require  a  large  Cabbage 
can  be  suited  by  growing  Daniel’s  Defiance.  Sutton’s  Flow'er  of  Spring 
is  also  an  excellent  Cabbage  in  every  way,  and  Sutton’s  April  (quite  new) 
is  sure  to  make  a  reputation.  Miniature  Marrow  affords  a  new 
feature  to  what  we  have  previously  seen  in  the  way  of  Cabbage'-,  and  it 
is  a  novelty  likely  to  prove  useful  to  those  who  place  excellent  quality 
before  size.  It  may  be  planted  in  rows  1  foot  apart.  The  plants  keep 
in  good  condition  over  a  lengthy  period  without  splitting  after  being  fully 
grown. — Grower. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
November  2.3rd. 
Scientific  Committee.— Present  :  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the 
chair) ;  Mr.  Douglas,  Rev.  W.  AVilks,  and  Rev.  G.  Henslow  (Hon.  Sec.). 
Gaff  on  Jasmine. — With  reference  to  the  specimen  brought  by  the 
Secretary  to  the  last  meeting,  Mr.  MacLachlan  reports  that  it  is  quite 
impossible  to  fix  on  anything  in  particular  in  the  way  of  a  cause,  but  the 
puncture  of  a  Phytoptus  is  the  most  probable. 
Phyllotreta  on  Cruciferce. — He  also  observes,  with  regard  to  the  beetles 
shown  by  Mr.  Michael  as  destructive  to  Stocks,  that  “  the  genus  is 
the  one  to  which  the  ‘Turnip  flea’  belongs.  There  are  about  a  dozen 
species  in  this  country,  all  being  much  alike.  They  all  frequent  the 
Cruciferx,  and  the  fact  that  this  one  was  also  found  on  Tropaeolum  only 
intensifies  the  fact  that  most  things  which  feed  on  the  former  will  also 
feed  on  the  latter,  a.s—e.g.,  the  larvae  of  ‘  Cabbage  whites,’  the  interpreta¬ 
tion  being  that  both  contain  the  same  chemical  vegetable  products.” 
DdhHa,  Hybrid  (.’)  —Flowers  were  received  from  Mr.  E.  J.  Lowe  of 
Shirenewton  Hall,  Chepstow,  supposed  to  be  the  result  of  crossing  a 
Dahlia  witR  the  pollen  of  a  Sunflower.  The  appearance  was  that  of  a 
Dahlia,  the  disc  alone  being  rather  larger.  Dr.  Masters  undertook  to 
examine  them  more  minutely. 
Cypripedium,  Monstrous. —  Mr.  Veitch  sent  a  plant  of  C.  Tityus  bearing 
a  single  flower.  It  had  no  lip,  but  two  columns.  It  was  referred  to 
Dr.  Masters  for  further  investigation. 
The  Copper  Plant. — Dr.  Masters  exhibited  an  illustration  of  Polycarpsea 
spirostylis,  F.  von  Mueller.  It  has  the  above  name,  as  it  is  said  only  to 
grow  where  copper  i.s  to  be  found,  and  that  its  presence  is  an  indication 
to  miners  of  the  existence  of  that  metal  in  the  neighbourhood.  It  is  found 
by  the  mines  of  Watsonville,  N.  Queensland, 
Chrysanthemum,  Proliferous. — A  specimen  bearing  three  flowers  was 
received  from  Mr.  B.  Greaves  of  Broome  Hall  Gardens,  Dorking.  They 
were  remarkable  for  consisting  of  a  dense  mass  of  minute  heads  instead  of 
distinct  florets.  Some  of  the  Show  Dahlias,  Dr.  Masters  observed,  con¬ 
sisted  of  this  peculiarity,  the  separate  heads  combining  to  make  a  single 
large  “  flower.”  The  peculiarity  is  characteristic  of  the  genus  Echinops, 
only  the  individual  heads  contain  but  a  single  flower  each. 
Fruit  Committee. 
In  last  week’s  issue  you  report  in  the  proceedings  of  this  Committee 
an  award  of  merit  to  an  Apple  Lady  Falmouth.  That  award  has  the 
distinguished  reputation  of  having  been  made  by  six  votes  for  and  four 
against.  The  variety  bore  so  striking  a  resemblance  to  high-coloured 
Court  Feudu  Fl4t  as  often  seen,  and  beyond  being  soft  of  flesh  had  no 
other  merit,  not  even  of  size,  that  several  members  opposed  the  granting 
of  the  award.  Very  different  was  it  the  case  with  Mr.  Rivers’  excellent 
black  Grape,  Directeur  Tisserand,  which  obtained  a  unanimous  award  of 
merit,  and  will  probably  get  a  higher  honour  if  it  can  be  shown  some 
two  or  three  months  later  as  a  good  keeper. 
Prior  to  the  close  of  the  meeting  the  present  very  unsatisfactory 
method  of  voting  awards  was  discussed,  and  although  some  difference  of 
opinion  was  elicited,  yet  it  was  ultimately  carried  without  opposition 
“  That  the  Council  be  invited  to  frame  a  regulation  requiring  any  awards 
by  the  Committee  to  be  made  only  by  a  majority  of  two-thirds  of  the 
members  present.”  Should  the  Council  accede  to  this  request  almost  a 
revolution  will  be  effected  in  the  present  system  of  voting  awards,  as 
rarely  do  all  the  members  vote.  On  the  recent  occasion  fifteen  members 
were  present,  and  yet  a  minority  of  six  only  carried  an  award,  four  being 
opposed  and  five  neutral.  It  will  be  undoubtedly  an  advantage  that 
every  member  be  obliged  to  vote.  This  rule  would  compel  the  taking  of 
active  interest  in  everything  which  comes  before  the  Committee. 
The  case  quoted  above  as  to  awards  being  carried  by  minorities  is  not 
at  all  an  unusual  one,  and  perhaps  accounts  for  the  too  frequent  making 
of  such  awards.  Members  of  the  Committee  should  not  plead  they  do 
not  know  anything  of  the  exhibits  before  them.  They  ought  to  know,  as 
that  is  the  object  for  which  they  are  made  members,  and  in  accepting 
those  positions  they  cannot  shirk  responsibility. — D. 
