May  26,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTaGE  GARDENER, 
457 
wonderful  collection  of  Sarracenias,  well  arranged  and  splen¬ 
didly  grown.  (Gold  medal.) 
Messrs.  \V.  Clibran  certainly  deserved  the  honour  of  a  gold 
medal  for  a  large  group,  the  centre  consisting  of  Calla 
Elliottiana  and  Pentlandi,  Malmaison  Carnations  and  foliage 
plants  as  a  background,  and  batches  of  Lobelia  iMrs.  Clibran 
and  Aubrietia  Dr.  Glides  in  the  foreground.  Alpines  and  other 
good  things  filled  a  large  table. 
Messrs.  Dickson  and  Robinson,  Manchester,  had  a  channing 
stand  of  numerous  Fancy  and  IMay-flowering  Tulips;  Mr.  .1. 
Robson  had  Carnations  of  the  best  and  some  very  choice  orchids, 
each  of  the  two  above  firms  receiving  the  silver  medal. 
Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  and  Sons  secured  the  nurserymen’s  prize 
for  a  group  of  plants. 
For  a  group  of  orchids  arranged  for  effect  Mr.  J.  Cypher  had 
of  his  best.  In  the  background,  the  splendid  Ericas,  Bougain¬ 
villeas,  Clerodendrons,  and  Genetyllis  brought  up  a  grand  effect. 
Bath  and  West  Agricultural  Show,  Swansea,  May  19  to  23. 
On  Thursday  morning  I  crossed  the  Bristol  Channel  in  bright 
sunshine,  and  on  a  rather  rolling  sea,  to  see  Swansea’s  great 
show.  It  was  great  to  me,  because  a  grand  blaze  of  colour  was 
under  a  tent,  117ft  by  60ft.  The  daily  papers  failed  to  see  the 
show,  or  their  reporters  were  colour-blind  ;  or  I  failed  to  see 
their  notes.  Surely  so  fine  a  tent  of  beauty  deserves  more 
attention.  On  the  left  of  the  entrance  Messrs.  John  Waterer 
and  Sons  showed  a  large  number  of  clean  Rhododendrons. 
Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon,  of  Bath,  showed  some  well- 
grown  samples  of  Begonias,  including  some  new  varieties.  Mrs. 
Harper  (new),  Mrs.  E.  W.  Smith  (new),  Marchioness  of  Bath 
(white),  Right  Hon.  Joseph  Chamberlain  (camellia-shaped,  fine 
crimson),  Mrs.  J.  Chamberlain  (blush,  perfectly  upright  habit, 
large  flowers),  Mrs.  Box  (rosy  salmon).  Countess  Cromer  (pure 
white,  very  lovely),  Sophie  (large  pale  yellow),  and  Flambeau, 
a  very  showy  thing  indeed.  This  firm  also  showed  very  fine 
Carnations,  including  Alma,  which  received  award  of  merit 
R. H.S.,  May  19,  1903.  Many  other  fine  things  were  on  this 
stage.  This  firm  grows  3,000  Polyanthus  plants. 
I  noticed  Messrs.  Geo.  Cooling  and  Sons’  (Bath)  splendid 
collection.  Nellie  Moser  Clematis  was  perfect ;  Enchantress 
(double  white),  and  Gloire  St.  Julian,  Ac.,  were  very  much 
admired,  and  they  had-  abundance  of  Roses  and  Tulips. 
Messrs.  Cutbush  and  Son,  of  Highgate,  occupied  the  top  end 
of  the  tent  with  a  blaze  of  colour,  most  delightful  to  behold. 
"What  Carnations! — Sir  Hector  Macdonald,  Duches-s  of  West¬ 
minster,  and  others. 
Messrs.  W.  Treseder,  of  Cardiff,  staged  a  fine  large  basket 
of  orchids  and  choice  stove  flowers,  also  many  valuable  deco¬ 
rative  flowers.  Then  came  IMessrs.  R.  Veitch  and  Son,  of  Exeter, 
who  had  in  their  fine  collection  Embothrium  coccineum,  Sola- 
num  crispum,  and  alpines.  Messrs.  H.  and  AV.  Evans,  Hardy 
Plant  Nursery,  Llanishen,  near  Cardiff,  showed  also  fine  rock 
l^lants,  and  clean,  well-grown  stock  they  were. 
The  floral  designs  of  Messrs.  E.  Pearson  and  Co.,  of  Swansea, 
were  very  good  indeed;  and  Mr.  H.  Farrant’s  new  Tomato, 
Beauty  of  Wales,  was  well  spoken  of.  The  Pansy  blooms  of 
Mr.  F.  Hooper,  of  Bath,  pleased  the  ladies  immensely. 
Messrs.  T.  Cripps  and  Son,  Tunbridge  AVells,  and  Messrs. 
Paul  and  Son,  of  Cheshunt,  had  groups  which  came  in  for  close 
inspection.  Messrs.  Paul  had  Roses  Lady  Roberts  (T.^  Georges 
Schwartz  (T.,  yellow).  New  Century  (rugosa),  Paul’s  Early 
Blu.sh. 
A  knapsack  sprayer  was  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Parsons  and  Co., 
of  Swansea  and  Bristol.  It  is  called  “  Knapsack  National,  Btt. 
S. C.D.G.”  The  cover  on  top  fits  like  a  well-made  jar  cover, 
with  a  spring  in  centre,  and  so  prevents  any  liquid  spilling  and 
limning  down  the  back  of  the  operator.  The  price  is  50s.,  and 
it  is  well  worth  it,  as  it  is,  of  cour.se,  made  of  copper. 
In  the  grounds  Messrs.  John  Weech  and  Sons,  of  Bristol, 
showed  many  glass  houses  and  frames,  and  also  boilers  of 
various  makes. — X. 
Ipswich  Mutual  Improvement. 
At  the  last  meeting  of  the  above,  held  on  Mav 
5th,  with  .  Air.  T.  T.  Whittell,  Pinetoft  (hardens,  iii 
'the  chair,  Air.  J.  A.  Adcock,  Felixstowe  Road  Nur¬ 
sery,  opened  a  discussion  upon  the  important  subject  of 
“  Salads.”  The  principal  vegetables  required  for.  the  salad  bowl 
at  various  peiiods  of  the  year  were  dealt  with  in  a  chatty 
manner  by  Air.  Adcock,  wlio  indicated  many  little  points  of 
interest  in  their  cultivation,  and  likewise  gave  some  valuable 
hints  to  exhibitors  of  salads.  The  discussion  was  well  sustained 
liy  .several  members,  including  Alessrs.  Alorgan,  Scott,  Geen, 
A.  Creek,  Barker,  E.  Creek.  Garnhajn,  and  others.  Mr.  Adcock 
was  also  responsible  for  the  exhibits  upon  the  table,  which 
included  a  nice  basket  of  salad,  a  very  fine  basket  of  Royal 
Sovereign  Strawberi-ies,  obtained  from  plants  lifted  from  the 
open  ground  and  potted  in  February,  and  also  a  plant  of 
Spirma  japonica  Air.  Gladstone. — E.  (1. 
Paignton  (Devon)  Gardeners’ :  Question  Night. 
Air.  J.  Crathorn  presided  over  the  monthly  meeting  of  ‘ih.e 
gardeners’  association,  which  was  devoted  to  que.stions,  the 
chairman  remarking  that  this  was  an  experiment  on  tlie  part  of 
the  committee  to  give  all  members  an  opportunity  of  benefiting 
from  the  association.  “  AVhich  is  the  best  way  to  prepare  a  bt'd 
for  Strawberries,  and  how  to  treat  them  for  two  years  after?  ” 
was  a  question  which  Air.  Hall  answered  by  recommending  a 
piece  of  ground  where  Celery  had  been  grown,  to  put  in  some 
Potatoes,  and  after  they  were  dug  up  to  trench  the  gi’ound  two 
spits  deep  ;  but  if  the  ground  had  been  trenched  before  he  would 
not  trench  the  bottom  spit  to  the  top.  but  put  a  good  layer 
of  manure  on  it  and  another  .spit  on  top.  If,  how¬ 
ever,  it  had  been  trenched  before,  he  would  bring 
the  second  to  the  top  and  the  bottom  up  also.  A  good 
Luculia  gratissima.  (See  page  452.) 
many  advised  getting  plants  which  had  not  borne  fruit,  and 
after  they  had  grown  a  second  crop  he  would  throw  them  away; 
Air.  Gard  said  he  used  them  three  years.  People  made  a  mi.stake 
in  digging  the  ground  too  deep..  He.n.dvised  breaking  up  the 
surface  and  giving  it  a  lotion;  Air.  Jefferies  agreed  with  the 
method  advocated,  wdiich  he  had  found  very  succe.ssful.  Hc 
advised  ammonia  sprinkled  round,  which  forced  the  plants 
and  prodiiced  a  fine  crop.  AA’ith  regard  to  soot  for  destroying 
slugs  and  snails.  Air.  Sajiders  did  not  agree  with  it  as  a  remeefy) 
agreeing  with  Air.  Gard  that  a  zinc  solution  was  much  prefer¬ 
able'.  ;  . 
The  best  method  for  raising  Primulas  and  Cinerarias,  and 
soil  for  potting,  was  discussed.  Air.  Rowland  said  the  best  soil 
was  veiy  fine  loam  with  a  little  fine  sand.  Sow'  the  seed  riglit 
on  top,  and  a  very  little  of  the  soil  on  top,  with 
a  pane  of  glass  over,  and  they  could  raise  as  many 
as  they  liked.  “  AYhat  is  the  cause  of  the  club-root  in  the 
Cucumbers?”  Air.  Sanders  said  it ,  was  attributed  by  some 
peoi)Ie  to  using  stale  water  that  had  been  lying  in  a  drity  tank, 
and  a  small  insect,  getting  into  the  root  and  spoiling  the 
Cucumber ;  also  by  filling  up  pits  with  manure.  He  advised  not 
