July  10,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  A  XD  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
37 
been  called  into  requisition.  I  did  not  ask  Mr.  Sydenham  his 
views  on  this  point,  but  my  own  personal  experience  has  been 
that  fresh  soil  becomes  an  absolute  necessity,  no  matter  how 
it  is  manured  or  cultivated ;  for  after  a  few  years  there  seems 
to  be  something  lacking  which  cannot  be  replaced  except  by 
fresh  ground,  and  this  is  the  experience  of  my  friends  also. 
The  soil  at  Tamworth  appears  to  be  a  reddish  sand — the  same 
colour  as  their  pigs — overlying  a  sort  of  clay ;  an  ideal  soil  for 
working,  and,  judging  from  the  luxuriant  growth  of  all  classes 
of  plants,  a  most  generous  one.  That  the  Violas  are  not  grown 
on  strictly  temperance  lines  I  readily  observed  from  the  huge 
heaps  of  peat  moss  manure  packed  ready  to  go  on  the  ground  as 
the  crops  come  off,  amounting  to  two  or  three  hundred  tons,  and 
I  was  told  much  more  was  used  during  a  season.  No  doubt  this 
holds  the  moisture,  apart  from  its  fertilising  properties,  and 
accounts  to  some  extent  for  the  healthy  growth  of  the  plants. 
One  can  readily  imagine  that  such  a  vast  quantity  of  plants 
must  make  the  propagation  a  serious  item,  and  large  frame 
grounds  are  provided  for  this  accommodation.  The  frames  used 
are  just  like  miniature  span-roofed  houses,  and  the  lights  are 
fixed  to  the  ridge  with  hinges,  so  that  either  side  can  be  readily 
lifted  for  any  purposes.  Each  frame  holds  about  a  thousand 
cuttings,  and  as  some  hundreds  of  them  are  utilised  it  will  give 
some  idea  of  the  number  of  plants  propagated  in  them.  At  the 
time  of  my  visit  early  propagation1  was  in  full  swing,  and  the 
soil  being  naturally  adapted  for  this  purpose,  no  preparation  is 
required.  I  shall  reserve  my  notes  on  the  new  and  old  varieties 
for  a  future  issue,  or  I  shall  have  the  editor  using  the  scissors 
and  paste  to  bring  my  notes  down  to  a  respectable  length. 
— J.  B.  R. 
- - 
Societies. 
Royal  Horticultural— Drill  Hall,  July  8th. 
An  interesting  meeting  and  well-filled  hall  was  that  on 
Tuesday  last,  though  Orchids  were  fewer  than  at  any  time  during 
the  past  season.  Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams  and  Son  staged  a  mixed 
group  and  Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.  had  C'attleyas,  other 
plants  coming  from  Messrs.  Veitch  and  Bull  and  Sons. 
Hardy  plant, smen  were  strongly  in  evidence,  and  Messrs. 
Barr  and  Sons  had  Sweet  Peas  in  liberal  quantities.  Besides 
these,  they  had  in  their  group  Iris  monspur,  Lychnis  Haageana 
and  L.  chalcedonica,  Phlomis  viscosa,  and  other  good  plants, 
notably  Delphiniums.  Mr.  Amos  Perry  and  Messrs.  Pritchard 
had  also  nice  groups,  the  former  staging  Calochorti,  Heucliera 
sanguinea  sp  loudens,  and  others,  with  Ostrowskia  maguifica  in 
capital  condition. 
The  Petunias  from  Mr.  J.  Surman,  of  Beckenham,  were  all 
well  flowered  and  the  blooms  were  large,  but  Messrs.  Cut  bush’s 
Carnations  were  one  of  the  chief  features  of  the  show.  Their 
varieties  included  the  following,  among  others: — Nautilus, 
blush-pink;  Lady  Rose,  deep  pink;  Maggie  Hodgson,  rich  dark 
crimson  ;  Mrs.  Trelawny,  very  bright  deep  crimson ;  and  a  large 
group  of  the  yellow  C'ecila. 
Single-flowered  tuberous  Begonias  came  from  Messrs.  Cannell, 
the  finer  being  to  our  minds  Sir  J.  Lyne,  rich  bright  crimson; 
Lady  Wyndham,  salmon;  Seymour  Lucas,  rich  crimson;  Mrs. 
Brook  Taylor,  Apple-blossom  tint;  and  Martial,  scarlet  crimson. 
A  back  row  of  Kochia  scoparia  in  5in  pots  was  of  value.  Stove 
and  greenhouse  foliage  plants  (a  fine  group)  came  from  Mr.  J. 
Russell,  of  Richmond,  and  Mr.  H.  B.  May  had  grouplets  of  dis¬ 
tinctive  and  good  Zonal  Pelargoniums. 
Another  feature  of  the  exhibition  was  Messrs.  Ivelway’s  group 
of  cut  Delphiniums.  These  were  strong  and  good,  and  some 
beautifully-coloured  varieties  were  noticed.  We  name  a  few: — 
Queen  of  Huish,  Dorothy  Daniels,  Lord  Rothschild,  Earl 
Roberts,  Clara  Stubbs,  and  Glory.  Besides  their  Orchids, 
Messrs.  Veitch  staged  a  number  of  new  seedling  Polyanthi  Roses, 
one  of  which,  named  Rito,  is  a  single-flowered  variety  coloured 
bright  pink.  A  choice  collection  of  the  best  seasonable  shrubs 
in  cut  sprays  was  also  shown  by  them.  Cornus  Kousa  and  Escal- 
lonia  phillipiana  were  noticed.  Paul  and  Son,  of  Cheshunt,  had 
also  a  group  of  cut  shrub  sprays,  chiefly  foliage  shrubs. 
At  the  north  end  of  one  of  the  tables  Lady  Nina  Balfour,  of 
Newton  Don,  Kelso  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  Wood),  presented  blush 
Malmaisons  in  pots,  and  the  plants  were  really  very  fine.  The 
blooijis  (and  there  were  many  of  them)  were  large  and  good. 
Messrs.  Bull  and  Sons,  King’s  Road,  Chelsea,  staged  Dracaenas, 
three  good  sorts  being  their  D.  Vietorise  (yellow),  D.  Coullingi 
(white  and  green),  and  D.  Lord  Roberts  (dark  red).  The 
Colchester  firm  of  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons  staged  new 
Roses,  among  which  we  noted  a  pure  white  H.P.  named  Frau 
Karl  Druschki,  which  ought  to  come  well  to  the  front,  being  so 
distinctive  and  otherwise  good.  Their  semi-double  crimson  sort, 
the  Maharajah,  was  much  admired,  and  so  likewise  the  new  H.P. 
Ben  Cant,  the  famous  Liberty,  Mrs.  B.  R.  Cant,  and  Ivi Harney, 
which  was  shown  to  perfection. 
Messrs.  Clibran,  of  Altrincham,  contributed  a  basket  of  their 
new  Lobelia  Mrs.  Wm.  Clibran,  a  deep  dark  blue  with  white  eye, 
and  very  telling  as  a  bedder  for  ribbon  borders. 
From  Percy  Waterer,  Esq.,  of  Fawkham,  Kent,  came  close 
upon  130  vases  of  Sweet  Peas,  which  were  tastefully  arranged 
with  grasses  and  Fern,  and  the  stand  was  draped  with  pale  green 
muslin.  Two  handsome  epergnes  graced  the  ends  of  the  long 
tabling  devoted  to  the  exhibits.  We  learn  that  about  100 
varieties  were  represented,  twenty  of  which  are  new  varieties 
raised  and  flowered  this  year  for  the  first  time,  and  introduced 
last  year  by  himself.  Altogether  something  like  5,000  trusses  of 
this  useful  decorative  flower  were  staged. 
Lord  Rothschild,  Tring  Park  (gardener,  Mr.  E.  Hill),  sent 
100  plants  of  Carnation  Cecilia  in  7in  pots  bearing  blossoms, 
many  of  which  were  between  5in  and  6in  in  diameter.  They 
were  nicely  arranged  with  Pteris  Fern  at  the  base,  and  the  grass 
of  the  Carnations  looked  the  picture  of  health.  We  have  only 
one  fault  to  find  with  this  exhibit,  and  that  is  the  plants  were 
far  too  tall,  many  being  nearly  5ft  in  height. 
Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware,  Limited,  Feltham,  staged  a  very  fine 
collection  of  hardy  plants,  including  several  alpines.  Del¬ 
phiniums  were  represented  in  great  variety,  as  were  also  Phloxes, 
Campanulas  (one  C.  persicifolia  Moerheimi  being  particularly 
handsome  ;  it  is  a  double  white),  Geums,  and  Lychnis  Haageana 
hybrida  (a  splendid  scarlet).  Many  others  were  staged,  all  of 
great  merit  and  interest. 
Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Enfield,  staged  a  group  of  mis¬ 
cellaneous  plants,  in  which  Phcenocoma  prolifera  Barnesi  repre¬ 
sented  by  a  few  specimens.  Trachelium  coeruleum,  Dracophyllum 
gracile,  with  Crimson  Rambler  Rose,  and  Nymphseas  in  trays, 
with  Ferns  in  variety,  were  evidences  of  good  cultivation  of  an 
interesting  though  small  group. 
Fruit. 
.  Messrs.  Geo.  Bunyard  and  C'o.,  Limited,  Maidstone,  sent 
pot  Cherries,  the  tree  being  in  lOin  pots,  standing  3ft  to  4ft 
high,  and  with  sturdy,  well-ripened  shoots.  Each  bore  a 
numerous  complement  of  fruit  clusters.  In  front  of  the  trees 
were  dishes  of  Cherry  fruits,  and  we  noted  the  following 
varieties: — May  Duke,  Noir  de  Schmidt,  Turkey  Heart,  Bedford 
Prolific,  Waterloo,  Florence,  Governor  Wood,  Kentish  Red, 
Windsor,  Frogmore  Bigarreau,  Knight’s  Early  Black,  St. 
Margaret’s,  and  Belle  de  Choisy. 
Gooseberry  Honings  Frieste,  which  is  not  unlike  our 
“Sulphur,”  came  from  Mr.  J.  Honings,  Neuss-on-Rhein, 
Germany,  and  a  dish  of  well-preserved  Apples — variety  Lord 
Beaconsfield — from  Mr.  John  Watkins,  Pomona  Farm, 
Hereford  (who  supplied  the  Apples  to  the  King  lately,  we 
believe),  received  a  vote  of  thanks.  Nine  fine  Queen  Pine  Apples 
from  Lord  Llangattock  (gardener,  Mr.  T.  Coomber),  The  Hendre, 
Monmouth,  were,  as  usual,  of  great  interest.  Mr.  J.  Crook, 
Ford  Abbey,  Chard,  contributed  Dioli  Amsden  Peaches  gathered 
on  June  26  from  cool  house  trees.  From  Cokuiel  Vivian’s 
garden,  at  Rood  Ashton,  Trowbridge,  Mr.  Strugnell,  the 
gardener,  sent  a  fine  fruit  of  Melon  Western  Hero,  moderate  in 
size,  round,  yellow  in  colour,  and  lightly  netted.  Messrs. 
Laxton  Bros.,  Bedford,  furnished  a  collection  of  Strawberries — 
The  Laxton  and  Trafalgar  in  boxes,  while  Carter’s  Endive 
Lettuce  came'  from  Swanley  Horticultural  College.  For  an 
exhibit  of  Mushrooms  (Cuthberts’  spawn),  Mr.  Geo.  Keif,  gar¬ 
dener  at  South  Villas,  Regent’s  Park,  was  awarded  a  cultural 
commendation. 
Medals. 
Fruit  Committee. — Hogg  Medal  to  Lord  Llangattock,  Hendre 
Gardens,  Monmouth,  for  Pine  Apples.  Silver  Knightian  Medal 
to  Messrs.  Geo.  Bunyard  and  Co.,  Royal  Nurseries,  Maidstone, 
Kent,  for  Cherries  in  pots  and  gathered  fruit. 
Floral  Committee. — Gold  for  group  of  Sweet  Peas  to  Mr.  P. 
Waterer,  Fawkham,  Kent  ;  Silver-gilt  Flora  for  Carnation  Cecilia, 
Lord  Rothschild,  Tring  Park,  Tring ;  Silver-gilt  Banksian  for 
hardy  trees  and  shrubs,  Messrs.  Paul  and  Son,  Cheshunt;  for 
single  Petunias,  Mr.  J.  Surman,  Beckenham  ;  for  hardy  plants, 
Mr.  Amos  Perry,  Winelnnore  Hill ;  for  Delphiniums,  Messrs. 
Kelway  and  Sons,  Langport.  Silver  Flora  for  stove  and  green¬ 
house  plants,  Mr.  J.  Russell,  Richmond;  for  Malmaison  Carna¬ 
tion,  Lady  Nina  Balfour.  Silver  Banksian  for  single  Begonias, 
Messrs.  Cannell  and  Sons,  Swanley ;  for  hardy  plants,  Messrs. 
Barr  and  Sons,  King  Street  ;  for  new  Pelargoniums,  Mr. 
H.  B.  May,  Upper  Edmonton;  for  cut  Carnations,  Messrs.  Cut- 
bush,  High  gate ;  for  hardy  plants,  Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware  and  Sons, 
Feltham;  for  hardy  plants,  Mr.  M.  Prichard,  Christchurch;  for 
plants  and  Water  Lilies,  Messrs.  Lowe  and  Co.,  Enfield.  Bronzo 
Banksian  for  Delphiniums,  Mr.  G.  Ferguson,  Weybridge. 
Orchid  Committee.— Silver  Banksian  Medal  for  group  of 
Orchids  to  Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Enfield. 
