424 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



latter, however, was only second-rate ; Mr W. Card well was second ; Mr Brierly was 

 also first for the prize offered by Edward Brooke, Esq., for ten, with fine specimens 

 of Erica Austiniana and Candolleana, a fine specimen of Theophrasta imperialis, 

 and admirable examples of Croton variegatura and Yucca aloifolia variegata, &c. 

 Mr J, Stevenson, l^ark Hill, Timperley, came second, showing in his collection a 

 remarkably fine specimen of Alocasia Jenningsii, a very good Pleroma elegans, 

 and a small plant, though covered with blooms, of Dipladenia crassinoda, and 

 Sanchezia nobilis, a fine specimen and well marked. Mr W. Cardwell took the 

 prize offered by JMessrs Cole & Sons for six Cape Heaths with a group of nicely- 

 flowered medium-sized specimens. The first prize in the class for Draceenas or 

 Cordylines was taken by Mr B. S. Williams with six handsome specimens, in- 

 cluding Dracaena Veitchii, cannrefolia, lineata, umbraculifera, atrosanguinea, &c. 

 Mr J. Shaw was second, and Messrs G. & W. Yates third, with smaller examples, 

 though in good condition. . Palms were not numerous, and the plants shown 

 small. Ferns were plentiful, though there was a marked absence of Tree Ferns ; 

 while of the usual Exotic Ferns the local amateur growers beat the nurserymen 

 hollow ; while the lot staged by Mr B, S. "Williams were a long way ahead of 

 those staged in competition with them. Lycopods were represented by the usual 

 kinds. Orchids were not numerous, but a few good specimens were shown, 

 such as Miltonia spectabilis, with eighteen finely-expanded and beautifully-marked 

 flowers ; vErides odoratum, with twelve very fine spikes ; Phalaenopsis grandiflora, 

 with remarkably fine flowers ; Cypripedium superbius, with very fine blooms ; 

 Saccolabium Blumei majus, with a finely-expanded spike about 18 inches long ; 

 S. prremorsum, yErides Lobbii, A. quinquevulnera, Odontoglossum Alexandra), 

 0. Bluntei, &c. &c. 



In regard to the florists' flowers, there was a marked falling off in quality as 

 compared with the two previous exhibitions in the provinces. The first of the 

 special prizes for eight Fuchsias was taken by Mr R. Fleming, Sandkeys, Liverpool, 

 who bad finely grown and flowered pyramidal plants, but spoiled because they 

 had been tied out to so severely formal a shape. The sorts were Tristram Shandy, 

 Fair Oriana, Rose of Castille, Reine Cornelisson, La Crinoline, Reine Blanche, Mrs 

 Marshall, and Turban. The others were not worth notice. Strange to say, the 

 class for three Standard Fuchsias did not fill. Large-flowering Pelargoniums were 

 quite poor — poorly grown and bad in quality, with the exception of the varieties 

 staged by Mr C. Rylance, The Fancies were better grown, and consisted of Acme, 

 Evening Star, Ellen Beck, Musjid, Celestial, Undine, Illuminator, Sweet Lucy, 

 Godfrey, Turner, and Duchess of Buccleuch. Zonal and Nosegay Pelargoniums 

 made a very good display ; of the former, the best were Mons. G. Nachet, Mrs 

 William Paul, Excellent, Eugene Mezard, Softness, Clipper, Tintoret, St Fiacre, 

 Miss Martin, and Madame Vaucher ; of Nosegays, Amy Hogg, Profusion, Le 

 Grande, Baron Ricasoli, Indian Yellow, Startler, Black Dwarf, and Rose Ren- 

 datler. 



Messrs G. & W. Yates's special prize of five guineas for the best six tricolor 

 Pelargoniums was taken by Mr M. Torkington, AVilmslow, with Sophie Du- 

 maresque, Mrs Dix, Florence, Countess of Craven, Queen's Favourite, and Prin- 

 cesse Clotilde, the first four belonging to the golden-edged, the latter to the silver- 

 edged section ; second, Mr J. Smith, gardener to G, H. K. Balstone, Esq., with 

 Edwinia Fitzpatrick, Sophia Cusack, very good ; Miss Watson, and Mrs Dix, 

 golden-edged ; and Beauty of Guestwick, and Italia Unita, silver-edged. These 

 were the largest plants, but, with the exception of Sophia Cusack, by no means 

 so well coloured. In the open class for six kinds, Messrs F. & A. Smith, Dulwich> 



