72 
JOUllNAI.  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
April  24,  1902. 
deacon  Lawreiice  the  best  group  of  plants  not  less  than  twelve 
in  bloom  ;  Mr.  Southgate  was  first  with  the  best  arrangement 
■of  tall  Palms;  and  some  excellent  Strawberries  in  pots  came 
ifrom  the  gardens  of  Sir  C.  Domville. 
An  interesting  class  was  that  for  a  box  or  basket  of  cut 
blooms  (Daffodils  were  mainly  shown),  not  to  have  less  than 
twenty-four  and  not  more  than  thirty-siix  bunches,  packed  for 
despatch.  Mr.  White,  of  Spalding,  was  first  ;  his  Daffodils  were 
good,  and  his  method  of  packing  excellent.  Mr.  W.  B.  Hartland, 
nurseryman,  Cork,  was  second.  The  judges  were  set  the  difficult 
task  of  selecting  the  best  bunch  from  these  market  boxes.  Their 
■choice  fell  upon  Madame  de  Graaff,  from  Mr.  Hartland. 
Floral  decorations  were  a  very  attractive  feature.  The  most 
tastefully  arranged  table  decoration  of  Daffodils  came  from  Miss 
M.  Steward,  Gresham  House,  Newark;  a  charming  piece  of 
work.  Miss  M,.  Snell,  Ipswich,  was  second.  Miss  Snell  took  the 
first  prize  with  a  charming  table  decoration  of  other  flowers  ; 
Miss  Orford,  Ipswich,  was  .second.  There  wei'e  classes  for  the  best 
arranged  market  growers’  stand,  bouquets  of  spring  flowers,  stand 
of  Daffodils,  and  various  other  decorative  subjects.  The  attend¬ 
ance  was  good  throughout  the  day. — R.  D. 
liverpool  Spring  Show. 
There  were  many  circumstances  to  militate  against  the  success 
of  the  Spring  Show  held  in  St.  George’s  Ha.ll,  on  Wednesday, 
Aisril  16,  the  foremost  being  the  late  >..ate,  this  having  to  be  so 
worked  as  to  not  interfere  with  other  previous  engagements. 
Consequently  several  exhibitors  were  quite  debarred  from  com- 
iDeting,  and  the  large  Palms  and  Ferns  were  absent.  However, 
the  exhibits  were  of  a  vei’y  high  class,  and  this  applies  particularly 
to  the  wonderful  display  of  Hippeastrams  (Amaryllis)  staged  by 
Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  and  Sons,  of  the  Aigburth  Nursery,  admired 
not  only  for  their  exquisite  formation  but  also  for  the  fact  of 
there  being  several  shades  entirely  neAv.  Anthuriums  in 
A'ariety  were  noted,  the  Certificate' aAvarded  being  well  meidted. 
Another  trade  exhibit  was  from  Messrs!  T.  Davies  and  Co., 
Wavertree,  comprising  splendid  Narcissus,  Hyacinths,  Lilies, 
Tulips,  and  some  choice  Mushrooms,  tAvo  Certificates  being 
unanimously  granted.  Messrs.  RoAA’lands,  West  Derby,  had  a. 
grand  exhibit:  Avhilst  the  Orchids  from  Messrs.  Jno.  CoAA'an  and 
Co.  contained  many  perfect  gems.  Dickson’s,  Limited,  aau.-.. 
Narcissus,  Avere  never  in  greater  form. 
Though  someAvhat  late  for  Hyacinths  and  Tulips,  there  Avere 
several  collections  worthy  of  all  praise,  the  three  bulb  in  a  pot 
class  being  quite  perfect.  Mr.  McColl,  gardener  to  J.  W. 
Hughes,  Esq.,  Allerton,  being  the  Avinner  Avith  King  and  Queen 
of  Blues,  La  Grandesse,  Princess  of  Wales,  Fabiola  and  Ida. 
Mr.  E.  R.  Finch,  gardener  tO' J.  Smith,  Esq.,  NeAv.stead,  WaAmr- 
tree,  AA-as  a  capital  second.  Mr.  T.  Hitchman,  gardener  to 
Arthur  Earle,  Escp,  ChildAvall  Lodge,  Avon  the  premier  position 
for  tAvehm  Hyacinths  Avith  massive  bright  coloured  floAvers,  the 
selection  being  La  Derby,  La  Grandesse,  Czar  Peter,  Vuurbaak, 
C  ity  of  Haarlem,  Adeline  Restour,  La  Belle  Electra,  Mountain 
of  SnoAv,  Roi  des  Beiges,  King  of  the  YelloAA's,  and  C.  Dickens. 
!\[r.  T.  Wilson,  gardener  to  O.  H.  Williams,  Esq.,  Avas  placed 
second. 
A  beautiful  half  dozen,  distinct,  come  from  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thomp¬ 
son,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Sinclair,  Sefton  Park.  DAvarf  of  habit,  and 
cari-ying  most  shapely  floAvers,  Avas  an  indication  of  the  Tulips 
generally  ;  Mr.  F.  Keightley,  gardener  tO'  Mrs.  Duncan,  Aigburth, 
scoring  Avith  pots  containing  Prince  of  Austria,  Joost  Van  Yondel 
(Avhite),  Ophir  d’Or,  and  A^ermilion  Brilliant  in  bright  arraA’ : 
Mr.  E.  R.  Finch  being  a  good  second.  The  class  for  six  and  same 
number  of  doubles  is  ahvays  popular,  those  of  the  first  prize, 
staged  by  Mr.  Thompson,  being  models  of  sticcessful  cultivation. 
Air.  W.  Bastard,  gardener  to  T.  McClellan,  Esq.,  Aigburth,  had 
specially  good  pots  of  Polyanthus  Narcissus. 
The  group  of  miscellaneous  foliage  and  floAvering  plants 
brought  one  competitor  only,  Air.  AY.  Bastard,  the  judges  aAA*ard- 
ing  a  second  prize.  Air.  E.  R.  Finch  staged  the  best  ten  pots  of 
hardy  herbaceous  and  bulbous  plants ;  Dielytra  spectabilis, 
Solomon’s  Seal,  and  choice  Daffodils  were  the  most  noticeable. 
Air.  Hitchman  being  a  moderate  second.  Table  decorations  and 
baskets  need  A^ery  great  improvement.  Airs.  AleGregor  gaining 
only  a  third  prize  for  the  former,  scai'let  Tulips  and  Spiraea  Avith 
Smilax  trails  being  used.  Air.  AAdiarton,  gardener  to  Joseph 
Findlay,  Esq.,  had  the  best  basket.  The  Azalea  mollis  from 
Air.  Finch  Avere  excellent,  as  Avere  his  Rhododendrons  and  forced 
hardy  lAlants,  the  latter  containing  Avell  formed  Hydrangeas,  Lilac, 
and  a  fine  Guelder  Rose.  The  Prhnulas  and  Cinerarias  fro'in 
Air.  AV.  Lyon,  gardener  to  A.  Alackenzie  Smith,  Escp,  Bolton 
Hey,  Roby,  left  nothing  to  be  desired. 
The  Hippeastmms  (Amandlis).  aLvays  good  here,  quite  sur- 
pa-^sed  all  imeAdous  years,  and  Avere  on  a  par  with  those  of  the 
trade;  the  Aviimer  being  Air.  Ogston,  gardener  to  A.  A.  Paton, 
Esc).,  Aigburth :  Air.  T.  Johnston,  gardener  to  Airs.  Gilbert  AIoss, 
Aigburth,  coming  a  \'ery  close  second.  Acacia  armata  was  the 
'  best  greenhouse  plant,  a’ul  some  dAA  arf  Avell-groAvn  Calla.s^  each 
came  from  Mr.  Finch.  The  classes  for  three  and  one  Azalea  Avas 
taken  by  Mr.  Hitchman,  Avho  Avon  Avith  single  Fern,  one  hardy 
Rhododendron,  tAvo  Alignonettes,  &c.  Air.  T.  Carling,  gardener 
to  Mrs.  Cope,  Dove  Park,  AVoolton,  had  capital  pots  Lily  of  the 
Valley,  three  Palms,  or  Cycads,  and  one  Palm. 
Table  plants  AA  ere  numerously  shoAvn,  Air.  P.  Barber,  gardener 
to  Walter  Holland,  Esq.,  Carnatic  Hall,  having  the  best.  Orchids 
have  been  seen  much  larger  in  plants,  but  the  bloom  was  fully 
up  to  the  average ;  Air.  C.  Duke,  gardener  to  J.  F.  Cross,  Esq., 
Grassendale,  having  for  three  a  hybrid  Lselio-Cattleya, 
Dendrobium  AinsAvorthi,  and  Oncidiuin  Cavendishianum.  A. 
lovely  plant  of  Oncidiuin  Alarshallianum  Avas  the  best  single  from 
Air.  Aloorhouse,  gardener  to  S.  Brocklehurst,  Esq.  CA^clamen 
Avere  shoAAm  by  Air.  LeAvis,  gardener  to  T.  A"on  Heyder,  Esq., 
Alossley  Hill,  and  a  choice  bouquet  from  Mr.  Fairclough, 
gardener  tO'  L.  S.  Dixon,  Esq.,  BlundelLsands.  During  the  after¬ 
noon  W.  F.  Rogers,  Esq.,  lion,  trea-surer,  conducted  the  Lady 
Alayoress,  Mrs.  C.  Petrie,  round  the  Hall  her  ladyship  express¬ 
ing  great  satisfaction.  The  committee,  Avith  the  chairman.  Air. 
Foster,  and  the  secretaiy.  Air.  Sadler,  did  A'aluable 'Avork,  their 
labours  being  rcAAarded  by  a  splendid  attendance  during  the 
day.— R.  P.  R. 
The  Narcissus  Fly  (Merodon  equestris). 
Though  less  known,  fortunately,  in  the  British  Isles,  this  tAvo- 
Avinged  fly  has  for  fifty  years  been  a  sore  and  constant  pest  on  the 
Continent,  and  Holland  especially.  The  grub  consumes  the 
centres  of  the  Daffodil  bulbs.  Dr.  Bos,  avIio  Avrote  a  lengthened 
treatise  on  the  Narcissus  fly  a  number  of  years  ago,  describes  it  as 
having  been  introduced  to  Holland  from  the  southern  parts  of 
Europe.  Our  illustration  furnishes  a  very  good  likeness  of  this 
injurious  member,  and  shoAvs  it  to  be  like  a  hive-bee.  It  is  half 
an  inch  long,  hairy  about  the  eyes 
and  thorax,  and  Avith  blunt  abdo¬ 
men.  The  thorax  is  usually  yelloAV- 
ish-b)'OAvn,  or  Avliitish  in  front; 
black  behind.  The  abdomen  is 
pale  at  the  base,  rust-coloured  be¬ 
hind.  The  larA^ae  or  grub,  has 
been  likened  in  shape  to  a  rolling- 
pin  ;  it  is  Avrinkled,  and  greyish 
yelloAv,  having  a  roAV  of  upAvard 
directed  bristles  round  each  ring. 
These  larvae  eat  the  centre  of  the 
bulbs.  Dr.  Bos  recommended  as  a 
preA'ontive  of  loss  from  their  depre¬ 
dations,  that  Narcissi  bulbs  should 
be  kept  under  AAmter  for  eight  days  before  planting,  a  process  Avhich, 
he  says,AAdll  not  injure  the  bulbs,  but  Avill  destroy  the  grubs  in  them. 
The  female  fly  should  be  kept  from  laying  her  eggs  by  the  same 
means  that  are  adopted  against  the  Onion  fly,  viz.,  soot  and 
salt,  applied  in  the  proportion  of  2cAvt.  of  salt  and  40  bushels  of 
clean  soot  tO'  the  acre  as  a  broadcast  dressing.  This  Avill  tend  to 
prevent  the  fly,  and  should  be  done  early  in  the  season.  Nitrate 
of  soda,  at  the  rate  of  4cAvt  per  aci'e  applied  tO'  the  bulbs  during 
shoAvery  Aveather,  has  been  useful  against  the  grub,  and  various 
remedies  by  themsehms,  such  as  soapsuds,  soot  and  lime,  and  com¬ 
mon  salt,  haAm  all  been  tried  at  times  Avith  vai'ying  success.  AVe 
liaA’e  heard  little  of  the  fly  in  this  country,  but  it  is  Avell  to  possess 
some  facts  of  a  pest  so  harmful.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Daffodil 
Committee  (R.H.S.)  on  Alarcli  2.j,  a  discussion  on  the  Narcissus 
fly  AA'as  entered  upon. 
Warning  against  Frost. 
A  A'ery  intei'esting  note  on  the  value  of  frost  warnings  to 
fruit  groAvers  is  given  in  the  annual  renort  of  the  American 
Weather  Bureau  for  last  year,  Avhich,  as  a  daily  paper  says,  has 
just  been  issued.  This  states  that  on  the  morning  of  Febru¬ 
ary  23,  1901,  the  Bureau  sent  a  telegram  from  Washington  to 
JacksonAulle,  the  capital  of  Florida,  stating  that  “  temperature 
AA'ill  fall  to-night  to  a  minimum  of  betAveen  20deg  and  25deg  F. 
at  Jacksonville,  and  to  freezing  as  far  south  as  Tampa,”  and 
asking  that  as  Avide  a  Avarning  as  possible  should  be  given.  From 
the  Aveather  bureau  office  at  Jacksonville  500  telegrams  AA’ere  at 
once  sent  to  leading  friAit  groAvers,  Avhile  every  raihvay  in  the 
State  energetically  co-operated  in  Avaming  groAvers  that  there 
Avould  be  a  serious  frost  that  night.  The  frost  came  exactly  as 
forecasted,  and  an  inquii-y  Avhich  the  State  authorities  subse¬ 
quently  made  among  the  groAvers  of  Oranges,  StraAvberries,  and 
other  fruits  shoAved  that  thi‘"  AA'aruiug  had  saved  at  least 
£20,000  Avorth  of  fruits. 
