378 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  2,  190  L. 
■Gloxinias,  from  Mr.  W.  J.  Birkbeok,  were  profusely  covered  with 
bloom  of  good  texture  and  colour.  The  Auriculas  struggled  to  make 
a  display,  but  were  only  worth  a  passing  notioe.  Six  bulbous  plants 
from  Mr.  J.  E.  Cooke  were  very  fine,  while  Col.  Rous  had  sent  a 
mixed  lot,  including  an  Orchid.  Caladiums  from  Mr.  W.  J.  Birkbeck 
were,  as  when  sent  from  Thorpe,  in  fine  condition.  Mr.  F.  P.  Hinde 
wa's  a  well  merited  second,  his  plants  though  smaller  having  good 
colour.  Calceolarias  were  very  small  plants  compared  with  what  we 
have  seen  at  spring  shows.  Mr.  J.  E.  Cooke  snatched  first  from  Mr. 
F.  Randell. 
The  fruit  classss  were  well  represented.  Captain  Petre  and  Mr. 
T.  B.  Leonard  took  the  leading  prizes  for  Pears.  Mr.  A.  Bunting 
had  six  fine  examples  of  cooking  Apples  named  Annie  Elizabeth,  which 
secured  an  easy  first.  Dr.  Beverly  took  the  first  for  dessert  Apples 
with  Court  Peudn  Plat.  Captain  Petre  was  first  for  twenty-four 
Strawberries,  which,  though  not  so  large  as  those  exhibited  by  Mr.  J.  E. 
Cooke,  who  was  second,  were  much  better  in  flavour.  Mr.  A.  Bunting 
had  fine  berries  of  good  colour,  whioh  were  a  well- merited  third.  Lord 
Suffield  and  Mr.  T.  Chaplin  were  first  and  second  respectively  for  twelve 
berries.  Col.  Rous  had  a  collection  of  fruit  containing  local  grown 
Oranges  and  a  Pine  Apple,  whioh  seemed  to  have  suffered  badly  from 
the  change  of  habitat.  Mr.  W.  Joice  was  first  for  a  plate  of  early 
Tomatoes,  the  variety  being  a  local  one  of  repute  named  Holmes’ 
Supreme.  Mrs.  Lubbock  was  first  for  a  col¬ 
lection  of  vegetables  and  salad.  Lord  Suffield 
exhibited  a  fine  Cucumber,  the  variety  being 
that  named  after  the  well-known  gardener 
there,  W.  Allan.  Mrs.  Lubbock  was  first  also 
for  a  brace  of  Cucumbers  and  for  spring 
Cabbages  of  good  sound  hearts,  and  first  also 
for  French  Beans.  Mr.  W.  Joice  staged  some 
lengthy  Asparagus. 
Miscellaneous  Exhibits. 
Messrs.  Daniels  Bros.,  Ltd.,  made  a  splendid 
exhibit  with  nearly  100  choice  varieties  of 
Narcissi,  which  were  a  decided  attraction. 
Besides  most  of  the  well  -  known  older 
favourites,  Messrs.  Daniels’  collection  included 
a  fine  array  of  such  new  and  very  choice 
sorts  as  Madame  de  Graaf,  a  most  exquisitely 
formed  creamy  trumpet  variety  ;  Glory  of 
Leiden,  an  immense  yellow;  Madame  Plemp, 
Samson,  Victoria,  L’Innocence,  Mrs.  Burbidge, 
Queen  of  Spain,  Dnchess  of  Westminster, 
Lulworth  Beauty,  Gloria  Mundi,  Katherine 
Spurrell,  and  many  other  beautiful  kinds. 
Mr.  G.  W.  Miller,  Clarkson  Nurseries, 
Wisbech,  again  brought  some  fine  blooms  of 
Narcissi  from  the  district  of  the  Fens,  which 
is  fast  gaining  ground  as  an  ideal  bulb-growing 
country. 
Hobbies,  Ltd.  (John  Green  of  Dereham), 
had  a  stand  well  filled  with  choice  Ferns, 
Palms,  and  plants.  Particularly  noticeable 
was  a  collection  of  two  varieties  of  Gera¬ 
niums  —  Mrs.  Henry  Cox  and  Mrs.  Parker. 
The  first  is  a  bright  golden  tricolor,  and  the 
second  a  silver  leaf  with  a  pretty  pink  double 
bloom,  which  is  rather  a  novelty.  Attention 
was  dematided  by  a  Japanese  product,  the 
Fern  Davallia  bullata,  the  fronds  protruding 
from  an  oval  mass,  and  making  a  very  pretty  window  ornament.  Some 
nice  specimens  of  the  Crimson  Rambler  Rose  and  of  blue  Primroses 
also  made  a  brilliant  display 
Messrs.  Cant  &  Co  of  Colchester  had  a  fine  exhibition  of  cut  Roses, 
chiefly  of  the  Tea  varieties,  all  beautiful  alike  in  form  and  colour. 
The  Chester  Paxton  Society. 
The  third  annual  exhibition  of  spring  flowers  was  held  in  the 
Grosvenor  Museum  on  Thursday  and  Friday  last  ;  the  number  of 
exhibits  exceeding  those  of  previous  years.  As  on  previous  occasions, 
the  largest  exhibit  was  sent  from  the  gardens  of  the  Duke  of  West¬ 
minster,  per  Mr.  N.  F.  Barnes.  The  principal  features  of  this  exhibit 
were  a  collection  of  Daffodils,  chief  among  which  were  Emperor, 
Empress,  D  ichess  of  Westminster,  Minnie  Hume,  prinoeps,  and  Stella. 
Intermixed  with  these  were  specimens  of  Sohizanthus,  whion  are  always 
so  prominent  a  feature  in  the  long  oorridor  of  Eaton  about  this  time 
of  the  year.  Other  notable  flowers  in  His  Grace’s  collection  were 
the  new  Star  Cineraria,  double  pink  flowering  Cherry,  Azalea  mollis, 
Tulips  in  great  variety,  Lilacs,  Tea  Roses,  and  Carmichael’s  hybrid 
Azaleas  in  fine  form.  Next  in  order  of  merit  to  this  collection  was  an 
exhibit  sent  from  Dr.  Mules,  Gresford,  who  is  famous  for  the  cultivation 
of  hardy  border  flowers  of  all  kinds.  The  principal  feature  of  this 
exhibit  was  a  magnifio«nt  group  of  Naroissus  Madame  De  Graaff,  each 
bloom  showing  boldness  and  perfection,  whioh  left  nothing  to  be  desired. 
Good  examples  of  N.  Mary  Anderson,  Queen  of  Spain,  albicans,  and 
Horsefieldi,  were  also  shown,  a3  well  as  American  Fritillarias,  single 
and  double  hybrid  Primroses,  Anemones,  &o.  His  Honour  Judge 
Wynne  Ffoulkes,  per  Mr.  H.  Rowe,  staged  a  beautiful  collection  of 
Daffodils  and  Star  Cinerarias.  Miss  Humbertsou  of  Newton  Hall,  per 
Mr.  Wakefield,  was  also  well  represented  by  a  large  and  varied 
collection  of  Daffodils,  Jonquils,  Anemones,  Hyacinths,  Tulips,  and 
Doronioums.  Mr.  Thomas  Weaver,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Townsend  Inoe, 
Christleton  Hall,  sent  a  lovely  collection  of  Tulips,  Daffodils,  Grape 
Hyacinths,  Mignonette,  &o.  Mrs.  Pitcairn  Campbell,  Vicar’s  Cross 
(gardener,  Mr.  Ryder),  and  Mr.  Edward  Dixon,  Littleton  Hall 
(gardener,  Mr.  John  Dutton),  sent  select  exhibits  of  Tulips,  Jonquils, 
sweet  scented  Violets,  and  Fritillarias.  Mr.  John  Taylor,  Hoole  Hall, 
sent  some  choice  varieties  of  Narcissi  and  Aurioulas.  Messrs.  Dicksons, 
Limited,  and  Messrs.  McHattie  &  Co.  (local  nurserymen),  each  staged 
small  but  select  collections  of  Narcissi.  All  the  exhibits  were  greatly 
admired  by  the  visitors,  and  the  president,  Mr.  N.  P.  Barnes,  aad  the 
secretary,  Mr.  G.  P.  Mtln,  were  congratulate!  uoou  the  sucoess  of  the 
show. 
Reading  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association. 
At  the  last  meeting  of  the  winter  and  spring  session  of  the  above 
association  a  good  attendance  of  members  assembled  to  hear  a  paper  on 
“Early  Potato  Culture,’’  given  by  Mr.  W.  P.  Lasham,  who  treated  the 
subject  in  an  exceedingly  interesting  manner. 
Reference  was  made  to  the  methods  adopted 
by  the  growers  in  the  Canary  Islands,  Corn¬ 
wall,  Jersey,  Scotland,  &e.,  to  produce  Pota¬ 
toes  for  the  English  markets.  The  whole 
was  made  more  interesting  by  limelight 
pictures,  illustrating  the  routine  of  work  in 
the  districts  named.  A  discussion  followed, 
in  which  Messrs.  Neve,  Lees,  Hinton,  Fry, 
Wilson,  Gibson,  Powell,  Barnes,  and  Stanton 
took  part.  A  splendid  display  of  flowers 
was  made  on  this  occasion,  to  which  the 
following  contributed  : — Mr.  G.  Stanton,  Park 
Place,  varieties  of  Sohizanthus,  Magaolia  con- 
spicua,  M.  coaspic  la  Soulaugeaua,  Celsia 
gigantea,  Azara  microphylla  ;  Mr.  Exler, 
Redlands,  two  plants  of  Phaius;  Mr.  E.  S. 
Pigg,  Samoa,  Cymbidium  Lowianum  ;  Mr.  F. 
Lever,  Hillside,  Cineraria  stellata  in  various 
sized  pots,  and  a  William  Allen  Richardson 
Rose  grown  from  a  cutting  inserted  in 
August,  1899,  bearing  fifty-six  blooms  (cul¬ 
tural  certificate),  whilst  Narcissi  were  shown 
in  large  numbers  ;  Mr.  W.  Townsend,  Sand¬ 
hurst  Lodge,  exhibiting  forty-four  varieties ; 
Mr.  A.  G.  Nichols,  Sorathfieldsaye,  twenty- 
two  varieties  ;  and  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  ten 
varieties. 
A  Problem  in  Heating  Solved. 
In  fixing  hot-water  pipes  in  glass  struc¬ 
tures  a  great  diffic  ilty  is  often  experienced 
in  carrying  them  across  a  walk  near  a  door, 
without  dipping  them  beneath  the  walk. 
When  such  “dips”  occur,  all  gardeners 
know  how  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  it  is  to  maintain  a  regular 
circulation  of  hot  water.  During  frosty  weather,  when  fires  are 
only  lighted  occasionally,  it  often  takes  hours  to  get  the  water  to 
circulate  beyond  such  points,  and  I  suspect  most  of  us  have  during 
our  career  spent  a  few  hours  during  the  lonely  “  watches  of  the  night  ” 
in  attempting  to  keep  out  frost  where  tne  pipes  had  been  badly 
arranged.  Recently  I  was  shown  a  simple  method  of  overcoming 
the  difficulty  which  I  think  is  worth  recording. 
Mr.  T.  Marsh,  of  The  Priory  Nursery,  Warwick,  who  at  the  time 
of  my  visit  had  just  completed  the  heating  of  a  new  house,  drew  my 
attention  to  it.  In  this  case  a  single  pipe  ha3  bem  taken  round  the 
house  a  few  inches  below  the  point  where  the  roof  joins  the  wall.  At 
the  opposite  end  from  the  boiler  this  pipe  had  to  cross  a  do  irway,  and 
it  was  necessary  to  give  a  dip  of  at  least  3  feet.  As  an  experiment 
an  air  tap  was  fixed  at  the  point  where  the  pipe  “  dipped,”  and  also 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  door,  where  it  again  rose  to  the  usual  level. 
By  leaving  these  taps  open  for  a  short  time  after  the  water  becomes 
heated  the  circulation  is  everything  that  can  be  desired.  There  is  one 
other  vital  poiut  in  connection  with  the  imtter  which  must  have 
attention — viz.,  where  the  pipe  eaters  the  house  near  the  boiler  it 
must  be  at  least  6  inches  lower  than  the  lowest  point  of  the  dip  at  the 
opposite  end  of  the  house. 
I  enclose  a  sketch,  which  will  make  matters  quite  clear,  and  I 
think  hosts  of  gardeners  throughout  the  country  will  be  interested  in 
the  matter. — H.  D. 
