430 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



Picotees — Ada Ingleton, light purple edge ; Miss Ingleton, medium scarlet edge ; 

 and Beauty of Plumstead, a fine flower, light scarlet edge. All the above-named 

 productions received first-class certificates. Second-class awards were given to 

 Mr Norman for Picotee Charles "Williams, Esq., a large heavy scarlet-edged flower 

 — (Grand Monarch, a very flue heavy purple edge Mr Norman thinks much of, 

 was passed over) — to Messrs Carter for Tricolor Pelargonium Prospero ; and to 

 Messrs Ingram for Picotee ]\Irs Ingram. 



August 16th was one of the minor meetings of the Poyal Horticultural Society. 

 The Gladiolus was the principal feature, and although they were neither so num- 

 erous nor so fine as they were last year, there were some fine spikes staged, and a 

 number of exceedingly fine seedlings. ]\Ir Kelway, the veteran grower, was un- 

 fortunate in having his spikes damaged by a terrific thunderstorm on the Sunday 

 previous to the show. His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch gave a series of prizes ; 

 and liberal encouragement is now given to this grand autumn flower-show by the 

 Society. In the open class for twenty-four spikes, Messrs Kelway of Langport 

 were first with excellent spikes ; and in the classes for private growers, Mr Douglas, 

 gardener to Francis Whitbourn, Esq. of Loxford Hall, Illford, was first for twelve 

 and six spikes. The following seedlings were shown by Mr Kelway, and received 

 first-class certificates : — Phidias (Souchet), Astrea, Araximenes, Archelaus, Yellow 

 King, and Lord Bridport. In the stands exhibited by Mr Douglas, Francis Whit- 

 bourn, Mrs Francis Whitbourn, William Early, and Talisman (Souchet) also 

 received first-class certificates. The best-established varieties were Orphee, Lac^- 

 pede, Euripides, Clarissa, Sir W. Hooker, Michel Ange, Mrs Dombrain, Adolphe 

 Brogniart, Horace Vernet, Meyerbeer, Madame Desportes, and Robert Fortune. 

 Hollyhocks were well shown by Mr W. Chater, of Safron Walden ; the following 

 were very fine : Prince Albert, Bullion, Eclipse, Marvellous, Incomparable, Alfred 

 Chater, Joy, a perfect flower, Carus Chater, Hercules, Peri, Marion, Cygnet, 

 Queen of Yellows, Champion, Fred. Chater, Splendidum, and Othello, the best 

 black flower. 



Cut spikes of Phloxes"were exhibited by Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing, Forest 

 Hill, and Messrs Paul & Son, of Cheshunt, but the flowers were faded, and looked 

 miserable before night. It would be well to show them in pots in future. The 

 best flowers were Figaro, Madame Domage, Princess Louise, M. H. Low, Lothair, 

 Amabilis, Madame Roempler, Madame Pepin, M. C. Turner, and Liervalli. 



Fruit Committee— It was stated that the Markly Admirable Peach which 

 received an award at the last meeting was not in reality an early Peach, but ought 

 to be classed amongst the late ones. Mr Pearson of Chilwell sent a number of 

 bunches of different seedling Grapes, some of them very promising, but none in 

 condition to receive certificates. 



Floral Committee. — There was very little before this meeting except the seed- 

 ling Gladioluses. Mr Croucher, gardener to J. T. Peacock, Esq., Hammersmith, 

 sent a collection of Agaves. Simisii and Imbricata received first-class certificates ; 

 the same award was given to Anthurium ornatum from St Martha, a species with 

 large pure-white spathes : the spa the was cut, and one leaf only was shown, so that 

 it was not possible to judge of the habit of it. J- Douglas. 



EoMFORD Horticultural Society's Show. — It so happened that we were 

 at the Essex Agricultural Society's show, held at Romford in June last, and 

 also visited the Romford Horticultural Society's Show, held in the same park 

 and at the same time ; and in many respects, for a local show, it was a very 

 good one. However, unlike your correspondent, Mr Nokes, we failed to see any- 

 thing especially noteworthy in Mr Bones, of Stavering Park, " quietly walking off 



