34 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  12,  '.899, 
Covent  Garden,  exhibited  a  first-clasa  slrain  of  blue  Primulas  ;  the 
flowera  were  large,  well  fringed,  and  a  good  colour.  Messrs.  F.  Sander 
and  Co.,  St.  Albans,  contributed  a  group  of  Acalypba  Sanderi,  which 
were  very  bright,  interspersed  with  the  Acalypha  GodsefBana  and 
Dracfena  Sanderiana. 
Messrs.  Jas.  Veitch  k  Sons,  Chelsea,  staged  a  box  of  their  Rhodo¬ 
dendron  Javanico  -  Jasminiflorum  hybrids,  comprising  the  forms 
Thetis,  Souvenir  de  J.  S.  Mangles,  amabile.  Diadem,  multicolor,  Ruby, 
Ceres,  Sybil,  and  Mrs.  Heal.  The  same  firm  also  staged  baskets  of 
Skimmia  oblata,  well  berried  ;  Skimmia  fragrans  rosea,  and  Skimmia 
fragrans  ;  also  well  berried  plants  of  Skimmia  japonica.  Large  pans  of 
Davallias  intermedia.  Mooreana,  and  decora  were  also  staged  from 
Chelsea.  Mr.  Peter  Blair,  gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Sutherland, 
Trentham,  exhibited  a  pan  of  Saintpaulia  ionantha  alba.  Messrs.  Hugh 
Low  &  Co.,  Enfield,  sent  a  plant  of  Gerbera  Jamesoni  in  flower. 
Mr,  R.  B.  Leech,  Wood  Hall,  Dulwich,  exhibited  a  largo  vase  of 
Asparagus  deflexus,  which  was  well  beiTied,  Mr,  H.  Squelch,  gardener 
to  E.  Speyer,  Esq.,  Dorking,  staged  a  white  Chrysanthemum  named 
Elaine  Squelch. 
Orchid  Committee. — Present :  H.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair) ; 
with  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien.  T.  W.  Bond,  S.  Courtauld,  R.  B.  White,  H.  Little, 
F.  Sander,  J.  Gabriel,  H.  Ballantinc,  H.  J.  Chapman,  W.  H.  Young,  F.  J. 
Thorne,  H.  T.  Pitt,  E.  Hill,  W.  Cobb,  J.  Douglas,  H.  M.  Pollett,  and 
de  B.  Crawshay. 
_  Messrs.  Jas.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Chelsea,  showed  a  very  pretty  and  interest¬ 
ing  group  of  Orchids,  staged  in  their  well  known  style.  The  chief  features 
were  well-flowered  specimens  of  Cymbidium  Traceyanum,  the  old 
Oncidium  ornithorhynchum,  Lmlio-Cattleya  Dominiana  langleyensis, 
Lmlio-Catlleya  x  Pallas.  The  pretty  little  Dendrobium  Endocharis, 
D.  Cassiope,  and  Cypripediums  Creon,  Leeanum,  C.  Leeanuni  gigantcum, 
Eur3-ades,  and  Niobo  (silver  Flora  medal). 
^fessrs.  B.  S.  ^Villiams  &  Son,  L’^pper  Holloway,  exhibited  a  beautiful 
group  of  C^qtripediums,  which  comprised  a  great  variety  of  well  grown 
forms.  The  following  were  the  most  notable — C.  I.eeanum  superbum, 
C.  Measurcsianum,  C.  nitons,  C.  insigne  Wallacei,  C.  Pitcherianum, 
Williams  var.  C.  Sallicri,  and  C.  discolor  (silver  Ban’usian  medal). 
^Icssrs.  F.  Sander  &  Son,  St.  Albans,  contributed  a  .‘^mall  group  of 
Orchids,  which  included  Cattleya  Trianae  var.,  C.  Harrisoniie  var., 
well  flowered  plants  of  Pha'aenopsis  Smartiana  and  Oncidium  Rogersi. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Angmeum  Vcitchi  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons).— A  hybrid  between  A' 
eburneum  and  A.  sosquipedale.  A  very  fine  cross,  the  sepals  partaking 
the  colour  of  the  pollen  parent,  the  petals  almost  white,  and  the  lip  a 
clear  satiny  white.  The  long  spur  of  A.  sesquipedale  was  reduced  by 
one-half.  A  silver  Flora  medal  was  awarded  the  raiser  for  the  first 
cross  of  the  Angrrecum  (first-class  certificate). 
Cypripedium  Schofield iamm  superbum  (N.  Cookson). — A  very  beautiful 
form,  the  petals  and  dorsal  sepal  heavily  spotted  with  deep  crimson 
(award  of  merit).  • 
Cyprlpedium  bellatidum,  Didcote  var.  (W.  Cobb). — A  remarkable  form  ; 
the  petals  and  dorsal  sepal  are  blotched  with  deep  crimson  (award  of 
merit). 
Epi-Catt'eya  Mrs.  Jas.  O'Brien  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — A  hybrid  between 
Epidendrum  O’Brienianum  x  Cattleya  Bowringiana,  The  flower  is  purple- 
rose  throughout  and  very'  distinct  (award  of  merit). 
Loilia  anceps  rosefieldiensis  (De  B.  Craw’shay).  -  Sepals  and  petals  dark 
rose  purple,  petals  overlapping  the  sepals  ;  lip  dark,  outside  side  lobes 
white,  disc  of  lip  pure  white,  tube  deep  purple  (award  of  merit), 
Odontoglossum  Euckcriannm  Bochford's  variety  (T.  Rochford). — A  very 
fine  form,  the  petals  are  heavily  barred  with  cinnamon  ^award  of  merit). 
Sophromtis  Bossiteana  (W.  H.  White). — A  very  bright  orange  colour 
throughout  (award  of  merit). 
EELWORMS. 
In  the  Journal  of  Ilorliculture  of  the  23rd  of  June,  1898,  page  521, 
there  appeared  an  exhaustive  and  very  able  article  by  Mr.  G.  Abbey  on 
the  action  of  silico-fluorides  on  crops  and  pests.  The  subject  was  of 
special  interest  to  me  at  the  time,  as  I  had  been  much  troubled  by  the 
ravages  of  eelworra.  I,  therefore,  determined  to  try  the  effect  of  the 
silico-fluoride  of  ammonium  in  the  manner  suggested  by’  Mr,  Abbey. 
I  had  a  border,  10^  y  ards  by  13  feet,  which  had  been  prepared  for 
Tomatoes.  I  had  used  it  before  for  this  crop,  but,  owing  to  the  prevalence 
of  eelwerm,  with  poor  results.  I  obtained  2  bs.  of  the  silico-fluoride, 
dissolved  it  in  32  gallons  of  rain  water,  and  watered  the  border  with  the 
solution.  The  Tomato  plants  (160)  were  then  put  in  and  grown  in  the 
usual  way’.  I  am  bound  to  say  that  the  crop  I  obtained  was  a  great 
improvement  on  the  preceding  one,  although  on  pulling  up  the  plants 
recently’  I  observed  that  the  eelworms  were  not  all  gone.  Still,  I  have 
formed  the  opinion  that  another  dressing  of  the  silico-fiuoride  would  have 
the  effect  of  completely’  destroy  ing  them. 
As  this  substance,  like  other  insecticides,  acts  by  contact,  it  would 
perhaps  be  better  to  use  a  weaker  solution— say,  half  ounce  to  a  gallon 
of  water,  and  to  apply  the  quantity  in  two  waterings  instead  of  one, 
turning  over  the  soil  between  the  operations.  For  plants  in  pots  a  very 
weak  solution  is  essential.  I  found  that  the  liquid  I  used  was  too  stroTig 
for  a  plant  in  a  24-size  pot,  which  was  killed  by  it.  This  fact  will  give 
a  good  idea  of  the  powerful  action  of  the  salt. — M.  Poyser  Cheshunt. 
GROUPING  PLANTS  FOR  EFFECT. 
What  to  Imitate  and  What  to  Avoid. 
Having  dealt,  on  pages  15  ani  16,  with  several  points  that  ought  to 
bo  strenuously  avoided,  I  now  turn  my  attention  to  items  worthy  o( 
imitation,  and  naturally  these*will  largely  be  the  opposites  of  the  points 
previously  noted.  However,  there  are  a  few  things  that  should  be 
mentioned.  The  first  consideration  must  be  a  good  background — that  is 
to  say,  something  more  natural  than  canvas  or  a  painted  wall.  Canvas 
with  the  light  shining  through  has  a  bad  effect,  and  no  matter  how 
closely  together  the  plants  may  be  placed,  some  of  this  will  bo  seen.  I 
have  tried  many  things — natural  bark  laid  on  the  boxes  in  wbich  the 
plants  have  been  brought,  and  built  up  to  form  a  rustic  screen,  and  a 
moss  screen  made  in  sections,  and  both  have  been  found  effective.  If 
there  is  any  credit  attached  to  this  I  may’,  without  conceit,  claim  it,  for 
until  such  backgrounds  were  made  by  myself  I  never  saw  one  ;  but 
evidently  the  idea  has  caught,  for  it  is  common  now  to  Bce  it  done.  Even 
in  this  case  do  not  do  the  same  thing  too  often.  I  never  have  had  two 
alike,  and  see  no  signs  of  dearth  of  ideas  yet.  Water  has  a  lovely  effect 
when  it  c.in  be  used  rightly,  but  avoid  a  fountain,  or,  as  some  have  done, 
two  little  fountains,  one  at  each  side  at  exactly  the  same  distance,  and 
both  sending  their  sprays  the  same  height.  No  ;  let  us  have  a  dripping 
well,  a  miniature  cascade— something  like  w’e  lee  in  Nature.  There  must 
be  nothing  mechanical,  and  whatever  is  associated  with  water  let  it 
harmonise,  such  as  Reeds,  Mosses,  Bamboos,  Aroids,  and  aquatics. 
Quality  of  plants  is  sometimes  ignored  in  grouping,  and  it  has  been 
said  that  almost  anything  will  do.  It  may  be  admitted  that  a  skilful 
hand  will  sometimes  beat  a  man  at  arranging  for  effect  who  has  ten  times 
better  material,  but  then  a  man  could  do  a  long  journey  on  an  old- 
fashioned  boneshaker,  though  he  could  do  it  much  quicker  and  better  with 
the  latest  pneumatie.  Always  endeavour  to  place  each  plant  so  that  it 
seems  to  be  at  home.  A  plant  of  a  shade-loving  nature  should  not  hang 
over  a  gaudy  neighbour  whose  colour  has  been  drawn  from  the  sun. 
Wherever  a  plant  is  put  let  it  look  natural.  I  have  seen  beautiful  sprays 
of  flowers,  which  would  arch  like  some  miniature  rainbow,  tied  up  to  the 
very  point  to  straight  stakes,  or  twisted  round  and  round  until  they  look 
like  a  floral  football.  I  like  to  see  both  plants  and  flowers  left  as  much 
as  possible  to  themselves.  Of  course  it  is  necessary  sometimes  to  use 
stakes,  but  let  it  be  done  so  that  while  keeping  the  leaf,  shoot,  or  flower 
where  they  are  wanted,  the  natural  contour  is  preserved. 
It  is  wonderful  how  much  better  a  plant  will  look  by  perhaps  moving 
it  only  a  fev-'  feet.  It  was  placed,  and  somehow  did  not  please,  but  let  it 
be  moved  and  in  a  moment  you  say,  “  That’s  it  1  Why  is  this  ?  In  the 
first  instance  there  was  something  clashing  with  it.  Some  may  say, 
“  What  is  meant  by  that  ?  ”  It  might  perhaps  be  described  as  a  parallel 
with  a  case  of  two  clever  men  meeting  in  an  assembly  and  both  wanting 
to  shine,  and  it  need  not  be  added  that  under  such  circumstances  things 
as  a  rule  do  not  work  smoothlj’,  and  often  neither  is  seen  at  his  best, 
which  would  not  have  happened  if  only  one  had  been  there.  So  with 
plants,  both  in  flowers  and  foliage,  there  must  be  a  sort  of  sympathetic 
blend — a  gradu  d  toning  off,  in  colour  and  form.  No  harsh,  sudden  jumps 
from  one  thing  to  another,  and  no  two  grandly  grown  plants,  looking  as 
though  each  thought  itself  better  than  its  neighbour.  Ever}’one  must  be 
aware  many  of  our  leading  exhibitors  have  taken  this  point  into  considera¬ 
tion,  for  sometimes  one  may  read  their  thoughts,  when  making  their 
groups,  uhich  would  perhaps  be  something  like  this,  “  Now,  my  friend,  I 
do  not  want  to  cause  any  jealousy  between  you  and  that  party  who  is  in 
charge  of  the  other  corner,  so  I  must  low’er  you  a  quarter  of  an.  inch,  or 
he  will  not  like  it.  ’  Corners  ?  forsooth  !  Why  corners  at  all  ?  I  found 
fault  at  the  beginning  of  my  paper  with  the  old  house-roof  fashion,  but 
really  the  present  style  may  become  quite  as  monotonous, 
I  think  if  our  schedule  framers  would  help  us,  we  might  remedy  this 
and  a  great  many  more  things,  wbich  are  nice  sometimes,  but  are  becom¬ 
ing  a  trifle  stale.  I  promised  in  the  early  part  of  my  paper  to  say  some¬ 
thing  about  the  makers  of  schedules,  and  hinted  that  to  them  wo  must  in 
the  future  look  principally  for  improvements  in  our  exhibitions.  Great 
deeds  have  been  done  in  the  past  by  promoters  of  shows  towards  making 
exhibitions  more  attractive.  For  my  own  part  I  would  alter  the  arrange¬ 
ments  of  exhibits,  both  in  putting  them  in  different  positions  and 
different  forms  every  year.  What  is  more  discouraging  to  the  mind  of  the 
visitor  than  to  know  what  be  is*  going  to  see  before  he  gets  to  the  place  ? 
A  remedy  might  be  found  for  all  these  faults  of  monotony  ;  and  for  the 
groups  I  would  suggest  that  the  roughest  piece  of  ground  be  chosen,  and 
if  it  is  not  naturally  rough  dig  it  out,  and  make  one  year  dells, 
another  year  rough  banks.  In  some  fields  they  are  already  there,  and  in 
many  others  might  be  easilj’  made.  Lay  water  on  for  the  use  of  the 
exhibitors,  to  do  what  they  like  with  it;  run  the  groups  all  shapes, 
and  have  pathways  in  and  out  amongst  them  ;  and  in  doing  so  achieve 
the  very  desirable  object  of  making  the  tents  more  like  a  garden. 
Of  course,  as  I  have  already  said,  effect  may  mean  almost  anything, 
according  to  the  ideas  and  capabilities  of  the  persons  asked  to  adjudicate, 
but,  generally  speaking,  if  the  suggestions  made  above  are  followed  and 
improved  upon  little  w)ll  go  wrong,  as  the  principal  societies  at  any  rate  are 
particularly  careful  in  selecting  the  judges. — Geo.  Wilson,  Swanland 
Manor,  Hull. 
Spir.ea  japonica. — Clumps  of  Spirsea  japonica,  after  potting, 
should  be  kept  moist  in  a  cold  frame.  The  roots  will  commence  action, 
and  cause  the  crowns  to  burst  into  growth.  Introduce  into  warmer 
structures,  and  force  into  flower  in  a  strong,  moist  heat,  giving  water 
freely,— S 
