154 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  16,  1901. 
L.  auratum  and  L.  superbum ;  also  good  bunches  of  Statice  latifolia, 
Delphinium  Zalil  (the  pale  yellow  variety),  Calla  albo-maculata,  Crinum 
Powelli,  and  Montbretia  crocosmaeflora  (silver  Flora  medal).  A 
charming  table  of  Campanula  isophylla  Mayi  was  staged  by  Mr.  H.  B. 
May,  Dyson’s  Lane  Nurseries,  Upper  Edmonton.  The  plants  were 
arranged  most  artistically  with  Ferns  and  Grasses  on  a  table  covered 
with  white  paper  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
A  beautiful  display  of  garden  Roses  came  from  Messrs.  F.  Cant  and 
Co.,  Colchester,  which  were  most  refreshing  at  this  period.  The  flowers 
were  beautifully  fresh,  and  included  Bardou  Job,  Papa  Gontier, 
Cramoisie  Superieure,  Gustave  Regis,  Perle  d’Or,  Killarney,  Grussan 
Teplitz  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Covent  Garden, 
presented  a  good  display  of  hardy  flowers,  which  included  a  good 
collection  of  Phloxes  such  as  Toreador,  Le  Sifecle,  General  B  reart, 
Ouragon,  and  Eolaireur. 
Mr.  Downes,  gardener  to  J.  F.  Bennett-Poe,  Esq.,  Homewood,  Ches- 
hunt,  sent  a  group  of  Browallia  grandiflora.  The  plants  were  well  grown 
and  beautifully  flowered,  while  the  groundwork  of  Maidenhair  enhanced 
the  beauty  of  the  exhibit  Messrs.  P.  J.  Looysman  &  Zohn,  Oudenbosch, 
Holland,  sent  plants  and  foliage  of  Aralia  elata  fol.  argentea,  a  pretty 
variegated  form.  A  beautiful  table  of  hybrid  Gladioli  was  staged  by 
Mr.  W.  Bain,  gardener  to  Sir  T.  Lawrence,  Dorking,  the  varieties 
General,  Duchesse,  Ferdinand  Kegeljan,  Demi-deuil,  Le  Chat  Noir, 
Antoine  Thiery,  and  Belle  Alliance  ;  these  varieties  are  quite  distinct, 
and  most  remarkable  for  their  colour  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Messrs.  Jas.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  sent  three  grand  plants  of  Nepenthes, 
which  were  remarkably  well  grown.  N.  Dicksoniana,  N.  Sir  W.  T. 
Thistelton  Dyer  (a  hybrid  with  enormous  poaches),  and  N.  Mixta,  the 
groundwork  of  Maidenhair  Fern  added  to  the  display.  Some  good 
double  Begonias  were  staged  by  Mr.  F.  Davis,  Woollastill,  Pershore ; 
the  colours  were  bright  and  the  plants  well  grown  (bronze  Flora  medal). 
Orchid  Committee. 
Present:  H.  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair);  with  Messrs.  J.  G. 
Fowler,  de  B.  Crawshay,  A.  H.  Smee,  H.  Little,  H.  J.  Chapman, 
H.  A.  Tracey,  W.  H.  Young,  J.  Jaques,  E.  Hill,  and  J.  Douglas. 
The  total  number  of  Orchids  was  eight  plants  from  seven  different 
exhibitors,  so  that  it  will  be  seen  there  was  not  a  single  collection. 
The  Rev.  F.  Paynfer,  Stoke  Hill,  Guildford,  sent  a  Cypripedium,  said 
to  be  a  cross  between  Fairrieanum  and  Stonei,  but  it  was  really 
C.  callosum  ;  Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  Cattleya  Eldorado 
enfleldiensis ;  Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman,  gardener  to  R.  I.  Measures,  Esq., 
Cambridge  Lodge,  Floddeu  Road,  Camberwell,  Cattleya  Patrocini,  a 
hybrid  from  C.  Leopoldi  and  C.  Loddegesi,  and  Cattleya  Warnero- 
Bowringiana;  Mons.  Florent  Claes,  Brussels,  Odontoglossum  crispum  (P) 
de  Sadeleeri ;  Sir  William  Marriott,  Blandford,  Lmlio-Cattleya  Clonia 
Down  House  variety ;  E.  Bostook,  Esq.,  Stafford,  Cattleya  H  arrisono3 
violacea ;  and  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  Laelio-Cattleya 
Hermione. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit, 
Cattleya  Liclorado  enfieldiensis  (H.  Low  &  Co.). — Pure  white  with 
the  exception  of  intense  purple  on  the  lip  of  the  rich  yellow  throat 
(award  of  merit). 
Gladiolus  Airs.  Wood  (Kelway  &  Son). — A  rich  purple  variety  of 
fine  form  and  size  (award  of  merit). 
Lcelio- Cattleya  Hermione  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — This  bigener  is  a 
cross  from  Cattleya  Luddetnanniana  and  Laelia  Perrini.  The  flower  is 
of  excellent  form  and  of  an  exceptoinally  rich  purple  rose  on  the 
sepals  and  petals.  The  lip  is  rather  small,  of  rich  crimson  on  the 
front  portion  and  pale  cream  within  (first-class  certificate). 
Tlialictrum  Chelidoni  (Lady  Breadalbane). — A  distinct  type  ;  the 
flowers  are  mauve  with  yellow  stamens  (award  of  merit). 
Nepenthes  Sir  William  Thiselton  Dyer  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — This 
was  described  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  for  August  2ad,  page  105 
(first-class  certificate). 
Potato  Beauty  of  Hebron  (R.  Veitch  &  Son). — An  excellent  well- 
known  variety  (award  of  merit). 
Potato  Sharpe's  Victor  (C.  Sharpe  &  Co.). — This  variety  is  too  well 
known  to  require  any  description  (award  of  merit). 
.  Pioneer  Earliest  Kidney  (Dicksons,  Ltd.). — An  attractive 
kidney  shaped  variety  that  ripens  very  early  (award  of  merit). 
Culture  of  Melons. 
Having  in  view  the  splendid  reputation  Mr.  A.  Pettigrew,  of  the 
Castle  Gardens,  Cardiff,  has  attained  to  as  a  general  cultivator,  and 
more  particularly,  perhaps,  as  a  grower  of  Melons  and  Vines  in  pots,  it 
was  a.  matter  for  regret  that  there  should  have  been  such  a  sparse 
when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilks  read  a  most  practical  paper  on 
t  e  Melon  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Pettigrew.  It  is  scarcely  the  period 
o  year  to  bring  forward  such  valuable  essays  on  practical  subjects, 
as  the  holiday  season  almost  invariably  means  that  the  meetings 
wi  1  be  adequately  attended.  Mr.  Pettigrew  in  concise  language 
ealt  with  Melon  cultivation  as  it  was  practised  in  years  gone  by, 
^  f  with  the  methods  that  prevail  in  the  majority  of 
establishments  at  the  present  day.  No  important  point  was  omitted, 
and  particular  emphasis  was  placed  upon  what  might  be  regarded 
as  essential  items  in  Melon  culture.  We  hope  to  make  further 
reierence  to  the  paper  in  an  early  issue. 
A  Lafly  Amateur’s  Greenhouse. 
I  EXCLOSE  a  photograph  (fig.  42)  of  a  small  range  of  span-roofed 
houses  in  the  garden  of  Dr.  Fosbroke,  County  Medical  Officer,  Rose 
Place,  Worcester.  The  first  division  is  devoted  to  the  accommodation 
of  various  plants  in  flower  which  have  been  grown  in  other  houses 
and  frames  not  shown  in  the  photograph.  The  principal  flowering 
plants  at  the  time  of  my  visit  were  herbaceous  Calceolarias,  Mal- 
maison  Carnations,  show  Pelargoniums,  and  a  beautiful  example  of 
Diplacus  glutinosus,  which  is  seen  hanging  to  the  left  of  the  doorway 
in  the  middle  distance.  The  Diplacus  was  distinctly  the  finest  plant 
I  have  seen  of  its  kind.  It  had  been  allowed  to  grow  in  its  own 
straggling  way,  and  thus  was  seen  to  the  best  advantage. 
The  Calceolarias  were  the  chief  object  of  interest.  These  varied  in 
colour  from  the  palest  lemon  yellow  to  the  darkest  crimson.  The  plants 
were  quite  clean,  dwarf,  and  floriferous  ;  the  flowers  measured  from  2  to 
2J  inches  across,  and  produced  a  much  better  effect  than  is  shown  by  the 
photograph.  Carnations  are  always  popular,  but  are  not  always  well 
grown  ;  Mrs.  Fosbroke  grows  them  as  well  as  anybody.  I  measured 
one  of  the  flowers,  and  it  was  over  4^  inches  across. 
Mrs,  Fosbroke  excels  in  the  cultivation  of  the  Cyclamen.  There 
is  a  plant  on  the  left  of  the  picture  ;  but  it  is  the  last  flower,  and  not 
one  of  the  best.  The  stock  of  these  plants  was  in  another  house, 
commencing  to  collect  a  new  store  of  vitality  and  strength  for  the 
campaign  of  another  winter.  They  were  in  8-inch  pots,  were  18  inches 
across,  and  had  borne  hundreds  of  fine  flowers  each. 
The  second  division  shown  in  the  photograph  contains  some  very 
good  specimens  of  Adiantum  cuneatum,  and  the  third  vigorous 
Cucumber  plants  coming  in  fruit.  This  division  contained  something 
more  uncommon  than  Cucumbers,  a  border  or  edging  of  Watercress. 
There  is  a  wrinkle  for  gardeners  who  grow  Cucumbers  for  profit 
during  the  winter  and  early  spring,  and  for  those  who  are  in  a 
“  corner  ”  for  salads  for  the  dining-room.  Cuttings  were  planted 
along  the  front  of  the  Cucumber  border,  and  owing  to  the  heat  and 
moisture  grew  quickly  into  use. 
A  three-quarter  span  house  is  devoted  to  Tomatoes,  which  are  in 
perfect  health  and  vigour.  Then  there  is  a  nice  Peach  house  containing 
a  good  crop  of  fruit,  and  in  an  adjoining  frame  is  a  collection  of  sturdy 
tuberous  Begonias.  Last,  but  not  least,  is  the  vinery.  Here  it  was  I 
first  saw  Mrs.  Fosbroke.  She  was  busily  engaged  in  tying  down  the 
laterals  of  the  Vines,  in  which  she  exhibited  the  deftness  of  the  expert 
Grape-grower.  The  Vines  show  the  result  of  masterly  management 
in  being  clean,  healthy,  and  fruitful,  and  they  are  likely  to  be  so  many 
years  if  they  remain  under  the  same  management. 
Mrs.  Fosbroke  manages  the  plants  herself,  potting,  watering,  and 
tying  with  her  own  hands,  and  not  through  a  ideputy.  The  whole  of 
the  plants — Vines,  Peaches,  Pigs,  Tomatoes,  Cucumbers,  and  plants 
generally — are  remarkable  for  their  health  and  cleanliness.  I  have 
sometimes  wondered  whether  the  Doctor  has  found  the  “  Elixir  of  Life  ” 
and  imparted  the  secret  to  Mrs.  Fosbroke  for  the  special  benefit  of  her 
plants. — J.  Udale. 
- 1  mtm  t - 
Petunias. 
Those  who  have  appliances,  skill,  and  time  prefer  to  grow  plants 
that  become  more  valuable  as  they  increase  in  bulk,  and  for  greenhouse 
work  indulge  in  specimen  plant  growing  more  or  less,  and  for  such 
valuable  hard  and  softwooded  kinds  exist  in  plenty.  Those  who  lack 
the  appliances,  or  the  skill,  or  the  time  to  devote  to  certain  plants  are 
equally  well  provided  for,  especially  in  the  way  of  easily  grown  Pelar¬ 
goniums,  Begonias,  Petunias,  and  other  showy  decorative  kinds. 
Petunias,  like  Zonals,  are  not  subject  to  any  insect  pest,  and  that  is  a 
great  point  in  their  favour.  Another  is  that  they  are  continuous 
bloomers,  unless  they  be  stopped  by  sheer  starvation.  Easily  propa¬ 
gated  and  grown,  showy  and  highly  useful  either  as  small  decorative 
plants,  as  large  specimens,  as  screens,  or  for  bedding,  they  have  many 
points  in  their  favour. 
For  early  summer  use,  to  come  in  after  the  Azaleas,  Hyacinths,  and 
Tulips  have  gone,  autumn  is  the  best  time  to  root  them.  For  soil, 
ordinary  potting  soil,  such  as  we  use  for  Roses,  Fuchsias,  and  Pelar- 
