170 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
February  25;  1904. 
A  fine  group  of  specimen  Palms  came  from  Messrs.  Wills  and 
.Segar,  South  Kensington.  They  were  composed  of  C'arlndovica 
palmata.  Cocos  Bonnetti,  Kentia  Fosteriana,  Areca  sapida, 
Kentia  Cant-erburyana,  Cocos  plumosns,  and  Stevensonia  grandi- 
flora.  as  well  as  smaller  specimens.  The  large  plants  were 
amongst  the  finest  ever  seen  in  the  hall. 
Hardy  and  other  plants  were  displajmd  by  Messrs.  Barr  and 
Sons.  Covent  Garden.  A  very  fine  strain  of  Primula  obconica 
was  noted.  Hellebores  were  also  conspicuous.  The  pretty  little 
Narcissus  minimus  and  N.  cyclaminens  attracted  attention,  as 
did  also  a  collection  of  Crocuses.  The  quaint  plant  Petasites 
japonica  gigantea  was  also  represented  by  two  fine  plants. 
Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams  and  Son,  Upper  Holloway,  sent  a  nice 
group  of  forced  shrubs  and  plants.  The  Lilacs,  especially  the 
standard  trees,  were  beautifully  developed.  Prunus  triloba  was 
also  in  good  form.  Azaleas,  chiefly  of  the  mollis  type,  were  fresh, 
and  the  plants  well  flowered.  The  whole  being  nicely  displayed. 
Medals. 
Ouc'HiD  Committee. — Silver-gilt  Flora;  J.  Colman,  Esq.,  and 
Sir  T.  Lawrence.  Bart.  ;  Silver  Flora  to  R.  J.  Thwaites  and  J. 
Cypher  and  Sons;  Silver  Banksian  to  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  J. 
Bradshaw,  and  J.  Veitch  and  Sons. 
Floual  Committee.-  -Silver-gilt  Floras  to  Mr.  H.  B.  May, 
Upper  Edmonton;  and  Messrs.  R.  and  G.  Cutlibert,  Southgate, 
Middlesex.  Silver-gilt  Banksian  to  Messrs.  Cutbusli  and  Son, 
Highgate.  Silver  Floras  to  Messrs.  Cannell  and  Sons,  Swanley  ; , 
Mr.  John  May,  St.  Margaret’s,  Twickenham  ;  Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware, 
Ltd.,  Feltham  ;  Messrs.  Wills  and  Segar,  Onslow  Crescent,  South 
Kensington.  Silver  Banksians  to  Messrs.  Jas.  Veitch  and  Sons, 
Chelsea;  Mr.  John  Russell,  Richmond;  Messrs.  Williams  and 
Son.  Upper  Holloway ;  and  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  Covent 
Garden. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Cymhidium  Tiallianum  (Capt.  G.  L.  Holford).  —  Parentage ; 
Ct  eburneum  and  C.  Makei.  The  segments  are  ivory  wliite,  with  yolk- 
of-egg  yellow  lip.  The  raceme  had  four  flowers.  A.M. 
Cymhidium  Jl'/Z.'soui  (.J.  Veitch  and  Sons). — Dwarf  growing;  said 
by  Mr.  Rolfc  to  be  a  variety  of  giganteum.  It  was  introduced  from 
Yunnan,  South  China.  Sepals  and  petals  greenish  with  brownish 
purple  overlay.  The  lip  is  tea  coloured  with  brown  edges.  A.M. 
Cypripedmm  lleckmani  (R.  Briggs-Bury). — A  large  bold  flower, 
which  was  admired  b}^  everybody.  There  is  much  of  the  C.  villosum 
in  it,  but  the  parentage  was  not  recorded.  The  pouch  is  brownish-red, 
the  petals  the  same,  lined  greenish-yellow,  Avhile  the  dorsal  sepal  is 
pea-green,  spotted  with  purple.  From  Bank  House,  Accrington.  F.C.C. 
Cyrtomium  Butterfieldi  (Mr.  Percy  T.  Butterfield). — Seemingly  a 
graceful  form  of  C.  falcatum,  the  pinme  having  serrated  edges.  P'rom 
The  Ferns,  Freezywater,  Waltham  Cross.  A.M. 
FAipatorium  petiolare  (H.  Cannell  and  Sons). — The  plant  shown 
was  graceful,  fully  2ft.  high,  with  pale  mauve-pink  clusters  of  flowers. 
The  foliage  is  light  green,  in  shape  like  that  of  Sparmannia  afrieana, 
but  much  smaller  on  the  average.  The  stems  are  inclined  to  be  Avoody, 
and  they  branch  freely.  A  most  commendable  plant.  A.M. 
Pteris  H iUi  (.J.  Hill  and  Sons). — This  has  been  likened  to  P.  umbrosa 
from  Australia,  but  is  harder,  larger,  darker,  more  robust,  and  upright 
in  character.  It  Avas  imported  from  Brazil.  A.M. 
Sophro-Cattleija  x  tdaxa  (J.  Veitch  and  Sons.  l^td.). — Parentage; 
Sophronitis  grandifiora  and  Cattleya  Trianse.  It  is  less  than  half  the 
size  of  the  latter,  but  is  very  SAveetly  coloured,  salmon  suffused  Avith 
rose-carmine,  going  off  to  a  rose-mauve.  A.M. 
Chester  Paxton. 
At  a  Avell-attendecl  meeting  held  in  the  GrosA’enor  Mu.seum 
recently,  Mr.  Robt.  Wakefield,  NeAvton  Hall  Gardens,  read 
a  paper  entitled,  “  Herbaceous  FloAvers  for  Home  and  Pixhibition.” 
Mr.  J.  D.  Siddall.  in  introducing  the  lecturer,  said  he  had  chosen 
a  subject  upon  Avhich  he  Avas,  by  his  many  successes  Avith 
herbaceous  floAvers,  Avell  qualified  to  speak,  and  this  Avas  amply 
proved  by  the  Avell  thought  out  and  carefully  prepared  matter 
submitted  by  Mr.  Wakefield.  The  cultural  methods  adopted  by 
him  were  clearly  and  concisely  given,  and  the  useful  hints  as  to 
the  proper  staging  of  herbaceous  floAvers  for  exhibition  purposes 
were  also  much  appreciated.  Interesting  statements  Avere  also 
given  shoAving  the  improvement  that  had  taken  place  in  the 
types  of  many  A'arieties  of  herbaceous  floAvers,  and  their  extended 
cultivation  for  decorative  as  avcII  as  for  exhibitive  purposes. 
Mr.  Wakefield  gave  as  a  typical  collection  for  exhibitive  pur¬ 
poses  for  August  and  September  the  fclIoAving;  ALstreemeria 
aurea,  Aconitum  Napellus,  Veratrum  nigrum,  Bocconia  cordata. 
Echinops  ruthenicus,  Veronica  longifolia  snbsessilis,  Helianthus 
Soleil  d’Or,  Lobelia  cai^dinalis  Firefly,  Ei  igeron  speciosa  snperbus, 
Chrysanthemum  maximum.  Helenium  pumilum  magnificum, 
Lilinm  auratnm,  Montbretia  crocoMuceflora,  Gypsoph'ila  pani- 
culata.  Anemone  japonica  Honorine  Jobert,  Coreopsis  grandifiora, 
Scabiosa  caucasica,  Gaillardia,  Delphinium,  Rndl)eckia  laciniata 
fl.-pl.  Golden  Glow,  Achillea  ptarmica  fl.-pl.  TJie  Pearl,  Phlox 
Frau  S.  Buckner,  Lilinm  speciosum  a'bum,  Gladiolus 
Brenchleyensis. 
An  interesting  discussion  by  IVIr.  Barnes,  Mr.  Miln,  and 
others  folloAved,  in  the  course  of  which  reference  Avas  made  to  the 
large  number  of  prizes  Mr.  Wakefield  had  Avon  at  the  ShreAvsbury 
and  other  horticultural  exhibitions  Avith  his  collections  of 
lierbaceous  blooms. 
Liverpool :  “  Chemical  Manures.” 
On  Saturday  evening,  the  I3th  inst.,  there  Avas  a  large  attend¬ 
ance  of  gardeners  and  others  at  the  meeting  of  the  Liveriiool 
Horticultural  Association,  to  hear  Mr.  Shrivell  on  chemical  and 
other  manures.  His  remarks  Avere  based  upon  the  results  of  ten 
years’  careful  experimental  Avork  carried  out  by  Dr.  Bernard  Dyer 
and  himself.  The  lecture  AA-as  A'ery  interesting,  and,  judging  by 
the  remarks  made  at  the  conclusion,  it  convinced  many  gardenews 
present  as  to  hoAv  absurd  it  is  to  speak  so  indifferently — as  is 
sometimes  done  at  these  meetings — on  the  value  of  scientific 
research.  Mr.  Shrivell  mentioned  the  value  of  nitrogen  to  Peas 
and  Beans,  and  contended  that  the  popular  fallacy — i.e.,  that 
this  tribe  of  plants  require  no  nitrogen — is  being  exploded,  and 
that  Peas  and  Beans  groAAn  Avith  the  addition  of  nitrogen  are 
much  SAveeter  and  finer  than  those  groAvn  Avithout  it.  A  series 
of  diagrams  Avere  shoAvn  proAung  that  the  be.st  results  Avere  ob¬ 
tained  by  using  a  small  quantity  of  dung  in  addition  to  chemical 
Aster,  Diadem.  (See  page  158.) 
manure,  this  being  specially  noticeable  in  the  case  of  Broccoli, 
Potatoes,  Ac.  The  mechanical  effect  of  farmyaid  manure  Avas 
dealt  Avith,  and  Avith  regard  to  fruit  the  lecturer  said  experiments 
proved  that  bush  fruits,  Currants,  Raspberries,  Gooseberries,  &c.. 
Avere  made  more  productive  by  using — for  100  square  yards,  and 
soAving  broadcast — 101b  suiierpho-sphate,  101b  kainit,  during 
autumn  and  Avintei',  and  in  early  spring  711)  to  101b  of 
nitrate  of  soda.  With  regard  to  StraAvberries,  experiments 
shoAved  that  they  could  not  groAv  StraAvberries  entirely  b.A"  tho 
aid  of  chemicals,  but  Avith  a  light  dre.s.sing  of  dung  added  to 
chemicals  thev  Avould  be  much  more  satisfactory  to  the  groAver. 
Mr.  Sli  I’iA^ell  stronglA’  advised  garclenei’s  not  to  use  .seAA'age  on 
an,v  vegetables  Avhich  had  to  be  eaten  in  a  raAv  state.  SeA-eral 
formulie  Avere  giAmn  for  Chrysanthemums,  Melons,  Cucumbers, 
herbaceous  borders,  Ac.  A  good  discussion  Avas  entered  upon 
and  several  queries  asked  as  regards  nitragin,  the  “  symbiotic 
relations  existing  in  the  Leguminosee  ”  nitrate  of  potash 
as  a  manure,  etc.  The  lecturer  Avas  heartily  thanked  for  the 
valuable  information  he  imparted. — J.  S. 
Croydon :  Forced  Vegetables. 
C.'iioYDox  Axp  District  HoRTicuLTru.AL  Mrru.vL  Laipkoa'emext. 
—  The  inclement  Aveather  of  Tuesday  evening  last  debarred  a 
great  man.v  from  attending  the  fortni,ghtly  meeting  of  this 
society,  held  at  the  SuufloAver  Temperanc.e  Hotel,  Avhen  “Forced 
Vegetables”  AA-as  the  title  of  a  paper  read  bv  Mr.  W.  A.  Cooke, 
Shirley  Park  Gardens.  Avho  had  brought  Avith  him  a  good  collec¬ 
tion  of  these  esculents  to  illustrate  his  paper.  In  opening  his 
