S«f pkOTf mm^^m^ sj.y '^^ ^ MMy^i ■Mi --.-\ W mm 'U ^a^d&i^^^; kkJ^ ).d^; c^ra ^5& iy^w' ■^k^L^ ^:^ ^1 Mm^ iWV^ .'5*4^4pS'5r,rfW; ^8S5wgwvwwuu ^' .^te^'y^^' ^/^ c^ |> Wim ^t-^;^ 'lo'^z aQBmr-r'^ m^^^t'^ ??/?i'f''1'^" 'Ht!'^: ^.n6h^, .>v.,^ . ;.C*>i.ft5 '^m^' ^^4^ v^-?. .• J^>^ /I -^ A ^ '-s, ^ _ ^^a-'^ « ^^^^#^ JOIEXAL OF HnRTIi rniRE. C01TA(iE GAEDEXER. C O H' X T R V Of E N T L E M .^ X A JCA>^\rrvi or ^^ XAIO^ G7 --. TJ.TX 'niimii iiiiii I c ■ ■» •»E._-_» w» i. *■»-■■ 43SS.)|r THE JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUPiE, COTTAGE GARDENER, COUNT I^Y aENTLEM^N, BEE-KEEPER. AND TOULTRY CHRONICLE. A JOURNAL OF GARDENING, RURAL AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY, BOTANY, AND NATURAL HISTORY. CONDUCTED BY GEOEGE W. JOHNSON, E.R.H.S., and ROBERT HOGG, LL.D. THE FRUIT AND KITCnEN OARDEXS. by Mr. .1. KobRon, (iardcucr to Vii^count Hoimcsdale, M.P., Linton Tai-k; and Mr. E. LackhoTst, Egcrton Honse Gardens, Kent. THE FLOWEU GARDEN, liy Mr. G. Abbey ; " Ayishiro Gardener ;" Mr. T. Record, Gardener to Colonel Lloyd, Lillesden ; and Mr. J. Will«, .\sbbnrntaam Park Nnrscry, King's Rood, Chclaea. STOVE. GREEXHOUiSE, nnd WINDOW GARDEN, by Mr. K. Fish, G:.rdener, I'littcridgn Bni-j-, near Luton. FLORISTS' FLOWERS AND FLORICULTURE, by tko Rev. H. H. Dombrain. GARDENING C.\LENDAR, by Mr. William Keane. POULTRY-KEEPING, by Mr. J. E.lily ; E. Hewitt, Esq.; and L. WrigUt, Esq. PIGEONS, .IVIARY BIP.DS, &c., by "Wiltshire Rector; V/. A. Blakston, Esq., and others. BEE-KEEPING, bv T. W. Woodbtury, Esq.; "E. & W.;" and Mr. S. Bevan Foi. HOUSEHOLD AKTS, by the Anthorcss ol " My Flowers," and others. LIBRARY NEW VQkK BOTANiCaL qakuen. VOLUME XVIII.. NEW SERIES. VOL. XLIII., OLD SERIES. LONDON: rUELISIIED FOR THE PROPEIETORS, 17], FLEET STREET. 1870. INDEX. AhKBft-IVKWXY POfH-TRT ShOW. 887 Aiooiafl-prxpatniinft 840; d«curren« mollis not hiiwuriiiXt *^J AcclinintiHatioii al the antipodes, 17 AchilK-ii clavi-nna', propaffRtinp, 125 AohimpnoH (olinKe l»r«»wnrj. s7 Adcluiddr, a. AuttiMlia, naraonlnB at. A«IlnntiimH fur tal>lp decnrntion, IJO .^Cohtnt-a Kl<"ineratii, 2'-i7 Aurnvo xvIoniioimtliH. HO AtfricnUural (Koyal) Socioty'n vrizc- fHsay on furm iindUry, b'i: roDltry Show at Biirv SI. KdiiiuiKlH. iVJ , AtrricuUnnil (KovuD Sntiety of Ii'C- i land's HouUi-y S1ii>>a-. H'. -VJilnarvptiuiK varitiTitii Itir ciisinp.M": All.Ttiin Poultry Sli.>w. 117, \iy^ i AlovHia ritriodora. hiirdinccM ot, Sit* Alpine pliuttH tt«Qnr-(l. »30 AltrrnanihoniP, 9:»: for beiUinn, IM, 11) ri Alysaum, varicifatr il. 'iill Aumryl.iH— vurlcticM, 'Ji ; in a wann tcri^'nlioaHO. B.'.*i Amateur— who ih an '.* 61, I'ftt Amtilanchipr tiotrvapinm hb an oma- aientai trof, lyS : irnit an-** preserve, 137 VmorioAn Micht, \ii AiittchariH alBinintiuin, S7: destroy- in (f, l'i> Artdropd^inn fonnosns, 304 Antniono blli-ht. train oil for, 450 AnmiidH, 120: boildins;, 'init ; for ex- hiliition, -^HX ; in pots. +!!» \nfN. pri-vt'iirin-j thoJr rtltHckH, lOfi Appl.'s trri- in piyRpry, ll; Knsrmar>" Kufl^ct. lit) ; dwun. on l>oiit.-iii stock, li*4 ; fitocks 'or, 'iSi : seU'ct desHcrt, a43; for stand irdM. SOI; What is a dish of? 819; for fixhibUi7 ; praninK newly planted, 481 Apricot -calriirf, 71, 111, 140, 19".; aphlB on, H7 ; bnd'lini,' atorkB, H7 ; in or- rhard'houMfS, pill ; in pole, winter lrea'm'nt.2;<0; li h, trunnpliLuting. :it>;; bloHHoni-* nol sf»ttiiit;.y73 \rftnc.iria imbrica'ii dtcayin^, 103 Arb'itiiH. propa utini:. 411 AriBlolooliia (inldicnnii.aCS) Arundn cunspicuii. 'Ml \Hhford Fotillry Show, 169 \t»i)araKUS — makniK' bedn, 2H5 : in Franco, 424; culture, 440; forcini^', 482 Asplcnfnm inouantbemum prolifc- rum, 356 AflBociation for Advancement of Soir.nee, 216 Aubrietia Kra:ca variepata, propafiat- iag. 135 Ancuna japonten— pollen preHervinfj, 2'23 : potiinir. aOO ; its h;irdine«B, 484 Auirust, plants tbnvennn in, 173 Aviary, bnnimK' cnkf in, ;tiil Axe. how to hanu'an, :iM) ATialeas—after blooniinc, 13. It.'; pot- lini;, 67 : loavoa brounintr, placinK oat of doors, 14r> ; tbripti on, 181 ; leaves browno. Hoddin;* pliiDtrt, propnualjon and ma- J^ liiiKruirn', .')il. 144. 160; jrnuno for. M^ I'l : pitB fur, 161; yellow, 173; ^vinlor• i2 inc,Sl7 Beddniu'-ont early, its reRoUe, £91 Bedfebnry, 269 BeoB— Payne's hive improved, honey hnrvftst In SomersetBhirc, Litniriana in Jersey, queen's pscursions, 17 ; rtesertlnR their hives, driving, Ifl ; makinc an artificial swarm. d«- sertiun a unicomh hive, swarms iinltintf, 85; time of cjucm'H brced- inft, does scarcity of honey in the ppriuR induce swuiinlni?, conse- quences of selling foul brood, 38; IntnidinK, M ; invention of the bar- nnd-frame hive, doings in BuckinR- hamshire, uniting weak stockH. pre- wervinK spare conibp, W; Major .^Iunn's hive, honey liarveht, cnter- inif supers, 70; vugariew of. in I'erth- Hhire, foul brood or chilled brood? 71 ; in decayed hive, Payne's hive, lemovinfT to a. distance, 7i; rais* ini; LiRiirinn queens, massacre of drones, 90 ; eonseqiiences of »ellinii foul brood, xmitin;? swarnis, yenr'a honey hiiivest, a qiinsi-{|ueen, 91; lioncv liarvest. (iah's hive, W'i, 24*?, 4:tfi : "nenr Biiniin-jham, slock not H-varnied, 1*2; 8^\arnI dtsertinsf its hive, 100; queens of the ciinent. j year leudinj; oil" swarms, appropri- ] atinj; impressed wax. supers, 110: Htrenj-'tlM-uinf: a weak stock, pro- | tfctiiii: hives, limit in!T drone-pro- dnetinn, l'i!>: loris of queens, honey I discoloured, Invinif a stock esta- blished in a roof, consequences of Bollinff foul brood, ehanpnc tloor- hoards, 130 ; in a soda cask, Lifrurians al Blackheath, "black," queen de- crensinn in size, fefdin-; a stray swarm. 148; protect inp hives, flowers lor, 167 ; drine with a whito head, hives tenantL'Ss, uniting stocks, ro- movinj: supers, bumble, 168: Likni- rianihinsr an apiary, iss, 207; cheap queens, lf*s : what will happen? re- medy for stinr. 'i07 ; uot^s of expe- rience. 20S ; stocks of drivn, hive- protector, jndfrinp snpers of honey, iioney dificolourtd, 227 ; flowers fur, 228 ; awardinp prizes for honey in supers, apiarian notes, 247 : a late swarm ; commencing kocp- inff ; deserted hive. 268; drone- b eeding queen : excluding; f r'>m supers, 288 ; feedintr, in South I^an- eashire. fonl brood, eollateral hive, 821; past seasons, humble in Aus- tralia, UOj ; drivinc, feeding. 806; pollen or flour? deserting hives, brood undeveloiied, shifting hives, nwarding prizes for honey, flat ob- servatory hives, leedine. 342; ex- clndine queeen from super, vir^n honey, .judaiu^f supers, ants in Jiousc, feedJBg, not takirg food, 860; Mack queen and Lipnrian dionoa, awflrdintr prizes for honey, in Cheshire, yellow ])ollen. 378; Bupplyinpt wax. effects of vibration, Liffurian in Jersey, pollen or tlonr. mijmonetto for, consumption of honey, protectintr. S'.'G: reviving?, utilitv of artificial swnrma, 415; in Lanarkshire, 416; Fifeshire, 43:.; remo\-inc, 436: clerical Sunday ad- venture, midland counties honey harvest, 453; renin\nnp, Golding's Grecian hive, 454 ; in Nonh Lincoln- shire, protectinc, 471; in Scotland in 1H67, E^ryption, 433 ; hives, ma- hoRtmy, 4!>i Beet— leaves insect-entcn, 61: Sea- kale, uses of, 124 : Bed, as an oma- in( ntal plant, 420 Beixunia — boh\'ienpiH. 140; Veiteliii, 21N1 : wiiiterini?. 320; PrcstoniensiB for bedding, 368 ; Clarkei, 369 ; rose- flora. 461 Berberry hedge, 46fi Beverley Poultry Exhibition, 15 Bideford Poultry Sliow, 164^ Biennials define-!, 162 Bird ca^es, mites in, 36 Birds, to prevent destroying fruit tree bads, 483 Birmingham Rose Show, 23; Pooltrv Show. 374. 430, 452; Summer, 469; schedule, 802 ; sales, 321 : auction at, 412 ; Colunibarian Society's Show, 413 Bingley Ponltrj- Show, 1R6 Black Currant bushes nijfruitfal,51 Blandlordia croeea potiinir, ;156 Blind, tree« for, IW Bone dust as a manure, 2^ Bi>ok worm, 860 Border, plants for north, 429 Botanic (Koval) Society'B Shows, 7,23 ; in lft6H, 462 Botanic garden, first In England. 483 B»iugainvillft-a — wpectabilis culture, 856 : a gi(.'untic, 401 Bouquets— wedding, 106; plants for, 42U Boussingaultia baselloides. 467 Bowood, an afternoon at, 345, 364 Box edgmg, planting, 4M Boxes fur exhibiting cut flowers. 161 Brahmas— T'cr«uii crosfi-bred Brobmas, 286; phininge, 87h; and Dorkings, cross between, 416: cock, food lor; weak legged, 454; Light. 469; pln- mnge, dark cock, bouse for, 474 Bramble, variegated. 105 BrighoUKe Poultry Show. 206 iJriglitnn Poultry Exiiibition, 16; Ca- narv Show, H.'.O Brinbane Br>tanic Garden, 82 Bristol and ClilLou Poultry Show,2«fl, :i2i. •••-,:,, -.-.'M, m Broceoli — t'omibh, 13S ; protecting 40H, 111 Broodiness, overcoming, 8(W Br>anstone Park, 7!) Buckwheat iiw food for poultry, W Biide poultry Show. 70 Buff Cochins atBury, 110 Bolbs, 223 : potting. 201 : planting in borders. 801 : planting in beds, 319; leaving in the ground. 373; Dutch. 423 Bullmiis roots, storing. 389 Bullfm.h featherlesM. 248 Burnlcv Puultry Sliow, 147 Bury St. Edmunds, guide to, 13: Show, " Journal of HortieuUure" prizes. 6. HO; and Variegated Peiar- goniums at, 6 Buttcs-Cliauiuont, ?.^ CiBBir.ES. ri-fn iv, 14* ; niiTHi:, 240; new sprouting, 406; and Cole- worts, idanting. 407 ; Winnigstadt, 480 Cacti, how to grow tliem. " (.'ages, destroying insects in. 306 Caladiums-wintering, 340; in warm greenliuuse.Srie C.'iIceolariaH- failure of. 113, 156. 173, 182; euttings, 161, 300, 317: cultnre, 1S9, 235. 271, 2iM; wintering, 221; diseased. '.!'J2; shrubby from peed. 284 ; pisacomensis. 461 Camellias— unheiUihv, 67. 161 ; placing out of doors, 14.S: bnds falling, 339; grafting. 411 : Coutessa Luvinia Maggi rosea, 461 Camphor fur chickens' Tonntikin, IS Canaries— not singing, leu's cramped, 168: management, no6 ; hardiness of. 895; blind, 360; moi-tality nmon^, 416 Canker worm and other grubs, 253 Canna indica out of dg up, 26.'I ; fur exhibition, POl ; earthing-up. 316. 371 Centaurea candidissima, propagatini?, 873 Ceru^itium -- tomentonnm, propagat- ing, 115: cnltint,'s.20I Cestnim elegans. 140 Cheiranthns Marshulli, 355 Chelmsford Poultry Show, 304, 323 Cherry-tree lifting, 319 Chester Poultry Show, 245 Chrkens. beueflt to of change of food and water, 52 ; what are ? 448 ; drooping, 248 ; beat times for rear- ing, 841 Chilwell Kurseries. 832, 985 Chippenham Poultry bbow, 433 Chitteprats. 241 Cbristmas Roec propagallon, 3« ChristmaB, a few words eniUble icr tbiH, 475 ChrysanthemnmB— cnttiD(r«, 145, 4W; wintering, 389; iryringing. 373; Sal- ter's, Forsyth's, at Stoke NcwingtoD and Temple, 884, 887; nnder nortb wall, 891 ; Ralt€r'e JapimcKe, 419, 47H; leaves withering. 4i7 ; notes en, 439 Cinerarias, seed sowing, 87 ; for ao tnmii blooming, IKJ Cleaning in gardens, 854 Clematitt.H. 449: (or a greenhons«. 243: for July flowering, 'J39 ; propa^ gation. 411 Cleveland Poultry Show, 108 Climbers— for an arcade, 'i43 ; with or- namental foliage, 839; conscrvaior\ , 411 Clover, sowing \VliJte, 356 ('Inb-root. 176 Cochm-Chinas— f^nnaraon and Bn£. 393; forexhibitioD, 378; pullete taii- lesH, 451 Cockerel lame, 860 Cockscomb dann)ing. 125 Cielogyiie bumilis, 369 Cola\ jugosns, 200 Coleus— wintering, IMS; for table o*.cr- ration, 12I : VorsehafTelti cnlt'irt . 460; dampini; on, mannorato, 466 Colours, varying arrongfrment in flower gardens. i)68 Colunibarian (City) Soci. ty, 183 : North British Society, 2(5 *"ompoBts for varions plants, 390 Conilera'. manaKcnii-nt of hardy, .tSS Conoriiniom iantbinnm culture, 61 CouHervatory- heating a smaJJ. 311, 125 : unique iron, 62: d'tined, 145; ever- greens for roof, l62, 374, 411 Coping-hoards for walls, 243 C«rdonn— spiral, training, ?3, 160; low. 437 Cordyline indivisa damping off, 145 Corn <'ockte, poisonons to birds, 167 Cornish mystic bars, 175,213 Cornwall, lungnajre and cUmat« of, IK Correa— propagating, WO ; cardinoli*' cultnre, 484 Cottage - gardens — societies, 117; prizes fur, 135; Carthorpe, 477; »n autumn, 201 Cotswold Hill;*, trees, Ac., for, 3*^ I Cottingham Poultry Show, aotl Covcnt ibed fur, 419; fur winter and soiumer. 449 Cnmberland Poultry Show prizes, 415 Cuprcssns, Lawsoniana, Iranafilant- Ing. 250 ; maeroearpa. 458 CnrrantB— list. 87 ; cultnre of late. 96?. : pruning. 874 ; trees, pruning, 42rt Cuthill. Mr. J..S69 Cuttings -time for taking. 39; makinc and managing. 160 ; sea sand for, 182 : of fruit trec«». 467 CyanophvUum magniflcuni projin- gatioD,161 Cyclamen persionm, management of seedlings, li*j , Cymbidium Iluttoui.sa ***'■ C^tisnees— in a room, 874 ; propa ting, 840 Dahliar — pjEnrniTioK twelve pele«1.301 Damson trees unfruitful, 450 Dandelions on la'wn, 67 Daphne propagation, 411 Daubeny, death of Dr., ieii Davaliia canarieusis, dividin^^ H7 Dendrobium— BensoniiE, 461: Buller- ianum.HO; den8iflorum,403: nobile culture, 856 ; pulchellum culture, 467 Deodoriaation by dry earth, 9 Dewabury Poultry Show, 107 ; Trum- peter Piffeonti at, 130 Dianthuaes, i94 Dicksonia antarctica culture, 320 Dictamnus fraxinella albus, 51 Dish of Apples, what is a? 319 Dolly Pentreatli'a epitaph, 194 Dorkinf; Poultry Show, 472 Dorkings— cockerGl'G comb crooked, 37.S; Gr-pt, Viceroy of, 335 Elder — trees, pruning, 182; and its uses, 237 ; hemes and poultry, 374 Endive — wiutcriug, 316 ; blanching, 339 Entomological Society's Meetings, 47, 402, 424, 462 Entomological cabinet, to avoid mites in. 391 Epid^ndram Cooperlanum, 27 : cne- midophorum, 140: BrasavoliP. 200 Epimedium alpinuni, vm-. rubriun, 297 Erodium macradenimn, 200 Erythrina crista-galli culture, 411 Eston and Normanby Poultry Show. 147 Evergreens— for a porch, 51 ; Conifers, &c., plautiu'^. 183; in pots for bod- ding, 239; for beds, 390 Eucharis amazonica culture, 60 Eugenia ugni, propagating, 339 Exhibited fowls injured, 412 Exhibition stands lor flowers, 31 Exhibitions — jottiags at some, 38; pnzes at, 124 Farm, TROUBLES er a kew, 436 " Fai-myard Poultry." 323 Famworth Poultry Show, 217 Feathers quill-bound, 324 Feraery, climbers for, 204 Ferns- in glass cases, 81 ; lor a glazed porch, 51 ; infested by scale, 28* ; infested bv thrips, 284, itVIt ; pro- liferous, 276, 284, 315, 350, 405, 460 ; moveable house for, 234 : m War- dian case, 3i^5 ; in greenhouse, 856; packing for importation, 411 Figs— White Marseilles and De la Ma- deleine, 212 ; on standards, 2G5 ; ripun- iag, SOI: removing fruit, 391 Filberts not beuring, 301 Finehley Horticultural Society, 25fl Findlay, testimonial to Mr. B., 77 Fine-foliaged plants for flower-atand. 356 Fines for neglect, 407 Fire management. 46ti Finn, the Long. 277 Fish, Mr. D. T.. ackuowledgmont to by Royal Horticultural Society, 47 Fleas in poultry-houses, 54 Fltche fowls, 145 Florists' flowers defined, 467 Flower gardeni— spring-planting a town, 106: plan. 177; planting, 339 Flower gardening, w^inter and spring, Flower-pots, sizes explained, 242 Flowers— sweet-scented, 111; in Ame- rica, 260; some hardy, 382; to pre- serve cut, 396 Flies— traps for,202 : destroying white, 856 Forcing shrubs. Ac, 372 Fowler's insecticide, 3S2 Fowls— d>-ing suddenly, 110; cooked meat for, 130 ; times for feeding, crossme. IGS; for early and late laying, 3iXi ; food requirpd for, 392: exhibited injured, a94, 435 ; sendin" to exhibition, 396; profitable age, 416 : preparing for exhibition, 436 Frames, covering for, 302 French polish, 36 French breeds of fowls, 236 French fo\.ld, 236; choice of, ulcers in, 92 French Plums, 92 ■ ' ■ French and Eoglish gardening, 383, 421,443,453 Frogs in a tank, 167, 483 Frost affected by altitude, 275 Fruit— thinning, 21 ; growing,86 ; fla- vour of, 107 ; how I educated my taste for, 19'J; storing-room, 390, 48l': estimate of sizes, 4i)0: stoneless, 483 ; trees, for clay si>il, 86 ; summer- pnining and pinching, 123; cover- ing, 1S2 : time of transplanting, 192 ; traiucd near the gi'ound, 275; on wooden palings, 284 ; for North Durham, 302: crossing, results in 1867,307; in pots, 353, 371 ; for walla. 356.390; for S.E. aspect, 373; training slopinglv, 417 Fuchsias— winteiiiig, 302, 339, 340, 357 ; Dommiana, 443 Fumigating a vinery, 30 Game fowt.s. 14 : breeding, SI, 88 : shape of the cock, 33 : shape of the hen, 51; defects in shape, 52 ; weight at shows, CS: white wing feathers in Brown Red, 130 ; prepiiring for exhibition, 268: hen diaordered. 288; cross between Dnckwing and Black Red, 396: judging, 418; Indian, 416; judging by col»ur, 452, 4S-4 ; cock mu- tilated, 4li9 Game, trees, Ac. injured by, 444 " Game and OmamcntallBird Manage- ment," 22-3 Garden, re-arranging, 339 Gardeners' Koyal Benevolent Institu- tion anniversary, 8, 481 Gardeners — arc they amateurs ? 265; examinations, 855, 462 ; removal ex- penses, 465 Gardening. French nnd English, 190 Garrya elliptica fruiting, 315 Gas, heating bv,277, 419 Gaultheria Shallon, 423 Geese— time for selling, 306; feeding the London market, for 492 " Geology. Page's Text Books, ' 403 Geraniums or Pelargoniums, 391 Gesuera zebrina resting. 429 Ghent, International Horticultural Exhibition at. 27 Gitiaachillea-folia, rd Gishurst compound, 403 ; syringing Grapes with, 5 Gladiolus — iu pots, treatment after blooming,125; select, 234; Souchet's, 309; at home and abroad, 379; cul- ture in heavy soil, 414 Glass— walls, 39, 172 ; writing on, 441 ; for gardening jiui'poses, 455 Glazed structure, uses nf, 356 Gloxinias— hypocyrtiflora, 27 ; winter- ing, 125 Goa£ moth and its caterpillar 318 Gold fish, 324 Gooseben-ies— list, 87 : Show at North- wich, 96; tree prunintr, S74, 429; list oi heaviest, 427 : cuttings, 450 Grapes— Muscats diseased, 31 ; judg- ing, 37. 56. 75, 97, 139, 149, 234, 250, 291, 444; admitting front air to, 50; dis- eased, 67; spot on, 87,124; spotted and shrivelled, 144 ; rusting, 176 ; diseased, 182; mildew on, 199; cracking. 203. 221 : the R«v. H. Cot- tingham's, 216; not colouring, 242; Chasselas varieties, 155; Muscats shanking, 242; Bicane or Chasselas Napoleon, 344 ; Chasselas Napoleon, 273. 818, 330. 344 ; Eseholata. 2S5 ; Olivette Noire, 813: keeping, 820; in orchard-house, 339 ; various, 878; spotting and cracking, 428; preserv- ing, 449 ; rotting, 465 ■ Grape Vine, Practical Treatise on," 78 Grass— on heavy soil, 30 ; land mosey, 285; field, manure for, 242; edging failing, 356 " Grasses, British," 9 Grasses, list of ornamental, 411 Gravel wiilks, munturemcnt, ISO Green food for fowls, 36 Green fly, 119 Gi'een Gage unfruitful, 243 Greenhouse,heatiug from a kitrhener, 13: glass for, 124; defined, 145; centre bed in, 222; erecting, 222; eonsti-ucting lean-to, 265, 285 ; doub- ling its width, 301 ; evaporation- trou"h for, 301; tender plants in, 410; heating a small, 449; plants lor exhibition, 467 Griffinia Blumenavia, 200 Growth, promoting rapid, 306 Guano lor liedding plants, 51 Gueldre fowl, 248 Gueldres Rose ben-ies, 320 Guildford Poultry Sliow, 453, 470 Guinea fowls, rearing, 72 Guiseley Poultry Show. 160 G>-mnostachyum VerschalTelti cu4- ture, 356 Habrothamnus, eleganp,140: train- ixn, 182 Hackle, fowls', defined, 494 Hiiiifax Poultry Show, 184 Hnmbm-ghB,— cock's ta^I notched. • Golden - pencilled pullets, 36 ; deaf ear streaked, 168 ; pullets losing their tails, 416 ; plumage and comb of SUver-spangled cock, 416, 474 Hamburgh Pigeon Show, 167 Hampshire Oj-nithological Associa- tion, 377. 394 Harvey. Dr. "W. H.. 80 Hashugden Poultry hhow, 90 Hastings and St. Leonard's Poultry SJiow, 128 ; treatment uf a bird at, 168 Hatching, snceessful, 70 Hawk, securing, 248 Hay, two crops annually. 67 Hays's patent stove, 319; peat char- coal, 3^2 " Hearths and Homesteads." 2.'.7 Heaths-notes on, 216 ; lor August and November, 428 Heat-retaining compound, Spence'a, Kitchen garden, size for four persons, fence for, 242 ; forming, 4'2-t Heating two houses with one boiler, I7S; Jrom one fii-e, 373; from a kitchen boilei-, 484 Hedge, quick-growing shrub for, H-'lichrysums, drying, 143 \ Hous— with swelling, 130: an indus- trious. 145; obstinately broody, 267 ; with male habits, 324; deluding broody, 357 Herbaceous plants, descriptive list, 4, 40 Hereford Rose Show, 45 Hessle Poultry Show, 146 Hewitt, Mr. E., testimonial to, 162, 183.204.223, ^44,250 Hibiscus esculentus, 37:! Highland and Agricultural Society's Poultry Show, 103 Hippeastrum pardinum, 297 Holly hedge, cutting down, 319 Hollyhock— propagation and culture, 19 ; seed sowing, 223 ; wintering and propagating, 429 Holmesdale's Lady, poultry, 223, 377; sale, 412 Honeydew 124 Honeysuckle, insects on, 411 Hoof-pariugs for manure, 204 Honiets, 205 Horseradish— cultivation, 343; eradi- cating. 391 Horticultural (Royal) Society's Shows, 6; Committees, 7, 22, 98. 115, 137. 155, 174, 214, 255, 293, 347, 423 ; Burv Show, 42, 53, &4, 79, 369 ; "Journal of Horti- culture" prizes, 47; conversazione, 43: Sultan's visit, 64 ; results of ex- amination. 83 ! Variegated Pelargo- nium Show, 214; examination, 281; General Meeting, Country Meeting In 1868, 424; gardeners' ex.-imination, 445; Shows in 1868, 462 Horticultural Shows, prolonged, 236, 255,346; village, 203 Horticultural Societies meetings in July, 10; August, 83; September, 158; list of country, 64 Hotbeds, making, 212 Hothouse, heating a small, 102 Hot-water— apparatus, cleaning, 204; cistern, 355 Houdans, 33, 183; cock lame, 72; at c:ihibitions, 126, 146 ; suffering from a cold, 130 ; value of as a breed, 145 ; legs, 248: claws, 268: colour and characteristics ot, 324; pullet's comb, 396 : cross-breedingwitli, 436 Hyacinths— Prince Albert Victor, 200 ; in pots. 264 Hyde Park gardening, 253 Labels- FOR "Wakdian Case, '374 tree, 434 Laehenalia quadricolor culture, 76 Liehn majalis,297 Land's End, about the, 112, 132. 170 Larkspur— culture if Siberian, 284 double purple, 340 Lastrea rigida and dilatata, 87 Laurel bedge, cutting down, 161 Lavender for distillation, 242 La\vn— brown in simimer, 5J ; weeds on, 105, 161 ; removing moss from, 391 ; Daisies on, 466 Laying in winter, inducing, 72 Leaves— collecting, 3S6 ; iind grass for ' bottom lieat, 837; di-ying and pre- serving, 873 Leeches in a garden, 355 Leeds Poultry Show, 471 Leicester Poultry Show, 103 Leigh Poultry Show. 226 Lettuce— varieties of, 156; in winter, 3s:l ' Lice on fowls, 288 Lichfield Poultry Show, 226 Lilies, Belladonna and Guemacy, after flowering, 223 Lilium— Ruratum and giganteuro cul- ture. 266: giganteum otTsets, 67; lancifolium, 173 ; hardy, 124 ; lanci- fohum roseum potting, 374: longi- florum, hardiness of, 125; auratum bulbs decaying, 355 : Leichtlinii, 369 ; monadelphum, 4G7 Lilliesden,238 Lily of the Valley beds, thinning, 391 Limerick Poultry Show, 191 Linum flavtim, 204 Lithospermum fruticosum, propagat- ing, lor. Liverpool HorticuUuval Society, 402 Llimberis and its Ferns, 154 Loam defined. 145 Lobelia— ama^'ua and speciosa Lind- leyana, 33; compact plants of, 87; wintering St. Clair, 221 ; speciosa, hardiness of, 265 : cardinalis culture, 234; Little Gem. 329 Long Sutton Poultry Show. SOS Longtown Poultry Show, 490 Lycupudium denticulatum, 234 Ice — KEEPING THROUGH THE SUM- MER, 311, 347; storing, 406; collect- ing, 463 Illinois gardening, 274' Incubators— regulator, .'')4; rival, 33 Indian-rubber plant, propagating, 320 Insects, destroying, 457 Ipoma;a GeiTardi, 27 Ipswich Poultry Show, 106, 358 Iresine Herbstii — propagating, 223; wintering and propagating, 243 Ivy— training, 320; berries, sowing in a wall, 356 ; preserves walls, 373 J^ SMINE FL0WERI.ESS, 87 Jersey, notes in, 331 Jerusalem Artichokes, 240 July, plants in fiower iu. 96 June, flowers blooming in, B9 Keighlet Poultry Show, 164 Kendal Poultry Show prizes. 415 Kidlington Poultry Show, 2'jd Madagascar, legumes frosi, 411 Madder — culture, 390; growing in Assam, 478 Magnolia tripetala, 339 Maiilen trees defined. 465 Malt dust as poultry food, 454 Manchester Horticultural Exliibition, 175 ; implements at, 8 Manchester and Liverpool centenary Poultry Exliibition, 69, 109, 163, 187 Manchester Poultry Show, 183 Master and gardener, 197 Mathiola tristis, 302 McNeill, death ot Mr., 424 j Mealy bugs on Grapes nearly ripe, 8G Mfdhir leaves diseased, 50 I Mc-igle Poultry Show, 166 I Melbourne Botanic Gardens, 48 Melons— not setting, 14: culture, 66 spotting, 86; leaves curling. 161; growing without artificial heat, 194 ; seed, 320: for exhibition, 4 19 Mespilus, Snowy, as an ornamental tree, 133 : its fruit as a preserve, 137 Methylated spirit, how to use, 301 Middleton Poultry Show, 52,244 Mignonette in pots and as trees, 456 Milk-cooler and butter-preserver, 110 Mimosa budding, 356 Mistletoe, 476 Morley Poultry Show, 24C 3Ioss, prr^orving, 411 ilottrain Poultry Show, 1G5 Mulberry propagation, 411 Musa Cavendishii fniit damping, 411 Mushi-ooms — making beds in Sep- tember, 50 ; culture, 85, 432 ; growing in a cellar, 105 : watering bed with boiling water, 182; suit for beds, 319; making beds, 355,391; manure for. 411 Slussienda frondosa culture. 823 lilyoporum purvilolium culture, 161 Myrtle diseased, 221 Nails -TWO os one claw, 130; for training, 427 Nectarines - cracking, 124, 209 : shrivel- ling, 203, 242: trees, pruning, 265; iu pots, winter treatment, 290 Newport Poultry Show, 490 Nierembergias, 116; rivularis,33 Non-pa^-ment for poultry, 14S Northallerton Poultry Show, 287 North British Columbarian Society's Show, 473, 492 Northern Poultry- Club prizes, 395 North^ncli Gooseberry Show, 96 November, plants blooming in. 441 Novembers and Junes, meteorology of. Sou Nuneham Park, 291, S13, 351, 404 iijiicx. Nul IrcoB.plttii'iut.'. t ^CI OiKlUM roiiLTKY Show, 434 Octobor.pluiils liloomcil in, IMH Oil as an iiiBectiL-idi", al5 Okcford FiUimine. 3 OloaiiikT Ho\ver-l.uila (allinR, 302 . lOnciiliuni Liuicimnum and leucoclii- lum culture. itJ7 Onions — BowiiiK. 12'-; transpIunlinK Tripoli, 4IU „, . . ^,„ OranKes, horac-Krowu TiinKiermc. «o Orchard-lioun<», 2'>" : Bpiral cordons in, Hill use of li.irilcr, 'JM ; cxpcn- ince. 233: <-ultiir..'i!l, 303; 'reus in polB, TtV, '.IW ; mauaKeinent, 238, 3'-9 : wintcrini: trees, unslnltcryd, 3.17 ; deviations in culture, 33i ; closniu' early, 3W ; trees, tep-dreBsmg, 834; arrannement of, 391 " OrcJiard-UouBe, The," ICl ; angle o' roof, 105 , ^ ^ Orchard, standard trees for, 392 Orchids tor a t;rcenliouse, 801 Ormskirk and boulhporf Poultry Show, 12S „ . . 0rnithufjalamlli>i'80ule8aluuin, treat- ment after llowcrinR, 50 Oswestry Poultry Show, 237 OuUon Park, 152 Owls, food ror, IK) Oxalis comiculata rubra culture, 07 PKLARCONltJMS— f.'oa^t'ii"''^ C.ol- Paint, Db. de Brioi:'s, 199 Painting; garden structures, 172 Pampas Grass, propagating 374 ; trans- planting, 434 PandanuBcs. propaKating, oM Pansios- select list ot,S(i; Iransplant- ing, 265; from seed, 302 , Paris Universal Exhibition, 309; in- jured, 432 : report on dried and pre- served fruits and vegetables, 99 Paris — HuttcB-Chauiiiont, 367; gar- dens, notes on some, 401, 445 Parochial harvest festivals and liorU- cultural shows, 55 Parrot plucking itself, 30 Passiflora flowers not sotting, lb- Paul, Mr. Cleorgo, 48 Paulownia impcrialis transplanting, 181 Peaches— trees on a wooden lenei-, 30, S7; unnailing, 80: leafless, 201; and Nectarine scodlinga, 210 ; house for, 222 : pruning, 265 : border lor, 284 ; season ot 1867. 807 ; unhealthy 320, 339: easting their fruit, 3j8; on walls, 406; protecting. 467 ; grult- ing. 484; temperature for after stoning, 61 ; Prunus padus as a stock for, 182: and Nectarines on same shoot, 136 : glazing over, 242 ; winter treatment, in pots, 290: mon- strous, soil; stones splitting, 420; French, 423: out of doors, 489 in r'rance, 444 : red spider on, 449 Pea-comb defined, 223 Peafowls. Japanese, 416 i'ears- unfertile blossoms on dwarf, trees, 77; forcing in pots, 7b: insect ^ on leaves, 8C; onl^uiuce stock crack- . ing, 173.181: scale on, 182, 196,427; unfruitful, 221, 301 ; cause of crack- ing, 269 : leaves eaten, 284 ; for stan- dards, 801 ; largo, 316 ; lor, autumn, 355; repotting, 855; pruning, 874; for espaliers. 390 : influence ot stock over the graft, 399 : weight ot, 4(,0 ; ■ Irtlning, 428 ; rotting at the core, . 419: in Uaddingtonshirc, 477; ' 'Br>)wn Bourrc. gathering 181: • : Chanmontel, large. 310 ; Duchesse d'AngonlL>me, large, 401; Iluyshe s • ■ Victoria. 369 ; llivers' Summer Beurrc d'Aremberf, 815; Vioaj of Winkfield, spot on leaves, 124 Peas - earlv, sown in August, 14 ; re- I ' port on new, 24 : late crops, 28; for ■ maiket, 67 ; now, 99 ; for succession, 175. 411 : ■• Improved No. 1." 136 ; • ■ Pe.-iroe'8 Gardener's Delight, 133; Taber'a Earlv Perfection, 25, 116, • 152: Veitch's Perfection, 175 ■Pelargoniums —Variegated, at Bury Show, 6, 20. 80 : classification of, 20 ; '; for bedding, 38; proposed exhibition 'of Variegate.l Zonal, C3; 'Wills's Bronze Zonal, 86: wintenng in a cellar, 87 : Scarlet^ not flowering, Mrs. Pollock tui-ninjt green, 105 ; (Irving. 106 ; propagating and wmter- ing, 125 ; for bedaing, 1.55 : show of Variegated Zonal, 153: boxes torcut- ttings. 160. 161 ; show ot. 193, 203 ; wintering bedding. 204 : show of Zo- nal, 214 ; white, 222 ; bedding, 233 ; Zonal Queen of Uoses, 237 : Zonal for bedding. 843: taking up, 248; Luna, 347: propagating Mrs. Pol- lock. 818,399: Miss Watson. 351. 363: potting cuttings, 356 : wintering bed- ding. 862; bedding. 365; stopping seedlings, 873: cutting down scarlet, 874 : Bronze and Gold, 398 ; list ot Variegated and Zonal, 2.';3 ; Luna, wintenng scarlet. 265; (luali- ties of beddiug, 270; porpagutmg Mrs, Pollock, 275; stealing a t;L.XKOO.-.ilJ JIO LI,,,......,,.. branch ot, 277: propagatmB Go den Chain, 277, 311; tor bedding i, rich shaded soil, 2K5; wiateriu„ Zonal and other, 292. 302: Aiiiy Hogg,297 ; White Z.>nal,3lo : cutting down laie, 319 ; eultinas of budding, 320; sport of nurulng Bush, 820; selection of bedding, 320 ; iiualitlcs of bedding, 331: propagating Mrs. Pollock,335: grafting Mrs. loll'":;. 339, 460; propaKatlng, 419, 441, 4iJ, 484; cuttuigs, 420. 429; dissolved bones for, 429; inlluonco of parents, 457 Pens, exhibition, 288 Pentstemou stems, cutting, 449 Perennials defined, 162 Periwinkle uuvai-iegated, 221 Peterborough Poultry Show, 83 Pheasants -food for young. 72: eating their teathcie, 228,248; Golden, plu- mage fading, 324 : Kalege, 410 Philoperisteron Society, 821 Pigeons-diseased, 18, 284 : notes on Fancy, Ks ; canker in, 110 ; Trnm- petor, at Bewsbury Show, 180; at Hamburg, 167; diarrhtra in, lUs- eased, 108; food for, 228; scour in, 288; management of, 301; prevent- ing flight, 377 ; Fantails and Ttum- pelers,'878 ; trespassing, 430 Pigs, food for, 890 Pigstve, flooring, 54 Pihielea culture, 87 Pine Apple leaves brown, 80 Pinctuui. labels for, 484 Pinks-mule, 234 : Star, 87. Piping, extent a boiler will heat, 86 Pit-uses ot cold in winter, 1: alter cuttings, 14 : for bediliiig plants, 161 : constructing a protective. 301 ; lor wintering plants, 338; heatuig,3i3, 400 . ... Plant-case for wintenng bedding plants, 802 , „, Plant-house arrangements, 31 Planting, 299 Plants, two in one pot, 405 _ Platvcerium alcicorne, reuioving Ueatt fronds, 3.50 , „„. Plumage allecled by food, 301) Plumbago capensis pruning, •. 1 Plums-Coe's Golden Drop. .10; se- lect, 280; French, 232; up.us on. b7 : gnmming, 181 ; , trees nn- healthy, 320; unfruitful, 351; prun- ing newly phuited, 484 Plunging material, 374 Poa trivialis avgcntca elcgans, - Poison, anopbthegni about, 222 Polands, white crest of Black, 283 Polomoniuni caruleum vanegatum, •b Polypodium infested by thnps, 373 Polystichum lonchitis, 215 Pomological Congress ot France, 83, 230 Pond making, 406 Pooley's gi-ound tobacco, 192 Potatoes- experiments on, 20, 2», 4j , noies on, 57 ; planting m August, 84 1, „(, . ™».^.n'»,« Onl'lV in (.Om KkBmTa—Conlimud. 300 ; weight ot prize, 300 ; largest breed of. 878: fattening, 416; ex- cluding, 465; tor weight and profit, 474; shiuhs untouched by, 480 Radishes, sowing. 122 Railway charges for poultry, 374 •• lialn-Uow. When, and Why It is measured,'' 481 liuspiicrries-llsl, 87; pmning, ai8; eullure of late, 308 ; planting canes, HT, culture, 449; training, 4!.0; double-bearing, 479 Uuspbeiry vinegar, 72 llatB,2U8: ilrivmg away, 14S: exclud- in" 390: defending from, 407 Red" spiifer, reinedloB for, IIH ; on Vines, 105 : destroying, '203; in or- chard-house, '^21 Refrigerator, 110 Khododendvons — not flowerinff, I4j,, cutting down, 182, 2-23; Edgwor hi culture, 391 ; for cover planting, 850 , list ot, 411 ..... , lihubarb-ncwgigantic, eultnre, «ooli• erv,25: forcing, 411, 482 Khy'uchospermuui jasminoldes after flowering, SO Road and w alk making, 241 Rocket, double yellow. 222 : culture of the double, 95; double white; 151 Rondelctia Purdiei, '297 Roofs, training fruit trees on, 07 Koot-pruning, 128, 231, 309; tune for, Rosl-cuttings, 18 : the first 'Westeni Show, 45 : caterpillars on leaves, 50 . aphides on, 51; Hybrid Perpetunls a misnomer, 60; an ancient tree, 01 ; potting, planting on Manetli stock, Climbing Uevoniensis not flowering. noECS on, y, , i,t.u..,..,> ". r- ;• ' disease, 90 ; grownng early in Corn- wall, 138; culture, 153: the lUsease, 159; Carter's Ash-top Fluke, 102; storing 212. 292 ; diseosed, ■ 222: judging exhibited, 263 ;' early- and late, 302 : results of late planting, 846; storing seed, 410; obtaining early, 449 ; forcing, 482 Pot-pourri, 228 ,- -o. Poultry— exhibitions clashing. !.•>, oi. in h'mitcd space, 30; house good and cheap, 32 ; buckwheat as food, flooring a house for, 51; breeding, extensive, in small enclostnre, 72; produce. 100, 1'20, 117, •205; ^keep- ing profltablv, 110: French breeds ot, 145: over-supply of, 228; vexa- tions, 243 : injuring cxiiibited, 2Ci : cleaning for exhibition, '268 ; keeping extensively, 267 ; killing, 821; Jiee on 321: detieicnt time for jodging, 310: lecding, 800; food needed, 37s ; judging, 893, 429, 450, 407 : breeding powers, 436 ; in confined space, 4a4 ; distinguishing the sex of, 434 Poultrv-yard, My, 435, 486 I'roserves— insects in, 30 ; a new, 137 Primula intermedia eulture, 2'28: Chinese for Christmas, 406 Privet roeti in a border, 105 Prize for SIX plants in flower, 338 Protecting-a garden by trees, 891 : a flower garden facing N.. 392 : halt- hardy plants, 222 ; vegetables, 42a ; plants, 408.417,449, 404 Ptostantheranivea, 140 Pruaing-Bummer, 123,143; root, 123: trees and shrubs, 391 ; hardy fruit Prunus' padus as a stock for Peaches, 182; sinensis, polling, '223 Pump wells, new. '202 Pyrus scandica, 838 Rabbits — nESTKOVis'r. beddisg PL«NT8, 104: giowth of ears. 110, 1'29 : preserving Verbenas, Ac., from, 115, 264 : cars, 147, 118: management of long-eared, 207: Show. Kent and Suricv, 227; with diseased livers. i^iimuiiiK»^c,.j",v.....". .. -„-'.' 07 ; on light soil. 67 ; Show at Bne- Comte-Robcrt, 78 : Uevoniensis not flowering, 87 j list of superior, 8. : Manctti i'. Briar stocks, 37, 139, 157, 101 ; lor pegging down, 87 ; estimate of 90, 124, 134; leaves spotted, 105: on Manetti stocks, 114, 170, 222, 2'2'9, 219, 273, 289. 449: prun- ing Blairii No. 2, 125: .Marechal Niel,132,lo0, 230,891; Cloth of Gold not flowering, 144; transplanting, 145 date of new. 158; select, 174, 198, 320 : pmning Dcvoniensis. cut- tings, 162 : Marechal Kiel on Briar, 170 ■ for a greenhouse, 182 ; and their stocks, 189; Tea and Noisette, 190; cuttings, '204 ; for exhibition m Ire- land, 211; planting, '221: manage- ment in pots, '221 ; budding on Ma- netti, 222 : pruning, '243 ; on cold soil and site, 251 : summer cuttings, 252 ; notes on new, 259, 334 ; loaves dis- eased, '265: in Illinois, 274; lor trellis, 284; losing their leaves, 284 ; climbing. '285 ; manuring, 285 ; white, 285: twelve hardy, 801: planting a bed, 301 ; Celine Foreatier and Mdlle. Aristide, 308: lists of. 310: aplndes on, 320: wintering Mareelinl Niel. 320; culture, 329: depth of planting, 331, 840, 367. 400 : for S W. wall, hardy dark, climbing for N.E. wall, 838 ; green. 355: for walls, Sd5: stocks for, 355 ; catting back Moss, 350 ; culture of Marechal Nielin pots, 302 ; on their own roots, 363: forcing, 372 ; for orchard-house, 874 : stock for, 890 ; Gloire de Dijon on a wall, 391; high culture of, 410: Marechal Kiel and Celine Foresticr, protect- ing, 410: pruning, 410; stocks in pots, 410; seed sowing, 410; trans- planting early-budded, 411 : colours of, protecting Marechal Niel, cut- tings failing, pegging down, l'2b; new. 438: pruning when planting, 448; a plea lor Tea, 479; deep plant- ing, 4S0 Roupytowls, 4.54 Rudgea macrophylla, 27 . SiccoLiDnrM Hcttoni, 401 Salpiglossis for bedding, 182 Salvia-patens. 78; as a greenhouse plant, US: buds and leaves drop- ping, 145 : splendcns for the conser- vatory, 308 , . Saucers lor polled plants. 300 Sawdust as a manure. 08,96, 109; as an absorbent in ponltry-nouses, 109 Saxifragaligulata.443 „.„„.. Scale- plant, 331 ; destroying. S52, '263 , in'cvention. 351 : on plants, 40i Scarborough Lily, 339 " Science with Practice," 8-23 , Sca-kalc, 407: for early forcing, 285; forcing, 411, 483 ..,. Seeds, collecting, 219; nuanllties needed tor certain spaces, 277 Selaginellus, eulture of pyiiunidal, J3 , dehticulala, 281 _ September, plants in flower, 2j2 Sewage-Rev. H. Monlc's system, 281 ; and tan manure, 890 Shallots, planting, 3'20 . Shanks, 5Iessrs., at the Pans Exhi- bition. 424 , Shcflield K.abbit and Cinarj- Show. l"'.' „„.. Shrub, wliatisa?2ul Shrubs— list of hardy-flowering, 'M : untouched! by rabbits, 4S0 Silkworms— rearing in Kngtand, 4fi6, 454; species, and varieties, 4'J4; food for, 174 Skirworts, 483 Skvlark's beak too long. 906 Sloping banks, utility o.',49 S1iu:h und snails, destroying, ITO Smith's NurBoriefi, "WorecBtttrjlOl, 177 Smoke, consuming, 245 Soil, ilifiuellee of,'^52 Sollya lineariH, SCi Komersel Poultr^■ Show, 821.; prizes, :::ij, 414 Soot as uiannre for bnlbB, 429 Sorghum nankinensis, 3t>2 Sonthainpton Poultrj- and Bird Show, 377 Sowing in dry soil. SOI Spaluing Ponltrv Show, 3i, 52 Spanish fowls too fat. 72; chickens dving, 28«: and DorKing orosalng, 8'il:nen reatheTlefl9,4?t| ■ ,' Sparmannia afrieana, i-iH • " Species, distinct, 505 Splilcr, autumn, 281 ttpikes defined, 17.V ', Sjiinach -Australian, 8, 185,137'; sow- ing, 122 ■";' . Spirieas. mcritfl of, 21 Spring flower garUenlflf,'i!allnre for, Stanhopea tigrinn andocnlata, 115 Ste.hanolls fruit, 87 Stile, ft Somerflelsbiro, ^9 Slocks-inanagemonl of •Nishl-eeent ed, 30 ; Intermediate, 392, 4'27, 407 Stock's influence over fruit, 2.12; over graft, 440 Stockton-on-Tees Poultry Show, 89 Stoke Newington Chrysanthemum Show, 384 Stokesley Ponltry Show, 208 Stoning period, when? 415 Stove — heating a greenhouse, 819 : heating by a, 850, 3.55, 465 : smoke- less, 355 : for a conservatory, 373 Strawben-ies— forcing a second year, removing leaves, 13: edging for, '20; estimate of sorts. 30; planting. 28: notes about, 37, 50: on slopin;: Oan'ii, 67: some varieties and eulture, 70: planiing, hst, 87: for ri.arkel, 105; Ellon, 100; forcing, 125, 101. '222; eulture, 220, 4'20 ; dressing bed. '248 : cutting off leaves, 301 ; bono dust for, 302; top-dressing beds, 839: un- seasonable, 366 ; house, U3( s of, 450 : structure for forcing, 465; varieties for forcing, 467 Stringer ii Co.'s regenerator, 213 Sugar Cane, its history, 99 Sulphate ot ammonia, 242 Sulphur— fumigating with, HO; burn- ing, 4S3 Sutton J: Sons at the Pans Exhibition, 445 Swans, food for. 474 Sweet-scented flowers. 111 Swindling, 388 TaCSOXU VAX-VotJEMI CULTl'IlE, 07 Tails, crooked, 524 Tanks— lor water, 12 : heating by, 46« Tern i^eratnres— natural, 113; for va- rious plants, 893 Tenant's right to remove trees, 330. 3,3 Tetratheca verticiUata, compost for, 141 Thapsia decipicna, 297 Thirsk Poultry Show. J27 . Thompson, Mr. Robert, testimonial to, 40, 290 Thrips, plants infested by. 411 Tidiness, its importance.eiH. Tobacco-duly free. 2C,04„101, 114, IM : wash for Hops, 216 Toes of fowls swollen, 72 . Tomatoes— varieties of, 1..R : in An nn favourable season, 3*1, «3 Tomtits' nest in an inverted flower- pot, 1« „, . ■ Toweestcr Ponltry Show, 3» Town garrtoi>,p!«ntineaf'«lt!I.5!'!; Transiilanting-timo lor, lol, 231, ■^i ■ fruit trees, ,'!25 ; shnilis, Ti. Tredegar Poultry Show,';s,)9 lYees— tiroes ot leafing and hlossem- ing, 46 ; gigantie, SS; hrotcn by the wind, 265 Tritoina nvaria, propagating, Si4 Tropa-olmns, propagating lloublcTom Thumb, 145 . ^^ „ Tulips— National Society s Show, (3 : tor Christmas, 182 : a few early, rj Tumour in a hen . 32 Turf, removing plantain rmin, 2J Turkevs-foo4 lor yo-.vng, 18: remon- strance, 35 ; ronped, 54 ; with swollen heads, 72; as foster me:her<, -'bs; feeding for the London uiarket, 492 Turnips, sowing, 122 Turn Moss Market G.arden?, 150 Twine preserving, 319 Uttoxeier Fot:iTBV Show, 116 Vaccixatics, its TAI-rE, 494 VaUota pjirparefl, after flowoiing, 26G ; r-ilture, 840 Vnpour— in vinery, 67; from hot- water pipes, flC Vuriegfttiou. 344, Sf^''. ; wbiit cuuaea, 60 : bow far FHluable, 67 ; not cauaed by acidain the soil,9G; producing, Mi Vumiab for wood and iron, 265 Vases, everpreens for, 144 Vfgetable RlarrowB, culture, 6o ; m 1- dewed, IGl Veffetabiefl allowftd to gardener, 284 Veitch & Sons, at the Paris Exhibi- tion« 4«4 Verbenas— forexhibition, 30; preserv- ing from rabbits, 115; venosa. pro- paKatuig, 281 ; forpota.SOl; Lenion- bcented, hardiness of. ?19 Veronioas, hardiness of, S19 Winery- ftrranRemenls, 13; construc- tion, 191; plantinrf. 204, 242; venti- lating:, 222; Mr, Miller's, 2i>l ; heat- in;:, 319; andffreenhouse. 319; fruit frees for, 320; heating, border in- side, S7R; the cylinder, 336, 410; angle of roof, 391 ; management of a erroimd^ 420; border in, 128; ground not patouted, 489 Vinos— forcing, 30 ; in a pit. 51 ; water- "j^, C7; select varieties, 86; rod spider on, in a ^reejihouse, 105 ; lift- ing, 106; and Vine^borders, lOii, 118, 176, 181, 212, 290, 312, 330, 541*, 980, 410 ; air roots, I2S, 176 ; grafting, 131 ; mil- 7 ZlZTPHVS LOTC*, ! WOODCUTS. PAGE. Ase, to iiang 350 Bee-oive, Improved Paj-no's 17 ,. Pnyno's Improved Cottage 72 ., protector 327 „ Oale'a 247 Battel -preserver 110 Cooservatory, unlqae iron 62 'C036tta ligoiperda 3l8 Ftowov-garden plan 178 •4}a9-uoatiQe, various modes of 278, 27!:) PAOE. (ioat Moth and caterpillar 218 Hen-honae, good and cheap ^^ Ice-pit ^ffi Milk-cooler H J Orchird-hoases, iron standard lor sides 33a „ at Chilwell 332, 3iW Reel, carriaged for watering hose i-' Stile, Somersetshire 35tt Vinery, cylinder 387 Wall-nails 4aT July i, len. ] JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE OARDBNBB. WEEKLY CALENDAR. D»T Day UI Month Week. 4 Tn C K 6 R 7 Sun R M 9 Tii 10 W JULY 4—10. 1667. nirminsh^m Ulac<.'d above the brickwork. There are no raftei-s. but one or two tie-pieces from back to front where the space between the division is too great. Of course all the partitions are capped witli a similar timber-tie, but, as will be seen, tliere is really very little carpenter's work in the whole, and the brickwork is of the plainest kind. I liave a partiality for brick in preference to turf pits, as being more durable, and No. 327.— Vol. XIII., New Series. looking neater : and in the case of those which I am de- scribing, owing to there being a walk in front, a uniform line was desinible. The expense of the liricks was not a serious affair, the worknianship of the timber wall-plate was very simple, and tlie construction admits of almost any description of covering, such as thatched hurdles, old lights, or wooden shutters; but, of course, where glazed lights can be allbrded thcj' are best. Those who might prefer a canvas or felt covering might easily avail them- selves of it ; but glazed lights, or wooden shutters made of three-quarter-inch boards, and somewhat like doors, are our principal coverings. I ought to mention that tlie back of the pits is a little more than 2 feet high, the front 1,5 inches high inside, and about (i inches less on the out- side, the bottom being sunk that depth below the level of the ground ; but when small plants are grown, one-half the depth of tlie pit is often iiUeil up. Frequently when one of the compartments lias been used for a sliglit hotbed, of which the materials had been raised quite to the top, some months afterwards when they liave settled down, a cutting- bed is formed to stand the winter. I will now (ilfer some remarks on the subjects which may find a place in the cold pit. Cal( KOL.vniA. — All the bedding kinds do remarkably well ; indeed, for many years I have not grown them any- where else in winter. Cuttings put in at the end of Octo- ber, or sometimes as late as the end of November, rarely fail. I usiniUy have the cuttings inserted in rows about o inches apart, and about '2 inches from each other in the row. Thus a large number of plants may be reared in a voi-y small space. Towards the middle or end of March, or, it may be. tho beginning of April, the young plants in every alternate row are carefully transplanted in some warm corner where they can have a few bonghs thrown over them, or some other slight covering in cold weather. The rows left are now (i inches apart, and the plants are usually ready for removal to their summer quarters by the 1st of May, I have sometimes planted Calceolarias out before that time, but there is no great advantage in doing so, and when they form a portion of a ribbon-border or of large beds where more tender plants arc used, they can- not well be planted before the others. The soil used for striking the cuttings is made rather open by a liberal application of sand, Ver^- severe winters sometimes inju- riously affect such kinds as Calceolaria amplexicaulis and those partaking of tho semi-herbaceous character, but by giving them a corner next a partition, and .adding some covering over them when tho frost is very severe, enough for all purposes generally escnpe : and although during the past winter protection in addition to the ordinary glass lights was only given on one or two nights, a fair proportion of the plants have been saved, while of such as Aurea flori- bunda tho lo.ss has not exceeded one per cent, Gazania si'i.F.NDEXs — Cuttings of this ought to be put in some time before those of the Calceolaria ; but the end of September will do, and in a breadtli of these put in at that time 1 lind every cutting has made a plant, and they were in good order for removing by the 1st of May, Ck-stalrea GV.MNOcARfA. — Like the Gazania, cuttings of No. 079.— Tou XXXVIU, Ou) gssizi. JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ JalT 4, 1867. this ought to be put in by the end of September, and although they are not so sure to succeed as the Calceolaria, the majority will strike ; they cannot, however, well be removed before the middle of May, as they are rather slow in making roots, al- though the top shows signs of growth beyond what might be expected from the extent of the roots formed. This species is Tery apt to run to flower, and nipping off the tops hardly pre- rents tho plant flowering, after which it often dies off. The same objection does not apply to Centaurea candidissima, but S3 C. gymnocarpa grows more freely, and furnishes at least ten onttiogs for one of the other, it is more conveniently propa- gated. Cuttings in spring also stiike. NiBBEMBERGiA GRACILIS is not half SO much grown as it ought to be, as plants furnish a greater amount of bloom, and con- tinue longer in that condition ; its only drawback seems to be its inability to withstand r.dn. It is nearly hardy, and if cut- tings of it could be put in early in the autumn they would stand Tery well ; but il^ is too late to put them in at the same time as the Calceolarias. A few old plants, however, pulled in pieces with a root to each, will often do. I find the past winter has left fewer than usual. I do not attribute this to the delicacy of the plant, but to the lateness of the period at which the cuttings were put in. Veronicas of the New Zealand class strike well at all seasons, I believe, and cuttings put in towards the end of September make excellent plants to remove in spring. These plants are by no means hardy, although they will live against walls or in sheltered places during mild winters. They are easily pro- pagated as described, and make fine plants to turn out in spring. Saltia argentea. — The thick blanket-looking foliage of this entitles it to a place amongst plants having remarkable foliage. Booted suckers or side shoots have survived with the same treatment as the Calceolaria. It cannot be so readily increased i by cuttings as by seeds. Santolina incana, or Lavender Cotton. Treated something ! in the manner of Box-edging, this plant is very serviceable as a boundary to a shrubbery border. Its grey hue and neat com- , pact appearance entitle it to more attention than it often receives. Cuttings inserted at the end of September make j good plants to remove in the beginning of May; almost every , cutting will grow. They may also bo put in more closely together than most cuttings, as the plant requires but little space laterally. | CiMERARiA HARiTiMA. — Cuttiugs put in at the same time as the Santolina mostly succeed, though not so generally. The little trouble which they give when in a cold frame, and the good plants which they become when they do succeed, make it well worth while trying them in this way. Fully one-half of . the cuttings become plants, and perhaps more than this would j strike if greater care were taken in selecting them. The small shoots springing from the centre or collar of the plant are to be preferred to the woolly tips. I often put in a few rows as a division between the Calceolarias. LrMUM FLAVCU. — This useful little plant is nearly hardy, nevertheless severe winters take an effect upon it, and I find many of the old plants have been destroyed by the frost of last January. Cuttings may be put in as late as September, but it is better to have them earlier, as they form better plants ; the protection of a cold pit is all that is required for them, and such a place is probably better for them than warmer quarters. Pteethrums. — Cuttings of these seem to strike at all times, and if put in at the same time as those of the Calceolaria, and treated like them, form excellent plants by April, when they may be put into their proper quarters. Pyrethrum'5 continue longer in flower than most herbaceous i^nnts ; but it is difficult to secure a continuation of bloum. A number of cuttings in spring, to succeed those struck in autumn, will afford a suc- cession ; aod beds formed partly of autumn and partly of spring-struck plants continue longer iu bloom than when planted with either alone. Cutting down some of the plants is not so satisfactory as having two lots to begin with. Arabis vaeiegata. — Cuttings strike iu the open ground at any season, so that I rarely give tbem a glass covering ; but if there should be space in a cold pit they will, if put in very late in autumn, form good plants in spring. The more showy Arabis lucida variegata is less free of growth, and would seem to be most at home where the Rhododendron and similar plants thrive. We cannot make much of it here. EnoNYMUs jAPOsicus vAiHECATDs — Tl.'c gold-blotched variety from .Jftpan strikes tolerably well if cuttings are put in at the same time as Calceolarias ; but I find that it does not make such rapid progress out of doors as under glass. The silver- edged K. radicans variegatus is certainly better grown out of doors at all times. Verbenas. — I have tried them in a cold pit at various times for nearly twenty years, but the success of the system has never been such as to recommend its general adoption. Usually the pit is occupied by someitbing else at the time the cuttings should be planted, and they seldom do well late in the autumn. Verbena pulchella and Verbena venosa do better than the others. Venosa, owing to its rambling habit, ia unfitted for pot culture. A few plants taken np in autumn keep well in A cold pit. Pentstemons. — Cuttings of these do very well late in tha season, and form bushy little plants by the middle of April. I usually put in a quantity of tbem, and they come in very handy, as old plants become large and unsightly, and do not bear cutting down very well. Lobelia. — The dwarf Lobelia erinus varieties sometimes do well and sometimes not. Last year we were unfortunate with them, as few survived the winter ; but I by no means attribute the failure to the cold alone, they are apt to die off at times ; and although we usually take np old plants and after cutting them in tear them to pieces, preserving some roots with each, plants so treated do not always survive even in a warm green- house, though every slip be well rooted. Sometimes they do well in a cold pit, and when they do succeed they make nic« bushy plants. Sedum Sieboldii is all but hardy. Cuttings seem to strika freely at all seasons, and the cold pit is just the place for it. Htdranoeas also strike well from cuttings taken off at all seasons, and when these or other plants can be propagated with little trouble it is certainly better than when much attention is required. Cuttings do very well in the autumn. Viola cornuta. — The cold pit is just the place forthis lovely plant. A quantity of cuttings put in during the autumn of 1865 formed very good plants by the following April, and were planted out and did well that season. Besides the above there are many herbaceous plants which do very well in a Cold pit — for instance, the taller Lobelias, somo Coronillas, several of the Sedums, Iberis sempervirens, Alyssum saxatile, the ornamental Grasses, as Stipa pennata, Daetylis glomerata, and others, as well as the more robust plants which occasionally want some protection in severe winters, as the Cannas, which suffer from too much damp, as well as from the frost. I also find the slugs are very destructive to Cannas ; but by covering the crowns with ashes and the stems with dry leaves, they may be carried through the winter, as they were here last winter, in the places where they have been growing. I will not attempt to enumerate all the plants to which such a pit as that which I have described could afford shelter, as most plants that will endure 3° or 4° of frost may be wintered there if they are not liable to suffer from damp. Bedding Pelargoniums, however, rarely do well, fire heat being wanted for them. Although I have confined my remarks to ornamental plants, yet such a pit as I have described is quite as useful for many other purposes which the requirements of the time or place will suggest. Ridge Cucumbers and sometimes Capsicums may be grown in it. and immediately after the Calceolarias have been removed Celery may be pricked out in some of tho compartments. Indeed, the cold pit with me is rarely empty. — J. BOBSOM. POA TRIVIALIS ARGENTEA ELEGANS. Feom my experience of this Grass, so recently introduced into public notice, it is to be feared that, like many other plants that are strongly recommended for parterre decoration, it has not been fairly tested before a character has been at- tached to it. I planted out nearly two hundred plants of it here this season, and when planted out I never saw anything of the sort that pleased me so much, it was so beautiful and so graceful in habit ; but it soon showed signs of losing its varie- gation, not in certain instances, but in all the plants, and it cnntiuued to do so till nearly every vestige of variegation had disappeared from the whole of the plants, and, consequently, it had to be replaced by another plant. I may remark that the Dactylis glomerata variegata retains its variegation constantly iu this soil, and is one of the very best and least troublesome variegated plants for decorative purposes that I have seen. Under glass in pots the Poa is a ioly i, 1887. ) JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. very elegant plant, but if it behaves generally aa it has done here, when planted out, it will be of little or no use for out- door decoration. — D. Thomson, Archtrfield. OKEFORD FITZPAINK. When my worthy friend Mr. RaJcIyffo claimed to be A rosarian, and not merely a Uose-^rower, he made a distinction which to some appeared not very plain, but which a visit to his home and half an hour's conversation with him would soon make manifest to be thoroughly well founded. There are many persons who grow the Koso, but those who understand it are comparatively few. Sumo grow it simply as an exhibition plant ; they would not go to half the expense or trouble tliat they do wore it not that they intend to enter the lists for com- petition. Some grow it because they love flowers in general, and thoy would not consider their garden well furnished with- out, if not a rosery, at any rate some Roses. Others u'row them because the Rose is a fashionable flower, and not to know something about a fashionable flower would indeed seem to be out of the world of horticulture. But for none of these reasons does my good friend grow his Roses. He has exhibited in day.^ past, but bis exhibition days are over. He does not care, I believe, in the least for any other flower, and he is perfectly in- different to what fashion wills or wills not ; but he loves the Rose because — because it is the Rose, the flower par excellence. " It is his first, his last, his only love,'' in winter and in sum- mer. When keen biting frost, and heavy snow, and blasting winds are wounding his pets, or in summer when thoy reward his care by their clustering blooms, he is alike interested in them. I have heard of a Lancashire weaver taking the blanket off his bed at night to cover over his frames of Auriculas. I be- lieve blankets, and quilt, and all would go out into the garden if the dear Roses at Okeford needed it. Ami this character of a rosa- rian may be, as I have said, justly claimed by Mr. Radclyffe, for his Roses are, considering all that they have gone through, wonderful. He had to leave Rushton early last year, and his Roses were consequently deprived of his paternal and maternal care ; and yellow rust, black mildew, and aphis were allowed to do pretty well as they liked so far as he was concerned, though I believe " Steevie" had his eye on them. They were all moved between the 24th of August and the 10th of September to their present quarters, into a soil which, while far better than Rushton, is not a good Rose soil. It rests on the green- sand, and is what we call in our neighbourhood " elity " — i. <■., stiff and hungry-looking, not like the rich, beautiful, loamy soils of Hertfordshire. He cut them back, trusting to the vigour of his stock that they would push their way. We know, and many, alas I to their cost know, what a winter we have had. What wonder, then, that, exposed as he is, his Rases should have been cut down, and in the great majority of cases to the snow line? Had he not been a rosarian half of them mast have gone ; but he mulched them well, and then regularly banked them up, so leaving the wet a fair opportunity to run off ; but when I saw his beautiful yellow Roses cut down to the very bull, I must own I felt disposed to doubt whether even his care could restore them ; and even after I had been there in April came that severe May frost, which did as much if not more injury than that in January. When I say that, notwith- standing all this, I have nowhere seen more luxuriant growth, or finer and cleaner foliage, I could not for a moment hesitate to give my friend the c'uaracter of beipg the first rosarian that I know. One of his Triomphe de Rennes Roses in the front of the house has made shoots G feet long. His plants of Gloire de Dijon are equally vigorous ; his Celine Foresliers budding all over; and out of his twelve hundred Roses, for this is the ex- tent of his stock, he had not a score of losses, while his wounded aie now convalescent. Had it not been such a winter, his Boses would now have reached the top of the poles, and if they grow as they are growing now they will still do so ere long. What I particularly admired was, that when the first head of bloom was over, immediately below it strong vigorous shoots bad been made, and you could already feel the young buds that would make the second bloom, and this he assured me would he succeeded by a third. Mr. Radclyffe is no friend to novel- ties; he waits to see what they are before they are added to his list, and then he adds freely ; but he says, " While I have snch Roses as Charles Lefebvre, Madame Victor Verdier, Lord Uacaulay, John Hopper, Jules Margotlin, Madame Vidot, and Comtesee de Chabrillant, I feel it is no easv matter to beat them, and I had ralhurmultiply those than order a lot of thiugi which I should have afterwards to throw away." Hence yoo find these in large abundance in his garden, along with Genersd Washington (which was better and showing less of the green eye than I have ever seen it), Caroline de Sansal, Prinoa Camille de Rohan, Senateur Vaisse, Madame de Cambac<.re8, Pierre Netting, ka. The only novelties he had were those of Mr. Wm. Paul's raising, and of these he is disposed to think well of Lady SuQield and I)r. Lindley, the latter especially. Some of the individual flowers that were measured, such a8 Jules Margottin, were from -i to 4i inches across, and models of form, and this without any disbudding, but all plain, fair sailing. Marguerite de St. Amand is another favourite, and beautiful it looked, while John Hopper was everywhere splen- did; but tho put of the garden is, I think, Cbailes Lefebvre.. and, bo it remembered, all are on the Manetti stock, by which he stands under all circumstances. Some one has said that Acidalie is dehcate. Why, he had plants fifteen years old perfect bushes on the Manetti, and so with all the rest. We all know that Mr. Radclyffe is an authority on Straw- berries (M. De Jonghe, of Brussels, putting him at the head of the list), and henoe one might evpect to find them in perfection at Okeford. They seem magnificeut in foliage, and the produce astonishing, but very late. The first bloom was cat off by the May frost, and hence their backwardness, Rivers's Eliza being the only one really in full bearing. Besides this, he has fine beds of Wonderful. Dr. Hogg, Cockscomb, and Mr. Rad- clyffe — the last new seedling of Mr. Ingram's. The three last are evidently of the British Queen race, combining, however, great vigour with the delicious flavour of that fine Strawberry. He has hiid a great deal of difficulty with his wall, a large portion having fallen ; but willial that. I saw what I have never seen before — fruit on maiden trees of the Noblesse and Rojal George Peaches. With that generous kindness towards others, which has always characterised my friend, he willingly allows any of his neighbours to come in and see the Pioses. The other day " the Club " were permitted to perambulate it, and I think he was more complimented by the remiuks of one of its members than he would be by that of the Inostaccompli^hed P»ose-grower. " Why, sir ! my missus thought more of them Roses than she did of all the club." So many are availing themselves of his kindness, although in an out-of the-way place, that he says DOW, " I must keep a showman." But this excellence is not arrived at, as I have already tried to show, without considerable labour and trouble. He is up early every morning watering, and all daylong he is overhauling something in bis garden, and giving that personal superintendence to everything which is of such value. In this, indeed, he is ably seconded by " Steevie," who is well nigh as enthusiastic as bis master, and they may well be satisfied wilh the re.-^ult of their united efforts. I know many places where there are large collections of Roses ; I know many where there is a greater number of varieties grown ; I know many where you might find finer in- dividual flowers ; but I know no place where the Rose is more lovingly cultivated than a: Okeford, and I certainly know no one who has a greater claim to be considered an out-and-ont rosarian than my worthy and kind-hearted friend, Mr. Rad- clyffe. May he and his Roses alike flourish. — D., Deal. A PLEA FOR CACTI, AND HOW TO GROW THE.\r. Can you tell ma the best mode of effecting exchanges «jf young plants of the more beautiful or sweet-scented of the Echiuopsis. Ecbini^cactiis, and allied species ? I have been very successful in growing them, and it has often been a matter of astonishment to me, that our English gardeners, as a rule, so completely ignore a class of plants that are so easily grown, and the flowers of which, whilst compensating for their short duration by their profu.-ion. hive amongst tbem some that are unsurpassed, either in beauty of colour or fragrance, by any flowers grown. The R,ise may well lie tvu (be Night-blooming CereoB in all its glory, will, I am sure, allow it tu deserve the name of empress of the floral world. I have grown these plants for many years, and as each snc- ceeding season developes new beauties and good points in my favourites, it has given rise to this short article, and my question, How to dispose of the host of surplus stock that 1 am obliged to take off from my specimen plants, and which I hav& not the heart to throw away ? JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t July 4, lBe7. f ' The ease with v?hich Cacti can be grown, and well grown, is marvelleus. They require a tolerably dry atmoppbere, exclusion of frost, very Utile water— only just sufficient to keep them from shrivelling in winter, and, as soon as early summer is at hand, the fullest exposure possible under hand-lights to the hottest sun. Keep the pots plunged in cocoa fibre or sawdust, and syringe copiously several times a-day, so ns to keep up a moist heat at 80" or 90°. About September growth will have ceased, when water, &c., must he diminished, and air given. This is all that is required to cause a plant of Echinopsis Zuccarini in a 48-pot to develope six or eight flowers, one of which will scent a large conservatory. I have nuw the Night-blooming Cereus with several flowers about to expand ; and to prove tbe tenacity of life in this tribe, I may mention that the cutting from which this plant was raised laid dormant on a shelf in the greenhouse for more than twelve months, and then suddenly vegetated. A second example has jubt occurred with me, which I think worthy of note. A tall Cereus hexagonus that for the last three years has flowered well, has now outgrown my house, having attained a height of 10 feet. I have cut off the top 6 feet long, and having suspended it in the hothouse three weeks ago, with a tuft of loose, damp moss around the cut portion, it has thrown out fine roots, and is ready to begin life " anew," but as an old flowering plant. The cutting weighs about 25 lbs. The root portion of the stem, about 4. feet long, will make a fine stock for grafting. Another ciuious fact has just come to my notice — namely, that a plant of the Prickly Pear last year produced fruit which did not ripen, and one of these unripe fruit had thrown out a perfect flower and fruit from its side near the apex. If you can spare room to insert these hasty lines, it may induce some amateurs to undertake the culture of this beau- tiful section of plants, and I am confident that none will be disappointed. I shall be most happy to afford any assistance in my power. — C. M. Major, Cromwell Ilou&e^ Croydon. DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF HERBACEOUS PLANTS The plants named in the following list are those which, from my own obser^'ations and eiperienoe, appear to be the most pretty, shony, curious, or interesting of hardy herbaceous perennials for gardens; but, doubtless, many more could be added. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are the moat deserving of cultivation where only a limited number can be grown ; e indi- cates those which are very showy, useful, or desirable ; c, such as are in some way remarkable, having showy flowers ; and r, those hut little known. Months of Flcweeinq. Achillea aurea Jxrne to September *A. niillcfuliam rubra July to October Adenophora denticulata c .... July •Adonis vernalia March and April •Agrofcteiunia coronaria Juoe to Septeujber •A. corouaria splendens Juue to September •A. coronaria bicolor •A. purpurea plena July to September ■*Ajuga alpina e May to July A. reptaus variegata Adoxa moschatellina c March to May •Alstruuieria aurantiaca July to September April aud May March to May April to Juue April and May April to Juue September A October *A. j'aponica Honoiine Jobcrt e . September & October •AJyssuui sasatile •A. aaxiitile compactum e •Anemone apponnina *A. corouaria *A. hortensia , *A. horteusis fulgens e ., •A. j;iponica A. muci.ssrflora A. Pulsatilla A. palmata r A. nemorosa plena A. nemorosa rubra plena. . A. sulphurea e r Anchusa pnniculata Antenuaria margaritacea A. hyberborea c Anthericum liliastrum •Antirrhinum mfijus *Aquilegia glandulosa e. . . . A. Skiuneri •A. vulgjiris, var A. formosa e •Arabia albida •A. lucida vnriegata c Arnica montana r I\Iay !ind June April and May May aud Juno Miirch to May Miireh to May April and May Juue July to September July May, July June to August May to July May and June May and June May to July April aud May July and August *Asclepia3 tuberosa e July to September A. amffiua July and August Asperula odorata Bluy aud June A. montana Juno and July A. cynanchica July •Aster alpinus tf June to August *A. alpiuus albus July and August A. amellua August &. September A. duni0BU3 September & October •A. grandiflorua ii. curnides June and JiUy Aubrielia delt >idea April to June •A.deltuiueaj,'raudiflora c April to Juue •A. Campbelli e April to Juno •Betonica grandiflora e June and July Baptisia australis June and July *Belli9 peieinia vars March to August •B. perennis aucubwfoUa e March to Augbst ■Campanula aggregiita c June to August •C. cHtpiitica c Juno to August •C. carpatica alba June to Anuust C. pulla Juue and July C. macrantha Juno and July •C. specioba c May to July C. porsicirolia major July to Septemler C.perBicifolia albo plena July lo ^"ntemter »C. pyrnmidalis c July Catananche carulea Ju'y to October Colour of Floweh. yellow red blue yellow rosy crimson deep crimson centre white, ro&c double crimson deip blue variegated foliage greenish yellow orange yellow yellow blue various various scarlet rosy purple white white and yellow violet yellow white reddith sulphur or lemon deep blue white aud yellow leaves silvery white white various blue and white scarlet and gi'een various red and orange white golden variegation orange jcUow orange purpli> white pink flesh lilac purple white purple white blue red white purple lilac and yellow purple bluish lilac violet purple purple blue various red and gold netted fol. blue blue white blue purple l)ui-ple blue white blue blue Soil. loam loam loam, peat, and sand loam, and limestone loam and gravel loam loam loam sandy loam peat aud loam loam and sandy peat eandy peat and loam loam and limestone loam sandy loam rich light loam. loam loam loam calcareous loam sand peat and loam loam and leaf mould loam aud leaf mould bandy peat sandy peat t-andy loam sandy loam end peat loam sandy loam sandy learn sandy loam sandy loam sandy peat gi-itty loam sandy loam loam and grit loam peat and sandy loam sandy loam sandy loam calcareous loam gritty loam gritty loam gritty loam loam loRm loam loam rich loam and grit sandy loam li^ht loom li^ht loam ligbt loam rich loam rich loam rich loam rich loam sandy loam jeat and sandy loam loam loam loam loam loam li -b loam loam Fhopaoatiok. division division division division seed cuttings cuttings cuttiuga division division Requires moist soih division division seed and division seed division seed and division seed seed aud division division division division division division division division division cuttings division division division seeds and cuttings division seed and division seed division seed and division division division division division division division division division division division division division division division seed and cuttings seed division divisioa division division division seed and division division cuttings and division division division division division division di vision sieed division Shade. Shade. Shade. Shade. Motst. July i, 1807. 1 JOURKAL OF UORTICULTUltE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. MoMTns OF Flowbrino. •Cichorinm intybns -Inno to Antfiist Centnnrca montana Jnne to AuuhhI *Cerii8tium tomantnmiiu May to July *Cbpiranthna Chciri vars March to Juno •C. Marshalli f March to .Tnno C. ochroleuciiH March to Juno Cheluno »,«labra July to Septomber O. barhata Juno to Scptoinher C. Lyoni JuW to Sniiti-mhcr •Uonvnllaria mnjallH May and Junu •C. mnjnliH, KoUl BtripeU c C. majalia, pink *<_'. majiliH, doublo C. multiflora Jnne C- polyijonatum •C. rosea e Juno Cl<'m;itiK orRota Juno to AuRust •C. intcffrifolla June to AniiuHt Cynoclossum nponnlnum .... T\Iay to July J)alih(irda mitonoidt>H c r May and Juno •Dolphininm Belladonna e .... Jnne aud July D. KTandifloroin Jaue to Augnst J). isTand florum, double f .... •D. formoaura ^ Juno to Sortnmher *D. Hr>ndi*r>^oni e Jnne and July 'Dianthue crnontua t' Jnne to Ansrust D. ntromhpna Juno to Auffust I). dcItoidcH June to Antrn^'t *D. barbatns.TarH Jane to AuRUBt D. fraprnns Jnnp v. plumnriufj annulaluB Jnnf to Anflu-Jt •D. enperbuH e Julv to Soptember DictaranuH Fraxinella M«v to July O. albiis May to July Doronif^um caurafiicutn Jnne to Aurrnst D. plnntnffinoinn Mnv to July •Diclytra Rpofit^bilis e April nnd Juno •D. Pppcrjibilis alba / April and June Dodocrtthenii mcadia April to Jniip 1^. intctn-ifolium April ^nd Juno Dracocephaliun (n-<»ndiflorum. . Julv Epilobinin nntrusUroliiim J'lv and Ancnst -E. anpastifftlium album Jnlv and AntruHt. •E. DodonaU jnly -md AnrMist Kpimedinra macrantham ,\pri! and May E. violaceum May Ert-meru^t unfctahilig Jnne *Erynpiiimnlpiuum July and August "^arfutriuni CTnndf* e Funkia subcnrdata Ani*nf=t F. ovata Mav to July •Festuct plauca e Juno Galium Rrrccum JunenndJnlv Genista procumbena Jnno and A nqust O. prostrtita Mav and June *G. triquetra r <• Jun/> nnri July •Gentiana ariiuliH r April to Junf O. nsclepiadea Julv and Aii^nf»t Ti>nairnm Jnnn and Julv GiUcnia trifoliata July and Anffust *Goraninm arffcntoum e t Juno and Julv G. pratonsc llore pleno Juno and Jnly G. sanfunneum Jnne to Aucunt, *G. Ranjrninenin lancafjtriense. . Jnnp to Aneu^t Glrchoma bedtrapfta fol. var.. . April and Mnv *Gynerium arpfnteum *• Anpuct to Oftob^r ^Hellcborna nigor t* January to March • Hepati^a triloba Fcbraar>' to March •11. triloba, vnra.. double blue . . • pinclp red 'rubra) • double red • sinplo whito • single pink •H. anpulosa February to April Holonifts IniUnta April and May Hemcrocallis flava June Hesperis niatronalis Jane to August btuo bluo white various yellow pule yellow white ornnRo scarlet purple ■wliit«( gold striped foliage pink white white Son.. Bandy loam Bandy loum U;;btloam llvht loam lifzhtloam light loam peat and loam tnrty loam turfy loam rich luam Propagatiok 8ced division entttnpB and diviRion Heedt) and cuttingti cutlincs cuttlnga d Tisioa division divittioD divi»iou n 4 1 8 " ;j I liu xiu. 24-S 2i-3 14 2 2-3 2 "^ 4 4 2 IJ 2 1 14 u i 1 1 1— li 3—4' ■!? lt-3 1 2-8 1-2 '-.'' fi— 10 1-U i rose white blue blno white and yrllow britlhtbluo durk bluo blue and white blue and white scarltt red pink various white pink, dark ring pale purplo pun>lo white yellow yellow TOBO and yellow while Mic and purloin lilac and purple bluo purpU**h red white punilo white vinlet yellow blue gold blotched foliage white blue blue or cbnieons ful. inti-ple yellow yellow yellow blue purpli-'h blue bluo ynllow blue ecarlet yellow rose and white silvery foliage white or pink bluo red red and striped rosy purplo while pUimea white or pink bine sandy loam sandy loam prat and laaiii sandy pent and loam Hundy hiam louui and peat loam loam loam loam loam rich loam aandv loam light loam loam lonm loam Bondy loam loam rich loam rich lonm peat and ^'rit peat and ktH turfy loam lortm loi'.ui peat and Rrit peat, loam, and prit peat, loam, r.nd grit sandy loam loam and sand loam peat and loam jicnty loam loam f^ravelly orsandy loam sandy loam nnd peat sandy peat and loam sandy pent and loam tuify'lonm and gravel loam nnd travel loam and •gravel lo:im and gravel loam and uravc-l loam, peat, and j;rit loam ond grit peat and loam Bftndv lo:\m sandy loam Bandy lo;im eandy loam sandy lonm rich lo'im or peat loam, snnd. and leaf mould loam. sand, and leaf mould division division peed division seed and division division seed and division division cuttings cuttingR cuttinca seed ^nd cuttings cuttincs cuttiDga fiecd peed (tivipion division cnlUnfls and division cuttings and division division division division divieion division division division division division divisicm, divif^ion division division division division layers layers layers diviaioa division division division division division division division division division division division seed division division BoU moist. Soil moist. Soil moist. Runny aspect. Shade or sun. Bbade. Shade. 1-^11 blue purple yellow purplo loam and leaf moold Bandy lonm sundy liam rich loam and band divifion division division Ui vision Moist. Moist. Sunny aspect. Worm situation. Partial shade. pj^rtial shade. -G, AnBET. (To be continued.) SYRINGING GRAPES WITH GISHURST COMPOUND. GUhurst on Thursday, and when, on Saturday niglit soon after four o'clock, I bad liuis)ied thinning, I decanted the solution into three gnllous of noft water, keepin- Imck the sediment, &o. Cou?idering that I had thus from 4 to 5 ozs. of the compound, I Bjiinged the house with it, immediately fullowiug wuh six gallons of cKaii water lest the application should prove too strong for the I'-rapcs. . , . , . ^ I")eemi»g all Mife I left the house for the night, but to my surprise on Sunday I found most of the Grapes on which a Havtsg had this season to be unavoidably absent for a fort- ■night, I left a small house of Vines, just going out of flower, in the charge of my best nmn. On my return I found that he had neglected to nse the ajriupe, and one Vine which in nut so well at root as might be desired, was sadly infested with red spider, and they seemed spreading over the house. I hurried on with the thinning, thinking to settle accounts with them by a moderate applica- tion or two of " Gishurst." Accordingly I dissolved G ozs. of JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUBB AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. [ Jaly 4, 1867. drop of water had hung in the previous night brown on the under side, giving them a bad appearance when looked at from heneath. I had no help, the evil was done. I imagined that half of the crop had ieeu destroyed ; but I find during last week many of the most slightly-damaged berries have recovered, and the worst seem to continue to swell. The black spots are crack- ing without seemingly any injury to the berry, still I consider the case should act as a caution, and thought it well to report it to warn others who may be similarly situated. — J. Y. AUSTRALIAN SPINACH. At the commencement of lust year, Mr. Eiimel, who intro- duced into the French colony of Algiers the Eucalyptns glo- bulus, has received from Australia a new vegetable. His friend. Dr. Mueller, of Melbourne, had it sent to bim as a substitute for Spinach ; it is superior in every respect to that vegetable, easier of cultivation, and of an enormous iind rapid growth, less subject to run to seed, and also of better flavour. He called the pluut New Queensland Spinach. The New Australian Spinach is, however, a better name. It belongs to a group in which is Comprised our common Spinach ; it answers bota- nically to the Chenopodium auricumum of Lindley, who de- scribed it in a few words in Mitehel's " Journal of Tropical Australia." It grows abundantly in the east part, following the course of the river Narrau, and it is again found in Queens- land. The Chenopodium auricomum is an annual, with a stalk rising to a yaul high. In its general appearance it resembles Chenopodium Ijylnidum, that troublesome weed which over- runs our fields. The stalk is erect, robust, angular, fluted, streaked with a violet red. As regards the eatable qualities of the plant, we have recently gathered an abundant harve.-^t of leaves from two or three plants growing in our garden. These leaves were put into boiling water, and tbey were then cooked as an ordinary dish of Spinach, with this difference in favour of the new plant, that there was no occasion to take away the threads which are so disagreeable in Chicory. Soriel, and ordinary Spinach. The flavour, ana- logous to Spinach, had something iu it less harsh and less grassy in taste. The cultivation is easy : sow the seed in April in a well- manured bed, for the plant is greedy ; water it. The leaves may be gathered from the time the plant attains 18 inches in height. They grow up again quickly. In less than eight days afterwards another gathering may take place, and so on to the end of the year. — (Juurnal de la Ferme et des MaUons ie Campagne.) BUEY ST. EDMUNDS HORTICULTURAL SHOW. JODEKAL OF HOr.TICULTUr.E IT.IZES. Tour two chaste and beautiful clocks, of the value of ten guineas each, are offered " for two desserts of not less than seven kinds of fruit c f 18G7." 1. The que^-ti(ui has been asked if more may be shown ; and suppose two desserts equal in quality were produced, one of eight dishes and the other of seven, would the additional dish give the prize to the dessert with eight dishes? 2. Or, suppose, again one had seven of the best dishes of fruit, and another showed twelve inferior, ho^v far would the five addititb very fine ; Krpositiou do Brie, MdUe. Marie Rady, Pierre Netting, Madame Victor Verdier, of a fine cherry colour ; Marpnorito de St. Amand, Mdlle. Margncrite Dombrain, Abel Grand, and Princess Mary of Cambridije, the last four mnch alike as regards •olonr. Many of the new Koses, liowever, were not in condition. In Class 10, for 1'2 trusses of any new Rose of ISGl, Mr. Keynes was first with fine trnsses of Marguerite de St. Amand, and took a aimilar position in Class 11, for 12 trnsses of any other new Rose, with Kxposition do Brio ; ecjiial secnnd prizes being awarded to Mr. Keynes for Abel Grand, and to Mr. Cant for Marguerite de St. Amand, very beantifnl. Mr. Turner exhibited Mr. Tn.gram's beantifnl seedling, Misslutrram, and received for it a first-class certificate. The only other seedlings which wp noticed came from Mr, Laxton, of Stamford, and were named Annie Laxton, Beauty of Stamford, and Empress of India, the first two being deep rose-coloured, and the la^t a verj' daik kind. In the class for 12 yellow Rost-s, of not fewer than six kinds, Mr. Hedge took the firiit prize with most beautiful examples of Triomphe de Rennes. Cloth of Gohl. L'Knfant Trouvr, Nareisse, Boule d'Or, Celine Forestier, aud Marn-hal Kiel. The prize for the best exhil)i- tion of yellow Ro'ies was also awarded to Mr. Hedge, for a. box in which he exhibited nearly the same kinds, and in which there were namorons magnificent trusses of L'Enfant Tronve. Of Tea-scented and Noisette Roses tine boxfuls were exhibited by Mr. Hodge, who was first both for single trnsses aud single blooms, and in the Nui-serymen's class by Messrs. Paul & Sou and Mr. Cran- gton, who were reap-'ctively first and second. Moss Ro^iefl rhiefly consisted of the old White Bath, Lanei. Cristata, and Madame E. Cry. Messrs. Paul & Son were first, Messrs. Francis second. Vases, of Roses were the same as at the Crystal Palace. The prizes were awarded to Messrs. Soder, Marlow, and Hedge. The best bnu- ^nets como from Mr. Hodge, and were set up in coloured Hyacinth jjlasses. The only pot Roses exhibited came from Messrs. Paul tt Son. and •onsisted of small plants in good bloom. A large collection of cut blooms, not for competitiou, was shown by Mr. Keynes. Floral Committrk. — Messrs. Veitch sent a numerous and fijie col- lection ofsi^'elties, of which the following received first-class certifi- •otes — viz. : — Gloxinia Vlandcreu, white with a purplish crimson lip ; Gloxinia Mavlamo de Smet, pure white, with a violet-bordered lip ; Crotou irregularo, with rather narrow green leaves and a yellow stripe sp the midrib ; Croton maximum, with broad, pale gi"ecu leaves veined with yellow ; Croton interrnptum, having narrow leaves, with yellow midribs changing to red; Dracaena Mooroi, with broad olive-brown leaves having red midribs ; Selaginelia Ponlteri. with minutely di.-ided foliage ; Phajus species, with showy bluish-lilac tlowers. having a deoper- •olonred lip bearing raised yellowish processes ; and Begonia Veitchii, with large bright scarlet tlowers. The lost is perfectly hardy, aud must be considered a most important a<'quisition. Abutilon Thompsonii, also from Messrs. VoitcK, was awarded a second-class certificate. Its leaves are blotched and spoUed with yellow, aud as shown it had a pleasing appearance. Mr. Edwards, Nottingham, had first-class cer- tificates for the following Fcni-s^viz. : — .\thyrium Filix-fa-miua Edwardf^ii, A. F.f. Footii. Poly.stichum angularetlivcrsilobinm Padleyii, and Scolopondrium vnlgaro Edwardsii, a pretty variety. Mr. William Panl received first-class certificates for two hue Phloxes named Beauti- ful and Conqueror. Both had verj' largo trusses of beautiful light flowers with a violet crimson eye ; that of Conqueror tho deejwr in <*oloar. A first-class certificate was likewise awarded to Mr. Fraser, for Gloxinia Rose d* Amour, carmine with a white throat. Special certificates were awarded to Mr. Richards, gardener to Lord Londea- borough, Grimston Park, Tadcaster, for a fine specimen of Vandft teres on a block in a pot, and bearing elcTcn flowering spikes ; to G. F. Wilson, K-in., Weyhndge, for a magnificent specimen of LiUam longU florum, with nine pure white blooms, each about 7 inches in length and about 5} inches in diameter at tho mouth; to Mr. Mann, Brent- wood, for a collection of Varic;.;ated and other Pehirgouiums ; to Mr. Bull for a fine collection of Lilium auratum to the number of fifty pots ; aud to Mr. Wills for a collection of his fine Pelargoniama of the Bronze and Gold section. Mr, Jabez Chater, of Cambridge, likewise received a special certificate for a similar collection, along with which was a specimen of Gaillardia aristata splendeus with large and showy red and orange blooms. A special certificate was likewise granted to Mr. Mnndell, Frardener to J. C. CunJiffe, Ksij., Hooloy, Croydon, for a fine specimen of Lilinm auratum, standing about 7 feet high, and bearing thirteen blooms; also to Mr. Anderson, Meadow Bank, for cut Orchids, among which was Saccolabium Blumei Dayauum, with a flowering spike abont If^ inches long. Messrs. Ivery sent a sniall collection of showy Fox- gloves, and Messrs. Lee a plant with broad leathery foliage, which» though shown under the name of Hedera catalp(»folia, proved to be au Araliaceous plant. Messrs. E. G. Henderson received first-class certificates for Lobelia pumila elcgans and Tricolor Variegated Pelar- gonium Lady Sheffield. FnuiT CoMMiTTKK. — Mr. F. Dancer, of Little Sutton. Chiswick, exhibited some remarkably fine clusters of the Red and White Dotoh Currants ; and Mr. Merett, gardener to Henry Whiting, Ksq., Battersea Rise, eleven fine Barriugtou Peaches, set closely together on tho same branch, grown in an orchard-house. Mr. Scale, gardener to CoL Davis, Peutre, Newcastle Emlyn, sent a Scarlet-tleshed Melon called Scale's Hybrid, which, however, was not of sufficieut merit to rcqoixe notice. Gknkral Meeting. — *W. W. Saunders, Esq., in the chair. Tho busiuess was confined to the election of seven new Fellows. nOYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S SHOW. This Society's third aud last great Show for the season was held yesterday, and was as usual very attractive. The collections of store and greenhouse flowering and fiue-foliaged pKuts were nnmeroas and ex- celleut. There was likewise a good though not large display of Orchids. Pelargoniums were also well represented ; and of the so called Scarlet varieties, some exhibited by Mr. Ward, gardener to F. G. Wilkina, Esq., were remarkably fine, especially Rose Rendatler. Croton angna- tifolium, exhibited in one of Mr. Williams's collections, was the most beautiful specimen of that tine species which we have ever seen. It resembled a golden waterfall Fruit, however, formed the most interesting feature of the Show. Several excellent collections were exhibited, prominent in which were very fine bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes from Mr. Rawbone, and Mr. Miller, gardener to Lord Craven, Combe Abbey ; those from the latter, however, though very large, had not tho fine jet black bae presented by the hunches shown by some other exhibitors. There were many very well-ripened Pino Apples of good weight; but thoagk some of tho Peaches were very large and fine, these were not so numc- rooaly shown as in former years. CRYSTAL PALACE ROSE SHOW. JusK 20th. The great Rose Show held at the Crystal Palace on Saturday last was a decided success. It is trtre it was scarcely so extensive as last year, but this could not be wondered at ronsidering that the severe frost of Januftry caused such havoc in collections, and the burning snn of the last few days also, no doubt, prevented many persons from ex- hibiting. Notwithstanding the unfavourable character of the season, however, it was a matter of surprise and congnUulation to find the display so extensive aud the varieties shown iu snch good character. The day being one of the finest which we have enjoyed thif summer, the attendance of visitors, always large at a Crj'stal Palace Kose Show, was even more numerous than in previous years, amounting to but thirty short of 15,000. In the Nurserymen's classes Mr. Cranston, of Hereford, was Bret in that for single trusses of seventy-two varieties. His stands con- tained a remarlxably large bloom of Madame Morcau, Madame Brian- son, splendid bright carmine ; and beautiful examples of Manrice Bernardin, Marguerite de St. Amand, Francois Lacliarme. Christian Putner, Madame Clemence Joigneaux, Gloire de Dij-^n, Charles Ver- dier, a splendid new rose-coloured fiower ; Madame C. Crapelet, Madame Bravy, Madame C. Wood, Baron de Noirmont. Mrs. Rivers, Charlej Lefobvrc, and President. Messrs. Paul & Son, who were Rec'>nd in the same class, had omong others their new lio?c, Duke of Edinburgh, velvety deep red ; Madame C. Crapelet, exquisite ; Olivier Delhommo ; Marie Banmann, a splendid new rrimson variety, whicfc was also exhibited in several other stands, and waa everywhere bean- tifnl ; Exposition de Brie. Beauty of Waltham. Senatenr Vaisse, Reinc de Porcia, Xavicr Olibo, Maurice Bomardin, General Jacqne- 8 JOUBNAIi OF HOBTIOtJLTlTOB iUD COTTAGE GARDENEB. E Julr 4, 1807. miuot, which was good in almost all the eolleetionB in which it was fihowQ ; Prinoo CaraiUe de Rolian, Alba Kosea, and RuBhton RadclyfTe. Mr. Mitchell, of Piltdown Nnrseries, near Uckfield, who was third, had fine trusBoe of Triomphe do Rennos, Marechal Kiel, Lamarqne, Elise Sanvage, Lonise de Savoie, Souvenir de la Malroaison, Madame Fnrtado, Senateur Vaieae, Xavier Olibo, and Victor Verdier, the last very beantiful. Meaars. Francis, of Hertford, were fourth. Class 2 was for 48 varieties, three trusses of each, and proved most effective. In the fine stoudB of Mesflrs. Paul & Son, who were first, we particularly noticed ComtesEe de Chabrillunt, Lord Clyde, John Hopper, Madame Rivera, Beauty of Waltham, La Brillante. Madame C. Crapelet, splendid, Madame Bravy, and Souvenir d'un Ami. Mr. Mitchell, who was second, had beantiful trnssos of Souvenir d'EHse, Leopold Haasburg, Olivier Delhomme, Madame C. Crapelet, Victor Verdier, Triomphe de llannes, Elise Sauvape, Maurice Beruardin, and Gloire de Dijon. Mr. Fraeer took the third prize with fine ex- amples of John Hopper, Maurice Bemardin, Senateur A'aisse, Sou- venir de la Malmaison, Paul Ricaut, Comtesso de Chabrillant, Mrs. Rivers, Leopold Hausburg, and others. Thefonrthprizo was awarded to Messrs. Francis, of Hertford. In Class 3, 24 varieties, three truflses of each, Mr. Cant, of Col- chester, was first, Messrs. Paul & Son second, Mr. Cranston third, Mr. Keynes of Salisbury fourth. Mr. Cant had very fine trusses of Madame Bravy, Marie Banmann, Madame Victor Verdier. John Hopper, Comte'sse de Chabrillunt, Prince Camille do Kohan, Le Rhone, Exposition de Brie, and La Brillante, the last glowing bright crimson. In the other stands most of the varieties already enumerated wore shown in fine condition. Gt-ntral Jacqueminot, Charles Lefcbvro, Mrs. Rivers, Olivier Delhomme, Mdllo. Bonnaire, and A'ictor Verdier were especially fine. In Class i, 24 varieties, single trnsses, Mr. Cant, Mr. Keynes, and Mr. Mann, of Brentwood, took prizes in the order of their names. In the Amateurs' classes the exhibitors were numerous and the quality on the whole very good, the best stands approaching more closely than usual to those of the nurserymen. Mr. Hedge, of Reed Hall, Colchester ; aud Mr. Ingle, gardener to C. G. Round, Esq.. Birch Hall, Colchester, took the first and second prizes in the classes for 48, .^0, and 24 varieties. Among the varieties which they exhibited were fine examples of Coupe d' Hebe, Senateur Vaisse, Marie Bau- mann, Mrs. Rivers, L'Enfant Tronve, Marechal Niel. Madame Boll, Cloth of Gold, Jules Margottin, and many otbern. Mr. Chard, gardener to Sir F. H. Bathurst. Bart., was third in the clase for 48 varieties; aud Mr. Moffatt, gardener to Lord Rosslyn, Easton Lodge, Dnnmow, fonrth, the latter being also third iu the classes for 3G and 24. Mr. Postaus, of Brentwood, and Mr. Skinner, Weslurham, had the fourth prizes in these two classes. Very good stands from Rev. E. Pochin, Mr. Postans. Mr. Hedge, aud Mr. Chard took the four prizes offered for 12 varieties. New Roses will form the subject of a paper which will shortly appear. Among them Marie Baumann, before referred to, was parti- cularly noticeable; also Mdlle. Annie Wood, beautiful scarlet ; Thorin, bright pink ; and Souvenir de William Wood, a very dark flower. Hippo- lyto Flandrin and Horace Vemet were also good. Mr. Turner, of Slough, had a first prize for the beautiful seedliug variety Miss Ingram, described last week. Mr. Cant, of Colchester, and Messrs. Paul & Sou had equal first prizes for collections of new Roses, aud Mr. Keynes a third prize for the same ; and for new Roses iu pots, Messrs. Paul and Sou, who were the only exhibitors, had a first prize. Of Yellow Roses Mr. Hedge sent a beautiful stand, containing L'Enfant Trouvc, Enfant de Lyon, Janne of Smith, and Marccbal Niel. Those from Mr. Bristow, gardeuer to G. Orme, Esq., Broad- water, Worthing, to whom the Fccoud prize was awarded, were also very good. Tea-scented and Noif^ette Roses as shown by Messrs. Paul and Son, Mr. Hedge, Mr. Ingle, aud Mr. Bristow, were also fine. Messrs. Paul and Mr. Hedge had first prizes, Mr. Ingle and Mr. Bristow the second and third. For Decorated Vases of Roses the prizes were awarded to Mr. Ingle, Mr. Marlow, and Mr. Soder, and in each case the stands were .similar to Marsh's ; in each Ferns were introduced at the base aud iu the top diah, aud in each Japanese Honeysuckle was twined up the stem. Mr. Turner, of Slough, exhibited, not for competition, a large num- ber of boxes filled with gorgeous cut trusses of blooms — how.many we could not venture to say, for by this time the visitors were densely packed round the tables, and only an occasional glimpse could be caught of the flowers, progression became almost impossible, and all hopes nf taking notes had to be given up. Collections were ILkewiso shown by Messrs. Paul & Son and Sir. Hedge. A few miscellaneous subjects were shown. Among them was a fine specimen of Pcristeria elata, or the Dove Phuit, exhibited by Mr. Scowen, Park Lane, Croydon. It had six ilowtirin;; stimis, each nearly 5 feet high, and several of its yellowish white Howers, tho centre of which bears a singularly close resemblance to the form of a dove. To this an extra prize was given, and others were awarded to Messrs. Carter and Messrs. Smith, of Duhvich, for Tricolored Pelargoniums; to Messrs. Paul & Sou fur Roses iu pots ; and to Mr. Perry- for Ver- benas. Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laiug had first-class c(>rtificates for Rose Stella. Hon. G. Hardy, and Countess of Rosslyn Pelar- goniums, and for Imperial Blue Pansy ; and Mr. Maun, Brentwood, had a similar award for his fine Bcarlet Pelorgouium Lord Derby. IMPLEMENTS, Ac, at the LATE MANCHESTER. HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION. ' Thbse were exhibited on the lawn right and left of tho walk leading, from the entrance-gates to the Exhibition-house, and were numerouar and in many instances good. Many of them received firBt-clasacertifi- cates. The first which I ehall mention is the simple bnt most osefnli swing water-barrow, manufactured by Mr. W. S. Boulton, Norwich-. I have no hesitation in pronouncing this one of the naosi useful things ■ ever introduced into a garden. I have had two of them in constant n?e for the last two months. The carriage is very light aud simple,., and by having two or more tubs with each carriage a very large amount of work may be done in a short time. I have had some taps fixed in different parts of the gardens for filling the tubs, one tub is left to be filled at the tap whilst another is being carried on the barrow to what- ever part of the garden the water may be required. On its arrival . there it is easily placed on the ground by raising the handles of the water-carriage. Tho third tub is taken back by tho carriage ; by th©:- time it reaches the tap the other is full. Three or four men will by _ this simple contrivance water a very large space of ground in a short time. I should strongly recommend for large gardens two carriage* and six tubs. Each tub holds thirty-six gallons. ^Vhere the wall». are in good order the carriage is easily drawn by one man. The pric» of tho carriage with one tub is 45;;., carriage paid to any railway station in England. This very deservedly received a first-class certifi- , cate. Messrs. Dickson & Brown, of Manchester, received a first-class certificate for a large collection of mowing machines of di0erent makers. Amongst these Shanks's was considered by the Judges the, best. Mr. Bennett, of Liverpool, exhibited one of Beard's patent metalKe non-conducting glass-houses. The machineiy for ventilating is fitted to a very great nicety, and the adjustment so complete that a child may give air to a whole range of houses. It is done by means of a , screw attached to an iron rod, which is fixed to the rafters just nnder the ridge of the roof, to which a row of short lights is fixed by means of short cranks at one end of the house. There is a set screw, and when it is found necessary to open the lights at the top of the hcuse^ by turning this screw the lights are pushed out; they are shut by turning the screw the reverse way. The side liglits at the base are opened in a similar way. It is certainly a very simple and effective mode of giving air. The house altogether I thought rather too ex- pensive. One of the uses for which I thought it might answer well for is forcing Strawberries. If a structure of this aoii had the best appliances for heating it, I think with the constant circulation of air and the large amount of light the plants would have, that Straw- berries might be grown to great perfection. This, also, received (U first-class certificate. Messrs. Huut & Pickering, of Leicester, received first-class certifi- , cates for their newly-designed cast-iron vases aud bulconets. These - are certainly vcjt neat and durable. J. Jones's pateut terminal boiler was considered by the Judges the best of all exhibited on this occasion. It also received a first-clase certificate. I likewise noticed a machine for edging walks, and for cutting and rolling verges. It appeared to perform its work well. It received a first-class certificate. There were also many other articles . which received certificates, such as spring chairs, garden seats, rollers, wire stands, ivire arches, rustic summer-houses, portable apparatuR . for heating halls, &c. These were considered very useful. — J. Win^. THE GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. The twenty-fourth Anniversary Meeting was held at the Lonifoa Tavern on Thursday last, June 27th, Sir Robert Peel, Bart., in tho chair. Among those present were G. F. Wilson, Esq., Major Trevor Clarke, J. Bateman, Eaq., T. B. Gibba, Esq., Messrs. Moore, Wrench. Veitch, Henderson, Lee, Turner, Eraser, Williams, Cntbush, and others to the uumber of about one hundred in all. After tho usual loyal toasts. Sir Robeut Peel, Bart., in proposing the toast of the evening, ' " Sncoess and continued prosperity to the Institution." said that in a company composed, as on that occasion, of hearty well-wishers to the Institution, it would, mthout doubt, in the opinion of some appear t» be sopeiiluous to expatiate on the advantages of this and similar in- stitutions, bnt he trusted the company would admit how ncressaiy these were for the exercise of present benevolence by sulisrriptious and for posthumous charity in the shape of bequests. No one in tho room, he was certain, would deny him the privilege of pressing tlie claims of the Institution. At the present day industrial co-operative societies were being formed throughout the laud, and were largely patronised - by tho trades to which they belonged, bnt none was more worthy of support than the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution, and support it Bhonld receive from those whose duties, whose occupation in life, and whose sphere of action were connected with horticulture. He rojoictul to hear from the Secretary that there was a largo number of head and foremon jrardcners who contiibnted to the Society, and wera laying by a store for a rainy day — for a time when old age came upon them under circumstanoes which might involve tho best-coDducted and. Jaly 4, 1M7. 1 JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE aAKDEKEB. most thrifty among nil. He rejoiced to find the InRtitntion bo well supported by gardeners of all claHBes throaghont the conntry, and he hoped they would nse their inflneune to induce every gardener to join so excellent an Xufititntion, not merely ad a provisiitu for themMelven shoald they require it (as he hoped none preHont ever would), but to help their losa fortunate brethren. Lot them look at the lipt of Bub- ficnptions — there were good names from the Sovereign on the throne to tile man who had earned his position by the sweat of his brow. It was aaoal for tho Cliairman on similar occasions to enter into the hiatory of the Society, hut he would inoroly say that at present a sum of something like .f SOO per year was distribnted among those who had fallen back on ita funtls. Consider what good, what happiness this sam has caused among those who would otherwise have been destitute. When he said that tlie lustitntion was well worthy of supjiort, he •onld not on seeing tho beautiful display of flowers and fruit aronnd him refrain from thiuking what a charm they diffused. lie took a delight in horticulture, and there was no one in the room — no, not ni tho country — who took a greater interest in flowers from the beanti- fol Hose before him to those productions which their friend Mr. Yeitch fleet out in such profusion. After adverting to the frnit from tho gardens of II.R.H. the Prince of Wales at Sandringham, which formed a portion of the dessert, Sir Kobert said that when at Manchester last year ho was tt>ld by many a poor man that his greatest enjoyment was his garden, sometimes in that crowded city only a window garden in a fifth or sixth storey. Sir Kobert Peel then adverted to the great improvement in the parks of tho metropolis, and especially Battersea and Hyde Parks, to the advantages likely to result from the establish- ment of soldiers' gardens, and finally, to tho contributions of flowers ftnd plants which had been sent to decorate the room, and he concluded 0f proposing the toast, which was enthusiastically received. Sir Walter STiitLiNa, Bart., in proposing the health of the Chair- own, said that it had been his singular good fortune to be acquainted with tho first, the second, and the third Sir Robert Peel, and there nevcrwere throe men more devoted to the good of their conntry. After oalogising tho Chairman's ability as a statesman and speaker in the Honso of Commons, Sir Walter Stirling thanked him for his advocacy •f tho Institution, and his liberal donation ^to its funds ("20 guineas, aad 10 guineas from I.ady Emily Peel). Tho CnAiRM.iN, in returning thanks, said that nothing gave him ffreater pleasure than to be able to do anything to improve tho con- dition of his fellow creatures, and if his presence at any time conld be •f assistance he would be most happy to attend. He "then bogged to propose the health of the Treasurer, Mr. Wrench, who had devoted mnch of his time to the interests of tho Institution, and whose services could not but moot with the cordial approbation of tho friends •f the Institution. Mr. Wrexcii having relumed thanks, Mr. Cutler, the Secretary, read a list of subscriptions amounting to, it was stated, upwards of £500. ^ " ^ Tho health of tho Secretary having been drunk, the Ciiairmak prn- posed the Houses of Legislature, coupled with the name of Mr. Bass, M.P., who had recently presented the tt)wn of Derby with the m.tgnifi- •ent gift of sevpl.> it, and little capital to work it, but which must, at the same time, yield a very con- siderable profit and confer immense benefit on agriculture, call really be worth trying ; and so I urge the noblemen and gentle- men here present to-day to see it applied to the cottages over which they have control ; whilst the cottagers will be grateful, the safety of the proprietor will be ensured, for there in do knowing when the fever generated in the village may strike a deadly blow in the mansion of the rich. To the clergy I strongly recommend its adoption in their schools ; it will imbue th» scholars with ideas of decency and comfort, which they will not fail to apply in after life. I earnestly entreat all classes to unite in obtaining its general adoption throughout the land, and I deliberately assert my belief, that whoever tries it honestly and fairly will join with nie in recommending it to all bis neigh- bours. One of our domestic animals afflicts us with abomi- nations which we have all experienced, but give this crafty creature free access to dry earth, in-doors or out, and it set« mankind an example of thrift and cleanliness which it is stupid not to follow ; for when the fruits of the earth, after satisfying the wants of man, are returned to do for it at a small cost what Peruvian guano does at vast expense, we shall have the water unpoisoned and full of fish, with land of increasing fertility, without fever; whilst the public will believe, as I believe now, that no movement so fraught with benefit to the public health has ever had place since the days of Jenner. NOTES AND GLEANINGS. It does not seem to be generally known that the privileges of the Fellows of the Eoyal Horticultural Society extend to a free admission to the Great Exhibition which is to open at Bury St. Edmunds on the IGth inst. All who become Fellows of the Society before that date will be entitled to exercise this privilege. In addition to those named last week, the following Floral and Horticultural Societies have announced their inten- tion to hold exhibitions and meetings during the present month : — July 4th Northampton Floral and Hort. Fete. „ 5th Tunbridge Wells. „ 9th, loth Leicester. „ 13th Denny and Punipace, N-B. „ 17th Newport ( Salop). „ 16th to 19th Rojal Horticultural, Eorj St. Edmnnda. „ 19th Leslie, N.B. „ 30th Kojul Oxford. WORK FOR. THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Let a plot of ground be trenched and highly manured forth- with to receive a good breadth of Caulijlowers and Walcheren BruccoU. Grange's Impregnated, if true, is also must valu- able, as it is of a self-protecting character, and if planted with the Cauliflowers it will form a complete succession. Attention to plantiug the above will iusure a supply throughout Novem- ber, December, and even January. Colcuorts, sow more of the dwarf and compact kinds, also a pinch of Chervil and Com Salad. Endive, sow a little every week in July. Herb-cuUing must be attended to, choosing a perfectly dry day, and cutting the moment the plants begin to blossom. Lettuce, gocjd breadths oi Brown Cos may soon be sown, as it will not be liable to run. Peaa, the crops of Knight's Marrows and British Queen should be topped when at the top of their sticks; tbey will branch out sideways if the ground has been thoroughly piepaied. Let late Ptas have eveiy encouragement, esiecially by lliorough sticking. Give plenty of water to Celery recently planted, and pick off any leaves that may be seen niarUed with the fly_ The soil in which this crop is planted cannot be made too rich, FEniT OAIIDEN. Apple, Plum, and Cherry trees having crumpled foliage, from being infested with aphis, should be ralher uut^pariugly short- ened, and the removed portions burned. After the trees have been gone over they should be syiiuged with gas liquur mixed with eight or ten parts of water. This will destroy many kinds of iuseots, but will take little or no effect upon the American blight. Where this appears it will be necessary to apply naptha with a small brush. The naptha distilled from coal tar is the cheapest, and answers this purpose qiiile as well as the more expensive kinds. The late rains have been favour- able to the production of Strawberry-runners, and as soon as a sufficient number have struck root for the purposes of forcing July 4, 1M7. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. U and the formation of new plantations, the f ai-ther progress of the rnnners ehnuld be stopped. Some Rood soil shoiild be pre- pared for tlie reception of the plants as they become sufficientlv tooted for beMinR-oiit. They will thus bo utroiig for final planting out in autumn, and will bear well next siason. Cut ofl the bloom from the latest Alpine Strawberries ; the flowers after this period will be suflicient for the latcbt crop. FLOWEK GAIIDEK. Continue to clear away everything decaying, and to introduce good plants from pots in the reserve ground. A good reserve garden, if projicrly situated and systeraaticKllyp lanued and con- ducted. Would ho one of the most useful plots of ground about a garden. Such a valuable adjuuot would, however, require the conitimt attendance of a man popscssing some little know- ledge of tiowers. and therefore could not be curried out where there is a deficiency of labour power. Jlecayed patches of bulbs, which are retpiired to stand for early-spring tlowering. may have Verbenas or other plants introiiuced fn m pots be- tween them. Cuttings of Pansies should be planted out in Buccession before the shoots are too much exhausted. Remove from standard Roses aU suckers as they appear; likewise ihorten bnek any over-luxuriant shoots, find bud choice kinds. Beds that Imvp been tilled with early-blooming ani>nal.'<. itc, shouM bo clemed off, and replanted with oUier tilings. The plants raised from the first sowing of Biompton Stocks should be pricked out in borders and pots, placing the latter in the Bhade for a few days, and then exposing them to the influence of the sun and air. Continue to put in pipings of Pinks. Ex- tract deciived peta s from the pods in wliich the seed is form- ing. Auricula nnd Polyanthus seed ought to be carefully cid- lectod. It should be retained in the capsules til! tbe proper season for sowing. Perhaps the best way of preserving it is to tie the stems together in small bunches, insert them in Hun paper bags, and suspend them in a dry, airy place. prefer to strike them in good light soil in a frame, where they can bo protected from heavy falls of rain or thunder showerg. Polygalas, and similar hardwooded plants which have dona blooming, should he pruned buck rather closely, and placed in a cool bituation to start again. — W. Kjsane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. OTSEKN-nOUSK AND CONSEBVATOrY. Tliis should now be a perfect blaze of flowers. Balsams, Cockscombs, HvdrangPrts, Gnrdenias, Fuchsias, &c., should •onstitntp important objects of deco'ation at this season, inter- mingled witb vnrious hardwooded plants, which are of course, in-doors whilst in flower. The beautiful Japan Lilies are now fast apprnncbing perfection. As they are succulent in growth, never stint them of water, but keep them well and liberally supplied. Tbe flower-stems should be properly staked, so as to keep them witliin due bounds. Clerodendrons will enjoy liquid munore constantly, with liberal shifts if not already done. The Tree Violets should have the side shoots constantl.y pinched off. Sollya heterophylla is a very useful pbmt, and deserving a place in every greenhouse ; fixed to the tri His and •onstnntly stopped, it forms a very ornamenlal shrub. The Camellias out of doors to ho surfaced with fresh soil if they reqnire it. Cinerr.rino, wliethcr seedlings or suckers, should have regular attention, and those intended for autumn mui-t be potted forward without delay. Fuchsias look best when grown in the pyramidal shnpe; the drooping branches should display a uniform appearance all around the idant, the outward KITCHEN GARDEN. Storing Water.— The bright sun and north winds np to the end of the month tried tender crops very much, especially if not long planted. AVo took the opportunity to dig every piece of spare ground, so as to be ready for planting out more winter stull as soon as there was likely to be a change, as now so much time in waleiing would be required, and water itself is becoming scarce with us. In ten days of such weather the supply would be nearly exhausted. At the present time we know of several instances where a bouse has been built and gardens are being fmced, and tbe snpply of water is only now beginning to be thought of. Where there is near at hand a river, or even a rivulet that docs not dry up in summer, or where water is known to be abundant at a few feet beneath the surface, then it is excusable if the water question becomes one of the last to be considered ; but it is very different when a large household establishment and a fair-sized garden are to b« supplied, and the latter, unlike a field that generally prodnoeB only one crop in the season, has to carry many and siiccessional crops in the same ground, and for which successions moisture must be had, and when for the water wanted in both cases you must depend on wlat can be obtained from some 500 feet below the su) face, or what can he saved in ponds and tanks supplied from the clouds. It used to be an old axiom, that every house, he it cottage or mansion, in ordinary years, had as much rain on its roof ag, if saved up, would meet all the water wants of the inmates. It is one of the good signs of the times that water is mora ] plentifully used in lioufeholds than formerly, and therefore it [ may be doubted if the axiom would now hold true, even were ; tanks and reservoirs large enongh to hold nil tbe rain water, which we believe is very seldom the case. We know that the rain that falls on greenhouses, even if saved, will not be suffi- , cient for these houses if watering must bo resorted to all th« year round. Water suitable for garden purposes might, how- ever, generally be secured in plenty, were the rain which faUa I in heavy thunderstorms, as it did" this year, alone on hard gravel walks nnd courtyards, conveyed and stored up in a large ■ reservoir. With most of our walks this season, several times covered 4 inches deep, the drains all full, and vaking away the superfluous water as fast as they could, we could not hut think ' that in these several thunderstorms, besides what found its way through the earth, there was enough fell on hard roads, walks, i-c, to have supplied all the watering wanted for one year, if not for two. Our tanks did not fill at all as we ex- pected from these deluging rains, as the spouts could be no yOTing shoots being secured to the main stem bv twisted bast '""''*' "'"" '^""' """^ ""^ water consequently poured over them. in preference to the ol.l method of tying each bnincli to a sepa- rate stick. Afford a free admission of air. shade from bright annshine, and give liquid manure occasionally. 6T0TE. Endeavour from this period to establiph rather a robust than a_ rapid growth in the mnjoiity of stove plants. Do this, and give air most freely at all fitting opportiinilies. avoiding, how- eyer, cold currents. Continue to keep Orchids in a growing state actively at work, in ortJer to secure largo pseudo-bulbs, for on this depends the flowering. When they only produce fculhs weaker tlinn those of the preceding season there must be something wrong, nnd they will, of course, flower much more weakly, if at all. ?.fiiinlain a very humid atmosphere by copious syringingfl, or whatever other means there mny be at command. Plants which are coming into bloom should be removed into a •ooler temperature, exposing them gradually. riTS AND FUAMES. Cnttingq of herbaceous plants should be put in unr'er hand- fights in shady situations. Shift and stop ChrvsHnthemums, applyiug manure to tbera occasionally. Shift" Balsams and other tender annuals ; shade during the heat of the dav, and sprinkle with water in the afternoon. All the cuttings "of Pe- largoniums that can now be obtained should be put in ; (hey will make fine strong plants for keeping over the winter. They will succeed in a bed of light soil in the open ground, but we It would perb.Tps be economical to have larger pipes and sponts merely to meet these exceptional downpourings. Tbe simple fact, however, remains that, whether from position or otherwise, where water is scarce and large fertile gardens are wanted, plenty of tanks and reservoirs to husband and preserve for nsa the rain water, should bo calculated npon and considered aa essentials for primary expenditure. We sometimes hear quite enough about the expense of labour in gardens, and tbe contrast is drawn between one garden and another, though there be no similarity in the succession of crops, and less similarity still as to the water supply. For instance, we have three gardens, in many respects similar, in our mind's eye. In one, for many years all the water that could be obtained to houses, pits, and cropping, came throngh a small brass tap in a corner, with a small wooden tub beneath it, the tap conneeled with a pipe from a pond. As nothingbnt tbe little tub could be placed beneath this tap, and as every drop of water wanted had to be taken from thence, it need not be wondered that but little was carried, and the first crops were generally the only crops worth looking at, and, if a dry summer set in early. Strawberries generally dried up instead of swelling. We had several limes heard the little labour spent on this garden talked about. We always thought there was quite enough, and more than enough, for the produce. In the second garden, in addition to snch a tap there was a tank or two ; but the most of the water that was wanted out li JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ JnlT 4, 1867. bt doors was received from this tap or jet, that emptied itBefl into a good-sized reservoir, and tlierefore a man could fill his pails or his water-barrow at once. Here watering to keep up a good succession was a serious matter, and must of it had to be done by dragging a water-barrel a hundred yards — a severe undertaking, and making a man glad of other work when he had half a day of it. In this case the single pipe was supplied from a cistern, the water being raised by pump from a pond that seldom failed. If the pond could have been thoroughly depended on it would have been true economy to have raised the cistern, furnished the garden with pipes and small reser- voirs, and even with hose to screw on the tape, all of which would soon have been paid out of the labour necessary in dragging the heavy water-barrels. In the third garden the water is supplied by ram from a stream, which throws it into a cistern at a great height above the level of the garden, and a good supply of pipes, with taps, and a hose to screw on, enable a man to sprinkle water or deluge the ground without any more labour than holding and clenching the hose-distributor. Need there be any surprise that, merely from there being Uttlo or no labour with the water- barrel, this third place is well cultivated, and with less expense for labour than the second ? Where water can be made to run in pipes, a pipe and a reservoir, even without the screwed hose, which is useless without a fall, would save a gi tat deal of water earrying or wheeling. That this is not more done is entirely owing to the first expense that would have to be incurred. The old proverb is rung in one's ears, '• A penny saved is a penny got," independently of facts that prove iiicontestably that the saving of the penny is often followed by the losing the worth of a shilling. TanAs.— One little matter here is worth ventilating, and we should be glad to have the opinion and asi-istance of those who have had more experience than ourselves. Whatever commoner and rougher reservoirs or ponds may be used for general pur- poses, no plan is so effectual for storing rain or drain water as a tank formed of brick, and the inner laj er at least laid in cement, and a casing of cement placed all over it. If the reservoir is large, the walls, instead of being perpendicular, should slope outwards, iiaiu water is best for all garden purposes. It is best, too, for this purpose when saved in tanks, if the tank is open to the atmosphere ; it then always keeps its delightful softness— if possible, becomes softer than when it came distilled from the clouds. There are, however, some objections to these open tanks. For instance, foreign matters will find their way into the water, and despite a green carpeting of the putifving Duckweed, the water will become stale and unpleasant to" the sense of smell. Then, again, the cemented walls, at least until thoroughly weatherproof, will be apt to be affected by severe frosts m winter, and it is difiicult so to protect the walls as to avoid doing anything to pollute the water afterwards; and, lastly, the room thus wanted for a tank in and about a garden would often be valuable for other purposes, and in some cases if open it would be unpleasant, and might be dangerous if not well secured from children. _ Now, to obviate these objections, water as water, in moderate- sized tanks maybe kept as well underground as exposed to the air— in fact, in one sense better, because it would not be lessened in quantity by evaporation ; but then the great draw- back IS, that under all such circumstances it will become less or more hard, whether the cement used be the darker Roman or the hghter Portland, and that most likely from the chalk or hme contained in both. Now, here is where the results of practical experience would be most valuable. As far as our limited observation and experience are concerned, we have met with tanks so covered up, one at least so covered, and never cleaned or opened for a quarter of a century, and the water is always pure, clear, and delightfully soft, the clearness being owing to the fact, that little soot or smoke from fires is deposited upon the slates. In another tank underground when Gie water remains in it for a few weeks it becomes so hard that even laundresses cannot use it without an additional supply ef ash ley, or the alkalies generally used to soften the water. These may be judged as extreme cases. The causes of the diflorence are almost as diverse as the persons from whom they came. One lays stress on the water being conveyed in zinc spouting and iron pipes, and not along lead-covered gutters. A second lays the blame on the cement, says it is poor stuff when compared with what it used to be, and now requires scarcely any sand to be mixed with it. A third insists on using none but the finest rough-washed sand with the cement, from which every earthy particle is excluded— a matter of im- portance certainly so far as the standing of the cement is con- cerned ; and a fourth says, that in his experience Portland cement is less likely to produce a hardness in the water than Roman cement is. If we have an opinion ourselves, it would have some reference to doing the work well, leaving the walls quite smooth, and patiently waiting until successive supplies of water had absorbed the properties on the outside that give hardness to the water; but then, as if in contradiction of this, we have heard of some cases in which in old-covered tanks sup- phed with rain water, the water pumped from them is always nearly as hard as if obtained from chalk or a limestone rock. Would practical readers give us the benefit of their experience, so that soft water may be obtained from underground tanks either for household or garden use ? Watering. — 'J his has been confined chiefly to some Cauli- flowers and Peas that we wished to continue productive as long as possible, and to crops which we were obliged to plant out, as our crop of Beet, having found in many years that no com- mon netting would save it from the birds when just above the ground. This we have been obliged to shade slightly with evergreen branches, itc, and after watering when planting, as it plants quite as well as Turnips, it had a slight surface sprink- ling every day just to check evaporation and jirevent the leaves drooping. There is plenty of moistuie in the ground for all established plants as yet, and, therefore, for Peas and other crops established the chief work has been to surface-stir the ground nilh the hoe and light fork to prevent cracks and keep the moistuie in ; and to promote the latter object we have placed a layer of short grass from the lawn along each side of the rows of Peas, and will do the same with other crops, as Cauliflowers, if the present parching weather should last. This will do little to arrest moist vapour rising from beneath to supply the roots with moisture, and is in every respect better than giving dribblets at the surtace, which only encourage surface roots to be dried up by the fierce sun. Celenj planted out had to be watered, and has had several slight bpriuklings overhead just to refresh and prevent ex- cessive evaporation until the roots were in good working order. As our water has to he carried chiefly in water-barrels, anything that will dispense with watering is an advantage to us, and much expeiieuce leads us to the conclusion, that surface-Stir- ling, mulching, and in fresh-planted subjects a mere spiinkling over the foliuge ale often better than a deluging ftith water. In the pleasure grounds and flower gaidens the same prin- ciple is more rigidly applied as respects watering, as up to this time it is important that the soil should become warm as well as be moist enough. Watering has, therefore, chiefly been confined to plants that were evidently beginning to suffer, chiefly those of small size and freshly planted ; and to these only as much was given as would moisten the soil around the routs. Piovided there was plenty of moisture and yet there was a tendency to droop from the want of reciprocal action between routs and perspiring foliage, a little shade, or, what is given more quickly, a slight dash over the foliage from the syringe would be more useful than watering at the roots, and it the surface of the ground is warm from the action of the sun's rays, what water fulls on the ground is speedily raised in agreeable vapour about the foliage of the plant so operated upon. The great rule in watering plants out of doors or in-doors is to water so liberally as to reach all the fibres of the plants, and then to wait until the plant needs a repetition of the supply. There need be no difficulty with established plants. They geneially indicate to those who tend them what they want, if the cultivator will observe and seek for the information, in- stead of treating them to the water-pail as a work of rueis routine. Fresh-turned-out plants, if they are moist enough at the roots, and yet the foliage droops in a bright sun, will be more benefited by arresting evaporation at the surface than by fresh watering at the roots. Most people dread moistening a leaf in sunshine, but out of doors especially. We have seldom, we might say never, saw any bad effects from the practice. At any rate, scarcity of water has taught us this — that the very free use of water in general is not an unmixed advantage. Water- ing may easily be overdone. We have several times been dis- appointed at finding no such extraordinary results either in kiichen or flower gardens where a frequent copious watering from the hose was resorted to. It is a great advantage, how- ever, to be able thus to water with little trouble when neces- sary. In the flower garden as yet, with the exception referred to, we have depended chiefly on surface-moving to secure the July 4, 1887. ] JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 18 necessnry moistnro for the roots, with the exception of Calceo- larias, which have hail a little watering at the rootfl. In other departments the »oi k haa been the same as detailed in previous weeks' notices. — K. F. COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— .Tui.y ;?. OOR innrkotiN cicoedinKly "nil "iipplii^il. wilh torrnil trnitH cnpccinlly KO. lu cunneiiiH'irjm»iJ.riililo quantitv o( lro«h Figs. OooU samples of PotatoOB «nd Pcaa arc frouly offorud at lower rates. Apples i slevo S 0to4 Apricots dor. 8 4 ChorrioH lb. G 1 G CheKtniits bush. CnrrantH J sieve 3 4 Black do. i FlRS doz. » n fi FUberls lb. Cobs lb. !) in Gooseberries . . quart 4 G Grapes, Hothouse.. lb. a G Lornous 100 H 1:2 rnniT. s. d. a. d I ■. I Melons each S Nectarines doz. G Oranges 100 8 Peacboa doz. 8 Pears (dessert) ..doz. kitchen doz. Pine Apples lb. 4 Plums i sieve Quinces doz. Kiispberrl.'S lb. KtrawhoiTies lb. d. s. d 0to5 10 U 14 21 n 7 8 2 II Walnuts bush. 10 20 Artichokes each Asparagus .... bundle Beans, Kidney, per lOU ScarletKun.) sieve Beet, Red doz. Broccoli bundle Brns. Sprouts i sieve Cabbage doz. Capsicums 100 Carrots bunch Oaoliflowtr doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers each pickling .... doz. Endive doz. Fennel bunch Garlic lb. Herbs bunch Horseradish . . buudlo TEOETABLEa. R. d. s. d I 3 to C G GO 2 .H f> 8 3 G 1 a 2 G 1 n 2 8 K 1 ,■) 2 8 4 Leok0 bnnch Lettuce.... per soore MiiehroomR .... pottlo Mu8td.& Cresa, pnnnet Onions. ... per busliel Parsley per pievo Pareuips doz. Peas p(ir quiirt Potatoes bubhel Kidney do. New lb. Radishes doz. bunches Rhubarb bundle Snvoy« doz. Sea-iialo baskot Shallots lb. Spinach bn^hel Tomatoes. . .. per doz. Turnips bunch 1 4 S fl G d. 8. 3 too 6 10 .S 9 4 8 2 3 6 6 S 4 9 TO CORRESPONDENTS. *•• We request that no one will writo ]iiivnt,ely to the depart- mental writers of the "Journal of Uoiticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustiliable trouble and expense. All communications sliould therefore bo addressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture ^ dc.^ 171, klect Street^ Loudon, E.G. We also request that correspondents will not mix np on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and B^e subjects, if they expect to get them an- swered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three tiuestions at once. Guide to Burv St. Kdmunds {An Intending Exhibitor). — "Wa recom- mend you to send to Mei^srs. Jackson & Froat, P.ookscUers, Bury St. EdmondR. for "Jackson's (juide t'> Burj'*" Themis iu it an excellent frlan of the town, and of the show-yards. We Bupposo you can haro it ree by post if you enclose to them twelve postage stimps. Tobacco Powdf.u {Suh»crihcr, Bolton). — It was advertised by two manu- facturers iu our Journal hmt week. ViHERY ARRANfiF.MKNTS (Arixtoiu to Lcarn). — Vour ventilation will do very well. The best Vines for oarlv work and niodora'e bent are Black Hamburph, Dutch Sweetwater, Buckland Sweetwater, and Uoyal Musca- dine. For more heiit you may have the Muscats. We approve nf your planting inside, and aliowinu the roots to ro out if the bonier ia to be pro- tected. Wo would for quii-k return-, [danl from 'Jt to 3 feet apart, if the liouse is to be uS'-d Boseswo consider iron-fllinc jnintu and joints mane with lint, rope yam, and red lend as .good as any. Were wo putting down pipes that we should wish to take up easily, then wo would u^o the Tiuts ^v>tem. All the systems acl%ertiscil in this Journ-il will answer well if well done. We are sure that we could work en oh of them sati-^fictoiily. A** to boilers, we have just ono pie- jndicc — we like simplicity ; and, provi.ied they aro as simple as possible, we c;tru little whether the bhape be t>aJiIlo-biick, conical, or tubular. Cpprkssch Lawsoniasa varikoata (F. F.).— Send it to the Klond Committee of Iho Koyal Horticultural Hociety the day before one o< their Tuesday meetings, writing al the name time to the Society's Uoore- tary stating your wishoH. FoRCINO (>y STRAWDEBRtEB A .^^KCOND YEAR (A. B ).— Wfl hftVfl OttOn forced Strawberry plants a second season, more especially when thero was a (iifticiilty in obtaining early runners. Wo used to let the plants rest a little in their pots, giving them little W'^ter, and a rather shady place for a month or so, then Btrip ofT some of the worst leaves, bbake away a good vortion of the soil, repot in fresh, and then treat as for young plants. ' ho results, which we used to hnvo, on the whole were these: — Generally heavy crops. l)ut the individual berries scaicoly so Gne at in the c ise of young plants. If wanted fia*) the boTies would require to be thinned severely. This thinning is what some of us cannot overtake, and fo the b- si IruJt without thinning go to table and the smallest to tha kitchen lor creams, &c. The chief diflTL-renco as to results is that the old plants yield the heavier crup, and the young the finer frnit. As yon go north there are more old plants used. SmiU autumn runner* are aleo often pricki^-d out in a bed, and, after standing the winter, are taken up iu the following hummer and potted. IIeatino a Greekhocmk ynoM a KiTcnKNER (A Tounfj Gardener)^^ Wo niiuht answer your incjuiry better d'd wo thoroughly know what you mean by tho word " kiteliener." We consulted our artUte of the kitchen, wlio show(!d us a rather largo iron vesHel, with a lid. for placing tho water in, and with a brass tap iu front for drawing it off, wliich, when placed over tho oveu at the side, or over the fire with a moveable hob, will always give a supply of hot water when needed. ThoKo "kitrhonera" t re used in public-houses for supiilvinc clean hot waterto mix with some- thing stronger. N'ow, such a kitchener so placed that it could be heated at pleasure, and yet be fixed in its position, would be rinito snfiicioDt to keep tho frost out of a house on the other side of a wall, 50 feel long by ? feet wide. What you would want would be two holes, one within 8 inclies of the top," and one within an inch of the bcittom, and each drilled to receive one-mch pipes to go through the wnll, and there bo Joined by a socket-joint to three-inch lipes to heat the house, two of which, if the house is not lofty, would do; but if 1'2 or more feet in height at back, three would be better. In such a case, h(iwever, tho water iu tho boiler must always be as high as tho top pipe, and thfl pipes in tho ho'iso should neither be higher nor lower than those small pipes that come at once from the boiler. Tho water will not circulate woU il taken at nil below the level of the Ititchenor. and it must not go hitrher il it is supplied with a moveable lid. If tho kitchener lias a close lid, and ia supplied by a small pipe from a greater height, the hot-water pipea may go as liigh as the supply cistern. Altogether the kitchener, or what we 'describe as such, will not answer so well and with so little trouble as a boiler at the back of the kitchen range. Even iu such a case the matter of levels must bo considered as stated above. Wo were in hopes wo could heat a long glass corridor from a large kitchen-range; and it could havo been done easily but for the fact that the kitchen-range is considerably higher than tho floor of the place t > ho heated, and for par- ticular reasons, Buch as doors, &c., it was necessary that tho pipes should not bo higher than merely placed on tho stone flooring. Such s house as yours will also bo hulpyd by tho kitch'^u chioinev; and this would be done more eflectually if near tho fire-place the wall was made thinner, or if an arch of 2 or .'J foot was made, and an iron plito inserted inste id of brickwork. Such a kitchen chimney will give out ft great deal of heat. 1 f the kitchener or boiler should bo too troublesome, we would recommend an iron stove of the kind mentioned at page 440. Removino Leaves of Sthawberrieb (.1 Lfnrmrr).— We would not ra move luxuriant leaves from •^trawberrj- .dants wbil'rJt swellinit their fruit ; hut if you think they are rather too strong, apply next season a little dry litter on the surface instead of dung. Roses from Ccttings {A Lady).— Tho best time to propagate Roses from cuttings is immediately tho dowering is past. Any shoots that havo bloomed are sure to have tho wood sufBcieutly ripeued. or any shoots of an equal age with the flowering shoots are eligible for cuttings. Tho cuttinuH, therefore, should bo taken from the wood of the current year, and the time to tako them is immediately after thfit of blooming. The cuttings may bo from 4 to fi inches in length, and have three or more buds—eyes or leaves. 'The base of the cutting should be cut off with a sharp knifo transversely below the lowest bud or leaf, the leaf being re- moved, and the leaf next above, or for a distance of two-thirds the length of the cultini,'. Tho cuttings aro to be inserted eiualv two-thirds their length in pots, in a compost of equal parts of sandy loam and silver sand, the pots being well drained, resting the Kisc of tho cuttinj? on tho drainage. They m-y then be placed in a cold frame. keepinff them close, and sprinkled with water every morning, shade being ofTorJed them by means of a covering of mats. It will sufTice if the cuttings have two joints, ono being inserted in the soil ; but it is better if they havo three, two inserted in tho soil and one out. Cnttimrs will also strike in the open ground, but tliey should not be put iu until the midd'o of September, and a warm exposure should be chosen. Cuttings put in in a framo wlU be well rooted in six weeks, when they must havo air and be repotted. Azaleas after Bi-oomino (South rro^rfonl.— Those phnuld be kept under glass and eucouriiged to make new growth by a rather close and moist atuiosphore, and that should bo maintained until tho growth is complete, and then it is not desirable to plunge them in the shade, but to keep them in a light, co.d, airj* house. If the plants were potted last voar (and they do not appear pot-boundi, we would not recommend n shift. If vou d 1 repot them, a cmnpost of two-thirds peat and one-third turfy loam' with one-six'.hof silver band, will grow them well. Melon (J. iJou-Ii-y).— It is impossible to name a Melon from the seeds. Eglantine (J". A/a/coIm).— What plant was meant by " Kglantino" by ancient writers has been disputed, but we are of opinion that they BO niiinod what we term the Sweet Briar. Sh.akspeare puts into tho mouth of Ubcron the linos— " I know fl bank whereon the Wild Thyme blows, Wlicro Ox-Iii'H ^^^ th'- mxldm? Violet ffroviS : Qui;e over-c;in«'pie.l with lu'^h Woodl'iro, Wilh sweet Musk Roses, and wilh Eglantine." So tho Eglantine could not have been the Woodbine ns some frappose. and in " Cymbeline" the same poet speaks of the sweet perturoo of the Eglantine's leaves. Old Gerarde snvs— "£f:l«»ti»i<'. t^**^ *» Sweet Bner, aud Turner, o stiU older herbalist, caUs it " EaltnUne, or Swclo Brere. JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 4, 1867. Atpi^ Tree in Piggerv-tard (A. ^.).— It is not unlikely that tbe Apple tree will be destroyed in time by tbe saturation of tbe soil with the uiiue and waRhinps of the dung; but it will not suffer so long us tbe ground is not excessively charged with those matters. Apter-usks of Pit employed fob CnTTiNos tFred). — You may put a barrowful of hot dung under each hpbt, and cover it with 9 iuche'i of fresh loam ; pUnt under each licht a stronR Cucumber plant. You may, therefore, grow Cucumhtrs. and bad it been tbouRbt of sooner you mifiht have had a crop of aiilona. Tbe frame may also bo employed for strikinc cuttinf,':* of such plants as Verbennt; for furnishing other cuttings in spring, which should be put in early in August. Removikg Balsam Bods {J. Bowlby).—To have the plants in lull flower at the beginning of Aucjust tbe buds should not be pinched off after this, but they may be thinned, which will increase the size of the blooms left. Melons not Setting (J County Cork Gardener). — We f- nr you have neplecied to thin out tLie bhoots. so that they are much too close tofjetber, and being thus deprived of light and air the blossoms do not open freely. The watering should be in proportion to tbe growth, and excessive vigour It seened by reducing the watering and giving abundance of air. We presume yon have stopped the shoots and laterals, and also thinned them. l>o it now if you have not, and tike out tbe point of each lateral at ono joint above tlio fruit. If you do this and give air early in the morning we thiuktbe fruit will set. Early Peas Sown in August (Idem).— It you sow early Peas early In August they may. if tbe season ba mild, come into beai-ing in November ; but their produce would be better insured were they sown in the second week in July, which we think quite late enough. Names op Plants {B D i.— I. \diiiitum m icrophyllnm ; 2, Pteris cre^ tica ?l; 3, Adiantum capillu^-Venoris; 4, Aspidium f^leatum; 5, Aaple* nium fliccidiim ; 6 Pteris; 7. Scolopendriun vulgnre ; 8 Lastrea dilatftta; 9, Atbyi'ium Filix-foemina ; 10, Lastrea Filis-maa ; ll.PolypodiauiTulgare; 12, Pteris s^rrulita; the sbiub is Leycesteria formosa. (W. F. R. and J. D. D.).— Stflchya Ima+a. [B, T7.) — Cystopteris fragilis. {A Constant Header, H.). — 1, Rhus cotinus ; 2, Colutea arborescen:* ; 3, Pjtus inter- medii (?| ; 4- SpirjBi filipeudula ; 5, Symphytum officinale. Ji. Q.).— 1, Philadelpbus cnnmarias; 2, Lonicera invulucrata; 3, Pergularia odo- ratissima (A Constant Rea-ie.r). — i, Erigeron epecioaum; 5, Spiraea chamn3drifo]ia; 1, Tradescaatia virginict ; we cannot name the garden hyb id Rose^ {A Subscriber). — Boib the Willows are forms of Sallx nigriuans, and t'le Peru is Cystppleris fragilis. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS in the Suburbs of London for the Week ending July 2nd. Date. THEKSIOMETER. Wind. Rain In inches. GBKBBAli RZUABSa. BAfiOMETEB. Air. Earth. Max. Min. Mai. Min. 1 tt. dp. 2 ft. dp. Wed. . 2R Thnrs. 27 Fri. .. 28 Sat. .. 29 Snn. .. SO Mon... 1 Tnes. . 2 Mean 80 J?6 SO 622 80.602 30.408 80 079 29 819 29.735 30.4fi8 80 419 80 474 80.273 29 860 29.733 29.654 74 82 70 81) 82 83 71 87 40 85 42 47 44 65 63 Bl 63 02 63 r4 65 69 69 59 60 fiO 60 61 NE. N.E. N.E. SW. S W. E. W. .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .24 .04 BCoIti nnd dry; very clear; very fine at nipht. Quite cUdidless; clear with dry air; very fine. Overcast ; low dusky white cloud.s ; very line. Clear :iuti cloudless; very fine; cloudy. Hot; very fine tbrnn^hout. Hot with slit-'ht dry hnze ; hot and dry ; cloudy. Close and warm ; showery ; fine rain at night. 80.221 30.126 77.48 42.85 62.85 69.71 0.28 POULTSY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHROBriCLE. GAME FOWLS. In breeding in-SDcl-in much depfnds upon the constitntion of the brood stock, and putting youth to youth. There should be no hidden taint of disease in the birds selected for breeding- purposes. They should have every feature of good health ; indeed, success is mainly attriLulable to the health and vigour of the brood slock. By strict attention to these rules one may breed for years with success from the same stock : and when a cross is introduced let one that is equally healthy and good be chosen ; but once let the seeds of disease be sown, and it will be found they will not be easily eradicated. We are all more or less prejudiced in oni tastes and opinions ; and although I have every respect for "Newmarket's" views as to the foim of the Game cock's tail, I still strictly adhere to previously expressed remarks. I believe that, as a rule, old cock-fighters preferred the Bpnrred hen ; but, as I have stated before, I can perceive no real merit iu the aipendage. I have seen several spurred black hens. The tw^» I ;illuded to in my previous letter were both equally good, pciljaps the spangled hfn was the hastier and quicker fighter. I have often teen when alad young Ijroods from these hens, hatched in the early months of February and March, skitting and running about during the frost and snow, indifferent to the inclemency of the weather. Naturally healthy and vigorous, they were not so susceptible to the changes of tempeiatuie as the young broods of the present day. How mortifying it is, after nil our hopes and care, to have to witness the defective and shattered constitution of our brood, in a few days after their releaKO from the shell drooping and dying without apparent cause. These are great drawbacks in breeding, and deprive the pursuit of one-half of its interest. I fear that a great portion of our exhiliition stock is tainted with disease, and the birds thus hand itdown to their offspring. In regard to the colour of the "Slincbags" opinions vary. Some parties assert that they were a Black-breasted Bed with wheat-colnuied or Partridge hens ; others say they were Black- breasted Yellow Dackwings. Mr. lliehardson in his book on domestic fowls, page 23, states that the " Sbakehag," or " Shackbag," would appear, from the description of rixon and other writers, to have lieen an offshoot from the great Paduan or St. lago fowl, and the immediate descendant of the Gall us giganteus. This Padnan fowl was described by Ulysses Aldro- vand as having five colours — viz , black, white, green, red, and yellow; the body black tiugedwithgreen.and the tailof the same colour, with the base of the feathers white. I have seen several in Yorkshire which were pointed out to me as " Shacbags." They were Black breasted Beds with Partridge hens, and had small double combs. Several of these were fought, and thej were deep Game. If I am not mistaken, Mr. Aykroyd, of Bradford, bred both the birds that were exhibited by Mr. Brierley at Accrington, and I believe they are descended from Messrs. Scrimminger and Williams's stock. I thought the Black-breasted Red at the Accrington Show the best I ever saw, being particularly neat in all his points, and devoid of that coarseness and leggi- ness which we should at all times discard. The Brown-breasted Red is equally good, but was much out of condition — indeed, he ought not to have been shown. He has splendid feet, with a good back claw, and is rich iu colour. The birds I hav« seen belonging to Mr. Statter were good, but I fancy they are partially from Mr. Scrimminger's stock. I believe Mr. Brierley's Black-breasted Reds have had a cro^ of Brown Bed at some period ; indeed, I have a Partridge hen which came from Mr. Williams's yard, and she has dark eyes, and occasionally throws the cockerels blotch-breasted Reds. I do not know Mr. Scrimmiuger personally, but believe he breedfi excellent birds both for exhibition and the pit. I have seen some of Mr. Shield's Black- breasted Reds with yellow legs, and splendid short-feathered birds they were, very showy, and good lighters. Few breeders in Yorkshire formerly were so cautious in crossing so as to produce birds regular in feather and attributes. Whatever may be the courage and soundness of constitution of the birds bred for exhibition pur- poses at the present time, every one must admit that at no period were they ever bred more uniform in colour and feather. Some thirty or forty years ago there was a favourite breed in Yorkshire, but which is now rarely seen. It was a Black- breasted Bed with a very deep red hackle, back, and saddle, dark beak, and legs; the ends (,f the wings, instead of being of a clear bay, were black. Tbe birds were also very black beneath the hackle when clipped f.ir fighting, and from this colour they established the name of Black Hackles. In Craven, Yurk.shire, a favourite breed of White Game fowl with white beak and legs was much appreciated; the owner bred these fowls with great care, and was very successful. Ho had also a favourite breed of Black-breasted Beds from wheat- O'lloured hens; and amongst other kinds which are now, as formerly, in great favour, are Gingers with yellow and willow legs, Park Reds with clear brown breasts, Black-breasted Duck- wings with yellow and willow legs. Spangles, and a few Piles, Blacks and Furnaces. Tbe streaky-breasted Brown Reds which are now exhibited by York.->hire breeders, I imagine were in- ia\j «, 1867. JOUBNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. trodaoed into this coanty from Woroeaterahire, Stuffordsliiro, and Loioestersbire. We have also had a few from near New- market, broJ by a gentleman of the name of Cobden. At Bradford, llalifiix, and in their vicinitiea, no doubt the best birds for exhibition purposea are produced ; but for the pit there are mimy other localities where good birda are bred. The late Karl of Moxborough h.id a breed of LUckbrcaated Reds with wheat-coloured hens, but I believe the Duckwings stood higher in hia favour. Numbers of these were bred and fed in the vicinity of Halifax for the earl, by a man of the name of Holdawoith. — Yorkshirk. THE CLASHING OP EXHIBITIONS. It ncoda little reflection on the part of auy one at all con- Tersaut with poultry exhibitions to account for the occasional partial succesa of a number of them. Under present arrange- ments no other result could possible ensue, for bo lorg as two, three, or in some cases even fourehows are beingheld simultane- ously, neither first-rate specimena of poultry, a large attendance of poultry amateurs as visitors, nor a selection of arbitrators to award the society's prizes, can with any degree of certainty be insured at any one of them. The well-doing of the whole is affected, and not unfrequeutly have exhibitions from this cause, and this alone, been entirely done away with. It is a suicidal act, to say the best of it, for committeea to hazard their success by an obstinate determination " to carry out their individual show, whether others do so " (at the same time) " or not ;" and we have known many grievous disappoiutmeuts, and mnch loss of means, that every after-care could not make good, thus to result, and society after society has inevitably fallen to decay. This might with but little forethought be entirely aToided, for if committees as soon aa the day was fixed would give an early intimation of the date at which they propose to hold their meetings, nothing less than a most discreditable rivalry would cause other committees to appoint their respective exhibitions on the days already selected, and the columns of The Jodi-.nal of Horticcltuius are always open to the early promulgation of the information above referred to. Another great obstacle to general success is the practice of many committees to leave the appointment of judges to the last moment, that their names may not transpire before the meeting. That benefit can in any case arise from this mode of action seems to us exceedingly doubtful ; but this we know, that in many instances to which we could refer, either the par- Uea thus iuvited have been away from home at the moment, or some family arrangement has prevented immediate accept- ance when Ihey have been so unexpectedly requested to officiate. In this difficulty, at the outset so easily provided against, the telegraph is at once called into requisition, aometimes with eaccess, but aa frequently with renewed disappointment; a haphazard judge is obtained, and it is ea.sily appreciable that uncertainty throughout is imminent. Managing committees cannot do better than reflect on what we have tuua advined ; for " to he forewarned is to be forearmed " against these difficultiea. \morioa. The Birchen Grey colour often predominates OT«r theRed in the Malays there, and almostalwaya in theBrahmat; but when fonnd wild the red cocks and brown hcna prevail." Thus we have an African origin for Malaya and Brahma«, and, perhaps, Cochin-Chinas or Shanghaei also, aa well aa an Asiatic origin ! Aa to their wild type in Atda, the Gullua gigan- teua is undoubtedly that of the Malays, being thiok-combad, and in colour like the reddish Malaya. Brahmaa and Cochins iiiaij have descended through the Malaya from Gallua giganteus ; l)ut aome deem the Partridge Cochins to have been the aonroo from which their whole tribe have aprung. including Brahmas. If Malays gave rise to the Brahmas, the pea-comha are easily accounted for, though they would have descended through the Cochins or Shanghaea. If the Brahma should be found to bo the African bird, aa the Cochin is the Asiatic bird of this tribe, any little difference between tbem which may eiist would be easily recognised as coming from different continents oiiginally. I should have said in my last note on Brahmaa, that th« Dorking cross would give too long winga to Brahmas. I have not seen any Dorking-crossed Brahmaa at any of the exhi- bitions I have visited. If pea-combed Brahmas have any claim to a distinct orig^, I think it will rather he aa African than aa Asiatic birds. — that the pea-combed are of African, and the single-combed ol Asiatic origin — but it appeara they are much mixed with Malays wherever found. — Trevor, oidbbwisk Newmarket. BRAHMA POOTRAS PERHAPS OF AFRICAN AS WELL AS ASIATIC ORIGIN. I HAVE obtained a few further notes on Brahma Pootras which may be interesting. Whether wholly correct or not, they are certainly correct in part. " At Rio de .Iimeiro or St. Sebastian, the capital of the empire of Brazil, there are many Malays to be found, both of the Ked and Grey or rather Birchen breeds. Birchen Brahmaa are also to be found in the environs of this city without vulture hocks. (Shape of comb ia, how- ever not given). Reddish brown and Partridge birda of the Brahma type, as well aa tho.^e of a darkish cinnamon, are to be found in this locality, though not so commonly as the Malays." "The writer of these notes inquired where both those brcei^s, Malays and Brahmaa, came from originally, and was answered that they were brought to 'Rio,' in the slavera and trading yessela from the west cost of Africa, and a few from the Mozam- bique country on the east coast of Africa ; that they both were the common fowla of those coasts, and were to be found at Sierra Leone as well, which ia a British possession, and that the southern United States obtained both breeds in the same manner, aa did the West Indian Islands. The ti>»la' being thus imported into the Southern States of the Uoinn, will account for their being also found in the Noitheru Stales of BE\T3RLEY POULTRY EXHIBITION. The tenth annnnl Exhibition in connection wi'h this Society took place on June ^Gtli. The day throushont was most anspicions, and the arrangements, niidcr the personal manasoT-cnt of the active Secre- tary of the Show, left not a sinRle matter undone that the most aniions proprietor of competing poiiltrr conld desire. The fact waa, the Secretary-, Mr. Harry Adams, so well known amonij onr ponltry amateurs, aided by his own Tioallrv man (Briloy), took the whol« charge and management of the ponltry, ami thus withont a single mistake or mishap everything was carried through to the most satis- factory conclusion. It is a matter of pleasure to as to record, that never has there beea a case brought under onr notice in which a show thronghont has been held where all the pons have been so oicollent ; and we can with pet- feet confidence nssnre onr readers that, with the exception of the Gr«y Dorl-inrin. there was not a class that could have been selected at Beverley that wnnld not have done honoar even to the largest of OUT poultry e-xhibitionr,. It is a diffirnlty to assign nny reason why there should have been this vear so CTcnt a falling-oCT in this one particnlar class, as the Grey Dorlcinss at Beverley have heretofore been one of the most conspicuons breeds rejiresonted. This year, however, the deterioration was so sad. that had not the Committee most genoronaly determined that " every prize on the schedule should be given," to keep perfect faith with exhibitors, no doubt a portion at lesst of the Grey Dorking premiums would have been withheld altogether. The Game classes were such as are very rarely equalled : in fact, all tho great guns amonj Game breeders seemed to have reserved their best pens of Game birds for the Beverley Show. Mr. .Tas. Fletcher, of Stoneclongh. took the silver cup for the best pen of Game (Any variety) exhibited, with a Black Red cock, that was the admiration of every one, supported bj a beautiful Brown Rod, takinc second pri!:e also in the same class. The conditio of these birds wus perfection itself, and proved beyond een stitched together very ariistioolly elope to the roots of the f eatheorB, and so neatly as to cause not any inconTt-nience or expression of dis- comfort to the bird itself \Fhilst vie^vcd in the pen. Onr readers may form a very ready conception of this unpleasant affair, from a jocose remark of "a bystander, that "this rock must have surely belonged to a Venetian blind manufacturer." It did not, however, but was the property of Mr. Crosaland, of Wakefield. It is really a matter worthy of coueideration, whether the lustre of former succefises is not mate- rially dimmed bv the tarnish of such an exposition ; independently of the acknowledp;ed fact that not only, if fairly fhown. would this pen of C^^mc Bantams have won first prize in their own class, but in evtry probability the silver cup as well for the best pen of Bantams exhi- bited. Even as it was, the same owner took first prize with another very excellent pen in the same class, quite outstripping all other com- petitors. Some very truly bred Cochin Bantams were the cnp-winners, ft'nd both White and Black Bantams were pood and in capital feather. Mandarins, Carolinas, and Pintail Dvrls were to be seen in first- pate breeJinp plumage, which is a very remarkable circumstance ao late in the season. The I'if/eon classes were of the biphest character, and the show of German Toys was most unprecedented. A pen of the real American Passenper Piteous were public favourites, but their unceasing efforts for liberty detracted much from the pleasure of inspection. As before noted, the day being so very fine, the attendance was nnasually good. GAsre (Black-breasted or other Reiisl.—Firrit. S. Mntthew. Stowmarket. Second. J. Fletcher, Mnnchester. Highly Commeud^d. H. M. .Tnlian, Full ; J. Fletcher ; S. Matthew ; J. Barrow, Kendal ; J. Watson, Kuares- borough. Any oTHRit Vaptety.— FirPt, S. Jlfitthcw. Pecond, J. Fletcher. Highly Commended, W. Boyes, Beverley; J. Fletcher; Eev. W. J. Mellor, Col- wick Rectorv, Notts. Game Cock— First, Cup and Second, J. Fletcher. Highly Commended, S. Matthew; E. Ackroyd, Bradford ; J. Barrow. Kendnl: C. W. Brierlcy, Middlctin ; Rev. A. G. Brooke, Rnyton ; C. Challoner, Whitwell, Chester- field. Commended, B- Fopttr. Bevcrlev. SPANien.— First nnd Cup. J. Thresh. Bradford. Second. E. Jones, Bristol. Hiffhly Commended. Messrs. Birch & Boulter, fihetfield ; J. W. Cannon, Bradford. Commended, .T. Marchnnt, Rjilifax. DoKKiNGS — First nnd Cap, H. Lingwood, Xeedham Market. Second, J. W. Harrisnn, Ppnlding. CocniTJ-CniNA (Cinnnmon or Buffi.— First, R. White. Sheffield. Second, C. W. Brierlev. Highlv Commended, W. A. Taylor, Manchester; H. Mapplebeck: Mrs. R. White, Sheffield; H. Linpwood; Messrs. Gunson and Jeff-^rson, Whitehaven ; G. Shimpton, Leighton Buzzard, Beds; H. Beldon, Binpley. CociiiN-CniNA fAnv other vnrietvl —First and Cup, E. Tudmnn, Whti- church. Second, Rev. W. J. Melln'r. Highly Commended, J. Stephens, Walsall ; C. W. Brierlev : J. W. H.irrison. HAMBUROHsGold-spnnfrledK— First and Cup, H. Beldnn. Pecond, J. White. Wakefield. Highly Commended, Messrs. '5. & R. Ashton. Mottram. CJiesbire ; J. Walker, Knaresborough. Commended, Meesrs. Birch and Bonlter. Hameurghs (Silver spinsled). —First. H. Eeldon. Second, A. K.Wood. HlRbly Commended, J. Wnlkpr ; J. FielrliuR HAMBrnr.ns (Gold-pencilled).- First, H. "eldnn. Pecond, T. Wrigley, Tonp, Middleton. Hitrhlv Commended. S. Smith, Halifax. Hahbdrghs (Silver-pencilled).— First, H. Beldon. Second, H. Pickles, Skipton. PoLisn.— First. H. Beldon. Srcond. Mies E. Proctor, Hull. Polish (Anv other varietv). —First. R. Loft. Woodmr\nspy Second. Col. Stuart WortleV. London. Highly Commended, Rev. G. Hustler, Stilling- fleet, York; J.' W. Hflrrison- Oahe Bantams.— First, E. Crosslnnd. Wakefield. Second, Rev. W. J. Mellor. Highly Commended, J. R. Robinson. Commended, W. Mabon, Jedbursh. Baktams (Auy other vnriety).— First, H Beldon. Second, W. A.Taylor. Highly Commended. T. Harr'ison; J. R. Jesflop. Game Baktam Cock.— First, J. Fletcher. Second, E. Crossland. Highly Commended. C. W. Brierlev. DccKs ' Aylesburyl. - First, E. Leech. Rochdale. Second. Messrs. Bow- man & Ferman, Whitehiven. Hichly Commended. .J. W. Harrison, Spald- ing. Commended, J W. Harrison ; O. A. Young. Driffield. Ducks (Rouen).- First. E. Leech. Second. J W. Hai-ripon. Ducks (Any other variety).— First and Second, T. C.Harrison, Hull. Highly Commended, J. W. Harrison. PIGEONS. CARnTER.—Cort— First, J. Hawlpy. Bingley. Pecond. .f. Thackray, York. Third, J. Firth, Dewsbury. Hicbly Commended, R. H. Artindale, Llvei-pool; J. Hawlev ; R. Bellamy. Leven ; H. Yardley. Birminyham; R. Fulton, Dcptford; E. Brown; C. Eulpin. Commended. J. F>rth, Dews- hnry. H^tk— First, R. Fulton. Second, E. Horner, Hfirev.ood, Leedsi. Third. J. Hfiwlev. Highly Commended. J. Thacltrav; .T Firth, jnn.; T. C. & E Ntwl-itt," Epworth, Bnwtry ; H. Yardley : R. Fulton ; J. W. Hairi- fion; C Bulpin. Commended, R. Bellamy; J. Firth, jun.; H. Yardley; J. W. Harrison. Pouter.— Cocfc.— First. C. Cowburn, Leeds. Second, R. Fulton. Third, W. Watson, Beverley. Highly Commended, J. Th.TcUray ; 0. Cowburn; il. Brown, Sheffield. Cummeuded, J. Hawley; C. Bulpin. JT.'n.— First, E. E. M. Royds, Poehdnle. Second. J. Hawley. Third, R. Fulton. Highly Commended. J. Key, Beverley; C. Cowburn; T. C. & E. Newbitt; E. Ptilton: C. Bulpin. TcuBLERs (Almondl.— First, F. Kev. Second, C. Cowburn. Third. J. Ford. Hii-hly Commended, J. Ford ; J. Thackray ; H. Yardley ; J. Field- ing ; R. Fulton. Tumblers (Any other variety^ — First. R. Fulton. Second, J. Hawley. Third, J. Ford. *Hichlv Commended, J. Hawlev; J. Thacliray; C. Cow- bum ; C. Lythe, Cottiugham. Commended, J. Thaclu-ay : T. Statters, Barbs.— First and Second. J. Thackmy, Third, E. Homer, Harewood' HiRhly Commflnded;H.Ta!*dlevi R Pulton. Commended, E. Brown- Owls.— First, R. Fulton* S«cond«nd Third, J. Fieldinfi;. Highly Com- mended, S. Ypxdley; C. RiUpin- FANTArLK."— First, T. Ellrin^on, Woodmanser. Fecond. J. Hawley- Third, C CuKsons. Hlshly Cotaraended, H. YardVy ; T. C. & E. Newbitt ; J. W. Edge, Birmingham. Commended, H. Yardlev. Jacobinh.— First, E. Horner. .Second and Third. J. Thompson, Bingley, Trumpeters. — First, E. Homer. Second, C. Bulpin. Third, iJ-. Yardley. TURBIT8.— First. J. Marshall, Driffield. Second, C. Bulpin. lliird, J, Thompson. Higlily Commcndfid, U. Patterson, Melrose ; U. Yardley. NUNH. - Firnt, J. Mnrsbnll. Driffield. Second, C. Bulpin. Third, J. Thompson. Highly Commended. Rev. A. G. Brooke. D RAO ONB.— First, E. Taylor, Newland. Second, J. Hawley. Thirds E. E. M. Royds. Highly c'ommended, J Thompson ; C. Cowburn; J. W. Edge. Commended, H. Yardley; E. E. M. Royds. Any other VARiKTY.--Fir8t. F. Broemel. Second, C. Bulpin. Third, J. W. Thompson. Highly Commended, J. Thackray; H. Yardley: T, Statters; E. E. M Royds; H. Yardley; R. Fulton; J. R. Jessop; F, Broemel. Commended, J, Thackray; F. Broemel Selli.ng Class.— First, F. Broecoel. Second, H. Yardley. Third, .J. W. Thompson. Highly Coqamended, J. Hawley ; R. Bellamy ; H. Yardley ; E. E. M. Royds. Commended, J. Hawley ; J. Thompson ; F. BroemeL CANARIES. Belgian.— First, G. Grant, Beverley. Second, J. Kelty, Beverley. Belgian (Marked).— First, J. Wood, Beverley. Second, P. Tritschler, Beverley. Any othivR Varietv.- First nnd Second, G. Grnnt. Nest of Young Canaries (clear).— First, J. Downs, Beverley. Second, G. Grant. Nest op Young Canaries (marked).— First, J. Burton, York. Second, J. Downes. Beverley. Mole. — First, G. Grant. Second,.!. Cfimpey, Beverley. Redcap.— First, J. Kelty. Second, J. Campey. Edward Hewitt. Esq., of Birmingham, judf^ed the poultry; and Dr. Boulton, of Beverley, fulfilled the same duties in tho classes for Pigeons. rOULTRY SHOW AT BRIGHTON. Tms is an age of shows, aud we are not sore that poultry did not inaugurate them as the events of yearly occurrence at tho same place. It is more than twenty years ago that one was held at tho Zoological Gardens, aud tbey have gone on ever tince ; but in twenty years a new generation springs up. and brings its new ideas into the manage- ment. In some cases dogs and horses lend their attractions. In others, as at Salisbury and Brighton, the fine arts are enlisted. Pictures, articles of vertu, manufactures, all thint^s, are exhibited at the same time. It answers the purpose of filling the town, and those who are especially fond of only these attractions, being on the spot, visit all. At these county meetings machinery plays a great part, and the ex- hibition is no longer confined to mere ploughs, harrows, scarifiers, winnowing and horse mowing machines, turaip-cutters, and so on ; objrtu dc hurr, in the way of fireplaces, garden seats, are in great variety, and lately we have seen statuettes, aud figures in bronze. The ( round at Brighton was happily chosen, and much of the in- ternal arrangement of the Koyal Agricultural Society of England was profitably copied. The old Dorhinf/s were very good, and many of them very heavy, - the first-prize birds of Dr. Campbell were highly meritorious, and in marvellous condition, if the time of year be considered. Cliickena were also good, but there was in the prize pen an indication of gouty feet. As we published the names of the successful last week, we shall only now advert to those birds that demand especial notice. The "White Dorkings were all good, but weak in numbera. Game mado amends. The Brown Keds were capital, so were several pens of Black Beds. Tlie other class of Game showed a rarity in three pens of Blues. iSpnmsh were very good, both in numbers and quality. The hens showed best, as many of the cocks showed with disfigured combs from the last long winter. Adult Cochina showed badly ; they wera outnumbered by the Chicken class, and by the Whites. Brahma. Pootras were good in every respect, and the competition was close. The birds shown by the Marchioness of Bath were vei^ good. There were excellent fianibimihs in all classes, the Pencilled being better than the Spangled. The roUinds were excellent, and good enough to win against much greater competition. The Game i>a'i(am5 far out- numbered and outweighed their Sebright brethren. The Duck-wings were very good, and there were excellent Piles. Aylesbury aud Eonen Ducks were not ramcroas. Geese were ex- cellent. In the Variety class of Ducks, there were Muscovy, Buenos Ayrean, Blue, Grey, and Mandarin. The 7'urlrys were perfect, the first-prize in weight, the second in colour. We hardly ever saw birds so beautiful as the Marchioness of Bath's ; they were sold immediately. . rif/cons were excellent in most classes. Carriers showed largely. Tumblers were so equal in merit it was difficult to adjudicate. Jaco- bins. Fautails, Owls, Trumpeters, Barbs, and Archangels all perfect. In the Distinct varieties, a most excellent pair of Pigeons called Ice Pigeons were much noticed. We should like to know how they gained the name. The Judges were H. Loder, Esq., Tho High Beeches, Crawloy ; and Mr. Baily, of Mount Street, London. Tomtits* Nests ix an Inverted Flower-pot.— It may be worth wIiUq letting those among your readers who may be Jolr 4, 1867. 1 JOUKNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 17 intereeted in the habits of birds know the following ourioua ease : — The gardener had loft in a newly-eown-out bed a nine- inch pot turned upside down. Lilting it one morning he found 3 inches of moss below it, in which two tomtits' uesta were embedded — one containing only one egg, the other nine ; to which, however, a tenth hag since been added. The parent bird has sinco been sittinR on the whole ten eggs. She has an access only through the drainage-hole of the pot, which measures exactly 1 inch in diameter. In at that hole (.he, or rather they, must have taken all the moss. It will be interesting to find how she will get her young ones out through tho hole. — O. S. A., Ayrshire. AN IMPROVED PAYNES ni\Ti. I WAR much pleased to see in the Journal of May '2nd an article on Ligurians in Ireland, showing that tho sharp little foreigners are being domesticated 90 near home, and also up- holding tliat superiority over their black ueighbcurs, claimed by their tirst importer into IJritain, our master in apiculture, the " DnvoNsirii'.K 15ke-keki'EK," to whom we owe an everlast- ing debt of gratitude for his valuable oontribuliona to " our .Journal " on a subject which particularly interests all who keep bees. I have long been thinking of introilucine the Ligurian bee into my apiary, but have been deterred by the reasons men- tioned by " Hgirin." Those objections have, ho stales, been removed" by Mr. Woodbury. I fear that, having what is con- sidered here a large apiary and a populous ueiplibourhood (in bees), I should find it dillioult, if indeed possible, after going to the expense and trouble, t" keep the strain pure, as the Ligurians cross so readily. There are, doubtless, many who could, if they would, throw light on the subject, were they to surmount tljfir bashfulness to rush into print, and which deprives us of many valuable hints which might be learned from their failure or success. When recovering from an illness I altempteJ hive-making, and finding straw the only material I could manage (though none can compare with the bar-autl-frnme), I fiiucied I suc- ceeded in milking an improved form of Payne's hive, after this fashion : — Tho roof is made separate fiom tho body of the hive, and can he raised or fastened down. The lower part, or body of the hive, has a crown-board of pine pressed down, which keeps tho straw circular. There are three hoops formed of briars, tied with fine wire at the joinings, on the out- side, and one hoop ou tho lower part in side ; these keep tho straw in its plao,. and save stitching, which is at best but tedious work. The straw is upright, hard. and firm. The advantages in favour of this plan are easilj' seen : the straw of the roof being straight down, throws off the wet better than the old plan of adome roof ; the body has tho same advantage. The straw being quite unbroken, not being crushed or bent, it must form a far better non-conductor of heat or cold than whtn the straw in bruised, so the temperature must be more equable and ven- tilation more perfect. The hive, too, must be ranch more durable than (he old form, as the wet will not lodge about the stitches, where tlie old hives fail first. The roof is stitched with split briars, and the top bound round with tho same ; the binding is painted with a mixture of ochre, resin, and oil ; alno the ends of the straw of the body of the hive, as well as the hoops. The whole looks much neater than the old cottage hive, and needs no cap or hackle, the roof being perfectly waterproof. Tills is a very backward season. I have no swarms as yet, and there i.' little prospect of a good honey-hnrvfst. I siiall think myself fortunate if I can carry siifely through withnut having to feed up to weight in September next, or loifeit the title of — Bee Fbicnd. THE HONEY HARVEST IN SOMERSETSHIRE. My apiary is in a very poor way this year, owing to the miser- able spring and late summer. I have not had a single swarm or fi^n of cue jet (end of June). I have not sten a drone out, nor a single cell sealed up with honey — -in fact, my bees have been and are living from hand to mouth. Two hives died of starration in the middle of May, although I was feed- ing them, and two others almost followed their fate, and ara very weakly still. There seems to be no honey even now in the dowers. Altogether, so far, this promises to be the worst bee year in my pretty long experience, not excepting 18C1. — B. Sc 'W, LIGURIANS IN .JERSEY. At the recent show of the Jersey Itoyal llortioultura] Society, some Ligurians were exhibited under glass in juxtaposition with the common black bee, and, being the first of this beauti- ful variety of hive bee which have been seen in this island, they attracted much attention. We extract the following particulars from the printed description which was laid ou tho table with the bees. " ToK LioCRi.vN (Apis ligustica), on Yellow It.vliax Alt Bee. — This beautiful variety of bee is a native of the Alps. The merit of introducing it to EuKland is due to Mr. Wood- bury, the eminent " DEvoNsiiiiiE Bke-keei-eii," who obtained it from Monsieur 11. C. Uermann, of Switzerland, on the I'Jth of July, 1859, since which time it has become known both far and wide. " Their superiority over tho black bee consists in — that they are less sensitive to cold ; that their queens are more prolific ; they swarm earlier and more frequently ; they are abundant honey collectors ; and are more courageous and active in self- defence. " Mr. Tidey, of Manor Cottage, Noirmont, obtained a stock of those bees direct from the apiary of Mr. Woodbury, and they arrived in Jersey on tho "iOlh of June, 18G(), in tho most perfect order, and headed (Mr. Woodbury assured him), by a jierfeotly pure and beautiful queen ; and her majesty has begun the sea- sun by issuing ou the let of last Juno witli tho largest swarm Mr. Tidey has ever witnessed. This was followed on the 9th by a second swarm, to all appearance equally large. These t«o natural swarms Mr. Tidey has secured in Woodbury bar- frame hives ; ho therefore trusts they are now safely established in tho Island." QUEEN'S EXCURSIONS. I NOTICKD in one of my hives to-day at 2 r.M. tho qneen came out, and took a flight for about two minutes, and came back again. The bees that were upon the alighting-board seemed amazed at it, but upon her return were delighted, and followed her in, fanniug with delight. What seemed strange to me, it was the queen of a swarm that I hived la'itiug its conttnts, which will then be foui d to be nnaily free fiom brood. Our correspondent informs us that swarms in Ireland have this season been very late. Prepaying J. F. C). — It is quite certnin that you hflve been unfairly treated — as we have not heard the other party we use a mild term— but it is also certain that you acted indiscreetly, if the dig had died or been stohn after yon pind you would not have befn nble to have recovered ^onr money. We should proceed against the vendor without delay, and without any f jrbearanoe. _ POULTRY MARKET.— JuiT 3. _ _ Ocr supply increases. The time is arrived when we may expect an d s.d too influx of yuung poultry, s Liirgft Fowls 3 Snelier do 2 Chickens 1 Goslings 6 Ducklings 2 FieeoDS a. s. d to 3 6 2 « 6 1 9 2 6 8 y PbeaEniits Pnrtridisea GloUFe Guinea Fowls KiibbilE 14 15 TVilddo 8 9 Jal7 11, 1667. ] JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDBNEB, 1!> WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day of Month ""or Week. JirtY n-17, 1867. Averaee Tcmpcnilurc near London. Rain in last to years. San Rises. Snn Sets. Moon Rises. Moon Seta. Moon's Age. Clock before San. Tear, i 11 la 13 14 16 10 17 Tn P S Sns M Tu W Royal Horticnltnrttl Society, Promenade. 4 SONDAY AFTER TamiTY. Iloyal HorticuUurul Society's Bury Show [opens Day. 74.9 7.'-..6 75.H 74.0 70.5 7.';.9 76.2 Nistat. 60.5 50.8 51.8 60.5 60.4 49.6 S1.3 Mean. 82.7 62.9 6S.8 62.3 «)■) 02.7 C3.7 Days. Ill 13 H 14 20 16 15 m. h. 67aJ8 68 3 59 8 4 3 4 3 4 4 4 m. h. 18af 8 12 8 11 8 10 8 9 8 8 8 m. h. 21 of 8 21 4 18 5 10 B 07 6 38 7 14 8 m. h. 85af0 5 1 .SO 1 17 2 1 3 51 3 47 4 Days. 10 11 13 18 14 O 16 m. s. 5 8 5 16 5 38 5 SO r, 87 5 4S 5 48 192 193 m 195 196 ' 197 198 1 Prom ohRervntiona taken nenr London dnring the last forty years, the RTeraRe day tempnrature of tho week is 75.r,>; and in ni«ht temponiture DO.!,". The greatest heat was 93}°, on the llth, 1847; and the lowest cold 31 , oa the 16th,18i;3. The ureatost fall of rain wae ICO inch. PROPAGATION AND CULTURE OF THE nOLI,YIIOCK. 'DICIOUSI,Y pliiccd and used in moderation, tliere are few of our commoner plants capable of producinp; more cfleetive features in irrefTular flower cjardens and ornamental grounds tl an the Ilollj'hock, and a few words on its propagation and freneral manaf;ement may not be unacceptable, more especially to those of your readers who have notbitha filipendnla, a British plant though it be, for it is worthy of a place in the herbaceous border, along with its compeer, S. filipendnla flore-pleno. Prior wrote of this family, and so would I — " Peiiceful and lowly in tlieir n.itive soil, They ncitlier know to spin, nor cnre to toil ; Yft with confess'd mftt?uifi''''"'^c deride The vile ftttirc jind impotence of pride." — JI. H., Acklam Hall, Middlcshorough-on-Tces. FRUIT-THINNING. " It ia always a troubled anxious period, that of fruit-thin- ning — a time to be lived through as one best can, but not enjoyed," said Mrs. Stephen Taylor, of Rose Hurst ; but, then, Mrs. Taylor has little interest in the growth of fruit under glass, and always regards her husband's suggestions or expla- nations to his gardener or bits of gossiping to herself as com- plainings, and is very thankful that " the season can come but once in the year." She does not understand " why there should be so much talk and such a fuss about fruit thinning inside ; the Gooseberries, Currants, and Apples are left to thin themselves or go undone, and they are much more useful, as well as wholesome, to say nothing about the cost." Of course, Mr. Stephen retaliates, and will have it "that the little blackcaps thin the bushes sometimes too much for us ; and that there is sore to be a north-east wind come in with a vengeance when the Apples are about the si;^e of nuts, and shake them down, so that Nature does lier thinning in a whole- sale manner ; but, then, we cannot allow blackcaps or north- east winds in our orchard-houses or vineries." Poor Mrs. Stephen had the misfortune to marry into a large family, all proud of their fruit-growing, and what makes matters worse, they live near, and are always visiting each other, and comparing notes ; and their conversation, pleasant enough to themselves, sounds to the lady like the words of an un- known language. Brother Matthew says, " If she would cut an eye from a cane, and grow it, and fruit it, the dead words would come to have life ; and she might do so easily enough, see- ing she has no babies to nurse." But Mrs. Stephen thinks she has plenty of the trouble without entering the lists. Why, only last Kaster Monday, when they went to brother Jeremiah's to dine, ho carved so slowly, that the lamb became cold and stiff, telling about the number of his Peach blooms, " as if it mattered." And even when they were all ready for the return home, they would have a light, .and go in and see if the bloom was really setting on the Peach trees, nnd if the Vines had started in good order ; and brother Jeremiah carried the lamp all on the slope, as men usually do, until the oil, not very fragrant, dropped about. Nor was that all, for Mrs. Stephen said she bore away among her skirts more species of living insects than she knew to have existed. And then it is very tiresome going over to brother Matthew's farm, for he is always talking about "my Vines and mv drapes;" '* such promising bloom, such compact, properly thinned-out bunches." He makes long speeches, and declares " that any man who can save a couple of hundred pounds may sit under his own Vine, and eat the fruit thereof, and is quite sore it would pay good interest; his does at least, better than his railway stockat present." And he ifl sure to say all this when brother Watson is there, and his vinery cost more than £200, ami pays no interest any way, though it has been up more than (our years. He might have had a few bunches of Black Hamburgha the year before if lie had not fidlowed brother Stephen's advice, and cut away his fruit until what was left on the canea looked like Beans strung on slender threads, and hung down in a weary drooping manner until the weak threads broke or dried up, and the berries (ell away. Mrs. Stephen is " quite sure that all her husband understands about the matter is to eat the fruit and pay his bills." Yet, by theory, Mr. Stephen is a great thinner — never says to his gardener, "There, you have done enough." Mr. Mat- thew says " that his brother Stephen's bunches are always thin, and loose, and lanky, falling about on the dish when gathered as if they possessed some watery element, and were seeking their level." He prides himself upon his own bunches keeping their proper shape, sitting upon a plate or dish in a correct manner, not ashamed of their appearance." Mr. Matthew is a great worker ; but, then, he is large of limb, and strong of muscle, and he puts his heart as well as his hands into his work; his house is well built and well ventilated, and stands on a warm soil in an open airy situation. Mr. Watson says that that is more than half the battle, for his house is on low land, near to a river, and close upon a neighbour's plantation ; so close, indeed, that the trees not only shelter but shade, the heavy branches of a Sycamore sweeping right over his little lean-to vinery, and every gust of wind shaking about the myriads of green flies that crowd the under sides of the leaves. Then, too, the leaves choke up his back ven- tilators, keeping out the fresh air, and making perpetual lines and shadows, such wavings to and fro in his vinery that it is unpleasant to bo there. Nor is that all, they keep out the sunshine, so that the walls and floor grow damp and green, and when he complains, his obliging neighbour says, "Cut them. Cut them by all means if they trespass on your property ; they have no business, only let my side of the fence slune." So Mr. Watson cuts away in a half-do fashion ; for, afraid of taking too much, he takes too little, and ends with doing no good to himself, and no harm to his neighbour's trees. " There is one comfort, at any rate, Watson," says brother Matthew, "yon will not have much superfluous fruit to cut away; your thinning-time will be short. I hope you will not have to do like Jeremiah, buy tobacco-rag instead of tobacco. I cannot imagine however .Jeremiah has patience to grow Cherries and Plums in pots. Why, the heaviest crop I ever saw on one tree would just do for our Sunday dessert ;" but, then, Mr. Matthew had seven olive branches and a wife, and his brother lived alone. Then, too, tastes differ, for Mr. Jere- miah would rather have a good ripe Peach than anything in the world ; and Mr. Matthew, even at the risk of offending his brother, often declares " Peaches are no better than a mealy Potato or a good Swede Turnip." When the long days of May and June come then the thin- ning fever reaches its height, and Mrs. Stephen Taylor says it is dreadful living at Rose Hurst, for each brother wants to have all the Vines done after the manner of his own, and is quite sure they will be ruined if they are not. Though the ruin never comes, yet she fancies it lessens the necessary confidence every Vine grower should have in the plan he has adopted. Then the brothers at their frequent meetings at Rose Hurst, which is a halfway house, argue nnd dispute over their wine. Mr. Stephen pnffa away at his pipe, Mr. Matthew makes long speeches — so long that he is constantly having to relight his cigar, Mr. Watson sits and listens, as befits a yonnger brother, and Mr. Jeremiah thinks "it does not matter much what way Vines are grown, for it appears to him as if the Vine very 'much resembles corn, in that it will grow in various ways" under very different circum>tances. It is like the church on the hill, many paths lead up to it, it is not necessary all should journey by one ; some chose the fields, others the back-lanes, and some the dusty highway ; and it is all one if they are there before the bells cease to ring." After this there is silence for a long lime. Mr. Matthew gets his cigar on the full go, and Mr. Stei hen takes the oppor- tunity to refill his pipe, thrusting itdown hard, and then, push- ing the decanter close to his brother, says, " There, Jeremiah, after that you will do with another glass." '-fs JOURNAL OF HOETICULTDilB AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. [ July 11, 1867. But Mr. Jeremiah's eloquent speeches did not put an end to the disputation. It was carried on even more vrarmly than Jjetore ; if it was given up for a time, it was only to be taken up again with renewed vigour ; and then Mrs. Stephen said her brother Matthew would sit for hours under their Vines, and beg Mr. Stephen not to have his bunches so much spoiled as in the year before ; and then the gardener would laugh and say, " Lor bless you, sir, I shall take out pecks yet ; I am not like Mr. Meredith, of Garston (" I should think not," said Mr. Matthew in an under tone), I do not care for big, heavy bunches ; a pound is enough for any one bunch to weigh, unless you wish to show, and so sacrifice a Vine to the doubtful honour. When I lived at the Priory we used to cut out bushels." "More's the shame, wasting good fruit," replied Mr. Matthew, " let me have a bunch round and firm as a boulder, and weighing as much as I can get it, rather than soft, and loose, and long, like yours, Stephen. You thin the best away." " It is bad for the Vine," replies Mr. Stephen. " That is all nonsense, just an old theory. Gardeners are like sheep, fond of going one way ; then it is easier to work in an old groove than to carve out a new one; and you do not suppose, Stephen, that all is found out that might bo even about fruit-thinning." Then Mr. Matthew would go home to his Eose Villa and thin his bunches a little more than he had intended, and Mr. Stephen would say, " There, Andrew, I would leave them a little firmer than last year, I think we did too much at them ;" and Mr. Jeremiah would smile and say, " his Plums and Peaches gave him very little trouble ;" and Mr. Watson would sigh and say " his Vines gave him less, for he had no fruit to thin." And so after the storm there came peace, at least for a time. — Maud. EOYAL HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [The following report, which did not arrive in time for publication iast week, supplies faller details respecting the subjects exhibited than that which appeared last week.] Floeal Committee, Juli/ %uL — This Meetiiig, held on the day of the National Rose Show, was well sujjplied with novelties, many of thtni of first-rate merit. Mr. Hodges, gardener to E. "Wright, Esq., received a special certificate lor a small collection of superb cut Orchids. The spikes of Phalsnopsis and Acrides were most exquisite. Mr. Eraser, Lea Bridge Road, exhibited one of the best Gloxinias yet seen ; it was called Rose d'Anionr, and had a white ground with bright rosy carmine shading. A first-class certificate was awarded it. Mr. J. Mundell, gardener to J. C. Cnnliifc, Esq., Croydon, was awarded a special certificate for a well-grown specimen of Liliuui auratnm, witli a dozen fiowers. hut sadly disfigured by travelling. Messrs. Lee, Hammersmith, sent a large-leaded plant of upright gi'owth, under the name of Pledera catalpa-folia, but which is said not to be hardy. Me3.srs. E. G. Henderson were awarded a special ceiiificate for a Ijioap of new plants, which were tastefully arranged on the grass near the conservatoiy. Among them there was a dwarf Lobelia, called pumila elegaus, which, from its compact habit and fi'ee tioweiing, re- ceived a first-class certificate. Messrs. Henderson also sent a pretty group of Tricolored Zonal Pelargoniums. Lady Sheffield was selected on account of its neat foliage and colouring for a first-class cei-tificatc. A special certificate was voted for thi* whole beautiful gi'oup, in which were Mrs. Preston, Model Outline. Mrs. A. Henderson, and Reticu- iatum pulchellum, of which the leaves have a green ground spotted all over with yellow. Messrs. A'eitch sent a most beautiful collection of new and rare plants. Among them were ilm following : — Phajus species, which re- ceived a first-class certificate ; Begonia Veitchii. a most exquisite crimson flower, decidedly the flower of the Exhibition — first-class cer- tificate ; Gloxinia Madame de Smet, first-class certificate ; Gloxinia Vlaanderen, first-class certificate ; Gloxinia Topaz ; Gloxinia Rose et Cochinelle ; Croton moximum, with fine broad conspicuously variegated foliage — first-class certificate; Croton iuterruptum, first-class cex'ti- ficate ; and Croton irregulare, first-class certificate. These plants were truly beautiful. Abutilon Tliompsonii, with variegated marbled foliage, also shown by Messrs. Veitch, received a second-class certifi- cate, and Dracffina Moorei one of the first-class. Other plauts from the same firm were Adiautum conciuuum lutnm, Aralia organa, Taxus fastigiata aureo-variegata, which had been exhibited often before, and Selaginella Poiilteri, a seedling, with very fine wiry foliage, and quite distinct. It was awarded a first-class ceriiticatc. Mr. Andersou, Meadow Bank, near Glasgow, seut a collection of cut Orchids, to which a special certificate was awarded, and Mr. J. Mann, nurserymen, Brent- wood, had a lilnia Yeitchii ; Gloxinia Prince Teck ; (lloxinia Vlaanderen ; Croton maximum, iuterruptum. and irregulare ; Alocasia Bpecies, Adiantum conciunura latum ; Taxus fastigiata anreo-vaiiegata, Nierembergia rivularis ; Cattleya Dowiana ; Selaginellu Ponlteri. and Caladium Chelsoni ; also a second-class certificate for Abutilou TbompBOui. Mr. Bull received first-class certificates for Leopoldina pulcbra and .\ucuba japonica flavesceus, with young leaves of a golden hue; and Mr. Williams two of the second-class for a Masdevnllia and Oncidium. Of seedling florists' flowers Mr. Turner exhibited Mr. Fleming's boantiful Xosegay Pelargoniums Lady Constance Grosvenor, and Duchess of Sntlnrland. Mrs. Laing, another Nosegay variety of good habit, and with crimson scarlet flowers, exhibited by Messrs. Downie. Laird, it Laing. had a similar award ; as also Titania, a beautiful Tricolored Variegated Zonal, shown by Messrs. Carter, and Snowdrop, with green leaves broadly edged with white. The same firm was also awardtid a first-class certificate for Tropseolum Crystal Palace Perfection, a dwarf bedding variety. Mr. Wills, gardener to Capt. Le Gcndre P. Starkie, Hontroyde Park, had a first-class certifi- cate for his fine, bold-looking bronze and gold Zonal Pelargoninm Beant>'of Calderdale. and Mr. Hally, Blackheath, a like award for Nimrod, a variety with double rosj* crimson flowers. First-class cer- tificates were likewise awarded to Mr. W. Paul for Phlox Beautiful ; to Mr. Smith, Horusey Road, for Fuchsia White Unique, with large flowers, having a pure white corolla and pale rose-coloured sepals ; and to Mr. C. J. Pei-ry, Castle Bromwich, fage Itvl of the last volume, ^fuscats were not perfectly ripe ; the best came from Messrs. Bailey, Johnson, Sage, Tansley, and O^boru. Fiue-lookiug bunches of different kinds of rrontignans were shown by Mr. "Whiting, The Deepdene, near Dorking. Some well-fruited Vines in pots were exhibited by Mr* Guyett, Heme Hill. Peaches cr.nsisted for the most part of Grosse Mignonnc, BarringtOD, and Royal George, and Nectarines of Elrage, of Violette Hative, and Hunt's Tawny. Plums were confined to a very fine dish of Orleans from Messn. Lane, of (in^at Berkhampstead ; some fine Brown Turkey Figs werft shown by Mr. Osman, gardener to R. Holland, Esq., and Mr. Sage, gardener to Earl Brownlow ; and of Chen-ics there were good dishee of Black Tartarian and Pllton. Mr. Turner exhibited a branch of Frogmoro Eitrly Bigarrean, loaded with fruit. Of this excellent variety, which is ripe three weeks before the Bigairean, a figure an^ description will be found in our cintli volume. Strawberries were not remarkable for their perfection. The best came from Messrs. Widdowson, Record, and Hale. Dr. Hogg, a finro new variety, was shown by Mr. Turner. Finely ripened pods of Vanilla were exhibited by Mr. Bennett, gar- dener to G. S. Foljambc, Esq., Osberton, and Mr. Fraser had a collec- tion of fruit trees in pots in fine bearing. BIRMINGHAM ROSl^ SHOAV. The sixth annual Rose Show, held in tlie noble Town Hall on the 4th and 5th inst., was a very satisfacto»7 Exhibition — indeed, far better than could have been expected, even in London, in so nnfavonr- able a season as this has been. Although as a whole it did not prove so effective as the Rose Shows at Kensington and the Crystal Palace, this result was mainly attributable to the place of exhibition, from its squareness, admitting of no long Hues of tabling, and the stands had therefore to be distributed, not on one or two long rows of tabling, but along several in the body of the Hall and in the galleries. The consequence was that the genei-al effect — at least when the public were admitted — was not so good as at the Shows just named, for the display had to be viewed, not fn mns.' fine in colour ; Charhis Lawsou, Pien-e Netting. Souvenir de la Malraaison, Mar. gnerite do St. Amand, Maurice Bernardin, Ab'^l Grand, Comtt:se- Palikao. and Madame Furtado. Jlessrs. Panl S: Son were third, and had veiy good tru'^ses of Madame Victor Verdier, Comtesse de Cha- brillant, Mrs. C. Wood, Alfred Colomb, Joseph Fiala, Princess Mary of Cambridge, Prince Camille de Rohan, Fisher Holmes, very fine ; Duke of Edinburgh, Maurice Bemardin, Mdlle. Emain, Niphetos, &:c. Mr. Cant, who was fourth, had also good flowers. The stands of 48 varieties, three trusses of each, were very effective. Mr. Keynes was first with Comtesse Palikao, Beauty of Waltham, Victor Verdier, Mdlle. Bonjiairc, Princess Mary of Cambridge, Maurice Bernardin, Souvenir de la Malmaison. Pierre Netting. Jn!c« Margottin, Alba Mutabilis, Abel Grand. iSfadame Vidot, Afadame Charles Wood, Marguerite de St. Amand, and good examples of Bomi) others. Messrs. Panl & Son, who were second, had Beauty of Wal- tluim, very fine; Mdlle. Bonuaire, likewi.se very beautiful; Alfred Colomb, Charles Lefebvre, Pierre Notting, Josephine Reanhamaie, beautiful, delicate rose colour ; Dnchesse dc Caylus, Olivier Dcl- homme, Exposition de Brie, Gloirc de Dijon, Fram^ois Lonvat, and Lord Herbert, fine, but rather past its best. For three trusses of 2*1 varieties, Sir. Cranston was first with America, large and verj- fine; L'Esmeralda, bright in colour; Mrs. Rivers, Senatenr Vaisse, Prince Camille de Rohan, Gloiro de Dijon, magnificent; Vainquenr de Goliath, splendid in colour? Beauty of Waltbam. John Hopper, V. Verdier. and Baron Adolphe de Roths- child. Mr. Cant came second with fine examples of Mario Baumann, Le Rhone, Pierre Netting, Prince Camille de Rohan, very fine ; Jules ifargottin, Comtesse de Chabrillant, John Hopper, Rubens, Madame Charles Wood, Victor Verdier. Maurice Bemardin. Exposition de Brie, Alfred Colomb, and Margxierite de St. Amand. Mr. Keynes who waa third, had Madame C. Wood, very fine ; Prince Henri des Pays Bas, Joseph Fiala, and excellent examples of several other varieties already named. For single tmsses of 24 varieties, the competition was open only to Nnrser^-men in the conntiea of W^arwick, Worcester, and Stafford* 24 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 11, 1867. Messrs. Perkins, of Coventry, were first ; Mr. Jackson, Kidderminster, second ; Mr. VeiteRans, Chad Valley Nursery, third ; and Mr. Jen- ninfjs, Shipston-ou-Stour, fourth. For 1'2 varieties, the competition was lilicwise local. Messrs. Perkins were again first ; Mr. Verttfjans, second; Mr. Pope. Gib Heath, third; and Mr. J. Jackson, fourth. Some good blooms were exhibited in these divisions. In the Amateurs' class, the best -IS came from the Rev. P. M. Smythe, Solihull, and most excellent they were. Amouf? them were beautiful examples of Gloire de Dijon. Senateur Vaisse, MaurJce Ber- nardin, Duchesse de Caylus. Vicomte Vigier, Madame KnoiT, Marcchal Niel, Mrs. Kivers, Louise Maijnan, exquisite ; Prince Camille de Rohan, and Madamo Boutin. Mr. C. J. Perry, of Castle Bromwich, was second, and his name is too well Icnown in couuectiou with the Rose to render it necessary to say that he, also, exhibited veiy fiue blooms ; indeed, he pressed the Kev. P. Smythe vei-y closely. La Brillante, Gloire de Dijon, Due de Rohan, Madame C. Joigueaux, Charles Lofebvre. Acidalic, Senateur Vaisse, Laurent Descourt, Maurice Beniardin, Paul De la Meilleray, General Jacqueminot, Madame Victor Vcrdier, Madame W. Paul, very rich in colour, and Mrs. liivers, as shown by him, were excellent. Mr. Brown, gardener to Mrs. Alston. Elmdou Hall, who was third, had also several varieties in ^reat excellence. In 2-4 trusses, the Rev. P. INI. Smythe was again first. His Due de Rohan, Beauty of V\''aUhani, Caroline de Sausal, and several others were most excellent. Mr. Hunt, of Leicester, was second ; Mr. Perrj-, third ; and Mr. Brown, fourth. In the division for 13 varieties, Mr. Perri" was first, showing beauti- ful examples of Gloire de Dijon, Gcn('ral Jacqueminot, Prince Camille de Rohan, Madame Julie Dartvn, John Hopper, Senateur Vaisse, Charles Lefebvre, and Madnme Charles "Wood ; Mr. Hunt, of Leices- ter, being second, and Mr. Chawuer, Lichfield, thud with very good stands. For 12 varieties, Mr. Brown was first ; Mr. Perry, second ; Rev. P. Smythe, third ; Mr. Hunt, fourth. In the divisions for 24 and 12 v.arieties, open to residents within fifteen miles of Stephenson's Place, Birmingham, the prizes were taken in the former by the Rev. P. Smythe, Mr. Brown, Mr. Periy, and Mr. Cooper ; and in the latter by Mr. Brown, the Rev. P. Smythe, Mr. Pen-y, and Mr. Cooper. In the divisions for 12 and 6 varieties, open only to amateurs residing within four miles of Stephenson's Place, Mr. Cooper, gardener to Miss Andertim, Moseley, was first in the former ; Mr. Allen, gardener to W. Mapplebcck, Esq., second ; and Mr. Lowe, Edghaston, third; and in the latttr Mr. Cooper was also first ; Mr. Wiiin, Selly Oak, second ; and Mr. Allen, third. Messrs. Smith, Parnell, and Sarrington also took prizes in a division for amateurs who had never before won a prize. In the different stands shown in the above divisions there were many most creditable blooms. New Roses were not vei"y numerously shown. The best 24 came fi'om Mr. Keynes, whose hlooras were excellent. Of these the finest were Mdlle. Marguerite Dombrain, Madame Pillion, Mdlle. Marie Rady, Prince de Porcia. A Ifred Colomb, Abel Grand, Charles P»ouillard, Josephine Beauharnais, and Hippolyte Flandrin. Messrs. Paul and Son wci-e second ; the finest in theii- stand of those not already men- tioned were Thorin. bright jink ; Exposition de Brie. Madame Hoste, and Frederic Biborel. Among the 24 from Mr. Cant, who was third. Dr. Andry, Duchesse de Medina Copli, and Jean Lambert were fine. For six trusses of any new Rose sent out in the spring of 18u5, 1860, or 1S67, Messrs. Paul & Son were first with Alfred Colomb, and se- cond with Exposition de Brie, whilst Mr. Keynes was third with Mar- guerite de St. Amand, and fourth with Princess Mary of Cambridge. Mr. Turner's seedling Miss Ingram was also shown. In other divisions Mr. Vertegans exhibited Moss Roses in good con- dition ; Messrs. Paul & Son the same, also Summer Rosea, and beautiful trusses of Tea and Noisette varieties. Vases, haskets, and some beantiful bouquets of Roses were also exhibited. The first prize for a vase was taken by Mr. Cole, of Birchfield ; the second by Mr. Ver- tegans. T. Lloyd, Esq., received a first prize for the best design for ornamenting an entrance hall ; it was simply a large pyramid ol Roses. Mr. Vertegans was second with a basket tastefully filltd. Of bouquets, the best came from Miss Colo, of Birchfield, and Miss Mort. Both were very pretty. Among dinner-table decorations there were al?o some pretty designs. The prize was awarded to Miss Evans, The Mount, Shrewsbury, and most deservedly so. The base was circular and covered with Lycopods, edged with Ivy, and having a few Roses dotted over it. From the base rose a twisted rustic stem, en- twined with small-leaved Ivy, and supporting a wooden circular top- dish covered with Lycopods, and containing Moss Roses, surrounded by white oSes, together with Grasses and Blaiden-hair Ferns. Miss Mort's second- prize arrangement was also pretty. Along the centre of the tables were ranged specimens of the pretty variegated Acer Negundo, Coleus Verschaffelti, and other plants ; whilst beneath the orchestra Mr. Jephcote, of Balsall Heath, and Messrs. Felton & HoUiday exhibited Ferns and ornamental-leaved plants. Mr. Watson, of St. Albans, also produced his fine Tricolor Pelargoniums Mrs. Dix and Miss Watson ; and Mr. Cunningham, The Forge, Bnrton-on-Trent, the pretty variegated Ivy-leaf, called L'Elegante. A stand of new Verbenas, from Mi'. C. J. Perry, must not be passed over. It ci'^ntained James Birltbeck and Miss Turner, two fine varieties, which have been noticed in another column ; In- teresting, salmon pink, with a white eye ; Sunbeam, salmon rose, and others. Messrs. Perkins, of Coventry, also exhibited a collection, As usual, there was a good display of wirework, garden omameuts. and cutlei-j'. THE NEW PEAS. (Continued from Vol. XII., page 449.) The Fruit and Vegetable Committee of the Royal Horticul- tural Society continue their experiments at Chismick, and the following is a report of the conclusions at which they arrived at their meeting on Tuesday : — Princess Royal, second early white Marrow, is a first-class Pea, from 2 feet inches to 3 feet high ; pods large and broad, with from seven to eight Peas in each, of excellent quality ; vigorous constitution, and abundant bearer. The ripe seed is large, smooth, round, slightly indented, of a very clear whitish appearance. Cattell's Kent Rival is identical with Princess Royal. Somersetshire Early Prolific is very similar to the old White Prussian. It is a small round white Pea, about 2 feet high, tolerably prolific, with small but well-filled pods. PeaboJy is another Pea of the same class, about 18 inches high, not of any merit. Laxton's Prolific Longpod is very similar to and no improve- ment on Prizetaker ; about 5 feet high, with large, full, deep green curved pods. An abundant bearer. Sample somewhat mixed with a white variety having the same general appearance. Green Prolific (Froggat), is Prizetaker. Green Marrow (Wrench), larger sample, with broader and larger pods, and a somewhat stronger grower than the old Green Marrow. A very good Pea. Hannaford's Favourite is a much-mixed stock of green Mar- row Peas of no merit. Blue Excelsior and Knight's Blue Emperor are identical; a second early green Marrow, about 5 feet high, with fair-sized pods of a pale green colour ; very prolific. It resembles in general appearance when growing the Champion of England. Ripe seed of an olive green colour. Early Surprise is somewhat larger than, and an improvement on Blue Excelsior. A very good Pea. Carter's Improved Scimitar is a good stock of Scimitar. Carter's Surprise, a Blue Imperial, of the same style as Scimitar, about seven days later, with straighter pods ; very prolific. Wonderful (Maclean's), white wrinkled Marrow, is a first- class Pea, about 3 feet high, with fine, large, well-filled pods ; excellent flavour. An abundant bearer, and of vigorous con- stitution. Prolific (Maclean's), white wrinkled Marrow, rather dwarfer than Wonderful, very prolific, fine flavour, and most excellent. Nelson's Vanguard, white wrinkled Marrow, two days earlier than Alliance, pods rather short, does not fill well, very prolific. Nutting's No. 1, wrinkled, is identical with Sudbury Al. An excellent early white wrinkled Marrow, three days earlier than Alliance, with larger and better-filled pods. An excellent Pea. Little Gem (Turner), blue wrinkled Marrow, is a very fine Pea, fropi 9 to 12 inches high, abundant bearer, and of first- rate quality. A few days later than Sangster's No. 1. Ex- ceedingly good for pot-culture. Multu'm in Parvo (Nutting), resembles Little Gem, is the same height, but has somewhat broader pods, and is a few days later than that variety. Nutting's Early Seedling is another Pea of the same class, as early, but taller and with somewhat broader and shorter pods than Little Gem. A good Pea. Princess of Wales, green wrinkled Marrow, is very similar to Advancer, a few days later, and with somewhat smaller pods ; prolific. Ripe seed light green. Premier is a first-class green wrinkled Marrow, about 3 feet G inches high, with fine large pods and Peas of excellent quality ; rather later than Veitch's Perfection, vigorous constitution, and abundant bearer. Smithies appears to be an indifi'erently selected stock of either Veitch's Perfection or Premier. Laxton's Leader is very closely allied to, but no improve- ment on Veitch's Perfection. Dickson's Yorkshire Hero, green wrinkled Marrow, is very similar to Maclean's Hero, dwarfer, and three or four days earlier than Veitch's Perfection, vigorous constitution, and very prolific. July 11, 18B7. ) JOUaXAIi OF HOB'BICULTURB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. S5 - Maclean's Hero, green wrinkled Marrow, ia a few days earlier and dwarfertban Veitch's Perfection. A prolific and very good Tea. The I'lince (Stnart & Jlein), green wrinkleil, ia a first-class Pea, with n fiiif vif^oroun CDtisfitution, from ;j fly direct from Mr. Taber, owing to its being reported that there was a spurious stock in the market. \ near neighbour of mine operated at the same time with Sangster'6 No. 1. said to be from a " pure stuck " obtained from a reliable source. Wo sowed at the same time, soil and position being of a similar cliaraoter in each case. Dy some days Taber's was the first to bloom, to slat, and to yield a picking — not merely a few pods, but a good picking. The foliage of Taber's is of a much darker green than Sangster's, and, indeed, any other early Pea I have yet grown. It appears, also, to be of a remarkably hardy constitution ; for while Sangster's appeared to " wince," and that consider- ably under the effects of the late frosts, Taber's came out of the ordeal unscathed ; Raspberries growing close by had the entire crop destroyed. The haulm grew from '2* to :i feet high, and yielded fine and well-filled pods from bottom to top. I obtained several good pickings, not two or three merely, as is usually the case with early Peas. I say nothing about flavour, as it is simply a question of hair-splitting. What is required in an early Pea is a hardy constitution, a dwarf branching habit, yielding freely pods in pairs, which should contain from six to eight Peas in each. These essen- tials I find to be more characteristic of Taber's Early Perfection than any early variety I have yet tried, and I cordially com- mend it to my brother amateurs as a good variety, and well worthy of their attention. — H. A. STErniixs, Ealing. RHITBARB. A NTW Oia\NTU' VAIUETY — CCI.TURE — COOKERY. Mr. Mii.i.er, nurseryman, of Andover. informs me that one stalk of this variety which I forwarded to him recently weighed upwards of :! lbs., stalk and leaf together. I had previously ascertained that they measured in all somewhat more than 5 feet in height, while the edible part of the stalk was '2 feet it inches long, and 6 inches in circumference. The circum- ference of the leaf was 18 feet. As there may be some doubt of its being a seedling from the Victoria, owing to the difference of habit, I beg leave to state that there can be no mistake on that head. The only varieties from which I have ever caved seed for sowing have been the Victoria and the Albert, and I have taken great care to have no other variety in flower at the same time. The seedlings from the Albert I have found to possess a very distinctive character ; round, smooth, and succulent in tlie stalk ; smooth and fleshy in the leaf, and this always round, never peaked ; and in all of these respects different from those of the Victoria. With regard to the variety to which I now direct attention, following the plan stated in a paper on the cultivation of Bhnbarb, which the Royal Horticultural Society gratified me much by publishing in their " Trantnctions " some years ago, I was struck with the dilference of its appearance from that of other plants raised from seed growing on the parent stem, and saved and sown at the same time while it was yet in the seed-pan, and almost immediately on its appearing above ground. In consequence of this, at the proper season, I selected it from among the others, and planted it in a situation where I could observe its progress. 'The result is the present variety. Allow me to remark, for a reason wliich will immediately ap- pear, that the longevity of the Rhubarb is somewhat marvellous. I found in my garden here a bed of what, in every respect ex- cept in want of colour, is a very excellent variety. For more than forty years I have, every season, gathered from it for use, and this season found it in a state of more vigorous growth than it was when I began to do so. After saying this, I need hardly add, that it has been well manured, and that it never has been forceil. The effect of forcing in weakening and injuring Ibis plant is scarcely less remarkable than is the length of time during which it retains its health and vigour when this is not done, and when otherwise not properly treated. In this case the Rhubarb may. indeed, be considered not merely a perennial, but almost, if not altogether a perpetual plant. The bed above referred to, I know for certain was planted fully eighty years ago. Contrasted with this, I ni.ay mention that I had a very excellent seedling variety growing to a very large size. This I forced for two, but it may have been for three years con- secutively. Tlie consequence has been that, although the last time this was done was many years ago, it has never yet, and probably never could recover the injury caused by this weak- ening and exhaustive process. In its present dwarfish ap- pearance no one could recognise, if they had seen ii, the original vigorous and healthy plant. The inference I draw from this is, that except where the plants are in suflieient numbers to sacrifice those operated upon. Rhubarb never should be forced. Where the quantity is moderate, and a suflicient supply for household use is required at the natural season, forcing is a practice that ought never to be followed. With regard to its general raanngement, I should say that, judging from my own experience. Rhubarb, in one respect, re- sembles the soil in which I have grown il ; the remark, how- ever, applies to the soil of North Hants in general. This, if left to' its own natural resources, is too poor to show itself generous. It is, however, just and grateful, always giving back in proportion to what it has received. The Rhubarb plant will do the same. It will always, within reasonable bounds, make a return according to the care and the expense bestowed on its cultivation. Acting upon this at the end of every season when the growth is entirely over and the decayed leaves removed, I give it a good dressing of short, well-niade stable manure, mixed with superphosphate of lime and wood ashes. Having allowed this to receive the autumn rains, so as to carry the fertilising principles down to the roots before the early frosts come to cool the ground, I cause the whole to be covered with a thick coat of leaves, remaining through the winter, impervious to the cold. Of the success of this mode of treatment I certainly have had no reason to complain. It is now a good many years since I gave up raising Rhubarb from seed. Having, however, re- tained what I had planted out while experimenting in that way, under the management described, the quantity I have in my garden never fails to call forth an expression of surprise from those who see it, with a look, which seems almost to say, " Is it not foolish to devote so large a space to the cultivation of a single plant 1 " All I say on this head is, that were the quantity quadrupled I could tind use for it all. Coming at a season when no kind of fruit is to be had, my poorer neighbours are most thankful to receive it, and never tire of it for their Sunday puddings. To some of my richer neighbours it is equally acceptable, they not understanding, or not going to the trouble in its cultivation. The latter value it for the purpose of making a preserve, for which some of my varieties, from their superior flavour, are admirably adapted. These, I may mention, are all from the Victoria. In giving it for the latter purpose, I always request my friends to give their cook strict injunctions not to remove the skin. In doing this, along with the fibres that are attached to it, they deprive the Rhubarb of almost all its colour, and of a great part of its 26 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. July 11, 1B67. flavour. While injurious in this respect, the practice, which originates in ignorance, is otherwise quite unnecessary. In all stages of its growth the skin and fibres are, when dressed, quite tender, while in the process of preserving they are en- tirely dissolved away.— Chables Mackie, Quarlcy Rectory, Andover. POTATOES— EDGING FOR STRAWBERRIES. Seeing an article on Potatoes in your Journal last week (June 27), can you inform me where Myatt's Kidney was raised, as it has done well with us, though we have had severe frosts, and been three weeks later than usual in planting ? The crop has turned out well for all that, and I do not think there will be many second early Potatoes in the ground after this week. We have sold off our last lot at 2s. 9ii. per peck, which is a good price so late in the year. We had round the garden a large amount of old Box-edging, which I found harboured snails. We took it up, and in its place planted our Strawberries round the walks, and then to keep the soU, which is light, up to them, we procured some of the very largest oyster shells we could find, and have stuck them all round the edge — viz., a round one, and then a flat one, with the white inside to the walk. Besides keeping the Straw- berries clean and off the ground, they do better than anything I have tried before, and look neat. — Index, Wallasey, Cheshire. THE YUCCA AS A HARDY DECORATIVE PLANT. The Yuccas should never be planted in a bleak or exposed situation — in such positions they will only exist as unsightly fragments ; but give them shelter and deep soil, and we cannot find more effective decorative plants. Wherever artistic arrange- ment is attempted in the flower garden, the Yucca will prove an invaluable plant. In the most beautiful villa garden I have yet seen the Yucca forms a leading feature in the summer decoration. In the panel system of planting borders — so happily introduced at Archertield — the Yucca will come into great account ; but it is iu the large flower garden that the grand and diversified characteristics of the Yucca will be fully appreciated, and there I will leave the Y'ucca to be arranged by the correct taste of Mr. David Thomson, who is so charmingly working out of chaos a system of flower gardening which will raise the whole subject to a higher status of art and enjoyment. I will here crave a word for the genus Yucca as rock-plants. A clever writer in a contemporary some time ago wished the Yucca put out of the list of rock plants as being unsuitable. I fear the writer had never seen the Yucca on cultivated rock- work ; had he seen the Y. glaucescens in the autumn months, with its large pyramidal racemes of creamy white flowers rising up through masses of quartz rock, he would have looked upon it as a crowning beauty to rockwork. If any one set about planting a Yucca on rockwork in a position only suitable for Sedums or Saxifragas, a few flaccid leaves will be the result ; but give proper depth of any adhesive soil with moderate shelter, and I will engage that the Yucca will present features bold and picturesque, with such outlines and pyramids of blossom as have never been seen on rockwork in the British Isles with any other genus of plants. The Yucca will thrive on any soU, if deep, with a dry bottom ; the strong-growing sorts, as Y. gloriosa, grow more robust on loam — the richer the better. The fine graceful leaves of recurva, with the obtuse ribs de- veloped, are highly ornamental when the plant is grown in rich land. The varieties of filamentosa, I find, do best and flower more abundantly in peat earth. The variegated variety of the last named is a most charming plant, and when it can be bought in quantity at a reasonable price will be a great acquisition iu out-door decorative plants ; when grown in heat this elegant plant has no rival in its style for dinner-table work. The propagating of the Yucca is simple and easy, but to wait the natural iucrease of suckers from out-door culture is weary work when quantity is required. In large nurseries the common varieties can be purchased at moderate cost ; there are, however, many who love such things, but are necessitated to rely upon home resources, and it may interest some if we state here that, with a common frame with a little bottom heat, a nice stock of Yuccas can bo got up. If suckers can be got they will quickly root, and are at once cfi'ectivo plants. The knaurs will also make good plants, although not so quickly ; these will be found growing on the stem and roots underground upon old plants ; they should be cut carefully off and potted — much like Vine eyes — in any light rich earth, covering them about 2 inches, and making the soil rather firm in the pot. Very little water will be required until the green leaves appear above the surface, when plenty should be given. A word more on winter protection. In districts where much snow falls the large sorts must be lifted, or protected by wooden screens. I have seen conical hoods made of strong wiUowa which have lasted years, and protected a fine collection of Yuccas. The shelter of any open shed will be the best of quarters if the plants are put in earth and not too close together. We give no protection to Yuccas here (Kilkenny), as very little snow falls. When snow does fall in any quantity it is carefully shaken off the plants with switches. The past severe winter did not in the slightest injure Yuccas here, with the ex- ception of some young plants of species unknown as to name. — Chas. M'Donald (in Gardener.) DUTY-FREE TOBACCO. The question of duty-free tobacco is meeting with the attention it deserves, and the readers of The Journal of HoRTicuLTOEE are under an obligation to the Editors for their kindness in opening their columns to the discussion of a sub- ject of so much importance to the gardening and agricultural world. Numerous as are the patent powders, washes, anij fumigators annually introduced to the pubUc, it is generally admitted that tobacco has advantages as a wash and for fumi- gating which nothing else possesses. In fact, its only disad- vantage hitherto has been the high price, owing to the very heavy duty levied upon it. It may appear to some that the Government has been too restrictive in this matter ; but when the enormous revenue derived from tobacco is considered, it will be evident that the Lords of the Treasury have a serious trust to guard, and that they may not without extreme risk of fraud permit any departure from the beaten track. Still, the Government has not been averse to granting concessions when it could safely do so ; and when it was suggested that tobacco juice would prove of value to the farmer and stock-breeder, as a dip or dressing for sheep, the Lords of the Treasury sanc- tioned the use of tobacco for that purpose, provided certain ingredients were added to protect the revenue against fraud. The consequence has been that tobacco juice for sheep-wash is now a recognised article of commerce, and large quantities are used in this country, whilst it is also a considerable article of export. Somewhat later an agitation, promoted by Mr. Bannerman, of Staplehurst, and Professor Voelcker, of the Royal Agricul- tural College, secured for Hop- growers the further permission to use duty-free tobacco juice as a Hop-wash ; but as the in- gredients added to the sheep-wash tobacco juice rendered it unfit for Hops or plants, the protection of the revenue in the use of the Hop- wash had to be attained by staining the tobacco juice with extract of logwood, and this Hop-wash so stained or adulterated with logwood is now widely used. At this point the Richmond Cavendish Company took up the question, with a view to obtaining the sanction of the Treasury to manufacture tobacco specially for fumigating. Forms of petition were distributed throughout the British Isles, and I have no doubt many of your readers will remember aiding the Company by their signatures. The opinion of the Government chemist, Professor PhUlips, however, was against the form of our proposal, so that the attempt to get duty-free tobacco failed in that instance. The next and successful application to the Government was made by Dr. Newington, a gentleman described by your corre- spondent, " Obsehvek," as " tlie inventor of the ground and cylinder vineries." This was to prepare what is now termed " ground tobacco," consisting, according to the Government formula, of seventy-five parts of finely powdered tobacco, twenty-five parts of sulphur, and five parts of assafcetida. This preparation of tobacco is chiefly designed to dust the Hop-bine, but it may be used in almost every form, whether in or out of doors, both as a powder and as a wash. The smell of the gum assafa-tida is very offensive to most persons. However, that is a minor evil when compared with the ravages caused by the insect hfe the powder is calculated to exterminate ; and although the ground tobacco is unsuitable for fumigating, owing to the presence of the sulphur, it cannot fail to be of great service to gardeners and farmers for general purposes. Mr. Tyerman, the Curator of the Liverpool Botanic Gardens, July 11, 18«7. 1 JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 27 speaks highly of the eflioacy of the powder ns the basis of a wash, and many gardeners recommend it to dust strong-growing plants, which would otherwise be ruined by the grub or fly. It is. no doubt, true, as Mr. Gosse remarks, that this powder is of '• no avail for houses in which costly or delicate plants are grown." for I apprehend that so large a proportion of sul- phur as twenty-fivo parts would be fatal to the organisation of delicate plants. The objection to sulphur applies also to cayenne, as suggested by your correspondent, '• Ci. S.," unless used in very minute quantities. Moreover, cayenne would not be a surticient protection for the revenue. The (iovernment has already conceded so much, and the Ijords of the Treasury have shown such willingness to meet the wishes of horticulturists, that there is no doubt duty-free tobacco for fumigating in some desirable form will ultimately be granted, and there can be no surer way of bringing this iibout than by securing the valuable assistance of the public press. Public discussion will gradually expose the bearings of the question, and lead to a success which is at present denied to private assiduity. It cannot be a very ditlicult thing to devise a form of tobacco which will be equally acceptable to the revenue and to the gardener. To this end I shall be most happy to place my services at the disposal of any of your corre- spondents who feel an interest in the matter, and I will willingly carry out and report upon any experiments they can suggest as calculated to secure the boon of duty-free tobacco for fumigating purposes. — J. F. Tafk, Sccri'tanj, liichmond Cavendish Co., Liverpool. PORXr.MTS OF PL.\NTS. FLOWERS, AND FRUITS. Drab.1 violacea (Violet-coloured Draba). — Nat. ord., Cruci- feraj. I.iiw., Tetradynamia Siliculosa. Native of the Andes, near Quito, at an elevation of 13-15,000 feet. — [Dot. Mag., t. .'5650.) IroM feet in width. These beds', j which generally succeed crops of Peas, are trenched two spits I deep. The bottom spit has plenty of raw manure or half-rotteu ' leaves and the top old manure. Shallots, those inclined to ripen should be raised slightly with a Potato-fork in order to admit air to counteract mouldiness. I'umip.i, let a good breadth of autumn Turnips be sown without delay, choosing for the kitchen garden the Dutch or Stone. Tomatoes, pinch oti the tops and keep the shoots regularly thinned, for if once these are allowed to become confused, the condition of the plant is deteriorated by the severe cutting which then becomes necessarj'. FRriT GARDEN. Attend to Pear trees against walls, and see that the leaves on spurs and at the bases of the shoots are of a healthy dark green colour, which will not be the case if they arc too much shaded by any superabundance of foreright shoots. The fruit and the leaves immediately connected with it should likewise be sufficiently exposed. Follow up, therefore, the gradual mode of reducing the shoots previously recommended. Where several shoots have sprung up close together, or from around the base of a shoot cut back in a former season, they ought to be thinned, and they cannot be taken out too closely with the exception of one or two, which should afterwards be spurred to about ."i inches. Continue to lay in the young shoots of Peach trees, and also those of other stone fruit. Shoots of Peaches and Nectarines having fruit at their bases may be shortened to within 3 inches from their origin. Examine the soil near the bottom of well-drained or naturally dry borders, and if found necessary let the whole be thoroughly watered. Showers may keep the surface of the ground moist and the foliage healthy for a time, but the latter will not long continue so if there is dryness below. Bud Cherry and other fruit trees as their state of vegetation is found suitable. Have an eye to Strawberry runners for forcing or other purposes. The Elton is invaluable for late work. FLOWER GARDEN-. The late abundant rains which have, according to the papers, been general, will furnish a good opportunity, if the time can be spared, for a thorough rolling of lawns. An English lawn is ever reckoned an object of admiration, and thorough rolling is necessary both to preserve its beauty and to facilitate the business of the mower. China Roses that are going out of bloom should be carefully pruned, cutting out as much of the old wood as can be spared, and shortening back all young shoots out of flower. By this means they will produce a fine show of bloom again in autumn. Continue to bud Roses and to re- move dead flowers as they appear. Tie-up Pinks, Carnations, Sweet Peas, &c. Hoe the surface of beds and borders ; it keeps them cool and moist, and prevents weeds from appearing. Look over choice shrubs and trees ; if any of the latter have formed more than one leader, they should be pruned off at once. This should be strictly attended to with Pinuses. The most forward Carnations and Picotees may now be layered. They should be layered in light soil, consisting principally of leaf mould. Those shoots which apparently will not become sufficiently strong may be taken off. and treated in the same way as Pink pipings. Remove all misshapen blooms of Dahlias, and place round the main stem neat stakes to which the lateral shoots may be attached. Continue to put in pipings as well as cut- tings of Pausies. GREENHOVSE AND CnNSERV.\TOKY. Large climbers with other specimen plants of considerable size are liable to become pot-bound, and as it is not always expedient to give them a thorough shift, it is a very good plan to sink the pot into another which is somewhat larger. The pot selected should be thoroughly drained, and fibrous heath soil and loam iu lumps, with charcoal and pounded crocks, should be laid over the drainage before placing ihe plant. The rim of the pot inserted may be elevated about one-third of the pot's depth above that of the exterior pot. This will give room for the prepared compost. After placing it perfectly level the space between the two pots may be filled up with the same coarse materials. This space affords a good chance of intro- ducing stakes or trellisiug without injury to the roots. Large plants which were thus treated four years ago are still thriving, having been constantly fed with liqnid manure during the growing season. Camellias may be shifted at this season. It is an excellent plan to perform this operation the moment that the flower-bud is decidedly formed. As compost, we would recommend two-thirds of fibrous loam of an unctuous charac- ter, and one-third of fibrous heath soil. The more fibrous and lumpy it is the better, and a good sprinkling of charcoal in small masses, with sharp silver sand, should be added. Let the pots be most completely drained by placing some large S8 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. r Julj 11, 1867. crocks in a very hollow position at the bottom, and over these a pounded mixture of broken crocks and charcoal from which all the very small particles have been riddled. Cover this with very fibrous turf in small lumps before placing the ball, and keep pressing, not ramming, the material close with the fingers during the process of filliug-up, observing to have the compost in a mellow state rather inclining to dryness. One most material point is to see that the. ball is thorougly moist- ened before shifting. If any doubt of this exists let the hall be steeped in water for a quarter of an hour previous to pot- ting. In the greenhouse some of the Statices — as sinuata, puberula, &c., exhausted with blooming, may be shaken out of their pots and repotted. These plants delight in an open com- post with thorough drainage, and some of them are partial to a close and moist atmosphere. Stop gross shoots of the green- house Azaleas, and see to cuttings of the best Pelargoniums. The earliest-sown plants of Primula sinensis may now receive their final shift. These will blossom through October and November when flowers will be scarce. Continue to pinch off blossoms from pot Koses intended for flowering in November and December, and stop every luxuriant shoot. Toung stock of these for winter work should now have theii' final shift. STOVE. Some of the Bletias and also the old Phajus grandifolius are well adapted for producing winter flowers. Such should have their growth completed with all possible rapidity ; they enjoy abundance of liquid manure. Keep the old shoots of the Busselia juncea cut away .aud healthy shoots trained in their place, and beware of the green fly. Stop the shoots occasion- ally of the young plants of Euphorbia jacquinia;flora, they will produce a succession of somewhat later blooms. Tbunbergia seedlings having been provided, they should have most liberal shifts and receive a good stakiugor trellising in order to secure healthy specimens throughout the autumn, and perhaps the winter. Two or three plants in a mass (one of each colour), produce a pretty effect. — W. Eeaue. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. The bright sun and the high temperature were followed on the 3rd and 4th by copious rains that did good to everything, except the hay which was exposed. Even Strawberries were much benefited, as the rain saved the trouble of watering them, aud gave them all a thorough washing and cleansing with- out in our case doing any damage to the fruit, as the ripest had been closely gathered. The rains were also a great draw- back to some country exhibitions of flowers, &c., for which great preparations had been made as out-door fetes. We are happy to learn that owing to the kindness of the possessors of the grounds, some of these were continued ou the following day, and thus the societies would suffer less than expected. In the uncertainty of our climate, an out-door fete is as likely to mar as to make a horticultural society, and should only be ventured on when the funds are strong. So far as we know, in country towns where many young people reside, sufficient advantage has not yet been taken of the practice of keeping the exhibition open in the evening, when many would attend who cannot afford to lose time and pay for entrance as well. KITCHEN GAIIDEN. Opportunity was taken to plant out a good breadth of Brussels Sprouts, Borecoles, (fee, and we must prick out and wait until we have more ground at liberty. "We lately spoke of pilantiug Potatoes in rows 2 J feet apart, and then 18 inches, in the hope of planting undercrops between the wider rows, but owing to the damp character of the season the Potatoes have become too strong to permit of the plan being carried out to any consider- able extent. Such a season shows the advantage of such kinds of Potatoes as Veitch's Prolific Ash-leaved, in small gardens, sorts which make but small tops and are soon ripe and off the ground to make way for Cauliflowers and Winter Greens. Some people complain that though the skins of Potatoes are as firm as ever they will be, yet if tubers are taken up and housed they soon lose the exquisite flavour which a ripe Potato has when taken at once out of the ground to be cooked, in June and July. That flavour may be well preserved if, instead of being exposed, the Potatoes are bedded and covered over with dry earth, and then picked out as wanted. Where there is plenty of room, Potatoes may be .sorted into sizes before this covering, and then there is no difficulty in picking out an extra good dish. Even long before Potatoes are ripe, when the skin hangs in ribbons about them, or would all come easily off when rubbed with the hands in water, the tubers will be much en- joyed by many if they are cooked at once ; but all such Potatoes lose their sweet flavour, and instead of being crisp and sweet become leathery aud tough, when kept long before being used. They will be improved by being kept covered with earth as above stated ; but even that will not give them the flavour of those newly taken from the growing plants. Long before Potatoes could be obtained in the open ground, unless, perhaps, from those forwarded a little at the foot of walls, the market towns in our neighbourhood were supplied with new Potatoes, at moderate prices, from the Channel Islands ; but though a change in food was thus obtained, the tough tubers bore no comiiarison with good old tubers of the Fluke or Jersey Blue. Green Peas were also supplied from the same parts, a few were said to be brought from the south of France, and even from Algiers, and though the Peas were green and in pods, and were a rarity to many, everything hke delicacy of flavour had long departed. In fact, as one recom- mendation to the holding of even a small garden, we make bold to say, that except by obtaining these vegetables, and even a Cabbage, a short time before being cooked, it is impossible to secure their rich crispness and flavour. Greeniiifi Potatoes. — One word in the way of inquiry. In the case of early Potatoes, and as respects the first crops especially, it was found to be a good practice to raise the Potatoes before they were dead ripe, and expose them to sun and air until they were pretty well greened. This was no doubt done on the principle that seeds, young and not over-ripe, vegetate more rapidly aud strongly than older or better-ripened seeds. The reasons have frequently been adverted to when alluding to the processes of germination. At any rate, we had long satis- tied ourselves as to the propriety of thus greening Potatoes intended as the seed for early crops ; but last season, contrary to usual experience, we heard from many quarters that whilst the tubers of early kiuds intended for planting were much injured by the disease in the autumn and the beginning of winter, though housed in tiue — apparently first-rate con- dition, yet that those thus greened by free exposure before housing were rather the worst atfected by the disease. This was so contrary to our usual experience and observation, and so opposed to all we should have expected, that before recom- mending the greening process to our amateur friends we would be glad to receive more definite information on the subject. Dwarf Kidneii Beans. — We have sown the last crop in the open air. By the time this is read we will sow in an earth pit — that is, a bed with a low wall of earth back and front, with a green sod on the top of it, and then when the cold nights of October .come, we can put on old sashes and hurdles at night. From such a pit last year we gathered up to the middle of November. Most likely about the end of the month we will sow in good-sized pots in the open air, and when the cold nights come, put the pots under glass, and the plants will bear much better than those sown later in heat. I'ms. — Sowed several times within the last fortnight, and what we consider will be the last crop, on the 3rd of July. We have .sown them on the same border on which our earliest Sangster'a No. 1 are still producing, though better kinds are now in. They had been planted out in rows 31 feet apart, with Spinach and Kadishes between the rows, these had been pulled up some time, and laid close to the Peas to keep the draught from the roots ; now the ground between has been forked over, the Peas sown — Sangster's and Dillistoue's — and by the time they are high enough the sticks that did for the first crop will do for the last, and the haulm of the first be removed. We have never done much good by sowing later in the open air, but we have had Peas almost up to Christmas by sowing in pots in the beginning and middle of August, and placing the pots under glass by the end of October ; but, unlike early Peas, these late ones were hardly enough thought of to be worth the trouble and labour. We recollect being much mortified when told that a gentleman when partaking of them in December — and who was a Utile celebrated for his taste in these matters — wished to know from his host how he managed to prcst'irc his Peas ; so that little credit was given to the grower for plucking them fresh from the plants. FRUIT OErARTMENT. Strawberries. — As soon as possible we must la^'er runners for forcing. We saw lately a tine crop of Empress Eugenie, a large dark Strawberry, and seemingly bearing as freely as Keens' Seedling, the best Strawberry for general purposes. The most of our forced plants last year were not layered at all. they were small runners taken as they showed roots, dibbled into a bed July 11, 1867. ] JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAIIDENER. M at 4 inches apart in sandy loam and leaf mould, and when tolerably well established were transferred singly to six- inch pots. Altogether our plants were neither so strong nor so well ripened in the end of autumn as usual, and yet we question if ever they did better, as scarcely a plant missed fruitinp;, which led ns several times to think that we may bo over-particular as regards the strength of plants. Wo have turned out many of these forced plants, and have more still to plant. We wish we could have done so earlier, but the ground was not at liberty — one of the disadvantages of a small garden, which can hsrdly ever have a day's rest in any part. Wo regret the not having more planted out, as several rows planted early are now bloom- ing and setting well, and from them at least we shall obtain a good crop after the general crop is over. We will just state how the ground was treated for the Straw- berries referred to. It had carried a very heavy crop of Broccoli and Winter Greens and with abundance of side shoots until late in the season. The ground was thus mnch impoverished, ■we could not obtain manure, but for some time we had wheeled into heaps on the ground the short grass from the lawn, and it fermented rather strongly. As soon as the Greens were all cleared off, or rather pulled up and left a few days, they and a good layer of the hot grass were placed in the bottom of a trench as the ground was trenched over, and then a small dressing of rotten tree leaves was placed on the surface to be wrought in with the plants from pots, and to serve as a slight mulching, and we feel sure that we shall have fine gatherings from the plants next season, and a fair one in the following season. We have several times proved that the short grass thus fermented first is a valuable manure when placed far enough from the surface to become mild and sweet before the roots reach it. It also becomes a valuable component in a rubbish-heap when frequently covered over with earth, for then two objects are gained by one operation — the virtues of the grass are stored up in the heap, and the air is not polluted with its noxious exhalations when undergoing rapid decom- position. The woik as regards fruit trees has been much the same as in previous weeks. The weather has thrown us behind in the matter of foreshortening, and much trouble has been taken in keeping birds from Cherries, Raspberries, &o. Against our will we have thinned the sparrows reasonably, but nothiug will entice the blackbirds; still the rain has given us relief, as now they can obtain soft food, without resorting so much to Strawberries and Cherries. They will also come long distances. The other day we watched a bird with seemingly a bunch of three Cherries in his bill, flying fully half a mile, and then he seemed on the wing, no doubt to his bower of love, where the young would be expecting his visit. The birds will obtain their share, even it netting is freely resorted to. All gardens with woods and shrub- beries round them will have a fair allowance of these visitors if netting be not resorted to. We had a few beautiful pyramid Cherry trees, and before we could throw a net over them the blackbirds were carrying off the fruit wholesale, even before they were coloured. The men set up a gaudily dressed guy near the trees, with a bunch of flowers in his breast, and that stayed their ravages until we could net them. Anything striking. even long streamers of white paper, will keep them away until they become used to it, and, therefore, when such means are all that can be resorted to, the deterrent, whatever it is, should be frequently changed. Watered the inside of vineries. Peach-house, and orchard- houses, with manure water from the farm dunghill, as it is yet pretty good, before all the manure is carried for Turnips, &c, Wo rather regretted that some of the trees in the Peach- house were thinner of fruit than usunl, but wo now wish we had thinned all the others as much, as the fruit on the thinnest trees have been magnificent. We must have another raid on the fruit in the orchard-houses befoie they are too far ad- yanced. On one tree in the Peach-house the fruit would average from 12 to 15 inches apart, but the weight would be more than where they were 6 to 8 inches apart. .Ml our trees in pots in the orchard-houses had a good mulching of de- cayed Mushroom-dung over the pots, and that has saved much watering. We would have preferred fresh horse-droppings thrown into a heap to heat for a few days ; but then even this heating will not destroy the vitality of all the Oats in the droppings, and the growing of the Oats causes loss of lime in pulling theiu up, whilst guarding against making labour, even in this little matter, is to be considered. We made up the de- ficiency in fertilising properties in the material used, by giving a pinch of superphosphate or of soot to each pot, to be carried down with the waterings. As some correspondents wish to know the safest of artificial manures, we would recommend th« superphosphate of lime in the shape of ground or dissolved bones, as in a 12 inch pot as much may be placed at a time as can be taken between the thumb and two fingers, and if double or treble of that amount is given little harm, or none rather, will ensue, and this cannot be said of guano and some other artificial manures. ORNAMENTAL UEPAIITMEST. The rain came most seasonably to enable us to cut some grass and banks of grass a little long and rough, but which we were afraid to touch in the parching weather lest we shonld leave a brown track instead of a lovely green one behind us. The lawns, delightfully green, will now run little risk of burn- ing and browning for the season. We have commenced what will be rather a tedious affair — taking up Plantahus from (iir/ fresh Uid last season. We ob- taiued the turf from the sides of the highway, and nothing could have looked better last season, as what few Plantains showed themselves were taken out as the turf was laid. The advantage of roadside turf is, that the grass will be fine at once, and will also look well at once ; but the disadvantage is that it is almost sure to be well supplied with the seeds of the larger Plantain, and which are sure to thrive amazingly when taken to new quarters. Nothing is more destructive of the beauty of a lawn. They will throw up their seed-stalks a few days after mowing, and render the use of the Daisy-knife almost constantly necessary. If let alone for a season or two they will almost occupy as much space as a small Cabbage, and they will so squat down in the soil as to look on the lawn like so many birds' nests below the general level. There is no way of thoroughly extirpating them except spudding them out. We have had them cut over a little below the surface, and ii6 long we had a mass of plants instead of one. We have done the same, and put a pinch of salt in the hole, but that is by no means effectual ; for, though the salt injures the top of the root left, if it does not kill it, the root will send up shoots from a good way beneath the surface, and the labour must be re- peated. A hght spud with a handle, and a tread for the foot, and from three-quarters to an inch in width at the point, is a good tool for the purpose ; and the more effectually the work is done the cheaper it will be, though it takes much time at first. We have taken up large plants with 12 or 1,5 inches of straight root, and the cutting or breaking of that root some 4 or G inches from the surface would be only a very temporary benefit, re- sulting in several strong heads the next season. Even with I small plants, though some will only have 2 or 3 inches of root, ! yet many will have a straight juicy root from 4 to 8 inches long. The thorough eiBcacy of the work depends on the taking even j the small point up unbroken. All other modes of taking up I will only be temporary palliatives. Half an acre of smooth clean lawn, free from weeds, will yield more satisfaction than a 5 dozen of acres crammed with Plantains, &c. Patience, perse- verance, and activity must be brought into exercise, or the Plantain will gain the mastery. Fresh-arranged plants, removing Pelargoniums, out of bloom, and filled with Fuchsias, &c. Potted Pelargoniums, Gesneras, Caladiums, Feathered Cockscombs, Begonias, &c., for future supply, and prepared positions for striking Pinks, Carnations, and double Wallflowers. — B. F. COVENT GARDEN MARKKT.— July 10. There are very few alterations to quote in tliis market, the present favourable weather affording U8 ample supplies l)oth homegrown and foreign. The latter comprise Melons, Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines, and several varieties of Plums. Potatoes are coming in sound and good at present. FBUIT. a. d. B. d r a. d. s. it Apples Jsleve S 0to4 | Melons each 3 0to5 Apricots doz S 4 Kectarines doz. 6 10 Cherries lb. 6 16 Oranges 100 8 14 Chestnuts bush. Peaches doz. 8 15 Currants j sieve 3 4 Pears (dessert) ..doz. 3 4 Black do. 4 5 Pine Apples lb. 4 6 Figs doz. 3 6 Plllms } sieve Filberts lb. ' Qninces doz. Ceba lb. 9 1 6 Uaspberri»s lb. 6 8 Gooseberries . . quart 4 6 l Strawberries lb. 6 1 6 Grapes, Hothouse.. lb. 2 6 6 I Walnuts bush. 10 80 Lemons 100 8 12 j Green per lOO 16 2 J30 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t July 11, 1867. VEGETABLES, Artlchohes each Asparapua bundle Beans, Kidney, per 100 ScarletRuu.^ sieve Beet, Red doz. Broccoli bundle Bm9. Sprouts i sieve Cabbage doz. Capsictims 100 Carrots buBoh Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers each pickling .... doz. Endive doz. Fennel bunch Garlic lb. Herbs bunch Eorseradish . . bundle d. 8. 3to0 6 fi 3 Leoks bunch Lettuce per score Mushrooms . pottle Mustd.A Cress, punnet Onions, .per doz. bchs. Parsley per sieve Parsnips 'doz. Pen.^ per qunrt Potatoes bushel Kidney do. New lb. Radishes doz. bunches Rhubarb bundle Savoys doz. Sea-kale basket Shallots lb. Spinach bushel Tomatoea. . .. per doz. Turnips bunch s. d. 9. d 3 too S 9 6 2 9 4 8 2 2 6 5 4 1 1 6 10 1 S 3 TO CORRESPONDENTS. *•• We request that no s>ue vrill write privately to the depart- mental writers of the "Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be addressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, dc, 171, Fleet Street^ London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them an- swered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once, N*B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until nest week. Motto (S. S. S.). — Yon have represented the sentence as three words, whereas there are only two — " Considerate Lilia," or " Consider ye the Ijlies." JouRNAi, OF Horticulture Prize {D. T. F.).— Yoq ask, "Will there be any limit to the quantity of fruit on each dish V" To which we can only reply, Not any; but we conclude that no exhibitor would either have more or lees quantities than are usual on dessert dishes. Let it be re- membered that good taste is required to accompany the gardening skill testified by the excellency of the fruits. Grapes at Manchester Show (T. Hartcood).~We cannot say on what ground the Judges awarded the prizes to the Muscat Grapes at Man- chester, as we were not present. What w.ts the condition of the schedule '.' If it was that all fruit exhibited must be ripe and fit for table, then un- ripe fruit ought to be disqualified; but if there w«s no such condition, fruit not perfectly ripe was admissible. We certainly agree with you fthat it is impossible to judge Melous without cutting them. Grapes Become Brown (T7/is'.— They are severely rusted. The cause, probably, is their being syiinged, and whilst wet exposed to a cold current of air. Catalogue of Scb-tropical Pi.ants (J?. J.).— Though most of the principal nurserymen give lists of these, we do not know of any catalogue published in this country containing full descriptions of such plants. Trees a>d Shbubs for Cotswold Hills (B.). — We should think, as the snbstratum of these hills is oohtic, that Beech and Spanish Chestnut would be at home, likewise Birch, Mountain Ash, and all the Thorns, as well as trees worked on that stock, such as Mespilus, &c. ; but it would not be advisable to try Elms, Oalts. nor the taller kinds of Poplars. Many of the Coniferft" would do well in such a situation, and Yews and Junipers would be quite at home. The Scotch Fir and many lundred Pinnies would succeed as well as, and, perliaps, better than in a lower situation. Of shrabs, most of the Rhododendrons and the common kinds of Azaleas and Andromeda will do. Box may be planted plentifully ; but we doubt if Laurustinus and Portugal Laurels can bo depended on. Common Laurels, .Donblc-flnwcred Furze, Cotonenster. and some other plants may be tried with a tolerable certniuty of success. We doubt much if Berberis will do 8o well, and Daphnes, Pernettyas. and Weigolas like a stifi'er soil. The Evergreen Oaks will also, probably, thrive, but that Hollies will do so is doubtful, as they prefer a more sheltered position. Many deciduous shrubs, as Lilacs, Deutzia scabra. Kibes, and Mock Orange will succeed well. Verbenas for Exhibition (Constant 2ieafJer). — These are very fine — Mrs. Turner, Lm-d Leigh, Annie, Black Prince, GOant des Eatailles, Lilac King, Rose Imperinl, Admiral of the Blue, Le Grand Bonle de Neige, Madame Hermann Stenger, Foxhunter, and King of the Verbenas. Select Pansies (J. H^i??)-— Alexander Tait, Cherub. Arab, Miss Muir, Miss Ramsay, John Inglis, Lady Lucy Dundas, J. B. Bownie, George Wilson, Masterpiece, Yellow Queen, and Alice Downic. Kalmia latifolia (J. G.}. — We do not remember the article to which you_ refer. There is a variety of Kalmia latifolia called major splendens, having largo deep rosy flowers ; also myrtifolia, with smaller and darker flowers than K. latifolia. Fumigating a Vinery (Tobacco, B^.).— There is no danger of injury from the fumigation of a vinery with tobacco when the Grapes are changing colour. Use shag tobacco or tobacco paper. No amount of tobacco smoke will destroy bug. Leaver (Mary Kino). — It is impossible to name a plant from a few dead le; ves. They are of the same shape and fratrrance as those of the Willow- Jeaved variety of the Bay tree, Laurua nobilis, var. salicifolia. Night-scented Stock Manaoebtent (A. S. W.).—Vfe think the "plant has been potted in too rich soil, and has been soaked with water, which circumstances would be sufficient to account for the bad condition of the roots; the loss of foliage may be the result of keeping the plant in a close atmosphere. You could not have done better than have repotted the plant in light sandv soil, afl"ording good drainage, and have kept it moderately dry in a cold frame with abundance of air, and more liberal supplies of water when the roots were working freely in the fresh soil. You may now put in cuttings of any of the young shoots, inserting two joints in the soil. The surface should be covered with an inch of silver sand- The pots may be set in a friane, which should be kept close and shaded from sun. the cuttings being occasionally bedewed overhead with water through a fine rose, and the sand kept moist but not very wet. The cuttings will root slowly but surely ; or they may be placed in ft hotbed, and when well rooted should be pitted off singlyin small pots in a com- post of equal parts of light turfy loam, leaf mould, and sand, affording good drainage. After potting pbice them iu a cold frame, keep close and shaded for a few days until established, and afford a sprinkling of water overhead every morning. When the plants rooover from the potting air should bo freely given— iu fact, they should be fully exposed except during very wet weather, when the hghts may be tilted. When the pots are full of roots shift into pots a size larger, and early in October remove them to a shelf in a cool tiiry greenhouse. The essentials to success are a free circulation of air, a light open soil, and good drainage, with careful watering in winter. Christmas Rose Propagation (Idevt).—You may take np the plants now and divide them into as many pieces as you find crowns, preserving as much root as possible to each. The divisions are to be planted where they are to remain, or in a border 1 foot apart, giving a good watering. A compost of tv/o-thirds turfy loam and one-third leaf mould will grow it well, affording a mulching of about 1 inch of le.^.f mould over the crowns early in winter. Strat\'berries— Estimate «r Sorts (G. B., Brr/M.— Sir J. Paxton is a good cropper, handsome, and suitable for market purposes, also good for forcing. President is said to be a good cropper, but it did not bear heavily with me. It is better flavoured than Sir J. Paxton. Mrs. Nicholson sent me Comte de Zans, but as it was sent by post it died. It is said to be a good market sort. Dr. Hogg is a very hardy, healthy sort, like British Queen in appearance and flavour. I specially recommend Cockscomb and Wonderful as late market sorts. They are very hardy, great and sure bearers, stand travelling well, and are of the British Queen flavour. The I crops of Rivers'rt Eliza, Cockscomb, and V/onderful are very fine here.— W. F. Radclyffe, Okeford Fitzpninc. Variegated Pelargoniums (W. H. M.>. — We stated a fortnight since our opinions upon the subject. You will see some further remarks to- day in our columns. According to the decision of the Floral Committee of the Ri>yal Horticultural Society, they would consider Annie Williams a Variegated Pelargonium, and Mrs. Milford not. We arc of opinion that the Coffee tree does not come within the moaning of "a fruit tree," any more than does the Oak. Vines on Open Walls (W. Spencer). — If you enclose five postage stamps with your address, and order " Fruit Gardening for the Many," it will be sent free by post. It contains what yon need. Grass on Heavy Soil (E. F.\ — The best treatment yon can adopt for your lawn is to have it well and deeply drained. The proposed dressing with small pieces of chalk may do good, but we fear the chalk would give 7 stony appearance to the surface. A dressing of compost formed of any waste vegetable matter, as tufts of grass, &c., turned over frequently and mixed with a load of lime to every four of compost, would form an ex- cellent dressing for your la^vn at the end of twelve months. Apply it in February. Draining the soil is what wo recommend, and then top- dressing. A top-dressing of sifted cinders would tend to keep the surface from becoming soapy. Peach Trees on Wooden Fence (Mem).— Yonr trees will seldom, M ever, thoroughly ripen their fruit, and they sufl'er from mildew on account of the wood being immature. They should be plauted against a wall with a south aspect. To free your trees of mildew we recommend yonr washing them forcibly every evening with water during the prevalence of dry weather, and once a-week with a solution of soft so^.p at the rate of 2 ozs. to the gallon of water. If this do not fi-ee them of mildew, dust the parts affected whilst wet with flowers of sulphur. EHVNCnOSPERMUM JASMINOIDES AFTER FLOWERING (K. E.). — ThlS IS the plant of which you enclose a spray, and having been neglected it should have any old long bare shoots removed, preserving as much of the young wood as possible, and especially the shoots jiear the base. The plant may be potted, if requisite, in a compost of equal parts of turfy peat and loam, with a free admixture of silver sand. The drainage should be good. The plant should be kept moist, close, and shaded for a few days until it recover from the potting, and should then have a light and moderately airj' situation, a sprinkling of water morning and evening, and every encouragement to secure growth. Water copiously, but only when necessary. Regulate the shoots when necessaiy. Insect on Peae-tree Leaves (A. M. Tf.V— The destroyer of the leaves is called the SUmy Grub, it ie the Ini-va of the Selandria .Ethiops, or Pear Saw-fly. They can be destroyed by dusting them with slaked quicklime. Forcing Vines (Subscriber, Norjcich). — You may plant inside as yon propose, and you may force the Vines successfully that are planted out- side ; but you would do better to have them in Juno the first year, and in Jlay the succeeding one. However, in either case we would advise yon to proceed thus: — Give heat in your pipes to hasten on the crop just thinned, and have it off as soon in the autumn as you can, so as to give the Vines a rest before you begin to force them. By the 1st of October at latest, cover the border outside with 15 inches of litter to keep the heat in, and if you can protect from cold rains so much the better ; shut up your house and commence very gi-adually with 45^ in December, raising the heat by degrees. Pine-Apple Leaves Browm (A Ecadcr).~'Try what a little shade will do for your Pines. We suspect they are not quite right at the roots, and too much sun with too little air has scorched the tops. Examine the roots, and if not doing well shake away the soil, drain well, and repot in fresh, rough, sandy loam. If the roots are progressing healthily let them alone. Shade, and give plenty of moistuie, with air, however little, at the top the first thing in the morning. jQ}y 11, 1867. 1 JOUKNAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 31 KiHiBiTiON Stands for Roses, Dahlias, and Pansies {J. F. ••?.).— A fitautl for, flay, twt-uty-four blooms of Dublias should bo 4H inchest in Icn^rtb by 18 inches in width from front to b/ick. It shouhl ho ruined at the bacK 7 inehcK, and M4 inches in front. The holes should form three lines of oipht each, and ebould be G inches from centre to centre, und 3 inches from the oataide. The metal tube for the water may ho 1 inch in diameter, and should t\l into the holes of the board ; the wooden tube to receive the blooni, and fitting into the metal tube, nhould rise Ijf inch above the hoard. The cohmr of the board should be a lively bright green. The dimensions of a stand for twelve blooms of Ualilias can bo easily deduced from the foroKoint*. Such a box as that just described would bo Buitablo for Koses if shown in single trusses ; for sinclo blooms of Roses the dimensit)ns would be almost too large, while for bunches of three truHses it would scarcely afford sufficient space. For Hoses tho tubes may bo fawti'iicd to the bottom of the box, not using a board as in the case of DiihliiiK, and tho spaces filled up with fresh gix*eu moss. Tho most Buitublc colour for a box for Hoses is dark green. A stand for Pansies should have the outside appearance of a ueai box, painted dark rosewood autl highly varnished ; the lid attached by book-and eye hinges, and locked. The lid removed shows a stand of four rows of Pansy blooms, six in ea<'b, airangt^d on a zinc plate one-eifjhth of nn inch thi(^k, i)ainted green, with a slight yellow tinge, and varnished. Length of box 1 foot 6 inches, 12j inches wide, and 8 inches deep, three-eighths of an inch thick, and with a little beading inside, on which the plate rests, so as to lie tlush with its edges all round. Tho tubes are soldered to tlie under part of the plate flu.sh with the hack of tho holes to receive tho stalk, bnt receding to the front to allow tho flower to lie well. These Imles are tbree-fourtlis nf an incli long and half nn inch wido. Tho tu!ies beneath are li inchi-s lictp, ] imh long, and ftve-eighths wido. The front holes ore 1' inch from the (.-.U'c of the plate, and 1^ inch from the side, and the rows are ".i inches above each other. When placing the stand for exhi- bition it can be arranged sloping to any angle, by placing something ouderueath it at the back. Heatino a Small Conservatory f.t Suhtcribvi, Guildjord). — You can heat your small house succes^-fuUy with a flat-headed iron stove, with a pan of water over it. You can heat it more easily etil! by gas, the burner enclosed in a small iron stove, and a pipe from 2^ to S inches wide going through tho house from the stove, and thence into a chimney or into the open air, and moist beat will be pecurod by a pan nf water over tho stove. It is a mistake to suppose that, heating by hot water is more moist than other moiles of heating, unl Sat .. t! Snn. . . 7 Mon... a Tnes. . 9 Mean a9 96S .S0.072 SU.18.S S(l.'iS2 S0.2-ir, 3«.3U5 29.787 29.979 S0.1.')l 29.224 30.224 .SO.l.W 74 72 71 74 76 77 77 55 52 41 42 42 42 44 64 Ii4 64 64 64 f4 64 61 fil 61 61 61 61 61 S. ! .14 S. 1 .02 S-W. .00 K.W. 1 .00 N. , .00 N.E. .00 N.E. 1 .00 Overcast and mild throushout ; rain at night. Rain ; cloudy with showers ; overcast. Fine with white clouds ; very fiuc ; fine at night. Fine ; very fine ; fine at niglit. \cry fine throughout. Slight dry haze : very fine throughout. Very fine throughout. 30.11") 30.050 74.43 45.43 64.00 61.00 .. 1 0.16 POULTRY, E£E, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. GAME FOWL BREEDING THIS SEASON. " YonKsniPE " only seems to be sharing tlie same fate in the chicken department as many o£ his brother fanciers this season ; but as his case seems to be entirely like my own, I venture to say a few words about my own yards, which, I am sorry to think, will do but little more than corroborate "Yor.K- shibe's " statements ; but if experience will bring about a cure for tho malady which is causing such mortality this season, I shall give mine and the result of my practice most willingly. In the first place, I may state that I breed several kinds of fowls besides (tiimo — viz., Brahmns, Cochin.s, &c., yet only the Game suffer. Jly Brahmas and Cochins are as strong and as healthy as in years gone by, and aU my chickens, with bnt one brood excepted, have been brought up on the same gravel and grass run, and a largo one too. My Game chickens have suffered precisely in the same way as " Youksiiirk's;" they go on all right until about a fortnight old, and then comes the "tug of war " — loss of appetite, violent purgings, then deatli ; all these in one or two days. I have tried many things to save them, but have never saved one after the attack has fairly commenced. What I have found to be most beneficial are tonics, a little rue and cayenne made into pills, a little citrate of iron in their water, with a lump of camphor floating in it. (I fancy that bread soaked in ale will give diarrboi'a unless ad- ministered very judiciously). If thete precautions are neglected in a few days I find my chickens' wings down again and all going wrong. As " Yorkshire " says, the disease is also novel to me, for I have reared hundreds of birds and, save in a small brood of Polands, I never saw the like before. I know there are general complaints this season, but how is it that some yards are entirely free from any such disease ? If those who are fortunate would give us their experience, and at the same time also state the kind of place upon which the birds have been reared, I think this might ventilate the subject a little. As I have previously said, I have a large run, the grass I keep as short as it is possible for horses to graze it on purpose for my chicks, and yet I beheve this is the place where my birds become diseased. The long wet season, no matter how short the grass is, must have a bad effect on birds which must be dry. But here another question suggests itself, Have the breeders in dry places without grass experienced the same bad results ? _ If so, then my theory is tindone ; but from inquiries in my im- mediate neighbourhood, I find the reverse to bo the case. I I will give an instance. 'Sly chickens went on so badly that I resolved to place a brood in the kitchen garden away from the grass, and here they are doing (I am speaking of Game),_ as ; well as chickens possibly can do. They have no medicine ' because they require none ; receive no unusual care, and are fed j simply, chiefly on dry food — wheat, groats, and the like, the rest ! of their food consisting of what they get from the newly-dng I earth, which is considerable, and insects from tho adjoining I small fruit trees. I One important part of " Yorkshire's " letter I must now refer to — namely, tliat upon the removal of birds to different places. My chicks in the garden which have done so well are from Nantwich, in Cheshire, yet the gentleman who sent the eggs, Mr. William Chnrch, lamentably complains of the 32 JOUBNAL OF HOKTICDLTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ July H, 1867. great mortality among his chickens. The same gentleman also speaks of my chickens doing well in Cheshire. I can easily imagine the improvement which would (I think naturally), takeplace in breeding on a limestone earth, and more especially with birds that liave been bred in-and-in, and not in the neighbourhood of such material. I have noticed that the most healthy Game chickens that I have seen this season are those which have had the run of a garden, or on any soil away from grass. I have several friends near me who have not had a single loss from disease whose birds have been thus raised, and those who have had them on grass runs I find have invariably failed. — Nottinghamshire. We made once a small hen-house, and lighted it by plaoij^ some of the roof boards, which went up and down, 10 inches apart, and fastening S by 10 glass between them, slipping the glass into the grooves in the boards, which were common floor- ing. The panes lapped about half an inch, were fastened by tacks, -and little water came through. Windows in a fowl- bouse must be protected by slats or by wire. The use of plaster on the sloping floor under the roosts is very well — nothing can be better ; but fine, dry road dust, swept up on a hot day, is as good. — (American AgricuUuriat.) A GOOD AND CHEAP HEN-HOUSE. The house is 10 feet wide and 12 feet long ; a passage-way, ■1 feet wide, passes along the south side, in which are windows ; this is formed by a partition, 3 feet high (see fitj. 1), which ex- tends from near the door to the rear, and supports the lower side of a sloping floor, which rises to the eaves on the north side. Above this sloping floor the roosts are fixed, and the droppings of the birds fall upon the floor, which being sprinkled with plaster they roll down, or are easily scraped off. There ! is a ledge at the front edge, which prevents their going to the floor. Under this sloping floor the space is divided by a par- tition, making a nest-room about 6 feet square, and a sitting- room 6 feet by 5, which is also used for a store-room for grain, eggs, &c. This sitting-room is entered by another door, and lighted by a pane in the gable end. The nest-boxes shove through the partition into the sitting-room, but there is no access for the fowls except when sitting. At these times hens < f I t ti c a »— J . B. Fig. 2. (t, a, doors. 6, 6, windows, r, nest-boxes. are moved, if they happen to be in boxes against the side building, and made to occupy those in the partition. The back endof the four-feet passage-way (see plan, firj. 2), is used as a feeding floor, and here stands the water fouiitain. DROPSIC.VL TUMOURS IN A SPANISH HEN. I HAVE just lost a valuable hen with, to me, a somewhat uncommon and singular disease of the ovaries. I am not quite certain " dropsical tumour" is the right term; it certainly is very applicable, and nearer the mark than anylhing else I can think uf. I shall be extremely obliged for information from any person who has met with a similar case, with the mode of treatment if a cure has been etiected, and as to whether Spanish fowls are more particularly subject to it than other kinds. About a month ago I noticed that one of my young hens increased considerably in bulk from day to day. As she was just recovering feather after a protracted moult, I thought it might be occasioned by derangement of the system or a stoppage; so I gave her a teaspoonful of castor oil, penned her in a warm coop, and fed her on good soft food for a couple of days, but finding she increased in size rather than diminished, I thought it time to examine thoroughly. I found the whole of the abdomen without feathers, the skin very dry, hot, and feverish, and on the point of cracking in several places from over-tension. A large lump which appeared to be considerably larger than an egg could be felt just below the vent, the remainder of the bird seemed to be in perfect health — the new feathers on the back and wings well laid and glossy, eye bright and sparkling, comb a bright red, and the general appearance of the head that of a fowl in full laying condition. For three or four weeks her appetite had increased, and she now ate as much as any three fowls. After consulting with a friend we decided to open the abdomen and extract whatever we might find. Applying a sponge with chloroform to the nostril, she soon ceased struggling, laid her head quietly on the table, and went off into a sound little nap. With a sharp penknife an incision of about 2 inches longwas made just above the vent, the bird being on her back, simply dividing the skin ; upon inserting the finger a globular body ' could be felt, about the size and shape of an egg, but ;\ielding to the pressure of the finger. Piercing it with the point of the knife a quantity of yellowish fluid ran out ; this being emptied, a second one piresented itself and was served in the same way, and two more could be distinctly felt, but as the bird was begin- ning to move we decided not to do any more for the time, but, sewing up the hole, she was replaced in the coop, perfectly recovered herself in a few minutes, and began to eat as usual, seemingly none the wor?e for the operation. These tumours were the full size of an egg, contained nothing but a yellowish water, coming away freely when empty, round like an India-rubber ball, and like it regaining their shape after pressure. I fed the bird well for another week, but finding that she increased in bulk rather than diminished, her hinder part dragging as she walked or waddled, I thought killing would be the most merciful action, and then dissecting to find the cause of the disease. With an extra strong dose of chloroform, held to the nostril imtil she ceased to breathe, this was quietly done in a minute, and, when quite cold she was laid open from the beginning of the breast-bone to the rump. I took out five tumours the size of a Duck's egg, and then found scarcely any- thing left ; everything seemed to have diminished in quantity as these water-eggs increased, no disease was apparent save this of the ovaries, the flesh evidently wasting away in spite of the enormous appetite the bird had had. The five water-eggs would have about filled a quart mug. The question is. Would these eggs have passed as ordinary eggs, or would they have burst inside ? If not the fowl herself must have burst, as she was very nearly doing when killed. Operations of this and any kind are always better and more easily performed when the sufferer is under the influence of chloroform, or some other stnpifying vapour, otherwise it be- comes an act of unnecessary cruelty. I would just remark, in conclusion, that the hen was hatched July 11, 1967. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 33 March twelvemonth, had laid well before Christmas, and had never before ailed ; the change had been since the last moult. A. Le Ciieminant, Foubm ^'alt■, Gucrrisinj. JUDGING GAME FOWLS EY SHAPE. TiiK rnorEii shapk of tht, game cock. Beak, stronf;, curved, long, and sharp, stout at the base (a good boxing beak as technically termeil). Comb neatly and closely dubbed, red in the red-combed sorts ; darkish red in dark-combed sorts. Cock chickens and young stags should be exhibited undubbed to show the proper shape of the comb, which should be single, not too large or clumsy, rather thin, serrated, or lobed, erect and straight, _and rather low in front. Face, same colour as comb. Gills, wattles, and deaf ears same colour as comb, and neatly trimmed. Head, long and sharp. Eyes, bright and clear. Face and throat hard, lean, and thin. Neck, long, arched, and strong, with a firm, hard, short, strong, and rather broad-feathered hackle or mane, close, neat, and very bard feathered ; the feather points to shoulders and no longer. Back, short and very hard, broad at shoulders and narrow at tail. Sides of the body well rounded. Breast, broad and very hard, and neither too round nor too full, as a heavy breast is useless weight, nor yet too lean, but still not sharp-breasted, a hard breast being most essential, as the most vulnerable part of the body. Stern, or rump, narrow, short, and neat, feathers short and hard. JVinfif, very strong and well rounded, and neither too short nor too long ; short-winged birds being too heavy in body generally, and often broad-rumped, and too-long-winged birds frequently long in body and in feather. Wings carried closely pressed to the sides, and neither too high nor too low, but pro- tecting the fleshy part of the thigh. 'Tail, neither too long nor too short, long-tailed birds being generally long in body and in feather, and too short tailed often too clumsy in body and broad in rump. The tail should be carried " well up " for spirit, and should be open or fanned and spreading, with a full crescent-like curve of the sickle feathers, and well sickled, the sickle feathers carried just clearly above the points of the straight feathers. Cock-fighters prefer rather short, neat-tailed birds, with tails carried well up, and not too large, but open. Long-spreading, well-sickled lails, carried well up are the most showy tails. Squirrel tails very bad of course. Some judges and fanciers prefer the rather drooping, close- switch, or whip-tailed birds, saying these are finer-feathered, neater, and higher-bred birds. I consider the drooj'ing. closed, or folded and long-tailed birds to be narrower in body, less strong, and less spirited than such as I have described. These tails are not much sickled. There should never be much fluff or down at the root of a cock's tail, as this shows softness, and the base of the tail should be narrow. Tliiglis, short, hard, and very muscular, and placed well, wide apart, and well up to the shoulders, under the broadest part of the body to make the bird stand firmly on his legs, and to give " a good forehand " and a more commanding appearance. Legs, neither too long nor too short ; strong, but never in the least clumsy, rather slender than at all clumsy (as the mnscnlar power lies in the thigh), placed well and widely apart to make the bird stand firmly and carry plenty of spur. Spurs placed low down, long, and not too stout or clumsy, sharp, and not turning in too much, and rather curved up- wards. Scales of legs close and smooth. Feet, spreading claws, long and straight. Talons long, strong, and narrow. Back claw placed low and fiat to the ground, and very long and strong, to make the bird stand firm and give him a good spring. Never in the least Duck-footed. Broad, short, flat nails are very bad, and show the Malay cross in the breed having them. Plumage, all very hard, scant rather than thick of feathers, short, close, and firm, the feathers and quills very strong every- where. Body in band, short and very hard in flesh, and very mns- cnlar in every part. Belly small and tiyht in the pinions. Legs of cock rather longer than those of the hen in proportion. Carriage, upright, active, quick, fierce, sharp, and fiery. Curved-backed cocks, if with a straight curve and not humped or lop-sided, are " shorter in body and fiercer" than straight- backed cocks are. Weight, for exhibition, from 4J lbs. to 51 lbs. ; for the pit, 4j lbs., as the most active weight. Game cocks should never be heavy or clumsy in body, but should be light-fleshed, with sufficient bone for strength, but not too heavy in bone or flesh for activity, and should combine great strength with great activity in proportion to their size. Game cocks should be one-third larger than their hens. Game cocks are in their prime at two years old, and decline after four years, as do the hens in general, though some old birds are as good. — Newmarket. P.S. — I have to thank " YoRKsniRE " for his replies to my three questions. HOUDANS— RIVAL INCUBATORS. About twelve months ago, owing to the opinion you ex- pressed as to the merits of the Houdan fowl, I determined to keep no other. I selected five pullets from the stock of a noted breeder, and obtained a cockerel from a distant part of the country, in order to run no risk of in-and-in breeding. JMy object being to rear chickens, of course I bad to keep a few sitters, and I purchased ten Dorking pullets, thus having fifteen females to one male bird. This, probably, you will consider too many, but the result has proved otherwise. My Houdan pullets, which were not hatched until August, commenced laying at the new year, and they continued to do so up to the present time. Their eggs are considerably larger than those I obtain from the Dorkings, and, on an average, they miss laying one day in five. You will agree with me, therefore, that I have every reason to be satisfied : indeed, I am convinced that, for general purposes, — as egg-producers and table birds — Houdans surpass any other breed. Several of my friends complain of their ill-success this year with chickens. In February I placed nine eggs under one of my broody Dorkings, and she hatched seven chickens. Of the remaining two, one was broken, and in the other I found a dead chicken. I kept the hen and chicks in a storeroom at the top of my house, and fed them liberally with chopped egg, bread, and grits. The room had a boarded floor, which, during my absence from home one cold day in March, was thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned by my maid. The next morning sis of the chickens were unable to walk, their feet being quite pa- ralysed, and during the day all died. The hen had, therefore, only one chicken, which appeared as strong as ever, and is now a fine bird. I next sat a hen on thirteen eggs : she produced twelve chickens, which are all living. 1 never saw birds grow so rapidly, and this is the opinion of every one who has seen them. My next clutch was nine from twelve eggs ; the fourth, seven from twelve, four being broken in the nest ; and my last brood consisted of eleven chickens, three of which have died. One was trodden to death by the hen, one died from natural causes, and the third was worried by a neighbour's dog. I have, therefore, reared thirty-seven chickens from fifty- seven eggs, which I consider very satisfactory. I have given away and sold several sittings, and in all cases the success has been equal to my own. In your Journal of May 27th, a letter appeared from " Brown Red," on " Rival Incubators." 'With your correspondent I agree that it is a great inconvenience to fanciers of a non-sitting variety, to keep sitting hens, which are useless for the greater part of the year, but although anxious to obtain an incubator, I am at a loss to decide which to select. It would be a great favour to poultry. breeders generally if the manufacturers of different incubators would each place one of their manufacture in the care of some breeder, in order that their merits may be thoroughly tested. If no other could be found, I should have no objection to undertake the responsibility, and to give you the result. I enclose my name and address, not for publica- tion, but as a guarantee of good faith. — Lindum. PETERBOROUGH POULTRY SHOW. There 13 no question tlrnt with a snitablc revision of the prize schedule this Show might be greatly increased, bnt the cUssifications as Ihey now stnnd are scarcely colcolnted to be popular. The largest amount of prizes is at present given at Pelerborongh to " Mixed Breeds, any age or colour." This, of course, induces the entry of a number of mongrel-bred birds of little real market value, and not by anv means an interesting portion of the Show to visitors generally. It u JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Jidy 11, 1867. would be well if this class were headed '* For the best Breed not yet named, or Cross-breed for Farm Purposes." It would then form an interesting class, which would, no doubt, be well filled. In Grey Dorhings^ many were birds of great merit, but scarcely a single pen could be named in which one or other of the three birds was not in deep moult. The same remark applies with equal force to the Game class, iu which several hens were such " Tartars " to each other that they had either to be tied by the leg to the wirework of the pen, or one of them had to be removed into the travelling basket. This in any case when it occurs frequently, is a great drawback to an exhibition, and it is from this cause that a cock and only one hen are so generally shown together. Some very excellent Game cocks were thoughtlessly and absolutely spoiled for exhibition, by having the entire head pur- posely denuded of feathers, a jilau that in Yorkshire many years back was somewliat customary for cocks entered for the pit, but is quite out of place in competition. Cochins proved so inferior, that a second prize could not be awarded. The Hamlnirgh classes were the worst represented iu the whole Show; but the Black Red Game Bai/tmiis, and some Black-booted Bautams, placed this latter class amoug the foremost public favourites. Turner's pens of Sheffield were engaged for the poultry. The Turlcijs were really good, but the Geese were badly matched for exhibition, in more than one case Grey and White being shown together. Some very well-bred Aylesbury Dttcls were shown, and there were also good Rouens aud Muscovy Docks. A pen of three Australian Black Swaus in capital feather, and two pens of the common White Swans in equally good plumage, proved an excellent contrast, and caused much attraction. Master H. B. Little exhibited a pair of very good Himalayan Hahhits, a variety which seemed to be nearly unlmo\vu in this district. An important feature of the Show was the Pigeon class, each com- petitor exhibiting three pens together, but of different varieties, for the Society's prizes. Many of these Pigeons were of unnsually good quality. The tent was an extensive one. and had bad weather set in would have afforded ample ]irotection. but fortunately the day was very fine, and, consequently, the attendance of visitors was gi'eat. With a little extra pressure by the Committee, there cannot be a doubt that year by year the poultry department of the Peterborough Show will make an advance and prove propoi'tionately i-emunerative. Dorkings.— First, R. Wood. Second, J. Longland. Highly Commended, J. W. Hanison. Commended, J. Carter; T. Parker. C^k-^chs.— First, R. Wood. Second, T. Amies. Cock (Any colom.-).— First and Second, R, Wood. Game (Any colour). — First, J. W. Harrison. Second, S. Deacon. Cuck. —First and Second, J. Lamxug. Cochin-China (Any colour).— Prize, J. Longland. Hamburghs (Pencilled).— Prize, J. Jobnson. HAaiBURGns (Spangled).— First, J. F. LiversitlRe. Second, J. Freeman. Bantams (Any variety).— First and Second. Mrs. C. B. Ed wnrdes (Black Red Game, and'Bantam Chickenst. Third, W. Stokes (Black-booted Ban- tams). Commended, S. Deacon (Bautams.) Mixed Breed (Any colour).— First, J. W. Harrison (Dark Brahmas). Second, J. H. Everett (Dark Brahmas). Third, J. Freeman (Cochins and Dorkings). Fourth. J. Whitsed (DorkinR and Cochin). Highly Com- mended, Lady G. Gordon (Speckled-booted Bantams.) Tdrkeys (Any colour).— First, J. Craig. Second, T. Parker. Geese (Any colour).- First, S. Deacon. Second, J. A. W. Underwood. Ducks.— Second, J. W. Harrison (Rouen). Third, J. Whitsed (Muscovy). Commended, J. W. Harrison (Aylesbury.) Pigeons. — First, J. W. Harrison (Dun Carriers, Black Carriers, Black Fans). Second, R. Payling (Black Carriers, White Pouters, Almond Tumblers). Third, A. Storrar (Black Carriers, Black ^loltled Tumblers, Black Barbs). Highly Commended, R. Payling (Kites, White Pouters, Yellow Turbits.) Extra.— Highly Commended, Miss Little (Two Swans) ; Master H. B. Little (Pair Himalaya Rabbits); — Wagstaff (Black Swans from Sydney, Australia). Commended, J. Elgar (Pair Houdans.) £dward Hewitt, Esij., of Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, was the Judge. TOWCESTER POULTRY SHOW. The annual meeting of the Northamptonshire Agricultural Society took place on the 3rd and 4th inst., at Towcester. The Show was not only very good, but this year a most commodious tent was provided in case the weather should prove unfavourable, but fortunately it was propitious. Several of the prize Dorhings were of great merit, and were sent in first-rate condition, though numbers of the remaining pens were fast falling into deep moult. The same remark applies with even still greater force to the Spanish classes. The single cock Spanish class proved so indifferent, -that both prizes were withheld. The Game classes were among the best in the show, there being plenty of excellent birds combined with a large entry. In Cochins^ the Partridge cup birdB far outstripped their competitors. In the Cochiu-China Chicken class, we regretted much to find that with a full entiy almost every pen contained one or more birds with the " twi^;ted wings," so fatal an objection in this variety. Of Ilamhurghs, all four kinds were classed together, and, strange to say, every pen proved to be Golden-spangled, many of them being very good. Some excellent White BantamH were ehown, and some very tolerable Game Bantams, but the latter ehietly in deep moult. A rather nice pen of Friesland Bantams was exhibited in the Variety class, and also some good Dai'k Brahmafi. In Gi^ese and Duels, Mr. Fowler, of Aylesbury, with capital pens easily withstood all opposition. In Pigeons each exhibitor by the Society's rules shows in lots of three pens, as a sweepstakes, added to which are first and second prizes from the general funds. The competition was excellent, and the two winning lots such as are rarely met with. Dorkings (Any colour).— First, T. Tathani, Kingsthorpe. Second, H. LiuRwood, Barking. Needham Market, Suftblk. Third. R. Wood, Clapton. Thrapstone. Hem.—YiTai and Silver Cup, T. Tatbam. Second, H, Lingwood. C/ticfccHJ!.- First, J. Longland, Grendon. Second, J. K* Fowler, Aylesbury. Third, H. Lingwood. Commended, S. Taylor. Pu}Uis.~¥xT&t, R. Wood. Second, S. Taylor, Towcester. Spanish. — First and piece of Plate, J. Stephens, Walsall. Second nnd Third, Messrs. Birch & Boulter, Sheffield. Commended, W. R. Bull, Newport Pagnell, Bucks. Chickens.— F\TS,i and Second, Messrs. Birch and Boulter. Game.— First, Second, and piece of Plate, H. Shield, Northampton. Third, J. Lane, Birmingham. Highly Commended, H. Shield. Com- mended, J. Lane; J. M. Payne. H^n'f.— First, J. Lane. Second, J. N, Beaslcy, Brampton. Third, J. M. Payne, Gayton, Northampton. Highly Commended, W. Barford, Aylesbm-y ; S. Deacon, Oundle ; J. Lane. Com- mended, J. Sargeant, Preston Deanery. Cochin-Chinas.— First and piece of Plate, J. Stephens. Second, W. A. Taylor, Manchester. Third, J. N. Beasley. Highly Commended, J. K. Fowler; H. Lingwood. Commended, W. F. Checkley Moulton, North- ampton. C/i(VA,v/w.— First, H. Lingwood. Second, J. K. Fowler. Hamburghs (Any variety}.— First, W. A. Taylor (Silver-spangled). Se- cond, W. Barford, Aylesbury. Commended, Messrs. Birch & Boulter (Golden-spangled.) Bantams (Any colour). — First, The Ladies Wentworth Fitzwilliam, Harrowden House. Second, W. A. Taylor. Highly Commended, J. H, Smith, Horton, Northampton. Commended, Mrs. F. S. Arkwright, Derby; J. D. Bletsoe, Northampton ; G.J. Hitchcock, Hinton House. Any other Distinct Briiied.— First, J. K. Fowler (Brahmas). Second, J. Beasley (Japanese). Third, J. Smith, Horton. Geese (Any colour).— First and Second, J. K. Fowler. Highly Cora- mended, Hon. & Rev. A. G. Douglas, Scaldwell ; The Ladies Wentworth Fitzwilliam. Ducks (Aylesbury).— First and Second, J. K. Fowler. Ducks (Rouen),— First and Second, J. K. Fowler. Ducks (Any variety).— First, G. Osborn, Pattishall. Second, J. Beasley (Buenos Ayrean.) Turkeys (Any colour\— First, J. Beasley. Second, The Ladies Fitz- william. Highly Commended, S. Inns, Towcester. SELLiNfj Class.— First, J. Stephens (Spanish). Second, W. A. Taylor (Cochin Chinal. Thii'd, J. Longland, (Dorkinps) ; Commended, J. Lane, Birmingham (Game) ; C. Wright, Northampton (Game.) SINGLE COCKS. Dorking Cock.— First, J. Longland. Second, R. Wood. Third, H. Lingwood. Commended, Mrs. F, S. Arkwright. Game Cock. — First, J. Lane. Second and Third, H. Shield. Com* mended, J. Lane : H. Shield. Cochin-China Cock.— First, J. Stephens. Second, J. Longland. Highly Commended, C. Wright. Pigeons.— First and Second, H. Yardley (Carriers, Owls, Pouters, Ice Pigeons, Spots, and Fairies). Highly Commended, T. Adams, Northamp- ton (Carriers, Barbs, Baldpatcs, and Vax'ious.) Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, near Birming- ham, officiated as Judge. SPALDING POULTRY SHOW. The following prizes were awarded at this Show, held on the 4th inst. Dorkings (Coloured).— First and Local Cup, J. W. Han-ipon, Spalding. Second, S. Onley, Cheltenham. Hichlv Commended, H. Lin^'wood, Bark- ing, Needham Market, SuflFuIk ; W. H. Robson, North Keston, South Lincolnshire ; G. Clark, Long Sutton. Dorkings (Any other variety). - Prize, H. Lingwood. Game (Black-breasted and other Reds). First, Local Cup and Second, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough, Manchester. Highly Commended, J. Laming, Spalding ; W. Verity, Beverley ; S. Matthew, Stowmarket, Suffolk ; C, Chaloner, WhitweU, Chesterfield. Commended, J. W. Harrison ; C, Chaloner. Game (Any other variety).— First and Second, J. Fletcher (Duckwings). Hifihly Commended, T. Dyson, Halifax (Duckwiugs). Cochin-China (Buff)-— First and Cup, R. White, Sheffield. Second, J. H. Dawes, Birmingham. Highly Commended, H. Lingwood ; T. Hardy, Peakill, Spalding. Commended^ Col. Stuart Wortley, Grove End Road, London : Rev. S. C. Hamerton. Warwick. Cochin-China (Any oth^r colour). — First, S. Parke, Melton Mowbray, Leicester (Black). Second, S. Onley (White). Hifjlily Commended. T, Hardy (White) ; J. W. Harrison (Cuckoo). Commended, J. Wright, Mel- ton Mowbrav. Brahma Pootras (Dark).— First, E. Leech, Rnchdale. Second, F. K. Crook, Forest Hill, Kent. Commended, C.Caswell, Spalding ; T. Hardy; F. James. Brahma Pootra (Light).— First, H. Dowsett, Pleshy near Chelmsford, Essex. Second, F. Crook. Highly Commended, Miss E. S. Maples, Spald- iUK; T. Hardy. Commended. Mips E. S. Maples; F. Crook. SPANISH (Black).— First, Withheld. Second, J. Wricht. HAsrBURGHs (Any variety). First, W. Wood, Sheffield. Second, H, Bcldon. Commended, Rev. J. Hosegood, Long sntton (Silver- spangled) ; T. J. Marshall, Tydd, near Wisbench (Golden-spangled); C. Havers, Tha Beacons, Ingates'tone, Essex (Golden-pencilled); J. F. Loveraidge, Newark (Golden-spnnyled) ; S. Onley (Golden-pencilled) ; T.N. Granes, tldrbeck, Boston (SilvGr-pencilled.) Game Bantams. — First, C. Jennings, Spalding. Second, J. Laming. Bantams (Any other variety). — First aud Second, A. Storrar, Peter- borough (Black). Second, T. C. Harrison, Hull. Highly Commended, R» H. Weldon, Spalding i Japanese Silky). Commended, MeBsra. S. & E. Ashton, Mottram, Cheshire (SVbiteJ ; J. W. Harrison (ijebright). Ja2j U. 1867. ] JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENKB. Fabmvabd Cross.— FirBt, Col. Stuart Wortley (French!- Second, H. Beldon (Poland). Highly Commended, Col. Stuart Wortley (French) ; T. Hardy (Creve Cu-ur.) Docks (Rouen).— First, E. Leech. Second, J. Wright. Commended, J. Wright. DucKB (Ayleahuryl.— First, E. Leech. Second, J. W. Harrison. Com- CUOnded, II. Diiwgott ; .T. W. Earriaon. Ducks (Any other vjiriety).— Fir^t, Cup »nd Second, J. W. Ilarrinon. Highly Commended, T. C. Harrison. Commended, J. W. Harri^iou (Black fast Indian). Gekkk (Any colour).— First and Second, T. Hardy (Toulouse.) TuitKKYS (Any colour). — Prize, J. Smith, Grantham. FllEABANTS, AND ANY VABIETV OF ORNAMENTAL, FoREION OR DosrESTI- OATKn PorLTBY.— First and Cap, .1. W. Harrison (Peacock). Second, — Bates, Spalding (Silver Pheisauts.) Sei-mng Class f Any Variety).— First, S. Beeheo, Walsall (Black Spanish). Second, J. Laming (Blnck-hroastod Game). Commended, T. Dyson, UiUilax ; 11. Dowsott {Ayleshurj* Ducks.) SWEEPSTAKES. Single Game Cock.— Prize. J. Fletcher. Commended, H, Snusball. Uau£ liANStAM Cock.— Prize. .1. W. Harrison. PIGEONS. Carrters.— First, K. S. Smith, Boston. Second, J. W. Ilarrieon. Highly Commended, H. Yardley, Birmingham; K. Fulton, Deptford, London. Coninieudod. J. W. Hnrrison ; II. Fulton. Pouters.' First, J. E. Broward, Coventry. Second, R. Fulton. Highly Commended, H. SnushaU ; E. E. M. Royds,' Rochdale. Commended, R. F. Payling: H. Yanllev; R. Fulton. Barbs.— First and Second, K. Fnlton. Highly Commended, H. Vardloy. TOMBLERS.— First, R. Fulton. Hecoud. J. Percivall. Highly Commended, A. St(»rrar. Commended, J. Ford, Moukwoll Street, London ; C. Cnwhurn, Leeds; A. Dore, Leeds; H. Yardley; R. Fulton; F. Key, Beverley; J. Hawley. Bingley, Yorkshire. Jacodinh. — First, E. Homer, Harewood, Leeds. Second, H. Yardley. Highly Commended, F. Key; E. Homer. Fantails. -First and Second, H. Yardley. Highly Commended, J. W. Harrison. Any other Distinct Variety. — First, Cup and Second, R. Fulton (Blue and White Owls). Highly Commended, J. Laming (Hyacinths); JI. Snnshall (Biuo Turhits) : E. S. Smith (Antwerps) ; R. F. Payling (Yellow Turbitsl ; H. Yardley; E. E. M. Royds; J. Thompson. Selling Class (Any variety).— First, D. Young, Leamington (^'hite Dragons). Second, H. SnushaU (Black Swallows). Highly Commended, J. E. Breward (White Pouters) ; J. W. Harrison iPonters") ; H. Yardley. Commended, H. Yardley ; R.Fulton (Shields); J. Thompson. RABBITS. Heaviest Rarhit.— First, Messrs. Hanson & Wagstaff. Doncaster. Se- cond, J. T. Jealous, Spalding. Highly Commended. J. T. Leaton. Spalding. Lop-eared.- First and Cup, M. Millington, York. Second. Messrs. Hanson & Wagstaff. Highly Commended, Messr-s. Hanson & Wagstnff; J. Taylor, Sheffield. Commended, U. M. Maynnrd, Rvde, Isle of Wight. Any Breed. —First, R. R. Wise, jun., St. Ives, iHunts. Second, J. Taylor. Fancy Varieties.— First, R. K. Wise, jun. (Silver Grev). Second, J. W. Harrison (Angora). Highly Commended, Master C. Vise, Holheach iCbinese). Commended, H. Cawood (Himalaya); J. W. Harrison (Hima- laya) ; E. E. M. Royds. CAGE BIRDS. Canary (.Vny variety of colour).— First and Second, E. S. Smith (Buii and Yellow Belgian). Highly Commended, E. S. Smith (Variegated rrosted) ; J. Tye, Spalding. Commended, Mrs. Bowser, Spalding (Yellow Norwich.) Mule (Any variety).— First, E. S. Smith (Goldfloch Mule). Second, C. O. Harvey. Ijnnet, Goldfincit, oe other English FmrcH.— Prize, E. S. Smith (Goldfinch.) Blackbird, Thrush. Starling, Lark or other English Cage Bird. —Prize, Mrs. Wilson (Thrush). Parrot. Parakett, Lorey, or other Foreign Bird.— First and Cage, Rev. P. Toarle, Newmarket (Kim; Parrot). Second. E. 9. Smith (Parrot nnd Cage). Commended, J. W. Harrison (Grey young PaiTot and Cage) ; O. £. Storr, Spalding (King Parrot) ; J. Barnes, Spalding (Australian Lorey); J. W. H. Tidswoll (Grey Parrot.) JuDOK. — Edward Hewitt, Esq., Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, near Birmingham. A TURKEYS REMONSTRANCE. It is but too plain that we hold no place in the affectionB of your respected correspondent " Y. B. A. Z.," since he has not included our class in his " Dottings at Salisbury." All our pens entered for that show were not sent, but we had a uoble representative there in the first-prize pen. Nor was the liberal accommodation provided for us at Salis- bury less worthy of observation. One of the small paddocks placed at our service there must have 1 een very acceptable to our brother after his long journey from the sister iale. May we be as fortunate at other shows. — A Tcbkev 'Wuo was at Salisbdri. I Guilty ! Yes, I plead so to not having written of Turkeys in my " Dottings ;" and although " mortals do rush in where angels fear to tread," yet I do not like, even though " mortal," to tush in on a subject I know but little about. But my friend the " Tdrkey at Salisbcby " greatly misunderstands my silence. " No place iu my affections !" I cannot plead guilty to this at any rate. If the answer is negative when Turkeys are in feathers, it is verv fir from that when they are without them. Let either of my Turkey friends that were at Salisbury, if they doubt the point, present themselves with a goodly necklao* of sausages, and I agree to pay them every possible attention, and I will show how fully I appreciate them. I will, however, supply the omission of giving great credit to the Salisbury authorities for their capital arrangements as regards the Turkeys, Geese, and Pucks. These had ample room to move about ; and I particularly noticed that the first prize Turkey had plenty of room to spread his tail, and evi dently thought no end of that and himself generally. Long may ho live to spread it. — Y. B. A. Z.j MAKING AN ARTIFICIAL SWARM— BEES DESERTING A UNICOMB HIVE. A STOCK of Ligurians from Mr. Woodbury's apiary reached me safely in May last, and they are now doing well. On the 26tb of June I tried to make an artificial swarm, being afraid of losing them, as I am often from home. I will describe the plan I have pursued, and will you then say if I have done right ? I found the comb on which the queen was, and placed it in another hive ; and as the parent hive was very strong, I also took out a second comb, bees and all, and placed it in the same hive in which I had put the one containing the queen. I then lifted this hive away to a fresh stand a few paces ofl. I find the bees in the parent hive in a great state of commotion, having lost their queen, and the others accompanying the queen do not leave the hive much. Have I done right? and may I expect a fresh queen to be raised in the parent hive, or what am I to do ? I find them hanging about in large numbers outside the hive. I may say that I have had a super on the hive for a few days, but they did not go up, although I inserted therein a piece of new comb containing honey to entice them. 1 have had a unicomb hive made, and pnt in it a swarm of bees. For about fourteen days they have done well, bat, strange to say, last night (2(Jth of June), about eight o'clock, they took wing and flew away. They were retaken by a neigh- bour, and to-night I intend replacing them in the unicomb. What was the reason of their leaving ? and is it probable they will stay when I put them in again :' — E. D. [In making an artificial swarm by taking out the qneen, yon should have taken only the comb upon which she was at the time, and which you should have carefully scrutinised, so as to satisfy yourself that no inhabited royal cells were upon it, as, if any such existed, the queen should have been shifted to another comb. The remaining combs having been brought together, so as to leave tlie vacancy thus caused on one side, the old hive should have been shifted to a new position, the new one containing the queen and the abstracted comb being placed on the old stand. Managed in this way, the returning bees would have made up a good swarm, which would have built combs which the queen would have rapidly filled with eggs, and all would have proceeded in the same manner as if the swarm had issued naturally, whilst the young bees which knew not their way back to the old stand, and must perforce stick to their original domicile, would found royal cells and raise a young queen. You had better, therefore, transpose the two hives at once, and this will probably set matters right. If you suffer them to remain as they now are you are very likely to lose the original pure queen for want of a suflicient popula- tii n, and any combs which may bo built in the old hive before the bees have raised a young queen will have the vital defect of being drone combs. There can be little doubt that some little violence is done to the instinct of bees when they are compelled to build a single large comb in a narrow space like the interior of a unicomb hive, and this may be the cause of yours having been deserted. Whether the returned bees may nltimately decide upon bearing the ills they have, or determine upon again flying to others which they know not of, is a problem which W6 find ourselves unable to solve.' SWARMS UNITING. In December last I purchased two stocks of bees in common straw hives, which 1 will designate A and B, the only diffe- rence between them being that A was a little heavier, and it also has a window. They progressed favourably daring the winter, and on May 28th B swarmed, and my brother success- fully hived the swarm (I will call this C). WhUe he was hiving the bees A swarmed, and after flying about a dozen yards the 36 JODBSAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. [ July 11, 1867. bees came back again and pitched all over the hive and hackle of B. My brother then tried to brush them into an empty hive, but without Buccess, aa they crept into the hive (B). Did you ever hear of a similar occurrence ? On Thursday nifiht, June 20th, we stopped the bees in by means of the usual perforated zinc slides, and moved them, after erecting a shed (we used hackles before) ; we then replaced them in their former position. I then r«ised the slides. Tlie bees in A and C seemed to be very little excited, whilst those in B rushed out all over the place. Ne.\t morning we found a great many dead, and for the next three days the bees continued to bring out dead, of which about half were drones, I should think about two thousand altogether. Do you think that they have killed the swarm that went into their hive, or can you account for it in any other way ? Daring the past week there has been a ."strange fatality amongst my bees. A great many bees are running about very wildly on the ground round the hive, and the only peculiarity that I see about some of them is that there are two yellow spots on the upper part of the first segment of the abdomen. —J. R. W., Ba'h. [We have not ourselves met with a similar instance, but we believe the occurrence is not very unusual. It is not likely that the entire swarm was destroyed, although there was evidently a sharp light. We often see single bees running about in the manner you describe, and always consider them as having been disabled in some way.] TIME OF QUEEN BEES BREEDING. Can you inform me the number of days elapsing from the time of a Liguriau queen's release from the cell to the time of her capability for breeding, and how much time will elapse before she commences to deposit her eggs in the cells? Like- wise, is there any difference between the Ligurian queens and the black English queens in these two particulars ? — L. A. [The period varies considerably. We consider fourteen days the average time which elapses from the hatching out of a queen to the commencement of egg-laying, but we have known a queen impregnated on the seventh day, and two queens which were hatched in our own apiary this seasen on the 30th of May, were impregnated on the tenth day, and, consequently, laid eggs on the twelfth or thirteenth day ; from two to three days elapsing after fecundation before oviposition takes place. On the other band, during a very favourable season, we have in one instance. found egg-laying delayed until the thirty-first day. Tht^e periods refer only to what are called "artificial" queens. When stocks swanu naturally, the young queens are, at any rate, very often capable of flight when they first issue from their cells, and in this case fecundation takes place earlier. There is no difference in these respects between Itali.in and common queens.] DOES A SCARCITY OF HONEY IN THE SPRING INDUCE SWARMING? I HAVE been led to ask this question of the readers of The JouENAL OF Horticulture, in order to draw out the experience of some apiarians on the matter. In past years I have sometimes felt inclined to smile, on hearing persons say that they could not induce their bees to take possession of supers. As a rule, I had always succeeded in this, and also in preventing swarms, by keeping the super with guide comb warm, and the stock cool. This year I have been at fault. In early spring I had two Ligurian stocks in Woodbury hives. They both promised well, and I determined to prevent swarming, and have honey instead. Snpers were put on each hive on the ISth of May, and pro- gress was watched daily. The iiOth of May gave me a swarm, weighing 5* lbs., from one hive ; and on the 11th of June the • other hive swarmed. In this case the queen was unable to fly, BO that the bees returned to the hive, but came off again with a second and third swarm. I may say here that the piping and second swarming in each case took place at an earlier date than is usual, and that I economised my queen cells as much as possible for artificial swarms. In the first hive I saw not fewer than ten queen cells. Now, why did not the bees in these hives take to the supers ? Those in the latter hive seemed to do so for some time, but they made very little comb, and I am now pretty well con- vinced that they merely occupied the super instead of crowding and hanging outside, as we often see them do in common hives. If I am not becoming tiresome, I shall venture my own opinion, in order to be put right if I am wrong, as well as to draw out other opinions. I am inclined to think that a scarcity of honey was the cause. For the 15th of June I find the following note in my Journal — " Weather dull and indifferent ; no bee season yet." If there bad been plenty of honey the bees would have formed comb, and stored the honey. As it was, they were obliged to be idle. Not so the busy and prolific queens, the cells were filled with brood, the bees rapidly increased in number, and swarms were the natural result. I must biing this communication to a close for the present, but there are some other points to which I should like to draw attention, if space can be allowed. — Clericus, Cumberland. [We shall be glad to hear from you again. — Eds.] CONSEQUENCES OF SELLING FOUL BROOD. On the ISth of June I received a stock of Liguriaus from Messrs. Neighbour & Sous, of Regent Street, and when I placed it in my bee-house i found from the smell emitted that it was suffering from foul brood. Will you inform me whether travelling for six or seven hours in a well-ventUated Woodbury hive little more than half filled with combs, and not half filled with bees, could produce viru- lent foul brood ? lu the spring of 18GG I ieoeiv?d my first stock of Ligurians from Messrs. Neighbour & Sons, and with it came this terrible disease which has destroyed six stocks of bees. — A Mabiyk to Foul Bkood. [Foul brood could not possibly have been spontaneously developed in a healthy colony under such circumstances. The stock must have been diseased before it left Messrs Neighbours' apiary.] OUR LETTER BOX. Food for Ducklings {F. M.). — Ducklings may be fed on oatmeal, some grcavts, ciu'd, choi ped onioa topa. As they grow older, discontinue these une by one, until you have reduced them to plain oatmeal, and then pl:iin oats. Sickle Feathers of HAMEUitGii Cock Notched {Poultry Fancier). — Asa rule any dibtingnishiiig mark in the plumage uf a bird sent for ex- uibitiou is a disqufilihcatiou. The imirks in the tail would be ao, if there ' were cluse compctitiuu, or if the birdb had to be carefully scanned. They I "vsould under any circumstances disqualify a Silvtr-spangled cock. They ■.vould be detrimental to Golden and Silver-pencilled. Gulden-pencilled HABiBcitGH Pdllets {H.B. C.j. — You are quite right I to sut your eggs on the gruuud. It is a cause of success. In Pencilled : Hamburgbs there are many spots that show in the tirst chicken feathers that never bhow afterwaius ; at all times and ages, we prefer the clear hackles, but you must recollect the penciJLing that is objectionable in the hackle is essential to the body. We therelore advise you to select the pullets that are most alike to adults in plumage, hearing in mind that a lew spots on the hackle may be tolerated or overlooked, but a lack of pencilling on the body is fiital to success. The pullets should not be pencilled on the hacklo. Green Food for Fowls (ii.). — We give watercress, endive, and lettuce freely to our fowls. There is no occasion to mix it with other food, they are lond of it. Rue is an old poultry medicine, but we do not believe in or use it. Poultry ix Very Limited Space {H. B. £.).— We know only two breeds that would do well in the space you mention— 15 feet by 14. They are the Spanish and the Houdau. They are non-sitters. It would be useless to set eggs in the space you mention, as it would be impossible to rear the chickens. Being suiTounded by a wuU so high as you mention, it will, we fear, keep off the sun. Can you not contrive to let some ofthe rays and warmth full on the poultry '} You will find tho best green food you can give will be grass cut in large sods in a gi-owing state. The fowls will eat it all and scatter the mould in search of insects, deodorising and purifyiug the whole run. You will not, perhap;, believe us when we say tiiat hens and chickens do no harm in a garden. We heUeve they often do good provided the hen is kept up. Caponising (Pattlin). — We know of no work on this cruel and needless practice. Richardson's "Domestic Fowl" has a chapter on the subject. Parrot Plucking Itself [A Subscriber). — Do not let the bird have any animal food, but plenty of ripe fruit, and a tepid bath once or twice daily. If the bird will not bathe in a dish tilled with tepid water, pour it ovei the bird through the rose of a watering-pot. Rose Water (A. B. J.). — To make it from rose leaves, distillation is required. Mites in Bird Cages {G. Co/r).— We have no doubt that filling the crevices with colza oil as you recommend, would be as efficacious as linseed oil, which is usually employed, and then flowers of sulphxu: dusted on to the oil. French Polish (HoiweictV'c).— Shelloc. 1^ oz. ; niastich, half oz. ; san- diirue. half oz. ; reclihed sprits of wine, 20 ozs. Mix them, and keep in a gentle heat, frequently sbiiking the buttle until all the resins aredisaolved. Apply very little to the furniture, and rub hard until the polish is estab- lished. Of horehound beer we know nothing. The fowls to keep in a coniiued space are mentioned in an answer to another correspondent to djiy. insects in Preserves (S. L.).— The insects are mites, or acari, they wovild be excluded from the preserves by tying the jara closely with, t bladder. July 18, 1887. 1 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 37 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of 0! Month Week. IR Th I'.l F 20 8 21 Snu 2'J M 28 Tu 24 W JULY 18— ai, 18«7. Royal Uorticultuml Soricty's Bury Show Suu'8 dfclluution 20'^ 43' N. [ closes. 6 Sunday ai'tku Trinity. AvcrttKo Temperature Dear Loadon. Rain in last 40 yearB. Day. 71.0 73.2 72.9 7:i.r. 7!i.:i 74.1 72.8 NlKhl. 60.2 60.!! 6U.3 60.7 61.5 61.8 61.9 Mean. 02.4 61.7 61.6 62.1 62.4 62.9 62.4 Daya. 19 21 22 18 2.S 20 14 Son EiHeH. m. h. 6ai4 6 4 8 4 9 4 lU 4 12 4 13 4 Moon Rises. Moon Sets. m. h. 6 at 8 m. b. 46a(R 14 9 81 10 68 10 27 11 m. h. 47 al r, r,() 6 54 7 9 8 10 17 11 after Moon's Age. Clock before Son. Days. 17 18 19 20 21 22 c 6 10 6 12 Year. 199 200 201 202 208 204 205 From obfiervationH taken near London dnrin? the last forty years, the average day temperature of the week is 73..'j- ; and its night temperature 50.9^ The greatest boat was 89 , on tbc 23rd, 1864 ; and the lowest cold S2~, on the 23rd, 1863. The greatest fall of rain was 1.37 inch. JUDGING GR.\PES. N one occasion I brought tliis matter before the readers of the " Florist and I'omologist," with a view to an-iving at some fixed principles to guide judges when deciding on the merits of Grapes, and I am induced to revive the subject fcy the discussions I heard around the fiiiit-table at the recent Exliibition at ISIanchcster ; discussions whicli made it perfectly evident tliat no fruit-grower can tell before- hand what are the points of excellence that are to be most in his favour as an exliibitor of Grapes, unless he knows who the judges are to be, and their peculiar ideas on the subject. On the occasion referred to Jlr. Meredith exhibited the largest bunches and berries of Hamburghs, but they were inferior in point of colour to Mr. Dixon's, and the Judges put them equal first. I, however, heard their judgment called in question by those who considered that on the ground of their superior colour I\Ir. Dixon's ought to have stood alone in the first position. The whole subject of judging Grapes was thus brought up, and it was perfectly e\-idcnt that opinions dill'ered from each otlicr as far as the poles are asimder. Under these cii-cumstances is it not possible for the Truit Committee of the Uoyal Horticidtunil Society to flraw up and publish a set of rules for judging Grapes'.^ Tliis would not only relieve judges of much unpleasant controvcrsj-, but also enable exhibitors to select such bunches as came nearest a recognised standard. Common sense seems to suggest, that as the primary object in growing Grapes is that they may be eaten, the palate should be the final court of appeal: yet. I believe, it is seldom had recourse to, the generality of judges main- taining that flavour and colour always go togetlier, than wliicli there cannot be a greater mistal;e. Tlie finest Hamburgli Grapes in flesh, size of berry, and flavour I ever tasted were brown, wliile I have tasted the same Grape jet black, yet sour. By way of suggestion, I would give to the liighcst flavour S marks ; finest colour, 2 marks ; size of berry, J marks ; size of bunch, 1 mark ; shape of bunch, 1 mark ; bloom, 1 mark. Thus 10 marks would constitute the liighcst relative ex- cellence. These marks to bo modified so as to run parallel with the merits of the points of each exhibition. It may be perfectly true that no set of rules can be framed that will absolutely meet every case, yet some approach to coiTCct ideas on the subject may be arrived at ; and I have no doubt some of your correspondents will contribute their views of the matter, and thus aid the No. 32S.— Vol. XIII., New Semes. solution of what is at present a vexed question. — Wm. Tiio.MsoN, The Gardens, DiMcith Park. NOTES ABOUT STRAWBERRIES. As this is the best time for purchasing Strawberry plants, and as I have tried some of the most popular sorts during the last tliree years, a few remarks on these may be useful to some of j'our readers. I have gro^vn in that time Black Piince, Keens' Seed- ling, Hooper's Seedling, sent instead of Sir Harry (I would remark here that it is of the utmost importance for those who send out new plants to be verj' careful that no spurious varieties are mixed with them, or a different sort altogether sent, as I did not obtain a single plant of Sir Harry amongst them), Rivcrs's EUza, Due de Malakofl", Proliiio Hautbois. President, Su- Joseph Paxton, Eclipse, l^a Constante, Sir Charles Napier, British Queen, and Dr. Hogg. I stiU gi-ow Black Piince for very early forcing, and it is succeeded by Keens' Seedling. I grow my plants in three different ways — namely, in pots for forcing, in ground vineries for succession, and in the open borders. For early forcing it is as weU to have the Black Prince layered in Jime, followed by Keens' Seedling. Tlie later sorts I layer some time before the middle of July, or even further on in the season ; my system is to layer the runners in (id-sized pots, using a mixture of good loam and rotted dung, and they may be severed fi-om the parent plant in three weeks ; but tliis is best ascertained by turning a few of them out of tlie pots, and if the roots are ru nnin g do^vn the sides of the pots the runners may be removed from the plants, and regularly watered two or three times a-day at first. As soon as the pots are wcU filled -with roots the plants must be shifted into the fruiting pots, using five-inch pots for the very early sorts, and six-inch pots for the later sorts. To those, however, who have no accommodation for Strawberries in pots, and yet would Like to have a few fruit three weeks earlier than they can be had from the open borders, I would recommend the ground vineries : tliese arc mtliin the reach of people of moderate means, and they are excellent for growing Strawberries. I plant two rows in a ground vinery 3A feet wide at the base and jn inches deep in the centre. A ground vinery of the above dimensions glazed and painted, the glass 21-oz. to the foot, costs about i"j Ids. ; it wiU be 28 feet long, and there is no other ex- pense entailed, except a row of bricks laid end to end for the base of the vinery to rest upon, and one brick to be reser\-ed for each seven-feet lengtli \they are made in seven- feet lengths I. These bricks are for the purpose of tilting it up in veiy warm weather, as witliout this precaution the foliage is very apt to be drawn up weakly, a state of matters which does not evidence the best cultivation. I need not detail the out-of-door cultivation, except tliat the ground, where it admits of it, ought to be deeply trenched, and a liberal dressing of good manm-e dug in, as, if tlie roots do not penetrate into tlie ground. Uiey do not withstand the drouglit, and there are very few private Ho. 981.-V0L. SSSVm., Old Sebies. JOUKNAL OP HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. I Jair ISi isor. establishments where the beds can be watered ; for stova and greenhouse plants, vineries, Peach-housea, Cucumber and Melon-pits, &c., take up so much time in hot weather. It is a great advantage to water them, but they ought to be mulched at the same time. I will now state my opinion of the various sorts, which may be different from the experience of other cultivators ; soil, cli- mate, and treatment, I have no doubt, making a great difference. The best variety for pot culture, and perhaps the best for out of doors, is La Constante. The fruit is of large size, regularly shaped, and equal sized, while the dwarf compact habit of the plant is an important feature. It ought to be planted more closely than the other sorts out of doors — say 20 inches from plant to plant. I generally plant them 2 feet apart. British Queen does well here, and comes next in favour. Dr. Hogg very much resembles this variety ; when both are grown together in pots they cannot be distinguished. The latter has not such equal-sized fruit as British Queen, its flavour is quite as good, and out of doors it is, perhaps, the higher coloured. President, and Sir Joseph Paxton, are sorts of which I think highly ; the former is the better bearer, but the fruit of the latter is more handsome. I will grow both largely next season. Eclipse is a very prolific variety, and good for forcing, and I have seen it planted largely this season. Sir Charles Napier is a very tender variety. My pot plants were plunged in cocoa-nut fibre in a cold frame, and most of them were injured by the severe frost which we experienced last winter. The fruit is too acid, but it is preferred by market gardeners to any other sort, for I believe they can ob- tain a larger quantity of fruit from a given number of plants, than they can from any other, and it takes well in the market. Seedling Eliza does not do well here, it bears a good crop of regular-sized fruit, but they are only of the medium size ; it ia also deficient in colour. Due de Malakofi has fruit of the largest size, and when well ripened of a good colour, but it is soft and inferior in flavour to most of the other varieties which I grow. Prolific Hautbois will not do here (Ilford, Essex). It does not bear half a crop of very inferior fruit. The plants grow yery luxuriantly. Hooper's Seedling is a good cropper, and very much re- sembles Keens' Seedling. The soil here is of a light sandy nature, resting on a gravel subsoil, so that it is not naturally suited to Straw- berries. Nevertheless we obtain good crops by manuring well, and digging in large quantities of a sound yellow loam. — J. Douglas. JOTTINGS AT SOME OF THE RECENT EXHIBITIONS. If our friend, Mr. D. Beaton, had been spared to the present day, what long and interesting descriptions be would have given of the novelties that have appeared within the last year or two ! He would have almost filled " our Journal " with his lucid and hnmoursome descrijitions. His delight would have known no bomids had he been permitted to see what grand results have crowned the labours of his declining years. He, without a doubt, was the pioneer who cut through all diiEculties and led the way to the present splendid race of Zonal and Nosegay Pelargoniums. 'The splendid baskets of Duchess of Sutherland and Lady Constance Grosvenor, exhibited by Mr. Turner, and the fine Nosegay Mrs. Laing, exhibited at the recent Show in the Eegent's Park, illustrate the great progress that has been lately made. I have also this season a large batch of seedlings of great promise, amongst them many new and beautiful shades of colour, with flowers very large, some of them being as much as 2 inches across ; several of them are of yellow shades. I feel confident that a bright yellow will be produced in the course of a season or two ; if so, it will be a grand and most useful addition to the flower garden. We want a good yeUow-flowering plant to take the place of the yellow Calceo- larias, for it appears to be quite useless to plant them in many places ; the pecuhar disease that attacks them remains a mystery. At the Eoyal Horticultural Society's Rose Show Messrs. E. G. Henderson exhibited two plants that will become great favourites for bedding purposes. The pretty and distinct- looking Pyrethrum Golden Feather will be largely cultivated. It is a most useful plant for marginal purposes ; so also is the pretty dwarf and free-flowering Lobelia pumila elegans, ex- hibited by them. With the following plants I could make one of the grandest and most compact beds ever seen. We will suppose that we have a large circular bed to plant — say 12 feet across. Well, we would plant it as follows, beginning with a centre of, say 3 feet, of Lady Constance Grosvenor Pelargo- nium ; next to this a ring, 18 inches wide, of Viola cornuta ; next an 18-inch band of Verbena Princess Victoria; then 18 inches of Viola lutea ; next to this 18 inches of Lobelia pumila elegans, finishing with a band, 18 inches wide, of Pyre- thrum Golden Feather. In situations where Coleus Verschaffelti will grow well, the centre of the bed would look well if com- posed of it. Another plant I saw exhibited at the Eegent's Park, and afterwards in a much better condition at the Koyal Exotic Nursery. This in the next three or four years wiU ba propagated for bedding purposes by the milUon. It is a very pretty hardy Nierembergia from the Plate Eiver, introduced by the Messrs. Veitch. The flowers are about IJ inch across, and of a pretty white colour, elevated on a slender tube, 1 to l,j inch long, above a beautiful carpet of rich green foliage. The plant is perfectly hardy, and a perpetual tlowerer. Here, then, in Nierembergia rivularis we have another most useful and graceful addition to the flower garden. The plant grows very freely, and forms a dense carpet of beautiful green foliage, above which the pretty white flowers are seen with great effect. They appeared like a mass of Snowdrops peeping up above their foliage in early spring. I at once ordered some plants, and shall propagate them as fast as possible, as I intend using it extensively in the ribbon-borders, &c., next year. Being a novelty of great merit it is rather expensive at present, but I have no doubt it will come within the means of every one next season. This might be used with great advantage instead of the Pyrethrum in a similar arrangement to that mentioned above. Another useful Lobelia I saw at the Eegent's Park was named speciosa Lindleyana. It is a dwarf-growing and a re- markably free-blooming variety, of a lively shade of violet blue, with a white centre. One of the best of all the Lobelias for bedding purposes is a variety I obtained for Mr. Tyerman, of the Liverpool Botanic Gardens, last year, under the name of Blue King. It is a free-growing and remarkably free-flowering variety, and the flowers are of a beautiful sky-blue shade. I consider it quite an acquisition. It is so distinct from Lobelia speciosa in colour, that it might be planted by the side of it. It is also easily kept through the winter months. At the Manchester Exhibition I was vei-y much struck with Viola amcena. This, no doubt, will be also a very useful plant. It is very dwarf, and has an intermediate style of growth be- tween V. cornuta and lutea, and may be planted between these varieties with good effect. The colour is a deep violet purple. At the same Exhibition Mr. Watson, of the New Zealand Nursery, St. Albans, exhibited a good Nosegay, which appeared to be a fine improvement on Lord Palmerston. The habit appeared to be good, and the truss was large and well filled up. The colour is a pretty rosy salmon. Mr. Watson also exhibited his Tricolors Miss Watson and Mrs. Dix at the Manchester and other shows. They are certainly very pretty, and I hope Mr. Watson will make his fortune with them ; if he do nofj it will not be for want of energy in bringing them before the public. Mr. Cunningham's pretty Ivy-leaf Pelargonium L'Elegante is also a good thing, and likely to prove very useful both for bedding and conservatory decoration. Mr. Bull's Silver Gem is also a most useful plant for the above purposes. It is certainly well named — it is a perfect gem, and if grown in a cool house for some months and then placed in heat the leaves will assume a pretty pink shade. I think the plant exhibited at the Tricolor Show on the 21st of May as a new variety was Silver Gem, grown as above described, for I have had many plants this season exactly liko those shown on that occasion. On the 3rd of July I made a hurried visit to Waltham Cross. The Eoses were most beautiful although the weather was vei-y much against them. We were a little too early to see Mr. Paul's bedding Pelargoniums ; but from what I have seen of the following, some of them under my own care and others bedded out there, I have put them down as useful and very effective bedders, and varieties that may at once be ordered and propa- gated in quantity : — Blue Bell, flowers bluish lilac, large, and the truss well formed ; pretty compact style of growth. Crim- son Queen, this is a grand colour, the plants very dwarf ; this will make a magnificent bed. Dr. Hogg, fine purplish rose, good habit, the plant producing large quantities of immense trusses of well-formed flowers. Encantress, flowers pretty soft crimson with distinct scarlet eye, habit good ; this is also ' a fine bedding plant. Firefly, floweis scarlet ciimsoa, good jQly 18, 1607. 1 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. haljit. Glory of Waltham, flowers splendid scarlet, habit good, neat foliage ; a ma^ificcnt bedding plant. Lilaciniira, flowers a pretty shade of brit^bt lilnc, splendid truss, nnd tloe habit. Memnon is a grand Stella with a magenta-coloured flower, the habit is good, and the fityle of growth very neat. Turple Queen is also a fine bedding Nosegay. Jason and Waltham Gem are two good trold-leaved varieties. The greatest novelty I saw amongst Pelargoniums was a double Tom Thumb. This variety has most probably' been obtained by a sport from Tom Thumb. It has the exact habit of the General, and flowers quite as freely, but the flowers are double. This will be a most useful variety for hybridising purposes. If wo can only get our Gloire do Nancy with the hiibit of Mi*. Paul's double Tom Thumb, they will bo most useful. That is at present the greatest fault in them, they grow too strong. What we want is nice compact plants from 'J to 15 inches high, with eight or ten trusses of line double flowers on them. In this state they would bo most useful for conservatory decoration. I must not forget to mention the two beautiful new herbaceous Phloxes, exhibited by Mr. Paul at the llo?o Show on tho 'ind, and at the Regent's Park on tho ;!nl. They far surpass anything I havo seen ; their names are Beautiful and Conqueror. I saw a largo bed of tlicm growing at Waltham. They were a sight I shall not easily forget. Beautiful is as its name implies ; it has immense spikes of large round flowers, pure white, with a rosy violet centre, and Conqueror is a creamy white v.ith a rosy purple centre, the base of the petals round tho centre being suffused with the same colour ; they appear to be very dwarf-growing varieties. In walking through the nurseries Mr. Paul called my attention to a pretty golden-leaved Quercus; the foliage was quite as bright as Pelargonium Golden Fleece. I was very much pleased with my visit to Waltham. Afy only regret was that I could not spare more time to inspect the numerous forms of floral beauty to be seen there. The Pioi-es alono would have afforded me amusement and interest for three times the time I could spare for an inspection of the whole. I, however, will again visit Mr. Paul's nurseries when tho Pelargoniums are in perfection, and then I hope to have more time to examine their beauties. In concluding these few notes of what I have seen likely to prove useful to the readers of " our Journal," I will just men- tion a few of my own productions. These I need say but little about, as they have been before the public. Amongst tho Gold Zouals (as they have lately been styled), the following I am sure will give satisfaction : — Perilla, Model, Compactum, Firebrand, Beauty of Uibblesdale, Beauty of Calderdale, Princess Alice. Tho general opinion of them is that they will supersede the Tricolors for bedding purposes ; they are certainly mnch easier cultivated, and are much more effective, they at once attract the eye, and are seen with good effect a long distance off, whilst the Tricolor loses its effect at a short distance. Amongst my Tricolors I consider Lottie W^ills, Aurora Borealis, Lizzie, Fanny, Beauty of Huntroyde, and Florence are not to bo easily surpassed. The latter variety will be found to surpass every Tricolor at present sent out for bedding purposes, I am so confident of this, that I am prepared to exliibit six plants of it in September, taken up from the open ground, against six plants of any other variety at present in cultivation for the sum of £5. — J. Wills. Xrvm FOn TAKING CUTTINGS. In the "Science and Practice of Gardenintr," page 256,1 find that " tho time for taking off cuttings from the parent plant for propagation is when the sap is in full activity ;" but upon referring to "Thompson's Gardener's Assistant " I find that " tho worst time for taking cuttings from hardy deciduous trees and shrubs is when the sap is in full flow " (see page 380). Will you explain how writers upon horticulture so far disagree upon a point so essential? — Aiiatkuk. [Circumstances alter cases, and, therefore, there is only a seeming disagreement in the directions. In the " Science and Practice of Gardening*' allusion is made chiefly to the propa- gating by cuttings of tender plants that are to have the ad- vantage of pots, hotbeds, »i:c., and in that case the directions are right. All you havo to do is to keep a cutting in a state as nearly as possible like that which it possessed on the parent plant, and, therefore, care must be taken to arrest evaporation and encourage rooting. As res]iccts hardy deciduous shrubs, Mr. Thompson is just as correct, and this you may satisfy yourself of easily by inserting & cutting of a Currant bueh in ^ho open air now, and In^rting a similar but leafless cutting during winter and spring. These are left to nature, the former is assisted beyond nature.] FLOWERS IN BLOOM DUKING JUNE. ACKLAM HALL, MIDDLESBOEOUOH-ON-TEES, „ C. » 10. „ 11. Jane S. Brompton and Interme- din to Stocka. Ccntaurcn montnna I^ycbuiH dioicu florc-pleno Iris, Vfirious kinds Vtironica ^'enlianoidcs Ot!um urbanum Orcliie tit^tulata Scfirlot Thorua, single and do u bio Scarlet Chestnut Silone qiiinqaoviilnera Andromeda axillaiis llesporis matronalis Itanuuculas ropeua Vicia Kcpium Omit bot;al urn ambcUatmu narboneuBo fimbriatom WciRcla rosea Aijuilegia vulgaris ABphodclus ramosas Vironica dentata Folcmonium Richardsonl Lythospermnm porpu- rcum cicruleum ^limulus lutous Mule Pink Diantbus ca?3lns Roses, various kinds Linaria cymbalaria bipartita and splendons Erigeron canadense Digitalis puriiurca and alba j\Iimalns moschatns Campanula rapunculus Silene nutans MfcspiUis gcrmanica Alcbemilla conjoncta Ncpeta violacoa Cornus sauguinea Aconitum napcUus Geum coceinoum Dictanmus ruber alb us Papaver concolor Saxif j-aga peunsylvanica Andrcwsii geum Genm rivalo Teucrium lucidum Allium schoenoprasnm ureinam Polvgala vulgaris Orchis maculata Parbarea vulgaris fl.-pl. Hesperis matronalis fl.-pl. Hbododendron birsutum Dt'lpbiuium formosum Barlowii meholeucnra Anchusa italica and n 16- „ £0. Juno 22. Orobus nigor Double Nasturtium LlUum Martagon, parple liosc», double and slnglo yellow Persian SDa]>dragon:j, various Diauthus odor at us doltoidca Cerastiura tomentosnnl Pyrethrum roseum Epilobitiui angustifoliom album „ 24. Lathyrussplcudens Geranium fi;wiguineuaj Plxiladelpbus Sweet William, various Galeobdolon luteum Lamiam niaculatum Campanula glomeratum Parictaria ofticinaliB Campanula pumila and alba Deutzia scabra Centranthua ruber and atbus Potuutilla Hopwoodiana IJarratii Phlox Drummondi Heliotropium peruviannm various kinds Calceolarias, various kinds Achillea clavtena rosea Nastnrtinms, various kinds „ 2C. EschschoUzia calilomica Calandrinia speciosa discolor Scarlet Pelargonioma Spiraea aruncus Astraulia major Symphytum echinatam asperrimum Silene compacta Hedycbium coronarluzn Iberiscoronaria alba rubra Papaver somnif ernm, dbl* . Campanula grandis Salvia pratensis Ruta graveolens Viola erecta Scdum rupestre Bexangulare acre Verbascum thapsos Chervil Thymus serpyllum „ 29. Morena pcrsica (.'ampauula p>*ramidali8 Saxifra^a grannlata granulata plena Thymus serpyllum albas GLASS WALLS. The above contrivances for more tboroughly ripening fniit have lately been introduced by the inventor of tho cylinder vinery, on the principle of which they have been constructed. The glass ivall is placed either opposite walls of slate made on purpose, or opposite to brick and stone walls already built, the fruit trees being trained against the glass wall on the inside, 60 as to receive the reflected heat from the wall opposite. The great benefit to be derived from this mode of growing fruit is light given in every direction both to the leaves and fruit. The mode to be pursued in constructing a wall of this kind opposite to one already built is as follows : — I drive into the earth, about 3 feet from the old wall, square bars of wood, grooved about five-eighths of an inch deep in the angles, boiled in creo- sote, and thus rendered indestructible. I sUp glass down the grooves until the top of the bars is reached. I then nail a plate on tho top of the bars to strengthen the glass, and also to admit of a cover being placed on the structure to keep oflf spring frosts. I nail email rafters from the glass wall to the brick or stone wall. After frosts are over I remove the co ver ing, when the trees are exposed to dew and rain. They require no watering and no further attention than an ordinary wall. The result of this mode of culture is the perfection of growth- 40 JOUBNAL OF HORTIGULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Jnly 13, 1867. I find the best and cheapest covering is the material made for packing Hops ; it is 6(?. a square yard retail. Boiling in creo- sote would render it indestructible. Glass walls can be made on the same principle. Facing each other, and running north and south, they might be made 10 feet high and 4 feet apart, open at the top. The trees can be trained on each wall. I have never s een foliage bo healthy and of such deep colour as on this principle. The temperature is always higher, and when the sun is out from 10° to 12^ higher than the external air. — Observer DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF HERBACEOUS PLANTS. {Continued from imge 5.) Hieracium aurantiacum e Hierochloe borealis re.... Horminum pyrenfticum . . Honstonia caeralea f r .... H. niiminnlarium c r •Iberis aaxatiUa •I. Tenoreana •Imperata sacchariflora *Iri9 germaoica vara =*I. florentina *I. pallida I. foetidissimafol. var *I. pumila =*!. susiana Jeflfersonia diphylla r *LAtbyTus grandiflorus *L. latifolius vars Liatris scariosa Lindelophia spectabilis r ♦Linum flavum e *L. monog}" nuin c L, Lewisii L. perenne flore albo L. narbonense r "Lobelia fulgens e 'L. fulgens St. Clair e li. sypbilitica L. urens Lychuis chalcedonica L. viscaria flore-pleno *L. viscaria splendens e *L. Haageana e L. pyrenaica r *Luplnu3 polypbvllus •L. polyphyllus albifloru3 Lysimaohia verticillata •Lytbrum vosGuni superbum e. . ''Meconopsis cambrica Melissa grandiflora Melittis melissophylium •Mimulus moschatus M. roseus palidua *Myosotis palustrig c Myrrbis odorata CEnothera Fraseri (E. fruticosa CE, aeaulis *(E. macrocarpa e •CE. taraxacifolia *(E. grandiflora e (Lamarckiana) •Omphalodcs verna c *Orobu3 vemus c O. angustifolius O. nigcr O. anrantiacua Onosnia tanricum re •Oxalis tropreoloides Pieonia albiflora vars "P. alliiflora Humei e P. albiflora tatarica *P. albiflora Whitleyi e P. albiflora sibirica P. albiflora fragrans P. albiflora vestalis *P. tenuifolia flore-pleno e P. decora P. paradosa *P. paradoxa flmbriata e ■ poregnna compacta P. peregrina oxoniensis P. daurica Iriternata P. corallina P. humilis P. oflicijialig albicans P. ofBcinalis carnescens *P. officinalis rubra plena e .... P. oflicinalis anemoniflora .... P. officinalis Sabini *Papaver bracteatum e •P. nudicaiile c •P. oriontale gplendens e Phalaris arandinacea vittata . . •Pentstomon. many varieties .. ^Phlox, named vars. e ^Phlox verna e P. ovata P. setacea P. pilosa Months ov Flowering. HEtOHT IN Feet CoLouE or Floweb. Soil. PaOPAOATION. June and August 1^2 orange loam and grit division May and June 1 a Grasij very sandy loam division Soil moist. •Tune and July 1—1+ blue loam division May to August i-r light blue peat, loam, and grit division Soil moist* Juno to September H yellow peat, loam, and grit, or limestone division Juno and Jnly 1 yellow peat, loam, and sand division May and Juno tl white loam and giit cuttings Juno pale purple sandy loam cuttings July and August 6 striped fol. sil. plumes sandy learn division 2-3 bluo shades loam division May and Juno 2 white loam division May and Juno 3—3 pale blue loam division Jane H striped leaves loam division Mnv and Juno J-^ purple loam division April and May 2 striped loam division May and June 3-1 white sandy loam division June and August 4 purple sandy loam seed Jnue to September 5-8 purple and whito loam seed September & October 3—4 purple peat and loam division June and July 2 deep blue sandy loam division June to August 1 yellow sandy loam cuttings Sheltered sit- Jv.ne to August 2 white sandy loam seed and cuttings uation. June and July 2-S blue sandy loam seed June and July 2 white calcareous loam seed May to July 2 blue sandy loam cuttings and division Warm sit. June to September 3 scarlet Joam loam division Dry in winter. June to September 8 scarlet division Moist in simj- August to October 2 light blue sandy peat cuttings and division mer. June and July n light bine sandv peat seed and division June and Jnly 2 scarlet peat, loam, and grit cuttings and seeds June and July li purple peat, loam, and grit division Sunny expo- June and July 1 pink peat, loam, and grit division sures. June to August 2J orange loam and peat cuttings and division June and July i-^ pink peat and grit division Soil moist. June and Julv 8-1 blue loam seed and division 3 white loam division Julv and August 1 yellow peat, loam, and gi-it division Soil moist. Juno to August 2-3 rose peat and loam cuttings and seed Jane to August 1— li yellow loam, grit, or gravel seed and division June to September li red sandy loam division June 1-U flesh sandy loam division Slight shade. Jnlv to September 1 yellow sandy peat and loam seed and division June to August li rose spotted loam division Mav to August r blue loam and grit division Soil moist. May and June 2—24 white sandy loam division Mav to September 1^2 yellow peat, loam, and sand division Mav to August 2J— 3 vellow peat and loam division Mav to September i^ white peat and loam seed Wann situation. Julv and August 1 yellow peat and loam seed and division June to September 1 white peat and loam division and seed September & October 3 yellow loam March and April i bluo loam and leaf mould division SUght shade. aiarch and Apiil 1 tmrple sandv loam division May and June 1 white loam division June and July 3 purple loam division JuMe and July IJ orange loam division May and June M yellow peat and loam lavers Julv to September yellow sandy loam seed and division May and June 2 white double crirasou rich sandy loam division flesh ., double white .. white ,, • * * red white double red purple purple donble fringed purple purple blush •• •• , 3 pale purple .. , 3 red ,, ,. , 14-2 pale purple ,. .. • 2-3 white white double red red crimson ,, June and July 3—4 scarlet loam division June to August U yellow peat, loam, and grit seed June and July 3 scarlet loam division Jnae and July 3^4 Striped Ribbon Grass sandy or gravelly loam division May to October 1—2 various loam cuttings Warm sittlataoni June to August 2-3 various rich loam cuttings and division May h rose; gravelly loam cuttings and division May to July 1-li pale purple peat and loam division May a-i flesh loam and leaf mould division May an 1 June 1 pink peat and loam division Jalr IB, 1667. } JOURNAL OF HORTIOUIiTURB AND COTTAGE GARDENEB, 41 UONTRS or FtOWBRINO. Physftlis Alh('koD?l Jano nnd Julv PotentUla nipestriu May to Soptomnor P. splonJuus r Qlay to July P. fttrosunguinoa Jano to Soptciuhor P. foruiosii Jtiiii) iiiul July P. fragiirioiilcs May and Juno •Primula cortugoidea e May tu July P. acaalis (vulgaris) Maroh to May •P. ocauUa var. double lilac .... •P. acaulis vur. double purplo .• •P. acaulis var. dbl. dk. crimson •P. ftcauUs var. double sulpftur. . •P. acaulis var. double white . . •P. auricula var April and May Pelomoninm c.-rruleum Juno P. oajfulcum alltuin Juno •P. caTuU'um variof^'utum e .... Jnno Piilmonaria augubtifolia April and May P. anctastifolia rubra May •P. pranditlora c May and Juno P. mollis April and May P. aibirica May and Juuo P. virgiuica April and May Pyrotbrum, named var:^ May to October Ranunculus aconitifolins flore- pleuo May and Juno It. acris florc-plouo Juno and July R. parnaesifolius Juno and July Kadbcckia Nowmanni Juno and July •Salvia uemorosa c June to September S. pratensis Juno to October •S. argentoa e r July •Saponaria ocymoides e May to Auffnst S. officinalis plena July to October Saxifroga crassifolia April and May •S. pyramidally e Juno Scabiosa gramiuifoUa Juno S. caucasica Jnno to September Scutellaria niacrantha July to September •SUcno alpostris e May to July •S. Schaftft e Juno to September Sisyrinchium anceps Juno and July •S. striatum e r April to September •S. grandiflorum May and June Soiidago virganrea July to September •SpiroDa filipcndula plena e .... Juno to September S. vonusta July and August •Static© latifoiia e May and Julv •S, Gmelinic June to August •S. tatarica «; Juno Stokosia cyanea Jnly and August ' Stonactis speciosa July to October •Stipa pennata e Jnly and August TUalictrum glaucum May and July •T. aquilegifolium plenum May to July T. purpurasccns May to July Tradoscantia virginica May to October T. virginica p.Uia May to October T, virginica rubra •Tritoma Burchelli <• Angust & September •T. uvaria r August to October •T. uvario glaucescens <■ •TroUins asiuticus e May and Juno •T. europicus >; May and June •T. europfpus nlbus r •T. napellifoliuFi c Tassilago fragrans March •T. farfrtra variegala c April Valeriana rubra July to September Vorbasfum pbo'niceum July and August Veratrum album Juno to Augnst •V. viride Jnly and August V. nigrum Jimo and July •Veronica gentianoides e May and June V. incana July to September V. incana rubra July to September V. incana alba V. laurica c June and July V. longifolia Jaly to September V. paniculata June and July 'V.toucriumc Juno to August V. argeutea cr j«uo and July V. pyrenaica r May to July V. villosa Juno and July ♦Vinca herbacca Jnne to Julv •V. major vnrs May and Juno •V. minor vors Viola altaica April and May *V. arboreac •V. arboroa alba e •V. odorata plena e April to June •V. odorata var. alba plena e.... •V odorata noapolitaua plena e.. •V. comuta c May to October V. palmata r May and June V, pinnata V. cucullata r May to July V. suavis (Russian) April to June V. pennsylvanica e Mav and Juno V. hirta April and May *V. striata e r June Heiobt IK FBBT. 2 1 2— 2i 2 h 1 h Colour or Floweb. red (ruit wbito w'hito crimson purplish crimson white pale purplish rose primro:iO Soil. sandy loam loam and grit or gravel luam and gravel loam loam loam loam and grit loom and grit FnoPAaATtoic. seed division division division division division seed and division division Slight abado* 1-4 rich loam division loam seed and division 2 white loam Bced and division J-1 variogated foliage violet loam aandy loam and leaf mould division division Slightly shaded Bitoation. 3-1 purplish red division * 1 pink division '1' blue purple •• division :^l blue various rich loam cuttings and seed 1 double white rich loam division Moist aoiL 2 «louble yellow loam division i;i. loam divitiioa yellow peat and sandy loam division 1-2 blue sandy loam division 3— { sandy loam division 1—2 silvery foliage sandy loam division J pink loam & gravel or sand seed 2 pink loam division 1 loam division a white loam division ^^H bluo loam and limestono seed and division aeed and division 1 blue peat and loam loam and grit division division Soil well drained. rosy pink seed and division 1 bluo sandy loam division 2 yellow division ^ puri)le division 2 yellow loam and gi-it division li.—2 double white loam division 3 loam division 1 blue sandy loam division 1 blue •• i* bluo loam cuttings Warm sitoatioa. 2 2 purple a Grass loam loam diN-ision seed and division MoUt aoU. 5 yellow loam, peat, and grit division :! double white • • 3 purple li blue sandy loam diviBion ll white red red and yellow 2^ rich loam division 3 orango 'i orange scarlet & yellow orange loam division Slight shade. 15-2 yellow loam whitish .. .. i deep yellow white loam and grit division Moist soiL 1 yellow .. 14—2 2|— 3 red loam division purple loam and gravel seed and division 4—5 white loam division 4—5 green ** 3 dark purple 2 blue loam and grit division ' »j blue 2 red white loam and grit division i blue 3 bluo .. .. U rose .< 2 Light blue .. 1-li pink loam and leaf moMld seed] li* yellow seed 2^ IJ white and pnrple bluo loom and leaf mould seed cuttings and division Partial shade. 2 bine and various i Ti9let sandy loam and leaf mould division Slight shade. i-1 violet white •• A double blue ,^ double white sky blue •• h-i bine .. purple violet bluo bluo bluo bluo blue and whito chalky soil loam -G. Abbbt. 42 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. r July 18, 1867. KOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION AT BURY ST. EDMUNDS.— July 10. About five years have elapsed since we recommended the Horticultural Society to follow the example of its younger relative the Agricultural, and hold country meetings, changing the locality annually. At length the Society has entered on that course, and we" think the result is such that the course will be pursued in future years ; for, beyond all doubt, the Exhibition at Bury St. Edmunds, now open, comprises one of the finest aggregates of fruits and flowers ever brought together in England, and afEdrds the most unmistakeable evidence of the skill, judgment, and good taste of British gardeners. The extent of the Show may be estimated from the fact that the fruit tent is 300 feet long and 30 feet wide ; the Pelargo- nium tent, 175 by 33 ; the three circular tents for miscella- neous collections, 90, 40, and 30 feet in diameter respectively ; and the implement tent is 100 feet by 35. All the collections are arranged effectively, and leave nothing to be desired except that they could have been placed on turved terraces, for that would have shown their great excellence to stUl more advantage. We wiU accept as a good omen that this first Exhibition is held within the vineyard of Bury Abbey — that Abbey's annual revenues amounted to £200,000 ; and we will hope that the soil is promotive of good incomes to associated bodies lay as ■well as ecclesiastical. At all events, if the spirits of abbots revisit the precincts of their earthly dwellings, those of this Abbey must be round and about the displays of luscious, tooth- some fruits now gathered together within their ancient vine- yard. For there were more Friar Tacks among them than that one immortalised in " Ivanhoe." " It was not the hood that made the monk ;" and as we passed through this Abbey's gateway we recalled to memory the tales of festal doings, when plumed knights and bodiced ladies had passed beneath its portcullis some four centmies previously, and caroused with their cowled entertainers. Jolly fellows were those Benedictine Monks of Biiry. Two and twenty cooks were found daily employment by them — cooks whose names are recorded — Soyera of their day — such were Brodhaye, Bigot, and Cowe. And what a bUl of fare must have been theirs ! for, among other outlays we find £10 — equal to one hundred now — dispended weekly on flesh, fish, and cheese ; 30a'. on Beans ; Cs. 8rf. on honey ; 13s. id. on nuts ; 12s. Ud. on poultry, though the price of one fowl was then only a penny ! Good eating was never divorced from good drinking ; and though among the officers of the Abbey was a " Keeper of the Waters," yet his was a sinecure compared with the office of that brother who was " Squire of the Cellar," for even his official title was thus dignified. In the refectory, on the four principal days of each week, " four score and eight sextarii of mead or wine " were drunk — equal to more than one hundred bottles of modern measure ; and besides that, each official had a weekly allowance, and kept it probably in his cell for his " stomach's sake." " These cellarers," says Fuller, " were brave blades, much affecting secular gallantry ;" and a stUl older authority, who well knew what power they possessed as the bursars of the monasteries, warns that they should not " be wine-bibbers, not proud, not dull, not prodigal, but faithfully distributing the allowances," for all the provisions, cooks, &c., were under their supervision ; and they even held a court of justice, where, to nse a drinking phrase of the time, they " took down a peg " offenders brought before them. Prominent among the disputes were the perquisites of the officials ; and we must remark upon one — the swineherd, who was entitled to have their dung, and which, with msre delicacy than has influenced us, was mentioned as "fructus de eauda." But we have reached the Abbey vineyard, one of the many Imown to have been attached to the monastic establishments of England, as at Abingdon, Gloucester, Eocbester — " a newly planted " one in the time of Edward the Confessor at Hautun, belonging to the monastery at Evesham — Glastonbury, Michel- ney, and others in Somersetshire — Thomey, Cambridgeshire. In 1140 the tithes of the Vines of Lyncomb were confirmed to Bath Monastery. In 1070 the priory of Belvoir in Lincoln- shire was endowed by its founder with the tithes of all his vineyards ; and in 1136 the Abbey of Walden, Essex, was en- dowed with a vineyard. Nor were these mere orchards, as some have persisted in asserting ; for we read of Edward 11. receiving the wine and Grapes from a vineyard at Hailing in Kent, and we have the expenses attendant upon the cultivation of a vineyard belong- ing to the monks of Canterbury. The Abbot, Ralph Bourne, planted it in some year between 1300 and 1331. The account stands thus : — " OUTLAY ON THE VINEYARDS. The stipend of the Vine-dresscr per annum 52 Paid for di^Ring in the same for the whole year 43 1 Trellises bought for the same, with carriage 33 H Spades, hoes, and other implements for the same .... 52 0." Then follows a similar account for another vineyard. The vineyard of Bury Abbey, then, is a fitting as well ais convenient locality for our national Society's Exhibition, an(3 to this we will now pass on. Of stove and greenhouse plants, wbich are chiefly shown in the large circular tent, there are several splendid collections ; that from Mrs. Cole & Sons, Withiugton, Manchester, which takes the first prize in Class 1, for nine, is especially remarkable. It consists of a splendid specimen Ixora coccinea, Bougainvill.Ta glabra, a vel'y large finely- bloomed Erica ohbata, Allamanda cathartica. the lai-ge-flowered Alla- manda Hendersoni, Kalosanthes Madame Celeste Winans, with a crowd of rose-coloured heads of bloom, Dipladenia crassinoda. Erica Jacksojii, and a good specimen of E. gemmiiera elegans. The county cup for the b •-( stove or greenhouse plant in flower, is taken by the same exhibitors with .1 most beantifolly bloomed speci- men of Dipladenia amabilis, covered with bright rosy crimson flowers upwards of 4:} inches in diameter. The Royal Horticultural Society's cnp for the best and most effec- tive group of ten fine-foliaged and ten flowering plants was awarded to Messrs. Lee, of Hammersmith, who exhibit a fine specimen of Pandanus elegautissimus, Gleichenia scmivestita with beautiful bright grec-u fronds, Cordyline indivisa, Latania rubra, Cycas revoluta, a fine Theophrasta imperialis, Dion ednle, and a handsome thick-tranked Dicksonia antarctica. Among the flowering plants completing this col- lection are Isora coccinea, with very fine heads ; a large specimen of I. javanica, covered with a profusion of orange hfads of bloom ; the showy Kalosanthes coccinea, Stephanotis floribuuda, Allamanda Hen- dersoni, line ; Dipladenia spleudens, and Erica P:\rmt-ntieri rosea, densely covered with bloom. Mr. Baines, gardener to H. Micholls, Esq., Bowdon, is second with Theophrasta imperialis, a magnificent specimen of Gleichenia speluncae, Alocasia Lowu with noble foliage, an excel- lent Cordyline indivisa, Ehopala corcova'dense, Dicksonia antarctica with a thick trunk, Croton variegatum, a fine specimen of Gleichenia flabellata, a wonderfully fine panful of Sarracenia purpurea, np- wards of a yard in diameter, with pitchers of the largest size ; and Sar- racenia flava, also remarkably fine, having pitchers about 2^ feet long. Among plants in flower from the same exhibitor are a large specimen of Clerodendron Balfourii, forming a mass of white and Ecarlet blossom ; a very large and fine specimen of Erica ohbata, Genetyllis tulipifera, also very large and fine ; Dipladenia amabilis, rich in colour, but not equal to the plant shoi^Ti 'oy Cole & Sons ; Allamanda Hendersonii, with nnmerous immense yeUowflowers, and A. cathartica, veiy fine. In Class 2, for the best six Stove and Greenhouse plants, Mr. W. Green, gardener to Mrs. Honeywood, Mark's Hill, Kulvedon, who takes the first prize, has the deep blue-flowered Sollya linearis in ex- cellent condition, a very good specimen of Clerodendi'on Balfonrii, and Dipladenia amabilis with several very large flowers. In Class 3, for the best twelve fine-foliaged and variegated plants, the first prize is taken by Mr. W. Niehol, gai'dener to T. H. Powell, Esq., Drinkstone Park, Bury, with large specimens of Caladinm hicolor splendens, Wightii, and Chantini, Maranta zebriua. Alocasia macro- rhiza variegata, Chama:a'ops excelsa, Sphjerogynelatifolia, a.nd Maranta regalis. Mr. Southgate, gardener to E. .J. Pettiwurd. Esq., Stow- market, who is second, has good examples of Maranta eximia, CissuS discolor, fine Caladiums, Maranta zebrina, and Anthurium cordifolimn. Mr. W. Green, gardener to Mrs. Honeywood, who is third, has a large specimen of Coleus Verschaffelti, a good Alocasia metallica, Alocasia macrorhiza variegata, and good Caladiums. Mr. D. T. Eish, gardener to Lady Cnllum, Hardwicke, is fourth. Class 4 is for the best six fine-foliaged plants, and in this Mr. Baines, who is first, exhibits a very fine example of Yenus's Fly-trap (DionaBa muscipnla), beautiful Aniectochils, of which intermedia and Lowii are especially remarkable, and Sphfprogyne latifoUa not large but with its ample foliage in a beautifully fresh condition. Mr. D. T. Fish is second, and exhibits Solanum atropurpureum, with very rich aad handsome foliage, a plant seldom seen in collections of this kind, Cissns discolor, a good Coleus Verschaffelti, and Anthurium mag- niticum or cordifolium. For the best nine fine-fofiaged plants Messrs. Leo. of Hammersmith, are first with a collection in which Croton variegatum. Anthurium acaule, fine ; Theophrasta imperialis, very luxuriant : variegated Ja- panese Bamboo, and Yucca quadricolor are the most couspicuous. For Orchids, the only prize awarded was to Messrs. Lee, who are first for six : and the same well-known firm take a first prize for Palms, amongst which are the noble-leaved Stephensonia graudiflora, Areca crinita and Verschaffelti, and Geonoma magnitica. Fuchsias are remarkable for the superb condition in which they are July 13, 188T. J JOURNAIi OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. oxhibited both as ref^ordfl tiize nnd profasion of bloom. Those from Mr. D. T. Fish, which take the coantj cup, are especiivUy no ; &uj llr. W. Smith, ganlonei* to J. S. Crubb, Esq., Groat Baddow, has Soaronir do Chiswic-k, Pauline, Con3i>icua, aud Uoso of C'jtstille in fine bloom. In Mr. D. Fish's first-prize six, Landsuer, Sir C. Cump- bell, Miunie. and Koso of Castillo aro beautifully prowii and flowered. His three Btand.ards, which roceivo tlio first prize in a class for that number, havo very liirgo and rej^ular heads, from which hang suspended izmnmorable Im-f^e blooms. That fine dark variety. Sir Colin Campbell, Sparticnhirly pood. Mr. Smith, pnrdener to J. 8. Orabb, Ksq., Great addow ; Mr. Fisher. Wfestloy Hall, Bury; and Mr. Foreman, Rur- dener to the Kev. F. Checre, luyham lioctory, Uury, also take prizes for well -bloo mod plants. Of Show and French Pelar^oninras, Mr. D. T. Fish, who takes the firat prizo for six, as well as the first prize offered by the Kev. F. Cheero, for twelve, fiends a magnificent specimen of Rose Celestial, as «qU as fine examples of Beadsman, Bracelet, Napoleon III., Klegaut- isaima, Crimson King, Lilacinum, and others. Mr. Foreman, par- doner to the Rev. F. Cheere, takes the Kecoud prize offered by that gentleman, also the second prizo for six, with, among others, Governor General, splendid in colour. For six Funcy kinds, Mr. Fish and Mr. Foreman aro respectively first and second. Of Scarlet, Nosegay, and Variegated Polargouinms there ia a singnlarly rich, beaatiful, and interesting exhibition, npon which, how- OTer, along with some other subjects, wo must defer our remarks till next weok» merely appending to this report a list of the prizes awarded. The best fix: Dracienas and Cordylincs come from Messrs. Lee, of Hammei-smith, who have good examples of Cordylino iudivisa, Dra- Cfena draco, iudivisa, elegautissima, helicon if olia, and marginata. Messrs. Lee aUo have the prize for the best nine exotic Ferns, among which are fine healthy specimens of Cyathea dealbata, C. Smithii, Alsophila anstralis, Lomaria nuda, and Dicksouia antarctica. Mr. Jabez J. Chrtter, Gonvillo Nursery, Cambridge, is second, aud Mr. •T. Gilboi-t, St. Margaret's Street, Ipswich, third. In the .jVmatears' class Mr. Allan, gardener to Sir C. Banbury, Mr. i'ish, Mr. Squibbs, and Mr. Foreman take the prizes. For the best Tree Feni Mr. Gilbert is first ; Mr. Chator, second ; Mr. Harrison, gardener to W. H. Penrose, Esq., third ; and Mr. D. T. Fish, fourth. Of British Ferns, a collection containing Trichomanes radicans, Scolopcndriuni crispum, the Crestod Male Fern, aud other good kinds in excellent condition, contributed bv Mr. Chater, is first, Mr. Gilbert being second, and Mr. D. Fish third. The town of Bury cnp for the best twelve Ferns is awarded to Mr. W. Niehol, Orinkstone Park. Bnrj*, for neat specimens of Adiantum cnneatum, tlymnogramma Lancheana, Adiantum concinuum, Gym- nogramma chrj-sopliylbi, Nephrodium corj-mbiferum, Diynaria ongns- tifolia, Lomaria gibba, Blccbnum corcovadense, Platyceram alci- come. Mr. D. T. Fish exhibits Davallia latifolia, Adiantum tenerum, Adiautnm trapeziforme. and others. The town of Bury silver cnp for the best twelve Lycopods goes to Mr. D. T. Fish for a magnificent specimen of S. ctesia urborea. standing nearly 7 feet high ; S. Daniel- maaa, S. stolonifora, beautiful ; S. atroviridis, very beautiful ; and S. ca»sia ; these are grown on pyramids of peat, and thus form objects of great beauty. The Suffolk Gardeners' cup, given in honour of the luto Mr. Donald Reaton, who did so much through tlie page.^ of this Journal in intro- dncing the modern system of budding oat, and which was offered for tho beat collection of bedding phmts. was awarded to Mr. P. Grieve, gardener to E. R. Benyou, Esq., Culford Hall, for a boantifnl and vei3- care- foll^ arranged exhibition, comprising most of tho best bedding plants at present in use. Mr. Chater, Mr. R. Pettitt, and Mr. Borrie have also very effective exhibitions. Bouquets aud table decorations are numerously shown ; some of tho former are veiT tasteful, the latter do not present much novelty. In that from Mr. Robins, gardener to Sir E, Kerrison, Bai-t., Oakley Park. Eye, which takes the town of Bury cnp for the best three gronps of fruit and flowers for diuner-tablo decoration, the variegated Saxifraga japonica is introduced as the centre of tho two side-dishes, and these are edged with Tricolor Pelargonium leaves, and tho flower-heads of an Agrostie. Tho etem of tht) centre piece is entwined with Cissns discolor. Among misicellaneons robjects, Mr. Backlo, gardener to Lord \Val- aingham, Morton Hall, Thetford, shows immense stems of Lilium gigantonm, grown in the open air, nearly 10 feet high, and bearing several enormous flowers ; and from G. AV. Wilson, Esq., comes a fine bloom of Lilinm anratum. Mr. Baine?, whose Sanacenias have already be«n noticed, likewise shows a miscellaneous collection, in which there is S. Drnmmondi alba in flower, and the curiously- marked S. vnriolaris. Lastly, Messrs. Voitch & Sons have the beauti- ful Marantji Veitohii, Abutilou Thompsoni, with yellow marbled foliage ; tho handsome Begonia Pearcei, that noble Palm Verschaffel- tia splendida. Sanchezia nobilis variegala — one of the best ornamental- foliated plants iutrodnced of late years ; Acalypha tricolor, Coleus Veitrhii, Variegated New Zealand Flax, Nierembergia rivularis. Ne- penthes HalHeitii, with numerous pitchers ; Ponicam varicgatum, bean- tifnlly striped with w'lite, green, and red ; tho new Crotons. which recently received certificates at Kensington ; a very large specimen of Leptopteris snperba, Echites rubro-venosa, with leaves splendidly , veined with brilliant red ; Anthoriom Scherzeriauom, and a number of plants of Lilinm anratom, which perfume tho air of the wholo tent in which they are placed. Annexed are the prized in tho classes not specially noticed abore :-— Town of Bury.— A watch or cup, for the best three window pUnta grown by a mocbanic or labourer, Mr. Arthur Tooley, Bury. Town n! Bury.— Silver cup, for the be.st three Vrouits of frnita and flowers for tho decoration of tho dinner-table, Mr. Robins, gardener to Sir E. Kerrison. The Borouah 5Iemhers for Bury.— Silver cnp, for the best hand bonqnet for ladicn, Mr. John Delamore, Cheshire. Second ditto, Mr. B. R. Cant, Colchester. Third ditto, Mr. Robins. These prizes were awarded by a jurj'of ladies. Eye Horticultural Society.— Silver cup, for the best twenty-four cat Roses on single stems, grown by an amateur, a member of any borticnl- tural society in the county of Suffolk, Mr. Thomas R. Francis, Mendlo- shnm. Woodbridge Horticultural Society.— Silver cup, for the best twelve cnt blooms of Picotees, growu by an amateur, Mr. S. K. Buttrum, Burgh. Suffolk Gardeners' Silver Cup.~For tho beat twelve cut Ruses grown by a Suffolk gardener, Mr. W. Nichol, gardener to J. H. Powell, Esq., Drink- stono Park Second ditto, Mr. R. Kccne, gardener. Cmmty Silver Cup. for tho best twelve seedling Variegated Pelargoniuma of lSiB6 and iHfiT. Mr. P. Grieve. Rest six Petunias, double-flowered varieties, distinct (open'.— First, not suflicient merit. Second, Mr. H. Foreman. Thinl, Mr. P. Grieve. Best six Petunias, single -flowered varieties, dibtiuct (openJ.^First, Mr. J. Barrett, Bury. Second, Mr. W. Smith. Best twenty Succulents, of distinct kinds (open).— Prize, Mr. R. Petiit, Enry. Best twelve Carnations and Picotees, cut blooms.— First, Mr. C. Tumer« Slough. Second, Mr. John Hines, Ipswich. Third. Mr. S. C. Euttrum. Best twelve varieties of Zonal Pelar^'ouiums in bunches of cut flowers, five trusses in each bunch.— First, Mr. R. Moore. Wetheringsett. Se- cond, Mr. J. Barrett, Bury. Third, Messrs. Wood & Ingram, Hunts. Fourth, Mr. S. Brown, Sudbury. Best twelve varieties of Verbenas, in bunches of cut flowers, five tmsses in each bunch. — First, Mr. C. O. Fison, Stowmarket. bccond, Mr, J. Barrett. Third. Mr. E. C. Prentice, Stowmarket. Best forty-eight cut Roses, distinct, one truss of each (Nurserymen). — First, Mr. R. B. Cant, Colchester. Second, Messrs. Lee. Third, Mr. J. W. Ewing, Norwich. Fourth, Messrs. Wood & Ingram. Best forty-eight cut Roses, distinct, one truss of each ^Vmatenrs). — First. Mr. J. T. Hedge, Colchester. Second, Mr. H. Brooke, Wetheringsett. Best twentv-four cut Roses, distinct, one truss of each (Ajuateors). — First, Mr. W. Ingle. Second, Mr. R. B. Postans, Brentwood. Third, Mr. R, Keeue. Fourth, Mr. J. T. Hedge. Best miscellaneous collection of cut Roses (open). — First, Mr. B. B« Cant. Second, Messrs. Lee. Third, Mr. J. Hedge. Best twenty-four bardv herbaceous cut flowers, distinct. — First, Mr. J. Gilbert. Second, Mr. J.'T. Hedge. Third. Mr. J. J. Chater. Extra prizes.- Mr. S. Brown, sudbury (Gladiolus), and Mr. E. SoireU, Chelmsford (Cnt flowers). Best Pinks, twelve cut bloom?, distinct, — First, Mr. J. Ilines. IpElwiclL Second, Messrs. Nun &, Hobday, Norwich. Third, Mr. H. Hooper. Best twelve Scarlet Pelari,'oniunis. distinct kinds, of any shade or coloor, Zonal or plain-leaved, bnt not variegated (Amateurs). — First, Mr. Fore- man. Second, Mr. D. T. Fish. Third. Mr. P. Grieve. Best twelve Scarlet Pelargoniums, distinct kinds, of any shade or colonri Zon.al or plain-leaved, but not variegated (Nurser>-nien).— First, Mr. J. BaiTett, Bury. Second, Mr. J. J. Chater. Third, Mr. J. Mann, Brent- wood. Best twelve Nosegay, or Hybrid Nosegay Pelargoninms, distinct varie- ties, in flower (rpon). — First, Mr. J. Barrett, Bury. Second, Mr. D. T- Fish. Third. Mr. H. Foreman. Fourth, Messrs. Nunn & Holiday, Norwich. Best six Scarlet Pelargoniums, including Nosegays, but not variegatddt distinct kinds (Amateurs).— First, Mr. H. Foreman. Second, Mi. P. Grieve, Culford Hall, Bury. Third, Mr. A. Fisher. Best six Variegated Pelnrgoninms, including Nosegavs, distinct kinds (open).— First, Messrs. Saltmarsh & Son, Chelmsford. Second, Mr. Fore- man. Third, Mr. P. Grieve. Best six new Variefjated Pelargoniums (open).— First, Messrs. Saltmorah and Son. Second, Mr. Grieve. Third, Mr. J. Mann. Best six Achimenes, distinct kinds (open).— First, Sir" C. Bunbnry, Bart., Bury St. Edmimds. Second, Mr. W. Smith. Third, Mr. A. Fiaher. Fourth, Mr. Foreman. Best six Gloxinias, distinct kinds (open).— First, Rev. F. Cheere. Se- cond, Sir C. Bunbury. Third, J. G. Shoppard, Esq. Fourth, Mr. D. T. Fish. FRUIT AND VEOKTABLKS. There is altogether an extensive display of frnit, althongh in somd of the classes the exhibitors are not so numerous as could be desired. In Pine Apples the connty cup for the best three fruit of different kinds is taken by Mr. J. Barnes, of Bicton, with a large aud handsome frnit of Bicton Queen, Globe, and Knssian Globe. For a single Piae Apple of any variety Mr. Ward, gardener to T. N. Miller, Esq., Bishop Stortford, is lii-st with a Queen of -•> lbs. ozs.. kept, however, rather too long. Mr. Barnes is second with Charlotte Kothschild, not very largo for that variety, and haWng a large crown. Mr. Green, gardener to Mrs. Houcywood. is third with a small well-ripened Qneen. Among Black Grapes, single dishes. Mr. Stjnibbs, gardener to the Marquis of Bristol, Ickworth Bark. Bnry. is tirst with good well- coloured bunches of Black Hambur-zh ; Mr. Sane. .■Vshridge. is second with beautifully coloured bunches of Black Hamburgh ; and Mr. G. L. Rushmoro, Tendring Hall, Stoke, third, for large somewhat loose bunches of Black Hamburgh, not tjnite so fully colonrcd as desirable, but still very good. Mr. Carmicbacl, gardener to H.R.H. the Prince of Walofi, Sandringham. has on extra prizo for large bunches of the same kind; aud Mr. Pottle, gardener to B. Colvin, Esq., exhibits Muscat Hambnrgh. In single dishes of White Grapes the first prize is taken by Messrs. Lane, of Great Bcrkhampsteadr "^^ excellent, well-ripened bunches u JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 18, 1867. of Bnckland Sweetwater. Mr. Pottle is second with compact bnncheg of the same kind; and Mr. Sqnibbs third with Chasselas Masque. Xarge bunches of Muscat of Alexandria corae from Mr. Grix, gardener to E. W. Hai-lock, Esq., Ely, but very unripe. In Peaches, single dishes, Mr. Sage, Ashridgc, is first with Royal Oeorge, very large and finely riiiened ; Mr. Perkins, gardener to Lord ^eoniker, Thomham Hall, is second with Grosse Mignonue, very "well ripened ; and Mr. Robins, Oakley Park, Ej-e, third with good imit of a kind unnamed, hut apparently Barrington. Of Nectarines, tha display is small. Mr. Sage is first with Elruge, very fine; Mr. Carmichael second with Violette H^ttive, very good and £nely coloured ; and Mr. Rushmore third with the same kind. Figs only consist of Brown Turkey and Marseilles, the former finely a^pened, from Mr. Sqnibbs, being first, the latter, respectively from 3klr. Sheppard, gardener to John Bemers, Esq., Wolverstone Park, Ipswich, and Mr. Kushmoro, being second and third. Chen'ies consist of Bigarreau, Elton, Belle de Choisy, May Duke, and Black Tartarian. Mr. D. T. Fish, Hardwicke Hall and Mr. Sage iave very fine Elton and Bigarreau, but are disqualified in point of jinmber, too many being shown. Mr. Green, gardener to Mrs. Honey- •wood, is first with Black Heart, very fine. Mr. Salvage, gardener to Capt. Bennett, Rougham Hall, Buiy, is second with May Duke ; and "Mr. Pottle, tbii'd, with the same Irind. Of Strawbenies, the best four dishes came from Mr. Sqnibbs, and consist of Sir C. Napier, British Queen, Eleanor, and Frogmoro late Pine. Mr. D. In'ing, gardener to the Duke of Hamilton, Easton Park, is second with British Queen, Frogmore Late Pine, Sir C. 2^'apier, and Myatf s Sui-prize. Of single dishes, the best is Admiral Dnndas, fine, from Mr. George I'oreman, Bretenham Park, Bilderstone. Empress Eugenie, from Mr. Sqnibbs, is second, and Mr. Barratt, Cotton Lane Nursery, Bury, is third with Eleanor. Melons on tasting were found to be generally of excellent flavour. Green-iieshed kinds consist of Orion. Dr. Hogg, Bromham Hall, Victory of Bath, and Tho Sultan. The last, shown by Mr. Webb, Cnlham House, Reading, was found to be of remarkably fine flavour, and was awarded the first prize. Bromham Hall, from Mr. Robins, Oakley Park, is second ; and Mr. Earley, gardener to F. Pryor, Esq., Digswell, is third with Dr. Hogg. Scarlet-fleshed k-inds consist of Murton Hall, Onlton Park, Queen Victoria, and Scarlet Gem. Mr. D. T. Fish, gardener to Lady CuUum, is first with Murton Hall ; Mr. Stannard, gardener to H. R. Homfray, Esq.. Newmarket, is second >rith Scarlet Gem ; Mr. Perkins. Thomham, third with the same kind. Of Plums, the best dish is Washington, from Messrs. Lane, Great Berkhampstead. Mr. Grix is second with Rivers's Early Prolific. The ihird prize was withheld by the Judges. Among miscellaneous fruit there is a collection of eight kinds of Grapes from Messrs. Lane, of Berkhampstead, in which there are large bunches of Chavoush and Foster's White Seedling. Mr. Ewing, ^jlton Nursery, Norwich, has twenty-six dishes of Gooseberries, three dishes of Red Currants, aud one of Black Naples. Mr. Nichol, gar- dener to J. H. Powell, Esq., Drinkstonc Park. Bury, has fruit of Passi- :flora edulis and quadraugularis ; and Mr. Salvage Beehive Raspberries very good, Gooseberries, Red and White Cun-ants, and a dish of Apples, 3iame unknown. A first j^rize is taken by Mr. A. Henderson, gar- dener to Earl Manvers, with four Thorcsby Queen Pines in pots with fruit, which promise to be vei-y large and lieavy when swelled off, but 3iot being yet ripe, the merits of the variety,'which is stated to be a eeedling, eould not be detei-mined by the Fruit Committee. Messrs. Lane are awarded a first prize, Mr. Ewing, the second, and Mr. Salvage the third. Mr. Standish, of the Royal Nurseries, Ascot, exhibits a small fcasketful of his Royal Ascot Grape, a variety raised from Bowood Muscat and Trov.:ren Frontiguan, and having large oval jet black ijen-ies, covered with a very dense bloom, and borne on shori sturdy •warted stalks. The flesh is firm, but very juicy, and richly flavoured. Per this fine variety, which on this occasion was exhibited in a perfect ptate of ripeness, a first-class certificate was awarded. The town of Stowmarket gold medal for the three heaviest bunches Df Grapes, is taken by Mr. Meads, gardener to Raikes Currie, Esq., Mimley Manor, Faruborough, with the heaviest tliree bunches of Black Eamburgh which we remember to have seen ; the immense centre #>anch alone weighs 10 lbs., and the other two, which only cede to it 5n size, make the total weight 26^ lbs. The Thetford Horticultural Society's cup for the best six dishes of ©ut-door fruit goes to Mr. J. Sheppard, gardener to J. Bemers, Esq., Wolverstone Park, Who has fine White and Red Currants, Fastolfi' Ilaapberry, Strawberries, May Dulte Chenies. aud Musch Musch Apricots. Mr. Lving, gardener to the Duke of Hamilton, who also competes, sends fine Black Naples Currants and Citron des Cannes Pear, but not ripe. The Gm-drners" Chronicle cup for the best collection of Fruit and Vegetables is taken by Mr. Pottle, gardener to B. D. Colvin, Esq., Little Bealings, Woodbridge, with very good Black Prince Grapes, Iwo large Melons, scarlet and green-fle'shed ; fine white Dutch Cur- rants, Fastolff Raspberries, and Black Tartarian Cherries. The vegetables are Veitch's Perfection Peas, Sion House Kidney Beans, Olobo Artichokes, Johnson's Wondei-ful Broad Beans, fine; Merriott Scarlet Carrot, Whit-i Stone Tumips, and Birmingham Prizetaker Potatoes, \rith two good Telegraph Cucumbers. The Journal of Horticulture prizes for the best two desserts, con- sisting of not less than seven kinds of fruits of lH(17. arranged as for table, combining quality of fruit with taste in arrangement, and open to gentlemen's gardeners and amateurs only, are taken by Mr. Carmichael, gardener to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, San- dringham ; aud Mr. Blair, gardener to Sir G. N. Broke Middleton, Bart., Shrubland Park, Ipswich. Mr. Carmichael's collection consists of nineteen dishes in all, arranged in three rows, the centre being Grapes — namely, beautiful bunches of Black Hamburgh and Foster's White Seedling, on either side of these May Duke Cherries, aud a Green-fleshed Melon, then two small but excellent tjueen Pines, thdn two splendid dishes of Nectarines, large and beautifully colour*, d, finish- ing with two Providence Pine Apples. Front line, centre au excellent Prickly Cayenne Pine, then two dishes of Stirling Castle Peaches, finishing off at the two comei's with two magnificent dishes of Black Hamburgh Grapes, weighing from 3 to 4 lbs. each. Back liue, Pines on either side, Foster's White Seedling Grapes, aud Black Ham- burghs. Comer dishes. Strawberries. Mr. Blair's exhibition partakes somewhat more of a floral character, and is very tastefully arranged. The fruit is not so fine as in Mr. Carmichael's, but the arrangement is more pleasing and graceful. The three centre pieces are entirely of flowers set in tall, slender- stemmed, glass vases, flanked at the ends with a somewhat lower staud of mixed fruit and flowers, the centre being a small Queen Piuc with two bunches each of Black and White Grapes hanging over the edges, and a few Peaches, Nectarines, Cherries, &c., intermixed with some flowers ; in front and behind the centre vase are two beautiful Green-fleshed R[elons ; beautiful dishes of Hunt's Tawny Nectaiine, Yellow Goose- berries, and vei7 fine Raspberries, Peaches, Strawberries, Black Heart Cherries, and Green Marseilles Figs complete tht; exhibition. Mr. D. T. Fish exhibits eleven dishes, the centre a large standard vase of flowers somewhat stiff in aiTangement, the five dishes on either side being respectively filled with Figs, Peaches, White Nectarines, Apples, one dish of Black aud White Grapes, Gooseberries, White Currants, White Heart Cherries, Strawberries, and a Melon, each dish having a few flowers intermingled with the fruit. Lady Caroline Ken-isou also exhibits a collection, consisting of Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, Jefferson Plums, d'c, set in coloured china vases, plates, and images, a few flowers being intei'spersed, and the whole being set off with a rather ingenious floral baud of Ferns, cut flowers of Roses, Pinks, Ferns, &c., laid ia a small tin case filled with water, which keeps them fresh. The Ipswich town cup for the best six pot Vines is awarded 1-3 Messrs. Lane & Son for Alicante, Foster's Seedling, Black Hamburgh and other Vines, loaded with fine bunches. The same firm likewise take the town cup for the best tivelve orchard-house trees, cousistiLg of Apples, Peaches, and Nectarines, Plums, Pears, Figs, and Cherries in excellent beaidng. The Thetford Horticultur.al Society's prize for the best eight kinds of vegetables is awarded to Mr. W. CoUius, Kelverstone Hall, Thet- ford, for Kidney Potatoes, Peas, Beans, Kidney Beans, Cauliflowers, Turnips, Carrots, Vegetable Marrows, all of which are very good. The cup offered by the same Society for the best two Melons aud the best brace of Cucumbers, goes to Mr. J. Borrie, Easton Hall. Ml-. Robert Fenn, of the Rev. G. W. St. John's, The Rectory, Woodstock, Oxon, sends thirty-seven sorts of Potatoes suitable for forcing, for garden cultivation, and for the farm. Of the earliest of these the tubers of last year's growth as well as of this are exhibited, as in the case of that excellent round kind Hogg's Coldstream, Shut^ ford Seedling (Kidney), and Premier, ^thus showing their qualities as regards earliness and long keeping. Of second early kinds, suit- able I'nr g.ardcns, we noticed Fenn's Onwards (Round), and Rivers's Royal Ashleaf. Of garden sorts, noticeable for souud-kecpiug. we ob- served Wheeler's Milky White, Daintree's New Seedling, the old Lap- stone Ividney, Hague's Kidney, and Pebble White. Of Farm kinds there are the old Fluke, British Queen, Giyffe Castle Seedling, White Farmer, and York Regent. Freebearer, though rnngh in ap- pearance, is very productive, white-fleshed, and excellent in flavour. Of early Potatoes of this season's growth Mr. Fenn has excellent tubers of Early Ten-week, Fenn's Onwards, Daintree's Seedling Round, Rintoul's (?) Early Don, very smooth-skinned, tinged with purple round the e^^es, but boiling very white ; Edgecote Second Early, Almond's First Early, scarcely distinguishable from Walnut-leaf Kid- ney, Old Early Ashleaf Kidney and Mona's Pride, also scarcely dis- tinguishable from each other: White-blossomed Ashleaf, good for production in pots and boxes ; Fortyfold cxceUont for mashing. Of most of the above a further account will be found in "N'ol. XL. page 386. As a new kind, Mr. Fenn exhibits his Rushbrooke Frame, a seedling from the Early Frame and his Russet Seedling Ividney. This kind, we are informed, is remarkable for its extremely dwarf top, and con- sequent suitability for culture in pots. It appears to be a promising kind for early forcing. Mr. Fenn lUiewise exhibits, under the title of " garden economics," his system of Vine-training, specimens of home- made Grape and other wines. Grape glasses, and a basket of Rivers's Muscat St. Laurent, a sort which he. finds particularly suitable for the back walls of vineries, where it ripens well under the shade of other Vines. Under the same title Mr. Fenn has also the " Alliance hive, adapted for cottagers," to be worked on the depriving system without destroying the bees, as described in our number for October 28th , July 18, 1867. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAJRDENEK. 45 1862 ; " the Fennian '* ByBtem of heating, drill hoes, mead, honey in glasses, and wax. Mr. P'onn has besiilea French Crab Apples of ls65 and 18GG in excellent preservation. nrPLEMF.NTrt. In garden seats in iron Messrs. J. B. Brown, 1 1>^, Upper Tbamos Street, London, wcn^ awarded a first-class certiticate for a seat with an iron hack in imitation of Nastnrtinm leaves, pretty in design, and for its appearance very cheap. In the next class, for seats in wood, Messrs. J. B. Bro^m (t Co. also take a first-class certificate for a good, neat, cheap seat on a wronght-iron frame. Mr. Morloy, of Ipswich, takes flimilar awards for wooden and convertible chairs. For what is called the Bury St. Edmund's Rattan basket a first- class certificate was awarded to Mi*s. Garnham, who is a daughter of our old bee authority, Mr. Payne. They aro ntjat, light, and well adapted for suspending in rooms, for holding plants in pots and bou(iuets. In cast-iron vases Messrs. J. B. Brown take first-class certificates for the Tazza Vase and the plain-fluted vase, botli of good design, very cheap, and suitable for gardens. A similar award was made to Heesrs. Sanders, Frewer S: Co., for the Leicoster flower vase, a hand- some cast-iron vase for garden and conservatory decoration. From Messrs. J. B. Brown there also comes a good exhibition of galvanised wire netting for poultry and game purposes, which is awarded a first-class certificate. Among mowing machines Messrs. J. B. Brown &; Co., 148, Upper Thames Stn-i-t, take a first-class certificate for their new patent B B 30-inch mowing machine, on account of its cheapness and facility of delivery. Messrs. Brown also exhibit an assortment of mowing machines'of various sizes. Messrs. Green, of Leeds, likewise show a nnmbcr of their eflicieut mowing machines of various sizes, for which they also take a certificate, likewise one for garden rollers. In garden engines Mr. K. Read, Regent's Cii'cus, Piccadilly, Lon- don, takes a lirst-class certificate for his well-known continuous-action engine, fitted into a twenty-eight-gallon vessel ; and he has a similar award for a hydraulic suction pump, which works well and easily, and keeps up a continuous stream. Among models of greenhouses, Messrs. Hamson & Bettridge, of Chelmsford, were awarded a first-class certificate for a ventilating apparatus for conservatories and hotbnnses. which p.ushes the sashes outwards and firmly fixes them at any rerjnired angle, tlins affording any desired amount of air. This is effected liy means of a handle, cog wheels, and a rod to which is attached a cogged segment and arm fixed to the front sashes. iThe apparatus can be adapted to both side and top lights, and can be fixed either inside or outside the house. Messrs. Cumming it I'ulmonds also show a model greenhouse, in which, instead of (he ordinary- putty-glazing, the glass is made to slide in a groove in the rebates, and is fixed in its place by a small zinc sprig at the fcottom of each pane. Ventilation is effected by rods lifting the whole of the lights outwards. The same exhibitors also show a number of flans of houses of various forms erected by them. Messrs. Sanders. 'rewer, it Co., Victoria Works. Bur^* St.^ Kdmunds. exhibit several of Beard's patent houses, one being a handsome curvilinear conseva- tory with the tmss-rods so fixed as to be useful for training climbers, another a forcing-pit. two others cheap lean-to's, and a fifth Ingram's Strawberry-house. In these ventilation is effected by a patent screw working a traversing rod with arms attached which open the lights. In the conservatory the lights are opened by a similar rod worked by bevelled wheels and a spindle. There is in addition a span-roofed conservatory- with a ventilating ridge. The whole of these houses are plazed on Beard's patent system, as described in the pages of this Journal. First-class cei-tificates were awarded for the mode of glazing without putty, for the mode of ventilation, and for a flower-stage cou- sifiting of cast-iron legs on which rest ordinary roofing- slates, forming a cheap and useful as well as inexpensive plant-stage. Messrs. Harrison tt Betteridge, Chelmsford, exhibit Milbank's Self- feeding Boiler, which in form resembles a saddle boiler set on one end. and having a domed top on the upper end. The advantages claimed for it are, that the whole strength of the fire is in contact with the water- surface. The heat circulates beneath the boiler and around its outside ander a dome of brick^vork. It is fed by a shoot in front to which can he attached a feeder as a prolongation, which it is stated will enable the fire to be kept in for twelve hours. In the same class Messrs. Camming tt Edmonds, Lillie Bridge. Richmond lioad, Fnlham, also lake a first-class certificate for their cast-ii-on tubular-arched saddle- boiler, resembling the letter U inverted, with tubes connecting the toj) and bottom waterways, between which the fire passes, and around which it is confined by a brick casing following the curve of the arch. The apparatus has been found to prove very eliicieut with a small con- STunption of fuel. EXPERIMENTS WITH POTATOES. Dr. Hexatjer, of Newcastle, New York, furnishes iis with an account of some experiments of his with Potatoes. AVe should preface the specifications of these results by stating that Pr. Hexamer is an accurate and scieutitic experimenter and obeerTer, and a good farmer. 1. Out of seventy hills of Potatoes, peeled so that no eyes were visible, thirty-five grew. Some produced very large Potatoes. The planted I'otatoea remained, mostly, hard and iirm till digging time. 2. Out of eighty hills, pieces cut without' eyes, thirteen hills grew. All these sprouted on the cut surface, none through the skin, (One large Potato, cut in two lengthwise, sprouted on the cut side near, but below the skin, and there was no eprout proceeding from a visible eye.) 3. Out of one hundred whole Potatoes, ninety-eight grew from the small end, and two at the side. With more than half the number of Potatoes planted whole, only one eye grew, the rest remaining dormant. 4. A Potato does not always expend all germinating power in one year. 5. Wet rot and dry rot are one and the same disease. Pota- toes affected with the rot, will rot dry when they are kept dry, and the same will rot wet when they are kept in a moist place. — {American Agriculturist.) C.\KRIAGED REEL FOR WATERING HOSE. I SEND a sketch of an ingenious machine for winding-up hose for watering gardens. It is of very light construction, being made of iron, and at a cost of about £1 5.^. ; all other reels that I have seen are much more expensive and do not answer the purpose so well. There is a small catch attached to the carriage to prevent the reel unwinding and to keep the hose firm on the reel. The in- vention is by a man residing in this town. If you should think proper to notice it, he would consider himself repaid by any orders he might receive for one or a number. — E. J, [We have received the sketch from a subscriber. If any one requires further information, they will obtain it probably by writing to *'E. J.," 2, Clive Place, Welshpool.] FIRST \\T5STERX ROSE SHO'W. WuEN the National Rose Show, the first show of Roses exclusively, was originated in IHoS. it was intended to be locomotive, in strict ac- cordance with its name ; but so soon as its founders saw how large a majority of the subscribers and exhibitors were located in the sunny south, they decided to fix its home, for a time at all events, in that more genial clime. It was established in London, and has never strayed beyond suburban range. The first show was held in St. James's Hall ; the second in Hanover Square ; the third in the Cn-stal Palace ; and seven shows in sequence at the gardens of the Royal IlorticaltaniJ Society, in combination with the special exhibition of Rosea held by the Society itself. There were, however, many earnest supporters of the first Grand National Rose Show, who, though they lived in chillier counties, where the "air bites shrewdly," and "it is verv' cold," had »s warm a love for the royal Rose, as could gladden a zealous heart. They assented at once to the decision of the majority. Tbcy loved the Rose too well for envyiugs and strife. They came louj; jonmeys from their Rose-clad homes, and returned jubilant, and yet not quit* content. Roses of equal beauty came forth in their own gardens, soon after the soathem show, why should these blush unseen ? Why should there not be ex- hibitions at which the midland, eastern, western, and northern Roses should meet in their prime and glory ? Hence arose the Birmingham Rose Show, the Stamford Rose Show, the Leicester Rose Show, the Kuf;by Rose Show, the Liverpool Rose Show, and, on Tuesday, the nth of July last, the first Western Rose Show, at Hereford. These olTshoots from the parent tree have developed or declined \vith varied fashion, but nunc have " come op " with more vigour and promise JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTDRB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 18, WW. timn this scion, jnst now so firmly rooted in the rich, rosy soil of Here- ford. All honour to the hand which put in the cuttiuf», that of the JRev. 0. H. Bulmer, of Credenhill Kectoiy, Herel'onl, and to the many coadjutors, "who, when it was struck, were eager to tend and train. A bonnier baby was never bom, nor one which showed at such an early age a capability to walk alone. When we reached the Shire Hall, in the early morning of Tuesday, we found it most tastefully prepared for the reception of the Hoses. The orchestra and central table were gracefully ornamented with beau- tiful plants from the nursery at King's Acre, and from the gardens of tlie neighbouring gentry (specially to be observed, and justly placed in the most conspicuous position, a glorious plant of Lilium auratum. having twenty-two ilowers on three stems, and from a single bulb), which just prevented the uniformity of the Rose-boxes from being at all monotonous ; and a pretty collection of decorative articles for the drawing-room, jewelleiy, clocks, etc., from which prizetakers might select, if they pleased, was effectively grouped at the upper end of the Hall. Soon the tables began to fill, until they were quite full, with Roses. Ah ! sweet Roses. Mr. Cranston, it is known to rosarians, has this year escaped the cruel frosts, and has consequently beaten all England, from tirst to last — at the Crystal Palace, at Kensington, Bir- mingham, and elsewhere. And hero he was on his own ground, like a Mng and a conqueror, " happy and glorious." Only a king with a lion heart would dare to cope with him in his own camp, to challenge the Donglas in his own hall, and such a royal champion came, and threw down his gauntlet, boldly as though on his own Salisbuiy Plain, in the person of brave John Kej-nes. Well might meaner knights stand by with bated breath to see such warriors fight, and, indeed, it was a grand spectacle. The chief victory (for seventy-two varieties) was won fcy Cranston, but the next battle (for forty-eight) by Keynes, and the engagement generally reflected the highest honour npon the two re- nowned combatants. Among amateurs, Mr. Pen-y, Mr. Arkwright, the Rev. G. Ari- Wlight, Sir Yelters Cornewell, "the Rev. C. H. Bulmer (the founder of the feast of Roses), Major Heywood, and others, were, considering the severity- of the season, and the novelty of the nndertaldng (some of the exhibitors showing for the first time) most successful, and more ex- perienced competitors, going next year to Hereford, must look to their- Laurel wreaths, keeping them ti.ght upon their heads, as a sportsman presses down his hat when he charges some larger leap, lest they be changed for the Cypress of defeat, and their wearers be reduced from ofiicers in " the /Idi/x." to mere privates in " the Bhie.i." Roses, arran.gcd with Ferns and other foliage, for the decoration of the dinner-table, were a most effective addition to the Show, occupying half of the central table, and exhibiting much graceful taste. Mrs" Berkeley Stanhope took precedence with a very' elegant display, and was worthily followed by six other competitors. White table'cloths should be used for these decorations, and will be in future at Hereford. Designs in vases were well done, especially one, which, shaped like a balloon, was composed of distinct colours, divided by Feros, and which took the first prize. A basket of Mr. Cranston's glorious Roses took the second honours. The bouquets of Roses were prettily arranged, but were disqualified by the censors (in accordance with the strict requirement of the schedule, that they must be available for the hand), with the exception of two, sent by Major Heywood, which honourablv and handsomely ful- filled the law. Why do our English bouquet-makers always cons'truet their posies as if they were intended for Chang ? The Show was. altogether, channingly complete, and its merits were heartily appreciated by many hundreds of spectators, who came in crowds to see. Some complained of the heat, and some that they could not see for the press, and .all agi-eed that the first Western Rose Show was coitleur dc ruse, and a grand success. TESTIMONL\L TO MR. ROBERT THOMPSON. The allotted time for man's existence on earth is three scovo years and ten, what then ought we who have received so much horticultural benefit from the practical teaching of a man who has devoted two score of those years entirely to the science and practice of horticulture, do to make the last years of his life glide pleasantly away? Those thoughts have been sug- gested by the long and faithful services rendered by Mr. Robert Thompson to the Royal Horticultural Society. For forty- three years he has done all that possibly lay in his power for the advancement of horticulture, and "for the great services rendered he has been very poorly remunerated. During this time he has brought up a family in the most respectable manner. He is a man possessing a most kindly nature, and one of the most unassuming men I ever met. From the year 1824, np to the present time, Mr. Thomoson has been a'fre- •quent contributor to the horticultaral press. Most of us can even now gain useful informatoin from his well-written articles ■which appeared in Loudon's "Gardener's Magazine," and the Gardeners' Chronicle, from its commencement in 18-11. It will be observed by the most casual reader, that these articles were written by a thoronghly practical man. Then, the "Fruit Catalogue " of the Horticultural Society, may be said to be one of his most creditable works, and his " Gardener's Assistant" may be truly said to be one of the very best works on practical gardening ever written. This book ought to be in the hands of every gardener, and more especially of young gardeners. If they will at once procure this book, which may be had at a very moderate cost, by reading it diligently they may find a never- failing source of information on every subject connected with the garden. This, with perseverance in their daily practice, will soon help them on, and make them if they will, well fitted to fill situations of trust and responsibility. Mr. Thompson's meteorological reports which have been given so accurately through a long series of years, surely ought to receive some recognition from the Governmentofthiscoimtry. I must again ask the question. What ought we to do to make the last years of such a good and zealous man happy ? Un- doubtedly we can do a very great deal, what I would suggest is, that all my fellow labourers who are engaged in the wide field of horticultiire, should assist in getting up a testimonial to Mr. Thompson. Not long ago a very handsome testimonial was presented to Her Majesty's gardener. As soon as this idea was mooted, there was a hearty response. This testimonial was given not because of any particular service rendered to horti- culture generally by Mr. Ingram, but as a recognition of his long and faithful service rendered to the Royal Family. The fact of Mr. Ingram holding his present high position for half a century, would suggest the idea that to him the handsome testimonial was only a superfluity, although very gratifying. With Mr. Thompson the case is very difi'erent : he, as I have before stated, has been very poorly remunerated, and has had to bring up a family. I, therefore, hope all will contribute as much as they can afford. By doing this they will show their appreciation for the past labour of a true and faithful man ; it will also be an encouragement for young gardeners to make themselves as useful to the purpose of horticulture as they can, and will offer this inducement to them, that their fellow workers will not be unmindful of the service they have rendered, when they become unfit by age to fill the position which has been assigned them. I shall on my part feel a great pleasure in giving a guinea towards a testimonial to Mr. Thomp- son, and shall use my influence with my assistants to induce them to contribute their mite towards this very desirable object. I would further suggest that the Editors of all the horticul- tural Journals should receive contributions, and that the amount subscribed should be invested in some safe stock, which will realise a yearly income to Mr. Thompson for the remainder of his life. I may state in conclusion, that I have no motive whatever in offering these suggestions, but am only prompted by a sense of justice, for I am scarcely known to Mr. Thompson, more than by name. I, therefore, hope the appeal I now make will be heartily responded toby both head gardeners and their assistants. If the latter will only subscribe a shilling each, their sub- scription will he a credit to them, and shillings make pounds. If by making this appeal I can bring the desired object to ma- turity, it will be a source of gi'eat pleasure and gratification to me. — J. Wills. [Since the above was written by Mr. Wills — and in the whole of his observations we heartily concur — we are informed that a preliminary meeting for raising a fund to be invested for the benefit of, and as a testimonial to Mr. Thompson, was held on the 9th inst., and the following address resolved to be cir- culated : — " The retirement of Mr. Robert Thompson from active duty in the service of the Royal Horticultural Society, has been thought by his numerous friends to offer a fitting occasion on which to present him with a substantial Testimonial, expressive of their cordial sympathy with him in his declining years, and indicating also their high appre- ciation of the man^- services which he has rendered to Pomology and Meteorology during a long and active life. " The Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, acting as the ex- ponents of the wishes which have been expressed that Mr. Thompson's services should be publicly recognised in tiiis way, have taken the initiative by inviting several gentlemen connected with horticulture to attend a preliminary meeting, at which a Committee was named to carry out the proposed object. [The Committee consists of the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, the Intei-national Com- mittee, and other gentlemen connected with horticulture aud meteor- ology ; the Duke of Buccleuch, President ; Mr. W. W. Saunders, A'^ice- President ; aud Dr. Hogg and Mr. Thomas Moore, Joint Secretaries.] " The many services rendered by Mr. Thompson both to Horticul- tnral and Meteorologicical Science ai-c well knowiv to those actively engaged in these pursuits, but it may be proper on such an occasioa July IS, 1667. 1 JOURNAL OF HOBTICDLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 47 as tho present to briefly rooapilnlate tfaom. For upwards of forty yoaro, thcu, he has held a prominent position in tho working stofF of the Koyal Horticultural Society. Ho entered the Society's sorvieo in lB2-t, Uio Bocond year aftiT tho establishment of tlio garden at Chie- wick, and in 1.S2G wiift appointed to tho charge of the Fruit Depart- ment, which then coutaiuod the finest and most extensive collection of fruits in Flnrope. At that time comparatively few of tho varieties were knoivii in tliin country, and the whole iiomenclutnre was in a state of confusion, reqniriuf; unwearied application and perseverance to clear it up. so that tho riches of tho collection niijjht be made avail- nblo to the Fellows of the Society, and to the country. In 1S:U a * Deflc-riptivo Catalofjne ' of these fruits was published, from memo- randa taken at Chiswick, and in this valuable work Mr. Tlionipson, with great success, succeeded in caiTjin^ oat his doaign of indicntins the good and bad sorts, together with their Bynonyms, and Eiieh brief characteristics as it was thought would be moKt generally useful. By means of this catalopiio a kuowledi^o of tho superior kinds of fruits was much more rapidly spread throughout tho country than it could have been by any other available means. The distribution of scions of new fruits waa consequent!}- carried on with assiduity, and much consideration was bestowed in endeavouring to select such kinds as were most likely to succeed in the loculiticsfor which they wore destined. " While this important work was year after year being carried out, Sir. Thompt^on was engaged in making experiments both in the fruit and kitchen garden departments, carefully reporting tho results ; in taking descriptions of new varieties of fruits as they came into b^'aring ; and in preparing another edition of the Fruit Catalogue, which was published in 1>^1'2, and a supplement in 1S53. These descriptions and records have been of the greatest pi-actical utility. Upwards of two thousand pages of tho Society's vanotis publications have beeu written by Mr. Thompson, but the Fruit Catalogue claims prominence, as having been tho standard of fruit nomenclaturo in this country ; wliile his * Gardeners' Assistant,* a work not connected with llie Society, may be cbaracteriftcd as the best and most scientific of compendious treatises on modem gardening. " For nearly a similar period Mr. Thompson has devoted much at- tention to metoorologj-. Tho Meteorological Journal of tho Society, which was commenced in 1826, and which has been carried on by him Binco 1830, gives tho readings of the barometer (corrected for tempera- ture, (tc), moniing, noon, and night ; of the thermometer, maximum and minimum, in snn and shade ; and of tho hygrometer ; compara- tively with avera;.'es of forty years, deduced from 219,000 observations of the various instruments. Such broad averages afford what must bo considered as true means with which extremes may bo compai'cd as rc- fards heat, pressure, and moisture. The observations of sixteen years ave been translated froin the " Transactions " of tho Horticultural Society into those of tho Royal Philosophical Society of Berlin ; and np to the present time a weekly return has been published in the Ourtlcncrs' Chmnich'. Among other papers from Mr. Thompson's hands, connected with this branch of science, is a Table of Tempera- tures for the use of gardeners, published in the Journal of the Horti- cultural Society, which furnishes an idea of the climate of some nine hundred places, sitnated in different latitudes. " With a modesty peculiarly his own, and with ft degree of plodding pcrseveranco which cannot be too highly recommended as an example to the rising generation of horticulturists, Mr. Thompson has worked on at these, his favourite pursuits, with zeal and assiduity, setting before himself tho object of rendering service to science rather than lliat of jiersunal (;ain ; and now after a long and nsefnl career, when his physical powers begin to fail him, it has been thought that an ex- pression of public sympathy in acknowledgment of his life-long labours, would servo to gladden and solace the remaining years of his life. *' It is proposed that a subscription list be opened uuderthe manage- ment of tho Committee, and that a money Testimonial he presented as soon as a reasonable time for response has elapsed. Subscriptions, which will be duly announced, will bo received by any member of the Committee; by the Society's bankers (London and County Bank, Kensington) ; by the Secretaries — Dr. Hogg. 99, St. George's Road, Pimlico, S.W., and Thomas Moore, Esq., Botanic Gardens, Chelsea, S.W. ; or by James Richards, Assistant Secretary of the Koyal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, W."] ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S MEETING. The June Meeting of this Society was held at the rooms of the Linnean Society, at Burlington House, the President, Sir John Lub- bock. Bart., in the chair. Mr. F. Pasf'oc exhibited various interesting Colcoptera, from Gra- ham's Town, South Africa, including some very rare Longicoms, and Mr. T. W. Wood specimens of a Tortoise-shell Bntterilv. closely allied to Vanessa ui-ticp?, fiom British Colnmbin, i"om.arkable for the pale band of the hind winrs being denuded of scales. Mr. Stainton exhibited tiie dilTcrent states of a small Jloth, Earias siliquana, which !ms proved extremely injurious to the cotton crops in both Upper and Jjower Egyi)t, the caterpillar eating tho ovary of the flower and changing to a chi'jsalis within the ball of cotton. Mr. F. Bond rxhihlted specimens of a f-pecies of Tortricidre. new to the country, taken by Mr. Meek at Darenth Wood ; also a bright golden Tariefy of Adela DeGeerella. Mr. F. Smith exhibited specimens of a solitary Wasp, Odynemd quadratus, which had built its cells at the end of an empty compart- ment of a razor case which had been damaged. The cells were irregularly arranged, and had produced ten male and four female Wasps. The cells of the femalee were, however, nil together at the furthest end of the case. The insects had remained in the larva state till tho 20th of March. On the 20th of May they were found to have changed to pupte, and at the beginning of the following month the perfect insects were produced. Otlier instances were mentioned ia whieh the Wasps had selected tho crevices of locks, flutes, and the bindings of books for the reception of their nests. Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a number of Hair-worms (Gordins or Mennls sp.), which had been observed in the morning of tho day of meeting shortly after a violent storm of rain. They were noticed swarming on Rose bushes and other plants, and had been seen simul- taneously by Mr. Stevens at Kenuington and also at Ashford on Rose bushes. Mr. W^eir had also noticed them at Brixton, and Mr. Bond near the Regent's Park, also on bushes. They were about 2 inches long, and their ordinary condition of life is that of i>ara8ites within the bodies of other insects. Sir John Lnbboek exhibited Kpidapns Venaticns, a remaikable small species of Gnat, which is entirely destitute of wings. It is of very great rarity in this conntry, having been only previously taken in the Isle of Man. The President had found it in his own grounds at High Kims, Kent, under decaying bark. Some observations were mode relative to Mr. Smith's paper on the comparative rarity of males orfcmales in certain speciog of insects ; and Mr. MacLachlan mt ntioned a species of Saw-fly, which might then be taken flying over Fern in the utmost profusion ; but among thousands of females not a single male could be found. The same also was observed respecting a small Beetle. Tomicns villosus. In answer to an inquiry by Professor W^estwood as to the existence of any variation in the colours of the lansB of tho different sexes, Mr. Smith observed that he bad at one time thought that the ivory white and safl'ron yellow coloured larvse of the wild Bee, Authophora rotusa, might be of the opposite sexes ; but ho had subsequently reared males and females indiscriminately from each kind of larva. The July meeting of the Entomological Society (being the last of the present season according to the new arrangements for discontinu- ing the meetings during the long vacation), was held on tho 1st inst., the President occupying the chair. It was stated that the species of Hair-worm exhibited by Mr. S. Stevens at the preceding meeting, and which had attracted so much attention from its simultaneous appear- ance in vast quantities in different places, proved to be tho Mermis nigrescens. A new part of tho Society's " Transactions ' was laid on the table. Mr. McLachlan exhibited a Spider, Cinitio ferox, en- ti'-ely covered ^rith white mould; also living specimens of a large llat Spider and a Centipede taken on board a ship from Manilla. Mr. Rippert sent for exiibition portions of an Orange tree from Sidney greatly infested by insects, which proved to be a small species of Coccus, entirely covering the bark in the same way as the Beech stems are sometimes covered in this countn*. Mr. Stainton exhibited a minute new species of Moth reared from the Elm. in tho south of France, in the months of Februarj* and March. The Hon. T. De Gray exhibited a rare Eupecilia taken iu Norfolk, and HypercalliA ChrisneiTiana fiom Kew. Mr. A. R. Wallace communicated an elaborate memoir on the Cetonidie of the Malayan Archipelago, where the species appear to be comparatively rare, since from thirty localities visited by the writer during his eight years' travels, he had only secuixd eighty-five species. The Longicorn Beetles, on the coutrarj-. were verj- numerous, as ho had taken more than a thousand different kinds. The Cetouiffi are very fond of flying over the Palm tree flowers and Melastoma". Mr. Trimen, who had recently returned from South Africa, had found them not only in flowers, but also lapping up the sap of wounded trees ; and Mr. Kuper had found them lapping up the sap of the Sugar Palm used for making toddy. The President communicated a remarkable memoir by Mr. Lowe, of Edinburgh, in opposition to the porthenogenetic theory of the de- velopment of the males of the honey bee by unimpregnatod queens,, detailing a series of experiments, which had resulted in the production of hybrid males, which would not have been the ease unless the eggs from which they had been produced had been fecundated by being brought into contact with a male of a different species. NOTES AND GLEANINGS. "We are pleased to be able to announce that at a meeting of. the Council of the Royal Horticultiual Society, hold at Bury St. Edmunds on Tuesday, it was unanimously resolved to con- fer a Forty-guinea Fellowship on Mr. D. T. Fisn. of Hardwicke,. for his great exertions in connection with the Show, which ia now being held at Bury under the auspices of the Society. — — - It will be seen by our report that the prizes offered by the proprietors of this Journal for the two best-an-anged desserts at the Bnry Show of the Royal HcrticuUui-al Society have beeu respectively gained by Mr. Carmichael, gardener to 48 JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 18, 1867. H.E.H. the Prince of Wales, at Sandringbam, and Mr. Blair, gardener to Sir G. Broke Middleton, Bart., of Shrublands Park. The Annual Conversazione of the Koyal Horticultural Society -will be held on Wednesday, the 24th inst. The Society's next examination of young gardeners will be on the 30th and Slst of December. Many will regret to hear, that after a long continuance of declining health, caused by paralysis, JUr. George Paul, of the Cheshunt Nursery, died ou the 7th inst., aged 56. 5In. T. L. Plant has published in the Medical Times the following table, from nineteen years observations, showing the earliest and latest dates on which the foliage or blossom of various trees has commenced expanding, compared with the same observations in 1867 : — Earliest. Latest. 1867. Balsam Poplar [PopiiJus balsami(era) March 6...\pril 19.. April 15 Lerch (Abies Larix) March 21.. April 14. .April 14 Horse-chestnut i.Esculus Hippocastanum).. March 17. .April 19. .April 19 Sycamore (Acer Pseudo-platanus) March 23. .April 23. .April 25 Damson blossom (Prunus domesticfl) March28..May 13..ApriI17 Lime (Tilia europfca) .April G,.May 2.. April 30 Beech (Fagus sylvaticn) April 19.. May 7.. May 1 Spanish-chestnut (Castanea vesca) April 20. -Hay 20. .May 4 Oak(Quercusrobur) April 10. .May 26. .May 3 Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) May 13. . Juue 14. .May 16 Mulberry (Moras nigra) May 12. .June 23. .May 16 The Melbourne Botanic Gardens, we learn from the Argus, with the adjoining park reserves, comprise an area of about four hundred acres. They are situated on the south banks of the river. Of this area twenty-one acres are devoted to flora! cultivation, eighteen are planted with select specimens of trees and shrubs, eleven are occupied by the lake ; nearly the whole of the remainder is planted with Pines, Cork Oaks, and many other kinds of useful forest trees, besides hedges and copses. The lake contains six artificial islands of picturesque appearance, which are the favourite haunts of large quantities of waterfowl, including Swans, Geese, Pelicans, and many smaller kinds. The gardens include a Palm-house (the largest conservatoi7 in Australia), three smaller greenhouses, a house for the Victoria Eegia, and three forcing-houses. The plants kept in pots vary from 40,000 to 50,000. Nearly 450,000 plants have during the last nine years been sent out from the gar- dens for planting in various public reserves in all parts of the colony, and about 420,000 seed packages have been for- warded either to colonial institutions or abroad for interchanges. About 21,000 trees of the most handsome and useful kinds from all parts of the globe are now growing in the gardens. The length of the various walks is fifteen miles, all of which are planted with trees or ornamental shrubs. The buildings, waterworks, iron fencing, and other works of permanent character are valued at £29,000. The main basis for the opera- tions which have brought the gardens into their present form was laid in 1857, at which time the Government secured the services of Dr. F. Mueller, F.E.S., for their administration. The department of which they form a part also comprises a scientific branch, with Dr. Mueller as Government botanist. The museum of dried plants is by far the largest in the southern hemisphere, and contains about 300,000 specimens. A labora- tory is kept in working order for testing the capabilities of Australian plants for affording useful products, such as tar, vinegar, oils, dyes, paper materials, textile fibres, chemicals, &c. WORK FOR THE ^VEEK. KITCHEN O.VIU)EN. Broccoli, see that the newly-planted crops of this and winter Greens receive a good watering or two to give them a start, pro- vided the weather is bright and dry. Endive, sow another bed forthwith ; this will come in very useful. Celery, follow up planting as spare ground and suitable weather occur, and be stire to water most thoroughly that already planted. People sometimes complain of their Celery plants " running." Celery plants in a gross state need Httle more than drought to bring on flowering. Coleirorts (Winter), prepare a good breadth of ground for a crop, do not be afraid of too much manure for them. Peas, loosen the ground gently near the rows of ad- vancing crops, and water if necessary. PRUIT GARDEN. Persevere in pruning back, or eradicating, all superfluous breastwood, more especially in trained trees. Complete all summer nailing as soon as possible, remembering that the wood of Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots is seldom over-ripe in this climate — frequently, indeed, the reverse. Disbud the gross wood from Figs, reserving the moderately strong wood, but, above all, that which is short-jointed. When heavy rains have beaten the surface of the ground, the latter will require to be stirred. Fruit trees thrive better in borders that are frequently forked, properly manured, and cropped with Lettuces, or other plants that do not root too deeply, than where the ground is not cropped, and but seldom stirred. It will, therefore, be ad- visable to fork over the borders which have not been recently disturbed, taking care not to injure the roots of the trees by the operation. This had better be performed whilst the ground is sufficiently moist, and if dry weather should set in, copious waterings ought to be given. It is frequently the case, that the surface of a border forming a regular slope is smoothly raked, so that water, from heavy rains more especially, readily glides oiif, and a less beneficial supply from artificial watering must be substituted. Sometimes crops are sown or planted in rows across the borders, and afterwards landed up ; the furrows consequently formed exhibiting a close system of surface drainage, not at all objectionable in the case of a very wet soil and season, but highly so in summer under ordinary circumstances. Proceed with budding Cherries and Apricots, and with other fruit trees, as the buds become in a fit state, which in this season will generally be the case rather later than usual. FLOWER GAKHEN. Eoses going out of bloom should be constantly gone over, cutting off all dead flowers, &c., and Moss and other varieties should be layered as soon as the young wood is sufficiently ad- vanced in growth. Pinks now out of bloom, from which pipings have been taken, if they have blossomed two years, should be cut off close, or removed, to make room for young plants of this year's striking. Diihlias require constant care in regard to tying up as they advance in growth. Sweet Williams, Wall- flowers, Dianthuses, and other hardy biennials, should be thinned, planting out the thinnings into borders, or into nursery-beds till spring. Lawns should be kept continually mown during showery weather, and edgings of walks clipped. See that strong stakes are afforded to plants of heavy foliage and gross habits, as Dahlias, Delphiniums, Asters, Phloxes, &c. Continue to fill up blanks as they occur, from the reserve ground, and attend to the layering of Carnations. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. Follow up shifting with such hardwooded tribes as require it. A turfy compost of three-parts sandy peat soil of a fibrous and lumpy character, and one-part sound loam of a similar texture, will suit the majority. The more tender kinds will require lumps of charcoal, stone, or crocks introduced occasion- ally until near the surface of the pot. Let every attention possible be paid to drainage. This cannot be too complete, taking care especially to use very broken crocks at the bottom, for if these lay too flatly and become closed-up in consequence, it matters httle how much depth of drainage material rests upon them — all will be stagnation. In the mixed greenhouse shifting will be the order of the day. Attend to the principles of thorough drainage as explained above. Now is the time to lay the foundation of a good late display. Cinerarias, Chinese Primroses, the Anne Doleyu Pink, Heliotropes, Fuchsias in succession. Chrysanthemums, and, above all, the Perpetual, Tea, and other Eoses must be well attended to in regard to watering, shifting, &c. Remember that the final shift should be given in good time to those intended to flower in the autumn. Many of the plants which are now growing rapidly should be set in the open air, as those of a soft nature are apt, under good and free cultivation, to become too succulent, and, as in the case of stove plants, they are subject to damp off or mildew under glass. Proceed with the propagation of aU kinds of exotic plants, and especially of Pelargoniums. Expose those to the open sun intended for next season's flowering, to harden and perfectly mature the wood is of paramount importance, more especially for plants intended for exhibition. STOVE. Admit more air into the house as the season advances, be- cause although this is the period when every advantage ought to be taken of heat and light, still the confinement of a stove is apt to draw the plants, especially if carried out too late in the season. Growth is now required in most kinds of plants, but the great art is to harden or perfectly mature that growth, or the plants will suffer much during winter. Many of the plants in an advanced state may now be placed in the green- house, which should be closed on cold nights. PITS AND FRAirES. i Put in cuttings of the best kinds of Antirrhinume, Mule Jal7 13, 1867. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE OARDEMEB. 43 Pink3, herbaceous Diloxos, itc, either under hand-glassea or in ontting-pots, and place them in cold frames or pitj. Those already rooted must he hardcnod-olT by defirees to bo ready (or planting out. Shitt l!alaam.s, Chrysanthemums, &c. Chrysan- themums which have been planted out and are now growing tall may have their branches regularly pegged out, so as to have their tips turned up preparatory to their being layered towards the end of next month. The Phloxes, Ac, should be slightly watered when the cuttings are put in, and should receive a slight shading in sunshine for the first month, after which they may be gradually inured both to sunlight and air. — W. Iveank. DOINGS OF THE LAST -WTSEK. KITCHEN 0.iRI)EN. General work much the same as in previous week. Would have planted out winter stuff, but had no ground at liberty. Will have some ground cleared of Potatoes before this ia printed, which ground wUl bo immediately filled ; and as soon as a Strawberry-quarter is cleared of its fruit, that will bo trenched and planted. This is one of the disadvantages of having a enmU kitchen garden in proportion to the demands made upon it, so that a piece of ground can never bo many days empty. If we feel the least promjitiugs of envy, it is on observing in April and May whole quarters undergoing fallow- ing treatment before they are filled with Broccoli and Winter Greens. Sowed Cabbages for the first spring crop, and will sow again in eight or ten days. We are anything but insensible to the value of