5G0 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  25,  1903. 
tricolors  to  receive  awards  from  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  followed  soon  after  by  Lucy  Grieve  and  others.  The 
first  silver  tricolor  to  receive  an  award  was  Italia  Unita,  in 
1862,  followed  by  Miss  Burdett  Coutts  and  Pei-i.  By  1868  the 
tricolor,  both  gold  and  silver,  were  very  popular;  but  scarcely 
a  new  variety  of  any  note  has  been  put  into  commerce  during 
the  past  ten  years. 
The  Nosegay  type  of  Zonal,  with  their  large  tru.sses,  has 
become  merged  into  the  general  Zonal  class.  The  bronzes  and 
gold  Zonals  were  at  one  time  a  popular  section ;  they  originated 
with  Mr.  John  Wills  when  gardener  at  Oulton  Park.  His 
Beauty  of  Oulton  marked  an  epoch.  In  1867  Mr.  Wills 
obtained  Certificates  of  Merit  for  Her  Majesty,  Beauty  of 
Bibbesdale,  and  A.  H.  Wills.  Messrs.  Downie,  Laird  and  Laing, 
and  Carter  and  Co.  also  produced  varieties  which  were  so  dis¬ 
tinguished.  They,  with  the  tricolors,  are  still  much  grown  for 
bedding  purposes.  The  golden  leaved  section  were  at  all  times 
but  few.  A  variety  named  Clara  gained  a  commendation  in 
1861,  and  six  years  later  Jason  was  awarded  a  Certificate  of 
Merit.  Crystal  Palace  Gem  and  Creed’s  Seedling  succeeded 
them. 
The  Ivy-leaved  Pelargoniums  originated  from  P.  peltatum, 
which  Mr.  Burbidge  informs  us  was  raised  in  the  Duchess  of 
Beaufort’s  garden  in  1701  from  seeds  brought  from  the  Cape. 
But  it  was  not  until  the  other  sections  of  Pelargoniums  became 
so  popular  at  the  end  of  the  fifties  and  in  the  sixties  that  the 
improvement  of  this  section  was  entered  upon,  and  the  varieties 
now  form  a  group  which  are  highly  popular.  Silver  Gem  and 
peltatum  elegans  received  awards  in  I860,  followed  by  the 
variegated  leaved  L’Elegante  in  1866.  The  appearance  of 
Willsi  and  Willsi  rosea  in  1869  marked  a  distinct  advance,  and 
then  the  section  became  increasingly  popular.  The  scented¬ 
leaved  forms  have  received  but  very  slight  recognition ;  but 
they  are  valuable  in  many  ways  in  the  gardens,  their  free 
growth  and  bloom  being  their  chief  recommendations,  and  they 
are  capable  of  being  trained  into  various  shapes  for  the  adom- 
ment  of  terraces,  &c. — R.  Dean. 
(To  be  continued.) 
Societies. 
Royal  Botaoic. 
The  first  of  a  series  of  meetings,  which  is  is  hoped  will  lead  to  the 
revival  of  exhibitions  on  a  large  scale  for  the  certificating  of  new'  and 
rare  plants,  was  held  in  the  Society’s  Garden  at  Regent’s  Park  on 
Wednesday,  the  17th  of  June.  Messrs.  Kelway,  of  Langport,  received 
a  Gold  iSIedal  for  their  collection  of  one  hundred  Delphiniums  and 
hei’baceous  Pseonies.  J.  R.  Box,  of  Croydon,  obtained  a  Silver  Medal 
for  Begonias  and  Alpine  plants.  Messrs.  J.  Waterer  and  Sons,  of 
Bagshot,  were  accorded  the  Society’s  Large  Gold  Medal  for  their 
special  exhibition  of  Rhododendrons,  w’hich  is  still  on  view.  The 
judges  were  Mr.  E.  Beckett  and  Mr.  G.  Keif,  who  awarded  the  Botanic 
Society’s  Floral  Certificates  to  each  of  the  following  subjects  : 
Double  Begonia  Mrs.  J.  R,  Box. — A  very  large  pure  white.  Lord 
Milner,  salmon-rose ;  both  from  Mr.  J.  R.  Box. 
Zonal  Pelargonium  Caroline  Schmidt  (W.  Cutbush  and  Son). — 
Has  silvery  variegated  foliage,  and  handsome  double  scarlet  flowers. 
Marguerite  Coronation  (Cutbush). — This  has  received  an  Award  of 
Merit  at  Westminster.  The  large  flowers  have  the  disc  florets 
transformed  into  short  creamy  petals. 
DimorphantJms  mandsclmricus  foliis  aureis  variegatus  (.John 
Russell). — A.M.,  Westminster.  A  beautiful  form,  and  likely  to  be 
popular  in  sub-tropical  bedding. 
Wistaria  Russelliana  (.J.  Russell). — This  is  a  larger  form,  but  much 
like  W.  chinensis. 
Delphin'um  Lord  Avebury. — Flowers  S^iii  across,  purplish  centre 
and  gentian-blue  outwardly. 
Delphinium  Lord  Holland. — The  blue  of  the  outer  petals  is  very 
bright,  centre  royal  purple. 
Delphinium  Macauley. — A  bright  blue  single. 
Delphinium  Leigh  Hunt. — A  handsome  violet-purple,  with  showy 
white  centre ;  spike  good.  All  the  Delphiniums  were  sent  by  the 
Messrs.  Kelway. 
The  next  meeting  will  be  held  on  July  15. 
Croydon:  Heating  and  Ventilating. 
“  Heating  and  Ventilating  Horticultural  Structures  ”  was  the 
title  of  the  paper  read  before  the  members  of  this  society  at 
their  rooms,  Sunflow'er  Temperance  Hotel,  George  Street,  on 
the  16th  inst.,  and  the  subject  found  a  worthy  exponent  in  thd 
society’s  chairman,  Mr.  W.  J.  Simpson,  who  alluded  to  the  adop¬ 
tion  of  hot  water  as  the  best  means  of  producing  the  required 
heat,  because  by  this  system  it  was  safe,  effectual,  and  economi¬ 
cal  :  and  not  only  does  this  apply  to  horticultural  structures, 
but  also  to  public  buildings,  churches,  &c.,  where  a  genial  and 
healthful  degree  of  warmth  is  required.  Its  origin  dates  back 
for  many  years,  but  not  until  1822  was  any  decided  improvement 
made  in  the  apparatus,  and  it  is  due  to  the  energies  of  Mr. 
Atkinson,  a  distinguished  architect,  that  the  foundation  of  the 
present  system  was  introduced.  Like  many  other  inventions, 
improvements  are  made  from  year  to  year,  and  one  of  the  greatest 
in  this  subject  is  the  adoption  of  valves,  which  can  he  manipu¬ 
lated  so  as  to  give  the  desired  amount  of  heat  in  the  various 
compartments.  In  the  lecturer’s  opinion,  after  some  years  of 
practical  experience,  the  best  boiler  is  the  upright  or  spiral 
tubular  form,  these  being  very  powerful,  and  can  at  all  times 
be  relied  upon  to  properly  perform  their  work  if  due  attention 
is  paid  them.  A  good  draught  .should  be  provided  to  enable  the 
fire  to  burn  freely,  and  if  the  bars  are  solid  they  should  be 
placed  at  least  three-quarters  of  an  inch  apart. 
The  question  of  fuel  ought  to  be  considered  as  to  its  com¬ 
parative  value,  and  this  is  regulated  according  to  the  locality. 
Coal  and  coke  are  the  chief  forms  of  fuel,  because  we  have  in 
these  the  constituents  of  carbon  and  hydrogen  from  which  we 
get  the  best  heating  effect.  Consideration  should  be  paid  to 
have  the  boiler  sufficiently  powerful  to  perform  the  work  re¬ 
quired,  and  provision  should  be  made  to  enable  it  to  hold  a, 
sufficient  supply  of  fuel  to  maintain  the  necessary  temperature 
during  the  long  nights  of  winter.  Due  regard  to  the  stokehole 
should  be  given,  care  being  taken  that  the  position  be  not  damp, 
and  to  insure  against  this  make  the  foundation  thoroughly  water¬ 
tight.  A  good  rise  for  the  pipes  must  be  afforded,  and  where 
much  piping  is  in  use  expansion  joints  are  best,  as  allowing  for 
the  necessary  expansion  and  contraction  which  takes  place  in 
the  pipes  as  they  become  heated  or  cold.  By  equal  distribution 
of  pipes  in  the  house  much  advantage  is  gained.  The  different 
temperatures  required  are  classified  under  three  headings,  viz., 
stove,  intermediate,  and  greenhouse,  and  the  proportion  of  piping 
the  lecturer  advised  was  1ft  of  Tin  pipe  to  every  20  cubic  feet  of 
air  for  the  stove ;  1ft  of  Tin  pipe  to  every  30  cubic  feet  of  air 
for  the  intermediate ;  and  1ft  of  Tin  pipe  to  TO  cubic  feet  of 
air  for  the  greenhouse.  Valves  should  be  placed  in  the  flow  and 
return  pipes  in  each  compartment  to  regulate  the  heat ;  also  air 
taps  should  be  placed  at  the  highest  point  of  the  piping.  The 
stoker  should  keep  the  fireplace  free  from  all  dusty  rubbish,  and 
all  flues  should  be  periodically  cleaned. 
Regarding  the  regulation  of  heat,  due  attention  should  be 
considered  as  to  the  atmospheric  condition  outside  the  houses. 
The  responsibility  of  the  stoker  to  the  vegetation  inside  the 
houses  is  very  important,  and  should  be  practised  with  great 
consideration.  Ventilation,  properly  administered,  is  also  of 
vital  importance  to  the  plants  enclosed  in  the  houses,  and  the 
nearer  we  approach  Nature  in  our  artificial  treatment  the  better 
the  results  accruing.  Di.scretion  must  be  exercised  in  this 
matter,  and  a  study  should  bfe  made  of  external  temperature, 
the  kind  of  house,  and  also  the  species  of  vegetation  growing  in 
the  house.  Heat,  light,  air,  and  moisture  are  the  essentials  for 
succes.sful  development  of  plants  and  fruit,  and  each  should  be 
applied  according  to  the  requirements  of  the  various  subjects. 
The  question  would  be  asked,  “  When  is  the  most  favourable 
time  to  admit  air?”  and  the  answer  is  the  nearer  the  external 
temperature  approaches  that  to  which  the  houses  are  desired 
to  be  kept.  In  all  cases  of  ventilation  do  it  gradually,  and  at 
all  times  judicious  study  is  essential  to  this  important  feature. 
Birkenhead  and  Wirral,  June  18th,  and  19th. 
It  would  be  almost  impossible  to  find  a  society  that  for  very 
many  years  has  been  so  unfortunate  in  the  w'eather  for  its  shows 
than  tiie  Birkenhead  and  Wirral  Agricultural  Society,  wTth  which 
is  incorporated  a  fine  horticultural  section,  most  attractive  to 
the  visitors.  This  year  the  show  was  held  on  a  much  earlier 
date,  consequently  fruit  and  vegetables  lacked  the  quality  which 
for  years  past  has  been  such  a  distinguishing  feature.  The  new 
show  ground  at  Bebington  (which  for  site  could  not  well  be  im- 
l^roved)  was  an  animated  scene  of  fashion,  the  attendance  on  the 
three  days  quite  beating  the  record.  It  is  part  of  a  reporter’s 
province  to  point  out  defects,  and  certainly  the  horticultural 
section  was  not  well  treated,  inasmuch  as  the  exhibits  were 
crowded  out  of  all  proportion,  and  the  sand-covered  w'alks  created 
so  much  dust  as  to  spoil  the  beauty  of  the  plants  and  flowers. 
Mr.  A.  H.  Edwardson,  the  highly  esteemed  secretary,  only  wants 
the  reminder  to  have  this  defect  remedied. 
There  were  five  groups  of  sixty  square  feet  arranged  for  effect, 
the  first  prize  going  to  Mr.  H.  Ogden,  West  Derby,  with  a  light 
and  bright  design ;  the  second  to  Mr.  Haines,  gardener  to  Eger- 
ton  Laird,  Esq.,  Birkenhead,  who  had  also  a  fine  assortment,  the 
Acers  and  Duchess  of  Fife  Carnations  being  most  telling. 
W.  H.  Lever,  Esq.,  of  Thornton  Manor,  exhibited  two  very 
handsome  groups,  not  for  competition.  For  ten  stove  and  greeii- 
house  plants  Mr.  J.  Bracegirdle,  gardener  to  W.  H.  Watts,  Esq., 
won  with  good  examples  of  Kentia,  Alocasia  Lowi,  Swainsqnia 
alba.  Hydrangea  Thomas  Hogg,  and  a  fine  Aralia.  Mr.  Haines 
was  placed  second.  Mr.  Bracegirdle  had  Hydrangea  T.  Hogg, 
Cattleya  Mossiae,  and  Laelia  tenebrosa  as  the  best  three  stove 
and  greenhouse  plants,  and  Cycas  revoluta,  Chamserops  excelsa, 
and  Croton  Weismani  for  three  foliage  plants.  He  was  algo 
successful  for  one  Palm,  one  greenhouse  plant,  one  foliage  plant 
